A couple of Issues I often get asked about
Erie-Meadville:I kind of feel like John McLaughlin (but without the political panel) when I mention that there are "Issues" people ask me about relating to Erie Media. So without further adu, Issue One: What is the hold up with Directv regarding Erie's local stations being added to their service. That is a really good question and one I wish I had a definite answer for. I figured soon after Dish Network added Erie stations to it's packages, Directv would soon follow. Well, the Erie market was added by Dish in 2003 and I soon added them to my service. I have read where Directv would add Erie to one of their new satellites. However, that is still not the case and doesn't help my friend who keeps Directv for the "NFL Sunday Ticket" since he's an Eagles' fan. I doubt that I would see as many Directv dishes in the Erie region if it weren't for the NFL. Good thing I can get the Steelers over the air every week where I am in southern Crawford county. Issue Two: Viewers with the new converter boxes or digital TVs' are having a hard time pulling in Erie digital stations with an inside antenna. There is a pretty simple answer to this question. Most Erie DTV stations are not at full power as of yet. It'll be hard to pull in a digital signal with "rabbit ears" or even an indoor amplified antenna when the stations are not at full power (depending on where you live.) Currently, only WSEE DT 16 & WQLN HD 50 are putting out more than one watt of power. WSEE is at full power at 75kw while WQLN is at 39kw but hoping to get to 200kw once interference issues with Canada are worked out. Meanwhile, there will be no power increases on WJET DT 58 or WICU DT 52 until both stations move to their current analog positions. WJET will move to DT 24 while WICU will move to DT 12, which means you'll need a UHF / VHF Yagi antenna since WICU will remain in the VHF band after the digital transition. Both stations will move on 2/18/09. As for WFXP HD 22, there are rumors that they could possibly go full power by fall. I'm surprised that I can get the 1kw station in my area fairly well but it will be even better once they go 1,000 kw as will WJET DT. It's unfortunate that Erie does not have every digital station at full power & in HD. I can get several stations where I live & people in Erie cannot believe how much better similar sized markets like Youngstown are when it comes to over the air DTV. Time will tell once Erie stations are at full power how well reception of the stations will be with any indoor antennas. You can go to www.tvfool.com & check how reception could be regarding digital stations in your area.
Readers’ Forum
I live in southeast Erie (near Walczak Park and the East Grandview Plaza and our family just used one of our two coupons to purchase an amplified indoor antenna and Digital Stream converter box (the version with analog pass-through) from RadioShack Friday.
The problem is the same as issue two in your post. None of the signals (including WSEE) can be received with the converter box. During setup, the box was only able to find channels 16-1 (WSEE > CBS), 16-2 (WBEP > The CW), and 16-3 (WICU > NBC).
When I attempt to tune in to these three channels (none of the other local, digital channels were even recognized), the signals were terrible. The picture was all pixelated – not all of the pixels showed up and they were slow to change. The audio did not come in most of the time. Electronic Program Guide information did show up when the signal was strong enough.
During this time, the signal quality range varied anywhere from 0 to nearly 40 out of 100. It was nowhere close to being watchable. If WSEE is full power, then I really need to keep playing with my antenna or they need to do something on their end.
I find it interesting or even scary to be forced to buy a digital converter box ahead of time (especially before the coupon expires – what’s up with that?) and attempt to set it up ahead of time, hoping it works or is useful. If WFXP (FOX) is staying on channel 22, why aren’t they broadcasting at full power already?
For now, I’m definately glad the box has analog pass-through…
Doug - June 08, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Well according to the folks at WSEE, the 75kw is full power. It does break up for me at my location at times, but it might be my antenna set up. It’s not nearly as much power as WKBN has at 700kw. What kind of antenna set up do you have?
Tom Lavery (URL) - June 09, 2008 at 06:10 am
At our home in Crawford county, we are having difficulty in getting some of the Erie DTV stations also. WSEE and WICU come in fine, and also “The CW.” WQLN comes in sometimes (it pixelates a lot). We don’t get any other channels. Do you know if the ABC and FOX channels are broadcasting in DTV yet?
What about stations in Pittsburgh? Does anybody know if they broadcasting at low power too? At our other home in Bridgeville, we cannot pick up the ABC or PBS stations.
Troy - June 09, 2008 at 08:16 am
Yes, both Fox 66 WFXP DT 22 & and WJET DT 58 (ABC) are broadcasting digital signals at low power. Fox 66 even has network programs in HD. I can get Fox where I’m at near Cochranton, but it does break up occasionally with it’s low powered status. Everyone should be at full power by the deadline next year. Do you have any luck with getting Youngstown or even a few Pittsburgh stations at your location in Crawford county? I can get KDKA, WPXI & WPGH most of the time. As for Pittsburgh DTV stations, I know that WQED is at low power but they will be moving to DT 13 once analog 13 is shut off next February. The DT 38 channel QED uses now will go to WQEX. There have also been complaints about WTAE DT 51. I’m not too clear as to why the station is hard to pick up in parts of Allegheny county.
