I was wondering if I was the only one watching the game. My MyHD is stuck at 1:15 in the 2nd with a complete garbage picture, OTA is cutting in and out and Directv SD keeps doing the same thing as Dish.

This is absolutely sad!

Same issue here...myHD, my Avermedia and built in ATSC tuner all having same issue...

embarassing to say the least for ABC/PBF

was working for a bit, but now froze again

Same here. Normally 25-1 is rock solid on my HR 10-250, but I can't watch it tonight.

Do I need to drive over there and motivate them to figure out their problems :(

On all my ATSC tuners my sig strength hasn't changed (85% or better) but no picture now...simply gone

is ABC carrying the Superbowl this year? Ugh if so

even though it looks like garbage, the analog signal is back and not color bars, that really sucked when we had nothing...

well i run a MCE HTPC with both cable in and OTA HD so I always a cable signal to fall back on (albeit SD).

I am a new HD viewer and my OTA hook up last week does not get 5-1 at all. I am up in PSL and am able to get 29-1 with no problems. It is virtually at the same compass orientation, and distance, but no channel 5 HD. Any thoughts/comments?You didn't say what antenna or tuner you are using, both make a difference. In Palm City 5.1 has a very strong signal for me, a bit better than 29.1. My Sony HD-200 doesn't seem bothered by 5.1's spurious transmission problems.

Joel, I have a roof mounted Channelmaster UHF/VHF feeding my DTV HD DVR (...10-250). My installer used a meter to find the sweet spot for the HD reception. He also installed some sort of amplifier/FM trap device inline just before my tuner. WPB 12, 25 & 29 come in but no channel 5 (OTA). He had mentioned that sometimes in my specific area, (PSL, a few blocks NW of city hall) there is an interference with an FPL transmitter of some kind to the south. I don't know if this was smoke from my D* installer, or a real issue.
I did use AntennaWeb for research on the compass orientation from my address and found that the 5 and 29 towers are only 2 degrees apart at virtually the same distance.
I'm willing to experiment a little to get this last channel in, but would like to keep the capital improvements low as the WPB locals will be off the dish soon???
Thanks to all that replied!

Boy, the Rose Bowl made for some exciting viewing in more ways than one. I was switching around trying to find any picture so much I almost forgot about the game! Digital broadcasts must be a nightmare because, sooner or later, all the stations have trouble. I bet the engineer at 25-1 is in a straightjacket this morning.

Did anybody experience problems with ABC hidef reception last night during the rose bowl? For me, there was some pixelation and then drop out a couple of times. The third time, I gave up and went down to my standard def tv and watched the game. There were also some apparent problems with the analog signal as well because the test pattern came up a couple of times. I get the analog from satellite while I get the hidef from antenna.

Just got an email reply back from Dave McKinley of WPTV about the problems with 5-1.


We are having a cooling problem with 1/2 of the transmitter, and are currently at less than full power. We should have problem resolved shortly.
Dave

Dave McKinley
Director Of Engineering
WPTV Television
The Areas #1 TV Station

Wouldn't it be nice if they posted that information on their Web page? That way we would have some place to refer to before trying to adjust/tweak our receivers. This has been asked for before but the broadcasters seem reluctant to do it.

Wouldn't it be nice if they posted that information on their Web page? That way we would have some place to refer to before trying to adjust/tweak our receivers. This has been asked for before but the broadcasters seem reluctant to do it.

Hey at least he was quick and forthright on his reply!

Joel, I have a roof mounted Channelmaster UHF/VHF feeding my DTV HD DVR (...10-250). My installer used a meter to find the sweet spot for the HD reception. He also installed some sort of amplifier/FM trap device inline just before my tuner. WPB 12, 25 & 29 come in but no channel 5 (OTA). He had mentioned that sometimes in my specific area, (PSL, a few blocks NW of city hall) there is an interference with an FPL transmitter of some kind to the south. I don't know if this was smoke from my D* installer, or a real issue. SNIP
If you still can't 5.1 after they are back up to snuff, you should pursue the problem. Interference with an FPL transmitter sounds very fishy. You should also be getting 42.1.

I just checked 42-1 and it comes in great. I guess those of us who don't get 5-1 are at the mercy of the peacock! We are patiently waiting on their repairs.
Thanks for the info.

Hey folks I have learned that FSN Florida is finally offering HD games!!!

If someone could see if any games make it on here in Adelphia systems, possibly INHD2, that would be cool. First game is Thursday.

I've read that DirecTV will be offering the games they can

I wish dish would offer them and make it so in market folks could actually watch the game instead of only out of market folks with CI that would be awesome!

I am confussed about FSN showing HD Panther games...Will I be able to pick up these HD games ?,, on which channel ?

I dunno yet. The FSNFlorida website says that comcast in south florida will be showing them (probably they will use the INHD2 channel) but nothing was said about adelphia, I'm just hoping they can do the same

is the problem with Lost OTA too or just from Adelphia??

edit: just checked my OTA and it is the same.

I think I'll buy and mount a new antenna to get 10-1 from Miami and then send the bill to channel 25.

Good thing they don't have the Broncos v. Patriots game on Sat night because if they screwed that game up....

I'm glad someone else had this problem with Lost tonight, I thought it was just me. I get 25-1 OTA, anyone know if the analog feed was affected too?

I switched over to DirecTV's SD feed during "Lost" and it was watchable except for a small bit of lag.

E-Ring 8pm WPTV 5-1 last night.

So it starts with "This program brought to you in HDTV where available".
So why did we have to wait 21 minutes before it went to HD ?

Then it proudly announces that this is a "WIDESCREEN" production.
Oh great, now my 16:9 HDTV screen has bars at the top and bottom
as well as at the sides. The digital program image was inferior to HDTV
and only took up the center 67% of my screen.

Settle down now, they are sure to fix it and make it better soon...

About a minute or so into the show, at probably the most exciting moment,
they are just entering the terrorist safehouse when.....

BING BING

The daily lotto numbers have to be announced.
The E-Ring program image is now pushed to the top of the screen
and now it occupies 42% of the screen with crappy picture quality.

For the next three years, until early February 2009, WPTV could just
do the 8pm lotto numbers on the SD broadcast.....

I am sure that people with a HDTV will find another way to figure
out what the daily lotto numbers are.

The "Squeeze" or "Pushback" for the lotto numbers has been discussed here before. The broadcasters know that we don't like it on their HD programs. Apparently it would be too much trouble for them to separate it.

I'm guessing that WPTV-DT is still having "technical problems" with their hardware and the same goes for WPBF-DT. Since our local broadcasters do not post notices on their Web sites when there are problems we can only guess as to what is going on. We are supposed to be patient while they work the bugs out - - until 2009 now I guess.

Lets face it. They don't want to provide free TV to you any more than DirecTV or Adelphia cable does. Over-The-Air HD broadcasting is just a government regulated money pit to them and they are not in any hurry to provide quality of service for it. Why should they? By the middle of this year you will be able to buy the local HD networks on all satellite and cable providers in the Palm Beach County market.

From Wellington (33414): I'm also getting very poor reception of 5.1 on an HR10-250. Frequent drops and pixelations have been the norm for some time now.

Signal strength sampling from earlier today on the big five, from attic antenna #1:
CBS 12.1 (Freq 13): 88-91 (83-87 on attic antenna #2)
ABC 25.1 (Freq 16): 65-68 (85-87 on attic antenna #2)
FOX 29.1 (Freq 28): 85-88 (82-88 on attic antenna #2)
UPN 34.1 (Freq 50): 0 (0-47 on attic antenna #2)
NBC 5.1 (Freq 55): 51-71 (0-68 on attic antenna #2)

I can switch between the two antennas fairly easily. My first question is this: if I get the magic locations and directions for both antennas, is there a way to run them into a single input on my Terk 5x8 multiswitch? Some type of antenna coupler that aggregates or boosts signal from multiple sources, like the Terk does for satellite?

Question #2: if from what I read above is the norm with 5.1, is there a specific antenna that I can buy for Freq 55 that would give me the best possible chance of getting this channel consistently? Outside is not an option.

Thanks!
-Bruce

E-Ring 8pm WPTV 5-1 last night.

So it starts with "This program brought to you in HDTV where available".
So why did we have to wait 21 minutes before it went to HD ?

Then it proudly announces that this is a "WIDESCREEN" production.
Oh great, now my 16:9 HDTV screen has bars at the top and bottom
as well as at the sides. The digital program image was inferior to HDTV
and only took up the center 67% of my screen.

Settle down now, they are sure to fix it and make it better soon...

About a minute or so into the show, at probably the most exciting moment,
they are just entering the terrorist safehouse when.....

BING BING

The daily lotto numbers have to be announced.
The E-Ring program image is now pushed to the top of the screen
and now it occupies 42% of the screen with crappy picture quality.

For the next three years, until early February 2009, WPTV could just
do the 8pm lotto numbers on the SD broadcast.....

I am sure that people with a HDTV will find another way to figure
out what the daily lotto numbers are.


channel 12 also airs the lotto numbers at the beginning of 8pm shows on 12-1 and I the same thing a while back. I've invested all this time and money in getting my HDTV setup so I can get the CASH3 and CASH4 on my tv instead of one of the 5 computers in my house, the newspaper, any store with lotto, etc, etc.

The lottery must be paying for these "spots".

Channel 25 HDTV reliability has been horrible. LOST was ridiculous. I switched to 10-1 and found it easier to watch with occasional pixelation, vs. Channel 25's lousy signal. Same thing happened the week before with bowl games. A few months back it was flashing pixels during SD programming on 25-1. Took 2 months to fix.

If you have a problem with Channel 25, please call them. (561-694-2525). It wont do you much good at night but call during business hours. Laugh when the receptionist says "no one else called with that problem". Then insist on talking to engineering. The more folks call, they will get the message.

Bruce in Wellington, Channel 5-1 is still not where it should be. I'm near you and signal strength is around 80 where it used to be in mid 90's. Only a few miles from the tower. But you will have multipath problems no matter what. Ever since they put up the 1500' tower, people close have severe multipath problems. Their antenna may not have alot of down-tilt to keep people near the towers happy. That's a problem with alot of height. People close in can have problems. Signal shoots over people very close.
It's taking alot of trial and error to find the right ant. combination to get everything right with Channel 5-1 (55) so close. Even at high power.

On other hand, since you have a great signal from 25-1, you should get 34-1 about 10 points less. Get the antenna out of the attic. It's legal unless a condo board owns your roof and walls. If it's your roof, no one can stop you.

Also, Try a good 10-20db preamp and be sure to use an FM trap before the preamp if its not built in. On those towers nearby are lots of FM broadcast. And those 100kw FM narrowband signals raise havoc with digital tv signals with their harmonics and mixing problems.

For those who have had problems with 5-1 lately, I've suddenly got it again. Whatever the recurring problem was appears to have been fixed (or should I say temporarily fixed) again.

Until this check, I've been suffering from a low signal strength reading (about 35 on a 100 scale) using DISH 942. Now, I am getting a fairly steady approx 80 rating. But, more importantly, local DTV NBC seems to be working again for those of us with "first generation" or "later generations" of boxes (that just happen to have trouble when whatever breaks from time to time breaks yet again).

It's good to see NBC in DTV again. I hope it is permanently fixed this time (but I won't hold my breath).

On other hand, since you have a great signal from 25-1, you should get 34-1 about 10 points less. Get the antenna out of the attic. It's legal unless a condo board owns your roof and walls. If it's your roof, no one can stop you.

I really hate to do this - this is only an option after I've exhausted all others inside, even if it means spending more $.

