DTV TRANSITION

[pqgeorge]

WCAX/3 in Burl VT ran a feature on its 11p newscast last night (I'm from Boston but am in Rutland for a couple days) about the transition and showed a map with areas of green (you'll be able to pick up CH 3 on antenna) and orange (you won't). Many areas on NH, VT, and NY which used to pick up 3 fine, won't (though maybe a better antenna would help?)...Even some parts of Addison County, just to the south of Chittenden county!

WLNE-TV (analog 6) has ended regular programming and is now broadcasting a transition loop, So, for the next 2 months, WLNE is running basically nightlight programming.

I guess both WJAR/10 and WPRI/12 say bye-bye tonight. As soon as WJAR shuts down analog 10, WWDP (analog 46) should be able to fire up digital 10 almost immediately. WNAC/12 should be able to fire up at midnight. WPRI/13 is already up and running. Get the tapes (or DVD's) ready for recording!

 

[KML0224]

WHPX-TV (ION) channel 26 of New London, CT is running a continuous crawl at the top of the screen, reminding viewers about their analog shutoff sometime today, giving their phone number and station mailing address. The same thing appeared on their analog cable channel 10 signal with Comcast in New Britain, CT. I think WUVN-TV (UNI) channel 18 of Hartford is supposed to shut off today as well.

 

[DJKraze]

WWLP is announcing right now that on the analog channel tonight at 11:35 right after the normal news, instead of the tonight show, they will be going to DTV information programming for the next two months.

 

[jlehmann]

WLNE-TV (analog 6) has ended regular programming and is now broadcasting a transition loop, So, for the next 2 months, WLNE is running basically nightlight programming.

Looks like in addition to the loop, they'll still be broadcasting their newscasts.

 

[oldschooltv]

WHPX-TV (ION) channel 26 of New London, CT is running a continuous crawl at the top of the screen, reminding viewers about their analog shutoff sometime today, giving their phone number and station mailing address. The same thing appeared on their analog cable channel 10 signal with Comcast in New Britain, CT. I think WUVN-TV (UNI) channel 18 of Hartford is supposed to shut off today as well.

I flipped over to WHPX (on cable here) to see if there were any noticeable changes... what in the world is up with their audio?! I never watch this station, is it ALWAYS like this? Talk about way too loud and scratchy!

 

[alg2468]

I was watching analog WLNE 6 and have it turned on right now, at 10:10 PM, and they have been carrying their news at 6:00, Entertainment Tonight, Inside Edition, and ABC programming. I heard on their newscast at 6:00 that they are going to the nightlight programming a few minutes before midnight. And tonight's FOX 64 news says that the Providence phone call centers at the WSBE -TV studios regarding the transition are ringing off the hook with people having issues in setting up converters and getting the digital signals.

 

[scottg]

WWLP Channel 22 - NBC Springfield Mass has just flipped the switch.

 

[DJKraze]

Just watched WWLP analog conclude normal programming at 11:35, they are now running a loop that says:

WWLP-22News now concludes regular programming on our analog channel in order to complete our permanent transition to digital. For the next 60 days, information on the digital transition, as well as news and emergency information will be available on this channel.

The message then repeats in spanish.

I'm now switching back and forth between WUVN & WHPX to see what happens.

(a little later...) WWLP is now running the sunset programming.

 

[DJKraze]

WUVN and WHPX analog are now both history.
I was able to watch both vanish as I just kept flipping back and forth and just a second or two before midnight and without any fanfare or direct mention (right after the old legal ID with both channel positions shown) WUVN went off, then switching to WHPX, the next infomercial began and then it cut off, some 20 seconds after midnight.

 

[jlehmann]

WJAR-10 and WPRI-12 are now off the air. 12 wasn't even running the crawl across the top of the screen during Letterman, and it just went to static. 10 at least had a legal ID on the bottom of the screen before it went off. You'd think someone a little bit creative at some of these stations would've dug up an old national anthem or something to properly sign off with.

Also, WWDP-DT is now on the air on 10, and WNAC-DT is on 12.

 

[Blackroc]

You'd think someone a little bit creative at some

Yes, they just hit the switch.

Ch.12 flipped (2/17) at 11:59.05 pm and Ch.10 followed about 30 secs. later. Ch.6 is still analogging it, Ch.64 running a Eng/Span announcement loop, in analog.

 

[fybush]

WJAR-10 and WPRI-12 are now off the air. 12 wasn't even running the crawl across the top of the screen during Letterman, and it just went to static. 10 at least had a legal ID on the bottom of the screen before it went off. You'd think someone a little bit creative at some of these stations would've dug up an old national anthem or something to properly sign off with.

Also, WWDP-DT is now on the air on 10, and WNAC-DT is on 12.

A little birdie tells me the WJAR sign-off was accomplished entirely by remote control - and I know the WPRI folks had a lot of switching over to do in a very short time to get WNAC-DT up on 12 and off 54.

