Wheeling, WV - HDTV - Page 13

Like Gilda Radner used to say...."Never mind".duh!..I just discovered that the winds had apparently moved my antenna just enough to cause the problem. After re-synchronizing the rotor, WTOV's signal is back up to where it normally would be. I should have checked this but forget that high winds can move an antenna some even if it's attached to a rotor. It wasn't enough to matter on their VHF signal but enough to mess up their high frequency UHF signal.

my dad is pissed. He was hoping both would go to digital on the 17th because his digital convertor box ONLY gets channel 2 and 22!! Channel 9 comes in crystal clear on analog but no digital signal at all. I was also hoping channel 9 would go digital next tuesday because at work we have rabbit ears for our tv in the lounge and wtov9's signal just stinks. No digital signal at all and the analog is all fuzzy. The sad thing is that when I step outside I can see the channel 9 tower from where I stand.

As for channel 7 I wouldn't doubt if they decide not to switch also. I was looking through all the stupid questions the fcc sent these stations and they are rediculous. There are 6 pages of questions they have to had sent in in 24 hours time. Being that as it may, I remember reading somewhere that EVEN IF THEY ARE PERMITTED TO SWITCH the stations that had to fill out the questionarre have to NOW wait until APRIL 14th or 15th to flip the switch thus giving the fcc time to think it over. Hopefully in april both will be permitted to switch!!!

If I'm reading the FCC website correctly, it looks like WTRF may be certified to go ahead with the 2/17 switch? (Sometimes the legalese jargon can be mind numbing). Maybe Trip can verify this?

Trip has given up trying to understand what on Earth is going on up in DC. I figure they're all insane and trying to drive those of us who follow them insane as well.

EDIT: However, because you asked, I checked into it, and WTRF has told the FCC they qualify and thus will transition on February 17.

- Trip

Thank you! I think you're exactly right about the absence of sanity in DC. I can't believe what's been happening these past few weeks regarding the DTV "transition". I'm sure I speak for everyone on these forums when I say how very much we appreciate your efforts in helping us to understand all this.

WTRF-DT is doing another test tonight 11:30-12:00 midnight on channel 7.

I got a good signal here in Canton...it looks to be about the same as what I get from WTOV. There were some occasional dips in the level but not enough to make the picture break up. Looks pretty good!

Later on when they're permanent, I'll scan them into my TV's tuner which I think is better than the LG standalone that I used tonight. It also has a better signal meter. I can also play with antenna positioning at that time.

I would have posted the "heads up" sooner but didn't know it was going to happen until they mentioned it late in their 11 PM newscast.

channel 7 has been cleared to go all digital at midnight monday night!!! So just over 24 hours left til channel 7 goes all digital!!!

Sorry..this is not correct. I clarified this with WTRF and they state the switch is TOMORROW night (2/17) at 12:01 AM (actually Wednesday morning 2/18, if you want to be exact).

Ok. That makes sense since the countdown clock on WTRF's website still suggested Tuesday night/Wed morning at 12am. WTRF is a bit confusing as they say they will go all digital on Tuesday. I guess they are going with the common thought that althogh 12am is really the next day most people would still refer to it as the previous day. Most often I would call 12:01am Wednesday morning Tuesday night.


Any word on if WTOV will be able to go digital in 60 days as per the provision in the FCC's mandate re: the 123 stations that were not granted permission to transition on 2/17?

I really don't know anything definite on that. When I spoke to one of their engineering staff a few days ago, he said that there was a slight chance it could be earlier than June but didn't elaborate on that.

Ok. Thanks for the update.

The WTRF website was updated Monday afternoon. It now says they will make the switch at 12:30 Tuesday afternoon, entirely different than what their phone person told me earlier.

Sorry if I confused anybody, was just repeating what I was told.

http://www.wtrf.com/story.cfm?func=v...&storyid=52262

WTRF-DT is up and running on channel 7. Getting a 75% signal level here in Canton, occasionally peaking slightly higher.

7.2 and 7.3 are broadcasting in HD right?

I can't check it out till I get home from work tonight. Though I was going to have to stay up late to see it but now it will be a nice surprise when I come home from work.

There isn't enough bandwidth for three HD broadcasts on the same channel. 7.1 (CBS) will probably be HD while 7.2 (FOX) and 7.3 (ABC) will probably be SD. Channel 27 in Youngstown is running two HD programs at the same time (CBS & FOX); however, the picture quality suffers slightly, especially during fast motion.

I'm getting a rock solid signal quality level between 75 and 80 at approximately 60 miles from WTRF's transmitter here in Salem on my Dish Network ViP 622. The maximum is 100.

I am about 13 miles NW of you. I am hoping I can get a decent signal with my Funke (ch 7 - 13) antenna.

You'll probably get a usable signal, especially with a Funke. They have a good reputation for fringe area reception. Am I correct in thinking that they no longer make those large VHF models? For those who are interested, Funke is a Dutch manufacturer.

Yes I believe they no longer make them. I bought one off of a dealer who had 20 some left and has since sold them off. Being able to watch WTRF was the only reason I bought it.

I have a Funke psp.1922 high band VHF antenna that I have not put up yet. I'm currently using a Winegard YA-1713 for high band VHF.

zff36, you and I probably purchased our Funke antennas from the same fellow from Indiana.

Is anybody using a DirecTv receiver and plugging OTA into it?

The DirecTv receivers do no seach for digital signals. They only try to lock into the frequency that they expect the channel to appear on. I'm anxious to see if my Directv reciever has updated information so it looks for WTRF in the right place. I'll know soon enough but thought that somebody on the forum may be able to give me a heads up.

I have a Directv receiver with the external unit for OTA. I have it set up with Youngstown as my primary market and Wheeling-Steubenville as my secondary. (I have Cleveland via Directv satellite locals.) At first it did not "see" WTRF, so I ran the OTA setup again and this time it showed up. However, only 7.1. For some reason, 7.2 and 7.3 show the "searching for signal" message. I would guess that the coding is not set up quite right yet.

I have the same thing here. I have 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 all at 95% but only 7.1 works. The other two show 771 Searching for signal. I figure that some bugs need to be worked out.

I noticed a thread re: this issue on DBS talk.
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=134005&page=6

See post #138.

I am getting a signal but it is not strong enough to lock on. I need to get it a little higher. I am about 20 feet lower than the house across the street to the south east.

[quote=Budracin8;15846815]I have the same thing here. I have 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 all at 95% but only 7.1 works. The other two show 771 Searching for signal. I figure that some bugs need to be worked out.

I noticed a thread re: this issue on DBS talk.
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=134005&page=6


See post #138.[/QUOTE

I guess if it isn't corrected in the next day or so, we should call WTRF and ask them to call the number mentioned. I can also send an email to their engineer Brad.

I'm sorry to hear that. My antenna is on a 50' tower so it's fortunately above most things around here. Do you use a preamplifier at the antenna? I've found that helps a lot.