78.5 degrees E: Thaicom-2&3
D. As mentioned in Transponder Monitor 14 July, Thaicom has signed a carriage deal with Turkey’s TRT to feed TRT International and the radio service, Voice of Turkey, to Australia for uplinking onto Optus-B3. These feeds have already started, TRT International has replaced VTV from Vietnam on 3600 MHz horizontal in free-to-air MPEG-2. Voice of Turkey can be heard on APID 711 here too. More news on the North Korean TV transmissions from Korean Central Television on 3423 MHz horizontal: as could be expected, programming consists mostly of propaganda-type news, documentaries and travelogues. KCTV airs for seven hours per day from 0800-1500 UTC.

68.5 degrees E: PAS-4 & 7
A. Simayeh Moghavemat is being fed over two Ku-Band transponders at times. Both 11090 MHz and 11167 MHz horizontal have been carrying the programme on some days.

62 degrees E: Intelsat-602
A. A live feed from Pakistan on the state visit of the Saudi Arabian leader was carried on 4166 MHz RHCP in clear Pal on 19 July at 1800. Another feed from Pakistan, this time from Islamabad for EDTV Dubai, was sighted on 23 July at 1620 on 4188 MHz RHCP in clear PAL. Regular feed traffic to/from Mauritius for the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation can be found on either 4166 MHz or 4188 MHz RHCP in free-to-air Secam.

60 degrees E: Intelsat-604
A. Live coverage of a basketball match between Japan and Pakistan from Tokyo was fed over 4166 MHz RHCP in clear NTSC from 1935 on 23 July.

42 degrees E: Turksat-1C
D. 10979 MHz vertical, SR 4685, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 carries a regular news feeder from Istanbul in free-to-air MPEG-2 for the Turkish channel ATV. The EPG info is "ATV-IST-NEWS-2".

36 degrees E: TDF2, Gals-1/2, Most-1, Eutelsat-II-F3
D. The poor state of the terrestrial TV relays in the more remote parts of Armenia has prompted the TV company to recommend that villagers invest in satellite dishes to downlink the TV Armenia signal from the relay on 12520 MHz horizontal. Worldhaus, the German House-music channel which recently launched on Hotbird (12476 MHz horizontal) has also opened here via a SCPC carrier at 12505 MHz horizontal, SR 3254, FEC 2/3, VPID 33, APID 337 in free-to-air MPEG-2. This outlet is probably to serve cable headends in Germany. Thirty-six degrees East is rapidly becoming the "hotspot" for feed traffic from and to various UK broadcasters and seems to have taken the place of many of the former microwave links used for inter-UK links. The newsroom output from ITN for Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast is relayed on 11095 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2 every weekday morning from 0600-0800. It makes interesting viewing as the feed is continuous and shows the off air, in-between News moments too. Presumably this feed is used to supply the bulletins from ITN’s Grays Inn Road HQ across London to The Big Breakfast studio at Camden Lock. The EPG info is "SISLINK/ITN, 8 MHz SDI". A report about the dangers of tongue piercing was carried on 11064 MHz horizontal at 1040 on 21 July for ITN under the unusual EPG banner "5.632 Msym/s. 420 PAL". At 1120 on the 21 July colour bars were briefly displayed on 11088 MHz horizontal. EPG data stated "SIS35. UKI 495 ITN". "SIS15 UKI 138 BELGRADE" was spotted over colour bars at 1045 on the 22 July on 11063 MHz horizontal and on the same day at 1050 11040 MHz horizontal was displaying this caption over colour bars "Sky Outside Broadcast Satellite Link. SISLINK-22 UKI 207. 0802 387227. 0402 325632".

28.5 degrees E: Kopernikus-DFS2
D. The cable headend feed of NBC Europe, for German consumers, has left 11670 MHz horizontal.

28.2 degrees E: Astra-2A & Sirius-3
D. The Sky Box Office Preview channel has opened on 12207 MHz vertical in free-to-air MPEG-2, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 515, APID 653. To the delight of sports fans EuroSport is to be carried on the Sky Digital bouquet. No channel/frequency details have been announced yet but the service is expected to start on 1 August.

19.2 degrees E: Astra 1A-C & E-H
D. Calle 13, which is the Spanish version of the 13th Street channel, has launched within the Canal Satellite Digital bouquet at 11934 MHz vertical on PIDs V170, A120. In common with the other channels here it is encoded in Mediaguard.