Also, Try a good 10-20db preamp and be sure to use an FM trap before the preamp if its not built in. On those towers nearby are lots of FM broadcast. And those 100kw FM narrowband signals raise havoc with digital tv signals with their harmonics and mixing problems.

Any recommendations? I'm quite new at this. I hit this page (http://starkelectronic.com/allamps.htm) and got lost. Thanks.

I really hate to do this - this is only an option after I've exhausted all others inside, even if it means spending more $.

Any recommendations? I'm quite new at this. I hit this page (http://starkelectronic.com/allamps.htm) and got lost. Thanks.
The Channel Master 7777 preamp boosted my attic antenna enough to pull in 25-1 & 34-1 here in RPB. I got mine from Solid Signal dot com and they have some technical information on it there too.

The Channel Master 7777 preamp boosted my attic antenna enough to pull in 25-1 & 34-1 here in RPB. I got mine from Solid Signal dot com and they have some technical information on it there too.

I'll check it out - thanks!

well according to this site, only comcast in south and southwest florida has the panthers HD games

http://www.sunsportstv.com/See_HDTV.jsp

Also, Try a good 10-20db preamp and be sure to use an FM trap before the preamp if its not built in. On those towers nearby are lots of FM broadcast. And those 100kw FM narrowband signals raise havoc with digital tv signals with their harmonics and mixing problems.For those living less than 10-15 miles from full power transmitter, the use of a pre-amp is probably bad advice. Reception problems when you are near the transmitter are not signal strength related. Using a different antenna or re-positioning of the current antenna should solve the problem. In some cases, a better quality receiver might help.

For those living less than 10-15 miles from full power transmitter, the use of a pre-amp is probably bad advice. Reception problems when you are near the transmitter are not signal strength related. Using a different antenna or re-positioning of the current antenna should solve the problem. In some cases, a better quality receiver might help.

According to Antennaweb.org, I'm 6.1 miles away from 5.1's transmitter. What kind of antenna do you suggest (I have two, now)? I've played with the positions as best I can, but am willing to try anything.

Also, I'm not sure what I can do about "a better quality receiver" - were you being facetious? If not, can you elaborate? Thanks!

For those living less than 10-15 miles from full power transmitter, the use of a pre-amp is probably bad advice. Reception problems when you are near the transmitter are not signal strength related. Using a different antenna or re-positioning of the current antenna should solve the problem. In some cases, a better quality receiver might help.

That is good advice Joel. He wants to make the antenna work inside his attic though and trying a quality preamp may work in his situation. Certainly, he should try everything you mentioned first. If he can point the antenna to the long distance stations and keep the nearby stations toward the back then it may work. It does in my situation anyway.

Darryl, Thanks for the update on 5-1. I usually check it every couple of days, and I can't wait to get home tonite to tune it in. It is the only WPB local thjat I don't get OTA up here in PSL.

I have heard from another DTV subscriber in Palm Beach County that the WPB market local HD satellite availability is scheduled for March 1, 2006. Has anyone else heqard the same??

Which provider?

Dish has yet to name WPB as a SAT HD market

Oh I see you said DTV, which is suppossed to mean Digital TV, but you reffered to it as DirecTV

According to Antennaweb.org, I'm 6.1 miles away from 5.1's transmitter. What kind of antenna do you suggest (I have two, now)? I've played with the positions as best I can, but am willing to try anything.

Also, I'm not sure what I can do about "a better quality receiver" - were you being facetious? If not, can you elaborate? Thanks!What kind of antennas are you using? How are they connected? In what direction are they pointed at? Do you have any tall reflective structures in your area?

To answer your questions:

1. Some of the newer receivers have improved multi-path performance. A new reciever is of course the last thing to try, unless you can borrow one.

2. As a starter, I would suggest trying an antenna that is highly directional. If one of your current antennas meets this criteria, set it up by itself, point it at the 5.1 antenna, level it horizontally with a bubble level, adjust the pitch axis up about 5 degrees ( there is a calculator somewhere on the web for the exact number) Unless you have a poor antenna or a large building in your area, you should be able get this station. If you can, it is your starting point.

That is good advice Joel. He wants to make the antenna work inside his attic though and trying a quality preamp may work in his situation. Certainly, he should try everything you mentioned first. If he can point the antenna to the long distance stations and keep the nearby stations toward the back then it may work. It does in my situation anyway.One can't argue with success!

What kind of antennas are you using? How are they connected? In what direction are they pointed at? Do you have any tall reflective structures in your area?

One has a Channel Master logo on it - its rather small and looks like a stealth bomber (metal wings about 2' long). The other is large (12' wingspan) and is difficult to maneuver but I can do it. I'll get some pics posted here on the connections. Both are pointed roughly S/SSE. No on the tall reflective structures in the area.


1. Some of the newer receivers have improved multi-path performance. A new reciever is of course the last thing to try, unless you can borrow one.

2. As a starter, I would suggest trying an antenna that is highly directional. If one of your current antennas meets this criteria, set it up by itself, point it at the 5.1 antenna, level it horizontally with a bubble level, adjust the pitch axis up about 5 degrees ( there is a calculator somewhere on the web for the exact number) Unless you have a poor antenna or a large building in your area, you should be able get this station. If you can, it is your starting point.

I'll try #2 above - thanks!

Which provider?

Dish has yet to name WPB as a SAT HD market

Oh I see you said DTV, which is suppossed to mean Digital TV, but you reffered to it as DirecTV


Sorry. It is Direct TV. I guess that should have been abbreviated as "D*".

I'm still not sure if this is fact , or just someone's wishfull thinking.

One has a Channel Master logo on it - its rather small and looks like a stealth bomber (metal wings about 2' long). The other is large (12' wingspan) and is difficult to maneuver but I can do it. I'll get some pics posted here on the connections. Both are pointed roughly S/SSE. No on the tall reflective structures in the area.
I'll try #2 above - thanks!
Many have had success with the Silver Sensor antenna when near the broadcast towers. You might want to give it a look. It is also sold as the Zenith ZHDTV1Z. Many stores have it.

http://www.zenith.com/sub_prod/product_Display.asp?cat=49&id=131

Bruce's problem in Wellington being 6 miles from channel 5 is not a signal strength problem, it's a multipath problem, compounded by having the antenna IN the attic. The attic itself and wiring in the attic along with AC vents is causing additional multipath problems since he's so close to 5-1. There's more signals bouncing around in that crawl space than one can imagine.

Now the preamp could be used for channel 34, but it won't help for channel 5-1.

Best solution, get the antenna outside first. Experiment with some directions to the north and that might solve all problems.

If necessary, get an inexpensive small directional antenna such as a UHF yagi even from Radio Shack for $25.


http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103088&cp=&kw=uhf+antenna&parentPage=search

Point it north at 25 and 34. Then he will pick up 5, 12, 29 and 42 off the BACK of the yagi. Being 6 miles from them, it probably won't matter, plenty of signal will get through. If not remove the top and bottom corner reflectors (those angled up and down). You lose a little forward signal but let in more from the rear. If he gets 25 and 34 without them, leave them off.

Last but not least, use RG6, not RG59 cable. with all antennas.

well according to this site, only comcast in south and southwest florida has the panthers HD games

http://www.sunsportstv.com/See_HDTV.jsp

Hi,

I just got a new LCD HDTV (Sharp Aquos 32") a few weeks ago. I have the Adelphia Ultimate package w/ HD PLUS. Is there any word on channels Adelphia may be adding?

I was a bit disappointed to see that Adelphia doesn't get the Panthers in HD. Adelphia just installed my cable card yesterday and it was painful to watch the Panthers in SD while the Stars played in 1080i on HDNET. Watching HDNET made me feel like I was in the 10th row, center ice.

One has a Channel Master logo on it - its rather small and looks like a stealth bomber (metal wings about 2' long). The other is large (12' wingspan) and is difficult to maneuver but I can do it. I'll get some pics posted here on the connections. Both are pointed roughly S/SSE. No on the tall reflective structures in the area.



I'll try #2 above - thanks!This probably is some type of UHF/VHF Yagi which is ill suited for your location especially in the attic because it is unnecessarily large.

I have a similar situation to you, that is nearby to several transmitters and a fair distance to others. I am near to 25 & 34 and 40 miles from WPalm stations. I use a Radio Shack UHF Yagi pointed towards WPalm Beach and get the local stations off the side of the antenna. I get excellent results with an attic antenna. While adjusting the antenna I found that I had multipath from the local stations. This was corrected by leveling the antenna precisely. As NR4P commented, there is no doubt from a reception point of view that a roof antenna is superior. However, an attic antenna will not blow away. There is a good chance with the correct antenna positioned properly it will work. If you can't make your monster antenna work, get an R/S UHF yagi and try it pointed towards the Martin county channels. Save the box you can always return it.

Just seeing if anybody else is having problems with 29-1 I usually get it at around 80-90 signal strenth but today nothing the analog 29 comes in just fine but no digital anybody else having trouble?

yes, nothing on 29-1, 5-1 seems to be having problems too.
A little 20mph wind and look what happens.

I am glad then its not me.Hopefully they get this fixed by the football game my guess is however they wont.

Well the wind helped me, or maybe WPTV is fixed, because I couldn't get NBC last night but now I'm at 90%, let's just hope they flip the switch for the Red Wings NHL game.

And figures WPTV has not flipped to HD for today's hockey game...

Hopefully there will be an announcement and they'll see it

There have been power problems in the area of the transmitters for channel 5 & 29 around noon today. The lights have been going on and off at the stores located at Lantana & 441 which is in the shadow of the towers.

I quit. I finally biased my antenna towards Miami. They have their issues, but nothing like WPB does. Only thing I miss is the WPB news. On a side note, I just bought an LG brand 32"LCD HDTV with built-in HD tuner. The built in tuner on this thing is better than the two external tuners I have that cost a lot of money. I guess you can't win.

I quit. I finally biased my antenna towards Miami. They have their issues, but nothing like WPB does. Only thing I miss is the WPB news. On a side note, I just bought an LG brand 32"LCD HDTV with built-in HD tuner. The built in tuner on this thing is better than the two external tuners I have that cost a lot of money. I guess you can't win.


I've been on 6-1 for a long time. They have problems about 25% of the time coming back from commercial and staying 4:3 but 5.1DD sound and good signal. I'm going to test out 4-1 for the 8pm shows because that lotto thing channel 12 has drives me nuts.

I have to give Fox 29 credit, I very rarely have anything to complain about with the HD signal.

True about Fox 29 - they seem more stable than Fox 7, but even with my new antenna orientation, I can still get them both. When I bias towards Miami, mainly I just lost WPB PBS and channel 5. I never got 25, it was too far north, I had to lose all of Miami to get 25, not worth it.

Has anyone tried this new antenna from Radio Shack ?
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2131034&cp

I have not been reading the forum much these days, but today noticed some folks have been having some problems with OTA DTV in the areas around the antenna farm at the end of Lantana and State Rd. 7.

Some plumbing was what I needed back in 2001 to get ALL the channels well. I had to filter out the channel 5 analog signal (VHF-LO) that was overloading the front end of the digital receiver.

See http://www.geocities.com/alanmcdonley/DTV.html for details.

POGO, in 2001 first generation ATSC receivers were horrible. Easy to overload, poor multipath compensation etc. Now in 2006, ATSC receivers are much, much better. And as your site says, you had more headaches in the attic and had to do "plumbing" to resolve it. Masonary tiles, wiring, a/c vents cause more grief than one can imagine. And when the roof is wet, the signal degrades even more as water is an insulator VHF and UHF RF.

