Digital Dialog

It's not only hot and humid here in Hilo...

...but it has become a challenge to get the digital antenna installed where the old analog antenna was..we are way beyond the point of no return (to analog) and must make new adapters to mount the digital antenna.  I hope to get some kind of signal up by tomorrow, but it looks like the final configuration won't happen until Monday or Tuesday.

Are We There Yet?

Almost...In another week PBS Hawaii will switch back to broadcasting its Oahu digital programming to Channel 11...so please rescan your digital TVs and converter boxes on Feb. 18.

We finally got all the analog antennas stripped off the tower...today will be repairing rusted sections and repainting damaged areas and finally my new antenna will be mounted onto the tower, tested on Saturday and hopefully ready on Wednesday morning...which will complete my full-power digital transmitter installations...then it's onto replacing the analog translators...first destination, Hilo....Are we there yet?

As the Dust Settles...

It has been a very busy 49 days for me.  Beginning the week after Thanksgiving, I have been busy with the preparation of Oahu's final digital transmission system which is due to be activated on February 18.  In addition to Oahu, the Maui digital system was being prepared for its debut on January 15, the Kauai analog translator system needed to be modified to work with a digital signal and the Big Island translator system required major changes to keep operating in analog.

So how do I feel the transition went?  It was pretty much what I expected, except for the Big Island...more on that later.  We knew that the move of our Oahu transmitter from the KGMB tower to Palehua (above Makakilo) was going to cause a lot of people who could once get us to lose our signal and a lot of people who could not receive us to start getting a signal.  In addition, the temporary UHF channel we are licensed to use by the FCC would not be something most people are used to receiving.  But come this February 18, we will be returning to our beloved Channel 11 frequency and should make it more familiar to rereceive.

The Maui transition went off without a hitch.  At noon on January 15, we shutdown the analog transmitter, which was broadcasting on Channel 10, and switched on the digital transmitter, also broadcasting on Channel 10.  This momentous occasion was over 20 years in the making.  After many Public Hearings, meetings with special interest groups, propagation studies, site surveys, and governmental processes, the site at Ulupalakua Ranch was finally agreed upon by all.  All the broadcasters were aware of the loss of coverage on Maui, Molokai, Oahu and the Big Island, but due to the loss of a lease at the summit of Haleakala and the subsequent move to Ulupalakua Ranch, the loss of coverage would have happened even if we continued with analog broadcasts.  So in the end, our coverage ended up being pretty much what was predicted.

Kauai's translator system, though still analog, had to receive the KHET digital signal and convert it to analog to keep the system going.  This was done without notice in early January.  We will begin transitioning Kauai over to digital once we have completed the Oahu digital change mentioned above, and/or when the existing translators require replacement.

For the Big Island, please read my next entry.

Overall, the dust is settling on the transition of our full-power transmitters, but I am just starting to build the digital translator system...on both Kauai and the Big Island...anyone seen the Sawzall?

The $40 Coupon

I was recently on a panel to discuss the Hawaii Digital transition and the majority of the questions were about the government's $40 coupon program to purchase a digital-to-analog converter box.  Here are the major points you need to know:

If you have a cable or satellite service you need to do NOTHING!  TV will be the same for you;

Most of Hawaii is going digital-only TV broadcasting on January 15, 2009 at Noon;

You can go online at: www.DTV2009.gov to request up to two (2) $40 coupons;

The coupons cannot be combined...one coupon, one box...two coupons, two boxes...

The coupons have an expiration date tied to Eastern Standard Time...do not wait to use it;

The coupons are good for three (3) months from the time of mailing;

Buy a converter box with analog pass through;

You will need an antenna to attach to the converter box;

Buying a converter box will not guaranteee your reception of all or any DTV signals;

Depending upon where you live, you may need an outdoor antenna and additional equipment to receive DTV signals;

IF YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT ME OR YOU CAN CALL THE FCC'S LOCAL OFFICE AT 541-3288 OR GO ONLINE AT : hawaiidtvtransition@fcc.gov

Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow

The bird is the word...

It is true...due to the nesting habits of the endangered Brown-Rumped Petrel, Hawaii Television goes digital on January 15.

Many have asked me why are we doing this...and I have to reply that a bird is the reason why.  When further queried, I explain that the migration and nesting habits of the petrel gives us a short time frame in which to demolish our analog transmission site atop Haleakala....specifically January and February.  All other months are off limits for construction vehicles to be in the area for fear that the equipment could run over nesting petrels.

For the TV broadcasters this means that we shut-off analog TV on Maui and replace it with digital broadcasts from a new site...Ulupalakua, almost 6000 feet lower in elevation.  This loss in elevation will have major consequences for over-the-air viewers on Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Hawaii.

Because the Maui transmitters broadcast the same signal as that on Oahu, instead of trying to explain what is happening on each island in a :30 second PSA, we, with blessings from the FCC, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Hawaii Association of Broadcasters and the National Association of Broadcasters, have decided that all full power transmitters (Honolulu, Wailuku and Hilo) will broadcast in digital and thus making it such that we can issue one statement to Hawaii TV viewers: HAWAII GOES DIGITAL ON JAN. 15.

So chalk it up to a bird to make all of us agree on this one thing...Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow!

Digital Converter Boxes

Here is the weak point in the digital transition.  I feel that not enough information is being relayed to the consumer by the government, the broadcasters and the retailers...but buy the Digital Converter Box with Analog Pass-Through...

