I'm sure this isn't the most watched station, but can anyone confirm if WMFP/62 ended analog operations on 2/17?

Thanks,

Thats not true,
i'm 35 miles+ from the boston towers and this thing is kiddie cornered on a back window of my house.All Boston stations except WHDN-LP come in rock solid!
I cant get wzmy and i'm only 14 miles from the transmitter
I can get channels 60 and 21 out of NH too.
I did my rescan and WENH on RF-11 is the best ever at 98 %:D

I get WZMY @ 32%

11 miles from the transmitter ;) Only reason I want WZMY is because they show WWE smackdown. (standard def, not hd :mad:)

I'm sure this isn't the most watched station, but can anyone confirm if WMFP/62 ended analog operations on 2/17?

Thanks,

Yes they did,and Verizon Fios just picked them up a few weeks ago.

I'm not that adept at reading through the FCC database info, but are any of the local Boston channels (7, 25, etc.) going to change their antenna locale and/or power once the switchover occurs? I know 7 is changing back to their VHF locale, but is anything else going to happen that hasn't already?

I ask because I'm on the fringe down here in RI of the Boston channels, and I get 2, 4, and 5 perfectly, but spotty reception on 38 and sadly not much else. I was hoping something might change once the changeover occurs, now that it's been inexplicably pushed back until June! lol. :cool:

Thanks in advance :)

WFXT has upgrades in store, WSBK does not.

- Trip

WFXT should be all set by august 2009. Their analog transmitter was damaged and i guess right now they are operating at severely reduced power on DT and analog so their coverage isn't that great.

Not as weak as WZMY though.

I've never been able to pull in WSBK. Their analog channel comes in okay for me, digital i get nothing.

It will be interesting to see what the coverage areas will be by the end of this year.

Anybody know about the RI channels? I know WJAR should be stronger in August so maybe I can get it then. But WPRI has come in fine on Channel 13 till the big shutdown of analog Feb 17. Since then it has been too weak for me to get at all in the Boston area. And I have never received WNAC digital.

I was at best buy today and seen these RCA ANT111's on the shelves. It was only 8 bucks and it got a 4.5/5 on best buy reviews so I grabbed one. Hooked it up to my LCD and low and behold, I'm getting WBZ 4.1 HD, WHDH-HD 7.1 (+THIS TV sub channel) both at 34%-44%. It's not even amplified. Just a simple rectangular UHF loop and VHF dipoles. (which I'll need after june for WHDH).

This antenna works better then my old amplified unit. I have it mounted on the top of my window and I'm about 28-30 miles from the needham transmitters.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8280834&type=product&tab=7&id=1171058630499

I was at best buy today and seen these RCA ANT111's on the shelves. It was only 8 bucks and it got a 4.5/5 on best buy reviews so I grabbed one. Hooked it up to my LCD and low and behold, I'm getting WBZ 4.1 HD, WHDH-HD 7.1 (+THIS TV sub channel) both at 34%-44%. It's not even amplified. Just a simple rectangular UHF loop and VHF dipoles. (which I'll need after june for WHDH).

This antenna works better then my old amplified unit. I have it mounted on the top of my window and I'm about 28-30 miles from the needham transmitters.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8280834&type=product&tab=7&id=1171058630499

i tried that antenna a few months ago,did me no good only got me 3 stations :(, so back it went with in the hour of coming home with it.
my brother has an old radio shack VU-120 antenna in his attic he's not using and he's giving to me,so maybe next weekend i will hook that up in my attic.

It picks up WZMY @ 35% with no skips or glitches. My amplified one couldn't even pick it up without dropouts. It has a metal UHF loop, maybe that's why it works better. The other antennas I've used the loop was plastic, these have bare metal.

I'm still amazed I can get WZMY to come in great. I'm about 11 miles from their transmitter, I think it's in hudson NH?

I called WJAR (ch.10) and the station will be boosting its power significantly (from around 500 KW to 1000KW) and changing their antenna to circular polarization (the same type channels 4 and 5 use). The transmitter is now highly directional away from Boston. The station engineer confirmed this and said that should make the station's reception improve in the Boston area. WLNE (ch.6) shares the same antenna as ch.10 on their Rehoboth tower; the station's engineer stated that depending on what ch.10 does, they too could boost their antenna setup soon, too. And its true, I've read that on this board and radio-info that after WPRI (ch.12) turned off their analog signal their digital signal weakened in reception weven in areas near Rehoboth, but their sister station WNAC (ch.64) improved. WSBE (ch.36) is still pretty weak at only 50KW power.

I called WJAR (ch.10) and the station will be boosting its power significantly (from around 500 KW to 1000KW) and changing their antenna to circular polarization (the same type channels 4 and 5 use). The transmitter is now highly directional away from Boston. The station engineer confirmed this and said that should make the station's reception improve in the Boston area. WLNE (ch.6) shares the same antenna as ch.10 on their Rehoboth tower; the station's engineer stated that depending on what ch.10 does, they too could boost their antenna setup soon, too. And its true, I've read that on this board and radio-info that after WPRI (ch.12) turned off their analog signal their digital signal weakened in reception weven in areas near Rehoboth, but their sister station WNAC (ch.64) improved. WSBE (ch.36) is still pretty weak at only 50KW power.
Just to be clear, WBZ-DT's (4) and WCVB-DT's (5) DTV transmissions use horizontal polarization, not circular, as do WGBH-DT (2), WGBX-DT (44) and WSBK-DT (38). All of these stations share a common transmitting antenna.

and after WJAR shuts off their analog channel, WWDP (home shopping network) will use it as their DT channel.

10.

and after WJAR shuts off their analog channel, WWDP (home shopping network) will use it as their DT channel.

10.

This has already occurred.

- Trip

I called WJAR (ch.10) and the station will be boosting its power significantly (from around 500 KW to 1000KW) and changing their antenna to circular polarization (the same type channels 4 and 5 use). The transmitter is now highly directional away from Boston. The station engineer confirmed this and said that should make the station's reception improve in the Boston area. WLNE (ch.6) shares the same antenna as ch.10 on their Rehoboth tower; the station's engineer stated that depending on what ch.10 does, they too could boost their antenna setup soon, too. And its true, I've read that on this board and radio-info that after WPRI (ch.12) turned off their analog signal their digital signal weakened in reception weven in areas near Rehoboth, but their sister station WNAC (ch.64) improved. WSBE (ch.36) is still pretty weak at only 50KW power.

Thanks for the info. Maybe I will get reception back soon. Maybe you mean here a switch to a circular antenna coverage pattern rather than polarization?

WNEU channel 60 is showing a DTV warning message on their analog channel. Guess they're shutting it down!

Just to be clear, WBZ-DT's (4) and WCVB-DT's (5) DTV transmissions use horizontal polarization, not circular, as do WGBH-DT (2), WGBX-DT (44) and WSBK-DT (38). All of these stations share a common transmitting antenna.

I know I'm on the fringe in Wakefield RI but I can get very strong signals from 2, 4, and 5 with little to no break-up. Yet 38 and 44 only come in if atmospheric conditions seem to be a certain way (as in, really clear and really cold, lol). Is it because they're at lower power than 2,4, and 5? If they're on the same antenna why would I have a problem with those two but not the others? Thanks in advance for the information :)

I know I'm on the fringe in Wakefield RI but I can get very strong signals from 2, 4, and 5 with little to no break-up. Yet 38 and 44 only come in if atmospheric conditions seem to be a certain way (as in, really clear and really cold, lol). Is it because they're at lower power than 2,4, and 5? If they're on the same antenna why would I have a problem with those two but not the others? Thanks in advance for the information :)
Channels 38 and 44 do operate at a somewhat (but not dramatic) reduced power compared with the others. A receiver at the outer boundaries of the coverage area will lose those signals first. Bear in mind Wakefield is right on the line of the WBZ-DT predicted Full Service Contour (and outside the City Service Contour), and is just outside of the WSBK-DT Full Service Contour. Which means you are living right on the "digital cliff." Perhaps a small amount of amplification would move you sufficiently off the cliff and safely inland.

In Reading, I'm 18 miles from the Boston transmitters. I use a DB4 antenna and the problem is, my two strongest stations, 4.1 and 7.1, have picture breakup problems from time to time. When I examine signal strength on my Samsung plasma, usually 2.1 and 5.1 are rock solid at 9 to 10 bars (out of 10 max). But 4.1 and 7.1 will be fluctuating a lot, from 10 bars down to 1 at times.

What's going on here? Is this a multipath or signal overload problem? Would I be better off rotating my antenna so it doesn't point to Needham?

Looks like channels 12 and 13 ran a full power test for a few minutes around lunch time.
I got them in Lexington like local Boston channels. Then they went back to low power and disappeared.

Channels 38 and 44 do operate at a somewhat (but not dramatic) reduced power compared with the others. A receiver at the outer boundaries of the coverage area will lose those signals first. Bear in mind Wakefield is right on the line of the WBZ-DT predicted Full Service Contour (and outside the City Service Contour), and is just outside of the WSBK-DT Full Service Contour. Which means you are living right on the "digital cliff." Perhaps a small amount of amplification would move you sufficiently off the cliff and safely inland.

I still don't get 38's digital signal way out here in Brimfield. I get 44 and 56 digital signals fine. From your e-mail last month you mentioned 56 is weaker.. but I get them at around 50% on my Panny plasma's meter and 44 at 60-70% and nothing at all for 38. I know I'm fringe reception and lucky to have the others. It's just strange how I can get the weaker stations and not 38's digital at all, and I do re-scan. I get the analog but it's snowy.

Way out here I get 2, 5, 7, 44 and 56 for digital reception at 55 miles from the towers on 128 using my ClearStream 4 and a Channel Master 7778 amp with little or no drop-outs. On WBZ-4 DT it's 50% but not watchable due to interference.. until WVIT in Hartford shuts down the analog on 30. I bumped up to 50% when they dropped to 60% analog power. I'm working on a sabotage plan to knock them off the air for analog... :D
I can't wait until June!!

Has there been any update as to when Fox wil go HD with their news?

Channels 38 and 44 do operate at a somewhat (but not dramatic) reduced power compared with the others. A receiver at the outer boundaries of the coverage area will lose those signals first. Bear in mind Wakefield is right on the line of the WBZ-DT predicted Full Service Contour (and outside the City Service Contour), and is just outside of the WSBK-DT Full Service Contour. Which means you are living right on the "digital cliff." Perhaps a small amount of amplification would move you sufficiently off the cliff and safely inland.

Thanks Robert. I am running a Channel Master 4228 on my roof, what would you recommend for amplification? I know I'm already running some kind of preamp, but I wonder if I have it hooked up sufficiently because if I just hook up an inside antenna and point it at the general direction of Boston I get 2,4, and 5 even WITHOUT further amplification. It has me stumped a little bit.

I have on my roof in Lunenburg an antenna that resembles a DB8. It has some sort of amplification. Currently I get 2-1,2-2,4-1,5-1,7-1,7-2,27-2,38-1,44-1,44-2,44-3,44-4,56-1,62-2,66-1,68-1,68-2,68-3,and68-4 at 90% or better.9-1(64),12-1(58)34-1(77),48-1(58),50-1(74),64-1(66). I have two questions. The numbers I type into the remote are the above numbers. What will happen when 7-1 moves back to its old spot? and what will I then need to get it?

Thanks Robert. I am running a Channel Master 4228 on my roof, what would you recommend for amplification? I know I'm already running some kind of preamp, but I wonder if I have it hooked up sufficiently because if I just hook up an inside antenna and point it at the general direction of Boston I get 2,4, and 5 even WITHOUT further amplification. It has me stumped a little bit.
The 4228 is a fine antenna, and I use it at home in New Bedford without any amplifier. I receive every Boston and Providence station on an old Sony HD300 set top box. How do you have your amplifier connected to it?

The 4228 is a fine antenna, and I use it at home in New Bedford without any amplifier. I receive every Boston and Providence station on an old Sony HD300 set top box. How do you have your amplifier connected to it?

I believe we have a Channel Master preamp that is connected right at the antenna (a black box on the outside of the house with a line going in/out), then the "out" line runs down through the house to a white Channel Master box in our garage (which I think is the other end of it) which is plugged in. I know that box is working because if I do unplug it, the signal cuts out.

However I don't know if it's actually amplifying the signal or not. (I did not install it, I had a friend do it for me).

