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Lansing, MI - HDTV - Page 5  

post #121 of 1667
10/1/03 at 5:50am
I sent an email to WKAR-DT this morning asking for a progress report. I'll pass along their response.

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post #122 of 1667
10/1/03 at 6:50am
It didn't take long for WKAR to reply. Here's the email:

Our DTV transmitter is about 95% installed, there is only some RF
plumbing work in the building to do, then turn-on and testing. Well,
that's the good news.

The bad news is that on May 17th of this year, our six month old
antenna, that we would have used for NTSC and DTV burned up.
It burned out so bad, that the manufacturer is building us a new
antenna of a different model to replace it.

That replacement antenna is scheduled to arrive in November.
We're in process of scheduling a crew. As soon as the antenna
can be installed, we'll be able to go on the air with DTV.
--
Gary W. Blievernicht
Broadcasting Services
Michigan State University
212 Communication Arts & Sciences Building
East Lansing, MI 48824 - 1212
garyb@wkar.msu.edu
phone (517) 432-9527
phone (517) 432-3120 X 201
fax (517) 353-7124
post #123 of 1667
10/1/03 at 6:41pm
Here is there DT-o-meter

http://wkar.org/dt/dtometer/
post #124 of 1667
10/1/03 at 8:16pm
rsb..

Thanks for info. It is about the same as I have been told. I, now, receive 15-1, 15-2, 15-3, and 15-4 PBS from Bad Ax. They are only in DT and not in HD at this point. HD is what we really need. I do get digital PBS from Detroit. I would say by sometime after first of year, we will have HD from WKAR.
post #125 of 1667
10/1/03 at 10:44pm
magic, refresh my memory, where are you located? I haven't got a blip on 15, but I can't say I've tried lately. I'd love to get WTVS but it's not going to happen. I do think I will file a complaint with the FCC, though odds of it doing any good are slim.
post #126 of 1667
10/6/03 at 5:16am
Did anyone notice that Fox47 had the HD game on following the Lions? Also has Wilx done something I am receiving them 25% stronger all of the sudden.
post #127 of 1667
10/6/03 at 5:27am
Thread Starter 
Quote:


Originally posted by rsbiomedical
Did anyone notice that Fox47 had the HD game on following the Lions? Also has Wilx done something I am receiving them 25% stronger all of the sudden.

I don't know about that, but I was able to get WJRT for the first time last night! Had to raise the antenna by another 2 feet, and messed around with the coax connections. Funny thing was, the best signal I got was 6%, but it was a solid 6% and stayed locked on all evening, first time I got to see Alias in HD!
post #128 of 1667
10/6/03 at 11:15am
Quote:


Originally posted by rsbiomedical
Did anyone notice that Fox47 had the HD game on following the Lions? Also has Wilx done something I am receiving them 25% stronger all of the sudden.

Fox47 had the Packers/Seahawks game in widescreen at 1:00. The Lions game was not widescreen, but since it ended early, they switched to the last few minutes of the Redskins/Eagles game which was widescreen (not a real HD picture though).

Given the way the Lions are playing, I doubt that anyone is going to go through the trouble of showing any of their games in widescreen/HD this season....

Don't know what to say about WILX. I live less than 15 miles from the transmitter, so I've always gotten a strong signal from them.
post #129 of 1667
10/6/03 at 11:55am
Also has Wilx done something I am receiving them 25% stronger all of the sudden.

I didn't notice because I get them at 100%, but I've read there will be extensive solar activity for the next few weeks so you can expect some unusual readings.
post #130 of 1667
10/6/03 at 7:54pm
WHTV to my knowledge has not even ordered DTV equipment.
post #131 of 1667
10/7/03 at 4:00am
I also noticed that I the WILX signal is coming in much stronger; it also seems to be more consistent.
post #132 of 1667
10/7/03 at 4:00am
I also noticed that I the WILX signal is coming in much stronger; it also seems to be more consistent.
post #133 of 1667
10/8/03 at 12:30pm
Quote:


Originally posted by lied
I also noticed that I the WILX signal is coming in much stronger; it also seems to be more consistent.

They certainly have done something because even my POS 6000u tuner gets it and does not cut out!
post #134 of 1667
10/15/03 at 7:41pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:


Originally posted by pax43
WHTV to my knowledge has not even ordered DTV equipment.

www.antennaweb.org shows them to be live on November 1st, what more can you tell us? Would be nice to have UPN affiliate now that Enterprise is in HD.

I already sent them an email a couple of days ago, but no response. Nothing on their website either about HD either.

