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Indianapolis / Terre Haute / Lafayette, IN - HDTV - Page 187

post #5581 of 6742
5/22/09 at 7:36am
On the Terre Haute stations, are WTHI, WTWO, and WFXW currently at full-power?
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post #5582 of 6742
5/22/09 at 9:24am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ALEMIS View Post

On the Terre Haute stations, are WTHI, WTWO, and WFXW currently at full-power?

Yes, all three are currently operating at what would be called full-power. But not all are currently operating at maximized post-transition power levels.

WTHI-DT 24 is currently operating with 189 kW ERP @ 863 ft. HAAT. As of 6/13/09, after WTHI-DT switches from ch. 24 to ch. 10 and turns on its new digital transmitter, WTHI-DT 10 will operate with 27 kW ERP @ 961 ft. HAAT, utilizing the current top-mounted analog antenna on their tower.

From all indications, WTWO-DT 36 is currently operating with 1000 kW ERP @ 814 ft. HAAT. The antenna for the DT is side-mounted on the WTWO tower, below the top-mounted analog antenna.

Per FCC filings, WFXW-DT 39 is currently operating with approximately 50% of its post-transition licensed power level of 850 kW ERP @ 814 ft. HAAT. So apparently it is currently kicking out around 425 kW ERP. After WFXW-38 shuts down on June 12, engineers will convert the analog transmitter to digital, supposedly within a few weeks. This rebuilt transmitter will provide more power than the present transmitter and get the station up to 850 kW. Also, this rebuilt transmitter will be moved from the WFXW tower site to the WTWO tower/studio site, as WTWO-DT and WFXW-DT are now sharing the same antenna.

Steve
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post #5583 of 6742
5/27/09 at 11:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by whosyer12 View Post

Please celebrate with me as, after many years of monopolistic servitude, I bid adieu to the Great Satan--Time Warner. With the availability of HD locals--I finally made the switch to Dish Network. For about $15 a month less--I'm getting everything I had with TW + NLF Network + the Cubs on CSNCH! Plus most importantly I'm getting a consistent, good quality HD signal, something TW has only been able to provide during cold weather months.

Now as long as I can get that ABC waiver (I'm in TH) everything's roses!

i'm considering switching as well, what's the deal with abc and the waiver? I'm in terre haute too, the dish network rep i tried to ask had no idea what i was talking about, but her name was Princess so I expected as much

all I want is to be able to dvr grey's anatomy so my wife doesn't have a heart attack if we aren't able to

any help would be appreciated
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post #5584 of 6742
5/27/09 at 1:51pm
Any waiver for Dish goes through a different company (All American Direct). They do not offer any HD feeds. You will not qualify in TH because WICD ABC Danville claims a grade B coverage in TH. I would change my service address with Dish to an Indianapolis or Champaign address and you will get a full set of channels. You are under both Spot Beams. Champaign is your best choice, since WTHR/NBC HD is missing from the Indy market because of contract disputes with Dispatch Broadcasting.
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post #5585 of 6742
5/27/09 at 1:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigrich77 View Post

Any waiver for Dish goes through a different company (All American Direct). They do not offer any HD feeds. You will not qualify in TH because WICD ABC Danville claims a grade B coverage in TH. I would change my service address with Dish to an Indianapolis or Champaign address and you will get a full set of channels. You are under both Spot Beams. Champaign is your best choice, since WTHR/NBC HD is missing from the Indy market because of contract disputes with Dispatch Broadcasting.


Actually, my parents live in Terre Haute, and they have DISH, and they get the ABC feeds through the waiver through All American Direct. I believe they receive 3 feeds, I think its... Atlanta, something like Denver, and a California feed as well.

Just FYI...
--Eric
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post #5586 of 6742
5/27/09 at 2:22pm
I live in Terre Haute and am able to get distant ABC feeds from Directv. I applied for a waiver a few weeks ago and got the channels in a few days. I get one HD feed (NY) and two SD feeds (NY and LA).
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post #5587 of 6742
5/27/09 at 6:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigrich77 View Post

Any waiver for Dish goes through a different company (All American Direct). They do not offer any HD feeds. You will not qualify in TH because WICD ABC Danville claims a grade B coverage in TH. I would change my service address with Dish to an Indianapolis or Champaign address and you will get a full set of channels. You are under both Spot Beams. Champaign is your best choice, since WTHR/NBC HD is missing from the Indy market because of contract disputes with Dispatch Broadcasting.

