Forthcoming launch of Astra 2E

Astra 2E
The Astra 2E satellite is scheduled to be launched in the second quarter of 2013. Astra 2E will deliver next generation broadcast, VSAT and broadband services in Europe and Africa at 28.2° East. The Ku-band capacity will allow this satellite to enhance and secure its existing offering to major Direct-to-Home (DTH) markets in the UK and Ireland. With a Ku-band payload specifically designed to meet the requirements of some of Europe’s largest DTH broadcasters, the satellites will have spot beam and pan-European beam switching capabilities to accommodate both pay-TV and free-to-air broadcasters, and to provide these customers with increased functionality. SES ASTRA customers in this region include BSkyB, BBC, ITV, Freesat, Channel Four, Channel 5, UK TV, Virgin Media, MTV and Discovery.
The BBC has confirmed their plans to move their services from Astra 1N/2F to Astra 2E in 2013. The over-spill of the BBC’s services will be reduced so viewers outside the UK will find it even harder to receive them. Astra 2E will have the same UK footprint as Astra 2F, so if you can currently view channels from Astra 2F, there should be no problems receiving Astra 2E. Here on the Costa Blanca there has been very little change to the reception from the recently launched  Astra 2F, it appears that the footprint is not as accurate as first projected, there is some loss of signal strength we have noticed a 10dB drop from the reception of Astra 1N which currently supplies 150 Direct to Home services. However this appears to only affect satellite dishes of 1 m or less, especially channel 5 group of channels.  The footprint of the new ( to be launched in the 2nd quarter of 2013) Astra 2E is projected to be the same as Astra 2F. Happy viewing.

Answer to total loss of TV channels

For years now Channels have been transmitting via a satellite based  west of the equator via  BFBS ( British Forces Broadcasting services) they use a BISS encoding system, however, available in Spain are Decoders that are capable of receiving these channels, they are:-

BBC One England
BBC One Scotland
BBC One Northern Ireland
BBC One Wales
BBC Two England
BBC Three
BBC News
BBC Four
CBBC
CBeebies
BBC Parliament
BBC HD
BBC One HD
ITV 1 Central West
Channel 4 HD
S4C HD
STV HD
UTV HD
Radio....
BBC R5L.
BBC R5SX
BBC 6 Music
BBC Radio 7
BBC 1 Xtra
BBC Asian
BBC World Sv
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 4
BBC Red Button
BBC Alba
Radio Scotland
Radio N Gael
Radio Ulster
Radio Foyle
Radio Wales
Radio Cymru
Channel 5 is also reported to be on this satellite, but as yet not confirmed.

So all is not lost!

Astra 2F TV channel migration update 5th Dec 2012

 We have done tests on the signal strength

1 metre dishes.......
Some have issues with the Channel 5  group  (Transponder 10964 Horizontal) is now right on the edge of reception. Some will get these channels and some may not on this size of dish, we tested it on Entre Naranjos Jacarilla with  Fergusan and Golden Media Decoders, the levels were barely 7dB in the middle of the day, possibly at night this channel may fall off the "Digital Cliff" with pixelation problems.
Also...
Transponder 10.994 H: ITV 1 Granada HD, ITV 1 Central South West,  Anglia West, ITV 1 Meridian North, ITV 1 Yorkshire East and ITV 1+1 Yorkshire, reception is now lower in strength.
Transponder 11.052 H: ITV 1 Central South, Central East,  Wales + 1, Westcountry+1and  Tyne Tees SD also reception is now lower in strength. Transponder 11126 V 4HD  incl. 4seven, reception was low but SD 4 and 4+1 etc were OK. All BBC channels reported OK as with the rest of the ITV channels.

 1.4m. 1.9m and 2.4m Dishes  we have tested the reception and all is OK.

Based on what we tested Wednesday 5th Dec 2012 the signal may move a little throughout the day and evening but it seems to be a minor loss although we are expecting to get calls re Channel 5 group loss as this is now the lowest levels.
There are further changes due, but these are  not clear and it does seem the UK spot beam is weaker than previously, but not disastrous. We will keep you informed  if there will be any other channels  moving from 1N to 2F,  they may be  waiting for another satellite launch, such as 2E scheduled for 2013 even 2G scheduled 2014.
However, presently it is looking  better than the predicted footprint . Satellite footprint maps are usually wrong, when it comes to fringe reception.
Dishes perform  differently in different areas, there may be reception issues especially microwave or localized interference.

More news on the new Astra 2F satellite (2nd Dec 2012)

SES posted on their Facebook page:- "SES Services are currently being transferred to ASTRA 2F. BBC (Trp 2.061) has been migrated to Astra 2F whereas Channel 5 (Tp 2.057), ITV (2.059 & 2.063) and Channel 4 (Tp 2.068) will move to Astra 2F next Tuesday 4th December 2012. This will then mark the completion of the transfer" Transponder 61 is new: 11023 H, 23000 2/3, DVB-S2/8PSK, currently testing on 2F and we have tested this on a 1.9m dish and the reception is excellent. The other 1N transponders due to be transferred next Tuesday are: Transponder 57, carries Channel Five, 5 USA, 5 USA+1, 5*, 5*+1 etc. Transponder 59, carries some ITV One regions Transponder 63, carries some ITV One regions and ITV One London HD. Transponder 68, carries Channel Four HD and 4 Seven etc. They have indicated that not all BBC and ITV channels will be moved to the new satellite! BBC have 4 other transponders (45,46,47 and 48) - which indicated by the SES statement, are not scheduled to move to 2F yet (strange?) We will keep you updated as soon as we have more information.