I'm in southeast Springfield and just hooked up a converter box to the TV and was amazed at what I was picking up. On sunday morning I was receiving KFSM 5.1, KNWA 51.1, KAFT 13.1, KOAM 7.1, KODE 12.1 as well as all of the Springfield stations. Here are predicted coverage area maps for some of the NW Arkansas stations:

KHOG (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT611262.html)
KNWA (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1006433.html)
KAFT (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1251460.html)
KFSM (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1251292.html)

The maps for KAFT & KFSM are for after they both complete doubling their transmitter power, later this year. KAFT offers alternative PBS programming that KOZK may not have, or may show at different times. They are having format problems until they get some new equipment installed. So, the aspect ratio may not look right for a while on some programming. Being in the VHF band, KAFT is often plagued with the same lightning/electrical interference problems KOLR 10 has for some viewers, particularly in the fringes.

If you can get it, KFSM is a great alternative for folks having problems receiving CBS via KOLR on VHF 10.

They could make it much softer (and most certainly will), but the tones are an FCC requirement. Every time the run a weather crawl they have to run the tones.

My answer to this is not to run the crawl any more than necessary.

BTW KOLR/KSFX has exactly the same weather bug system as KSPR.

How can it be the exact same one? KSPR's can't super over HD, KOLR's CAN.

I'm not convinced No Regard (as cheap as he is) would buy anything Nexstar uses...he would like to actually stay on the air.

How can it be the exact same one? KSPR's can't super over HD, KOLR's CAN.

And why can't KSFX super over HD? If that was discussed already I apologize for not seeing it.

Fox splicer does not allow it at this time.

- Trip

Rhoops, I spoke with you on the phone several weeks ago and described my problem and you had me come out and get an FM trap. I installed it and it did no good. My setup is this. I live 2 miles east of Hwy 65 near Battlefield Road extended. I have a Winegard Square Shooter antenna with amplifier. I am running the antenna through my Dish 722 receiver. I receive all the other channels with readings of 77 to 93. I get nothing on Channel 10. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks.

... I have a Winegard Square Shooter antenna with amplifier. I am running the antenna through my Dish 722 receiver. I receive all the other channels with readings of 77 to 93. I get nothing on Channel 10. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks.An amp that close to the towers should not be needed and often lowers signal quality. If it's possible to disconnect the amp, try that. If that doesn't work or is not possible, get a conventional, unamp'd VHF/UHF antenna. A simple rabbit ear/loop antenna in the attic should work that close. This one (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103077) usually works very well.

The square shooter is a poor choice for VHF. See the antenna thread(s) (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=25) for details.

And why can't KSFX super over HD? If that was discussed already I apologize for not seeing it.
Currently no Fox affiliate in can do that. It's inherent in the design of their Satellite / HD system. It can store and overlay a .jpeg still with the station logo, but that's it.

They have been promising a fix "real soon now" for over a year. I hear it will be coming "real soon now".

Currently no Fox affiliate in can do that. It's inherent in the design of their Satellite / HD system. It can store and overlay a .jpeg still with the station logo, but that's it.

They have been promising a fix "real soon now" for over a year. I hear it will be coming "real soon now".

The installations of the new gear started on the last week of May. (For those who don't know, Fox has a few crews out doing it, it's not something where the local station is sent gear to install themselves.) Who knows when they'll finish.

- Trip

Rhoops, I spoke with you on the phone several weeks ago and described my problem and you had me come out and get an FM trap. I installed it and it did no good. My setup is this. I live 2 miles east of Hwy 65 near Battlefield Road extended. I have a Winegard Square Shooter antenna with amplifier. I am running the antenna through my Dish 722 receiver. I receive all the other channels with readings of 77 to 93. I get nothing on Channel 10. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks.
In order to be effective, the FM trap needs to be before the amplifier. After the amplifier the damage has already been done. With the square shooter, that may not be possible. I think you could see the towers from where you are, and a coathanger or the apocryphal wet noodle should work.

If you can turn off or otherwise disable the amp in the square shooter, I suggest you do that. If you can't do that, almost any set of rabbit ears (without an amp) should work. The rabbit ears should be collapsed to 14" on a side to optimize channel 10.

As an alternative two 14" pieces of wire taped under a shelf or on a stick would make a good VHF dipole antenna. Connect one wire to the center conductor of the coax and the other to the shield, or use a "balun" available at Radio Shack or any similar store.

Balun: a transformer to go from unbalanced 75 ohm coax to a balanced 300 ohm feed on an antenna.

If you want to combine your square shooter's signal with that from your VHF dipole (rabbit ears), you can use a coaxial "splitter" hooked up in reverse to make a "combiner".

When the Dish OTA receivers first came out they had problems with signals that were too strong, and adding an attenuator to cut down the signal helped in some cases. The Dish receiver is "software defined", and I think they fixed that problem more than a year ago.

And, as always, don't forget to rescan following any antenna change.

With Dish boxes, after rescanning you should always force a reload of the guide. Bring up the guide and go to the last day of it, using the right skip key. You should be presented with an option to re-download the guide.

A simple rabbit ear+loop antenna should be all you need at your distance from Fordland. You may be able to just place it behind the TV, or in the attic.

http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1C-2265519w345.jpg (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103077)

If a rabbit ears antenna doesn't work in Springfield then their are something bad wrong with their transmitters?!!!!!

Or the government made a big mistake switching to digital!

You should have excellent reception in Springfield!!!!

This is just speculation on my part... but I always assumed that Fordland was chosen for transmitter location because Joplin/Pittsburg is relatively close to Springfield on the west, while it's a VERY long distance to the east to Cape Girardeau (Isn't it about 175 miles?). So therefore, if the transmitters were right in town, where rabbit ears would work easy as pie... it would leave alot of people in Birch Tree/Eminence/West Plains area in the dark, and you'd get alot of overlapping coverage area in Carthage/Neosho/Monett and such. Since you can't get signal in Thayer, I wonder if anyone gets signal from anywhere in Oregon, Shannon, Dent, Reynolds, and Carter counties.

This is just speculation on my part... but I always assumed that Fordland was chosen for transmitter location because Joplin/Pittsburg is relatively close to Springfield on the west, while it's a VERY long distance to the east to Cape Girardeau (Isn't it about 175 miles?).
That's part of it, but in order for the FAA to allow the 2000 foot towers, they had to be a certain distance from any established airways. There are airways running from SGF Vortac to Maples Vortac near Salem and from SGF to Dogwood Vortac between Sparta and Ava.

The Fordland towers all fit that wedge of real estate between V-190 and V-158 airways.

By 1973,with KYTV to the south and KOLR to the north, there was an established "antenna farm" and it was easy to build others out there. I think there are around 9 towers in that area now.

The towers must also be outside any instrument approach space. The KOLR studio tower is right on the grounds of downtown airport, so there can never be an instrument approach to downtown. Building a tower there was not a problem since the TV statlon and airport were owned by the same people.

Rhoops, Thanks for the quick reply. I have tried all sorts of hookups, with the FM trap before and then after and then without amplifier. Appears amplifier does not do anything for my signal from the other stations, but in no case can I get any signal for Ch 10. I'll try the rabbit ears connection and see if it works.

ARXAW, Thanks for the info. Going to try the rabbit ears.

June 19, 2009


Suddenlink: My 31 still in business


Suddenlink, which provides cable services in the Branson area, has incorrectly told its viewers that My 31, or KWBM-TV, has ceased operations, said Teresa Spencer-Mackey, the television station's general manager.

Pete Abel, a spokesman for Suddenlink, said the company would remove the erroneous message by 4:30 p.m. Thursday while trying to get low-power signals from the station.

"We will take the steps to get the signals," Abel said.

My 31 stopped high-power analog transmission Friday to comply with federal regulations, but the station has yet to digitally transmit its signals, Spencer-Mackey said.

Abel said the cable company last week was informed by the station that it would cease operations but later was told that was not the case.

Spencer-Mackey said Daystar Network, the new owner of My 31, is working to install the digital capability at the station's main tower in Taneyville.

Meanwhile, viewers can see My 31 through cable services or over the air on channels 56 and 58 from a low-power tower in Springfield.

That's part of it, but in order for the FAA to allow the 2000 foot towers, they had to be a certain distance from any established airways. There are airways running from SGF Vortac to Maples Vortac near Salem and from SGF to Dogwood Vortac between Sparta and Ava.

The Fordland towers all fit that wedge of real estate between V-190 and V-158 airways.

By 1973,with KYTV to the south and KOLR to the north, there was an established "antenna farm" and it was easy to build others out there. I think there are around 9 towers in that area now.

The towers must also be outside any instrument approach space. The KOLR studio tower is right on the grounds of downtown airport, so there can never be an instrument approach to downtown. Building a tower there was not a problem since the TV statlon and airport were owned by the same people.

I didn't know that, rhoops. Thanks for the info.

Currently no Fox affiliate in can do that. It's inherent in the design of their Satellite / HD system. It can store and overlay a .jpeg still with the station logo, but that's it.

They have been promising a fix "real soon now" for over a year. I hear it will be coming "real soon now".

Splicer 2.0 is being deployed as I'm typing this.

Splicer 2.0 reportedly fixes this issue. I've seen the list of stations who already have it, and I've seen at least one Nexstar station who just got thiers.

And before you go into a rant about the cost, it costs the end station NOTHING. FOX is picking up the tab.

June 19, 2009


Suddenlink: My 31 still in business


Suddenlink, which provides cable services in the Branson area, has incorrectly told its viewers that My 31, or KWBM-TV, has ceased operations, said Teresa Spencer-Mackey, the television station's general manager.

Pete Abel, a spokesman for Suddenlink, said the company would remove the erroneous message by 4:30 p.m. Thursday while trying to get low-power signals from the station.

"We will take the steps to get the signals," Abel said.

My 31 stopped high-power analog transmission Friday to comply with federal regulations, but the station has yet to digitally transmit its signals, Spencer-Mackey said.

Abel said the cable company last week was informed by the station that it would cease operations but later was told that was not the case.

Spencer-Mackey said Daystar Network, the new owner of My 31, is working to install the digital capability at the station's main tower in Taneyville.

Meanwhile, viewers can see My 31 through cable services or over the air on channels 56 and 58 from a low-power tower in Springfield.

And who cares? They have less regard for the viewer than any other broadcaster in town.

I'm not switching to analog to watch ANYONE. Its not worth it.

As far as I'm concerned Equity doesn't deserve to be rewarded for bad behavior.

Anyone in here have any experince with the DishDtvPal DVR ? Any positive or negative acounts would be appreciated.

Anyone in here have any experince with the DishDtvPal DVR ? Any positive or negative acounts would be appreciated.Have you checked the Dish DTVPal DVR thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1099071&page=281)? Tons of info there, although the thread is huge.

Yeah I started reading on it this morning, it seems as there were problems with it in the initial release of it. Im just starting to do a little research and looking to get one before the fall release of new shows. It has been two months with no satellite, we as a family (two kids) have adjusted nicely.

CBS's first television broadcasts were experimental, often only for one hour a day, and reaching a limited area in and around New York City (over station W2XAB channel 2, later called WCBW and finally WCBS-TV).

The FCC began licensing commercial television stations on July 1, 1941; [on that day, they issued a license] to WCBW, (now WCBS). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS

On Feb 12 1946, the newly completed AT&T inter-city coaxial cable was inaugurated with an experimental broadcast of Lincoln Memorial Services from Washington DC to NBC, CBS, and DuMonts’ stations in New York. This date is commonly referred to as the birth date of television network broadcasting.
[Title;The development of the television network oligopoly. Author;Stewart Long. Publisher;Ayer Publishing, 1979. http://books.google.com/books?id=75YNBUeD2j8C&dq=Stewart+Long+author&source=gbs_navlinks_s ]

The term "chain broadcasting" was used, as the stations were linked together in long chains along the east coast. But as the networks expanded westward, the interconnected stations formed great networks of connected affiliate stations. By 1951, the four networks stretched coast-to-coast, carried on the new microwave radio relay network of AT&T Long Lines.

In 1987, cross-country microwave radio relays were replaced by Fixed Service Satellites. Some terrestrial radio relays remained in service for regional connections. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_network

In 2000, satellite capacity and quality were increased with the transition to digital modulation.

On June 19, the FCC decommissioned NTSC as the terrestrial broadcast standard leaving the ATSC digital terrestrial transmission. CBS Network followed by eliminating SD satellite distribution on June 24 2009, 68 years after NTSC was first licensed to CBS.

Thank you,

Charles Kerman
Manager, Affiliate Systems Engineering
CBS Broadcasting, Inc.

rhoops,
A friend has been trying without luck to get KOLR ever since it moved from ch 52 to 10. His latest purchase is a Winegard AP8275 preamp (http://winegard.com/kbase/upload/2451964.pdf) to use with this Winegard VHF-HI antenna (http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=YA1713). His other antenna is an old-style CM4228, which works well for all the other Springfield DTV stations.

