Here are a couple of new items of interest regarding upcoming stations, as shown in the latest W9WI listing:

KOTR has requested a couple of changes for their digital channel: a change of city of license from Gonzales to Santa Cruz and a channel change from channel 41 to channel 11. The FCC site no longer has a map available showing the transmitter site location, but if anyone has a way to figure out the coordinates, the channel 11 transmitter will be at 37-06-39/121-50-37 at a height of 2726 feet running 74 watts.

Also, a new translator has been approved for channel 2, K02QQ-D, in Monterey running 60 watts at 36-33-09/121-47-17 from 525 feet.

Larry
SF

The FCC site no longer has a map available showing the transmitter site location, but if anyone has a way to figure out the coordinates, the channel 11 transmitter will be at 37-06-39/121-50-37 at a height of 2726 feet running 74 watts.

Come on, you know where to go for these things. ;)

http://www.rabbitears.info/contour.php?appid=1395056

As usual, click the link below the map to see a Longley-Rice coverage overlay. :)

- Trip

Come on, you know where to go for these things. ;)

http://www.rabbitears.info/contour.php?appid=1395056

I searched for both stations on your site and came up with no listing. I must be going to the wrong place.

Larry
SF

Check the TV Query. http://www.rabbitears.info/tvq.php

- Trip

Here are a couple of new items of interest regarding upcoming stations, as shown in the latest W9WI listing:

KOTR has requested a couple of changes for their digital channel: a change of city of license from Gonzales to Santa Cruz and a channel change from channel 41 to channel 11. The FCC site no longer has a map available showing the transmitter site location, but if anyone has a way to figure out the coordinates, the channel 11 transmitter will be at 37-06-39/121-50-37 at a height of 2726 feet running 74 watts.

Also, a new translator has been approved for channel 2, K02QQ-D, in Monterey running 60 watts at 36-33-09/121-47-17 from 525 feet.

Larry
SF

KOTR's requested transmitter location is on Loma Prieta. KOTR's current analog transmitter on channel 2 covers roughly the same area as the approved K02QQ digital transmitter. Somebody has a problem.

I don't know where 525' came from. Their app shows 378m which is 1240'.

Chuck

I recently moved from Monterey to Seaside (Fort Ord). In Monterey, I bought a Radio Shack Indoor/Outdoor antenna (model 15-2186), and it worked really well. It's an amplified model.
Now that I moved to Fort Ord, I got DirecTV, which, unfortunately, only provides local stations in SD. So now that football season has started anew, I broke out the RS antenna and gave it a try. I can't mount it outside (military housing rules), so I put in in a second floor window facing approx. 051, to get most of the channels listed on Antennaweb. I run in through the houses cabling, down directly into my TV.
Here's the problem--while I'm getting almost all of the channels antennaweb says I should be getting, the one I can't get (and due to my football bent, the most important, behind ABC, which as you all know, we can't get OTA) is KCBA-Fox (35-1). Since it's being transmitted from the same location as the others (Fremont Peak, IIRC?), and I'm getting the others just fine, does anyone know why I'm not getting KCBA?
Thanks in advance! You guys seem to be some seriously knowledgeable folk!

I recently moved from Monterey to Seaside (Fort Ord). In Monterey, I bought a Radio Shack Indoor/Outdoor antenna (model 15-2186), and it worked really well. It's an amplified model.
Now that I moved to Fort Ord, I got DirecTV, which, unfortunately, only provides local stations in SD. So now that football season has started anew, I broke out the RS antenna and gave it a try. I can't mount it outside (military housing rules), so I put in in a second floor window facing approx. 051, to get most of the channels listed on Antennaweb. I run in through the houses cabling, down directly into my TV.
Here's the problem--while I'm getting almost all of the channels antennaweb says I should be getting, the one I can't get (and due to my football bent, the most important, behind ABC, which as you all know, we can't get OTA) is KCBA-Fox (35-1). Since it's being transmitted from the same location as the others (Fremont Peak, IIRC?), and I'm getting the others just fine, does anyone know why I'm not getting KCBA?
Thanks in advance! You guys seem to be some seriously knowledgeable folk!

