Off topic, but please don't remove. I live in Lexington, NC and have LEXCOM telephone. Others on this forum might also. I can't use 1010-987 or other dial around long distance, and I need to call Canada. Its $.25 per minute thru Lexcom instead of the 3 cents per minute thru 1010987. Have you run into the same problem? What is your solution? I want my Bell South back, /sob

Off topic, but please don't remove. I live in Lexington, NC and have LEXCOM telephone. Others on this forum might also. I can't use 1010-987 or other dial around long distance, and I need to call Canada. Its $.25 per minute thru Lexcom instead of the 3 cents per minute thru 1010987. Have you run into the same problem? What is your solution? I want my Bell South back, /sob

I feel your pain - I am going round and round with Earthlink True Voice VOIP that never worked. After 2 weeks of NO phone service, I am finally back to BellSouth, but I am fighting a $74.85 charge (I hope we got it worked out) and over $150 in cell phone overages due to no home service for 2 weeks. (sigh) so much for trying to save money :mad:

On the box thing :
I have the Pace and am thinking about diving into the SA DVR myself. Anyone that had Pace and moved to the DVR happy that you did? I am a bit afraid to let my Pace box go - It has been loyal and faithful (plus my MX 700 is programmed for it ;) )

Off topic, but please don't remove. I live in Lexington, NC and have LEXCOM telephone. Others on this forum might also. I can't use 1010-987 or other dial around long distance, and I need to call Canada. Its $.25 per minute thru Lexcom instead of the 3 cents per minute thru 1010987. Have you run into the same problem? What is your solution? I want my Bell South back, /sob


Flo,

I had a similar issue when I moved and had to use NorthState in HP a few years back. If I'm not mistaken, by law they have to provide you access to other Long Distance carriers since they are an ILEC. I would call their customer service and ask what other Long Distance carriers are authorized to offer rates...

Hope this helps. You could always get Vonage, free LD to Canada.

I love the 8300HD DVR> The DVR is the best thing since sliced bread. Onec you DVR you can't go back to normal tv watching again.

I love the 8300HD DVR> The DVR is the best thing since sliced bread. Onec you DVR you can't go back to normal tv watching again.


I SOOOOO agree...Everytime I'm at someone's house that doesn't have it, I just DONT understand...

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?
SA8300 is the only one I know of right now.

telemike - I currently have a Pace non-DVR box. Any opinions on how the SA DVR's compare in picture quality?
I have both and I can't tell any difference. There was a time that the Pace was significantly better than the SA box at the time (3000 or 8000) I think, but that was fixed with a firmware upgrade and subsequently the 8300.

And I can't tell any difference between my Pace, my 8300, or OTA for HD picture quality.

I love the 8300HD DVR> The DVR is the best thing since sliced bread. Onec you DVR you can't go back to normal tv watching again.
Just wait until TWC and SA drag their butts into the 20th (yes, just 20th) century and get a TiVo like interface. I've had TiVo since 1999 and it's light years ahead of the SARA based DVRs TWC is giving us now. And I mean a 1999 TiVo model is that far ahead in user interface.

With the SARA DVRs we have, you have to manually scroll through a program guide hour by hour on each channel looking for something you want to record and then you get about 3 options, record this one, record all of these in this time slot, record all of these in any time slot. You still have to know the title of your show and what channel to find it on and spend minutes scrolling through to find it in order to hit record. That's a tedious chore at best!

With TiVo and the PASSPORT based DVRs you can search by keywords, actors, titles, genres, etc...So you can just start typing in "F-R-I-E-N-D-S" and it will pull up Friends (without you having to know *or care* which channel it comes on or what time slot it's in), and then you can select a Season Pass where you can select only new episodes, new + reruns, new + reruns with repeats. You can do a search for Russell Crowe and it will pull up everything that Russell Crowe is appearing in (from David Letterman to Gladiator) and offer to record it for you. With TiVo you can do Wishlists for anything, for example, "German Shepherd" and it will automatically record everything from Rin Tin Tin to the Westminster Dog Show to Animal Planet shows about German Shepherds.

TiVo also organizes all of your shows into folders for easy viewing. So you hit "Now Playing" and there's a list of folders: "Friends" "Oprah" "CSI:Miami" etc...

And that's not to mention how slow and clunky it is to try to FFW and REW through things with the SA DVR vs. the TiVo interface. I HATE having to watch shows with the DVR. I ONLY use the DVR for HD recordings. I have a TiVo attached to each of my TVs for all of my SD time shifting.

So yes, I agree that the DVR is a great invention, but our software version is about 8 years behind the curve when it comes to user interface. If you've never had TiVo it seems great. But if you've seen the magic kingdom, it's agony.

It's frustrating because TWC in Raleigh and Charlotte both went with the PASSPORT software which is far superior to the SARA and VERY close to the TiVo interface (I think the only thing missing is WishLists), so it's right down the street almost and we can't get it.

And yes, I know the "but SARA supports SATA hard drives for more capacity" post will quickly follow mine. But it really doesn't matter if the SARA will hold a terabyte of shows, because it's so painful to use compared to the others that I never come close to filling up the space I have.

I send TWC a friendly reminder every couple of months about how far behind we are.

Your mileage may vary.

I SOOOOO agree...Everytime I'm at someone's house that doesn't have it, I just DONT understand...
Yeah, like when your sister starts talking over something you really wanted to hear and you reach for the remote to go back and you can't. It's like, "What the heck, is this the Flintstone's house? What do you mean you can't go back?" :D

On the box thing :
I have the Pace and am thinking about diving into the SA DVR myself. Anyone that had Pace and moved to the DVR happy that you did? I am a bit afraid to let my Pace box go - It has been loyal and faithful (plus my MX 700 is programmed for it ;) )
Pam, you won't lose anything by switching and I even think that a lot of the remote codes are the same. I'm pretty sure I could use the remotes interchangeably for most functions. I can try it out tomorrow if you're interested. And don't you think it's time to try out a Harmony/Logitech? :)

No, I'm not trying to boost my post count :D , this just happens to be the first time on this board that everything hasn't been about antenna configurations and OTA reception. I'm probably one of the few people with 2 Pace HD boxes, an SA8300 HDDVR, an SA SD box, and 3 TiVos in the same house. Hmm, someone's a geek.

And now I also have 2 Silver Sensors pulling in ABCHD for bowl games and the Super Bowl thanks to Tarheelbuc for the tips!

