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SAT Observations 97.11.28
WELCOME TO SAT-MIDEAST !
A news release from Cairo, Egypt, located at 30.3 North - 31.15 East,
sponsored by TELE-SATELLITE INTERNATIONAL, Europes Satellite Magazine.
____________________________________________________________________
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 97.11.28 REPORT:
(Under stress, what a mess, why INXS...?)
-- Launch Information
-- Editorials
-- Cairo Telecomp '97
-- Transponder News
-- Bits & Pieces
-- Internals
LAUNCH INFORMATION, http://www.satcodx.com/launches.shtml
------------------
The JCSAT 5 launch with Ariane Flight V103 has two proposed launch
windows:
2 December: 01:36 - 02:01 CAT
3 December: 03:42 - 04:29 CAT
(SATCO DX)
ARIANESPACE, http://www.arianespace.com/ariane/anglais/index.html
-----------
The European Space Agency (ESA) has handed over launch pad 3 (ELA 3) at
the European Spaceport to commercial launch service provider
Arianespace.
Arianespace's Operations Directorate is now responsible for the
management, maintenance and operation of both ELA 2 and ELA 3, which
together make up the ground facilities for Ariane 4 and Ariane 5 at the
European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
ELA 3 plays an important role in industrial, commercial and operational
services for Europe's new Ariane 5 launcher, including integration,
launch chronology, final payload preparation, installations maintenance,
and quality and safety control. The handover of ELA 3 will allow
Arianespace to begin preparations for the Ariane Flight 503 launch
campaign in the second quarter of 1998.
Arianespace said in a press release that over 250 engineers and
technicians from 12 European companies will act as subcontractors for
the operation of ELA 3 under the management of Arianespace. Further
optimisation of the facilities will allow for an increase in the number
of launches to eight to ten Ariane 5 launches per year by the beginning
of the next decade. Arianespace said it was aiming at progressively
expanding its overall launch capacity by 50 percent.
© Copyright 1997 by Sat-ND
http://www.lynet.de/~pck/
http://www.sat-net.com/pck/
DIGITAL PIRATES
---------------
For months or so rumours about hacked cards for the Irdeto-system are
travelling around. No one had seen a working smart-card so far, but now
the first cards where delivered by a UK-company. At this moment we
received confirmation from South-Africa, Germany, The Netherlands and
the Middle East.
All callers claiming the cards are working perfectly.
So far so good, this a matter of the program-providers. Much more
concerns the unsecurity in business-tv. Here maximum-security is
required and reports indicated that at least in one case this smart card
was been able to open one of those channels without any problem.
Christian Mass (Dr.Dish)
Editor of TELE-satellite International, http://www.TELE-satellite.com
Producer of drdish@tv, http://www.drdish.com
ARABIAN NEWS CORP BUY-IN
------------------------
Saudi Prince Al Waleed bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud has confirmed he
has acquired a five percent stake in News Corp, the global media giant
controlled by Mr Murdoch.
Prince Al-Waleed, a nephew of Saudi-Arabian King Fahd, reportedly used
the turmoil on the major stock markets at the end of October for his
shopping spree. He also bought five percent in Netscape Communications
Corp. and one percent of Motorola Inc., obviously because he likes their
Iridium satellites so much. The are contradicting reports on the money
he spent; the sum ranges from US$850 million to US$1.2 billion.
"I want to concentrate on communications, technology, entertainment and
news," Prince Al-Waleed told the Financial Times. "This is the future.
News Corp. is the only truly global news and entertainment company.
Netscape is strongly involved with the Internet. Motorola is very global
in telephones and satellites. These companies are going to play a
crucial role."
Prince Al-Waleed, estimated at U$12 billion, has invested into many
businesses and is no newcomer to electronic media. He owns several Arab
satellite TV channels and, in July 1995, was part of a consortium that
took over some 20 percent of Italian media mogul Silvio Berlusconi's
Mediaset. Mr Murdoch, by the way, was interested too. When negotiating
with Prince Al-Waleed, he received a gold-plated Kalashnikov machine gun
as a present from the Saudi prince.
