1. I switched the FM TRAP to "OUT", lost channels 4,5 ch 29 degraded from 42 to 30....FM TRAP "IN" 4,5 returned, ch 29 back to 42 on the TV tuner.

2. I ordered the CM3414 and was told via email today (Mon 8/17) its on back order for 3-4 weeks.

3. Iced water (bottled water quality) is readily available via my Reverse osmosis system.

4. The D/A converter works fine on all channels, but the signal strength on KSAT12 is minimal (12-14). Have a great week!

I guess pointing thru that slew of 100-kw FM stations at the Galm Road tower must have an effect even at your distance. They're c. 9 miles wnw of me so I don't need to beam that way for any of the local DTV. When I do the 88.3 out there chews into that KFLZ-CA-6 raster and Hispanic music. I don't normally have the CM-7777 in line for the NTSC setup.

Yup. There's a thick soup of intermod there, which certainly can inhibit the V reception. I still want to visit the Lake Hills/Bandera/Pipe Creek areas with my little corner reflector and spectrum analyzer to see what else is going on. Maybe next week...

Jerry, happy to have ya visit! I get ready for work (4-12 pm) at 2:30, leave the house by 3.

P.S. Off on Mondays

Has KCWX-DT-5.1 been trying to do something fancy with their audio lately ? On a DTT-901 feeding A/V lines to a mono set using just left audio some of the syndicated programs and local commercials have sounded like they were done in a hollow room. DT-5.2 ("This" network and the local-insert commercials there) was OK. I'm too lazy to hook up my HVR-950 and run TSR-Lite on them to analyze it :)

Has KCWX-DT-5.1 been trying to do something fancy with their audio lately ?

Not that I know of. I checked the station's off-air presence last night and again today (before I saw your email) and heard no discrepancy, but I will check it again at home on different equipment. Here at the studio I heard no anomalies in the OTA delivery earlier today or just now. I tried the same thing you did, feeding only left-channel audio from a DTT-900 to a mono monitor, but I suspect that show had mono audio or stereo with very little separation. The audio phase indications showed very little difference in left and right content - almost a straight vertical line.

As "Smallville" opened just now, everything sounded ok (even with left-channel audio sent to a mono monitor) here at the studio so I am not so sure about what happened to you. What time did you notice the anomaly?

One other thing to keep in mind is that some of the CW HD shows have 5.1 audio. When this is downmixed to deliver stereo or even mono audio through an inexpensive STB, the results are directly proportional to the quality of the Dolby audio solution designed into the demod. Listening to half of a downmix might sound a little strange; I haven't tried that yet, actually. To send one STB output only to a mono monitor I would select mono audio out in the STB setup menu, mixing down all the channels.

Thanks for checking it out. I'd only noticed it on some programming the past 2 days -
today it was Judge Hatchett and Family Court W/Penny but not on the 700 Club. As I mostly concentrate on their sub 2 I can't be sure which other programs may have been behaving similarly. I didn't check to see if the DS DTX9950 was acting likewise. In using CECB's since Apr last year with one A line to mono TV sets I've never come across this sort of audio abberation on any ATSC signals.

That's especially unusual since these are only stereo shows. Keep an ear on them, though; there may be a satellite receiver with audio phase reversal on one channel. That'll play hob with conversion to digital and back.

Macbillybob,

Did you get your cable situation worked out yet? I had a somewhat similar incident last winter. The cable would get so bad I would lose all services but regular cable (HD,Internet,Phone). The rub was that it only happened when the temp was below 50 degrees or so. Well, here in SA, that only happens at night during the winter normally so that is when all my problems occurred. TWC would come out at 9 or 10am and no problem found so they would basically chase a problem they couldn't see. Well after about 5 or 6 house calls, a lot of headaches, totally new cable/outlets/splitters, a month and a half, and a lot of hair lost talking to tech support, I finally convinced them the problem was before my house and they ended up replacing an amp in the node that was malfunctioning with the weather changes.

I am now actually having another problem that is starting to look the same way - but I am prepared! I have a small monitor that I take to the pedestal (just happens to be in my back yard), hook up one of my cable boxes straight to the tap, and read the diagnostic screen. They won't replace one more inch of cable in my house if I have a say, dang it!

Have not had the problem lately. (last couple of weeks) The cable guy told me he had seen this in other areas of the city, not just this neighborhood.

The cold weather problem in San Antonio is more prevalent than you know. Large parts of the network have old technology including nodes and amplifiers that need to be upgraded. Unfortunately, it's easier to replace a defective amplifier than upgrade a subnetwork.

I have experienced the same cold weather problem for at least 10 years. I'm at the end of a network. When the temp falls below 30 degrees, I start getting blocking and pixelization, freezing, and eventually loss of channels. This is d/t signal suck out often d/t a bad amplifier at the node. It's so predictable that I can tell what the outside temp is just by watching HD.

I've been told by TWC engineers that my area needs new network equipment but the amount of business does not justify the cost.

Recently, I've noticed a lot of freezing and unavailable channels on the HD stations. I suspect this is d/t the same problem. Of course, they never find anything with remote access and by the time you get a service guy out the problem is gone. Very frustrating. I am probably switching to satellite when my current agreement expires.

Some updates to the KCWX saga http://home.swbell.net/pjdyer/fred-2.htm#dt5sub

See that KENS-DT-.2 is now with "estrellaTV", but the PSIP and EPG are still showing VIPIR 5 3D for it. Sub 3 has the live radar display.

There was a rush to get the Estrella preview/promotional reels on the air late Monday, and the PSI guide info was neglected. Today you will see "Muy Pronto Estrella TV." We are running a two-hour, 23 minute loop of excerpts from Estrella programming on KENS 5-2. Original debut was scheduled for September 7, but due in part to the Los Angeles fires, the launch has been pushed back by a week to September 14.

Silent Vipir 5 Doppler radar imagery remains on KENS 5-3.

Anyone noticing lip-synch issues with KABB?

Last night on a show or news. Can't remember which. Not watching tonight tho.

KABB lipsynch-- It's really bad tonight on their news broadcast.

Yeah last week I noticed lip sync mismatch during 2 episodes of 2.5 men, both episodes. Couldn't watch anymore after that

Hooked my new toy this afternoon, sadly I got nothing on any channel using the RCA DTA800 D/A converter. Returned to my passive 4 way splitter all's well again....(sigh) Looks like I have to return it

Hooked my new toy this afternoon, sadly I got nothing on any channel using the RCA DTA800 D/A converter. Returned to my passive 4 way splitter all's well again...

Before you return it, let's put an analyzer on your antenna. I have been itching to see what's wrong out there for a while, maybe now's the time. I have another viewer not far from you with another problem, so maybe we'll hit both of you on Monday.

Hello everyone, I am having trouble tuning in channel 2 (CW) from NE San Antonio (near Windsor Park Mall).

I have a Winegard MS-2002 antenna connected to two Hauppauge HVR-1600 cards in a computer. I am using BeyondTV software. Every other channel in the area works just fine, but I get zero signal from the CW.

Any ideas? Anything I should try?

KCWX at almost 50 miles north is the biggest challenge of the "local" DTVs to get. In most cases this far away it might require a directional antenna pointed their way. Also, being the only local DTV on lo-VHF it is more subject to various kinds of interference that could prevent a decode (and an amplified antenna wont "cure" that situation, and in some cases may actually make it worse). Realizing all this, they have applied for a Ch 8 translator in town http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1328399.html (the highly-directional pattern is to protect the Ch 8 in Corpus Christi, KIII).

A VERY special thank you to REALTHOUGUE for his time and effort troubleshooting my OTA reception in Elm Creek cove, and on a holiday none the less! With the use of his spectrum analyzer he was able to determine the following:
1. Overall low signal strength as I live in a valley for UHF transmissions, little to none for VHF channels (9,12).
2. Low noise up to the power supply inside the house which powers an amplifier on the OTA antenna mast.
3. Increased noise from a 2nd amplifier to a passive 4-way splitter in house. 2nd amp was bypassed and the signal strength increased on UHF channels on the (plasma) TV tuner, but decreased strength on the RCA D/A box, but was still able to receive them. Still no usable VHF signals for channels 9,12. on either the tv tuner or D/A box.
4. No VHF signal because the amplifier on the antenna mast is UHF only!
This system was installed in spring of 98 by Viking satellite located in Lakehills (now out of business). So far I've removed a signal combiner (not used), a 2nd 25db amplifier which overpowered and distorted the signal/noise, replaced the coax inside and out with Quad shielding due to CB interference received before the digital conversion. Now I need to replace the antenna's amp to bring in channels 9 and 12. It appears my setup was mickey moused from the get go, to include a splice (not a splitter) on the old coax cable!

Jerry you went above and beyond, and hobbiests like myself appreciate you and your expertise both in this forum and in your many travels. Thank you again, I hope KENS5 appreciates valuable asset to their organization, you! ERIN GO BRAGH (or BRAUGH as you wish)!

Hello everyone, I am having trouble tuning in channel 2 (CW) from NE San Antonio (near Windsor Park Mall).

I have a Winegard MS-2002 antenna ... I get zero signal from the CW.

Any ideas? Anything I should try?

Scott,

as WA5IYX points out, you are 50 miles from the KCWX transmitter. That, and the omnidirectional nature of the MS-2002 both work against you in your efforts to receive The CW. In the analog days I never could get a decent signal on channel 2 or channel 5 on MS-2002 antennas installed on our trucks. I think the VHF components in the MetroStar are just too small. To help solve your problem you might try an inexpensive (<$17.00) VHF antenna like the Antenna Craft CS600.

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=CS600

Place it 6 to 10 feet away from the MS-2002 and run a separate coax from it to a combiner. Take the RF out from the Winegard power supply into one side of the combiner and the VHF antenna RF into the other side and try it. You may not even need a preamp if you can get the antenna high enough. Winegard sells inexpensive preamps that can help bring in the signal. The antenna mentioned is only a suggestion; there are others that may work just as well, but your MetroStar probably will not do the job.

At KENS we use a Yagi-style VHF antenna cut for channel 5 aimed northward to pick up KCWX. Without a preamp we get an acceptable signal, but using a 16 dB preamp we pull in great reception - and our channel 5 VHF antenna captures not only KCWX, but also all the San Antonio VHF and UHF stations. Being on the highest point (almost) in San Antonio doesn't hurt, either.

I am assuming that you are in a single-family home with your MS-2002 antenna mounted at or above roof level. If you are in an apartment we need to have another discussion altogether.

Thanks! I am in a single family home and I have the antenna in the attic. I was afraid that simple distance was the problem. I will try the suggestions though. Thanks a million!

How hard is it to modify the EPG for a channel ? It would certainly be useful when the network programming runs long for sporting events and displaces the rest of the evening primetime (and later) schedule.

How hard is it to modify the EPG for a channel ? It would certainly be useful when the network programming runs long for sporting events and displaces the rest of the evening primetime (and later) schedule.

Unfortunately, it is not an automatic process. An operator who is trained on the PSIP software would need to go into the program guide table and manually update at least the first event affected, once the program running long has ended. On weekends in particular, there is usually only one operator who has all he can do to keep up with network changes, running spot breaks (those are not automatic either) and preparing for a newscast. We are always preparing for a newscast. None of the Master Control operators are trained on the PSIP software; the Engineering Supervisor is the primary agent who keeps the program guide information up to date.

A while back the FCC tried to mandate that stations purchase new software that would "automatically" detect program overruns and adjust program guide tables appropriately - to within one minute accuracy. Problem was/is, such software did not actually exist. Updating the guide table remains a manual operation.

WOAI News in HD when?

Nice that KENS had a place (KCWX) to "dump" the Monday CBS US Open Tennis HD feed while they showed their normal syndies and news . In the news their mention of it as "KCWX Cable Channel 4" gives one a hint as to how many they presume are OTA viewers of it. :) Lots of dead air during the local commercial cuts since they were tailored to fit within the regular KCWX programming breaks.

Does anyone have any info about when WOAI will be going HD with their local broadcast news? It's hard to believe it's taking them this long.

DerrikM

Does anyone have any info about when WOAI will be going HD with their local broadcast news? It's hard to believe it's taking them this long.

DerrikMJeanne Jakle said in her last column (http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/columnists/jeanne_jakle/Jeanne_Jakle_High-def_makeover_for_WOAI_KAJA_nominated.html) that it would happen within a week. Apparently WOAI will be the first station in town to convert all of its field cameras to HD.

As for how long it has taken, scroll back a few hundred posts in this thread to where we discussed that this conversion costs each station millions of dollars.

Jeanne Jakle said in her last column (http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/columnists/jeanne_jakle/Jeanne_Jakle_High-def_makeover_for_WOAI_KAJA_nominated.html) that it would happen within a week. Apparently WOAI will be the first station in town to convert all of its field cameras to HD.

As for how long it has taken, scroll back a few hundred posts in this thread to where we discussed that this conversion costs each station millions of dollars.

Buckle your seatbelts -- News 4 WOAI is finally going HD at 5 tonight! We've got a beautiful new set, new editing system, new cameras...new everything.

