TRANSPONDER MONITOR

Interspace’s in-depth study of European satellite activity, compiled by Mike Fallon

Key:
D – Digital
A – Analogue

90 degreesE:
Yamal 102
D – Turkmen TV’s three TV channels and one radio service have moved here from their previous home on Gorizont-32 at 53 degrees East. The new Turkmen multiplex can be found on 3548MHz LHCP, SR 12500, FEC 3/4. The occupants are TMT1 – V1160, A1120, TMT2 – V1260, A1220, TMT3 – V1360, A1320, Turkmen Radio First programme – A1122 (left channel) and Radio Mayak – A1122 (right channel). The other occupants of this Gazprom owned satellite are Prometei AST, TV6 Moskva, NTV (Moscow time +7 hours), TNT (Moscow time +7 hours) and Darial TV, all on 3645MHz LHCP, SR 28000, FEC 3/4 and a multiplex operated by a Moscow based provider, HeliosNet on 3796MHz LHCP. Yamal 102’s Russian beam covers from parts of Scandinavia in the north to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan and Tehran in the south.

75 degreesE:
LMI-1
D – Another TV channels has joined the new Ukrainian digital package on 11618MHz vertical, SR 5998, FEC 3/4. O-TV has started alongside the domestic channel U-TV. Both of these are free-to-air in MPEG-2.

68.5 degreesE:
Pas 4 & 7
A – The Iranian opposition channel, Sima-yeh Moghavemat on 11170MHz horizontal in clear Pal has started to use the transponder around the clock. When not actually broadcasting programmes the transponder airs a promo video for the channel.

66 degreesE:
Intelsat 704
A – A test transmission from the southern Indian channel, Ennade TV, was noted on November 11 at 4095MHz LHCP in clear Pal. This transponder was previously occupied by another Indian channel, Gemini TV.

62 degreesE:
Intelsat 602
A – On November 1 at 08:30 a short feed for an unknown broadcaster from Hong Kong was fed over 4166MHz RHCP in clear Pal. At around the same time the other feed transponder at 4188MHz RHCP was carrying feed traffic for the Korea Broadcasting System from Seoul in free-to-air NTSC.

53 degreesE:
Gorizont 32
D – The three TV channels and one radio service from Turkmenistan have left 3714MHz RHCP, SR 12497, FEC 3/4 (see Yamal-102, 90 degrees East). Another Central Asian republic, Tajikistan, is using 3738MHz RHCP, SR 4399, FEC 3/4 to relay their domestic TV channel, TVT, in clear MPEG-2.

45 degreesE:
Europe*Star 1
This craft was launched from Kourou on October 29 and has now reached its geostationary slot here. Transponders are being tested at present and unmodulated carriers have been observed on 11460 MHz horizontal and 11480MHz vertical.

28.5 degreesE:
Kopernikus DFS2
D – Eutelsat have confirmed that Eutelsat-II-F4, currently parked at 33 degrees east, will be moved to this slot to replace the ailing Kopernikus-DFS2. II-F4 will remain on station here until its replacement, EuroBird, is launched in April next year. EuroBird will carry 24 transponders designed to interlace with the frequencies currently used by the Astra constellation just 3 degrees to the West.

28.2 degreesE:
Astra 1D/2A & 2B
D – After an extraordinarily long lead time, the Urdu language channel, Anjuman TV, has officially launched finally on 12402MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2320, APID 2321. The channel has yet to appear in the Sky Digital EPG. The Dating Channel has launched on 11954MHz horizontal, VPID 2308, APID 2310, Sky Digital Channel 656 in free-to-air MPEG-2. It airs from 19:00-08:00 nightly. Another finance channel is likely to join the Sky Digital line up in mid 2001. The imaginatively named Financial Channel. However, the new channel differs from the two existing channels in the genre, Simply Money and The Money Channel. They are aimed more at private investors and the general public whilst The Financial Channel will target financial advisors, independent advisors and financial product providers. Apart from satellite DTH the new channel will also be available via the Internet and a WAP/GPRS system. Hot on the heels of the launch of its new music channel Q TV, publishing house EMAP have just announced the proposed launch of two more. Magic and Kerrang may be joining Sky Digital in the second quarter of 2001. The Racing Network International (see also Sirius at 5 degrees East) has entered into a stream share with The Racing Channel on 12226 MHz horizontal, VPID 2312, APID 2313. The new channel can be seen from 18:00-24:00 nightly. The channel is downlinked by Kingston TLI from Sirius and uplinked by them to Astra at 28.2 degrees East.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat 2A & 3A
D – Lebanon’s MTV has left 11747MHz vertical and has been replaced by a test card.

