Don't Forget to Scan Channels on Your DTV

By now, most over-the-air TV viewers have probably bought a digital TV or a DTV converter box. There is one feature that is very different from an analog TV. Before you can use it, you have to "scan" for channels. The reason is related to DTV technology. The "channels" you watch are virtual channels. Although they function like analog TV channels, in fact they may be transmitted on entirely different frequencies, and DTV streams can carry many embedded channels.

For instance, KESQ-DT carries multiple program sources: KESQ (ABC) KDFX (Fox) KCWQ (CW) KUNA (Telemundo) and the First Alert Weather Channel. When you scan for channels, the DTV tuner finds these program streams and assigns then channel numbers according to information we broadcast with the programming.

More and more stations are turning off their analog channels and using strictly digital channels. In some case, stations have to change frequencies. KESQ-DT is in that group, as the government has auctioned off the frequency we currently use. We will switch to KESQ-TV's current analog channel when we turn the analog signal off on June 12. On and after that date, you'll need to scan at least once to find the new location of our digital programming.

Since stations are switching at different times, you'll need to channel scan your DTV several times. I'd make a habit of doing it at least once a week.

If you are a cable or satellite subscriber scanning won't be necessary because you get all your programming through a cable box. It is possible to do a DTV channel scan if you have a DTV hooked up to cable, but the results will be unpredictable and very difficult to use.

I know it's very confusion. If you need help, please contact us at 760-773-0342 and our staff will help you with your DTV questions.

Beware the White Space Data Base

Some of you may have read about new consumer devices that are supposed to take advantage of so-called "white spaces" in TV spectrum. In other words, you'd buy a phone or a wireless internet device and operate it on an unused local TV channel. These devices are supposed to be used with spectrum sensing software or a data base that enables consumers to know if a local TV station or emergency service is using TV spectrum. If they are, then you're not allowed to use that channel.

I just checked one such on-line database and boy was it wrong. It showed that channel 42 is available in Palm Springs. Wrong! That's KESQ-TV's over-the-air analog channel, and it will be our DTV channel after June 12th. Whoever created this database operates it with reckless disregard for the truth. Another example of why you can't believe everything you read on the internet.

There is a big legal fight brewing over this technology because proponents of it tested the devices and the tests showed their spectrum sensing technology (which is supposed to detect local signals) doesn't work. The FCC approved it anyway. This is going to be a long, expensive fight, and consumers will be the losers if they buy these devices and then find out they don't work because they either cause interference or receive interference from licensed users. By the way, how'd you like to have the people who dispatch police and fire to your house in an emeregency unable to do so because someone was jamming their radios with a cordless phone or internet router? Yes...first responders and broadcasters already share spectrum!