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FCC on DTV issues: "There could be a universal solution for all the stations"
- Thread starter oldschooltv
- Start date
Re: FCC on DTV issues: "There could be a universal solution for all the stations"
I believe all parts of the band that are to be sold have now gone through the auction process. Except for D block, but that's another story entirely.
kenglish: In an area like Salt Lake City where there are few thunderstorms, upper-VHF on an outdoor antenna may work. In places where lightning is common, there is no solution for electrical interference on VHF short of moving to UHF.
Of course, if Mobile DTV goes somewhere (and who knows if it will yet), stations aren't going to want to be telling people to roll around a cart with a 30 foot pole plus roof antenna on it to decode their VHF signal. Nothing very mobile about that.
- Trip
I believe all parts of the band that are to be sold have now gone through the auction process. Except for D block, but that's another story entirely.
kenglish: In an area like Salt Lake City where there are few thunderstorms, upper-VHF on an outdoor antenna may work. In places where lightning is common, there is no solution for electrical interference on VHF short of moving to UHF.
Of course, if Mobile DTV goes somewhere (and who knows if it will yet), stations aren't going to want to be telling people to roll around a cart with a 30 foot pole plus roof antenna on it to decode their VHF signal. Nothing very mobile about that.
- Trip
K
kenglish
Guest
Re: FCC on DTV issues: "There could be a universal solution for all the stations"
"Few Thunderstorms"??!!?!...
You haven't been here lately, have you? We've had them 6 out of every 7 days (afternoons) all summer.
Funny thing, I haven't seen any problems on the low-power channel 10, Telemundo station. I wonder if it's got a lot to do with just how strong or weak the signal is, and how tight a beam the antenna has. I have a ZIP-8V, VHF LPDA and about a 16-17 mile shot. It's clear, except for trees and a roof line on the next block.
I wonder if the FCC is doing any serious testing on all this? I've been thinking about some ideas, like using a couple of wideband receivers, connected to a pair of antennas (one omni, one highly-directional), with the outputs going to an X-Y scope, then seeing if the lightning has to be in the same direction as the station or not. Maybe record the whole works along side a NWS lightning-detector/locator map.
Of course, this testing would have to be done in a market that has some "VHF Difficulties", or what the FCC called "the ABC Issue".
I wonder what WILL wind up on the 12 VHF-TV channels in the future. I doubt they'll leave them empty just for us TV-band DX'ers.
"Few Thunderstorms"??!!?!...
You haven't been here lately, have you? We've had them 6 out of every 7 days (afternoons) all summer.
Funny thing, I haven't seen any problems on the low-power channel 10, Telemundo station. I wonder if it's got a lot to do with just how strong or weak the signal is, and how tight a beam the antenna has. I have a ZIP-8V, VHF LPDA and about a 16-17 mile shot. It's clear, except for trees and a roof line on the next block.
I wonder if the FCC is doing any serious testing on all this? I've been thinking about some ideas, like using a couple of wideband receivers, connected to a pair of antennas (one omni, one highly-directional), with the outputs going to an X-Y scope, then seeing if the lightning has to be in the same direction as the station or not. Maybe record the whole works along side a NWS lightning-detector/locator map.
Of course, this testing would have to be done in a market that has some "VHF Difficulties", or what the FCC called "the ABC Issue".
I wonder what WILL wind up on the 12 VHF-TV channels in the future. I doubt they'll leave them empty just for us TV-band DX'ers.
Re: FCC on DTV issues: "There could be a universal solution for all the stations"
Anytime I mention lightning in the Vegas or Phoenix areas I'm told there are no thunderstorms! I didn't think Salt Lake City would be that much different.
I've never heard of the ZIP-8V. What kind of gain does that have and who makes it? That might be something to look into.
My only experience at this point is with low-VHF, where any lightning within 100 miles on the side of my antenna aimed at Roanoke trashes my signal (it's 20-30 miles off the back). Not entirely relevant to the problems of upper-VHF, but I don't see why I should have to choose between running the washing machine and watching PBS. (The two are mutually exclusive, even with my outdoor setup.) After October 1, I'll be able to let you know how upper-VHF is for me next time I go home.
