Comments on: DTV transition update: New York City TV goes post-analog

CNET provides a quick status of which analog stations have--and have not--already dropped off the map. Let us know how the transition is going in your area.

[waddlingduck]

I'm just wondering if any of the networks did anything special when they shut down? I was sort of hoping you'd get that indian head with all the feathers in the center of a few targets, and you'd hear some morse code, and they'd say, "This is W X Y Z broadcasting from HERE, officially signing off... it's been a blast," or hopefully something more triumphant.

Just my idea.

[blueshore]

Here in Puerto Rico most of the channels are switching today. WKAQ (Channel 2) just switched at 6:00 am. WAPA (Channel 4) will shutdown at midnight, right now there are showing a historical documentary. WIPR (Channel 6) IS running a countdown. WLII is covering the event on the nightly news (right now there showing the old transmitters).

I just hook up the "wabbit ears" to see the last half hour in analog. Goodbye NTSC, hello ASTC!

[blueshore]

Update: WIPR (Channel 6) is making a special, in which some local comedians are showing how to set the tv with converters. Quite nice.

[blueshore]

Update: Channels 4 & 11 are showing shots of the shutdown. Farewell NTSC!

[blueshore]

Update: Channels 4, and 11 are now in digital. Channel 6 still transmitting in analog, along with digital.

[sakenu16]

Still no digital WABC, WPIX, PBS-13 in my area.

[ikramerica--2008]

You likely do not have a VHF digital antenna, only a UHF.

This is the part of the switch that NOBODY explained. At least not the government or broadcasters. They kept saying to test your antenna now, etc. so you'd be ready. That was impossible, because nobody was broadcasting Digital on the VHF band before the switch. You can't test what isn't being broadcast.

Now, anyone who was in Channel 6-13 will be broadcasting on the VHF band, while everyone else will be broadcasting in the low UHF band (even the low power UHF stations that stayed analog will have to move). The upper UHF band has been sold off for communications.

So, for example if you are not getting old channels 7, 11 and 13 digitally in NYC, it's because your VHF antenna is not picking up the digital signals now being broadcast on those frequencies. CBS, NBC and FOX were 2,4,5 and are now being transmitted in UHF. So is WWOR (analog 9). The reason for this is the low VHF (2-4) and ultra-low VHF (5, 5A(1)) were not found to be good enough bands for digital. Too much interference in many markets. Anyone who's lived in NYC for any length of time knows that 2 and 4 get reflected signals, ghosting, etc. that 7-13 didn't get. For digital broadcast, this was likely seen as too problematic.

So again, if you are failing to get Digital stations in your market that used to be broadcast on analog 6-13, but are getting stations that were once on 2-5, your antenna is either not pointed right, or not suitable to pick up VHF digital broadcasts. And there was little you could have done to know this beforehand, no matter what the government told you.

[sakenu16]

Thanks Ikramerica-2008. I have an antenna with both rabbit ears, and circle for UHF. I believe this antenna is both good for VHF and UHF. It also plugs in to the wall to amplify the signal. Once in a while I get 13 but it is not consistent. But 7,11seem to be gone forever for me :( I will keep trying to change the orientation. I guess the only way to try would be to get another antenna. 2,4,5 and 9 seem to come in just fine. I wonder how many others have the same problem since I didn't hear about it in the news.

[nickinny]

I have a Terk HDTVa Indoor Amplified High-Definition Antenna and used to get WABC and WPIX but not WNET. Now I don't get any. I've tried repointing, rescanning, varying heights, rescanning, different spots in the room and more rescanning. Nothing.

I think this whole thing was a ploy by the cable companies to get us to buy their service.

[nervous_cat]

We have existing antennas on the roof (both UHF and VHF) here in Poughkeepsie, NY (70 miles north of Manhattan) that have served us for more than 25 years. Generally, the DTV transition turned out to be a net loss (we received more analog stations in pre-transition era). I did re-scan after June 12th. I did check if I have both VHF and UHF antennas (we have both on the roof connected to a preamp). I did check if all my antenna wiring and connectors are on securely and connected properly. In the New York Market, we lost WNET, WPIX, WABC, WCBS, WNBC, WPXN, WNYE and gained WFUT. We still get WNYW and WWOR (though WNYW's sub channel). This is very disappointing. I was expecting that the VHF antenna would have pulled in WABC, WPIX and WNET when they returned to VHF. Replacing the TV antennas on the roof is troublesome and (if we hired a professional installer to replace them) expensive.

[ikramerica--2008]

Troublesome or not, you 25 year old VHF antenna isn't cutting it. It also sounds like your UHF antenna is not configured correctly. Or, your inline amplifier (I hope you have one) can not pass digital signals (they get blocked or scrambled in the amp). May be time for a new amplifier, one or two new antennas, or both. You may need a professional if you want to use those roof antennas again.

[Paodi]

Will the local broadcasters be transmitting HD signals on the standard channels, or just a "Digital" signal?

[CassandraSoo]

There are a lot of ways to adjust to the digital switch. TiVo's pushing their message about how you can get free over the air signals with OTA. They have a YouTube video about it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65wdXjKsgQc?

