WKPT-TV/ABC OFF-AIR RECEPTION TIPS 

 

 This information is designed to aid persons who have reported that they either cannot receive WKPT-TV or that their reception of the station is not satisfactory. Our experience has shown that at most locations within our predicted Grade B coverage area, reception of the station is indeed possible. Persons who report no reception or poor reception generally are using the wrong equipment or have that equipment improperly adjusted or improperly programmed.

 A section of this document also deals with reception of our other TV stations, WAPK/"UPN-36," and WOPI/9, an independent station.

Your TV Must Set for "Antenna" --- not "Cable" 

Modern TV receivers and VCR's are equipped to receive both over-the-air signals received by antenna and signals provided by a cable system. Channels 2 through 13 cover the same frequencies whether you are on the cable or are using an antenna. Channels 14 and up are entirely different frequencies on the cable than the over-the-air UHF channels 14 and up. WKPT-TV is a UHF station. If you are using an antenna and tune to our channel 19 signal or to one of the UHF translators or repeaters which relay our signal on other UHF channels (more on that later), you will receive nothing if your set is in the "cable" position. This is because cable channel 19 is an entirely different frequency than UHF broadcast or antenna channel 19. 

Depending upon the age of your TV set, there may be a switch on the front, the back, or on the remote control which allows you to choose "cable" reception or "antenna" (also called "air" or "UHF" or "Broadcast," etc.) reception. On newer TV sets and VCR's this is usually found on an on-screen set-up menu.

Please note that some sets will lose this setting if the power goes off. Most newer sets automatically default to the cable position when there is a power interruption; hence, if there has been such an interruption (even a momentary one) you may have to go to the set-up menu and reset the reception mode to "antenna" versus "cable."

You Need A Properly-Positioned Outside UHF Antenna 

In most locations a good outside antenna is needed, and it must be mounted as high as possible. The FCC standard is 30 feet above the ground. It must be oriented in the proper direction to get the best signal. UHF-only antennas generally work much better for reception of UHF stations like WKPT-TV than the combination VHF-UHF or "V/U" models. 

Generally larger antennas are more directional and have more "gain" (although importantly UHF-only antennas are always significantly smaller in size than VHF or combination VHF/UHF antennas). The greater directionality makes the signal you're receiving more immune to "ghosts" or multiple images caused by reflections from mountains, buildings, or other objects. The higher "gain" brings you a stronger signal ----- less "grain" or "snow" in the picture. 

Use Coaxial Cable Rather Than Flat Ribbon to Reduce "Ghosts" 

Most outside antennas are connected to the set using 75 ohm coaxial cable these days (a round cable whose inner-conductor is surrounded by insulation and a metallic "sheath" outer conductor). In the old days 300 ohm flat "ribbon" lead-in was often used. 

A good coaxial cable is like a pipe. It won't allow unwanted reflected signals to "leak in" causing "ghosts" in the picture. The older-type flat lead-in can act as if it is part of the antenna and actually receive unwanted reflected signals resulting in "ghosts."

Older Sets Have Two Antenna Inputs --- VHF and UHF 

Most older sets are equipped with two different sets of antenna terminals or coaxial cable inputs, one for VHF (and TV cable systems) and one for UHF channels 14 and up. Newer sets have a single cable-type antenna input. On the older sets often the terminals consist of two sets of 300 ohm screw-type connectors, one for VHF and one for UHF. In some cases the UHF terminals will be screw-type while the VHF will be made for coaxial cable. On such sets you cannot expect to receive UHF stations unless you have a UHF antenna connected to the UHF input. 

If the UHF antenna input is the 300 ohm screw-down type, you will need an inexpensive impedance matching transformer to convert the 75 ohm coaxial cable from your antenna to the 300 ohm input. Make sure that the transformer you use is made for both VHF and UHF use. Some older matching transformers will pass only VHF signals.

A Good Pre-Amplifier Boosts Signal Strength and Quality 

A pre-amplifier or "pre-amp" can boost the signal you receive more than increasing our transmitted power by a factor of ten or more could! Some pre-amps simply go between the coaxial line from the antenna and the coaxial line to your set somewhere in your home. Others come in two parts with the pre-amp itself mounted at the antenna and the power supply located inside your home. Either type must plug into the regular AC power in your home. The cost of a pre-amp is usually $20 to $30. 