No, I'm not trying to boost my post count :D , this just happens to be the first time on this board that everything hasn't been about antenna configurations and OTA reception.

It also surprises me that there isn't more cable talk. (not that I am complaining, being a sat and OTA guy! :) ) But from experience, I do know there are A LOT of antennas out there and from the calls I have fielded just this past week, both cable and OTA got quite a boost at Christmas! So you may be seeing more cable talk in the coming days and months as more people find their way to AVSForum. You are not alone.

Maybe it's a just selection bias: AVS is home to enthusiasts, and enthusiasts generally seem to shun cable and go with satellite and/or OTA.

I still have the Pace box and have been hesitant to switch to the 8300. Does the 8300 offer the "input loop through" feature that the Pace offers? I don't know if thats the correct term for it but I am talking about the feature on the Pace box that when the Pace box is turned off the inputs loop the signal through it like a switch. I like this because when I watch my HD OTA reciever for ABC I have it connected directly to my Pace box and when the Pace box is turned off the signal loops through it and its already connected to my TV and my Denon Receiver.
Sort of hard to explain but the Pace box essentially gives me an extra set of audio and componant inputs by using it as a switch.

No, the SA8300HD does not have the loop thru. The Pace box has many more input/outputs than the SA box.

The SA8300HD does have the VCR ouputs (composite and S-Video) active at the same time as the component. The RF output works too for the Copy to VCR as well. Optical digital out works, not sure about HDMI.

But having the 160GB hard drive to time shift tv viewing is priceless. I would never get to watch Alias on TNT-HD since it's on before I get home from work.

Maybe it's a just selection bias: AVS is home to enthusiasts, and enthusiasts generally seem to shun cable and go with satellite and/or OTA.

Many of the other local threads are dominated by cable talk. For some reason ours isn't.

I switched from a standard HDTV receiver the 3200? to the 8300 for the dvr capabilities and now have an ugly picture. The dark scenes are really bad, like someone has pasted them onto the picture. And the movie channels such as Stars,Encore and some of the premiums have like vertical lines or bars in the back ground. Very annoying and not very good quality. At first I thought my TV set was going down but my picture is perfect while using my OTA tuner and while watching HDTV off the cable. Anybody know whats up?

^ Sounds like you got the first 8300 they brought me. It had a green hue over everything, and the colors would bleed in & out. Would have been really cool in my college days, but I'm a snob now.

Tell them to bring you a new box. Sounds like you have bad component inputs.

Pam, you won't lose anything by switching and I even think that a lot of the remote codes are the same. I'm pretty sure I could use the remotes interchangeably for most functions. I can try it out tomorrow if you're interested. And don't you think it's time to try out a Harmony/Logitech? :)

Let me know if you test the interchangeability. I am interested. On the other hand, I am not quite ready to give up my MX 700 - there will be a new receiver before a new remote in our HT! :cool:

TWC in Greensboro has updated the SARA software. The SA8300HD now has the option of "New First Run Episodes" for recording all episodes.

^ Now if only they'd add ESPN2HD in time for World Cup...

TWC in Greensboro has updated the SARA software. The SA8300HD now has the option of "New First Run Episodes" for recording all episodes.
Thanks, I'll check that out.

And this may not be news to anyone, but I just noticed it accidentally tonight. I was on HBO East HD (410) and hit select/enter on my remote and it pulled up a little blue shadow box menu in the to left of the screen showing all the HBO channels. I could scroll up and down through them and select to go to one of them. Not sure it's real helpful, but it was neat anyway.

^ Now if only they'd add ESPN2HD in time for World Cup...

DirecTV already has ESPN2HD. :D

For TWC:

Press the Yellow "A" button and you get a pop up menu too.

I have also noticed the picture quality problem using the COPY TO VCR function. It looks like half the scan lines are missing; an interlacing problem.

The PQ looks fine thru the jacks on live tv or playback from HDD. Only when using the Copy To VCR does it look like crap.

DirecTV already has ESPN2HD. :D

And too many channels.......and too little bandwidth..........and I have 3 HDTVs to buy equipment for........

And too many channels.......and too little bandwidth..........and I have 3 HDTVs to buy equipment for........


All true, but I will have access to the World Cup. (sorry, just had to pick at little!! I don't plan on watching it anyway.)

Foxeng - I took your suggestion on the antenna mount amplifier. I got the one from RadioShack. It works great with my CM4228! The bowl games looked great today. WGHP is stronger but still not strong enough to display a picture yet for me. But I don't have to rotate my antenna anymore to get WXII. XII, XLV and FMY all coming in strong for me now. Thanks for the advice, can't wait until your full power!

Foxeng - I took your suggestion on the antenna mount amplifier. I got the one from RadioShack. It works great with my CM4228! The bowl games looked great today. WGHP is stronger but still not strong enough to display a picture yet for me. But I don't have to rotate my antenna anymore to get WXII. XII, XLV and FMY all coming in strong for me now. Thanks for the advice, can't wait until your full power!

Glad to hear things are working better for you!

Yeah, we can't wait to get full power either. During the Panthers game yesterday I had three emails asking about full power. Let you in on a secret, the transmitter arrives tomorrow (Tuesday)!! We are still shooting for the end of the month if all goes well in the install and testing. The testing is the big unknown right now. You never know how many parts will have an infant mortality so you hope the factory has done their testing before it gets shipped out and if I can get the testing time I want, we can cut that down to managable levels.

I want to get it on as fast as possible, but if it isn't ready, I am not going to push it. It does you the viewer no good if I can't keep the transmitter on the air and it doesn't do me any good to keep running back and forth all of the time fixing stuff that could have been fixed early on if I had just taken the time to get it right the first time.

I'm not sure if this is just me or not. ABC is broadcasting the bowl games in Dolby Digital. Is it being done in 5.1? I noticed either my HT is screwing up or they are not broadcasting on the center channel (if they are doing it in 5.1). Anyone else noticed this?

EDIT: It seems like some of the commericials switch over to ProLogicII and the center channel is active. As soon as the games come back on, it switches back to DD with no center channel sound.

My experience (noticed on the ND-Ohio State game and now the Sugar Bowl also) that my tuner shows the audio signal as being dolby digital, but I get absolutely no sound from my rear speakers.

The national thread on the programming board says the signal is going out in true 5.1, so is WXLV "dumbing" down the signal to 2.0 although it still says dolby digital?

