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Transponder Monitor

By Staff Writer | July 2, 2003

      93.5 degreesE:
      Insat 3A

      D A new multiplex was tested on 4025 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 last week. It contained B4U Music, Nickelodeon India, BBC World India, Zee News, Cartoon Network India, Doordarshan Bharati service and 5 testcards. However, the package disappeared in a short time and has not been seen again yet.

      90 degreesE:
      Yamal 102

      D The Russian channel Kultura TeleKanal has launched a time-shifted version on 3595 MHz LHCP, SR 4289, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2. This provides programming at Moscow time +2 hours for Western Siberia. Rambler TeleSet, a Moscow-based channel, has launched on 3719 MHz LHCP, SR 5070, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V308, A256 in clear MPEG-2. The footprint for all of the Yamal transponders is centred over the Caspian Sea and reaches from Japan in the east to Finland. Poland and southern Italy in the west.

      78.5 degreesE:
      Thaicom 2&3

      D Free-to-air test transmissions from Indiavision have started on 3638 MHz horizontal, SR 3333, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V1160, A1120. A Raj TV promo for their Telugu-language service has opened on 3455 MHz vertical. Telugu is spoken in the large southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. A new Raj TV package has opened at 4151 MHz vertical, SR 12121, FEC 3/4. It contains Raj Digital Plus, Raj TV and Raj Music

      68.5 degreesE:
      PAS 7 & 10

      D Big Brother Africa is displaying a free-to-air mosaic on 3835 MHz vertical, SR 20600, FEC 3/4, VPID 2036, APID 2035 within the Multichoice Africa package. Big Brother Africa has launched on 11090 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 5/6 via PIDs V514, A642 in the Multichoice Africa bouquet.

      62 degreesE:
      Intelsat 902

      D A new South African multiplex has opened on 3995 MHz LHCP, SR 26660, FEC 3/4. It contains SABC 1 – V4096, A4098; SABC 2 – V4100, A4102; SABC 3 – V4105, A4097; Bop TV – V4110, A4111; E TV – V4114, A4115; Bop Radio – A4112; Radio Sonder Grense – A5120; SAFM – A5121; Radio 2000 – A5122; Radio Umhlobo Wenene FM – A5123, Metro FM – A5124 and 5FM – A5125. All are free-to-air.

      A Iranian radio stations Radio Mashad and Radio Sport have vacated the IRIB 2 transponder at 10998 MHz vertical. Radio Farhang, which is the Tehran-based 2nd Service of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting radio network, has moved to the 7.80 MHz audio sub-carrier.

      42 degreesE:
      Turksat 1C & Eurasiasat 1

      D BK TV Sat has vacated the RR Satellite Comms package at 12613 MHz vertical. The feed for the Turkish version of Big Brother, Biri Bizi Gozetliyor, has vacated 12622 MHz horizontal. A Eurasiasat caption is being displayed on 11737 MHz horizontal, SR 11720, FEC 5/6, VPID 310, APID 260. The StarDigital packages have been reborn under the name DigiFunClub. Star 4 on 12652 MHz horizontal has been replaced by Yesilcam TV in Nagravision-encoded MPEG-2. Nur TV and Nur Radyo are new on 12714 MHz horizontal, SR 2285, FEC 7/8, VPID 33, APIDs 34/35 in clear MPEG-2. Nur TV and Nur Radyo are run by the Turkish Mihr Foundation, an Islamic organisation. Star 5, 6, 7 and 8 have been replaced by FutGol – V5424, A5425; Heyecan TV – V5440, A5441; SineKlasik 2 – V5456, A5457 and Dizi TV – V5472, A5473 in the DigiFunClub package at 11727 MHz vertical. TGRT has commenced transmissions on 11761 MHz horizontal, SR 5000, FEC 5/6, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2 via the Turkish beam. A new channel, Orada Neler Oluyor, has launched on 12623 MHz horizontal, SR 3054, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 in clear MPEG-2. NightClub has joined the DigiFunClub line-up on 11727 MHz vertical, SR 27518, FEC 7/8, VPID 5424, APID 5425 in Nagravision-encoded MPEG-2. The channel airs from 21:15-03:00 nightly.

      39 degreesE:
      Hellas Sat 2

      D The first proper feed traffic has appeared here. Last week coverage of the EU Summit from Thessaloniki was fed over 10957 MHz vertical, SR 6075, FEC 3/4, VPID 39, APID 40 on free-to-air MPEG-2.

