By KIRK BAIRD, THE TOLEDO BLADE STAFF WRITER
(note: WLIO Television is owned by BCI/The Toledo Blade)
For months, Mike Wilkinson and his family of six have enjoyed digital television, including an improved picture and sound that made their 20-year-old TVs seem new again.
So when the Friday morning deadline of the analog-to-digital changeover approached, the 45-year-old Old Orchard resident wasn't worried.
"I had no fear. I had the [converter] box and nothing was going to change," Mr. Wilkinson said.
That's why he and hundreds, possibly even thousands, of others were surprised to discover reception of two local channels - WTOL-TV, Channel 11, and WTVG-TV, Channel 13 - missing.
Mr. Wilkinson tried everything he could to pick up the broadcasts of 11 and 13, including rescanning for the network affiliates' signals several times, and buying more expensive indoor antennas.
Nothing worked.
That's because the reception problems aren't with his antenna or converter box. They're not even with his TV.
The trouble, say chief engineers at WTOL-TV, Channel 11, and WTVG-TV, Channel 13, is with the stations' power levels.
Prior to the Friday digital transmission changeover, Channel 11 broadcast its analog VHF signal at 316,000 watts, and its digital UHF signal on channel 17 at 735,000 watts. Channel 13 broadcast at 316,000 watts for its VHF analog signal and 795,000 watts at its digital UHF channel 19.
Both stations were using the UHF channels as temporary placeholders for their digital signals, while the stations' analog signals occupied their home channels, 11 and 13. Once analog transmissions ended nationwide, WTOL and WTVG moved their digital signals to 11 and 13.
Because the FCC limits the strength of digital transmissions to prevent interference with neighboring stations, Channel 11's VHF digital signal is now 16,900 watts, and Channel 13's is 11,200 watts, which is up from the 3,500 watts the FCC originally granted. WNWO-TV, Channel 24, and WUPW-TV, Channel 36, are UHF stations, and did not have to downgrade their broadcast power.
The limited transmission power of WTOL and WTVG, coupled with the digital signal's biggest weakness - an inability to travel long distances, which is analog's strength - has made reception of the two stations impossible for some area viewers who rely on over-the-air antennas. Cable and satellite subscribers are not affected.
Buildings, aluminum siding, the lack of windows, trees, cars, trains, and even wind can all negatively affect reception of digital signals.
With analog, though, the broadcast had "the brute force" necessary to overcome those obstacles, said Barry Gries, chief engineer at WTVG.
"[But with digital,] there's no brute force today," Mr. Gries said.
Viewers who no longer receive the WTOL and WTVG broadcasts not only have lost local and network programming, but are also without the Emergency Alert System, which notifies residents when to take shelter in case of tornadoes, or alerts them to parts of the city are experiencing flooding.
But it's not just viewers who are suffering.
The loss of station reception has meant a decrease in viewership for Channels 11 and 13.
"We've lost a lot of viewers," said Steve Crum, WTOL chief engineer. "Especially for people in the further reaches, or basements or apartments with no windows - they need more power for the signals to penetrate the walls."
Meanwhile, those who bought digital-ready TVs and are using over-the-air antennas are returning to retail stores and asking what's wrong with their sets.
"They're very frustrated, but very patient up to his point. I don't how long that will last," said Kenny Wanemacher, warehouse manager at Appliance Center of Toledo Inc. "We had no idea what was going on. We called the [stations'] hot line and they told us, 'It's not you guys. We're still having broadcast issues.'•"
To address these concerns, Channel 13 will upgrade its signal in the next two to three weeks to 14,600 watts, an amplification that will provide a limited boost to the reception of some viewers.
Meanwhile, networks and affiliate owners nationwide are in discussions with the FCC about increasing the signal strength by as much as double that of current broadcasts, which would take Channel 11 and 13 each past 30,000 watts of transmission power.
"That would be the best scenario we can hope for," Mr. Gries said. "Will it fix everything? No. But it should make things better.
"All the VHF broadcasters across the country are suffering," he added. "All the viewers are suffering. We're all suffering."
Mr. Gries recommended viewers call the FCC DTV hotline, 1-888-225-5322, to voice concern over their loss of channel reception.
Until then, the solution for many area residents will require an additional expense: subscribe to cable or satellite, or install a rooftop antenna, a choice Mr. Wilkinson isn't happy with.
"It seems nonsensical that with the box [setup] I was fine, and after the deadline I have these stations that are no longer accessible on my TV," he said. "Nothing changed. I didn't move. The antennas didn't break. The only thing that changed was their power."
Contact Kirk Baird at:
kbaird (at) theblade (dot) com
or 419-724-6734.