DaveWolf - You're right. I just checked and I have no sound on both rear and center channels. Only front left and right are active.

a directv installer told my son that he should not buy an outside over the air antenna because directv will be adding hd locales this summer in charlotte which happens to be the 27th largest tv market can any on verifiy this :rolleyes:

a directv installer told my son that he should not buy an outside over the air antenna because directv will be adding hd locales this summer in charlotte which happens to be the 27th largest tv market can any on verifiy this :rolleyes:

Yes, this is true. DirecTV started with Detroit as a test market and is now going from all the major markets (NY, LA, Chicago ect.) down the list to the smaller markets. Charlotte and the Triad should be later on this year. DirecTV will require you to use their new 5 LNB dish and MPEG-4 receiver to get the locals in HD. You can find more info on this in other threads on the AVS forum.

I'm not sure if this is just me or not. ABC is broadcasting the bowl games in Dolby Digital. Is it being done in 5.1? I noticed either my HT is screwing up or they are not broadcasting on the center channel (if they are doing it in 5.1). Anyone else noticed this?

FOX is the only network that provides true 5.1 on their network programming not requiring additional equipment at the station (that is one advantage of the FOX splicer). I am not sure, but I had heard that WXLV did not have the 5.1 encoding equipment so if that is correct you would only have left and right channels even though the 5.1 light is lit up.

Because we do not have the 5.1 encoding equipment for local either, you will notice that the surround light will light up on our non network programming so we can have center channel along with left, right and rears, but when we go to network, the surround light goes out and you get true 5.1 from the network.

Broke down yesterday and bought an OTA tuner due to BCS games and Super Bowl on ABC. Figured I'd start with a cheap indoor ant. since I'd heard ABC's signal was strong in NW High Point. Works great for ABC, CBS, UPN and an independant station. Nothing else right now, but then again I haven't played with it yet either. Of course, I've got all the non-ABC locals with TWC.

Thanks for the explanation Foxeng. I would assume that since Sinclair is so rigid on charging the extra fee to TWC to carry the digital signal, it would at least be a premium signal with 5.1. haha

Someone needs to tell them if they're going to be a stick in the mud about things, they could at least be a competent network!

a directv installer told my son that he should not buy an outside over the air antenna because directv will be adding hd locales this summer in charlotte which happens to be the 27th largest tv market can any on verifiy this :rolleyes:
He can probably get what he needs with a $20 Zenith Silver Sensor inside until that comes through. It's working fine for me. Plus now I have UPN in HD in case I want to watch some really bad TV in hi def :)

For those who may not know, you CAN search for a program via Title (or Genre - though the choices are limited here) with the SA8300HD as well. Unfortunately, you can't type in the title, only select the first letter and then scroll through a list.

Well 2006 and no new channels from TWC. Blah.

For those who may not know, you CAN search for a program via Title (or Genre - though the choices are limited here) with the SA8300HD as well. Unfortunately, you can't type in the title, only select the first letter and then scroll through a list.

Well 2006 and no new channels from TWC. Blah.

Thanks for the tip. I did not know the SA8300 would do that. Is that new? I'll try it out, but it's still light years behind the competition.

I'm hoping for at least ESPN2 before football season starts again.

In an attempt to keep our viewers up to date, our new high power digital transmitter arrived today in all of its splender and we will start putting it together first of next week. We have a couple of things that have to happen before we can start the actual installation. It will not be long now for those with OTAs.

In an attempt to keep our viewers up to date, our new high power digital transmitter arrived today in all of its splender and we will start putting it together first of next week. We have a couple of things that have to happen before we can start the actual installation. It will not be long now for those with OTAs.

We can't wait! Looking forward to seeing GHP-DT OTA.

We can't wait! Looking forward to seeing GHP-DT OTA.

Bet "ole Hank's" not! ;) We have heard how much he "enjoy's" our station. :)

MR12 and foxeng - I was wondering if you could shed a little light on this. Maybe this is a rather complicated process that as a viewer I would not understand. Some stations (notably ESPN and ESPN2) when they are showing a letterbox video on their HD channels have HD graphics to fill in the panels on the left and right. Every once in a while I will see that on the networks, but it is rare. I've seen it on ABC's GMA and on the NFL Today on CBS. I'm just curious why its not constantly branded either with the network, affiliate station or the programming. Like I said, this might be a very complicated process or the equipment required for such a little thing is very expensive I don't know. Could you guys explain why some stations/shows have this and others do not?

QAM question-(apologies if previously addressed)
I have an LG LST 4200a with a QAM tuner and it picks up WFMY, WXII, WGHP, PBS, Discovery, and TNT all in HD via TW cable's lower tier (2-13 analog).

My mom is considering a new Sony HDTV (KDFE42A10) 42" LCD which lists under specs:
• Tuner: Terrestrial (VHF/UHF/CATV)

• Tuner: ATSC

• Tuner: 8VSB

• Tuner: Clear QAM

• Tuner: POD QAM

• Video Signal System: NTSC

will this set pick up the QAM channels WITHOUT a set top box, converter, outside antenna, etc?

The salesman insists that the TV must have a cable HD STB OR use the cable card to pick up QAM AND subscribe to the digital tier. I knew that a call to TW would be worthless so I decided to ask here.

thanks.

I got a response back from a tech at WXLV about them broadcasting in 2.0 versus 5.1 during the bowl games Monday. Here's what he said:

"Of the three games on Monday only the Nokia Sugar Bowl was in 5.1. The
other games were sent out by ABC in stereo. If you experienced a
problem with the Sugar Bowl 5.1 it was probably with our equipment
here. We will check and try to make sure things are correct for the NFL
game on Saturday 1-7-06. The next bowl game tonight 1-4-06 The Rose
Bowl our HD sheet indicates will be sent in stereo."

Bet "ole Hank's" not! ;) We have heard how much he "enjoy's" our station. :)

I'm sure your right, but on a personal level I'm looking forward to picking you guys up. :)

I'm sure your right, but on a personal level I'm looking forward to picking you guys up. :)

That is why it is MUCH COOLER to be an engineer than a suit!! :D

MR12 and foxeng - I was wondering if you could shed a little light on this. Maybe this is a rather complicated process that as a viewer I would not understand. Some stations (notably ESPN and ESPN2) when they are showing a letterbox video on their HD channels have HD graphics to fill in the panels on the left and right. Every once in a while I will see that on the networks, but it is rare. I've seen it on ABC's GMA and on the NFL Today on CBS. I'm just curious why its not constantly branded either with the network, affiliate station or the programming. Like I said, this might be a very complicated process or the equipment required for such a little thing is very expensive I don't know. Could you guys explain why some stations/shows have this and others do not?

