Astra 5B 31,5 degrees east

[DXRick]

Hello,

What is the plan with astra 5B? After Orange Romania was switched off, Discovery (at 21.5 degrees East) and the few FTA programs (mainly on Astra 4 4.9 degrees East) will also switch. It looks like Astra 5B will be cleared. what will the tasks of the satellite, which is only nine years old, be? Replacement for Astra 4A (end of life and no new satellite planned) ? Or reserve for 19.2 degrees East? Anyone know anything about the plans? Thank you

 

[DXRick]

Astra 5B is now completely empty. It will be interesting to see if the satellite will travel and if so where to.Astra 5B is now

 

[hvdh]

You may want to check the CoB file every now and then:

https://extranet.ses.com/CentreOfBox/DownloadFile.aspx?SatelliteName=ASTRA+5B

It is slightly suspicious, for 5B the CoB only shows 5 days in advance now, while normally it shows 15 days...

 

[DXRick]

Thanks, i will check

 

[hvdh]

OK it's revealed, Astra 5B will co-locate with Astra 3B at 23.5°E, arriving on July 19.
From the CoB file:
A5B 31.45 N/A 1 0.030 7.94544 2023/07/05 06:09:42
A5B 23.48 N/A 1 0.030 0.02727 2023/07/19 00:20:39

 

[DXRick]

That surprises me, since 3B with a lifespan of 15 years is "safe" until 2025. I would have expected a positioning at 4.8 degrees east or even 19.2 degrees east since the Astra 4A, Astra 1KR, 1L and 1M are actually "end of life". Let's see if 5B only supports Astra 3B or maybe even takes over the services. Thanks hvdh for reporting

 

[iandoh]

So if 5B moves to 23.5E, how does the beam forming work? Are they able to change parameters remotely to match the footprints?

 

[Captain Jack]

I believe they can tilt the antenna to move beam but not reshape the footprint itself. So the two High/Wide beams they have would just shift westwards towards Europe.

 

[iandoh]

I believe they can tilt the antenna to move beam but not reshape the footprint itself. So the two High/Wide beams they have would just shift westwards towards Europe.

Interesting, as 3B has extra beams that are used like a German specific beam, along with having a much wider footprint that covers much more of Europe. Not sure if the Czech providers will be happy losing out on their customers in Europe as they do allow usage outside the country.

 

[Marcus_21]

Astra 5B has begun moving west, currently at about 30,5°E.

 

[solly]

i know poland radio tramited europe beam maybe now it use wide beam or
astra 5b also change beam from ses ?

 

[solly]

3 satellite life bar
astra 1kr 2006-04-20.
astra 4a 2007-11-17.
astra 3b 2010-05-21

 

[EnoSat]

https://egnos-user-support.essp-sas.eu/sites/default/files/documents/service_notice-26.pdf

 

[Channel Hopper]

I believe they can tilt the antenna to move beam but not reshape the footprint itself. So the two High/Wide beams they have would just shift westwards towards Europe.

If they change frequency of the transponders to the top of the Ku band it will have an effect on the footprint gradient.
Changing polarity and altering the transponder FEC can also disrupt reception out of the main area..

 

[solly]

Sattelite astra 5b near 27.5e

 

[solly]

satellite 26,4e now

 

[solly]

satellite 25,4e now

 

[solly]

astra 5b 24.3 e

 

[solly]

satelllite on 23.5e noe

 

[satesco]

23.5E_11509 H,22000,3/4,16APSK,UHD-NLF Vision,FTA
23.5E_11669 H,22000,3/4,16APSK,UHD-NLF Vision,FTA
I couldn't find the 23.5E thread, that's why I mentioned that these 4K feeds are on Astra 3B at 23.5E