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SAT-MidEast 98.04.03




WELCOME TO SAT-MIDEAST !
A news release from Cairo, Egypt, located at 31.15 East - 30.3 North,
sponsored by TELE-SATELLITE INTERNATIONAL, Europes Satellite Magazine
_____________________________________________________________________
WHAT YOU'LL FIND HERE:
- Events and News interesting to the Middle Eastern SAT-viewer
- Satellite and Transponder Observations in C- and Ku-Band,
- Everything commented from the Middle Eastern perspective
_____________________________________________________________________
WHERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION:
- SAT-MidEast maintains a web site with relevant Middle Eastern
- satellite information, and a regular updated, satellite based,
- archive of observations, features & news for the Middle East. 

	SAT-MidEast: http://www.sat-net.com/sat-mideast/
____________________________________________________________________     
HOW TO CONTACT SAT-MIDEAST:
Send relevant infos, interesting news, and creative comments to :

	hcroom@intouch.com 

Upon your request are forwarded messages kept anonymous
_____________________________________________________________________
THE MIND BLOWER FOR THIS 98.04.03 REPORT:
	(People need people, where-ever they are...)

HOT BIRD CHANNEL
----------------
The European satellite operator EUTELSAT has decided to offer a digital
transponder called the Hot Bird channel which will be offered
free-of-charge to all those who want to experiment with digital TV.
The transponder is located on the HOT BIRD 3 satellite and will be
available till the end of April. 

The project backed by EUTELSAT and Telespazio from Italy is open to all
interested parties, from local TV stations to public broadcasters.
During this years edition of Sat Expo'98 (formerly known as Comisat
Expo) which will be held in October in the northern Italian city of
Vicenza, prizes will be awarded to the best two programs (for
originality and quality).
(SME, source: SAT-Italy, Branislav Pekic)

NEW SKIES SATELLITES N.V.
-------------------------
The 22nd meeting of the Intelsat Assembly of Parties,in Salvador, Brazil
on 30/31 March, in an historic action, unanimously approved the creation
of an independent spin-off company, temporarily called New Skies
Satellites, N.V. 

There will be a complete and clear structural separation between New
Skies and Intelsat. New Skies will be subject to the regulatory bodies
of every country in which it may operate and will have no privileges or
immunities. New Skies will be incorporated in The Netherlands.

The following satellites are to be transferred from Intelsat to New
Skies:

	Satellite	Location
	Intelsat 513	183.0 East
	Intelsat 703	057.0 East 
	Intelsat 803	021.5 West
	Intelsat 806	030.5 West 
	Intelsat K	021.5 West
	K-TV (t.b.l.)	095.0 East

In addition, the Intelsat Ka-band frequency registrations associated
with the 95 East and 40.5 West orbital locations will be transferred to
New Skies.

In announcing today's Assembly decision, Intelsat Director General and
Chief Executive Officer, Irv Goldstein, stated "Today's historic
decision proves that the 142 member-nations of Intelsat can accomplish
fundamental change in a positive way and in a manner which creates a new
satellite communications company in a fair competitive framework."

"And, it is important to remember," he added, "that the creation of New
Skies is the first step in the ultimate and full commercialization of
Intelsat."
(SME, source Intelsat)

NEW NHK SERVICES
----------------
NHK has launched two new Asian TV services, offering both free-to-air
and pay TV programming. One new channel, NHK World TV, will provide
free-to-air programming which anyone can view, while a separate
protected channel - NHK Premium TV - will establish pay services to
authorized viewers.

Both services will use Scientific-Atlanta'a PowerVu digital video
compression and distribution system. "To effectively deliver our new
channels to our customers we needed a system that supported both PAL and
NTSC reception," said Mr. Tomio Shimoyama, deputy director,
international planning for NHK. "In addition to meeting that
requirement, the PowerVu system also provides the high-quality digital
video signal and secure conditional access capabilities that are
essential to our successful launch and delivery of the new channels."

