What is the latest on Nimiq 4? I thought it was suppose to be launched in the spring. My searching of this forum and the internet, only mention that. I can't find any news on it being launched or delayed. Does anyone know the latest on this satellite, and when BEV will be using it? Thanks.
What is the latest on Nimiq 4?
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New Telesat satellite could face delays
Published: Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Troubles at a Russian launch site could push the flight of a new Nimiq satellite into 2009, increasing pressure on Telesat Canada and its U.S. owner.
However, a few sites are listing September/08 as a possible launch date for Nimiq 4. Hard to know if that's a guess or a scheduled launch date. See http://www.flysat.com/launches.php.
-Mike
Published: Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Troubles at a Russian launch site could push the flight of a new Nimiq satellite into 2009, increasing pressure on Telesat Canada and its U.S. owner.
However, a few sites are listing September/08 as a possible launch date for Nimiq 4. Hard to know if that's a guess or a scheduled launch date. See http://www.flysat.com/launches.php.
-Mike
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yeah , I saw October 2008 somewhere in the internet but I can not warantee if it was a guess or a schedule.
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N4 won't make much difference anyway. All it will do is replace N2 and the junkyard satellite at 82. That will make the service more reliable and allow EV to start using MPEG4 but little else. EV is a long way from deploying MPEG4 due to the large number of 9200s and 6100s still in use. N2 will be freed up but is probably needed at 91 to replace the junkyard sat there. The big difference will be when N5 is deployed, giving EV 16 extra transponders at 72.7. That is scheduled for 2009 but could be pushed back.
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It's quite likely they'll switch to 8PSK once Nimiq 4 is operational, so I would say it will make some difference.
-Mike
-Mike
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I believe that N4 will add some capacity. Nimiq 2 lost power to some of its transponders shortly after its deployment. I don't have a setup including 82 at home but I know a few friends a while back were missing a few transponders on 82. Maybe that isn;t the case anymore with the junkyard sat from DTV helping out N2. Does anyone receive all 32 transponders on 82 or are a few still at 0%?
They are all there, again...
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8PSK is not supported by 6000s and there are still a few of those in use. I suspect that EV will go straight to MPEG4 + 8PSK when they decide to switch formats. I can see this happening in stages. People who sub to seasonal sports packages may see MPEG4 first. Then possibly people with other other premium services such as TMN, SC and MC. HD on N5 will most likely be MPEG4 from the start. The 'Nets' could stay in MPEG2 for some time if EV wants to avoid the cost of receiver upgrades.
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BeV will probably run a "double" system (or close to it) for a while: MPEG-4 with 8PSK on one and today's system as a backup for those cases with not working cards and/or receivers until replaced. Somewhere half way during this transition, as the bandwidth advantages of 8PSK will start to show, BeV can switch everything over to the new satellite including whatever old MPEG-2 is left...
But my guess would be this is at least 6 months away.
But my guess would be this is at least 6 months away.
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I've been hearing that for 2 years now.
I'm guessing not until after N5 is launched. That was planned for 2009 but I am predicting a launch delay until 2010. That also assumes that the deployment of N4 and N5 are 100% successful. That's not a sure bet.
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If N4's role is different depending on whether N5's launch is a success - most definitely.
If this happens and in the meantime no changes are made to MPEG2/QPSK/Nagra2, there could be very few customers left by the time the system is secured...
BEV currently has 4 satellites, all with less than stellar health. Should one (or more) of the existing sats fail, N5 would become nothing more than a replacement.
I also am willing to be that N5 (as long as it makes it to 72.5) will be 100% MPEG4 from day 1.
I also am willing to be that N5 (as long as it makes it to 72.5) will be 100% MPEG4 from day 1.
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IIRC, DirecTV has 16 of the transponders on N5. EV will have 16.
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Dish, not Direct TV.
-Mike
-Mike
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I find this explanation the best I've seen re: the issue of signal strength, modulation, error correction and how they influence each other...
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=577848&postcount=114
Only time will tell what exactly N4 will use...
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=577848&postcount=114
Only time will tell what exactly N4 will use...
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Will Nimiq4 be "more centered" on Canada, and less so on the USA? I don't see a business reason to have a footprint that includes much more than Canada (other than re-use by another company later in the bird's life). I'm thinking Bell isn't particularly officially interested in US gray-market accounts, or are they?
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