Technical Profile: WEIQ-DT

TV Technical Profile: WEIQ

Channel:: 30
Programming:: 42.1 - APT/PBS; 42.2 - PBS Kids; 42.3 - Create
42.4 - World Channel
Transmitter Location:: [map] [street view] Just off the north side of I-10, east of exit 35 in Spanish Fort.
Power (ERP):: 427 kW
Height Above Average Terrain (HAAT):: 608 feet
Antenna:: Omni
Other Information:: 41 dBu protected contour map, from the FCC. (OSM Link); [FCC]
[FCCdata]
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[Picture] Snapshot of network ID for -.1 APT/PBS channel
[Picture] Snapshot of network ID for -.2 PBS World channel
[Picture] Snapshot of network ID for -.3 PBS Create channel
Silent
History:: This is the Alabama Public Television relay for Mobile and Baldwin counties. The tower is at Spanish Fort, donated by WALA TV when they moved to a taller one. This relay came on the air November 6, 1964 and got a power increase in the 80's. All the network's call letters end in IQ -- this one being "E", I don't know the purpose other than to complete the alphabet between WAIQ and WIIQ.; Along with the rest of the APT network, shut down analog operations on February 17^th, 2009. The station received a construction permit to boost power, but at a slightly lower spot on the tower in early November 2010. That permit was fulfilled in May 2011, with an app pending right behind it to raise the antenna height back up to where it was before the switchover. Due to budget cuts, at the start of October, 2012, all APT stations dropped iQ for PBS' World channel. Starting in October 2015, the network began only airing PBS World during the second half of the day due to concerns over adult programming appearing during hours when children may be watching. A planned update for late 2015 or early 2016 to the switching equipment at the main studio will allow the station to cut out individual shows and insert child-friendly programming.

This station received a permit to relocate from RF channel 41 to 30 in August 2017 as part of the FCC repacking process.

On 14 October 2019, the station's transmitter failed, just about a week before it was scheduled to be replaced. The station has reported that it is speeding up the process to get the new transmitter on air. The station was back on the air on their post-repack RF channel 30 assignment just a few weeks later.