The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

This week our Fact Finder team is taking your questions about the digital television transition to our experts to get some answers.

It’s been over a year since the DTV switchover, but many of our viewers are still having problems receiving KTVO. Some viewers contacted us wanting to know what happened to all of the extra channels they heard would be available after the transition.

“The government lead everybody to believe there's the option for more channels and there is. There is the option; we're broadcasting two channels now instead of the one that we've broadcast for over 50 years. But you cannot stack too many channels in there,” says KTVO Chief Engineer John Wise.

Earlier this year KTVO began offering channel 33.2, which carries CBS programming. Wise tells Fact Finder that in larger, metropolitan areas, more channels are available because there are more television stations to carry them.

We’ve also heard from several people that say they’re experiencing issues with the audio on both of our channels.

“We monitor both signals here at the studio and I've been looking for distinct audio problems,” Wise says, “Some people say they're having problems with CBS. Some people say they're having problems with ABC. And we're not seeing it here,” he says.

Wise says someone is always at the station, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to monitor the signals for both our ABC and CBS channels. Additionally, we receive both signals in a variety of ways on different televisions at the station; this allows the engineers to monitor what you’re seeing at home, no matter how you receive KTVO.

"It's our goal to get that signal out to everybody that we possibly can. We make our living off of viewers and off of viewers being happy," says Wise.

Recently Dish Network began carrying KTVO. However, some of our viewers say they’re having problems with the quality of the signal.

"Their receive point to pick up our signal is in Ottumwa. And they pick it up with an antenna just like anybody would out in the rural setting. We had hoped they'd come here and pick it up straight from our station. We offered them the room and equipment space. You wouldn't have had any interference with the signal."

OUR VIEWERS WATCHING ON CABLE HAVE ALSO ASKED WHY THERE ARE SOMETIMES ISSUES WITH THEIR RECEPTION.

"We're just one component in a cable systems' lineup. And anything can affect that channel It can be the way that they process our signal, the way that they receive our signal. All of these things can cause degradation."

Mother Nature can be another source of problems with the digital signal--the signal can go in and out in stormy or windy weather.

"If you're receiving it over one of the main cable systems, the wind and rain shouldn't effect that. It's hardwired into their system. But if you're receiving it over a system that picks us up over the air, then yes, it's going to be affected," says Wise.

He says it’s not a perfect system, but we’re working to make the best of it.

“Our equipment is doing everything it can, but the technology is new. And I think we're going to have to grow with the technology.”


See part 1 of our story