KYES-DT

KYES Digital Information

Are you ready for DTV? Please Vote ON DTV or Not DTV.
Feb 10 2009 - Status:
Congress changed the law. KYES will leave channel 5 as analog for the time being. What do you think? Call 339-3800 to let us know.
Feb 05 2009 - Status:
Will KYES switch the analog channel 5 signal to digital (UHF digital 22 will stay on)? We have not yet decided.
Jan 19 2009 - Status:
All systems normal. Have been returning calls. Expect a new public test of DTV on VHF channel in the near future.
Jan 12 2009 - status:
We are testing DTV transmission on our main "analog" transmitter. We want to know how you are receiving us. Also, if you have questions, please write or email DTV@KYES.com, or call the DTV hot line on 339-3885. Better yet, leave comments where everyone can see them. This forum will allow you to share reception tips and advice and help all of us. You do, however, have to sign up to leave comments here. - Please sign up first here. Jan 2-2009 status:
Channel 5: Analog
Power: Normal
Program Stream: Normal KYES Analog
Channel 22:
Power: Normal - All OK
Program Streams: OK
RetroTV:OFF.
What is Retro? Old TV shows and talk. But due to changes that leave the signal on an Alaska UnFriendly satellite, we have lost the signal. We are working on it.
PSIP:ON.
What is PSIP? Data embedded in digital TV that contains program listings, virtual channel numbers, etc. When PSIP is on KYES digital will appear to be on channel 5 instead of 22.

KYES-TV Channel List
Channel 5.1 KYES Analog Simulcast
Channel 5.2 Retro TV
Channel 5.3 Universal Sports
Channel 5.50 KUDO-1080 AM in FM quality
 Channel 5.51 KWMD-FM 87.7, 90.7, 92.5, 104.5, & 107.9 FM

General Information

What is HDTV?: DTV transmits sound and picture to you digitally. HDTV, high definition TV, has more detail than regular, standard definition TV. See more about HDTV here .

KYES was the first in Anchorage to put DTV on the air in spite of massive problems inhibiting the effort. To see a list of other DTV broadcasts see our entry page.

How To Receive KYES-DT

DTV signals must travel on a different channel number than analog. KYES, at the moment, is only on channel 22. Soon we will switch channel the channel 5 transmitter to digital. KAKM is on 8; KTUU on 10, KIMO on 12, KTVA on 28 and KTBY on channel 20. An ordinary antenna is as good for digital as analog. However, the shorter wave length of UHF channels 14 and higher may require a UHF antenna.

To receive KYES-DT, you will, of course, need a terrestrial digital 8vsb television receiver, and you probably will need an outdoor antenna. I use a set top box. The box receives the over the air signal, converting it to standard TV, or to 480P, 720P or 1080 line interlaced output. More lines means higher picture quality. A converter box also puts out a regular analog signal on channels 3 or 4, and this type of box may be covered by the $40 coupon offered by WWW.DTV.GOV.

As they are cheap, and ubiquitous, I'd recommend trying rabbit ears first. If they work for you, great. Any TV signal has a better chance if the receiver is on a wall or near a window facing the transmitter. If your DTV receiver has a signal strength indicator, move the antenna for best signal. If rabbit ears barely do the trick, I'd recommend the Zenith Silver Sensor Log log periodic. Flat out, I know of nothing better. This set top antenna is based upon proven basic antenna theory. Site with information on how to use the LP indoor antenna or, find a site that sells this antenna . I got one to test from Zenith, and have been impressed with it. Where the rabbit ears barely worked and had to be held near a window, the LP worked reliably sitting conveniently on a table. If you don't get any signal lock with rabbit ears, you probably need a properly installed outdoor antenna. Read on for more info.

Transmitter Location and Reception Advice

We are operating KYES-DT under an LPTV authorization on UHF channel 22 at low power from a location near the intersection of Hillside and O'Malley. See street map here. See location of all Anchorage region TV transmitters, including KYES-DT here. The actual location is near the intersection of Hillside and Alatna. An outdoor antenna pointed to the transmitter is pretty sure to get the signal.

In tests we have obtained signal lock from every location we tried of several in the Anchorage Bowl using a 4 foot long outdoor type UHF antenna held standing at ground level with a receiver in the back of our car. On roof tops chances of signal lock are much better. If you intend to install a roof top antenna, I found this site to be especially valuable, even though, for some reason the authors ignore DTV on VHF channels. This matters for us as KYES-DT expects to operate on VHF Channel 5, and KTUU-DT, KAKM-DT and KIMO-DT operate on channels 8,10 and 12. You must consider UHF DTV antenna capability for KTVA-DT-28 and KTBY-DT-20. You probably need a rotator as stations broadcast from different transmitter sites; KYES at Eagle River, KTUU, KAKM and KIMO at Goose Bay, and KTVA at 32nd and Minnesota, and KTBY from the Hilton roof. KYES plans to also broadcast digital from Mt. Susitna on channel 18, and post transition (Feb 18 2009) on VHF channel 5 from its present analog site.

If a large building or significant terrain is in the way, don't expect reception, but try anyway.

My experience thus far is that DTV requires stable signals or reception will break up. That means trees and antenna mounts whipping on windy days will spoil reception, as will reflection off people walking near an indoor antenna. Thus, a stable mount is needed as far from moving objects such as trees as possible. A good path toward the transmitter will always help.

If I had to install an antenna for DTV, I'd use a standard all band with rotator, same as analog. You can find pictures of my installation on this WWW site . Be warned. If your antenna points the wrong way, the signal doesn't just fuzz as in Analog. The signal is lost completely. As various stations in Anchorage plan DTV operations from various transmitter sites, some on VHF and some on UHF, a rotator will be required, and you will need an ALL BAND antenna, unless, of course, you don't want to get all channels.

KYES plans to soon begin construction of full power VHF-DTV on channel 6 from Eagle River, very near the analog site. We await the outcome of Superior court zoning proceedings, and we must await FCC permits before powering up DTV on channel 6. Also, we expect, in the future, to operate fill in DTV transmitters on other channels in the region, both VHF and UHF. Expect announcements here shortly.

Start Date
KYES-DT first transmitted test signals during July, 2003, shortly after neighbors and friends helped erect the 23 foot long Scala SL-8 aluminum antenna on my home roof, and then tied it down with rope (Rope is more electrically transparent than steel guy wire). Thanks to all who helped, including Rocky of Rocket Satellite, and our neighbors across the street. The test signals were "empty data", actually a digital pseudo random number test generated within the transmitter, rather than actual MPEG-2 video. The first transmission with program content was the evening of August 14, 2003, shortly after getting a satellite dish planted in our backyard. Transmission has continued with only very few momentary interruptions since that time.

-Jeremy
Nov 16,2003 - Rev Mar 03 '05 and again 8/4/2008

* Notes. Some DTV receivers and converter boxes do not allow you to scan one channel so as to orient an antenna.

Email DTV@kyes.com for more info

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