Houston UHF TV Repack

[Mediafrog+]

My understanding is that KVQT-LD has moved to their new channel already. Have you rescanned for it?

- Trip

Hasn’t showed up on my rescans, but I’m around 25 miles from the Missouri City tower farm so LPTVs can be somewhat iffy with my modest antenna. They could be on reduced power as well due to ongoing tower work for the repack.

Gorgeous weather today for tower work, but it might be a bit too breezy.

 

[Mrtejano]

I caught channel 46? Had like 10 sub channels. But I lost it again.

 

[Mrtejano]

I caught channel 46? Had like 10 sub channels. But I lost it again.

I was able to see 46.1 yesterday again with 46.1 being NUESTRA TV and the other sub channels GEB, VIET 1,2,3 country music tv, and others

 

[ThatVoice22]

Many times when re-scanning, the TV can fail to register low-power or fringe stations like KBTX-3 in Bryan/College Station due to differing weather conditions.

One more reason to hate re-pack: KVQT channel 21 has moved frequencies to its new home on channel 14 --- AND eventually, will eliminate receiving KBTX-3 from Bryan after its frequency transfer to channel 14 in the last phase of the repack. Brilliant. The Alt-CBS option (and quirky Bryan/College Station news source) will disappear.

 

[Mediafrog+]

One more reason to hate re-pack: KVQT channel 21 has moved frequencies to its new home on channel 14 --- AND eventually, will eliminate receiving KBTX-3 from Bryan after its frequency transfer to channel 14 in the last phase of the repack. Brilliant. The Alt-CBS option (and quirky Bryan/College Station news source) will disappear.

KBTX is repacking to RF16, not 14. You can relax now.

 

[ThatVoice22]

KBTX is repacking to RF16, not 14.

OK great, I guess the April 7th message on the blog, "57 Channels and Nothing On" (https://houstondtv.wordpress.com/) is Dead Wrong --- "KVQT channel 21 is advising that it is moving frequencies Monday, April 8 at 4 p.m. They state the new signal on frequency 14 will provide better coverage in the Houston area. >>It will also block out any chance of receiving KBTX from Bryan after their frequency change in the last phase of the repack." KBTX on Channel 16 should be fine toward Spring and The Woodlands, although it's lowering output power from 1000 KW to 685 KW; the signal pattern looks unaffected.

The blog author (and I) should have checked the FCC website: https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/...&slat2=&NS=N&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&EW=W&size=9

 

[ThatVoice22]

(https://houstondtv.wordpress.com/) is Dead Wrong --- "KVQT channel 21 is advising that it is moving frequencies Monday, April 8 at 4 p.m. They state the new signal on frequency 14 will ... >> block out any chance of receiving KBTX from Bryan after their frequency change in the last phase of the repack."

Just saw where the blog noted above may have gotten the info about KBTX moving to Channel 14 -- Wikipedia states "Digital: 50 (UHF) (to move to 14 (UHF); may move to 16 (UHF))
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KBTX-TV I hope the result is KBTX on 16.

 

[Mediafrog+]

OK great, I guess the April 7th message on the blog, "57 Channels and Nothing On" (https://houstondtv.wordpress.com/) is Dead Wrong ---

There is a lot of wrong or incomplete information floating around regarding the repack schedule. Even the NAB's own TVAnswers.org site has bad info.

As of April 21 only two of the Houston full power stations involved in the repack have moved: KXLN (RF45 to RF30) and KIAH (RF38 to RF34.) KTMD, KYAZ, KTBU, KUBE and KZJL have had weather related delays for tower work and are still operating on their old digital channels. We've had some good weather days the past week so perhaps they are close to being ready to make their moves.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Not seeing any signal out of KYAZ, KTBU and KZJL on a quick check this morning. They are supposed to share a new antenna after the repack, so perhaps they are moving today. KUBE and KTMD still there on their old channels.

Gotta get to work so will check again this evening.

 

[KTN Corp]

I checked before bed to see if there was any activity at the antenna farm today. Boy, was I lucky to catch it!

These three moved to their repack frequencies at 1:15 AM this morning. KZJL was simulcasting on both frequencies (ch. 44 and 21) for a few minutes. KYAZ lost their PSIP (there were 2 channel 47s temporarily) around 1:30 AM and went off the air and somehow reappeared on channel 25 in time for the morning rush.

KTBU eventually flash-cut to their repack frequency (ch. 33) about 10-15 minutes later. (Went to sleep around 1:45 AM.)

Reprogrammed both TVs to delete 44, 42, and 47 and added 21 and 33 before bed. 25 was added when I got up this morning.

Now it's just KTMD and KUBE left to repack.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Good signals from KYAZ, KTBU and KZJL on their new shared facility. KTMD and KUBE apparently still on reduced power on their old channels.

 

[DJboutit3]

Good signals from KYAZ, KTBU and KZJL on their new shared facility. KTMD and KUBE apparently still on reduced power on their old channels.