The AP8275 has two FM traps - one fixed and the other variable, which is set to 108mhz at the factory. What FM frequency should he try to block with the variable trap?

rhoops,
A friend has been trying without luck to get KOLR ever since it moved from ch 52 to 10. His latest purchase is a Winegard AP8275 preamp (http://winegard.com/kbase/upload/2451964.pdf) to use with this Winegard VHF-HI antenna (http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=YA1713). His other antenna is an old-style CM4228, which works well for all the other Springfield DTV stations.

The AP8275 has two FM traps - one fixed and the other variable, which is set to 108mhz at the factory. What FM frequency should he try to block with the variable trap?

Winegard makes excellent stuff, and this pre-amp and antenna is exactly what I would buy if I were in that situation.

Channel 10 ranges from 192-198 Mhz. FM stations in the range of 96-99 Mhz are most likely to cause problems (2nd harmonic falls in channel 10).

If there are any stations in close proximity. i.e. within 3 miles, I'd notch out their frequency.

Thanks for the info. I also just found a chart that shows that 89.1 and 106.7 may also interfere with channel 10.

From this article (http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/82716) at TVTechnology.com:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/uploadedImages/TV_Technology/The_Reference_Room/testingDTV2_06102009.jpg (http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/82716)

He doesn't have any FM transmitters in those frequency ranges near his house, so I guess the tunable FM trap won't make much difference.

Winegard makes excellent stuff, and this pre-amp and antenna is exactly what I would buy if I were in that situation...I've heard the AP8275 is pretty good. It's 70 bucks at RadioShaft, but only ~$40 at other online sites.

Currently, thunderstorms are in the nearby area. KOLR is unwatchable at our house, while low power UHF (2kW) K17DL is rock solid.

Any digital TV channel can have sub channels, if the station chooses to do sub channels and has the equipment. Sub-channels have nothing to do with power.

K17DL digital does not carry the CW. It is now a locally produced HD programming channel called Branson Visitor TV (http://www.bransonvisitortv.com/).

Transmitter expert tried to warn FCC of VHF problems:
http://www.kyw1060.com/pages/4609624.php?

Transmitter expert tried to warn FCC of VHF problems:
http://www.kyw1060.com/pages/4609624.php?


I've been lucky and haven't had too many problems, but I wish they all would've just went UHF.

I've heard the AP8275 is pretty good. It's 70 bucks at RadioShaft, but only ~$40 at other online sites.

Currently, thunderstorms are in the nearby area. KOLR is unwatchable at our house, while low power UHF (2kW) K17DL is rock solid.

I have that same amp. It works great. Solidsignal.com seems to have it for the best price online that I've found.

Nope. It doesn't work that way. It may provide a more stable signal within the coverage area. Just don't count on watching KOLR 10 when storm clouds gather.

rhoops,
My friends dedicated VHF antenna + AP8275 was a dismal failure.

I was not aware of that or forgot that! I heard of Branson Visitor TV but was not aware it was on K17DL. On dish they have Ozarks CW called KDL and on channel 17. I think Directv has Ozarks CW called KCZ channel 15. Which was or still is Ozarks CW low power in Springfield MO? Over the air.

Since KYTV 44 would cover Branson, they would be no need for The CW on K17DL.

Yes, the CW is still on 15 analog. Another example of No Regard's lack of concern for the viewer.

Instead of wasting his time and money on a signal virtually no one can watch, he should have converted it to digital and put CW HD on it. Considering the legal issues involved with putting CW on 33-2, this would be the easiest and cheapest way to go.

Frankly, I'm damn sick of this crap. TV stations (and you all know which ones I'm alluding to) need to figure out if we the viewer can't watch their product, they'll never be able to get their advertisers to us, and hence why they're stuck with the lawyers and diploma mills. Who wants to waste their money on an audience that they can't reach?

I, for one, have made the investment in modern equipment and I expect a return on my investment. If No Regard or Nexcrap can't give me that return, I'll get it from someone who can. And I do.

What I don't understand is Memphis TN, and Little Rock AR, towers are shorter than the Fordland MO ones. Memphis towers somewhere in between 300M and 340M. And Little Rock in the 500 M range. But for some reason in my area Memphis and Little Rock jump out of there coverage area better than Springfield does?!!!!

It may have something to do with the "take off area". The area for the first 50 miles or so in your direction from the tower. As I recall that area is low lying and flat as a pancake.

It may have something to do with the "take off area". The area for the first 50 miles or so in your direction from the tower. As I recall that area is low lying and flat as a pancake.

Not only the terrain, but the vegatation, I'd bet that soybeans, cotton, and rice don't absorb signals as much as the Mark Twain National Forest does.

rhoops,
My friends dedicated VHF antenna + AP8275 was a dismal failure.
That's very disappointing. About all that leaves to work with is antenna height.

Dish subscribers in Joplin: are you still getting Springfield locals as substitution for all but Joplin ABC?

I think my problem with TV Reception is there are too many hills in Thayer and around! Are terrain around here is terrible!...JT2009,
If you enter your address at http://www.tvfool.com
On the results, click each individual station to see a graph showing the actual hills in the way, between you and that station. The transmitter will be on the left and your address will be to the far right in the graph.

That's very disappointing. About all that leaves to work with is antenna height.He's max'd out on height, so disappointing is an understatement. He's very pissed right now.

Other stations are doing something about lousy VHF reception. See Trip's "VHF Nightmares" page, here (http://rabbitears.info/vhf.php). Many have fled VHF, while others are simulcasting on UHF or another station's sub-channel.

Why not at least simulcast in SD on KSFX? It would be watchable by more people and regardless of the weather. The bandwidth's already set aside by the FOX splicer.

Nope. It doesn't work that way. It may provide a more stable signal within the coverage area. Just don't count on watching KOLR 10 when storm clouds gather.

rhoops,
My friends dedicated VHF antenna + AP8275 was a dismal failure.


Is that because it's VHF? I was pissed at first because I thought KMIZ wasn't coming in any better for me after transition, but the 13th must have been a bad reception night, as before, when they were at 48KW I would only get unstable signal 1-2 nights a week.. NOTHING in winter. When they bumped it up to 125 KW, I now get solid, dependable signal 5-6 nights a week, and most early mornings, as well. I'm not looking forward to Winter, as I'm afraid I might lose it. You know, I guess south of Fayetteville/Fort Smith, there must be alot of dead area.. I put a couple adresses around Mena in TVfool, and there ain't SQUAT. For sh!ts and grins, I also typed in the coordinates for the top of the mountain at Queen Wilhemina state park, tihinking you would get some AWSOME signal there, but it's not much better. West central arkansas must really be screwed.

Is that because it's VHF?If you're referring to crappy DTV reception during lightning, that's correct. VHF sucks during area lightning events. The lightning doesn't even have to be near the house.

.....You know, I guess south of Fayetteville/Fort Smith, there must be alot of dead area.. I put a couple adresses around Mena in TVfool, and there ain't SQUATMena cannot get much OTA television. Never could get much - even on analog. There are too many hills between there and Fort Smith or Little Rock, for much signal to make it there. The only signal Google Earth shows in downtown Mena is a weak KARK UHF 32 and just a hint of KTHV VHF 12. Both are on the far West tower on Shinall Mtn in West LR.

Why not at least simulcast in SD on KSFX? It would be watchable by more people and regardless of the weather. The bandwidth's already set aside by the FOX splicer.
I mentioned this to KOLR-10 management. They know about this option, although it would require approval of the FCC. For the moment they prefer to work on fixing the original problem. As you know, this is not unique to KOLR and there is going to have to be a national consensus as to how to fix this.

I suspect the ultimate solution will be to move half the VHF stations to UHF and allow a major power boost to the ones that remain.

http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2009/06/26/daily.4/

This link was sent to me by the GM of KOLR.

...I suspect the ultimate solution will be to move half the VHF stations to UHF and allow a major power boost to the ones that remain.At least half. But that will still leave the remaining VHF-ers out in the cold if mobile DTV (being tested in DC) becomes popular. You can't strap a big-a** antenna to a mobile phone handset to watch VHF stations.

Silver Point Finance LLC plans to pay $41 mil for full power KPBI (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1251268.html) (aka TV34). If approved, they will probably convert KPBI's 1200kW analog transmitter to DTV and bring it back from the analog graveyard.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KPBI_(TV)

FCC application (see attachment #11):
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101316268&formid=314&fac_num=81593

Silver Point Finance LLC plans to pay $41 mil for full power KPBI (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1251268.html) (aka TV34). If approved, they will probably convert KPBI's 1200kW analog transmitter to DTV and bring it back from the analog graveyard.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KPBI_(TV)

FCC application (see attachment #11):
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101316268&formid=314&fac_num=81593

Wow! That's a pretty big price for a station with no studio, no programming and no employees, and a transmit facility that is a "fixer-upper".

Typical prices for a working TV station are 10 x earnings, so evidently these folks think they can net $ 4 M / year. I don't think I'd like to be the GM or GSM responsible for digging up that much revenue.

http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2009/06/26/daily.4/

This link was sent to me by the GM of KOLR.

Interesting article, rhoops.

The trouble is, knowledgable people like arxaw have been preaching for years that VHF DTV was going to have big problems. Why didn't anyone listen?

Interesting article, rhoops.

The trouble is, knowledgable people like arxaw have been preaching for years that VHF DTV was going to have big problems. Why didn't anyone listen?
Oh, lots of people listen.... It's a matter of tending to believe the "experts" until they are shown to be wrong. Once the experts are proven wrong, you are in the uncomfortable position of having to do something about it. Like with global warming..... it's easier to just deny there is a problem.

Purely anectdotal experience, but since 2001, the VHF DTV stations I've tried to receive have always been plagued with dropout problems, mainly weather, electrical and tropo/skip interference from other VHF channels or FM radio transmitters. UHF, on the other hand has been immune to most of this interference. It sure isn't the "you can pick it up with a wet noodle" that's been promised by/to so many.

And according to some others on AVS, mobile DTV manufacturers aren't even going to include VHF tuners in the upcoming mobile receivers, because the antennas required to accomplish reliable VHF reception would be ridiculously large.

Too bad so many stations drank the VeryHighlyFubar'd KoolAid.

When are these local yokels going to broadcast local news in HD? KC started this in '07.

When are these local yokels going to broadcast local news in HD? KC started this in '07.
Are you sure it's really HD, or is it a good looking picture in 16:9 format?

KOLR / KSFX's field cameras and studio cameras can do 16:9 and digital SDI. That will probably happen in the next year. Most ENG cameras record to memory cards, and true HD from the field will fill up a memory card pretty fast.

DVCPRO gets 4 minutes per Gigabyte, DVCPRO 50 gets 2 minutes per Gigabyte and DVDPRO HD gets one minute per Gigabyte. These aren't USB flash drives like you get at Best Buy.... I think you can get a 64 GB P2 card for around $ 2200.

So what you're really looking for is a nice 16:9 picture that will fill up your screen, Right?

As for graphic and text information, there are plenty of viewers watching on center sliced 4:3 screens, so all the text has to fit within the old "safe title area". I guess we can put a nice background on those edge pillars, but we certainly can't put sports scores there.

Silver Point Finance LLC plans to pay $41 mil for full power KPBI (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1251268.html) (aka TV34). If approved, they will probably convert KPBI's 1200kW analog transmitter to DTV and bring it back from the analog graveyard.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KPBI_(TV)

FCC application (see attachment #11):
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101316268&formid=314&fac_num=81593

I read the purchase agreement, the actual purchase price is $500k or so.

JT, tropospheric ducting is what allows temporary reception outside a stations normal coverage area. Another phenomenon called "e-skip" can sometimes bring in stations from over 1,000 miles away.

This site has forecast maps for tropo reception:
http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html

Are you sure it's really HD, or is it a good looking picture in 16:9 format?

KOLR / KSFX's field cameras and studio cameras can do 16:9 and digital SDI. That will probably happen in the next year. Most ENG cameras record to memory cards, and true HD from the field will fill up a memory card pretty fast.

DVCPRO gets 4 minutes per Gigabyte, DVCPRO 50 gets 2 minutes per Gigabyte and DVDPRO HD gets one minute per Gigabyte. These aren't USB flash drives like you get at Best Buy.... I think you can get a 64 GB P2 card for around $ 2200.

So what you're really looking for is a nice 16:9 picture that will fill up your screen, Right?

As for graphic and text information, there are plenty of viewers watching on center sliced 4:3 screens, so all the text has to fit within the old "safe title area". I guess we can put a nice background on those edge pillars, but we certainly can't put sports scores there.

No, I'm looking for a true HD broadcast of the news. Just like the ones that KC is feeding to their local audiences. Not stretched sd that "looks nice" but not HD. They are broadcasting an HD signal.

Are you sure it's really HD, or is it a good looking picture in 16:9 format?Some Tulsa stations have HD local news capability, too.

...I guess we can put a nice background on those edge pillars, but we certainly can't put sports scores there.KaTV in Little Rock, tried in-your-face identical logos down both pillars. The first ones were shades of blue and they got tons of complaints. So they changed it to monochrome and still complaints rolled in. They finally removed the obnoxious things and went back to plain black pillar bars.