Has there been any update as to when Fox wil go HD with their news?
Nobody cares about Fox News now.

I believe we have a Channel Master preamp that is connected right at the antenna (a black box on the outside of the house with a line going in/out), then the "out" line runs down through the house to a white Channel Master box in our garage (which I think is the other end of it) which is plugged in. I know that box is working because if I do unplug it, the signal cuts out.

However I don't know if it's actually amplifying the signal or not. (I did not install it, I had a friend do it for me).
It's hard to say with certainty, but it sure looks like the amplifier is not doing much (or doing harm) if you get equal results from an unamplified indoor antenna.

No, no, Benji, you don't understand.
We want Fox 25 news in HD so we kin get Maria...

Nobody cares about Fox News now.

The numbers don't support your claim. Fox's ratings are up while MSNBC and CNN's have declined since the election.

It's hard to say with certainty, but it sure looks like the amplifier is not doing much (or doing harm) if you get equal results from an unamplified indoor antenna.

Robert this page basically sums up what I have (except my antenna is outside), the CM 7777 is the unit I have for preamp:
http://www.treadlayers.com/Consumer_Electronics/ChannelMaster%204228/ChannelMaster%204228%20and%207777.shtml

Is there anything else I can add, i.e. signal distributor, etc., that might help this pre-existing set up?

No, no, Benji, you don't understand.
We want Fox 25 news in HD so we kin get Maria...

Bingo

Benji can be a little slow at times so we need to spell it out tim ;)

We want Fox 25 news in HD so we kin get Maria...

move up several times to Sarah U.

up that to Sara U.....

That is very true as well. I can't believe Fox has not made the change yet but then again it is Fox

I have on my roof in Lunenburg an antenna that resembles a DB8. It has some sort of amplification. Currently I get 2-1,2-2,4-1,5-1,7-1,7-2,27-2,38-1,44-1,44-2,44-3,44-4,56-1,62-2,66-1,68-1,68-2,68-3,and68-4 at 90% or better.9-1(64),12-1(58)34-1(77),48-1(58),50-1(74),64-1(66). I have two questions. The numbers I type into the remote are the above numbers. What will happen when 7-1 moves back to its old spot? and what will I then need to get it?
I noticed you mention that you are able to receive chs.12 and 64 in Providence considering the distance from Rehoboth. It seems that because those stations' antennas are not directional they penetrate further - On the FCC database maps it shows chs. 6 and 10 are directional beaming a weaker signal to the north and east.

WFXT is in a big mess until august. They are at severly reduced power and I believe their analog signal is almost dead.

Does anybody know why at night My signal meter locks up really high and in the morning it returns to normal? I can get all 4 of WGBX's channels and then in the morning it goes blank again. I don't know what it could be, but I always find channels I've never even heard of during the nighttime when I do a scan.

Does anybody know why at night My signal meter locks up really high and in the morning it returns to normal? I can get all 4 of WGBX's channels and then in the morning it goes blank again. I don't know what it could be, but I always find channels I've never even heard of during the nighttime when I do a scan.

It's probably your location. I'm on the fringe of the Boston towers but I can get certain stations at night (the WGBX channels, usually 38, sometimes 56) that I can't get during the daytime as well.

Hi Folks,

First of all, inside antennas do work. I just finished modifying my antenna setup. I live in the northern part of Haverhill right on the line from Plaistow, NH. I set up 2 antennas in the attic fixed in position. One is a Channel Master 3020 U/V pointed roughly Southwest, and the second is a Channel Master 4228 pointing North by northwest. I combined the two antenna feedlines with a splitter/combiner and have that going to a Channel Master 0068 preamp. That in turn goes to my master TV antenna distribution system throughout my house.

I get 2.1, 2.2, 4.1, 5.1, 7.1, 7.2, 9.1, 11.1, 11.2, 21.1, 21.2, 21.3, 21.4, 25.1, 27.1, 27.2, 38.1, 44.1, 44.2, 44.3, 44.4, 48.1, 50.1, 56.1, 62.1, 62.2, 64.1, 66.1, 68.1, 68.2, 68.3, and 68.4 with a 60% signal or better on all without dropouts.

It doesn't get much better than that!

well if your roof isn't metal it would probably work. Snow on the roof can interfere too.

good thing about attic antennas? you don't have to worry about lightning or grounding

Hi Folks,

First of all, inside antennas do work. I just finished modifying my antenna setup. I live in the northern part of Haverhill right on the line from Plaistow, NH. I set up 2 antennas in the attic fixed in position. One is a Channel Master 3020 U/V pointed roughly Southwest, and the second is a Channel Master 4228 pointing North by northwest. I combined the two antenna feedlines with a splitter/combiner and have that going to a Channel Master 0068 preamp. That in turn goes to my master TV antenna distribution system throughout my house.

I get 2.1, 2.2, 4.1, 5.1, 7.1, 7.2, 9.1, 11.1, 11.2, 21.1, 21.2, 21.3, 21.4, 25.1, 27.1, 27.2, 38.1, 44.1, 44.2, 44.3, 44.4, 48.1, 50.1, 56.1, 62.1, 62.2, 64.1, 66.1, 68.1, 68.2, 68.3, and 68.4 with a 60% signal or better on all without dropouts.

It doesn't get much better than that!
I get about the same including 62.2 but there is nonthing on 62.2.

Do you get anything on 62.2?

Robert this page basically sums up what I have (except my antenna is outside), the CM 7777 is the unit I have for preamp:
http://www.treadlayers.com/Consumer_Electronics/ChannelMaster%204228/ChannelMaster%204228%20and%207777.shtml

Is there anything else I can add, i.e. signal distributor, etc., that might help this pre-existing set up?
Nothing wrong with that arrangement that I can see, assuming you are using quality cable and connectors, along with good splitters and components inside.

When I installed the antenna at my house I had the benefit of a spectrum analyzer to help align it. I was surprised to see a 10dB jump or drop as I moved the antenna just an inch either way. As we both are a long way from the transmitting antennas, the aim is much more critical. Perhaps all you need is a bit of an adjustment.

62.2 is blank our tv in the other room gets both 62.1 and 62.2 and theres nothing on it. Maybe they are gonna start up a sub channel?

Blank, rather than no connection... so they are broadcasting... they're just broadcasting -- uh -- nothing!

i dont care to much for home shopping network, the most precious channel I get is WZMY. Can't do without smackdown ;)

WNEU channel 60 is showing a DTV warning message on their analog channel. Guess they're shutting it down!

It is suppedly a Telemundo OnO. I thought they were going to wimp out and wait till June.

Actually they don't even have that coede in on their DTV channel of 34 that is supposed to map it to channel 60.

I read in a recent article that they are at low power because there transmitter is very old and they can't afford the power bill.

WNEU channel 60 is showing a DTV warning message on their analog channel. Guess they're shutting it down!

I thought that WNEU was going to end on 2/17 and be a nightlight. Have they been showing regular programming instead?

I thought that WNEU was going to end on 2/17 and be a nightlight. Have they been showing regular programming instead?

That is what they are doing.

WNEU-DT does not map to channel 60 but rather to its RF channel of 34.

Thank you for the update.

WNEU's website could use some revisions... It looks like it was never finished a few years ago.

Is this the candelabra tower?

http://i40.tinypic.com/2ldu2c0.jpg

Is this the candelabra tower?
Yes, it is.

and after WJAR shuts off their analog channel, WWDP (home shopping network) will use it as their DT channel.

10.

WWDP's covering license for 10 (at 5kW) has been filed. I know it's probably not the most popular target and it is not co-located, but has anyone tried to receive it since it moved to 10?

Last time I checked, it is there with a strong signal, but no information.


I get about the same including 62.2 but there is nonthing on 62.2.

Do you get anything on 62.2?

That is a nice idea! I intend on bringing an extension cord and my spectrum analyzer into my attic to re-orient my antennas there.

Nothing wrong with that arrangement that I can see, assuming you are using quality cable and connectors, along with good splitters and components inside.

When I installed the antenna at my house I had the benefit of a spectrum analyzer to help align it. I was surprised to see a 10dB jump or drop as I moved the antenna just an inch either way. As we both are a long way from the transmitting antennas, the aim is much more critical. Perhaps all you need is a bit of an adjustment.

Not quite as good as a spectrum analyzer, but consider lugging a laptop with a USB ATSC tuner up to the attic, or rooftop. No extension cord needed.

I appreciate the comments regarding spectrum analyzers and tweaking antenna position for optimum reception - but aren't you guys missing the obvious option???

Plot you location on antenna web, choose a station that is in the direction you want to tune to, turn on the signal meter on the tv, work with a partner using a walkie talkie or cell phone, tune the antenna to the location that provides the strongest signal meter reading.

What could be simpler than that?

I appreciate the comments regarding spectrum analyzers and tweaking antenna position for optimum reception - but aren't you guys missing the obvious option???

Plot you location on antenna web, choose a station that is in the direction you want to tune to, turn on the signal meter on the tv, work with a partner using a walkie talkie or cell phone, tune the antenna to the location that provides the strongest signal meter reading.

What could be simpler than that?

Not complicated enough...:)

-t

anyone getting anything on 49.3 some sot of blankness but it barley gets in...

anyone getting anything on 49.3 some sot of blankness but it barley gets in...

It's ABC ch 6 out of Providence. I get it in pretty well along with the 6-1, and 6-2 channels.

At night i get all kinds of far away channels and then in the morning they dissapear again :(

Channel 9 WMUR going back to VHF in june?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WMUR-TV

Channel 9 WMUR going back to VHF in june?


Yes. WMUR is currently broadcasting on channel 59 which is outside the final DTV allotments. Channel 51 will be the highest channel alloted to DTV.

Status of WFXT

From reading their latest Form 387 filing, the analog signal failed again on 2/27 and they are accelerating construction of the post-transition facility.

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1298807&Service=TV&Form_id=387&Facility_id=6463

DUE TO A CATASTROPHIC ISSUE WITH ITS ANALOG ANTENNA, WFXT TV CHANNEL 25 SIGNED-OFF ON FEBRUARY 27, 2009. WFXT FILED A NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF OPERATIONS WITH THE COMMISSION ON THAT DATE.


AS A RESULT OF THE ANALOG FAILURE, WFXT IS MOVING UP THE CONSTRUCTION OF ITS TOP-MOUNT POST-TRANSITION FACILITY AND ANTICIPATES THAT CONSTRUCTION COULD BE COMPLETE ON OR ABOUT APRIL 20, 2009. ON MARCH 4, 2009, WFXT FILED A REQUEST FOR A LEGAL STA TO OPERATE ITS POST-TRANSITION EARLY. (FCC FILE NO. BDSTA-20090304ADS)

i still can't get their DT signal

Does anyone know if WBZ will be multicasting the first few rounds of the NCAA tournament? If so, will the multicast also be available on cable? RCN in my case if it makes a difference.

I just moved from the Raleigh/Durham, NC area and the local CBS affiliate there (WRAL) was great about showing all the games via multicasting. They even showed 2 games in HD when they didn't need the bandwidth to show 4 games. The game designated for the local area was always in HD. This was available both OTA and on Time Warner Cable.

Does anyone know if WBZ will be multicasting the first few rounds of the NCAA tournament? If so, will the multicast also be available on cable? RCN in my case if it makes a difference.

I just moved from the Raleigh/Durham, NC area and the local CBS affiliate there (WRAL) was great about showing all the games via multicasting. They even showed 2 games in HD when they didn't need the bandwidth to show 4 games. The game designated for the local area was always in HD. This was available both OTA and on Time Warner Cable.
WBZ does not have the technical facilities for a DTV sub-channel, so we will not be multicasting any games. (Before you ask the question, I'll answer it: we do not have any plans to add sub-channels.)

WBZ does not have the technical facilities for a DTV sub-channel, so we will not be multicasting any games. (Before you ask the question, I'll answer it: we do not have any plans to add sub-channels.)

Thanks for the quick response. Sounds like a great goal for next year's tournament!

WBZ does not have the technical facilities for a DTV sub-channel, so we will not be multicasting any games. (Before you ask the question, I'll answer it: we do not have any plans to add sub-channels.)
That's something prescribed by CBS in New York for all O&O stations, correct?

I don't know if they have plans to do any additional broadcasts this year (and since I don't care about March Madness and don't watch it, I don't really care) but it is my understanding that WPRI, Channel 12, CBS out of Providence, broadcast games on its subchannels last two years. You may well be able to get WPRI in Boston.

