HDTV and WKYC
WKYC-TV wants to help you better understand the basics of digital and high definition TV.
We hope the guide we have prepared will help you better understand what you need to do to enjoy the future of broadcasting today.
HDTV and NBC
NBC is a leader in bringing HDTV to primetime television.
Read more about NBC and HDTV
Tuning into WKYC-HDTV
WKYC-DT (our official DTV call letters) broadcasts from the same tower in Parma, OH, that Channel 3 does. Therefore if you point your antenna for best results on Channel 3, (strongest signal and minimum ghosts) you should be very close to optimal for our DTV signal as well. DTV works best when you minimize ghosts, rather than maximizing signal strength. A strong signal full of ghosts will not work well. Some viewers mistakenly try large antennas with preamplifiers, and are frustrated when that solution does not work well.
The best technique for DTV reception is to use good transmission line like RG-6, with a medium strength antenna, and no preamp (unless of course you live in a fringe area). Aim your antenna for the best ghost-free picture on Channel 3, then fine tune your antenna position using the signal strength meter on your HDTV receiver.
WKYC-DT actually transmits on low VHF Channel 2, which means you need a VHF antenna to pick us up. Some HDTV antennas sold today are not designed for VHF operation, since most DTV stations are transmitting in the UHF band. As a viewer you need to be careful that your receiver and antenna system are capable of receiving VHF Channel 2. If that is not the case, you will not be able to receive us.
Every TV station is assigned its channel by the FCC. We get a lot of questions about why we choose to operate on Channel 2, and the answer of course is we do not have a choice. The FCC assigns TV channels as it sees fit.
We transmit two program streams on WKYC-DT. Even though the radio frequency signal that we transmit is on Channel 2, your DTV receiver will "find" us on 3-1, or 3-2, which are "virtual channels". If you select 3-1, you will see a 16x9 wide-screen program which is 1080i HDTV. When NBC is not offering true HDTV programming we up-convert our standard definition content to 1080i.
3-2 is a standard definition 4x3 telecast of our new weather product called WeatherPlus. Here you can see national and local weather information 24 hours a day.
Most of the NBC prime time HDTV programming is produced in 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound. This audio system complements the gorgeous pictures that HDTV provides, giving the viewer a true "home theatre" experience, provided you have a six- speaker surround-sound system.
We hope that you enjoy the programming that WKYC and NBC provide. If you have reception problems, please contact us and ask to speak to our Director of Technology.
How does HDTV work?
For a more in-depth look at HDTV, check out How HDTV Works
Other resources
Have an HD set? Keohi HDTV can help you take full-advantage
More HD set options at HDTV.net
HDTV World at cnet.com
How Stuff Works.com: HDTV
HDTV blogs
Constant HDTV updates from engadgetHD
Read more about HDTV in action on the WKYC Director's Cut blog
Channel 3 technology milestones
More on the history of WKYC-TV
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