Arkansas PBS Transmitters & Coverage Areas

From Network Master Control in Conway, Arkansas PBS distributes a program of educational and general audience offerings that is broadcast to all citizens of Arkansas. The network's broadcast and production center occupies a building of approximately 69,500 square feet, situated on the southeast corner of the University of Central Arkansas campus at Donaghey Avenue and Powell Street in Conway on land leased from the university. Audio and video signals are carried from the R. Lee Reaves Center for Educational Telecommunications in Conway via Arkansas PBS's own microwave interconnection relay system to the six broadcasting transmitters. Over-the-air viewers as well as nearly all subscribers to cable or satellite services receive the Arkansas PBS signal sent from the broadcast facilities in Conway through twelve microwave interconnection sites to one of these six transmitters. Only subscribers to Conway Corporation cable and AT&T U-verse in Little Rock currently receive a direct feed from Arkansas PBS.

FCC Station Profiles and Public Files

Arkansas PBS operates six licensed broadcast transmitters around the state of Arkansas.

StationChannel #City of LicenseRegion Served
KAFT13FayettevilleNorthwest Arkansas
KEMV6Mountain ViewNorth Central Arkansas
KETG9ArkadelphiaSouthwest Arkansas
KETS2Little RockCentral Arkansas
KETZ12El DoradoSouth Arkansas
KTEJ19JonesboroNortheast Arkansas

Persons with disabilities seeking assistance with issues related to the content of the public files may contact:

Arkansas PBS Viewer Services Coordinator  
management@myarkansaspbs.org  
(501) 682-4198  
350 S. Donaghey Ave., Conway, AR 72034

Closed Captioning

Virtually all programs broadcast on Arkansas PBS are closed captioned for the deaf or hearing impaired. For closed captioning questions, concerns, or complaints, please contact:

Arkansas PBS Viewer Services Coordinator  
management@myarkansaspbs.org  
(501) 682-4198  
350 S. Donaghey Ave., Conway, AR 72034

We will make every effort to respond or otherwise resolve your inquiry within 24 hours or by the end of the next business day. Before sending a formal, written complaint, we recommend that you first contact the Arkansas PBS Viewer Services Coordinator. We may be able to resolve the issue quickly without the need for a formal complaint. In any event, we will respond to your written complaint within 30 days.

Transmitters

All transmitters broadcast stereo audio. Arkansas PBS's primary program signal (ARPBS-1) provides Descriptive Video on selected programs for those who are blind and visually-impaired. ARPBS-4 (audio-only) delivers the Arkansas Information Reading Service for the Blind (AIRSB) with the reading of local and national newspapers, magazines and books for those who are blind or are visually-impaired. ARPBS-1 is broadcast in 720p, 16x9 HD format while ARPBS-2 and ARPBS-3 are seen in 4x3 SD format.

  • KAFT

    Licensed to Fayetteville by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), KAFT originally signed on the air on analog channel 13 in 1976 to serve Northwest Arkansas and portions of neighboring Oklahoma and Missouri until June 2009 when all analog broadcast was terminated. KAFT Digital (licensed as digital channel 9 but seen as virtual channel 13 and broadcasting with an effective radiated power of 37.9 kilowatts) signed on the air in 2003 to cover the same area. The KAFT antenna, at a height of 1,105 feet above the ground, is located near Winslow atop Sunset Mountain.

  • KEMV

    Licensed to Mountain View by the FCC, KEMV originally signed on the air on analog channel 6 in 1980 to serve the state's north central counties and bordering counties of south-central Missouri until June 2009 when all analog broadcast was terminated. KEMV Digital (licensed as digital channel 13 but seen as virtual channel 6 and broadcasting with an effective radiated power of 12.1 kilowatts) signed on the air in 2003 to cover the same area. The antenna is located just east of Fox at approximately 1,085 feet above the ground.

  • KETG

    Licensed to Arkadelphia by the FCC, KETG originally signed on the air on analog channel 9 in 1976 to serve southwest Arkansas until June 2009 when all analog broadcast was terminated. KETG Digital (licensed as digital channel 13 but seen as virtual channel 9 and broadcasting with an effective radiated power of 13.85 kilowatts) signed on the air in 2003 to cover the same area. Designed radial coverage from the antenna located at Gurdon at 1,066 feet above the ground is approximately 60 miles.

