Thanks to videohead311, he got an e-mail back from WSMV after he noticed they went off the air the other night. The reply he got back is below.
"We were indeed off the air for roughly an hour starting at 12:41am.
We’re installing a new transmitter. We had to disconnect the “cable” connecting the old transmitter to the antenna, in order to install a switch which will allow us to select which transmitter (old or new) is connected to the antenna.
(“cable” in quotes, because it’s actually a 3” pipe)
We do not expect to have any more downtime this week. However, we expect to have a few more minutes off the air in a week or two when the new transmitter is ready to go on the air. Moving the switch to the other position takes about a minute, and we have to turn off both transmitters before we move it. (otherwise we damage the transmitters – and more importantly, zap the person moving the switch!)
We expect the new transmitter will slightly improve reception. It’s more about improved reliability – the old unit is nearly twenty years old and parts are becoming difficult to find. The new unit will also allow for a potential future move into a new, easier-to-receive type of transmission.
"
When he said "new, easier-to-receive type of transmission", my thoughts automatically went to ATSC 3.0. Right now, WSMV does not have any plans to go to ATSC 3.0 (Nextgen TV), but when they do, it might be easier with this transmitter. Just to clarify, that is only my opinion/thought. I am in no way an expert. Again, thanks to videohead311 for the e-mail. Until more news breaks, that's all for now.
WSMV Installing New Transmitter
- Posted December 12th, 2020 at 9:35pm
12 Comments
itgrouch
- Posted on December 13th, 2020 at 2:17am
Most new TV transmitters being sold now are "Nextgen Ready."
Brentwood OTA
- Posted on December 14th, 2020 at 3:41pm
I hope this stabilizes WSMV's signal. Every couple of weeks or so, I have to move our antennas around the room because their signal seems to move.
videohead311
- Posted on December 16th, 2020 at 12:10am
I can't get channel 4 on my kitchen antenna good at all. I get a good signal from channel 8 and it will get channel 5's alternate signal but I can't get channel 4 well at all. Hopefully their new transmitter will help.
videohead311
- Posted on December 16th, 2020 at 12:10am
I can't get channel 4 on my kitchen antenna good at all. I get a good signal from channel 8 and it will get channel 5's alternate signal but I can't get channel 4 well at all. Hopefully their new transmitter will help.
Lweee2020
- Posted on January 18th, 2021 at 8:13am
Has anybody looked at technical details of the WSMV broadcast? I’ve noticed I get some bad deinterlacing artifacts on this channel on my older tv, but I don’t have the same problem with WTVF or other 1080i signals (the tv has native 720p).
NashDigie
- Posted on January 18th, 2021 at 2:38pm
I don't know if you know this or not, but WSMV broadcasts on VHF channel 10 while WTVF broadcasts on UHF channel 36. Actually, WSMV, WNPT, and WRTN-LD are the only VHF channels in Nashville. Besides these, WTVF also has a VHF channel 5 broadcast as well, but for the most part, everybody locks in and watches the UHF channel. To not to confuse the different TV receivers and set-top boxes, the people at WTVF has made the VHF channel 5 broadcast lock in as 5.11-5.13. If you already knew this, then just disregard this comment. What I am boiling down to is, make sure your antenna can receive VHF channels. You might just have an antenna that only receives UHF channels. I hope I have helped you in some way.
Lweee2020
- Posted on January 24th, 2021 at 11:38am
Thanks, yes, I am able to get VHF channels pretty well with this antenna. My issue seems to be something related to the video encoding itself...the signal is strong and doesn’t come in and out. The same signal on a 1080p projector I have looks great, it’s just the transcoding to 720p on the older tv that seems to introduce these artifacts. Thanks for your reply!
xmguy
- Posted on February 21st, 2021 at 6:53pm - Edited
Weird I can get WSMV no issues in McMinnville. It's been one of the more stable channels I've gotten. WTVF, WKRN (got that once!), and the rest seldom come in. But I can rely on VHF 10 for them. I do hope they go ATSC 3.0 soon though. I can get WUXP great with 3.0. I don't know if I will have BETTER or worse reception of WSMV when I switch to the Televes DATBOSS LR MIX. It's VHF isn't as good as my current channel master 3020.
xmguy
- Posted on March 4th, 2021 at 9:09pm
Is there any timeline on when the new transmitter will go live? If it has, my signal has taken a drop here in McMinnville.
w9wi
- Posted on April 6th, 2021 at 12:06pm
The new transmitter went live in December. It provides a "cleaner" signal that should be easier to decode in marginal conditions. Unfortunately, it can't make up for issues caused by receiving antennas that don't support VHF or local interference sources. xmguy: I'd expect the Televes to be quite a bit *less* efficient at VHF. Which WTVF were you getting with the CM3020? (5.1-5.3 or 5.11-5.13?) I wrote the email quoted in green above -- the reference to "easier-to-receive" transmission was indeed a reference to ATSC 3.0 which I'm afraid is not at this point imminent for us. Lweeee2020: You don't happen to have any photos? Does it happen with all programs or just specific programs? I can't say I've seen anything like this, but I may not have been watching at the right times.
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