There's an aspect of Hawaii's digital transition that I haven't heard discussed much yet outside television stations and federal agencies. It's an additional layer of change.
Not only will full-power broadcasters' over-the-air transmissions switch from analog to digital, but most of us TV stations are re-locating important equipment which may affect our coverage areas. It's not that we want to move; it's that our land-lease arrangements are changing. TV transmitters are not exactly popular neighbors.
For example, several TV broadcasters, including PBS Hawaii, operate transmitters near the top of Haleakala on Maui. It's a great location to broadcast signals, 10,800 feet in the air. Wonderful reach. We were informed we need to move the operations to accommodate astronomy research. Unfortunately, there's no location available that's as good as the one we have now. We've arranged for sites way down the mountain, at 4,600 feet, at Ulupalakua Ranch. The new, lower position on the mountain simply won't give us the reach we currently have.
It's too early to tell with certainty what kind of differences we'll see in over-the-air TV coverage. But it's pretty clear that Hamakua on Hawaii Island will not be served as fully as it is now, once our state switches from analog to digital transmission.
I'll let you know more when I know more. Remember, Hawaii's digital transition date is January 15th, at noon.
In the meantime, if you know anyone still using rabbit ears or a rooftop antenna to capture over-the-air signals, please let them know that change is coming. And tell them that preparing for change may require more than buying a pass-through converter box for their current TV set. They may have to re-direct their antenna, and even add other features, such as an amplifier. Advise them to pay attention to announcements and act, so that they may continue to receive television. These websites have helpful information: www.Hawaiigoesdigital.com and www.dtv.gov and here at www.pbshawaii.org our chief engineer Steve Komori writes a blog, "Digital Dialog." If you're a PBS Hawaii viewer, we invite you to call our viewer-services specialist, Christina Kanemoto, at 973-1187 with questions.
A Federal Communications Commission (FCC) team is working with local broadcasters to make things go as smoothly as possible for citizens. I'll pass along phone numbers when I get word that viewer-assistance lines are activated.
***TV viewers who subscribe to cable or satellite TV services are not affected by the digital transition.
It is now Feb. 7th and we no longer have television. Free TV no longer exists. People who felt that TV should be a free commodity now must pay for this service. We live in an area where there is no digital signal due to the move from Haleakala to Ulupalakua Ranch There are many people like us. We called the FCC and their response was basically that "Capitalism favors the rich". The Maui weekly newspaper (Jan. 22-28 Vol XII, No 4 page 6) reported that the transition was successful. My husband and I love to watch the news and enjoy many of the programs on PBS. We now own a useless converter box. The only good thing that has come from this conversion is that I no longer have to listen to how bad the economy is which use to prevent me from spending and enjoying the money I made. Due to my principles I won't be spending any of that money on purchasing a satellite or cable connection I'll buy books instead.
Posted by: Maria Haines | February 07, 2009 at 08:17 AM