Duo LNB - Background

Background

The Astra 23.5°E orbital position was established as a major source of direct-to-home (DTH) broadcasts for central and western Europe with the launch of Astra 3A at the end of 2007, and some channels moved there from other satellite positions (in particular 19.2° east) so viewers, who were unable to erect two dishes to receive transmissions from both positions, had to choose between them.

In particular, the Czech CS Link and Slovak SkyLink networks moved to Astra 23.5°E, and the Dutch Canal Digitaal launched a new thematic bouquet at 23.5° east in October 2007. The Dutch regional broadcasters all moved to Astra 23.5°E in September 2007, to be lost to viewers without access to the new satellite position.

The Duo LNB was introduced to enable a single satellite dish to be used to receive all the channels from 19.2° east and 23.5° east.

The ASTRA2Connect satellite internet service also operates from 23.5° east.

In May 2010 the Astra 3B satellite was launched to the Astra 23.5° east position to release the Astra 1E and Astra 1G satellites previously in that position for use at other orbital positions. The launch had been much postponed due to technical problems with the Ariane 5 launch rocket. In February 2011, Bulgarian DTH operator Satellite BG launched a package of more than 60 standard definition channels and 12 high definition channels using three transponders on Astra 3B, further increasing the appeal for viewers to receive both satellite positions.