WYGA-CA
Encyclopedia
WYGA-LD is a low-power television station serving Atlanta, Georgia
. Its city of license
is Atlanta and it transmits digital TV on physical RF
channel 16. Its city of license is also Atlanta and it transmitted analog TV on channel 45, though it now appears to be off-air.
In late September 2009, the station applied to the FCC to change its digital broadcast channel to 18 (vacated by analog WNGH-TV in northwest Georgia
), due to higher-than-expected co-channel interference
from WGXA-TV in Macon, Georgia
on channel 16. WYGA-LD's permit for channel 18 is for the same broadcast power
, transmitting from the same tower at a slightly different elevation and with a slightly different antenna pattern.
The station is owned by Mako Communications of Corpus Christi, Texas
.
, WYGA-CA had been forced to cease operations on a full-time basis on its allocated channel 55 due to issues with its transmit site, likely due to MediaFLO
subscription
mobile TV
now using the same channel, or nearby W55BM
, or both.
In 2009, the FCC required U.S. television stations to vacate channels 52-69, which have been removed from the UHF TV bandplan
and reassigned for other purposes. Consequently, WYGA-CA, which had been operating on channel 55, had applied to the FCC for the displacement channel 45. The channel 45 application was disputed by WGCL-TV
(channel 46) because it is an adjacent channel
, causing RF interference in certain areas. However, WGCL opted to keep its allocated digital channel 19 after the DTV transition
, thus eliminating the adjacent-channel interference situation from WYGA-CA on channel 45.
In order to avoid losing the authorization
on channel 45 due to a statutory 12-month cutoff, WYGA-CA had been broadcasting on a special temporary authorization on channel 45 at a low power (2 kW
ERP
) until WGCL ended its analog nightlight period on June 26. Its application is for 150 kW in the direction of beam tilt
, equivalent to 115 kW in the horizontal plane
. The directional antenna
produces a kidney
shape, with the major lobes of its antenna pattern toward the north-northeast and west-southwest.
The station was granted a construction permit
for WYGA-LD on channel 16, from the same location as analog 45, which is on the same tower as WUPA TV 43 (69.1) in the southern part of the Reynoldstown
neighborhood and southeast of Cabbagetown
along Interstate 20 and Memorial Drive
. The antenna pattern is similar, but has less of a null
toward the northwest. First issued in 2006, it was modified in late April 2009, and expires in late October 2009.
WYGA-CA signed off March 5, 2009 in the wake of the bankruptcy
of owner Equity Media Holdings. In the auction
that followed on April 16, WYGA was sold to Mako Communications. The sale closed on June 30, 2009.
WYGA-LD started digital broadcasting on channel 16 from September 5, 2009, though it had been testing prior to that. The digital signal was multiplex
ed into four digital subchannel
s: 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, and 16.4. The only active channel with programming was 16.2, carrying the AMGTV
network, although the station initially carried the White Springs TV when it first signed on. The PSIP identifies the station as WYGA-LD on all four channels, and the electronic program guide
identifies all programs as WYGA-LD 16.x (where x is the appropriate number for each subchannel) with no descriptions, and lasting three hours each, changing at 1:59, 4:59, 7:59, and 10:59 AM and PM. Plans for the blank channels are unknown.
, channel 16.1 has been carrying Mexicanal
since March. 16.4 remained blank as it has always been (and is now deleted), and 16.2 is now also blank. Channel 16.3 now carries Retro Television, just moved from WSB-TV
2.2.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. Its city of license
City of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
is Atlanta and it transmits digital TV on physical RF
Radio frequency
Radio frequency is a rate of oscillation in the range of about 3 kHz to 300 GHz, which corresponds to the frequency of radio waves, and the alternating currents which carry radio signals...
channel 16. Its city of license is also Atlanta and it transmitted analog TV on channel 45, though it now appears to be off-air.
In late September 2009, the station applied to the FCC to change its digital broadcast channel to 18 (vacated by analog WNGH-TV in northwest Georgia
Northwest Georgia
Northwest Georgia includes the counties of:*Dade County*Walker County*Catoosa County*Whitfield County*Murray County*Gordon County*Chattooga County*Floyd County*Bartow County*Paulding County*Polk County*Haralson County...
