WLIO-DT transmits on Channel 8, over the air, which is different from cable channel 8.
To view WLIO-DT "over the air" your television must be digital TV receiver. You may possibly need an antenna.
Are you on Satellite TV
Although both satellite services promised to put us up on the satellite, sadly, nether have followed through.
Your satellite company is responsible for providing your LOCAL channels to you. When you purchase a satellite service, don't get talked into taking and NBC, CW, or WeatherPlus signal from another community.
Are you on Cable TV?
WLIO-DT is on many cable companies in the area. See the Digital Cable List for details. If your cable company does not carry one of our stations, ask them to do so, or ask that they provide a way for you to view it.
What are Sub Channels?
A digital TV station can transmit up to four subchannels. In WLIO-DT's case, this is 8.2, 8.3, etc.
Some stations, WBGU-DT, transmit up to four channels.
Can I get WLIO's digital station on my normal TV?
No, except if you get a converter box.
If you don't want to purchase a digital television set, you can buy a desktop converter box, or a digital computer card in your computer. A Google search for "Samsung SIRT451" will show you one of these converter boxes.
The converter box is connected to an outside antenna. It receives the digital signal over the air. On the back of the box is connections for video and audio out, S-connector, DVI, and even a 15-pin VGA connection. (You can use a good quality VGA monitor, and a pair of computer speakers, and have a real good digital TV!) The Sam Sung SIR-T451 retails for between $220 and $300 depending if you are buying it via mail order or at a dealer.
Other converters are the Samsung SIR-T150, Directv HR10-250 DTV Receiver, Hughes HR10-250 DirecTV / TiVo, JVC BR-HD50U, and the Samsung SIR-TS360 DirecTV DTV that retails for $180.
What about the FREE converter box?
Consumers can apply for a DTV-to-analog converter box coupon starting January 2008, [u]but[/u] the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will not start handing them out until six weeks later, starting February 17, 2008!
If that date sounds familiar, it is one year before the February 17, 2009 switch to digital. If it doesn't sound familiar, the NTIA and others have their DTV transition education work cut out for them.
According to Acting NTIA head, Meredith Baker, "over 14,000 brick-and-mortar stores had been certified to sell the boxes, including Best Buy, Circuit City, K-Mart, Sam's Club, Wal-Mart, Sears, Radio Shack, and Target."
Baker also said she thought the program had enough money to provide coupons to everyone who asked for one.
My advice? If you want a free box, act as quickly as possible. Otherwise, get a new TV, or purchase a converter. I think it will be a hassle, and some people will not be able to get them because of the "red tape" involved. It might be best to just buy one, or switch to a digital television.
But somewhat curiously for a DTV transition, the NTIA has changed the name of the program to the "TV Converter Box Coupon Program", saying that as a result of 17 focus groups studies, NTIA concluded that DTV could be confusing to analog viewers who just thought of it as TV.
"Unfortunately", Baker said, "It was going to have to stick with DTV in its web site http://www.DTV2009.gov and in it's 888 number."
Asked whether NTIA would help senior citizens and other with installing the converters, she said that the agency was counting on trusted third party partners, like AARP, to help with that.
What is the digital computer card?
A company called Hauppauge sells a PCI card and software that goes into your computer. The card, called their WinTVD will receive over the air transmissions of digital television and allow you to view them on your computer. You can minimize the picture and tuck it up in the corner so you can continue to surf the web, or check E-mail while glancing at the program. This is not real practical for family viewing, but it's an option.
Where can I buy a digital television?
Lima has discount stores, and full service "sales and service" stores. You can purchase digital televisions via the Internet from places such as Barry Electronics or Custom Audio Concepts.
However, beware of the discount warehouses and Internet web sites. While shopping for a TV for my wife I had salesmen tell me, "WLIO is not high definition." "WLIO is broadcasting on channel 35.1". I even had the sales manager of one local discount house argue with me that WLIO didn't even have a digital station! I have also had salesman try to sell me a TV without a tuner. This is a "digital monitor", and not a digital TV. Beware!
For a digital display device to be a television, it must have an 8VSB/ATSC digital tuner!
Plasma vs LCD - The big debate
This is a debate almost explosive as your favorite football team. There are pros and cons on each.
Plasma will be more expensive, but it does turn out a better picture. LCD is cheaper, and the picture is not as bright as plasma, but ask yourself. How good is good?
In my case a 37" LCD 16-9 Maganvox beat all others hands down. This set cost me $960. It had all the inputs I wanted for the cable box, antenna, VHS machine, DVD player, and my son's Playstation. The sound is good with the speakers that it comes with.
