Launch of Optus D2 was a success

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Launch of Optus D2 was a success

grolschie

911 posts

Ultimate Geek

#16374 6-Oct-2007 12:01

We watched the live tv stream. Was very cool.
http://www.arianespace.com/site/launchstatus/status_sub_index.html

1 | 2

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#90052 8-Oct-2007 09:52

Bring On HD TV sky :>

old3eyes

9120 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#90084 8-Oct-2007 12:43

FoNiXeR: Bring On HD TV sky :>

Better get the mortgage ready to pay for it..

Regards,

Old3eyes

openmedia

3334 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#90109 8-Oct-2007 14:15

FoNiXeR: Bring On HD TV sky :>

D2 is replacing B3, so don't expect any Sky NZ services on it.

Steve

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.

FoNiXeR

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#90115 8-Oct-2007 14:40

openmedia:
FoNiXeR: Bring On HD TV sky :>

D2 is replacing B3, so don't expect any Sky NZ services on it.

Steve

Just my Luck,

I thought sky was waiting for the D2 to give some of that much needed bandwith :(

cyril7

9061 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#90121 8-Oct-2007 15:22

Sky have no plans to use bandwidth on any other satellites other than D1 at 160E. The dual throat LNBs that can see both 156E and 160E are only for the purpose of backup in the event that D1 fails. D3 will be launched to 156E next year and will provide extra capacity for Foxtel and provide lowband backup for Sky in the event of D1 failing. The dual throat LNB's can only see 156 or 160 at anyone time, therefore are useless in multi STB setups (ie MySky, or multiroom STBs or MDU's) therefore reinforcing the fact that Sky have no intention of taking up any permanent capacity at 156E

Rumour is that if Sky want more expansion then D1R will fly at 160E with D1 and provide lowband capacity. Currently the Lowband is not allocated for use in NZ from 160E, therefore cannot be used except on a non interference basis with other KU Lowband terrestial services.

Sky still have several more room for four more muxs (two transponders) on D1 for extra services including HD.

Cyril

FoNiXeR

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#90122 8-Oct-2007 15:38

Hey Cyril,

Thanks for the reply,

I thought that the only thing holding sky back was that there was not enough space on the “bird”

I never really looked into it,

Now come on sky we want HD

cyril7

9061 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#90125 8-Oct-2007 15:54

Sky could not use or gain access to the extra capacity on D1 until a few weeks ago when a full transition to all Hpol tranponders was made.

Cheers
Cyril

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

DS9

325 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#90135 8-Oct-2007 17:14

Hi, I know I have talked about this before, I have read and re-read the Annual report and it does say that D2 has transponders that sky can use. Here is the remark.

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 and 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.

It is just the comment about "Both of these" that interests me, maybe they will bring out an Elliptical dish so they can see multiple birds at once. It could be part of the upgrade for HD, like we pay an installation fee for MySky, they could then leave D1 just for SD channels. Wishful thinking I know.

I aim to misbehave.

cyril7

9061 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#90136 8-Oct-2007 17:22

Note read your posted comments, they clearly state:

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.

Note the words restoration program and failure of Skys primary D1 satellite. As I said previously Sky have no intention of using 156E as a permanent suppliment to 160E, only as a backup.

Your current 65cm dish can see both obital slots simultaeously, no need for an eliptical one, however Sky has fitted a dual throat LNB to dishs that can be switched to one orbit slot or the other, but not simultaneously. There is only one output feed, therefore if two boxs are connected both cannot freely select one orbit slot or the other. The reason for this is clearly stated in the above quote, 156E is only for backup. Foxtel have dibbs on virtually all the low band capacity that D3 will offer at 156E, therefore any capacity that Sky loans in the event of a failure of D1 will be at the expense of Foxtels services.

Ohh, just an extra, your current dish can see 152 aswell with adjustment, however the LNB that Sky is using is only capable of seeing 156E and 160E. I somehow think that Sky would not be interested in rolling out newer dish/LNB setups concidering they are 70% of the way through replacing singles with 156/160 duals.

Cyril

DS9

325 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#90138 8-Oct-2007 17:31

Hi, I know we have discussed this, it just seems you bypass the other comments, the quote is taken from the 2007 annual report and clearly states that D2 has transponders that could be used, and I think you would need an Elliptical dish to see from 152 - 160 degrees as I am led to believe. If a new dish is installed then they could use a new lnb. now I did not write this quote, just copied it, so if Sky believe it can be done, so do I. Just for reference Starchoice in Canada has 2 Satellites, Anik F1R at 107.3°W and Anik F2 at 111.1°W.

I aim to misbehave.

grolschie

911 posts

Ultimate Geek

#90149 8-Oct-2007 18:48

DS9: Hi, I know we have discussed this, it just seems you bypass the other comments, the quote is taken from the 2007 annual report and clearly states that D2 has transponders that could be used, and I think you would need an Elliptical dish to see from 152 - 160 degrees as I am led to believe.

What do you mean? Many people already view D1 and B3 on <80cm ku dishes with 2xLNB setup? D2 is replacing B3. Why the need for an elliptical dish?

DS9

325 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#90153 8-Oct-2007 19:04

Hi, You are must be right, it is just I was told an elliptical dish would give a better reception, The main point is about Sky using D2, Cyril and I have discussed this before and it always goes back to 156 being backup and the lnb can only look at one satellite at a time. The quote does indicate that sky could use D2, so I was wondering if and when Sky bring out HD ,they could include a new Dish and or just an LNB for future use, as D3 is to be used as backup for D1 maybe D2 could be used for HD services and leave D1 for SD only.

I aim to misbehave.

cyril7

9061 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#90154 8-Oct-2007 19:10

As I said in my previous post, you dont need a eliptical dish to see 152-156-160, with standard LNB's this is common practice in NZ on 75-85cm dishs, if you have a single body LNB (similar to the tightly packed single dual body sharp that Sky have rolled out) you can readily get all three orbit slots on a 65cm dish. Realignment would be needed to centre on 156E.

Anyway, I personally dont think this is the path Sky will take, its messy to roll out new LNB's, and there are better options that Optus has already indicated. The current LNB they are currently rolling out indicates they have no interest in your line of thought, but you may want to ask Sky, rather than here.

Also I think you have too high expectations on how fast Sky want/need to expand, and the current capacity on D1 that Sky has taken options on is sufficient to see its expansion into both new SD channels and HD ones within there budget. Dont forget that new HD STB's will be DVB-S2 capable, this means there is more capacity than the simplistic extrapolation of the current channels/mux. I covered this in previous posts. I think Sky will pace its expansion within the realms of what is currently available on D1 and a view to the long term on D1R.

D1R has been on the cards for sometime, this will be placed at 160E with D1, and utilize the low Ku band that currently is not utilised in NZ. This will pretty much double the capacity at 160E and with the dual throat LNB's offer extra backup. Two sats at 160E plus extra backup at 156E, sounds pretty secure.

I think I have exhausted my input to this thread, but still happy to discuss, but I think you need to consult Sky themselves to see what they are planning.

Cyril

grolschie

911 posts

Ultimate Geek

#90178 8-Oct-2007 20:59

Anyways, D2 has launched! Looking forward to see if the quality of the current FTA stuff on B3 improves when it gets moved to D2. :)

cyril7

9061 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#90222 9-Oct-2007 09:30

Dunno why it would improve, B3 is by no means full (ie there is plenty of spare transponder space), but just looking at what services are on there, they are all budget providers not really wanting to increase their monthly bill.

The replacement of B3 by D2 is a reliablity one, B3 is dying, not a need for more capacity at this point.

Cyril

1 | 2