TV Reception in Sebastopol?

[yellowbluegrey]

My Mom recently cancelled her cable TV service (saving $750 per year!).
We hooked up a digital converter box from Radio Shack to the rooftop antenna.
She gets three UHF channels very clearly (22, 22A, and 50 I think), but NO VHF channels. It seems to me that channels 2,4,7 and 9 used to be available.
I'm wondering what channels do others get in Sebastopol using antennas.
Thanks for any info or help you can offer!

[The Owl]

My Mom recently cancelled her cable TV service (saving $750 per year!).
We hooked up a digital converter box from Radio Shack to the rooftop antenna.
She gets three UHF channels very clearly (22, 22A, and 50 I think), but NO VHF channels. It seems to me that channels 2,4,7 and 9 used to be available.
I'm wondering what channels do others get in Sebastopol using antennas.
Thanks for any info or help you can offer!

It's my understanding that with the advent of Digital TV, you can't get TV the old way anymore... that's what all the converter box controversy was about a while back. I don't have a TV and haven't had one for over 20 years so I'm possibly way off on this, but that is my humble understanding.

[Chris Murray]

In Forestville we can get channels 7, 9, 11, 14, 22, 48, 50 and 54.
Channels 2, 4 and 5 decided not to transmit northwards to us.

[yellowbluegrey]

Thanks, Chris.
There must be something wrong with the equipment, then. I may have to climb up on the roof and check the antenna.


In Forestville we can get channels 7, 9, 11, 14, 22, 48, 50 and 54.
Channels 2, 4 and 5 decided not to transmit northwards to us.

[Chris Murray]

Before you climb on the roof, try doing a rescan - when we first got the box a couple of months ago, we didn't get some of them. The rescan procedure varies from box to box, but should be obvious from the main menu.

[kit-kit]

Here in northernmost Sebastopol (aka south Forestville) we have been getting our off-the-air TV by Radio Shack antenna for many years.

About the digital TV transition date I installed a new Radio Shack antenna and was able to pull in KTVU 2, KGO 7, KICU 36 (San Jose), KTEH 54 (San Jose), Santa Rosa's 22 and 50, and some other digital channels using a converter box. I also am using a pre-amplifier which is mounted on the antenna mast and amplifies the signal as it enters the house.

I spoke with the head of engineering for KPIX 5 (which used to be my best reception in analog signal.) I told him I didn't understand why I was getting KTVU but not KRON, KPIX, etc. which are all on Sutro Tower out of San Francisco (977 ft. tall !!). He said that was most likely because KTVU's interim digital transmitter is higher up on Sutro Tower than the other stations.

All the transmitters are being worked on now and won't be finalized until approx. October 2009. KQED (and probably some others) are transmitting at low power due to the folks all working on the transmitters being right there (for the workers' safety).

Here are some great sites for assistance. The most helpful to me was antennapoint.com where you enter your address and some data about your home's style (i.e. one story, two story) and surrounding terrain. We are only 53.84 miles from Sutro Tower.

Antennapoint also gives you the Heading data for proper alignment of your antenna.

Antennapoint.com - Antenna Locator (https://www.antennapoint.com/)

SUTRO TOWER - Official Site of Sutro Tower, Inc. (https://www.sutrotower.com/)

Winegard Knowledge Base (https://www.winegard.com/kbase/index.php)

Digital/HDTV Television Channel List - SF Bay Area (https://www.choisser.com/sfonair.html)

Broadcasting (https://www.choisser.com/broadcst.html)


Good antennas are Winegard and ChannelMaster - you can google their sites and see the distance the antenna is supposed to be able to pull in. Be sure to invest in a good pre-amplifier in this area.

[RichT]

Good antennas are Winegard and ChannelMaster - you can google their sites and see the distance the antenna is supposed to be able to pull in. Be sure to invest in a good pre-amplifier in this area.

I live on the north edge of Sebastopol. We have a Channel Master antenna with a pre-amp. Until last week, we were pulling in 7, but they have reduced power while they switch to a new antenna the top of Sutro tower. Much to my suprise, we are now getting 8 (NBC Monterey). We were initially upset when 4 lost the contract with NBC, but grew accostomed to not receiving it.

