WLEK began broadcasting more informercials on 22.4 a couple of weeks ago, and added a new subchannel 22.5, where they moved the color bars to.
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Latest Area Repack Developments
- Thread starter Channel 83
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WLEK began broadcasting more informercials on 22.4 a couple of weeks ago, and added a new subchannel 22.5, where they moved the color bars to.
WLEK began broadcasting more infomercials on 22.4 a couple of weeks ago, and added a new subchannel 22.5, which is where they moved the color bars to.
As of a few days ago 15.3 and 15.4 (that were duplicating NBC and Cozi on 15.1 and 15.2) appear to be off the air, along with 60.1 and 60.2. I'm getting only 60.3 alone.
WNEU filed an FCC request to remain off the air for at least 30 days while their antenna on the CBS tower is moved up to it's permanent location. That suggests that other CBS tower work may now be in progress.
https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076f9170b21b9a0170e9bb9a5a0d82
However today a filing by WCVB today states they are not confident that repairs made last week to the Cabot St antenna and transmission line shared by WCVB, WBZ, WFXT, WGBX (WBTS-CD), and WSBK, which allowed the stations to return to full power, will hold:
https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076f9170b21b9a0170e8a76c2b08a0
"While the facility has been brought back to full power operations, the licensee is uncertain
about the stability of the antenna and line at this juncture. Following resumption of full power
operations, the facility again began experiencing VSWR fluctuation issues on March 15. Because
there have already been multiple burnouts since this aux antenna was put into service in September
2019 as part of WCVB-TV’s repack project (the aux is currently serving as the station’s post-
transition interim antenna), the licensee is wary about the long term reliability of the line and
antenna. Accordingly, WCVB-TV has asked the tower owner to expedite another climb to perform
another inspection of the antenna and line. To be clear, as of this filing the aux facility is
operational at its full licensed power."
I wonder what happened to this station, WLEK Ch. 22? When it first moved down from NH to Peabody last winter, I received it consistently with two out of four "bars" on my set.
Over the past several weeks, it has become gradually weaker, first down to one "bar", then becoming intermittent and chopped up a couple of weeks later, and for the past week I've seen nothing of it at all.
My set still senses there's something there because it's not giving me the "No Signal" box that pops up if a station goes completely off the air, but just a dark screen, which means it senses it but it's too weak to digitally decode it at all.
I am receiving it, but I believe the signal was better previously. All 5 subchannels have ID "WLEK-LD". 22-1 is "eXtremo". 22-3 is "SHOP LC". 22-2, 22-4, and 22-5 are generic infomercials right now.
I found it, strangely by moving my antenna, an Terk amplified indoor antenna, to a position where it didn't come in before. Still weaker than a few months ago.
But, some other stations that came in well before don't come in well in that position, so I'll have to move it back and sacrifice WLEK.
22.5 was airing "The Lucy Show" from the '60s.
WNEU back on the air from the CBS tower
WNEU is back on the air today - most likely from a new side mount antenna just installed on the CBS tower below the new master antenna. The master antenna installation appeared to have been finally completed last week, since all rigging and temporary supports had been removed. That new master will be used by WBZ, WCVB, WFXT WSBK, and WGBH.
WNEU is back on the air today - most likely from a new side mount antenna just installed on the CBS tower below the new master antenna. The master antenna installation appeared to have been finally completed last week, since all rigging and temporary supports had been removed. That new master will be used by WBZ, WCVB, WFXT WSBK, and WGBH.
What about WGBX/WBTS?
For whatever it's worth...at my location 5 miles SE of Providence, WGBX/WBTS are checking in at 93% out of 100% on my tv's signal strength meter.
On the down side...WNEU is still missing in action. Not terribly surprised since I'm probably in the pattern's null.
I'm assuming WUTF is still on low power...so...no dice there.
Also not surprising is the WGBH VHF signal not making it down here.
In all...I'm getting 61 channels/sub-channels. Too bad 12 of them have to be ION channels.
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For whatever it's worth...at my location 5 miles SE of Providence, WGBX/WBTS are checking in at 93% out of 100% on my tv's signal strength meter.
On the down side...WNEU is still missing in action. Not terribly surprised since I'm probably in the pattern's null.
I'm assuming WUTF is still on low power...so...no dice there.
Also not surprising is the WGBH VHF signal not making it down here.
In all...I'm getting 61 channels/sub-channels. Too bad 12 of them have to be ION channels.
Probably due to the humid warm weather ,reception for me is pretty strong tonight and I'm about 4 miles east of Providence. I'm receiving 77 channels after doing a rescan as opposed to the usual around 66. The channels are: WGBH 2-2, 2-3; WBZ 4-1. 4-2. 4-3; WCVB 5-1. 5-2; WLNE 6-1. 6-2. 6-3. 6-4; WHDH 7-1. 7-2; WJAR 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4; WPRI 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4; WBTS 15-1, 15-2, 15-3 (NEW LX), WLEK-CD 22-1. 22-2, 22-3, 22-4, 22-5; WFXT 25-1, 25-2, 25-3, WFUT 27-1, 27-2, 27-3, 27-4, 27-5; WPXQ 28-1, 69-1, 69-2, 69-3, 69-5, 69-6; WCRN-LP 31-1, 31-2, 31-3, 31-4, 31-5, 31-6; WSBE 36-1, 36-2; WSBK 38-1, 38-2, 38-3, 38-4, 38-5; WGBX 44-2, 44-3, 44-4; WWDP 46-1, 46-2, WWJE 50-1, WRIW-CD 51-1, WLVI 56-1, 56-2; WBPX 58-1, 68-1, 68-2, 68-3, 68-5, 68-6; WNEU 60-1, 60-2, 60-3; WMFP 61-1, 62-2, WNAC 64-1, 64-2, 64-3, 64-4; WUNI 66-1, 66-2, 66-3, 66-4.
