It seems that overall the Charlotte stations are a better choice seeing as they are all already broadcasting in HD (except for Fox of course).

I got fox charlotte at 720p. quintuplets was 720p and looked great

Originally posted by Greg T
HI All,
I moved from Denver Colorado to Mebane (the back of Mill Creek) about 3 weeks ago. Being the HDTV geek that I am, I've already mounted a 40 foot mast with two Radio Shack UHF only antennas (one pointed towards Greensboro, the other towards Raleigh) being combined into a Channel Master Spartan pre-amp. I'm getting.....

14, 16.1 WGPX-DT 60%
15 hops up to 20% not sure what station it is.
29, 45.1 WXLV 45 65%
31, 12.1, WXII-DT 90%
32, 26.2 UNC-HD 88%
33, 48.1 WUPN 48 85%
36 hops to 13% not sure what station it is
38, 40.1 WTNC 71%
42, 30.1 WRAY-DT 68%
43, 61.1 WLXI-DT 76%
49, 50.1 WRAZ HD 85%
51, 2.1 WFMYHD 92%
52, 11-1, WTVD1 90%
53, 5.1 WRAL DT 91%
55, 17.1 NBC17 90%
57, 22.1 WLFL HD 47%
59, 4.2 UNC-HD 92%

WGHP has come in sparsely a few times, but generally not watch able

So, do I need to point another Antennae North to get UPN and or WB in HD? What are the local plans for UPN and WB to do HD? WLFL is doing gray bars. WXII's upconvert to 5.1 sounds horrible (doesn't use center channel). So, I'm using 17.1 as my NBC station. Too bad because it looks like WXII isn't multi casting.

Before I respond to this, were WXLV-DT and WUPN-DT off the air today? I drove through Durham and managed to pick up all the analogs from Greensboro minus 61, got digital signal from 12 (remapped, but couldn't get a picture), 26, and 61, and even got screenshots of WFMY-DT (see attachment), but not a peep out of the two Sinclair stations.

If you want UPN or WB in HD, you're out of luck. Heck, where I am, I can't even get UPN analog clearly, so consider yourself lucky if you do.

15 is WRPX-DT, PAX, and 36 is WFPX-DT, also PAX. No loss there.

Digital 38 is WUVC-DT. WTNC-LP is analog 26 in Durham (TeleFutura) which is simulcast on 40-2.

WRAL-DT and WRAZ-DT are your best friends. I wish I had these two. They do many hours of HD every day from CBS and FOX, HDNet, ASCN (HD Sports shows) and locally-produced HD. You'd be wise to stick to them.

For ABC, stay with WTVD-DT. WXLV-DT, even when they get HD, isn't an impressive station. WTVD, on the other hand, is owned by ABC.

I suggest you go with WNCN-DT for NBC too--in fact, just go Raleigh-only, since it's a bigger market. It's looking like every network except UPN will be HD in Raleigh soon enough. And only UPN and WB will still be at insanely low power.

BTW, you don't have WRDC-DT on 27 (28.1) listed. Can you not receive that station? It's Raleigh's UPN station...

And you can actually decode WUPN-DT on 33? What kind of tuner do you have? Both of my tuners refuse to decode it 90% of the time...

- Trip

Hi Trip,
I'm using an internal tuner in a Mitsubishi TV and a HD Tivo. For some reason 28.1 isn't coming in, but 33 is. I think I heard that neither station is doing HD? Actually I think I got 28.1 once, they have gray bars on their HD station. I'm even getting 7.1 at 80% now for some reason. I bet I'll get a lot more stations when the leaves fall off the trees. I haven't tried for the Charlotte stations yet, but I dought I'd get them, I think they are over 100 miles away.
I do consider WRAL-DT and WRAZ-DT my pride and joys. WRAL's news looks incredible. I moved from Denver where we had a station that was doing the news in HD, KUSA NBC, but their news (besides the helicopter HD cam) couldn't hold a candle to WRAL's news. WRAL even utilizes other networks HD for their HD highlights. For example Monday night's football highlights where in HD on WRAL. And as you mentioned they do a lot of their own shows in HD.
WUPN came in fine for me last night until the weather kicked in.

Originally posted by Greg T
Hi Trip,
I'm using an internal tuner in a Mitsubishi TV and a HD Tivo. For some reason 28.1 isn't coming in, but 33 is. I think I heard that neither station is doing HD? Actually I think I got 28.1 once, they have gray bars on their HD station. I'm even getting 7.1 at 80% now for some reason. I bet I'll get a lot more stations when the leaves fall off the trees. I haven't tried for the Charlotte stations yet, but I dought I'd get them, I think they are over 100 miles away.
I do consider WRAL-DT and WRAZ-DT my pride and joys. WRAL's news looks incredible. I moved from Denver where we had a station that was doing the news in HD, KUSA NBC, but their news (besides the helicopter HD cam) couldn't hold a candle to WRAL's news. WRAL even utilizes other networks HD for their HD highlights. For example Monday night's football highlights where in HD on WRAL. And as you mentioned they do a lot of their own shows in HD.
WUPN came in fine for me last night until the weather kicked in.

Which 7-1 is it? I know that the Greensboro area gets excellent coverage from my local WDBJ-DT. 460 kW from the top of Poor Mountain 10 miles WSW of Roanoke, VA. You probably won't get many other Roanoke stations for a while though; PBS is on digital 3 (ugh) which is destroyed by 2 and 4 where you are. FOX/WB are at extremely low power (on channels 17 and 20), as is ABC, UPN just applied to move to Smith Mountain 35 miles north of Danville this week (at that point you might get some signal from them) and NBC is at lower power but is directional and appears on channel 30. (You aren't concerned with our PAX on digital 36, but it's directional too)

WUPN has issues with PSIP right now so my tuners might get signal, but refuse to decode it. That's why I asked.

- Trip

WFMY has forgotten to swith to the HDTV feed for the PGA Championship.

They have now switched.

I have had a couple of people contact me off line asking about HD on FOX. It seems they are worried about seeing the NFL in HD!

Well you can put your worries to rest. Things are moving along nicely for FOX's HD debut on September 12th. As far as WGHP is concerned, we are as far as we can go until network tells us more. Our equipment is installed and has been checked out by the installer and now network and all seems to be working correctly. There are some minor housekeeping issues that need to be resolved, but until network tells me how to deal it with, we are in a holding pattern.

Network is also in the final throws of getting their end in order and even though the stress level is high in the voices of the people I have been talking to, they are enthusiastic about being ready on time.

Contrary to rumors that are floating around, there has been NO HD sent to the stations yet. The couple of stations that did have the All Star Game in HD, it was a Rube Goldberg of a thing that many stations didn't have so only about 4 stations were able to carry it (literally!). The splicer, when on line, will solve all those problems.

Some had hoped that FOX might sneak in some HD for testing prior to September 12th, but that looks very unlikely at this point. Just too much going on and not enough time to "play" for that kind of thing to happen.

So, even though we are only about 3 weeks away from NFL Football, all looks on schedule and we look forward to bringing you the NFL on FOX in HD starting September 12th! It is going to be tight, but I see it happening on time.

Thanks foxeng! Looking forward to some football!

(yes - even me - a girl!)

Thanks for the great news, foxeng!

Man, it is awful quiet around here!

Just a quick update on FOX's HD. Looks like things are still moving along. We are waiting our turn to have our splicer turned on and even though I can't get a date out of FOX (yes I have tried), and I have nothing to base this on other than FOX Charlotte, WCCB-DT came on line last night, but I hope it may be next week. As soon as it happens, whenever it happens, I will let you know. Of course you will not see any difference until Sept 12th when FOX sends out its first HD programming except when we switch to and from network, you will not see the 2 second relock that is required for the aspect ratio converter to change from 4:3 to 16:9 or back again.

Also FOX has not sent any HD material on the HD link yet. I haven't heard, but I doubt the game Friday night will be available to the network in HD. I base this on the fact that if they were going to have it in HD, we would know by now since they came out with our baseball game assignment this weekend today and nothing was mentioned other than the game was Friday night, so you don't appear to be missing anything.

So the waiting game is on.

foxeng: Are you hearing anything about the FCC's new requirement to go full power by July 1 ,2005?

Speaking of going full power, has anybody heard anything more about WXII-DT doubling their signal?

Originally posted by vstone
foxeng: Are you hearing anything about the FCC's new requirement to go full power by July 1 ,2005?

FOX complies with all FCC Rules.

Originally posted by uncrules
Speaking of going full power, has anybody heard anything more about WXII-DT doubling their signal?

They are supposedly in the process of adding the second IOT now. It does take a little time to do that and stay on the air all at the same time.

FYI

We will have the splicer on line next week. There really isn't anything on the schedule until football starts that lends itself to HD so it looks like the NFL on FOX on Sept 12th will be the first HD programming on the network.

The way the splicer is interfaced to our equipment, anytime network is on line, we are taking the splicer to air so if network sends any HD, we will have it.

ANy updates on WXLV? I dragged out the OTA tuner and am going to try to just get ABC over the air with an amplified Silver Sensor.

roland,
let me know what you get, I might try the same thing for MNF

Gonna be a couple of days.....wife won't OK yet another fiber audio cable just yet...

At 9:05 tonight we officially put the FOX HD splicer on line. There are a couple of small issues that need to be addressed, but all in all it looks pretty good and we will go with it and see what happens!

Great foxeng!

I realize that FOX hasn't had much must see TV since Monday, but some of the stations are reporting some freezing and glitching in the signal since they added the splicer. I am seen some stuff also, but with the screwy weather we have been having, I am not sure if it is the splicer or the weather. If you guys could watch for a while and see if you see any freezing for breakup anytime during the day, but especially during prime time let me know, I would appreciate it.

Will do.

Anyone notice that WXII is now passing their audio as native instead of unconverting everything to dolby digital. I switched all of my NBC recordings on my HD Tivo from WNCN out of Raleigh to WXII since WNCN multi casts. I hope WXII keeps the audio like this.

I prefer WRAL for my CBC
WRAZ for my Fox (since I can't get WGHP in Mebane via Antennae)
WTVD for ABC since they pass HD
WXII for NBC because they don't multicast, and they've now got the audio right.
WUPN for UPN since it's the only UPN I can get via OTA

I get WFMY, WUNC, WRAL, WDBJ (ROANOKE), WTVD, WXII, WGPX, WNCN, WRAY, WUVC, WXLV, WUPN, WRAZ, WLXI

^ Lucky- you can get ABC......

I talked to an engineer at WXLV today who told me they were all set up, just waiting for a couple of more pieces of equipment to arrive, and then "All we have to do is hook it up & it's HD" I asked if it would be up by the Panthers MNF game, and was told not to hold my breath. :(

Anyway, I'm getting a cycling signal of 79-93% of 45-1 & -2 via a Silver Sensor in the attic with a Radio Shack 15db preamp. Plenty to lock & hold on the 'ol Huges E86.

