When I get Time Warner Cable's Broadband Internet service aka Road Runner, will I have to subscribe to broadcast tier, ~$8 in order to get the free HDTV programming? Or can I receive the HDTV channels without it? I have an LG 4200A HDTV receiver.

I'm pretty sure that you'll actually have to subscribe to their digital tier to get the HD channels. Because you'll need their digital set top box to receive their digital HD channels. The LG HD receiver won't help you as far as TWC is concerned. So you may want to consider an antenna if you don't want to pay for the TWC package.

You will need a set-top box from TW to get HDTV over the cable. You only have to subscribe to the analog tier with digital access along with the rental fees for the box

The reason why I ask is, I have Time Warner Cable down here in South Carolina. In the Columbia and Myrtle Beach markets, you can use your own STB, subscribe to Broadcast only tear for $5.80 and still receive the network HDTV channels. The analog tier as much as the customer service wants subscribers to get it, is not necessary for the network HDTV channels, in these two SC markets.

The Vice President of TWC South Carolina branch posts in the SC forums and consistantly states that the HDTV channels from ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, must be provided at no additional cost to subscribers to the broadcast tier. I was hoping the way was made by someone before I got to Lexington, NC.

Anyone else ever try this in the Piedmont Triad market on Time Warner Cable? No offense to the above two posters.

The reason why I ask is, I have Time Warner Cable down here in South Carolina. In the Columbia and Myrtle Beach markets, you can use your own STB, subscribe to Broadcast only tear for $5.80 and still receive the network HDTV channels. The analog tier as much as the customer service wants subscribers to get it, is not necessary for the network HDTV channels, in these two SC markets.

The Vice President of TWC South Carolina branch posts in the SC forums and consistantly states that the HDTV channels from ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, must be provided at no additional cost to subscribers to the broadcast tier. I was hoping the way was made by someone before I got to Lexington, NC.

Anyone else ever try this in the Piedmont Triad market on Time Warner Cable? No offense to the above two posters.
Interesting....

My problem is my TV is only HD ready, and I need the TWC box to make my HD dreams reality. I am getting ready to convert some of my stuff in the next week or so, so I'll go on and ask the question of our local TWC reps. I don't know what kind of answer I'll get, but it won't hurt for me to try! :cool:

For two months I rented the Time Warner Cable Set Top Box Scientific America 3250HD. It worked fine. I paid $9.95 for the box each month and $5.80 for the Broadcast tier. I returned the box and bought my own. I receive TNT-HD, PBS-HD, Discovery HD, ABC(not available in NC I hear), NBC, CBS, FOX and Braves games.

The customer service people at the 1-800 number said no, but the TWC VP for Marketing said, YES! So it might take some higher ups to set you and me up.

With the LG-LST4200A HDTV receiver you can receive some HD programming by subscribing to the basic tier and above. This is because of the QAM capability of the receiver-other makes with QAM will pick up similarly. The channels available in that scenario in the GSO, HP, and WS markets are: NBC, CBS, FOX, PBS, TNT, and Discovery HD. (ABC is not available at this time as a result of an ongoing dispute between Time Warner and Sinclair Broadcasting, the ower of the local ABC affiliate.)

If they would only add ESPN-HD to that QAM list! The list mentioned above is indeed correct. I currently pick up those HD stations, although I only subscribe to the analog signal. My built-in tuner picks up the other stations. I just keep holding my breath to see how long before we lose TNT and Discovery-HD from the "free" package. I wonder if they will ever add any more?

I hear NBC/TNT is dropping NASCAR, so there goes my TNT advantage. It will stink having to go back and watch some of the races on non-HD signals if ABC/ESPN pick up the second half of the season. :(

OK guys,

Help this poor girl out. Are you telling me that if I own the right HD receiver I can get the HD "free" channels by just subscribing to analog cable? Dang!

What brands/type of HD receiver would I need if I were to go this route? I have a Pioneer Elite 710 (a dinosaur, but one with a GORGEOUS picture). Be gentle - I don't keep up with all the new stuff like I used to!

Thanks in advance ya'll!

I live on the north side of GSO out Church St. near Lake Jeanette. My current setup is this. I have DirecTV's HD service and I have a Terk TV44 attached to my dish. I can pull in WFMY and WXII great. For the first few days I could pull in WXLV great also. Watching MNF tonight is all kinds of pixelated. I can go about a maximum of about 1 minute before it pixelates out and pauses on me. WTWB doesn't even show up as a blip on my signal strength meter in my receiver. WGHP maxes out at about 10-12 percent. My dish is about 8 feet off the ground on a pole. Anyway, I got the Terk TV44 at Radio Shack and they said I could bring it back within 30 days if it didn't work right. I guess what I am trying to figure out is if this is the best I am going to get or if a better antenna would work better. If anyone living out in my neck of the words has had better luck with reception and has suggestions on antennas that would provide better reception it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your help.

Greg

With the LG-LST4200A HDTV receiver you can receive some HD programming by subscribing to the basic tier and above. This is because of the QAM capability of the receiver-other makes with QAM will pick up similarly. The channels available in that scenario in the GSO, HP, and WS markets are: NBC, CBS, FOX, PBS, TNT, and Discovery HD. (ABC is not available at this time as a result of an ongoing dispute between Time Warner and Sinclair Broadcasting, the ower of the local ABC affiliate.)

That is good news. What about just subscribing to road runner? Will the free HDTV still be there?

OK guys,

Help this poor girl out. Are you telling me that if I own the right HD receiver I can get the HD "free" channels by just subscribing to analog cable? Dang!

What brands/type of HD receiver would I need if I were to go this route? I have a Pioneer Elite 710 (a dinosaur, but one with a GORGEOUS picture). Be gentle - I don't keep up with all the new stuff like I used to!

Thanks in advance ya'll!


Computergeeks.com has a refurb LG 3510 HDTV receiver and DVD player for $180. So yes it can be done for less than $10 per month.

Cobra,

No, you still have to subscribe to the analog service. I don't think the HD channels have anything to do with your internet subscription. Someone, please correct me if I'm wrong though.

Cobra,
From my experience you will have to subscribe to analog service from TWC.
When you subscribe to RR only, a filter is placed in the line to block TV signals.

I was thinking that the block was on the lower signals, ie 2-83, with filters for 2-13 and 14-83 inline with each other, but I heard that they do not block the higher signals. I have also heard that they cant block 2-13 because of the location of the broadband freq.

Anyone else?

PS How about them Colts?

Computergeeks.com has a refurb LG 3510 HDTV receiver and DVD player for $180. So yes it can be done for less than $10 per month.Thanks! I'll look into it! :)

Haven't seen anyone else post from Northwest of Forsyth County. I am just starting out with trying to get the OTA signals for local stations. This forum has been very useful. My TV has a built in digital tuner and I bought a cheap indoor antenna to see if I could get WXII. Sure enough it worked. I also get the 5 PBS channels. Channel 2.1 comes and goes. The same with 45.1 and 48.1. Nadda signal for FOX. But doesn't sound like they are full signal, yet.

I have ordered a DB 8 UHF antenna (only UHF as it is my understanding that there are currently only UHF digital signals in this area), as well as a 17db preamp. Given my distance from the transmitters, I did not think that I would have a problem with overload. Do you think that I stand a good chance of getting 2, 8, 45,48 with greater signal strength? Is there anything else that I could do to improve my performance?

Thanks for your imput, and I'll keep you informed on us rural folk here in Mayberry.

Haven't seen anyone else post from Northwest of Forsyth County. I am just starting out with trying to get the OTA signals for local stations. This forum has been very useful. My TV has a built in digital tuner and I bought a cheap indoor antenna to see if I could get WXII. Sure enough it worked. I also get the 5 PBS channels. Channel 2.1 comes and goes. The same with 45.1 and 48.1. Nadda signal for FOX. But doesn't sound like they are full signal, yet.

I have ordered a DB 8 UHF antenna (only UHF as it is my understanding that there are currently only UHF digital signals in this area), as well as a 17db preamp. Given my distance from the transmitters, I did not think that I would have a problem with overload. Do you think that I stand a good chance of getting 2, 8, 45,48 with greater signal strength? Is there anything else that I could do to improve my performance?

Thanks for your imput, and I'll keep you informed on us rural folk here in Mayberry.

WXII and WUNL digital are located on Sauratown Mt. WFMY, WXLV Digital, WTWB, WUPN, WLXI Digital and WGHP are all located between Asheboro and Level Cross. Reliable reception with rabbit ears from the Pilot Mt area for the southern stations would be spotty at best if at all. Once you install your outside antenna, you should see vast improvement on the southen stations.

Just remember that after the transition to digital in a couple of years, WGHP will remain on channel 8 for digital with all of the other local stations staying on their UHF digital channels.

Thanks for the reply foxeng. Are you guys set to go to full power by year end?

Thanks for the reply foxeng. Are you guys set to go to full power by year end?

We might be on by the end of December, but I would say at the rate things are moving right now, it will be the first of January.

Foxeng,
How much power is WGHP DTV putting out now and what will it be when you go full power?

Foxeng,
How much power is WGHP DTV putting out now and what will it be when you go full power?

WGHP-DT is currently operating at 4200 watts with the antenna at 900 feet on the analog tower. When we increase to full power, we will be operating at 1 million watts.

Since I haven't really said anything lately of our progress, here is a picture of the final tower section being lifted up the tower yesterday. Enjoy!

http://www.w4cl.net/fox/PA280022.JPG

I am just trying to figure-out the HD OTA Local Channel game. I recently bought a Sony KDF-E50A10 and got a Tivo HD Tuner, etc. I opted to not go with the DirecTV offering for the OTA Antenna because it could not be properly mounted and I have heard it is not the best antenna.

I am looking for a local installer and some suggestions for a better OTA antenna, to either be attic- or ceiling-mounted. I live in Clemmons, NC and know that there are several offerings with my local channels (WXLV, WUNL, WXII in Winston-Salem at 25 miles, WUPN, WFMY, WLXI in Greensboro at 34 miles). However, I wonder if it wouldn't be better to point towards Charlotte (more options/9 channels or so at between 73 and 75 miles).

If there is anyone out there who lives in Clemmons or the surrounding area that has good suggestions for installers, antennas and where to turn for the best reception, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

Hi Jlkjcskin,

I'm not the expert alot of the others are here, but I live in Advance and use the HD Tivo with just a set of amplified indoor rabbit ears I got at Lowes and get all the locals except Fox. I doubt you will need a external antenna unless you want to try for Charlotte. Don't forget to apply for a HD waiver for Fox from DirecTv and you will have all your networks in HD. (But not the Panthers on Sunday--HURRY FOXENG!!!) :)

Bill

Bill,

Thanks for your response. It's encouraging. I already got shot-down on my request for waivers from DirecTV, although I applied for all the locals, not just FOX. Would that make a difference? Fortunately, or unfortunately, I am a transplanted Atlantan and therefore a Falcons fan. Missing the Panthers wouldn't break my Sunday, although I don't really root against them.

John

For Greensboro TWC viewers:

They have added more blank 900 series channels........TWC must be up to something......

Heard TWC struck a deal with Universal HD. I just wish Sinclair would let TWC carry AVC-HD.

I'm sort of meh on UniversalHD. I really hope they reach a deal on ESPN2HD soon.

I'll be happy with any new HD channels right now. But I'd be even happier with a decent HD DVR/TiVo rather than the junk we have now.

I already got shot-down on my request for waivers from DirecTV, although I applied for all the locals, not just FOX. Would that make a difference?




John,

Call DirecTV back again and ask for a HD customer service rep. They might have thought you wanted regular distant networks instead of just HD. You won't get a waiver from ABC, CBS or NBC, but WGHP is owned by Fox corporate, so they don't care which one you watch for network shows--(but remember to watch the local news--right foxeng!) Be sure that DirecTV realizes you just want a HD waiver.

Good luck--and you had the good sense to move here, now just dump those birds for some panthers and you'll be set! :D
Bill

John,

Call DirecTV back again and ask for a HD customer service rep. They might have thought you wanted regular distant networks instead of just HD. You won't get a waiver from ABC, CBS or NBC, but WGHP is owned by Fox corporate, so they don't care which one you watch for network shows--(but remember to watch the local news--right foxeng!) Be sure that DirecTV realizes you just want a HD waiver.

Good luck--and you had the good sense to move here, now just dump those birds for some panthers and you'll be set! :D
Bill

I can't even get FOX via D* in HD. They say that in addition to being part of the GSO market, I'm also a part of the Charlotte market. Fox 18 in Charlotte is not O&O and they will NOT give any wavers. :(

John, I wonder if that is your problem?

I submitted my waiver too. I still haven't heard anything back. They said I would hear something within 6 weeks. That's 2 weeks away. I'll let you know if the let me watch or not.

On another note, and maybe someone can comment on their experience. I have a Terk outdoor dish clipon antenna. About 2 weeks ago, I was getting everyting, even WGHP. I watched the World Series in HD, it was awesome! Now suddenly WGHP is non-existent, WXII and WFMY are flaky and WXLV is perfect. Looking at my signal meter for both WXII and WFMY, they pull in a string signal (usually 75% and higher). But it will drop out randomly. Maybe its just me. Anyone else in north Greensboro having this problem?

foxeng, can't wait until you're full power!

I submitted my waiver too. I still haven't heard anything back. They said I would hear something within 6 weeks. That's 2 weeks away. I'll let you know if the let me watch or not.

On another note, and maybe someone can comment on their experience. I have a Terk outdoor dish clipon antenna. About 2 weeks ago, I was getting everyting, even WGHP. I watched the World Series in HD, it was awesome! Now suddenly WGHP is non-existent, WXII and WFMY are flaky and WXLV is perfect. Looking at my signal meter for both WXII and WFMY, they pull in a string signal (usually 75% and higher). But it will drop out randomly. Maybe its just me. Anyone else in north Greensboro having this problem?

foxeng, can't wait until you're full power!