...With analog I could pick up KAIT 8 with just a rabbit ears! With minor snowy but watchable.

With digital nothing! Unless you hold the rabbitears up to the ceiling in a certain spot. Get only 15% with some pixilation.That's basically been my VHF experience here with KOLR 10 & KAFT 9. Indoor reception was not bad on analog, but virtually impossible with DTV. Building materials that didn't bother analog, seem to mutilate the long VHF waves too much for the DTV tuner to decode.

With outdoor antenna FM Trap and AMP. I could get in analog KEMV 6 PBS Mountain View AR, Clear. But digital KEMV 13, 4.05 kW. Pixilates of a daytime and sometimes no signal...JT, KEMV plans to quadruple power on VHF 13. Once completed, that may give you a lock on it, but a measly 12kW won't stop the interference from lightning and other channel 13s the region.

The last few days (maybe longer, having been out of town last week) KNWA 51 has been very weak and pixellated. KNWA 51 has traditionally been the one station that was strong and consistent, regardless of the season or weather conditions, outside of strong storms. My converter boxes are even having trouble with it, and the Polaroid even missed them on a scan this morning. Anyone else seeing this?

Michael

The FCC has granted KOLR's application for a power increase from 20 KW ERP to 26 KW ERP.

The transmit power was increased Monday 6/29 at 3:30 PM.

This is an increase of 1.1 dB (decibel). 1 dB is generally considered to be just discernable. I don't think there will be a measurable difference in many places, but it shouldn't hurt anything.

Signal reports are welcome.

Each side of the tranmitter is capable of 30 KW ERP, but we will be converting the currently un-used side to digital just in case we need it either as a spare or for the full 60 KW it would then be capable of.

The Larkin transmitter field engineers will have to visit to convert the currently un-used side of the old analog transmitter to digital. This should happen about July 22.

The last few days (maybe longer, having been out of town last week) KNWA 51 has been very weak and pixellated...Anyone else seeing this?Not here. But I'm only 9 miles from the KNWA transmitter and can pick it up with a paper clip stuck in the coax port!

The FCC has granted KOLR's application for a power increase from 20 KW ERP to 26 KW ERP.

The transmit power was increased Monday 6/29 at 3:30 PM.

This is an increase of 1.1 dB (decibel). 1 dB is generally considered to be just discernable. I don't think there will be a measurable difference in many places, but it shouldn't hurt anything.

I don't know if this has been put in place yet, but up here in Camdenton I was getting 78-82% on my receivers, and it is the same right now. Of course it is all relative and depends on time of day, but I'll check it again later.

Are you sure it's really HD, or is it a good looking picture in 16:9 format?

KOLR / KSFX's field cameras and studio cameras can do 16:9 and digital SDI. That will probably happen in the next year. Most ENG cameras record to memory cards, and true HD from the field will fill up a memory card pretty fast.

DVCPRO gets 4 minutes per Gigabyte, DVCPRO 50 gets 2 minutes per Gigabyte and DVDPRO HD gets one minute per Gigabyte. These aren't USB flash drives like you get at Best Buy.... I think you can get a 64 GB P2 card for around $ 2200.

So what you're really looking for is a nice 16:9 picture that will fill up your screen, Right?

As for graphic and text information, there are plenty of viewers watching on center sliced 4:3 screens, so all the text has to fit within the old "safe title area". I guess we can put a nice background on those edge pillars, but we certainly can't put sports scores there.

We should see 2TB cards soon,
The SD Association has announced a new extension to the SD card specification called SDXC (eXtended Capacity) which is set to bring the humble SD card into the next generation of storage mediums. With reported capacities of up to 2TB in the future and read and write speeds of up to 300MB/s, it looks like SDXC has some real potential

signal reports are welcome.


3: 82%
10: 77%
21: 98%
27: 98%
33: 98%

2 miles north of Lebanon

3: 92%
10: 84%
19 (33): 100%
21: 100%
27: 100%

2PM, using rabbit ears.

2 miles north of Lebanon

3: 92%
10: 84%
19 (33): 100%
21: 100%
27: 100%

2PM, using rabbit ears.
Thanks!

The VHF portion of the rabbits ears works best with channel 10 when they are adjusted to 14" on each side.

Thanks!

The VHF portion of the rabbits ears works best with channel 10 when they are adjusted to 14" on each side.


I did this, and it raised the level to 94%. It didn't make much difference on the other tv, it still comes in at about 68%, same south exposure against the exterior wall, all other signal strength values are comparable to the main tv values. I'm guessing it's the ears, but it's a moot point as I have dish network and pay for the locals for dvr options.

5PM
Western Carroll County Arkansas (inside the KOLR coverage area). Outdoor antenna and preamp.

KYTV 44 - 93% - SNR=29.12
KOLR 10 - 60% - SNR=23.12
KOZK 23 - 98% - SNR=33.10 (we have a winner)
KSFX 28 - 93% - SNR=31.75
KSPR 19 - 93% - SNR=32.20

This time yesterday, KOLR 10 was ~72%, but it seems to vary more than the others.

On my other TV (analog with converter box and loop/dipole antenna), I get all of the Springfield DTV stations quite well. Except KOLR digital, which I have never picked up. Analog 10 was great with this same antenna. And yes, the dipoles are virtually horizontal and 14" each.

5PM
Except KOLR digital, which I have never picked up. Analog 10 was great with this same antenna.
Please tell me you have an FM trap in there somewhere.

Please tell me you have an FM trap in there somewhere.Yes, one on the rabbit ear/loop and one on the outdoor antenna. Regardless, there are no FM stations anywhere near my house.

I never expected the indoor antenna to pick up any DTV at this distance (45 to 70+ miles from transmitters). But it does. I can get all the Springfield & Fayetteville DT stations on it except KAFT 9 & KOLR 10.

WFAA 8 Dallas found that horizontally polarized antennas don't work well for VHF DTV. Maybe you are using the wrong antenna. Check around in the Dallas thread.


Going to get a Zenith and a Dish DTV PAL converter box to try! Tomorrow when I come to Springfield!

Any recomendations!Call Sears for DTVPal. Our store carried them for a while, but are out of stock and don't plan to get any more in. The DTVPal Plus is the one you want, though. It has the microtune tuner chipset, which is supposed to work better in weak signal areas than the regular DTVPal. To order online:
http://dtvpal.com
http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=DTVPALPLUS

The Zenith was being sold at RadioShafts & KMarts. Call around for availability. BestBuy also sold the Zenith as the "Insignia" brand. Same excellent converter box - different label. They no longer carry it, but some stores may have a few left. If you can't find the Zenith/Insignia, you can buy one on eBay. Pick a reputable seller with lots of sales and good feedback and you shouldn't have any problems.

No, I'm looking for a true HD broadcast of the news. Just like the ones that KC is feeding to their local audiences. Not stretched sd that "looks nice" but not HD. They are broadcasting an HD signal.

Here's a somewhat "official" explanation from Dale Jacobsen, Production Manager / Executive Producer of KCTV:

---
Quite a conversation you are having! You are correct about our HD broadcast here. KMBC, KSHB and us are all broadcasting in HD on our newscasts. However the HD portion of the broadcast is just the studio cameras. Those are true HD pictures. But all 3 stations are still gathering news with non HD cameras. For us we are using DVC-Pro cameras with a DVC-pro tape. Live trucks are sending back digital signals but of course using the news cameras. Our ENG cameras are shooting in 16 X 9 format. The same is true for all the stations in town. Hope this helps.

Dale Jacobson

Production Manager/EP
KCTV5 KSMO TV

TV stations struggling with viewer loss on Digital TV conversion (http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_12741241)

Here in Parsons,Ks.I'm having problems getting KSN (16.1) Joplin everysince they have came back on the air about a week and a half ago. I have a CM 4882 in the attic. KSN comes in the morning, it varies % wise& in the evening/nite at its highest 70%. Im able to get it now at 42%. I have a 91xg, its outside, for another tv & its pulling in 95% right now. The 4882 does a great job in getting various stations ( not at all times) KFKFSM 5.1, 5.2 KCTV 6.1,6.2, 6.3 Tulsa. That was a nice surprise after the switchover. KQCW 19.1 Tulsa, KFTA, KNWA 24.1,24.2 were on earlier Khog 29.1,29.2 and some ION stations out of Tulsa are on tonite as well. I get the Ky3 stations as well but they havent showed up tonite. ( The 91xg pulls them in regularly) . I guess my question is do I move the 4228? Thats got to be the problem. Its pointed in a southeast direction but I guess not enough. We still have the substation 12.2 that carries NBC programming in 480i.

Attic installs typically attenuate the signal significantly - sometimes as much as half the signal's lost, depending on building & roof materials blocking the antenna and the actual channels you're attempting to receive. Not an issue for folks near towers transmitting at high power, but it can mean the difference in reception/no reception if stations transmitters are anemic or you're far from them.

Why do you use two antennas?
Are you using a rotor on the 91xg?

http://www.televisionbroadcast.com/article/83386

No rotor on the 91xg. When we moved into the house there was an attic antenna (VHF) already there. After plugging my existing tv to it and doing more research I got the 4228. I then decided I wanted an outside setup, found someone who did and hooked it up to the den tv. I still have another 4228 that is sitting in the garage .

Okay, what's with the postage stamp on KOLR this morning?

Its bad enough to have to watch SD but this is downright stupid.

KWBM-DT 31 is on the air this morning........

justpushplay,
Thanks for the heads up on kwbm.

arxaw: Are you able to receive it?

I'm trying to figure out if they're showing Daystar on it or if they've got something else going.

- Trip

No-can-see here.

It's odd, I can easily get K17DL, which is much lower power, and about the same distance.

Anyone else picking up KWBM-DT 31?

After reading about 31 being on the air just now I went to check it out. Yip, it's coming in good here, but it looks like all they are broadcasting are religious programs. Oh well. :(
And to update the KOLR-10 reception for my in-laws in Newton Co., AR, apparently they only saw a picture for one night a couple of weeks ago. It must have been conditions. That night they were getting a signal of 50% to 52%. I was over there a few days after that and the best signal we could get was about 18%. Not near enough for a picture. Needless to say their excitement of being able to get CBS was short lived. While I was there we tried to pull in CH. 18 from Fayetteville with no success. I will check with them soon to see if the "boost" in signal from 20kw to 26kw has made a difference, but from what I've read here so far I doubt that it has.

... their excitement of being able to get CBS was short lived. While I was there we tried to pull in CH. 18 from Fayetteville with no success. I will check with them soon to see if the "boost" in signal from 20kw to 26kw has made a difference, but from what I've read here so far I doubt that it has.bodie1, (cbs) KFSM 18's tower is at Winslow, in SE Washington County. They are going to almost double their transmitter power later this year, from 550kW to 1000kW ERP. That may help many fringe viewers lock it in.

Here's a map of KFSM's predicted coverage area (http://www.fcc.gov/ftp/Bureaus/MB/Databases/fm_tv_service_areas/maps/DT1251292.jpg), after they boost power.

KWBM 31 is coming in fine, now. Must've been off the air when I previously checked. The channel is currently mapping to 31-31 (instead of 31-1), with no PSIP program info yet. They'll likely get all that straightened out eventually. Of course the programming may not be anything worth watching! LOL

Is 31-31 airing Daystar?

- Trip

When I was down at the Lake of the Ozarks again, KOLR 10 was the only channel I had (besides KMOS...duh) that did not break up. All of the other Springfield UHF channels came in, but did break up because I have low signal.

Maybe it's time I get a pre-amp and an FM trap.

I do agree that VHF needs to be cut out on digital despite the fact I receive it just fine. Lightning tears up the signal! I found that out when KMBC in KC was on channel 7. The picture would cut out badly during lightning, and I never had lower than 100% signal on that station.

Is 31-31 airing DaystarYep. Daystar. :(

...I do agree that VHF needs to be cut out on digital despite the fact I receive it just fine. Lightning tears up the signal! I found that out when KMBC in KC was on channel 7. The picture would cut out badly during lightning, and I never had lower than 100% signal on that station.Yep, VHF is useless during storms, at least for many people living any distance at all from the transmitters.

KMBC was smart reapplying for UHF 29 and dumping VHF 7. KATV in Little Rock also dumped VHF 7 for UHF 22. With elliptical polarization, they are now the easiest channel to receive in that market.

I just did a rescan now I'm getting KNWA and KWBM. There IS a noticable difference between KNWA and No Regard's KYTV.

I just did a rescan now I'm getting KNWA and KWBM. There IS a noticable difference between KNWA and No Regard's KYTV.Yep. KNWA's picture quality is usually significantly better, especially on HD sports. The difference is only one sub channel on KNWA and a newer-generation encoder. It's receivable in much of the Southern part of Springfield/Joplin viewing areas (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1006433.html).

I just wish KWNA would fix their audio on local programming. There's no center channel and the audio is right-of-center. It sounds like it's out of phase, too. It's been screwed up for well over a year.

