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DTV coverage and possible issues come hurricane season 2009

R

RFLA

Since the one article was getting off topic of WWL I decided to start a new complete post here instead

Here is the original article http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,109236.msg868293.html#msg868293

And to continue the conversation:
gjroussejr said:
The Example I should have used was WLAE. The analog on 32 will reach past Grand Isle / Port Fourchon, but the digital on channel 31 barely reaches Galliano. My Question would be If they or other stations go back to their origional channels will the fcc allow the increase? I can see the reason for low power on 31 because of KLAX-31 in Alexandria.
Click to expand...

I find WLAE has issues currently with their digital setup anyway (as last I checked it off the air). But I find stations were allowed to decrease some of their grade B signal on the edges due to I think possibly no real world coverage ideas (which is how most of the bayou area actually catches TV as a Grade B signal.. it means you should be able to put up at least a 30 foot tower and get a passable signal.) as many stations have less signal pentetration on some models I've seen compared to analog.

I personally like using a site called TV Fool that uses google earth to calculate what the signal is supposed to be like at your home in db. However I do not know if it uses Longley-Rice methods or not to determine coverage but I find it to be pretty good

I think there will be a lot of people forcing stations to increase power, or be forced on cable come 2009, and talking to people who have been told 6 weeks with no cable on the bayou here... I'd hate to see what 2009 will be like..

Also KLAX had no affect on the WLAE signal .... The FCC has allowed for WBRZ Baton Rouge and WLOX Biloxi to share the same digital channel as of 2009 (channel 13 and is sharing the WBRZ digital/ WLOX analog currently) and is roughly 40 miles closer (135 miles) compared to the KLAX/WLAE example.
 
I have a 30 foot tower and I have zero problems picking up the digital stations in New Orleans from Livingston. I do have a problem picking up channel 9 on Digital. I talked to their engineer and he said they were only at about 20% right now. Also 27 is off the air on digital. Dont know about the analog. My thing is come 2009 how can you watch tv to keep up with the storms with no power? DTV audio isnt something you can catch with a radio.
 
Radio Shack has a 7" ATSC that runs on a rechargeable battery for between 1 and 2 hours. Branded under the Accurian name. You need a good external antenna as the reports are the whip antenna doesn't pull much in. Might also want to consider an external 9 volt battery source.
 
Unfortunately my 50 ft radio tower fell during gustav :'( ,so it will be some time before I get a new one. I have noticed that WLAE-DT (when I am able to recive it) would go off air on sundays. Maybe for maintence.
smashedcd said:
I have a 30 foot tower and I have zero problems picking up the digital stations in New Orleans from Livingston. I do have a problem picking up channel 9 on Digital. I talked to their engineer and he said they were only at about 20% right now. Also 27 is off the air on digital. Dont know about the analog. My thing is come 2009 how can you watch tv to keep up with the storms with no power? DTV audio isnt something you can catch with a radio.
Click to expand...
Smashed; Try considering a generator. Your local electrical contractor can get one, or know where to get it. I have a Natural gas/Propane generator that automaticaly starts when the power goes out,and shuts itself down when the main power returns. Cost for the unit was around $5,600, but after gustav; ten days that nobody else in my neighborhood had power it is a well worth investment
 
smashedcd said:
I have a 30 foot tower and I have zero problems picking up the digital stations in New Orleans from Livingston. I do have a problem picking up channel 9 on Digital. I talked to their engineer and he said they were only at about 20% right now. Also 27 is off the air on digital. Dont know about the analog. My thing is come 2009 how can you watch tv to keep up with the storms with no power? DTV audio isnt something you can catch with a radio.
Click to expand...

Currently with the exception of the two PBSes and WAFB (who is actually on a setup that is purposely 20% of what it will be in 2009 when WAFB goes digital on channel 9) I'm catching all of the New Orleans and Baton Rouge DTV full power signals. Actually surprised getting better signals on some channels now then on analog.

A small TV, rabbit ears and a DTV convertor will be mandantory equipment to be able to watch storm coverage in 2009 (You can also use a DC to AC convertor if the TV is small). However I'd expect some of the low power stations to relay the big stations, but down on the bayou, Martin Folse was looking at going DTV on channel 30 but don't know if he will now that he has to finance a new tower (KFOL-CA)

I'm expecting stations like the citadel family to relay the channels audio again next year.. but it's hard on the radio to "see" that line of showers coming.

Basically the FCC was all too ready to auction off the channels 52-69 for public safety and digital allows them to shove more channels in less space but I think we will see a whole lot of problems in 2009 that haven't come up yet.... I'm wondering if say the FCC will allow stations to keep the analog backups just in case.
 
If you follow the FCC filings you may notice a "boatload" of stations asking for and getting a waver to increase their digital power so the "predicted" digital contour's about 5% over what the analog is. Don't forget too that a lot of channel 7 through 13 stations that have a UHF digital channel now are moving back to their 7 - 13 channels with the digital.
 
Boise is absolutely correct. TV lost 70-83 for analog cellular and for the emerging 800 Mhz public safety band in the 1980s.

From what I understand, Nextel and some other companies are pushing this through as well as the US government who want "interopatability" as in many locations for example a cop from one jurisdiction can't talk to one from another without going thru a dispatcher relaying to info.

Nextel ain't making it as a cellular company perse but basically has replaced 2 way radio in many populated areas to conduct business and needs the extra area to expand.

From people who know digital, they say power for power apple plant to apple plant, the digital actually gives a 20% further range but also remember than many of these stations built off models and not so much real world experience when they got their feet wet (as digital was still a baby just 8 years ago). But Boise is also right in that many VHF high stations are going back to their analog frequencies (7-13) whereas advisers are advising VHF low stations (2-6) to abandon the frequencies as effects during skip is unknown at this time

There is people wondering if the FCC will refarm channel 5 and 6 from TV to radio (and allowing some Amers to move to FM as well as some breathing room for LPFMs) however from everything I'm seeing, the FCC is leaving TV well enough alone on 2-6 with many LPTVs on 6 becoming mini radio stations (Like in New York City with "the pulse"
 
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