In another thread they said this is a UHF only antenna. KCBA is transmitting on channel 13. You need a high VHF antenna. Any antenna this small is not going to work well on VHF. You're just lucky to get KSBW.

Chuck

In another thread they said this is a UHF only antenna. KCBA is transmitting on channel 13. You need a high VHF antenna. Any antenna this small is not going to work well on VHF. You're just lucky to get KSBW.
Chuck
No, it's definitely VHF/UHF.
Tech specs from the side of the box:

Impedance: 75 Ohms
VHF: 47-230MHz
UHF: 470-890MHz
Average Gain of Amp: 20dB
Return Loss: 6dB (min)
Noise Figure: 4dB

And like I said, I get almost all of the channels Antennaweb.com says I should be getting (UHF & VHF) except KCBA. Strange thing is, I got this channel when I lived up in Monterey with this same antenna, and that was actually a little farther away from Fremont Peak.
Any other ideas?
Thanks again!

^ If it doesn't work it's because it's inadequate for your current situation. An antenna that small can't perform that well on VHF. You can't defy the physics of antennas. There are no magic antennas even though people come to these forums everyday looking for one. ;-)

One of the most common DTV OTA complaints is poor indoor VHF reception. If you can't get anything larger and/or outside, then you're probably stuck with SD on the satellite. Can you switch to Dish Network? They offer CBS, NBC, and Fox in HD.

Chuck

^ If it doesn't work it's because it's inadequate for your current situation. An antenna that small can't perform that well on VHF. You can't defy the physics of antennas. There are no magic antennas even though people come to these forums everyday looking for one. ;-)

One of the most common DTV OTA complaints is poor indoor VHF reception. If you can't get anything larger and/or outside, then you're probably stuck with SD on the satellite. Can you switch to Dish Network? They offer CBS, NBC, and Fox in HD.

ChuckBut like I said, KCBA worked like a champ for me on this same antenna in Monterey, where I was actually a little farther from Fremont Peak, which is exactly where the other VHF stations that I'm currently receiving are being transmitted from. That was several months ago, so I was just curious if KCBA had changed something (like broadcast location or something?).
As for switching to Dish--I just signed my contract with DirecTV, so I'm locked in for a while. I knew about the SD locals when I signed, but I figured I'd just use the same antenna with the same results I had before--obviously, no such luck.
Oh, well, I'm not that distraught over this. I'm actually far more upset about ABC not having a local affiliate or providing any rebroadcast from the Fremont Peak transmitter. That's the station most of the football games I'm interested in come on.

But like I said, KCBA worked like a champ for me on this same antenna in Monterey, where I was actually a little farther from Fremont Peak, which is exactly where the other VHF stations that I'm currently receiving are being transmitted from. That was several months ago, so I was just curious if KCBA had changed something (like broadcast location or something?).

Nothing has changed with KCBA. Their signal is fine this morning and I'm 115 miles from them but I have real VHF antennas outside on a tower. What worked in another location is completely irrelevant. Reception can change dramatically over a few feet. You might have better luck moving the antenna to a slightly different spot or trying a different antenna.

When it comes to indoor antennas, no one can tell you ahead of time with any certainty what will work and what won't.

Chuck

Nothing has changed with KCBA. Their signal is fine this morning and I'm 115 miles from them but I have real VHF antennas outside on a tower. What worked in another location is completely irrelevant. Reception can change dramatically over a few feet. You might have better luck moving the antenna to a slightly different spot or trying a different antenna.

When it comes to indoor antennas, no one can tell you ahead of time with any certainty what will work and what won't.

Chuck
Gotcha. It clearly seems that you are right in this case. The unfortunate thing is that I'm in military housing, and so I'm not allowed to put up a visible outdoor antenna. I'll experiment a bit more with my little antenna, and hope it helps, otherwise, I guess I'm just SOL.

Check out an indoor antenna called the Silver Sensor.

