WDEM ??/ New OTA signals?

[siper66]

I scanned for local OTA digital signals this morning, as some channels went full power digital only broadcasting last night at 11:59pm.

A new channel came up for me .. WDEM. 17.1 which was showing an old western movie or something. Never heard of this station before. Can anyone shed some light on this station?

Has anyone been able to pick up any new interesting signals?

Thanks!:o

[bspvette86]

I scanned for local OTA digital signals this morning, as some channels went full power digital only broadcasting last night at 11:59pm.

A new channel came up for me .. WDEM. 17.1 which was showing an old western movie or something. Never heard of this station before. Can anyone shed some light on this station?

Has anyone been able to pick up any new interesting signals?

Thanks!:o

found this with google:

WDEM-LP (Channel 17; COLUMBUS, OH; Owner: TRIPLETT & ASSOCIATES, INC.)

And this wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WDEM-LP

FCC site:
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WDEM-CA

[Captain_Rob]

I'm also getting this new OTA digital signal after a rescan. I'm seeing 17-1 thru 17-4, but -2 thru -4 are currently only test patterns. Per the FCC site, their antenna is on the WBNS tower on Twin Rivers drive.

That's the only new OTA digital signal for me so far here in the NE corner of Columbus.

[DGMan]

WDEM was, for the longest time, a low power station that showed the Home shopping network. In February they started showing other programming and recently became a class A station. They switched to digital yesterday. In Powell, you have to really try for the signal, but it does come in.

[Rob052067]

Sounds interesting. I'll have to try re-scanning for it...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WDEM-LP

On December 17, 2008, Channel 17 was upgraded from low-power status to Class A; accordingly, its callsign was changed to WDEM-CA to reflect this.

As of February 2009, WDEM-CA is airing a general entertainment format consisting primarily of public domain prints of films and old television programs (including The Beverly Hillbillies, The Lucy Show, and Petticoat Junction), as well as a limited number of locally-produced series. Some programming is provided by Proud Television, an LGBT-oriented network based in Key West, Florida.

[TvPat]

Looks like they have a very directional antenna. I live about 2 miles west of the WBNS tower and I can't pick it up. Here is their signal from the FCC site.

http://www.fcc.gov/ftp/Bureaus/MB/Databases/fm_tv_service_areas/maps/DC1262913.jpg

[bspvette86]

That would explain why my Dad gets it in Reynoldsburg and I Don't in Hilliard.

[DGMan]

I found this link

http://www.theotherpaper.com/articles/2009/02/19/arts/doc499d703ac9401238169668.txt

if the link does not work just search for wdem on the advance search option of the other paper web site.

The article provides some good insight into the recent programming change and their upcoming plans, such as attempting to get rights to shows like Friday the 13th and the twilight zone

[Robbiee19]

Well Iwas going to scan for it, but I guess not now.

[rlw]

I tried scanning for it with my DirecTV HR20, but it seems that if DirecTV doesn't know about it (e.g., it's not in their "guide"), it doesn't find it. It did find WPBO and WWHO, although I can't pick those up here.

I went down into the basement and rescanned with my old Samsung SIR TS-160, and wasn't able to find it. I even tried changing the channel to 17 UHF to no avail. If there's a digital signal on a particular channel, the Samsung will detect it, i.e., 10-1 is on 22 (or 24), 6-1 is on 13 (I think), etc.

I'm west of Lancaster, but not far enough west to be in the coverage zone according to the map above.

RLW

[Rob052067]

Rather than having to rescan for it, I was able to easily manually add the channel to my OTA listings on my DishVIP722. I live between the Airport and Easton, and got a 70% signal with my indoor antenna (most other Columbus channels get 85-100% signals). There are 4 digital signals for WDEM, 17.1 thru 17.4, but only the first one is showing programming while the other three are showing a test pattern.

The reception I was getting on 17.1 seemed more analog than digital. It was fuzzy and had poor sound (a loud background hiss). The Dish guide is not currently picking up any programming listings, it just indicates 'Digital Programming'. I didn't watch long enough to determine what program was airing.

[drmark7]

I'm west of Lancaster, but not far enough west to be in the coverage zone according to the map above. RLW

I'm right in the center of Lancaster and get a good signal on about every other channel on a scan but 53.1.

