This blog was established to keep viewers updated on the transition to DTV and the steps and improvements WWNY & WNYF were taking. The transition to all DTV broadcasts was completed by WWNY and a transition to DTV by WNYF has also been accomplished, even though the FCC has not mandated that change for Low-power stations.
While our transmission infrastructure is complete we continue to seek improvements. WWNY continues to explore a power increase and we are continually improving our production facilities, so that we can expand our HDTV offerings.
Many viewers are still frustrated with reception issues. This is a characterisitic of DTV...we can't change the laws of physics. We can reccomend that you install the best UHF/VHF outdoor antenna you can to combat reception issues. For tips on antennas & their orientation towards our towers visit www.antennaweb.org. For tips on reception visit www.dtv.gov/fixreception.
We will also answers any comments posted here.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
WNYF-LP Now on the Air Digitally
There’s some good news for local television fans.
The North Country’s local FOX station, WNYF, has a new digital transmitter in St. Lawrence County that will provide viewers with a better, more far reaching signal. The transmitter, located in South Colton, is designed to increase the St. Lawrence County coverage area for FOX 28. As an added bonus, the local CBS station, WWNY, will be carried on a secondary channel.
Some viewers lost local television signals in the 2009 digital transition when stations were forced to turn off their analog signals. United Communications Corporation, the parent company of WWNY and WNYF, applied and received permission to build a new FOX digital facility from a new location and with more power to increase its coverage area. FOX-28’s ability to transmit a secondary channel of WWNY’s programming might help gain back WWNY viewers lost in that DTV transition.
Area residents should re-scan their television tuners and may need to realign their antennas towards the new transmitter facility.
Viewers should have a VHF/UHF antenna (outdoor is best) orientated towards S. Colton NY. WNYF will be received on channel 28.1 and WWNY’s programming will be available on channel 28.2.
For assistance with antenna selection or orientation viewers can visit www.antennaweb.org. (Because the facility is so new the transmitter info may not be in the antennaweb database. Viewers should choose and orientate an antenna compatible with WNPI.)
For reception tips viewers should visit www.dtv.gov/fixreception.html.
The North Country’s local FOX station, WNYF, has a new digital transmitter in St. Lawrence County that will provide viewers with a better, more far reaching signal. The transmitter, located in South Colton, is designed to increase the St. Lawrence County coverage area for FOX 28. As an added bonus, the local CBS station, WWNY, will be carried on a secondary channel.
Some viewers lost local television signals in the 2009 digital transition when stations were forced to turn off their analog signals. United Communications Corporation, the parent company of WWNY and WNYF, applied and received permission to build a new FOX digital facility from a new location and with more power to increase its coverage area. FOX-28’s ability to transmit a secondary channel of WWNY’s programming might help gain back WWNY viewers lost in that DTV transition.
Area residents should re-scan their television tuners and may need to realign their antennas towards the new transmitter facility.
Viewers should have a VHF/UHF antenna (outdoor is best) orientated towards S. Colton NY. WNYF will be received on channel 28.1 and WWNY’s programming will be available on channel 28.2.
For assistance with antenna selection or orientation viewers can visit www.antennaweb.org. (Because the facility is so new the transmitter info may not be in the antennaweb database. Viewers should choose and orientate an antenna compatible with WNPI.)
For reception tips viewers should visit www.dtv.gov/fixreception.html.
Monday, June 14, 2010
WNYF-LP Granted Construction Permit to Build St Lawrence County DTV Facility
WNYF was granted permission to build a digital facility in St. Lawrence county...Read More...
Monday, June 7, 2010
Transition Update - WNYF-LP Still Awaiting FCC Approval for St Lawrence County Operations... Local Delivery on DISH Network
It has been sometime since I have commented on the DTV transition and any updates regarding WWNY & WNYF. That, in part, is because the DTV transition has more or less come and gone. It's true LPTV stations still have not been mandated to transition or convert to all DTV operations, but as my last post notes,WNYF-CA in Watertown has. We are still awaiting FCC approval for WNYF-LP in St Lawrence County.
