Does anyone know the clear QAM channels on Comcast York?

At the end of 2006, Comcast in York seems to have re-encrypted the over-the-air channels. This is a shame because that seemed to be Suscom policy, Comcast put the over the air in the clear late in the year, and now they have back-tracked. I need to re-read the lineup card they sent out last year - although that made no sense because it appeared to say I should get the premium HD (ESPMN, Discovery, etc) if I had a built in digital tuner, but that I would need the addressable converter to receive over the air channels.

[Rant Warning]
I was initially impressed when Comcast put the over-the-air stuff in the clear, but after the massive price increase with a decrease in channels, I am disgusted.

Cable has got to be going the way of music and now the movie industry. Comcast eliminated the soap channel. Last night I noticed my daughter was streaming 480i of her daily soap. The mp3 generation doesn't care about format quality - the writing is on the wall.

Sorry, got caught up in the rant. I get worked up everytime I scan for channels. Today I am getting the following physical channels:

D80 - some preview channel
D81 - NBA preview
D105 - WLYH 15
D110 - WHTM 27
D111 - WHP 21
D113 Fox 43
83-1 and 83-3 some preview channels.

For what it is worth, I am not sure that the local digitals are even high def, I believe they may be standard definition.

Well.. it seems to me that they have just hid them. I found manually entering some of these channels works. I would figure all the hd locals are hidden?
Here are the channels I've found:
80 - On Demand Previews
81 to 89 - Random neighbors' On Demand movies?
110 - ABC27 HD
111 - My 21.2
113 - The Tube (43.2)

The HD locals are listed under basic on the latest lineup..

I agree on the HD channels, except on my MyHD card I am not seeing 21-2, just 21-1. Ok, upon further review something called "Ten" with explicit sex scenes is previewing right now on 86-1...

That would be one of your neighbors watching that On Demand... I think

I lost signal on WGAL 8 OTA. I cant get any signal. Is anyone else having problems with 8?

Hi,

I am new to this HDTV stuff.... I am down in Jacobus and have Comcast HD service. I wanted to see what channels I could capture via my pcHDTV card.-- looking at some of the previous post it looks like only 6 channels are broadcast unencrypted? Is that right?


BTW: I am also interested in OTA (possibly). When I checked out the antenna site, it seemed to suggest I would need an outdoor antenna to get more the 2 stations -- and we are outside the range for stations broadcast out of Baltimore and/or DC (about 60 and 85 miles away). Is this assement correct?


Thanks


Nasa

Hi,

I am new to this HDTV stuff.... I am down in Jacobus and have Comcast HD service. I wanted to see what channels I could capture via my pcHDTV card.-- looking at some of the previous post it looks like only 6 channels are broadcast unencrypted? Is that right?


BTW: I am also interested in OTA (possibly). When I checked out the antenna site, it seemed to suggest I would need an outdoor antenna to get more the 2 stations -- and we are outside the range for stations broadcast out of Baltimore and/or DC (about 60 and 85 miles away). Is this assement correct?


Thanks


Nasa

I live just south of Browns Orchards and I get most of the stations from Baltimore and Washington. In fact, I rarely watch any TV stations from PA, except WGAL on Directv. I have an outside antenna with rotator and hardly ever rotate the antenna to the PA stations. I can't get 27 or 33 at all. I get the following channels from Baltimore and Washington:
2, 4, 7, 9,11,13, 45, 54 and 67 All the networks.
Dale

I lost signal on WGAL 8 OTA. I cant get any signal. Is anyone else having problems with 8?I too lost WGAL on Sat. afternoon, e-mailed station Sunday morning but have heard nothing yet !

I live in central york, on the south side of the hill north of the city. I have a multidirectional antenna in the attic. I can pick up 2, 8, 13, 15, 27, 43, 45, 49, and 54. I kinda wish I could get a PBS.

Looks like a lot more channels available OTA....

Are a lot of these repeats?


And is Comcast breaking FCC rules by encrypting all the OTA channels they carry?

Nasa

No, Comcast isn't breaking any rules.

Did Fox HD work for anyone tonight? Was all psyched for "24" and then I got "no signal" all night long. Haven't checked it since probably last week...

Fox 43 and Fox 45 were coming in flawlessly all evening for me.

I live in Carlisle and am stuck with OTA until DirectTV starts carrying local HD channels. I'm using the Radio Shack 15-1892 indoor antenna and can get these channels with no problems:
8-1
8-2
27-1
27-2
33-3
43-1
43-2


For some reason I have trouble getting 21-1 (CBS), even though it is one of the closer stations to my house. Do they just have a weak signal strength?

The thought is that 21-1 (VHF 4) is in a band that can have lots of thing cause interference. Also anything in the low VHF range has problems. Just look at cable channels below 6. They usually have a lot of interference on them as well. Also I believe that there is another station near by that trasmits on VHF 4 as well which is causing 21-1 not to be broadcast at full power.

That station would be WRC-4 in Washington, which has reported interference even with the weak signal of WHP-DT.

- Trip

Leave it to our Government to put 2 channels on the same frequency so close together.... You would think WHP would file with the FCC to change it. I know that PBS in Philly did that not to long ago...

I sent an email this morning to WHP and here is the response I got back...

---------------------------------------
Hi Shawn

The FCC granted us channel 4 at 1KW to replicate our 1,000KW on channel 21 analog. We maximized the DTV signal to 2.3KW per the FCC. As you may know low VHF stations are given less power because the signal travels in theory, better than UHF signals. We have not been happy with channel 4 as well and have ask the FCC for channel 21 as the final channel placement for WHP DT. You are also correct about channel 4 out of Washington DC the max power a low VHF could go is 10KW, that is why we could only maximize to 2.3KW. Do you have a fairly large outside antenna? I have found that a good size VHF antenna is need for good reception.

Thank you for the information and we hope to have you as a DTV viewer in the future.

Wow. Wonder why they decided to put those stations on the same freq? It's a shame that I can get channels that are over twice as far away with no problem. Guess I'm stuck with old school CBS for now.

I do like when he said "in theory". That's all nice but lets face it, UHF channels all seem to come in 50% better than VHF. I can get all the UHF DTV channels with just my indoor amplified rabbit ears. I put an antenna in my attic and now can get 1 more station (ABC). Not sure if it was even worth it... Oh well, 2 more years to go! seeing as D*TV broke the promise of HD Locals by the end of the year. Wonder which one will happen first!

Yeah I can get everything except CBS with just my indoor amplified Radio Shack antenna. I'm not going through the cost and hassle of installing an outdoor directional antenna for 1 channel.

There wasn't really anywhere else for WHP to go. I doubt the FCC would have let them move to channel 57 nor would they have wanted to (it's going away in 2009 and was supposed to be home to WHTM-DT before they filed to move to 10).

- Trip

Why does Comcast in York scramble digtal similcasts?!

Anyone know what Comcast's plans for the Gettysburg area are?

We're an area formally serviced by Adephia which has never had VOD or even all the major networks available in HD. I got a very vague letter earlier this month saying they VOD could be coming this month along with maybe some new HD channels, but nothing concrete.

I'd love to buy my first HDTV, but I want to know I can actually get the stuff I watch in HD first...

Anyone hearing about DirecTV and their plans for Harrisburg HD Locals? Was supposed to be live in Dec, then some said delayed until Feb...still others say it will be later?

What antenna would you guys recommend for me? I'm in Mechanicsburg (as stated in prior posts) and am trying to get Fox-43.

I can get it intermittently and can't decide whether I should put the antenna that came with my ATI HDTV Wonder outside and higher (roof?) or invest in a better indoor antenna.

Thoughts?

I'm in Carlisle and I can get Fox 43 with the Radio Shack 15-1892 indoor antenna.

Is WITF 33.3 off the air? Haven't been able to pick it up for a few days. Before that I could get it without even turning my antenna on.

I can't get WITF the past few days either. But I'm not the best person to ask ;-)

Thanks, Raub. Coincidentally, I had the choice of 2 at Radio Shack on the way home, and that is the model that I picked! It worked like a charm. Now I can watch "24" in HD :-) :cool:

Raub,

Look for WITF on 36.1.

Dougmister,

Try Antennas Direct DB2. small antenna but very powerful.

Is it better than the Radio Shack 15-1892?

It looks huge.

Dougmeister,

Here is the link to the site.http://www.antennasdirect.com/DB2_Indoor_antenna.html. I have used it both indoors and out. Currrently outside about 10ft up pointed at channels 8 & 42. Signal strength is 80% for 8 and 55-65% for 43. DB2 is about 12" x 19".

Raub,

Look for WITF on 36.1.


Unfortunately I can't tune to specific frequencies. If my TVs auto-tuner doesn't pick it up I'm SOL.

Anyone hearing about DirecTV and their plans for Harrisburg HD Locals? Was supposed to be live in Dec, then some said delayed until Feb...still others say it will be later?


here is the email response I got from DTV CS:

Thanks for writing. I'm sorry that the launch date of local HD in your area has been moved. However, we hope to add local HD programming in Harrisburg, PA by late February of this year.

More details will be available when we launch the local HD service in your area, so watch your local TV, radio or mailbox for upcoming announcements or visit DIRECTV.com/HD

Thanks again for writing and stay tuned to DIRECTV.com for the latest news and information about HD programming.

Sincerely,

Jennielyn
Employee ID 100128901
DIRECTV Customer Service

What I would like to know is if it's possible to pick up channels labelled FOXE/FOXW, ABCE/ABCW, etc. it says I'm not subscribed to them and the person I got when I called DTV seemed pretty clueless about them. I'm pretty bummed that I won't be able to watch the Super Bowl in HD.

Croda,

Living were we do we are not abvle to get national broadcast. I have tried before. Why not use an antenna?

Croda,

Living were we do we are not abvle to get national broadcast. I have tried before. Why not use an antenna?

I could only get ABC, WITF, and 15 channels of the WB. no luck with CBS or FOX and intermittent NBC. not worth a big antenna for another month's usage.

Agreed, but you know D*.....could be "several" months!!!!

i live in elizabethown , near hershey and have dishnetwork's hd package...will dn be able to give me philly's local hd channels?..cbs,nbc,abc & fox?.

thanks

Anyone know what Comcast's plans for the Gettysburg area are?

We're an area formally serviced by Adephia which has never had VOD or even all the major networks available in HD. I got a very vague letter earlier this month saying they VOD could be coming this month along with maybe some new HD channels, but nothing concrete.

I'd love to buy my first HDTV, but I want to know I can actually get the stuff I watch in HD first...
I got in touch with the Regional Director of Marketing Operations and Programming for our area.

Pretty much bad news all around.

He said they were having trouble getting On Demand to work with the old system in Gettysburg, and didn't have an ETA for a resolution. Upgrading the plant is one of the options they are looking at.

The new channel line up is just being finalized now and he would email me the line up when it was finished. The end of February is the time frame for the new channels. It sounded like the old system was to blame again here and squeezing more HD into the lineup could be a problem.

I'm not a happy camper :(

I'm trying to get my brother up with HD but he lives in Lancaster and I'm having a hard time finding any info on HD reception in that area, in this forum and elswhere. I don't see many homes in Lancaster with antennas, so I'm wondering if trying is a lost cause.

My questions are: Is it posible to mount an antenna on the roof and have it pointing in one direction (without a rotor) and get most of what I need - Philly? Or am I too far?

Do I need a UHF antenna or something that picks up both VHF and UHF? I'm looking for digital-only channels. If there's anyone in the area that is having success with this, could you let me know what you did? Thanks.

There are stations in both UHF and VHF, but the majority are UHF. You can find out what stations are possible to pick up by going here: http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Welcome.aspx

You enter your info and it will tell you what stations and what antenna you'll probably need to get them. It's pretty conservative though, because I've picked up stations with an antenna that shouldn't be able to receive them according to that page. Good place to start though.

