Amos 17 occupies orbital position 17.0° E and is operated by Israeli company Spacecom. The satellite serves a wide arc from Central Europe to Sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. For antenna owners in Ukraine, this position is technically accessible with standard Ku-band equipment without any complications.
On board are 13 active transponders in C and Ku bands. The total number of relayed channels is 199. The SSL 1300 platform with a design life of 15 years ensures the satellite's operation until approximately 2034.
Launch and technical base
The satellite was manufactured by SSL (Space Systems Loral) on the SSL 1300 platform - a proven commercial basis for heavy-class geostationary satellites. Launch took place in 2019 from Cape Canaveral aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. The deployment proceeded nominally. Amos 17 took position 17.0° E, effectively replacing Amos 6, which was lost in a fire at the launch pad in September 2016.
The SSL 1300 platform is well known in the industry for its reliability. Dozens of commercial satellites worldwide are built on this platform, confirming the soundness of the choice for long-term commercial operation.
Coverage zones and reception in Ukraine
The satellite forms several regional beams. For Ukraine, the primary interest is the European Ku-band beam.
| Beam | Coverage | Antenna diameter |
|---|---|---|
| Ku - Europe | Central and Eastern Europe, Ukraine | 60-90 cm |
| Ku - Middle East | Israel, Turkey, Arabian Peninsula | 60-75 cm |
| C - wide zone | Africa, Europe, Middle East | 180-240 cm |
| Ku - Africa | Sub-Saharan Africa | 75-120 cm |
In practice, when setting up a 0.85 m dish in Kyiv and central regions, the signal level is quite sufficient for stable reception. In the western part of the country, the signal is noticeably stronger - a 60-75 cm dish can be used there. In the east and south, a 90 cm antenna is better: according to signal measurements under dense cloud conditions, the signal margin is significantly reduced, and a smaller antenna may experience glitches. The elevation angle for different regions of Ukraine ranges from 25-35 degrees.
Transponders and frequency bands
Amos 17 uses 13 active transponders in two bands. Ku is oriented towards broadcasting and broadband internet. C-band is intended for corporate networks and backbone channels - it is more resistant to rain attenuation, which is critical for the African market.
The modulation standard is DVB-S2 with support for QPSK and 8PSK. This allows broadcasters to flexibly balance between throughput and noise immunity depending on reception conditions. The symbol rate of transponders varies according to the specific package. Current parameters for all transponders are available in the frequency database on this page.
Television packages and open channels
On board, 199 channels from various broadcasters are relayed. Some of them operate in open FTA mode and are available without a conditional access card - a DVB-S2 compatible receiver and correctly set transponder parameters are sufficient.
The main areas of use are African regional packages, Middle Eastern broadcasting, individual European channels and corporate video channels. For encoded packages, the appropriate card from the specific broadcaster is required. A complete list of channels with parameters is available in the transponders section below.
Frequently asked questions
What antenna is needed to receive Amos 17 in Ukraine?
For most regions, 75-90 cm in Ku-band is sufficient. In areas with weaker signal or unstable weather conditions, 90 cm is recommended.
Are there open FTA channels on Amos 17?
Yes. Reception requires a DVB-S2 compatible receiver and correctly entered transponder parameters.
What LNB is suitable for Ku-band?
Standard Universal Ku-band LNB with local oscillator 9750/10600 MHz. For C-band, a separate C-band LNB and antenna from 180 cm is required.
Until what year will Amos 17 operate?
Design life is 15 years from launch in 2019, approximately until 2034.