This is NOT a Tablo complaint about my legacy device, its running flawlessly. I really have a complaint about “my city” and the deployment of OTA. NBC and CBS send 1080 OTA, but ABC, FOX, and CW only send 720. I can really see the difference in those pictures and on top of that they are significantly weaker signals so in really bad weather they are pixel/freezing prone. I have a great antenna and anything other than the worst of the worst storm system runs great.
[I don’t care at all about any channels but these five “majors”]
That said 720 looks so different than 1080 on a larger TV. Nothing Tablo can do to improve these stations but they ALL send 1080 over ATSC 3. and finally when we get ATSC 3 and they stop sending ATSC 1 we all will have the bandwidth to get 4K OTA. That is a few years away.
For the most part, 1080i vs 720p is a national network decision that goes back to the dawn of HDTV. ABC and FOX were in the 720p camp (with the thinking that it would be better for sports). CBS and NBC were in the1080i camp.
Low power stations have different more flexible FCC requirements. If you like the lowest possible frame rate(24 FPS) and the lowest possible bitrate then this is for you.
But only if your tuner can support those specifications. Of course the major full power broadcasters won’t broadcast ATSC 1.0 in that format
FCC UHF LPTV power is usually limited for line of sight reception of 20 miles. So you have 2 UHF channels available.
So you can imagine what it’s like in a large DMA like L.A.
But for those who watch “TV” on a cell phone.
5G Broadcast is built into the foundational 3GPP specifications and is supported by Qualcomm’s advanced mobile modems, such as the Snapdragon X70 and Snapdragon X75. These chips are designed to process various types of spectrum, allowing devices to act as over-the-air receivers without requiring a standard cellular plan or active SIM card.
There are a lot more LPTV stations in Dallas than the two unoccupied channels. Any of those owners can file with the FCC for a status change.
I understand that LA is the #2 market and could not easily do anything. Dallas is #5 and could.
There are other applications for 5G… I was making a joke of it. New mobile phones are available this year.
When the FCC recently lifted the freeze almost all the LPTV owners filed (over 2300 applications) to move their transmitters and to upgrade to Class A. Here most aligned along the Interstate corridors I35E, I35W, I20, I30.
They also filed a truck load of new Construction Permits on their existing frequencies and filed co-interference waivers for themselves.
Hmmm. I wonder what’s up with that?
There is a new tool available on Rabbitears if you want to see what LA is going to be doing.
There are approximately 1,759 licensed low power television (LPTV) stations
They had 1 year to file for the upgrade.
The total number of successful conversions is relatively small for a few core reasons:
Strict Market Caps: To qualify under the LPPA, stations had to be operating in Designated Market Areas (DMAs) with 95,000 or fewer television households.
Stringent Service Criteria: Stations were required to certify that between October 7, 2022, and January 5, 2023, they broadcast a minimum of 18 hours per day and averaged at least three hours per week of locally produced programming
Since the FCC changed the LPTV rules there has been a made dash to apply for LPTV licenses. I know of one DVR manufacturer who has applied for around 10 in various locations. All ATSC 1.0 or ATSC 3.0. The FCC is only issuing limited experimental licenses for 5G.
You are going to have to move if you want this. Does CBS have a station broadcasting ATSC 3.0 in Dallas. And the vast majority of CBS ATSC 3.0 stations are encrypted. Do Sinclair or Gray have a station in Dallas.
