Digital stations have to be full power by July 05. That doesn't mean HD though.

Bryan

Unfortunately, that doesn't mean that they will be at the power they are broadcasting at now either. Just whatever their license says. 5 is broadcasting digital right now. When the moon is full, and the the wind in in the right direction, my 811 can get a lock. I fault the 811 on this though, as my Samsung T-351 would lock it up with a simple Terk indoor antenae. I have an outdoor now, and the 811 barely gets it. Either way, August of next year, last I heard, was when they plan to do ANYTHING different.

I think there is a new station manager, a little while back, but I haven't heard much about what is going on in there.

CBS sent us a new HD decoder this week . There are still other possibilities in the chain of things for where the dropouts during primetime are originating from, but at least the decoder will make sure that it's somewhere in the building.

I'm not quite sure what the real schedule is right now, but I believe the master control area is next in line to be upgraded and redesigned. If nothing else, this will at least ensure a much more streamlined operation to switch between CBS HD and local commercials. (It doesn't look that complicated when viewing, but trust me...sometimes you could use more than two hands when dealing with that board.)

Originally posted by xsnrg
Unfortunately, that doesn't mean that they [Channel 5] will be at the power they are broadcasting at now either.
They'd better not be broadcasting at the power they are now!

Even if they get a tentative digital channel other than their current 59, they still have to serve 100% of their analog population coverage by July 1, 2005. Otherwise, it looks like a case of "use it or lose it." (Source: "Summary of Channel Election, Replication, and Maximization Decisions Adopted in the Second DTV Periodic Review" from the FCC website.)

At least that's the way I'm reading it.

The danger of waiting until the last legal minute, of course, is that there are probably dozens of stations who are running hamster-wheel power right now who are ALSO thinking about waiting until the last legal minute. There may not be enough tower crews for all of them.

test

Saw this thread in HDTV Programming -- thought you might get a chuckle out of it:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=468616

lol,

a funny thread!!!

WOI did the politically correct thing like some other cities did.

I didnt watch woi, so I have no idea what they did broadcast.

They are doing the very un-politically correct thing of not going to full power and passing on the HD signal. we need MNF!!!!

Citadel better get their act together or sell!!!!

DSM deserves better!!!!

Mark

I originally posted this in a SPR programming thread, but I'll say it again here:

Just more proof that the concept of "political correctness" never went away. We're just replacing liberal PC with conservative PC. And as before, there's a significant audience that's willing to rebel against any PC. Witness what's happening with Desperate Housewives.

And I agree, Citadel is in deep trouble in the Des Moines-Ames market. That's too bad, as there are some good people working there (John Walters, Brad Edwards, and even Jay Villwock comes to mind) who could use more commitment from above to reverse the slide.

Originally posted by randym431
PS. Does the recorder convert non HD channels to output via the component RGB?

Yes it does, same thing with the DVI port.

Anyone know when those of us in central Iowa can get the Motorola 6412? I'd also be interested if Mediacom is going to pick up Fox-HD before the superbowl. I told my wife I wanted an OTA receiver for Christmas, but that will be a moot-point if Mediacom picks up fox.

I might be moving from CR to Des Moines, what stations are broadcasting in HDTV? Power levels? (I don't want to read all 63 pages please :)

KCCI (CBS) 8.1 Moderate to full power
WHO (NBC) 13.1, 13.2 (weather radar multicast) Full power
KDSM (Fox) 17.1 Full power
IPTV (PBS) 11.1 Full power, HD loop, supposed to be simulcasting soon

WOI (ABC) 5.1 Very weak "city" grade signal, only a couple of board posters have seen this signal, NO HD even if you do get the signal

Everyone else is doing a good job for the most part of passing through network HD as it is available. Can't speak for what is on Mediacom (local cable).

Welcome, let us know how it works out.

http://www.tvradioworld.com/region1/ia/

All you could ask for.

... and don't let the fact that Tiffany O'Donnell also does the Fox 17 News At Nine confuse you. :)

^^^ LOL

BTW, KCCI is actually only broadcasting at about 33% of the full licensed power.

33% is still a respectable 300,000 watts or so. When I tested KCCI and WHO from my parents' house back in Story County, with a Silver Sensor and a Samsung T351 about 15 miles north of the Alleman transmitter site, it was like stealing hi-def candy from a baby.

I should point out, all of the major stations (except PAX 39) transmit analog from near the small town of Alleman, about halfway between Ames and Des Moines -- none of this !@#$ with signals coming from three directions like we have in Cedar Rapids. Most transmit digital from that area, too, except I don't think WOI-DT (ABC, analog 5/DT 59) has moved to this permanent site yet; they're still on a special temporary authorization for 500 watts from somewhere in the Des Moines metro. (Oddly enough, they're licensed to Ames and I couldn't get them from there.)

I have no trouble with KCCI between Pella and Knoxville at their current power levels.

I think someone reported in the murky past of this thread that WOI-DT is transmitting from an antenna on the water tower just next to Merle Hay Mall. Take that info with a grain of salt, my memory is not what it once was.

In case anyone didn't know, WOI was once licensed to and operated by ISU's journalism college. I am assuming that this is the reason that Ames is the city on the license rather than Des Moines.

I have a question... for those stations with good solid digital broadcasts, why are they not using it to their advantage? I never hear any marketing for the digital channels, or the HD content, etc. Even their websites are way behind. You would think they would want you to know they have Digital with HD content. I would have thought that marketing types would have jumped on this bandwagon as soon as they could.

Are station managers still a bit uneasy with stability, etc?

While watching regular TV, before a show starts, just a quick blurb about "...you COULD be watching this in HD, you know..." type of thing.

The more people that show interest, the more demand for the services. The more demand for the services, the better the services become. The better the services become, the happier we all are :) Besides... it's mandated, so it's not like you can just put a foot in to test the water anyway.

*shrug*

I have wondered about that too. The networks do the "In HD where available" but even that is low key. WHO used to send out an email once in a while, but that stopped.

Of course you could be WOI, giving away an HDTV and party for a lucky Monday Night Football viewer, when you can't even watch MNF in HD from WOI. I think that is the definition of irony.

BTW, IPTV is now simulcasting some HD content as it is available. It is in the December program guide you get when you become a Friend. Nature, Nova, the Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival last week are what I noticed. Haven't looked at their site to see if they have details on the guide.

It just so happens that I just converted my mother back in Story County to HD as an early Christmas present. I see what you mean about "stability" -- WHO appeared to have a couple of problems during Las Vegas, which I don't think were part of our setup.

The good news is, you're right, KDSM has ramped things up. 8-1, 11-1, 13-1 and 17-1 are all getting 10 bars from an indoor Silver Sensor on the first floor. Unfortunately, it wasn't an HD night on Fox when I set up the system, and I had a hard time explaining KDSM's 17-1/17-2 setup to someone who was wondering why 17 wasn't CNN as it is on cable.

But the cable's still there on another input. Those broadcasters who are doing full-power DT get a special, uncluttered input into this set. Those who aren't are lumped in with the other 70 or so Mediacom channels. And, yes, even my mother, who is not the most technologically savvy person out there, can tell the difference. (WOI, take note !!!!!)

Actually, KCCI gives their digital channel about 5-6 seconds of notice during the 5pm news each night. (Unless they're running long, then they drop it.) After weather and at the end of a block they show the evening schedule and designate which programs are in HD. Obviously, more exposure would be nicer for everyone. I thought I heard at one time that CBS had given permission or was going to give permission for stations to run snipes along with the "In HD where available" to say "Watch in HD on Channel 31" or something to that effect. It may have been a trial thing, though, because I haven't heard anything since.

As a sort of totally unrelated note, directors and crew have been told to be more vigilant of the DT viewers and take control for the 10pm news later than they have in the past so as not to cut into the HD presentation of some shows. In theory, this should end the early ending of shows from widescreen to pillar boxed.

bah, just find a sponsor for some new HD cameras for the station, and keep the news in HD. Be the first one on the block... major bragging rights

Now... to find that sponsor ;)

Mmmm...toys. :-D Actually, it will probably be quite a while before HD cameras come to 8. The backroom operations have to get caught up with the rest of the world and brought out of the stone age. The studio switcher is about the only compenent in the whole facility that actually possesses the ability to do HD.

BTW, 13 got new cameras a few months ago and I believe they were of the HD flavor. :) Now if we can sneak into their studio some night and "borrow" them. :p

I read somewhere that the game may be broadcast in HD. Of course it wouldn't do us any good even if it was. Because we have channel 5 - the Ma and Pa Kettle of television!

I just checked ABC's website, it has an article about BCS games in HD. Unfortunately it says the New Year's Day HD will start with the Rose Bowl at 3:30 p.m.

Not that it matters in 5 country, of course.

But you could always try one of the other stations if you live far enough east and have a decent enough outdoor antenna -- KTVO DT 33 about 15 miles south of Bloomfield, or KCRG-DT 52 halfway between Cedar Rapids and Waterloo. KTVO doesn't appear to quite reach Knoxville on the FCC's map, but who knows? I've never tried. You might get lucky. With KCRG, you may have a legitimate shot if you're in Marshall County, but again, I've never tried that, either.

I don't know for sure if KTVO has ABC HD, but they do have a link to checkHD.com on their website, and they're listed on CPanther95's station list as doing HD but not 5.1.

FYI: I have never seen even a glimmer of signal out of KTVO 33. I live just east of Knoxville, and have a good outdoor antenna with an inline amp.

Originally posted by jtuck2
FYI: I have never seen even a glimmer of signal out of KTVO 33. I live just east of Knoxville, and have a good outdoor antenna with an inline amp.
Sorry to hear that. I had a feeling they'd be a really, really long shot from Knoxville, but given WOI's problems I thought it might be worth trying for some in the southeast-central part of the state.

I currently have Directv without Tivo. I am considering switching to Mediacom or Dish Network and getting the DVR service. Does the DVR service in Mediacom and Dish Network have the same features as the Tivo service in D*?

A friend of mine has D* with Tivo and he says with Tivo you can program season passes for TV shows and it will automatically record all those shows and change the time on the recording if the time of the show changes. Does the DVR service have the same kind of feature or is it more like a DVD recorder/VCR that you have to manually program.

Also, for those that have the DishPlayer DVR921 HD/DVR unit that Dish Network offers, how do you like this unit? I was told that you can record an SD channel and HD channel at the same time but not 2 HD channels at one time, is that right?

Thanks much for any feedback.

Jeff

Anyody know when mediacom is going to add KDSM HD to there channels? I emailed mediacom a few months ago and they said that they were "discussing with KDSM", whatever that meant.

Everytime I've reached the local office I've been told they had no word on when. They better have it prior to the Superbowl.

The 921 is doing a good job for me. It records 2 HD streams simultaneously, and you can view a third stream previously recorded while doing so. I consistently get WOI digital here directly west of Ames, not that WOI is all that desirable - but it works with all the trick play functions. I do get some pixelation and hangups on PBS sometimes, maybe multipath??? Using an old non-amplified cheap outdoor somewhat directional antenna split to 2 tuners. A 921 would be a great buy at $200 for a new customer, not bad at $489 or $549 for a 'used' customer.

