Optus B3/OptusD2 change over news (UPDATED)

I would like to give you an update on the Optus D2 satellite.

Currently, this satellite has successfully completed in-orbital testing at 177 degrees East. It is making its way to its final destination at 152 degrees East where it will replace the Optus B3 satellite.

The satellite is scheduled to be in position on December 3, 2007 and its centre frequency (home frequency) will be operating at :
Freq 12,706.5 GHz
Symbol rate 22,500
Pol Vertical
FEC 3/4

NETWORK SEARCH MUST BE SET TO ON

Once new channels are loaded up in the Set-Top Unit (STU), using remote control scroll up ALL the Channels on the STU till you find your desired channel.

Post the scanning the STU may store previous list of channels in their current channel position and the new channel list added to it. This can be rearranged using organizing services or channel list option on your STU (refer your STU manual to do this).

At this stage your viewers are able to rescan their receivers and acquire this new frequency. This will load a number of new services and also lock in the new home frequency of the D2 satellite – which is the above.

Optus and GlobeCast Australia will commence migrating services onto the D2 satellite once it has completed final destination testing. Transponder 7 and Transponder 5 are scheduled for migration on January 15, 2008. At that time your viewers have two options:

If they rescanned before January 15, their set top boxes will already have the new home frequency installed in their receivers. So, by completing a simple rescan on January 15 for the above parameters they will acquire their service automatically.
If they have not rescanned before January 15, they can simply add in the home frequency details set out above and they will acquire their service.

It is important to note that even if they rescan the home frequency between now and January 15, they will still need to refresh (rescan) the receiver on January 15 once the services are off-air in order to acquire the new satellite frequencies. This is because the new channels and new transponders will not be in operation until January 15.

So, once your viewers’ channel goes off air and the set top box displays "searching for signal", they should complete one of the above options and their channels will return.

This is a most exciting time for all channels. It is relatively straightforward to acquire our new state-of-the-art hybrid satellite without involving any physical work to the satellite equipment.

I hope I have made this as simple as possible to follow but please let me know if you need additional information.

Kind regards
Mark Lobwein

Globecast Australia

Update: Switch-over delayed until the 22nd January 2008.

Posted: 29th November 2007