Danny Trevino
WOAI Engineering\Transmitter

whoo hoo!!

Buckle your seatbelts -- News 4 WOAI is finally going HD at 5 tonight! We've got a beautiful new set, new editing system, new cameras...new everything.
Danny Trevino
WOAI Engineering\Transmitter

I'm happy 'cause the signal strength hangs around 30 db at 100% up here in Kerrville compared to a few months ago when I was lucky to see 22 db.

I'm considering a Channel Master Spartan 3 model #CM0068DSB (~$50) which comes w/a 0747 power supply. This model ALSO comes w/a builtin FM TRAP switch (IN/OUT) inside the plastic case which I'll assume will replace the unit inside the house and needs to be set the same as my FM TRAP box inside. There is another Spartan3 model (CM0265DSB) but has 2 inputs (?) and no power supply. Thoughts/recommendations?

Jerry, do you recall how far to angle up the antenna? I don't recall it being more than 10 deg? I'd like to optimize the signal while I have the unit down to replace the amp. What would be the best way to find the optimum angle w/o a spectrum analyzer?

Live just north of the airport. 2nd story apartment facing north. No view of the south possible.

Getting all OTA digital channels that I "should" be getting except for channel 12-ABC. I don't get CW, but that I expected. All of my channels are coming in with great quality including the 4 PBS channels.

Anything going on with ABC that I should be made aware of, or should I just give it up for dead?

WOAI HD broadcast looked great last night!

Is anyone else just getting stereo from WOAI?

KLRN-9 and KSAT-12 are each currently stuck with comparatively low ERP. KLRN's TL is a bit closer in (Foster Road) vs KSAT's (Elmendorf) which may account for any of their advantage in parts of town as they're both hi-VHF. As an aside, I was going comment on the KBNB-DL-10.1 poor quality video feed vs their 10.2 infomercials, but they're off air at the moment.

I have finally cancelled my DirecTV and have been trying to get all the local channels OTA over the past few days. I have a TERK Outdoor Amplified Antenna (HDTVO model). I originally mounted the antenna on the pole that supported my dish, but only got 35 & 26-1 - 26-4 (acceptable to low reception). Since moving the antenna inside and setting it on a tray table in my living room, I get all the locals (plus some analogs) with great (70% +) reception but no CW, ABC & PBS. This antenna does have an inline amplifier, and I have scanned for channels with the amp on and off, but alas, no VHF channels appeared.
I live in a one story home east of Government Canyon (Silver Oaks subdivision between Culebra and Shaenfield/Galm). Home faces east, and mounting antenna on front porch probably won't fly with HOA and a tree in the direction of the broadcasts.

Is there something I can do for the VHF channels without buying a new antenna and getting on my roof again? I can live without PBS and the CW, but my wife and I watch ABC more than the other locals.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Having to beam thru those several 100-kw FM stations on that Galm Road 1100' tower may be part of the problem. (The KMYS TL is at Lake Hills near Medina Lake while 26's is west of the lake - all very close vs everything else.) An amplified antenna (w/o an FM trap) may be getting overloaded by those FM stations and producing spurious signals that could prevent hi-VHF (i.e., 9 and 12) DTV from decoding. KCWX with their TL up north might require a dedicated antenna beamed at them.

Same thing here for me last night.

Is anyone else just getting stereo from WOAI?

Buckle your seatbelts -- News 4 WOAI is finally going HD at 5 tonight! We've got a beautiful new set, new editing system, new cameras...new everything.

Danny Trevino
WOAI Engineering\Transmitter

TXMAN,

Any update on progress of audio fixes at WOAI?

I'm considering a Channel Master Spartan 3 model #CM0068DSB (~$50) which comes w/a 0747 power supply. This model ALSO comes w/a builtin FM TRAP switch (IN/OUT) inside the plastic case which I'll assume will replace the unit inside the house and needs to be set the same as my FM TRAP box inside. There is another Spartan3 model (CM0265DSB) but has 2 inputs (?) and no power supply. Thoughts/recommendations?
Sure; the CM0265DSB is for folks with a separate UHF and VHF antenna. All you need is the CM0068SDB to capture the VHF's. Do set the FM trap to IN; as WA5IYX points out, you are looking through an RF soup of several 100kW FM stations at 1604 and Galm Road on your way to see the tall towers at Elmendorf.

...do you recall how far to angle up the antenna?
I don't think you need to bother with any inclination of your antenna; no more than 5 degrees up if you want to experiment, though. Too high can cause problems for you when variable-e and tropo ducting conditions are favorable, bringing in distant stations that can block the local ones you want to see!

Having to beam thru those several 100-kw FM stations on that Galm Road 1100' tower may be part of the problem. (The KMYS TL is at Lake Hills near Medina Lake while 26's is west of the lake - all very close vs everything else.) An amplified antenna (w/o an FM trap) may be getting overloaded by those FM stations and producing spurious signals that could prevent hi-VHF (i.e., 9 and 12) DTV from decoding. KCWX with their TL up north might require a dedicated antenna beamed at them.
Would you suggest an FM trap or a dedicated antenna? I am new to this so any advice you give would be invaluable.

You'd need the FM trap on the antenna/pre-amplifier that you're trying to get Ch 9 and 12 with (they're c. 30-35 mi s.e. from out there). A separate hi-VHF antenna would cut down on the FM pickup to a degree (174-216 MHz vs 88-108 MHz). Since the bearing for KCWX from there is almost at a 90-deg angle from them (near north) unless you're using a combination hi-low VHF/UHF antenna with a rotator it would null them. With KCWX (76-82 MHz) at 40-45 miles the best bet for them is a lo-VHF antenna beamed at them. I'll leave it others to suggest best makes/models - I've and ancient (1973) Archer V-100 (hi-low VHF) and a new (2008) CM-4228, each c. 20' AGL on separate rotors since I do TV-DX with them. http://www.qsl.net/wa5iyx/wa5iyx-dtv.txt
http://www.rabbitears.info/dxlocation.php?id=79

I don't think so. I watched the 6 pm news friday night and david was on the scene of some football thing to give away stuff and that wasn't a HD picture. It was a strecthed SD picture. I don't know why when every station switchs something to HD they stretch their standard picture to make it look like HD. The stuff filmed in the studio really in HD looked great.
By the way I sure hope those new ugly HD channel icons in the right hand corner that keep changing ever 10 seconds or so will leave soon. I don't need an Icon to tell me if I have HD or not. It is really distracting when watching a nice picture to have this ugly icon there. You should watch your news brodcast, Those large banners take up to much of the screen. You have a great HD picture, expect when in the field, so why cover must of the bottom half with a huge banner. Your parent network does the same with the Today show. I can understand a thin banner at the bottom the size of the words you are showing but you don't need them surrounded by fancy colors and designs. Thanks for what you do just wanted to give you some viewer feedback.

Hi - I'm looking to drop my DBS system and was planning on installing a TV antenna - I live near DeZavala and I10. I've read through a lot of this thread (maybe 10-20 pages or so) looking for folks that live in my area. I see a bunch of references to the "Radio Shack 85inch" antenna but can't find one with that description on their website.

I've played around with an RCA 800 box, and am planning on building a DVR computer with a Hauppauge QAM tuner.

I had a couple of questions I was hoping someone could help me with-

1) Would this antenna (Channel Master CM 3016) be a good choice for my location? Antennaweb lists me around 28 miles to several UHF stations (some of which I've picked up with makeshift antennas already)

solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=ANC3016

Or is there another model that would work better and not be very expensive?

2) what kinds of mast/mounts are good for faschia boards? Or do I really need to do a roof mount (if so, which one??) How high above the roof level (as measured from the edge of the roof) is needed?

3) Is there any harm in mounting the antenna within a few feet of a DBS dish, or do I need to space the TV antenna away from the DBS dish or take the dish down?

4) antenna web suggests a medium, directional antenna with preamp,so I was thinking also of adding the Winegard HDP 269 as I think it will not overload when there is a strong signal. Is this worth doing, and if so, is this a good model?

amazon.com/Winegard-HDP-269-Input-Amplifier-Antenna/dp/B001DFS4C2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1253387747&sr=8-4#moreAboutThisProduct

5) with a makeshift antenna, I've been able to get stations 5(sometimes) 16,17, 29 (Sometimes), 35 and a couple of others. With a 'real' antenna, is it realistic to get all standard SA stations, including 4,9,and 12 from my area(I think yes but...)?

Thanks for any help!!!

ARTX99,

Do you know which card you are buying. Only thing don't waste your money on the full kit. By this I mean one with a remote control. Hauppauge no longer includes the USB receiver for them. They include a receiver that doesn't work. I sent them around 15 complaints and they finally sent me want the ad said I would get (the USB receiver) and it works great. But the 2250 card works great. I think you saw my reference to the 85" Radio Shack antenna. They have replaced the one I bought with this one:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3739594&tab=techSpecs
I use BeyondTV 4 for my DVR software and it works great. I currenty have 5 HDTV receivers in my box. The max you will be able to run in Windows 7 will be 3. Software can be demo for 1 month at www.snapstream.com. If you decide to buy it be sure to ask them to move your account to your paid copy other wise you won't get full functionality.

Still in the process moving all the equipment into our new HD\digital rack room. Lots of fires to put out right now, but should have our 5.1 encoder installed as soon as next week (don't quote me on that...lol).

Danny

Danny,

Thanks for the update, good to know you guys are working on it:)

I don't get Ksat OTA so I can't comment if they do or not.

But really the people from KENS and WOAI need to get their useless CRAP off the screen, why do we need so many things "scrolling, banners, etc) on the screen. Like someone else said who the heck cares that we know we are watching WOAI in HD.....by the way bout time....the last in the local area to pick up HD.

Kudos to all stations Kens, Ksat and WOAI for getting HD.

My other is with WOAI is the "tv's" behind the anchors in the studio do they look "blurry" at times or is it just me??? I hate the "tv thing" background.

I don't get Ksat/ABC over the air.

I have tried 3 things.

First, I tried a regular small TV antenna, didn't work and all I got was WOAI and FOX.

Second, I tried a Digital Converter (My TV has a built in one but it must not be good? I have a LG 42" 2008 model 1080p) and I still can't get KSAT/ABC, KENS (most of the time) or WOAI (some of the time)

Third, I tried and went to Walmart and got a $30 flat antenna by RCA I think. With this antenna I get Kens/CBS CRYSTAL clear and WOAI CRYSTAL clear and FOX CRYSTAL clear but of course NO ABC/Ksat....

What gives with KSAT's poor quality?

I live in Universal City, just northeast of San Antonio.....

I don't get Ksat/ABC over the air.

I have tried 3 things...What gives with KSAT's poor quality?

I live in Universal City, just northeast of San Antonio.....

Saturn,

I have written separately to you in a PM about OTA reception before I read your posts. The RCA antenna you bought is not designed for VHF reception; it is okay for UHF stations as long as you are close to the transmitters - and you are - but you'll need some kind of VHF antenna to get consistent results with KSAT. Here's an example of an inexpensive solution: http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=CM2016&d=Channel-Master-CM2016-HDTV-VHF-High-Band-and-UHF-Antenna-(CM2016)&c=TV%20Antennas&sku=020572020169. There are others; you may want to choose a style that is more easily concealed or placed in an attic.

KSAT is somewhat limited by power at the moment, but as close as you are you will receive them really well with the right antenna.

If you already have a digital TV, you do not need a digital converter box, unless you want to continue using it with an older analog TV that still works well.

ARTX99,

Do you know which card you are buying. Only thing don't waste your money on the full kit. By this I mean one with a remote control. Hauppauge no longer includes the USB receiver for them. They include a receiver that doesn't work. I sent them around 15 complaints and they finally sent me want the ad said I would get (the USB receiver) and it works great. But the 2250 card works great. I think you saw my reference to the 85" Radio Shack antenna. They have replaced the one I bought with this one:
radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3739594&tab=techSpecs
I use BeyondTV 4 for my DVR software and it works great. I currenty have 5 HDTV receivers in my box. The max you will be able to run in Windows 7 will be 3. Software can be demo for 1 month at snapstream.com. If you decide to buy it be sure to ask them to move your account to your paid copy other wise you won't get full functionality.

socd - thanks for the reply- I was looking at this Hauppauge kit newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116007 but I will look at possibly finding a different remote source.

How did you mount that antenna? Did you mount to the roof directly or some other method?

Thanks!

Thanks for the tips so far i sent you a PM back. I miss my CSI Miami show! And I can't even get Dancing with The Stars on ABCHD....sucks! =(

ARtX99,

I hooked it up to an old satelite bracket I had already installed at the back highest part of my roof line.

As for capture cards I have the Hauppauge 2250; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116037
Just make sure you have a PCIe slot available. It is cheaper and free shipping here: http://www.amazon.com/Hauppauge-1229-WinTV-HVR-2250-System-Builders/dp/B001E2T6Y4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1253658173&sr=8-1

Any idea when we are getting any Spanish HD stations here in SA?

