Let's keep our fingers crossed that the launches proceeding this all go smoothly, including then of course, 2G! It seems like an eternity getting this bird lofted, guess they'll just about make the "2014" launch!
Yes, as you see from my earlier post this afternoon the only one scheduled before 2G has gone up successfully - bet SES are starting to breathe easier again - just over 5 weeks to go. That's almost a 5 month delay.
Yes, as you see from my earlier post this afternoon the only one scheduled before 2G has gone up successfully - bet SES are starting to breathe easier again - just over 5 weeks to go. That's almost a 5 month delay.
It's a bit of an oddity when you have to cross your fingers every time there's a lift-off from Bakaneur. I'll certainly be looking forward to seeing 2G take off, together with that crazy American bloke with his large bow tie doing the commentary and studio footage!
Is the launch of 2G really something to be optimistic about. I know its spotbeam is more tightly focussed on the UK but does this really mean that any more channels are going to join the platform now that overspill is more limited? It looks as if none of the UKTV channels are ever going to join Freesat not even those available on Freeview. The only big name channel that I can think might join is 4Music. Any comments?
Is the launch of 2G really something to be optimistic about. I know its spotbeam is more tightly focussed on the UK but does this really mean that any more channels are going to join the platform now that overspill is more limited? It looks as if none of the UKTV channels are ever going to join Freesat not even those available on Freeview. The only big name channel that I can think might join is 4Music. Any comments?
Perhaps some of the Sony Channels which have Freeview licences but aren't on Freesat yet. The Freesat from Sky proposition is getting rather week (4 Music, Motors TV, Sony Movies Channel, Sony Entertainment TV, London Live, STV Glasgow) and with the expected Card Refresh too....
Is the launch of 2G really something to be optimistic about.
Well it is desperately needed to replace Astra 2A which is well past its sell-by-date with the risk of failure that it must inevitably bring. OK they still have 2C and 2D there at 28.2º doing nothing except presumably to be used as backup. Since SES hasn't moved them to the graveyard yet seems they are just being cautious but I expect they will be retired once 2G is in place and operational. And of course capacity is needed to cover the channels currently on Eutelsat 28A which SES won from Eutelsat earlier this year. - a total of 20 transponders. Providing nothing exceptional occurs there will be sufficient operational capacity at 28.2º through to nearly 2030.
Is the launch of 2G really something to be optimistic about. I know its spotbeam is more tightly focussed on the UK but does this really mean that any more channels are going to join the platform now that overspill is more limited? It looks as if none of the UKTV channels are ever going to join Freesat not even those available on Freeview. The only big name channel that I can think might join is 4Music. Any comments?
Never say never! Channel 4 want 4Music on the platform but the engineering overheads to switch it to their existing spotbeam TP outweigh any extra revenue and let's not forget that broadcasters were all told by SES that 2G would follow 2E early 2014, all delayed by reasons well out of SES's control. Likewise if UKTV want to get any of their services on to Freesat right now then it's nigh on impossible without migration to another bird (2E/F) with spot capabilities - extra expense at both C&M + uplink stages when money is always tight!
Roll along 2G when SES can ask broadcasters if they want to go PE or spot with reconfiguration at migration from 2A (or at a later stage) at the drop of a hat then all these engineering costs at both uplink and Coding/Muxing are eradicated. FTV services save on encryption costs too.
I'm not saying that overnight we'll see a plethora of TP's all go spotbeam but there's a bit of noise being made about the possibility of this within industry circles. C4 would benefit making TP40 spot to save on FTV encryption costs for both C4 Ireland and 4Music, together with their eventual achievement of getting the channel on Freesat.
Thanks all for your interesting replies. I always knew that sats do need to be replaced. I guess there are a few things there that suggest that some of the better channels might launch on freesat or even go FTA.
Thanks all for your interesting replies. I always knew that sats do need to be replaced. I guess there are a few things there that suggest that some of the better channels might launch on freesat or even go FTA.
