Astra 1N to slot at 28E in Q2 2011

[Analoguesat]

Astra 1N will be deployed at 28E in Q2 2011 to open up the Astra 2C frequency sub band.

Bad news for our expats - the mission is to provide extra spotbeam capacity for the UK!

 

[sonnetpete]

Speaking as an expat, my location is only 70 miles south east of the Channel Islands as the 'corbeau' flies. I wonder if Astra are plotting a lobe to cover the islands? If so the spot beam may cover the more northerly part of France as well. It may be just as well to look into buying up some 1m+ dishes however! I have a feeling that those expats who currently manage with a Zone 1 dish will find their signal disappearing next year.

 

[Analoguesat]

It will be very interesting to see how these spots perform as Astra's 2E - 2G will have similar payloads.

 

[timo_w2s]

Dammit SES, just give us back Astra 2C and stop screwing around!! :mad:

 

[Analoguesat]

2C is needed at 31.5E until 5B is launched

 

[hexah]

Speaking as an expat, my location is only 70 miles south east of the Channel Islands as the 'corbeau' flies. I wonder if Astra are plotting a lobe to cover the islands? If so the spot beam may cover the more northerly part of France as well. It may be just as well to look into buying up some 1m+ dishes however! I have a feeling that those expats who currently manage with a Zone 1 dish will find their signal disappearing next year.

As far as I am aware the Channel Islands will be served as before. The center of the 52dBW beam will remain the same as it is now, but the drop off outside the beam center will be more sharp.

60cm is the recommended minimum size for Freesat, it would be a better choice near the beam edges than the Zone 1 minidish.

In your case I doubt you would need to worry. The small goats will still be able to receive Countryfile as usual. O-Ha

 

[BLUEPLATINUM]

This is a disaster but not an unexpected one.

Undoubtedly the "spot beam technology" will have moved on since 2D was created making fringe reception unlikely.

Does anyone want to swap their Slingbox for a 2.4m dish please ?

 

[timo_w2s]

2C is needed at 31.5E until 5B is launched

Actually I was going to mention this, wasn't 2C supposed to go back to 28.2E when 3B was launched and the old Astra 1E/1G satellites where going to 31.5E?

 

[timo_w2s]

Does anyone want to swap their Slingbox for a 2.4m dish please ?

I wonder if by the time 1N comes along we'll have some decent UK VOD IP box (iPlayer, etc) you can plug in to your TV and route via a VPN to the UK...

 

[Analoguesat]

Actually I was going to mention this, wasn't 2C supposed to go back to 28.2E when 3B was launched and the old Astra 1E/1G satellites where going to 31.5E?

Yes it was, but I guess SES have decided more spotbeam capacity is needed at 28E

 

[Analoguesat]

I wonder if by the time 1N comes along we'll have some decent UK VOD IP box (iPlayer, etc) you can plug in to your TV and route via a VPN to the UK...

Its already possible to do iplayer from forn lands with todays technology.

 

[timo_w2s]

Its already possible to do iplayer from forn lands with todays technology.

Yes, but there isn't a decent "one box for all" UK TV VOD you can plug in to the TV and forget.

 

[hexah]

The huge problem with VOD throughout Europe is that not all programmes are available. It is often the most popular programmes, and may not be what you want to watch. Many broadcasters claim to show lots of programmes but most fail to deliver. Some don't even have proper news services on demand, just simulcasts, probably to keep bandwidth down.

Satellite broadcasting is much more efficient in terms of coverage and bandwith, especially with HD, and timeshifiting is possible so you can watch what you want when you get home from work, which is often not possible with VOD.

Hopefully 1N will turn into a massive firework on the launchpad...

 

[BLUEPLATINUM]

Hopefully 1N will turn into a massive firework on the launchpad...

I was thinking the same thing! :-uzi

Maybe it is time to solve the problem using politics and demand the EU intervene on the way programme rights are sold and viewing is restricted within the EU.

Can anyone suggest suitable wording for a petition?

 

[Analoguesat]

Hopefully 1N will turn into a massive firework on the launchpad...

Even if it does 2E 2F and 2G wont be far behind

 

[hexah]

:-cry1


Is anyone good with explosives...?

 

[Analoguesat]

:-cry1


Is anyone good with explosives...?

Cant see what you are worried about - if your location is correct you are only 50 miles south of me

 

[timo_w2s]

Hey it won't be long before ITV get spot beams within the UK just you wait.

 

[hexah]

Exactly!!!

I was thinking more of the tsunami of shrieking horror from ex-pats who turn on their tv and there is nothing there.

How many years will it be to get decent reception maps again? :mad:

How long will it take for installers in Spain to develop larger arm muscles than Arnold Schwarzenegger from installing 4-5m dishes?

How long will it be before affordable 5.5m and 6m dishes are available in Europe?

Nightmare!!!

Cant see what you are worried about - if your location is correct you are only 50 miles south of me

South and west. I use a 60cm instead of a mini-dish, so no worries.

 

[Analoguesat]

Exactly!!!

I was thinking more of the tsunami of shrieking horror from ex-pats who turn on their tv and there is nothing there.

With frequency reuse on dual spotbeams our Cypriot friends could theoretically wake up one morning and find BBC1 has been replaced by Greek TV!