The deal with the D* FOX waivers here are three OTHER FOX affiliate stations claim certain parts of the market as theirs. WRAZ in Raleigh claims the eastern part of the market, WFXR Roanoke claims the northern part and WCCB in Charlotte claim the southern. I got the FOX waiver but it took the OK of WFXR and WRAZ and they approved it. WCCB WILL NOT approve a waiver. I know some people there and they said that if I needed a waiver from them, they wouldn't give it to me.

Those clip on antennas are not very reliable. I live off of Battleground by Westridge with a Channel Master 4228 on my roof and have had WGHP-DT since we signed on in 2002. The fact that you are having problems with stations that are at full power tells me you need a different antenna.

You are not the only one who can hardly wait for us to be at full power. We are working at breakneck speed to get it on. We found out that FEMA has hijacked some of our large electrical panels for the Gulf Coast and that has slowed things down a little, but we are still pushing hard. At this rate the tower will be ready about 30 days ahead of the building instead of the building being ready ahead of the tower. Nothing we can do about it. If you can't get the parts, you can't get the parts and without those electrical panels, the transmitter doesn't do us much good!

foxeng,

Is the new tower going to be roughly in the same place as your current tower? One of the reasons why I got the clip on antenna was because it was omnidirectional. I tried the round one from RS too, and that was worse. I looked at the ChannelMaster you noted, and other as well have had good luck with it. Do you have to rotate your antenna, or are you able to get ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX with one general direction? I know this is kind of thinking ahead, but I didn't want to get too invested into OTA with directv "saying/promoting" local HD programming by the end of next year. From what I've read on this forum, Detriot was the only place saying the directv had called them about equipment swap. BTW, does directv deal with you guys for this process or is it do they do this on their own? If you do have to rotate you 4228, do you know of an omnidirectional that people in our area have had luck with? Thanks for your advice.

foxeng,

Is the new tower going to be roughly in the same place as your current tower?

Yes, exactly.

Do you have to rotate your antenna, or are you able to get ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX with one general direction?

Yes you have to rotate the antenna but for the local stations it is basically only two directions. Towards Asheboro for WFMY-DT, WGHP-DT, WTWB-DT, WXLV-DT, WUPN-DT and WLXI-DT and toward Sauratown Mt for WXII-DT and WUNL-DT. If you are into PAX, you would need to point toward Reidsville. Depending on you where in the Triad you live, you would also be able to receive the Roanoke stations, the Raleigh stations and/or the Charlotte stations. I live in north Greensboro and receive the Roanoke and Raleigh stations.

I know this is kind of thinking ahead, but I didn't want to get too invested into OTA with directv "saying/promoting" local HD programming by the end of next year. From what I've read on this forum, Detriot was the only place saying the directv had called them about equipment swap.

Detroit is the test market for HD LIL. D* has only announced 12 markets for the initial HD LIL rollout. We are not one of them.

BTW, does directv deal with you guys for this process or is it do they do this on their own?

Yes. They have already contacted us about it but I suspect it will be this time next year at the earliest before they offer this market in HD LIL because of the delay in the launching of Spaceway 2.

If you do have to rotate you 4228, do you know of an omnidirectional that people in our area have had luck with? Thanks for your advice.

No omni that I have heard of works for all stations everywhere. As a matter of fact, I haven't heard of an omni antenna that works for all stations anywhere. Experience of people I have talked with show that if you use an omni, you have to compromise that you will not have every station.

I have one of those small flying saucer TV antennas in Martinsville, VA. Although it is directional (it has an internal rotater, but I just leave it pointed at Poor Mountain), when I point it at Poor Mountain in Roanoke, I get WDBJ-DT and WSLS-DT from Roanoke, but I also get (sometimes better than others) WFMY-DT, WXII-DT, and WXLV-DT (and some others very weekly). Once in a blue moon I pick up Raleigh stations.

No sound on TNT-HD? Has anyone else picking up TNT HD (ch. # 102-300) via a QAM OTA receiver noticed any broadcasts without audio. I have noticed this off and on for several months and thought i would ask.

I concur, TNT-HD, 102-300 is without audio.

Hello,

I moved to Lexington, NC last week.
The Time Warner cable installer came today.
My appointment: 7:30am to Noon; He arrived at 12:02 pm.
The friendly installer put in my broadcast cable and broadband internet.
He put in a new connection right below my computer desk.
I asked if for $5 he could put me in another one for an outside antenna.
He did it for free. I connected my Winegard UHF antenna outside.
I receive 9-1 ABC in HD, so it points toward Charlotte for ABC.

Channels I receive on TWC.
2-23 clearly.
Then the following QAM channels.
80-1 CBS-HD
80-1 Weather
82-3 thru 82-7 UNC
85-11 DiscoveryHD
88-50 Mexicana audio
88-51 Americana audio
102-300 TNT-HD
116-2 NBC-HD
116-3 FOX-HD
116-4 Weather

also of note: 5-0 HBO, it wont last I would guess.
All for $7.50 per month.

That appears correct. Didn't know HBO was 5-0. I'll have to try that. Is it HBO-HD? Is there any hope that that with the upcoming Super Bowl on ABC will be enough leverage to get one of the sides to move in the WXLV Sinclair vs. TWC showdown? I recently purchased a Terk indoor antenna and I could pick up ABC on a half way dependable signal (50-60 strength). Yet lately, I've found the signal has fallen into the 20-30 range. Don't know what I've done to get a worse signal, or if they've actually lost some signal strength. I've even had to begin placing the antenna on top of a step ladder in order to pick up an acceptable signal.

I'm afraid if I have company over and we have a lot of people up and down in front of the antenna, the game will be unwatchable. I guess I need to break down for a real antenna, I just hate to spend the money for basically one channel that I don't watch half the time.

I need some info in next 2 days please.
I convinced my sister to purchase a SONY HDTV, b/c the HD content blew her away.
In trying to get a CableCard from TWC I mentioned that they only needed it for the HD Suite, b/c the other HD's already came over my cable w/ the tuner built in to the TV. Here's the screwed up part.
She (TWC rep) told me:
1st that Cablecard did not provide a True HD picture it was downgraded. I did not believe her.
2nd that picking up the locals over the cable connection was "theft." I told her to take that up with Sony. I do feel kind of bad, b/c they only purchased regular and it literally costs them $3.50 per month after the RoadRunner discount, but that was the whole reason for the purchase. They get TNT and some other channels too.
3rd I caught a TWC guy couple days ago outside their house univited. When I asked him to stop to talk, he literally jogged away :confused: ? Can they come whenever they feel like it? It got me thinking maybe things are not on the up and up.

Am I breaking any laws by getting the HD locals over the cable line, but only paying for regular cable? I am not sure if I should be irritated or worried about their behaviour. I see it as their problem.
Worse case scenario they cut the HD locals out and I put up an antenna next visit, but I promised this would not be necessary upon the original purchase.
Has anyone had success getting a Cablecard for specific stuff like HD HBO and the HD Suite?
I know I read that they have to give you HBO and Showtime if you have regular and can't make you upgrade to Digital?
Any advice.

Basically is TWC shafting me or am I being Naive about the "free" locals.

I have a question about the TWC HD DVR boxes. My understanding from this thread is that TWC uses the SA Explorer 8300HD boxes, correct? They supposedly have an HDMI connection and according to some SA documentation I found on the web, it's backwards compatible with DVI. So, when my girlfriend gets her HD DVR box on Thursday she should be able to connect it to her HD TV's DVI port?

She'll need an adapter, but it works for most sets. For some reason, I cannot get the box to recognize my Optoma projector as HDCP compliant, so I just gave up after three boxes and switched to an RCA component connection.

She'll need an adapter, but it works for most sets. For some reason, I cannot get the box to recognize my Optoma projector as HDCP compliant, so I just gave up after three boxes and switched to an RCA component connection.

Thanks!

Exactly what type of adapter is needed?

She (TWC rep) told me:


TWC reps know less about HDTV than most TV viewers.


1st that Cablecard did not provide a True HD picture it was downgraded. I did not believe her.



Incorrect.



2nd that picking up the locals over the cable connection was "theft."


The VP of marketing for TWC in SC posts on the Columbia forums. She continually has to train the TWC reps otherwise. She put me onto the $7.50 per month for HDTV locals. IT IS NOT THEFT!!!



3rd I caught a TWC guy couple days ago outside their house univited. When I asked him to stop to talk, he literally jogged away :confused: ? Can they come whenever they feel like it?

TWC does regular audits to catch would be cable theives. So they can disconnect cable and check at will. They have done it to me over the years. Once they came to the door and claimed I was stealing cable but would let me slide this time since they installed a filter on the line.

Thanks!

Exactly what type of adapter is needed?

The easiest thing to do would be to get a DVI to HDMI cable. Then no adapter is needed.

Hello,
also of note: 5-0 HBO, it wont last I would guess.
All for $7.50 per month.

Free HBO continues after the first week.

Hi Flo, just avoid calling them out for anything as they are unlikely to come out on their own just to add the filter to exclude your HBO!

I have the SA8300 with TWC-Greensboro and was hoping that someone with the same box can help me out. I believe we received a software update within the past few weeks that is causing some problems with the "Record to VCR" function. I have my 8300 connected to a DVD-Recorder via s-video. When I try to record a show from the 8300's hard drive to the DVD-Recorder using the "Record to VCR" option, the result is a DVD full of visual "jagged lines"--barely watcheable. However, if I simply record the show to the DVD-Recorder while the show is being played back on the 8300 (as opposed to "Record to VCR"), the result on the DVD is fine--no jagged lines. I just noticed this started happening within the past few weeks. Can anyone try to duplicate this with their setup and let me know what happens?

I use "copy to vcr" to send a signal to my bedroom and it seems to be working okay. Of course I just got a new 8300 Thursday b/c the hard drive failed. Turn on picture-in-picture and see what that is showing (it will show the output to "vcr.") I'm not using the s-video cable though...Maybe try using the regular rca video cable out instead?

I use "copy to vcr" to send a signal to my bedroom and it seems to be working okay. Of course I just got a new 8300 Thursday b/c the hard drive failed. Turn on picture-in-picture and see what that is showing (it will show the output to "vcr.") I'm not using the s-video cable though...Maybe try using the regular rca video cable out instead?

I haven't tried it with the regular rca cable yet, but I did try hooking up the 8300 directly to my TV with the s-video to make sure it wasn't my DVD-Recorder that was causing the problem. Same result--"Copy to VCR" via s-video is much worse than simply playing a recorded show via s-video.

anyone else having trouble with discovery hd and tnt hd via qam?

TNT-HD now at 104-300.
Discovery HD now at 87-11. (Both are QAM on TW cable)

Has anyone heard about the new channels on TWC - looks like 100+ new blank channels added in the 900 and up range over the last month. Any rumors? I guess when the annual price increase Jan 1st comes along we'll get the analog channels also in digital. Signal strength in my area of Greensboro {Lawndale/Lake Brandt} has gotten much better last few weeks. I never have artifacts at all now on any HD channels

Hi everyone,

I recently put in a new home theater in the basement, but watching only DVD movies is getting old.

I want to be able to watch all my TV shows and sports broadcast from the major networks.

What is the best way to do this?

1. Direct TV with OTA?
2. Dish Network with OTA?
3. Purchase my own HiDef DVR/Tuner and get basic cable so that I can also get the local HD?

It seems to me that the Sattelite with OTA is the right choice, but I don't want to spend all that money and then be wrong.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks. :)

I have the digital cable box with the HDTV. This is one way to get your HDTV fix, then if you don't like it, or want to go another route, you won't lose money with a contract.

Just a quick update. Even in the rain we keep working. We have received the big power transformers that supplies the 35,000 volts for the digital transmitter, one of two shown and weighs 2 tons, EACH. We hope to have the rest of the transmitter soon and then we can get it installed over the holidays and get it on the air shortly after. Enjoy!

http://www.w4cl.net/blog/beamsupply.jpg

(Foxeng, I am about to vent on your station, you may want to avert your eyes/ears.)

Did anyone else watch House last night and notice that our idiot affiliate came back MINUTES late from a commercial break causing me and my girlfriend to miss plot information. God, do I ever hate it when that happens. I wish the slack-jawed-yokels who handled switching at the affiliates would wake up and get things right. I was irate last night. (And I still don't know why the patient's father hated him. I asked in the House thread...)

(Foxeng, I am about to vent on your station, you may want to avert your eyes/ears.)

Did anyone else watch House last night and notice that our idiot affiliate came back MINUTES late from a commercial break causing me and my girlfriend to miss plot information. God, do I ever hate it when that happens. I wish the slack-jawed-yokels who handled switching at the affiliates would wake up and get things right. I was irate last night. (And I still don't know why the patient's father hated him. I asked in the House thread...)

Don't quite know how to respond to this other than to say that by saying that if where I work are idiots, kinda makes me an idiot too, doesn't it? ;)

I saw that too. I haven't had time today to find out what happened, but I can tell you that at that time, they are getting ready for the news and Master Control gets pretty busy then.

Running Master Control in a TV station can be associated with a receptionist of a business who has to type memos, take care of people coming in the front door, dealing with the telephones and maybe because they are dealing with someone else on another phone line, some one is standing in front of them wanting for information, and then the Fed Ex guys walks in, that additional ringing telephone may have to ring longer than anyone would like and so the person on the phone gets ticked off for having the phone ring too long.

Master Control is kinda like that. They do more than just watch TV, even though their main duty is to be sure all of the programming and commericals are run correctly. Not only do they have to switch the programming, but they have to keep up with the commerical log and make sure that they are ready to play in the proper order when it is there time, keep track of 2 transmitters now and at 9:30, get ready for a newscast since Master Control also starts the reporter stories during the newscasts. We do have live people punching buttons, where some of the other stations in the market use computers and they run by themselves.