It really boils down to the fact that most master controls are still analog based rooms and the 4:3 signals are being upconvented or because of the still relatively small numbers of HD viewers, the money isn't spent.

In the next few years, you will start to see more and more of 16:9 graphics in general as more analog equipment is changed out and the number of viewers increases. In our own case, our analog to digital upconverter (we still have an analog master control) can put color bars in so I have them grey to help reduce burn in (it doesn't allow graphics though, solid colors only. I had it doing a funky blue and a pukey green when we first went on and no one watching back then to play around with it). Network doesn't do anything except black and that is one way to tell if you are watching a network feed or our local feed. If you see grey bars, it is local. If it is black side bars or 16:9, it is network.

Every station and network does it differently. WFMY does grey, WXII, WXLV and WUPN do black. WRAL in Raleigh does black, but their sister station, WRAZ uses a grey graphic that says FOX 50 HD. Go figure that one!!

Thanks for the info. I figured it was something like that. And thanks for making the bars gray rather than the funky blue and a pukey green :D

I got a response back from a tech at WXLV about them broadcasting in 2.0 versus 5.1 during the bowl games Monday. Here's what he said:

"Of the three games on Monday only the Nokia Sugar Bowl was in 5.1. The
other games were sent out by ABC in stereo. If you experienced a
problem with the Sugar Bowl 5.1 it was probably with our equipment
here. We will check and try to make sure things are correct for the NFL
game on Saturday 1-7-06. The next bowl game tonight 1-4-06 The Rose
Bowl our HD sheet indicates will be sent in stereo."The audio wasn't their only problem. Starting with the 2nd overtime of the Orange Bowl, they dropped out of HD mode and never returned.

QAM question-(apologies if previously addressed)
I have an LG LST 4200a with a QAM tuner and it picks up WFMY, WXII, WGHP, PBS, Discovery, and TNT all in HD via TW cable's lower tier (2-13 analog).

My mom is considering a new Sony HDTV (KDFE42A10) 42" LCD which lists under specs........

will this set pick up the QAM channels WITHOUT a set top box, converter, outside antenna, etc?

The salesman insists that the TV must have a cable HD STB OR use the cable card to pick up QAM AND subscribe to the digital tier. I knew that a call to TW would be worthless so I decided to ask here.

thanks.

I have that exact Sony TV (purchased just before Christmas), and have TWC's 'standard' cable in GSO.... and get all of the digital channels you mentioned + a few more that seem to come and go (depending on how often I take the time to re-scan the channels...).
No cable card is needed unless you want the 'digital tier' which I am now debating getting....

I have that exact Sony TV (purchased just before Christmas), and have TWC's 'standard' cable in GSO.... and get all of the digital channels you mentioned + a few more that seem to come and go (depending on how often I take the time to re-scan the channels...).
No cable card is needed unless you want the 'digital tier' which I am now debating getting....

Thanks Pancho! that is what i thought but your confirmation is exactly what i was looking for.

I'm sure this sounds like a newby question, but I'm looking to buy 50 ft of high quality coax cable for a new OTA antenna setup. What brand does everyone here recommend and what's the best place to buy? No RG59 please. I want better than that. Thanks in advance.

I'm sure this sounds like a newby question, but I'm looking to buy 50 ft of high quality coax cable for a new OTA antenna setup. What does everyone here recommend and what's the best place to buy? No RG59 please. I want better than that. Thanks in advance.

I use RG-6 double shielded. I buy it at Dow Electronics in Greensboro.

I use RG-6 double shielded. I buy it at Dow Electronics in Greensboro.

Thanks Foxeng. I'll grab some there when I pick up my new rotator next week.

Bunch of 900 channels showed up on my guide in Winston yesterday......I know G'boro had them a month or so ago, but they're finally moving down the line. Hope it's good news coming soon.

DirecTV already has ESPN2HD. :D
Yeah, that State/Carolina game looked real good on ESPN2-HD. Especially the final score. :D

I deactivated a receiver over a month ago to make way for my new H10 HD receiver. Anyway, the other day (just for fun) I hooked it up and it still got all the channels. I let more time go by, and checked it a couple more times to see if it still worked and it did. Anyway, I finally decided to hook it up upstairs as a 4th receiver. I figured I might as well put it to good use. Well, after about 1 day of being hooked up longer than a few minutes here and there, it stopped working. (I know, it should have been cut off to begin with and I'm being greedy). I was just wondering why it worked those other times and now it stopped? Can their satellites "see" my receiver? By the way, I hate satellite mirroring fees. Does anybody think I could have one waived if I were to get more expensive programming?

Thanks,
Chad

I sent this letter to WXLV and Sinclair:



I am very disappointed that Sinclair will not let Time Warner Cable carry the ABC WXLV digital HD signal for free.

http://www.abc45.com/greensboro_nc/


Since I rarely will watch ABC in Standard Definition, you are losing my patronage and ad revenue since I watch NBC, CBS and FOX in HDTV on Time Warner Cable and not ABC. I purposely will watch HDTV over SDTV because which means ABC shows receive a lower priority over other networks.



Please reconsider letting TWC carry ABC in HD.


comments@sbgi.net

I've been having problems getting my Sony DVR to download the TV Guide on screen listings from channel 4. While looking at the diagnostics screens, it appears that Fox 8 is transmitting VBI data, but the reciever tags it as "bad."

Out of curiosity, what is the VBI data that Fox 8 transmitts?
(I'm guessing it isn't TV Guide on screen listings)

Now if only I could get my listings working again.

Thanks!
-Jim

P.S.
I'm also looking forward to getting the digital 8 signal once the new tower is up and running!

From Sinclair:

Sinclair Broadcast Group and Time Warner Cable are in negotiations to
carry ABC 45 and UPN 48 HD. No agreement has been reached yet. Sinclair
has invested $6 million in the digital facility that supplies the HD
signal for WXLV and WUPN in the Triad. That signal is free over the air
to viewers that have HD tuners in their TV or a set-top box. Sinclair
has asked Time Warner Cable for a per subscriber compensation for the
retransmission of the HD signal. Time Warner has refused, but yet your
cable bill has gone up. Other local HD stations are indeed on the
digital tier. They are not being compensated for their signal; however,
they are letting Sinclair fight the battle as there is a grandfather
clause that will require all locals to be compensated if one station is.