      28.2 degreesE:
      Astra 2A, 2B & 2D & Eurobird 1

      D MBC Europe has launched on 11527 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2328, APID 2329 in clear MPEG-2. MBC replaces ART Europe on Sky Digital Ch.822. Three of the forthcoming Daily Express owned adult channels, Erotika 1, 2 and 3, have started testing on 11585 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3. TV JobShop has undergone a name change to Jobs TV on 11488 MHz vertical. Chat Box, an interactive SMS texting channel, has launched on 11390 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, Sky Ch.690 in clear MPEG-2. P-Rock TV has now returned to the Sky Digital line-up and appears at Ch.461. The Christian TV channel, Wonderful, has left the Sky EPG. The channel had been occupying Ch.673. Wonderful is still available in Africa via the Multichoice Africa digital platform. The new time-shifted version of the popular entertainment channel E4, E4+1, is set to launch on 14 July. The channel, which is currently testing on 11565 MHz vertical, will appear at Ch.206 in the Sky EPG. Two channels run by Chart Show TV, Video Vault (Ch.456) and Toons & Tunes (Ch.627) have been renamed The Vault and Pop respectively. Pay-per-view costs for movie buffs are set to increase this week. Sky have said that from 2 July PPV movies will cost GBP3.75 (€5.43) for movies ordered via the remote control. For telephone PPV orders the cost will increase to GBP4.75 (€6.88). Following the recent discussions and disagreements between Sky Digital and the BBC there has been a small reshuffle for some of the BBC channels. BBC Three and BBC Four have moved up in the EPG to more accessible slots at Ch.115 and 116. BBC Radio 4 (Long Wave) has switched EPG positions with BBC 6 Music with R4 now at Ch.911 and BBC 6 at Ch.870. Also test transmissions have been sighted on 10788 MHz vertical, SR 22000, FEC 5/6 and 10817 MHz vertical, SR 22000, FEC 5/6 for the forthcoming BBC regional variants/opt-outs which will be available to viewers from 29 July. At present 12 BBC One regional channels are carrying out tests here. RedButtonRacing, previously GoBarkingMad, has left the Sky EPG. The channel had occupied the Ch.414 slot but has not been seen for several days. RedButtonRacing’s feed stream on Sirius at 5 degrees East has also ceased. The new Asian channel, MATV, is testing on 11390 MHz horizontal. Live TV, which disappeared from our screens in November 1999 is set for a comeback. The channel became infamous for gems such as Weather in Norwegian, the News Bunny and Topless Darts. Live is expected to launch on 28 July and will be free-to-air.

      26 degreesE:
      Arabsat 2A, 2C & 3A

      D Lebanon-based Radio Orient has launched within the Lebanese bouquet on 11785 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 221.

      A Arabsat have completed the planned move of analogue C-Band channels from Arabsat 2A to 2C. The recent moves were; Sharjah TV, Sharjah FM from 3720 MHz RHCP to 3716 MHz horizontal; LBC Sat and Radio Liban Libre from 3741 MHz LHCP to 3724 MHz vertical; ESC 1, El-Bernameg al-Aam and Sout al-Arab from 3761; Iqraa from 3782 MHz LHCP to 3764 MHz vertical; MHz RHCP to 3756 MHz RHCP; Nile News 3802 MHz RHCP to 3796 MHz horizontal; MBC 2, MBC Radio and Radio Bahrain from 3823 MHz LHCP to 3804 MHz vertical; CNNI and CNN Radio from 3843 MHz RHCP to 3836 MHz horizontal; Future International, Radio Dar al-Iftah, Holy Qur’an Radio and Radio Orient from 3861 MHz LHCP to 3844 MHz vertical; Orbit promo channel and Orbit Express Shop from 3884 MHz RJCP to 3876 MHz horizontal; Sudan TV, Moltaqah al-Nielayen FM, Sudan Radio and Radio Omdurman Holy Qur’an from 3905 MHz LHCP to 3884 MHz vertical; Saudi Arabia TV 1, al-Qur’an al-Kareem and Main Arabic Programme from 3925 MHz RHCP to 3916 MHz horizontal; TV5 Orient and RMC Moyen-Orient left 3496 MHz LHCP; Saudi Arabia TV1 and Second Programme from 3968 MHz RHCP to 3956 MHz horizontal; Emirates Channel and Emarat FM from 3989 MHz LHCP to 3964 MHz vertical; Abu Dhabi TV and Emarat FM from 4039 MHz RHCP to 3996 MHz horizontal; EDTC Channel, Dubai Arabic FM and Dubai FM 92.0 from 4062 MHz LHCP to 4004 MHz vertical; al-Arabiyah from 4085 MHz RHCP to 4036 MHz horizontal; MBC and MBC FM from 4102 MHz LHCP to 4044 MHz vertical; al-Jazeera Satellite Channel, Sout al-Khaleel 100.8 FM and Qatar Radio from 4140 MHz LHCP to 4084 MHz vertical; Oman Satellite TV, Radio Oman and Radio Oman FM from 4140 MHz LHCP to 4084 MHz vertical; Kuwait Space Channel, Holy Qur’an Radio and Main Arabic service from 4167 MHz RHCP to 4116 MHz horizontal; Yemen Satellite TV, Sana’a Radio and Aden Radio from 4180 MHz LHCP to 4124 MHz vertical; Dubai Sports Channel has vacated 4044 MHz LHCP; Zen TV and Future TV USA have left 3875 MHz LHCP; Abu Dhabi TV Europe and al-Jazeera TV have left 4059 MHz RHCP and 4141 MHz RHCP respectively. Egyptian radio station Iza’at al-Sharq al-Awsat has launched on 3796 MHz horizontal via the 7.50 MHz sub-carrier. Radio Bahrain has vacated the 7.80 MHz sub-carrier at 3804 MHz vertical. New TV from Beirut is a new arrival at 3925 MHz vertical with audio at 6.60 MHz in clear PAL.

