Sound is fine here.

What type of receiver are you using?

Originally posted by sfmartin
Sound is fine here.

Thanks for the input Jerry- I will experiment with different configurations then report back-

I also noticed the audio dropout last night with KLRN- 9.2

HD DirecTivo

Scott, you may need to contact WTNZ's engineering people. I haven't watched it much except during races, so I haven't noticed any drop offs.

As far as programming, does Charter carry Discovery HD or any extra HD channels?

Charter does offer some HD channels like ESPN and Discovery.

If your going Charter HD you'll have to rent a box $3-$5, but if your TV is cablecard ready they'll rent you a cablecard for $1.50. You'll have to pressure them to get the card and most people working the phones will not even know what your talking about.

ibglowin,

Still no audio on 9-2? Its been what, 3 or 4 days now? Surely someone other than you and I are having audio issues with this channel.

To follow up on my earlier post, I hooked my cheap RCA indoor vhf antenna directly to my stb, rather than through my television (with antenna passthrough), and received 15 channels, versus 10. I now get all the majors including WOAI, KENS, KLRN, KSAT, FOX and KRRT, with no audio sync issues.

so much for "Pass Through". What do you suppose they meant when they called it that?

Well, it does pass a signal through. A degraded, weaker signal, but a still a signal. Talk about your worthless "features".

FWIW 9-2 sound also comes through fine on my "old" Zenith DTV1080.

Hmmm

Still no audio last night from 9-2. The video is great- no dropouts- but no audio at all.

KENS DT power-up countdown - - - - ?

No problems with audio on 9-2 on my Samsung (built-in tuner) or Sony (built-in tuner).

No sound usually indicates inadequate signal (IMHO).

YMMV.

Ted

Not signal related. Have 95%. Audio is fine on 9-1. Its just 9-2, the HD chanel. Perfect picture, zero audio.

We have a Dish 811. All other OTA is working properly.

Maybe time to call engineering.

I agree that it cant be signal related. On a few stations with poor signals, I will have audio/video dropout. Thats not the case here- perfect video, zero audio. But why would this affect only some viewers?

I went to the source yesterday and spoke with one of the engineers at KLRN. It seems they are well aware they have a problem but they are not quite sure why some receivers work and others do not. It appears to be an encoder problem of sorts. They are currently using an encoder to deliver the audio for both the HD and SD feeds and evidently it wasn't really designed for this purpose.

Luckily, they are installing a new encoder next week that should take care of the problem.

I saw someone asking about getting the HD channels in Kerrville. I live a few miles south of Kerrville. I have an antenna above the roof and a amp. I am able to get NBC,ABC,FOX, KRRT,WB with this all pointed in the same direction.

On another note, I saw on the austin thread people using a tuner such as SIR-T451 hooked up through TWC cable modem and getting their HD channels since those aren't scrambled. (basic cable subscription). Anyone try this in SA?

Audio on 9-2 is back on.
Any news on KENS quest for full power?

Still out this AM on the 811. Tried deleting and re-adding as well. :-(

Hope the new encoder fixes things.

Originally posted by kwill
Audio on 9-2 is back on.
Any news on KENS quest for full power?

I saw someone asking about getting the HD channels in Kerrville. I live a few miles south of Kerrville. I have an antenna above the roof and a amp. I am able to get NBC,ABC,FOX, KRRT,WB with this all pointed in the same direction.
*****************************************************
That were me. So you have all the networks covered 'cept CBS. Is that KENS I see being talked about here? You don't have to move the antenna at all? And you won't have to for KENS either? If KENS is CBS.

We're coming into town in a couple of weeks to make our first look around.
Thanks for the tip. We are starting to think Boerne but if I can get HD in Kerrville we'd rather be in that area.

Yes, CBS is KENS. I get the previously mentioned channels in HD. I get cbs (KENS) via regular UHF. I'm sure once they fire up, then that will come in with HD. I use a channel master HD antenna, it has a rotor, but I don't have to move it to get all the channels I mentioned.

Boerne area is nice, but they are proud of their property $$$. Kerrville is a nice area and you can get some good deals on property, that I doubt you will find in Boerne.

Originally posted by jimc705
Jamie ,
WBIR will be installing the equipment to pass 5.1 sometime this year. At least it's in this years budget.

What about WVLT-TV/DT? CBS? I was watching CSI and noticed it said it was in HDTV 5.1 however I wasn't getting the 5.1. The only station I have noticed 5.1 in recently was FOX.

Originally posted by ScottInMaryville
Hello everyone, I've finally seen the light.

I just put up a Winegard PR-4400 for my locals. I can't believe I waited so long. I had to have HD for the SuperBowl and Daytona.



Huh? I live in Maryville and I just use a table top Zenith Antenna and I also have a Radio Shack HDTV amplified antenna I use to pull in FOX 39.1 in the tri cities.
http://www.radioshack.com/images/ProductCatalog/ProductImage/15/15-1880.jpg

I just noticed Radio shack has a new Amplified antenna from terk that looks like the Zenith, I wonder if it is even better? Check it out

http://www.radioshack.com/images/ProductCatalog/ProductImage/15/15-1872.jpg

Originally posted by hotshot
Huh? I live in Maryville and I just use a table top Zenith Antenna and I also have a Radio Shack HDTV amplified antenna I use to pull in FOX 39.1 in the tri cities.
http://www.radioshack.com/images/ProductCatalog/ProductImage/15/15-1880.jpg

I just noticed Radio shack has a new Amplified antenna from terk that looks like the Zenith, I wonder if it is even better? Check it out

http://www.radioshack.com/images/ProductCatalog/ProductImage/15/15-1872.jpg

Terrain, elevation, other intervening obstructions can all make a world of difference even in seemingly similar locations. That's part of what makes it so challenging (?frustrating).

Anybody have an idea why I can pick up all the stations except KENS? I live on the south side of Boerne and could get WOAI, KSAT, KLRN and KABB to come in last night. I tried many positions on the antenna but just could not get any signal from KENS. I assume that if I am picking up the other signals in the area, I should be getting KENS since the direction and distance are similar but maybe that is faulty logic.

I hope it is something to be fixed by their high power distribution that has been discussed previously but maybe it is a user error. Unless I missed it, the last I read from KENS was that it would hopefully be powered up in 2 weeks which would be this week.

BTW, I am using a hughes hd receiver as my tuner if that impacts anything.

Thanks for any input.

KENS is not operating at full power yet, much less than those others in the same area. Wait another week or so, they are installing a new transmitter.

michael

Did anybody have any problems picking up KSAT last night?

I've never had a problem with KSAT before, but last night I wasn't able to pick up 12-1 or 12-2.

WOAI, KENS, etc. all came in fine.

Originally posted by derailed
Did anybody have any problems picking up KSAT last night?

I've never had a problem with KSAT before, but last night I wasn't able to pick up 12-1 or 12-2.

WOAI, KENS, etc. all came in fine.

What time?

It seems that KENS-DT has TURNED IT ON!!! I'm reading 60 signal strength over here by Seaworld - and I never before could receive the HD signal until tonight. (Friday, 3/11). Welcome!!

OK, here's the deal; KENS-DT will operate at full power during prime time every day for all HDTV broadcasts. In fact, as of 5:30 this afternoon we were transmitting with approximately 980 kW, the equal of our neighbors at WOAI and KSAT. As I write this we are on the air at this power and will remain so until after Eyewitness News at 10pm.

Officially, we are still in test mode, but that means we can make the high power available when the HDTV programming is on. In the week to come, NCAA basketball playoff games will be presented in High Definition on March 17, 18, 19 and 20, all in 1080i and Dolby 5.1 surround sound. More games are scheduled for March 24, 25, 26 and 27, as well as the NCAA Men's Final Four and the NCAA Men's Championship games on Saturday, April 2 and Monday, April 4.

This week the remote control installation was finished at the transmitter site, and after a little programming here at the studio we were able to put the new transmitter on the air for prime time.

I know there have been a lot of eager viewers anxious for this day to arrive; it is here now, so enjoy the presentation and let me know how you receive KENS-DT at full power.

Wow!! Thanks Jerry. That is wonderful. We'll be watching.

michael

I'm sad. I live in Kerrville and can get NBC,ABC,FOX in HD but no KENS. I have a rotor and tried different positions and rescanning, with no luck. Weird I can't, if they are operating at the same power. I do and have been getting KENS in regular UHF.

Isn't the KENS tower in the same area as the others?

Originally posted by trol1374
I'm sad. I live in Kerrville and can get NBC,ABC,FOX in HD but no KENS. I have a rotor and tried different positions and rescanning, with no luck. Weird I can't, if they are operating at the same power. I do and have been getting KENS in regular UHF.

Isn't the KENS tower in the same area as the others?

Trol,

you should have been able to receive KENS-DT tonight. Our power is equal to NBC and ABC, and our received signal strength here at ninemile hill in San Antonio is 2 db higher than WOAI. KENS and WOAI share the same tower at the same location. Tomorrow evening, point your antenna to the southeast and do a channel scan. I'll bet you find us then.

The Spurs game was on the schedule for HDNet (NBA TV High Def), in High Definition, and then...

NOTHING! What happened?

I tuned in later, and they were doing the NBA wrap-up for the night. I have seen other games on that channel.

Luckily I can get KRRT-DT. Not the same though.

Ted

Jerry - Realthogue

Congratulations on really powering up. Looking good and powerful here in downtown Boerne. Now I can move my antenna a wee bit over toward Channel 9 and get them pretty well. Previously it was either you or them, now I get you at 90 - 100% (Dish 6000) and KLRN(?) at 70 - 75%.

I appreciate your past and hopefully continuing professional input into this forum.

Congratulations on really powering up. Looking good and powerful here in downtown Boerne.
***********************************************************
How about Kerrville? Anybody?

Originally posted by AllenDB
Congratulations on really powering up. Looking good and powerful here in downtown Boerne.
***********************************************************
How about Kerrville? Anybody?

Kerrville is a possibility, but no guarantees. My past experiences with Kerrville have been that you need a substantial antenna to receive KENS 5 even on the analog VHF service. We have not tested the high power DTV out as far as Kerrville, but it is encouraging to hear that we can be seen in Boerne!

Regrettably, the high power transmitter will be silent tonight, as we do a couple of modifications. She'll be back tomorrow, though, and we intend to provide uninterrupted high power service for the duration of the NCAA playoffs.

Jerry,

Thanks for the clarification. I tried again Tues night and had no luck. I couldn't tell from your post if you meant it was down Monday or Tues night.

Strange how I can get the other networks but not KENS. I do get the KENS in regular UHF. I will keep playing with it and let you know what happens. Seems if you are on the same tower as WOAI then I shouldn't have to turn my rotor.

Thanks for keeping us up to date on the KENS powerup, Jerry.

Has anyone noticed lip sync issues with channel 4 (WOAI)? I have two different displays, STBs, receivers, and antennas, and on both setups, I have audio sync issues most noticeable on WOAI.
Even my wife noticed the lip sync (which is really saying something as she claims to see no difference between HD and analog UHF)

Jerry - Realthogue

I talked to Rich Barton today and suggested to him that KENS use the SD side of the HD to broadcast NCAA games not broadcast on analog, instead of the RADAR image. I realize its the RADAR takes a lot less, but you really should ring out the new system with something meaningful. There are a whole lot of CBS HD stations (DC, Detroit, Cleveland, Raleigh, etc) in other major cities using their SD sides for showing games not on thier primary. He said he would mention it to you.

Thanks,
Jim

Originally posted by trol1374
Jerry,

Thanks for the clarification. I tried again Tues night and had no luck. I couldn't tell from your post if you meant it was down Monday or Tues night.

Strange how I can get the other networks but not KENS. I do get the KENS in regular UHF. I will keep playing with it and let you know what happens. Seems if you are on the same tower as WOAI then I shouldn't have to turn my rotor.

Trol,

our big transmitter was off the air Tuesday night. She is alive and well tonight for the Spurs game, even though it is NOT in HD, but we thought viewers would appreciate the improvement in quality anyway.

FYI, the Spurs do not usually produce their games in HD. Only when a major game is carried by one of the big networks (ESPN, CBS, etc.) is there a chance of HDTV production. Reason: cost. The price tag is enormous for HDTV production, so it'll be a little longer before everything is produced in HD.

We will carry NCAA playoff games live, in HDTV and at high power from Tucson, Arizona on Thursday, March 17. Friday's games will be determined soon by CBS.

Originally posted by hurricanehunter
Jerry - Realthogue

I ... suggested ... that KENS use the SD side of the HD to broadcast NCAA games not broadcast on analog, instead of the RADAR image.

Thanks,
Jim

Jim, it is a good idea but we lack the equipment to downrez the HD feed of other games and route it into our multicast channel. Also, CBS has some rules about which games we may carry, and the analog network offering is limited to those games authorized for our regionalization.

The only games not seen on KENS that are available to us are the ones on the alternate HDTV feed; in Thursday's case, four games from Cleveland, Ohio.
11:25 AM CST: Cleveland I Alabama vs Wisc-Milwaukee
1:45 PM CST: Cleveland II Boston College vs Pennsylvania
6:10 PM CST: Cleveland III Wake Forest vs Chattanooga
8:30PM CST: Cleveland IV West Virginia vs Creighton

I do not have the resources to bring in games from Boise or Indianapolis for broadcast on our multicast.

