38 off the air?

[static1701]

I was watching 38.4 and lost the signal about 10 minutes ago. Tried another tv on a different antenna... same thing.

[SixPlusOne]

I was watching 38.4 and lost the signal about 10 minutes ago.

I checked all their channels at 4PM, 12-19-2019 and they're all crystal clear for me in Commerce Township.

[kc8yqq]

Playing with a TV around 3:30 yesterday at the Salvation Army in Southfield (Greenfield/Lincoln), using a twistee for an antenna, I did scan and 38 came in.

[JackAttack FM]

Hmmm... I was scanning some TVs for some relatives at a time in between the first and second post in an area where 38 is almost LOS and usually pretty clear and it did not scan in.

I wonder if it was off the air for a bit?

[szmigiel]

Could have been, they could be prepping for switching 39 to 27 in the next RePack phase. CW 50 did a few blackouts during the week day afternoons before they did their frequency change.

[Mega Hertz]

Is the tower still in Clinton Twp? I never get them or channel 2 in Brighton.

[MWmetalhead]

For now, yes it is.

[Mega Hertz]

Thanks. All I have is an indoor "bowtie" type antenna. We put it on the TV on the second floor, and while I'm surprised at what I DO get, I'm disappointed in what I don't. 38 isn't a surprise now, but 2? Never scans in. I was kind of hoping to get some kind of Lansing or Flint stations, too. I get many of their radio signals like locals and was hoping for the same with TV. I don't really understand digital TV broadcasting, though.

[szmigiel]

Your antenna might not have any VHF elements to it. Fox 2 is broadcasting on 7 which is still in the VHF range not UHF.

[MWmetalhead]

Indeed, bow ties are made specifically for UHF. They are useless for VHF-hi (where Fox 2 broadcasts) unless you are super close to the TX site.

Fox 2 has a shallow null to the west, if I am not mistaken.

A flat panel antenna (which contains both VHF-hi and UHF elements generally) mounted in an east facing window is probably the only chance of picking up the Fox 2 signal in Brighton via indoor antenna.

[Mega Hertz]

I believe the tower is at the studios on 9 mile in Southfield, so no, I would still have a hard time getting it. I'll note that I didn't purchase this; it was given to me a couple of years ago and I just now hooked it up. No major loss; we still get the other major Detroit channels, and still have our streaming services. It's more of a curiosity to use it.

[MWmetalhead]

Correct; the TX site is near the 9 Mile Rd / M-10 junction.

You are roughly halfway between the tower and the edge of the station's FCC defined protected service area. Using an inexpensive indoor antenna to pick up Fox 2 is indeed a difficult proposition but perhaps not impossible so long as you don't have a big hill, building, etc. directly east of you.

I cannot recall if Lansing's WLNS has moved back to its original TX site in Okemos Twp. If they have already moved back, with some effort, you may be able to pick up that station along with co-located WLAJ. WKAR has a null to the east and will be impossible for you to pick up.

All of the Flint / Saginaw stations are too far away, and all of the other Lansing area stations are too far away for reception with an indoor antenna.

[Mega Hertz]

Thanks for the tips. It does make me wish for the days of analog; MAYBE I'd have a better chance. We still have our boxes from AT&T, so we get 2 that way (just for the local channels. Plus we get a few home shopping channels. Wooooo). This is just for use on the upstairs TV. AT&T didn't carry the .x channels so I get them this way.

[HD74]

WLNS/WLAJ will be lighting up in Okemos inJanuary. They are running the crawls now.