Latest Area Repack Developments

[channel99]

I live in Fall River, MA and I dont get either WSBE and WCEA-LD.

WSBE has been off the air for about a month while work continues on their new RF channel 2 transmitter and antenna. They expect to return to the air around 10/31. Because their previous RF ch 21 signal was relatively low in power, though still considered a full power station, the new RF 2 signal should have a larger coverage area, though subject to the local interference problems that plague low VHF channels.

WCEA-LD transmits from the John Hancock building on RF ch 45 with 15 KW in an odd pattern that goes mainly southeast and northwest. They will be moving to RF 36 at the same power but in a more circular pattern.


.

 

[alg2468]

I live in Fall River, MA and I dont get either WSBE and WCEA-LD.

WSBE's over the air signal was shut down on September 20th; the latest is that its over the air signal will be on again starting October 31st on RF2. WCEA-LP 26 - with its RF on ch 45 - transmits from the John Hancock Tower in Boston at only 15 kw so its signal contours do not reach too far, and it holds a CP to move to RF 36.

 

[alg2468]

WSBE's over the air signal was shut down on September 20th; the latest is that its over the air signal will be on again starting October 31st on RF2. WCEA-LP 26 - with its RF on ch 45 - transmits from the John Hancock Tower in Boston at only 15 kw so its signal contours do not reach too far, and it holds a CP to move to RF 36.

WSBE's new signal is set to debut today, but so far nothing and they probably will not start the new signal today because of the rainstorm which will be coming this afternoon and tonight.

 

[channel99]

WSBE's new signal is set to debut today, but so far nothing and they probably will not start the new signal today because of the rainstorm which will be coming this afternoon and tonight.

And it seems there are other problems on the tower - the repack move for WLNE, and probably WJAR, did not go as smoothly as it seemed. WLNE today applied for special temporary authority to run at less than half of their allocated 465 KW. WJAR is not mentioned, but could be at reduced power also. It appears the design engineers may have missed something.... That should not directly affect WSBE, unless there is tower work planned right now for this new issue.

https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076f916e19b16d016e23a3bea913a3

Support for Request for Special Temporary Authority to Operate with Reduced Power
WLNE Providence License LLC (“Licensee”), licensee of WLNE-TV, New Bedford,
MA (“WLNE” or the “Station”), respectfully requests Special Temporary Authority to operate
on its post-repack channel 24 at reduced power from what is required to cover its post-repack
construction permit (see File No. 0000034491). The Station discontinued operations on its pre-
repack channel on October 25, 2019. Licensee has learned that, due to the ERP of a station with
whom WLNE shares its post-repack antenna, additional antenna and/or transmission line work
will be required to enable WLNE to operate at 465kW. In the meantime, the public interest
would be served by permitting WLNE to continue broadcasting on its post-repack channel 24 at
200kW while the Station explores and implements engineering solutions to resolve the issue.

 

[alg2468]

Hopefully this will be resolved soon before the cold and stormy winter weather sets in. The way I am reading the filing, WJAR could also be affected and when the issues are resolved the corrected signal could be better than it was since October 25th.

And it seems there are other problems on the tower - the repack move for WLNE, and probably WJAR, did not go as smoothly as it seemed. WLNE today applied for special temporary authority to run at less than half of their allocated 465 KW. WJAR is not mentioned, but could be at reduced power also. It appears the design engineers may have missed something.... That should not directly affect WSBE, unless there is tower work planned right now for this new issue.

https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076f916e19b16d016e23a3bea913a3

Support for Request for Special Temporary Authority to Operate with Reduced Power
WLNE Providence License LLC (“Licensee”), licensee of WLNE-TV, New Bedford,
MA (“WLNE” or the “Station”), respectfully requests Special Temporary Authority to operate
on its post-repack channel 24 at reduced power from what is required to cover its post-repack
construction permit (see File No. 0000034491). The Station discontinued operations on its pre-
repack channel on October 25, 2019. Licensee has learned that, due to the ERP of a station with
whom WLNE shares its post-repack antenna, additional antenna and/or transmission line work
will be required to enable WLNE to operate at 465kW. In the meantime, the public interest
would be served by permitting WLNE to continue broadcasting on its post-repack channel 24 at
200kW while the Station explores and implements engineering solutions to resolve the issue.

