| WEAR-DT and Digital Television FAQs
This guide will provide background information, along with useful tips to set-up an antenna and configure a television set for over-the-air reception of WEAR-DT High Definition (HDTV).
ALL ANALOG TELEVISION BROADCASTING WILL END ON FEBRUARY 17, 2009 !!! After that date, your older, analog television sets will not work unless they receive signals through a digital-to-analog converter box hooked to an antenna, or from a cable TV service or satellite TV service. The federal government has a program to provide vouchers to help pay for converter boxes for viewers who get their television with an over-the-air antenna. To apply for these vouchers, please visit www.dtv2009.gov, or call 1-888-DTV-2009. For further information, visit www.dtv.gov/whatisdtv.html.
Does WEAR-DT offer their programming in high definition?
Yes. WEAR-DT has offered all ABC High Definition (HD) programming since January, 2005. Most, but not all, of ABC network programming is presented in HD.
What is WEAR's digital channel?
WEAR-DT is physically broadcasting on UHF Channel 17, but the signal will appear as channel 3.1 and 3.2 on most digital receivers. Digital channel WEAR-DT 3.1 carries programming identical to analog channel WEAR-TV3, except the ABC High Definition programming is in High Definition. WEAR-DT 3.2 carries programming identical to analog channel WEAR-TV3, all in standard definition.
Where is the WEAR digital transmitting antenna?
The antenna is at the top of our new 1,930 foot tower located about 2 miles south of the Wilcox Road exit from Interstate 10 in Baldwin County, AL.
How much power is WEAR-DT transmitting?
Since January 2005, our Effective Radiated Power is 1,000,000 watts, which blankets the Mobile-Pensacola-Fort Walton Beach viewing area. If you can receive our analog signal on Channel 3, you should also be capable of receiving our digital signal.
What equipment do I need to receive your signal for my "HD-Ready" TV?
"HD-Ready" televisions are monitors and do not include built-in HDTV tuners. A Set-Top Box (STB) is required for reception of over-the-air broadcast HDTV. The STB is simply a digital tuner that sits outboard of the HDTV set. The STB requires an antenna connection to receive the HDTV signal. Consult your owner's manual for details. Since July 1, 2005 the FCC has required all television sets with a screen size 36" and larger to include integrated over-the-air digital tuners. And as of March 1, 2007, ALL new TVs must include digital tuners.
Is it necessary to use an outdoor antenna to receive WEAR-DT?
Outdoor antennas are recommended because they will gather the most signal strength for your HD receiver to decode. However, many viewers are successfully receiving our signal with an indoor antenna. There is a greater need for an outdoor antenna the farther you live from the tower site.
My homeowners association does not allow outdoor or roof top antennas. What are my options?
It is against federal regulations to prohibit outdoor antennas for the purpose of receiving broadcast signals. The law is on your side if you decide to put one up. If you do not want to challenge your homeowners association, place your antennas on the back side of your house to block their view from the street. Some people have installed antennas in their attic. Use the following link for more information: www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html
Is the attic a good place for an antenna?
It works for some people in some locations. The structure of the house will reduce the signal strength. Physical space in the attic may prevent proper alignment of the antenna. If you live in an area where the broadcast signals are strong, the attic antenna is a viable option. If you have a metal roof don't even consider an attic antenna because the metal covering shields the signals.
How Much Does An Antenna Cost?
The best outdoor antenna for most locations is a Yagi style UHF antenna that sells for less than $50. We recommend RG-6 coaxial cable between the antenna and the digital receiver. The cost of the cable depends on the required length. Visit www.antennaweb.org for advice on antennas.
If a $50 antenna can pull in the digital signal, is a $100 antenna even better?
Not necessarily. Many of the "high tech" amplified antennas are often times shaped like a helicopter blade or round tube. They cost twice the price and do not work very well for many households. The pick-up pattern of the antenna is most often omni-directional, which pulls in signals from all directions. Omni antennas will receive the primary signal and often times signal bounce on the back side of the antenna. Signal reflections are called multipath interference. Strong multipath reflections can confuse the receiver and result in the blue screen of death. Digital receivers will display a perfect picture or nothing at all.
My outdoor antenna receives a good signal from the other stations but I need to realign the antenna to receive WEAR-DT. Any ideas?
The pick-up pattern of your antenna could be too directional. It is not necessary to purchase a long range antenna if you live in the Mobile-Pensacola area. Try using a lower cost antenna with less gain and a broader pick-up pattern. If you live in South Mississippi, inland Alabama farther than 40 miles from our antenna, or in the Fort Walton Beach area, you may require a long range antenna. Long range antennas are more directional by design so path alignment becomes ultra critical. You can use any computer with internet access to visit www.antennaweb.org to find a listing of all channels receivable in your area, and use their "View Street Level Map" button to see exactly which direction to align your antenna to receive each of these stations. This site will also recommend what kind of antenna you need to receive these stations.