We aren't perfect but I bet you aren't at your job either. We all make mistakes. No, it wasn't our finest moment, but it also wasn't the end of the world. No I personally didn't like the fact that we missed it, but not only did the HD people missed it, the SD people did also since both sources are switched by a single button so the HD people were nto slighted. I also know what it is like to be running Master Control, so if you can find a place in your heart, you might want to cut the Master Control people of all stations some slack when something happens, OK? (the ole' "walk a mile in shoes")

His father was ticked at him because he believed he lead to his wifes death when he first thought he had AIDS.

Any chance TWC will also be adding any free QAM channels on the Jan 1 update? Thought that was kind of strange to have TNT and Discovery switch channels. Now I get some blank weird channels pop up (blank) when I channel surf. Although that may be just my TV setup.

I would love to get some more extra channels via QAM, but I guess getting ESPN, etc. is only a pipe dream.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

"I would love to get some more extra channels via QAM, but I guess getting ESPN, etc. is only a pipe dream. "

Better hope we hang on to what we have!

Hi Greensboro,

Anyone in Greensborp using a bi-directional or multi-directional OTA antenna? My concern with a Uni is that when I need to use the DVR and the Uni needs to be pointed in the other direction, I will miss what I want to record.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Hi Greensboro,

Anyone in Greensborp using a bi-directional or multi-directional OTA antenna? My concern with a Uni is that when I need to use the DVR and the Uni needs to be pointed in the other direction, I will miss what I want to record.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

From Greensboro you are only looking in two directions for all of the major stations. Sauratown Mt north of Winston-Salem has WXII-DT and WUNL-DT. Due south down US 220 is WFMY-DT, WGHP-DT, WTWB-DT, WXLV-DT, WUPN-DT. In theory only two antennas are needed one pointed in each direction and then use a combiner to bring them all in. That doesn't always work though because some of the stations may have enough signal coming in on the other antenna to cause interference to the other antenna and you may not receive anything on that channel.

Do you have any URL links so that I can investigate this "combiner" idea. I thought that a multi or omni would work though?

Do you have any URL links so that I can investigate this "combiner" idea. I thought that a multi or omni would work though?

Those saucers really have no gain and because they pick up from every direction, they create multipath that kills the digital signal. Everyone who I have talked to around here about omni's have had undesirable results for picking up all of the stations. They either point south and do without NBC or they put in a rotator.

Check out http://www.hdtvprimer.com for more ideas.

I second what Foxeng said about master control being a tough job. If only some members of the viewing public could work under those conditions for a week or two... It humbles me just to be aware of the pressure they are under. I'd be a raving lunitic within a day or two of putting up with what they have to do. Foxeng those xformers look a lot like ours. NWL? The power company will love the business! Good luck sir, and happy holidays. Rickey.

Foxeng those xformers look a lot like ours. NWL? The power company will love the business! Good luck sir, and happy holidays. Rickey.

They are Stein's from London. Ontario.

http://www.w4cl.net/blog/PB210007.JPG

Remember, our transmitter has a bright red maple leaf painted on it and Duke Power can't wait for us to get on line!! They are already drooling!! :D Come by and say hi some time. I have been practically living there since July.

We also got all of the tower lights running late Wednesday afternoon so you should be seeing white flashes with some red flashes after dark now instead of solid reds!

Happy Holidays to you and yours too.

Wow... 36,000 to 38,000 volts... that's up there with the voltages present in my CRT projector... only it uses a miliamp or so of current, not 2.5 amps.

I never knew your transmitters ran on such high voltages. Impressive. Transmitter output must be somewhere near 500,000 watts?

Joe L.

I never knew your transmitters ran on such high voltages. Impressive. Transmitter output must be somewhere near 500,000 watts?

I wish. High power UHF transmitters are very inefficient. In the 20% range. 80% goes out as heat and the reason why we have to have heat exchangers for each tube to get rid of the excess heat, air cooling can't keep it cool enough. Our transmitter will only have a TPO of 54kW (28 kW per tube flat out, we only need 52kW TPO for 1 MW ERP) and that is with two tubes running at 35kV each at 2 amps. With that info you can run Ohm's Law and see how inefficient these beasts are.

That is why the VHF people were hoping to go back to VHF to cut the monthly power bill down (and one of the reasons why we are going back to channel 8 post transition). If a station is running a solid state VHF transmitter, by adding a two tube UHF will cause the power bill to jump approximately 5 to 6 times a month. And that is money that can't be made up at this time so it has to come out the VHF profit. Just more operating costs. Also, these tubes, they are IOT's, Induction Output Tubes, run about $35,000 new apiece. Big dollars in maintenance on these beasts too. Everything is big in TV to start with and it is even bigger in UHF Television.

My old tube type chanel 8 transmitter only ran 9000 volts at 3 amps for 25kW output. My new solid state runs 50 volts at 200 amps for 22kW! :)

was watching Surface on NBS last night and it was in SD on channel 540 for TWC Greensboro. Someone forgot to switch to the HD feed. :mad:

was watching Surface on NBS last night and it was in SD on channel 540 for TWC Greensboro. Someone forgot to switch to the HD feed. :mad:

Is NBS a new HD network? (Sorry, just had too! It's a "broadcasting thing.")

^ Yeah, it stands for Not Broadcasting S%!&.

NBS is a network like the FIX network :)

Hi guys,

I'll tell you, I'm having a really hard time deciding on whether i should invest the $$$ in setting up my HD receptiion.

Human error, no local HD reception
Transmitter sucks, no local HD reception
Trees by house, no local HD reception
Have Sattelite, no local HD reception
Directional Antenna, no local HD reception for recording two channels at once
Only some shows in HD

Is it really worth it??????????

Hi guys,

I'll tell you, I'm having a really hard time deciding on whether i should invest the $$$ in setting up my HD receptiion.

Human error, no local HD reception
Transmitter sucks, no local HD reception
Trees by house, no local HD reception
Have Sattelite, no local HD reception
Directional Antenna, no local HD reception for recording two channels at once
Only some shows in HD

Is it really worth it??????????

I'm facing a similar situation and just spent over $100 for a new, larger antenna and booster. I just can't hardly stand to watch SD programming now.

Hi guys,

I'll tell you, I'm having a really hard time deciding on whether i should invest the $$$ in setting up my HD receptiion.... Is it really worth it??????????

It is worth it for me. I pay $7.50 per month for HDTV from Time Warner Cable. I receive the following in HD from them. CBS, NBC, FOX, TNT, Discovery, PBS, and Braves in HD. No ABC, so you can get that OTA with a $20 silver surfer into antenna. Why wouldn't you get HDTV?

BTW, I watch HDTV on my 19" 4:3 Dell monitor, my 20" WS Dell monitor, and my Panny LCD projector at 100" diagonal.

Colts beating the Patriots, Bengals, and Steelers in HD, priceless. I just hope the local affliates pickup the Colts another time before the playoffs.

was watching Surface on NBS last night and it was in SD on channel 540 for TWC Greensboro. Someone forgot to switch to the HD feed. :mad:


Actually, NCB had some issues with their HD feed to East Coast stations. The problem originated in NY, and wasn't on the local level.

Welcome MR12!!

Are you with WXII?

It is worth it for me. I pay $7.50 per month for HDTV from Time Warner Cable. I receive the following in HD from them. CBS, NBC, FOX, TNT, Discovery, PBS, and Braves in HD. No ABC, so you can get that OTA with a $20 silver surfer into antenna. Why wouldn't you get HDTV?

BTW, I watch HDTV on my 19" 4:3 Dell monitor, my 20" WS Dell monitor, and my Panny LCD projector at 100" diagonal.

Colts beating the Patriots, Bengals, and Steelers in HD, priceless. I just hope the local affliates pickup the Colts another time before the playoffs.

Do you pay $7.50 on top of your regular cable bill or can you get the HD package only for $7.50?

Welcome MR12!!

Are you with WXII?


That's affirmative.

Do you pay $7.50 on top of your regular cable bill or can you get the HD package only for $7.50?

I have the same question, because if it takes $7.50 then I might be in, however I have a BenQ 7700 so Ill need a tuner.

I pay $7.50/mth for broadcast cable from Time Warner. The local big networks in HD are included, but most TWC reps dont tell you about this. I have an LG tuner. You can get one refurbished with upscale DVD for $180 from computergeeks.com

That's affirmative.

Welcome! We now have reps from 'FMY, 'GHP and now 'XII!

We have a pretty good bunch of local folk here. I am sure they will have MANY questions for you!

That's affirmative.

Welcome to the forums. Are you at full power, if not, when you do expect to be?

Thanks,

Shon

I pay $7.50/mth for broadcast cable from Time Warner. The local big networks in HD are included, but most TWC reps dont tell you about this. I have an LG tuner. You can get one refurbished with upscale DVD for $180 from computergeeks.com


Flo,

What has been your solution for ABC?

Anyone using Flo's solution with a HTPC?

For ABC you could go OTA and get a silver sensor and aim it toward Greensboro. I have a Winegard 9095 antenna aimed 227 degrees at Charlotte because I am on High Rock lake and Charlotte is down hill while Greensboro is uphill.

FWIW, the refurb LG 3510 HDTV tuner is $169.99 from www.computergeeks.com .
I use a LG LST-4200A.

so an hdtv tuner should be able to tune in channels from both the cable feed and the OTA feed at the same time?

When talking with Cable, they say that you only get the first 13 channels? How is it that you get the HD channels also?

Anyone using Dish for Sattelite and HDTV with OTA antenna and if so, how is your reception and DVR utilities?

Hi guys..

another question....do the networks broadcast in HD all day long? or are there only certain shows through the day that are broadcast OTA?

Hi guys. I live approx. 20 miles south of Greensboro in randolph county (Liberty area).

Just recently purchased a HDTV, and the installer is coming out Sat to install the HD package for my DirecTV (cable is not available where I live).

I know that SD locals are available thru DirecTV (already have those), but as of right now, the HD feeds are not available thru DTV. It's my understanding that I live too close to the Greensboro area to receive a waiver for DTV's HD network channels (out of NY and CA I believe?), so I'm assuming my only option for network HD is going to be OTA.

Can anyone recommend a good OTA antenna for my situation/location? Will I be able to pick up the HD locals from here?

TIA for any help!

so an hdtv tuner should be able to tune in channels from both the cable feed and the OTA feed at the same time?

When talking with Cable, they say that you only get the first 13 channels? How is it that you get the HD channels also?

TWC sends 2-14 analog in the clear and also the local digital channels in the clear in QAM. My experience has been that most of the CSRs you talk to on the phone have no idea you can do that. It isn't in their script. Your digital OTA receiver will need to also have a QAM tuner in it to receive the cable QAM digital channels.

Hi guys..

another question....do the networks broadcast in HD all day long? or are there only certain shows through the day that are broadcast OTA?

Locally the only HD available is from the networks during prime time, late night (NBC and CBS), ABC's Good Morning America, CBS's Young and the Restless and many sporting events and other special events like NBC's Macy's Parade and the Dog Show were in HD.

Hi guys. I live approx. 20 miles south of Greensboro in randolph county (Liberty area).

Just recently purchased a HDTV, and the installer is coming out Sat to install the HD package for my DirecTV (cable is not available where I live).

I know that SD locals are available thru DirecTV (already have those), but as of right now, the HD feeds are not available thru DTV. It's my understanding that I live too close to the Greensboro area to receive a waiver for DTV's HD network channels (out of NY and CA I believe?), so I'm assuming my only option for network HD is going to be OTA.

Can anyone recommend a good OTA antenna for my situation/location? Will I be able to pick up the HD locals from here?

TIA for any help!

Many (including me) use the Channel Master 4228 antenna with very good results.

Depending where you live in the Triad, you may be able to get the FOX HD from New York. WGHP is owned by FOX and FOX has waivered viewers in the coverage area for the HD signals. The catch is you may also be in the coverage area of other FOX stations not owned by FOX (WFXR-DT, Roanoke; WRAZ-DT Raleigh or WCCB-DT Charlotte) who may not give you a waiver. The good news is that DirecTV keeps telling us that the Triad will be on in HD LIL sometime in 2006 (but they won't commit to a date though) so it isn't too far away.

Hi guys. I live approx. 20 miles south of Greensboro in randolph county (Liberty area).

Just recently purchased a HDTV, and the installer is coming out Sat to install the HD package for my DirecTV (cable is not available where I live).

I know that SD locals are available thru DirecTV (already have those), but as of right now, the HD feeds are not available thru DTV. It's my understanding that I live too close to the Greensboro area to receive a waiver for DTV's HD network channels (out of NY and CA I believe?), so I'm assuming my only option for network HD is going to be OTA.

Can anyone recommend a good OTA antenna for my situation/location? Will I be able to pick up the HD locals from here?

TIA for any help!

JKimrey,

Based on your description, I only live a few miles from you. I have not been able to receive the Fox feed from DirecTV seeing as I live in both the WGHP and Fox 18 (out of Charlotte) areas. Fox 18 will NOT give a waver under any circumstances.

I use a Channel Master 4228 with a booster and get pretty good results with it. I can get Fox 8 & 18, ABC 45 & 9 (Charlotte), CBS 2 & 3 (Charlotte), but not NBC feeds at all, which is fairly disappointing.

HTH,

Shon

Thanks for the info.

Now I just have to talk my wife into allowing me to put up an OTA antenna on the roof (which isn't going to be easy); how high are you guys mounting the 4228?

JKimrey,

Based on your description, I only live a few miles from you. I have not been able to receive the Fox feed from DirecTV seeing as I live in both the WGHP and Fox 18 (out of Charlotte) areas. Fox 18 will NOT give a waver under any circumstances.

