WITI plans

[ReesR]

I talked with the chief engineer of WITI today. Here is a summary of our conversation regarding the migration to digital:

1. The self supporting tower is being re-enforced to sustain the tower so it will be able to take the high-def transmission line and antenna. That phase should be done around thanksgiving (2002). He indicated that there are about 10 guys working on the tower currently. The cost of the tower project is about 1.2 million dollars.

2. The current transmitter, which is located on their microwave tower will be moved to the building at the base of the self supporting tower and the current antenna placed at a height of about 800 feet. However, the new transmission line needed for high power will NOT be hung on the self supporting tower. Also, they will use the same current digital transmitter with it's current extremely low power output (something like 800 watts).

There are no further plans being discussed other than that. The higher power transmitter has not been ordered, the transmission line nor a new antenna also have not been ordered.

When I heard that I did not ask about any upgrade to their studio equipment.

That's it guys and gals.

Conclusion: We will be watching alot of ABC, NBC and PBS high def programming in the future on Ch 12, 4 and 10. Ch58 still not viewable in Racine.


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Rees Roberts
Racine, WI
reesr@wi.net

HDTV Receiver: Sony KD-34XBR2
Bi-directional Yagi Antenna at 30 feet

[Tom Snyder]

Anyone have any idea of the service contour for 800 watts at 800 feet?

How does that compare with what 58 is running at the moment?

[Gregg Lengling]

It would be comparable to 58 as they are running about 800 to 1000 watts out, however 58 has a real antenna and feedline. Channel six if they use Heliax instead of 6" rigid line will have high losses, I don't have the specs in front of me but I wouldn't doubt at least 10dB of loss, that would put their power to the antenna at 80 watts and if the antenna is at least 10dB would put the ERP at 800 watts vs 58's 10,000 ERP. But if they are just transferring the antenna from the studio tower don't expect much as it is a pretty small one, so I would expect between 500 and 1000 watts ERP or 1/10th of 58's digital.


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Gregg R. Lengling
RCA P61310 61" 16x9
glengling@ameritech.net

[ReesR]

which translates to a 10 db worse signal than ch 58's IF you are WEST of Milwaukee. Those north and south of Milwaukee, please recall, do not get that 11kw of effective radiated power from 58. Plus I do not know if 6 is using a directional antenna.

In english, that means you still need one heck of an antenna to receive either 6 or 58 especially in the winter time and either north or south of Milwaukee.

[Gregg Lengling]

Yes 6 is using a directional from their studio with the main lobe SW from Brown Deer and Hwy 57.


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Gregg R. Lengling
RCA P61310 61" 16x9
glengling@ameritech.net

[techboywi]

Originally posted by ReesR:

When I heard that I did not ask about any upgrade to their studio equipment.



According to a posting on <a href="http://www.brewcitynews.com">BrewCity News</a>, they do need to do upgrades to their Master Control, before they can further proceed with the installation of DTV equipment

[Tom Snyder]

So for the three of you who can pick up their signal... are they passing through any of FOX's "almost HDTV" or widescreen?

[This message has been edited by Tom Snyder (edited 09-11-2002).]

[Gregg Lengling]

I can receive them 50% of the time and no I've never seen anything but 480i programming transmitted. I don't think they have the encoders and switching gear, all they did was dump 480i into the transmitter. They don't even do a 480p upconvert like 58 and 4 do......


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Gregg R. Lengling
RCA P61310 61" 16x9
glengling@ameritech.net

[Greg Oman]

Hmmmm. Maybe we need a penalty box section on this site.

Greg O.

[Kevin Arnold]

And we could call it the "Wisconsin Insincere Television Industries" or for short - WITI section.

[Mike Sheahan]

I have not seen anything but 480i either, although I must admit, even though I can recieve them I don't even look there much anymore because of the lack luster picture quality.



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Mits 65819
Hughes E86
My HT Page (http://www.angelfire.com/tv2/mike_sheahan/Home_Theater.htm)