New Digital channel 4 in South Jersey

[DavGoodlin]

Yesterday, I hoisted up a Channel Master 1160, the biggest VHF-UHF antenna of the "Quantum" line, and pulled in a NEW channel, 4-1 WACP showing an infomercial.
Being 75 miles away, it was a bit shaky and had one subchannel 4-2, unused.
TVFool.com listed it as a 10 kW, sharing the WNJS 23 tower.

This is quite odd since there have been no NEW channels in this area since all existing ones went digital and using channel 4 is even stranger yet since low band VHF is rarely used due to e-skip.

[jr_tech]

How does your reception of WACP compare to WNJS? The coverage map on the FCC site shows more coverage area for WACP, but I find that very difficult to believe, considering the difference in power levels.

jr

[ChrisW6ATV]

Originally Posted by DavGoodlin

This is quite odd since there have been no NEW channels in this area since all existing ones went digital and using channel 4 is even stranger yet since low band VHF is rarely used due to e-skip.

The station displays 4-1, but likely it is on some other channel. Were you able to find that out?

[DavGoodlin]

Originally Posted by jr_tech

How does your reception of WACP compare to WNJS? The coverage map on the FCC site shows more coverage area for WACP, but I find that very difficult to believe, considering the difference in power levels.

jr

WACP was recieved a few days ago but has not been seen since. The same time, I tried WNJS 23 virtual, 22 physical and got nothing. I have dx'd WNJS on occasion but normally its a no-show. The WNJS antenna is at 964 feet above sea level but Philadelphia transmitters up at least 1300 feet ASL, all in one small area and 17 miles closer. Most stations formerly in nearby DE and NJ have moved thier antennas to the NW Phila location. 10 kW on a low band VHF channel is about average, but on UHF 20 times the power is needed. UHF propagation seems much less affected by weather.

[DavGoodlin]

Originally Posted by ChrisW6ATV

The station displays 4-1, but likely it is on some other channel. Were you able to find that out?

Yes, here is something interesting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WACP

The low band VHF channels 2, 4 and 5 have been vacated by NYC and Baltimore-DC. Then the FCC alloted channel 4 in South Jersey and 5 in Southern Delaware. These are very flat, wooded areas where UHF is tough unless you get above the trees.

WACP had been around nearly 6 months, but I had no idea until I installed my largest antenna, a Channel Master 1160 connected to the CM 7777 preamp.

About 8 years ago, a good friend in the business sold me my Samsung SIRT451 set-top box and predicted we would still need the largest broadband VHF-UHF antennas. Until recently, I was sure that low-band VHF was being largely abandoned with only a few exceptions.

[old_tv_nut]

WACP NJ ATLANTIC CITY USA (Digital)

Licensee: WESTERN PACIFIC BROADCAST LLC
Service Designation: DT Digital television station

Transmit Channel: 4 66 - 72 MHz Licensed
Virtual Channel: 4 (viewer sees this channel number)

Network affiliation: -

File No.: BLCDT-20120621ABY Facility ID number: 189358
CDBS Application ID No.: 1503217

39° 44' 5.00 " N Latitude 74° 50' 29.00" W Longitude (NAD 27)

Polarization: Horizontal (H) Effective Radiated Power (ERP): 10. kW ERP Antenna Height Above Average Terrain: 256. meters HAAT -- Calculate HAAT Antenna Height Above Mean Sea Level: 285.3 meters AMSL Antenna Height Above Ground Level: 251.8 meters AGL TV Zone: 1 Non-Directional Antenna ID No.: 107239 Pattern Rotation: 0.00
Antenna Make: JAM Antenna Model: JHD-LV2-3/3 (18) SR

Additional Individual Tower Information from the Antenna Structure Registration database.
(Use the Registration Number link for detailed information.)

ASRN Site Elevation (meters) Overall HeightAbove Ground(meters) Overall HeightAbove Mean SeaLevel (meters) NAD 83 Tower Coordinates----------------------------------------------- Convert toNAD 27 Latitude Longitude 1042989 35.9 284.0 319.9 N 39° 44' 4.0" W 74° 50' 27.0" To NAD27

[old_tv_nut]

Link to service contour map:

http://maps.google.com/?q=http://tra...26state=NJ.kml

[ChrisW6ATV]

Originally Posted by DavGoodlin

Until recently, I was sure that low-band VHF was being largely abandoned with only a few exceptions.

I thought so too, I am very surprised that a NEW station is going to be on low VHF. All of the newer outdoor TV antennas I have seen for sale are missing elements long enough for those channels, in fact.