Last time it was discussed here, KMYS wasn't even available OTA on HD yet. Is that still the case?

They have been broadcasting in 720p HD OTA since at least September or October of last year, possibly longer but I'm not sure when. Since their tower is located NW of town, I got almost 85% signal strength with my Terk indoor antenna in Helotes.

Okay, so they still aren't carried in HD by Time Warner then.

Okay, so they still aren't carried in HD by Time Warner then.

Correct, the carriage agreement between Sinclair & TWC only covers ABC, CBS, NBC & Fox affiliates. CW/MyTV affiliates will be added if there are special circumstances. For San Antonio TWC customers, that likely means around the start of the next NBA season when KRRT-MyTV starts carrying their local Spurs games in HD.

I'd really like them to add CW, being a big Gilmore Girls fan. HD is the only way to see them, as they keep putting out the dvd's in 4:3 even though they've been broadcasting in widescreen HD for at least the past 4 seasons.

I'd like to see them add CW as well. Not sure why that hasn't happened yet...I haven't heard of any carriage disputes between Corridor/Belo and TWC.

We like to watch "Everybody Hates Chris" and it's much better in widescreen just like 99% of all television :D

I know others posted a few weeks back that WOAI had solved the echo problem, but I still hear it. I notice it particularly during Friday Night Lights and 30 Rock, and some during The Office, but that show doesn't use the rear channels much. Anyone else still notice the echo problem?

Sup guys...new-b hdtv owner here, can you help me make sure my stb is using the best possible settings? I bought the 50" Samsung 5087 1080P DLP and it's hooked to the Explorer 3250HD box from tw.

- Is it always best to leave resolution at 1080i?

- Does the picture format setting make a difference (ex. upconvert, fixed, auto-dvi), and why isn't the recommended (per manual) setting of pass-through available in my options?

- Should bypass be on or off?

- When I first connected the stb, the tv asked what type it was, IRC, HRC, etc.? Which one does the 3250 fall under?

- As far as sound quality, am I going to get better results going from stb to receiver or tv to receiver (via optical)?

I'm sure I have more I'm forgetting, thanks in advance for the help.

I know others posted a few weeks back that WOAI had solved the echo problem, but I still hear it. I notice it particularly during Friday Night Lights and 30 Rock, and some during The Office, but that show doesn't use the rear channels much. Anyone else still notice the echo problem?

Yes. It's always been there and probably always will be there as long as the Dolby Digital is turned on. It could be solved with the correct delay settings programmed into the decoder but apparently that is not going to happen.

Welcome to the forums. The answers to some of your questions that I know offhand are below. There is also a specific thread on the forums to discuss that box located here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=346428&highlight=3250HD)


Sup guys...new-b hdtv owner here, can you help me make sure my stb is using the best possible settings? I bought the 50" Samsung 5087 1080P DLP and it's hooked to the Explorer 3250HD box from tw.

- Is it always best to leave resolution at 1080i? Yes

- Does the picture format setting make a difference (ex. upconvert, fixed, auto-dvi), and why isn't the recommended (per manual) setting of pass-through available in my options? Best to connect via HDMI and use auto-DVI setting

- Should bypass be on or off?

- When I first connected the stb, the tv asked what type it was, IRC, HRC, etc.? Which one does the 3250 fall under?

- As far as sound quality, am I going to get better results going from stb to receiver or tv to receiver (via optical)?

I'm sure I have more I'm forgetting, thanks in advance for the help.

ABC's broadcast of the Spurs vs Miami game today seems to have a really bad audio mix for an HD game. Its being broadcast in 5.1, but I don't think the mix is anything but a really crappy stereo.

Anyone else getting this?

Quote:
Originally Posted by agentalbert
I know others posted a few weeks back that WOAI had solved the echo problem, but I still hear it. I notice it particularly during Friday Night Lights and 30 Rock, and some during The Office, but that show doesn't use the rear channels much. Anyone else still notice the echo problem?

Yes. It's always been there and probably always will be there as long as the Dolby Digital is turned on. It could be solved with the correct delay settings programmed into the decoder but apparently that is not going to happen.

If that's the case, I wonder if just broadcasting in stereo would fix the problem. At least until they figure out how to correct the delay on the rear channels. I'd prefer a normal stereo mix to the 5.1 with echo. I could just have my receiver do Pro-Logic II decoding if I needed surround.

Yes, broadcasting in stereo would fix the problem but then people would probably complain that their Dolby Digital light wasn't on.

The problem with the 5.1 signal occurs because the L+R stereo parts of the 5.1 signal go through the main audio switchboard before going to the transmitter whereas the surround and center channel signals do not. This causes the L+R signals to be delayed compared to the other signals because they are travelling a further path.

NBC's solution to this is to delay the surround and center channel signals at the DD decoder in order to match the delay imposed on the L+R signals. So far WOAI has not been able to do this sucessfully.

To me, it would seem easier to just route all 5 signals around the main switchboard so that all signals travel the same path. Surely the other networks must be doing something like this since I've not heard of any echo problems on other networks; only NBC.

Hi all, first time posting in this forum. A few months ago I upgraded to a large HD screen and the service from TWC. My question is regarding commercials. Several times while watching commercials a national commercial will start, play for a few seconds, and then cut to a local commercial with obviously different video and sound settings. I also hear a "click" noise from my cable box at this point. The local commercial finishes, the "click" is heard again from the box, and the screen cuts back to the national commercial.

I assume there are spots in every program for local and national spots, but is this right? Do the national sponsors know TWC is stepping on their ads with local ads? And is this "click" from my box normal? It seems like it is tied to HD/non-HD transmission, but not positive.

To me, it would seem easier to just route all 5 signals around the main switchboard so that all signals travel the same path. Surely the other networks must be doing something like this since I've not heard of any echo problems on other networks; only NBC.

Tonight's Studio 60 solved the problem for a long several minutes by playing only the back channels and dropping the conversation... I hope they get it straight soon, I don't worry at all when a commercial echos... adds to the effect somewhat with the car salesman shouting and echoing... but losing long sections of dialog is disheartening.

Tonight's Studio 60 solved the problem for a long several minutes by playing only the back channels and dropping the conversation... I hope they get it straight soon, I don't worry at all when a commercial echos... adds to the effect somewhat with the car salesman shouting and echoing... but losing long sections of dialog is disheartening.

Yeah, I noticed that when I played it back on my DVR this morning. That used to happen semi-frequently with West Wing when that program was still on.

Anyone else having problems with NBC (ch 104) on TWC this morning. Total dropouts, screen goes black and sound drops out. Have seen it numerous time durning the Today Show. Switched to OTA NBC and all was fine.

I have noticed that as well. The funny thing is that when I immediately reversed the DVR and replayed that segment, it was there. I don't begin to understand that. :confused:

Hi all, first time posting in this forum. A few months ago I upgraded to a large HD screen and the service from TWC. My question is regarding commercials. Several times while watching commercials a national commercial will start, play for a few seconds, and then cut to a local commercial with obviously different video and sound settings. I also hear a "click" noise from my cable box at this point. The local commercial finishes, the "click" is heard again from the box, and the screen cuts back to the national commercial.

I assume there are spots in every program for local and national spots, but is this right? Do the national sponsors know TWC is stepping on their ads with local ads? And is this "click" from my box normal? It seems like it is tied to HD/non-HD transmission, but not positive.

I'm on TWC and do not have this problem. I suggest a call to their service dept. The quickest solution might be to switch out cable boxes and see if that solves the problem.

Thanks for the reply. Just for my info do you have the SA Explorer 3250HD model? Is this the only HD (non-DVR) model they carry? I'll probably take it up to the office and just switch it, maybe they have something newer.

To Ken I. and ElusiveEmu,

This is fairly normal for TWC, depending on which channel you're watching.

I'm going to stick my nose out here; I was hoping TWC would respond to this.

TWC and other service providers use an automated digital commercial insertion system that places local commercials (spots) into time slots that some channels make available to Multiple Service Operators (MSO's) like cable companies and satellite providers. If you're watching one of these "turnaround channels," as I call them, you may see local spots two or more times per hour, depending on the channel. For example if you're watching Discovery HD, they might make one minute available for the MSO to insert spots halfway through the show, say at half-past the hour, and another minute at the end of the show, maybe 58 minutes after the hour. Sometimes the insertion automation gets a little out of sync with the originating service, causing you to see a second or more of the national spot, promo or Public Service Announcement that the service normally plays at that time before the local spot kicks in.

As to the "click" your cable box makes, this also is normal on TWC-HD for certain "turnaround" channels. When the commercial insertion takes place, the box is switching modes from 1080i to 720p or 480i, depending on the format of the local spot.

Note that neither of these phenomena should EVER occur as you watch LOCAL HD channels. TWC generally does not insert any content into local HD channels except for their periodic Emergency Alert System tests, which they run over all of their digital channels.

I don't think anything is wrong with your cable set-top-box, but I wouldn't rule out a call to TWC to get the story straight from the MSO's mouthpiece.

Thanks. I figured the "clicking" was the switching of formats, just didn't think a set top box should be making any noise. I'll probably have to wait for the next generation of boxes for a more seamless transition I guess.

I'd rather not call TWC, unless you have a special number for people that actually know about the service/technology! Seems like I can't get very far past "reset your box" most times I call. Maybe I am talking to the wrong people.

If these local spot insertions are out of sync, wouldn't TWC recognize it pretty quickly? It seems like most times I watch the HD it happens (although I don't watch TV as much as I should, so it might just be bad luck). At first I thought they were in effect "stealing" from the cable networks by running local ads over national ads, and that - although trivial to most consumers - irked me. Glad to know it is probably just a glitch.

Thanks again for the help.

Anybody notice the white spots on WOAI via TWC over the past couple of days? Plus for the second week in a row, sound has gone out completely during Studio 60. The echo issues also seem to be worse now than they were a few weeks ago.

Anybody notice the white spots on WOAI via TWC over the past couple of days? Plus for the second week in a row, sound has gone out completely during Studio 60. The echo issues also seem to be worse now than they were a few weeks ago.

Are you talking about tiny "sparkles" all over the picture especially during dark scenes? Looked like about one pixel in size. I observed these during "Heroes", recorded Monday night This was recorded OTA, so if it's the same, we must blame WOAI, not TWC.

Are you talking about tiny "sparkles" all over the picture especially during dark scenes? Looked like about one pixel in size. I observed these during "Heroes", recorded Monday night This was recorded OTA, so if it's the same, we must blame WOAI, not TWC.

Yep, that's it. So WOAI is on the hook for erratic picture and sound echo problems during their prime time line up. They might want to have somebody check on those issues soon.

I just noticed that my neighborhood now has AT&T Uverse available. Does anyone have this service?

My initial concern is the limitation on connections. Looks like from the FAQs that the limit is four TVs plus high speed internet service. I have four SD sets and two HDs, so unless there is some workaround, looks like I'm reluctantly staying with TWC. I also read something about a 60-70% bandwidth expansion later this year, but I don't know whether that would affect the number of TVs one could connect.

I just bought my first wide screen HDTV. I got the Panasonic 42" Plasma.
I love it !!!!

I bought a Phillips Superior High Definition 50db amplification HDTV antenna and can get 4, 5, 12, 35, and 41 in HD...but I cant get FOX in HD.

I'm over by Culebra and 1604. I get good reception on the channels that I get....
Do I need to get a different antenna to receive FOX 29 in HD OTA ???

Does Directv or TWC pass the local channels thru unencrypted?
In other words I wouldnt need a set top box to receive the local channel signal?
Just plug in the cable from the dish on the roof or the cable from road runner and I'll have HD locals?

If thats one of the small set top box ones. You could try to tune (manually) to Fox by itself and then adjust the antenna to see if you can pull it in. My dad lives at IH10 and Callaghan which is pretty high up but he lives down the hill a bit and I have struggled to get him constant good reception on on channels for more than a year. We have gone through 2 Radio Shack Antennas (outdoor boom) even with a good preamp he couldn't hold some channels very well. Last time I was there I got him a Channel Master 4228. Problem solved.

I just bought my first wide screen HDTV. I got the Panasonic 42" Plasma.
I love it !!!!

I bought a Phillips Superior High Definition 50db amplification HDTV antenna and can get 4, 5, 12, 35, and 41 in HD...but I cant get FOX in HD.

I'm over by Culebra and 1604. I get good reception on the channels that I get....
Do I need to get a different antenna to receive FOX 29 in HD OTA ???

Anyone check out the new free HD on-demand channel wealth tv 956? I see it on the TWC home page.

Anyone know what settings to adjust to prevent the picture from adjusting itself when changing channels? I'm on auto-dvi now, is it something with my tv?

Anyone check out the new free HD on-demand channel wealth tv 956? I see it on the TWC home page.Thanks for the heads up, checked it out and it looks good.

I know that there is a dedicated U-verse Thread here, but not much going on there concerning San Antonio. So, I thought I'd post a few questions here.

1. Is U-Verse still limited to 1 HD transmission at a time?

2. How many of you have had U-Verse installed since Jan 1.

3. Are you satisfied? If so, what's it's best feature. If not, why?

A distribution box was installed on my corner over 6 months ago, but still no availability. I'd sure like to ditch my TWC connection.

Thanks,
DerrikM

DerrikM, did you see this article (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/stories/MYSA031507.1E.ATTuverse.2e2ea26.html) about U-Verse in today's Express-News? Sounds like there are still some glitches to be ironed out.

I receive my HD OTA with a rooftop antenna installed by Bjorns. Does anyone have problems with the KENS signal during the day? I always had issues during football season and yesterday and today I'm trying to watch some NCAA March Madness games and can't keep a signal long enough to watch one play. lots of pixelation and total loss of signal. Last night the games came in better but during the day it is impossible to watch, I get every other channel just fine. And anytime an airplane flies by I lose any KENS signal that I do get. Bjorn's said that they have seen that the slightest amount of wind causes the KENS signal to be lost. Is the KENS signal just weaker than everyone else's? Seems ridiculous to sit here and watch these games in SD on my 50" HDTV.

I receive my HD OTA with a rooftop antenna installed by Bjorns. Does anyone have problems with the KENS signal during the day? ...anytime an airplane flies by I lose any KENS signal that I do get. Bjorn's said that they have seen that the slightest amount of wind causes the KENS signal to be lost. Is the KENS signal just weaker than everyone else's?
In short, it sounds to me as though you are a victim of multipath. KENS-DT operates at full licensed power as do our brother DTV stations here; KENS-DT is by no means weaker than any of them. Wind is not at all part of the transmission equation and I wish some salesman - even at Bjorn's - had not said something so ill-informed to you.