I use a Channel Master 4228 with a booster and get pretty good results with it. I can get Fox 8 & 18, ABC 45 & 9 (Charlotte), CBS 2 & 3 (Charlotte), but not NBC feeds at all, which is fairly disappointing.

HTH,

Shon

And here's another question - how far of a 'run' can you use with an antenna?

I'm wondering if I could mount the antenna on our storage building and run the cable to the house?

At what distance would you start losing signal strength?

Finally, how does the Channel Master 4228 (mentioned here) compare with the Channel Master 3020 (available locally)?

Thanks!!

And here's another question - how far of a 'run' can you use with an antenna?

I'm wondering if I could mount the antenna on our storage building and run the cable to the house?

At what distance would you start losing signal strength?

Finally, how does the Channel Master 4228 (mentioned here) compare with the Channel Master 3020 (available locally)?

Thanks!!

Dow Electronics in Greensboro has the 4228. If you plan to pick up Charlotte OTA's than that's the one to go with IMO. I wouldn't try a cable run any longer than 100 feet. Either way you'll need a preamp.

I'm also thinking about purchasing a channel master antenna for Christmas. Any good ideas on installers and a general estimate for installation price? I have my cable run to right outside the house, so I would just basically need to run a cable down the back of my house to tie in.

If I need to purchase a pre-amp, how costly are they? I assume Dow Electronics stocks those as well?

Just trying to get a feel for how expensive it will be to get cable OTA. Thanks.

Thanks for the info.

Now I just have to talk my wife into allowing me to put up an OTA antenna on the roof (which isn't going to be easy); how high are you guys mounting the 4228?

I've got mine mounted in the garage. That was acceptable to the Mrs.

I just called Dow Electronics. The 4228 is $52.95. The pre-amp $95.13 for the 7777, which he said was the best they had.

I'm also thinking about purchasing a channel master antenna for Christmas. Any good ideas on installers and a general estimate for installation price? I have my cable run to right outside the house, so I would just basically need to run a cable down the back of my house to tie in.

If I need to purchase a pre-amp, how costly are they? I assume Dow Electronics stocks those as well?

Just trying to get a feel for how expensive it will be to get cable OTA. Thanks.

so an hdtv tuner should be able to tune in channels from both the cable feed and the OTA feed at the same time?

When talking with Cable, they say that you only get the first 13 channels? How is it that you get the HD channels also?


The HD channels are "must carry" channels. They confuse the HD Tier that has a digital cable subscription requirement with the "must carry" HD channels.

I could bring my HDTV Set top box over to your home and show you how it works. Or you could stop buy here.

Im still concerned about the antenna portion. I want a really good multi directional antenna. Anyone use one of those?

Im still concerned about the antenna portion. I want a really good multi directional antenna. Anyone use one of those?

In the last three years that I have been talking to viewers, no one has gotten any of the omni antennas to pickup all of the digital stations.

Dont forget about the Radio Shack UHF only $24 U-75R. I've two of these combined into a channel master amp. One pointed towards Greensboro the other towards Raleigh. I pick up
Greensboro:
ABC,NBC, UPN, CBS, PBS
Raleigh
ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, Fox, WB (very low power)
All come in perfectly except for WB Raleigh when it rains.

I prefer Raleigh CBS, ABC and Fox (cause I can't get Fox Greensboro)
I prefer Greensboro NBC (even though they are doing funky things with the audio now, maybe NBC is)

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103088&cp=&kw=uhf+only&parentPage=search

I guess having two antennas into an amp would prevent the need for a rotator.

Any unforseen benefits of one over the other?

thanks

Dont forget about the Radio Shack UHF only $24 U-75R. I've two of these combined into a channel master amp. One pointed towards Greensboro the other towards Raleigh. I pick up
Greensboro:
ABC,NBC, UPN, CBS, PBS
Raleigh
ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, Fox, WB (very low power)
All come in perfectly except for WB Raleigh when it rains.

I prefer Raleigh CBS, ABC and Fox (cause I can't get Fox Greensboro)
I prefer Greensboro NBC (even though they are doing funky things with the audio now, maybe NBC is)

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103088&cp=&kw=uhf+only&parentPage=search

I guess having two antennas into an amp would prevent the need for a rotator.

Any unforseen benefits of one over the other?

thanks

The potential problem you run into with two antennas is that the antenna that is pointed away from the station you wish to watch may have enough signal to interfere with the other antenna, causing multipath and therefore cancelling out the signal from the other antenna and you receive nothing.

You would actually do better with putting in two complete antenna installations with one antenna pointed to Sauratown Mt and the other down south and putting a switch in to switch between the two. Now if you live westerly of the towers down US 220, You will need three antennas to pick up all of the stations (one toward Randleman and one toward Level Cross as well as Sauratown Mt). See, this can get complicated if you are not careful. ;)

http://www.triad-hdtv.org/graphics/triad-map.jpg
Map courtesy of Triad HDTV Users Group

has 45-2 forgotten to switch over to hd for texas-colorada? anyone else notice?

has 45-2 forgotten to switch over to hd for texas-colorada? anyone else notice?

Does anyone have a number to contact WXLV? I've tried calling to inform them that the game is in HD and to please "flip the switch". However, I can't get past the automated system to a live person. :(

Does anyone have a number to contact WXLV? I've tried calling to inform them that the game is in HD and to please "flip the switch". However, I can't get past the automated system to a live person. :(The number on the web site is 336-274-4848. Is this the one you called?

that goes to the automated switchboard and you must know an extension number or one of the unsuspecting toads' names in order to get thru. the next game, also in hd is sc at ucla at 4 and then at 8, the acc championship-all supposed to be in HD!

Yes, that is the number that I called. I found a couple of other numbers and they all take you to the automated system.

Very frustrating!!! I'd rather watch the Charlotte feed, with its poor signal then the local one in SD!

try just hitting numbers in the system until you get somewhere. 0, 9, and 5 are usually good places to start.

I *hate* WXLV.

for those of you with access to abc in durham and charlotte: can u verify that those affiliates are broadcasting ucla at sc in HD? thanks (just wanted to be absolutely certain before speaking with wxlv's station manager on monday morning-i hope u will join me lest this is repeated for the Orange, Fiesta, Sugar, and Rose Bowls! do not let their oafish approach to broadcasting go unnoticed!)

I don't when it was done, but somebody at WXLV finally woke up and switched on the HD feed.

for those of you with access to abc in durham and charlotte: can u verify that those affiliates are broadcasting ucla at sc in HD? thanks (just wanted to be absolutely certain before speaking with wxlv's station manager on monday morning-i hope u will join me lest this is repeated for the Orange, Fiesta, Sugar, and Rose Bowls! do not let their oafish approach to broadcasting go unnoticed!)

How about posting some contact info for whoever you speak to, and I'll be glad to give them a call as well.

So if I'm reading the map correctly, channels 2 and 8 towers are actually in northern randolph county (as opposed to guilford)? If so, they're closer to my house than I thought...

According to antennaweb.org, I'm 15 miles from the towers. Will getting a 4228 antenna and a 777 pre-amp be okay for the 2 (cbs) and 8 (fox) receptions?

The potential problem you run into with two antennas is that the antenna that is pointed away from the station you wish to watch may have enough signal to interfere with the other antenna, causing multipath and therefore cancelling out the signal from the other antenna and you receive nothing.

You would actually do better with putting in two complete antenna installations with one antenna pointed to Sauratown Mt and the other down south and putting a switch in to switch between the two. Now if you live westerly of the towers down US 220, You will need three antennas to pick up all of the stations (one toward Randleman and one toward Level Cross as well as Sauratown Mt). See, this can get complicated if you are not careful. ;)

http://www.triad-hdtv.org/graphics/triad-map.jpg
Map courtesy of Triad HDTV Users Group

So if I'm reading the map correctly, channels 2 and 8 towers are actually in northern randolph county (as opposed to guilford)?

Channel 2, 20, 45, 48 are at Level Cross and Channel 8 is at Randleman.

According to antennaweb.org, I'm 15 miles from the towers. Will getting a 4228 antenna and a 777 pre-amp be okay for the 2 (cbs) and 8 (fox) receptions?

The 7777 pre-amp would not be needed for 2 and 8.

I have DirecTV with a HD Tivo and I am currently using rabbit ears with (mostly) good results. But I would like to avoid the occasional dropout I get now--So I am looking at a CM 4221 and using a Winegard DS-1000 or DS-1111 to mount onto my existing dish. Does anyone have any first hand impressions of these mounts. Especially--how difficult is it to realign the dish after attaching the DS-1111?

Bill

I have DirecTV with a HD Tivo and I am currently using rabbit ears with (mostly) good results. But I would like to avoid the occasional dropout I get now--So I am looking at a CM 4221 and using a Winegard DS-1000 or DS-1111 to mount onto my existing dish. Does anyone have any first hand impressions of these mounts. Especially--how difficult is it to realign the dish after attaching the DS-1111?

Bill

Everyone that I have talked to who has tried any dish mounted antenna has not had good results. They have ranged anywhere fromnot working to only able to pick up a few stations. Most people recommend a good outside antenna not mounted on a dish.

Thanks Foxeng,

But just to be clear--I am looking at a good outside antenna (I think!--Channel Master 4221) I just was interested in the Winegard mounts that can use my existing satellite mount to minimize more holes in my shingles--seems easier than just mounting another mast several feet away. I do realize that the "clip-on" antennas are junk. Does your advice still hold?

Bill

I guess having two antennas into an amp would prevent the need for a rotator.

Any unforseen benefits of one over the other?

thanks

I've found that these U75R UHF only anntennas are very directional (I helped a buddy with the exact same setup). If you are close to any tower I could see how this could cause multi path issues. In Mebane I don't seem to have multi path issues. I very seldom get breakup on any station (except WB22 Raleigh, people in Raleigh have a hard time with WB22)
I've got an HD Tivo so a rotor is a no go for me.

Thanks Foxeng,

But just to be clear--I am looking at a good outside antenna (I think!--Channel Master 4221) I just was interested in the Winegard mounts that can use my existing satellite mount to minimize more holes in my shingles--seems easier than just mounting another mast several feet away. I do realize that the "clip-on" antennas are junk. Does your advice still hold?

Bill

I have never tried that mount, but any outside antenna that is not a dish clip on will do noticablely better than rabbit ears.

I am fully aware of the "rotator" but do can not use one effectivley with pre-set recordings.

any rule of thumb to how far apart to mount the antennas if you go with a "two antenna" solution?

also what was the piece of equipment used to combine the signals from both antennas to feed to the tuner? Also a link would be great.

should you try out your OTA without an amp first and only add if needed or do u have to install from the get go?

Thanks in advance.

I am fully aware of the "rotator" but do can not use one effectivley with pre-set recordings.

any rule of thumb to how far apart to mount the antennas if you go with a "two antenna" solution?

There is no hard and fast and rule. It is trial and error since the signal levels from all stations are different at each location.

also what was the piece of equipment used to combine the signals from both antennas to feed to the tuner? Also a link would be great.

Just a regular 2 way splitter will work.

should you try out your OTA without an amp first and only add if needed or do u have to install from the get go?

Thanks in advance.

You should bring both antenna leads into the building before you combine them and if you filnd you need a pre-amp, you will know which antenna you need it on to reduce multipath as much as possible. If you don't need a pre-amp on an antenna, then don't put one on.

The way you really need to do this is put bandpass filters for the channels you want on the antennas in their direction to cut out the unwanted signals, but those filters can be expensive (>$75 per channel). This is how cable companies and MATV systems do it. But for a home install, it could run you well over $1500 just for the filters not counting the 12 port combiner, and MATV pre-amp that would be required, another $500 to $1000 plus antennas, feedline and installation.

Great. Thanks!

If I install the 4228 antenna w/o the pre-amp, and cannot receive signals on other stations I would like to, could I then add the 777 pre-amp? Would this cause any issues with 2 and 8 (too close)?

Also, can anyone recommend a good rotator I can purchase to use with the 4228?

Thanks again!

Channel 2, 20, 45, 48 are at Level Cross and Channel 8 is at Randleman.



The 7777 pre-amp would not be needed for 2 and 8.

I need to get a 25' HDMI cable, any suggestions?

"How about posting some contact info for whoever you speak to, and I'll be glad to give them a call as well."

station manager:rinman@sbgnet.com
corporate headquarters:comments@sbgi.net

Check out www.monoprice.com. I ordered a smaller HDMI cable; great price and quick shipping (received it in a couple days).

I need to get a 25' HDMI cable, any suggestions?

Will you guys look at this particular cable and tell me what you think:

http://store.homeavcables.com/33010-25.html

It is manufacturered by QVS, their site is www.qvs.com

Check out www.monoprice.com. I ordered a smaller HDMI cable; great price and quick shipping (received it in a couple days).


I went to their site, they have an awesome price for the 25' cable. Hardly any specs though, apparently the 25' cable got 2 really good reviews.

I will probably order from here.

Great. Thanks!

If I install the 4228 antenna w/o the pre-amp, and cannot receive signals on other stations I would like to, could I then add the 777 pre-amp? Would this cause any issues with 2 and 8 (too close)?

You will not know until you try.

Also, can anyone recommend a good rotator I can purchase to use with the 4228?

Thanks again!

Channel Master makes a nice remote control rotator for about $60 bucks. I have seen them at Lowes on Battleground and Dow sells them too for about the same price.

Thanks 4thheels. I just emailed the station mgr @ WXLV. Hopefully they'll be quicker to flip the switch in the future!

Anyone else having problems with TWC 540 NBC tonite?

Anyone else having problems with TWC 540 NBC tonite?

Just like last week, NBC NY was having trouble with their HD signal. Las Vegas wasn't in HD for cable or OTA tonight. Hopefully they'll get this issue fixed soon.

It looks the QAM channels are different tonight. CBS is now 116-1, instead of 80-1. Not sure where NBC is tonight. Not sure what is going on.

Thanks.

