Powerful new satellite beam for UK

[Larry-G]

Astra 2E will enter service on February 1st. Launched last September, the satellite has been testing its frequencies and functionality these past weeks. The satellite is co-located at the 28.2 degrees East orbit position which is mainly devoted to coverage of the British Isles.

SES, which operates the satellite fleet, says that over the next few weeks the new Astra 2E will see programming from BSkyB, Channel 4, ITV and the BBC transferred. Viewers will not be affected, but SES says the powerful new satellite will mean a more tightly focussed UK beam, and better viewing for Scotland and Ireland, although viewing in France, Spain and the other expatriate areas will be more challenging.

Astra 2E also carries a Middle East beam which looks at Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq as well as the Eastern Mediterannean.

http://advanced-television.com/2014/01/31/powerful-new-satellite-beam-for-the-uk/

 

[marty]

I "should" get it on a 60cm dish according to the footprint map from SES

 

[Walt]

This satellite will also carry channels for the middle east meaning the new version of Al Jazeera sport will be on it or am I hoping too much?

 

[s1m0nw]

What does this mean for the middle east...will we be getting sat channels from there???

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[Trial]

Hi Marty,
any idea?

ciao

 

[Larry-G]

I would not put much stock in the official footprint maps, there is no way they could come up with a footprint as accurate as that, that said we will only know the full extent of the new footprint when the satellite goes live, so it's a waiting game rite now.

 

[Trial]

Hi phoenix,
I also thought so. I wanted to change from 13E to 28.5E last year but decided to wait. I have 90cm at the marked position so it can nearly work or not.

ciao

 

[coleycoleycoley]

28.2 in Spain

Hi

Does anyone know what's happening with all the UK terrestrial channels being moved so not viewable in Southern Spain any longer? They've been threatening it for a while but lots of services still exist.

Thanks

Coley

 

[ronand]

This thread should give you more info http://www.world-of-satellite.com/showthread.php?35225-Powerful-new-satellite-beam-for-UK

 

[Stanman]

See thread by pheoinix on the new spot beam for uk.

Wether it will be effective as planned only will know once its fully operational but likely it will and spain will lose channels

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[Larry-G]

Hi

Does anyone know what's happening with all the UK terrestrial channels being moved so not viewable in Southern Spain any longer? They've been threatening it for a while but lots of services still exist.

Thanks

Coley

Technically Astra 2E is now in service as of today, but from all the reports i have seen it's going to be a couple of weeks before they migrate the terrestrial channels over, so it's just a game of wait and see for now.

 

[marty]

Found this bits.

Astra 2E, the change over begins.

The following frequencies have migrated from Astra 2A to the new satellite 2E.

11720 H
11758 H
11836 H
11856 V
11914 H
12012 V
12382 H
12460 H

The above frequencies are for UK Sky & appear to be placed on the 2E pan European beam. Many of these were previously weaker in many locations in Spain.

In Costa Blanca South - 11836 H which is part of the Sky movies package, this was very weak and needed a 1.8 / 1.9 metre dish & still not 100% stable. This morning we scanned in these channels on a 1.1 metre dish with good signal strength.

11758 H was also difficult to receive and has the (Sky) HD versions ITV 2, 3 & 4 and also now scanned in on a 1.1 metre dish - previously 1.8 / 1.9 required in CBS.

All of the above is positive news for UK TV for those using a Sky UK package, they are likely to find that all of the problem 2A channels are o.k.

This is not the overall indicator as this is the pan european beam, not the UK 2E spot beam, which is where the UK terrestrial channels will be.

We will report on further changes as they come in.


Full channel / frequency list below, courtesy of Lyngsat.

