KAKE Digital Television is temporarily operating at reduced power
KAKE Digital Television is temporarily operating at reduced powerKAKE Blog Listing
KAKE Digital Television is temporarily operating at reduced power
Topic Author: Jay Prater
Posted: 9:04 PM Jan 13, 2009
Replies Posted: 25 comments
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If you’ve had trouble receiving KAKE’s digital free over-the-air signal, there’s a good reason.

As of October 9, 2008 KAKE-DT (RF UHF Channel 21 – Virtual Channel 10.1) reduced its operating power from 850kW ERP (Effective Radiated Power) to 89.5kW ERP as part of the transition to our final digital RF channel.

At 11:59pm on February 17, 2009 we will turn off this transmitter, on RF UHF Channel 21, forever.

At 12:00am on February 18, 2009 KAKE-DT will be broadcast on RF VHF Channel 10 (Virtual Channel 10.1) with an initial power of 28.25kW ERP.

Within a few weeks, KAKE-DT should increase to 56.5kW ERP, its final full-power allocation.

Don’t be alarmed by the smaller 56.5kW ERP on VHF Channel 10, compared to 850kW ERP on UHF Channel 21. It requires more power on UHF to have the same reach as VHF. The coverage area of KAKE-DT will be as large on Channel 10, as it was on Channel 21.
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  • by Jay Prater Location: KAKE on Aug 3, 2009 at 05:39 PM
    Maynard: Please refer to my blog posting about our low-power (including Salina) and translator stations:

    http://www.kake.com/blogs/dtv/47840152.html

    Reply
  • by maynard Location: salina kansas on Aug 3, 2009 at 04:25 PM
    when will there be a digital siginal in salina. have set up on two different systems with no response. When using rabbit ear antenna which direction should i point the antenna at
    Reply
  • by Jay Prater Location: KAKE on Apr 22, 2009 at 08:20 PM
    Steve: Yes...on 4/4/09

    http://www.kake.com/blogs/dtv/42506012.html

    Be sure you are trying on VHF channel 10...not the old temporary digital signal location on UHF channel 21.
    Reply
  • by Steve Location: Wichita on Apr 19, 2009 at 11:52 PM
    We had been receiving the digital signal fine until about the time of the official changeover to digital only, now we receive no signal at all. Have you gone to the full power yet at 4/18/09?
    Reply
  • by Jay Prater Location: KAKE on Apr 1, 2009 at 10:36 AM
    Please surf to www.tvfool.com, this is a great resource to help select and tweak your antennas. With the proper antenna (attic or outdoor...perhaps), you should be able to get KAKE-DT with no problems in Elbing and Moundridge. Salina, on the other hand, may be difficult even with a large directional VHF antenna, with a mast mounted low-noise preamp. We currently don't have a date when K51GC channel 51 in Salina will be converted to digital. However, when that occurs, that will be your best bet.
    Reply
  • by brian Location: salina on Mar 27, 2009 at 10:36 PM
    we received kake dtv for a weekend, early in the dtv transition, but we haven't been able to receive kake for quite a while.
    Reply
  • by Ruth Location: Rural Elbing on Mar 25, 2009 at 09:48 AM
    Hi, we are not able to receive KAKE or PBS (and today is 03/25). We have tried various antennas, amplified and nonamplified, different positions, etc. Occasionally KAKE comes in but audio and picture breaks up so much we just gave up watching it. Any hope or suggestions you could offer? We sure miss ABC and the Newshour on PBS!
    Reply
  • by Aaron Location: moundridge, ks on Mar 17, 2009 at 09:07 AM
    I'm still unable to receive your digital signal. I have rescanned and it shows up but with no signal strength. Is there something I can do or do I just need to wait for your signal to get stronger?
    Reply
  • by Jay Prater Location: KAKE on Mar 16, 2009 at 11:53 AM
    Kevin: The Terk HDTV S is an amplified set-top antenna. The problem is most likely the fact it is amplified. Since VHF frequencies are lower that UHF, you need a physically larger antenna to capture the signal, to start with. These small set-top antennas attempt to compensate for the lack of signal captured from the air, with amplification. So, they also amplify any noise received. This can block the ability of the tuner to pick it up, out of the higher noise floor. If you can by-pass the amp, it may work better. If not, you can try a <$10 set of VHF rod rabbit ears. As I've said before, I live 20 miles away from the transmitter at Colwich, and using the simple rods, I can get KAKE using a converter box, on two different TVs in my basement. Good luck.
    Reply
  • by Kevin Location: Wichita on Mar 11, 2009 at 08:13 PM
    My mistake. . . I just submitted a reply to Mr. Prater regarding finally finding your broadcast, I was wrong. What I am seeing is being provided by my satellite company, so that may explain why it is not in full HD. That being said, I am back to square one. . . I can't find your broadcast no matter how many times I scan for it. Very disappointing to say the least.
    Reply
  • by Kevin Location: Wichita on Mar 11, 2009 at 07:31 PM
    First of all Mr. Prater, yeah, I know there is no such thing as an HD Antenna - I apologize for my brevity in using the parlance of our digital time. That being said, I have a Terk HDTV S (UHF/VHF) HD compatible antenna. It picks up your competition great. I have finally found your channel, but for the life of me it does not appear to be HD. Yeah, there's a picture, but it's not very sharp and it's not wide screen. Have you ceased the HD broadcast since switching? I sure do miss Lost in full HD. I have actually had to start watching my favorite prime time shows online. I sure would like to hear something other than, "point your antenna another direction." Thanks, Kevin Keplar, Director of Technology Elliott School of Communication Wichita State University
    Reply
  • by Brook Mitchell Location: Moundridge, KS on Mar 7, 2009 at 03:18 PM
    As of March 6th your signal is still weak. Your signal is tops 40%, compared to KSN 65% and Fox 62%. Have you already increased your power? If so are you looking to increase it, because it is not good. (Editors note: KAKE is still operating at 50% power.)
    Reply
  • by steve Location: hutchinson on Mar 2, 2009 at 09:51 PM
    I live in Hutchinson, and ever since Feb 12th, I can not pick up channel 10 from my over the air attenna. I have rescanned every day and i cannont pick up channel 10. when you boost your power, will i be able to pick up channel 10 again? I hope so. steve
    Reply
  • by Jay Prater Location: KAKE on Feb 28, 2009 at 03:39 PM
    Kevin: There's no such thing as an "HD antenna" that's a marketing label only. See my blog on that topic here:

    www.kake.com/blogs/dtv/15771967.html

    Make sure you have a VHF antenna. Set-top antennas with amplifiers also boost the noise floor, that sometimes blocks reception, since the tuner has a strong signal but can't clearly lock onto it due to the higher noise level and multipath. I'm 20 miles away from the transmitters at Colwich, and get KAKE using a VHF only dipole rabbit ears (<$10...two extendable rods) in my basement. The signal strength is better now than before on channel 21, using both amplifed, and non, set-top UHF loop antennas. The bottom line is usually the antenna. Keep tweaking!

    Reply
  • by Kevin Location: Lincoln & Hillside Wichita on Feb 24, 2009 at 08:18 PM
    Since the conversion, I have not been able to get your digital broadcast - no more HD programming. I have an HD TV and HD antenna - the signal was great on the old 21, now nothing. I rescanned for the channel and it doesn't find anything from you guys. What gives?
    Reply
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