Update: Tower Work is complete

KETC completed work on its tower on Saturday, August 1 at approximately 3:30 a.m. The broadcast tower, located at Highway 55 and Butler Hill Rd., is now operating at full FCC-licensed power and height.

Channel 9’s Effective Radiated Power (ERP) was increased from 124.6 kW to 142.5 kW and its digital antenna height was increased by approximately 100 ft.

Over-the-air viewers should rescan their digital televisions and/or converter boxes if they are still without Channel 9. If you prefer to manually add KETC to your existing channels, you can do so by entering “39″ into your remote control.

Some antenna adjustment might also be necessary. Please note that KETC’s tower is located at Highway 55 and Butler Hill Rd.–more southerly than most other broadcasting facilities in the region. The FCC’s coverage maps can tell you more about antenna position and signal strength in your specific area.

If you have a question, please contact letters@ketc.org or Channel 9’s digital hotline at (314) 512-9617. To help us better answer your questions, please include your address with zip code.

Trade in your unexpired coupon for a free converter box

If you have a valid UNEXPIRED DTV converter box coupon, trade them in for a FREE converter box on July 16 and 17.

The FCC, DISH Network and G2 Communications are working together to help those in the St. Louis area who have not yet made the switch to DTV.

Bring your valid unexpired coupon(s) to either location listed below on July 16 and 17 to receive a converter box free of charge.

Those who sign up for G2’s free converter box installation service will also receive a complimentary indoor antenna at the time of installation.

DTV Coupon-for-Converter Box Locations:

July 16, 2009, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
East St. Louis City Hall Rotunda, 301 River Park Drive, East St. Louis, IL 62203

July 17, 2009, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis
4631 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108

Have questions? Contact the FCC’s consumer call center at (888)-CALL-FCC, or G2 Communications at 800-536-8372.

DTV Walk-In Help Center in Warrenton

If you’re having DTV trouble and live near Warrenton, MO, be sure to drop by Radio Shack at 523 Anwijo Way on Sunday, May 21 for DTV assistance. Reps from the FCC will be on hand all day to take any questions you may have.

DTV Walk-In Help Centers

Having DTV trouble? Stop by either of these help centers and have your questions answered by FCC representatives:

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13
WHAT:
Walk-in DTV Help Center
WHERE:
BENLD PUBLIC LIBRARY
308 E. Central, Benld, MO 62009
WHEN:
11AM-1PM
LOCAL SITE CONTACT:
217-835-4045

——————————————–

THURSDAY, MAY 21

WHAT:
Walk-in DTV Help Center
WHERE:
RADIO SHACK
523 Anwijo Way, Warrenton, MO 63383
LOCAL SITE CONTACT:
636-456-1222

KETC will shut off its analog signal for DTV tests.

In cooperation with the F.C.C, we will participate in the national analog shut-off tests on Thursday, May 21 at 7:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.  The tests will last 5 minutes.  Sets receiving a digital signal will have no interruption; those that do not will see a graphic telling them how to prepare for DTV.

 

We will also take part in the St. Louis market-wide tests on Thursday, May 28 at 5:25 p.m. and Friday, June 5 at 12:25 p.m. 

If you’re uncertain whether or not you are prepared for the June 12 transition, tune in for any of these DTV tests on Channel 9.

 

We pull the plug on our analog transmitter June 12 at 23:59:59.

DTV coupons no longer available

The National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA)announced that its converter box coupon program ran out of funds on Sunday, Jan 4. No more coupons will be given unless more funding is approved.

If you haven’t already requested your coupons for a DTV converter box, you can put yourself on the program’s waiting list by filling out the standard application at www.dtv2009.gov.  Currently there are 103,000 people in line to receive coupons if more money is granted.

Read more in this Broadcasting & Cable article.

KETC will shut off its analog signal for 5 minutes Dec. 17

On Wednesday, December 17, KETC will join area broadcasters in shutting off its analog signal for a DTV “soft test.”

The test will occur at 6:25 p.m. and last for five minutes. During this time, if you have a TV set that is NOT prepared for February 17’s digital transition, you will see a message telling you that your TV is not ready.

If most of the TVs in your home are hooked up to cable or satellite, don’t forget about any extra TVs you might have that receive free over the air television. Do you have a small set in the kitchen? One in the basement for video games? The five minutes should allow you enough time to check all of your TV sets for their digital compatibility.

If you do not see a message that your TV is not equipped for DTV, you should be fine. Check www.dtv2009.gov for more information, or call KETC’s DTV help line at (314) 512-9617.

KETC will shut off its analog signal for 5 minutes Dec. 17

On Wednesday, December 17, KETC will join broadcasters around St. Louis in shutting of its analog signal for a DTV “soft test.”

Tune in to Channel 9 at 6:25 p.m. to find out if your TV set is ready for digital. The test will last five minutes.

If your TV set is NOT ready for the February 17 digital transition, you will see a message on the screen with  phone number you can call to prepare yourself.

Even if your main TVs are hooked up to cable or satellite, take into consideration any other sets you might have that are not. Do you have a small TV in the kitchen or garage? A set you use for video games? The five minute test should allow you enough time to check every set around your house.

If you know your set is NOT ready for digital TV, visit www.dtv2009.gov to request your converter box coupons and find out what options are available to you.

How to Survive the digital tv transition

Article was originally published in February 2008 for Consumer Reports.

The impending switch to all-digital broadcast TV will be a step forward, but it could be bumpy for many

Over the next year or so, you’ll be hearing a lot about the digital TV transition. Here’s what you need to know: On Feb. 17, 2009, broadcasters must shut down their analog systems and transmit only digital TV signals to comply with the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act.

While that sounds cataclysmic, the change will affect only the way free TV will be broadcast over the air, to a rooftop or indoor antenna. All TVs (no matter what type) connected to cable, satellite, or one of the new telephone company fiber-optic services should continue to function (though you might have to get a set-top box for cable).

A TV connected to an antenna might or might not work after Feb. 17, 2009. That depends on the type of TV.

Which TVs will still work with an over-the-air antenna?
A TV with a built-in digital tuner (called an ATSC tuner) will be able to get free over-the-air digital programming, with no action on your part. Your TV probably has a digital tuner if it falls into one of the following categories:

It’s a big-screen, high-definition TV bought within the last few years. The government has required sets with screens 35 inches and larger to have a digital tuner since July 2005, and sets 25 inches and larger since March 2006. Those sets are sometimes called integrated HDTVs.

It’s a new TV purchased this year. Since March of this year, all new TVs regardless of size have been required to have a digital tuner. Most TVs bought within the last few months should be OK, whether they’re high-definition sets or the new digital standard-definition TVs. (Retailers are allowed to sell off their existing inventory of analog TVs that do not have a digital tuner. They should be clearly marked as analog sets, but ask the salesperson to be sure.)

Which TVs will no longer work with an over-the-air antenna?
A TV that has only an analog tuner, called an NTSC tuner, will not be able to get free over-the-air digital programming. Your TV does not have a digital tuner if it is one of the following:

• An older picture-tube TV that is not a high-definition set.
• An HD-ready TV purchased several years ago.
• A new type of set, called a monitor, that has no built-in tuner of any kind.

(If you’re unsure as to whether or not your TV contains a digital tuner, consult the product manual or call the manufacturer’s customer service line.)

For the entire article, click here.