WITI has FCC authorization for temp. operation [Archive]

Gregg Lengling

05-01-2002, 11:33 AM

There is a signal there, but I would think they are running 1000 watts or less. Plus add in that it is on their 200' tower on Green Bay and Brown Deer in Brown Deer. Not going to be the greatest signal. I don't know where you are located but you might be too far, also they may just have the tx up and not the data stream yet. It's only been up an hour...these things aren't easy to fire up.

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Gregg R. Lengling
RCA P61310 61" 16x9
gregg@camelcomm.com

Joseph S

05-01-2002, 11:57 AM

Yahoo's maps claim that I'm 11 miles from the stated intersection. That should be more than close enough. We'll see. http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/ubb/smile.gif

Still nothing new on third rescan and thanks again WI$$$N for nothing.

Kevin Arnold

05-01-2002, 12:40 PM

Nothing on 33 when scanning here in Hartland.

Matt Heebner

05-01-2002, 04:04 PM

Damn it, I am getting NOTHING on 33. Did a re-scan and nothing. Tried entering it manually, nothing. This is such a let down.
HEY WITI..WHERE IS YOUR SIGNAL???????????

Matt

Kevin Arnold

05-01-2002, 04:14 PM

A WITI engineer was seen climbing the tower next to the station and taping a FRS radio to the top of the tower. He then plugged a cord into the mike socket and duct taped the transmit button to on. Unfortunately he forgot the 9 volt battery. Check for the WITI truck at K Mart.......

Joseph S

05-01-2002, 04:22 PM

Unfortunately he forgot the 9 volt battery. Check for the WITI truck at K Mart.......

Didn't they go out of business. http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/ubb/wink.gif He might have to foot the high cost of a battery at Walgreens.

Matt Heebner

05-01-2002, 04:31 PM

http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/ubb/tongue.gif http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/ubb/tongue.gif
What did WITI think, that they would just "flip" the switch and everything would go off without a hitch? I bet Jim Hall is laughing his butt off that they are so arrogant as to think that way. How long did it take CBS to get it "down" pat ?? About a week or so, and they are still having minor issues almost two months later. I think we are going to be extremely lucky to see a signal...with programming...in about two weeks.
Come on WITI, make me a liar! Was lookin forward to seeing Malcolm In The Middle in 480p tonight.

Matt

Steve Mann

05-01-2002, 04:46 PM

Originally posted by Matt Heebner:
Was lookin forward to seeing Malcolm In The Middle in 480p tonight.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for 'The X-Files' on Sunday. Hopefully by then, they might have SOME of the kinks worked out.

Joseph S

05-01-2002, 05:49 PM

I'm getting something on ATSC CH 16 every rescan now. The signal ranges from 0-5 so I don't know what exactly it is.

Rafiki

05-01-2002, 06:33 PM

Tried all day. No signal coming to Jackson. It is like it was yesterday. What's the e-mail address for the FCC. I think they would love to hear from all of us.

Michael 67" Sony 16:9

Joseph S

05-01-2002, 07:15 PM

What's the e-mail address for the FCC.
http://www.fcc.gov/contacts.html

http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

Gregg Lengling

05-01-2002, 07:16 PM

Well I left the office at 1Pm and there was a digital signal on the spectrum analyzer on channel 34...got home and apparently they don't have it working right because my receiver isn't acknowledging it, acts like nothing is there. This is understandable if the data stream is corrupt as my receiever will think it is just noise. So come on, do I have to walk down the block and see the chief engineer (who is my neighbor) personally and find out what is going on. Oh well regarding some of the previous posts....the engineer could have gone to Grafton K-Mart and got those batteries for his FRS radio at a great discount with their store closing sale.

------------------
Gregg R. Lengling
RCA P61310 61" 16x9
gregg@camelcomm.com

Gregg Lengling

05-01-2002, 07:17 PM

Hey Rafiki .... welcome to the group.....