I am not certain if you have considered this table top antenna but I have had very good luck with it getting all the Monterey-Salinas locals, from the Highway 68 corridor and from Salinas near Pine Street.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B001S0UH4U/ref=sr_1_1_olp?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285618659&sr=8-1&condition=used

It is very direction sensitive and there is a good chance you can find KCBA with it. There are two versions I have seen, one from Philips and one from Zenith. Amazon or eBay surely will have one if your local Radio Shack does not. It works better than my omnidirectional rooftop antenna and is small enough to hide behind most TV's.

Good luck.

Check out an indoor antenna called the Silver Sensor.

I am not certain if you have considered this table top antenna but I have had very good luck with it getting all the Monterey-Salinas locals, from the Highway 68 corridor and from Salinas near Pine Street.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B001S0UH4U/ref=sr_1_1_olp?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285618659&sr=8-1&condition=used

It is very direction sensitive and there is a good chance you can find KCBA with it. There are two versions I have seen, one from Philips and one from Zenith. Amazon or eBay surely will have one if your local Radio Shack does not. It works better than my omnidirectional rooftop antenna and is small enough to hide behind most TV's.

Good luck.

I wouldn't recommend the Silver Sensor for 8.1 or 35.1. I have one collecting dust for failing me on rf 9 & 10. The bi-directional classic bowtie kicks it in the pants for vhf high. Radio Shack has this antenna for about 4 bucks. It's an equal to the SS on uhf as well, and far more versatile in location options.

Gotcha. It clearly seems that you are right in this case. The unfortunate thing is that I'm in military housing, and so I'm not allowed to put up a visible outdoor antenna. I'll experiment a bit more with my little antenna, and hope it helps, otherwise, I guess I'm just SOL.

It's too bad you can't at least get an antenna outside the house, even at a low level. VHF signals (i.e 8 and 13) don't penetrate through buildings nearly as well as UHF signals do. You can often double your signal strength of the VHF signals by just putting the antenna outside.

Do you have a planter or some flowers on a deck? Hide you indoor antenna out there and run a coax extension to your TV. I think you might find the signals for 8 and 13 to be much stronger.

Good luck!

Larry
SF

Oh, well, I'm not that distraught over this. I'm actually far more upset about ABC not having a local affiliate or providing any rebroadcast from the Fremont Peak transmitter. That's the station most of the football games I'm interested in come on.

mustanger,

Since there is no local ABC afilliate, FCC rules allow Directv to provide you with an ABC affiliate in HD from another market. You are eligible to receive KABC Los Angeles in HD via DirecTV. Unfortunately you don't get a choice of which ABC affiliate you get. So you can't request KGO in SF for example. But they will definitely grant you access to KABC HD.

You will need to call Directv and be very persistent - not all of the Directv customer service folks are aware of the rules. Ask for supervisors and if you don't get satisfaction keep calling back until you do.

I have had KABC HD for several years, but it took me a couple of calls before they would grant me access. A friend of mine in the Monterey DMA had to make about 5 calls before they turned it on for him.

Last I recall it costs a couple of bucks a month on your bill.

Good luck!

A new low power digital channel is now broadcasting on channel 22 from Salinas. It is KLFB and it has 4 subchannels--all offering religious programming.

A new low power digital channel is now broadcasting on channel 22 from Salinas. It is KLFB and it has 4 subchannels--all offering religious programming.

To my amazement, I was able to see it here ..... 132 miles away. And it only has 880 watts in my direction but the antenna is 3654'. It had an SNR of 20 dB while at the same time KMMD-LD on 39 had an SNR of 26 dB.

22-1 and 22-3 was religious programming. 22-2 was 3ABN (Spanish) and 22-4 had a color bar display with religious audio programming.

Chuck

After many years of hoping that DirecTV would bring HD locals to the Salinas/Monterey/Santa Cruz market, I finally put up an OTA antenna. I wasn't optimistic because I live in Aptos in a valley with tons of trees all around. antennaweb.org showed I'd be able to get 8-1 and (with an amplifier) 35-1.

I put up a Channel Master 4228HD large directional antenna and it is up about 25-30 ft off the ground. I didn't install an amplifier, at least not so far.

