Why Astra 19.2°E Is Europe's #1 Satellite Position
Operated by SES, Astra 19.2°E is the most popular satellite reception position in Europe. It carries thousands of television and radio channels serving audiences in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, and beyond. The position's popularity comes from its combination of strong signal coverage across Europe and the sheer volume of channels — including major German public and commercial broadcasters, French channels, and a large range of international services.
Satellites at 19.2°E
The 19.2°E position is served by several SES Astra satellites working together as a collocated cluster:
- Astra 1L, 1M, 1N, 1KR — The core Ku-band broadcasting cluster
- Astra 3B — Additional capacity at the adjacent 23.5°E position, sometimes included in multi-satellite setups
All primary channels are in Ku-band, requiring a standard universal LNB (9.75/10.6 GHz).
Coverage and Dish Size Requirements
Astra 19.2°E has an excellent signal strength across most of Europe:
- Germany, Austria, Switzerland: 50–60 cm dish is sufficient
- France, Benelux: 60–75 cm recommended
- UK and Ireland: 80–100 cm for reliable reception
- Spain, Portugal: 90–120 cm required
- Scandinavia: 80–100 cm in southern regions, larger further north
Key Transponders on Astra 19.2°E
| Frequency (MHz) | Polarisation | Symbol Rate | Notable Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10,743 | Vertical | 22,000 | ARD Das Erste, ZDF, ORF |
| 11,053 | Vertical | 22,000 | RTL, Sat.1, ProSieben |
| 11,464 | Vertical | 22,000 | VOX, kabel eins, RTL II |
| 11,836 | Horizontal | 27,500 | Canal+ France (encrypted) |
| 12,070 | Horizontal | 27,500 | Various FTA and data services |
| 12,552 | Vertical | 22,000 | Sport and lifestyle channels |
Channel assignments change regularly. Use a current transponder database for the latest information.
Types of Channels Available
Free-to-Air (FTA) Highlights
Astra 19.2°E carries a large number of unencrypted channels, particularly German public and commercial television:
- German public broadcasters: ARD Das Erste, ZDF, and the ARD regional channels (NDR, MDR, WDR, BR, etc.)
- Austrian public TV: ORF 1 and ORF 2
- Commercial German TV: RTL, Sat.1, ProSieben, VOX, kabel eins, RTL II, DMAX
- French and other European channels (some FTA, some encrypted)
- News channels: n-tv, welt, Euronews German
- Children's channels: KiKA, Super RTL, Nick
Pay-TV Services
- Sky Deutschland: Sports, movies, and entertainment packages (requires Sky subscription and smart card)
- Canal+ France: French premium channels
- Various niche encrypted packages for sports and adult content
How to Scan for Channels on Astra 19.2°E
- Ensure your dish is aligned to 19.2°E (azimuth and elevation vary by location — use a satellite calculator).
- In your receiver's installation menu, select or add a satellite entry for Astra 19.2°E.
- Run an automatic scan or blind scan — the receiver will detect all active transponders automatically.
- If some channels are missing, try adding the key transponder frequencies listed above manually, then run a scan from each one.
- After scanning, sort your channel list and set up your favourites.
Multi-Satellite Reception with Astra 19.2°E
Many European households point their dish at 19.2°E while also wanting to receive Hotbird 13°E or Astra 28.2°E. This is possible using a multi-LNB bracket (holding two or three LNBs at different angles on the same dish) combined with a DiSEqC switch. This setup gives access to thousands of channels from multiple satellite positions without a motorised dish.