SMK

Don't care that much about March madness either but couldn't WBZ televise at least one extra game on sister channel WSBK?

Don't care that much about March madness either but couldn't WBZ televise at least one extra game on sister channel WSBK?

I can't believe you came up with such a great idea;)

I can't believe you came up with such a great idea;)

Don't get used to it Steve.

Don't get used to it Steve.

Knowing you are a Hokie I would say this is probably it for a lifetime

Don't care that much about March madness either but couldn't WBZ televise at least one extra game on sister channel WSBK?
Unfortunately, we cannot. WSBK has contractual obligations to air its scheduled programming.

When I scan in stations, it shows WLVI and WHDH correctly, as 056-01 and 007-01. But then when I go to my Program Guides, they show as 071-01 and 070-01. Does anyone here have a similar problem or some explanation, and possibly advice as to how to fix? I'm using a DTVPal Plus, and don't have the same problem with a Zinwell that I own. I've tried resetting completely, but that doesn't help, and someone suggested that I check if others in the area have similar problems. In fact, I just reset again, and this time, it's got WGBH as 071-01, WLVI as 072-01, WHDH as 070-01. I saw things like this posted in 2001 in this Forum, but not now.

Noticed in the tvguide online that 5.2 is being displayed as doppler weather radar.

I hope this is true.

I miss the weather from 7.2 (but like the shows on THIS network)

Unfortunately, we cannot. WSBK has contractual obligations to air its scheduled programming.

Isn't WSBK now technically the largest independent tv station?
http://www.dishnetwork.com/faq/channels technically dishnetwork can carry it and supposedly I thought canadian satellite does too.

Is wsbk actually in a network ? The power of having a indepedent hdtv channel could be very interesting in the long term.

Noticed in the tvguide online that 5.2 is being displayed as doppler weather radar.

I hope this is true.

I miss the weather from 7.2 (but like the shows on THIS network)

They have not had that for quite some time.

Isn't WSBK now technically the largest independent tv station?
http://www.dishnetwork.com/faq/channels technically dishnetwork can carry it and supposedly I thought canadian satellite does too.

Is wsbk actually in a network ? The power of having a indepedent hdtv channel could be very interesting in the long term.

It is supposedly a super station.

When I was able to pull in WCVB's signal, my tuner didn't map in 5.2. It only mapped in 5.1 which is the main network.

Supposedly, WMUR 9 up in manchester new hampshire (ABC affiliate like 5) is supposed to be going back to VHF and they are gonna have a weather radar sub channel. This is what it says on wikipedia.

As far as I know there is no more weather station in the boston area, since WHDH put THIS on their sub channel. I think WNAC in rhode island has one. Not sure.

ION (Ch 68.1) is now in HD!

When I was able to pull in WCVB's signal, my tuner didn't map in 5.2. It only mapped in 5.1 which is the main network.

Supposedly, WMUR 9 up in manchester new hampshire (ABC affiliate like 5) is supposed to be going back to VHF and they are gonna have a weather radar sub channel. This is what it says on wikipedia.

As far as I know there is no more weather station in the boston area, since WHDH put THIS on their sub channel. I think WNAC in rhode island has one. Not sure.
WNAC-Dt has not has a weather channel for at least a year.

Just found WENH channel 11.3, Explore. Says "Coming Soon". Must have come on last night or this morning as I did a scan about 9 PM

ION (Ch 68.1) is now in HD!

Are you saying Ion is HD on Fios? OTA Ch 68.1 is 480i which is not HD.

Are you saying Ion is HD on Fios? OTA Ch 68.1 is 480i which is not HD.

Just a test they did around 4pm yesterday afternoon.

Hd is in ION's future.

Just found WENH channel 11.3, Explore. Says "Coming Soon". Must have come on last night or this morning as I did a scan about 9 PM

its on now with just that slide
No rescan needed for me i was oicking up 11.1 and 11.2 my conveter detected it automatically!:D

*sigh* I need to find a way to get over the line of sight problem I'm having. I haven't asked my landlord if I could put up an antenna on the balcony yet, but, I don't think the antenna is even the problem. I'm crammed down on the 1st floor and I barely get anything. 4 channels is the max I can get except at night. I am thinking about getting the Mant940 for $40, it got alot of good reviews, but on the box it says max range is 20 miles. I'm 28 miles from the antenna farm so I guess I'm on the outer edge. All my channels are 1edge and 2edge which means that the signal is blocked. There are 3 hills around my area and alot of buildings so I supposed that's what's blocking it. If I can somehow get an antenna up high enough so that it's aimed above/over the terrain I'll probably get everything.

When the warmer weather comes around, I'm gonna do some outside experimenting. I figure if it doesn't work I can just pack it back up and return it. But if I keep it outside I'll need to get a ground rod and a grounding block because lighting is pretty bad over here in the summer.

How can an indoor-only antenna user like me resolve the line of sight problem?

Just a test they did around 4pm yesterday afternoon.

Hd is in ION's future.

1. Were you watching on Fios or OTA?
2. Were all four subchannels running?

1. Were you watching on Fios or OTA?
2. Were all four subchannels running?

Both. Fios's ch 15 had a letterbox presenation.
Noticing that I checked the ATA signal and found that it was 720p

All the subchannels (just 3) were running and didn't look too bad.

Both. Fios's ch 15 had a letterbox presenation.
Noticing that I checked the ATA signal and found that it was 720p

All the subchannels (just 3) were running and didn't look too bad.

Thanks. Actually 68 usually runs 4 subchannels. Let's hope they don't waste an HD channel on shopping or paid programming.

Both. Fios's ch 15 had a letterbox presenation.
Noticing that I checked the ATA signal and found that it was 720p

All the subchannels (just 3) were running and didn't look too bad.

Oops :o I misread your last post. You were including the HD channel as one of the sub channels. Got it. Thanks again.

Both. Fios's ch 15 had a letterbox presenation.
Noticing that I checked the ATA signal and found that it was 720p

You mean FIOS downsamples the 720p signal? Wonder when they will give it a HD channel (515?)

Isn't WSBK now technically the largest independent tv station?
http://www.dishnetwork.com/faq/channels technically dishnetwork can carry it and supposedly I thought canadian satellite does too.

Is wsbk actually in a network ? The power of having a indepedent hdtv channel could be very interesting in the long term.

Imagine if NESN bought WSBK or even worked out a deal as a sub?

TV38's programming guide lists "King of Queens" as broadcasting in HD. Any idea when it actually will?

TV38's programming guide lists "King of Queens" as broadcasting in HD. Any idea when it actually will?
The show has been running in HD since mid-February, on weekdays only. We are currently unable to run it in HD on weekends because of a conflict during the recording period when it is fed via satellite. We expect to eliminate this conflict in the near future.

So whats up with the boston market, any transmitter/power changes we should know about besides WHDH's frequency change?

Which Boston station will be the nightlite station after June 12th?

Which Boston station will be the nightlite station after June 12th?

There shouldn't BE the need for a nightlight station after June 12th.
IMHO I think they should have moved it up to Jan 19th.

How's reception gonna be after the transition? what's going on with power levels and stuff?

I still have my hopes of getting WHDH after they go back to VHF. I can get the analog channel very very clear. Those coverage maps by the FCC don't tell to much.

Current status of channels:
Ch 11 - Feb 17th
Ch 25 - analog transmitter is dead
Ch 44 - Apr 23rd
Ch 46 - Apr 16th
Ch 48 - Apr 30th
Ch 50 - Dec 1st
Ch 60/34 - Feb 17th (now using digital channel of 34)
Ch 62 - Feb 17th
Ch 68/21/58 - Apr 16th

The other stations are wimping out and sticking with June 12th (most likely subject to change)

EDIT: ok, I went on TVfool and instead of looking at the regular coverage maps I download the virtual maps in the torrent. In google earth it has WBZ listed at 968kW. Right now they are at 825kW. So it looks like they are gaining coverage and are pretty much the strongest main network stations in the boston market. Correct me if I'm wrong. I don' know if these virtual maps are accurate or not, so sorry if I'm off.

I looked at all of the main networks and familiar stations, did some comparisons and made a list of the stations I will probably get and/or have a GOOD chance of getting from my house. These are all in the green/red/yellow zone for my house which is listed as "very strong, expect reasonable coverage with an indoor antenna". I'd consider this a rough/almost solid estimate because I won't know for sure until it happens.

Post Transition Channels I *may* recieve AFTER transition

Y = yes
M = maybe


1. WBZ-DT / ERP 968kW /UHF 30 Y
2. WCVB-DT / ERP 625kW /UHF 20 Y
3. WFXT-DT / ERP 780kW /UHF 31 Y
4. WGBH-DT / 700kW /UHF 19 Y
5. WGBX-DT / 500kW /UHF 43 Y
6. WHDH-DT /29.7kW /VHF 7 M
7. WLVI-DT /550kW /UHF 41 Y
8. WMFP-DT /1000kW /UHF 18 M
9. WZMY-DT /7.3kW /UHF 35 Y - I'm only 11 miles from them, on the edge. I can get them in at 44% on my tv's meter when I have the antenna on my ceiling and it doesn't look like they are cranking up the power so that's the best I'll get from them.

WHDH was sadly in the green/blue/cyan shade for my house (roof or attic antenna needed). (VHF 29.7kW max for high VHF). I know VHF travels over terrain better though so with some good elevation I might be able to get them with or without adjustments.

My strongest station was/and might always be WBZ. I can get them in all rooms of my house at fairly high levels. I've gotten to about 52% on a clear day with my crapppy little UHF loop.

Waste of time doing this but it gives me some hope, ya know? Sent out some emails to a few of the affiliates and haven't heard back, someone from WHDH promptly answered me though. He said if I can get analog 7 good then I should be in luck. Well, I CAN get analog 7 in rock solid with very little snow and no lines. In fact it's my strongest analog channel. If only there was no delay I would know right now!

After WFXT gets their tower work finished we might be able to watch the simpsons again! Used to get their analog signal pretty clear. Sad how their analog antenna crapped out like that.

Robert Yankowitz

I have noticed a blurring effect on sporting events on CBS for a long period of time now and just read that others in different markets as well as Boston are experiencing the same thing. It happens only for a second or two and it was mentioned it may have something to do with the flexicoder?

Unfortunately, we cannot. WSBK has contractual obligations to air its scheduled programming.

How about has a sub at 38.2 even if it's just SD

CBS corporate policy disallows subchannels. I am not aware of any CBS-owned stations with subchannels aside from the primary HD one.

- Trip

Does anyone have or know how I can contact WWDP and WYDN by phone? I received their signals until January but after that the signals disappeared.

WWDP-DT was off the air for several months and signed on again February 17 on channel 10. Does you antenna handle VHF well?

- Trip

The antenna I have is the DB8 from Antennas Direct with a RadioShack Bidirectional Amplifier. I have no trouble receiving any Providence or Boston stations (The digital frequencies for Providence's ch.12 and 64 are on VHF) . And I added a pair of rabbit ears to the antenna, too in preparation for the changeover in June in Boston, when ch.7 switches digital frequencies from 42 to 7. WWDP's antenna is less than 30 miles northeast, and my CECB is programmed to ch.10 to receive WWDP, but I have never received the station. I had no trouble getting the station when it was on ch.52 before December 2998.

Does anyone have or know how I can contact WWDP and WYDN by phone? I received their signals until January but after that the signals disappeared.
WYDN is run by Daystar Television Network.
Ph# from website 817-571-1229

I thought of something that might be interesting to have as a subchannel...

other media...

There's some newspapers near me that have their own youtube channel...well why stop there. Why not combine some of the more local reporting and create it into a subchannel.

Granted much of the time they show raw coverage but if you slap some commericals and combine a few papers here and there it could be interesting...it's more local than local stations...

I have noticed a blurring effect on sporting events on CBS for a long period of time now and just read that others in different markets as well as Boston are experiencing the same thing. It happens only for a second or two and it was mentioned it may have something to do with the flexicoder?

I've noticed the same thing. I've always just assumed the issue was with Comcast. I'm eagerly awaiting some free time at the end of April when I can finally ditch Comcast and get a full OTA setup. The info I've learned in this thread has been extremely helpful.

I've noticed the same thing. I've always just assumed the issue was with Comcast. I'm eagerly awaiting some free time at the end of April when I can finally ditch Comcast and get a full OTA setup. The info I've learned in this thread has been extremely helpful.