Very much so, don't expect all subscription channels to launch on Freesat as won't be the case but there is a glimmer of hope that we might see the odd one or two, certainly the FTV ones owned by Sony, also Motors TV + 4music.
In terms of FTV, LFC TV is going pay on the 4th Nov, that only leaves:
Sony TV (and +1)
Sony Movies (and +1)
Motors TV
4music
As universally available Sky EPG services FTV. Local TV channels are also FTV but not universally on the EPG at national level so not included them.
Good news... after carrying out repairs to the 4th engine of the aircraft, the Anonov An-124-100 took off again with Astra 2G on board at 05:10 Moscow time this morning (02:10 GMT) for Baikonur, Kazakhstan, where it landed safely earlier this morning.
After being unloaded, the container carrying the 6 ton payload is now on its way via the special internal railway link to the assembly hall for further testing and assembly into the LV.
(news report from TASS).
Great news and glad she's at the launch centre in one piece. We've just got to get her up and away now. Looking forward to seeing the launch on the 27th.
Launch of "Proton-M" with the satellite communication Astra 2G scheduled for November 28
10:56 10/30/2014 (Updated: 11:00 10/30/2014) 145
Thus, it will be the 400th launch, carried out with the help of the carrier rocket "Proton", which was developed and produced by FSUE "State Research and Production Space Center Khrunichev."
MOSCOW, October 30 - RIA Novosti. The launch rocket "Proton-M" with a communications satellite Astra 2G scheduled for November 28 from Baikonur, said Roscosmos.
"At the airport complex" Jubilee "landed the plane An-124-100 (" Ruslan "), which is delivered to the Baikonur telecommunications satellites Astra 2G. After the customs check the container with the spacecraft and support equipment was loaded on a railway platform and of transported to the site 92A-50, where the finishing chamber 101 hall assembly and testing will be carried out his further training ", - the report says.
In the near future, experts FSUE "Khrunichev. Khrunichev" representatives of the customer and will run standalone testing of the spacecraft, which include a series of functional and electrical inspections and refueling machine propellants.
It is planned that the six-ton geostationary satellite Astra 2G will be launched into orbit by a rocket "Proton-M" and the upper stage "Breeze-M" 28th of November. This will be the 400th launch, implemented using rocket "Proton".
At the same time in the 111-meter hall assembly and test facility 92A-50 calculations FSUE "Khrunichev. Khrunichev" began work on the preparation of telecommunications spacecraft "Yamal-401", which is also the day before was delivered to Baikonur. The spacecraft is set to slipway and computing begun inspections and tests.
Launching a spacecraft "Yamal-401" is scheduled to perform from the Baikonur cosmodrome December 12, 2014 by a rocket "Proton-M" and the upper stage "Breeze-M".
At the Baikonur Cosmodrome specialists of aerospace industry are working intensively to complete the program launches in 2014.
Yesterday at the airport complex "Jubilee" landed the plane An-124-100 ("Ruslan"), which delivered to Baikonur European telecommunications spacecraft "Astra-2G." After the customs check the container with the spacecraft and support equipment was loaded on a railway platform and of transported to the site 92A-50, where the finishing chamber 101 hall assembly and testing will be carried out his further training.
In the near future, experts FSUE "Khrunichev. Khrunichev 'representatives and the customer will begin to run standalone test the spacecraft, which include a series of functional and electrical inspections and refueling machine propellants.
It is planned that the six-ton geostationary satellite "Astra-2Y" will be launched into orbit by a rocket "Proton-M" and the upper stage "Breeze-M" 28th of November. This will be the 400th launch, implemented using a carrier rocket "Proton".
Some impressive photos (1-8) on this Russian Federal Space Agency's website page of Astra 2G (Eurostar 3000) being unloaded from the plane at the Yubiléini airfield in Kazakhstan.and placed on the flat-bed railway bogie for transport to the assembly and testing hall. The container only just fits the cargo hold! The Antonov An-124-100 is often used because apart from its lifting capacity it can 'kneel down' to facilitate loading/unloading (compare the 1st and 4th photographs).
