Transponder Monitor

Interspace’s In-Depth Study of European satellite activity, compiled by Mike Fallon

D = Digital
A = Analogue

78.5 degreesE:
Thaicom 2&3
D: From Pakistan, PTV1 and Radio Pakistan have left 3424 MHz vertical and moved to 3480 MHz vertical, SR 3333, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APIDs 256 (PTV1 – left channel, Radio Pakistan – right channel).

62 degreesE:
Intelsat 902
D: The Iranian opposition channel Sima-Yeh Azadi has launched on 4000 MHz LHCP, SR 6109, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2.

60 degreesE:
Intelsat 604
D: Russia’s NTV has launched on 11519 MHz vertical, SR 17500, FEC 3/4, VPID 513, APID 653 in clear MPEG-2.

45 degreesE:
Europe*Star 1
D: This craft still carries the bulk of the westbound feed traffic from Pakistan and Afghanistan. A new feed stream has appeared on 11463 MHz vertical, SR 5550, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195, ID:’Reuters Newsforce UKI579′. When not in use colour bars are displayed overlaid with ‘ Newsforce Reuters Pakistan. UKI 579 Quetta Pakistan. Contact +873763018699’.

42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C & Eurasiasat 1
D: The ATV feed stream on 10984 MHz horizontal, SR 4688, FEC 3/4 has switched polarity to vertical, thus changing from Turkish beam to a westerly beam. Space TV is new on this frequency too, via PIDs V308, A256. There are new PIDs for Kiss TV on 10984 MHz vertical, SR 3332, FEC 3/4 – V512, A650. Two Turkish radio stations are accompanying Samanyolu World TV on 11155 MHz vertical, SR 5555, FEC 3/4, APID 35. They are Morale FM (left channel) and Akra FM (right channel). Haber Turk has launched on 11804 MHz vertical, VPID 1539, APID 1540. Kanal D has been replaced by ATV on 12553 MHz horizontal, V1536, A1537 in Nagravision encoded MPEG-2. Genc TV was absent from 12527 MHz horizontal, SR 7140, FEC 5/6 in the Medya Grubu package on October 10 but had returned by the following day.

A: Kanal D Fun on 11565 MHz vertical and Kanal D on 11024 MHz horizontal were silenced for 24 hours on October 12 for violating Turkish broadcasting laws. Radyo XL has left the 7.38/7.56 sub-carriers on the back of SuperSport/Maxi TV at 11685 MHz vertical.

36 degreesE:
Eutelsat W4 & Sesat
D: National TV of Armenia (NTA) and Radio Armenia have returned to 12686 MHz horizontal, SR 3254, FEC 2/3, VPID 255, APID 256 (NTA – left channel and Radio Armenia – right channel). The channel for Kurdish expatriates, KurdSat, has left 12689 MHz vertical.

30.5 degreesE:
Arabsat 2B
A: Analogue feed traffic is rare here these days, but on October 15 at 15:40 a recorded report from an unidentified location was fed over 4080 MHz RHCP in clear Pal for RTM 1 Morocco with Arabic audio via the 6.60 MHz audio sub-carrier.

28.5 degreesE:
Eurobird
D: Qatar’s Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel has launched on 11642 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2309, APID 2310. Al-Jazeera, which has come to the fore during the current Afghan crisis as this is the only broadcaster given free access to Afghanistan and the Taleban, is now available to Sky Digital customers by adding the channel manually.