The application to convert WNYF-LP to DTV operations was made last July. We have been told our proposal has passed Canadian review and the regulatory comment period has ended...so approval, barring any objections, should be days away. United Communication Corporation has already ordered a new DTV transmitter for our St Lawrence County operations and is preparing the site for installation. As a reminder, when this project is complete WNYF-LP will digitally be operating with channel 28.1 providing digital broadcasts of WNYF FOX-28 programming and 28.2 the HDTV programming of WWNY. This operation will not only digitize the FOX operation in St Lawrence County, but will help back-fill WWNY coverage to areas no longer served by our Watertown signal as a result of the transition to DTV.
One final update, DISH Network added local stations to their system last Thursday. Subscribers of DISH Network can now receive satellite broadcasts of our signals. This too will help back-fill areas lost from the DTV transition.
The application to convert WNYF-LP to DTV operations was made last July. We have been told our proposal has passed Canadian review and the regulatory comment period has ended...so approval, barring any objections, should be days away. United Communication Corporation has already ordered a new DTV transmitter for our St Lawrence County operations and is preparing the site for installation. As a reminder, when this project is complete WNYF-LP will digitally be operating with channel 28.1 providing digital broadcasts of WNYF FOX-28 programming and 28.2 the HDTV programming of WWNY. This operation will not only digitize the FOX operation in St Lawrence County, but will help back-fill WWNY coverage to areas no longer served by our Watertown signal as a result of the transition to DTV.
One final update, DISH Network added local stations to their system last Thursday. Subscribers of DISH Network can now receive satellite broadcasts of our signals. This too will help back-fill areas lost from the DTV transition.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
WNYF-CA, Watertown Makes the DTV/HDTV Transition
WNYF-CA began DTV broadcasts yesterday. WNYF-CD's DTV coverage covers most of Jefferson County and a good portion of Lewis County. Its broadcasts are in HDTV, which of course provides greater resolution and a widescreen presentation. WNYF's programming on WWNY's subchannel 7.2, is standard definition. To enjoy the greater resolution broadcasts of WNYF you will need an HDTV with a digital tuner. Viewers will need to rescan for DTV channels to capture the new broadcasts of WNYF.
Don't hesitate to pass on successful reception stories ... this will help us gauge "real-world" coverage.
It is considered a low-powered station, but its coverage is much greater than its analog coverage. Within the next few weeks/days WNYF-CA's analog transmitter will be shut off.
WNYF-LP, Massena has an application before the FCC for DTV conversion. Once operational WNYF-LD's signal will cover much of St Lawrence County. Its FOX programming will be in standard definition DTV (hopefully in widescreen), and will have a sub-channel of WWNY's HDTV CBS programming.
Don't hesitate to pass on successful reception stories ... this will help us gauge "real-world" coverage.
It is considered a low-powered station, but its coverage is much greater than its analog coverage. Within the next few weeks/days WNYF-CA's analog transmitter will be shut off.
WNYF-LP, Massena has an application before the FCC for DTV conversion. Once operational WNYF-LD's signal will cover much of St Lawrence County. Its FOX programming will be in standard definition DTV (hopefully in widescreen), and will have a sub-channel of WWNY's HDTV CBS programming.
Monday, June 15, 2009
6/12 DTV Deadline Has Passed, Have We/You Survived?
Well the extended DTV deadline of 6/12/09 has come and gone. Now all full-powered TV stations are broadcasting digitally. I note "full-powered" because LPTV stations, like WNYF-CA/WNYF-LP, or translators have no Federal mandate to convert...yet. WNYF-CA does have plans to digitize and hopes to be broadcasting by summers end in HDTV. We are exploring sites/frequencies etc for a Massena conversion as well.