I just wish KWNA would fix their audio on local programming. There's no center channel and the audio is right-of-center. It sounds like it's out of phase, too. It's been screwed up for well over a year.
I'm afraid it's a case of "nobody's home" down there. Their master control is hubbed out of Little Rock and their business office and traffic functions are out of Springfield. I think the chief engineer also does lawn maintenance and serves as the night watchman.

i will be moving to an apartment on east sunshine street in about two weeks. how good do the locals do with just rabbit ear antenna. right now i live in city of eldon and have a very big outdoor antenna and pick up all locals very well. i am really concerned about channel 10 inside the city of springfield. if i don't get channel 10 good should i get a fm trap hooked up as well. if that is the case where would i get one.

i will be moving to an apartment on east sunshine street in about two weeks. how good do the locals do with just rabbit ear antenna. right now i live in city of eldon and have a very big outdoor antenna and pick up all locals very well. i am really concerned about channel 10 inside the city of springfield. if i don't get channel 10 good should i get a fm trap hooked up as well. if that is the case where would i get one.
You should do fine with rabbit ears. Adjust the VHF elements to 14" for best reception on channel 10. Buy a cheap un-amplified set of rabbit ears.

The FM trap needs to go before any amplifier, and you can't do that with some setups. If you start with something cheap, you won't feel bad if you need something better.

You should do fine with rabbit ears. Adjust the VHF elements to 14" for best reception on channel 10. Buy a cheap un-amplified set of rabbit ears.gar1r,
This rabbit ear/loop antenna (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103077) has gotten good reviews on the AVSForum indoor antenna thread. It's also inexpensive and returnable if it doesn't work for you. It also has a heavy duty RG6 coax cable. Most cheap rabbit ear/loop antennas only come with a thin flimsy cable, often RG59. Start simple and don't let RS sales folks poo-poo this antenna, it's actually one of the better performing indoor un-amp'd antennas.

I am using one indoors on a converter box and am getting all of the Springfield channels, except KOLR 10. But I'm ~70 miles away from the towers (elevation 1400'). It should work for ch 10 in town. The dipole rods are for VHF. The "loop" picks up all the other stations in Springfield, which are UHF. Lay the dipole rods down as horizontally as possible and extend each one to 14", per rhoops recommendation. Check the signal strength in your TV tuner menu. If it's weak, try doubling each dipole's length to 28" .

Your biggest problem with VHF 10 may be interference of all sorts, electrical, TVs, computers and FM. Locate the antenna as far as possible from TVs and other electrical devices.

rhoops, is the station still giving out FM traps?

rhoops, is the station still giving out FM traps?Yes, but we've given part of our stock to other Nexstar VHF's in Cape Girardeau and San Antonio.

In Thayer MO on rabbit ears I can get KAIT channel 8 from Jonesboro AR if I duct tape the rabbit ears outside on a pole and hook it to a long enough cable to go inside the house to hook to the converter box! But for me they have to be longer than 14 Inches, because 14 inches don't do anything in my area!
15.1" on each side makes a resonant half-wave dipole at 195 Mhz which is the frequency channel 10 is on. A fully extended set of VHF rabbit ears would be best for channel 2 or 3.

Channel 8 is around 180 Mhz which would be 16.4"

Having a resonant antenna is more important than having a large "capture area".

...Is it possible to get UHF out of a VHF rabbitears?Yes. See the very bottom of this page:
http://www.kyes.com/antenna/rabbitear.html

Yes, but we've given part of our stock to other Nexstar VHF's in Cape Girardeau and San Antonio.

Geez, where are these stations? They're news to me.

Another classic example of Nexstar's high quality engineering department.

Another VHF bites the dust (http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=7019808615).

Another VHF bites the dust (http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=7019808615).

The cover headline of the latest issue of TV Technology magazine reads: 'Reception Problems Vex Transition', but for some reason there is no mention of the magazine headline on their website. VHF stations in Chicago, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Philadelphia, Washington DC. Baltimore, Los Angeles, and Nashville all have experienced problems in coverage after transitioning back to their VHF assignments. So KOLR-DT viewers are not alone in their pain......:-)
rhoops, any updates on another power increase? Or even better, going back to your UHF assignment?

Here's an article on a Colorado Springs station on VHF 10, wanting to revert back to UHF:

http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/83386

And another:

http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/82640

And then this quote, from another article:

“The FCC has done very poor engineering and assigned Channel six and other channels in the VHF much lower power than they should have,” Bendov said. “For example, in the case of Channel six, they probably need as much as 15 times more power in the transmitter than they have now."

Full article here:

http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/82640

justpushplay,
KOLR can't go back to UHF ch 52. That channel has been auctioned off to cell phone companies. I also read that lobbyists (think AT&T, Verizon, et al) had a hand in the fact that VHF was kept, so more UHFs could be taken away for their purposes. You certainly can't use VHF band for cell phones or mobile wireless internet services. And evidently, not for DTV, either. At least not reliably in many parts of the country.

But there are plenty of vacant UHFs in this DMA nexsturd could apply for. If they wanted to. I doubt they give a s**t about OTA viewers any more. Unless of course, their ratings really start to take a dip.

justpushplay,
KOLR can't go back to UHF ch 52. That channel has been auctioned off to cell phone companies. I also read that lobbyists (think AT&T, Verizon, et al) had a hand in the fact that VHF was kept, so more UHFs could be taken away for their purposes. You certainly can't use VHF band for cell phones or mobile wireless internet services. And evidently, not for DTV, either. At least not reliably in many parts of the country.

But there are plenty of vacant UHFs in this DMA nexsturd could apply for. If they wanted to. I doubt they give a s**t about OTA viewers any more. Unless of course, their ratings really start to take a dip.

Why should they care about OTA? When they get paid on retrans consent for every subscriber of Directv/DISH/Cable?

Why should they care about OTA? When they get paid on retrans consent for every subscriber of Directv/DISH/Cable?They don't care. For exactly the reason you mentioned.

Tried to watch KOLR this morning, but gave up due to dropouts. It was lightning North of Springfield. I'm in Arkansas and there was no nearby lightning at the time.

Do the station ID & Logo bugs still say KWBM My31?

I am having trouble with Fox 27 since last night. Just wondering if anyone else had trouble or if anything was going on, or if I should chalk this one up to atmospheric conditions. It has been pretty humid and foggy. I am up at Lake of the Ozarks, and Fox 27's signal has been down in the upper 60's to low 70's where it is normally around 90. Last night it was down in the 50's and dropped out a lot. Other Springfield channels were lower than normal last night, which is why I figured it had something to do with the weather. This morning most Springfield stations are back to normal but Fox 27 is still in the low 70's. I checked my antenna and connections and all looks normal. It's probably the weather but I thought I'd ask.

27 was solid into Columbia last night, as was KOLR and KOAM. Is anyone else not seeing the Service 1 captions on KY3 during the newscasts?

Incidentally, KBBL/56 analog is back on the air running the MY feed from the former KWBM.

Analogs LP/CA (like KBBL) were exempted by the FCC from having to leave the air on 6/12 by the FCC. Yes, they will have to move at some point.

Do you have an amplifier on your outdoor antenna?

Analogs LP/CA (like KBBL) were exempted by the FCC from having to leave the air on 6/12 by the FCC...If the auction winner of channel 56 wants to use the spectrum, doesn't KBBL have to vacate?

I think KBBL would have to be given a 30 day notice or something like that, but yes, they would have to vacate.

- Trip

Trip, thanks!

The VHF exit request list (http://rabbitears.info/vhf.php) grows.

If H.R. 3216 becomes law, the Arkansas counties in the Springfield DMA would be eligible to receive Arkansas networks in addition to the Springfield channels.

http://www.televisionbroadcast.com/article/84014

justpushplay,
KOLR can't go back to UHF ch 52. That channel has been auctioned off to cell phone companies.

Understood. I should have worded it as "going back to 'another' UHF assignment". Doh!

Ratings of KTVT, Dallas' CBS affiliate on VHF plummet 57% after moving DT station from UHF to VHF - Asking FCC to leave VHF band permanently. See:

https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=777231&formid=911&q_num=5200

[ I'd like to watch the news on KOLR 10 in a few minutes, but I can't. It's lightning somewhere in the Ozarks.]

The chief engineer of KOLR will be traveling to Arkansas on Thursday 7/23 to make some field test measurements. He will go to Harrison, then West and East and work his way north through Stone and Taney counties.

Ratings of KTVT, Dallas' CBS affiliate on VHF plummet 57% after moving DT station from UHF to VHF - Asking FCC to leave VHF band permanently. See:

https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=777231&formid=911&q_num=5200

[ I'd like to watch the news on KOLR 10 in a few minutes, but I can't. It's lightning somewhere in the Ozarks.]

I have also had to forgo some KOLR programming due to interference problems. It is really going to be bad when the fall season starts and people get back to their TV's to find they can hardly watch at times. I love KOLR's weather coverage but I started watching KY3's news for the most part. I wonder how KOLR's TV ratings are. It was brilliant of KTVT to spell out reception problems as ratings decreases, which eventually turns into money. Put a price tag on something and it will hopefully get serious.

I have totally lost KOMU from Columbia since the transition from 36 to 8. On 36 they were my strongest station. I have emailed them but heard nothing back. They probably don't care much about Camden county anyway.

I have also had to forgo some KOLR programming due to interference problems. It is really going to be bad when the fall season starts and people get back to their TV's to find they can hardly watch at times. I love KOLR's weather coverage but I started watching KY3's news for the most part. I wonder how KOLR's TV ratings are. It was brilliant of KTVT to spell out reception problems as ratings decreases, which eventually turns into money. Put a price tag on something and it will hopefully get serious.

I have totally lost KOMU from Columbia since the transition from 36 to 8. On 36 they were my strongest station. I have emailed them but heard nothing back. They probably don't care much about Camden county anyway.

KOMU has applied for a power bump-up by 3.7 kW. When implemented, that might help a bit.

The chief engineer of KOLR will be traveling to Arkansas on Thursday 7/23 to make some field test measurements. He will go to Harrison, then West and East and work his way north through Stone and Taney counties.If he wants to experience real-world reception problems firsthand, tell him wait until the afternoon/evening Ozarks T-showers return. That's when your station is basically unwatchable down here.

The Larkin transmitter factory engineers have been in Springfield this week and have converted the other half of KOLR's transmitter to digital operation. At this point it is capable of 60 KW ERP. I don't think we will ever be allowed to use that power level unless KTUL moves off of channel 10.

I think eventually some of the VHF stations will move to UHF and the remaining stations will be allowed to increase power.

One of the difficulties facing a KOLR application for more power is the 2000 ft tower. Currently most of the higher power VHF stations have relatively short towers.

Do any of you know the "secret formula" the FCC uses to balance power levels and antenna height?

Can any of you find a station that has a 2000 foot tower and is running 60 KW ERP or more?

Do any of you know the "secret formula" the FCC uses to balance power levels and antenna height?

Can any of you find a station that has a 2000 foot tower and is running 60 KW ERP or more?

I almost expected to see my name at the end of this request. :D

The formula is a pain in the neck to remember but I wrote a nifty calculator for it on my website so I wouldn't have to remember it. Check out "Max Power vs. HAAT" here: http://www.rabbitears.info/calc.php

At your HAAT, you're about to touch the limit, but might be able to argue 47CFR73.622(f)(5) which allows stations to increase coverage to match the largest station in the market, which might be KYTV. (Not sure about this.)

KHOU has a permit for 60 kW DA at about 1925' HAAT, which is close to your height. The power limit is roughly 33 kW for that height.
http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=khou

Los Angeles has two stations employing a lot of beam tilt but approved for 115 kW and 120 kW, respectively, at an HAAT of 3000 feet.
http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=kttv
http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=kcop

That's all I can think of off the top of my head, but there could be more.

- Trip

If he wants to experience real-world reception problems firsthand, tell him wait until the afternoon/evening Ozarks T-showers return. That's when your station is basically unwatchable down here.

I am a Broadcast Radio Eng. This is good for Radio. TV Stations now recommends turning on Your Local Radio Stations during Storms. HD Radio is the same , but Your tuner goes back to analog when this happens AM or FM HD.

The Larkin transmitter factory engineers have been in Springfield this week and have converted the other half of KOLR's transmitter to digital operation. At this point it is capable of 60 KW ERP. I don't think we will ever be allowed to use that power level unless KTUL moves off of channel 10.

I think eventually some of the VHF stations will move to UHF and the remaining stations will be allowed to increase power.

One of the difficulties facing a KOLR application for more power is the 2000 ft tower. Currently most of the higher power VHF stations have relatively short towers.

Do any of you know the "secret formula" the FCC uses to balance power levels and antenna height?

Can any of you find a station that has a 2000 foot tower and is running 60 KW ERP or more?
YES, Oklahoma City , OK. Famous Antenna Farm N. side of OKC..... Towers are expensive...

