Bob McCarthy
Maumee, OH
A: Bob,
We broadcast without a border. I would have to know how you are receiving us to answer your question. I do know that certain Dish Network receivers display our signal this way. Dish does have an upgraded receiver that allows the viewer to choose how each station is displayed. We have had several complaints about this issue, and I can't tell you why they chose to send our signal in this form. If you are using a converter box, there is a setting there also that will display the picture this way, but there are other choices. If you are using a converter box into a 16 by 9 flat panel display, we need to talk. Feel free to call me at the station at 419-531-1313 and we will try to get to the bottom of this problem.
Tom Young
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Q: I have a HD over the air antenna for local broadcasts. I am unable to receive programming from 13.1. I though maybe it had something to do it the switch to digital but I still get 11.1 24.1 and 36.1 Is there another channel I should be searching for?
A: In order to trouble shoot your reception problem I would have to know far more than you have stated. Where are you? What do you use for an antenna? Are you using a converter box or HDTV? If you are using an indoor antenna, we have found this kind of problem to be fairly common, and often it is simply a case of trying different locations and configurations of the antenna. Feel free to call me at the station, and we can try to work this out.
Tom Young
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Q: Channel 13 is having signal strength issues in Whitehouse/Neapolis area. Last week twice I could not watch your morning news and again this morning twice your station signal dropped and could not pick up via antena. I noticed Channel 11's signal appears to have increased. Perhaps there's an issue with that.
A: "Signal meters" on converter boxes and HDTV's really indicate quality of reception rather than the strength of the signal. I would suspect either an antenna or interference issue. I would suspect interference in this case.
The nature of the VHF band has been favorable to long distance reception lately, and it could be that you are receiving more than one channel 13. You might try moving the antenna a bit to compensate, but if that doesn't help, feel free to call me at 419-531-1313 and we will try to get to the root of the problem. I would need a few more details, such as what kind of antenna you are using and where it is located.
Tom Young
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We have a converter box as we live in the country and use an antenna. You cannot imagine how incredibly frustrating it is when most of the shows I enjoy are on Ch. 13, and sit down to watch them, get 2 min into the show (or worse yet, at the end) and OUT goes the signal. I've been in tears so many times. I'm not sure how we would go about "pointing" our antenna in a more productive direction, but I would certainly try.
We live in Carey and are roughly 50 or so miles from Toledo. We are at a very high point of Carey (again, in the country) and are not blocked by trees or buildings. I am just incredibly frustrated and sad that I can't enjoy my TV shows.
A: Just an observation I've made. In the past couple of days the TV frequencies have been affected by the warm fall weather in such a way that distant signals are viewable as strong as the locals. Last night I was watching stations in Cleveland, Fort Wayne, Toledo, Detroit and a long list of other cities. I live just West of Toledo, and the Cleveland and Fort Wayne stations are well over a hundred miles from me.
If you live in Carey our signal should reach your antenna just fine, but I'd bet that you are receiving signals from another station broadcasting on channel 13 (there is one in Columbus) or from channel 12, which will also cause such problems (there is one near the OH, IN line just to your Northwest as well as one in Mansfield).
In the past week we have had a dramatic increase in the number of complaints about reception problems, and I can assure you that we are using our allocated power and doing everything we can to increase it. The Federal Communications Commission has not been inclined to allow a significant increase in power because of interference we might cause to other stations, and because of international restrictions with Canada.
Back to your problem . . . You might have more success with a different antenna system that is more capable of NOT picking up unwanted stations. That is to say a highly directional antenna with good rejection characteristics.
Unfortunately, we have to live with the channel allocation and power level we are authorized for by the FCC. Our only hope in a situation like yours is to work on it from your end.
Tom Young
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Q: I was UNABLE to watch the CMA's on TV last night because I had NO DIGIAL SIGNAL from 13 ABC. NOTHING. I looked foward to watching those awards for days, and I could not watch them. I'm so very disappointed in your station.
I am not a complainer. I usually just deal with whatever life throws at me, but I truly love watching my TV shows, it's my guilty pleasure. And nothing is going to get done about this problem unless complaints are made. This is unacceptable.
A: In order to answer your question, I need to know a few things. How are you receiving our station (antenna, what kind and is it outdoors?) (Cable or satellite?) If you are using an antenna, at your distance it would almost certainly have to be outdoors and carefully aimed at the Toledo transmitting antennas. What kind of set are you using (converter box or HDTV)? Feel free to give me a call at the station. I would be glad to talk to you about this problem and try to work things out. Perhaps you have called before, but to be honest, I have answered so many such calls I can't remember all.
Please understand that we are operating at the maximum power we have been authorized by the Federal Communications Commission on our assigned channel. We have had a fair amount of success addressing these issues once we know what the individual installation is like and the location.
Tom Young