I've been told the FCC has done some serious testing at some stations and the stations have done their own testing as well. The fact of the matter is that many VHF stations just don't have enough power. One station engineer told me the signal is simply missing indoors, and even on an outdoor antenna is weaker than the UHF competitors. That's why some stations are trying power increases, but those who can't (like WLS who got approved for channel 44 today) have to go to UHF.
- Trip
Anytime I mention lightning in the Vegas or Phoenix areas I'm told there are no thunderstorms! I didn't think Salt Lake City would be that much different.
I've never heard of the ZIP-8V. What kind of gain does that have and who makes it? That might be something to look into.
My only experience at this point is with low-VHF, where any lightning within 100 miles on the side of my antenna aimed at Roanoke trashes my signal (it's 20-30 miles off the back). Not entirely relevant to the problems of upper-VHF, but I don't see why I should have to choose between running the washing machine and watching PBS. (The two are mutually exclusive, even with my outdoor setup.) After October 1, I'll be able to let you know how upper-VHF is for me next time I go home.
I've been told the FCC has done some serious testing at some stations and the stations have done their own testing as well. The fact of the matter is that many VHF stations just don't have enough power. One station engineer told me the signal is simply missing indoors, and even on an outdoor antenna is weaker than the UHF competitors. That's why some stations are trying power increases, but those who can't (like WLS who got approved for channel 44 today) have to go to UHF.
- Trip
K
kenrayc
Guest
Re: FCC on DTV issues: "There could be a universal solution for all the stations"
KERO should switch back to UHF ,to their old channel 23.Being that both Bakersfield and Fresno were ALL UHF markets ,which most people have UHF only Antennas,Didn't make sence that the FCC would allocate VHF to both these markets, In Fresno there are a lot of complaints with KAIL 7,and KNSO 5.They should be allowed to get a UHF station also, thats if there are any avaliable considiring being between SF and LA there may not be any avaliable.
tripinva said:
KERO should switch back to UHF ,to their old channel 23.Being that both Bakersfield and Fresno were ALL UHF markets ,which most people have UHF only Antennas,Didn't make sence that the FCC would allocate VHF to both these markets, In Fresno there are a lot of complaints with KAIL 7,and KNSO 5.They should be allowed to get a UHF station also, thats if there are any avaliable considiring being between SF and LA there may not be any avaliable.
K
kenglish
Guest
Re: FCC on DTV issues: "There could be a universal solution for all the stations"
The ZIP-8V is here:
http://wade-antenna.com/Wade/VIP & ZIP Antennas.pdf
It looks a lot like the picture, but has the 4 rear elements, then has 4 directors in front, about a foot long...like the most rear-ward one on the picture.
I sometimes wonder, too, if the lightning just causes wideband noise that overloads something. I've often heard that lightning has much of it's spectrum centered around the FM broadcast band. Maybe an FM trap would even help in some instances, such as when the preamp or first RF amplifier stage gets overloaded.
(Georgia Tech did some work on TV antennas for the FCC back in the 70's. Wonder if they want a new research project?
The ZIP-8V is here:
http://wade-antenna.com/Wade/VIP & ZIP Antennas.pdf
It looks a lot like the picture, but has the 4 rear elements, then has 4 directors in front, about a foot long...like the most rear-ward one on the picture.
I sometimes wonder, too, if the lightning just causes wideband noise that overloads something. I've often heard that lightning has much of it's spectrum centered around the FM broadcast band. Maybe an FM trap would even help in some instances, such as when the preamp or first RF amplifier stage gets overloaded.
(Georgia Tech did some work on TV antennas for the FCC back in the 70's. Wonder if they want a new research project?
Re: FCC on DTV issues: "There could be a universal solution for all the stations"
I once said I had no problems with lightning, but I believe that was causing my problems on Saturday. They weren't serious, but just a little annoying since the sound generally goes out whenever those stripes or squares appear. In a movie, sometimes that makes me miss important dialogue. Of course, in the days on analog, I could lose both picture and sound for the same length of time because of wind.
I once said I had no problems with lightning, but I believe that was causing my problems on Saturday. They weren't serious, but just a little annoying since the sound generally goes out whenever those stripes or squares appear. In a movie, sometimes that makes me miss important dialogue. Of course, in the days on analog, I could lose both picture and sound for the same length of time because of wind.
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