I am a Broadcast Radio Eng. This is good for Radio..
This could be a good idea, particularly if there is actually a live person at the controls. I know most clear channel stations have only 1 PIB (person in building) during many hours of the day. By the time the PIB voice tracks a separate announcement for each station the storm danger could be long past.
I guess most are automated to pass through EAS warnings, but you could get them direct from NOAA weather radio.

Do you have a full time gig, or a basket of stations you service on a part time basis? 30 years ago KGBX has 2 full time engineers and one half-time who also did on-air stuff. I suspect most stations now get, at most, a brief monthly visit from the engineer.

I am a Broadcast Radio Eng. This is good for Radio. TV Stations now recommends turning on Your Local Radio Stations during Storms. HD Radio is the same , but Your tunner goes back to analog when this happens AM or FM HD.



You'd think someone who was educated as a broadcast engineer would be able to do something as simple as spell the word "tuner". :ROFL:

KOLR first 631 M or 2071 FT 26 kW I wish 60kw. Power change 3 dB!

KYTV second 628 M or 2061 FT 967kW I wish 1000kW. Power change 0.1 dB!

KOZK third 617 M or 2025 FT 100kW I wish 1000kW Power change 10 dB!

KSPR fourth 575 M or 1887 FT 1000kW

KSFX fifth 493 M or 1618 FT 1000kW

Hope the conversion to FT is correct! The number in Meters is right from the FCC Database! But FT conversion may not be right on the money!

It looks like the height figures are HAAT or height above average terrain.
Basically the towers are 2000 feet tall. The tallest in the country is 2080 feet or so. They just don't let stations build them taller than 2000 feet these days. KSPR and KSFX are side mounted part way up the tower.

Now that KOZK, KSPR and KSFX analog have vacated the KOLR tower, KSFX could move up the tower quite a way. American Tower owns that tower and KSPR had an agreement for a prime position on the tower. KSFX couldn't use that spot even though all parties knew KSPR-DT would never use it.

I think the top of KYTV's new tower is slightly higher than KOLR's when you are comparing AMSL (above mean sea level). There is a subtle one-upmanship there. KYTV's tower was built first and then KOLR's was built on ground just slightly higher. When KYTV built a new tower a few years ago it, in turn, was slightly higher than KOLR's tower. I think all three towers are 2000 feet high. KYTV's original tower was donated to KOZK.

P.S. I'm an engineer with a liberal arts degree so I spel reel gude!

rhoops, so, what did the CE find?

You'd think someone who was educated as a broadcast engineer would be able to do something as simple as spell the word "tuner". :ROFL:

This is true... Or a new keyboard... Note : Don't forget a lot of TV Stations are removing the analog antenna & Moving to the top with a new HD antenna. This will also give them a standby antenna at a lower level. If You know an Eng. at the station good, or You can call & ask. They are as excited with HD as We are. Most would give You update...

FCC Engineers To Take Closer Look At DTV Problem Areas (http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/316319-FCC_Engineers_To_Take_Closer_Look_At_DTV_Problem_Areas.php)

Excerpt:
"According to a source, it will likely dispatch those FCC engineers to do more extensive testing in those markets-including New York and Chicago-where there were reception issues, particularly with VHF stations."

http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2009/07/23/daily.5/ Joplin getting one RTV but KJPX is IONTV. My Network is Major Network and RTV is a Digital Sub Channel like ACCUWEATHER Channel,This TV,DOT2 Network,Universal Sports and so on.

Doesnt Joplin already have one? At least on the analog side channel 35 on my tv.

rhoops, so, what did the CE find?
I haven't had time to hear the entire tale, but tests around the "outer ring" of the coverage area showed a stable and usable signal with his antenna on a 15 foot mast.

There were visits to Radio Shack stores and he found out many stores were selling huge antennas and hi-gain preamps that, in some cases, were making the problems worse.

He took a spectrum analyser and could see dips and spikes in the 192-198 Mhz region in some places. In Cassville there were several strong FM stations and they interacted with Channel 10 and each other in some pre-amps. In those cases a smaller antenna and no or lower gain preamps would work better. More metal in the air (bigger antennas) makes the FM interference stronger and also brings in multipath reflections. A smaller antenna provides a weaker primary (direct) signal, but reduces the weaker multipath reflections to insignificant levels. Finding a "Goldilocks" antenna is not as easy as it might seem.

He also visited several viewers and in most cases found stupid problems. In more than one case the coax feeding the TV set didn't go to the TV antenna. In one case it went to an old satellite dish.

In another he asked the resident if they had metal siding and the answer was no. Upon further questioning it turned out that they had installed aluminum foil beneath the siding. With metal screens on the windows, she was living in a "tin can" a perfect faraday shield. She will just have to get an outdoor antenna.

Another viewer had a large antenna in the attic, but it was pointed in the wrong direction. The multipath distortion was very high.

Another viewer had an FM Trap in a pre-amp, but the switch was corroded and it had to be worked back and forth a few times to work properly.

The next project will contact a number of outlying Radio Shack stores and ask them to send names and addresses of 5 of the "hard case" viewers.

----
On another note Bud Pierce of Pierce electric has a contract with the FCC to assist converter box viewers with their problems. Here's what I heard from him:

--
Talked to Bud Pierce at Pierce Electric today. His company has made over 500 dtv housecalls in our viewing area. He says reception of KOLR10 in Springfield and surrounding communities is much better since we increased power. He said he's only had to install three or four fm traps since June 29, and in some cases they've removed fm traps from antennas in the immediate area because they don't need them anymore. The outlying counties are still having difficulty, but it's a start.

...In another he asked the resident if they had metal siding and the answer was no. Upon further questioning it turned out that they had installed aluminum foil beneath the siding. With metal screens on the windows, she was living in a "tin can" a perfect faraday shield. She will just have to get an outdoor antenna.UHF reception is fine inside my Faraday box (foil backed insulation in the walls and Low-e metallic film glass windows). No indoor VHF reception at all, though, on all dipoles tried. Note the unamp'd UHF loop to the right of the monitor below. It gets KSFX (and all the other Springfield UHFs) @ ~70miles out.
http://i30.tinypic.com/2m5njmr.jpg

I do get KOLR with sufficent signal strength on my outdoor antenna. It's just the stupid impulse noise that makes it so friggin' annoying to try and watch. Your CE needs to get out in the fringes when the afternoon/evening t-storms build up. Yesterday was a beautiful day with no weather related VHF interference.

The FCC uses HAAT, not AGL. Their power limit would be 28.2 kW unless 47CHR73.622(f)(5) applies.

- Trip

I just checked 56, its back to a blank screen. The carrier is on, but nothing's there.

Checking the FCC's database, it appears Koplar's tolling requests for KRBK are stuck and his CP expires 8/11. Anyone wanna guess when he signs on and what he runs?

Checking the FCC's database, it appears Koplar's tolling requests for KRBK are stuck and his CP expires 8/11. Anyone wanna guess when he signs on and what he runs?

I haven't a clue as to what is going on with KRBK, but I wouldn't ever underestimate Ted Koplar. I almost went to work for Harold Koplar when I first got out of college.

Harold Koplar was a fascinating guy. In the 1960's he was worried about the collapse of civilization with the riots in the cities and all. He set up a fortress in the middle of Horseshoe Bend near the Lodge of the Four Seasons. It was very clear to see from the air. I am a private pilot and flew over it many times.

There were a series of lakes within lakes and it was set up so that blowing a few explosive charges would make a very defensible fortress with supplies and communication gear to provide a secure defensible enviroment.

Here's a little bio on Harold's son Ted:

http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2006/09/11/story19.html

I'm in Springfield and receive KAFT and KNWA quite frequently also every now and then KSFM comes in. When these channels were analog I could hardly receive them at all. It seems kind of strange to all of a sudden get these channels crystal clear with the digital signal.

KNWA 50 (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1006433.html) (51-1 & 51-2) is in NE Benton County, Ark. and covers much of SW MO. Both KAFT 9 (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1251460.html) (13-1-2-3-4) and KFSM 18 (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1251292.html) (5-1 & 5-2) have plans to almost double their Effective Radiated Power outputs in the near future. So, reception may improve for fringe viewers.

Too bad KOLR's not getting out of Springfield like it used to.

Hell, I can get KOZK 23 (21-n) dropout-free with an indoor loop antenna, and they're only ~100kW ERP. I'm located well outside their predicted coverage area.

WLS gives up on VHF 7, petitions FCC to move to UHF channel 44.

See bottom of this page at Trip's site:
http://rabbitears.info/vhf.php

Whats wrong with WLS 7 Chicago is there ERP is only 4.75 kW!!!!

KEMV 13 PBS Mountain View AR is at 4.05 kW. And there signal is terrible!!!!

I think what would Improve VHF a lot is if the FCC would allow them to up the power to 50 kw or 100 kw! If VHF still had the 316 kW analog did if would be a lot better!

WLS had already doubled to 9.5 kW under X STA several weeks ago. Wasn't enough.

Can't do 316 kW digital as was available on analog since the peak power on analog was focused in the vertical sync pulse. On digital, the power is (relatively) evenly distributed across the bandwidth of the signal creating an average power that correlates to somewhere between 1/10th and 1/5th of the peak power on analog.

Higher power on a given channel must not interfere with the same channel in nearby markets.

It isn't a simple as just cranking up the power. Think about what happens in a crowed room when someone is speaking loudly. Everyone else has to speak up louder to be heard nearby while anyone on the fringes just hears a din of noise.

PBS stations are notorious for being strapped for cash. They'd have to have more pledge drives, something every one loves, to cover increased operating expenses.

On 7/28/09, KOAM filed an FCC application (https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101324903&formid=301&fac_num=58552) to almost quadruple power from 14.8kW to 55kW ERP.

I understand its not that simple! But the FCC should have assigned channels better than they did! They shouldn't assign same channel numbers to nearby stations that might interfer! They got channels 2-51 to work with! Divide them with the markets! Put same numbers far away from each other! Figure out a plan for low power channels so full power don't bother them and assign certain channels for low power and full power! Set a 30 kW minimum for VHF and 100 kW max! Uhf 100 kW min and 1000 kW max!

Sigh...

It still isn't that simple.

Just because you want something doesn't mean it can or should be done or even that it would produce the desired (in your mind) effect.

That will help [koam] !!!! Wonder if lightning will still affect it?Probably.

KTHV 12 looks like its at 55 kW does anyone know if lightning effects it?It did when I lived in midtown LR, even after KTHV doubled their ERP from 27.5 to 55kW. So, I assume they're still affected by lightning & other noise that plagues the VHF band.

DTV in the US has always been on all 3 bands, VHF-LO, VHF-HI and UHF.

Seems like VHF still has serious problems!!!!

When digital first come out it was mostly on UHF at first! Very few on VHF! The FCC should have studies VHF digital since it wasn't know how well it would worked!!!!!

But if you tell the FCC VHF don't work they think your crazy!!!! But the bottom line is VHF don't work!!!! Lightning is not their friend!!!!

I lost KOLR,KYTV,KEMV,KTHV,KATV,WHBQ, and WMC went analog ceased! I got them snowy before!

Thats pretty bad when lightning effects VHF viewers that live inside the city their broadcasting from!!!!

If I had to guess VHF is too low power!

The power levels for VHF are a lot lower that UHF!

Um, KYTV is on 44 and KATV is on 22. Both UHF!

Um, KYTV is on 44 and KATV is on 22. Both UHF!


He's not going to let a few pesky "facts" interfere with his enthusiasm...

On 7/28/09, KOAM filed an FCC application (https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101324903&formid=301&fac_num=58552) to almost quadruple power from 14.8kW to 55kW ERP.

Could anyone tell me how long it usually takes (on average) for a station to receive (or not receive) the applied for boost in power after they've applied?
It would be great if they get it.

Power boosts that have no interference problems can be approved in under a week.

Power boosts that do have problems can take weeks or months.

Then there's implementation time. I don't know if they're asking for a new antenna or if there's one already on the tower that they're trying to use, but it's not the same antenna they're using now. If they have to have a new antenna, that has to be fabricated, then a tower crew scheduled, etc.

If they don't need a new antenna, it could be done relatively quickly after approval.

- Trip

If they don't need a new antenna, it could be done relatively quickly after approval.

- Trip

Thanks Trip. :)

They have a new tower and antenna as I recall, so perhaps it will be soon. I'd noticed a drop in the signal from there, but attributed it to tree leaves and windy days. Now I'm not so sure. They could have been fiddling with it.

They do have a new tower and antenna, but I think it's the one they're operating now, and they've asked for a different one. Don't quote me on that, though.

Might be worthwhile to call and ask.

- Trip

According to KOAM's engineering statement (https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=779404&formid=301&q_num=5460), they wish to change to a directional antenna already on the existing tower and go from 14.8 to 55kW ERP.

According to KOAM's engineering statement (https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=779404&formid=301&q_num=5460), they wish to change to a directional antenna already on the existing tower and go from 14.8 to 55kW ERP.

Thanks for the correction. :)

If there weren't so many of these FCC things to read, I'd probably read all of them and know this stuff.