  • KETS

    Licensed to Little Rock by the FCC, KETS originally signed on the air on analog channel 2 in 1966 as the nation's 124th educational television station to serve central Arkansas. Its analog antenna, at a height of 1,800 feet above average terrain, was the tallest ETV antenna in the world when first installed until that tower fell in early 2008 and all was destroyed. KETS analog broadcast was terminated a year later in January 2009 as part of the digital transition. Signing on the air in 2003 until February 2009 for technical changes and then resuming broadcast in June 2009, KETS Digital (licensed as digital channel 7 but seen as virtual channel 2) broadcasts at an effective radiated power of 26.73 kilowatts with its antenna at 1,895 feel above the ground. The KETS digital antenna is located at Redfield on a tower owned by commercial television station KASN, Channel 38. Serving central Arkansas, the KETS digital signal covers an area within an 85-mile radius of the transmitter.

  • KETZ

    Licensed to El Dorado by the FCC, KETZ Digital (licensed as digital channel 10 but seen as virtual channel 12) signed on the air as a digital-only station in 2004 to serve south and southeast Arkansas and part of north-central Louisiana. KETZ broadcasts at an effective radiated power of 16.2 kilowatts. The transmitter is located at Huttig, and the antenna is 1,730 feet above sea level.

  • KTEJ

    Licensed to Jonesboro by the FCC, KTEJ originally signed on the air on analog channel 19 in 1976 to serve northeast Arkansas and part of Missouri's boot-heel region until February 2009 as part of the digital transition. KTEJ Digital (licensed as digital channel 20 but seen as virtual channel 19 and initially broadcasting at an effective radiated power of 50 kilowatts) signed on the air in 2003 to serve most of the same area. The network's only ultra high frequency (UHF) transmitter is located at Bono, and the antenna is 1,100 feet above sea level. KTEJ covers an area of approximately 60 radius miles. After a power maximization project was completed in 2011, KTEJ broadcasts to its original broadcast coverage area at an effective radiated power of 323.0 kilowatts.

Troubleshooting

  • Types of Antennas

    There is no such thing as a "digital" antenna. Any quality indoor or outdoor antenna will work for televisions. If you have any indoor or antennas billed as a "digital" antenna, consult the instructions and manuals that come with it for more information and details for troubleshooting any signal or reception problems you may have.

    Digital television (DTV) sets have round screw-on type antenna inputs that only accept coaxial lead in wire. Some antennas have terminals or output wires that will require the use of a matching transformer or "balun". This is true of older indoor antennas with flat wire, about a half inch wide, with two fork type connectors. Outdoor antennas with terminals that look like two bolts with wing nuts will also need a "balun".

    Some antennas are VHF (Very High Frequency) or UHF (Ultra High Frequency) only and will receive only stations 2-13 or 14-51 respectively, but not both. All television markets in Arkansas require dual band VHF-UHF antennas in order to receive all possible Arkansas PBS and commercial stations. Be sure your antenna is a combination VHF-UHF type.

  • Outdoor Antenna Advice

    Most outdoor antennas will consist of a horizontal boom with cross members of varying lengths extending through it along its length. At one end of the horizontal boom, there will be a "V" shaped section consisting of two shorter booms also with cross members of the same length extending through them. If your antenna does not have both of these features, it is not a dual-band VHF-UHF antenna. Check the specifications on the package to be sure. Outdoor antennas should have a high-quality coaxial wire connected between it and the television set. Any wire older than ten years should be replaced. Depending on the market area, a power rotor should be installed on an outdoor antenna. Most Arkansas television markets have transmitters in various locations requiring antenna re-pointing to maximize signals from different stations. All outside antenna installations must be grounded properly according to the manufacturer's instructions to prevent injury or fire caused by lightning. All outdoor antenna installations must be in areas safely away from power lines entering the home. Antennas should first be connected directly to the digital input of the digital TV set. Do not install splitters or connect multiple TV sets to a single antenna. Only after a reliable signal is received should experimentation with signal splitters and other devices on a single antenna be undertaken. If the signal strength falls below the minimum necessary to receive a broadcast station, the picture will disappear and the antenna may have to be connected directly to a single TV set to once again receive a signal. As already mentioned, consult your guides, manuals, or instructions for your entire antenna and other television equipment for troubleshooting tips about their use. It may be necessary to go outside and rotate or move your antenna pole (or if hanging in your attic) towards the Arkansas PBS transmitter site nearest your home for improved signal or reception.

  • Indoor Antenna Advice

    Indoor antennas can come in various styles. Combination VHF-UHF antennas will have both a loop of wire or a piece of sheet metal in the shape of a halo or bow tie, and two telescoping rods (aka "Rabbit Ears") that can be extended to approximately four feet in opposite directions. Indoor antennas in rooms such as kitchens, or bedrooms with large mirrors may not receive a good digital signal. Large metal objects such as major appliances and copper-backed glass mirrors can block or reflect signals. Indoor antennas may need to be moved, rotated, raised, or lowered around the room to receive a digital signal. Telescoping rods ("Rabbit Ears") may have to be lengthened or shortened to receive different VHF channels. Loops or bow ties may have to be rotated to receive different UHF channels. It may be necessary to rotate or move your antenna toward the Arkansas PBS transmitter site nearest your home for improved signal or reception. Experimentation is the only way to find a good strong signal with an indoor antenna.

