Is anyone else starting to lose some LPTV stations?

[mwplefty]

Tomorrow, I believe, I will lose two out of my remaining three (the last one is in Korean, so that does me no good). Living in the suburbs, I don't get as many low-power stations as if I lived in the city. I'm telling you. This is all happening way too fast.

[radiotvnut]

We had one, a low powered trinity broadcasting network station; but, it went dark almost a year ago. From what I heard, there was simply not enough interest in their analog signal to justify the high cost of keeping it going, since most of their viewers were watching them over cable or satellite. I really can't say that I miss the station; but, it was good for checking the UHF tuner in a TV.

Over the next several years, I suspect most other LP stations will meet the same fate due to the same reasons we lost our only LP station - not enough viewer interest. I'm sure that a station broadcasting secular programming would probably gain more ratings than a religious station; but, I still can't imagine there being enough interest for them to go on for much longer. Of course, I'd love for there to be a whole bunch of analog LP stations; but, we are a small minority of the TV watching population when you consider that most everyone else has cable, satellite, or watches only digital OTA via a new TV or DTV converter.

[mwplefty]

Originally Posted by radiotvnut

We had one, a low powered trinity broadcasting network station; but, it went dark almost a year ago. From what I heard, there was simply not enough interest in their analog signal to justify the high cost of keeping it going, since most of their viewers were watching them over cable or satellite. I really can't say that I miss the station; but, it was good for checking the UHF tuner in a TV.

Over the next several years, I suspect most other LP stations will meet the same fate due to the same reasons we lost our only LP station - not enough viewer interest. I'm sure that a station broadcasting secular programming would probably gain more ratings than a religious station; but, I still can't imagine there being enough interest for them to go on for much longer. Of course, I'd love for there to be a whole bunch of analog LP stations; but, we are a small minority of the TV watching population when you consider that most everyone else has cable, satellite, or watches only digital OTA via a new TV or DTV converter.

Well, the two stations that I'm losing (WCIU and MeToo) are run by one local Chicago network. On Digital OTA in Chicago, these two stations, along with MeTV (similar, but competitor to RTV), THIS, and the new UToo, will soon be sub-channels of digital channel 26. It's rather unfortunate in my opinion. I know that it saves money and energy in a way, but we didn't ask for any of this. The originality of any analog set is essentially lost.

Not to mention, they are even moving the digital cable channels for these stations. Just another thing to deal with.

[radiotvnut]

There's another invoncenience with digital only broadcasting. In the old days, when I got a new TV and wanted to give it a quick test, I could just plug it in and tune to the local channels. The signals were strong enough that I didn't need an antenna and the picture was usually good enough to tell that the TV was working properly. Now, I have to dig out the converter box and antenna while dealing with all the wires. I do like the fact that DTV offers many subchannels and a clear picture; but, there are still many aspects of DTV that I don't care for. The "all or nothing" reception and the fact that I can't use my battery powered portable TV's as they were intended to be used are two big issues I have with DTV.

We still have analog cable delivery and the traditional VHF rotary TV tuners will still tune in cable channels 2-13; but, I can see the writing on the wall. Comcast is already running an endless loop info channel on how to hook up the new digital cable adapters and there has already been several channels removed from the analog line-up. That tells me that it's only a matter of time before analog cable is a thing of the past. Before long, any older TV will require some sort of set top box in order to use it and the only thing the old analog tuner inside the TV will need to be able to do is receive channels 3 or 4. At least they are providing boxes that will allow the older sets to be used. I'd be very PO'ed if the older sets became an oversized paperweight.

[mwplefty]

Originally Posted by radiotvnut

There's another invoncenience with digital only broadcasting. In the old days, when I got a new TV and wanted to give it a quick test, I could just plug it in and tune to the local channels. The signals were strong enough that I didn't need an antenna and the picture was usually good enough to tell that the TV was working properly. Now, I have to dig out the converter box and antenna while dealing with all the wires. I do like the fact that DTV offers many subchannels and a clear picture; but, there are still many aspects of DTV that I don't care for. The "all or nothing" reception and the fact that I can't use my battery powered portable TV's as they were intended to be used are two big issues I have with DTV.

We still have analog cable delivery and the traditional VHF rotary TV tuners will still tune in cable channels 2-13; but, I can see the writing on the wall. Comcast is already running an endless loop info channel on how to hook up the new digital cable adapters and there has already been several channels removed from the analog line-up. That tells me that it's only a matter of time before analog cable is a thing of the past. Before long, any older TV will require some sort of set top box in order to use it and the only thing the old analog tuner inside the TV will need to be able to do is receive channels 3 or 4. At least they are providing boxes that will allow the older sets to be used. I'd be very PO'ed if the older sets became an oversized paperweight.