- Trip

I live northwest of Joplin on JJ Hwy between Carl Junction and Joplin. I have rabbit ears and can get all the local stations perfectly except for KODE (12.1 & 12.2). Every couple of minutes it cuts out completely for 30-45 seconds then comes back on, but sometimes it doesn't come back and I have to rescan. When it's working, my signal strength is between 23-25 (about the same as all the others). I don't live that far from KODE so I can't figure out why it's doing this. I spoke with one of their engineers and he said they aren't having any technical difficulties, nor could he think of anything in the area that might be causing interference.

In looking for a solution I came across your forum, so I decided to sign up and see if anyone here might have any ideas about what's causing this.

Thanks!

Welcome to the forum.

You're not using an amplified antenna, are you? If so, and you're not far from TV transmitters, it's likely overloading the amp.

This unamplified dipole/loop antenna (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103077) usually works well (at least for an indoor antenna, anyway). The loop on it is a bit larger than many indoor antennas. Result: better reception of the channel KODE is transmitting on. It's worth a try, since it's only $12 and radioshaft will let you return it if it doesn't help.

For the VHF channels in Joplin (not KODE), shorten each one of the dipole rods to between 13-16 inches. Try to position the antenna near a window facing the transmitters. KODE is in the UHF band, broadasting on UHF channel 43, but displays as 12-n on your TV tuner.

Thanks for the correction. :)

If there weren't so many of these FCC things to read, I'd probably read all of them and know this stuff.

- Trip

You know plenty. ;) Thanks for all of that, it makes me feel better not to be in the dark (literally sometimes, screenwise) about all of these changes. I need the distraction from real life that TV gives me, and having a few answers can make my day. I also love messing with antennas around the house so it's all a bonus. :D

Hi arxaw. That rabbit ears in your link is what I have. I'm not using an amplifier of any kind.

The thing that seems odd is that it's only doing it on KODE. KOAM is the only VHF station in the area, all the rest are UHF and they come in great (except KODE).

Wikipedia has some good articles about all the local stations and as I was reading through them I noticed KODE's tower is the shortest of them all, 268m while most of the others are over 320m (KOZJ's is 281m). Could that possibly be it?

I don't think so. A lot of people down here get KODE quite easily. I can get it if I turn my antenna with the rotor.

Maybe you're still getting overload or you're in the "shadow" of the KODE tower, if you're really close. As an experiment, try disconnecting the antenna and sticking a paper clip or short piece of wire in the coax port.

Do you know exactly how far you are from their tower? Enter your street address at TVFool (http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29). On the results page, copy & paste the bold "share link" URL back in this forum.

Isn't KFJX supposed to be on VHF 13?

arxaw I think you've helped me solve it my friend. According to TV Fool I'm 5 miles from KODE and their signal strength is stronger than all of them. It looks to me like the problem is overload. With all the talk of poor reception these days, that's the last thing I expected.

I did the experiment with a paper clip and KODE came in pretty good, a little pixelated but not bad compared to the others which were black. :D

That's true, KFJX is also VHF, it's KOAM's sister station.

Here's a somewhat "official" explanation from Dale Jacobsen, Production Manager / Executive Producer of KCTV:

---
Quite a conversation you are having! You are correct about our HD broadcast here. KMBC, KSHB and us are all broadcasting in HD on our newscasts. However the HD portion of the broadcast is just the studio cameras. Those are true HD pictures. But all 3 stations are still gathering news with non HD cameras. For us we are using DVC-Pro cameras with a DVC-pro tape. Live trucks are sending back digital signals but of course using the news cameras. Our ENG cameras are shooting in 16 X 9 format. The same is true for all the stations in town. Hope this helps.

Dale Jacobson

Production Manager/EP
KCTV5 KSMO TV

This is what I was referring to. Even the national news is only HD in studio and their field reports are non HD and pillared, but thanks for going to all the trouble to try and prove me wrong. I was only interested in knowing if Springfield had plans like this in the near future. While you're at it please write KOLR10 or a local station w/ this request instead of wasting your time to try and prove an obvious point.

arxaw I think you've helped me solve it my friend. According to TV Fool I'm 5 miles from KODE and their signal strength is stronger than all of them. It looks to me like the problem is overload. With all the talk of poor reception these days, that's the last thing I expected.

I did the experiment with a paper clip and KODE came in pretty good, a little pixelated but not bad compared to the others which were black. :D

That's true, KFJX is also VHF, it's KOAM's sister station.I would try a variable attenuator (http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=1296F&main_cat=03&source=googleps) and see if you can dial down the signal strength for KODE. Perhaps you can find a happy medium where it attenuates KODE's signal enough to receive, but still keeping the other stations strong enough for a signal lock. Radioshack used to stock variable attenuators. Check with a local store and see if they still have any in stock. If so, you could return it if it doesn't help.

Another cheap way to attenuate the signal is to insert a splitter in the coax line. A 2, 3 or 4-way splitter might work, and you may have some of these just lying around in a box somewhere. The more splits, the weaker the signal coming out of each tap. If it works, terminating the unused taps with termination resistors (http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=CP2507-10) is a good idea.

Are you using a digital TV? Or a converter box to tune local broadcasts?

KFSM ch 18 (5-n) (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1251292.html) in NW Arkansas already reaches parts of SW MO. Their plan to double transmitter power to 1,000kW ERP is still on track. If you get it marginally now, where you live, it may come in much stronger when the transmitter upgrade is completed.

(NW Arkansas' PBS affiliate) KAFT ch 9 (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1251460.html) (13-n) is also in the process of doubling VHF power from 19 to 38kW. Parts are being delivered next week. So if you get them now, expect possibly better reception before too much longer.

Testing, testing.

1 2 3

I was going to say, did AVS change the forum numbers or something? I haven't seen things this dead in here for a long time!

http://www.tvnewscheck.com/articles/2009/08/12/daily.5/ KPBI coming RTV so Eureka Springs you can still get it.

I was going to say, did AVS change the forum numbers or something? I haven't seen things this dead in here for a long time!


We're all watching DTV?

:D

I check this a lot, too. I enjoy most of the posts even
if they aren't Joplin related. I spent time in Springfield
in the past, and recall being overjoyed to be able to get
channel 27 over the air, because it had Star Trek reruns
on. Of course, that was in the seventies. :)

http://www.tvnewscheck.com/articles/2009/08/12/daily.5/ KPBI coming RTV so Eureka Springs you can still get it.I wonder if they'll actually power up a KPBI-DT 34 transmitter at their NE Benton County facility? Currently, they have nothing but LPTV analogs on the air in the SM/FAY DMA. Full power analog KPBI, Eureka Springs, went dark on 6/12. If they do fire up a DT transmitter, the FCC (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1251268.html) shows it to be 1,000kW, so it should reach far into SW MO.

Has any one ID'd the location of a new Global Christian Network DT channel that showed up this afternoon on 41 on my DTVPal converter box? It wasn't there earlier today. No location given at the break times. Maybe Pittsburg? Signal is around 80%.

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1298932.html

- Trip

Announcement: RTV is coming to Springfield. KWBM is picking it up. (per myretrotv.com)

Announcement: RTV is already on KPBI-DT 34, Eureka Springs.
http://i26.tinypic.com/2lk2zj7.jpg
Program schedule:
http://www.myretrotv.com/prog_schedules/KPBI.pdf

WLBT license subsidiary, llc ('WLBT'), permittee of WLBT(TV), Jackson, Mississippi, respectfully requests special temporary authority to operate its DTV facility on channel 30 at 256 kw effective radiated power. WLBT presently is operating on high-vhf channel 7 at a low power level of 10.3 kw effective radiated power ('erp'). After the station transitioned to its final dtv facility, a significant number of wlbt's viewers complained of a sudden inability to receive wlbt's digital signal, particularly through antennas located indoors. Wlbt also learned that battery-powered receivers -- even those located close to its community of license -- have been unable to receive wlbt's channel 7 signal consistently. This service loss is a particular concern because wlbt is located in an area that frequently experiences severe weather, and viewers rely on over-the-air reception of broadcast stations during power outages to learn about emergency conditions. Wlbt has been unable to identify the root cause of these reception problems. Because anything more than a modest increase in wlbt's erp would cause interference to a neighboring station and the cause of the reception issues cannot be identified immediately, wlbt is requesting authority to operate on channel 30.

https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101327286&formid=911&fac_num=68542

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1298932.html

- Trip
Thanks Trip. As has been said in this forum before, "more than you will ever need to know!"

Thanks Trip. As has been said in this forum before, "more than you will ever need to know!"

:D

Glad to help.

- Trip

KPBI-DT now showing Retro TV (34-1) and Tuff TV (http://www.tufftv.com/) (34-2)

Dish has uplinked KY3 and KSPR in HD, supposed to be available shortly according to KSPR's news tonight.

All I can say is, it's about freaking time.

My son and I have a business in Ozark just east of Lambert's (IWDSC) on the web. Anyway, a couple of advertizing people from KSPR came by, they showed me a picture of the new KSPR news studio. It is going to look great, the first local channel to have the news in HD. I may be watching more KSPR news for sure. Should be up and running around November 1st. I ask them when KSPR and KY3 would be on Dish and they didn't know anymore than I did. I checked the uplinks today, and sure enough there they was, now dish can just turn them on for us.

My son and I have a business in Ozark just east of Lambert's (IWDSC) on the web. Anyway, a couple of advertizing people from KSPR came by, they showed me a picture of the new KSPR news studio. It is going to look great, the first local channel to have the news in HD. I may be watching more KSPR news for sure. Should be up and running around November 1st. I ask them when KSPR and KY3 would be on Dish and they didn't know anymore than I did. I checked the uplinks today, and sure enough there they was, now dish can just turn them on for us.

You mean No Regard has no regard for KY's viewers (no shocker) but is putting the dumpwater KSPR on the way to HD News first!? This is kind of a surprise considering the lack of regard he has for the viewers of both KY and KSPR.

Dish did turn KY3 and KSPR on now in HD.

What surprised me Sneaky Snooper is that they will also be HD in the field, I was told. We will see, that is more expensive to do I'm sure.

Why was KY-3 broadcasting Conan last night on 3-3 where the weather is supposed to be? Thank goodness I can get KMIZ from Columbia and watched the weather there. It is nice to have during severe weather. I was surprised to see a simulcast on 3-3 of 3-1.

KWBM is know RTV.

KWBM is now RTV.
Springfield's Mediacom channel 11, traditionally KWBM, is still Daystar.

Saturday Aug 22.... Mediacom Channel 11 now displays "No Signal" in upper left hand corner.

At 9:10pm, Over The Air I'm getting

City of License Harrison:
31-3 KWBM Daystar 16:9 480i
31-31 KWBM Daystar 4:3 480i

City of License Eureka Springs:
34-1 KPBI Retro TV 4:3 480i
34-2 KXUN Univision 4:3 480i

Programming on 34-2 has been changing without warning,
alternating between Retro TV, Tuff TV and Univision.

31-3 is the first channel I've ever seen 16:9 480i format used.

Dish has uplinked KY3 and KSPR in HD, supposed to be available shortly according to KSPR's news tonight.

All I can say is, it's about freaking time.

Now if they would put them on the Western Arc 129 sat. I don't want to add another dish at 77, or sign another contract to get the EA dish.

All I can get on KWBM is 31-31. I haven't seen 31-3 show up yet. What's even more bizarre is my Samsung Plasma can't get KWBM at all, yet...my DISH TR-40 converter (dtvpal) can.

Thoughts?

I'm still getting 31-31 with Daystar programming, too. I haven't tried an "update scan" yet, but when I try 31-2 or 31-3 manually all that comes up is 31-31.

either my eyes just got really good, of Ky-3's news at six is in Hi-Def!

or it could have been my cat sitting on the stretch o vision button on the remote. yeah, that's it.

KRBK-DT 49 is on the air.

KRBK-DT 49 is on the air.

Is that the station that is supposed to be up near Lake of the Ozarks? I just did a channel re-scan and don't get them. I am getting KWKB 20-1 with 72% right now though, which is new! I'm sure that won't last but it's cool.

KRBK is currently at low power from a low tower. The signal does not even come close to hitting Springfield yet.

They've applied to build a new tower that should provide coverage of Springfield, but have not yet built it.

- Trip

KRBK is currently at low power from a low tower. The signal does not even come close to hitting Springfield yet.

They've applied to build a new tower that should provide coverage of Springfield, but have not yet built it.

- Trip

I see on the FCC website this low power transmitter being north of Lebanon, MO almost directly south of Camdenton. That is the area I am in, and it looks like it would be less than 20 miles from my house at the longest, if I am looking at the right thing. Even at that low power I should be able to receive it pretty well. I'll scan again later and see what happens.

KRBK-DT 49 was coming in about 63% this morning in NW Carroll County, Ark. Gone now, and it was likely riding in on tropo (http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html). I was also getting KNLC-DT 14 (24-n), St Louis, a LP DTV station there. Also coming in was KJRH-DT VHF 8 (2-n) from Tulsa.