Yes, I've checked out Antennaweb.org and it says there are three locals I can get, but nothing from Philly or Baltimore...wondering if there's anyone in central Lancaster who can confirm that - no digitals other than WGAL, Harrisburg, Reading?

i live in elizabethown , near hershey and have dishnetwork's hd package...will dn be able to give me philly's local hd channels?..cbs,nbc,abc & fox?.

thanks

Short Answer, NO!

DN has harrisburg locals so that is what you will get.

I'm trying to get my brother up with HD but he lives in Lancaster and I'm having a hard time finding any info on HD reception in that area, in this forum and elswhere. I don't see many homes in Lancaster with antennas, so I'm wondering if trying is a lost cause.

My questions are: Is it posible to mount an antenna on the roof and have it pointing in one direction (without a rotor) and get most of what I need - Philly? Or am I too far?

Do I need a UHF antenna or something that picks up both VHF and UHF? I'm looking for digital-only channels. If there's anyone in the area that is having success with this, could you let me know what you did? Thanks.

With an indoor UHF amplified antenna, you should be able to get NBC, FOX, CW with no problem. ABC and CBS require a VERY GOOD outside VHF antenna, and even then it is hit or miss...

Im in York and I can get the Baltimore stations with a omnidirectinmal antenna in the attic, along with all the Harrisburg area locals (except cbs21).

I dont know about Lancaster.

Thanks for your replies - knowing what others are getting (or not) is helpful. Sounds like I should go with an omnidirectional more than a directional. Does that sound right? Something like the CM 4228?

anyone use the terk vhf/uhf indoor hdtv antenna and picking up harrisburg's local's hd channels?

tried the radioshack 1852 antenna to no avail....

thanks.

i meant anyone living in e-town and picking up ANY HD channels ota?..if so, what antenna are you using?

thanks

In eastern Lancaster County, with a good (large) roof-mounted antenna, preamp, and rotor, you can easily receive 50 OTA digital channels and the corresponding analog channels. Harrisburg, Philly, and Baltimore stations are all within reach but what you can actually receive will depend on your tuner and antenna.

If you skip the rotor and only point the antenna east, you'll get Philly stations but not Baltimore, and probably very little from the Harrisburg area.

Analog channels that you can receive that are watchable include 2, 3, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 21, 27, 29, 33, 35, 39, 43, 48, 54, 57, 61, 65, 69.

I'm not that familiar with the Baltimore digital channels but some digital channels can be received--2.x for sure. Other digital channels that can be received include 3.x, 6.x, 8.x 10.x, 12.x, 17.x, 29.x, 33.x, 35.x, 43.x, 57.x, 61.x, and a few others in the channel 60 range. There are some I missed but overall, about 50 digital channels can be received.

I've never gotten anything from 15.x or 21.x so I don't even know if they're on the air or not. Lancaster County is on the fringe for some stations like 12.x so terrain and your location may make a difference in what you can receive from Philly. I would imagine that if you're in western Lancaster County, you might not get all of the Philly stations but may pick up Gettysburg, something that you can't do in the eastern part of the county.

Lancaster County receives plenty of HD OTA channels and you can pay a few hundred dollars once for a good antenna, preamp, and rotor, or, you can pay Comcast a small fortune every month and have them raise your rates every year for "improved service."

Thanks for the info Haidozo. I'll go for it. You nailed it on the head. Why pay monthly for cable when one can get a better signal OTA for free...?

what antenna did you use?..brand/model no. will be helpful.

thanks

Antennaweb.org used to offer reliable information but that changed some time ago. For my location, it lists less than half the stations I actually receive and it lists a few that I can't receive. According to antennaweb, I can't receive Philly stations. Nothing could be farther from the truth and I receive more channels from that area than any other direction. I wouldn't trust what antennaweb has to say about antennas or their color system for choosing antennas.

I see a lot of discussion regarding antennas and I have an old (15+ years) large Channel Master with a preamp at the antenna. It still works great. If I was going to replace it, I would use the same advice that I got from a local TV shop when I bought this one--get a big brand-name model designed for long-distance reception, ensure that it has a preamp, get a rotor, and don't buy one from Radio Shack.

I have the Terk 'HDTVo antenna pro' and live about 5 minutes outside of the city (Penbrook) and I get NBC, CBS, ABC, and PBS no problem. Having difficulty finding FOX and CW. Antennaweb says the towers for the first four are ~5 miles away and the FOX and CW towers are ~20 miles. I can pretty much put the antenna in a lead box pointed in the opposite direction of the towers and still get the first four, so I think I'll try to optimize for FOX and CW :)

edit: I can pick up ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, and CW (all broadcast HD) at the same time, but for FOX I have to rotate the antenna 180 degrees... not worth it because then I only get NBC, PBS, FOX, and The Tube. It would be nice of the broadcasters would send their signals to one group of mega towers and broadcast from the same location :)

I live just south of Browns Orchards and I get most of the stations from Baltimore and Washington. In fact, I rarely watch any TV stations from PA, except WGAL on Directv. I have an outside antenna with rotator and hardly ever rotate the antenna to the PA stations. I can't get 27 or 33 at all. I get the following channels from Baltimore and Washington:
2, 4, 7, 9,11,13, 45, 54 and 67 All the networks.
Dale
What antenna are you using? I'm close to that area, right over in Seven Valleys.
I manage to get all the Baltimore stations (except 24 - low power?), but can't catch a whisper from D.C. with a CM4228.

What antenna are you using? I'm close to that area, right over in Seven Valleys.
I manage to get all the Baltimore stations (except 24 - low power?), but can't catch a whisper from D.C. with a CM4228.
I have the Crossfire 3671 I got from Stark Electonics. It's over 5 years old. I also have an amp, but I don't know what model it is. You can see the antenna here:
http://www.starkelectronic.com/crosfire.htm

I can't get channels 20 or 24 either.

I have the Crossfire 3671 I got from Stark Electonics. It's over 5 years old. I also have an amp, but I don't know what model it is. You can see the antenna here:
http://www.starkelectronic.com/crosfire.htm

I can't get channels 20 or 24 either.
Tried a 3671 first (still use it for VHF), but added a 4228 to get slightly better signals. No Washington digitals though, even with an amp.
It did help with WBAL & WMPB, who seem to be somewhat weak.

I have basic analog cable with Comcast and live in Mechanicsburg, PA. I'm thinking about purchasing a new tv with a QAM tuner, but I want to make sure that I'll be able to receive the HD channels with it. I'm not sure if the channels are encrypted or not, and when I contacted Comcast to ask them what unscrambled channels they broadcast, they had no idea what I was asking.

I basically want to know if there's anyone on here that lives around this area that is receiving free HD with their QAM tuner. I've been reading a lot on this topic and there seems to be a lot of confusion among many people. Some think that the cable companies are legally required to broadcast the locals in HD and others say that they aren't required. It appears as though some people can pull in the local HD channels for free using their QAM tuner, while others are unable to. If I have to upgrade to their STB to get HD, so be it. I'd just like to know what I'm getting into first. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I live in Dillsburg. I can get NBC, CBS, and ABC with a QAM tuner. That is it. Your on a different system though. I have read that your area does offer locals including FOX in the clear. Good luck.

Thanks very much for the info. Can anyone else verify keeper's statement?

Thanks very much for the info. Can anyone else verify keeper's statement?

Go to yahoo groups and search for harrisburghd group. They will know.

Wow, thanks a lot. I was able to find a ton of information over on yahoo. Thanks for the info. The AVS forums here are great. A lot of useful information and a lot of helpful people. Thanks again!

Update: I moved my antenna (Terk HDTV-o) to get a clearer line of sight (there was a house in the way before!) and now I can pick up all the channels at full (98%) signal strength. I'm just outside the city on the East Shore, no rotation or amplifiers required :)

Getting:
ABC
CBS
NBC
PBS
FOX
The Tube

I have updated the first post. Sorry about the delay as I recovered the files from a mothballed PC following the move to our new house. So, I updated them and moved them from Comcast to Verizon FiOS.

http://mysite.verizon.net/centralpahdtv/

Looks like those in Southern York County are going to be able to see the ACC Tournament in HD this year off of WNUV.

============================

Dear Mr. XXXXX,

We have just gotten in our HD equipment in-house and installed. We have
one more test to run to see if we can show the games in HD. We have
been
working very hard all season to try to make this happen, but until
Raycom sends a test on Wednesday afternoon, we will not know for sure
that everything is set up correctly for the tournament. Hang in
there...
we are working as best we can to make the ACC tournament viewable in
HD.

Thanks for your question!
Sincerely,
Lisa Lupis
Program Director / Webmaster
WBFF / WNUV
Baltimore, MD

FYI- Comcast York has added more hd channels. With free QAM I am now getting all local hd channels + subchannels from the area.

FYI- Comcast York has added more hd channels. With free QAM I am now getting all local hd channels + subchannels from the area.
The old Suscom area or Adelphia area?

The old Suscom area or Adelphia area?

Adelphia

The old suscom area has them too now (again). I still don't get any channel information like I did last year though.

Just in case anyone is wondering...I get the following channels in HD:

FOX
ABC
NBC
CBS
PBS
UNIVERSAL HD
VS.
CW

I have the very basic package for Comcast and I live in Camp Hill. I also receive a lot of digital channels that I never received before such as TBS, Comedy Central, History Channel, etc. Hope that helps anyone that may be wondering what channels you may be able to pick up.

Am I the only one having problems with 21-1 tonight? My STB's are only able to tune 21-2, and something is wreaking havoc on my HR10-250 DirecTivo's, presumably because its trying to tune 21-1 and its not there...???

The tivo's practically freeze up completely until I disconnect the antenna.

What is WHP doing over there right now?!

Here is WHP's schedule for the NCAA Tournament.
Same game on SD and HD channels

http://www.whptv.com/content/localsports/default.aspx

THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2007
12:00PM-5:00PM NCAA Basketball Playoffs: First Round Games

* 12:20PM – Maryland vs. Davidson
* 3:00PM – Texas A&M vs. Penn


7:00PM-12:00AM NCAA Basketball Playoffs: First Round Games

* 7:10PM – Duke vs. VCU
* 9:30PM – Pittsburgh vs. Wright State

FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2007
12:00PM-5:00PM NCAA Basketball Playoffs: First Round Games

* 12:25PM – UNLV vs. Georgia Tech
* 2:35PM – Notre Dame vs. Winthrop

7:00PM-12:00AM NCAA Basketball Playoffs: First Round Games
o 7:10PM – Virginia Tech vs. Illinois
o 9:30PM – Kentucky vs. Villanova

Who do you think will be the first to do local news in HD around here?

I've had my tv for about 1 month and everytime the weather is warm, my HD channels start to stutter. It's only the HD channels. I'm using my QAM tuner to tune the channels in. I'm just wondering if it's because of the warm weather that this is happening or not. It's an odd coincidence if that's not causing it. Either way, what can I do to prevent it? If I actually pay comcast for the HD channels, will I still have that problem or not? Any ideas on what I can do??

D* just lit up Harrisburg HD-LILs.

Thanks CPanther...beat me to it!!

So i live in Lewistown, PA, about 60 miles from Harrisburg, I put my zip code into the D TV site, says I can get the HD locals now. But when I was trying to add the HD antenna to the cart, it wouldn't let me. Hmm, I'll have to call to verify this can be done here. Would be huge if it can be.

"So i live in Lewistown, PA, about 60 miles from Harrisburg, I put my zip code into the D TV site, says I can get the HD locals now. But when I was trying to add the HD antenna to the cart, it wouldn't let me. Hmm, I'll have to call to verify this can be done here. Would be huge if it can be. "

If you have a Direct TV HD Receiver you should be able to receive the Harrisburg HD channels through that receiver. Most of the antenna manufacturers say we cannot get HD using an antenna in Lewistown. I have a local antenna installer coming on Friday to see about installing an antenna for Dish (which does not yet have Harrisburg HD). He says he has been successful in many areas in the Lewistown area but he will be doing a signal test to see what I can get.

