WPVI Has Reception Problems
Philadelphia viewers complain they can't find ABC station's digital VHF signal
By Glen Dickson -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/14/2009 6:41:42 PM
DTV Transition: Complete Coverage
WPVI Philadelphia has experienced significant reception problems since turning off analog Friday and switching its DTV channel, according to both numerous viewer posts on its Website and a story from the station's newscast.
A common thread in the complaints is that viewers who were previously receiving WPVI's digital UHF signal with no problems now can't find the stations' digital broadcast on VHF Ch. 6, despite having an appropriate UHF/VHF antenna.
In the WPVI news story, FCC engineer Dave Dombrowski said that the problem could be that the station's power threshold is too low, and suggested that it may eventually need approval from the FCC to boost its power "to reach the fringes." But many of the viewers posting Web comments to WPVI about reception problems indicated that they were within 20 miles of the transmitter.
WPVI's main switchboard was closed Sunday afternoon. Calls to the ABC owned station group were not returned at press time.
Watch a video segment on the reception problems from WPVI.
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If anyone looks up WHYY and WPVI of Philadelphia on the antenna web site, you will find that there are TWO digital definitions for them and one analog. Digital has a really BIG issue with what analog people referred to as ghosting. In digital you get nothing.
Joanne Lieghther - 6/16/2009 12:39:55 PM EDT -
FM Broadcast Band interference.........
The FM Band is, for all intents and purposes, a first-adjacent channel to TV channel 6, so the strong FM stations are causing interference to the DTV on 6.
Also, FM signals are causing the tuners to develop their own "second-harmonic" or second-order distortion, which interferes with DTV on channels 7-13.
Viewers need a source of FM Traps....FAST!
Ken English - 6/15/2009 12:25:01 PM EDT -
WPVI isn't the only analog V that went digital on its analog channel with problems.
KVIE, 6, Sacramento and KXTV, 10, Sacramento were receivable in Marysville, about 60 or so air miles north of the market's antenna farm when they were on pre-transition UHF channels.
Not so, now, at least on an older mid-range VHF-UHF Yagi that receives all the digital U's from Sac with no problem, and can see the nightlight analog signals KCRA, 3 (DTV-35) and KVIE, 6 (DTV-9) still have on.
KCRA's DTV signal has been viewable from time to time, but seems to be affected by weather conditions. It also is planning to move the DTV antenna higher and boost power later this month. Maybe that'll help.
Ted
Ted Langdell - 6/15/2009 10:19:13 AM EDT -
what was WPVI thinking to choose a VHF low band channel right on top of the FM band. what was ABC O&O management thinking to launch live well hd in the process taking away bandwith from ABC HD and degrading picture. now pay the price of lost viewership for your poor tecnical decisions.
thomas carls - 6/15/2009 8:16:56 AM EDT
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