I still see it on OTA as well this is something that channel 4 I believe needs to fix.

Uh oh...it HAS begun

www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/nbc-affiliate-in-boston-jays-hometown-rejects-leno-at-10-pm/

http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2009/04/channel_7_no_le.html

Jay Leno isn't funny....he hasn't done any REAL standup. He has no real adult material and was used as a substitute in the 80's and used to sell corn chips.

personally I think whdh is doing the right thing...I rather see local news than this..thing on tv.

tv has to get more "local" enough of the generic network material.

The only NBC show I watch is Heroes. I could catch it online if necessary.

Moving NBC to channel 34 is not a real option as WNEU is not HD.

WSBK well thats another story.

The irony is that WHDH used Leno in teasers for primetime programming during the first week of NBC affiliation in 1995, nearly two years after Mugar sold the station to Sunbeam.

I wouldn't mind seeing an affiliation swap between WCVB and WHDH, if WHDH were to run the ABC lineup in its native 720p, rather than upconverting and interlacing it like WCVB currently does.

Both stations have a history of preempting programs – WHDH dropped CBS This Morning in favor of four hours of local news under the Sunbeam ownership until taking the NBC affiliation, while WCVB dropped some ABC shows in favor of syndicated reruns of The Cosby Show.

I'm curious about the contention that WHDH has a special affiliate agreement that allows them to do this, something that WHDH contended that NBC did not rebut.

For me the concept of a network in 2009 is nearly an anomaly. There is no real mass culture left. It died out 10 years ago. People used to listen to the same music, watch the same movies, watch the same tv. I'd say ABC was good with this with the whole TGIF thing in the early 90's and nbc did well with Seinfeld in the mid to late 90s (didn't like 1/3rd of the country watch it?)

Now you have growing numbers of people watching videos on the internet and the internet can be anywhere...on planes, iphones, laptops etc.

Here's another thing...have you ever gone on a trip and wanted to hear back what was going on at home? Wouldn't you want more news?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNBC_Europe

I can get Jay Leno nearly anywhere in Europe or even in taxi cabs in London...I even got cnbc asia in hong kong and that probably had jay leno on it. I don't think it's that hard to watch jay leno..but the news would report more of what's going on..

Uh oh...it HAS begun

www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/nbc-affiliate-in-boston-jays-hometown-rejects-leno-at-10-pm/

http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2009/04/channel_7_no_le.html

Jay Leno isn't funny....he hasn't done any REAL standup. He has no real adult material and was used as a substitute in the 80's and used to sell corn chips.

personally I think whdh is doing the right thing...I rather see local news than this..thing on tv.

tv has to get more "local" enough of the generic network material.

Looks like they went to the same business school as the AIG exec's. Just burn the house down with something stupid like this to try and mask the stations failure. The last thing WHDH knows is local.

The only NBC show I watch is Heroes. I could catch it online if necessary.

Moving NBC to channel 34 is not a real option as WNEU is not HD.

WSBK well thats another story.



I see NBC moving to WMFP CH 62 which can do HD, and WHDH becomming independent. :D
WSBK is a CBS owned station .

I won't miss them I hope NBC pulls this off

In all honesty I'd say the best locally produced show on affliates (I can only judge the boston and to a far lesser degree the providence market)
would be wcvb's Chronicle.

That also reminds me what ever happened to that court show "Caught in Providence"?

WFXT-DT signal off the air? Anyone else not receiving them or is it just me?

WFXT-DT is fine here in Needham. Rain attenuates the signal, could that be it?

They scrolled a message about a problem about a half an hour ago.

Thanks RAV. I guess they don't realize if you can't get the signal you can't read the message!

I'm receiving all my other stations except them so I was pretty sure that meant there was some kind of issue.

Chronicle is the best locally produced show that I have ever watched they really are in a class by themselves.

Looks like WFXT-DT still running low power this morning as I still can't pick them up. I wonder if they're running on the aux transmitter as Bill Holbrook says in this post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14649005#post14649005) so they can work on the full power DTV construction? According to comments from their recent FCC filing (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15982562#post15982562) they're accelerating construction due to the analog failure, so that would seem to fit.

Looks like WFXT-DT still running low power this morning as I still can't pick them up. I wonder if they're running on the aux transmitter as Bill Holbrook says in this post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14649005#post14649005) so they can work on the full power DTV construction? According to comments from their recent FCC filing (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15982562#post15982562) they're accelerating construction due to the analog failure, so that would seem to fit.

Does this mean we will be getting Maria in HD soon?;)

Back in the early 90s WMFP 62 carried NBC shows which WBZ didnt clear when they were NBC in Boston. Sure NBC would pay for technical upgrades if they went to 62 for HD. Also, 80% viewing is cable not OTA.

Leno's show might be funnier if Stuttering John were reading the cuecards and doing the pussyfoot interviews, with Leno as the coffee-cup guy.
But probably it still wouldn't work at 10PM on any network.

I'd enjoy to watch Jay often on any network if his show was all about cars, car news, reviewing cars, used cars, Jay's cars & stories,
other folks with interesting cars/stories.

Robert Yankowitz

I have noticed a blurring effect on sporting events on CBS for a long period of time now and just read that others in different markets as well as Boston are experiencing the same thing. It happens only for a second or two and it was mentioned it may have something to do with the flexicoder?

it's really bad tonight on the ACM awards show...

Back in the early 90s WMFP 62 carried NBC shows which WBZ didnt clear when they were NBC in Boston. Sure NBC would pay for technical upgrades if they went to 62 for HD. Also, 80% viewing is cable not OTA.

WMFP's signal is much Stronger than channel 60's signal(dt 34).
WMFP would be the most logical choice for NBC to move to,if channel 7 goes indy.

Another IDEA would put NBC on WHDN 26 but that station is a low power digital signal(15KW) that is based in Boston but barely reaches 495, however their signal is only 720p.

A third senario is channel 5 and 7 swap affilates but thats unlikey to happen as Hearst is affilated with 2 ABC stations 1 in Boston and 1 in NH

A Fourth senario would be that a NEW full power digital station pops up but with economics these days that likely Not going to happen.


MY best guess come SEPT. NBC moves to 62

Yep WFXT is at low power, 78kW right now. They filed for 780kW. I'm hoping I can catch their signal when all the work is done.

So what's the deal with WGBX? are they terminating analog sometime this month?

MY best guess come SEPT. NBC moves to 62

And my guess is that channel 7 will eventually come to their senses and drop the whole 10 PM news idea and air Leno along with the rest of the network. They're not about to risk their whole future over this one issue.

Yep WFXT is at low power, 78kW right now. They filed for 780kW. I'm hoping I can catch their signal when all the work is done.

So what's the deal with WGBX? are they terminating analog sometime this month?


WGBX analog is scheduled to shutdown on April 23rd.

Yep WFXT is at low power, 78kW right now. They filed for 780kW. I'm hoping I can catch their signal when all the work is done.

So what's the deal with WGBX? are they terminating analog sometime this month?

Anyone have any idea when they will go back to the power they were at prior to moving to aux antenna. What power were they at anyway. I was getting great signal in Northboro MA.

I just switched to ooma phone and got ported today and was ready to pull the plug on fios tv and phone. Luckily I didn't have time today. I went to watch 24 tonight on TIVO (OTA) and nothing was there !! I've rehooked FIOS TV for the moment, but I really want to dump it. I'll keep FIOS internet though.

Has OTA TV guide data changed recently? Earlier this week (4/6/9) my guide stopped showing any digital channels. I only have old analog channel listings now. I don't know how it's supposed to work (PSIP, TVGos, etc.) but for several years I had been receiving accurate OTA analog/digital guide data for my Sony HDD500.

FCC page for WFXT

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WFXT

Now: 78kW / HAAT 331.m

After: CP Mod: 780kW / HAAT 363.m

So I can only guess their signal will improve tremendously. Looks like a big boost.

----------------------

BTW - Is that home shopping channel planning to put anything on 62.2? When I was able to get the home shopping channel they had an extra sub-channel with a black screen on it. Anything going on there or is it just blank ??

"Many Boston-area residents have complained about poor reception of WFXT-DT as compared to other major local broadcasters. This is due to the transmitter currently operating under a reduced power output reported to be 78kW. However, a July 2007 FCC filing shows that WFXT-DT is currently licensed to transmit up to 154kW, but it is unclear if the full licensed power is being used.

I don't see that filing. WFXT-DT has a license for 78 kW, and an STA to operate at that power as well.

Bill Holbrook, Chief Engineer for WFXT, has stated publicly that the full power broadcast may not be reached until August 2009, when construction of a new antenna and transmitter will be complete (note: "new antenna" may very likely refer to the actual transmitter on the current tower, with a DT transmitter replacing the current analog transmitter after the DTV transition.) It is unclear whether there will be incremental improvements between the DTV transition, which will free up space higher on the current tower that is currently used by the analog transmitter, and the full power broadcasts scheduled for August 2009.

The transmitter is on the ground. The antenna is on the tower. The analog 25 antenna has to be removed and replaced with a channel 31 antenna before WFXT can operate at full power.

It is also alleged that one reason for the current low power broadcasts may be due to requirements to avoid interference with WTIC-TV, Connecticut's FOX affiliate broadcasting digital programming on the same channel (31) from less than 100 miles away. However, this allegation suggests that WFXT would have to switch digital programming from channel 31 to channel 25 after the DTV transition to resolve this interference, which contradicts other available information."

Allegation is false. There are many places where Fox declined to build full facilities due to little space on the tower or in the transmitter building. Philadelphia's WTXF is doing the same thing that WFXT is doing.

- Trip

yeah, thats what it said on wikipedia, dont know why lol

all I want is FOX back

A third senario is channel 5 and 7 swap affilates but thats unlikey to happen as Hearst is affilated with 2 ABC stations 1 in Boston and 1 in NH



Don't forget the ABC affliate in Portland, ME --- WMTW, Channel 8 is also ABC.

yeah, thats what it said on wikipedia, dont know why lol

all I want is FOX back

I wouldn't hold your breath.

DTV Reception Facts

It is an unfortunate fact that the TV antenna and its downlead are often taken for granted by almost everyone, and few realize the importance of a good TV antenna installation.

The irony is that while people are ready to spend even thousands of dollars on a big screen LCD or plasma HDTV, yet many are unwilling to spend any more than is the bare minimum on their antenna installation.

Yet, the extra cost involved to set up a good digital TV antenna using a full size multi-element outdoor system is nothing compared to the cost of the average TV.

This is even more so when it comes to digital TV reception. A good digital TV antenna can literally make or break the picture since it can give you that little extra decoding margin to remain above the so called digital cliff referred to in our introductory article to digital TV.

The above may be better understood in the light of a study released by research firm Centris which says that 9.2 million of the 17 million U.S. households that receive over-the-air TV reside in what they refer to as 'challenging areas'. This means that these households would receive only four or fewer broadcast TV stations if they use an indoor digital TV antenna or a small to medium omidirectional rooftop antenna.

The top 10 cities cited by Centris as having the most limited digital TV coverage are:

New York

Boston (Manchester)

Philadelphia

Los Angeles

Washington, DC (Hagerstown)

Seattle-Tacoma

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose

Minneapolis-St. Paul

Atlanta

Cleveland-Akron (Canton)

is that really true?

http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com/digital-tv-antenna.html

I just heard now as of this posting on 7 news that WHDH will air LENO's new show come september!

So looks like NBC is going to stay on 7 for now

is that really true?

http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com/digital-tv-antenna.html

I don't know how they came up with this list. Seeing LA on the list is a surprise, but I suppose they are including areas behind mountains that would be better served by translators.

For the vast majority of the LA basin, OTA is relatively painless, especially since all the stations are in the same general location and on a mountain.

Markets with poor co-location are probably the most frustrating to deal with.

Some changes I saw browsing the FCC queries........

WBPX - 1000kW ERP (300kW current)

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WBPX

-

WBZ - 915kW (825kW current)

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?state=&call=WBZ&arn=&city=&chan=&cha2=69&serv=&type=0&facid=&list=1&dist=&dlat2=&mlat2=&slat2=&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&size=9

-

WFXT - 780kW (78kW current)

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?state=&call=WFXT&arn=&city=&chan=&cha2=69&serv=&type=0&facid=&list=1&dist=&dlat2=&mlat2=&slat2=&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&size=9

Interesting..... eagerly waiting to do a re-scan on June 12th-13th. :)

Has anyone watched This TV at 6:30 am yesterday (Monday the 13th) and this morning and noticed there was no sound? The station was broadcasting the Mister Ed show and the sound only came on during the commercials. I'm surprized that THis TV did not notice this problem,or maybe it was a problem only at my local affiliate in Boston, MA (WHDH-DT 7.2). As a regular viewer of the show, I know the horse did not talk to anyone except to his owner, but did he and the entire show cast stop talking to us too? If This TV would correct the problem it would keep me 'stable' like the horse.

