Digital TV Transition And Technical FAQ
Looking for our Digital TV section? Click here!
Are you ready for the digital TV transition?
On Feb. 17, 2009, all full-power stations will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100 percent digital broadcasting.
Older television sets that do not have digital tuners, and that are not connected to cable, satellite or another pay TV service, will need a simple converter box in order to continue to receive free antenna television.
There are three ways to upgrade the sets in time:
The government is providing coupons to be used toward the purchase of converter boxes.
For more information on the digital television transition, and to apply for a TV converter box coupon, click here.
Our viewers e-mail and call regarding reception problems, waivers and HDTV. Take a moment to check the list below of Frequently Asked Questions to see if your question or problem has already been answered.
Are you having problems receiving FOX 12 digitally?
If you're having problems receiving FOX 12 digitally or having audio problems, try re-scanning your channels. This simple solution often fixes the problem.
After the digital TV transition, will KPTV still be Channel 12?
Broadcasters had the option of choosing to move their digital broadcast stream to the currently assigned analog channel after the transition as long as it was in the "core" channels (2 through 51).
KPTV has chosen to do so. During the transition period, KPTV will cease transmitting the Analog broadcast signal, perform transmitter modifications and then begin transmitting the Digital Stream on VHF 12. The channel will be KPTV-DT as it is now. People will need to have their DTV's and Digital tuners rescan and search the broadcast spectrum to find the location of KPTV-DT. Our call sign will be KPTV-DT (as it currently is for the digital channel).
KPDX is currently broadcasting its digital channel KPDX-DT 49.1 on UHF channel 48, but is moving it to UHF channel 30. We have chosen this for various reasons but the consumer will just need to have their DTV's and Digital tuners rescan and search the broadcast spectrum to find the location of KPDX-DT.
KPTV Digital Television Fast Facts:
Network -- FOXCall letters -- KPTV-DT
Channel -- digital channel 12.1
Frequency -- Digital pilot @ 566.31 MHz
Location -- Sylvan Ridge tower farm area in the West Hills of Portland
Power -- 745,000 watts Effective Radiated Power (ERP)
Transmission format -- 720p 16:9 widescreen
Transmission bandwidth -- 19.39 Mb/s in accordance with standards lay out by the Advanced Television Standards Committee (ATSC)
Transmission type -- Trellis Coded 8-VSB wideband digital
Began transmitting digitally -- Summer 2000
Began transmitting HDTV -- October 2004
Analog station first air date -- 1952
KPTV Reception FAQ
A list of frequently asked questions regarding DTV, HDTV and other general issues:
OK, I've heard about it and everyone's talking about it, but just what is HDTV anyway?
High Definition Television is a digital transmission format that is defined as any picture of greater than 700 lines. When we speak of formats like 720p and 1080i, the number represents the number of lines that make up the picture. If you think about a computer monitor or a digital photograph, the number of lines stated for HDTV (1080, 720, etc.) is similar to the height of a digital photo. If you take a digital photo that's 640x480 the second number is the picture's height --in this case 480 pixels, or lines. A 1080 line HDTV picture has a similar resolution to a 1080x1920 digital photo. Interestingly, the aspect ratio (ratio of picture width to height) has no bearing on whether a picture is considered HD. A 1080i 4:3 picture is considered high definition, just as a 1080i 16:9 image is.
Is FOX 12 broadcasting in HD?
Yes! FOX 12 began transmitting HDTV on October 15, 2004. The HD signal replaced the standard definition (SD) digital signals that we had been transmitting from summer 2000 to fall 2004. Fox 12 digital can be found on your Digital Television or Digital Tuner on channel 12.1.
What format is FOX 12 broadcasting in on its digital channel?
FOX 12 matches the Fox network's high definition format, broadcasting in 720p 16:9 widescreen 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When we aren't in network High Definition programming, our local programming is unconverted to the 720p from standard definition with very high quality upconvertors.
How can I tell what programming is available in High Definition?
All of FOX 12's programming, 24 hours a day, seven days a week is being transmitted in High Definition on channel 12.1. For network programming, Fox usually puts a short promotional message at the start of most of its High Definition shows. Depending on the show's producer, the message will usually be a short text message in the first few seconds of the program that says "Broadcast in High Definition where available" or something similar. Incidentally, this message simply indicates that the show was produced in High Definition and that if a local station is capable of broadcasting it in HD, it will be in HD. This message doesn't actually mean that the station you're currently watching is necessarily transmitting in HD right now, only that the show is available in some areas. FOX 12, however, carries all FOX network High Definition programs in native HD.
What is PSIP?
PSIP stands for Program Stream Information Protocol. It comprises a large amount of data that your Digital TV receivers use to tune and properly format the pictures and sound we transmit digitally. Among the information that is transmitted within the PSIP data is channel number, call letters and program guide information for the next 13 days.
What's the difference between DTV and HDTV?
DTV simply stands for Digital Television. It's the overall blanket term we use for everything that's being transmitted from our digital stations. HDTV stands for High Definition Television and is also known simply as HD. All HDTV is DTV, but not all DTV is HDTV, since it's possible to transmit standard definition programs and other kinds of data within the DTV data stream.
I'm trying to point my antenna to pick up your digital broadcasts. Where is the tower located?
FOX 12's digital and analog signals come from the same place. It's our broadcast Super Tower located in the west hills of Portland -- up on the Sylvan Ridge. Ours is one of a number of broadcast towers in that area, all of which carry various Portland TV and radio stations.
Can I get Fox 12's HDTV signal on the coast or in LaGrande?
At this time, FOX 12, like most other Portland stations, has a license to transmit Digital Television only from the main station transmitter location in Portland. The Federal Communications Commission is currently working on rules and procedures to allow Digital Television broadcasting to be brought to rural areas via supplementary transmitters. Also, many cable television operators outside the Portland metro area are working on plans to bring the HDTV signal to their distant systems.
I live in a town far outside the city and cannot get FOX12 on channel 12. I know that there is another channel available in my area, but I cannot get it, can you help?
Much of the time, we can. FOX 12's supplementary transmitter network stretches from Oregon coast to the border of Idaho across the entire northern half of the state and into southern Washington. If you live near one of our supplementary transmitters, or your local cable company picks us up on one of them, then you should be able to get a clear picture. Bear in mind, however, that not everyone lives in an area that one of our transmitters reaches. Most of our transmitters are co-located with other ones that rebroadcast the other Portland television stations, and if you can receive them, you should be able to get us. If there is no transmitter in you area or if there is one and you are still having problems, please feel free to contact our engineering department. Usually, we can assist you with instructions, the specific locations of our transmitters, etc.