The hardest part right now is missing the news broadcasts I am used to. With a little patience, reception should eventually improve.

[kit-kit]

Matching your disappointment when KRON 4 went independent! But, they have good programming. I too have pulled in KSBW 8 Monterey/Salinas. Their local news gives a different perspective.

From time to time on different TVs with converter boxes I have pulled in KRON 4 and KGO 7 then depending on atmospheric conditions I lose them or the signal is weak. My best pictures are coming from KTVU 2 and KICU 36 which are sister stations. KICU is out of San Jose (86.75 miles/140.61 degrees - as calculated by antennapoint.com).

I'm also getting KTEH 54 PBS out of San Jose which is broadcasting KQED as the second digital station at that point (54-2). Since my antenna is supposed to have a 30 degree spread, I'm able to pull in Sutro Tower stations as well since they are 53.84 miles and 154.55 degrees.

I've just been positioning the antenna by eye. My main problem to solve is getting it up higher. (Channelmaster also sells telescoping masts.)

I hope people know that the HD (high definition) signal is broadcasted. You do not have to pay cable to get HD. You do have to have the proper equipment and antenna to first pull in the signal and then get the full effect on your TV.

Things should be a lot different after October when the work on the Sutro Tower main digital antenna is completed. I miss the news too!

The link given previously "Broadcasting" is sponsored by two San Franciscans who know their stuff. They will respond to your personal emails and try to help.

[kit-kit]

<center> Digital Television/HDTV Channel List

San Francisco Bay Area - within 100 miles of San Francisco Summary of Changes



</center>
<hr>
There have already been lots of changes and lots more changes will be coming in the months to come. Virtual channel numbers, those shown by your TV tuner for stations, will be used here.

Channel changes occurred for the following stations:
2 - KTVU - from 56 to 44
4 - KRON - from 57 to 38
6 - KVIE - from 53 to 9
7 - KGO - from 24 to 7
8 - KSBW - from 10 to 8
10 - KXTV - from 61 to 10
36 - KICU - from 52 to 36
40 - KTXL - from 55 to 40
42 - KTNC - from 63 to 14
50 - KFTY - from 54 to 32
64 - KTFK - from 62 to 26
KTFK 64 not only changed their channel, they also moved their transmitter site from Mt. Diablo to Walnut Grove.
Most receivers will require you to re-scan after the stations change channels for you to see them on their new channels.

Summer - Fall, 2009
Changes to come:
2 - KTVU has applied for 1000 kW on channel 44 and a 3 kW translator on channel 42 at Monument Peak.
3 - KCRA will operate at 93% power until September 15, 2009.
14 - K14MW has an application submitted for channel 3 and is licensed for channel 14.
22 - KAXT has a construction permit for Mt. San Bruno and an application submitted for Mt. Allison, both for channel 42.
36 - KICU will change to a new transmitter and antenna and run full power at later date. Station has applied for 1000 kW on channel 36.
43 - 900312KG - callsign pending winner of lottery for channel.
54 - KTEH will be increasing power from 290 to 1000 kW.

Early Fall, 2009
There will be changes in signal strength for all the stations transmitting from Sutro Tower when they change over to their new antennas. Channel 7 will move to their new antenna atop the tower approximately July 15. The date for the UHF stations has been set for October. All of them should get stronger due to the increase in antenna height. During the daytime while workers are on the tower, stations will be using the new auxiliary antennas, and perhaps lower power, but at night they'll go back to using the antenna they're using now until the new antennas are ready. These stations are:
2 - KTVU
4 - KRON
5 - KPIX
7 - KGO
9 - KQED
20 - KOFY
32 - KMTP
38 - KCNS
44 - KBCW
60 - KCSM
66 - KFSF

No Further Changes
Most of the digital stations are already operating with permanent facilities. There will be no further changes for:
6 - KVIE
10 - KXTV
11 - KNTV
13 - KOVR
14 - KDTV
19 - KUVS
22 - KRCB
25 - KQET
26 - KTSF
27 - KYMB
28 - KFTL
28 - KMMW
29 - KSPX
31 - KMAX
32 - KFTY
35 - KCBA
46 - KION
48 - KSTS
50 - KFTY
58 - KQCA
65 - KKPX
67 - KSMS
68 - KTLN

