ANIK F2 - Thy End Is Near

[Keith Brannen]

Most C-band satellites also carry other band payloads. Anik F2 carries 50 Ka transponders (Viasat), 40 Ku transponders (Shaw) and 24 C-band transponders.

According to Lyngsat, the C-band usage of Anik F2 is just one transponder so it doesn't make a great deal of sense to place a uniquely C-band bird there.

All say C-band satellite, nothing about Ku and Shaw Direct, which you would think they would if it was a Ku/C-band satellite, as Shaw Direct is a very important part of Anik F2. Will know more when they say which satellite they purchased.

 

[stonemountain]

I can confirm that some of these signals (KTLA, CPAC, Series+ and RAI, for example) have disappeared on my receiver "down south." In one instance, I appeared to still be getting a very weak signal, as there was some fluctuation in the dB figure displayed by the receiver, but the signal was "0."

 

[nelson61]

FCC application;
This must be the C band satellite.

Description: Assignment of license for AMC-11, call sign S2433, from SES Americom, Inc. to Telesat Canada.

 

[harshness]

FCC application;
This must be the C band satellite.

Description: Assignment of license for AMC-11, call sign S2433, from SES Americom, Inc. to Telesat Canada.

That's an old-timer to be sure. It is 18 years old and has only 24 C-band transponders. That Saskatchewan mux (the lone current Anik F2 C-band transponder) must be awfully important.

 

[Keith Brannen]

That's an old-timer to be sure. It is 18 years old and has only 24 C-band transponders.

C-band only satellite, as was indicated in all releases.

That Saskatchewan mux (the lone current Anik F2 C-band transponder) must be awfully important.

Sure... that's all there is... LOL!

 

[Buckeye J]

I'd want to test that. Some of these streaming providers are getting pretty savvy about such things.

I was able to watch clips using the service with a name that sounds like a threat to a certain kind of board rider.

I'm new to this forum but have been searching for this type of info. I've been in the Phoenix area since the beginning of Nov. and got wind that we're going to lose our Shaw service here. I thought possibly a Slingbox but nope it's been discontinued. Started to try Shaw Bluecurve app on my firestick. Couldn't even download it to my stick as it wasn't available unless you turn on a vpn so your stick's location looks like Canada. Once I did that and got the app, Isigned in to Bluecurve but it won't play anything. Shaw must recognize that a vpn is being used. I was able to download CTV and Global apps and they work with a vpn.

 

[navychop]

TKS for the info.

 

[harshness]

Shaw must recognize that a vpn is being used.

While they can't do that across the board, they can identify particular VPNs (by their IP address range). Perhaps a different VPN service would work.

 

[nelson61]

While they can't do that across the board, they can identify particular VPNs (by their IP address range). Perhaps a different VPN service would work.

Or set up a private server at a northern home. As harshness explained, they look for commercial blocks of IP addresses and associate them with a VPN service.

 

[nelson61]

C band details:

Subject to Commission approval (see below), AMC-11 is intended to be moved from its current orbital position at 131° West Longitude (“W.L.”) to 111.1° W.L., where it will be co-located with Telesat’s Anik F2 satellite. Anik F2 is approaching the end of its station kept life, and Telesat is acquiring AMC-11 to continue serving the needs of its C-band customers for station kept service at 111.1° W.L.1 The assignment of AMC11’s license will not be consummated until there has been a successful transition of AMC-11 from its current orbital position to 111.1° W.L., for which SES is requesting Special Temporary Authority to relocate the satellite and a license modification to reflect the change in the satellite’s orbital position. 2 The satellite, once moved and assigned, will be referred to as Anik F4.

 

[tkillian]

C band details:

Subject to Commission approval (see below), AMC-11 is intended to be moved from its current orbital position at 131° West Longitude (“W.L.”) to 111.1° W.L., where it will be co-located with Telesat’s Anik F2 satellite. Anik F2 is approaching the end of its station kept life, and Telesat is acquiring AMC-11 to continue serving the needs of its C-band customers for station kept service at 111.1° W.L.1 The assignment of AMC11’s license will not be consummated until there has been a successful transition of AMC-11 from its current orbital position to 111.1° W.L., for which SES is requesting Special Temporary Authority to relocate the satellite and a license modification to reflect the change in the satellite’s orbital position. 2 The satellite, once moved and assigned, will be referred to as Anik F4.

what does this mean for continuing the access to shaw F2?