WWTI in Watertown was the last full-powered station to cease analog broadcasts and I suspect the transition to all DTV broadcasts went without a hitch....lucky guys. WWTI did not change frequencies or any technical parameters like WWNY did in February.
We still take occasional calls from folks wondering if we are experiencing problems or if we are running low-powered and have any plans to upgrade the signal. Fact is WWNY is and has been broadcasting a strong VHF channel 7 signal since 2/17/09...nothing has changed and there are no plans to change. WWNY already applied for, was granted, and operates with a power increase over our original assignment from the FCC. We have witnessed our signal throughout the area ...as far as 100 miles from the transmitter. What we have learned is antennas are so so critical.
If you are still experiencing issues getting channel 7 please visit www.antennaweb.org or www.tvfool.com for guidance on antennas and their orientation towards the station.
FYI, Echostar has expressed some interest recently about building a facility to uplink local stations to satellite. Local stations on satellite might offer another option to viewers experiencing problems. Stay tuned, we'll let you know how that progresses. The Federal Law that allows satellite to carry local stations expires at the end of the year, and there may be changes to the law that forces satellite into offering local stations in all markets. We'll keep you up-to-date on these developments as well.
WWTI in Watertown was the last full-powered station to cease analog broadcasts and I suspect the transition to all DTV broadcasts went without a hitch....lucky guys. WWTI did not change frequencies or any technical parameters like WWNY did in February.
We still take occasional calls from folks wondering if we are experiencing problems or if we are running low-powered and have any plans to upgrade the signal. Fact is WWNY is and has been broadcasting a strong VHF channel 7 signal since 2/17/09...nothing has changed and there are no plans to change. WWNY already applied for, was granted, and operates with a power increase over our original assignment from the FCC. We have witnessed our signal throughout the area ...as far as 100 miles from the transmitter. What we have learned is antennas are so so critical.
If you are still experiencing issues getting channel 7 please visit www.antennaweb.org or www.tvfool.com for guidance on antennas and their orientation towards the station.
FYI, Echostar has expressed some interest recently about building a facility to uplink local stations to satellite. Local stations on satellite might offer another option to viewers experiencing problems. Stay tuned, we'll let you know how that progresses. The Federal Law that allows satellite to carry local stations expires at the end of the year, and there may be changes to the law that forces satellite into offering local stations in all markets. We'll keep you up-to-date on these developments as well.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
It's All About Antennas
WWNY engineers have been traveling the North Country testing our digital signal. What we have found is the signal is great most everywhere....but...without a good reception antenna it can leave you with the impression that its weak or missing. In fact the new DTV signal is not only stronger, but travels a further distance than our previous one... further than even the predicted coverage maps indicate.
It's all about antennas. The best choice is always an outdoor antenna. It will capture a signal better because of fewer obstructions and it is less likely to receive reflected signals which can interfere with the performance of a TV set or converter box. We also have found that basic antennas seem to work the best. A good old aerial with metal rods are best, not the flying saucer or airplane wing shaped antennas that are often marketed as "HDTV Ready".
Indoor antennas may work in some locations, but are more subject to receiving reflected signals that confuse the sets/boxes. Good old rabbit ears without amplification and the long metal rods work the best.
For more info on antennas and their orientation towards the stations you might visit:
www.antennaweb.org or www.tvfool.com.
It's all about antennas. The best choice is always an outdoor antenna. It will capture a signal better because of fewer obstructions and it is less likely to receive reflected signals which can interfere with the performance of a TV set or converter box. We also have found that basic antennas seem to work the best. A good old aerial with metal rods are best, not the flying saucer or airplane wing shaped antennas that are often marketed as "HDTV Ready".
Indoor antennas may work in some locations, but are more subject to receiving reflected signals that confuse the sets/boxes. Good old rabbit ears without amplification and the long metal rods work the best.
For more info on antennas and their orientation towards the stations you might visit:
www.antennaweb.org or www.tvfool.com.
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