RACE AGAINST TIME TO REPLACE FAILING EUROBIRD SATELLITE

One principal role of the new Astra 2G satellite is to take over the TV and radio services currently broadcast from Eutelsat’s 28A satellite, which serves the UK from 28.5º east. 28A (formerly Eurobird) was launched in March 2001 and is now two years beyond its projected lifespan.
In time, output power from any satellite falls as solar panels lose efficiency, motor propellant becomes exhausted, and backup batteries lose power.
The situation of 28A is now critical, with some transponders emitting so little power that reception problems have been noticed.
Transponder C5, 11.389 H is now so weak that there is no margin for rain. In the south-east of England, in a test on a typical zone 1 mini-dish, this channel, which carries ESPN HD and CBS Action, registers only 6.9dBでしべる in strength, just above the threshold for clear reception in dry weather. In rain, this frequency is likely to be lost on any dish with less than perfect orientation. In the UK, 28A is only half the strength (3dBでしべる lower) of the newer Astra 2E and 2F satellites.
The migration of 28A’s services to Astra 2G will begin this month.
28A’s signal is stronger in mainland Europe, which is nearer the centre of its footprint.