The PowerVu uplink system will be installed at the Otemachi facility of
KDD, Japan's international telecommunications carrier/provider, in
Tokyo. A PowerVu Telco Interface Unit will allow the transmission of
three multiplexed channels over a DS3 line to KDD's Ibaraki facility for
satellite uplink via PanAmSat-2.

Beginning in October 1998, NHK plans to use its PowerVu system to expand
the availability of its programming by re-uplinking its signal from
Singapore for distribution to the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.
Additional plans call for another uplink of the signal from California
to serve Latin America.
(SME, source: Sat-Japan, Martyn Williams)

SME Comment: The NHK World Signal is presently relayed to the Middle
East via the Panamsat 4 satellite at 68.5 East. It uses transponder 6U,
in the Ku3 band, at 12.604 GHz, V. Additional capacity is already in
preparation, most probably C-Band transponder 11, 4.034 GHz, H.

INTELSAT 801
------------
More capacity for the AOR region: at 31.5 West the Intelsat 801 will be
operational as of April 27th, providing 38 new C-band and 6 new Ku-band
transponders, with immediate availability.

The Intelsat 801 beam center EIRP values of 40.2 dBW, 42.8 dBW and up to
52.6 dBW for Hemi, Zone and Ku-Band Spots respectively, offerering
customers more than twice the power of any Intelsat VI.
Ku- to C-band cross strap connectivities from Europe to Africa and the
Americas are provided, Ku- to Ku-band connectivity between Europe and
North America is an option and supremely the full  connectivity in the
C-band.

In the Middle East the North East Zone, and the Eastern Hemispheric and
the Global beam are receivable.
(SME, source Intelsat)                      
                           
INTELSAT 701, 180 East, http://www.satcodx.com/i701.shtml
------------
Not receivable here in the Middle East, but sure something to e-mail or
FAX your family and friends in the Far East:

Saudi Channel 1 has started -Free-To-Air- in a (partly encrypted) French
bouquet on 4.095 GHz, L, MPEG-2/clear, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, global beam.
(SATCO-DX)

ASIASAT 2, 100.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/asia2.shtml
---------
Mongolian TV and Voice of America TV have left 3.680 GHz, H. The Voice
of America TV programs are now included in WorldNet on 3.880 GHz, H,
while Mongolian TV is on an Intelsat satellite.
(SATCO-DX)

Lao TV Channel 3 on 4.143 GHz, H, MPEG-2/clear, SR 2889, FEC 2/3, had
trouble with their uplink lately and was therefore not seen for a few
days.
(SATCO-DX)

GORIZONT 24, 99 EAST, http://www.satcodx.com/g24.shtml
---------
Gorizont 24 has been re-located from 80 East, where recently NTV ceased
on 11.525 GHz, R.
(SATCO-DX)

EXPRESS 6, 80 East, http://www.satcodx.com/e6.shtml
---------
A footprint map for 3.675 GHz, R, is added to the SATCO-DX chart.
(SATCO-DX)

THAICOM 3, 78.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/thai78.shtml
---------
A new footprint link has been added to the SAT-MidEast map-page. When
downloading: be aware that the animated GIF file is 331K large.
(SME)

APSTAR 2R, 76.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/apstar2r.shtml
---------
The TVB 8 channel (GALAXY Bouquet) on transponder 14B, 4.188 GHz, V, has
following message displayed on-screen:

	TVB 8 channel changes to transponder 2A, 5.905 MHz, Vertical

Actually is TVB 8 announcing a switch from transponder 14B, 4.188 GHz,
V, to  transponder 2A, 3.680 GHz, H. Unfortunately they mention the
UPlink frequency and polarization. Bad sales & public relations !
(SME, SATCO-DX, source: C.Lyngemark)

In fact it's the same for the PLUS 21 channel on transponder 4A. They
also display the UPlink polarization instead of the receivable downlink!
       