I get channel 60 in HD and also 1 other I think (not sure if its HD or not 41 I think) are both spanish.

Still in the process moving all the equipment into our new HD\digital rack room. Lots of fires to put out right now, but should have our 5.1 encoder installed as soon as next week (don't quote me on that...lol).

Danny

What happened to the 5.1? Seems like it was working for a bit, now you're back to 2.0 like you've been forever.

I helped a friend connect a new flat screen to her existing TWC cable. We bypassed the cable box and let the TV scan for available channels. It found about 24 digital channels with numbers such as 110-104. Checking these out revealed that they include the local station digital (HD) broadcasts as well as such channels as ESPNHD. TWC's website indicates that an HD cable box is necessary to receive HD broadcasts. Is there any reason to get an HD box other than eliminating the necessity to punch in 7 digits to tune the HD channels? I don't have TWC, so I'm somewhat ignorant on this.

You said TWC, are you sure you don't have Comcast ?...anyway...

Her new TV has a QAM tuner in it, along side the standard ATSC. You're getting those weird numbers via the QAM.
It's unlikely that it is delivering HD, and most of the channels available are encrypted, which is why you are only getting 24.
You probably won't get any HD unless you use the STB, all those are in the higher ranges like Ch 600+.

...TWC's website indicates that an HD cable box is necessary to receive HD broadcasts. Is there any reason to get an HD box other than eliminating the necessity to punch in 7 digits to tune the HD channels? I don't have TWC, so I'm somewhat ignorant on this.

New ATSC TV sets have a QAM tuner and an ATSC tuner, as our friend from Houston points out. We published a table in this thread that defines the QAM assignments for two different channel plans and compared those numbers to the TW channels on their box. For example, KENS is TW 105, but 112-1 or 112-155, depending on the channel plan of the new set. Adding to the confusion, TW has shuffled their QAM lineup a little, making our original table obselete. I will bring it up to date this week and publish a fresh version.

Meanwhile, the set will receive Local HD channels just fine in the format and rate transmitted by the originating station. Most of us are providing a direct HD fiber feed to TW so you will see about the same signal as OTA viewers. Arguably, if TW adds compression to their QAM lineup, your HD delivery will suffer somewhat - although they have promised not to do that.

I am surprised you captured ESPN-HD; you do need a cable box for all of the "digital tier" channels (except local stations,) unless they have let a few slip through "in the clear."

Thanks, Jerry. I'm not sure it was specifically ESPN-HD, but there were some "cable" channels that did show up HD. And, yes, SWHouston, we were definitely seeing HD.

anyone noticing repeated "digital error" type noise on kabb? heard it a lot during the Cowboys game and tonight on House.

No problem during the Cowboys game OTA.

Jerry/SF

I guess I need to apologize, I am getting HD via my Comcast/QAM.

It's just that it's SO bad, I didn't recognize it as being HD !

I have a OTA into a 1080 LCD, and the clarity of the HD via OTA is vastly superior to what Comcast delivers via QAM or thru their Rental Box. Oh well.

Have a good Day ! :)
S.W.

Jerry/SF

...I am getting HD via my Comcast/QAM.

It's just that it's SO bad, I didn't recognize it as being HD !

S.W., don't worry about it. We've put out some pretty bad OTA in our worst of times; some readers of this Forum may remember the "bad old days."

Nowadays, OTA quality is hard to beat as long as you have the right receiving equipment. The cable companies try their best, but they like to squeeze too much into each QAM.

The only non-broadcast signals that I'm getting in Clear QAM from Time-Warner are two new audio-only music channels that recently popped up on channel 16. To watch any cable networks in HD with Time-Warner in San Antonio requires a set-top box.

anyone noticing repeated "digital error" type noise on kabb? heard it a lot during the Cowboys game and tonight on House.

I can affirm that channel 29 has digi-noise coming over the Direct-TV box and no other stations on DTV seem to have the noise! Channel 29 OTA antenna does not however have the diginoise (new word?), hope this heps ya!

GO GIANTS! GO YANKEES!

You'd need the FM trap on the antenna/pre-amplifier that you're trying to get Ch 9 and 12 with (they're c. 30-35 mi s.e. from out there). A separate hi-VHF antenna would cut down on the FM pickup to a degree (174-216 MHz vs 88-108 MHz). Since the bearing for KCWX from there is almost at a 90-deg angle from them (near north) unless you're using a combination hi-low VHF/UHF antenna with a rotator it would null them. With KCWX (76-82 MHz) at 40-45 miles the best bet for them is a lo-VHF antenna beamed at them. I'll leave it others to suggest best makes/models - I've and ancient (1973) Archer V-100 (hi-low VHF) and a new (2008) CM-4228, each c. 20' AGL on separate rotors since I do TV-DX with them. http://www.qsl.net/wa5iyx/wa5iyx-dtv.txt
http://www.rabbitears.info/dxlocation.php?id=79
So I installed an FM trap (88 - 108 MHz) and I still did not get PBS or KSAT (9 & 12). I only added 5 analog channels (all with very poor reception and no sound). I think I will try the antenna suggested (high-gain VHF/UHF) from this post.

Thanks again!

A problem with ATSC is that so many things can cause a faillure to decode (1) not enough signal, (2) too much multipath, (3) interference on the desired channel - and without more-sophisticated equipment (like a spectrum analyzer) finding the cause (and implementing the correct cure, if possible) can be a challenge. Just a personal example - I have a 7" Haier HLT71 LCD set (in case of outages and for other uses), and when it is on with just A/V cables connected something in it (I suspect the backlight for the LCD) creates wideband interference on low-VHF TV (and FM) which is often strong enough to degrade/kill KCWX (RF5) decodes on the other OTA sets here with outdoor antennas!

new assignments for time horror san antonio

105.1 galavision

110.1 mx canal

110.2 latn

110.3 woai hd

110.4 ksat hd

111.1 klrn hd

111.2 vme

111.3 create

111.4 klrn sd

111.5 kabb hd

112.1 kmys hd

112.2 kens hd

112.3 estrella tv

Jerry,

Last night I watched the 8 Oct 09 episode of The Mentialist. Both times you all displayed the weather warning the video froze for seconds at a time. The audio keep playing.

Just thought I would give you a heads up. Hopefully, this was a fluke.

new assignments for time horror san antonio

105.1 galavision
110.1 mx canal
110.2 latn
110.3 woai hd
110.4 ksat hd
111.1 klrn hd
111.2 vme
111.3 create
111.4 klrn sd
111.5 kabb hd
112.1 kmys hd
112.2 kens hd
112.3 estrella tv

This is true for a lot of sets, but not all. Within this channel plan, found on Samsung, Sony, Sharp and others, some models display KENS on 112.1 and KMYS on 112.2. In the office next to mine, Randy Johnson has a Sanyo that shows Estrella on 112.1, KMYS on 112.2 and KENS on 112.3 and so does the more generic STB on a Sony 38" in our Program Prep area, so there does not seem to be a lot of standardization even within that single channel plan. Rescanning might make some difference. On my Samsung SIR-T451 at home, Galavision turned up on 105.7 after a fresh rescan, Estrella was at 112.1, KMYS on 112.2 and KENS on 112.3. The channel 112 ordering in this plan seems to have become more consistent since last week.

A second channel plan in some sets, notably Philips, Magnavox, RCA and that family, identify the channels differently. Within Time-Warner this noon, their lineup is like this after a fresh re-scan of my Magnavox DTV:

105.6 Galavision
110.8 Mexicanal
110.81 LATV
110.104 WOAI
110.112 KSAT
111.91 KLRN 9-1
111.93 KLRN 9-3 (Vme)
111.94 KLRN 9-4 (Create)
111.108 KLRN 9-2
111.111 KABB
112.79 Estrella
112.107 KMYS
112.155 KENS

You can see that the order of channels is similar but not identical to the "other" plan. New to this lineup is Estrella, which had not been in the channel plan on that set early last week.

The point of it all is that there is little standardization among manufacturers of consumer electronics. One would believe that all clear-QAM tuners would respond in the same way to local channels, as do the majority of ATSC tuners. Clearly they do not. As to standardization, just compare a few TV remote controls from different brands. Are the volume and channel up/down controls in the same place? How easy are they to find?

The experiment continues...

I did a rescan this morning on TWC and found some new 480i SD signals in Clear QAM on Channel 20.

20.25 ESPN2
20.49 TLC
20.51 CMT
20.54 Nick
20.55 Animal Planet
20.57 National Geographic
20.58 Travel
20.77 HGTV

No joy for me on any of the 20.n channels you found, Bars. In fact, Galavision has disappeared from my lineup as well. Instead of 105.6, Gala was on channel "0," which is a temporary location the Magnavox uses for channels it cannot define in a QAM.

There may be no connection, but TW had major problems last night between 7:00pm and 9:00pm; they may have had to do some rearranging.

No joy for me on any of the 20.n channels you found, Bars. In fact, Galavision has disappeared from my lineup as well. Instead of 105.6, Gala was on channel "0," which is a temporary location the Magnavox uses for channels it cannot define in a QAM.

There may be no connection, but TW had major problems last night between 7:00pm and 9:00pm; they may have had to do some rearranging.The 20.n channels are still showing up for me this afternoon, as is Galavision on 105.6.

I'm in North Central SA, about midway between the loops and the interstates. Apparently we're getting a different channel lineup than your part of town.

I had other problems a few weeks ago where certain HD channels would be a black screen and say " THIS CHANNEL IS UNAVAILABLE, PLEASE TRY AGAIN LATER" It would seem to happen on groups of HD channels on both of my boxes at the same time. Five minutes later they would work or it was another group of channels.

Yeah, I noticed this too. ESPN2 would go dark, but regular ESPN worked. or USA HD and Universal HD would go dark, but other HD channels would work fine.

agentalbert,

Fortunately my service has improved. I haven't seen the 'channel unavailable' message in at least a couple of weeks. The last time TWC came by for a service call, the tech stated that the problem was due to bandwidth and server capacity on my local node. According to him, TWC is aware of the problem and they are in the process of upgrading. I wish they would just admit it and say they are working on it, instead of insisting on a service call and wasting everyone's time. Something must have happened though, because I don't seem to be having the issue anymore. Either that or its the cooler weather...

Shot in the dark, but does anyone happen to know the QAM channel lineup for Grande (or if they're even carrying HD channels over QAM?). My parents are moving into an apartment in a couple of weeks and they only have Grade available.

Was anyone getting frequent popping sounds coming out of the rear speakers watching V on KSAT tonight? I had it through the whole show. Very annoying pop-pop-pop sounds, similar to what you hear when a record ends and the needle is going over and over the last inner groove.

Provider is U-Verse, which I've had for a week now. Compared to TWC, I'd say the picture quality is a step down. They do offer some channels TWC didn't, but I'm not thrilled with the visual quality.

I hadn't watched it yet, but I just checked several places and it's there, as you described. I recorded it OTA through a DTV HR20 DVR. Can't blame it on U-Verse.

Was anyone getting frequent popping sounds coming out of the rear speakers watching V on KSAT tonight? I had it through the whole show. Very annoying pop-pop-pop sounds, similar to what you hear when a record ends and the needle is going over and over the last inner groove.

Provider is U-Verse, which I've had for a week now. Compared to TWC, I'd say the picture quality is a step down. They do offer some channels TWC didn't, but I'm not thrilled with the visual quality.

I hadn't watched it yet, but I just checked several places and it's there, as you described. I recorded it OTA through a DTV HR20 DVR. Can't blame it on U-Verse.

No, I didn't think it was likely U-Verse's fault. I just mentioned them, as I have only been using them for a week now. I sent an email to KSAT at their home page, but I don't think they'll do anything. Their picture quality took a significant dip about a year or year and a half ago, and they've never stepped it back up. Its actually pretty crappy.

Anyone having issues receiving KENS on TWC QAM? I am able to tune to 112-155 but it is skipping and stuttering.

Anyone having issues receiving KENS on TWC QAM? I am able to tune to 112-155 but it is skipping and stuttering.

KENS on QAM is working perfectly for me.

Heard constant popping sounds during this past weekend's Saturday Night Live on WOAI.

Heard constant popping sounds during this past weekend's Saturday Night Live on WOAI.

Same here. In general, WOAI is pretty bad. They don't have 5.1 yet, instead broadcasting in 2.0. It comes across to a receiver as 5.1, but only L-R are active. They've told me their 5.1 equipment failed and they are working on getting it fixed/replaced, but that was a year ago. They also seem to have more motion artifacting than other stations. They had a guy on here posting, but he's disappeared.

Same here. In general, WOAI is pretty bad. They don't have 5.1 yet, instead broadcasting in 2.0. It comes across to a receiver as 5.1, but only L-R are active. They've told me their 5.1 equipment failed and they are working on getting it fixed/replaced, but that was a year ago. They also seem to have more motion artifacting than other stations. They had a guy on here posting, but he's disappeared.

Artifacting is horrible on WOAI.

KCWX has been without any program info and EPG for several days now. Strange how quickly one becomes acustomed to such features.

