WJSP-DT

[crepehanger]

Does anybody get a digital signal on WJSP? I get a fairly strong analog signal with my CM 4221 facing south at a compass heading of 160-162 degrees. Don't have a rotor and really don't want to move the antenna. I did take a pair of rabbit ears with 10db amp outside--it made the analog picture even clearer, but still did not pull in a digital signal off of Ch. 23.

This all in southern Harris County. According to antennaweb, I am 20.8 miles southwest of their tower.

[thomash]

WJSP-DT is not broadcasting yet. In fact, there are no digital transmitters or new antennas at any of GPB's facilities. Not even at the Atlanta station.

But the contract has been awarded, and despite the lack of progress, the signals should be up by next summer.

Yes, Georgia is behind Ala., N.C., and S.C.... but it's not because of a lack of money necessarily. It's due to the bureaucracy, mostly because of the change from Gov. Barnes to Perdue, and the bad financial situation at that time.

FYI, WJSP-DT will most likely not end up on channel 23. They are working on a change to channel 11 to save on power and transmitter costs. Not sure if they will build the 23 even temporarily -- but if they don't, I'm sure the interference from WXIA-TV would be horrible for those north of Columbus.

[crepehanger]

Good info. Thanks! Regarding WXIA, I would think that could become an issue north of Manchester area, but I doubt south of there. Before mounting my antenna, I turned north to see if I could pull in any Atlanta signals--no luck.

[DJ]

I don't see how it's even possible to have WJSP-DT on channel 11, being that their Pine Mountain transmitter is well within reception range of Atlanta's analog channel 11.

Even here in N. Columbus, if I point my VU-210 antenna toward Atlanta, I can get a viewable picture and stereo sound. It comes in pretty clear in the mornings, so that alone would prevent reception of WJSP-DT during morning hours.

[thomash]

I was a bit skeptical about the channel 11 plans when I heard it too. It makes more sense if they switch to 11 after 2009, when WXIA cuts off the analog. But, on the other hand, I don't think they will install a high-power UHF on 23 for just two years, given their concern about the expense being the reason for switching to VHF anyway.

Where I'm living now, in Athens, there are quite a few stations where, if I aim my antenna one way, I get a DT, and if I aim it the other, I get a TV. The DT shows up as a visible fuzz on the analog, while the TV causes drop outs on the digital.

Note that Columbus will also be within the coverage area of GPB's WACS-DT 8 when that is built.

[DJ]

I'm curious if those of us in Columbus will be able to receive DT-8 with channel 9's splatter. Our antennas will be pointed in the same direction to receive either.

However, once WTVM-DT 47 goes to channel 9, then we'll probably be able to receive WACS-DT 8 with no problem. Perfect example to prove my point, Phenix City's low powered channel 16 does not suffer any interference from WRBL-DT's mammoth signal on channel 15.

[crepehanger]

How strong (in watts) is WRBL's signal? It is always at 100 percent for me, although it was completely off the air doing the wind and rain for about two hours this past Saturday.

[thomash]

WRBL-DT is 1 million watts ERP, and with a 500 meter height at a low UHF frequency, it's one of the most powerful DTV stations anywhere.

About the 8/9 interference -- that could be a problem, but Columbus is well within the service contour of 8. We'll have to wait and see. Some of you are reporting getting APT's WGIQ-DT, but that's far weaker in Columbus than 8 will be.

8 and 9 will interfere with each other, even when both are digital. Note that channel 9 digital will end up with a smaller coverage area to the southeast than it has now because it has to protect the new channel 8. Channel 8 also had to sign a waiver to accept the interference.

It is OK to have two adjacent DTs, but they have to be at the same location to keep the phasing the same. WTBS-DT and WGCL-DT in Atlanta are both full power on channels 20 and 19. Heck, WXIA has DT on 10 and TV on 11.