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Gregg R. Lengling
RCA P61310 61" 16x9
gregg@camelcomm.com

Kevin Arnold

05-01-2002, 07:53 PM

The local stations had a test today. They just don't know they had one. The question on the test was--Since today, May 1st,represents one of the major deadlines for the US OTA broadcast industry in the transitions to digital, and since this will affect more that 98% of the populations eventually (who own TV sets), and since your station is one of the direct participants, do you run a news story about this deadline and include your stations complience or non complience with the mandate? This is the kind of issue that rarely comes along for a broadcast news department. It requires that you report objectively about yourself. It is, perhaps, one of the biggest tests of whether you have an objective, hard news, no sacred cows department, or whether you are simply infotainment designed to hold viewers long enough until the next commercial.

One of the hardest things for any news organization to do is report on itself. And how it reports on itself tell volumns. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel will do stories on itself, but critical ones are the hardest for it to do. TV 6 and 12 had this major story and could have informed their viewers about what it means for them, and what the future holds. It would have also required them to reveal their failure to meet the deadline and actually explain why they didn't. Imagine the station manager of TV12 in front of his own cameras casting about for a reason for their delay. But, no worry, it looks like they fail this test. Draw your own conclusions. While quick to jack-hammer other industries for their shortcomings, they can't bring themselves to report on themselves.

Even the stations that are the "haves" won't touch this story. You see it in techie magazines and to a lesser extent in the newspapers arount the country. Our own JS relegates it to a paragraph or two in the TV-Radio column. The emperor truly has no clothes.

Its a sad state of affairs when the non boradcast professionals in this group are more up to speed on this issue and complience here than some of the people who should know.

Joseph S

05-01-2002, 08:47 PM

And how it reports on itself tell volumes.

[major rant concerning local management]
I didn't expect a single story on this. It's a shame to see on 100000watts.com all those green "On Air" in NC, CA, PA, MA, AZ, etc. Here the TV stations only change if the anchors leave, which happens at WISN weekly it seems. http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/ubb/wink.gif The format is always the same and the stories are nothing but puff pieces be it on murder or charitable deeds.

It's the same story on the radio: The TV stations own the radio stations. All (2) http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/ubb/smile.gif stations in this town are one trick ponies. I swear WTMJ radio will have the same 10 washed up topics from 9-2pm and 8-12AM everyday for the next 15 years. WISN is nothing but the usual syndicated garbage. The only decent radio is some of the stuff on WGN and even WSCR. At Late night, the nationwide clear channel radio signals are a Godsend to this area.

I still can't believe the interviews by the sports team at WTMJ radio. They had Bud Selig on this past winter and the interviewer kissed his feet for two hours. On the day Lopes was fired, they did the same to Wendy Selig. The Bucks lost miserably and after all the "they'll turn on the switch" talk they don't even address the issue during the following week?

In other markets when the team goes south, it doesn't matter if you're the home affiliate. You bash management for every screw-up they make, because everyone listening knows it to be the truth. To skirt around the issue is bush league. The same goes for local political talk. I'm not one in favor of either of the two main parties, but you can't even get a Democrat's viewpoint on the air let alone an Independent or Libertarian.

It's just one long line. TV own radio, radio doesn't bash TV and TV doesn't bash radio. Local sports teams provide content for local radio/tv and thus the tv/radio refuse to cite problems. Nobody has the guts to stand up and say...

It's May 1, and we've just insulted every one of you still watching our station and we're not going to apologize for it.
[/major rant concerning local management] http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Joseph S (edited 05-01-2002).]

Todd Wiedemann

05-02-2002, 09:25 AM

Did anyone try FOX this morning ??
www.100000watts.com (http://www.100000watts.com) reports that it's live.

I won't be able to try until this evening.

Kevin Arnold

05-02-2002, 09:30 AM

I scanned before leaving for work this morning about 7 am. Nothing. Maybe the walkie talkie strength transmitter won't reach out to Hartland, though.

Tom Snyder

05-02-2002, 09:51 AM

I checked as well at about 8:30 and got nothing...

I agree with Matt's assessment of their arrogance. Do they not know that this group exists as resource SPECIFICALLY FOR THEM, or are they simply choosing to ignore our assistance?

