Eutelsat W4, the satellite that beams DStv signals to residents of West Africa, is fast nearing the end of its life span. It was launched on 24th May 2000 from Space Launch Complex 36B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in the USA. According to Wikipedia:
Following its launch and on-orbit testing, it was placed in geostationary orbit at 36° East, from where it provides communications services to Russia and Africa. It carries thirty one transponders, and has an expected on-orbit lifespan of 12 years.
MultiChoice Africa, operators of the DStv service, have big plans for Africa. It is thus only a natural progression that they aim to offer more channels and better service. This is where the new Eutelsat W7 satellite comes in.
Eutelsat W7 is a communications satellite in the W Series, operated by Eutelsat. It will be located at 36°E. It was launched by November 23, 2009 14:19 GMT, and will have a lifetime of about 15 years (up to 2024). W7 will be the most powerful spacecraft in the fleet of Eutelsat. It will be colocated with Eutelsat’s W4 satellite at the 36 degrees East position. Digital broadcasting and direct-to-home video services will be beamed to customers in Russia and sub-Saharan Africa using W7.
See below, two of Eutelsat W7 downlink coverages:
Eutelsat W7's Sub-Sahara African beam, covering much of West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, and parts of Southern Africa. Image courtesy of Eutelsat.com
South African beam, focusing on southern African countries. Image courtesy of Eutelsat.com
So how does Eutelsat W7 fit into the overall growth strategy of DStv? This was the question put to Harry Pratt, Business Development Manager at MultiChoice Africa by VIA (Eutelsat’s magazine) in March 2009:
What are your plans for the future and how will Eutelsat’s W7 satellite, which launches later this year, fit into your strategy?
W7 will give us additional capacity, enabling us to expand the number of channels we offer and to develop our service to countries in the horn of Africa. It will also allow MultiChoice Africa to bring another first to Africa with the delivery of high definition channels to subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa. We have invested more than one billion dollars over the past ten years, in both infrastructure and content, across 48 countries and the introduction of HDTV channels will further enhance our offering, to ensure it is in line with the best operators from around the world.
Since W4 and W7 are colocated at 36.0°E, DStv subscribers would not have to turn their respective satellite dishes but might only have to edit some parameters on the DStv decoder. DStv is yet to release these parameters but I would mess with mine so you don’t have to, and release the data via this blog, later.
Stay tuned for details about DStv’s High Definition TV (HDTV) strategy.
This is my first blog post in 2010. Happy New Year and I wish you the very best in 2010 and beyond. Keep reading this blog for useful information and analysis regarding technology & more, in Africa.
Related posts:
- How to watch free channels on DStv Africa. Channels & Settings.
- DStv HD broadcast service: detailed info about DStv HD PVR decoder
- Free-to-air Ghanaian TV Stations on Satellite
- App spotlight: DStv Guide for Android
- DStv Mobile on your laptop, iPad, iPhone, iPod
- Early review of Multi TV + Satellite information
- e.TV Africa comes to DStv
- CNBC Africa now on DSTV West Africa
- free2view, another free digital satellite TV for Africa
- DSTV Africa: No more SABC Africa, where is CNBC Africa?
How to watch free channels on DStv Africa. Channels & Settings. | Oluniyi D. Oluniyi D. Ajao from Texas, United States
Twitter Updates
p/s i we like to know more
I NEED DSTV FREQUENCY AND SYMBOL RATE
freq=12245 (H) SR=27500
I need free to air channels on dstv.am in ghana
Will we in the Middle East still be able to pick up Dstv with the new W7 satellite
let me get dstv frequency and symbol rate. thank
iam adstv suscriber in nigeria portharcourt i will like to know the new side of dstv at nile sat will it in clud arab channells will it be abble to ad more free to air thanks
I am in Dubai (Middle east). My Mnet has stopped recieving since last night, is that something related to this satellite switch which Oluniyi talked about???
Does anyone in the UAE faced the same issue??
Paul.
Paul, I beleive it is due to the satellite switch. We lost our DSTV too!! Missing Supersport!!Have you found any alternative way to get DSTV in the UAE? My searches have come up empty………..
Anton
DStv has left Intelsat 10 CU band. They are only available on Eutelsat W7 (ku band) with beams on sub-saharan Africa only. You might need a super-sized dish to receive it from UAE.