Oh, sorry, the 921 is timer based recording at the moment. Dish is spooling today software for their 522 that adds name-based recording. Time will tell how well that works, my guess is there will be problems for some months to come. They plan to add name-based to the 921, don't know how far along they are with that.

Timer-based recording on E* DVR works better than TIVO people would have you believe. Select it from the guide and you're good to go, but once, daily or weekly settings will fire whether or not your target program occupies that slot. The decision comes down to whether you are a chennel surfer or you prefer almost never to watch live. E* guide kills D* for surfing, but (for the moment) TIVO software rules for pre-recording. I don't have much choice, D* costs a little more for a little less programing I want. That, and 921's are now way cheaper than HDTivo.

A 921 would be a great buy at $200 for a new customer, not bad at $489 or $549 for a 'used' customer.

Briggs,
Did you see a deal on the 921 for $200? If so, where?

Thanks for the feedback!

Jeff

Price is $249 with $50 back somehow. If you can snag one it seems like a pretty good deal: I don't post much here or anywhere, so I'm not allowed to post a url yet goto vssll.com/pvr921.html

hmmm, maybe somebody else has more info here. Does WHO stop broadcasting Digital at midnight? I actually stayed up tonight to watch enterprise since it is said to be in HD by titantv. As soon as the show started, poof, signal strength went to 0 and hasn't come back. Still showing well on 13-0, just disappointing picture, of course.

I haven't stayed up late watching tv for quite some time, so I don't know if this is standard OP or not.

As a side note, I started getting WOI in Digital tonight! 80% signal. Something must have changed there??

Yep, WHO's is automated to go off at midnight on Saturdays. I doubt that even if they were still on at midnight that Enterprise would be in HD though, since it's tape delayed (I think...unless that's a west coast feed or something).

KCCI's is supposed to go off at 12.35am on the weekends too, but sometimes you get a little bonus time...thanks to too much stuff going on at once. :)

Originally posted by xsnrg
As a side note, I started getting WOI in Digital tonight! 80% signal. Something must have changed there??

Darn! I just left Ames and forgot to check DT 59 to see if I'll say "I see!" (Were they still SD when you saw them?)

Anyway, I was checking a relative's setup -- okay, ENJOYING a relative's setup -- and it probably needs a little work. Apparently, there's a tree branch which occasionally gets in the way of the set-top Silver Sensor when the wind is whipping, as it was on Saturday. So we had a little trouble with CBS, NBC and PBS on Saturday.

When the wind was calmer Sunday, though, everything was great on all DT broadcast channels except ABC. Ten bars on everything. And KDSM looked nowhere near like the KDSM I remember ... I had to pinch myself during the Vikes-Lions game to remind me that I was watching KDSM! (Our affiliate in Cedar Rapids doesn't do Fox HD yet, so it was the first Fox HD game I've ever seen.)

Yes, 5/59 is still SD, but hey, at least it is digital and coming in! It used to be I was lucky to get signal in the 40s, and never any picture, then all of a sudden, a few weeks back, the signal jumped to 80%. There still wasn't any picture. I thought this was rather odd, but was hopeful that this was something happening finally. Then a few days back, around the time of my first post, I poked it in manually, since it wasn't in my list, and what do you know... 80% and a solid picture. I doubt we will have HD by bowl game time, but we do have progress all the same.

KDSM is impressive. NFL football has rocked on there all season, among other things. They turned the wick up about the time I picked up my HD set and got going, so I never knew the "old" KDSM.

I am having some trouble with PBS though. I have > 80% signal, and the picture looks awesome, but out of the blue, it will pixelate and the sound will break up. I need to maybe re-position the antenae or something, as it is rather annoying.

I get that on PBS as well. I think it is in their control room. I have noticed this for the last couple of years whenever they fired the digital up. Signal strenghts have always been great for PBS though.

I am having Mediacom installed next Tuesday with the recently released Motorola 6412 HD dual tuner/dvr converter.

My question: Other than WHODT & KCCIDT, does Mediacom offer FOXHD and PBSHD channels as well, with their HD Tier package? They first told me that they offer all the local channels in HD that broadcast in HD, but then said that WHODT and KCCIHD are the only ones that show up in there line-up, so I'm not sure. The person I got signed up with didn't know that PBS and Fox17 were broadcasting in HD. So I told her they were and she said that then we should be offering it (if not now, then soon).

Thanks.

Yes, 5/59 is still SD, but hey, at least it is digital and coming in! It used to be I was lucky to get signal in the 40s,

Last night I checked 5-1 (59) the first time in a long time hoping that I would get the signal, based on recent posts here. I got NO signal at all. Those that have experienced higher signals from WOI lately, did you have a signal last night during prime time (12/22/04)?

I didn't watch anything on 59 last night, but I did check to make sure it still existed, and it was still there. It has been around enough now that I added it to the channel listing on the receiver so I don't have to type it in. Hope I didn't just jynx myself (us).

I will try it again tonight and post my findings.

Currently Mediacom does not offer PBS, ABC, or FOX in HD in the Des Moines area.

5 digital (59-1) is working right now (first I had a chance to try it tonight) 80% signal strength, SD picture, etc, but digital signal.

Anyone been having problems with WHO this week? Since Tuesday I have been unable to get the channel to come in. It was working find this last weekend....oh via OTA not cable...oh and now WOI for me in State Center

Originally posted by xsnrg I am having some trouble with PBS though. I have > 80% signal, and the picture looks awesome, but out of the blue, it will pixelate and the sound will break up. [/B]

KDIN-DT is having a problem with the microwave link that delivers the digital feed to the transmitter site. The problem is up on the tower, so it may take some time to get someone to go up there and get it fixed.

Originally posted by Sarcoptic
Anyone been having problems with WHO this week?

I watched it for a couple minutes this afternoon, about 20 miles north of Cedar Rapids.

Is anyone else having trouble with WHO right now? There is like distortion lines in the picture and the colors seem a little off and the picture looks soft, it's almost as if this Floppy special was done in the 1960s or something. ;)

So what time of day is everyone receiving WOI-DT? I couldn't seem to pick it up yesterday (12/24) afternoon. Are they only on prime time?

I am getting it every time I have turned to it. It's almost becoming a regular station again. Now if only they would carry the ABC HD feed through.

I still haven't seen WOI digital here just north of Ogden...ever. I get perfect sigs from the other digital channels at Alleman. I've rescanned on many occasionas trying to pick it up after seeing postings here, but no luck.

I have noticed on my last several scans, I have lost digital 13-2, Mega-doppler...have they stopped transmitting it?

...hasan, N0AN

Sounds like others are having problems with WHO. I mean if I let the box sit on it it actually locks but no sound or video....I guess I will send a note off to an engineer to see if I get any response. BTW in my previous note I mean NO WOI in State Center...

I am in the same boat as Hasan (though 13.2 is still coming in), must be my setup then. I don't even get a flicker of signal out of WOI-DT.

Originally posted by jtuck2
I am in the same boat as Hasan (though 13.2 is still coming in), must be my setup then. I don't even get a flicker of signal out of WOI-DT.

I get plenty of signal strength on 13-2 (mega-doppler), but no radar, just a black screen. It's been this way for over a week.

Is everyone else seeing the radar as normal?

Still nothing from WOI-DT.

Fox, CBS, IPTV and NBC are all otherwise solid.

...hasan, N0AN

You are right, there is no radar there now. The sub channel is there, but nothing on it.

hasan and jtuck2, the 13-2 being black but locked on was exactly what was going on with 13-1. Well all of a sudden yesterday morning I can get 13-1 again and once I lock on flipping to 13-2 the radar appears. So either WHO fixed something or I have been blessed with WHO again heh. Anyone have any experience in using inline amps. My box tries to lock on WOI repeatedly but never enough signal, I am wondering if an inline amp may cure that problem....

I have a powered 10db model from Radio Shack. It helped me immensely with my reception of 8, 11, 13, 17 digital channels. I haven't even seen the flickering out of WOI, but I am farther away than most of you Des Moines area guys.

There's also the possibility that the Mega Doppler itself could have been down for maintenance, leaving nothing for 13-2 to show.

I am soooo bummed! I had Mediacom come out yesterday to install digital cable with the Motorola 6412 dual HD tuner/DVR. I didn't realize that all the channels from 2 thru 78 are still analog. They were very grainy on my 60" widescreen. So I had him disconnect it. I guess I'll stick with D* for now. I'm glad I hadn't had D* disconnected yet. The installer said that he wishes that customer service would tell the folks that during the ordering of "digital" cable. He said those probably won't get converted to digital until sometime in 2006. That really ticked me off. I was so looking forward to having the DVR as well as channel 13's digital channel because that is the only local channel that I can't get OTA.

I will look into going to Dish Network with the 921 dual HD tuner/dvr. I just didn't want to part with the $550. Mediacom offers there HD receiver for $7.50/mth. I just wanted to rent while this technology is still in its infancy.

Those that have the 921 tuner, do you know if that support OTA reception for digital channels?

Jeff

Originally posted by HDJeff
Those that have the 921 tuner, do you know if that support OTA reception for digital channels?

Jeff

I do not have a 921, but I believe it does do OTA HD. I do know that MANY users of the 921 are reporting problems with the software in that box and Dish is planning to discontinue it very soon and replace it with another box that is in development now. The 921 does not support MPEG4, the new box (942?) will. All HD channels added to Dish in the future will be using MPEG4.

Originally posted by HDJeff
I am soooo bummed! I had Mediacom come out yesterday to install digital cable with the Motorola 6412 dual HD tuner/DVR. I didn't realize that all the channels from 2 thru 78 are still analog.

I don't really mind that channels 2 through 78 are still analog. After ESPN went HD, The only channels under 78 that I watch are WOI (channel 5) and ESPN2 (channel 36) sometimes. My wife likes to watch VH1 and MTV, but she is just as happy watching those in the bedroom instead of our family room.

When WOI goes full power this coming summer, I doubt I'll watch any analog stuff at all. I called Mediacom a few weeks ago to inquire about ESPN2 HD and they had no clue it was even going high def on January 6, 2005.

Did anyone read the new post in HD Programing about ABCHD coming to D* on 1/5/04. has anyone tried to get a waiver for ABC yet here in des moines.

Andrew

Had given the waiver attempt some thought, but with Monday Night Football over, I really couldn't care less if WOI fell off the earth. I doubt if they will be cooperative, but I guess it never hurts to ask.

I think they have the first round of Wild Card playoff games, so we will have to suffer through Madden for those too.

Just wondering if anyone has had luck in getting KCRG from around the area. I would love to get the Iowa game in HD on Saturday. Also anyone know where these towers are located? Thanks!

Originally posted by Sarcoptic
Just wondering if anyone has had luck in getting KCRG from around the area. I would love to get the Iowa game in HD on Saturday. Also anyone know where these towers are located? Thanks!

The KCRG tower is located near Walker, IA, or roughly half way between Waterloo and Cedar Rapids on I-380 (7 miles due east of Brandon). Its a 2000' tower, the DTV antenna is top mounted, omni directional, approx 1875' center of radiation (channel 9 analog antenna is stacked on top).

I know for a fact I can get the analog KCRG with some tinkering of a indoors antenna, just wondering if its worth getting on my room to rotate my roof mounted 180 degrees in hopes of getting something...

