The official final DTV Table Of Allotments/channel change thread - Page 55

WDTI(TV), INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. Granted the request to terminate analog operation of WDTI(TV) on channel *69 and operate as a digital-only station on channel *44. Action by: Chief, Video Division, Media Bureau by LETTER. (DA No. 08-2473). MB DA-08-2473A1.doc DA-08-2473A1.pdf DA-08-2473A1.txt

FCC COMMISSIONER MCDOWELL TO VISIT BOSTON FOR DTV OUTREACH. News Release. News Media Contact: Rosemary Harold at (202) 418-2272 CGB DOC-286629A1.doc DOC-286629A1.pdf DOC-286629A1.txt

I heard on last night's 27 news that the Madison stations will be doing a 5 minute test in December. I do not remember the date, as the comment was unexpected. It was during their story about yesterday being at the100 day point.

AFAIK, the analog transmitters won't be actually turned off, but a slate of some sort will be displayed.

Since I didn't read the full FCC order, and suspect that others haven't either, the change of WMSN from 11 to 49 can't occur until after analog cutoff. At least they be able to reuse the 47 waveguide, but they suspect that the antenna will have to be replaced. At this point in time they have no idea when the change will occur.

DTV Transition Status Update:

* Stations operating Post-Transition facilities: 1001
* Stations with maximized Construction Permits but otherwise ready: 121
* Stations to reduce analog operations prior to 2/17/09: 157
* Stations to end analog operations early: 247
* Stations that have already ended (or will not commence) analog operations: 99

KWWL in Waterloo, IA, which is owned by the same company that owns 27 WKOW, is promoting a similar test on its channel. I believe it's scheduled for Nov. 20 during two of the station's newscasts.

Quite a few of these "tests" have been going on across the country.

KOAT-TV will broadcast a test at 10 PM Mountain time, on their local news on 11-13-08 to help the TV viewers to see if they pass the test or not by looking the analog DTV slate on analog channel 7.

For those who passed the test is getting the digital signal on digital channel 21 "7.1".

On 2-17-09 KOAT-DT will move their digtial transmitter to real channel 7 and shut down digital UHF 21.

This TV market is in Albuquerque, NM, USA.

11-11-08

So I have to ask.... What are we testing here? The ability to pick up a temporary digital signal on an antenna that may or may not have the appropriate elements for the band needed? Is that an accurate test of the post February 17 broadcast landscape?

Usually these tests are really just breaking the analog away from the digital with separate programming, usually a graphic of some kind on the analog that says if you see this, you aren't digital ready.

This kind of test will get your attention if you're obliviously watching an analog channel. Hopefully, it will spark some curiosity about why you got a 'not ready' message and entice you to fix the 'problem'.

--- CHAS

I see how you fail this setup, but how do you "Pass" one of these tests if the signal is not available?

If you see the graphic on the digital signal on the temporary UHF transmitter, what does it say? You are all set until February 18th, 2009?

I see, WPXD-DT, Ann Arbor MI, (Ion) wants to move to channel 19 (same as WXMI-DT, FOX, in Grand Rapids, MI)

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_publi...-08-1502A1.pdf

I don't think I like this, I get both stations now. If this happens I may not be able to watch all the blacked out Lions games next season......

You're thinking farther ahead than they are.

These are tests of whether one can receive digital TV at all, not of whether one's current TV setup can receive all future ATSC signals.  If one gets the success crawl during such a test, one doesn't need a new television set nor a[nother] converter box.  Whether the viewer needs to readjust, replace, or add an antenna to cope with how things will differ after 2009-02-17 is a separate question that you've raised, Ke0mi, but which these tests are not intended to cover.

WPXD wants to relocate itself closer to Detroit in the process, so it's not like it's an even swap. It's no different from WJBK and WOOD on 7, or WWJ and WZPX on 44 (which are actually closer together), or WDIV and WLLA on 45, etc.

- Trip

The issue is not can you see a certain digital station, the issue is can you see ANY digital station. IE, do you have a digital tuner, and can you actually watch anything digital on it. If the answer is yes, then you "pass." If you are on cable or sat, it doesn't matter since they will handle the conversion for their subs. That is the point. The point is to make people aware they need to do something.

I would like to see more stations announce when they are going to be doing overnight testing (of their PT facility, when possible/completed). We have heard about a few on the board (thanks to sebenste and others), but for the most part we are in the dark.

We have 4 stations moving back to upper VHF locally and I have not been able to get overnight testing info on any of them. Well, I'm sure they are working closely with the cable and satellite companies for these tests, but why not the viewers? Valuable information could be gained, especially for future low-VHF stations, such as WPVI.

COMMISSIONER COPPS TO VISIT TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA FOR DTV OUTREACH. News Release. News Media Contact: Rick Chessen (202) 418-2000 CMMR DOC-286669A1.doc DOC-286669A1.pdf DOC-286669A1.txt

The problem with this kind of test is that it might not be realistic. It is quite possible that the household is DTV ready, but during this particular test, didn't tune in the station via digital, but did so via the old analog method.

