There is an article in the Ottumwa Courier about the problems faced by the Ottumwa Area Translator System. Apparently they are trying to move to a new tower due to problems with the existing one south of Ottumwa. Much of Ottumwa is within the Des Moines River valley and reception of the Des Moines stations is pretty much impossible if you live in the valley. Even on higher ground, the signals from Alleman are tough to pick up clearly at 80 miles.
http://www.ottumwacourier.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15404651&BRD=2575&PAG=461&dept_id=513091&rfi=6
When I moved to Ottumwa in 1979, they were K74CO with KCCI and K78BZ with WHO. My understanding is that channel 74 originally carried KCRG (KTVO was a CBS affiliate in the 60's) and that there was a also translator on channel 71 for KHQA, which was owned by Lee Enterprises (owner of the local paper and KHQA).
In the late 80's the 70-83 channels were given over to cellular, and KCCI moved to K23CI and WHO moved to K27CV. K25DE was added around that time, first carrying KDSM and later KYOU after they moved their transmitter site to Richland. In town, we used the translators until we got cable, and when we moved to the country, they provided a better signal than the Des Moines stations.
In addition to the OATS translators, Ottumwa has K33AA, which carries Iowa Public TV's KIIN. It is supposed to be increasing power and moving to channel 18, since KTVO signed on their digital signal on channel 33. Does anyone know if 18 is on the air yet?
I hope they and IPTV can get the translators back on the air and develop a plan for the digital conversion. The area has a lot of low-income and elderly folks who now will have to pay $15/month for lifeline cable (in town) or do without (in the country). I realize that TV is not a necessity in life, but there is benefit in people having access to news from their state capital and quality educational programming. In my 20+ years in Ottumwa, I don't remember seeing any fundraising activities for OATS, and just assumed that the TV stations carried provided support.
http://www.ottumwacourier.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15404651&BRD=2575&PAG=461&dept_id=513091&rfi=6
When I moved to Ottumwa in 1979, they were K74CO with KCCI and K78BZ with WHO. My understanding is that channel 74 originally carried KCRG (KTVO was a CBS affiliate in the 60's) and that there was a also translator on channel 71 for KHQA, which was owned by Lee Enterprises (owner of the local paper and KHQA).
In the late 80's the 70-83 channels were given over to cellular, and KCCI moved to K23CI and WHO moved to K27CV. K25DE was added around that time, first carrying KDSM and later KYOU after they moved their transmitter site to Richland. In town, we used the translators until we got cable, and when we moved to the country, they provided a better signal than the Des Moines stations.
In addition to the OATS translators, Ottumwa has K33AA, which carries Iowa Public TV's KIIN. It is supposed to be increasing power and moving to channel 18, since KTVO signed on their digital signal on channel 33. Does anyone know if 18 is on the air yet?
I hope they and IPTV can get the translators back on the air and develop a plan for the digital conversion. The area has a lot of low-income and elderly folks who now will have to pay $15/month for lifeline cable (in town) or do without (in the country). I realize that TV is not a necessity in life, but there is benefit in people having access to news from their state capital and quality educational programming. In my 20+ years in Ottumwa, I don't remember seeing any fundraising activities for OATS, and just assumed that the TV stations carried provided support.