Mr Murdoch stayed out of the deal, however. Rumour has it that Prince
Al-Waleed also partnered with Mr Murdoch on an unsuccessful bid for
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer last year. Notwithstanding, people close to News
Corp. reportedly said Murdoch and the prince are not particularly close.
News Corp did not have anything else to say than "we welcome him as a
shareholder."
Prince Al-Waleed becomes, in theory, one of the largest individual
shareholders in News Corp. He's still behind the Murdoch family (30
percent) and institutional investor Capital Research (up to seven
percent.) Besides, he seems to have acquired non-voting preference
shares, which would leave his stake effectively at no more than 2.5
percent of the total outstanding stock.
© Copyright 1997 by Sat-ND
http://www.lynet.de/~pck/
http://www.sat-net.com/pck/
CAIRO TELECOMP'97 - EVEN BIGGER (re-print)
-------------------------------
The second International IT, Telecom, Satellite and Broadcasting
Technology Trade Fair of the Arab/North African World will take place
from Dec.4-7, 1997 at the Cairo International Conference Center.
The motto of Cairo Telecomp'97 "Middle East - Closer through
Communication" reflects the aim of this trade fair. Manufacterers,
dealers and consultants from three highly specialized industries will
find here their forum for establishing contacts and conducting business.
The official supporting authorities will be H.E. The Prime Minister, the
Ministry of Transport and Communication and ARENTO.
Cairo Telecomp'97 has a good basis for top information through the media
partnership with the most important IT, telecom, satellite and
broadcasting technology magazines in the Middle East. "CommsMEA" and
"Middle East Mobile" are the official media partners for Cairo
Telecomp'97 in the communication field whereas "PC Magazine" and "ACN"
("Arabian Computer News") are the official media partners for the
information technology branch.
In 1996 more than 150 companies presented products and services for the
telecommunication and IT and broadcasting industries on the first trade
fair. The exhibitors came from 20 countries.
Cairo Telecomp'96 was accompagnied by many positive comments of the
exhibitors. "The show has come at a good time for us. It gives us the
chance to introduce our name and logo in the market, to meet the public
and to show off our products", said Mohamed Al-Dhalaan, Lucent Regional
Director Public Affairs and Public Relations, Middle East and Africa. A
speaker from Lucent Technologies, which participated with an impressive
stand, summarized: "On Cairo Telecomp'96 we have fully met our target".
For the telecommunication sector mobile communication accounted for the
largest portion of the exhibits. The participation of all
telecommunication market leaders such as Alcatel, AT&T, Ericsson,
Etisalat, France Telecom, Gulfsat, Hagenuk, Motorola, Newbridge, Nokia,
Philips, Satphone, Siemens and the Siemens-ARENTO joint venture EGTI
made the trade fair informative and well-worth the attention of expert
visitors.
Hot topics in the field of information technology were multimedia,
networking and the Internet. The IT sector also was represented by all
global players, such as Hewlett Packard, IBM, ICL, Microsoft, Silicon
Graphics, Sun, and many other well-known Egypt and international
companies.
The exhibitors were very satisfied with the number of visitors, which
was recorded as 16.000 expert visitors within the four days. Many of
them were attracted by the accompagnying seminar program, which included
78 presentations, discussions and seminars.
"For the first time effort, Cairo Telecomp'96 was outstanding", With
these words a representative of Satphone summarized the very succesful
outcome of the trade fair. Cairo Telecomp did indeed make it's mark.
Already many exhibitors have confirmed to exhibit again at Cairo
Telecomp in December 1997. The preparations are in full swing. This
year's Cairo Telecomp'97 is expected to be even bigger and more
attractive especially in the fields of information technology and
broadcasting technology.
The German organizer fairtrade manages trade shows in the fields of
electro/IT/telecom, agrofood, textile/leather and construction/interior
design. The company has its headquarters in Heidelberg and maintains 17
representatives throughout the world.