Another note: KCRG's digital channel is 52 and does not map to its analog 9 yet, so if it shows up, it will show up as 52-1 for now.

Sarcoptic, if you are in fact in State Center as one of your earlier posts suggests, you may have a legitimate shot. The FCC 41 dBu contour map for KCRG-DT covers most of Marshall County. Here's a link to that map:

http://www.fcc.gov/ftp/Bureaus/MB/Databases/fm_tv_service_areas/maps/DT983286.gif

You appear to be just outside the border, but as the FCC reminds us, reception doesn't necessarily stop at that blue circle.

You got them to come out to install HD/dual tuner DVR? I just called them a few days ago and was told they weren't available yet :/

Well, here it is News Years Day. I have to go to the bedroom and watch the Iowa bowl game and the Rose Bowl to get a okay reception of those games. My 50 inch HDTV with media com, WOI is unwatchable. I wish someone would get off their dead@#s at mediacom or WOL. It is pathetic they want to charge us for everything, and not give us the basics.

fortunately, get WOI-DT in, but unfortunately, it still is NOT HD. Watching Discovery HD right now for the only coverage of the Rose parade in HD. Looking through the lineup today though, are none of the games broadcasted in HD?! Doesn't look like I'll see the Hawks in HD from anywhere, but then my Clones weren't either.

*sigh*

yeah, I like to watch the Cyclones too. Unfortunately, they play on WOI in basketball too. So you think the DT reception is better than mediacom? It really needs to be cleaned up.

Hrmmm, this bites... looks like the Vikes are not in HD today on KDSM?? Just talked to a friend of mine up in the cities... definately HD up there. Anyone know what is going on?

I am soooo bummed! I had Mediacom come out yesterday to install digital cable with the Motorola 6412 dual HD tuner/DVR.

Don’t you just love sales reps? I've been waiting for the Motorola 6412 dual HD tuner/DVR to come out. When I went back to mediacom two months ago, they said two units were in testing and it would be awhile for release. I just happened to call them yesterday and was told they are now available and I could swap my old hd dvr for the new Motorola 6412. But...the dual tuners would not function (only one tuner) until the software is released in a few months. But I could still swap and be all set. So I was all ready to unhook all and drive down (in the snow/ice) to swap. But, knowing most service reps (and it snowing-icing and all), I recalled them back to verify. Well, I got 180 degree answers from mediacom this time. They said the new 6412 WAS NOT available for a month at least. And even then, I could not "swap" out, but had to have an "install". I just cant believe them. I was with voom, and went to mediacom JUST for the hd dvr, but thats gotten old since the older Motorola has such little recording space. Like 3-4 movies recorded and its full. I've been leaning to going back to voom. I really miss all that hd programming and the east/west hd feeds as well as maxhd. Voom, again, has a good install promo going till March 05 ($1 for up to 3 receivers). Still no dvr however, just the same old promises. If medaicom can offer a hd dvr, why does it take voom so long to deliver? Anyway, don’t believe the reps at mediacom. I swear, you can call them 10 times and get 10 totally different answers.

Is anyone getting who dt2 (the digital channel weather radar)? I used to see it all the time, but haven't seen it in a couple weeks. 13-1 is solid, but 13-2 is just a black screen. There is a signal level present but no video.

Thanks for the feedback.

...hasan, N0AN

I'm getting 13-2 right now...been watching the blue and green snow fall out of the sky. ;-) I'm not sure why you would getting 13-1 but not 13-2... Maybe rescanning your channels might help?

It was on last night.

Originally posted by kc0bsn
I'm getting 13-2 right now...been watching the blue and green snow fall out of the sky. ;-) I'm not sure why you would getting 13-1 but not 13-2... Maybe rescanning your channels might help?

Thanks...I've rescanned numerous times and zilch. This has been a digital channel only scan. I'm trying a full scan (both analog and digital) now and will let you know what I find.

VERY STRANGE! That did it. Scanning only digital did not do it. I have done this at least a half-dozen times with nada...now trying a full scan of everything, including non-existent cable and bingo.

Thanks, nothing like desparation to get results!

I emailed KDSM...




Hi, several months ago (september) I sent you an emsil, asking when you
would start broadcasting your HD signal on mediacom. I was just
wondering if you have any updates on this?


Thanks,
Matt (hawkeyematt@gmail.com)

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

Mediacom needs to negotiate with Sinclair Broadcast Group, our corporate
owner, for the rights to our HD signal. You might call Mediacom and ask
what their progress on this has been.

Regards,
Doug Hammond
KDSM Chief Engineer






looks like it may still be while :(

Originally posted by HawkeyeMatt
I emailed KDSM...

looks like it may still be while :(

Mediacom has no plans to pick up Fox HD before the superbowl. I've been on the phone numerous times with them. Your best option is to pick up the cheap USDTV OTA receiver from Walmart and return it after the game.

Mediacom also has no plans to pick up ESPN-2 HD according to the CSR I spoke with last week.

Has anyone contacted KDSM asking them to broadcast there digital channel (17.1) in letter box format when not broadcasting HD? In watching the Hawk game last night, I was switching back and forth to other stations and when I go back to 17.1, it is stretched. I can change that formatting on my D* receiver to view it as "shrinked" for that channel but as soon as you switch channels and go back to 17.1, it's stretched again. Very annoying! I don't see how people can like watching standard letterbox shows stretched to widescreen.

I plan on contacting them but wanted to post here to see first if anyone else has and what there resonse (if any) was.

Thanks,
Jeff

Hello all, new to the board. Glad I found a place where other locals discuss HDTV.

Now on to my question. What is the deal with WOI-DT (ABC)? Can anybody get it? I can get all the other local channels in HD, but all I get is a black screen for WOI. I'm using a HDTV Directv Receiver with an OTA. From reading it sounds like no matter what type of antenna someone has there going to have problems.

It's ticked me off that I couldn't watch the bowl games in HD or watch the upcoming NFL playoffs this weekend.

I see Directv now has a National ABC feed in HD, can we request a waiver and get that station? Or I suppose WOI won't let us get it.

Isn't there some rule that WOI should have a stronger signal strength? Has there been any talk about when this problem may be fixed?

Thanks for reading my complaints!

Originally posted by BigJ52
Has there been any talk about when this problem may be fixed?


July 2005 is when they expect to broadcast at full power I believe. If you read through some posts a few months ago there was a discussion about it. Now that MNF is over and the bowl games are done, I could really care less about ABC.

[i]originally written by Ray Cole[i]

Thanks for taking the time to contact us.

We are currently broadcasting a low-power, standard definition signal. We
have been holding off on the build out of a full-power, high definition
transmission system primarily due to the fact that the FCC assigned us
what's known as an "out of core" digital channel (#59). This means that we
will have to move to another channel in the future as part of our digital
transtion--something that no other station in Des Moines had to deal with.

We have been waiting on the FCC for well over a year and half to move on
this. Just recently, they issued a decision that provides for an "election"
process in which all TV stations must select the channel they will use for
digital broadcasting after the transition from analog to digital is
complete. This process, scheduled to begin in December, should finally allow
us to move forward.

Bottom line: based on the FCC's latest decision, we would expect to be
broadcasting a full-power digital signal by July, 2005.

Thanks once again for your interest.

Ray Cole, President
Citadel Communications
3903 Westown Parkway
West Des Moines, IA 50266
Phone: 515-457-9645 (Ext. 127)
Fax: 515-457-1033
rcole@woitv.com

Welcome to the local rag on WOI forum!

I haven't gotten any replies from any of my queries to WOI, so I don't have any more answers than anyone else.

Suffice it to say, I am one of the lucky ones that can pull WOI-DT in without problem 80-81% signal strength. It really isn't a whole lot better than standard SD 5 though, as they do not pass along any of the ABC HD feed. It is just all digital SD.

As for power up, FCC has mandated that has to happen this year (July 31 to be more exact). I don't know if this will hold or not, but as of right now, that is the date. Until that time, I would imagine everyone not within a stone's throw of the WOI transmitter or with an antenae the size of a house, is going to have some trouble.

BTW, last I checked, they were broadcasting at 5kw

edit: I see some good information was slipped into the last post. With channels like 59 being re-allocated to police/emergency bands, it doesn't make a lot of sense to build out at that frequency, unless the equipment could be easily modified to work at other frequencies later.

Sam and xsnrg, thanks for your replies. Hopefully by the time summer ends the issue will be resolved, but I'm not holding my breath.

Regarding locals on D* (DirecTV) - it is my interpretation of other posters experiences with D* customer service that unless you can or already were qualified for SD network feeds from D*, you will not get the HD network feeds, even if they aren't available OTA in HD.

In other words, they won't turn on just the HD feeds, they have to legally be able to give you the SD feeds to allow you to get the HD feeds. I haven't tried to talk them into this, I just was reading other posters experiences. Too much time talking to CSR's just gets my blood pressure up.

If I am mistaken please advise, but I had been contemplating the same move.

Even if you could get WOI, there is no HD there, so welcome to the board. I sure wish ISU had never sold the station.

I'm so dissapointed about ESPN2HD, i doubt it will get here for a very long time. KDSM has had an HD signal for several months now and it seems they are negotiating with them by snail mail. Ugh.

(Edit) there may be a small chance in the next 20 minutes, all the other companies have been secretive about it, and D* hasn't added the channel yet, keep your fingers crossed!

(Edit #2) Looks like we are out of luck.

Originally posted by xsnrg
BTW, last I checked, they were broadcasting at 5kw

edit: I see some good information was slipped into the last post. With channels like 59 being re-allocated to police/emergency bands, it doesn't make a lot of sense to build out at that frequency, unless the equipment could be easily modified to work at other frequencies later.

Actually it's listed as 0.5kw (500 watts) on the FCC website.

The station got another special temporary authority which runs out in June.

The flipside to Mr. Cole's channel 59 argument is that there are two stations in the market I currently live in -- one is on channel 52 and the other is on channel 55, both of which are out of core -- which ARE doing HD at six-figure wattages. One of them isn't even part of a chain.

To be fair, these Eastern Iowa stations have high VHF assignments (7 and 9) to go back to. But even then, they still have to change equipment again when analog ends, just like WOI. The only difference is that WOI doesn't have a permanent post-analog home yet.

Here is a question...

We are thinking of getting a new TV that has CableCard, does mediacom do cablecard?

I am getting a lot of break-ups and freeze frames on channel 13 through D* (not the WHOHD, but the SD channel). Is anyone else having those problems with channel 13 through D*?

Also, HDNet or HDNet Movies (I can't remember which one at this time) has not been working for me through D*. All other channels are fine. Is anyone experiencing that problem? I haven't checked my dish to see if there is snow on it, but if that was the case, I would think I would be having reception problems across the board, but I'm not. Just on those two channels.

Thanks
Jeff

Noticed same problem with WHO yesterday too. Never had it back on to check if it was better. My HDNet and HDNet were fine as of last evening. I got to watching Firefox (I know terrible movie, but neither game yesterday was all that great IMHO)

Originally posted by dline

The flipside to Mr. Cole's channel 59 argument is that there are two stations in the market I currently live in which ARE doing HD at six-figure wattages.

To be fair, these Eastern Iowa stations have high VHF assignments (7 and 9) to go back to. But even then, they still have to change equipment again when analog ends, just like WOI.