I did not get WDEM, 17.1 either. So it looks like that's too regional or directional.

Right now, I hate to fiddle with my antenna or do a new scan for fear of the
losing a weak channel I might already have picked up.

Questions?/Comments? * This Has Been e-mail From:
"Dr. Mark" Hill * The Doctor Of Pop Culture /*/
Lancaster, OHIO 43130

[hdtvnewbie]

I'm curious about this WDEM ... why does it only show as 1.03 kw on the FCC web site when digital LPTV's are supposed to be 15 kw? My understanding also is that digital LPTV's go out pretty far on just a little juice.

Check out the digital patterns for these 15 kw UHF stations:

W23BZ (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1122890.html)
WCSN (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1151354.html)
WCLL (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1166035.html)
WOTH Cincinnati (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1282207.html)

Trivia: WWHO-TV was formerly WWAT-TV. The call letters stood for Wendell A. Triplett who was the original owner of the station.

[nicjimbass]

I'm right in the center of Lancaster and get a good signal on about every other channel on a scan but 53.1.

I did not get WDEM, 17.1 either. So it looks like that's too regional or directional.

Right now, I hate to fiddle with my antenna or do a new scan for fear of the
losing a weak channel I might already have picked up.


I was getting a pretty weak analog version of WDEM when it was still showing HSN, and then for a week or 2 when it switched programming. Now that it's digital, I can't pick it up at all. BTW, I'm on the eastside of Lancaster (near Kroger).

Drmark, do you have a rotor of any kind? It definitely helps in getting more channels. I get 4.1, 4.2, 6.1, 6.2, 10.1, 19, 20.1-20.3, 23, 28.1, 32, 34.1-34.3, 48, 51.1 and 53.1 and I was getting 18.1, but that seems to have gone away (I think my atenna slipped down a bit... it's temporary until spring), all from my location.

[festivus]

As the map would indicate I can't pull in WDEM from up here off home rd, near riverside. And I have a nice antenna in my attic.

[Tvland1]

Strange thing for me is that I live in Summit Station (few miles west of Pataskala) and I get a signal of around 70% using a winegard 8200U with a channel master 7777 pre amp on a 40ft tower.....whats really weird is that I have to point my antenna to the S.W. same location as CW 53 to get a good signal.If I point it more west like the map shows I lose the signal....TV Fool showes me a location of 264 azimuth for ch 17 and 214 for 53....Only wants to pickup on the corner reflector.

[willcail]

I notice that WDEM did flash cut to digital on 02.17.2009. When I tune into UHF 17 analog on 02.18.2009 it was snow.

The ERP is 1.05 KW. It is spotty to pick up.

Remember WDEM CA is the first low power station in Columbus to broadcast in digital. Since this is a true independent station they don't have the resources on hand to broadcast at MPEG2 quality video. Their local show is the best looking of the rest.

[hdtvnewbie]

I have a TV Card in my office computer, located in south German Village. I was playing around with it this morning and surprisingly was able to tune in WDEM using cheap rabbit-ears at maximum signal strength. I like some of the public domain programming on WDEM, but they really need to do something about their STL. There is no excuse for a digital station that looks like a grainy low power station.

[DGMan]

There is now a Spanish language channel on 17.2. It appears to also be locally produced.

There is supposed to be a local religious group that broadcasts 4 sub channels on 8.1-4 (in Columbus) and 42.1-4 (in Delaware) (and 39.1-4 if you live in Marion). One sub channel is locally produced, one is a Canadian religious channel, one is Daystar and 1 is older programming (like the Beverly hillbillies and etc).

I'm in Powell and according to the FCC site I should be able to receive either of them, but my antenna is not so good for channel 8, and it faces south, which might be limiting my ability to receive 42. Thing is, the ERP of these stations is around 400 watts according to the FCC, so there can't be much of a range for them. I barely get 17.1-2 in Powell and its ERP is 1.05 KW. Has anybody ever seen these channels?

[KCJ]

Go to coacb.org. they list all the Christian stations. Ch 8 analog is on the air now, I think the web site tvfool.com shows 8 being stronger in the digital form. Anyone know when ch 23 is going digital? An do these stations have to go digital on june 12 since they are not full piower?

