Just out of sheer morbid curiosity - why has 2C been parked at 28.2E doing naff all since January this year? Seems like such a waste...
Also, KingOfSat also report 2D is still parked at 28.2E, even though it was shut down hastily in 2012? Surely it should have been shunted to the graveyard if it failed as spectacularly as rumoured (what did actually happen to it to warrant a mass exodus of traffic at a moments notice? Anyone know?)
Just out of sheer morbid curiosity - why has 2C been parked at 28.2E doing naff all since January this year? Seems like such a waste...
Also, KingOfSat also report 2D is still parked at 28.2E, even though it was shut down hastily in 2012? Surely it should have been shunted to the graveyard if it failed as spectacularly as rumoured (what did actually happen to it to warrant a mass exodus of traffic at a moments notice? Anyone know?)
Emergency, last resort back-up until Astra 2G arrives?
But surely with 2E/2F on station there would be just enough capacity in case 2A farted it's last?
Currently (using the Astra 1 naming of the bands) they have limited redundancy of some sub-bands, ignoring the inclined orbit 2D Astra currently have the following redundancy
D Band : 2E and 2C only
C Band : 2E, 2F, and 2C
A Band : 2F **
B Band : 2E and 2F
E Band : 2A, 2E, 2F, and 2C
F Band : 2A, 2E, 2F. and 2C (lower six transponders)
G Band : 2E and 2F
Each craft is also limited in the number of transponders it can operate in each band at once. In the low band (A-D) they (2E+2F) can operate all there capable ones at the same time (with no reserve), in the higher band 2E can only operate 40 transponders (equivalent to E+F) and 2F can only operate 28 transponders (G + 12 in E or F) - it's currently mainly in G and apparently E). They are also limited in the total number across both bands - e.g. 2E can operate 60 transponders at once, out of a choice of 48 in the low band and 40 in the high band (which may or may not include the Middle East spot). i.e. it has 88 transponders aimed at the UK/EU but only enough power to operate 60 at the same time.****
Therefore C's primary purpose seems to be ready to take over from 2E in the D band in the event of failure and stand in for E or F in the upper bands on the transponders they can't cover should either fail. Although with 2C not having a UK spot they may need to do a 1N (point it further north & west than it should) or make the UK channels pan European should it need to replace 2E.***
The delay in switching A band from Eutelsat to Astra is probably down to the lack of redundancy (2G can operate in A-F bands). Also if more UK Spot capacity was bought in before 2G was ready and 2E or 2F failed there wouldn't be enough transponders to keep all the frequencies active.***
*** Or more likely, if 2E was to fail, throw the transponders onto 2C on the same frequency for continuity of service (with some of 2F's going onto 2C to free the capacity), and start dual illuminating on 2F (probably in the pretty idle B band) and as soon as all the uplinks, BSkyB, and Freesat are ready and have move there EPG's to point to the 2F Frequencies to restore the limited coverage over the UK.
As for 2A - it looks like some of it's transponders have now migrated to, probably, 2F and it's already operating beyond design life (it's now in year 17 but has a 15 year design life) so it too is getting near EOL.
As for keeping 2D on station - there is some value in inclined birds so you may as well keep it running at one of your licensed positions until someone needs it (e.g. SES borrowing the 19 year old Optus 3A to "open" the 31.5'E orbital position at 9' inclined orbit) or it's ready to go into junk orbit. No point wasting fuel to move it half way round the belt either. IIRC 2D was also operating beyond it's design life when 1N was launched so it made sense to put it here until Astra 19.2'E's birds got EOL themselves.
** Currently operated on a different frequency plan by Eurobird but due to be operated by SES
*** Transponders fail during the life of the satellites - IIRC two of Astra 1A's 16 were operated by Astra 1C as it had 18 transponders - by Astra 1A's EOL it had 12 working, and 1C was down to 15 working.
Astra 2C is also transmitting a couple of data channels that very few satellite tuners can see. Presumably these data channels are in connection with the services offered via KA band to France and Germany, but not sure. Astra 1N was transmitting the data channels before 2C arrived.
Apart from obviously STV West and UTV HD it has all gone quiet on the HD front, when Sky were boasting about 50 HD channels a couple of years ago I thought we would have much more by now but despite rumours of CNNi and QVC HD it has all gone quiet. just wonder when we will have more HD channels launching.
I know there will be those who will say that it is down to costs and that we are in hard times but it would be so nice to have QVC HD, Fox News HD and CNNi HD although before QVC moved while doing their Hi-Tech Toys and Electronic shows and selling HD products they were saying that we do not broadcast in HD yet whereas last weekend while selling an HD product I noticed the presenter said we do not broadcast in HD and did not say the yet so I wonder if QVC have not got the funds to broadcast in HD?.
I seem to have two STV steams on both on 103. One is working properly but one is labelled 12130 and has no now and next info and is blank on the EPG. Is it my box or is there a problem with STV West?