Does anyone else beside me have an even higher respect and regard for Jim Hall today for his proactivity, support and participation?

bimmer_immer

05-02-2002, 09:57 AM

As of 10:00 am, there is video (sort of), but no audio on my DTC-100. Lots of macro blocks & freezes, etc. Signal strength is low (20-30). I am approx. 5 miles from the station in Mequon.
-Brian

Gregg Lengling

05-02-2002, 10:13 AM

The signal strength on my spectrum analyzer at my shop (Teutonia and Mill) just a couple miles south of the station is lower than it was yesterday. Also it is much lousier signal than any of the other stations. There are peaks and valleys in the bandwidth....the other digital stations show a great flat area for the entire 6 MHz.

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Gregg R. Lengling
RCA P61310 61" 16x9
gregg@camelcomm.com

JimmyBond

05-02-2002, 10:59 AM

I was able to pick up WITI no problem yesterday at about 6:45pm. Had to turn my antenna more North/Northwest though. (I live two blocks north of Mitchell Int. Airport) Still low signal strength. Kind of funny, I get the same signal strength if turn my antenna towards Chicago and pick up their FOX.

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JimmyBond from the Planet bminus.net

Channel Master 3671
Samsung SIR-T 150
Toshiba 50HX81

RRP

05-02-2002, 03:31 PM

WITI just got listed this afternoon as a new DTV station on the www.nab.org (http://www.nab.org) website.

I haven't got my STB yet. I'm waiting for WISN and for more programming in HDTV. That puts my timeline into the fall, maybe Xmas. Hopefully the tuners will be cheaper as well.

Richard

Matt Heebner

05-02-2002, 04:20 PM

I can't get any type of signal as of 4:20pm what so ever. Scanning doesnt work, and manually entering doesnt work either.
If someone gets a solid signal with programming, please post. I am not that far from WITI, about 9 mi, and shouldnt have any problem getting them.
Thats okay though, looks to be a good CSI tonight!

Matt

JohnRacine

05-02-2002, 06:16 PM

I'm brand new to HDTV and wonder if anyone can tell me which antenna to use to capture HD signals. I have both a UHF and VHF antenna on my roof (mounted on a rotor). I'm receiving several strong channels from Chicago, but only 4-1, 10-1,2,3,4&5 from Milwaukee. Is the digital signal from CBS channel 58 very weak? Do I use a UHF or VHF antenna to try to find it? I'm using a Toshiba 3000DST and would love to get CBS. I do receive both WMAQ 5.1, WLS 7.1, WGN 9.1&2, PBS 11.1 and FOX 32.1 all from Chicago with a high quality signal on all channels. But, I can't receive the Chicago CBS affiliate on 2.1 so I'm out of luck for CBS from both cities. Any ideas? I'm on the south side of Racine. Thanks in advance.

JimmyBond

05-02-2002, 06:33 PM

Originally posted by Matt Heebner:
I can't get any type of signal as of 4:20pm what so ever. Scanning doesnt work, and manually entering doesnt work either.
If someone gets a solid signal with programming, please post. I am not that far from WITI, about 9 mi, and shouldnt have any problem getting them.
Thats okay though, looks to be a good CSI tonight!

Matt

I just checked and was receiving it fine. (by the mitchell airport) It's a VERY weak signal though.

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JimmyBond from the Planet bminus.net

Channel Master 3671
Samsung SIR-T 150
Toshiba 50HX81

Joseph S

05-02-2002, 06:37 PM

What ATSC station??

I'm getting nothing but a blip (0-5) on ATSC 16 with no Video. I'm 6 miles as the bird files from the tower according to lat/long.

Matt Heebner

05-02-2002, 07:16 PM

I can't get anything. I even tried taking the antenna outside with me to see if that was it. If you are down by the airport and can get that signal in, I should be able to also. Are you using a roof-top? All I am using is a RS double bow-tie. Every other station I get is in the 90's for signal strength.
What is WITI doing?? As far as I am concerned...there is no FOX digital signal. If anyone getting it, let us know how Return Of The Jedi looks in 480p cause I cant get it...:-(

Matt

Kevin Arnold

05-02-2002, 07:38 PM

ATSC 16???? Is this Fox?? I thought it was on channel 33. Am I missing something?