Mr. Ed was just screwin' with you Wilbur

I happened to see the tail end of a crawl on WFXT (analog signal from my D* locals) the other night right around 7PM which said they expect to have their digital facilities construction completed and broadcasting by May 1. I didn't catch the entire thing and it was a few days ago, but pretty sure it even said full power.

Tonight WLVI broke up during the first 10-15 minutes of 90210.

OK it only broke up for a seond here and there and I am on Verizon Fios,but this is the first time it has ever broken up like this in nearly 5 years.

Reminder:

The ION channels (68,21,and I believe 58) go digital only on Thursday,along with WWDP (as if anyone watches that channel,Fios doesn't even carry it)
WGBX-SD bites the dust on April 23rd and Ch 48 goes digital only off air a week later on April 30th.

Of course the other stations are waiting till June 12th.

yeah and WBPX is going to boost their signal better, I can get WBPX (4 ION channels) in pretty clear in my kitchen near the window. I did some testing the other night.

Right now I am getting:

WGBH-HD 2.1 - 62%
WGBH-SD 2.2 - 62%
WBZ-HD 4.1 - 64%
WCVB-HD 5.1 - 67% (suprise! my meter hit the "good" zone!)
WHDH-HD 7.1 - 62%
THIS-TV - 7.2 - 62%

and........drum roll...........WFXT! Very very spotty. Only 28% signal strength. Maria stephanos's face is all blocky and pixelated. LOL! I'm counting down the days until the higher ERP/antenna HAAT raise happens.

It's 5 AM and my signal is great. Once daylight rolls around, I think my meter will go down again. Funny how I get GREAT reception at night and during the day my signal gets weaker (still watchable). I suspect one of the reasons could be that they keep transmitters at reduced power during the day for tower work.

How about that Daystar channel? WYDN? I have NEVER been able to recieve their analog signal anywhere out of all the places I've lived in Mass. Are their transmitters aimed towards the west? Maybe it's because I've lived farther away from worcestor. On the FCC coverage map their supposedly going to be gaining more coverage, mainly towards eastern Mass, but who knows how accurate those maps are.

With a 2,290kW analog UHF signal, you'd think they'd be reached all over mass. Guess not. Their 365kW digital UHF signal is no dice either.

Coverage map for the daystar channel

http://i42.tinypic.com/16h6pvn.jpg

Wow! Big coverage gain in eastern mass it seems for this so called "over the air" channel. Always thought they were cable only, guess not!

For what it's worth, I scanned my set top box for new channels last night and WNAC, the Fox channel from Providence, RI showed up. It's 81.5 miles as the crow flies from Stratham. Thinking it was a fluke, I fired up the tv this morning and it was still there.

I wish I could get WMEA-DT, which is only 26 miles from me, but it doesn't show up.

yeah and WBPX is going to boost their signal better, I can get WBPX (4 ION channels) in pretty clear in my kitchen near the window. I did some testing the other night.

Right now I am getting:

WGBH-HD 2.1 - 62%
WGBH-SD 2.2 - 62%
WBZ-HD 4.1 - 64%
WCVB-HD 5.1 - 67% (suprise! my meter hit the "good" zone!)
WHDH-HD 7.1 - 62%
THIS-TV - 7.2 - 62%

and........drum roll...........WFXT! Very very spotty. Only 28% signal strength. Maria stephanos's face is all blocky and pixelated. LOL! I'm counting down the days until the higher ERP/antenna HAAT raise happens.

It's 5 AM and my signal is great. Once daylight rolls around, I think my meter will go down again. Funny how I get GREAT reception at night and during the day my signal gets weaker (still watchable). I suspect one of the reasons could be that they keep transmitters at reduced power during the day for tower work.

How about that Daystar channel? WYDN? I have NEVER been able to recieve their analog signal anywhere out of all the places I've lived in Mass. Are their transmitters aimed towards the west? Maybe it's because I've lived farther away from worcestor. On the FCC coverage map their supposedly going to be gaining more coverage, mainly towards eastern Mass, but who knows how accurate those maps are.

With a 2,290kW analog UHF signal, you'd think they'd be reached all over mass. Guess not. Their 365kW digital UHF signal is no dice either.

Coverage map for the daystar channel

http://i42.tinypic.com/16h6pvn.jpg

Wow! Big coverage gain in eastern mass it seems for this so called "over the air" channel. Always thought they were cable only, guess not!
From my location in Pawtucket, RI: I can receive WFXT-DT pretty much all the time with a signal strength of at least 40% strength (from my Venturer DTV set top box). The strongest station is WBZ, with over 85% signal strength. WCVB and WGBH are also vert strong. WHDH is a bit weaker, while WGBX is about 65% strength, along with WLVI at around 60%. Slightly weaker is WBPX and WSBK at around 50%. I can get WMFP with about 40% strength. WUNI is at 60% and WUTF at 50%.

Now as for WWDP and WYDN, I used to receive WWDP when it was on channel 52, then when they shut off the ch.52 signal I could no longer receive it and since they suposedlychanged the signal to ch.10 I have NEVER received the station no matter what direction my outdoor antenna is aimed, and they transmit from Foxboro, only 25 miles away. WWDP was received on ch 47 when they were at 335 KW of power, but I read on the FCC database that they switched to lower power - less than 20kw - since February from their Needham tramsmitter (on ch.4's tower), and since then I have never again received their signal.

For what it's worth, I scanned my set top box for new channels last night and WNAC, the Fox channel from Providence, RI showed up. It's 81.5 miles as the crow flies from Stratham. Thinking it was a fluke, I fired up the tv this morning and it was still there.

I wish I could get WMEA-DT, which is only 26 miles from me, but it doesn't show up.
Since the station went digital only on February 18th and changed their DTV channel to 12 with 26kw of power, more people have been receiving WNAC-DT. They hold a CP to increase power to 30kw.

Anyone having problems with CW's primetime programming stuttering on WLVI? It's like this on FIOS and only happens on their national feed- Reaper last night was unwatchable. It's been going on like this for over a week now. I'm trying to sort out whether it's like this OTA or just on FIOS.

Anyone having problems with CW's primetime programming stuttering on WLVI? It's like this on FIOS and only happens on their national feed- Reaper last night was unwatchable. It's been going on like this for over a week now. I'm trying to sort out whether it's like this OTA or just on FIOS.

It did a little studdering last night on 90210 but just a seconed or two here and there and with the captions i was able to collect everything they were saying. It was also mainly during the first 10-15 minutes or so. I'm recording tonight's rebroadcast just to be on the safe side.

I reckon WBZ will be the strongest out of all of them. I think WHDH is going to be the worst. I can't say how well VHF digital works, since that is their fate, but for me, it's no dice. That PBS affiliate up in new hampshire that already pulled the plug (11.1) doesn't come in for squat down here. The max ERP they can do for VHF-high is around 29kW-30kW I believe. Who knows how far that will go.

At this point in time it looks like UHF digital is better because of the higher power and not much interferance issues. WFXT @ 780kW and raising the transmitter on the tower should boost their coverage tremendously. Will be up to par with the rest of the boston channels.

I last heard that WHDH didn't want to carry that new Jay Leno show I think. So what are they planning to go independant?

Why does that zero-audience home shopping channel get to use a VHF channel for their puny little transmitter while the main boston affiliates (main networks) wander into the UHF wilderness?

Can anyone in Boston recieve this low power digital station at all? What kind of programming do they show? I notice they don't even reach much of eastern mass at all.

WHDN-LD

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHDN-LD

Since the station went digital only on February 18th and changed their DTV channel to 12 with 26kw of power, more people have been receiving WNAC-DT. They hold a CP to increase power to 30kw.

Well, just as quickly as it appeared, it's gone. Must have been a skip condition!
Still not WMEA-DT. The station engineer emailed me some time ago that my antenna balun may have failed for that channel, so I'll try to replace it this weekend and see if it makes a difference.

WBPX pulled the plug I think? I'm recieving some pixelated mess on all 4 of their channels. Also, the channel 21 ION signal up in New Hampshire is dead too. Did that one go all digital?

WBPX pulled the plug I think? I'm recieving some pixelated mess on all 4 of their channels. Also, the channel 21 ION signal up in New Hampshire is dead too. Did that one go all digital?

Scheduled for 4/16 transition: WBPX, WPXG (ION/Concord), WWDP (CW/Norwell), WDPX (ION/Vineyard Haven)

Scheduled for 4/23 transition: WGBX (PBS/Channel 44)

Scheduled for 4/30 transition: WYDN (Worcester indie)

Everyone else in the area goes 6/12.

FCC spreadsheet here. (http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-589A3.pdf)

Who had WWDP-DT listed as CW? Huh?

I last heard that WHDH didn't want to carry that new Jay Leno show I think. So what are they planning to go independent?

The latest news is that the owner of WHDH lost his game-of-chicken standoff with NBC. So WHDH will carry Leno at 10 PM, as dictated by NBC, and their late night news will remain at 11 PM.

Can anyone in Boston recieve this low power digital station at all? What kind of programming do they show? I notice they don't even reach much of eastern mass at all.

WHDN-LD

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHDN-LD

Yes, for the most part, at night its a radio simulcast, and it seems like every time during the day when I turn it on, there trying to sell rings and gems (although, If I recall, it actually is in HD, it beats QVC-HD!), though I've seen a few other shows (like review shows for cars and horses)

Who had WWDP-DT listed as CW? Huh?

That's how the FCC spreadsheet (http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-589A3.pdf) lists it. Page 1, line 17. Is the FCC wrong (I don't live out that way)? What is it, then?

WLVI-DT? It's on channel 41, I do believe.

What is it, then?

WWDP is ShopNBC as best as I can tell (it is not The CW):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWDP

I don't think very many people are going out of their way to receive it, however. I have not heard any reports since it moved to 10.

Scheduled for 4/16 transition: WBPX, WPXG (ION/Concord), WWDP (CW/Norwell), WDPX (ION/Vineyard Haven)

Can anyone confirm that all of the above ended analog? Yes, even WWDP, if possible. :D

Hopefully, someone on the Cape can report on WDPX.

Thanks,

Now as for WWDP and WYDN, I used to receive WWDP when it was on channel 52, then when they shut off the ch.52 signal I could no longer receive it and since they suposedlychanged the signal to ch.10 I have NEVER received the station no matter what direction my outdoor antenna is aimed, and they transmit from Foxboro, only 25 miles away.

They actually transmit from West Bridgewater, not Foxboro. I'm able to receive it fine, but I'm less than 10 miles away.

WBPX channel 68 is dead for me, as well as the channel 21 transmitter up in Concord new hampshire. Channel 68 always had a flicker on it on all my tv's. Maybe that was from co-channel interference. TVfool had a co-channel warning on 68.

Analog 44 WGBX is still on.

When is WBPX increasing power? It says here they filed for 1000kW as well as a HAAT raise.

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WBPX

Is there any way to contact this station?

On June 23rd, 2008, They filed for 1000kW, so when is this happening? After the transition?

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1248966

When is WBPX increasing power? It says here they filed for 1000kW as well as a HAAT raise.

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WBPX

Is there any way to contact this station?

Nothing happens until the FCC approves or denies it.

- Trip

Does anybody know what the deal with WHDH and WTMU is? They are both broadcasting on the same channel right now (42). As a result, there are times of the day where I cannot get a good signal lock on WHDH. Signal quality cycles from about 90% down to almost nil then back up. I think it's due to co-channel interference, but I'm not positive. I live just 9 miles from the towers with an attic mount directional antenna (Winegard HD 7694P), and all the other stations from Needham are all coming in rock solid (even when I have a foot of snow on the roof).

Does anybody know if this is something that will be resolved once June 12th happens and WHDH moves back to channel 7, or will this continue to be a problem? Thanks for your help! Apologies if this topic has already been covered.

Uh, it seems like you answered your own question. I'm not sure what you're asking.

