Vorsprung durch Technik!

There are currently about 40 German Analogue transponders still in use @19.2º- 30 April is the absolute final day so I imagine some transmissions may end earlier than the 30th and there are probably a few other transponders free to carry out tests on. The reports I read say the switch-over will be 'direct'.

I know nothing about the plans for German DSO - whether or not it just refers to terrestrial TV or both Terrestrial and Satellite, but you have to remember that one analogue TV channel uses "shed loads" (that's a technical term) of bandwidth, PAL video signal alone is about 5-6MHz bandiwdth, with 5MHz audio bandwidth - plus clear white space separation between these channels, so one transponder per analogue TV channel.

Depending whether or not they use DVB-S or DVB-S2 or whether it's MPEG-2 or H.264/MPEG-4-AVC they can carry at least 3 HD channels in the same space, or more than 10 SD channels (if they average at 3.3(ish) Mbps), or a combination of the two - possibly more as better encoders are developed.

So,10 new HD services might sound like a lot, but it's peanuts compared to analogue TV.


I'm not saying this is the plan, but I don't see why not. We talk about digital and analogue as if the delivery method is different. However, for digital TV, we still have to use a carrier. It's not like the transponders themselves care.

I'm just going from experience. Even a simple thing like a transponder move, usually happens over a few days with the new feed testing for a few days before switching over and stopping the old feed.

So to shut down a complete analogue transponder, and the very next day start up a fully tested digital transponder seems a tad optimistic.

More likely as a post above sugests is some analogue services will finish earlier to free up space for testing the new digital services.

I hear what you're saying. I'm presuming though, that's because a transponder move usually coincides with a plan to reorganise, consolidate and/or squash more services into the same space, sometimes with a brand new encoder testing to see how low they can reduce the bps. Which, to be fair to you, is not to say that that very process wouldn't be the case too, when these new services are required start up.

Now you know better.

A few questions about the new 1n Satellite ......?

1) Why are 28 group of satellites getting a craft that is named for another group at 19.2 ?
2) How many channels does it handle SD or HD ?
3) When is going to move into 28. group and how long will it be there for ?
4) When it moves to 19.2 will we loose channels that we may get at that time or will there be a new satellite be there with the same channels beaming at the same time ?
5) With the knowledge that 28. group is short of space now, how many craft are being built now as when the next one ( 1n replacement ) is there at 28, another new spacecraft with new channel space will be needed too. ?

All the anolog transponders are all ready transmitting a digital copy of them self´s. Their all ready a few that went, I suppose when their contract expired as I recall CNN was one of them I think. I still don´t know why they put up 1N first instead of 2E what was the sense of that.

As a temporary measure until 2E is available. To fill in empty frequency bands not used at present and to provide backup capacity for the existing satellites and transponders

Depends on transmission standard used and amount of bandwidth per channel and it depends on how many are used for UK transmissions

It will move when testing has been completed satisfactorily and will stay until 2E is at the slot and ready

Who knows but channels should be able to be moved although whether this will effect reception in fringe areas is not known.

There are only so many frequency slots available in the Ku band (that used for Sky and freesat so until more efficient use of the bandwidth is invented then there is a finite limit to the number of channels that could be received by present satellite receivers. The replacement satellites 2F etc will be as replacements for the satellites already at 28E and the old ones will be moved elsewhere. The replacements will likely have more UK spotbeam capability as well as having spotbeams for transmission of channels for the middle east - both of which will make reception of the UK channels in fringe areas (around the Mediterranean in particular) more difficult.

2F is going up first (Q4 2012), then 2E with 2G last.

Any word on when 1N is going to start its move to 28deg. It seems to have been testing now for a few weeks at 1.8E. I'm assuming any move would take a couple of weeks so it might not now be operational until some time into October.

It's still testing although potentially yesterday was quiet over at1.8E so a move may be imminent. I expect it to begin service towards the end of October at the earliest as it's going to take a few weeks alone to get her around the arc.

Good news everyone. 1N finished testing and on it's way to 28.2E, and should be up and running by October..
From the official SES Facebook page..

I asked a few days ago:

And the reply posted today:

http://www.facebook.com/SES.YourSate...t=feed_comment

Does this mean possible Channel 5 HD, 5 Star and 5 USA on Freesat?

Possible, yes. Probable? 5* and 5 USA quite probable, Channel 5 HD possible.

I do hope so. Once 1N gets light up at 28.2, it will be time to see if all the rhetoric about "lack of narrow beam capacity" is the real reason these have remained encrypted.

Excellent, bring on...

Channel 5 HD
Five *
Five USA

The more Freesat has, the less Sky has ("per-say").

I expect all the encrypted channels going FTA will remain encrypted for a period of time due to contractual issues with Sky. Some may move to 1N but not go FTA for Months, some, like the C5 and ITV services, I expect will go FTA within a few weeks. C5HD is tied in with Sky, we don't know for how long but it was rumoured 2yrs so us Freesatters may not see this appear yet. I'd like to be proved wrong though as it will be good to finally have C5HD on board.

If Channel 5 does have any contract(s) with BSkyB, maybe Channel 5 might buy it's contract(s) out, (ending the contract(s) early), just a thought.

Possibly, although I was told the 'exclusivity' in terms of the deal they got would include the service not being on any other platform apart from VM. Obviously, all with a pinch of salt here as it's not confirmed by any means but with C5HD presumably wanting the 5th HD stream on Freeview then they'll need to break free of such a deal?

I asked C5 about their services on Freesat and whilst there was a generally positive response about 5* and 5US being on Freesat later this year, 5HD didn't sound like it was anywhere near imminent.

Satellite tracking now showing Astra 1N at 5.8ºE. At that rate it will be on station next week.

http://www.n2yo.com/?s=37775

Don't think so. From what I can see at n2yo.com it takes around 20 minutes to move 0,01 degree. This breaks down to 0,72/24h. At that rate we are looking at 21 october before she's in place.

Edit: and it says 5.9 degrees noiw

Will this new satelite be in the same group as the current astra ones?
I currently pick up 3 seperate astra satelites without having to move my dish will I just need to re-scan in order to pick up this one?
I'm currently using a TeVii satellite card in my WMC setup, it seems to "know" about loats of satelites out of the box. will I need Add this new one before I can scan it?

It will be at 28.2E with the other Astra 2 satellites. Without knowing if your card has blind scan can't answer your other query

I made it at about .04 of a degree in 56 mins.
This equates to about 21.117 days from now to reach 28.2 E.

Or, at the current rate, 21 days, 2 hours 48 mins from now. Wed 12th October, 4:26pm. Put that date in your diary.

Yes, I'm being slightly tongue-in-cheek.
Presumably it'll have to overshoot a bit, then gradually, by a process of iteration, approach its spot

It makes sense when you think about movement in space. It needs time to speed up, so will get gradually quicker until it's gone half way to its destination, then will likely gradually slow down again until it creeps towards the right point. They'll probably also have to align it properly once it gets to 28.2E, which will take a couple of days or so.

So I think 21 days is a little optimistic.