I invite you to contact me directly at the office, if you like. We can discuss issues of antenna, height, location and so forth in an effort to find out what is at the root of the problem. I'd be happy to talk to your contact at Bjorn's, also.

For the purposes of this Forum, however, the kind of antenna used, the height above ground and roof line, and your location in the community all factor in to make for good reception or poor. If you are in a sheltered, low area without an unobstructed view of the horizon, that could be a problem. If your antenna line of sight crosses through areas where there are quite a few tall buildings, the resulting reflected signals can do you in - just to propose two examples.

Multipath, in a nutshell is the term to describe a signal taking multiple paths to your antenna. It causes a problem because the many versions of the same signal do not arrive at your antenna all at the same time or at the same strength. Depending on what objects the signal may have bounced on during its travel, it may be quite distorted. In an analog world we would have seen this symptom as wavering ghosts, sometimes fading in and out of recognition, sometimes distorting color, sharpness and even sound. In a digital world you have a good signal or you do not. "Pixelation" is a term widely used to describe what happens to your picture just at the moment of signal loss. No matter what you call it, the symptom means there is not enough data in the received signal to make a distinguishable picture. You also describe total loss of signal; no doubt about it. Some of those multiple signals reaching your antenna actually cancel each other out, leaving you with nothing.

Experimenting with different models of antenna and mounting them at different heights and azimuth angles may help improve the reception. Sometimes moving the antenna mount a few feet in one direction or another has been known to help. Multipath is the most difficult problem facing broadcasters and consumers, because the complaint is always the same: "...every other station comes in just fine. It is only YOUR station that I have a problem with..." There is not a single tried-and-true formula to cure multipath. It takes experimentation and cooperation to tackle, and there are no guarantees. Sometimes the least likely approach is the one to solve the problem, sometimes not.

So let's talk about it. You apparently have suffered with this for far too long and you have "got no satisfaction." Call me.

Good news all of you Beyond TV users. I just got an email that Snapstream now has a beta out that will support QAM for the HDHomerun dual HD receiver. The next point release is due out anytime and it should solve a lot of peoples problems with OTA reception.

To Ken I. and ElusiveEmu,

Edited for brevity

Jerry, thanks for your informative input. However, I have never heard clicking from my box on any channel. Now, maybe I have the sound cranked up too high.... :p

Emu - to answer your question about boxes, I have the S-A 3250HD in one room and I have a Pace HD box in another. I traded a 3250 box for the Pace box b/c it has an HDMI output.

Thanks for the info on the box. I have the 3250 right now. Is the Pace box any better? Trying to decide if I just want to switch it out for another 3250 or try getting a different box. If I am not mistaken, when I picked up the 3250, that was the only HD box besides the DVR that they had available.

To those in SA - what HD do you use? Sounds like AT&T UVERSE is capped at 10Mb/s on IPTV and 6 Mb/s on internet. TWC-SA is full length 18Mb/s similar to OTA. The internet choices through TWC on the high-end are the 7Mb/s and 10Mb/s.

Is A&E HD and MHD SDV on TWC-SA or is it unencrypted always on QAM?

Is KABB HD available on TWC unencrypted? I have a DVR-HD and of course get KABB-HD on channel 111. I just purchased a 37" LCD TV that has built in QAM tuner. I have scanned the cable several times but each time I get all local HD channels except for KABB-HD. I saw an earlier post that listed this channel as 104-111 but I get no channel on 104. I get the following channels:

Analog channel (below 100)

103-19
103-104 (WOAI-HD)
103-112 (KSAT-HD)
112-108 (KLRN-DT)
112-155 (KENS_HD)
119-80 (WOAI Weather Plus)

Is KABB HD available on TWC unencrypted? I have a DVR-HD and of course get KABB-HD on channel 111. I just purchased a 37" LCD TV that has built in QAM tuner. I have scanned the cable several times but each time I get all local HD channels except for KABB-HD. I saw an earlier post that listed this channel as 104-111 but I get no channel on 104. I get the following channels:

Analog channel (below 100)

103-19
103-104 (WOAI-HD)
103-112 (KSAT-HD)
112-108 (KLRN-DT)
112-155 (KENS_HD)
119-80 (WOAI Weather Plus)

It is definitely there, one of my friends bought a Sony LCD with built in QAM tuner and I helped him to find it. Can't remember where it was but I remember it wasn't at 104.111. I just assumed it could vary between different brands of TVs.

I noticed that WOAI seems to have decided to start broadcasting in stereo rather than Dolby 5.1. Friday Night Lights on Wednesday, and all of The Office episodes from Thursday were like this, and there is no echo problem. To kudos to them for doing this until they get the other issue figured out. Decent stereo is far preferable to the surround sound with the echo problem.

It is definitely there, one of my friends bought a Sony LCD with built in QAM tuner and I helped him to find it. Can't remember where it was but I remember it wasn't at 104.111. I just assumed it could vary between different brands of TVs.

I finally got it. Rescanned last night and sure enough it found it at 104.111. I also noticed that on OTA I now pick up 35-1, MyNetworks (signal was never strong enough before, I live in the northeast area. I did notice that there was a visual studder every few seconds when 35-1 was showing an HD program but the studder was gone when non-HD shows were on. Is this common?

I finally got it. Rescanned last night and sure enough it found it at 104.111. I also noticed that on OTA I now pick up 35-1, MyNetworks (signal was never strong enough before, I live in the northeast area. I did notice that there was a visual studder every few seconds when 35-1 was showing an HD program but the studder was gone when non-HD shows were on. Is this common?

Glad you were able to get KABB locked in. Not sure what could be causing the problems with your picture, I'd check the signal strength of the channel to see if it is going in and out. Could be any number of things causing interference with your antenna.

Thanks for the info on the box. I have the 3250 right now. Is the Pace box any better? Trying to decide if I just want to switch it out for another 3250 or try getting a different box. If I am not mistaken, when I picked up the 3250, that was the only HD box besides the DVR that they had available.

I have not noticed any better picture quality with the Pace box. The Pace box also has 2 problems. I leave the box on at all times. Occasionally, when I turn on the TV, I get an error message that my TV does not have HDCP (which is incorrect - my TV does support HDCP). The only way to solve this problem is to reboot the box. The other problem is that if I switch channels, the audio defaults to 2.0 and I have to reset it to 5.1. TWC has no solution for either of these problems, according to their service dept.

Fox sure was all over the place for about 30 minutes. Started about 15 minutes before the end of 24. Went blank, blue, picture freeze. I mean the satellite went out and so did OTA. Missed the fight and capture of guy with the bombs. Then Fox started showing Prison Break all over again. Crazy :eek:

Fox sure was all over the place for about 30 minutes. Started about 15 minutes before the end of 24. Went blank, blue, picture freeze. I mean the satellite went out and so did OTA. Missed the fight and capture of guy with the bombs. Then Fox started showing Prison Break all over again. Crazy :eek:

Yes frustrating! I did manage to download the program from another Fox channel so I'm convinced the error was local. If anyone would like to download the episode please send me a private message and I'll tell you how to get it via **********.

Has anyone noticed ESP2H appear in the guide? Channel 125 shows up in the guide but I get no picture just a black screen.

DirecTV - HD viewers, I need your response. To the best of my knowledge, DirecTV receives KENS-DT OTA and redistributes to local subscribers on Channel 5 on HD STB's. Can anyone confirm for me that KENS-DT is in fact available on DirecTV in HD as we believe, or are we not available?

I was under the impression that since last year, all the San Antonio HD locals were on the air on DirecTV and on Dish network. We do not yet have DirecTV or Echostar HD monitoring equipment, so I depend on this Forum and viewer messages to tell us when there's a problem.

I have one viewer in the Kerrville area who has subscribed to the HD locals and claims only KENS-DT is not available, but all the rest come in fine. Can anyone else shed some light on this for me?

Thank you and Happy Easter to all!

Fox sure was all over the place for about 30 minutes. Started about 15 minutes before the end of 24. Went blank, blue, picture freeze. I mean the satellite went out and so did OTA. Missed the fight and capture of guy with the bombs. Then Fox started showing Prison Break all over again. Crazy :eek:
We noticed that on our DVR too. At first I thought the recording had just stopped early for some reason but then when we were watching it jumped from Gredenko talking to Fayed and then Gredenko was walking down the beach with his arm hacked off. Of course something like this only happens during my favorite show..haha

Has anyone noticed ESP2H appear in the guide? Channel 125 shows up in the guide but I get no picture just a black screen.
I read earlier this week in the "More news about HD on TWC" (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=652328&page=40&pp=30) thread that TWC had signed a new master contract with ESPN that covers ESPN2HD. I just checked and it is now online for us here in San Antonio! Have to give kudos to the local TWC group, they really got this out quick after the national agreement was signed :cool:

I think its great that ESPN2 is now in HD on Time Warner, especially with baseball season here! Now if we could just get the CW...

I have not noticed any better picture quality with the Pace box. The Pace box also has 2 problems. I leave the box on at all times. Occasionally, when I turn on the TV, I get an error message that my TV does not have HDCP (which is incorrect - my TV does support HDCP). The only way to solve this problem is to reboot the box. The other problem is that if I switch channels, the audio defaults to 2.0 and I have to reset it to 5.1. TWC has no solution for either of these problems, according to their service dept.

Thanks, replaced my 3250HD box yesterday and the clicking problem continues with the new box as well. The only thing I can think is that most people have the box by the TV, and consequently the speakers as well. So the click between HD and SD programming isn't heard as well as with my setup with the cable box located behind me and away from the main sound sources. Guess I will have to live with it for now.

My VHF/UHF blew down in the last ice storm. I planned to replace it with a UHF
antenna using a rotator so I can get Austin/San Antonio. I was under the
impression that all HD would be on UHF after 2009. At present the PBS station in
San Antonio is using channel 8 for HD. In doing some research It appears that
some HD may stay on VHF after 2009. Can anyone verify this since it would make a
difference whether I get a VHF/UHF antenna or just a good UHF antenna.
Thanks Jack Bulverde TX

DirecTV - HD viewers, I need your response. To the best of my knowledge, DirecTV receives KENS-DT OTA and redistributes to local subscribers on Channel 5 on HD STB's. Can anyone confirm for me that KENS-DT is in fact available on DirecTV in HD as we believe, or are we not available?

I was under the impression that since last year, all the San Antonio HD locals were on the air on DirecTV and on Dish network. We do not yet have DirecTV or Echostar HD monitoring equipment, so I depend on this Forum and viewer messages to tell us when there's a problem.

I have one viewer in the Kerrville area who has subscribed to the HD locals and claims only KENS-DT is not available, but all the rest come in fine. Can anyone else shed some light on this for me?

Thank you and Happy Easter to all!

Just wanted to let you know that I DO receive DirecTV HD on KENS (Ch 5), albeit the signal is slightly better OTA, where I do most of my viewing. Watching the Masters on both at the present.

My VHF/UHF blew down in the last ice storm. I planned to replace it with a UHF
antenna using a rotator so I can get Austin/San Antonio. I was under the
impression that all HD would be on UHF after 2009. At present the PBS station in
San Antonio is using channel 8 for HD. In doing some research It appears that
some HD may stay on VHF after 2009. Can anyone verify this since it would make a
difference whether I get a VHF/UHF antenna or just a good UHF antenna.
Thanks Jack Bulverde TX
Results of 2nd DTV Channel Election:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf
And a few tweaks in the 3rd Round:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1675A2.pdf

Yes - KENS-DT is available via DirecTV - MPEG-4

Thanks to all of you on and off the Forum who replied about my question about KENS-DT reception on DirecTV; I was able to approach DirecTV with plenty of information that should help restore service to our Kerrville viewer.

My VHF/UHF blew down in the last ice storm. I planned to replace it with a UHF
antenna using a rotator so I can get Austin/San Antonio. I was under the
impression that all HD would be on UHF after 2009. At present the PBS station in
San Antonio is using channel 8 for HD. In doing some research It appears that
some HD may stay on VHF after 2009. Can anyone verify this since it would make a
difference whether I get a VHF/UHF antenna or just a good UHF antenna.
Thanks Jack Bulverde TX

KTBC (FOX) in Austin will be returning to channel 7 for digital in 2009.
All other Austin locals will be on UHF.

KCWX Fredericksburg will also be on VHF - based on 3rd round elections from FCC.

So a VHF/UHF combo would come in handy to pick up both markets.

I've not heard/understood that digital is/can be transmitted over VHF. What network is station KCWX?

I'm relatively new to the hill country, Kerrville, and recently have a need to fix one of my HTPCs. Is there a Fry's like store in SA besides Altex. Altex is fine except it could use a more wider selection of components. I like stores when building a PC in case a MB won't post, where you can swap something if you take it back in a week. They just have a bit limited product array.

I've not heard/understood that digital is/can be transmitted over VHF.
Yep, doesn't happen that often but there are some stations that do. I can tell you it's a real b*tch to get a good signal, especially on the low VHF band. The stations like to use them because of reduced power requirements, which translates into lower electric charges.

I moved from Chicago area and the CBS station there was on channel 3. It wasn't until around 2003 that they finally were able to go to full power, their signal wiped out all those cable STB's that had their outputs set to channel 3. Then there was tons of multipath, tropo and adjectent channel issues. There are still folks in the Chicago area that still have problems pulling that station in. They've also got stuck with a high band VHF channel for their final channel assignment which hasn't made a bunch of Chicago area views happy.

I've not heard/understood that digital is/can be transmitted over VHF. What network is station KCWX?

I'm relatively new to the hill country, Kerrville, and recently have a need to fix one of my HTPCs. Is there a Fry's like store in SA besides Altex. Altex is fine except it could use a wider selection of components. I like stores when building a PC in case a MB won't post, where you can swap something if you take it back in a week. They just have a bit limited product array.

I've not heard/understood that digital is/can be transmitted over VHF. What network is station KCWX?
KCWX is the CW station licensed to Fredericksburg and San Antonio, currently operating on VHF channel 2. Their new DTV allocation is channel 5. It's a quandary of sorts; the FCC insisting broadcasters move to a new DTV channel so the commission could auction off the vacated spectrum, but in many cases the channels will be repurposed by another TV station. Or in the case of channel 12 (KSAT,) channel 9 (KLRN) and others in Texas (and probably all over the country,) they're moving right back to their original channel assignments to broadcast DTV.

Digital can be transmitted on any frequency; if the FCC will license it, broadcasters can do it. But as rad pointed out, low frequency VHF has its problems. In the analog world that means lots of impulse noise, among other things. In a digital world that translates to lots of errors in the received bitstream, jerky pictures and increased multipath. Plus as written, channel 3 will wipe out STB's in strong signal areas.