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( 3 / 115 )...more on the DTV switch...Peter Svensson at the Associated Press reports:
The shutdown of U.S. analog TV service on Friday appears to have gone relatively smoothly, but as expected, a lot of viewers are having problems getting the stations they want. The problems have ensnared even the technologically sophisticated. (more)
Wally Grotophorst in Hamilton, Va., got a "digital" antenna for his digital TV last year. But on Friday, he lost the Washington-based ABC and CBS stations, channels 7 and 9, which he could pick up digitally before the transition.
That's because those stations, like dozens of others, switched their digital signals from the UHF frequency band to the VHF band as they cut their analog signals Friday. But Grotophorst's antenna, like many others branded as "digital" and sold over the past few years, was designed only for UHF stations. Nearly all TV stations were using the UHF band for the digital broadcasts until Friday.
"This moving down to the VHF spectrum was news. The stations didn't advertise the fact," Grotophorst said.
He's now regretting that he recycled his old rooftop VHF antenna.
"The station did warn viewers about this change but not everyone got the word," said Bill Lord, vice president of news at ABC7. "The station has made the switch and there is no going back."
Read More
...in Philadelphia: FCC steps in to fix Phila. digital TV problems...Bob Fernandez at the Inquirer reports:
Faced with angry viewers throughout the Philadelphia area, the federal agency that regulates television stations says it will send extra staffers here to help people make the switch to digital TV and measure digital-TV signals.
Thousands of over-the-air viewers have lost reception of market-leading 6ABC and WHYY, the public-television station, since Friday's nationwide switch from analog TV signals to digital signals.
The Federal Communications Commission acknowledged that these people also lost access to Oprah, their afternoon soaps, and other favorite TV shows.
"We are looking at all available options to resolve these issues. We will act quickly, but thoughtfully," FCC acting chairman Michael J. Copps said yesterday in a statement.
The FCC will focus resources on similar problems with the digital transition in New York and Chicago, spokesman Mark Wigfield said.
Read More
...and from Boston: Channel 7 has a rocky transition...Hiawatha Bray at the Boston Globe reports:
While thousands of television viewers struggled with the changeover to digital television broadcasting, a major Boston TV station found that it wasn't ready either.
The digital signal from local NBC affiliate WHDH, which broadcasts on Channel 7, isn't strong enough to reach many homes in Greater Boston. So WHDH has begun "simulcasting" its signal on Channel 42 as well as Channel 7.
"We are very sorry for the inconvenience to our viewers and we hope to have this resolved quickly," said WHDH general manager Chris Wayland.
Like most major TV stations in the US, WHDH has been broadcasting a digital signal for months. But it had been using Channel 42 for its digital signal and Channel 7 for the traditional analog signal.
Once analog broadcasts ended last Friday, WHDH planned to stop using Channel 42 and do its digital broadcasting on Channel 7. But they found that the Channel 7 transmitter isn't powerful enough to deliver a clear picture throughout the Boston area.
WHDH has asked the Federal Communications Commission for the right to boost its signal strength, but this process could require weeks of testing to ensure that a more powerful signal won't interfere with other broadcasters.
Read More
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( 2.9 / 120 )Call Center Receives Over 900,000 Calls In Days Surrounding Transition
Washington, D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission’s consumer help line for the digital television (DTV) transition has received over 900,000 calls since last Monday regarding the switch by full-power television stations to all-digital broadcasts on June 12. By Sunday, however, call volumes had declined.
Calls to1-888-CALL-FCC seeking assistance peaked Friday with 317,450 calls, followed by 145,403 calls on Saturday and 62,949 calls on Sunday. About 28 percent of callers who talked with an FCC agent Sunday sought help setting up digital converters boxes for analog TVs, while nearly 26 percent reported difficulty receiving a specific station, and another 23 percent needed help resolving broader reception issues. The FCC’s call center also transferred over 235,000 calls requesting information about the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s converter box coupon program to that agency’s call center.
“The FCC is in the midst – not the end – of the DTV transition,” said FCC Acting Chairman Michael Copps. “Our call center remains open, our teams are in the field, and our web site, www.dtv.gov, is updated to reflect the kinds of problems viewers are having.
“This was never going to be an easy transition, as I have said many times,” Copps added. “It appears to have worked well for the majority of over-the-air viewers, but for those who are experiencing a less-satisfactory outcome, we are committed to staying on the job to help.”
Consumers in some markets appeared to have difficulty when digital converter boxes that had been programmed, or “scanned,” with channel locations before the June 12 transition did not properly update channel locations after the transition, despite being re-scanned. The FCC today is issuing a separate consumer advisory providing tips on rescanning and antenna placement.
