A quick question. Did KYUS and the four translator stations convert to digital transmission yet?

Thanks

KYUS-TV is on DT.

Thanks. But the translators are still analog?

The cost to transform a translator (or repeater) to digital is not cost effective and is not required as of yet by law. Someday, when this is required, many translators will go dark because often they were brought on line and maintained by small communities to give them television. The cost will be too great for those communities to convert to digital, and most are planning to just shut it down. With the cost of satellite TV today, the loss of translator stations should not be too big of an impact on communities. And, most of the "Big 3" networks that are received on a translator can now be found as local broadcast channels on satellite.

for over the air broadcast in MC only the NBC station is broadcast in digital. 4:3 standard definition, not HDTV. ABC, CBS, and FOX are still in analog.

NBC = KYUS.

Channel 3 I believe. Unsure though. I'm more on the radio end.

[This message has been edited by Josh Rath (2/4/2010)]

Marcus, that's because they are on a translator. The regular signal from a tower will not go that far.

Cory, when you say "they" are you referring to the CBS,FOX, ABC stations? So, then the remaining NBC/KYUS station is not a translator?

[This message has been edited by Marcus S (2/4/2010)]

Jon,

Curious about your interest.

Bart

Marcus,

The NBC station, KULR 8, has a translator. The NBC station, KYUS, rebroadcasts the KULR 8 signal (at least they did for a while). Because KYUS has a tower in MC, I would think that maybe they have gone digital... But KULR is on a translator. This is to the best of my knowledge. Many things could have changed in the 8 years since I lived in the ol' town. But my broadcasting experience leads me to the above info.

Hi Bart,

I still have a mother-in-law in Miles City who uses off air signals for her television and was complaining about the audio quality. Just checking on what signal types were still being broadcast in the old home town.

Cheers,

Jon

Jon,

I know that my family has had poor audio on one of the NBC feeds (I'm not sure which...I think KYUS, and at the time of hearing it, I thought the rebroadcast on the KYUS channel had a reduced quality audio signal).

I suspect, from my own experience, that this may be the problem your mother is experiencing. Those with cable can just find KULR and receive the same programming as is on KYUS without the sound problems. For people just getting over-the-air signals, I don't know what to tell ya.

Jon,

I remember the summer I worked at KYUS for Dave and Ella -- 1983. It was great fun and I will always count myself lucky to have been apart of the real KYUS. One afternoon the man from the FCC came by and was reporting on the audio signal. It was a Sunday afternoon and only I was around. He showed me how the signal was not correct on, I believe, the oscilloscope. Thing was supposed to be a figure 8 and ours was all goofed up. I imagine at most stations we would have gotten written up. Instead the man adjusted the equipment for us -- which was good since I don't know if any of us would have known how on our own. I have lots of other great KYUS stories, it really was interesting.

Bart-

In 3rd grade, Dave came to my class and did the spelling bee on KYUS. I was eliminated on the word "RADIO".

True story.

I was in the spelling bee too. Lost on scissors. I will never forget how to spell that word.

I know Midrivers sent a note in my mom's cable bill to the effect that if the signal for the Billings stations was crap, it wasn't the fault of Midrivers but the folks in Billings sending out a lousy signal to begin with. So it may all be down to what equipment they have in Billings.