Eutelsat 28A switchoff looming

[Analoguesat]

According to DS forum member Strathclyde the start of the final EB28A tp migration is due to start on June 1st.

Strathclyde works in the broadcasting industry and his info has been reliable in the past.

The migration plan to 2G is due to start on 1st June, so the satellite better be there before then! (and I hope they don't bump it into one of the others at 28E in the process).

The fairly detailed plans involve moving up to 30 channels at a time as the TPs are switched off on 28A and then turned on on 2G. Because of the pile of TP changes we've been seeing in recent weeks, most of the channels are now on the config that will mean the switch is invisible to viewers (unless they are watching during the night, when there will be a 5-15 minute break in transmission). So yes, this to a large extent repeats the 2013 exercise.

And yes, there are some SR and FEC changes to take account of the bigger transponders.

There are a couple of transponders that will go through an interim switch on 2G itself, first going to their equivalent frequency on 2G, then a week later going to their final TP with a config change.

This is all due to start with the first TP switch due to happen at 01:05 on 1st June., and won't be complete until early July (barring any problems).

 

[timo_w2s]

Yes that was an interesting post. 2G better got moving soon. It's going to be an interesting month of moves.

 

[william-1]

Maybe 2G will start to move to 28 east tonight even @ 2.5 degrees a day it will be tight 15 degrees in 6 days 2G atm is still @ 43.5 east.

https://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/threads/astra-2g-testing-at-43-5°e.165161/page-10

 

[Analoguesat]

There are reports from all over the UK on the DS forum of signal problems on Eute 28A last night ESPN HD disappeared in the middle of the Indy 500 race!

 

[william-1]

There are reports from all over the UK on the DS forum of signal problems on Eute 28A last night ESPN HD disappeared in the middle of the Indy 500 race!

Eutelsat 28A power levels over the last 12 months have decreased by 20% will it last long enough for the change over to Astra 2G ?

Eutelsat Satellite estimated life copied from Eutelsat files 2009-2010 issued to share holders.

HOT BIRD™ 6 13° East Ku/Ka 28/4 Aug. 2002 Q1 2018

HOT BIRD™ 8 13° East Ku 64 Aug. 2006 Q1 2025

HOT BIRD™ 9 13° East Ku 64 Dec. 2008 Q4 2024

EUROBIRD™ 1 28.5° East Ku 24 Mar. 2001 Q3 2018

EUROBIRD™ 2 25.5° East Ku 16 Oct. 1998 Q1 2013

EUROBIRD™ 3 33° East Ku 20 Sept. 2003 Q3 2014

EUROBIRD™ 4A(1) 4° East Ku 14 Sept. 2000 Q1 2012

EUROBIRD™ 9A 9° East Ku 38 Mar. 2006 Q3 2024

EUROBIRD™ 16(2) 16° East Ku 15 Feb. 1998 Q4 2011

W2 16° East Ku 24 Oct. 1998 Q4 2009

W2A 10° East Ku/C 46/10 Apr. 2009 Q1 2023

W3A 7° East Ku/Ka 42/2 Mar. 2004 Q2 2021

W4 36° East Ku 31 May 2000 Q2 2017

W5(3) 70.5° East Ku 20 Nov. 2002 Q1 2017

W6 21.5° East Ku 24 Apr. 1999 Q2 2013

SESAT™ 1 36° East Ku 18 Apr. 2000 Q4 2011

ATLANTIC BIRD™ 1 12.5° West Ku 19 Aug. 2002 Q4 2017

ATLANTIC BIRD™ 2 8° West Ku 26 Sept. 2001 Q1 2018

ATLANTIC BIRD™ 3 5° West Ku/C 27/10 July 2002 Q3 2019

ATLANTIC BIRD™ 4A 7° West Ku 26 Feb. 2009 Q1 2025

Telstar 12(4) 15° West Ku 4 Oct. 1999 Q4 2011

Express A4(5) 14° West Ku 2 June 2000 Q4 2009

SESAT™ 2(6) 53° East Ku 12 Dec. 2003 Q1 2016

Satellites being redeployed
EUROBIRD™ 4(7) Drift Ku 8 Sept. 1997 Q3 2009

EUROBIRD™ 9(8) Drift Ku 20 Nov. 1996 Q3 2009

(1) Following the incident of 10 August 2005, the electrical power of this satellite and its estimated remaining life have been reduced.
(2) Given this satellite’s coverage, and the associated rights and frequencies, its maximum capacity is 12 transponders at this orbital position.
(3) Following the incident of 16 June 2008, the electrical power of this satellite and its estimated remaining life have been reduced.
See Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2009.
(4) Owned by Loral Skynet.
(5) and (6) Owned by Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC).
(7) and (8) See section 12.1 “Recent developments”.

