Astra 2F Satellite News Updates
The Astra 2F satellite is a commercial communications satellite built by Astrium, France. Astra 2F will be operated by by SES, Luxembourg.
Astra 2F, along with two other new Astra 2 satellites, Astra 2E, and Astra 2G, will be replacing Astra 2A, Astra 2B Astra 2C, Astra 2D and Eurobird 1 / Eutelsat 28A satellites at 28.2° E.
(Latest Astra 2F Satellite News Updates at the top)
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 12/12/2012 : BBC services will move from 1N to 2E in the second half of 2013 – confirmation from the BBC! “SES expects Astra 2E to launch in Q2 2013, so we currently expect to transition BBC services to it during summer 2013.” – say the BBC. no BBC channel or reception changes until then – so much for all the rumours about loss of BBC on the 16th and 18th December banded around by rumourmongering Android Kodi Costa Smart TV Brit TV Box sellers!
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 07/12/2012 : So, according to to the phone calls and email from worried people, Spain will lose all BBC and ITVs on the 16th December…but no-one can provide any evidence of this….
My view: it is probably nothing to do with BBC and ITVs.
a) It could be the date where some of the Sky channels move from their satellite (Astra 2B) onto the new Astra 2F satellite. Reception will vary as these channels may go onto the UK beam, or European beam…if Sky really want to keep expats paying and the revenue coming in, they will be on the European beam
b) It could be the date that Sky close changes to their system, so there is no disruption to TV over Xmas.
c). SES, who own and operate the satellites, specifically said that on the 4th only 5 frequencies would move from Astra 1N to the new Astra 2F, and that would complete this stage of migration. So maybe the remaining frequencies on Astra 1N that carry BBC and ITV will not move to 2F, but to the next new satellite, 2E, after it is launched Q1 2013…
d) No mention from anywhere by SES about the 16th…
No-one outside Astra and the broadcasters will know until it happens.
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 06/12/2012 : Despite what you may have already heard the long awaited satellite change has not happened – well not completely. Only a handful of channels have moved satellites (Fives, C4HD, 4seven, and a few ITV1 regions). Hence why some people may have lost reception of these channels on smaller satellite dishes. We are still awaiting for the majority of the channels from BBC ITV C4 to move. At the moment we do not know when this will be. It could be this month,, it may even be as late as April/May next year.
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 04/12/2012 : BIG UPDATE! : A handful of frequencies and channels moved over from Astra 1N to Astra 2F last night – as expected. The channels and frequencies affected are:
10.964 H SR 22.000 FEC 5/6 (CH5/5USA/5*/Channel 5+1),
10.994 H SR 22.000 FEC 5/6 (ITV 1 Granada HD/ITV 1 Central South West SD/ITV 1 Anglia West SD/ITV 1 Meridian North SD/ITV 1 Yorkshire East SD/ITV 1+1 Yorkshire SD),
11.052 H SR 22.000 FEC 5/6 (ITV 1 Central South SD/ITV 1 Central East SD/ITV 1+1 Wales SD/ITV 1+1 Westcountry SD/ITV 1+1 Tyne Tees SD)
11.126 V SR 22.000 FEC 5/6 (Channel 4 HD/4Seven SD)
So is the the start of the so called BIG SWITCH OFF OF UK TV in Spain?
So if you have lost your reception of any of these channels, then their move to their new satellites is the reason, and your satellite dish is now too small to receive these channels in your area of Spain
Astra 2F Satellite News UpdateAstra 2F Satellite News Update 30/11/2012 : This is interesting: According to SES Astra:”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 and 2.063) and Channel 4 (Tp 2.068) will move to Astra 2F next Tuesday. “which does seem to say that not all BBC and ITV channels will be moved to the new satellite! BBC (Trp 2.061) – refers to the frequency 11023 that has already moved. The BBC have 4 other frequencies / transponders (45,46,47,48) – which going by the SES statement, are not scheduled to move to 2f…yet(???)
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 29/11/2012 : One website is reporting that the transfer of channels to 2F will be completed “by the end of this year / early next year”, but does not give any specific dates about channel movement from Astra 1n or 2B to Astra 2F
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 28/11/2012 : No more updates yet on the “big migration” of UK TV channels from Astra 1N to Astra 2F. The first rumoured date of between 23-26 Nov did not bring anything. The next rumoured date is first week in December. Until then only the one single frequency, carrying two BBC HD channels, is the only UK TV frequency that is live on Astra 2F.
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 26/11/2012 : Reports that channels and frequencies from another UK TV satellite, Astra 2B, will be moved to Astra 2F shortly. No exact date or time.
