Greensboro, NC - HDTV [Text View] - Page 11

foxeng

03-08-06, 07:32 AM

^Hey Wayne.

Are you with UNC-TV channel 26? The past couple of nights and tonight too I'm not getting anything on 26-2. 26-1 and 26-3 through 5 all come in fine. Are you or anyone else experiencing this? I had this happen to me once with WXII and it came back after a day. I tried rebooting my receiver and that didn't work either.

Wayne does work for UNC-TV. (thought you were going to call me back that day? ;) ) He posted this in several other NC threads:

Dear UNC-TV DTV Viewers,
I wanted to let OTA viewers know that UNC-TV has not been broadcasting OTA HD since 10:20 PM on Friday March 3, due to some serious technical problems. We had a failure of our large UPS and tripped a 1600 amp 3 phase 480V breaker at our headquarters network operations center and we were off the air statewide digital and analog for awhile Friday night. We hope to return our 8pm to 11pm OTA HD schedule as soon as we can get equipment up and running. We had numerous equipment and computer failures, servers, automation etc. related to the power outage. We regret this inconvenience to our viewers.

__________________
Wayne Estabrooks
Chief Engineer - Transmission
UNC-TV

jacksonian

03-08-06, 08:36 AM

Triad TWC guys,
Has anyone been having trouble with the signal breaking up on channel 11 and a couple of others? It's happening with one of my Pace boxes. It's weird. When I try to watch the analog WXII, every 3-5 seconds, it pixelates and chops up to the point it's unwatchable. But then I switch to 540 and it's perfectly fine. Anybody else having this problem?

jacksonws

03-08-06, 05:30 PM

JKimrey

03-08-06, 05:48 PM

foxeng,

Sorry if I missed a recent post, but could you give us a quick update on how HD is looking for Fox8?

Is it close? (hope so!)

Thanks!

foxeng

03-08-06, 07:25 PM

foxeng,

Sorry if I missed a recent post, but could you give us a quick update on how HD is looking for Fox8?

Is it close? (hope so!)

Thanks!

We have had some transmitter start up issues, that is not uncommon when you consider the complexity of the transmitter and the fact that we are using more voltage than is on most power lines in your neighborhood (35,000 volts in the transmitter verses 12,000 volts on the power line in front of your house) so we are working through those issues. We still have one issue left to resolve and as soon as we can get it resolved (well as soon as the responsible parties get their end resolved) we will be ready to go. At this point, they won't give us a specific date, but it should be soon. In a way it is good, that we can get all of the bugs worked out before we ever put it on the air so it will stay on the air once we put it on the air.

I am sorry I can't give you a specific date, but at this point, I can't even get a date!!

foxeng

03-08-06, 07:27 PM

Man is HDTV frustrating. After complaining to DTV about my locals they came out and installed an OTA antenna (a Winegard 2000...the round Metrostar one) right next to the house. After way too many "searching for signal" messages watching the olympics and BB I called someone out to give me an estimate on a new antenna. The guy said that my antenna should have a power source connected which it doesn't (think it may be getting some from the DTV cable since it's diplexed). The Winegard is, literally, right up against the house. My question is...what is the best way to go in this area to get the most stations possible? Is this the best I can do? If anybody could recommend a professional as well who knows what they are doing (don't have much confidence in this guy) I'd certainly appreciate it as well.

Get yourself a Channel Master 4228 antenna. It is a screen wire type antenna and it seems to work the best around here.

http://www.channelmaster.com/images/4228.jpg

It is a directional antenna so you will need a rotator. I have one and off of Battleground out by the Battleground, I get the Raleigh stations as well as the Roanoke stations and the locals.

J. L.

03-08-06, 07:57 PM

I am sorry I can't give you a specific date, but at this point, I can't even get a date!!foxeng,
Whatever you do, be extra careful around that 35,000 volt power supply. (Not sure one-hand-in-pocket rule helps, but it sure don't hurt)

Currently have a LG LST-3510 HDTV tuner connected to outdoor VHF/UHF antenna pointed towards your site, but do not have a preamp so don't get a useable signal on FOX-HD off-the-air. Can't wait till you get to full power. (Don't worry, we watch a LOT of FOX-HD on Time Warner Cable, but off-the-air should be less compressed, so full power can't come soon enough)

Joe L.

foxeng

03-08-06, 08:05 PM

foxeng,
Whatever you do, be extra careful around that 35,000 volt power supply. (Not sure one-hand-in-pocket rule helps, but it sure don't hurt)

At 35kV, the arc will jump up to one foot, but hand in the pocket is always a good idea!!

jacksonws

03-09-06, 07:53 AM

Get yourself a Channel Master 4228 antenna. It is a screen wire type antenna and it seems to work the best around here.

http://www.channelmaster.com/images/4228.jpg

It is a directional antenna so you will need a rotator. I have one and off of Battleground out by the Battleground, I get the Raleigh stations as well as the Roanoke stations and the locals.

Thanks, foxeng. Any ideas on who could install it?

foxeng

03-09-06, 08:34 AM

Thanks, foxeng. Any ideas on who could install it?

It isn't a heavy antenna at all. Maybe 10 pounds. I own 2 of them. There used to be a guy who did installs but he got out and then his assistant started doing it but the last time I called him, he acted like he didn't do it anymore. You might call Dow Electronics, (off of Holden at Bus 85) where you can buy the 4228 and ask them who is doing install these days.

jacksonws

03-09-06, 09:22 AM

It isn't a heavy antenna at all. Maybe 10 pounds. I own 2 of them. There used to be a guy who did installs but he got out and then his assistant started doing it but the last time I called him, he acted like he didn't do it anymore. You might call Dow Electronics, (off of Holden at Bus 85) where you can buy the 4228 and ask them who is doing install these days.

Thanks. I called Dow before I read this and he gave me the name of Bills....which is the number I think I called last week that was no longer in service. Hmm... maybe I am on my own. Does it matter if it goes into an attic?

foxeng

03-09-06, 09:50 AM

4theheelz

03-09-06, 10:04 AM

Thanks. I called Dow before I read this and he gave me the name of Bills....which is the number I think I called last week that was no longer in service. Hmm... maybe I am on my own. Does it matter if it goes into an attic?

if you end up with an attic installation, you might check this thread back a year or so ago for pictures of a 4228 mounted in an attic with a rotor-the mast, rotor, and antenna was INVERTED. Try this link for the photo: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=5151121&highlight=inverted#post5151121

(on page 46 of this thread posted by "RareAir". Carolina Commercial Audio was mentioned as the installer if that helps.)

Also, you might try a search of this thread for "4228+attic" to see how others made out with it.

I remember how much time i wasted with earlier attic installations but settled on something only slightly more conspicuous-a Winegard batwing from Dow Electronics in Greensboro. I don't get Raleigh or Charlotte but PBS, Fox, ABC, NBC, and CBS come in fine for me in Walkertown. see: http://www.walt.lasley.com/ant.htm

MR12

03-09-06, 03:35 PM

If it goes in the attic, you will only get the locals.

Mine's in the attic and I get the locals as well as Charlotte and Roanoke. I've got a preamp on it though.

MR12

03-09-06, 03:43 PM

if you end up with an attic installation, you might check this thread back a year or so ago for pictures of a 4228 mounted in an attic with a rotor-the mast, rotor, and antenna was INVERTED. Try this link for the photo: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=5151121&highlight=inverted#post5151121

(on page 46 of this thread posted by "RareAir". Carolina Commercial Audio was mentioned as the installer if that helps.)

Also, you might try a search of this thread for "4228+attic" to see how others made out with it.

I remember how much time i wasted with earlier attic installations but settled on something only slightly more conspicuous-a Winegard batwing from Dow Electronics in Greensboro. I don't get Raleigh or Charlotte but PBS, Fox, ABC, NBC, and CBS come in fine for me in Walkertown. see: http://www.walt.lasley.com/ant.htm

I've had much success with the 4228 inverted method in my attic. Coupled with a 7775 preamp and rotator I really can't complain about all the stations I'm able to pull in. The Charlotte stations come in in the 80's, the locals in the 90's. I prefer WBTV CBS to WFMY since I can enjoy the 5.1 DD audio.

foxeng

03-09-06, 04:49 PM

Mine's in the attic and I get the locals as well as Charlotte and Roanoke. I've got a preamp on it though.

You cheat!! :)

foxeng

03-09-06, 04:51 PM

MR12

03-09-06, 09:02 PM

I thought you were down around Wallburg or Midway?

Guilty as charged. :D Kernersville to be exact.

ShaunoftheDead9

03-09-06, 10:19 PM

MR12

03-09-06, 10:32 PM

I know this has probably been mentioned before, but i am looking for the best indoor antenna. I live in an apartment in Winston Salem, so an indoor is my only option. i have a radio shack 15-1892 , it works good but i have problems hooking on to a signal. It will jump up and down but it will not lock on. I have a common preamp running to it, but that doesn't seem to help. I need help bad, my wife is not a happy camper. :eek:

Unfortunately, your results with an indoor antenna aren't going to be acceptable. You can try the Silver Sensor. You're going to have trouble pulling in ABC, CBS, FOX, and UPN with an indoor antenna. Have you thought about an outdoor antenna on your porch?

ShaunoftheDead9

03-09-06, 10:46 PM

I can get wfmy, abc, upn, unc really good, but wxii always jumps back and forth and that one is only about 6 miles away for me. Fox on the other hand is hard to get. When there is HD on ABC it is weird, the video is kind of in a fast motion state and words don't sync up with the mouths. I'm thinking of TWC but is that a good idea? I can't have an antenna for the porch, but we are looking into houses so an outdoor antenna would be in the cards if i don't go for TWC.

jacksonws

03-09-06, 11:31 PM

Guilty as charged. :D Kernersville to be exact.

Oh man....and I had visions of pulling in all of these stations. Well an indoor antenna project may just be something I have to attempt myself. Am I in for an easy time with the rotor and pre-amp and antenna and the mounting and.......? I have no clue.......

PamW

03-10-06, 04:21 AM

gregchak

03-10-06, 08:33 AM

posg

03-10-06, 08:52 AM

I've had much success with the 4228 inverted method in my attic. Coupled with a 7775 preamp and rotator I really can't complain about all the stations I'm able to pull in. The Charlotte stations come in in the 80's, the locals in the 90's. I prefer WBTV CBS to WFMY since I can enjoy the 5.1 DD audio.

I have a 4228 (with a 7777 preamp) in an attic as well in North Raleigh, and pull in WITN-DT Greenville from 77 miles away only rarely seeing dropouts during enhanced tropo reception conditions when phase fading becomes a factor. On a normal day, it's steadier than any of the locals (due to absence of multi-path).

The antenna itself is probably less than 15 feet off the ground. UHF signals below say about 50 feet are very much subject to "sweet spots". The effect of the attenuation of roofing material is not as severe as many would lead you to believe.

Besides, signal strength is usually not the issue in acheiving successful reception. Absence of multipath and signal to noise ratio are much more of the issue, and in wooded areas becomes more of a factor, particularly on windy days, when "dynamic multipath" will cause dropouts on even the strongest signals.

In other words, a highly directional antenna at a lower elevation, even in an attic, will often give better results than a less directional antenna a few feet higher outside.

UHF reception is as much art as it is science.

PS. Even though I frequently receive Norfolk and Wilmington signals, I have yet to catch anything to my west. A topo map indicates a 50 rise in elevation within 1000 feet of my location in that direction, killing what would already be challenging reception.

4theheelz

03-10-06, 11:22 AM

I saw an announcement on WFMY this morning discussing their programming for the NCAA tournament. Looks like they are going to use 2-1 to 2-4 and will have those channels on TWC also. It flashed up in a grid so fast on the screen that I didn't catch the TWC channels. Its probably the channels mentioned earlier in the thread.

I noticed a couple of new as of yet unoccupied WFMY channels on TW qam (115-23, 115-24). i am hoping that they will be used along with 116-1 and 116-2 for the NCAA.

foxeng

03-10-06, 12:16 PM

PS. Even though I frequently receive Norfolk and Wilmington signals, I have yet to catch anything to my west. A topo map indicates a 50 rise in elevation within 1000 feet of my location in that direction, killing what would already be challenging reception.

At the 85/40 split west of Hillsborough is a 300 ft rise that acts like a brick wall for RF going west and east. It is really strange how it works. You would think that being 300 feet higher, it would make it easier to receive the western signals but I guess with the distance from that rise to the towers for the Triad, it drops below the horizon. I have noticed it on frequencies from 80 megs up through UHF TV.

posg

03-10-06, 03:51 PM

Interesting story about long distance TV reception.

The cable operator that I worked for back in the early 80's also operated the system in Chico, CA. They picked up several off-air signals from San Francisco (150 miles) and Sacramento (100 miles). The receiving antennas were near ground level, pointing not at the stations, but a huge parabolic screen made up of a dozen or so 100' telephone poles 50 feet apart horizontally attached with guy wiring supporting chain link fencing. Not a pretty site, but the reception was phenomenal.

They called it the "tropospheric scatterer". It's long gone, but it put the 4228 to shame.

J. L.

03-10-06, 04:31 PM

Interesting story about long distance TV reception.

snip...

The receiving antennas were near ground level, pointing not at the stations, but a huge parabolic screen made up of a dozen or so 100' telephone poles 50 feet apart horizontally attached with guy wiring supporting chain link fencing. Not a pretty site, but the reception was phenomenal.

They called it the "tropospheric scatterer". It's long gone, but it put the 4228 to shame.Its a bit tough to get multiple 100' telephone poles to rotate, and even tougher to mount them in most attics. :D Not to mention that getting the OK to erect multiple 100 foot poles laced with chain link fence is a bit tough on those who have a picky neighborhood association or spouse that does not like antennas.

The 4228 might have an advantage for a few.

posg

03-10-06, 04:41 PM

Its a bit tough to get multiple 100' telephone poles to rotate, and even tougher to mount them in most attics. :D Not to mention that getting the OK to erect multiple 100 foot poles laced with chain link fence is a bit tough on those who have a picky neighborhood association or spouse that does not like antennas.

The 4228 might have an advantage for a few.

Details, details......

posg

03-10-06, 04:48 PM

One more off-air story, then I'm going home for the weekend.

In Lafayette, IN, 120 miles from Chicago, the cable operator ganged two cut-channel quad arrays together to pickup WFLD-32 from Chicago. The bandpass got so narrow, they lost the audio carrier.

pyedog

03-10-06, 05:03 PM

I have a 4228 (with a 7777 preamp) in an attic as well in North Raleigh, and pull in WITN-DT Greenville from 77 miles
...
UHF reception is as much art as it is science.
...
PS. Even though I frequently receive Norfolk and Wilmington signals, I have yet to catch anything to my west. A topo map indicates a 50 rise in elevation within 1000 feet of my location in that direction, killing what would already be challenging reception.