The photos (9-14) of a satellite being removed from a container appear however to be of the Yamal-401 manufactured by Thales Alenia Space due to launch on December 12 which arrived at Baikonur on October 28, the day before Astra 2G. Pre-launch processing on the Yamal-401 began today.
Is the launch of 2G really something to be optimistic about. I know its spotbeam is more tightly focussed on the UK but does this really mean that any more channels are going to join the platform now that overspill is more limited? It looks as if none of the UKTV channels are ever going to join Freesat not even those available on Freeview. The only big name channel that I can think might join is 4Music. Any comments?
Big Irish interest in it also, as it's expected that 2G will allow Irish channels RTE1 and TV3 to go HD on Sky, currently they are SD only on SKY.
That shouldn't really make a difference as they are encrypted anyway and so rights protected.
Strictly not Freesat but...UTV Ireland launches on the 1st Jan 2015 and would hope to get on the Sky EPG at some point although probably not FTA. I wonder if they expected 2G to have been in place earlier as there has been no announcement of Sky EPG numbering (as of yet). They now have the rights to Corrie and a good few other ITV programs (that TV3 previously had) and as such I'd say they'd want to get the Sky EPG sorted asap before the Xmas EPG changes shutdown.
The 'Irish' TP on 2E has 1 HD and 6 SD chs running on DVB-S. A guess is they'd start RTE1 HD and move RTE2 HD and the remaining SD chs on to a DVB-S2 TP on 2G.
Strictly not Freesat but...UTV Ireland launches on the 1st Jan 2015 and would hope to get on the Sky EPG at some point although probably not FTA. I wonder if they expected 2G to have been in place earlier as there has been no announcement of Sky EPG numbering (as of yet). They now have the rights to Corrie and a good few other ITV programs (that TV3 previously had) and as such I'd say they'd want to get the Sky EPG sorted asap before the Xmas EPG changes shutdown.
The 'Irish' TP on 2E has 1 HD and 6 SD chs running on DVB-S. A guess is they'd start RTE1 HD and move RTE2 HD and the remaining SD chs on to a DVB-S2 TP on 2G.
If Sky and RTE wanted they could get another spot TP on the air tomorrow using spare 2F 'C' band capacity as this is still only half utilised. 2G can also provide more spot capacity but it's likely this will be a benefit to current EB1 customers/TP's.
If Sky and RTE wanted they could get another spot TP on the air tomorrow using spare 2F 'C' band capacity as this is still only half utilised. 2G can also provide more spot capacity but it's likely this will be a benefit to current EB1 customers/TP's.
We'll just have to sit back and see what happens I guess.....
Strictly not Freesat but...UTV Ireland launches on the 1st Jan 2015 and would hope to get on the Sky EPG at some point although probably not FTA. I wonder if they expected 2G to have been in place earlier as there has been no announcement of Sky EPG numbering (as of yet). They now have the rights to Corrie and a good few other ITV programs (that TV3 previously had) and as such I'd say they'd want to get the Sky EPG sorted asap before the Xmas EPG changes shutdown.
The 'Irish' TP on 2E has 1 HD and 6 SD chs running on DVB-S. A guess is they'd start RTE1 HD and move RTE2 HD and the remaining SD chs on to a DVB-S2 TP on 2G.
I think it's pretty certain that UTV Ireland will be encrypted and part of Sky Ireland's paid-for base entertainment package just like RTE One, TV3, etc.
I think it's pretty certain that UTV Ireland will be encrypted and part of Sky Ireland's paid-for base entertainment package just like RTE One, TV3, etc.
I tend to agree. After nearly a year there is still no sign of RTE One HD becoming available and I don,t think that the launch of Astra 2G is going to make any difference to that situation. Incidentally I understand that a number of transponders have been transferred from Astra 2A to Astra 2E thus indicatting that there is now a little bit of urgency to get 2G up and running before 2A gives up the ghost.