This is the first time I have received WLED and WCRN (since they moved their transmitter to Quincy).
I'm going to assume you have the luxury of outdoor reception. Being an apartment dweller, I'm limited to indoor reception. However...considering the restriction, I don't think I'm doing that badly with a setup of two ancient Radio Shack twin bow-tie units used in tandem, and an an even older Radio Shack VHF Dipole featuring 42 inch elements.
Perhaps by this time, the humid warm reception has probably faded out, but I did a re-scan this morning anyway.
In addition to last night's reception, I'm now picking up WGBH-1/WFXZ/WGBX-1 (unwatchable due to the endless pixel storm) But...WUTF and WNEU are still missing, even though I had reception of both BEFORE the re-pack.
As for WLEK, WWDP/WMFP, and WCRN...they are still absent.
Also...strangely enough...my tv is not recognizing 15.3 in spite of the re-scan.
My antennas are on my second floor in the house. But your reception is pretty strong in an apartment. And I have never had reception of WGBH-1/WFXZ/WGBX-1 since the repack last August.
By coincidence, my antennas are in my second floor apartment. I'm kinda fortunate in that the reception here is better than my previous apartment (it was third floor but a worse reception area).
Well...so much for favorable reception conditions.
WGBH-1/WFXZ/WGBX-1 have disappeared...and so has WBPX
WPXQ/WLWC are on the border of disappearing. And...the tv is still not recognizing 15.3
My reception is back to normal with 70 channels; but the great reception due to the humid hot weather will come back again for us soon. And of course I always get reception from Channel 83 and 99.
It must be due to great antenna location...
Now getting 73 channels here in Somerville up from 64 last week, Terk indoor antenna in a second floor apartment.
WGBH 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 - 2.1 still doesn't seem to be full strength.
WBZ 4.1, 4.2, 4.3
WCVB 5.1, 5.2
WLNE 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4
WHDH 7.1, 7.2
WJAR 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4
WBTS 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 - 15.3 is new, NBCLX network.
WLEK 22.1, 22.2, 22.3, 22.4, 22.5 - very weak, requires antenna position where nothing else comes in well.
WFXZ 24.1 - still doesn't seem to be full strength
WFXT 25.1, 25.2, 25.3
WUTF 27.1, 27.2, 27.3, 27.4, 27.5
WCEA 26.1, 26.2, 26.3, 26.4, 26.5, 26.6, 26.7
WCRN 31.1, 31.2, 31.3, 31.4, 31.5, 31.6 - first time receiving since moved to Quincy, but very weak
WSBK 38.1, 38.2, 38.3, 38.4, 38.5
WGBX 44.1, 44.2, 44.3, 44.4 - 44.1 still doesn't seem to be full strength
WWJE 50.1
WLVI 56.1, 56.2
WDPX 58.1 - lots of pixelation despite fairly strong signal
WNEU 60.1, 60.2, 60.3 - 60.1 (Telemundo) and 60.2 (Xitos) are back after many months absence
WUNI 66.1, 66.2, 66.3, 66.4
WBPX 68.1, 68.2, 68.3, 68.4, 68.5. 68.6 - lots of pixelation despite fairly strong signal
WGBH 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 - 2.1 still doesn't seem to be full strength.
WBZ 4.1, 4.2, 4.3
WCVB 5.1, 5.2
WLNE 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4
WHDH 7.1, 7.2
WJAR 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4
WBTS 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 - 15.3 is new, NBCLX network.
WLEK 22.1, 22.2, 22.3, 22.4, 22.5 - very weak, requires antenna position where nothing else comes in well.
WFXZ 24.1 - still doesn't seem to be full strength
WFXT 25.1, 25.2, 25.3
WUTF 27.1, 27.2, 27.3, 27.4, 27.5
WCEA 26.1, 26.2, 26.3, 26.4, 26.5, 26.6, 26.7
WCRN 31.1, 31.2, 31.3, 31.4, 31.5, 31.6 - first time receiving since moved to Quincy, but very weak
WSBK 38.1, 38.2, 38.3, 38.4, 38.5
WGBX 44.1, 44.2, 44.3, 44.4 - 44.1 still doesn't seem to be full strength
WWJE 50.1
WLVI 56.1, 56.2
WDPX 58.1 - lots of pixelation despite fairly strong signal
WNEU 60.1, 60.2, 60.3 - 60.1 (Telemundo) and 60.2 (Xitos) are back after many months absence
WUNI 66.1, 66.2, 66.3, 66.4
WBPX 68.1, 68.2, 68.3, 68.4, 68.5. 68.6 - lots of pixelation despite fairly strong signal
15.3 is actually on the WNEU signal, 60.3 is on the WBZ signal, and will probably go away soon. 60.3 was a temporary SD Telemundo feed, while WNEU was off the air.
2.1, 24.1, and 44.1 are on the WGBH RF ch 5 signal, still using only 6.7 kW. While WGBH was approved in the fall to go to 34 kW, they never did it, despite repeatedly telling viewers they had the required transmitter modules on hand and were about to raise the power - and let the FCC permit to do so expire in April.
WBPX / WDPX had moved from Needham to Hudson to a few months ago, and will probably never get any better.
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