Optus D2 or D3

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DS9

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#15907 14-Sep-2007 09:29

Hi, I would like to know, Sky say's in it's Annual report 2006 http://www.skytv.co.nz/files/Miscellaneous/SKY-TV-Annual-Report-06.pdf page 32, that Optus D2 will be at 156 degrees for in orbit backup but according to Optus it is going to 152 degrees http://www.orbital.com/SatellitesSpace/GEO/Optus/index.html does this mean that D3 will now be the backup and if so I am worried that HD will be put back untill D3 in 2009 is place into orbit in case a transponder or 2 fail on D1.

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cyril7

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#86645 14-Sep-2007 09:34

Foxtel made a press release a couple of months ago stating that some expansion of servcies was on hold because D2 has been reassigned to 152 (B3 is starting to show similar aging problems that B1 had). D3 will be deployed at 156E.

I doubt that Sky need to hold off some level of HD services with the capacity they currently have (and have taps on but not fired up) on D1.

Cyril

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#86647 14-Sep-2007 09:38

DS9: Hi, I would like to know, Sky say's in it's Annual report 2006 http://www.skytv.co.nz/files/Miscellaneous/SKY-TV-Annual-Report-06.pdf page 32, that Optus D2 will be at 156 degrees for in orbit backup but according to Optus it is going to 152 degrees http://www.orbital.com/SatellitesSpace/GEO/Optus/index.html does this mean that D3 will now be the backup and if so I am worried that HD will be put back untill D3 in 2009 is place into orbit in case a transponder or 2 fail on D1.

Sky might launch with some limited HD on D1 as they do have the rights to a couple of additional transponders. I'd expect to see maybe 4-5 HD channels from them for the first couple of years, 2 movie, 1 sport, Discovery and possibly Prime.

C1 is their current backup, and they would have to get foxtel to drop some services if they were going to use it. If they had to fail over you would have a very limited set of channels anyway.

Steve

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DS9

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#86648 14-Sep-2007 09:42

Hi, Sky has an option for the 2 remaining transponders they are currently using 5, They still have to take up the option as they have not paid to lease them yet, I am worried because looking from a business point of view, it would be prudent to keep them for any failure on D1 as I do not think Optus would launch D1R just for NZ beam services. So would not holding back HD , as just 4 HD channels would use the space on the 2 option transponders. Be the only way to have backup services, since D1 is almost full leased?

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cyril7

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#86649 14-Sep-2007 09:48

It was my understanding that 156E was only ever going to be a backup to 160E. I was not aware that Sky intended to takeup any fulltime services at 156E.

If that was the case then exactly how do they intend to feed such dual orbit servcies via the single output dual throat LNB's that they have been installing. These LNBs can only look at one location at a time, so your stuffed if you have more than one STB.

It is also my understanding that in the event of D1 turning toes up there is no method to get the STB to look at C1 without user intervention. I.e. currently if the STB does not find the home transponder with the tone off it does not turn the tone on to look for one at 156E. I understand to resume services a media release (smoke signals I guess) to subscribers explaining how to turn the 22kHz tone on in the LNB setup menu.

This confirms my understanding that 156E is only a backup. To increase any more services a further D1R with low band functionality is required at 160E.

Cyril

DS9

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#86650 14-Sep-2007 09:55

Hi, I am sorry do not get your point? we are only talking about backup and not full time services, also I am sure you know that if you go to channel 999 it see's the satellite a 156. My point was only that it now appears that Sky will not have any in orbit backup untill 2009 via D3. which leads me to think HD is going to be a couple of years away now, as they will not or should not use all the transponder space just in case it is needed to continue servives.

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openmedia

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#86656 14-Sep-2007 10:09

DS9: Hi, I am sorry do not get your point? we are only talking about backup and not full time services, also I am sure you know that if you go to channel 999 it see's the satellite a 156. My point was only that it now appears that Sky will not have any in orbit backup untill 2009 via D3. which leads me to think HD is going to be a couple of years away now, as they will not or should not use all the transponder space just in case it is needed to continue servives.

We are far more likely to see total failure of the bird than the odd transponder failing. It is quite normal for satellites to run at 100% of their capacity. Sky's main reasons for delaying HD are likely to be other technical issues such as STB quality.

