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SATELLITE WATCH Compiled by GARRY CRATT* Asiasat 3 shuffle After a successful launch in March, and in-orbit testing during April (at 98.2°E), Asiasat 3 is expected to have commenced operations at 105.5°E by this month. Asiasat 1 will be relocat­ ed to 122°E. To make room for this, Asiasat G (carrying NTV Russian commercial programming) was suddenly switched off on April 28 without warning. NTV programming recommenced on Gorizont 30, located at 130°E on April 29. Panamsat 2 (169°E) NHK is scheduled to leave this satellite early this month. BBC has returned to the California Bouquet (SR 30800, FEC 3/4, 3901MHz, horizontal polarity). The service is still running on 3743MHz vertical polarity SR 21800, FEC 3/4. Exactly why this parallel operation exists is unknown. Religious broadcaster EWTN moved to Pas-8 transponder 11 C, SR 27690, FEC 7/8. CNN International will also leave this satellite by June 1. CMT have advised that they will encrypt their signal in the second half of this year. The signal has been free-toair for several years. The subscription service will be available to private users for a modest fee, although exact details are not yet known. An interesting side note: when using a small aperture dish such as 1.8m to view Pas-2, the analog signal at 3860MHz is clearly visible on Pas-8. As dish size is increased, this effect is less noticeable as the beam width decreases. Some multi-service commercial sites will find services previously available on Pas-2 now spread across both Pas-2 and Pas-8. Panamsat is using a multi-beam feedhorn on existing receive dishes to allow simultaneous reception from both satellites. Optus B3 (156°E) Panamsat 8 (166°E) An intermittent analog test signal has been running on this satellite since mid January on 3860MHz, horizontal polarity. Japanese broadcaster NHK commenced their digital service on February 16th. Results indicate that no change will be necessary in dish size for NHK viewers. CNN International will also permanently move from Pas-2, tentatively scheduled for this month. The multi-channel service commenced Pas-8 parallel operations in digital format during May on 3780MHz, horizontal polarity, SR 24999, FEC 3/4, in non-conditional access PowerVu format at that time. Feb 1 saw a new digital bouquet appear on 3940MHz, horizontal polarity, SR 27690, FEC 7/8. Loaded headers indicate TNT/Cartoon as services that will transfer from Pas-2. TNT is due to cease operations on Pas-2 by June 1. The Aurora platform is now operational on this satellite, carrying ABC, SBS, 7 Central, Imparja, Horizon, Westlink, Prime and many other services. Frequencies are 12407MHz, SR 30000, FEC 2/3; 12532MHz SR 3000, FEC 2/3; 12595MHz, SR 30000 FEC 3/4; 12720MHz, SR 3000, FEC 3/4. All transponders are vertically polarised. Palapa C2 (113°E) TV Indosair has ceased analog transmissions and changed frequency for their new digital service. Parameters are: 4073MHz, vertical polarisation, SR 6500, FEC 3/4. This is an Indonesian beam, probably only covering the very northern edge of Australia. We have been unable to receive the signal in Sydney using our 4.5m dish. MCM has also left this satellite. Taiwan C Net continues to operate their 21-channel NTSC bouquet on 3763MHz, horizontal, SR 21093, FEC 5/6 now using conditional access. Services still load on most digital receivers, but the video is blanked, hence only audio channels are available. Anteve has commenced digital operations on 4193MHz, vertical polarisation, SR 6508, FEC 3/4. A 3.7m dish is required to receive this signal along the east coast of Australia. Intelsat 701 (180°E) European broadcaster Fashion TV has replaced Saudi TV channel 1 and MCM Asia has replaced Abu Dhabi TV. Both services are on 4095MHz, SC LHCP, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. *Garry Cratt is Managing Director of AvComm Pty Ltd, suppliers of satellite TV reception systems. Phone (02) 9949 7417. http://www.avcomm.com.au JUNE 1999  33