...Is there a Fry's like store in SA besides Altex?
Not in San Antonio but in Austin, at 12707 N. Mopac, 512-733-7000.

I need to apologize to viewers who may have tuned in to see the end of CSI: New York following tonight's Spurs game. After the game a blocking patch was inadvertently left in place (by me) that muted center, LFE and rear surround channels. This resulted in left and right front channels and nothing else. It took me a few minutes to realize the audio wasn't right and correct it. The rebroadcast of CSI: New York will contain correct audio from beginning to end.

I need to apologize to viewers who may have tuned in to see the end of CSI: New York following tonight's Spurs game. After the game a blocking patch was inadvertently left in place (by me) that muted center, LFE and rear surround channels. This resulted in left and right front channels and nothing else. It took me a few minutes to realize the audio wasn't right and correct it. The rebroadcast of CSI: New York will contain correct audio from beginning to end.
It must be the night for this. KSAT was having similar problems with their LOST broadcast.

It must be the night for this. KSAT was having similar problems with their LOST broadcast.

I was heart broken when I started up my DVRed Lost tonight only to find the center channel muted. Who needs a 42 inch plasma and a DVR to watch HD if you can't HEAR anything??!??!?!

Is KSAT planning on rerunning this? If anyone gets a rebroadcast info please pass it along.

Digital can be transmitted on any frequency; if the FCC will license it, broadcasters can do it. But as rad pointed out, low frequency VHF has its problems. In the analog world that means lots of impulse noise, among other things. In a digital world that translates to lots of errors in the received bitstream, jerky pictures and increased multipath. Plus as written, channel 3 will wipe out STB's in strong signal areas.

Not in San Antonio but in Austin, at 12707 N. Mopac, 512-733-7000.
But how about boxes that are already out there like my DirecTV H20 and many others. Are they ready to receive digital from VHF freqs?

You're from SA, right and you are saying that Altex is the only co-called computer store in SA? I've got to get a phone book from there.

You're from SA, right and you are saying that Altex is the only co-called computer store in SA? I've got to get a phone book from there.

I would concur with that. I do just about all of my computer related shopping over the Internet but Altex has a great selection if you need something in a pinch.

But how about boxes that are already out there like my DirecTV H20 and many others. Are they ready to receive digital from VHF freqs?



Yes it is, for the H20. It has been reported that the HR20 has had an issue with low band VHF channels but it appears that the latest CE (pre national) release has fixed that problem for some.

I was heart broken when I started up my DVRed Lost tonight only to find the center channel muted. Who needs a 42 inch plasma and a DVR to watch HD if you can't HEAR anything??!??!?!

Is KSAT planning on rerunning this? If anyone gets a rebroadcast info please pass it along.

I ended up watching it on ABC.com

Anyone else experiencing signal dropouts on WOAI the last few days on their 622?

Strong signal (90's) but keep getting the signal lost error message to the point of it being unwatchable.

RE: WOAI Signal Dropouts
Sadly for me this has been happening for quite some time now. If I'm watching live, it drops out for a few seconds and comes back with a signal strength near or above 90%... happens again and again. I dvr most of my programs to watch at a more convenient time, but often had to give up on most of the NBC offerings midway and try to find the program elsewhere. Since I don't have a VHF antenna and since Dish Network doesn't carry them, NBC is my least watched network now, even though many of the programs they carry are my favorites. Luckily there are other sources.

No problems at all OTA on an HD DirecTivo.

Hmmm I wonder if the culprit could somehow be the 622... and yes I do envy you guys with DirecTV getting ch4 HD, but I enjoy my Voom channels and probably have some subscription commitment remaining anyway.

In short, it sounds to me as though you are a victim of multipath. KENS-DT operates at full licensed power as do our brother DTV stations here; KENS-DT is by no means weaker than any of them. Wind is not at all part of the transmission equation and I wish some salesman - even at Bjorn's - had not said something so ill-informed to you.

I invite you to contact me directly at the office, if you like. We can discuss issues of antenna, height, location and so forth in an effort to find out what is at the root of the problem. I'd be happy to talk to your contact at Bjorn's, also.

For the purposes of this Forum, however, the kind of antenna used, the height above ground and roof line, and your location in the community all factor in to make for good reception or poor. If you are in a sheltered, low area without an unobstructed view of the horizon, that could be a problem. If your antenna line of sight crosses through areas where there are quite a few tall buildings, the resulting reflected signals can do you in - just to propose two examples.

Multipath, in a nutshell is the term to describe a signal taking multiple paths to your antenna. It causes a problem because the many versions of the same signal do not arrive at your antenna all at the same time or at the same strength. Depending on what objects the signal may have bounced on during its travel, it may be quite distorted. In an analog world we would have seen this symptom as wavering ghosts, sometimes fading in and out of recognition, sometimes distorting color, sharpness and even sound. In a digital world you have a good signal or you do not. "Pixelation" is a term widely used to describe what happens to your picture just at the moment of signal loss. No matter what you call it, the symptom means there is not enough data in the received signal to make a distinguishable picture. You also describe total loss of signal; no doubt about it. Some of those multiple signals reaching your antenna actually cancel each other out, leaving you with nothing.

Experimenting with different models of antenna and mounting them at different heights and azimuth angles may help improve the reception. Sometimes moving the antenna mount a few feet in one direction or another has been known to help. Multipath is the most difficult problem facing broadcasters and consumers, because the complaint is always the same: "...every other station comes in just fine. It is only YOUR station that I have a problem with..." There is not a single tried-and-true formula to cure multipath. It takes experimentation and cooperation to tackle, and there are no guarantees. Sometimes the least likely approach is the one to solve the problem, sometimes not.

So let's talk about it. You apparently have suffered with this for far too long and you have "got no satisfaction." Call me.

Jerry,

I know I've thanked you privately by email but since I originally posted here I wanted to publicly thank you for your help. My antenna has been relocated as warranty work and I'm getting great reception for everything (even 35.1 even though their antenna is in the opposite direction) but PBS and for the great reception on the other channels I can live with the PBS issues. I don't think I would have gotten this fixed as warranty work without your help so again thank you for all your help. :)

Teresa

We have a new HD channel as of this evening. KMYS MY 35 is now on channel 107 for TWC customers. Probably doesn't do much for us until next year when they are supposed to carry their local Spurs games in HD.

I also noticed ESPN2 is on high def. And I wonder now that WAOI has been sold, if TW customers will be losing their HD signal.

I have also been having the signal dropouts on WOAI OTA. It started when I received the new 4.03 software for my 622. When this happened in the past I assumed it was multi-path related, but nothing moved on the antenna and the only change was that software update. I have been tweaking the antenna with no results. I wish Dish and WOAI could come to terms so this would not be an issue.

Sounds like we (all) need to put a call into Dish as well as WOAI to let them know.

Don't know where everyone is located in receiving the OTA signal. In the Schertz area we have been putting up with the audio/video drops on WOAI for several months now, way before 4.03 hit the 622's. So I can't blame 4.03, nor the 622 for the problem. I just can't believe the 622 would be selective on the OTA signals and only pick on WOAI. It just has to be a multi-pathing issue. The more I read about it, the more it sounds like the problem we have been experiencing. Now the issue is how do I get this corrected so we can start to watch NBC again in HD? Do I move the antenna to a new location on the roof or do I just move the antenna just a little right or left to see if it improves?

Comments/suggestions are encouraged!

Hello San Antonio AVS Forum...

Anyone in Fredericksburg doing OTA from San Antonio?

TIA...


Don

Okay San Antonio OTA users -- Got up this morning to find out the signal strength for WOAI had dropped to about 85-88 on the meter. Guess what??? No audio or video dropouts occured in watching it for over an hour! Now the question remains -- did WOAI read the threads and tweak the power output of the transmitter, or did last nights storm do something to the transmitting tower? Lets just hope it was Option #1 --- WOAI don't touch anything, let it alone -- it is now working fine!!

WOAI dropouts:
I'm still having dropouts in Utopia, Elby. When I read your last message yesterday afternoon, I turned on live tv on my 622 and started monitoring. It was running 67% signal strength on the 622 meter and would pixelate every few seconds, but only dropped to the 'signal lost' screen one time. This morning I looked again and it was running 75% and dropping out every couple of minutes. So I decided to go downstairs and check the bigger tv on the 411. It couldn't hold a signal long enough to even measure strength. Of course other things come into play there, since I come in from the antenna through a powerful preamp on the antenna, then to a booster/splitter at the stb. The cable running downstairs of course is about 30ft longer, so there could be some loss there that could account for the difference.

But switching to channel 5, I have 90% upstairs and 86% downstairs and no pixelation or dropout. I thought about hooking straight into the ASTC tuner on the big tv, but that would have entailed some extra stuff that might confuse things for my elderly mom, who uses that tv.

Of course I'm not going to be able to move the antenna a few feet to see if multipath is the problem, but I can swing the rotor a little with no real change until everything drops off. I didn't do this in tiny increments though.

Multipath could be somewhat to do with it and I will certainly hook the line directly to the ATSC input one day soon to eliminate all the dish equipment. It has always seemed cockeyed to me also that whatever it is only affects channel 4, but obviously it does! To my understanding, 4 & 5 both have their transmitters in the same azimuth degree from me and both are listed at the same power output... maybe Jerry can update me on that. Adjacent channels at the same location, same power out... one works and the other doesn't... consistently! Strange phenomenon and I'm certainly not blaming WOAI, just wondering why this is the case.

all the best from Utopia, TX

WOAI dropouts:
I'm still having dropouts in Utopia, Elby...It has always seemed cockeyed to me also that whatever it is only affects channel 4, but obviously it does! To my understanding, 4 & 5 both have their transmitters in the same azimuth degree from me and both are listed at the same power output...just wondering why this is the case.
Ed, as a retired EE you might be able to get your hands on an inexpensive spectrum monitor. Hook it to your antenna and tune it to 737 MHz, center frequency for WOAI-DT. Spread out your frequency span so you can see the whole 6 MHz pedestal of the station's DTV transmission. If the top of the pedestal is not fairly flat, you almost certainly have multipath.

You can compare stations while you're scouting around. KENS-DT has center at 719, KSAT-DT is center at 677 MHz. While watching the spectrum of your worst station, pan your antenna left and right to see how this changes the properties of the pedestal. Since the spectrum monitor is displaying results in real time, you can see instantly what effect your antenna movements have on the quality of the received signal.

KENS and WOAI share the same tower and broadcast with nearly identical EIRP. KSAT is 3/4 mile east of us with similar power. Because the wavelength of each station is slightly different, the effect of reflective surfaces bouncing our signals around is likewise a little different for each channel. When I first set up my DTV antenna I thought I had a clear line of sight to the transmitters, but I didn't. I had multipath problems that took a spectrum monitor to solve. My best reception is actually a bounce some 30 degrees off the direct axis to the towers.

This weekend I'll take some screen photos to post on the Forum for everyone to have a look. Ironically, it does not take a $20,000 instrument to sort out this problem. I use an inexpensive Avcom PSA-37D field unit that's probably 20 years old but still does the job. You can really see the flatness of each pedestal change from erratic and wavy (not so good) to nice and flat (very good) as you move the antenna to different positions.

Sounds like fun. Does SA have a Turner's or someplace to rent one?

I'm kind of doubting I'd find a bounce out here in Utopia strong enough to hold a lock, but it would be a blast to try. I'm very familiar with spectrum analyzer/monitors, but far too poor (and lazy) to even build the old 'poor man's' version that works through the horizontal on my scope. But I'd happily rent one!

Status update on WOAI --

Right now I am still experiencing audio/video drop outs, pixelations, and that lovely yellow screen telling me they can't find the signal. I ended going drastic on this issue -- a buddy at work gave me a handful of antennuators so I started adding them onto the cable connection. Right now I have a total 21db antennuator on the line with a spliter going to the Panasonic HD tuner. Signal has dropped to about 92 on the meter. Rest of the OTA's are about the same except for Fox which is still hitting 98-100. This morning I downloaded the antenna positioning map from antennanet. Once up on the roof, I started to relook at the positioning and discovered I was maybe 30 degrees off aiming to the transmitter. So I turned the antenna toward the tower and went downstairs to check -- no change at all in the levels. Still spiking at 92-94 for WOIA. Rest of them are the same. Now I am really confused as to how I could have the antenna off that many degress and still not affect the signal!! FYI - I am using a UHF directional antenna (Radio Shack special). And yes, I am still getting the same breakups on the splitter to the Panasonic tuner.

Sooooo! WOAI please find out what is causing this drop out issue on the Northeast side of San Antonio and fix it.

Status update on WOAI --

Sooooo! WOAI please find out what is causing this drop out issue on the Northeast side of San Antonio and fix it.


Elby... I don't really see any way to blame WOAI. It's either a multipath problem as suggested by Jerry or it's a quirk of our equipment (Dish 622). If I can rent a spectrum analyzer and if I find an alternate "bounce" direction for my antenna, we can get together and I'll work with you to try to solve the problem.

If it's not an alternate signal path, I'll bypass my set top boxes and go straight into the ATSC input on my big TV downstairs... if that provides a reliable signal, I'll swap a few things around on my antenna/preamp/booster-splitter and see if I can solve it that way... hmmm maybe I should do that first just to save the cash and two drives to San Antonio.

If you didn't read Jerry's brilliant explanation of multipath, go back in the forum to page 93 and read it ... dated mid-march.

You and I are not the only ones complaining and as far as I can tell, all of those of us complaining have a 622, though again, I can't see how there could be a design problem that only affects one frequency... but it's not impossible.

And I'm only looking for an off air signal meter that I can rent or buy for under a $100. Such a thing exist around SA? I want to align the XG-91 one more time from out her in the Kerrville hills. Tried Altex and Radio Shack.

Thanks -- as mentioned before, I am convinced it is not a 622 issue with WOAI, since I have the same audio/video dropouts on the OTA connection directly into the Panasonic tuner. Can't believe that the tuner in the Panasonic and the 622 are both prejudice against WOAI! I think my next action is going to be pulling out the big UHF/VHF antenna from storage and putting it up on the roof and pull the two UHF's off the mast. Of course, as long as the wind isn't blowing hard this morning! I will advise.

WOAI dropouts:
OK so this morning I did some cable checking, antenna wiggling and STB bypassing. I have to say there are certainly many problems with dropout this morning, possibly due to the dampness.

First checked all my connections and set my antenna orientation for max signal on ch58. On my dish 611 upstairs, signal strength is 91 (and so is KENS ch 55). Monitoring the poker program for half an hour on my Toshiba (non-ATSC) I had 6 yellow screens (signal lost) and probably the little momentary pixelization blip every two or three minutes. (two more yellow screens while I typed that paragraph).