So has anyone had any experiences with running RG6 coax under ground for 60-70 feet?

Will lightning be a problem with this? Any other potential problems? Bad idea?

You will not know until you try.



Channel Master makes a nice remote control rotator for about $60 bucks. I have seen them at Lowes on Battleground and Dow sells them too for about the same price.

Here is the response that I received from the mgr of WXLV.

"Shon,

Thanks for your note. Indeed you are correct, our master control operator forgot to switch to HD when the games started. ABC was broadcasting in analog before the games and we manually flip the switch
(literally) to HD. She just forgot the games are in HD and it didn't get switched until the next shift started.

I apologize for the inconvenience, corrective measures have been taking with this employee.

Ron Inman"

About as good as we can expect I guess.

Here is the response that I received from the mgr of WXLV.

"Shon,

Thanks for your note. Indeed you are correct, our master control operator forgot to switch to HD when the games started. ABC was broadcasting in analog before the games and we manually flip the switch
(literally) to HD. She just forgot the games are in HD and it didn't get switched until the next shift started.

I apologize for the inconvenience, corrective measures have been taking with this employee.

Ron Inman"

About as good as we can expect I guess.

Women just don't understand the importance of sports let alone sports in Hi-Def....LOL ;)

"Women just don't understand the importance of sports let alone sports in Hi-Def....LOL "

Who is the woman in my post?

"She just forgot the games are in HD and it didn't get switched until the next shift started."

Yeah, that sounds like a she to me.

"She just forgot the games are in HD and it didn't get switched until the next shift started."

So how much does an automated HD switch cost anyway?


Here is the response that I received from the mgr of WXLV.

"Shon,

Thanks for your note. Indeed you are correct, our master control operator forgot to switch to HD when the games started. ABC was broadcasting in analog before the games and we manually flip the switch
(literally) to HD. She just forgot the games are in HD and it didn't get switched until the next shift started.

I apologize for the inconvenience, corrective measures have been taking with this employee.

Ron Inman"

About as good as we can expect I guess.

So how much does an automated HD switch cost anyway?

It has nothing to do with an automatic switch. I do not think ABC broadcasts all of its programming SD and HD on the HD link so the station has to keep switching and someone has to keep up with that HD schedule and then pass it along to the master control operator.

FOX sends all of their programming, SD, widescreen and HD down the HD link to the splicer so we have just hardwired the splicer into the "network" button on the analog switcher so if network is on the air, we are taking the HD link no matter what FOX is sending us.

Thanks.

So has anyone had any experiences with running RG6 coax under ground for 60-70 feet?

Will lightning be a problem with this? Any other potential problems? Bad idea?

Time Warner Cable runs there RG6 underground all the time. I run it also but I make sure I use a grounding block. It is a female to female connecter that has a place to screw in a ground wire. If you are in the area of lexington, nc, stop by, I will give you a grounding block and a grounding wire, I have several in the shed.

I have a Dish Network 811 receiver and was wondering if anyone else with this receiver was having issue with WFMY2's digital station. It was flickering in and out very bad this evening and it's not a signal issue because I always get 90-95% on this channel.

Excellent. Thanks for the info.

I got the antenna (4228) today and tried it out in the attic. Basically i just leaned it against the main beams going down the middle of the house, and pointed it toward the nw.

I'm getting a reception on 2 (cbs) and 45 (abc) digitals, as well as some 4 (pbs) stations.

Unfortunately, I'm still not picking up 8 (fox) or 12 (nbc). Of course, that doesn't surprise me considering I didn't really aim the antenna yet, and it's up in the attic.

I ran the coax cable down the same hole I drilled for my cat 5e ethernet network. Will having the same cables going down the wall together cause any interference (reception loss)?

Also, would a pre-amp help with reception on the stations I'm not receiving at all?

It sure would be nice to be able to keep the antenna in the attic. No fights with the wife on location. ;)

BTW - if these questions are off-topic, please let me know a more appropriate thread.

Thanks again!!

Time Warner Cable runs there RG6 underground all the time. I run it also but I make sure I use a grounding block. It is a female to female connecter that has a place to screw in a ground wire. If you are in the area of lexington, nc, stop by, I will give you a grounding block and a grounding wire, I have several in the shed.

I ran the coax cable down the same hole I drilled for my cat 5e ethernet network. Will having the same cables going down the wall together cause any interference (reception loss)?

It should be fine.

Also, would a pre-amp help with reception on the stations I'm not receiving at all?

If you want to use the preamp to pull in stations in the direction that the antenna is not pointed in, the answer is no.
BTW - if these questions are off-topic, please let me know a more appropriate thread.

Thanks again!!

No, this is the correct thread for those questions or any questions dealing with local digital issues.

Where are some local places to purchase the OTA antennas other than Radio Shack. Also, what online sites are you guys using to get your OTA antennas and equipment?

Check out www.monoprice.com. I ordered a smaller HDMI cable; great price and quick shipping (received it in a couple days).


Thanks! I just ordered my HDMI cable for my projector. Can't wait until next week, finally I will have HD!!!!

:)

Per suggestions here, I purchased my 4228 Channel Master from Dow Electronics www.dowelectronics.com (Greensboro).

Everything else I got from Radio Shack and Lowes. (rotator, wiring, mast, etc).

Where are some local places to purchase the OTA antennas other than Radio Shack. Also, what online sites are you guys using to get your OTA antennas and equipment?

Let me know what you think of the cable. I ordered one from there and received it quick. Shockingly, the DirecTV receiver I got for HD came with a HDMI cable, so I haven't used the one I ordered yet.

Yeah, it's sort of like being a kid at Christmas again. Couldn't wait for the DTV guy to come out and install the HD last weekend. Now if I could just get my OTA HD set up, I'll be ready to sit down and watch something. :)

Thanks! I just ordered my HDMI cable for my projector. Can't wait until next week, finally I will have HD!!!!

:)

Thanks for the info. I quickly realized that I'm never going to be satisfied until I get the antenna outside and see what it can really do, so I took it down from the attic, and went to Lowes and RS to get everything I need (and spent a fortune btw!) :)

Just for kicks, I propped the antenna up outside to see what I could get. Best I could do was CBS, ABC, PBS (from Chapel Hill - 4), and 48. Still couldn't get the prize - channel 8, nor UPN, NBC, etc.

Hopefully when I mount it up on the roof of the storage building, that'll help.

I purchased the Channel Master rotator (thanks for the suggestion), and bought a tripod mount from RS. I'm hoping to get it mounted up there soon (weekend maybe).

Curious as to why I could get those other channels but not 8, as that's the closest to where I live, and should be in the same direction as 2...

Does height make a lot of difference with reception?

It should be fine.



If you want to use the preamp to pull in stations in the direction that the antenna is not pointed in, the answer is no.


No, this is the correct thread for those questions or any questions dealing with local digital issues.

Thanks for the info. I quickly realized that I'm never going to be satisfied until I get the antenna outside and see what it can really do, so I took it down from the attic, and went to Lowes and RS to get everything I need (and spent a fortune btw!) :)

Just for kicks, I propped the antenna up outside to see what I could get. Best I could do was CBS, ABC, PBS (from Chapel Hill - 4), and 48. Still couldn't get the prize - channel 8, nor UPN, NBC, etc.

Hopefully when I mount it up on the roof of the storage building, that'll help.

I purchased the Channel Master rotator (thanks for the suggestion), and bought a tripod mount from RS. I'm hoping to get it mounted up there soon (weekend maybe).

Curious as to why I could get those other channels but not 8, as that's the closest to where I live, and should be in the same direction as 2...

Does height make a lot of difference with reception?

As noted in previous posts, you'll need a preamp if you plan to get 8. Also, it's strange that you can't get NBC as WXII has pretty good penetration in the Triad market. I get NBC with no problem from an indoor set top antenna in Greensboro. I'll bet a preamp would do the trick though. BTW, FOXENG will verify that you should have no problem picking them up after they go full power.

Yeah, guess I might need the 777 preamp. I was hoping I wouldn't need it for 8, as I'm only about 15 miles away.

Oh well. Looks like I can pick up a preamp online for around $50. Could be worse I guess. :)

As noted in previous posts, you'll need a preamp if you plan to get 8. Also, it's strange that you can't get NBC as WXII has pretty good penetration in the Triad market. I get NBC with no problem from an indoor set top antenna in Greensboro. I'll bet a preamp would do the trick though. BTW, FOXENG will verify that you should have no problem picking them up after they go full power.

Yeah, guess I might need the 777 preamp. I was hoping I wouldn't need it for 8, as I'm only about 15 miles away.

It also depends on what you are looking through as well. When we power up in a month or so you shouldn't have a problem at all.

FWIW, I noticed last night that TWC was testing the mystery channels in the 900's and 1000's. It appeared that they were testing digital (non-HD) versions of many of the analog channels (i.e. Weather Channel, ESPN2, WXLV, etc.) I watched the UNC-St. Louis b'ball game on the experimental ESPN2 channel, and it looked and sounded much better than the analog channel 16 that ESPN2 is on.

From Experience, TW will have to do something with their analog channels. They simply can not stand next to Sattelite.

I received my Dish 942 HD DVR yesterday, but the UPS guy put it outside hidden behind my garbage can and my wife forgot he came by.

You could imagine my frustration this morning to learn that it was outside all night. I hope the cold didn't do anything to it, I'm pretty sure it's ok.

S*cks to wait until next week to get it hooked up.

First of all, I'm a new member and have been reading your posts a few weeks now and decided to join today. Anyway, I currently have 3 antennas in my attic all combined together with a splitter reversed and get everything great (except Fox, I only get that some of the time). I have a Winegard Sensar outside that can get Fox 8.1 with no problems. It's attached to a switch so I can switch between my attic setup and my Winegard. I live in southern Forsyth county near the Davidson line just to let you know where I am. Here's my question... I was playing around with my amplified Sensar (Batwing-looking) antenna just to see if I could get any Charlotte stations. When I first started playing with it, I got the usual 2, 12, 45 but no Charlotte channels. I got the signal meter to jump a little on 3, 9, and 18, but nothing would lock. I didn't play with it any more until I went to bed around 11:00 yesterday evening. I figured what the heck, let's see if I can get anything, and what do you know, 3-1 and 9-1 came in at about 60-70% signal strength. I checked it again this morning and they are gone again. Why is it the stations came in late at night, but I couldn't get them any other time?

Thanks,
-Chad

I am inquiring on behalf of my parents, as my mom is trying to purchase a new TV for my dad for Christmas. They currently have analog TWC. If they purchase a TV with a cable card slot, will they still have to upgrade their subscription to digital cable? I know they will have to pay ~$2 a month to rent the cable card, but I'm not sure they want to pay $10-15 more per month for digital channels they won't watch.

My dad will probably want to get the HD pack of channels ($5-6 per month?), but is there any way to keep their analog subscription, get the cable card and still get the HD pack channels on the TV?

Figured I would ask here, as it appears with TWC you get a different answer every time you call. Thanks for any help.

Quote:

Question about OTA reception...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

First of all, I'm a new member and have been reading your posts a few weeks now and decided to join today. Anyway, I currently have 3 antennas in my attic all combined together with a splitter reversed and get everything great (except Fox, I only get that some of the time). I have a Winegard Sensar outside that can get Fox 8.1 with no problems. It's attached to a switch so I can switch between my attic setup and my Winegard. I live in southern Forsyth county near the Davidson line just to let you know where I am. Here's my question... I was playing around with my amplified Sensar (Batwing-looking) antenna just to see if I could get any Charlotte stations. When I first started playing with it, I got the usual 2, 12, 45 but no Charlotte channels. I got the signal meter to jump a little on 3, 9, and 18, but nothing would lock. I didn't play with it any more until I went to bed around 11:00 yesterday evening. I figured what the heck, let's see if I can get anything, and what do you know, 3-1 and 9-1 came in at about 60-70% signal strength. I checked it again this morning and they are gone again. Why is it the stations came in late at night, but I couldn't get them any other time?

Thanks,
-Chad






Easy....Less interference...No Sunspot acvtivity. You will see the same in am/fm reception.

We'll I'll be. That's all there is to it. I've pondered that question for about a year now but never asked. Thanks for the info. I know this is a Triad forum, but does anybody know if any of the Charlotte channels are running at reduced power? If so, which ones? I'm into getting all I can get with this whole HD thing...

Thanks,
Chad

Not quite that simple. Differing atmospheric conditions "bend" signals, sometimes to your advantage, sometimes to your disadvantage, occasionally causing freak long distance reception. Local weather, leaves blowing on trees, even where your next door neighbor parks his SUV, will cause variations of received signal strength and quality. TV reception is as much art as science, and results can never be fully predited. and are constantly changing. Cable is a more consistant signal source if available, not always better, but more consistant.

You guys may not believe this but last fall when I got my Samsung SIR-TS360 HD receiver, I had one of those crappy Terk clip-on antennas attached to my dish. Anyway, I was able to get Fox 18-1, and CBS 3-1 out of Charlotte with that thing! I would have never believed it had I not seen it. As of last night, I'm lucky to get 30% signal strength from 18-1 with my Winegard. Any idea what time of year is good for "sunspot activity" and what time of year is bad? It seems like we're in a time period where it affects signal strength considerably.

You guys may not believe this but last fall when I got my Samsung SIR-TS360 HD receiver, I had one of those crappy Terk clip-on antennas attached to my dish. Anyway, I was able to get Fox 18-1, and CBS 3-1 out of Charlotte with that thing! I would have never believed it had I not seen it. As of last night, I'm lucky to get 30% signal strength from 18-1 with my Winegard. Any idea what time of year is good for "sunspot activity" and what time of year is bad? It seems like we're in a time period where it affects signal strength considerably.

About the sunspot activity, early to mid Oct. last year saw extremely few sunspots for the USA.