19.2 degreesE:
Astra 1A-C & E-H
D – It’s that time of year again. Three Christmas audio streams have launched on 12051MHz horizontal. They are Traditional Christmas – A639, Instrumental Christmas – A640 and Pop Christmas – A641. All are currently free-to-air but are likely to encode soon. Zik, a new French music channel, has launched on 12266MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 164, APID 96.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2
D – A new Romanian radio station, Romania Muzica, has launched on 12714MHz vertical via APID 1322. Radio Romania Actualitati on the same frequency has changed APID to 1321. The Flemish language children’s channel, TMF Vlaanderen, has launched on 11081MHz horizontal, SR 4338, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 in free-to-air MPEG-2. At 08:45 on November 5 a relay of a church service in Dutch was fed over 10958MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2. The EPG entry read “Fucino E/S”. Live coverage of the launch party for the new Spice Girls album at the Red Cubes nightclub in London was fed over 11012MHz horizontal, SR 5631, FEC 3/4,

V308, A256, EPG: “SOLO” for BBC News on November 6 in clear MPEG-2. Preparations for a US Presidential second hop feed were sighted on November 7 at 19:10 on 12560MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, V308, A256. A “CBS NEWSPATH – SCAFFOLDING 5” caption was replaced a little later with the familiar “WATERFRONT NY NCC” caption. 11140MHz, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 was relaying a live feed from a soccer ground before the match had started on November 8 at 19:30. The EPG entry was “TERACOM SWE 01B”. Italy’s version of Big Brother, Grande Fratello, is being fed over 10968MHz horizontal, SR 6398, FEC3/4 in clear MPEG-2.

A – Al-Bernameg El-Thany, Egypt’s Second Cultural Programme has launched on the 7.20 MHz audio sub-carrier on the back of Nile TV at 11474MHz vertical. The radio service airs here from 16:00-24:00 daily.

13 degrees E:
Hotbirds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
D – The parameters for the Hallmark Entertainment package on 12457MHz vertical have changed. They are now SR 27500, FEC 3/4. On this frequency Hallmark UK has been replaced by Hallmark Turkey on VPID 2460, APID 2420. All of the channels in the bouquet are encoded. The French music channel, MCM Europe, which was in the clear for a short while is now encoded again on 12188MHz vertical. The Sat Expo Channel has left 12111MHz vertical and the independent Italian channel, Napoli International, vacated 12303MHz vertical for 24 hours and then promptly returned. On 12015MHz horizontal ART Ala Keefak is now free-to-air and the newest channel from the ART stable, ART Tarab, has launched via PIDs V161, A84 in Viaccess encoded MPEG-2. Tarab, which features Arabic classical music programming, airs from 19:00-05:00. This stream is shared with ART Children. A test card from Reminiscent TV has appeared on 12380MHz vertical, VPID 3022, APID 3032. Reminiscent TV is the instigator of Anjuman TV and several other Indian language channels available via Astra at 28.2 degrees East. In common with the Romanian multiplex on Eutelsat W2 at 16 degrees East, Radio Romania Actualitati has been replaced by Romania Muzica on 11623MHz vertical, APID 257. BBC World has launched at 12597MHz vertical, VPID 163, APID 92 in Viaccess encoded MPEG-2.

A – On the back of RTP Internacional RDP Antena 2 has been replaced by RDP Africa on the 7.56MHz sub-carrier.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat W1
D – On November 2 at 1340 a feed from APTN’s Jerusalem bureau was fed over 11142MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2 with Hebrew commentary. The EPG entry read “Satlink Millennium”. On November 7 at 19:20 10956MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4 was relaying colour bars from Denmark. The EPG ID was “DNK 18 DR-TV”. At the same time a live feed from a seafood restaurant in Spain was being carried on 10994MHz vertical, SR 6109, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, EPG: “TSA-M57 AD” in clear MPEG-2. At 19:30 on the 7th a very weak feed from an OB in Denmark was fed over 11042MHz horizontal, SR 6109, FEC 3/4, EPG: “DR-TV DNK 13” and up at 11056MHz vertical colour bars were occupying a stream overlaid with “TGRT UPLINK*ANKARA”.