Do I need to replace my existing antenna with a "digital" or "HDTV" antenna?
No. Any UHF antenna will receive our HDTV signal.
Where is WEAR's HD Channel on Cable TV?
At the present time WEAR-DT is available on Comcast Cable in the Mobile area, on channel 231; on Cox Cable in Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach and Crestview on channel 703; and on Mediacom Cable on systems that have a HDTV tier (check with your local cable company for channel number). Our digital signal will soon be available on Riviera Utility Cable TV in Foley, AL. We are not on any other cable systems because a retransmission consent agreement is not in place with any of the local providers. If you want to get WEAR-DT with our ABC High Definition programming on cable, you should contact your cable operator and let them know you want WEAR-DT … or install an antenna to get our FREE over-the-air HDTV signal.
Is WEAR's HD Channel available on satellite TV?
WEAR-DT is not carried by any of the satellite providers...and neither are the HD signals of the CBS, NBC, or FOX stations in the Mobile-Pensacola market. However, the latest generation of HD receivers from the satellite companies also includes a terrestrial (over-the-air) HDTV receiver. If you connect an UHF antenna to a receiver with terrestrial HDTV capability, you should be capable of decoding our HDTV signal. You can ask your satellite TV provider if your receiver has this capability.
What High Definition format is the ABC Television Network using?
The ABC network standard is 720p, which offers 720 active lines progressively scanned. The frame rate is 60 frames per second.
How does 720p compare to 1080i?
Don't let anyone fool you, they both look great. There are trade offs with both formats. The 720p format streams 60 razor sharp frames each second, which make it ideal for sports coverage. Progressive scanning is the technique utilized by all current computer monitors and flat panel technology.
The 1080i format utilizes 1080 active lines and interlace scanning. There are more active lines of video and more pixels per line than utilized by the 720p. The 1080i format streams 60 half frames per second. The odd number lines are scanned on the screen followed by the even number lines 1/60 second later. 1080i has a full frame rate of 30 per second. The interlace approach can result in jitter and other artifacts. Interlace is the scanning technique native to most CRT displays.
Since 1080i is interlaced and 720p is progressive, the number of active lines is not an apples to apples comparison. The number 720 was selected because in progressive scanning, 720 lines progressive, is the mathematical equivalent of 1080 lines interlaced. In theory the resolution is almost identical.
How does 720p look in comparison to 1080i?
They both look great if they are displayed on a monitor capable of 720p or 1080i. Some of the older HDTV sets are not configured for 720p and the resolution is either down converted to 480i or up-converted to 1080i, even though the aspect ratio remains 16x9. The resolution of a down converted signal is identical to standard definition.
What will I see if a program is not offered in high definition?
WEAR "up converts" all non-HD programming from analog to digital. The unconverted programming will look better than an analog standard definition feed, but it will not look as good as a program that is natively high definition.
Any programming originally produced in the 4x3 aspect ratio will appear in the center of the screen with blank panels filling the sides. Programming that is natively high definition will fill the entire 16x9 wide screen display.
Does WEAR-DT broadcast in Dolby Digital 5.1 sound (AC3)?
Any ABC program offered in Dolby Digital 5.1 is broadcast on WEAR-DT in Dolby Digital 5.1. A true 5.1 audio mix will contain six full channels of audio. The channels are designed to feed a right front, center, left front, rear left, and rear right speakers. The sixth channel or the .1 channel is for a low frequency effect channel (LFE), often called a sub-woofer. Dolby Digital 5.1 audio creates a sound field that closely resembles the sound field in a movie theater.
What's the DT in WEAR-DT?
The FCC assigned call letters on a digital channel are designated with DT. The call letters on an analog channel are designated with TV. In other words WEAR-TV is analog. WEAR-DT is digital.
Here are some web resources to learn about the technology of digital television, high definition programming, and how to receive our signal with your outdoor antenna.
www.myfreehdtv.com
www.dtvanswers.com
www.checkhd.com
www.dtv.gov
www.antennaweb.org
ALL ANALOG TELEVISION BROADCASTING WILL END ON FEBRUARY 17, 2009 !!!
If you have any further questions regarding WEAR-DT, you may contact:
Joe Smith
Operations Manager
WEAR-TV3 ABC / WFGX-TV35 IND
Operations/Programming
joesmith@weartv.com
4990 Mobile Highway
Pensacola, FL 32506
Fax: 850-455-0159
Work: 850-456-3333 ext. 300 |
