D/FW VHF RF-DT

[Bob E. Nelson]

1). What will the power be on 12 June for WFAA-TV when it flash cuts analog and goes digital on channel 8? The FCC's TV Query database is ambiguous, showing DX and DT facilities at 29.8, 39.8 and 45.0 kw.

2). KFWD will be initially operate with an STA on channel 9 with 800 [sic] watts (!) until they build the maximized facility in August with 55 kw. Why couldn't HIC use WFAA's pre-transition channel 9 plant with 18.6 kw?

3). Any predictions on how well (or poorly) KTVT post-transition will fare with 23.0 kw on channel 11? (I see that WVUE/New Orleans has already filed to return to its pre-transition UHF facility on channel 29 after firing up their DT on the post-transition VHF channel 8 and suffering significant coverage loss).

 

[txchipk]

1). What will the power be on 12 June for WFAA-TV when it flash cuts analog and goes digital on channel 8? The FCC's TV Query database is ambiguous, showing DX and DT facilities at 29.8, 39.8 and 45.0 kw.

Designations of DX are for auxiliary facilities for if the main facility fails, etc. AS are auxiliary facilities for FMs in the database. A fair number of FM and TV stations in the market have auxiliary facilities to back-up the main facility.

The only CP for a regular service for WFAA's digital facilities on channel 8 is for 45 kw.

 

[tripinva]

Some stations are signing on initially with their DX facilities though. That's why this isn't clear cut.

- Trip

 

[LibertyNT]

VHF and Digital dont get along well. I hope No Station in DFW goes to VHF digital
I already cant watch WFAA i dont need CBS 11 and 52 dieing with WFAA.

 

[arnoldevns]

VHF and Digital dont get along well. I hope No Station in DFW goes to VHF digital
I already cant watch WFAA i dont need CBS 11 and 52 dieing with WFAA.

WFAA, KFWD and KTVT will all be VHF when the transition is complete.
I suspect WFAA will be easier to get than it is now when it moves to channel 8.
I have no idea what KTVT's signal will be like.

 

[Bob E. Nelson]

VHF and Digital dont get along well. I hope No Station in DFW goes to VHF digital
I already cant watch WFAA i dont need CBS 11 and 52 dieing with WFAA.

WFAA, KFWD and KTVT will all be VHF when the transition is complete.
I suspect WFAA will be easier to get than it is now when it moves to channel 8.
I have no idea what KTVT's signal will be like.

The current WFAA pre-transition facility is DT-9 with 18.6 kw at 1728' HAAT. KTVT's post-transisition facility will be DT-11 with 23.0 kw at 1707' HAAT.

The Signal Analysis tool on TV Fool shows that KTVT will be among the ``weaker'' Cedar Hill DTVs after 12 June 2009. By way of comparison, KMPX and KUVN will have among the best digital coverage post-transition.

 

[JHBrandt]

VHF and Digital dont get along well. I already cant watch WFAA i dont need CBS 11 and 52 dieing with WFAA.

VHF-Lo and Digital don't get along well at all. VHF-Hi and Digital get along OK - unless you need a better indoor VHF antenna than rabbit ears.

Some of the indoor "HDTV" antennas being sold are works of art, but most of the "art" is for the UHF part - the VHF part is usually just good ol' rabbit ears. Rabbit ears are fine when they work, but sometimes you need more - and an attic or outdoor antenna isn't always an option.

For the life of me, I can't understand this. True, any antenna reasonably sized for indoors isn't going to be a great VHF-Hi performer, but some improvements can be made over rabbit ears: they could be "folded" into a diamond, producing a quad loop design popular with amateur radio operators, and/or a reflector could be added. The result wouldn't be small but it would fit in a room, and it would at least offer a modest improvement over rabbit ears.

 

[fredcantu]

I recall reading about DT coverage suffering because of nearby analog full power stations. We'll have to wait until after June 12 to see if the digital problems go away when all the full power signals are digital.