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Phoenix analog shutoff videos now posted on YouTube

dhett

dhett

I was able to get five of the eight shutoffs - KTVK 3, KPHO 5, KPNX 12, KNXV 15 and KTVW 33. Problems with the DVD recorder prevented me from getting KSAZ 10 and KASW 61, and a bonehead mistake kept me from getting KUTP 45. (8:25 AM not PM!)

See the video clips at http:www/youtube.com/dhettesh.
 
I watched the analog throw switch vids of CBS5 and KPNX.
I was surprised by a lack of legal ID's.
When a transmitter is turned off for the night or forever, isn't a legal ID required?

Just wondering.
 
Very nice collection, Dave!

A question: KPNX mentioned that various translators would be off for "a few days to as much as a week". Why?

Are they converting those to digital? Or will it just take that long for the engineers to be able to get up there and feed the new digital signal to the analog translators? ;)
 
desertskies said:
I watched the analog throw switch vids of CBS5 and KPNX.
I was surprised by a lack of legal ID's.
When a transmitter is turned off for the night or forever, isn't a legal ID required?
Click to expand...

ROFLMAO!!! Uh, yes it is required, but why don't you ask Gumpdusky? ;D
They haven't IDed Lumberyard 1440 at sign-off for years!

As for the analog TVs, maybe it's the case of "what are you gonna do,
fine us? We're not coming back on--ever. You (FCC) took our license!" :D
 
OhioMediaWatch said:
Very nice collection, Dave!

A question: KPNX mentioned that various translators would be off for "a few days to as much as a week". Why?

Are they converting those to digital? Or will it just take that long for the engineers to be able to get up there and feed the new digital signal to the analog translators? ;)
Click to expand...

Thank you.

RE: KPNX - I'd guess the latter, although I don't know why. None of their translators are in terribly remote locations, and weather certainly doesn't play a factor at this time of year. And it's not as if they didn't have time to get the translators ready. In contrast, KNXV signed off at 12:01 am, saying that their translators (co-located with KPNX's) would be back on by 6 am. Maybe, to borrow the SNL spoof, they're Gannett. They don't care. They don't have to.
 
oldiesfan6479 said:
desertskies said:
I watched the analog throw switch vids of CBS5 and KPNX.
I was surprised by a lack of legal ID's.
When a transmitter is turned off for the night or forever, isn't a legal ID required?
Click to expand...

ROFLMAO!!! Uh, yes it is required, but why don't you ask Gumpdusky? ;D
They haven't IDed Lumberyard 1440 at sign-off for years!

As for the analog TVs, maybe it's the case of "what are you gonna do,
fine us? We're not coming back on--ever. You (FCC) took our license!" :D
Click to expand...
The sudden drop out of 10pm playback from CBS5 was one thing, but Curtis couldn't simply say "KPNX, Mesa-Phoenix" and throw the switch?
KAET and KUAT came the closest to legal ID's before throwing the switch.
Apologies for the anal-retentiveness.
CBS5 should have wrapped the playback and then do the switch.

From looking at the videos at YouTube, the switch was like "digital" getting away from a bad date ("analog").
"Digital" didn't have the stones to say good bye or good night.
 
dhett said:
RE: KPNX - I'd guess the latter, although I don't know why. None of their translators are in terribly remote locations, and weather certainly doesn't play a factor at this time of year. And it's not as if they didn't have time to get the translators ready.
Click to expand...

I'm curious what equipment an analog translator uses to bring in the digital signal. Maybe they have to install circuits or microwave lines or something, if that location is remote enough that you can't pick up the Phoenix-based DTV signal off-air with a big antenna.
 
desertskies said:
The sudden drop out of 10pm playback from CBS5 was one thing, but Curtis couldn't simply say "KPNX, Mesa-Phoenix" and throw the switch?
Click to expand...

I doubt it had been planned to do so, but even if it was, I don't think Curtis could have ID'd the station. I got the impression the engineer killed the analog before Curtis was ready.

desertskies said:
Apologies for the anal-retentiveness.
Click to expand...

No apology needed, but anal retentive isn't hyphenated. ;)

desertskies said:
CBS5 should have wrapped the playback and then do the switch.
Click to expand...

I'll give KTVK and KPHO a break, as they haven't actually signed off analog yet. From the e-mail I got from KTVK, I'll be surprised if they do anything but shut off the transmitter at the end of their analog nightlight, but I hope they sign off before KPHO does. I think it would be fitting for KPHO to be the last to shut off analog, having been the first station in Arizona, and I hope at that time, they have some sort of tribute in addition to a full signoff, but I won't hold my breath.

desertskies said:
From looking at the videos at YouTube, the switch was like "digital" getting away from a bad date ("analog").
"Digital" didn't have the stones to say good bye or good night.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't you, if your date was costing you as much as analog cost the stations? ;)
 
OhioMediaWatch said:
dhett said:
RE: KPNX - I'd guess the latter, although I don't know why. None of their translators are in terribly remote locations, and weather certainly doesn't play a factor at this time of year. And it's not as if they didn't have time to get the translators ready.
Click to expand...

I'm curious what equipment an analog translator uses to bring in the digital signal. Maybe they have to install circuits or microwave lines or something, if that location is remote enough that you can't pick up the Phoenix-based DTV signal off-air with a big antenna.
Click to expand...

I'd be surprised if Gannett were bringing any signals into their translators OTA. The only ones they own are in Prescott, Payson and Globe, and while all are within easy OTA reach, those few I would think would be fed by microwave, as well as local portions of KNAZ's broadcast.

The other translators are run by other entities, such as Mohave County, Verde Valley TV Club in Camp Verde, and Palo Verde TV Club in Blythe CA. Those are the ones that could experience lengthy outages, especially the latter two.
 
Oh, that explains a LOT...the non-owned translators.

I'd still have expected a better effort to switch them around, and help from KPNX (and the other Phoenix stations) before the transition...to ensure less of an interruption.
 
dhett said:
desertskies said:
The sudden drop out of 10pm playback from CBS5 was one thing, but Curtis couldn't simply say "KPNX, Mesa-Phoenix" and throw the switch?
Click to expand...

I doubt it had been planned to do so, but even if it was, I don't think Curtis could have ID'd the station. I got the impression the engineer killed the analog before Curtis was ready.
Click to expand...

From what I understand, Gannett bought an used lamptimer from Gumpdusky, just for this occasion. ;D
 
KeithE4 said:
dhett said:
desertskies said:
The sudden drop out of 10pm playback from CBS5 was one thing, but Curtis couldn't simply say "KPNX, Mesa-Phoenix" and throw the switch?
Click to expand...

I doubt it had been planned to do so, but even if it was, I don't think Curtis could have ID'd the station. I got the impression the engineer killed the analog before Curtis was ready.
Click to expand...

From what I understand, Gannett bought an used lamptimer from Gumpdusky, just for this occasion. ;D
Click to expand...

Naw, if they had done that, the analog would have shut off 13 sec. after he told them to. :D
 
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