Interesting ... i'm in north Raleigh near the intersection of 98 and 50, and with the same setup I get 2, 45, and 48 from the west better than I get 22, 17, 28, and 11. I'm looking forward to getting 8 once the new tower is finished since I'm within the contour that foxeng posted earlier ... but I get nothing from the east (past garner anyway) ... I guess I should try again :-)

I just wish I could get a better signal on WB and NBC ... they are my only real problems at the moment (of course, the leaves are not yet out either ...)

jacksonws

03-11-06, 11:31 AM

OK so this morning this guy shows up....the one I didn't trust could help me the other day....and says he has an idea he thinks will work with the various hardware I have around here. That was 8:00 this morning. At 11:30am I now have NO stations coming in.....well unless you call the split second pictures that I see.....AND THE GAMES START IN LIKE 2 HOURS!!!!!!!!! I'm outta patience.....

foxeng

03-11-06, 01:47 PM

MilChad

03-11-06, 02:15 PM

foxeng

03-11-06, 02:43 PM

It isn't D*'s fault that ESPN is blacked out. It is a contractual issue with Raycom/Jeff Pilot and the ACC.

foxeng

03-11-06, 02:52 PM

Someone recently asked me what our low power transmitter looks like (I have no idea why!). But here is a picture that is posted on the Triad HDTV website (the site hasn't been updated in several years) of what the transmitter looked like as we were testing it (it hasn't changed since then) before we put it on the air. (it is the silver one rack unit, the blue rack to the right was one of the visual amplifiers of the old analog transmitter that was replaced last year with a new solid state transmitter that is on the air now.) Enjoy the history!

http://www.triad-hdtv.org/graphics/wghp-dtv.jpg

nc_av_newbee

03-11-06, 06:41 PM

They black out my HD coverage on ESPN and force me to watch their crap. Thanks!!! Nevermind that I pay extra for the HD feed from D*. If they are going to do this, at least buy some decent cameras to broadcast the games in HD. The cameras / equipment they use looks like vintage 70s quality crap.

I couldn't agree more. I emailed WFMY-2 about my disappointment in the fact that I could watch the 7:00 Thursday game on ESPN in HD, but had to change over to WFMY-2(CBS) for the 9:00 Thursday night game and watch it in standard definition.

Here is their reply:

Thank you for e-mailing WFMY News 2.

CBS does not cover the ACC Tournament. Raycom and Jefferson Pilot sports contracts with local television stations in the east to air the ACC Tournament.

Unfortunately, Raycom and JP Sports are unable to provide us with games in HDTV for the 2005-2006 ACC Basketball season. The problem as we understand it from Raycom, each station and network affiliation they deal with has a different way of receiving high definition television feeds. At this time technology does not allow them to produce just one feed that would allow the different stations to receive the same HD feed.

We are able to receive CBS programming in HD because of the system we have. However shows such as “Wheel of Fortune”, “Jeopardy”, “Ellen Degeneres” and many other syndicated television shows are not produced in HD for the same reason Raycom and JP Sports can’t send their games out in HD.

We have been working with Raycom and JP Sports since last year on HD programming to see if we can clear some of these hurdles. We are much closer however there are distribution systems that need to change and become standardized. We will continue to work with them on HD broadcasting and hopefully we can move forward so that HD sports programming from Raycom and Jefferson Pilot Sports can be delivered to our viewers.

The NCAA Tournament coverage is a CBS production and being a CBS affiliate, we have all the equipment needed to receive and broadcast CBS HD. At the beginning of the NCAA Tournament, four different locations are used. Two of those four locations will be HD sites. Not all games will be in HD. Since we are multicasting, we should almost always have one game in HD.

David W. Briscoe
Program Director
WFMY News 2

PS. At least David had the courtesy to email me back about what was going on.

uncrules

03-11-06, 07:04 PM

We are able to receive CBS programming in HD because of the system we have. However shows such as “Wheel of Fortune”, “Jeopardy”, “Ellen Degeneres” and many other syndicated television shows are not produced in HD for the same reason Raycom and JP Sports can’t send their games out in HD.
Maybe you can reply to him informing that this is no longer true.

http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=9119

During Thursday morning's opening keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show, Sony Corp.'s Chairman and CEO Howard Stringer announced that Sony Pictures' syndicated game shows "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune" will be available in high-definition starting this fall. They will be the first game shows available in the crisp, rich, HD format. The time is right, Mr. Stringer said, since the sale of HD sets will eclipse the sale of standard-definition sets for the first time this year, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. "With the proliferation of HD, programming is ramping up," Mr. Stringer said.

Inundated

03-11-06, 07:13 PM

Maybe you can reply to him informing that this is no longer true.

It's still basically true. That is just the first step of many that will eventually result in widespread non-network HDTV distribution.

pwrmetal

03-12-06, 01:48 PM

I wish WFMY would broadcast the Raycomm feed on their analog singal only and air the normal CBS programming on their digital station (ie. the Big Ten Tourney in HD). With their secondary (and 3rd and 4th) channel(s) active, they could always provide the JP game on one of their extra digital stations too. It seems a waste to not show the HD game(s) they have available. I also wish that JP would lift their blackout requirement for ESPNHD and give viewers the chance to see the games in HD. Lame.

foxeng

03-12-06, 02:01 PM

pwrmetal

03-13-06, 11:03 AM

I am sure it has to with contractal agreements with R/JP and the ACC. They want all the basketball eyes.

I'm sure you're right. It's just unfortunate that basketball fans have to suffer because we didn't have the good fortune for our NBC, UPN, WB, ABC, or FOX affiliate being the one to be our JP/Raycomm channel.

And I still think it's silly that the core ACC viewer is punished and not allowed to see their tourney in HD. BOO! BOO I say! :)

foxeng

03-13-06, 12:07 PM

I'm sure you're right. It's just unfortunate that basketball fans have to suffer because we didn't have the good fortune for our NBC, UPN, WB, ABC, or FOX affiliate being the one to be our JP/Raycomm channel.

And I still think it's silly that the core ACC viewer is punished and not allowed to see their tourney in HD. BOO! BOO I say! :)

It wouldn't matter which station had the contract. They would still be held to the same issues. R/JP doesn't provide an HD feed and the contract prohibits any other feed to be sent.

I am not saying it is right, I am saying that is the reality of it. And yeah, it sucks.

pwrmetal

03-13-06, 02:43 PM

It wouldn't matter which station had the contract. They would still be held to the same issues. R/JP doesn't provide an HD feed and the contract prohibits any other feed to be sent.

Sure it would matter - not for seeing the ACC tourney in HD, but I would have seen all the CBS coverage of other conferences in HD that I didn't get to see when the ACC tourney was on WFMY!

foxeng

03-13-06, 06:20 PM

Sure it would matter - not for seeing the ACC tourney in HD, but I would have seen all the CBS coverage of other conferences in HD that I didn't get to see when the ACC tourney was on WFMY!

OK, I conceed!! :)

Rasolomg23

03-13-06, 07:27 PM

foxeng

03-13-06, 08:58 PM

I'm moving to the area this summer... I guess that ya'll call that the "Triad"

Anyway, just wondering what the cable cos are and what OTA HD selections there are. I didnt feel like combing through a bajillion pages to figure it out.

Welcome to the area! Yes, this is the Triad. Time-Warner Cable has about 50% of the market. They are in the major cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Burlington, Lexington. There are about 10 other smaller cable companies with the largest of them being LexComm in Lexington.

CBS, NBC, FOX and PBS are on Time-Warner and LexComm and have HD during prime-time and sports. ABC and UPN are owned by Sinclair and they are not on any cable in HD but they do have HD OTA. CBS, ABC, NBC, UPN and PBS are at full power and FOX will be full power any day now.
WB is SD only and extremely low power. The Sinclair UPN will have the MyNetworkTV affiliation when UPN ceases. The WB hasn't said if they will have The CW or become an independent. We have a PAX that is at low power and a TBN at low power.

J. L.

03-13-06, 11:39 PM

Welcome to the area! Yes, this is the Triad. Time-Warner Cable has about 50% of the market. They are in the major cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Burlington, Lexington. There are about 10 other smaller cable companies with the largest of them being LexComm in Lexington.

CBS, NBC, FOX and PBS are on Time-Warner and LexComm and have HD during prime-time and sports. ABC and UPN are owned by Sinclair and they are not on any cable in HD but they do have HD OTA. CBS, ABC, NBC, UPN and PBS are at full power and FOX will be full power any day now.
WB is SD only and extremely low power. The Sinclair UPN will have the MyNetworkTV affiliation when UPN ceases. The WB hasn't said if they will have The CW or become an independent. We have a PAX that is at low power and a TBN at low power.In adition to the network stations foxeng mentioned Time-Warner cable also offers Discovery-HD, TNT-HD, HBO-HD (east & west coast feeds), SHO-HD (east & west coast feeds), INHD & INHD2, HDNEt and HDNet-Movies, and ESPN-HD in addition to "HD Movies on-demand"

Some of these are in an optional HD package, others are included if you subscribe to the SD channel (ie. you get the HD versions of HBO if you subscribe to SD HBO, same for SHO), still others are part of the "digital tier"

All in all, TWC provides about 500 channels of "nothing to watch" :D Welcome to the Triad.

Joe L.

DaveWolf

03-14-06, 11:36 AM

Has anyone noticed a ton of breakups and pixeliazation on TNT-HD lately? Saving Private Ryan and L&O were basically unwatchable the other night.

jacksonian

03-14-06, 05:44 PM

DaveWolf, I'm having the pixelization and breakups on several of my channels with my PACE box. Haven't noticed it with my SA boxes. Can't even watch channel 11, 14, and now MTV.

roland6465

03-14-06, 06:11 PM

^ I was just thinking that my Pace box is the only one I've had to break up on me. But it is on every HD channel. I usually only watch ESPN & TNT hds in that room.

PamW

03-14-06, 07:49 PM

Kind of off topic, but still in the realms of AVS forum (think Theater accessories):

Gold Medal Products on Edwardia Dr. in Greensboro is having a sale this Thursday and Friday. I like to stock up on popcorn and supplies during these things. If any of you are interested, I think you can just pop by from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. I filled out a registration card, but my first year I just walked in off the street.

There will be SAMPLES!!! Don't eat before you go:D

nc_av_newbee

03-14-06, 08:17 PM

Has anyone noticed a ton of breakups and pixeliazation on TNT-HD lately? Saving Private Ryan and L&O were basically unwatchable the other night.

I also have had image and sound pixelation at various times in the last few days. I think it was most noticable on INHD channels and TNT. :eek:

bigsnyder

03-14-06, 11:22 PM

For you TWC cable folks that just got switched to 100% digital, how are the regular
SD channels looking?

C Snyder

roland6465

03-15-06, 04:47 AM

^ Better than before, but the Raycom broadcasts of the ACC Tournament were still unwatchable on my big screen. I don't really watch much SD anymore.

J. L.

03-15-06, 08:04 AM

For you TWC cable folks that just got switched to 100% digital, how are the regular
SD channels looking?

C SnyderActually, I'm not sure if they are really 100% digital. I say that because one older TV in my house is connected directly to the cable with no cable box. It still gets all the analog channels it did prior to the apparent addition of the digital clones of those analog channels to be used by the cable boxes.

So... TWC could not have recovered the bandwidth the analog channels use, but instead managed to an squeeze an additional 70 odd SD channels in the spectrum shared by the digital tier.

What I do see on the digital SD channels is compression artifacts. This is very evident on some of the channels. Yes, the channels are "digital" but overcompressed and if you were watching on even a 27" SD set they can easily be seen. Clouds in the sky often come in only a few shades of grey, with jagged boundaries between the shades of grey. "digital" yes... natural looking... no.

Perhaps when the space occupied by the analog channels is recovered TWC will be able to reuse the spectrum they occupied and compress the digital channels less. To do that, they will need to deploy set-top-boxes to everyone like me who still has a set without a set-top-box so we can still get to the new digital versions of the SD channels.

My best guess is that will happen over time. As more customers turn in their SD cable boxes for HD versions, the older SD boxes can be redeployed. I've seen no notice of when this phase of the transition will occur, but I am certain TWC will be happy when it is all digital... (so they can add even more channels)

Me, I'd be happy with more HD channels at decent bit-rates.

Joe L.

uncrules

03-15-06, 08:07 AM

Did anybody watch 2-1 last night? I didn't watch any primetime shows on CBS last night but when I went to bed I turned it on Letterman briefly and I noticed on the home theater system in my bedroom that the audio was coming across as DD 5.1. Has anybody else noticed this? FWIW, is seemed that the volume on the center channel was a little low.

posg

03-15-06, 09:16 AM

Actually, I'm not sure if they are really 100% digital. I say that because one older TV in my house is connected directly to the cable with no cable box. It still gets all the analog channels it did prior to the apparent addition of the digital clones of those analog channels to be used by the cable boxes.

So... TWC could not have recovered the bandwidth the analog channels use, but instead managed to an squeeze an additional 70 odd SD channels in the spectrum shared by the digital tier.

What I do see on the digital SD channels is compression artifacts. This is very evident on some of the channels. Yes, the channels are "digital" but overcompressed and if you were watching on even a 27" SD set they can easily be seen. Clouds in the sky often come in only a few shades of grey, with jagged boundaries between the shades of grey. "digital" yes... natural looking... no.

Perhaps when the space occupied by the analog channels is recovered TWC will be able to reuse the spectrum they occupied and compress the digital channels less. To do that, they will need to deploy set-top-boxes to everyone like me who still has a set without a set-top-box so we can still get to the new digital versions of the SD channels.

My best guess is that will happen over time. As more customers turn in their SD cable boxes for HD versions, the older SD boxes can be redeployed. I've seen no notice of when this phase of the transition will occur, but I am certain TWC will be happy when it is all digital... (so they can add even more channels)

Me, I'd be happy with more HD channels at decent bit-rates.

Joe L.

Some (most) of the cable networks are phasing out their analog C-band signals used to distribute programming to cable headends and converting to digital. These digital signals of course have to be converted to analog for direct connects to NTSC only TVs over a cable system.

The channels received in digital from the programming supplier are transcoded (basically passed through) without any manipulation of bitrates for delivery on the digital simulcast.

The channels still received in analog must be converted to digital locally. They tend to look a little more "ragged" than the ones that exist entirely in the digital domain.

And not all digital channels are created equal. Some, HBO for example, use higher bit rates than others and will always look better.

In other words, a lot of what your seeing is not related to anything Time Warner is doing or not doing. The channels that don't look so hot are probably the ones being converted to digital locally, or use lower bit rates from the get go.

foxeng

03-15-06, 09:59 AM

In other words, a lot of what your seeing is not related to anything Time Warner is doing or not doing. The channels that don't look so hot are probably the ones being converted to digital locally, or use lower bit rates from the get go.

I wouldn't bet on it. Any cable system has a finite bandwidth to work with. With the addition of internet services, VOD and other services, not only the original analog TV and then digital TV, the pipe has remained the same size, but the water pressure has increased.