WBPX channel 68 is dead for me, as well as the channel 21 transmitter up in Concord new hampshire. Channel 68 always had a flicker on it on all my tv's. Maybe that was from co-channel interference. TVfool had a co-channel warning on 68.

Analog 44 WGBX is still on.
Also on April 16th WLNE ch.6 in Providence and WWLP ch.22 in Springfield shut off their analog nightline signals.

Update on WFXT-DT:

Just a quick update on WFXT. We have begun operating on our new antenna and transmission line this morning. We will be slowly increasing power over the next few days till we reach our new Full-Power EIRP level of 780 Kw. Construction has gone well and ahead of schedule and thankfully we have had mostly decent weather for the tower work. Let me know if any issues come up or any are finally resolved. I will update this site once we reach full power.

Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT-DT

Update on WFXT-DT:

Just a quick update on WFXT. We have begun operating on our new antenna and transmission line this morning. We will be slowly increasing power over the next few days till we reach our new Full-Power EIRP level of 780 Kw. Construction has gone well and ahead of schedule and thankfully we have had mostly decent weather for the tower work. Let me know if any issues come up or any are finally resolved. I will update this site once we reach full power.

Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT-DT

Bill,

Thanks for the update that is great news. Any idea when the newsroom will be broadcasting in HD?

Thanks again

Update on WFXT-DT:

Just a quick update on WFXT. We have begun operating on our new antenna and transmission line this morning. We will be slowly increasing power over the next few days till we reach our new Full-Power EIRP level of 780 Kw. Construction has gone well and ahead of schedule and thankfully we have had mostly decent weather for the tower work. Let me know if any issues come up or any are finally resolved. I will update this site once we reach full power.

Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT-DT

FYI Bill, WFXT is tied for the strongest DT signal here at my location in Haverhill. You guys should be in here like Gang Busters when you are up to full ERP. NICE JOB !

Last Night WFXT was coming in at 38% for me. I was watching family guy then it just dropped out completely.

Thanks for the update!

Just turned my tv on and FOX is ROCK SOLID!!!!!!!!!!! 720p!!!!!

Bill,

Thanks for the update that is great news. Any idea when the newsroom will be broadcasting in HD?

Thanks again


No official date has been set that I can publish other than to say construction is nearly complete and rehearsals will begin in the next few weeks.


BTW Things went very smoothly today and we are at full power as this is being written. Hopefully it will remain as stable as it has today going forward.

Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT-DT

No official date has been set that I can publish other than to say construction is nearly complete and rehearsals will begin in the next few weeks.


BTW Things went very smoothly today and we are at full power as this is being written. Hopefully it will remain as stable as it has today going forward.

Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT-DT

Great news thanks for the updates it looks like it should happen fairly soon I guess.

WGBX just pull the plug? I see an orange screen on 44. Either that, or the analog signal is not reaching me anymore.

Sorry, but I don't think anyone in here has watched ANALOG TV for over a YEAR now. It's so......passe...

Bill Holbrook - GREAT NEWS! I thought the 60% signal strength on the meter this morning looked a bit on the strong side, especially given the atmospheric conditions. At the lower 78kW ERP I could never get more than 40% even on the clearest day.

WOW WFXT is coming in rock solid! I used to have adjust so many times just to get drop outs in the daytime now I can adjust all over the place and there are hardly any drop outs!

Me too..........I didn't even have to adjust my antenna. All I did was flip to 25.1 and bam.

Me too..........I didn't even have to adjust my antenna. All I did was flip to 25.1 and bam.

Amen :D
now if channels 56,68 and 38 would increase their power just a tad i would be a happy camper
Channel 50 I give up at 7.3kw and 14 miles between 2 hills, my only solution for OTA reception is to MOVE ! :D

WZMY comes in @ 44% with my rca ant111 clipped on my window. 11.87 miles away. But thats the only channel I get in that spot. I think I have my old amplified bunny ears in the right direction, for the most part, because WBZ,WHDH,THIS,WGBH,WFXT,WCVB all come in Ok. I have it hanging behind a door.

WBPX filed for 1000kW but it's still pending..........

So I'm guessing that WFXT-DT (FOX) has now upped their transmitter power? Wonderful! Here in central Connecticut, digital channel 31 is home to WTIC-DT (FOX) of Hartford. Their transmitter is on Rattlesnake Mountain in Farmington, CT, a few miles west-southwest of Hartford. My question is, how far apart are the WTIC-DT and WFXT-DT sites from each other?

92 miles, if my math is right.

- Trip

I have a question I've been wondering about for a while. Maybe one of you knows the answer.

does WGBH broadcast the HD channel in 720p or 1080i? My Vizio displays it as 1080i but I'm wondering if my TV is just upscaling. The rest of the channels I get (WBZ, WHDH, WCVB) all say 1080i. Is my LCD upscaling it or is this the real quality they are using?

The only one that's not 1080i is WFXT. The EPG menu says 720p. It looks more blurry then 1080i, but might just be the settings I'm using on my TV. My Vizio LCD's aspect ratio is 16:10, so it's not exactly wide screen. If I leave it on the settings to fill the screen, it cuts off some of the picture in the corner. If I leave it on the untouched setting, I see black bars on top and bottom of the screen. This doesn't happen on the SD channels because they are originally 4:3 so its just expanding the square.

I like watching This old House and antiques roadshow and the nature documentaries in HD. I saw a show about tree frogs the other day, looked AMAZING.

pbs/wgbh-hd is 1080i.
as for "fill-the-screen" or "black bars" , I prefer the black-bars/original-aspect-ratio.
Only possible exception is sometime when I'm watching a 4:3 DVD for a TV show which has been clearly taped with "16:9-safe" in mind - sometimes I zoom that to intentionally cut off top & bottom of the 4:3 image in that case.
Did you see cartalk Tom & Ray on Nova last night? I think I may prefer them in their cartoon show to the HD closeups, but hey, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I have a question I've been wondering about for a while. Maybe one of you knows the answer.

does WGBH broadcast the HD channel in 720p or 1080i? My Vizio displays it as 1080i but I'm wondering if my TV is just upscaling. The rest of the channels I get (WBZ, WHDH, WCVB) all say 1080i. Is my LCD upscaling it or is this the real quality they are using?

The only one that's not 1080i is WFXT. The EPG menu says 720p. It looks more blurry then 1080i, but might just be the settings I'm using on my TV. My Vizio LCD's aspect ratio is 16:10, so it's not exactly wide screen. If I leave it on the settings to fill the screen, it cuts off some of the picture in the corner. If I leave it on the untouched setting, I see black bars on top and bottom of the screen. This doesn't happen on the SD channels because they are originally 4:3 so its just expanding the square.

I like watching This old House and antiques roadshow and the nature documentaries in HD. I saw a show about tree frogs the other day, looked AMAZING.
WGBH-DT is 1080i

So I'm guessing that WFXT-DT (FOX) has now upped their transmitter power? Wonderful! Here in central Connecticut, digital channel 31 is home to WTIC-DT (FOX) of Hartford. Their transmitter is on Rattlesnake Mountain in Farmington, CT, a few miles west-southwest of Hartford. My question is, how far apart are the WTIC-DT and WFXT-DT sites from each other?

I'm in Brimfield between the 2.. and at this time I get neither. But.. it's crappy weather and the rain kills the signals. My Clearstream4 is pointed towards Newton with the backend almost towards Hartford's antennas. I use to get the Fox 25 analog signal pretty good too until it went down.

I just hope the two Fox stations on 31 don't cancel each other out in my area.. I really want Fox25 back. I miss Maria and Sara.:D

Just think Maria and Sara coming in HD soon

Just think Maria and Sara coming in HD soon

Sure.. rub it in!!!!!! :D

Sure.. rub it in!!!!!! :D

Can't do it just yet but I hope to soon. They are way overdue to have them in HD:D

FOX is at 67% on my meter right now. WBZ is at 72%

The changing topography must be why my meter fluctuates at random times of the day.

I'm in Brimfield between the 2.. and at this time I get neither. But.. it's crappy weather and the rain kills the signals. My Clearstream4 is pointed towards Newton with the backend almost towards Hartford's antennas. I use to get the Fox 25 analog signal pretty good too until it went down.

I just hope the two Fox stations on 31 don't cancel each other out in my area.. I really want Fox25 back. I miss Maria and Sara.:D

It would be good if they would put WNNE in White River Junction back on 31, WFXT in Boston back on 25 and keep that Hartford station on 31. That spacing would make more sense!

Is it true that the rhode island transmitters signals aren't aimed towards boston? I bet some people in Rehoboth or close between boston and rhode island would be able to pick up channels from both markets. I know on the analog side when I lived in boston/braintree years ago I remember getting rhode island stations (WNAC, etc.) as well as the boston stations.

foxfan's post above raises an interesting point. It also reminds me I don't think we really know why WFXT wants to stay on DT31. Maybe Bill Holbrook can offer comments on why WFXT wouldn't choose to retain the ch 25 frequency for digital and instead chose to stay on ch 31? I would have thought that with all the brand marketing using "Fox25" and ch 25 being a UHF frequency it would have been the more desirable thing to do. After all that's why all the broadcasters insisted on PSIP virtual channel mapping. Not sure why the real thing isn't better than the imitation here. ;)

I know this is an old gripe which has been discussed here ad nauseum by us early adopters, but I find it completely ridiculous that now we're going to have most stations branding themselves as channels which no longer exist or don't match their actual transmitting frequency! IMO the FCC should never have allowed PSIP virtual channel mapping, it just creates confusion.

Look at what happened when we ran our of phone numbers in eastern MA and area codes had to be expanded. Sure people whined and moaned about it, and there were some legitimate concerns like businesses which would have to re-print just about everything with their phone number on it, but it was a short term thing and now no one even remembers it was an issue. Well, that's what he FCC should have done, told stations to just deal with it. Sure it would have caused some minor pain, but it would quickly have been forgotten. Instead, they do the typical bureaucratic thing and appease whoever whines the loudest. As if it wasn't enough these stations have all been broadcasting for FREE on these DTV frequencies, some for nearly the last 10 years!

Hopefully someone with some sense will eventually convince the FCC to realize their mistake mandate that all terrestrial stations leave all this useless legacy channel identification behind. But I'm not holding my breath, either.

WFXT originally asked the FCC if they could stay on channel 25. The FCC said no due to spacing problems with WNNE-DT 25.

And I suppose the millions of dollars stations spent on the equipment for their "free" channels didn't cost them a dime?

PSIP creates confusion among us, the technical folks who actually care what the actual RF frequency is. For the other 99% of the country, it prevents confusion.

- Trip

WFXT originally asked the FCC if they could stay on channel 25. The FCC said no due to spacing problems with WNNE-DT 25.

So a neighboring temporary DTV assignment got claimed before they ponied up and said they wanted to stay on 25 for DTV? I don't know all the rules imposed by the FCC for final DTV channel assignments but I would hope they weren't designed in such a way that a station could be kicked off their primary channel if they objected to that! I see WNNE was originally analog ch 31. Very odd that they would both swap from their primary channels, especially given the proximities as foxfan points out.

And I suppose the millions of dollars stations spent on the equipment for their "free" channels didn't cost them a dime?

Cost of doing business. They were going to have to buy it eventually. Stations would have been wise to purchase their equipment in such a way that as much of it as possible could be used post-transition to minimize the impact to their bottom line.

PSIP creates confusion among us, the technical folks who actually care what the actual RF frequency is. For the other 99% of the country, it prevents confusion.

Since the physical layer is entirely abstracted now, why not just ditch virtual "channel numbers" altogether and simply use the call sign or some other moniker of the stations choosing (e.g. "TheBostonChannel")? Media and information is evolving in new and innovative ways and I would've liked to see the stations realize the opportunity they have now to "re-invent" themselves for the multimedia age. Why would any station want to be coupled to a defunct legacy channel identifier going forward? Its like having one foot stuck in the mud.

Is it true that the rhode island transmitters signals aren't aimed towards boston? I bet some people in Rehoboth or close between boston and rhode island would be able to pick up channels from both markets. I know on the analog side when I lived in boston/braintree years ago I remember getting rhode island stations (WNAC, etc.) as well as the boston stations.
A check of the FCC Engineering Pages and DTV information shows that some of Provindece's stations null their signal toward Boston for some unknown reason. Their transmitters are in Rehoboth (except for WLWC-DT located in Freetown). WPRI-DT 12 (13) , WNAC-DT 64 (12) , and WLWC-DT 28 (22) are non-directional and don't null their signal. However, WJAR-DT 10 (51), WLNE-DT 6 (49), and WSBE-DT 36 (21) appear to null their signal toward Boston (they are all on WJAR's tower). The signal will likely improve in June when WJAR (and likely WLNE) have their digital antennas moved to the top of the tower. Not sure of WSBE's plans, and they are at only 50kw only as of now.