I tend to agree. After nearly a year there is still no sign of RTE One HD becoming available and I don,t think that the launch of Astra 2G is going to make any difference to that situation. Incidentally I understand that a number of transponders have been transferred from Astra 2A to Astra 2E thus indicatting that there is now a little bit of urgency to get 2G up and running before 2A gives up the ghost.
2G shouldn't make any difference. Plenty of unused spot beam ( as if that matters along side the encryption ) transponders even if they can't yet switch wide beams for spot beams on any frequencies. Satellite bandwidth isn't the cheapest.
Comments
Yes, as you see from my earlier post this afternoon the only one scheduled before 2G has gone up successfully - bet SES are starting to breathe easier again - just over 5 weeks to go. That's almost a 5 month delay.
It's a bit of an oddity when you have to cross your fingers every time there's a lift-off from Bakaneur. I'll certainly be looking forward to seeing 2G take off, together with that crazy American bloke with his large bow tie doing the commentary and studio footage!
Perhaps some of the Sony Channels which have Freeview licences but aren't on Freesat yet. The Freesat from Sky proposition is getting rather week (4 Music, Motors TV, Sony Movies Channel, Sony Entertainment TV, London Live, STV Glasgow) and with the expected Card Refresh too....
Never say never! Channel 4 want 4Music on the platform but the engineering overheads to switch it to their existing spotbeam TP outweigh any extra revenue and let's not forget that broadcasters were all told by SES that 2G would follow 2E early 2014, all delayed by reasons well out of SES's control. Likewise if UKTV want to get any of their services on to Freesat right now then it's nigh on impossible without migration to another bird (2E/F) with spot capabilities - extra expense at both C&M + uplink stages when money is always tight!
Roll along 2G when SES can ask broadcasters if they want to go PE or spot with reconfiguration at migration from 2A (or at a later stage) at the drop of a hat then all these engineering costs at both uplink and Coding/Muxing are eradicated. FTV services save on encryption costs too.
I'm not saying that overnight we'll see a plethora of TP's all go spotbeam but there's a bit of noise being made about the possibility of this within industry circles. C4 would benefit making TP40 spot to save on FTV encryption costs for both C4 Ireland and 4Music, together with their eventual achievement of getting the channel on Freesat.
Very much so, don't expect all subscription channels to launch on Freesat as won't be the case but there is a glimmer of hope that we might see the odd one or two, certainly the FTV ones owned by Sony, also Motors TV + 4music.
In terms of FTV, LFC TV is going pay on the 4th Nov, that only leaves:
Sony TV (and +1)
Sony Movies (and +1)
Motors TV
4music
As universally available Sky EPG services FTV. Local TV channels are also FTV but not universally on the EPG at national level so not included them.
http://advanced-television.com/2014/10/27/ils-readies-astra-2g-for-proton-launch/
Looks like we're on for the 27th November. Just under a Month to go!
Airplane with European satellite aboard makes emergency landing in Ulyanovsk
http://en.ria.ru/russia/20141028/194715264/Plane-Carrying-European-Satellite-Makes-Emergency-Landing-in.html
I read this line: "Specialists are working to fix the problem. If they prove unable to do so, the airplane will have to be replaced"
Haven't they got another aircraft available?
After being unloaded, the container carrying the 6 ton payload is now on its way via the special internal railway link to the assembly hall for further testing and assembly into the LV.
(news report from TASS).
10:56 10/30/2014 (Updated: 11:00 10/30/2014) 145
Thus, it will be the 400th launch, carried out with the help of the carrier rocket "Proton", which was developed and produced by FSUE "State Research and Production Space Center Khrunichev."
Space rocket Proton-M. Photo archive
© RIA Novosti. Oleg Urussov | Buy graphic
MOSCOW, October 30 - RIA Novosti. The launch rocket "Proton-M" with a communications satellite Astra 2G scheduled for November 28 from Baikonur, said Roscosmos.
"At the airport complex" Jubilee "landed the plane An-124-100 (" Ruslan "), which is delivered to the Baikonur telecommunications satellites Astra 2G. After the customs check the container with the spacecraft and support equipment was loaded on a railway platform and of transported to the site 92A-50, where the finishing chamber 101 hall assembly and testing will be carried out his further training ", - the report says.
