[Prev][Next][Index]
SAT Observations 97.12.19
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.
____________________________________________________________________
HOW TO CONTACT SAT-MIDEAST:
Send relevant infos, interesting news, and creative comments to :
hcroom@intouch.com
Upon your request are forwarded messages kept anonymous.
____________________________________________________________________
THE HEADLINES IN THIS 97.12.19 REPORT:
(Burn, baby burn: Disco Inferno !)
-- Launch Information
-- Editorials
-- Intelsats
-- Arabsats
-- Eutelsats
-- Hot Birds
-- Transponder News
-- Bits & Pieces
-- SAT-MidEast Intern
LAUNCH INFORMATION, http://www.satcodx.com/launches.shtml
------------------
Intelsat 804 is scheduled to launch with Ariane V104 on 21 December,
during a launch window of 02:16-03:19 CAT. As destination is still 64
East published.
(SATCO DX)
AsiaSat 3, a high-power satellite built by Hughes Space and
Communications Co. for Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co. Limited
(Asiasat) is slated for launch December 23, 01:18 CAT from the Baikonur
Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard a Proton rocket. It is the second
spacecraft supplied by Hughes to Hong Kong-based AsiaSat. The launch is
the ninth and last for Hughes this year, and is also the company's
fourth launch in the month of December.
AsiaSat 3 is an HS 601HP or high-power satellite, featuring 9900 watts
of power. It will increase AsiaSat's capacity to distribute television
and telecommunications services to Asia, the Middle East, Australasia
and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
The satellite will carry 28 active C-band transponders using 55-watt
travelling wave tube amplifiers (TWTAs). It will also carry 16 active
Ku-band transponders using 138-watt TWTAs. These transponders will
operate through two 107-inch-diameter shaped surface antennas.
One antenna, mounted on the east side of the satellite and operating in
C-band, will provide broad-band coverage of Asia and Australasia. The
west-side antenna will operate in Ku-band and provide focused area
coverage of East Asia.
A 50-inch diameter, dual-gridded shaped surface antenna, operating in
Ku-band, will provide focused area coverage of South Asia. In addition,
a 40-inch-diameter Ku-band steerable spot-beam antenna will allow
AsiaSat 3 to direct coverage to any area on the Earth's surface which is
visible from the spacecraft's orbital location of 105.5 East longitude.
AsiaSat 3 is designed for 15 years of service after delivery in-orbit.
It will join AsiaSat 1, an HS 376 spin-stabilized spacecraft, also built
by Hughes and launched in 1990. Both satellites are controlled from an
integrated satellite control facility in Hong Kong, which was also built
by Hughes.
© Copyright 1997 by Sat-ND
http://www.lynet.de/~pck/
http://www.sat-net.com/pck/
3-DAY LAUNCH FESTIVAL, with a total of 17 satellites performing
---------------------
20/12 Progress M-37 onboard a Soyuz booster from the Baikonur
Cosmodrome.
20/12 Five Iridium satellites aboard a Delta II booster from Vandenberg
Air Force Base, California.
21/12 Intelsat 806 will be launched aboard a Ariane 42L booster from
Kourou, French Guiana, South America.
21/12 Launch of Early Bird aboard a Start 1 booster from the Svobodny
Cosmodrome.
22/12 Eight Orbcomm satellites will be launched aboard a Pegasus XL
booster from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia.
23/12 A Russian Proton booster will launch Asiasat-3 from the Baikonur
Cosmodrome.
This amounts to about 18.269 Kilogram of total weight launched into
orbit for the three days. The Russian's Progress vehicle makes up 40% of
the weight alone at 7.3 tons.
(SME, source: ISIR Newsline, KS)
INTELSAT 515 -> COLUMBIA 515
----------------------------
In a last-minute accord, Intelsat and Columbia Communications
Corporation have resolved the 41/40.5 West orbital slot issue.
