WPME - Channel 35 changes its digital channel assignment

Up until now, Channel 35-WPME in Portland, ME, was using UHF Channel 28 for its digital broadcast and UHF Channel 35 for its analog broadcast. Channel 28 was assigned to WPME by the FCC specifically for this purpose.

Since WPME dropped its analog signal earlier than the proposed February 17, 2009 date, they took this opportunity to move their digital broadcast back to Channel 35. All of this happens under the covers of your digital converter box or digital TV. Most viewers will lose access to this channel until they take action.

To fix the problem and start seeing channel 35 again, go to the settings of your converter box or digital TV and rerun the channel scan. The scan will pick up the new channel 35.1 and 35.2 on UHF 35. It will also delete 35.1 and 35.2 from channel 28.

So the answer is rerun the scan. That's my final answer.

Let me know if you have any questions or trouble.

The DTV Transition - don't wait

I have written about this before and I'll say it again. I hope people pay attention. You've all heard February 2009 as the date that all TV will be in digital and if you rely on an antenna you will lose your signal if you don't have a digital TV.

Here's the deal:

The exact date is February 17, 2009.

Here's the truth:

That date is not the first day of digital-only TV. That is the last day that a TV station can broadcast in analog. That's a big difference.

Some TV stations (two in my TV area in Maine alone) have already cut off their analog signal so if you rely on an antenna and don't have a digital conversion box or a digital TV, you can no longer receive their signals. Any station who applies to the FCC for an early cut-off of analog will be approved.

The next big date to remember is November 15, 2008. That's the date when stations can legally turn off all analog transmission (and therefore digital only) without any further requests in writing to the FCC. The FCC doesn't want every station in America pulling the plug on analog and firing up digital on the same day.

Once you get by that date, then you can worry about 2/17/09. That is the drop dead date when all high powered TV stations must shut off their analog signal and must broadcast only in digital.

I hope that has cleared it up for anyone who still might no understand the dates and what is happening. Let me know if you have any questions. If you need a converter box, get one, and get it early.

Take care

Maine Digital TV and HDTV - Update, Tools, Reception Issues, and History

We've come a long way baby.  For Google's recent 10th anniversary they brought back a 10 year old version of Google and the available index at the time.  Actually, Google has only saved archives of their index back to 2001 so while the Google interface is realistic back to 1998, the search results can only be reproduced back to 2001.  In doing a search for "HDTV in Maine" the following page was the first one referenced in the search results: 

http://www.current.org/dtv/#rush.

Take a look at how things were in the realm of digital and HDTV seven years ago.  It is quite amusing and interesting.

The second part of my update today involves digital TV reception, meaning of course HDTV reception as well, using an antenna.  Whether you have a digital converter box or a digital TV, either of which with an antenna, you have probably struggled with receiving channels over the air. There are some new tools out there to help.  I was pointed to these tools by a friend in the TV industry who has supported my site and the work we do here to keep the public informed and the TV stations honest.

The first new tool I want to share with you will plot out which channels are near to you and how far away from your location each channel is.  The results will also tell you the direction from your location that each broadcast tower is which could help you in positioning your antenna to optimize reception.  For input, use your exact address and then estimate how far your antenna is above ground level  (I live on the second floor so I estimated about 20 feet).  Now keep in mind that the tool can account for a lot of things, but specific building obstructions in your neighborhood is not one of them.     Start here to use this tool, it's pretty cool:  http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29.

Next, you can determine how strong the signal is for a particular channel to see if you are even in the ballpark of being able to receive it over the air.  These maps are based on real data, not projections by the TV stations or the FCC.  The results are Google Maps, with the Channel's Tower at the cente,r and different colors that denote specific signal strengths in specific locations:   To use this tool, click here:  http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=80

The legend for the colors is as follows:

• White is extremely strong.  Beware of signal overlap with other channels.
  
• Red-yellow-green are all quite strong. You can expect reasonable coverage with an indoor antenna.
  
• Cyan is where it's advisable to move the antenna up to the second floor or attic.
  
• Blue is where it's probably necessary to install a good antenna on the roof.
  
• Purple is quite weak and you really have to work at it for any chance of reception.

In looking at the state of digital TV back in 1998, which describes unrealistic target dates and the many changes in delivery dates as dictated by the FCC, it is quite interesting and fascinating at how far the TV industry has come.  We like to complain about the current condition of digital and HDTV but considering the extremely high costs involved and the sheer number of TV stations involved, they have come quite a long way.  And with the new tools I mentioned above, antenna users like me (and you, I hope) now have even more information at our disposal.  Who knew that in 2008, we'd be looking at coverage maps for TV Towers so that we can get HDTV and Digital TV over the air for free?  Who knew we'd be looking at ways to circumvent cable and satellite so we don'tt have to pay for Digital and HDTV?  If you think about it, you'd probably expect that by now we'd all have HDTVs and HDTV pay services.  But with the lack of HD programming out there, why spend the money when you can get the major networks in HD at no cost.  It's the one thing, so far, that the FCC got 100% right - Digital (HD) television should be free over the air just like television has been since its inception.

Thanks for stopping by.  If anyone uses the tools and has feedback, I'd love to hear it.  Take care and good luck.  Happy reception hunting!!

Fox 25 magically appears in digital/HD

The Fox affiliate in Maine, WPFO-Fox 23, came into existence after the FCC had assigned UHF channels to broadcasters for the sole purpose of broadcasting digital TV signals while still using their existing TV channel for analog.



So, while Fox 23 does provide digital signals via fiber optic cable to some Time Warner customers and DirectTV customers in Maine, they can not "broadcast" a digital signal until they do a flash cut over from analog to digital on 2/17/09.



So this is what we, in Maine, have all been dealing with. I have written to my cable company, Metrocast, which services Rochester, NH, and the Sanford, ME area. I've asked why they can't provide us with Fox 25 out of Boston in digital/HD since we can't get Fox 23 in digital. I was told that due to FCC rules and cable/TV station agreements it was not possible. I was told I would just have to wait until Fox 23 went digital over the air and then wait even further for Metrocast to carry that digital TV station in their lineup. The possibilities were remote at best.

All of a sudden, last Monday, September 29, Fox 25 in digital/HD magically appeared in my digital channel lineup; no announcement, no nothing from my cable company, it just showed up. I've attempted to call Metrocast several times but have never been able to last as long as they have wanted to keep me on hold. I want to ask them "What's the deal" with this new Fox channel.

In the end, it doesn't really matter, I guess. I just hope that it is not there as some sort of mistake and will end up being removed for some reason. I don't watch Fox that much, but it will be nice to be able to record shows on my DVR in HD as opposed to the analog channel provided to us known as Fox 23.