16 degrees E: Eutelsat-W2
D. Preparations for a live feed from Stormont, the home of the Northern Ireland Assembly, were fed over 11013 MHz horizontal on 15 July at 1130 in free-to-air MPEG-2, SR 5613, FEC 3/4, V308, A256. The EPG data was "SNG TV3 Ireland Normal". Also on 15 July, "APTN in Kosovo. Pristina. IFB 871 382343710" was airing over colour bars on 11042 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 at 1140. Feed traffic for the Portuguese channel SIC was noted on 16 July at 1245 on 12532 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 in clear MPEG-2. A live report from outside a Portuguese bar was fed over the stream. At 1250 on 20 July 11013 MHz horizontal was displaying the following caption over colour bars "NTL UKI 458 PARIS". The EPG info did not agree, however. It read "NTL UKI 40". A corporate transmission for Renault TV was observed on 11005 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 on 22 July in clear MPEG-2.

13 degrees E: Eutelsat Hotbirds 1/2/3/4/5
D. Venus TV, another channel advertising telephone sex chat lines, has launched on 11027 MHz horizontal, SR 2892, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4196 in free-to-air MPEG-2. The EPG data is "Tadiran Scopus". Radio Gal from Israel is also available here intermittently on the right channel of APID 4196. Apna TV has still not returned to 10722 MHz horizontal. In its place is Babylon Blue, which airs from 2200-0400 daily. The TeleCanada radio channel which was identified in the EPG as Radio Toronto International on 12476 MHz horizontal, is run by the Canadian Tamil Broadcasting Corporation. Most programmes are in the Tamil language. Canada, and in particular Toronto, has a thriving Tamil population and has been known in the past to provide facilities to Tamil groups in the way of shortwave transmitters. TV Bulgaria is back on 12539 MHz horizontal, VPID 4612, APID 4613 (right channel). Horizont, the domestic main radio programme, is available via APID 4613 (left channel). RAI Sport Satellite has now left 11766 MHz vertical. The channel is still available via 11804 MHz vertical. In the Spanish/Latin American multiplex on 12092 MHz horizontal Solo Tango has been replaced by La Cadena del Milagro in free-to-air MPEG-2. On 12595 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 161, APID 84 a caption is showing, stating "GlobeCast Teleport GIR. Test Transmission". The EPG ID is "Service 2". Eighteen streams have been activated on 12236 MHz vertical, SR 13400, FEC 3/4 by Deutsche Telekom. In the EPG the data reads "DCTV German, English, French, Turkish, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian", plus "PGM 2 English", "PGM 2 ?" (x2), "PGM 3 English", "PGM 3 German", "PGM 3 ?" (x2), "PGM 4 English", "PGM 4 German", and "Knorr". Presumably these are all data streams. APTN’s Jerusalem Bureau fed a report on a press conference given by Yasser Arafat at 1050 on 21 July on 12581 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2. Best van Nederland (BVN) has launched within the Slovene platform on 12303 MHz vertical on PIDs V210, A211 in free-to-air MPEG-2. The channel airs from 0000-0200. The analogue version of BVN on 11283 MHz vertical will close on 31 August.

A. TV Bulgaria and the radio service Horizont have returned to 11096 MHz horizontal in clear PAL after a short absence. The TV audio is available via the 6.60 MHz audio subcarrier and Horizont can be heard on 7.02/7.20 MHz. Radio Capital from Portugal has left the 7.38 MHz audio subcarrier on the back of RTP Internacional at 11727 MHz vertical.

10 degrees E: Eutelsat-II-F4
D. The Turkish version of The Discovery Channel is still enjoying lengthy periods without any encryption on 11124 MHz horizontal, SR 2895, FEC 5/6, VPID 33, APID 34. Occasional feed traffic for the Turkish channel NTV can be found on an SCPC carrier at 11003 MHz horizontal, SR 3064, FEC 7/8, VPID 33, APID 34 in clear MPEG-2.

A. RTS Serbia are still trying to negotiate a new deal with Eutelsat for carriage of its TV channel and Radio Beograd. At present, since the removal of both services from Amos, no Serbian broadcasters are available via satellite.

7 degrees E: Eutelsat-W3
D. The familiar live shot of Paris from the Eutelsat headquarters has replaced the W3 promo on 11517 MHz horizontal. The rooftop video used to occupy a stream on Hotbird until recently.

A. The Turkish independent TV channel, Samanyolu TV has launched on 11680 MHz horizontal in clear Pal with audio at 6.60 MHz. This transponder is configured for W3’s Aegean beam. Reception in the south of the UK is very good on a dish size of 1.2 metres.