Tom Snyder

05-02-2002, 08:05 PM

Does anyone from this group know anyone from 6? Somebody's gotta contact them and tell them what they need to hear... I knew Andy Potos when he owned the joint, but now I know nobody over there.

Joseph S

05-02-2002, 08:13 PM

ATSC 16???? Is this Fox?? I thought it was on channel 33. Am I missing something?

Yeah, I have no idea what it is. For all I know it is something from MN or IL with their 10+ OTA stations. http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/ubb/frown.gif

It figures that someone named "James Bond" knows the secret code. http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/ubb/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by Joseph S (edited 05-02-2002).]

Kevin Arnold

05-03-2002, 06:51 AM

LOST
One small digital puppy. Answers to the name Fox and has a 33 on his collar. Should be found close to his home on Green Bay Road-he doesn't wander far. Careful when he gets excited-he tends to pixellate. If you see him, post it here. Miss him terribly.

Hedy

Gregg Lengling

05-03-2002, 06:59 AM

Tom Nielsen the cheif engineer is a neighbor of mine...haven't seen him in a couple of months....maybe I'll take a walk over there Sunday and talk with him.

------------------
Gregg R. Lengling
RCA P61310 61" 16x9
gregg@camelcomm.com

JimmyBond

05-03-2002, 08:54 AM

Originally posted by Matt Heebner:
Are you using a roof-top? If anyone getting it, let us know how Return Of The Jedi looks in 480p cause I cant get it...:-(

Matt

I put up a channel master 3671 on rotor just for HD. I live in a valley so the double bow-tie wasn't cutting it. I figured "if I'm going to put up an antenna, then I going to get the biggest damn one I can find."
http://www.channelmaster.com/pages/c1.htm

Jedi:
WITI wasn't sending FOX's widescreen feed, they were just sending an up-converted 4:3. I checked Chicago just to make sure it was supposed to be 16:9, and it was. Didn't matter though, nothing trumps CSI.

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JimmyBond from the Planet bminus.net

Channel Master 3671
Samsung SIR-T 150
Toshiba 50HX81

RobbQ

05-03-2002, 12:21 PM

Jimmy (big antenna)Bond,

I am trying to determine if I should be getting a rooftop antenna. What other stations do you get and how well do they come in? I know that you have said that you get some Chicago stations, what about Madison? You are a little closer to Chicago than I am but further from Madison. Is the reception dependable with most stations? Or is it hit and miss?

JimmyBond

05-03-2002, 01:57 PM

Originally posted by RobbQ:
I am trying to determine if I should be getting a rooftop antenna. What other stations do you get and how well do they come in? I know that you have said that you get some Chicago stations, what about Madison? You are a little closer to Chicago than I am but further from Madison. Is the reception dependable with most stations? Or is it hit and miss?

preface:
I have a samsung sirt-150 and when compared to my friends direct-tv/hd combo receiver the signal strengths reported are vastly different. Some have said that the samsung is a more accurate view of the actual signal strength, but your guess is as good as mine. For this discussion I will state the signal strength as is told by my samsung. It is displayed as a side to side graph of bars. I think there are 14 total bars. Here is a general scale from what I have seen.

0-1 bars: extremely weak, intermitent or no picture
2-4 bars: weak but stable, no drop outs
4+: medium to strong signal, very stable

I haven't tried to pick up madison stations, I will try on sat. and post the results here.

From chi. I get FOX (3bars), WGN-WB (6-7bars), Telemundo (6bars), PAX (5bars), NBC (3-4bars), ABC (0-1bars). Sometimes on clear nights I can receive a stable ABC signal, but it's rare. For the other channels it is not hit and miss, I just point the antenna towards chi. and walla. So, the only channels I really gain are FOX (which will hopefully be operating in our area soon), and WGN-WB (don't watch anything on WB though).

With regards to putting up a rooftop antenna. I was sceptical at first about putting up such a large antenna, it just got to the point where I said to myself "I want my HDTV". I don't have any regrets, and am very happy with the results.