Further information may be obtained from: fairtrade Messe und
Ausstellungs GmBH, Bergstrasse 114, D-69121 Heidelberg. Tel:
+49-6221-4565-0, FAX: +49-6221-4565-25. e-mail:
fairtrade.messe@t-online.de
Cairo office: 16, Almaza Steet, ET-Heliopolis, Cairo. Tel: +20-2-414
8845, FAX: +20-2-417 1371.
SME Comment: I will be available from Thursday, and Friday during the
afternoon on the exhibition grounds, so grab your chances...
(SME)
ORBIT SLASHES PRICES, the great sell-out ?
--------------------
>From Sunday, November 30th the Orbit Network' s pricetag will be reduced
to USD 649.00 for the Scientific Atlanta MPEG 1.5 receiver and an
introductional four months free viewing of all channel. (Star Network
channels are excluded).
(DX-CORNER, where it was wrongly placed !)
SME Comment: A seldom good offer! Be aware that you're booking long
overdue technology: MPEG 1.5, which is not compatible with anything else
on the present digital market. The receiver will decode only propriatary
Orbit transmissions, for which it has been refined (and is working
perfectly).
Orbit itself has recognized the difficulties and has earlier publicly
announced to change to the compatible MPEG-2/DVB standard on the long
run. Insiders know that transponder capacity is pre-allocated on the
soon-to-be-launched Egyptian Nilesat satellite and test transmissions of
the Orbit package in the compatible standard could start here, without
interference with the present broadcasts from both the Intelsats on 57
East and 18 West.
(SME)
THAICOM 3, 78.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/thai78.shtml
---------
Gemini TV has been broadcasting using the Asia beam on 3.545 GHz, in PAL
with audio in Hindi on 6.60 and 7.02 MHz, for one day only on November
25th. With a green sun in the lower right corner (SUN NETWORK).
Since November 26th the ASIA NETWORK started broadcasting on this
transponder 5VEL, using the same transmitting data, with a, quite large,
named rainbow coloured, triangular logo, right upper corner. The channel
is not on a 24-hour schedule.
The THAI MPEG package on 3.520 GHz, H, has now on the first four
channels THAI TV-5 Global Network: VPIDs: 0200, 0201, 0202, 0203; APIDs:
0280, 0284, 0288, 028C.
The other four channels remain with colour bar test cards. The audio
signal on 0280 and 0284 is crackling. Video on 0201 is using only 525
lines.
Thai TV-5 Global Network on frequency 3.600 GHz, H, in PAL ceased on
November 28th and was, with a slightly higher frequenty, 3.615 GHz, H,
replaced by transmissions of Vietnamese VTV 1 and VTV 3, as earlier this
year. Audio can be received on 6.60 and 7.02 MHz. The reception in Cairo
is excellent.
(SME)
APSTAR 2R, 76.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/apstar2r.shtml
---------
A powerful colour bar test card on transponder 12B appeared on Thursday,
November 27th, at 4.105 GHz, V. Audio can be received from subcarriers
at 6.60 and 7.20 MHz.
The received signal strenght is around 10-15 percent lower as received
during initial testing.
(SME)
PANAMSAT 4, 68.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/pas4.shtml
----------
ATN - Asia TV Network returned on 4.156 GHz, H, PAL, stereo audio on
7.56 and 7.74 MHz. During night time transmissions of a shopping channel
"ITN" could be observed, with a logo in the opposite upper corner.
(SME)
INTELSAT 703, 57 East, http://www.satcodx.com/i703.shtml
------------
RTNC "La voix du peuple" on 3.978 GHz, RC, has obviously changed its
transmission norm from SECAM to PAL.
(SME)
TURKSAT 1C, 42 East, http://www.satcodx.com/turk1c.shtml
----------
Samanyolu TV has started on the East beam on 11.140 GHz, H,
MPEG-2/clear, SR 6144, FEC 3/4.
(SATCO DX)
TURKSAT 1B, 31 East, http://www.satcodx.com/turk1b.shtml
----------
Turkish CTV on 10.972 GHz, H, on the East beam is in MPEG-2/clear.