Here are our doubleheader game assignments this week for Week 1 of HD NFL football!

-Tampa Bay @ Washington (Our 1pm Game)
-NY Giants @ Philadelphia (Our 4pm Game)

We will have the Panthers next week since they and the Green Bay Packers are MNF on WXLV Monday night.

We are all ready here for FOX's HD so as long as the network can get things together on their end, we should have something. Since this is going to be the first HD programming on the network, they will be trying new things so we are all crossing our fingers and hoping all goes well. From what I hear, network has already lost a HD encoder and multiplexer that took the HD link off air the other night for about 20 minutes. We hope THAT doesn't happen Sunday!

We have been passing the network splicer signal since Monday night Aug 30 and so far the splicer has worked as advertised as best we can tell.

Bring on the football!

fooooooooooootbaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal!!

I have a wedding in Athens, GA Friday night to go to, but I'm bustin' a$$ back up here Saturday evening so I can see the games Sunday!

It is being reported in the "HD Programming" forum that TWC has reached a deal with ESPN to offer ESPN HD. Some cities have already started receiving the channel. Hopefully Greensboro will be soon!

Yep, Raleigh turned ESPN HD on friday evening soon after 8pm on ch. 290. They even already posted it on the front page of their TWCNC (http://www.timewarnercable.com/nc/) website.

I didn't see anyone post about FOX's first day of HD locally.

The pre and post game show was in 480 (they haven't got the 720p cameras yet I am told) and the movie afterward was also HD.

Did anyone else catch the games?

Originally posted by foxeng


Did anyone else catch the games?

Foxeng, I saw the Redskins game via TWC. The picture and audio were superb. The crowd noise, especially from the rear channel speakers, sounded as if we were sitting in the stadium. Great job!

Originally posted by foxeng
I didn't see anyone post about FOX's first day of HD locally.

Did anyone else catch the games?

I caught the final minutes of the second game. Picture and sound both looked pretty decent to me on a 110 inch screen through TWC. Nice... Score one for FOX.

Now... if there were problems, there would have been plenty of posts :D

Hope you enjoyed the weekend (and the games).

Joe L.

Foxeng, even though I had no interest in the games, I watched portions of them just to observe the quality of the broadcast. It looked and sounded great!

I dunno, to me they looked a bit fuzzy than other games I have watched, but I guess it is because it was at 720p instead of 1080i. I watched on my x1 projector, and a freinds 65" mitsubishi. Whites looked over exposed.

Overall though, it was enjoyable seeing the games in HD. I am sure they will get it right over time.

Did you guys hear someone yell "$hit" at the beginning of the Eagles game when the announcer was talking?

Too many commitments yesterday to watch.

I noticed audio sync problems with the pre game in studio stuff. Didn't watch the half-time shows to see if the problem was fixed.

ESPNHD!!!!!

CHannel564- Sportscenter is ON!

I caught some of the games - I noticed a slight pop between local and national segments in the Pre-Game Show. I had to run some errands and caught most of the second game - no pops there.

Originally posted by roland6465
ESPNHD!!!!!

CHannel564- Sportscenter is ON!
Woo Hoo!!!!!!:D
I love getting more HD channels!

Greensboro market will get FOX anyway since the local FOX station is owned by FOX.

foxeng, have you guys been told when FoxHD will appear on D*?

I'm posting here b/c you guys will probably have had similar experiences. Now that TWC has ESPN-HD, I was going to switch from D*. The installer comes out today and hooks everything up, but my HD Pack channels aren't coming through. Call customer service and they reboot, etc. They can't figure it out, so now a technician has to come out b/c their installers are contractors and can't solve the problems. Customer service didn't seem to care. I haven't dumped D* yet, since I thought something like this might happen.

I was switching b/c of the combo of InHD, locals in HD and now ESPN was a better deal on TWC. I don't want the expense of putting up an antenna when I'm planning on moving in a year or two to a bigger house.

Plus, I just started a new job and have no vacation days, so I'm going to have to try to finagle something to meet the technician.

TWC sucks, but they simply have more HD channels than D*. If I knew D* was going to be able to roll out our locals in the first quarter of 2005, I would wait it out, but there's no guarantee.

Sorry, just had to vent.

What's the problem with ESPN HD? They're broadcasting a high definition picture using the old aspect ratio. Does anyone know why they're not broadcasting in widescreen?:rolleyes:

Originally posted by uncrules
foxeng, have you guys been told when FoxHD will appear on D*?

We aren't told about those kind of things, but Ken H keeps saying before October and he is usually right.

Originally posted by ShackShock
TWC sucks, but they simply have more HD channels than D*. If I knew D* was going to be able to roll out our locals in the first quarter of 2005, I would wait it out, but there's no guarantee.

The HD LIL satellite isn't suppose to launch until next summer and then shortly after is when the HD LILs start to appear. D* is saying that 70 markets will be able to be handled and since this is market 45, we should be pretty high on the list.

Shack, I haven't had those kinds of problems with TWC. Usually I call them up and they zap me a signal and whatever problem I was having is fixed immediately. I personally couldn't be happier with TWC now that they have ESPN-HD. I have more HD than D* plus my locals without some hideous dish on the back of my house. I'm not crazy about the SA8000HD DVR, but it is the cheapest way to record HD.

I would try unplugging my box, rebooting it. Call them again, have them refresh the signal. There's no reason to have a tech come out because you can't get your HD tier channels. Are you getting your others like Discovery HD and the locals? If so, then they just need to get your account straight and send your box a new hit.

We rebooted the box a number of times and they sent a new signal a few times. It's weird because I'm getting Discovery HD, ESPN-HD, PBS and CBS, but nothing else. I verified that I had ordered the HD Pack and they said yes. The customer service people are less helpful and didn't seem to care until I started saying that I was toying with cancelling on my first day of subscription. The installer who was there didn't exactly have nice things to say about TWC, either.

We had been passing the phone back and forth between me and the installer. At one point, the CSR thought she was talking to the installer and actually said, "Have you verified that he actually has an HDTV?" I remained calm.

Shack,
Sorry to hear about the fiasco. I've had one foreign CSR guy who totally screwed up everything because he couldn't understand English, much less the technology.

I don't think a tech visit is going to do you ANY good at all. You're already receiving HD just fine, it's the programming that's not right. Unless there's a problem with the box they brought you not tuning the channels correctly, I would think a service visit will be a waste of time. I'd call back and try to get another CSR and if they can't help see if there's a supervisor or someone on their technical/engineering side that you can talk to.

I've had nothing but quick, helpful service from TWC here in Greensboro. They arrive on time, fix any problems, and most TWC employees seem interested in helping. HDTV is cutting edge technology, so I guess we can expect some difficulties now and then.

Foxeng-

What was up w/ the Panthers game this afternoon? Everytime they would put a graphic up, the picture would shudder. Seemed to get worse as the game went on.

Shackshock

I do not get the extra HD tier -just the basic - PBS, FOX, CBS, NBC, Discovery, TNT, INHD1. It sounds like you need to check the service level you are signed up for. Make sure it includes INHD2, ESPN HD, and whatever else is on that extra paying tier. We opted out after the free trial because there wasn't enough programming we watched on those stations to offset the cost. (We do get HBO HD, though!)

On the other hand, you may have a lemon of a box. You can stop by TWC and trade it out if that is easier on your time schedule.

we have also had nothing but positive experiences from TWC customer service. Good luck, and don't give up just yet!

Foxeng,

The Panthers game sounded weird. It started out OK, then towards the end of the first half, the sound changed. It was almost as if I could hear the background noises better than the commentators (not that it was a bad idea, mind you :) ). Just a heads up. Don't know where that problem originated.

All you Greensboro and Triad folks -

The Wheelers broke down and did it. We thought that entering the DIY contest with the News and Record would be fun - we have basically finished the HT, so why not? Well, we won. $500 gift card to Home Depot (Hello new back door!). Look for the Wheel-O-Rama to be featured in the N&R Oct. 21.

Originally posted by roland6465
Foxeng-

What was up w/ the Panthers game this afternoon? Everytime they would put a graphic up, the picture would shudder. Seemed to get worse as the game went on.

It appeared to be an encoder issue at the venue, I have seen mine do that on a rare occasion. I see it finally stopped toward the end of the game thank goodness. The audio operator for the 5.1 was a little sloppy, but he got better toward the end too. It is a huge leaning curve and everyone is having to learn a lot in a very shot period of time. All in all I think the production crew did a decent job. In two weeks after the buy week we will have a different crew in Charlotte (it should be the same crew at BoA from here on out for FOX). The PQ looked better this week than last week, but still not up to what it should look like in a couple of weeks.

Late yesterday WXLV finally lit up that 720p subchannel. MNF HD video was on 45-2 and it looked good. There was however no audio and no sign of an audio PID. The 720p HD MNF video looked good.

It appears that the ABC HD receiver is plumbed straight into the HD encoder since there were no local breaks and after the broadcast, when the HD stream stopped, the receiver displayed on air that there was no HD stream. I checked it again this morning and at 6:45 the receiver alarm was still showing on air with a blue screen and white lettering but after GMA came on, the receiver had GMA in a stretch mode.

Hopefully they will get the audio running correctly today and will interface the rest of the plant into the HD encoder.

Maybe they will take the SD encoder and put ABC News Now on it like WTVD and WSOC has.

Foxeng, I caught that 45-2 broadcast, too (quite by accident). It gives me hope!

PamW, after seeing photos of the work that went into your theater, I think you guys are very deserving winners of the News and Record's DIY contest. I look forward to seeing the newspaper article!

So will WXLV ever get back on TWC?

Originally posted by jacksonian
So will WXLV ever get back on TWC?

If what has been in the industry press on how Sinclair has played hardball with other cablecos over payment of carriage, it doesn't look good.

But doesn't TWC putting ESPNHD on the pay tier set precedent for TWC to pay Sinclair to broadcast WXLV on the pay HD tier, and charge per sub?

I know there is no chance in hell it happens, but it would be a way to give those of us willing to pay for our HDTV to get all the channels available in our area.

Originally posted by roland6465
But doesn't TWC putting ESPNHD on the pay tier set precedent for TWC to pay Sinclair to broadcast WXLV on the pay HD tier, and charge per sub?

I know there is no chance in hell it happens, but it would be a way to give those of us willing to pay for our HDTV to get all the channels available in our area.

By law, cable can't charge extra for local digital. If they show it, it has be available like a basic cable analog channel. That is what cable uses to say they will not pay cash (which is the real crux of the matter not just trading non cash interests between the cablecos and the stations) for the opportunity to carry the digital channel. Sinclair is starting to ramp up the HD and higher power on all their stations. They are starting a "free HDTV" campaign using OTA to go against the cablecos. They have a commercial ready for stations to start using on their analogs to try and get people to buy HD sets and put up antennas. When WXLV goes full power later in the year and WUPN goes HD (it is already at full power) you will start to see them on the air.