The analog transmitter at KCRG can be converted to DTV fairly easily, I think they can just swap the exciter. It is a fairly new setup, less than 5 years old IIRC. They retired the old RCA they had been using since the dawn of time. I've never had a chance to see what KWWL has.

I exchanged my Motorola 6208 for a 6412 dual tuner model at my local Mediacom office in Ames. It is exactly the same as the 6208 so far, the firmware is still 8.12 and I don't believe it supports dual tuning yet (have not verified, this is according to the CSR). I think the 6412 has a larger 120 GB hard drive though. Firewire , coaxial audio, and DVI output all still work, there is also an optical digital output which I have not tested yet.

CSI not in 5.1 tonight?? receiver is only showing 2 channel. Switching problem at KCCI maybe? Just talked to a friend up in the cities, its 5.1 up there.

Just got my 6412 yesterday, as stated still 8.12 firmware and guide. Duel tuner is not active, and according to the tech won't be active until the firmware upgrade. The HD is indeed 120GB, verified in the diagnostic menu

Hey fellow DSM HDTV viewers! :) I am located off Easter Lake in SE DSM and am getting ready to pull the trigger on HD via Dish Network.

I'm in way over my head here. I have read about diplexers, splitters, pre-amps, and who knows what else.

Here is what I do know:

I currently have a Dish 500 system with four receivers in the house (one of them a single tuner DVR, the other three just standard 301 receivers).

If I stay with Dish, I will get the following:

3 811 receivers (I assume I can lease three from Dish anyway)
1 921/942 dual tuner DVR

I would also add an OTA outdoor HD antenna (probably a winegard). I do not want to run separate lines into the house for the antenna. I had the Dish installed when we were not done with the house yet and had all the lines ran and then hid, etc. Now the house is completely finished so running cables would not be an easy task anyway (probably darn near impossible actually).

With that said;

a) I assume I will *have* to get another line ran from the Dish for the dual tuner 921/942. Is this a valid assumption? Would more hardware be needed at the dish itself then if this is true?

b) What kind of diplexer/splitter are we talking about here? With an HD antenna and four/five lines coming from the Dish itself, do they make Diplexers that work for this? I see a lot of dual diplexers but I didn't see what I would need specifically.

c) I do understand the diplexer inside which seems basic - the main line running in to the receiver gets the diplexer connected, then two lines out on the other end of the diplexer - one goes to the satellite input, one goes to the antenna input. This is for each receiver. Am I correct?

d) The current coax run from the Dish to the house is quite a distance. Backside of garage roof on one end all the way to the other end of the house coming into the basement. With that said, all the antenna sites say if the cable run is more than 150 feet, I need a pre-amp. If I am using diplexers, is this still valid then?

c) I planned on getting an antenna mount that mounts/connects on the dish so I don't have to drill more holes through the roof. Anyone have any experience with this approach?

So you see, I truly am unsure of what exactly I need to make all this work, especially coming from the roof with the dish and the OTA HD antenna. When I order/lease from Dish maybe I should bite the bullet, spend the $500 for the 921 (along with the 811's) and see if they can send someone out that knows what the heck they are doing to install all of this?

Sorry for the long post. I thought I would post here as you guys are already using some sort of OTA antenna and may have some good information for me. My head is spinning at this point.

Thanks.

-Jeff

Originally posted by jdsabin1
When I order/lease from Dish maybe I should bite the bullet, spend the $500 for the 921 (along with the 811's) and see if they can send someone out that knows what the heck they are doing to install all of this?

Jeff,
Where are you getting the 921 for $500? The cheapest I've seen it is $550 (except on a Dish vendor website for $250 that I confirmed with Dish Network that was not legit). Do they rent the 921? If so, how much per month. I didn't think they were doing that?

I currently have D* but am thinking about switching to Dish.

Sorry...I can't answer your technical questions. I don't know the answers.

Thanks,
Jeff

The Dish 921 is being discontinued and you will probably be able to find them discounted soon. The Dish Player 942 should be available soon as the replacement, I think they will have it available as a lease. Neither model supports the upcoming MPEG4 format that Dish is moving to so I personally would not want to purchase one outright.

Sorry, I know nothing about Dish's equipment. I will tell you what I know about D*'s gear. Take this all with a grain of salt, because I am just a novice like you.

I think that to connect many feeds to the same dish you need a multiswitch, not a diplexer. I have no idea how they work, just that my current D* multiswitch has taps for 5 unique feeds. D*'s multiswitch is mounted on the dish and it was included with the dish. I have the oval dish.

A diplexer joins two dissimilar signals (ie: Dish's feed and your antenna signal) together so that they can share a cable at the dish and antenna end. You need another diplexer at the other end of the line to split the signal back up to connect to your equipment. I have a diplexer at both ends for each receiver. I think that each installation is unique though.

I know that D* makes an inline booster for long cable runs, your installer should have the answer to your needs. 150' seems like a pretty long run with no booster, but again I am just a novice.

I have no experience with dish mounted antenna, mine is just a plain jane VHF/UHF RCA from Home Depot. It is mounted in my garage attic and has it's own dedicated line.

A word of caution, if you are using their installers. Make sure you are there and keeping an eye on them. I have seen satellite installers drive lag screws unsupported into roof sheathing and not bother to seal the holes. I have seen them drill holes for wires through roofs, soffits, walls and again not bother to seal the holes, let alone conceal the wires, etc. I am not saying they are all bad, but one bad apple...

Hope this helps, good luck. Better get it running before this weekend, the NFL is stunning in HD.

Justin

Originally posted by jdsabin1
a) I assume I will *have* to get another line ran from the Dish for the dual tuner 921/942. Is this a valid assumption? Would more hardware be needed at the dish itself then if this is true?

You might post your question on DBSTalk.com. Lots of folks over there that should be able to help with the hardware question. I'm not up on what switches are needed, and now that they have added DishPro into the mix I'm extra confused, all my stuff is using legacy Dish 500 LNBFs.

Just thought I'd give you guys a heads up that The Remarkable Journey this Sunday will be shown in HD. We now have one HD deck hooked up that can play back programs. The show airs at 2pm. It's not exactly an exciting show (I've already checked back the SD version), but it should signify a pretty good step forward to be able to add HD programming from non-network sources.

On a side note, I wouldn't be surprised if the two programs are out of sync (HD & SD) and/or something happens to cause the program to not be in HD. The shows are on two seperate tapes and the last I saw, there is no remote start capability for the HD deck.

Thanks, KC, I always was wondering if sydications could be in HD, now I know. It sounds like you work for KCCI, am I correct?


I live on the same adress as you, btw.;)

Yep, I work there. Mainly at night though (Fri-Sun 4.45 to 4am). I'm more of a program and commercial tape person.

I was also wondering how syndicated programming would be delivered. So now we both know. :) As it turned out, the SD version was delivered via satellite while the HD was delivered Fedex on a DVCProHD tape. I'm sure there are syndications that can be sent out via satellite, but at this time, the 2 HD receivers that we have are dedicated to CBS-HD.

Good luck synching up the two versions of The Remarkable Journey.

I understand Viacom's Paramount division has an HD movie package out, but there are plenty of issues to be worked out before HD syndication becomes widespread. Lack of dishes is one. Lack of HD-capable record decks/servers is another.

Then there's receivers -- will there be a standard, or will stations have to get one "proprietary" receiver for each syndicator? Will there be separate feeds for SD and HD, or will they just be zoomed and cropped differently?

Finally, since syndication is usually available to affiliates of ANY network, the stations' HD formats become an issue. For example, The Practice airs on a 720p ABC affiliate in Cedar Rapids, but in Des Moines, a 1080i NBC station runs it.

Wish WHO had the capability, I want to see Enterprise in HD.

Did anyone else loose FOXHD last night? Turned on American Idol and got nothing. Had to watch it in regular screen.......what a bad deal

About the new 6412 dual tuner hd dvr...
I was told, when I got two a week ago, that the dual tuners would or should be active on 2/1/5. I really doubt that, knowing how they will tell you anything, then the delays begin. People getting the 6412 from mediacom, did you notice the remote isnt even the right remote? It works, but its the remote for the older dvr's. One key button missing is the "swap" button, to toggle between tuner-one and tuner-two. I'd guess, when the software is ready, they will tell you to swap remotes, if you want to use the new software features. Or, guess you could get some kinda 3rd party remote too on your own???
The 6412 DOES hold a lot more recording time. Mine's stuffed right now, and it just says 28% full. The old 6208 would have never held this many recordings without a 95% full.

i got the right remote. And i doubt 2/1 as well.

Well SnakeEyes no clue of WHO is watching this or what but I just noticed this on TitanTv.com...

12:00am
Star Trek: Enterprise
Babel One
(HD, New)

This is scheduled to air tonight, let us know if it was really in HD or if titantv is wrong so far I havent caught titantv wrong yet....

I record Enterprise on the digital channel, now that they don't cut transmission in the middle, on the PVR. I'll let you know.

not HD

I think I posted this back a page or so, but they either turn off the HD equipment at midnight, or something of the nature. I don't know if that is a local tape that is sent or if it is a network feed. That would make a difference too.

Any having problems with Fox and PBS this weekend? I am not getting anything on Fox this evening so no Simpsons....also I have image on PBS but no sound...

Any having problems with Fox and PBS this weekend? I am not getting anything on Fox this evening so no Simpsons....also I have image on PBS but no sound...

Last night (1/30), I did notice that PBS had problems with their audio. Mine was consistently breaking up and un-audible. That was between 7:30 and 8pm.

Fox returned for me this morning, PBS now has funny audio....you would think once its set no touchy heh

Could be something with the network. IPTV's Waterloo transmitter was also having sound problems this weekend -- every time I turned to the station, it was silent. However, when I pressed the MTS button on my Samsung T351 box, the sound came back.

Ok I am starting to get nervous....Fox has been cutting in and out audio wise all week, I thought maybe it was cause of the clouds and fog, but today is a clear day and still problems. My signal strength is 86 with my Voom box....just wanting to see if anyone else is having problems. I need to get this fixed by Superbowl...oh and Fox signal was like 93/94 last week.

Perhaps for kc0bsn,

What is the status of the audio segment of the HD signal from KCCI? My OTA receiver is sending the digital audio as 2.0 DD, where other CBS stations (twin cities is my reference) are being broadcast in 5.1. I don't know if it is my receiver, or KCCI's signal, as nobody else has responded to this question before. If KCCI is passing the signal straight through, wouldn't the audio portion be passed through as well? Guess I just want to know if I am receiving what I should, or if I may have an equipment problem

TIA

Originally posted by Sarcoptic
..PBS now has funny audio....you would think once its set no touchy heh

They have a video server that likes to hiccup and mess up the audio. All of this is "temporary" until they build out the new master control that can handle HD. Being a State government agency I wouldn't hold my breath on that happening anytime soon, but one can always hope.