PANAMSAT 4, 68.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/pas4.shtml
----------
Sima-yeh Moghavemat, transmitting 18:30-20:30 CAT, has started on
transponder 9, 3.932 GHz, H, PAL/clear, Middle East beam, with audio on
both 6.60 and 7.20 MHz. On 20:00 CAT some messages were displayed on
screen in Farsi with the new reception details.
Prior to the transmission a colorbar test card "ST Telecom" is mostly
displayed.
(SME, SATCO-DX)

Sima-yeh Moghavemat on 4.034 GHz, H, ceased on Wednesday, April 1st.

SME Comment: I assume this is in preparation for the NHK transmissions
later this year. NHK World TV and NHK World Premium could start on 4.034
GHz GHz, H, in May, with identical data as on Panamsat-2:
MPEG-2/PowerVu, SR 26470, FEC 3/4, and following line-up:
	NHK World TV (525 lines, clear)
	NHK World TV (625 lines, clear)
	NHK World Premium (encrypted, PIDs 0488{1160}/0460{1120})
(Transmission Data: SATCO-DX, source: NHK)

NHK World TV has already officially started on 12.604 GHz, V,
NTSC/clear.
(SME)

GORIZONT 32, 53 East, http://www.satcodx.com/g32.shtml
-----------
A map for the Ku footprint was added to the SATCO-DX chart.
(SATCO-DX)

TURKSAT 1C, 42 East, http://www.satcodx.com/turk1c.shtml
----------
Radio station Voice of Turkey has started on 11.469 GHz, V, and 11.553
GHz, H, on both frequencies using an audio subcarrier at 7.90 MHz.
(SATCO-DX)

ARABSAT 2B, 31 East, http://www.satcodx.com/arab2b.shtml
----------
From last Sunday was for two days a colorbar test card observed on
12.578 GHz, V, no TV audio, nor a sub carrier was present
(SME)

ARABSAT 2A, 26 East, http://www.satcodx.com/arab2a.shtml
----------
ART Al-Ma'aref on Arabsat 2A and as part of the Arabesque package on Hot
Bird 2, will be encrypted from 15 April, and will be marketed at a price
of USD 3 per month. Encryption system used on Arabsat is IRDETO, on Hot
Bird 2 VIACCESS.
(SME, SATCO-DX)

ASTRA 1G, 19.2 East, http://www.satcodx.com/astra1G.shtml
--------
Cartoon Network UK has started on 11.837 GHz, H, MPEG-2/clear, PIDs
00A7{167}/006D{109}. The main audio is however strangely enough in
French. Transponder 71 is only receivable in parts of the Middle East
under very good atmospheric conditions.
(SATCO-DX)

Here some unaltered reactions on the receivability of ASTRA MPEG-2:
(for more on Astra in the Middle East see SAT-MidEast issue 98.03.27)

* I live in Amman, Jordan. A friend from SA informed me about your
mailing list. I just read about your Astra reception. My setup here in
Amman is basic the same as your's. I receive analog Astra 1A tp 2, 6,
10, 14 fair, Astra 1C tp 36, 40 watchable, and also since 3 weeks Astra
1G all transponder as described in your ML (I got a subscription of DF1)
exept tp 67, 71, 106. The quality is very stable, even during last weeks
snow days (I moved every  hour the dish from the East and to the West
limit, to clean it from the snow).
(Martin Simon, Amman, Jordan)

* I have been receiving Astra 1G from day one here in the Lebanon with a 
1.80 cm Channel Master off-set antenna, but the signal from the weaker
beam drops and vanishes around 17:00 CAT. I'm not able to receive the
German channels on the high band (12.720 ...etc.)
(Ghassan Tabet, Lebanon)

EUTELSAT II-f3, 16 East, http://www.satcodx.com/e2f3.shtml
--------------
The MPEG-1.5 SIS services on transponder 40, 12.521 H, have ceased as of
23.59 CET on March 31st as per on-screen message. MPEG-2 services remain
on Sirius 2 transponder 31, 12.303 GHz, H, Europa beam.
(SME)

BHT Sat has moved from Eutelsat II-f1 to this satellite on transponder
22U, 11.163 GHz, H, PAL/clear, on the superbeam, and therefore not
receivable anymore in the Middle East.
(SATCO-DX)