Originally posted by MrPhred

PamW, after seeing photos of the work that went into your theater, I think you guys are very deserving winners of the News and Record's DIY contest. I look forward to seeing the newspaper article!

Thanks MrPhred!

The photographer is coming tonight to take pictures. Leslie Mizell did the interview, which is cool - she does a lot of the live theatre reviews here. :)

Hello from G'boro. Will there ever be ABC in HD? Do you think TWC will get UPN or WB in HD soon?

Originally posted by telemike
Hello from G'boro. Will there ever be ABC in HD? Do you think TWC will get UPN or WB in HD soon?

WXLV started HD Monday on 45-2. I hear that WUPN will be first of the year.

Welcome telemike. foxeng is our local "go to" guy on these things. Glad you've joined our group!

ANyone else still having audio issues w/ WXLV? The other day there was audio on Inside Edition, but not on whatever was on afterward. No audio on the Bachelor last night. Is it just my reciever, or are they still ironing out the kinks?

On Monday MNF was in HD but no sound. Tuesday's HD had sound. Last night's HD had no sound. I was really disappointed by that because I wanted to what Lost in HD. I really like that show. I always seem that when they aren't showing the primetime shows and are in stretch-o-vision mode there is sound.

You are not alone in the audio or loss of audio on WXLV. I would suggest you call them when it happens so it can filter back to Engineering. Their head engineer is a good guy and I know they are fighting some network issues and they are still waiting on some more equipment to come so they aren't quite finished yet, but they are trying.

The guy I talked to in engineering @ WXLV a couple of weeks ago was very helpfull. I noticed that their early evening programming had sound this afternoon. I'm glad they're still working on it. I know this is a huge undertaking and will take a while to get as good as they can get. Thanks!

So, I still wasn't getting any HD channels other than CBS, PBS, Discovery and ESPN when the technician came out on Wednesday. His diagnosis was that I was losing signal strength and the contractor would need to come out on this coming Tuesday to run a new line to my basement where my HDTV is. (Why he couldn't do it, I don't know).

So, I'm flipping through tonight and just happen across the stations I wasn't previously getting, and there they are. Of course, it's not all of them. Now, I'm getting pretty much everything but NBC and Fox.

The technician told me that my signal strength was so low in the basement that he was surprised I was getting any HD at all. Anyone have any ideas what may have happened? I'm going to still have the contractor come out and run a new line down there in hopes it may shore up all the problems, but I think it's comical that the technician says one thing and then it mysteriously corrects itself.

Cast Away is being shown tonight in HD on WSOC in Charlotte, but it's stretched SD on WXLV. I'm getting no digital signal at all from WUPN.

Originally posted by ShackShock
So, I'm flipping through tonight and just happen across the stations I wasn't previously getting, and there they are. Of course, it's not all of them. Now, I'm getting pretty much everything but NBC and Fox.

The technician told me that my signal strength was so low in the basement that he was surprised I was getting any HD at all. Anyone have any ideas what may have happened? I'm going to still have the contractor come out and run a new line down there in hopes it may shore up all the problems, but I think it's comical that the technician says one thing and then it mysteriously corrects itself.

As conditions on the line changes such as equipment on the pole changes and such the levels do rise and fall and if your signal level is at the threshold, at times you will have better signal than at other times. Since you have some of the digital signals and not the others, that tells me that you are on the threshold and more signal is needed. If you have a lot of splitters in line, every one will knock out anywhere from 1/2 of the signal to almost 80% of the signal and if you keep cascading the effect it gets worse and worse.

I love Cast Away, too...saw about 2o seconds of it and went back to HD football on ESPNHD

I live in Asheboro and cannot recieve Fox at all in Digital or Hdtv.

As far as I know I am recieving all the other channels from that area. I get Cbs, Abc, Upn,Wb,Nbc and Pbs and channel 61 also, whats the deal with Fox? I don't understand. Are they not currently on the air?

In my location I can pull in Raleigh and Charlotte and of course Greensboro stations. Is there any other member on here that is in my location so I can compare channels recieved and what type of equipment they are useing? I have found this board very helpful and hope it continues. Thank you.

Do you get CBS (WFMY) out of Greensboro? From what I understand they broadcast off of the same tower that Fox WGHP does.

Yes I recieve WFMY, I also recieve Fox 18 from Charlotte and Fox 50 from Raleigh but no Greensboro Fox. Thats what i am saying, I dont understand how I can recieve all the other channels from the tower and not Fox. As far as I know the towers are right off of 220 and are not very far from my residence.

Welcome to the fdrum George! I bet foxeng will be able to answer your question. I am strictly TWC.

Originally posted by George Struthers
I live in Asheboro and cannot recieve Fox at all in Digital or Hdtv.

Are they not currently on the air?

Yes, FOX8's digital is on the air.

Our tower is the first tall tower at Randleman as you go north on 220. As a matter of fact, Asheboro is in the primary coverage. You should get a better signal than those in High Point. I live in north Greensboro and receive our signal OTA with no trouble. Our digital channel is 35. You may need to slightly move your antenna to pick us up.

As you go up 220 here is the order of towers:

FOX8 (painted red and white) and Rock 92 (strobe light) at Randleman
WTWB analog/digital, WUPN analog/digital, WXLV digital only and WLXI digital only on the three arm tower at Level Cross

WFMY analog/digital is on the tall tower to the west of the above tower at Level Cross.

WXII analog/digital, WUNL analog/digital and WXLV analog only is up on Sauratown Mt north of Winston-Salem.

WGPX analog and digital is up US 29 at the Guilford/Rockingham County line.

Okay I figured you were on the air, is there by any chance that the signal is too strong and therefore I cannot recieve it? Is the PSIP data not decoding properly? As strong of a signal I recieve non digital it appers that the signal is very strong. I have a rotor and like I said I have no problems getting signals from afar but cannot get Fox 8.


Charlotte has a decent lineup but I would like more local news than it offers. Also what is the deal with channel WAXN and the other channel out of Charlotte channel 50, are they on reduced power or is it the best its gonna get?

Originally posted by George Struthers
Okay I figured you were on the air, is there by any chance that the signal is too strong and therefore I cannot recieve it? Is the PSIP data not decoding properly? As strong of a signal I recieve non digital it appers that the signal is very strong. I have a rotor and like I said I have no problems getting signals from afar but cannot get Fox 8.

The PSIP data is fine and no one else is having a PSIP problem.

It could be too much signal, but I kind of doubt it. On our station rotate you antenna a full 360 degrees and see if it comes in from a different way.

Where in Asheboro are you?

Have tried a channel scan every 5 degrees and no love. I live on Zoo Parkway 1511 to be exact. Have some trees around the area but you would think that they would interfere with the other channels that are coming from that area also. :confused:

Check this link out for what our current low power coverage area is. As you can see Asheboro is well within the contour. This is our grade B contour so about 80% of this coverage area would be considered grand A.

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DS598972.html

George,

Are you using a preamp in-line from your antenna? Can you try an indoor non-amplified antenna and see if it works for Fox8.

Charlie,

Could he be so close that his preamp is suffering from front-end-overload? Seems like signal should be very strong at his location.

Joe L.

Originally posted by J. L.
Could he be so close that his preamp is suffering from front-end-overload? Seems like signal should be very strong at his location.

I kinda doubt it since the other stations are in the same geographic area are 20db higher in signal levels. It could be since the low power antenna doesn't have beam tilt, the signal might be shooting over him. I might suggest he tilt the antenna up and down see what happens.

Dammit, WXLV! No HD for tonight's game, apparently. Oh well, Cowboys/Indians ain't what it used to be, anyway.....my boycott of WXLV continues.

Originally posted by roland6465
Dammit, WXLV! No HD for tonight's game, apparently. Oh well, Cowboys/Indians ain't what it used to be, anyway.....my boycott of WXLV continues.

A call to WXLV when they don't have the HD up would remind them they have a new toy to play with!

Originally posted by foxeng
A call to WXLV when they don't have the HD up would remind them they have a new toy to play with!

Good thought...:cool:

Foxeng....do you have a direct # to master control for WXLV? I can't get to them after business hours.

Stretched SD on WXLV again tonight. These people wasted a lot of money on equipment they don't use.

Actually, the 9:30 show was HD, just had about a 3 sec. audio delay. Keep trying, guys.

Originally posted by roland6465
Foxeng....do you have a direct # to master control for WXLV? I can't get to them after business hours.

Not to Master Control. I would suggest you call the main number and then listen for the newsroom number on the menu. Since both WUPN and WXLV's local news is done at night, someone is the newsroom. They may have a direct number. If it isn't in the book, call information and ask for the newsroom number for WXLV.

Sorry I can't help anymore than that.

I don't know how long its been like this but WXLV's stretch-o-vision for non HD programming appears to be gone. I flipped over there at 7:25pm and some show called The Insiders wasn't stretched.

Edited to add that the non stretched SD picture on 45.2 is better than the picture on 45 and 45.1.

Just thought I should let you folks know: A failed support PC has rendered our HDTV/DTV encoder inoperative. I will be enroute shortly to make repairs. Sorry for any inconvieniance. Thanks for your patience... Rickey.

thanks for the heads up Rickey!

You're very welcome Pam. Last time I looked it was still ok, hope it stays that way. Rickey.

PamW,

Has the News & Record run your DIY story yet? I haven't been paying as close attention as I wanted to (big things at work going on that I can't talk about!) so I hope I haven't missed it.

Not yet. The story will be October 21st. Of course one never knows what will be written as a result of an interview. Over the phone, no less! I wanted her to come to the house, but it just wasn't possible. The photographer loved it, though!

What is so hard about keeping an eye on your digital output?

Foxeng does a stellar job at WGHP, WFMY and WXII are in control of their DTV broadcasts.

WXLV is totally clueless. I had to call 6 times during the State-Maryland game yesterday because the picture kept getting out of whack.. The bottom of the pic was above the top, and it was infuriating.

Great job, foxeng! It is so nice that somebody out there actually cares about DTV in the Triad.

Originally posted by roland6465
Great job, foxeng! It is so nice that somebody out there actually cares about DTV in the Triad.

Thanks, but I am but a small cog in the big machine. There are others that deserve more praise than I.

With WXLV I hope it is a case of them still working out the kinks because they have a lot of problems with their HDTV channel. Beside the previously mentioned picture alignment, I have seen bad video flickering, badly out of sync audio and just flat forgetting to flip over to the HDTV feed when it is available. Hopefully they will get it worked out soon.

Well, I tried Monday Night Football in commercials of the ALCS.

WXLV has their audio delay down to about a second, but the PQ is terrible. Color blocks all over the field, smearing and pixellation on pans, and almost a grainy look to it. FOX baseball via cable blows this crap out of the water OTA.

Anyone else getting this bad of PQ on WXLV?

MNF looks good to me via OTA. I was pleasantly surprised when I just switched to it from the ALCS.

What type of antenna are you guys using? My reception is spotty at best on most OTA channels. CBS and NBC are my best two but they fade from time to time.

