Digital Transition Summary for DC, Baltimore, Hagerstown Stations
The following is my attempt at summarizing the pre and post transition digital channels, power levels, and status of filings for the full power stations in the DC, Baltimore, and Hagerstown markets. I sorted the list by the post-transition physical broadcast channel, which I think is more useful for highlighting the upper VHF stations and possible signal conflicts. The technical shorthand terms are ERP (Effective Radiated Power) in kW, HAAT (antenna Height Above Average Terrain) in meters, CP = Construction Permit granted by the FCC. A number of stations filed maximized power applications in June on which the FCC has not acted on yet.
At the bottom is a separate list for the digital low power (LD) stations in DC and the stronger digital low power CPs in the western edge of the DC area. Some of the LD CPs may not be built; I suspect some of them are placeholders for future filings for better channel allotments. The analog low power stations do not have to shut down next Feb. 17. In this research, I found that WZDC-DC Telemundo 25 recently filed for and was granted a digital flash cut on UHF 25 post-transition. Their digital allotment provides for an increased coverage area over their current analog one, although the coverage pattern is still directional favoring the east. When WHAG-TV 25 shuts down its’ analog signal on Feb. 17, that will eliminate interference problems which should help picking up WZDC-CA NW of DC.
The columns are: Station, Location, Pre-transition actual digital channel, Pre-transition DT ERP, Post-transition actual digital channel, Post-Transition current ERP allotment, post-transition HAAT in meters, and Notes/Comments. Hope the list is readable.
Code:
Station Location PreDT ERP(kW) PostDT ERP(kW) HAAT(m) Notes
WJLA-DT ABC 7 DC 39 646 7 13.6 235 maximized app pending for 30 kW
WUSA-DT CBS 9 DC 34 1000 9 12.6 235
WBAL-DT NBC 11 Baltimore 59 513 11 5 299
WWPX-DT ion 60 Martinsburg 12 23 12 23 314 Petition pending to move DTV operations to 51 in VA
WJZ-DT CBS 13 Baltimore 38 1000 13 28.8 295 To operate on STA basis on DT 13 (9.8kW) until 5/15/09.
WFDC-DT uni 14 DC 15 325 15 1000 227 CP granted for 1000 kW post-transition
WVPY-DT PBS 42 Front Royal 21 50 21 50 400 app filed in Oct 08 for 100 kW post-transition
WNVC-DT MHz 56 Fairfax 57 dark 24 160 221 Maximized app for 160 kW granted, off air until 02/18/09
WHAG-DT NBC 25 Hagerstown 55 0.9 26 575 376
WETA-DT PBS 26 DC 27 90 27 90 254 Petition pending to move to 51 for DTV operation at 674 kW
WFPT-DT PBS 62 Frederick 28 30 28 41.2 158 Maximized app for 41.2 kW granted
WMPB-DT PBS 67 Baltimore 29 14 29 42.6 309 Maximized app for 42.6 kW granted
WNVT-DT MHz 30 Goldvein 30 160 30 160 229
WHUT-DT PBS 32 DC 33 100 33 100 254 maximized app pending for 1000 kW
WPXW-DT ion 66 Manass->DC 43 90 34 110 221 maximized app pending for 1000 kW
WDCA-DT MyN 20 DC 35 500 35 500 227 maximized app pending for 950 kW
WTTG-DT Fox 5 DC 36 1000 36 1000 227
WMAR-DT ABC 2 Baltimore 52 613 38 1000 312
WJAL-DT ind 68 Hagerstown 16 6 39 105 372
WNUV-DT CW 54 Baltimore 40 845 40 845 373
WUTB-DT MyN 24 Catonsville 41 200 41 200 308 maximized app pending for 290 kW
WMPT-DT PBS 22 Annapolis 42 150 42 150 289 maximized app pending for 516 kW
WWPB-DT PBS 31 Hagerstown 44 209 44 209 359 maximized app pending for 1000 kW
WBFF-DT Fox 45 Baltimore 46 550 46 550 373
WRC-DT NBC 4 DC 48 813 48 813 242
WDCW-DT CW 50 DC 51 125 50 122 253 maximized app pending for 1000 kW
Digital Low Power Stations in DC and in the western edge of the DC market
WMDO Telef 47 DC 8 0.198 8 0.198 150 on the air in late summer 08.
W08EE WV PBS Martinsburg 8 0.3 8 0.3 281 on the air
WWTD ind 49 DC - - 14 0.1 179 CP granted Jan 08
WDDN Dayst 23 DC - - 21 1 213 CP granted Mar 07
WZDC Telem 25 DC - - 25 4.6 116 CP granted Oct 08 for digital flash cut post-transition
WIAV AsiaVis 58 DC - - 44 0.1 45 CP granted May 08
WAZW rlg 48 Winchester - - 46 12 78 CP granted Jan 07
W51CY CW 51 Hagerstown - - 51 15 379 Satellite TX for WDCW, tower located east of Hagerstown