Under the terms of the agreement, Columbia will cease operation of the
TDRS-4 spacecraft at 41 West by 15 May 1998. In its place, Columbia will
take title to the Intelsat 515 spacecraft, to be renamed Columbia 515,
and begin operating that satellite by 1 April 1998 at 37.5 West.
Columbia will lease back to Intelsat at no charge a number of
transponders on the Columbia 515 satellite.
SME Comment: The functions of the Intelsat 515, will have been
transferred to the Intelsat 803, since December 19th on it's way to the
21.5 West position.
In announcing today's agreement, Intelsat Director General and Chief
Executive Officer, Irving Goldstein, said, "We're delighted to achieve
an amicable resolution of this issue and we're ready to provide service
immediately on the Intelsat 806 once the satellite becomes operational."
The Intelsat 806 spacecraft will be launched in March 1998 for operation
at 40.5 West. It is a "hot bird" for Latin America broadcasters and
Intelsat already has a strong community of customers for the satellite.
Columbia Communications President and Chief Operating Officer, Ken
Gross, said, "Today's agreement with Intelsat enables us to serve our
growing customer base as we prepare for the launch of two new satellites
by 2001. From its new location at 37.5 West, the Columbia 515 satellite
will provide excellent coverage of North and South America, Europe, and
Africa at aggressively low prices."
Columbia Communications Corporation is a U.S. telecommunications company
which has been providing domestic and international voice, data and
video services between Asia, North America and Europe since 1992.
Backgrounds...
Intelsat has filed for the position 40.5 West with the International
Telecommunication Union, but so far haven't used it to full extent. The
TDRS satellite at 41 West, a position filed by the U.S. government,
provides Tracking and Data Relay Services (hence the name) for NASA. In
addition, it also has some C band capacity on board that is leased by
Columbia Communications.
To avoid interference and "increase competition," Intelsat agreed to
temporarily reduce activity on 40.5 West until December 31, 1997."
As from January 1, 1998 Intelsat holds the right for interference-free
operation from 40.5 West.
© Copyright 1997 by Sat-ND
http://www.lynet.de/~pck/
http://www.sat-net.com/pck/
INTELSAT ReDEPLOYEMENTs
-----------------------
The Intelsat Board of Governors has approved the deployment of the
Intelsat 605 satellite to the key role of 27.5 West in the Atlantic
Ocean Region, the organisation said in a statement.
In September, the Board of Governors had decided to redeploy this
satellite to 29.5 West, and then to 31.5 West. The new decision to
assign this spacecraft to the 27.5 West location represents the
conclusion of extensive analyses and tests which began on September 11
(when 605 experienced a telemetry anomaly,) and Intelsat's success in
devising a ground-based solution to compensate for the loss of the
telemetry information.
At the time the telemetry anomaly was detected in September, the 605 was
located at 24.5 West, the primary position for public switched service
and SS/TDMA traffic over the Atlantic. As with any anomaly, Intelsat
Operations immediately initiated contingency plans to ensure that no
traffic would be interrupted or preempted. To accomplish this,
satellites were redeployed and traffic reassigned, while the 605
situation could be assessed.
In an additional decision at this meeting, the Intelsat Board of
Governors approved the launch and deployment of Intelsat 806 to 40.5
West. Intelsat 806 is currently scheduled for launch in March 1998.
© 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.shtml
---------
Thai TV 5 Global Network has left 3.520 GHz, H, the transponder was
halved and two colorbar test cards in PAL appeared on 3.510 GHz, H, and
3.530 GHz, H, with audio on 6.60 and 7.02 MHz. Thai TV 5 GN is still
available in MPEG-2 from 3.480 GHz. H, however with a little weaker
signal.
On December 18th two channels of the Asia culture Satellite Broadcasting
TV Station appeared: CAB-3CH on 3.510 GHz, and CAB-1CH on 3.510 GHz.
The channels are in a test-mode and request comments from receivers to
the "General Post Office Nr.11209" in Hong Kong. An "1998 elegant
chinese calenders" will be send to you as bonus, if you attach a
return-mail address.