Modok, I'm using a Channel Master 4228 bowtie array, 7778 pre-amp, and rotor, all mounted on the roof. I can reliably pull in all the locals, plus quite a number of great stations out of southern Virginia and Charlotte. (I live near PTI.)

The only local I ocasionally have trouble receiving is WGHP. I've yet to figure why. I'm beginning to think it's just bad luck of the geographic draw. Everyone else I talk to around here (who has a rotor and roof-mounted antenna) has no trouble at all pulling them in.

I didn't watch MNF long enough to get a sense of the PQ. Once I noticed the audio was out of sync I switched back to the ALCS. On the audio they sometimes do have it in sync but those times seem to be when there is no HD. However, even with the non HD stuff the audio is messed up a good portion of the time. For HD programming I don't think I've ever seen the audio be in sync correctly.

Since WXLV has so many problems its like we still don't have ABC HD because it is never watchable. Maybe we need to send some of the fine folks from WGHP over there to help because I think they do the best all around job in the area for HD. WFMY and WXII aren't too bad either.

I found 7778 preamp and the 4228 8 way bowtie for around $100 for the two. My question is, when I purchased my home there is an older antenna already on the roof. It has the rotor already on it and the control is in my living room. Can I use this existing mast and rotor for the new antenna? Any help you all can provide is greatly appreciated.

Also, That 4228 is an UHF antenna. what is the difference in a VHF/UHF and this one?

uncrules,

I agree with all except loaning WGHP's folks out to WXLV- Sinclair doesn't deserve good people like that. ;)

As far as antennas go, I'm just using a silver sensor unamped in the attic. I'm only using it for WXLV, and I get a 100% signal on the Highes E86(could this older reciever be my PQ problem?).

Mokok, I don't see any problem at all using the existing mast and rotor on your house. If it's very old, you might want to check to see that it's still properly grounded. Often, wires can rust away or get knocked loose over time.

The vast majority of HDTV stations (including *all* of our local HDTV stations) operate in the UHF band. The reason I chose the 4228 (UHF only) antenna over a combination VHF/UHF antenna is because it has a much higher gain than any VHF/UHF combination antenna I've found. Higher gain means a better chance of picking up stations.

If you want to use your antenna to pick up analog feeds on channels 2-13, then you'll need VHF/UHF combination (or separate UHF and VHF antennas).

One last thing, Modok - if you haven't tried using the antenna that already exists on your house, it may be worth a try. You may be able to pick up many of the locals without spending any money. If it doesn't perform very well, you may be able to get away with just purchasing a pre-amp.

A viewer in an email at work asked me my opinion on something and I have no answer, but I KNOW this can only be answered by YOU FOLKS!

The question was, "With the relatively small number of those who have UHF only outdoor antennas for digital reception, what would they do if WGHP and WXII went back to their analog channels 8 and 12 and left their digital channels 31 and 35 when the digital transition was complete since those who receive WGHP and WXII analog now, already have the antennas in place and would not be effected. How would the UHF only digital reception viewers be effected if only one of the two stations, WGHP or WXII remained in the VHF range?"

So, how would I answer that question?

SIDEBAR - I have heard from several DIFFERENT sources that WFMY has been sending out hints they WILL NOT be returning to channel 2 digital when the transition is complete (Ricky, are you in a position to enlighten us if there is any truth in that statement?)

Hello everyone.
I'm purchasing a hd receiver for my Directv system. I want to add an OTA antenna to the setup soon after and was wondering what the average cost for setups(installations + equipment) are in this area . I also would like some recommendations on a good,reliable installation company. You can post here or email me at lcarr3@triad.rr.com. Thanks in advance.

If you are inquiring about an installation company for the antenna, I'd try the Zenith Silver Sensor. It is a very small indoor antenna that many of us have had great success with.

I coupled mine with a small booster and I can get WXII, WGHP, and WXLV, and all of the Charlotte stations along with some of the Raleigh stations.

Antenna (http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=90113670&loc=111&sp=1)

Booster (http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=90125305&loc=111&sp=1)

foxeng, when will fox 8 boost there strength and raise their antenna??? I still can not get them and i am located at lake brandt and get 2 at 95% and 45at 95%

Originally posted by sbarrier
[B]If you are inquiring about an installation company for the antenna, I'd try the Zenith Silver Sensor. It is a very small indoor antenna that many of us have had great success with.

I coupled mine with a small booster and I can get WXII, WGHP, and WXLV, and all of the Charlotte stations along with some of the Raleigh stations.



Thanks,
I had heard a bout the silver sensor. My thing is that I have four tvs that I want to receive OTA signal which would mean four antennas and four boosters. So I figured it would be easier for me to purchase an outdoor antenna.

Originally posted by jrtree
foxeng, when will fox 8 boost there strength and raise their antenna??? I still can not get them and i am located at lake brandt and get 2 at 95% and 45at 95%

FOX Corp has said the company will do everything in its power to make the July 1 2005 full power date the FCC has set.

Well, we made the paper today. Now I know that you can't put 100% faith in an interview to be transcribed correctly.

Only a few errors...
1) Front projection SYSTEM, not TV
2) The Berklines are black, not brown.
3) We buy our popcorn from Gold Medal, we only pop it in the Stir Crazy.
4) We also had the carpet laid - we aren't that good.

They took many pictures of several angles of the room. Then posted one picture twice. No seating pics, not concession area pics...

Oh well, at least you all get to see the whole thing by clicking my signature...

PamW,

Nice interview. The problem is there is never enough time or space to deliver all the info and shortcuts happen. It is unfortunate, but it happens.

I think all in all, it is pretty nice.

My only question is, when do you and your husband start on mine? ;)

Foxeng - If all the local stations reverted to their VHF channel slots, I'd be mad, but I'd probably spend the money to install a UHF antenna. When I first installed my gear, I considered this possibility, but figured it would be many years before it might happen.

Ldc3000 - I bought my first antenna installation from Bill's Antenna Service in Greensboro. Parts (CM 4228, CM 7778, CM rotor & controller, 15' mast, mounting hardware, balun, lead-in, grounding stake, etc.) plus labor was around $250. Considering the amount of labor involved, I thought his price was fair, and I was very happy with his work. I've heard several others say the same. After a tree fell on my house during and ice storm a few weeks later, completely destroying that installation, I purchased replacement gear on the Internet, and installed it myself, saving about $100. Since I managed to complete the installation without falling off my roof, I suppose it was worth it ;)

PamW - I really liked that newspaper article on your home theater installation. You, "Evil Budget Man", and your sons make a great looking family! You're deserving of the front cover photo on the insert.

Whoops. Foxeng, I meant to say "If all the local stations reverted to their VHF channel slots, ... I'd probably spend the money to install a VHF antenna." Doh!

MrPhred

Thanks,

I agree that price seems to be fair. I did some research on that particular setup and the prices for the equipment alone was more than that price and it didn't include the labor.

Thanks foxeng and MrPhred! "Evil Budget Man" and I are pretty proud .

BTW, I called my husband that in our application. One of the requirements was to write a one page description of what we did and how we did it. Naturally, I wrote it as a movie script! :D

Replying to foxeng question about WFMY,s final DTV channel selection. This is unoffical, but if I have anything to do with it we will continue to broadcast DTV on our UHF CH51 assignment. The powers that be appear to agree with this also. Rickey.

Originally posted by PamW
Thanks foxeng and MrPhred! "Evil Budget Man" and I are pretty proud .

BTW, I called my husband that in our application. One of the requirements was to write a one page description of what we did and how we did it. Naturally, I wrote it as a movie script! :D

Pam,

Nice article in yesterdays paper. It even mentioned AVS. You and George should be very proud.

I'm pretty certain that the fall through the ceiling was NOT in your "movie script" but a bit of an ad-lib by one of the "actors"

Joe L.

Definitely an ad lib, but certainly not intentional - the resulting bruise lasted a few weeks! (It was ugly!)

I took sbarrier advice and am trying the Zenith Silver Sensor, Zenith ZEN-AA1 HD Antenna Amplifier combo. With it I am picking up 2-1, 2-2, 45-1, 45-2, 48-1, 48-2, and 61-1. If I reposition the antenna I can pickup 4-1, 4-2 ,4-3 ,4-4 , and 4-5. I was receiving up the 59 lot, but did a rescan and have since lost them. On 48-2 there is a flickering line at the top of the screen. The networks I watch the most(NBC,WB,& Fox) would be the ones I'm missing. I guess it wasn't that bad of an investment fo $39, but I'm gonna have to move on up to one of the big boys antennas.

I don't think that NBC (WXII) is broadcasting full strength. I do not receive any signal from them!

However, from my house (Randolph County just outside of Thomasville) I can get 2-1, 2-2, 8-1, 45-1, 45-1, and all of the channels from Charlotte.

From what I understand the tower that WXII uses in north of WS and that may be your problem with them.

Shon

Click on this link and you'll see a map with the location of all TV towers.

http://www.triad-hdtv.org/pointing.html

Originally posted by sbarrier
I don't think that NBC (WXII) is broadcasting full strength. I do not receive any signal from them!

The only stations that are transmitting at full power are WUNL-DT and WUPN-DT. All of the other stations are operating at various reduced powers.

Anyone having any reception problems during the World Series? We are not having any problems and all is working here, but it has been pretty quite about it.

Just checking.

Is the audio out of sync on Lost (45-2) for anyone else?

45-2's audio is usually out of sync.

foxeng-

Just a quick 1st inning report: DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING! Great job getting the audio synched back up. Sucked while you guys fixed it, massive audio and video drops, but it's perfect now.

This is via TWC, BTW

Foxeng, For the last 2 nights on TWC in Greensboro you have had digital breakup to the point I am watching the game on TWC 10 instead of 510. This is really to bad because up till now have enjoyed the games on FOX but has been a mess.

Same here, bad break ups, and now complete skips. I think it is getting better though?

Has been stable now for a while. Thanks!

Time-Warner has some issue. I called them today to ask them what the deal was and I never got a call back so I don't know what the deal is.

I see it OTA here north Greensboro and it has been stable with no drop outs and no audio sync problems. We haven't had any problems in months and we haven't touched anything and no one had mentioned if they were having problems so I thought I would ask.

Nice homer in the top of the 1st inning!

OTA and looking great!! Go Sox!

Looking good now!

I turned it off in the 3rd. TWC 510 was unwatchable. Breakups, breakups, breakups! I thought my poor audio reciever was going to start smoking from all the switching between DD & DPLII.

Big middle finger up & thumb down to TWC. This was the only game I was going to stay up and watch now that the hated Yankees got knocked out. As it was, I went to bed at 10.

roland - I watched the whole game in High Point on TWC. No breakups, no audio problems. Really good quality.

Have you called TWC?

No, I'm in a "cooling off period" with TWC right now. I just don't care enough about MLB anymore to get worked up about it.