7 degreesE:
Eutelsat W3
D – Leonardo, an Italian channel, has launched on 11513MHz horizontal, VPID 2102, APID 2202 in clear MPEG-2. The French channel, TV5 Europe, has left both 11388 and 11554MHz horizontal. Reuters Financial TV has launched via a new stream at 12638MHz vertical, SR 2047, FEC 1/2, VPID 512, APID 640 in addition to their existing outlet at 12722MHz vertical. A live interview in Russian from a very rainy location was fed over 11126MHz vertical, SR 5698, FEC 3/4, V33, A34, EPG: “Service 2” on November 7 at 19:40.

5 degreesE:
Sirius 2/3
D – One of the streams in the Kingston TLI multiplex on 12453MHz, SR 18052, FEC _ is carrying occasional feeds of horse and dog racing for betting shops. The stream is identified as “KTLI OV” in the EPG on PIDs V1056, A1057. The channel is named Racing Network International. This feed is probably used to supply the signal to Astra at 28.2 degrees East. In the same package the Christian Family Radio is being carried on A301 under the EPG banner “King6” in clear MPEG-2. English audio is carried on the left channel and Spanish via the right channel. Ukraine’s Novy Kanal (New Channel) continues to broadcast in free-to-air MPEG-2 on 12688MHz vertical, SR 3977, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195. Travel has been replaced by Travel Deals Direct on 11977MHz vertical, VPID 2101, APID 2102. The new channel is encoded in Viaccess.

0.8 degrees /1 degreesW:
Thor 1, 2, 3 & Intelsat 707
D – TV Danmark 2 appears to have vacated 11620MHz vertical in MPEG-2. The channel has been absent for over a week from this frequency. Scandinavian Satellite Radio has launched a free-to-air service on 11014MHz horizontal via APID 673. The Bulgarian channel, TV 7 Dni (Seven Days) has switched to encoded MPEG-2 on 12169MHz horizontal.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat 101 & 102
D – There have been several changes on 11900MHz vertical. An ART Tarab promo video is being played out over via PIDs V372, A373, Cartoon Network UK has launched on V364, A365 using Irdeto encryption, EuroSport Germany has started on V1001, A1002 in clear MPEG-2 and The Filippino Channel has left the multiplex.

8 degreesW:
Telecom 2A/D
D – Vietnam’s VTV can still be found on 11556MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 4281, APID 4282 in free-to-air MPEG-2 within the Mediagate package. VTV will eventually encode and will only be available via subscription. At 16:10 on November 8 12680MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, A256 was carrying live tennis from the Lyon Grand Prix in France for the French terrestrial channel France 3 in clear MPEG-2. The EPG entry was “FR3 MEGALOW”. At 19:20 on the 8th 11587MHz horizontal, SR 13600, FEC 3/4, VPID 772, APID 782 was displaying colour bars overlaid with “HERO/MIAMI, FL/USA”. Interestingly the EPG entry read “EUROLIGA BBC”.

12 degreesW:
Eutelsat II-F2
D – There were a whole bunch of US election feeds here on November 6, 7 and 8, many of which were carrying eastbound EBU traffic. Frequencies in use were 11000MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 – EBU New York/Washington NTSC/4:2:2; 11020MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4 – EBU New York/Washington NTSC/4;2;2; 11040MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 – various feeds on the KTLI stream NTSC/4:2:2; 11046MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4 – EBU New York/Washington NTSC/4:2:2; 11066MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4 – EBU New York/Washington NTSC/4:2:2, 11542MHz, SR 6111, FEC 3/4 – various KTLI feeds NTSC/4:2:2 and 11555MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 – various KTLI feeds NTSC/4:2:2.

15 degreesW:
Telstar 12
D – Tzu Chi TV from Taiwan has changed parameters on 12618MHz horizontal. They are now SR 4991, FEC 1/2, VPID 1057, APID 1058. The channel broadcasts in the clear but the video signal is inverted. China Television Networks has launched a new service for North America on the same frequency via PIDs V33, A34 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Extreme UK, part of the UPC package for cable head-ends on 11060MHz horizontal, SR 18382, FEC 3/4, is now encoded following several weeks in the clear. Up at 11124MHz horizontal, the home of more UPC channels, Innergy and Expo 24×7 are both now encrypted.