Downstairs, I first monitored signal strength on the dish 411 and was getting 70% on Kens and failure to lock on WOAI. I disconnected the antenna from the STB and went straight to the Sceptre's ATSC in... watched poker for another 15 or 20 minutes with a solid picture, never one blip and no signal loss... not one. Hooked the 411 back up and no picture on 58 (ch 4).

So then I searched "dish vip622 multipath rejection" on google and found others having this problem...but also found zillions of people having similar problems under every imaginable situation.

Looks to me like we may just have to bite our lip for NBC programming until Echostar and WOAI get things worked out to broadcast the HD signal via Dish. I don't really see anything I can do as far as my upstairs setup is concerned... and for my NBC favorites I can do the direct hookup downstairs and watch live or I can download from nbc.com or one of the other (compressed HD) sources that I can't mention because the forum ***'s it out... :)

I just have to accept and move on.

Ed and others --

Have to agree with you. Put up the big VHF/UHF antenna this morning and took down the two UHF antennas. Pointed the big one at the same area where the UHF was pointed. Went back down stairs -- no signal at all from anything!!! Went back up the roof and turned it about 30-35 degrees to the left, approximately where I had the UHF antenna pointed a few days ago. Went down the ladder again and did a local search and found everything. I was getting WOAI in about 83-85 and with all the others hitting about the same. My only exception was KRRT (35). For some unknown reason I am hitting 100 on the signal meter. This one is really strange since the 35 tower is the opposite direction. That is the best signal I have ever had on 35 since I have been trying all kinds of antennas. My wife is telling me no more climbing on the roof. We have signals and lets wait WOAI out on this isse. Lets hope WOAI and DISH work out an agreement soon. Otherwise, maybe a switch back to DirecTV may be in the offering since they do carry WOAI-HD. I am giving up for now, other than the complaining!!!

Here are a few photos from my simple array in North San Antonio. First, severe multipath on WOAI: (WOAImult)

The video image is at the edge of complete loss of signal: (WOAIpic)

With the antenna moved 30 degrees west, the pedestal flattens out nicely and I get a fine, stable picture with no dropouts or freezing: (WOAIflat) In both scope photos the peak just visible to the right of WOAI's is the analog visual signal of KVDA, channel 60.

From my balcony (the only place I can mount a DTV antenna) I have what should be a clear line of sight to the transmitter site. But there is a strong reflection from a building to the right of the path. That strong reflection is slightly out of phase with the primary signal, causing the jagged appearance on the top of the pedestal. By turning the antenna toward the reflection while watching on the spectrum monitor, I can clean up WOAI okay.

Similar to the WOAI multipath photos, here are the KENS symptoms, First, severe multipath on KENS (KENSmult) and the associated video (KENSpic)

The same 30 degree change that worked for WOAI also works for KENS (KENSflat)

While my situation is somewhat unique, discerning the severity of multipath in digital is best done with a spectrum monitor. A strong signal indication, whether arbitrary or calibrated, does not really define the influence or amount of multipath. I have only seen a clear elimination of multipath on a spectrum monitor, where the relative flatness of the 8-VSB pedestal can be observed.

Unlike COFDM, where there are potentially thousands of Frequency Division Multiplexed carriers in the pedestal, each containing enough data to recreate a pretty good picture, 8-VSB has relatively few. Multipath is one of the Achilles' heels of 8-VSB. Even with the most severe case of multipath seen in these photos, I have seen COFDM still deliver a good picture and clean audio.

Jerry,

Sure wish I knew what you were talking about and what I was seeing on the shots you have provided. Based upon what you stated, it somewhat confirmed my testing on Saturday and Sunday. That 30-35 degree shift to the west and still able to pick up decent signals is still amazing. However, unlike you, WOAI did not stabilize for me. Still have the same issue with audio/video dropouts and the lovely "yellow screen of death". Also, from where I am located, I do not see the same issues with KENS.

You indicated you are a technical individual for KENS-TV. So my question is going to be -- what can WOAI do to fix the multi-pathing in our area? Is there something else I can do or try to do to make the problem better? Yes, we can all pray that WOAI and Dish settle their payment differences so we can get WOAI on the satellite!

Jerry,

Sure wish I knew what you were talking about and what I was seeing on the shots you have provided...what can WOAI do to fix the multi-pathing in our area? Is there something else I can do or try to do to make the problem better? Yes, we can all pray that WOAI and Dish settle their payment differences so we can get WOAI on the satellite!
At the risk of appearing vain by quoting myself, here's my explanation:

"...For the purposes of this Forum...the kind of antenna used, the height above ground and roof line, and your location in the community all factor in to make for good reception or poor. If you are in a sheltered, low area without an unobstructed view of the horizon, that could be a problem. If your antenna line of sight crosses through areas where there are quite a few tall buildings, the resulting reflected signals can do you in - just to propose two examples.

Multipath, in a nutshell is the term to describe a signal taking multiple paths to your antenna. It causes a problem because the many versions of the same signal do not arrive at your antenna all at the same time or at the same strength. Depending on what objects the signal may have bounced on during its travel, it may be quite distorted. In an analog world we would have seen this symptom as wavering ghosts, sometimes fading in and out of recognition, sometimes distorting color, sharpness and even sound. In a digital world you have a good signal or you do not. "Pixelation" is a term widely used to describe what happens to your picture just at the moment of signal loss. No matter what you call it, the symptom means there is not enough data in the received signal to make a distinguishable picture. You also describe total loss of signal; no doubt about it. Some of those multiple signals reaching your antenna actually cancel each other out, leaving you with nothing.

Experimenting with different models of antenna and mounting them at different heights and azimuth angles may help improve the reception. Sometimes moving the antenna mount a few feet in one direction or another has been known to help. Multipath is the most difficult problem facing broadcasters and consumers, because the complaint is always the same: "...every other station comes in just fine. It is only YOUR station that I have a problem with..." There is not a single tried-and-true formula to cure multipath. It takes experimentation and cooperation to tackle, and there are no guarantees. Sometimes the least likely approach is the one to solve the problem, sometimes not...

In short, WOAI can do nothing to resolve multipath issues because they are a phenomenon of your location and environment. Also, WOAI's DTV transmitting antenna, like the one used by KENS-DT, is omnidirectional - they emit a more or less equal signal in all directions, so there is nothing in their technical plant that should cause dropouts in one quadrant or another.

Help me with this. What part of town do you live in (Schertz, right?) and what are you using for an antenna? If you do live in Schertz, your antenna should be aimed ever-so-slightly east of straight south. Please don't take this as an insult, but make certain the smaller elements of your antenna are at the south-pointing end. You'd be amazed how many installations I have seen pointing in the opposite direction of the transmitters. At your distance you shouldn't need a preamp; sometimes overboosting the signal results in degraded reception. If you are using a preamp, try removing it. (I read that you have experimented with attenuators - you should't need them if you have no amplifier.) Are you using good quality RG-6 coaxial cable between the antenna and your receiver? Is the little matching transformer at the antenna new, or in rust-free good shape?

Well, I haven't looked at this thread in a while, but am glad I looked today, as I have had this same issue since I moved here last June. I couldn't understand how WOAI had the highest signal strength on my 622 (around 100 most of the time) with just rabbit ears on top of my RPTV but be the only station with the drop outs. It is very frustrating to say the least and if Multipath is the problem I will have to experiment with the position of my ears...

Of course, it would be nice for Dish and WOAI to settle their issues as well!

Well, I haven't looked at this thread in a while, but am glad I looked today, as I have had this same issue since I moved here last June. I couldn't understand how WOAI had the highest signal strength on my 622 (around 100 most of the time) with just rabbit ears on top of my RPTV but be the only station with the drop outs. It is very frustrating to say the least and if Multipath is the problem I will have to experiment with the position of my ears...

Of course, it would be nice for Dish and WOAI to settle their issues as well!

You might want to check this thread out, http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=94400 since what others are saying sounds a lot like what you discribe your problem is.

Elby, I'm just guessing but maybe the confusion in angle is that Ch 4 & 5 (I believe) have their tansmitters located close to Elmendorf, which for you would be close to 30-degrees ccw from San Antonio downtown.

Unfortunately with me being in Utopia, about 75 miles (atcf) wnw from the transmitter, cranking my antenna 30 degrees has me pointing either at Canyon Lake to the north or D'Hanis to the south and if there's a multipath bounce from either of those places I doubt seriously it's strong enough to cause much confusion with the direct line signal. I did rotate my antenna it's full 360 slowwwwly and the only visible signal strength was straight on.

Could be that my oaks are causing a problem... they get taller each year and probably are very close to the 50' height of the antenna. Hard to blame that when the adjacent channel works so well.

Following the link suggested by rad, I'm beginning to lean more toward the 622 being the bad guy, but can't see recent changes in software being the problem since I've been having it since before September. I do run a powerful preamp and an additional splitter booster so if the one post there is correct, though I don't see why it would affect one channel and not another adjacent, perhaps I can experiment with that.

I did watch Heroes on the 622 last night and only had a half dozen or so yellow screens and none of them lasted long enough for me to lose my place or not understand what was happening.

I appreciate everyone trying to help... I know it's especially difficult when you can't see what the real symptoms are. Picture and sound disappear into pixelization then the signal meter comes up showing 0 signal... then it jumps back to 90 or so and the picture returns, almost as though the antenna connection was bad.

Just curious.

What antenna are you using for your OTA?

Elby, I'm just guessing but maybe the confusion in angle is that Ch 4 & 5 (I believe) have their tansmitters located close to Elmendorf, which for you would be close to 30-degrees ccw from San Antonio downtown.

Unfortunately with me being in Utopia, about 75 miles (atcf) wnw from the transmitter, cranking my antenna 30 degrees has me pointing either at Canyon Lake to the north or D'Hanis to the south and if there's a multipath bounce from either of those places I doubt seriously it's strong enough to cause much confusion with the direct line signal. I did rotate my antenna it's full 360 slowwwwly and the only visible signal strength was straight on.

Could be that my oaks are causing a problem... they get taller each year and probably are very close to the 50' height of the antenna. Hard to blame that when the adjacent channel works so well.

Following the link suggested by rad, I'm beginning to lean more toward the 622 being the bad guy, but can't see recent changes in software being the problem since I've been having it since before September. I do run a powerful preamp and an additional splitter booster so if the one post there is correct, though I don't see why it would affect one channel and not another adjacent, perhaps I can experiment with that.

I did watch Heroes on the 622 last night and only had a half dozen or so yellow screens and none of them lasted long enough for me to lose my place or not understand what was happening.

I appreciate everyone trying to help... I know it's especially difficult when you can't see what the real symptoms are. Picture and sound disappear into pixelization then the signal meter comes up showing 0 signal... then it jumps back to 90 or so and the picture returns, almost as though the antenna connection was bad.

Winegard PR-9032 Yagi/Corner-Reflector

http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/W9032.html

Thats a pretty good one. I was going to reccomend my tried and trusted Channel Master 4228 but it looks like the Winegard has a slightly higher gain at UHF Channel 58 (WOAI) so that said, if you haven't tried antenna roulette yet it may be time for a round. Another option is a taller mast (if thats possible).

Would be nice if someone from WOAI would chime in here concerning their signal quality! Multipath from out in the sticks (Utopia) just doesn't make a whole lot of sense here IMHO.

Winegard PR-9032 Yagi/Corner-Reflector

http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/W9032.html

At the risk of appearing vain by quoting myself, here's my explanation:

your location and environment. Also, WOAI's DTV transmitting antenna, like the one used by KENS-DT, is omnidirectional - they emit a more or less equal signal in all directions, so there is nothing in their technical plant that should cause dropouts in one quadrant or another.

Help me with this. What part of town do you live in (Schertz, right?) and what are you using for an antenna? If you do live in Schertz, your antenna should be aimed ever-so-slightly east of straight south. Please don't take this as an insult, but make certain the smaller elements of your antenna are at the south-pointing end. You'd be amazed how many installations I have seen pointing in the opposite direction of the transmitters. At your distance you shouldn't need a preamp; sometimes overboosting the signal results in degraded reception. If you are using a preamp, try removing it. (I read that you have experimented with attenuators - you should't need them if you have no amplifier.) Are you using good quality RG-6 coaxial cable between the antenna and your receiver? Is the little matching transformer at the antenna new, or in rust-free good shape?

Fully understand the issue - I am familar with the multi-pathing problem as I read it first in one of your responses on this site. My concern was not being able to understand the shots from the scope you had on the signal. It would take a EE to decode everything.

I am using a Winegard HD8200P mounted on a two-story roof. Location is the NE side of Schertz with a clear shot at the transmitter sites. Yes, I have the correct end of the antenna pointed just about exactly where you have mentioned. The antenna does not have any rust on it since I just put it back up after one year in storage.

I can accept the multi-pathing problems in receiving WOAI. I am not going to play the antenna roulette to see if one antenna will be better than the other. And I sure are not going to move just to see if the drop outs improve. All I can wait for is WOAI-HD to be on the Dish.

All I can wait for is WOAI-HD to be on the Dish.


That will be a LONG time. Charlie Ergen is a pretty good poker player and stubborn to boot. WOAI will blink long before he does.

I guess we will have to wait to see what happens if the sale of WOAI is approved by the FCC. Maybe the new owners will be better sales people!

Jerry,

Thanks for the patient explanation. I am just using rabbit ears (being on a hill between SA and Bulverde makes it easy). I am sure there is a sweet spot some place in my living room because at times the multi path issue with WOAI has disappeared. This usually coincided with my moving the entertainment rack to clean up wires. Strange that it affects WOAI only, but I honestly don't watch many of the other locals OTA since I can get them via Dish.

I have sent my plea to the ceo email address at Dish and received the canned response. Hopefully they work out the issue, but I admit that recording from OTA is needed to accomodate recording 3 programs at once on the 622.

Somebody posed the question today that isn't it strange that the one channel that dish doesn't carry is the one that drops out when you watch on their STB OTA... it seems even stranger when you read the other forums and find that it's other channels that drop out on the 622 elsewhere... just coincidence I'm sure, but still, makes you kind of scratch your head.

Also, I want to join in loudly thanking Jerry Paonessa for the really unselfish way he helps with so many problems. There aren't many people in this world like him, and darn it there should be. You're the best, Jerry.

For what its worth I live in Northern NM just outside of Santa Fe, but I hang out here as well as the Albuquerque, NM HDTV thread as I am the electronics geek in the family and I help out with my parents HDTV setup in San Antonio. I am a native Texan who escaped 20 odd years ago after graduating from UTSA. Humidity and me just never liked each other you could say!

