DTV - 3 days and counting: Panorama: Rocky Mountain PBS: a9

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DTV - 3 days and counting

posted Monday, June 8, 2009 6:18pm

See more on: Blogs, Tech Talk

Well, it's finally here. After all the delays and preparation, Rocky Mountain PBS is transitioning our analog signal to be a "nightlight"* station and going digital this Friday, June 12 at midnight. For some of you it's been a long time coming or irrelevant if you have cable or satellite. For others, Saturday morning might come as a shock. If you happen to be in that second group, or know someone who is, please don't wait any longer if you want to continue receiving over-the-air free television.

We know that the elderly and minorities will be most affected by the transition. Some are on fixed incomes and cannot afford cable or satellite subscriptions. And many people who receive television over the air are happy to not pay for TV, but may not be fully prepared. Whatever the case may be, think about the people in your life who could use your help in getting to a store to buy a converter box (for every over-the-air TV) or a new antenna, in case the old rabbit ears don't work.

There are a lot of resources available to you. Visit rmpbs.org/dtv for information, tips and resources. There are also many free DTV walk-in help centers being held statewide to help Coloradans get ready for the digital transition. Here is a list of events, as well as in-home assistance, compiled by the FCC.

And, we will be holding a phone bank on June 13 to help with troubleshooting. The number to call is 800-678-8749 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Digital television is here! Have you made the switch? If so, how did it go?

* Being a nightlight station simply means we'll stay on the air in analog with a digital transition information loop. It's meant to help those last digital converts get the information they need to make the switch. You will not see any Rocky Mountain PBS programming on our analog nightlight channel, just DTV instructions and programming. This nightlight service will last until July 12th when we will turn off our analog signal altogether.

-Pam Osborne, Director of Marketing

What's your point of view?

ETHAN
Tuesday, June 9, 2009 › 5:40pm
The U.S. is stupid for doing this to people

Joseph Geiger
Tuesday, June 9, 2009 › 5:50pm
Kudos for going digital. Your excellent programming will look even better (when possible) with the new signal.
Now, beef up the FM signal for classical radio so I can listen to it when driving my car and you will have a totally satisfied listener...who will resume donating to Rocky Mtn PBS.

GE
Tuesday, June 9, 2009 › 7:52pm

Joseph Geiger

That's a good thought on the classical radio power.

However, Colorado Public Radio is a separate organization from Rocky Mountain PBS. So you might want to resume your donation to RMPBS.

BTW, Colorado Public Radio's classical program is broadcast on their high power FM 90.1 HD2 channel. Might be a good time to check on HD radio for the car and home. Many Denver stations on both AM & FM are broadcasting HD signals with additional channels on FM.

Bonnie Hargrave
Sunday, June 14, 2009 › 7:33pm
With my digital TV + roof antennae I was receiving channels 8-1 and 8-3 just fine in Black Forest PRIOR to the cut-off date, but as of June 12 I'm suddenly getting nothing but a "low signal" message on both stations. What's that about?

GE
Sunday, June 14, 2009 › 7:55pm
You need to rescan for new digital channels.

KTSC moved their virtual digital Channel 8 signal from RF26 to RF8 (RF= Radio Frequency).

Aaron
Monday, June 15, 2009 › 7:58pm
When will the translator on Badger Mountain in Lake George go digital?

Charlene Noland
Saturday, June 20, 2009 › 1:28pm
We live in downtown C.S. We previously recieved channel 8. Now, even with a converter box, and a digital tv, we recieve no signal. What's up? No, we don't need to rescan.

GE
Saturday, June 20, 2009 › 3:45pm
As noted above, KTSC moved from a digital UHF channel (D8/RF26) to a digital VHF channel (D8/RF8). If you have not rescaned since June 12, try a rescan.

You need to have a VHF capable antenna correctly oriented toward Cheyenne Mountain. If you are using rabbit ears, be sure they are extended, and, generally, should be extended horizontally and perpendicular to the line of sight toward Cheyenne Mountain southwest of downtown CS. Rescan after adjusting the antenna. However, downtown buildings may cause problems with signal reception.

Also, sometimes the channel memories don't forget the old channels. Try a double rescan. Disconnect the antenna, then scan. No channels should be found. Then reconnect the antenna and scan for channels.

GE
Saturday, June 20, 2009 › 3:53pm
To clarify the previous post, in the Colorado Springs/Pueblo, Denver and Grand Junction areas, there are both VHF and UHF digital channels.

You need an antenna capable of receiving both VHF & UHF signals.

Many of the so called "digital antennas" being sold are UHF capable only.

DJ
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 › 10:10pm
The conversion has occurred and I'm extremely disappointed w/KRMA. I[m in Greeley with no reception except for occasional signals in the morning from Colorado Springs. I think that you strung lots of people along about coverage until the 11th hour and in the meantime took contributions from people you knew would not continue to have coverage. RMPBS has created lots of ill will with many long time viewers.

Ellyn
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 › 10:28am
Last year, we got PBS 6 just fine. Between Feb and June, we barely got it, and had to do some serious acrobatics with the antenna to get PBS. After the switch and a re-scan, we don't get it at all. We don't even receive a 'weak signal' message. Just gone. I live in Boulder, CO. Totally bummed - guess we're done with PBS? My antenna receives VHF and UHF signals, and we are getting all of the other major stations. Bummed, since you guys asked for money for so long for this switch.

GE
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 › 8:42pm
To DJ & Ellyn

From another page on this site:

KRMA/Channel 6 - June 12, 2009 at midnight

KRMA will remain in "Statutory Analog Nightlight Service" until July 12, 2009. Statutory Analog Nightlight Service consists of notification information to inform viewers where and how to receive the broadcast programming of Rocky Mountain PBS, now being broadcast exclusively in Digital.

In August 2009, KRMA will increase power of our digital signal from our site on Mt. Morrison from 315kW ERP to 1,000kW (1MW or 1 million watts) We will also begin broadcasting with a new antenna from the top of the tower on Mt. Morrison which, coupled with the increase in power should resolve most of the signal reception problems our viewers experience with in our coverage area.

GE
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 › 8:52pm
To Ellyn:

You should be able to receive two different translators for KRMA in Boulder: digital on channel 24 and analog on channel 44.

Check your channel scan results for those channels. Select, i.e., tune in either 24 or 44, not 6.

ETHAN
Tuesday, June 9, 2009 › 5:40pm
The U.S. is stupid for doing this to people

GE
Sunday, June 14, 2009 › 7:55pm
You need to rescan for new digital channels.

KTSC moved their virtual digital Channel 8 signal from RF26 to RF8 (RF= Radio Frequency).

Aaron
Monday, June 15, 2009 › 7:58pm
When will the translator on Badger Mountain in Lake George go digital?