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SAT Observations 97.08.29
WELCOME TO SAT-MIDEAST !
A news release from Cairo, Egypt, located at 30.3 North - 31.15 East,
sponsored by TELE-SATELLIT INTERNATIONAL, Europes Satellite Magazine.
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WHAT YOU'LL FIND HERE:
- Satellite and Transponder Observations in C- and Ku-Band,
- Commented from the Middle Eastern perspective.
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HOW TO CONTACT SAT-MIDEAST:
Send relevant infos, interesting news, and creative comments to :
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Upon your request are forwarded messages kept anonymous.
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THE HEADLINES IN THIS 97.08.29 REPORT:
(Summer is over..., why am I so Hot, BRD ?)
- LAUNCH INFORMATION
- THURAYA SATELLITE
- THAICOM 3 CHANNELS
- RAI DIGITAL CHANGES
- HOT BIRD 3 INFO
- SATCO DX ACTIONS
LAUNCH INFO, http://www.satcodx.com/launches.shtml
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The launch window for Hot Bird 3 & Meteosat 7, with Ariane V99, on 3
September is 01:14 - 01:57 CAT. Live launch coverage will be on Telecom
2B at 5 West: 3.767 GHz, R. Coverage will start regularely 45-60 minutes
before take off.
(SATCO DX)
SME Comment: It has to be expected that the launch also will be
transmitted on one of the Eutelsat widebeam transponder, either analogue
or in MPEG-2. Coverage of the launch of the Hot Bird 2 satellite was
delivered in MPEG-2 via one of the vacant Hot Bird 1 transponder.
Systematically, the launch is relayed by Bayerishe Rundfunk either live
or recorded after their last night programme or latching on at the minus
6 minute mark. BR is on ASTRA (19.2 degrees East) Ku-band 11.141 GHz, H.
They carry the English commentary by Martin OA Ransom & collegues.
THURAYA SATELLITE
-----------------
"The Thuraya Satellite Telecommunication company decided to enter into
final negotiations with Hughes as the preferred bidder out of three
leading satellite manufacturers competing for this prestigious project."
said Mohammed Omran, chairman of Thuraya.
Hughes Electronics has in effect won the bid for the US$850-million
contract leaving behind U.S. rival Lockheed Martin as well as France's
Aerospatiale, which so far held a quasi-monopoly in supplying the Middle
East with satellites. The company built five Arabsats and will deliver
the sixth next year.
However, the deal isn't quite done yet. The contract is to be signed on
September 11. should there be any difficulty in finalising the agreement
with the preferred bidder, then one of the two remaining bidders will be
considered for further negotiations aiming at concluding a final
agreement," said Omran.
Thuraya, the first mobile phone satellite in the region, will cover the
Middle East, India, Turkey, North Africa, Italy, France, Germany and
other parts of Europe. Shareholders in Thuraya are Etisalat, Arabsat,
the government-owned Abu Dhabi Investment Company, the state
telecommunication firms of Kuwait and Qatar, other Arab investors as
well as companies from Turkey and Germany.
© Copyright 1997 by Sat-ND
http://www.lynet.de/~pck/
http://www.sat-net.com/pck/
THAICOM 3, 78.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/thai78.html
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Continental TV started testing at 22/08/97, 16:30 CAT on 3.585 GHz, V.
The on-screen anounced address is: 9610, Sir Theyagaraya Road, T. Nagar,
IND-Chennai 600017, Phone: 4322621, or 4343788, or 4344793.
Another channel "Punjab TV" is testing on the other (lower) half of the
transponder at 3.545 GHz, V. At times the Punjab TV testcard can also be
found on the 3.585 GHz, V, frequency. The final allocation of the
channels has to reported in a later issue.
Due to the half-transponder use, with a reduction of EIRP by at least
3-4 dbW, both transmissions are of a poor quality, as is the reception
of Viyar TV and Raj TV on the other shared transponder on respective:
3.620 and 3.638 GHz, V.
PANAMSAT 4, 68.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/pas4.html
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Asia Television Network (ATN) returned on 4.155 GHz, H, in full glory,
in PAL, with an audio subcarriers on 7.56 and 7.74 MHz.
TURKSAT 1C, 42 East, http://www.satcodx.com/turk1c.html
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The Symbol Rate for Eko TV on 11.587 GHz, V, has changed to 3670.
(SATCO DX)
ARABSAT 2A: http://www.satcodx.com/arab2a.html
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LBC is continuously using 4.013 GHz, LC, for different types of LBC
feeds in MPEG-2, Free-To-Air, SR 5937, FEC 1/2, VPID: 4134 APID: 4100.