Anyone else willing to bug them can try these two addresses...

General Information: whtv@whtv18.com
Station Manager: Lori Harper lorih@whtv18.com

post #135 of 1667
10/18/03 at 1:56pm
I'm getting audio dropouts, like motor-boating, during the SEC game (450pm). It' really annoying. Is everyone else hearing this? I don't think it's just me because I don't get it with WILX or WSYM. I also didn't get it with last night's Jag.
post #136 of 1667
10/18/03 at 2:04pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally posted by Chris White
I'm getting audio dropouts, like motor-boating, during the SEC game (450pm). It' really annoying. Is everyone else hearing this? I don't think it's just me because I don't get it with WILX or WSYM. I also didn't get it with last night's Jag.

Yeah, I noticed that too as I was flipping by it this afternoon.
post #137 of 1667
10/24/03 at 11:51am
I dropped a note to Tim Zelco at WKAR about their transmitter and here's his reply...

Quote:




Interesting timing of your email. Also in my inbox this morning was the
following update from our chief engineer Gary B.

"The replacement antenna is scheduled to be delivered the week of
November 17, 2003. The crew will be coming from Omaha,
Nebraska they are expected to arrive here 11/17 as well.

We've asked Dielectric and SpectraSite to expedite delivery and
installation to the maximum extent safely possible to minimize the
impact on our TV pledge drive which starts the following week."

Also there was this additional message from Gary:

"We have received confirmation from Dielectric Communications
that our replacement channel 23 (and 55) antenna is nearing
completion and is scheduled to be shipped to us the week of
November 17th.

We have scheduled a tower crew in that week to accept delivery
and begin expedited installation onto our tower.

Antenna installation is not easy. The antenna will be top mounted
972 feet above the ground. The new antenna weighs about 9,000
pounds and is 45 feet long.

Here are some of the major steps involved in this project:

Rig tower with cables and pulleys
Remove emergency channel 23 antenna at the 850 ft level
Rig tower with additional cables and pulleys
Begin hoisting a "gin pole" and move it to the top of the tower
Hoist the new antenna into position
Connect the antenna into the main feed line, move beacon light
and lightning protection to the top of the antenna.
Tune the antenna for optimum performance on channel 23 and 55
Remove gin pole
Remove rigging

During the construction, WKAR-TV will, once again, operate from
an emergency antenna at the 500 foot level on the tower at
substantially reduced power. Unfortunately, even with expedited
scheduling, we're looking at about two weeks.

WKAR-FM will also be affected, and likewise will have to operate
from an emergency antenna at reduced power.

After an acceptable tuning, WKAR-TV will be able to resume full
power operation on channel 23.

For those of you wondering when WKAR-DT will be signing on;
we're in process of scheduling an engineer from the transmitter
manufacturer and hope to be able to sign on as soon as two weeks
after the antenna is in operation.

Thank you for your patience."


This message should be posted on the website anytime.

While testing may begin in November and continue into December, there is ongoing
discussion here now that that our OFFICIAL WKAR-DT sign on might not be until
January 15, 2004.

This date is our official 50th Anniversary of the first WKAR-TV analog broadcast
day in 1954. It would be something to sign on the digital station 50 years TO THE
DAY of the original station sign-on. Great promotion potential.

Anyway, that's an idea under discussion and not set in stone. It would be pretty cool
though.

Thanks for staying in touch.




Tim

so, it looks like it will be awhile.
post #138 of 1667
10/24/03 at 12:32pm
Thanks for the update Matt.
post #139 of 1667
10/28/03 at 1:44pm
According to the FCC:

All commercial stations were required to construct their DTV facilities by May 1, 2002. "Stations requesting extensions of their DTV deadline are required to demonstrate that failure to construct has been due to circumstances either unforeseeable or beyond their control. Moreover, stations must show construction progress since the grant of their last extension. Stations that fail to explain their inability to meet their DTV construction obligation will be subject to the recently-adopted DTV remedial measures including admonishment, forfeiture and reporting requirements."

As reported in FCC 03-250 (released October 23), WLAJ was granted a six-month extension [their third extension] because they "are either awaiting final processing on modification applications or requests for STA, or they only recently received a grant of a modification application and the station has had insufficient time to complete construction."

The 6 month extension is from October 23.
post #140 of 1667
10/28/03 at 3:20pm
thanks for keeping an eye on things Chris, I wonder what WLAJ's reason is today. I noticed that Tivo has dropped channel 12 from the program guide for lansing market area, I bet WLAJ has something to do with it.

