WTAE files to get repeater signal
Pittsburgh:Scott Fybush reports that WTAE-DT (4/RF 51) has applied for a special temporary authortiy to run a "replacement service" translater on RF 22 - the signal vacated by analog WPMY-TV. These services are authorized to fill the gaps which could receive the station in analog but have fallen outside of the DTV range for the same station.
Because of WTAE's transmitter location in Buena Vista PA (AKA - Elizabeth Township), the loss for digital includes densely populated areas of Northern Allegheny County, Southern Butler County, Southern Armstrong County and Northwest Westmoreland County. This transmitter location has often been a problem - even for analog.
Therefore WTAE has requested authorization from the FCC for a 9.25 kW digital translator on channel 22. The translator would be placed on the WQED tower in Oakland.
Readers’ Forum
That is the one major weakness of the digital TV transition is the smaller coverage area. And yet the FCC didn’t approve of such translators until a few months ago, so it will be some time before such translators go up. I just wonder if this translator will use virtual channel 4, which would make it seamless to the average viewer. But yes even in analog WTAE was impossible to get in New Castle while KDKA, WPXI, WQED, and WPGH came in fine. Lawrence County IMO should be reallocated to the Youngstown DMA, the TV stations there come in much better and aside from New Castle and Ellwood City, is largely rural and there are some areas like parts of Enon Valley that don’t even get cable. Classic example of an area on the border of two markets but not firmly with either.
Joe Gerard (URL) - March 02, 2009 at 11:20 am
Based on living nearly 20 years on the Butler / Lawrence County border in my youth, this effort won’t benefit anyone that far North. :(
High band VHF reception was marginal in that area, and UHF from Pittsburgh was a lost cause with full power analog once the foliage turned green.
RJ
RJ Kanary - March 04, 2009 at 12:59 pm
This won’t benefit me either . . . I already can’t get the WQED digital signal . . . so I still won’t be able to get WTAE either . . . another continuing problem with this whole DTV transition.
This was not well thought out by those who forced this upon us.
Troy - March 05, 2009 at 08:40 am
Well, this is encouraging! I live in Dormont and get most of the available digital channels, with the exception of the always elusive WTAE. I have always just barely gotten the analog signal, but the digital is a dead zero. I watch most of my television online, but it would be nice to have WTAE for some things.
Aaron Cockroft - March 05, 2009 at 10:48 am
There is another problem with this, fox 66 out of Erie is on the same channel, posing 2 problems. A reduced footprint of useable signal to Pittsburgh’s North and a potential loss (due to digital interference) of some Fox 66 viewers in it’s Southern Markets. This transition is tough enough on people without potential for stuff like this. How about finding a clean channel that will solve, not cause a problem? Anyone have any good contacts at the FCC so I can e-mail & point this out?
Alan Steadman - March 09, 2009 at 08:16 am
Alan – You can go to the FCC website at http://www.fcc.gov/ and voice your concerns there. WTAE could have went with one of the soon to be vacant analog Youngstown channel locations, 21,27 or 33. There are other applications in Pittsburgh for 21 and 27 but 33 looks open. There could be some interference in southern Mercer county but that would be filled by WYFX 27-2 (41)on WKBN’s digital signal. WKBN DT broadcasts both CBS & Fox in HD.
Tom Lavery (URL) - March 09, 2009 at 09:51 am
I live in a rural pine tree blocked area in the middle of Somerset County down in between hills and i raised my new antenna 50-feet high to try to get pittsburgh stations. I get some but not all of them. I get 22,19,and sometimes 13 and 53. I would like to get 2 and 4 but the pine trees seem to blocking their signal somehow. I would welcome any translator booster that would help me get these 2 stations!
I can’t cut down the pine trees because they are not on my property.
RICHARD WALKER - January 08, 2010 at 1:19 pm