31.4 in DFW now has Retro TV

[arnoldevns]

Noticed today that K31GL 31.4 has flipped to Retro TV. Love that!

 

[julesism]

BRRRRIIILLLLIANT!!!!!

 

[LibertyNT]

Just jumped on here to Say that!
Too Cool!
Now if only 31.3 Could Be The Cool TV Again 8)

 

[Bob E. Nelson]

Noticed today that K31GL 31.4 has flipped to Retro TV. Love that!

I hope someone will pick up AMG-TV, though. They do run some ``interesting'' B movies (as well as C, D, E and F movies).

Also, FWIW, K31GL is the weakest of the MAKO stations at my Frisco location. Even the little 300-watter (KHPK/3) comes in better. They're all on the same stick from Cedar Hill. the same one used by KUVN. Two of the other MAKO LP stations from that tower, KJJM/34 and KATA/50, blast in here with signal quality readings at parity with the full power facilities.

 

[arnoldevns]

That really depends on where you are. Here in Plano I have no trouble getting K31GL.
I cannot get KHPK at all.

 

[Megapsycle]

I hope someone will pick up AMG-TV, though. They do run some ``interesting'' B movies (as well as C, D, E and F movies).

Me too. I like the movies that I had become accustomed to on 31.4. I will certainly give RTV a try though.

Also, FWIW, K31GL is the weakest of the MAKO stations at my Frisco location. Even the little 300-watter (KHPK/3) comes in better. They're all on the same stick from Cedar Hill. the same one used by KUVN. Two of the other MAKO LP stations from that tower, KJJM/34 and KATA/50, blast in here with signal quality readings at parity with the full power facilities.

Comparing 31.4 here at a "60" to 13.1 KERA's "65" on my Sony TV's signal meter. (Doesn't say much about KERA's signal in NW Dallas.)

 

[Bob E. Nelson]

Also, FWIW, K31GL is the weakest of the MAKO stations at my Frisco location. Even the little 300-watter (KHPK/3) comes in better. They're all on the same stick from Cedar Hill. the same one used by KUVN. Two of the other MAKO LP stations from that tower, KJJM/34 and KATA/50, blast in here with signal quality readings at parity with the full power facilities.

Comparing 31.4 here at a "60" to 13.1 KERA's "65" on my Sony TV's signal meter. (Doesn't say much about KERA's signal in NW Dallas.)

Anyone reading this board (beside Trip Ericson way over in Virginia) have access to a Sencore Spectrum Analyzer?

If so, it sure would be interesting (at least for we RF geeks) to see how the signals from D/FW measure. Most of us just have consumer ATSC consumer-grade tuners which have less than stellar diagnostics. A Sencore might explain why I get 1 MW KXTX/39 at 92 on my signal quality meter -- the same for 15 kW KJJM/34 and KATA/50 at the same azimuth.

 

[fredcantu]

A Sencore might explain why I get 1 MW KXTX/39 at 92 on my signal quality meter -- the same for 15 kW KJJM/34 and KATA/50 at the same azimuth.

I'll offer an educated guess. I'll bet the digital TV tuners have an automatic gain control that boosts the weaker signals. What you see on your signal meter is probably measured after the boost, so the signal levels have been equalized for you.

 

[LibertyNT]

K31GL has a usable signal Up here in McKinney, Measures a 10 out of 100.
The pending move to 33 has them actually losing a little bit of coverage though.

 

[DallasGal]

Hi all, just saw this. I haven't looked at this board much since KLDT was sold after waiting months to get RetroTV.

I'm unable to get a signal for 31.4 or even 31.1 and I live in NE Dallas. Can someone more knowledgeable in this area tell me if there is any kind of antenna (other than outdoor) I can get to pick up the signal? Also I read of the pending move to 33. Will that be KDAF as I can get that signal fine. Any info would be appreciated.

 

[arnoldevns]

I'm unable to get a signal for 31.4 or even 31.1 and I live in NE Dallas. Can someone more knowledgeable in this area tell me if there is any kind of antenna (other than outdoor) I can get to pick up the signal? Also I read of the pending move to 33. Will that be KDAF as I can get that signal fine. Any info would be appreciated.