WFMY-DT is having some bad audio break up problems on the Eagles/Ravens game.


EDIT: The audio problems seem to be corrected now.

WFMY-DT hasn't switched to the HD feed for the Notre Dame/Tennessee game.

At the request of foxeng in the Roanoke thread, I have completed the non-history parts of the Greensboro section of my new website. www.rabbitears.info

Let me know what you think, if you see any errors, and enjoy!

- Trip

Cool!

Great site Trip. Am I reading it right that FOX, Pax, WB, and WXLI are the only digitals in the market NOT at full power yet? Thanks again.

Originally posted by riga
Great site Trip. Am I reading it right that FOX, Pax, WB, and WXLI are the only digitals in the market NOT at full power yet? Thanks again.

The only stations that are at full power now are WUNL and WXLV. WUPN doesn't have a STA for low power, but they are operating at low power I found out last week. There had been rumors that WXII was about to go full power, but so far, from what I have been told, they haven't.

The FCC Rules are stating that by next July, in the top 100 markets, the ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX stations have to be at full power and in July 2006, the remainder of stations are to be at full power.

WFMY did not switch to the HD feed during "Cold Case" last night and i have noticed that a number of the NCAA football games like Saturday's TN vs Notre Dame are well in to the first quarter before HD comes up. Any explanation?

Originally posted by foxeng
...
There had been rumors that WXII was about to go full power, but so far, from what I have been told, they haven't.
... My HD DVR recorded some stuff off of WXII-DT last week and my antenna is pointed at Poor Mountain near Roanoke. My emergency backup HD receiver (Samsung SIR-TS160) was also picking it up. I don't think I could get anything before unless I pointed my antenna to the SW. The TS160 was also picking up WFMY-DT pretty well last week. I think the TS160 is more sensitive than the HR10-250.

"WFMY HD
WFMY did not switch to the HD feed during "Cold Case" last night and i have noticed that a number of the NCAA football games like Saturday's TN vs Notre Dame are well in to the first quarter before HD comes up. Any explanation?" "WFMY-DT hasn't switched to the HD feed for the Notre Dame/Tennessee game."
I appreciate the info. I will forward this verbatim to the senior master control operator. Please understand that HDTV is still very new to some of our operators. And they only have to operate about 12 tape machines, 3 routers, 7 satellite dishes and associated receivers, 3 studio cameras,2 surveillance cameras, 2 transmitters with associated control, monitoring, and logging equipment, and more other stuff that would take too much time and space to list. I realize the previous is not an adequate excuse, but maybe it will lend some understanding as to how things sometimes get overlooked. Eventually we hope to have automated a lot more of this equipment, but for now we have to deal with it as it is. Once again thanks to everyone for the reports good or bad. We do need feedback to have a chance of getting it right.

Originally posted by xmitterengineer
Once again thanks to everyone for the reports good or bad. We do need feedback to have a chance of getting it right.

Dumb question and if you feel better PMing me, that is fine.

Does CBS offer all of their programming SD and HD all the time on the HD link or do they just light up the HD when there is HD program?

I ask because FOX has all network programming in the HD link no matter what the resolution or aspect ratio, which makes it easy on MCO since we just slaved the DTV switcher/Splicer off the Master 21 and they just punch NET on the switcher and the tally kicks the correct input on the DTV switcher or kicks the Splicer in line.

Just curious.

Charles I wish it was otherwise but generally they only bring the HD sat feed up when there is HD programming (there have been exceptions to this). Good comment, food for thought. Thanks... Rickey.

Wonder if WXLV will ever get it right? I have barely watched any ABC since XLV went HD, but it seems every time I look over there, the audio is way off. Last night I flipped over, and the audio was about 3 full seconds behind. I know it ain't easy, but how hard can it really be to line up the A and V?!?!

Originally posted by roland6465
Wonder if WXLV will ever get it right? I have barely watched any ABC since XLV went HD, but it seems every time I look over there, the audio is way off. Last night I flipped over, and the audio was about 3 full seconds behind. I know it ain't easy, but how hard can it really be to line up the A and V?!?!
The ABC affiliate in Charlotte is the same way. Could be a coincidence, but maybe not.

Anyone know what the deal is with the WUNC channels (including WUNC-HD) on TWC? They all have been black for several days, although the IPG still lists them.

Now that ABC has announced all 4 BCS games in HD, should we begin a phone and e-mail campaign to WXLV to see if they can get it together by 1/1/05?

Just a thought.....

Hello all im new to this forum. Im thinking about getting that new Sanyo TV with the built in HDTV tuner and was wondering how good I would receive stations at where I am. Using the map on triad-hdtv.org I put an X where I am. Antennaweb.org said I needed an outdoor rooftop antenna but id like to get local peoples knowledge before buying something like that since id prefer an indoor.

Originally posted by Johnny1
Hello all im new to this forum. Im thinking about getting that new Sanyo TV with the built in HDTV tuner and was wondering how good I would receive stations at where I am. Using the map on triad-hdtv.org I put an X where I am. Antennaweb.org said I needed an outdoor rooftop antenna but id like to get local peoples knowledge before buying something like that since id prefer an indoor.

Welcome Johnny1!

Jump on in! The HD water is fine!

Yes, it is highly recommended that you get an outside antenna. Not all stations are operating at full power and since all of the stations are on UHF, the antenna is not this huge monster hanging over your roof (unless that is what you want!) You can get a Channel Master 4228 (about $50 on the net or you can get it for just a tad more at Dow Electronics in Greensboro) which is a 3 ft x 2 ft screen that has 8 little bow ties on it that covers channel 14 through 69.

Channel 2 is on DTV 51, channel 8 is on DTV 35, channel 12 is on DTV 31, channel 16 is on DTV 14, channel 20 is on DTV channel 19, channel 26 is on DTV channel 32, channel 45 is DTV channel 29, channel 48 is on DTV channel 33 and channel 61 is on DTV channel 43.

From your location, you will be able to pick up some of the Charlotte DTV stations as well.

Good luck on your DTV!

Originally posted by foxeng
Welcome Johnny1!

Jump on in! The HD water is fine!

Yes, it is highly recommended that you get an outside antenna. Not all stations are operating at full power and since all of the stations are on UHF, the antenna is not this huge monster hanging over your roof (unless that is what you want!) You can get a Channel Master 4228 (about $50 on the net or you can get it for just a tad more at Dow Electronics in Greensboro) which is a 3 ft x 2 ft screen that has 8 little bow ties on it that covers channel 14 through 69.

Channel 2 is on DTV 51, channel 8 is on DTV 35, channel 12 is on DTV 31, channel 16 is on DTV 14, channel 20 is on DTV channel 19, channel 26 is on DTV channel 32, channel 45 is DTV channel 29, channel 48 is on DTV channel 33 and channel 61 is on DTV channel 43.

From your location, you will be able to pick up some of the Charlotte DTV stations as well.

Good luck on your DTV!

Awesome thanks for the reply. Should that antenna be on a mast? How should the antenna be pointed in order to get all the stations?

Welcome, Johnny1. Your new antenna should indeed be on a mast with a rotor so you can point it in the right direction. I use a Channel Master rotor. The indoor portion of the rotor is about the size of a pack of cigarettes and is operated with an IR remote control.

Originally posted by MrPhred
Welcome, Johnny1. Your new antenna should indeed be on a mast with a rotor so you can point it in the right direction. I use a Channel Master rotor. The indoor portion of the rotor is about the size of a pack of cigarettes and is operated with an IR remote control.

Since the stations are spread out around the Triad, you will need a rotor to rotate your antenna. You can get the rotor that MrPhred is talking about at Dow Electronics also. I have seen them at Lowes as well. The model number is Channel Master 9521A. It runs about $70. I have one of those myself and I love it!

anyone else having trouble with fox8 today. lots of pixilation and signal strenghth fluctuating for me in Walkertown. usually comes in great-may be the wind?

Originally posted by 4theheelz
anyone else having trouble with fox8 today. lots of pixilation and signal strenghth fluctuating for me in Walkertown. usually comes in great-may be the wind?

Wind is blowing the trees and the multipath component is moving too fast for the receiver to compensate. The new 5th generation receivers will help a lot with that problem.

thanks for your reply Foxeng, i suspected the wind.

Since the reception of my other locals was not affected as much by yesterday's wind, i was hoping that when you go to full power next year, that would take care of it without upgrading to a 5th generation receiver.

High power doesn't always mean you will not have it. I see it on WXII-DT OTA sometimes and they are certainly not at low power even though they are not at full power so yes, even with higher power stations, the 5th generation receivers will be a big help. Of course what you were experiencing yesterday was related to the wind and our low power. I saw it here at my house. It did calm down quite a bit and I was able to watch Spiderman last night with only a couple hits during the movie. This morning, all is happy again in mulitpath-land.

When we do go full power, it will be like going from 0 to 100 mph in a car. We will be going from 4.2kw to 1 million watts. Only WFMY will have 1 million watts in this market also. Everyone else will be between 700kw and 820kw. (WLXI will be 50kw and WGPX will be 150kw and WUNL is at max now of 570kw

Originally posted by 4theheelz
thanks for your reply Foxeng, i suspected the wind.

Since the reception of my other locals was not affected as much by yesterday's wind, i was hoping that when you go to full power next year, that would take care of it without upgrading to a 5th generation receiver.

So today I watched most of the VPI/UM game on 45-2 OTA. As usual, when they're passing SD, the audio was perfect. I'd bet money it will be off on the HD pass of the Big XII game tonight.

Good thing WFMY has some good 'ol Southern football, and has their doo-doo together.

Doh! WFMY had horrible audio for the SEC game. It was the infamous CBS NCAA final four popping thing. I turned it off after 10 minutes and passed out on the sofa. How was the ABC game?

No HD on 45.

XLV didn't even switch over? Typical......didi you call them?

Nope, called one other time and they didn't switch so I didn't think that it was worth the effort.

Watched the Last Samuri on HBO instead.

And Sinclair wonders why everyone hates them.....

I don't hate them, I usually just watch WSOC out of Charlotte when I want to watch ABC programming in HD.

I'm more frustrated with WXII (NBC). I don't understand why they can't get their HD transmitter fully powered up.

Hey all, I've seen this answered in the past however I was curious if there was any rumors flying about ABC and WD getting their HD stations on TWC? What's holding them up?

Originally posted by monstermike
Hey all, I've seen this answered in the past however I was curious if there was any rumors flying about ABC and WD getting their HD stations on TWC? What's holding them up?

WXLV and WUPN's owners (Sinclair Broadcasting) want cash compensation for carrying the digital stations and TWC will not agree to that. This is not just a local problem but is a common issue among all of the Sinclair owned stations nationwide.

foxeng: Can you give us a perspective on how likely it will be that all digital stations go full power by 1 July, given that final channels have NOT yet been decided and many stations will not buy the equipment until their broadcast channel is known (to prevent having to buy more equipment, or at least pay to modify some brand new equipment)? Worst case, I see many stations trying to buy equipment at the same time (once frequencies are assigned) and either exceeding the manufacturers ability to produce and install the requied equipment or generating a price gouging scenario (or possibly both).

