Telstar 12 Vantage.

[Analoguesat]

So, if I understand correctly, we can't be sure this is the replacement for BBC Satback from 27.5W? Please correct if I'm wrong.

No we dont know if its any sort of replacement. It might be or it might not be.

HOWEVER we do know I901 at 27.5W is coming towards the end of its service life - and at the moment no replacement has been announced. (Plus I901 seems to have power issues so could potentially fail at any time..)

 

[7mdish]

Thank you for your clarification.
Reading your reply, I'm continuing to ask me how "variable" PIDs could be decoded.... I do not know.
But if it is Satback replacement.... well, they must have some receiver able to decode such signal. If so, hopefully we will know in short time.

 

[EnoSat]

no way, no SatBack content is broadcast on 11043V

 

[Nalleman]

Why don't they simply use a transponder on the UK beam on Astra at 28 E?
Lots of vacant transponders there. Maybe it's a question of costs?

 

[Analoguesat]

Thank you for your clarification.
Reading your reply, I'm continuing to ask me how "variable" PIDs could be decoded.... I do not know.
But if it is Satback replacement.... well, they must have some receiver able to decode such signal. If so, hopefully we will know in short time.

BBC engineering have been at the frefront of many advances in broadcasting over the decades - this could well simply be a test for some future professional transmission type. No way would it easily be decoded without the correct "alogrithmic key" to synch pid rolls.

Can I just remind everyone that no one was the slightest bit interested in the BBC Satback service until Astra 2D was pensioned off & the tighter spotbeams on the newer craft were bought into service about 10 years ago! These Satback txions are most certainly NOT meant for public viewing across large swathes of Europe.......

 

[satesco]

...! These Satback txions are most certainly NOT meant for public viewing across large swathes of Europe.......

Of course, it is as you say, but let's not forget the continental dxers, who will be deprived of their "daily bread."
The only curiosity they have left would be who and with what antenna they/he will catch this Satback.

For me and those in our area, it is the end of an exciting experience searching for and receiving this package.
Many have been challenged to try to catch the BBC package. For some, it brought them untold joy when they succeeded.

And perhaps not so much to see the package, but a technical performance to capture a signal outside the beam.
So, for European dxers, Satback is a kind of Ultima Thule, a RIP.

 

[Analoguesat]

Of course, it is as you say, but let's not forget the continental dxers, who will be deprived of their "daily bread."
The only curiosity they have left would be who and with what antenna they/he will catch this Satback.

For me and those in our area, it is the end of an exciting experience searching for and receiving this package.
Many have been challenged to try to catch the BBC package. For some, it brought them untold joy when they succeeded.

And perhaps not so much to see the package, but a technical performance to capture a signal outside the beam.
So, for European dxers, Satback is a kind of Ultima Thule, a RIP.

If the I901 life extension programme runs to its published plan then I901 will be retired in early to mid 2025 after giving I901 a 5 year extended mission. Space tug MEV1 will tow 901 back up to graveyard orbit, disengage then head onto its next target (currently unknown which bird this will be)

So I suspect the 15W tests are a precursor to the I901 retirement seeing as its probably only a year or so until MEV1 lights up and tows I901 away for disposal.

 

[newspaperman]

would it be possible to get a TS capture?

 

[pipino]

i could be wrong , looking at the date when they did the quick test on the new transponder using a new key i think the swap will be done on 01/02 , the current TP is alive and ready but has no contens

 

[EnoSat]

would it be possible to get a TS capture?

according to Telstar 12 Vantage. I think it's pointless

 

[mike1]

Why don't they simply use a transponder on the UK beam on Astra at 28 E?
Lots of vacant transponders there. Maybe it's a question of costs?

Its independent backup if Astra2 fails or TCP/IP failure.

 

[Nalleman]

Its independent backup if Astra2 fails or TCP/IP failure.

But there are three satellites at 28 E so even if one of them fails there is loads of capacity left.

 

[newspaperman]

according to Telstar 12 Vantage. I think it's pointless

that's no problem, just wanna have a look at it with an hexeditor

 

[Adam792]

There's also the Irish radio stations on 27.5°W that will presumably need to find either a new position or a new feed method for at least some of their FM transmitters.

I've heard of at least one of the iRadio FM transmitters (fed by 27.5°W 11591 V 250) cutting out and breaking up during the recent stormy weather!

 

[newspaperman]

... and there is the Icelandic Mux as well.

 

[Llew]

BBC SATBACK up again.

.

 

[william-1]

Transponder active again confirmation.




88cm Raven Mesh Dish + Inverto Black Ultra twin output with Octagon SX88+ _Optima (Just a test carrier atm)

 

[Fisty McB]

Why don't they simply use a transponder on the UK beam on Astra at 28 E?
Lots of vacant transponders there. Maybe it's a question of costs?