To duplicate the analog programing in the digital SD world, there has to be some lowering of bit rates. I don't know of a single program provider that would knowing allow pixilaztion and other artifacts be "their product" and just pass it along to the consumer.

While posg does have good inside into the cable industry, having worked in it in the past, my conversations with the fine folk at TWC-GSO tends me to believe they are at max now and are doing things to stay competitive. Since most people still have 480i analog sets, they usually do not see the artifacting we see on HD sets so they can lower the bit rate on those SD channels without raising a "SD-Lite" controversy with their customers. But those of us with HD sets, can spot it in minute. Just to show you, for those of you with TWC, our analog (that is on cable channel 10 analog) has been sent to TWC for the last three years in digital over fiber and is sent at 3.75 Mbps. We have had no complaints on that bitrate (I personally spent a month working on bitrates to be sure it didn't compromise our PQ because in a pinch, if the HD encoder on the DTV side went down, I would slap the SD encoder on air to get us by and since all of our equipment is set for the HD bitrate, the two might have to co-exist as I got the HD encoder back up so it all had to fit in that data stream and still look great for TWC) so it can be done and still look good. Whether TWC has the time to spend on every channel is another story.

posg

03-15-06, 10:52 AM

There may or may not be some "grooming" of digital signals. Some program providers allow it, others do not. My trained eye can ususally tell which ones are being passed and which are being groomed.

Long term, as discussed before, "switched video" will aleviate most of the bandwidth choke points, and the renewed interest in the telcos providing video, as well as the franchising bibles being rewritten, all promise better quality down the road.

All it takes is time and money, and patience.

uncrules

03-15-06, 01:23 PM

Long term, as discussed before, "switched video" will aleviate most of the bandwidth choke points, and the renewed interest in the telcos providing video, as well as the franchising bibles being rewritten, all promise better quality down the road.

All it takes is time and money, and patience.Speaking of which has anybody heard when Verizon FIOS or something similar will come to this area. And I mean not just for video (which sounds good) as their Internet service is faster than Road Runner.

Currently Version FIOS Internet is

5 Mbps downstream/2 Mbps upstream $34.95 - $39.95
15 Mbps downstream/2 Mbps upstream $44.95 - $49.95
30 Mbps downstream/5 Mbps upstream $179.95 - $199.95

Road Runner is 5 Mbps downstream/.384 Mbps upstream $39.95 - $44.95

There's talk at Sat Guys that these prices could be dropping in 6 months to

5 downstream/2 upstream - 29.99/month.
15 downstream/2 upstream - 39.99/month.
30 downstream/5 upstream - 49.99/month.

As much as I've like my Road Runner service, if that came around here I would have to consider dropping RR for that.

posg

03-15-06, 02:13 PM

Speaking of which has anybody heard when Verizon FIOS or something similar will come to this area. And I mean not just for video (which sounds good) as their Internet service is faster than Road Runner.

Currently Version FIOS Internet is

5 Mbps downstream/2 Mbps upstream $34.95 - $39.95
15 Mbps downstream/2 Mbps upstream $44.95 - $49.95
30 Mbps downstream/5 Mbps upstream $179.95 - $199.95

Road Runner is 5 Mbps downstream/.384 Mbps upstream $39.95 - $44.95

There's talk at Sat Guys that these prices could be dropping in 6 months to

5 downstream/2 upstream - 29.99/month.
15 downstream/2 upstream - 39.99/month.
30 downstream/5 upstream - 49.99/month.

As much as I've like my Road Runner service, if that came around here I would have to consider dropping RR for that.

For what it's worth, with the announced aquisition of Bell South by the "New" AT&T (which will take a year to get through the maze of government approvals), keep an eye on AT&T's Project Lightspeed in this part of the world, which is a FTTC (fiber to the curb) solution, as compared to Verizon's FIOS, which is FTTH (fiber the the home).

FTTC brings fiber to within a few hundred feet of the home, then utilizes existing twisted pair copper phone lines to the home. That is the bandwidth choke point, but I hear 30Mbps is doable, allowing at least one HD and a couple of SD channels at a time.

But the advantage is obviously cost. The fiber backbone is already in place in a large chunk of the footprint, the implimentation would focus on installing the required switching equipment in the neighborhood nodes, and interface devices on the homes. It doesn't require all the digging that a FTTN solution requires.

It seems they want to pass something in the neighborhood of 30,000,000 homesby 2010 or 2012, can't remember for sure, but an aggressive number.

gregchak

03-16-06, 11:10 AM

uncrules

03-16-06, 11:55 AM

I watched CSI:NY last night on 2-1 and it was still coming through in DPLII. I switched over to 7-1 and it was in DD5.1.Yeah, I noticed on Letterman last night that it was back to DD 2.0. I wonder if 2 was testing their DD5.1 setup a couple of nights ago.

uncrules

03-16-06, 12:51 PM

Man, the picture quality on 2-1 is bad. Having the other sub channels showing games is killing the HD channel. Maybe on smaller TVs it wouldn't matter but on my 60 incher I can really notice it.

ShaunoftheDead9

03-16-06, 04:16 PM

How do you get the other stations for channel 2, I'm still getting only 2.1 and 2.2?

posg

03-16-06, 04:35 PM

How do you get the other stations for channel 2, I'm still getting only 2.1 and 2.2?

Go into your tuner's set-up menu and do a re-scan.

uncrules

03-16-06, 05:27 PM

They showed up on my satellite receiver automatically.

roland6465

03-16-06, 07:20 PM

Man, the picture quality on 2-1 is bad. Having the other sub channels showing games is killing the HD channel. Maybe on smaller TVs it wouldn't matter but on my 60 incher I can really notice it.

Looks like poo on my 36" WEGA as well. Oh well, I guess I won't be watching in the theater room until the sweet 16 or so.

Too bad my Wolfpack's coming home tomorrow night.

foxeng

03-16-06, 08:18 PM

CW Signs 28 More Affiliates, Including Nine Pappas Stations
By Michele Greppi
The CW Thursday announced it has signed long-term affiliation agreements with 28 stations reaching more than 66 percent of the TV homes in the country.

The new CW stations announced today include nine Pappas Telecasting Cos. stations, eight of them now affiliates of The WB: The Pappas stations include seven WB affiliates: WTWB-TV in Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem, N.C. (the 47th-largest TV market), KFRE-TV in Fresno-Visalia, Calif., (No. 56); KPWB-TV in Des Moines-Ames, Iowa (73); KXVO-TV in Omaha, Neb. (75); cable-only KWBL-TV in Lincoln and Hastings-Kearny, Neb. (103); KREN-TV in Reno (112); cable-only KWUB-TV in Yuma-El Centro, Ariz. (170); and cable-only KWPL-TV in North Platte, Neb. (209).Also part of the deal is Pappas' UPN affiliate WLGA-TV in Columbus, Ga. (127).

Pappas is now the third-largest CW affiliate group, behind the founding groups Tribune and CBS, which brought 16 and 12 stations, respectively, to the 50-50 partnership, which will merge The WB and UPN into The CW, scheduled for launch in September.

Among The WB affiliates that have signed with The CW are: WSWB-TV, owned by KB Prime Media and operated by Pegasus Broadcast Television in Wilkes-Barre-Scranton, Pa. (54); Barrington Broadcasting's WBSF-TV in Flint-Saginaw-Bay City, Mich. (65); Banks Broadcasting's KWCV-TV in Wichita-Hutchinson, Kan. (67); Block Communications' cable-only WTO5 in Toledo, Ohio (70); BlueStone TV Holdings' cable and digital WB4 in Tri-Cities, Tenn.-Va. (91); South Central Communications' WAZE-TV in Evansville, Ind. (100); Dimension Broadcasting's KCEB-TV in Tyler-Longview, Texas (111) and KBCA-TV in Alexandria, La. (176); and Rapid Broadcasting's KWSD-TV in Sioux Falls, S.D. (114) and KWBH-TV in Rapid City, S.D. (177).

UPN-affiliated stations involved in Thursday's deal include Gray Television's WKYT-DT (& WYMT-DT) in Lexington (and Hazard), Ky. (63); Schurz Communications' WAGT-DT in Augusta, Ga. (115); Dimension Broadcasting's KLWB-TV Lafayette, La., (124); News-Press & Gazette Broadcasting's KESQ-DT Palm Springs, Calif. (153) and KTVZ-DT in Bend, Ore. (196); and News-Press & Gazette Cable's WBJO-TV in St. Joseph, Mo. (201).

The CW also picked up affiliates in two areas neither ranked by Nielsen nor considered in clearance totals: Storefront TV's WSJP-TV San Juan, Puerto Rico (which is both a WB and a UPN affiliate currently); and Virgin Blue's UPN affiliate WCVI-TV in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Harry Pappas, chairman and CEO of Pappas Telecasting Cos., said: "The group of stations represents nearly twice as many as were previously affiliated with UPN and The WB. While the combined 'best of programs' fall 2006 launch schedule promises a terrific initial audience-grabbing performance, it is the sustainability of a winning prime-time schedule that the Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corp. alliance well assures. This is not about seizing the moment; this is about becoming genuine partners for decades to come."

John Maatta, chief operating officer for The CW, said in the announcement that affiliating with The CW is "a perfect fit with [Pappas'] operating philosophy and the set of principles that have guided Harry throughout his career."

Denog

03-16-06, 08:19 PM

As a TWC customer, tonight's TNT and the CBS tourney coverage looks very pixelated at times. Are other TWC customers seeing this? Their service has been really bad lately.

69 Z-28

03-16-06, 08:32 PM

Man, the picture quality on 2-1 is bad. Having the other sub channels showing games is killing the HD channel. Maybe on smaller TVs it wouldn't matter but on my 60 incher I can really notice it.

I'm lucky that I can also view 7-1 OTA so I'm watching it. It's not as bad as 2-1 OTA is.

uncrules

03-17-06, 07:08 AM

Too bad my Wolfpack's coming home tomorrow night.Look at the bright side, if that happens it might be the final straw that breaks Herb's back. I don't know where you come down on the pro Herb/anti-Herb fight but if you're anti-Herb, State losing to California could be a blessing in disguise.

I remember that in Doherty's last year at UNC when we lost to Georgetown in the NIT, I wasn't overly disappointed because I knew that it was Doherty's last game. The grapevine on Inside Carolina's premium board basically had Doherty's departure a done deal.

I know a State fan at work who will be partying like its 1999 whenever Herb is fired or resigns.

uncrules

03-17-06, 12:13 PM

I don't know how long it has been this way but I noticed that UPN was back in HD last night.

uncrules

03-17-06, 12:15 PM

foxeng

03-17-06, 12:31 PM

I wonder if this will give WTWB the impetus to ramp up to full power and have an HD channel.

I saw in another local thread that WTWB just signed the contract for their new full power transmitter so it appears that they intend to be full power by the July 1st deadline.

uncrules

03-17-06, 12:51 PM

I saw in another local thread that WTWB just signed the contract for their new full power transmitter so it appears that they intend to be full power by the July 1st deadline.
Cool. Thanks.

posg

03-17-06, 01:34 PM

I saw in another local thread that WTWB just signed the contract for their new full power transmitter so it appears that they intend to be full power by the July 1st deadline.

Maybe they need to contact that power company NOW!!! ;) ;) ;)

Greg T

03-17-06, 01:58 PM

A friend is thinking of getting an HDTV. He has basic cable now TW Greensboro, how much extra is it to get the locals in HD? Does he need to add digital cable, or is it just a box rental fee?

ShaunoftheDead9

03-17-06, 09:07 PM

I have three choices for HD coverage, DirectTV, Dish network or TWC digital with HD. Which one is the best? :cool:

telemike

03-17-06, 11:38 PM

A friend is thinking of getting an HDTV. He has basic cable now TW Greensboro, how much extra is it to get the locals in HD? Does he need to add digital cable, or is it just a box rental fee?

Digital Access fee + STB rental fee.

telemike

03-17-06, 11:40 PM

Have not seen D* or E* but I have TWC and the PQ is good and Discovery HD theater is pure eye candy. PBS HD has some good stuff too. Having Fox, CBS and NBC programs in HD is nice. No ABC :( TNT-HD is so-so

Greg T

03-18-06, 07:26 AM

Digital Access fee + STB rental fee.

So $15 for a Box and $20 for the upgrade? My Mom has Comcast in Fl. She just upgraded from basic cable to HD. Her Bill went up $5 a month for the Box. She gets all her locals in HD, ESPN, Discover HD and TNT HD. TW is a rip.

telemike

03-18-06, 09:49 AM

Basic Service $9.18
Digital Access $2.00
DVR Service $4.95
DVR Converter $3.70
DVR Remote $0.30

Fees And Taxes
FCC Fee $0.06
PEG Fee $0.16
Franchise Fee $3.26

+ NC Sales Tax

Greg T

03-18-06, 12:23 PM

Basic Service $9.18
Digital Access $2.00
DVR Service $4.95
DVR Converter $3.70
DVR Remote $0.30

Fees And Taxes
FCC Fee $0.06
PEG Fee $0.16
Franchise Fee $3.26

+ NC Sales Tax

Thank you, I think he's got basic cable (by basic I mean all the analog cable stations). So he should be able to add HDTV locals for less than $10 more?

DaveWolf

03-18-06, 09:11 PM

gregchak

03-18-06, 10:37 PM

If he has basic cable and gets a QAM tuner, he will be able to receive all of the locals in HD (except for WXLV-ABC) as well as Discovery HD and TNT-HD. Although TNT-HD is basically unwatchable right now. It has basically been that way for two weeks. Trying to watch Gladiator now, and I get pixelation, signal dropouts, and audio freezes every five seconds or so. Does anyone know what the deal is? It seems like TNT is the only channel with the problem.
I have TNT via D* and Gladiator looks pretty good tonight. I haven't watched TNT in a week or so. When D* first put it up it wasn't that great but they seem to have fixed whatever was wrong with it.

DaveWolf

03-19-06, 08:34 AM

Gregchak,

I think it must be something with TWC. Because believe me, you would know if you were having the same problem. I am on TWC-Lexington BTW.

posg

03-21-06, 09:15 AM

In a move which should define the landscape for retransmission compensation, CBS and Verizon reached a retrans agreement that includes ALL transmission formats as well as free access to CBS On Demand programming.

This of course only applies to CBS O&O's. But it forms a template. Although no price was announced, speculation is that it is around 50 cents per month per subscriber.

Hopefully this precident will accelerate negociations between Sinclair and the cable industry.

uncrules

03-21-06, 12:56 PM

Hopefully this precident will accelerate negociations between Sinclair and the cable industry.
It might but it seems to help Sinclair's position more than TWC.

obi pa kenobi

03-21-06, 01:50 PM

live in winston using directv and receiving locals via 4228 with radio shack amp. any way called directv today to see about upgrading to 5 lnb dish and reciever. both people gave may 06 as rollout for triad locals. scheduled install of new dish for tomorrow am.

posg

03-21-06, 02:18 PM

It might but it seems to help Sinclair's position more than TWC.