The local NBC affiliate in Albuquerque, NM had the exact same problems you all are experiencing for just about the last year. Could this be more than just a coincidence that both were an NBC affiliate with a dropout problem on the 622? It could be something in the specific digital transmitters they are using that needs tweaking. We were lucky in that our local NBC station was also being carried through Dish in HD so I could always watch and record that channel. It was pointless to try and watch it OTA because even though it was a strong 85% signal it dropped out and stuttered every 5-10 seconds making it unwatchable.

Somehow with the L4.01 update on the 622 the problem went away totally. That software update increased the sensitivity on the OTA tuner and bumped up all the stations into the 90-100% range. Somehow the problem vanished overnight with that update and we are all now able to watch and record NBC OTA as well as through Dish in HD.

Perhaps someone at WOAI needs to contact the station enginneer (Sean Anker) at KOB-TV in Albuquerque, NM and see if they could trade notes on the problems and possible solutions found for the 622 NBC dropouts.

Not having procured an OTA digital meter I'm wondering if an analog OTA meter will suffice. If I align my antenna on the FOX 29 analog signal using and analog meter will it also be the correct alignment for the digital signal? Or to put it simply, does FOX use the same tower to transmit both signals? It would seem they probably do.

...does FOX use the same tower to transmit both signals? It would seem they probably do.
Allen,

FOX 29 and FOX 29 DT use the same tower, as do most of the San Antonio HD locals. Without regard to method and content of modulation, RF is RF. If you peak the signal on 29's analog signal, your antenna is at least pointed in the correct direction.

653 days to analog sundown.

This is a site that may help you answer questions from your friends and other viewers – as well as clarify in your own minds what is to come of Feb. 17, 2009:

http://dtvanswers.com/ ( http://dtvanswers.com/)

653 days to analog sundown.

Quick Noob question.

Are there ota channels you can't get with a timewarner hd set top box?

Quick Noob question.

Are there ota channels you can't get with a timewarner hd set top box?
Yes, there are. In the case of KENS-DT you can receive 5-2 over the air. That is a continuous feed of our Vipir doppler radar. On Sunday mornings from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM we also broadcast a children's offering called "At The Zoo," a series made in St. Louis MO.

WOAI-DT transmits their Weather Plus channel on 4-2, but that is available on TWC already. KSAT-DT promises a "new channel (LATV) coming soon" on 12-2, but that has not yet happened. KHCE-DT has a main channel and four multicasts, 23-1,2,3,4 and-5.

Your question raises interesting ramifications for "must carry" rulings and the services TWC has chosen to carry. Stay tuned.

WOAI dropout:

OK well here's some new (possible) twists. Upon reading Jerry's list of non-cable OTA programming I felt like I got a few more than that so I turned on my set and began switching with the channel up button on the 622 remote rather than going directly to the HD channel like I usually do. I started at channel 2 and clicked up, which put me on WOAI HD... yellow screen. I clicked to channel up and it took me to their -2 digital signal... perfect picture! Switched back and got a yellow screen... then back to -2 (their weather program) and got the perfect digital SD picture. I scratched my head but had to get back to whatever else I was doing at the time.

This morning I turned on the TV to check further into it. WOAI is broadcasting the soaps in SD.... and I've had it on three hours now (muted) without a single dropout.

HMMMMMM??!!

I will echo Ed's statement. My WOAI dropouts have virtually ceased. I did tweak the rabbit ears a little so I may have found the sweet spot again. I will keep an eye on it for the next few days see what happens.

And I thought I was asleep and dreaming tonight when I was able to watch an entire hour show on WOAI without one single drop in audio or video? Like the others, what happened? Did WOAI hear our plea and adjust something or will the technical experts tell us the atmosphere has been different for the past few days and that is the reason we are getting a good signal! I even checked the software version on the 622 just to make sure I didn't get a new version in the past few days. Now it upsets me that we could have taped ER last night in HD vice the satellite SD version!!! I am going to make sure we watch 4-1 more to see if it comes back!

WOAI SOLID!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually what I was hinting at in my last message was that I was "suspecting" that only the HD signals were dropping out and that possibly there could be some sort of "something" happening within the 622 to somehow confuse the one HD channel offair signal that didn't subscribe to the dish service... however that could happen... and there are possiblilities...

But now I suspect that possibly Jerry spoke to his counterpart at channel 4 who in turn saw those possiblilities and called dish... and voila!!

I wanted to wait for the bad weather to pass, so recording "Heroes" last night yielded absolutely perfect, consistent HD.

I thank EVERYONE who had anything at all to do with this... I know it wasn't just a freak of nature.

Oh and GO SPURS GO! bash nash... squelch stupidliar Stoudemire

Ed ---

Yes, we are getting it Rock Solid! Can't wait to tape ER this Thursday night. However, don't know if you noticed it or not -- but now I am seeing the wonderful YELLOW screen popping up on 5-1 (KENS). It has happened a couple of times in the past two days. Just hope this isn't going to start a revolution in the signals!

Just like you I would like to thank whomever did something to whatever to make WOAI just like new!

Solid here too! I recored the Players TPC at Sawgrass over the weekend and was pleasantly surprised that both days recordings had absolutely no dropouts. So, whether WOAI or DISH did something, I'm a happy camper.

I am using OTA and I am missing the bottom part of my screen on 4.1. Anyone else having these problems?

I am using OTA and I am missing the bottom part of my screen on 4.1. Anyone else having these problems?

Same here. I have time warner cable and missing bottom part of my screen on all shows (hd and non hd). I checked my over the air antenna (bunny ears) and have the same problem. So it must be a WOAI problem??

I hope WOAI is reading the forum now so we can keep them on top of their problems... yup you're right, black line across the bottom... more like 8x16

I hope WOAI is reading the forum now so we can keep them on top of their problems... yup you're right, black line across the bottom... more like 8x16

From past history, I wouldn't count on reps from any station other than KENS and KLRN being regular visitors. Here's a link with contacts at WOAI-TV (http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=94febb11-06b0-4967-aa36-705139cc3dab) .

Timewarner cable (TW) :mad: Is it just my tv,or has TW dropped or moved the QAM (in the clear) channels WOAI & ABC that they are required to carry by law? I have been very patient as they have been gone for at least two weeks.

TWC in SA has just realigned most of their unencrypted (in the clear) QAM channels. Do not know why but discovered it this am when I wanted to watch GMA in HD on a set not hooked up to an antenna or to their Set top box. Had to rescan the tv's tuner. Read elsewhere that TWC does this without warning just to get you to use another settop for all your TVs, OTA gives the best Picture sometimes) but then you cannot watch ESPN, HDNET etc

TWC in SA has just realigned most of their unencrypted (in the clear) QAM channels. Do not know why but discovered it this am when I wanted to watch GMA in HD on a set not hooked up to an antenna or to their Set top box. Had to rescan the tv's tuner. Read elsewhere that TWC does this without warning just to get you to use another settop for all your TVs, OTA gives the best Picture sometimes) but then you cannot watch ESPN, HDNET etc

Other than the locals, what channels does TWC-SA have in the clear?

Is scanning/trial-and-error the only to find out what's what OR does anybody know of some reference on the Internet whereby somebody can get a channel list showing what TWC-SA has in the clear on QAM?

My hp TV locks in tons of "blank" channels whenever I try to scan. Don't know if it's the encrypted stuff or what, but sure is a pain in the backside.

Other than the locals, what channels does TWC-SA have in the clear?
At least three weeks and counting of no WOAI or ABC in the clear :mad: Paul, thanks for the conformation there gone. I have two Qam TV's and watch everything I can in the clear, as the HD picture (and the SD for that matter) is noticeably better than the box.(no antenna :( ) Harley_dude , other than the locals (when they work) thats pretty much it. I scanned tonight and got 9 channels= 2 pbs, cbs, my35, fox, woai weather plus, Create, V-me, and what looks like a public access channel. Mike, as far as I known there is no list or rhyme or reason where these channels go in the clear. If you scan on the weekend when all the pay for view sports are active you will get a lot more scrambled channels, but then again you also might get something you want to watch ;) Time to call TW and ask them why my channels are gone :mad:

COOLRIVER, here is what my little Magnavox 19inch set picked up:

110.104 WOAI, 110.112 KSAT

111.21 public access? 111.91, 111.93, 111.94 all PBS and 111. 111 KABB

112.107 ??infomercials and junk, 112.108 KLRN and 112.155 KENS

Not all are HD some show 5.1 sound others Stereo...its a mixed bag of tricks

Hope this helps. Many tuners pck up all the channels but this little Magnavox seems to pick uponly those in the clear.

I set up to record the Ella Fitzgerald special on 9-1 last night, and got nothing. I tried all of the digital KLRN channels and got no signal. Anyone else have this happen? Same this morning, very weak signal, if any.

Signal strength was awfull...I too gave up after five min of the blockies.

COOLRIVER, here is what my little Magnavox 19inch set picked up:

110.104 WOAI, 110.112 KSAT

111.21 public access? 111.91, 111.93, 111.94 all PBS and 111. 111 KABB

112.107 ??infomercials and junk, 112.108 KLRN and 112.155 KENS

Not all are HD some show 5.1 sound others Stereo...its a mixed bag of tricks

Hope this helps. Many tuners pck up all the channels but this little Magnavox seems to pick uponly those in the clear.
Paul, neither of my two TV's pick up any channels in 110's (WOAI & KSAT) in the clear. Im in New Braunfels so maybe that has some thing to do with it. Thanks for the update.

Is KLRN DT broadcasting on reduced power? I used to receive it fine, but now I'm detecting little, if any, signal.

Seems to be the same as always, about 15% lower than the the other. Don't forget its an HF rather than UHF Channel and theorectically requires a different antenna. On the other had it should be easier to pick up. Check you antenna.

Last week, an engineer at KLRN replied to an private email I sent him stating that KLRN was having transmitter problems and was broadcasting their DT signal at a reduced level. They were expecting to receive parts from the manufacturer last week. However, he did mention that the manufacturer was backed up on orders for parts but had a commitment from them to provide the parts on a priority basis. I am experiencing reception problems with the KLRN-DT signal too.

With the NBA finals, the Sopranos finale and now this, all during the annual auction, there can't be too many smiles over there. :(

My daughter had AT&T's U-Verse installed at the end of May. Based on what I saw, think I'll pass for a while. The picture would momentarily freeze, especially when the guide was on. Also turns out that the touted ability to replay a dvr program on any box in the house is one of those "coming soon" items. If it were less expensive than TW I could see it, but it would cost me just a much or more. YMMV.

Does anyone know what the unblocked HD channels are on TWC? I bought a small TV for my home office but the channel search function is not finding any DTV signals. According to the manual, the TV has NTSC-M, ATSC, 64 & 256 QAM tuners.

Sorry, guys. I spotted the prior posts on this subject after I posted. Carry on. :)

Moving to San Antonio next week and curious what service you guys would recommend for:
1) Local channels in HD
2) MHD
3) Food Network HD

ATT UVERSE has all these channels but I've heard concerns about their quality (10 MB/s MPEG4 vs 12 MB/s MPEG4 DISH or ~18MB/s OTA MPEG2). TWC will give all except 3. Dish doesn't have 2;

You also didn't mention that U-verse can do only one HD stream at the present which is show stopper for many. Why not go with TWC since there' no commitment of any kind and then see what falls out with DirecTV launching their new HD channels in September and more info from Dish on the new all MPEG4 service that's supposed to be coming early next year, then see who has what you want?

TWC until u get settled.

TWC until u get settled.

I called to cancel TWC here in Dallas prior to the move and they offered 10MB/s @ $29.95 and he said I'd be able to get the same rate in San Antonio. We'll see about that.

For TV, I'd go with TWC except for the WAF as she likes food network and TWC doesn't carry it in HD AFAIK.

Been watching US Open on WOAI HD, CH 104 TWC. Been experiencing extreme pixilation whnever they show Tiger Woods' shirt in a close up shot. The shirt is a bright red/pink color with some texture to it. Other than that picture seems very good.

I have a Panasonic 50" using the TWC 8300HD concerter connected via component cables, using passthrough option.

Is anyone else experiencing the same thing? Is it a WOAI problem, NBC problem or my sets problem?

Thanks in advance for any comments.

I also noticed that some cameras in the US Open coverage were very blurry. I was watching OTA on a Panasonic HD set and at times the picture looked like upconverted SD. At other times the picture was just fine. I thought it might have been due to certain cameras.

I also noticed that some cameras in the US Open coverage were very blurry. I was watching OTA on a Panasonic HD set and at times the picture looked like upconverted SD. At other times the picture was just fine. I thought it might have been due to certain cameras.

You're probably right. From what I've read in the trades, golf takes a bunch of cameras and miles of cable to cover. The network probably slipped in a few SD cameras at less prominent holes to save money.

The multiple camera issue affects most sporting events. I have also noticed how much more precise the camera man has to be with the focus when I am watching in HD. I am sure it is a pretty demanding job with the subjects constantly moving. Some of those shots during the Finals were bad, just because they weren't in focus.

Has KCWX gone digital yet and if not, anyone know what the hold up is?

Has KCWX gone digital yet and if not, anyone know what the hold up is?
Destrada, the short answer is no. As you may know, KCWX was given a DTV assignment of channel 5. As I understand it, the owners would rather have channel 8. There may be some negotiating going on behind the scenes that I don't know about, but unless we hear otherwise KCWX will initiate DTV service on RF channel 5 on February 18, 2009.

A broadcast station needs to be very certain about its final DTV assignment before committing enormous amounts of capital to new transmitters, a new antenna and a new studio-to-transmitter link (STL) not to mention new studio and Master Control facilities. I believe the holdup in this case, if any, is uncertainty about the final DTV assignment.

KCWX now broadcasts on VHF channel 2. None of its existing hardware is compatible with DTV broadcasting on RF 5 or RF 8. The challenge is to get that final DTV channel allocation nailed down; then the budget and equipment purchasing process can begin to move.

Realthogue, help, I'm in TV culture shock :D I have been in SA for 10 years and have adjusted to watching Dave at 1105 and now he is starting at his regular time (1035). Is this going to stay this way so I can start adjusting to this new time or is this temporary because something else is going on? I recall you explaining the 1105 start time way back, and it having to do with advertisers, viewer draw and money. Has SA changed its viewing habits that have precipitated this change? If Dave is going to keep his regular start time (1035), does that now mean you no longer have to record him in HD (for the rebroadcast at the 1105 start time) and if so, will that make enough room on the HD recorder to possibly record and rebroadcast the Late Late Show in HD (if it is available in HD) at its late start time? (1235)

I have never had the occasion to ask you a question, but now that I have. I would like to personally thank you for your participation (leadership) in this forum and the sharing and explaining of all your knowledge and the workings of KENS and also bringing into the fold other TV networks over the past years. There were some days and some posts early on and recently (Spurs broadcast) that I was afraid you would just check out. So thanks for sticking with us. Bill

COOLRIVER, Jeanne Jakle's Express-News column from Thursday (http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/columnists/jjackle/stories/MYSA062207.1P.jakle.10b7861.html) discusses KENS 5's move of Letterman to 10:35. One of Realthogue's colleagues in Sales and Marketing says that change is a requirement in the station's new contract with CBS.

