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DTV MADE EASY
(PDF Publication)
If you can not download, request one via mail by writing to;
DTV Made Easy
WLIO Television
1424 Rice Avenue
Lima OH 45805-1835
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( 3.1 / 137 )TECH ONE ON ONE WITH GARY SGRIGNOLI
How To Keep DTV from Going Astray
TVNEWSDAY, Apr 30 2009, 12:18 PM ET
Gary Sgrignoli may know as much about DTV transmission its strengths, its weaknesses, its quirks as any person alive.
For nearly 30 years, he worked at Zenith Electronics (now LG Electronics) where he was deeply involved in the development and testing of the 8-VSB transmission scheme, which was ultimately adopted as the ATSC standard.
More at.... ARTICLE
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( 2.9 / 121 )Note the new link to to the right called "DTV QUIZ".
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( 2.9 / 155 )
As I write this entry, we are close to shutting WLIO's transmitter down. As many of you are aware, WLIO (analog) on channel 35 will go dark at 7AM on June 12, 2009 when all analog transmissions in the United States cease to exist. This ends an era for a station that came on the air on Easter 1953.Today we were notified that there were no objections to WLIO, and Block Communications filing of a request for a new digital television station on Channel 35. This new station is actually a rebirth of another station. Here's how it works.
After WLIO, Channel 35 analog is signed off, we will begin the task of taking the RCA TTU-30 transmitter apart.
The WLIO transmitter actually began its life in Springfield OH on channel 16 as a RCA TTU-30A. But when the station in Springfield went bankrupt, WLIO (then WIMA-TV) purchased it for a power increase. The station had an old GE transmitter, and the E.R.P. was 212,000 watts. With the used RCA transmitter, the station was able to increase to 512,000 watts. It went on the air in 1979.In 1985 I arrived at WLIO, and one of my first tasks was to replace the old GE helical antenna at the top of the tower. This old antenna was what was used for most of WLIO's broadcast days, after switching from channel 79 down to 35. By the way, in 1953, and when operating on channel 79, the power off the antenna was only 1,000 watts!
The antenna was beaten up badly, had a very poor response, and had arced over several times. After it was removed, it was obvious we were operating on borrowed time. The only thing we could do was scrap it.In January of 1986, when it was 20 degrees below zero, a new RCA/Dielectric TFU-30JA antenna replaced the old GE. This allowed WLIO to raise its power to 661,000 watts. This antenna was built by the RCA team, and I personally went to Marlboro NJ to the test range to "tweak" the performance of the antenna.
One of the things it also did well was throw signal over the horizon, instead of up in the sky, or "to the moon", as my predecessor Maurie Lamb would say.
For the first three months we handled well over 100 complaints from people getting WLIO on two or three places on the dial as the signal was so strong it would overload antennas, and especially the cheaper "boosters" that people liked to use. WLIO's coverage more than doubled with the antenna change.
Now it's April, and in a few months we'll kiss the old RCA transmitter good bye. The only task will be to get it taken apart, salvage what good metal we can, and take the remainder to the junkman.
But out of the ashes rises the Phoenix.
When Block Communication purchased the low power stations, we got three analog stations, WOHL channel 25, WLQP channel 18, and WLMO channel 38.
The plans are to move the programming of WOHL, (which has the Fox network), to the 8.2 channel of our digital station, WLIO-DT. This will increase viewing from the present one county, to eleven counties, as well as allows people to see the Fox programming in HD. NBC will be 8.1, and Fox 8.2. But in this move, WOHL becomes an orphan. No programming will be available.
What we plan to do, once WLIO analog is cleaned out and gone, is to move WOHL to channel 35, then flip it to digital. This new station will have the call sign of WOHL-CA Channel 35, and will be 9,000 watts E.R.P.
The power is the maximum allowed due to interference issues with CBET channel 35 (digital) in Windsor, Ontario. The reason this will be an issue is because we will be using the big, 50-foot tall RCA TFU-30JA pylon antenna, formally used by WLIO analog. This antenna as plenty of gain and a good beam (-5 degree beam tilt) over West Central Ohio.
