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Channel 38 HD Question

R

Retro

My mother just bought a new HD converter box and is unable to get channel 38 on it. How strong is their signal? Are they planning to increase it at all? Thanks for your help!

Retro
 
Where in the area are you? Also the boxes convert a digital signal for an analog TV. They do not handle HD.
 
WSBK-TV 38 is broadcasting their digital signal at only 145 KW, and I have not heard yet that the power will be increased. Depending on the part of Rhode Island you're in, you may pick up the signal, and your chances increase if you have an antenna like Antennas Direct DB4 or Channel Master 4221 or better outdoors or in the attic. WFXT-TV 25 is at only 78 KW (but has a CP to increase that to 780KW). I'm east of Providence and can pick up both stations with no problem with the DB 4 antenna. And in comparison, other Boston stations currently have their digital stations at higher power: ch 2 - 700kwl; ch. 4- 825 kw; ch. 5- 625 kw; ch. 7- 948 kw; ch. 44 - 500 kw; ch. 56 - 550 kw; ch. 68 - 300 kw.
 
While Skynet's suggestion works good for him, it won't work for a lot of people. Amplified antennas increase noise and every signal including the DTV ones. Receivers front ends can only take so much, and the noise in a lot of situations will kill the receivers. Skynet lives in a relatively RF free area, and is free and clear. Be careful with any antenna marked as "amplified". You're better off with antenna height , directionality and gain than amplification.
 
Bottom line is that you won't know if an antenna will work for you unless you try it. I gave you a suggestion that rates 4 out of 5 stars by consumers. So most people are happy with the result. If it doesn't solve your reception problem, nobody is going to stop you from returning the item and getting a refund. Simple as that.
 
Thanks for the info everyone! I had my suspicions that both stations were not operating at the highest power. Now I know for sure. I guess if things do not improve by Feb 2009 I will look into the new antenna as well.
 
Just remember that if you do choose an antenna make sure you get one that will receive VHF as well. Even though most HDTV signals will be on the UHF frequency, certain channels like WHDH will revert back to it's original channel number of 7. So for those unfortunate people who have an antenna that is only made to pick up UHF signals, they arn't going to be happy when they no longer get Channel 7 anymore. The antenna that I recommended gets both UHF and VHF. So you'll want one like that.
 
I had to buy a new antenna for my in-laws. Without the convert the VHF signals were fair. Now those signals are great, but 25 and 38 are pretty bad. With the new antenna they come in better, (less signal drop).
 
mrfish67 said:
What programming does WSBK offer in HD at this time?
Click to expand...

Nothing other than those just mentioned ("Wheel" and "Jeopardy!"), AFAIK right now. I'm sure that that will rectified in due course.

Back to DTV. Honestly, personally I would have preferred that DTV would have been a UHF only operation. It would have made things simpler to use only one antenna. But, on 2/17/09, WHDH/7 will go back to 7, WMUR/9 will go back to 9, WENH/11 will go back to 11, WNAC/64 will go to 12 and WPRI/12 will stay on 13. On the UHF side (in no particular order), WCVB/5 will stay on 20, WBZ/4 will stay on 30, WSBK/38 will stay on 39. WFXT/25 will stay on 31, WUTF/66 will move to 27, WUNI/27 will stay on 29, WSBE/36 will stay on 21, WNEU/60 will stay on 34, WGBH/2 will stay on 19, WGBX/44 will stay on 43, WJAR/10 will stay on 51 (haven't seen much of them lately). WBPX/68 will stay on 32. WWDP/46 will move to 10. WZMY/50 will stay on 35. WPXQ/69 will stay on 17. WLWC/28 will stay on 22 and WLNE/6 will stay on 49.


I'm sure I missed one or two of the full-powered stations.

No doubt, the current power levels will not be sufficient enough to provide solid coverage equal to that of the old analogs. Expect significant power increases within a few months time AFTER transition. Without an outdoor antenna, your chances of getting a solid 24/7 signal will be iffy at best. I've got a deep fringe UHF Yagi with an inline RF amplifier. Without the that setup, I can only get WWDP (8 miles away).
 
Peter Q. George (K1XRB) said:
I've heard something similar from a person in Chicago who is fairly close to the transmitters on the Sears Tower and also can't get much. However I only have an indoor antenna and I can pick up solid DTV signals from 40 miles away. I regularly get a total of 25 digital stations right now. So.... go figure. I guess it really does depend on location.
Click to expand...
 
Skynet74 said:
Peter Q. George (K1XRB) said:
I've heard something similar from a person in Chicago who is fairly close to the transmitters on the Sears Tower and also can't get much. However I only have an indoor antenna and I can pick up solid DTV signals from 40 miles away. I regularly get a total of 25 digital stations right now. So.... go figure. I guess it really does depend on location.
Click to expand...

Out of curiosity, what kind of DTV box are you using to pick up your signals? I'm using both an Insignia box and a DigitalStream box. The DigitalStream seems to be a little more sensitive than the Insignia. Just curious. Thanx!
Click to expand...
 
Peter Q. George (K1XRB) said:
Out of curiosity, what kind of DTV box are you using to pick up your signals? I'm using both an Insignia box and a DigitalStream box. The DigitalStream seems to be a little more sensitive than the Insignia. Just curious. Thanx!
Click to expand...

I'm using the Insignia and the Zenith which look exactly the same. I get the same channels on both.
 
Hi, Peter George! In addition to your listing to analog TV stations and their DTV channels after the transition for the Boston/Providence/Worcester/Manchester area, I'd like to add WLVI-56 (staying at 41); ch. 21 Concord, NH (going to 33); ch. WZPX 58 Barnstable (staying on 40); ch. WMFP 62 Lawrence (staying on 18); and WYDN 48 (staying on 47, and transmitting from WBZ 4's tower in Needham, MA).
 
alg2468 said:
Hi, Peter George! In addition to your listing to analog TV stations and their DTV channels after the transition for the Boston/Providence/Worcester/Manchester area, I'd like to add WLVI-56 (staying at 41); ch. 21 Concord, NH (going to 33); ch. WZPX 58 Barnstable (staying on 40); ch. WMFP 62 Lawrence (staying on 18); and WYDN 48 (staying on 47, and transmitting from WBZ 4's tower in Needham, MA).
Click to expand...

Gosh darn..... I KNEW I'd missed one or two (or more.....) of the full-powered stations ;) ! Oh, well. Thanks for the addendum, "alg2468"! 73.

-Pete (K1XRB)
 
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