 

[Analoguesat]

No signal problems with EB28A tonight - theres plenty of power coming out of her.

 

[william-1]

No signal problems with EB28A tonight - theres plenty of power coming out of her.

But for how long.

 

[Analoguesat]

More info from DS member Strathclyde - first tp changes will be onto Astra 2F from 1st June. 2E is in the frame too for some of the frequencies.

Phase 2 swaps over to 2G will start from mid June.


There is also the suggestion that the Freesat home tp will be moving frequency.

 

[Analoguesat]

Tp's

C1 will move to 2G on 19/6
C3 & C4 will move to 2F on 1/6
C5 & C6 will move to 2E on 29/6

C2 currently unknown.

 

[solly]

the signal move tonight or tomorow ?

 

[william-1]

Tonight just watch the Quality Signal bars climb after midnight
C3 & C4 will move to 2F on 1st of June:-

11307 H 27500 2/3
11307 V 27500 2/3
11343 V 27500 2/3
11344 H 27500 2/3

 

[william-1]

My current Quality readings via a TM5402HD M3 + 88cm mesh dish are as follows:-

Eutelsat 28A @ 28.5 east
11307 H 27500 2/3 = 10.8dB
11307 V 27500 2/3 = 11.2dB
11343 V 27500 2/3 = 12.1dB
11344 H 27500 2/3 = 11.5dB


For comparison below on Astra-2F where the above transponders will move on 1st June 2015
11097 V 23000 2/3 = 18.9 dB Astra 2F

 

[4wd]

Tonight just watch the Quality Signal bars climb

Looks to be opposite here. Just happened to browse by 11307V (the 'True Boredom" offerings), met a black screen. Moments later picture is back, with substantially lower levels here than before afaicr.

 

[Michal Norek]

Yes
This TP's migrated from E28A to A2F UK beam
11307 V now 2F UK beam
11343 V now 2F UK beam
11307 H now 2F UK beam
11344 H now 2F UK beam

No signal on my 1m dish in Central Europe

 

[M60]

Looks like these are on the 2F UK spot. Quality isn't quite what I see on the SES spectrum TP's but assume reduced somewhat by the fact both TP's are pretty much co-channel/opposite polarisation as opposed to the usual SES 15MHz offset.

 

[william-1]

Astra 2F UK beam (As established by members here)

11307 V 27500 2/3 = 17.2dB
11307 H 27500 2/3 = 17.1dB
11343 V 27500 2/3 = 17.1dB
11344 H 27500 2/3 = 16.8dB

 

[4wd]

11307V smiliar levels to for example ch5, will check again this evening, if fading out here it's a sure sign of 2F spot.

 

[william-1]

Yes
This TP's migrated from E28A to A2F UK beam
11307 V now 2F UK beam
11343 V now 2F UK beam
11307 H now 2F UK beam
11344 H now 2F UK beam

No signal on my 1m dish in Central Europe

Definitely on the Astra 2F UK beam for there to be no signal in the Czech Republic with a 100cm dish

 

[timo_w2s]

In South Bucks, on my TM6900 quality readings:

11307 V 27500 2/3 - was 66% now 80%
11307 H 27500 2/3 - was 75% now 82%
11343 V 27500 2/3 - was 77% now 82%
11344 H 27500 2/3 - was 69% now 79%

Although a big improvement, it is surprisingly low for UK spots. All other UK spots on 2F are in the region of 86-92% for me. However, since signal levels have dropped around Europe I'm not doubting they are. I wonder if these UK spots differ much from the normal ones?

 

[william-1]

In South Bucks, on my TM6900 quality readings:

11307 V 27500 2/3 - was 66% now 80%
11307 H 27500 2/3 - was 75% now 82%
11343 V 27500 2/3 - was 77% now 82%
11344 H 27500 2/3 - was 69% now 79%

Although a big improvement, it is surprisingly low for UK spots. All other UK spots on 2F are in the region of 86-92% for me. However, since signal levels have dropped around Europe I'm not doubting they are. I wonder if these UK spots differ much from the normal ones?

Yes signals lower than I expected on Astra 2F UK beam when compared to Astra 2E UK beam most of these are around the 18dB to 19dB mark.