You supported what I've been stating, everyone should get the antenna outside. My antenna is half the size of yours, live north of you but get every Miami and West Palm market station. No special anything. And don't have all the couplers and combiners. Each normally has a 3db insertion loss.

POGO, in 2001 first generation ATSC receivers were horrible. Easy to overload, poor multipath compensation etc. Now in 2006, ATSC receivers are much, much better. And as your site says, you had more headaches in the attic and had to do "plumbing" to resolve it. Masonary tiles, wiring, a/c vents cause more grief than one can imagine. And when the roof is wet, the signal degrades even more as water is an insulator VHF and UHF RF.

You supported what I've been stating, everyone should get the antenna outside. My antenna is half the size of yours, live north of you but get every Miami and West Palm market station. No special anything. And don't have all the couplers and combiners. Each normally has a 3db insertion loss.

While I agree that best reception with the smallest antenna can be achieved by mounting an antenna outside, I would not discourage anyone from going the attic route. I am having tremendous success with my two antennas in the attic. I receive all West Palm Beach stations and all Miami stations with the exception of WPLG and WSVN (both VHF). Attic mounted antenna provides an aesthetically pleasing solution but require more effort verses an outside roof mounted antenna.

Each person must weigh aesthetics and convenience verse time and money. If your goal is a fast and easy setup and your wife or HOA won't give you a hard time about an outside antenna then that is the installation you should choose. But, attic mounted antennas are viable option and should be considered by all with any apprehension regarding an outside antenna.

... what I've been stating, everyone should get the antenna outside.

You are sounding a little like a broken record.

Some folks want a non-outside-antenna solution, and there are solutions for them to get all the available channels, including in the rain. If they already have an antenna in the attic, already have a receiver, and live in close proximity to a strong emitter, they want to hear the least expensive and easiest suggestions. In certain locations, plumbing is the only answer.

If they are not close to the WPTV-5 antenna, you may be correct that the most effective solution is outside, but if their antenna is already picking up channel 5 too well, putting the antenna outside will increase the strength of channel 5 more than it will increase the Miami signals due to the front to back rejection difference between UHF and VHF-LO being much greater than the gain improvement in UHF from moving outside.

There are some homes, for which moving the antenna outside is not the right answer, and some locations which newer receivers do not solve.

My antenna is half the size of yours, live north of you but get every Miami and West Palm market station. No special anything. And don't have all the couplers and combiners. Each normally has a 3db insertion loss.

A ham, of all people, should realize people that live really close to a 100KW RF source have special needs. You apparently do not, do not, and did not.

Since you are located in Boca at the northern edge of the broadcast contour of WHDT-DT 44 Miami and you have a south-facing antenna, I wonder if you can receive channel 44.1 at your location? We are soliciting signal reports from Miami-Dade and Broward county as well. Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.

Has anyone had any trouble with the WP FOX 29.1 station as of late? For about the last 2months or so I can barely get any signal on it. I am on Lantana and Congress and had it before just fine, now I don't record any shows on it, I have to use the SD one instead and it sucks. My other stations are all fine. Anyone have any ideas??

Has anyone had any trouble with the WP FOX 29.1 station as of late? For about the last 2months or so I can barely get any signal on it. I am on Lantana and Congress and had it before just fine, now I don't record any shows on it, I have to use the SD one instead and it sucks. My other stations are all fine. Anyone have any ideas??


It's been up and down for me. Bones from last night was perfect but the OC last week was total garbage. Same antenna, same recorder. Unfortunately I can't get a solid lock on 7.1 or I would switch.

Has anyone had any trouble with the WP FOX 29.1 station as of late? For about the last 2months or so I can barely get any signal on it. I am on Lantana and Congress and had it before just fine, now I don't record any shows on it, I have to use the SD one instead and it sucks. My other stations are all fine. Anyone have any ideas??Problems like this are almost always associated with your antenna system. What are you using?

Insufficient Reception Report: From Jog and Gateway in Boynton Beach - Inconsistent lock on 44.1, Not watchable for me.

2. As a starter, I would suggest trying an antenna that is highly directional. If one of your current antennas meets this criteria, set it up by itself, point it at the 5.1 antenna, level it horizontally with a bubble level, adjust the pitch axis up about 5 degrees ( there is a calculator somewhere on the web for the exact number) Unless you have a poor antenna or a large building in your area, you should be able get this station. If you can, it is your starting point.

This worked. Grabbed a friend and spent about an hour with one antenna - got it right as possible (had to pitch it up instead of flat), and then did the same with the second antenna while he sounded off strength readings. When I had both as good as I could across all important channels (and 5.1 in solid 75 range, which I've never had), I then used a combiner to take advantage of both antennas, and wallah! I now get everything except for 34.1 (50) but its UPN and who cares.

I'm thrilled - thank you very much!

"Wallah" - one of my pet peeves. The word is voila - it is French.

Now, that bit of irritating trivia aside, Mark - I was unable to pick up 44.1 at all, on none of my 3 different tuners. I am in east Boca near the Boca\Delray line.

"Wallah" - one of my pet peeves. The word is voila - it is French.

Thank you Corky - you'll get over it. :rolleyes:

Problems like this are almost always associated with your antenna system. What are you using?

I am using a silver sensor in my attic. I have a 10db gain that I am using. I am running about 85 ft. or RG6 to my HR10-250. I don't get the 5.1 or 12.1 too reliably but I get 4.1 and 6.1 very solidly. ABC in Tequesta comes in great so the only one that is unwatchable is Fox, I can't get the Miami one so I was hoping someone could help. What info do you have? Thanks.

ryjam - I have exactly your experiences with 4.1, 6.1 and 5.1, 12.1. Up until the hurricanes, I was able to get both 5 and 12 reliably with my antenna setup. Now 5 and 12 are so spotty for me, I gave up on them and re-oriented my antenna to pick up Miami better (meaning I get a stable FOX 7.1 and ABC 10.1 picture)

Jeff, what kind of antenna? How did you re-oriente it to get those channels??

I have the Winegard GS2200. I had it pointed at about 265 degrees to pick up both Miami and WPB. Now I have it pointed at about 270 degrees, losing 5, and 12, but gaining a stable 7 and 10. All the rest of the Miami and WPB signals come in just fine at both orientations, with the exception of 25.1 - I've never been able to get that AND and Miami stations with a single orientation.

POGO, I guess you don't like a difference of opinion. But no need to resort to attacks. Yes not only am I a licensed ham with RF experience, but a licensed broadcast engineer too. In fact, at one time I installed TV antennas for a business. I'm offering people sound, proven, solid advice. Those that wish to take it, great. Those that wish to ignore it, that's fine too. That's the purpose of this forum, advice and help.

Unfortunately one of the most common misconceptions are the HOA's. NO HOA can prevent anyone in the United States from putting up an outside TV antenna or satellite dish as long as its mounted on private property (i.e. not a common element). HOA's will threaten peope with lawsuits. But in most cases, the lawyers will back off with this FCC document.
For full details from the FCC visit:

http://ftp.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/consumerdish.html

If anyone needs advice in this area, I'm happy to help.

Now about wives and their objections, can't fix that one. No legislation could do that.

Thank you for checking. We completed a preliminary test today in the outer areas of the 44.1 contour and identified the problem. The 53 mile digital STL to the transmitter has a short term instability which loads up error correction unnecessarily and causes "no lock" conditions on many DTV receivers even though the signal is above "city grade" in some cases. The STL manufacturer is over-nighting a firmware "fix" which we will implement over the next few days. After we determine that it actually works, I'll post a signal test request again sometime next week. Knowing how consumer-grade equipment works is very helpful to us since many times our professional DTV decoders mask practical reception problems.

any status on signals reaching the WPB area?

I believe you have a lower power antenna broadcasting from atop an office on palm beach lakes boulvard and also a lower power signal in the pt. st. lucie area.

I get a marginal signal from 59 in palm beach gardens, but I dunno where it's coming from

I am using a silver sensor in my attic. I have a 10db gain that I am using. I am running about 85 ft. or RG6 to my HR10-250. I don't get the 5.1 or 12.1 too reliably but I get 4.1 and 6.1 very solidly. ABC in Tequesta comes in great so the only one that is unwatchable is Fox, I can't get the Miami one so I was hoping someone could help. What info do you have? Thanks.This antenna is designed to use on top of your TV. From what I have read many people like it. However, as you are able to use an attic antenna, almost any directional UHF antenna designed for rooftop use should be much better. I use a Radio Shack UHF yagi. I tried it first as it inexpensive and can be returned.

BTW, the tower for WPBF (ABC) is located in Martin County near I-95 about 20 miles north of Tequesta.

ryjam...Channels 5, 12, 29, and 42 are due west of Lantanna.
Channels 25 and 34 are north of you, slightly west of north depending where in Lantana where you live.

So if the antenna is facing south, 5,12,29 and 42 are off the side tips.
If the antenna is facing west, then 34 and 25 are off the side tips.
Theres also the complicating factor that the silver sensor is so small and UHF only that it's performance is marginal at best. (Channel 12 and it's digital native 13 are VHF, not UHF).

There is a possibility that you could use two antennas with a "combiner". One facing north and one facing west and get all the major networks. In other words it's like a T connection and the antennas should be about 5 feet apart or more. 12 digital will be still be iffy. But your so close to the towers, it may work.

I find it odd I can get 29 and 42 just fine with my current antenna orientation, but I need to turn it 5 degrees further north to get 5 and 12 reliably. However, if I do that, 7 and 10 from Miami become a little iffy. Last June, before all the hurricanes, this was not the case, I had a sweet spot that both markets came in just fine, with occasional dropouts on 5, which I thought was probably reflections.

Since you are located in Boca at the northern edge of the broadcast contour of WHDT-DT 44 Miami and you have a south-facing antenna, I wonder if you can receive channel 44.1 at your location? We are soliciting signal reports from Miami-Dade and Broward county as well. Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.

I am receiving 44-1 at 58% signal on a MyHD-130 tuner card.

44-1 at 100% on Hughes E-86 with indoor bowtie antenna in NE Dade.

This antenna is designed to use on top of your TV. From what I have read many people like it. However, as you are able to use an attic antenna, almost any directional UHF antenna designed for rooftop use should be much better. I use a Radio Shack UHF yagi. I tried it first as it inexpensive and can be returned.

BTW, the tower for WPBF (ABC) is located in Martin County near I-95 about 20 miles north of Tequesta.

Joel, would it make a HUGE difference by switching to the Yagi antenna? The Silver Sensor is doing quite a good job except lately, but by all means if the Yagi will make the stations more reliable then please give me your advice.


ryjam...Channels 5, 12, 29, and 42 are due west of Lantanna.
Channels 25 and 34 are north of you, slightly west of north depending where in Lantana where you live.

So if the antenna is facing south, 5,12,29 and 42 are off the side tips.
If the antenna is facing west, then 34 and 25 are off the side tips.
Theres also the complicating factor that the silver sensor is so small and UHF only that it's performance is marginal at best. (Channel 12 and it's digital native 13 are VHF, not UHF).

There is a possibility that you could use two antennas with a "combiner". One facing north and one facing west and get all the major networks. In other words it's like a T connection and the antennas should be about 5 feet apart or more. 12 digital will be still be iffy. But your so close to the towers, it may work.


I am located in Lantana Pines, on Cogress and Lantana Ave. What do you recommend besides the Silver Sensor, obviously something bigger but what? A Yagi was recommended, any advice on one of those?

As far as this combiner goes, is that one of those splitter type things that I use to make cable wires from 2 inputs to 1 output? If not, what exactly is a combiner as I would like to get one. I would love to get 2 antennas up there if it will help things. And, also, if I get one of these other "bigger" antenna's would I need 2 of those or would 1 be enough?? Thanks again for all your help.

