myAFN.net - Bulletins

AFN Fact Sheets

2025-04-17T06:43:20.180

AFN Television Services

AFN Direct to Sailor Television Services

AFN Satellite Radio Services

AFN Go Internet Audio Services

AFN Areas of Services - By Region

AFN Areas of Service - By Country

History of AFN

PARENTAL GUIDELINES & V-CHIP INFORMATION

2016-12-22T10:13:52.743

AFN is dedicated to providing our customers with the highest-rated programming available in the United States but we also realize that some of the shows airing on AFN are not appropriate for all audiences.

Our viewers are in the best position to determine whether or not a program is appropriate for themselves or their family members. We encourage our customers to use V-chip technology, available on most televisions manufactured after the year 2000, to set up viewing access for family members.

Information on V-chip technology is available on the Federal Communications Commission website.

The TV Parental Guidelines website explains the TV rating system and other information you may find useful in setting up viewing restrictions within your own home.

TROUBLESHOOTING HELP

2025-07-15T07:07:02.277

If you live on a military installation and are having television reception issues please contact the entity operating the cable system on your installation for help with signal reception issues.

If you live on the local economy and receive your AFN programming directly by using an AFN-capable signal decoder and satellite dish, the documents below contain settings guides for the various satellite footprints around the world and troubleshooting guides to help you solve AFN reception issues. If you have completed the troubleshooting tips in the attached documents and are still having issues, please contact the AFN Helpdesk and ensure you have your decoder’s unique identification numbers, found on a label on the decoder, before you contact the Helpdesk.

For Cisco decoders include the UA and TID numbers
For AFN7500HD decoders include the S/N and NSC ID numbers
For Harmonic decoders include the S/N and CAS ID numbers

AFN Helpdesk
Commercial (951)-413-2339
Email: sathelpdma@mail.mil

Use the guide below to determine the decoder settings guide you need to properly set up your decoder to receive the AFN signal.
Your Location	Satellite	Band	Transponder	Decoder Settings Guides
Europe, Central and Southwest Asia¹	Eutelsat 9B	Ku-band	Wide Beam	Cisco	AFN7500HD
Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Eastern China¹	Koreasat 5A	Ku-band	NE Asia Beam	Cisco	AFN7500HD
Atlantic Ocean Region (four-channel service)³	Intelsat 35e	C-band	Global	Cisco	AFN7500HD
Indian Ocean Region (four-channel service)³	NSS-12	C-band	Global	Cisco	AFN7500HD
Pacific Ocean Region (four-channel service)³	Horizons 3e	C-band	Global	Cisco	AFN7500HD

¹	For customers using a 60 centimeter (24 inch) to 1.5 meter (60 inch) diameter satellite dish.
²	For customers using a 3 meter (9 foot) or larger diameter satellite dish.
³	For customers using a 1.2 to 1.5 meter diameter satellite dish to acquire the three-channel Direct-to-Sailor programming package. Because of the unique signal compression used on the DTS service you can use a 1.2 to 1.5 meter satellite dish at most locations worldwide to acquire a quality signal.

Troubleshooting Guides

The Signal Acquisiton Guide steps you through the process to determine the satellite dish size you need at your location and the azimuth (left-right) and elevation (up-down) settings for you properly align your satellite dish to acquire the signal.

The AFN7500HD User Manual gives you the complete operations manual for the decoder including how to set specific features and the use of the DVR.

The AFN7500HD Decoder Hard Drive Reformatting Instructions provides instructions on how to format the hard drive on your AFN7500HD set top box and return it to factory settings.

The Cisco D9865 Decoder Troubleshooting Guide gives you general troubleshooting tips covering the most-often reported issues with this decoder model.

The Cisco D9865 Operating System Update Guide gives you step-by-step instructions on how to update the operating system software. If your Cisco 9865 decoder is working now you do not need to use this guide.

The Cisco D9865 Modulation Troubleshooting Guide gives you step-by-step instructions on how to change the decoder settings for the satellite dish modulation settings. If your decoder is working now you do not need to use this guide.

CHANNEL GUIDE FOR DECODER USERS

2023-10-03T11:59:20.677

Please download the AFN Program Guide for a complete channel listing by satellite and service.

HOW DO I REGISTER/DEREGISTER MY DECODER?

2023-10-04T07:28:40.233

HOW DO I REGISTER/DEREGISTER MY DECODER?

All AFN-capable decoders must be registered prior to use by visiting myafn.net and clicking the "manage my decoder" tab. Only authorized audience members identified in the AFN decoder terms of use found at https://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil/terms/ are allowed to own or operate an AFN-capable signal decoder. Violations of the terms of use may result in a permanent AFN decoder registration ban.

Before you register a decoder you will need information on your decoder.

· For Cisco decoders you will need the TID and UA numbers, which are found on the bar code label on the back of the decoder.

· For AFN7500HD decoders you will need the NSC ID and S/N numbers, which are found on the bar code label on the bottom of the decoder.

· For conditional access module cards used in commercial-grade cable headends you will need the CAS ID and S/N numbers, which are found on the conditional access module card.

If your internet browser returns a certificate error when accessing the website, please choose to ‘continue to the website' to complete the decoder registration.

All DoD-affiliated individuals must supply their APO/FPO zip code during registration. All State Department-affiliated individuals must supply the mission's DPO+4.

