I got a PM from 4HD DTV this morning saying that for the past few days he's been seeing a Digital Carrier on Channel 54 with his Spectrum Analyzer but no digital lock on his STB.

I'll keep an eye on it too, but this is very interesting because 54 is coming up on Orcas Island, where KVOS-DT is expected to go live on March 1. I'm wondering if they'll throw the switch on several digital stations at once... :D

Here's the FCC listing for Channel 54 in Bellingham, WA:

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=130161

I have no idea about what station they'll be repeating, and the holding companies that own these translator stations never seem to answer my emails.

For the record, here are the Construction Permits issued for Bellingham:

K38JH Channel 38
KDNB-LP Channel 43
K54IQ Channel 54
K65HP Channel 65 <--- not sure if this one has been reassigned a new channel below 59

Stampeder,
K54IQ has had its construction permit rescinded:
http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_list.pl?Facility_id=130161
Many of the issued low power television stations in northwest Washington have had there construction permits expire. Check the "Appliction List" section of the TV Query results on the FCC page. Better yet use the FCC application search: http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_sear.htm

Channel 54 digital is the Victoria transmiter of Channel M Vancouver. CRTC approved this channel at 78 Watts ERP. This is very low power even by CTV standards.:rolleyes:
Is there any activity of digital 20 - Channel M Vancouver? Perhaps they are doing their testing on the Victoria station first?

I looked into the American digital low power stations a while ago. I believe that K38JH has applied for digital 24 and K65HP has applied for digital 34. Christian low power 43 applied for digital 49.

Just recently Venture Technologies (the same company that has construction permits for 38 and 65) also applied for channel 60 analogue. Perhaps this is another channel for which a digital companion application will be made soon. This would allow three Seattle stations to rebroadcast in Bellingham.

I called KBCB-DT - they are off line as a part has blown and are expect to be up this Sat.

Can anyone comment about the programming on KBCB?

Their analogue channel 24 switched programming to a shopping channel on or around Jan 1.

Has their digital channel also switched to shopping? I think this station is a prime candidate that should look into using subchannels on their digital channel to have programming in addition to the shopping.

I have never been able to get a lock on digital 19 from east Vancouver using an inddor antenna, but I have been very close. If there is anything worth watching I will try to tune it in.

Ardsa,

I'm in Bellingham and although my tv has locked on to 19.1 / 24.1 there is no signal present. Analog 24 is it--flea market broadcasting. If that's all they're going to offer I for one am not interested.

32.1 on the other hand is certainly showing improvement. Signal -- no picture -- is 35 with bursts up to 54 with momentary picture. And the picture thats there for a couple of seconds is beautiful.

Just checked the other channels and nothing.

That flash of frozen picture that you are seeing when 32.1 won't lock is the ATSC tuner finally being able to produce an image from the data stream but then losing the stream, so the same image just sits there in the tuner's buffer and isn't discarded - if there are any further data stream hits that don't quite make a proper picture, that first picture might show up again as the buffer is triggered once more.

Its not a glitch or mistake, just a quirk that will probably go away with future generation ATSC chipsets.

If CIVT-DT ever gets a decent, proper power output level from IC/CRTC you will get their broadcasts clear as a bell.

Ardsa, thanks for the station info wrap-up - what a bizarre story to try to follow! :D

No there is very little on KBCB-DT however the multicultural is varied in New West I get it in at 90% dtv 19 remap to 24 and the shopping is on the dtv too, they are down till Sat a blown high voltage part a new one is due to arrive and to be installed Sat.

stampeder,

will the broadcast in March contain HD content?

No, KVOS does not plan to broadcast in HD, it will be SD.

I hadn't heard that before, VBC1. With KVOS now being put up for sale we'll see how things pan out if they're bought. ATSC DTV includes the capability to broadcast in SD or HD as needed, so really it all comes down to programming decisions. We'll see.

Well maybe its the fog today but I gett KCPQ fox in at 50% on 13.1 (18).

Anyone else notice a signal strength drop in these two channels since yesterday? I also notice a significant increase in PBS 9.5 HD signal strength at the same time.

I called the station yesterday and was told the replaced part they replaced clearly was not the only damage part. A coupler arced across when they powered and so it was replaced with the new one still no go the srcreen something or other is dead too. The have ordered it, it is on the way to them. As I spoke to the rep there he told me of the new tower being built close by thier tower.:p
Dan
KBCB 19.1 24

I called the station yesterday and was told the replaced part they replaced clearly was not the only damage partThe FCC database now shows a Feb. 12, 2007 application from KBCB-DT Bellingham (19.1) for "REMAIN SILENT AUTHORITY" for "TECHNICAL" reasons:

http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1172468

Gee, for awhile we won't get to see fake jewelry, third rate actors selling cosmetics, or informercials about all purpose blender/juicer/rotisseries. ;)

I wish I knew what happened to their original programming goals...

I believe that K38JH has applied for digital 24 and K65HP has applied for digital 34. Christian low power 43 applied for digital 49.Yep, and here's the paperwork for those:

Channel 24 DT:
http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1161728

Channel 34 DT:
http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1155673

Channel 49 DT:
http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1156965

todays update from KBCB-DT...The new screen supply board arrived at the station yesterday. We will be taking it up to the transmitter site and installing it sometime this weekend and hopefully that will get us back online.

Any comments on what programming Venture Technologies Group will be airing on 24 & 34 if/when they go live? 49 is self explanatory.

KBCB-DT around 11:41 the signal started again.
With my new 4228 no amp no pre amp in ATI HDTV WinXp I am getting the signal at 66% with very little fluctuation. with the antenna that came with the card I get the same signal inside but with very great drops ups and down.

feb 20th update from KBCB-DTHi Dan,

The fact that you can get us at all means that you have a good quality
amplifier. Our transmitter still has problems (the screen supply problem
damaged the tube). We are only operating at 25% power -- the fact that you
can still get a signal is encouraging.

Also, I contacted KVOS today to check about the progress.
The person I spoke to was very polite and helpful.
He said he just got back from the new transmitter site today, that the site is almost finished and they need to put a transmitter inside.
I think he said the tower is 500 feet tall (I don't know what that means, don't understand American measures)
They are a little behind, but should start broadcasting by the end of March, or on 1st of April at the latest.
He said he is eager to hear any experiences about the reception once they start broadcasting.
Also, he said the signal will be SD, not HD, they don't see it going to HD for now.

I also, phoned Global, but this time they would not transfer call to engineering to always happy-to-help staff there (maybe they got the order from Winnipeg HQ to start behaving more like CTV).
The person told me something like: "not going to be starting to broadcast in HD at this time". I hope this doesn't mean they are cancelling their HD plans again.
I said that last time they told me "by summer", and she said "well, just - there is no set date at this time".
Last time I spoke to the engineering, the person told me they are putting in the new HD master control, so if that was the case, then maybe the plans for summer are true after all, otherwise it would not make any sense.