While I'm DTV ready, I watch the local news via the analog TV. Just easier than turning on the STB and routing it to the TV, only to get a letterboxed and pillarboxed SD upconvert.

When I'm forced to watch the local news via DTV, then I will.

Here in the Madison DMA, we are quite lucky in that after WMSN moves to their final DTV channel, we will be an all UHF market. We have the problem where WMSN is currently on channel 11 and there are people who can't get the channel. But, they can get the UHF channels.

At this point in time, it is unknown when WMSN will be able to do the channel switch. It certainly won't be during the winter

It is suspected that the current channel 47 analog antenna can't be used with the digital 49 channel. That means getting a new antenna on the tower and removing the old. If the antenna can be used, then there won't be any tower work.

Then they know they are ready and the test really doesn't matter to them. It is just for those who have no clue and there are many of them. This is basically a one size test that going in we know doesn't fit one size but it is all we can at the present.

COMMISSIONER TATE TO VISIT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS FOR DTV OUTREACH. Visit is Part of Nationwide Tour Focusing on Markets with High Levels of Over-the-Air Television Viewers. News Release. News Media Contact: Susan Fisenne (202) 418-2502, Email: Susan.Fisenne@fcc.gov CMMR DOC-286747A1.doc DOC-286747A1.pdf DOC-286747A1.txt

Another potential issue: the test is only valid for the TV you are watching right now, not necessarily for the entire household. Just because you're OK in the living room doesn't necessarily mean your TVs in the bedroom, the study, the garage, etc. would pass. Every TV in the house has to be ready.

True. Point taken.

After WKOW mentioned the test and pointed out their web page regarding the DTV transition, I noticed that they haven't upgraded the page with a notice that there will be a local test, and when. At least nothing that stood out on the web page.

For the tests we had in Chicago this week, many of the spots for them advised viewers to check all TVs in the house during the five minutes each test would run.

I think most stations are telling people to check every TV during the test. We tell them that and we do a 60 sec test, but we have done 3 so far with another one scheduled for Monday and we do ours during newscasts for maximum exposure. At least in my market, people are having many chances to check.

Add another one, KWKT-DT in Waco has petitioned to relocate from channel 44 to channel 25. Nothing in the ECFS about it yet, but it's showing up on the TV Query...

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=179003

- Trip

It looks like another situation were a station going back to its analog channel has been constricted by newer DTV allocations. (KDTN and KDTX in this case)

Stations such as KWKT don't have the luxury of remaining on their pre-transition channel (57 in this case). I wonder if they have made arrangements to buy equipment from KXXV, which has 25 for analog, but is staying on 26 for DTV.

COMMISSIONER MCDOWELL TO CONDUCT 90 DAYS OUT DTV INTERVIEWS. News Release CMMR DOC-286806A1.doc DOC-286806A1.pdf DOC-286806A1.txt

POST-TRANSITION DTV TABLE OF ALLOTMENTS, 47 C.F.R. § 73.622(I), GLENDIVE, MONTANA.. Amended station KXGN-DT's DTV channel from 10 to 5. Proceeding Terminated. (Dkt No. RM-11446, 08-113). Action by: Chief, Video Division, Media Bureau. Adopted: 11/13/2008 by R&O. (DA No. 08-2521). MB DA-08-2521A1.doc DA-08-2521A1.pdf DA-08-2521A1.txt

IN THE MATTER OF UNLICENSED OPERATION IN THE TV BROADCAST BANDS, ADDITIONAL SPECTRUM FOR UNLICENSED DEVICES BELOW 900 MHZ AND IN THE 3 GHZ BAND. FCC Adopted Rules For Unlicensed Use of Television White Spaces. (Dkt No. 02-380, 04-186). Action by: the Commission. Adopted: 11/04/2008 by R&O. (FCC No. 08-260). OET FCC-08-260A1.doc FCC-08-260A2.doc FCC-08-260A3.doc FCC-08-260A4.doc FCC-08-260A5.doc FCC-08-260A6.doc FCC-08-260A1.pdf FCC-08-260A2.pdf FCC-08-260A3.pdf FCC-08-260A4.pdf FCC-08-260A5.pdf FCC-08-260A6.pdf FCC-08-260A1.txt FCC-08-260A2.txt FCC-08-260A3.txt FCC-08-260A4.txt FCC-08-260A5.txt FCC-08-260A6.txt

XHDTV has probably applied application for DT47 in Tecate, BN. They had 53 allocated but are now going to 47. This station will keep CH. 49 after 2.17.09 since it's in Mexico. Though when Mexico goes digital then they will switch back to CH. 49 for DTV.

FCC Database is wrong with NEW-DT 47 in BCN. That allocation is now a Tecate allocation not a Tijuana allocation. NEW-DT 47 must go on Cerro Bola. Also there is a new DT app in Tijuana on CH. 46. Don't know who will use that one. The original DT-47 would be on Mt. San Antonio co located with XETV. Now they will probably move that to Tecate since that's where XHDTV-DT is. It will probably use the CH. 49 transmitter. The switch to 49 would be true if XHDTV were an American station.