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JimmyBond from the Planet bminus.net

Channel Master 3671
Samsung SIR-T 150
Toshiba 50HX81

RobbQ

05-03-2002, 02:48 PM

Wow, valuable information - thanks. I'll be anxiously awaiting your Madison results!

masonj0627

05-03-2002, 07:18 PM

Below is John J. Baich's (Fox 6's VP - Engineering & Operations), reply to my inquiry.
======================================
Jeff:

We had quite the crisis on our hands when our equipment arrived severely damaged from the manufacturer. We were able to get an emergency shipment of replacement gear, however, it is a lower powered transmitter. Our first broadcast was our 5 PM news on May 1.

John

>>> <masonj0627@ameritech.net> 05/03/02 06:16AM >>>

John,

The May 1 deadline has come and gone. I just checked your web site and saw
no mention of digital or HD TV.

What are your latest plans?

Concerned viewer.

Jeff Mason

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Baich" <JBAIC045@fox.com>
To:
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2002 4:04 PM
Subject: WITI DTV

Thank you for your interest and e-mail requesting information on WITI's DTV
project. WITI currently holds a FCC Construction Permit for DTV Channel 33.
We are actively working on the project however we have not established an
on-air date at this time. Please look to our web site in the future for
more information as we approach our on-the-air date in the coming weeks.

Sincerely,

John J. Baich
VP - Engineering & Operations
WITI Fox 6
414-586-2301

Tom Snyder

05-03-2002, 09:21 PM

We need to get his e-mail address... Is he aware of this site?

Kevin Arnold

05-03-2002, 09:32 PM

I seem to recall that Mr. Baich was changing jobs and moving to WFLD in Chicago. I don't remember where I read that but it sticks in my mind.

Anyway, there power must be really low because I can't get a peep out here in Hartland.

rnelson

05-03-2002, 10:12 PM

I just got home from Friday Night Rounds. Tried to turn to 33 and got a signal.

Too week to get a picture but it's steady at 22, max of 28 here in Waterford.

6:30 AM Update . 68-70 Picture but No Sound
Picture is nothing to write home about.

Roy

[This message has been edited by rnelson (edited 05-04-2002).]

masonj0627

05-04-2002, 06:55 AM

Here's John's email address: BAIC045@fox.com

John J. Baich
VP - Engineering & Operations
WITI Fox 6
414-586-2301

Gregg Lengling

05-04-2002, 08:54 AM

Yes you're right John got promoted to Chicago if you look at Fox6Milwaukee's website you will see a job posting for his position at the station.

------------------
Gregg R. Lengling
RCA P61310 61" 16x9
gregg@camelcomm.com

Matt Heebner

05-04-2002, 10:15 AM

I fired off an email to FOX inquiring about when the are going to start full power broadcasting. I cna't imagine that getting new equipment in and running is going to take that long especially if they got "emergency" equipment. I will say that they atleast tried to get in under the deadline unlike another station....WISN, WISN
http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

Matt

JimmyBond

05-04-2002, 10:59 PM

Originally posted by RobbQ:
Wow, valuable information - thanks. I'll be anxiously awaiting your Madison results!

Sorry, was unable to pick up anything solid from madison. Got a weak signal on certain frequencies, but nothing that resulted in a picture.

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JimmyBond from the Planet bminus.net

Channel Master 3671
Samsung SIR-T 150
Toshiba 50HX81

Tom Snyder

05-07-2002, 07:19 AM

We tried to send an email to John Baich yesterday to invite him to our group, but it bounced back, fueling fears that he had already left town for WFLD.

I called Fox 6 engineering and was pleasantly suprised to discover that an old friend of mine is now the receptionist/phone person in that department. She said that all their email was down yesterday and that John is actually still in Milwaukee 2-3 days a week until they find a replacement. She was interested in the HDTV group, and asked us to fax our info there and she'd make sure that he got it.

Bad news is that it's pretty hard to hit "reply" on a fax... so I don't know how soon or if we'll hear back from Him.