Transmissions of Duna TV on transponder 33, 11.596 GHz H, will cease
April 30st, and from that date only via Hot Bird 4 transponder 115,
10.815 GHz, H, in PAL/clear receivable.
(SME)

HOT BIRD 4, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb4.shtml
----------
After its passage through the Astra slot at 19.2 East, testing was again
taken up at 14.5 East, late Sunday afternoon, showing strong carriers on
various transponder, with the Ku3 band transponder now switched onto
their designated middle frequencies:  95:12.616 H, 96:12.635 V,
97:12.654 H, 98:12.673 V, 99:12.692 H, 100:12.713 V, 101:12.731 H

The first receivable video transmission was observed Monday, March 30th,
from around 13:00 CAT, on transponder 110, 10.719 GHz, V, showing an
Eutelsat test signal in MPEG-2/clear, SR 27500, FEC 1/2, PIDs
0121{289}/1FFF{8191}, whereby 1FFF{8191} means that the APID is simply
not set.

On Thursday evening the initial MPEG-2 transmission data on this
transponder was changed to: SR 27500, FEC 3/4, PIDs 0300{768}/0301{769},
with a channel identification of "Skyplex One". At times supplementary
channels are added, with varying PIDs at the time. During the weekend
some Eutelsat promotional material is displayed. If interested, mail me
for the latest PID data.

SME Comment: This widebeam signal is used by the Eutelsat laboratories
to test the most innovative development in satellite electronics
engineering today: "Skyplex". 
(for a more complete explanation of "Skyplex", review SAT-MidEast
98.03.13)

At 19:14 CAT, an "Antenna Hungaria" test card started on transponder
115, 10.815 GHz, H, PAL/clear, 6.50 MHz, also using wide beam.

On Tuesday, March 31st, 06:00 CAT, Duna TV started on 10.815 GHz, H,
PAL/clear, audio on 6.50 MHz, and a TeleText service "DunaText", on the
wide beam. There are no audio sub carriers yet.

Later on the same day TPS started on transponder 112, 10.758 GHz, V, and
transponder 114, 10.796 GHz, V, both services in MPEG-2/Viaccess, SR
27500, FEC 3/4, and using the super beam.
For PIDs see eventually the SATCO-DX chart.
The service on transponder 112 is a copy of Hot Bird 2: 11.938 GHz, H,
and on transponder 114 is a copy of Hot Bird 2: 12.092 GHz, H.

These channels are with standard reception equipment not receivable in
the Middle East. "The power of transponder 112, 10.758 GHz, V, is about
30 dBW. In Israel, Jordan, the Lebanon or Egypt, you would need a 350 cm
dish, at least."
(SME, SATCO-DX)

Here the latest known status of channels to appear on Hot Bird 4:
(this list is produced with greatest care, using all available sources,
and still: all supplied data is subject to change)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOT BIRD 4, 13 East, launched with Arianespace V106 27 February 1998
[Not named channels are either S or W / A or D / F or C] 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
tp#, freq#, S/W(Super/Wide beam), A/D(Analog/Digital), F/C(Free/Coded)

Vertical	S/W	A/D	F/C	Channel	(Expected start date in brackets)			
------------------------------------------------------------------------
110: 10.719	W	D	F	Eutelsat Skyplex MPEG-2/clear (30/03/98)	   
112: 10.758	S	D	C	TPS MPEG-2/VIACCESS (31/03/98)
114: 10.796	S	D	C	TPS MPEG-2/VIACCESS (31/03/98)
116: 10.834	S	D	C	TPS MPEG-2/VIACCESS (xx/04/98)
118: 10.873	S	D	C 	TPS MPEG-2/VIACCESS (xx/04/98)	
120: 10.911	S	D	C	TPS MPEG-2/VIACCESS (xx/10/98)
122: 10.949	W	A	F	ANN (temporary lease from TPS)(15/04/98)