While many markets reported few problems, the FCC is examining reports of signal loss by viewers of certain stations in several markets, including Chicago, Philadelphia and New York. Commission experts discussed issues with individual stations in the markets, and bolstered field staff in these and other markets where problems were reported. Staff continued to help consumers apply for the coupons program, hook up converter boxes, and help them understand scanning, rescanning and antenna issues.
Supplies of converter boxes and antennas continued to be adequate, according to reports to the FCC from retailers. While some stores may be out of or awaiting shipments, other stores in the same markets had boxes available; both antennas and converter boxes were available from on-line retailers.
Consumers continued to request free, in-home installation of converter boxes provided by FCC contractors. Other well-utilized resources include the FCC’s DTV web site, www.dtv.gov, which received over 3.5 million page views from June 6-14.
from press release;
NEWS MEDIA CONTACT
Rick Kaplan, 202-418-1728
Email: rick.kaplan@fcc.gov
Mark Wigfield, 202-418-0253
Email: mark.wigfield@fcc.gov
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( 3 / 102 )Just a few observations... I've been following the postings in some of the SBE lists and engineering forums. Close to home, the Toledo market seems to be struggling.
Our engineering department is finding a couple of interesting things. First, rabbit ear antennas just do not work! I can't stress this more.
Of all the complaints, 95% of the people who have rabbit ears are not getting all or none of the stations in their DMA.
This also includes these "pancake antennas" that are typically used on motor homes, but have been deployed in residential use.
For people with actual outside DTV antennas, I'm finding that antenna aiming is becoming more and more crucial. In some cases, while a 40-80 degree window off the front of the antenna was sufficient for analog, the antenna must be placed within 10-20 degrees on most DTV stations.
I can actually see this with a monitor, observing the BER while rotating the antenna. VHF seems more forgiving. With the signal arriving at different time domains, the receiver is not locking up properly.
For the public, the signal meter can be worthless. While it's commonly thought that more is better, the integrity and purity of the digital signal is MORE important. Set manufacturers would have done us all a favor by implementing a meter system based on signal and integrity. Perhaps monitoring error rates or SNR.
I also find that antennas with higher F/B ratios and reduction on the sides are better than smaller antennas offering non-directional reception.
In short, cheap antennas are resulting in most of the loss of DTV service. Almost all the outside antenna issues I have dealt with involve the cheapest antenna, with the least performance.
Amplifiers are also a contributing issue, especially when a user within a high RF field, (close proximity to a DTV station). Case in point; a fellow here in Lima had a cheap broadband amplifier. He could not see Toledo or Fort Wayne stations (although he had seen them in analog).
When the amplifier was bypassed, he started to receive his local stations. When the cheap antenna was replaced with a AntennaCraft Y10-7-13 (VHF), and a AntennaDirect DB8, the Toledo stations all came in fine.
I took the offending amp, and did some tests on it. I found that while analog signals would cause some IM distortion in the amplifier, a moderately strong DTV signal would cause severe problems. Using our channel 8 signal as a test, I noted an increase in noise and distortion up to 500 MHz.
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( 3 / 145 )YouTube Videos....
WLIO Channel 35 - Lima OH
WFAA Channel 8 - Dallas TX
KFOR Channel 4 - Oklahoma City, OK
WSB Channel 2 - Atlanta GA
WCPO Channel 9 - Cincinnati OH
WSRE Channel 23 - Pensacola FL
WNDU Channel 16 - South Bend IN
WWLP Channel 22 - Springfield MA
WMTV Channel 15 - Madison WI
WDEF Channel 12 - Chattanooga TN
More videos on YouTube if you search around.
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( 2.9 / 140 )I expected to have a low number of calls, and that's the way it's been for most of the morning. So what are people asking about? Here's the short list.
1). I have a converter box. How does that hook up?
The answer is with the instructions, but basically the antenna connects to the converter, and then you run a video wire, and two audio wires to the "line in" of your TV.
2). I got the converter box, but I still can't get you.
The answer here was that the viewer installed the box, but didn't scan for channels. The box must "look" for channels in the area.
In one case a viewer had the box, but had nothing connected to the antenna input. The box must have an antenna connected to it, and the antenna must be VHF to pick up WLIO digital.
3). I can't get you no matter what I do.
After investigation it was found that the viewer lived in St. Marys, and was trying to watch WLIO channel 8 on a UHF antenna. To get WLIO digital, you need to have a VHF antenna. But don't throw away the UHF antenna. In August a new channel 35 will be born. If you want to get ABC and CBS in HD digital, you will need a UHF antenna.
