Hispasat 30W-5 is a geostationary telecommunications satellite operated by Spanish operator Hispasat at orbital position 30.0° W. The spacecraft is the primary resource for broadcasting to the Iberian Peninsula, North Africa and Latin America. NORAD ID: 37264.
The satellite carries 18 active Ku-band transponders, through which 286 television and radio channels are transmitted. For viewers in Ukraine, the satellite is primarily of technical interest: its beams do not cover the country's territory in standard mode.
History and Launch
The satellite was launched to geostationary orbit in 2012 by Proton-M launch vehicle from Baikonur Cosmodrome. The spacecraft's original designation was Hispasat 1E, later renamed to Hispasat 30W-5 in accordance with the operator's updated naming convention.
The SSL 1300 platform manufactured by Space Systems Loral provides a design lifetime of 15 years of active operation. This platform is widely used in commercial geostationary spacecraft due to its reliability and payload flexibility.
Coverage Zones and Reception Characteristics in Ukraine
Hispasat 30W-5 forms several regional beams oriented towards markets prioritized by the operator.
| Beam | Coverage | Antenna Diameter (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Iberian | Spain, Portugal | 60-90 cm |
| Western European | France, Benelux, United Kingdom | 90-120 cm |
| North African | Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia | 90-120 cm |
| Atlantic / Latin American | Caribbean Basin, Central America | 75-120 cm |
| Ukraine (outside coverage area) | Reception not guaranteed | 1.5-2.4 m (southern regions only, poor quality) |
Receiving signal from position 30° W in Ukraine is indeed a challenging task. The elevation angle for Kyiv is approximately 14-16°, so any obstruction on the horizon in the south-western sector effectively blocks the signal. In practice, when aligning a 1.8 m dish in Mykolaiv even under clear skies, the signal level barely exceeded the acquisition threshold. In Odesa, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions, using an antenna 1.8-2.4 m in diameter and an LNB with noise figure 0.1-0.2 dB, reception of individual transponders is theoretically possible, but signal measurements show that even under dense cloud cover the picture disappears completely.
Transponder Capacity and Frequency Bands
Hispasat 30W-5 is equipped exclusively with Ku-band transponders. A total of 18 active transponders are registered in the database. Broadcasting is conducted in DVB-S2 standard with QPSK or 8PSK modulation depending on the specific transponder and package.
The bandwidth of individual transponders is 33-36 MHz, allowing multiple multiplexes to be accommodated within a single beam. Symbol rates vary from 3000 to 30000 Msym/s depending on service type: broadcasting, corporate communications or broadband access.
Television Packages and Free-to-Air (FTA) Channels
The majority of broadcasting via Hispasat 30W-5 is oriented towards Spanish-speaking audiences of the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America. Hispasat provides capacity to leading Spanish and Portuguese broadcasters.
Key areas of satellite usage:
- Hispasat TV - packages for Spain and Portugal, including regional channels of autonomous communities
- Latin American broadcasts - news, entertainment and sports channels in Spanish
- Communication services for the Caribbean region - corporate and government communication channels
- FTA channels - part of transponders available in open mode without conditional access
The total number of channels in the sathub database for this satellite is 286 entries, including television, radio and technology streams.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can Hispasat 30W-5 be received in Ukraine?
There is no direct coverage. In southern regions with a 1.8-2.4 m antenna and quality LNB, reception of individual transponders is theoretically possible, but unstable and dependent on weather and horizon terrain.
What antenna is needed for reception in Spain?
On the Iberian Peninsula, a standard offset antenna 60-75 cm in diameter is sufficient for most Hispasat 30W-5 transponders.
What broadcasting standards does the satellite use?
DVB-S2 with QPSK and 8PSK modulation. A DVB-S2 compatible receiver is required for reception.
How to point an antenna at position 30° W from Ukraine?
Azimuth for Kyiv is approximately 220-225° (south-west), elevation angle is about 14-16°. Direct line of sight to the horizon without obstructions in this sector is required.