General Information
Es'hail 1 is operated by Eutelsat, one of Europe's leading satellite operators. The spacecraft has successively changed commercial designations: Eurobird 2A, Eutelsat 25B and finally Es'hail 1, reflecting partnership with Qatari operator Es'hailSat. Position 25.0° E is geometrically convenient: an antenna tuned to adjacent positions 23.5° E or 26° E requires minimal repointing. The sathub database records 17 active transponders and 95 channels on this satellite.
Launch and Platform
The satellite was launched to geostationary orbit in 2014 by Proton-M rocket from Baikonur. The Eurostar 3000 platform manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space has proven itself well - dozens of commercial spacecraft have been built on it. The design life is 15 years, meaning commercial operation is planned until approximately 2029.
Coverage Areas and Reception in Ukraine
The satellite generates several regional beams. For Ukrainian viewers, the European Ku beam is of primary practical interest.
| Beam | Coverage | Dish Diameter (Ukraine) |
|---|---|---|
| Ku - Europe | Central and Eastern Europe, Ukraine | 90 cm (west), 90-110 cm (centre), 110 cm (east) |
| Ku - Middle East / North Africa | Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, Maghreb | 75-90 cm |
| Ka - wideband | Europe, Middle East | 1.2 m (eastern Ukraine) |
| Ku - Sub-Saharan Africa | Africa south of the Sahara | 90-120 cm |
In Kyiv and central regions, reliable reception of Ku transponders is provided by an offset dish of 90 cm. In the east - in Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia - the elevation angle is lower, the distance from the beam centre is greater, so it is better to install 110 cm straight away. In practice, when tuning a 0.85 m mirror in Poltava, the signal level remains stable even under dense cloud conditions. Ka band throughout Ukraine requires a dish of at least 1.2 m.
Transponders and Frequency Bands
Es'hail 1 operates in two bands: Ku (10.7-12.75 GHz) and Ka (26.5-40 GHz). Broadcasting is conducted mainly in DVB-S2 standard with QPSK and 8PSK modulation. Transponder symbol rates vary from 2 to 45 Msym/s - from narrowband service channels to wideband broadcast multiplexes. Polarisation is linear horizontal (H) and vertical (V), with circular polarisation (L/R) applied on some Ka-band transponders.
Television Packages and FTA Channels
The satellite hosts Eutelsat HD packages with Arabic-language channels for Middle Eastern and North African audiences, as well as African television channels for the sub-Saharan region. Some transponders contain open FTA channels accessible without a card or access module. To view encrypted packages, a compatible CAM module or receiver with support for the appropriate conditional access system is required. The current list of channels and frequencies is available in the sathub transponder database.
Frequently Asked Questions
What dish do I need to receive Es'hail 1 in Lviv?
For Ku band, an offset dish of 90 cm is sufficient. If the antenna is already pointed at Eutelsat 26A or Astra 23.5° E, repointing is minimal.
Are there Ukrainian channels on Es'hail 1?
Most of the content is aimed at Middle Eastern and African audiences. There are no Ukrainian broadcasters in open access on this satellite.
Which converter is suitable for Ku transponders?
Standard Universal Ku-band LNB with local oscillator 9.75/10.6 GHz. For Ka band, a separate Ka LNB is required - it is not interchangeable with Ku.
How do I check signal level after pointing the antenna?
Use the built-in tuner of your receiver or an external satellite finder. Calculate azimuth and elevation angle using the coordinates of position 25.0° E for your city.