not a lot of difference between the two satalites but at least 1N is new, but don't break it as it belongs to europe

There's loads of transponders still there yet! Any one can be focused to UK by SES Astra! The focused beam is a bit wider, as you know it's really designed for 19.2E.
They can still put the whole of Astra 2A on there yet with 8 transponders to spare!

I wish someone could say who is right allthough derrek500 is normaly wrong

I'm intrigued as to why SES has suddenly rushed to move all traffic from Astra 2D. It must be having serious issues.

Something does sound iffy

If they can change wide beams to spot beams after launch, why didn't they make the four 2a and 2b beams UK focussed? They could have saved UK broadcasters millions in fees to Sky for encryption.

Really? Astra 1N been at 28E since Oct 2011 and although Astra 2D is not the oldest Sat there, it has the lowest life expectancy (12 years) and was launched in 2000. Unless I'm missing something here, it seems like it was a planned move more than anything else.

2A and 2B are 10 years older than 1N and stuck with what they have. There will always be overspill from the UK focused until Astra 2F comes along with a bit more focused but not perfect. What are you talking about Sky encryption? Is it paying for the EPG or do you mean something else? Not sure exactly your question?
The 28.2E position is in a sort of bad place for a proper UK focused beam, they should have picked the satellites further west but there again poor Rupert would be down millions in what i call free and easy money for nothing!

since N1 ive noticed i get better reception on my 1.9 dish on the sourthern costa blanca so the tight beams not as tight as it used to be

It's not as tight until the next Astra comes along, That's a big dish you have there. Out of curiosity where would you have the dish mounted and is it motorised? Has anyone got anything larger that they use for the 1N transponders?

We also have a 1.9m dish here in South Costa Blanca. its up on our roof terrace, but luckily there is still plenty of room to sunbathe!! Its not motorised, unfortunately, but our reception has improved since the 1N satellite started transmitting.

Mine is 2.4m (not motorised) - but not about to give it up though in case after 1n moves I may need it again!

Before 2D launched the BBC/ITV/C4 channels were encrypted by Sky and a Sky viewing card was needed to watch them.

THANK GOODNESS THOSE DAY'S HAVE GONE

Could well have been, that was before my time!

I'd say that's the largest 1N dish. Looks like your the winner, unless anyone knows different??

Maybe 2D is going to the rescue of another satellite now there's plenty of room on 1N. Somehow I don't think 2D went faulty. It'll be interesting to see where she ends up.

While i was in Slovenia, i had up a 1.9M and that struggled to get 1N but it was stable for the most part.

there are a few 3.1m i know of along the costa blanca. one bieng forum poster billnot.

Well seeing 1A/B/C saw out their last days about 4 years after their EOL date, that is why I'm assuming a fault or ulterior motive.....

I agree 28.2E isn't a great location for the UK spotbeam-wise however the actual beam shaping on 2E/F/G's will be done for that location whereas 1N's is for 19.2 (hence the bulge west of Portugal on early maps SES released which will move over the Canaries once 1N goes to 19.2E). My guess is they'll make these new birds quite tight spotbeam-wise and being at 28.2E, any excessive overspill will go westwards over the sea.

The only people I'd say may be guaranteed reception apart from Northern France, Netherlands and Belgium are Iceland. Don't forget that beam shaping and antenna technology has moved considerably in the last 10yrs, look at how tight the Poland spot for 1KR was, they couldn't get that on less than a 1.8mtr dish in Western Germany when it was in use over Poland.

2D doesn't appear on the 2014 roadmap so assumed it's being junked, I thought it might be used for extra/backup Olympic capacity in the short term but it appears to be failing.

1N and 2B are off to 19.2°E and 2A off to 23.5°E with 2C coming back to 28.2°E to join 2E/2F/2G assuming all goes to plan.

1.5m seems good enough here Sweden, though i need a better lnb (getting a inverto) looks like BBC HD is stronger here night time, also the itv3 transponder is way stronger.

I hope you are wrong But Ithink you will be right, but it's been a fun few years, it will be back to french tv for me

The BBC & Co will well know of the extra spread of 1N according to reports we see, I am sure some countries are going to lodge strong objections about copyright etc,I also feel some pay tv stations abroad will start shouting foul..

This is just my opinion, this move to 1N was not taken lightly & I am sure there must be a problem with 2D we don't know about.

I also feel Sky will be annoyed, as a good few abroad will kill their subscriptions ( that of course never exist), anyhow all you colleagues abroad, enjoy it while you can, as the stores say
"When its gone,its gone"

I only put this up as an interested observer