K31GL-DT is on the air!

[dhett]

From what I understand, Mako pretty much just leases out their channels and lets other people come up with the programming on those stations.

I believe you're correct. In Phoenix, the two Mako stations air AlmaVision and HSN. The HSN station, which Mako bought from Latin America Broadcasting (LAT TV), had been HSN, LAT TV, a text messaging service called My2Fish, then back to HSN, all within the past year or so. I think that's typical of the whole Mintz family empire.

 

[dhett]

I was also curious if low power digital stations can have sub channels like the full power ones or do they just stick with that one channel.

They can have subchannels as well. LPTV gets the same 6 MHz block as full-power stations get, so they're free to fill it any way they see fit. Here, KAZT-CA is digital now, and they carry independent programming on 7.1 (27.1 RF) and Retro Television Network on 7.2 (27.2), just as parent KAZT-TV does. If you have an LPTV TBN station, when they flash cut to digital sometime in the next year or so, they will air all 5 TBN subchannels.

 

[fredcantu]

Does TBN do any HDTV? I'm thinking if they're trying to do 5 channels at a time they probably don't.

 

[tripinva]

TBN claims to want to do HDTV, but I agree, they probably won't with 5 subs.

- Trip

 

[dhett]

Does TBN do any HDTV? I'm thinking if they're trying to do 5 channels at a time they probably don't.

They're actually doing 5 channels, and yes, it's all in 480i SD. Their flagship program, Praise The Lord, is actually taped in HD, then downconverted, since they claim most of their viewers are still using 4:3 analog, and that's probably true. They claim to want to go HD, but they'll have to drop one or two channels. PBS member station KAET does 720i 16:9 on their primary stream and 480i 4:3 on three additional streams. Assuming TBN does the same, they would likely drop either TBN Enlace or Smile of a Child, and keep the main TBN feed, The Church Channel and JCTV.

TBN and HD: http://www.tbn.org/index.php/7.html?nid=201

 

[eskipper411]

I thought we were talking about K31GL... ;D

 

[dhett]

So the answer is, yes, K31GL-D can have subchannels, even as an LPTV station.

 

[arnoldevns]

So the answer is, yes, K31GL-D can have subchannels, even as an LPTV station.

K31GL-D *HAS* a subchannel. 31.1 is an english station and 31.2 is a spanish station.

 

[dhett]

I rest my case.

 

[eskipper411]

it is not a subchannel its subchannel(s)

 

[fredcantu]

Isn't 31.1 the main channel and 31.2 the subchannel.
That's the way it works wit the full power HDTV stations.
So 31 has one subchannel.

 

[tripinva]

It's a nitpicky little thing, but generally I've understood each feed on a digital channel to be a subchannel. So in the Dallas-Fort Worth area KTVT-DT would be said to have a single subchannel, whereas K31GL-D would be said to have two subchannels.

I'm not sure if that's right, but that's how I've always heard it described and how I've used it.

- Trip

 

[fredcantu]

You are correct. Various sources on the web say if the station opts to divide the channel into multiple program streams they are all subchannels.

 

[arnoldevns]

For what it's worth.. there's now a picture up on channel 22 that says the Genesis network programming of KNAV and KHPK has moved to K31GL.

 

[TexasTom]

For what it's worth.. there's now a picture up on channel 22 that says the Genesis network programming of KNAV and KHPK has moved to K31GL.

And that same picture is now appearing on 31.3 and 31.4 -- I'm not sure exactly what purpose that is supposed to serve. Perhaps it is a place holder for whatever will be appearing on 31.3 and 31.4 in the future.

 

[w9wi]

It's a nitpicky little thing, but generally I've understood each feed on a digital channel to be a subchannel. So in the Dallas-Fort Worth area KTVT-DT would be said to have a single subchannel, whereas K31GL-D would be said to have two subchannels.

I'm not sure if that's right, but that's how I've always heard it described and how I've used it.

- Trip

From a technical standpoint, all programs on a single DTV station are co-equal. They're all transmitted at the same power and are all equally likely to be received (or not).

It's not like analog radio where a SCA subcarrier is more difficult to receive than the main program.

To my knowledge the term "subchannel" has no legal standing, so you can define it however you want

 

[arnoldevns]

I noticed tonight that K31GL has added two more channels on 31.3 and 31.4. They are the same place-holder graphic they're running on channel 22 analog right now saying that KNAV and KHPK have moved to K31GL-D. This makes no sense, but I assume they'll eventually put new programming on .3 and .4.

 

[tripinva]

KHPK-LD filed for their license recently. They're a digital signal on channel 3, owned by the same group as K31GL, I think. Can anybody see KHPK-LD? I'm not expecting it, since they're low-VHF...

- Trip

 

[TexasTom]

KHPK-LD filed for their license recently. They're a digital signal on channel 3, owned by the same group as K31GL, I think. Can anybody see KHPK-LD? I'm not expecting it, since they're low-VHF...

After seeing your post, I decided to try tuning it in -- but didn't expect to receive anything. To my surprise, it is coming in at my home in Plano (a bit over 30 miles from the Cedar Hill antenna farm). 3-1 is home shopping (GEMS), and 3-2 is a test pattern. I'm using a chimney mounted Winegard all-channel antenna that I've had in place since 2001. No amplifiers, and several splitters prior to the converter box that I was using for my test.

Pretty impressive that I'm receiving *anything* from a 300 watt signal that is over 30 miles away -- and even more impressive considering that I am outside their protected (43 dBuV) contour.

 

[tripinva]

What'll be more impressive is to find out how it looks in a thunderstorm.

Thanks for the confirmation though, glad to know it's on the air.

- Trip