"So i live in Lewistown, PA, about 60 miles from Harrisburg, I put my zip code into the D TV site, says I can get the HD locals now. But when I was trying to add the HD antenna to the cart, it wouldn't let me. Hmm, I'll have to call to verify this can be done here. Would be huge if it can be. "

If you have a Direct TV HD Receiver you should be able to receive the Harrisburg HD channels through that receiver. Most of the antenna manufacturers say we cannot get HD using an antenna in Lewistown. I have a local antenna installer coming on Friday to see about installing an antenna for Dish (which does not yet have Harrisburg HD). He says he has been successful in many areas in the Lewistown area but he will be doing a signal test to see what I can get.

that's cool. I am definitely going with that from DTV. Comcast is in the dark here, went to the local office, they said VOD and all that HD isn't coming for a while. Lady said a year? that's just too bad. I need to get good use out of my Samsung HD TV! :)

Hey, for PBS, the SD content is on the same schedule as the HD content, right?

Edit: nevermind. No, it's not.

Has anyone in the "Harrisburg Area" been getting local hd through D*TV? Just curious, want to make the jump but have not heard any feedback on it. Thanks in advance.

Has anyone in the "Harrisburg Area" been getting local hd through D*TV? Just curious, want to make the jump but have not heard any feedback on it. Thanks in advance.

Well I know I'm not really in the Harrisburg Area, I am in Lewistown, about 60 miles from. and I just got set up with D*TV yesterday, with the Harrisburg Locals in HD, and everything is working great. Watched HD golf yesterday and HD baseball on fox 43. The only thing that I've noticed in the audio on the local HD channels have had some issues with crackling at times. It's probably the way they are receiving the singal, probably have to work out the kinks, But other than that. It's been great so far :)

Yes, DTV now has the local HD feeds. Everything except PBS.

jrodfoo,

Thanks for your response....now I have to wait for "good" weather. Can't see putting someone on the roof lately!!!!

jrodfoo,

Thanks for your response....now I have to wait for "good" weather. Can't see putting someone on the roof lately!!!!


No problem, having some issues right now, with the wind and rain, some channels are out, while some are ok. I hate this weather :mad:

issues are gone now. I'm loving the HD locals and other nice features right now from D* :)

dbaish2004,

You said you were watching HDTV via QAM... Could you explain your setup and what freq. the HD stations are on?

Nasa

just saying.. the OTA reception is amazing tonight

Can somebody confirm for me that WPMT is currently broadcasting digtally? I'm trying to pick it up from a distance and I want to make sure it's on.

thanks

paul

Can somebody confirm for me that WPMT is currently broadcasting digtally? I'm trying to pick it up from a distance and I want to make sure it's on.

Yes, and at full power.

Would someone be able to tell me if they are recieving WGAL digitally? I've been unable to recieve a signal for that channel for the past couple of weeks.

Hi

I am located in Southern York County - Fawn Grove to be exact. I currently have Dish Network. My house is completely surrounded by very tall trees. I would imagine that an OTA antena would have to be mounted on a tower and I also assume that an indoor antena wouldn't work. I know that DTV now offers locals in HD. Does anyone know if Dish will get it? I really do not want to take a chance with the expense of a tower if I could just get it over satallite.

Stefan

Hi

I am located in Southern York County - Fawn Grove to be exact. I currently have Dish Network. My house is completely surrounded by very tall trees. I would imagine that an OTA antena would have to be mounted on a tower and I also assume that an indoor antena wouldn't work. I know that DTV now offers locals in HD. Does anyone know if Dish will get it? I really do not want to take a chance with the expense of a tower if I could just get it over satallite.

Stefan

I am located in Fawn Grove and have a RS VR-190 antenna, CM7777 pre-amplifier and an CM rotor. It is mounted on my house. I do not have tall trees close to my house. I can get Baltimore (All except 24*), Harrisburg (All except 27) and Washington (4*,5*,7, 9, 20 and 50*) (* about 50% of the time) OTA stations. I do appear to be in a fairly sweet spot based on www.antennaweb.org. You may be able to get some Baltimore and Harrisburg stations using an indoor antenna.

just wanted to chime in since I haven't in a while. I haven't had any issues since the first week I got D* installed with the HD locals here in lewistown. It's been really good with the Weather, have not had any issues with rain or wind or anything. my Dish is mounted on a poll in concrete into the ground. Atleast I can watch the Big Ten Network and more HD coming my way. Comcast is in the dark here. I wonder how many people in the area have switched becuase of the availability of locals here in HD, and other options..

anyone having problems right now (aug 25th) with the HD locals in H-burg? either sat. or OTA? just was wondering.... some nasty storms went thru. the SD locals on directv are fine, HD locals are off...

Can someone provide me with a list of frequencies for channels that Comcast Lancaster transmits in the clear?

Brian

i meant anyone living in e-town and picking up ANY HD channels ota?..if so, what antenna are you using?

thanks

I live in Etown and get 8.1, 15.1, 33.3, 43.1, and 49.1, plus 3.1 (Phily). I can not get 21.1 or 27.1 at all. Those are both VHF and running very low power. Very occasionally, I can get a bad signal for 27.1/27.2 but not enough to watch the programming.

I am using a home brew setup with a yagi pointed to H'burg and a UHF farm pointed towards Phily to get KYW 3.1.

Since Oct. 5 I have lost both WHP and WHTM signals ota . Is anyone else having the same problem ? I live near Grantville and have a 3671 CM deepest fringe antenna 6 feet above the roof so my equipment doesn't lack . I got these channels previously with no problems .:confused:

Since Oct. 5 I have lost both WHP and WHTM signals ota . Is anyone else having the same problem ? I live near Grantville and have a 3671 CM deepest fringe antenna 6 feet above the roof so my equipment doesn't lack . I got these channels previously with no problems .:confused:


I also 'loose' channels from time to time. Usually, I just go into the TV menu then 'rescan ' for over the air channels .This usually finds the missing ones.
I feel pretty certain it will work for you too. Good Luck.

I live in Harrisburg, Swatara to be exact and was woundering what antenna I should get? Would like to mount it in a small attic. I don't want to spend a lot of money either, what do you think of the channel master 4220/db2/db4?

Here is the info from antennaweb

yellow - uhf WLYH 15 CW LANCASTER PA 100° 17.6 15
* yellow - uhf WLYH-DT 15.1 CW LANCASTER PA 100° 17.6 23
* green - vhf WHP-DT 21.1 CBS HARRISBURG PA 338° 6.9 4
* green - vhf WHTM-DT 27.1 ABC HARRISBURG PA 306° 8.8 10
red - uhf WHTM 27 ABC HARRISBURG PA 306° 8.8 27
red - uhf WHP 21 CBS HARRISBURG PA 338° 6.9 21
red - vhf WGAL 8 NBC LANCASTER PA 160° 18.3 8
red - uhf WITF 33 PBS HARRISBURG PA 339° 6.9 33
* red - uhf WITF-DT 33.3 PBS HARRISBURG PA 339° 6.9 36
blue - uhf WPMT 43 FOX YORK PA 158° 19.3 43
blue - uhf W35BT 35 IND HARRISBURG PA 296° 11.4 35
* violet - uhf WPMT-DT 43.1 FOX YORK PA 158° 19.3 47
* violet - uhf WGAL-DT 8.1 NBC LANCASTER PA 160° 18.3 58

I recently talked to someone at WGAL and asked if WGAL had plans on going HD for local news. A lot of local stations across the country have moved to HD news, such as KYW 3-1 in Phily. I was told there are no plans at WGAL to do this, at this time.

Not sure about WHP or WHTM. I would guess I'd get the same response from these two stations as well.

Recently, WITF started simulcasting their analog PBS feed on their previously unused 33.1subchannel. WITF 33.1 has been off the air lately (since last weekend) for some reason. The PBS HD feed (33.3) is still going strong, as is the analog (33) channel. Can anyone else in the Lancaster/Harrisburg, PA area confirm that 33.1 is nowhere to be found OTA?

with all the recent postings about comcast adding HD channels in other areas, has anyone heard anything at all about the Lancaster area?

I have basic/extended cable through Comcast on the West Shore.

I recently purchased a Samsung HDTV and a Series 3 HD Tivo.

I have heard rumors that I might be able to get HD content for at least the major networks. Now either this is a cruel urban legend or I'm not doing something right.

I can get HD via the OTA antenna through the Tivo.
I cannot get HD on the main networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox) via the cable.

1) Did I set it up incorrectly?
2) Or is this an urban myth to which I have fallen prey?

Thank you.

Edit: You can get HD content for the major networks. The TiVo just doesn't like it.

Question: Does Comcast in our area charge for the 1st cable card?

Although I don't know anything about Tivo's, I'm pretty sure the new ones have a built in QAM tuner.

If your TV also has a QAM tuner,... as a test , try this to see if your cable system is passing thru the local network digital channels in the clear.

By pass the TIVO and plug the cable directly into your TV and have it auto scan cable channels(analog and digital) to see if there passing them thru.

If the TV tuner finds them (local digitals), and the TIVO doesn't it's something wrong in the TIVO settings or setup. GOOD LUCK !

Got it working. Tivo will only pull programming info for OTA HD. I can get cable HD on the networks *only* by doing a manual scan, bu then the Tivo doesn't know what shows are on, I can't schedeule recordings, etc.

Will Comcast in this area give me the 1st cable card free?

the first card is normaly free, the 2nd. card is normaly about $1.99 - $2.50

even if I have basic cable only? (the $10/month plan)

Do I just stop by their office and ask for it?

Just ordered E* HD and was wondering if locals are in HD yet in the market. If not I am wondering why at least Fox 43 is not since the E* receive site is on there property outside the main studio! LOL! I used to be an Engineer there and know for a fact that they feed there audio and video directly into the E* shack.

OK - put on your brainstorming hats:

I have a home in southern York County. I have 5 digital TV's throughout the house and also two radios I wish to have hooked into the system. House is about 3900 square feet. I haven't yet used it but there is an antenna, not sure the size but it's a typical UHF/VHF combo, on the tower, which is a 45 foot tower about 40 feet from the house.

First question: How much of a preamp will I need to have that much cable length and also the large number of televisions?

Second: Would I be able to get away with having two antennas in opposite directions to pick up Harrisburg/York/Lancaster along with Baltimore stations? Between my mother-in-law, who is from Baltimore, and the rest of my family, who would prefer to watch our own DMA, a rotor is about impossible, then considering the DVR/TIVO issues it gets even worse!

Or - am I at the right distance to be able to use the right antenna that is somewhat bi-directional and luck out picking up a few stations "off the back" of the antenna and just point it one way? I am assuming replacing the antenna might be the best course of action.

Just ordered E* HD and was wondering if locals are in HD yet in the market. If not I am wondering why at least Fox 43 is not since the E* receive site is on there property outside the main studio! LOL! I used to be an Engineer there and know for a fact that they feed there audio and video directly into the E* shack.
No, the only people in the Harrisburg market that get locals in HD are in Franklin County where they get both Harrisburg & Washington locals that include the Washington ones in HD.

Second: Would I be able to get away with having two antennas in opposite directions to pick up Harrisburg/York/Lancaster along with Baltimore stations? Between my mother-in-law, who is from Baltimore, and the rest of my family, who would prefer to watch our own DMA, a rotor is about impossible, then considering the DVR/TIVO issues it gets even worse!

Or - am I at the right distance to be able to use the right antenna that is somewhat bi-directional and luck out picking up a few stations "off the back" of the antenna and just point it one way? I am assuming replacing the antenna might be the best course of action.

I'm in Seven Valleys, and can pretty much pick up all of Baltimore and Harrisburg UHF stations with a 4228 pointed to Baltimore. I also have a 3671 for VHF pointed to Harrisburg for WHP & WHTM (only 2 in both markets that are on VHF for digital).