The remote access computer at the KCWX site is not responding so one of our engineers is in Stonewall today to troubleshoot and restore the problem. Ordinarily we can "remote-in" to most of this gear and restore operations, but occasionally the PC want that "hands-on" touch to come back to life.

We expect to have all services restored today.

Heard constant popping sounds during this past weekend's Saturday Night Live on WOAI.

Same here. In general, WOAI is pretty bad. They don't have 5.1 yet, instead broadcasting in 2.0. It comes across to a receiver as 5.1, but only L-R are active. They've told me their 5.1 equipment failed and they are working on getting it fixed/replaced, but that was a year ago. They also seem to have more motion artifacting than other stations. They had a guy on here posting, but he's disappeared.

NBC sent us a new ird that we're required to use, but doesn't have the variable audio channel delay feature that we need, but we will have one soon. The 5.1 encoder is intalled which is why your receiver is showing 5.1, but we're only feeding 2.0 at this time. As far as artifacting, this is the first time anyone has complained about it as far as we know, but we're looking into it.


Danny Trevino
WOAI Engineering\Transmitter

Thanks for the info, Danny. Are the popping sounds I and others heard during the SNL broadcast related to anything you mentioned? Were you guys aware of that audio issue?

Jerry,

Is there any way you guys can get rid of the static in the weather report? Or is that from the source?

Thanks for the info, Danny. Are the popping sounds I and others heard during the SNL broadcast related to anything you mentioned? Were you guys aware of that audio issue?

No, but it was probably the source (NBC), since it didn't happen to other progamming as far as I know.

I've caught this NAB spot now on KENS and KSAT so far http://www.clickorlando.com/video/22037130/index.html

NBC sent us a new ird that we're required to use, but doesn't have the variable audio channel delay feature that we need, but we will have one soon. The 5.1 encoder is intalled which is why your receiver is showing 5.1, but we're only feeding 2.0 at this time. As far as artifacting, this is the first time anyone has complained about it as far as we know, but we're looking into it.


Danny Trevino
WOAI Engineering\Transmitter

I know I've emailed someone at WOAI about artifacting before. I think the name was Rutledge. It has been very bad on fast pans, like during a golf broadcast when the camera follows the ball and is panning across the gallery/course.

NBC sent us a new ird that we're required to use, but doesn't have the variable audio channel delay feature that we need, but we will have one soon. The 5.1 encoder is intalled which is why your receiver is showing 5.1, but we're only feeding 2.0 at this time. As far as artifacting, this is the first time anyone has complained about it as far as we know, but we're looking into it.


Danny Trevino
WOAI Engineering\Transmitter

Why are you only feeding it 2.0?

Jerry,

Is there any way you guys can get rid of the static in the weather report? Or is that from the source?

socd, If you are asking about the NOAA weather radio audio on our 5-3 service, it is in the source. We plan to improve on that in the coming year.

I've caught this NAB spot now on KENS and KSAT so far http://www.clickorlando.com/video/22037130/index.html

You might also want to read the following article and links to the original papers: http://www.tvnewscheck.com/articles/2009/12/11/daily.6/ You may need to register to get more content.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has hired Duke University Law Professor Stuart Benjamin as "Scholar-In-Residence" to consult on a number of issues. Benjamin is supposed to be a First Amendment expert but his views betray a determination to silence the Over-The-Air voice of America's broadcasters.

The spots, produced by the National Association of Broadcasters, are intended to make Americans aware that there is a movement behind the scenes that may one day do away with free OTA broadcasting.

The spots, produced by the National Association of Broadcasters, are intended to make Americans aware that there is a movement behind the scenes that may one day do away with free OTA broadcasting.


This is in the Austin paper today. The upshot is that OTA broadcasts aren't economically viable anymore.

Broadcasters' woes could spell trouble for free TV (http://www.statesman.com/news/nation/broadcasters-woes-could-spell-trouble-for-free-tv-153740.html)

You might also want to read the following article and links to the original papers: http://www.tvnewscheck.com/articles/2009/12/11/daily.6/ You may need to register to get more content.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has hired Duke University Law Professor Stuart Benjamin ...

Jerry, good info (as always)! Hopefully the mobile OTA market along with the existing OTA users will justify maintaining the free broadcasts. I for one have an OTA antenna which comes in very handy during storms when the satellite loses it's signal. I enjoy having the flexibility to fall back on it as a backup, but may have to totally rely on it if layoffs at work continue! Not to mention using the (OTA) TV tuner for P-I-P during football season! And me just having bought (a yet uninstalled) UHF/VHF/FM preamp for my OTA antenna replacing a UHF/FM only preamp (no channels 9 or 12).

btw - Happy New Year!

If we fed 5.1, the rear channle's will cause an "echo effect" because they go through a dolby digital encoder proccesser which causes a delay.

Can that be fixed or are we stuck with 2.0 masquerading as 5.1 forever? Is there any way to have the 2.0 actually come across as 2.0 so that a pro-logic receiver can do its magic?

I guess if you turned on pro-logic, it would. At least mine does.

I do have pro-logic turned on, but only get L-R sound from WOAI b/c it's being broadcast as 5.1 even though it's not. I can get pro-logic to work if I turn off Dolby Digital in the HD receiver, but then that turns it off for KABB, KSAT and KENS who do 5.1 right, so that is a poor compromise.

Are you saying that true 5.1 is not going to happen with WOAI? NFL, Golf, etc are all broadcast in 5.1 as well as NBC's primetime shows, but WOAI won't be providing that?

I believe I've answered you already a few post up.

Do you have a best approximation of when you'll finally be true 5.1?

KCWX's EPG needs to be repopulated again.

Why can't I see EPG info from the local stations when receiving them through Clear QAM on Time Warner cable?

We have been working on that with Time-Warner for some time. So far they have not been able to get our local PSIP data through their infrastructure.

We do not know why - at least I do not.

We have been working on that with Time-Warner for some time. So far they have not been able to get our local PSIP data through their infrastructure.

We do not know why - at least I do not.

For sometime, since at least July 09 when we confirmed it wasn't working.

At least they admitted it is their problem.

I switched to satellite for the first time ever about 2 months ago and don't miss TWC at all.

I finally relocated the T120 that I'd put this KENS-5 analog shutdown video on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLmg-5YBY_g
The final 4 minutes of the 1-hour KWEX-41 special program will be converted next. Luckily they did theirs an hour before KENS.

KWEX-41 analog shutdown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMZ_y6r6hvU

Check it out got new HD channels today yay!!:D
114 AMC HD
120 G4 HD
121 NBA TV HD
132 WE HD
138 HLN HD
139 TruTV HD
148 History International HD
190 Crime and Investigation HD
191 Investigation Discovery HD

Check it out got new HD channels today yay!!:D
114 AMC HD
120 G4 HD
121 NBA TV HD
132 WE HD
138 HLN HD
139 TruTV HD
148 History International HD
190 Crime and Investigation HD
191 Investigation Discovery HD
With a tuner or on the converter box?

Does anyone know if ABC is going to Sharpen up their HD quality? For the past year and a half, the picture looks really soft and dull compared to KENS, WOAI, and Fox. I have Dish Network, but I can also get the OTA signal and both look the same. My Wife's parents ABC looks the same and they have TWC. I remember a couple of years ago KSAT (ABC) looked really good. I even had an old recording on my DVR from New Years two years ago and it looked great. Is KSAT really compressing the signal?

Check it out got new HD channels today yay!!:D
114 AMC HD
120 G4 HD
121 NBA TV HD
132 WE HD
138 HLN HD
139 TruTV HD
148 History International HD
190 Crime and Investigation HD
191 Investigation Discovery HD

It's amazing they can add numerous HD cable channels and we still can not get CW an off the air nationwide network in HD.

As I recall the W in CW came from Warner Bros.(WB) wasn't that the Warner in Time Warner.

I use a hddvr so converter?

Here is the announcement that ran in the Express-News last week about the TWC changes.

TWC - Notification - FEBRUARY 1ST RUN - SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS and NEWS.doc Express San Antonio

Time Warner Cable’s agreements with programmers to carry their services routinely expire from time to time. We are usually able to obtain renewals or extensions of such agreements, and carriage of programming services is discontinued only in rare circumstances. The following agreements with programmers are due to expire soon, and we may be required to cease carriage of one or more of these services in the near future.

E!
Encore
Encore Action
Encore Drama
Encore Love
Encore Mystery
Encore WAM
Encore Westerns
Food Network
FOX Reality
Great American Country
Halogen
Inspiration (INSP)
La Familia Cosmovision
Lifetime
Lifetime Real Women
Starz
Starz Cinema
Starz Edge
Starz HD
Starz InBlack
Starz Kids & Family
Style
The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel HD
TruTV

In addition, from time to time we make certain changes in the services that we offer in order to better serve our customers. The following changes are planned:

ADD:
None at this time

MOVE:
Game Show Network from Sports Tier Channel 227 to Digital Basic Channel 227

DELETE:
Movies On Demand Action from VOD Channel 904
Movies On Demand Comedy from VOD Channel 905
Movies On Demand Drama from VOD Channel 907

CHANGE:
ABC Family being made available in digital format only**
CMT being made available in digital format only**
Oxygen being made available in digital format only**
Style moving from Expanded Basic Channel 65 to Digital Basic Channel 251**
TruTV being made available in digital format only**
The new services listed below cannot be accessed on CableCARD-equipped
Unidirectional Digital Cable Products purchased at retail without additional, two-way capable equipment:

AMC HD to Expanded Basic Channel 114*
Crime & Investigation HD to Digital Variety Channel 190*
HLN HD to Expanded Basic Channel 138*
G4 HD to Digital Variety Channel 120*
HBO Comedy HD to Premium Channel 335*
HBO Signature HD to Premium Channel 334*
HBO Zone HD to Premium Channel 336*
HBO 2 HD to Premium Channel 179*
History International HD to Digital Variety Channel 148*
Investigation Discovery HD to Digital Variety Channel 191*
NBA TV HD to Digital Variety Channel 121*
Showtime 2 HD to Premium Channel 360*
TCM HD to Expanded Basic Channel 116*
TruTV HD to Expanded Basic Channel 139*
WE HD to Expanded Basic Channel 132*
MTV HD to Expanded Basic Channel 133*
Comedy Central HD to Expanded Basic Channel 189*
Fuse HD to Digital Variety Channel 156*
Hallmark Channel HD to Expanded Basic Channel 144*
BET HD to Expanded Basic Channel 173
Spike HD to Expanded Basic Channel 171

* HD Television and HD set-top box required to receive HD service.

I'm always entertained by T-W's attitude toward their customers. They seem to take on a monopolistic tone, kind of like a public notice posted by SAWS or CPS. "Here it is, schlubs, this is what you get, like it or not."

------A proud Directv subscriber since 2006.:)

I'm loving U-verse. TWC didn't care about helping me out until I called them to cancel my service. I told them they could have saved me if they had offered any of the price packages they were offering to me at that moment in the six months prior when I randomly called to complain about my bill and they said to pound sand.

Does anyone know if ABC is going to Sharpen up their HD quality? Is KSAT really compressing the signal?

I'm convinced that it's not HD at all. It looks like regular TV made to fill an HD size screen.

It's horrible and unwatchable. I never watch anything on KSAT anymore. I can't even get myself to watch the NBA games, it just looks too bad.

I'm convinced that it's not HD at all. It looks like regular TV made to fill an HD size screen.

That sums it up well. Has anyone contacted them?

Just skimming through the HD Channels on a TWC HDDVR box and wow! It looks like they have added every single HD channel from that press release expect for 2 (BET HD & Spike HD)....expecting those pretty soon I bet.

A Hill Country viewer has called me twice in as many days to report that he is seeing white specks or sparkles in the KENS OTA video. He lives in the Bandera - Pipe Creek area and says it starts around 5 - 6pm and continues through CBS Prime Time until 10:30 - 11:00pm. And yes, he only sees the problem on KENS. So far the viewer has not been able to confirm that the problem shows up on more than one TV set, making it hard to pinpoint in the home. It is visible on his 65" LCD, which comes as no surprise.

I have not seen any evidence of this anomaly here, either at the KENS OTA monitoring lab or at home.

Do any other Hill Country viewers have a similar experience? It is unusual to see artifacts described as specks or sparkles in digital video, since any interference or extraneous noise in the area of a receiving antenna generally causes loss of signal - or interruptions and "tiling" of the picture, at a minimum. We saw sparklies and specks in weak analog signals all the time; I am curious as to what he is actually describing. Let me know what the rest of you are seeing; it may be necessary to make another DTV house call!

I'll take a look tonight. This will be from Kerrville, some 75 miles out.

Allen

Clear from 5 to 5:30. I'll check again at 10:00 pm. I've got a 58" Panasonic plasma.

Allen,

Thanks for taking a look for me; it was clear here in SA all evening. I have not heard from the viewer yet today, so maybe tomorrow...

Thanks again.

And just for the record the 10pm news looked fine for the full broadcast.

Is anyone having problems with Time Warners HD channels? For a few months now, HD channels pixilate and sound cuts out momentarily. It does it a lot through out the night.

I'm wondering if it's my HD box, or the utility box TW changed out a few months ago. Or if it's TW that's having the problem.

Non HD channels are o.k.

that happened to me once and I called twc tech support and they resent the signal to my box and the pictures cleared right up on my box. Give them a call.

TW came out today. The problem was in the box outside. He took out some old filters that are no longer needed, and changed out connectors inside and outside. That improved it a lot. But he said there was still a split cable in the box outside. He was going to place a call on it for repair.

channel 111 was not viewable, but it is viewable now. Still a little bit of artificats, but that's due to the split cable under the outside box.

Time Warner finally added program guide information for our local stations. They also moved them to the regular channel numbers.

I'm in the process of buying a house about 3 miles straight north of the airport near Thousand Oaks and Wetmore. Looking to install an antenna in the attic, or a small outdoor antenna (HOA rules). Either way, does anyone on this forum live in that area, 78247, and if so which antenna do you find works well? I have a clear shot to the south/southeast of town with no obstructions - unless I mount in the attic, and no houses or tall trees behind me for at least 1/2 a mile.

Thanks

I live off of 1604 and Judson (78247 zip code) and I use a Terk - Indoor Amplified HDTV Antenna that I got from Bestbuy a couple of years ago. I have it on top of my Entertainment system and I am able to pick up all the local stations. The only one I have problems with is PBS.

Every since the transition my signal strength has been weak. I use to get 100 now only about 65 and this goes up and down a little bit. Are there plans to increase the strenght?

Got my notice today. I have been reading the Navigator thread for the last three years, it continues to be nothing but problems. I calling to request to remain on SARA.

Where is the Navigator thread located? I also got my notice yesterday and from the looks of it, I'd prefer the simpler guide. I can't stand the "A" "B" "C" buttons already but it looks like they will take a more prominent role in the new guide. I guess they're just capitalizing on a Playstation populace.

By the way, in case you guys weren't aware, TWC has the new CLIKR-5 (http://www.universalremote.com/resources/software/tutorial/8700_8720_tutorial/8720.php) remote control with red backlighting. We just exchanged all of our remotes with no hassle at the local office. The remote itself will take some getting used to, but the back light makes it very nice in the dark theater room or bedroom.

Major strangeness with KCWX lately. Both subchannels at times simulcasting This TV movies (with sub 1 leading by a few seconds), wide variations in sub 1's audio (notably weak on local commercials/infomercials), and an overly bright new yellow-green logo/bug in the lower right of sub 1.

http://www.qsl.net/wa5iyx/images/kcwx-dt-5.1zb.jpg
http://www.qsl.net/wa5iyx/images/kcwx-dt-5.1zc.jpg

Hello again to all you regulars. I live in Pipe Creek and have not experienced any sparkling on my Pioneer 50" plasma for KENS. I am using DTV to receive local channels and rarely have to use my OTA antenna unless inclimate weather warrants or to watch "PIP" to watch 2 football games at once, one on the DTV tuner and one on the OTA tuner. DTV does seem to drop audio momentarily, some days more than others on both live and recorded broadcasts. I think it's inherent in the DTV-DVR. I have complained to DTV and tried several fixes including cleaning the hard drive w/o resolve. Hope this helps....

BTW - I finally installed my channelmaster on my OTA antenna (over spring break) and can now receive channel 12 (VHF) but not 9 (PBS) which is no biggee. Nice to know I have ability to get all the local channels if needed. Thanks again to all, I'll check in on you periodically for OTA updates!

Is Navigator going to require a box swap?

Also, does anyone know if or when TWC-SA is going to get the new STBs with widescreen/HD IPGs?

So much room on my TV unused! :)

Major strangeness with KCWX lately. Both subchannels at times simulcasting This TV movies (with sub 1 leading by a few seconds), wide variations in sub 1's audio (notably weak on local commercials/infomercials), and an overly bright new yellow-green logo/bug in the lower right of sub 1.

It was not widely publicized but at the stroke of midnight, April 24, the Belo Corporation ceased management of KCWX. Corridor Television of Austin, TX now operates the station. They have built a new Master Control and they are re-establishing connections with satellite and cable delivery systems in South Texas. The transmitter location, channel assignment and power output have not changed.

Here is the new contact information for KCWX management:

CALLS:
1 (512) 482-8111

EMAILS:
ctawil@sbcglobal.net

LETTERS:
Corridor Television LLP
5929 Balcones Drive, Suite 202
Austin, Texas 78731

Thanks - another paragraph now to add to my swbell.net "saga" page about them :) In Nov 2006 S. Tawil e-mailed me about some needed "corrections" to it! (It went online only weeks after they had begun broadcasting in Aug 2000.) I see that the latest Wikipedia version about them mentions the "management change" to Corridor. I wonder how this all bodes for any of their plans for a Ch 8 DTV fill-in translator in town?

TW came out today. The problem was in the box outside. He took out some old filters that are no longer needed, and changed out connectors inside and outside. That improved it a lot. But he said there was still a split cable in the box outside. He was going to place a call on it for repair.

channel 111 was not viewable, but it is viewable now. Still a little bit of artificats, but that's due to the split cable under the outside box.

I apologize for not updating this info. They corrected all the problems outside but the aftificats and sound cutoff still continued. The tech said that the signal into the receiver was acceptable and could not determine what was causing the problem. So after everything had been done, the last thing to do was exchange the HD receiver. I exchanged it for a newer model, and all the problems went away. The problem was the HD receiver. This was several weeks ago.

I'm currently not getting a signal on KCWX's multicast channel 2.2 (THIS TV). 2.1 is coming in crystal clear. I had an overnight recording scheduled on 2.2. The recording is blank.

I wonder if the overnight storm knocked 2.2 off the air? Or is something else going on? Seems odd that the main channel is broadcasting, but the subchannel is not.

Late last night I was trying to watch them and was at first puzzled by the heavy pixelation rate until I realized that it was from the lightning of the approaching storm system (in the NTSC days those sferics would've been obvious!). At one point their entire signal failed for about 10 seconds, and on resumption their subchannel 2 was gone. It's back now, but something might have taken out their program feed from This TV.

We received a lot of calls and messages from viewers that our 5-1 service was in trouble late Sunday afternoon, going to black and becoming very choppy indeed. I can understand that many viewers were afraid of missing the Survivor finale and we did everything we could to restore the service in time.

KENS experienced a failure in a piece of equipment that fed our antenna, cable services and satellite services. We troubleshot the problem, located the failing device and corrected the problem in the most expedient way possible. Again, we are sorry for the inconvenience and I hope that you will continue to enjoy KENS.

I can't get KSAT in the 1604/Culebra area, but I get all other channels. This is the third antenna I have tried because I did not do my homework. The first and second antennas would not get VHF channels. It is mounted in the attic (RCA Performance Series Outdoor Antenna), and I used an iPhone compass to aim it toward the towers. It comes in well part of the time, poorly sometimes, and not at all most of the time. I can probably get it a little higher in the attic. Any ideas?

I can't get KSAT in the 1604/Culebra area, but I get all other channels. This is the third antenna I have tried because I did not do my homework. The first and second antennas would not get VHF channels. It is mounted in the attic (RCA Performance Series Outdoor Antenna), and I used an iPhone compass to aim it toward the towers. It comes in well part of the time, poorly sometimes, and not at all most of the time. I can probably get it a little higher in the attic. Any ideas?

Probably not the answer you looking for, but getting the antenna outside will make a big difference. The roof material and beams easily cut your signal in half.

Too bad the NBA finals are on ABC. KSAT's HD is horrible!! I watched most of last night's game and the picture looked so soft that it looked lik SD. Why can't give us HD? 3 years ago, KSAT HD looked great. What happened????

Too bad the NBA finals are on ABC. KSAT's HD is horrible!! I watched most of last night's game and the picture looked so soft that it looked lik SD. Why can't give us HD? 3 years ago, KSAT HD looked great. What happened????

Greed

Too bad the NBA finals are on ABC. KSAT's HD is horrible!! I watched most of last night's game and the picture looked so soft that it looked lik SD. Why can't give us HD? 3 years ago, KSAT HD looked great. What happened????
Is it just me or does KSAT also have horribly inconsistent lip-synch?

Yeah it does have bad lip-synch. I avoid KSAT at all costs. I am only watching now because of the Finals. Too bad I will never watch any of their programming because of their poor HD picture.

Wonder if there is any chance they will go back to a UHF channel.

I did a rescan this morning on TWC and found some new 480i SD signals in Clear QAM on Channel 20.

20.25 ESPN2
20.49 TLC
20.51 CMT
20.54 Nick
20.55 Animal Planet
20.57 National Geographic
20.58 Travel
20.77 HGTVTime Warner taketh away. These channels disappeared from the Clear QAM lineup last week. :(

Time Warner taketh away. These channels disappeared from the Clear QAM lineup last week. :(

What was that, just a tease or do you think they are maybe going to include some other channels in the Clear QAM.

My wife would love to have HGTV in hd in her office. We don't have a box in the bedroom or her office.

I guess they would be stupid to do this since they rape and pillage on the box rentals.

What was that, just a tease or do you think they are maybe going to include some other channels in the Clear QAM.

My wife would love to have HGTV in hd in her office. We don't have a box in the bedroom or her office.

I guess they would be stupid to do this since they rape and pillage on the box rentals.
IMO it was either a mistake or a test, since T-W never publicly acknowledged the availability of these digital channels on Clear QAM. :(

Not sure if this is the right forum or not, but I just moved to Kerrville (from Austin) and my Time Warner installer told me today that the Kerrville cable lineup is about to be upgraded so that it will match that of Austin. Does anyone here know if this is true?

The Austin TW lineup was great. I'm looking at my Kerrville TW channel lineup now and it's the equivalent to what I had in Austin two years ago :-( It's mainly the HD channels that is severely lacking.

Can anyone shed some light on the the Kerrville TW front?

Thanks!

Can't help you with Time Warner but welcome to Kerrville. I've got a 40' tower with a 7' UHF antenna that reaches SA.

I'm a few days late with this, but in case any OTA viewers of KCWX had problems on Jun 18th with pixellation or dropouts it was due to the immense Es event that occurred over the US that day. There were even reports of hi-VHF analogs from Mexico being seen in Illinois and Kentucky, though nothing definite was in here above 144-MHz.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihraDBOJbiA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_zipZLvJH0 inspite of Franken-FM KFLZ-CA-6

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FltOwB4QWl0 the supression effects on KCWX decoding as shown with the DTT901 meter

Is it just me or has KLRN-9's OTA been seriously pixelating for many hours ? It's present on two CECB systems and a check with an analog set on Ch 9 doesn't show any obvious impulse noise there that could be from a localized-area culprit. With NTSC one could usually tell right away if there were station problems or if other EMI/RFI sources were involved. The other night KCWX pixelations were quickly found to be from some electrical arcing (off premises!) by using low-VHF analog (and 50-MHz) to see/hear that.

I'm not very tech savvy, and I'm not sure exactly what I need.

I had TW come out and install internet in the house I just bought. He had to run a new line from the neighbors back yard (easement) to my place. A single orange line. The line goes to my box at the side of the house, and then routes by one line in to my living room. Internet works fine. Only getting 6MB down instead of closer to 15, but that's another issue I'm working on with them.

I unhooked the modem and plugged the line in to my tv. I ran a scan and all of the basic (OTA) channels came through crystal clear. I could continue to use an antenna as I have the past couple of years, but if I could just use the signal coming through for the internet then I'd assume do that and not have to install an antenna outside of the house.

My problem is that when I hooked up this splitter I have (installed just after the wall outlet and also tried out at the box), so that I can have my tv and internet operating at the same time in the living room it didn't work. I put on the splitter and lost my internet and then nothing locks in on the tv during the scan. I also tried installing the splitter but just went out to each component individually and internet didn't work when I tried that and nothing locked in on the tv scan.

Is what I'm trying to do just not possible, or is the splitter I'm using not the right one? It's an Eagle Aspen P-1000-2AP-GX splitter 5-1000MHz All Ports Passing. 1 in and 2 out.

Apologies for the long post. If I can't get it to work I suppose I'll just continue to use the antenna, but if there is any way possible to avoid having to use the antenna that would be better.

Thanks

Is what I'm trying to do just not possible, or is the splitter I'm using not the right one? It's an Eagle Aspen P-1000-2AP-GX splitter 5-1000MHz All Ports Passing. 1 in and 2 out.

The splitter is probably bad. That would be the cheapest fix to try. You may also need an amplifier.

It would be best to have TW supply those, to assure compatibility, but for that you will likely have to pay for a service call, since the issue is with inside wiring. That would have been free if you had arranged for the splitter at the initial installation. If you're adventurous and not afraid to spend a few bucks on a splitter and an amp, try those fixes first. :)

are you only getting Roadrunner and no Cable TV service? Are you just trying to use the cable as a "free " antenna?

If you are signed up for both usually TW puts a special splitter on the line. I am not sure what the difference is but there are some differences from the typical splitter.