I have seen a commercial 2 times in last 10 days saying you will need to rescan your tv soon for KUBE they might be increasing power soon. I wish 11 and 13 would increase there power like 30% more I like 13.3 but a lot of the time signal is to weak over here right Hobby airport to even watch it.

 

[KTN Corp]

Oddly enough, KUBE switched over to RF 31 at 2:15 PM (about 20 minutes ago). I was surprised that there were people working on the tower in this weather despite the tornado outbreak this afternoon.

KTRK started pixelating for a few minutes after wrapping up their severe weather update and rejoined General Hospital in progress (both stations antennas are probably on the same tower and had to lower ERP for the tower crew's safety).

KTMD is the only station out-of-core left to switch over to RF 22. I doubt that they will switch over today until the weather calms down due to storm coverage. I rescanned my TV immediately after KUBE's changeover, but I doubt that they want Spanish-speakers to rescan during severe weather coverage.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Oddly enough, KUBE switched over to RF 31 at 2:15 PM (about 20 minutes ago). I was surprised that there were people working on the tower in this weather despite the tornado outbreak this afternoon.

KUBE signal back to full strength on their new channel at an early Saturday morning check. The severe weather seemed to be more on the north side of the market, so perhaps far enough away from Missouri City to allow work to continue.

KTMD is the only station out-of-core left to switch over to RF 22. I doubt that they will switch over today until the weather calms down due to storm coverage.

KTMD is still on RF48 early Saturday morning. Decent weather forecast for Sunday but plenty of thunderstorms in the picture for the next week, so KTMD might be delayed a bit longer.

Anyone having any luck receiving LPTVs? Couldn’t get any to lock in on my latest scan. Also I notice the audio-only channels of KUHT appear to be missing this morning, but that might be due to equipment maintenance.

 

[tripinva]

Looks like KTMD is now testing on RF22.

Separately, can anyone see the new KBPX-LD signal on 27? What's the lineup looking like? Has the KQHO-LD channel share started?

- Trip

 

[wd5bqn]

Lots of signals

Looks like KTMD is now testing on RF22.

Separately, can anyone see the new KBPX-LD signal on 27? What's the lineup looking like? Has the KQHO-LD channel share started?

- Trip

I have seen channel 27 and it is already sharing. 46RF is dead. Channel 5 is up and has a pretty good signal. My Voom receiver is sniffing channel 4. Not enough to lock and the spectrum analyzer doesn't see anything. KTMD is running a test pattern as 48-22. I don't know how I will get that out of memory when they slide. Super strong on 22. Only RF above 37 now is 39 and 48. Nothing yet on channel 6, 9,10,or 12. Not seeing anything on 29 either. Most allotments are working today!

 

[Mediafrog+]

Channel 5 is up and has a pretty good signal.

Is that KTDJ, supposedly transmitting from downtown Houston?

My Voom receiver is sniffing channel 4. Not enough to lock and the spectrum analyzer doesn't see anything.

I haven't heard anything more about KAHO since they conducted tests for a few days back in 2015. Apparently had transmitter problems and never returned.

KTMD is running a test pattern as 48-22. I don't know how I will get that out of memory when they slide. Super strong on 22.

Strong signal with color bars and ID on RF22 at my Cy-Fair location, much better than RF48. Wonder if they have an entirely new transmitter along with the new antenna? Curious how many of the repacked stations got new transmitters (presumably ATSC 3.0 capable.)

To get rid of the 47.22 memory you can try the old "scan without an antenna" trick, which should wipe everything as your TV won't see any signals. Then reconnect the antenna and rescan.

According to this story on the Telemundo Houston website, the KTMD channel change will take place on Saturday, May 18: https://www.telemundohouston.com/no...evisor-reconfigurar-tv-digital-506953261.html

Speaking of KTMD subchannels, perhaps they will finally get rid of the silly 47.3 stream that used to have Cozi-TV. Still has a graphic advising a channel change that took place a year ago.

 

[wd5bqn]

RF 5: 5.1 Vision
5.2 Vida Vi
5.,3 Aleluya (not there)
RF 27:27.1 HanhLe
27.2 S E T
27.6 HaiLe
27.9 IBC (only says it's there(no signal))
46.1 Nuestra
46.3 Nudu (locked up with green bar at top)
46.5 GEB
46.6 TCN
My antenna is atop a 105 foot building near SW freeway and 610.

 

[Mediafrog+]

RF 5: 5.1 Vision
5.2 Vida Vi
5.,3 Aleluya (not there)

Aleluya's KCVH supposedly was moving to RF6 after being displaced by KXLN on RF30. Haven't been able to pick up anything on 6.

My antenna is atop a 105 foot building near SW freeway and 610.

Sweet spot for TV reception in Houston; downtown transmitters just a few miles away, and Missouri City sticks are not that far.

KTMD RF22 still running color bars as of Thursday morning.

 

[Mediafrog+]

KTMD RF48 still on at a 8:45am check today 5/18. Color bars continue on RF22. The Telemundo Houston social media as well as TVAnswers.org still has May 18 as the switchover date, so perhaps the change will happen later today.