Q: I recently cut cable and WTAE is not available over-the-air where I live. I have been told that it was never reliably available in the South Hills! Is that true and is there a way to get WTAE broadcasts south of the city?<\/p>\n
\u2014 Jason, Scott Township<\/p>\n
Rob: Pittsburgh\u2019s topography creates challenges in getting over-the-air signals to some locations in the region, especially since the switch from analog to digital TV in 2009. Analog was more forgiving of interference \u2013 from hills, trees, buildings \u2013 so you might get a channel with a little static and signal degradation. But with digital, it\u2019s more of an on-off proposition: You either get the channel or you do not.<\/p>\n
There are many suggestions for how to improve your odds of getting over-the-air channels in the digital age, from rooftop antennas, to indoor antennas<\/a>. And the kind of antenna that will help best can also depend on which channel you\u2019re trying to receive and if the actual channel number is UHF, like WTAE, or VHF, like WQED<\/a>. (To muddy the waters, in digital, WTAE actually broadcasts on digital Channel 27, which is UHF, but it maps to virtual Channel 4 on your TV; WQED actually broadcasts on digital Channel 4, which is VHF, but it maps to Channel 13 (and also 12<\/a>) on your TV.<\/p>\n If you want to know if the station you need assistance receiving is actually VHF or UHF, visit the Rabbit Ears website<\/a>.<\/p>\n WTAE engineering maintenance technician David Bader explained that Channel 4 transmits from two locations, Buena Vista (ZIP code 15018) and Oakland near the VA Hospital (ZIP code 15219).<\/p>\n \u201cThe Oakland site operates as a translator, meaning it rebroadcasts our signal, but at a lower power than the Buena Vista transmitter,\u201d Bader explained. \u201cWe generally recommend that viewers try receiving the Buena Vista signal first, though we understand that Pittsburgh\u2019s terrain and varied elevations can make reception challenging depending on where someone lives. Both sites operate at the maximum licensed power allowed for their respective transmission types.<\/p>\n \u201cGiven Pittsburgh\u2019s hills, buildings and other potential sources of interference, I recommend using a powered external antenna mounted at least 5-10 feet above the home for optimal reception. I\u2019m happy to suggest specific antenna types, but those recommendations would depend on where and how you plan to install the antenna.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition, WTAE is available via streaming on the Very Local and WTAE apps.<\/p>\n Q: I was wondering if you had a schedule for when the Penguin games would be on channel 4 WTAE?<\/p>\n \u2014 Josh, via email<\/p>\n Rob: Channel 4 will air ABC coverage of Penguins games on Jan. 3 (noon at Detroit Red Wings), Jan. 31 (3:30 p.m., New York Rangers), Feb. 28 (12:30 p.m., at New York Rangers) and April 11 (3 p.m., Washington Capitals).<\/p>\n Local pre-game broadcasts will air on WTAE Jan. 3 and Feb. 28 and on streaming channel Very Local Pittsburgh on Jan. 31 and April 11. Post-game broadcasts will air on WTAE Jan. 31 and April 11 and will stream on Very Local Pittsburgh Jan. 3 and Feb. 28.<\/p>\n Q: WQED is streaming weird stuff over the air on Channel 13-2, which is usually PBS\u2019s Create. It only happens on the weekend, and it\u2019s two weekends in a row now. Who can I email at WQED to see what\u2019s up? I love the weekend marathons that Create runs and they\u2019re doing viewers a disservice by running old programs with pledge breaks from different cities all weekend!<\/p>\n \u2014 Susie, via Facebook<\/p>\n Rob: Per WQED CEO Jason Jedlinski, \u201cGiven the elimination of WQED\u2019s federal funding, we are running several short-term experiments to test new revenue strategies \u2014 including airing \u2018pledge\u2019 programs on our Create Channel (13.2) during weekends in December. The national network schedule remains fully available through our livestreams on PBS.org, WQED.org, the PBS app, and the new WQED+ app.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause we rarely insert our own programming on channel 13.2, some third-party listing services have not yet updated their grids \u2014 despite our programmer submitting revised schedules weeks in advance. That\u2019s why some channel guides still show Create\u2019s regular lineup, instead of our pledge programs.<\/p>\n \u201cViewers with questions or feedback can always reach us at members@wqed.org, where our team consistently responds to all inquiries within 24 hours.\u201d<\/p>\n You can reach TV writer Rob Owen at rowen@triblive.com or 412-380-8559. Follow @RobOwenTV on Threads, Twitter, Bluesky and Facebook. Ask TV questions by email or phone. Please include your first name and location.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Q: I recently cut cable and WTAE is not available over-the-air where I live. 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