One side goes to the cable modem and one side to televisions.

I'm only getting Roadrunner Internet. No cable service as I have used an antenna in my apartment for the past few years and was fine with that.

I don't mind continuing to use an antenna, but if I can get the same channels for "free" though my internet connection then I would rather go that route and not have to mount an antenna at my new house.

I know I can run a scan and pick up the basic (OTA) channels on the tv, and I know I can get the internet. The problem is getting both at the same time at one wall outlet. I could split at the box, and gain an extra outlet, but either way I would have to use a splitter - and the right one at that.

I was thinking about trying this:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Monster+Cable+-+2-Way+Coax+Splitter/7129412.p?id=1110262781904&skuId=7129412&st=splitter&contract_desc=null

You think this would work, or am I going to need to keep using an antenna?

I'm only getting Roadrunner Internet. No cable service as I have used an antenna in my apartment for the past few years and was fine with that.

I don't mind continuing to use an antenna, but if I can get the same channels for "free" though my internet connection then I would rather go that route and not have to mount an antenna at my new house.

I know I can run a scan and pick up the basic (OTA) channels on the tv, and I know I can get the internet. The problem is getting both at the same time at one wall outlet. I could split at the box, and gain an extra outlet, but either way I would have to use a splitter - and the right one at that.

I was thinking about trying this:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Monster+Cable+-+2-Way+Coax+Splitter/7129412.p?id=1110262781904&skuId=7129412&st=splitter&contract_desc=null

You think this would work, or am I going to need to keep using an antenna?

Sorry, I don't know the details or issues with this setup. I also imagine TW won't be overly helpful if you do not have cable as part of the package.

I'm only getting Roadrunner Internet. No cable service as I have used an antenna in my apartment for the past few years and was fine with that.

I don't mind continuing to use an antenna, but if I can get the same channels for "free" though my internet connection then I would rather go that route and not have to mount an antenna at my new house.

I know I can run a scan and pick up the basic (OTA) channels on the tv, and I know I can get the internet. The problem is getting both at the same time at one wall outlet. I could split at the box, and gain an extra outlet, but either way I would have to use a splitter - and the right one at that.

I was thinking about trying this:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Monster+Cable+-+2-Way+Coax+Splitter/7129412.p?id=1110262781904&skuId=7129412&st=splitter&contract_desc=null

You think this would work, or am I going to need to keep using an antenna?

I used that setup before and it worked well...the splitter was installed outside though cause it went to different rooms in my house. As long as you only split it once , you should be ok because a splitter cuts the signal in half (3dB). Any splitter with those specs should work.

txman-

Any update on WOAI finally going 5.1? It's been 6 months since you've said anything about it.

I'm only getting Roadrunner Internet. No cable service as I have used an antenna in my apartment for the past few years and was fine with that.

I don't mind continuing to use an antenna, but if I can get the same channels for "free" though my internet connection then I would rather go that route and not have to mount an antenna at my new house.

I know I can run a scan and pick up the basic (OTA) channels on the tv, and I know I can get the internet. The problem is getting both at the same time at one wall outlet. I could split at the box, and gain an extra outlet, but either way I would have to use a splitter - and the right one at that.

I was thinking about trying this:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Monster+Cable+-+2-Way+Coax+Splitter/7129412.p?id=1110262781904&skuId=7129412&st=splitter&contract_desc=null

You think this would work, or am I going to need to keep using an antenna?

You should have no problems with one regular splitter in your line if your internet is working well and consistently. My setup is orange cable>2 way splitter>internet/phone & rest of house. I split the rest of the house with a 4 way at the box, then boost one of those lines with an amplified splitter for the HD tvs. I only have issues with signal strength when it is a local or neighborhood issue.

Oh, and just my 2 cents, I wouldn't buy one thing with "Monster" on it, especially not a $21 2-way splitter. That's highway robbery right there.

I'm only getting Roadrunner Internet. No cable service as I have used an antenna in my apartment for the past few years and was fine with that.

I don't mind continuing to use an antenna, but if I can get the same channels for "free" though my internet connection then I would rather go that route and not have to mount an antenna at my new house.

I know I can run a scan and pick up the basic (OTA) channels on the tv, and I know I can get the internet. The problem is getting both at the same time at one wall outlet. I could split at the box, and gain an extra outlet, but either way I would have to use a splitter - and the right one at that.

I was thinking about trying this:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Monster+Cable+-+2-Way+Coax+Splitter/7129412.p?id=1110262781904&skuId=7129412&st=splitter&contract_desc=null

You think this would work, or am I going to need to keep using an antenna?

Do not pay the high price for the Monster brand.

In San Antonio go to one of the Altex locations and buy this one:

http://www.altex.com/2-Output-EMI-MATV-Splitter-DSU-2-P140734.aspx

Under $2.

Noticed this week that TWC added SD versions of 2 access channels to its Clear QAM lineup.

117.21 = City of San Antonio access channel
117.19 = Educational access channel

I also found two music/audio-only channels at 116.1 and 116.6 and two Spanish-language HD channels at 109.109 and 109.110.

108.106 seems to be all infomercials all the time in HD. :(

108.106 seems to be all infomercials all the time in HD. :(

My life is now complete!!!!!

Noticed this week that TWC added SD versions of 2 access channels to its Clear QAM lineup.

117.21 = City of San Antonio access channel
117.19 = Educational access channel
TW has announced that this is a step toward turning off the analog versions of those access channels.

Time-Warner Cable Moving Public Access Channels (http://1200woai.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=119078&article=7384278)

Anyone know the details re KMYS becoming "the New CW 35" this fall ? How does KCWX fit into all this - become a subchannel of KMYS or what ?

Anyone know the details re KMYS becoming "the New CW 35" this fall ? How does KCWX fit into all this - become a subchannel of KMYS or what ?
This is the first I've heard of KMYS becoming the local CW affiliate.

It seems to me if that were to happen, it could play out a number of different ways. If KMYS becomes the CW affiliate, what happens to KCWX? What about its THIS TV affiliate subchannel? What happens to KMYS' MY Network affiliate? Does it become a KMYS subchannel, or does CW become a subchannel instead?

I noticed the programming schedule for KCWX Channels 2.1 & 2.2 were recently dropped from KENS TV's website. AFIK, KCWX doesn't have its own website.

txman-

Any update on WOAI finally going 5.1? It's been 6 months since you've said anything about it.

txman -- no update?

txman -- no update?

Still waiting on gear...out of my hands. Instead of just getting an audio delay device, we're getting something much better to improve our whole system, but cost more, so we have to wait...sorry.

The KMYS CW promos have Aug 30 as the debut date. If it's mentioned on their Website it's pretty well obscure. Since Belo dropped managing KCWX last April a lot of their main channel programming has been time-shifted This TV movies.
http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/jakle06/2010/04/management-switch-temporarily.html

http://biz.yahoo.com/e/100305/sbgi10-k.html
Based on what I read in the link above, MyNetwork TV terminated its affiliate agreements with Sinclair stations effective 09/2010. KMYS 35 is to become a CW affiliate at that time.

I noticed KMYS is showing a not-yet-active digital subchannel 35.2 on its website. I wonder what that's going to be? It also doesn't answer the question of what becomes of KCWX 2.1 & 2.2 in San Antonio.

I'm not sure where you see that. I see that it was terminated effective 9/09, and that was extended for a year to 9/10, but then the document only covers up to the beginning of March. My Network TV could have moved to year-to-year agreements, which could have been either renewed or not.

The subchannel is likely The Cool TV, which is coming "real soon now" to almost all Sinclair markets. Whenever that is.

- Trip

For our interests, the salient text in all that is:
"On February 12, 2010, we entered into a network affiliation agreement with The CW to provide programming to KMYS-TV in San Antonio, Texas. Effective September 1, 2010 KMYS-TV will switch networks from MyNetworkTV to The CW. "

KMYS is still running promos for its High School football coverage, which must have been preempting MyNetwork last fall. When debuting it had been thought that then-KRRT would become CW (it was WB after being Fox) rather than then-KBEJ.

Jeanne Jakle's column in today's paper answered some of my questions regarding KMYS' affiliate switch. KMYS & KCWX will switch networks. KMYS will have CW, and KCWX will have MY Network.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/columnists/jeanne_jakle/Jeanne_Jakle_KMYS_to_nab_youth_market_as_new_CW_affiliate_10 0937264.html

Call letter swap in the offing ? Note the "better reception" comment in that article. KMYS at this location is the only DTV that will decode with an indoor monopole antenna. TVfool.com says it's LOS for me. Its 5-MW analog was probably watchable with a paper clip for an antenna :)

Time Warner's new box software sucks. Scheduled recordings are getting cut off even though the guide says there's ample disc space available. The box reboots itself for no apparent reason. And switching channels takes foreeeeeeever. Two thumbs down.

I do like the appearance of the program guide itself.

Time Warner's new box software sucks. Scheduled recordings are getting cut off even though the guide says there's ample disc space available. The box reboots itself for no apparent reason. And switching channels takes foreeeeeeever. Two thumbs down.

I do like the appearance of the program guide itself.

Ditto. But you did have a typo.....not sucks but SUCKS

Ditto. But you did have a typo.....not sucks but SUCKSHaving to use a box for so many digital channels in the first place is what truly sucks. Give us more Clear QAM! :mad:

The boxes are just lame. They use hardware that is 5+ years older and slower than the tuners in most of the TVs we have.

Unfortunately GVTC uses the same junky equipment. I have FTTH with them and use all of their services except TV because of the equipment. I haven't been able to get them to understand that FTTH is an advanced solution and should have advanced tuners to go with it.

Sep 2-3 was one of the most prolonged storm-related outages for KENS/WOAI (and KHCE) that I've ever seen. With so few OTA viewers do any even maintain an auxiliary site anymore ? For a while I feared that something might have happened to the tower(s).

Sep 2-3 was one of the most prolonged storm-related outages for KENS/WOAI (and KHCE) that I've ever seen. With so few OTA viewers do any even maintain an auxiliary site anymore ? For a while I feared that something might have happened to the tower(s).
I spent over $2,000 so I can view KENS, FOX, WOIA and KSAT OTA. 'cept KSAT screwed me by going bask to VHF at cutover time. Besides, KENS and WOIA were off the satellite too!

Assuming it's not being caused by something near here, it'll be interesting to know what's going on with KLRN's signal pulsating every second or so. With NTSC it was easy to tell if any 3rd-party RFI was affecting a signal. Now one needs a spectrum analyzer.

Assuming it's not being caused by something near here, it'll be interesting to know what's going on with KLRN's signal pulsating every second or so. With NTSC it was easy to tell if any 3rd-party RFI was affecting a signal. Now one needs a spectrum analyzer.
Yep, bummer, I missed a rebroadcast of ACL last night that I have been trying to get back on my new DVR for about a Year ( Carolyn Wonderland). It recorded, but nothing but chop. Still going on this am. Other channels seem normal. Petegon please rebroadcast on 9.1:)

Sep 2-3 was one of the most prolonged storm-related outages for KENS/WOAI (and KHCE) that I've ever seen. With so few OTA viewers do any even maintain an auxiliary site anymore ? For a while I feared that something might have happened to the tower(s).

KENS and WOAI both experienced a power failure at the transmitter site, caused by a downed power line. Until we had visual contact with the tower on the drive to the site, we also feared that something may have happened to the tower - even though the tower light monitoring equipment indicated that all the lights were on. When our crews reached the road leading to the site, we encountered CPS and Fire crews, blocking the road until the broken line could be moved out of the way. As soon as we could gain access to our sites, we restored our transmitters to the air. The KENS standby generator had started and was powering the building, but we had no remote control of any of our transmitters.

Once we got into the building we saw that both cabinets of the Sigma DTV transmitter had powered OFF. This was caused by the triple-threat of transmitter lockout, three crowbar malfunctions in quick succession. Before I left home to go to the transmitter site, I had tried to access the transmitters remotely but to no avail because we also had lost telephone and network communications to the site, mandating a trip out there. Once on site we saw that the remote control computer's modem was fried and not responding to any commands. It would be Thursday afternoon before we could replace the modem.

What happened? From all appearances a tree limb severed one phase of the 13.5kV service to the KENS/WOAI/KSATsites. It is also possible our site received a lightning hit, which is what I believe took out the modem and network connectivity. Had the modem survived, everything could have been reset remotely within minutes. WOAI experienced a similar failure, but I will let their txman explain what happened to them when he comes up for air.

KENS does have an auxiliary transmitter, but loss of network communications between the studio and the site prevented us from doing anything but driving out to the site to restore what we could.

Speaking only for KENS, Dish Network and DirecTV use an ordinary TV antenna and Integrated Receiver-Decoder (IRD) to receive our OTA signal and aggregate it with other local stations before sending it on a several-hundred mile trip to Wyoming and Colorado via multimode fiber. Once at those locations the signals are de-aggregated and multiplexed onto their respective transponder channels at Dish and DirecTV. If our transmitter goes off the air, so does our service to Dish and DirecTV, as well as dozens of small cable companies around the area who depend on our OTA signal.