In the near future, experts FSUE "Khrunichev. Khrunichev" representatives of the customer and will run standalone testing of the spacecraft, which include a series of functional and electrical inspections and refueling machine propellants.
It is planned that the six-ton geostationary satellite Astra 2G will be launched into orbit by a rocket "Proton-M" and the upper stage "Breeze-M" 28th of November. This will be the 400th launch, implemented using rocket "Proton".
At the same time in the 111-meter hall assembly and test facility 92A-50 calculations FSUE "Khrunichev. Khrunichev" began work on the preparation of telecommunications spacecraft "Yamal-401", which is also the day before was delivered to Baikonur. The spacecraft is set to slipway and computing begun inspections and tests.
Launching a spacecraft "Yamal-401" is scheduled to perform from the Baikonur cosmodrome December 12, 2014 by a rocket "Proton-M" and the upper stage "Breeze-M".
Yesterday at the airport complex "Jubilee" landed the plane An-124-100 ("Ruslan"), which delivered to Baikonur European telecommunications spacecraft "Astra-2G." After the customs check the container with the spacecraft and support equipment was loaded on a railway platform and of transported to the site 92A-50, where the finishing chamber 101 hall assembly and testing will be carried out his further training.
In the near future, experts FSUE "Khrunichev. Khrunichev 'representatives and the customer will begin to run standalone test the spacecraft, which include a series of functional and electrical inspections and refueling machine propellants.
It is planned that the six-ton geostationary satellite "Astra-2Y" will be launched into orbit by a rocket "Proton-M" and the upper stage "Breeze-M" 28th of November. This will be the 400th launch, implemented using a carrier rocket "Proton".
The slideshow is towards the bottom of the page:
http://www.federalspace.ru/21066/
The photos (9-14) of a satellite being removed from a container appear however to be of the Yamal-401 manufactured by Thales Alenia Space due to launch on December 12 which arrived at Baikonur on October 28, the day before Astra 2G. Pre-launch processing on the Yamal-401 began today.
Big Irish interest in it also, as it's expected that 2G will allow Irish channels RTE1 and TV3 to go HD on Sky, currently they are SD only on SKY.
That shouldn't really make a difference as they are encrypted anyway and so rights protected.
Strictly not Freesat but...UTV Ireland launches on the 1st Jan 2015 and would hope to get on the Sky EPG at some point although probably not FTA. I wonder if they expected 2G to have been in place earlier as there has been no announcement of Sky EPG numbering (as of yet). They now have the rights to Corrie and a good few other ITV programs (that TV3 previously had) and as such I'd say they'd want to get the Sky EPG sorted asap before the Xmas EPG changes shutdown.
The 'Irish' TP on 2E has 1 HD and 6 SD chs running on DVB-S. A guess is they'd start RTE1 HD and move RTE2 HD and the remaining SD chs on to a DVB-S2 TP on 2G.
If Sky and RTE wanted they could get another spot TP on the air tomorrow using spare 2F 'C' band capacity as this is still only half utilised. 2G can also provide more spot capacity but it's likely this will be a benefit to current EB1 customers/TP's.
We'll just have to sit back and see what happens I guess.....
I think it's pretty certain that UTV Ireland will be encrypted and part of Sky Ireland's paid-for base entertainment package just like RTE One, TV3, etc.
I tend to agree. After nearly a year there is still no sign of RTE One HD becoming available and I don,t think that the launch of Astra 2G is going to make any difference to that situation. Incidentally I understand that a number of transponders have been transferred from Astra 2A to Astra 2E thus indicatting that there is now a little bit of urgency to get 2G up and running before 2A gives up the ghost.
2G shouldn't make any difference. Plenty of unused spot beam ( as if that matters along side the encryption ) transponders even if they can't yet switch wide beams for spot beams on any frequencies. Satellite bandwidth isn't the cheapest.