WPVI DTV Reception Problems

[hankswat]

At the DTV transition in June 2009, WPVI's signal was terrible. The FCC granted a power boost and it was satisfactory at my Mount Laurel location. However, all this year, the reception has been marginal. I suspect that the FCC took back some of the boost. I have a large vhf/uhf antenna, with a preamplifier and booster. I am 20 miles from the transmitter. I called and emailed WPVI a numerous times. Their technical engineer stated that WPVI would be building a polarizing antenna and to go online this pass summer. Don't know if this happened. I receive numerous uhf channels nd cannot understand why WPVI stayed with vhf. As I understand, with uhf, the FCC can grant a large power output, but not for vhf and especially the low band vhf. Are you having problems as well and do you have any additional information that may help me?

 

[cd637299]

I cannot speak for WPVI's CE, but as a DXer, the story of WPVI intrigues me.

I understand that WPVI has been looking for another channel to use, but there are none available.....Add to that, low-band TV antennas are not made in the same quantity as once was. DTV antennas, I understand, are mostly cut for UHF, or hi-band (channels 7-13) VHF/UHF.

I think that any TV station that's running on a channel < 7 would desire to move.

I caught KCWX's signal here in south Florida in June (KCWX serves San Antonio & Austin). There was a thread in SA/Austin about *their* issues of signal locally. (After relating my catch of KCWX DT channel 5 on that board, someone told me "at least the signal is going somewhere!"

Even more troubling is FCC's pondering deleting channels 5 & 6, so both KCWX and WPVI have a problem!

cd

 

[Sammi Brie]

I cannot speak for WPVI's CE, but as a DXer, the story of WPVI intrigues me.

I understand that WPVI has been looking for another channel to use, but there are none available.....Add to that, low-band TV antennas are not made in the same quantity as once was. DTV antennas, I understand, are mostly cut for UHF, or hi-band (channels 7-13) VHF/UHF.

I think that any TV station that's running on a channel < 7 would desire to move.

I caught KCWX's signal here in south Florida in June (KCWX serves San Antonio & Austin). There was a thread in SA/Austin about *their* issues of signal locally. (After relating my catch of KCWX DT channel 5 on that board, someone told me "at least the signal is going somewhere!"

Even more troubling is FCC's pondering deleting channels 5 & 6, so both KCWX and WPVI have a problem!

cd

Where'd you hear about the removal of 5 and 6?

 

[cd637299]

It was talked about here on the board.....my not be official at all.

My bad, if FCC hasn't considered it.

cd

 

[nd2023]

WPVI's been logged on e-skip and tropo this year, so at least they too are going somewhere. But I agree that channel 6 VHF is not a good spot for digital.

 

[Jefferson]

If they're being received somewhere, it's definitely not here in Norristown (approx 7 miles from Roxborough). Yeah, it's bad if I'm able to receive WNJS-DT (RF channel 22) better than WPVI.

 

[LA_Guy]

WPVI was breaking up on DirecTv most of Sunday morning during the parade. Proof that they signal is SO BAD that even the satellite companies have trouble picking it up. I can't receive it at all here in Bryn Mawr. What IDIOT kept them on low band VHF, especially when they could ahve had a kick ass signal like 8 and 10 do on UHF?

 

[w9wi]

It was talked about here on the board.....my not be official at all.

My bad, if FCC hasn't considered it.

They've considered it but to my knowledge there is no formal proposal on the table.

 

[joshzz]

It is sad. I reside in South Jersey and have not seen their programming in sometime. Haven't seen Action News in a long time.

I could go FIOS or cable but why spend the money.

 

[ajc_trw]

KTTV FOX-11 had some reception issues so they had KAZA RF 47 carry the channel in SD as 11.3 from Catalina Island.

WPVI should look at WTVE for some space to run ABC-6 in either SD or HD. As ABC is 720p there would be space left for WTVE to continue on without much disruption, especially if they do an HD-Lite or what WPVI is doing with Live Well.

When I was in Dover, DE I got WTVE quite well with an attic aerial, though I was getting WMAR with an indoor loop.

