I live in San Antonio and watch only OTA TV. The online TV guide I consult added “XHAMC” to its listings. XHAMC is located in Ciudad Acuña, Chihuahua, Mexico, which is across the border from Del Rio, Texas. XHAMC is Channel 34, but I cannot find info on which frequency it broadcasts.
What do I need to view this channel? I have an analog TV, two basic model DTV downconverters (different brands) and an indoor antenna. I found a website about DXing, but I need to have it dumbed-down for me first. Thanks!
Frankly, I’d be very surprised if you could reliably pick it up over the air.
According to Google Maps, it’s about a 160-mile drive from one city to the other. Looking at the map, I’d guess it’s at least 140 miles as the crow flies (the driving route is pretty close to a straight east-west drive). TV signals rarely carry that far on a reliable basis.
I agree. I was surprised to see XHAMC listed on the program guide, but the guide goes by ZIP code, and I entered one for downtown San Antonio, so…. I don’t think it’s probable, likely, easy, cheap, or, that I’ll get a consistent signal, but it won’t hurt to at least look into whether it’s possible.
Once I enter the ZIP code, I select
"Broadcast TV (antenna)
San Antonio - San Antonio Area Broadcast"
from a list of “service providers”.
They wouldn’t, as XHAMC is a Televisa affiliate, and thus would compete for viewers against USA-based Univision (broadcast) and Galavision* (cable) stations that carry (repackaged, edited and delayed) Televisa programming. Which is why I want XHAMC, so I can get the live, un-bowdlerized version of Desmadrugados, among other shows.
Wikipedia says that in “Americas (most countries)”, UHF channel 34 is 591.25 MHz (video), 595.75 MHz (audio). Implying that it is the same frequency as channel 34 in the USA.
your tv guide is only as good as it is, bad data might show up.
that station is analog on channel 34. basic model DTV downconverters will not receive it (they do digital only if they were part of the coupon eligible converter box program) though they might pass the signal (only a few models did, most blocked it) to an analog tv set. the analog tv set direct to the antenna or through a pass through converter might get it on channel 34.
you do have a digital station KNIC which broadcasts on channel 34 and will likely overload your analog tv tuner and cause other signals to not be received.
with an antenna at 20 feet you show get 30 channels, you are in a rich tv environment.
If your analog TV is able to receive traditional analog UHF, then all you need is a UHF outdoor antenna & appropriate cabling. And to tune your set to UHF channel 34.
I’d be amazed if you could pick up anything except static at that distance. UHF doesn’t carry over the horizon very much. if you put your antenna on top of a thousand foot tall mast you’d have a better chance. But it’d still be iffy.
Without checking on XHAMC specifically, it’s rare for TV stations to put in higher power transmitters than are needed to cover their catchment area. Higher power units cost more to buy, more to run, and at least in the US, more to license.
All in all I think any time or money you invest in this will be wasted; there almost certainly just isn’t any signal there for you to pick up.
ETA ref johnpost: If there is a local digital station transmitting on what was the traditional UHF 34 then the OP is 100% screwed.
OTOH, I don’t know that digital channel 34 & traditional analog channel 34 refer to the same frequency domain. Channel numbers are inherently arbitrary & I’ve never researched how the new & old channel systems overlay.
in the USA the real channel numbers and frequencies remained the same. with digital tv stations may have a virtual channel number (what they broadcast on when they were analog, e.g. 2) and their real channel number (what they are actually transmitting on, e.g. 36). this is transparent to the user as far as the tv or converter tuner goes but is significant to know for using the correct antenna (most people can now get by with a VHF HI and UHF combo antenna, some might need UHF only).
most stations that were VHF LO (2 through 6) went to UHF (14 through 51 now) and still would identify with their old channel numbers as virtual channels.
stations that were VHF HI (7 through 13) either stayed with their old channel or went to UHF (14 through 51 now) and still would identify with their old channel numbers (if they went to UHF) as virtual channels.
stations that were UHF (14 through 83) are now UHF (14 through 51 now) and still would identify with their old channel numbers (if they switched channels) as virtual channels.
Canadians are in a transition to digital currently and will finish by August 2012.
Mexicans have just started a transition to digital currently and will finish by 2015.
i went to one usually accurate database and it had a listing as real 34. i was glancing at the first list for 34 to see if there was another signal on that channel and stopped looking.
i do see from FCC and other databases that it is now real 18 .
i do see in the FCC database that there is an application/construction permit for them on channel 34 which is how it got into the first database with that. now looking further down on that first database listing it has a second listing for 18.
Strangely enough, in the middle of West Tennessee during the 1950s, our old Motorola used to pick up Mexican stations when there was a lot of static and interference – especially what everyone called “snow” on the screen. It would fade in for a while and then fade back out after a moment or so. Often it was musical groups performing. It was like a surrealistic flash…a glimpse into another life. We didn’t even have access to Mexican food back then. Had not heard of tacos.
. I don’t think it’s probable, likely, easy, cheap, or, that I’ll get a consistent signal, but it won’t hurt to at least look into whether it’s possible.