Anyway, the way the translations are done is quite hillarious, like
reading a desription of a chinese home appliance. It would be nice to
hear some English sounds to the actually very interesting videos on the
various Chinese peoples, cultures and country sights.
The quality received, of both channels, in Cairo is good, spark-free,
however using a small bandwidth which needs a little fine tuning on the
receiver. Audio is transmitted on 6.60 MHz.
(SME)
INTELSAT 801, 64 East, http://www.satcodx.com/i801.shtml
------------
A new feed for El Mawarid's "Orbit Communications" could be found on
4.080 GHz ,LC, MPEG-2/Powervu, SR 3679, FEC 2/3, global beam, line-up:
0C58{3160}/0C30{3120}: NewSports/Voice/Ster1/128k
0CBC{3260}/0C94{3220}: Atlantic/UIVoice/Ster2/128k
On the RADIO side, two "Atlantic Stereo Services" can be loaded.
Using the radio button, then selecting Track 1 -> Track 2 gives access
to the Audio, even when switched back to "TV" again. Video stayed
hidden, I feel the excact PCR PID could make the channels visible.
(SATCO DX, SME)
ARABSAT 1C -> INSAT 2R, 45 East ?, http://www.satcodx.com/in2r.shtml
----------------------
Arabsat 1C, which was recently sold to India, has been renamed to Insat
2R, and will replace Insat 2D at 74 East.
SATCO DX has a complete transponder layout and links to footprint maps
have been added to the satellite chart.
(CL)
ARABSAT 2A, 26 East, http://www.satcodx.com/arab2a.shtml
----------
There are now colour bars on 3.946 GHz, LC, PAL, with audio on the
subcarriers 5.80 and 7.20 MHz, in preparation for the appearance of TV 5
Moyen-Orient.
Radio Monte Carlo is on 6.40 MHz.
(SATCO DX)
TFC "The Filipino Channel" replaced the ART 6 test dia in the 1stNet
package earlier this week, on transponder 3, 12.562 GHz, H, MPEG-2/clear
with PIDs 0207{519}/02D0{720}. The channel is mostly in the English
language (some parts are in Tagalo) as it is presented in the American
version, as seen on Galaxy 4 at 88 West, transponder 24, 12.170 GHz, H.
SME Comment: The addition of this channel to the 1stNet bouquet is a
clever move of Sheikh Saleh, as it binds a lot of eastern expatriate
households to the package. An encryption however should be expected for
the future.
Anybody aware of the path which the feed takes to the Italian up-link
site ?
(SME)
EUTELSAT II-f3, 16 East, http://www.satcodx.com/e2f3.shtml
--------------
After last week one-day-only clear transmission (SME reported), Eros TV
on 11.575 GHz, V, has started regular transmissions in D2-MAC/Eurocrypt
S2.
(SATCO DX)
HOT BIRD 1, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb1.shtml
----------
D+ (Telepiu) transponder 4, 11.283 GHz, V, is from 01:00-20:00 CAT still
testing with the promo channels on PIDs
00A0{160}-00A7{167}/0050{80}-006C{108}, sometimes interrupted by short
sequences of current programs on different Tele+ channels, including the
soap and movie channels.
Today the channel naming revealed on all eight channels the name
"Philips"
(SME, SATCO DX)
HOT BIRD 2, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb2.shtml
----------
Polonia 1 on 11.977 GHz, H, has changed to wide beam on 13/12/97, most
probably due to the use of the transponder at night time by adult
channel SCT.
(SME)
The Arabesque Bouquet on transponder 65, 12.015 GHz, H, in
MPEG-2/VIACCESS, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, has added three channels:
00A7{67}/006C{108} ART(test)
00A8{68}/0070{112} ART(test)
00A9{69}/0074{116} ART(test)
(SME)
HOT BIRD 3, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb3.shtml
----------
"Test Berlin-Usingen" in MPEG-2/clear has replaced "Channel Three" in
the Deutsche Bank package on transponder 78, 12.265 GHz, V, SR 27500,
FEC 3/4, PIDs 0550{1360}/0528{1320}.
