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

D – Digital
A – Analogue

75 degreesE:
LMI 1

A: TV Malagasy from Madagascar continues to provide good signal strengths into the southeast tip of the UK on 3975MHz vertical in clear Secam. Radio Malagasy has rejoined the transponder via the 7.80MHz subcarrier.

D: Sri Lankan TV is still testing on 3400MHz horizontal, SR 3498, FEC 3/4, VPID 1160, APID 1120 in clear MPEG-2. So far there is no sign of any regular programming.

68.5 degreesE:
PAS-4 & 7

A: BBC World TV India has left 3863MHz vertical but continues on 4181MHz vertical. On July 16 at 15:40 some feed traffic for NHK Tokyo from its London Bureau was fed over 12598MHz vertical in clear NTSC.

60 degreesE:
Intelsat 604

D: Kazakhstan’s Kanal 31 is using 11507MHz vertical, SR 3000, FEC 3/4, VPID 1023, APID 1024 in clear MPEG-2.

42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C & Eurasiasat 1

D: The PIDs for Kanal 7 on 11141MHz vertical, SR 4300, FEC 3/4 have changed to V308, A256. Radyo 7 can be heard via APID 257. Samanyolu World is available on 11552MHz vertical, SR 4556, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34. The programming is in parallel with Samayolu’s analogue outlet on Eutelsat W1 at 10 degrees East (11622MHz vertical). However it is not in parallel with the output from STV on 11122MHz in Pal on this satellite. Gold Music and Lokum FM are currently free-to-air on 12675MHz horizontal, SR 7897, FEC 5/6, APIDs 4352/2030. Both of these services can also be found on 12687MHz vertical, SR 29971, FEC 7/8 in encoded MPEG-2.

40 degreesE:
Gorizont 31

D:Radio Rossii and Radio Chechnja Svoboda (Radio Free Chechnya), which were available here before the major transponder failure, have launched in a stream share on 3742MHz RHCP, APID 35 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

30.5 degreesE:
Arabsat 2B

D: Bahrain TV has launched on 12713MHz, SR 4686, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 in clear MPEG-2. Tele Liban is new on 12731MHz vertical, SR 3036, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34. ART is using 12565MHz vertical and 12578MHz vertical, SR 7030, FEC 3/4 for occasional feed traffic.

28.5 degreesE:
Eurobird

D: Olisat TV has launched on 12559MHz vertical, SR 2169, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195, ID: ‘Fortress Olisat’ in clear MPEG-2. The ‘TEST’ stream in the CzechLink package on 12605MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 has been switched off. Digital Classics TV in the GOD bouquet on 11680MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 2328, APID 2329 is now encoded after an initial period in the clear.

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

D: Channel East appears to have left 11973MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, Sky Channel 688. Another ‘Sky Latest’ channel stream has started on 11914MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 515, APID 643 bringing the total to four on this frequency. Three Asian radio channels new to satellite are testing on 12343MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3. They are Sukh Sagar Radio – A2330, Spectrum 558 (well known to listeners in the London area to 558kHz medium wave) – A2332 and Asian Gold Radio – A2331. Asian Gold Radio was replaced later by test transmissions from the US religious broadcaster EWTN. Pakistani Radio has changed APID to 2323 on 11973MHz vertical. The music channel Q which up to now has been in- the-clear on Sky Digital channel 455 is now encoded. U Direct Sport has joined the line-up on 12402MHz vertical, VPID 2318, APID 2319, Sky Channel 432 in MediaGuard encoded MPEG- 2. Real Radio is new on 12324MHz vertical, APID 659, Sky Channel 896, in clear MPEG-2. Now that Big Brother UK has finished the Big Brother mosaic stream has been replaced by an E4 mosaic on 12168MHz vertical, VPID 2354, APID 2355. Lifestyle channel Granada Breeze is to be relaunched in September. Programming will place more emphasis on romance and relationships, the result of a number of redundancies at the station’s Manchester studios. Club Asia is testing on 12344MHz horizontal via APID 2332 prior to its imminent launch.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat 2A & 3A

D: Radio Oman is now available via two streams on 12034MHz horizontal. In addition to the original outlet via APID 4622 it can also be heard on APID 4822.

A: The Palestinian Satellite Channel has launched on 12536MHz vertical in clear Pal with audio via the 6.60MHz audio subcarrier. On its previous frequency (11977MHz vertical) Palestinian Satellite Channel has been replaced by Arab News Network in clear Pal. The signal level from Iraqi TV at 11950MHz vertical appears to have dropped sharply and reception in the UK has become very difficult.

