W24bb?

[idkx07]

WYLN is supposed to be operating a translator near Pocono Summit on channel 24 (W24BB) however for as long as I can remember it's been off. WYLN still shows it as a way to watch their channel over the air, but I know for a fact it isn't on the air. I tried e-mailing them and even sent them a letter, I received no response yet. Anyone else notice this? Is there a way to tell the FCC about this?

[KyL416]

Try fccinfo@fcc.gov

I've had the same problem. Up until 2006 I received them great, then they had some type of transmitter problem and when they came back they had a piss poor signal:
http://www.nepa-hdtv.com/showthread.php?t=181

But as of about a year ago I can't recieve them at all.

[idkx07]

What happens if the FCC finds out about this? I know they're WYLN but it would be nice to have one more analog channel in a post analog world, not to mention I have heard their local newscast is better than WBRE's. If any of you (including KyL416) can, please e-mail/write the station so that maybe the cheap engineers will get off their butts and fix this problem.

[KyL416]

I contacted them a few days ago, I haven't heard back yet. As for the newscast being better than WBRE, I wouldn't quite go that far. They have an online stream on their site, you can catch a newscast there to decide for yourself. They're an affiliate of the America One network, who recently shifted from filler public domain programming to a network that shows a lot of world sports like Rugby, Motocross, English Soccer, and the CFL (Although relying on WYLN for the CFL is pointless since they pre-empt many of the games for cheap local productions, including the Grey Cup this weekend. Thankfully I have ESPN 360 although they didn't carry the Half Time show and I had to find an online stream from an America One affiliate in Kansas to see it)

I think the FCC rules are if you're off air for over 6 months you have to file an STA to change your status to silent and explain why and if you make no actual progress to get back on air after 12 months, your license is subject to cancellation unless you can file an STA explaining why to extend the remain silent authority, and even then competitors can file comments to contest the extension to possibly get the FCC to revoke it and then bid for the license in auction down the road. I haven't seen any filings for W24BB. I haven't checked lately, but ocassionally I think I see a trace of a signal on 24, nothing that's actually viewable, just lines across the screen indicating that there's some weak signal. It's possible that's enough for them to get away with it. The rules for Class A and translators are different from full power stations. Which is one of the reasons why channel 6 stations like WNYZ-LP in NYC can transmit audio according to the FM Stereo standard instead of the MTS standard, even though it can cause damage to your TV's speakers if you don't turn the volume down first. (Kind of what happens if you turn to channel 95, 96 or 97 on a cable ready TV and live close to an FM station that broadcasts near 95.7, 101.7 or 107.7)

[idkx07]

The lines you're seeing are probably from Fox 56's W24DB, also broadcasting on channel 24 from Clarks Summit. I went up to Camel Back over the summer to see what analog channels still exist in the area. I was able to pick up W24DB from Clarks Summit, so I think you may be too. I hope the FCC gets to the bottom of this, it would be interesting to see what would happen if their license got revoked (who would buy it).

[KyL416]

If you want to catch WYLN's news, you should try to catch it as soon as possible via their online stream or one of their working translators. WYLN announced that they're eliminating their local newscasts at the end of the month.

[idkx07]

Jesus! Is 2009 the year for long-running news stations to be killed? First I lose WYOU now I lose WYLN which I just started to watch online!

[KyL416]

Got a response:

Parts for this particular analog trans have become very hard to get
We are trying to replace the transmitter as funds become available
We have recently applied for a change in ownership and hope to switch to digital within the year.

[idkx07]

Originally Posted by KyL416

Got a response:

Glad to hear that at least somethings being done about the transmitter. However by the time they get it to digital, will it even be worth watching? I know they're getting rid of local news which would be my only reason for watching, what's left besides public access programs intended for Hazleton?

[KyL416]

They're an affiliate of the America One network, which airs a lot of world sports like Rugby, the CFL and Soccer as well as some general interest programming during the day.

[idkx07]

I scanned the analog tv function on my phone today just for the hell of it and picked up channel 24. As of today W24BB is back on the air. Not sure if the signal is as good as it used to be, but it's finally back on the air. Too bad WYLN doesn't have any local news anymore.

[KyL416]

It's not as good as I got it when the signal was at it's best, but it's MUCH better than it was before it went off the air.

[idkx07]

It's even better today, I think the signal is back to normal finally (it was having problems before, there was way too much brightness)

[KyL416]

Did anyone else lose the station about a week ago?

[idkx07]

Yes, I lost it on July 23rd. The note on their fcc listing shows that they're operating at half power right now (500w) but then again they also claimed that W24BB first went off the air in February 2010 after a snow storm, which was false. Hope it comes back soon.