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

GPB Ends Analog Television on Tuesday

The national transition from analog to digital television has been delayed from February 17th to June 12th. The FCC is allowing stations under certain circumstances to transition earlier.

Georgia Public Broadcasting's nine transmitters serving the State of Georgia, will end analog operations as originally scheduled on February 17th due to aging analog equipment and budget considerations. GPB's new digital transmitters will go on the air at higher power shortly after midnight on Wednesday, February 18th.

Pelham, WABW, in Southwest Georgia will be delayed in going to full digital power for six weeks due to re-channelization. GPB is making every effort to expedite this work and reduce the delay associated with this station.

Viewers of GPB who are not cable or satellite subscribers, who watch over the air, can receive us on a digital set or an older analog television with a digital to analog converter box.

The boxes are available at retail stores which carry electronic equipment. for more informaiton about receiving digital television service, go to GPB's website at www.gpb.org.

Consumer Groups Pressure To Delay Move to Digital Television

The House of Representatives vote tomorrow on a bill to postpone until June the move from analog to digital television... and consumer advocacy groups and civil rights organizations in support of the legislation are applying the pressure.

These groups claim that without the delay, millions of Americans could lose a television signal.

Joel Kelsey is an analyst for Consumer's Union, which publishes Consumer Reports.

"There is a way to do this responsibility and there is a way not to. Delaying the transition to make sure they get the assistance that they need and the time they need to have the necessary equipment to keep a picture on their television set is the responsible way to go forward."

Kelsey says that 3.2 million people are on a waiting list for a coupon from the government to help them buy a TV converter box.

But many companies and television stations say consumers have had two years to prepare. They say that postponing the transition could cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars because they will have to keep analog signals running.