Ryan

Joel, would it make a HUGE difference by switching to the Yagi antenna? The Silver Sensor is doing quite a good job except lately, but by all means if the Yagi will make the stations more reliable then please give me your advice.In a word yes. There is no reason that you shouldn't receive all of the local digital channels perfectly with the proper antenna. It just depends on how sophisticated you want to get. You may have to experiment a bit, but it isn't that difficult or expensive ( in comparison to cable or satellite charges ). Start off with one antenna ( the easiest is the RS UHF Yagi because it is cheap, small, returnable and should work). Don't worry about combiners, splitters, filters, A/B switches, pre-amps, rotators and other devices unless you can't achieve success with a simple antenna. If you want research these devices you should like at the long antenna section on the hardware page of this forum.

ryjam, I agree with Joel. Where you live isn't all that far from me and I have one of those RS UHF yagi antennas. You are so close to the towers to the west (you can see them) that you should get some signal off the side, as I do. Its only about $25 and returnable.

I have the UHF 17 element model (count the horizontal elements, not the back reflectors), pointed slightly east of south. About 175 degrees. But what I've done is not put the rear reflectors one (the two side pieces that you have to assemble). This way with the ant pointed at Dade, I get the Dade stations. And the rear is facing 25 and 34 without the reflector to block the signals from the rear. Now, since I'm so close to the towers to the west as you are, I found a great spot at about 175 degrees that still allows plenty of signal for digital 5, 12, 29 and 42. Even though 12/13 is VHF, we are both so close, it's OK with this ant.

I have a 25db Channel Master VHF/UHF pole mounted amp at the antenna and all is outside. Small enough so it can't be seen from the street.

If you wish to keep yours in the attic, I'd try this in this order.
1. Get the UHF antenna as Joel suggested, and point it NORTH (slightly west) to 25 and 34. See what performance you get from the other stations to your west too. Turn, tweek, play a little bit. You may get all the networks and be done. You may not get Dade stns but if you get all the local ones, so be it.
2. If the above fails, try adding an amp. A good one as close to the ant as possible, not a lousy one from RS. What you need to focus on is gain (around 15-25 db) with a low noise figure. If the noise figure is 6 db and the the gain is 15 db, it's a waste of money. You don't want any noise. A db or 2 is about it.

It's a bit of experimentation with your close proximity to the west towers but at 90 degrees from other stations you want. People that live in s. palm beach county have it a bit easier. THey can go north/south and be done. You have the west as well as north/south to worry about.

Good luck and be careful

I have heard from another DTV subscriber in Palm Beach County that the WPB market local HD satellite availability is scheduled for March 1, 2006. Has anyone else heqard the same??

Well I just read this on another site today that WPB is scheduled fro DirecTV in April. but big whoop for me, D* still has a terrible national quality and quantity...

WHDT-DT 44 Miami will remain DARK until for several more days while the digital STL manufacturer works his problems out. When testing is ready to resume, we will publish this on the forum.

The North Miami tower farm is one of the (3) WHDT transmitter sites to operate on channel 44.1. These transmitters will ultimately operate in concert as a "single frequency network" and this will provide excellent city-grade DTV service from Sebastian to Homestead.

As you noted, the signal for West Palm Beach is originating from Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. on temporary channel 59.1 and it is horizontally-polarized to the north where you live and vertically-polarized to the south. A co-channel in the Tampa market is also using 59.1 and interference can be received in the WPB area at certain times of the day from "ducting" over Lake Okeechobee. This is why WHDT sites will be circularly-polarized by the end of the year when they switch to high power on channel 44.1. 44.1 is WHDT's elected "in core" DTV channel across the South Florida markets on the east coast.

The northmost site is in Stuart and operates at very low power for the purpose of feeding Stuart and Comcast. This transmitter will be re-located to Ft. Pierce when it also goes to high power on channel 44.1.

All this confusion is the result of the FCC-mandated "in core" channel selections of all full service stations in the WPB and Miami DMA's. It would be pointless to finalize operation at full power while there is any uncertainty over final channel assignments from the FCC because of the very high costs of rebuilting stations to operate on different channels. The last (and final) round of channel elections will be completed later this year and things will move quickly then.

I hope this clears things up a bit for those wanting to receive OTA on 59.1/44.1 right now. By the way, WHDT is the only station right now with HD carriage rights on the area's cable TV systems. It will launch its HD signal shortly on both Adelphia and Comcast (and hopefully DirecTV). The down-converted SD signal will continue to be delivered on the analog "broadcast tier".

interesting. I guess I'll look forward from seeing some HD content from you guys. I always wondered why adelphia downconverted your digital signal when they were receiving it in HD

marksteiner. on Saturday I was able to receive 44.1 at about 40-45% in west lake worth with a small rooftop ant facing south. (For most of Sunday, nothing). For comparision, anyting below 32% is unwatchable and the next lowest signal strength is 33.1 at about 50-55%. However I've never been able to receive your 59.1 signal (even with ant. north), although I'm ten miles from your west palm site. The FCC records are ambigous as to your power levels in pb and martin county but seems as though you are running about 772kw out of Dade? The northerns sites aren't clear and some records still state 1.5kw LP.

That said, I commend you on your DTV HD plans but.....with all due respect....all I've seen as of late are shopping programs. I hope once you get all the things worked out, we can count on some real HD content otherwise it's really a waste of a great natural resource. Your media kit is 2 years old and promises much but haven't really seen anything that it promises. Hopefully the jewelry for sale is just to keep the video up and there's some good stuff to come? Good Luck.

I hope this clears things up a bit for those wanting to receive OTA on 59.1/44.1 right now. By the way, WHDT is the only station right now with HD carriage rights on the area's cable TV systems. It will launch its HD signal shortly on both Adelphia and Comcast (and hopefully DirecTV). The down-converted SD signal will continue to be delivered on the analog "broadcast tier".Thanks, I haven't seen anything in the local press regarding this. You might want to pass a press release to the Stuart News.

By the way, WHDT is the only station right now with HD carriage rights on the area's cable TV systems.


???

You are correct about the afternoon and weekend programming. A new media kit is soon to be released after we sign some new contracts for more programming. After 5 PM on weekdays the programming is more interesting, especially the material from DW-TV (which will also be available in HD when their new satellite feed is worked out).

???
Stated in context: "WHDT is the only area station who's HD signal is entitled to carriage on cable TV under 'must carry' rules." Such cable TV carriage falls under the additional condition of the DTV Report & Order that the station's primary signal not be degraded below that quality of any other programming currently being offered on a cable TV system.

As soon as a cable system offers one HD signal on a tier, the HD signal of WHDT must be carried as well. Adelphia has been permitted to downconvert the HD signal of WHDT under a special year-by-year 'waiver' which was granted by the FCC and by WHDT specifically due to its financial situation. Now that Comcast will assume operation of the system, WHDT's HD carriage rights will require carriage of WHDT's non-degraded HD signal.

ALL area full service stations have the identical HD carriage right as soon as they cease operation of their analog transmission. A television station's cable carriage 'right' ports over to its DTV channel at that time because the legal designation of 'television station' is only then transferred to the DTV signal. This distinction is why cable companies are not required to carry the DTV signals of stations who continue to broadcast in analog. The legal designation of 'television station' resides only with ONE of the two channels being operated.

This is the underlying issue which WHDT established at the FCC when it became the first digital "television station" in the nation (In the legal sense, that is) by operating without an analog emission.

In a word yes. There is no reason that you shouldn't receive all of the local digital channels perfectly with the proper antenna. It just depends on how sophisticated you want to get. You may have to experiment a bit, but it isn't that difficult or expensive ( in comparison to cable or satellite charges ). Start off with one antenna ( the easiest is the RS UHF Yagi because it is cheap, small, returnable and should work). Don't worry about combiners, splitters, filters, A/B switches, pre-amps, rotators and other devices unless you can't achieve success with a simple antenna. If you want research these devices you should like at the long antenna section on the hardware page of this forum.

First of all, thanks a million to you Joel and NR4P for all the help you are giving me. Either of you guys wouldn't happen to have a model number or a link to which antenna it is your talking about? I did some searching and I have come up with this RS antenna (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103088&cp=2032057&pg=2&f=Taxonomy%2FRSK%2F2032057&categoryId=2032057&kw=antenna&kwCatId=2032057&parentPage=search) for the price you spoke of. Is that it? Joel, so you are saying that just the antenna (you suggested) in my attic straight to the receiver with no splitters, filter, combiners, or anything and I should get a very reliable signal for all the locals?

ryjam, I agree with Joel. Where you live isn't all that far from me and I have one of those RS UHF yagi antennas. You are so close to the towers to the west (you can see them) that you should get some signal off the side, as I do. Its only about $25 and returnable.

I have the UHF 17 element model (count the horizontal elements, not the back reflectors), pointed slightly east of south. About 175 degrees. But what I've done is not put the rear reflectors one (the two side pieces that you have to assemble). This way with the ant pointed at Dade, I get the Dade stations. And the rear is facing 25 and 34 without the reflector to block the signals from the rear. Now, since I'm so close to the towers to the west as you are, I found a great spot at about 175 degrees that still allows plenty of signal for digital 5, 12, 29 and 42. Even though 12/13 is VHF, we are both so close, it's OK with this ant.

I have a 25db Channel Master VHF/UHF pole mounted amp at the antenna and all is outside. Small enough so it can't be seen from the street.

If you wish to keep yours in the attic, I'd try this in this order.
1. Get the UHF antenna as Joel suggested, and point it NORTH (slightly west) to 25 and 34. See what performance you get from the other stations to your west too. Turn, tweek, play a little bit. You may get all the networks and be done. You may not get Dade stns but if you get all the local ones, so be it.
2. If the above fails, try adding an amp. A good one as close to the ant as possible, not a lousy one from RS. What you need to focus on is gain (around 15-25 db) with a low noise figure. If the noise figure is 6 db and the the gain is 15 db, it's a waste of money. You don't want any noise. A db or 2 is about it.

It's a bit of experimentation with your close proximity to the west towers but at 90 degrees from other stations you want. People that live in s. palm beach county have it a bit easier. THey can go north/south and be done. You have the west as well as north/south to worry about.

Good luck and be careful


NR4, thanks again for the install help and I would like your input on the above questions as well. Also, is there really a big difference to putting it outside on the roof v.s. putting it in the attic. I would prefer to keep it in the attic but if I have to I have too yano. Get back to me on these questions and it looks at if I may be heading to Radio Shack soon to get a new antenna. Thanks again and look forward to hearing from you two.

Ryan

Ryan, the antenna is very similar to what I have, just a bit smaller. I don't think that mine is for sale anymore at RS. I believe mine was a U-90 or U-120. When you get the antenna, try it in the attic, it might work. Point it north/northwest at 25 and 34 and see how it works.

IMPORTANT after every antenna movement, have your tv or set top box re-map all channels automatically. This is VERY important. After EVERY antenna change or movement have a scan or search done or the new channels that the antenna can see won't come in.

If you also get 5, 12, 29 etc. then your done. If you get everything but some are occasionally pixelated, then an amp should help. (Amps do best as close as possible to the antenna, but then power can be a problem unless it's line powered for outdoor use).

If you get 25 and 34 but NOT 5, 12 or 29 (after remapping), try the antenna without the two top/bottom pieces. They add considerable directivity to the antenna. But then you will lose a bit of 25 and 34. So recheck that.

Yes, outside is far superior to in the attic for many reasons. Nails in the roof, a/c vents, wiring, all degrade attic performance. Even worse if your roof is tile. And when it's wet, it does degrade the signal.

