Might just be a test, but WKBW was coming in like a local on Sunday morning, with a signal strength of 72 and a signal quality of 100 - the best you can get. I haven't seen them that strong in my neck of the woods (northern North York) ever. I'm hoping after recsan day it stays that way. 

WKBW - Delayed.   For those of you who think WKBW reception improved in recent days, sorry to inform you that's not the case.  They are still operating on a temporary antenna at reduced power.  But on Friday 13th, they will still be on the temporary antenna, at reduced power - albeit significantly increased from the current operation.  They filed a STA request with the FCC in late Feb seeking to operate at reduced power on Ch. 34 from the side-mounted antenna.  The good news is that even at the reduced height we will see a massive power increase up to 560 KW - directional, from the current 372KW.    By late spring they will be operating at 1417' and 660 kw.  Here is the explanation from their Feb 2020 application:
"WKBW-TV had been on track to begin operating on Ch. 34 with its new main antenna by thePhase 8 deadline; however, the tower crew that WKBW-TV has hired to install its new transmissionline recently informed WKBW-TV that they will not be able to make it to Buffalo until sometime inApril (at the earliest) to complete the scheduled installation due to delays on other projects thatmust be completed ahead of WKBW-TV. WKBW-TV has installed a broadband antenna on the tower which can operate on Ch. 34 andWKBW-TV intends to transition to that antenna on the March 13, 2020 deadline, if necessary.Therefore, Scripps respectfully requests Special Temporary Authority to operate WKBW-TV onCh. 34 with the following parameters:Coordinates: 42° 38’ 15.0” N (NAD83)78° 37’ 11.0” WERP: 560.0 kW (DA)RCAMSL: 761.4mAntenna: Dielectric TFU-16WB-R C160"

Last edited by tvguy (March 2, 2020 8:37 am)

Well that's disappointing, but it remains to be seen how much the power boost will help. At least we know that eventually things will get back to normal - whatever that new normal brings.

Thanks as always for the excellent and timely info. At least those of us looking for better reception on March 13th will be aware of why it may or may not be there. 

For those of you who have received WBXZ 56 Buffalo (RF 17) here is an update from their recent posting of their pending channel change to RF 23.
=14px"Sometime later this spring, WBXZ will be changing frequencies. We will be installing a new transmitter and antenna. This change over will require you to rescan you TV's or convertor boxes. This frequency change occurred because the government sold off a large portion of the TV spectrum to the wireless industry. Full powers were assigned a new frequency, we were forced to find a new frequency on our own. The only one available that was best for providing a quality signal wa=14pxs RF 23. Your TV will still display 56. Unfortunately, Canada decided that the did not want our signal crossing the border to the north because of a small amount of interference that would occur to a station out of Paris, ON. even though the interference would occur in the Toronto DMA, This meant we had to redirect our signal. Most, if not all our Canadian viewers to the north will lose our signal. In addition, those in Northern Niagara County may also lose our signal. However, to try and combat signal loss, we will be broadcasting an elliptical signal. We presently broadcast with a signal that leaves the transmitter in a horizontal direction, when the change over occurs the signal will be additionally sent out in a vertical direction. This will better saturate the area with a stronger signal. It will not travel farther, but those in our viewing are should receive a better quality signal. 90% of our present viewers should not lose us, we will also gain viewers that could not previously see us. So if you watch us on rabbit ears, your signal will improve and those with an outdoor antenna will also see a better signal. We will still share our signal with a Canadian station in Paris Ontario, as we did with our present frequency but those in our area should not see the interference blackouts that usually occurred in the spring and Fall. That is what bothers us the most, we were fine with sharing RF 17, but Canada didn't want to accept the interference, however slight, we were already causing. As a low-power station we are at a full power's mercy. We will keep you updated as the change over approaches. To our Canadian viewers, we are certainly not mad at you, just not happy with your government's decision."

Just a slight correction to your post. WBXZ is Channel 56, a low power station out of Buffalo. You’re thinking of WBBZ, another LP broadcaster that has a host of subcarriers on Channel 67.
 
Unfortunately under the rules, low power outlets are forced to give up their positions when a high power (sounds almost religious doesn’t it?) licencee demands it.
 
