Fort Smith, AR - HDTV - Page 109

If I was a betting person, I'd say KFSM 5-2.

- Trip

Quite possible, but would it be SD or HD? Their bandwidth is kinda limited....

Hey guys,
Thanks for all your help. Here's where things stand at this point. I got my Channelmaster DVR and unfortunately its tuner is not locking in the KNWA signal so the multi-path still persists.

I have no knowledge of how to combine multiple antennas and the spot on my roof's eave I can install antennas prevents me from directing it at KNWA. The best I'll be able to do is aim it due east when I really need to have it pointing NE.

I think KFSM 5-2 is the default choice, unless there is a local TV station I'm not aware of. Is there a chance no one gets it?

KFSM is certainly a possibility, but who knows. In Springfield, MO, a crappy LPTV station North of that town picked up the FOX affiliation. So, it's remotely possible that even KPBI might be a contender in the NWA/FSM market.

Can you post a picture of your current antenna install?

Here are a couple of pictures I took with my phone. I can't get to the apex of the roof because of its steepness.

If your (or neighbors') siding has foil-backed insulation behind it, that may possibly be a source of some of your multipath problems. Also, that antenna is not very directional, so it may be picking up multipath from several directions.

In that location and with that short J-mount, it would be impossible to install a two-antenna setup on the single mounting mast.

Quite possible.. Stations are under affiliate agreements that run 2 to 5 years. It could be a legal nightmare to try to get out of a contract Even Nexstar appears to only discontinue carrying FOX after their contract expires at a station.

Does anyone know when the current Fox contract expires? I guess if KPBI got it the battle would be which of their two affiliates (Fox or Univision) they broadcast in HD.

From the Springfield, MO thread:
http://www.multichannel.com/article/...sible_Sale.php
Nexstar owns KNWA/KFTA.

I just installed a winegard hdp269 to my antenna and connected it to a PV22233 power passing splitter to help improve signal reception. I'm not sure if i'm doing something wrong but the setup has not improved reception one bit. I even took out the splitter part and that didn't improve things. Is there something else I need to do? Here's what I have set up: cable from antenna to preamp, from preamp to splitter in, from power passing side into the house, from cable wall outlet to "antenna in" on splitter that came with hdp269, then power in on the adjacent input on the splitter, then from splitter tv out to the tuner. All cable is RG6. Am I missing something?

It sounds like you have it connected properly. Check that the LED is lighted on the power injector. If you have a voltmeter, you should be getting ~14 volts from the power supply. If you do, either your wiring is bad or your amp is bad.

I don't have a voltmeter, but the led light in the power injector is on and red. I initially had the power-passing splitter before the line going to the power injector antenna input, but I even took it out and it didn't change anything. You're probably right it's defective.

Folks, KPBI is being sold to Local TV, the owner of KFSM. Pure speculation, but I think we now have some idea of where FOX will land when it is dropped by KFTA.

The real questions are:

1) Will they implement the 1000 kW permit KPBI has?

- Current signal: http://www.rabbitears.info/contour.p...=1406145&map=Y
- Permitted signal: http://www.rabbitears.info/contour.p...=1251268&map=Y

2) Will either signal help those losing FOX through the KRBK fiasco?

- Trip

Very interesting, Trip. Thanks for posting.

It would definitely be to the advantage of FOX and the parent company of KFSM. And if the 1,000kW CP is implemented, it would definitely help fill in the loss of FOX coverage in parts of NWA/SW MO, left by the recent KFSX/KRBK fiasco in Springfield, MO. I wonder if the sale includes KPBI-CA, Fort Smith?

As far as I can tell, it only includes the full-power signal. None of the LPs or CAs.

In reading the agreement, it also sounds like the LPs will be keeping RTV and/or MeTV, and that KFSM will be lobbying for cable carriage of the LPs on their behalf. Apparently, the hope is that with KFSM pushing for it, they'll be more likely to get carried.

Very interesting.

- Trip

That would fix my KBRK loss-of-Fox-HD problem quite well. When KPBI was live, it was a blowtorch here, far stronger than Springfield KSFX ever was. If I had problems with it, it meant the winds were strong enough I should probably be watching the radar instead of television :-)

KPBI is still live. They do have a PSIP SNAFU that prevents a lot of TV tuners from decoding and/or seeing the signal. This problem has been ongoing for months, now. Their power also seems to be way below what it used to be. It seems impossible to contact anyone about the problems. Lights are on - nobody's home.

Taken at 1:07pm today:
34-1 KPBI 34-1

34-2 KXUN

Ah, I remember reading about the PSIP problems awhile back. The Polaroid 40" was tolerant, but when KPBI went away on it, I assumed they went dark. Hard to believe that hasn't been addressed.

I don't think they have a clue. And I cannot find a way to contact them. If anyone knows, please post contact info.

Out of curiosity, I did a channel scan this morning, and didn't even get a hint of KPBI. Channel strength shows zero. It used to be a consistent 80+.

I have one TV that does that. Zilch on the signal meter.

On all the other TVs but one, KPBI 34 shows signal strength, but no audio/video or video but no audio. Definitely PSIP problems.

Out of curiosity, I dug out the converter boxes this morning for a quick test. The Digital Stream saw KPBI in a channel scan, but no audio/video and zero signal strength. The Insignia converter didn't even see anything out there. That makes six different tuners in my household that can't decode their stream. So strange that this has continued for so long. A zombie station in the truest sense of the word.

KPBI's number is (479) 785-4600. I have gotten to speak to someone when I call but she always says the engineer is out of the office on assignment (not sure if it's actually true or just coincidence). I live in Rogers and get KBPI on channels 31 and 34 although it does take my tuner a few seconds to lock the channel 34 signal. On channel 34 the RTV station is always available but the Univision station sometimes displays "Weak Signal." However Univision is always just fine on Channel 31. I have a DTV Pal DVR (not sure if it's tuner is able to do things other tuners can't).

doskys,
Thanks for the tel number. I left a voicemail with the engineer 479 785-4600 ext 114, letting him know there is trouble with the OTA signal.

If others would call and do the same, it might help get the station working again.

I left a voice mail on my third call after the lady once again said he was out on the field. I never heard back from him. I haven't been able to find a website or email address for the engineer or anyone who works there. If the rumors of the channel being sold to KFSM are true then there may be life at the end of the current KPBI tunnel.
Would this mean KFSM would have CBS, MyNetwork, Fox, RTV, and Univision? That seems like a lot for one tv company to manage.

I'm reasonably sure RTV and Univision will be staying with the low-power stations. KPBI is being sold separately.

- Trip

So how will KFSM fit Fox into their transmission? Seems like they'll either have to make Fox an SD sub-channel (5-3) or put out a new channel for it. It would suck not to have Fox in HD.

What? Local TV is buying KPBI but not the low-power stations. If it comes to pass, Fox would go on 34-1.

- Trip