The Excitement of TV DXingPOSTED AUG 4, 2022

Today marks ten years since I began DXing digital TV . This was a few years after the analog-to-digital transition, which I originally took as an opportunity to retire from the hobby. There just isn't anything like DXing, though, and I came back in August 2012. My digital DXing career will soon be longer than my analog DXing career , so let's see how it's gone these last ten years.

My fears with regard to e-skip were absolutely founded. All I have to show for a decade of monitoring is one station that decoded a picture one time (KJWP), another that just decoded PSIP (WACP in the same city), and third that wouldn't decode at all (WPVI - again in the same city). This is the entire reason I picked up FM DXing in 2013, because e-skip is still fun on FM. (Though the ongoing surge of translators, IBOC, and LPFMs are trying to ruin that band too.)

Three seasons in Orlando and I'm still waiting for my first TV e-skip catch. I'd have logged 20+ analogs in that time.

Tropo is working out better. In fact, I consider my Fort Myers digital tropo map to be even better than my analog map had been. Even Orlando, with a little help from Crystal River, already has a solid tropo map . Digital also makes for better recordings on YouTube . The 2009 and 2020 repacks of the UHF band have reduced my number of open channels, but I've managed to do well in spite of that. I'm pleasantly surprised, and I remain hopeful for the Crystal River logbook. Unfortunately I didn't make any trips over there during the 2022 season. Money should be better next year.

I'm happy I came back to the hobby. Now, in 2022, I'm going deeper in by getting my amateur radio license. I don't intend to become a big "ragchewer", but I'm a mobile DXer and it's nice to have a license when you have a bunch of antennas and software-defined radios set up in the park and some cop walks over. I'm also hoping to get my first tuner for ATSC 3.0 before the next tropo season, and even to do some live streaming from Crystal River!

Here's where I stand with TV DX in the digital realm:
91 tropo and 2 e-skip catches in Fort Myers
51 tropo catches in Orlando
33 tropo catches in Crystal River

WMAU is the fathest catch to date, at 1,016 km. Analog WAPT still beats it, but digital is close to taking the overall record. WCTU-LD is the farthest low-power station, at a respectable 682 km. There have been a few interesting stations, like WPDS-LD (with no PSIP and a black screen overnight!) and WDOX-LD (test pattern loop 24/7!). Tourist stations like WPCT are always a treat, but very few of its friends converted to digital.

I'm looking forward to what's ahead! More TV DX to come. :)

 Previous Post: Old Fart But Young At Heart
 Next Post: Interstate Bandscans Come To An End