So your best course is a 4228 for UHF pointed to Baltimore (it'll easily pick up Harrisburg UHF off the backend), and almost anything for VHF pointed to Harrisburg for WHP & WHTM. The 4882 might get WHTM as it's High VHF (ch 10), but it won't touch WHP who is Lo VHF (ch 4)

I'm in Seven Valleys, and can pretty much pick up all of Baltimore and Harrisburg UHF stations with a 4228 pointed to Baltimore. I also have a 3671 for VHF pointed to Harrisburg for WHP & WHTM (only 2 in both markets that are on VHF for digital).

So your best course is a 4228 for UHF pointed to Baltimore (it'll easily pick up Harrisburg UHF off the backend), and almost anything for VHF pointed to Harrisburg for WHP & WHTM. The 4882 might get WHTM as it's High VHF (ch 10), but it won't touch WHP who is Lo VHF (ch 4)

Does WHP plan to stay on Channel 4, or will it switch back to 21 after Feb 09? What about WHTM? Isn't there a website that has that information somewhere?

Also - since I'm closer to Baltimore than Harrisburg would it possibly work better for me to go the opposite - and point towards H'Burg and get Baltimore off the back? You are more equidistant from either city, I'm a good 10 miles closer to Baltimore's towers than Harrisburg's towers according to Antennaweb.

Does WHP plan to stay on Channel 4, or will it switch back to 21 after Feb 09? What about WHTM?

21.

10.

- Trip

I'm in Seven Valleys, and can pretty much pick up all of Baltimore and Harrisburg UHF stations with a 4228 pointed to Baltimore. I also have a 3671 for VHF pointed to Harrisburg for WHP & WHTM (only 2 in both markets that are on VHF for digital).

So your best course is a 4228 for UHF pointed to Baltimore (it'll easily pick up Harrisburg UHF off the backend), and almost anything for VHF pointed to Harrisburg for WHP & WHTM. The 4882 might get WHTM as it's High VHF (ch 10), but it won't touch WHP who is Lo VHF (ch 4)

Does the DB8 do better than the 4228 off the back of the antenna?

Does the DB8 do better than the 4228 off the back of the antenna?
I think they're both about the same. Construction is pretty similar.
The 4228 is better at pulling in High VHF, as to where the DB8 is strictly UHF. But reception of the 2 for UHF is pretty much the same.

Does WHP plan to stay on Channel 4, or will it switch back to 21 after Feb 09? What about WHTM? Isn't there a website that has that information somewhere?

Also - since I'm closer to Baltimore than Harrisburg would it possibly work better for me to go the opposite - and point towards H'Burg and get Baltimore off the back? You are more equidistant from either city, I'm a good 10 miles closer to Baltimore's towers than Harrisburg's towers according to Antennaweb.
WHP is moving back to 21. WHTM will stay on 10.

The following will be on VHF:
8 - WGAL Lancaster
10 - WHTM Harrisburg
11 - WBAL Baltimore
13 - WJZ Baltmore
The rest will be on UHF

I think the 4228 or DB8 will be good for both sets. And since for now the only VHF are in Harrisburg, might as well point north for VHF, as neither a 4228 or DB8 will touch WHP.
Just do trial and error for the UHF to see which direction is better for you.

I'm lucky as they are about 180 from each other where I'm at. As where someone in Delta would not be.

I just got an HD set, and hooked an indoor antenna up to it (I live on the other side of Hershey from Harrisburg). I am getting the HD signals from NBC, CW, and FOX just fine, but not even a glimmer of a signal from ABC or CBS (27.1 and 21.1, respectively). I can pick up the analog broadcasts of both networks.

I'm attaching my TV Fools report --- I'm new to interpreting the info there, but of course I'm trying to sort out whether I can reasonably expect to receive CBS and ABC signals with a better antenna.

I just got an HD set, and hooked an indoor antenna up to it (I live on the other side of Hershey from Harrisburg). I am getting the HD signals from NBC, CW, and FOX just fine, but not even a glimmer of a signal from ABC or CBS (27.1 and 21.1, respectively). I can pick up the analog broadcasts of both networks.

I'm attaching my TV Fools report --- I'm new to interpreting the info there, but of course I'm trying to sort out whether I can reasonably expect to receive CBS and ABC signals with a better antenna.

You won't get ABC or CBS with an indoor antenna unless you are like right near the towers. These channels, digital broadcast, is in the VHF range (4,10) and are really hard to pull in.

You won't get ABC or CBS with an indoor antenna unless you are like right near the towers. These channels, digital broadcast, is in the VHF range (4,10) and are really hard to pull in.

I realize that now. What I am wondering is, if I mount an antenna on the roof, how likely am I to receive these channels?

Thanks,
Ken

I realize that now. What I am wondering is, if I mount an antenna on the roof, how likely am I to receive these channels?

Thanks,
Ken

were are you located?

were are you located?

About 5 miles east of Hershey.

About 5 miles east of Hershey.

Then you should be OK with an antenna on your roof. Just make sure that it does VHF and UHF.

I just found a long piece of co-ax and am able to pick up WPMT and WGAL and WGCB so I am happy with that for the Super Bowl. May go get an antennae but I do not watch to much CBS/ABC. I may have to e-mail Jim Myers at PMT and see when they are switching over since they run direct to the receive box.

Talked to Jim Myers at WPMT this morning. He said they have the line fed down to the Hut but that Dish is dragging there feet and has no ETA. Plus he thinks the OTA will be better over the Sat feed due to Compression. Not sure how true that is, but they do feed back to Dish via Fiber but I am not sure how much bandwidth they use. He did say they are adding another Fiber but that they said it was for redundancy.

Also wants me to let him know when they finally do upgrade it.

So I will keep in touch with him on this and pass on any updates I get. He is my old Boss so we talk once in a while.

Talked to Jim Myers at WPMT this morning. He said they have the line fed down to the Hut but that Dish is dragging there feet and has no ETA. Plus he thinks the OTA will be better over the Sat feed due to Compression. Not sure how true that is, but they do feed back to Dish via Fiber but I am not sure how much bandwidth they use. He did say they are adding another Fiber but that they said it was for redundancy.

Also wants me to let him know when they finally do upgrade it.

So I will keep in touch with him on this and pass on any updates I get. He is my old Boss so we talk once in a while.

I'm not sure I notice a gigantic difference between the quality of OTA networks and the HD channels on E*. I'm sure it's there, but I haven't seen it yet.

I'd like OTA reception of as much as I can get, though, if for no other reason than I can then record three shows at once on my 722.

The super bowl looked fabulous via my radio shack mushroom; I get solid reception using it for the NBC, PBS, and CW broadcasts; Fox is spottier; it is usually fine but on occasion I lose the broadcast.

I guess I'll give a rooftop antenna a try, and see what happens. I can get LOS to the south and west, so with luck I will be able to grab these low-VHF broadcasts. I have my doubts, though, since I don't even get the faintest sniff from them with the mushroom.

Hmmmm. Would it be a decent test to take the mushroom up to the roof? I can buy a run of cable and give that a go before I buy a real outdoor antenna, if it would tell me anything.

Hmmmm. Would it be a decent test to take the mushroom up to the roof? I can buy a run of cable and give that a go before I buy a real outdoor antenna, if it would tell me anything.

You could try but it is not designed to pull in long range broadcasts, thats why it is small and your outdoor ones are huge...

I've been having a recent issue with DirecTV local HD channels. At various times not related to weather conditions, local HDs are having serious signal problems. Sat signals seem good. I'm trying to figue out if the problem is specific to my dish/box or if others are having similar issues. First started seeing this problem this past weekend or the end of last week. From what I've found so far, it's a D* problem (not on my end).

Is there anyone else on D* seeing this in this area? I'm mainly seeing it on WGAL8 & WPMT43. Our backup, an indor OTA antenna works fine when the D* signal is bad.

J

I've been having a recent issue with DirecTV local HD channels. At various times not related to weather conditions, local HDs are having serious signal problems. Sat signals seem good. I'm trying to figue out if the problem is specific to my dish/box or if others are having similar issues. First started seeing this problem this past weekend or the end of last week. From what I've found so far, it's a D* problem (not on my end).

Is there anyone else on D* seeing this in this area? I'm mainly seeing it on WGAL8 & WPMT43. Our backup, an indor OTA antenna works fine when the D* signal is bad.

J

I've noticed some breakups on channel 8. Thats about the only local station we watch on DTV. We're used to watching Baltimore and Wash. stations OTA. It seems worse on the local news and sometimes there is a blip when changing scenes on NBC shows. I have the HR20-700 and thought maybe it was the DVR.

We have a non-DVR, the H20-100. It's not clear to me in your post. I assume you generally use D* for Harrisburg locals & your OTA for Baltimore....or OTA for everything?

J

We have a non-DVR, the H20-100. It's not clear to me in your post. I assume you generally use D* for Harrisburg locals & your OTA for Baltimore....or OTA for everything?

J
OTA for everything. I can't get 27 or 33 OTA, so my antenna is pointed to Baltimore and Washington all the time. We hardly watch any Harrisburg locals, just Baltimore since I get all the networks from there. We watch the news on Channel 8 on DTV and I don't have to mess with rotating the antenna.

I tried an experiment today. Since RS has such a liberal return policy, I took a chance on their little 15-2187 antenna. I hooked it up inside first, and barely picked up PBS. I got nothing from any other channel; the RS mushroom does much better.

Okay, then, I took it to the roof, assuming the performance would improve. It did not -- I could only get a signal from one channel (PBS), and that was weaker than the signal picked up by the mushroom, which also locks on NBC, CW, and Fox.

WTF? I didn't expect miracles, but I sure didn't expect this! Does it seem likely that the antenna is defective, or is it just that bad of a design? I had read some positive things about it.

Taking it back tomorrow...

Ken

Hello,

A relative who lives in Dillsburg just bought a Vizio LCD and asked for my help (I live in NC). As a first try, I had him borrow a Silver Sensor, point it to Harrisburg, and run a scan. He reported that that the TV found two digital channels but he gets only a blank screen when tuned to them. This persion is very very non technical so it is slow going. I did just check antennaweb and it looks like most of the Harrisburg digital stations are VHF. Any hope of OTA digital reception in Dillsburg? Is a rooftop antenna worth a try?

Thanks,


Well, it looks like no one is reading this thread anymore.

Hello,

A relative who lives in Dillsburg just bought a Vizio LCD and asked for my help (I live in NC). As a first try, I had him borrow a Silver Sensor, point it to Harrisburg, and run a scan. He reported that that the TV found two digital channels but he gets only a blank screen when tuned to them. This persion is very very non technical so it is slow going. I did just check antennaweb and it looks like most of the Harrisburg digital stations are VHF. Any hope of OTA digital reception in Dillsburg? Is a rooftop antenna worth a try?

Thanks,


Well, it looks like no one is reading this thread anymore.

I don't have anything useful to add, or I would have posted (I'm trying to sort this out, too).

I'd suggest you start by going to tvfools.com (http://www.tvfool.com) and typing in the address you're interested in.

For reference, I'm picking up NBC, FOX, PBS, and CW using an indoor OTA antenna. I can't get a peep from CBS or ABC (both VHF broadcasts). The NBC and Fox broadcasts occasionally cut out on me, but I hope that sticking the antenna on the roof will help end that.

I'm on the other side of Harrisburg from Dillsburg, and further away. I think you should have success with an indoor antenna. That's probably closer to York, too.

List of Harrisburg/Hershey Comcast QAM Channels. These are all the stations I pick up with only Basic Cable from Comcast with the QAM tuner in my HDTV. Maybe someone can post this on the first page?