COOLRIVER, Jeanne Jakle's Express-News column from Thursday (http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/columnists/jjackle/stories/MYSA062207.1P.jakle.10b7861.html) discusses KENS 5's move of Letterman to 10:35. One of Realthogue's colleagues in Sales and Marketing says that change is a requirement in the station's new contract with CBS.Aaaahaaa, that explains it. Thanks BarsAntone for the update and the article. As far as Eva goes, I don't think they over did it. I was in California for a few years (glad that's over) and watched some Laker games (of course only when they played the Spurs) and they would show Jack Nicholson more in one game than ALL the Eva appearances during the playoffs, and as far I know, he isn't even dating anyone on the team :D
Anyway, Let the adjusting begin.

Thanks BarsAntone for linking Jeanne Jakle's column; that was the best explanation possible. That would also have been my reply but Boots said it better.

604 Days 'til analog sundown.

I am getting ready to sign up for the new AT&T Homezone HD service and was very excited about it until I found out in this thread that WOAI is not available in HD over DISH. I haven't seen any updates in the past few weeks on this thread and nobody at WOAI could help me when I called them.

Does anyone have any current information as to where DISH & WOAI are at with their dispute?

I finally got around to watching the last several episodes of Desperate Housewives. I record a lot of HD programming on my computers to watch during the summer. Much to my dismay the recordings are missing the last 1 or 2 minutes. The program I wrote uses a database from the net which has proven to be accurate. And in fact the recordings were set up to run the extra minute or 2 past the hour. And the computers clock is regularly updated by online services.

Since moving here last year I've seen several instances of how the local networks sometimes do things differently. Is it possible that KSATDT showed the programs in a different manner than how the studio initially transmitted them?????

I am getting ready to sign up for the new AT&T Homezone HD service and was very excited about it until I found out in this thread that WOAI is not available in HD over DISH. I haven't seen any updates in the past few weeks on this thread and nobody at WOAI could help me when I called them.

Does anyone have any current information as to where DISH & WOAI are at with their dispute?

If you live in San Antonio, you should have no problem picking WOAI OTA with a simple set of rabbit ears hooked up to the Dish receiver. I live in Lockhart and I set up an outdoor antenna in my attic and pick up Austin and San Antonio with plenty of signal. Dish doesn't have locals available for Austin yet(which is my DMA) so I "had" to set this up.

Random question...with the TW basic HD package, should I be getting 150 aka FOX HD?

Random question...with the TW basic HD package, should I be getting 150 aka FOX HD?
I guess you have figured out by now that you get it when they put something on it.

My love hate relationship with TW continues.

It's lovin' today. My HD Pace Box died and I took it in for replacement and they gave me a SA 8300 DVR for one year free (supposedly). We will see when the bill arrives :rolleyes:

Looks like TWC just added the premium channels west coast feeds in HD.

If you live in San Antonio, you should have no problem picking WOAI OTA with a simple set of rabbit ears...

Your best bet is to use a UHF loop antenna since WOAI's HD signal is transmitted over channel 58. I live near Sea World and get WOAI's HD signal using a loop antenna with no problem.

BTW - Once the analog-to-digital conversion is completed in early 2009, WOAI's HD signal will be transmitted over channel 48.

Greg, Why is WOAI HD still not on DISH Network? It has been over a year since DISH got HD locals and WOAI is the only one we still do not have the HD feed of on DISH Network. It is hard to understand what the problem is considering DISH has the other big 3 in HD.

$$$$$$$$


Greg, Why is WOAI HD still not on DISH Network? It has been over a year since DISH got HD locals and WOAI is the only one we still do not have the HD feed of on DISH Network. It is hard to understand what the problem is considering DISH has the other big 3 in HD.

I know it is about money. If DISH got KABB then why would it be so hard to get WOAI. KABB and TWC had a long drawn out haggle until reaching an agreement. Unless DISH is lowballing them then it makes no sense to me since DISH got KABB right away. WOAI is in my opinion the worst of the majors networks but I base that on Sports for the most part. I would still like to have it for Sunday night football though.

I know it is about money. If DISH got KABB then why would it be so hard to get WOAI. KABB and TWC had a long drawn out haggle until reaching an agreement. Unless DISH is lowballing them then it makes no sense to me since DISH got KABB right away. WOAI is in my opinion the worst of the majors networks but I base that on Sports for the most part. I would still like to have it for Sunday night football though.

Exactly, Sinclair and TWC were haggling dozens of stations and they finally reached a number. Why can't WOAI and DISH reach a deal? I don't think WOAI is the worst of the majors by any stretch or I wouldn't care. In addtion to the NFL, some of my favorite shows are on NBC - Heroes, My Name is Earl, The Office and I've got high hopes for "The Bionic Woman" series this fall. All are MUCH better in HD :)

I apologize if this has been addressed. I've gone back 5 pages or so and can't find anything concrete.

I'm experiencing no channel detection via QAM on my HDTV. I've just signed up with TWC. They came out today and installed cable to my [new] home along with the pace dc551p and I don't like it, particularly the HD very much. Some channels in 1080i are ok, but watching Conan in HD tonight was horrible w/ border on 4 sides... so I elected QAM but each cycle of Cable HRC on my Sceptre is giving me no channels detected, and when choosing arbitrary channels, I see only about 33-44% signal. I didn't have this issue with Comcast in Chicago, but then I was staying in a small apartment and I didn't have cable installed in 7 rooms. A electroline amp that was installed is giving me some boost overall, because unplugging it dropped my signal to an even lower 17%.

I'm just curious what I'm doing wrong.

Perhaps I should just drop cable totally, and put a more powerful antenna in my attic, but am nervous I won't get all the local goodness, that is CBS (KENS; VHF?), ABC (KSAT), NBC (WOAI), Fox (KABB), and the CW (KCWX). I don't care for the rest ; if i want it, I'll find it.

When it come to negotiating carriage contracts. If your waiting for someone to blink, it won't be E*. You might as well get an OTA antenna and just forget about WOAI in HD through the Dish.

Exactly, Sinclair and TWC were haggling dozens of stations and they finally reached a number. Why can't WOAI and DISH reach a deal? I don't think WOAI is the worst of the majors by any stretch or I wouldn't care. In addtion to the NFL, some of my favorite shows are on NBC - Heroes, My Name is Earl, The Office and I've got high hopes for "The Bionic Woman" series this fall. All are MUCH better in HD :)

Then he will eventually lose my business. He can save all the money he wants and I will go Directtv or back to TWC. For DISH not to have a local in HD because of a few bucks with all the money DISH is making is ridiculous.

He is not only saving money for E* but also for you the subscriber in the long run. If you like rate hikes, TWC will love you back as a customer. I would take an OTA antenna option any day over a rate hike.

Then he will eventually lose my business. He can save all the money he wants and I will go Directtv or back to TWC. For DISH not to have a local in HD because of a few bucks with all the money DISH is making is ridiculous.

The money is not a huge deal to me. Getting the channels in HD I want is. I dont really want to deal with an OTA. My wife does not like the DISH much less an antenna also. I am in a major city and I dont think it is too much to ask to get my locals in HD. I really like DISH but if this problem with our local NBC affiliate is not resolved by the time my contract is up I will look at other options which might be D* since they have all San Antonio locals in HD and will soon have more HD channels to compete with DISH. I will also consider TWC if they get a better DVR because they are finally starting to add more and more HD channels with SDV technology. Just my 2 cents and they way I feel about it. I know E* is trying to keep rates low but to say it is just for us and not for his bottom line also would be naive.

I apologize if this has been addressed. I've gone back 5 pages or so and can't find anything concrete.

I'm experiencing no channel detection via QAM on my HDTV. I've just signed up with TWC. They came out today and installed cable to my [new] home along with the pace dc551p and I don't like it, particularly the HD very much. Some channels in 1080i are ok, but watching Conan in HD tonight was horrible w/ border on 4 sides... so I elected QAM but each cycle of Cable HRC on my Sceptre is giving me no channels detected, and when choosing arbitrary channels, I see only about 33-44% signal. I didn't have this issue with Comcast in Chicago, but then I was staying in a small apartment and I didn't have cable installed in 7 rooms. A electroline amp that was installed is giving me some boost overall, because unplugging it dropped my signal to an even lower 17%.

I'm just curious what I'm doing wrong.

Perhaps I should just drop cable totally, and put a more powerful antenna in my attic, but am nervous I won't get all the local goodness, that is CBS (KENS; VHF?), ABC (KSAT), NBC (WOAI), Fox (KABB), and the CW (KCWX). I don't care for the rest ; if i want it, I'll find it.

Hakujin,

Conan is not broadcast in HD on TW cable box or via Qam.

I'm not sure Cable HRC is the right mode to scan in TW cable here. I remember I had to call them and ask which one (HRC,IRC,etc) they use, but I cant remember which one. Call them and ask (to my great surprise the first person I talked to actually new what I was asking about) or just scan each one.

The money is not a huge deal to me. Getting the channels in HD I want is. I dont really want to deal with an OTA. My wife does not like the DISH much less an antenna also. I am in a major city and I dont think it is too much to ask to get my locals in HD. I really like DISH but if this problem with our local NBC affiliate is not resolved by the time my contract is up I will look at other options which might be D* since they have all San Antonio locals in HD and will soon have more HD channels to compete with DISH. I will also consider TWC if they get a better DVR because they are finally starting to add more and more HD channels with SDV technology. Just my 2 cents and they way I feel about it. I know E* is trying to keep rates low but to say it is just for us and not for his bottom line also would be naive.

IMHO, the inability of WOAI and DISH to reach a digital carriage agreement is hurting both corporations. I have friends with DISH that do not watch WOAI programming because they would rather watch something else in HD rather than look at 4x3 SD on their $2K+ sets. I know people that want to sign up for DISH because they hate TWC but won't now that TWC has been able to get all locals in HD.

Harley Dude your point is exactly right. I love DISH much more than TWC except for the WOAI issue. I wont watch WOAI either because of this. I for the most part only watch HD. Once you get hooked there is no going back. I like Law and Order but only watch th reruns on TNT because they are in HD. I am just going to wait until February when my contract is up and will see where everything is at. If DISH has WOAI then I stay. If they dont then I go to TWC or D*. It all depends on HD and the HD DVR to me. Money will not be a factor.

Hakujin,

Conan is not broadcast in HD on TW cable box or via Qam.

I'm not sure Cable HRC is the right mode to scan in TW cable here. I remember I had to call them and ask which one (HRC,IRC,etc) they use, but I cant remember which one. Call them and ask (to my great surprise the first person I talked to actually new what I was asking about) or just scan each one.

Shame, I enjoyed watching his show in 1080i up north on a day to day. It seems this is the case with quite a few channels, even after changing my box to passthrough to ensure HD. Notwithstanding this QAM issue is really hurting me. Though I used HRC before, I tried all modes... IRC, Cable STD, and AIR. No channels. Further, I disconnected all other outlets to my home's tap, less the direct feed that strings through my backyard to the neighbor's yard where presumably, the main tap is located. Still not getting above 34% signal strength. I'm thinking of calling TWC today, but since it is QAM and I'm a cynical one, I'm in doubt as to what they'll actually do about it; moreso, the excuse TWC will likely conjure that it's my TV's fault. My predicament sucks. I definitely didn't purchase this TV to succumb to a bunch of 4:3 crap with a STB. I prefer to use it for HD WS QAM, x264 and Xvid playback via HTPC, gaming, and as a computer monitor.


Edit: On the phone now, and the rep thinks I should scan Cable STD, but he's checking signals. [fingers crossed!]

I apologize if this has been addressed. I've gone back 5 pages or so and can't find anything concrete.

I'm experiencing no channel detection via QAM on my HDTV. I've just signed up with TWC. They came out today and installed cable to my [new] home along with the pace dc551p and I don't like it, particularly the HD very much. Some channels in 1080i are ok, but watching Conan in HD tonight was horrible w/ border on 4 sides... so I elected QAM but each cycle of Cable HRC on my Sceptre is giving me no channels detected, and when choosing arbitrary channels, I see only about 33-44% signal. I didn't have this issue with Comcast in Chicago, but then I was staying in a small apartment and I didn't have cable installed in 7 rooms. A electroline amp that was installed is giving me some boost overall, because unplugging it dropped my signal to an even lower 17%.

I'm just curious what I'm doing wrong.

Perhaps I should just drop cable totally, and put a more powerful antenna in my attic, but am nervous I won't get all the local goodness, that is CBS (KENS; VHF?), ABC (KSAT), NBC (WOAI), Fox (KABB), and the CW (KCWX). I don't care for the rest ; if i want it, I'll find it.
Depends on where you live.........I have a $60 Terk (for my D* satellite) in my 2nd floor attic, small thing but pulls everything in quite nicely, even KENS which used to give everyone fits on low power. I'm about 26 miles from the transmitting towers on the northwest side....check out FRAPPR (sp?) to see locations and setups.

Thanks Scotty44. I'm near 410 off Marbach.Glad to know a lower end Terk may get the job done. How many miles would you say I am from transmitting towers and is
FRAPPR something similar to antennaweb.org?


On another note, TWC rep told me they indeed do encrypt all locals in digital here. Is that so????? I though some state law prohibited this for locals over QAM. MORE reason to go antenna if that is the case.


EDIT: antennaweb is saying a need medium directional antenna with preamp to pick up all digital antennas. without kcwx, it states I would not need a preamp. This would be an antenna I'd have to mount on rooftop no? Would like to avoid that. It also states I'm about 26 miles from most towers. I was thinking I was a bit closer than that, but that was based of a [false] presumption that signals are coming from down town san anton.

EDIT 2: I tried FRAPPR... pulled up http://www.frappr.com/avsforumsanantoniotxhdtvreceptionreports/map

I guess this is what you're referring to? A google mashup... It's saying 'image unavailable' though, and many orange dots are just San Antonio with no information.

I'm surprised at how many people will still not go through the "trouble" of putting up an OTA antenna. If not for anything else but for the "extra" tuner. The Dish ViP 622 can record 3 things at one time. If you set it up with an OTA antenna, you could record WOAI over the air and 2 other things over the satellite tuners. I'm in the Austin DMA and still don't have any HD locals through Dish. I would love to have just 1 HD local through the satellite. OTA picture quality can't be beat either. It might be matched but not beaten by anything through satellite or cable.

Quote by Hakujin,
((((On another note, TWC rep told me they indeed do encrypt all locals in digital here. Is that so????? I though some state law prohibited this for locals over QAM. MORE reason to go antenna if that is the case.))))




Oooooh God, DON'T GET ME STARTED, (too late) THEY ARE FULL OF COW CRAP!!!!!!


I have been watching their Qam cable for at least 3 years. I just had cause, 2 weeks ago to call them about the loss of ABC & NBC via Qam. To my amazement, the level 1 support tech said nope, "need a box." I said your wrong let me talk to level 2. Level 2 tech very nice guy and seemed knowledgeable, and even knew what a Qam tuner was, but denied HD locals in the clear??????? How in the hell do you know what a Qam tuner is and what it is for and you DON'T know about channels in the clear, and you work for the biggest cable company around. (Company orders to deny deny deny???) Well, I said your wrong, he said let me call my level 4 Tech. He came back on the phone after talking to the highest tech in the land and the tech told him, nope you need a box. I said he is wrong, who do I need to talk to next, and he gave me the name, address, and phone # of the president of Time Warner in San Antonio. We hung up. Low and behold, 15 minutes later, the tech 2 calls me back at home and says he talked to the level 4 tech again and confirmed that LOCALS ARE IN THE CLEAR.

Guys, this tale is in a nut shell, the course of the call was an HOUR AND TWENTY MINUTES.

I find it absolutely amazing, that at least 3 years into clear Qam, TIME WARNER tech support does not know anything about it!!!!!!

1. Time Warner is training their techs poorly (partly this, but above level 1, come on!)

2. Time Warner has set a philosophy of deny deny deny ( I'm sure it is not in writing anywhere) that channels in the clear even exist!

Either way, this falls directly on Time Warner management, and is unacceptable and inexcusable and warrants an official complaint with the FCC and the BBB!

Low and behold, 2 days later, after being without ABC & NBC in the clear for 2 months, (bye the way, I do have the box or I wouldn't have been this patient) the channels came back. Now I am happy as a pig rolling around in Time Warner SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII :D



Oh Yeah, Hakujin,

Welcome to San Antonio. It's a great city!
I'm not sure why your unable to scan in the Qam channels, but I assure you, they are there. Well, most of the time :)

That's cool; thanks for the interesting story. :)

Well, it may boil down to the signal coming in and my QAM show it as too low, and since TWC would like to pretend everything is fine and dandy... I might be sol. I think the line coming into my home is over 300 feet so maybe an attentuation problem and subsequently why I can't pick up QAM? Though, I would think that my STB and broadband would be affected too... Maybe they have a way to block/filter QAM in their newer equipment, which I presume would be in newer subdivisions...

I'm going to pick up a nicer antenna today or tomorrow and see what I can get. Then, I'll prolly just drop cable tv totally and do OTA + 'a-la-carte'. ;) IMO, it's a waste paying for mostly letterbox, and even worse matted letterbox on a 1080p HDTV. I'd even prefer viewing much lower resolution media with the black bars cut off (ala xvid dsrip) via my pc.

To that end, I'm watching fox on OTA right now and it seems to me there is a LOT more matted letterbox 1080i content being broadcast then I remember from June and before. For example, I could be wrong but I remember 'On the Lot' being a 16:9 show. This is pure speculation though as I probably wrong... perhaps I'm suffering from no QAM blues :(

I'm a newbie...been reading posts for a while--but....
Is there a comprehensive list of channels that people get in San Antonio??

antennaweb seems to vary in channel assignments, or at least different then it was months ago... and the frappr map seems to list different ones posted by mbrs as well.

Thanks for any and all help !!

KSAT is now showing LATV, a bilingual music video channel produced in Los Angeles on 12.2.

I wish they would bring back the Transguide cameras. :(

I'm a newbie...been reading posts for a while--but....
Is there a comprehensive list of channels that people get in San Antonio??

antennaweb seems to vary in channel assignments, or at least different then it was months ago... and the frappr map seems to list different ones posted by mbrs as well.

Antennaweb is hard to beat as a source of information. Do you know about PSIP channels and how they can be different than the DTV channel that the signal resides on?

"Do you know about PSIP channels and how they can be different than the DTV channel that the signal resides on?"

honestly, I dont have a Clue what you just wrote !! haha---- but I will soon :-) Let me research and I'll get back with you on that one.

...I will share this tho, when we first got the TV in Feb07 and ran the 'auto find stations' --I was surprised to get some random stations of digital (and even HD) channels just by having it plugged into our Roadrunner Cable line (I dont have cable tv, only roadrunner...and spliced the line to see what would happen) ...the analog side gets 74-77 (history,golf,bravo,tvGuide)....... but that came to an end slowly channel by channel after a month, and now only get the 4 analog channels .....

---thats why I'm looking into the OTA.... so maybe me being able to 'tune in' those digital stations originally is effecting my listing now (or where the channel resides? -ie the Protocol)........ i need to read more on PSIP -I get the general concept but need to read more into it in order to discuss.

Thanks for the tip and the lead for info !!
Fred :)

Agree 1000%

I have 3 Dishes (110/119/129/61.5) and a CM4228 OTA antenna. My wife doesn't care what we have on the roof one bit (all are hidden on the side of the house anyway). If we need it to get a good solid TV signal and great PQ so be it.

I'm surprised at how many people will still not go through the "trouble" of putting up an OTA antenna. If not for anything else but for the "extra" tuner. The Dish ViP 622 can record 3 things at one time. If you set it up with an OTA antenna, you could record WOAI over the air and 2 other things over the satellite tuners. I'm in the Austin DMA and still don't have any HD locals through Dish. I would love to have just 1 HD local through the satellite. OTA picture quality can't be beat either. It might be matched but not beaten by anything through satellite or cable.

I gave some much-needed attention to the reception map today. Unbeknownst to me, the site that provides the map had enabled a default setting which created a new pin on the map every time someone visited it! :mad: That's why there were a bunch of pins on the map which had nothing to do with HDTV reception. I turned that setting off and deleted the dozens of anonymous pins that it created. The interface to control the map is not very precise, so please accept my apology if I unwittingly deleted your pin that was posted in the last few weeks with reception details.

Unfortunately, there is no longer a way to default the map to be zoomed into our part of the USA. so you'll have to do that yourself. :(

Also, if you want to have your pin deleted so that you can update or move it, just send me a PM here in the forum and I'll be glad to take care of it.

Drat, lost my preamp in the lightning storm the other night. Does anyone have a recommendation for a high boost replacement? I would buy the same again but ... is there one being made that can withstand a nearby lightning hit? 45 ft up peeks over the oaks but not the Cypress trees by the river... they attract the lightning but the static field is what got me.

I guess I should actually consider myself quite lucky to have used the preamp as a lightning fuse... much cheaper than either the stb or the tv.... my setup is totally ungrounded other than through the electrical lines, so I was really a sitting duck. I'll look into better protecting myself in the future. Meanwhile no NBCHD.

I'm new to this thread having just moved to SA from the Springfield, MO DMA. Forgive if this is old news to you but I cannot get OTA guide from WOAI, do they hve PSIP problems at this time?

Anyone having issues with tuning in stations on the STB? Last night I started getting initializing messages on several channels as i attempted to tune them in. The end result is a blue screen and box reboot that takes forever. Is this a sign that SDV has moved into our system?

I think weather was interferring with the uplink... all locals were out during the storm.

Anyone having issues with tuning in stations on the STB? Last night I started getting initializing messages on several channels as i attempted to tune them in. The end result is a blue screen and box reboot that takes forever. Is this a sign that SDV has moved into our system?

Not sure if it is related or not, but I started having that problem last week. The TWC guy came out and said my signal strength wasn't good enough. I do have one thinner cable running into the attic that he said was dropping the signal quite a bit so he replaced that, but not before he removed one of the filters at the main box in the back yard (giving me channel 14). The removal of the filter bumped my signal up to satisfy the set top box, and the line being replaced will supposedly take it up even higher. My only question was why did the signal all of a sudden drop to below enough strength to even turn on the cable box?

For all you DISH HD customers I got the following from someone at WOAI:

We share your frustration. The "hold up" is with your DISH provider. They have failed to reach a satisfactory carriage agreement with our company. As the subscriber, you should express your frustration to them and demand that they carry the local NBC affiliate station that YOU wish to watch as part of your package!

We appreciate your comments and desire to watch WOAI-TV. Please assist us in encouraging DISH to reach an agreement to carry us on your local DISH provider.


I emailed ceo@echostar.com and asked about this and complained and would suggest more of you do the same then maybe it will help.

I emailed ceo@echostar.com and asked about this and complained and would suggest more of you do the same then maybe it will help.

I would also email Eric Sahl, Sr VP of Programming at DISH directly at eric.sahl@echostar.com and voice your concern.

I would also email Eric Sahl, Sr VP of Programming at DISH directly at eric.sahl@echostar.com and voice your concern.


I did. I take it you did also?

Remember that WOAI-TV is for sale, along with the other Clear Channel TV stations. Maybe the station's next owner will be able to cut a deal with Echostar.

I did. I take it you did also?

I did and have still heard nothing back. It would be great if everyone reading this thread would take time to send him an email asking for status on WOAI in HD, even if you are not an Echostar subscriber :)

My note sent:

Dear Mr. Sahl:

I live about 75 miles from the antenna farm for San Antonio located at Elmendorf, TX. I use a powerful OTA setup to receive HD on WOAI channel 4 simply because Dish doesn't offer that local channel. Quite often, however, weather or atmospheric problems cause me to miss important shows.

I have been a Dish subscriber for years and years and would like to know, please, if you have the time, if there are plans to add WOAI to your local channel HD service that I pay extra to have. WOAI carries many programs in HD and I would prefer to see them with full quality video and audio.

I was told that WOAI does want to be offered through Dish, but that it is you who are holding up the negotiations! If this is true, can you please suggest ways that I and other HD subscribers in the area can help resolve the situation?

Respectful Thanks,

Edward Scott
Utopia, TX 78884

Isn't Dish just going to blame the thing on WOAI? Who knows who is really at fault here. Rewording the WOAI reply from DISH's view:

"We share your frustration. The "hold up" is with WOAI. They have failed to reach a satisfactory carriage agreement with our company. As a local resident, you should express your frustration to them and demand that they lower their demands so that the local NBC affiliate station that YOU wish to watch will be a part of your package!

We appreciate your comments and desire to watch WOAI-TV. Please assist us in encouraging WOAI to reach an agreement to be carried on DISH."

Possibly, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. If the executives on both sides start getting enough complaints to their personal email at the company, then it becomes top of mind awareness for them.

I've got more done with a 2 paragraph email to an executive within a company than I did with 3 months of going back and forth with their front line of customer service.

Isn't Dish just going to blame the thing on WOAI? Who knows who is really at fault here. Rewording the WOAI reply from DISH's view:

"We share your frustration. The "hold up" is with WOAI. They have failed to reach a satisfactory carriage agreement with our company. As a local resident, you should express your frustration to them and demand that they lower their demands so that the local NBC affiliate station that YOU wish to watch will be a part of your package!

We appreciate your comments and desire to watch WOAI-TV. Please assist us in encouraging WOAI to reach an agreement to be carried on DISH."


That is why I sent an email to both companies. I asked WOAI if they got the same offer DISH gave to the other networks in S.A. If they did then it is WOAI that is at fault. If DISH lowballed them compared to the other 3 then the blame belongs on DISH. In my opinion of course. I have gotten no response as of yet from either side on this but will keep at it. We had a problem last year with the FOX feed on DISh as it was grainy compared to KENS and KSAT. It took a while but myself and others that complained finally got them to fix it and it looks great now.

Yes both sides are pretty unrelenting it seems, and anxious to use the customer as a tool against the opposition. But as you guys said, squeaky wheels... probably helped with our KSAT stretchovision problem and the WOAI dropouts as well.

Jerry, I have a question for you... you said KENS plans to go HD on the news broadcasts soon and it occurred to me that this probably means a LOT of new cameras and equipment... just how many HD cameras would be needed if you plan to equip your remote crews as well? I mean I guess it's possible to jump back and forth or to blow up the old camera framing to fill the HD screens, but is it allowed for you to educate us on things like that?

...KENS plans to go HD on the news broadcasts soon and it occurred to me that this probably means a LOT of new cameras and equipment... just how many HD cameras would be needed if you plan to equip your remote crews as well?
Ed,

Soon is a relative term, but if all goes well we will do news in HD within 18 months. All of our studio cameras already are HD. What remains to be replaced are the expensive bits: HD production switcher, HD router and a handful of other things. I cannot lay ALL our cards oin the table just now, but suffice it to say that new HD ENG cameras will be phased in gradually. We will use our best SD cameras in a wide screen mode to minimize "aspect shock" as we introduce HD field cameras.

569 days 'til digital sunrise

Thanks, Jerry... it's really exciting to me to watch you guys beat the 'sunrise' as you call it. Exciting also to know that you'll soon thereafter be doing local sports in HD!

and as for the Dish/WOAI negotiations, here's the pretty much as expected response from dish:

Edward,



Thanks for your interest in DISH network. We are unfortunately unable to offer WOAI in HD at this time because we do not have digital carriage rights with the Station’s ownership entity. We are however, in negotiations and hope to reach an agreement for such rights. Please know that both sides are working diligently to come to a fair agreement. Again thank you for your subscription to DISH. Please contact me with any questions. Thanks,



Erin



Erin McIlvain

General Manager of Programming

EchoStar Satellite, LLC - DISH Network

9601S. Meridian Boulevard

Englewood, CO 80112

Tel: 303.723.1833 Fax: 303.723.1999

Email: erin.mcilvain@echostar.com

I called that number and spoke to Erin. She said that negotiations with Clear Channel were actively moving along and that they hoped to have something to announce soon. At first she thought I was a reporter because I was asking specifics on digital carriage agreements and how DISH's offer compared to those that WOAI was getting from TWC, DirecTV, etc. I told her that I was a concerned future customer that would make the switch from TWC as soon as WOAI was in HD :D

Thanks! I should have thought to do that, but you knew exactly the right things to ask.

Sorry to keep chiming in with such random questions guys, but I can never seem to get answers straight from the source...my question is are there any local providers that offer a HD only viewing package?

After going HD I cannot bring myself to watch SD (except for Spurs) and it seems like a waste to spend 50-60 bux on a bunch of channels I don't watch when the HD pack is only $6 a month more. According to TWC the answer is no, but I'm sure if I called 5 more times I'd get 5 different answers...is OTA my only choice?