28.2 degreesE:
Astra 2A, 2B & 2D
D: The PIDs for Travel Channel and Travel Deals on 12051 MHz vertical have been changed to V2326/2329, A2328/2331. Both channels are free-to-air. Up at 12421 MHz horizontal Home Shopping Europe is sporting new PIDs – V2314, A2315 – in clear MPEG-2. The new BBC World Service stream which has appeared in the Sky Digital EPG at Ch.902 (see Transponder Monitor October 3) is entitled BBC World Service Extra. It is carrying Arabic, Bengali, Hindi, Persian and Urdu language programming plus some programmes in Dari and Pashtu, the two main languages spoken in Afghanistan. The Sonali Channel has replaced BANGLA TV on 11973 MHz vertical. A UK based channel dedicated to gay and lesbian viewers is to join the Sky Digital line-up next year. RNTV from the Rainbow Television stable is slated for an April launch. Sky News Radio 2 is new on 12324 MHz vertical. Simply Music has officially launched on 12422 MHz horizontal, VPID 2312, APID 2313, Sky Ch. 650. The new channels currently airs from 22:00-09:00 nightly. That curious Castle video loop, well known to former watchers of the two Kopernikus craft, has appeared on 10906 MHz vertical, SR 22000, FEC 5/6, VPID 100, APID 101. The loop consists of around 10 seconds of an aerial video showing a German castle.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat 2A & 3A
D: There have been a lot of changes here this time. Yemen’s local Arabic radio service is available on APID 2521 on 12014 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, ID:’YEMEN A1′ in clear MPEG-2. Another stream on the same frequency entitled ‘YEMEN A2’ is empty so far but may carry the Republic of Yemen Radio External Service from Sana’a in the future. The two domestic Kuwaiti TV channels, TV 3 and TV 4, continue to broadcast in free-to-air MPEG-2 on 11873 MHz vertical, SR 4339, FEC 3/4. The channels share a stream on VPID 308, APID 256. EuroNews has launched on 12620 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 2360, APID 2320. Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel has launched on 11747 MHz vertical, VPID 2560, APID 2520 replacing MBC Europe. Bahrain’s General Arabic Service has left 11766 MHz horizontal. Saudi TV Channel 2 and the Jeddah based Second Arabic radio service have launched on 12034 MHz horizontal, VPID 4960, APIDs 4920/4922 in clear MPEG-2. These two channels previously occupied streams at 11747 MHz vertical, VPID 2060, APIDs 2020/2021 which have been taken over by Syrian Satellite Channel and Syrian Radio Main Programme. Both of these Syrian services moved here from 11766 MHz horizontal where their slot has been taken by the Orbit Promo Channel. The Kuwait Space Channel is new on 11868 MHz vertical, SR 2893, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256. Bahrain TV has launched on 12015 MHz vertical, VPID 2360, APID 2320. The ADD/Al-Wael multiplex on 12605 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 which contains ART Global, ART Movies, ART Al-Hikayat, ART Al-Tarab, ART Music, ART Teenz, ART Al-Manahig, Wow, Now Channel, Iqraa Channel and Jordan Satellite Channel has left this frequency and relocated to Nilesat 101 at 7 degrees West. MTV Lebanon has been replaced by MBC Europe and MBC FM on 11747 MHz vertical, VPID 2660, APIDs 2620/2621. MTV Lebanon has reappeared on 11766 MHz horizontal, VPID 3560, APID 3520 replacing Yemen TV. Al-Manar TV has swapped places with Algerie 3 and Chaine 1. Al-Manar can now be found on 11766 MHz horizontal, VPID 3160, APID 3120 whilst Algerie 3 and Chaine 1 have a new home at 12015 MHz vertical, VPID 2060, APIDs 2020/2021 in clear MPEG-2.

21.5 degreesE:
Eutelsat II-F3
D: On October 19 the M4 motorway was sealed off to the South of Swindon in Wiltshire as a drama unfolded. A motor caravan carrying a man and his two year old son was stopped by police. There followed a 48 hour stand off as police tried to persuade the man to hand over his son. Sky News were on the scene by the following morning and a live OB was carried first on 11047 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID:’8MHz SIS UKI716 SIS8′ and by Sunday morning the feed had switched to 11694 MHz horizontal with the same parameters and ID.

A: The sole analogue occupant here, TV Shqiptar from Albania, has moved from 11558 MHz horizontal to 11594 MHz horizontal. The channel airs daily in free-to-air Pal from 18:30 for two hours.

19.2 degreesE:
Astra 1A-C & E-H, Astra 2C
D: An OK Plus promo has started in the Spanish Canal Satelite Digital package at 11895 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 163, APID 93, ID:’TEST_CSD15′ in clear MPEG-2. The European stream of BBC World Service has launched on 12610 MHz vertical, APID 410 in clear MPEG-2. Star Academy is testing within the Canal Satellite Digital package on 12012 MHz VERTICAL, VPID 162, APID 88 (see also Hotbird at 13 degrees East).

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2
D: Liguria Sat has left 12704 MHz vertical, SR 3543, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195 to be replaced by a ‘CNCT Genova’ testcard. Liguria Sat’s new slot is at 12700 MHz vertical, SR 2169, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Test transmissions from the University of Derby have been sighted on 12696 MHz vertical, SR 2169, FEC 3/4. Plymouth University have used Eutelsat W2 capacity (and its predecessors at this orbital slot) for several years for occasional experimental broadcasts on 11135 MHz vertical, SR 3125, FEC 3/4. On 12620 MHz vertical, SR 2315, FEC 3/4, VPID 1023, APID 1024 Armenia TV has launched in clear MPEG-2.

