austin digital subchannels

[fredcantu]

You could use two antennas (e.g., an AntennaCraft Y5-2-6 pointed at KCWX and a Channel Master 20xx or 4228 pointed at the other stations), and combine them with a VHF Lo-Hi combiner. (The combiner's VHF-Hi side will also pass UHF signals.)

I already combine two antennas, one aimed at Westlake and the other at Elmendorf. I get all the Austin locals and most of SA's full power stations (no KLRN 9 and KSAT 12. VHF has not been kind to real world DTV.)

 

[tripinva]

A transmitter on channel 8, right next door to KTBC on channel 7? Is that really a good idea?

KXAN is 21, KLRU is 22.

- Trip

 

[fredcantu]

Dallas has a channel stretch that goes 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 where 19 and 23 are full powers, 22 is an analog LPTV and the others are low power digitals. DTV has changed the landscape.

 

[Bob E. Nelson]

Dallas has a channel stretch that goes 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 where 19 and 23 are full powers, 22 is an analog LPTV and the others are low power digitals. DTV has changed the landscape.

22 *was* an analog (gone since Thanksgiving 2009). They have a CP granted to flashcut with 10 kW from Milton Tower at Cedar Hill. The only analog left is KZFW on 6, a Franken-FM. Univision may (or may not) still have a tiny low power on 47 in downtown Ft. Worth.

We also have a run of 29, 30, 31 and 32 where 31 is an 8 kW LD (also on Milton). In spite of being wedged between two megawatters, K31GL is surprisingly potent.. Quite a few folks will tell you it's their strongest of the low powers.

 

[dhett]

A transmitter on channel 8, right next door to KTBC on channel 7? Is that really a good idea?

KXAN is 21, KLRU is 22.

- Trip

Those are both full-power stations. An LPTV station adjacent to a full-power station can find itself with an unacceptable level of interference, so mmnassour's concern is reasonable.

 

[mmnassour]

A transmitter on channel 8, right next door to KTBC on channel 7? Is that really a good idea?

KXAN is 21, KLRU is 22.

- Trip

Those are both full-power stations. An LPTV station adjacent to a full-power station can find itself with an unacceptable level of interference, so mmnassour's concern is reasonable.

Yea, that's kind of where I was going. I know that wouldn't have worked at all in the analog universe, but can you get away with a LP adjacent to a full power station in the digital world?

 

[tripinva]

It works fine in most places in the country.

- Trip

 

[KMRD]

With the transition from analog to digital TV, I wonder if there are now allotments for new full-power DTV stations in select markets. If so, could Austin have such an allotment? I'm sure engineering studies are necessary, but wonder if my theory holds water.

 

[fredcantu]

I wonder if there are now allotments for new full-power DTV stations in select markets.

VHF seems to be opening up. :

 

[mmnassour]

I bet KTBC rues the day it went back to VHF 7. ;D

 

[JHBrandt]

they might be thinking of putting other type's of programming on low power channel. i don't know if they can do put different programs on. i believe the owner's of kcwx is from austin, that owned and operated kvc 13 before sailing it to ktbc.

If you're referring to the channel 8 application, it's a Replacement Translator. Assuming it's granted, the FCC will require them to simulcast their main transmitter -- they can't use it for different programming.

A transmitter on channel 8, right next door to KTBC on channel 7? Is that really a good idea?

If you have adjacent channels with overlapping coverage, it's actually best to have the transmitters as close together as possible. That ensures the relative strength of the two signals will be roughly the same for everyone.

Interference from RF 7 will probably reduce the effective coverage area for RF 8 a bit, but KCWX is probably willing to live with that. If the transmitters were separated, there'd be a zone around the RF 8 transmitter where RF 8 overwhelmed RF 7, and the FCC wouldn't have approved the application without a waiver from KTBC.

 

[fredcantu]

As the new guy on the dial you also want to be as close to existing towers as possible to take advantage of all the antennas already aimed in that direction. KCWX knows that all to well with their tower NW of San Antonio and everyone's antennas pointed to the SE.

 

[mmnassour]

Yep...that's a major point, Fred, given where they are now. ;D

When I said "close" in my earlier post, I was simply referring to being adjacent on frequencies to Ch 7. However, it is a big deal to be up on the hill with everyone else as well.