[pete807]

I am also not picking channels 7, 11, and 13 in the new york city area. I have a an antenna that picks up uhf and vhf signals. On the box the range says VHF 47 MHz-230 Mhz. Is this good enough to pick up channels 7, 11, and 13?

[DarkHawke]

I lost six digital stations that previously came in clear as a bell, full HD and everything. Worse yet, this came just when my cable company deigned to shake up THEIR line-up, so I've had a "merry" few days rescanning and reprogramming not just my TV, but my HDHomeRun tuners AND Beyond TV as well. So far, even with cable, the DTV transition sucks donkey.

[hfguide]

Can someone out in Brooklyn tell me if they can get Channel 21? And if so, what equipment/ setup he or she is using? I was really hoping I'd finally be able to pick it up post transition but so far, NADA. I'm out in East Flatbush.

[topcat7736]

The following is from WLIW's web site. It seems they have been transmitting their three digital channels, on 22, at a low power level. This allowed them to go over cable and satellite fine but limited their over the air range. When they switched the three channels back to 21 on 6/12, the FCC wouldn't allow them to turn up their power levels. Until they hear from the FCC at the end of August, if you're not near them or don't have cable or satellite, you're out of luck. So much for Eastenders!

"I have a converter box, but cannot see WLIW21. What should I do?

It is recommended that BEFORE attaching the digital converter box, that you adjust your antenna to get the clearest analog picture possible. After attaching the digital box, do a scan of the digital channels and you should see WLIW21. If that doesn?t work, try a rescan or manually entering channel 22, (the on?air frequency for the digital channel) which will be converted to 21 once the signal is recognized. Also, since WLIW21?s transmitter is located on the Nassau/Suffolk county border in Plainview, Long Island, you may need to point your antenna in that direction.

However, on June 12th, WLIW will begin broadcasting on channel 21 digital. This will require you to re-scan channels on your digital converter box or HD television. This must be done because WLIW will not be the only channel moving. Thirteen/WNET, as well as most of the stations in New York will be relocating their digital signals to different channels on that day.

WLIW has contacted the FCC for a power increase but, to date, has not gotten a confirmation. This means that if you are having difficulty receiving WLIW digital now, you will continue to have this problem. WLIW expects an answer by the end of August."

[JacquelineG]

Ok, digital transition is becoming a nightmare. In my household we have three sets with different or quasi similar issues.

One set, lost all the network TV stations, it has a box and an antenna, altho I'm suspecting I need a better antenna with that TV.

The second TV with a good new antenna and a digital box, lost ABC and its affiliates.

My TV a new flatscreen with a good UHF/VHF antenna also lost the ABC affiliates..and don't mess with my ABC when I'm a LOST groupie!

I've rescanned until I'm blue in the face and yesterday, I noticed some stations are freezing and pixelizing...so....dear readers...what the heck am I supposed to do now? Does anyone really know? Was this even a good idea that was force fed to us? Anyone? Anyone? Thanks (I need to finish my coffee excuse the crankiness!)

[teaemjay]

I live in Manhattan and was able to receive WABC and its affiliate stations before June 12th. Now I am unable to get them. I called the DTV hotline and they said that WABC has a strong signal in my area. She basically just kept telling me to rescan once in a while and she thought it had something to do with WABC because I got all of the other stations. With the googling that I have done in the past two days, I am thinking there is something wrong with WABC and how it is transmitting. I have a UHF/VHF antennae so I know it isn't on my end.

[hfguide]

@topcat7736: Thank you very much.

[topcat7736]

Having an old VHF/UHF antenna may not be enough. The power levels, post transition, may be less than they were before 6/12. You might also need an antenna rotator to lock onto specific channels whose transmitting towers are in new places. Go to AntennaWeb at the following link and insure you have an antenna which meets the needs for your location. It will tell you in what direction towers are located and the type & amplification level required to receive each channel.

http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

The FCC has a DTV reception map which will show the channels available to you (link follows). Make sure you enter your zip code first and then you can zoom to an area and move the red icon around the map. As it moves, the channels on the left of the page may also change.

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/maps/

[hfguide]

AN UPDATE TO THE WLIW-21 SITUATION:

I just learned this evening that WLIW 21 is INDEED viewable in Brooklyn; the reason why I wasn't able to get it was due to the splitter. Once I connected the antenna directly to one television, it came in loud and clear.

That's the good news. The bad news is what I was afraid of-- that it wasn't simply true according to all the PSAs that all you needed to transition to DTV was a converter box. Obviously, it's a lot more complicated than that and you may have to re-evaluate your connections, splitters, and other setup to make sure you get all the channels successfully.

[Dibert]

In the Gaithersburg, MD area, my DTV was working flawlessly for 2+ years. Now with the change, I lost 7.1, 9.1, and 11.1. I informed the stations. I have a new Sony HD DTV and a digital antenna w/ a amplifier. I cleared my TV memory and rescanned too. 2.1, 4.1, 5.1, and 20.1 still come in great.

[topcat7736]

Dibert,

I looked at antennaweb and the channels you lost are now being transmitted on VHF. Before the change over on 6/12, they were probably in the UHF band. 7 & 9 are in the yellow band for you so you should see them with a standard VHF antenna or a good UHF. Channel 11 is violet for you and would require a high gain antenna plus an amplifier. 11 is also at 76 degrees while the rest of your channels are at 167.