I just don't think that their reasons or intentions are good enough. I remember when I asked someone exactly why we even had the DTV transition in the first place. All they really said was, "It had to be done sometime."

[DaveWM]

I wonder what became of all the equipment used for analog transmisssion?

I dont know why it '"had to be done sometime" either. Seems to me a colossal waste of working technology. My guess it has to do with more cell phones so ding bats can text more while driving....

we still have two down here, but not much in the way of good programming

[jpdylon]

The only analog station we have left in san diego is the CW, which simulcasts on both analog and digital, however the LP analog is almost un-receivable where I live because of some mountains in the way.

I figure the only reason its still there is because the station is broadcasting in Tijuana. Just about all of the latino stations that come from mexico are simulcasts.

[radiotvnut]

Originally Posted by DaveWM

I wonder what became of all the equipment used for analog transmisssion?

I dont know why it '"had to be done sometime" either. Seems to me a colossal waste of working technology. My guess it has to do with more cell phones so ding bats can text more while driving....

we still have two down here, but not much in the way of good programming

From what I can tell, most of the old analog transmitters were quickly taken apart and sold for scrap shortly after the DTV transition. I agree that it's a waste of perfectly good technology.

[ctc17]

Just checked, home shopping network, organized religion begging for money and mexican tv are all still alive.

[mwplefty]

Originally Posted by ctc17

Just checked, home shopping network, organized religion begging for money and mexican tv are all still alive.

When it comes to receiving analog transmissions, it must really pay to live on the Canadian or Mexican border. I hear Calderon moved the transition date for Mexico from 2021 to 2015. Also, Canada's D-Day is August 31, 2011 as we all know. So it's really only a matter of time there as well.

[wa2ise]

There's an analog LPTV signal on channel 6 in NYC, but the audio was unrelated to the video, and the video was quite noisy. And the audio was overmodulated, suspect they intend people to listen to them on an FM receiver as an FM radio station. FM radio stations deviate their FM carriers by 75KHz, and old analog NTSC TV sound was only 25KHz deviation. More deviation makes for louder detected sound.

[AUdubon5425]

In Greater New Orleans only two licenses remain active as far as I can tell; only one LP (18) seems to be currently broadcasting here. It's owned by Belo and simulcasts their UPN station (54), which also carries an off-time broadcast of the WWL evening news. 1,000 watts of power 5.7 miles from my house - it comes in fairly good on a set-top loop.

[bandersen]

Originally Posted by mwplefty

Well, the two stations that I'm losing (WCIU and MeToo) are run by one local Chicago network. On Digital OTA in Chicago, these two stations, along with MeTV (similar, but competitor to RTV), THIS, and the new UToo, will soon be sub-channels of digital channel 26. It's rather unfortunate in my opinion. I know that it saves money and energy in a way, but we didn't ask for any of this. The originality of any analog set is essentially lost.

Not to mention, they are even moving the digital cable channels for these stations. Just another thing to deal with.

Yeah, that does stink. Actually, all those have been digital subchannels of 26 for over a year. Comcast digital started carrying them (at least in the suburbs) about 6 months ago.

I just found out today that they are phasing out analog cable service in my area so I'll have to get a digital converter box. No more just plugging a cable into any of my sets

[mwplefty]

Originally Posted by bandersen

Yeah, that does stink. Actually, all those have been digital subchannels of 26 for over a year. Comcast digital started carrying them (at least in the suburbs) about 6 months ago.

I just found out today that they are phasing out analog cable service in my area so I'll have to get a digital converter box. No more just plugging a cable into any of my sets

Bob, living closer to the city, don't (or didn't) you receive about 6 or 7 low-power stations at one time or another (6 on UHF, 1 on VHF)? In most of the suburbs, we only get (or got) about 3: WCIU, the Korean Channel, and MeToo. When I tested my grandmother's 1979 RCA with the rabbit ears in November, she only got those 3 channels despite living pretty close to the city.

[bandersen]

Originally Posted by mwplefty

Bob, living closer to the city, don't (or didn't) you receive about 6 or 7 low-power stations at one time or another (6 on UHF, 1 on VHF)? In most of the suburbs, we only get (or got) about 3: WCIU, the Korean Channel, and MeToo. When I tested my grandmother's 1979 RCA with the rabbit ears in November, she only got those 3 channels despite living pretty close to the city.

Yes, in addition to the stations you mentioned, I can also pick up a home shopping network and some religions programming. The last time I checked was a couple months ago.