Unfortunately due to your location near the local towers, it will be some trial and error. A slight turn left or right will have a big effect on the 5, 12 etc channels. In the end, it will be worth it. But it's a headache due to your location.

the antenna (you suggested) in my attic straight to the receiver with no splitters, filter, combiners, or anything and I should get a very reliable signal for all the locals? RyanThat's the antenna, but it is the wrong picture as it should be mounted with the elements positiioned horizontially. I didn't say you would get all the locals without any other equipment. I said you should try this first, you will have to experiment. For an attic install, you might need an amplifer for Martin County channels. If you don't want to experiment, put it on your roof with a rotator.

Excellent, thanks a million guys. I will post in the future when I have it all set or if I have anymore questions..

Ryan

I live in WPB (well close anyway, i actually live in Boynton Beach). I would like for some of you who live in this area to recommend an OTA antenna for me to use in my attic. From reading some different forums it seems as though I should be pointing whichever one I get to North/Northwest. Is this correct as well?

This would be a good place to start - http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=108284&highlight=palm+beach

Better still, I'll merge it.

I live in WPB (well close anyway, i actually live in Boynton Beach). I would like for some of you who live in this area to recommend an OTA antenna for me to use in my attic. From reading some different forums it seems as though I should be pointing whichever one I get to North/Northwest. Is this correct as well?


Well i just went and bought a vu-75xr from RS and will be installing tonight when i get home from work (in the attic). The HR10-250, new dish, and tv will all be here by the middle of next week!! I cannot wait to have all this setup to see how it all looks.

Is there a time frame on when Comcast will be taking over Adelphia in West Palm Beach?

Is there a time frame on when Comcast will be taking over Adelphia in West Palm Beach?

If there is I sure would like to know about it!! That would mean bye bye D* and hello Comcast.

Well i just went and bought a vu-75xr from RS and will be installing tonight when i get home from work (in the attic). The HR10-250, new dish, and tv will all be here by the middle of next week!! I cannot wait to have all this setup to see how it all looks.

That antenna is waaaaaaay to big for my attic. Taking it back today and then I guess I'll order a Silver Sensor online and put it in my attic. Hopefully it will be adequate. I'm close the to the corner of Hypoluxo and Congress.

Stanky - I'm also at Hypoluxo and Congress in the Meadows. I tried one then two Silver Sensors in the attic with out much luck. This has been a couple of years ago so I don"t remember the exact results but I do know that I could never get 25 and 12 was iffy. I resorted to a Square Shooter mounted outside on a rotor.
Aimed due west, 5, 29 and 42 come blasting in. 12, on the other hand, has some serious multipath problems where I live, so have to aim it 20 degrees south of west to get a good signal. For 25, I aim it 25 degrees north of west. The SqS is mounted on my garage next to the dish, and I have had no complaints.

Try the Radio Shack VHF antenna for $25. I think the model is 15-2160. It is small and works very well.

Try the Radio Shack VHF antenna for $25. I think the model is 15-2160. It is small and works very well.

Thanks for the info gentlemen. Now that I think about it I'm pretty sure the part time meathead at RS gave me the wrong item. I was assembling it in the garage and with it completely assembled I couldn't have even got it in the attic. I can only assume that these do not require in the attic assembly?? I am going to take back the one I was given and see if I can find a picture of the 15-2160 online to ensure I get the right one. My wife thinks I have lost my mind!!

Try the Radio Shack VHF antenna for $25. I think the model is 15-2160. It is small and works very well.That's the right code and the antenna he should try, but its a UHF Yagi model U-75R.

Is there a time frame on when Comcast will be taking over Adelphia in West Palm Beach?I was curious about this myself, saw a blurb today. FCC approval a perhaps local approval is still required. The article said the FCC should act soon.

Comcast will be taking over the Adelphia system in WPB in 5 months. There will be a decent HD tier available.

Well i just went and bought a vu-75xr from RS and will be installing tonight when i get home from work (in the attic). The HR10-250, new dish, and tv will all be here by the middle of next week!! I cannot wait to have all this setup to see how it all looks.

The VU-75 xr is a good choice for you.

A silver sensor is a UHF only antenna. It won't be able to get CBS-DT on channel 13.

It sounds like you popped the elements of the VU-75 in place before you carried the antenna to the attic. Try popping the elements back and then carry the antenna into the attic before you unfurl them.

The VU-75 xr is a good choice for you.

A silver sensor is a UHF only antenna. It won't be able to get CBS-DT on channel 13.

It sounds like you popped the elements of the VU-75 in place before you carried the antenna to the attic. Try popping the elements back and then carry the antenna into the attic before you unfurl them.

I'm almost ready to go. I had gotten the wrong UHF yagi from RS and it was huge. I can't remember what the model number was but the one i needed and the bigger one both end in VU-75. The number that means the most is 15-2160, that is the part number for RS. Anyway, it's put together and now I am trying to drop the RG6 line in between the walls from the attic and come out of the phone jack that is right behind the tv (not an easy task). The TV, HR10-250, and the dish will be here next week and I'll see what happens.

This is probably the wrong forum but should I continue beating on the retention dept. @ D* for a "better deal" for the HR10 or should I wait and just lease it in a couple of weeks?

Go to E*. They now have 25 HD channels as little as $49. For $59 you get Sirius music channels as well.

I know this is not a hd question, but I have noticed a problem that I am having with WPTV (channel 5). When I am watching the SD signal through D*, I have noticed for the past week the picture would freeze for about 2 seconds. I have not noticed this on any other SD channel. Has anyone else have this happen to them?

I am using an HR10-250. Thanks.

Strack, where in Lake Worth are you. Western area near Wellington or east near the beach? And what type of antenna? And last but not least, does it ever do this on HD or only SD on Channel 5-1?

It only happens in SD through DirecTV. The HD signal appears to be fine.

Since you haven't given much info, I have to assume that you are watching SD over the satellite (channel 5) and HD (channel 5-1) with the Directv supplied over the air antenna, since theres no local HD over satellite in the area..

Therefore, don't even bother watching channel 5 via satellite. Just watch 5-1 instead and you will be all set. SD will come thru as well as HD via channel 5-1 directly.

NR4P, you missed the whole point of my question. The question I had is to see if anyone else is having the same problem as I am with SD reception on DirecTV with channel 5.

In this problem, where I live is not the issue, what antenna I am using, is not the issue because it is coming from DirecTV, not OTA.

Let's all say a collective prayer that everything goes smoothly with WPBF tonight, we don't want a repeat of the BCS Championship game :)

I hope they get this fixed before the game.

45th and Military.....
Picture good....
brief sound drops......

seattle gettin jobbed by the zebra's

Well I was pleased with WPBF's job on the game. There were some serious audio problems but they all appeared to be national.

Hi everyone, Just jumped on the HDTV bandwagon and had some questions on getting the best OTA Reception. I just got around to putting my antennas back up since Hurricane season. Getting the Super Bowl in HD was enough to end my procrastanating. I have a Channel Master CM3678 Antenna with a Channel Master 7777 Preamp. Im having a hard time picking up WPTV Channel 5 and 5.1 and cant get WPEC 12 or DTV 13 at all. I also have a Channel Master 4228 UHF antenna which I am not using right now. I was wondering if it would help my signal much more if I put the CM4228 up and use twin lead to hook it to the CM3678? Also, how far apart should I keep the antennas away from each other if I do use both of them? I currently have the CM3678 Antenna up about 60 Ft and I am in the Vero Beach area.

You might want to scroll back to 12/18/05 in this forum to find out what one of your neighbors is successfully doing.

Thanks, Checked the 12-18-05 thread. Wow! He is getting that kind of reception with his CM 4228 in the attic. That is impresive. Think Ill be putting mine up now.
Vero Beach seems to be in a black hole where OTA reception is concerned.

Ok here's my situation.

New HD tv set to arrive this Friday. I have a RS yagi antenna in the attic ready to go. I have D* right now but can't get the tuner and dish I need for HD for less than $400. We also have basic cable provided (Adelphia I think) by paying our HOA fees. D*'s retention department has irritated me to no end by not giving me what I need for HD for less money. I have already spent a ton of money and can't really afford another $400 plus out of pocket right now. What is everyone else using for HD reception and what equipment do you have? I am at the corner of Hypoluxo and Congress in Boynton Lakes. I need an HD provider and all the equipment that comes with it for a minimal initial hit. Oh yeah, did I mention my wife is a Tivo freak? Is it possible to have D* (I know this is possible with the HR10-250) , Adelphia, or E* and still have a dual tuner Tivo that works the way it does now? Pause one tuner, change to the other one, come back and your show is still paused waiting for you. I am looking forward the getting this resolved ASAP so give me some good opinions and I'll either drop D* like a bad habit or try and resolve my issues with them.

Stanky,
For the TiVo freak the HR10-250 is nirvana. I say make the wife happy and pop the $400 for it. The problem is though that D* will be switching the Palm Beach County market over to MPEG4 later this year and that will make the HD-TiVo obsolete. It will still work as it is but it will not be able to receive newer channels. There are other threads in the AVS Forum that discuss what D* may or may not offer in exchange for the HR10-250. Anyway, until D* upgrades PB County you will have to receive the local affiliates HD transmissions via antenna. Your other option is to just take what ever HD receiver D* wants to give you for free, or cheap, and wait until they upgrade.

Stanky,
The problem is though that D* will be switching the Palm Beach County market over to MPEG4 later this year and that will make the HD-TiVo obsolete.

I don't think it will be obsolete at all. It will still be a great 2 tuner OTA recorder and plackback device. Plus, the mpeg4 switch gives me the excuse to start "tinkering" with it when it no longer works on satellite.

I agree with pohnl. It remains to be seen what if any use MPEG4 will be when local digital OTA reception is at least as good as D* can provide. And is free to boot.

....... Plus, the mpeg4 switch gives me the excuse to start "tinkering" with it when it no longer works on satellite.

You mean you have not "tinkered" with yours yet? ;)

I didn't mean "Obsolete" as in not useful any more. The HD TiVo will work fine for years probably without having to upgrade to the newer MPEG4 receivers (as long as the hard drive(s) keep working). As far as D* is concerned though the HR10-250 will be (is) "obsolete".

Alright then.....for now I will stick with D* and cough up the dough for the HR10-250. I will also be receiving a brand new shiny 2 year contract with my new purchase. I hope this tuner will take me that far. :)

Thought I would post some kudos to channel 5. While the Saturday afternoon programming on 5-1 has been in HD. Channel 6 NBC Miami had it all in SD with those annoying HDTV blue bars on the sides.

For a change, West Palm Beach had better performance than Miami.
Nice to see (literally)

.......For a change, West Palm Beach had better performance than Miami.
Nice to see (literally)

I agree. So far I like what I see. Even some of the commercials are being broadcast in HD.

5.1 is fine but having reception problems.
6.1 is fine for SD commercials 2 channel is fine. When it switches to HD Olympics the center audio is almost not there.

Any one else ?

I watched 5.1 for a couple of hours on Sat night. Audio was in Dolby 2.0, and I had periods of video freezing even though the signal strength was very good. Disappointing.

Yes Joel. I gave them credit too soon.
Noticed the occasional video freezing too.

You have to wonder if anyone from WPTV even owns an HDTV and watches their broadcasts?

At least the live skiing and hockey on Universal HD during the day were very clean via DTV.

Hit the send button too soon.
Checking other forums for HDTV found that many cities are experiencing same problems OTA. From Grand Rapids...."HD feed from NBC tonight has breakups. The blizzard on the East Coast is the cause. They managed to move the analog feed to Burbank, but don't have the extra capacity to move HD there. "

Could be reason by NBC 6 Miami stayed in SD for a more stable feed. Hope that the blizzard passes through quickly.

