WQED gets new allocation and new transmission towers
June 30, 2019WQED-TV (Virtual 13) has been reallocated to digital Channel 4 (although it was originally supposed to be 2… anyone else see the irony?) in the recent round of channel repacks as more and more spectrum is sold off. This required a new set of “tines” on their Oakland transmission fork.
Frank Warninsky caught the tower after the old sticks were removed.
WQED tower stripped of twin transmitters pic.twitter.com/5PMx9KnU78
— Frank Warninsky (@frankinpgh) June 29, 2019
Then he caught a glimpse of the helicopter installing the new sticks.
New twin transmitters with delivery helicopter pic.twitter.com/FW8IVAwII0
— Frank Warninsky (@frankinpgh) June 29, 2019
If not already completed, the work should be done on July 1. Over-the-air viewers will have to rescan their sets.
I am using the TABLO OTA DVR. I’ve been getting good signal for years, but it DISAPPEARED after the recent repack. It’s not like the signal’s gotten a little weaker; I had five bars and it went to zero. I have rescanned repeatedly – I’m still getting strong signals from ALL the other Pittsburgh stations (I live in Irwin). Does the change to virt channel 4 require any changes on my end? Will I do better with a different type of antenna? I am using a GE 33692 w/ a Wingard LN200 amp. Here is my TVfool signal map http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d90383f3a474565
A lot of the VHF antenna being sold are not designed to pick up below VHF channel 7. The antenna will have to have some longer elements to pick up low VHF channel $ (66-72 ( MHz)
Odd. I’m getting WINP, sometimes as strong as any station I can get in the Kiski Valley, but not WQED though it’s in the same location (I think). Not always getting WTAE, but that’s not surprising. I also get KDKA, WPXI, WPCW, WPNT and WPGH. (I have to finagle the aerials around to get WPCB — a station that surprised me by adding some secular subchannels not all that long ago.)
That may have something to do with the fact that they are no longer operating on a “Fork” at channel 40. It is a single stick now.
Add me to the list of people who lost the reception of WQED. I live in Moon Twp. Why the management of WQED went to RF Channel 4 instead of a channel in the VHF-Hi region is beyond me, other than the price was right and the cost of running a transmitter at that frequency is cheaper. It’s all about money.
Total greed was the reason for the move. They got 10 million for selling there spectrum so they can get out of debt. Moved to a lower vhf freq. that no one will be able to pick up, forcing you to buy into their WQED Passport streaming. service. I bet the phones are quite on pledge night. Might have to get rid of Rick Sebak and clean house in a few other places. Sorry to see them go. But as always its bad management thats going to be their downfall.
Oh please. This again? The station had been in debt for eons! This was their risky opportunity (practically government mandated in a way) to get out of that debt. Risky in that the digital channel 4 doesn’t cover from WQED’s tower in Oakland as analog channel 4 did from Elizabeth. Digital is by no means perfect and unfortunately there’s no way to tell whether or not it’ll work before putting it into service. WTAE had to put a repeater into service when they converted originally. WPXI has 3 throughout the area. This is NOT an uncommon problem.