Thor 3 occupies orbital position 4.0° W and is operated by Telenor Satellite Broadcasting. The satellite was commissioned in late 1997 to provide digital television broadcasting to Scandinavia, the Baltic region and Northern Europe. The 4.0° W position has remained a classic "Scandinavian" slot on the geostationary orbit for decades, from which Telenor distributed Norwegian, Swedish and Danish packages.
Launch and technical platform
Thor 3 was launched on 23 December 1997 from the Kourou Space Centre in French Guiana on an Ariane 4 launch vehicle. The satellite was manufactured by French company Alcatel Space, platform Spacebus 3000 with a design life of 15 years. NORAD assigned the satellite catalogue number 25358.
It was on Thor 3 that the first Scandinavian DVB packages with Conax encryption were deployed. The Spacebus 3000 platform proved itself well on the geostationary orbit and completed its entire planned service life without significant failures.
Coverage zones and reception in Ukraine
The main beams of Thor 3 are formed for Scandinavia and the Baltic region. The Central European beam partially covers the western part of the continent, but Ukraine falls only on the extreme edge of the radiation pattern. The elevation angle of the satellite above the horizon in Kyiv is extremely low, which significantly complicates stable reception.
| Beam | Primary coverage | Antenna diameter for reliable reception |
|---|---|---|
| Scandinavian (primary) | Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland | 0.6-0.9 m |
| Northern European | Baltics, Poland, northern Germany | 0.9-1.2 m |
| Central European | Central Europe, western Ukraine | 1.2-1.5 m |
| Periphery (eastern and southern Ukraine) | Kyiv, east, south - extreme zone | 1.5 m and larger |
In practice, when setting up a 1.2 m dish in Lviv or Uzhhorod, the signal is reliably received provided there is an open horizon in the west-northwest direction. In Kyiv and in the eastern part of the country, even a 1.5 m antenna does not guarantee stable reception, especially when measuring signal under dense cloud cover or rain.
Transponders and frequency band
Thor 3 operates exclusively in the Ku-band. The sathub database records 11 active transponders at position 4.0° W. Broadcasting is conducted in DVB-S and DVB-S2 standards with QPSK modulation, linear polarisation - horizontal and vertical. A standard universal Ku-LNB is sufficient for reception.
The bandwidth of the transponders is designed for regional broadcasting with moderate throughput, sufficient for SD and HD television transmission in package mode.
Television packages and free-to-air channels
The main content of Thor 3 consists of Scandinavian television channels as part of Telenor packages. Norwegian, Swedish and Danish broadcasters traditionally use this position for regional distribution. Some transponders carry free FTA channels of Northern European broadcasting, accessible without a conditional access card.
The sathub database lists 13 channels at 4.0° W. To view encrypted Scandinavian packages, a receiver with Conax support and a valid Telenor subscriber card is required.
Frequently asked questions
Can Thor 3 be received in Ukraine?
Technically yes, but with limitations. In western Ukraine, a 1.2-1.5 m antenna gives acceptable results. In Kyiv and in the east, a dish of 1.5 m or larger is needed, and even then stable signal is not guaranteed due to the low elevation angle.
Which converter is suitable for receiving Thor 3?
A standard universal Ku-LNB with local oscillator 9.75/10.6 GHz and linear polarisation. No specialised equipment is required.
How many transponders are active on Thor 3?
The sathub database contains 11 Ku-band transponders at position 4.0° W.
Which channels are available free-to-air on Thor 3?
Some Northern European broadcasters transmit in free-to-air mode. The current list of FTA channels is in the transponder table on the satellite page on sathub.