8-1 WGAL-HD NBC HD
8-2 WGAL-WX NBC Weather
15-1 WLYH-HD CW15 HD
15-6 TWC Comcast Weather Channel
15-7 GOAC020 Advertising
16-1 WHTM ABC
16-2 WHP CBS
16-3 WGAL NBC
16-4 WITF PBS
16-5 WLYH CW15
16-6 WPMT FOX
16-7 WPHL Philidelphia 17
16-8 WGCB Christian Television
16-10 UNKNOWN
16-12 CN8 Comcast CN8
18-10 QVC QVC
21-1 WHP-HD CBS HD
21-2 WHP-MY WB
22-2 HISTORY History Channel
22-5 CMTV Country Music Television
27-1 WHTM-HD ABC HD
27-2 WHTM-DT (We) RTN, Retro Televison Network (Used to be ABC Weather)
33-3 WITF-HD PBS HD
43-1 WPMT-HD FOX HD
79-5 TCM Turner Classic Movies
79-7 FNC Fox News Channel
83-2 OnDemand Random
83-3 OnDemand Random
83-4 OnDemand Random
83-5 OnDemand Random
83-6 OnDemand Random
83-7 OnDemand Random
83-8 OnDemand Random
83-9 OnDemand Random
83-10 OnDemand Random
83-11 OnDemand Random
84-2 OnDemand Random
84-3 OnDemand Random
84-4 OnDemand Random
84-5 OnDemand Random
84-6 OnDemand Random
84-7 OnDemand Random
84-8 OnDemand Random
84-9 OnDemand Random
84-10 OnDemand Random
84-11 OnDemand Random
85-2 OnDemand Random
85-3 OnDemand Random
85-4 OnDemand Random
85-5 OnDemand Random
85-6 OnDemand Random
85-7 OnDemand Random
85-8 OnDemand Random
85-9 OnDemand Random
85-10 OnDemand Random
85-11 OnDemand Random
86-2 OnDemand Random
86-3 OnDemand Random
86-4 OnDemand Random
86-5 OnDemand Random
86-6 OnDemand Random
86-7 OnDemand Random
86-8 OnDemand Random
86-9 OnDemand Random
86-10 OnDemand Random
86-11 OnDemand Random
87-7 GAME8
88-21 70S
88-22 80S
88-23 ALT
88-24 BIGBAND
88-25 BLUEGR
88-26 BLUES
88-27 CLCNTRY
88-28 CLASRB
89-21 CLSRCK
89-22 ADALT
89-23 CTMPCH
89-24 DNCE
89-25 EASYLIS
89-26 RDISN
89-27 GOSPEL
89-28 HITLIST
89-29 SHWTUN
90-21 JAZZ
90-22 POPLAT
90-23 LTCLASS
90-24 METAL
90-25 RCKESP
90-26 MUSURB
90-27 AMERCAN
91-21 ARNHIT
91-22 ADALT
91-23 RBHIP
91-24 RAP
91-25 MCRGGAE
91-26 MCROCK
91-27 SNDSCP
91-28 TDCNTRY
91-29 SHWTUN
92-21 RETROA
92-22 OPERA
92-23 PARTY
93-21 STANDRD
93-22 SMJZZ
93-23 SMOOTH
93-24 SFTROCK
93-25 GOLDOLD
93-26 SEASON
93-27 SNDSCP
93-28 TDCNTRY
93-29 RBHIT
93-30 SHWCSE1
93-31 ELECTRN
102-7 PPVP
102-11 FSC
102-21 MC90S

First time poster, long time lurker...

I am starting to get ready to rid myself of comcast and decided to test the OTA waters today. So, I built one of the DIY hanger antennas and set it up in the attic. For the most part, I get the usual Harrisburg/Lancaster dma stations... except the very weak WHP-DT. There was also a few weird sub channels that came up. I think 36.2 (WITF-subchannel) has always been there, but the odd one was 23.12 (which would be a WLYH subchannel), has anyone heard if they are about to start multi-casting?

Just thought I'd post an update. I (finally) put an antenna on my roof. It's the tiny RS indoor/outdoor model (15-2186). I put it on a 10' mast, and aimed it south, towards York and the NBC/FOX towers. I now pick those stations up with solid signals (with the antenna indoors, these stations cut out a lot). The PBS broadcast is still solid. So, a decent improvement without investing in a new antenna.

On the downside, I don't get either of the VHF broadcasts (ABC or CBS, channels 4 and 10), even with the antenna aimed directly at the tower. Now that I have the mast up and the cable run, I may experiment with some different antennas, just to see if I can grab something from the VHF broadcasts.

How did your analog reception do with the antenna up there?

How did your analog reception do with the antenna up there?

I've not investigated analog reception; the receiver (Dish VIP-722) is only interested in digital channels, so to look at analog signals I'd have to hook my antenna up to my TV.

I'm not terribly interested in analog broadcasts (I get my SD locals from Dish), so none of that has happened.

Here is an overview of local OTA updated as of February 25, 2007:
http://mysite.verizon.net/centralpahdtv/hdtvgrid.jpg

That image and this thread is (almost) worthless for those of us living in the Lancaster city or suburbs. There are all kinds of channels that Lancaster residents can receive, but are not listed in your little table. Such as:

2 - baltimore
6 - philly
10 - philly
11 - baltimore
12 - wilmington delaware
13 - baltimore

17 - philly
29 - philly
45 - baltimore
48 - philly
51 - not sure?
57 - philly
61 - reading(?)
69 - reading

I propose creating a separate thread for Lancaster residents that serves their needs, which is vastly different from the needs of 40-mile-distant Harrisburg. (In fact, I'd already done that. Here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13307623 )

Channel 48 is licensed to Burlington, NJ. Channel 51 is licensed to Reading, PA. Channel 61 is WPPX-TV (ION) and is licensed to Wilmington, DE but has their transmitter in Roxborough. Channel 69 is WFMZ-TV (IND) of Allentown, PA. Sorry I can't help you with the digital assignments of these stations.

That's alright.

I was just making the point that this thread is not serving the needs of Lancaster residents, because it's ignoring a dozen different channels which we watch daily.

The thread is too focused on Harrisburg (the western edge of the DMA) and ignoring the eastern half of the DMA as if it doesn't exist. Also: Just nitpicking but the official name of the DMA is not Harrisburg. It is Harrisburg-Lancaster-York-Lebanon. It serves ALL of us, not jsut the corrpt politicians in Harrisburg's run-down cpitol building who like to vote themselves raises at 2 a.m. in the mornin to try to hide their illegal stealing of money from the PA treasury, like a bnd of thieves. We aought ot vote them all out, the worthless scumbags.

Ahhh. I feel better now.



I can't wait for the PA primary. I'm a Republican voting in the democratic primary to make sure Obama does not beat Billary, which means they'll be approximately tied. As a result there will be a battle during the national convention, and lead to a royal mess amongst the liberals as they fight over Florida and Michigan and Superdelegates. Obama CLAIMS to be better than that, avoiding "politics as usual", but I suspect he is no better than Billary.

And then the Democrats will lose, having disgusted the American people with that travesty.

I was just making the point that this thread is not serving the needs of Lancaster residents, because it's ignoring a dozen different channels which we watch daily.

The thread is too focused on Harrisburg (the western edge of the DMA) and ignoring the eastern half of the DMA as if it doesn't exist. Also: Just nitpicking but the official name of the DMA is not Harrisburg. It is Harrisburg-Lancaster-York-Lebanon. It serves ALL of us,[/SIZE] [SIZE="1"]Tell me about it. Those of us in the Southern half of York County usually watch Baltimore channels as opposed to Harrisburg anyways.

Tell me about it. Those of us in the Southern half of York County usually watch Baltimore channels as opposed to Harrisburg anyways.

I live between Loganville and Shrewsbury. I get more Baltimore and Wash. OTA stations than Harrisburg-York-Lancaster. Heres the link to the Baltimore-Washington AVS Forum, which should take you to the latest message:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=793124&goto=newpost

I live between Loganville and Shrewsbury. I get more Baltimore and Wash. OTA stations than Harrisburg-York-Lancaster. Heres the link to the Baltimore-Washington AVS Forum, which should take you to the latest message:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=793124&goto=newpost

I use that one as well, but skip the Washington parts (I wish it was 2 seperate forums), since I can't get the Washington HD's to pick up with my setup, probably because of the hill between me and Seven Valleys borough.

Just moved into a house in Mechanicsburg. My Sony DHG-HDD500 is able to tune a channel for each of the networks via its OTA NTSC tuner attached to a radioshack powered antenna. It has an ATSC tuner, but I can't pull in the digital version of these channels. There is some interferance in the analog channels, I am wondering if the digital broadcasts are less powerful or if the tuner isn't getting enough 1s and 0s to make the connection.

Cable comes in a week or so, I'll live. I also have a silver sensor antenna in one of the many boxes. If I find it, I might give that a whirl.

Will only local hd channels be gained OTA or others as well? I live 30 miles north of harrisburg, and under antennaweb i can local but it says low quality.

CHANNEL UPDATE

Not sure how long ago this changed, but 27-2, formally ABC weather, is now RTN, Retro Television Network. I'm watching Happy Days right now. Hadn't seen it posted yet, so I thought I'd let people know.

Once Again,

WHTM-DT on 27-2 is now RTB, Retro Television Network.

Odd, lately Comcast is not passing through 15-1 or 43-1 after the regular TV Season ended. It now says Scrambled on my DTV Tuner.

(Hershey/Hummelstown area)

What happened to WGAL-DT?

I used to get it reliably but now the signal is too weak for my DTT900 to tune-in. Are they experiencing transmission problems?

I see that WGAL-Lancaster used to broadcast to Williamsport on low-power station 80. Can WGAL still be seen in that city?

If I lived in the mountain regions (like Williamsport), and the FCC axed the channel 70-83 translator stations which gave me access to WGAL and other distant stations, I'd be pissed (to put it mildly). I hate losing channels.

I am having trouble receiving Fox 43 in HD on channel 43-1 and now 15-1 WLYH is also not broadcasting. It use to appear on that channel a few months ago but not anymore. I have a tv with built in HD and qam tuner with Comcast Standard cable. We are located in Middletown, PA receiving the Harrisburg channel lineup. I've been searching around trying to maybe see if it switched channels. I can receive all the other local HD channels fine like 8-1, 21-1, 27-1, etc. Hopefully you guys can help. Thanks!

Updated: I fixed it, I rescanned my channels and it picked them up again. Weird though same channels as before. But before it would show a blank screen...

I'm in the Harrisburg suburbs (zip 17112) and looking to get an antenna for HDTV reception. From looking at the Antenna Web site I see that the reception in my location is in the yellow range (best). From what I’ve read an indoor antenna may work, but I really don’t want it to be seen. So, I’m thinking that an outdoor antenna, mounted in the attic, would solve that problem and give me better reception. My main question is about directivity. According to the Antenna Web site, the stations that I want to watch break down into two main directions. That means that I need an omni-directional, multi-directional, or directional antenna with a rotor. I really don’t want to go the route of a rotor, so I’m wondering if you guys have any recommendations for a good omni-directional or multi-directional antenna to use? Thanks!

Aaron

I'm in the Harrisburg suburbs (zip 17112) and looking to get an antenna for HDTV reception. From looking at the Antenna Web site I see that the reception in my location is in the yellow range (best). From what I’ve read an indoor antenna may work, but I really don’t want it to be seen. So, I’m thinking that an outdoor antenna, mounted in the attic, would solve that problem and give me better reception. My main question is about directivity. According to the Antenna Web site, the stations that I want to watch break down into two main directions. That means that I need an omni-directional, multi-directional, or directional antenna with a rotor. I really don’t want to go the route of a rotor, so I’m wondering if you guys have any recommendations for a good omni-directional or multi-directional antenna to use? Thanks!

Aaron


Before you get too far in the process, make sure that there is no aluminum shielding the signal from reaching your antenna as situated in your attic. If you can fit an eight-bay bowtie antenna in your attic, you might try aiming towards the middle of the two groups which are unfortunately at right angles to each other. To get the best signal for WGAL and WPMT, you may have to rotate the front side of the antenna towards the 287 degree heading while making sure the back side still gets a good signal for the others. It's a compromise this way.

