General question about a satellite that has been de-orbited

[ryan14]

I was reading that the Nilesat 101 satellite has been de-orbited:


wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilesat_101


It has been replaced by Nilesat 102 in the same geostationary orbital position of 7° West, so does that mean people who had their satellite dish pointed to Nilesat 101 can receive Nilesat 102 TV channels without physically moving their satellite dish on their roof? Is the Latitude the same or different?

 

[SatelliteAV]

You are correct. The swap is typically transparent to the user as the new satellite is co-located and the services transferred after the testing is completed.

 

[ryan14]

You are correct. The swap is typically transparent to the user as the new satellite is co-located and the services transferred after the testing is completed.

Can you explain to me what co-located means? Wouldn't there be a blackout while the new satellite moves into the position previously occupied by the old satellite?

 

[SatelliteAV]

The satellites are parked in the same orbital position and maintain a separation to avoid collision. From earth, (23,000 miles away) the these satellites appear to be in the same position on the typical small satellite dish. Only one satellite transmits on a specific frequency to avoid interference.

 

[FaT Air]

Co-located

AMC 15 & AMC 18. Both satellites are at 105W. There are many other positions with 2 satellites.
30W has 3 satellites. Think the satellites are never closer, to one another, than 50 miles.
When one satellite is being replaced, they can transfer services from one satellite to another as each satellite has it's own command and control channel or address*.
They can transfer one transponder 'load' to the new satellite one at a time. Can happen so quick, ya don't see it.
*If the RF channel is on the same freq.

 

[ryan14]

The satellites are parked in the same orbital position and maintain a separation to avoid collision. From earth, (23,000 miles away) the these satellites appear to be in the same position on the typical small satellite dish. Only one satellite transmits on a specific frequency to avoid interference.

So even though the 2 satellites have the same orbital position, each satellite is transmitting on a different frequency? So if satellite A transmits on a certain frequency and the satellite is later discontinued and another satellite was put in the same orbital position as satellite A was, would it use the same frequency satellite A was using?

 

[SatelliteAV]

Correct. Many orbital positions have multiple satellites simultaneously operating. The frequencies may be swapped between these satellites. The only consideration is not to interfere with co-located and adjacent orbital slot satellites.

 

[navychop]

And there's spot beams, reusing frequencies.