If you would like to read on sunspots and see actual calendars with qty mappings of sunspots, follow some of these links:

1. Nasa site: http://science.nasa.gov/ssl/pad/solar/sunspots.htm

2. NOAA site on Sunspots: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/SOLAR/SSN/ssn.html

3. links to charts/graphs that show actual numbers of sunspots by geographic region plotted by year/month/days http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/SOLAR/ftpsunspotnumber.html

4. plotted calendar for USA 2004: ftp://ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/STP/SOLAR_DATA/SUNSPOT_NUMBERS/AMERICAN_NUMBERS/2004

About the sunspot activity, early to mid Oct. last year saw extremely few sunspots for the USA.


Well.............. that isn't quite right.

The sunspots run in 11 year cycles that do enhance radio signals and can also degrade signals and disrupt the power grid and other nasty things. We are actually moving through a low in the cycle now.

The summer and winter yearly enhancement is caused by atmospheric changes from cold to hot and hot to cold. When you have radically different day and night temperatures, it sets up what is called tropospheric ducting. Imagine a heating duct in the sky where you have a layer of warm air, a layer of cold air and then another layer of warm air, like a duct. Radio waves get trapped in this duct and can be transported many miles, up to a 1000 miles on ocassion and then drop out of the duct when a hold develops in the bottom layer.

There is also a phemomena called Sporadic E that is triggered by the sun and the weather affects it also. That is also a yearly event with the maximum effect in June, July and August and a milder "season" in the month of December.

Tropo is basically short distances of several hundred miles and Sporadic E averages around 1500 miles on a single hop but on rare occassions, you can get double hops out to 3000 miles.

Here is a URL of a site in Lexington, Ky of a guy who DX's (or distance listens) for FM and TV signals. He has screen caps of analog and DTV stations he has received at his home in Lexington, Ky. For about a year he held the DTV DX distance record of about 110 miles. Interesting stuff. http://www.dxfm.com

I'm not sure what is not quite right. I am no sunspot expert, that is for sure, in fact, I know nothing about them. I was not trying to give reasons as to the reception of signal last fall.

I simply made an observation that during the dates of Oct. 8 - 15 last year there was apparently little sunspot activity according to the chart at the URL below. If I am reading the chart right and understanding the chart right, then that was actually the least amount of activity all year last year.

Did I read it wrong or misunderstand,?

ftp://ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/STP/SOLAR_DATA/SUNSPOT_NUMBERS/AMERICAN_NUMBERS/2004

Thanks in advance, just wanted to make sure so I didn't do it again. :cool:

I appreciate it. The guy in Lexington, KY is taking DTV to a whole new level isn't he? Quite impressive! Once Fox 8-1 is full power, I'll be a happy man, that's for sure. It sounds like it won't be long before it's up and running at full strength.

I'm not sure what is not quite right. I am no sunspot expert, that is for sure, in fact, I know nothing about them. I was not trying to give reasons as to the reception of signal last fall.

I simply made an observation that during the dates of Oct. 8 - 15 last year there was apparently little sunspot activity according to the chart at the URL below. If I am reading the chart right and understanding the chart right, then that was actually the least amount of activity all year last year.

Did I read it wrong or misunderstand,?

You can have sunspot activity at anytime. But the sun produces more sunspots in an 11 year cycle and we are in the lower output of the cycle. That doesn't mean that there are no sunspots, it just means that the number and intensity of the sunspots are much lower than the highs of the cycle. When we are at the high point, you get much more consistent DX stations than when there is a low in the cycle.

Check out http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/ for the current solar update from Tad Cook, K7RA. He has all of the numbers and also predicts trends and recaps recent history of all major frequency ranges.

Once Fox 8-1 is full power, I'll be a happy man, that's for sure. It sounds like it won't be long before it's up and running at full strength.

To say that we are busting hump to get it up at full power would be an understatement! But it looks like everything is coming together at the right time and we are on schedule for middle to late next month. We are just waiting for one final piece of paper from the FCC to give us the actual permission to energize the antenna and we expect that any day now. We get that and it should be smooth sailing to completion next month.

TWC cable is Greensboro is broadcasting Digital SD on the new 900 series channels. There is no IPG guide info and the DVR recording does not work yet.

Also, press the yellow triangle button "A" on a channel and a new pop-up menu shows up.

Santa is bringing my inlaws in GSO a new LCD tv. They currently have digital cable. Will they need a different STB in order to get HD programming via TWC?

I hooked up my fusion gold qam-t HDTV card using 3.11 drivers to twc cable and got the following HD channels: cbs, fox, nbc, tnt video-on demand preview, two PBS channels, a showtime movie channel and the weather subchannels. Has anyone had luck getting unencrypted ABC? Also today CBS digital lost sound, did anyone else experience that?

I hope WXII fixes their Dolby Digital 5.1 soon. It's getting annoying. I don't think they are passing the 5.1 signal, but upconverting the 2.0 signal to 5.1. I was watching ER Thursday at they switched in the middle of the show from 2.0 to 5.1. The voices went from the center channel to all of the channels. I switched to the Raleigh NBC and their DD 5.1 was perfect. Voices come from the center channel.

sberrier......yes, you or they need to call TWC and schedule a service call to install a new HD box. I recommend going the extra mile and getting the DVR box at that.

Has anyone had luck getting unencrypted ABC?

ABC WXLV-DT is not on the TWC system.

Digital SD ABC is on 970.

On the "C1000" series numbers are Showtime, Cinemax, TMC, Zee TV, and a few other oddball chanels TWC must be testing..........

:D
Thanks!

Wonder how long TWC will keep these channels up. I saw one channel had an on-demand menu showing that was not active. Like looking at a jpeg picture.

Found the Indian ZEE channel.....interesting.

Also found the tv guide channel for Greensboro, Burlington, and Asheboro.

ABC WXLV-DT is not on the TWC system.
Any idea when they'll be on TWC? I can get it OTA but with the 3.11 drivers you can't switch between antenna and cable without reinstalling drivers. Anyway, only 3 weeks of MNF left which is all I watch on ABC anyway.

I still have to get my Geena Davis fix on ABC's Commander In Chief, so I still have to switch to OTA weekly.

Any idea when they'll be on TWC? I can get it OTA but with the 3.11 drivers you can't switch between antenna and cable without reinstalling drivers. Anyway, only 3 weeks of MNF left which is all I watch on ABC anyway.

WXLV is owned by Sinclair Broadcasting and they want cash for cable systems to carry their digital signals. Until TWC comes off some cash or Sinclair relents for cash, don't expect WXLV-DT to be on any cable system for a while.

I still have to get my Geena Davis fix on ABC's Commander In Chief, so I still have to switch to OTA weekly.
Can you swap btw OTA and Cable without the software crashing?The last time I swapped cable for OTA, I had to to reinstall.

No Crashing on my LG.

Well I posted a while back and said I would report back. As with most people that applied on this post, my waiver through DirecTV was rejected. I have since gone out, based on numerous suggestions, and got the CM 4228. Right now its outside but mounted on the same post as my dish (10 ft off the ground). I'm in a fairly wooded community and where the post is points south over an open field with more trees on the other side. Right now I am able to point at about 240 degrees and get ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS and UPN; antennaweb has FOX, ABC, CBS at 193 degrees for me. FOX and WB are both pulling in a signal of zero even when pointed directly at the towers. I am going to try mounting on my chimney but I'm not sure how much better it will be since I have so many trees in the neighborhood. I'll post back if this helps my reception. I'm out near Lake Jeanette in NW Greensboro. Thanks foxeng for your help and guidance. I can't wait to see if when WGHP goes full power if I'll have any better luck with it.

Also, I was watching Monday Night Football tonight and just about 10 minutes into it the sound went out. Anyone else having this problem?

no sound on MNF here either - Winston-Salem (OTA)

I too am missing sound on ABC HD using an OTA antenna. I am also in Winston-Salem, NC. WolfpackRon.

I'm having a problem with ABC on TWC with my PACE boxes. I have 2 PACE boxes and 2 SA boxes. On my PACE boxes, WXLV keeps going black and white. When I first tune to the channel, it's in color for a couple of seconds, then goes to black and white, will occasionally flicker back to color, but usually stays black and white.

"I too am missing sound on ABC HD using an OTA antenna. I am also in Winston-Salem, NC. WolfpackRon."

I was missing sound as well. I unplugged my OTA receiver for a couple of minutes and it worked fine after that.

HI guys, can someone explain to me the sound dropping out, getting my Dish942 installed today and next step is OTA.

OMG, so F#$# pissed off. Took time off from work to get the sattelite dish installed and the installer said there was no LOS. I was like dude, just climb up to the middle of the house at the top an attach the damn thing. He started with the roof is to high, we don't attach over living spaces, etc...He calls out the manager to look at it and the manager was like, we need two ladders to do that and we just don't do it.

Guess I am going to have to stay with DirecTV, I'm ticked because now I have to sign a contract and pay money, you would think they would give you something for continuing to be a customer and entering into a contract.

thourghly pissed,
ITMS

I'm having a problem with ABC on TWC with my PACE boxes. I have 2 PACE boxes and 2 SA boxes. On my PACE boxes, WXLV keeps going black and white. When I first tune to the channel, it's in color for a couple of seconds, then goes to black and white, will occasionally flicker back to color, but usually stays black and white.

I have the exact same problem. Basically ABC is unwatchable on my Pace box. Goes to black and white. Iam in Summerfield also. I just end up using my OTA receiver for ABC.

I have the exact same problem. Basically ABC is unwatchable on my Pace box. Goes to black and white. Iam in Summerfield also. I just end up using my OTA receiver for ABC.
catdaddy, glad I'm not going crazy. Have you called/emailed TWC about it yet? I guess I'll do that today.

I'm thinking of doing the antenna thing to get ABC in HD for the bowls/superbowl. But I'd probably try to do an attic setup since I just need that one channel. I'm right beside Lake Brandt.

Do you guys recommend the Silver Sensor + CM7777 amp for something like this?

I am considering going back to TWC's digital service, but I am also considering
signing up for dish network service. Obviously some of you have had issues with
Dish's service, but can anyone else comment on their experiences that have used
both? If I go with dish, which outfit usually does their installations?

As far as TWC is concerned, what is their policy regarding your own equipment?
I have my own Scientific Atlanta 3100HD box that I would like to use, but I haven't
hooked it up yet. I haven't seen anything in writing that says I can't, but I don't
want them knocking at my door either.

C Snyder

catdaddy, glad I'm not going crazy. Have you called/emailed TWC about it yet? I guess I'll do that today.

TWC doesn't carry PACE boxes anymore and I bet thier software/firmware is outdated with what TWC is doing now.

Probably best to trade in for the SA8300HD DVR or other HD box.

I used to have the PACE 550HD and it was a great STB at the time.

I am considering going back to TWC's digital service, but I am also considering
signing up for dish network service. Obviously some of you have had issues with
Dish's service, but can anyone else comment on their experiences that have used
both? If I go with dish, which outfit usually does their installations?

As far as TWC is concerned, what is their policy regarding your own equipment?
I have my own Scientific Atlanta 3100HD box that I would like to use, but I haven't
hooked it up yet. I haven't seen anything in writing that says I can't, but I don't
want them knocking at my door either.

C Snyder

You'll have to have TWC activate the 3100HD you own but it only work if the box was previously a TWC box. You can always call from a payphone and ask them so they can't trace the call to your house :D

The SA 8300HD DVR is the way to go. It is so cool to time-shift HD programs. Being able to record two shows at the same time is great.

The SA 8300HD DVR is the way to go. It is so cool to time-shift HD programs. Being able to record two shows at the same time is great.
I know it's all we have to choose from, I have one already, but the interface is so archaic it's unbelievable. I keep hoping TWC will whip out some new software for those things that's comparable to the Passport software Charlotte and Raleigh have.

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! Passport doesn't support SATA, and I added an extra 250GB drive.

Simple is better anyway, IMHO.

I am considering going back to TWC's digital service, but I am also considering
signing up for dish network service. Obviously some of you have had issues with
Dish's service, but can anyone else comment on their experiences that have used
both? If I go with dish, which outfit usually does their installations?

As far as TWC is concerned, what is their policy regarding your own equipment?
I have my own Scientific Atlanta 3100HD box that I would like to use, but I haven't
hooked it up yet. I haven't seen anything in writing that says I can't, but I don't
want them knocking at my door either.

C Snyder

Well it turns out that the local dish installers for Greensboro call to get your yard marked for wires in the ground so that they can put a pole in your yard to hold the dish as opposed to putting it on your roof. So today I come home and see the paint all over the yard, was like, what the hell? Turns out that the co-lo guys where a day late, so now I have no Dish and a yard full of paint.

Now that I have vented, the co-lo people gave me the phone number for the dish office here in Greensboro, here you go: 218-1024...Good Luck!

I know it's all we have to choose from, I have one already, but the interface is so archaic it's unbelievable. I keep hoping TWC will whip out some new software for those things that's comparable to the Passport software Charlotte and Raleigh have.

Never having used TIVO before I can't say if teh SA software is bad. AZll I know is that my wife can operate the box so that says it is good to me.

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! Passport doesn't support SATA, and I added an extra 250GB drive.

Simple is better anyway, IMHO.
Well, you may not value the user interface as much as storage space, but I'm completely the opposite. That SARA box could have a terabyte of storage and it wouldn't matter because it just doesn't get used much because the interface is so bad.

I've been told by TWC that they won't be switching from SARA because all of the head end equipment would have to be changed. So I guess the best we could hope for is for SARA to overhaul their interface and keep the ability to add your hard drive.

ITMS,

I've been a DTV customer for about 10 years. when I got my HDTV TV, I called them to ask what deals were available for HDTV. They told me the Tivo unit would be around $450 after $200 mail in rebate, which is the same as in store.