 

[KML0224]

Checking at 12:30 AM:

I had zero signal with WVIT-DT (NBC) channel 35. [Transmitter work?]

WHPX-TV (ION) via Comcast channel 10 was a generic black screen with white letters, basically stating that the station was preparing their digital transmitter (or something to that effect). It looks as if Comcast had carried the over-the-air signal of analog WHPX.

 

[RobertAnthony]

All bets are off! Both the radio (WTIC-AM) and Fybush.com reported today that all of CT TV with the exception of WEDW, WUVN and WHPX are going to stay until the new cutoff date.

Well at midnight, last night WEDW flipped. With my having Cablevision, the change was smooth. I recorded the moment on my DVD player. After a Nature show on why we like dogs and cats, a message on a blue screen showed up regarding the switch. After a couple of promos came CPTV's sign-off announcement. Of course for those w/analog sets, you got snow. For cable or other digital set ups, things seem okay. by the way, Cablevision still has CPTV/WEDW on cable 10.

 

[MarcB]

Checking at 12:30 AM:

I had zero signal with WVIT-DT (NBC) channel 35. [Transmitter work?]

WHPX-TV (ION) via Comcast channel 10 was a generic black screen with white letters, basically stating that the station was preparing their digital transmitter (or something to that effect). It looks as if Comcast had carried the over-the-air signal of analog WHPX.

And wouldn't you know just before Midnite was when I had to be away from my TV, so I don't know what WUVN/18 (Univision) did. All I know is when I woke up at 630 this morning there's nothing but snow on Channel 18. All is okay with WUVN on DISH NETWORK.

 

[KML0224]

Update from New Britain at about 7:20 AM, using an Insignia digital converter box, resting next to my Sanyo 26" LCD HDTV:

WUVN-DT (UNI) channel 46 must be off the air because I'm showing nothing whatsoever. Did a total scan first and then went to 46 with the tuner manually. Nothing.

WHPX-DT (ION) is now on channel 26. The signal meter is also showing a much-improved signal over what I'd get with their old channel 34 signal.

While I'm here, does anybody know if somebody will use channel 42 for digital? My box hesitates on that one channel, as if it's trying to lock on a signal.

 

[pqgeorge]

WJAR-10 and WPRI-12 are now off the air. 12 wasn't even running the crawl across the top of the screen during Letterman, and it just went to static. 10 at least had a legal ID on the bottom of the screen before it went off. You'd think someone a little bit creative at some of these stations would've dug up an old national anthem or something to properly sign off with.

Also, WWDP-DT is now on the air on 10, and WNAC-DT is on 12.

A little birdie tells me the WJAR sign-off was accomplished entirely by remote control - and I know the WPRI folks had a lot of switching over to do in a very short time to get WNAC-DT up on 12 and off 54.

Well, a "little birdie" told me as soon as WJAR pulled the analog switch for the last time at 12:00:03, WWDP-DT fired up some 3-5 seconds later with the push of a button. The Channel 10 transition went without a hitch. Smoooooth!

 

[mescutia]

Also, WWDP-DT is now on the air on 10, and WNAC-DT is on 12.

This brings up something I've been wondering about: Since WPRI and WNAC are owned by the same company, why couldn't they request permission from the FCC to swap digital positions, with WPRI staying on 12 and WNAC going to 13?

There's probably a perfectly good technical reason I'm not thinking of, but, then, I don't work in the industry.

Mike

 

[fybush]

Also, WWDP-DT is now on the air on 10, and WNAC-DT is on 12.

This brings up something I've been wondering about: Since WPRI and WNAC are owned by the same company, why couldn't they request permission from the FCC to swap digital positions, with WPRI staying on 12 and WNAC going to 13?

There's probably a perfectly good technical reason I'm not thinking of, but, then, I don't work in the industry.

Indeed there is - 12 has to use a directional antenna to protect other stations on the same channel, particularly WTXX-DT in Connecticut. 13 can run non-directional at higher power, so it makes sense to put the more important signal there. Remember, the viewers never know the difference - WPRI is still "12," WNAC is still "64" as far as they're concerned.

 

[pqgeorge]

Also, WWDP-DT is now on the air on 10, and WNAC-DT is on 12.

This brings up something I've been wondering about: Since WPRI and WNAC are owned by the same company, why couldn't they request permission from the FCC to swap digital positions, with WPRI staying on 12 and WNAC going to 13?

There's probably a perfectly good technical reason I'm not thinking of, but, then, I don't work in the industry.

Indeed there is - 12 has to use a directional antenna to protect other stations on the same channel, particularly WTXX-DT in Connecticut. 13 can run non-directional at higher power, so it makes sense to put the more important signal there. Remember, the viewers never know the difference - WPRI is still "12," WNAC is still "64" as far as they're concerned.

But isn't WTXX going back digitally to Channel 20 once the entire transition in complete in June? If so, WNAC-DT/12 would not have to protect Waterbury anymore.