That's what WLUK station spokesperson Pat Krohlow tells The Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Most reception problems have to do with the station's decision to switch their digital broadcast from UHF channel 51, which they used in tandem with their previous analog signal, to VHF channel 11. WLUK is the only Green Bay television station broadcasting in the VHF band.
Many who purchased antennas during the transition to digital got models only suited for UHF reception, even though they may have been marketed as "HD" or "digital" antennas. Antennas need to be a combination VHF/UHF model in order to pick up WLUK's signal. Other factors may also contribute to bad reception.
Viewers having trouble tuning WLUK by antenna and needing assistance are encouraged to contact Pat Krohlow by phone at (920) 494-8711, or by e-mail at patrick.krohlow @wluk.com.
Fox Cities TV is an independent blog and member-driven community based in Green Bay, Wisconsin and serves the Northeast Wisconsin area, including Green Bay, Appleton, and Oshkosh. TV lovers can come here to learn about what's happening in local (and national) television, interact with other TV viewers and express their opinions.
I don't understand why they
I don't understand why they switched their digital signal back to a VHF frequency because I could easily pick them up Fond du Lac when they where broadcasting on channel 51.
I think it's a lame excuse
I think it's a lame excuse on their part - every antenna we purchased has the ability to pick up a VHF signal, but we still do not get WLUK. If I was a conspiracy nut, I'd think they were putting out a poor signal on purpose to push local residents into getting cable or satellite. But I'm not and I'm happy to watch Fox programming on the internet instead; not like I'm dying to watch the WLUK schlock that is "Living With Amy".
You know if I hadn't seen it
You know if I hadn't seen it myself, I'd totally agree with you. You'd be surprised as to how some antennas claim themselves to be a VHF/UHF antenna when they don't pick up VHF at all. I was surprised to see at least one antenna model actually have negative gain in the VHF band over the reference dipole, but still claimed itself as a VHF/UHF antenna. A lot of models sell themselves as VHF/UHF but if you look closely at the specs they claim reception for a significantly higher distance in UHF, but only a fraction of that in the VHF band. A proper combination antenna needs to have Hi-VHF elements at least 14 inches in length. Anything smaller than that claiming to be Hi-VHF, I'd be suspicious. You can't change physics with some magic antenna. You need the length to pick up any Hi-VHF signals. 14 inches is just about the 1/4 wavelength of Channel 11.
WLUK Sucks. I've tried
WLUK Sucks. I've tried different antennas in different configurations and still rarely get reception. I'm an electrician for Cryin'out loud and still have nothing but trouble. If the problem stems from a poor antenna, why do I get excellent reception on every other channel?
I think WLUK is in
I think WLUK is in conspiracy to push local residents who don't subscribe to cable/satellite to go in that direction as its more cash in their pockets. I know several residents, including myself, who used to get Fox 11 but now suddenly the signal's been lost for no apparently reason. I don't believe it has anything to do with the antenna(s) as it's worked perfectly before with getting the signal. Rescanning, repositioning the antenna has no effect. So did WLUK turn down the signal for certain sections of the area? Maybe WLUK is being paid for 'losing' their signal.
You say that you used to get
You say that you used to get WLUK with no problems. Digital or analog, or both? Prior to the digital switch, WLUK had a digital signal that was on UHF channel 51 and a UHF antenna was needed. Analog channel 11 was on VHF channel 11, but I believe it was on a different tower. If you have a VHF antenna, it may need to be reaimed, especially if you are fairly close to the towers (within 10 - 25 miles).
Analog VHF WLUK was a powerhouse, but digital VHF WLUK is a very weak 17.19 kW. The FCC says that this power amount gives WLUK equal coverage. I believe that WLUK needs to quadruple their power to 68 kW in order to see the same coverage. Unfortunately, I am not the FCC!
Try reaiming your VHF antenna. I am not positive, and I can not find out because the FCC removed the old analog data for WLUK, but I THINK that they are now on a tower a few miles north of their old analog tower. I think that they are right next to the WPNE tower, but I am not positive.
Bill
Bill I believe you are
Bill I believe you are right. As I remember it, Fox 11 was on a temporary tower that they were leasing till the digital transition. After the transition I thought they switched back to the original tower and are on the old frequency.
Looking at the Latitude and
Looking at the Latitude and Longitude from the FCC license, I think they are actually broadcasting from their old analog tower. It's about 5 miles north of where their digital signal was broadcasting from. It appears to be the farthest east of the 3 tall red and white towers on Scray's Hill.
Last November and December
Last November and December 2008 I occasionally had trouble getting WLUK on HD during snow falls toward the end of Packer games. Otherwise it has been acceptable (not perfect), but in mid September that changed dramatically as I have never been able to tune it in since then.