In the future there will be different programming on the multicast (5-2) side, but as Rich mentioned to you, we keep a low bitrate allocated to that service to maximize the bitrate available for the HDTV (5-1) service.

Well, tried Weds nite. Still no luck, not getting KENS in HD. I do get the 57 in UHF. I get the other networks in HD, so I guess something is wrong with me.

Just to clarify. We using 5-1? I do get 4-1,4-2, 12-1,12-2, 29-1, 35-1,35-2.

I've tried rescan with the receiver, turning antenna.

Originally posted by trol1374

Just to clarify. We using 5-1? I do get 4-1,4-2, 12-1,12-2, 29-1, 35-1,35-2.

Trol,

KENS-DT primary channel is 5-1 for HDTV. 5-2 is our multicast channel, presently occupied by radar imagery. If your antenna is pointed correctly for WOAI and KSAT you are correctly oriented for KENS-DT. If you have done another channel scan with negative results, I have read in the Forum that some receivers respond to being powered off (with the AC plug pulled out of the socket!) for a few minutes or hours - depends on the make of receiver, I guess - and then upon powering back up do another channel search.

I wish I could be more scientific or even empirical about what is going on, but receiver makers have not exactly cooperated with each other, let alone the ATSC, to standardize how they respond to ATSC transmissions. We kept the high power equipment operating from just before noon until about 11:00 tonight; you should have seen us. You could also try forcing your receiver over to channel 55 (UHF RF channel 55 is our allocation) to see if it finds our signal that way.

Good Luck - keep trying

Jerry,

Well, I tried the unplug over night and then reacquire signals. It found WOAI,KSAT, FOX, KRRT in HD. I have been getting your signal in regular UHF mode all along (mine gets you on 57). Still no HD for KENS.

I saw someone is getting you in Boerne. I wonder if you are outputting as much as your trying to? Seems like no other plausible reason as to why I can't pick out your signal.

And I like KENS........ I'm so sad.....

Mike

Isn't that strange? KENS doesn't broadcast anything on channel 57, does it?

Something's wrong here. KENS has no UHF analog service, period. I don't know what you're getting on 57, unless it is from a low-power translator somewhere. Where do you live again? KENS-DT transmits at 980 kW on RF channel 55. I can guarantee we are making as much power as we think we are, so that is not an issue.

I'll take a look around at translators that operate on 57. Someone may be translating KENS 5 to 57 without our knowledge.

I live just south of Boerne and finally pulled in KENS on Wednesday Night. The basketball looked great last night.

Jerry's comments on Hi-Power makes it sound like a temporary fix. When will it be permanent?

I'm on D*TV so personally I like the local radar feed on 5-2, especially with spring storms coming. Sounds like it will be replaced by other programming in the future but I like having the radar to track the weather since there is not a local radar feed on Satellite.

Originally posted by Escondido

Jerry's comments on Hi-Power makes it sound like a temporary fix. When will it be permanent?

... I like having the radar to track the weather since there is not a local radar feed on Satellite.

Escondido, thanks for checking in! Full power will be available full time come June. Until then we are in "test" mode except for special events. Test mode hours are generally from 1100 - 1230 and 1700 - 2235 Monday through Friday, and 1700 - 2235 Saturday and Sunday unless there are special events in HD.

Plans are still developing for the multicast channel (5-2) but I believe the radar images will be there whenever there is no alternative programming. It's too soon to declare a policy just yet.

Originally posted by trol1374
Jerry,

Well, I tried the unplug over night and then reacquire signals. It found WOAI,KSAT, FOX, KRRT in HD...Still no HD for KENS.


Mike

Mike, one other thought: what time did you plug in power again and try to reacquire channels? If you tried it before the big transmitter came on, that is, before 1100, your efforts were in vain. In order to reacquire KENS-DT I think you need to try it when we are operating at high power.

We are at full power as I write, and we will be until around 11PM. If you can't reacquire tonight, unplug again overnight and try again tomorrow after 11AM.

Well, I live 4 miles south of Kerrville (Hwy 16) on a hill. I have always pulled in the UHF channels with 57(KENS) and 59 (KSAT). Up until you fired up HD I would get WOAI on 55. This all in UHF.

If I punch in 48-1 it flips to 12-1 (KSAT). If I punch in 58-1 it tunes to 4-1 for WOAI. Or I can just do 4-1, 12-1. I also get FOX 29-1

I have been flipping my rotor around a few notches. AND upon punching in 55-1 and jumps it to 5-1, I finally saw a glimpse of KENS. But it would chop in and out. So I know I can get it.

WOOO HOOO, I found the sweet spot. I have to have the rotor/antenna just on that one certain "click". One click either way and it drops off. I don't have this restriction with the other stations.

As for the time of day I have tried it. I noted on your previous post about only being powered in evening, so that is the time that I have been playing with it.

Ok, I now am posting this after 5 minutes of watching KENS. Sweeeettttt picture. I am also getting doppler on 5-2 (55-2)

Oh I spoke to soon, it dropped off after about 7 minutes. It is very sensitive. The other channels don't have this problem.

Jerry, I think there is some more tweaking on your end. But, it's getting there.

Jerry,

I don't pretend to be knowledgeable in these things, but if he is receiving a strong analog signal on ch 55 from a repeater/translator, could it be interfering with his digital receiver's ability to get digital 55?

BTW, now I'm receiving all the SA digital channels at 92 to 95 on my HD DirecTivo. You used to come in at 88. You're one of the 95's, now.

Sherrill

Sherrill,

You could have zeroed in on Trol's problem. Seems to me I read that he is receiving something analog on 55, and that could certainly cause a high Bit Error Rate on digital signals trying to come in on 55.

Wish I had recommended that.

Trol, you out there? Is there a strong analog signal already on 55 in your neighborhood? If so, that may be exactly what is interfering with your KENS-DT reception.

Sherrill, you were right.

Trol, repeater K55CZ repeats WOAI-TV analog on channel 55 between Kerrville and Bandera.

That is why your KENS-DT reception is sporadic.

Next step, we find out who's operating K55CZ and see what we can do to relieve the situation.

WVLT sucks! I have been watching the NCAA games all weekend. Sometimes it's in HD, sometimes not. I was watching a game in hd, they go to break come back in sd and stay there. They realy suck. The UK game I was hoping to see in hd (yes, I am 4 UK :) ) Can't they get it right! Ok, I feel a little better now. Had to vent.

Originally posted by Harold Southard
WVLT sucks! I have been watching the NCAA games all weekend. Sometimes it's in HD, sometimes not. I was watching a game in hd, they go to break come back in sd and stay there. They realy suck. The UK game I was hoping to see in hd (yes, I am 4 UK :) ) Can't they get it right! Ok, I feel a little better now. Had to vent.

It's like they're stuck on this plateau and they're not getting better...maybe retrograding...?:rolleyes: It's the whole bleeding network that's making no progesso, not just the poor pitiful affiliate, IMO.:mad:

Originally posted by Harold Southard
(yes, I am 4 UK :) )

Won't get any arguments from me there.:)

Looks like will see 'em in HD next week though (finally!).

Is this a local problem? Or is it a "CBS" aka "See BS" problem?

Originally posted by Harold Southard
Is this a local problem? Or is it a "CBS" aka "See BS" problem?

The local affiliate has many problems, but you can't blame them that the network's effort is stille half-ass. Stille, from what commentators have said, I've inferred that they stille only have one HD truck for sports. It's been parked in Arizona for the first round.

Well how do you explain a game starting off in HD but then staying in SD for the second half, or after a local commerical break for Halls Salvage. Did the HD truck Drive off?

CBS has at least 3 HD trucks, more like 5.



Weekends are always a mess for WVLT. They had been getting better....oh well.

The GM is a nice guy but whenever I email him I get the standard response.

"we are gonna have a meeting about this"


Bah...

I don't think all the games were in HD. CBS does a lot of switching between games. The local station has to alter their signal and I assume forgets to switch it back to an HD signal. I emailed WVLT Thursday night about it and didn't get a response. All the games this weekend will be in HD. So if those problems continue, everyone should call or email to complain.

Speaking of switching, is WATE the worse of the locals? I don't know how many times at the start of a program or after a commercial break they are slow the make the switch back to HD. It is so annoying.

Originally posted by Harold Southard
WVLT sucks! I have been watching the NCAA games all weekend. Sometimes it's in HD, sometimes not. I was watching a game in hd, they go to break come back in sd and stay there. They realy suck. The UK game I was hoping to see in hd (yes, I am 4 UK :) ) Can't they get it right! Ok, I feel a little better now. Had to vent.

You'll in Tazewell have you tried to get WJHL tri cities DT58? I don't know why but their HD looks much better then WVLT (could be low signal level)and they've got their act together. They'll go full power July 1. I get both here but WJHL is at 98% signal and WVLT is 83% just above the 81% needed for a lock on my Motorola receiver. Sometimes they have a lot of drops here especially in the day. WJHL solid as a rock.

You also have a channel DT 12 from Hazard KY. you should be able to get. I think they are CBS not sure I can't achieve a good lock here. :(

I am not able to get those. I am thinking of putting up another ant. or 2. I would need to put them higher. DT 12 I might get with another ant, my cable co. carries it. It is wymt. I have a squareshooter and thats it right now.

http://www.skyvision.com/store/media/1500088.jpg

Originally posted by Harold Southard
I am not able to get those. I am thinking of putting up another ant. or 2. I would need to put them higher. DT 12 I might get with another ant, my cable co. carries it. It is wymt. I have a squareshooter and thats it right now.

http://www.skyvision.com/store/media/1500088.jpg

I bet you'd have a good chance at WYMT with this:

Or maybe even this would do it:

Nice stack. How much did that put you back?

Originally posted by Harold Southard
Nice stack. How much did that put you back?

The psp 1922 (Funke, Holland) I got from Greg Barker for 69 plus shipping. I'll have to give you the link later as the website is unavailable now for some reason. It's designed for vhf 7-13.

The Y10 7-13 is also vhf 7-13 and is from Antennacraft at around 35 dollars. I got mine from a dealer in Johnson City but they're widely available.

The stack beneath are Triax Unix 100 Band A's which are around 60 dollars U.S. but the kicker is shipping from the U.K. They're available from http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/home/homepage.jsp

It should be relatively simple to combine a vhf antenna with your square shooter through a CM 0549 diplexer. Alternatively, you could run them both through a CM 7777 preamp which will diplex them for you but you'd have to bypass the amp in the square shooter (if it's the version that's amplified).

Charles

Thanks for the info. I have an external pre amp on mine.

Originally posted by cpcat
I bet you'd have a good chance at WYMT with this:

I use a Winegard 7084 combo to get a lock from WMYT but only for seconds at a time and with some weather help. You being about 30 miles closer and on the other side of the clinch mountain should do very well with a 10 element 7-13 antenna. I'm barely in their coverage area. You however are well inside of their coverage.

CPCAT,
Can you get WEMT their in Corbin KY. reliably? Just curious I know their transmitter is on the NC/TN border and is very high.

Originally posted by jimc705
CPCAT,
Can you get WEMT their in Corbin KY. reliably? Just curious I know their transmitter is on the NC/TN border and is very high.

WYMT was the first DT I got (with a Stealthtenna on my porch) which started it all for me. It pretty much pegs the meter either with the Y10 or the psp 1922.

WEMT I can only get occasionally but am hopeful for once they're up to full power. 38 is the upper range of what the Band A's will do but I think I'll be O.K. I can get their analog pretty well now.

Re:"Huh? I live in Maryville and I just use a table top Zenith Antenna and I also have a Radio Shack HDTV amplified antenna I use to pull in FOX 39.1 in the tri cities."


I have a good line of sight to the towers but my big screen is in the basement and a set top antenna just won't get the job done. Plus it looks terrible. I paid the pros at Ledbetter's to install the antenna for me and now everything works and looks great. I think Fox has the best picture and sound with fewer problems and I agree that wvlt has the worst. wate has a good signal but has fewer shows and sports that I watch now that Monday night football is gone.

Scott

Oh, ok. I noticed that the other stations transmitt their HD signal on a different channel then their analog. Maybe that is why they do it?

How hard would that be for you to switch? Or is it just one of those "rural" things we are left hanging out to dry?

I tried looking for the signal during the show Survior and didn't find it.

Thanks for all the feedback.

Thanks,
Mike

Originally posted by cpcat
The psp 1922 (Funke, Holland) I got from Greg Barker for 69 plus shipping. I'll have to give you the link later as the website is unavailable now for some reason. It's designed for vhf 7-13.

The page I had setup for these was deemed too commercial by the MSN-TV police so I had to dismantle it.All the other pages are back up now.If anyone wants one they can pm me,or send me an email from my website.

Originally posted by trol1374

...How hard would that be for you to switch? Or is it just one of those "rural" things we are left hanging out to dry?