Pre-amps are most useful where the signal is weak or where the length of the cable from your antenna to your set is lengthy. 

Remember the longer the cable the less the amount of the signal you receive at the antenna will actually reach your TV set. Also pre-amps can make it possible for the signal from your antenna to be split to feed more than one receiver without degrading reception. Generally each "splitter" you put in the line cuts the signal to each set in half. The "pre-amp" can make up for these losses.

 Make sure the pre-amp you use is made to amplify both UHF and VHF signals. Some are made for VHF only.

Relay Stations Provide Reception to Some Areas 

Due to the Tri-City area's mountainous terrain, a number re-broadcast relay stations have been installed. These stations are normally located on mountain-tops. They pick up our UHF channel 19 signal, which is transmitted from atop Holston Mountain, then amplify and convert that signal to another UHF or VHF channel for reception within a small to medium-sized area. WKPT-TV is carried on the following channels: 

The last translator listed generally blanket Western Russell County, VA. 

Channel 25 Kingsport provides excellent reception to such areas as Fall Branch and Church Hill as well as the Kingsport area. Indeed some viewers located in unusual terrain have reported reception of channel 25 twenty to thirty miles from Bays Mountain. 

Channel 7 not only serves Gate City and Weber City, but can also be seen at greater distances. Some folks in Kingsport watch it. 

Channel 41 serves all of Wythe County and is also viewed by some homes outside that county. 

Reception of WAPK/"UPN-36"

 WKPT-TV's owner also operates UPN affiliate WAPK, UHF channel 36 and independent TV station WOPI, channel 9. These are lower-powered TV stations, the reception of which is more limited than that of WKPT-TV. 

Essentially all of the reception tips set forth above apply to WAPK/"UPN-30". The differences are that the main WAPK television transmission from Holston Mountain is on UHF channel 30 rather than UHF channel 19. 

WAPK/"UPN-30" also has its own re-broadcast relays stations as follows: 

Reception of WOPI, Channel 9, and WKPT-TV’s VHF Relay Stations

WOPI Television has moved from UHF channel 56 to VHF channel 9.   It still transmits from the WKPT-TV tower atop Holston Mountain.    

The reception recommendations given above with regard to lead-in line and a good preamplifier also apply to WOPI Television 9 and to the VHF relay stations listed above, which re-broadcast WKPT-TV to certain communities in the region on VHF channels 4 and 7, and which re-broadcast WAPK on channel 9 in the Benham/Lynch, KY, area.   Of course for reception of these VHF stations a UHF-only antenna will not yield good results.   An “all channel” VHF/UHF or a VHF-only antenna is necessary.  

In difficult situations a VHF antenna “cut” only for channels 2 through 6 (the “VHF low band”) should be used for reception of channel 4 while a different VHF antenna “cut” only for channels 7 through 13 (the “VHF high band”) should be used to receive channels 7 or 9.

Reception of Tennessee’s First Digital TV Station, WKPT-DT, Channel  27

The UHF reception tips given above generally apply to WKPT-DT, which operates on UHF channel 27, and transmits from the same Holston Mountain tower as WKPT-TV, WAPK Television, and WOPI Television.   For digital reception you will find that antenna orientation is even more critical that for traditional “analog” TV reception.

Of course in order to receive WKPT-DT or any of the other terrestrial digital TV stations you’ll need a digital TV receiver equipped with a built-in digital TV tuner, or a set-top digital TV tuner to use with your existing analog TV set, or a digital tuner card for your personal computer.  

(Please click HERE for more detailed information about WKPT-DT and digital television in general.)

HOLSTON VALLEY BROADCASTING CORPORATION ASKS THAT YOU HEED THE ADVICE PROVIDED HEREIN TO MAKE POSSIBLE RECEPTION OF WKPT-TV (AND IN MANY INSTANCES WAPK AND WOPI AS WELL).

Return to WKPT-TV Home Page

copyright 1996-2006 HOLSTON VALLEY BROADCASTING CORP. all rights reserved