096: 12.635	S	D	C	Stream (Italy) MPEG-2/encr. (xx/05/98)   
098: 12.673	W	D	C	Digital tests   
100: 12.713	S	D	C	Stream (Italy) MPEG-2/encr. (xx/05/98)  

Horizontal	S/W	A/D	F/C	Channel	(Expected start date in brackets)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
111: 10.727	S	D	C	D+ (Italy) MPEG-2/IRDETO  
113: 10.775	S	D	F	Deutsche Telekom MPEG-2/clear		
115: 10.815	W	A	F	Duna TV PAL/clear (31/03/98)
117: 10.853	W	D	C	Antena 1 (Romania) MPEG-2/PowerVu ? 	
119: 10.892	W	A	F	JSC (Quatar) PAL/clear
121: 10.930	W	A	F	Quantum Channel PAL/clear 24-hrs (xx/04/98) 

095: 12.616	W	D	C	Croatian/Slovenian MPEG-2/VIACCESS	   
097: 12.654	W	D	C 	Arabsat MPEG-2/VIACCESS 				
099: 12.692	W	D	C	Client to be named 				
101: 12.731	W	D	C	Internet Data Channel

Bandwidths:
All transponder (exept three) are 33 MHz
Transponder 111 is 47 MHz
Transponder 121 and 122 are both 36 MHz

SME REMARKS:
------------
* ANN releases Hot Bird 2 tp 52, 11.766 V, back to RAI/MPEG-2
* ANN will eventually use TPS uplink facilities
* HRT/SLO releases Hot Bird 3 tp 80, 12.303 V, (or HRT as single user)
* Stream has started tests on HB2 tp 56, 11.843 V (& tp 58, 11.881 V)
* Antena 1 releases E2f2 tp 25U, 11.024 V
* DT on tp 113 proposes ARTE (D), RTL 2, Onyx and Viva International

The 6 transponder taken by TPS will be moved from:

HB02	61	11.938	H	->	HB04	112	10.758	V	31/03/98	*
HB02	69	12.092	H	->	HB04	114	10.796	V	31/03/98	*
HB03	72	12.149	V	->	HB04	116	10.834	V	xx/04/98
E2f1	45	12.542	V	->	HB04	118	10.872	V	xx/04/98
E2f1	46	12.584	V	->	HB04	120	10.911	V	xx/10/98

Additional Transponder		->	HB04	122	10.949	V	xx/10/98

* transponder 122 presently sub-leased by TPS to ANN as of 15/03/98
* ANN moves later this year to Hot Bird 5, most probably in October

SME Comment: On last weeks question to calculate the speed in km/h with
which Hot Bird 4 was travelling through space, I suspect thousands of
numbers still in the pipeline, but got unfortunately only one answer.
That's how modern community works: sit back, relax and wait for things
to come ! The one person who did  respond knows who he is: 
	He is declared: Winner of the Week !
Other readers I have to dissappoint: I from my side will also not bother
to make the answer public. Thanks !
(SME)

HOT BIRD 3, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb3.shtml
----------
* British Telecom is testing since Friday, March 23rd a five channel
package on transponder 74, 12.188 GHz, V, widebeam, MPEG-2/clear, SR
27500, FEC 2/3, and following line up (the channel identification is not
yet named in the data stream):

	0020{32}/0022{34}	Tower Broadcast Centre Animated Inert
	0023{35}/0024{36}	"BT Tower London" Colorbars	
	0025{37}/0026{38}	Black Screen
	0027{39}/0028{40}	Tower Broadcast Centre Animated Inert

	002C{44}/1FFF{8191}	"Convergence1 Pre-Launch Test" Colorbars

* In the Telespazio package on transponder 70, 12.111 GHz, V, widebeam,
SR 27500, FEC 3/4, was with PIDs 0104{260}/0105{261} the transmission of
the Italian Euro-Satellite meeting in San Sepolcro receivable.

Start of a promotional video could be observed at 08:50 CAT, the seminar
started at 09:25 CAT, and the broadcast was terminated around 13:00 CAT.