Originally posted by vstone
foxeng: Can you give us a perspective on how likely it will be that all digital stations go full power by 1 July, given that final channels have NOT yet been decided and many stations will not buy the equipment until their broadcast channel is known (to prevent having to buy more equipment, or at least pay to modify some brand new equipment)? Worst case, I see many stations trying to buy equipment at the same time (once frequencies are assigned) and either exceeding the manufacturers ability to produce and install the requied equipment or generating a price gouging scenario (or possibly both).

Here is the law. In the Top 100 markets (the Triad is number 47) the ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC stations MUST BE at full power by July 1, 2005 and all other stations nationwide by July 1, 2006 to retain full power coverage on their FINAL DTV channel, whether a station stays on its current DTV channel or moves back to its analog channel. That is pretty cut and dry. If a station wants to have its full power DTV coverage protected for its final DTV channel years in the future, they have to build out to full power now on their current DTV channel. If they like the coverage they have now on their DTV channel, then they can do nothing and the current coverage they have now will be protected on their final DTV channel years from now.

We have every intention of being full power on channel 35 for the dead line. That is all I can say right now about us.

I have heard that channel 45 will be full power early next year. All channel channel 12 has to do is add one more stage to their current transmitter to be full power on 31. The rumor is that channel 12 is either ready to fire up to full power or is close to being ready so I would say that they will make the dead line. I can't speak for channel 2 and I defer to Ricky if he wishes to answer.

I know channel 20 wants to increase next year, but from what I am hearing, it will be 2006. There have been rumors that 48 would increase next year but that has been silent lately, but they don't have to be until 2006.

Channel 16 and 61 do not have to be full power until 2006 and I wouldn't expect them to go full power until then. Channel 26 is already at full power.

Now you know as much as I do or am allowed to talk about.

I called channel 12 right before the Olympics and they indicated that they had just installed a piece of equipment and were ready to throw the switch up to full power. The engineer that I spoke with indicated that this may even take place before the Olympics.

Obviously, it didn't, but I'm hoping that it will be soon seeing as they inidcated to me during the summer that they were almost ready.

To answer several of the PM's I have received about the program guide here is the latest.

Yes we will have the EPG up and running soon, but I don't know when. The equipment hasn't arrived yet and I do not have an ETA. We will have the soon required TSID data package on the analog next week. I ordered that update Thursday so we are just waiting for that to arrive. To most people, you will not even notice it, but the new digital sets are to recognize it.

Some time over the past couple of days, TWC-Greensboro updated the SARA software on the SA8000HD DVR. The ATI driver was also updated. I haven't explored the changes a whole lot, but we do now have "pass-through" as an option. Also, we now have the "Record to VCR" option as well as the meter showing how much of the hard drive space is being used. Don't know if DVI has been activated.

Originally posted by sbarrier
I called channel 12 right before the Olympics and they indicated that they had just installed a piece of equipment and were ready to throw the switch up to full power.

FWIW, the FCC web site shows WXII received an extension on their STA 2 weeks ago. In my mind, they still haven't gone full power yet.

QUESTION, I live at the end of air harbor airport near lake brandt and i'm sure that the planes affect my ota signal. Could this be correct and if so i guess i just have to live with it.

Originally posted by jrtree
QUESTION, I live at the end of air harbor airport near lake brandt and i'm sure that the planes affect my ota signal. Could this be correct and if so i guess i just have to live with it.

Certainly until all stations are at full power. Also better receivers will cut down on that too. The next generation receiver is scheduled to come out any time now should solve many reception problems and will certainly help your problem.

Is anybody else having trouble getting WFMY-DT this morning?

Originally posted by uncrules
Is anybody else having trouble getting WFMY-DT this morning?

Looks like they are not there this morning. They may be having trouble getting the transmitter back up after shutting it down last night. It is a known fact that stations that go on and off the air daily have more troubles than stations that stay on the air all the time. It has to do with the surge of power that it takes when things are first turned on. Once something is up and running, you don't have those startup current rushes. It could also be someone forgot to turn it on!

"Is anybody else having trouble getting WFMY-DT this morning?"

yes-no picture, no signal strength. same for the Time Warner WFMY-DT feed on channel 540.

Originally posted by 4theheelz
"Is anybody else having trouble getting WFMY-DT this morning?"

yes-no picture, no signal strength. same for the Time Warner WFMY-DT feed on channel 540.

TW picks up WFMY-DT off air so if the transmitter isn't there, there will be no signal.

WFMY-DT is back on now.

Hello, this is only my second post and wanted to get some clarification before I pull the trigger on buying a new tv. I live in Winston-Salem and currently have TWC Analog Cable (Standard Package). I am planning on buying the Sony 30XS955 that has a built in Qam Tuner. From what I understand from this thread and a few others I will be able to connect my current cable directly into the back of this television and pick up HDTV using the Qam tuner without any extra charges. Is this correct, am I missing anything. Is the resolution as good as if I had the digital service? Thank you.

sentra,

Welcome to the forum!

OK guys, correct me if I am wrong, but:
You can get OTA HD with the Sony (don't forget about the antenna), but if you want to use cable you must have a cable box capable of HD. I have the Pace box and have never looked back! An analog box will only pick up analog signals.

Most if not all of the new TVs with digitial tuners also have the cable QAM tuner as well. If the specs say that it has an ATSC (or 8VSB, it is the same thing called by two different names) and QAM tuner, then yes, you can hook up an outside antenna and receive HD that way, or if you have cable, you can hook the cable up to your QAM input and any digital channel that isn't encrypted, you will see it as if you had a cable box. I am not sure which digital channels are in the clear, but I do know that all three of the local digital channels that TWC carries (WFMY-DT, WGHP-DT and WXII-DT) are available by just plugging in the cable to the QAM tuner.

There is no difference in digital PQ. Digital is digital.

Bless You foxeng!!!

Thank you. That's just what I wanted to hear. I can't wait till after christmas when I can get it.

I think all of the digital channels that are not premium channels are in the clear on the local TWC system. I have a LG 4200A receiver, and it gets most of them, and..,, I think I will stop with that.

Has anybody in this market (more precisely zip code 27282) gotten Fox HD from D*. I was told by the CSR that because of new law changes they can't sell me the East or West Fox HD feeds because of where I live even though it is O & O.

Originally posted by uncrules
Has anybody in this market (more precisely zip code 27282) gotten Fox HD from D*. I was told by the CSR that because of new law changes they can't sell me the East or West Fox HD feeds because of where I live even though it is O & O.

It has to do with WCCB, WRAZ and WFXR claiming Grade B service to different parts of the market. If you live around Asheboro, then you get it since no one claims that area for Grade B. Myself, I have WFXR Roanoke and WRAZ Raleigh claim my area as Grade B. I have requested D* ask for a wiver from both stations. We will see what happens.

If I am denied, I have a few tricks up my sleeve that might swing it. The FCC provides coverage maps and right now I can show that WRAZ doesn't cover me. I haven't had time to run the WFXR numbers, but I bet I can prove they don't cover me either.

Originally posted by foxeng
It has to do with WCCB, WRAZ and WFXR claiming Grade B service to different parts of the market. If you live around Asheboro, then you get it since no one claims that area for Grade B. Myself, I have WFXR Roanoke and WRAZ Raleigh claim my area as Grade B. I have requested D* ask for a wiver from both stations. We will see what happens.

If I am denied, I have a few tricks up my sleeve that might swing it. The FCC provides coverage maps and right now I can show that WRAZ doesn't cover me. I haven't had time to run the WFXR numbers, but I bet I can prove they don't cover me either.

WFXR-DT barely covers Roanoke, let alone anything else...

- Trip

Originally posted by foxeng
Looks like they are not there this morning. They may be having trouble getting the transmitter back up after shutting it down last night. It is a known fact that stations that go on and off the air daily have more troubles than stations that stay on the air all the time. It has to do with the surge of power that it takes when things are first turned on. Once something is up and running, you don't have those startup current rushes. It could also be someone forgot to turn it on! Blew a fuse in the bias supply (on startup?). This was fun to find and replace as it is buried within the innards of the high voltage (38kv) portion of the final. Thanks for your patience all. Seasons Greetings. Rickey.

Originally posted by Trip in VA
WFXR-DT barely covers Roanoke, let alone anything else...

True, and the OP is in High Point...no WAY is WFXR-DT down there.

However...I'm not entirely clear if the law (as is now set) involves Grade B coverage of the DT station, or the analog station. If WFXR/27's analog signal claims that part of the Triad as Grade B, would it mess up the OP? Or did the new SHVERA law change that?

(foxeng, you're on! ;) )

Originally posted by Inundated
True, and the OP is in High Point...no WAY is WFXR-DT down there.

However...I'm not entirely clear if the law (as is now set) involves Grade B coverage of the DT station, or the analog station. If WFXR/27's analog signal claims that part of the Triad as Grade B, would it mess up the OP? Or did the new SHVERA law change that?

(foxeng, you're on! ;) )

Even at full power, the coverage map on the FCC web site for both WFXR-DT and WJPR-DT do not cover much into NC much less down to Greensboro. Same with WRAZ-DT. WFXR-TV 27 MIGHT and that is a VERY BIG MIGHT get to Guilford County, but from what I have seen, they do not provide a reliable Grade B and WJPR-TV 21 is a no show because of 1st adjacency from a local station (WTWB-TV 20). It is my understanding it is based on the Post Office in your ZipCode area. I was talking to our waiver person yesterday and she wasn't completely up on all the new rules yet since the lawyers are still sending in updates to the law. So I will let DirecTV ask for the waivers and we will see what happens from there.

On a somewhat related subject, she did say that if a person has an analog DNS waiver and then gets LIL stations on DBS, the analog DNS waiver goes away and can't be reinstated. That is new in the rules.

Anyone catch LOST last night on XLV?

It appears WXLV has solved its audio synch, and the picture looks sharper as well! I anly saw a few minutes of it, but hopefully this is the new norm, especially with BCS bowls coming up.

I have been getting some great advice from Foxeng regarding my upcoming decision to buy an HDTV. Currently, I am looking at the Sony 57" KDP-57WS655 with the built-in tuner. I think I understand correctly that this unit has both the ASTC and the QAM tuners.

My current plan is to keep my analog cable from Time Warner. We are getting a deal on it at the moment, and I don't want to give that up. If I get a TV with the QAM tuner, then I can hook my normal analog cable into the TV input, and get the DIGITAL cable channels that are free, correct (which will show HD content when the networks send it)? (WFMY, WXII, WGHP, etc.) I had originally planned on buying a Channel Master antenna and just picking up my HD content OTA with that.

But will I basically pick up the same exact channels if I just use the QAM tuner? Will the quality picture or reception be any better with the antenna vs. analog cable? (Off the record, do I get any "extra" channels that TWC hasn't encoded if I go the QAM route?