I'm pleased to find that I can get 8-1, 35-1, 46-1 and 50-1 (plus available subchannels). The channel that I want that is unavailable is 25-1 KQET and/or 54-1 KTEH. From what I can tell Channel 25 is broadcasting from Fremont Peak so I'd expect to receive it also but so far no dice. Not even a peep of any signal.

Not having PBS HD is a bummer given that we watch quite a bit of programming on PBS.

Any suggestions?

David

25 comes out of Watsonville. Is Fremont Peak the location to aim?

I did try a sweep of directions with no positive result for 25. But from what I can tell online, it does come off of Fremont Peak, just like Channel 8 and 35.

After many years of hoping that DirecTV would bring HD locals to the Salinas/Monterey/Santa Cruz market, I finally put up an OTA antenna. I wasn't optimistic because I live in Aptos in a valley with tons of trees all around. antennaweb.org showed I'd be able to get 8-1 and (with an amplifier) 35-1.

I put up a Channel Master 4228HD large directional antenna and it is up about 25-30 ft off the ground. I didn't install an amplifier, at least not so far.

I'm pleased to find that I can get 8-1, 35-1, 46-1 and 50-1 (plus available subchannels). The channel that I want that is unavailable is 25-1 KQET and/or 54-1 KTEH. From what I can tell Channel 25 is broadcasting from Fremont Peak so I'd expect to receive it also but so far no dice. Not even a peep of any signal.

Not having PBS HD is a bummer given that we watch quite a bit of programming on PBS.

Any suggestions?

David

KQET is on Fremont Peak as is KSMS (67). Do you get KSMS? Probably not. 8 & 35 are on VHF which penetrates trees much better than UHF. 46 is on Mt. Toro which is a completely different location.

Do you actually receive KFTY channel 50? That seems kind of unlikely from Aptos since KFTY is on Mt. St. Helena north of Santa Rosa. Or are you receiving KTEH 54 which actually transmits on 50?

What's a bit surprising is that you're using a UHF antenna to successfully receive VHF yet it's not working for all UHF. You must have a lot of trees and/or hills. You still have low power analog stations 23 and 29 which are on Fremont Peak. What do those pictures look like? If they're poor, that would explain the problem.

Can you post a link to your TVFool results so we can have a look?

Chuck

KQET is on Fremont Peak as is KSMS (67). Do you get KSMS? Probably not. 8 & 35 are on VHF which penetrates trees much better than UHF. 46 is on Mt. Toro which is a completely different location.

Do you actually receive KFTY channel 50? That seems kind of unlikely from Aptos since KFTY is on Mt. St. Helena north of Santa Rosa. Or are you receiving KTEH 54 which actually transmits on 50?

What's a bit surprising is that you're using a UHF antenna to successfully receive VHF yet it's not working for all UHF. You must have a lot of trees and/or hills. You still have low power analog stations 23 and 29 which are on Fremont Peak. What do those pictures look like? If they're poor, that would explain the problem.

Can you post a link to your TVFool results so we can have a look?

ChuckHere are the TVFool results. They are much more optimistic than what I'm seeing.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3dcef319d399b718

Interestingly my nearby neighbor is getting 25 and 54, but we have many more trees here and he seems to have a better line of sight.

I don't get 67. I'm getting Channel 50 and whatever it is broadcasting isn't what KTEH would broadcast! I also see Channel 22 but that programming isn't of interest to me.

Thanks for any help you can provide. If you have better ideas for an antenna I'm very glad to consider them.

I'm in Aptos and get 25-1 quite well. my guess is you have to go higher with the antenna. Im at about 50+ ft (20 foot pole on a three story house). Good Luck!

Here are the TVFool results. They are much more optimistic than what I'm seeing.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3dcef319d399b718

Interestingly my nearby neighbor is getting 25 and 54, but we have many more trees here and he seems to have a better line of sight.

I don't get 67. I'm getting Channel 50 and whatever it is broadcasting isn't what KTEH would broadcast! I also see Channel 22 but that programming isn't of interest to me.