KRBK-DT 49 was coming in about 63% this morning in NW Carroll County, Ark. Gone now, and it was likely riding in on tropo (http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html). I was also getting KNLC-DT 14 (24-n), St Louis, a LP DTV station there. Also coming in was KJRH-DT VHF 8 (2-n) from Tulsa.

What was KRBK airing?

and KNLC is a full power station in St Louis.

I scanned again this morning and didn't see KRBK out there. I'll try another receiver and see if that is any different. It seems I am close enough I should be able to get them.

I could not receive KY3 or KSFX for several hours last night. The signal was very low and bouncing around a lot. I suppose it is due to weather conditions or something. This morning they are 90+ again. I might have to switch back to Columbia, MO channels because the weather didn't affect my reception like it does toward Springfield. Very strange. The problem with Columbia is their Fox 22 picture quality is really not good as compared to other HD stations. Very choppy and dull, with weird cross hatch patterns in the picture during transitions and such.

Does anybody know when CW 15 in Springfield will be available in HD? I can't find any mention of it on-line anywhere (KY3, KSPR, MyCW, Google). Some folks here speculated it might move to 33-2 as a sub of KSPR but nothing has been mentioned for quite a while. I have DirecTV and the OTA channel guide for 3-2 indicates that many of the shows are in HD, but of course they aren't. It would be better to have bad news (as in "CWHD is years away") than no news at all.

On a semi-related note, what in the world has been going on over at KOZK for the last few months? Only about 1/4th of the programing marked as HD on 21-2, the PBS "HD" channel, is actually broadcast in HD. For example, I have to record all 4 or 5 showings of "History Detectives" each week to get of them in HD. Some weeks none of them are. On the other hand, 21-1(and now 21 LiL from DirecTV), which I thought was supposed to be digital SD, shows its one weekly episode of "History Detectives"(as well as a lot of other shows) in HD even though it is not marked as HD in the guide. Weird.

I don't want to sound like a whiner - I am happy to have these shows in HD - it would just be nice to have them properly marked in the guide the way they were six months or so ago. Has anyone else noticed this happening? It seems to have started about the same time as the digital transition.

Thanks,
Scott

p.s. After proofreading this I realize what has happened. I have officially become an HD Snob. Bummer.

Only about 1/4th of the programing marked as HD on 21-2, the PBS "HD" channel, is actually broadcast in HD.

No content on 21-2 is HD. 21-2 is OPT-Ed, an SD multicast channel on KOZK and KOZJ. Even if the program originated in HD, it is downconverted for air on 21-2.

All programming on 21-1, OPT-HD, is HD (though it is upconverted if the program was originally SD).

I don't know why the HD flagging is incorrect in the guide. Who's the data provider for DirecTV listings?

What was KRBK airing?Just a placeholder with KRBK logo and the lake in the background.


Does anybody know when CW 15 in Springfield will be available in HD? I can't find any mention of it on-line anywhere (KY3, KSPR, MyCW, Google). Some folks here speculated it might move to 33-2 as a sub of KSPR but nothing has been mentioned for quite a while. KYTV 3-2 is CW Plus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_CW_Plus), which is SD only. Same for KHOG 29-2 in NW Ark.


I have DirecTV and the OTA channel guide for 3-2 indicates that many of the shows are in HD, but of course they aren't.For DirecTV guide issues, contact:
Eamon Foster with Tribune Media, 518 792-9914 x2281


what in the world has been going on over at KOZK for the last few months? Only about 1/4th of the programing marked as HD on 21-2, the PBS "HD" channel, is actually broadcast in HD.KOZK 720p programming was moved to 21-1. It hasn't been on 21-2 in quite some time.

KYTV 3-2 is CW Plus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_CW_Plus), which is SD only. Same for KHOG 29-2 in NW Ark.

KHOG is CW+. KYTV is not. CW+ is for markets 100 and over only, Springfield is in the 70s somewhere.

- Trip

KRBK-DT 49 was coming in about 63% this morning in NW Carroll County, Ark. Gone now, and it was likely riding in on tropo (http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html). I was also getting KNLC-DT 14 (24-n), St Louis, a LP DTV station there. Also coming in was KJRH-DT VHF 8 (2-n) from Tulsa.

I am about 15 miles north of KRBK's transmitter, and I did another scan today and get nothing. Even at 10kw UHF on 49 I think I'd receive it at this distance. My antenna is pointed at the Fordland towers, which is a little west (and a lot south) of where KRBK is transmitting. I don't think the CM 4228 antenna is that tight, so I wonder what's going on? I'll keep trying though!

EDIT: Duh! I finally realized I should enter channel 49 manually and see what happens. I'm getting it between 20 and 40 percent, so that's why the scan won't find them. I can't lock on it. I'll have to wait until the power increase I guess!

I am a DishTV subscriber living in Clever (about 30-ish miles WSW of most of the TV towers in Springfield). I'm using a Philips Silver Sensor (http://www.amazon.com/Philips-PHDTV1-Silver-Digital-Antenna/dp/B0007XDI54/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1251651390&sr=1-15) antenna to get my local off-air HD stations.

Up until about a week ago everything was fine. But now I cannot bring in KOLR-10's off-air signal at all. The antenna position did not change, there is nothing new outdoors in that area that would be blocking anything. I simply lost the signal and I can't get it to come back.

The curious thing for me is... don't KSFK and KOLR-10 share a tower? KOLR-10 is the only station that I've lost, everything else is still coming in clearly.

With all the football being shown on CBS, I need my KOLR-10 HD signal! Does anyone know anything or have any suggestions?

Thanks.

If it was me, I'd suspect the antenna, as channel 10 is VHF and channel 27 is UHF. The VHF elements may have gone bad in your antenna.

KHOG is CW+. KYTV is not. CW+ is for markets 100 and over only, Springfield is in the 70s somewhere.Trip, last time I looked, Fort Smith/Fayetteville is market# 100.

I am a DishTV subscriber living in Clever (about 30-ish miles WSW of most of the TV towers in Springfield). I'm using a Philips Silver Sensor (http://www.amazon.com/Philips-PHDTV1-Silver-Digital-Antenna/dp/B0007XDI54/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1251651390&sr=1-15) antenna to get my local off-air HD stations.

Up until about a week ago everything was fine. But now I cannot bring in KOLR-10's off-air signal at all. All other things being equal, weather changes are often the reason a borderline marginal channel goes away.

KOLR-10 is VHF and you are using an antenna designed for UHF only. The silver sensor will occasionally pick up VHF, but usually only nearby stations and only with blind luck. I would try one of these (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103077). It's actually a very good passive indoor antenna. Extend each of the dipole rods ~14" or so (not fully extended!), and place them in a V.

If it doesn't work, return it and try something else. That's what you have to do when trying to pick up VHF indoors, even with a proper VHF antenna. You may have to go to an outdoor antenna for reliable VHF reception. UHF is usually much easier to receive indoors, and that's one of several reasons many broadcasters abandoned the VHF band for digital tv.

Trip, last time I looked, Fort Smith/Fayetteville is market# 100.

The important part of my comment is that KYTV is not a CW+ station. :)

And of course, 100 is included in "100 and over." :D

- Trip

This is a little out of the forums topic. If you don't want Direct TV to drop Versus go here to start your complaint.
http://versus1.viewerlink.tv/

jpw711 and arxaw:

Thanks for the replies.

I went out and bought the recommended antenna from Radio Shack, and the results are no different. I still can't get the VHF broadcast from CBS. I will go back and try different antennas.

Before I spend too much money on an antenna... what sort of things should I be looking for? My only problem is the VHF signal... what sorts of features of an antenna would help me receive a better/stronger VHF signal?

This sort of points to the problem not being my Silver Sensor, as it was working just fine up until about 2 weeks ago. So, has anything changed on KOLR-10's side that would have made me lose the signal?

Thanks again.

Step 2 Ducktape antenna to a pole outside preferable above the roof! with antenna dipoles about fully extended horizonally.
Good advice, but make that dipoles extended 14" on either side. That makes them resonant on channel 10's frequency.

...My only problem is the VHF signal... what sorts of features of an antenna would help me receive a better/stronger VHF signal?VHF is very susceptible to many kinds of interference that don't bother UHF. It's possible you have a new appliance or computer or phone in the house that's interfering with ch 10.

If that's the case, you may have to install an outdoor antenna to reliably receive Springfield's troublesome VHF channel 10. This small outdoor antenna usually works well for both VHF & UHF at your distance from the transmitters:
http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=HD7694P
The web site says "up to 25-30 mile range" but I've seen that antenna work fine at distances of ~45-50 miles.

joypunk, if you are a dish network subscriber you can also get your locals off satellite in HD now. It may take a dish upgrade which should be free.

joypunk, if you are a dish network subscriber you can also get your locals off satellite in HD now. It may take a dish upgrade which should be free.

He may be like me and refuse to pay Nexstar for their bad behavior. I'm not getting any Springfield locals from satellite since I don't want Nexstar or Mike "No Regard" Scott to get a dime from me.

If they offered a quality product in HD, maybe I'd rethink that. But I'm not paying for what I can get for free.

Apparently what I need is an FM Trap. The Radio Shack salesman I talked to last said he had this same problem and that a phone call to KOLR-10 will get them to send you an FM Trap. He said that although my receiver shows 0 signal strength, the signal is actually there and is coming in fine... however, FM interference is making it appear like there is zero signal.

The KOLR-10 tech I talked to on Friday wasn't able to understand my request and he said he'd have another tech call me back. Once I talk to them again I should have an FM Trap in the mail and I'll report back if that actually works once I get it.

Thanks again for all your help.

RE: sneaky

I have nothing against anyone here, I just prefer to get my local HD's through the off-air antenna so I have more DVR options. If I can't get this KOLR-10 issue resolved, though, I will be calling to get Dish to provide my local HD's.

It will be interesting to see if the FM trap helps. If you have any FM stations nearby, it might. Check here (http://www.fmfool.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29) to see how far away the FM transmitters are from your address.

If not, you may need an outdoor antenna (http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=HBU22) to get VHF ch 10.

Apparently what I need is an FM Trap.
If you have an amplifier, make sure you have the FM trap before the amp. FM interference causes some weird mixing products in pre-amps and it is impossible to fix the signal after that happens.

In some cases just turning off the pre-amp fixes things. There are some high-dollar "HDTV antennas" that have pre-amps that can't be turned off, have no built-in FM trap and low gain on VHF to boot.

For an indoor antenna, it is hard to beat the $12 Radio Shack rabbit ears frequently mentioned here.

...For an indoor antenna, it is hard to beat the $12 Radio Shack rabbit ears frequently mentioned here.IIRC, he tried that antenna (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103077) and it didn't work.

I get all the Springfield channels with it - except KOLR 10.

IIRC, he tried that antenna (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103077) and it didn't work.

I get all the Springfield channels with it - except KOLR 10.

Perhaps KOLR might be soon doing this:

http://www.rabbitears.info/vhf.php

WLS- 07 52 07 ABC Chicago, IL (ABC)

06/19/09: WLS has doubled its power under experimental authority.
07/01/09: WLS has applied for a fill-in translator on channel 32.
07/29/09: WLS has petitioned to relocate to channel 44.

* Licensed: 1689' 4.75 kW ND
* Requested: 1689' 9.50 kW ND
* Channel 32: 1689' 15.0 kW DA
* Channel 44: 1689' 473. kW ND

Perhaps KOLR might be soon doing this:

http://www.rabbitears.info/vhf.php

WLS- 07 52 07 ABC Chicago, IL (ABC)

06/19/09: WLS has doubled its power under experimental authority.
07/01/09: WLS has applied for a fill-in translator on channel 32.
07/29/09: WLS has petitioned to relocate to channel 44.

* Licensed: 1689' 4.75 kW ND
* Requested: 1689' 9.50 kW ND
* Channel 32: 1689' 15.0 kW DA
* Channel 44: 1689' 473. kW ND


KOLR already gotten authority to raise their power earlier this summer. This is likely what you'll have to live with from now on.

FM Trap didn't work. /sigh.

Looks like I'll need an external antenna if I want to get KOLR 10 off-air. It really irritates me that I changed nothing in order to lose the signal that I had been receiving fine for 3 years.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

If the digital change was what caused my issue, then I would have had a problem on April 16th. I received the station fine up until about 3 weeks ago.... long after the digital transition.

I live about 30 miles from the KOLR 10 antenna.

Why doesn't the NFL game on Ky3 have Dolby 5.1 audio? Is it an NBC thing or a KY3 thing? Or is my receiver screwed up? :eek:

Why doesn't the NFL game on Ky3 have Dolby 5.1 audio? Is it an NBC thing or a KY3 thing? Or is my receiver screwed up? :eek:

It's a KY3 thing. Their system never has had 5.1.

If the digital change was what caused my issue, then I would have had a problem on April 16th. I received the station fine up until about 3 weeks ago.... long after the digital transition.

I live about 30 miles from the KOLR 10 antenna.

Then it is probable that:

1) You have developed a fault in a system component, ie, water in a cable or connection, etc...

or

2) You have a new source of either electrical interference or multi-path.

FM Trap didn't work. /sigh.