      16 degreesE:
      Eutelsat W2

      D The Italian multiplex on 11083 MHz horizontal, SR 11313, FEC 5/6 which contained MTV Italia, La 7, Fox News Channel, Fox Kids Italia, Radio Citta Futura, Talk Radio and Rete Sport has left the frequency. La 7 and MTV Italia can still be found in free-to-air MPEG-2 on 12632 MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4. The Greek channels Polis TV, OTE Promo and TV Peiraias have all left 11283 MHz horizontal. Radio Stari Grad from Bosnia has launched on 12692 MHz vertical, SR 4340, FEC 1/2, APID 52 alongside the Turkish TV channel NTV Hayat. Four Tiziana Sat streams have appeared on 11105 MHz horizontal, SR 8140, FEC 5/6, VPIDs 33/34/38/39, APIDs 35/36/39/52. They are entitled Tiziana Sat PM, Tiziana Sat RU, Tiziana Sat PB and Tiziana Sat. All of these streams are carrying the normal Tiziana Sat output. Radio San Marino and Radio Citta Futura are testing on 11083 MHz horizontal, SR 5210, FEC 5/6, APIDs 34/256. MusicMax and Love TV are stream-sharing on 10962 MHz horizontal, SR 2820, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195. Love TV airs from 23:00-19:00, the rest of the time MusicMax uses the stream.

      A At 11516 MHz vertical Morocco’s RTM 1 Europe launched last week in clear PAL. It was accompanied by RTM Chaine Nationale – 7.02/7.20 MHz, RTM Chaine Internationale – 7.38 MHz and RTM Chaine Dialectes – 7.56 MHz. However, a few days later all of these channels were switched off.

      13 degreesE:
      Hotbird 1/2/3/4/6

      D The Tamil-language channel South for You (CEE(I) TV) has joined the BT package at 10722 MHz horizontal, SR 29900, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V1008, A1308 in encoded MPEG-2. In the Spanish Telefonica Servicios Audiovisuales platform at 12092 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 a Sex TV promo and a Sex Gay TV promo have launched in clear MPEG-2 via PIDs V4600/4720, A4601/4721. Pakistan’s PTV National left the Telespazio package at 12111 MHz vertical and was replaced by IPN. PTV World, the country’s new international channel, opened on 12211 MHz horizontal last week along with MRTV 3 from Myanamar (Burma) in a stream-share via PIDs V3105, A3106 in clear MPEG-2. Radio Pakistan is new here too on APID 3106. It airs only in the evenings. Iran TV Network has returned to this frequency via VPID 230, APID 231. MKTV has made a re-appearance at 12188 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, V518, A656 after a short break. Test transmissions from Hellas Live are being carried in the Deutsche Telekom package at 11604 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 5/6, APID 192. Dubai Arabic AM Radio has left the Dubai multiplex at 11747 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. In the Arabesque package at 12015 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 al-Qur’an al-Kareem Radio left the frequency last week but has now returned. The Greek channel ERT Sat is testing in clear MPEG-2 on 112284 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 516, APID 690. MTV Portugal is new on 11242 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 160, APID 80 in the Viacom package. In the RTV Slovenija package at 12303 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 a Blue Line promo channel has launched in free-to-air MPEG-2 via PIDs V242, A243. From Italy, a Puglia Channel testcard has appeared in the Croatian package at 12520 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 515, APID 516 in clear MPEG-2. Zalea TV has been replaced by al-Hiwar TV in the BT multiplex at 11137 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 522, APID 642. al-Hiwar airs on Sundays only from 12:00-15:00. The Spanish channel TV Locale has opened in the TSA multiplex at 12092 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 4730, APID 4731. RadioCuore from the Pisa province in Italy has launched on 11200 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 5/6, APID 378. IPN and Jaam-e-Jam International have opened on 12520 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPIDs 296/304, APIDs 297/305. Radio Assalam is a newcomer to the GlobeCast line-up on 12597 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 2025. The Serbian channels, Pink Plus and Pink Extra have launched on 12577 MHz horizontal, ST 27500, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V512/513, A640/641 in Irdeto-encoded MPEG-2.