 

[alg2468]

According to the Rabbitears website, WYCN, which was the NBC Boston station until recently, is now in Providence, but I'm not sure if it is on the air yet or when it will happen.

https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=wycn

 

[channel99]

WCRN-LD

WCRN-LD is now on the air - virtual ch 31-1, RF 30. The only ID is "ITV" which is ITV, Hong Kong, and they were broadcasting in Chinese earlier, but there is now news in French from "France 24".

 

[channel99]

WCRN-LD is now on the air - virtual ch 31-1, RF 30. The only ID is "ITV" which is ITV, Hong Kong, and they were broadcasting in Chinese earlier, but there is now news in French from "France 24".

They are off the air now - so probably were just testing.

 

[ssetta]

I still can’t get WGBH.

 

[Channel 83]

Does anyone know if WPRI is having technical difficulties of some sort?

WPRI is missing on my TV today, even after doing a channel scan, and my viewing location is under 10 miles from the transmitter.

 

[channel99]

Does anyone know if WPRI is having technical difficulties of some sort?

WPRI is missing on my TV today, even after doing a channel scan, and my viewing location is under 10 miles from the transmitter.

The signal appears normal and strong at 35 miles at 8 PM.

 

[channel99]

CBS tower work completion not expected until spring

Boston TV will not be back to normal until spring. WBZ filed today a "Tolling" waiver request with the FCC to extend their construction permit, originally expiring at the end of January, until April.

The Town of Needham, where the CBS tower is located, held up progress by requiring American Tower to arrange for a "Special Permit" to install the new master antenna at the top. That is apparently nearly resolved, but American Tower's crew will not be back until the end of January to resume work. There are also weather factors. This affects the other stations still planning to move back from the Cabot Street tower.


https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076f916ec6ebf9016ec7ff1a540a4b

 

[alg2468]

WSBE-TV Providence

WSBE-TV's new signal on RF2 went on the air today. So far its a pretty strong signal. I'm surprised it went on the air earlier than I expected. WSBE's website said they needed several days of good weather before they could put the signal on the air.

I am also receiving a strong signal from WCRN-LD PSIP 31 on RF30 now showing France 24 programming. I never received the station until today, and also from WWDP/WMFP. I wonder if the weather had something to do with it. But no signal from WYCN on RF36.

 

[Channel 83]

WSBE-TV's new signal on RF2 went on the air today. So far its a pretty strong signal. I'm surprised it went on the air earlier than I expected. WSBE's website said they needed several days of good weather before they could put the signal on the air.

I am also receiving a strong signal from WCRN-LD PSIP 31 on RF30 now showing France 24 programming. I never received the station until today, and also from WWDP/WMFP. I wonder if the weather had something to do with it. But no signal from WYCN on RF36.

alg2468:

Agreed on WSBE. Here at my location (close by to yours)...my TV's signal strength meter is rating it 87 (on a scale of 0 to 100).

As a frame of reference, the other New Bedford / Providence stations signals register at:
WLNE and WPRI 100
WNAC 93
WJAR 78
WPXQ 40

As for WCRN...for me, anyway...it's nothing more than a rumor. Have never picked up WCRN....or WMFP or WWDP either. Ditto for WYCN on RF-36.

 

[Eli Polonsky]

alg2468:

As for WCRN...for me, anyway...it's nothing more than a rumor. Have never picked up WCRN....or WMFP or WWDP either. Ditto for WYCN on RF-36.

WCRN and WWDP are stations that I've only picked up very briefly a couple of times during certain (troppo?) conditions here in Somerville, MA, and those were a couple of years ago, before any recent repack changes.

Haven't seen WMFP or WYCN since their transmitters were moved from Needham.

 

[alg2468]

alg2468:

Agreed on WSBE. Here at my location (close by to yours)...my TV's signal strength meter is rating it 87 (on a scale of 0 to 100).