[gsb]

do these stations have to go digital on june 12 since they are not full piower?
The FCC has a page on The Digital TV Transition: Low Power Television Stations (http://www.dtv.gov/lptv.html) that says, "The June 12, 2009 DTV transition deadline does not apply to low-power television stations."

They also have a Master Low Power Stations List (http://www.dtv.gov/lptv_list.html) page where you can download an Excel spreadsheet of LP stations, but I haven't looked at it to see if it answers your questions.

[willcail]

WDEM is in the process of upgrading the station. In a email the person respond that they are upgrading the broadcast equiptment. They are improving their signal as well. The video has improved. Now they are broadcasting white noise audio on 17.3.

[hdtvnewbie]

I've been watching WDEM more and more lately due to the movies and Frontstage/CD 101 rock band programming. The programming is a bit too repetitive (the same Vincent Price movie 5 nights in a row?), but then again all stations seem to do that these days. Props to everyone over there - they do a great job! I hope they stick around.

I wonder why the big local stations can't do programming like that.

[nicjimbass]

Seems channel 32 (WCSN) is off the air. It's had a message saying they were having technical difficulties for about a week, and not tonight, nothing. Not that I really care, all they aired was infomercials. Anyone know if they plan on doing anything else? Also, anyone hear about channel 48 (Spanish channel)? Any word on when they're going digital?

[Mac]

Two weeks ago, I foundmyself in the Clintonville area , so I stopped by TV 48's offices. Luis Orosco, the GM told me they are going to take channel 25 digtal in September and October at the latest, with I think 4 subchannels, and they are also moving to new Grandview studios.

That way they can vacate 48 for channel 6 to possibly move from channel 13.

Speaking of channel 17, is anyone else having trouble picking up the signal since they went off and came back on the air a few weeks ago? Now I can only watch them on their website feed, as the over the air signal is not as powerful at my place as it was.

[hdtvnewbie]

Two weeks ago, I foundmyself in the Clintonville area , so I stopped by TV 48's offices. Luis Orosco, the GM told me they are going to take channel 25 digtal in September and October at the latest, with I think 4 subchannels, and they are also moving to new Grandview studios.

That way they can vacate 48 for channel 6 to possibly move from channel 13.

Speaking of channel 17, is anyone else having trouble picking up the signal since they went off and came back on the air a few weeks ago? Now I can only watch them on their website feed, as the over the air signal is not as powerful at my place as it was.

Interesting. So 23, 24 (WSFJ) and 25 are all going to be bunched together like this? Any problems with co-channel interference?

[willcail]

BTW little off topic. How about having a new message board that deals with Low Power TV?

I recently purchase an RCA Flat Antenna and now WHIZ DT comes in time to time. Now WDEM video big improvement. Now on their Facebook page they are taking suggestions for syndicated programming. If GTN23 can air Lost and Star Trek why not WDEM do the same.

Plus September 2 is when Columbus Film Factory premiers.

[gsb]

Seems channel 32 (WCSN) is off the air. It's had a message saying they were having technical difficulties for about a week, and not tonight, nothing.
It's back on the air, although just color bars and the station call letters.

[Mac]

Go figure....

I have been unable to get WDEM's signal for a few weeks.......now wouldn't you know I have been able to receive it for the past three days at all dayparts.

As far as their new channels, I'd liked to have seen them add ION, but the Universal Sports channel has been pretty nice to watch.

[willcail]

Having a amplified antenna is helpful. I need one to pick up WDEM CD. When communicating with the station through their Facebook page they recently purchase a new syndicated package. I don't know what shows but I'm guessing that the PD TV shows are wearing thin. On the same Facebook page they are trying again to get cable coverge. Heck if GTN23 can get cable coverge on Insight and WOW cable why not WDEM? They have more local programming than GTN23.

[Mac]

I got a response from Jason Perkins, who is the "face and voice" of WDEM. He has been quite forthcoming with information about the station------and in the past few weeks since I have been able to receive the station once more, I have noticed how far they have come programming wise since the HSN days.

I believe these folks have a vision to bring the local aspect back to the local station, and truly are interested in viewers' feedback and opinions. We who watch know they have had signal issues. Here is Jason's response to that issue........and if they can accomplish this, it could not only fix the problems but potentially add viewership.......


