SATELLITE
WATCH
Compiled by GARRY CRATT*
Changes on PAS-2 for CNN & NHK
PAS-2 (169°E)
As predicted, CNN moved to
3905MHz vertical polarisation on July
15, vacating the previously occupied
transponder (3965MHz horizontal).
There are now no horizontally polarised analog signals on this satellite.
NHK continue to broadcast in
analog on 4055MHz vertical polarity and has extended the period of
parallel operation to at least this
month, according to sources in Japan.
The free-to-air digital service “NHK
World” is also running on 4035MHz
horizontal, SR 26470, FEC 3/4. NHK
“World Premium Service” operates
using PowerVu conditional access on
the same transponder. Costs for the
“Premium” service are rumoured to
be $2350 for the Scientific Atlanta IRD
required, plus a 3000-Yen monthly
subscription fee.
Subsequent to the closure of the
dedicated “NBC Asia” channel, a new
bouquet has appeared at 4093MHz (SR
29473, FEC 3/4, vertical polarity). The
new channels include the National
Geographic Channel and CNBC Asia.
Versions of these channels destined
for Indonesia, Taiwan and Australia
are carried in the 6-channel bouquet.
Since July, a new bouquet has been
testing on this satellite on 3778MHz
vertical polarity, SR 6619, FEC 2/3,
no CA, NTSC. The new channels list
as: ART America, ART movies, RAI
Interna
tional, ART Australia, LBC
America, LBC Australia and MCM The
Music Channel. At the time of writing,
only LNB America was active.
GMA Update
Email correspondence with GMA
indicates that the broadcaster is trying to work out a way of getting their
signal back to Australia. The present
service on the Agila satellite at 146° is
barely receivable in the eastern states
of Australia or New Zealand. The
broadcaster is now aware in no uncertain terms of the number of viewers
affected in Australia, estimated to be
several thousand.
Asiasat 2 (100.6°E)
TVSN has ceased operations on this
satellite, apparently as a result of the
Asian economic crisis. The program
was uplinked from Epping, a suburb
of Sydney.
Hallmark movie channel has also
moved from this satellite, and now
appears on Apstar 2R in scrambled
format. KIBC, broadcast from the
Philippines with Hallmark, remains
on Asiasat 2.
THAICOM 2/3 (78.5°E)
Despite a low look angle to viewers
along the east coast (typically 6° above
the horizon), strong signals can be observed using a 2.3m dish. Analog signals include Thiacom tests which can
be found at 3650MHz and 3686MHz,
horizontal polarity. Digital signals
include Thai TV5 and Maharishi Veda
Vision, broadcast in an MCPC bouquet
on 3600MHz, horizontal polarity, SR
26662, FEC 3/4.
Cakrawarta 1 (107.7°E)
Indonesia’s own satellite (Cakra
warta 1) has begun S band testing. The
downlink frequency is 2540MHz, SR
20000, FEC 5/6. Initial footprint data
indicates a 3m dish will be required
to receive this satellite along the east
coast of Australia. Indonesian officials
are advising that the satellite may not
begin commercial operations for some
time, due to the general economic
situation in Indonesia.
In addition, press reports in August indicate that a solar storm has
damaged the spacecraft’s electrical
system, reducing the expected lifetime
of the satellite to just seven years. The
satellite will be unable to achieve
full operating power during the solar
outages which occur for a few days in
March and September each year.
This means that the planned migration of the current C-band “Indo
vision” pay TV service, carried on the
Palapa C2 satellite, could be delayed
some months.
Intelsat 702 (177°E)
Space TV, a Taiwanese pay TV
broadcaster operating for the last
year on 12.612GHz (SR 26694, FEC
3/4 horizontal polarity), has left this
satellite. This means the only free to
air broadcaster is Thai TV5, who have
changed their operating parameters to
12.650GHz, SR 17800, FEC 1/2. The
service is broadcast in PAL and requires
a 1.2m dish along the east coast of
Australia for good reception.
SC
*Garry Cratt is Managing Director of AvComm Pty Ltd, suppliers of satellite TV
reception systems. Phone (02) 9949 7417.
http://www.avcomm.com.au
November 1998 53
