KWSU Digital Television
In June of 2005 KWSU Television commenced digital transmission of public
television programming schedule on digital TV station KWSU-DT, Pullman,
Washington. We currently simulcast our analog channel 10 programming in
Standard Definition (SD) on channel 10.1. We also currently broadcast
ResearchChannel on 10.2 in SD. SD programming will be noise- and ghost-free and
has slightly better resolution than does analog.
Viewers will need a television set that has a digital television tuner, either
built into the set or an external digital tuner, plus an antenna (more on that
later). If your television is "HDTV Ready", you'll need a set-top digital tuner
and an antenna. Let your television do an auto scan and it should find KWSU-DT.
Both of these services provide crystal clear video and digital audio and
over-the-air SD and HD from our transmitter will look better than the same
channels on cable or satellite. SD digital receivers with the correct built-in
tuner are now available for under $200 at “big box” stores and online.
Digital television is still new and in a state of flux. From now until some
time in the winter of 2008/2009, channels 10.1 and 10.2 are actually being
transmitted on channel 17. This is confusing, but in the digital realm, there
is no necessary relationship between the channel you see on your TV set and the
channel that is actually being used by the transmitter. The broadcast industry
decided to stick with the historical analog channel numbering scheme as a way
to make a confusing situation a bit less confusing. After that winter, we will
be required to turn off the analog transmitter and we will move our digital
operation from channel 17 to channel 10. Your receiver will then need to be
re-scanned (takes only a couple of minutes), but it is important that you use
the right antenna before and after this change. Several other stations in the
Spokane market are doing the same switch.
To receive KWSU-DT now, you will need a UHF antenna, that is, one that works at
channel 14 and above. Many good and inexpensive indoor antennas are available,
but you must be in a favorable location. Here on the Palouse, Wal-Mart carries
a Phillips model for $40 that works well in good locations, but contrary to the
picture on the box, it works best mounted horizontally with the thin edge of
the case toward our transmitter on Kamiak Butte. After our switch back to
channel 10, you will need a VHF antenna that works on channels 7-13. Most
all-channel antennas from places like Radio Shack satisfy both the UHF and VHF
requirements. A properly installed outdoor antenna is always better than an
indoor antenna.
There will be changes with programming also. We are working on upgrading our
main channel from SD to a mix of SD that’s been “upconverted” to High
Definition (HD) and true HD programming where available. The result will be a
much better picture than you get now from either our SD channel or our analog
channel. Television programming for both public and commercial stations is
slowly being converted to HD, but it will be several years before that is fully
accomplished. Additionally, we are looking at adding other SD channels as the
number of digital television sets increases.
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KTNW Digital Television
In April of 2003 KTNW commenced digital transmission of public television
programming on digital TV station KTNW-DT, Richland, Washington. Our Standard
Definition (SD) signal – a simulcast of analog channel 31 -- can be received on
channel 31.2. In January of 2005 KTNW-DT began broadcasting in High Definition
(HD or HDTV), delivering an extremely clear digital image in a wide-screen (16
units wide by 9 units high) format. The HD picture has about nine times more
resolution than a standard analog TV image and about six times more pixels than
SD digital television signal. Our HDTV signal is 1920 x 1080 pixels. The
KTNW-DT HDTV service can be found on channel 31.1.
Viewers will need a television set that has a digital television tuner, either
built into the set or an external digital tuner, plus an antenna (more on that
later). If your television is "HDTV Ready", you'll need a set-top digital tuner
and an antenna. Let your television do an auto scan and it should find KTNW-DT.
Both of these services provide crystal clear video and digital audio and
over-the-air SD and HD from our transmitter will look better than the same
channels on cable or satellite. SD digital receivers with the correct built-in
tuner are now available for under $200 at “big box” stores and online. Expect
to pay around $180 for a set-top digital tuner capable of HD.
Both SD and HD are not subject to grainy or snowy images or color aberrations
that can affect analog television. Our HDTV service incorporates Dolby digital
surround sound (AC3) that works with home theater surround sound systems.
Digital television is in a state of flux. We are working to improve the quality
of our main service by upconverting available SD programs to “not quite” HD and
to insert true HD programs when they’re made available from PBS or other
sources. This will provide a high-quality version of your familiar program
schedule that will look better than any available source today. When this
happens, we will discontinue the current PBS HD feed (much of which is
upconverted SD) and substitute a new channel or channels not otherwise
available in the region.
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