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 26/11/2012 : The “big move” of channels from Astra 1N to Astra 2F is expected shortly. Initial date suggest changes from the 23rd to the 26th November, but nothing has happened. When the move between satellite happens, expect the channels to keep their frequencies so new retuning will be required: Astra 2F Transponders, Frequencies and Channels for Spain.
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 25/11/2012 : Reception reports for this single frequency are available here: Astra 2F Signal Reception Reports for Spain.
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 22/11/2012 : One frequency has reported to have been moved to Astra 2F already. Early reports are that Spain may have gotten off lightly with only a small drop in signal levels. Countries to the east and west of Spain are reporting that this frequency is no longer begin received. Take with a pinch of salt, as things can change.
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 21/11/2012 : SES Astra have release a press statement saying that Astra 2F is now in location, and is available to start operating. See the press releases here
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 20/11/2012 : Astra 2F has arrived at the UK TV “slot” of 28 east. There will be a small period of final testing before any channels move from Astra 1N to Astra 2F. This move of channels (BBC ITV C4 and Fives), is expect by the end of this week / early next week
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 13/11/2012 1700: Astra 2F’s current position: LATITUDE: 0.07 LONGITUDE: 37.3. Slowly making its way to 28 east…expected to make it sometime middle of next week
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 11/11/2012 1500: Astra 2F has now completed its testing and is slowly moving from its test location at 43 east to the UK TV satellite slot at 28 east.
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 10/11/2012: SES Astra announced their 2012 3rd Quarter results yesterday. In the document, under Q3 highlights was the following: “ASTRA 2F successfully launched and will enter commercial service later this month”, confirming that 2F will be operational by the end of November 2012.
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 07/11/2012: Astra 2F is still testing at 43 east. The latest news is that it is expected that the new Astra 2F satellite will be in position and transmitting UK TV channels from the 23rd November 2012. This will mean that those channels; on the Astra 1N satellite will be moved over to Astra 2F sometime between the 23rd and 26th November. This will mean that reception of the main UK TV channels (BBC ITV C4 and Fives) on the smaller 1m satellite dishes is expected not to last much longer
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 23/10/2012: Speculation mounts about the date when Astra 2F will be moved to the UK TV satellite location of 28 east. Although there has been no confirmation from SES Astra, the satellite operators, speculation has the date as any time from 1st November 2012, to “mid November 2012”.
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 17/10/2012: Astra 2F is still testing at 43 east. A range of frequencies have been tested on both the Pan European beam and UK beam As these tests are not being done in the satellites final location, reception reports for these tests are not reliable enough to be used to estimate Astra 2F signal reception in Spain.
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 09/10/2012: Astra 2F has successfully deployed its solar arrays. It is still being located for testing. Its test location is expected to be at 43 east.
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 01/10/2012: Astra 2F currently moving into its correct orbit and test location.
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 06/10/2012: Astra 2F still moving into its correct orbit and test location. There is no confirmation of Astra 2F activation date or when UK TV services will start on Astra 2F
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 01/10/2012: Astra 2F currently moving into its correct orbit and test location.
Astra 2F Satellite News Update 28/09/2012: Launch Successful : Astra 2F satellite was successfully launched on Friday 28th September.
Lifting off in late afternoon sunlight at 6:18 p.m. from the Spaceport in French Guiana, Ariane 5 deployed its ASTRA 2F and GSAT-10 satellite passengers during a flight lasting approximately 30 minutes. This timing prior to sunset provided a clear view of Ariane 5 trajectory as it cleared a low cloud deck and continued the ascent, enabling tracking cameras to view the solid propellant boosters separation at an altitude of 67.5 km., as well as the payload fairings jettison at nearly 110 km. above French Guiana.
Astra 2F Satellite News Update Launch Update : 20 Sept 2012: The expected launch of SES-Astra’s new satellite for 28.2 degrees east has now been tentatively scheduled for the 28th of September 2012.
Astra 2F Satellite News Update Launch Update : 19 Sept 2012: The new Astra 2F was scheduled to be launched on Friday. However, in order to perform additional checks on the Ariane 5 ECA launch system, Arianespace has decided to postpone the launch VA 209. A new launch date will be announced shortly.
Astra 2F Satellite News Update Updated launch date : Astra 2F will be launched on the 21st September 2012 – Launch window between 21:20 and 22.09 GMT/UT on 21st September 2012.
Astra 2F Satellite News Update Updated launch date : Astra 2F will be launched on the 14th September 2012 – Ariane-5 flight VA209 carrying the Astra 2F satellite is scheduled to be launched on the 14th September 2012.
Astra 2F Satellite Launch date:
