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SATELLITE WATCH Compiled by GARRY CRATT* Panamsat will enhance Pacific coverage PANAMSAT 8 Panamsat 8 was successfully launch­ ed November 4 and com­ m enced testing late November from 166°E longitude. Although there were a few anxious moments when the much publi­cised live video coverage of the launch failed, the Proton launch was a complete success from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Russia. The satellite will greatly enhance the coverage offered by Panamsat in the Pacific, though K band coverage appears to exclude PNG and New Zealand. LENOID METEOR SHOWER This much publicised meteor shower, caused by the close proximity of the Earth and the tail of Comet Tempel-Tuttle every 32 years, threatened to disrupt world satellite communications on November 17. Military satellite operators moved satellites out of regular orbits in order to avoid possible damage, whilst the rest of the world waited for news of communications disruption. Fortunately, only 1000 or so particles entered the Earth’s atmosphere, far short of the previous estimates of 4000-5000 meteorites, providing viewers in New Zealand with a spectacular sight of “shooting stars”. Elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region, cloud obscured the view from most locations. PANAMSAT 2 There have been many changes during the last few months on this satellite. NHK’s analog service finally ceased on October 30, leaving CNN as the only remaining analog service on this satel­ lite apart from several itinerant services. The BBC commenced operations on 3743MHz, vertical polarity, SR 21800, FEC 3/4, in preparation for their move from the Cali­fornia bouquet last December. A bouquet of 4 channels (LBC Latest Aurora Timetable For ABC & SBS Digital Services OPTUS B3 The latest Aurora timetable for the introduction of replacement digital ABC and SBS services are as follows. The project has been delayed many months by equipment incompatibility but these problems now appear to be resolved. Central Australia: December 10: Imparja, ABC NT, ABC SA commence digital operation. February 9: ABC NT BMAC service ends. February 26: ABC SA and Imparja BMAC service ends. North Eastern Australia: February 26: QSTV, ABC Qld and SBS Qld commence digital operation. May 6: QSTV, ABC and SBS NE beam BMAC service ends. South Eastern Australia: March 12: ABC and SBS commence digital operation. May 20: ABC and SBS SE beam BMAC service ends. Replacement ABC and SBS digital services are about to be introduced on Optus B3 – see panel below. Australia, RAI International, ART Australia and ANT 1 Greece) commenced early November on 3778MHz, vertical polarity, SR 13331, FEC 3/4. The service is due to be encrypted this month, as part of a commercial service. This bouquet replaces earlier tests conducted with an SR of 6619. ASIASAT 2 A new service called the “Fashion Channel” appeared late November on 3799MHz, vertical polarity, SR 2533, FEC 3/4. This is a weak signal and requires a very carefully adjusted dish system for good reception. Although testing at present, the service will bring MCM Rock and MCM Classical and one Jazz channel to Asiasat 2 sometime in the first quarter of 1999. This channel was previously carried on Hotbird 5, located over Europe. Viewers have also noted the demise of TVSN on this satel­lite. 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 January 1999  29