1. Do any of you use Adelphia for HD?

2. Would you recommend it?

3. I am currently with D* but don't want a two contract extension if I upgrade to their HD. I am also hearing that D* doesn't offer much HD content.

4. Does this HD tuner from Adelphia (DCT6412) have dual tuners. We need to be able to pause or record on one tuner and watch on the other and then go back and resume the paused program. I guess I'm asking if it's like Tivo in that respect.

5. I can't find a list of their HD channel line up. Anyone have a link?

I thought Dave told us that WPTV would have Dobly Digital 5.1 for the Olympics - or were at least trying. Anyone know of any updates on WPTV's plans for 5.1 support? Any info/update would be appreciated.

1. Do any of you use Adelphia for HD?

2. Would you recommend it?

3. I am currently with D* but don't want a two contract extension if I upgrade to their HD. I am also hearing that D* doesn't offer much HD content.

4. Does this HD tuner from Adelphia (DCT6412) have dual tuners. We need to be able to pause or record on one tuner and watch on the other and then go back and resume the paused program. I guess I'm asking if it's like Tivo in that respect.

5. I can't find a list of their HD channel line up. Anyone have a link?

Try E*. They have 25 HD channels with more on the way. I think the new 622 receiver/DVR does what you are looking for.

I was informed the other day that corporate has to sign off on the purchase of equipment that would upgrade the audio to 5.1. For now Pro Logic II will have to do.

When did Adelphia start offering the DCT6412 in West Palm Beach?

When did Adelphia start offering the DCT6412 in West Palm Beach?

After further review.....They don't. If they did I would have gone with them. The CSR at Adelphia tried to convince me that the 8300HD is much better anyway. It's not the receiver I want so I said thanks but no thanks. I think after much debating on who to use for HD service I am dropping D* and moving on over E* and getting the vip622. Anyone have any useful thoughts or opinions on using E* here in South Florida?

If you want a lot of HD variety, (I think) E* is the very best option right now in South Florida. It is great to have so many HD channels. E* is the next best thing to the (now defunct) Voom satt service. I think the only other way to get so much HD content is via the (really) big dishes.

I was a D* sub for about 10 years. I had Adelphia digital for just a little while. Then, I had Voom for about a year. Voom was the best for HD. If it still existed, I'd still be with them.

D* was (perhaps is still?) a very frustrating exercise in hoping & waiting (relentless hope that new national HD channels are coming, waiting for some key date tied to some somewhat logical-sounding new satt/new hardware/"after Sunday Ticket bandwith is freed up"/etc. rumor, being disappointed when that date/event passes with no new HD additions, AND THEN it all starts over again).

Adelphia is still Adelphia.

If you can't go big dish, E* seems to be the clear and obvious King of (national) HD channel selection.

HIDEF DAVE
Last week and again tonight, audio slightly (200-500ms) out of sync on 12-1. Tonight it was King of Queens. Every time it happens I check WFOR 4-1 and its fine.

Seems to happen every few weeks.

Thanks. I have notified the engineer responsible for WPEC-DT. We don't see a peoblem here this morning and we didn't see a problem last night. What receiver are you using?

Have a few receivers. Toshiba with ATSC tuner, Sharp with ATSC tuner and DTV HDTV tuners. When I see it on one, I check at least one other. Monday night it was on both the Sharp and Toshiba (didn't check the DTV) during King of Queens. Have seen it only during HD shows, never during SD or local news.

Just checked NCIS and its all in sync. So whatever was done today, thank you.

HELLO FOLKS, Its been about a year with out any input to site. I finally have a new log in. Several folks have asked about 5.1 audio on 5-1. Good news is the equipment has been ordered and will install in the coming weeks. Dave

Good news. Now how long for the rest of the studio equipment to be converted for HD News? :D

Additional 24 Local HD Markets Revealed by DirecTV

Late Wednesday, DirecTV named the next 24 markets that will receive local HD channels from its expanding high-def service.
The markets are: Baltimore, Birmingham, Ala., Charlotte, Cleveland, Columbus, Denver, Fresno, Calif., Hartford, Conn., Indianapolis, Kansas City, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, Orlando, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, N.C., Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Seattle, St. Louis, and West Palm Beach, Fla.

What's up with WPTV in HD on Adelphia. There was even a commercial during the apprentice "This program is being brought to you in HD by Brandsmart USA." Yet the Apprentice was in SD. Also, the closing ceremonies weren't even broadcast on the HD Channel. I had to watch it on the SD channel 3.

The Apprentice has never been in HD to my knowledge. I think the Brands Mart commercial was an error.

Anyone know if Verizon FiOS will be available in the Boynton Beach area anytime soon?

Anyone know if Verizon FiOS will be available in the Boynton Beach area anytime soon?When Verizon buys Bellsouth there might be a chance, other then that zero.

WPTV DT. Commercial ran in error. Closing Olympic Ceremonies were in HD. Dave

I beg to disagree with you.

I believe ManOfSnow is closer to the mark.

On Adelphia HD Channel 704 in primetime the Closing Olympics
coverage had frozen picture, distorted audio or no signal.

It actually caused my Adelphia SA8300 HD DVR box to crash and reboot.

I called the news room at 11.30pm hoping that it could be fixed for
the repeat showing scheduled later that night.

The newsroom receptionist admitted that there had been digital technical problems earlier that evening.

I recorded the repeat show and luckily by the time of the fancy dancing
and singing at the end of the show normal service was resumed.

I believe it was not an Adelphia problem but an NBC local or national problem.

With an OTA antenna, closing cermonies on channel 5-1 were fine. Perhaps Adelphia had problems but OTA was great.

I stand corrected. It is difficult to really know what is going on.
All I know is that I had no picture on channel 704 until the early hours of the
morning. All the other Adelphia HD channels were fine.

When most of the local networks broadcast HDTV it is in
the evening and we have no technical phone number to
call. The main switchboards are usually closed by 6pm.
The newsroom usually passes on the information but that is
not really their focus. Maybe this time the receptionist had
been talking earlier with Adelphia customers.

The chances are with Adelphia that you will be talking to
a 1-800 operator in another part of the country that just wants
to schedule a cable guy to come round in a few days.

Does anybody know of a LOCAL "technical" number to
call Adelphia on to find out the status or inform them
of problems with a specific local channel ?

I think we are switching to Adelphia for our HD and internet and want some opinions from people who have it. I guess I will get the Adelphia SA8300 for the tuner. I am currently with D* but our box from them is having audio problems and it's out of warranty and they have completely pissed me off with their lack of competiveness.

1. Do you like your Adelphia Cable HD service?
2. How will the SA 8300 compare to our dual tuner tivo? Will we be able to pause one tuner and then go to the other tuner and resume the show we had paused on it?
3. Is the SA8300 reliable for great reception and performance?
4. Does an OTA antenna hook up to the SA8300 if you want to?
5. Hopefully their hardware will work well enough so I don't have to deal with their CSR's on a regular basis.

WPTV is now in Dolby Digital!!

In answer to Stanky's first 3 questions.

1. We have had the SA8300 HD DVR box for nearly 18 months now and are happier now than when we started. Adelphia now has local CBS and FOX in HD.
Initially we only had local NBC and ABC in HD.

The channels like Discovery HD (which you get with the HD Plus package) give you many more channel choices than with strictly OTA.

We also subscribe to the Ultimate Package. This gives us HBO HD, Starz HD and
Showtime HD along with all the standard digital premium and On-Demand channels.

We also use Adelphia for internet access and according to my bill my packages
save me over $50 per month.

2. If you record two channels simultaneously you can do what you describe.
I think there is only one buffer (of 1 hour) so if you just flip channels without recording them I think you would have to rewind.

3. The box did crash a lot for the first few months, but software updates have
now made it very reliable. Unless of course you get a frozen signal from the
local network feed or Adelphia. In some cases, rewinding with this kind of
garbled feed may cause the box to crash and reboot. This is luckily quite rare.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

i) I also have a Series 2 analog TiVo and the 8300 box is not as user friendly
as TiVo. The ability to record HD though more than makes up for any shortcomings.
The worst thing is being booted out of a show when the shows "real"recording end time is reached. You have to rewind or fast forward to get to where you were before. So we often will wait until a show has been completely recorded before we begin to watch it. This is no big deal, we usually watch the shows a few days
later anyway. Season pass manager functions are limited and wishlist/searching is very limited and frankly unusable. Since these are software based rather than hardware based things will likely improve in the future.

ii) I live in Port St Lucie in a development where basic cable is already factored
in as part of the HOA maintenance fee. We are so far away from the NBC and
CBS towers that we would need an elevated directional antenna or similar to
pick up those 2 OTA. I don't like crawling about in sweltering attic spaces either.

I just like technology to be easy to use and to work correctly.

And we LOVE HD !

In answer to Stanky's first 3 questions.

1. We have had the SA8300 HD DVR box for nearly 18 months now and are happier now than when we started. Adelphia now has local CBS and FOX in HD.
Initially we only had local NBC and ABC in HD.

The channels like Discovery HD (which you get with the HD Plus package) give you many more channel choices than with strictly OTA.

We also subscribe to the Ultimate Package. This gives us HBO HD, Starz HD and
Showtime HD along with all the standard digital premium and On-Demand channels.

We also use Adelphia for internet access and according to my bill my packages
save me over $50 per month.

2. If you record two channels simultaneously you can do what you describe.
I think there is only one buffer (of 1 hour) so if you just flip channels without recording them I think you would have to rewind.

3. The box did crash a lot for the first few months, but software updates have
now made it very reliable. Unless of course you get a frozen signal from the
local network feed or Adelphia. In some cases, rewinding with this kind of
garbled feed may cause the box to crash and reboot. This is luckily quite rare.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

i) I also have a Series 2 analog TiVo and the 8300 box is not as user friendly
as TiVo. The ability to record HD though more than makes up for any shortcomings.
The worst thing is being booted out of a show when the shows "real"recording end time is reached. You have to rewind or fast forward to get to where you were before. So we often will wait until a show has been completely recorded before we begin to watch it. This is no big deal, we usually watch the shows a few days
later anyway. Season pass manager functions are limited and wishlist/searching is very limited and frankly unusable. Since these are software based rather than hardware based things will likely improve in the future.

ii) I live in Port St Lucie in a development where basic cable is already factored
in as part of the HOA maintenance fee. We are so far away from the NBC and
CBS towers that we would need an elevated directional antenna or similar to
pick up those 2 OTA. I don't like crawling about in sweltering attic spaces either.

I just like technology to be easy to use and to work correctly.

And we LOVE HD !

Awesome. Thanks for the feedback. Now that I have spoke with a CSR at Adelphia I have another question. How do the analog channels look as far as picture quality? Does the SA8300 help them to look better?

I don't think that any box can improve an analog
picture.

I do notice more color whilst watching analog channels
on the SA8300 compared to via my standalone Series 2 TiVo.

However, that is probably due to using component cabling
rather than coaxial, composite or S-video between my devices.

WPTV is now in Dolby Digital!!
Wonderful, but now there is this horible buzzing sound on Conan right now. Figures WPTV can't implement something right....

Wonderful, but now there is this horible buzzing sound on Conan right now. Figures WPTV can't implement something right....

I'm glad that you said something, I thought maybe it was just me. It was like that all night.

I feed the WPTV 5.1 audio through an old Technics
Dolby Digital decoder since my receiver is from 1998
and does not do decoding.