Tom Lavery (URL) - June 09, 2008 at 10:17 am
Nope, no luck in getting any signals from Youngstown or Pittsburgh on our Crawford County television. We are near Cambridge Springs.
Troy - June 09, 2008 at 11:08 am
I got another chance today to play around with the Digital Stream converter box and antenna.
After moving the antenna towards the window, the box was able to find channels 16.1 (WSEE-DT > CBS), 16.2 (WBEP-DT > The CW), 16.3 (WICU-DT > NBC), and 50.1 (WQLN-DT > PBS). I get a good, watchable signal, which rarely pixelates, with moderate reception (about 50 out of 100) according to the meter which constantly changes. It may only get better if I continue to play with the amplified antenna.
Why isn’t WFXP full power? Aren’t they staying on channel 22 anyway? I understand that WJET and WICU will not go full power until the transition date on the same channels as their analog signals.
The converter box also has an electronic program guide, which is often very useful. My digital OTA television experience is getting better. I’m definately glad. We just have to use our other coupon – the Digital Stream box with analog pass-through from RadioShack works well; maybe we should try a Zenith from Circuit City (if they are in stock).
Just wanted to update you my situation…
Doug - June 09, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Complaints about WTAE-DT 51 you say? Hmm. It HAS to be their location. Most people know that Pittsburgh’s Channel 4 is “short-spaced” in between a couple of Channel 4s within the mid-Atlantic region. I know for a fact that it was difficult for 4 to be seen in some parts of Allegheny County over the air. For instance, many in the western neighborhoods got WTOV 9 better than 4. Now, whether or not the same holds true for the DT-51, I’m not sure, but it hails from the same Buena Vista PA (AKA Elizabeth Township) location as TV-4.
Eric - June 09, 2008 at 9:59 pm
It’ll definitely depend on antenna placement as Doug states in his last post. I believe that both Fox & Jet are working on equipment upgrades for the transition. Hopefully they can focus first on the Fox side since they are at their permanent channel location at DT 22. In fact, it would be good if Fox goes full power and WSEE gets HD on 16-1 (35-1) in time for the NFL season. I rarely get WTAE DT 51 or WQED DT 38 at home. Usually I can get KDKA DT 25, WPGH DT 43 and WPXI DT 48. I believe they are north of the city tower wise which works in my favor.
Tom Lavery (URL) - June 10, 2008 at 09:34 am
KDKA DT, WPGH DT and WPXI DT all have their transmission facilities in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. As a matter of fact, they are all within a couple miles of each other just off of the Parkway North (I-279)
WTAE is further east and the tower location hinders their reception on WTAE-DT.
Having said all that, I live on a hill to the south of Corry (elevation 1885 ft above sea level) and I also can receive 16.1 (WSEE-DT) 16.2 (WBEP-DT) and 16.3 (WICU-DT) as well as 50.1 (WQLN-DT)
I can’t wait for WICU and WJET to be Digital on their channels 12 and 24, respectively.
Tim - June 10, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Tim – I know that someone in Spartansburg can get WKBN DT 41 (27-1) from Youngstown there. They have a very large coverage area & I was curious if you had any luck with that station. You’d also get Fox 17/62 SD (27-2). Your hill location may help with pulling that station in. I’m now puzzled as to why Troy cannot get WTAE DT in Bridgeville since the tower is also south og the city, not too far from their location.
Tom Lavery (URL) - June 11, 2008 at 08:24 am
I’m puzzled too . . . for what it is worth, we never had good reception on the analog WTAE either, but at least we could get it, even though it was fuzzy. Now it is nothing at all.
Troy - June 11, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Tom – I also am able to get WKBN DT 41 (27-1) from Youngstown and also the FOX station 17/62 SD (27-2)
Tim - June 12, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Tim – I thought you’d be able to get ‘KBN & ‘YFX at your location. That will add CBS HD programming plus having Fox in SD until WFXP gets it’s HD signal to full power. It’s a plus during football season.
Tom Lavery (URL) - June 13, 2008 at 08:58 am
Has anyone noticed that the DTV’s EPG (Electronic Programming Guide) hasn’t been working the last few days on the Erie digital broadcast? Instead of the usual show information all it says is “DTV PROGRAM” for each time slot. This is on all four stations that I receive, but it does show the correct station call letters.
What gives?
Troy - June 26, 2008 at 07:36 am