Something else to consider: If you check the FCC data on transmitter locale/height, you will see that analog signals are usually at a higher point on the tower than digital signals, see buffalo signals. Maybe when the switchover is complete and final, digital signals will take the higher position that was occupied by the analog transmission, and viola, difficult signals will be easier to get?..., maybe..., fingers crossed.

ipedro,
Reception will improve. High Power analog transmissions will be gone someday. The high power stations not only take up bandwidth, but the AGC circuit in most tuners will reduce all signals so that the strongest station doesn't hurt your TV.
All stations are going to move below ch 52. Most antennas, pre-amps and cable, rolls off at high frequency, so recption will improve.
As already stated, a lot of stations will be increasing power, once the transition is complete. Of these, most are going back to thier old analog frequency, where they already have big high power antennas, and usually backup transmitters and antennas.
Where the channel is in the lineup won't matter as much as it used to. Low VHF will be gone. the advantages it had are gone in dtv. high uhf will be gone, already mentioned its disadvantages. The rest are a fairly level playing field.
point number 3, already covered in this thread, when all the old analogs are gone, (someday) interference from distant stations will be reduced.
In case i didn't mention it, I think reception will improve. How much is anybody's guess. And maybe a good topic for too much coffee :)

Thanks for the clarification Tom.F.1. I guess we'll see which stations decide to cut off analogue as planned on Feb17 and which ones will go with the gov's new June deadline.

High Power analog transmissions will be gone someday. The high power stations not only take up bandwidth, but the AGC circuit in most tuners will reduce all signals so that the strongest station doesn't hurt your TV.


Just to be clear (I know you implied this), most Canadians won't benefit from this until the Canadian analog shutdown.

They have applied to go ahead and shutdown for Feb 17 2009 .

They have applied to go ahead and shutdown for Feb 17 2009 . Good to hear.

WKBW analog shutdown makes channel 7 available for WNGS digital. WUTV and WNYO are Sinclair stations so the shutdown is probably driven by the cost saving of DTV only operation.

The cost savings will mainly be in Electricity to operate the analog Transmitters. WNGS may not be able to turn on its DT Transmitter on ch-7 on Feb 17 because its owner, Equity Media, is currently in bankruptcy, and FCC rules require it to go dark. Although, the 7.2 sub-channel wil still be active. I hope WNLO shuts off its analog, and allows WPXJ to go to air on Ch-23. I think it will be receivable with its 3 sub-channels in the area where I live.

Does anyone know if Industry Canada has given permission for WNYO to switch over to ch-29 from ch-34 as they've requested?

I think it was mentioned in the Buffalo thread the IC denied the request for WNYO to take control of WUTV's old transmitter on 29.

I'm assuming (insert donkey joke here) that WNLO is going to make the switch on Feb 17th as well. I was watching something on there last night and they had the banner running across the top of the screen about the cut over date and they still have it set to Feb 17th. Does anyone know anything about the others?

We have yet to hear of any of the Buffalo stations that won't be making the swap Feb 17 at this point...

Soon as someone hears what the Buffalo stations are going to do please post it in this thread.

In order to keep the thread information clearer, three posts that were about the U.S. DTV transition in general have been moved here:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=86141

cheers

WNGS out of Buffalo is running a self-promotion on how they will be changing post Feb 17. They will be on channel 7, they will be adding more (sub?) channels, and they will be increasing their power. Sounds like great news for OTAers, but how will this fit with WKBW which is 7-1? Seems like there will be two channel 7s from Buffalo.

WNGS can label the channel 67-1, their current analog channel. Most people don't know or care that WNGS will occupy physical channel 7 so continuing the channel 67 identity can work for them. There appears to be some kind of business or contractual linkage between WKBW and WNGS as they both come from the same tower. WKBW could well have required WNGS not to use 7-1 as part of a contract for use of the tower.

DTV Transition Delayed: Which Channels Are Cutting Analog on Feb 17 Anyway?

This is going to be quite a mess because some channels may want to cut off their analog signal while another – who will wait til June – may be occupying that station's digital spot.

Do we have a list of who's switching on Feb 17 in the Buffalo area?

The ones that have filed with the FCC to turn off their analog transmitters on Feb 17th so far are WKBW, WUTV and WNYO. The others have yet to file.

This is going to be quite a mess because some channels may want to cut off their analog signal while another – who will wait til June – may be occupying that station's digital spot.

As I quoted in the U.S. DTV Cutover News (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?p=876365#post876365) thread, stations terminating their analog broadcasts prior to June 12, must continue to use their temporary DTV channel, but may apply for an STA if they want to move before then.

Soon as someone hears what the Buffalo stations are going to do please post it in this thread.


Looks like mosaic broadcasting for Buffalo area.

As reported in the Buffalo News (http://www.buffalonews.com/258/story/571495.html)

WUTV and WNYO will drop their analog signals and go with a digital signal exclusively on Feb. 18.
...
WKBW-TV, the local ABC affiliate, has been running a crawl this week saying it would drop its analog signal on Feb. 18. However, station officials could not be reached this morning for comment to confirm that.
...
NBC affiliate will abide by the new deadline of June 12 and keep the analog signal up until then
...
Channel 4 and Channel 23, e-mailed to say a decision will be announced within a few days.
...
WNED-TV, the local PBS affiliate, hasn't decided what it plans.

It looks as though WNED is already preparing for analog shutdown on Feb 17.

They now have the same programming on 17-1(HD) and 17-2 (SD). The video image on 17-2 and the analog signal (17-UHF) is shown in a letterboxed format. The logo in the bottom right corner on both 17-1 and 17-2 reads "WNED-DT".

Wonder what they intend to do with 17-2 after the cutoff..