flysat says goodbye :(

Quote from Turksat Uzmani

https://Flysat.com

The year 2026 brings unfortunate news for those of us who follow the latest information reported on this site and/or collaborate with it.

And it's no surprise, when you read the satellite lists or search the feeds, that the number of transponders with TV/radio services is gradually disappearing, while data services are multiplying.

How many of those who were looking for helpful information, i.e., TV/radio programs, on these satellite sites are interested in data muxes, as the transponders carrying streams are called, for which you need special devices and applications to find out their content? On top of that, they also have complex transmission parameters.

I would go even further and say that the disappearance of FlySat is also a consequence of the disappearance of TV/radio services, as I mentioned, of the significant decrease in the number of satellite enthusiasts in the last ten years, at least. That can be seen in almost every country that had satellite forums, and where you now find only one, at most two, with reduced activity in terms of satellite reception.

That meant that the most passionate/amateurs, who no longer had the opportunity to communicate with their peers in the same country, and whose feedback was infrequent, almost non-existent, migrated to the few forums available, such as "Satellite Community" or the "UK forum".

And we see this right here on this forum, where enthusiasts from many countries and continents have found a welcoming host and a true enthusiast, qwer, with whom they identify in their passion.

Unfortunately, what I said ten years ago(#4) about this downward trend in the number of enthusiasts is proving even more true today, as those who live with this passion come to this forum. At one point, I joked (I should have kept quiet) that those interested in reports should look for them on this forum, not on FlySat, because we update more quickly, such was the intense activity on this forum in its early years. And now, without meaning to, what you truly desire is coming true, and as a consequence, this is also reflected on you.

I don't want to speculate, although that's what I'm doing, but I can't help noticing that even on the UK forum, we are having more and more problems accessing it. Is this because of the large number of visitors or because there are no longer enough resources to maintain it?

Regardless of the causes, the fact that more and more enthusiasts are finding their "home" on these forums is encouraging but also a sign of a paradigm shift in our satellite world, which many of them see, namely the transition from satellite "entertainment" to IPTV, also known as the sadness of the zapist, with hundreds and thousands of programs available, who no longer knows where to stop.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for qwer so he can keep up the "Satellite Forum" so we can meet and exchange information and news about the satellite world.

Technologies change over time.

I came late to the world of amateur radio. When I got my license (CT2JSA) there wasn't almost any interesting communications left.

Also, scanning the different bands, including services (police and fire fighters) had already switched to encrypted digital formats. Only air traffic communication is still available.

Analog satellite disappeared and later most of the DVB-S standard, too.

With the event of broadband internet, the paradigm changed: people watch less TV and more streaming (Youtube, Netflix, Disney, etc.).

A "triple play" contract is made for the internet services and less for TV or phone.

I think it is safe to say that broadband internet "killed" the satellite TV.

BUT: As happend with amateur radio with the mircale of really cheap SDR, which opened a whole new universe of applications and allowed many new enthusiasts to enter the scene, there is a beacon of hope!

1) Despite seeing less services being broadcasted, I still think that we do have more FTA channels in 2026 than 20 years ago. Perhaps I am wrong, but there are still many channels to be received.

2) There seems to be a trend where SDR is entering the universe of satellite reception, as already seen with Es'hail.

3) The new "DATA" services offer a huge field of new research, tests and challenges. Who can deny the fun of decoding DVB-NIP?

What is in fact slowing coming to an end is unfortunately services like Flysat. I think it is partially because of lack of interest, but also because users with average to low-cost equipment can figure it out on their own. It is possible (for example with VMA Stream Reader and suitable macros) to scan ALL satellites for ALL transponders, capture screenshots and parse SDT/PAT/PMT, rendering an automated page with all data (if the macro runs through, without crashing...).

So, I would say: some go but new come.

I do feel sorry for Flysat.

I felt sorry for many other boards, like Irdeto4Free or DXTV that vanished without a trace.

I hope that this board has a growing future and I will do my best to contribute.

I don't believe it, there must be some hidden meaning to this matter.

Das glaube ich nicht, da muss eine tiefere Bedeutung dahinterstecken.

Running a form requires time and money:

1) You need to maintain the server with updates, fix issues, moderate forums, etc.