24.2 degreesE:
Astra 1D

D: Three channels are testing on 10714MHz horizontal, SR 2169, FEC 3/4. They are Channel D (showing a testcard) – V309, A325, Channel D (with German pop music) – A326 and MagicStar (pop music) – A327. All of these streams are in free-to-air MPEG-2.

21.5E:
Eutelsat II-F3

D: Much of the UK regional feed traffic still uses this satellite. On July 20 at around 12:30 11631MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, ID ‘SISLink 5.632 PAL’ was feeding live horse racing from Newbury. 11645MHz, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, ID ‘8MHz Basic’ displayed colour bars accompanied by horse racing commentary. At the same time 11662MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, ID ‘STRYDER 1 UKI 491 VL’ video was being uplinked live for Carlton Central TV News from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire as preparations were being made for the maiden test flight of Concorde following the modifications made after the Paris crash last year. On 11695MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, ID ‘HOL1’ a report for Fox News from Genoa was being fed in clear MPEG-2. On July 21 disgraced peer Lord Archer was temporarily released from prison to attend his mother’s funeral. Sky News was ready with an SNG truck in place early on and with feed material uplinked at around 08:30 on 11047MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID ‘SISLink 12 UKI 588’ in clear MPEG-2. UK breakfast channel GMTV is on the road again for the summer. On July 23 at 08:20 live inserts for the programme from Torquay in Devon were fed over 11087MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID ‘SISLink25 UKI 253’ in clear MPEG-2. A feed for BBC News featuring correspondent Brian Barron on board a helicopter over Mount Etna was fed over 12507MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, ID ‘IMAGE UNLIMITED’ on July 24 at 17:30.

19.2 degreesE:
Astra 1A-C & E-H

D: The Servicios Interactivos promo stream has changed PIDs to V163, A92 on 11895MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 and is now broadcasting in the clear.

A: After 12 years of faithful service, Astra 1A has now been retired from active duty and is being moved to inclined orbit. The last four active transponders – though 12 remain operational if required – have been handed over to Astra 1C. The satellite is now beening place into an inclined orbit. BSkyB has confirmed that it will pull the plug on its analogue service in September. This will mean that some 100,000 subscribers will be left with no service at all. However, they don’t have much viewing choice at present with just Sky One, Sky Sports 2 and Sky Premier making up the remaining analogue channels from the Sky package still broadcasting in Pal. CNBC, Bloomberg, CNN and Eurosport also remain.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2

D: Portuguese channel SIC Internacional is encoded once again on 12568MHz horizontal after a time in the clear. Zeitouna TV is new on 11021MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2. The channel broadcasts part time, on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 20:00-22:00. Zeitouna TV is the mouthpiece of the Tunisian Islamist opposition which is based in London. One of the first of many feeds from Sicily regarding the major eruption of volcano Mount Etna was spotted here on July 19 at 18:00 on 10989MHz horizontal, SR 6398, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34, ID ‘Milano’ in clear MPEG-2 with a piece to camera by an Italian correspondent. On July 20 at 06:40 live first hop feed traffic from Genoa was carried on 11125MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, ID ‘US TV POOL 1’ in MPEG-2/NTSC. Coverage of the Safari car rally in Africa was fed over 11021MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195, ID ‘NEWSFORCE1’ in clear MPEG-2 on July 21 at 16:05. A report on US President George W Bush’s audience with the Pope in Rome was relayed on 11124MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 on July 23 at 09:05. Live coverage of the German F1 Grand Prix from Hockenheim was relayed on 12555MHz horizontal, SR 1265, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 for RTL in free-to-air MPEG-2 during the afternoon of July 29.

13 degreesE:
Eutelsat Hot Bird 1/2/3/4/5

D: TVE Internacional Asia/Africa is now available via two streams on 11785MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V3521/3529, A3522/3530 in free-to-air MPEG-2. TVE Internacional Europe is no longer present on this transponder. In addition, RNE Radio 1, RNE Radio Clasica, RNE Radio 3, Radio Exterior de Espana and RNE Radio 5 Todo Noticias have all launched here. Olisat TV is once again in-the-clear on 11095MHz horizontal, VPID 33, APID 39. Thai TV5 has left 12110MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 220, APID 221. The channel is still available via 12673MHz vertical, VPID 200, APID 201 in clear MPEG-2. Some new radio services have opened on 12565MHz horizontal. They are Kol Israel, Reshet Aleph, Voice of Hope and Voice of Vietnam. Zee Cinema has launched on 12476MHz horizontal, VPID 915, APID 916 and is currently free-to-air with back-to-back Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi films. RTL 102.5 and FM Classics have launched on 11862MHz horizontal, APIDs 638/639 in MediaGuard encoded MPEG-2. Dubai Sports Europe and Radio Dubai have left 12654MHz horizontal.