Originally posted by xsnrg
What is the status of the audio segment of the HD signal from KCCI? My OTA receiver is sending the digital audio as 2.0 DD, where other CBS stations (twin cities is my reference) are being broadcast in 5.1. I don't know if it is my receiver, or KCCI's signal, as nobody else has responded to this question before. If KCCI is passing the signal straight through, wouldn't the audio portion be passed through as well? Guess I just want to know if I am receiving what I should, or if I may have an equipment problem
You're getting what you should be getting (or at least, the best you can get). I know a few weeks ago I heard that the 5.1 encoder was either on its way, or being ordered. I have no idea how long that it will be until it arrives and is installed, though.

They may wait until the rebuild of master control is done before putting it online too. I believe master and the commercial playback system are supposed to be done before the end of the summer. It may be sooner than that (and for the sake of the commercial playback machine, I hope so), but like uhf, I don't like holding my breath either. :)

BTW, just for grins I tried punching in 59 tonight and was actually able to get a signal. It's not drop-out free, but at least some signal is better than no signal.

That makes sense then. Everything else seemed to work, so I didn't think it was on my end. Thanks for the update, and keep us informed on the install of the encoder, if you don't mind.

I'm one of the (5?) lucky ones. I am getting 5-1 (now 59-1 after the Feb 1st FCC enactment) at a decent level (78%). I did put in a nice antenae outside under the deck too though. Still no word on when they will be HD capable, or when they will have a final channel allocation from the FCC. Anyone heard anything recently?

Also heard that WHO was in the process of purchasing HD cameras. Be interesting to see who does the local news shows in HD first :)

Any other rumors out there folks? :)

I actually think WHO already has the new studio cameras... I think they arrived and were installed sometime in November(?).

As for being the first to broadcast a newscast, while it's still a few years away, both stations have studio control switchers that are HD compatible... and with the new master area coming for KCCI, that area will be HD capable too.

Anybody else getting crappy audio for the Super Bowl? It keeps breaking up... very annoying. I've been watching my HD receiver and listing to my SD receiver. Not bad since you can't see Joe Buck & company, but the commercials are all out of sync. Just curious if it's me or if others are experiencing this.

Also, why no outcry on this forum about no HD Super Bowl on Mediacom. I thought we'd here a lot of anger on this forum!:mad:

Only had one slight breakup that I remember on the Fox HD audio. It's been a quite decent show by Fox (KDSM) for us here at least. It actually seems like Fox may have stepped up the bitrate or something? One of the better pictures I remember from them.

As for mediacom... can't stand them anyway. Glad Fox didn't buckle. Sorry to our friends with Mediacom... Game just ended on an interception.

Originally posted by xsnrg
Only had one slight breakup that I remember on the Fox HD audio. It's been a quite decent show by Fox (KDSM) for us here at least. It actually seems like Fox may have stepped up the bitrate or something? One of the better pictures I remember from them.

As for mediacom... can't stand them anyway. Glad Fox didn't buckle. Sorry to our friends with Mediacom... Game just ended on an interception.

OTA HD from Fox was fantastic in central Iowa, at least at my location. The audio was one of the better mixes for DD 5.1 that I have heard. Several at our party remarked at how well mixed the game was. The pix quality was perfectly acceptable and I didn't notice any sync problems with audio/video. (Samsung 360 receiver about 30 miles from the Alleman tower complex.

Overall, I was very pleased ...ohhh...yeah...mediacom...you have my sympathy. Cable ...enough said.

Did anyone notice problems with 'West Wing' tonight? The HD version spent the first 10 minutes with full HD picture and just the background music (no sound effects or voices). Then it went out of HD and into a letter boxed version without 5.1 sound but the sound returned to normal. Strange.

Dave

Originally posted by dsm363
Did anyone notice problems with 'West Wing' tonight? The HD version spent the first 10 minutes with full HD picture and just the background music (no sound effects of voices). Then it went out of HD and into a letter boxed version without 5.1 sound but the sound returned to normal. Strange.

Dave
It was NBC's problem. We (at KWWL-DT) called them immediately about the problems with their HD feed. A few minutes later, they alerted all stations that they were aware of the problem, and were working to fix it. We stayed with the upconverted SD feed, hoping they would fix it before the end of the program. (They didn't)
[Jerry]

Thursday, Feb. 10 was the deadline for stations to choose what channel they will keep after analog ends.

Not surprisingly, the high VHF stations in Des Moines plan to go back to high VHF. Somewhat more surprisingly, WOI apparently will not go to the second round in search of a better channel than 5, and will return there when analog TV goes away. Moral of the story: don't toss that VHF antenna just yet.

And unfortunately, don't expect WB digital until analog shutdown.


Here's the full list for Des Moines - Ames, based on information on the FCC website:


Stations staying on their current digital channels:
KDSM (16)

Stations going back to their former analog channels:
KCCI (8), KDIN (11), WHO (13), WOI (5)

Stations without a companion DT channel which may have to flash-cut to DT:
KPWB (23)

Stations without a companion DT channel negotiating for a new allotment:
KFPX (29) (If denied, their alternate is their current analog 39, which would require a flash-cut)


For those of you who "straddle the line" between central and eastern Iowa, click below for a similar list of Cedar Rapids-Waterloo stations:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5158487#post5158487

With this having reached at least some form of stability, it begs the question again, what will happen with WOI? And will we ever get HD from ABC in central Iowa? One would think the market is large enough for some money to be spent. Of course maybe it still isn't there to spend.

Originally posted by xsnrg
With this having reached at least some form of stability, it begs the question again, what will happen with WOI? And will we ever get HD from ABC in central Iowa? One would think the market is large enough for some money to be spent. Of course maybe it still isn't there to spend.
IIRC, even though 59 isn't permanent, it still doesn't excuse them from having to go full power by this summer. Their latest Special Temporary Authorization (STA) expires June 15, and since they're a top-four network affiliate in a top-100 market, the July "use it or lose it" deadline applies to them.

HD isn't mandated by this deadline, of course. But their sister station in the Quad Cities is said to be going HD and most of that red-ball station group's Web sites are starting to mention HD, so we can only hope.

Does anyone know if 17.1 DT is off the air? I am getting zero signal

same here no signal

That's weird. I was in Ames last Sunday night, and it was 17-2 I wasn't getting.

Of course, if you're a Hawk fan, the way that game went today, not getting 17 is just as well.:(

I don't know if this has been talked about before but KCCI-DT will be upgrading their equipment in the next 45-60 days to boost strength by 300% and go to full 100% authorized power (also add dolby digital 5.1). I e-mailed the station asking why the show 'Numb3rs' wasn't in 5.1 and that's what they told me. Good news!

Dave

woohoo!!

Now, the question... if we didn't call, and otherwise harass the stations, how would we get this good information?

It still boggles me... you would think the marketing departments at the stations doing upgrades would be all over this type of stuff. I hear about NOTHING about stations doing HD things... even on the local news for the station WITH the news.

Maybe this group is just the elite nerd type, and we really dig it but others could care less? Or maybe that is just what they think!

Originally posted by dsm363
I don't know if this has been talked about before but KCCI-DT will be upgrading their equipment in the next 45-60 days to boost strength by 300% and go to full 100% authorized power (also add dolby digital 5.1). I e-mailed the station asking why the show 'Numb3rs' wasn't in 5.1 and that's what they told me. Good news!

Dave
As mentioned before, affiliates of the top four networks in the top 100 markets (of which Des Moines is one) have until July 1 to go full power, or they may lose part of their service area. Other than that, whether KCCI's audio goes 5.1 is up to KCCI.

kc0bsn - Can KCCI multicast events? Thinking about NCAA basketball tournament games.
If this has been asked and answered previously I apologize

Also Randy Shelton at WOI said they would be broadcasting a HD signal by July 1 from Alleman.

Got the new guide program from mediacom, it is really nice. Question for the people with the dual-tuner. Can you do dual tuning now? We got a dual tuner from medicom a week ago but the dvr dosnt work at all so i don't know.

Originally posted by ltrain20
Can KCCI multicast events?
Right now, I believe the only way to do that would be to reprogram the encoder...if the encoder even supports that. Also, with the amount of HD available this year, I think it would be fairly certain that there will amost always be an HD game available...

For example: 4 out of the 8 sites for First Round play will be broadcasting in HD. Of those, it will be setup so that two are Thursday/Saturday venues and the other two are Friday/Sunday. If my math works (which it normally doesn't) I think that actually works out to 2 HD games overlapping on the first four days of the tournament.

Also, it's probably still too early for there to be any set plans for what will happen with the DT side. Chances are, programming will choose a game for the DT side off the HD feed and then the analog feed will be our regional game that CBS assigns Des Moines. The analog games are usually flexcasts, so if the game gets boring, or there's a couple minutes left in an exciting game, the analog side would be switched over to that one. The HD game would probably stick to just one solid game.

For now, here's the schedule (at least of air time) for games on the analog side.

3/13 5-6pm Tournament selection show

3/17 11.10-4.00pm First Round
3/17 6.00-11.00pm First Round

3/18 11.10-4.00pm First Round
3/18 6.00-11.00pm First Round

3/19 12.00-9.00pm Second Round

3/20 11.00-6.00pm Second Round

3/24 6.00-11.00pm Semi-Finals

3/25 6.00-11.00pm Semi Finals

3/26 3.30-8.00pm Regional Finals

3/27 1.30-6.00pm Regional Finals

4/2 5.00-10.00pm Final Four

4/3 8.00-10.30pm Championship Game

If I see more specific info at work, I'll pass it on.

Originally posted by HawkeyeMatt
Got the new guide program from mediacom, it is really nice. Question for the people with the dual-tuner. Can you do dual tuning now? We got a dual tuner from medicom a week ago but the dvr dosnt work at all so i don't know.

Dual tuner feature is not active yet, just the new guide.

Thanks kc0bsn

As of right now D* says they will not be broadcasting the games in HD on the MEGA March Madness package (they said this last year at first, too).

I have read other marekst multicasting all of the games so did not know if KCCI could do this as well.

I will satay tuned and appreciate your insight.

Just spoke with Mediacom, they said their first priority was to roll out the new guide and that enabling the second tuner should roll out in the next couple of weeks.

Thats what a rep guy from mediacom told me last week. He said the update was coming Fed 28, and it did! But he also said the dual tunners would be on in that update, they are not.
Also got an email of rate increases.
Some features in the guide are not active either. Like smart record (like tivo does) to record by theme or program name, when ever its on. My guide does not give this option. Hope the dual tuners are turned on real soon, and the guide holes filled. I also ask about more hd programming. He gave me a lot of double talk and legal stuff, which tells me no new additions to hd programming in the near future.

yeah, the "missing" features will be added when dual tuner becomes available.

my box just got hit at midnight local time. The second tuner is now enabled as are the smart recording and priority list features.

== DUAL TUNERS ACTIVE == Mediacom
Yep, there working.
If you have the older silver remote, no swap button.
You can program a dual tuners swap on you remote by...

Hit the cable button,
press setup till it blinks then release,
on the number keys enter 994,
press and release setup once (dont hold),
enter code 00236,
then hit the key on the remote you want to assign the swap to.
( I used the circled arrow key, to the left of the MY DVR key)
Now, hitting the circled arrow key switches between the two tuners.

Just realized the above works with the 6208 silver remote, but how do you program a 30 second skip using the new dark gray 6412 remote? No setup key on this remote...?

