WCEA-DT:58-45 Boston On The Air

[Uncle Kaimbridge]

First noticed yesterday morning (didn’t decode, just noted a signal on RF-Ch.45 that wasn’t there before, and was too strong and consistent to be the ME or CT stations listed) and confirmed this morning by a call to the station, WCEA-DT——formerly analog Ch.19, briefly 3, then 58——reportedly fired up on Friday and is IDing as Ch.58, transmitting from 'The Hancock.

 

[KML0224]

Is this some sort of a low-power digital station? I know digital 45 from here would be WEDH-TV (PBS) channel 24 of Hartford (transmitter in Farmington, CT).

 

[DJKraze]

It would seem so, here's the FCC database on it

http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=168497

 

[DJKraze]

oh yeah, and then this old nugget as well

http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=10163

 

[dhett]

Its analog coverage on ch. 58 was pretty small, basically Cambridge, Brookline and downtown Boston, with a severe null to the south, as it had to protect full-power WDPX on Cape Cod.

Its digital coverage is notably increased, although it still must protect the aforementioned WEDH.

I know it was not yet operational about two weeks ago, else I would have been able to pick it up when I was in the area.

 

[jlehmann]

Its analog coverage on ch. 58 was pretty small, basically Cambridge, Brookline and downtown Boston, with a severe null to the south, as it had to protect full-power WDPX on Cape Cod.

Its digital coverage is notably increased, although it still must protect the aforementioned WEDH.

I know it was not yet operational about two weeks ago, else I would have been able to pick it up when I was in the area.

They also must be protecting WMEA-DT in Maine.

 

[dhett]

Its analog coverage on ch. 58 was pretty small, basically Cambridge, Brookline and downtown Boston, with a severe null to the south, as it had to protect full-power WDPX on Cape Cod.

Its digital coverage is notably increased, although it still must protect the aforementioned WEDH.

I know it was not yet operational about two weeks ago, else I would have been able to pick it up when I was in the area.

They also must be protecting WMEA-DT in Maine.

Correct - it looked like they were protecting someone else to the NE, but I didn't have a chance to look. WMEA is on RF 45, so WCEA must not interfere with them also.

 

[Uncle Kaimbridge]

Is this some sort of a low-power digital station? I know digital 45 from here would be WEDH-TV (PBS) channel 24 of Hartford (transmitter in Farmington, CT).

Yup, my bad——I meant WCEA-LD (low power DTV). :