I am on the Forsyth/Davidson county line, so I don't know what kind of reception with an antenna I will get. I went to the antenna website, and it showed me I needed a medium multi-directional antenna, but I just wonder if I will get more channels by going the QAM route and not even fooling with the antenna. Or there any advantages to getting the antenna instead?

Also, if a station multicasts, and compresses the signal which degrades the picture, I am going to get that regardless of the medium I use to get the signal? Because the problem is at the source, not the limit of the channel it uses?

Thanks for any help or suggestions. I am really wanting to wait on the DLP's to come down in price, but it looks like none of them come with a built-in tuner already.

Originally posted by DaveWolf
My current plan is to keep my analog cable from Time Warner. We are getting a deal on it at the moment, and I don't want to give that up. If I get a TV with the QAM tuner, then I can hook my normal analog cable into the TV input, and get the DIGITAL cable channels that are free, correct (which will show HD content when the networks send it)? (WFMY, WXII, WGHP, etc.)

Yes.

I had originally planned on buying a Channel Master antenna and just picking up my HD content OTA with that.

But will I basically pick up the same exact channels if I just use the QAM tuner? Will the quality picture or reception be any better with the antenna vs. analog cable?

The only local channels on TWC at this moment are WFMY-DT, WGHP-DT, WXII-DT and UNL-DT. WXLV-DT, WUPN-DT, WLXI-DT and WGPX-DT are not on TWC and you will need an antenna for any of those stations. WXLV-DT does have ABC HD but their owner, Sinclair Broadcasting requests money for carrying their HD signal and most cable companies nationwide do not carry the Sinclair HD stations so to get ABC HD, you will need an antenna. It is assumed at this point that WXLV-DT will not be joining the other locals on TWC anytime in the foreseeable future.

I am on the Forsyth/Davidson county line, so I don't know what kind of reception with an antenna I will get.

From there with a Channel Master 4228 and a rotor, you will be able to get all the locals and some of the Charlotte stations.

Also, if a station multicasts, and compresses the signal which degrades the picture, I am going to get that regardless of the medium I use to get the signal? Because the problem is at the source, not the limit of the channel it uses?

The short answer is yes. Also, TWC only carries the main channel of the digital station if it is multicasting. Right now WFMY-DT has a radar channel that you see OTA, but it is not on TWC. NBC has just started a Weather Channel for all of its affiliates and it is assumed that WXII-DT will carry it soon (since their owner is one of the spearheads for this weather channel) and it is doubtful that TWC will carry it when and if it comes up. WGHP-DT does not multicast.

We have big plans for 2005 that we are looking forwarded to bringing to you and we hope you will be happy with the results. I hope your HD viewing so far has been as joyful to you as it is for us to bring it to you.

Season's Greetings from myself and all of us at FOX8 WGHP!.

Cut and paste from DAVEWOLF's post: "Also, if a station multicasts, and compresses the signal which degrades the picture, I am going to get that regardless of the medium I use to get the signal? Because the problem is at the source, not the limit of the channel it uses?" END QUOTE Sharing data can be made fairly transparent. The required bitrate is directly related to the amount of motion in the scene being transmitted. There is very little motion in a radar image compared to say a football game. So we allocate the very minimum bitrate required to convey the radar image leaving allmost the entire 19.39 MBPS for the HD feed. Also the available bandwidth allmost allways exceeds the amount required by the MPEG2 stream. In other words having the second low bitrate feed only impacts the HD feed when the HD feed is maxed out. Example: Camera rapidly panning an audience scene, this would probably have been over the top anyhow. When the required bitrate exceeds the available bitrate you MAY notice some brief blurring or granulation effects in the image. MPEG 2 is not the most efficent CODEC available now. MPEG 4, WM 9, and others now deliver more video bandwidth per data bit. I anticipate the day when decoders will be flexible to handle more advanced CODEC's, indeed it should be possible in the future to have the decoder "flashed" via the data stream to accept new CODEC's. Also much anticipated are receivers with the 5th gen chipsets. Combine this with a more efficent encode/decode algorthem and multiple HD feeds from a single broadcaster become possible. Indoor reception will be greatly improved by 5th gen. In one recent test where the indoor antenna previously had to be very carefully positioned to get reception, the 5th gen chipset achieved a complete turnaround. With the new chipset a determined effort is now required to make reception fail under the same conditions.The future is very bright for OTA if we can just get there. OTA works were cable doesn't go, and it doesn't require a dish which can be blocked by trees. And it's free. Long live over the air broadcasting! Seasons Greetings... Rickey.

Merry Christmas to all my Triad AVS friends!

Here's hoping your New Year brings good things to all - Peace, Joy, and Love! (and maybe a few great movies;) )

Thanks to everyone for the great advice! It truly is helpful! Happy Holidays to everyone!

I live in Browns Summit and cannot pick up the FOX HD feed. I have an roof mounted antenna with a rotor. I do not know how old it is but I can pick up CBS, NBC and ABC HD. I am tempted to buy a little nicer antenna but I am afraid I still will not be able to pick it up. Any suggestions to my dilema?

"I live in Browns Summit and cannot pick up the FOX HD feed. I have an roof mounted antenna with a rotor. I do not know how old it is but I can pick up CBS, NBC and ABC HD. I am tempted to buy a little nicer antenna but I am afraid I still will not be able to pick it up. Any suggestions to my dilema?"

Ok, I'll put in my 2 cents-get yourself over to:
Dow Electronics
2606 Phoenix Dr
Greensboro, NC 27406-6358 Phone: (336) 856-0930

and try a new antenna and/or pre amp. a number of posters here favor the Channel Master 4228 or 4248 with a 7775 pre amp. JUST REMEMBER: the cost/benefit of a good OTA system is in your favor! free programming with perhaps the highest quality picture-don't be afraid to buy a $75 amp or a $100 antenna if that is what it takes.

Also, a number of stations including Fox8 have yet to go to full power-that is supposed to happen in July of '05 and that alone could solve your problem. (FOX has the Super Bowl this year and NFC playoffs, Daytona 500 -all in 720p HD-so you may not want to wait)

Personally, i have the Channel Master Rotor (9521A), Channel Master 7775 amp, and a Weingard GS 1100 antenna. (For me, the GS 1100 gets the same results as the bigger CM 4228 and/or 4248. It is a fraction of the size and hardly noticeable attached to the back of the chimney. The GS 1100 is one of those "winged" antennae and needs to stick up above the chimney by only a few inches to clear when turning with the rotor.)

What 4theheelz said. Also since it's an existing installation maybe check that all connections are tight, especially at the antenna end of things. Check for visibly damaged or missing hardware and wiring etc. Binoculars can be helpful here. Years and weather do take their toll on outdoor equipment. Also remember that getting the antenna mounted higher is better from a signal quality standpoint. Example:Every thing else being equal I'd take a tiny but well built yagi (or insert other low gain antenna of choice) at 60 Ft. over the highest gain model available at 20Ft. Sometimes a 5 or 10 Ft. height increase makes enough difference to matter. A useful, but not completely analogous illustration: trying to see a 30 mile distant city from your back yard with binoculars VS trying to see the same city from a mountain top from the same distance with no binoculars. Please don't overlook the little stuff: the most simple direct connection from your antenna to your receiver with nothing else in line except a balun for the antenna if required is the place to start. If the antenna cable is old enough to be stiff or cracked at any point it (and maybe the antenna and balun too) probably should be replaced before going any further. Hope this is helpful. Good Luck. Rickey.

Originally posted by Modok
I live in Browns Summit and cannot pick up the FOX HD feed. I have an roof mounted antenna with a rotor. I do not know how old it is but I can pick up CBS, NBC and ABC HD. I am tempted to buy a little nicer antenna but I am afraid I still will not be able to pick it up. Any suggestions to my dilema?

The issue may not be just the antenna. Realize that Fox is at extremely low power. WGHP-DT is currently at 4.2 kW. Compare to 408 kW for NBC, 500 kW for CBS, and 750 kW for ABC. WGHP will be powering up by July.

- Trip

WUPN-DT is broadcasting HD on 48.2. The audio actually seems to be in sync but there has been video rolling problems. Reminds me of the days before cable and having to adjust the vertical hold on the tv. While WUPN-DT's audio is okay, it is terrible on WXLV-DT. Earlier tonight its was badly out of synch and now there is no center channel so I can't tell if the talking is in sync or not because you can't hear the talking.

^ Damn. And with BCS bowls right around the corner...

FYI Modok, i have posted a photo of my antenna at:

http://www.walt.lasley.com/ant.htm

and to see the TV stand i built from plywood and 2X4's:
http://www.walt.lasley.com/toshiba.htm

Just to let you folks know: There will be more software and hardware upgrades to our digital encoder chain soon, hopefully tomorrow (thurs 12/30). There may be some interruptions in WFMY's DTV service, also some OTA receivers may have to reacquire our signal. Turning the receiver off the back on should do the trick in most cases. A channel change command may work also. If what I am told is correct this should mainly affect early generation receivers. Thanks in advance for your patience... Rickey

Originally posted by uncrules
WUPN-DT is broadcasting HD on 48.2. The audio actually seems to be in sync but there has been video rolling problems. Reminds me of the days before cable and having to adjust the vertical hold on the tv. While WUPN-DT's audio is okay, it is terrible on WXLV-DT. Earlier tonight its was badly out of synch and now there is no center channel so I can't tell if the talking is in sync or not because you can't hear the talking.


That's great news,.. Now I get all of the networks in HD OTA. Fox (Raleigh), ABC (both), CBS (Both and VA), WB (Raleigh), UPN (Greensboro).

My TiVo had a message for me today about a lineup change. It said channel 530 WXLV had been added to my lineup. But it's still not showing up when I try to enter it.

Anybody have any news that WXLV and TWC have gotten together on this? Sure would be nice to watch more bowls in HD this weekend.

My TiVo had a message for me today about a lineup change. It said channel 530 WXLV had been added to my lineup.

This would be awesome. I would love to see my Sooners play in HD for the National Championship.

Well, I still can't get XLV up, the guide flashes ??? when I try. But the TiVo message also showed that FOX HD channel was added. I've been getting 510 Fox HD for a while, but it wasn't on the TiVo guide, now it is. So I'm hopeful for XLV.

If anyone knows anything, please jump in.

XLV is showing nil right now - who knows? maybe tomorrow ther will be something.

You really have nothing to look forward to, folks...WXLV's audio synch was way off last I checked on Tuesday night.

I don't care about the audio too much for the football games. :)

Yeah, nothing like seeing the hits before you hear them......the delay is about 3 seconds today

Can't seem to get it to come in yet. I still don't know if they have in fact worked something out.

OTA here the Iowa game had the audio synch issue, and so did the Rose Bowl until the second commercial break. Now there is no center channel at all. But only for the game. Commercials have the center blasting away. Even the intros to the game have center channel. Kinda cool to listen like you're in the stadium, though.

