Satellite Parameters

3ABN broadcasts on the Intelsat-19 satellite for Australia and New Zealand, with some of the foot print covering Papua New Guinea. 3ABN International, 3ABN Radio, and 3ABN Australia Radio are on this satellite. If you wish to have access to our other networks, please see our page about how to get 3ABN for other methods.

Intelsat-19 Parameters

The parameters for tuning into 3ABN’s broadcasts on the Intelsat-19 satellite are listed below.

  • Position: 166° East
  • Transponder: 18K (Ku band)
  • Frequency: 12,606 MHz
  • Polarity: Horizontal
  • Symbol Rate: 30,000
  • F.E.C.: 5/6

3ABN International is broadcast in widescreen (16:9) standard definition using the MPEG-4 codec.

Important Information for Existing Optus D2 Viewers

  • TV viewers will require an MPEG-4 compatible set-top box (STB). Older pre-2012 STBs (e.g. ST Gold) used with the old Optus D2 satellite will not be able to decode our signal. You will need to buy a new box when you point your Optus D2 dish to Intelsat-19.
  • You will need to rotate your LNB 90º anti-clockwise, facing the dish from the front, i.e. if the cable connection on the LNB is at 8 o’clock, rotate the LNB so that it is at 5 o’clock.

VAST (via Optus Aurora Digital)

3ABN International is available on VAST channels 109 and 603, and does not require tuning as the VAST-compliant set-top boxes/TVs do that automatically. If you have purchased a VAST-compliant device and wish to point your dish to the correct location, you will need to point it at the Optus D3 satellite, located at 156° East.

Dish Pointing

To find the general direction to point your dish, we recommend that you visit the Satellite Finder / Dish Alignment Calculator website. Here you enter your location and the satellite that you wish to use, and it will provide the elevation (angle above the ground) and azimuth (compass bearing). You can move the pin on the map to the exact location that you wish to install the dish.

Below are various approximations for locations around Australia and New Zealand for pointing to the Intelsat-19 satellite.

Location Elevation° Compass Bearing° (Azimuth)
Adelaide, SA 40 34
Alice Springs, NT 45 53
Auckland, NNZ 46 325
Brisbane, Qld 55 15
Broken Hill, NSW 44 32
Christchurch, SNZ 39 326
Darwin, NT 47 71
Devonport, Tas 38 14
Geraldton, WA 25 70
Hobart, Tas 37 11
Invercargill, SNZ 37 330
Kalgoorlie, WA 30 62
Karratha, WA 30 72
Melbourne, Vic 41 20
Mt Isa, Qld 52 49
Napier, NNZ 43 321
Perth, WA 25 68
Sydney, NSW 48 13
Townsville, Qld 59 39
Wellington, NNZ 41 324