4). I can't get WLIO on my dish system and Dish says that it's your fault.
Not true. Your dish system passes the over the air signal through the box to your TV If the dish signal is receiving the signal, it must receive digital channel 8, and have a VHF antenna connected to it. WLIO has granted dish retransmission, but they have not hooked up the equipment, yet.
If the dish box does not decode a digital over-the-air signal, then your TV must decode it. So it's not WLIO's fault for your loss of signal.
5). Are you on the air? We can't get your digital in Harrod.
After talking with the viewer, they are using Rabbit Ears to try to pick up our signal. To be blunt, Rabbit Ears are very poor antennas. They were suppose to be the magic bullet, but in 90% of the cases they fail. If you are getting signals on Rabbit Ears, count your blessings. But most people can't get them to work, or they work and then loose the signal.
If you have a problem with DTV reception, you can call us or call 1-888-Call-FCC. Here are the facts.....
- We are on the air in high power. (27,500 watts)
- We are on Channel 8 in digital. Channel 35 is off the air.
- Our signal travels from B.G. to Sidney, and from Marion to Ft. Wayne. If you are inside this area and can't get us, check your antenna.
- You should have an antenna for reception, and it should be VHF or a UHF/UHF combo antenna. Rabbit Ears don't work!
- If you had us before, and not now, re-scan your channels or check your antenna. You should have an antenna.
- If you are a satellite dish customer, we have granted full use of our signal to both companies, regardless of what they tell you.
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( 3 / 137 )News reports from around the nation....
Digital TV transition expected to run much more smoothly...Jim Puzzanghera and Meg James at the Los Angles Times report:
By delaying the conversion date by four months and boosting funds for outreach efforts, federal officials, broadcasters and experts say Friday's switch should be a non-event for most Americans.
Federal officials and broadcasters are hoping that today's switch to all-digital broadcast television for stations in Los Angeles and around the country will run as smoothly as a scripted sitcom and not turn into the ultimate reality-TV mess.
The odds of an orderly transition have improved, they said, because of a four-month delay pushed by the Obama administration at the beginning of the year.
"We are in much better shape," said Joel Kelsey, a policy analyst for Consumers Union.
Fearful of a backlash from nearly 6 million unprepared Americans who stood to lose their broadcast TV signals, President Obama and Congress put off the long-planned digital transition scheduled for Feb. 17 until today for most of the country.
They also poured an additional $650 million into the switch, including reducing a backlog of 4 million requests for $40 government coupons to subsidize the purchase of special digital converter boxes so that older televisions could receive the new signals.
And the Obama administration made a smooth transition a priority, a major shift from what critics said was an underfunded and disorganized effort by the Bush administration.
Broadcasters also have continued their outreach efforts, trying to avoid losing precious viewers. In Los Angeles, Univision's Spanish-language KMEX-TV Channel 34 dispatched teams of employees and volunteers called the Escuadron Digital, or Digital Squad, to senior centers to educate older viewers. Walt Disney Co.'s KABC-TV Channel 7 has been beaming an electronic message warning of today's transition from analog to digital television on its towering sign off the Golden State Freeway. (more)
From Houston: Viewers' options grow as TV stations complete switch...David Barron at the Houston Chronicle reports:
As Houston viewers wire up rabbit-ear antennas to noncable- or nonsatellite-equipped TVs in anticipation of today's switch to digital transmission, they'll find that their viewing options have multiplied like, well, rabbits.
When all of Houston's full-powered TV stations complete the switch to digital, viewers who do not have cable or satellite can choose from more than 40 channel offerings, including the traditional over-the-air networks (ABC, CBS, CW, Fox, MyNetworkTV. NBC, PBS, Telemundo and Univision), plus religion, lifestyle and entertainment channels in English and Spanish. (more)
From Memphis and the Commercial Appeal: Digital TV transition is complete
"We're optimistic that it's going to go well, but there's no doubt that it's a significant moment in broadcast television," said Lee Meredith, vice president and general manager of WMC. "It's not like the switch from black and white to color, because you didn't have to do anything special back then. If you had a set, you could see the picture."
Ron Walter, WREG president and general manager, agreed.
"This is the biggest thing to happen in broadcast television in my career," Walter said. "There hasn't been an impact like this in generations." (more)
From Baltimore and Chris Kaltenbach at the Sun: Most area televisions ready for digital switch
"We think Baltimore is fairly ready," says Wanda Q. Draper, director of programming and public affairs for WBAL, Channel 11, "although there may be some homes where one set is not ready."
