• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

19 & 43 Power Increase and Antenna Move

S

Santa fe

Has anyone noticed an improvement with the move to the Day Drive tower and power boost? Is it up and running?
On the east side, I see no difference. With indoor aerials, the sets that picked them up before still do and the sets that don't still don't. I can see the top lights of the towers in the antenna farm from my second floor window but I still have trouble with them and channel 8. All the others, including 49 and 23, come in fine. Perhaps it's because they are still VHF?
 
Santa fe said:
Has anyone noticed an improvement with the move to the Day Drive tower and power boost? Is it up and running?
On the east side, I see no difference. With indoor aerials, the sets that picked them up before still do and the sets that don't still don't. I can see the top lights of the towers in the antenna farm from my second floor window but I still have trouble with them and channel 8. All the others, including 49 and 23, come in fine. Perhaps it's because they are still VHF?
Click to expand...
It's not on Day Drive but off of State Rd. and Bruening. I see no difference but am close enough that it wouldn't matter. Here is the RabbitEars map:

 
From the Ridge Circle area. I can tell you the tower was unlit (Wonder if that was legal), half lit and ultimately to the top over the months of June and July. Being the 31st, I'd assume they switched over, but have seen no evidence as I'd think it would have been mentioned on their news.

Possible with the forthcoming addition of Channel 22, they may need more time?

"Fun notes?"
Bruening off State as it was WKBF's tower first in 1968 (With the candelabra holder still attached to this day).

From my area Channel 5, 43/19 (soon?), and 8's tower dominate from left to right. WJW has the funky white lights on rainy or cloudy days.

I did take pictures from my front yard of the old antenna being helicoptered off, and new put in place. (None turned out too good or I'd share).

I'd say that I was disappointed that none of my neighbors were outside to share that moment...But maybe they have lives. :rolleyes: I've watched Cleveland TV/Radio move forward since the 1970's, so it was somewhat a big deal to me to see the transformation (...and them NOT removing the candelabra holder which I thought might happen.)

I do rescan daily for signs of 22, but so far nothing.
 
Santa fe said:
Has anyone noticed an improvement with the move...and power boost? Is it up and running?
Click to expand...
WOIO filed their license to cover the other day, so yes, it is up and running.

I definitely see an improvement where I'm at. With my outdoor antenna, the SNR went up from 31 dB to 35-36 dB, though my reception was always strong and stable with their old broadcast. Reception with indoor antennas has also improved, being a bit stronger and stable as well. One UHF only indoor antenna has been pulling them in at ~31 dB, which was previously around 24-26 dB max with occasional breakups. I didn't expect to see it that high, and without any VHF elements on top of that.

Northcoast43 said:
Possible with the forthcoming addition of Channel 22, they may need more time
Click to expand...
Channel 22 is going to be a part of WTCL-LD's RF 20, so there will be no new actual broadcasts, aside from RF 28, which will be an Akron repeater for WTCL-LD.

skiwest said:
It looks like there is an antenna on one section of the candelabra. A radio station perhaps?
Click to expand...
Nothing is mounted on the candelabra. The closest antenna to the candelabra is WTCL-LD, and that's side-mounted to the tower. Just above it on the opposite side is WHLK-FM.
 
snowdog88 said:
Nothing is mounted on the candelabra. The closest antenna to the candelabra is WTCL-LD, and that's side-mounted to the tower. Just above it on the opposite side is WHLK-FM.
Click to expand...
You are correct. From a distance, it looked like something was mounted there, but when I observed from a closer vantage point, I see it is a side mount.
 
I've also questioned where Channel 19's Parma tower cam is. Always thought it was the Ridgewood Drive (WOIO) antenna but clearly saw the Circle, and I think Padua's football field so wondered if it's now (or always was) on Bruening Drive.

The nostalgia, as Channel 43 studios were close by on Day Drive as well. I think I had to "Luck out" and be there when they were being demolished (1995? And I didn't even know they had moved then.)
 
Santa fe said:
Speaking of old studios, what is the status of the 19/43 move to a new building in Independence?
Click to expand...
Haven't heard anything yet but the following links, one of which is from last year and the other from two years ago, give some insight about the potential move:

neo-trans.blog

Big-name downtown tenants are on the move

Greater Cleveland economic, real estate, development, construction news
neo-trans.blog neo-trans.blog

 
TVWatcher23 said:
Perhaps nothing? FTVLive said a Cleveland station was promised a new studio a couple years ago and now they scapped the plans.
Click to expand...
The Reverse Square lease runs through 2027. Depends on if they could feasibly break the lease early or not.

That being said, I haven’t heard anything from reliable sources about Independence officials rejecting the plans or Gray backing out.
 
skiwest said:
I assume they don't need a new antenna, they just need to fix the one that was recently installed, correct?
Click to expand...

Depends on what's wrong with it. Even if it's a repair and not replacement, if it's serious enough it may have to come off the tower, be shipped back to Maine, and be worked on at the factory.

- Trip
 


Back
Top Bottom