Topeka, KS - HDTV

Official in that is the first and only one. Anyway, if you are around Topeka, KS, I will try to give updates on the local there.

KTWU: Channel 23 (PBS)- I put them first because they are first rate. I sent an email off inquiring about their pictures on their website of their new tower. I got a very detailed response from the Head Engineer. Nice guy, and here is what he said:
1. New tower is for both analog and digital
2. Tower should be done by September
3. Are shooting for on air digitally for April, 2003
4. Will be broadcasting at 815 kW
5. Will multicast
6. Will mulitcast JUST during the day, and PASS PBS HD at night!!!
7. Will continue to update tower pictures at KTWU Website

Good guys, send them a donation as they can take on for just the digital transition.

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KSNT: Channel 28 (NBC)- Nice response from them too. Nice enough to let me know when they get on the air. Here you go:
1. Are shooting to be on the air by end of summer.
2. Will not be full power at first
3. Will broadcast at 1000 watts
4. Will pass NBC HD
5. NBC HD receiver install, so once ready no wait for HD
6. Not sure about Cox re-transmitting the digital signal
7. Said the signal should cover Topeka, but probably will not reach Manhattan

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WIBW: Channel 44 (CBS)- No response, but here is what I know from a phone call recently:
1. New facility
2. Will be on at full power
3. Will upconvert everything to 1080i
4. Will pass CBS HD
5. I think waiting on transmitter?
6. Should be fairly soon (September?)

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KTKA: Channel 48 (ABC)- The head guy there is pretty good. Exchanged email with him several times. Here is what I know:
1. Most everything is ready, line and antenna in place
2. Will pass ABC HD
3. Everything else will be 480p
4. Will be on at 25 kW
5. I think they are waiting to turn everything on

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KTMJ: Channel (unknown) (FOX)- Nice people, but a Low Power station with several towers around. When does low power stations have to be on anyway?? Here are a few things I am fairly sure about:
1. No channel assignment yet
2. All towers will pass digital
3. I believe they will multicast FOX and UPN programming
4. Fox does no HD, so no HD from them

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UPN- O wait, we don't have a UPN

WB- Nope, no WB either

If anyone knows anything else, please add to this thread. If I get any updates, I will use this thread.


Thanks!!!!

The crazy guy at Radio Shack last night told me WIBW was on the air at very low power. I do not think that is right, so can anyone tell me for sure???

I am not sure about Fox, but in an email I got from the Chief Engineer Duane Loyd, he said the main reason was the old tower couldn't handle the load of a new DTV antenna and transmission line.

The good news from them is they will be full power at 815 kW. They hope to be on by April of next year. If you want the guys email, I can send you a PM with it. I will go ahead and ask him about the Fox deal, but I am not too sure. They are a Low Power station so I am kinda wondering if they will even go digital. They might just do analog untill they turn that off and then just shut the TV part down. They are owned by they guy that runs the newspaper in Junction City.

Have you heard any other news for Topeka?? Last I talked to WIBW, they were waiting on their antenna, I think. KTKA is sucky low power and I honestly think they are done, but will wait their extension out and try to get another.

Are you the one that works at Best Buy or CC??

tim

BJS188,
I just got an email back from Duane Loyd and he confirmed that Fox 43 will have a spot on the KTWU tower, up 550 feet. They said it should be ready by mid September. He also said he has the DTV antenna installed, but might be as late as April. I take that as good news when he says "might be as late as April"

He also send along this picture of the tower crew installing the antenna.

tim

Darn that low power.

I did happen to talk to the engineering department today and he told me they had hoped to be up by now, but the tower crew had delays, thus they had no antenna. He said they are hoping by first of October, but when I asked about full power, he said lower power, whatever that means.

KTKA is lame, and I hope they read this. I honestly think they are done, but will not turn it on. KTWU is the best about telling you what they are doing, probably because they rely on people like us.

It's looking pretty bleak that I will get any of the low powers from Topeka. I am just going to have to hope for good tropo ducting from Wichita.

Greg,
I do believe you were watching KOMU. There is no NBC affiliate on the air in Kansas. Last I heard about KMCI was they would be on about their deadline time.
Let me ask you a question: Some of the stations I want to try to pick up are in Wichita and Kansas City. Wichita stations are about 201-207 degrees at about 115 miles. The KC stations are all at 95 degrees and 107 miles. I am pretty sure no KC, with a pretty tall hill a half mile away in between KC and me, but Wichita might be possible. There are hills, but about 10 miles away. I had thought about the Winegard HD-7084 be OK for me? I can only put it up about 25 feet. Or should I go with one of the foriegn models??

This bites:
http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs...hibit_id=86328

KTKA is now saying next May or June to be on air.

Sad.

I can understand Fox not having a news show since they are low power, but for KTKA to drop their news was lame. BTW, if you are talking about Jason Lamb, I saw him on NBC 41 out of KC this past weekend.

Jonas,
Do you have the TV? If so and you are in Topeka, all you would need is a STB, (set top box) that would receive the signal, and perhaps just a pair of rabbit ears, depending on where you are in Topeka. WIBW will more than likely be the first on, and their tower sets about 13 miles west of Topeka, almost due south of St. Marys. KSNT will be second on, their tower is located up near Silver Lake. KTWU will probably be third, with their tower being on the NW side of Topeka. KTKA will be last of the full power stations, stating they will be on next summer. Their tower is about 5-10 miles west of Topeka. I would suggest you try the Radio Shack double bow tie when WIBW goes live. You can also get the STB for around $350 (RCA DTC-100) I think, try looking at open boxes at Best Buy or Circuit City, or if you are into computers, you can get a MYHD card and record, which for me with a 3 year old, and a new baby, is very important.

And yes, by the time march madness rolls around, you most definatly will be watching it in widescreen. Plus you will get to see College Football in HDTV later on this fall.

Let me know if you need more help.

tim

kseyedoc:

Think about 9 GB per hour. Are you picking anything up there in Topeka??


BJS188:

December??? I talked to them last week and they said by October? Was that the tower crew delay they were talking about?

Jonas,
I think it will be awhile on Cox. And no, I am 99.99% sure they will use the QAM modulation, meaning you will need one of their boxes like they use for digital cable. the MyHD card will only take the OTA signal, not the QAM.

Have you tried to pick up any KC stations yet??

BJS188,
You beat me to it. I just today(like an hour ago) talked to Doug Overla from KSNT and he told me the same thing. I said his roadmap said Oct. 15th. Yes they will be low power, 4kw to be exact. 500 feet up on their existing tower. I asked about coverage and he said they would just barely hit Wamego, which is EAST of here, so I will most likely not get it. Nice guy to talk to, took my name and email and said he would keep me updated. Said they had the antenna, but not the transmitter.

Also in the good news department, I talked with Jeff Groves from WIBW. He said TWO WEEKS. He was really excited about getting the signal up. He said all local will be upconverted, and 4X3 not stretched. If CBS send him HD, he will pass it. He actually told me to call him in a week and a half and I would probably see him testing. I am pumped, as CBS HD college football is only a few week away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chris,
Great huh?? Do you know where the WIBW tower is?? If not, it is 20 miles WEST of Topeka. We did not get into actual numbers, but he said I should be fine here in Manhattan. I don't know what that means for Lawrence.

Good luck with it. BTW: Are you pulling in KMBC, KCWE, or KSMO from KC??

cclaterb,
Do you happen to have an email for Jeff Groves?? He told me last Thursday to give him a call to see if he was testing yet, but I would rather email since I am at work.

Thanks!

I am checking now Brad. I have an email to Jeff to see if they might be on by the end of the week. I will report when I hear.

tim