The DTV Debate

[ohioszo]

Mea Culpa … is that the right Latin term? There is a problem with local stations, for our OP. Those stations on a VHF Channel have lower wattage since the changeover on June 12th. Because of that, they are not viewable by everyone with antennas. And, the large outdoor TV antennas help. I don’t know this myself, it is in a Toledo Blade Article.

WEAK SIGNALS AT WTOL AND WTVG
Switch to digital TV making reception impossible for some
By KIRK BAIRD
BLADE STAFF WRITER

For months, Mike Wilkinson and his family of six have enjoyed digital television, including an improved picture and sound that made their 20-year-old TVs seem new again.

So when the Friday morning deadline of the analog-to-digital changeover approached, the 45-year-old Old Orchard resident wasn’t worried.

“I had no fear. I had the [converter] box and nothing was going to change,” Mr. Wilkinson said.

That’s why he and hundreds, possibly even thousands, of others were surprised to discover reception of two local channels - WTOL-TV, Channel 11, and WTVG-TV, Channel 13 - missing.

Mr. Wilkinson tried everything he could to pick up the broadcasts of 11 and 13, including rescanning for the network affiliates’ signals several times, and buying more expensive indoor antennas.

Nothing worked.
That’s because the reception problems aren’t with his antenna or converter box. They’re not even with his TV.

The trouble, say chief engineers at WTOL-TV, Channel 11, and WTVG-TV, Channel 13, is with the stations’ power levels.

Prior to the Friday digital transmission changeover, Channel 11 broadcast its analog VHF signal at 316,000 watts, and its digital UHF signal on channel 17 at 735,000 watts. Channel 13 broadcast at 316,000 watts for its VHF analog signal and 795,000 watts at its digital UHF channel 19.

Both stations were using the UHF channels as temporary placeholders for their digital signals, while the stations’ analog signals occupied their home channels, 11 and 13. Once analog transmissions ended nationwide, WTOL and WTVG moved their digital signals to 11 and 13.

Because the FCC limits the strength of digital transmissions to prevent interference with neighboring stations, Channel 11’s VHF digital signal is now 16,900 watts, and Channel 13’s is 11,200 watts, which is up from the 3,500 watts the FCC originally granted. WNWO-TV, Channel 24, and WUPW-TV, Channel 36, are UHF stations, and did not have to downgrade their broadcast power.

The limited transmission power of WTOL and WTVG, coupled with the digital signal’s biggest weakness - an inability to travel long distances, which is analog’s strength - has made reception of the two stations impossible for some area viewers who rely on over-the-air antennas. Cable and satellite subscribers are not affected.

toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090618/NEWS16/906180388/0/NEWS16

IMO, the box within our TV box, was likely a problem with the station itself, too!

 

[marytk]

If people in Toledo have trouble I will never see those channels again. There were times when Toledo 11 came in better for me that Detroit 62 (before digital)

I am still missing Detroit Fox 2 and Channel 20. There are instructions on the old 2-0 telling how to rescan because channel 2 was “moved” I did everything they said and still no Fox 2. Oh well at least it seems I am not t he only one

 

[ohioszo]

Time-Warner is regularly sending us advertisements for $9.95/month cable … and I have no idea why this topic interests me …

 

[Aramis]

One other thought: expect radio to go digital soon, too… once the FCC realizes that they can license 3x as many radio stations in the same blocks, and thus make more money for the feds.

 

[ohioszo]

Fostoria’s local radio station, is now sports only … wfob.com/