(SATCO DX)
ARABSAT 2A, 26 East, http://www.satcodx.com/arab2a.shtml
----------
Abu Dhabi TV was on Tuesday evening switched to both 4.044 GHz, RC, and
on 3.989 GHz, LC. The test transmission lasted a single day.
(SME)
It is expected that Abu Dhabi TV will return soon, on this frequency,
possibly on the United Arab Emirates National Day, on December 2nd.
(SATCO DX)
SME Comment: Abu Dhabi is also said to supply TV-5 Afrique with the
transponder space for the soon-to-be-launched broadcasts. I guess that
the Arabsat Organization for legal reasons hesitates to release the
ex-CFI transponder.
(SME)
>From the ART transponder 5, 12.604 GHz, H, could two software download
channels be observed on Wednesday, November 27th. Those have been trials
for future more during presence of these software packages. The channels
were named: PANASONIC 0x0102 and PACE 0X0202, obviously for the
regionally two most sold IRD's for the SHOWTIME and 1stNET digital
bouquets.
A while ago it was announced to upgrade the software for the
forementioned receiver, in order to make them capable of receiving the
two packages from two different orbit positions, e.g. Panamsat 68.5 and
Arabsat 26 East.
A test performed by me with a PANASAT 520-D did not result in new
software, the IRD reported after intensive search "Upgrade not found".
(SME)
EUTELSAT II-f3, 16 East, http://www.satcodx.com/e2f3.shtml
--------------
Hakk TV moved from Eutelsat II-f2: 11.075 GHz, H to Eutelsat II-f3:
11.678 GHz, H, PAL, audio on 6.60 and 7.20 MHz, every Sunday from 21:00
- 23:00 CAT.
(C Lyngemark)
HOT BIRD 1, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb1.shtml
----------
RAI International on 11.464 GHz, V is encrypted in MPEG-2/DMV.
(SATCO DX)
Radio Netherlands/Wereldomroep TV started on 11.283 GHz, V, PAL/clear,
Stereo audio on 7.02 and 7.20 MHz, transmission times: 20:00-01:00 CAT.
RADIO Nederland is on both 7.38 and 7.56 MHz.
(SATCO DX)
Radio Netherlands is the Dutch international public radio, TV and
Interactive service. The station broadcasts daily in 7 languages. Radio
Netherlands utilises many satellites to distribute its radio programmes.
Radio Netherlands has been running its experimental satellite television
service since July 1st 1997. First called "Zomer TV" and now renamed
"Wereldomroep TV, this is currently distributed via the ASTRA satellite
system in digital format, and via Eutelsat Hot Bird 1, transponder 4
(11.283 GHz) in analogue format. Analogue services on Astra have ceased.
>From January 1st 1998, this service will be re-launched as BVN-TV,
operated in partnership with domestic television broadcasters, as well
as the Flemish public broadcaster (BRTN, soon be renamed VRT). Viewers'
feedback on the current programming is highly appreciated.
Please send your comments to: reacties@rnw.nl.
At the moment, RN TV programmes can only be received in Europe, but
experiments are currently being conducted in the Caribbean, so that the
same programming can be seen in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.
In times where RN TV does not transmit, D+ (Telepiu) is still using the
transponder for digital test transmissions.
(SME, source: Radio Netherlands)
HOT BIRD 2, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb2.shtml
----------
Satisfaction Club TV switched on November 26, from Eutelsat II-f2,
11.163 GHz, H, to transponder 63 (Polonia 1) at 11.977 GHz, H,
01:00-03:30 CAT.
Be aware that at the present time this transponder is switched onto the
Hot Bird 2 super beam.
SCT's 3 channel digital package is announced to start on December 1st,
on the FT Globecast transponder 84, 12.379 GHz, V, on the channels
presently named SERTE 1, 2 and 3. The previous available sound of Kuwait
TV has been removed from these free channels during the last week.
