[omishra]

facebook link Title - "There's Still Hope - I am receiving WorldSpace"
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I made the relevant information from below bold.

Post #6Reuben Sylvester wroteon January 2, 2010 at 10:08pm
Hi All,
Worldspace was operating on a 2-satellite platform - AfriStar covering Africa, Parts of Europe, Middle East and Most Part of Western & Central India (including entire South India) and AsiaStar covering most part of Asia. If you look at the satellite footprint maps, you will realize that if you orient your antenna correctly, you should be able to tune into both satellites.
Here is the link to the coverage maps:
NPR: Listening Overseas: WorldSpace
From the AfriStar coverage map, one can understand that almost all of South India, Western, Central and North Western India and Pakistan are covered in the foot print.
AfriStar is located at 21 degrees East Longitude orbital location. Those who understand Satellite Antenna orientation should not have a problem getting your antenna set up. For those who are not technically oriented, nothing to worry, its simple. You may be familiar with the position of your existing worldspace antenna which was to pick up signals from a Satellite more or less over Singapore. So set up your Antenna in orientation with your usual worldspace India position and then turn the antenna in a clock wise direction for about 130 to 140 degrees. Do a band search in this range and you are likely to link on to the AfriStar signal. Try setting up out-doors and then move indoors when you find the most appropriate orientation for your locality. For the techies, the gain received obviously is considerably lower than AsiaStat clocking at between 3.5 and 4db but is perfect for audible reception.
To answer Neena Dayal's query about the receiver, I was one of the first customers of WorldSpace back in 2001 when the service was free to air. They told me that my Panasonic RE WS10 receiver was configured with a universal password to work anywhere in Asia and Africa. I presume there is nothing like Universal Password and all Worldspace radios should be able to pick up both AfriStar and AsiaStar beams. Its all about the antenna orientation.
Please understand that Worldspace satellites coverage areas were mapped earlier on the basis of reception reports received using the patch antennas of the worldspace receivers and the external 5-element yagi antennas. However, in effect, the satellites are more powerful and strong signals were picked up well outside the coverage area by attaching the patch antenna to a dish (received in far off Australia)
Check out this link:
Satdirectory the free-to-air satellite directory - worldspace
Now to the Available Channels:
Currently on AsiaStar, worldspace has turned off all their primary channels with the exception of Sai Global Harmony and the Preview Channel.
Here is the current Channel List on AfriStar:
****Free To Air Channels****
NPR
BBC World
WRN-1
WRN-2
RFI-1 D
RMC MO R
Africa Learning Channel
Preview Channel
Ranin - Arabic Pop
MinZaman - Arabic Classic
BBC - ARAB
BBC - AFRICA
****Pay Channels****
Voyager
WorldZone
Orbit Rock
Bob Rock
The Hop
Up Country
Portion
Flava
Riff
Maestro
CII
Hosanna
Sai Global Harmony
Punch Line
Please note that all the Indian channels included on the AfriStar beam were discontinued after the India Black Out on 31st Dec'09.
For many, this may not be good news but atleast we know that our expensive receivers can be still used.
I am in the process of contacting the Africa offices of Worldspace to try and buy a subscription for the pay channels. I understand that unlike India, they have monthly payment schemes which cost about $5 for the silver package.
Now to the future of worldspace:
The future of worldspace is currently in huge doubt. There are a lot of rumours floating and as with all corporate entities, the information provided is always not a true representation of the reality. The fact is that Liberty Media who runs satellite services in the United States has purchased most part of worldspace (except the India operations). I understand that their purchase includes the Africa operations and that's how its still running. Lets wait and watch for new developments.
By the way, if you were wondering where I am from, the answer is TRIVANDRUM, India
Please feel free to ask questions and I shall try my best to answer them.
WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010 AND LETS KEEP THE WORLDSPACE FLAG FLYING!!

[beejay]

This is good news. By the way I am a with Worldspace from 2001 too with the old Polytron machine. My subscrition ended on 31st Dec 2009. Well, what can I say.

So to do all this I need to subscribe again and I don't think that's possible. Yet I have 90 days grace.

Sheesh, recession has really struck now. I'm hoping that there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Fingers crossed.

[naveenroy]

Damn, damn sad happening!!

I was such a fan of WS - had 2 receivers. One I gifted to my dad to use so that he could listen to his fav Country music all day. Both our subscriptions ran out some months back but I couldn't renew because of some acute financial problem. Was just about to gift my dad his WS renewal back but good I didn't! Will surely miss it.

There is something really about listening to music from a "Radio" rather than from large speakers, computer et al!

[ampere]

Originally Posted by naveenroy

Damn, damn sad happening!!

I was such a fan of WS - had 2 receivers. One I gifted to my dad to use so that he could listen to his fav Country music all day. Both our subscriptions ran out some months back but I couldn't renew because of some acute financial problem. Was just about to gift my dad his WS renewal back but good I didn't! Will surely miss it.

There is something really about listening to music from a "Radio" rather than from large speakers, computer et al!

Same here. I had two and gifted one to my dad. Let me try the 130 degree trick !

[condor]

130 degrees Doesnt work for me. Tried all the way from South to West-of-North-West. Just TDM gone.