), due to higher-than-expected co-channel interference
Co-channel interference
Co-channel interference or CCI is crosstalk from two different radio transmitters using the same frequency. There can be several causes of co-channel radio interference; four examples are listed here....
from WGXA-TV in Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
on channel 16. WYGA-LD's permit for channel 18 is for the same broadcast power
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
, transmitting from the same tower at a slightly different elevation and with a slightly different antenna pattern.
The station is owned by Mako Communications of Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
.
History
Originally granted the callsign W07CP in November 1997, it became W55CR in December 1998, broadcasting on channel 55. The station then was granted the call letters WDAH-CA from January 2004 to July 2005. After a change in ownership, the station changed call letters and became WYGA-CA. In filings with the Federal Communications CommissionFederal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
, WYGA-CA had been forced to cease operations on a full-time basis on its allocated channel 55 due to issues with its transmit site, likely due to MediaFLO
MediaFLO
MediaFLO is a technology developed by Qualcomm for transmitting audio, video and data to portable devices such as mobile phones and personal televisions, used for mobile television...
subscription
Pay TV
Pay television, premium television, or premium channels refers to subscription-based television services, usually provided by both analog and digital cable and satellite, but also increasingly via digital terrestrial and internet television...
mobile TV
Mobile TV
Mobile television usually means television watched on a small handheld device. It may be a pay TV service broadcast on mobile phone networks or received free-to-air via terrestrial television stations from either regular broadcast or a special mobile TV transmission format...
now using the same channel, or nearby W55BM
W55BM
WXID-LP is a low-power television station on channel 49 in north-northwest metro Atlanta. Licensed to serve Marietta, Georgia, the station's TV transmitter is atop Sweat Mountain, north-northwest of Atlanta...
, or both.
In 2009, the FCC required U.S. television stations to vacate channels 52-69, which have been removed from the UHF TV bandplan
Bandplan
A bandplan or band plan is a plan for using a particular band of radio frequencies, that are a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum . Each bandplan defines the frequency range to be included, how channels are to be defined, and what will be carried on those channels...
and reassigned for other purposes. Consequently, WYGA-CA, which had been operating on channel 55, had applied to the FCC for the displacement channel 45. The channel 45 application was disputed by WGCL-TV
WGCL-TV
WGCL-TV, virtual channel 46.1 is the CBS-affiliated television station serving the Atlanta, Georgia area. Its city of license is Atlanta, and the station is owned by Meredith Corporation, making it the largest-market CBS station not owned by the network...
(channel 46) because it is an adjacent channel
Adjacent channel
In broadcasting an adjacent channel is an AM, FM, or TV channel that is next to another channel. First-adjacent is immediately next to another channel, second-adjacent is two channels away, and so forth. Information on adjacent channels is used in keeping stations from interfering with one...
, causing RF interference in certain areas. However, WGCL opted to keep its allocated digital channel 19 after the DTV transition
DTV transition in the United States
The DTV transition in the United States was the switchover from analog to exclusively digital broadcasting of free over-the-air television programming...
, thus eliminating the adjacent-channel interference situation from WYGA-CA on channel 45.
In order to avoid losing the authorization
Broadcast license
A broadcast license or broadcast license is a specific type of spectrum license that grants the licensee the privilege to use a portion of the radio frequency spectrum in a given geographical area for broadcasting purposes. The licenses are generally straddled with additional restrictions that...
on channel 45 due to a statutory 12-month cutoff, WYGA-CA had been broadcasting on a special temporary authorization on channel 45 at a low power (2 kW
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
ERP
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
) until WGCL ended its analog nightlight period on June 26. Its application is for 150 kW in the direction of beam tilt
Beam tilt
Beam tilt is used in radio to aim the main lobe of the vertical plane radiation pattern of an antenna below the horizontal plane.The simplest way is mechanical beam tilt, where the antenna is physically mounted in such a manner as to lower the angle of the signal on one side...