I don't have 530 on TWC at this time, either.

I noticed the missing center channel earlier. It is back now but I still think it is out of sync although not as bad as earlier today. The problem only appears when they are broadcasting HD. I'll check in on Enterprise at 9pm on 48 to see how it is doing. The couple of times I've watched 48 I haven't noticed any audio problems.

Originally posted by uncrules
WUPN-DT is broadcasting HD on 48.2. The audio actually seems to be in sync but there has been video rolling problems. Reminds me of the days before cable and having to adjust the vertical hold on the tv. While WUPN-DT's audio is okay, it is terrible on WXLV-DT. Earlier tonight its was badly out of synch and now there is no center channel so I can't tell if the talking is in sync or not because you can't hear the talking.


I'm not sure why you thought WUPN was passing HD? I tuned in last night to get a sample, noticed it wasn't in HD. Called the station, they said that they aren't passing HD, and don't have plans, and aren't making plans to pass it. The only reason they are doing ABC HD is because ABC provided the equipment to pass it.

I too have checked out 48.2 for HD content. My receiver which is a 811 decodes all HD content in the normal mode as full screen and with 48.2 in normal mode it is showing in full screen also. It is not HD but it's seems to be some type of SD upconversion.

I'm not sure why you thought WUPN was passing HD? I tuned in last night to get a sample, noticed it wasn't in HD. Called the station, they said that they aren't passing HD, and don't have plans, and aren't making plans to pass it. The only reason they are doing ABC HD is because ABC provided the equipment to pass it. The night I watched it looked like HD because I compared the standard defintion channel to it and the picture was better and I could see stuff at the edges of the widescreen picture that wasn't in the SD one. I could be wrong. It wouldn't be the first time. :)

Hey guys, just got TWC with the 3250HD box yesterday and can get all the local stations in HD except ABC. Where is ABC?

Sorry ABC45 is currently not HD.(This may change soon though). If you want ABC in HD get an antenna, HD tuner and try for WTVD11(52) out of Durham.

^ Actually, zmeister, WXLV is HD on 45-2, just very poor HD most of the time.

Speaking of WXLV, the game last night was dead-on. Perhaps they figured out network passthrough, as the video was markedly better than usual, and the audio was dead-on.

Here's hoping tonight is at least as good!

Thanks for the clarification Roland. I tried to watch the Rose bowl and it didn't look so good on 45 but it was just great on 11!

I'm in a part of town that gets neither Charlotte nor Durham, so XLVDT is my only choice. At least I kept my old sat/OTA box when I switched to cable!

http://www.sbgi.net/business/markets/greensboro.shtml

Says HDTV yes so why doesnt TW carry it?

^ Money.

Originally posted by Johnny1
http://www.sbgi.net/business/markets/greensboro.shtml

Says HDTV yes so why doesnt TW carry it?

Sinclair Broadcasting, the owner of WXLV wants monetary compensation for carrying WXLV-DT. TW does not want to pay cash. Since WXLV-DT is not a must carry, TW doesn't have to carry it.

any guesses as to when we might see ESPN2 HD on Time Warner? channel number?

Thank you for contacting Time Warner Cable's customer service department, where
your satisfaction is our priority. The local ABC affiliate WXLV current does
not carry a High Definition signal that we can use. Once they make this
upgrade, we will be able to provide it to our customers. We are in
negotiations for UPNHD, WBHD, and NBC Universal, though at this time we do not
know if or when we will begin carrying these channels. Your concerns have been
passed on to our programming department.





There's hope....

If ABC's Orange Bowl production was any indication of their quality, WXLV should be paying Time Warner to try to get it on the air rather than the other way around!

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=491430

telemike, looks like the thread is gone, what was it about?

Thank you for contacting Time Warner Cable's customer service department, where
your satisfaction is our priority. The local ABC affiliate WXLV current does
not carry a High Definition signal that we can use. Once they make this
upgrade, we will be able to provide it to our customers. We are in
negotiations for UPNHD, WBHD, and NBC Universal, though at this time we do not
know if or when we will begin carrying these channels. Your concerns have been
passed on to our programming department.

Jacksonian.....so very true. While it was kinda cool to jack up the volume and try to feel "in the stadium" without the announcers, after about the first quarter I gave up & went to bed. WXLV seems to have cut off its arm to fix a broken finger by "fixing" their audio delay glitch by eliminating the center channel. But just for the game. The commercials were fine. Geez!

Terrible, terrible job as usual by WXLV. How $%^&ing hard is it pass through a network feed?

Originally posted by roland6465
How $%^&ing hard is it pass through a network feed?

Tougher than you think. That is why FOX is using the splicer method. Takes the guess work out at the station level.

Originally posted by telemike
Thank you for contacting Time Warner Cable's customer service department, where
your satisfaction is our priority. The local ABC affiliate WXLV current does
not carry a High Definition signal that we can use. Once they make this
upgrade, we will be able to provide it to our customers. We are in
negotiations for UPNHD, WBHD, and NBC Universal, though at this time we do not
know if or when we will begin carrying these channels. Your concerns have been
passed on to our programming department.

The only upgrade is the ink for the deal between Sinclair and TWC.

This sucks. Isnt Sinclair the ones who didnt want to show private ryan too? I liked abc better when it was channel 8!

Funny they didn't mention ESPN2 HD. But, I'll have NFL playoffs and SuperBowl in great quality HD. Then everyone will have another 7 months to get their act together for football season for me. I can't get too excited about UPN and WB HD, but I'll take anything I can get.

Originally posted by Johnny1
I liked abc better when it was channel 8!

Does anyone remember those days?;)

Yup. Frank Deal was the man.

I went to work there in early 92, but I was well acquainted with the station from my childhood days. When I was growing up in Fayetteville in the late 60's and early 70's, WGHP was on the Fayetteville cable system (only 12 channel cable systems in those days) along with WFMY and WSJS-TV (WXII). Of the three, WGHP had the best signal on the cable system. It was all OTA reception in those days and TV antennas on houses were the norm and not the exception and cable companies used distant stations on their systems to attract new customers. WFMY was still transmitting off of Phillips Ave and WSJS-TV was on an antenna on a 30 ft pole basically that sits on top of Sauaratown Mt (the pole is still there but it is used to hold two way antennas the last time I was up there a few years ago and WXII has a 700 or 800 ft tower on top of the mountain now).

It is hard to believe that the network affiliation swap happened 10 years ago this September and FOX officially bought us in February of 1996. I remember real well when the announcement was made in 1994 right after we had just been bought by New Word Communications that FOX had bought a 20% stake in the company and as part of the sale agreement, all of the New World stations would change to FOX as soon as their contracts would allow. There were 12 stations in the group and 9 were CBS affiliates and had been for 40 years or more and many were on channels 2, 4 and 5; 1 NBC on channel 4 and two ABC's, one on channel 6 and one on channel 8 (us!). That is why there are many FOX 2's, 4's and 5's (and a couple of 6's now too) in the Midwest. Of course this was pre FOX News Channel and FOX having the NFL and all of the FOX regional sports nets and all of the stuff we have come to know as FOX. Back then we just knew that since FOX was a low rate network we would all be out of jobs because we were afraid we were heading in the FOX 45, WNRW mold as a FOX station with only about 30 employees and we had almost 110 employees at the time. It was a real scary time. Of course we didn't know what FOX had in mind (all we knew were we were changing to FOX and that COULDN'T BE GOOD based on past performace, of course we didn't have the full story then and worried for nothing) with all the news and sports programming and that the acquisition was part of the overall strategy. It was about 12 months later that FOX bought the remainder of New World and the stations in the New World group began the process of being absorbed into FOX as the FCC approved each stations transfer to FOX.

The owners of channel 45 at the time (this was pre-Sinclair) were trying to work out a deal with ABC before they sold the station so they could sell the station for more money and ABC was baulking at moving to a UHF station (and a former FOX affiliate at that) after spending 35 years on a wide coverage VHF. The rumor was that ABC had approached both WFMY and WXII about becoming the ABC affiliate and when NBC and CBS heard about it, immediately locked up their respective stations to long term contracts so ABC had no choice but to go to 45 since 16, 20, 48 and 61 were still locally owned then and didn't have the resources to start a news operation which was one of the conditions for obtaining the network, After 45 signed with ABC and was sold, I remember the new management team the new owners brought in started spreading the story that since 45 was to be the new ABC station and we were going to be the new FOX station, we were going to sink into oblivion and 45 would be the new number one station in the market and they had better get on board and off of a sinking ship. 45 even talked to some of our people and convinced some to leave but most of us decided that FOX was a larger company than the new owners of 45 and we felt we had a better shot by staying. Of course just about all of those who left to go to 45 are now gone from there and many of us are still around so you never know!

By this time we were seeing that FOX was not a second rate company and yes, they are frugal with their money, but they aren't stingy. And when it came time to do upgrades for the station, the money flowed and in 3 years we got equipment we had been asking for years under former ownership (like new cameras, our first sat truck, new live trucks, new news equipment, new studio equipment and new transmitter equipment. Little known fact that WGHP didn't go stereo until Aug 1, 1995, one month before we went FOX. That was one thing FOX wanted us to do before we changed. Until that time, the former owners didn't think it was worth spending the money to do it.) and we found out FOX wasn't a bad company to be owned by. This was during the time that FOX News Channel started and all of the FOX regional sports nets started and the big push on sports in general with FOX (the NFL and NHL then). Life was turning out to be pretty good. We actually increased employees and for a while had the largest news operation in the state (We may still do, I don't know with the economy up and down and other stations hiring and laying off, it is hard to tell. All I know we haven't laid off anyone since FOX bought us but if people have left they might not refill that position so we have downsized through attrition. How many employers would do that?)

Well I didn't mean to get off on a tangent here, but it has been an amazing 10 years for us and I assume the same for WXLV. But, I may be completely wrong. I don't know. I am just looking in like everyone else.

Anyone having trouble with channel 51 (WFMY). I have a dish network 811 receiver and all of a sudden channel 51 started flashing in and out. I reset the receiver but it is still doing it. All of the other channels are fine.

Originally posted by pti711
Anyone having trouble with channel 51 (WFMY). I have a dish network 811 receiver and all of a sudden channel 51 started flashing in and out. I reset the receiver but it is still doing it. All of the other channels are fine.

All I know was that early yesterday afternoon when doing a band scan, they stopped sending the PSIP packets and the channel reverted back to channel 51. It may be in preparation for the new PSIP EPG rules that are to take effect first of February. Ricky?

Foxeng, You're on the right track. Actually the updates were installed last week. For some reason days after the upgrade the Flexicoder nim card failed over to backup, and the support pc's quit talking to each other. I know you're thinking UPS but no problems found. Everything has been reset (I hope), some parameters have been changed and monitoring of data flow with snapshots of faults enabled. We're going to capture that gremlin and roast it. Thanks for everyone's patience..... Rickey.