The new channel 35 will then become the home of ABC and CBS in HD. As soon as WOHL channel 35 digital comes on the air, we will then start to phase out WLQP-18 and WLMO-38 as analog stations. What will happen with them? Well, that a story for another day. 
For those of you that notice the construction on the east side of the property, a small 30 x 28 foot building is being put up for the new channel 35 digital transmitter. The building will also hold the satellite uplinks for one of the dish TV providers, which should start providing the Lima stations, ABC, CBS, NBC, & Fox on the satellite in a few months. And it will house the repeaters for the local amateur radio club, as well as WLIO's news repeaters.
If you want to see some great pictures from WLIO, WIMA, and WLOK's early years, click on the RELATED LINK below and see some of the great pictures posted by master control operator, Dennis Lamb.
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( 2.9 / 209 )HAUPPAUGE COMPUTER WORKS, INC.
Notified Hauppauge Computer Works, Inc. of its apparent liability for a forfeiture in the amount of $175,000 for shipping TV receiving devices that do not contain digital television reception capability. Action by: the Commission. Adopted: 04/14/2009 by NALF. (FCC No. 09-34). EB
Click Related Link for FCC Release
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( 3 / 158 )Several recent stories have been published in engineering publications asking if there are any converters that have HD outputs. The short answer is; yes there are. BUT... they don't qualify under the coupon program, or do they?
DTV CONVERTER BOXES WITH HD OUTPUTS
In reply to Bob Malsbury's quest for DTV converter boxes with HD outputs, the following letters were received:
o There are a few tuners that have HD outputs,
such as HDMI.
Though a couple of years old now, one such
box is the Samsung DTB-H260F. To be
government coupon eligible, converter boxes
cannot have HD outputs, only SD. This is
because the gvrnmnt subsidy is intended for
existing/older analog TVs only (which
presumably are not HD).
- Name withheld upon request
o Try the Samsung HD tuners at Bust Buy.
They have HDMI and analog video outputs.
- Name withheld, Los Angeles engineer.
o I have a Coby TV convertor which has
component output as well as the usual
composite. As I recall, it might have
cost about $50....
- Red Blanchard, redblanchard (at) sbcglobal.net
(VIA: CGC Communicator Magazine)
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( 2.9 / 171 )Here is the official release.
NTIA Release
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( 3 / 179 )In case you haven't seen this, NTIA is officially accepting applications for replacement coupons. At text version of the NTIA notice follows this message. The notice can be found on the NTIA site at:
https://www.dtv2009.gov/CouponProgramUpdate.aspx
Coupon Program Update
There are several improvements to the TV Converter Box Coupon Program that will help consumers prepare for the shut off of analog broadcasts by June 12, 2009. These changes are a result of the DTV Delay Act and made possible through funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009.
The following program updates are effective immediately:
· Applications for Replacement Coupons. The Coupon Program is now accepting applications from consumers whose coupons expired without being redeemed. The Coupon Program limits each U.S. household to a total of two redeemed coupons.
Therefore, if you have redeemed one coupon toward the purchase of a TV converter box and the other has expired, you may request and be approved for one replacement coupon; if you have redeemed two coupons you will not be approved for additional coupons. Replacement coupons will only be issued to eligible households upon request. Consumers who wish to apply for a replacement coupon can do so online, by calling 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), mailing an application to PO Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208 or faxing it to 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632). Deaf or hard of hearing callers may use 1-877-530-2634 (TTY).
· Coupon Waiting List and Distribution. The Coupon Program has completed processing approved coupon applications that were placed on a waiting list beginning in January 2009. Consumers who had been notified they were approved for coupons but placed on a waiting list due to a lack of program funds will be issued coupons. (Consumers may use the automatically-generated reference number they received at the time of application to check the status of their request on this Web site.)
Consumers who apply for a coupon and are approved after the waiting list is eliminated will be handled on a first-come, first -served basis, while supplies last. If the Program experiences high demand, it may be necessary for the Coupon Program to once again place applicants on a waiting list. Should this happen we may distribute coupons to over-the-air only households first to ensure as many U.S. households as possible have at least one working television after their local TV stations complete the transition to digital by June 12, 2009.
· Requested Coupons Mailed via First-Class Mail. The TV Converter Box Coupon Program is mailing coupons via first-class mail. Consumers will receive coupons more quickly.