Because of the right angle situation, you might want to reconsider a rotor. But first see if aiming between the two groups works. And I would also get the Channel Master 7777 pre-amp.

The eight-bay is made to receive High Band VHF (7-13) in addition to UHF; so, you will be covered for WHTM (10) and WGAL (8) post-transition. We will have to suffer with WHP-DT at 4 until February 2009 when it moves to 21; as such, I suggest trying a simple VHF antenna like rabbit ears and combine the the Low Band VHF signal at the pre-amp for channels 4 and 10 as the short-term fix.

Since you are planning to put the antenna in the attic, I do not recommend one of those flying saucer type antennas that are usually good for pulling in stations whose transmitters are within 30 miles of your house, if installed outside on your roof. Attic installs typically degrade about half the signal you would get from antenna if placed outside.

I am in the process of revising the Harrisburg-centric grid found at the first post of this thread. I have revised the grid here (http://mysite.verizon.net/centralpahdtv/) and I request any suggested edits to this grid before I have to make a JPG file of the grid.

Thanks!

Joe, thank you for all of that information! Now that I've digested it I have a bunch of other questions for you and the gang. :)

Aaron

So here we go with the questions...

Before you get too far in the process, make sure that there is no aluminum shielding the signal from reaching your antenna as situated in your attic.

I have vinyl siding on the house, so I don't think there is any aluminum that will shield the signal.

If you can fit an eight-bay bowtie antenna in your attic, you might try aiming towards the middle of the two groups which are unfortunately at right angles to each other.

Yes, I can definitely fit one of those in the attic. I was looking at the Channel Master 4228HD and two antennas from Antennas Direct, the ClearStream4 (http://www.antennasdirect.com/C4-Clearstream-DTV-antenna.html) and the DB8 (http://www.antennasdirect.com/DB8_HD_Antenna.html). If you have any experience with these I'd appreciate the feedback.

And I would also get the Channel Master 7777 pre-amp.

Do you think this is a necessity? Is this the best antenna pre-amp out there?

Attic installs typically degrade about half the signal you would get from antenna if placed outside.

To give me an idea what I can expect from over-the-air HD, I went out to Best Buy and picked up a $40 RCA ANT1251 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp;jsessionid=UUMTMPCATDVSZKC4D3NVAFI?skuId=8280843&type=product&id=1171058630563) amplified FM/VHF/UHF indoor antenna. I have it placed on a window sill at the back of the house on the first floor (facing south-west) with the two antennas pointing straight up and forming the shape of a "V". The reception is surprisingly good. In the current position, without moving it around, the only channels I can't get are: WITF and IND. With WITF the analog station comes in fine and if I move the antenna I can get the HD channel perfectly, but then reception on most of the other stations suffer). IND is mostly there, but it's noisy. I also can clearly receive WHPMY (21-2), WGAL-WX (8-2) and RTN (27-2).

So, here's my big question:
Will one of these eight-bay bow-tie antennas in the attic perform better than this RCA antenna?

Aaron

First, sorry about the delay as I didn't get a AVS notification email about your second post on the 19th.

Now, to the questions...

A simple antenna can work based on the signal propagation in your location. To get a better idea, visit tvfool.com and check out the coarse online coverage maps or download the torrent for our market that provides a very fine coverage overlay using Google Earth. Using the coverage map will help in selecting an antenna and the right location.

The eight bay bowtie would have better gain than the smaller antenna and the pre-amp would help in overcoming temporary signal degradation and other signal loss due to splitters, f-connectors and cable length.

Okay, I updated the original post of this thread. The channel chart has been cleaned up. I added links to TV Fool and to the signal coverage overlay torrent from TV Fool for this market that works with Google Earth. The overlay is really fantastic and helped me to understand why my reception of WPMT is tricky. The Harrisburg-centric Central PA HDTV website has been refreshed as well.

Is anyone else seeing the intense macroblocking during the Florida-Georgia game on WHP-DT?

Is anyone else having a problem with HD channel 8 on Directv? I'm getting alot of stuttering, and the macro blocking. Before it seemed to do it just on the local news, but about 2 weeks ago they were off Directv for a few hours, now it seems to be doing it on all programs. I have an HR20-700 DVR.

It appears that DirecTV was indeed having issues yesterday with WGAL as I also saw the macroblocking and artifacting, such as last night on Law & Order. I also have the HR20-700 with the latest CE beta software installed.

I see the link above takes us to the local list of DT stations.. is 27.3 on the air? I'll have to check that out. I thought WHTM took the Wx one off and replaced it with RTN (which I watch daily). I didn't know they have a 27.3 channel for their weather now. Gotta check it out later.

Has anyone out there locally been able to get any info out of WITF regarding their planned single HD feed? I was told by someone at WITF last spring (2008) that they were planning on combining their 33.1 (WITF analog) feed with the 33.3 (PBS HD) feed into one single digital channel at some point. I haven't been able to get any more updated info on that.

Also, WITF is very mum on the topic of their DT signal on DirecTV. As you may remember, PBS national and DirecTV issued a joint press release last December 2007 about adding PBS digital affiliates to DirecTV in 2008.

Thanks, I'm glad its not just my problem with Directv. I've had very little problems with my HR20-700, but it seems some people have. I too am looking for the digital channel of 33 on Directv. I live 10 miles north of the Maryland border and can't get channel 33 OTA. I get all the Baltimore stations OTA, but their PBS station, WMPT, really messed up the HD since they added a Spanish subchannel. They hardly ever have anything in HD anymore.

The FCC relocated the Chambersburg area from the DC DMA to the Harrisburg-Lancaster-York-Lebanon DMA a few years back and I only get WGAL (8) and (when the antenna and weather conditions are just right) WPMT (43). I'm two-edge diffraction, with only WGCB (49) Digital reception. Hopefully this will change when Feb 2009 rolls around and WGAL (8) goes VHF, WHTM (27) goes VHF, and WPMT (43) increases their power. I'm not sure what will happen with WHP (21) and WLYH (15).

This is crazy, since I can currently get Baltimore Digital stations WMAR (2), WBAL (11), WJZ (13), WUTB (24), & WNUV (54). Baltimore and D.C. are also two-edge diffraction.

The only Digital LOS's I get are WNPB (24), WWPB (31), WVPY (42), WWPX (60), & WJAL (68).

WHTM is already VHF on channel 10. They are staying there and I wish they'd increase their power. WHP is moving from their current digital channel 4 back to 21. I can currently barely get WHTM-DT and can't get WHP-DT at all and I am south of Hershey. WITF-DT (33.1 and 33.3) I can get pretty well.

I've been noticing much more artifacting and green blocky screens lately while watching WGAL DT via DirecTV HD LIL. The past 2 evenings, the condition has been much more frequent than normal.

Have others around here noticed this as well? It doesn't seem to be related to anything local to my setup. No trees in the way, no rain at the time. Not quick enough to switch over and get a signal strength reading on 103s transponder 15. I am running the HR20-700 IRD.

I don't know if the problem also exists on the other locals as I don't watch the others as much.

Anyone have issue with PQ on OTA for WHP, specifically the Giants Ravens game. I have OTA piped through my computer (DVR), and HD Comcast directly to the TV. Comcast signal is fine, but the OTA reception is not as crisp.

WHTM is already VHF on channel 10. They are staying there and I wish they'd increase their powerThey can't, not until the transition, when WCAU in Philly vacates it's analog 10.

After the transition, WHTM has requested a power increase. They want to put up a new non-directional antenna where the analog 27 antenna is now, and boost it from 16.2 kW to 19.7 kW. It won't happen right after 02/17/09, but has to be done within three years of the application being granted (it hasn't been granted yet).

- Trip

That's promising.. should be interesting to see the changes and how well we can all receive the digital stations once they move to their permanent digital spot and power output. The data I have shows WHTM staying at channel 10 post transition. I assume this power increase request would be for that channel (as opposed to also wanting channel 27 back post-Feb 2009)?

According to my data, here are where the local stations plan to be post-Feb 2009:

WGAL channel 8 analog - Currently on channel 58 digital - Going back to channel 8
WLYH channel 15 analog - Currently on channel 23 digital and staying there
WHTM channel 27 analog - Currently on channel 10 digital and staying there
WHP channel 21 analog - Currently on channel 4 digital - Going back to channel 21
WPMT channel 43 analog - Currently on channel 47 digital and staying there
WITF channel 33 analog - Currently on channel 36 digital and staying there

For those of us who also can get the Philly stations OTA:
KWY channel 3 analog - Currently on channel 26 digital and staying there
WPVI channel 6 analog - Currently on channel 64 digital - Going back to channel 6
WCAU channel 10 analog - Currently on channel 67 digital - Going to channel 34
WPHL channel 17 analog - Currently on channel 54 digital - Going back to channel 17
WTXF channel 29 analog - Currently on channel 42 digital and staying there
WYBE channel 35 analog - Currently on channel 34 digital - Going back to 35
WPSG channel 57 analog - Currently on channel 32 digital and staying there

Of all of the above channels, I wish WPVI (6.1) would stay up in the UHF band. I can receive it no problem here, but can't get channel 6 analog now. May not get it after Feb 2009. I also wish WTXF and WPHL would increase their power. I can't receive them here. I can get the other Philly stations (digital) no problem.

That's promising.. should be interesting to see the changes and how well we can all receive the digital stations once they move to their permanent digital spot and power output. The data I have shows WHTM staying at channel 10 post transition. I assume this power increase request would be for that channel (as opposed to also wanting channel 27 back post-Feb 2009)?

Correct.

WITF channel 33 analog - Currently on channel 36 digital and staying there

They've asked the FCC for permission to boost power from 50 kW DA to 140 kW ND. (DA = Directional Array, ND = Not Directional)

WYBE channel 34 analog - Currently on channel 35 digital and staying there

Channel 35 analog, 34 digital. Will revert to channel 35 for digital next year.

Of all of the above channels, I wish WPVI (6.1) would stay up in the UHF band. I can receive it no problem here, but can't get channel 6 analog now. May not get it after Feb 2009.

They keep making the excuse that no other channels were available, but that's nonsense. I imagine it will not take long for an STA to operate on channel 48 to show up with the FCC, along with a petition to relocate WPVI from 6 to 48 and WWSI from 49 to 10.

I also wish WTXF and WPHL would increase their power. I can't receive them here. I can get the other Philly stations (digital) no problem.

Both have plans for increased power levels.

WTXF put their antenna low on the tower, 925' 1000 kW DA to protect WLVT-39 analog. They want to go to 1125' 650 kW DA with an antenna that isn't as quick to drop off.

WPHL is using this oddly-shaped directional pattern at 500 kW right now, and has a permit for 77 kW ND, but has asked to go to 1000 kW DA, with a very slight directional pattern.

- Trip

A noticed tonight that Fox 43 is now simulcasting
Everybody Loves Raymond and Two and a Half Men in HD. Pretty nice :D

Did a re-scan this morning, picked a new WHTM sub-channel. 27.3 is a weather channel. Not sure when this change was made, because prior to this morning, I was not receiving enough signal to hold a picture. Does anyone one know if WHTM boosted its power? BTW, I am located near Reading, PA.

Channel 35 analog, 34 digital. Will revert to channel 35 for digital next year. - Trip

Sorry, I accidentally flipped 34 and 35.

Good news you provide, Trip, and I hope this helps those of us near Lancaster get these stations better post-Feb. Can't wait until Feb.

Did a re-scan this morning, picked a new WHTM sub-channel. 27.3 is a weather channel. Not sure when this change was made, because prior to this morning, I was not receiving enough signal to hold a picture. Does anyone one know if WHTM boosted its power? BTW, I am located near Reading, PA.


