GPB Digital: Scan, Scan, and Rescan...(photos)

A glowing, cloud-covered sky reflects back the lights of Atlanta, in a time-exposure photographed from atop Stone Mt. on Feb. 17, 2009. (Photo: Dave Bender)
Georgia Public Broadcasting television flipped the switch Tuesday at the stroke of midnight, and entered the world of digital broadcasting.

A freezing wind whips through the guy wires of GPB’s antenna atop barren Stone Mountain, as an overcast sky spits down a few icy raindrops.

A reporter's microphone picks up the buzz of the electricity crackling through the wires.

Beneath the nearby visitors center, a crew of five veteran GPB broadcast technicians are busy prepping gear and software that will change over the signal to the new system.

Watts wrestles with a radio-frequency guide that channels the signal from the transmitter to the antenna tower. (Photo: Dave Bender)

Jack Watts, GPB’s chief engineer, presses a small white button on the old analog transmitter console, and kills the power:

GPB chief engineer, Jack Watts ends the analog signal tv broadcast era, and brings GPB into the digital era as assistant Gary Owen looks on at the broadcast center atop Stone Mt, near Atlanta at 11:59:59 on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009. (Photo: Dave Bender)

At 11:59 and counting, the final piano notes of “Georgia On My Mind,” tinkle away on a tv monitoring the analog broadcast.

Jack Watts, GPB’s chief engineer, presses a small button on the old analog transmitter console, and kills the power:

(audible beep as meters go to zero)
Watts:
”That’s it – the end of analog.
Crew member: “Who-hooo! man!”
Interviewer: So how do you feel?
Watts: “Mixed emotions, really. It really is...”

A team member is already thinking ahead to the next hi-tech development:

"Can’t wait ‘till ‘smellovision!'" (The group breaks out in laughter)

The techs deftly slide rack after rack of transmitting gear from the old system to the new, and bolt on new pieces of equipment that will channel the now digital signal to the antenna outside.

Watts inspects a bank of radio-frequency transmitters. (Photo: Dave Bender)

Exactly one hour and 12 minutes later, Watts presses a key on the touchscreen of the new transmitter, and GPB TV is now digital.

Watts keys information into the new diigtal broadcast system, and hits "Enter." (Photo: Dave Bender)

As the rain clouds abate, the crew prepares to drive down the steep hill off the 800-ft-high mountain.

Eight similar crews across the state are converting towers as Georgia begin a new phase in broadcasting.

The Stone Mt. DTV team: (L-R) Jack Watts, Alphonse Finenberg, Gary Owens, Hugh Pierson, Damon Maxwell.

Viewers with digital conversion boxes are requested use their remote control to scan and rescan the channels into the system.

GPB has a set up a special call center for those with questions or difficulties: 1-800-222-4788.

More information is available online at our special website: http://gpb.org/digital