A: TV5 Europe and the accompanying radio stations, France Info, France Inter, France Culture, Radio Maria and Radio Monte Carlo Middle East have all left 11405MHz vertical. The Spanish all news channel Canal 24 Horas and four Radio Nacional de Espana channels have all vacated 11785MHz vertical. Other channels can be expected to switch off their analogue feeds at this location over the next few months.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat W1

D: RTK 1 from Kosovo has moved to 11134MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 from Eutelsat W3. The channel airs from 16:00-20:00 nightly in clear MPEG-2. BBC Sport’s primary feed from the Open Championship golf was on 11143MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, ID: ‘Maxat Network’ in clear MPEG-2 last week. On July 22 at 11:40 a relay from a tennis tournament in Stuttgart was fed over 10996MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, ID ‘SERVICE 1’ in clear MPEG-2. The final of the ITV programme Survivor was fed over 10973MHz vertical, SR 26493, FEC 7/8, VPID 308, APID 256, ID ‘NTL SNG Coder 2’ in clear MPEG-2 at 20:15 on July 25. At 13:00 on July 29 the Derry-versus-Galway soccer match was fed over 11004MHz vertical, SR 6110, FEC 3/4 for the Irish sports channel Setanta Sport in clear MPEG-2. Live boxing from Germany was relayed on 11080MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, ID ‘HOL6 Berlin 611’ on July 28 at 20:10 for Premiere Sport.

7 degreesE:
Eutelsat W3

D: Kosovo’s RTK 1 has left 11567MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 and moved to Eutelsat W1. Euronews and its seven language audio streams has left 11387MHz horizontal and relocated to 11554MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 2221, APIDs 2231-2237 in free-to-air MPEG-2. NHK Tokyo was using 11069MHz horizontal, SR 6666, FEC 7/8 at around 06:30 on July 20 for live first hop feed traffic from outside the G8 Summit in Genoa. A feed for the German channel ARD1 from the edge of the Etna volcano was fed over 10968MHz horizontal, SR 6666, FEC 7/8, VPID 308, APID 256, ID ‘IMAGE UNLIMITED’ on July 23 at 15:40. More on Etna, another feed from the site was noted on July 26 at 17:00 on 11053MHz vertical, SR 6666, FEC 7/8, VPID 3601, APID 3604, ID ‘CLN_ELPITEL’ for ITN.

5 degreesE:
Sirius 2/3

A: Asianet has returned to 12303MHz horizontal, SR 24441, FEC 7/8, VPID 1260, APID 1220 in free-to-air MPEG-2 after a short break. TV6 Moskva is now encoded in Viaccess on 12380MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 55, APID 56. On July 18 at 22:30 a recorded feed from a rock concert in Kiev, Ukraine was relayed on 12590MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID: ‘UKR001’ in free-to-air MPEG-2. Horse racing from Ascot was relayed on 12590MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 4096, ID ‘TML NATIONELL- ASCOT-EMIRATES WORLD SERIES’ on July 28 at 15:00. At the same time 12682MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 4112, ID ‘TERACOM SWE 001’ was active with greyhound racing from Barras.

3 degreesE:
Telecom 2B

D: Reports on the progress of the Tour de France were carried on 11565MHz vertical, SR 6283, FEC 7/8, V512, A4112, ID ‘FTR/F.32/1/11MB SDI’ and 11573MHz vertical, SR 6283, FEC 7/8, V512, A4112, ID ‘FTR/F.32/2/11MB SDI’ on July 21 at 17:20 for one of the French networks.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat 101 & 102

D: Two Egyptian radio channels, Shamal Al-Saaeed and Al-Akhbar wa Al-Moseekah have launched on 11766MHz horizontal via APIDs 1408/1505 in clear MPEG-2.