It does indeed. It "redefines" the landscape, not the least of which is that TWC is going to have to compete on multiple fronts, from not only satellite, but from telcos Verizon and/or AT&T. It may "soften" their resolve.

It really doesn't matter who wins anyway. The costs will somehow be passed on to the subcriber.

J. L.

03-21-06, 03:26 PM

The costs will somehow be passed on to the subcriber.Lets see...

CBS .50 cents
NBC .50 cents
ABC .50 cents
FOX .50 cents
UPN .50 cents
??? .50 cents (whoever else wants a piece of the pie)

Yup... I can envision my TWC rates going up at least a few dollars next year. (Although it probably would go up even without additional programming :( :( )

Joe L.

posg

03-21-06, 05:02 PM

Lets see...

CBS .50 cents
NBC .50 cents
ABC .50 cents
FOX .50 cents
UPN .50 cents
??? .50 cents (whoever else wants a piece of the pie)

Yup... I can envision my TWC rates going up at least a few dollars next year. (Although it probably would go up even without additional programming :( :( )

Joe L.

UPN 50 cents, I don't THINK so. Maybe 10 cents, maybe. CW and My Network TV had better just be asking for "must carry" status. They'll need all the eyeballs they can get.

gregchak

03-23-06, 08:24 AM

...called directv today to see about upgrading to 5 lnb dish and reciever. both people gave may 06 as rollout for triad locals. scheduled install of new dish for tomorrow am.
Did they mention anything about their MPEG4 DVR? That was scheduled to come out this summer too.

posg

03-23-06, 08:38 AM

For those on the eastern edge of the Greensboro market, both WLFL-22 and WRDC-28 have apparently significantly upped their power and should be receivable. WRDC does not do HD, and WLFL is the worst looking DTV/HDTV I've ever seen.

obi pa kenobi

03-23-06, 08:53 AM

once install guys got here i asked them all the usual questions. as most of you probably realize the may rollout of locals for us was bad info from the directv csr. the install guys said that it was more like september for the triad. as far as the new dvr all they would say was sometime this summer. man, september seems far away.

suzukiclay

03-23-06, 07:01 PM

I am not sure this is the right place but you guys are local boys and seem to know lots of info. I have direct tv and last week got an hdtv. Here is the problem I am trying to get the signal from my outdoor antenna to run through the two wires coming from my dish. If I run the coax straight to the tv it works great i get 2,4,8,12,26,45,48,61 all in dtv, when i try to hook it up through the sat. dish wires nothing. I used a splitter a diplexer and a multi switch, i get the sat to work with all of these, but nothing with the dtv. I am splitting behind the sat rec. and going to the off air imput to the tv nothing is working. Please help I am at my wits end and ready to pull my hair out. I have a diplexer splitting behind the sat. box, and nothing i ran it through the sat. box and nothing. I am using a radio shack 120 antenna and when i hook it up direct works great, 2 drops out sometimes for no reason, but i am wondering if this a 2 problem, but anyway please help, i don't want to run another wire through the house and the wife is tired of the wire in the living room. :( :( :( :(

foxeng

03-23-06, 08:10 PM

Welcome suzukiclay;

What is happening is you are loosing too much signal through all of those splitters and combiners. To be honest, I have never seen anyone have good results trying to use the sat cable. The trick is you have to keep your line losses to a minimum at UHF, which is where all of the digital channels are right now around here. (after Feb 2009, WGHP will go back to channel 8 for digital after analog shuts down.) The best setup is to run straight from the antenna to the TV with no splitters or barrels and the best coax cable you can afford. Remember that every two way splitter you lose half of the signal and with more ports on the splitter, you lose even more signal. The sat splitters are tweaked for the sat frequencies in the 1 GHz L band range, not the 470 to 700 MHz TV range. RF signal level is referred to in dB's. Every 3 dB you either half or double the signal, depending on which way you are going. So if you have a signal level of 100 and you put in a 3 dB loss splitter, your signal is now 50. If you add another 3 dB splitter, you signal is now 25. If you add another 3 dB splitter you are now down to 12.5 and you only have 9 dB of attenuation in line. Many 5 or 7 port splitters are in this 9 dB range per port.

Everyone who I know who has gone directly to the set has gotten very good results with an antenna for digital including receiving stations from other markets. I regularly receive the Raleigh and Roanoke stations as well as the locals from north Greensboro. People in Winston regularly receive the Charlotte and Roanoke stations with people in High Point getting Charlotte and or Raleigh stations.

Hope that helps.

posg

03-23-06, 08:11 PM

gregchak

03-23-06, 08:17 PM

Here is the problem I am trying to get the signal from my outdoor antenna to run through the two wires coming from my dish. If I run the coax straight to the tv it works great i get 2,4,8,12,26,45,48,61 all in dtv, when i try to hook it up through the sat. dish wires nothing. I used a splitter a diplexer and a multi switch, i get the sat to work with all of these, but nothing with the dtv. (
I had this setup for a while before running a new line and it was working (just not as good as a direct line). My triple LNB dish had a built in multiswitch. I my setup, I took one of the wires coming off my dish (and multiswitch) and ran that into a diplexer to merge the antenna with the sat. By my receiver I have the one line coming in and run that through a diplexer to split it out into the 2 antenna and sat feeds. You need to use 2 diplexers, not a diplexer and a splitter. Also make sure you run it through the diplexer after it has gone through the multiswitch. I've never tried to diplex the line before the multiswitch but in my setup it worked by diplexing it after the multiswitch. This is the setup that worked for me.

suzukiclay

03-23-06, 10:38 PM

suzukiclay

03-23-06, 10:55 PM

foxeng

03-24-06, 07:00 AM

thanks foxeng that is what i was afraid you would say. Right now i have a multi switch at the sat. and a diplexer at the other end. Is that too much? I really don't want to run another lead because of how hard it will be, but I can. would a preamp on the antenna help? at this point i would spend the money.

thanks

Get a pre-amp that isn't too powerful. Depending on where you live, too much will be just as bad as not enough because it will be overloaded. If you can figure out how much loss you have at TV channels and then get a pre-amp that is a few more db higher in gain (probably in the 15db range plus or minus a few) that might work. It will be a try it and see what happens. If you live within the city limits of any of the three big cities in the Triad, you really do not want a pre-amp for any situation over 20db at the most. Overload will kill the signal. You also can't put it inside after everything or you will amplify mostly noise and not much signal which defeats the purpose.

Anytime you put a pre-amp in line, not only do you increase signal, you also increase the noise floor and for digital the ratio of the desired signal verses that noise floor is what makes the difference between a beautiful HD picture and a "Searching for Signal" on your screen. That is why signal is not the most important factor with DTV, but the signal to noise ratio. You can have a crappy receive signal, but if the ratio of noise to signal is in the "good range" (27 db) you will have reception just as good as a full strength signal. That is why you hear of people who say they are within a few miles of the tower and can't get a signal (overloaded with bad S/N) but others many miles away get a great signal (less signal but great S/N). It is the S/N (signal to noise ratio). Signal strength is not always the number one thing as it is in analog.

Remember also that the power inserter for the pre-amp will have to be between the antenna and the multi switch at the sat end outside. You will not be able to power it from inside as you can with a dedicated run. There are already voltages between the sat receiver and the multiswitch on the coax that you can't mess with or your sat receiver will stop working and most if not all pre-amp power inserters are made for indoors and not outdoors. This does complicate things when you try to do it this way. It can be done if you are resourceful and understand the phyisical and electrical restrictions.

You problem is you have too much system loss and you will have to find a way to overcome it without A) overloading the system with too big of a pre-amp B) placement of that pre-amp and C) overcoming the system loss without screwing everything else up. For someone who knows what they are doing, it is fairly simple, but to someone who has never done it before, it can be daunting. I have no idea where you fall out on that scale. Hopefully somewhere in the middle. It will just take some time and some more money.

And so ends DTV 101.

gregchak

03-24-06, 08:28 AM

Anytime you put a pre-amp in line, not only do you increase signal, you also increase the noise floor and for digital the ratio of the desired signal verses that noise floor is what makes the difference between a beautiful HD picture and a "Searching for Signal" on your screen. That is why signal is not the most important factor with DTV, but the signal to noise ratio. You can have a crappy receive signal, but if the ratio of noise to signal is in the "good range" (27 db) you will have reception just as good as a full strength signal. That is why you hear of people who say they are within a few miles of the tower and can't get a signal (overloaded with bad S/N) but others many miles away get a great signal (less signal but great S/N). It is the S/N (signal to noise ratio). Signal strength is not always the number one thing as it is in analog.
Never heard it described quite like this before. I learn something new everyday. What's the best way to measure the ratio? My RS preamp has an FM trap on it. Does that affect the ratio too? Would a high or low ratio (I'm not sure which is better) give you drop outs or would give you no signal at all?

foxeng

03-24-06, 09:02 AM

Never heard it described quite like this before. I learn something new everyday. What's the best way to measure the ratio? My RS preamp has an FM trap on it. Does that affect the ratio too? Would a high or low ratio (I'm not sure which is better) give you drop outs or would give you no signal at all?

In the specs for the pre-amp will give you the S/N figure. For most consumer grade, you are looking at 2 or 3 db. For high end stuff, 1.5 or less is considered good. When talking about the S/N of a signal, the higher the number the better of reception, the lower the number in specs for the pre-amp, the better. For you to be able to decode a DTV signal, the total S/N figure of the ENTIRE system from the input to the transmitter to your tuner for your TV can't be ANY LOWER than 27 db. Most transmission systems can only get about 30 or 31 db so between losses in the air and in your receive system, you only have about 3 to 5 db to play with. That is why S/N is very important for DTV. When digital radio kicks in, the same issues will come into play to be able to decode them, but that overall system S/N number will be different than 27 db (I have no idea what it is, I don't have time to keep up with that part of broadcasting these days).

The FM trap can help cut out signals and if you are not going to be listening to FM with your pre-amp, turn the trap on. If you pre-amp doesn't have a FM trap, go buy one at RS and put it in line BEFORE the pre-amp and that will help. The small amount of loss is minimal when compared to it the benefit of reducing signals that could potentially be overloading the pre-amp. In the Triad, you have FM stations not at the same place with the TV stations. 4 FMs are located at 68 and 220 north of Greensboro, one FM on channel 2's tower and one FM between channel 2's and channel 8 and 2 FM's on the first tower on 220 south of Greensboro. One FM on Sauratown Mt.

Hope that helps.

suzukiclay

03-24-06, 09:29 AM

thanks for all the help. The overload that you are talking about could that be the reason I get 2 dropping out sometimes for no reason when i have a good signal? None of the other digital channels do this. I live just north of asheboro so I know the 2 signal is strong? I never have any problems with the far away channels dropping off and on, so this would make sense based on what you said. I think I am going to just bite the bullet and drill some holes and run a dedicated line, if i do this i guess there is no need for a pre amp if i am getting all the channels i want? I have a Radio shack 120

thanks

foxeng

03-24-06, 10:27 AM

I think I am going to just bite the bullet and drill some holes and run a dedicated line, if i do this i guess there is no need for a pre amp if i am getting all the channels i want?

That is what people tell me. You should only use a pre-amp to overcome line loss or if you know what you are doing, picking up the really rare station hundreds of miles away!!

posg

03-24-06, 12:17 PM

Inexpensive pre-amps are extremely susceptable to overloading and should only be used when NO strong signals are present.

If you experience overloading with a good quality pre-amp, you need to determine whether it's the preamp overloading or the TV's tuner. First, of course, you need to recognize the symptoms of overload. Usually overload will cause a strong channel to "bleed" on top of another weaker channel, or splash across an unusally wide number of channels.

First, insert a large pad (20db or so) on the input to the TV tuner. If the symptoms described above disappears, it's likely the tuner which is being overdriven. Remove the 20 db pad and insert a series of 3db pads one at a time until the symptom disappears.

If it does not disappear with the 20 db pad, it is probably the pre-amp that is being overdriven. Move the 20 db pad between the antenna and the pre-amp. If the symptom disappears, it's probably the pre-amp being overdriven. Maximize usable input signal by putting the minimum amount of pads to cause the symptoms to disappear. Sometimes it's necessary to pad both.

Channel 30 overloads my pre-amp. A 6db pad on the input to the pre-amp eliminates the overload. However, the pre-amp still overloads my TV. A 6db pad on the input to the TV eliminates that. I've effectively reduced the net gain of the system by 12 db from 27 db to 13db.

Of course a trap for the offending channel(s) can help, but it will kill that channel, which is sometimes undesirable. Whatever works.

PS Everything foxeng say about signal to noise is true, and that's what were trying to maximize above.

gregchak

03-24-06, 09:30 PM

In the specs for the pre-amp will give you the S/N figure. For most consumer grade, you are looking at 2 or 3 db. For high end stuff, 1.5 or less is considered good. When talking about the S/N of a signal, the higher the number the better of reception, the lower the number in specs for the pre-amp, the better. For you to be able to decode a DTV signal, the total S/N figure of the ENTIRE system from the input to the transmitter to your tuner for your TV can't be ANY LOWER than 27 db. Most transmission systems can only get about 30 or 31 db so between losses in the air and in your receive system, you only have about 3 to 5 db to play with. That is why S/N is very important for DTV. When digital radio kicks in, the same issues will come into play to be able to decode them, but that overall system S/N number will be different than 27 db (I have no idea what it is, I don't have time to keep up with that part of broadcasting these days).
I couldn't find it in the manual and don't have the packaging anymore. I googled the model number and s/n ratio and actually found a thread on the avs forums. Its a listing of equipment and has a section on amplifiers. My RS model is <4.5db which from what you said is not that great. For those of you that haven't seen this thread or want to look up yours, here's the link: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=546066&page=1&pp=30

Deez04

03-29-06, 06:29 PM

foxeng

03-29-06, 06:36 PM

Is this a sign of things to come....

It could be. TWC is in the process of moving their whole technical headend from one building to another. They started about one week ago and said it might take up to a month or more before they get everything moved over and start reconnecting.

jacksonian

03-29-06, 09:28 PM

Hey guys....new to Greensboro. I use to have TWC in Charlotte and liked it so I came back to it when I got here. Anyway, can someone with TWC tell me why we do not have Universal HD and the Raleigh market does? Also, what are they up to lately? I see they are moving alot of channels into the 1000's. Is this a sign of things to come, perhaps ESPN2HD and National Geographic HD? Any information would be great...Thanks alot
Welcome! The short answer to your question about why we don't have what Charlotte and Raleigh have is that each franchise is independently owned and those are bigger markets. I'm hoping that GSO is planning to move all of our analog channels to digital soon, but I don't have any info. Seems like they've been playing with the lineup a lot for about 6 months now. I haven't heard anything about new channels. I'm SERIOUSLY hoping for ESPN2HD before college football season starts, and NG-HD would be really cool too.