 

[modefan63]

i also ask will this prolong shaw viewing in the southern usa Los angeles for me

 

[harshness]

what does this mean for continuing the access to shaw F2?

i also ask will this prolong shaw viewing in the southern usa Los angeles for me

Anik F2 is expected to be put into a graveyard orbit around the end of 2022 and all of its Ku (Shaw) and Ka (Viasat) band services will go away with it. The addition of a creaky old C-band satellite to the orbital slot doesn't change that.

There is currently no hint/suggestion (hope) of Shaw maintaining DTH satellite service to the southern territory (south of the 40th parallel give or take) after that.

Those who need their fix need to seek other sources.

 

[Keith Brannen]

This is what is really happening:

https://www.shawbroadcast.com/Documents/2022/oct/26/Anik%20F2%20Modulation%20Scheme%20Oct%2026%202022.pdf

By changing the modulation the Signal Quality will (and has on the one transponder changed so far) increase. As the satellite takes on a more inclined orbit (bigger orbital fluctuation before any station keeping, which saves fuel), the increase in Signal Quality should mitigate the variations the inclined orbit will cause in Signal Quality.

As noted in the document: "November 29, 2022, at 1-4 AM MST: All remaining ANIK F2 transponders – with the exception of F2/T2 – will implement modulation scheme change to DVB-S QPSK 2/3 FEC. F2/T2 which will remain in Turbo 8PSK 2/3 FEC until Spring 2023"

So, changes are being made that will increase the availability of the channels left on F2 past the end of this year. How well this will affect those south of the border remains to be seen, and depends on where you are in the satellite footprint and size of dish, as well as how much they let F2 drift before station keeping.

 

[nelson61]

Looking at the signal strength maps, I would guess the offset will essentially eliminate "southern" service.
At best, they might be able to delay the end of F2 signals in the Canadian coverage area for a while by changing the error correction rates
In the south and far north, where the signal is weaker, one would expect the signal to drop in and out as the beam comes in and out of focus after it goes into the inclined orbit.
The normal southern USA/Mexico area signal strength is already low, something like 40 percent of the level seen in central and western Canada.

Satbeams - World Of Satellites at your fingertips

Satbeams - Satellite footprints, news and charts

www.satbeams.com

 

[modefan63]

sad day on the 29th from what i just read i hope we can still view till the spring. i hope i can reboot my reciever or get a tec to come out.here in los Angeles

 

[Keith Brannen]

sad day on the 29th from what i just read i hope we can still view till the spring. i hope i can reboot my reciever or get a tec to come out.here in los Angeles

Actually, just the opposite. The change is good, in that it means that the signal quality will be stronger, and the switch to DVB QPSK also means that the SQ can drop lower than the 8PSK transponders before it craps out.

With your receiver, in system status, check channel 404 (which has switched to DVB QPSK) and you will see a stronger signal that other channels than are in 8PSK.

EDIT: and no reason to reboot your receiver, the changes will be seamless, as they have already happened for the one transponder.

FURTHER EDIT: Here are the channels that have changed:
404 Magnolia Network Canada
262 Fox News Channel
446 Discovery Science Canada
259 HLN
260 MSNBC
453 Cottage Life TV
444 American Heroes Channel Canada

 

[modefan63]

thanks thats happy news i will try that. i i have the 75 cm dish with a 630 reciever from the year 2013 here in los angeles

 

[Keith Brannen]

thanks thats happy news i will try that. i i have the 75 cm dish with a 630 reciever from the year 2013 here in los angeles

See my above edits for additional information on the channels that changed.

 

[modefan63]

thanks for the info checked cottage life and have good signal thats relaxing me will the rest of the f1 do the same and not leave my reciever?