I still get all the 2’s, 38’s, as well as 5, 14 & 26.
Who do we need to write to at the FCC or do we need to go to our congressional representatives?
I rescanned and it came in
I rescanned and it came in just fine.
I have tried 3 different
I have tried 3 different antennas and I still cannot pick up fox 11 in Appleton. I get all the other channels just fine. Looks like cable is my only answer.
Where do you live? What are
Where do you live? What are the antennas you tried? What kind of cable did you use? Where did you install the antennas? Did you use a mast-mounted preamp?
If you can let me know more, perhaps there is something I can suggest.
If you're using rabbit ears
If you're using rabbit ears to pick up FOX 11, try placing the rabbit ears high up and completely horizontal instead of in the usual V pattern. Most television stations broadcast their signal in the horizontal plane so putting your rabbit ears horizontal and high up on a shelf might help out. It's yet another thought.
I am roughly 45 air miles
I am roughly 45 air miles from the towers. Fortunately for me I have a very good quality outdoor VHF/UHF Wineguard antenna that can still pull wluk in. However I know of many other people in my area who are having great difficulties or can not. When Fox 11 was on former 500kw UHF 51 I received it at about 79-80 signal strength which was decent in comparison to most of the other GB stations. Now that it switched to 17kw VHF I receive it at 75-76 which is the same as I receive channel 32. Note: Channel 32 is the weakest station in our market area only putting out 50 kw's UHF. The other GB stations I receive from 81-82 on my signal strength which is very excellent for my distance. I can definitely understand why people are having problems with 11. People need to complain to the FCC, as Fox 11 is not listening and will give you every lame excuse in the book. It is quite obvious 17 kw's on VHF is still no match for the much higher powered UHF stations in our area. I very much agree with one of the previous posters about the VHF power being boosted if they want to transmit on VHF. I believe it should be at least doubled to get out the same as most of our other local stations.
Even 30kw is a joke for vhf
Even 30kw is a joke for vhf high. I am 37 miles from Albany, N.Y. Three stations are on vhf high, rf 7, 12 and 13. rf 12(nbc) has the highest power at 15kw among these three and I can receive them reliably most of the time. Fox(rf7) ha ha only transmits at 10kw and they have pixels in the picture. rf 13(cw) runs the same as Fox and they also have pixels. All of the uhf channels come in great, all at least 200kw. rf 6(cbs) comes in great also and they run about 7kw. All the stations are at the same site, on the same mountain.
I live in Marinette, and Fox
I live in Marinette, and Fox used to be the only channel to come in clear using rabbit ears.
Now, it's just as if nothing's there, when I can get all 3 abc channels, cbs, nbc, the 3 pbs channels, WIWB, and we have a normal TV antenna up on the house.
I actually had it on fox when they did whatever they did, and that was the last pixel that I ever got from them over the air.
Just got a expensive
Just got a expensive antennae, all of the other local channels come in crystal-clear except wluk channel 11, i've tried everything to get fox in but nothing. what a joke!!!
Your antenna may be UHF only.
Your antenna may be UHF only. WLUK broadcasts on the VHF band. I would suggest returning your antenna (if possible) and making sure you purchase one specifically labelled for UHF/VHF use.
If your existing antenna is UHF/VHF, there may be other factors in your inability to receive signal.
We have the most powerful
We have the most powerful VHF/UHF indoor antenna (Phillips amplified 20db) that I can get without going to a specialty store. WLUK VHF still is a problem with broken sound signals at best. The signal is so weak, it had to be manually added after a rescan. All the UHF digital stations came in well. Cannot justify installing an outdoor antenna in an apartment for one channel! Resubscribing cable for only one channel is pointless also.
We are in a 2nd floor of a 2 floor apartment in Appleton. Putting the VHF dipoles on a short length and the V or straight across position still didn't work on receiving WLUK. Even after adjusting the gain. Actually touching the dipoles made the signal come in better. Daytime interference going down into Nighttime plays a role.
After my brother attached both ends of 25' wire to the dipoles, made the signal come in with almost clear with pixels and broken sound at times. Better than nothing. Packers in the playoffs are the only reason we mess around this much. Either that or watch the playoffs in a bar.
All the other UHF digital channels come in well. Any Fox show that I want to watch can be through hulu.com
Did WLUK had problems with Time Warner before? About wanting more money for subscribers? The weak VHF signal vs. the stronger UHF signals makes you wonder...
I have the same issues as
I have the same issues as everyone else....all the others work great and Fox 11 is very poor. I really wish the Packer games weren't on FOX so I could see them in HD. Why does Fox 11 broadcast in VHF when everyone else is in UHF?