Kinda a Good Score this morning.

[LMolineux]

I live near Villanova Uni. and i got a new Log this morning.
at 7:49am
WELF from Chattanooga, Tennessee

[Michael-NJ]

Well... one of the reasons why nobody has commented is because there hasn’t been any trop around to bring in a catch like this. That said however, let’s look at some details. It’s a known fact that some stations do broadcast the incorrect PSIP data, sometimes even matching real-world stations (such as this one). Now the problem, while there is a Channel 23 locally (WNJS) they do broadcast the correct PSIP data. How long was this station in? Was it only in for a few seconds? What does your receiver show for PBS WNJS (CH 23/DT22) now? Did you find this on your unattended recording?

And finally, perhaps a coincidence, and perhaps not... I did some research on the TBS site (WELF is a TBN affiliate) and found a listing which says they can be viewed on Channel 23 in New Jersey. http://www.tbn.org/index.php/2/18/country/United+States.html problem there is, there is no 23 in NJ with TBN programming, DT or otherwise. I also checked the online schedule and saw that (the national feed of TBN-not WELF per se) did in fact have programming airing at 7:49AM on Thursday. Though neither does WNJS, when the station you had was clearly broadcasting color bars (perhaps one of NJN’s sub channels was [though they only have two now] )... it’s a bit of a mystery.

And yes I know you're overly obsessive over this (my IMs from you tell the story) :laughing:, you really did have that display popup... the thing to figure out is how this happened.

[LMolineux]

Some good valid points in the reply Michael. But my arguement back not really an arguement but still. The points is WGTW in Philly has not had their Digital Signal up for some-time or at least my TV set wont pick them up, on several memory clearing scans and also add channel scans. And there is nothing on 23 anywhere remotely close that could be causing that. The length of time that it was on color bars mode was about 25 mins. But call letters might have been an issue out of PSIP, but maybe not. IMO i think i really did get something awsome and far.

[Michael-NJ]

Some good valid points in the reply Michael. But my arguement back not really an arguement but still. The points is WGTW in Philly has not had their Digital Signal up for some-time or at least my TV set wont pick them up, on several memory clearing scans and also add channel scans. And there is nothing on 23 anywhere remotely close that could be causing that. The length of time that it was on color bars mode was about 25 mins. But call letters might have been an issue out of PSIP, but maybe not. IMO i think i really did get something awsome and far.

Lee, another thought RE:WGTW, especially since you said you haven't seen them. WGTW broadcasts on DT-27, it's possible that they're remapping to channel 23, as WELF is also a TBN affiliate. Stations mapping to others has been discussed recently on the club list. This would of course cause big problems since WNJS (23) is in the same market.

I can't check on WGTW this second, though I do know they've been on the air everytime I've checked. You should be seeing them.

[NN2E]

The WELF I saw this morning (WELF-DT 16) is a TBN outlet from Dalton, Georgia. FCC still shows their analog on channel 23. I didn't bother checking for their analog signal as I was only DXing DTVs.
73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds

[Michael-NJ]

The WELF I saw this morning (WELF-DT 16) is a TBN outlet from Dalton, Georgia. FCC shows their analog on channel 23. I didn't bother checking for their analog signal as I was only DXing DTVs.
73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds

Did you notice if it mapped to Ch 23? It sounds like WGTW may have gotten WELF's encoder/transmitter, or somehow that PISP got into the stream.

He's mentioned to me that he hasn't seen WGTW-DT in a while. Its possible that equipment was moved from WELF, installed at WGTW, and Lee just happened to catch them before they changed the PSIP data. We're getting closer to an answer here.

[NickNJ]

There hasn't been any type of trop propogation around at all that would have caused such a reception. We're talking ~650 miles, and I think only a handful of people from this region have ever had UHF trop from TN, and it's been analog stations from the NE part of the state, never mind a DT from down in Chattanooga. I would think a mapping/wrong PSIP data scenario would probably be behind this.

[LMolineux]

I guess i am left with the only scenario being that it was a mistake or replaced equipment at WGTW from WELf or something or copied or something. Because if it were the other way that would be one hell of a catch and tropospheric duct situation i was in. I am a Little bit obsessed with DX'ing i guess, per Michael knowing that for sure, but my limitations suck, my antenna is an 80 inch boom from radio-shack which is a VHF/UHF/FM antenna with using a radio-shack rotator and nexxtec rg6-quad shield coax and using a radio-shack 4 way splitter amp with gain setting all the way to the highest. Its in the attic also.

[NN2E]

I think WELF-DT 16 mapped as channel 23. Since I've already logged their digital and analog signals I didn't look at it for more than a second or two this morning. I'll try to remember to have a closer look at it the next time propagation allows.
73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds

[LMolineux]

I think WELF-DT 16 mapped as channel 23. Since I've already logged their digital and analog signals I didn't look at it for more than a second or two this morning. I'll try to remember to have a closer look at it the next time propagation allows.
73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds

So are you actually supporting that the chances of me picking it up for real maybe correct?

[Danny]

I'm glad that you are interested in TV DXing.

I know how it feels to see DX and not be able to honestly claim anything. My worst experience concerns receiving KHON-2 Honolulu via F2 and never counting it due to a lack of on-air ID material. (This is a long story that I'm not going into tonight.)

Ed didn't tell you that he has a seven foot dish on a tall tower, and that his location is a hot spot for TV and DTV DX.

In addition, fewer than a dozen DXers in the WTFDA have received UHF DTVs at a distance of 500 or more miles.

Unfortunatley, very distant DTV signals generally don't stick around for more than a few minutes, unless you have an excellent antenna on a tall tower. If they do hang around, DTV signals will break up and/or disappear for periods of time. A solid signal from 650 miles away for twenty-five minutes seems excessive.

DXers generally know what is going on DX-wise in their area by reading lists like the one operated by WTFDA. If there had been super tropo in your area, it would have likely been reported by somebody.

I am sorry.

Keep trying. You will receive some DX.

[Trip]

Yeah, I got reports that WGTW-DT is on the air with a single subchannel showing straight color bars matching exactly the signal you saw. I also have a report from WELF that it has 5 subchannels all of which show programming.

Sorry to say, I definitely think it's WGTW. =( See here:

http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/lineupui?Cmd=LocationProgramsWeb&Country=US&Postcode=08001

Note WGTW-DT 27.

- Trip

[NN2E]

LM,
I just didn't look at WELF long enough to be sure. It's up to you, and the powers that be, to decide on this one. I'm just a DXer.

Danny,
I know the feeling of the ones that got away... I'm sure I've seen South American TV DX, several times, but they were mixed in with so many others, I couldn't get a positive I.D., so I didn't log them.

73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds