How is the HD quality on direct tv as compared to Time Warner? Especially with the locals. Does the HD box hook up via Component? I only have one DVI input on my set and I use it for my DVD upconvert player.

Barring the problems last week, the HD Locals on DirectTV look really good. I never really liked TWC (personal opinion). The DirectTV UI for the guide and DVR is a little better than the TWC Scientific Atlanta receivers as well.

:shrugs: I've enjoyed my DirectTV install (on three HD TVS).

Oh, and I'm 99% sure that you can hook it up via Component as well as HDMI.

Thanks ewebb02. My cable premium is going up a little in November, and in April of 09, it will go up to full price so I was checking into Direct TV. However, it seems that by the time I hook up 3 tv's, sign up for HD that has the channels I want, and the extra HD, and a movie tier, that it will cost me the same the first year as cable, but then the 2nd year, I'll take a bigger beating when direct tv goes up to full price.

You shouldn't ever have to pay full price for Time Warner. Just let them know before you cancel that you are leaving for satellite or uverse and they will lower the price.

The thing that keeps me from jumping is that high up front cost as well.

My goodness,
When is freaking TW going to add UsaHD?!?!? or SciFiHD, or anything "good" I see they have TennisHD and Cartoon NetworkHD coming on soon....cartoon network...are u serious??? TW is such a joke nowadays.

DirectvHD is the way to go.

Just a thought, maybe not everyone's viewing habits are the same as yours. In my house with two girls, a 6 and 8 year old, I know CartoonNetworkHD and Tennis HD would get plenty more TV time than USAHD and SciFiHD. In fact, I can't think of one show I would watch on USA or SciFi. That being said I would imagine the two biggest target groups for HD would probably be first sports fans and then scifi fans. If there are some big shows on those channels they should add them. Maybe a money issue?

The Cartoon Network HD is probably some ploy to hook our kids on HD for future revenue!:)

I pay about the same for Direct TV as I did for cable, but on Direct TV... I get SO MUCH MORE. When I was on TWC, I had HBO. On Direct TV, I have HBO, Starz and many more HD's. Are there a couple of things I would like to have on Direct TV? Sure. But that will happen with whichever service you choose.

I do pay extra on Direct TV for the Baseball Package and NFL Sunday Ticket. And the MLB Package on Direct TV is much better than cable because they offer the Superfan... which gives you every game in HD... as long as it's shown in HD.

TW had USA HD for a short time. I was excited when they added it cause I could start watching Psych, which I really love. But they took it away. I think it was just for the Olympics. Sci-Fi HD would be great. I've requested that from TW a few times, and more than once they've told me that is the one they get the most requests for.

On this KSAT thing - does anyone here watch Dirty Sexy Money or Life On Mars? These shows have looked pretty awful the past few weeks, since they started. Barely even HD, they look like an upconverted dvd, and not even a good one. The colors on Life On Mars seem especially wacky.

I saw Conan back in HD last night, so thanks to WOAI if they read this.

Also, to chime in on KSAT, their HD quality has always been very poor in my opinion. Watching their football games is atrocious compared to KENS or ESPN.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 3:25 PM CDT
San Antonio Business Journal

Time Warner adds Cartoon Network HD to channel 145

Time Warner Cable San Antonio has added Cartoon Network HD to the company’s high-definition programming line-up.

The Cartoon Network HD is now available on digital channel 145. The channel is known for airing new and classic hit cartoons such as Dexter’s Laboratory, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Pokemon, Tom and Jerry, Scooby Doo and The Flintstones.

Time Warner Cable now offers 71 HD channels, 124 HD Movie on Demand titles and 337 HD Free on Demand titles in San Antonio. The San Antonio division of Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) is one of the nation’s top markets for offering high-definition programming.

Time Warner Cable is based in New York.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 3:25 PM CDT
San Antonio Business Journal

Time Warner adds Cartoon Network HD to channel 145

.

You just missed the premier of three episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars--great stuff! I'm not sure if the first episode is still in rotation or not.

BTW, on Dish Network, the guide is identifying the first three installments as Episodes 1, 5 and 6. :confused::confused:

I have read on various forums about an issue with Dishnetwork HD DVR's that causes audio drop outs. I am experiencing these only on ABC and wanted to see if anyone else here has had the issue. The issue only occurs when watching recorded content. For instance, I watched this week's episode of Boston Legal live and there wasn't a single drop out. I watched the recording of said episode and the playback was riddled with drop outs.

As you can guess the WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) on this is pretty low, especially since Dirty Sexy Money is one of her favorite shows. I have switched the recordings to the SD feed to see if the problem goes away.

Anyone else having similar problems?

Makes having an antenna and rotator worthwhile. :)

you guys dont have the cw or or anything?

I have read on various forums about an issue with Dishnetwork HD DVR's that causes audio drop outs. I am experiencing these only on ABC and wanted to see if anyone else here has had the issue. The issue only occurs when watching recorded content. For instance, I watched this week's episode of Boston Legal live and there wasn't a single drop out. I watched the recording of said episode and the playback was riddled with drop outs.

As you can guess the WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) on this is pretty low, especially since Dirty Sexy Money is one of her favorite shows. I have switched the recordings to the SD feed to see if the problem goes away.

Anyone else having similar problems?
SoonerSteve - This is a known issue and I am having it also with just ABC. I hate it because I never watch anything live I always watch recorded stuff. I emailed Dish and they have been aware of it and are working on some software fix. They asked me some questions about where I live and how long it has been happening. So you might want to contact them. Maybe the more people that contact them the quicker it gets fixed.

In the early morning hours of Saturday, November 1, KENS-DT shut down its channel 55 DTV transmitter, changing over to the DTV 39 transmitter at KWEX. Using a system that multiplexes the Standard Definition programs from KWEX and KNIC with the KENS High Definition stream, all three programs now occupy DTV channel 39.

KENS-DT viewers will need to re-scan their receivers or re-memorize channels on their equipment to see the station in is new location. Regardless of RF channel, receivers will map KENS to 5-1 while retaining KWEX and KNIC on 41-1 and 41-2, respectively.

In the early morning hours of Saturday, November 1, KENS-DT shut down its channel 55 DTV transmitter, changing over to the DTV 39 transmitter at KWEX. Using a system that multiplexes the Standard Definition programs from KWEX and KNIC with the KENS High Definition stream, all three programs now occupy DTV channel 39.

KENS-DT viewers will need to re-scan their receivers or re-memorize channels on their equipment to see the station in is new location. Regardless of RF channel, receivers will map KENS to 5-1 while retaining KWEX and KNIC on 41-1 and 41-2, respectively.

Very interesting. How was this given to the FCC? Does it count as silencing KENS-DT or as moving KENS-DT to 39 and silencing KWEX-DT?

Also, have you taken into account that there are some receivers which freak out over two major channel numbers on one stream?

- Trip

In the early morning hours of Saturday, November 1, KENS-DT shut down its channel 55 DTV transmitter, changing over to the DTV 39 transmitter at KWEX. Using a system that multiplexes the Standard Definition programs from KWEX and KNIC with the KENS High Definition stream, all three programs now occupy DTV channel 39.

KENS-DT viewers will need to re-scan their receivers or re-memorize channels on their equipment to see the station in is new location. Regardless of RF channel, receivers will map KENS to 5-1 while retaining KWEX and KNIC on 41-1 and 41-2, respectively.
This isn't funny. The signal is useless. I've got 5 tuners in two computers and all I get is some sporadic spanish. But for the most part, no signal. And this is CBS, like CSI, Criminal Minds, The Mentalist and on and on. 'bout as funny as a bag full of !%$%%& I erased it. There has to be a problem that can be fixed by Monday.

OK, one tuner found it but the signal is still unusable.

Both of my TV sets have rescanned and have it fine. But my DTV HR20-100s show 100% signal strength, but "Searching for Signal".

I confess to coming unglued but still the signal strength/quality is maybe half what it was. I found one tuner out of five that appears to be able to record it, a SiliconDust HDHomerun box.

Starting Sunday night it will be interesting.

Very interesting. How was this given to the FCC? Does it count as silencing KENS-DT or as moving KENS-DT to 39 and silencing KWEX-DT?- Trip

Actually, it moves KENS to DTV 39 and returns DTV 55 to the FCC. KWEX also remains on DTV 39, operating KWEX (41-1) and KNIC (41-2) in transitional status. Both 41's move to DTV 41 in February, when KENS takes full ownership of DTV 39. Qualcomm's attorneys will file for DTV 55 on Monday to begin rolling out their MediaFLO service.

Also, have you taken into account that there are some receivers which freak out over two major channel numbers on one stream?- Trip

We wondered about that. I for one was hoping that most receivers would find the correct PMT PID in PSIP to map the receivers. It turns out that not all of them do. Only today we learned that Sony, Samsung, LG and Zenith receivers are handling the multiple PSIP pretty well. RCA, Philips and Magnavox (all essentially the same manufacturer!), GE and apparently others, not so well. One RCA I tested gets the channel mapping ok but displays the guide info for 41-1 on the KENS 5-1 service. Because I am fortunate enough to enjoy a strong signal I have not experienced audio problems like some of you have but I can see how that could happen and be a serious issue.

Allen DB writes, "I confess to coming unglued but still the signal strength/quality is maybe half what it was. I found one tuner out of five that appears to be able to record it, a SiliconDust HDHomerun box."

KENS has been running a crawl to the effect that our power will be somewhat lower between November and February because of this joint venture. I regret that some viewers will be miffed, but I promise that all will be well again in February.

At least we are on the air with approximately 300 KW. If we were operating only KENS' low power auxiliary we would have less than 30 KW and many more viewers would not see us at all. And Allen, as I recall you are in Kerrville, with some pretty draconian equipment to bring in even the KENS full-power signal.

None of this is meant to be funny, but it is progress. More strange goings-on will happen with other stations between now and February. KENS, KWEX and KNIC are the first to march ahead on the KENS post-transition channel, for better or worse, toward our goal of completion in February. KSAT already has reduced their power and construction is underway on their post-transition facility. The same is true of KLRN.

Stay tuned.

My Dish 722 hd receiver also displays the channel guide info for 41-1 on Kens 5-1. I hope this gets fixed, but I am getting a 90% signal now. I use to only get around 70% before and I would always lose the signal.

No love here. After a rescan, my TiVo HD has basically no usable signal. On Ch 55, KENS5 was pretty solid (about 80% or more on the signal meter). On Ch 39, it's about 25%, so it pixelates constantly if I'm lucky enough to get a signal lock. That was about how KWEX was, but since I'm not a Spanish speaker, having a pixelated 41 was no big deal.

I rescanned on my two other tuners in the house, a cheapo "Access HD" tuner and an LG DVD Writer/Tuner. THe Access HD tuner got about a 40%. The picture was just barely solid. The LG got virtually no signal at all (0-20%)

For reference, I live near Randolph AFB, and I have a CM 4228 UHF antenna, with no signal amp, so I'm using something a little better than a UHF loop. :)

Thanks!

At least we are on the air with approximately 300 KW. If we were operating only KENS' low power auxiliary we would have less than 30 KW and many more viewers would not see us at all. And Allen, as I recall you are in Kerrville, with some pretty draconian equipment to bring in even the KENS full-power signal.

None of this is meant to be funny, but it is progress. More strange goings-on will happen with other stations between now and February. KENS, KWEX and KNIC are the first to march ahead on the KENS post-transition channel, for better or worse, toward our goal of completion in February. KSAT already has reduced their power and construction is underway on their post-transition facility. The same is true of KLRN.
Stay tuned.
Thanks for the update and I'll definitely stay tuned. Tonight will be interesting when I try to view Cold Case.

Anyone know what's been going on with TWC lately? Last week, KSAT HD was dropping frames all over the place, but OTA was perfect. TWC put the SD feed on 112 for Thursday night. Now today, they're running Fox's SD feed on 111, but OTA Fox HD looks fine. I called last week but the agent on the phone didn't know anything about anything, so I'm not about to waste my time today. I'm starting to get really sick of TWC's HD not working as advertised.

Well, somehow one of my DirecTV HR20-100s has started receiving 5-1 just fine. My other one still doesn't get it, although it shows 100% signal strength.

I'm about 26 miles NW using a CM4228 split 4 ways.

Another OTA scan followed by a reboot got 5-1 going on the other HR20-100. All happy now.

I was able to watch Cold Case timeshifted. Still would like to get back to the flexibility of being able to pick up CBS with multiple tuners.

Is KENS 5-2 gone now also? After a rescan, I found 5-1 on ch 39, but 5-2 isn't there anymore. Of course, it's only useful when it actually rains around here....

Now, I guess I just have to wait for the channel guide to update on my TiVo. I have no guide info for 5-1 yet.

Thanks!

I suspect it's gone until February, but Jerry can tell us for sure.

Does anyone know what happened to KSAT's HD picture quality? It is just awful now.

Living in Lockhart, my UHF OTA antenna allows me to get both San Antonio and Austin stations in HD.

I used to always watch KSAT over KVUE, especially for sports. KVUE upconverts ABC's 720p signal to 1080i. Made for some really bad macroblocking. Here lately KVUE's picture has been way better than KSAT's.

I was considering adding a VHF antenna to my setup due to KSAT going to 12.1 in February. If the picture quality doesn't improve, I won't even bother.

KSAT is operating on reduced power. That could be the difference.

Anyone know what's been going on with TWC lately? Last week, KSAT HD was dropping frames all over the place,

Do the dropped frames manifest visually as a periodic jerk to the picture? I've been seeing that lately.

Is KENS 5-2 gone now also?
Thanks!
Please see my post #3488, above. We hope to return the radar service to one of our sub channels in February, depending on programming choices available for our multicasts. We expect to operate a 5-2 and a 5-3. Vipir radar most likely live on the low-bitrate 5-3 service, with three hours of children's EI programming once a week.

Has anyone discovered a way to "trick" a dish network vip722 atsc tuner with channel 39 / KENS? I get channel all 3 channels (5-1,41-1,41-2), but the listings on channel 5 are for channel 41-1...
tried all sorts of combinations of adding, deleting etc. Doesn't seem like it's gonna work but thought I would ask anyway. Plays havoc with DVR...

Bret McCarty

Has anyone discovered a way to "trick" a dish network vip722 atsc tuner with channel 39 / KENS? I get channel all 3 channels (5-1,41-1,41-2), but the listings on channel 5 are for channel 41-1...
Bret McCarty
Bret,
that's the same complaint people encounter with the RCA DTA-800B Digital Converter Box and a handful of others. The phenomenon is caused by 41-1 having the first PID (Packet ID) in the PMT (Program Map Table) list. 41-1 is first, 41-2 is second and 5-1 is third, so even though 5-1 is stream number one, the box associates the stream with the lower PID (41-1,) causing the guide info for 41-1 to display on 5-1. Less sophisticated tuners do not do a PID lookup when tuning to a new station; they simply associate the first PMT PID they see with the first channel tuned.

You might find a hack to fix this, but it will all be over in 105 days as I write. After February 18, only KENS will operate on DTV 39, and we will associate our PID table in an intuitive manner, so as not to fool all the boxes out there.

1st, I applaud REALTHOGUE for keeping us up todate. 2nd I have the RCA D/A box and have the Spanish programming issue as well. Prior to the transmitter move I was able to lock on to KENS5 w/o any problems. Now I have signal drop, pixelating beyond reason (day or night) and signal strength on the RCA around 41-42. I understand February is around the corner, but football season in here now!

p.s. For those home audiophiles: If you play your TV thru your stereo system, the squelch (when KENS pixelates) could irrerepairably damage the crossovers on your home audio speakers....could be an expensive lesson!

Here's a question for you would-be hackers who use Windows or Vista Media Center for HD reception and recording. Since KENS switched from DTV 55 to DTV 39, the number of viewers with set-top-box problems is tapering off but now we have fielded a few questions from Windows/Vista Media Center users who now are unable to receive 5-1 at all on their systems. Apparently once the software has stored or mapped a channel (to DTV 55, for example,) it is not easy/possible to delete the channel and search for the virtual channel in its new RF home (DTV 39 in this case.) I speculate that the reason is similar to why the RCA STBs map 41-1's guide info to the 5-1 virtual channel; the capture card may not be matching the KENS PMT PID to the correct virtual channel. That's my guess, anyway.

Has anyone encountered this situation and developed a solution? How can a dead virtual channel be deleted in order to be re-discovered on a new RF channel?

I am out of my depth with WMC or VMC discussions, but I hope there are viewers reading this who can contribute to the cause.

Thank you Jerry for the technical explanation of what's happening with KENS.

I have 3 other tuners in my house that work just fine: an olevia tv, a funai/sylvania hdtv box, and interestingly enough, a DTVpal which is also manufactured by Echostar!

(Un)lucky for me, the one that has the screwed up listings would have to be my DVR...

I contacted Dish Network tech support, but this is a temporary problem. I can always set up manual timers and change titles on recordings if I have to till february.

Dish Network tech tells me they "have no control over multicast channel listings"... they don't get it, their tuner doesn't work. oh well. I tried to explain the situation and they deny any problem on their end.

Jerry,

For past 3 weeks or so your channel's picture turns black for about a second every 4 to 20 minutes during prime time on HD. Sound is not affected and its not pixalation, it's completely black then back on. I have seen this thru 5 different receivers so I know it's not my equipment. I have your channel at 100 percent. Any ideas?

Thanks.

Jerry,

For past 3 weeks or so your channel's picture turns black for about a second every 4 to 20 minutes during prime time on HD. Sound is not affected and its not pixalation, it's completely black then back on. I have seen this thru 5 different receivers so I know it's not my equipment. I have your channel at 100 percent. Any ideas?

Thanks.

Realy bad this morning 430-6AM via TWC

Jerry,

For past 3 weeks or so your channel's picture turns black for about a second every 4 to 20 minutes during prime time on HD. Sound is not affected and its not pixalation, it's completely black then back on...
It definitely is not your equipment. We are refining the new multiplex that combines KWEX, KNIC and KENS into one stream; I suspect the phenomenon you describe is caused by a buffer overflow or other type of digital error. We are watching it with you and hope to eliminate the mux as part of the problem.

Another possible cause could be our automation failing to make a switch to/from a break, leaving the video path sitting in black until an operator makes the switch manually. But from what you describe I am leaning strongly toward the multiplex as the root cause of the symptom.

Thanks for writing and stay tuned...

I'm new to AVS Forum. Hope someone can help me. My TV guide on my Sony DHG-HDD250 has stopped updating (as of 4 days ago). I've done every kind of reset in the book. The clock has also gone away. Receiver is fine, Not sure what station in San Antonio broadcasts the programming information, but with all of the changes that have been going on lately, I don't know if it's my problem or someone else's..............................

Thanks
Chuck K.

I started getting heavy pixelation on CBS about a week ago. It's still watchable but it sure is bothersome. Be glad when Feb comes or it just somehow gets better.

It has been a week, and I still have no program guide info for 5-1 on my TiVo HD. Most of the time, I can't get a signal, so having a program guide wouldn't be useful anyway! :-)

Who should I contact about this? TiVo? Tribune?

I can't wait for February!

Chuck,
It isn't your problem. KENS broadcasts the TV Guide On Screen signal in San Antonio and we are working to restore the service.

blahbbs ,
see my post #3536, above. I think the Tivo is confused by the same problem as the other DVR's, cable cards and certain brands of set top box, all of whom display no guide info or incorrect guide info. We will fix this for certain in February, if not sooner.
As far as not getting a signal, what are you using for an antenna? In DTV, good reception is all about your antenna. For most people living north of downtown and in apartment buildings, rabbit-ears won't cut it but there are many good antennas that will work in adverse settings.

Hey guys, Im looking to buy my parents an ota hd antenna, but dont really know much about the ota antennas or San Antonio HD channels. They live in the NE part of town with the tv being on the first floor of a multistory home. According to antennaweb, theyre ~26miles from the stations needing a "Medium Directional Antenna with pre-amp. " Looking back a few pages it looks like the philips antennas the local stores sell wont work.

I was thinking of getting them: GE amplified quantum antenna, Terk HDTVa indoor antenna, or the monoprice indoor antenna. They have a built in ATSC tuner. Anyone have an suggestions for this location? tia

fhetw,
I have heard good things about the Winegard SS-2000 Square Shooter http://www.winegard.com/offair/squareshooter.htm (about $82, SolidSignal.com.) If their building has an unobstructed view to the south, or even a window facing in that general direction, you should be able to set it up. Obviously a balcony would be best, but I realize there's only a 1 in 4 chance of getting something facing in the right direction. Winegard makes a respectable indoor version too, the SS-3000, http://www.winegard.com/offair/ss-3000.htm (about $60, SolidSignal.com,) which should do well as long as there is good signal penetration into the building.

There are other recommendations but those are two of my favorites.

I sure hope this gets fixed soon. I sent a request to tivo but haven't heard
anything back. Since Kens 5 is about the only channel we watch, this is a
real annoyance for us.

As a workaround, I have left the defunct 5-1 listing visable on the tv guide
so I can see when to record and have manually (using the vcr mode for tivo) programmed in each of the time slots I want to record on an ongoing basis. This does give me duplicate recordings, one on a non transmitting channel (really eats up space recording HD programming) and one that records the proper data with a name that just reflects the time/date of the recording.
I also lose the ability to record just first run programs, we have no interest in re-runs so I have to do constant cleanup just to avoid running out of space on the tivo.

It's a workaround but certainly not an ideal one. Feb is a very long time from now to have to be doing constant cleanup just to watch Kens 5.

Thanks,

Russ


blahbbs ,
see my post #3536, above. I think the Tivo is confused by the same problem as the other DVR's, cable cards and certain brands of set top box, all of whom display no guide info or incorrect guide info. We will fix this for certain in February, if not sooner.
As far as not getting a signal, what are you using for an antenna? In DTV, good reception is all about your antenna. For most people living north of downtown and in apartment buildings, rabbit-ears won't cut it but there are many good antennas that will work in adverse settings.

I recently bought and installed a Motoraola Signal Booster. This thing really works if you are getting signal. But if you can't get a station it won't increase your distance. Example before installation KENS 5 was 75 percent, after installed 100 percent. PBS before installation no reception after installed no reception. I have my signal split 7 times. I'm very happy with this product. You can get it on buy.com under $40.

As for a good small antenna for NE area. I helped a friend by marshall HS, we used a Silver Sensor antenna and she gets all the local hd channles with out a hitch. It's under $25 on amazon.com. It's really small and but works great.

I have also used on NW side of town receiving all channels. This thing stays in the house.

Just an FYI, The Silver Sensor antenna is a UHF only antenna and KLRN and soon KSAT are VHF. This could be why your not receiving PBS.

Pete

I live N Central just south of Shavano Park, have a terrestrial digital db4 uhf antenna with no preamp, and a high band vhf winegard antenna with a preamp (primarily for klrn right now). Have these going into a vhf uhf combiner with a dc block on the combiners uhf input. Have had this setup for about a year, mounted in my attic and is working quite well for my location. klrn still acts up from time to time but that should improve next year. I got all this stuff at solidsignal.com.

I must be fortunate. Live near the airport with 10 y/o OTA separate UHF & VHF antenna, no amp. attached to the roof. Receiving 100% signal on all VHF stations and 75 -85% on all UHF stations. KENS can stay where their at, before I averaged a 76% signal quality, now pulling 100% along with KABB, KRRT and the Spanish stations.

OK Jerry, as of Sunday I have absolutely no signal for 5-1??? I rescanned thanks to your earlier post and found a pixelating signal loosing spanish titled channel totally that was totally unwatchable and now nada?? what gives? Is it soooo difficult to boost the signal strength up another 3 or 4 units when the RCA 800B was running at 41/42 units?

For three years I've been receiving channel 5-1 and 5-2 in Boerne, Tx.
actually just North of Bergheim in beautiful OTA HD.
About two weeks ago the signal was completely gone.
I now watch channel 42-1 in Austin, which has a more interesting selection
of programs. I still miss old KENS TV, since I've been watching this Belo Co.
for more than thirty years.
How do you guys just up and disappear?
I have D with two HR 21-200s and two AM21s for OTA.

Jerry,
Usually on the KENS/CBS Prime where I watch and record a few shows, it was notably decreased bitrate on the feed last night. Where typically I see the signal run from 15-18Mbps, last night was really low at 11. THe decrement of 30% was notable. Is this part of the conversion you've mentioned in other posts? Your HD has always been the best picture overall and it'd be sad to have this signal lowered.
Thanks in HD!
Chris Wallace

Try post #3516...........


For three years I've been receiving channel 5-1 and 5-2 in Boerne, Tx.
actually just North of Bergheim in beautiful OTA HD.
About two weeks ago the signal was completely gone.
I now watch channel 42-1 in Austin, which has a more interesting selection
of programs. I still miss old KENS TV, since I've been watching this Belo Co.
for more than thirty years.
How do you guys just up and disappear?
I have D with two HR 21-200s and two AM21s for OTA.

I read quite well Ace, and you just made an incorrect assumption.

I already did reset my AM21 software to search for the MIA KENS 5-1,
and still no KENS, therefore KENS TV is dead for me.

IMO, this is rather sad that the station's head Techie, has shut down
the OTA signal. Four months is a long time to shut out service.

Sure am glad it's on WOAI (NBC) and not on KENS5 (CBS).....

OK Jerry, as of Sunday I have absolutely no signal for 5-1??? I rescanned thanks to your earlier post and found a pixelating signal loosing spanish titled channel totally that was totally unwatchable and now nada?? what gives? Is it soooo difficult to boost the signal strength up another 3 or 4 units when the RCA 800B was running at 41/42 units?
We knew there would be issues with our interim channel change but we did not anticipate the oddball problems with various kinds of tuners. The RCA DAT800 "forgets" where KENS 5-1 is associated when you turn it off. Set the power save to "off" and at least until February, try not to turn it off. RCA is aware of issues with the DTA800 and will entertain consumer calls at 800-506-5746. You might get a new box. As to the poor signal, there is no more we can do. We are not on our own transmitter but the one owned by Univision until February, radiating approximately 325KW.

For three years I've been receiving channel 5-1 and 5-2 in Boerne, Tx.
actually just North of Bergheim in beautiful OTA HD.
About two weeks ago the signal was completely gone...How do you guys just up and disappear?
I have D with two HR 21-200s and two AM21s for OTA.
I read in a post earlier that one member had to rescan and reboot his receivers more than once before they would recognize KENS in its new location.

As I have written before, this is related to the unusual situation we find ourselves in. It is only temporary. I will make certain your post is read by members of the KENS management team at the highest level.

...IMO, this is rather sad that the station's head Techie, has shut down the OTA signal. Four months is a long time to shut out service.
Bobemac, I know you're upset and you're in good company here. We did not shut down KENS. KENS moved to its new, final DTV channel. There are unexpected issues that have resulted from that move and we are working on them. I am certain you realize that the station's "head techie" did not make an arbitrary, unilateral decision to shut off service. It would be illegal to do that in any case.

In my previous post I wrote that it may be necessary for you to rescan your receivers and reboot them more than once. Keep trying. Are you aware that you will need to do this again in February, to receive the rest of the local stations that will move to their final DTV allocation on the 18th?

Consider this November experience with KENS as a mini-dress rehearsal for February. The lessons we learned will benefit all San Antonio broadcasters and viewers alike. I personally apologize for the inconvenience this has caused to San Antonio viewers.

Jerry,
Usually on the KENS/CBS Prime...typically I see the signal run from 15-18Mbps, last night was really low at 11...Is this part of the conversion you've mentioned in other posts?
Chris,
The short answer is yes. As you may have read, we are sharing the channel with two SD stations until February. We are using the best statistical multiplex solution available to serve everyone's requirements, but as you can see it isn't always the best solution for HD. Come February the bitrate budget will be less draconian, allowing for better HD service overall and acceptable SD quality on our multicast channels.

I think Jerry has been very helpful during this transition. How lucky are we to have an engineer even check in every now and again to this website to keep us informed? I don't think he's required to do it.

I'm just curious what kind of antenna people are using for their digital signal. I live in Lockhart. I have an OTA outdoor antenna mounted in my attic and can pick up Austin and San Antonio (including KENS 5) digital channels. My signal for KENS has dropped a little since the switch to 39 but I can still tune in without problems.

We knew there would be issues with our interim channel change but we did not anticipate the oddball problems with various kinds of tuners. The RCA DAT800 "forgets" where KENS 5-1 is associated when you turn it off. Set the power save to "off" and at least until February, try not to turn it off. RCA is aware of issues with the DTA800 and will entertain consumer calls at 800-506-5746. You might get a new box. As to the poor signal, there is no more we can do. We are not on our own transmitter but the one owned by Univision until February, radiating approximately 325KW.
Just wanted to let you know, there should be quite a few of us that have no difficulty getting KENS; I'm 28 miles away on the Northwest side and have a Terk HDTVa going straight to my SONY Hdtv.

Scotty 44

Jerry,

Thanks very much for getting the TV Guide back up & running.

Chuck K.

Chris,
The short answer is yes. As you may have read, we are sharing the channel with two SD stations until February. We are using the best statistical multiplex solution available to serve everyone's requirements, but as you can see it isn't always the best solution for HD. Come February the bitrate budget will be less draconian, allowing for better HD service overall and acceptable SD quality on our multicast channels.

Jerry,
In spite of everything, the Spurs broadcast last night was top-notch quality on my 61" DLP. Received OTA, of course.

Sherrill

Chris,

I use BeyondTV to watch and record KENS. I did a work order with them to correct their channel Guide. They say they aren't getting a response from your station. Do you have an email address or something I can forward to them.

BeyondTV = www.snapstream.com
Support email = tsupport@snapstream.com
My work order = IMC-295948

By the way this is great product if you want to build your own DVR.

Thanks

Chris,

I use BeyondTV to watch and record KENS...They say they aren't getting a response from your station...

Whom are they contacting at KENS? My email is jpaonessa@kens5.com.

blahbbs ,

As far as not getting a signal, what are you using for an antenna? In DTV, good reception is all about your antenna. For most people living north of downtown and in apartment buildings, rabbit-ears won't cut it but there are many good antennas that will work in adverse settings.

I live in Universal City and use a Channel Master CM4228 UHF antenna, with no pre-amp. It's mounted about "only" about 10 feet off the ground. Perhaps the signal will improve as some nearby foliage drops... Antennaweb.org says that 12-1, 4-1, and 5-1 are in the same direction from my house, but I get 12-1 and 4-1 just great. I suspect that once 5-1 goes back to full power, all will be well.

Jerry, many thanks for hanging out here and tending to "whiners" like me. I appreciate the help and information!:D

I just found this forum and noted some discussion last year on this thread about WOAI and their HD signal on DISH. Does anyone have an update on when, IF EVER, WOAI and DISH will come to some agreement and carry WOAI in HD? As a DISH subscriber I really hate that I had to watch the Cowboys game last Sunday on a HORRIBLE standard signal.

Thanks

Ken Roberts
System Administrator
Perot Systems Govt Services

Bobemac, I know you're upset and you're in good company here. We did not shut down KENS. KENS moved to its new, final DTV channel. There are unexpected issues that have resulted from that move and we are working on them. I am certain you realize that the station's "head techie" did not make an arbitrary, unilateral decision to shut off service. It would be illegal to do that in any case.

In my previous post I wrote that it may be necessary for you to rescan your receivers and reboot them more than once. Keep trying. Are you aware that you will need to do this again in February, to receive the rest of the local stations that will move to their final DTV allocation on the 18th?

Consider this November experience with KENS as a mini-dress rehearsal for February. The lessons we learned will benefit all San Antonio broadcasters and viewers alike. I personally apologize for the inconvenience this has caused to San Antonio viewers.

Jerry, I've just got off the phone with Randy Johnson from your office.
I've already rescanned and did a soft reboot. I get channels 41-1 and 41-2
which are multiplexed with 5-1 at a signal strength of 97.

I'm going to do a hard reboot, after another rescan, and maybe
little KENS will reappear.

Thanks for your assist. It has been tough not getting one of my favorite
channels.

I just finished three hard reboots, and three channel resets.
KENS channel 5-1 does not show up.
Evidently the multiplexed signal that they are sending 41.1 and 41.2
masks 5-1 from my AM21 OTA receiver.

Do you have any suggestions Jerry?

Bobemac,

As you no doubt have read in earlier posts from me and from sfmartin, you are already doing the only thing that resembles a procedure that works. One thing Randy Johnson and I discussed this morning that might work for you is to unplug your receivers overnight and rescan again when you plug 'em in and wake 'em up in the morning.

Since I spoke with Randy I did another unplug, then a reset for OTA.

Still no 5-1.

I sent an email to Direct TV concerning the capabilities of the AM 21
to separate multiplexed signals.

Do you know anything about the AM 21 Jerry?

It seems a lot more sensitive, and more feature rich than the

previous 10-250 box.

Since I spoke with Randy I did another unplug, then a reset for OTA...Still no 5-1...Do you know anything about the AM 21 Jerry?

Sorry, bobemac, I don't know a thing about it. But based on my experience with similar devices, and on the experiences of others posted in this thread, I stand by my overnight power disconnect before another rescan.

Frankly I doubt that DirecTV will have an answer for you, but it is worth asking the question.

Where I live, there's a station doing something similar to KENS right now, except that they're multiplexing across three major channels instead of two. Digital 40 here maps to 16-1, 19-1, 19-2, 27-1, and 27-2. I've heard the D* and E* boxes will not work with that signal either.

I don't know why so many boxes seem to choke on streams with multiple major channel numbers; it doesn't seem like it should be that hard to process.

- Trip

Where I live, there's a station doing something similar to KENS right now, except that they're multiplexing across three major channels instead of two. Digital 40 here maps to 16-1, 19-1, 19-2, 27-1, and 27-2. I've heard the D* and E* boxes will not work with that signal either.

I don't know why so many boxes seem to choke on streams with multiple major channel numbers; it doesn't seem like it should be that hard to process.

- Trip

Thanks Trip.
It is frustrating that neither Direct TV nor Belo/KENS have done anything to work together to ensure that their Television signal is compatible with
their viewing customers going forward.

I just found this forum and noted some discussion last year on this thread about WOAI and their HD signal on DISH. Does anyone have an update on when, IF EVER, WOAI and DISH will come to some agreement and carry WOAI in HD?

I sent an email to their ownership group (Newport TV) back in June, and I got a reply saying they were in negotiations with Dish at that time. I just tried looking through my archived mail to find the exchange but no luck.

Thanks Trip.
It is frustrating that neither Direct TV nor Belo/KENS have done anything to work together to ensure that their Television signal is compatible with
their viewing customers going forward.

Sadly, this isn't KENS-DT's fault. From what I'm told, the folks up there fought with Dish and/or DirecTV (can't remember which) and was basically told they either couldn't or wouldn't do anything about it. Don't quote me on that though.

Basically, they were told that since it's temporary, they wouldn't fix it. Even though they should.

- Trip

[QUOTE=Trip in VA;15100852]Sadly, this isn't KENS-DT's fault. From what I'm told, the folks up there fought with Dish and/or DirecTV (can't remember which) and was basically told they either couldn't or wouldn't do anything about it. Don't quote me on that though.

Basically, they were told that since it's temporary, they wouldn't fix it. Even though they should.

My concern; this problem may not be a temporary one. I believe that
this multiplexing signal is a permanent situation for KENS, and that they
are simply ahead of the February 18th 2009 date.

It's not multiplexing that's the problem, it's having two major channel numbers (5-1 and 41-1) that freaks it out.

- Trip

We knew there would be issues with our interim channel change but we did not anticipate the oddball problems with various kinds of tuners. The RCA DAT800 "forgets" where KENS 5-1 is associated when you turn it off. Set the power save to "off" and at least until February, try not to turn it off. RCA is aware of issues with the DTA800 and will entertain consumer calls at 800-506-5746. You might get a new box. As to the poor signal, there is no more we can do. We are not on our own transmitter but the one owned by Univision until February, radiating approximately 325KW.

Jerry, thanks (again), I will try this on my RCA box. I suspect RCA will say something like, "if it works on all other channels (and it does) it's not the box, the box is performing as designed". Are there similar issues with the Philco TB100HH9 (or any other) converter? You mean to tell me that all other channels (4,12,29,35) will be going through this goat rope sometime between now and Feb? Plz explain again exactly what was gained by moving off #55 where the signal was reliable to #39 where the signal is crap or nonexistent? If it wasn't broken (#55), why'd ya'all fix it (#39)? As I've said before, your presence in this forum is appreciated!

Qualcomm owns the nationwide rights to channel 55 after the transition, and has been paying off stations with analogs on 55 to go digital-only early, and stations with digitals on 55 to find interim channels. You'll find similar complaints to these in Philadelphia and San Diego, where full-powered digitals on channel 55 have been relocated to low-powered status on different channels. In this case, KENS ended up on a channel with lots of power and a decent signal, but is sharing their channel with Univision and thus has its own set of issues.

- Trip

...I believe that this multiplexing signal is a permanent situation for KENS, and that they are simply ahead of the February 18th 2009 date.

Not so, bobemac. On February 18, 2009, only KENS will occupy DTV 39 and we will radiate enough power to cover the area we did with DTV 55. The mux solution with Univision and Telefutura is temporary - as I believe I have explained - and will end on February 17. True enough, though; we are ahead of schedule for our migration to DTV 39 but not because we will continue the status quo.

Trip in VA has clearly explained the DTV 55 situation and the problems seen in other markets with DirecTV and Echostar tuners. I sure appreciate his stepping in (Thanks, Trip!) to help set the record straight. And by the way, the majority of viewers in the San Antonio area actually had no problem receiving KENS in the current configuration, once they did an automatic channel scan with their receivers or set-top boxes. Problem areas are specific and limited to certain converter boxes, tuners and Windows Media Center machines.

We could not have anticipated all the unique and exotic problems that arose because of our venture, but we really are trying to find solutions to them all. I do hope an overnight power off and rescan will help your situation.

...Are there similar issues with the Philco TB100HH9 (or any other) converter?
Only heard of the problem with the RCA and Coship box, and a couple of undefined computer tuner cards (owner did not disclose maker of gear.) The Philco and Magnavox came out of the same Funai sweat shop in China, so it is possible they may behave in a similar manner - but I have not seen any reports.

...You mean to tell me that all other channels (4,12,29,35) will be going through this goat rope sometime between now and Feb?
Many of the remaining channels will change from their interim DTV operating channel to their final one, true, but not until February as far as I know. KABB and KMYS already are on their final channels and will not move again. WOAI and KSAT will move, as will KLRN, KWEX and KNIC.
Yes, everyone in the country will need to re-scan converter boxes on February 18 to find these relocated stations, but very few if any in the country will be multiplexing different stations and channel numbers as we are now. Here in San Antonio I do not expect to see different channels multiplexed together again except in case of an emergency situation. I don't think any of us would want to do this routinely with existing technology.

Realthogue:

Glad to help you out. I like having engineers around on AVS Forum and keep in touch with a number of them, so I do what I can to help take some of the heat off. =)

Have you thought about maybe modifying the mapping to get around this problem in the short term? You could do this:

5-1 CBS
5-17 TeleFutura
5-41 Univision

That would reflect the channel numbers of the analogs while using only one major channel number. It would stop the boxes from freaking out at the very least.

There may be contractual issues preventing it, but it's worth suggesting. While you shouldn't have to work around such things, it might make your viewers happier until 02/17/09.

- Trip

Not so, bobemac. On February 18, 2009, only KENS will occupy DTV 39 and we will radiate enough power to cover the area we did with DTV 55. The mux solution with Univision and Telefutura is temporary - as I believe I have explained - and will end on February 17. True enough, though; we are ahead of schedule for our migration to DTV 39 but not because we will continue the status quo.

Trip in VA has clearly explained the DTV 55 situation and the problems seen in other markets with DirecTV and Echostar tuners. I sure appreciate his stepping in (Thanks, Trip!) to help set the record straight. And by the way, the majority of viewers in the San Antonio area actually had no problem receiving KENS in the current configuration, once they did an automatic channel scan with their receivers or set-top boxes. Problem areas are specific and limited to certain converter boxes, tuners and Windows Media Center machines.

We could not have anticipated all the unique and exotic problems that arose because of our venture, but we really are trying to find solutions to them all. I do hope an overnight power off and rescan will help your situation.
Jerry,
I have a tivo HD tuner. A rescan picked up the new channel immediately but the tv
guide still shows "to be announced" which basically says there is no data. Can this
be fixed? I've done a re-scan and downloaded new listings from tivo but still nothing
on the guide. Do you know what the problem is?

Thanks,
Russ

Bobemac,

I have a Directv HR20-700 receiver and it did pick up 5-1 after a couple of rescans and a hard boot in which the receiver was unplugged for at least 20 minutes. I am unfamiliar with the AM21 scan procedure, but if it's like the HR20 perhaps you might try rescanning using an Austin zip as your primary market. Then after a hard boot, rescan with a San Antonio zip.

Realthogue,

I have an RCA converter box DTA809 and have had it off and unplugged a few times and it remembers where 5-1 is. The only error is the 5-1 program guide is in Spanish.

I just found this forum and noted some discussion last year on this thread about WOAI and their HD signal on DISH. Does anyone have an update on when, IF EVER, WOAI and DISH will come to some agreement and carry WOAI in HD? As a DISH subscriber I really hate that I had to watch the Cowboys game last Sunday on a HORRIBLE standard signal.

Thanks

Ken Roberts
System Administrator
Perot Systems Govt Services

I ran into the same problem earlier in the football season. I went to Radio Shack and purchased an indoor OTA antenna for $16 and plugged it into my ViP612 receiver. Now I get WOAI in HD (along with KENS, KLRN, KABB, etc.). Go to www.antennaweb.org to determine the best OTA antenna for your location. I can also record three channels at once provided one is an OTA channel, so that's an added bonus.

Bobemac,

I have a Directv HR20-700 receiver and it did pick up 5-1 after a couple of rescans and a hard boot in which the receiver was unplugged for at least 20 minutes. I am unfamiliar with the AM21 scan procedure, but if it's like the HR20 perhaps you might try rescanning using an Austin zip as your primary market. Then after a hard boot, rescan with a San Antonio zip.

You of course know that I'm using a D HR21-700, with the Direct TV jerryrigged AM 21. So we are not using comparable equipment.

Your HR20 has the OTA receiver built in.

[QUOTE=Realthogue;15102291]Not so, bobemac. On February 18, 2009, only KENS will occupy DTV 39 and we will radiate enough power to cover the area we did with DTV 55. The mux solution with Univision and Telefutura is temporary - as I believe I have explained - and will end on February 17. True enough, though; we are ahead of schedule for our migration to DTV 39 but not because we will continue the status quo.

Trip in VA has clearly explained the DTV 55 situation and the problems seen in other markets with DirecTV and Echostar tuners. I sure appreciate his stepping in (Thanks, Trip!) to help set the record straight. And by the way, the majority of viewers in the San Antonio area actually had no problem receiving KENS in the current configuration, once they did an automatic channel scan with their receivers or set-top boxes. Problem areas are specific and limited to certain converter boxes, tuners and Windows Media Center machines.

We could not have anticipated all the unique and exotic problems that arose because of our venture, but we really are trying to find solutions to them all. I do hope an overnight power off and rescan will help your situation.

The plot thickens, and maybe some light at the end of the tunnel.
I received this information from one of the DBS TV posters:

The problem is that D* AM21 receivers don't scan for OTA channels, so they're always behind the curve when things change. They pull the data from Zap2it.com (Tribune Media Services). I suspect Zap2it hasn't updated their guide to reflect this change.

It's a bad engineering decision by D*not to include the channel scan, but it is what it is. Again, E* is doing MUCH better with the OTA receive than D*, but hey, D* could probably care less. They've shown this by making a receiver that needs an add-on accessory for OTA and one without a channel scan. I think the only reason they made the add-on is because so many people complained. They did the minimum to pacify the consumer.

You need to post your observation at http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=134005 the D* OTA thread. Note which channels should come in. Zap2it checks that thread once in a while. You can also call Zap2it to tell them of this issue.

But, I have up to 8 multiplexed channels (WMVT=8, WCIU=4) on my HR-20 and H-20 that come in just fine. I think it's a channel mapping issue, not a receiver issue, per se.
Last edited by aa9vi : Today at 09:27 AM.

Jerry,
I have a tivo HD tuner. A rescan picked up the new channel immediately but the tv
guide still shows "to be announced" which basically says there is no data. Can this
be fixed? ... Do you know what the problem is?

Thanks,
Russ

Russ,
That phenomenon sounds like the RCA DTA-800 quirk of associating the first program's guide info to the lowest virtual channel number it sees. Odds are your Tivo will never find the correct guide info unless we do a major change to the program organization as suggested by Trip in VA.

On the bright side you can at least receive KENS now.

Chris,

The KENS BeyondTV guide has been updated to reflect your move to channel 39. I'm back watching CBS HDTV in all it's glory.

Thanks for your assistance.

Good news KENS 5-1 is up and running for me.

I would imagine that emails to Direct TV and Zap2it resulted in a mapping update.

I can see this will get interesting on February 18, 2009.

Qualcomm owns the nationwide rights to channel 55 after the transition Trip[/QUOTE]

How can a company "buy" the rights to a TV channel?

Chuck

Channels 52-69 are being removed from television service after 02/17/09. Some of the channels in the 60-69 range are being used for public safety, while most of the rest of the channels on 52-69 have been auctioned off to cell phone companies to build out new Internet-related services on them.

Verizon and AT&T purchased licenses for large pieces of the vacated spectrum, Qualcomm owns a nationwide license for channel 55 as far as I know, and there are other regional groups who won other licenses.

- Trip

Bobemac, I know you're upset and you're in good company here. We did not shut down KENS. KENS moved to its new, final DTV channel. There are unexpected issues that have resulted from that move and we are working on them. I am certain you realize that the station's "head techie" did not make an arbitrary, unilateral decision to shut off service. It would be illegal to do that in any case.

In my previous post I wrote that it may be necessary for you to rescan your receivers and reboot them more than once. Keep trying. Are you aware that you will need to do this again in February, to receive the rest of the local stations that will move to their final DTV allocation on the 18th?

Consider this November experience with KENS as a mini-dress rehearsal for February. The lessons we learned will benefit all San Antonio broadcasters and viewers alike. I personally apologize for the inconvenience this has caused to San Antonio viewers.
Jerry,
I have a HUMAXF100 digital tuner which lost Channel 5-1 reception after KENS switched to the multiplexed Channel 41. I'm yet to do a hard reboot after an overnight kill of the box. If it still doesn't work I have three alternatives: a) call HUMAX for a possible firmware update or advise (not too optimistic on this one); b) get rid of the tuner box and buy a new HDTV with built-in ATSC tuner (my other TV with built-in ATSC switched and capture the new KENS channel after one scan); or c) wait till February when KENS switches to DTV 39.
I'd like option C but before I let Black Friday's discounted purchase opportunity pass me by could you please clarify how the final KENS channel assignment in February will fully restore Channel 5-1 to its full cap without the disappearing act caused by multiplexing? Thank you for your response.

We knew there would be issues with our interim channel change but we did not anticipate the oddball problems with various kinds of tuners. The RCA DAT800 "forgets" where KENS 5-1 is associated when you turn it off. Set the power save to "off" and at least until February, try not to turn it off. RCA is aware of issues with the DTA800 and will entertain consumer calls at 800-506-5746. You might get a new box. As to the poor signal, there is no more we can do. We are not on our own transmitter but the one owned by Univision until February, radiating approximately 325KW.

Jerry, the power save was already set to "off". I left it powered on, still heavy pixelating, no signal. I rescanned several times, all the the other channels came back no problem, except for KENS. Channel 5/41-1 or 41-2 does not exist to the RCA box. When I enter "5" manually the box doesn't even give me "no signal" it just jumps back to the the original channel. It doesn't pickup 41-1 or 41-2 either, but at least I get a "no signal"? I've contacted RCA (thanks for the number) but their argument is (as I suspected) it works on 4,12,23,29,35 (just not on 5 or 9) so how can it be the box? I will try the power off all night trick to hopefully reset it, gut feeling is it won't....BTW happy Thanksgiving!
FYI - antennaweb.org still shows CBS being on a seperate tranmitter than 41.
FWIW - I also receive 23-1, 23-2, 23-3, 23-4, 23-5, 4-1, 4-2, 12-1, 12-2 multilplexed channels w/o issue, I agree it doesn't appear to be a multiplexing issue, nor a converter box issue, it looks more like a transmit issue..

Jerry,
I have a HUMAXF100 digital tuner which lost Channel 5-1 reception after KENS switched to the multiplexed Channel 41... could you please clarify how the final KENS channel assignment in February will fully restore Channel 5-1 to its full cap without the disappearing act caused by multiplexing?

Vergel, I was not able to find any data on your Humax F100. Are you saying that it cannot find KENS during an automatic scan for channels?

One lesson we have learned from being the first ones to do this in our market is that manufacturers take many short cuts to get their products to market - and they are not consistent about what those short cuts are.

Try the rescan and reboot, and scan again after reboot if your box still does not find KENS. The vast majority of tuners and boxes find KENS, KWEX and KNIC (5-1, 41-1, 41-2) with no trouble at all.

On the night of February 17, KENS will realign all services under DTV 39 in a way that all tuners will recognize the stations and their PSIP. What we are doing with Univision and Telefutura is unusual and innovative - and not all tuners are agile enough to capture the differences. What we are doing now will not be repeated by KENS after February 17, 2009.

Jerry, the power save was already set to "off". I left it powered on, still heavy pixelating, no signal. I rescanned several times, all the the other channels came back no problem, except for KENS. Channel 5/41-1 or 41-2 does not exist to the RCA box.
This symptom sounds more like a weak signal received on DTV 39. What is your antenna situation?
When I enter "5" manually the box doesn't even give me "no signal" it just jumps back to the the original channel.
The RCA box will not re-map to channel 5 simply by keying in "5." That tuner requires an automatic channel scan to map its channels.
It doesn't pickup 41-1 or 41-2 either, but at least I get a "no signal"?
Which is what suggests to me you are getting a weak signal from your antenna.
I've contacted RCA (thanks for the number) but their argument is (as I suspected) it works on 4,12,23,29,35 (just not on 5 or 9) so how can it be the box?"?
RCA has told us they are actually investigating the problem, but who knows. It will be a moot point in 85 days, as I write this.
FYI - antennaweb.org still shows CBS being on a seperate tranmitter than 41.
Antennaweb.org is operated by the Consumer Electronics Association, and may not be keeping a close tab on the FCC database - which itself may not be completely up to date!
FWIW - I also receive 23-1, 23-2, 23-3, 23-4, 23-5, 4-1, 4-2, 12-1, 12-2 multilplexed channels w/o issue, I agree it doesn't appear to be a multiplexing issue, nor a converter box issue, it looks more like a transmit issue..
The multiplexed signals you cite from 4, 12 and 23 are very different from the 5/41 multiplex we are producing, as different as apples and pomegranates. It is not a fair comparison because all the mux channels of each of those stations are delivered on the owning station's major analog channel number (4 for instance) with an assigned multicast number (-1 for the main service) for each of the program services. We are producing two multiplexed services on a third multiplex using two major channel numbers (5, 41) with different multicast numbers (5-1, 41-1, 41-2.) Since our signals are received successfully by the majority of tuning devices, we believe only a few flawed boxes resist tuning in the multiplex correctly. Further, most boxes will refuse to tune a station in the presence of a weak signal no matter how well that box performs with a good signal.

On a side note, I own one of the first RCA DTA-800 boxes sold by Wal-Mart here in San Antonio. I use it in a variety of demonstrations at home (with an omnidirectional antenna, signal strength 53), at KENS and at other venues here in town. It finds KENS every time, often with cheap amplified "rabbit ears" that have a UHF loop. It is not the best converter box you could buy, but at the moment it has only one fault - the KENS guide info is in espanol and belongs to KWEX. And that problem is self-correcting in 85 days.

Feelin' kinda dumb here.... I was looking at my antenna this past weekend and thinking that it was probably pointed a little too close to 180 degrees, so I rotated it a little to the east and BAM! KENS 5-1 comes in at about 75%. All my other channels are nice and strong. After a rescan, all my tuners are happy now. So when all else fails...aim your antenna properly. :o

..of course, I still don't have a program guide on my TiVo HD....

Vergel, I was not able to find any data on your Humax F100. Are you saying that it cannot find KENS during an automatic scan for channels?

One lesson we have learned from being the first ones to do this in our market is that manufacturers take many short cuts to get their products to market - and they are not consistent about what those short cuts are.

Try the rescan and reboot, and scan again after reboot if your box still does not find KENS. The vast majority of tuners and boxes find KENS, KWEX and KNIC (5-1, 41-1, 41-2) with no trouble at all.

On the night of February 17, KENS will realign all services under DTV 39 in a way that all tuners will recognize the stations and their PSIP. What we are doing with Univision and Telefutura is unusual and innovative - and not all tuners are agile enough to capture the differences. What we are doing now will not be repeated by KENS after February 17, 2009.
Jerry, thank you for the prompt response. Actually the overnight kill you suggested worked, but for some reason I had to disconnect both the main power plug and the coax antenna source; after that and a full scan the STB finally found KENS. Thank you so much and have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Vergel C. (:>)

Anyone have a fix for VMC? It'd be cool to record my shows on finals week, and I can't seem to find a fix.

This symptom sounds more like a weak signal received on DTV 39. What is your antenna situation?

Can't tell you the name or number of elements on my OTA, but its long ranged with many elements, I suspect it's 60-70 mile range. It's connected to a TRU Spec model TA25 amplifier to a TRU spec combiner (even tho this only has 1 coax in (OTA) and one coax out connected) to a 4-way splitter in which 3 ports are used, 1 is empty/unused. Port1 to a stereo tuner, one to the RCA box in my L/R and one to the PHILCO box in my B/R.

On a side note, I own one of the first RCA DTA-800 boxes sold by Wal-Mart here in San Antonio. I use it in a variety of demonstrations at home (with an omnidirectional antenna, signal strength 53), at KENS and at other venues here in town. It finds KENS every time, often with cheap amplified "rabbit ears" that have a UHF loop. It is not the best converter box you could buy, but at the moment it has only one fault - the KENS guide info is in espanol and belongs to KWEX. And that problem is self-correcting in 85 day.

It appears anyone in the 25 mi radius of the SE towers doesn't have any problems. The problems exist for those of us in the outlying areas to the N-NW that rely on the San Antonio feeds. According to antennasweb I'm about 42-46 miles from any/all channels, yet the only one I can't seem to get (anymore) is KENS5 (after it was moved). I was able to get it just fine before it was moved (signal strength 45-46 on RCA box). Then it went pixel nuts and would drop signal incessently (signal strength 41-42, 0). Now the signal has dropped altogether. (0 on the the RCA and isn't listed after scanning) the only variable here is that it was moved. Yes, I know, it's only until February 09'. Question: have the viewing numbers declined since it was moved (maybe they can't get the channel!)? Did you watch the TEN/DET game Thanksgiving day (or any other football games on KENS on Sunday? I couldn't/can't...I have unplugged and rescanned NLT 20 times. I will try to unplug and disconnect coax overnite. If it was an antenna alignment issue, it would seem that I would have problems with the other channels not just KENS, at minimum some pixelating....and yet I continue to pull them in w/o issue.....

FYI - I contacted Andrew Davis at RCA who supposedly contacted KENS5 last week. I mentioned your 1st name (hope ya don't mind) and have yet to hear from him. I will follow up next week

Prometheis,

You appear to have a decent antenna. You appear to be doing all the right things. Since you live in the Pipe Creek area, you could be among the viewers in outlying areas that may have spotty reception on KENS-DT until February. I regret that, but there is nothing I can do about it. Our lawyers directed us to run an on-screen crawl during the weeks leading up to November 1. That was an attempt to warn viewers that this (weaker signal in outlying areas) might happen, but I am certain that not many people saw it, paid attention to it or understood it. It is possible that our signal is not the best it could be in your area. The only way I can determine that is to survey the area with instrumentation.

As to viewing numbers, we have no way to measure that statistic for DTV at this time.

As to "Andrew Davis" at RCA, we initiated two calls with him - and have never enjoyed a return call. It is not likely that we will.

We recognize that the present DTV39 transmitter is not as powerful as our DTV55 transmitter was; we recognize that this fact may upset some viewers. The present arrangement is a temporary accommodation at best, and will end on February 17, 2009.

Well, I have done a complete reinstall of my OS on a blank harddrive, I know my WinTV-HVR 950Q can tune into KENS using WinTV, but not using media center. The problem I believe is on Microsofts side. They have hard coded KENS5 to be on the old channel. When KENS5 switched to the multiplexed signal, Microsoft has not updated the guide to use the new channel. There has to be a registry hack, or something. Anyone have any ideas?

Well, I have done a complete reinstall of my OS on a blank harddrive, I know my WinTV-HVR 950Q can tune into KENS using WinTV, but not using media center. The problem I believe is on Microsofts side. They have hard coded KENS5 to be on the old channel. When KENS5 switched to the multiplexed signal, Microsoft has not updated the guide to use the new channel. There has to be a registry hack, or something. Anyone have any ideas?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=13373004&postcount=4855
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=13393009&postcount=5813

I don't know if that'll help or not...

- Trip

Good Job, and thanks, Trip.

Sure glad you've checked this out before.

I don't know if it'll help out or not. I know it helps with some Media Center channel number errors. A few months back Microsoft rolled out guide changes that moved stations to their post-transition channel numbers, and those two links contain the hack to get around that bit of stupidity. I'm not sure that it will help here, but it's worth a try.

- Trip

I don't know if it'll help out or not. I know it helps with some Media Center channel number errors. A few months back Microsoft rolled out guide changes that moved stations to their post-transition channel numbers, and those two links contain the hack to get around that bit of stupidity. I'm not sure that it will help here, but it's worth a try.

- Trip

I just spent 45 minutes tweaking it and what not, it doesn't appear to work.

I was using

<channel callsign="KENS-DT" version="0" physical="39" major="5" />

I even edited the main channel listening, just came back no signal.

Maybe I did it wrong, I don't know. Thanks for the effort though man, much appreciated.

I appreciate the direction, however neither solution solved the problem. Are you using Vista? I found both files edited each accordingly, and still no signal. There has to be another place that this information is being stored on my computer. The ATSCChannel file did show the incorrect physical channel. I switched it to 39, saved, rebooted and it did not work. The line that KENS was on was the last in the file of available channels. I moved the line above the other channel(41) sharing physical channel 39 thinking maybe that would help. Nope. Then I removed both lines for channel 41 and 5, saved, and manually added Channel 5 using media center. It created the new file, but still no signal. Help!

[QUOTE=Realthogue;15102291] Problem areas are specific and limited to certain converter boxes, tuners and Windows Media Center machines.

We could not have anticipated all the unique and exotic problems that arose because of our venture, but we really are trying to find solutions to them all. [QUOTE]

Do you have a solution for Windows Media Center machines? I was literally days from disconnecting from DISH but I enjoy the KENS5 local programming. CBS.com has most of the nat'l shows but I'd like to be able to get local info.

Could you provide an ETA on a WMC fix? I'm about ready to cancel DISH and look elsewhere for local programming. If we're a week or 2 out, I'll just wait. If it is indefinite, I'll just find a 2nd choice for local info and get the national programs online.

Thank you.

Chad,

KENS is not working on a fix. I am not aware of a simple solution to this problem. We know the problem is self-correcting in 71 days. I know that is not the answer you wanted to see, but in view of the priorities we face at the TV station level, it is all I can offer today.

Back when TWC didn't have FoxHD I used a pair of rabbit ears to pick it up. I compared the picture quality of KENS and KSAT using my OTA antenna with what I was getting from TWC. It was pretty hard to tell them apart. Once TWC added FoxHD, I put my rabbit ears in the attic.

Recently, TWC has added a considerable number of new HD channels. MGM HD being one. While I won't rule out my lying eyes deceiving me, it appears that the HD picture quality on TWC has declined. When I compared The Wild Bunch on HD Net Movies months ago, to a Blue Ray, the picture from TWC held up quite well. Now when I compare a Blue Ray to something on HD Net Movies the Blue Ray is clearly better. The football games on KENSHD used to look breathtaking, now they simply look very good.

I can't decide if I gotten so used to HD that the "wow" factor has simply passed. Maybe I'm just seeing things, who knows. While I'm going to dust off my rabbit ears and compare OTA to TWC again, I was wondering if anyone else has an opinion on this. I'm worried that TWC has added so much HD programing that they have sacrificed picture quality in order to deal with bandwith issues.

KENS HD quality has slipped a wee bit on TWC, but I think this is more because of their temporary situation if I comprehend this correctly.

I dropped TWC earlier this year in favor of OTA as they have been re-compressing the signal to such a point that I was getting large blocky artifacts. The difference between
what twc has and ota is like the diff between night and day. They have been trying to
stuff more hd channels down the cable and they don't have the bandwidth. Now I have
pristine hd signals at 100% error free using a $40 uhf antenna mounted about 10 feet
off the ground AND I save the monthly twc fee's. Since I only watch the major networks, this works great for me.
Did out the old rabbit ears and do the comparison, twc has gotten REALLY BAD (not to mention expensive too).

I'm just getting 30-50% signal on 4-1 tonight. Usually 85% or above. Anybody else getting low signal strength? Other locals look normal.

My bad. The rotator was out of sync. :o

I just noticed that my KENS 5-1 signal is really low this morning (15-30%). I checked 41-1 and it, too, is unusually low. My antenna looks fine, but I'll check it later today.

Anyone have any insight as to what's going on with KSAT HD on TWC? I haven't had a chance to compare it to OTA, but it's been really choppy lately. No artifacts, just looks like it's trying to buffer over a broadband connection....very jittery lately. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

i agree i have seen this happing for the last month, did know if it my unit or tv
glad to see someone else notice it to.

WOAI announced today (http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/New-in-2008-Watch-the-Mexicanal-Network-on-4-WOAI/) that on 1/1/09, they're going to start broadcasting the Mexicanal network on 4.2.

"Mexicanal is a Mexico-based channel targeting which features a dynamic range of Spanish-language content encompassing news, culturally significant programs, sports and popular entertainment from public broadcasters, independent producers and local access stations throughout Mexico."

NBC Weather Plus, currently on WOAI's 4.2, is shutting down (http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/10/nbc_shutting_down_weather_plus.php) at the end of 2008.

Anyone have any insight as to what's going on with KSAT HD on TWC? I haven't had a chance to compare it to OTA, but it's been really choppy lately. No artifacts, just looks like it's trying to buffer over a broadband connection....very jittery lately. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

It's been this way for awhile, and its really a shame. I don't know if it is any better OTA or not. But Pushing Daisies used to look fanstastic, and now not only does the resolution seem to be less, it is choppy. I don't see blocks, but motion isn't smooth. I saw the same thing with Life On Mars. I recorded all the Pushing Daisies episodes this past fall and have been watching them, and the picture quality is substantially degraded over what it was in the past. Do people watching KSAT OTA see the same thing?

Anyone heard anything about TWC finally adding Sci-Fi HD? Battlestar Galactica starts up again for its final run of episodes in mid-January, and I'm really hoping they will have it by then.

I was watching the Olympic Opening Ceremony re-play on WOAI tonight - and that darn ECHO/Reverb effect is back. VERY annoying!

It's been this way for awhile, and its really a shame. I don't know if it is any better OTA or not. But Pushing Daisies used to look fanstastic, and now not only does the resolution seem to be less, it is choppy. I don't see blocks, but motion isn't smooth. I saw the same thing with Life On Mars. I recorded all the Pushing Daisies episodes this past fall and have been watching them, and the picture quality is substantially degraded over what it was in the past. Do people watching KSAT OTA see the same thing?

I asked a similar question back in early November (post #3531). I watch KSAT OTA only. It's not any better. Never got a definitive answer. Someone just made the suggestion that KSAT was operating at lower power. I don't know the technical aspects of it but I didn't think low signal strength would affect picture quality. I still get signal strength at about 70%...well within the tolerance.

Is channel 35-1 now at a higher power. I can now get it it - wheras before I couldn't.

I watch KSAT OTA and I use to get it 100 percent now I only get it 70 percent. I have also noticed the poor quality of the picture. Ugly Better use to look great, now it looks out of speed. I haven't really noticed anything with Eli Stone.

Anyone know of a good antenna that will hook up to a satellite dish pole that will pick up UHF and VHF. I'm near 1604 and Bandera and need a new antenna before the Feb switch to the lower frequences.

Thanks.

IIRC, this past Sunday on KENS at the beginning of CBS Sunday Morning at 8:00 am, the screen displayed that the program was in HD, but we didn't receive it in HD. Did I recall that correctly and, if so, what's up?

Is there a reason why CBS uses such a large logo
( their CBS "eye" ) positioned almost in the middle of the bottom part of the screen ?

I have noticed that all the other major networks have small logos positioned in one of the screen corners.

For those of you who have Vista Media Center, I am told this is a good fix for the inability to capture KENS-DT at its new channel 39 home:

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/post/251356.aspx

Try that link and see how it works for you. My thanks for this info goes to Randall Petty, who was able to find the reference and use it to his satisfaction. The only caveat I can think of is to remember to substitute 39 for 52 in the script, and your VMC should find KENS once more.

Bookmark this link, because I suspect you'll need it again in February!

IIRC, this past Sunday on KENS at the beginning of CBS Sunday Morning at 8:00 am, the screen displayed that the program was in HD, but we didn't receive it in HD..?

Dan, I think what you saw was the brag in our Legal ID that says "Now in HD." Unfortunately the CBS Sunday Morning show is not yet produced in HD. CBS has not announced a date for debut of The Early Show or Sunday Morning in HD, but I speculate that you will see them roll out HD in February.

The reference in our bug is only that KENS local news is now in HD.

Sorry for the confusion.

Is there a reason why CBS uses such a large logo
( their CBS "eye" ) positioned almost in the middle of the bottom part of the screen ?

CBS decided a few months ago to use a single CBS "eye" to accommodate both the SD and HD networks. This permits Multiple-Service Operators (cable companies, Telcos, Satellite providers) an opportunity to take only a station's HD feed to deliver service to both HD and SD subscribers.

CBS soon will debut a single network to affiliates that delivers all programming on a HD-capable path. That is not to say all CBS programming will be all HD all the time. Standard Definition programming in 4X3 aspect will be around for a while longer. For affiliates this means only one network path instead of two. Presently we maintain a stack of SD receivers for the SD CBS TV network and a second stack of HD receivers for the HD CBS TV network. Moving the "eye" was the first step in consolidating all network feeds to a single path.

Viewed on a HD set in wide (16X9) aspect ratio the eye does look much closer to the middle than it used to on the HD side. But viewed on a SD set in 4X3 aspect, the eye is where it always has been in the Standard-Definition and analog TV world.

I can confirm that the VMC fix works. Thanks!

48 days until my RCA box is able to find CBS/KENS5. I trued my satellite signal stength, I unplugged my RCA box (and my coax antenna feed, thanks Verge) no luck.....however....

My Philips box in my bedroom will pick up KENS5...so I moved the box into the living room and replaced the RCA box.....no luck

The RCA box in the bedroom did not pick up CBS....

I installed my neighbors DATASTEAM box (in their house) and it picks up CBS/5 AND the PBS/9 (which neither of my RCA nor Philips receieved) station........are these boxes that different????????????

Happy New Year everybody (as I sit here at work....)!

48 days until my RCA box is able to find CBS/KENS5. ..My Philips box in my bedroom will pick up KENS5...so I moved the box into the living room and replaced the RCA box.....no luck

The RCA box in the bedroom did not pick up CBS....

I installed my neighbors DATASTEAM box (in their house) and it picks up CBS/5 AND the PBS/9 (which neither of my RCA nor Philips receieved) station........are these boxes that different????????????

As I have written before, you are in an area that will have what I describe as spotty reception at best until Feb. 18. You have discovered that not all Digital Converter Boxes are designed and built equally, which is unfortunate, but it leads me to questions I posed a while back - even though I think you did answer with quite a bit of detail. In reviewing something you wrote a while back, I noticed that you said, "...(your antenna is) connected to a TRU Spec model TA25 amplifier to a TRU spec combiner (even tho this only has 1 coax in (OTA) and one coax out connected) to a 4-way splitter in which 3 ports are used, 1 is empty/unused..."
Is that TRU-SPEC combiner really doing anything? and is the TA-25 antenna amplifier mounted on the mast, near the antenna? Is your four-way splitter an amplified model? At your distance from the transmitters, good amplification at the antenna is recommended, and splitting the signal multiple times also benefits from the use of an amplified splitter - even if the amplification is only unity, which is to say the output level is no less than the input level, but no stronger, either. If your combiner is just sitting in the RF path and doing nothing, I would replace it with an "F" bullet or simply bypass it by connecting the antenna lead directly to the input of your (hopefully amplified) four-way splitter.

Since you do get reception on a Philips box in your bedroom, this suggests to me that the signal strength out of your splitter may be just below the sensitivity threshold of the RCA. If it were me, I would try bypassing the combiner - which could be attenuating a weak signal to begin with - and buy an amplified splitter to try. This approach has worked for other viewers.

I am about to ditch my two cable cards from TWC. I am disgusted with the fact that I can't get most of the HD channels with the cards. I refuse to have a cable box for each TV.

Anyone else using cable cards? Thoughts? I thought there was supposed to be a new card coming that gave you two way communication.

I will still have a TWC DVR so anything important I want to see in HD I can get there.

All other HDTVs have QAM tuners so I get locals in HD. Also have an antenna and get locals with strong signals.

Anyone else using cable cards? Thoughts? I thought there was supposed to be a new card coming that gave you two way communication.
I was planning to get a TV with Cablecard support, but after reading the laundry list of issues with the technology in the Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CableCARD), decided against it. On paper, it makes a lot of sense. In practice, it was doomed to fail. I'm not convinced by the article that Cablecard 2.0 will be any better, and it's a long way off. I settle for HD on the channels available in ClearQAM.

If you only subscribe to TWC standard cable, ie not digital or the HD package, can you get the QAM Channels in HD? In other words, do the QAM HD local stations come through the cable no matter what package you have?

I may be going to slowly wean myself off of Cable. My TWC bill has gotten to be a bit much. It seems that there is an increase every couple of months.

If you only subscribe to TWC standard cable, ie not digital or the HD package, can you get the QAM Channels in HD? In other words, do the QAM HD local stations come through the cable no matter what package you have?

I may be going to slowly wean myself off of Cable. My TWC bill has gotten to be a bit much. It seems that there is an increase every couple of months.

My grandparents have the very basic cable, no digital and they get the QAM from TWC.

Also, I thought TWC was handing out adapter boxes for their cablecard customers, so they can get all of the HD channels?

Jerry,

During the New Year's Eve broadcast, there was a lot of bragging about the helicopter having an HD camera. The fireworks were supposedly supposed to look real good.

I'm not trying to be a fuddy-dud but the non-HD cameras on the ground looked a whole lot better. The HD camera looked blurry and with tons of running colors.

Were you having issues with the HD camera in the helicopter or does the camera just not do well in low light?

Jerry,

During the New Year's Eve broadcast, there was a lot of bragging about the helicopter having an HD camera. The fireworks were supposedly supposed to look real good...Were you having issues with the HD camera in the helicopter...?
Chris,
The camera is HD, all right. The microwave backhaul all the way to the KENS studio is not. Remember how we have had to piecemeal our project a little bit at a time from the beginning? While it would have been ideal to debut a complete HD chopper solution for New Years, unfortunately only the camera was ready.

We hope to have the rest of the HD backhaul ready for testing shortly.

TWC is deploying the TUNING ADAPTER for TiVo HD users next Monday 1/12. It will allow all switched digital video HD channels to be received and recorded. I got the call today to pick up mine at any TWC service center next MOnday.

I live in an apartment, that faces the north, just north of the airport. I installed a Radio Shack antenna called "HDTV Outdoor/Indoor Antenna" model
DA-5200.

I ran the scan on my tv, and I could only pick up the digital NBC and a few analog signals (mainly spanish stations). None of the other major networks came through though including PBS. Will this change on Feb. 17th, or is it my antenna and location? This is the third antenna I've tried, and so far it works the best - but still I'm missing channels that I would think I should be getting. Fox did come in, but it was pretty bad. Putting the antenna outside, or on the roof, is not an option for me.

Any thoughts?

As I have written before, you are in an area that will have what I describe as spotty reception at best until Feb. 18.
~40 days and counting.....

You have discovered that not all Digital Converter Boxes are designed and built equally, which is unfortunate, but it leads me to questions I posed a while back - even though I think you did answer with quite a bit of detail. In reviewing something you wrote a while back, I noticed that you said, "...(your antenna is) connected to a TRU Spec model TA25 amplifier to a TRU spec combiner (even tho this only has 1 coax in (OTA) and one coax out connected) to a 4-way splitter in which 3 ports are used, 1 is empty/unused..."

Is that TRU-SPEC combiner really doing anything? It doesn't appear to be, which leads me to believe the dish is tied into my OTA somehow/somewhere.

and is the TA-25 antenna amplifier mounted on the mast, near the antenna?
Yes, it is

Is your four-way splitter an amplified model? I'm guessing it's not, just a 4 way splitter.

At your distance from the transmitters, ... I would replace it with an "F" bullet or simply bypass it by connecting the antenna lead directly to the input of your (hopefully amplified) four-way splitter.
Next time I'm behind there I will omit the combiner and connect it directly.

Since you do get reception on a Philips box in your bedroom, this suggests to me that the signal strength out of your splitter may be just below the sensitivity threshold of the RCA. If it were me, I would try bypassing the combiner - which could be attenuating a weak signal to begin with - and buy an amplified splitter to try. This approach has worked for other viewers. Again (as always) good info! I will prolly wait until the magic date 2/17 before omitting, replacing anything....I'm very happy with the reception on the RCA box and seems to be more sensitive than the Philips box.

Is everybody experiencing audio lag on WOAI, TWC #104? This has been going on all day using my TW HD converter box and Panasonic HDTV.

Thanks
DerrikM

I have the audio lag as well with an OTA antenna, so it must be channel 4?

I live in an apartment, that faces the north, just north of the airport. I installed a Radio Shack antenna called "HDTV Outdoor/Indoor Antenna" model DA-5200...I could only pick up the digital NBC...None of the other major networks came through though including PBS. Will this change on Feb. 17th, or is it my antenna and location?

Guy,

When someone writes a post and includes the terms "apartment" and "north side" it usually means problems, but all is not lost. I read the review of your DA-5200 antenna and most users seem to like it. It is similar to a model of Philips antenna that does pretty well also. Although I did not see anything about it in the specifications, this looks like a UHF-only antenna, which means it may not receive KCWX, KLRN or KSAT after February 18. Those stations will operate in the VHF realm and you will need a VHF-capable antenna to receive them. The remaining DTV stations operate on UHF channels.

Here are a few suggestions: can you put your antenna near a window, even on the north side of your apartment? Do you have any window that faces East? The antenna comes with 3 meters of cable attached; it may be necessary to buy a length of RG-6 or similar cable and a "F" bullet to permit moving the antenna around the apartment. Your best chance of finding a good signal will be on the east-facing part of your apartment. Facing a window would be the best.

If your TV has a signal strength indicator, use it to watch the antenna performance as you move it around the apartment. Once you find the "sweet spot" you have to figure out a way to mount the antenna so that it will not be bumped around or fall over. Then hide the cable in corners, behind furniture - whatever you need to do - to make it look neat. Once you have the best signal on any one of the DTV stations, such as WOAI 4-1, do another channel scan. You should find more channels and TV can be fun again. To receive VHF channels after February 18, you might want to consider a similar antenna that can live inside your apartment that is UHF and VHF capable.

Thanks for the reply.

I'm pretty much screwed. I currently have my antenna at the window facing to the north. I tried moving it all around the apartment, and at the window is best, but still I only pick up one digital station regularly and of acceptable quality. I have NO access to anything to the east of me. There is another apartment next to me on that side. The only windows I have face the north. To bad I didn't end up in an apartment that does face the east.:mad:

For those with TWC, it looks like we finally get Sci Fi and USA HD

http://www.timewarnercable.com/SanAntonio/Programming/updates.html

About time if you ask me. Need that battlestar and house re-runs in HD!

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/President-elect_wants_to_put_switch_to_digital_TV_on_hold.html

I can't believe Obama wants to postpone this move. How long now have we ALL known about the change? Heck, the government is even subsidizing the purchase of converter boxes!

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/President-elect_wants_to_put_switch_to_digital_TV_on_hold.html

I can't believe Obama wants to postpone this move. How long now have we ALL known about the change?Although I sympathize with your view because this has been on our collective radar for years, remember that you're preaching to the early-adopter choir here. Think of the least technologically savvy person you know... an elderly aunt or a grandmother. How much would that person be affected if they lost access to all of their TV channels?

Considering that it has been revealed that after 2/17, local Fire Departments will be tasked with assisting late-adopter consumers with Digital TV adapter hookup (http://www.civilrights.org/library/features/026-wilmington-test.html), a delay would probably save local governments and local taxpayers quite a bit of money and not tie up local firefighting resources.

Heck, the government is even subsidizing the purchase of converter boxes!

But that money's run out and there may come a time when the coupons are unavailable for people who need them. In the current economic climate, government should be subsidizing this burden that it has put on consumers in the name of revenue generation.

Although I sympathize with your view because this has been on our collective radar for years, remember that you're preaching to the early-adopter choir here. Think of the least technologically savvy person you know... an elderly aunt or a grandmother. How much would that person be affected if they lost access to all of their TV channels?

Considering that it has been revealed that after 2/17, local Fire Departments will be tasked with assisting late-adopter consumers with Digital TV adapter hookup (http://www.civilrights.org/library/features/026-wilmington-test.html), a delay would probably save local governments and local taxpayers quite a bit of money and not tie up local firefighting resources.

But that money's run out and there may come a time when the coupons are unavailable for people who need them. In the current economic climate, government should be subsidizing this burden that it has put on consumers in the name of revenue generation.

How long do we postpone? Are the elderly and poor going to get coupons and boxes in another month? 6 months? Year? They have already had a LONG time to heed warnings that have been commonplace on local stations for months now.

By the way, my most tech un-savvy person is my grandmother-in-law. She ordered the coupons when she heard about it last year - even though she has cable - and then lost them. If she loses cable she would probably do what most will end up doing and shelling out the 40 bucks for a converter herself.

As far as the subsidizing goes, we just sit on opposite sides of the political fence I suppose. My take - Heaven forbid the government takes away someones "rights" to watch soap operas, sitcoms and local news by only giving them 3 years to save $40.

As far as the subsidizing goes, we just sit on opposite sides of the political fence I suppose. My take - Heaven forbid the government takes away someones "rights" to watch soap operas, sitcoms and local news by only giving them 3 years to save $40.Hey, I'm on the side of the taxpayer here. :)

Sure the coupon program costs over $1 Billion dollars, but the government will be raking in TENS of billions from spectrum license fees for the new wireless services that will occupy the old analog channels. That's where the money is coming from, and that's where it should come from. There's more than enough money in this conversion to make sure that everyone's grandmother's TV will continue to work after February 17 and it won't have to come out of the taxpayers' pockets.

Hey, I'm on the side of the taxpayer here. :)

Sure the coupon program costs over $1 Billion dollars, but the government will be raking in TENS of billions from spectrum license fees for the new wireless services that will occupy the old analog channels. That's where the money is coming from, and that's where it should come from. There's more than enough money in this conversion to make sure that everyone's grandmother's TV will continue to work after February 17 and it won't have to come out of the taxpayers' pockets.I agree with the subsidy if the government is going to make a lot of money selling the analog space, but there still needs to be a deadline. If people did not pay attention to the transition deadline, then we should not extend the deadline for them. Just get the coupons in place and on Feb 17th if grandma can't watch TV, she can wait for a few days until she gets her coupon and turns it in on a converter.

I agree with the subsidy if the government is going to make a lot of money selling the analog space, but there still needs to be a deadline. If people did not pay attention to the transition deadline, then we should not extend the deadline for them. Just get the coupons in place and on Feb 17th if grandma can't watch TV, she can wait for a few days until she gets her coupon and turns it in on a converter.

I guess that is the better stance to have. I have heard the government is going to make about 20 billion on the sale, so sure there should have been more going to the public. They might have been able to free up money sooner if people didn't wait until the last month to order vouchers though.

While visiting my Grandmother 2 weeks ago, the crawl came on during a program and later a PSA during the news. Being a TWC customer, I told her she didn't need to replace her tv or remote, which took considerable time to get her to learn. To make things easier for her, I told her that the cable box on top of her TV is her digital converter and no further updating was necessary on her part.
Her reply was, "Oh good. I didn't want to throw away this good tv and buy a new fancy complicated one anyway." She went onto continue, "I grew up without tv, so I don't need it and I'll get along."
Which made me think, most people that have not updated are very likely those who didn't rely on tv way back then.

I don't mean this in a mean spirited way at all, but if folks aren't aware this is coming up, I'm not too sure how much they are getting from television programming anyway. I think many of the rest of us are ready to tear our hair out if we see one more "test" of whether our TV is really ready for the big day or not.

The day will never, ever, ever come when everyone who will be effected is ready. In some cases it's just human nature to procrastinate or just not get it or not really care. Let's recognize that a ton of people aren't going to lift a finger until there is no picture on their television one day soon (I hope). Time to move forward... Just my $.02.;)

I don't mean this in a mean spirited way at all, but if folks aren't aware this is coming up, I'm not too sure how much they are getting from television programming anyway. I think many of the rest of us are ready to tear our hair out if we see one more "test" of whether our TV is really ready for the big day or not.

The day will never, ever, ever come when everyone who will be effected is ready. In some cases it's just human nature to procrastinate or just not get it or not really care. Let's recognize that a ton of people aren't going to lift a finger until there is no picture on their television one day soon (I hope). Time to move forward... Just my $.02.;)

If mirco-problems bother u now watch out for the future!

The day will never, ever, ever come when everyone who will be effected is ready. In some cases it's just human nature to procrastinate or just not get it or not really care. Let's recognize that a ton of people aren't going to lift a finger until there is no picture on their television one day soon (I hope). Time to move forward... Just my $.02.;)

I agree 100%. There are many out there who are going to need technical help to even install a converter box. Is Obama going to go house to house to make sure everyone is ready?

They are probably out of the coupons for the boxes because many people who have cable don't understand that they don't need one. That may seem amazing with all the million announcements we have heard but I still get questions from people that do not have a clue about the switch. Some think that their tv will be getting HD picture even though they have an old SD tv.

Understand that local fire departments are to help out with post conversion because USPS trucks are not equipped with ladders!?

Is everybody experiencing audio lag on WOAI, TWC #104? This has been going on all day using my TW HD converter box and Panasonic HDTV.

Thanks
DerrikM

I hear it on and off. It's not as bad as the awful echo that plagued WOAI a few years ago, but its there with DD 5.1 broadcasts sometimes. Some commercials will have it, some don't. I hear it during Saturday Night Live, or during NBC shows where the rear channels are carrying music.

For those with TWC, it looks like we finally get Sci Fi and USA HD

http://www.timewarnercable.com/SanAntonio/Programming/updates.html

About time if you ask me. Need that battlestar and house re-runs in HD!

This is awesome! This is soooooo awesome!!!! I've put off watching the BSG when it first airs since season 2, because I couldn't stand the standard-def broadcasts. I would wait for the HD versions on Universal HD, but with the final run of episodes about to start this Friday, I was getting very annoyed at the prospect of having to wait again.

By the way, if you have TWC, you have Universal HD and they have been showing the re-runs in HD for the last few years.

And USA-HD too? I can get back into Psych!

Oh, happy day...

UPDATE: These new stations don't appear to be active yet. I can't find anything in the linked release that says when they will be available. Anyone know?

The computer just setup recordings for Criminal Minds and CSI:NY. The start times are 1:07 and 2:07 the next (15th) morning because of some basketball. I wonder how exact the start times are. If there is a chance it might be off by a few minutes I can add some padding. Anybody up on this?

The computer just setup recordings for Criminal Minds and CSI:NY. The start times are 1:07 and 2:07 the next (15th) morning because of some basketball...I wonder how exact the start times are?

Allen,

The start times given are nominal ones, assuming the game ends on time. Tonight the game ran long and so programming will shift by about 13 minutes. So your first show would probably start at 1:20, the second at 2:20. We never know how late a game will run, since live events seem to take on a momentum of their own.

The link (http://www.timewarnercable.com/SanAntonio/Programming/updates.html) previously posted that showed TWC additions added dates a few days ago, so now it reads:

The following channel ADDITIONS are planned:

* 01/21/09 - Bravo HD, HD channel 176.
* 01/21/09 - USA HD, HD channel 131.
* 01/28/09 - Chiller, digital channel 253.
* 01/28/09 - CNBC HD+, HD channel 137.
* 01/28/09 - SCI FI HD, HD channel 172.

USA HD showed up on schedule this morning. I didn't notice Bravo HD, but I wasn't looking for it. So one more week and then Sci-Fi HD finally arrives!

WOAI HD now on Dish network
6428(4) - WOAI [MPEG4 HD] - EchoStar10 110W TP 25 Spotbeam 22(TX) changed to Available (H)(San Antonio, TX)

WOAI HD now on Dish network
6428(4) - WOAI [MPEG4 HD] - EchoStar10 110W TP 25 Spotbeam 22(TX) changed to Available (H)(San Antonio, TX)

YES!! At long last. It'll be nice to have the option to watch/record it OTA or via SAT now. Now we just need PBS...

Here’s a note for KENS Digital TV viewers; KENS-DT will go off the air for a few hours late tonight to perform transmitter maintenance. This will not affect viewers who watch KENS on Time-Warner Cable or AT&T’s U-Verse. Viewers who watch KENS Digital TV over the air with an antenna, via satellite, Grande Cable or G-V-T-C will have no KENS Digital service between the hours of 12:35AM until approximately 3:30AM.

With it looking like the DTV transition being delayed until June, will KENS still be going ahead with their Feb 17 plans or be waiting for their final move until June?

Looks like the warranties for my 2 - D/A converters (1 RCA and 1 Philips) will expire 3 months before the June cutover, not to mention delaying receiving channel 5 for another 4 freakin mos.....nice real flippin nice.....

p.s. Realthogue - I removed the Tru-spec combiner and no change. I haven't changed over to the amplified splitter yet tho.......

With it looking like the DTV transition being delayed until June, will KENS still be going ahead with their Feb 17 plans or be waiting for their final move until June?
It's hard to imagine that KENS5 (or any of its competitors) would put itself at a competitive disadvantage during the important March and May sweeps by being the only digital-only network affiliate in the market. Stations file lawsuits and protests when another station gets an unfair advantage during ratings periods, so the notion of deliberately accepting a disadvantage seems unlikely

I read on the screen that KENS5 will be switching antennas on the 17th (I think). It said that a rescan would need to be done by OTA viewers. Does this mean the freq will be changed and will the xmtr output increase?

Only Jerry can answer that. But I haven't seen that scroll on the screen since the senate passed the bill.

The House just voted down the June transition bill. The February 17 date is still on.

...will KENS still be going ahead with their Feb 17 plans or be waiting for their final move until June?
I did not weigh in on this because even though Congress could have approved a delay June 12 for switching off analog service, we are told that local stations would have had the option to switch off earlier than June. Corporate owners have their own positions on this issue, as do local station General Managers.

It would take a consensus among General Managers to effect a market-wide change before June if that is the new law, and it should go without saying that the Corporate parents involved must grant their General Managers autonomy to act before any deviation from Congressional rule can be possible.

As I write this at 12:50PM on Wednesday, January 28, the Senate bill did not pass in the House. The House of Representatives voted 258 to 168 in favor of changing the date, but that result fails to meet the requirement for a 2/3 majority. What happens next is uncertain, but Texas Republican Congressman Joe Barton has a bill that would restore funding for the Converter Box Coupon program - without changing the analog shutdown date.

Stay tuned.

The House of Representatives voted 258 to 168 in favor of changing the date, but that result fails to meet the requirement for a 2/3 majority. Good news!! It's rare now days when personal responsibility gets a win.:)

It's hard for me to believe that our newly elected president actually had this item on his plate this early in his tenure???? and yes, I voted for him...

this has been known for like 15 years.. whoever isnt ready, thats their problem lol btw hd channels in san antonio look like crap compared to where im from

I bought my 1st box in March of last year, the warranty will expire 2 weeks before the new cutoff date. I guess it pays to procrastinate.......

Now that the February analog shutoff is optional, I'm wondering which of our local stations are going to opt to do it in February.

Now that the February analog shutoff is optional, I'm wondering which of our local stations are going to opt to do it in February.

I think every station manager/owner (or owning corporations) in the country shoud get together and decide what to do, and do it enmass.

From the chatter I've seen, it sounds like most of the stations wanted to go forward on 17 Feb becuase they had everything lined-up, and many of them will lose money by not going forward on 17 feb... however, now that the cuttoff is optional until June, they can also lose money by cutting of their analog signal...

If they all get together and agree to cut it off themselves, sticking to the 17 feb date, I bet the 5% of american households that are not ready will get off their rears and be getting dtv within 3-5 days.

The cool thing, is if they come together and do this, they won't be breaking any laws, and they won't have to worry about losing viewers during "sweeps" becuase the problem will resolve itself quickly.

I bet the delay is barely going to make a dent in the unready households... Those folks are going to have to go without before they take any action - it's going to take the cuttoff for them to do something, not a delay.

If all the stations in the country can't agree, it owould be nice if at least stations within a DMA would, like in San Antonio :)

Out of curiosity, where did this 'optional' come from? I thought switching was still mandatory and on for the 17th. Did Congress and the prez pass something I didn't hear about?

And I'd like to ask again about KENS come the 17th. I saw where they are switching antennas. Are they switching freq and going full power too? It makes a difference because I use different tuners depending on the signal strength.

Out of curiosity, where did this 'optional' come from? I thought switching was still mandatory and on for the 17th. Did Congress and the prez pass something I didn't hear about?

Good question.. I think somewhere earlier in this thread (or another) it ws stated that continuing to broadcast an analog signal has been optional for some time now... It's been up to the individual stations whether they continued to broadcast in analog or not. The cuttoff date just forces them to stop analog.

I could be completely wrong - all my info comes from the forums so it's subject to the usual corrpution :rolleyes:

EDIT: OK, what BarsAntone says, below :)

Out of curiosity, where did this 'optional' come from? I thought switching was still mandatory and on for the 17th. Did Congress and the prez pass something I didn't hear about?

Here's a quote from the Washington Post article (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008709347_digital05.html) that explains the situation.

TV stations will be allowed to seek a federal waiver to turn off their analog signals before the new deadline. So instead of nearly all broadcasters making the switch Feb. 17, stations now may do so at different times over the next four months.

I've read elsewhere that 143 stations have already shut off their analog transmitters and so far, about 4 dozen more have announced they plan to make the switch on February 17.

Guess I did miss that. I thought the House (Senate?) voted it down. Now I'm really confused. I heard/read somewhere that it would take a 2/3 majority to change this date. For the House thats 292 votes.

Oh well, all I'm interested in is what KENS is going to do on the 17th.

Corporate owners have their own positions on this issue, as do local station General Managers.

It would take a consensus among General Managers to effect a market-wide change before June and it should go without saying that the Corporate parents involved must grant their General Managers autonomy to act before any deviation from Congressional rule can be possible.

I do not want to speculate what San Antonio TV station General Managers will do next, but the March rating period is imminent. This means that either we all shut down analog services on February 17 or none of us do, waiting until the new June deadline before we act.

Starting with today's noon newscast (http://twitter.com/ksatnews/statuses/1180393153), KSAT 12 has begun producing its news in HD.

is it me, or does KSAT's HD look horrible? It really doesn't even look like HD.

is it me, or does KSAT's HD look horrible? It really doesn't even look like HD.

It looks like SD at 16x9 aspect.

KSAT HD has always looked subpar to me, no matter what they are showing.

They broadcast 720p rather than 1080i.

They broadcast 720p rather than 1080i.

Well, so does Fox.

Yeah, FOX looks up to par to me. KSAT just seems to be blurry and faded and it's the only channel I still see that annoying little bar at the top with the moving and blinking white "ants."

I agree. KSAT's HD newscast did not look good at all. I'm a dedicated KENS news watcher, but I briefly flipped over to KSAT this morning just to see the picture after y'all were discussing it.

Very soft looking and washed out. The remote report was even worse.

But it's a step in the right direction and I'm sure it will get better with time. So, Good Job KSAT!

The White House wants your opinion on The DTV Delay ACT Bill
President Obama wants to hear what the public has to say, you can comment here

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

And this would make some difference now why?:confused:

I'm convinced God has a sense of humor! (your gonna love this)!

As you know, ever since KENS5 moved to a different transmitter, I've been (and still am) unable to get channel 5, until KENS5 goes full power sometime in between 2/17 and 6/12. Guess who has just become a Nielsen TV Media member???? YEP! ME!!!!!!! that's a 1 in 20,000 shot here in the S.A. area. Isn't that a hoot?

geeeee, too bad the ONLY CHANNEL I CAN"T get is KENS5/CBS....!

I've noticed that the crawl at the bottom of KABB's morning news still says the DTV change date of Feb 17th. They have a countdown that is updated daily. Is San Antonio going all digital on the early date? Like Realthogue said, it would be odd for one station to tie a hand behind its back during sweeps.

I've noticed that the crawl at the bottom of KABB's morning news still says the DTV change date of Feb 17th. They have a countdown that is updated daily. Is San Antonio going all digital on the early date? Like Realthogue said, it would be odd for one station to tie a hand behind its back during sweeps.

Nope, Sinclair is killing analog on February 17.

- Trip

fcc put up a list of stations thats removing analog signal early, fcc.gov under headlines, shows that only kabb and kmys dropping analog on feb 17th

Still don't have a clue about what happens to KENS a week from today.

Apparently only the Fox channels refiled for the 17th. KENS didn't run its scroll across Wheel of Fortune today.

KENS was running the notice at the bottom of the noon news yesterday. It said they would turn off analog on the 17th. A bunch of other stuff about switching transmitters until the permanent one is complete.

KENS was running the notice at the bottom of the noon news yesterday. It said they would turn off analog on the 17th. A bunch of other stuff about switching transmitters until the permanent one is complete.

A little web searching revealed this official FCC notice (http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-221A5.pdf).

San Antonio TV stations are on page 39. If the station is listed in red they plan to switch to digital on or by 2/17.

Still don't have a clue about what happens to KENS a week from today.
Allen,

The short answer is that KENS will keep analog transmissions going until June 12. Because our digital power increase is contingent on another station's move from its temporary DTV channel, we cannot increase power until they shut off their analog transmitter and begin origination on their final channel.

As of today, it still looks like KWEX will remain at full power on analog 41 until June.

Bummer. Oh, and thanks Jerry.

As if things weren't bad enough the winds got a bit too much. I've clocked 53 in the last 2 1/2 years and the tower and antenna rode it out. Not last night. The mast gave way and the 7' UHF antenna is kinda pointed at the ground. Gotta get a new mast ASAP.

So KENS will be full power and on 41. Hmmmm, after the season is over. What subchannel? I'll find it when its changed but just curious.

Allen,
KENS will go to full power in June on DTV39, not 41. KWEX is on 41 analog today and will flash-cut to DTV 41 in June. In the meantime KWEX is operating on their interim DTV channel of 39, with KENS.

KENS will operate 5-1, 5-2 and probably 5-3. Details about programming remain sketchy. It is possible that we may have only 5-1 and 5-2.

Hey everyone,
Newbie here. Just purchased the VU-90 antenna from Radioshack and testing it in my living room right now before I take it up to the attic (or roof top). I can get basically all the channels fine except for WOAI (4.1) which is blacked out. I have the antenna pointed to the SE.

ANy ideas? Sorry I was not able to read this entire 124+ thread...

Nevermind, all I had to do was move it a bit:)

I was trying to watch "Fraser" on channel 29 at midnight last night and all I got was some infomercial trying to sell some kind of converter box. WHAT'S GOING ON?!?!?!?! ;)

Anyone know when we will see KCWX (CW) in HD?

I was trying to watch "Fraser" on channel 29 at midnight last night and all I got was some infomercial trying to sell some kind of converter box. WHAT'S GOING ON?!?!?!?! ;)
KABB (FOX29) discontinued analog broadcasting at midnight last night. Becasue they are a "Nightlight" station, they are permitted to broadcast information intended to help unprepared viewers get the equipment they need to receive DTV.

Anyone know when we will see KCWX (CW) in HD?
The plan is for KCWX to cease analog broadcasts on June 2. At that time their channel 2 antenna will be replaced with a channel 5 antenna to permit digital broadcasts beginning on June 12. The transmitter already has been modified to pass the digital signal.

Initially only CW network offerings will be available in HD and only over the air, not on cable or satellite. The day-to-day syndication carried on KCWX generally is not available in HD. KCWX cable and satellite HD upgrades will not be done immediately but may be done at some point in the future.

KABB (FOX29) discontinued analog broadcasting at midnight last night. Becasue they are a "Nightlight" station, they are permitted to broadcast information intended to help unprepared viewers get the equipment they need to receive DTV.

Hey, Jerry,

Didn't you see my smiley? :D

Actually, I set my alarm for the sign-off. I wondered if they'd play the national anthem with a flag waving in the background like they used to do in the 50's when signing off for the night.

Sherrill

Completely missed the smiley, Sherrill. I agree, though - the National Anthem and a minute or so of Indian Head 1950's test pattern would have been an appropriate end to an era.

I am new to AVS forums, though I used to "lurk" here while deciding which HDTV to purchase a year ago. I have a problem that is related, I believe, to the broadcast signal being sent out by KSAT 12. I will do my best to describe the problem, and if anyone has any ideas what could be the cause, please let me know! FYI I have contacted KSAT directly about the issue, and they seem to be puzzled, as am I. I am watching OTA broadcasts and it is only picture, not sound, related.

Basically during certain primetime broadcasts, the picture will go from pristine and clear to what I can only describe as jittery. Randomly, approximately every 1-2 seconds, the picture kinda freezes for a few milliseconds and then resumes. Sometimes it is more often, and sometimes the picture stabilizes for seconds at a time. This first started about 6 months ago, which is about 6 months after I got my Samsung HLT 5687S rear projection LED DLP TV. At first I was worried that something was wrong with my set, but then I noticed that it only happens on the KSAT 12 digital broadcasts. Now, not every show is that way, but most primetime shows are. News is always just fine, so I suspect that the problem stems from the encoding that ABC sends to their affiiates and how it reaches us.

The other reason that I suspect the broadcast, and not the TV, is that I have another TV that is capable of displaying 720p picture, and I see the problem on that TV as well, though not as pronounced. For what it is worth, it too is a Samsung set though it is an LCD screen. I have two converter boxes in the house as well, and when I watch on those, I do not see the problems, or at least they are masked enough that they are not noticeable.

Could it be that the electronics in my TV are improperly decoding the signal that is being sent out during the suspect broadcasts, or is this a problem with the broadcast itself, and other TV's mask the problem to where it is not noticeable?

Any ideas, or should I invest in a different TV? I have been searching the internet for months hoping to find a solution, and have turned to AVS for any expetise that can be offered here. Thanks in advance for any help.

Nick

...I have a problem that is related, I believe, to the broadcast signal being sent out by KSAT 12...

Nick

FWIW...KSAT's picture looks fuzzy to me during all of their HD programs during the day and night. I've noticed this for several months. Even their new HD newscasts look less than crystal clear compared to KENS. I have a 1080p LCD set, and a 720p LCD, both with Time Warner cable.

Many times I have noticed ABC programming "stutters". Not sure that describes the problem.

This was not only on their new HD news but on sporting events as well. So much so that I switched to SD. It was on OTA and cable.

Yeah KSAT has been pretty bad for a long time now.

It's a problem with KSAT because I have noticed this too using OTA. It's very annoying and happens on HD national broadcasts. I have Dish network and switched over to the KSAT hd channel and it does not do it there. for some reason it has to do with the way their signal is sent out OTA. Hopefully they will fix it. don't worry, it's not your tv becasue it does the same to me

Thanks for the reassurance. I was hoping that would be the case, but wasn't sure. The next question is, how can I convince them that their broadcast has a problem? They (the technical managers) don't seem to think that there is a problem as they don't see it themselves. Maybe some of their collegues, who post on this site, can convince them of it;). Thanks anyway.

Nick

I think KSAT's picture is consistently fuzzy and less clear than the other hi-def stations in town.

I have a friend that had stuttering issues with Lost on KSAT but it turned out it was his DVR. I have not seen stuttering, just fuzziness.

The stuttering I have seen is on multiple TVs. None of which have a box.

KSAT has been pretty horrible lately for me, too. I checked the signal levels on my TiVo HD and it goes up and down. It's only peaking at 55 and drops below 30 every 15 seconds or so. Of course, the signal goes nuts at that point. It's pretty much unwatchable. On the plus side, at least my wife can't watch Oprah. ;)

On the plus side, at least my wife can't watch Oprah. ;)

Lucky b'tard. :D

Is anyone else having incorrect guide data show up for KENS-DT? I'm getting the guide data for channel 41 instead for OTA in my Dish Network DVR.

Yeah, that's normal until the DTV switch over because Kens is using 41 and dish and other boxes are getting confused and display the spanish channel's guide. I guess it's supposed to be fixed when the switch happens. There are some threads a few pages back on this.

It's a problem with KSAT because I have noticed this too using OTA. It's very annoying and happens on HD national broadcasts.

I too thought the problem was with the HD national broadcasts, until tonight when I saw the stuttering in the middle of the 10 o'clock news. The guys at KSAT have responded to my e-mails and are very kind about my concern. It still seems as thought they think it is a problem with my set-up though. Not sure what to do about this. So many good shows on ABC. Might just have to watch them online.:(

I too thought the problem was with the HD national broadcasts, until tonight when I saw the stuttering in the middle of the 10 o'clock news. The guys at KSAT have responded to my e-mails and are very kind about my concern. It still seems as thought they think it is a problem with my set-up though. Not sure what to do about this. So many good shows on ABC. Might just have to watch them online.:(

You can link them this page of the thread, because their channel is always fuzzy whether it's cable or OTA and on my OTAs it stutters too.

... I saw the stuttering in the middle of the 10 o'clock news.

I used to have a Vizio that stuttered on Fox OTA broadcasts. The problem went away when I replaced it with a Panasonic set. Never saw the problem on my Sharp set. Also haven't had any problems with KSAT, except the lower image quality others have reported.

The guys at KSAT have responded to my e-mails and are very kind about my concern. It still seems as thought they think it is a problem with my set-up though.

Weak response from KSAT. There is a problem with their HD picture. Period.

Anyone else noticing some serious audio sync issues with the Spurs game right now? It's on TWC and both my OTAs? So it can't just be me right?

edit: just seems to be with Bill Land and Sean Elliott, the Spurs center report seems in sync, along with commericals.

Yes, there was an audio sync problem with the first half of the Spurs game tonight. We finally got everyone in step by half time. Not our finest moment.

But your OTA picture is unrivaled. (61" DLP)

Yes, there was an audio sync problem with the first half of the Spurs game tonight. We finally got everyone in step by half time. Not our finest moment.

Good to know, my friend said he didn't, so I was scrambling for a few thinking it was me lol.

Any one experience a signal drop on WOAI? My signal went from a solid 75 to a shaky 67yesterday... Didn\'t notice until I was watching DVR\'d Heroes last night.

For the past two weeks KABB and KMYS have broadcast "Nightlight" service on Channels 29 and 35. The looping video provided instructions on connecting converter boxes for viewers who are still receiving analog signals. At midnight tonight, both stations will shut off the analog transmitters. The digital transmitters of KABB and KMYS are on the final channel assignment and are transmitting at full power.

Regards,

David Ostmo
Director of Operations & Engineering
KABB / KMYS

Does anyone know why Dish Network doesn't map down their HD locals to the appropriate channel disgnation for the San Antonio channels? Their HD locals are 6426-6429. My parents are in the SA DMA. This is how they get their HD locals. I live in the Austin DMA and I get my HD locals in the 5000's as well as 7(Fox), 24(ABC), 36(NBC), 42(CBS). My sister who lives in Houston also get her HD locals with the appropriate channels 2(NBC), 11(CBS), 13(ABC), 26(Fox). It just makes it a lot easier to find the HD locals.

I have Dish network and my HD locals are mapped down to the appropriate channel designation. Maybe your parents need to check the setting in their Dish receiver and make sure they it is not disabled or something.

Does anyone know why Dish Network doesn't map down their HD locals to the appropriate channel disgnation for the San Antonio channels? Their HD locals are 6426-6429. My parents are in the SA DMA. This is how they get their HD locals. I live in the Austin DMA and I get my HD locals in the 5000's as well as 7(Fox), 24(ABC), 36(NBC), 42(CBS). My sister who lives in Houston also get her HD locals with the appropriate channels 2(NBC), 11(CBS), 13(ABC), 26(Fox). It just makes it a lot easier to find the HD locals.

Mapdown is an option in the setup, read your manual.

I haven't heard much about U-Verse here in San Antonio lately, but I am very interested in hearing if local subscribers are satisfied or not. I got another mailing from them today and the features seem to blow TWC away, and I estimate my montly cost would be about $50 - $60 less for HD service, premium channels, internet and digital phone. I am paying $230+ right now.

Any input (positive or negative) would be greatly appreciated.

DerrikM

I haven't heard much about U-Verse here in San Antonio lately, but I am very interested in hearing if local subscribers are satisfied or not. I got another mailing from them today and the features seem to blow TWC away, and I estimate my montly cost would be about $50 - $60 less for HD service, premium channels, internet and digital phone. I am paying $230+ right now.

Any input (positive or negative) would be greatly appreciated.

DerrikM
From my experience, U-Verse can be finicky to get at your house. They are all over my neighborhood as well, but I live too far from the main node or something to get a quality signal. The infrastructure factors that affect TWC affect UVerse, just a lot more due to the age and variety of lines.

Quick solution: Call TWC and ask for a better rate. They'll give you a decent package rate - guaranteed for a year, but not contracted for a year - then mention it still sounds cheaper to go with Uverse and that Uverse has been hitting you up hard. Ask them for a better deal or you will switch to Uverse, at which point they will transfer you to a different person who will drop that price by at least $20 a month. The whole call shouldn't take longer than 10 minutes.

Mapdown is an option in the setup, read your manual.

I've read the manual, I don't see anything about mapping down. I went to the "Channel Display" tab under the Local channels menu and I have HD priority checked and enable checked. My parents' 622 and 722 have the same ones checked. Their channels are not mapped down and mine are. If I'm looking in the wrong place, please advise.

Is it me, or does the NCAA tournament look really bad on KENS this year? I am watching the OK State - Pitt game and the court has a ton of compression artifacts all over the place. Is this a KENS 5 problem, or a CBS problem?

Is it me, or does the NCAA tournament look really bad on KENS this year? I am watching the OK State - Pitt game and the court has a ton of compression artifacts all over the place. Is this a KENS 5 problem, or a CBS problem?

The tourney games have looked fine at our place. We're on TWC.

Is it me, or does the NCAA tournament look really bad on KENS this year? I am watching the OK State - Pitt game and the court has a ton of compression artifacts all over the place. Is this a KENS 5 problem, or a CBS problem?

I get both KENS 5 and KEYE 42(Austin) OTA. I've always thought KEYE's picture is slightly better than KENS. KEYE even has a sub-channel. I don't know why, that's just what my eyes tell me.