You took a huge step down on the DVR scale, too. Charlotte used the PASSPORT software, Greensboro uses SARA. It's a dinosaur compared to PASSPORT. I'm counting the days until TiVo Series 3 is released hopefully this summer/fall. Then I'll be trading my TWC DVR for cablecards and TiVo3.

But at least you got rid of the traffic and you can buy a much bigger house here!

Again, welcome!

Deez04

03-30-06, 11:08 AM

Welcome! The short answer to your question about why we don't have what Charlotte and Raleigh have is that each franchise is independently owned and those are bigger markets. I'm hoping that GSO is planning to move all of our analog channels to digital soon, but I don't have any info. Seems like they've been playing with the lineup a lot for about 6 months now. I haven't heard anything about new channels. I'm SERIOUSLY hoping for ESPN2HD before college football season starts, and NG-HD would be really cool too.

You took a huge step down on the DVR scale, too. Charlotte used the PASSPORT software, Greensboro uses SARA. It's a dinosaur compared to PASSPORT. I'm counting the days until TiVo Series 3 is released hopefully this summer/fall. Then I'll be trading my TWC DVR for cablecards and TiVo3.

But at least you got rid of the traffic and you can buy a much bigger house here!

Again, welcome!

Thanks for the welcome. Alot of good information about the local TWC. I have to say, TWC BLOWS away Directv as far as picture quality. I just cannot believe how good it looks here compared to when I had Directv. I had it for football and loved it, now I have a building in the way. I really do think Directv has some good future plans with HD. I just hope TWC keeps their picture quality and continues to add channels! Thanks again.

jacksonian

03-30-06, 09:56 PM

Yep, I've been very pleased with the PQ from TWC. Some folks told me to compare the pq from OTA vs. TWC and thought that OTA would "blow it away". I couldn't tell any difference between the two.

uncrules

03-31-06, 07:59 AM

Yep, I've been very pleased with the PQ from TWC. Some folks told me to compare the pq from OTA vs. TWC and thought that OTA would "blow it away". I couldn't tell any difference between the two.Well, I would say that the PQ of OTA ABC HD is better than the PQ of ABC-HD on TWC. ;) :p

Seriously, I hope TWC gets ABC HD, ESPN2-HD, and UHD soon. Unless D* starts rolling out some new HD soon, I might consider switching to TWC once they get all of those channels.

On another note, I had to reboot my Samsung-160 last night and I had 27.5 show up in my program guide. It was a duplicate of WGHP-DT. 27.5 was even showing the Fox programming in HD. Foxeng, is this some testing you guys have going on?

posg

03-31-06, 08:53 AM

Yep, I've been very pleased with the PQ from TWC. Some folks told me to compare the pq from OTA vs. TWC and thought that OTA would "blow it away". I couldn't tell any difference between the two.

I'm in the Triangle, not the Triad, but TWC's digital simulcast channels are MUCH better than the same channels off D* or E*.

I have TWC and D* at home. I have TWC, D*, and, E* in my office (my company pays for all of it). TWC blows away the satellite providers on SD PQ. I don't have HD off the sats yet, so can't comment.

uncrules

03-31-06, 10:54 AM

I'm in the Triangle, not the Triad, but TWC's digital simulcast channels are MUCH better than the same channels off D* or E*.

I have TWC and D* at home. I have TWC, D*, and, E* in my office (my company pays for all of it). TWC blows away the satellite providers on SD PQ. I don't have HD off the sats yet, so can't comment.Just based upon what you read, the HD PQ on cable is better than either E* or D*. D* is just compressing way too much. The MPEG-4 will supposedly fixed that but right now only the new local HD channels are in MPEG-4. It will probably be a while before D* converts all of its national HD to MPEG-4.

Verizon FIOS is supposed to be outstanding on SD PQ but to me FIOS is just pie in the sky because it is in so few places right now. It would be my choice if it was available in this area.

foxeng

03-31-06, 06:47 PM

On another note, I had to reboot my Samsung-160 last night and I had 27.5 show up in my program guide. It was a duplicate of WGHP-DT. 27.5 was even showing the Fox programming in HD. Foxeng, is this some testing you guys have going on?

Nothing here.

fairtomiddlin

03-31-06, 07:14 PM

It looks like TWC-Greensboro has updated the 8300 to SARA 1.87.27.1, and that the terrible PQ with "Record To VCR" is now fixed. Finally!

jacksonian

03-31-06, 07:49 PM

Any functional/GUI changes with the update?

fairtomiddlin

03-31-06, 10:51 PM

Any functional/GUI changes with the update?

Nothing that I've noticed so far, but I haven't explored it a whole lot yet.

bigsnyder

04-02-06, 01:51 PM

posg

04-03-06, 09:40 AM

I would think TWC would need to use higher compression than the satellite providers.
It is certainly interesting to hear that they are not. Any reason why this is? I am still debating
which route I want to go, satellite or digital cable, but PQ will be my primary factor. I don't
mind paying a little more per mouth if indeed PQ is better on TWC (they do have the 100%
digital in my area).

C Snyder

The big diffence is this. Cable is a "clean well protected closed circuit environment". Satellite transmits though the hostile environment of "free space". Satellite must therefore transmit a lot more "forward error correction" which is more bandwidth intensive making it less efficient.

Besides, even with spot beams, there's a lot more traffic on Satellite. Dozens of fixed PPV channels rather than virtual VOD.

jamawass

04-03-06, 11:54 AM

Andyzep

04-04-06, 08:59 PM

Foxeng

During the past few weeks the HD on TWC seems to drop and digitize during the HD shows. Im in Graham and was wondering if its a TWC problem, or something going on your end.

Andy

PamW

04-04-06, 10:48 PM

foxeng

04-04-06, 10:50 PM

Foxeng

During the past few weeks the HD on TWC seems to drop and digitize during the HD shows. Im in Graham and was wondering if its a TWC problem, or something going on your end.

Andy

Yes, it is a TWC issue. TWC is rebuilding and moving the Greensboro headend and so everything is being done by the headend in Winston-Salem and then is digitally sent back to Greensboro for distribution to the eastern part of the system.

A short history to help understand what they are doing. TWC has parred down to two headends for the Triad. Greensboro and Winston-Salem. Systems in the eastern part of the market, Greensboro, High Point, Asheboro, Reidsville, Alamance County, get their TWC from Greensboro and the western side gets their TWC from Winston-Salem. While they are moving the Greensboro headend from one building to another, the entire system is operating off of the Winston headend. To get programming back to the eastern side, they are digitially fibering it back east. This is causing problems, This morning our analog, that they are taking off air during this time, froze up. They lost a digital fiber transmitter between Winston and Greensboro. We were froze for about 3 minutes.

Bottom line, they are having problems during this transition and according to a person I talked to there, the eastern side is having the most problems.

uncrules

04-05-06, 07:57 AM

American Idol froze up occasionally tonight. Then we switched to WXII for Teachers and lost the center speaker (dialogue track) but heard the surround sounds. We switched to analogue and all was fine. We use TWC.I had some trouble tonight with Fox 8 too but I get mine OTA. I think the problem was my issue because usually I only get about 30% to 45% signal strength with Fox 8 and it doesn't take much funky stuff in the air to give me signal break ups. I'm really looking forward to Fox 8 going full strength.

I also saw the audio problem with Teachers last night on WXII. I get them OTA as well so I think that problem was with WXII and not TWC.

Rasolomg23

04-05-06, 10:33 AM

So I found a house in Kernersville, what are the specific TWC options available to me? I can't really figure it out from their webpage. Zip : 27284

DaveWolf

04-05-06, 02:49 PM

So is moving the headend the reason that TNT-HD has been basically unwatchable for the past 1-2 months? I'm on TWC Lexington so I thought I would be on the headend from W-S, but I get constant video and audio dropouts from TNT every 5-10 seconds. It seems like sometimes it is better than others, but most of the time it is unwatchable.

I've only noticed intermittent breakups like on FOX during 24 the other night, but it is nothing major. I am just curious why TNT is the only channel that has such performance lag if it is the headend problem. Or is their a problem with receiving the TNT signal?

MR12

04-05-06, 03:50 PM

So I found a house in Kernersville, what are the specific TWC options available to me? I can't really figure it out from their webpage. Zip : 27284

27284 has the same options as are on Winston Salem TWC.

roland6465

04-06-06, 04:48 AM

Speaking of FOX, I just got around to watching last week's "Bones". Did someone forget to flop the "switch", or was it a bad feed from network?

foxeng

04-06-06, 07:28 AM

Speaking of FOX, I just got around to watching last week's "Bones". Did someone forget to flop the "switch", or was it a bad feed from network?

Sorry, we have no switch to "flop" ;)

We were having network receiver problems last week and were on the back up network receiver that has no HD capability, so prime time that night was in SD.

posg

04-06-06, 11:47 AM

Speaking of WGHP and FOX, what ever happened with the full power situation ???

foxeng

04-06-06, 12:32 PM

If I can get tubes to last longer than 2 weeks, we might have something.

PamW

04-06-06, 08:47 PM

We're hoping for you, foxeng!!! Our fingers are crossed.

telemike

04-10-06, 11:12 AM

Any TWC users think the HD-pack fro $6.95 is worth it? I am half tempted to get it and try HD-Net and INHD.

pwrmetal

04-10-06, 11:16 AM

It's worth it to me, but I can't live without ESPN-HD.

jacksonian

04-10-06, 11:50 AM

Yeah, "worth it" is subjective. I've had it since inception. Do I watch a ton of stuff on INHD and HDNet, no. Is a lot of it just random boring stuff in HD, yes. But I like to have it around. It just depends on your cost/benefit ratio. Can't you just try it for a month or two and see?

posg

04-10-06, 12:57 PM

Any TWC users think the HD-pack fro $6.95 is worth it? I am half tempted to get it and try HD-Net and INHD.

A month of HD for the price of a couple of DVD rentals or PPV movies. It's a no brainer folks. Quite frankly, most anything on Discovery, HD-Net or INHD is more engaging to me than that most popular show on broadcast TV - "American Idol". And HD Net movies really has some top notch vintage movies. Well worth it.

jacksonian

04-10-06, 03:26 PM

I tend to agree with posg, but I know some folks who are primarily interested in the type of programming they get on the networks, and that's definitely not what you'll see on INHD and HDNet.

Is Discovery HD part of the pack? That's definitely worth it alone.

telemike

04-10-06, 04:00 PM

Basic HD is PBS, NBC, CBS, Discovery-HD, TNT-HD.

posg

04-10-06, 04:09 PM

foxeng

04-10-06, 05:32 PM

Basic HD is PBS, NBC, CBS, Discovery-HD, TNT-HD.

No FOX?

PamW

04-10-06, 07:44 PM

Yes, Fox!

I had the HD pack, but didn't watch enough of those channels to justify the cost, so I dropped it. Now I have the regular HD stations (including Fox) along with HBO HD et al.

fairtomiddlin

04-12-06, 08:41 AM

Yes, it is a TWC issue. TWC is rebuilding and moving the Greensboro headend and so everything is being done by the headend in Winston-Salem and then is digitally sent back to Greensboro for distribution to the eastern part of the system.

A short history to help understand what they are doing. TWC has parred down to two headends for the Triad. Greensboro and Winston-Salem. Systems in the eastern part of the market, Greensboro, High Point, Asheboro, Reidsville, Alamance County, get their TWC from Greensboro and the western side gets their TWC from Winston-Salem. While they are moving the Greensboro headend from one building to another, the entire system is operating off of the Winston headend. To get programming back to the eastern side, they are digitially fibering it back east. This is causing problems, This morning our analog, that they are taking off air during this time, froze up. They lost a digital fiber transmitter between Winston and Greensboro. We were froze for about 3 minutes.

Bottom line, they are having problems during this transition and according to a person I talked to there, the eastern side is having the most problems.

Foxeng, do you know if this issue is still ongoing? I'm still getting rather frequent break-ups and freezes on TWC-Greensboro, especially when watching something in HD. Happens a lot during Fox HD.

jacksonian

04-12-06, 09:18 AM

It was happening a lot last night during American Idol.

fairtomiddlin

04-12-06, 09:22 AM

It was happening a lot last night during American Idol.
Glad it wasn't just me. :) I was afraid my 8300 was heading south, just like my 8000 did last year during UNC's run during the Final Four! :(

jacksonian

04-12-06, 09:33 AM

Yeah, I've had the same worries. My PACE box actually IS acting up. I'm trying to hold out for the new TiVo Series 3 instead of going through the hassle of switching out boxes. I'm ready to hand them all their crappy boxes back.

foxeng

04-12-06, 09:33 AM

TWC told me yesterday afternoon that they were taking our digital feed via fiber optic again so they may have some issues left to clean up after their move. The fact that you are seeing it on local and network tells me it isn't our problem since the network feed comes from an encoder in California and not from our HD encoder.

foxeng

04-13-06, 12:29 PM

Did any TWC subs see any more break up last night?

fairtomiddlin

04-13-06, 12:34 PM

Did any TWC subs see any more break up last night?

I don't recall seeing any last night. I think we were pretty much tuned to Fox 510 all night.

roland6465

04-13-06, 02:04 PM

1. We had lots of breakups Tuesday night, none last night.

2. Sorry, but I just have to rant here. Screw TWC. Our phone has been ringing off the hook for weeks, and this week when my wife (a teacher) was home all day for spring break, we got about 4-5 calls a day from this 866 number, never lwaving a message (of course).

Today I was home and picked it up and it was a TWC sales rep offering "a great deal" , so I went off on him for about 5 minutes, tallying up every cent we've paid to TWC over the past 4 years, that a great deal would be to give me the channels I wanted without the Lifetime Shopping Channels and filler crap at a fair price. He then tried to tell me to watch my language, so I reminded him that he called me. I'm not the one interrupting his day with his BS, until he hung up on me.

So I called local customer service and was told the CS manager would call me right back. It's been almost 2 hours.

jacksonian

04-13-06, 11:00 PM

I understand your frustration. My suggestion would be to vote with your wallet and go to satellite or OTA. Then call TWC and tell them you want to be taken off the call list. Not sure that the telemarketer deserves the brunt of your anger. But I do understand your frustration. They called me the other day also. I just said, "No thanks, please put me on the do not call list for solicitations."

roland6465

04-14-06, 09:31 AM

^ I told them two years ago not to call me when I switched back to them. My wife isn't into dropping another couple of grand on D* equipment, plus I have about 100GB of shows on my DVR drives.

Crap.

DaveL82

04-17-06, 01:24 AM

I don't mean to rant here, but when is FOX8 going to get with the times and get their HD signal up so people that live farther than a block away from the studio can get their signal? Enough's enough with this channel, this is not the 90's anymore. I've had WFMY, WXII and all the other locals for 3-4 years and I still can't get FOX? I get Telemundo in HD for crying out loud! Is FOX in general this backwards, or is this a WGHP specific issue? Fortunately I don't watch much on FOX, but it was really irritating to not have the NFL in HD last fall. The only HD football I got was from WFMY and WXLV, but I couldn't get the Panthers! :mad: Please get with it WGHP.

foxeng

04-17-06, 07:13 AM

I don't mean to rant here, but when is FOX8 going to get with the times and get their HD signal up so people that live farther than a block away from the studio can get their signal?