You are required to supply a valid email address during the registration process and we recommend you use your official .mil or .gov email address. AFN will send you a link in a confirmation email and you must click on that link to complete the registration process.

Decoder registrations are good for a period of one year and you must access the registration portal annually to update your information and request reauthorization of the unit. All registrations are verified against the Defense Enrollment and Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) database and your registration may be delayed if your DEERS information is incorrect. Visit https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/ to verify your DEERS information is correct.

AFN will not and cannot accept scanned copies of US government issued identification cards as a means to verify eligibility.

Contact the AFN Broadcast Center Helpdesk if you need assistance with the registration process.

AFN Broadcast Center Helpdesk
Technologists
Commercial: 951-413-2339
Email: sathelpdma@mail.mil

HOW CAN I GET AFN?

2025-07-15T05:58:48.443

American Forces Network programming is available to the authorized audience outside of the United States, its territories, or possessions. Access to AFN television services is possible by using an AFN decoder and satellite dish like DirecTV® customers in the States, by connecting to an installation cable TV distribution system (1), or using the AFN’s streaming and video-on-demand application, AFN Now.

Military Family Housing and barracks typically have coaxial cable outlets already in place and if the AFN signal is distributed using that infrastructure, you may get service by connecting your TV to the coaxial cable wall outlet. If that doesn’t work, you may need to buy or rent a set-top box from whoever operates the cable system.

Entities operating cable systems are authorized to charge nominal access fees, which are used to maintain the distribution system. AFN policy stipulates all AFN television programming must be available on the lowest tier of any multi-tier cable television system.

If you live on the local economy, ensure your landlord allows a satellite dish to be installed on the premises before purchasing and installing one. There must be a direct line of sight between the satellite dish and the satellite carrying AFN programming. Buildings, terrain, trees or other obstructions in the line of sight will interfere with signal reception.

Deploying units should purchase AFN7500HD decoders from the military Exchange service or through GSA Advantage. Satellite dishes may be purchased anywhere providing the low-noise blockers’ frequency range allows it to receive the AFN signal.

AFN decoder settings guides for all satellites carrying AFN programming are available on our website, www.afn.mil, under the “troubleshooting help” like on the main page.

All AFN decoders must be registered via the "Manage my decoder" tab on our website and individuals registering the decoders must pass DEERS authentication during the registration process.

NOTE: AFN no longer provides equipment or engineering support for units seeking to obtain AFN.

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(1) Installation cable TV distribution systems are owned and/or operated by entities under contract with a U.S. government entity, typically the military Exchange service. AFN doesn’t control these systems or the non-AFN content that may be present or available on them.

DTS Radio

2025-06-16T05:59:17.850

The DTS (“Direct to Sailor”) radio service features four AFN Radio channels providing a dedicated news and information channel, and three music channels.

AFN Radio schedules can be found at - https://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil/Radio.aspx

Pacific Ocean Region

Atlantic & Indian Ocean Region

Ch. #

Service

Ch. #

Service

220

221

222

223

AFN The Eagle

AFN The Voice

AFN Gravity

AFN Country

320

321

322

323

AFN The Eagle

AFN The Voice

AFN Gravity

AFN Country

PARENTAL GUIDELINES

2008-07-08T12:32:42.440

Informed Viewing Choices

The TV ratings system exists to help parents make informed decisions about what they want their children to watch or not to watch on television. The ratings system applies to all TV programs on AFN® except news and sports programming.

TV-Y (All Children -- This program is designed to be appropriate for all children.) Whether animated or live-action, the themes and elements in this program are specifically designed for a very young audience, including children from ages 2-6. This program is not expected to frighten younger children.

TV-Y7 (Directed to Older Children -- This program is designed for children age 7 and above.) It may be more appropriate for children who have acquired the developmental skills needed to distinguish between make-believe and reality. Themes and elements in this program may include mild fantasy or comedic violence, or may frighten children under the age of 7. Therefore, parents may wish to consider the suitability of this program for their very young children. Note: For those programs where fantasy violence may be more intense or more combative than other programs in this category, such programs will be designated TV-Y7-FV. For programs designed for the entire audience, the general categories are:

TV-G (General Audience -- Most parents would find this program suitable for all ages.) Although this rating does not signify a program designed specifically for children, most parents may let younger children watch this program unattended. It contains little or no violence, no strong language and little or no sexual dialogue or situations.

TV-PG (Parental Guidance Suggested -- This program contains material that parents may find unsuitable for younger children.) Many parents may want to watch it with their younger children. The theme itself may call for parental guidance and/or the program contains one or more of the following: moderate violence (V), some sexual situations (S), infrequent coarse language (L), or some suggestive dialogue (D).

TV-14 (Parents Strongly Cautioned -- This program contains some material that many parents would find unsuitable for children under 14 years of age.) Parents are strongly urged to exercise greater care in monitoring this program and are cautioned against letting children under the age of 14 watch unattended. This program contains one or more of the following: intense violence (V), intense sexual situations (S), strong coarse language (L), or intensely suggestive dialogue (D).

TV-MA (Mature Audience Only -- This program is specifically designed to be viewed by adults and therefore may be unsuitable for children under 17.) This program contains one or more of the following: graphic violence (V), explicit sexual activity (S), or crude indecent language (L).