8 degreesW:
Telecom 2A/D

D: Live Tour de France action was fed over 11615MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 4112, ID ‘FTR/6111 PAL’ for the French channel France 3 on July 21 at 11:10 in free-to-air MPEG-2. The Lyon-Versus-Lens soccer match was fed over 11578MHz vertical, SR 6328, FEC 7/8, VPID 512, APID 4112, ID ‘FTR/11MB SDI’ in clear MPEG-2 on July 28 at 17:00. Live football from Switzerland was available on 11630MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195, ID ‘FLAVIA-L SRG-ZR’ with the FC Zurich-versus-FC Basel match in clear MPEG-2.

12 degreesW:
Eutelsat II-F2

D: SIC Internacional has returned to its usual encoded state on 12574MHz vertical.

15 degreesW:
Telstar 12

D: National Iranian TV (NITV) has left 12601MHz horizontal, SR 3769, FEC 2/3 and 12612MHz horizontal, SR 4122, FEC 1/2. However this channel can still be seen via the multiplex at 12606MHz horizontal, SR 9765, FEC 2/3 which contains the Taiwanese channels CTN – V290, A291, Tzu-Chi TV – V306, A307 as well as MSTV – V257, A258 and NITV – V274, A275.

18 degreesW:
Intelsat 705

D: Digital feed traffic increased last week with the major disturbances in Genoa regarding the G8 Summit. On July 20 10996MHz vertical, SR 6400, FEC 3/4 carried reports for various broadcasters from Genoa harbour. 11018MHz vertical, SR 6400, FEC 3/4 was in use by more world TV channels from the town centre just outside the exclusion zone set up around the summit location.

A: Analogue feeds are rare here now but on July 26 at 18:10 a live relay from a ladies marathon race in Italy was fed over 11134MHz vertical in clear Pal for one of the Italian networks.

21.3 degrees/21.5 degreesW:
NSS 803 & NSS K

D: Fashion TV has appeared on 11480MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 in free-to-air MPEG-2 via PIDs V308, A256. On July 22 the final rounds from the Golf Open championship golf in Lytham St Annes were fed over 11660MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID: ‘NTL SNG Coder 2’ in clear MPEG-2 with English commentary.

27.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 605

D: Nigerian channel Minaj Broadcasting continue to use 3872MHz RHCP, SR 3999, FEC 1/2, VPID 33, APID 34 to feed their signal to the UK for turnaround and uplinking to Eurobird at 28.5 degrees East.

30 degreesW:
Hispasat 1A/B/C

D: Coverage of a friendly soccer match between Bordeaux and Benfica was fed over 11623MHz vertical, SR 4500, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID ‘TVI BORDEAUX’ on July 21 at 18:30 in clear MPEG-2. Live paragliding from Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands was fed over 11628MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID ‘FLY_ATLAS’ on July 28 at 14:30.

31.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 801

D: Radio Senegal has joined Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise (RTS) on 3716MHz RHCP, SR 4882, FEC 2/3 via APID 34 in clear MPEG-2. A live feed from the famous Love Parade in Berlin was fed over 11486MHz vertical, SR 6110, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195, ID: ‘MTV LIVE FROM BERLIN’ for MTV Germany on July 20. Live greyhound racing from Belle Vue for Sky Sports was fed over 10999MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID ‘8m TES’ on July 24 at 18:30. As the season nears a number of soccer feeds are popping up here now. During the afternoon of July 28 the following were noted; 10956MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, V308, A256, ID ‘SKY SPORTS.COM TES34’ – Preston-Versus-Everton; 10973MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, V308, A256, ID ‘BT TES 42’ – Mansfield-versus-Middlesborough; 10981MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID ‘9MHz, PAL,1RS232’ – Hibernian-versus-Kilmarnock; 10989MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, V308, A256, ID ‘5.632MSYM/S’ – Derby County-versus-Sheffield Wednesday and 11008MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, V308, A256, ID ‘5.632 MSYM/s 2 Audio’ – report on the QPR – Chelsea match.

37.5 degreesW:
Telstar 11 & Columbia 515

D: CNN and CNN Headline News continue to alternate on 11460MHz horizontal, SR 2313, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195 in clear MPEG-2/NTSC 525 lines. Also, an unusual sight, US Army TV (presumably part of AFRTS), can sometimes be seen on this stream.

All times in UTC unless otherwise stated.
E-mail: [email protected]

SR – Symbol Rate
FEC – Forward Error Corretion
VPID – Video Programme Identifier
APID – Audio Programme Identifier

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