Thanks,
Mike

Mike,

Each of us have a DTV channel allocation to permit the buildout and propagation of Digital TV in the U.S. Unfortunately we can't just change our allocation at will. Even when there is a planned channel change, it takes years to get the paperwork pushed through.

As it happens, WOAI and ourselves will be required to "give back" the RF channels we now occupy. That's in the future, and certainly not tomorrow. As of today KENS, at least, has made no decision nor any request for a frequency change. We and our corporate parent Belo are working on it, but this stuff takes time.

In the meantime, for you, I can tell you that the K55CZ translator is almost due south of you. You can block some of the signal from that translator with a makeshift Faraday shield of copper (or even Aluminum) screen. It will need to be large enough to shield most of your antenna from the south so your pickup improves from the southeast. Think screen door size. That, or buy a more directional (and more expensive) antenna.

If you build the screen, make sure it protects only the south side of your antenna, and connect a wire from the metal part of the screen to ground. You might need to experiment with this a little, but it might work.

At this point I am open to suggestion from anyone who can solve Trol's problem. We've already requested the contact information for the owner or K55CZ from the FCC.

I understand what your saying. I can't see putting up a "screen door" on the side of the antenna for one channel. It would really look bad.

I guess I'm stuck out of luck getting your HD signal. I might consider the more directional antenna. It would be alot of trouble getting the old antenna down and putting up a new one, due to the height above the roof.

Let us know if any other developments come out.

Mike

Just curious...are there many repeaters (all stations) in the greater SA area?

also curious ..... wouldn't K55CZ need a permit to operate that repeater and how could they get one on a channel thats already permitted within, say 100 miles?

michael

@ Trol1374

Which ChanelMaster antenna are you using? The 4228 model is an 8 bowtie with a "screen door" on the back. One of the best deep fringe antennas you can buy. The only problem is its UHF only so if you watch a lot of KLRN you might be out of luck. On the other hand according to another website this antenna can pull in some of the higher VHF channels (9-13) so you might be able to get a lock on KLRN as well.

Trol,

You could always try an A/B coax switch- one to your existing antenna, then the other to a small directional. Then you could aim the smaller one exactly where you need it. I have found that this is the only setup that works for my downstairs HT. With antenna A, I get everything but WB35. I added a Zenith Silver Sensor, and aimed directly at it. This pulls in 35, and a few others. Then I simply switch between the two as needed.

If you go this route, you have little to lose, as you can return the switch and extra antenna if you cant get it to work.

Just a thought.

Originally posted by paulbehnke
Just curious...are there many repeaters (all stations) in the greater SA area?

I haven't researched all of them, but there are three in the Kerrville-Bandera area: 55, 57, and 59, operated by Classic Network Television. They translate WOAI, KENS and KSAT for a hill country cable company, I guess. We are working on contacting the licensee, but they were operating on those frequencies long before we were operating on 55.

Technically, Kerrville is outside our Grade "B" NTSC contour, but with the right antenna it seems feasible to get usable results.

It will take a little while, but I will research all the local repeaters/translators and publish here for everyone. It was a surprise to me that K55CZ was operating up there.

ibglowin

Yes, I have a CM 4228. I don't get KLRN. The best I can tell from GPS cordinates is that im something like 70ish miles from SA's tower. That is why I needed the deep fringe antenna, along with the amp.

The way it sounds is that transmitter for classic is between me and SA's tower.

Would the Zenith Silver antenna work on that distance?

Mike

I am not sure if it will work at that distance.

Most will tell you that antenna selection and placement is a trial and error process- I agree completely. My silver sensor actually works better than my large outddor combo VHF/UHF antenna that came with my house.

Go to Sears and buy one- if you can't get the channels you want- return it within 30 days for a full refund.

I guess there is no way to "link" two antenna's? If not, then I'm not going to bother with mounting another one, getting another amp, pulling another cable down and into the house.

thanks,

Mike

From what I understand, an amp wont actually help you pull in weaker signals- it only compensates for very long cable runs.

The silver sensor is a small indoor antenna. With the A/B coax switch, you simply plug your existing antenna coax into the A side of the switch, the new antenna to the B side of the switch, and another coax from the switch to the tv (or STB). Then you manually select which antenna you want using the switch.

Here in Austin I use a 15db amp with my Silver Sensor. It allows me to receive the VERY weak Fox station. Without the amp it won't lock on (about 20-30% signal strength at best). A very few times, when the planets aligned, at low tide, when my chakra's were in the right phase, I saw a brief picture.

The cable is a simple Monster Video 2 run from the antenna to the amp (6') and a 4 foot run of MV Quad RG6 from the amp to my Samsung TS160. So, in a nutshell, if the station is on the cusp with intermittent signal strength, then yes a simple 15db amp can help. Regardless of the length of the cable run.

I bought two different amps to improve signal strength- both went back to the store as they actually degraded the picture. I suppose there are so many factors at play here that (as I said in an earlier post), its basically trial and error.

You need to make sure you get a good one. Cheap ones will introduce more noise than anything else. Expect to pay around $50 and you will get a good 20-24db gain. Channel Master is one of the better ones. I am 42 miles away from the towers and had several channels that I couldn't lock on to or couldn't hold on to without a preamp. With one, I have 85-100 % signal strength and I never have signal problems. YMMV obviously.

I had to have a preamp because Time Warner signal was so lousy I couldn't get a clear picture of UPN to see Enterprise. Later on they were out here looking for a separate issue and the tech swapped it out for a different brand one trying to isolate an issue. As I had paid for it I made sure he left it here. The model is a Scientific Atlanta Surge Gap Drop Amplifier 562775.

There are a lot of cheapie Home Depot/Radio Shack amplifier types out there. Get something that is rated for commercial use. better yet just go down to TW and get one like I did. Its watertight and rated for outdoor use as well. Stay away from the RCA and Emerson cheapies you see sitting on the the shelves.

Ibglowin,

Do you have the model # of the channelmaster preamp? This is a PRE-amp, not an amp, right?

I have ordered several times from these guys:

http://www.warrenelectronics.com/Antennas/HDTV_preamps.htm

You need a pre amp that will pass both UHF/VHF due to KLRN being VHF (what were they thinking)

You can also pick one up locally at Lowes, that's were I bought the one I installed on my folks setup in SA.

Originally posted by kwill
Ibglowin,

Do you have the model # of the channelmaster preamp? This is a PRE-amp, not an amp, right?

I didn't get to catch much of the NCAA tourney on KENS this year, but what little I saw was somewhat disappointing (though overall, the picture and sound were very good).

I noticed that the live game broadcast would periodically go out of focus for brief periods (like a second or two). It would happen fairly often, enough to be noticeable.

I recall a couple of years ago during the NBA playoffs that KSAT had this problem with Hi-Def broadcasts of the games. In fact, many stations across the country had the problems (this was during the Spurs-Nets championship series), but many did not. It turns out that the problem was not with the cameras or the originating broadcast, but with the set up of the local station's equipment. It eventually got corrected.

Jerry (Realthogue), do you know anything about this?

Joe,

I read of this symptom last year or year before last, I think, but fortunately KENS did not suffer from the problem at the time. Unfortunately I have been out of action due to surgery for about a week and other than reading the Forum often, I did not see any HD action or the unusual focus drift you have related. KENS have made no changes to their Flexicoder setup, so this will take some investigation.

I'll be back to work Thursday, April 7.

Originally posted by Realthogue
Joe,

I read of this symptom last year or year before last, I think, but fortunately KENS did not suffer from the problem at the time. Unfortunately I have been out of action due to surgery for about a week and other than reading the Forum often, I did not see any HD action or the unusual focus drift you have related. KENS have made no changes to their Flexicoder setup, so this will take some investigation.

I'll be back to work Thursday, April 7.

Jerry -

Hope your surgery went fine and you're doing okay. Thanks for the reply. Flexicoder is exactly what I was thinking of when I saw the in and out of focus issues during the broadcast.

Joe

I'm about to visit a friend of mine that lives in Etowah. He recently bought an HDTV, I'm anxious to see his setup and I doubt he even has HD set up. I plan on bringing my Samsung T-351 and my radio shack amplified indoor antenna. Does anyone have any idea if I have any chance of picking up Chattanooga or Knoxville locals with this kind of setup, or will I definitely have to get a better antenna. Can anyone tell me which city I will have a better chance of getting? Thanks in advance.

Chris

http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

Originally posted by ChrisInRichmond
I'm about to visit a friend of mine that lives in Etowah. He recently bought an HDTV, I'm anxious to see his setup and I doubt he even has HD set up. I plan on bringing my Samsung T-351 and my radio shack amplified indoor antenna. Does anyone have any idea if I have any chance of picking up Chattanooga or Knoxville locals with this kind of setup, or will I definitely have to get a better antenna. Can anyone tell me which city I will have a better chance of getting? Thanks in advance.

Chris

You'll be a little closer to Chattanooga. Most of their digitals are at reduced power however and some in Chatanooga have trouble. WBIR WTNZ are still low power. A good UHF outside (CM 4228 or Antennas Direct 91XG should get you both DMA's reliably.
FYI you may have a shot at DT13 VHF WRCB from Chattanooga being it's VHF. Other Chattanooga digitals are:
WTCI DT29 at low power but Etowah is in coverage area.
WDEF DT45 low power Not in coverage area.
WDSI DT40
WTVC DT35 in coverage area
Have fun! Also may try WEMT Greenville out of coverage area but suppose to be full power this week or next.

Originally posted by cpcat
WVLT will stay on 30.
WBIR will go back to 10.
WTNZ will stay on 34.
WATE will stay on 26.
WKOP didn't have their's in the last I checked.
I'm assuming WMAK will stay on 7 but I didn't check them.

Go to http://www.tvradioworld.com/region1/tn/tv_information.asp?m=kno
and click on "complete info" for the analog station, then click on "application list" and it's under "BFRECT".

What does all this mean for the ones getting ready to buy an antenna for our attic?

Does anyone know why CBS in Knoxville does not send Dolby Digital 5.1? When are they going to start sending it?

Originally posted by Mwwilliams
What does all this mean for the ones getting ready to buy an antenna for our attic?

You need an antenna that will receive uhf as well as vhf high band (7-13). A 4 bay like the CM 4221 will likely do it for uhf and for channel 10 within 20 miles. An 8-bay (CM4228) will do the same most likely up to 30 miles. Further out most likely will require going outdoors (the 4 bay between 30-40, the 8-bay over 40). Channel 7 may require a separate high band vhf antenna like an Antennacraft Y5 7-13 or Y10 7-13 depending on your distance as the bay antennas don't do well under channel 9.

The other option is a combo vhf/uhf antenna like the CM 3016, CM 3018 depending on distance. These will require more space and won't perform quite as well for uhf, so you'll have to take that into account and I'd oversize the antenna somewhat for that reason.

Combo uhf/high band vhf antennas do exist, but only as imports AFAIK.
See http://www.funke.nl/aerials/00451503.htm
Channels 5-12 in the UK are equivalent to 7-13 here.

Originally posted by cpcat
You need an antenna that will receive uhf as well as vhf high band (7-13). A 4 bay like the CM 4221 will likely do it for uhf and for channel 10 within 20 miles. An 8-bay (CM4228) will do the same most likely up to 30 miles. Further out most likely will require going outdoors (the 4 bay between 30-40, the 8-bay over 40). Channel 7 may require a separate high band vhf antenna like an Antennacraft Y5 7-13 or Y10 7-13 depending on your distance as the bay antennas don't do well under channel 9.

The other option is a combo vhf/uhf antenna like the CM 3016, CM 3018 depending on distance. These will require more space and won't perform quite as well for uhf, so you'll have to take that into account and I'd oversize the antenna somewhat for that reason.

Combo uhf/high band vhf antennas do exist, but only as imports AFAIK.
See http://www.funke.nl/aerials/00451503.htm
Channels 5-12 in the UK are equivalent to 7-13 here.

I'll add if you're close in there's also these by Antennas Direct.
http://www.antennasdirect.com/VHF%20channel%20listings.htm

Does anyone know why CBS in Knoxville does not send Dolby Digital 5.1? When are they going to start sending it?

During the Masters (mostly on Saturday) I either lost signal or showed signs of a weakened signal through my DishNetwork 811 receiver. I was wondering if anyone else with other types of receivers experienced this, thus being either CBS's or KENS problem, or if it means I have a buggy 811. I witnessed the same thing that evening on KENS but had no problem after switching over to WOAI.

I get 90+ signal on both stations. I would certainly appreciate any response so I will know if I need to get with the Dish folks to trade out receivers.

Originally posted by hotshot
Does anyone know why CBS in Knoxville does not send Dolby Digital 5.1? When are they going to start sending it?

I'd sooner want them to get the video, correcto! Pixelization and macroblocking with 5.1 sound stille isn't so appealing.

If your getting a 90+ signal from Boerne on ANY San Antonio OTA station I would say your doing pretty darn good and wouldn't immediately suspect a problem with the 811. I also woudn't be suprised to see dropouts on any signal due to a host of facotrs including weather conditions.

KENS has just gone full power in the last month so its very possible their still tweaking and optimizing the new equipment.