 

[LA_Guy]

I cannot speak for WPVI's CE, but as a DXer, the story of WPVI intrigues me.

I understand that WPVI has been looking for another channel to use, but there are none available.....Add to that, low-band TV antennas are not made in the same quantity as once was. DTV antennas, I understand, are mostly cut for UHF, or hi-band (channels 7-13) VHF/UHF.

cd

.

Not true. If they wanted a UHF channel, they could have a channel in the 30s. All they have to do is move station on the channel now in Reading to another channel, which is avaliable for them to use.

 

[w9wi]

Not true. If they wanted a UHF channel, they could have a channel in the 30s. All they have to do is move station on the channel now in Reading to another channel, which is avaliable for them to use.

25, for WTVE. I'd have to do the math to figure out whether channel 25 can be moved any further east.

 

[tripinva]

Not true. If they wanted a UHF channel, they could have a channel in the 30s. All they have to do is move station on the channel now in Reading to another channel, which is avaliable for them to use.

25, for WTVE. I'd have to do the math to figure out whether channel 25 can be moved any further east.

WTVE already transmits from Roxborough via DTS. Given that KYW is adjacent and WNYE is on the other side, a move east for 25 is not an issue. Spending the money on it is the issue.

I'd actually wonder where WTVE would go now. That's my big question.

- Trip

 

[8638]

It is sad. I reside in South Jersey and have not seen their programming in sometime. Haven't seen Action News in a long time.

I could go FIOS or cable but why spend the money.

No problems with WPVI DT since the STA to upgrade ERP. I'm in Central New Jersey, Ocean County, near Toms River. My problem child is WTXF. The station that had the best analog signal now has the worst digital. The slightest touch of tropo, rain, etc. wipes them out. Annoying, as I like the programming on FOX. Unfortunately, WNYW from New York isn't much better.

Digital TV is very much a mixed bag. When it works, it rocks. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work. Here on the coast, tropospheric ducting during spring, summer, and fall sometimes wipes out all reception. Analog would get snowy, sometimes co-channel, but you'd still see something. Not so with digital.

 

[trolleyk]

WPVI-DT is still basically STILL non-existent in Bensalem, PA. Poor very poor results for Channel 6.

 

[Bill_W]

I was at a car repair shop in West Chester and they have ota tv. All channels there except 6 and 12, the two that moved back to VHF. Don't know if they had a UHF only antenna on the roof.

 

[stevations]

In Virginia Beach KYW 3 on 26 is the strongest (when conditions allow reception to the Philly area) Most of the others stations are about the same signal strength. I see WHYY 12 just as well as the UHFs. In over a year I have only seen a signal from WPVI 6 once and that was just a small movement on the signal strength indicator, no picture or even a ID indication. I have a 8 bay antenna with a Winegard PA 8275 V/U amp and rotor at 20 feet. I was able to get a semi local WSKY DT 4 in NC when they were on Ch 4 so I don't think it is all about my antenna being a UHF/Hi Band design. Ch 21 in Salisbury MD is showing a signal (not always watchable) most of the time. WMGM 40 on 36 is not very strong. Ch 18 in N. Jersey comes in good when Jersey is hot. Have not seen NYC DTV yet. Long Island 55 on 47 is a regular in the summer. WMAR 2 on 38 is another strong one when there are temperature inversions.

 

[[email protected]]

Most times in New Gretna,Nj most channels come in clear except for the WHYY Channels. I got 5 channel 48's 48.1, 48.2...ect and many 35's....but the 12's don't come into well...if not at alll.....

New Gretna(bass River Township, Burlington County) is 58 miles from Philadelphia.

BTW it would not work at all unless I used
the old style twin lead wire.....

 

[danwxman]

Hate to bring up the old thread but...

I'm in western Center City and can't receive WPVI or WHYY over the air. Granted, I'm on the first floor of a large apartment building. Still, surprising that the signal can't penetrate when I'm so close to the tower farm.

 

[stevations]

I am not sure but I think the problem is that channel 6 and 12 are still on vhf while most stations are on UHF now. Wikipedia says ch. 12 is 20 kilowatts and ch. 6 is 30 kilowatts which is not a lot of power.