  • Capturing the Best Signal Reception

    Many antennas need to be aimed toward the transmitter to get the best signal from the desired station. For indoor antennas, you may need to do this by trial and error. For outdoor antennas, a rotor that re-orients the antenna can improve performance. Many consumers already know about the need to run the "scan" function on their digital TV (DTV) sets periodically. Scanning searches for and "remembers" the available digital broadcast channels. But in some cases, simple scanning may not be enough. There is a procedure that is sometimes called "double re-scanning". It can clear your box's memory of saved channels.

    There are five simple steps to a double re-scan for a digital TV, which are as follows: 1) Disconnect the antenna from the digital TV.  2) Re-scan the digital TV without the antenna connected. As with any scan follow the on-screen instructions or owner's manual for your device.  3) Unplug the digital TV from the electrical outlet for at least one minute.  4) Reconnect the antenna to the digital TV and plug the unit into the electrical outlet.  5) Rescan the digital TV one more time.

  • Television Sets

    There are many, many different brands and types of TV's. You will need to consult any instructions, guides or manuals you have for any and all TV sets you own for troubleshooting tips. You also must follow all manufacturers' guidelines for installation of your TV sets and equipment.

    Antenna Amplifiers, Analog to Digital Converter Boxes, Cable/Satellite Boxes, VCRs, DVD/Blu-Ray Players, DVRs, Cables, Connectors, Adapters, Power Cords, Surge Protectors and Other Accessories, Devices and Equipment.

    You will need to consult any instructions, guides or manuals you have for any and all antenna amplifiers, analog to digital converter boxes, VCR's, DVD/Blu-Ray players, cables, connectors, adapters, power cords, surge protectors and other accessories, devices and equipment that you use for your television viewing, for troubleshooting tips.

    Try connecting your antenna cable directly to your TV if you are using a splitter or looping through a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) or DVD/Blu-Ray player (Digital Video Disc). That configuration will cut down the strength of the signal reaching your TV.

  • Problems with Automobile Traffic & Nearby Steel Frame Construction

    Your digital television reception can be affected by nearby moving vehicles, such as cars, trucks, trains and airplanes. In some instances, shadowing or reflections from these vehicles may cause your digital picture to temporarily break-up or even disappear completely. If this occurs, you should try moving or reorienting your antenna to find a position that provides the most reliable reception.

    If you are using an indoor antenna, switching to an outdoor antenna system which may include a directional antenna or rotor could improve reception. In severe cases, it may not be possible to completely eliminate the effect of nearby traffic. The same applies to nearby steel frame construction, especially if it is in the line-of-sight of our transmitters.

  • Problems with Weather

    Your digital television reception can also be affected by severe weather conditions such as storms, high winds and; heat and humidity. These reception issues can result from fluctuations in the broadcast signal that can be caused, for example, by moving leaves and branches on trees. After storms and winds you may have to re-orient your antenna.

    You can minimize the effects of high winds or storms by re-orienting your antenna to obtain the strongest available signal. If this does not work, a better indoor antenna or an outdoor antenna may help. In addition, make sure that outdoor antenna mounts are secure to minimize any movement caused by the wind.

  • Problems with Cable and Satellite Reception

    If you have cable or satellite television in your home you should consult cable or satellite guides, manuals or instructions for details and possible troubleshooting information. Next, you should contact your cable or satellite service provider and request a conference with their "Head End" engineers or technicians. Their front desk/customer service/call desk personnel are generally not prepared to answer any signal reception, engineering or technical issues. Note: Rescanning your TV if you use a cable or satellite box will not resolve any reception problems. You will need to contact your cable/satellite provider for assistance.

  • Problems with Smart TV or Internet TV Applications and Devices

    As with your cable or satellite service providers consult your guides, manuals or instructions for troubleshooting tips from the various Smart or Internet TV devices (desktop and laptop computers, tablets, smart phones; including iOS, Android and Windows 10 devices, etc.) or the service providers you use (broadcast, cable and satellite companies, phone carriers and internet service providers). Next you will need to consult any paperwork you have for your internet service provider, also for troubleshooting tips. Finally, you should contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) about any problems about receiving Arkansas PBS or PBS content found there. NOTE: At present, Arkansas PBS does not yet have a Smart or Internet TV App; PBS, however, does on these platforms; Apple iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play, Windows 10, Netflix, Android TV and VUDU. See: pbs.org/anywhere/connected-tv or pbs.org/anywhere/mobile for more details.