(SME)
All channels of the Mediaset package on transponder 60, 11.919 GHz, V,
are carrieng the new Teletext service "MEDIA VIDEO" since November 24th.
(SME)
TVE's Canal 24 Horas will appear on December 1st, definitively, on
transponder 53, 11.785 GHz, H, with an audio subcarrier on 6.60 MHz.
(SME, source: screen message)
HOT BIRD 3, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb3.shtml
----------
In the beginning of 1998, Pro TV (Romania) will move from Eutelsat
II-f1, 12.576 GHz, H, to Hot Bird 3, 12.207 GHz, H, MPEG-2/PowerVu, on
the wide beam.
Further radio and TV stations are expected in that Romanian package.
(SATCO DX)
On Thursday, November 27th a colour bar test card could be seen on
transponder 89, 12.476 GHz, H, with audio on 6.60 MHz
(SME)
EUTELSAT II-f1, 12 East, http://www.satcodx.com/e2f1.shtml
--------------
Canal 24 Horas will move definitively on December 1st from transponder
39, 11.658 GHz, V, to Hot Bird 2 transponder 53, 11.785 GHz, H.
A new user of transponder 39 has not been announced yet.
(SME, source: screen message)
EUTELSAT II-f2, 10 East, http://www.satcodx.com/e2f2.shtml
--------------
The parameters for the EbS feeds on 11.042 GHz, H, are: SR 7998, FEC
3/4, PIDs 0021/0022.
(SATCO DX)
The ex-ERT frequency 11.596 GHz, H is used for occasional feeds in
MPEG-2, SR 5790, FEC 3/4, PIDs 0021/0022.
(SATCO DX)
SIRIUS 2, 5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/sirius2.shtml
--------
Sirius 2 has reached 5 East last Friday, and actually started
transmitting test carriers and pictures from 5 East only 8.5 days after
launch !
Test carriers could be observed in the Middle East on 12.456, 11.727 and
12.265 GHz, H.
SVT Europa plans to start on 10 December transponder 35, 12.380 GHz, H,
SR 27500, FEC 3/4, on the Europa wide beam.
VIACCESS encryption has to be expected from the start of the channel,
there could be however some clear windows, especially in the set-up
period.
(SATCO DX, source: SVT)
AMOS 1, 4 West, http://www.satcodx.com/amos1.shtml
------
ME TV on 11.554 GHz, V, has an additonal audio subcarrier on 7.50 MHz.
(SATCO DX)
INTELSAT 803, 27.5 West, http://www.satcodx.com/i803.shtml
------------
WorldNet on 3.762 GHz, RC, can be folowed using these these PIDs:
0C58/0C30, 0CBC/0C94, 0D20/0CF8 and 0D84/0DC0.
There seem to be 11 versions of Voice of America here, for individual
PIDs, see the SATCO DX chart.
(SATCO DX)
CMT Europe is unfortunately again encrypted in Macrovision on 11.170
GHz, V.
(SATCO DX)
SAT-MidEast Intern, http://www.sat-net.com/sat-mideast/
------------------
The latest issues of the SAT Observations in HTML format will remain
available on the SAT-MidEast website as long as they are not have been
integrated in the individual satellite archive pages.
All PID codes in SAT-MidEast are presently written in HEXA-DECIMAL
notation. With the broader implementation of the new NOKIA operating
system for the 9500, 9600 and 9200, the notation will change in the
future to DECIMAL.
A notice will be made to all subscribers prior to the implementation.
Tips and examples on how to calculate your HEXA-Decimal figures into
DECIMAL numbers can be retrieved from the SAT-MidEast website:
http:/www.sat-net.com/sat-mideast/tips/hextable.html
New software for the Nokia 9200 is available from this website:
http://www.olbort.at/software.htm
Download the file "MM9200.ZIP". Other publications report the
availablity of the FTA1.0 software on the Nokia site, I could personally
not detect it there.