It has a display which shows if it is getting a dolby digital
or a dolby pro logic signal. Until tonight it has always shown
digital for Adelphia channels over 100, that is the "digital cable"
channels and the Digital/HDTV channels in the range 700-799.
The analog channels below 100 has always shown dolby pro logic.

Since Friday evening with WPTV 5.1 it is showing the logo's for
both signals. Perhaps audio distortion is confusing my Technics box.
Or perhaps they are managing to send two audio signals simultaneously ?

Weird.......

when it was distorting, it was not dolby digital. So perhaps the screwy way they hooked it up, it only doesn't distort when they flip to DD?

WPTV is now in Dolby Digital!!

I hadn't been monitoring this thread for a while, I'll have to check it out tonight on Medium.

It wasn't in DD last night, the equipment must've broke already. It's curse for being installed at WPTV. the audio was buzzing friday...

Just to clear up some semantics:

All DTV stations in the US broadcast Dolby Digital at all times. It's the required standard.

What's different about WPTV-DT now is that they are apparently experimenting with sending Dolby Digital 5.1 on shows that it's available on instead of sending Dolby Surround via Dolby Digital 2.0, which has been the case up until now. Give them some time to get things right.

Does anyone know what they are doing at Adelphia. I see that all of the 02 - 99 channels are showing up in the guide also as 802 - 899. When you click on them it tells you to view you must subscribe. Are they testing digital versions of the 02 - 99 analog channels? Thanks for the info. Also, anyone had problems with NBC HD last Thursday and Friday. My West Wing on the HDDVR was unwatchable. Bummer.

Not showing up in my guide but they could by testing digital simulcast in some areas. No new channels are showing up on a QAM scan but Discovery HD is still unencrypted.

I'm still mad that they took WSVN off and have some stupid DVR informercial playing on channel 22. What a waste.

I wonder why Adelphia can't map those digital channels on top of the analog numbers, so you don't have 2 sets of numbers, maybe they will be working on that

I had the Adelphia guy at my house in Wellington yesterday. I had complained that the HD channels were locking up and pixelating really bad. That Sopranos premiere was really messd up the first fifteen minutes. And that movies on HDMVS kept freezing. He said it was some work they were doing on the system, and it should have cleared up by now. He said my signal strengths were textbook correct. We'll see.

Can you guys use the HDMI output? I have the 8300HD DVR.

I called Adelphia today regarding the addition of the analog to digital channels on the channel guide. She knew nothing.

My guide is the same as always. Doesn't look like anything has changed and I checked through the whole thing. Maybe they were just testing something the day it happened to you.

The real issue for me is when are the going to roll out ESPN2HD, I mean the signed the contract over a year ago. MLB is coming soon and College Football is coming (not soon enough).

I also can't figure why we don't have Cinemax HD, many other Adelphia markets seem to have it.

All 802-879 are still in my guide as of this morning. I know the Adelphia lineup is different in different areas, anyone else in Boynton-Lake Worth see these channels?

All 802-879 are still in my guide as of this morning. I know the Adelphia lineup is different in different areas, anyone else in Boynton-Lake Worth see these channels?

I'm in Greenacres, I see them too. I called Adelphia last night and asked what was up? They told me there were no channels in that range. I said I was looking at them while I was talking. They then said it was probably an error. Anyone surprised at this response?

Anybody have a problem with CBS's The Unit from this week (episode 3)? I TIVO'ed it off from 12-1 and when I went to play it today, only the surrounds came through, but no voice. I'm really disappointed, and would love an explanation if someone knows what happened.

most likely the show was Dobly Digital 5.1 but WPEC didn't flip over from being in DD 2.0 so you only got the left and right tracks

Yeah that's the likely explanation. So do we have a name/email that we can send a nice "thanks alot" to, since now I'm totally out on what happened? Also, for whatever reason - the Closed Captioning didn't come through either, so I couldn't even view it in 'foreign film' mode.

Thanks.

Went to their website and found a link for HDTV feedback/questions, and sent this:

Folks,

What happened with this week's "The Unit" broadcast? I HD TIVO'ed this from 12-1, and went to watch it today, and had no audio (or very little - I could hear some surround, but no voices). Did someone forget to flip a switch, or something more serious than that?

Please let me know - this is not the way to keep viewers.

Has anyone on Adelphia been getting dropouts, pixelazation and sound loss like I have for the past week? It appears to be worse during prime time.

Has anyone on Adelphia been getting dropouts, pixelazation and sound loss like I have for the past week? It appears to be worse during prime time.

Any particular channel? I have been getting occasional pixelization from Over-The-Air WFLX-DT 29-1 that is not due to low signal on my HD-TiVo. Since no one else has posted anything about it I chalked it up to signal interference.

Any particular channel? I have been getting occasional pixelization from Over-The-Air WFLX-DT 29-1 that is not due to low signal on my HD-TiVo. Since no one else has posted anything about it I chalked it up to signal interference.

All HD and most digital channels. I was thinking it may be due to bandwidth as it gets worse during prime time and afternoon ball games when more people are watching. A friend of mine has been having the same problem in another area. Adelphia is coming tomorrow and ,hopefully, I will at least receive an honest answer if this is a system wide problem which I suspect it is.

All HD and most digital channels. I was thinking it may be due to bandwidth as it gets worse during prime time and afternoon ball games when more people are watching.
TV isn't affected by more people watching. That occurs with cable internet. You most likely have a low signal and/or noise level.

You can load up the SA diagnostic screen and check your power level and signal to noise ratio. First tune to a digital channel then hold down the "pause" button on your remote for about 10 seconds till the mail light turns on on the front of your box. Then hit the page up button.

Push the page up button till you get to page 5, there is a column of stats on the right side titled Current QAM. You want to check out the Level and S/N values. It's best to have the Level at least 0 or above and S/N 34 or higher. Change to different channels so you can check your levels on different frequencies.

When your values get below the values mentioned above, you may experience errors in the data stream and thus your picture and sound problems.

Went to their website and found a link for HDTV feedback/questions, and sent this:

Folks,

What happened with this week's "The Unit" broadcast? I HD TIVO'ed this from 12-1, and went to watch it today, and had no audio (or very little - I could hear some surround, but no voices). Did someone forget to flip a switch, or something more serious than that?

Please let me know - this is not the way to keep viewers.

The Audio Engineer for WPEC, Dave McRoy, is a member of this board. If we are lucky he will recitify the problem. I am switching one of my two HD TiVos to WFOR as a back up.

The Audio Engineer for WPEC, Dave McRoy, is a member of this board. If we are lucky he will recitify the problem. I am switching one of my two HD TiVos to WFOR as a back up.

No reply from the email - sad.

Anybody have a problem with CBS's The Unit from this week (episode 3)? I TIVO'ed it off from 12-1 and when I went to play it today, only the surrounds came through, but no voice. I'm really disappointed, and would love an explanation if someone knows what happened.

We have no record of there having been any problems with this broadcast. May I infer from the fact that you are the only forum member to confirm a problem that no one else experienced difficulty?

most likely the show was Dobly Digital 5.1 but WPEC didn't flip over from being in DD 2.0 so you only got the left and right tracks

This procedure is completely automated. Our encoder is switched by the network when we're carrying CBS programming, so our master control operators don't have to take any action that determines whether we are sending DD 2.0 or DD 3/2.1 (aka DD 5.1.)

We have no record of there having been any problems with this broadcast. May I infer from the fact that you are the only forum member to confirm a problem that no one else experienced difficulty?

Yes, you may, although it doesn't explain the issue. Thank you David - I appreciate the response!

This procedure is completely automated. Our encoder is switched by the network when we're carrying CBS programming, so our master control operators don't have to take any action that determines whether we are sending DD 2.0 or DD 3/2.1 (aka DD 5.1.)

This is good to know. Why is it sometimes when a broadcast returns from commercial it takes a few seconds to snap back into HD? Is this a case where a switch is getting thrown locally? I've noticed this, not necessarily with WPEC, from time to time.

We have no record of there having been any problems with this broadcast. May I infer from the fact that you are the only forum member to confirm a problem that no one else experienced difficulty?


I also experienced this problem. I recorded the show on my HDTivo and after seeing the problem posted here I checked my recording and noted the problem as described.

I also experienced this problem. I recorded the show on my HDTivo and after seeing the problem posted here I checked my recording and noted the problem as described.

The plot thickens...

I also had the same problem with this episode of the Unit. Sad because it looked like a great episode.

David McRoy -

Sorry for the late reply ... I also had the exact same issue with the episode of the Unit where none of the voice audio was playing.

thanks

Forgive me if this has already been covered- I couldn't find a definitive answer myself. Is the HD signal in Adelphia cable unencrypted QAM or something else? Thanks for the answer!

I've had some issues with OTA audio recently on my Dish receiver. after a reboot it works fine. FYI

Forgive me if this has already been covered- I couldn't find a definitive answer myself. Is the HD signal in Adelphia cable unencrypted QAM or something else? Thanks for the answer!
Local channels are in the clear. Discovery HD Theater is as well for me at least.

As was noted all locals and DiscoveryHD are unencrypted, as well as all of the digital music channels. I have verified this in more than 10 locations when installing CableCard TV's and being able to tune in all those channels without a cable card. I can also tune these channels at home with a Fusion5 card in one of my pcs.

First time to this forum so that's why this post is so late, but I too had the same problem with that episode of The Unit. Only had audio in my rear speakers...

Had the same thing happen during an Episode of My Name Is Earl on WPTVDT and ever since then they haven't been running in Digital, just generic pro logic, according to my A/V Receiver at least which picks up the type of signal and displays it.

I had the same problem with the sound for the Unit. I haven't been checking in on this thread for a while and I wish I had when the problem happened.

As was noted all locals and DiscoveryHD are unencrypted, as well as all of the digital music channels. I have verified this in more than 10 locations when installing CableCard TV's and being able to tune in all those channels without a cable card. I can also tune these channels at home with a Fusion5 card in one of my pcs.


Adelphia must have changed things recently. I lost the locals in HD, Discovery HD, and the music channels sometime in the last week. I do not have a CableCard on my TV, mainly because I use DirecTV. I have Adelphia because it part of my HOA.

This morning none of the channels were coming in on my TV except the analog channels, when I had my TV do a scan, it did not put any of the digital channels in its memory.

Is anyone else having this problem? Around 7:30 at night on Adelphia HD DVR channel 704 WPTV, we get a sound test. It says something like testing front speaker and then there is a tone. It does this for a few minutes every night and the stops. It is only on channel 704, because if I change channels it isn't doing it. When I go back to 704, it is still on. Anybody else notice this?

That's what the NBC Network airs on their HD Signal when not showing programming...

I've caught it before...

WPTV had the switched flipped to the NBC HD Network, instead of simulcasting their SD programming

Thanks for the answer bgall. It was really frustrating me. Why is it always WPTV that has the problems? It just seems like they are snake bit.

Well, sweet - yesterday I spoke with someone who just signed up with DirecTV. I was amazed to hear that they got the new 5 block dish, and an HDTV receiver for $99 (with a 2 year committment). I wasn't aware the new dish service was available in my area yet, let alone at $99. So, I called them yesterday, they gave me the $99 deal, plus upgraded my other HDTV receiver for an add'l $99, and install is on Monday. Fantastic !

I think you could have gotten Dish for that or less and they have 25 HD channels excluding your locals. They are adding HGTV HD in the next couple weeks and Food HD in June. No Sunday Ticket though.

Dish may or may not have had a better deal, but I have been satisfied with DirecTV, and $200 for a new dish, two new HD tuners, and installation is a very fair price, regardless.

