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SATELLITE WATCH Compiled by GARRY CRATT* Changes on PAS-2 for CNN & NHK PAS-2 (169°E) As predicted, CNN moved to 3905MHz vertical polarisation on July 15, vacating the previously occupied transponder (3965MHz horizontal). There are now no horizontally polarised analog sign­als on this satellite. NHK continue to broadcast in analog on 4055MHz vertical polarity and has extended the period of parallel operation to at least this month, according to sources in Japan. The free-to-air digital service “NHK World” is also running on 4035MHz horizon­tal, SR 26470, FEC 3/4. NHK “World Premium Service” operates using PowerVu conditional access on the same transponder. Costs for the “Premium” service are rumoured to be $2350 for the Scien­tific Atlanta IRD required, plus a 3000-Yen monthly subscription fee. Subsequent to the closure of the dedicated “NBC Asia” chan­nel, a new bouquet has appeared at 4093MHz (SR 29473, FEC 3/4, vertical polarity). The new channels include the National Geo­graphic Channel and CNBC Asia. Versions of these channels des­tined for Indonesia, Taiwan and Australia are carried in the 6-channel bouquet. Since July, a new bouquet has been testing on this satel­lite on 3778MHz vertical polarity, SR 6619, FEC 2/3, no CA, NTSC. The new channels list as: ART America, ART movies, RAI Interna­ tional, ART Australia, LBC America, LBC Australia and MCM The Music Channel. At the time of writing, only LNB America was active. GMA Update Email correspondence with GMA indicates that the broad­caster is trying to work out a way of getting their signal back to Australia. The present service on the Agila satellite at 146° is barely receivable in the eastern states of Australia or New Zealand. The broadcaster is now aware in no uncertain terms of the number of viewers affected in Australia, estimated to be several thousand. Asiasat 2 (100.6°E) TVSN has ceased operations on this satellite, apparently as a result of the Asian economic crisis. The program was uplinked from Epping, a suburb of Sydney. Hallmark movie channel has also moved from this satellite, and now appears on Apstar 2R in scrambled format. KIBC, broadcast from the Philippines with Hallmark, remains on Asiasat 2. THAICOM 2/3 (78.5°E) Despite a low look angle to viewers along the east coast (typically 6° above the horizon), strong signals can be observed using a 2.3m dish. Analog signals include Thiacom tests which can be found at 3650MHz and 3686MHz, horizontal polarity. Digital signals include Thai TV5 and Maharishi Veda Vision, broadcast in an MCPC bouquet on 3600MHz, horizontal polarity, SR 26662, FEC 3/4. Cakrawarta 1 (107.7°E) Indonesia’s own satellite (Cakra­ warta 1) has begun S band testing. The downlink frequency is 2540MHz, SR 20000, FEC 5/6. Initial footprint data indicates a 3m dish will be required to receive this satellite along the east coast of Australia. Indone­sian officials are advising that the satellite may not begin commercial operations for some time, due to the general economic situation in Indonesia. In addition, press reports in August indicate that a solar storm has damaged the spacecraft’s electrical system, reducing the expected lifetime of the satellite to just seven years. The satellite will be unable to achieve full operating power during the solar outages which occur for a few days in March and Septem­ber each year. This means that the planned migration of the current C-band “Indo­ vision” pay TV service, carried on the Palapa C2 satellite, could be delayed some months. Intelsat 702 (177°E) Space TV, a Taiwanese pay TV broadcaster operating for the last year on 12.612GHz (SR 26694, FEC 3/4 horizontal polarity), has left this satellite. This means the only free to air broad­caster is Thai TV5, who have changed their operating parameters to 12.650GHz, SR 17800, FEC 1/2. The service is broadcast in PAL and requires a 1.2m dish along the east coast of Australia for good reception. SC *Garry Cratt is Managing Director of AvComm Pty Ltd, suppliers of satellite TV reception systems. Phone (02) 9949 7417. http://www.avcomm.com.au November 1998  53