I hung up and called back. Told the person on the phone I wanted to cancel my service. They transferred me to the retention center, and asked why I wanted to cancel. I told them that I thought it was pathetic that I've been a customer for 10 years and wasn't being offered a better deal. I ended up with the DirecTivo HD receiver for $200 after $200 mail in rebate, 3 months free HD package, and $5 off my bill for a year. (Included new dish and installation as well).

So - if you're going to stick with DTV, it can't hurt trying this; it's worth it for them to keep you. Tell them you heard of someone else getting this deal; they CAN offer it.

OMG, so F#$# pissed off. Took time off from work to get the sattelite dish installed and the installer said there was no LOS. I was like dude, just climb up to the middle of the house at the top an attach the damn thing. He started with the roof is to high, we don't attach over living spaces, etc...He calls out the manager to look at it and the manager was like, we need two ladders to do that and we just don't do it.

Guess I am going to have to stay with DirecTV, I'm ticked because now I have to sign a contract and pay money, you would think they would give you something for continuing to be a customer and entering into a contract.

thourghly pissed,
ITMS

I'm thinking of doing the antenna thing to get ABC in HD for the bowls/superbowl. But I'd probably try to do an attic setup since I just need that one channel. I'm right beside Lake Brandt.

Do you guys recommend the Silver Sensor + CM7777 amp for something like this?

I am in Stokesdale and I use the Silver Sensor (no amp needed) inside...on 2 different sets for my OTA HD and with the exception of Fox8, it works great. The only time I have to move or "tweak" it is when we have bad storms and heavy clouds.

For instance, this am, we have about 1/4" of ice and it is still coming down. I am getting all the channels I usually get with a good signal with no moving of the antenna. It seems that BAD thunderstorms and heavy...HEAVY rain are the only thing that effect or limit the silver sensors in this house.

I would give it a shot, for around 20.00, it will surprise you!

Who locally sells the Silver Sensor? I don't know much about indoor antennas, so is
this about the best one for the money?

C Snyder

^I got mine off the shelf at Sears about 2 years ago....check there.

WXII will be running a squeezeback tonight showing all of the school, business, daycare, and church cancellations. This means all HD content will be shown in SD.

ITMS,

I've been a DTV customer for about 10 years. when I got my HDTV TV, I called them to ask what deals were available for HDTV. They told me the Tivo unit would be around $450 after $200 mail in rebate, which is the same as in store.

I hung up and called back. Told the person on the phone I wanted to cancel my service. They transferred me to the retention center, and asked why I wanted to cancel. I told them that I thought it was pathetic that I've been a customer for 10 years and wasn't being offered a better deal. I ended up with the DirecTivo HD receiver for $200 after $200 mail in rebate, 3 months free HD package, and $5 off my bill for a year. (Included new dish and installation as well).

So - if you're going to stick with DTV, it can't hurt trying this; it's worth it for them to keep you. Tell them you heard of someone else getting this deal; they CAN offer it.Rumor has it that there will be a new MPEG-4 HD DVR box for D* early next year that can be either leased like the TWC box or bought for much less money than the current MPEG-2 HD Tivo box. I buy any HD DVR box for D* until the new box comes out. That's what I'm doing.

Rumor has it that there will be a new MPEG-4 HD DVR box for D* early next year that can be either leased like the TWC box or bought for much less money than the current MPEG-2 HD Tivo box. I buy any HD DVR box for D* until the new box comes out. That's what I'm doing.

Did you say you were going to buy one or wait?

I don't know if I should wait for the mpeg 4 to come out, I don't want to spend money and then they change equipment on me...However if I can spend $200 and get a $200 rebate, its worth it to me.

Did you have to take the contract? I wouldn't mind, but they weren't giving me anything for it, hell, they should at least match Dish if not beat their offer.

ITMS,

I've been a DTV customer for about 10 years. when I got my HDTV TV, I called them to ask what deals were available for HDTV. They told me the Tivo unit would be around $450 after $200 mail in rebate, which is the same as in store.

I hung up and called back. Told the person on the phone I wanted to cancel my service. They transferred me to the retention center, and asked why I wanted to cancel. I told them that I thought it was pathetic that I've been a customer for 10 years and wasn't being offered a better deal. I ended up with the DirecTivo HD receiver for $200 after $200 mail in rebate, 3 months free HD package, and $5 off my bill for a year. (Included new dish and installation as well).

So - if you're going to stick with DTV, it can't hurt trying this; it's worth it for them to keep you. Tell them you heard of someone else getting this deal; they CAN offer it.

I am in Stokesdale and I use the Silver Sensor (no amp needed) inside...on 2 different sets for my OTA HD and with the exception of Fox8, it works great.

I would give it a shot, for around 20.00, it will surprise you!
So you don't even have it up in the attic? Just set top? That would be awesome. I really just want it for those ball games and then I can stick it in the closet unless I need it for special occasions!

Where did you get yours? Does RadioShack carry them?

Well, I have D*'s new R15 SD DVR, and after experiencing it, I decided to go ahead and get the HD Tivo unit out now. :)

Don't get me wrong, the R15 has POTENTIAL, just needs quite a bit of work software wise before it compares to the Tivo brands IMO.

Rumor has it that DTV will upgrade users to the new equipment for free (or at least cheap) once OTA HD channels are available; DTV is saying sometime next year for our area (will require new dish and box). Nothing has been confirmed yet though AFAIK.

And yep, I did have to sign a new contract agreement.

Did you say you were going to buy one or wait?

I don't know if I should wait for the mpeg 4 to come out, I don't want to spend money and then they change equipment on me...However if I can spend $200 and get a $200 rebate, its worth it to me.

I called up D* and said I the DirecTivo unit was too expensive and did they have any deals. With rebates I ended up getting it for $200. They did make me agree to 2 years of service but that's okay because I'm not going back to TWC. The installer came out (because they wouldn't just send it to me) and everything works great. HD Tivo is awesome. I just hope that when the upgrades come next year that they will offer some sort of HD DVR option. Probably not Tivo since D* and Tivo are parting ways in 2007.

Foxeng - Months later I have had no success with WRAL or any out of market channel. I have tried several different antennas (indoor and outdoor) with no success. (The indoor antennas work almost as good as the outdoor antennas for me.) In fact my reception has gotten worse overall. You would think that it would improve with most of the leaves gone. I use to be able to pick up all the locals but WB when I pointed my antenna towards the Winston-Salem towers at approx. 333-336 degrees. (I assume I could pick up nthe channels in the opposite direction because the antenna had enough elements to capture the signal.) Now I can't pick up channel 45 most of the time and I can't pick up channel 8 at all unless I point the antenna directly at the channel 8 tower and even then it comes and goes. Also I get good signal for PBS but it will not show a picture when I tune in to it.
I have tried the largest (Channel Master 3020) roof top antenna that Lowe's carries with only marginal improvement. I think I am suffering from multipath mostly due to the area I live in. I live at the bottom of the street which is basically already lower in elevation than the surrounding area.
Every time I dial up the preamp I lose signal on every channel. That is also true of any indoor set top antenna with an amplifier. My elevation is the only explanation I can come up with. I believe it to be 75-100ft lower than the surrounding area. I have not tried the Cm 4228 simply because Dow Electronics has a no return policy and I highly doubt that it would improve things significatly more than the very high gain antennas that I have already tried. (Just as a review, I am currently using my original older mid-range antenna that is in perfect shape with a very large UHF portion; a new Radio Shack mast mounted preamp and new RG6 coax not more than 50 ft in length; the antenna is approx. 40ft off the ground mounted to my chimney; it is connected to a Directv Hughes HR 10-250 High Def Tivo.) My location does not appear to any worse than most other challenging situations I have read about here but my results are worse. Any suggestions or commits about what may be causing this phenominon? What can I do? By the time I get this fixed Directv will carry the triad stations in HD.

Did you say you were going to buy one or wait?

I don't know if I should wait for the mpeg 4 to come out, I don't want to spend money and then they change equipment on me...However if I can spend $200 and get a $200 rebate, its worth it to me.I am going to wait until the MPEG-4 HD DVR comes out to get a HD DVR. I'm sure I will be asked for a two year commitment which I don't mind since I've already had D* for 10 years. Once the Home Media Center comes out late 06 I probably will upgrade to that. With that you can have 4 HD DVR client boxes linked together through a server. That will allow you to record from one TV and watch on another and set up recordings over the Internet when you're not home.

Looks like TWC has cut off access to a bunch of the 900 and 1100 channels. Only a few work now.

Anywhere I can go to get info on the Home Media Center? Haven't heard anything about it (assuming it's a D* product?)

I am going to wait until the MPEG-4 HD DVR comes out to get a HD DVR. I'm sure I will be asked for a two year commitment which I don't mind since I've already had D* for 10 years. Once the Home Media Center comes out late 06 I probably will upgrade to that. With that you can have 4 HD DVR client boxes linked together through a server. That will allow you to record from one TV and watch on another and set up recordings over the Internet when you're not home.

Looks like TWC has cut off access to a bunch of the 900 and 1100 channels. Only a few work now.

Yea, I noticed that too. I was enjoying getting my free HBO and Showtime.

Foxeng - Months later I have had no success with WRAL or any out of market channel. I have tried several different antennas (indoor and outdoor) with no success.

Please refresh my memory where you live. Also, if you buy a 4228 and it doesn't work, I will buy it from you for what you have in the 4228 itself.

Foxeng- I live in High Point on a side street off of West Lexington Avenue on the left before you cross the Davidson County line. Once you cross Westchester Drive all of the streets to the left of Lexington Ave go down hill. I live at the bottom of one of those.
Tonight as I type this I notice I can't pick up any of the OTA stations (the antenna is still pointed at 332-336 degrees) Channel 2 which I always can pick up with the antenna pointed in any direction at 85-95% signal strength is also not coming in. I look at the signal meter in the HR 10-250 and notice that the meter is bouncing up and down wildly on each station that I can pick up. Engaging and disengaging the FM trap switch on the power supply for the preamp has no effect. So I just bypass the power supply altogether and all of the signals stabilize. I can pick up channel 2 and 12 and nothing else. I look at the signal meter again and I get a 20% strength on PBS nothing for 8 and almost nothing for 45 etc. This bouncing phenomena comes and goes apparently because it has happened a number of times. Keep in mind that the gain on the power supply is always turned all the way down or I loose signal incrementally as I try to turn it up. Tonight however, as I turned it up while looking at the bouncing meter it had no effect. The signal did not drop off, improve (which it never does) or stabilize the signal. This may require a professional!

Foxeng- I live in High Point on a side street off of West Lexington Avenue on the left before you cross the Davidson County line. Once you cross Westchester Drive all of the streets to the left of Lexington Ave go down hill. I live at the bottom of one of those.
Tonight as I type this I notice I can't pick up any of the OTA stations (the antenna is still pointed at 332-336 degrees) Channel 2 which I always can pick up with the antenna pointed in any direction at 85-95% signal strength is also not coming in. I look at the signal meter in the HR 10-250 and notice that the meter is bouncing up and down wildly on each station that I can pick up. Engaging and disengaging the FM trap switch on the power supply for the preamp has no effect. So I just bypass the power supply altogether and all of the signals stabilize. I can pick up channel 2 and 12 and nothing else. I look at the signal meter again and I get a 20% strength on PBS nothing for 8 and almost nothing for 45 etc. This bouncing phenomena comes and goes apparently because it has happened a number of times. Keep in mind that the gain on the power supply is always turned all the way down or I loose signal incrementally as I try to turn it up. Tonight however, as I turned it up while looking at the bouncing meter it had no effect. The signal did not drop off, improve (which it never does) or stabilize the signal. This may require a professional!

You may have a bad pre-amp. It could also be that the pre-amp is being overloaded. If I remember correctly the 3020 is a VHF/UHF antenna. If so, channel 2 and us could very well be overloading the pre-amp and nothing is coming through. I had a VHF antenna combined to the 4228 and as long as did, I had a drop of signal strength on my UHF stations. I looked at the signals coming in with a spectrum analyser and saw that channel 2 and us were the strongest signals they together were overloading the pre-amp. I took the VHF antenna out of line and only had the 4228 in line and my UHF signal strengths came back up since the 4228 doesn't pass VHF low band and reduces the VHF high band enough that the UHF signals overrode my signal and all worked again.

In High Point, all of the stations down 220 should be blowing your out and maybe that is exactly what is happening.

Just a thought.

If you think the 4228 is worth a try I may take you up on your offer assuming you are serious. The only other option is to try a Radio Shack UHF only outdoor antenna with a different preamp.

Yea, I noticed that too. I was enjoying getting my free HBO and Showtime.

I'm not too into movie channels. Rather pay for netflix and watch the movies I want when I want.

I do want the SD channels digitally sent to my STB instead of analog.

If you think the 4228 is worth a try I may take you up on your offer assuming you are serious. The only other option is to try a Radio Shack UHF only outdoor antenna with a different preamp.

I am very serious. I need to buy an antenna for the new building and if you don't like the 4228, I will buy yours. If you need further information, PM me.

So you don't even have it up in the attic? Just set top? That would be awesome. I really just want it for those ball games and then I can stick it in the closet unless I need it for special occasions!

Where did you get yours? Does RadioShack carry them?

Yes, sits on top of a shelf, above my Sammy DLP. Something I just realized after I made that post was that we put up a HUGE Christmas tree up....about 6 feet from the TV and right smack dab in front of the antenna....still coming in as good as ever.

It is elevated about 1 foot on that shelf above the tv. Its not close to a window and actually "shoots" through 2 walls, the Christmas tree and a china cabinet.

Shoot me a pm with your email addy and I will take a couple of pics to show you the main one I am talking about. The second one is in the bedroom, not elevated and sits directly on top of one of my receivers.

Its a great value for 20.00. Not sure if I can or should post links here but, I just checked and it is available for 19.99 where I got mine from.