I seem to have two STV steams on both on 103. One is working properly but one is labelled 12130 and has no now and next info and is blank on the EPG. Is it my box or is there a problem with STV West?
Comments
Thanks.
Also, KingOfSat also report 2D is still parked at 28.2E, even though it was shut down hastily in 2012? Surely it should have been shunted to the graveyard if it failed as spectacularly as rumoured (what did actually happen to it to warrant a mass exodus of traffic at a moments notice? Anyone know?)
Emergency, last resort back-up until Astra 2G arrives?
Both 2A and 2C are "due to be relocated", according to the SES website.
Can anyone tell me if the streams on 11.068 are CBR or VBR?
VBR mate, it finally happened!
Currently (using the Astra 1 naming of the bands) they have limited redundancy of some sub-bands, ignoring the inclined orbit 2D Astra currently have the following redundancy
D Band : 2E and 2C only
C Band : 2E, 2F, and 2C
A Band : 2F **
B Band : 2E and 2F
E Band : 2A, 2E, 2F, and 2C
F Band : 2A, 2E, 2F. and 2C (lower six transponders)
G Band : 2E and 2F
Each craft is also limited in the number of transponders it can operate in each band at once. In the low band (A-D) they (2E+2F) can operate all there capable ones at the same time (with no reserve), in the higher band 2E can only operate 40 transponders (equivalent to E+F) and 2F can only operate 28 transponders (G + 12 in E or F) - it's currently mainly in G and apparently E). They are also limited in the total number across both bands - e.g. 2E can operate 60 transponders at once, out of a choice of 48 in the low band and 40 in the high band (which may or may not include the Middle East spot). i.e. it has 88 transponders aimed at the UK/EU but only enough power to operate 60 at the same time.****
Therefore C's primary purpose seems to be ready to take over from 2E in the D band in the event of failure and stand in for E or F in the upper bands on the transponders they can't cover should either fail. Although with 2C not having a UK spot they may need to do a 1N (point it further north & west than it should) or make the UK channels pan European should it need to replace 2E.***
The delay in switching A band from Eutelsat to Astra is probably down to the lack of redundancy (2G can operate in A-F bands). Also if more UK Spot capacity was bought in before 2G was ready and 2E or 2F failed there wouldn't be enough transponders to keep all the frequencies active.***
*** Or more likely, if 2E was to fail, throw the transponders onto 2C on the same frequency for continuity of service (with some of 2F's going onto 2C to free the capacity), and start dual illuminating on 2F (probably in the pretty idle B band) and as soon as all the uplinks, BSkyB, and Freesat are ready and have move there EPG's to point to the 2F Frequencies to restore the limited coverage over the UK.
As for 2A - it looks like some of it's transponders have now migrated to, probably, 2F and it's already operating beyond design life (it's now in year 17 but has a 15 year design life) so it too is getting near EOL.
As for keeping 2D on station - there is some value in inclined birds so you may as well keep it running at one of your licensed positions until someone needs it (e.g. SES borrowing the 19 year old Optus 3A to "open" the 31.5'E orbital position at 9' inclined orbit) or it's ready to go into junk orbit. No point wasting fuel to move it half way round the belt either. IIRC 2D was also operating beyond it's design life when 1N was launched so it made sense to put it here until Astra 19.2'E's birds got EOL themselves.
** Currently operated on a different frequency plan by Eurobird but due to be operated by SES
*** Transponders fail during the life of the satellites - IIRC two of Astra 1A's 16 were operated by Astra 1C as it had 18 transponders - by Astra 1A's EOL it had 12 working, and 1C was down to 15 working.
Isn't 20780 on 11.053 H?
Jimbo, do you have the rest of the tuning details for these two? Thanks
10.994 H SR 22000 FEC 5/6 QPSK DVB-S
12130 - STV West (in HD)
11.053 H SR 22000 FEC 5/6 QPSK DVB-S
20780 - UTV (in HD)
and they are still there for the time being
Wish STV would launch the HD service for viewers in the East.:(
That would be nice wouldn't it. At least you get an HD swap in the west, but not in England at all - ITV HD don't swap with 178 in any English region!
HOLY **** they've finally began VBR use!
There is a god afterall....
Thanks Jimbo
I know there will be those who will say that it is down to costs and that we are in hard times but it would be so nice to have QVC HD, Fox News HD and CNNi HD although before QVC moved while doing their Hi-Tech Toys and Electronic shows and selling HD products they were saying that we do not broadcast in HD yet whereas last weekend while selling an HD product I noticed the presenter said we do not broadcast in HD and did not say the yet so I wonder if QVC have not got the funds to broadcast in HD?.
10.994 H
12130 - now showing STV West (in HD)
Reboot your box and it should correct itself.
That's just the problem there Jimbo,
I'm in Edinburgh, Home of the Billion quid trams.!
ITV Be will gain its HD channel next year. It's also rumoured the existing 4Seven HD and 4+1 HD might join the platform