But you’re not wrong on your initial point. WBXZ has more subcarriers than any station I’ve ever seen – 12 at last count. And some of them, like CoziTV or RetroTV, feature great old shows that would be desirable to a lot of viewers. Buzzr specializes in old game shows, including Match Game. And ThisTV has a lot of movies you won't see anywhere else. Here’s the list from their website:
 
56.1-COZI TV      
56.2-RETRO TV     
56.3-JEWELRY TV     
56.4-THROWBACK TV      
56.5-BUZZR               
56.6-SON LIFE TV       
56.7-CORNER STORE     
56.8-QVC      
56.9-DRIVE-IN TV     
56.10-REVN     
56.11-NEWSNET     
56.12-THIS TV
 
Most of these are pretty desirable specialty stations and I don’t doubt that Canadians who can get them won’t be happy to see them disappear. I’ve never gotten a sniff out of this station in North York even when weather conditions were bringing in all kinds of stuff. And it would appear that now, I never well.

This is their old coverage pattern from their website. It's going to change when they move. 

I have to learn to search the FCC site better. Are WNLO/WIVB still at their temporary height/power?

The subchannels are their own entities and do their own streaming if they want to. MeTV shows can be streamed on demand on their site. Comet does their own streaming etc. It's not an issue for their affiliates.

Grit does not currently offer streaming. Here's an article about streaming Cozi: https://thestreamable.com/channels/cozi-tv

You mentioned whether the two small Buffalo channels had the financial ability to offer streaming of their subs. My point was that they don't have the rights to do that as the subs have the rights and if they decide to stream it would be through them directly and not through the Buffalo affiliates.

Had a conversation with a Buffalo station GM a couple of years ago. Most of the subchannels are "renters", asking a local channel to carry them in exchange for a cut of a portion of the ads or the ability to sell so many minutes of local ads.

By this time on Friday, the last of the big Buffalo stations will have moved to their new positions. Those who get their signals off an antenna will need to rescan to get them – although as tvguy has so admirably reminded us in this thread, while the move is on, the promised power boosts on some of them are being delayed. Which may well play a role in whether you can get them better or not. 
 
In any event, just a reminder for those who want to try: 
 
WKBW  Current Channel: 38 New Channel: 34
 
WNED:   Current Channel: 43  New Channel: 31
 
WNYO:  Current Channel: 49 New Channel: 16
 
The final round of changes, involving Toronto stations, won't happen until July, at which point we'll finally be finished with this insane mass shuffling once and for all. 

In the meantime, I would welcome your reception reports here, depending on where you are, and letting us know if things are better, worse or no different. Good luck!

Welcome back KB! I rescanned this morning and Channel 7 is back for me for the first time in over a month. The signal isn't perfect - there's still some picture pixelation at times - but I attribute that more to the weather and the lack of full power than a major problem with the signal. Once they're up to full power, I'm guessing things will really improve. 

But I went from a black screen to fairly decent reception and that's a good thing. 

Channel 17 is also much better and they seem to be back to normal. 

As for Channel 49, they're still on the old frequency. For some reason, they didn't transition to Channel 16 as scheduled. Not sure the reason for the delay.

According to their website, it appears WNYO is not switching to channel 16 until March 16, 2020.

I saw an announcement on WNYO that viewers on antenna needed to rescan "after 10 AM on March 16th," so I'm assuming that's the time they've arranged for the official switch off of Channel 49.

I tried my indoor antenna again yesterday after a few months. I had lost the  Antenna network and that was really the only channel I wanted. The good news is that WGRZ and Antenna are back as I have tried over the last two days. Including the sub channels I am getting 28 stations. No WKBW or WIVB ( and I think the latter was mostly there before) but I am getting FOX and WNED.  CFTO is the strongest signal here in Pickering but it is the only one on the VHF band. The ION stations are strong as well.

I saw an ad on MYTV ( I think) for the Smother's Brother's rerun with the Jefferson Airplane. I could not get away from COVID 19 as Antenna had an ad (for I believe a jewelry store) where they were talking about "social distancing" and  providing hand sanitizers. I think that was the first commercial I saw where the virus was injected so to speak,

Which could delay the Toronto moves as well due in July. Fortunately (for me, at least) WNED & WKBW are vastly improved even though not at full strength. And WNYO is as good on 16 as it was on 49. I hope everyone else found the same result. It's probably the best I've seen Channel 7 since they went digital all those years ago, so I'm happy.