Originally posted by martin45
During the Masters (mostly on Saturday) I either lost signal or showed signs of a weakened signal through my DishNetwork 811 receiver. I was wondering if anyone else with other types of receivers experienced this, thus being either CBS's or KENS problem, or if it means I have a buggy 811. I witnessed the same thing that evening on KENS but had no problem after switching over to WOAI

Martin,

I noticed at quite a few intervals during The Masters that the HD signal from CBS would either freeze or drop completely out for a second or so. Oddly, I did not see this in the analog feed that KENS-5 broadcast on the VHF side. CBS disavows any knowledge of problems, but it would not surprise me if one or more of their remote cameras had a minor problem at times. With a broadcast covering as much real estate as The Masters, it would be a miracle to have NO technical problems at some point.

KENS-DT has operated with uninterrupted full power during HDTV coverage of the NCAA Final Four and The Masters. We have actually not tweaked anything since March 30, other than to put the high-power device (called Sigma) on the air in the morning and put it to sleep at night. If you have good results with WOAI, KENS should be just as good; we both broadcast from exactly the same point.

I have not been getting 20-1 (WBXX) as of late. Are they down? I also get a good sig for the 4 PAX channels, but nothing there.

I get no signal on either of my antennas in Maryville, so must be down/.

Jerry,

I think your explanation is right on. Digital feeds either do or don't, no in between and on a golf course I am sure there are plenty of cables being trampled and moved which could cause a power or signal interruption which would never be noticed on an analog feed.

A more interesting question is: Why am I tellling this to someone who knows a hundred times more about this stuff than I do?!!!!

Thanks for your reply.

No WB for about a week ! They must be OTA (off the air).

Originally posted by ScottInMaryville
Re:"Huh? I live in Maryville and I just use a table top Zenith Antenna and I also have a Radio Shack HDTV amplified antenna I use to pull in FOX 39.1 in the tri cities."


I have a good line of sight to the towers but my big screen is in the basement and a set top antenna just won't get the job done. Plus it looks terrible. I paid the pros at Ledbetter's to install the antenna for me and now everything works and looks great. I think Fox has the best picture and sound with fewer problems and I agree that wvlt has the worst. wate has a good signal but has fewer shows and sports that I watch now that Monday night football is gone.

Scott

Ledbetter's is a good bunch of people. Just curious, how much did they charge to set you up?

Local places to find Channel Master pre-amps?

I was in an area Lowe's recently and they had Channel Master antennas but the only amps/pre-amps I saw were other brands like Philips - what you might also find at Walmart I guess. I still need to figure out exactly which of the pre-amp models I need, but does anyone know of any places in the SA area that stock the Channel Master pre-amps?

Variations in signal strength vs. time of day, day of week, etc?

Are all of the stations in the SA area transmitting at a constant power throughout the day and throughout the week? Once in a while I am able to receive a station (or maybe two) well enough that I could actually watch it for an extended period if I wanted to, but most of the time I see a lot of signal strength problems. I know that my distance from the antenna farm is a factor (a little over 30 miles), as is the location of my receiving antenna (which is not optimal, but I'm stuck with it). I am just curious to know if the variations I am seeing in signal strength are due to shifts in transmitting power. (I just found some comments about KENS that seem to correspond to what I've observed - reasonably good signal strength mainly in prime time - but what about the other stations? I see an awful lot of flatlines...)

I was glad to find this thread and I read a few pages of it - but it's huge... So if I missed something please let me know.

Thanks!

:cool:

I picked up the Channel Master preamp for my dads set up at the Lowes at IH10 & Callaghan. Not sure if they all stock the same merchandise in SA or not. I would just order one online and be done with it as it may take more time searching SA than what its worth. FWIW, he is around 30 miles from the tower farm and even with the preamp AND a $60 Radio Shack antenna he still seems to lose WOAI at times. If it wasn't for KLRN being VHF things would be so much easier going with a dedicated good Channel Mater UHF antenna. I am not all that impressed with Radio Shack antennas.

As far as losing channels during the day time, it is not all too uncommon. Some stations are indeed on a low power cycle during the day and ramp up to 4.7 Gigawatts at night during primetime. You would almost have to call the station and speak with engineering to see if anything is going on at the moment you lose them. I've called most of them and they all seem like pretty nice guys and very interested about their signal quality. Just don't call during the 5:00PM news cast!

Welcome to AVS Forums!

Thanks for the input. I am 'hybridizing' a simple analog antenna setup I have been using for some time and it apparently still has a way to go. Although I have seen most of the major local dtv stations come in well enough to be watchable at one time or another, most of the time I'm lucky to find anything strong enough to watch. In recent days KENS has indeed followed the midday & prime time pattern pretty well. Most of the other stations are usually too weak for me, but sometimes they improve enough to be watchable. The exceptions for me so far have been KRRT - which I think I understand (different direction) - and KLRN - which is a bit of a mystery since I receive their analog broadcast fairly well. I have yet to see KRRT or KLRN.

I am hoping that with the right improvements I can make ota dtv a viable alternative to analog, but I was kind of curious what kind of broadcast signal strengths I have to work with and how close they are to being 24/7. What I have been seeing definitely isn't 24/7, but it has started to look like there might be some kind of patterns. If I'm able to improve things I'll see if I can gather some more complete statistics.

Thanks again.

:cool:

I have been trying to improve the HD reception of my roof antennas. I'm on the NE side of SA with a big tree between me and the towers. I cleaned the outside contacts on the baluns/splitters. The TV just below the antennas is getting most digital signals now. The TV on the other side of the house +\- 75 foot run is bad. There is a 25db amp/fm trap located there that doesn't improve the signals. I have decided to install a preamp using phantom power. Is there anyone out there who could make a recommendation in that I have never installed one before?

Thanks

Threads merged.

Originally posted by chips & sauce
... In recent days KENS has indeed followed the midday & prime time pattern pretty well. Most of the other stations are usually too weak for me, but sometimes they improve enough to be watchable. The exceptions for me so far have been KRRT - which I think I understand (different direction) - and KLRN - which is a bit of a mystery since I receive their analog broadcast fairly well. I have yet to see KRRT or KLRN.

...What I have been seeing definitely isn't 24/7, but it has started to look like there might be some kind of patterns...

Thanks again.

:cool:

Speaking only for KENS, we have automated the power transfer from the low power transmitter to high power and back again every day. High power is scheduled at 1055 every day, with a return to low power at 2235 every evening. On nights when CBS runs "off the clock" (late, due to sports or breaking news) I will hold back the transition until after Eyewitness News at 10 PM.

KENS-DT expects to operate at full power 24/7 beginning in June.

I'm sure you know that KLRN-DT, while in the same general direction as KABB, KENS, KSAT and WOAI, is actually VHF channel 8, and requires a VHF antenna for optimum reception. KRRT is indeed in the opposite direction, in Lake Hills above Medina Lake.

Not sure what has happened. But... for the last couple of weeks KENS is acting like it is on low power. It worked well when the power was increased, but now it drops out continually. Shows signal of 80% then shows zero, then back on. Eventually, the STB loses the signal and requires a repower. Live in Pleasanton Texas. Receive 4, 12, and 29 with no problems. Have to watch Kens on analog, which is strong.

Thanks for your help.

Originally posted by cindyed
...for the last couple of weeks KENS is acting like it is on low power. It worked well when the power was increased, but now it drops out continually. Shows signal of 80% then shows zero, then back on...Live in Pleasanton Texas. Receive 4, 12, and 29 with no problems.

Please tell me a little more about your installation: receiver/STB, antenna, cable length, splitters, amplifiers and surroundings. I am puzzled at your report since we are at the same location as WOAI-DT and at the identical power and signal strength. KSAT-DT is only 3/4 mile east of our tower and at similar power but at a slightly lower frequency. KABB-DT is a mile north of us with similar power but on a much lower frequency.

Viewers living much farther away than Pleasanton have not yet reported the loss of signal you have described. Our antenna is not directional, that is, we send the same amount of power in all directions. Pleasanton should be well covered with a strong signal.

How well did you receive KENS-DT before we increased our transmitter power?

Is there a local San Antonio bulletin board or other alternative, other than THE NEWSPAPER that would be a good place to sell/advertise a good 10' antenna?

Thanks,
MK

Jerry,

Did you happen to find out anymore info about that site that is transmitting UHF 55 in the Bandera area? They going to be there "forever"? Sure would be nice if they switched to another one...

Thanks
Mike

Originally posted by martin45
Is there a local San Antonio bulletin board or other alternative, other than THE NEWSPAPER that would be a good place to sell/advertise a good 10' antenna?




One of my favorites is the Trading Post, at http://www.ssfcu.org. You might also look at the SACU web site or others that you're a member of.

Originally posted by trol1374
Jerry,

Did you happen to find out anymore info about that site that is transmitting UHF 55 in the Bandera area? They going to be there "forever"? Sure would be nice if they switched to another one...


Mike,

K55CZ is a legally licensed translator that will probably be there until analog tv goes away. As you know, they translate WOAI-TV's analog VHF up to 55UHF for the hill country. Their license has greater standing in the area, because Kerrville is not legally in the KENS-DT coverage area.

Thats dis-spiriting. I just bought an acre 5 mi s of downtown Kerrville. Its elevation is almost 2000' and really really really hope I can do over the air. All my equiptment is for recording OTA, not sat or cable. Guess I'll see when the day comes.

Jerry,

Receiver is a Samsung T 351 (latest firmware, no dolby drop out), antenna is a 120 inch vhf/uhf located slightly above the roof line, cable length is 30 feet to the receiver, have a splitter to another tv in the attic, have 14db amplifier about 4 feet from the receiver(I know this isn't the right place), surroundings: flat, but with several large oak trees, no clear shot without going through trees. I would blame the trees, but the other channels work well. I am puzzled also, as it was working perfectly for several weeks, now it seems to regularly drop the signal. When it does, the Samsung will not respond to any channnels, it has to be repowered. Then it picks it up for a little while with pixelation frequently, then drops out. The other channels don't do this. It also seems channel 9 does this as well without the STB lockup, but the antenna isn't pointed correctly for it. It seems to have good and bad days. Prior to your increase in power, it worked very much the same. After increase, it worked extremely well for several weeks. I appreciate any suggestions you may have.

cindyed

Just my $0.02 here.

Try not splitting the signal and see if this helps. Also sounds like you may not have a GOOD preamp. 14db gain more than likely is not enough at your distance. You may need 23-26db preamp but it has to be a good one that doesn't add more noise than the signal increase at the same time.

Originally posted by cindyed
Jerry,

...cable length is 30 feet to the receiver, have a splitter to another tv in the attic, have 14db amplifier about 4 feet from the receiver(I know this isn't the right place), surroundings: flat, but with several large oak trees, no clear shot without going through trees...it was working perfectly for several weeks, now it seems to regularly drop the signal. When it does, the Samsung will not respond to any channnels, it has to be repowered. Then it picks it up for a little while with pixelation frequently, then drops out. The other channels don't do this. It also seems channel 9 does this as well without the STB lockup, but the antenna isn't pointed correctly for it...

ibglowin' has the right idea. DO try your DTV receiver without any splitter; you might also bypass the amplifier for test purposes. Make certain that the cable downlead is not pinched or penetrated by any nails, and that there's no rust or corrosion on the center conductor. If you can do it (and I strongly recommend it,) check the integrity of the matching transformer on the antenna itself. (That would be a good time to add a good preamp at the antenna!) While you are about the same distance from the KENS-DT transmitter as the KENS studio, there are fewer obstructions in your way. Trees are a factor, but not a deal-breaker. If you get satisfactory results with no splitter, you're on notice that your splitter isn't the best.

If you're going to use a preamp, it needs to go as near the antenna as possible. Get the best quality amp and splitter you can; the cheap ones are not very linear and may actually reduce your signal on key channels while appearing to work well on others. At KENS we are using an 84" antenna on top of our building with a 14 db preamplifier. The elevation of the top of the building combined with the height of the terrain is about 1100 feet above sea level. We overlook the downtown area in the path to the transmitters. Our cable run, however, is on the order of 100 feet down to the technical center.

If your antenna is pointed toward KABB, KENS, KSAT and WOAI, that should be close enough to receive KLRN quite well. Their tower is only a few miles northwest of our position. Your receiver is demonstrating that it is not getting enough signal - you know that - but by checking the accessories in your antenna path I'll bet you will find the culprit.

Originally posted by Realthogue
ibglowin' has the right idea. DO try your DTV receiver without any splitter; you might also bypass the amplifier for test purposes. Make certain that the cable downlead is not pinched or penetrated by any nails, and that there's no rust or corrosion on the center conductor. If you can do it (and I strongly recommend it,) check the integrity of the matching transformer on the antenna itself. (That would be a good time to add a good preamp at the antenna!) While you are about the same distance from the KENS-DT transmitter as the KENS studio, there are fewer obstructions in your way. Trees are a factor, but not a deal-breaker. If you get satisfactory results with no splitter, you're on notice that your splitter isn't the best.

