Citing reception problems, KCTS has filed to move from RF 9 to RF 17 and change the city of license, although it's unclear which city that is. Currently running 21.7 Kw, they have applied to increase to 1000 Kw with the move to RF 17. Not sure why they can't run the 100 Kw that KSTW next door, literally and figuratively, runs. That would take care of much of the problem.
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KCTS files to move from RF 9 to RF 17
- Thread starter valvashon
- Start date
"Flash Cutting" from analog to digital in order to remain on channel 9 VHF was a huge mistake that they would ultimately regret. VHF DTV signals are typically riddled with all sorts of impulse noise.
A megawatt at channel 17 further away from noise, would be far superior to 100kW in the noise. Field strength always wins.
A megawatt at channel 17 further away from noise, would be far superior to 100kW in the noise. Field strength always wins.
The description on RecNet is a bit misleading. What they filed is a "Petition for Rulemaking" which in this context can mean either a channel change or change to community of license. In this case, it is only the former and not the latter.
KSTW's signal isn't a panacea either. It's 100 kW in some directions, but drops as low as 10.8 kW in others, such as in the direction of Bellevue. KCTS is not directional, so in Bellevue, they're seeing 21.7 kW while KSTW looks like 10.8 kW.
- Trip
They're asking for what amounts to an allocation change that would allow them a CP on Channel 17. They're a little late to the game, but unless the Commission sees a problem with it, or another station objects, their proposal will probably get the nod. Around the shuffling for repack, the Commission was open to considering this sort of change if being an VHF didn't work out.
I've dealt with management that just didn't understand about virtual channels, and were so concerned about leaving the RF channel the station had been with since Christ was a corporal. A few years ago I was having a look at a Channel 8 on the market in Nashville for a client. They were giving up their UHF channel for the repack, and planning on moving back to their original Channel 8. Problem was; there were a lot of cable systems in something like 23 neighboring counties that relied on Over The Air pickup. I told my client that moving to Channel 8 would be a huge mistake, potentially meaning the loss of several counties.
I've dealt with management that just didn't understand about virtual channels, and were so concerned about leaving the RF channel the station had been with since Christ was a corporal. A few years ago I was having a look at a Channel 8 on the market in Nashville for a client. They were giving up their UHF channel for the repack, and planning on moving back to their original Channel 8. Problem was; there were a lot of cable systems in something like 23 neighboring counties that relied on Over The Air pickup. I told my client that moving to Channel 8 would be a huge mistake, potentially meaning the loss of several counties.
They could relocate to either Tiger Mt. or Gold Mt. possibly...
That, and potentially having a megawatt ERP right in the center of the I-5 corridor is preferable to several miles East against a mountain range.
The "Petition for Rulemaking" indicator comes from the FCC LMS system. As some have mentioned, it is considered a Petition for Rulemaking as a pleading was filed with the FCC to request an amendment to the DTV table of allotments. After the FCC lifted the freeze on DTV after the conclusion of the repack. We saw about a dozen VHF DTV stations file petitions for rulemaking to move to UHF.
I know this is a little late to the game, but CIVI-2 on UHF 17 has a strong signal here in north Stanwood. I'm not sure how much farther south it can be received but it seems like an issue to me. I have tried different VHF antennas here to no avail to pick up channel 9.
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