WSEE addresses viewer complaints
Erie-Meadville:Over the past week, WSEE has been taking calls regarding problems with receiving the new digital signal on 16-1 which remaps to 35-1. (The station made the digital transition on the old transition date of February 17th.) WSEE reporter Charles Santini addressed the situation by showing viewers how to properly hook up a converter box as well as the antenna issue where he stated that you may need to invest in an outdoor antenna or put one in your attic in order to pull in the station. Of course, those very issues are addressed when viewers call the station. WQLN has also fielded calls about their digital only station and now is also answering questions about the reception of WSEE's digital signal. With two of Erie's stations now digital only, this will help to get viewers ready for when the other three Erie stations make the switch between now and June 12th.
Readers’ Forum
This is why I don’t understand why the FCC requires stations to broadcast the signals at such low power. In WSEE’s case, they only are broadcasting 75 thousand watts versus the over 1 megawatt transmission of the past. Yes they went to a lower frequency but it is still a major difference especially when you have an all or nothing signal.
They could greatly increase the power to closer to the FCC limit but instead they want the end user to upgrade his/her equipment so they save a buck. Then the owners will complain that the ratings fall off when the new book comes out. It would be nice if at least one TV station in Erie went to the 1 megawatt max allowed for UHF stations.
mark - February 25, 2009 at 8:57 pm
First we need to buy converter boxes (o.k. they are pretty cheap, especially if you got the coupon) . . . now we need to buy new outdoor antennas . . . they are NOT cheap . . . who is going to pay for that?? I can’t. I have been saying all along . . . this inferior technology should never have been implemented in the first place . . . it is a travesty of the analog television system in America that we have been enjoying all of these years!!
I think it is a secret ploy to get everyone to switch to cable or other pay-to-watch tv!!
Troy - February 26, 2009 at 08:22 am
While some antennas are not cheap, some will spend the money one time for an outdoor antenna setup instead of paying a monthly cable or satellite bill. Some people will have better luck than others with reception. I know people that can use rabbit ears for perfect digital reception while others need an outdoor setup. Sometimes that can be a small antenna while other times it has to be a large amplified setup like I have. I’d check out the TV Fool website for reception in your area rather than the inaccurate Antennaweb site. There was also news in a recent Wall Street Journal regarding programs bypassing broadcast networks and going directly to cable or satellite in possibly 10 years. However, new TV websites like Hulu could even put a hurt on cable or satellite services in the future.
Tom Lavery (URL) - February 28, 2009 at 11:48 am
I have been able to watch WSEE & WICU for the last 13 years I have lived here (Cochranton) and have also been employed at a Family owned TV & Appliance store in the area. During that time I have been active in Education, Sales, Installation, and now Trouble-Shooting of OTA systems. We have principally sold Winegard & Channel Master brands over the years and personally have a 30’ tower with high gain Yagi & a separate VHF antenna. Both units & the booster are upper end. The in-house distribution while not perfect, (older house) is well above the “norm”.
Because of my job, our lack of watchable reception of my wife’s favorite network has been a “topic of discussion.”
While not good, my situation is a far site better than the mostly elderly people who have been using rabbit ears. I spend a significant portion of my day on the phone with people who purchased their converter box at “W” and were told they would have no problems and would get even more than they did. I’ve been on my soapbox for over 2 years now that this will not go well and am sorry I’m right.
Adding confusion to panic, people who did what they were supposed to, hooked up their boxes & etc, have now found themselves with nothing or just 66. WSEE breaks up more than not down here, a lot of boxes don’t have analog pass thru so there goes 12 & 24…
I know this was thrust upon the broadcasters and there is still tweaking to be done, but please hear us, you are not strong enough to service what you used to. Also, WSEE’s sister station looks to be set to disappoint even more with 7.5 kw ERP. I do wish them luck in this and hope they pass on the feedback they receive to whomever is considering the petition.
Alan Steadman - March 09, 2009 at 02:02 am