If you're going to use a preamp, it needs to go as near the antenna as possible. Get the best quality amp and splitter you can; the cheap ones are not very linear and may actually reduce your signal on key channels while appearing to work well on others. At KENS we are using an 84" antenna on top of our building with a 14 db preamplifier. The elevation of the top of the building combined with the height of the terrain is about 1100 feet above sea level. We overlook the downtown area in the path to the transmitters. Our cable run, however, is on the order of 100 feet down to the technical center.

If your antenna is pointed toward KABB, KENS, KSAT and WOAI, that should be close enough to receive KLRN quite well. Their tower is only a few miles northwest of our position. Your receiver is demonstrating that it is not getting enough signal - you know that - but by checking the accessories in your antenna path I'll bet you will find the culprit.


Thanks, I will try your suggestions. I was hoping it wasn't what you are suggesting.

Anyone have any idea why WBXX is out? Wonder if they are going HD? I hope so.

They have transmitter problems.

Originally posted by lcosby
They have transmitter problems.

Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out! AFter two weeks, I knew something was severe, but thanks for the confirmation!

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premiering day and date with their theatrical releases.

Fans can contact their cable or satellite providers or visit www.hd.net
for more information. Comcast does not currently carry HDNet and HDNet
Movies, so Mavs Playoff games in HD are not available to Comcast
customers. Comcast customers are asked to call their local office and
let them know they want HDNet and the Mavs in HD.

MAVERICKS 2005 PLAYOFF HDNET SCHEDULE
(All Times Listed CT)
Game 2 Mon., April 25 - Rockets @ Mavs 8:30 p.m.
Game 3 Thurs., April 28 - Mavs @ Rockets 8:30
p.m.
Game 4 Sat., April 30 - Mavs @ Rockets 4:30 p.m.
Game 5 Mon., May 2 - Rockets @ Mavs, if necessary TBD

Originally posted by lcosby
They have transmitter problems.

Hey, is this THE Lewis Cosby??? Good to have your input on this board. :)

YEah, he's the WMAK-DT pres. BTW, wasn't trying to be a smart butt, but seriously, after a couple weeks, you gotta figure they have major problems, but nice to have a confirmation.

P.S. I think that Liquid thing they have is really bad. Nothing like watching a bunch of overweight middle aged hicks cuss and act like idiots. REally reflects poorly on us in general, I see why people out of state make fun of us! I guess it's like an infomercial, but quite frankly, I think it's kind of cheesy and reflects poorly on the station resorting to those types of measures to generate revenue. Thanks for listening. Up until I started seeing that liquid thing (during what I still consider to be my primetime 10pm) I thought you guys were a serious player in the market.

Originally posted by lcosby
This is the only HD equipment in Knoxville and maybe the only in the state.

Lewis,
If you want to see something cool, check out our Satelite Service at Faith Promise church off Pellissippi after the Hardin Valley Exit. There is a main auditorium, and we just finished an overflow building. We use HD cameras to feed into the Satelite room where the service is projected in HD using DLP projectors.

Hey, I just thought of something, if you have airtime on Sunday Morning early, maybe they could figure a way to broadcast it over HD? Then you would have the first church services live HD! And we are in the bible belt, ya know!

Lewis,
If you want to see something cool, check out our Satelite Service at Faith Promise church off Pellissippi after the Hardin Valley Exit. There is a main auditorium, and we just finished an overflow building. We use HD cameras to feed into the Satelite room where the service is projected in HD using DLP projectors.

Hey, I just thought of something, if you have airtime on Sunday Morning early, maybe they could figure a way to broadcast it over HD? Then you would have the first church services live HD! And we are in the bible belt, ya know!


Do you have a HD tape format in the house? If so we could delay.
Lewis

CBS does it again. I was recording "Locust" last night (Sunday), it was 16x9 HD from start........then the last 10 min. they screw up and it is 4x3 sd! They can't make it through one show not screwing up!

I record HD movies on my Tosh xs52 hard drive and then put it on dvd-r. When the HD is done right, the dvd looks great.

I wonder if they will re air this in HD again. Not a block buster, but not a bad flick.

Originally posted by Harold Southard
CBS does it again. I was recording "Locust" last night (Sunday), it was 16x9 HD from start........then the last 10 min. they screw up and it is 4x3 sd! They can't make it through one show not screwing up!


As a station gets ready for the news, usually Master Control switches over to Production Control which will have CBS on that switcher. Needless to say, the production switcher that does news isn't HD, so that's why us viewers loose the HD picture.

I don't know if this was the reason in this case because 10 minutes seems excessive for the switch from Master Control to Production. The switch usually happens a minute or so before the first news event, which often happens over credits. It might be that the MC operator had to go prepare rolling tapes for news so he/she gave control to Production early? It's just a guess.

Quite frankly I think it's no mistake these programs are cut short. How much do you want to bet after they start encoding the programs with copyright protection, that all off the sudden the whole show is in 16:9.

The previous post regarding news prep through a production switcher is insightful and probably correct. Ten minutes may be excessive but it really depends on what else the person is required to do.

I don't see any gain for the local broadcasters with the implementation of a "broadcast flag". The networks and Hollywood have other opinions.

Jerry,

I realize that this is not your department, but who should I contact to suggest a replacement commercial for your digital channel- "its all here" ads? I actually enjoyed the two commercials run back to back- the first 2 or 3 dozen times, but it seems someone there has decided to play them both during every other commercial break. I am sooooo sick of these commercials I could pull my hair out.

Just a thought.

Is anyone else sick of these commercials?

I believe this is a local (WVLT) problem. WJHL Johnson City rarely has any HD problems. Switching seems to be more automated then with WVLT which always has problems.

Is anyone else having problems with KLRN reception? I have a signal in the lower 90's, with minor fluctuations. The picture and sound have been breaking up fairly often. First noticed Sunday night during "Mystery!". This afternoon it was happening on 9(or 8)-1,-2,-3, and -4. The local feed of Ch. 9 on DirecTV has fairly strong electrical interference on it, too. My Ch. 9 analog OTA reception is perfect. All other locals on DirecTV are perfect. Any clues? I left a voicemail message for an engineering person at KLRN this afternoon, but no response, yet.

WATE does a lot of premature switching. And when they switch, you hear that awful noise. :mad:

Originally posted by Harold Southard
I record HD movies on my Tosh xs52 hard drive and then put it on dvd-r. When the HD is done right, the dvd looks great.

Harold, I would really be interested in knowing how you get a HD program onto a recordable DVD. Feel free to email me.

Its easy enough to record via the s-video input to a DVD recorder. Since the source is very high quality the result looks pretty good, but not HD. You can record from the Comcast DVR box to an exernal SD device this way. You get high quality SD DVD quality video with the wide aspect ratio.

Originally posted by MRM4
WATE does a lot of premature switching. And when they switch, you hear that awful noise. :mad:

The engineer told me that was caused by a synch problem and is suppose to be fixed sometime this year. Hopefully sooner then later it's very annoying.

QUOTE]Harold, I would really be interested in knowing how you get a HD program onto a recordable DVD. Feel free to email me.[/QUOTE]

Just do as the post below your says. I have a built in HD tuner on my hdtv. It has audio/video out that I connect to my dvr. It records in 16x9, and if the hd is realy good and I record it a real high bit rate you almost can't tell a difference.

I don't have a DVD recorder for the TV, just one in my PC. I recorded the third Lord of the Rings from a free Starz preview a couple weeks back. I have it on DVD. I'd like to transfer it to see if it will be any better than the store bought DVD.

For Comcast subscribers, it appears they have finally added TNT HD. It's on channel 185. It was on tonight, I assume it's permanent.

Maybe a better question would be, "Does anyone watch KLRN?".

Anyway, the problem seemed to be cleared up today. I guess they found it and fixed it. Never called.

Originally posted by kwill
Jerry,

I realize that this is not your department, but who should I contact to suggest a replacement commercial for your digital channel- "its all here" ads? I actually enjoyed the two commercials run back to back- the first 2 or 3 dozen times, but it seems someone there has decided to play them both during every other commercial break. I am sooooo sick of these commercials I could pull my hair out.

Just a thought.

Is anyone else sick of these commercials?

They have gotten pretty old!

Originally posted by Realthogue
ibglowin' has the right idea. DO try your DTV receiver without any splitter; you might also bypass the amplifier for test purposes. Make certain that the cable downlead is not pinched or penetrated by any nails, and that there's no rust or corrosion on the center conductor. If you can do it (and I strongly recommend it,) check the integrity of the matching transformer on the antenna itself. (That would be a good time to add a good preamp at the antenna!) While you are about the same distance from the KENS-DT transmitter as the KENS studio, there are fewer obstructions in your way. Trees are a factor, but not a deal-breaker. If you get satisfactory results with no splitter, you're on notice that your splitter isn't the best.

If you're going to use a preamp, it needs to go as near the antenna as possible. Get the best quality amp and splitter you can; the cheap ones are not very linear and may actually reduce your signal on key channels while appearing to work well on others. At KENS we are using an 84" antenna on top of our building with a 14 db preamplifier. The elevation of the top of the building combined with the height of the terrain is about 1100 feet above sea level. We overlook the downtown area in the path to the transmitters. Our cable run, however, is on the order of 100 feet down to the technical center.

If your antenna is pointed toward KABB, KENS, KSAT and WOAI, that should be close enough to receive KLRN quite well. Their tower is only a few miles northwest of our position. Your receiver is demonstrating that it is not getting enough signal - you know that - but by checking the accessories in your antenna path I'll bet you will find the culprit.

Jerry,

Tried eliminating the preamp, signal got pretty bad. Tried another one, not any better. Raised the antenna about a foot. Seemed to help a lot. Must have been too close to the roof line. The KENS signal is about 60%, KLRN 70%, rest 80-90%. Will try this for a while an see how it works.

Ed

Originally posted by kwill
...who should I contact to suggest a replacement commercial for your digital channel- "its all here" ads?

It is my department, actually. Go to http://www.cbs.com, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the link to "feedback." You can make your displeasure known there. I can't guarantee if or when CBS will change anything, but at least they will "get the message"

We get tired of watchin' 'em too...

Originally posted by cindyed
...Raised the antenna about a foot. Seemed to help a lot...

Ed, can you raise the antenna any more? One foot doesn't usually make so much difference. Glad you got some improvement, though.

Is channel DT50 WB 20 off the air again?

Originally posted by Realthogue
Ed, can you raise the antenna any more? One foot doesn't usually make so much difference. Glad you got some improvement, though.

Jerry,

Haven't tried raising it yet. But still no drop outs. I could raise it a little more, but I have tree limbs overhead that have damaged my previous antenna. Think I will leave alone until I have troubles again.

Thanks
Ed

It's been off for a while.

The Saturday, May 7th airing of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was not show in HD on WATE. As shown here on ABC.com, the movie has an "ABC HD" logo on it. (http://abc.go.com/movies/harrypotterchamber.html)

WATE is occasionally late to switch to HD, but does anyone know why they didn't run the entire movie in HD on this night?

Thanks I got it for a day or two then it was gone again.

The reason Harry Potter was not shown in HD is because someone forgot to flip the switch.

The problem lies in the fact that on the weekends many of the stations have small crews working the station, and if one of them is not smart enough to check the schedule and see that the content is HD then they never activate.


I call one of the stations almost every weekend. Normally this is because they forget the flip the switch after a commercial break or at the start of a new show.


Cip

Originally posted by Cipro

I call one of the stations almost every weekend. Normally this is because they forget the flip the switch after a commercial break or at the start of a new show.


Do you have any suggestions in the phone numbers to call and terminology in how to ask for the switch to HD? PM me the phone numbers if you have them handy please.

How come WTNZ has no problems? I've never seen a late switch from them, and their Dolby Digital switches and very clean.... WATE seems to be the worst with late or non-existent switches, with WVLT just behind them. I don't watch much HD on WBIR to comment on them.

WB 20 DT 50 back up and looking good finally! Signal seems a little stronger and more consistent. Been such a long time memory not to good maybe.

CPanther95
Why was the NFL DT surcharge not posted on the Greenville (SC) site?

WATE is the most aggravating station as far as the HD programming.

DaverJ, NBC has the least HD programming of the four networks. If they are late with switching or do not switch it, not many people will notice it.

The Preakness is on NBC this Saturday at 5 PM if you like your horses in HD.

Is there a local San Antonio bulletin board or other alternative, other than THE NEWSPAPER that would be a good place to sell/advertise a good 10' antenna?

Thanks,
MK

also try:

Craigslist (http://sanantonio.craigslist.org)

43-2 "The Tube". Anyone else getting this channel now? Seems to be yet another music channel. I hope not. I hope that is what they are playing until they start normal broadcast. I have seen no commericals yet.

News 4 WOAI Weather Plus launched on digital channel 4.2 on Monday May 30. The station features local/regional weather information 24/7 and is affiliated with the NBC Weather Plus network.

Feel free to send feedback to gregderkowski@woai.com

Regards-

And complain if they "forget" to switch.I call all the time and typically get an excuse(like "we don't know what the problem is").Then HD is on in 2-3 minutes.

Just call the news number and ask for engineering.Basically you can call any number at the station that gets a live voice and ask for the "engineering department".