5 degrees E: Sirius-1/2
D. Although officially TVN Chile is now encoded in Viaccess on 12380 MHz horizontal the channel keeps slipping in and out of the encryption and sometimes, for fairly long periods, it is free-to-air. SVT Europa has launched on 12683 MHz vertical, SR 4612, FEC 7/8, VPID 160, APID 80 in free-to-air MPEG-2. This is on a North/Central European beam and the signal is weak but almost watchable in the south of the UK on a 1.2 metre dish. Radio Sweden is also present here on APID 176. Radio Sweden is the external service of Sveriges Radio AB, the Swedish Broadcasting Corporation. The feed stream (V55, A56) within the Merlin Communications mini-platform on 12111 MHz horizontal, SR 27192, FEC 3/4 is displaying a Snell & Wilcox animated testcard. The Christian Channel Europe continues to occupy 12328 MHz horizontal, SR 3320, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256. The EPG info is "4.5 MHz. Pal 1 Audio".

3 degrees E: Telecom-2C
D. The primary feed for France 2 & 3 from the Tour de France is still on 12526 MHz vertical, SR 6854, FEC 7/8, VPID 308, APID 256 in MPEG 4:2:2. The EPG title is "FTR/F. 40/2". Recorded highlights and live action from the qualifying practice for the Austrian F1 Grand Prix was relayed on 12645 MHz vertical in clear Pal for the Japanese network NHK during the morning of 24 July. Japanese commentary was available via the 6.60/7.02 MHz subcarriers and natural audio could be heard on 7.20 MHz.

A. The BBC’s familiar UKI 234 uplink was active again on 15 July at 1150 when the ident was displaying over colour bars on 12606 MHz vertical in clear PAL.

0.8 degrees /1 degrees W: Thor 1, 2 & 3 & Intelsat-707
D. Tallinn based Raadio Uuno has launched on 11665 MHz vertical in free-to-air MPEG-2 on APID 651. Another Estonian radio station, Radio Kuku, has recently commenced broadcasts via Intelsat-707 as well.

A. Norway’s TV2 has appeared on 11262 MHz horizontal in D2MAC. The channel is encrypted in Eurocrypt/S2.

5 degrees W Telecom-2B/D
D. Live scenes from a village square in France were aired over 12585 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 122, APID 132 on 16 July at 1030. Although the audio stream was shown as active no audio was detected. The EPG ID was "Occ 1 TC2B".

7 degrees W: Nilesat-101
D. The Egyptian channel, Horus Vision on 11823 MHz vertical has been replaced by EDTV Dubai in free-to-air MPEG-2. Horus has moved over to 11747 MHz vertical on PIDs V1111, A1311. On the morning of 20 July at 0645 the 11747 MHz vertical transponder was noted to be off the air. This frequency carries the Egyptian educational channels University 1 & 2 plus Education 1-7. The transponder was back up when checked again at 1240.

18 degrees W: Intelsat-705
D. An Italian soccer match between unidentified teams was fed over 11026 MHz vertical, SR 6398, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2 on 23 July at 1355 under the EPG banner "RTI ITA 19".

21.3 degrees /21.5 degrees W: NSS-803 & NSS-K
D. On 14 July at 1110 11481 MHz horizontal, SR 6110, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 was airing video footage from a rally in Germany demonstrating against health spending cuts. Five minutes later on the same day 11559 MHz horizontal was fired up with a feed by Reuters Germany from a political meeting. The EPG data was "TVS Bonn" and the parameters, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256. Colour bars overlaid with "WCC 60 Hud" were observed in MPEG-2/NTSC on 11566 MHz vertical, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, V512, A640 at 1420 on 16 July. No feed traffic was sighted. At the same time, and on the same frequency but horizontally polarised, a live press conference by US Secretary Madeleine Albright from Israel was being fed. This is the BT Washington Channel 2 stream. A relay of a NASA press conference on the delay of the current Shuttle mission was fed over 11590 MHz vertical, the GlobeCast Channel 1 stream, on 20 July at 0640. The parameters were SR 30145, FEC 3/4, VPID 1160, APID 1120 in MPEG-2 clear. Horse racing from Germany was fed over 11469 MHz horizontal, SR 6109, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 on 20 July at 1235 in free-to-air MPEG-2. On the morning of 21 July 11566 MHz vertical was carrying this caption via second hop "REUTERS TV LA". The EPG data was "Reuters DC (202)898-005". Live preparations for the memorial service for John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife were fed over 11566 MHz vertical, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 640 in clear MPEG-2 from New York City. The EPG data was "Reuters DC (202)898-005", as per the Reuters LA feed on 21 July. At the same time an interview with Tour de France cyclist Lance Armstrong was being relayed on the GlobeCast NE Ad-Hoc channel, 11598 MHz vertical, SR 5697, FEC 3/4, VPID 1160, APID 1120 in clear MPEG-2/NTSC. There is a new digital multiplex on 11645 MHz vertical, SR 11846, FEC 3/4 containing ten streams. In the EPG these are named as: Encoder 1, 2, 3, Channel 10, 20, 60, OSDOWNLOAD CCP, OSDOWNLOAD DCP, Channel 99 & 120. Most appear to be either empty or carrying data but one, Encoder 3, is relaying colour bars on PIDs V 1360, A 1320.