So a neighboring temporary DTV assignment got claimed before they ponied up and said they wanted to stay on 25 for DTV? I don't know all the rules imposed by the FCC for final DTV channel assignments but I would hope they weren't designed in such a way that a station could be kicked off their primary channel if they objected to that! I see WNNE was originally analog ch 31. Very odd that they would both swap from their primary channels, especially given the proximities as foxfan points out.

The FCC gave the stations' transitional channels priority, since they were already built out and thus it wouldn't make sense to evict an existing station from their channel. So yes, WNNE-DT 25 got priority over WFXT-25.

Cost of doing business. They were going to have to buy it eventually. Stations would have been wise to purchase their equipment in such a way that as much of it as possible could be used post-transition to minimize the impact to their bottom line.

That doesn't make it "free." And given that they had to pay the power bills on the UHF transmitters, it's even less "free."

And what's a station like WHDH supposed to do? They had to build out a full-powered UHF digital facility that they paid the power bills on for 10 years and basically have to throw away at the end of the transition.

Since the physical layer is entirely abstracted now, why not just ditch virtual "channel numbers" altogether and simply use the call sign or some other moniker of the stations choosing (e.g. "TheBostonChannel")? Media and information is evolving in new and innovative ways and I would've liked to see the stations realize the opportunity they have now to "re-invent" themselves for the multimedia age. Why would any station want to be coupled to a defunct legacy channel identifier going forward? Its like having one foot stuck in the mud.

People know a station by its channel number. It's one less thing to annoy people about the transition.

A check of the FCC Engineering Pages and DTV information shows that some of Provindece's stations null their signal toward Boston for some unknown reason. Their transmitters are in Rehoboth (except for WLWC-DT located in Freetown). WPRI-DT 12 (13) , WNAC-DT 64 (12) , and WLWC-DT 28 (22) are non-directional and don't null their signal. However, WJAR-DT 10 (51), WLNE-DT 6 (49), and WSBE-DT 36 (21) appear to null their signal toward Boston (they are all on WJAR's tower). The signal will likely improve in June when WJAR (and likely WLNE) have their digital antennas moved to the top of the tower. Not sure of WSBE's plans, and they are at only 50kw only as of now.

WLWC is very much directional.

They [WJAR and WLNE] are nulled toward Boston because there's no point in wasting power in that direction. It's not their market.

WSBE-DT is nulled to protect WCVB-DT 20 and WLWC-DT 22.

- Trip

I'm researching some of those DIY antennas on the web. Indoors, I found the spot where about 6-7 stations are. I don't know if I'm picking up reflections or what. I really wanna get an outdoor type of antenna or something better for indoors like the CS2 or something with a high high gain.

The FCC gave the stations' transitional channels priority, since they were already built out and thus it wouldn't make sense to evict an existing station from their channel. So yes, WNNE-DT 25 got priority over WFXT-25.

Ok, but I was pretty sure WFXT had always planned to return to ch 25 post transition. Bill Holbrook even indicated a few pages back that they had to upgrade the transmission line and antenna for ch 31 since the low power construction was never designed to handle the full ERP. Why would they have wasted money on low power gear if it wasn't just temporary? That makes no sense. Also, why stations would agree to a transition plan which all but assures they lose their current channel assignment is beyond me. I would have thought the opposite would have been the goal. I guess that's a gov't agency for you.

That doesn't make it "free." And given that they had to pay the power bills on the UHF transmitters, it's even less "free."

And what's a station like WHDH supposed to do? They had to build out a full-powered UHF digital facility that they paid the power bills on for 10 years and basically have to throw away at the end of the transition.

Well, at least in the case of WFXT-DT, the electric bill on their piddly 78kW digital facility pales in comparison to the point of being insignificant when compared to their 3MW ERP on the analog side (IIRC, before the recent failures.) While there probably isn't a huge market for it, I have to believe that WHDH can unload its UHF hardware in as surplus if it can't use it in some capacity.

The reality is that DTV is doing all these stations a huge favor. They can now reach the same coverage area at only a fraction of the power the old analog signals required, which amounts to very significant savings for them. I bet the savings in one year alone is enough to cover the cost of many of these one-time expenditures.

People know a station by its channel number. It's one less thing to annoy people about the transition.

When it used to mean something! That's all I'm saying. Channel numbers are just so passé these days.... ;)

Ok, but I was pretty sure WFXT had always planned to return to ch 25 post transition. Bill Holbrook even indicated a few pages back that they had to upgrade the transmission line and antenna for ch 31 since the low power construction was never designed to handle the full ERP. Why would they have wasted money on low power gear if it wasn't just temporary? That makes no sense. Also, why stations would agree to a transition plan which all but assures they lose their current channel assignment is beyond me. I would have thought the opposite would have been the goal. I guess that's a gov't agency for you.

They had planned to go back to 25. The FCC had originally told the stations they'd let them go back to the analogs, but I think that also assumed that low-VHF would work out and a lot of the UHF frequencies would be cleared out. When it became obvious that the low-VHF stations would be staying on UHF, it got flipped around. (That's me speculating, I don't know that for sure.)

Well, at least in the case of WFXT-DT, the electric bill on their piddly 78kW digital facility pales in comparison to the point of being insignificant when compared to their 3MW ERP on the analog side (IIRC, before the recent failures.)

For stations that built out full facilities, though, the power bill of a 1000 kW UHF versus a 100 kW or 316 kW VHF are significantly different.

WFXT, being a UHF analog, was originally allotted 67.5 kW for digital by the FCC¹, so they built out "full replication facilities" by the FCC's definition. Stations moving from VHF analog were told to build out 1000 kW.

¹ Citation: http://www.transmitter.com/FCC98315/MAatwch.html

While there probably isn't a huge market for it, I have to believe that WHDH can unload its UHF hardware in as surplus if it can't use it in some capacity.

But it's still reduced in value from when they bought it. If it's an IOT tube transmitter, which I suspect it is, the tubes may not be worth a whole lot if they're close to their end of life. I'm not sure what the cabinets are worth.

The reality is that DTV is doing all these stations a huge favor. They can now reach the same coverage area at only a fraction of the power the old analog signals required, which amounts to very significant savings for them. I bet the savings in one year alone is enough to cover the cost of many of these one-time expenditures.

For UHFs, perhaps, but the low-VHF stations now have big UHF power bills and reduced coverage areas. Many of the upper VHF stations that have moved back so far are encountering reception problems.

When it used to mean something! That's all I'm saying. Channel numbers are just so passé these days.... ;)

Did they ever mean anything? In Britain, TVs moved from VHF to UHF without changing channels.

If we really wanted to get technical, we could require them to ID their pilot carrier frequency. "WCVB 506.3 MHz." :p

I bet they'd still brand as channel 5.

- Trip

The reality is that DTV is doing all these stations a huge favor. They can now reach the same coverage area at only a fraction of the power the old analog signals required, which amounts to very significant savings for them. I bet the savings in one year alone is enough to cover the cost of many of these one-time expenditures.

The analog vs. digital ERP's are measured differently (peak power vs. average power). While the actual "plant" costs are not that easy to compare, a rough gauge is to multiply the DTV ERP by 5 to compare power requirements, relative to analog (assuming the same antenna pattern, etc.)

In other words, a 1000kW ERP DTV signal probably costs about as much to run as a 5000kW ERP analog signal.

However, cost savings may be realized through the use of IOT vs. klystron tubes for UHF as well as other incremental advances, but then that is really not a digital vs. analog issue, but newer and more efficient equipment vs. older equipment. Stations just haven't felt the need to buy the latest and greatest for analog.

As Trip has noted, the stations that stand the most to gain (as respects power savings) are the dual UHF stations.

A few stations will see their power bills actually increase, post-transition, such as dual Low-VHF's moving to UHF (see WKYC in Cleveland).

Late last Sunday evening I was DXing around the digital stations, mostly out of sheer boredom, and was amazed to lock onto a rock-solid signal from WCDC-HD (36/19), which is an ABC affiliate in Adams MA servicing the western MA and Albany-Schenectady markets. Their transmitter is about 145 air miles from me in South Plymouth. I guess it was caused by a combination of fortuitous atmospherics and the fact that WSBE in Providence (36/21) was off the air for its weekly maintenance or whatever. Keying in 36 remapped my digital receiver to 19 rather than 21. I will give it another shot this coming Sunday, just to see if it was a one-time occurence. Anybody else in eastern MA ever pull in WCDC?

WGBX pulled the plug yesterday!

The FCC gave the stations' transitional channels priority, since they were already built out and thus it wouldn't make sense to evict an existing station from their channel. So yes, WNNE-DT 25 got priority over WFXT-25.

- Trip

I thought UHF transmitters and antennas could easily get retuned to a new channel (just like WCAX did by going from 53 to 22).

I wish the FCC would have played a more proactive role in assigning frequencies that would best serve larger areas without interference (instead of asking "which one would you like to keep"). They could have spaced them:

VT/NH: 31
MA: 25
CT: 31

But no, now you will have two stations permanently short-spaced.

I thought UHF transmitters and antennas could easily get retuned to a new channel (just like WCAX did by going from 53 to 22).

Not really. You can get a wide band antenna that will handle a large range of frequencies, but those aren't as efficient and don't perform as well. Because of this, most antennas are frequency specific, or so I've been told.

On top of that, you need a new mask filter. If it's only a channel or two away, a few of them can be switched, but most are channel specific from what I understand.

The transmitter can sometimes be retuned but to move them as far as WCAX did I imagine required some huge amount of work. I spoke with an engineer who's having a transmitter retuned from a channel in the 50s to one in the 20s and it sounds like they're having to rebuild the thing.

I'm not sure just how extensive it is, but I'm pretty sure the process is not nearly as inexpensive as one might think. I thought it wouldn't be bad either until I spoke with some engineers and asked.

- Trip

Boston Legal on 68.1.

Used to only broadcast in 480.

Nice. WBPX switched over to HD. all 4 68's come in as a blocky mess on my end. Until the FCC approves their power increase I won't be getting them anytime soon.

Can anyone in southern new hampshire catch any of the rhode island stations? TVfool has it in the pink range for me so I guess it qualifies for deep fringe.

Their signals not aimed towards the north?

Can anyone in southern new hampshire catch any of the rhode island stations? TVfool has it in the pink range for me so I guess it qualifies for deep fringe.

Their signals not aimed towards the north?

I have on occasion picked up stations in RI but conditions have to be "up" for that to happen.

nicoge21, you've post a number of comments on reception problems but we have no idea, other than somewhere in NH, where you are! Perhaps you could update your profile and include you town?

_Paul

Can anyone in southern new hampshire catch any of the rhode island stations? TVfool has it in the pink range for me so I guess it qualifies for deep fringe.

Their signals not aimed towards the north?

Occasionally i can get WJAR and thats it from RI

A check of the FCC Engineering Pages and DTV information shows that some of Provindece's stations null their signal toward Boston for some unknown reason. Their transmitters are in Rehoboth (except for WLWC-DT located in Freetown). WPRI-DT 12 (13) , WNAC-DT 64 (12) , and WLWC-DT 28 (22) are non-directional and don't null their signal. However, WJAR-DT 10 (51), WLNE-DT 6 (49), and WSBE-DT 36 (21) appear to null their signal toward Boston (they are all on WJAR's tower). The signal will likely improve in June when WJAR (and likely WLNE) have their digital antennas moved to the top of the tower. Not sure of WSBE's plans, and they are at only 50kw only as of now.

Interesting. I'm in Randolph. Prior to the abortive Feb cutoff date 64 was my preferred Fox station. When it switched frequencies it became highly directional and unreliable. Fortunately 25 seems to have its act together. I use WJAR and WLNE as alternatives to WHDH and WCVB especially on windy days. WPRI was an occasional alternative to CBS4 but has also become unreliable.

Can anyone in southern new hampshire catch any of the rhode island stations? TVfool has it in the pink range for me so I guess it qualifies for deep fringe.

Their signals not aimed towards the north?

