Thanks to videohead311, he got a reply back from Richard Goetz of WRTN. He said, "They are building the antenna to move us to RF channel 17." They have any time until Sept. of this year to get up and running if they don't extend it for any reason. Also, I looked at the other channels coming to see when their deadline is to come on the air. They are listed below. Until more news breaks, that's all for now.
WIIW-LD ch. 14 (rf 14) - Apr. 2024
WNPX-LD ch. 20 (rf 24) - July 13th, 2021
WNTU-LD ch. 26 (rf 26) - Jan. 2022
WWHL-LD ch. 32 (rf 31) - (no clue) they haven't finalized anything yet, but when they do, I will post it.
WRTN 6 (RF 17) and Other News
- Posted May 24th, 2021 at 4:31pm
33 Comments
xmguy
- Posted on May 24th, 2021 at 9:36pm
Wish WKRN would move to the I-24 Antenna farm.
Random Guy
- Posted on May 28th, 2021 at 12:23pm
WKRN is actually the station I get in best. It seems it's location is the most idea. Also WZTV really needs to get an omni-directional antenna. Maybe there was reason for it when they were broadcasting on CH 15 I doubt the same exact reason would exist having move to CH 20. If so why choose that channel?
NashDigie
- Posted on May 28th, 2021 at 4:56pm
Actually, they didn't choose channel 20. The FCC chose it for them. The FCC had to make the decision because they had to put it on a channel so the station wouldn't cause interference with other nearby stations. What those other nearby stations are? I do not know at the current time.
cdg
- Posted on May 24th, 2021 at 10:34pm
Before WKRN switched their signal from analog to digital those of us who lived in Donelson and Heritage had trouble getting a good signal from them. I agree that WKRN should move its tower to the antenna farm next to I 24 it would solve alot of resorption issues the station has had all over middle Tennessee from the day it signed on the air in 1953 on channel 8.
xmguy
- Posted on May 25th, 2021 at 12:12am
I remember that here growing up in McMinnville. 2 was always hard to get. So was, and is to this day, WNPT 8 they swapped with. That was before my time however. But WKRN is an odd duck. When I can ONLY get WKRN with an antenna at 8 feet off the ground, yet over 60 miles away?! I'm going to have to readjust my WKRN Televes antenna tomorrow morning anyway. I have since lost them.
xmguy
- Posted on May 25th, 2021 at 12:09am
I would suggest WSMV move while we're at it lol. But their upper VHF signal I can get well. There are times of day, mainly at night where WSMV goes out for me. Same for WTVF RF 5 translator, which is what I watch mostly. I can't get WTVF's 36 RF signal during the day to save my life. I'm just thrilled to now get WJFB.
Murphysmomma
- Posted on May 25th, 2021 at 4:55am
Would love to get this channel up in Clarksville. Will they be increasing power?
xmguy
- Posted on May 25th, 2021 at 8:18am
I checked the RabbitEars entry for WRTN. I didn't see any construction permits for that. They might be increasing power. I'd love to get it here in McMinnville. But getting anything is a massive effort.
NashDigie
- Posted on May 25th, 2021 at 1:14pm
Are you able to receive either WKUW 40 or WCTZ 35? Both of those channels are on the same tower just a little higher than where WRTN RF 17 will be. WCTZ 35 (RF 35) is at 15kw, while WKUW 40 (RF 28) is at 10kw. WRTN 6 (RF 17) will be at 12kw. I have to say it may be a bit better than 35 or 40 given it is lower on the UHF frequency band, but other than that, it's about the same as 35 and 40 taken into the fact of the height difference. Also, you can't compare 12kw (RF 17) to what it is now 0.3kw (RF 8) because comparing VHF to UHF power is like comparing apples to oranges.
Murphysmomma
- Posted on May 25th, 2021 at 1:55pm
Yes, I get WKUW and WCTZ. But have never received WRTN.
NashDigie
- Posted on May 25th, 2021 at 2:32pm
Like I said, comparing VHF signals to UHF signals is like comparing apples to oranges. Right now, WRTN is on VHF channel 8. When they change channels, they will be broadcasting on UHF channel 17, the same frequency band as WKUW 40 and WCTZ 35. Since you can receive both 35 and 40, you will probably be able to receive WRTN when they change channels. I hope I explained it well. I also hope I didn't confuse you any further.
xmguy
- Posted on May 25th, 2021 at 3:11pm
I KNOW I won't get WRTN. I also know why they're LP. WAAY out of Huntsville, AL is on the same RF channel 17. They broadcast with 310 kW, with a construction permit for a power increase to 356 kW. They do have a directional transmitter. But the TV RF band keep shrinking for the cellular companies, and their LTE/5G. So it's going to make it more difficult for stations to exist. Especially in close markets. That VHF power limit for digital doesn't help either.
xmguy
- Posted on May 25th, 2021 at 7:43am
I ended up moving my WKRN (Televes) antenna back a bit, and higher again. I can't get worse than very little to no signal that I've been having.
videohead311
- Posted on May 26th, 2021 at 9:16am
How many miles is your Televes antenna rated for? I was looking on Youtube and sometimes an antenna with a reflector really helps bring in the signal. I don't know if it would work in your situation?
