Night Light turned off KBSI-23 WDKA-49

[KA9UVY]

Well as of today after 15 days of the dreaded Night Light service, locals KBSI-23 and WDKA-49 have turned off the analog.
Just before noon today it looks like KDNL-30 in St. Louis has done the same.
Look forward to open channels for DXing, analog is dying after all.


Bob, KA9UVY
S. IL EM58ng

[NN2E]

Hi Bob,
Welcome to the forum.
Thanks for the heads up on the Jasper, Indiana LP-DT channel 18. Haven't logged it yet but I'll look for it.
I'm parked on channel 49, pointed at northern Alabama, looking for WAFF, as I type. I see there's a construction permit for WDKA to go back to channel 49 with a megawatt erp. We'd better get all we can on 49 before that happens.
73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds
Update 3/5/09 9:30 A.M. ... Left the box on channel 49 for 21 hours and found "WAFF DT" on the display this morning. DTV #209.

[NN2E]

No sign of Nashville 17, 30, 39, 50 & 58 analogs. Guess they've pulled the plug, too.
73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds

[antennanut]

Ed,

Channel 50 is still broadcasting, but the others have finally stopped their night light nonsense.

Sorry to read in an earlier post about the ice storm damage you had a few weeks ago. I hope you get your new VHF antenna up and working soon. I'm not much of a roof/tower guy or I'd offer to help if I could, but I get queazy after climbing up only 3 rungs of a ladder.

[NN2E]

Analog channel 50, Nashville, must be lost in the WDKA DT 50 QRM, here. I can't even get a hint of them. Thanks for the correction.
I've got an Antennacraft CS-1100 VHF on order but I've gotta wait for the local supplier to get it from his supplier. Might take a month or two. I can't believe that the wreckage of the old MXV-5100 is still, sorta, working. There's not much left of it.
73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds

[JeffK-PA]

WPMY-22 and WPGH-53 followed the other Sinclair stations and stopped their Nightlight operation in the Steel City. Next up to pull the plug is WPCB-40.

[NN2E]

From Kentucky Educational TV...

"KET will cease analog transmission April 16, 2009, and broadcast only digital signals."

Get 'em while you can.
73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds

[NN2E]

I E-mailed WDKA today...

"The last time I checked the FCC database I saw a construction permit for WDKA to operate a digital transmitter on channel 49 with an ERP of 1 million watts. Can you tell me when this transmitter will be on the air?"

Their reply...

"The construction permit has been amended to allow 535KW. We are in the
process of moving transmitters to allow the increase in power but I do
not have a 'set in stone' date. Projection is mid to late June."

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

[NN2E]

After a series of delays WDKA is now saying it'll be making it's move back to channel 49 in January 2010. Of course that's what they said about June, October, November, December.... We'll see.
73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds

[LMolineux]

I E-mailed WDKA today...

"The last time I checked the FCC database I saw a construction permit for WDKA to operate a digital transmitter on channel 49 with an ERP of 1 million watts. Can you tell me when this transmitter will be on the air?"

Their reply...

"The construction permit has been amended to allow 535KW. We are in the
process of moving transmitters to allow the increase in power but I do
not have a 'set in stone' date. Projection is mid to late June."

73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds
1 Million WATTS? WTF?

[w9wi]

Well, 1,000,000 watts is the nominal maximum for a UHF DTV station. There are quite a few running that much power.

[NN2E]

I kinda miss the ol' 5 million watt ERP analog UHF transmitters. Used to see several of them, 500 miles out, on a daily basis. Not any more. :-(
73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds

[Danny]

Those 1,000,000 watt DTVs sure don't make it out as well as the old 5,000,000 watt ATVs.

[LMolineux]

Humm which does suck, my DX'ing has suffered already.

[antennanut]

Ed, KFVS sure doesn't get out with it's puny few thousand watt DTV signal vs. 316KW in analog. Their coverage area must look nothing like it used to. Percentage-wise, it must be the most underpowered DTV signal operating on the same frequency compared to their analog wattage.

[spunker88]

Those 1,000,000 watt DTVs sure don't make it out as well as the old 5,000,000 watt ATVs.

Wow, that must run up the utility bill pretty fast. My low budgeted local station was throwing a fit when they had to use UHF temporarily since they had to broadcast 750kw to get the same coverage as there VHF 25kw does, according to them. This was when the FCC was trying to get them to stay on until June 12, but they eventually got permission to shut off in Feb.

[NN2E]

I can see KFVS just fine on the big antenna system. On the indoor antenna, however, (no pre-amp, hooked to bedroom TV) it's kinda hit and miss. Their current 6.8 KW ERP just doesn't cut it like their 316 KW used to.
73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds

[NN2E]

WDKA 50 (49) Paducah, Ky. (transmitter in southern Illinois) is now saying they will move back to channel 49 on Wednesday January 27. I'll believe it when I see it.
73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds