PBS Satellite Service
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PBS Satellite Service (formerly PBS Schedule X) is a 24-hour alternate network from the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) that provided a mixed variety of programming selected from PBS's regular network service. It was multicast by some PBS member stations on an over-the-air DTV subchannel along with their regular programming, or during overnight hours on their main analog signal to provide a second opportunity for viewers to watch or record primetime programming.
As of November 16, 2009, PBS-X can be received unscrambled via satellite on these coordinates:
- On SES Americom AMC-4 (at 101°W), on C-band transponder 16 (4020 MHz, horizontal polarity, in analog), since the 2006-05-31 switch from satellite Galaxy 26 (IA6) (at 93°W)
- PBS-HD on the AMC-21 satellite (at 125°W), on: Ku-band transponder 22 (12140 MHz, vertical polarity, DVB AC3-only), unencrypted.
- PBS-X (east/west) and other secondary PBS services (in standard definition) are also on the AMC-21 satellite as Ku-band transponder 24 (12180 MHz, vertical polarity, DVB AC3-only), unencrypted.
Current satellite and transponder listings are available from LyngSat [1] and other online sources. Note that access to the Ku-band DVB feeds require AC3 (Dolby Digital) audio capability, as there is no MPEG2 audio provided on these transponders. Support for this format varies between FTA receivers and some may require external apparatus to convert this Dolby Digital audio to standard analogue.
[edit] Scheduling
PBS-X is freely and nationally available from AMC-3 at 87°W and AMC-21 at 125°W using free-to-air satellite dishes as small as three feet, and is also offered by U.S. direct broadcast satellite providers to subscribers who lack a local PBS feed.
PBS-X provides two free national feeds in each format, one scheduled for the Eastern U.S., the other, PBS-XP, on a three-hour delay to fit timezone differences for the West Coast.