A plasma TV looks very good, but it will not look good if sun or light is in front of the screen. This means that if you place your screen on an east wall, and the sun comes in the west windows, you may have problems.
Bigger is not better. If you have a small living room, a 70" set will not look good. For myself, 37" of HD set looks good 10 feet from the set. When I get within 4 foot of it, it looks bad and I find myself having to look right and left just to see all the scenes.
Carefully notice the light level out of a TV or monitor. Some devices produce so much light, to counteract the daytime light, that the TV may be hard to watch in a dim bedroom or den. This is especially the case with plasma displays.
When you are shopping, think before buying. Make sure it will fit in your room, and it will be comfortable to view.
Total Time = 5-min 38-sec
NBC News Story - Video news story from NBC about digital television.
What about the sound?
What do you listen to? News shows, drama, sports? Buy your sound for the programs you view.
If you only watch the WLIO News Now and MSNBC, it's silly to pay for a large sound system. It will be more than you need, and more things to dust around when cleaning your home. On the other hand, if you watch shows like Law & Order, or NBC sports shows, then get 5.1 Surround Sound.
Since my wife and I don't like loud sound, we found a small system for our TV that allow us to listen in comfort.
However, if you like the roar of the crowd, and "feel" the bump and thump of explosions and bass, then buy a system with a minimum of 300-watts with large speakers.
Why is there a funny hollow sound on our DTV?
Many of the new digital televisions have "settings" to allow the viewer to alter the sound of the broadcast. We have received plenty of calls from viewers that say their audio is hollow, (like the sound is coming through a large pipe), and echo, and even no dialog with sound effects on the left and right.
In my opinion the DTV manufacturers did a disservice to the public and broadcasters by adding these options.
The settings are usually titled "enhanced", "concert", or some other cute name. If you are watching a broadcast, the only two settings you should select is stereo if you have only two speakers, or surround if you have a true 5.1 surround system. Selecting surround when you have only two speakers will give you an odd hollow sound.
When connecting up speakers, pay attention to polarity! If you swap the wires around, you can cancel the dialog or make the audio sound real funny.
WLIO does not modify the audio in any way, nor can we control what your set does. Audio control can only be controlled by the end user, the viewer.
You mention "over the air". What does this mean?
Transmissions from WLIO are made over the air, as are most television broadcasts, (excluding pay and special services). Our transmissions are picked up by cable companies, but for some reason not by satellite dishes service.
WLIO has granted both Dish and Direct use of the WLIO-DT signal. If you are not getting them, it's because they made the decision not to provide it to you. Please contact them.
To pick up WLIO-DT, do I need an antenna?
If you are in Lima, you may be able to get away with just a simple pair of rabbit ears antennas. In most cases you need an antenna, and several miles away from Lima you may require an outside antenna.
A VHF high-band antenna is all you need to pick up WLIO-DT. To pick up other stations you may need a UHF antenna.
[u]DO NOT[/u] get a booster! While boosters will amplify the TV signal, it also amplifies noise, and other signals that interfere with DTV and analog TV signals. You get better performance out of a decent antenna mounted above local obstructions, using good coax cable.
What about the cable from the antenna to the set?
You need "F" connectors on the ends of the cable.
One end screws into a balun, or transformer that is connected to the TV antenna. The other end goes into your TV.
In some cases you may wish to attach it to a splitter, and then have multiple outputs going to several televisions or FM radios. You can purchase the cable in specific lengths, or it can be cut from a spool at a home improvement store such as Lowes (item #131658), or Home Depot (SKU #278491).
The cable should be as short as possible between the antenna and the television set, and don't forget to install a ground block where the antenna wire enters your home. This is a precaution in case your antenna is struck by lightning.
Do I need a tower?
That depends. If you want the ability to see a lot of different signals from other cities, I highly suggest a tower.
A tower is available from various TV stores. I do recommend a Rohn Model 25 tower, however. Some of the cheaper ones rust out in just a few years. Also, don't forget the rotor.
If you just want to watch WLIO-DT, then a simple dipole antenna pointed at us will work.
What can you get on an antenna on top of a tower? I get the two Lima stations, Bowling Green, Fort Wayne, and Toledo. All from a 35 foot tower and decent antenna.
What about my satellite dish system? It's digital.
Your digital satellite system may, or may not be able to receive DTV signals. You will have to check with your satellite provider.
If the set-top box can receive DTV transmissions, you will need an outside antenna. The WLIO-DT signal can not be picked up over the satellite.
If I subscribe to Cable TV, won't that solve reception problems?