Also if they choose to use DVB-S2, which most in the industry expect, then they can get around 3 channels per 1/2 transponder.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

cyril7

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#86658 14-Sep-2007 10:10

Yes well aware of ch999, however as I said the LNB sky have provided will only allow for a 156 or 160 solution, ie only a backup as you say.

There is no indication that Sky will halt the roll out of HD services, there recent anual report did not alude to that.

Also with DVB-S2 you can run in backward compatible hybrid mode, ie they can add 10-12Mb/s to each mux that they currently use to add an HD channel to each but retain the current QPSK capacity of those muxs.

Cyril

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DS9

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#86662 14-Sep-2007 10:32

Hi, what annual report? the 2007 Annual report has not be published, unless you have got a pre-release copy, only the annual results have be released. I will stand corrected if they do discuss this issue in the annual report, as they did in the 2006 report but they thought they would get D2. As a shareholder and follower of Sky I am trying to look at it from both sides. To be honest I would prefer all channels to be widescreen and wait but having seen HD via Sky UK I can understand everyone wanting it, I just do not want Sky shooting themselves in the foot.

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cyril7

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#86663 14-Sep-2007 10:34

Just a final point, you seem concerned that there is no backup at 156E in the event that "a" transponder fails at 160E, but as I said if one transponder fails do you think sky would move all its services to 156E? As I said the LNB's Sky has just rolled out do not support simultanous access to both orbit locations, so if you have more than one stb and one wants to see the failed transponder that has been moved to 156E then the other stb looses service.

From that I conclude that Sky never have concidered this a problem, if a single or 2nd tranponder goes down then they will work around it someother way. The backup at 156E is in the case of a total failure at 160E, and even then that capacity is would be provided by D3 (as Foxtel has all the capacity on C1) is in the lower band which is not allowed for fulltime use in NZ yet. The backup plan is for complete tempory move to 156E lowband until a standby sat (ie B3 in retirement) is flown to 160E.

Cyril

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#86664 14-Sep-2007 10:38

what annual report

Doh, sorry it was a media report a couple of weeks ago where it mentioned a delay due to STB supply, but no mention for anyother reason.

Cyril

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#86666 14-Sep-2007 10:44

Hi, you have answered my question in your point, I was trying to say I do not think Sky will use it's 2 transponder options for services, as this can be used for in-orbit D1 backup. Though for HD to be a reality they need those same transponders. In the 2006 annual report, they talked about adding 15 channels in the next 2 years and also bring HD content. so to me it sounds like they will use up the space on the current 5, before even bringing HD channels.

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cyril7

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#86667 14-Sep-2007 10:55

They currently have 10muxs up, two of them have been added since that report (I think), and that equates to around 15 more SD services, there are 2more transponders (4muxs) that they can use for whatever.

Cyril

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#87552 21-Sep-2007 14:05

Hi, just got this from the annual report, Reading through, it states that D2 even at 152 has transponders able to deliver programming. Do you think they will bring out another LNB to see that location also?

The Optus D1 satellite was successfully launched on 13

October 2006 and SKY successfully transitioned services

from the old Optus B1 satellite on 15 November 2006. SKY

is currently leasing five transponders on the D1 satellite, a

25% increase in the capacity leased on B1. SKY has an

option to purchase an additional two transponders on the

D1 satellite should it require additional capacity in the

future. The new D1 satellite has more power than the old

B1 satellite which will assist in reducing “rain fade”, which

is when SKY’s satellite television signal is lost due to

heavy rain.

Optus has also committed to launching two new

satellites, the D2 satellite that is planned to be launched

by March 2008 at the 152º E position and the D3 satellite,

to be launched by March 2009 at the 156º E position.

Both of these satellites have transponders capable of

delivering direct to home (“DTH ”) satellite services to

New Zealand. SKY has agreed a restoration plan with

Optus that would see satellite capacity restored within a

short time should there ever be a failure of SKY’s primary

D1 satellite To assist in the recovery of services should there ever be

a failure of the D1 satellite, SKY has developed a dual low

noise block (“LNB ”) that can be electronically switched

to the 156 º E orbital location. This would enable SKY to

utilise the dedicated back-up transponders that are to

be included in the design of the new Optus D3 satellite

without having to repoint the satellite dishes in

subscriber homes.

what does everyone think?

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cyril7

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#87838 24-Sep-2007 08:48

what does everyone think?

Does not say anything different to previously in the thread.

Cyril