xmguy
- Posted on May 26th, 2021 at 12:30pm
It's rated for 75 miles. Being Televes is like Channel Master, I couldn't see them lying about the mileage to the level most do. Exaggeration, sure. This has a reflector, and a wave guide. It's UHF only now after the Hi-VHF elements broke off. But I didn't care since I have the CM3020 as well. I ended up having to give up for now. Even after the move it wasn't much better. The wind and daily ionosphere changes wreak havoc on any of my antennas.
videohead311
- Posted on May 26th, 2021 at 1:15pm
That Channel Master is a really good antenna. You would think it would receive all of the full powered stations?
xmguy
- Posted on May 26th, 2021 at 4:40pm - Edited
I can get WSMV 4, WZTV 17, WUXP (3.0), WNAB (3.0), WCTE 22, WJFB 44, and WTVF 5 (VHF version, sometimes, also UHF one sometimes, along with the 3.0 version too.) I cannot get well, CW 58, or WKRN 2. This is all via Channel Master. (virtual channel numbers used)
sensiblecinema7217
- Posted on May 28th, 2021 at 3:41pm
Got a chuckle out of the "Lying about the mileage" part. Those crooks and their flat antenna ads on TV and online advertising 900 mile range remind me of the old cell phone talk-time claims cell phone makers made. "Are those real minutes, or Motorola minutes?"
sensiblecinema7217
- Posted on May 29th, 2021 at 3:39pm - Edited
5000 miles AND 4K https://www.ebay.com/itm/324401347498?_trkparms=aid%3D777008%26algo%3DPERSONAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20200908162613%26meid%3De5fb3ea9d2344ad4b4bd7bf3e6d9076c%26pid%3D101278%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26itm%3D324401347498%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057%26algv%3DPersonalizedSellersV2&_trksid=p2380057.c101278.m47528&_trkparms=pageci%3A5b47b4d3-c0bd-11eb-bd23-8e3b352c8b22%7Cparentrq%3Ab9d66b2e1790a4d75f9672adfff7d659%7Ciid%3A1
itgrouch
- Posted on May 28th, 2021 at 6:21pm
I live in an apartment in the Gallatin area, so my antenna choices are limited. I have a Winegard Flatwave antenna and a Televes antenna preamp. The only issues I have are with channel 4 and 8. WKRN comes in at 31db but WZTV comes in at a stronger 35db. Go figure. I still don't understand why WNPT didn't move their frequency to UHF during the repack. Once their frequency moved to 7 VHF, I cannot receive them at all, but had no issues when their frequency was 8 VHF.
NashDigie
- Posted on May 28th, 2021 at 7:59pm
The only thing I can say is that that Flatwave antenna is not really able to receive VHF signals even though you could receive WNPT when it was on RF 8. I don't know what else to say. The channel 7 signal is at the same power level as RF 8 was.
itgrouch
- Posted on May 28th, 2021 at 8:24pm
The Televes antenna preamp I have has dual inputs with adjustable gain on each. Currently, I am only using one input. I have been thinking about buying a set of rabbit ears to use with the unused input for the VHF signals and I can adjust the gain on both inputs to keep the antennas from cancelling each other out.
RonG
- Posted on May 28th, 2021 at 9:28pm
I also live in Gallatin and also have a Winegard Flatwave antenna (the preamped version). I get a great channel 4 and 8 here. I can even pick up channel 5-11, 5-12 and 5-13 if I move the antenna (I don't because I lose channel 31 if I do). It is the best indoor antenna I have tried. It used to get WRTN (channel 6) and WLLC (channel 42) but lost them in the repack. However, nothing will compare to an outside antenna if you can install one.
Lee in Portland
- Posted on May 29th, 2021 at 9:40am
All Ch 40 channels have disappeared & replaced with sales, Christian, & Spanish channels. I have no clue where or if their MeTV @ others were relocated
NashDigie
- Posted on May 29th, 2021 at 1:58pm
They were completely taken away from WKUW 40, because Weigel, owning WJFB, said they didn't need the low power simulcasting the channels any more. So, WKUW just replaced those channels with the ones that are broadcasting on sister station WCTZ 35. Now, both 35 and 40 are broadcasting the same channels.
Lee in Portland
- Posted on May 29th, 2021 at 2:52pm
In other words they just traded redundancies? Thanks for the update, at least I can now get the 44s on the East end of my home where before I had to rely on the 40s there & the 44s in the West side.
Cablecutter
- Posted on May 29th, 2021 at 11:55pm
I was scanning my television channels tonight and I have 28.1001, 28.1002, 28.1003,28.1004, and 28.1005. They are broadcasting the same channels on Ch. 35 WCTZ.
hdrick103
- Posted on May 31st, 2021 at 6:24pm
It seems strange that I can get perfect reception in Lebanon on WKUW 40 (BUZZER) but WCTZ 35 (BUZZER) always plexed and the signal would break up. These two stations are low powered and both broadcast at almost the same KW. Needless to say I'm glad to see the programming move from 35/WCTZ to 40/WKUW.
RonG
- Posted on June 8th, 2021 at 4:44pm
I've started to get channel 42 (WLLC) again here in Gallatin. I wonder if they have made some adjustment to their antenna. It has a good signal strength now and I have not been able to pick it up since the repack. All other stations signals have not changed.
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