With the same reception data will also the final meeting be transmitted,
Saturday, April 4th, time unknown, but probably from around 09:00 CAT.

The same transmission could/can be seen analogue on Eutelsat II-f2, 10
East, transponder 33, 11.595 GHz, H, PAL/clear, using the widebeam.

* Wednesday, April 1st, a major uplink problem occured for the
Multichoice Hellas package on transponder 73, 12.169 GHz, H.
The bitstream was transmitted, but completely bare of PIDs and programme
contents.

All related signals (the ones which are re-broadcast using the signal
taken from transponder 73) were also without video and audio, e.g. ERT
on transponder 79, 12.284 GHz, PAL/clear.

A possible reason could be a missing signal from Eutelsat I-f4 at 25.5
East, while there transponder 2U, 11.096 GHz, H, after almost a thousand
years of continous operation, finally failed. This transponder had been
used by Multichoice Hellas, although with different content.
(SME, SATCO-DX)

* Adult channel Eurotica/Rendez-Vous has ceased transmissions on
transponder 78, 12.265 GHz, V, and is presently only receivable from Hot
Bird 1, transponder 4, 11.283 GHz, V. 

Eurotica/Rendez-Vous claims to be transmitting an MPEG-2 signal from
another Hot Bird soon, in order to be received again in areas which are
not covered by Hot Bird 1's superwide beam, e.g. the Canary Islands, the
KSA and Gulf area.
(SME)

HOT BIRD 2, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb2.shtml
----------
ERT International has started in the Multichoice Hellas bouquet, on
transponder 55, 11.823 GHz, H, MPEG-2/clear, PIDs 0209{521}/02E4{740},
additional to transponder 73, 12.169 GHz, H. Most probably were
officials schocked by the long interuption of the channel on various
transponder, last Wednesday, so created another backup.

The channel is now three times available, clear, from Eutelsat's Hot
Bird position at 13 East!
(SME, SATCO-DX)

Canale Viaggi tests have started on the Stream transponder 56, 11.843
GHz, V, superbeam, MPEG-2/clear, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, PIDs
0065{101}/0066{102}.

It has to be expected that more channels will follow, later also using
transponder 58, 11.881 GHz, V and the two new Stream frequencies on Hot
Bird 4, e.g. transponder 96, 12.635 GHz, V, and transponder 100, 12.713
GHz, V. The Stream package is supposed to be operational from June '98.
All transponder are expected to be switched onto the superbeam, meaning
no reception in the Middle East. Future reporting will be therefore be
restricted to an essential minimum.
(SATCO-DX)

HOT BIRD 1, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb1.shtml
----------
The analogue service of Animal Planet on transponder 5, 11.304 GHz, H,
has ceased, as well as the Discovery package on transponder 5L, 11.288
GHz, H.
Instead appeared in MPEG-2/PowerVu, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 and following
PIDs:

	1FFF{8191}/1FFF{8191}:	Channel 1
	0488{1160}/0460{1120}:	Animal Planet
	04EC{1260}/04C4{1220}:	Discovery E Europa-Hungary
	04EC{1260}/04C6{1222}:	Discovery E Europa-Polish
	0550{1360}/0528{1320}:	Discovery Italy
	0550{1360}/052A{1322}:	Discovery Ital - English
	05B4{1460}/058C{1420}:	Discovery Russia
	0618{1560}/05F0{1520}:	Discovery Next
	067C{1660}/0654{1620}:	Discovery 6
(SME, SATCO-DX)

SME Comment: There they go, the last clear documentary channels
receivable in the Middle East. At least we have ART's Al Ma'aref still
in clear until April 15th.
Off they go all encrypted and we have to pay to get ourselves AND our
children better educated. Precisely what the Middle East needs !
Thanks a lot gentleman, money rules ! 

EUTELSAT II-f1, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/e2f1.shtml
--------------
I don't think a lot of people would call this a decent April fools joke,
but on transponder 39, 11.658 GHz, V, Eros TV was showing in PAL/clear,
that morning at 10:00 CAT, some exciting videos with audio on 6.60 MHz,
broken up with French text cards.
Please, don't ask me for contacts: I didn't jot them down.