· Application Deadline. Consumers should act now to prepare for the end of analog broadcasts in their local viewing area. The Program will accept coupon applications until July 31, 2009, if funds are available to fill those requests.
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( 3 / 178 )This article is from the Portland Press Herald newspaper. Some people are experiencing problems like this in Ohio.
Problems never before seen on TV make some viewers wonder whether the conversion really was for the better.
By RAY ROUTHIER, Staff Writer - March 20, 2009
Throughout the seemingly endless buildup to this year's mandatory conversion to digital television, viewers with cable or satellite service were told they wouldn't have to do a thing to get a picture on their TV sets.
That has turned out to be true they can indeed get a picture.
They just might not be able to see anything beyond a bunch of pixels. Or hear the sound properly. Or see the entire picture.
People across southern Maine have had a myriad of signal problems since all of Portland's TV stations began using digital equipment earlier this year. The most common problem is bad sound synchronization, meaning the picture and sound don't match.
Viewers have also had cropped pictures, with images and words cut off, and pictures that freeze at any given moment.
The problems are causing many to wonder whether digital really is better than old-fashioned analog, as the TV and electronics industries have been saying since the move to all-digital was announced in the 1990s.
"I've gotten used to the lip-syncing problem I just pretend it's a Japanese movie," said Michael Whittaker of Portland, who works for the Portland Public Library. "But the cropping, the cutting off of information, drives me crazy. I was watching (a documentary on the Maine Public Broadcasting Network), and there were these talking heads with their names and professions written underneath, but I couldn't read them."
Of course, to notice picture problems, you first have to get a picture. Many Mainers who get TV reception over the air found out earlier this year that digital signals are more sensitive to terrain, obstacles and other interference. Many who got reception with analog cannot get a picture at all with digital.
Five of Portland's seven TV stations were broadcasting via digital exclusively by Feb. 17, the original deadline for the digital conversion mandated by Congress.
The deadline has since been extended to June 12, and two of Portland's stations WCSH (NBC) and WMTW (ABC) are sending out both digital and analog signals. They send digital signals to cable and satellite companies.
Congress first told broadcasters that they would have to switch to digital technology in 1996, the stated reason being that the government wanted to make more room on the airwaves for emergency frequencies, wireless service providers and whatever the next over-the-air gizmo would be.
In January 2008, the Federal Communications Commission auctioned off the freed-up space on the airwaves for more than $19 billion. The money was earmarked to pay for $40 coupons that are used by consumers to buy digital converter boxes.
Of the problems that cable and satellite subscribers have experienced since the digital switch, the sync problem seems to be the most common and most unexpected.
The problem has come up around the country and is the focus of much attention from broadcasters, said Lynn Claudy, vice president of science and technology for the National Association of Broadcasters.
"Theoretically, this shouldn't be an issue. It's one of the great unanticipated consequences of going digital," said Gil Maxwell, senior vice president and chief technology officer for MPBN. "Some devices, set-top boxes and others, don't have enough storage (to sync the audio and video). This technology is really in its infancy right now."
The main problem, in broad terms, starts with the fact that a digital signal carries both audio and video in one stream of information, Maxwell said. With analog, audio and video were sent by two signals.
A digital signal typically travels from a content provider, like PBS, by satellite feed to a broadcaster, like MPBN, then over a fiber cable to a cable system, like Time Warner, then over more cable to a home.
All along the way, the audio information in the stream travels faster than the video, so at every stopping point the audio and video must be synchronized. Thus, at every stopping point, there is the potential for the two to be out of sync.
"There is (digital) equipment that will help, but it's not mature yet, and it's very expensive," said Dave Mundee, director of technology for WCSH. "Gradually, as more equipment becomes available, this should go away."
At WCSH, many of the sync problems have been with programming produced in the station's studio using satellite feeds, Mundee said. But news reports recorded in the field don't seem to present a problem, nor does the NBC programming that WCSH airs.
At MPBN, Maxwell said, the problem often occurs in national PBS programming, such as "Nightly Business Report" or various prime-time documentaries.
The cropping issue, seen by viewers of MPBN in the past month or so, should not continue, Maxwell said.