I had the same problem with the sound for the Unit. I haven't been checking in on this thread for a while and I wish I had when the problem happened.

Response time on this issue is very sluggish...

Dish may or may not have had a better deal, but I have been satisfied with DirecTV, and $200 for a new dish, two new HD tuners, and installation is a very fair price, regardless.

I agree I was a subscriber for many years. Enjoy!

Well, install went OK with the new DirecTV service. The new dish is bigger and heavier, it now sits on a fat pole in my yard, about 5 feet off the ground. Combining in my antenna signal was a real challenge - they don't make a switch for these things yet that has an antenna input. We ended up splitting my antenna signal into 4 and putting a combiner in place on each line. That led to too great a signal loss for a couple runs, so I had to add an amp. Ugh. All is well that ends well, I suppose.

Well, install went OK with the new DirecTV service. The new dish is bigger and heavier, it now sits on a fat pole in my yard, about 5 feet off the ground. Combining in my antenna signal was a real challenge - they don't make a switch for these things yet that has an antenna input. We ended up splitting my antenna signal into 4 and putting a combiner in place on each line. That led to too great a signal loss for a couple runs, so I had to add an amp. Ugh. All is well that ends well, I suppose.
Why the new antenna? What do you get now that you didn't have before?

Why the new antenna? What do you get now that you didn't have before?

When DirecTV implements MPEG4 and locals in HD the 5-LNB dish will be necessary. If you live in a market where you receive all DT stations Over-The-Air (like South Florida) then you do not really need it. Estimates are that it will be years before DirecTV adds new programming in the MPEG4 CODEC other than HD locals.

I don't have a new antenna, I have a new dish, same old antenna. When DirecTV turns on the new features, I will have more HD channels via satellite.

Last night ( Tuesday ) D* blacked out this game. Did anyone with the Adelphia baseball package notice if the game was available?

I don't have a new antenna, I have a new dish, same old antenna. When DirecTV turns on the new features, I will have more HD channels via satellite.Thanks for the reply, I was referring to your satellite antenna.

I've been a D* subscriber for nearly 10 years and have followed their progress from a single feedhorn dish to two, then three (which I use) and now 5. With the antenna size getting larger each time. For me, the three feedhorn dish was necessary because I wanted their HDTV transmissions. Since I have a conventional antenna in my attic, I don't need D*'s carriage of local channels. I'll be watching the MPEG4 transition to see if it is ever in my advantage to go to the MPEG4 systems.

Well, install went OK with the new DirecTV service. The new dish is bigger and heavier, it now sits on a fat pole in my yard, about 5 feet off the ground. When D* first started, they didn't provide antennas or tuners. I ordered an antenna and installed it myself on a pole along side the roof in the back of my house. A few years ago when D* started providing HDTV services I took avantage of their free 3 feedhorn antenna installation. When the installer came to my house he didn't want to put it on my pole as he said it was inadequate. I explained that I had used it for over 5 years with no problem, and he reluctantly agreed to place the new antenna on my pole providing I signed a release. Amazing, they are now using poles.

Well, this is a very substantial pole, and it is only 4 feet high. I had my old 3 LNB dish on a tall skinny pole, and they refused to install on that. I can see why, this new dish is about 50lbs, and if it sat up on a tall wavy pole, I'd have a heck of a time pulling it down for hurricanes.

Last night ( Tuesday ) D* blacked out this game. Did anyone with the Adelphia baseball package notice if the game was available?

MLB EI?

D-Rays and Marlins games are blackout in Florida regardless if you can get the game locally.

Well, this is a very substantial pole, and it is only 4 feet high. I had my old 3 LNB dish on a tall skinny pole, and they refused to install on that. I can see why, this new dish is about 50lbs, and if it sat up on a tall wavy pole, I'd have a heck of a time pulling it down for hurricanes.I didn't realize the new dish was so heavy. Definitely not suitable for a Florida roof. If D* doesn't come up with something better, they will have a difficult time competing with fiber-optic cable when it becomes available.

MLB EI?

D-Rays and Marlins games are blackout in Florida regardless if you can get the game locally.That may be true, but I have watched both of them on D*.

Joel - the new dish can be roof mounted, but it can't just be slapped up on the facia with two bolts like the little dishes usually are. My uncle has his mounted on the side of his house, right on the cement block. I did not have this option due to trees and my roof line.

Say - I just started to receive channel 12-1 again last night, first time since the hurricanes. I have not changed my wiring nor adjusted my antenna. Is this just me, or has anyone else noticed anything different with 12 ?

I've been getting 12-1 fine with the rest.

The problem that remains for me is I get them all but 5-1, if I adjust my antenna to get 5-1 I loose the rest?

Is this something an antenuator could fix?

I've been getting 12-1 fine with the rest.

The problem that remains for me is I get them all but 5-1, if I adjust my antenna to get 5-1 I loose the rest?

Is this something an antenuator could fix?If you specify your location ( Orlando is indicated ) and your antenna, perhaps someone could help.

bgall - I have the same issue. I get 5-1, but badly. If I adjust my antenna, I can get it very well, but then other channels start breaking up. I just gave up on 5, and watch 6 out of Miami instead. There is less compromise that way - I only lose 5 and 25 by pusing slightly southward of optimal for 5. If I optimize to get 5 and 25, I lose all of Miami. I'm not willing to go with a rotor (too lazy to run the wiring in my very tight attic).

MLB EI?

D-Rays and Marlins games are blackout in Florida regardless if you can get the game locally.D* says the network is blacking out games not them. I sent NESN (Red Sox network) an e-mail explaining that they were blacking out games that are not on the DRay local blackout zip code list. It may be a coincidence, but Thursday's DRay-RedSox game was not blacked out on NESN. It was also carried as separate telecasts on Fox Sports FL and ESPN, neither of which was blacked out.

Hi. I am new to this forum. Been following it for a few months. I had heard that D* would have the palm beach market stations in HD over the Mpeg4 dish by April 22 2006. Does anyone know if this has happened? Is anyone getting it?

Thanks for your help

That has not happened yet. The new date is sometime in June, last I heard.

Not sure how to put the message in the proper place but was able to get here so here goes:

I have a 67" Hitachi RPTV that is is excellent working order. I am downsizing and will not be able to take it with me. I live in Palm City, Fl (near Stuart, FL). This is the first post (or advirtisement) anywhere and I have no idea as to how much or how hard it will be to sell.

I know that "Club Members" can advirtise, and I am trying to figure out how to join, so if someone can point me to the JOIN URL, I will explore that possibility also (becoming a Club member).

Any advise will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Bob

How much ?
How old?
Any burn in ?

I live in wpb and would be intrested....

TJ

Any update on Comcast moving into West Palm and taking over Adelphia? I thought this was happening in Q2 of 2006. As much as I've heard that Comcast sucks, I am interested in more HD channels!!!

Folks,

Not sure ho many of you are watching WPLG lately but if you are you notice that they are now stretching their SD content. If you like/dislike this change please provide your comments and send an e-mail to WPLG. There is a discussion on this going on in the Miami forum and WPLG is listening, so if you are like me and want them to go back to 4:3 for SD content please let them know.

A funny thing happened last night. On Jeopardy, Alex Trebeck emerged from the left side of the screen as a little short fat man, but by the time he got to the center of the screen, he had gradually become himself again. WPLG, why oh why are you foisting this travesty upon us. You were one of the first Digital stations in our area and always gave us an undostorted picture. One by one as the new stations came on they tried to stretch their picture, but then finally deceided that it was wrong (with the exception of WPBT, and who knows what they are doing or will do next). Please WPLG, please go back to undistorted video. There is nothing we can do to undistort it, but the TV owners who want to watch distorted video can always do it through their TV. I would like to hear the opinion of the lovely ladies who work as news casters when they see one side of their face ballon out like they had a bad toothache as they approach one side of the screen.
Tony

That's funny, Tony. I don't mind the distortion much, but I do agree the choice should be ours, not theirs. I seem to have also notice at the same time that WPLG's signal is blocking up on me in the evenings a bit. It never used to do this to me. Coincidence ?

Here's a real head-scratcher. With no changes in my setup, all of a sudden I am picking up the elusive (for me in Boca, anyway) 25-1 WPB station. I've never been able to get that before with my antenna orientation. Granted, it is not completely stable, but still. Did they boost their power ? I now get all stations from 2-1 to 69-x (wherever they are) WPB to Miami, with only 5 and 25 anything other than completely stable. Not bad. I'd almost give up pay TV completely.

I think they did. They were operating under a STA for a while and I think now they've switched to their liscensed power. I get between 92-95 on WPBF 25.1 (16) now, the highest WPB station.

But I still wish they'd fix their Dolby Digital encoder. My receiver picks it up as being Dolby 6.1 which is not what it should be, every other station comes out fine, so something is deffinetly aloof

I live in Port st. Lucie and until May 1st I received all the D* hd network feeds from NY. May 1st I lost them and they promised that they would give them back but they have not done so. I am outside the reach of OTA. any ideas would be helpful.

Looks like WPTV DT 55 is dead, I'm getting nothing, zero here.... no medium in HD I guess...

Letterman's lips are half second behind his voice...
Sound sucked on ch. 5 saturday during hockey game....

A friend of mine recently installed a 50" Sony WEGA and invited me over. While the TV is phenominal, it was my first time viewing cable HiDef and the compression (I think) really freaked me out. While watching DISC-HD they were interviewing people in various settings. Since the backgrounds were still, the overall pictures were just stunning, but the person's face kept going soft everytime he would move, then jump to crisp at the end of his movement. It was the most annoying thing I have ever watched.

Is this typical for all cable HD?

Would my OTA HD receiver decode the Adelphia cable unencrypted HD signal if I ran the cable signal to it?

depends if your ota receiver can also decode qam, check the specs

Anyone know what's up with WFLX's HD feed? 29-1 and 29-2 have been down for at least 2 days now, at least no signal here in Lake Worthless.

Anyone know what's up with WFLX's HD feed? 29-1 and 29-2 have been down for at least 2 days now, at least no signal here in Lake Worthless.
I sent the following email to WFLX:

1. Why is WFLX-DT off the air?
2. Why doesn’t WFLX (or any other Palm Beach County broadcaster) place a notice on your Web site announcing the technical difficulties that you are having with your digital broadcast? You do not realize how many people, new to digital TV, do not know if the problem is their equipment or yours. They may begin to unnecessarily adjust their equipment which will make things worse.
3. If I wanted to actually phone someone in engineering, or programming, or anything besides news at WFLX what number would I call? The 848-NEWS number gives many options, mostly for WPEC, but none that fits the “What’s going on?” category.

Thank you and I will post your answers on a local HDTV forum (BLOG) so that I may prevent someone from messing up their equipment.

Anyone know what's up with WFLX's HD feed? 29-1 and 29-2 have been down for at least 2 days now, at least no signal here in Lake Worthless.
Saw this last night myself - good thing 24 wasn't on...

I’m in Boca and the WFLX HD feed was working perfectly fine last night, I am using Adelphia’s HD service via a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300 box.

Jon.

Yes its back online now.

Great - just in time for Storm Survival tonight INSTEAD of the mini-Office marathon. Great!

Wish I got either the waivers or the Miami feeds...

Great - just in time for Storm Survival tonight INSTEAD of the mini-Office marath.

You are talking about WPTV 5-1 (NBC) that has Storm Survival instead of The Office marathon. I agree. Shouldn't we already know that stuff? You wait until just before the first storm gets here and then go buy what's left at the store - right? Just entertain me channel 5, thanks.

Tonight on WFLX Fox 29-1 two hours of "So You Think You Can Dance" - now that's entertainment. :p