Have you noticed audio cutouts on WLNS?
post #141 of 1667
10/28/03 at 3:45pm
rs, Are you referring to last night's shows, such as Still Standing and Raymond? Yes.

I finally have something to report on my FusionII setup with a roof-mounted Televes DAT75 UHF antenna on a CM rotator. It took me about a month to get it all together, but appears to be working, more-or-less.

Signals I picked up at 5:30pm on Sunday, October 26:
WLNS 59 100%
WSYM 38 100%
WZPX 44 100%
WOTV 20 99%
WILX 57 99%
WJRT 36 72%
WXMI 19 65%

The first 5 stations, I could get reasonably well when the antenna tripod was in one of my second floor rooms. WOTV, WILX signal strength went up 15 - 20% on the roof, plus I added WJRT and WMXI. If I had VHF, could probably get WOOD. No luck with Detroit stations, probably because I am right against woods on my south and SE sides.

Geordon
post #142 of 1667
10/31/03 at 8:59am
Goodmorning, and thank you all for the Lansing, info. I work at MSU and called Gary B. @ WKAR this morning and he indicated even with the work involved,a December 1-st projected up and running date. Hope all goes well on the antenna install.
Also I have been experiencing numerous audio dropouts also on WLNS. Looked at Survivor breifly last night and it was doing the same. I e-mailed Mike H. (chief eng.) at station but have not heard back from hime yet. If I find anything out today, will post.

Have a great weekend and-------------GO STATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John
post #143 of 1667
11/5/03 at 7:45am
I noticed SVU was in 4:3 last night. I know it wasn't a rerun so did somebody at WILX forget to "throw the switch" ??
post #144 of 1667
11/10/03 at 6:18pm
Looks like WILX is not doing HD tonight.
post #145 of 1667
11/10/03 at 6:20pm
It's 9:19 I just called them lets see what happens.
post #146 of 1667
11/10/03 at 6:22pm
2 minutes and they ficked the switch.
post #147 of 1667
11/10/03 at 6:30pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:


Originally posted by rsbiomedical
It's 9:19 I just called them lets see what happens.


I can see it now....
"Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.................snort.........RINN NNNNGG!!!, Huh?, what the...? WILX, can I help you?"
post #148 of 1667
11/10/03 at 6:33pm
Quote:


Originally posted by srgilbert
I can see it now....
"Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.................snort.........RINN NNNNGG!!!, Huh?, what the...? WILX, can I help you?"

My wife sure got a kick out of it
post #149 of 1667
11/12/03 at 9:14am
Got another update from Tim at WKAR, things are looking up...


[quote]New Antenna Update!
The antenna installation crew arrived on site Tuesday (11/11), one day earlier
than scheduled.

Beginning Thursday (11/13), there will be occasional outages on both WKAR-
TV and WKAR-FM as required for human safety when the crew is near the
antenna.

The antenna is scheduled for delivery on Friday (11/14).

WKAR TV will remain at reduced power (100,000 watts from 500 ft) until
the new antenna is operational. Unfortunately, even with expedited
scheduling, we're looking at about two weeks.

WKAR-FM will also be affected, and likewise will have to operate from an
emergency antenna at reduced power.

Weather permitting, work will be completed and after an acceptable tuning,
WKAR-TV and FM will return to full power before Nov. 27.
Antenna installation is not easy. The antenna will be top mounted 972 feet
above the ground. The new antenna weighs about 9,000 pounds and is 45 feet
long.

Here are some of the major steps involved in this project:

- Rig tower with cables and pulleys
- Remove emergency channel 23 antenna at the 850 ft level
- Rig tower with additional cables and pulleys
- Begin hoisting a gin pole and move it to the top of the tower
- Hoist the new antenna into position
- Connect the antenna into the main feed line, move beacon light and lightning
protection to the top of the antenna.
- Tune the antenna for optimum performance on channel 23 and 55
- Remove gin pole
- Remove rigging

For those of you wondering when WKAR-DT will be signing on " we hope to
be able to sign on for DTV testing as soon as two weeks after the antenna is in
operation. Maybe in time for a "Merry Christmas"? We hope so!

Visit WKAR.org for updates on our progress.
Thank you for your patience.
If you would prefer NOT to receive update information like this, please let me
know and I'll remove you from our email list.
Timothy W. Zeko[quote]
post #150 of 1667
11/12/03 at 10:20am
Maybe we should form a phone pool (like car pool) and take turns calling WILX to remind them to turn on the HD feed.

Thanks for the update Matt.
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