Then please do not rant. Direct your questions to me since I work for the station and just happen to be the one doing the work on the digital station. Making statements that are inflammatory will not get the response you want. I think I have pretty well documented in this thread our efforts as we increase power including the current tube issue we are having with the manufacturer.

You didn't say where you live, but I live on the north side of Greensboro and receive our low power signal from Randleman all of the time, as do others.

fletch71

04-17-06, 01:21 PM

Hey Foxeng,

Sounds like the conversion to high-power is still in progress, hope all of the challenges find solutions soon (I admit, I'm greedy).

Any recent changes in the low-power HD signal lately? I've been unable to tune in the FOX HD signal for a few weeks now. I've got two HD tuners (Samsung 160 + Hughes HDTiVo), no dice with either. My OTA setup is per your recommendation: rooftop mounted, CM antenna (I forget the model #- looks like a screen door), with a Radio Shack amp. I'm in NW GSO and that setup got me a 70% signal in the past. I don't think anything has changed with my setup, I still tune in all the other channels ok. If everything's the same with the transmitting facility, I guess I need to start troubleshooting?!

Thanks

MR12

04-17-06, 09:21 PM

I get Telemundo in HD for crying out loud!

Really!? From where?

bigsnyder

04-17-06, 10:35 PM

I live near the Hwy150/Hickory Tree Rd intersection in W-S and have not had any problem
getting Fox8 at about 40% signal (rooftop). I swear, people act like HD is a necessity.
I can't imagine what people did before the first color transmissions. :confused:

C Snyder

foxeng

04-18-06, 06:42 AM

(I admit, I'm greedy).

You are not alone!! ;)

Any recent changes in the low-power HD signal lately?

We had a PSIP software update about 3 weeks ago but that was it. My Samsung 160 and 150 and my Accurian didn't have any problems with the update (and we haven't heard from anyone else). My suggestion would be to do a rescan and clear out any bad data you might have. Leaves are starting to come out and that might cause you to have to reaim your antenna a little as well.

foxeng

04-18-06, 06:47 AM

Really!? From where?

I think he meant WUVC-DT 38 (Channel 40 NTSC), Univision out of Raleigh (tower at Broadway - between Sanford and Raleigh). I get them here in north Greensboro a lot. STA for 500kw at 2000 ft.

PamW

04-18-06, 06:47 AM

Hey foxeng,

There was a lot of pixellating during the news last night. I was watching the TWC channel 10 at the time on my kitchen TV. Just a heads up that there are still some problems.

foxeng

04-18-06, 07:49 AM

Hey foxeng,

There was a lot of pixellating during the news last night. I was watching the TWC channel 10 at the time on my kitchen TV. Just a heads up that there are still some problems.

We are having fits with TWC on the analog signal right now. They had a really BAD lip sync problem on channel 10 and found it was a loose cable that fed their fiber system that goes out into the neighborhoods. They got that fixed about 8 o'clock last night. And we are hearing that certain parts of the system are having pixilation problems in general, not just on channel 10 but other channels as well. The worst seems to be in the Hobbs Rd area. You aren't close to that area are you? Channel 510 seems to be OK. Go figure.

foxeng

04-18-06, 07:54 AM

I have come across a brand new, never authorized D* H20 HD receiver with never authorized card and all accessaries.

The story is a guy bought it (for full price - $299) to get the 5th gen chip in it for OTA. He doesn't have D* and thought that he could use it as an OTA receiver only. Well you can't do that with a H20. You have to have an account and get the receiver authorized to make the OTA tuner work. So he contacted me and sold it to me for a steal. I have no use for it at the moment and would be willing to sell it for what I have in it.

If interested, PM me.

uncrules

04-18-06, 09:16 AM

I don't know how much you bought it for but Best Buy is selling them for $99.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7384742&type=product&productCategoryId=cat03026&id=1128338085305

Of course this is a "lease" deal. For the one you have, I wonder if D* would consider it a lease or an own. Do you know when it was originally bought?

foxeng

04-18-06, 10:58 AM

PamW

04-18-06, 01:03 PM

We are having fits with TWC on the analog signal right now. They had a really BAD lip sync problem on channel 10 and found it was a loose cable that fed their fiber system that goes out into the neighborhoods. They got that fixed about 8 o'clock last night. And we are hearing that certain parts of the system are having pixilation problems in general, not just on channel 10 but other channels as well. The worst seems to be in the Hobbs Rd area. You aren't close to that area are you? Channel 510 seems to be OK. Go figure.
Actually I am in New Irving Park. I don't always watch TV in the Theater (which has the HD) but I may do that the next few nights to see what's going on.

Thanks foxeng!

gregchak

04-18-06, 01:52 PM

Any recent changes in the low-power HD signal lately? I've been unable to tune in the FOX HD signal for a few weeks now.
I have been able to max out my signal at about 40-50% for WGHP and, like you, I haven't been able to get it for a couple of weeks now. My guess was that it was the huge trees behind my house that now have leaves. My lack of signal strength started around the same time.

And foxeng, thanks for all the updates with the new tower!

DaveWolf

04-22-06, 03:28 PM

Is anyone else having trouble with QAM reception on Saturday afternoon? The only stations I can get are Discovery HD and NBC. FOX, CBS, and TNT are all continously breaking up. I've been having this problem with TNT, but am now experiencing on FOX and CBS too. Hope they get fixed before the race tonight! :(

uncrph90

04-23-06, 07:31 AM

foxeng

04-23-06, 08:46 AM

Hey Foxeng--I live in Advance and was able to pick you up OTA for the first time ever Sat AM (7:00) pretty well :D but then you were gone again by Sat afternoon after I got back from work. :( It was during the storm line that came through. Are you playing with increased power or did I just get lucky with weird weather conditions? For what it is worth, I completely lost WSOC 9 out of Charlotte at the same time, and they are usually a 90+ signal strenght. Either way--we are all waiting (fairly) patiently for you to come on line in all your high power glory! ;)

Bill

You got lucky. We are still at the same power level. The tube manufacturer is sending a bunch of stuff in sometime next week or the week after (the big NAB trade show is this week and NOTHING happens during NAB) and then they are coming to see what is causing all of the problems. We, like you, continue to wait.

telemike

04-24-06, 09:19 AM

I emailed TWC about the upcoming Sci Atl MCP-100 DVR with built in DVD-R recorder that will let you archive HD to a proprietary format on DVD-R's. The discs can only play back on that machine but at least you can copy HD to disk. The local TWC does not have any plans but maybe if enough subsribers bug them maybe they will order some in for rental........

DaveWolf

04-25-06, 03:06 PM

Anyone know of a recommended installer for roof antennas? I had gotten Michael Kearney's number from Foxeng from this thread. (The post was about 2 years ago though). I called and left a message at that number, but have no idea if it is still correct. Anyone know of any other recommendations? I called Dow Electronics, but they told me they couldn't recommend anyone. I am in the Winston-Salem area.

I am looking at purchasing a CM 4228 and a rotator (is 9521A a good model from CM?). I am hoping I can get the equipment for around $125. Any idea what the going rate for an install job is? Thanks for any help.

Dave

4theheelz

04-25-06, 03:19 PM

I use the 9521A and am very pleased. The remote works well.
You might consider an amplifier while you are doing all this-the CM 7775 is known for high gain and low noise. It is UHF only. The 7777 does both UHF and VHF in case some of the stations move back to their VHF spots after D-Day. I think Foxeng mentioned that possibility earlier.

foxeng

04-25-06, 04:24 PM

The 7777 does both UHF and VHF in case some of the stations move back to their VHF spots after D-Day. I think Foxeng mentioned that possibility earlier.

WGHP is moving back to channel 8 from channel 35 post transition.

DaveWolf

04-25-06, 04:38 PM

So is channel 8 a VHF channel and not UHF? If some of the channels are going to move back to the UHF band, won't antennas such as the CM 4228 (which I assume are UHF only) be out of date? Thanks.

What is the realistic deadline on the conversion? I assume that is the transformation mandated by Congress for an all digital format. If that is the case, Lucifer might be throwing snow balls before that gets here!

foxeng

04-25-06, 05:18 PM

So is channel 8 a VHF channel and not UHF? If some of the channels are going to move back to the UHF band, won't antennas such as the CM 4228 (which I assume are UHF only) be out of date? Thanks.

All of the digital stations in this area are UHF at this time. After analog shuts down, WGHP will turn off the analog signal, convert the channel 8 transmitter to digital and turn off the channel 35 transmitter for good. 4228s are usable for local stations between 7-13 but the 4228 is best for UHF channels. I have personally received analog channel 10 in Roanoke and analog 11 in Durham with my 4228 as well as analog channel 8 and analog channel 12 locally.

What is the realistic deadline on the conversion? I assume that is the transformation mandated by Congress for an all digital format. If that is the case, Lucifer might be throwing snow balls before that gets here!

The hard analog shutdown date is Feb 17, 2009. After that date, only digital TV stations will be operating.

VHF Low is channels 2-6, VHF High is 7-13 and UHF is 14-69 (14-51 after the transition).

AndyHDTV

04-25-06, 08:11 PM

Everybody here please email TWC and share your thoughts on new HD channels.
We all have a couple minutes to spare to post here so please Email Corporate.

Fred.Dressler@twcable.com

Let's be civilized.

pwrmetal

04-26-06, 08:32 AM

I'm really, REALLY getting tired of FOX hitching like mad during House on Tuesdays. I assume this is still due to TWC's issues moving the "headend" (I believe that's what foxeng called it.) Anyone have any idea when this problem might be solved? :(

DaveWolf

04-26-06, 08:40 AM

I am glad to see someone else is still having trouble. I've been scrambling around for the past week on working on an antenna setup, as suddenly only 3 of my QAM channels come in. The rest are basically unwatchable with constant freezes and breakups. I just keep trying to figure out if it is just me, because my problems aren't just aggravating, the channels are unwatchable. I was able to watch a part of the Spurs-Kings game on TNT-HD last night with no problem, but usually FOX, CBS, and TNT are all unwatchable.

I guess I should just sit tight until the headend problems get fixed to see if that is what is causing this. I am on TWC Lexington FWIW, but it sounds like that all of the Triad is affected.

PamW

04-26-06, 08:42 AM

All I know is that Chris Daughtry's song on Idol last night (right at the climax) froze up and we missed it! I guess a TWC call is in my future...

roland6465

04-26-06, 01:55 PM

Bigtime breakups over here as well. I hardly ever watch live TV anymore, but there is usually 2-3 good spazzes per hour on the House, Bones, and The Loop recordings I have done lately.

uncrules

04-26-06, 06:02 PM

All I know is that Chris Daughtry's song on Idol last night (right at the climax) froze up and we missed it! I guess a TWC call is in my future...I had the exact same freeze up but I'm watching OTA, not on TWC. So I'm not convinced the problem is with TWC. I've seen other hangs up like you TWC guys.

foxeng

04-26-06, 07:36 PM

We didn't have any problems at the station. I did watch both AI and House and saw a couple of lightning induced breakups but nothing during Chris' song. It was error free on my OTA system. If I remember, I saw only 2 breakups during AI and 3 during the last half of House. All were lightning induced, meaning I saw a flash of lighting and then the picture reacted.

TWC receives our HD signal via fiber optic so lightning should not have caused any breakups on TWC.

nc_av_newbee

04-26-06, 07:59 PM

I also noticed many 'freezes' and breakups during House last night. I have noticed the freeze and breakups on many different stations lately. As I was writing this, 'Entertainment Tonight' experienced a breakup/freeze. :eek:

suzukiclay

05-01-06, 09:41 AM

pwrmetal

05-01-06, 10:41 AM

I got a call from TWC yesterday. We have had several service calls to them recently for various reasons (adding jacks, me downgrading my services for my house since I'm not currently living there, etc.) and they wanted to give me a survey about my experience with customer service. I patiently waded my way through the survey and then they got to the big question, "Do you have anything you would like to add about your experience with TWC customer service?" I asked, can I talk about my satisfaction with TWC in general, and she said say what you want. (Music to my ears.) I let them have it! And chieft among my complaints were the lack of HD channels and ESPN2HD in particular. I also complained at length about the picture quality (hitches, artifacting, etc.). Hopefully, this won't have been a complete waste of my time.

foxeng

05-01-06, 12:49 PM

I am having problems getting fox 8, do you think this is because of the leaves coming out? I can get 2 and 12 great, what can i do to get fox 8 back? I live on the north side of asheboro. Will this problem go away when fox 8 increases signal strength? thanks

You should try readjusting your antenna. With our tower north of Asheboro, it will not matter what power level we are at since you are so close.

foxeng

05-01-06, 12:51 PM

For those living in the Wilksboro area, I got a phone call this morning from Charter Cable that they were setting up to add HD locals and they were receiving our signal at their headend on Brushy Mt. I asked what channel number it was going to be and they have not assigned a number yet. So if you have Charter Cable in that area, HD locals are coming soon.

rickyble

05-01-06, 01:46 PM

I have been having a lot of trouble lately with fox out of charlotte. I wrote fox about but they said they havent done anything different lately. I dont any signal at all from them. I did have all the channels from there perfect. Even 12 was freezing during west wing last night. I dont know what is going on. I have the new d*tv receiver and dish coming tomorrow so maybe its the samsung tuner I have going out. anyway we shall see.

foxeng

05-02-06, 07:11 PM

It is official. The Triad is in the next group of HD locals on D* to launch 3rdQ of this year.

DIRECTV Continues to Expand Local HD Programming; Names 14 New HD Markets; Local HD to be Available to Customers in 50 Markets, Representing More Than 65 Percent of U.S. Television Homes

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 2, 2006--Continuing its drive to lead the industry in the delivery of HDTV to consumers, DIRECTV named 14 more markets where it will offer local HD programming later this year. When the markets are added, DIRECTV will offer local HD programming in 50 major metropolitan areas, representing more than 65 percent of U.S. TV households. The rollout is scheduled to begin in the third quarter.

Local news, sports and popular primetime programming from ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC will be available in HD to customers who subscribe to any TOTAL CHOICE(R) programming package that offers local channels. There is no additional charge for local HD programming.

The 14 local markets to receive HD programming from DIRECTV include:

-- Cincinnati -- Madison, Wis.
-- Austin, Texas -- Memphis, Tenn.
-- Albuquerque, N.M. -- Portland, Maine
-- Grand Rapids, Mich. -- Portland, Ore.
-- Green Bay, Wis. -- Providence, R.I.
-- Greensboro, N.C. -- Reno, Nev.
-- Las Vegas -- San Antonio

"With the rollout of each new HD market, DIRECTV continues to affirm its commitment to hold the competitive high ground in HD programming," said Dan Fawcett, executive vice president, DIRECTV, Inc. "Our local HD expansion will continue through next year when we expect to offer access to the crystal-clear picture and sound of local HD programming to nearly every household in the nation."