Changing your service address is a piece of cake - if you're under the correct spot beam you'll have that market's locals in just a few minutes. Awhile back, Dish didn't have Indy's locals in HD, so I changed my service address to Atlanta (back when Atlanta was on Dish's CONUS beam and not a spot beam) and that was that.

Technically it's probably against somebody's rules, but in the big scheme of things I don't think this is a very big deal.
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post #5588 of 6742
5/28/09 at 4:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NefariousAryq View Post

Just FYI...
--Eric

Say, Eric --- have you dumped that recording, or is it still hanging around? I've got my DVD ROM installed now, so can play with a larger file (if Windows apps can decode them, that is!)
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post #5589 of 6742
5/30/09 at 8:58am
Thread Starter 
It appears that WTTK-DT 54 has been off the air all morning. I'm not receiving a hint of signal. Speculating that maybe final preparations are underway for the transition from ch. 54 to ch. 29 in two weeks.

Starting two weeks from today, some viewers on the far north side of Indy should have a better shot at receiving WTTK-DT, as it will be operating with a little more power and from a higher antenna. The station will go from 3.3 kW (non-directional antenna) @ 499 ft. to 50 kW (directional antenna) @ 774 ft. Even with the very directional antenna (the ch. 29 analog antenna) I quickly figured that approximately 8 kW will be aimed toward the Carmel/Fishers area. And the higher antenna should provide better line-of-sight coverage. This setup will be in operation until the new equipment is installed at the WXIN tower site.

I did find out from Rick at WXIN that a tower crew has been scheduled for August to install the new combo antenna and transmission line for WXIN-DT and WTTK-DT on the top of the WXIN tower. The old ch. 59 analog antenna will be removed and the new combo digital antenna will be installed. The antenna will be just shy of 1000 ft.

Steve
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post #5590 of 6742
5/30/09 at 1:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by goldrich View Post

It appears that WTTK-DT 54 has been off the air all morning. I'm not receiving a hint of signal. Speculating that maybe final preparations are underway for the transition from ch. 54 to ch. 29 in two weeks.

Starting two weeks from today, some viewers on the far north side of Indy should have a better shot at receiving WTTK-DT, as it will be operating with a little more power and from a higher antenna. The station will go from 3.3 kW (non-directional antenna) @ 499 ft. to 50 kW (directional antenna) @ 774 ft. Even with the very directional antenna (the ch. 29 analog antenna) I quickly figured that approximately 8 kW will be aimed toward the Carmel/Fishers area. And the higher antenna should provide better line-of-sight coverage. This setup will be in operation until the new equipment is installed at the WXIN tower site.

I did find out from Rick at WXIN that a tower crew has been scheduled for August to install the new combo antenna and transmission line for WXIN-DT and WTTK-DT on the top of the WXIN tower. The old ch. 59 analog antenna will be removed and the new combo digital antenna will be installed. The antenna will be just shy of 1000 ft.

Steve

Thanks Steve for the informative update. That's good news to me because WTTV-DT & WTTK-DT are still by far the most elusive "local" channels for me to receive at my location. Looking forward to the upgrade. Keep up the good work.
Alex
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post #5591 of 6742
5/30/09 at 6:08pm
I must register a complaint about WTHR Weather coverage: why do you override the Stanley Cup game but not the 2 week old bike race rerun on CH 13-3 or the 4 hour old weather forecast on 13-2?

From now on in prime time, can you shift the NBC programming to a subfeed when you break in? SD is better than nothing.

This complaint also applies to WISH, and WRTV...as to WXIN, just use 4, no one watches the CW

update: now they are overriding all 3 channels, this is just damn ridiculous...I kinda wish VS simulcast the game so I could you know, WATCH IT!

UPDATE 2
THE DUAL BOX IS NO GOOD...YOU HAVE 3 ****ING CHANNELS! USE OINE FOR THE BLOODY GAME SD IS BETTER THAN NONE

update 3
Rain and wind in the spring in the midwest? whats next frogs or locusts? WTHR. You are pissing off lots of people...

Last update: It took only 2 periods, but you finaly got that smug weather prick to stop talking to hockey fans like impatiant 4 year olds and put the game back on, for that I thank you.