A. A live insert for GMTV’s breakfast slot from London’s City Airport was fed over 11532 MHz horizontal in clear PAL on 21 July at 0645. At the same time 11496 MHz horizontal was fired up with "SOLO HULL" over colour bars. At 1345 on 23 July 11617 MHz vertical was displaying a "Tivoli Employee Meeting" caption in clear PAL with music on the 6.60 MHz audio subcarrier.

27.5 degrees W: Intelsat-605
D. Preparations for a feed from a sporting venue were observed on 11607 MHz vertical, SR 6110, FEC 3/4, VPID 4216, APID 4195 on 16 July at 1110. The EPG data was "TADIRAN SCOPUS".

A. Portugal’s Radio Renascenca Canal 1 has returned to the audio baseband on the back of RTP Internacional at 3820 MHz RHCP via the 8.20 MHz subcarrier.

29.5 degrees W: Intelsat-511
D. The primary West-East transatlantic feedpoint for CNBC is using capacity on this heavily inclined craft. 11136 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 is carrying the signal in free-to-air MPEG-2. 511 is inclined by nearly five degrees so inclination control is required to receive the signal.

30 degrees W: Hispasat-1A/B
D. A new channel, Sol Musica Portugal, has launched on 11539 MHz vertical in free-to-air MPEG-2, VPID 4192, APID 4193.

A. Wetten, dasse?, a programme carried on ZDF in Germany, was fed over 12632 MHz vertical in clear PAL with audio at 6.60 MHz live from Majorca on 17 July from around 1900-2200. Feed transponder 11575 MHz carried live reports from a tribunal in Spain on 20 July at 1010 and again at 1230 for TVE (see PAS-3R, 43 degrees West) in free-to-air PAL. The pre feed caption stated "PEL-3 SERV. INFORMATIVOS. TVE MADRID".

31.5 degrees W: Intelsat-801
D. An interview with the Tour de France leader, Lance Armstrong, was fed over 10964 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2/NTSC on 19 July at 1345 under the EPG banner "BT TES 40". ITV Sport coverage of the practice sessions from the Austrian F1 Grand Prix was fed over three streams on 24 July from around 1130. 10975 MHz carried the main feed (EPG "LTP DSNG 3"), 10994 MHz vertical was the secondary (EPG "BT TES 29 +44 411 7922") and 11008 MHz vertical was presumably the location studio feed (EPG "LTP DSNG 2"). The parameters for all three streams were identical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256. These streams were all active on race day, 25 July again with live coverage from around 1200.

37.5 degrees W: Orion-1 & Columbia-515
D. The BTV Telecom Italia stream on 12705 MHz vertical, SR 4965, FEC 3/4, VPID 1160, APID 1120, was active at 0630 on 20 July with a live shot from an empty conference room. The picture was overlaid with "PROVE TECHNICHE. 20.07.99. Via P. Di Dono. Roma".

43 degrees W: PAS-3R & PAS-6
A. A live feed from outside a tribunal of some sort was fed over 12705 MHz horizontal on 19 July at 1755 in clear PAL (see also Hispasat 30 degrees West). The recipient was TVE. Audio was at the standard 6.60 MHz. On the following day at 1215 this frequency was observed to be displaying a Telefonica testcard. On 23 July the same feed transponder was in use again with a live relay of a soccer match from Mexico for the German channel, Sat 1 in clear NTSC.

All times in UTC unless otherwise stated.

SR – Symbol Rate
FEC – Forward Error Correction
VPID – Video Programme Identifier
APID – Audio Programme Identifier