[deutscheafrikar]

Originally Posted by condor

130 degrees Doesnt work for me. Tried all the way from South to West-of-North-West. Just TDM gone.

condor I'm thinking youre in bangalore so if you want to point the antenna at the afristar Satellite at = 21 East orbit longitude then
your antenna elevation= 24.6, Azimuth= 263.0 (magnetic compass),

from mumbai it should be elevation= 28.1, Azimuth= 256.1

thats about 141 degrees clockwise of asiastar who's azimuth =114.8 degrees. that is nearly pointing west to west-south west

[omishra]

My attempt with the supplied patch antenna are not successful. I have obstacle of wall in that direction. But sure, I remember to get some signal in that direction for English Channels while I was in Bangalore with use of Yagi antenna. I have that Yagi antenna with me. But sure I need to do this on weekends.

Originally Posted by deutscheafrikar

condor I'm thinking youre in bangalore so if you want to point the antenna at the afristar Satellite at = 21 East orbit longitude then
your antenna elevation= 24.6, Azimuth= 263.0 (magnetic compass),

from mumbai it should be elevation= 28.1, Azimuth= 256.1

thats about 141 degrees clockwise of asiastar who's azimuth =114.8 degrees. that is nearly pointing west to west-south west

You are right.

Additionally, the carrier was earlier AsiaStar beam was 75, 80. Now, for AfriStar beam 2 (which reaches half of india vertically, covering western part), its required to be tuned to 33, 38. Receiver need to learn by pressing learn button for 2 seconds.

[ajitkommini]

Wow this is really interesting stuff. I did a quick google search and found several Azimuth / Elevation calculators available online. I tried this one:

Satellite Azimuth And Elevation Position Calculator

I figured out the Lat / Lon values for my house using Google maps, then put this in with 21.0 as Satellite position. The results showed a correct elevation of around 24.6 degrees, but the azimuth was confusing - showed something like 97 or 98 degrees. Does this mean 360 - 97 i.e. 270? How do I set this using a compass? any ideas?

[ajitkommini]

Originally Posted by ajitkommini

Wow this is really interesting stuff. I did a quick google search and found several Azimuth / Elevation calculators available online. I tried this one:

Satellite Azimuth And Elevation Position Calculator

I figured out the Lat / Lon values for my house using Google maps, then put this in with 21.0 as Satellite position. The results showed a correct elevation of around 24.6 degrees, but the azimuth was confusing - showed something like 97 or 98 degrees. Does this mean 360 - 97 i.e. 270? How do I set this using a compass? any ideas?

Ok, to answer my own question, that one was western hemisphere only apparently. Here is a more universal calculator:

Satellite finder, how to point dish with magnetic north, azimuth and elevation program calculator.

Plugging in my Lat / Lon resulted in Azimuth: 261 and elevation 24.5. This sounds about right i.e. in a westerly direction. Now only problem is how to measure and fix these angles.

[emkay456]

Originally Posted by deutscheafrikar

condor I'm thinking youre in bangalore so if you want to point the antenna at the afristar Satellite at = 21 East orbit longitude then
your antenna elevation= 24.6, Azimuth= 263.0 (magnetic compass),

from mumbai it should be elevation= 28.1, Azimuth= 256.1

thats about 141 degrees clockwise of asiastar who's azimuth =114.8 degrees. that is nearly pointing west to west-south west

In big cities with highrise buildings, technical accurate location pointing is not working with Worldspace. For example I have been receiving Asiastar with my patch antenna pointed to north-east. It even shocked the Worldspace technician when he visited for attending some problem with the set. Therefore it is better to do a 180 degree scan on the western and eastern sides of your home or terrace.
Presently I am getting on Carrier 75 AsiaDev and Preview + SGH. (antenna pointed northeast).

[deutscheafrikar]

Originally Posted by ajitkommini

Ok, . in a westerly direction. Now only problem is how to measure and fix these angles.

Magnetic compass I guess. I use one too. However Azimuth is calculated from true north and the magnetic north is shifting towards Russia at a fast rate

[deutscheafrikar]

if you have the user manual of your old worldspace receiver you will be able to read about the azimuth orientation to catch a signal from afristar. You can use the pakistan readings since they don't mention India but the beam does fall over India

[omishra]

Today I tried with the patch antenna again. The position is almost west and small tilt from vertical. Pressed learn button on remote.

Consider if south is 180 degree, south-west is 225 and west is 270 then keep it at 250-260. Vertically antenna is raised by 2.4-3 inches. (25-30 degrees.)

Signal is OK (2 vertical bars) but all pay channels are locked and as per my previous thread old receivers may receive but I have BPL Diva model and only able to listen free channels. pay channel show locked.

That's all!

[condor]

Which channels did you get, If all pay channels are locked ?

[omishra]

Originally Posted by condor

Which channels did you get, If all pay channels are locked ?

Yes all pay channels are locked and above mentioned free channels are only working.

****Free To Air Channels****
NPR
BBC World
WRN-1
WRN-2
RFI-1 D
RMC MO R
Africa Learning Channel
Preview Channel
Ranin - Arabic Pop
MinZaman - Arabic Classic
BBC - ARAB
BBC - AFRICA