This ia a huge problem for all networks, Fox has done this to nascar, Wish, WTHR, and WXIN has done this with NFL, the madness must end!
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post #5592 of 6742
5/31/09 at 4:44am
The storm that hit Tipton passed my house about two miles to the West...I for one was glad to see some constant coverage. I agree, all three is a bit more than needed. I'm glad the analog is still up...I totally lost signal from Digital Ch 13 for about 10 minutes during the storm.
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post #5593 of 6742
5/31/09 at 6:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ccrider2 View Post

The storm that hit Tipton passed my house about two miles to the West...I for one was glad to see some constant coverage. I agree, all three is a bit more than needed. I'm glad the analog is still up...I totally lost signal from Digital Ch 13 for about 10 minutes during the storm.

I understand that. and can sympothise: but I must say that having the coverage using identical maps and grahpics, identical data, and identical warning information on 4, 6.1, 6.2, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, 23.1 and 59.1 is a little over kill.

The big 3 in Indy have sub channels, If they put the network feed unaltered, not overlaid with warning tickers on the second or third subchannel, the problem would be gone, as I said, I understand the need to overtake the primary hd feed, cable satellite and whatnot, but when you have 3 channels, just bounce the game to one of those feeds for those of us with rabbit ears to supplement cable, or the handfull of digital cable systems that carry all 3. It is maddening, cable channels don't do this thing, but you are in just as much danger weather wise regardless of weather the game is on Versus or NBC.

also, I think everyone lost WTHR-D as tehy had a transmitter issue, at least that is what they said on the news following the 1/3 of the game that we were so graciously allowed to see.
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post #5594 of 6742
5/31/09 at 1:25pm
Is it my setup here in Bloomington, or is WISH-TV's digital signal totally screwed up. (May 31, 4:19 PM)
I hear lots of audio drop outs and see lots of pixellation. They seem to occur in a rhythmic fashion (every second or two).
I have two different set top boxes, and they both exhibit the same behavior.
Comcast's version of WISH-TV looks fine, so I'm a tad confused.
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post #5595 of 6742
5/31/09 at 1:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nathill View Post

Is it my setup here in Bloomington, or is WISH-TV's digital signal totally screwed up. (May 31, 4:19 PM)
I hear lots of audio drop outs and see lots of pixellation. They seem to occur in a rhythmic fashion (every second or two).
I have two different set top boxes, and they both exhibit the same behavior.
Comcast's version of WISH-TV looks fine, so I'm a tad confused.

I think I've answered my own question by turning my antenna towards Terre Haute.
WTHI in Terre Haute has the same exact problem Wow.
Nice job CBS!
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post #5596 of 6742
5/31/09 at 1:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nathill View Post

I think I've answered my own question by turning my antenna towards Terre Haute.
WTHI in Terre Haute has the same exact problem Wow.
Nice job CBS!

Is it fixed for you, now?
I just flipped on WISH to test it, and my OTA is perfectly fine.

~Aryq~
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post #5597 of 6742
5/31/09 at 1:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NefariousAryq View Post

Is it fixed for you, now?
I just flipped on WISH to test it, and my OTA is perfectly fine.

~Aryq~

It's something on my end. I get the same intermittent pixellation and drop outs on all sorts of channels.
I don't know what the problem is, but it's definitely my setup at fault.
Back to check out the antenna again...
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post #5598 of 6742
5/31/09 at 5:19pm
I retract this post because the issue resolved itsself while I was posting
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post #5599 of 6742
6/1/09 at 5:24pm
All of my problems (see my ramblings above) were caused by my fence charger.
I unplugged it for now, but I will have to figure out where the arc is taking place tomorrow.
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post #5600 of 6742
6/2/09 at 2:59pm
Just wondering about the digital cutover, a few questions:

- When are the low power channels going to digital? I am interested in IMC (please go HD IMC, please)

- which stations are going to get a power boost? I could use some more juice from WXIN and WTHR

- any new easter egg channels planned? something more creative than a static weather map or a rerun of the local news? I'm thinking something like ABC News one, the late Tube Network, and such: Props to WTHR for the NBC Sports channel

- are the rumors true that there will be some kind of a subscription OTA option soon so one could, for example, get just Comedy Central or MSNBC via OTA?
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post #5601 of 6742
6/2/09 at 3:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by a_greer View Post

- When are the low power channels going to digital? I am interested in IMC (please go HD IMC, please)

Many LPs have already gone digital using "digital companion" channels. There is no cutoff for analog LP ... they can keep broadcasting in analog as long as their channels remain available.
Quote:


- which stations are going to get a power boost? I could use some more juice from WXIN and WTHR

WTHR will abandon digital 46 and move to digital 13 on June 12th. WXIN has a construction permit pending that allows them to raise their antenna 15m to 300m above average terrain.

