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

D = Digital
A = Analogue

78.5 degreesE:
Thaicom 2&3
D Pakistan’s PTV 1 and Radio Pakistan have left 3612 MHz vertical and relocated to 3521 MHz vertical, SR 3333, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 (PTV 1 left channel and Radio Pakistan right channel). The multiplex containing PTV World, PTV 3, PTV News and Radio Pakistan has vacated 3608 MHz vertical.

75 degreesE:
LMI 1
D Russia’s TV6 Moskva is using 12610 MHz vertical, SR 5426, FEC 3/4 in MPEG-2 using BISS encoding. TV6, a general entertainment channel is available terrestrially throughout much of Russia. This feed is destined for cable headends in Russia and parts of Europe.

68.5 degreesE:
PAS 7 & 10
D The large SABC multiplex for South Africa on 12722 MHz vertical, SR 26660, FEC 1/2 is receivable in the U.K. and western Europe at good levels via European and African beams. PAS 10’s European beam footprint provides signal levels of 45-46 dBW in the U.K. The multiplex contains the South African state run terrestrial TV channels SABC 1 – V101, A256; SABC 2 – V102, A260 and SABC 3 – V103, A264 plus RSG TV – V104, A280; E.TV – V105, A272, Info Channel – V106, A276. Unfortunately all of these TV channels are encoded in Nagravision. In addition to the television offerings a whole host of radio services also occupy the multiplex. The current line-up consists of: TransAfrica FM – A803; Phalaphala – A301; Ikwekwezi – A302; Munghana – A303; 5FM – A304; Radio Sonder Grense – A305; Thobela FM – A306; Lesedi FM – A307; Motsweding FM – A308; Umhlobo Wenene FM – A309; Ukhozi FM – A310; Radio 2000 – A311; SAFM – A312; Lotus FM – A313; YFM – A314; Radio Metro – A315; Radio Pretoria – A316; Ligwalagwala – A317; Classic FM – A318; Deutsche Welle – A319; Radio Pulpit – A320; Good Hope FM – A320 and finally Punt Geselradio – A322. Again these are all encoded in Nagravision with the exception of TransAfrica FM and Punt Geselradio which are free-to-air.

62 degreesE:
Intelsat 902
D The Voice of the Republic of Iran has returned to the 5.96 and 7.20 MHz audio sub-carriers on the back of IRIB TV1 at 11172 MHz vertical in clear Pal. Unfortunately Ku-Band signals from this geostationary slot do not reach the U.K. any longer since the installation of Intelsat 902 here.

50 degreesE:
Anatolia 1
D The first regular activity from Anatolia 1 has come from Rustavi 2, a Georgian TV channel. It can be found on 11524 MHz vertical, SR 3254, FEC 2/3, VPID 1360, APID 1320 alongside three inactive streams entitled Channel One – V1160, A1120 and Channel Two – V1260, A1220. Anatolia’s footprint is centred over the Black Sea at 50 dBW extending to Germany in the West and Iran and Uzbekistan in the East. Unfortunately no signal is received in the U.K.

48 degreesE
Eutelsat II-F1
D Magic Star has left 11610 MHz horizontal, SR 2000, FEC 2/3, VPID 3105, APID 3106.

42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C & Eurasiasat 1
D CineMax appears to have left the Cine+ package on 11023 MHz vertical, SR 6509, FEC 5/6, VPID 517, APID 700. The Turkish movie channel had been stream sharing here with SuperSport. The Medical Channel, Radyo Plus and Istanbul FM have all left 11671 MHz vertical, SR 2154, FEC 5/6 and have moved to 11672 MHz vertical, SR 2154, FEC 5/6, VPID 512, APIDs 256/257. Down at 11018 MHz vertical, SR 2524, FEC 5/6 Viva – V514, A670; Show Radyo – A671 and Radyo 5 – A651 have launched in clear MPEG-2.

36 degreesE:
Eutelsat W4 & Sesat
D Morocco’s 2M Nationale TV is now free-to-air on 12685 MHz vertical, SR 4339, FEC 1/2, VPID 333, APID 800. Videolina and Radiolina have vacated 12707 MHz vertical, SR 3254, FEC 1/2 and have moved to 12516 MHz horizontal, SR 2441, FEC 2/3, VPID 4194, APIDs 4195/4197 in clear MPEG-2. Armenia TV and Radio Armenia have returned to 12687 MHz horizontal, SR 3254, FEC 2/3 after a brief stay on Express 3A at 11 degrees West. On the Russian beam TNV and Radio Bulgar FM have left 12238 MHz LHCP for 12225 MHz LHCP, SR 4340, FEC 3/4, VPID 320, APIDs 401/402.