When WOAI/KMOL used to switch to their downtown aux xmtr the increase in signal strength was very evident (more slop over on Ch 3). Many times the Elmendorf one would come back on with the aux still running, producing a ferocious zero-beat. If memory serves, this might have occurred once in the 1970s with the NBC Superbowl coverage (before there was any in-town CATV).

When WOAI/KMOL used to switch to their downtown aux xmtr ... the Elmendorf one would come back on with the aux still running, producing a ferocious zero-beat...

Back in the analog era, the same thing would occasionally happen when KSAT would test their downtown aux tx on Sunday mornings. If the timing wasn't perfect when lighting up the plates in Elmendorf, all viewers could see were "venetian blinds" until the aux could be killed.

Today, I don't think WOAI has a downtown DTV aux tx; the ch4 bat-wing was removed from the downtown tower a coupla months ago and I have not seen a downtown aux stick go up for their DTV 48.

I noticed yesterday afternoon and again this morning KENS 5 is breaking up every few seconds, it is really noticeable in the audio. I sure hope you fix it before the new season starts tonight.

I noticed yesterday afternoon and again this morning KENS 5 is breaking up every few seconds...

We discovered an intermittent problem in our primary Studio-To-Transmitter Link (STL). We are on the backup. Any troubleshooting of this system will be done in the wee overnight hours.

I haven't been getting any EPG info for KCWX 2.1 & 2.2 since at least Saturday evening (I'm getting info for all other stations), so I went online in seach of listings for 2.1 & 2.2. What an ordeal!

I know KCWX doesn't have a website, and KENS TV discontinued carrying listings for those channels on their website back around July, so I went to TV Guide's online listings, but KCWX isn't listed as a San Antonio market station, so they don't have 2.1 & 2.2 in their grid. I went to AOL's online listings, and found 2.1, but no 2.2 (AOL doesn't list all the local subchannels). So, I went to THIS TV's website, and found the national listing for that network.

Ever since Belo quit managing KCWX in late April the programming on their Sub 1 has been "varied" (often including time-shifted This TV movies). I haven't checked how accurate the Express-News TV Now listings for them are. Since their Sub 2 started This TV (Jul 2009) I've often relied on that Website for long-range schedules.

Well, KCWX has resumed EPG, but their This TV sked is out of sync by a few hours :(

Is this just a temporary problem? I see it is currently on channel 48-1. Will it resume on 4-1 or do I need to reprogram my HTCP to start recording on the new channel?

It seems that WOAI in San Antonio (NBC) has been changed from 4-1 to 48-1 temporarily.

I have no problem seeing 48-1 with the built in TV tuner on my TV, but
in WMC it does not automatically program itself when scanning and I cannot add it manually for some reason (likely I don't know how).

Can someone please explain (in moderate detail) how to add this channel correctly in WMC? I have attempted to add it through the "ADD DTV CHANNEL" interface but still get "service unavailable" message. Signal strength check in WMC shows 48-1 at full strength.

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Yes WOAI has some sort of problem...identifying itself as 48-1 instead of 4-1.
Anyone have a clue as to what's going on with this?

If anyone else is having problems with receiving KMYS in San Antonio because of its transmitter location in relation to all the other major SA OTA stations, I'll tell you how I solved my problem:
I bought a channel injector from Tin Lee in Toronto Ontario Canada. Model AC7 for UHF 32. I had a disconnected antenna in my attic. Installed this channel injector to my existing plus the second antennas, aimed the 2nd at KMYS' transmitter and voila, I have 95%+ signal on 35-1! This device does not seem to have affected anyting else except maybe FOX (UHF 30) ever so slightly.

tinlee.com. Device is rather expensive: $105 plus $20 shipping . But if you want to spend the money and solve a problem TIN LEE ROCKS

Why is KABB interupting HD brodcast OTA every 3O minutes or so to say time warner customers may lose the local FOX station. We already cancelled our partnership with time warner. Is this silly trick to get more money from time warner also affecting the satilite customers? WAOI stated they asked KABB about this and they said no way were they going to lose FOX. So my question why take away the HD broadcast every 30 minutes?

And why is channel 35 can run the banner without stopping the HD broadcast?:mad:

Why is KABB interupting HD brodcast OTA every 3O minutes or so to say time warner customers may lose the local FOX station.
It's a negotiating tactic. KABB's owner wants to squeeze more money out of its next deal with Time-Warner. It will probably continue until the end of the year and a few days into next year. Once the station disappears from the T-W lineup, KABB loses the ability to communicate directly with T-W subscribers, hence the frequent and intrusive reminders.

The latest KMYS piece on that subject ends with a list of other "providers" besides TW that they can be had on. And, yeah, free OTA (with a semi-massive stack of multi-element UHF arrays as the logo :))

I'm near McCreless Mall(4100 S New Braunfels Ave, San Antonio, TX. 78223) And was wondering what would be a good antenna for this side of town? I've tried a cheap $5 Antenna with no love. Any help? Thanks.

I'm near McCreless Mall(4100 S New Braunfels Ave, San Antonio, TX. 78223) And was wondering what would be a good antenna for this side of town? I've tried a cheap $5 Antenna with no love. Any help? Thanks.
As close as you are to the transmitters for the major local stations, an inexpensive indoor antenna should work, but make sure it is for both UHF and VHF. Many antennas are UHF-only. You will probably have to experiment with the orientation of the antenna to get a consistent signal.

For example, I am on the NE side of San Antonio, just inside Loop 410. I have an older directional VHF/UHF rooftop antenna for my main TV that is aimed toward Elmendorf. It even pulls in channels 2.1 & 2.2 (most of the time) off the backside of the elements. I have a $10 indoor rabbit ear antenna w/UHF loop on a secondary TV, and I still get most local channels consistently (minus 2.1 & 2.2). I don't have amplifiers on either antenna.

Check out antennaweb for more info.
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx

As close as you are to the transmitters for the major local stations, an inexpensive indoor antenna should work, but make sure it is for both UHF and VHF. Many antennas are UHF-only. You will probably have to experiment with the orientation of the antenna to get a consistent signal.
Check out antennaweb for more info.
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspxThanks for answering my question. Just for the hell of it I tired the antenna I talked about above again and it's working fine now((fingers crossed). Hopefully it'll stay that way.

So far, Time Warner is remaining silent on the KABB negotiations. I googled it but I can't find anything on the current dispute. However, what I am able to fnd is that TW has a contract with Fox that if they should drop the local Fox affiliate, that they would then be able to air network programing directly from Fox. Of course that does not include KABB local programing but it appears that San Antonio would still get football games and the superbowl directly from Fox.

I wonder why TW does not counter KABB's anouncement that is trying to encourage cable customers to drop TW. Based on those anouncements, it appears that KABB is very sure they are going to be dropped. Does anyone have any info on that and does TW have KABB over a barrel?

Signing up with any satellite company is out of the question. A 24 month commitment is required, which might be O.K., but then giving them access to my checking account or credit card for direct billing is out of the question. Once they have access to that, they have you by the yang yang and based on complaints I have read, no matter how bad their service is, you have no leverage whatsoever.

Over the air is also out of the question. I live in Leon Valley and there are too many trees in my way and I don't want a tall antenna on my house. Besides, I have a 7 year old crt, which still looks really good, that does not have a built in tuner. So all I can say is, sayonara KABB. Once football is over, they would not be worth me going out of my way and expense to watch their station.

I was sorry when KABB got Fox from KRRT back when as KRRT had the superior analog signal here (near Ingram and Callaghan Rd.) It was nice to find out that KABB's DTV signal was more watchable than their analog had been (on a mid-sized antenna at 20' aimed s.e.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S97EvRhtMgk vs http://www.qsl.net/wa5iyx/images/kmys35nlte.jpg

My daughter just moved to the Leon Springs area NW of town (just off I-10) Will she be able to get OTA TV, what channels? What type of antenna will she need (size, UHF/VHF?) they are on a small hill, and have a pretty clear view to San Antonio.

Thanks
Danny

My daughter just moved to the Leon Springs area NW of town (just off I-10) Will she be able to get OTA TV, what channels? What type of antenna will she need (size, UHF/VHF?) they are on a small hill, and have a pretty clear view to San Antonio.

Thanks
Danny
She'll need a UHF/VHF capable antenna. The San Antonio affilates for ABC, PBS, and MyNetworks are VHF, the other major network affiliates are UHF. It will probably take a pretty good rooftop antenna in Leon Springs, as the transmitters for most of the major stations are located SE of San Antonio in Elmendorf.

Check out the following link for more info. You can enter her address to get a better idea of what kind of antenna will be needed.
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx

I ending getting my daughter the Antennacraft HBU33 from Radio Shack. I put it up in her attic. I actually hung if by string from the rafters, pointing at 136 deg per the Antennaweb site. She lives close to Fair Oaks Ranch, just off Ralph Fair road next to Camp Bullis. She has a 2 story house.

After the set-up, we get NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, CW, ION, and several lesser channels. But no PBS, as its kw is pretty low compared to the other. She gets HD really go on all the major networks.

Danny

It's too bad that KLRN (PBS) can't raise their ERP (it's "protecting" the much smaller market Ch 9 in Killeen). Their tower is actually 7 miles closer in to downtown than the others at/near Elmendorf. They relocated there in 1984 after starting out in 1962 with one near New Braunfels (to serve Austin and San Antonio). One can still find a few old Ch 9 multi-element Yagis (unused) around town fix-aimed n.e. at where they used to be!

I live off of Kyle Seale & 1604 and had an AntennaCraft 5885 (http://store.buyreliant.com/servlet/-strse-2869/5885-Antennacraft-TV-Antennas/Detail) installed today on a 4' mast mounted to the ridge line of my 2nd story roof . I oriented it to approximately 132° based on the TVFool.com recommendation and got 22 channels on my first scan and 23 on the second.

All channels were coming in solid and steady until tonight when I started to see pixelation on KLRN 9.1 and complete loss of signal on KSAT 12.1. I'm not as concerned about PBS but am a little frustrated that ABC is not available at night using a roof mounted quality mid-range antenna inside the city limits. Any recommendations on what I can do to resolve that with my current setup? I realize that I'm on the outer edge of what the antenna is rated for on UHF but I'd rather not put a bigger antenna on the house if I can help it.

Harley_Dude,

with a 90" boom that's already a large antenna. But you are more than 30 miles from the transmitters and those VHF channels are running quite low power. I would experiment with an antenna preamp like the Winegard AP8275 or similar, with built-in FM trap. Channel Master makes one of my favorites, the CM0068DSP "Spartan," with a built-in FM trap.

You might contact KSAT about a free FM trap; I think they were giving them away for viewers with problems a while back. If they have no more they should be able to recommend a brand. There are plenty to choose from.

KSAT DTV is particularly vulnerable to the second harmonic of certain FM radio stations here in San Antonio, and due to the fact that their power is low (Thanks, FCC!) their signal is easily overcome.

Thanks for the suggestions Realthogue! I called KSAT today and spoke with one of their broadcast engineers about my reception issues on their station. He was very helpful and was a little surprised that I wasn't able to pick up their signal with my antenna setup. He felt like my issue might be that the antenna was slightly off on alignment and also offered a free FM trap and the number of a person that he recommended in the antenna business if I had further problems.

I got my wife to pick up the FM trap since she was close to the KSAT offices this afternoon and I installed it earlier this evening. After doing so, I picked up 28 channels (23 last night) but KSAT is not really any better. So I'm going to try the adjustment of the antenna and if that fails, I will go for one of the pre-amps you suggested.

Thought I would also share that the engineer said KSAT will not be on the air for 2 weeks in June while they installed a new tower that is "circularly polarized". I'm not really sure what that means but he said it meant they were going from a tower that was built to broadcast to 1960's standards to a much more modern setup that will hopefully improve reception across the San Antonio area.

With Ch 12 204-210 MHz the FM stations whose 2nd harmonic (generated in the TV tuner from overload) would affect them would fall between 102-105 MHz. That means 102.3 (a LPFM), 102.7, 103.7 (a xltor), 104.1, and 104.5. 102.7 and 104.5 are 100-kw items on the Tower of the Americas downtown. An FM trap will take out/reduce all (or a portion) of the FM band signals reaching the TV tuner. With NTSC such interference would vary depending on if the harmonic(s) were close to the TV video or audio carriers (making various patterns of herringbone or audio disruption). With DTV needing almost all of the 6 MHz of the channel to decode, that type of interference can now be far more destructive (and "sinister" since many other things can cause non-decoding).

Interesting that KSAT-12 has a planned prolonged outage for June. It might provide me a chance for some TV-DX on there since it was never vacant when they flashcut from DT-48 to DT-12 in Jun 2009.

Interesting that KSAT-12 has a planned prolonged outage for June. It might provide me a chance for some TV-DX on there since it was never vacant when they flashcut from DT-48 to DT-12 in Jun 2009.

