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SATELLITE
WATCH
Compiled by GARRY CRATT*
Panamsat will enhance Pacific coverage
PANAMSAT 8
Panamsat 8 was successfully launch
ed November 4 and com
m enced
testing late November from 166°E
longitude. Although there were a few
anxious moments when the much
publicised live video coverage of the
launch failed, the Proton launch was
a complete success from the Baikonur
Cosmodrome in Russia.
The satellite will greatly enhance
the coverage offered by Panamsat in
the Pacific, though K band coverage
appears to exclude PNG and New
Zealand.
LENOID METEOR SHOWER
This much publicised meteor shower, caused by the close proximity of
the Earth and the tail of Comet Tempel-Tuttle every 32 years, threatened
to disrupt world satellite communications on November 17. Military satellite operators moved satellites out of
regular orbits in order to avoid possible
damage, whilst the rest of the world
waited for news of communications
disruption.
Fortunately, only 1000 or so particles entered the Earth’s atmosphere,
far short of the previous estimates of
4000-5000 meteorites, providing viewers in New Zealand with a spectacular
sight of “shooting stars”.
Elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region,
cloud obscured the view from most
locations.
PANAMSAT 2
There have been many changes
during the last few months on this
satellite. NHK’s analog service finally
ceased on October 30, leaving CNN
as the only remaining analog service
on this satel
lite apart from several
itinerant services.
The BBC commenced operations
on 3743MHz, vertical polarity, SR
21800, FEC 3/4, in preparation for
their move from the California bouquet
last December.
A bouquet of 4 channels (LBC
Latest Aurora Timetable For ABC & SBS Digital Services
OPTUS B3
The latest Aurora timetable for
the introduction of replacement
digital ABC and SBS services are
as follows. The project has been
delayed many months by equipment
incompatibility but these problems
now appear to be resolved.
Central Australia:
December 10: Imparja, ABC NT,
ABC SA commence digital operation.
February 9: ABC NT BMAC service
ends.
February 26: ABC SA and Imparja
BMAC service ends.
North Eastern Australia:
February 26: QSTV, ABC Qld
and SBS Qld commence digital
operation.
May 6: QSTV, ABC and SBS NE
beam BMAC service ends.
South Eastern Australia:
March 12: ABC and SBS commence digital operation.
May 20: ABC and SBS SE beam
BMAC service ends.
Replacement ABC and SBS digital
services are about to be introduced on
Optus B3 – see panel below.
Australia, RAI International, ART
Australia and ANT 1 Greece) commenced early November on 3778MHz,
vertical polarity, SR 13331, FEC 3/4.
The service is due to be encrypted
this month, as part of a commercial
service. This bouquet replaces earlier
tests conducted with an SR of 6619.
ASIASAT 2
A new service called the “Fashion
Channel” appeared late November on
3799MHz, vertical polarity, SR 2533,
FEC 3/4. This is a weak signal and
requires a very carefully adjusted dish
system for good reception. Although
testing at present, the service will
bring MCM Rock and MCM Classical
and one Jazz channel to Asiasat 2
sometime in the first quarter of 1999.
This channel was previously carried
on Hotbird 5, located over Europe.
Viewers have also noted the demise
of TVSN on this satellite.
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
January 1999 29
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