Thanks for any help you can provide. If you have better ideas for an antenna I'm very glad to consider them.

I would agree that your antenna needs to be higher. On UHF it's almost essential that you clear the local ground clutter when you don't have line of sight to the transmitters. TVFool shows you have a 2 edge path to Fremont Peak which makes reception more difficult.

Are you using a rotor? Since the stations you want are in different directions, a rotor would be required.

You must be receiving KTEH 54 which transmits on 50. KFTY 50 is impossible from where you are. It's not even on the list. KTEH has several sub channels but no HD channel. Channel 22 is KLFB which transmits from about the same location as KION. That seems to be a good direction for you.

You could try a preamp. Something with about 20 dB of gain would be good. That would give you about 5-6 dB more signal on UHF which would help if KQET is just below the digital cliff. If multipath is your problem, then a preamp won't do anything.

Chuck

I just noticed on the Satellite Guys uplink report that KEYT ABC Santa Barbara has been added to the program line up for Dish Network in the Salinas/Monterey market. Congratulations! You now have ABC HD!

Larry
SF

Great news! That will save me about 100 bucks a year. I have been out of action as my 722 crashed but the new one will arrive today!

About FN time I don't have to pay all american direct anymore!

BTW it's Channel 3. Thanks for the update Larry like always!

Several weeks ago I started picking up KSBY ch6 from San Luis Obispo (RF 15) about 50% of the time. I am in Soquel. Anyone know if they have changed anything?
Keith

Several weeks ago I started picking up KSBY ch6 from San Luis Obispo (RF 15) about 50% of the time. I am in Soquel. Anyone know if they have changed anything?
Keith

I would think that analog low power station K15CU on Fremont Peak would give you too much interference to receive KSBY on 15. I wonder if K15CU might have gone off the air? I can longer see a weak station like that up here since KBSV digital came on the air on 15 and wiped it out.

Chuck

Keep an eye out for two more HD stations on Dish Network in Monterey-Salinas. Both KQET and KSMS have been uploaded to the 129 satellite, KQET on channel 5274 and KSMS on 5278, but neither has been made available for viewing yet.

Larry
SF

COOL, I get KQET HD OTA but looking forward to KSMS HD. Plus im getting spoiled-getting duplicate channels via sat and ota with 722 really gives me a lot of options on how to use the tuners....wish I could get a 722 K....but thats another story for anothor thread....

Hey, they are actually going to use a sub-channel for something good.
http://www.ksbw.com/station/26197122/detail.html
I suppose it will not be HD, but better than nothing..
Keith

I suppose it will not be HD, but better than nothing..
Keith

I have zero inside information, but don't bank on SD until you see SD.

http://www.rabbitears.info/oddsandends.php?request=dualhd

- Trip

I did a scan and had a strange result. On my Samsung tuner, I get duplicate ch
38 extensions;
38.1 Univision HD 1080i
38.1 AYM
38.2 Telefut
38.2 MCOD
38.3 LATV
38.3 MEX
38.4 38.4
On my DishNet VIP622 it only gets 4 channels on 38
38.1 Univision
38.2 MCOD
38.3 MEX
38.4 38.4
I am wondering if there is another RF channel on the air using 38 as a virtual
channel and my Dish receiver is confused just as it is when ch27 broadcasts as
ch0. I guess I will dig out the Zenith and see what it says.
Keith

It sounds like you may have picked up KPMR from Santa Barbara, which is on physical 21 but maps to 38-x. Unless something has it confused with KSMS.