I apologize if this has already been discussed, but does anybody experience audio/video
sync issues with ABC 45's HD broadcasts? I also notice a lot of frame rate stuttering
as well.

C Snyder

Foxeng- I live in High Point on a side street off of West Lexington Avenue on the left before you cross the Davidson County line. Once you cross Westchester Drive all of the streets to the left of Lexington Ave go down hill. I live at the bottom of one of those.
Tonight as I type this I notice I can't pick up any of the OTA stations (the antenna is still pointed at 332-336 degrees) Channel 2 which I always can pick up with the antenna pointed in any direction at 85-95% signal strength is also not coming in. I look at the signal meter in the HR 10-250 and notice that the meter is bouncing up and down wildly on each station that I can pick up. Engaging and disengaging the FM trap switch on the power supply for the preamp has no effect. So I just bypass the power supply altogether and all of the signals stabilize. I can pick up channel 2 and 12 and nothing else. I look at the signal meter again and I get a 20% strength on PBS nothing for 8 and almost nothing for 45 etc. This bouncing phenomena comes and goes apparently because it has happened a number of times. Keep in mind that the gain on the power supply is always turned all the way down or I loose signal incrementally as I try to turn it up. Tonight however, as I turned it up while looking at the bouncing meter it had no effect. The signal did not drop off, improve (which it never does) or stabilize the signal. This may require a professional!

I frequently experience the same issue with channel 2's signal strengths varying wildly for seemingly no reason. I also have a CM 4228 with a HR 10-250. According to www.antennaweb.org, I only live about 12 miles from 2's tower (I live in just south of T'ville in Randolph Co).

Anyone have any suggestions for correcting this issue? Foxeng, you mentioned overloaded the pre-amp. Is there an easy way to determine if that is happening or not? Given my proximity to the towers, should I drop the preamp?

TIA,

Shon

I apologize if this has already been discussed, but does anybody experience audio/video
sync issues with ABC 45's HD broadcasts? I also notice a lot of frame rate stuttering
as well.

C Snyder

45 is one of my stronger channels. I usually don't have any issue with them except for when they forget to "flip the switch". :)

Anyone have any suggestions for correcting this issue? Foxeng, you mentioned overloaded the pre-amp. Is there an easy way to determine if that is happening or not? Given my proximity to the towers, should I drop the preamp?

I would try it and see what happens. Are you trying to receive all of the local stations without turning the antenna? IMO, that is a non- starter if you want to really enjoy glitch free HD TV.

WXII-DT is the station I have trouble with changing signal strength wildly from time to time. Last Sunday night during West Wing it was so bad, I had to go to WSLS-DT Roanoke to finish watching it. I watched some of SNL last night on WXII-DT and had no problems at all. I am not totally convinced that it is all an RF issue (some of it is) but could be a PSIP issue as well from time to time as well as what kind of digital equipment a station uses and the kind of receiver you are using from what I have observed at WGHP. I say that since we are still low power and I very rarely have reception problems except during very windy conditions and that is multipath. It is going to be interesting to see how reception changes for us when we increase power in a month or so.

WFMY-DT is a very narrow window for antenna direction for me (between 180 and 185 degrees and they are 1 megawatt now) but for my low power I can pick us up between 180 and 205 and also between at 163 and 169 degrees (that is a bounce, but I have no idea off of what). Many times it is more stable than the direct shot (but I do not get WFMY-DT from the 165 region and both antennas are in the same direction for me).

I have observed similar issues between WFMY-DT and WXII-DT that I don't see between the other stations in the market. I have heard that WFMY-DT and WXII-DT use the same kind of encoder that is different from the other stations and maybe that has something to do with it. They use Harris Flexicoders and the rest of us use Harmonic encoders but who knows if that really has any bearing on anything). There are so many variables it can be difficult to pin it down sometimes but stations are learning how to do this "digital thing" (the learning curve is actually a straight line up!) as well as the receiver manufacturers. So even though you as a viewer are frustrated, we in the biz are just as frustrated because we sometimes can't figure it out either, but we are getting better at it.

Here is another strange one. WGHP's tower is 5 miles from the tower that has WXLV-DT, WUPN-DT, WLXI-DT and WTWB-DT. I get all of them at the tower but WUPN-DT. It WILL NOT lock up at all. But here at home, WUPN-DT is one of the best locking stations I get. I don't know why. No one else does either that I have talked to about it.

Let me throw you another strange one. From the Raleigh tower that has WRAL-DT, WTVD-DT, WRAZ-DT and WNCN-DT, they all are the same power, from the same tower at the same height (it is a candlelabra tower like WXLV-DT, WUPN-DT, WTWB-DT and WLXI-DT) and all are within 7 channels of each other, (49, 52, 53, and 55) and I reliably get WRAL-DT (53) and WRAZ-DT (49) and get WTVD-DT (52) and WNCN-DT (55) about half the time. No one can explain that.

I'm the guy with the two antenna's combined and pointed in opposite directions out of Mebane. With a HD Tivo, 65813 with built in tuner and 2 voom receivers I get the occasional glitch or breakup on WFMY also (although I hardly watch it because they don't do 5.1 audio and I get WRAL perfectly. I rarely get breakups on WXII or WUPN or all of the Raleigh stations (except 22). Also, it looks like WXII fixed their 5.1 audio :-)
Foxeng, I apologize if I missed it, but do you guys have a date when your new tower is going to be up and running? If you guys compress less than WRAZ I'll switch to you for my fox programming. I think I mentioned earlier that I like your morning show.

Foxeng, I apologize if I missed it, but do you guys have a date when your new tower is going to be up and running? If you guys compress less than WRAZ I'll switch to you for my fox programming. I think I mentioned earlier that I like your morning show.

We are shooting for the end of January. The tower is ready and the transmitters are due in after Christmas.

Unlike WRAZ, we do not multicast and as far as I know we have no immediate plans to do so. But if we are, I will find out when the gear arrives for it. As of right now, we have no multicast gear and none was budgeted for the full power project.

I'm the guy with the two antenna's combined and pointed in opposite directions out of Mebane. With a HD Tivo, 65813 with built in tuner and 2 voom receivers I get the occasional glitch or breakup on WFMY also (although I hardly watch it because they don't do 5.1 audio and I get WRAL perfectly. I rarely get breakups on WXII or WUPN or all of the Raleigh stations (except 22). Also, it looks like WXII fixed their 5.1 audio :-)
Foxeng, I apologize if I missed it, but do you guys have a date when your new tower is going to be up and running? If you guys compress less than WRAZ I'll switch to you for my fox programming. I think I mentioned earlier that I like your morning show.

Greg T. What type of antennas are you using? Do you use a preamp? Are they staggered one below the other on the mast? How do you combine them; with a regular splitter turned backwards? One thing I have tried to do to improve reception is to get as much height as possible. I can only use a 5ft mast and a 10 ft mast connected for a total of 15ft. If I use another 10 ft mast on top of the rest, it introduces sway particularly when the wind blows and I can't lock in anything.

Anybody?

I apologize if this has already been discussed, but does anybody experience audio/video
sync issues with ABC 45's HD broadcasts? I also notice a lot of frame rate stuttering
as well.

C Snyder

bigsnyder - I have had issues with ABC 45. My sync is always good, but some times the audio dropps out for up to 10 secs at a time. And like last monday night (as others posted also) it went out completely.

Greg T. What type of antennas are you using? Do you use a preamp? Are they staggered one below the other on the mast? How do you combine them; with a regular splitter turned backwards? One thing I have tried to do to improve reception is to get as much height as possible. I can only use a 5ft mast and a 10 ft mast connected for a total of 15ft. If I use another 10 ft mast on top of the rest, it introduces sway particularly when the wind blows and I can't lock in anything.

I've got two of the U75-R's from Radio Shack. I have one about 4 feet below the other. The highest is pointed towards Raleigh, the lowest halfway between WXII's towers and WUPN's towers. I have equal length twin lead coming out of the antennas and being combined into a Channel Master preamp that I got from Lowes. Works beautifully. It is mounted on a 25-foot mast since I've got a two-story house with a crawl space. Try to peak the tallest one over roofline. I set a buddy up with the same setup and his highest antennae is about 15 feet. His delivery of WXII fades a little in the summer because of the leaves.
Since I have it on a mast that comes from the ground up, I can usually go out and turn my antennae to get the Roanoke stations if they are carrying a Bronco game or something.

Can't wait to see your signal FoxEng. I despise multicasting. One of my favorite shows is Smart Travelers, I can't believe how overly compressed UNC TV's transmission of this show is. Hardly watchable.

Can't wait to see your signal FoxEng. I despise multicasting.

With the splicer we just pass what FOX sends us. The HD signal never enters the station so to speak. It comes out of the satellite receiver and then straight to the transmitter never going though any of the local equipment. If the feed from FOX is bad, then our on air FOX signal will be bad. If the feed from FOX is great, our on air FOX signal is great. That is the way it works with FOX.

You can tell if we are passing network or it is local. If you see the grey bars, we are in local mode. If you see widescreen or black bars, we are in network. We do not have the capability yet to send HD or widescreen programming locally, only via the network right now.

Question for ya Foxeng. I believe I remember you mentioning something about the balun kit that comes with the 4228 not working correctly. If I remember correctly you recommended a balun that Radio Shack sells. Do you remember posting this a couple of years ago? If so, it might be helpful to revisit as a lot of us have been installing the 4228 lately.

Question for ya Foxeng. I believe I remember you mentioning something about the balun kit that comes with the 4228 not working correctly. If I remember correctly you recommended a balun that Radio Shack sells. Do you remember posting this a couple of years ago? If so, it might be helpful to revisit as a lot of us have been installing the 4228 lately.

Several years ago CM had a bad run of baluns from China, where the baluns are made. The Radio Shack outdoor baluns worked better (this from a big time TV DXer who uses the 4228 as his UHF DX antenna; well he has two phased together up 90 feet, but I digress). When I redid my antenna last year, I swapped out the CM balun with the Radio Shack balun and I really didn't notice much difference. On a spectrum analyser, they both look bad but they both work about the same so I must have got on the tail end of it and my balun was a good one. The problem was the matching transformer in the CM baluns were not connected to the F connector and they were working inductively. Well not working actually most of the time. It depended on the frequency you were trying to work.

MR12, if you remember that one, you have been lurking a LONG time! ;) By the way, tell Paula Adkinson Charlie says hi!

Several years ago CM had a bad run of baluns from China, where the baluns are made. The Radio Shack outdoor baluns worked better (this from a big time TV DXer who uses the 4228 as his UHF DX antenna; well he has two phased together up 90 feet, but I digress). When I redid my antenna last year, I swapped out the CM balun with the Radio Shack balun and I really didn't notice much difference. On a spectrum analyser, they both look bad but they both work about the same so I must have got on the tail end of it and my balun was a good one. The problem was the matching transformer in the CM baluns were not connected to the F connector and they were working inductively. Well not working actually most of the time. It depended on the frequency you were trying to work.

MR12, if you remember that one, you have been lurking a LONG time! ;) By the way, tell Paula Adkinson Charlie says hi!

Thanks for the update. I'm glad CM got that issue worked out. I've been lurking around this board for about a year now, and read back through the old posts to see what I had been missing. :) That's when I came across the balun issue.

Anyone using a setup where you can record HD on a non TIVO unit. I've heard the RCA DVR2160 is an option, but it has no analog inputs or outputs, and that concerns me for connectivity, plus I want to avoid the monthly subscription charges. If anyone knows of a recorder that has standard inputs and outputs and costs less than $500, I'd love to know.

Anyone using a setup where you can record HD on a non TIVO unit.

I've got a Sony DHG HDD-250 that is working well for me recording OTA. I got mine from BestBuy, but they seem to be sold out - eBay and Crutchfield.com may still have some available right at the top of your price range.

-Jim

FYI - WGHP is still on schedule for a late January power up. We had several milestones met last week and we have several more this week that when met should allow the transmitters to be delivered next week. When that happens, it will pretty much be up to the transmitter installers (we contracted it out so we could finish up other things at the same time to get things going quicker like installing the microwave receivers and such) to dictate when we will get up at full power.

Anyone have any dirt on whether TWC is going to add any new channels in 2006 (HD or otherwise)?

I read in the News & Record a couple of weeks ago they are adding a 20 channel "family tier." No mention of any new HD channels )-:

I thought you folks might get a kick out of seeing it looks like from a tower looking down since everyone knows what it looks like to look up!

Enjoy!

http://www.w4cl.net/blog/000_0847.JPG

:eek:
Whoa!!! I'm dizzy just looking!

Very cool, foxeng :cool:

Did you take that picture yourself?!

Did you take that picture yourself?!

No, I didn't. It was taken about 3 weeks ago right before the tower crew left. It was taken by the GC. He got a ride up the tower while the inspector was looking at the tower. He had been asking for a ride up the tower since the tower crew arrived on site and they finally relented after he signed his life away, literally!

I have done that ride before at other towers I have been around when they were built. This time I was too busy dealing with some issues on the ground and it was just too darn cold that day with a very nippy wind or I would have gone up myself, even thought FOX heavily frowns on its employees doing things like that if it isn't in your job description.

The picture was taken about the 1000 foot level of the tower around the channel 8 standby antenna. The tower is set up for 4 antennas, 2 for channel 8, a main and a standby and 2 for channel 35, a main and a standby. It is a pretty cool view from up there. I will have to see if I can find a picture of the view that does it justice.

Anybody know what TW offers (model wise) for HD DVRs now? I recall there were two units at one point, an SA and another. Any general input on which they're using now and if the quality and time recording are acceptable?

TWC offers the SA8300HD. Thye may still deploy the older SA8000HD from stock. Not sure what non-dvr's they offer. I had the PACE 550HD once but TWC no longer carries Pace boxes.

telemike - I currently have a Pace non-DVR box. Any opinions on how the SA DVR's compare in picture quality?