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At 3:30am, on April 4, 2009, KAKE engineers and those from Larcan, completed the necessary modifications and the installation of a new digital exciter, returning to air the remaining half of our VHF channel 10 transmitter, near Colwich.

This was the “old analog” half of our transmitter that was shutdown at 11:58pm on February 17, 2009.

The three-week delay in modification was due to scheduling issues with the transmitter manufacturer.

KAKE-DT, VHF channel 10, with both transmitter halfs on-line is now broadcasting 56.5kW ERP, 28.25kW ERP was provided from February 18 until April 4, 2009. However, please remember that this represents only a 3dB RF gain. A real world example: if you use a two-way splitter to feed to two TVs, from a single antenna, or cable, source. Remove the splitter and feed only a single TV. That would equal our increase in transmitted power.

Click here for a link to a FCC database map, showing KAKE-DT’s transmitter location. You can use this to help better aim your directional VHF antenna.

In my home, 20 miles away East-Southeast from the KAKE-DT transmitter site, I’ve noticed a 5% to 12% increase in signal strength, as reported on different digital TVs and converter boxes. In my basement with a converter box, using a $10 VHF rod antenna…and a $4 UHF “bowtie”, I receive ALL full-power TV stations in South Central Kansas, except KWCH, KPTS, and KMTW…since their transmitters are in Reno and Harvey Counties. Using an attic mounted Channel Master 4228 (an eight bay UHF antenna, with some gain on VHF Hi, too), I can get everybody, except KPTS. I’m debating adding a VHF yagi to the attic, in hopes of finally pulling them in.

For those of you having trouble receiving KAKE-DT, please remember that it is a VHF signal. Powered rabbit ears can generate, and amplify noise, that can block reception. If a non-amplified VHF rod antenna will not work, you may consider an attic or outdoor mounted VHF directional antenna, with a quality low-noise mast mounted pre-amp (if necessary).

Instead of “scanning” for new signals, try simply tuning to channel 10 […or channel 13 if you’re in Southwest Kansas and trying to get KUPK…or channel 17 if you live in Northwest Kansas and are looking for KLBY], if your TV or converter box allows this, making small antenna adjustments, and wait to see if the signal “locks”. Once you have a picture, you can then make smaller adjustments, using the signal meter, to achieve the maximum signal. In the digital TV world, it’s all or nothing. You may have plenty of signal, however, noise or reflections prevent your DTV tuner from locking on, giving a blank screen, and zero signal strength. Again, in my basement, the two TVs using rabbit ears are only 25 feet away from each other, yet the positions and extended lengths of the two rods are completely different, to get solid reception. So, tweak, tweak...tweak! 

KPTS (PBS) decommissioned its temporary digital signal on UHF channel 29, and is broadcasting only digital on VHF channel 8. Their transmitter is near Buhler, in Reno County, and is hampered by short tower that limits the coverage area.

KWCH (CBS) will abandon its temporary digital signal on UHF channel 19, and start broadcasting only digital on VHF channel 12 (June 12, 2009 is what I've heard...we'll see). Their transmitter is also near Buhler, in Reno County.

So a proper VHF antenna will be necessary to get these stations, too. Please check out www.tvfool.com for help in selecting and aiming your antenna.