- Trip

Yup, that's it! I punched in 21 and it went to 38. I am not receiving it today. I get KSBY ch6 (RF 15) sometimes too. I am on a hill near Santa Cruz and can see down the Salinas valley. Thanks! Keith

I can now receive ch 27 on my DishNetwork VIP622 receiver. It used to show
channel 0 (zero) and would not add, now I see;
27.1 THIS TV
27.2 CTN (but blank screen)
27.3 COOL TV (but blank screen)
27.4 A1TV (sports?)
Also KMBY ch 19 Salinas/Monterey has changed;
19.1 USPORTS (blank screen)
19.2 ESTV (Estrella)
19.3 KMBY (channel for lease)
19.4 THIS TV
Keith

They added pictures of the Channel Master Parabolic antenna feed in case anyone wants to make one;
http://www.rocketroberts.com/cm4251/cm4251.htm
I made a feed from a CM two-bowtie to aim into my Scala Parabolic antenna. It works great.
Keith

Well, they said that last night was the last night of WX on 8.2 and that ABC would be coming in the spring. It is still wx this morning. Keith

A response to my query;
Dear Keith,
Yes, when we start to broadcast KSBW_ABC Central Coast, it will be on Digital Channel 8.2 for free over the air in HD like KSBW_NBC 8.1. Some shows are not in HD and some technical difficulties make it hard to bring continual HD content but we are working on it!
As for the paid providers, this you must contact the service for more details. I can tell you right now that a few of the cable services do carry us in HD and one of the satellite services as well. The other's do promise to rebroadcast us in HD. As a paying customer to those services we ask that this be brought to there attention since the paying customer will have more voice then us as content provider's
Thank you for the note and thanks for watching KSBW!
Have a great day!

Mike DeLaRosa
Assistant to the President
Programming Coordinator

According to the Uplink Report on the Satellite Guys web site, two new local stations are now available on Dish Network in the Monterey/Salinas market:
5274 KQET 25
5278 KSMS 67
They're on the 129W satellite.

Larry
SF

Noticed KQET HD last week here in Santa Cruz; very pleased to get PBS in high-def at long last!

According to a notice by Comcast in today's Herald, Comcast is scheduled to drop
KGO on April 18.

I assume this means that is the date KSBW will begin airing ABC on 8-2.

It will be on Dish and cable too, Direct TV in June.
http://www.ksbw.com/video/27241730/detail.html
Keith Trinity

OTA tuner in the Samsung is fine, the show info is correct. But my Dishnetwork VIP622 has the wrong guide for 8.2 OTA.
(I don't see 8.2 on the Dish yet, and KEYT 3 ABC is still available)

Station ID from the samsung is "CC ABC". On the 622 it shows "CC A" and pulls up some unknown guide info, IE on now is "The Bat" and coming up is "Father Knows Best" instead of "Regis" and "The View" respectively.
I want to get the OTA guide to work so I have that extra tuner available to DVR!
Maybe I can edit the name to get it to pull the right guide???
8.1 is "KSBW-T", short for "KSBW-TV"
Keith Trinity in Soquel

According to the uplink reports on Satelliteguys.us, KSBW 8.2 has replaced KEYT on Dish Network channel 5270 today and is listed as KSBWD. It is also shown in the guide as channel 16.

KEYT was moved from channel 5270 to channel 9191, SD only. It is shown as channel 3.

From the looks of this, you now have both ABC stations on Dish, one in HD, one is SD.

Larry
SF

Hey folks.

I'm up in Santa Cruz with a Comcast basic package. I was getting KSBW in HD on channel RF90-1 but that's gone. I've rescanned and can only get KSBW in standard TV now, not HD.

Anyone know what gives?

I live in Santa Cruz in the Westside area right by UCSC campus off Nobel Dr. I am currently using a Mohu Leaf antenna as I've read those get pretty good reception. Right now I only want to try to get a few local channels in HD (NBC 8.1, ABC 8.2, FOX 35.1, and KION CBS 46.1) as I only watch these channels.

I can receive 8.1, 8.2 and 46.1 fine, but for some reason I can't get 35.1 clearly. And if I do get 35.1 by moving my antenna, I won't receive 46.1.

Can anyone help? Would I need one of those directional antennas? I'm not terribly far away from the towers (~35 miles) but I do have a lot of tree cover nearby and I am in the middle apartment of my complex, maybe this has to do with it.

Perhaps it has to do with my Mohu Leaf being a UHF antenna. I think 35.1 and 8.1 and 8.2 are VHF right?

Can anyone recommend me a good lower profile, or smaller indoor VHF antenna?