KSAT will not be completely dark; they do have a low power auxiliary feeding a bat-wing on their downtown self-supporting tower. The power won't be great, but it will help retain some of their OTA audience. Conditions may still be good enough to DX, tho.

I forgot that KSAT still had an aux ant/tower downtown (they had vid a few years ago of ice falling off it into their parking lot). It must be the same stick that enabled them in early 1959 to proclaim themselves "clearly the eyes of the great Southwest" - a not-so-subtle jab at KENS/WOAI going to the Elmendorf tower which resulted in many in-town viewers no longer being able to get them on their simple rabbit ears of that era. A non-issue for us as we'd brought a 1955 6-el hi-low VHF Yagi from California when moving to SA in Jul 1957, and it was aimed s.e. (Elmendorf/downtown). Others were soon to sprout around us :) Maybe with 4/5 only c. 6 miles away is why I never noticed any Es CCI on them in 1957-58 ? (I got Harlingen and Weslaco a few times back then after they'd signed off.)

Hey Jerry, got a question for you… Why, when KENS broadcasts Spurs games, and you all delay the CBS programming for overnight airing, the shows are in standard def? Are all of your IRD’s not HD capable, or could it be a server issue? Just curious……

Chuck

Hey Jerry, got a question for you… Why, when KENS broadcasts Spurs games, and you all delay the CBS programming for overnight airing, the shows are in standard def?…Chuck

All the equipment is HD and so are the servers, but the way we are configured for automatic recording of the CBS delay limits us to SD mode, leaving HD recording available for commercial ingest, news offline production and promo production. Doing so relieves the staffing crunch that would be difficult immediately before and after the games.

Datamover software has to move the recording between the protect and main servers and a three hour block doesn't start to transfer until the third hour is finished. We have tried a few creative approaches to get around that as much as possible but the success of it depends on overall workload on game night.

Before the days of automated recording of the CBS delay we had a few more staff that allowed better customization of how the delay package was recorded. There are new servers in our (distant) future (don't go getting impatient on me now!) that will help to relieve this problem, but not in 2011 or 2012.

Anyone getting lots of little dropouts on Fox KABB?

Yep, been getting them with my sat reception ..... hadn't checked OTA, but now I know it starts OTA.

KSAT will not be completely dark; they do have a low power auxiliary feeding a bat-wing on their downtown self-supporting tower. The power won't be great, but it will help retain some of their OTA audience. Conditions may still be good enough to DX, tho.

The filing for the antenna replacement just came in; they want to replace the current horizontally-polarized omni with a circularly-polarized directional antenna, and simultaneously increase power from 22.2 kW to 65 kW.

Should be a significantly better signal.

- Trip

I imagine that KSAT will be giving up some of their coastal coverage (which dates back to the days when there were no stations between Corpus and Houston) in exchange for more ERP towards the Hill Country to the n.w. (there are still no full-power stations between here and San Angelo).

I was watching a lot of the NCAA tournament this past weekend and noticed there is a lot of noise (grainy dots) on the court when watching the games on Kens. This noise is not there on TBS, TruTV, or TNT. Why is there so much noise on Kens?

Niembre,

I was not aware of the noise you mention - but I will look more closely for it. There should be no noise of that character in a digital signal.

If anyone notices/cares, KOBS-LP-19 went to DT a few days ago. With 5-kw ERP at 5.5 miles their decoding still gets supressed at several azimuths (especially if KTXH in Houston is trying to come in).

What's on it?

- Trip

An assortment of mostly Hispanic religious programming.
http://www.qsl.net/wa5iyx/images/kobs-ld-19z.jpg

The filing for the antenna replacement just came in; they want to replace the current horizontally-polarized omni with a circularly-polarized directional antenna, and simultaneously increase power from 22.2 kW to 65 kW.

We just bought the Sony Google TV box and are trying to go without cable this week as a test run. We have U-Verse currently and realized that there would be significant savings to get rid of our cable package. We bought a Terk Omni-Directional Amplified antenna for HDTV. We are able to get NBC, CBS, and FOX clearly. We have no signal for ABC despite trying the antenna in various different positions and spots. We are in the Bitters/Blanco area of town, which after researching I am finding that is about 27 miles from the ABC tower. Will we be able to pick up ABC in this location once they upgrade their antenna? Or will we need to invest in an attic or roof mounted antenna? We are new at this so any advice would be appreciated!

We just bought the Sony Google TV box and are trying to go without cable this week as a test run. We have U-Verse currently and realized that there would be significant savings to get rid of our cable package. We bought a Terk Omni-Directional Amplified antenna for HDTV. We are able to get NBC, CBS, and FOX clearly. We have no signal for ABC despite trying the antenna in various different positions and spots. We are in the Bitters/Blanco area of town, which after researching I am finding that is about 27 miles from the ABC tower. Will we be able to pick up ABC in this location once they upgrade their antenna? Or will we need to invest in an attic or roof mounted antenna? We are new at this so any advice would be appreciated!
What about the local PBS station? I'm assuming the Terk omni-directional antenna is both UHF and VHF. The 9.X (PBS) and 12.X (ABC) channels are VHF.

If you can't get either of those channels with your indoor UHF/VHF antenna, you may need to go with an outdoor model. Or possibly an attic antenna, if there is enough room in there, and you don't have a metal roof. If it's just ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, and FOX networks that you're interested in, a fixed directional antenna should be able to pull all of those in (and possibly some of the others), although I don't know of any local retailers that actually stock those multi-element outdoor/attic directional antennas in the store, anymore. They can be ordered, though.

Did channel 12 get a new antenna?

Did channel 12 get a new antenna?
Not yet, according to this link:
http://www.ksatdigital.com/

what is wrong with Kens 5 tonight??????? come on the only show I watch on this sorry station and it Kens signal is messed up. Come on guys, get it together!!!!!!!!!!

Another local Hispanic religious station - KSSJ-LD-42 (Virt. 47).

Now if they'd get things right on their 42.2 set of color bars
http://www.qsl.net/wa5iyx/images/kssj-42.2z.jpg

what is wrong with Kens 5 tonight??????? come on the only show I watch on this sorry station and it Kens signal is messed up. Come on guys, get it together!!!!!!!!!!

I've been having some trouble with KENS for a few weeks. I've got a big old CM4228 with an amp and WOAI, KPXL and some others come in great with signal strengths in the 90s. KSAT and KLRN are even in the 90s (not bad for a UHF antenna). But KENS has been floating around in the 50s for a few weeks. I'm not really sure what happened. Any ideas?

Last week during the early eve news KENS was udergoing some freeze every few seconds - so bad that I bailed to KSAT (which itself is now more sensitive to my CM4228 azimuth aim than it used to be). Strong tropo conditions (due to the heat wave) have been causing decoding problems with several locals at night for the past week.
http://www.mountainlake.k12.mn.us/ham/aprs (144-MHz automated path spots)

what is wrong with Kens 5 tonight??????? come on the only show I watch on this sorry station and it Kens signal is messed up.

It turns out that on that evening KENS enjoyed a catastrophic failure of an Intermediate Power Amplifier power supply shelf. This first dropped our power to 25% and then zero as we struggled to keep a signal on the air. We went to our low power auxiliary for a short time while reconfiguring the main transmitter to operate at 50% power.

About one week later we began to see fluctuations in CPS power to the site, where it looked like the utility was switching KENS to a different grid or transformer, one phase at a time. This causes the transmitter to shut down each time there is a hiccup on even one phase for less than one second. While that problem was self-correcting, we lost our main transmitter again on Thursday afternoon, August 4. Took about 45 minutes to shut down and re-start the main while we were on the auxiliary again. KENS remains at 50% power. We expect to install new power supplies on Monday or Tuesday and return to full power.

As to the strong tropo conditions cited by WA5IYX, that may cause some interference to fringe viewers and those with inadequate antennas. I have had several calls from viewers in the Canyon Lake area who are unable to see us at certain times of day.

Jerry: Thanks so much for monitoring and responding on this forum. That's some great information. Sorry for all the power problems.

I guess that I might have missed my best chance to glimpse the 39 out of Houston during all this. Beaming east with the CM4228 when tropo is up very often KHCE, KPXL, KVDA, and KWEX all go into non-decode (and rarely KABB). KENS usually only gets that way if I'm using the VHF antenna (Winegard HD5030) pointed way off them.
http://www.qsl.net/wa5iyx/wa5iyx-dtv.txt

I recently put up a new antenna to pick up the VHF stations as I've gone without since the big switch. I'm way out on the west side by Alamo Ranch. Since then, I've noticed thers a slight audio delay, but only on KSAT, so I don't think it's my setup. Anyone else noticed this?

There were a lot of pixelation last night (8/18/11) and lost signal on Sunday while I was watching Golf. Are there still problems? Because it seems like there have been a lot of signal issues lately?
Thanks for your input, it really is appreciated!

It turns out that on that evening KENS enjoyed a catastrophic failure of an Intermediate Power Amplifier power supply shelf. This first dropped our power to 25% and then zero as we struggled to keep a signal on the air. We went to our low power auxiliary for a short time while reconfiguring the main transmitter to operate at 50% power.

About one week later we began to see fluctuations in CPS power to the site, where it looked like the utility was switching KENS to a different grid or transformer, one phase at a time. This causes the transmitter to shut down each time there is a hiccup on even one phase for less than one second. While that problem was self-correcting, we lost our main transmitter again on Thursday afternoon, August 4. Took about 45 minutes to shut down and re-start the main while we were on the auxiliary again. KENS remains at 50% power. We expect to install new power supplies on Monday or Tuesday and return to full power.

As to the strong tropo conditions cited by WA5IYX, that may cause some interference to fringe viewers and those with inadequate antennas. I have had several calls from viewers in the Canyon Lake area who are unable to see us at certain times of day.

Yes, KENS continues to have some problems. Now we believe we may have some intermittent heat sensors on the transmitter cooling system. Since last week the transmitter will go into a kind of oscillating shut-down-and-power-back-up mode after both cabinets are combined at 100% power for a few hours. When that happens we must go to 1/2 power on one cabinet only and run the other cabinet in "black heat," a description for operating the final stage with no RF drive and at a reduced filament voltage. The transmitter throws the occasional fault even in single-ended operation as described, leading us to suspect defective heat sensors.

Tuesday morning we had two accidental interruptions to power at the studio about a minute or so apart; you can imagine the havoc this wreaked on a station that runs on multiple servers and computers. We were essentially off the air from 1039 to 1155 as the engineering team scrambled furiously to get everything running again. We were almost back to normal by 7pm Tuesday but even today we were finding more little things that won't wake up since the outage. To keep the transmitter quiet we have bypassed the heat sensors and monitor it visually an a 30-minute basis. We have done IR imaging to be certain there are no "Hot Spots."

So we hope to have everything back up to full power by next mid-week, providing we can get the replacement sensors on time.

So i just bought a multi directional Flat antenna and i can pick up everything but ABC. This thing is supposed to pick up UHF and VHF... anyone got a clue why?

Location 78217

So i just bought a multi directional Flat antenna and i can pick up everything but ABC. This thing is supposed to pick up UHF and VHF... anyone got a clue why?

Location 78217
KSAT is supposed to have a new transmitting antenna installed on their tower by the end of this month. It should provide a stronger signal than the one that's in use now.

If you are getting everything else, including the local PBS station (which is also VHF), your antenna may be able to pick up KSAT by the end of the month.

dang it.... doesnt look like I'm picking up PBS either..... looks like i've been had. Anyone have any suggestions for indoor antenna strong enough for picking up ABC?

thanks again!

Check out post 4232 above.

dang it.... doesnt look like I'm picking up PBS either..... looks like i've been had. Anyone have any suggestions for indoor antenna strong enough for picking up ABC?

thanks again!
I'm just inside 410 on the NE side, and I have the following antenna hooked up to one of my TVs. I get NBC, CBS, PBS, ABC, ION, FOX, CW, and the spanish stations.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/RCA+-+Indoor+Off-Air+HDTV+Antenna/8280834.p?id=1171058630499&skuId=8280834
I had to play around with the dipoles to get PBS & ABC. I can actually get the local MY Networks & This TV (channels 2.1 & 2.2) with a rooftop antenna hooked up to my main TV.

KSAT just announced on the 10 PM newscast that the new antenna is up and running. They recommended we rescan our receivers.

KSAT just announced on the 10 PM newscast that the new antenna is up and running. They recommended we rescan our receivers.

Are you seeing better reception? Over at 1604 & Kyle Seale, there is virtually no difference from the previous tower and the new one. I'm able to get a lock on the signal but it goes in and out a few times every 5-10 minutes. It seems if they were trying (guessing here) to get more signal towards the Hill Country that Helotes would see better performance.

I'm still getting a crazy long audio delay, only on KSAT. Probably 60-80ms. It's very annoying, especially on news casts. Of note, they seem to be transmitting a 5.1 encoded signal on the news (I get 5.1 lights) but the audio is stereo. It seems worse like this. I'm wondering if they have a problem with their dolby encoder.

--And no difference in signal quality on the far west side (1560 and culebra) since the new antenna went up.