KCEB/54 reception question

[easttxtv]

How well is 54 beaming out now? You'd think with the first local OTA dose of WB in their hand right now, they'd be trying to promote it and making the signal as strong and accessible as possible. Sure, it will be viewable thru cable and dishes, but for those with coat hangers and channel masters, do they have to be right next to the tower to see it, or what?

 

[stan_the_man]

> How well is 54 beaming out now? You'd think with the first
> local OTA dose of WB in their hand right now, they'd be
> trying to promote it and making the signal as strong and
> accessible as possible. Sure, it will be viewable thru
> cable and dishes, but for those with coat hangers and
> channel masters, do they have to be right next to the tower
> to see it, or what?
>

I've never been able to get KCEB and still can't get it......I'm even surprised that the FCC would allow a full power station with such a small OTA reception area to even go on the air.

I wouldn't be surprised if KCEB goes dark once (and if it ever happens) KETK gets their DTV signal fully up and going.

I don't even get a good signal from KFXK....it takes tricky positioning of my antenna to get it.

 

[gbranch]

> How well is 54 beaming out now? You'd think with the first
> local OTA dose of WB in their hand right now, they'd be
> trying to promote it and making the signal as strong and
> accessible as possible. Sure, it will be viewable thru
> cable and dishes, but for those with coat hangers and
> channel masters, do they have to be right next to the tower
> to see it, or what?
>

KCEB transmits with 5000kW, but on a relatively short stick, about 800', in East Mountain. They have a city grade signal in Longview, but I have heard that reception in Tyler is spotty.

The good news is that they have a CP on file with the FCC to move to channel 38, and move their transmitter to the KFXK tower near Overton. *IF* this ever happens, this should improve reception in Tyler.

I have noticed that Longview Cable has put KCEB on channel 16 in place of KWTL, but KCEB is yet to show up on Directv or Dish.

 

[Tom_Desmond]

> I've never been able to get KCEB and still can't get
> it......I'm even surprised that the FCC would allow a full
> power station with such a small OTA reception area to even
> go on the air.

A full powered TV station is only required to place a "community grade" contour (80 dBuV) over their city of license. For a community the size of Longview, that really doesn't take a whole lot of power. KCEB far exceeds that requirement.