FAQ

No, ASTRA cannot provide reception equipment. Unless the broadcaster provides the equipment as part of a subscription to pay-TV channels, you should purchase all the equipment you need from a dealer in your country. >Find a dealer in your country

The price of the equipment to receive ASTRA channels varies with the sophistication and additional features of the equipment, where it is bought, and from whom, so it is not possible to give a price here. You should “shop around” to get the best value for your money but the low-end models available are highly affordable, and you may be able to buy the equipment you need second-hand.

No, only an antenna designed for satellite signal reception can successfully receive ASTRA channels. Although there are some alternative antenna designs available (such as flat plate antennas), a TV aerial will not work.

It may well be possible to redirect an existing dish to use it to receive ASTRA channels. Success depends on the size and age of the dish. A local dealer will be able to advise you about this. >Find a dealer in your country

Up to 100 metres with high-quality cable. The length can be increased if a special amplifier ("line driver") is used.

There are currently 16 ASTRA satellites in use above the Earth

All the ASTRA satellites operate in the geostationary orbit, some 36,000km above the Earth’s equator. ASTRA groups the satellites in five clusters, at the ASTRA 19.2°E, ASTRA 28.2°E, ASTRA 23.5°E, ASTRA 5°E and ASTRA 31.5°E positions.

Within the cluster of satellites at each of ASTRA’s orbital positions, the satellites are kept separated from one another by several kilometres. To a satellite dish on the ground, they appear to all be in the same position in the sky.

The ASTRA satellites require constant monitoring to ensure they are operating properly and are kept in the correct position in space. The can be moved using tiny jets under command from the ground. Monitoring and control is undertaken at ASTRA’s headquarters in Betzdorf, Luxembourg

ASTRA 1A was the first ASTRA satellite launched, in 1989 but it is no longer in use (it is still in orbit but was retired in 2004). The oldest ASTRA satellite still in use is ASTRA 1C, launched in 1993.

The ASTRA satellite most recently launched is ASTRA 1M, which was launched in 2008 and is in operation at the ASTRA 19.2°E position.

ASTRA regularly commissions and launches new satellites to replace those reaching the end of their serviceable life and to expand the capacity and coverage for channels via ASTRA. When the deployment of a new or replacement satellite affects viewers, this is announced ahead of time through a wide range of media.

The cost to build each ASTRA satellite is enormous, as they are made to operate in an extremely harsh environment 24 hours/day for years on end without any intervention. The cost of launching the satellites into orbit is also huge. So, each satellite costs in excess of US$100m.

Like all machines, satellites can develop faults or even fail. ASTRA satellites have experienced problems in the past that have prevented them from operating at full capacity, and in one case to cease functioning. Fortunately, ASTRA operates a policy of providing in-orbit backup for its satellites and this means that in the event of a problem, capacity on another satellite in the same position can be instantly switched into operation to maintain the service.

The ASTRA2Connect broadband by satellite service provides a two-way high- speed internet connection without the need for any landline or terrestrial connection. Data to and from the Internet is delivered via an ASTRA satellite so you can have a broadband connection wherever you are.

>Learn more about ASTRA2Connect satellite broadband

An ASTRA2Connect broadband connection requires a special satellite dish and LNB outside, and a satellite modem box inside, which connects to your existing PC or local area network, and is used like a landline broadband connection.

ASTRA2Connect can only be purchased from a local service provider, who will be able to provide you with advice, installation (if required), and after sales service.
Please contact:
In the UK: BeyonDSL Satellite Broadband
In Ireland: ABB Telecom

Your local service provider will set his own pricing scheme for ASTRA2Connect, usually made up of the initial cost of the equipment pack and a flat fee monthly subscription.
Please contact:
In the UK: BeyonDSL Satellite Broadband
In Ireland: ABB Telecom

We are not able to give out the individual contact details of staff members. If your question for an ASTRA staff is not answered within these pages, please submit an enquiry to ASTRA and it will be answered by the most relevant department. >Contact ASTRA

Brochures and leaflets on ASTRA and ASTRA services may be obtained, where available, from your local ASTRA office or dealer. >Find a dealer in your country

SES ASTRA and its parent and sister companies are always on the lookout for new employees and interns to join our skilled and motivated workforce. You can find a list of current vacancies and/or submit your personal and professional details for future opportunities at the SES Career Centre. >Visit the SES Career Centre

Shares in ASTRA’s parent company, SES SA, are traded on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. >Visit the SES SA website

The satellite signals are very small and can be stopped by other buildings, leaves on trees, or even a single sheet of paper, so a dish will not receive signals through the walls or roof of a home and must be installed externally.

It is possible to install an ASTRA yourself. However, unless you have experience of aligning a satellite antenna, the confidence and skills to fix the dish in position (probably at height), and access to the necessary signal measuring equipment, we would recommend that you use a professional installer. >Find a dealer in your country

ASTRA cannot give advice on specific installations. However, the ASTRA Installation Assistant can provide you with the exact angles to set the dish for reception at your location. >Visit the ASTRA Installation Assistant

Unfortunately, we cannot hope to know all of the satellite installers across Europe. However, you can select an installer according to recommendations from friends and neighbours, their advertisements, their membership of a trade organisation (if applicable in your country) or by speaking to some of their customers. >Find a dealer in your country

There are thousands of different TV and radio channels broadcast from the ASTRA satellites. You can discover the names, language and subject matter of all these channels using the ASTRA Channel Guide. >Visit the ASTRA Channel Guide

Altogether, the ASTRA satellites provide coverage across all of Europe, further east into Russia and south to parts of North Africa. Reception of some ASTRA channels is available anywhere within this area where a satellite dish can be aimed at the satellites. >Visit the ASTRA Channel Guide

Wherever you live within the coverage zone of the ASTRA satellites, you will have many channels available to you. Individual satellites provide for reception over different areas, and the ASTRA Channel Guide can be used to list the particular ASTRA channels available within your country. >Visit the ASTRA Channel Guide

It is not possible to receive an ASTRA channel outside of the coverage zone of the satellite broadcasting that channel. However, channels may extend their reach with an additional transmission from another ASTRA satellite, and new satellites may have an enlarged coverage zone, so you may be able to receive the channel in the future.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to move an ASTRA satellite or change its broadcasting coverage to satisfy one viewer outside of the coverage zone, as this would deny reception to many other viewers currently within the zone.

Some of the channels broadcast via ASTRA are encrypted and paid for by subscription to the broadcasters. Others are free-to-air and may be received without any ongoing payment. The ASTRA Channel Guide indicates which channels are paid for and which are free. >Visit the ASTRA Channel Guide

Application for a subscription to a channel or package of channels is usually made to the broadcaster, and you will find details and prices on the broadcaster’s website. You cannot subscribe to a channel package through ASTRA.

With today's satellite receivers you can only receive one programme at a time. This means that you cannot record one programme and watch another at the same time. Development work is in hand to allow more than one programme to be received at the same time. Digibox manufacturers have already demonstrated satellite boxes with dual receivers. This makes it possible to receive two different programmes at the same time (and view them on separate television sets). It will also be possible to view one programme while recording another. For encrypted programmes, the programme provider must make this facility available via the viewing card.

The procedure to follow to set up a satellite receiver to watch all the channels available varies between different receiver makes and models. You will find full instructions for using your receiver in the instruction manual that was supplied with the equipment.

If you cannot find the solution to your problem in the equipment’s instruction manual, you may be able to get further help from the manufacturer, the supplier or the broadcaster (if the equipment is specified or recommended by the broadcaster).