"We really don't know what to expect," said Jay Newman, vice president and general manager of WJZ, Channel 13. "We know a lot of people are ready to go, we know that people are aware of the switch. What we don't know is whether there will be a lot of questions."
From Jackson, Mississippi and Jeff Ayres at the Clarion Ledger: Area television stations convert signals
"We've done everything possible to put (the switch) across," WLBT-Channel 3 general manager Dan Modisett said. "The people who haven't done it until now (likely) aren't going to do anything" until the deadline has passed.
Final DTV transition is relief for some businesses
from Peter Svensson at the Associated Press:
It's not just TV viewers who will be relieved when analog broadcast signals are shut down Friday, sparing them from incessant reminders about converter boxes. Some business are eagerly awaiting the end of a process that began in 1987, when the shift to digital broadcasts was proposed.
"We're really excited that this is finally behind us," said Bill Stone, president of Qualcomm Inc.'s FLO TV service.
FLO TV, which broadcasts digital TV to specially equipped cell phones, spent $558 million two years ago for the rights to use UHF Channel 55 around the country. Qualcomm counted on being able to use that frequency right after Feb. 17, when U.S. full-power TV stations were originally slated to end their analog broadcasts. (more)
Joshua Molina at HispanicBusiness.com:
Hispanics, Blacks, Least Prepared for Digital TV Conversion
People in nearly three million American homes will lose their ability to watch television on Friday, according to a report put out by Nielsen Media Research.
The highly anticipated switch to digital television occurs tomorrow. About 2.5 percent of the television market is not prepared for the conversion, according to Nielsen.
About 5.1 percent of black homes are not prepared to make switch, while about 4.3 Hispanic homes are ill-prepared. (more)
Nielsen's Most Unprepared TV Market Faces Digital Transition Friday
At 4:30 a.m. local time on Friday, viewers of KOAT-TV in New Mexico who are unprepared for the transition to digital television may end up looking at a blank screen. Then again, they may not. (Either way, they should probably go to bed.)
Nielsen Co. recently estimated that 2.8 million homes nationwide are unprepared for the transition to digital-only television. Out of the 56 largest Nielsen markets, the Albuquerque-Santa Fe market topped the list, with 7.6 percent of households there not yet ready. (more)
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( 3 / 115 )Tomorrow morning (Friday, June 12, @ 6:58AM) I press the switch to turn off Channel 35 for the last time.
If you have the ability to record off an antenna the final moments of WLIO channel 35, send me a video tape and I'll send you back a memento of Channel 35.
Video files should be sent on DVD or Mpeg2/AVI files on CD.
Frederick R. Vobbe, VP/CE
WLIO Television
1424 Rice Avenue
Lima OH 45805-1835 USA
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( 3 / 117 )Ready for DTV?
The Toledo Blade - June 11, 2009
Click on Related Link below for original story
BELIEVE it or not, some people will be surprised when they turn on their analog TVs tomorrow and find a blank screen instead of their favorite show.
According to industry estimates, some 2.1 million households nationally aren’t ready for the switch to digital broadcasting. Between 4 percent and 8 percent of households in the Toledo market are among that number.
Some will do Homer Simpson impersonations: exclaim “Doh!” and slap their foreheads because they never bought a digital TV, put off getting a converter box, procrastinated about switching to cable or satellite, or forgot when the changeover to DTV was occurring. Others, remarkably, simply won’t believe that if they do nothing, nothing is what they will see on their television screens.
There also will be the people who bought a converter box but haven’t figured out how to install it. And there will be some who don’t have a cable or satellite provider but do have converter boxes or digital TVs. They will have to rescan for channels because the signals for WTOL-TV, Channel 11, and WTVG-TV, Channel 13, will move from 17 and 19, respectively, to 11 and 13.
Fortunately for all of us, WTOL and WTVG, as well as WNWO-TV, Channel 24, and WUPW-TV, Channel 36, will have people manning phones all day tomorrow to help technologically challenged viewers.
Some of those calls will be from people who expected to receive digital-quality sound and picture on their analog TVs after the switch. That won’t happen. Only a digital TV can display digital signals in their true glory.
The change to DTV was scheduled originally for Feb. 17. It was put off four months to give people more time to switch. For some people, no amount of time would be enough.
But ready or not, DTV is here to stay.
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( 2.9 / 122 )We've heard that DISH is now planning to launch the Lima market sometime towards the end of July.
The date is contingent on factors such as fiber interconnection, satellite configurations, and of course the contracts between the station and the carrier. For the record, "WLIO is asking for carriage only, and is excited about being provided as a local service."
However, the rumor I have heard is that this will be SD only, and not HD.
We'll all have to sit back and wait and see what happens.
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( 2.9 / 153 )
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