Digital Transition Answers

Do you have any idea on the overall status of channels getting prepared? Have you heard of any TV stations and the potential for them to not be ready in time?

Hi Jesse,
There are 1,759 full power television stations in the U.S., and as far as I know, all of them are broadcasting a digital signal of some power at this time. I have not heard of any that are still broadcasting analog only. HOWEVER, there are many that have not built their final DTV facilities, and there are many that are still broadcasting on a very low power under a Special Temporary Authority granted by the FCC.
For example, KVHP-DT the Fox afilliate in Lake Charles, La. is broadcasting a low power signal of .2 KW (200 watts) effective radiated power (ERP) on a Special Temporary Authority granted by the FCC. That is a micro signal. For a contrast, our low power local Fox afilliate K36ID in Beaumont, Tx. is transmitting an ERP of 15KW (15,000 watts).
KVHP-DT has a construction permit authorized by the FCC to transmit 1,000 KW ERP. But in their construcion permit extension request, they claim that there is not room in the transmitter building to place both the analog and digital transmitters. Therefore, they are requesting the FCC to grant an extension until after the transition for the final DTV facility. KVHP will turn off the analog transmitter on Feb. 17, 2009 and then remove the analog transmitter from the cabinet, and then install the digital transmitter.
KBMT-DT channel 12 in Beaumont is broadcasting a digital signal on temporary channel 50 right now. They have requested a construction permit extension to continue on channel 50 for 30 to 45 days after the transition to remove the analog trasnmitter from the cabinet, and install the digital transmtter for final DTV facilities on their final digital resting place, channel 12.
The odd thing is that KBTV-DT in Port Arthur needed to find a different tower to broadcast the digital signal from because the analog tower was "severely overstressed" and to weak to support the additional digital antenna and equipment. So they are going to move to the KVHP tower, and their digital transition report states that they will have their full facility up and running by the end of December. They are moving to the KVHP tower in Louisiana... the same location that KVHP claims that they have no room to fit both of their transmitters... I wonder where the KIBTV transmitter is going to go??? Unless they were to build a new transmitter building, then surely they would build it big enough to fit both the KVHP and KBTV transmitters wouldn't they?
Anyway, yeah, there will be a lot of stations that will have a lot of work left to do after the transition. But one thing you can be certain of, full power broadcasting will end on Feb. 17 of next year no matter what... except maybe along the Mexican border if Kay Bailey Hutchison has her way, and the border stations get a reprieve until 2012.

How soon after the transition date, will most stations broadcast their digital signal at full power? I am in the middle between Dayton, OH and Indianapolis. I live in town, there is a lot of trees and buildings around me. I was surprised, when I borrowed some ones digital tuner box, I was able to get some station with rabbit ears, better than I was with analog. So, I am thinking with an outside or inside larger antenna might work and possibly get either Dayton, Oh or Indianapolis, In Channel IN.

Hey Greg,
Sorry it so long to answer your post. i was doing some research on your stations.
Some stations are already broadcasting at their full power. Of course, as you know, some are not. As a general rule, most stations, if they were on a temporary channel, will be up and running at their maximum power within 30 to 45 days after the transition.
However, a granted maximization application gives a station 3 years to build out. It may take some stations that much time due to their financial situations or whatever.
Here are your specifics:
Indianapolis- WISH is broadcasting an effective radiated power of 19,500 watts (19.5 KW) but has an application that has not been granted as of yet to raise the ERP to 22.8 KW. WTHR will revert to channel 13 post transition. They have an application pending to transmit an ERP of 22 KW. They will cease analog broadcasts on Feb, 17, 2009 and take several hours to convert the transmitter to digital, end digital broadcasts on channel 46, and begin digital broadcasting on channel 13 as soon as possible on the 18th. WHMB is broadcasing the full power ERP of 163 KW. WFYI is broadcasting the full power ERP of 200 KW. WRTV is broadcasting an ERP of 898 KW but has an application pending to go to 1,000 KW. WDTI is putting out an ERP of 28 KW, but also has an application pending to go to 1,000 KW. And finally, WXIN is broadcasting the full power ERP of 700 KW.
Dayton- WDTN is broadcasting the full power ERP of 1,000 KW. WHIO is broadcasting the full power ERP of 1,000 KW, but has a modification application pending to place the antenna at the top of the tower. WPTD will move from the out of core channel 58 to the in core channel 16, and will have an ERP of 155 KW. WRTG has a granted construction permit to go to an ERP of 425 KW.
And finally, WKEF is transmitting the full power ERP of 138 KW.
A larger antenna will certainly help bring in the Dayton and Indianapolis stations better, and placing it ourside with a rotor and an antenna mounted pre-amp like the Channel Master 7777 will maximize your reception potential. Good luck, and let me know what you decide and how it turns out, OK.
I am here if you need any more assistance, but I may be out of town for a few days due to Hurricane Gustav. I don't know yet, but we are playing wait and see...

Thanks Marry for all the info. I am just deciding whether to keep my limited basic cable, get directv family package or get an antenna. This explains why I got some Indianapolis stations with just an old pair of rabbit ears. The power out put of the station makes the difference. To bad they couldn't use cell phone towers to relay the digital signal to tvs for people who are way far away from any signal.

Hi Freg,
You are so welcome. I am glad to help out. That is not a bad idea you have. It would take a while to sort things out with the FCC, but a series of repeater stations along a cell phone tower trail would solve a lot of the problems that we are going to have with the loss of analog transmission. It is definately somthing to think about...

Wow Mary!! That was an excellent answer to my question. Do you think there is anyway you can include a link to my converter box reviews page somewhere on your page here about the transition? I am trying to get the word out about the best converter boxes. You can email me at dtvconverterboxes@gmail.com if you are interested in considering it. Thanks! Jesse!

Jesse...

I can definitely attest to one particular box, that seems to sparkle, in comparison to the several that I have had. It's not on the DTV converter box reviews of Consumer Reports, but does rather well. It's not exactly making a perfect picture, but it helps more than other set top boxes. That Converter: TIVAX STB-T8. You see the STB-T9, it's younger brother, at or near the top of the list... but this one had "analog Pass Through", allowing me to see Canadian stations (Windsor/Stevenson/Wheatly, Onterio Yes, even Sarnia, Onterio too) and local "low power" and Class A stations. Yes, there is a difference between the 2.

Note that the Tivax STB-T9 doesn't have "analog pass through." So you have to watch DTV stations on your TV.

However, the link to the converter box listing:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/televisions/digital-tv-converter/ratings/dtv-converter-boxes-ratings.htm

I recently posted it in the "Preparing for D Day" comments section.

I wonder why it made me "anonymous?" It shouls have been "EmmGee-Ohio."

Hi EmmGee,
I don't know why it did that, but I am glad that you were able to establish that it was your post.