I am not aware of any power increase for WHTM. However, I observed the return of 27.3 just prior to updating the channel chart in the first post of this thread around late October 2008.

I noticed yesterday that I have lost my OTA digital signal for WHP TV 21. Did they drop power or something? No problem with any other local just WHP. I live in Perry County and this is first I have had problem with WHP.
Anybody else notice weaker signal?

I noticed yesterday that I have lost my OTA digital signal for WHP TV 21. Did they drop power or something? No problem with any other local just WHP. I live in Perry County and this is first I have had problem with WHP.
Anybody else notice weaker signal?
I lost WHP for about 15 minutes on Tuedsay afternoon, and have noticed a weaker single since yesterday afternoon. Was still good enough to watch Rudolph last night...

Is this the proper thread to ask about Comcast cable channels?

Does anyone in the Mechanicsburg area get channels 244 (Lifetime Movie Channel) and 245 (Hallmark Movie Channel) in HD?

I see that WGAL has posted an article on their website about the trouble people are having with their digital channel. Last night during the news, it was unwatchable on Directv.

While back I noticed that 33.3 became 33.1. Recently, I noticed that WITF-HD, 33.1 programming is gone. Website claims that HD programming will be shown when possible, but I have yet to see it... on my HDTV, it is always SD stretched and the same programming as reg witf. What a mistake!

The 24/7 PBS-HD feed was delivered off a satellite dish and discontinued by PBS last Sunday. PBS now offers the "HD when available" thing the networks do.

- Trip

Yep, PBS national announced this change last summer.

We may see WITF-DT on D* soon as they are slowly adding PBS local affiliates in existing HD markets.

FYI - Starting on Jan. 1, WGAL-DT 8.2 will drop WeatherPlus and pickup the THIS TV network from MGM (showing movies in 4:3 SD). I haven't been able to find a website with their movie schedule.

I noticed that using an HD TiVo with Comcast in Hanover, the guide for WITF HD is wrong. Wonder if the new Masterpiece series will be correct or if I will need to use the SD channel.

FYI - Starting on Jan. 1, WGAL-DT 8.2 will drop WeatherPlus and pickup the THIS TV network from MGM (showing movies in 4:3 SD). I haven't been able to find a website with their movie schedule.

I read on a Baltimore thread Channel 45.2 will also air THIS TV
starting Jan. 12 Programing was described this way:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios is backing the new This TV network, which is designed for the US broadcast marketplace. It'll offer movies from the MGM library as well as classic sitcoms and childrens' programming.

FYI - Starting on Jan. 1, WGAL-DT 8.2 will drop WeatherPlus and pickup the THIS TV network from MGM (showing movies in 4:3 SD). I haven't been able to find a website with their movie schedule.

Curious--where did you get this info? Not because I'm doubting you, I'm just looking for a list of other affiliates.

- Trip

I can't find a direct web site but maybe 'this' will help:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_TV

Thanks, but it doesn't. I'm responsible for creating most of that list.

- Trip

Sorry !

If I find any info 'not' listed on that web site, I'll post it here.

Curious--where did you get this info? Not because I'm doubting you, I'm just looking for a list of other affiliates.

- Trip


Did find that original story, but no affiliates are listed:

http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/231887

Did find that original story, but no affiliates are listed:

http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/231887

This is the article/news release I was looking for. Thanks! :)

- Trip

Curious--where did you get this info? Not because I'm doubting you, I'm just looking for a list of other affiliates.

- Trip

It was in the Sunday paper. I still haven't found a TV schedule for THIS TV. Incidentally, the various affiliates of RTN seem to have their own schedules.. The RTN affiliate in Pittsburgh shows some different programs at different times as the RTN affiliate (WHTM 27.2) here in our area.. I don't know if the various THIS TV affiliates will be similar or not.

This TV's schedule can be found on the Me TV website (subchannel of WCIU in Chicago), or I have it on Titan TV from the same source (WCIU 26-4).

This TV has a national schedule. The RTN schedules vary because different stations own programming rights in different places so one unified schedule would be hard to fit into all places. MGM owns these rights directly and thus can put them into a unified schedule.

- Trip

Here is the WGAL Official Announcement of This TV:

http://www.wgal.com/news/18389008/detail.html

If you set up for 'Over the Air TV listings' at www.zat2it.com you can see the This TV (8.2 WGALDT2) schedule.

The first show, 'Patty Duke', starts at 6:00 AM / January 1st.
The first Movie is 'Cry for the Strangers' at 10:00 AM.

Not that I watched it anytime, but did Directv customers notice that channel 49, Red Lion, is not available anymore. The guide this morning says 'this channel is no longer available'. I can get it OTA and checked and they are still broadcasting. They're supposed to be adding channels, not taking them away. Anyone know if we'll ever be getting channel 15 HD or channel 33 HD?

I saw the announcement on dbstalk.com a few days ago about the dropping of WGCB - 49.1 as of 1 Jan.

There are test channels on 103(s) transponder 15 for channel 15 (WLYH) and 33 (WITF) but they haven't gone live yet. Also, WITF dropped their 33-3 PBS HD feed a few days ago. All that's there is a wide screen 33-1.

Anyone heard anything about WPMTDT2, 43.2 ?

I pick up a few hits on this while out Surfing about, but no details.

Anyone heard anything about WPMTDT2, 43.2 ?

I pick up a few hits on this while out Surfing about, but no details.

I've not heard anything new about WPMT turning back on 43.2 with programming.

Capture of Fox43's HD simulcasted Two and a Half Men.

I'm liking the new HD simulcasting :D

Just curious to know if WGAL (Harrisburg/Lancaster, PA) has changed transponders on 103W within the past few weeks. I had D* here last week to replace an faulty LNB and also to tweak my dish aiming and, afterwards, just about all of the signals on 99c and 103c were up into the mid to upper 90s after the tweak except for transponder 15 on 103s. This one went down to the 70s, although transponder 16 on 103s is now at 99 or 100. Everywhere I see it listed, our HD locals are on transponder 15 of 103s.

Can you guys post your signal strengths for 103s? Curious to know if everyone around here is getting very strong signals on transponder 16 now.

It looks like WPMT is testing out simulcasting Seinfeld in HD right now. It looks great but the audio is about 2 seconds out of sync. Hopefully that will get fixed within the next few days. WPMT is sure beefing up their HD programing.

After the transition, WHTM has requested a power increase. They want to put up a new non-directional antenna where the analog 27 antenna is now, and boost it from 16.2 kW to 19.7 kW. It won't happen right after 02/17/09, but has to be done within three years of the application being granted (it hasn't been granted yet).

- Trip

This seems like it could be a case where the delay in the analog to digital transition could cause a conflict. If WCAU continues to broadcast on analog 10, that could get in the way of WHTM boosting its signal on Digital 10. Right?

This seems like it could be a case where the delay in the analog to digital transition could cause a conflict. If WCAU continues to broadcast on analog 10, that could get in the way of WHTM boosting its signal on Digital 10. Right?

They probably can't do it now anyway, due to weather at this time of year and all that. I know a number of Allbritton stations are scheduled to have work done in May or June, so chances are that nothing would change with their signal until that time anyway, regardless of any delays with WCAU.

- Trip

With Congress passing the delay in DTV transition, allowing stations to wait until June, stations will now have the option of transistioning on 2/17 or waiting.

Here's is what WGAL is saying:
http://www.wgal.com/technology/18646479/detail.html
The House of Representatives reversed its position and passed a bill to delay the switch to digital television until June.

President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill.

Local stations have the option to make the switch on Feb. 17.

About 1/3 of all TV stations in the U.S. will go digital on Feb. 17.

WGAL is consulting with other TV stations in the area. But a decision has not yet been made on whether WGAL will delay the switch.

WHP/WLYH states the following:
http://www.whptv.com/content/dialedintoDTV/story/Digital-Transition-Delayed/JNupAlJrdEyGw7BA7odA3g.cspx
The government may give television stations the choice to go ahead and switch to digital before June 12th. This is something CBS 21 is considering, but a decision has not been made. We will of course let you know any updates.

WHTM is at the mercy of WCAU in Philly, which is on Analog 10, and thus cannot transition until WCAU does.

I think WHTM should just go-ahead and move to DT-10. If their signal "collides" with Philadephia's 10 halfway in-between (somewhere around Gap PA), then so be it. It's only temporary.

WGAL-8 announced tonight they will be waiting until June.

I'm curious to see what the other stations will do.

WHTM is already on 10. It doesn't matter what WCAU does, WHTM is already there.

- Trip

With Congress passing the delay in DTV transition, allowing stations to wait until June, stations will now have the option of transistioning on 2/17 or waiting.

WHP/WLYH states the following:
http://www.whptv.com/content/dialedintoDTV/story/Digital-Transition-Delayed/JNupAlJrdEyGw7BA7odA3g.cspx


Trip, what's up with WHP-DT. Your site shows it flash cutting on 02/17. Yet the above story seems to say, we'll see...

I'm hoping it will go to Actual 21 since I can't get it now at 4 with a DBGH antenna...

Thanks for your time!

The DTR page is way too long for me to go through and fix all of those at once. The page assumes the February 17 deadline. I need to put that at the top of the page.

EDIT: The page now bears a notice. I apologize for its current state.

- Trip

Actually, no apology necessary. I kinda believed your page more than what I was hearing elsewhere. I think this "animal" is going to be quite a CF for awhile...

Don't spend so much time updating your page...study, study, study! (From a Dad with four children..)

Actually, no apology necessary. I kinda believed your page more than what I was hearing elsewhere. I think this "animal" is going to be quite a CF for awhile...

Don't spend so much time updating your page...study, study, study! (From a Dad with four children..)

Pfft, this is doing more to get me a job than school is. Seriously, I've heard from people in high places due to my involvement in my website.

I've done my best to make my website as accurate and up-to-date as possible. Things like the latest Congressional and FCC action that take months of my work and chuck them out the window do not go over well with me, though. :D

- Trip

WHTM is already on 10. It doesn't matter what WCAU does, WHTM is already there.

Yes, but WHTM can't go to full power until WCAU shuts down their analog signal. Until then, large parts of the market can't get their digital signal.

As it is, the 2 important channel dates to know are for WGAL & WHP, as their digital channels are switching to old analog channel. Those dates are needed, because a rescan will be needed. All the others would only result in a possible power boost (especially for WHTM).

Yes, but WHTM can't go to full power until WCAU shuts down their analog signal. Until then, large parts of the market can't get their digital signal.

WHTM-DT is at "full power." What they can't do is maximize their signal, which requires an antenna change. It wasn't happening in February anyway due to the weather at this time of year, and there's no guarantee it was going to happen before June either.

- Trip

Let your voices be heard. The White House wants to know what you think about this extension of the analog shutdown:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing_room/dtv_delay_act/

WGAL-8's station manager has announced he will be waiting until June. The RabbitEars website is incorrect. The manager also said he talked to other stations in the Lancaster-York-Harrisburg market, and they "agreed to wait" but he was not clear which stations. WHTM is already on 10. It doesn't matter what WCAU does, WHTM is already there. (1) I meant permanently and (2) they are not using their final omnidirectional antenna which will extend the signal eastward.

So I think they should go ahead, turn-off their analog, and upgrade their DT-10 to its final configuration. If the newly-extended DT-10 signal collides with Philadelphia's analog 10 somewhere around Gap PA... too bad. It's only temporary. Pfft, this is doing more to get me a job than school is. Seriously, I've heard from people in high places due to my involvement in my website. Networking is very important for gaining manager's interest in you, but the liberal arts majors known as "HR" are guarding the door and they won't let you through unless you have at least 3.2 GPA. If you have 3.0 they won't interview you.

