What is Anik G1?
Anik G1 is a new multiband satellite to be co-located with Anik F1 and Anik F1R at 107.3 It will provide Extended Ku service to Canada (16 transponders all leased by Shaw Direct), C + Ku band service to South America + X Band service covering the Western Hemisphere. Footprints: Anik G1 | Telesat.com
When will it begin service?
Scheduled start Dec 2012/January2013
Why doesn't the Extended Ku band footprint cover all of the US and most of Mexico like F1R/F2?
Under the ITU Agreement, the Extended Ku band is not authorized for satellite only service in North America. Telesat and Shaw have a temporary permit from Industry Canada to operate in this band from 107.3 and 111.1 until 2028.
Will I need to realign my dish?
No
Will I need a new LNBF?
A xKU LNBF is required for reception of G1.
Will I need to upgrade my receivers?
G1 signals will be MPEG4 at a data rate of either 38.8 or 45 mbps. Only 6XX receivers can receive MPEG4 from any of Shaw Direct satellites.
Why will Shaw not deploy DVB-S2 with a high data rate?
A much larger dish is required plus alignment must be much more precise than with MPEG2/4.
I'm outside the footprint of G1. What channels will I lose?
Unlike Bell which has been replacing existing satellites with new ones that have a different footprint, G1 is additional bandwidth for Shaw. No F1R/F2 transponders are being replaced.
2 or 3 of the transponders will be used to distribute additional Canadian OTA locals in standard definition to bring Shaw Direct in compliance with CRTC regulations.
At this time, Shaw Broadcast Services have not stated whether they will use G1 to distribute Shaw Media or Corus HD signals to cable head ends.
It is known that Canadian networks will push the CRTC to require Shaw to distribute 1 HD signal/network/province. This would easily fill the rest of the G1 transponders.
I have a stacked LNBF, will it work with G1?
The xKU non stacked LNBF will be required to receive MPEG4 signals from G1/F1R/F2
Existing non stacked LNBFs can receive MPEG4 signals from F1R/F2.
There is a 75 cm xKU non stacked LNBF
Do I have to pay for the xKU LNBF?
SD is charging existing existing customers $50.
However, if one pays for a MPEG4 channel, they have not.
What will happen to the HD channels on F1R/F2?
They will stay. Shaw will gradually change all HD transponders to MPEG4 (just as F1R, tr1 now is). This will give them 180 to 200 HD channels on F1R/F2 + 80 to 85 on G1.
Will there be an new Extended Ku band satellite at 111.1?
Probably not. Telesat has stated that they will replace F2 in the 2020 to 2023 timeframe with 2 new satellites. One is expected to be a C/ka band, the other Ku/Reverse DBS for Shaw.
Anik G1 is a new multiband satellite to be co-located with Anik F1 and Anik F1R at 107.3 It will provide Extended Ku service to Canada (16 transponders all leased by Shaw Direct), C + Ku band service to South America + X Band service covering the Western Hemisphere. Footprints: Anik G1 | Telesat.com
When will it begin service?
Scheduled start Dec 2012/January2013
Why doesn't the Extended Ku band footprint cover all of the US and most of Mexico like F1R/F2?
Under the ITU Agreement, the Extended Ku band is not authorized for satellite only service in North America. Telesat and Shaw have a temporary permit from Industry Canada to operate in this band from 107.3 and 111.1 until 2028.
Will I need to realign my dish?
No
Will I need a new LNBF?
A xKU LNBF is required for reception of G1.
Will I need to upgrade my receivers?
G1 signals will be MPEG4 at a data rate of either 38.8 or 45 mbps. Only 6XX receivers can receive MPEG4 from any of Shaw Direct satellites.
Why will Shaw not deploy DVB-S2 with a high data rate?
A much larger dish is required plus alignment must be much more precise than with MPEG2/4.
I'm outside the footprint of G1. What channels will I lose?
Unlike Bell which has been replacing existing satellites with new ones that have a different footprint, G1 is additional bandwidth for Shaw. No F1R/F2 transponders are being replaced.
2 or 3 of the transponders will be used to distribute additional Canadian OTA locals in standard definition to bring Shaw Direct in compliance with CRTC regulations.
At this time, Shaw Broadcast Services have not stated whether they will use G1 to distribute Shaw Media or Corus HD signals to cable head ends.
It is known that Canadian networks will push the CRTC to require Shaw to distribute 1 HD signal/network/province. This would easily fill the rest of the G1 transponders.
I have a stacked LNBF, will it work with G1?
The xKU non stacked LNBF will be required to receive MPEG4 signals from G1/F1R/F2
Existing non stacked LNBFs can receive MPEG4 signals from F1R/F2.
There is a 75 cm xKU non stacked LNBF
Do I have to pay for the xKU LNBF?
SD is charging existing existing customers $50.
However, if one pays for a MPEG4 channel, they have not.
What will happen to the HD channels on F1R/F2?
They will stay. Shaw will gradually change all HD transponders to MPEG4 (just as F1R, tr1 now is). This will give them 180 to 200 HD channels on F1R/F2 + 80 to 85 on G1.
Will there be an new Extended Ku band satellite at 111.1?
Probably not. Telesat has stated that they will replace F2 in the 2020 to 2023 timeframe with 2 new satellites. One is expected to be a C/ka band, the other Ku/Reverse DBS for Shaw.
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