Channel 6 Analog Shutdown Effect

[BobOnTheJob]

It's a given that all of the analog channel 6 stations will shut down in less than 2 years. Does anyone know what effect that will have on all of the stations running vertical only to protect channel 6? Back in the day, when horizontal only was the standard, vertical came along & it was a minor modification to add V to your H at the same power level. Common sense tells me that the 88-92 stations that at V only SHOULD be able to add H at the same power level without a study being done (many of these stations operate on a small budget & one that I know of has already expressed no interest in adding H due to the study & engineering costs). Does anyone have first hand knowledge of how adding H will apply to V only stations once channel 6 goes away?

 

[ChiefEngineer]

Ch 6 was supposed to be off the air by 2004. Don't look for a shut down anytime soon. CH 6 locally believes they will be able to keep the analog channel for years to come.

If this is based on legal advice or speculation I don't know.

As the H is only protecting 6 it should be a minor mod to add h to the signal, if CH 6 goes away.

 

[CW]

Ch 6 was supposed to be off the air by 2004. Don't look for a shut down anytime soon. CH 6 locally believes they will be able to keep the analog channel for years to come.

If this is based on legal advice or speculation I don't know.

As the H is only protecting 6 it should be a minor mod to add h to the signal, if CH 6 goes away.

Even if all analog 6s go off the air on Feb 17, 2009 as proposed, there will be digital 6s.....There may be issues with them (rf is rf.....though the problems associated with analog tv would not be present)...but the adj FM carriers could cause lock up/sync issues in the DTV signal (and they are seeing that in lowband DTV now with co channel skip)

 

[BobOnTheJob]

Indeed there will be some digital 6's and they will continue to need protection...although perhaps in different amounts. That leads me to another question...if any new 6-HD's have come on in recent years, they would almost certainly have done so in the face of existing H & V 88-92 mhz FM stations. If the FCC granted 6-HD in that situation, wouldn't they have to allow H & V in all situations to be consistent?

In our local case of Indianapolis, WRTV HD is on UHF. So at least in this area, the 88-92 mhz stations should no longer need to protect WRTV after Feb 2009. With CP's having a 3 year life span, I would expect to see some applications being submitted in the near future to add H to V only stations...unless I'm missing something. I was hoping a consultant might offer up an opinion on how this might play out...

 

[Andy_Brown]

I've done over 20 NCE preliminary reports for new service and we aren't even doing TV6 interference studies as part of the report in those markets where there is an analog TV6 potential issue, since they probably won't be needed until the prelims become apps., by which time the FCC may have additional input on these issues and will probably no longer require the studies unless there will be a digital 6 in said market.
In those markets where analog 6 is becoming digital 6 (or those markets where analog 6 is clear but will gain a digital 6), the latest response from the FCC is vague. Digital ERP's are much less than analog (to achieve the A and B coverage). When asked if these new lower ERP's could be used in the current analysis or will the analysis be changed, the FCC has said no decision will be made until the analog stuff goes away.
As far as adding horizontal, minor changes are minor changes. The problem is that the FCC will probably institute a procedure and date for these specific NCE changes, because they are going to be flooded this October with a gazillion apps for new NCE services that consists of thousands of MX's to sort through and determine a winner. (This ends a 7 year moratorium on NCE apps). They will probably wait until that is mostly over before dealing with a flood of minor changes to add H to existing V only emissions. My guess is that they will rewrite the TV interference rules completely after they can see how digital works without analog interference, and probably the result will be less hassle for existing NCE's to add said H to their antennae.

 

[w9wi]

Indeed there will be some digital 6's and they will continue to need protection...although perhaps in different amounts.

And in different locations.

There are very few channel 6s in the permanent DTV channel table:
WEDY New Haven, Conn.
WABW Pelham, Ga.
WCES Wrens, Ga.
KBSD Ensign, Kans.
KTVM Butte, Mont.
WRGB Schenectady, N.Y.
WPVI Philadelphia
KPTW Casper, Wyo.

That's it. The way I read the rules, there is no need for 88-92 to protect channel 6 LPTV or translator stations. Not so sure about Class A. (the rulebook I have at home predates the creation of the Class A service) I count seven Class A stations on channel 6, none of which have filed for digital operation on that channel. (so even if Class A must be protected it looks like that need will go away after transition. I believe Transition Day for LPTV may be some months later than for full-power stations.)

Point being, it does seem a LOT of affected 88-92 stations should be able to seek power increases or addition of horizontal polarization after DTV transition.

That leads me to another question...if any new 6-HD's have come on in recent years, they would almost certainly have done so in the face of existing H & V 88-92 mhz FM stations. If the FCC granted 6-HD in that situation, wouldn't they have to allow H & V in all situations to be consistent?

The TV-6 protection rules specify that if the 88-92 station was there first, it need not protect a subsequent application for new TV-6 service. I would imagine that will continue to apply with DTV-6. For example, KCSP (100kw H&V on 90.3MHz) was not required to reduce power or go vertical when new TV-6 station KPTW came on the air a few weeks ago at a site about 3 miles away.

So I don't think a repeal of the NCE/TV-6 rules would be necessary to be consistent.