28.5 degreesE:
Eurobird
D Sky Box Office 49 & 50 have left Astra and relocated to Eurobird on 11469 MHz horizontal via PIDs V515/516, A643/644. Sky Box Office 4 has also launched on 11469 MHz horizontal, VPID 519, APID 647. The clutch of Red Hot channels, Red Hot Film, Red Hot Euro, Red Hot Amateur and Red Hot All Girl continue to broadcast in clear MPEG-2 at night on 11661 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3. In the CzechLink package on 12607 MHz horizontal Prima TV is currently free-to-air.

28.2 degreesE:
Astra 2A, 2B & 2D
D The PIDs for Travel Channel and Travel Deals on 12051 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 have been changed to V2326/2329, A2328/2330 respectively. At 11719 MHz horizontal ETV has changed PIDs to V2325, A2327. A new stream here is ‘BBC TES’ on V2318, A2320. After a short period in the clear U.K. Horizons+1 is encoded once again on 11817 MHz vertical. U.K. travel agent Thomas Cook are to launch their own travel channel in December. The channel, imaginatively entitled Thomas Cook TV, will have an interactive element and will air 24 hours a day. Sky Box Office Widescreen 1 & 2 have launched at 12266 MHz horizontal via PIDs V512/516, A650/654. ITV is expected to officially launch via satellite in the next few days. All of the regions are present on the three transponders but so far there is no news on whether the reception of regions will be location specific. There have been some changes to the line-up sine the last Transponder Monitor so here is the current situation. 10832 MHz horizontal: ‘1.1’ – Carlton/LWT; ‘1.2 – Central West; ‘1.3’ – HTV Wales; ‘1.4’ – HTV West; ‘1.5’ – WestCountry TV South. 10891 MHz horizontal: ‘2.1’ – Anglia TV; ‘2.2’ – Border TV England; ‘2.3’ – Border TV Scotland; ‘2.4’ – Granada TV; ‘2.5’ – Meridian TV; ‘2.6’ – Tyne Tees TV; ‘2.7’ – Yorkshire TV. 10906 MHz vertical: ‘3.1’ – Meridian TV; ‘3.2’ – Grampian TV; ‘3.3’ – Scottish TV; ‘3.4’ – Ulster TV. All of the channels are sporting a DOG in the top left corner of the screen, which illustrates the region of the U.K. that the channel emanates from. ITV 2 is also expected to appear here very soon. Vector Direct has launched on 12344 MHz horizontal, VPID 2337, APID 2338, Sky Ch.652 in clear MPEG-2. Sky Box Office 4 has vacated 11836 MHz horizontal and moved to Eurobird, 11469 MHz horizontal.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat 2A & 3A
D Some MCE audio channels were broadcast in free-to-air MPEG-2 for a few days last week on 11958 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 within the Orbit platform. They were Symphonic, Smooth Jazz, Classical, R&B/HipHop and Virgin Radio. All are now encoded in Mediaguard once again. Two new Iraqi radio services have joined the line-up on 12034 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. Izaat Jumhuriyat Al-Iraq can be found on APID 4022, ID: ‘Baghdad A2’ and Sawt Al-Shabab is on APID 4030, ID: ‘Shabab A3’. These two radio channels have also started to use Hotbird capacity at 12654 MHz horizontal. A Blue Nile TV caption is being displayed on 12605 MHz horizontal, VPID 516, APID 690. Eurosport News has left 12565 MHz horizontal to be replaced by an ART testcard.

A Arabic Classics FM has launched on the back of the Kuwait Space Channel at 4167 MHz RHCP via the 5.80 MHz sub-carrier in clear Pal.

19.2 degreesE:
Astra 1A-C & E-H, Astra 2C
D In the RTL package on 12187 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 there are two new streams entitled ‘Event 1’ and ‘Event 2’. Event 1 is encoded but Event 2 is airing a little feed traffic and sometimes an SES promo. On November 12 all of the channels in the Canal+ Nederland bouquet on 12574 MHz horizontal, SR 22000, FEC 5/6 were free-to-air for several hours in the morning. By early afternoon all had reverted to the usual Mediaguard encryption. Three new data channels have launched on 11597 MHz vertical, SR 22500, FEC 5/6. They are ‘BBI RCS Map Service’, ‘BBI FLS Service’ and ‘BBI MPE IP Service’. On 12285 MHz vertical there are some additions to the line-up. The Disney Channel+1 – V171, A124; Playhouse Disney – V172, A126 and Toon Disney – V173, A133 have all launched in Mediaguard encoded MPEG-2 within the Canal Satelite Digital package. There is a new TVST promo on 12012 MHz vertical, V165, A100 in MPEG-2/Mediaguard.