"...are there any local providers that offer a HD only viewing package...is OTA my only choice?
Mw, I don't think so. At this stage of the technology, HDTV remains an option to most MSO providers' packages.

Ironically, in a few years we'll probably have to pay extra to get certain legacy SD channels!

I am not personally aware of any HD-only packages available from any service - but perhaps my brethren in the Forum and the MSO's will add their comments.

561 days to Digital Sunrise

Mw... I only have experience with ota and dish, but the VooM offerings on dish, though repeated a few too many times, provide a lot of unusual HD entertainment, not only in movies I would have rented in blu-ray, but also good Xtreme sports and music concerts. I believe I only pay $5 a month for the VooMs, but also get UniHD and some others that provide occasional movies I like. The packages are so complex now it's hard to decide the most economical... I just make sure I have all the ones that ever have a spurs game.

and btw, speaking of basketball... how bout them SASS!!!!

I was just watching the "fund raiser" on KLRN and my goodness they have beaten the commercial stations. The local material is in HD.

We are moving now!

The most upsetting part to me is that AT&T uverse, TWC, and DTV all have WOAI in HD. It will probably be another disappointing football season without Sunday night football in HD!!

Thanks, Jerry... it's really exciting to me to watch you guys beat the 'sunrise' as you call it. Exciting also to know that you'll soon thereafter be doing local sports in HD!

and as for the Dish/WOAI negotiations, here's the pretty much as expected response from dish:

Edward,



Thanks for your interest in DISH network. We are unfortunately unable to offer WOAI in HD at this time because we do not have digital carriage rights with the Station’s ownership entity. We are however, in negotiations and hope to reach an agreement for such rights. Please know that both sides are working diligently to come to a fair agreement. Again thank you for your subscription to DISH. Please contact me with any questions. Thanks,



Erin



Erin McIlvain

General Manager of Programming

EchoStar Satellite, LLC - DISH Network

9601S. Meridian Boulevard

Englewood, CO 80112

Tel: 303.723.1833 Fax: 303.723.1999

Email: erin.mcilvain@echostar.com

The most upsetting part to me is that AT&T uverse, TWC, and DTV all have WOAI in HD. It will probably be another disappointing football season without Sunday night football in HD!!

You should still call the listed number and voice your concern. Remember the squeaky wheel always gets the grease, it sure didn't hurt that everyone from this forum was calling and emailing executives on both sides during the Sinclair/TWC dispute.

I sent an email last night. My initial 18 month agreement is up in a month, and if nothing is resolved at that time, I will switch to DTV. DTV has alot of HD channels coming in the near future, and it is not worth staying with DISH if they are not committed to providing WOAI when everyone else can.

Dear all,

Re OTA of channel 12.
Does anybody know why I read 90% signal strength on 12-1 and 12-2 but all i see is a black screen. All the other stations come in like usual. This happended during heavy rains and i thought it would resolve as I am OTA only. I live between Hondo and Castroville in Medina County and have always recived 12 fine. Anybody know what my problem is, I have a vizio 32 with a Humax digital descrambler. The tech guys at KSAT 12 said to rescan, which i did to no avail. Anybody getting KSAt 12 OTA HD? Or is it just lucky me--then what do I do? Any help appreciated.

Hoover

Just checked mine and all is good with 12 OTA. I live inside 1604 though.

Hello All,
The last month or so (maybe 6 weeks) on WOAI HD I've noted an audio "stutter" for lack of a better term.

It's on the Off-air setup I have as well as TWC. Really irrititating. When I record the MPG2 stream has dropped frames of audio needing resync in VideoReDo, so I know it's not just my ears.

Anyone know what's going on?

THanks in DTV!
Chris Wallace

Dear all,

Re OTA of channel 12.
Does anybody know why I read 90% signal strength on 12-1 and 12-2 but all i see is a black screen....

Hoover

Receiving KSAT from 75 miles out with a perfect 90 strength picture. Sounds like you have some other problem... sorry.

Ed Scott... Utopia

Thanks Geoge and ED,

I just unpluggged my UPS, LCD TV and STB and replugged it all 20 seconds later and viola, 12 is back. Everthing else and all the other channles were working so I figured something needed reset. I lost 12 in heavyrains and thought moisture might have been a problem that would spiontaneously resolve but, it must have just been an electrical gremlin. But I'm all back all OTA with over 24 channles, even way out in Medina County. I'm really only 45 miles from the 4,5, 12 antennas south of SA and get reception at 90% And 35 and 29 come in at 100% thanks to a high antenna and amp booster.

Hoover

Hello All,
The last month or so (maybe 6 weeks) on WOAI HD I've noted an audio "stutter" for lack of a better term.

It's on the Off-air setup I have as well as TWC. Really irrititating. When I record the MPG2 stream has dropped frames of audio needing resync in VideoReDo, so I know it's not just my ears.

Anyone know what's going on?

THanks in DTV!
Chris Wallace

Chris,

I've had the same problem using an HDDirecTivo. I went back to recording the news broadcasts from analog. Haven't checked lately.

Sherrill

I live in Lockhart which is in the Austin DMA, still no locals in HD through Dish. I took matters in my own hands and went through the "trouble" of putting an OTA antenna in my attic. I will be able to watch every NFL game in HD available to me through Dish via ESPN HD and NFL Network HD. I will watch all NFL games in HD OTA on CBS, Fox, and yes Sunday Night Football on NBC either on WOAI or KXAN, my choice...all because I went through the "trouble" of putting an OTA antenna in my attic. If I could have gotten by with a set of $10 rabbit ears, I would have. But I don't live in the city.

Do my eyes deceive me or do we have the NFL Network currently broadcasting on channel 108 here in San Antonio??? That would mean it is in HD as well!!

False alarm, the car dealership where I am watching has GVTC and not TWC. They are using the same 8300HD DVR and a non-branded remote. Guess TWC customers are still doing without...

Guess TWC customers are still doing without...

I like the headline in today's Express-News, which mentions the $0.61/month/subscriber that the NFL Network wants to charge TW to put the channel on basic cable. TW isn't going to just eat that charge, they'll pass it on to the subscribers in the next rate increase.

Since I am a TW subscriber and I have almost zero interest in the NFL, I'd rather keep that $7/year in my pocket than see it added to my cable bill for a channel I won't watch. I don't begrudge anyone who wants it from paying out of their pocket for the channel, but I don't want to subsidize your viewing habit. TW has my interests at heart in their current bargaining position. ;)

I like the headline in today's Express-News, which mentions the $0.61/month/subscriber that the NFL Network wants to charge TW to put the channel on basic cable. TW isn't going to just eat that charge, they'll pass it on to the subscribers in the next rate increase.

Since I am a TW subscriber and I have almost zero interest in the NFL, I'd rather keep that $7/year in my pocket than see it added to my cable bill for a channel I won't watch. I don't begrudge anyone who wants it from paying out of their pocket for the channel, but I don't want to subsidize your viewing habit. TW has my interests at heart in their current bargaining position. ;)

I have no problems with paying for a sports tier to watch the NFLN, I just want it to be available :D

I have no problems with paying for a sports tier to watch the NFLN, I just want it to be available :D
I think the NFL's position is that they will not allow the channel to be placed in a sports tier. They are insisting that it be placed in the "basic" package.

TWC wants it in the sports tier.

Even though I am an NFL fan, I am in favor of TW holding their ground. I believe everyone should pay for any "special" channels.

Actually, I would like to pick all the channels I get "Ala Carte". Maybe this is where things are headed.

I will swap MTV, VH1 and a few others for NFL. Wouldn't this be a great deal?:)

After a recent switch from QAM to OTA and back to QAM on TWC... I've lost a few channels that I was able to pick up the 1st time on QAM. Specifically WOAI, and the CW2 (dunno the affiliate here). Could someone please tell me what number your QAM tuner is tuned to for these two channels. I wonder if it is 101.1, 119.1, or 122.1. I'm getting blank screen on these channels but strong signal.

I don't begrudge anyone who wants it from paying out of their pocket for the channel, but I don't want to subsidize your viewing habit. TW has my interests at heart in their current bargaining position. ;)

What's the old saying about "One man's trash is another man's treasure"? :) I am sure that everyone, to some degree, subsidizes one or more channels that others like. That's simply the way of cable tv. There are any number of channels carried by TWC that I don't even have programmed in the favorites. They literally are never seen. Ultimately, if we are not going to an a la carte system (and the viewpoints on this are wildly divergent), then the fairest system (IMO) seems to be to carry the channels and spread the cost around. My .02.

it started yesterday, but i have lost channel 4 on twc HD and also over the air HD, does anyone also have this problem.
thanks

it started yesterday, but i have lost channel 4 on twc HD and also over the air HD, does anyone also have this problem.
thanks
Yup, I lost D 58 starting yesterday. Wonder whats goin' on. Its on DirecTV tho.

Here's a post from woai's website....hopefully it will be up soon

http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=43d83015-120c-4b05-a566-71d0d373d40c

niembre, that explain the whole thing
thanks

What's the WOAI QAM station number... does anyone know? My LCD takes forever to scan and I'd rather just manually add it when it's available again...

Glad to hear that I am not the only one who does not get WOAI OTA. I was wondering what the hell was going on. My antenna can shift a little but not by much. I was out there playing with it and still no signal but the rest of the channels were ok. I figured someone had forgotten to pay the bills.

I believe the OAM channel for WOAI is 104.1.

Also, my series 2 TIVO just bit the dust a week ago and I need to think of options replacing it. Feb 09 is the analog cut off date for analog broadcasts however does this also mean TWC will go all digital after that date or will their channels under 100 stay analog for at least a few more years?

Some of you have written me. We'll keep everyone updated at this link (http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=43d83015-120c-4b05-a566-71d0d373d40c) on woai.com.

Looks like we'll be back OTA sometime tomorrow.

Regards-

Thanks Greg. Hopefully you guys are up and running by the time the football game comes on Thursday. :confused:

Of all nights. We're not going to see Jay Leno tonight. Incredible!:mad::mad:

Some of you have written me. We'll keep everyone updated at this link (http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=43d83015-120c-4b05-a566-71d0d373d40c) on woai.com.

Looks like we'll be back OTA sometime tomorrow.

Regards-

Greg! is San Antonio going to get the NFL kickoff in HiDef? Please say yes...

If anyone has any updated news regarding this WOAI hi def problem, please post it. I may have to DVR tonight's game due to family priorities and would rather watch the hi def broadcast. I don't want to set a timer until I know for sure whether or not the hi def signal will be back on line by kickoff. I hope there's some good news to report this afternoon. Thanks!

I just called WOAI's main number and they said the current ETA for the HD signal to be back up and running is "later this afternoon". Nothing more specific than that, I'm sure that Greg will check in with us here and let us know when they get finished. I will keep my fingers crossed that it is before 7P tonight :)

Yes I've set my timer for 4-01 so I'm sure to get the HD if it's up... if not I'll set up manually for the SD channel. This should be a great game and the Saints are one of my teams... have been since the 60's. Keep on fighting WOAI... we appreciate your efforts.

WOAI-HD is on the air. Engineers are on-site making sure everything is running smoothly and properly. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Reading you 5X5, Greg... of course it's Montel and in SD, so we'll let ya know :)

But now, of course, it's KABB's turn... lost HD ota and on dish. They can get it going by Sunday, hopfully.

Greg... or anyone watching WOAI-HD on QAM,

Can you please let me know which channel it's on. 104.1 is not it. That's for TWC digital cable with box.

I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

Pretty HD tonight on WOAI but not a pretty game... Saints looking sad.

But hey, did you notice the echo is back on your local commercials? I switched to the SD signal on Dish and there was no echo...

And Fox fixed their problem, so thankfully it was just a glitch.

I heard the echo problem again too. Not on the main broadcast, thankfully, but on several of the commercials.

Yes, WOAI's echo problems are still there. I hope Greg can update us on that issue. Also, there were multiple times where when they went to the normal sideline camera angle it would begin out of focus. I've read elsewhere that is generally a local problem with the flexicoder. Hopefully, they can get that resolved too.

I had a problem with macro blocking during the Cowboys game Sunday night on WOAI. It only happened during closeups with motion, not on the wide shots. Anybody else see this. I was watching on TWC.

Greg... or anyone watching WOAI-HD on QAM,

Can you please let me know which channel it's on. 104.1 is not it. That's for TWC digital cable with box.

I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks
Hakujin,

I receive WOAI (unencrypted and without cablebox) on 110-104. Through my cableboxes, it is 104. I hope this helps.

Ken

I'm having a problem with KABB on my Vizio GV52LF. When watching late night shows like Seinfeld & Frasier, the video stutters. In other words, the action stops momentarily, several times a minute. It even happens on the commercials. But audio is not affected.

It's like what's described in this post: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=11438504#post11438504
(I don't know what city the writer lives in.)

On HD and prime time shows, the video is great - no stuttering. My Sharp Aquos set doesn't have this problem, and it uses the same roof-mounted antenna. Therefore, it's not a signal strength problem...pretty sure it's something to do with how the Vizio processes these late night shows.

If any KABB folks read this, can you tell me if there is anything different about the late night broadcasts?

That's funny since I see the same problem on both my new Sharp Aquos 52 1080p in the livingroom and my Vizio 42" 720p in the beadroom. I assumed it was the station's HD video encoder as no other station I've seen does that with OTA broadcasts.

Jim


I'm having a problem with KABB on my Vizio GV52LF. When watching late night shows like Seinfeld & Frasier, the video stutters. In other words, the action stops momentarily, several times a minute. It even happens on the commercials. But audio is not affected.

It's like what's described in this post: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=11438504#post11438504
(I don't know what city the writer lives in.)

On HD and prime time shows, the video is great - no stuttering. My Sharp Aquos set doesn't have this problem, and it uses the same roof-mounted antenna. Therefore, it's not a signal strength problem...pretty sure it's something to do with how the Vizio processes these late night shows.

If any KABB folks read this, can you tell me if there is anything different about the late night broadcasts?

I had macroblocking during the football game again last night on NBC, viewing both TWC and OTA. I did not have that problem with the Cowboys game on Fox. Nobody else is seeing this?

I missed last night's NBC game due to my having to watch Happy Feet on HD-DVD because of the wife (I really need to get her an HDTV for the bedroom...lol). Fortunately I was able to watch the earlier Cowboys game on Fox HD and saw no issues. I think is just part of the HD growing pains we are all dealing with.

Jim


I had macroblocking during the football game again last night on NBC, viewing both TWC and OTA. I did not have that problem with the Cowboys game on Fox. Nobody else is seeing this?