Our General Manager is currently working with Time Warner to be able to
broadcast the Super Bowl in HD. We won't know anything definite for
another couple of weeks.

In the meantime, communication with Time Warner is ongoing about the HD
signal for both of our stations, and we should reach an agreement soon
due to DirecTv launching local HD stations for the Triad probably by
summer. DirecTv and Sinclair have already reached an agreement.

Thank you,

Jeanette Pruitt, Programming
Zane Parnell, Engineering
WXLV-TV/WUPN-TV

telemike - very similar to a letter I got last year...

I'm not sure how they define "soon".

Sorry if this has already been asked. I did a search but this thread is so long it was going to take me forever to find what I was looking for.

I live in Winston and I am going to break down and try and get ABC OTA. My calls to TWC just don't seem to be doing any good and I just can't miss the super bowl in HD.

Here is my question. Is anyone able to pick up ABC in Winston with an indoor antenna? AntennaWeb says I need a Large Directional w/ pre-amp. There is no way my wife is going to let me put up an antenna on the roof. So I hope there is an option to use an indoor.

One other option is to mount a large antenna in my Attic. Curenty there is a large antenna in the Attic from a previous owner, I assume it is not HD compatible. Due to additional cost and effort I am still not real excited with this option.

Any Winston indoor antenna success stories with ABC or other options are greatly appreciated.

Re "From Sinclair"

Blackmail and extortion.

What's interesting is that when it comes to "retransmission consent" for analogue versus digital signals, Sinclair considers them seperate entities.

But try to get a satellite waiver to view a distant HDTV network signal when Sinclair chooses not to broadcast that network in HDTV in a local market, and then all of a sudden it all becomes just "programming" and the technology distinction is disgarded.

Hypocrits and crybabys. Why is it just them, and ALWAYS just them, oh, and the other bottom feeder broadcaster, Nexstar.

Voltaire, if the antenna in your attic has UHF compatibility it should work since all HD channels are on the UHF band.

In the meantime, communication with Time Warner is ongoing about the HD signal for both of our stations, and we should reach an agreement soon due to DirecTv launching local HD stations for the Triad probably by summer. DirecTv and Sinclair have already reached an agreement.As a Directv customer, I find this interesting since D* has only announced that the top 36 stations by DMA would get HD LiL by this summer. Greensboro is something like 47 or 48. I have often suspected that D* is being conservative with how many stations they could do on spaceway 1 and 2. I hope that Sinclair has let the cat out of the bag in regards to D*'s HD LiL plan.

I also agree that Sinclair is going to use this as a bargaining chip (blackmail) in their negotiations with TWC since having ABC and UPN HD available on D* gives them an advantage. If the rumors are true about D* going to a lease or own plan for their receivers in March that would make it easier for cable subscribers to switch to D*.

Not sure if I want HD-Lite......

TWC has been good to me with good HD PQ. Only a few times has digital transmission been bad (blocking and breakup). Plus the DVR.

Sorry if this has already been asked. I did a search but this thread is so long it was going to take me forever to find what I was looking for.

I live in Winston and I am going to break down and try and get ABC OTA. My calls to TWC just don't seem to be doing any good and I just can't miss the super bowl in HD.

Here is my question. Is anyone able to pick up ABC in Winston with an indoor antenna? AntennaWeb says I need a Large Directional w/ pre-amp. There is no way my wife is going to let me put up an antenna on the roof. So I hope there is an option to use an indoor.

One other option is to mount a large antenna in my Attic. Curenty there is a large antenna in the Attic from a previous owner, I assume it is not HD compatible. Due to additional cost and effort I am still not real excited with this option.

Any Winston indoor antenna success stories with ABC or other options are greatly appreciated.

Depending on where you live in Winston, you should be able to receive ABC with a decent indoor antenna. It's one of the easiest channels to get in our area. Just for fun, I was playing around with my Terk clip-on antenna inside my house the other day and was able to get ABC 45-2 with about 70% signal strength. Not only that, the station is on the opposite side of my house compared to where my bedroom is located. So the signal had to go through a few walls before it got to the antenna. I was able to get NBC and CBS while I was at it. Not bad for a crappy antenna inside my house!

As a Directv customer, I find this interesting since D* has only announced that the top 36 stations by DMA would get HD LiL by this summer. Greensboro is something like 47 or 48. I have often suspected that D* is being conservative with how many stations they could do on spaceway 1 and 2. I hope that Sinclair has let the cat out of the bag in regards to D*'s HD LiL plan.



FWIW, I tried to get some info on this out of the Directv people at CES last week. Nothing solid, but the few comments they had made it seem like they hoped to just meet the schedule they've published.

Not sure if I want HD-Lite......

TWC has been good to me with good HD PQ. Only a few times has digital transmission been bad (blocking and breakup). Plus the DVR.I can understand that. I'm hoping that with the new satellites and MPEG-4 that HD-Lite will go away. But who knows. Early reports for the HD LiL that are MPEG-4 say they aren't HD Lite. They are supposed to be as good as the OTA signal.

FWIW, D*'s new MPEG-4 HD DVR is supposed to be available this summer. It might be leaseable as well. It certainly will be much cheaper, if you have to buy it, than the current Tivo HD DVR available for D*.

FWIW, I tried to get some info on this out for the Directv people at CES last week. Nothing solid, but the few comments they had made it seem like they hoped to just meet the schedule they've published.Either Sinclair let a trade secret slip or they are uninformed about what D* really will do or they are just saying that so they can brow beat TWC into an agreement.

I can already get all of the local HD except PBS-HD OTA so it isn't a big deal to me either way. I'd rather have more national HD channels.

Your not trying to indicate that Sinclair doesn't tell "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth" are you ????

Your not trying to indicate that Sinclair doesn't tell "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth" are you ????No, of course not. ;)

voltaire.....I use an unamplified Silver Sensor in the attic to feed my OTA tuner in my theater, and an amplified Jenson rabbit ears from Best Buy for my Samsung with built-in tuner in the bedroom for WXLV only, and I get a solid lock. I live in Forsyth Co. close to the Davidon line.

