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December 2012 - Astra 2F | Satellite changes at 28.2° East | After over a decade in service, the Astra satellites copositioned at 28.2° east are
reaching the end of their intended period of service. Plans are already well underway to replace the three satellites providing
televisin and radio services to the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic, Astra 2A, Astra 2B and Astra 2D. Astra 1N has temporarily
replaced Astra 2D until Astra 2F entered commercial service. Astra 2F is, as of November 22, 2012, operational. Currently
one transponder is active, transponder 61, 11.023 horizontal. This is the new BBC DSAT 8 transponder, using the UK Spotbeam,
broadcasting in DVB-S2, 8PSK.
What will all these changes entail for those currently viewing TV via Sky or Freesat?
If you live within the intended reception area of the new satellites (the British Isles), then your viewing will not be affected
and you will continue to receive all the services you currently have.
For viewers outside the British Isles in mainland
Europe, reception of certain channels currently on Astra 2A or 2B may change or be lost in certain areas after all the new
satellites are| How will these changes affect viewers overseas? | There have been many rumours doing their rounds on the Internet, that overseas
viewers will lose all their channels once these changes are complete. For viewers in some areas of Europe, this may be true,
this depends on which spotbeam Sky deciide to use for their channels. There is no reason for Sky to opt for the UK spotbeam,
their channels are encrypted and there are no copyrigh issues. There are many expats who have legal subscriptions registered
to a UK address, there are many British or Irish pubs and bars that have Sky Sports, these are all income for Sky.
It seems unlikely that Sky would want to lose this income, at this time there are no answers and
no guarentees of future reception.
As for the main terrestrial broadcasters, the
BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, these are going to use the UK spotbeam and already do on Astra 2D and Astra 1N. If you
can already receive signals from these two satellites, then little is likely to change over the coming years. Again there
are no guarentees, the new satellites are the same type as Astra 1N and are almost certain to have similar spotbeams, only
time will tell.
Many free-to-air channels currently use Eutelsat 28A at 28.5° east,
launched in 2001 it has an expected lifespan of twelve years, there is currently no information on whether this satellite
is to be replaced. If not, then many will have to move to the new satellites.
COPY AND PASTE
THE LINK BELOW INTO YOUR BROWSER FOR LATEST NEWS FROM BBC ON THIS SUBJECT
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/aboutthebbc/posts/Changes-to-BBC-Satellite-transponders-in-2013
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