Repack Dates For Washington DC Market

[Peter Parker]

I do not have any information about who is mo ving when but I thought it might be a good idea if we shared the information we might have.

Please feel fee to post any news about DC area stations.

 

[Peter Parker]

According to a poster at DCRTV.COm WDCO-CD a low power station out of the Plains VA has left the air. It apparently will return to the air from the WRC tower in the district using Channel 24 but the timing for that is unclear.

From the same source WETA-TV will begin broadcasting from 31 starting July 29.

I am not sure when WDVM, WMPT and WPXW will move to new frequencies.

 

[Trip]

MPT: Broadcast Frequencies Changing | MPT

WRC: How to Rescan Your TV to Receive NBC4's Signal

I've been hearing that WRC may move on August 1, but the webpage currently says August 2.

Couldn't find anything on WDVM.

ION's not had anything on the web about it, so no point in looking for WPXW's date online, but in New York and Philly they're part of the August 1 transition date, as I understand it, so I assume they'll move whenever WRC does.

- Trip

 

[Lone Gunman]

Hey Trip, is anything happening in my area that I need to know about?

 

[Peter Parker]

The WRC on air PSA says August 1. WMPT seems to be early on August 2.

 

[Trip]

Hey Trip, is anything happening in my area that I need to know about?

In Phase 5, yes. (Current discussion is of Phase 4.) Every UHF station changes channel.

- Trip

 

[Lone Gunman]

In Phase 5, yes. (Current discussion is of Phase 4.) Every UHF station changes channel.

- Trip

Sorry I asked!! When are they going to get to a point where they leave the damn stuff alone??

 

[harshness]

When are they going to get to a point where they leave the damn stuff alone??

According to the schedule, about a year from now.

Practically speaking the end of changes will probably come sooner in geographically isolated markets. I reason, possibly erroneously, that these markets are less likely to risk impact from adjacent markets. Most of the phase 10 stuff is in Canada as I recall.

All in there are about 1,000 full-power stations and 2,000 low-power stations involved and as Trip noted, some markets will see a majority of their channels move.

 

[KB3PXR]

WDVM Hagerstown is phase 4 and should be changing by August 2, WWPB Hagerstown and WWPX Martinsburg, WV are phase 9.

 

[Peter Parker]

FWIW the tentative date for WWPB to move is may 1, 2020.

 

[KB3PXR]

Update: WDVM has posted on Facebook that "Rescan Day" will be on August 2. If you can manually add the channel, they are moving to channel 23.

 

[navychop]

Can’t imagine why they dropped “WHAG”- a well known call sign. Yes, I understand they want to be known as more than “just” a Hagerstown station. So boost your power!

They threw away a valuable “intangible asset.”


Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys App. For now.

 

[Lone Gunman]

In Phase 5, yes. (Current discussion is of Phase 4.) Every UHF station changes channel.

- Trip

Ok so when will Phase 5 start and when will it be finished? Anyone know?

 

[navychop]

All phases have technically begun.

Phase 4 ends 8/2/19
5, 9/6/19
6, 10/18/19
7, 1/17/20
8, 3/13/20
9, 5/1/20
10, 7/3/20




Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys App. For now.

 

[localclassictvfan]

Your market on rabbit ears should have an expiration date by the digital channel the station is supposed to move to under its physical channel number.

 

[Peter Parker]

The WETA website now says thEy will move to channel 31 on August 2. Looks like I might be able to get away with a single reset per device.

 

[navychop]

Yep. 8/2 for Hagerstown and NoVA. I’m just amazed at how many devices I have that will need rescanning.


Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys App. For now.

 

[navychop]

NBC4 says they (& Cozi) are shifting at 1 on 8/1/19.


Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys App. For now.

 

[Peter Parker]

Today and tomorrow are the two big days in this market. I am holding off on rescanning till tomorrow evening. i am hopeful that i will not lose any stations. I will be very surprised f i gain any----though WMPT may become more reliable.

Does anyone know if WMPT completed work on their tower? If not they too will be at reduced power fro some time.

 

[Trip]

WETA, WPXW, and WDVM are transitioning to low-power facilities. WDVM will probably come up to full power within a few weeks, from what I understand. WPXW and WETA will be at reduced power for a while longer.

WRC will be transitioning from a low-power facility to a new full-power facility.

I don't know WMPT's status. They're saying on their website that they're going off the air at 10PM tonight and coming back up on the new channel overnight. I don't know what to read from that, if there's anything to be read.

- Trip