Looks like I'll need an external antenna if I want to get KOLR 10 off-air.That's what most people have to do. VHF sucks for DTV but KOLR's owner doesn't care.

It's very likely a new source of interference has moved into your neighborhood that only affects VHF. You, or someone in the area, bought a new appliance or wireless device that's giving off enough interference to make channel 10 reception impossible, at least with an indoor antenna.

Your best bet is an unamplified outdoor VHF antenna + FM trap. This small antenna (http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=HBU22) gets both VHF & UHF and works well at your distance. A similar, more sturdy antenna (might hold up better in ice storms) is this one from Winegard (http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=HD7694P).

Thanks arxaw. Would I be able to mount either of those antennas in my attic? Much easier than actually mounting it outdoors.

KOLR already gotten authority to raise their power earlier this summer. This is likely what you'll have to live with from now on.

Yes, I know. It's on the same VHF nightmares page.

http://www.rabbitears.info/vhf.php

Filed after June 21, 2008:

KOLR 10 52 10 CBS Springfield, MO (Nexstar)

05/29/09: KOLR has applied to increase power.

* Licensed: 2070' 20.0 kW ND
* Applied For: 2070' 26.0 kW ND

Strangely, I don't think a 6 kw increase is going to make much of a difference.

Any idea on where fill in translators would be needed? :)

It might work in the attic, depending on what materials the roof and/or gable ends of the house are made of.

It's more likely to work if you don't have:
1. metal roof
2. foil-backed radiant barrier (visible in the attic, on the underside of the roof decking)
3. stucco-on-screen or metal siding, or foil-backed insulation in the walls.

You can simply clamp it to a piece of pvc pipe hanging from a ceiling rafter. Put it in the end of the attic facing Fordland (http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=fordland+mo+map). Unlike outdoor antennas, attic antennas do not have to be grounded.

http://i25.tinypic.com/3481svp.jpg

It's a KY3 thing. Their system never has had 5.1.

Wow, that is amazing. It is 2009 isn't it? Every other NBC station I have seen OTA has 5.1 audio. That's dumb.

I am watching the Michigan game in HD on KSPR. The audio and video are 100% better than KY3's in comparing football games. The NFL game the other night on KY3 was OK but not like other stations. It is really the first time I have sat down to see a sporting event on any HDTV since I started getting Springfield OTA.

Lots of stations still don't have DD 5.1 capability, especially in smaller podunk markets. It requires extra equipment the stations' owners must approve in their budget.

...

Any idea on where fill in translators would be needed? :)

Lake of the Ozarks, and White River valley would be good places to start.

Yes, I know. It's on the same VHF nightmares page.

http://www.rabbitears.info/vhf.php

Filed after June 21, 2008:

KOLR 10 52 10 CBS Springfield, MO (Nexstar)

05/29/09: KOLR has applied to increase power.

* Licensed: 2070' 20.0 kW ND
* Applied For: 2070' 26.0 kW ND

Strangely, I don't think a 6 kw increase is going to make much of a difference.It (6kW increase) didn't make any difference here.

Any idea on where fill in translators would be needed? :)More places than nexstar's interested in putting them (0). They'd rather you pay for your TV anyway, so they can get a cut from their exhorbitant retrans agreements with cable/sat cos.

Anyone else just getting a stereo feed on the NBC Sunday night game? My receiver says stereo... pic is fine but where's the Dolby?

Anyone else just getting a stereo feed on the NBC Sunday night game? My receiver says stereo... pic is fine but where's the Dolby?

Everybody gets stereo from KY3, in Dolby digital. That's all they do.

Everybody gets stereo from KY3, in Dolby digital. That's all they do.

Thanks for clearing that up. I had watched Sunday Ticket all day and then turned on KY3 and was wondering what happened. Too bad that the biggest station in town can't take care of business...

Anyone else just getting a stereo feed on the NBC Sunday night game? My receiver says stereo... pic is fine but where's the Dolby?

I mentioned that after watching Thursday night's game. Arxaw mentioned many "podunk" stations don't offer Dolby 5.1 audio. I don't have the numbers, but it is strange KY3 is the only one in Springfield and Columbia of the major networks that doesn't have it. It's all about the money, and some stations just feel you should be thankful you get a picture and some sound at all. In this day and age, not having 5.1 just shows you are a cheap hillbilly station that doesn't care about the viewers. Crank down the bitrate, run a bunch of subchannels, broadcast half-***** audio and to hell with the viewers. At least it's free (in a way).

Now the games on Fox and ABC, those are excellent. Thank God I watch nothing else on NBC, literally.

I mentioned that after watching Thursday night's game. Arxaw mentioned many "podunk" stations don't offer Dolby 5.1 audio. I don't have the numbers, but it is strange KY3 is the only one in Springfield and Columbia of the major networks that doesn't have it. It's all about the money, and some stations just feel you should be thankful you get a picture and some sound at all. In this day and age, not having 5.1 just shows you are a cheap hillbilly station that doesn't care about the viewers. Crank down the bitrate, run a bunch of subchannels, broadcast half-***** audio and to hell with the viewers. At least it's free (in a way).

Now the games on Fox and ABC, those are excellent. Thank God I watch nothing else on NBC, literally.

It's not just cheap hillbilly stations though. For example, David Letterman's show is still just plain stereo, at least last time I looked. CBS and KOLR10 may broadcast 5.1 during his show, but only 2 speakers actually have sound, unless your receiver fakes it.

If you're South of Springfield, you can try and turn your antenna toward KNWA (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1006433.html). They only do one extra sub-channel (not two) and they have a newer encoder that handles sub chs much better than KY3's. They also have DD5.1 which sounds good on DD 5.1 NBC content. But everything else they do (e.g. local news, etc.) on that station sounds like crap. Something's not set right and they don't have a clue how to fix it.

Rhoops, is the station still giving out FM traps?

I have two friends (one in Ozark and one in Springfield by Glenstone and 60) that can pick up all the locals except KOLR 10 really well. They just have a basic UHF/VHF indoor combo like this (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103077). I'm going to make sure they have their dipoles set to 14". Is there anything else (other than getting an outdoor antenna) that would help? Is there a certain angle at which the dipoles should be or a certain distance between them?

BTW, I installed my CM4228 off the back of my deck (something I talked about several months ago). It seems to be picking up all the stations really well; however, I'm only 13 miles from the towers, so it's not too surprising. I'm just glad I didn't have to stick the antenna on my roof.

Thanks!

It's not just cheap hillbilly stations though. For example, David Letterman's show is still just plain stereo, at least last time I looked. CBS and KOLR10 may broadcast 5.1 during his show, but only 2 speakers actually have sound, unless your receiver fakes it.
That is correct. After using metadata to switch between 2 channel stereo and 5.1 for some time, CBS decided to stay in 5.1 mode all the time and eliminate all the switching.

KOLR reverts to 2 channel stereo for local programming, but all CBS programming is in 5.1 mode, regardless of program content.

I wondered about Letterman when we first went HD, and I asked Charles Kerman, the "big cheese" at CBS about it. With a studio show, what would you expect on the surround channels?..... some guy coughing in the audience?... people shuffling in their seats? The rumble of the subway beneath the Ed Sullivan Theatre?

Most 5.1 in scripted shows is music or whooshes or other embellishments that are added in during post production. Letterman is delayed from live, but is not really post-produced.

By the way some converter boxes occasionally "get stupid" and can't properly decode 5.1 signals. Viewers hear the Left and Right channels, but lose the dialog that is on the center channel. This can be corrected by unplugging the converter box for a few minutes and then turning it back on. Sort of like re-booting a computer.

...Most 5.1 in scripted shows is music or whooshes or other embellishments that are added in during post production. Letterman is delayed from live, but is not really post-produced.Letterman sounds pretty good just using a stereo receiver's Dolby Pro Logic or DPL-II setting. At least it does on KFSM. I don't watch KOLR any more.

Rhoops, is the station still giving out FM traps?

They still are giving them out but you have to talk to Dean Wasson first.
Contact him at 417-862-1010 ex 350 or dwasson at KOLR10.com

KWBM has moved Daystar from 31-31 to 31-1. It shows up with no data, but DTV in the description and mapping of 31-1.

I'm guessing RTV will show up any day now..

Can any of you actually pick up KRBK, channel 49?

The transmitter is between Camdenton and Lebanon.

In the future they will increase power from 10 KW to 615 KW and move to Polk County.

I'm just wondering about what program content they have.

Can any of you actually pick up KRBK, channel 49?

The transmitter is between Camdenton and Lebanon.

In the future they will increase power from 10 KW to 615 KW and move to Polk County.

I'm just wondering about what program content they have.

Margional. I'm hearing they're mainly airing stuff from Koplar's Voltron collection and not 24 hours a day either.

Can any of you actually pick up KRBK, channel 49?

The transmitter is between Camdenton and Lebanon.

In the future they will increase power from 10 KW to 615 KW and move to Polk County.

I'm just wondering about what program content they have.

I am 15 miles from their transmitter and I can't pick them up. I am getting a signal around 40% but not enough to lock.

WINK 11 09 09 CBS Fort Myers, FL
09/11/09: WINK has petitioned to relocate from VHF channel 9 to UHF channel 50.

* Channel 9: 1456' 20.0 kW ND
* Channel 50: 1456' 1000 kW ND

WCPO 09 10 10 ABC Cincinnati, OH
07/24/09: WCPO has requested an increase in power.
09/18/09: WCPO has petitioned to relocate from VHF channel 10 to UHF channel 22 (http://cincinnati.com/blogs/tv/2009/09/21/channel-9-request-new-digital-channel/?s=a).

* Licensed: 1000' 19.0 kW ND
* Requested: 1000' 28.0 kW ND
* Channel 22: 1000' 1000 kW ND

By Harry A. Jessell
TVNewsCheck, Sep 24 2009, 12:06 PM ET

"Perhaps the biggest surprise of the DTV transition has been the poor performance of many VHF stations as digital-only stations. On the whole, their signals don't seem to reach as far or penetrate buildings as well as those of their UHF counterparts."
Full article (http://www.tvnewscheck.com/articles/2009/09/24/daily.2/)

Please email KSFX and let them know if you don't agree with this weeks decision. Nancy Bingaman [NBingaman@ozarksfox.com]

Please email KSFX and let them know if you don't agree with this weeks decision. Nancy Bingaman [NBingaman@ozarksfox.com]

I did that last Sunday night, got a nice curt response from Ms. Bingaman, saying the Rams take precedence, period.

I think they are nuts, who in their right minds watches the Rams. Maybe they will come to their senses on Sunday.

Go Broncos!

I did that last Sunday night, got a nice curt response from Ms. Bingaman, saying the Rams take precedence, period.

I think they are nuts, who in their right minds watches the Rams. Maybe they will come to their senses on Sunday.

Go Broncos!

The reply I got was about the same. America's Team vs. undefeated Broncos, we get the Rams. Of course, these are the same people who aired a NY Giants game because Kurt Warner was quarterback and they thought there might be a residual "connection". LIVE IN THE IS, NOT IN THE WAS!!!

Glad I have Sirius, I can at least listen to the game.

I'd have directv if games were ala carte.

The reply I got was about the same. America's Team vs. undefeated Broncos, we get the Rams. Of course, these are the same people who aired a NY Giants game because Kurt Warner was quarterback and they thought there might be a residual "connection". LIVE IN THE IS, NOT IN THE WAS!!!

Many times the local stations don't have much choice due to NFL rules. The NFL is really dumb about what shows where, blackout rules, etc. It drove me nuts when I had DirecTV NFL ticket and they instituted all of these stupid rules and changes. A person pays $300 to see all the games, and then NFL rules force you to watch your local station if it is showing the game instead of the nice, clean NFL ticket feed. (Locals want you to watch their advertising and not generic national ads and Directv fill-ins.) Before DTV had local stations, I had no locals even with an antenna and couldn't watch some games because they were aired locally. It was a joke so I ended up canceling.

Is anyone's VHF signal's lower today that nornal?I got sick of all the dropouts and don't watch VHF stations any more. I watch other affiliates on UHF.

Many times the local stations don't have much choice due to NFL rules. The NFL is really dumb about what shows where, blackout rules, etc. It drove me nuts when I had DirecTV NFL ticket and they instituted all of these stupid rules and changes. A person pays $300 to see all the games, and then NFL rules force you to watch your local station if it is showing the game instead of the nice, clean NFL ticket feed. (Locals want you to watch their advertising and not generic national ads and Directv fill-ins.) Before DTV had local stations, I had no locals even with an antenna and couldn't watch some games because they were aired locally. It was a joke so I ended up canceling.

The NFL has rules to protect their interests and the interests of the networks and their affiliates, understandably so. The St Louis Rams secondary markets are Cape Girardeau, Columbia, and Jefferson City. These are the only other markets that must show Rams road games. The network (Fox) decides which game will be shown, but almost always grants the local stations request. In short, KSFX ranks the Chiefs, Rams, Cowboys in that order, and decides what they will air accordingly, ratings and practical, common sense thinking be damned.