Some stations have permits pending construction ... WTTV jumping from 870 kW to 1MW, WRTV jumping from 898kW to 1MW. WISH also has a permit ready to "build". June 12th is a good target for all of those.

Quote:


- are the rumors true that there will be some kind of a subscription OTA option soon so one could, for example, get just Comedy Central or MSNBC via OTA?

They tried that out west ... it didn't work well. Stations need their DTV signals for HD ... multiple channels of subscription content would cut into the HD and not provide enough channels to have a package worth selling. Equipment and billing would likely make it a useless endeavor.
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post #5602 of 6742
6/2/09 at 5:11pm
What's up with WTHR's digital signal? Last time it stormed, it was off the air. Tonight, it was constantly on and off. My signal strength was 91, and when the first big rain drop fell it dropped to zero. Then it yo-yo'd through the storm cutting in and going out.

All the other stations' signals were rock solid.
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post #5603 of 6742
6/2/09 at 7:14pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by a_greer View Post

- When are the low power channels going to digital? I am interested in IMC (please go HD IMC, please)

WIIH-CA 17, WDNI-LP 19 (IMC) and WIPX-LP 51 have CPs for digital stations.

Steve
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post #5604 of 6742
6/4/09 at 9:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by goldrich View Post

WIIH-CA 17, WDNI-LP 19 (IMC) and WIPX-LP 51 have CPs for digital stations.

Steve

Well, every village needs an idiot, and I'm it.
What is a "CP"
Nat
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post #5605 of 6742
6/4/09 at 11:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by nathill View Post

Well, every village needs an idiot, and I'm it.
What is a "CP"
Nat

CP = Construction Permit. It's what broadcast licensees need to place (or perhaps even modify) towers. As I understand it, they specify height, ERP, etc... Oh- and frequency, too! They're issued by the FCC.

Think of it like a homebuilder needing a building permit....
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post #5606 of 6742
6/4/09 at 12:32pm
Thanks for the update.
I'll bet a Construction Permit to transmit a million watts is harder to get than a building permit here in Bloomington (but probably not much......)
Nat
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post #5607 of 6742
6/7/09 at 5:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by IndyJeff View Post

What's up with WTHR's digital signal? Last time it stormed, it was off the air. Tonight, it was constantly on and off. My signal strength was 91, and when the first big rain drop fell it dropped to zero. Then it yo-yo'd through the storm cutting in and going out.

All the other stations' signals were rock solid.

Business as usual when a cloud roles in.
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post #5608 of 6742
6/7/09 at 2:43pm
I am certainly no expert in this area, but as I understand it (and I find it to be true in Bloomington at least) VHF doesn't perform as well during storm conditions as UHF.
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post #5609 of 6742
6/7/09 at 2:54pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nathill View Post

I am certainly no expert in this area, but as I understand it (and I find it to be true in Bloomington at least) VHF doesn't perform as well during storm conditions as UHF.

Nat, this is generally the case. The higher the frequency (channel), the less interference from lightning. Channel 2 being the worst, with the higher UHF channels the best. This is also the case for most man-made electrical interference. This is one reason why very few DTV stations will be using channels 2-6 (low-VHF) starting Saturday.

Steve
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post #5610 of 6742
6/7/09 at 3:24pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nathill View Post

Thanks for the update.
I'll bet a Construction Permit to transmit a million watts is harder to get than a building permit here in Bloomington (but probably not much......)
Nat

These LP (low power) digital stations won't be anywhere near a million watts. Most of the low power digital (LD) stations will have a maximum power of .3 kW (300 watts) for VHF channels and 15 kW (15,000 watts) for UHF channels. These powers will apply to the three local LDs mentioned above.

Here are some additional LP stations in the area with CPs (Construction Permits) for LD stations:

WREP-LP 15, Martinsville (LD on ch. 15 @ .2 kW)
WSOT-LP 57, Marion (LD on ch. 27 @ 7 kW)
W29DG 29, Terre Haute (LD on ch. 29 @ 12 kW)
W43BV 43, Terre Haute (LD on ch. 43 @ 15 kW)
WIIB-LP 35, Farmersburg (LD on ch. 35 @ 15 kW)

In addition, WMUN-LP 26, Muncie has applied to the FCC for an LD.

It will be interesting to see how well the .3 kW VHF stations are received.

Steve
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