I've subscribed to NFL Sunday Ticket for years.This year it is $199,if you renew early(actually,if you don't CANCEL it will be on your June bill-"added to your account" as Direct calls it),and if you DO NOT want high definition...

If you want any HD content,there is a $99"Superfan" surcharge.I'm done with this BS.I'll cancel,voice my displeasure strongly,and never reorder the NFL package as long as the price gouging continues.$300 is a rip-off.The NFL package was why I went DirecTV to start with,and now THIS in a long series of price increases(from $139 to $159 to $179 to $199 to $300).

The only way we can vote is with our billfolds.Anyone else feel this way?

Does anyone know whats going on with channel 35.1? It disappeared from my channel list, and was replaced with 32.1- (this is also WB, but the audio does not work.) Anyone else have this problem?

I've subscribed to NFL Sunday Ticket for years.This year it is $199,if you renew early(actually,if you don't CANCEL it will be on your June bill-"added to your account" as Direct calls it),and if you DO NOT want high definition...

If you want any HD content,there is a $99"Superfan" surcharge.I'm done with this BS.I'll cancel,voice my displeasure strongly,and never reorder the NFL package as long as the price gouging continues.$300 is a rip-off.The NFL package was why I went DirecTV to start with,and now THIS in a long series of price increases(from $139 to $159 to $179 to $199 to $300).

The only way we can vote is with our billfolds.Anyone else feel this way?

Have you ever looked into the tee-totally bizzare amounts of money they are paying for NFL rights? There's a whole lotta hundreds of millions goin' on. I fur-get the exact amount, but most certainly those of us that never have and never will buy the package are helping pay the bill, IMO.

Have you ever looked into the tee-totally bizzare amounts of money they are paying for NFL rights? There's a whole lotta hundreds of millions goin' on. I fur-get the exact amount, but most certainly those of us that never have and never will buy the package are helping pay the bill, IMO.

The amount paid to the NFL is DirecTV's problem.They negotiated the contract.It has been the same for several years and does not increase this year.Yet,they decided to gouge those of us that have HD(which,I would assume,are some of their be$t customers).And HD is being forced by the lawmakers.It's not like DirecTV is doing us any favors with their very few HD channels.Hd is coming anyway.DirecTV has decided to charge it's HD customers a huge surcharge JUST for HD content that we got "for free" last year(albeit with an annual 10% increase for the NFL already on the books).Absurd.I'm glad I have an antenna!

I'm glad I have an antenna!

Me too! How long I stay a DirecTV customer is gonna be determined by how by how this new satelites, alleged more channels of HD thing-y goes...oh, and how the M-PEG 4 equipment exchange goes. If I don't like the new equipment, I'll proably peel off down the road. If I don't get M-PEG 4 HD Tivos, similar to what I have, well, I might be searching out other service options...? I'm also suspecting the M-PEG 4 changeover is gonna be an instrument to exact way mo' dinero for HD services...?

I've never been happy with the NFL contract. A couple of years ago when I was looking at figurs, I quesstimated that every DirecTV household must have been subsidizing the NFL contract for atleast a fiver per month.

Me too! How long I stay a DirecTV customer is gonna be determined by how by how this new satelites, alleged more channels of HD thing-y goes...oh, and how the M-PEG 4 equipment exchange goes. If I don't like the new equipment, I'll proably peel off down the road. If I don't get M-PEG 4 HD Tivos, similar to what I have, well, I might be searching out other service options...? I'm also suspecting the M-PEG 4 changeover is gonna be an instrument to exact way mo' dinero for HD services...?

I've never been happy with the NFL contract. A couple of years ago when I was looking at figurs, I quesstimated that every DirecTV household must have been subsidizing the NFL contract for atleast a fiver per month.

I agree.The M-PEG 4 changeover will be interesting.But it looks like the M-PEG 2 steam will continue a couple of years.The initial thrust seems to be for locals in HD.Then they must change out all the boxes before cutting the M-PEG 2 signal.
And I was ready to upgrade my HR10 250 with an additional hard drive to get 52 hours of HD recording ability.May just stick with 30 hrs.AFA mo' dinero,they have just shown their "HD hand" with the NFL HD price gouge.It IS on it's way.

Has anyone noticed the new channel 43-2? TheTube or something like that. Looks like 80's music videos.

Anything else I've missed OTA?

Has anyone noticed the new channel 43-2? TheTube or something like that. Looks like 80's music videos.

Anything else I've missed OTA?

I think WEMT DT 38 in Greenville has gone to full power. I've had a solid signal for 2 days now.
I'm 88 miles away from it so at least some of you guys may have a shot from the Knoxville area.

6.1 no video, lightning strike.

Has anyone noticed the new channel 43-2? TheTube or something like that. Looks like 80's music videos.

Anything else I've missed OTA?

That sux.. now we don't have any local channels that aren't multicasting (except for maybe PAX, not sure about that one.)

That sux.. now we don't have any local channels that aren't multicasting (except for maybe PAX, not sure about that one.)


If Fox is 720p, doesn't that mean they can afford more bandwidth for sub-channels? It's 8 that, apparently, cannot pull it off.

Yea, from what I understand 720p does take less bandwidth than 1080i, so as long as they don't take too much bandwidth on the subchannel it won't be as bad as a subchannel on a 1080i feed. I agree, CBS is the worst. Lots of pixiliation all the time. I would much prefer not to have UPN in the area and have no subchannel on CBS. I don't see much pixilation happen on ABC which is 720p with a subchannel, so fingers crossed it will be as good as that.

Do you have any suggestions in the phone numbers to call and terminology in how to ask for the switch to HD? PM me the phone numbers if you have them handy please.

How come WTNZ has no problems? I've never seen a late switch from them, and their Dolby Digital switches and very clean.... WATE seems to be the worst with late or non-existent switches, with WVLT just behind them. I don't watch much HD on WBIR to comment on them.


WTNZ is on the FOX splicer, which bascially means all content is controlled on the network level. No local weekend tech-dweebs to mess things up.

Fox was late to the game, but at least they have pretty much gotten it right... higher bit rates to come will probably make FOX the best in HD programming before the year is up.

The overall bitrate is basically 19.3 Mb divided either by fixed channel allocation or dynamically by an algorithm that assigns bits to the most needy channel. This bitrate is part of the ATSC standard and can't be changed. Any "higher bitrates to come" reduce the second channel bitrate.

Improved encoding could possibly provide a better picture within these limitations.

Hello KNoxville HD Fans,

I have a few questions for you. I am building a new system and need some answers.
Since I have not yet turned on a TV in the new house near Stardust Marina on Lake Norris, I would like to build a system similar to the one I have now.

1. Knoxville Locals - I see that most stations are broadcasting HD in the area. What is the latest news on HD locals via Directv in Knoxville?
2. Has anyone been able to obtain a waiver for not being able to receive any locals via antenna?

It's a real good possibility that you will be able to receive the Knoxville stations from the StarDust marina area. If I recall the terrain correctly, you are on a hill overlooking the lake with the lake in the direction of Knoxville. No gaurantee but maybe a good TV location.

The overall bitrate is basically 19.3 Mb divided either by fixed channel allocation or dynamically by an algorithm that assigns bits to the most needy channel. This bitrate is part of the ATSC standard and can't be changed. Any "higher bitrates to come" reduce the second channel bitrate.

Improved encoding could possibly provide a better picture within these limitations.

FOX does things differently than the other three major networks. The bitrate is determined by the network through the "splicer". FOX has said it will increase bandwidth soon which should have a positive impact on PQ at the local level.
See http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=532636&highlight=FOX+bitrate for a more detailed explanation.

It's a real good possibility that you will be able to receive the Knoxville stations from the StarDust marina area. If I recall the terrain correctly, you are on a hill overlooking the lake with the lake in the direction of Knoxville. No gaurantee but maybe a good TV location.

Actually there is a HUGE HILL to the south behind the marina so we are at the bottom of that hill not on the top of the hill (valley).

The overall bitrate is basically 19.3 Mb divided either by fixed channel allocation or dynamically by an algorithm that assigns bits to the most needy channel. This bitrate is part of the ATSC standard and can't be changed. Any "higher bitrates to come" reduce the second channel bitrate.

Improved encoding could possibly provide a better picture within these limitations.


Nope. Any "higher bitrates to come" do not have to be at the local level. Considering that in the context of my post I specifically stated that FOX controls all HD at the network level and uses a splicer system on the local level for bugs and commericals, why do you assume I was talking about local bitates?

The local broadcast standard of 19.3 mbps is not changing, what IS changing is the sat bandwidth of the FOX delivery system to the local stations, which could have a major impact on picture quality, especially when the system is stressed as it was during football season with 6 simultaneous HD NFL feeds at once.

Read all about it in the HDTV programming forum.

Actually there is a HUGE HILL to the south behind the marina so we are at the bottom of that hill not on the top of the hill (valley).

I've been down that hill, well, good luck! Can you get a 500 foot mast?

<snip> why do you assume I was talking about local bitates? <snip>


Assuming you were referring to local bitrates was resonable from the context of complaints about second channels in several posts. The second SD channel on 6-2, 7-2, 8-2, and 10-2 are all encoded locally. I didn't mean to ruffle anyone's feathers.

Assuming you were referring to local bitrates was resonable from the context of complaints about second channels in several posts. The second SD channel on 6-2, 7-2, 8-2, and 10-2 are all encoded locally. I didn't mean to ruffle anyone's feathers.

No problem with feathers here. :D

Hope you read through the link I gave. That's one of the advantages of this forum. Even folks who know alot already can still learn. I know I do.

If I ever stop you can just shoot me 'cause I'm done.

I read through them but it appears to me that the two major virtues are a savings in satellite bandwidth (that must be rented at high cost) and perhaps a savings for the local affiliate. Picture quality may, or may not, be better depending on how they carve up the payload.

Another concise article is at:

http://www.tvtechnology.com/features/news/n_FoxPlots-03.10.04.shtml

A prediction... On or about the end of 2008 or early 2009 (depending on congress) when the DTV distribution path is the sole outlet for local stations, the first generation of encoding equipment will become the backup units because at that time the lost of an encoder would kill any commercial revenue stream (and program). The original units would have been in service for 7 years and designed much earlier. I would expect there would be visible improvements in encoding with these years of development.

Hey guys,

I just done talking with the engineer at WBXX (Knoxville's WB station) and was informed that they will be going hi-def in September, 2005. Fingers crossed it isn't delayed!

Isn't WBXX digital at 50.1?

I'm not saying I can get that frequency with my antenna....

WBXX DT is on RF channel 50 as you said. At my house (NE Knox county) I can receive them with a small rotatable all channel antenna while the analog version on ch 20 is unwatchable due to ghosting.

(FYI...my old yagi was first put up in the 70's. I didn't know at that time that it was digital ready!)

Is 10 News 2, 10.2 gone permantly in favor of radar. " I always drink coffee when I'm watching radar..." Anybody know?

I have a seperate antenna pointed for WB and use a joiner which removes the channel from the main antenna and inserts just the WB channel from the second antenna. Works great, especially since WB went to full power (I point through some trees for WB, so got drop outs before that when the trees put on leaves.) Anyway, I'm all ready and waiting for HD from the WB now!

First time poster, long time reader. I need help finding an installer for an over-the-air antenna. Can anyone recommend somebody?

WBIR said Comcast forced them to pull 10 News 2 off digital. It seems to me a violation of their broadcast license to allow a cable company to dictate what they broadcast.
Also, WVLT does not seem to take seriously the reception problems that many are having. WKOP is on the same tower and has much better signal strength at only 100,000 watts compared to 398,000 watts for WVLT. Has anyone talked to them about these problems? They seem to want to blame the viewer which is ridiculous since WKOP/WVLT are on the same tower and their antennas are at the same height on the tower.

WVLT is much stronger up here. Can't even lock on WKOP most of the time. Many things can impact reception. There may be little or nothing the broadcasters can do at this point assuming they are both full power.
Co-channel from analogs is a potential problem right now and will continue to be until analog goes away. UPN 30 and FOX 17 from Nashville could certainly be a problem.

It's also possible to get interference from locally generated signals such as the cable on the pole or coming into your house. Additionally, the difference you're seeing could be multipath related which could be broadcast frequency dependent.

WBIR said Comcast forced them to pull 10 News 2 off digital. It seems to me a violation of their broadcast license to allow a cable company to dictate what they broadcast.
Also, WVLT does not seem to take seriously the reception problems that many are having. WKOP is on the same tower and has much better signal strength at only 100,000 watts compared to 398,000 watts for WVLT. Has anyone talked to them about these problems? They seem to want to blame the viewer which is ridiculous since WKOP/WVLT are on the same tower and their antennas are at the same height on the tower.

That does seem strange. I wonder why Comcast cares if the News 2 is broadcast over the air? I don't like subchannels as a general rule, though, so I'd be happy if they just got rid of the subchannel all together and gave the full bit-rate to the HD channel.

I live northeast of Knoxville and UPN 30 from Nashville would not be a factor. I have heard that WVLT and WKOP have their antennas on their tower at precisely the same height. Maybe WVLT has their antenna on the opposite side of the tower from WKOP and this limits their signals in certain directions.

