WFAA Reducing Power Oct. 27 '08

[smasch]

WFAA has been scrolling a crawl line message about their DTV, but they got it so fast it's like car ad legaleze. So I checked the station's web site and what do you know, I actually found a semi-useful snippet of information:

To prepare for the DTV transition scheduled for February 17, 2009, WFAA-TV will reduce its analog power beginning October 27, 2008. Most viewers will be unaffected by this slight power reduction. Some viewers who watch over-the-air TV on an analog TV may need to take action to continue receiving the station. Possible options include:
• using a digital-to-analog converter box
• subscribing to a cable or satellite service
• using a TV with a built-in digital tuner

So are they moving or lowering the antenna? How much power are they reducing? How is this going to affect (heavily populated) Denton and Collin counties? (which already get generally crummy signals, by the way)

Does anyone know of other DFW stations doing this?

 

[tripinva]

They have to do this in order to convert half of their analog 8 transmitter in preparation for digital. They're currently on 9 and will be moving back to 8 next year, this is the first step in converting.

They are halving power, from 316 kW ERP to 158 kW. That's 3 dB and should not be very noticeable to most people. Antenna isn't moving.

- Trip

 

[Slambang]

Now, if they only could get their digital signal to work with a inside HD rabit ear setup, then I wouldnt have an issue....

 

[tripinva]

Now, if they only could get their digital signal to work with a inside HD rabit ear setup, then I wouldnt have an issue....

Right now, channel 9 has some interference concerns so they're limiting power. They're doing about 18 kW. On channel 8, they'll boost to 30 kW and then, if the FCC grants it, they want to go up to 45 kW.

- Trip

 

[eskipper411]

i get crummy signal too up here in Decatur but now i probably wont be watching 8 now. Stupid people at WFAA.

 

[Megapsycle]

i get crummy signal too up here in Decatur but now i probably wont be watching 8 now. Stupid people at WFAA.

But you have a 500-600 ft avg elevation advantage in Decatur so I bet you should still receive it OK.

 

[Kent]

When I lived in west Ft. Worth in '96, 8 was the toughest VHF channel for me to receive. I got lots of ghosting during the signal. I remember my sister visiting me and saying, "She [Gloria Campos] would look a lot better if she didn't have an '8' on her face!" I always found it odd that I could get 4, 5 and 11 with no trouble as their towers are in the same general area.

 

[eskipper411]

i get crummy signal too up here in Decatur but now i probably wont be watching 8 now. Stupid people at WFAA.

But you have a 500-600 ft avg elevation advantage in Decatur so I bet you should still receive it OK.

i already get it at 74-78 percent so i must have barely no advantage... we will see and i will report back to you Megapsycle.