Yes, 35 (RFch 13) and 8 are VHF. I suggest trying a settop rabbit ears type that has both rod elements for VHF and a loop or something for UHF. That way you can adjust one without changing the other. Of course getting something outside or in the clear would be better yet. There are some low power stations that you could get... Keith

I live in Santa Cruz in the Westside area right by UCSC campus off Nobel Dr. I am currently using a Mohu Leaf antenna as I've read those get pretty good reception. Right now I only want to try to get a few local channels in HD (NBC 8.1, ABC 8.2, FOX 35.1, and KION CBS 46.1) as I only watch these channels.

I can receive 8.1, 8.2 and 46.1 fine, but for some reason I can't get 35.1 clearly. And if I do get 35.1 by moving my antenna, I won't receive 46.1.

Can anyone help? Would I need one of those directional antennas? I'm not terribly far away from the towers (~35 miles) but I do have a lot of tree cover nearby and I am in the middle apartment of my complex, maybe this has to do with it.

Perhaps it has to do with my Mohu Leaf being a UHF antenna. I think 35.1 and 8.1 and 8.2 are VHF right?

Can anyone recommend me a good lower profile, or smaller indoor VHF antenna?

Can anyone tell me if ch2 KOTR is transmitting in the Monterey Bay area?
Keith WE6R

Yes, KOTR is still on analog 2. I just checked.

Chuck

For those interested in the details of TV station changes, here is a summary of what's happened in recent weeks in the San Francisco, Sacramento and Monterey markets:

RF 11 new station for Monterey dismissed
RF 11 KOTR Santa Cruz 1.85 kW on Loma Prieta Mt. - construction permit approved
RF 25 KOVR 13 Stockton now transmitting at 1000 kW
RF 26 KTFK 64 Stockton now transmitting at 850 kW
RF 32 KFTY 50 Santa Rosa is now KEMO airing Azteca America as of October 1. They have requested a power increase to 50 kW
RF 32 K32KK Stockton 5 kW at 272 feet to transmit from Hughson - construction permit approved
RF 39 K39JM Sacramento power increase to 15 kW - construction permit approved
RF 40 KMMC 40 San Francisco has switched to digital airing MTV-TR3S from Mt. San Bruno. They applied to increase their power from 3.2 to 44 kW. I don't know what they're running now.
RF 42 KPIX 5 translator Napa 1.28 kW on Mt Vaca - construction permit approved
RF 43 KMCE Monterey channel change from 46 to 43 and power increase to 15 kW - construction permit approved
RF 45 KBCW 44 San Francisco now licensed for 1000 kW
RF 49 K49KS Santa Rosa is licensed for digital operation at 1 kW with transmitter at 341 feet northeast of Santa Rosa (Has anyone seen this station on the air?)
RF 50 KTEH 54 San Jose call sign change to KQEH
RF 51 KBTV 8 Sacramento has requested a move from ch 51 to ch 27

Source: AVS Forum, W9WI monthly updates and FCC website

Larry
SF

Another new low power station has been authorized for Monterey. It's K07ZK-D which will operate on channel 7 from Mt. Toro at 2487 feet HAAT (Height Above Average Terrain) with 300 watts.

KDJT has a construction permit for channel 33 from Fremont Peak running 9.2 kW at 2405 feet HAAT. Supposedly they've been operating as channel 67.2 from KSMS's transmitter on channel 31, but they've had a Special Temporary Authority to operate on channel 33 until they get they new transmitter and antenna installed. Are they still operating on KSMS's transmitter and has anyone seen a signal on channel 33? I want to keep my DTV station list up to date, but have to rely on you folks to keep me updated. Thanks.

Larry
SF

Larry,

KDJT was still on analog 33 the last time I checked about a week ago. I'll let you know if that changes. And yes, they were on KSMS 67.2 the last time I had conditions good enough to receive it. KSMS is surprisingly weak here.

Well great..... a new station channel 7. Just what I don't need. I'm finally getting KGO most of the time and now a potential source of interference might show up. I can always hope they never build it like most of the other LPs that have gone unbuilt. If they build it, there will be times when it completely over powers KGO.