DIRECTV currently offers standard-definition local channels in 142 markets, covering nearly 94 percent of television households in the country, as well as 20 HD local channel markets including: Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Tampa and Washington, D.C. By June of this year, DIRECTV will have activated local HD programming in 16 more previously announced markets for a total of 36 markets, representing 58 percent of U.S. TV households.

With the launch of two new satellites - DIRECTV 10 and DIRECTV 11 - in 2007, DIRECTV will have the ability to deliver more than 1,500 local HD and digital channels and 150 national HD channels, in addition to new advanced programming services for customers.

Customers can receive local HD channels by purchasing the new H20 HD receiver and a satellite dish that has the ability to receive programming from five different orbital locations. DIRECTV is offering new customers who purchase a DIRECTV HD receiver a $100 mail-in rebate. (Limit one rebate per customer.) Receiving equipment is available at major consumer electronics retailers like Best Buy and Circuit City, and through DIRECTV. Existing customers are eligible for a $99 upgrade to the new H20 receiver and dish, plus $99 for each additional HD receiver.

About DIRECTV, Inc.

DIRECTV, Inc. is the nation's leading digital television service provider with more than 15 million customers. DIRECTV and the Cyclone Design logo are registered trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc. DIRECTV (NYSE:DTV) is a world-leading provider of digital multichannel television entertainment services. DIRECTV is approximately 37 percent owned by News Corporation.

CONTACT: DIRECTV, Inc.
Jade Ekstedt, 310-964-3429
jlekstedt@directv.com

SOURCE: DIRECTV, Inc.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding The DIRECTV Group, Inc.'s business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.

uncrules

05-03-06, 12:41 PM

It is official. The Triad is in the next group of HD locals on D* to launch 3rdQ of this year.I wonder if this will spur TWC to make a deal with Sinclair.

Also, I hope the MPEG-4 HD DVR is available by the time the HD locals are rolled out to Greensboro. I currently don't have a DVR but I do want to get one. I don't want to spend the money to buy the MPEG-2 HD DVR and then have to turn around and replace it soon after with the MPEG-4 HD DVR.

gregchak

05-03-06, 08:16 PM

Also, I hope the MPEG-4 HD DVR is available by the time the HD locals are rolled out to Greensboro. I currently don't have a DVR but I do want to get one. I don't want to spend the money to buy the MPEG-2 HD DVR and then have to turn around and replace it soon after with the MPEG-4 HD DVR.
I sent an email to D* yesterday before foxeng postd the information about the rollout in our area. They responded with that there were no plans set yet for GSO and that the MPEG4 DVR would be out early 2006. Once again, you can't get a straight and accurate story from them. It just shows how great forums like this are. I guess May is still considered early :D

foxeng

05-03-06, 09:16 PM

The CSR's don't get the info until after it is released.

MilChad

05-05-06, 12:33 PM

I ran into a DirecTV installer the other week in my neighborhood and he told me some useful info. He said that the HD locals (MPEG4) are scheduled for the Greensboro market this September. He also said that the large 5 LNB dishes are being installed now until they are used up. Once they are out of the large dishes, they will be replaced by the "Slimline" 5 LNB dish.

obi pa kenobi

05-06-06, 08:53 AM

i live in north winston and i'm having repeated audio droputs on my ota from wxii. no pixellation or freezes just audio dropouts . signal strength is 95+. fox comes in at a cool 80 no audio drops. channels 2 and 45 at 90 to 100 signal strength with no audio problems. i first thought it was a specific directv reciever with a faulty ota tuner. i've replaced the receiver and switched receivers around with no improvement. my antenna set up is a channel master 4228 on top of a 30 foot mast and a cm 4221 at about 15 feet below the cm 4228. the 4221 is dedicated to the wxii tower north of winston. with the 4228 on a cm rotator mainly to fine tune wghp in. but, also use it to pull in some charlotte stations. when the audio drops it follows a pattern ; and audio hiccup followed in 30 to 45 seconds by audio stuter then total dropout for a few minutes. if i leave it on the channel audio will return but the cycle starts over. i can change the channel and go right back to 12 and audio will return but the cycle begins again also. any help is appreciated.

atoner

05-07-06, 12:53 PM

Any update on ABC and ESPN-2 in HD over Time Warner in Wiston-Salem? I'm getting a TV on Tuesday and will upgrade to an 8300HD DVR. With the NBA on ABC, I may get an antenna and a tuner. I saw a few posts back that ESPN-2 was supposed to be coming soon (in time for baseball) but I guess that's late.

Thanks,
Adam

ncsustash

05-07-06, 03:06 PM

I want ESPN2HD in time for the world cup in the summer......

atoner

05-07-06, 10:23 PM

I did get an e-mail reply from TWC customer support:

"Thank you for contacting Time Warner Cable. It is currently unknown when we will be given permission to broadcast ABC in HD. The same negotiations are still underway.

Our Marketing department has been speaking with ESPN on the possibility of adding ESPN 2 HD and ESPN U. It is unknown if and when these stations will be added in the Piedmont Triad area. There are no plans to add any other regional sports channels."

AndyHDTV

05-09-06, 09:02 PM

I believe it is time to go another route.

George.Bodenheimer@ESPN.com
VP of Programming at ESPN

wolfmans2000

05-13-06, 05:23 PM

Saw this in the N&R today...Called "start Over" allows digital cable subscribers to start a favorite show over if they start viewing late.

http://news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060513/NEWSREC0101/605130302

itms1022

05-15-06, 09:07 PM

I just saw the "start over" also on the time warner home page. is pretty cool. If they would only take all of their channels to digital it would be worth it. I have a serious issue with quality of pic so stay with DTV

jacksonian

05-15-06, 10:02 PM

My picture is better than DTV, sorry to hear about yours.

bigsnyder

05-16-06, 10:24 PM

Some areas do have all digital now. My part of Forsyth does (southern part near
Hwy150/Hickory Tree Rd). I know there are others as well.

C Snyder

I just saw the "start over" also on the time warner home page. is pretty cool. If they would only take all of their channels to digital it would be worth it. I have a serious issue with quality of pic so stay with DTV

catdaddy

05-20-06, 08:13 AM

For those of you with a Pace 550 box from TWC they recently did an "upgrade" and as a result it knocked out the componant video on several of these boxes.
This happened to me and they are supposed to be bringing out a replacement box. Just wanted to give you a heads up on this in case you are getting a black screen with your componant video output.

roland6465

05-20-06, 09:02 AM

dammit! ANother effect of the alleged "upgrade" is the loss of my ability to go into the display menu by holding the # button. Now my 5 year old 4:3 WEGA is stuck in 16:9 mode.

Any suggestions?

pingman27410

05-20-06, 06:08 PM

I have a friend who is an executive at TWC. Their upgrade did not damage my Pace box. It caused the boxes to default to their factory aspect settings. It also changed the way you access these boxes to mimic the SA boxes. You now turn your pace box off and set the aspect ratio (perhaps to "Pass") by pressing Guide and Info at the same time. They only have 4000 Pace boxes (out of 200,000+) in service in the triad and I think they simply missed this upgrade effect.

obi pa kenobi

05-21-06, 01:02 AM

foxeng

05-21-06, 02:23 PM

hey foxeng, this is in regards to my post on having audio dropouts for ch 12.1 and 12.2. with you guys there's no problem great picture and audio. in talking with wxii engineer he has isolated the problem to what he calls a ratings box just installed. he's clicked off around thursday of last week and i had no audio drops the entire time. called him at beginning of the week and he said they had to turn it back on because that's how they got paid? soon as he did audio dropouts on the directv h20. switched receivers to my old h10 still get dropouts but audio returns by itself in a second is this part of a psip problem or what. only other channel that seems to do it is 48.1, but for me their signal is bouncing around too much. yours however steady 80. once again any help is appreciated.

I REALLY hate those rating boxes! :mad: They have caused MORE problems in the last 6 months than in the WHOLE time of digital television. We too had a problem with ours where the box was interpretting our PSIP in such a way, ON IT'S OWN, created a NEW channel, which some of you saw, 27-5 along with 8-1. After many of phone calls of "I don't know what that is" a software update and me having to "refresh" the data in the PSIP generator and MUX that feeds the data out, to the ratings box, 27-5 went away and some of the dropouts people said they saw on us with certain receivers (my Samsung didn't see it, but one of the unstable demods at the station did, the other one didn't) and this strange alarm light on the ratings box that NO ONE could tell me what was the cause, ("We have NEVER seen that. All of your internal data is correct") went out and no more complaints.

If MR12 is reading, refresh your whole PSIP chain that is ahead of the Nielsen NAVE IIc box and see if that doesn't fix it. Those stupid NAVE IIc's do not play well with PSIP in general. If it hasn't had the latest software update, you will have to download it from SA and upload it into the NAVE IIc. It sounds harder that it is. Oh, don't ask Nielsen about the update, all they know is one is available for it and they send you to SA to get it. Nice people, aren't they?!

NetJunkie

05-21-06, 09:57 PM

Couple things from someone that just moved to Greensboro (Actually Whitsett) from Raleigh.

1. Good luck on getting ABC via HD on Time Warner. Sinclair won't let TW in Raleigh broadcast WB in HD either. They expect TW to pay them money for the rights. They are doing the same thing here with ABC. I have a friend that works there and he doesn't see an end to the stale mate any time soon.

2. Any way to get an 8300HD running the Passport system instead of SARA? I really prefer Passport and that's what they use int he Raleigh area.

3. For those with the 8300HD running SARA in the Greensboro area.... How can I jump around the Guide? I go to the Guide. I'm looking at like channel 2 in the Guide. I want to go to channel 500. I hit 500 on the remote...and the box changes the CHANNEL to 500. I want it to jump to channel 500 in the guide. Help?! My Pace Non-DVR standard def box does the same thing.

Thanks!

jacksonian

05-21-06, 10:40 PM

NetJunkie,
Welcome to the Triad area. And, unfortunately, welcome to SARA hell. It's a piece of junk compared to the Passport system you just came from. My best bud lives in Charlotte with Passport and I've experienced it there. It's far superior to SARA. But TWC has said that's what they started on, and it can't/won't be changed at this point in the game. I still keep hoping for a major software upgrade for the SARA system that at least gets it in the ballpark.

But my hopes right now are that TiVo Series 3 will work well with the cablecard offering from TWC and I can give them their SA8300 back.

NetJunkie

05-21-06, 10:51 PM

But my hopes right now are that TiVo Series 3 will work well with the cablecard offering from TWC and I can give them their SA8300 back.

That's my thought too. Tivo needs to get the S3 out. Any idea if I TW would activate an 8300HD I bought off Ebay w/ Passport? I doubt it...

Can you answer my question about the Guide? Is yours the same way?

jacksonian

05-21-06, 11:07 PM

I don't think your SA8300 w/Passport will function on this system, different head-end software I think.

Yeah, mine does the same thing with the guide. You have to manually scroll all the way to the channel you want to look through. It's archaic. The guys who've never seen the Passport think it's great. But once you've seen TiVo or Passport, the SARA is just a nightmare.

catdaddy

05-21-06, 11:19 PM

el_triad

05-22-06, 06:20 PM

Does anyone know which of the HD boxes have an active firewire port on the box? I've seen some software which can take the input and put it on a PC, control changing channels on the cable box.

DaveWolf

05-25-06, 09:16 AM

How can I check my cable signal strength as it comes into my TV? I am receiving TWC through my QAM tuner on my TV, but I intermittently get signal breakups with severe pixellation and audio dropouts. I have several splits in my line from where it comes in the house. According to this thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7717652#post7717652

It looks like signal strength could possibly be affecting this. I've tried to make sure I have good connections on everything and the problems only occur on certain HD channels. It always seems that NBC and Discovery-HD are always fine, whereas I always have trouble with FOX and CBS. That is what I don't understand and the problem is not always consistent.

We also have Road Runner, and I never seem to have a problem with our internet connection. So it looks like to me if we had such a weak signal, our internet connection would be flaky too. But I do some online racing, and hardly ever get dropped for a bad connection.

I have already seriously begun to investigate going the OTA route, but I hate to invest that much money if my problem is only needing a booster on my cable signal.

Anyone have any suggestions on how I can verify if this is the problem? I've called TWC about a potential service call, but they keep telling me they can't help me with digital reception problems since I only subscribe to analog service. They are clueless.....

Thanks for any help!

posg

05-25-06, 05:15 PM

PamW

05-25-06, 06:45 PM

Plus,

Our side of town has had intermittent power failures/fluxes in the last 24 hours.
(Transformer fire, THEN some smarty cut a major line in our neighborhood. PITA)

vstone

05-28-06, 08:32 AM

In many installations, the first splitter splits feeds the cable modem, followed by a second splitter that feeds the various TV's. Our YMCA has FOUR splitters.

I would expect all the Hd channels to behave about the same. However, since several HD channels maybe multiplexed on one digital channel frequency, it could be that the cable company's equipment for that frequency is having problems. It may be "too hard" for the local franchise to get permission to replace that equipemnt, or, there may be anequipment shortage. Then again, it may be poorly adjusted.

telemike

05-29-06, 10:54 AM

Anyone with TWC notice that HD Net seems bit starved? I see pixellation on movement. Seems theres not enough bitrate. INHD seems fine as well as network HD feeds.

wiloliwad

05-29-06, 04:35 PM

Does anyone have the QAM channel listing for the Greensboro TWC.
I have a HDTV with a QAM tuner, and I have only been able to get WFMY, WUNC, Discovery HD, a movie preview channel, and a NBA channel preview.

Thanks for any help.
WOW

rickyble

05-30-06, 06:05 AM

foxeng

05-30-06, 06:57 AM

so foxeng whats the lastest excuse for not being up to full power. I wrote the national fox and they didnt even reply. I am really starting to think fox as a network is pretty bad. anymore estimates on when you will be up?

I have been honest with this group from the beginning and being accused of "making excuses" is unfair and unjust. I post here because I want to, not because I have to. It is much easier not to say anything and let people hang with no information, like the other stations do.

rickyble

05-30-06, 07:55 AM

Dont take it personal. I didnt mean u. I said the fox network. I appreciate your candor and honesty. Its good to know that someone at the place is on the up and up. And you are right, most of the stations dont let you know anything... as witnessed by my response from FOX national ... nothing. Its just pretty sad when a station that was suppose to be full power last fall is still not up to power yet. By this fall DT is suppose to have FOX in HD and here the OTA that is free is still not up and running. To me the free stuff should be first priority just because it is free to the public. Anyway what is the lastest "problem" for not being full power?

DaveWolf

05-30-06, 08:36 AM

Wilo,

Here is a list of the top of my head. I am TWC Lexington, but I think the QAM channels are the same.

