According to
http://www.ses-astra.com/satellites/...nts.php?sat=15
Which is the Astra website so they should know, probably about half of
France could be able to pick up the Astra 2D beam with an 80cm dish or
less, and an 80cm dish really is not that big, particularly in a
country which seems to have more space for everything. Now I know that
there is a certain amount of adjustment that could be done, for
instance the signal could be deliberately weakened but that may mean
that 45 cm dishes within the UK would not work. One wonders whether
the BBC are going to work on doing things to see if they can work with
Astra to tighten the beam or whether half of France will from now on
be able to pick up BBC. Of course this will just wind up the French
who will get even more upset about the English language taking
over....
Looking at Lyngsat
http://www.lyngsat.com/astra2d.shtml
There is only one transponder free. Now I know that ITV is already
there as part of Sky Digital, but who is it that owns the transponder
space. Does ITV rent it directly from Astra, or is there agreement
through Sky, in which case they may be in trouble because the whole of
ITV is not going to fit into one transponder.
If people are getting excited about "Freeview" satellite based on
Astra 2D. Then they need to know that half of France will be able to
watch, but of course they won't because it is in English.
Secondly, if there is only one transponder free then there is not
going to be much extra FTA UK until another satellite is launched with
similar beams or other beams from other Astra satellites are if that
is possible adjusted. Of course since Sky is encrypted that could
move, but Sky being Sky are more likely to buy the extra transponder
to stop anyone else buying it than voluntarily move their
transponders.

See http://www.satcure.co.uk/2d/fprint.htm

Martin

"Mark Carver"

There is only one transponder free. Now I know that ITV is already
there as part of Sky Digital, but who is it that owns the transponder
space.

ITV rent their three transponders on Astra 2D directly from Astra (aka SES)
themselves. ITV contact NTL to provide the uplink.

Is it uplinked from the NTL teleport at the Winchester HQ ?

John