As far as the ABC OTA signal, I too have a TERK indoor antenna from Radio Shack. I live on the Davidson-Forsyth county line and my TV is in the corner of my half-underground basement.

I've had a little aggravation with reception for ABC, but usually can get somewhere between 40-60 reception. It's aggravating having to move the antenna slightly from day to day if things are a bit bumpy, but I didn't want to invest heavily in an outdoor antenna since I get the other locals QAM. I would definitely try an indoor before spending a lot of money. It helps to be close to a window.

Hope this helps.

Nothing solid, but the few comments they had made it seem like they hoped to just meet the schedule they've published.
Where is the schedule published? Is there a link? I read about the first 12 markets but haven't heard anything else since.

As far as the ABC OTA signal, I too have a TERK indoor antenna from Radio Shack. I live on the Davidson-Forsyth county line and my TV is in the corner of my half-underground basement.

I've had a little aggravation with reception for ABC, but usually can get somewhere between 40-60 reception. It's aggravating having to move the antenna slightly from day to day if things are a bit bumpy, but I didn't want to invest heavily in an outdoor antenna since I get the other locals QAM. I would definitely try an indoor before spending a lot of money. It helps to be close to a window.

Hope this helps.

Anyone on the Davidson-Forsyth line with outdoor setups able to get the Charlotte stations? I'm getting ready to move from Greensboro to Kernersville and will be putting an amplified 4228 in the attic or on top of the house. I'd like to pull the Charlotte's in.

Either Sinclair let a trade secret slip or they are uninformed about what D* really will do or they are just saying that so they can brow beat TWC into an agreement.

It is no secret that D* has been talking to the stations here.

I've been having problems getting my Sony DVR to download the TV Guide on screen listings from channel 4. While looking at the diagnostics screens, it appears that Fox 8 is transmitting VBI data, but the reciever tags it as "bad."

Out of curiosity, what is the VBI data that Fox 8 transmitts?
(I'm guessing it isn't TV Guide on screen listings)

Now if only I could get my listings working again.

Thanks!
-Jim

P.S.
I'm also looking forward to getting the digital 8 signal once the new tower is up and running!


VBI usually means vertical blanking interval. It is above the visiable picture and test signals and such are sent there on analog along with a analog EPG guide. That is used in analog and if you program separately your digital and analog channels, you have to provide an EPG for each channel. Since we air the same programming on both stations 100% of the time, we are not required to send an EPG on analog so we don't and so maybe that is what it is talking about? I do not remember seeing anything in the PSIP table about VBI. I will go back and check it, but it doesn't ring a bell.

We began the install today. Shouldn't be too long now, just a few weeks.

on the Sinclair thing...

I think those of us that have been here a while have all written on a regular basis to them about no HD with TWC. I just wrote them again to complain. What I really don't like is the fact that I will have to go out and purchase an HD receiver (plus antenna) to get their HD signal.

As much as I'd love to see the Super Bowl in HD, I am not willing to put my hard earned money into that (especially when I really want to upgrade my receiver and add ropelights and motorize my curtain and get new drapes for my den and get my car repainted and get my sofa recovered...)

BTW,
TWC HD DVR to be installed next week - they are out of them right now and have to get new ones in.

Anyone on the Davidson-Forsyth line with outdoor setups able to get the Charlotte stations? I'm getting ready to move from Greensboro to Kernersville and will be putting an amplified 4228 in the attic or on top of the house. I'd like to pull the Charlotte's in.


I live about 2 miles from the Davidson line off of highway 150 and I can get Charlotte stations with my Winegard SENSAR (batwing) antenna. With a 4228 you should have even better luck than me. You might want to use a preamp too. Check ebay for a good price on a preamp.

I'm glad I finally tried out that Silver Sensor, now I have ABC HD for a $20 investment, should have done it a long time ago. Screw Sinclair.

For the person that pointed out that the SA8300 would let you search by title via alphabet, what a joke. That was PAINFUL scrolling through every single show that starts with a letter to finally get to the one that I want. The SARA interface is terrible. Sure, it beats a VCR, but not by much.

I'm keeping my hopes alive for a major software revision from SARA at some point or maybe even the advent of CC2 to allow a standalone TiVo HD.

Anyone on the Davidson-Forsyth line with outdoor setups able to get the Charlotte stations? I'm getting ready to move from Greensboro to Kernersville and will be putting an amplified 4228 in the attic or on top of the house. I'd like to pull the Charlotte's in.


I haven't done so well with the Charlotte stations with my chimney mounted antenna.
It is a Colorstar C480. It probably has a lot to do with the huge pin-oak tree in front
of my house.

C Snyder

on the Sinclair thing...

I think those of us that have been here a while have all written on a regular basis to them about no HD with TWC.

As much as I'd love to see the Super Bowl in HD, I am not willing to put my hard earned money into that

I've written the local ABC station manager as well... as most of you know, the reply seems to indicate that the decision-making authority lies in the hands of the corporate suit(s) and not with the local manager. My guess is that the feud will continue for some time still.

With more and more TVs now shipping with factory HD tuners, the investment for new adopters of HD technology is little more than an antenna and the time to aim it. I wonder if this leaves an ever-dwindling pool of incentive (customers who lack tuners) for Time-Warner to pony-up and serve.

Unfortunately, if you're an early adopter (as I was) and ended up with a display device that lacked a built-in tuner.... the only near-term solution was to break-down and purchase a discounted tuner to pull in the local-HD programming.

I'll be watching the super bowl via my OTA tuner, and wondering why I'm paying a large sum of cash to TWC every month.

For the person that pointed out that the SA8300 would let you search by title via alphabet, what a joke. That was PAINFUL scrolling through every single show that starts with a letter to finally get to the one that I want. The SARA interface is terrible. Sure, it beats a VCR, but not by much.

Hey, I didn't say it was great, I just said it was possible! :)

I'll be watching the super bowl via my OTA tuner, and wondering why I'm paying a large sum of cash to TWC every month.

If you are fortunate enough to have your own QAM capable tuner, then you don't
need to pay TWC a large some of cash. I'm considering a refurb LG 3510 upconvert
DVD player that has a built-in ATSC/QAM tuner to view my local HD with just basic
cable. If all the extra digtal channels are important to you, then you will still have
to pay that large sum of cash. ;)


C Snyder

I'm glad I finally tried out that Silver Sensor, now I have ABC HD for a $20 investment, should have done it a long time ago. Screw Sinclair.