There's some breaking news from the FCC which MAY affect some of you cable viewers:

The FCC Media Bureau issued an order today declaring that the Huxley and Slater Mediacom systems have "effective competition" and should be exempt from rate regulation:

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-524A1.pdf (Acrobat)
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-524A1.doc (Word)
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-524A1.txt (text)

Wow, dual tuners sure is nice. My cable box recorded law & order last night while I was watching Notre Dame lose to Rutgers (pop goes their bubble!). So what's the deal with the new 6412 remote? I still have the old remote from my 6208 box, which I programmed to use the swap button as randym mentioned up above. Is there anything else new on the 6412 remote aside from the swap button?

I'd keep that silver remote. Looks like to me the new dark remote can not be programmed with the 30sec skip. Or if it can, please let us know how. The dark gray newer remote has no "setup" button (used in the 30 sec skip programming ).

I'll jump ahead in time, for a second. CBS is offering Thursday & Friday (April 7/8) coverage of The Masters in HD from 3-6pm. I believe KCCI will be carrying that on the DT side seperate from whatever the normal programming is. CBS stations in other markets are also being encouraged to do the same to showcase HD & 5.1. (KCCI still doesn't have the ability to send out 5.1 yet, however.)

[For your baited NCAA HD breaths...I'll have to say hold on for a bit and I'll see if I can find anything out tonight at work.]

After trying to remember how to add and subject 1 hour from times, I think I've figured out the play times for games that are at the sites that will be in HD. Our programming director went home before I saw her on Friday, so I didn't get a chance to ask which sites we were assigned to for Thursday & Friday. So, instead, I introduce the master listing of when the games will be played at the HD sites.


Cleveland
March 17 11:25am Alabama vs. Wis-Milwaukee
March 17 (30 min) Boston College vs. Pennsylvania
Tucson
March 17 11:45am Oklahoma vs. Niagara
March 17 (30 min) Utah vs. UTEP
Cleveland
March 17 6:10pm Wake Forest vs. Chattanooga
March 17 (30 min) West Virginia vs. Creighton
Tucson
March 17 7:25pm Gonzaga vs. Winthrop
March 17 (30 min) Texas Tech vs. UCLA

Nashville
March 18 11:25am Florida vs. Ohio
March 18 (30 min) Villanova vs. New Mexico
Worchester
March 18 11:15pm Charlotte vs. North Carolina St
March 18 (30 min) Connecticut vs. Central Florida
Nashville
March 18 7:10pm Louisville vs. La.-Lafayette
March 18 (30 min) Georgia Tech vs. George Washington
Worchester
March 18 6:10pm Syracuse vs. Vermont
March 18 (30 min) Michigan St. vs. Old Dominion


It looks like the station would be assigned a specific venue for the day's worth of games, since each site will be on it's own transponder on the HD satellite. I'll give you all an update if I find out more info.

KCCI-DT Schedule is available from TitanTV. (http://www.theiowachannel.com/tvlistings/index.html) That will porbably have the most up-to-date info and will keep me from replying to myself all week. :)

Has something happend to Fox's signal (17-1)? That used to come in perfect and was my strongest signal. Last night for '24', the signal was reading at 40-50 and wasn't even watchable. It's still not great today. Thanks.

Dave

Actually, my fox signal is completely gone now. I'm still getting NBC and CBS ok. Any ideas?

Dave

KC

Thanks for your great updates from KCCI. Watching the Tournament Thur-Sun on HD was FANTASTIC! Keep us posted.

Cad

Originally posted by dsm363
Actually, my fox signal is completely gone now. I'm still getting NBC and CBS ok. Any ideas?

Dave

Yesterday (3/20), I replaced my old small outdoor antenna with a Channel Master 3019 and I now get 13-1 (WHODT) where as before I didn't. However, I can't get 17-1 where as before I could. However, I hadn't looked at 17-1 two weeks prior to switching antenna yesterday (I should have looked at all the digital channels before making the switch). So I don't know if it's a FOX problem or my antenna just can't pick up the channel.

Is anyone else still having problems picking up 17-1 where as they were able to before?

Thanks,
Jeff

edit: answered me own question. nevermind.

Beginning April 1, we were required to broadcast as many hours on the DT side as we broadcast on the analog side. That means you can now see KCCI-DT 24/7. Yes, Soul Train and the Entertainers will be seen on KCCI-DT. Oh, and don't forget about the 3:35am edition of Teen Kids News on Sunday! (Sorry, my sarcasm filter is broken today. :) )

Sweet news on the KCCI DT front!

I noticed that WOI is now widescreen too. I may have missed when it happened, but at least it is a change there :)

Bah, nevermind. The wife was just playing with the remote and left it in "stretch".

again. Bah.

And here I thought I could get away with editing my post too. LOL Oh well. Anyways, here is more news that I'm sure everyone will enjoy. Beginning July 1st, KCCI-DT will also go full power. Right now it's basically running at 33%. (There are three cabinets that are rotated every 5 days to get them conditioned and ready to go. Once July gets here, they will all be cranked up at the same time.)

Also, I noticed that the DD5.1 encoder was sitting in the rack and actually decoding the movie tonight in 5.1. I don't know for sure if this means it's being sent out that way yet, but at least it's a step closer. I'm usually the last to figure stuff out since I'm only there on the weekends, but if I see for sure that 5.1 has a start date, I'll let you guys know that too.

kc0bsn,
Thanks for the great news and the good humor sarcasm!

KCCI (locally) and CBS (nationally) is definately leading the way in the HD department for sure!
Jeff

Did any experience problems with 17-1 last night at the beginning and End of both American Idol and House.

I did not watch American Idol but wife said it was fine during the majority of the show.
House did the same thing and I did see this happen.

It could be my antenna but wanted to see as I have not had a problem until last night.

The wife was complaining from the other room about 17-1 last night too, at about those times. Looks like the home end is probably not where the problem is then.

Hmm, still no 5.1 for CSI. How blinky are those lights getting on the encoder? Any word of any testing for it?

Just a general question. For the people that actually work with/on the new equipment at the various stations, how interested in the new tech are they? What kind of systems do they have at home? Wondering about the possibility of a 13" B&W covered with dust because they are sick of TV :)

Still blinking. :) Actually, the day after I last posted the construction group came in and started work on the new master control area. It's probably my best guess that things are slightly on hold until everything gets moved into the new area. (Keeps from having to run cable under the floor to the old [current] master area and then 6 weeks later move it back to the new area.

As for stuff at home...obviously, I can only speak for myself. I do have a STB, but it's only being fed into my TV via composite cables. Do I watch TV at home? Yep... but it's on my Beyond TV so I don't have to watch the commercials. I get my fill of those (and then some) at work. I'm sure there are others who plain out don't watch TV at home except for their most favored shows. Now that I think about it, I know there's quite a few people in the engineering department that don't even have cable/satellite. Just bunny ears & a 19" color. (Upgraded, of course, from their 13" B&W!)

Edit: I should add that I know for sure the GM and Chief Engineer have HDTVs at home... If something goes wrong, or a program isn't in HD like it should be, sometimes they beat you guys to the punch at calling in. :)

Originally posted by xsnrg
For the people that actually work with/on the new equipment at the various stations, how interested in the new tech are they? What kind of systems do they have at home? Wondering about the possibility of a 13" B&W covered with dust because they are sick of TV :) Over here in the Waterloo/Cedar Rapids market, at-home monitoring of all three of our KWWL-DT (NBC) services (7-1 HD, 7-2 SD, and 7-3 SD) is very important. Our General Manager watches via the 7-1 HD service provided on Cedar Falls Utilities Cable. Our Chief Engineer monitors nightly via his HD-PC card at home, and I (the Ass't Chief Engineer) monitor with my Sony HD monitor and Zenith 4th generation set-top box. In addition, both the Chief Engineer and I monitor daily these HD Forums. We are extremely interested in this "new" technology, as it will soon become THE service which we as broadcasters offer.
[Jerry]

I dont have ota reception, just what mediacom offers.

How many channels are ota now?

Is kcci still transmitting, but not in hd?
How about kpbs and woi?

OTA this evening I watched both 2.5 Men and a show on IPTV in HD. After a stint of getting WOI, I've gone back to the land of no reception for them, though.

Originally posted by randym431
I dont have ota reception, just what mediacom offers.

How many channels are ota now?

Is kcci still transmitting, but not in hd?
How about kpbs and woi?

Randy,
KCCI (8.01), WHO (13.01 & 13.02), IPTV (11.01) and FOX17 (17.01 & 17.02) are all broadcasting digitally and all those stations have some shows in HD, depending if the network is passing the HD feed. WOI is broadcasting in digital but such a weak signal that most people aren't getting it. Don't know what "kpbs" is.
Jeff

2 months left for WOI to get their act together (or did they get another extension from the FCC). Does anyone where WOI will be broadcasting their digital signal? From what I understand now its being broadcasted from DSM, just wondered if it would possibly be moved to Alleman with the others...

I'll be shocked if WOI is up and running correctly by July 1st. They'll have some new "excuse" why they aren't able to.

I might as well get ready for another season of Monday Night Football not in HD.:mad:

Football is all different now. Monday nights are owned by ESPN now. Granted, both ABC and ESPN are owned by Disney, so who knows what that will mean.

As for WOI, I did hear a rumor a while back that they had the digital equipment ready to kick up to full power, and would be ready when July 1 rolls around, but I have not heard any more on it for some time.

ABC still has MNF for one more season. I was glad to hear that MNF was moving away from ABC in 06' so we can watch it in high def. In 06' we can watch the Sunday Night game on NBC in HD and the Monday Night game on ESPN HD.

Guys - At the beginning of March, I asked the question and the response from Randy Shelton at WOI was they would be broadcasting a HD signal from Alleman by July 1.

Have not asked lately but figured I would ask abotu progress the middle of this month.

ltrain20, hope you are right. But I'll believe it when I see it.

Keep us updated if you hear anything more.

WOI's latest special temporary authority (STA) expires June 15, 2005, 15 days before the full power deadline, according to the FCC's TV Query.

Of course, that same TV Query also has a map and coordinates which suggest that WOI needs to be broadcasting its current 500 watts from Alleman -- not from Des Moines or West Des Moines or wherever they put their temporary stick.

Last I had heard WOI was transmitting from the big water tower next to Merle Hay Mall. That has been some time ago. WOI has made and broken so many promises that nothing they say can be trusted.

There is a reason they are the last dog.

Has anyone heard when Mediacom will rollout the ESPN channels, including ESPN2HD? press release gave no indication of when.

Originally posted by SnakeEyes
Has anyone heard when Mediacom will rollout the ESPN channels, including ESPN2HD? press release gave no indication of when.
What press release? They have ESPN HD now, didn't know that the duce was coming via Mediacom.

However, I did see this about INHD coming onboard with Mediacom:
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13345944

Mediacom signed a deal to recieve ESPN2-HD, ESPNU, ESPN360, ESPN Deportes, and Disney Connection:
Mediacom Communications and Disney and ESPN Media Networks Extend Core Programming Agreements; Mediacom Adds Multiple Disney and ESPN Products to Its (http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/050404/183/ffmt1.html)

Didn't know about In-Demand, wonder when it comes onboard. I want to buy MLS Direct Kick.

FYI:

Sinclair (KDSM's owner) says it's having negotiation issues with Dish Network.