I live northeast of Knoxville and UPN 30 from Nashville would not be a factor. I have heard that WVLT and WKOP have their antennas on their tower at precisely the same height. Maybe WVLT has their antenna on the opposite side of the tower from WKOP and this limits their signals in certain directions.

There are multiple possibilities. Co-channel interference only being one of them. There are times when FOX digital 34 is completely wiped out for me by an analog WB 34 from Campbellsville KY 90 miles away and to the northwest. Knoxville is nearly due south of me. I have an extremely directional and high performance antenna. Still, it happens not that infrequently. I can always get a snowy picture from Nashville stations (150 miles) from here. If you're pointing southwest toward Knoxville your antenna is likely pointing <60 degrees from the Nashville heading which would make problems even more likely.

Co-channel interference is more often intermittent though, and typically happens during times of tropospheric ducting/strong enhancement which brings in distant signals. If your problem is more consistent in nature, it's more likely multipath related or a weak signal. Both can be solved by changing the antenna location, increasing height, a larger and more directional antenna, or some combination of all of those. See http://home.cogeco.ca/~vem3ont22/propagation/tr-modes.htm for more on tropospheric ducting.

WVLT and WKOP both are using non-directional antennas.

Where are you and what are you using for reception?

All of the stations go to full power on or before July 1st this year. It would be interesting to know if there are any significant improvements in reception due to increased power.

Station technical license details are at http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/audio2?x=tvq.html

Included is a wildly optimistic coverage map. So far as I know, all of the local DTV stations with the exception of channel 7 are omni-directional, at least on paper.

It would be a real plus for antenna tweaking if the receiver manufacturers could incorporate a display that indicates the amount of multipath present in a signal in addition to signal strength. Maximum signal strength is not always at the same antenna orientation as best overall signal quality when there is ghosting.

Yea, I have noticed that if I try to tune in an analog channel I get really bad ghosting, but my digital channels don't drop out, and are very high signal strength, so I just don't worry about the analog channels. I guess my OTA digital tuners are good enough to not get confused by the ghosting.

There are multiple possibilities. Co-channel interference only being one of them. There are times when FOX digital 34 is completely wiped out for me by an analog WB 34 from Campbellsville KY 90 miles away and to the northwest. Knoxville is nearly due south of me. I have an extremely directional and high performance antenna. Still, it happens not that infrequently. I can always get a snowy picture from Nashville stations (150 miles) from here. If you're pointing southwest toward Knoxville your antenna is likely pointing <60 degrees from the Nashville heading which would make problems even more likely.

Co-channel interference is more often intermittent though, and typically happens during times of tropospheric ducting/strong enhancement which brings in distant signals. If your problem is more consistent in nature, it's more likely multipath related or a weak signal. Both can be solved by changing the antenna location, increasing height, a larger and more directional antenna, or some combination of all of those.

WVLT and WKOP both are using non-directional antennas.

Where are you and what are you using for reception?


I live in Greene County, TN. I use a long range UHF yagi by Radio Shack.

WBIR said Comcast forced them to pull 10 News 2 off digital. It seems to me a violation of their broadcast license to allow a cable company to dictate what they broadcast.
Also, WVLT does not seem to take seriously the reception problems that many are having. WKOP is on the same tower and has much better signal strength at only 100,000 watts compared to 398,000 watts for WVLT. Has anyone talked to them about these problems? They seem to want to blame the viewer which is ridiculous since WKOP/WVLT are on the same tower and their antennas are at the same height on the tower.

Comcast has a contract with WBIR to show 10News2, it's probably exclusive if they asked them to pull the signal from digital. I like having the radar on 10-2. I can see where the storms are without getting online and getting a 10 minute old image.

FYI The new chip sets for the new ATSC tuners (3rd gen I think) practically eliminates digital multipath. I have the new Dish 942 receiver and it has the new chip set in it. There is a big improvement in multipath rejection. It appears to lock on to the strongest signal path and ignores all other weaker multipath signals. Signal level varies by only 1 point plus or minus. The older receiver would vary on some channels by as much as 10 points causing drops on lower signal stations (WVLT especially). This also has increased signal level of all OTA a hair. The only draw back is when you are trying to receive a very weak digital. My old receiver will show signal at 20 to 55 but the 942 will show 0 in this case. Obviously filters out the multipath and not enough signal left. Makes pointing the antenna difficult but rock solid once you get a lock. I get strong locks on signal levels which before you couldn't watch.

I understand the new chip sets for STB will not be available till DirectTV and Dish Net get all their new MPEG4 HD receievrs equipped. Why? I do not know unless they can't make them fast enough. This could cause a delay of at least 6 months before going into any STB.

As for WVLT problems their antenna is mounted a slight bit lower then WKOP. I wouldn't think it's enough to make a difference but maybe. WVLT and WKOP are the weakest here in Morristown by a large margin. If you are using a 4228 accurate pointing will help greatly with WVLT. If I move my antanna only an 1/2 inch in either direction signal drops quickly. I have to set it for the highest signal on WVLT. I lose some signal on WB and WKOP but still get good locks on them all. WB comes in better a little further north then the rest since it's actually in Oak Ridge. WKOP is on the same tower as WVLT but comes in better a hair south of the max signal for WVLT. All other Knoxvilles have plenty of signal and not so touchy. I don't believe you'll ever get a good lock with a yagi on WVLT. Even with the 91xg I could only get WVLT about 85% of the time.

WEMT I believe is at full power now. There signal here jumped from the high 80's to low 90's. The engineer told me about mid June so they must be up to snuff now.

Comcast has a contract with WBIR to show 10News2, it's probably exclusive if they asked them to pull the signal from digital. I like having the radar on 10-2. I can see where the storms are without getting online and getting a 10 minute old image.

I wish they'd get a better radar image that shows where the storms are going.

At least with NBC changing the subchannel to just a weather map, hopefully they lowered the bandwidth for the subchannel WAY down now and are giving a bigger portion of the 19.2 mbps stream to the HD channel.

I live in Greene County, TN. I use a long range UHF yagi by Radio Shack.

If you're referring to this http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F003%5F001%5F002%5F000&product%5Fid=15%2D2160

that's a medium range antenna. RS grossly overstates their antenna range. Medium range is up to around 35 miles assuming no major obstruction to line of sight. You're doing great to get Knoxville at all with that.

You'd likely do much better with the CM 4228 (higher wind load, harder on a rotator) or the Antennasdirect XG91 (lighter, less wind load, stackable if necessary). I'd try without a preamp first unless you're cable run is >75 ft, although you didn't mention if you were using one. At most, a medium gain model (around 15-20db) should do it and will be less likely to overload from closer full power analogs and digitals. The CM 3042 line amp available at Lowe's is actually very good and you might try that as well (instead of a preamp).

WEMT I believe is at full power now. There signal here jumped from the high 80's to low 90's. The engineer told me about mid June so they must be up to snuff now.

Yep. I believe you're right. They've been steady for me at least 3 weeks now.

As for WVLT problems their antenna is mounted a slight bit lower then WKOP. I wouldn't think it's enough to make a difference but maybe. WVLT and WKOP are the weakest here in Morristown by a large margin. If you are using a 4228 accurate pointing will help greatly with WVLT. If I move my antanna only an 1/2 inch in either direction signal drops quickly. I have to set it for the highest signal on WVLT. I lose some signal on WB and WKOP but still get good locks on them all. WB comes in better a little further north then the rest since it's actually in Oak Ridge. WKOP is on the same tower as WVLT but comes in better a hair south of the max signal for WVLT. All other Knoxvilles have plenty of signal and not so touchy. I don't believe you'll ever get a good lock with a yagi on WVLT. Even with the 91xg I could only get WVLT about 85% of the time.


Observation:

Actualy WVLT and WKOP use a common antenna along with analog WDTT-LP ch 24 licensed to Lenoir City. It is a broadband LeBlanc Dick pannel UHF antenna provided by Richland Towers owner of the tower. WVLT-DT operates at nearly four times the effective radiated power as WKOP-DT and I too get a lesser reading for WVLT-DT than WKOP-DT. It may be that the broadband antenna is tuned closer to ch 17 than ch 30.

that's a medium range antenna. RS grossly overstates their antenna range. Medium range is up to around 35 miles assuming no major obstruction to line of sight. You're doing great to get Knoxville at all with that.

You'd likely do much better with the CM 4228 (higher wind load, harder on a rotator) or the Antennasdirect XG91 (lighter, less wind load, stackable if necessary). I'd try without a preamp first unless you're cable run is >75 ft, although you didn't mention if you were using one. At most, a medium gain model (around 15-20db) should do it and will be less likely to overload from closer full power analogs and digitals. The CM 3042 line amp available at Lowe's is actually very good and you might try that as well (instead of a preamp).[/QUOTE]


My Radio Shack antenna is much longer than the medium range one. My antenna has in the neighborhood of 5 ft of short elements. I am not sure if RS still sells it at this time. I have better luck with WVLT using the RS antenna rather than a multi bay bowtie type antenna in Greene County.

My Radio Shack antenna is much longer than the medium range one. My antenna has in the neighborhood of 5 ft of short elements. I am not sure if RS still sells it at this time. I have better luck with WVLT using the RS antenna rather than a multi bay bowtie type antenna in Greene County.

Not sure what you're using, then. It sounds like maybe a uhf/vhf combo. Go to the RS site and see if there's an antenna there which looks like yours. If it has a section in the front shaped like an arrow with longer elements in back of that it's a combo. A uhf yagi/corner reflector alone will only be the "arrow" part.

Combo antennas will typically underperform compared to using dedicated separate uhf and vhf antennas.

If the "multi-bay" you used was a 4-bay, an 8-bay like the 4228 will obviously perform better.

Attached is picture of a yagi/corner reflector type antenna (the two on top, side-by-side). They're Winegard PR 9032's.

And here's one of a small vhf/uhf combo (CM 3016), again, on the top.

Lcosby
Glad to see you around to keep us straight.

Are you at full power with DT 7?
I assume since you started out as digital only you are already at full power.

I know WVLT and WKOP are full power.
Do you know if the other 3 Knoxvilles are?

FYI when WEMT went full power a few weeks ago their signal jumped from the mid 80's to mid 90's here. WKPT is suppose to go full power tonight. WJHL this week and WCYB apparently no change with them.

KENS-DT AT FULL POWER 24/7

As of today, KENS-DT will operate at full rated power from now on. Our test period was successful and our transmitters are working as advertised. The only time we will lower power in the future will be to perform maintenance on portions of the high-power equipment.

We'll continue to bring you the best in High-Definition CBS network programming with Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound when available.

KENS-DT AT FULL POWER 24/7

As of today, KENS-DT will operate at full rated power from now on. Our test period was successful and our transmitters are working as advertised. The only time we will lower power in the future will be to perform maintenance on portions of the high-power equipment.

We'll continue to bring you the best in High-Definition CBS network programming with Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound when available.

That's great news! Thanks!

Grrreat!!!!!!

Not sure what you're using, then. It sounds like maybe a uhf/vhf combo. Go to the RS site and see if there's an antenna there which looks like yours. If it has a section in the front shaped like an arrow with longer elements in back of that it's a combo. A uhf yagi/corner reflector alone will only be the "arrow" part.

Combo antennas will typically underperform compared to using dedicated separate uhf and vhf antennas.

If the "multi-bay" you used was a 4-bay, an 8-bay like the 4228 will obviously perform better.

Attached is picture of a yagi/corner reflector type antenna (the two on top, side-by-side). They're Winegard PR 9032's.


My Radio Shack is a UHF only similar to your picture. It was the longest range UHF that RS made. I think it was rated around 75-80 miles.

Congratulations!

[QUOTE=Realthogue]KENS-DT AT FULL POWER 24/7

"As of today, KENS-DT will operate at full rated power from now on. Our test period was successful and our transmitters are working as advertised. The only time we will lower power in the future will be to perform maintenance on portions of the high-power equipment."

Regrettably, I was premature in making this announcement. We are forced to return to reduced power again, for an as-yet undetermined period. We shall return to high power as soon as possible! :(

[QUOTE=Realthogue]KENS-DT AT FULL POWER 24/7

"As of today, KENS-DT will operate at full rated power from now on. Our test period was successful and our transmitters are working as advertised. The only time we will lower power in the future will be to perform maintenance on portions of the high-power equipment."

Regrettably, I was premature in making this announcement. We are forced to return to reduced power again, for an as-yet undetermined period. We shall return to high power as soon as possible! :(You're such a tease. :)

Thanks for letting us know. Was working OK last night while watching "Yes Dear" so life is good even at reduced power.

Just got a new antenna to try and pull in some OTA channels and have had the best luck yet out of any antenna I have used to date (indoor antennas, too lazy to put one up in the attic) and wanted to praise it here. It is the Audiovox/Terk co-branded HDTVlp Pro antenna for sale at about 150 bux @ Best Buy. I got tired of spending close to 80 bucks/month to be able to watch MTV, TWC, and Discovery Channel (hd or otherwise on that one) in conjunction with having the capabilities of pulling in local HD channels (love watching Alias in HD mostly) and downgraded my cable to the 30/month for 1-77 or whatever w/Time Warner...