Not sure what kind of antenna you're using now, but something with a good UHF section is what you need. It also needs to be oriented toward Cedar Hill where the transmitters are located. I can get K31GL in my second floor office with an indoor UHF antenna. It also depends a bit on where you are. I would suggest you look at antennaweb.org for good information on where the stations are in relation to your location and what kind of antenna you will need.

As for the move to 33.. I know I won't say this as well as others.. but let me try to explain.
Digital TV stations send out a code that puts a display channel on your screen. That does not
mean that the particular channel number you see is the one they are broadcasting on.
For example, KFWD is broadcasting on channel 9, but their display channel is 52.1.
Fox 4's digital broadcast is on channel 35, but their display channel is 4.1.
There are all kinds of FCC rules about what display channel you can use for your station.
This display channel system was set up for a variety of reasons, not the least of which
was the fact that it would be a huge hardship for stations if they had to ditch the channel
numbers they had used for many decades. This allows them to keep that channel number
no matter where they move on the dial for digital purposes.

So, KDAF is not actually on 33. It's on 32, but their display channel is 33.1.
When K31GL moves to 33, they will still have display channels of 31.1, 31.2, 31.3, 31.4.
They would not be allowed to use 33.x numbers. Good example: KODF-LP is actually broadcasting
on channel 27, but their display channel is 26.1. Meanwhile, KDFI is on channel 36 but has a display
channel of 27.1, the number it's been known by for its nearly 30 year existance.

I hope that explains it.

 

[eskipper411]

Now, if 31.3 can go back to TheCoolTV.

 

[Megapsycle]

Now, if 31.3 can go back to TheCoolTV.

Ain't THAT the truth! I agree 100%!

 

[eskipper411]

Here's what my rendition of K31GL would have

31.1 RTV-(affiliate)
31.2 .2 Network
31.3 TheCoolTV (Native home on K31GL
31.4 Radar

And a power increase and a app for becoming a Full Timer. Because come on, they've been LP for 20 years now, it's time to grow some cojones and become 1000 kW instead of 8 kW.

 

[tripinva]

The FCC is not accepting applications for full-service stations, and I doubt Mako wants the extra paperwork obligations that come with being full-power.

- Trip

 

[JHBrandt]

Hi all, just saw this. I haven't looked at this board much since KLDT was sold after waiting months to get RetroTV.

I'm unable to get a signal for 31.4 or even 31.1 and I live in NE Dallas. Can someone more knowledgeable in this area tell me if there is any kind of antenna (other than outdoor) I can get to pick up the signal? Also I read of the pending move to 33. Will that be KDAF as I can get that signal fine. Any info would be appreciated.

For an indoor antenna you could try a Terk HDTVa. The UHF section looks kind of like a little Christmas tree, and it has rabbit ears for VHF (you'll need the rabbit ears for WFAA/8 and KFWD/52). Fry's has these for under $50 (should be even cheaper, but what can you do).

 

[arnoldevns]

Here's what my rendition of K31GL would have

31.1 RTV-(affiliate)
31.2 .2 Network
31.3 TheCoolTV (Native home on K31GL
31.4 Radar

And a power increase and a app for becoming a Full Timer. Because come on, they've been LP for 20 years now, it's time to grow some cojones and become 1000 kW instead of 8 kW.

.2 Network has never launched and may never launch.

 

[fredcantu]

The .2 web site looks like it hasn't been updated since March 2009.

http://www.dot2network.com/

 

[TexasTom]

The FCC is not accepting applications for full-service stations, and I doubt Mako wants the extra paperwork obligations that come with being full-power.

Nor would they want to deal with the resultant spectrum auction for their channel, even if the FCC were accepting applications for new full-service stations.

When they do accept those applications, they'll go to the highest bidder -- and Mako will get no preference just because they hold an LPTV license.

 

[MikeShannon914]

it has rabbit ears for VHF (you'll need the rabbit ears for WFAA/8 and KFWD/52). Fry's has these for under $50 (should be even cheaper, but what can you do).

Oh no...I thought I had this thing figured out! WHY do 8 and 52 need rabbit ears?? I can seldom get either one, but did for a while, then it changed. So these days, it's 8 sometimes, and 52 never. I'm missing some "Book'em Dano" every day now.