A The following transponders are all displaying an ‘SES GlobalVideo’ promo in clear Pal; Tp.22 – 11538 MHz vertical; Tp.23 – 11553 MHz horizontal; Tp.31 – 11671 MHz horizontal; Tp.34 – 10979 MHz vertical; Tp.41 – 11082 MHz horizontal; Tp.42 – 11098 MHz vertical; Tp.46 – 11156 MHz vertical and Tp.47 – 11171 MHz horizontal.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2
D The Dutch amateur television repeater relay, PI6ALK, has left 12742 MHz horizontal, SR 3000, FEC 5/6.

13 degreesE:
Hotbird 1/2/3/4/5
D A caption stating ‘Mediasat SRL. Space available for rent, telephone: +39 095 7415053’ was spotted on the Magic Star Sat stream at 12303 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 198, APID 199 within the Slovenian package on November 12. Three new arrivals in the Alpha platform for Greece on 11304 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 are Alpha Documentaries – V851, A852, Paok TV – V891, A892 and CNNI – V895, A896. In common with the rest of the package all of these are encoded in Viaccess. Discovery Civilisation has launched in the Polsat package on 12360 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 566, APID 567, ID: ‘TEST2’. In parallel with Arabsat 26 degrees East two Iraqi radio stations have launched here on 12654 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 within the Arabsat package. They are Izaat Jumhuriyat Al-Iraq – A1921 and Izaat Sawt Al-Shabab – A1922 in clear MPEG-2. South Korea’s Channel Sun on 11623 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 has announced that the subscription charge for their soon-to-launch encoded service will be 34 euros. Sicilia International has returned to 12520 MHz vertical via PIDs V501, A502 in free-to-air MPEG-2. From Russia, NTV International, NTV+ Nashe Kino and NTV+ Detskij Mir are switching in and out of Viaccess encryption. TV5 Europe has been replaced by TV5 Afrique on 12245 MHz horizontal, VPID 121, APID 131 in clear MPEG-2. TV5 Afrique appears to be on the air during the night only from 22:00-04:00. Radio Cooky has been replaced by 80’s Radio on 12245 MHz horizontal, APID 328. On 12476 MHz horizontal Zee TV UK and Zee Cinema UK are temporarily free-to- air again.

A TV4 from Poland has replaced PolSat on 11431 MHz horizontal in clear Pal. TV4 previously occupied 11348 MHz horizontal.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat W1
D Ekushey TV from Bangladesh has launched here on 11124 MHz horizontal, SR 3417, FEC 2/3, VPID 1160, APID 1120 in clear MPEG-2. The channel is also available via Eurobird at 28.5 degrees East.

5 degreesE:
Sirius 2/3
D Playboy TV is new in the Kingston/TLI multiplex on 12053 MHz horizontal, SR 18052, FEC 3/4, VPID 1056, APID 1057, ID: ‘KTLI OV’ in Conax encoded MPEG-2. There are now two Adventist World Radio streams active on 12303 MHz horizontal, SR 25541, FEC 7/8. They are ‘AWR 64Kbit’ (A1322) and ‘AWR 128Kbit’ (A1422). Both streams are free-to-air. In the Discovery Channel multiplex on 12226 MHz horizontal, SR 25540, FEC 7/8 Discovery Sci-Trek has launched via PIDs V1560, A1520 in MPEG-2/PowerVu. Data channel GE Capital Bank and the interactive channel Warner Music have launched on 11881 MHz horizontal in the Viasat package. On 12303 MHz horizontal IBC Tamil Radio is new via APID 1323. A new interactive service named FriendFinder has launched on 11881 MHz horizontal.

0.8 degrees/1 degreesW:
Thor 1, 2 & 3 & Intelsat 707
D Radio Retro has returned to 12169 MHz horizontal, APID 688. On the same frequency the Planeta TV test transmissions have ceased via PIDs V520, A692. Scandinavian Satellite Radio and Norway’s Radio Nettverk 1 have launched on 11247 MHz vertical, SR 24500, FEC 7/8 in free-to-air MPEG-2 via APIDs 676/680.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat 101 & 102
D Sudan TV has left 12034 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 3084, APID 3085 to be replaced by a ‘Blue Nile TV’ caption. The stream ID is ‘BNTV’. Al-Manar Science Channel is new on 11746 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 1012, APID 1212 in free-to-air MPEG-2. A Dream TV2 testcard has appeared on 11900 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 7/8, VPID 3012, APID 3022 in clear MPEG-2 and Ajman TV has launched here via VPID 1011, APID 1012. On 11900 MHz vertical an Al-Majd TV caption is in evidence via PIDs V1010, A1017. Al-Majd (which translates as The Glory) is the name of a new channel, which was due to launch at the beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan. It is a privately owned channel, which offers a variety of programming for all ages. After Ramadan a radio channel is set to launch alongside Al-Majd on 11900 MHz vertical entitled Dal (the Arabic letter ‘D’) which will provide children’s programming. The multiplex on 11881 MHz horizontal which contains Space Toon, Tamina TV Shopping Channel, Al-Jazeera TV, Emirates TV Dubai, Dubai Sports Channel, EuroNews, Dubai Business Channel, Ajman TV and Ajman FM has moved to 11785 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. Eurosport News has left 11958 MHz horizontal for 11804 MHz horizontal, VPID 3053, APID 3054 in Irdeto encoded MPEG-2.