Re: station's signal

Hello Tim,
Yes our signal is pretty jumpy; we are in the works to boost the signal strength through an FCC grant which will put us at 13.5 KW. I believe the grant is available end of fourth quarter or early part of the first. We appreciate your viewership and spread the word of WDEM as much as possible! Thanks Tim!

Jason Perkins
--------------------

[hdtvnewbie]

I got a response from Jason Perkins, who is the "face and voice" of WDEM. He has been quite forthcoming with information about the station------and in the past few weeks since I have been able to receive the station once more, I have noticed how far they have come programming wise since the HSN days.

I believe these folks have a vision to bring the local aspect back to the local station, and truly are interested in viewers' feedback and opinions. We who watch know they have had signal issues. Here is Jason's response to that issue........and if they can accomplish this, it could not only fix the problems but potentially add viewership.......


Re: station's signal

Hello Tim,
Yes our signal is pretty jumpy; we are in the works to boost the signal strength through an FCC grant which will put us at 13.5 KW. I believe the grant is available end of fourth quarter or early part of the first. We appreciate your viewership and spread the word of WDEM as much as possible! Thanks Tim!

Jason Perkins
--------------------

Did you contact using the general e-mail box or is there a separate address? I would also like to drop them a line ... I really like what they are doing. I could do without Bonanza and Here's Luch, but I LLOVE the campy old movies. It reminds me of the days of Nite Owl Theater. I wish they would have a regular schedule thought. You never know what's on ...

[willcail]

The syndication package that they purchase is comming. Don't ask me what shows are in that package. I do miss Rick's Midnight Movie Madness. It is great that they are working to improve their ERP. I hope to disconnect the amp from my antenna if the 13.5KW reaches to my apartment without it.

[hdtvnewbie]

The syndication package that they purchase is comming. Don't ask me what shows are in that package. I do miss Rick's Midnight Movie Madness. It is great that they are working to improve their ERP. I hope to disconnect the amp from my antenna if the 13.5KW reaches to my apartment without it.

I have $6 Big Lots rabbit ears connected to a WinTV card in my office in an old house south of German Village. I get them just fine.

[sh10151]

I live along High Street just south of Morse Rd, and just moved from rabbit ears to a DB2 in the attic. I get WWHO now, but still no WDEM. Does anyone living in Beechwold/Worthington receive it?

[Mac]

Their tower is on the channel 10 tower configuration just west of downtown.....I know someone who lives off High Street just south of there and they get the channel at 80% on their tuner, so if you can turn it the least bit towards there, you should be able to get it. And with WWHO putting out 1 million watts, turning to compensate for WDEM's signal may still give you enough antenna angle to get 53 as well as any other channel.

Remember they are at very low power so even with an antenna in the attic you may still need amplification on your antenna.

[sh10151]

Their tower is on the channel 10 tower configuration just west of downtown.....I know someone who lives off High Street just south of there and they get the channel at 80% on their tuner, so if you can turn it the least bit towards there, you should be able to get it. And with WWHO putting out 1 million watts, turning to compensate for WDEM's signal may still give you enough antenna angle to get 53 as well as any other channel.

Remember they are at very low power so even with an antenna in the attic you may still need amplification on your antenna.

Thanks. I'm seeing a whole lot of nothing as far as 17 goes -- doesn't even try to tune it in. 53 comes in no matter which southerly direction I point the antenna, though it is a weak signal and breaks up often.

I'll see if I can tune it in without the coax run -- maybe it is just a matter of amplification.

[hdtvnewbie]

Thanks. I'm seeing a whole lot of nothing as far as 17 goes -- doesn't even try to tune it in. 53 comes in no matter which southerly direction I point the antenna, though it is a weak signal and breaks up often.

I'll see if I can tune it in without the coax run -- maybe it is just a matter of amplification.

I just rescanned and there is no way I get 33 WCSN, neither at home nor at the office.

[DGMan]

I use a homemade version of the channel master 4221 (see a post I wrote in July of 2009 in the WSYX thread). I live in Powell and get both WCSN and WDEM at 76-80% with this antenna located in the basement of my house. It took a bit of time to find them though. With these signals I found that moving the antenna even a foot or two one direction would make a huge difference with the signal (from 80% to 0%). I tuned my TV manually to 17.1, turned the sound way up and then started walking around with the antenna until I heard the channel. You might give this a try if practical.

