WGGB Analog to go off the air Dec 1, 2008

[DJKraze]

After watching WGBY flip the switch this evening and waiting for a tape to finish recording something for my mother, I was still watching the analog signals and noticed a spot on WGGB announcing they will be dropping out 12/01/2008 which doesn't bother me as much as WGBY going off the air does as I rarely get the DTV WGBY and have no trouble getting WGGB (WWLP is also rare). I'm hoping that post-transition, both stations come in, as I'd hate to lose them.

Speaking of which, WGBY has made it sound as though they will be raising power once they go live on CH 22, but is this so? Also, is WWLP DT running at full power yet? I hope not as the signal I get from them is pretty low.

[KML-224]

Don't feel too bad. I live in New Britain (southern Hartford County) and not once have I received even a hint of any Springfield station on digital.

Now with WGBY-TV channel 57 analog gone and WGGB-TV channel 40 analog leaving, does this mean WWLP-TV channel 22 is keeping their analog on until February?

[tripinva]

The WGBY-DT power on 22 will be the same as on 58, but they will be non-directional and higher on the tower.  On top of that, being lower in frequency means it will have better luck with the terrain in the area.

WWLP-DT is going to boost from the current 10 kW to 15.8 kW at some point in the future, but the 10 kW is considered to be a fully-license full-powered signal in and of itself.  WWLP's last FCC filing indicates they have no plan to kill their analog signal before 02/17/09.

- Trip

[DJKraze]

You mean they are currently directional? any idea which direction? If it's to protect WCTX 59 in New Haven, that would explain alot as that's almost the same direction I'm in. In fact, I suspect most of my problem stemmed from 58 being between two analog channels WGBY 57 and WCTX 59, now part of the adjacent channel noise is gone, but I'll bet WCTX is the majority of it as I tried again last night after analog 57 went down and still getting only 9% on the meter.

[tripinva]

The directional pattern limits signal to the northwest and northeast of their transmitter, and I'd venture to guess that it's more related to the antenna being side-mounted on the tower than anything else.  No point in beaming power into the metal of the structure it's located on.

Depending on where you are and how strong the WCTX analog signal is, that could certainly be the culprit in your reception problems.  This would be especially true if, before WGBY-DT signed on, WCTX bled down onto 58 on analog.

- Trip

[necrat123]

The WGBY-DT power on 22 will be the same as on 58, but they will be non-directional and higher on the tower.  On top of that, being lower in frequency means it will have better luck with the terrain in the area.

Just to clarify a few things there Trip. WGBY-DT 22 is going to be a top mounted antenna, in place of the old analog 57 antenna. WGBY-DT was directional to compensate for the side mounted antenna.

WWLP-DT is going to boost from the current 10 kW to 15.8 kW at some point in the future, but the 10 kW is considered to be a fully-license full-powered signal in and of itself.  WWLP's last FCC filing indicates they have no plan to kill their analog signal before 02/17/09.

WWLP-DT is at full licensed power, but isn't full powered by any means. At that HAAT, their power should be roughly 17.1kW.
The 15.8kW brings them a lot closer to the fully licensed power. WWLP remains on the panel antenna currently used, so no early shut down would be needed, unless
the old transmitter dies a painful death.

WGGB is going back to 40, which requires a re-working of the RF plant (replacing filters, installing new mask filters, etc). The shut down of analog in December allows for that work to commence.

Starting in December you are going to see a lot of early analog shut downs, reductions in power.

[DJKraze]

More questions...
How soon after analog shutdown will WGGB-DT be switching to 40 and what are the output specs, also how does this differ from it's current specs on 55?
I'm wondering as I can get WGGB-DT right now at 72% and I'm curious how similar the final configs for WGBY will compare as I'd like to think I'll be able to get WGBY-DT 98 days from now AND I'd like to not lose WGGB.

[Peter Q. George (K1XRB)]

More questions...
How soon after analog shutdown will WGGB-DT be switching to 40 and what are the output specs, also how does this differ from it's current specs on 55?
I'm wondering as I can get WGGB-DT right now at 72% and I'm curious how similar the final configs for WGBY will compare as I'd like to think I'll be able to get WGBY-DT 98 days from now AND I'd like to not lose WGGB.

The retrofit for Channel 40 will more than likely commence the moment they shut down the analog.  Considering the time table for February 17th, 2009, I'm sure they don't want to waste any time in getting the 40 facility back up and running.  I'm sure they will be doing a battery of tests before Transition Day occurs.  This is very similar to the NARBA switch way back on March 29th, 1941 when a majority of the nation's radio stations had to move a notch up or down the dial on that designated day.  I wouldn't be surprised if WGGB were to make the move back to 40 BEFORE February 17th.  I could be wrong, but I don't believe there is anything in the FCC rules to prohibit their early transition to 40, provided they notify their viewers accordingly on the air, in the papers and on their website.   

As for reception of WGGB-DT and WGBY-DT after Transition Day, I'm sure that the coverage will be at least equal to or better than the signal you're getting right now.  Considering that both 22 and 40 are much lower on the spectrum than 55 and 58, antenna efficiency should be much better.  I just might take a trip to the Pioneer Valley with my mobile DTV equipment to see for myself !

[KML-224]

Speaking of Mount Tom, who else is up there besides WGGB, WGBY and WHYN-FM 93.1?

[Peter Q. George (K1XRB)]

Speaking of Mount Tom, who else is up there besides WGGB, WGBY and WHYN-FM 93.1?

WSHM-LP (CBS "3"), the local CBS affiliate on Channel 67 is on Mt. Tom as well.