Sounds more like "screw Time Warner than Sinclair" if you are getting HD off air from Greensboro or Charlotte.
I do not have cable and get all my HD via set top box and a 20 year old outside antenna.

Anyone on the Davidson-Forsyth line with outdoor setups able to get the Charlotte stations? I'm getting ready to move from Greensboro to Kernersville and will be putting an amplified 4228 in the attic or on top of the house. I'd like to pull the Charlotte's in.

I am in the Wallburg area off HW-109-Wallburg H-P Road- pulling ALL of the Charlotte stations with a CM 4228 with rotator mounted on top of two story house. I pull them in better at times than I do channel 2 & 8. No drop-outs except with the WB station channel 55-1. It will be well worth the effort to put up the 4228 and invest in a rotator also. I had a Wingard 2000 amplified before that would pull in some of the stations from Charlotte, but with periodic drop-outs.

Anyone on the Davidson-Forsyth line with outdoor setups able to get the Charlotte stations? I'm getting ready to move from Greensboro to Kernersville and will be putting an amplified 4228 in the attic or on top of the house. I'd like to pull the Charlotte's in.

I am in the Wallburg area off HW-109-Wallburg H-P Road- pulling ALL of the Charlotte stations with a CM 4228 with rotator mounted on top of two story house. I pull them in better at times than I do channel 2 & 8. No drop-outs except with the WB station channel 55-1. Constant signal of 75-85 on most stations. It will be well worth the effort to put up the 4228 and invest in a rotator also. I had a Wingard 2000 amplified before that would pull in some of the stations from Charlotte, but with periodic drop-outs.

Hope i'm not asking too much, but I am fairly new at the whole HD thing and am trying to look at options for installing an OTA antenna as well. I live in Clemmons close to the Forsyth/Davie County line. I would like to put up a rooftop antenna as well, on a two-story house. Can you tell me how the rotator works, how it is controlled? Is all this stuff fairly easy to self-install, given a moderate level of technical/mechanical aptitude? Also, what brand of antenna is the CM 4228?

Thanks for taking the time to address some of these questions.

Thanks for all the replys everyone. I will likely try and hook into my existing antenna in my attic.

Now if I can just find a cheap tuner. :( I wish I could still find the one radio shack was selling for $89.

voltaire - IMHO, sadly, with most new HDTV's including the tuner, they're only a few models you can now find. And, since the trend was anticipated there isn't any large inventory, so supply isn't that great. My local CC lists 3 models but they only carry 1. And there's just enough demand with people who have decided it's now or never to get an OTA tuner. Put that together, and there's no price pressure.

That Radio Shack closeout may have been the last great deal for a while.

Can anyone tell me if WFMY over TWC HD channel is 5.1 surround for CSI's. The sound just doesnt seem right on my end if so. Thanks for any help

One more thing, I live in Graham, how many HD signals could I get with OTA rec and ant in the attic, its very large to put a ant in, but I just hate to spend the money and still not be able to get a good ABC signal, (because of the fued) Does anyone on here live in Graham and have a setup working? Thanks again for the help

Can anyone tell me if WFMY over TWC HD channel is 5.1 surround for CSI's. The sound just doesnt seem right on my end if so. Thanks for any help

To my knowledge, WFMY does not broadcast in 5.1 DD.

Hope i'm not asking too much, but I am fairly new at the whole HD thing and am trying to look at options for installing an OTA antenna as well. I live in Clemmons close to the Forsyth/Davie County line. I would like to put up a rooftop antenna as well, on a two-story house. Can you tell me how the rotator works, how it is controlled? Is all this stuff fairly easy to self-install, given a moderate level of technical/mechanical aptitude? Also, what brand of antenna is the CM 4228?

Thanks for taking the time to address some of these questions.

Channel Master makes the 4228, reputably one of the favorites of most on this board. The rotator work by "rotating" your antenna so you can receive signals from stations whose towers are located in different directions (like here in the Triad). It is controlled with a control unit located where your TV set is. Depending on your model, it might be controlled with a remote control, or even a universal remote that automatically turns your antenna when you change channels...or it might be a dial style that you physicall turn. Setting up an over the air antenna system can be tricky, depending on your setup. But if you are handy and have basic skills you should have no problem. FYI, Lowes carrys Channel Master antenna products....but not the 4228.

One more thing, I live in Graham, how many HD signals could I get with OTA rec and ant in the attic, its very large to put a ant in, but I just hate to spend the money and still not be able to get a good ABC signal, (because of the fued) Does anyone on here live in Graham and have a setup working? Thanks again for the help

Andy, you should be able to receive several HD OTA with the right tuner and antenna setup(even in your attic). One thing though you'll need to invest in a rotator as well to get the most channels, since you can recieve all the major channels out of the Raleigh market and most of the Triad ones with the exception of FOX8(which is supposed to go to full power sometime soon)

Here in Elon I can get all of the Raleigh and Greensboro channels as well as WDBJ, WSET & WSLS out of Roanoke. Depending on your locale this might be the case for you as well.

Thanks for the direction MR12. I appreciate the information. Sounds like it's worth the trouble.

Is it just me or does anybody else have a problem with the audio on WGHP-DT. I noticed last night that I'm not hearing any audio on the channel. It is still this way this morning. I'm having this problem on both of my Samsung 160s. Foxeng, are you aware of any problem with the audio?

Is it just me or does anybody else have a problem with the audio on WGHP-DT. I noticed last night that I'm not hearing any audio on the channel. It is still this way this morning. I'm having this problem on both of my Samsung 160s. Foxeng, are you aware of any problem with the audio?I've got the same problem here. No sound on TWC on FOX-HD.

Joe L.

So can anyone give me the brief explanation of this whole TWC/Sinclair thing. I think it's absurd that I pay money for "extra" HD channels but it's even more ridiculous that I don't get ABC in HD because of some issues between TWC and some broadcasting group. My life would be whole if I could ever get ABC-HD without having to jump thru hoops to get it to work.

So can anyone give me the brief explanation of this whole TWC/Sinclair thing. I think it's absurd that I pay money for "extra" HD channels but it's even more ridiculous that I don't get ABC in HD because of some issues between TWC and some broadcasting group. My life would be whole if I could ever get ABC-HD without having to jump thru hoops to get it to work.