(SATCO DX)
Rumours about a possible change of JSC "Al Jazeera Satellite Channel"
from Ku-band transponder 1, 12.521 GHz, H, to the vacant CFI C-Band
transponder 12, 3.946 GHZ, LC, could presently not be confirmed.
EUTELSAT II-f3, 16 East, http://www.satcodx.com/e2f3.html
--------------
Opposite to earlier announcements did Eurotica - Rendez Vous switch from
PAL/Videocrypt to D2-MAC/Eurocrypt on this satellite.
Beside that they added to their (Rendez Vous) frequency on transponder
20L , 10.986 GHz, H, the previous by Eurotica used transponder 22U,
11.163 GHz, H.
(SATCO DX)
HOT BIRD 1, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb1.html
----------
Telepiu has left 11.283 GHz, V, a plain carrier in PAL was transmitted
from 24/08 to 25/08, followed by strange tests signals, not in MPEG-2.
As part of the MCM digital package transmits the World Russian Channel
(WRC) in the clear. WRC intends to stay in the clear in the future.
(SME, source Eutelsat-D)
HOT BIRD 2, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb2.html
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RAI's digital package on transponder 54, 11.804 GHz, V, has been altered
as followed:
Test 1 and Test 2 channels have ceased, new appeared:
VPID: 4204 APID: 428E Teche RAI e luce
VPID: 4205 APID: 428F Teche RAI on demand
VPID: 4206 APID: 4290 Luce on demand
After some testing on the various channels with colorbar testcards,
logos and some black and white video material (news, movies etc), the
more serious tests started with on 4204: B&W ancient news reals, 0205:
B&W movie bits and 0206: RAI Due. Later some promotion and explanatory
material was transmitted, all in Italian. All channels are Free-To-Air.
In between at several times daily, transmissions of RAI International on
VPID: 4204 can be seen, with information on the Venice Filmfestival.
(SME)
The Italian state television network RAI already confirmed in June the
launch of three new thematic satellite channels which are due to start
broadcasting from September 29th via RAI' s digital transponders on the
EUTELSAT HOT BIRD 2 satellite. (SAT-MidEast reported in the Observations
97.07.11)
The channels are to be called RAISAT 1, 2 and 3 and include a cultural
channel (broadcasting 6 hours a day of programming which will be
repeated 4 times a day), a children's channel (9-15 hours a day of
programs) and an educational service (6 hours a day, repeated also 4
times). A "multi-ethnic" channel is set to follow as well as an all news
radio service.
Although these new channels will broadcast in the clear (i.e. will not
be scrambled), only viewers equipped with the new digital boxes will be
able to receive them. According to some estimates, no more than 80.000
digital receivers have been sold in Italy up to now which means that
only a restricted number of viewers will be able to watch the new
channels from day one.
(SME)
In the Arabesque package on transponder 65, 12.015 GHz, H, is ART Europe
now Free-To-Air.
(SME)
Eurotica - Rendez Vous on transponder 53, 11.785 GHZ, H, has switched
from PAL/Videocrypt to D2-MAC/Eurocrypt, identical to transmissions on
Eutelsat II-f3.
(SATCO DX)
HOT BIRD 3, http://www.satcodx.com/launches.shtml
----------
(from 03/09 "insh'Allah": 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb3.html)
Hungary's second TV channel, MTV2, is set to begin satellite
broadcasting to Europe in late September. TELE-satellit's Hungary
correspondent, Tamas Nyitrai, reports the satellite transmission will
take place on Eutelsat Hot Bird 3 at 13 degrees East, transponder 71,
12.130GHz in PAL clear. The audio will be available on 6.60 MHz
subcarrier with additional sound as follows: 7.02 - Hungarian stereo
left/Hungarian mono; 7.20 - Hungarian stereo right/Original mono; 7.38 -
yet to be decided; 7.56 - yet to be decided.
Eutelsat-D confirms the appearance on Hot Bird 3 of a Swiss package,
encrypted in VIACCESS, consisting of 4 TV channels and around 10 Radio
channels.
Also confirmed ist the move of Discovery "daughter" channel Animal
Planet from Eutelsat II-f1 to a superbeam transponder on Hot Bird 3.