One problem was that when a program came to MPBN in a certain screen size and format say, high definition MPBN engineers sometimes had to change the size and format depending on the cable or satellite service to which it was being sent. In some cases, MPBN's staff forgot to make the changes.
Also, in the past few months, Time Warner Cable has had to make changes to MPBN's digital feed because of problems that Time Warner was having with offering closed-captioning. Those changes sometimes caused cropping problems as well.
"It was basically an isolated issue with MPBN, and it was really an issue on our end because of a technical issue with closed captioning," said Peter DeWitt, a Time Warner spokesman based in Portland. "(The issue) has been resolved, and I don't believe there will be an issue again."
Pixelating when the picture breaks down into a bunch of color blocks, rendering the image unrecognizable and freezing of pictures, while related to digital technology, is not really a new phenomenon.
With analog signals, over the air or through a cable, occurrences such as weak signal strength, inclement weather, loose connections and interference could cause a fuzzy picture.
When the same things happen to a digital signal, the result is pixelating or freezing. Loose connections between cables and devices can sometimes cause the problem, DeWitt said.
So if you're a cable or satellite subscriber, the best thing to do is call your provider, describe the problem, and see if they can help you.
WMTW President Ken Bauder has received complaints from viewers who are Comcast cable subscribers in the Freeport-Brunswick area about pixelating and freezing pictures, and said his engineers are working with Comcast to correct the problem.
Comcast spokesman Marc Goodman confirmed that his company is working "with local stations" to "provide the best possible signal."
But most viewers simply want their picture to be as good as it used to be with analog.
"(Audio synchronization) was the topic of conversation at my house for a while. My son and wife noticed it first, and I thought they were a little loopy. But then I noticed it, too," said Dan Routh of North Yarmouth, creative director for Burgess Advertising in Portland.
"It's just annoying."
______
Staff Writer Ray Routhier can be contacted at 791-6454 or at:
rrouthier ((at)) pressherald ((dot)) com
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( 3 / 182 )DTV Date Not Moving, Hutchison Tells Locke
Texas senator tells presumptice Commerce Secretary that June 12 will remain DTV hard date
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/18/2009 3:01:04 PM MT
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) wanted to make sure that presumptive Commerce Secretary, former Washington Governor Gary Locke, is clear that the new DTV hard date of June 12 is not moving.
In her opening statement Wednesday in Locke's nomination hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee, Hutchinson put a fine point on it: "We cannot extend that deadline again. The NTIA has been given additional funding and the number of consumers on the waitlist to receive coupons has diminished, but there are still many out there and I will certainly want to see how you plan to run the NTIA to assure that DTV is ready to transition in June."
Hutchison teamed with Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WVA) on the compromise bill that moved the DTV date.
Locke will not only inherit the DTV-to-analog converter box coupon program if he is confirmed, but he will also get to jump into the middle of the broadband stimulus grant program process. NTIA and the Ag Department are charged with handing out $7.2 billion in broadband stimulus money.
The Committee did not vote on Locke's nomination, giving the Senators the rest of the day to submit more questions. According to a source, the plan Thursday is to hold an off-the-floor markup. That is when the committee members are polled as they come off the floor, and if nobody objects, the nomination is approved.
It will then be up to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to schedule a full-Senate vote, but committee approval likely spells confirmation.
If Locke is confirmed, he would be in charge of, among other things, the National Telecommunications & Information Administration, the White House's chief telecom policy adviser. NTIA is currently overseeing the DTV-to-analog converter box coupon program, whose waiting list for those coupons helped prompt the Obama administration to call for moving the DTV transition date.
It is also preparing to hand out billions in broadband stimulus money and help the FCC come up with a grand plan for getting broadband to every home in America.
IF has been the watchword with proposed Commerce Secretary nominees to date. Locke is the Obama administration's third attempt to seat a new Commerce Secretary after Republican Senator Judd Gregg (New Hampshire) withdrew his nomination citing differences with the administration over moving some of the census responsibilities out of Commerce and over the stimulus package.
Gregg was a replacement for former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who also withdrew his name due to an investigation of a private company's dealings with the state government, specifically how political donors won a state contract.
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