On a whim as I was leading up to this decision I looked at BestBuy's website (can't post url's 'till I hit my 6th post apparantly) and saw this new antenna that I hadn't tried out before, got it, and at first was disappointed... It picked up everything, but I had to tilt it left or right, it is a long flat antenna... With a base... I didn't secure the base fully since I anticipated it wouldn't work and I'd return it. Turns out this would be the reason I didn't return it. It fell forward and landed flat on top of my TV, and bam... That current channel came in. I left it in place, switched channels, everything came in. Ran through auto program, it picked up ALL of the HD channels that I could get before without having to reposition the antenna to and fro.

In other words, I am able to get 4, 5, 9, 12, 23, 29,, 41 and 60. I can't remember which but 41 or 60's volume is extremely low compared to the rest, but I'm not fluent in Spanish so I don't watch those last two for the most part... But that is the only oddity I have noticed. With all channels, all secondary channels come in. For example, 12.1, 12.2 (transguide I think) and 23 has 4 dot channels and 9 has 4 dot channels though for some reason only two are on at some times, etc. Point is though, I DON'T HAVE TO MOVE THE ANTENNA AND IT WORKS!!! InDoOrS!!! Woo-hoo!

Don't know if you can tell, but I'm pretty happy about it. If there were a few more good channels OTA, I'd drop cable altogether and invest in HDTV's in the other two rooms and just go w/the same antenna/setup, but then again OCC and Shark Week on Discovery Channel and the weather channel (although almost useless w/the 5.2 or 4.2, can't remember which) and MTV would be missed, but MTV doesn't show videos anymore so won't be missed too terribly. Ok, so as I realized that all the channels came in I was scared that it wouldn't work once I rearranged everything... I disconnected the cable from the antenna to remove the base (which the cable routes up through) and set it back on top of the tv, centered by laying flat with the flat foil enhanced screen pointed straight down at the tv and the antenna part up in the air, and it works perfectly that way!

Tried over and over to find the sweet spot so it could either sit behind the tv, or on top of the tv the way it was intended, but honestly the way it is sitting is more low profile than if it had the flat foil thing facing outward as it was designed to do. Its antenna is black so it looks quite frankly like a part of my TV, and it is a 60" Sony LCD/lightbulb projection TV or whatever they are called, so rather slim on top vs. a big projection TV or otherwise, and despite the slimness of the top of the tv, it fits perfectly. I've tried a few HD antennas ranging in price from 10-100 bucks prior to this one, and this is the ONLY one that picks up all vhf/uhf channels that I was able to pick up previously and THEN some (12 didn't come in here before, and 23 although I don't watch it comes in) without having to constantly fight the positioning of the antenna.

Just in case it works for you guys who are trying to just get the locals over the air, thought I'd mention that mine works great. Being said I have a Jenson TV930 (worked extremely well off of Mainland where I was for a bit) and a Terk TV5 (low profile, two square looking antennas on top in a horizontal layout, works well off of Babcock Rd where I used to live) for sale. We can test 'em at your place, you like, you can have 'em for a reasonable offer, trying to offset the 150 I dropped on my new antenna. Regardless, hands down the one I got now works best in my location although without its provided base but honestly I could care less. It looks great and works better than that for what I paid and what it does.

Rey :)

Your Sony LCD tv if it is a 60 XBR950 or the like withthe built-in HD Tuner will likely accept your cable input and decode the HD channels there. In San Antonio from what i understand, Time Warner sends HD regular network (ABC, NBC, etc...) in the clear, unscrambled to QAM equipped HD Tuners, which Sony's are. Just plug the cable in and do a Digital Channel scan. Worked for me here in Austin once TWC stopped scrambling the channels (forcing people to rent their STB).

My tv doesn't have the built in tuner... I am using the Samsung SIR-T151 (I think that's the model, going from memory) to tune in OTA... Could I technically use an HD tuner and select cable for the input and then grab local HD from the external tuner instead? If so, I may be able to return that antenna and still come out ahead on this one! I'll try when I get home, but @ work right now, so if you think it can be done and would let me know ahead of time, would appreciate it. Thanks!

Rey :)

Some external HD Tuners support QAM. More and more these days it seems. Check the specs on yours or call samsung and ask a Tech, my older Samsung HD STB doesn't but it's three years old now. If your Samsung does then just plug Cable in and you'll likely be in business.

Seems like KLRN has flatlined the last few days - I'm guessing it's not just me, but I guess it would be nice to know... I was able to receive it a few days ago - not real strong, but at least so-so - now, nothing. I was in the process of trying to improve the antenna location for them since they are a special case (VHF and all). Using the same antenna, cable, etc. I am receiving their analog broadcast just fine.

Has anyone else had any problems with KLRN digital in the last few days (roughly July 3 - 5)?

Thanks!

C @ S,

I recorded the D.C. Celebration last night on 9-2. A few momentary sound/picture breakups, but otherwise OK, if a bit soft.

Did something happen last night to the KENS-DT signal? I had the Boston Pops July 4th set to record but there was no signal. Did they go on low power for the evening?

Chris,

KENS-DT has been forced to return to low power for an undetermined interval. As soon as we can return to high power, we'll be back.

I apologize for the inconvenience.

Chris,

KENS-DT has been forced to return to low power for an undetermined interval. As soon as we can return to high power, we'll be back.

I apologize for the inconvenience.
Ah! OK, thanks! Your earlier post led me to believe that you would be back to low power during non prime time hours only. I didn't realize you had no high power at all.

Thanks for letting me know. At least now I don't have to check my system. :)

sfmartin -

Thanks for the data point - I'm guessing that was sort of a prime-time time slot, right? Do you happen to know if KLRN turns their power down (or even off) late at night? I have only been checking when it has been pretty late or pretty early - it's after midnight now and once again I am seeing no signal at all. (Analog KLRN, however, is still fine on the same antenna and cable - and even though KENS is currently low power and the antenna I'm using is VHF I can detect some signal on 55...) I'll have to check during the day and prime-time, but if they are changing their power levels I may not be able to know when I might find their signal...

Do you happen to know your distance to KLRN? Evidently I'm about 25 miles away - so I'm 5 or 6 miles closer to KLRN than the group of the others further to the east.

Anyway, if anyone has any insight on KLRN they can share I'd be greatful.

Thanks again!

We live down in Pleasanton, and don't wish to mount an outside antenna, so for grins, I bought an indoor antenna just to see what I could pick up. To my shock, I actually picked up 4, 5 and 12 in HiDef! That was 2 weeks ago. Now, I am only receiving 12?!?! Both WOAI and KENS are gone. I checked my signal strength, and I am getting a consistent 80 on KSAT, but hover between 10 and 15 for WOAI and KENS. I have the HD-TIVO.

I see from reading here that KENS is back on low power, so I understand the low signal from there, but does anyone know about WOAI?

BTW, I requested waivers from all the local stations, and ALL of them said NO! That sucks! I wonder if a strongly worded letter to the stations would help. Has anyone gotten the SA stations to grant them a waiver?

Thanks!
Kevin

...BTW, I requested waivers from all the local stations, and ALL of them said NO! That sucks! I wonder if a strongly worded letter to the stations would help. Has anyone gotten the SA stations to grant them a waiver?

Thanks!
Kevin

Kevin, speaking only for KENS, it is corporate policy at present to deny ALL requests for waivers; a strongly worded letter won't make any difference.

Speculating now, when all over-the-air (OTA) analog television broadcasting ceases in a few years, I believe station owners, networks and groups will re-visit the requirement for waivers. There will always be viewers who cannot receive an OTA signal; the challenge will be to develop equitable ground rules to decide who gets a waiver and who will be denied on a consistent basis.

At times like this, when we (KENS-DT) are forced to operate at reduced power, the waiver subject comes up. Soon all our DTV stations will be at full power again, and hopefully waivers will become a moot issue for a while.

Ok, sorry if this was covered earlier in the thread...I searched but didn't see anything....I am thinking of moving to San Antonio and have been checking out Time Warner and their HD offerings and noticed they don't have FOX in HD (KABB-DT). I then found a site (think it was KABB) that stated that KABB-DT was only available OTA, not on Satellite or Cable. Anyone know why? And for how long? TW seems to have everything I am looking for except FOX, so any info you have would be very helpful. Thanks in advance.

Tim

The SA Fox station is owned by Sinclair. They want $ from any cable company for right to carry their digital signals. The cable companies feel that they must carry the analog signals for free and it's only fair that they get the digitals for the same. Negotiations continue...forever.

This is true for all Sinclair stations...not just San Antonio.

Does anyone know why WPXK DT 23 has such a low broadcast power (18kW)? Their analog power is 5000kW. PAX stations in other markets seem to have adequate broadcast power to replicate their analog signal.

chips & sauce,

I'm 18 miles from KLRN with a pretty clear shot. I checked this afternoon and was getting a reading of 95 on my HDTivo. All I can say is that 9-2 has always been there when I've wanted to view it.

Does anyone know why the Knoxville CBS/NBC digital feeds do not have Dolby 5.1 audio available like ABC/FOX? Are the national networks not sending 5.1 feeds? Is this something they will add in the future? Sorry if this has been discussed previously...could not find any references after a search. :rolleyes:

Does anyone know why the Knoxville CBS/NBC digital feeds do not have Dolby 5.1 audio available like ABC/FOX?

WVLT and WBIR do not have the equipment to pass the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio yet.

To my ears, the Pro-Logic stereo on CBS and NBC sounds very good though a DPLII system. "CSI" on WVLT has a nice wide soundfield with immersive rear effects even without 5.1, equal to "Lost" on WATE in Dolby Digital.

I would be the first to complain about lack of 5.1 sound, but as much as I hate to admit it I'm not sure if the switch would be that noticeable.

Does anyone know why the Knoxville CBS/NBC digital feeds do not have Dolby 5.1 audio available like ABC/FOX? Are the national networks not sending 5.1 feeds? Is this something they will add in the future? Sorry if this has been discussed previously...could not find any references after a search. :rolleyes:

Welcome to the terrordome! :)

It might be years before these broadcasters get everything right...? Meanwhile, we meet here to bitch and complain about it all.

To my ears, the Pro-Logic stereo on CBS and NBC sounds very good though a DPLII system. "CSI" on WVLT has a nice wide soundfield with immersive rear effects even without 5.1, equal to "Lost" on WATE in Dolby Digital.

I can hear a major difference between Lost in DD 5.1 and CSI in Pro-Logic. Lost sounds much, much better to me. Speaking of which, I can hardly wait for Lost to start back up again! I feel lost without my lost fix!

I can hear a major difference between Lost in DD 5.1 and CSI in Pro-Logic. Lost sounds much, much better to me. Speaking of which, I can hardly wait for Lost to start back up again! I feel lost without my lost fix!


Interesting. Maybe my Denon receiver just does a great job with Pro-Logic 2, but both shows sound great to me....

Don't tell me how Lost ends - I'm watching the re-runs for the first time. Good show! :cool:

Interesting. Maybe my Denon receiver just does a great job with Pro-Logic 2, but both shows sound great to me....


I'm using a Denon AVR-4802. Which one do you have?

I'm using a Denon AVR-4802. Which one do you have?

Nice receiver! :cool: I have the 3803.

This is my first post - got a Tatung 23" HDTV and a USDTV HDTV receiver this last week. I live in Windcrest, on Midcrown Drive. I set my antenna (standard outdoor VHF-UHF TV antenna about 20 feet up pointed a little bit East of North, where I had gotten good reception on standard TV.

After a few hours of figuring out the system, I got a number of channels, got the colors true, I could see the difference between HDTV and standard TV. I see some things - I get KLRN-TV and 2 extra, KENS, KABB, 3 Spanish channels, don't get ABC nor CBS. I set the reception for 720I at 16.9 - however, I don't get the full wide range on some channels, others I seem to. I know about the button that changes aspect, also the normal, full, periscope etc. button. One Spanish channel was full width and in HDTV, other two were broadcasting in less than HDTV, and other channels don't broadcast all the time.

I'm suprised that I don't get the full screen from KABB - even on full from the 23" Tatung - though I can adjust the Spanish channels. Also, the sharpness is better than normal TV, but not to the sharpness I have seen in stores - though the Tatung has satisfied me very well from the PC and using DVD's. Are we yet not broadcasting over the air the full dimension HDTV signal - and would I better get sattilite or cable TV than On-the-air? I'd hate to go cable and pay up to $80 a month, when I'm getting basic cable for $13.50 a month, and my investment of $200 for an on-the-air HDTV receiver.

For those of you who've been through this before, fill me in

Not everything that is broadcasted is HD- check your channel guides and wait for a HD program- you will see a difference.
"Also, the sharpness is better than normal TV, but not to the sharpness I have seen in stores"

According to your STB (I have the same one), the digital signal is received at a higher resolution than the analog signal.

It is strange that you receive kens but not ksat- I would just try to reposition the antenna and rescan until it comes in..