We have been fielding a lot of calls and e-mails regarding the DTV transition and viewers not receiving KCTS 9. If you haven't re-scanned your DTV converter box or digital TV since Friday, June 12, please do so immediately.
KCTS 9, along with KSTW (11) and KCPQ (13) transitioned from their pre-transition UHF channel assignment to their VHF channel for DTV transmission. KING, KIRO, KOMO, and KONG all remained on their UHF DTV channels. This means you may have received our DTV signal on UHF 41 in the past but can't receive it now that we are on VHF channel 9. If this is the case, the first thing you need to do is make sure you have an all-band VHF/UHF antenna. There is no guarantee that what works for one person will work for everyone because there are so many variables, but I'm going to give some general guidelines here in this space.
For all of the below suggestions you will need to try adjusting your antenna to increase signal strength. Some converter boxes will let you see a signal strength on a channel it didn't find using the meter. Other boxes require you to adjust the antenna and then perform a full scan or partial scan to find the channel before you can call up the signal strength. Other boxes allow you to manually add a channel using the RF channel, our RF channel is 9. Once you can bring up the signal strength make adjustments to the antenna in one direction or the other with small changes and let the signal strength meter respond. Indoor antennas with rabbit ears may work best if they are about 20 inches long. Also, try closing the rabbit ears down all the way or about 6 inches long to see if that works. Try turning the antenna 90 degrees again while watching the signal strength.
If you are within 5 miles of our Capitol Hill (Seattle) transmitter you should be able to receive KCTS 9 with a non-amplified VHF/UHF indoor antenna. We have talked to some people that have had trouble using an amplified VHF/UHF antenna. The problem here is that the amplifier gets overloaded by the signal if you are really close to our transmitter - which is located at 18th and Madison. If you are on Capitol Hill and live really close to the transmitter tower, you may find a straightened paper clip to work best as an antenna.
If you live farther than five miles from our transmitter, or if a non-amplified antenna doesn't work for you, the first thing to try is a VHF/UHF amplified antenna. Again, follow the instructions for re-scanning or adding the channel manually to view the signal strength to maximize the signal by adjusting the antenna. Amplified indoor antennas top out at about 15-20 miles from the transmitter, which again, is located on Capitol Hill near downtown Seattle. The amplified indoor antenna's range is only an estimate and other factors can cause problems with its reach as well. You can also try adding an extension to the antenna coax so you can move the antenna around the room. If you have a balcony or window, try placing the antenna outside as a test. Lastly, if you have an amplified antenna be sure it is plugged into the wall for power.
There are some antennas being sold as "HDTV" antennas that have VHF/UHF amplifiers but the antenna is designed for UHF. These have been marketed by different companies and sometimes mislead consumers that it is a VHF antenna.
A true VHF/UHF indoor antenna will have two extendable elements often referred to as "rabbit ears". These antennas are similar to your old "rabbit ears" but they have a UHF antenna as well that is usually round in shape. The knob that some antennas have usually only adjusts the UHF antenna.
If you have tried an amplified antenna and it didn't work by adjusting it and moving its location, then you probably need an outdoor antenna. The size of the outdoor antenna determines how far away it can receive a signal. www.antennaweb.org and www.tvfool.com are good resources to help determine what size of antenna you need. If you have an outdoor antenna and is not working you may try an antenna pre-amplifier (more info in next paragraph) or a bigger outdoor antenna. We are the lowest frequency station in Seattle since KING, KIRO and KOMO are all on UHF. You really only need an antenna that can receive channels 7-69. This is also labeled as high VHF thru UHF. WINEGARD makes several antennas that can be acquired online that are high VHF thru UHF. This link has pictures of different types of antennas. Beware of the UHF-only outdoor antennas as they don't work very well at all for channels 9 and 11.
Another option to increase the signal for outdoor antennas is to use an antenna pre-amplifier. This is a two piece device -- the amplifier goes just below the antenna on the antenna mount and the power supply device is installed in the house. Be sure to install both devices and plug the power supply into an outlet. If you have multiple splitters in your antenna feed, try removing them as a test. Also, if you have a splitter with multiple unused outputs, replace it with a splitter that has only the number of you outputs you need, maybe two or four. Each splitter reduces the signal to each TV and the more outputs a splitter has the more it reduces the signal.
If you need help installing an outdoor antenna or adjusting an indoor antenna the federal government has contracted with Installs Inc. They can be contacted at 1-800-582-4250 or dtvhelp.install.com.
If you still can't receive ch. 9, we would like you to complete one of our TV Reception forms for over-the-air antenna viewers. The FCC would also like consumers to contact them with reception issues at 1-888-225-5322 or fill out this FCC form.