Possibly, but there are no guarantees.
First of all, cable television systems do not have any mandatory carriage of digital broadcast stations. Under F.C.C. rules, cable companies are required to carry the analog signals of significantly viewed stations in the area. However, the rules don’t include digital, they don’t include HD broadcasts, and they don’t include sub channels of a digital station.
The problem will surface to cable subscribers when February 2009 comes around, and the analog stations disappear. Cable will have to do one of several things.
#1: Start to receive the digital station in place of the analog station, and then furnish that signal. This means that the cable customer will have to buy an HDTV set, or rent a converter box from the cable company.
#2: Start to receive the digital station in place of the analog station, and then convert the digital station to analog for the cable customer. This method would be great for subscribers with analog televisions, but would cheat the digital TV subscribers from having access to digital quality transmissions as well as High Definition broadcasts.
But I've been reading about a disturbing trend in cable. The cable companies have seen DTV as a way to make money. It's possible that when analog goes away, that they will place all digital stations in a proprietary portion of the cable spectrum, and that you'll have to pay them to get a box for your set to allow reception, (an additional $29.95 a month).
Can you record WLIO-DT on a VCR?
Yes and no.
You can, if you convert the digital signal to an NTSC signal and then patch it into your VCR. Most converter boxes and the Hauppauge computer card have this feature. Some of the better digital TVs out have NTSC outputs for recording. Most don't. Since it is digital, there will likely be advances in technology where you will have a new generation of digital VCRs, or record direct to computer hard disc.
There are also some digital recording boxes, some of which are becoming very inexpensive. You need to look around and weigh the options.
Are you HDTV?
YES! WLIO television transmits in Standard Definition and HDTV, or High Definition Television.
The picture is formatted in 16:9, a longer than tall "Technicolor" type screen. SDTV is the same picture size as a present analog television set.
WLIO only sends out a High Definition transmission when HD programming is provided from the network or syndicator.
What is the signal on Channel 8.2 and 8.3?
Each digital station may transmit several "sub channels".
8.2 is our "CW Network" station. It's a new network that started last year as the result of the WB merger with CBS.
8.3 is NBC WeatherPlus. NBC WeatherPlus is a All Weather channel, but unlike other weather channels, there are no features, stories, or news. Its a way for you to get a complete snapshot of the day by watching for only 10 minutes!
8.4 will be held for data services.
Why do I see a blank area on each side of my HDTV picture?
When a digital station transmits an SD picture on an HD channel, the picture will center in the screen. This is not a problem at the station. It's simply that the program WLIO is sending out is not available by the syndicator in HD.
Just because you have an HDTV set does not mean that everything being provided is in HD.
What about the audio program?
You will hear all programs as they are made available from our sources, in stereo, and surround sound. We are not transmitting the World Radio Network on an SAP since digital television does not have an SAP channel. We do have a "second channel", but it's not being utilized at this time. World Radio Network is only available on the SAP of WLIO (Channel 35).
What is the transmission standard?
At present, we are upconverting standard NTSC video for SD, and "passing through" NBC for HDTV.
What are the technical parameters you are operating at?
WLIO-DT is operating on Channel 8 with 27,500 watts of power, from 455 feet (center of radiation) from our tower located at 1424 Rice Avenue in Lima OH. Here is the data sheet.
We also have a standby transmitter that operates at 1,720 watts from the same antenna.
If you can't see us in northwestern Ohio, check your antenna!
What happens when the set fails to capture signal?
In some TVs you will get a black or blue colored screen, which indicates no signal. If you are on the fringe, and the signal is just over the noise floor, the signal may freeze, or become pixilated as the decoder gets valid signal then looses signal.
Are there any other DTV stations on in the region?
Sure. Here is a list as we know them. This list is in PDF form. You need Acrobat Reader to view this file.
LocalDTVTable.pdf - This listing is a parsed file from the F.C.C.'s last report (7th Report & Order) and shows the stations that might be possible for reception with a 60-75 foot tower, and a decent antenna system.
102306-DTVTable.pdf is the ENTIRE F.C.C. list of all the radio stations in the United States.
The entire F.C.C. report is located at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-150A1.doc. Note: This report is a Word97 file, and 3.8 megabytes. A PDF version is on the WLIO-NET web site, and is called FCC_Report_06-150A1-2.pdf. Also see the DTV Channel List.
WLIO-DT Coverage is the projected coverage area of WLIO-DT using our full power, 27.5kW ERP @ 165 meters above ground antenna facility. If you live within the circle, you should have no problem receiving WLIO-DT with a reasonable antenna.
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