A couple of applications for the future of Ch 18

[CAwasinNJ]

I suspected something was going to happen sooner or later with the allegedly vacant Ch 18 in Salt Lake. The former station there was KUTB, which was deleted almost 6 months ago. Nonetheless there is STILL a signal there transmitting nothing but null packets, just as it has been for many years.

But on to new business. Two stations have applied to move to Ch 18. They are KCSG-LD (RF 31, Virtual 8) and K03JD-D (Ch 3). KCSG wants to go non-directional rather than the directional signal they have now, and to change community of license from Ogden to Salt Lake. K03JD wants to go from a non-directional 3kW VHF signal to a directional 15kW UHF.

I'm not sure how conflicting applications are handled in a situation like this, but I think increase in covered persons factors in. (If someone knows for sure please tell us.) The good news for K03JD is that if they don't get approved they could try applying for the Ch 31 that KCSG would abandon if they win. K03JD stands to gain the most, both in power level and with the benefit of moving to UHF. For me personally, I already get an excellent signal from KCSG, but there isn't anything I want to watch on K03JD. Maybe there are more applications waiting, though they'd have to LPTV or class A stations.

[kenglish]

I saw that in the Daily Digest last night, and wondered what "major" change K03JD was looking to do. Glad you checked it out.
As a DXer, I wasn't happy to see them go on channel 3, and I also wondered if they were getting in to the channel 3 analog signals that so many people still use. Believe it or not, many folks still watch their Cable Box and other devices via analog).

[CAwasinNJ]

I believe it, but there are a few mitigating factors. One, I've never seen any closed-circuit (for lack of a better word) device like that which didn't offer the choice of two channels, virtually always 3 and 4. The closest Ch 4 is K04RX up northwest of Logan near the Idaho border. Two, a properly wired system shouldn't be picking up much external signal. And three, even if it was picking up external broadcasts, digital signals look pretty much like white noise to an analog tuner.

Add a couple of new applications have shown up for Ch 18. That would be KUTA-LD (RF 13, Virtual unknown) and KBTU-LD (RF 15, Virtual 23.) KUTA would remain at the Riverdale tower near Ogden and go from 1kW VERY directional (mostly northward) to 15kW non-directional. The KBTU application has already been withdrawn so they're out of the picture for now.

[CAwasinNJ]

And we have a change in scoring. K03JD has modified its application and is now requesting RF Ch 8 with 3kW. That would be (theoretically) slightly less coverage than what they currently have, but mostly comparable. At least that clears up some of the competition for 18, so that's good.

[CAwasinNJ]

There's been another change. KUTA has changed their request to be for Ch 26 instead of 18 with the same 15kw non-directional. I like this idea. There is a Ch 26 (KUCL) in Salt Lake, but it's over near Parley's and is mostly blocked to the north by hills. I can't pick it up at all.

The problem seems to be KCVB Logan. They're on the same channel and I think have a construction permit to greatly increase their power to the point that it seems to be mutually exclusive with the new KUTA application. That CP was issued before the sale to Bridge News so maybe Bridge is no longer interested in building it. I guess we'll wait and see.

[CAwasinNJ]

The application for K03JD to move to Ch 8 has been approved. It will now be known as K08QQ. There's already a virtual channel 8 being used in Salt Lake (KCSG) so K08QQ might show up as 31. If anyone sees it under its new identity I'd like to know about it. I'm curious to see if I can pick that up since I can't see Ch 3.

[CAwasinNJ]

A few updates.

The K03JD move to Ch 8 was amended to make it more directional (again) and down to 3kW (again) and in theory its coverage is worse than it was on Ch 3. No idea what's up there.

The winner for Ch 18 is KCSG-LD which goes from 15kW directional on Ch 31 to 15kW non-directional on 18. Mostly that will benefit viewers a little north of Ogden.

KUTA's application to move to 15kW non-directional on Ch 26 has also been approved.