At this time, KCTS 9 has no plans of adding translators or repeaters and we are operating at our full licensed power. We also will not be moving back to UHF channel 41. We are not authorized by the FCC to operate on channel 41.
Comments
Posted by Guest (not verified) on Thu, 09/24/2009 - 8:32am
I can't get KCTS 9 on my digital TV either. I have rescanned multiple times and I have an amplified indoor antenna.
The TV lets me add channels manually but it only allows channel 9-0. It won't let me add channel 9-1, so I am wondering if that's the problem? If that IS the problem then how do I get my TV to accept channel 9-1?
I used to have trouble getting channel 11 also but after my 2nd rescan it came in.
Posted by kjanders (not verified) on Thu, 10/08/2009 - 2:22pm
We used to get great antenna reception in downtown Kirkland but a few days ago, this changed. Now we largely can't get anything at all - maybe we get a bit of signal for a few minutes if we're holding the antenna. What changed? Our other channels are still coming in as before.
Thanks!
Posted by Tony Johnston (not verified) on Tue, 08/11/2009 - 6:04pm
We suddenly, in the past couple of days, have spotty, unwatchable reception in our Rainier Valley home just over 3 miles from the transmitter. Has something changed recently? We had perfect reception with our unamplified, indoor antenna prior to August 7th or so.
Posted by Guest (not verified) on Thu, 07/30/2009 - 8:09am
We now have poor reception in West Seattle, on the bluff, where one would believe is the best reception.
Posted by Guest (not verified) on Sun, 07/26/2009 - 7:59pm
The highlight of our evenings had been to watch KCTS. My 12 year old future scientist would come home from school and announce "It's Tuesday, NOVA is on tonight!"
People were always asking my son how he knew so much about science. He would credit NOVA, NOVA Science Now, Nature and Secrets of the Dead.
We have rescanned and bought an amplifier, but KCTS reception now is only very sporatic on 70.1. It is most frustrating to a boy with a thirst for knowledge.
Posted by Guest (not verified) on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 10:22pm
try antennas direct clearstream 5 Vhf only antenna for channels 7-13. It's expensive but if it works its worth it. I plan on getting one to compliment my existing UHF antenna. if it dosent help you can always return to amazon. links below good luck!
amazon has it for cheaper
http://www.antennasdirect.com/C5-Clearstream-DTV-antenna.html
http://www.amazon.com/Antennas-Direct-C5-CLEARSTREAM5-Antenna/dp/B002E1U...
Posted by Bill Brazell (not verified) on Sun, 07/26/2009 - 9:37am
I used to get KCTS up until a couple days ago. I've rescanned on my digital TVs and I get no 9-1, 9-2, or 9-3. Is there an outage condition? When will it be fixed? I'd hate to lose my PBS access.
Posted by A normal human (not verified) on Sat, 07/25/2009 - 4:42am
Are you guys seriously yelling at your local *NOT-FOR-PROFIT* PBS affiliate for crappy signal service due to a decision made by the FOR-PROFIT cable providers whom now control the ways and means to deliver our PUBLIC BROADCAST AIRWAVES, a decision that was entirely out of your control, my control, and PBS's control? This conversion was decided by cable companies who paid government officials, the same ones who work for you. A lot of warnings that thi would happen went ignored. I thought it was just our government that was ignoring them. Apparently not.
And because of this, you feel good about posting here, and spouting like a jerk by threatening to cut what modicum of support public airwaves get? Misguided much?
Do you think that PBS wanted any of this hassle? PBS has no billionaires amongst its employees. It owns no digital conversion technology, and it wouldn't charge you for it, even if it did. It barely survives on donations because we're all poor. Maybe you should call COMCAST.
Reptiles, the whole lot of you. What a sad sorry example of utter failure at life on your (misinformed?) parts. I can only speak on behalf of rational humans when I say I hope you all are the exceptions and not the rule.
Posted by Faris Hattab (not verified) on Tue, 07/14/2009 - 7:40pm
Same issue here, I used to get channel 1091 on my Windows Media Center, in full high definition... now, NOTHING
You have lost my subsciption, I won't send any more money for this station. I'll start watching the silliness on 4 5 and 7 and contribute to the Dumbing Down of America
Posted by Slade (not verified) on Fri, 07/24/2009 - 8:25am
I'm by Seattle Center and I did the bread tie wire antenna and rescand plenty and I get nothing. the signal is never out of the weak! played with my rabbit ear antenna as well and got nothing!
We are in the dark and not even the blog is giveing a clue and I can type it in black and white here!
Um are we waiting for something to happen or are you no longer a public channel? some of us John Q Public types would like a responce that is a educated responce.
Post new comment