2) You need to pay the running costs: server rental, eventually you need to pay for traffic, etc. The forum software may cost money, too.

It is obvious that there is no money to be made with such a forum.

Worse than this is the personal time involved. This is time you don't spend with your partner, family, real life friends.

Time has another problem: you get old. And with age you might not feel comfortable handling big dishes, climbing to the roof, etc. Also, your hobbies might change. Instead of caring for your dishes, you get a dog or start traveling.

Honestly, I am (only) 55, but it has already crossed my mind: what I should do with all the accumulated hardware (receivers, field meters, spectrum analysers, etc.). Of course I will keep them for now, but it would be unfair to leave it to my daughter to deal with getting rid of it once I am unable to do so.

Perhaps the announcement is really a cry to see if someone wants to pick up the forum and continues it (I might be wrong). Or, the forum could be absorbed by another forum (this one), so that the accumulated knowledge is not lost.

This kind of loss is what hurt me most when Irdeto4Free was suddenly no longer online: it had thousands of valuable posts explaining technology. All gone forever. The same with DXTV.

I'm sorry for this sad announcement, unfortunately it is the slow decline of this category, in the past the paper section has closed international magazines such as Tele Satellite to which the SATCODX link was linked, in Italy the Eurosat magazine has closed, in Germany interested forums have closed, of which I remember there were 2, one of which was linked to the Sat 24 shop, and certainly many others have closed due to costs and the passing of the founders.
Users and enthusiasts are decreasing, also because most are over 50/60/70 years old.
Young people aren't interested in TV; they watch their programs on a phone screen (which makes my head spin). I also see a lot of things in my work being shot on phones, and I don't like it.
I'm very attached to paper, or large PC screens.
Lastly, even in my work related to this field, things have changed significantly. Satellite systems are no longer installed individually; only medium-sized or large condominiums have a satellite antenna installed by default, and now fiber optic systems are mandatory for new construction.
Unfortunately, technology will migrate towards this field.
We have to thank Qwer and others like him for keeping these online structures afloat. Otherwise, we'd all be alone and independent, without exchanging information, help, and more.
Not to mention:
crazycat
strannik
vma
jpc
deepto
altx
and the other inventors and creators (who I can't remember, but there are so many who have entertained us and who still give us a huge hand in this wonderful hobby, a job in my case
and a pastime and curiosity for others
not to forget all the users who, thanks to them and their commitment, have laid the foundation for this passion.
In conclusion, we will still have about ten years or so to enjoy this fun.
Thanks, Flysat
Antonio

Honestly, I'm worried too. It's a shame someone isn't up to the task of taking over this server. I'm wondering if anyone on the forum has volunteered to continue the Flysat website?
I've run out of antennas, so I won't do it. I had to move and sell the antennas first. :(

He told me almost 2 years ago already trying to sell the site because of a health issue.
With no success until now apparently.
My impression after many years corresponding it was a full-time job to maintain the site.

Quote from torrex12

Honestly, I'm worried too. It's a shame someone isn't up to the task of taking over this server. I'm wondering if anyone on the forum has volunteered to continue the Flysat website?
I've run out of antennas, so I won't do it. I had to move and sell the antennas first. :(

I'm also getting older because I'll be 58 in May, and I could probably help with satellite reports, but I don't have any satellite equipment because I sold out. :(

Ich glaube nicht, dass eine umfangreiche Ausrüstung für einen Betreiber notwendig ist. Allerdings darf es an zuverlässigen Leuten, die regelmäßig Satelliten scannen nicht fehlen.
Nachdem ich noch 10 Jahre älter als torrex12 bin, habe ich Zweifel an der Sinnhaftigkeit ein Projekt neu aufzuziehen.

I don't believe that extensive equipment is necessary for an operator. However, reliable people who regularly scan satellites are essential.
Since I'm 10 years older than torrex12, I have doubts about the viability of starting a new project.

Dear DX-rs!

Maybe little more one years ago, i writted study in the

"Changes in content consumption and their impact on satellite technologies"

topic, analyzing Sat-DX, linear, online and streaming solutions, platforms, and projecting the perceived aspects of the future.