13 degreesE:
Hotbird 1/2/3/4/5
D: Big Brother Greece is a new arrival in the NetMed bouquet at 10930 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, V512, A650 in Irdeto encoded MPEG-2 replacing CNN International. The Tamil language Deepam TV is once again free-to-air on 10722 MHz horizontal, SR 29900, FEC 3/4, VPID 1006, APID 1206. Canal+ Horizons has left 12245 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, V126, A136 within the Television par Satellite multiplex and has been replaced by Infodia, which is in the clear. According to an on-screen message, erotic channel TVX-The Fantasy Channel is soon to encode in Viaccess in the Belgacom package on 12476 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. Also in the Belgacom bouquet, Zee TV and Zee Cinema continue to switch in and out of Irdeto encryption and seem to spend some fairly lengthy periods in the clear. America’s Fox News Channel has left the TPS package on 10910 MHz, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. In common with many European digital platforms TPS started to carry the channel in the wake of the September 11 terrorist acts in New York and Washington. The Polish channel, TV Nova, is currently free-to-air on 11128 MHz horizontal, SR 7297, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 650, ID:’Test Ch1′. Napoli International vacated 12303 MHz vertical for one day last week due to technical problems and another channel from the region, Napoli Network, has opened with a free-to-air service on 12673 MHz vertical, VPID 210, APID 211. Magic Star is a newcomer to the Slovenian bouquet on 12303 MHz vertical via VPID 198, APID 199. The two promo channels from the Greek network Alpha (one for Movies and the other for Sports 1) have left 10949 MHz vertical. Also in the Alpha package Alpha News, Polis 88.6FM and Aristera Sta FM have all returned to the package after a short break. The external Iranian channel Sahar Universal Network 2 has launched on 12437 MHz horizontal, VPID 163, APID 86 in the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) multiplex. Eurosport and Eurosport News are switching in and out of encryption on 12558 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. Radio Serena has joined the Telefonica line-up on 12092 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 4641 in clear MPEG-2. The Voice of Russian Jewry has returned to 12597 MHz vertical via APID 2128 following a short break. There is a new TRT Dish Asia Network promo on 11623 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 228, APID 248 in the GlobeCast package. A Star Academy promo has opened on 11034 MHz vertical, VPID 620, APID 630 in the Television par Satellite bouquet. This is a new channel from Endemol, which will primarily be used to broadcast a 24-hour reality programme in the Big Brother genre. Star Academy, which will be a subscription-based channel costing 70FF per month, will also be included in the CSD package on Astra at 19.2 degrees East. The Russian NTV Plus International package on 11938 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 containing NTV International, NTV Plus Nashe Kino (Russian movies), NTV Plus Detski Mir and NTV Plus was free-to-air for a day or two last week before returning to their usual Viaccess encryption. Eurosport Russia has left this package now.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat W1
D: A live feed for an unidentified broadcaster from Israel on the worsening situation in the area was carried on 11597 MHz vertical, SR 3998, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 on October 11 from 14:35. BBC News reports from within Afghanistan used Eutelsat W1 capacity for a while around 8-15 October. W1 is just above the horizon in Afghanistan and a stream on transponder B5, 11142 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 4130, APID 4131, ID:’DIGITAL SNG’. Carried regular reports, mostly by correspondent Adam Mynott for BBC News, BBC World and BBC News 24. The crew, who are located in the Panshir Valley to the Northwest of Kabul, were enduring a dust storm for much of the time and the camera lens cap was promptly refitted in between feeds.

A: Samanyolu World TV from Turkey has left 11622 MHz vertical along with several radio stations – Burc FM (7.20 MHz), Dunya Radyo (7.38 MHz), Morale FM (7.56 MHz), Akra FM (7.74 MHz), Maramara FM (7.92 MHz) and Kardeniz FM (8.10 MHz).

7 degreesE:
Eutelsat W3
D: The interactive service, Open-Sky, has launched on 11262 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3.

5 degreesE:
Sirius 2/3
D: TV Niepokalanow 2, the Polish religious channel, is testing on 12645 MHz vertical, SR 3200, FEC 3/4, VPID 4130, APID 4131 in clear MPEG-2. ICTV has new PIDs on 12633 MHz vertical, SR 3641, FEC 7/8 – V272, A289. A new interactive service for Scandinavia entitled I Kiss Football has launched on 11881 MHz horizontal.

0.8 degrees/1 degreesW:
Thor 1, 2 & 3 & Intelsat 707
D: An ArtSat testcard has appeared within the Bulgarian multiplex on 12169 MHz horizontal, SR 28000, FEC 7/8, VPID 519, APID 668 in clear MPEG-2. The Urdu language Anjuman TV has been replaced by the Gujari Channel in the Gujarati language on 11174 MHz horizontal, VPID 519, APID 648 in the ColourSat package.