It is VERY recommenable to download this ZIP encoded file and update
your IRD. It's an easy task, which can be performed in less than 15
minutes, using a PC and a simple null-modem cable. It will give you a
much improved Mediamaster operating system, with plenty of niceties,
especially wenn used in a multi-satellite environment. PID entry can be
performed from the main menu, no more use for the risky entry in the
unsupported debugger page, the so-called "RED MENU". The service menu is
also accesible again, important to disable the power supply through the
LNB cable.
WARNING: Do not try to load the FTA1.0 software in any other Mediamaster
than the 9200, especially not the German D-Box version. It could lead to
total system loss. No warranties are given anyway. You're on your own
there.
Personally I have updated my IRD and are very comfortable with it.
An inconvenience, at least, I do like to report however:
Due to the incorrect bit stream transmitted from Panamsat 4 at 68.5
East, transponders 17 and 21 for the SHOWTIME Network, whereby still the
transponder and channel data of the 1stNET bouquet is incorporated, a
manual search becomes nescesary for the 1stNET channels on Arabsat 2A at
26 East, EVERYTIME you have watched (or even switched through) the
SHOWTIME package on Panamsat 4.
The 1stNET channels, including all the ART channels, on ARABSAT 2A, are
changed automatically, that means without human interference of a search
action, to the old frequencies, symbolrate and FEC used on PANAMSAT 4.
(SME, Webmaster: Henk Room)
MLESAT Intern, http://www/mlesat.com
-------------
MLESat has just introduced a new satellite reference for the
Asia/Pacific region called "The Asia/Pacific Satellites On Disk
Library". A demo version of this new product in now up and running at
the MLESAT web site.
(MLESAT, Webmaster: Mark Long)
SATCO DX Intern, http://www.satcodx.com/
---------------
How to get decimal PIDs in the SATCO DX charts ?
If your web browser can handle JavaScripts, switch it on, and just hold
your mouse above the "V" or "A" close to the PIDs, and you will see the
decimal PIDs in the lower left corner of your browser.
ALL satellite charts have changed extension from html to shtml.
The three regional chart indexes have changed names like this:
chart1.shtml -> europe.shtml
chart2.shtml -> america.shtml
chart3.shtml -> asia.shtml
(SATCO DX, Webmaster: Christian Lyngemark)
Dr.DISH TV Intern, http://www.drdish.com/
-----------------
For subscribers who have heard of Dr. Dish, even may have used his
experiences, but never have been able to see any of his transmissions,
some good news: drdish@tv will appear for 30 minutes in a feature story
of Deutsche Welle TV on January 2, 1998.
To finally get some coverage in the Middle East and other parts of the
world, the following strongly supported advert/request from Dr. Dish is
re-published:
Every second Friday of a month Dr. Dish (alias Christian Mass) hosts his
famous "drdish@tv" show. The show lasts for three hours, and SATCO DX's
webmaster Christian Lyngemark and myself have been guests on that show.
The whole drdish@tv show centers about receiving satellites, with life
call-ins from viewers asking the weirdest questions about receiving
satellites, plus a lot of indepth information about new equipment.
Currently, the show is transmitted via KOPERNIKUS at 28.5 East, courtesy
of Deutsche Telekom. This, of course, limits viewership to Central
Europe. Dr. Dish is therefore seeking additional transponders with other
satellites.
Being a hobbyist's TV show, produced entirely in the interest of the
satellite enthusiast, and with no financial background, there is no way
of paying regular transmission fees. There are, however, ways of
ensuring non-financial compensation agreements, which have to be
discussed about.
Therefore, if any of the readers of that very SAT MidEast mails is
directly or indirectly involved with assigning transponder capacity,
either physically, like in an uplink station, or administratively, Dr.
Dish would welcome any suggestion on expanding coverage of drdish@tv.
The basic requirements would be: regular time slot once a month,
analogue technology (PAL), West- and/or East-European coverage.
Please, reply to: Dr. Dish (Christian Mass) at: drdish@drdish.com
(DR.Dish, Webmaster: Reto Jaeger)
That's all folks for this week; spend X-Mas bonusses wisely, send them
to me !
Henk C. Room / SAT-MidEast / Cairo - Egypt
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