New Digital Stations
Also, you can look forward to new digital signals from the many low powered stations and translators which are still analog-only, plus stations which are completely new. Many of them will be sharing channels with distant high powered stations. Here is a list of the new low power digital stations:
Green indicates digital station is now on the air.
3 - K14MW - Mt. Tamalpais, Marin County
4 - K04QR - Bald Mt/NW Esparto and K04QR - NW Rio Linda (north of Sacramento)
4 - KTVJ - Mt. Tamalpais, Marin County
5 - K05MI - NE Kelseyville and K05MI - Burdell Mtn.-Novato, Marin County
5 - KCSO - Sacramento
6 - KEFM - Sacramento
8 - KDTS - Mt. Diablo and KDAS - Mt. St. Helena - Sharing with KSBW, Salinas
11 - KMUV - Monterey
14 - KMMK - Placerville and K14MW - Petaluma/Santa Rosa - Sharing with KTNC, Mt. Diablo
15 - KMUM - Sacramento - Sharing with KBSV - Mt. Oso (Ceres - Central Valley)
18 - K18IJ - Salinas
20 - KACA - Modesto
23 - KEZT - Sacramento - Sharing with KRCB, Sonoma Mountain
27 - KEXT - Mt. Oso (Modesto) and KYMB - Monterey - Sharing with KTSF, Mt. San Bruno
28 - KFTL - Mt. San Bruno and KMMW - Stockton
29 - K29AB - Monterey - Sharing with KPIX, Sutro Tower
31 - KMUM - Sacramento (North Highlands) - Sharing with KSMS, Fremont Peak
34 - KRJR - Downtown Sacramento - Sharing with KFSF, Sutro Tower
36 - KAZV - Modesto - Sharing with KICU, Monument Peak above Fremont
39 - K39JM - Sutter Buttes and KMMD - Salinas - Sharing with KCNS, Sutro Tower
40 - KMMC - Mt. San Bruno - Sharing with KTXL, Walnut Grove
42 - K42IT - Monument Peak, KAXT - Mt. San Bruno or Mt. Allison, KBKF - Santa Cruz Mountains and KMSX - Sacramento
43 - NoCall - Placerville - Sharing with KCSM, Sutro Tower
44 - K49EO - Modesto - Sharing with KTVU, Sutro Tower
45 - K45HC - Sacramento - Sharing with KBCW, Sutro Tower
47 - K47LC - Fremont Peak-Salinas - Sharing with KTLN, Novato
51 - KBTV - Sacramento - Sharing with KDTV, Mt. Allison above Fremont

For full details on all of these channels check out the following Digital Channel Lists:
Listing by Virtual Channel (https://www.choisser.com/sfonair.html) - (Printer Version (https://www.choisser.com/sfdtv.html)) - full information and details, sorted by virtual channel
Listing by Transmitter Channel (https://www.choisser.com/sfonair2.html) - (Printer Version (https://www.choisser.com/sfxmtr.html)) - full information and details, sorted by transmitter channel
Post Transition Analog Listing (https://www.choisser.com/sfpost.html) - analog channels that have remained on the air after the transition on 6/12/09
Post Transition Changes - a summary of the changes seen during 2009 Data on this page was compiled by:
Larry Kenney, WB9LOZ, Retired engineer, KGO/ABC
Bill Choisser, K9AT, Registered Professional Engineer, California This chart will be updated as required.
Last updated on June 28, 2009.
Accuracy is not guaranteed but is correct to the best of our knowledge.


<hr>

<center> Bill & Larry's Broadcasting Page (https://www.choisser.com/broadcst.html)

</center>

[kit-kit]

Last night I discovered that Channel 25 (re-transmit UHF for KRON-4 [VHF channel 4] is still broadcasting!!

There is also a Channel 28 broadcasting.

Channels 3 and 6 are broadcasting instructions (non-stop) for how to hook-up a converter box, etc. in english and spanish.