http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/skyuk.html

ASTRA 2A CHANNELS MOVED TO ASTRA 2E
The migration of channels to the new Astra 2E European beam began last night at 2am. The first to be switched were those on the near-end-of-life 2A satellite. Reports across Europe indicate much improved reception in Spain, The Canaries, Italy and some eastern parts of Europe. The losers appear to be Cyprus, northern Finland and the eastern Mediterranean. An unexpected bonus is that the default transponder 11778, which all Sky boxes measure when a "signal test" is carried out, is much stronger in Spain. This means an end to special measures to enter an alternative transponder, and episodes of "no signal" after a power cut, common in Costa Blanca and Madrid. Expect more changes tonight and over coming nights.
Notable is the fact that Sky paid-for channels, including ITV 2 HD, ITV 3 HD and ITV 4 HD, are stronger in Spain than before, putting to an end the rumour started by IPTV sellers that "Sky will be lost in all of Spain".
You still need a subscription and a Sky box to view ITV 2,3,4 HD, as before. ITV ONE HD will be on the UK spot beam, yet to be activated, as will all other BBC & ITV services.
A provisional list of channels moved last night:
MTV Live HD, Lifetime HD, Sky Sports 2/1/3/4 in Pubs
Sky Movies Box Office, Disney XD UK HD, Animal Planet Europe HD
ITV 2/3/4 HD
Sky Movies Action & Adventure, Sky Movies Comedy, Sky Movies Sci-Fi & Horror, Sky Select UK, Sky Disney, Sky Movies Family, Sky Movies Premiere/Sky Anytime A, Sky Movies Premiere +1/Sky Anytime B,
Sky Movies Crime & Thriller, Sky Movies Drama & Romance, Sky Movies 007, British Eurosport HD
Fox UK HD, Sky Arts 2 HD, British Eurosport 2 HD
Sky Atlantic HD UK +1, Sky Movies Family HD, Sky Movies Premiere HD, Sky Movies Crime & Thriller HD
Sky Movies Select HD, Universal Channel UK, Sky On Demand HD 3
Dave UK HD, Alibi HD, E! UK HD, Sky 3DTV, Sky Arts 1, Sky News HD

 

[timofee]

This is good news for 28°e satellite reception in France and nearby countries.

Contrary to the original information it appears a 60cm or zone2 Ѕky dish will continue to easily receive all BBC, ITV, Freesat, Ѕky, etc channels.

 

[marty]

This is good news for 28°e satellite reception in France and nearby countries.

Contrary to the original information it appears a 60cm or zone2 Ѕky dish will continue to easily receive all BBC, ITV, Freesat, Ѕky, etc channels.

Don't count your chickens just yet
Looks like only pay TV channels have moved at this time (to the widebeam?), I'm guessing the FTA (freeview) channels will move to the spotbeam next.

 

[marty]

I guess we'll find out in the morning

http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/news/news_item25.html

The BBC’s services to Sky and Freesat homes are carried on six transponders on satellites operated by SES Astra located at 28.2°East.

In February 2012, one of these satellites (Astra 2D) was retired and BBC services moved to a new temporary home on Astra 1N. Astra 1N is shortly to be moved to its permanent position at 19°East, so the affected BBC services will be transferring to a new permanent home on Astra 2E (28.2°East).

This will take place in the early hours of Thursday 6th February 2014. Care has been taken to ensure the minimum of impact to UK viewers both during and after the change, such that no viewer actions should be required.

A small number of channels are unaffected by the change. These are on the multiplex “DSAT 8” which is carried on Astra 2F (also at 28.2°East). These are BBC ONE Scotland HD, BBC ONE Wales HD, BBC FOUR HD, BBC NEWS HD, CBeebies HD.

Generally the new transponder will improve reception in the South East of England, the north eastern coast of East Anglia, the North East of Scotland and the Shetland Isles.

BBC MOVE IS TONIGHT
The planned BBC channel migration tonight will be around 2am. It will, most likely, be as big an event for British expats since the switch to Astra 2D in 2003.
In that year, the BBC freed itself from Sky's encryption contract. It began to broadcast free to air, with a much tighter footprint, from Astra 2D. The removal of Sky's encryption reportedly saved the BBC £85 million. The BBC, along with other UK broadcasters, has repeatedly stated its intention to retrict the overspill of satellite signals into mainland Europe.

 

[marty]

Updated Thursday, 6th February, 2014
FEB
6BBC & ITV CHANNEL LOSSES BEGIN
Early reports from night owls and insomniacs across Europe indicate big losses of signal in the BBC and ITV Astra 2E narrow beam migration, which appears to have started at 1.30am GMT. One report from just west of Lisbon tells of a number of BBC & ITV channels disappearing. In Madrid and Southern Germany, signals are a fraction of what they were, probably not watchable on their owners' current dishes.
Channel Five+24 was added to Freesat's EPG at 3.00am GMT. Boxes should have automatically re-tuned to receive the new channel.

Yesterday BBC1&2HD and ITVHD was 93% SNR
CHecked this morning and...............................................................exactly the same :thumbsup:
So, no change in central France.

 

[zola25]

Lost all BBC here in Denmark close to Vejle still have itv so maybe they have not moved yet.
Time to set up xbmc for streaming i guess

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[marty]

Lost all BBC here in Denmark close to Vejle

HD and SD?

 

[marty]

Please post in my other thread if you can get BBC/ITV (link below)

http://www.world-of-satellite.com/s...-2E-report-can-you-get-it&p=267281#post267281

 

[timofee]

Don't count your chickens just yet
Looks like only pay TV channels have moved at this time (to the widebeam?), I'm guessing the FTA (freeview) channels will move to the spotbeam next.

As I said in my post there is still no problem in France and nearby. But the further away from France you are, the greater risk of losing the signal.