I just caught the tail end of a crawl which ran on their sister station in Cedar Rapids, then checked KGAN's website. Apparently, it's chain-wide. The retrans. deal between Dish and Sinclair ends May 31, and if the two sides can't reach an agreement by then, Dish won't be able to carry Sinclair's stations.

For more information, there's an icon on the home pages of both www.kdsm.com and www.kgan.com . Both lead to http://www.sbgi.net/misc/dish.shtml.

New cable statement says:

"Effective on or around June 29th, there will be changes on your channel lineup. ESPN News will be added to Digital Plus, channel 210, ESPN 2 HD will be added to 831, and G4 will move to 209. Showtime Next West, Showtime Women West, and Showtime Family West will be dropped. Some channels may require additional equipment or service levels. "

Any new news on WOI or any other local OTA developments? I've been rather out of the loop for a while.

I sent a message to WOI asking for an update. Will post the response.

kc0bsn - any updates on 5.1 progress and full signal strength.

Just got back from Ames, and got nothing from WOI-DT 59 (5-1). FCC says their latest special temporary authority runs out June 15 -- just 15 days before the FCC's full-power deadline for the market. Two of this company's stations, WOI and WHBF Rock Island, are under that July 1 deadline to go full power; the other two are in smaller markets with an extra year. The rumbles around eastern Iowa are that WHBF will work hard to make it, hopefully with HD. Hope we can say the same for 'OI.

Don't know what it is about 17-2. The last couple of times I've been to Ames, 17-2 had no audio or video on it, unlike their Sinclair sister station in Cedar Rapids which uses it for a non-stretch, SD upconvert of their analog. I did get to see widescreen baseball on Fox 17-1 Saturday, though, which is so far lacking from my own Fox affiliate.

13 also looks fairly good. Caught Leno and Conan in HD Thursday night. I kind of wonder about the future of 13-2, though. Part of the NBC website mentions the New York Times stations getting Weather Plus at some point, just like we have in Cedar Rapids on KWWL. (NYT owns two NBCs, WHO and KFOR in Oklahoma City.) So far, though, just Mega Doppler -- not that Mega Doppler in itself can't be useful some days.

11 was also up to its usual high standards.

8 was good when I could get it, but somehow the Silver Sensor antenna I was using couldn't see the signal through the trees when the wind was blowing. (8's on a different tower than most of the other DTs, which are on that new far north tower.) Probably more a multipath problem than a strength one, since 8-1 pegs the meter when it comes to strength.

Update:

Sinclair now says it has extended its agreement with Dish Network for two more months while negotiations continue. So, Des Moines Dish users, you won't be losing Fox yet.

(yeah, I know, it won't help your HD, but it's worth noting.)

www.kdsm.com contains a link to the statement.

dline I am in State Center and can also verify some of the same items you mentioned above. 11, 13, and 17 all have around the same signal for me which is mid to high 90s, however 8 is usually low 90s high 80s. I am hoping that when the go full power I won't have to worry about super windy says anymore :) I am still holding out for WOI I hope they come up with something, HD or not, it would be nice to get a digital signal from them. Also has anyone heard anything about WB? I know that on antennaweb its mentioned but have heard nothing at all.

Unfortunately, Sarcoptic, KPWB 23 came on too late to get a digital channel to go with their analog. So for now, it appears they would have to "flash-cut" Channel 23 from analog to digital when the transition ends, whenever that is.

If there's any good news, Pappas (WB 23's owner) is trying to convince the FCC to let Caroline K. Powley transfer a construction permit for a digital-only station called KDMI to Pappas. Since Pappas already owns WB 23, they're asking the FCC for a waiver to let them own both stations, which they think is possible since there will be an eighth station in the market soon -- Family Educational Broadcasting's Channel 34 in Ames. Plus, they say, letting Pappas own a DT will let them do exactly what they can't do now: simulcast WB in digital while 23 remains analog.

The flipside is that Pappas' waiver request suggests multicasting UPN and possibly Hispanic programming along with WB for the time being. (See .pdf of Pappas' waiver request letter to the FCC.) (http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=306378)

I sent a message to WOI asking for an update. Will post the response.

kc0bsn - any updates on 5.1 progress and full signal strength.

I received this e-mail response from Randy Shelton at WOI:

-----Original Message-----

We will be broadcasting in HD by July.

Randy Shelton
WOI-TV
3903 Westown Parkway
West Des Moines, Iowa 50266
515-457-9645 ext. 108

I received this e-mail response from Randy Shelton at WOI:

-----Original Message-----

We will be broadcasting in HD by July.

Randy Shelton
WOI-TV
3903 Westown Parkway
West Des Moines, Iowa 50266
515-457-9645 ext. 108


But at what power?

But at what power?

My original question was when would you have enough power to have a clear signal in Altoona...

Just was sent an updated Mediacom price schedule and channel lineup for the DM and surrounding areas... dated "as of June 10th".. it lists "811 IPTV HD COMING SOON"

Is July 1st the supposed "deadline" for WOI-TV?

I hate to be negative but I'll believe the power upgrade is coming when I see it!

For those of you wondering if KFPX Pax 39 is going digital anytime soon ...

... it looks like it'll be a while.

The FCC has rejected Paxson-Des Moines' application for a digital allotment on channel 29. Paxson, owner of KFPX, did not receive a digitial channel to go with their analog channel 39.

The rejection came in a Report and Order (click here for .pdf) (http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-1619A1.pdf) adopted June 3.

According to the report, Paxson said on its election form that it has entered into a Negotiated Channel Arrangement (NCA) with 11 stations. However, "Several licensees in the Des Moines market that were listed ... filed comments, denying that they had entered into an NCA with Paxson-Des Moines," the report said.

"Instead, they explained that Paxson-Des Moines had informed a number of stations by letter that it intended to elect Channel 29 ... and instructed them to return an acknowledgement form indicating whether or not the station objected to the channel election," the report said. "The letter concluded by stating that failure to return the acknowledgement form would lead Paxson-Des Moines to 'presume there is no objection' by the station."

The FCC also cited a potential interference problem with a Sioux Falls station, as well as complaints from the owners of WOI-TV (analog 5/DT 59) and KDMI (digital only, channel 56), saying they would be "adversely affected" if KFPX were given channel 29 "at this time."

The Pax affiliate in Cedar Rapids already broadcasts in digital, but not in high definition. It has four subchannels: the main Pax network, a delayed west-coast feed of the main Pax network, Worship, and Faith Television.

Don't know if anyone else noticed this evening that KCCI was tinkering with the 5.1 encoder....Inside Edition was going back and forth between regular and 5.1...AWESOME JOB KCCI!!!

KCCI always has a messed up sound. Even their SD broadcast is screwed up. Whenever I run SD or HD with their local newscasts, the sound is echoing, etc. No other HD or SD channel seems to have their problems.

Don't know if anyone else noticed this evening that KCCI was tinkering with the 5.1 encoder....Inside Edition was going back and forth between regular and 5.1...AWESOME JOB KCCI!!!
You know... I was going to post something just now that you guys could be on the lookout for 5.1 sound soon. :) You all are just too quick.

Tonight's episode of CSI: Miami is scheduled to be in 5.1. Don't be too surprised/upset if it's not though. Since the encoder was turned on at the end of the day, I'm not sure we even have steps written up for how to ensure the decoder is working and how to properly monitor the audio.

BTW, sorry if I didn't respond to an earlier poster's question about the 5.1 sound. I thought it was weird that I hadn't heard anything from this group for a month. Somehow the board upgrade also killed my email notifications. We'll see if my posting gets that back into shape...

KCCI always has a messed up sound. Even their SD broadcast is screwed up. Whenever I run SD or HD with their local newscasts, the sound is echoing, etc. No other HD or SD channel seems to have their problems.
What kind of receiver do you have Easy-E? Does the sound ever not echo (i.e. during commercials, in network, local, etc.)? Also, what's the make/model of the receiver?

...There has been trouble with audio on the analog side with stuff shifting in and out of phase. I wonder if this might be what you're hearing on your end. But if that's the case, the network programming shouldn't be affected.

...And just out of small-world curiosity... Are you in Ames? (Okay, that's not so much out of small-world curiosity, but I've seen your SN somewhere else, and for there to be two Easy-Es in the area would just be uncanny...)

[Feel free to email me off the thread, and then we'll come back here when we have something figured out.]

Thanks for the info tesg. I'll pass your message along and post it up in master. Like I said, there's something weird with the stereo in that if there's just a slight bit of noise coming in on channel 2, it makes the stereo phase go all out of whack. Your message will be a great reason for why all ops need to watch things more closely.

The room is completely built for master now...but there's still no equipment in it. It's here...in boxes...scattered around the station. I'm not really sure what the schedule is since it's actually an outside contracted job to come in and work on stuff.

Tesg,

I own a 5 year old high-end Yamaha reciever I bought of Ebay. It has Dolby Digital and DTS. When KCCI is run on Pro-Logic during local casts, it sounds horrible. It echoes like they are talking through a bottle into a large auditorium.

I've noticed it at other people's homes, too.

FYI - I live in Altoona.

Altoona better than Bondurant.

;)


Do all the settings (hall, church, disco, stadium, etc.) have same or similar problem?

Do you have too many 'modes' engaged? Some receivers (don't know about yours) let you 'dial down' effects. Check manual, if no manual, check manufacturer website and print a new one (I have done this for several pieces of pawn shop gear I have bought over the years).


BTW, I lived in Ames many years ago, still miss central Iowa (sniff) :(

Any word on full power Kc0bsn?

I believe full power is still on track for the July 1st deadline.

Now the only drama remaining is, will WOI make it in the next eight days?

If I can pull in WOI on July 1st I'll fall over. The station is a joke.

I e-mailed the station manager for an update last night...no response yet...I too will laugh if they miss yet another deadline....

An Eastern Iowa engineer who posts in our thread said Thursday that, yes, there is some DT work going on for WOI at Alleman. But WHBF, Channel 5's sister station in the Quad Cities, has filed for an extension. (The Quad Cities, like Des Moines-Ames, is a top-100 market. Citadel/Capital/Coronet's other markets, Lincoln and Sioux City, are not.)

From the FCC website, there's no word on how long that extension is, but another poster seems to think it's just 30 days.

Thankfully, no such application has turned up for Channel 5 ... at least as of Friday afternoon.

Anyone else noticed a signal increase on WHO and KCCI....wondering they went full power or not...

On or around tomorrow Mediacom is supposed to add the new channels.... the clock is ticking people :P

Anybody else having problems with PBS (11-1)? I lost signal on Sunday and have yet to get it back. I've never had problems before...

Anybody else having problems with PBS (11-1)? I lost signal on Sunday and have yet to get it back. I've never had problems before...

Yes, I've also noticed no signal from 11-1.
I also have problems with WHODT. Week signal.

ESPN2-HD has arrived on Mediacom. No sign of IPTV tho.

If I can pull in WOI on July 1st I'll fall over. The station is a joke.

Amen to that! The countdown is now on with under 48 hours away. But trust me I'm not getting my hopes up. I just wonder if WOI will get "punished" for failing to me the deadline ONCE again. :mad:

I'll be pissed if come September I can't watch Monday Night Football in HD yet again this season.

