Individual Local Stations Digital Preparedness Tests

[jcrandall]

As we near Feb 2009's digital transition, many stations will conduct a test to show viewers if they are not receiving a digital signal.

DirecTV is using both analog and digital signals at their local receive facilities around the country. Not all have been upgraded to digital reception yet.

DirecTV has made it clear that ALL local receive facilities will use digital before the 2/17/09 transition date.

We were asked to share this info about local market testing this week, during which some viewers may see a "failed test" image. Rest assured, this will be corrected before the transition date.

In preparation for the Digital Transition in February 2009, one station in Ft. Smith/Fayetteville AR (KHBS -ABC 40) and one station in Fargo, ND (KXJB-CBS-4) will be completing a test during their broadcasts on Friday October 17th. The Fargo station will be running the test between 5:00-5:30 PM Central Tim. The Fayatteville, Ft. Smith time is TBD)

These stations have not transitioned from analog to digital yet, so DIRECTV customers may see a slide stating, "You have failed the Digital Test".

We can advise the customer that if they received their local channels from DIRECTV, they will not have any issues in February 2009.

Also, two stations in Sacramento CA will be completing a test during their broadcasts.

KCRA-TV ABC -3 at 6:30 PM PT
KQCA – MNT – 58 at 0800 AM PT

These stations have transitioned to digital which means customers should not see any outages during tests.

 

[jcrandall]

FYI - The following Markets in North Carolina will be testing at various times today:
Charlotte, Greensboro NC
Greenville NC
Raleigh-Durham NC
Roanoke NC

These stations are still analog so customers may get a message saying they have failed the test but they will not be losing any local channels in 2009.

 

[Bob Nielsen]

Here is the schedule for the Directv and Dish transition to picking up the digital signal: http://mstv.org/docs/satschedalpha.pdf. The Seattle switch actually happened a few days later than this schedule shows.

 

[Zynergi]

I wish D* would inform their customers/CSR's of this, I have gone on numerous service calls because of the "fail" and they bought the converter boxes which obviously mess things up when put in line with the SAT-IN

 

[sundude90]

Here is the schedule for the Directv and Dish transition to picking up the digital signal: http://mstv.org/docs/satschedalpha.pdf. The Seattle switch actually happened a few days later than this schedule shows.

Where did you find this? I find it very weird that Bangor, ME is not going off the Digital Feed if they just added that market in April 08.

 

[MikeinBaja]

Here is the schedule for the Directv and Dish transition to picking up the digital signal: http://mstv.org/docs/satschedalpha.pdf. The Seattle switch actually happened a few days later than this schedule shows.

Just thinking out loud - wonder if this will affect the guys who use FTA as they view the locals, say off the 123 bird.

 

[hdtvtechno]

From WLS-DT ABC7 engineering: IN Chicago TV market Area

"We are planning on doing the testing on November 8-14 from 1am-4:45am".

So...mark your calendars now, they will be turning off analog 7 and throwing on their digital signal for almost 3 hours on physical channel 7, so you can test to see if you can get it during those dates and time frames. The test will be 4.75 kw from high atop Sears Tower.

 

[rad]

From WLS-DT ABC7 engineering: IN Chicago TV market Area

"We are planning on doing the testing on November 8-14 from 1am-4:45am".

So...mark your calendars now, they will be turning off analog 7 and throwing on their digital signal for almost 3 hours on physical channel 7, so you can test to see if you can get it during those dates and time frames. The test will be 4.75 kw from high atop Sears Tower.

Well, except for the H20 IIRC no other DirecTV receiver will be able to see WLS-DT on ch7 since those boxes don't scan but count on a data base to map ATSC channels. Thanks for passing along the news.

 

[jcrandall]

The following stations in the New York Market will be doing Digital Preparedness Testing Tuesday 10/28 in the late afternoon/evening:
WABC – TV (ABC, ch 7)
WCBS – TV (CBS, ch 2)
WFUT – TV (UNI, ch 68)
WLIW – TV (PBS, ch 21)
WNBC – TV (NBC, ch 4
WNET – TV (PBS, ch 13)
WNJU – TV (Telemundo, ch 47)
WNYE – TV (NYC Media, ch 25)
WNYW – TV (Fox, ch 5)
WPIX – TV (CW, ch 11)
WPXN – TV (ION ch 31)
WWOR – TV (MNT ch 9)
WXTV – TV (UNI, ch 41)
Customers should not see any outages during this test.