82-1 NBC
82-2 NBC Weather
82-4 UNC-HD
87-11 Discovery HD
104-300 TNT HD
116-1 CBS
116-2 CBS Weather
116-3 FOX

To all others, thank you so much for your help on my cable reception issues. After researching further, I think my problem was I had too many splitters in my line. I moved up the line to my TV further up the priority list (it's now on the first splitter from the main line), as my signal appears to be back to normal. Didn't realize that could affect it. That was a much cheaper fix than having to buy a ton of antenna equipment! Will keep my fingers crossed this will work!

roland6465

05-30-06, 12:36 PM

Telemike, I've noticed "worse looking" HD on HDNet, HDNet Movies, TNTHD, and WXII-D in the past week. The NHL on INHD looks fine, and I haven't watched much esle lately, but it seems to me that ever since the software upgrade channels take longer to load and PQ is much less consistant.

Seems to me that TWC is going to make it easy for me to seriously consider MPEG-4 D* this Fall.

foxeng

05-30-06, 07:39 PM

Dont take it personal. I didnt mean u.

You are doing it again. Let's look at what you said.

so foxeng sounds personal to me whats the lastest excuse for not being up to full power. You use the word excuse. noun An explanation offered to justify or obtain forgiveness.

I am not trying to justify anything or ask for any forgiveness. You are assuming I have something to hide and I want to fluff it off. My past actions speak for themselves.

I wrote the national fox and they didnt even reply. I am really starting to think fox as a network is pretty bad. That is your opinion. We are all owned by the same company, but the network is operated under a different division than the stations. The only connection we have with them is items that deal with network distribution and the name.anymore estimates on when you will be up? After insulting me personally and my company, you want something from me.

I said the fox network. I appreciate your candor and honesty. Its good to know that someone at the place is on the up and up. And you are right, most of the stations dont let you know anything... as witnessed by my response from FOX national ... nothing. I appreciate your understanding. Its just pretty sad when a station that was suppose to be full power last fall is still not up to power yet. By this fall DT is suppose to have FOX in HD and here the OTA that is free is still not up and running. OOPS, guess I spoke too soon. To me the free stuff should be first priority just because it is free to the public. Anyway what is the lastest "problem" for not being full power? Again, you make a condescending remark and then accuse me of trying to hide something but you would still like to know anyway. See how it looks?

So yeah, I took it personally. It's not the fact that you wanted to know, I would be happy to talk about the project all day and night. It was the way you asked, TWICE. No one deserves to be treated like that.

sbarrier

05-30-06, 07:45 PM

foxeng,

Not to stir the pot, but I'm wondering about current signal strength. I live in T'ville and have no issues currently.

However, I'm moving to High Point (close to SW Guilford High school, right off of Skeet Club Rd) and am wondering what type of reception that you would expect me to receive there.

Thanks for your response and your continued participation on this board.

Shon

foxeng

05-30-06, 07:56 PM

However, I'm moving to High Point (close to SW Guilford High school, right off of Skeet Club Rd) and am wondering what type of reception that you would expect me to receive there.

We are required to put a city grade signal over High Point, even at low power, so you will not have any problems on the northside. We have had reports of people picking us up with rabbit ears off of Skeet Club, but I don't EVER recommend rabbit ears, digital OR analog.

posg

05-31-06, 12:55 PM

I have been honest with this group from the beginning and being accused of "making excuses" is unfair and unjust. I post here because I want to, not because I have to. It is much easier not to say anything and let people hang with no information, like the other stations do.

I guess the question is: Why DID WGHP wait to the bloody last minute to satisfy the FCC build-out requirements ???? Most stations have been near or at full power for years.

J. L.

05-31-06, 04:06 PM

I guess the question is: Why DID WGHP wait to the bloody last minute to satisfy the FCC build-out requirements ???? Most stations have been near or at full power for years.I have nothing to do with WGHP, but even I can figure some answers to that question.

A new tower had to be constructed.
New transmitter had to be installed/configured
Only so many UHF digital transmitters being built by manufacturer, had to wait in line for equipment delivery.
Only so many crews install transmitter towers and antennas, WGHP had to wait in queue for install crew.
New Digital transmitter is very expensive to operate compared to analog VHF, with no additional revenue to contribute to increased cost of electric bill. Low power transmitter for as long as possible saves WGHP money.
FCC requirements have been a moving target... digital transition was not mandated on specific date until recently. Prior to that change in the FCC direction, it was to occur when a substantial percentage of people serviced had digital capable TV equipment in their homes.
Snags/bugs/glitches with equipment. (foxeng at one point thought they would be up and running near the end of last year.) Everything's so new the vendors are each pointing fingers at each other when things don't work together correctly.
From what I have read, WGHP will return to their VHF allocation once the digital transition occurs. The UHF equipment now being installed/configured is only for temporary use. Could be the permanent installs had priority from the corporate point of view.

Foxeng is being as open as he can, keeping us informed with their progress and he is probably as frustrated as you in their inability to get the last of the kinks out of the installation. With the power and voltages involved in the new transmitter there is no room for any mistakes. He already said that the problem was that the transmitter tubes were not lasting more than a few weeks. (ouch)

I know it would NOT be good to hear any dramatic equipment failure. (remember, he said electric arcs can be over a foot long from the new transmitter power supply) any catastrophic failure would delay things until the root cause was determined and new equipment installed. That would not be a good thing. It must be hard enough getting replacement tubes from their manufacturer with them being in demand from everyone installing new digital transmitters around the country... even if the tube failure did not damage other parts and equipment.

I know it is not a perfect world, but at least the WGHP digital signals are available on Time Warner Cable. (unlike ABC) That is my solution. Off the air (eventually) for best signal, TW cable for now.

Attacking foxeng, or the station he works for will not help get the new transmitter up on-line. I'm for supporting his efforts. I know it will be worth it.

Joe L.

DaveWolf

05-31-06, 04:57 PM

Second that JL! Foxeng has been nothing but a great help to many of us on this thread. He has helped me a ton in the past 2 years as I finally bought a TV and worked through the initial learning curve.

I too appreciate his updates on what is going on. I guess others would just prefer that he not give updates, then we would all just be clueless and bash the station because they couldn't give any updates on what problems they were encountering. Sheesh, some folks aren't happy unless they have something to complain about.

posg

05-31-06, 05:09 PM

I have nothing to do with WGHP, but even I can figure some answers to that question.

A new tower had to be constructed.
New transmitter had to be installed/configured
Only so many UHF digital transmitters being built by manufacturer, had to wait in line for equipment delivery.
Only so many crews install transmitter towers and antennas, WGHP had to wait in queue for install crew.
New Digital transmitter is very expensive to operate compared to analog VHF, with no additional revenue to contribute to increased cost of electric bill. Low power transmitter for as long as possible saves WGHP money.
FCC requirements have been a moving target... digital transition was not mandated on specific date until recently. Prior to that change in the FCC direction, it was to occur when a substantial percentage of people serviced had digital capable TV equipment in their homes.
Snags/bugs/glitches with equipment. (foxeng at one point thought they would be up and running near the end of last year.) Everything's so new the vendors are each pointing fingers at each other when things don't work together correctly.
From what I have read, WGHP will return to their VHF allocation once the digital transition occurs. The UHF equipment now being installed/configured is only for temporary use. Could be the permanent installs had priority from the corporate point of view.

Foxeng is being as open as he can, keeping us informed with their progress and he is probably as frustrated as you in their inability to get the last of the kinks out of the installation. With the power and voltages involved in the new transmitter there is no room for any mistakes. He already said that the problem was that the transmitter tubes were not lasting more than a few weeks. (ouch)

I know it would NOT be good to hear any dramatic equipment failure. (remember, he said electric arcs can be over a foot long from the new transmitter power supply) any catastrophic failure would delay things until the root cause was determined and new equipment installed. That would not be a good thing. It must be hard enough getting replacement tubes from their manufacturer with them being in demand from everyone installing new digital transmitters around the country... even if the tube failure did not damage other parts and equipment.

I know it is not a perfect world, but at least the WGHP digital signals are available on Time Warner Cable. (unlike ABC) That is my solution. Off the air (eventually) for best signal, TW cable for now.

Attacking foxeng, or the station he works for will not help get the new transmitter up on-line. I'm for supporting his efforts. I know it will be worth it.

Joe L.

I know that none of the delay is a direct reflection on foxeng. It's just what happens when one entity controls too many outlets. Those in the "sticks" get the left-overs, the hand-me downs and always get placed on the bottom of the list.

foxeng

05-31-06, 08:16 PM

It's just what happens when one entity controls too many outlets. Those in the "sticks" get the left-overs, the hand-me downs and always get placed on the bottom of the list.

With all due respect, that is the biggest bunch of hooey I have ever heard and not a schred of truth to it in this case.

As I have stated in the past in this thread, we started this project in 1998, well before the 2002 dead line. Just for the record, FOX was the only one of the big 4 to get all of their Top 30 stations on the air before the May 1999 deadline. NBC nor ABC nor CBS made that dead line.

We were in the advanced stages of starting to build in 2001 when 9/11 happened. In that attack, FOX lost three transmitter sites, WNYW analog, WWOR analog and WWOR-DT digital. WNYW-DT was and still is at the Empire State Building, now along with everyone else. After 9/11, everything construction related stopped as all attention was placed on getting WNYW and WWOR back on the air in NYC. (a several year project in itself and NYC being market number 1, the lost revenue can be incredible)

In November 2001, the FCC came out with the reduced power rule but stations still had to have something on the air by the May 2002 dead line. FOX made it again but not ABC, CBS or NBC. (If memory serves, the CBS O & O in Austin, TX didn't make it on at reduced power until late 2003.

Because of the number of digital viewers in this market and the fact that Time-Warner covers half of the market with our digital signal, FOX decided (we make no decisions like this on the local level) that we had time before we needed to build out. When the FCC announced in September of 2004 that the big 4 in the Top 100 markets had to be full power in 9 months (July 1, 2005) FOX set to work on getting the 8 remaining FOX affiliates in the Top 100 on the air. Of the 8 stations, we were the only station to need a completely new transmitter facility, new tower, new building, new transmitters, everything. The other 7 stations only needed renovations and tower strengthening, which were already underway at many of the stations. To build a completely new facility is an 18 month undertaking. We have done it 12 months. Unlike the other stations in this market who have fairly new transmitter sites, we have been using our original 1963 tower and building and neither were suitable or capable of being upgraded. (not enough power in the building and the tower wasn't strong enough and couldn't be strengthened to hold the digital equipment)

To say that our new transmitter site is nice is an understatement. Unlike the original building, which isn't much more than a cinder block building just big enough for the equipment and to keep the rain out, the new building is large and comfortable. It is the kind of building you would see in a much larger market with a large office, separate repair shop, each transmitter has its own large room and a break room with refrig, microwave and running water. xmitterengineer from channel 2 has been to the site and seen it. Maybe I should let him describe it.

FOX didn't skimp or send us left overs on this. Far from it. For the market size, they spent a lot of money. More than I expected, but that is the way FOX is. They have a bad rap as being cheap, but that isn't true. While they do watch the money closely, when it comes time to spend, they do it right, the first time. They play to win.

I can't be more happy with the site and that is no lie. Now with the tube manufacturer, that is a different story. ;) At this point, us and Salt Lake City are the only ones not at full power. Salt Lake City had some federal issues about their site and missed their summer work window last year. (it is at 10,000 ft in the Rocky's) The other 6 are on at full power. FOX has taken this very seriously and has done what was necessary. It is bad that we haven't been able to make it on the air yet, but it hasn't been because we have been sitting on our butts watching the world go by as some people think.

Just to show that it does exist, here is a picture of the digital transmitter when we were first setting it up, pre tube problems.
http://www.w4cl.net/blog/LandmarkJim.jpg

rtisovec

05-31-06, 08:55 PM

IU am brand new to OTA HD. I have an indoor antenna (I know I know).
I can get CBS, NBC and WB to work right, but with ABC 45, I get picture with a pretty good strength indication on my TV, but I haven't been able to get any sound. The cable ABC channel 7 has sound, and I can get HD picture, but no sound only on this station. My purpose in my 2nd TV was to have one with an OTA tuner (my main 2002 Toshiba does not) so I could get ABC 45 for the basketball coverage. Anyone else having the same problem, or is it me? :(

Rich Tisovec

Greg T

05-31-06, 09:14 PM

I'm getting TW setup Tomorrow. Free installation and $100 credit for giving them one of my old D* receivers. Does TW have a minimum package to get the INHD stations? I figure I'll give it a try for a while. I pick up all of the local stations from Greensboro and Raleih via an external antennae. I'd love to pay like $20 a month for their HD only package.
I've got an HD Tivo now, hopefully TW's HD picture will be less compressed.

jspENC

05-31-06, 10:17 PM

Good pic Foxeng! I always wondered what a transmitter looked like!

I will just add that if you folks in the High point area think Fox is bad, you should come over to
the eastern NC viewing area.... LOL

I will just leave it at that. ;)

I would take Foxeng and his expertice anyday over what we have here, and that is nothing.

vstone

06-01-06, 12:23 AM

FoxEng:

Hang in there. We know you're tryin'. And you're suceeding. Some folks expect you to spend your own money.

roland6465

06-01-06, 04:49 AM

I'd also like to thank foxeng for all his helpful information that he doesn't have to post, but does anyway. WGHP is by far the smoothest run of all the HD locals, and on my native 720p projector, the best looking.

Don't mind the troll, foxeng. He's just here to push your buttons.

foxeng

06-01-06, 06:54 AM

Good pic Foxeng! I always wondered what a transmitter looked like!

They are like cars, they all look different (style, color, accessories) but they all look alike (they all have 4 tires and engine kind of thing.) Ken12's is white with glass windows in to see the tube encloser, mine is dark grey with no windows but pull up hoods. Both are water cooled (99.9% of all UHF TV transmitters analog and digital are and most VHF transmitters are solid state air cooled, like ours, channel 2's and channel 12's here and Ken12's there), both run up the power bill pretty good too! If I remember correctly, his has only 1 tube, mine has 2 tubes (twice the fun!!). Because of the age of his (1999) I think his only does 20 KW with one tube, where mine is latest version and does almost 30 kW per tube and we will run it at 50 kW and the antenna will add gain to 1 million watts, the same thing channel 2 and 12 and 45 do now. Two tube transmitters with antenna gain at 1 million for channel 2 and 800 kw for channel 12 and about that much for channel 45.

This is a picture of the new channel 8 transmitter that we put in; since in 2009 this will become the digital transmitter and the other one goes away. It went on line March 31st from the new building. Just remember, the analog transmitter you might have watched American Idol on this past month or so, after Feb 17, 2009, you will be watching AI in digital on! Since it is on channel 8, it is a sold state transmitter and we don't have tube problems with it!! (Come on Feb 17, 2009!!) Enjoy!
http://www.w4cl.net/blog/NTSCtx.JPG