Just checked the FCC website ... still no sign of an application for an extension for WOI-DT. Also no sign of any extension applications for KCCI, WHO and KDSM. I wouldn't be surprised if the thunderstorms last night delayed them, though. They looked bad on our radar.

(BTW, for what it's worth, an official from sister station WHBF in the Quad Cities told someone on our thread that they'll be up by September 1. That station does have an extension on file.)

KCCI has filed a "License to Cover" for their 1 mw transmitter!
So they must be at full power, or are just doing some temporary work
if they are not at that power. KDSM is already at 500 kw, that's as high
as they applied for, so they can't go higher until analog shutdown.

WOI, WHO...nothing yet. 5 hours, 47 minutes and ticking. But WHO is
promising; they're at 550 kw. They're probably at half power, so
someone just has to raise it to 1 mw, I'm guessing.

Condition testing has been ongoing for the past week on KCCI's transmitter. Sometimes turning on 2 of the 3 cabinets that are used for full-power transmission. There was a small problem on Sunday morning when cabinet 1 wasn't ramping up to 100% of its power, but I believe that has been fixed since then.As far as I knew on Wednesday, it was still scheduled to be full power beginning July 1.

I'm guessing WOI hasn't gone full power and HD yet?

We've seen nothing from KFXA in the Cedar Rapids DMA (no signal at all for a day and a half), who also is supposed to be full-power and HD by midnight tonight.

12:45 pm on July 1st and nothing on WOI once again. Those bastards piss me off! :mad:

Given WOI's constant lies over the past couple of years, it's no surprise they're not running at full power yet. Even when they do, count on constant interruptions and long downtimes. They are clueless.

Regardless, I'll just keep watching ABC-HD (east coast and west coast feeds) via Canada as I have been for almost two years. I'll also keep watching CBS that way so I don't lose my HD with all the weather graphics and constant interruptions anytime it sprinkles.

AbbeyRoad,

How are you getting Canadian signals?

I'm a subscriber to Bel Express Vu via a broker in Winnipeg. To have an account with a Canadian satellite company you need a Canadian billing address. Canadians with winter homes in the U.S. have been using brokers like this for years so they can watch their local Canadian stations while wintering in the U.S. I'm a calibrator who has traveled across the country and kept seeing Canadian subscribers, some as far south as Phoenix and finally did it myself after WOI kept stalling.

They use Echostar equipment so I bought the dish off eBay. You have to buy the receiver through the broker because all satellite receiver serial numbers have to be registered in Canada. And, of course, you have to install it yourself.

I get ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and PBS feeds both east coast and west coast. There are also a couple of Canadian HD stations as well as a movie channel, Rogers Sports Net and WGN-HD (so I also get all Cubs home games in HD). WGN is also a WB station so I get Smallville in HD also.

Depending on the exchange rate it costs me about $35/month plus an annual $75 broker fee. The real expense is the HD satellite receiver which cost me about $600 at the time.

Is there anyway we can somehow get a waiver to get the ABC-HD East Coast or West coast feed due to the incompotence of our local ABC affiliate? Wasn't July 1st suppose to be the final, final deadline to get up to requirements or not?

Like I said in an earlier post, if I don't have Monday Night Football & College football in HD this year (once again!) there just might be a beatdown that happens! I think the judge would be on my side regarding this matter. :p

Thank god in 2006 MNF is moving to ESPN HD and Sunday Night football to NBC-DT.

The affiliate rules are pretty hard to get around. I know others who have tried to get waivers and none have succeeded. I don't think there's any chance of a waiver unless WOI's license is revoked.

The affiliate rules are pretty hard to get around. I know others who have tried to get waivers and none have succeeded. I don't think there's any chance of a waiver unless WOI's license is revoked.

Hey gang,

fccinfo@fcc.gov is the email to complain about a station's out-of-bounds
programming, or lack of compliance against anything. The more *courteous*
emails they receive, the more they are likely to act, and fine anyone caught
breaking FCC rules.

Anybody get a chance to talk to the WOI engineers (if that station actually has them) regarding where the HD programming is at once again?

I've e-mailed Randy Shelton twice 2 days before July 1 and a few days after. No response from him.

Easy-E
I e-mailed today as well. have not heard anything either. He is probably sick of hearing from all of us but I am also tired of not getting ABC in H-Def.

Hopefully they will get up and running soon.

Kc0bsn - Have you heard any rumors about WOI?? Is everything full power at your employer?

The only rumors I hear aren't technical rumors. :) And yes, KCCI-DT is at or really bloody close to 100% power now.

As of this morning, Mediacom now has KDIND (IPTV) on channel 811.

I have emailed WOI everyday since the 1st with the same exact email. I have yet to receive any sort of response from them. This is a bummer it would of been nice to catch the NFL pregame on Aug 8 in HD...

They are working on it and everything should be good to go at the start of August. Yeah ok

Here is the response I received from Randy Shelton

We are currently working on our HD tower. We have been delayed by some
weather, but hope to be up in the next 4 weeks.

Randy Shelton
WOI-TV

Yeah sure Randy. We haven't heard that story before.

You guys might as well save your energy.

WOI has no intention of providing us with a usable DIGITAL signal, let alone high definition.

We have heard a long string of broken promises and out right deceptions stated by the station's last couple of general managers. I am certain that they have no intention of transmitting one watt more than the FCC will make them. Until they are threatened with fines or other penalties, they won't send us anything usable.

If you look at the murky past of this thread, we were made the same promises by Randy Shelton before ABC's big SuperBowl broadcast 2 seasons ago.

Same old WOI, no wonder they are the last dog.

If they could only get Teri Hatcher to do the weather au natural!!! Then they might get a viewer or two :-)

If they could only get Teri Hatcher to do the weather au natural!!! Then they might get a viewer or two :-)
If that happens, you bet you'll say I See!

(sorry, couldn't resist bringing up their old slogan.) :)

Here's his canned response:
____________________________________________________________ ___
We are currently working on our HD tower. We have been delayed by some weather, but hope to be up in the next 4 weeks.

Randy Shelton
WOI-TV
3903 Westown Parkway
West Des Moines, Iowa 50266
515-457-9645 ext. 108

____________________________________________________________ ___

I just e-mailed him back and said "Hope is not a strategy."

I wanted to e-mail him, "What weather? The 2 weeks of 90 degree heat?"

I wanted to e-mail him, "What weather? The 2 weeks of 90 degree heat?"
Actually, I seem to remember some pretty substantial thunderstorms going through there as those "two weeks of 90 degree heat" were drawing to a close.

Of course it would have been nice if they had built that possibility into their scheduling.

(If it makes you feel any better, I still don't have Fox HD where I live ... they're thinking later this month.)

Boooooooooooooooooo WOI!!! :)

For some reason, I haven't been getting updates from this forum, except for the one today. Had a page of WOI (deserved) bashing to go through and nothing else new. Glad to see KCCI is up to full juice, although I never had a problem with them anyway :)

I do get WOI Digital at home without problem, but when my buddy calls me on the phone and is exclaiming how good something is looking in HD on ABC, it just makes me cringe. I hoped with the new leadership that came in over the last year or two, that WOI would swing the sails into the wind again, unfortunately, it looks like they beached it hard instead.

I wouldn't give even money that WOI will be up on HD for Monday Night Football. By the time those clowns get things going, we will be watching a different network as MNF is leaving ABC. How ironic. Waiting years to finally see MNF on HD, and now it will happen as a result of a contract, leaving hapless WOI to bumble onward.

I recall when they purchased WOI, the boasted that they were going to become the "flagship" of TV in central Iowa...more like they have rearranged the deck chairs on the Titanic

Greetings from a Newbie to this HD thing. My new Toshiba 51H84 should arrive next week. I've already purchased a new Dish 811 off of Ebay and have the surround sound ready to go. I'm planning on subscribing to Dish Network's HD Pack. However I'd also like to attain the OTA signals. I live on the south east side of Des Moines in the Easter Lake area. Does anybody have any recommendations on what type of antenna I should purchase? My dish is located on the side of my house, so I"m assuming a rooftop antenna is the way to go instead of one of those that mount on the dish? I'd like to stay away from one of those enormous monsters I used to have as a kid growing up (before sattelite and cable). Does anybody have any suggestions?

Also too, I've read through all the posts, would someone mind giving me a brief synopsis on which stations consistantly broadcast in HD? From what I've read, sounds like we can't expect channel 5 any time soon.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Mr. Lemonhead

Or maybe dashed again, but a friend here was just listening to a radio show, and John Walters called in and said that WOI will be playing with HD during the NFL pre-season and going live with HD on Sept 1.

Has anyone else heard anything??

Mr Lemonhead, you should be able to get just about any station except WOI with a standard size rooftop antenae. Just point it due north, and a little west of your location and you should be able to get KCCI-DT, IPTV_DT, FOX-DT, and KCCI-DT. WOI is, as you have read, questionable. WB has applied with FCC, but haven't seen much action there.

... and there doesn't seem to be any action with WB on the FCC's website, either -- not with KPWB, and not with Pappas' proposed purchase of a digital-only construction permit from Caroline K. Powley.

(For those just tuning in, KPWB came on the air too late to get a companion digital channel. Unless the FCC approves one, or approves Pappas' buyout of the KDMI-DT construction permit, there will be no WB DT in Central Iowa until analog shutdown.)

Or maybe dashed again, but a friend here was just listening to a radio show, and John Walters called in and said that WOI will be playing with HD during the NFL pre-season and going live with HD on Sept 1.

Has anyone else heard anything??

I sure hope Walters is right about that.

It appears Phil Lombardo's broadcasting group has filed new Special Temporary Authority applications for both WOI-TV and their Quad Cities station, WHBF.

The STAs are dated 07/27/2005, listed as "accepted for filing," have no expiration date listed, and give no details.

I'm new to this forum, and have been reading a little. Sounds like many stations in the DM metro area are up and running, maybe even at full power.

How far will the signal reach? I live in Carroll, IA and am trying to decide what type of antenna to install in order to get the signals. Also thought about trying to grab some signals from Omaha (just about as far to either town for me). If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate them. Do I need a directional antenna in order to get signals from that far away, or could I find a good universal antenna to try and catch signal from two different directions? Are they broadcasting UHF or VHF signals?

Also, I read some comments about set-top boxes. I was thinking of going with a DISH 811 is that a bad choice?

It appears Phil Lombardo's broadcasting group has filed new Special Temporary Authority applications for both WOI-TV and their Quad Cities station, WHBF.

The STAs are dated 07/27/2005, listed as "accepted for filing," have no expiration date listed, and give no details.

dline, what exactly does that mean? Is that good or bad for us?

Bad....means if FCC accepts them I imagine another year of no ABC HD

I recall reading somewhere that the extensions filed for the July 1 deadline were 6 month extensions only... now perhaps they can file for more, but my understanding is that this is it. Do or die.....

All - this is the message I got from Randy Shelton today. I sent a follow up asking if we would see it on the 8th. There are 3 total Monday night games on ABC, so hoepfully we get something soon.

We are testing our HD signal during preseason NFL and will be
broadcasting
full time beginning September 1.

Randy Shelton
WOI-TV
3903 Westown Parkway
West Des Moines, Iowa 50266
515-457-9645 ext. 108