5 degreesW:
Telecom 2C
D: Three La Cinquieme promo channels have launched on 12543 MHz horizontal, VPIDs 221/222/223, APIDs 232/232/233 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat 101 & 102
D: The PIDs for Syria Satellite Channel have changed to V1122, A1123 on 11823 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. Inter Channel has been replaced by Milan Channel, another soccer channel, on 12073 MHz horizontal, VPID 3062, APID 3063 in Irdeto encoded MPEG-2. Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel has launched on 11881 MHz horizontal, VPID 2120, APID 2220 replacing MBC Europe. Ajman TV from the United Arab Emirates has opened via an SCPC carrier at 12295 MHz vertical, SR 2893, FEC 3/4, VPID 100, APID 101. ADD, which carries the ART channels, has moved here from Arabsat 2A at 26 degrees East. 12034 MHz horizontal is now being used to relay ART Global, ART Movies, ART Al-Hikayat, ART Al-Tarab, ART Music, ART Teenz, ART Al-Manahig, Wow, Now Channel, Iqraa Channel and Jordan Satellite Channel. Also, ART Sport 1, ART Sport 2, ART Music Radio and ART Al-Theker Radio have moved here to 11958 MHz horizontal from the Arabsat transponder 12563 MHz horizontal. Voice of America has started on 11842 MHz, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 2014 (right channel). On the left channel here is Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

8 degreesW:
Telecom 2D & Atlantic Bird 2
D: Radio San Marino and the Marchio Italiano promo channel have both vacated 12688 MHz vertical, SR 1879, FEC 3/4. The Tiziana Sat mini platform has left 12683 MHz vertical and reappeared on 12693 MHz vertical, SR 3254, FEC 3/4. Two interactive data channels have launched on 12648 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. They are BeyondDSL and Streaming.

11 degreesW:
Express 3A
D: RTS Sat and Radio Beograd from Serbia have left 11659 MHz vertical and have relocated to 11608 MHz vertical, SR 2892, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APIDs 4196/4195 in clear MPEG- 2.

12 degreesW:
Eutelsat II-F2
D: Two frequencies here are used for Trans-Atlantic feed traffic for the EBU. 11057 MHz vertical, SR 15552, FEC 3/4 carries three streams entitled ‘EBUMUXB1’, ‘EBUMUXB2’ and ‘EBUMUXB3’ on PIDs V4194/4150/4706, A4195/4151/4707, all in MPEG-2 4:2:2. The other frequency is 11092 MHz vertical (same parameters) where ‘EBUMUXA1’, ‘EBUMUXA2’ and ‘EBUMUXA3’ can be found. SIC International Portugal has left 12574 MHz vertical, SR 4339, FEC 1/2.

15 degreesW:
Telstar 12
D: The Turkish channel Mihr TV and Mihr Radyo have launched on 12733 MHz horizontal, SR 1925, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APIDs 34/35 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

18 degreesW:
Intelsat 705
D: Deutsche Bundestag Kanal 4, the German parliamentary channel, on 11584 MHz vertical, SR 4267, FEC 3/4 is currently free-to-air.

21.3 degrees/21.5 degreesW:
NSS 803 & NSS K
D: The familiar videophone output showing the Kabul skyline for CNN has been making regular appearances here at 11465 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, ID:’REUTERS DC’. The pictures are actually relayed to CNN’s Atlanta headquarters from the field via an Inmarsat link. An Inmarsat GAN terminal is used to provide a 64 Kbps stream.

30 degreesW:
Hispasat 1A/B/C
D: There have been several changes to the Retevision package on 11771 MHz horizontal, SR 28221, FEC 5/6. Mega Radio is new on APID 5303 in the clear, Cadena Energia has launched on APID 5203 and Compraexclusiva is a new encoded TV channel on V2201, A2202. TVE La Primera and TV La 2, two of the state run domestic channels, are in the clear at present on PIDs V1201/3101, A1202/3202. Formula Hits is a new audio channel on A4203. To add to the confusion yet another channel with the name NTV has taken to satellite DTH. This time it is NTV Portugal, which has commenced test transmissions on 11811 MHz horizontal, VPID 5216, APID 5217 prior to launching a full service.

All times in UTC unless otherwise stated.
Email: [email protected]
SR – Symbol Rate
FEC – Forward Error Correction
VPID – Video Programme Identifier
APID – Audio Programme Identifier