Almost certainly cost - the UK spot beam transponders (or rather, the transponders that can transmit on the UK spot beams) are rumoured to be among the most expensive above the European skies, and with the exception of the 12.5-12.75 GHz band, all capacity at 28E is intended for DTH use, at least in Europe. OTOH a service like Satback which is not intended for DTH reception can use a satellite where larger dishes can be used at TX sites to compensate potentially for lower transmission powers from the satellite used, and thus use cheaper satellite capacity.

In addition, using Satback from Astra 2x would probably require more than one transponder - the current Satback transmission parameters gives a net data rate of 78.88 Mbps. Satback needs a minimum data capacity of 64.36 Mbps to carry the data of the two DTT multiplexes that it carries. Also, the in-use Astra 2x transponders are relatively narrow and are unlikely to be able to carry the 44100 symbol rate Satback uses at 27.5W. Some rough calculation would suggest needing to use at least 16APSK modulation to match or increase the 78.88 Mbps data capacity on an Astra 2x transponder.

In the meantime, the Freesat "home" transponder on 11426 H is being used for national DAB feeds at transmitter sites for the BBC, D1 & SDN ensembles as there's enough spare capacity on there to carry them, and why let it otherwise go to waste! The duplicates at 9E will probably go away at some point in the future. Just not enough capacity (or indeed anywhere near it) for Satback.

Finally, as it is, hobbyists like ourselves have to accept that things like Satback will always be in a state of flux, and that is a hazard of the hobby - not much like this is permanent, same applies for other multistream & T2-MI feeds done via satellite to terrestrial TXs elsewhere. Trying to find a crumb of comfort in thinking that Satback won't eventually finish on 27.5W is a bit like some on here a few years back when Eutelsat 5 West B was found to be having malfunctioning problems that meant it could only ever be used at half of the maximum capacity, thinking that it would prolong 5 West A's mission - 5WA was already on its last legs by the time 5WB reached its final position, and no amount of wishing prevented 5WB eventually entering service with the corresponding reduced footprint for many compared to 5WA. IS901-MEV1 will eventually run its course at some point, next year at the latest, and Intelsat have made no public plans of a replacement bird at this position. C'est la vie.

 

[william-1]

It is also worth noting that there are no plans to replace the current satellites @ 28.2E,23.5E & 4.8E in the foreseeable future,
So within the next 5 years a lot of satellite TV as we know it will cease to be 19.2east being an exception also 13east,

Satellite Launches - Europe - LyngSat

Home - FlySat Satellite Chart

Follow the digital satellite frequencies on our daily updated site.

flysat.com

 

[Analoguesat]

We know that (most) broadcast satellites are capable of being operational far longer than their design life. Barring impact from a micro meteor or debris / onboard electronics failure the main reason for withrawal from service is depletion of onboard station keeping fuel.

Thhe MEV space tug concept has been successfully demonstrated twice now, there is no reason that it wont work just as successfully in the future. Thus SES could contract for 5 or 10 years lifetime extension quite easily for any of their spacecraft that are low on fuel but are otherwise healthy. With the forthcoming decline in satellite delivery of broadcast television services as its replaced by IP delivery there is currently little incentive for companies to spend millions of $ of shareholders money for multiple spacecraft that might never be fully utilised & therefore fail to make their build, launch & operational costs back.

IP delivery of everything is coming. Broadcasters are deperate to ditch linear transmission formate simply they have no real idea if any particular programme is popular with audiences. IP delivery means they can hoover up all that lovely data about EXACTLY what people are watching, how long its being watched, what programmes are doing well.

Or provide you properly tailored targetted advertising.

Or upsell premium services without having to share revenue with other companies.

Or of course just sell your watching & listening histories on to 3rd parties.

If you dont believe me just bear this in mind - the BBC knew details of what were the popular tv programmes on iplayer over the lucrative xmas & New year period for 2022 & 2023 by 4th January!

January 2023

BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds smash festive records

EastEnders, Call the Midwife, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, The Traitors and Sam Ryder Rocks New Year's Eve topped the list of most watched programmes and on BBC Sounds, there were a record 57.7 million plays of all content between 20 December and 2 January, boosted by three new Miss...

www.bbc.co.uk

January 2024

iPlayer sets new viewing record over Xmas

Viewers flocked to BBC iPlayer during the Christmas week (December 25th-31st 2023) setting a new all-time iPlayer record. The week saw programmes streamed 177 m

advanced-television.com

EastEnders, Vigil, Rick Astley Rocks New Year’s Eve, Call the Midwife and Doctor Who drive record-breaking festive viewing on BBC iPlayer

That week saw programmes streamed a record-breaking 177m times

www.bbc.co.uk

That sort of level of data is literally priceless for commercial tv companies.