18 degreesW:
Intelsat 705
A – A second hop feed from Baikonur, Kazakhstan was fed over 4188MHz RHCP in clear Pal on October 31 at 09:00 featuring a press conference in Russian and English being given by the US/Russian astronauts about to lift off to join the International Space station.

21.3 degrees/21.5 degreesW:
NSS-803 & NSS-K
D – A curious continuous feed has appeared on 11543MHz vertical, SR 29271, FEC 5/6, VPID 44, APID 45. It consists of the output of four CCTV cameras using split screen, which appear to be observing some kind of compound. The time given on the screen relates to EDT putting the location as the eastern seaboard of the United States. The EPG entry is “NSS_K Video”. Various US Presidential feeds were fed over 11496MHz horizontal, SR 5631, FEC 3/4, V308, A256 on November 7 at around 20:00. The EPG entry was 422P@ML. At the same time the BT Washington stream on 11509MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 650 was carrying a live US election feed in Spanish and up at 11521MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, V512, A650 colour bars were sighted overlaid with “Crawford Trucks”. The three GlobeCast streams at 11590MHz vertical were very busy on the 7th. At 20:15 Channel 1 (V1160, A1120) was displaying colour bars overlaid with “HERO/MIAMI, FL/USA” accompanied by music on the audio stream. Channel 2 (V1260, A1220) was airing preparations for a live studio feed and Channel 3 (V1360, A1320) was feeding a recording of an election programme for Japanese TV. The US version of CNN was fed over 11481MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4 on November 7 in clear NTSC. On November 8 at 15:15 12699MHz vertical was fired up with colour bars overlaid with “EBU AUSTIN TX” in preparation for an eastbound feed from the Bush camp in Texas. On November 8 at 15:50 live horse racing from Dortmund, Germany was fed over 114560MHz horizontal, SR 6109, FEC 3/4, V33, A34 in clear MPEG-2. Around the same time 11496MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, V308, A256 was displaying this caption “VERIZON AVOC WASH DC” over colour bars. It was accompanied by a tape loop on the audio stream with “This is Bell Atlantic”. The EPG ID was 422P@ML. On the same day both GlobeCast Channel 1 and 2 on 11590 MHz vertical were relaying a caption with “DCI 202-775-4300”. For most of last week some of the GMTV presenters were in the US for the elections. Their live inserts into the programme were fed over 11465MHz vertical, SR 5630, FEC 3/4 in free-to- air MPEG-2. BBC’s Newsnight programme came live from the US on November and the eastbound feed of the programme was on 11610MHz vertical, SR 5698, FEC 3/4 in clear NTSC.

37.5 degreesW:
Telstar 11 & Columbia 515
D – Rare feed traffic was noted here on November 2 at 18:10 on 11559MHz horizontal, SR 6109, FEC 3/4, VPID 1160, APID 1120 in clear MPEG-2. The feed was of a religious programme. A caption after the relay stated “CBN.com, The 700 Club, PO Box 109, Hertford, HR4 9XR, England.”

43 degreesW:
Pas 3R & Pas 6
D – On November 8 at 15:30 the CBS Newspath feed stream at 12635MHz horizontal, SR 19844, FEC 7/8, VPID 1160, APID 1120 was relaying a live feed for NTV Russia about Russian Americans voting in the US election. An Italian US Election special was fed over 12701MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, V33, A34 in clear MPEG-2 on November 8. Also, the major US networks were in evidence here with ABC election coverage on 12508MHz horizontal, SR 6618, FEC 2/3, VPID 2160, APID 2120 in NTSC and rival NBC could be found on 12731 MHz horizontal, SR 19846, FEC 7/8, VPID 1360, APID 1320 in free-to-air NTSC.

58 degreesW:
Pas 5
D – PAS-5 digital capacity was brought into service on November 7 as the volume of US election feeds increased. Two streams here carried frequent feed traffic for the Japanese state broadcaster NHK. 11507MHz horizontal, SR 10848, FEC 3/4, V3601, A3604, EPG: “PSSI Digital 9” and 11528MHz horizontal, SR 10848, FEC 3/4, V33, A34, EPG: “PSSI Digital 3” were both well received in the south east of the UK on a dish size of just 1.2 metres.