Here the channels allocation with their frequencies:
(all channels are preset to superbeam, digital transmission and coded,
which of course is NOT the case. It's just the set-up of the table which
will be changed over time when additional information comes in, see at
transponder 71)
HOT BIRD 3, 13 East, to be launched Ariane V99 -> 2/3 September 1997
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
tp#, freq#, S/W (Superbeam/Widebeam), A/D (Analogue/Digital), F/C
(Free/Coded)
Vertical S/W A/D F/C Channel
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
70: 12.111 S D C
72: 12.149 S D C
74: 12.188 S D C
76: 12.226 S D C
78: 12.265 S D C
80: 12.303 S D C
82: 12.341 S D C
84: 12.380 S D C
86: 12.418 S D C
88: 12.466 S D C
Horizontal S/W A/D F/C Channel
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
71: 12.130 W A F MTV2, Hungaria, PAL, 6.60 [6]
73: 12.169 S D C
75: 12.207 S D C
77: 12.245 S D C
79: 12.284 S D C
81: 12.322 S D C
83: 12.360 S D C
85: 12.399 S D C
87: 12.437 S D C
89: 12.476 S D C
Bandwith of tp 88 is 50 MHz, the other tps are 33 MHz width.
[6] Audio Subcarriers:
7.02 - MTV2 Left / Hungarian language mono
7.20 - MTV2 Right / Original language mono
7.38 - Unknown Radio
7.56 - Unknown Radio
Further bookings:
Bloomberg.......MPEG-2..Super...Clear
ET1/ERT.........PAL.....Wide....Clear
Animal Planet...PAL.....Super...Clear
Swiss Bouqet....MPEG-2..Super...Viaccess (4 TV & 10 Radio Channels)
Again a reminder for Middle Eastern viewers: The widebeam will be
covering the whole of Europe, including Russia and the North-African
states with an EIRP of better than 40 dBW. The beamcenter around
Switzerland will have an EIRP of 49 dBW, whereas the Canary Islands and
the Gulf States have either a spot beam providing 42 dBW.
Furthermore is the satellite equipped with two adjustable spotbeams,
reaching from the Norkap to Johannisburg, the Americas to the FarEast.
These beams can be set to any of the broadcasters wishes, but of course
limited to two directions.
The superbeam will be receivable in all Mediterranean surrounding
countries, but will fall sharp off in power after an imaginable line
between Greece and Tunesia. Reception in Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt
& Lybia will only be possible using treshold extensions.
Hardliners trying to get every channel possible, and willing to pay the
price for that, should take a look on the technical data of the
"DIGITEX", a marvellous treshold extender and synchron inserter.
Here the URL for the interested readers:
http://www.datasat.de/nti/en.htm
TDF 2, 5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/tdf2.html
-----
This satellite is still moving towards 36 East, and seems to be
currently at 4-5 East. It is quite possible that the present transfer
will be halted at the 29 East Eutelsat position, for beam tests and a
renewed confirmation of the allocation of this Clarke Belt slot, even
after an agreement with the Astra owning company has been reached.
(CL, SME)
PANAMSAT 3r, 43 West, http://www.satcodx.com/pas3r.html
----------
This week several times auf transponder 7EK, 12.601 GHz, H, in NTSC, SNG
transmissions from the exploding island of Montserrat for CBS News and
Sky News using SISLINK communication lines.
SME Comment: Remarkably the successes of the recent launches for
PANAMSAT of the sixth and fifth satellite in the series. Panamsat has a
special way of launching their satellites: PAS-4 before PAS-3, PAS-6
prior to PAS-5. They had of-course their (most unfortunate) reasons, but
will it go on like this ?
I'm just curious, while, early next year, the next satellite, PANAMSAT
7, is supposed to increase Ku-band transponder numbers and power at the
68.4 East spot, a powerful location for the whole of the Middle East. If
the law of serials is followed, we should see PAS-8 being launched
first... ;-)
SATCO DX INFORMATION, http://www.satcodx.com/
--------------------
All PIDs at SATCO DX Satellite Chart are now listed in both hexadecimal
and decimal! The hexadecimal values are shown in the actual charts and
by holding the mouse over the "V" or "A", you can see the value in
decimal on the bottom of your browser.
YOU CAN NOW GET YOUR OWN E-MAIL ADDRESS ALIAS AT SATCODX.COM !
The addresses will be as "firstname.familyname@satcodx.com".
If you are anonymous or have an existing nick name at SATCO DX, you can
get that name instead if you specifically ask for it. Any requests about
getting your email alias should be sent to mailto:chris@satcodx.com. The
price for having an email alias for one full year is GBP 30, equal to
about USD 48.
By having (and using) an e-mail alias at SATCO DX, your mails to SATCO
DX will be read and handled with priority.
SAT-MidEast Intern, http://www.sat-net.com/sat-mideast/
------------------
During the last week several www.pages got their latest updates, the
layout of some tables had to be changed, again, due to cetain
incompatibilities of the most common browsers. All the satellites news
archives are now up-to-date, including todays mailing.
If you already can't remember the main page layout, it really is time to
re-check the SAT-MidsEast site. It's never to late to update your
knowledge.
That's all folks, have fun on the IFA, see ye'
Henk C. Room / SAT-MidEast / Cairo - Egypt
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