[sh10151]

I experimented with the DB2's position in the attic and was able to tune in WDEM stations with 20% signal on a long coax and 40% signal on a short coax.

I had a scare with losing WOSU while receiving WDEM -- toddler in the house makes that a non-starter -- but I was able to get it back at the small price of losing WSFJ.

Hopefully mounting the antenna on the south side of the house in the spring won't mess up WOSU reception.

[hdtvnewbie]

I use a homemade version of the channel master 4221 (see a post I wrote in July of 2009 in the WSYX thread). I live in Powell and get both WCSN and WDEM at 76-80% with this antenna located in the basement of my house. It took a bit of time to find them though. With these signals I found that moving the antenna even a foot or two one direction would make a huge difference with the signal (from 80% to 0%). I tuned my TV manually to 17.1, turned the sound way up and then started walking around with the antenna until I heard the channel. You might give this a try if practical.

I guess that begs the question whether there is anything on WCSN that is worth me going through all that trouble?

[hdtvnewbie]

That last post got me thinking ... WKRP in Cincinnati (don't know what their real call letters are) has a formula that seems to work. One of the local LPTVs should copy what they do ... or maybe even simulcast if that's feasible?

[sh10151]

I guess that begs the question whether there is anything on WCSN that is worth me going through all that trouble?
A test pattern telling you that you can rent the channel? :D

[TvPat]

It looks like WDEM was granted a construction permit for a non-directional signal at 10 times the power on March 1. It is a drastic improvement over their current directional signal, especially west of downtown.

Here is the current signal:
http://www.fcc.gov/ftp/Bureaus/MB/Databases/fm_tv_service_areas/maps/DC1295835.jpg

Here is the new signal:
http://www.fcc.gov/ftp/Bureaus/MB/Databases/fm_tv_service_areas/maps/DC1337144.jpg

[DGMan]

Has channel 32 gone off the air? Not that I sat at the edge of my chair hanging on every word uttered by the Promiseland Network, but I have not got the signal lately.

Seems to me they could do/could have done something more with this channel (Like ION or PBS world or something). I guess there is just not an audience for more channels in Columbus. Come to think of it, the only time I use my antenna is when the wife has two things recording simultaneously on the Time Warner DVR.

Any word lately on the other LP channels going digital?

[willcail]

Since I recently subscribe to TWC there are a few channels that in the 180's that seems to be a waste. I'm looking at American Auction Network and that Coin TV network.

WCSN would be better served to air ION, V-ME, MHZ Network.

[hdtvnewbie]

Has channel 32 gone off the air? Not that I sat at the edge of my chair hanging on every word uttered by the Promiseland Network, but I have not got the signal lately.

Seems to me they could do/could have done something more with this channel (Like ION or PBS world or something). I guess there is just not an audience for more channels in Columbus. Come to think of it, the only time I use my antenna is when the wife has two things recording simultaneously on the Time Warner DVR.

Any word lately on the other LP channels going digital?

The LPTV business has to be tough in a big market like Columbus. It seems like it would be very hard to get noticed as an OTA with so much cable penetration and all. WDEM started off pretty well, but now they are just airing a bunch of crap. WCSN had a good idea and a spot on cable, but again, they just couldn't break out, either.

I think there are a couple of niches for OTA viewers that have yet to be exploited.

First, provide something different. I would steal something from TV/Radio of the past ... find some talented "VJ" (like in the old days of radio) who will be there live as a segue between commercial breaks. Just think of the old WCOL staff back in the 1970's easing you in and out between station breaks and shows ... making rude remarks about the commercials and whatnot. Just someone around to entertain you along with the show.

Second, provide an OTA news channel. There has to be a feed from the BBC or somewhere they can throw on an OTA station. The only reason I really have cable is for Fox News, but I can handle the BBC (CNN is just plain dull). Ideally, you would also have local cut-ins for the same reason as #1 above ... the personality aspect that comes from being live.

Third, a B&W movie channel. ThisTV does a great job with low budget color flicks, but I like the old B-movies.

I think if you have these things up, there are a lot of people like me who would dump cable in an instant. I'll miss the Ohio State games on ESPN, but that's about it. I can live without the rest.