Saorview Updates - 2025

No, that test pattern has been there for at least a year at this stage. It alternates between that one and the PT8612 sync test pattern. I don't think it means anything in reality, just unused space.

These test cards are likely to become streaming channels under the planned DVB-I trial. LCN 9 could become RTE Player for example.

Moving from a house into a mobile home. I want to connect my LG TV to Saorview, is there a way I can check signal strength and could any of ye recommend a good indoor aerial? Thanks

https://www.amazon.ie/Mercury-Indoor-Set-Top-Aerial/dp/B000NVR8OW

Try an indoor yagi aerial like this, they are tuned for UHF reception.

Any aerial with a built-in booster will only boost what is received, so if you receive a crap signal or no signal it won't improve it. They can boost a marginal signal.

No one will be able to advise you about the signal inside your mobile home, this will have to be tested by yourself.

If you have good proximity to strong transmitter in your area it might be possible to get a decent signal indoors.

By that date the satellite that carries Saorsat will be 4 years beyond its expected service life of 15 years.

Once that satellite ceases operation so too will Saorsat, there is no replacement .

I haven't heard anything about Saorsat closing.

I assume Saorsat will continue so long as there's satellite capacity for it.

Just to add RTE has said they could soft launch Saorview IPTV via DVB-I in 2027, a replacement for Saorsat in the long term.

Iirc 82 spotbeams, with one reconfigurable beam to make 83 if required.

Throughput is 90-92 Gbps. The next generation geosats have far higher throughputs 500 Gbps/1 Tbsp, Eutelsat Konnect VHTS/Viasat 3 respectively. The interim Eutelsat Konnect satellite has a throughput of about 75 Gbps.

Ka-Sat's residential customer base has probably pretty much migrated to Starlink at this point with the geosats concentrating on commercial customers where latency wouldn't be as important.

Ka-Sat was originally a Eutelsat/Viasat joint venture, satellite/ground network and payload/CPE respectively, but they fell out about 8 years ago over their planned next generation High Throughput satellites. Eutelsat sold their stake in Ka-Sat and ground network to Viasat a few years ago but Eutelsat retained the satellite slot.

So when Ka-Sat is withdrawn from service Viasat no longer has access to the satellite slot. Viasat's new satellite over Europe launches next year but will locate at 13.9 degrees east, a slot leased from Israel iirc.

Since Saorsat was announced I've had an interest in this particular area and the interest was again raised when my SIL was desperate for a decent broadband connection, better than her then 4 km ADSL landline, which was required when COVID hit.

Her company moved everyone to WFH around mid-2020, but there was no option other than Bigblu satellite broadband reselling Ka-Sat.

Demand for satellite capacity was so high during COVID that Saorsat parameters were tightened to move capacity to broadband customers.

My SIL eventually moved to Starlink mid 2023 at half the monthly cost, low latency, higher speed, no priority limits, moved landline to VoIP via Starlink and cancelled Vodafone ADSL broadband. From approx €200 pm to €65 pm for all their broadband/calls, €50 now of course.

Bigblu broadband was purchased by Eutelsat a few years ago for their planned Konnect broadband service but as part of the purchase agreement continue to service Viasat Ka-Sat legacy customers.

When Ka-Sat is eventually switched off all those Saorsat Ka band LNBs will become redundant.

So when Ka-Sat is withdrawn from service Viasat no longer has access to the satellite slot. Viasat's new satellite over Europe launches next year but will locate at 13.9 degrees east, a slot leased from Israel iirc.

Update on this: ViaSat-3 F2 (EMEA) was successfully launched last week. This satellite was originally intended to cover Europe, Middle East and Africa with high throughput Ka Band capacity.

Following a major antenna deployment anomaly that significantly impacted its performance, ViaSat-3 F1 (Americas) launched back in May 2023, is likely to be repositioned over Europe provided ViaSat-3 F2 is successfully deployed over the Americas at 79°W

ViaSat-3 F1 whose payload is fully operational but due to the antenna anomaly is operating at less than 10% of its planned capacity.

So where will it end up over Europe? Its original planned 13.8°E or could they reach an arrangement with Eutelsat for extension of the lease at 9°E and possibly replace the ageing Ka-Sat? Could the hobbled antenna cover the 82/83 existing spotbeams?

The third and final planned satellite of this series, ViaSat-3 F3 (APAC), to cover the Asia-Pacific region, is due to be launched next year.

Yes there will be some new channels coming on air some time next year or the year after and regardless to the test cards. Test cards are there but they won't be there forever