      10 degreesE:
      Eutelsat W1

      D Occasional feed traffic for CNBC Asia is using 11016 MHz vertical, SR 2665, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in free-to-air MPEG-2. On or around 19 June two new TV channels from Iraq were observed using Eutelsat W1 capacity. Iraq Media Network (IMN) was fired up on 11006 MHz vertical, SR 2790, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 from 11:00 with caption in Arabic which read ‘IMN Iraq Media Network’. After a short while the stream cut to a News bulletin followed by cartoons and a movie. On 11110 MHz vertical, SR 4050, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 a caption in Arabic stating ‘Twin Rivers TV – VHF Ch.11. Twin Rivers TV – UHF Ch.37’. IMN Radio was also present here via APID 257. No programming was noted on this stream. Transmissions are very erratic and neither channel has been seen again for some days.

      7 degreesE:
      Eutelsat W3

      D Isik TV is new on 11645 MHz horizontal, SR 30000, FEC 3/4, VPID 2100, APID 2200 within the DigiTurk package.

      5 degreesE:
      Sirius 2 & 3, Astra 1A

      D The Independent Radio News feeds for UK commercial stations, and many hospital radio installations, provided by SMS are to relocate to Sirius capacity from their present home on Intelsat 707. The multiplex will use 12111 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 5/6. There are no plans to encode the service.

      4 degreesW:
      Amos 1

      D The Israeli IBA Channel 3 has been replaced by Playboy TV in the Yes package at 11558 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 522, APID 670 in Videoguard-encoded MPEG-2. The six Yes multiplexes here for Israel use the Amos Israeli beam which covers Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt and the southern half of Turkey and northern Iran. In parallel with their new outlet on Eutelsat W2 at 16 degrees East, Love TV and MusicMax are sharing a stream on 11260 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, PIDs V1792, A1793 within the Telespazio Hungaria multiplex.

      5 degreesW:
      Telecom 2C & Atlantic Bird 3

      D Persian News Network, AssyriaSat and IPN are testing on 12669 MHz horizontal, SR 30000, FEC 5/6, VPIDs 266/268/270, APIDs 267/269/271 in clear MPEG-2.

      7 degreesW:
      Nilesat 101 & 102

      D A CNBC Arabiyah testcard has appeared on 11785 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 309 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Entertainment TV has officially launched on 11900 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 1122, APID 1123 in clear MPEG-2.

      11 degreesW:
      Express 3A

      D The Italian channel Coming Soon TV has opened on 11529 MHz vertical, SR 3254, FEC 2/3, VPID 920, APID 921.

      15 degreesW:
      Telstar 12

      D The Taiwanese channel CTI TV is encoded once again on 12595 MHz horizontal, SR 31830, FEC 3/4.Sima-Yeh Azadi Iran National TV and Voice of the Mojahed have now left 12588 MHz vertical. Asda FM 3 has launched on 11501 MHz horizontal, SR 6620, FEC 2/3, APID 1223 alongside Asda FM – A1123, Asda FM Scotland – A1121 and Virgin Megastores Radio – A1122. All of these are in MPEG-2/PowerVu. IPN, the Los Angeles based Farsi language channel, has opened on 11494 MHz vertical, SR 17464, FEC 3/4, VPID 1360, APID 1320 in clear MPEG-2. Some occasional feed traffic for Reuters can also be found here via V1560, A1520.

      22 degreesW:
      NSS 7

      D Adventist TV Network, a TV channel for the Seventh Day Adventist church, has launched on 11573 MHz horizontal, SR 6620, FEC 2/3, VPID 1160, APID 1120 in clear MPEG-2.

      30 degreesW:
      Hispasat 1B/C/D

      D In the Paquete Digital para América multiplex at 12052 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 Radio Nacional de Espana 5 Todo Noticias – APID 38 and Radio Exterior de Espana – APID 39 have launched in free-to-air MPEG-2. This package uses Hispasat’s American beam that covers East and mid-West USA and all of South America. MTV Europe has been replaced by MTV Portugal in the TV Cabo package at 11851 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4.

      34.5 degreesW:
      Intelsat 903

      D Nigeria’s MBI Africa has been coming and going on 3888 MHz LHCP, SR 16300, FEC 3/4 of late. This multiplex carries NTA 2, the State terrestrial TV channel of Nigeria, Rhythm FM, Star FM, Ray Powers 106.5 FM and Cool FM.