I have, on occasion, been able to get stations out of Providence. The occasions have been rare and fleeting. I have a Channel Master 3667 about 30 feet above ground in seacoast nh.

Can anything be done about the letterboxing on WSBK-DT's "Community Auditions" airing? Is it supposed to be in HD? It's like watching TV in a tunnel!

Boston Legal on 68.1.

Used to only broadcast in 480.

I noticed that this evening. Out of curiosity I contacted WGBH and asked them if they have any plans to upgrade one of the 44-DT subchannels. I suggested GBH World so I can see Nature and Nova in their fully glory :D

World comes to them over satellite in 480i.

- Trip

Has WFXT increased their power? I am in northern RI. I have always been able to watch 25 without breakup, but the signal strength has been in the 60's to 70's on my D* tuners. Yesterday when I checked signal strength, it was high 90's to occasional 100. Is this just another one of the times D* changed the way their boxes show signal strength or has 25 increased it?

SMK

Yes. WFXT has substantially increased their power. They went from very flaky for me, to rock-solid.

I'm afraid that won't happen right away. We do not yet have an HD graphics device in our Master Control to insert the closings ticker during commercials. I do not have an ETA yet on when we'll obtain one.

Is an ETA on this available? Almost the entire first half of last Wednesday's Price Is Right was downgraded for a swine flu update message. :mad:

Is an ETA on this available? Almost the entire first half of last Wednesday's Price Is Right was downgraded for a swine flu update message. :mad:
Coming RSN (Real Soon Now).

Is there some kind of device you can hook up 2 antennas at once and switch between them? I ask because there is a spot on my ceiling and my window where WZMY comes in at a constant 44%. I'm only 11 miles from the transmitter in hudson NH. I haven't watched smackdown in ages. But what's to expect from a digital UHF channel running at only 7.3kW of power? Another case of "must-carry"?

If they were pumping out stronger like all the boston stations are, I'd probably get them rock solid only 11 miles out.

And WMUR pumping out only 6.7kW on the VHF band doesn't look to pretty either. Another "must-carry"?

Is there some kind of device you can hook up 2 antennas at once and switch between them? I ask because there is a spot on my ceiling and my window where WZMY comes in at a constant 44%. I'm only 11 miles from the transmitter in hudson NH. I haven't watched smackdown in ages. But what's to expect from a digital UHF channel running at only 7.3kW of power? Another case of "must-carry"?

If they were pumping out stronger like all the boston stations are, I'd probably get them rock solid only 11 miles out.

And WMUR pumping out only 6.7kW on the VHF band doesn't look to pretty either. Another "must-carry"?

Try an old school A/B switch

I gave up on WZMY here in Salem NH theres a hill to my west that pretty much kills it for me.
WMUR is hit or miss for me better at night. When WENH went to digital vhf 11 that is now ROCK solid at 80+ ,SO knock on wood Wmur after they move to 9 will come in solid.

I have hills here to and it locks in at 44% FTMP. Is an a/b switch what I need? Radioshack has one but it looks like its only for A/v component cables. I need the one for coaxial.

Why Radio Shack when you can google "A/B switch RF" and find a hundred places online to sell you a good high isolation A/B switch for under ten bucks?

Or you could just take a standard two way RF splitter, and use it backwards as a combiner to connect two antennas at once. With everything going digital now, multipath from receiving the same signal from two antennas at the same time (which causes ghosts) should not be too much of a problem, if at all.

I'll have to check into that. I was recieving some skip on channel 8 analog last night on my little B&W camping tv. I don't know of anyone occupying channel 8 in the boston area. I have no idea what it was but it was covered in snow.

Maybe maine or rhode island? I couldn't really make it out, I had a coat hanger clipped to the back of it.

Either WMTW-TV (ABC) channel 8 analog of Poland Spring, ME or WTNH-TV (ABC) channel 8 analog of New Haven, CT.

I get a lot of fuzz on channel 8 too, but then I'm only 10.3 miles from the WMUR transmitter.. and you?

Is there some kind of device you can hook up 2 antennas at once and switch between them? I ask because there is a spot on my ceiling and my window where WZMY comes in at a constant 44%. I'm only 11 miles from the transmitter in hudson NH. I haven't watched smackdown in ages. But what's to expect from a digital UHF channel running at only 7.3kW of power? Another case of "must-carry"?

If they were pumping out stronger like all the boston stations are, I'd probably get them rock solid only 11 miles out.

And WMUR pumping out only 6.7kW on the VHF band doesn't look to pretty either. Another "must-carry"?



Channel Master JoinTenna.....................


http://www.warrenelectronics.com/Antennas/Jointennas.htm

I get a lot of fuzz on channel 8 too, but then I'm only 10.3 miles from the WMUR transmitter.. and you?

Analog 9 comes in good for me

Has anyone else noticed that WCVB (ABC) has dropped their bitrate down to ~14mbps from the previous full bitrate? Are they multiplexing in some channel nobody cares about like NBC/WHDH does or is this only a temporary thing?

With everything going digital now, multipath from receiving the same signal from two antennas at the same time (which causes ghosts) should not be too much of a problem, if at all.

This could not be more wrong. Not only is this factually incorrect, but configuring a pair of antennas in this fashion will generally lead to more problems than it solves. When did this become the "AV-SWAG-posted-as-fact" forum and stop being the "AV-Science" forum?! :mad: Please refrain from posting misinformation such as this, it only confuses people looking for accurate info which what AVS is all about (or at least it was.)

The single biggest technical challenge which has plagued the maturation of broadcast digital TV and the development of reliable, well performing tuners is exactly multipath, and multipath alone.

Multipath rejection is the single most important characteristic of any digital tuner. While received multipath signal will result in "ghosting" in analog signals, its catastrophic to digital transmissions. The inability of a tuner to lock a signal results in, you got, blank screen and no sound. Not degraded reception as in analog - no reception!

I've owned a series of OTA tuners from early Panny models up thru the current Samsung 260 and HD Tivo and the newer tuners are remarkably better performing. My installation hasn't changed since around 2001 - CM 8-bay bowtie, attic mounted, on a rotator, with a Winegard medium gain (19dB) pre-amp - so I have an excellent reference for evaluating the respective performance of all the tuners I've owned over the years. To make matters worse, I live in what could only be called a multipath hell. My house is located on the downslope of hill (facing the wrong way, of course) surrounded by tall leafy trees, and with no LOS to the towers thanks to the several hundred foot high Ames Hill in Tewksbury. I can only pick up reflections, I have no true LOS signal. This really puts a tuner through its paces. Even today, I can't receive some stations reliably under adverse weather conditions, or at all now that the leaves have come out as in the case of low power signals like CW56. Mounting my antenna outside might help, but the WAF is unacceptably high so not an option. But I still manage to get good enough reception on the major channels that I can even reliably record OTA HD on the new Tivos without problems.

The OP should get a cheap A/B switch at RatShack or better a rotator from Stark Electronic and will be much happier.

The most important thing anyone can do to ensure reliable DTV reception is take every step possible to mitigate multipath and its destructive effects. Get the biggest, most directional antenna practical, use only moderate preamplification (because this amplifies multipath signals also) if you need it, put it as high as possible (outside is always best), use a rotator so you can dial in the most reliable vector to account for fluctuations due to weather and tropo conditions, and get a late model tuner which will have significantly better multipath rejection than even those made only 2-3 years ago.

This could not be more wrong. Not only is this factually incorrect, but configuring a pair of antennas in this fashion will generally lead to more problems than it solves. When did this become the "AV-SWAG-posted-as-fact" forum and stop being the "AV-Science" forum?! :mad: Please refrain from posting misinformation such as this, it only confuses people looking for accurate info which what AVS is all about (or at least it was.)
Rather than jumping down someone's throat, why not instead politely correct them? Sometimes, someone honestly believes they are correct and are trying to help out. If their information is wrong, it's up to the rest of us to politely correct them - there's no need to be rude about it. Last time I checked, science involves some amount of guessing and experimentation to arrive at facts...

Rather than jumping down someone's throat, why not instead politely correct them? Sometimes, someone honestly believes they are correct and are trying to help out. If their information is wrong, it's up to the rest of us to politely correct them - there's no need to be rude about it. Last time I checked, science involves some amount of guessing and experimentation to arrive at facts...

Yes, that part of my post was harsh, and it was intended to be. I'm certainly not one of those "RTFM!" or "use the search <expletive>!" respondents. I'm actually more than happy to point uninformed inquisitive people in the right direction and usually do. But this transgression falls into an entirely different category. Not only is the statement patently false, but its also very bad advice, both which are completely contrary to the charter of this forum.

People need to know that they will be called out for the willful posting of misinformation, whether done knowingly or unknowingly.

Yea, multi-path is a beast with digital because of the all or nothing nature. Analog you can adjust accordingly but with digital you get a black screen.


Is WSBK planning to increase power at any point......Their analog signal reaches me just fine on 2edge, but the digital 39 is completely dead.

Yes, that part of my post was harsh, and it was intended to be. I'm certainly not one of those "RTFM!" or "use the search <expletive>!" respondents. I'm actually more than happy to point uninformed inquisitive people in the right direction and usually do. But this transgression falls into an entirely different category. Not only is the statement patently false, but its also very bad advice, both which are completely contrary to the charter of this forum.

People need to know that they will be called out for the willful posting of misinformation, whether done knowingly or unknowingly.
So let's just completely discourage people from bothering to post lest they be crucified for being wrong... :rolleyes:

If you had posted a correction the other poster replied adamantly that he was correct, your harsh comments might be reasonable / justified. However, he was making an honest attempt to help out even if his information was wrong. I'm pretty sure it's possible to correct misinformation without being harsh or rude. I'm sure you accomplished your mission of making the other poster feel like an idiot though. Nice work.

Yea, multi-path is a beast with digital because of the all or nothing nature. Analog you can adjust accordingly but with digital you get a black screen.


Is WSBK planning to increase power at any point......Their analog signal reaches me just fine on 2edge, but the digital 39 is completely dead.
There are no plans to increase WSBK-DT's power. Our licensed power is determined by the amount of interference caused to co- and adjacent channels and is already the maximum allowable.

Where are you located?

Has anyone else noticed that WCVB (ABC) has dropped their bitrate down to ~14mbps from the previous full bitrate? Are they multiplexing in some channel nobody cares about like NBC/WHDH does or is this only a temporary thing?

Their bitrate seems to vary considerably depending on the program being broadcast. Right now, Dancing with the Stars is on and a hefty 92% of their bandwidth is video, with a mere 5% null packets. This afternoon, when they were airing soap operas, video was only 53% of bandwidth with 44% nulls.

As expected the home-made antenna I made works great for WZMY. No drop outs or glitches. I also get channel 4 in this spot. This antenna works great. Almost better then a store bought pair of amplified ears. It is VERY VERY directional though. I want to make it multi-directional somehow. I bought some RG6 (25 feet).

works okay for watching al keprailian in standard definition LOL

Here is my Test TV and ARTEC converter box. I put my LCD in our living room connected to the cable line so we can get the unscrambled QAM channels on it. Decided to use the CECB in my room for now plus this CECB picks up signals better.

http://i43.tinypic.com/1zd5j74.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/mj07x0.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/v5vjfl.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/b84uub.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/333hcat.jpg

Gonna add a reflector to the back and get it up high enough somewhere on the side of the house. Maybe put some clamps on the back so I can pipe mount it.

There are no plans to increase WSBK-DT's power. Our licensed power is determined by the amount of interference caused to co- and adjacent channels and is already the maximum allowable.

Where are you located?

right on the edge of lawrence and haverhill.....

right on the edge of lawrence and haverhill.....

i'm on the Methuen Mass /Salem NH line and WSBK is hit or miss for me

i'm on the Methuen Mass /Salem NH line and WSBK is hit or miss for me

I'm in Haverhill and almost literally on the state line (200' from the line) with Plaistow, NH. My reception is rock solid with all channels including WZMY and all Boston channels.

I think that the WYDN-DT transmitter is located on WBZ-DT's Needham tower, and Bob Yankowitz might know more about the situation with WYDN-DT. Have they dropped down in power over the last few months - I can barely ever receive them in Pawtucket now, whereas I used to get them with a fairly good signal. And it looks like according to the FCC database that they have dropped down in ERP significantly. I get a strong signal from the other stations on the tower (WBZ, WCVB, WGBH, WGBX, WSBK) however.

I have 1edge 2edge here so that must be why