8 degreesW:
Telecom 2D & Atlantic Bird 2
D The parameters for the Marchio Italiano promo stream on 11562 MHz horizontal have changed to SR 1938, FEC 7/8, VPID 33, APID 36 (left channel). Radio Serena can be found on the right channel and Radio San Marino uses APID 37.

11 degreesW:
Express 3A
D TV Armenia and Radio Armenia have left 11458 MHz vertical, SR 3254, FEC 2/3 and have returned to Eutelsat’s 36 degree East slot.

18 degreesW:
Intelsat 705
D Intelsat 901 has now officially taken over duties from Intelsat 705. All channels remain on the same frequencies.

21.3 degrees/21.5 degreesW:
NSS 803 & NSS K
D There have been some changes to the BFBS digital platform for British forces overseas on 4077 MHz RHCP, SR 4998, FEC 3/4. The current line-up is Middle East – A176 (right channel); Atlantic – A177 (right channel); World 2 – A177 (left channel), Belize – A178 (left channel); BATUS – A178 (right channel); Falklands – A179 (left channel); Cyprus – A179 (right channel) and BFBS TV – V160, A176. Of course the TV service is encoded but the radio channels are free-to-air. CNBC Europe and CNBC US have both vacated 3742 MHz RHCP, SR 6278, FEC 3/4.

30 degreesW:
Hispasat 1A/B/C
D A live feed for TV3 Catalunya was carried on 11629 MHz vertical, SR 4498, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 on November 15 at 18:20 in clear MPEG-2. The subject matter was the appalling weather conditions in eastern Spain recently. TV Amistad and Radio Amistad have both left 11641 MHz vertical, SR 2269, FEC 3/4. In the Via Digital bouquet on 11891 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 there have been four new arrivals recently, namely Playboy TV – V4128, A4129; MTV Europe – V4144, A4145; Eurosport – V4240, A4241 and FDFiccion – V4352, A4353. On 12149 MHz RHCP, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 PalcoCine 16:9, Palco 13 and Palco 15 have all left the frequency and have moved to 12226 MHz RHCP where they have replaced PalcoCine 2, 4 and 6. New on 12149 MHz RHCP are PalcoCine 3, 4 and 6 on PIDs V4224/4176/4208, A4225/4177/4209. The new Portuguese channel NTV has launched on 11811 MHz horizontal via PIDs V5216, A5217 in Nagravision encoded MPEG-2. Max Local is a newcomer on 11931 MHz horizontal, VPID 4760, APID 4761.

37.5 degreesW:
Telstar 11 & Columbia 515
D A CNN package has opened on 11495 MHz horizontal, SR 19496, FEC 2/3 in clear MPEG-2/NTSC. In contains some interesting goodies with, in addition to CNN USA – V33, A34, and CNN Headline News – V1057, A1058, four streams entitled ‘Quad UV’ – V2081, A2082; ‘Airscan UAV’ – V3105, A3106; ‘Predator UAV’ – V4129, A4130 and ‘P-3 Serial Data’ – V5153, A5154. All of the latter channels are available round the clock in clear MPEG-2/NTSC. For most of the time they show a live clock(s) set to UTC but at times live video material of the terrain below from an aircraft (or several aircraft) is aired. These scenes are overlaid with the time (in UTC), the aircraft’s altitude (normally around 15,000-18,000 feet) and the geographical co-ordinates which place the sources as Bosnia-Hercegovina and Macedonia. Actually, going by the idents for the streams, these video streams are probably coming for the U.S. military’s Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) which are known to be in use in the Balkan region. Video material from the UAV is returned to Earth via a 2.4 GHz link and it would seem that this is being turned around in the Balkans and uplinked to Telstar 11. As these transmissions are obviously of a military nature it may be that they are intended for Columbia 515 which is co-located with Telstar 11 at this slot and is earmarked as a back-up facility for the U.S. TDRSS satellites.

47 degreesW:
TDRS 6
D In parallel with Astra 1D at 24 degrees East Channel D and Channel D TV are using 4152 MHz horizontal, SR 6000, FEC 3/4.

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

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