Hello, my dear i need some information in multichoice really i missed sports channels dear i m in pakistan how can i see tha all channels plz advised me dish position dish size i have a full 10ft dish and ku band LNB’S i m waiting for ur reply
love
Muhammad Junaid Khan
Pakistan
my dear maybe you get 2meter or 3meter it must pan or fibre then you do not need to worry for any sports channels ok every thing is here they are the most reachest company in Africa.so work hard and get the signal. there is big market in middle east as a whole ok, shipping goods is not a problem
Hello. Can you tell me of the new DSTV frequency and Symbol rate for me to change from my old parameters. I am a subscriber and I use a strong SRT4669x decoder. I have lost mnet action channel with the migration to eutelsat7.
Hmn. DStv doesn’t encourage using any decoder aside their own, for their service. You might want to try a blind scan on your Strong decoder.
Hello. Do you Know the transmission parameters of SMART TV?
what size in cm, should the dish be in the UAE to pick up signal for multichoice africa?
I have no idea, but you would need something more than 180 cm.
what are the frequencies of the new channels of crtv ghana
Hi! Pls can you send me the decoder settings for Eutelsat W7. Thanks for your co operation.
crtv transponder is still f 12599 v *255
I need dstv freq n smart card
Call your nearest DStv accredited installer.
thanks for your good works. i followed your instructions on how to add channels and im a good installer of multi tv now. can you please send to me the satellite and transponders to use to get all the CRTV channel. im using strong 4669x
For a start, you should be thinking of sharing some of the money you’re making, with me!
Unfortunmately, I don’t know the frequencies for CRTV’s “50 channels”. I would freely share when I have it.
Hi, can you pls give me code to watch all free nigerian channel, am in south africa
thank u 4 upgrade me.how can i track mbc satlite.
i think multitv 4kids should be showing ben10
Is crtv still transmitting?
Dear viewafrica customer service provider. May you please send me public bouquets settings for my DSD1131 dstv receiver. Since there was an electric cut-off and i lose the channels, i could never restore them. I have tried to use settings for the previous dstv receivers but invain. Please help me. I’ve missed your special channels (which is my soul/spritual food) so much. I am looking forward to your responce. Thank you.
I am lin South Africa,have a DSD990 Multichoice Decoder.Paid regularly monthly subscription and stopped the payment due to exams.Decoder was switched off by multichoice,previously I could still get SABC1,2,3 & Etv+free2air channels and Btv,now I cannot get any channels on tv anymore and would like to get settings for BTv free2air channel on Multichoice DSTV Decoder.
Thank you kindly
Reply
http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2010/07/02/how-to-watch-free-channels-on-dstv-africa-channels-settings/#comment-54419
Go to this page.
Ockert
i want to knw the installation code for dstv.and hw wil i watch super sports3 with free channel?
You cannot watch DSTV super sports 3 free. That channel is their money bag.You have to subscribe.
Please help me to get more channels I’m using eutelsat w3 and eutelsat w4 ,help me with frequencies and symbol rate.from nigeria
hello, CRTV IS NOW ON 36 DEGREE EUTELESAT AS TV3 JUST SCAN YOUR DECODER ON THAT SATELITE
I’m from congo drc,help me to found news free tv of dstv on east africa good day to you
plz plz any body idea i m looking for MULTICHOICE i m v. thankful to u share with me
May i know why the DSTv is off on the strong decoder.
Am in rwanda How can i set mai astrovox decoder 4 geting signal of setanta
I’m looking 4 sport channel on free channels plz help…south Africa
Pls halp me i want u to send crtv freq and dstv fta channels
Hi ever body i’m in somalia i need some information about dstv & how i can watch in this country & i need to know where i can get the frequecy & symbol rate plz it important plz plz plz tell me i need your help thnx all
Does anyone know where crtv is?
I need info on w4 sat pleas send me de info.
I need more info on w4 sat pleas send me de info.
what new freqauncy and symbole rates availble at 68.5E availble im in cape town south africa western cape
Hi.mr my plobrem is to get channel E on frww to air it is posible?
Please help me with frequency and symbol rate of Euronews, fox news
Hi there,i have a srt 4669x connecteed to a dongle to watch dstv for free,but it is mow off ,can someone help me how to fix this thanks
Channels KTN,NTV,CITIZEN,433 usd to be free but from last week they were not free but to my decoder alone please advice.
iam in kenya
how do i set my strong decoder with the avatar dongle to receive dstv signals and pictures?
thank you
Thank you so much for providing such info on fta codes.keep up wth the good job you are doing.from zambia