As it is, the 2 important channel dates to know are for WGAL & WHP, as their digital channels are switching to old analog channel. Those dates are needed, because a rescan will be needed. Well, no not really. I live in southern Lancaster and can receive Baltimore and Philadelphia too, so I'll have around 8 channels that will be moving & require a rescan. Or not? I'm so confused. It's rather chaotic trying to monitor 3 separate DMAs and figure out what they're doing.

Stupid, stupid rat creatures..... er, Congress.

Well, no not really. I live in southern Lancaster and can receive Baltimore and Philadelphia too, so I'll have around 8 channels that will be moving & require a rescan.

I don't understand why everyone is so worried about when they will rescan. If you actually watch the channel on a regular basis, don't you think the absence of a signal might tip you off that it is time to try a rescan??

I don't understand why everyone is so worried about when they will rescan. If you actually watch the channel on a regular basis, don't you think the absence of a signal might tip you off that it is time to try a rescan??
Tell that to my DVR :rolleyes:

I'm not concerned about myself. I'm concerned about other people who don't know how/when/what a rescan is. Prior to the delay it was easy for me to instruct them: "On the morning of Feb 18, go into the menu and rescan the channels."

Now I've been telling them, "I don't know. You might have to do a rescan every day from now until June 10. And you might not. The Congress has made a mess."

I usually do a rescan every now and then since the channels around here regularly give and take away subchannels, or for example, WITF moved their HD subchannel from 33-2 to 33-1 a while back, without any prior easily accessible pubic notice.

I think it is just a good idea to have the people you are advising do a rescan every week or so. If they can use a knife, spoon and fork I think they have the mental capability to rescan.

Congress has made a big freakin' mess out of this transition. Everyone knew it was coming Feb 17, so why change the rules now? Looks like we'll all have to do periodic rescans every so often just to see what is going on.

I recall hearing or seeing that WPMT (43.1) had decided to go all digital on the 17th, but now I can't recall where I heard of saw that. Their website doesn't provide any info.

WITF appears to just do things on their own for no reason. They dump 33.3 and now they seem to show nothing in HD (16:9) on 33.1. I calls and emails to WITF go unanswered. When will they show something in 16:9 HD again? "This Old House" has been letterboxed 4:3 for some time, as have been lots of other shows.

I'm curious, check if you get the chance; does WITF air the News Hour in HD?

There is a good reason for this change. PBS ended the 24/7 HD feed, and the stations were encouraged to begin doing the network-style "HD when available" thing. WITF is one of many stations having to cope with this issue.

- Triip

How ironic. PBS now has less channels than before the transition. I was wondering why WITF 33-3 disappeared.

Tripp:

I keep checking your transition report, but it's almost worthless at this point. I don't know if that's intentional or due to lack of time? For example it reads: "WBAL will flashcut" or "WGAL will flashcut", but we who live here already heard the owner Hearst announce they will abide with Congress' wishes & continue analog until June 10.

IMHO it would be wiser if you simply removed the page until you have time to update it, rather than mislead visitors.

but we who live here already heard the owner Hearst announce they will abide with Congress' wishes & continue analog until June 10.
Here's the link, even though WGAL News has announced it on air a few times.
http://www.wgal.com/technology/18655828/detail.html

News 8 reported Wednesday that Congress voted to delay the switch to digital TV from Feb. 17 to June 12.

The vote also left the door open for TV stations, including WGAL, to go ahead and make the digital transition in two weeks, without having to wait.

Even though WGAL is ready to make the switch on Feb. 17, the station will comply with the June 12 extension.

The analog transmitters for WGAL will remain on the air until June 12.

On that date, WGAL will switch to all digital broadcasting.

WGAL will continue to run public service announcements about the switch because they are federally mandated.

The only thing I found on WHP's site, is that they are still making their decision.

How ironic. PBS now has less channels than before the transition. I was wondering why WITF 33-3 disappeared.

They say on their web page that they've budgeted equipment to add MHz WorldView as a subchannel during the next fiscal year (they're aiming for July 1).

Tripp:

I keep checking your transition report, but it's almost worthless at this point. I don't know if that's intentional or due to lack of time?

Yes, you hand manage 260KB worth of stuff and go to college at the same time. See how much time you have.

For example it reads: "WBAL will flashcut" or "WGAL will flashcut", but we who live here already heard the owner Hearst announce they will abide with Congress' wishes & continue analog until June 10.

IMHO it would be wiser if you simply removed the page until you have time to update it, rather than mislead visitors.

Mislead? Did you not SEE the giant red notice at the top of the page clearly indicating that the page is out of date? It takes a TON of time to fix all that stuff on the page, and I don't even have anything to fix it with yet because the filings aren't due in to the FCC until today! Then I have to pick through the hundreds of stations that didn't file anything Friday one by one because the FCC site won't let me search them, format the page they're on, compile together data I have coming from some other people who generously donated their time to help me out, figure out what the stations that didn't file are doing, then still get some sleep, do two labs on Tuesday, and two tests on Wednesday. What do you want from me?

I'm in the middle of rebuilding the page from scratch. 11 months worth of work down the tubes thanks to Congressional and FCC policy. Here's the page that will eventually replace it, which is ALSO clearly linked from the top of the page:

http://www.rabbitears.info/termlist.php

I don't get paid for what I do, I still have school, and supposedly I'm supposed to have a life, so why don't you try reading what's on the top of the page instead of throwing around words like "worthless" and "mislead" at the crown jewel of my existence?

- Trip

Just curious - What are you studying? I like your new page; good job.

WLYH-15 is now running giant fullscreen ads - "We will be terminating our analog transmission on February 17."

Just curious - What are you studying? I like your new page; good job.

Electrical engineering. It's not as fun as all the smiling people on the brochure would make you think. :D

Yeah, I finally had enough of a page together this afternoon that it wouldn't be a page that's almost completely empty, so I moved it over to replace the old one. I was waiting for some FCC filings to show up before I did that, and a bunch did come in last night; I expect a larger load tonight than I got last night.

WLYH-15 is now running giant fullscreen ads - "We will be terminating our analog transmission on February 17."

Good to know; thanks.

- Trip

Hey Trip, I graduated with my BSEE back in 1995. Fun major, eh? ;-)

Thanks for the work you do for us. We know with Congress and Obama getting involved, it has screwed up everyone. Nobody can be sure of what will happen next week until it does in some aspects.

If WLYH is shutting off analog on the 17th, I would imagine WHP will also the same as WHP operates WLYH unless there is some prescheduled work being done and WLYH has to go off on time. Who knows. I am waiting for WHP to go back to channel 21 since I can't get them at all in Etown on channel 4. I can get WHTM (digital 10) and WITF (36) with my antenna and amp, but WHP-DT is a 'no show'.

I'm curious, check if you get the chance; does WITF air the News Hour in HD?


Sorry, I forgot to check till the regular News Hour was over. The News Hour lead up to the Obama speech (8pm) has WITF at 720p with WMPT at 1080i.... I assume it is a national feed since Jim Leher is still on.

Craig

If they're capable of showing HD, it should be HD right now.

- Trip

I don't think WHP-21 enjoys being on channel DT-4, since many of their viewers have complained it's difficult to receive. The only hangup is that 21 has to move its DTV from 4 to 21 which is difficult. Their sister station can just shutdown channel 15, and they're done. Electrical engineering. It's not as fun as all the smiling people on the brochure would make you think. :D Yeah. I've been doing electrical engineering for about ten years now, and I'm ready to quit and do something else. You sit at a desk all day, never interacting with any other people. It's dull and lonely.

I think after I hit my first million earned (I'm at 800,000 so far), I'm going to quit engineering and go back to school. I'm leaning political science, although lawschool looks interesting too.

21 hasn't filed anything, which unless the FCC got backlogged and just didn't post things (unlikely), then they missed the deadline on filing and are staying until at least March 14.

- Trip

I thought it was weird that WHP didn't announce anything yet since their sister station that WHP runs (WLYH) is doing all digital next week. I can't wait until WHP does since I can't get WHP-DT OTA now on channel 4. No problem getting channel 21 analog.

I wish WHP would just go ahead and do it also. At least WJZ (my temporary CBS replacement) isn't doing anything for awhile...when they go to Real 13 a may have problems with a GH antenna...

WHP has updated it's countdown to DTV page.
http://www.whptv.com/content/DTV/default.aspx
It now says, "120 day, xx hours, etc..."

Which pretty much means there not going to switch until June 12th, so we have to suffer with channel 4 until then.

I can't wait until WHP does since I can't get WHP-DT OTA now on channel 4. Same problem here. Neither 21 nor 27 digital (DT-4 and DT-10) are visible here in the Lampeter-Strasburg school district. DT-4 is too low on the dial and DT-10 has interference from Philadelphia's analog 10.

The analog 21 and 27 are not much better with degradation to black-and-white, but at least I can watch them. That was one advantage analog had - it may not be pretty, but an ugly image is more enjoyable than no image.

Same problem here. Neither 21 nor 27 digital (DT-4 and DT-10) are visible here in the Lampeter-Strasburg school district. DT-4 is too low on the dial and DT-10 has interference from Philadelphia's analog 10.

Just curious, how many stations can you get from the Phila area there??

Thanks
Craig

WITF-DT just ran a commercial (30 second) stating that they will be off the air 2/17 and aren't waiting till June 12. That's the first I have seen that one. Didn't get to ask if my wife saw it today since she's at work...

WITF-DT just ran a commercial (30 second) stating that they will be off the air 2/17 and aren't waiting till June 12. That's the first I have seen that one. Didn't get to ask if my wife saw it today since she's at work...

WITF-TV TO OBSERVE ORIGINAL DTV TRANSITION DATE OF FEBRUARY 17, 2009

http://netcommunity.witf.org/digitaltv

OK, now if they would just show some actual HD 16:9 programming, that would be nice.

OK, now if they would just show some actual HD 16:9 programming, that would be nice.

I don't quite understand what they are up to/against. When WMPT has the same nat'l feed they lean towards 16:9.

Neither 21 nor 27 digital (DT-4 and DT-10) are visible here in the Lampeter-Strasburg school district. DT-4 is too low on the dial and DT-10 has interference from Philadelphia's analog 10.Just curious, how many stations can you get from the Phila area there?? Several. 3,6,10,12,17,29,35,48,51,57,65. That's with an analog tuner. With digital it's about half that.

I get good Baltimore reception too. 2,11,13,45. Southern Lancaster County is a "sweet spot" for reception because you are within range of three different markets.

CW15 to drop analog on 2/17 as well per on-air update.

Several. 3,6,10,12,17,29,35,48,51,57,65. That's with an analog tuner. With digital it's about half that.

I get good Baltimore reception too. 2,11,13,45. Southern Lancaster County is a "sweet spot" for reception because you are within range of three different markets.

Beam me all those channels...you get more analog from Philly than I do from Harrisburg/York/Baltimore combined! ... Heh, how much is the cost of living???

I just found that I have a reliable contact at WITF. A friend who I didn't know he worked there. I asked about WITF-DT doing HD programming. He checked and he says that WITF just got some new equipment donated and should be back to doing HD (16:9) programming in approx. 3 months. I also asked about when D* will be picking up WITF-DT and presenting is in 16:9 format (even though WITF isn't doing HD right now). He didn't have a answer yet.

What happened to WITF tonight??? It just isn't there!

Are WLYH and WITF the only stations to shutdown analog in the Harrisburg/Lancaster/York area?

Have WHTM-DT or WGCB-DT gone to full power yet?

Are WLYH and WITF the only stations to shutdown analog in the Harrisburg/Lancaster/York area?



Yes, so far!

Are WLYH and WITF the only stations to shutdown analog in the Harrisburg/Lancaster/York area?

Have WHTM-DT or WGCB-DT gone to full power yet?

Yes, only WLYH and WITF decided to go all digital on time (by "on time" I mean when they were supposed to.. not the bogus extension date). WITF turned off their analog signal about 10am on Tuesday. WLYH waited until midnight.

No idea about your second question about WHTM or WGCB. You could call them and ask.