I recently spoke with a viewer who purchased a converter box, hooked it up and then called me to say " I'm not getting digital television".  I proceeded to ask many questions and in the end the misunderstanding was that they thought by connecting a digital conversion box to their television, it would get all the digital stations...much like a cable digital box.

Unfortunately the digital conversion box is only a channel tuner that takes in the new over-the-air digital television signals and changes it so that your old television can display the picture.  It has nothing to do with cable or satellite signals...it is only used for OVER-THE-AIR digital siganls.

Now the second part to the equation is what I just wrote about earlier...the ANTENNA!  You are going to need one.  No ifs, ands or buts.  Whether it is an indoor antenna or an outdoor antenna, you are going to need one.  There is another web site that can give you an idea of what type of antenna you'll need, it's:  www.tvfool.com

Now here is my disclaimer...you may need a signal amplifier or an antenna rotor or a "smart" antenna...but none of this will guarantee reception of all your favorite TV channels.  Reception of over-the-air signals can be affected by mountains, buildings, trees, weather, bodies of water, traffic, location and a bunch of other factors I can only imagine.

Digital Converter Boxes are not the "magic" bullet that some believe it to be...but if you try hard enough, it can extend the life of that analog set long enough to make up for all the money spent on antennas, amplifiers, splitters, cables, etc....

Update on our Digital Transition

This is an update for a prior post titled "Where we are...where we'll be...and how".

On Oahu most of the Hawaii TV Broadcasters have been given the go-ahead by the FCC to shut-off analog broadcasts on January 15, 2009 rather than the February 17, 2009 federally mandated transition date.

PBS Hawaii will begin work on our higher powered digital transmission system beginning the last week of November.  We will reduce our analog power by half so that we can re-purpose the analog transmitter for our final digital transmission system.  Our antenna is due to be installed the beginning of February and until then we will continue broadcasting on Channel 18.  Once completed (mid February) we will have better coverage for Honolulu, Central Oahu and the Waianae Coast, but you will need to perform a rescan on your TV or converter box.

Maui will be broadcasting in digital only from January 15, 2009 at noon.  We believe that most of Maui will not lose our signal, but there is a chance that North and East Maui may experience some signal degradation or not get enough signal to watch our programs.

Kauai will go through a phased transition as all of our transmitting devices are classified by the FCC in the low-power category and are thus not mandated by law to begin digital transmitting.  Because there are twice as many low-power transmitters as full-power transmitters in the U.S., the FCC is waiting for the dust to settle with the full-power transmitters and find out what channels are left to make the low-power transition.  On a side note, it may be possible for the residents in southern and eastern Kauai to receive our digital broadcasts from Oahu...if so enjoy the new digital revolution...

The Island of Hawaii will also go through a phased transition to digital.  The first area to become digital will be Waimea followed closely by Hilo.  Because all the other broadcasters in Hilo will be in digital, it only makes sense for us to join in with them so we do not create any additional confusion to the viewers.  To do this we must re-purpose some equipment from Oahu and convert it to digital.  I anticipate that PBS Hawaii will be broadcasting digitally in Hilo by the end of February or early March.  The rest of the island will follow as funds allow.

There is a lot happening, all in a short period.  I anticipate some short outages and apologize for it in advance, but due to logistics, I am not able to be in all locations at the same time.  I will try to keep these outages to a minimum and appreciate your understanding and patience.  More later...

Reach Out And Transition Somebody

With the Hawaii DTV Transition happening on January 15, 2009, the television broadcasters of Hawaii are trying to reach out to viewers who might be unable to or are unaware of the coming transition.  We can only do so much and we need your kokua.  Here are things you can do to help:

1)  Should you know someone that uses over-the-air signals to view TV, tell them about needing a converter box if they want to continue using their analog TV;

2)  Send me an email (skomori@pbshawaii.org) of names of community associations or groups or even neighborhoods where over-the-air reception is prevalent;

3)  Refer them to my Blog here or they can go to www.dtv.gov for information;

This transition is going to be a bit bumpy and every little bit helps, so if you can...reach out and transition somebody..

Time is Running Out

For those who plan to continue using your analog TV and are looking to purchase a converter box:

Hawaii's Digital Transition date closer than ever (JANUARY 15, 2009), and if you want/need the $40 coupon offered by the Federal government to subsidize the purchase of a Digital-to-Analog Conversion Box, you better do it now.  Just go to:

www.dtv2009.gov

You can either fill out an application form on-line or print out an application form (which you will need to fill out and mail).  It will take up to 6-weeks, depending upon when the application is received, to receive either one or two coupons (you chose on the application) towards the purchase of a converter box (and if you can afford the additional small cost increase, with analog pass-through).

So if you don't do it by the end of November...you'll lose your over-the-air analog signal for good on January 15, 2009 and your analog TV will become a dust collector...

Far Out...

Satellite coverage...Dish network and DirecTV...they keep telling us that everything will be okay for the digital transition, but now I'm unsure...

Over the past week, ever since our analog transmitter on Oahu malfunctioned, the majority of viewers calling in complaints have been Big Island and Kauai satellite subscribers.  They (the satellite companies) tell me that they are using my digital over-the-air signal, but yet when my analog goes off, you don't get our programming!??

What gives?  And there is nobody but voicemail to talk to you when you call them or if you do get ahold of somebody, they have no idea what you are talking about and blame the TV station that you are calling about for their problems.

Let's just hope that when the transition happens in Hawaii (January 15, 2009) that you won't lose all Hawaii local channels...