Radio channel HR KV on 12.303 GHz, V, APID 0099{153}, has ceased.
(SATCO DX)
EUTELSAT II-f1, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/e2f1.shtml
--------------
Eurotica/Rendez-Vous uses at night now transponder 39, 11.658 GHz, V,
widebeam, in D2-Mac-Eurocrypt.
This transponder is only with very large dishes receivable in the KSA
and Gulf states as the used transmitter power on this satellite is only
around 50 Watt.
(SME, source: Eutelsat-D)
EUTELSAT II-f2, 10 East, http://www.satcodx.com/e2f2.shtml
--------------
The MPEG-2 test transmissions on transponder 33, at 11.595 GHz, H, with
a SR of 21.973, FEC 2/3, could also be seen at various times during this
week.
The package contains of 5 channels named: Chan_1 throught Chan_5 and
originates most prabably from RAI. Provider is isis_center and sometimes
the mentioning of "rai_tur.trp" can be found.
(SME, Anonymous)
EUTELSAT II-f4M, 7 East, http://www.satcodx.com/e2f4.shtml
---------------
RIK will be renamed to CySat on 1 January, and will by then also consist
of programming contents of other Cypriot channels e.g. Logos TV, Antenna
TV and Sigma TV.
(SATCO DX)
After the recent launch of RIK on Sirius 2, 5 East, transponder 29,
12.265 GHz, H, it is expected that the analogue version of the channel
on Eutelsat will be transferred into a digital service as part of a
broader package of Cypriot channels and feeds.
(SME)
SIRIUS 2, 5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/sirius2.shtml
--------
RIK (Cyprus) started on 12.265 H, PAL/clear, 6.60 MHz, European beam,
with additional radio channels on 7.20 MHz: RIK 1 and 7.80 MHz: RIK 3.
(SME)
SVT Europa has been incorporated on December 18th in a package with Star
Television and DK-4 (Denmark) on 12.380 GHz, H, MPEG-2/clear, European
beam.
Present line-up:
0023{35}/0024{36} SVT Europa
002D{45}/002E{46} Star TV (present DK-4 without audio)
0032{50}/0033{51} DK-4 (Audio only one channel)
1FFF{8191}/1FFF{8191} Future use (PIDs not set)
There seem to be some difficulties in the channelling of this package,
as seen in above missing video and audio information. The complete video
and audio information was also absent during daytime on December 19th
(exept for SVT Europa).
SVT Europa in this package will be encrypted from January 7th '98 in
VIACCESS.
(SME)
SVT Europa is receivable in Bahrain with a 500 cm solid dish. Estimated
signal level is 27 db, some 15 db lower than Hot Bird 2 wide beam.
The Nordic beam is still around 7 db lower, barely visible video with
maximum threshold on the same antenna.
(SATCO DX)
INTELSAT 707, 1 West, http://www.satcodx.com/i707.shtml
------------
Jamahirya Satellite Channel (Libya) on 4.022 GHz, LC, has audio on 6.20
MHz. The Libyan Radio on 7.02 MHz has ceased.
(SATCO DX)
AMOS 1, 4 West, http://www.satcodx.com/amos1.shtml
------
Ofek (Open University of Israel) on 11.094 GHz, V, has changed SR to
4000, on the Eastern (Israel) beam.
(SATCO DX)
GORIZONT 26, 11 West, http://www.satcodx.com/g26.shtml
-----------
WRC - World Russian Channel on 3.725 GHz, RC, re-started transmitting,
after been interrupted for a couple of days, due to technical
difficulties with the up-link.
(SATCO DX)
SME Comment: The reception of this satellite is lately only possible for
a couple of hours a day (lenght depending on dish size), due to the
extremely inclined orbit of this satellite.
