The TV / DTV DX Exposition

DTV DX HALL OF FAME
Recognizing DXer achievements in the reception of digital TV
signals during the analog-to-digital transition period (2000-2009)


Criteria used for entries in the DTV DX Hall of Fame

The DXer must receive PSIP ID data (calls, station name, remapped channel), video, or both. These are not considered legitimate logs for the purpose of this page: (1) The presence of snow on an analog TV screen; (2) A DTV signal indicated on a STB signal meter or light, scanner, or communications receiver.



NOTEWORTHY EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF DTV DXING

Jeff Kadet in Illinois, North America's most prominent TV DXer, was the first to decode DTV DX signals in 1999. He has logged 300 DTVs since then, including some via tropo from 800 miles away. In May, 2006 Jeff received PSIP data and decoded video from WBRA-DT-3 Roanoke VA via E-skip. This is believed to be the first DTV signal to be logged via Es above channel 2.

Jeff Kruszka in south Louisiana, VHF/UHF Digest "Photo News" editor, set the distance record for DTV reception via tropo in 2003. He received WNCN-DT-55 Goldsboro, NC at a distance of 835 miles, as well as other UHF DTVs from the Carolinas.

Girard Westerberg in Kentucky was the first to receive DTV via E-skip in 2003. He received PSIP data from KOTA-DT-2 Rapid City, SD at a distance of 1062 miles. A year later, Girard decoded perfect video frames from KOTA-DT.

Matt Sittel in Nebraska held the DTV Es distance record after receiving KVBC-DT-2 Las Vegas in 2004. The distance was 1088 miles. Matt was also the first DXer to log a second DTV signal via Es, as he had received WKYC-DT-2 Cleveland a few weeks earlier.

In addition to Westerberg and Sittel, these DXers were among the first FIVE to receive DTV signals via Es: Greg Barker in Indiana, Glen Hale in Kentucky, and Steve Rich in Indiana.

Danny Oglethorpe in Louisiana (the sixth DXer to decode a DTV signal via Es) received video and PSIP data from KVBC-DT-2 Las Vegas via Es at 1238 miles in 2005, which is the longest DTV reception to date.

Inexpensive DTV converter boxes containing sixth generation chips were introduced in 2008. While the reception of DTVs via Es is still difficult for many DXers, it is now more common.

Wikipedia article on TV/FM DXing




THE FIRST DTV DXER

Jeff Kadet of Illinois
• First DTV DXer - 1999



MOST SUCCESSFUL DTV DXER

Greg Barker of Indiana
• First DTV DXer to receive 300 DTVs
• DTV log totals: 300+
• DTV signals received via E-skip: 4
• First to receive DTV signal via E-skip above channel 3
• Received DTV UHFs via tropo at over 600 miles distance



MOST SUCCESSFUL DTV DXER

Jeff Kadet of Illinois
• DTV log totals: 300+
• DTV signals received via E-skip: 4
• First to receive DTV signal via E-skip above channel 2
• Received DTV UHFs via tropo at 800 miles distance



DTV DX PIONEER

Jeff Kruszka of Louisiana
• First to receive DTV UHFs via tropo at 800 miles distance (2003)



DTV DX PIONEER

Girard Westerberg of Kentucky
• First to receive a DTV signal via E-skip (2003)



DTV DX PIONEER

Roy Barstow of Massachusetts
• First to receive a DTV UHF signal via tropo at approximately 1,000 miles distance (2007)


RECEPTION OF DTV SIGNALS VIA E-SKIP
(DXers listed alphabetically)
DXERS RANKED BY NUMBER OF
DTVS LOGGED VIA E-SKIP
Rank DXer DTVs
via Es
1 William Hepburn (ON) 5
2 Greg Barker (IN) 4
  Jeff Kadet (IL) 4
  Jeff Rostron (MA) 4
3 Danny Oglethorpe (LA) 3
  Fritze Prentice (AR) 3
4 Mike Bugaj (CT) 2
  Glen Hale (KY) 2
  Jim Pizzi (NY) 2
  Dave Pomeroy (KS) 2
  Steve Rich (IN) 2
  Matt Sittel (NE) 2
5 Roy Barstow (MA) 1
  Robert Grant (MI) 1
  Jeff Kruszka (TX) 1
  Richard Lucas (NY) 1
  Ed Phelps (KY) 1
  Girard Westerberg (KY) 1
  John Zondlo (OK) 1

DTVS LOGGED VIA E-SKIP BY DXERS
  • KOTA-DT2 Rapid City SD
  • KPLO-DT2 Florence SD
  • KPXB-DT5 Conroe TX
  • KVBC-DT2 Las Vegas NV
  • WBRA-DT3 Roanoke VA
  • WCES-DT2 Wrens GA
  • WCFT-DT5 Tuscaloosa AL
  • WDKY-DT4 Danville KY
  • WKYC-DT2 Cleveland OH
  • WMAZ-DT4 Macon GA
  • WTWC-DT2 Tallahassee FL


RECEPTION OF DTV SIGNALS VIA TROPO AT 500 MILES
(DXers listed alphabetically)

RECEPTION OF 100 DTV SIGNALS
(DXers listed alphabetically)

If receiving DTV DX was easy, there would be no need for this page. This is my way of saluting DXers who have been able to turn distant DTV snow into PSIP data and/or decoded video.

Any TV DXer who has received DTV DX in at least one category above qualifies to be in the DTV DX Hall of Fame. Send your information to danny@tvdxtips.com.


10-6-2008