They presented themselves with a quite poor technical standard, and were
only after a while on air covered with a D2-MAC/Eurocrypt encryption. I
was actually under the impression that the channel earlier had lost
transmission licenses.
(SME)

April 1st, at 00:00 CAT, Fashion TV left transponder 21L, 11.055 GHz, H,
PAL/clear and was replaced by a "TVCSM Usingen" test card. After 24
hours the superbeam channel appeared again. The audio sub carriers have
not been interupted.

Sources at the German Eutelsat offices announced a prolounged stay of
the channel for "at least a couple of monthes". From the announced new
German channel BOP-TV, which supposingly should take over this
transponder capacity, wasn't heard at all. It has happened before...
(SATCO-DX)

Sima-yeh Moghavemat on 11.658 GHz, V, has changed transmission times to
16:00-17:00 CAT, due to the start of the daylight saving time in Europe.
(C.Lyngemark)

BHT Sat has moved from transponder 39, 11.658 GHz, V, to Eutelsat II-f3,
where it is transmitting on the superbeam, and became not receivable in
the Middle East.
(SATCO-DX)

EUTELSAT II-f2, 10 East, http://www.satcodx.com/e2f2.shtml
--------------
* The PIDs for the MPEG-2 service of Pop TV on 11.026 GHz, H, SR 3355,
FEC 7/8 are 0021{33}/0022{34}.
(SATCO-DX)

* Bloomberg Information TV has added another version of its service on
transponder 37, 11.575 GHz, V, MPEG-2/clear, SR 27500, FEC 3/4.
Here as reminder the complete line up:
 
	0488{1160}/0460{1120}:	Channel On:	French Video/French Audio
	04EC{1260}/04C4{1220}: 	Channel Tw:	Italian Video/Italian Audio
	0550{1360}/0528{1320}:	Channel Thre:	Spanish Video/Spanish Audio
	05B4{1460}/058C{1420}:	Channel Four:	German Video/English Audio
	0618{1560}/05F0{1520}:	Channel Five:	Colorbars Video/Sinus Wave

Be aware that the German version still runs in a test modus. Once an a
while an UK telephone number for *test* information is displayed: +44
(171) 330 7148

SME Comment: It is remarkable to see various broadcaster lately flocking
to the 10 East position. Everybody seems to secure its place for the
excellent (and simple) widebeam to come from the Eutelsat W1-f1 this
autumn.

* A transmission of the Italian Euro-Satellite meeting in San Sepolcro
could be seen Wednesday April 1st, on transponder 33, 11.595 GHz, H,
PAL/clear on the widebeam.

Start of a promotional video could be observed at 08:50 CAT, the seminar
started at 09:25 CAT, and the broadcast was terminated around 13:00 CAT.

With the same reception data will also the final meeting be transmitted,
Saturday, April 4th, time unknown, but probably from around 09:00 CAT.
(SME)

* Olay FM Radio has started on 11.016 GHz, H, MPEG-2/clear, APID
0023{35}.
(SATCO-DX)

EUTELSAT II-f4-M, 7 East, http://www.satcodx.com/e2f4.shtml
----------------
The RIK "Cyprus SAT" channel has ceased, as expected 23:58 CAT on 31
March, on transponder 22L, 11.141 GHz, H, widebeam. It was the last
regular public broadcast on this communications satellite.

The channel is on-going available on Sirius 2, 5 East, transponder 29,
12.265 GHz, H, PAL/clear, European beam.
(SME)

SIRIUS 2, 5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/sirius.shtml
---------
* A "Merlin test card" appeared last Friday night, on transponder 27 at
12.226 GHz, H, PAL/clear, European beam. Merlin Communications has
celebrated its one-year anniversary with a 24-hour festival on 28 March.
An earlier announced digital carrier could not be detected.