Chuck

Thanks for the update on KDJT, Chuck.

Larry
SF

Larry,

I checked KDJT today and there is no signal there. Analog is definitely off. I cannot see any digital signal on 33 pointed in that direction. I'll keep an eye on it to see if a new signal shows up or if the old one comes back on.

Chuck

Thanks, Chuck.

To all of you in the Salinas-Monterey area, if you see any new digital stations or any changes in what you find on the air, please let me know so that I can keep my Digital Channel list up to date for your area. (See link below for the list.)

Larry
SF

For those interested in the details of TV station changes, here is another summary of what's happened in recent weeks in the San Francisco-San Jose, Sacramento-Stockton and Salinas-Monterey markets:

RF 7 K07ZK Monterey - new station has been approved for channel 7 running 300 watts from Mt. Toro
RF 21 KMUV Monterey - analog station on channel 23 has been approved to go digital on channel 21 with 1 kW from Fremont Peak. Station has applied for increase in power to 4.5 kW.
RF 27 KBTV 8 Sacramento - has been granted a change of channel from channel 51 to channel 27
RF 27 KTSF 26 San Francisco - has been granted a power increase to 858 kW
RF 33 KDJT 33 Salinas - station has been approved to go digital with 9.2 kW from Fremont Peak
RF 40 KMMC 40 San Francisco - station has requested power increase from 3.2 to 6 kW. Previous request for increase to 44 kW was rejected.
RF 42 KAXT 1 San Jose/San Francisco - station has been granted a power increase to 1.5 kW

Source: AVS Forum, W9WI monthly updates and FCC website

Larry
SF

I'm still hoping that someday DirecTV will add the Monterey Salinas channels as HD locals. I'm using an antenna for a couple of them but it sure would nice to get them all in HD rather than the 2 channels I reliably receive OTA.

Any word on 2012?

Correction:

RF 42 KAXT 1 San Jose/San Francisco - station has been granted a power increase to 15 kW, not 1.5 kW

Larry
SF

KMCE is now transmitting digital on RF 46, Monterey Salinas market.
.1 Azteca
.2 Mega TV (color bars)
.3 PGM3 (color bars)
.4 TV FE (color bars)
Note; they are still on analog 43 too (Azteca).
And 100% signal strength with lots of pixalating.
Keith Trinity

It looks like on or around January 12 KSMS increased power from 50KW to 1000KW.

Chuck

There have been quite a few changes in the Monterey-Salinas area in the past couple of months... new channels, analog stations going digital, networks like Universal Sports going off and replaced by another service, etc. Would someone down there be willing to take a look at my DTV Station Lists linked below and compare it to what's actually on the air in your area? I mainly need to know about program changes on the sub-channels so that I can keep my list up to date.

Thanks, in advance, for your help.

Larry
SF

Hi, Just moved to Monterey and I'm looking for some info on getting local HD channels. It appears that they aren't available here through DirectTV and Comcast is really expensive. Using www.antennaweb.org it looks like at the least I could receive Fox (WCBA) and NBC (KSBW) over the air which is good enough for me. Has anyone else living in Monterey/Pacific Grove had success getting this channels over the air and if so, what antenna has been the most successful? Thanks, any info will help.
-scm

Hi, Just moved to Monterey and I'm looking for some info on getting local HD channels.
-scm

For the most accurate report on what you should be able to get, go to tvfool.com (weird name, but it works real well), put in your exact address and it'll give you a list of all the stations you should get, shown in order of strength. It also shows the direction of the stations' transmitters from your home.

Anything in the green area you should get with just a small antenna. As you go down the page you'll see stations that are in the yellow area that you can get with a larger antenna. You might even be able to get a station or two in the pink area, but those are usually too weak to receive without a major antenna installation high in the air.

If you go to my Broadcasting page linked below you'll find a section on antennas. Most of companies will indicate the coverage of the antennas they're selling using the codes shown in the TVFool report, so you'll be see what you'll need. Make sure you get an antenna good for both VHF and UHF as there are stations on both bands in your area.

Larry
SF