, equivalent to 115 kW in the horizontal plane
Horizontal plane
In geometry, physics, astronomy, geography, and related sciences, a plane is said to be horizontal at a given point if it is perpendicular to the gradient of the gravity field at that point— in other words, if apparent gravity makes a plumb bob hang perpendicular to the plane at that point.In...
. The directional antenna
Directional antenna
A directional antenna or beam antenna is an antenna which radiates greater power in one or more directions allowing for increased performance on transmit and receive and reduced interference from unwanted sources....
produces a kidney
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
shape, with the major lobes of its antenna pattern toward the north-northeast and west-southwest.
The station was granted a construction permit
Construction permit
A construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
for WYGA-LD on channel 16, from the same location as analog 45, which is on the same tower as WUPA TV 43 (69.1) in the southern part of the Reynoldstown
Reynoldstown
Reynoldstown is a historic neighborhood on the east side of Atlanta, Georgia, located between the Cabbagetown and Edgewood neighborhoods, north of Memorial Drive...
neighborhood and southeast of Cabbagetown
Cabbagetown (Atlanta)
Cabbagetown is a neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia located south of Inman Park, east of Oakland Cemetery, north of Grant Park and west of Reynoldstown. It includes Cabbagetown District, a historic district listed on the U.S...
along Interstate 20 and Memorial Drive
Memorial Drive (Atlanta)
Memorial Drive is a long road that runs from Stone Mountain to downtown Atlanta, Georgia. In 2000, a part of Memorial Drive was named "Cynthia McKinney Parkway," but the naming has come under scrutiny since her primary defeat in 2006....
. The antenna pattern is similar, but has less of a null
Null (radio)
In radio electronics, a null is an area or vector in an antenna's radiation pattern where the signal cancels out almost entirely.This can be an advantage, as nulls in the horizontal plane can be used to protect other transmitters from interference. If not carefully planned however, nulls can...
toward the northwest. First issued in 2006, it was modified in late April 2009, and expires in late October 2009.
WYGA-CA signed off March 5, 2009 in the wake of the bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
of owner Equity Media Holdings. In the auction
Auction
An auction is a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder...
that followed on April 16, WYGA was sold to Mako Communications. The sale closed on June 30, 2009.
WYGA-LD started digital broadcasting on channel 16 from September 5, 2009, though it had been testing prior to that. The digital signal was multiplex
Multiplex (TV)
A multiplex or mux is a group of TV channels that are mixed together for broadcast over a digital TV channel and separated out again by the receiver...
ed into four digital subchannel
Digital subchannel
In broadcasting, digital subchannels are a means to transmit more than one independent program at the same time from the same digital radio or digital television station on the same radio frequency channel. This is done by using data compression techniques to reduce the size of each individual...
s: 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, and 16.4. The only active channel with programming was 16.2, carrying the AMGTV
AMGTV
AMGTV is an American family-oriented television network, featuring programming including sitcoms, lifestyle programs, sports, films and more...
network, although the station initially carried the White Springs TV when it first signed on. The PSIP identifies the station as WYGA-LD on all four channels, and the electronic program guide
Electronic program guide
Electronic program guides and interactive program guides provide users of television, radio, and other media applications with continuously updated menus displaying broadcast programming or scheduling information for current and upcoming programming...
identifies all programs as WYGA-LD 16.x (where x is the appropriate number for each subchannel) with no descriptions, and lasting three hours each, changing at 1:59, 4:59, 7:59, and 10:59 AM and PM. Plans for the blank channels are unknown.
, channel 16.1 has been carrying Mexicanal
Mexicanal
Mexicanal Network is a Mexican based television Network launched in 2005 by and and serves Mexicans living and working in the United States, Canada and Mexico....
since March. 16.4 remained blank as it has always been (and is now deleted), and 16.2 is now also blank. Channel 16.3 now carries Retro Television, just moved from WSB-TV
WSB-TV
WSB-TV, virtual channel 2.1 , is the ABC affiliate in Atlanta, Georgia. It is the flagship television station of Cox Enterprises and its Cox Media Group subsidiary...
2.2.