The "Merlin" test card ceased Tuesday, March 31, for a couple of hours,
but was back the same day with empty audio carriers on 6.60, 7.02, 7.20,
7.38, and 7.56 MHz

A day later the Merlin Communications Network, behind their test card,
returned at 22:00 CET on 12.226 GHz, H, with CMR (Country Music Radio)
on 6.60 MHz mono and 7.02:7.20 MHz stereo, from 22:00 to 24:00 CAT, to
round up last weeks broadcasts.
(SME)

It seems that MCN will expand their services, in order to transmit
8-Hour long live CMR shows, with DJ John Wiltsher, each Wednesday night,
starting April 8.
(SME, C.Lyngemark)

* The encrypted MPEG-2/Viaccess services of the Front Row channels 50
through 54 have started with regular transmissions on 12.303 GHz, H,
Europa beam.
(SATCO-DX)

* On Tuesday. 31 March on 12.303 GHz, H, Europa beam, MPEG-2/clear, SR
25542, FEC 7/8, PIDs 067C{1660}/0654{1620}, the Cartoon Network appeared
for almost 24 hours, with English and Italian audio and same channel
identification "NTL Sirius OU", a copy of the encrypted version on PIDs
0744{1860}/071C{1820}. After the ceasure April 1st, the "NTL Winchester
Teleport" test card returned.
(SME)

* The SIS MPEG-2/clear, SR 4410, FEC 3/4 on Sirius was used Thursday
morning for a normal ITN News feed package at 10:30 CAT, on all channels
with PIDs: 0870{2160}/0848{2120}.
(SME)

INTELSAT 707, 1 West, http://www.satcodx.com/i707.shtml
------------
The Israeli bouquet on transponder 111XU, 11.015 GHz, V, MPEG-2/clear,
SR 10.848, FEC 3/4, Middle East Spotbeam, has one additional channel:
EHA 3.

	0101{257}/0102{258}	EHA 1:	Copy of Channel 2 (Video & Audio)
	0201{513}/0202{514}	EHA 2:	Colorbar Testcard "Emeq Haela" & Sinuswave
	0301{769}/0302{770}	EHA 3:	Copy of Channel 2 (Video only)

These channels are 95 percent of the time in operation, once in a while
there is a more secret feed from "EMEQ HALA" (yes without the "E") with
SR 5.925, FEC 3/4, and various PIDs.

GORIZONT 26, 11 West, http://www.satcodx.com/g26.shtml
-----------
ORT 1 on 3.675 GHz, R, has additional audio on 8.80 MHz. Be aware that
in the Middle East, where we use generally larger dish sizes, we are
almost unable to detect this satellite due to its very high inclination.
(SATCO-DX)

EXPRESS 2, 14 West, http://www.satcodx.com/e2.shtml
---------
NTV on 4.075 GHz, R, features also an additional audio carrier on 7.50
MHz.
(SATCO-DX)

INTELSAT 605, 27.5 West, http://www.satcodx.com/i605.shtml
------------
On April 1st, 02:00 CAT, CMT Europe left 11.170 GHz, V, PAL/encrypted.
(SATCO-DX)

PANAMSAT 3R, 43 West, http://www.satcodx.com/pas3r.shtml
-----------
The Formula 1 race feeds from Interlagos, Brazil could be received last
Sunday on 12.716 GHz V, MPEG-2/clear, SR 19995, FEC 3/4, for RTL Sports.
 
GE 2, 85 West, http://www.satcodx.com/ge2.shtml
-------------
Not receivable here in the Middle East, but sure something to e-mail or
FAX your family and friends in the US of A:

Saudi Channel 1 has started on transponder 20, 4.100 GHz, H, NTSC/clear,
with audio on 6.80 MHz.
(SATCO-DX)

SAT-MIDEAST INTERN, http://www.sat-net.com/sat-mideast/
------------------
The SAT-MidEast weekly news bulletins are of-course also available on
the SAT-MidEast website at sat-net.com. However fully HTML formatted;
much more pleasing to the human eye. Just take a look and communicate it
to your friends!

Best regards,

Henk C. Room / Sat-MidEast / Cairo - Egypt
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