As a frame of reference, the other New Bedford / Providence stations signals register at:
WLNE and WPRI 100
WNAC 93
WJAR 78
WPXQ 40

As for WCRN...for me, anyway...it's nothing more than a rumor. Have never picked up WCRN....or WMFP or WWDP either. Ditto for WYCN on RF-36.

Interesting that while WJAR is operating at 1000 kW, WLNE is operating at 465 kW (or possibly at its STA of 200 kW) and yet registers a stronger signal. I was visiting family in Lynnfield, MA last week and they had a TV with an amplified indoor antenna (that I built), and while scanning it I was surprised to see that if you rotated the antenna that it picked up - a weak signal with some pixellation at times - from WJAR but a slightly stronger signal from WLNE. WNAC and WPRI had a faint signal but the TV could not decode the signal to produce a picture, and nothing from WSBE. Before the repack in October, WPRI, WJAR, and WNAC had weak signal strength but could almost never decode any signal, and WLNE did not even register a signal. And for the record, WMUR and WENH in NH have never been able to receive any signal.

It seems like the repack really improved WJAR's and even more WLNE's signal.

 

[Eli Polonsky]

Interesting that while WJAR is operating at 1000 kW, WLNE is operating at 465 kW (or possibly at its STA of 200 kW) and yet registers a stronger signal.

I get a much stronger signal from WJAR than WLNE here in Somerville. WJAR almost always comes in fine, often like a local. WLNE is only sometimes watchable, sometimes it's either all broken up or all chopped up, or sometimes it's not there at all. Repositioning my amplified indoor Terk antenna doesn't seem to improve it.

I rarely get anything from any other Providence market stations. I've seen WNAC only very occasionally recently. Haven't seen WPRI for a couple of years. They were both only very occasional when I'd get them. Nothing from WSBE. Only saw WPXQ once a few years ago on a "troppo" night. WLWC was fairly regular until a couple of years ago when the transmitter moved to WPXQ, no trace since then.

 

[Channel 83]

WLWC was fairly regular until a couple of years ago when the transmitter moved to WPXQ, no trace since then.

That reminds me of something. Now that WLWC is sharing the WPXQ signal...whatever happened to the former WLWC tower in Freetown, MA. Is it being used for anything?

It occurs to me that it would probably make a great transmitting location should WCTK or WJFD ever seek a minor modification change.

 

[channel99]

That reminds me of something. Now that WLWC is sharing the WPXQ signal...whatever happened to the former WLWC tower in Freetown, MA. Is it being used for anything?

It occurs to me that it would probably make a great transmitting location should WCTK or WJFD ever seek a minor modification change.

Nexstar owns it now. There may be some cell phone equipment on it. It has had several ASRN numbers due to multiple ownership changes:

https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/AsrSearch/asrApplication.jsp?applKey=4505012

 

[channel99]

Boston TV will not be back to normal until spring. WBZ filed today a "Tolling" waiver request with the FCC to extend their construction permit, originally expiring at the end of January, until April.

The Town of Needham, where the CBS tower is located, held up progress by requiring American Tower to arrange for a "Special Permit" to install the new master antenna at the top. That is apparently nearly resolved, but American Tower's crew will not be back until the end of January to resume work. There are also weather factors. This affects the other stations still planning to move back from the Cabot Street tower.

https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076f916ec6ebf9016ec7ff1a540a4b

More on the work that remains to be done on the CBS tower from an STA extension request by WNEU, which was approved today:

WNEU’s new repack channel antenna was temporarily installed at a lower height to
allow WNEU to cease operations on its pre-auction channel by the phase 4 deadline, and because
WNEU’s new repack channel antenna cannot be moved up to its final position until American
Tower completes additional work needed on top of the tower. The additional tower work needed
includes the removal of an existing double-stacked broadband antenna system shared by four
repacked television stations and two FM radio station antennas, the installation of a new antenna
support structure for the new top-mounted broadband antenna to be shared by the four repacked
television stations, and the reinstallation of the FM antennas, among other things. This work is
currently estimated to be completed in Spring 2020. Accordingly, an extension of the WNEU
STA is hereby requested so that WNEU may continue serving its viewers with its interim
facilities.

https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076ff36efa9535016efb2244ca0341