A replacement satellite has still to be launched.
(SME)
INTELSAT 515, 21.3 West, http://www.satcodx.com/i515.shtml
------------
EDTV - Emirates Dubai TV has started on 3.915 LC, NTSC, 6.60 MHz, East
zone beam, in anticipation of the replacement by Intelsat 803 before the
end of this year.
(SATCO DX, SME)
For more on Intelsat 515 see the redactional part at the beginning of
todays SAT Observations.
(SME)
PANAMSAT 3R, 43 West, http://www.satcodx.com/pas3r.shtml
-----------
The two unknown services in the CCTV bouquet on 4.147 GHz, V, PIDs
0618{1560}/05F0 {1520} and 067C{1660}/0654{1620} are used for various
occasional feeds.
(SME)
SAT-MidEast Intern, http://www.sat-net.com/sat-mideast/
------------------
The SAT-MidEast website on the above mentioned URL completes today it's
one year presence on the internet. Initialized on December 20th, 1996 as
a start-up site for Middle Eastern satellite enthusiasts, it soon
prooved to be a frequently visited place in the Middle Eastern satellite
scene.
The featured archive pages on the daily occurances on the various
satellites has been turned out to be a well-used medium.
Various tables, info-sheets and databases have been added throughout the
year, some unsuccesfull items have been reviewed, eventually replaced by
more interesting information.
I like to thank hundreds of visitors for their comments, positive as
well as negative: all of them helped me to build up a representative
knowledge base for the needs of the beginners in the broadcast satellite
oberservation scene.
There have been 11.000 visitors during the last year, a not comparable
figure with the big sites, but a proud number for an area with a very
low internet penetration, and no back-up of printed coloquial. In
cooperation with the regular submitted free-of-charge mailing service
"SAT Observations", it presents however today a strong base for eventual
future expansion.
I like to thank the people who made all of this possible, in peticular
AW, CM, CL, & JPD, you know who you are guys: Thumbs up !
(SME, Webmaster Henk Room)
Last but not least, a nescesary burdon: The Xmas wishes: please choose
the version you're happy with and delete the other two:
* Conservative: A merry Christmas and a good New Year to all readers of
the SAT Observations and visitors of the SAT-MidEast Website. God bless
you !
* Green: Happy festivities, and believe me: The tree in the garden looks
much better ! (Mam', is there more hot chocolate ?)
* Futuristic: See ya man, may the force be with ya, all the time, way to
go ! Cheers !
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.
(SME)
DRDISH@TV INTERN, various satellites, http://www.drdish.com
----------------
Living out of footprint of the DFS-II satellite and never seen drdish@tv
?
Then watch DEUTSCHE WELLE TV on January 2, 1998.
DW-TV shows a feature about drdish@tv on this day. The English version
comes at
20:30 CAT and the German version at 18:30h CAT.
Christian Mass (Dr.Dish)
Editor of TELE-satellite International
http://www.TELE-satellite.com
Producer of drdish@tv
http://www.drdish.com
That's all folks, who's that guy with the sled outside ?
Henk C. Room / SAT-MidEast / Cairo - Egypt
____________________________________________________________________
- SAT-MidEast maintains a web site with relevant Middle Eastern
- satellite information, and a regular updated, satellite based,
- archive of observations, features & news for the Middle East.
SAT-MidEast: http://www.sat-net.com/sat-mideast/
____________________________________________________________________
- SAT-MidEast offers a mailinglist with relevant Middle Eastern
- satellite information, weekly free-of-charge to your mailbox.
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE:
- Send an e-mail to: majordomo@tags1.dn.net
- and put on a single line: subscribe sat-mideast your@address
- the subject line can be empty, while ignored
HOW TO UN-SUBSCRIBE:
- Send an e-mail to: majordomo@tags1.dn.net
- and put on a single line: unsubscribe sat-mideast your@address
- the subject line can be empty, while ignored
____________________________________________________________________
[Other mailing lists]