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Post by frankovideo09 on Feb 17, 2009 18:56:06 GMT -5
Greetings ....
WLTZ TV-38 (DT-35) closed the book on analog transmission today - Feb 17 2009 - at 12 Noon Eastern Time.
The analog shut-off was the lead story on the station's 6 o'clock P.M. newscast. Just one problem - the newscast's audio was turned DOWN so much you had to crank up the TV volume to very high levels just to hear people talk.
Oh well - WLTZ's all-digital era is off and running. The only question now is - what power level will they transmit at? Up thru today the transmitter was running at 50 KW, which is low for a digital UHF station.
UPDATE - WLTZ's audio levels were "up to speed" on their 7 o'clock PM newscast.
Thanx-A-Lot, FrankoVideo-09
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Post by Alan Gordon on Feb 17, 2009 19:05:32 GMT -5
The only question now is - what power level will they transmit at? Up thru today the transmitter was running at 50 KW, which is low for a digital UHF station. According to the FCC website, 50. kW is their final power level. They COULD ask the FCC to allow them to increase their power level, but doing so wouldn't make a lot of sense since they would only be increasing their power levels in neighboring DMAs... with NBC affiliates of their own. EDIT: I was incorrect as it doesn't FULLY cover the Columbus, GA DMA. ~Alan |
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Post by frankovideo09 on Feb 17, 2009 19:23:10 GMT -5
Greetings ....
Then they had better hope that 50 is nifty.
Neighboring DMA's with NBC stations would mean Montgomery (WSFA) and Birmingham (WVTM) in Alabama; Macon (WMGT), Albany (WALB) and Atlanta (WXIA) in Georgia. If someone is out in the boonies 40 miles-or-more in any direction from the transmitter site on Buena Vista Road, and if they CAN"T get WLTZ clear enough, then they might choose someone else's NBC signal, if they can get it.
Thanx-A-Lot, FrankoVideo-09
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Post by Alan Gordon on Feb 17, 2009 19:56:59 GMT -5
If someone is out in the boonies 40 miles-or-more in any direction from the transmitter site on Buena Vista Road, and if they CAN"T get WLTZ clear enough, then they might choose someone else's NBC signal, if they can get it. I stand corrected regarding WLTZ's signal as it appears to not fully cover the Columbus, GA DMA. FCC Service Area Map: www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1135398.htmlColumbus, GA Market Map: www.fcc.gov/dtv/markets/maps_report1/Columbus_GA.pdfPlease note that the Market Map is somewhat dated since WTVM-DT intends on switching to channel 11 instead of 9. Still, WLTZ's signal should be correct. ~Alan |
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Post by seanmc1114 on Feb 18, 2009 14:01:25 GMT -5
Greetings .... If someone is out in the boonies 40 miles-or-more in any direction from the transmitter site on Buena Vista Road, and if they CAN"T get WLTZ clear enough, then they might choose someone else's NBC signal, if they can get it. That describes me. I live in Reynolds and can sometimes pick up WLTZ but I can never get a lock on all of the Columbus stations with my antenna fixed in one direction. I have to rotate it slightly to pick up the various channels. On the other hand, I can point it in one fixed heading towards Macon's transmitters and pick up all four networks plus PBS with a minimum signal strength of low 70's to mid 80's and often higher. I would prefer to watch the Columbus channels but it's just not worth the hastle to always be adjusting the antenna and it would make scheduling recordings on the DVR impossible. |
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