Please accept with interest, i wish you a pleasant reading!

netboard.hu fórum

(The study was written in Hungarian, so you will need to use a translator to read it.)

Best regards
SaTom

Quote from hvdh

My impression after many years corresponding it was a full-time job to maintain the site.

I can understand your impression very well, and it is exactly as you describe it – a full-time job...
I can only express my great respect, appreciation and admiration for this personal achievement and say thank you.
Another ‘satellite’ page will disappear...
=================
Ich kann deinen Eindruck sehr gut nachvollziehen und es ist genau so, wie du es beschreibst - ein Vollzeitjob...
Ich kann nur meinen großen Respekt, Anerkennung und Bewunderung für diese persönliche Leistung ausdrücken und Danke sagen.
Es wird eine weitere "Satelliten" Seite verschwinden...

Quote from qwer

»….
Another ‘satellite’ page will disappear...
=================
Ich kann deinen Eindruck sehr gut nachvollziehen und es ist genau so, wie du es beschreibst - ein Vollzeitjob...
Ich kann nur meinen großen Respekt, Anerkennung und Bewunderung für diese persönliche Leistung ausdrücken und Danke sagen.
Es wird eine weitere "Satelliten" Seite verschwinden...

One more…

I also found Flysat to be the most informative, with the most details.
Most of these sites are run by people who are passionate about it as a hobby.

They are supported by a community that provides the necessary information, but that doesn't take away from the fact that most of the work is done by the administrator, who has to work on it every day because the flow of information never stops.

The only downside to all these sites (Flysat, Lyngsat, King of Sat), in my opinion, is the layout, which seems to be stuck in the 1990s.
The combination of colors, columns, column borders, and often advertisements makes it a busy mess.

One of the better sites in this area was Sathint, which was less up-to-date for European users, but very clear. The site itself no longer exists, but old versions of it are still available via “The Internet Archive Wayback Machine”: https://web.archive.org/web/2020071800…hint.com/europe https://web.archive.org/web/2020072904…thint.com/19.2E

Ideally, there would be a platform where anyone could add and edit information, similar to how Wikipedia works, and where the underlying open source structure and coding would be developed and managed via a platform such as Github.
Once that is in place, it is a matter of maintenance without one single person having to do all the work, every day.

It's all easy to say, of course, because you not only have to find someone who wants to set this up, but also has the knowledge to do so.

But above all, you definitely must have a passion for the hobby.

With a better macro, most of this can be automated with my software (VMA Stream Reader).

The problem is that you need contributors from around the world, since every contributor is limited by the beams he can geographically receive with his setup.

So at the end you need to stitch the contributions into a complete database. This sounds easy but has it's challenges, especially because one single person cannot confirm the validity of all the submissions.

Shame on me, I tried to report "new" transponders to Lyngsat several times, only to get a reply stating I am on the wrong satellite!

This is the difficult part that cannot be automated easily. It requires experience, good equipment to filter obvious false submissions and a network of reliable contacts to check submissions from other regions. Plus time to compile and update everything, deal with sponsors to maintain the running costs, etc.

I think the monthly costs for web space are reasonable, and you can avoid the spam from sponsors.
Data verification is probably the biggest challenge, especially since people are working with uncalibrated LOF on their LNBs.
On top of that, there's the issue of data coming from receivers with "auto" enabled, a persistent problem.

Ich denke die monatlichen Kosten für den Webspace halten sich in Grenzen und man kann sich den Spam der Sponsoren ersparen.
Die Datenüberprüfung ist wohl die größte Herausforderung, zumal Leute mit unkalibrierter LOF ihrer LNBs arbeiten.
Dazu kommen noch Angaben aus Receivern stammend, mit "auto" :301, ein bestehendes Übel.

Oh noooo ! The real DX helper site.

All together we can help to keep Flysat open for the future, maybe with a Paypal donation !! Everyone could donate something.

Please let us know about it......

The problem is not money, but the health condition of Flysat's administrator.
It is also possible to use

https://www.lyngsat.com/

Satbeams - World Of Satellites at your fingertips

Satbeams - Satellite footprints, news and charts

www.satbeams.com

KingOfSat - Annuaire & Zapping Satellite Européen
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