Shaw's Anik F2 outage

[InMontreal]

OTTAWA, CANADA, October 2, 2016 – This evening at approximately 17:00 EDT Telesat’s Anik F2 satellite experienced a technical anomaly that resulted in loss of satellite services to its customers. Telesat is now undertaking to return the satellite to normal operations and will work to restore traffic in an orderly manner to minimize the impact to our customer networks. Telesat is in control of the satellite and all indications are that it is healthy. Although there can be no assurance, we expect it will be returned to service by noon EDT tomorrow (i.e., Monday, October 3, 2016).

https://www.telesat.com/news-events/...k-f2-satellite

Facebook : « It seems like we are experiencing a nationwide signal issue on all of our channels located on our second satellite. Most affected channels are the French stations and most HD versions of English.
We are receiving a huge amount of reports on this matter from everywhere across the country. »
« In the meantime, we suggest that you try to use the SD versions of your channels, since *most* Standard Definition channels are located on our unaffected satellite. »

^^ Or use an antenna for local HD channels.

Facebook comment : « Its interesting because back on Oct 7th of 2011, F2 had a software glitch that forced it to turn towards the Sun until they regained control.....my guess they never really fixed the glitch and its a software update that wrecked it, twice in Oct..... it performed emergency maneouvers....(turns towards the sun to ensure the batteries stay charged) Not Shaws Fault at all...Telesat owns it. »

P.S.: There was no mention of the 2011 outage on this forum. TVViewer succeeded in keeping it quiet ?

[TOM_T]

So what happens if they can"t fix the problem? It's not like they can launch a new sat tomorrow? it takes years to build one and launch one? Are there other sats in space already that are the same as Anik F2 that can take it place?

[InMontreal]

So what happens if they can"t fix the problem?

It's been fixed : https://www.telesat.com/news-events/...k-f2-satellite

F2 has been in service since oct 2004. They probably have a Plan B. There surely have a recently decommissioned satellite in the wasteland orbit they can use.