Broadcast television stations have the option of either demanding carriage on a cable system, (which most religious, shopping, and spanish channels resort to, refered to as "must carry") OR if the station feels "essential" enough, it can opt for "retransmission consent", which involves some fair compensation from the cable operator to the station for the right to rebroadcast the station on the cable system.

Since many stations are owned by entities that also own and operate cable networks, (Disney for example owns ABC, several ABC outlets, ESPN, Disney Channel) the permission to retransmit the local TV station is attached to an agreement for the cable operator to carry, and pay for, the sibling cable networks.

The agreements to retransmit analogue versions of a station do not carry over to the digital version.

Sinclair does not have any negociating opportunities, so they have demanded cash, a lot of cash, to carry their digital signals. The cable industry has drawn a line and refused to pay the unreasonable sum Sinclair is demanding.

Sinclair, along with Nexstar, and a couple of other second tier broadcasters have always been a pain in the ass to deal with. They live in the same world that General Motors lives in, the world of diminishing importance, and the world of denial.

They want 50 cents per month per sub. If the cable industry caved and ended up paying 50 cents each for all the "essential channels", it would either severly impact their bottom line, or they would have to pass the costs on.

I hope they hold the line.

I've got the same problem here. No sound on TWC on FOX-HD.

Joe L.


Must be the station

Broadcast television stations have the option of either demanding carriage on a cable system, (which most religious, shopping, and spanish channels resort to, refered to as "must carry") OR if the station feels "essential" enough, it can opt for "retransmission consent", which involves some fair compensation from the cable operator to the station for the right to rebroadcast the station on the cable system.

Since many stations are owned by entities that also own and operate cable networks, (Disney for example owns ABC, several ABC outlets, ESPN, Disney Channel) the permission to retransmit the local TV station is attached to an agreement for the cable operator to carry, and pay for, the sibling cable networks.

The agreements to retransmit analogue versions of a station do not carry over to the digital version.

Sinclair does not have any negociating opportunities, so they have demanded cash, a lot of cash, to carry their digital signals. The cable industry has drawn a line and refused to pay the unreasonable sum Sinclair is demanding.

Sinclair, along with Nexstar, and a couple of other second tier broadcasters have always been a pain in the ass to deal with. They live in the same world that General Motors lives in, the world of diminishing importance, and the world of denial.

They want 50 cents per month per sub. If the cable industry caved and ended up paying 50 cents each for all the "essential channels", it would either severly impact their bottom line, or they would have to pass the costs on.

I hope they hold the line.

I would agree with you. Thank you for the concise explanation of what's going on with that situation. Does the FCC or any government agency have the right to demand that Sinclair makes it's signal available to cable carriers for HD content?

Also, I assume ESPN-HD is also held by the Sinclair group in this area. If that is the case, does anyone know how TWC was able to get the rights to broadcast it? Is the fact that it is part of the "HD Pack" the reason why, since people who receive ESPN-HD do so because they opt to pay for it?

Also, I assume ESPN-HD is also held by the Sinclair group in this area. If that is the case, does anyone know how TWC was able to get the rights to broadcast it? Is the fact that it is part of the "HD Pack" the reason why, since people who receive ESPN-HD do so because they opt to pay for it?Sinclair doesn't own ESPN, Disney does. So the TWC impasse with Sinclair doesn't impact any Disney owned cable channels.

WGHP-DT's audio is working again.

Is it just me or does anybody else have a problem with the audio on WGHP-DT. I noticed last night that I'm not hearing any audio on the channel. It is still this way this morning. I'm having this problem on both of my Samsung 160s. Foxeng, are you aware of any problem with the audio?

I had audio during the 10 O'clock news last night OTA but I didn't check this morning and I had too much going on at the site today to even check and no one from the station called and told me anything. I did get a call from TWC about 9am telling me they didn't have any audio and then while I was talking to them, they said it magically came back.

I have it now OTA.

Got me??!!

Sinclair doesn't own ESPN, Disney does. So the TWC impasse with Sinclair doesn't impact any Disney owned cable channels.

And, just to further clarify, what Sinclair does own is WXLV 45 - the triad area's local ABC affiliate (and also 48, but I don't remember its call letters). So, that's why they can refuse our local TWC the rights to air the digital signal (which WXLV broadcasts) and thus, deny you ABC in HD.

At this point, I am much more interested in Triad TWC getting ESPN2HD than anything else, including ABC in HD. Of course it helps that I get ABC HD OTA. (and ABC has barely any HD content that I actually watch (ie. a paltry few sporting events)) ;)

And, just to further clarify, what Sinclair does own is WXLV 45 - the triad area's local ABC affiliate (and also 48, but I don't remember its call letters). So, that's why they can refuse our local TWC the rights to air the digital signal (which WXLV broadcasts) and thus, deny you ABC in HD.

At this point, I am much more interested in Triad TWC getting ESPN2HD than anything else, including ABC in HD. Of course it helps that I get ABC HD OTA. (and ABC has barely any HD content that I actually watch (ie. a paltry few sporting events)) ;)

Just to make life a little easier for everyone, here are the companies that own all of the full power TV stations in the market:

WFMY 2 - Gannett
WGHP 8 - FOX
WXII 12 - Hearst-Argyle
WGPX 16 - PAX
WTWB 20 - Pappas
WUNL 26 - State of North Carolina
WXLV 45 - Sinclair
WUPN 48 - Sinclair
WLXI 61 - TRI-STATE CHRISTIAN TV

One of the arguments that Sinclair uses in justifying demanding cash compensation from cable operators is that the satellite industry DOES apparently pay cash. HOWEVER, the satellite industry turns around and charges an ADDITIONAL FEE for local channels. Cable has always offered analogue and digital signals as part of their entry level package, although some people might have to rent a converter if their TV is not a full HDTV set, only "HDTV ready".

Read Sinclair's position statement on their website. It is so full of spin and half truths, it's laughable. Sinclair has started to cave in several markets, and although the terms of the deals have not been disclosed publically, it's indicated that cash was not involved.

Local TV broadcasting has significantly diminished in importance over the past decade. Apart from local newscasts, (car wrecks and murders), and local advertising, (car dealers and car dealers), there is really nothing local about it. Once the automobile dealership model changes to a handful of national "superdealers", the local advertising revenue stream will dry up and local station values will plummet.

Remember what happened to half of the daily newspapers, and full service local radio??? Sinclair needs to realize that the deck is stacked in favor of the cable industry, and shut up and play ball!!!

Since I watch Fox, NBC and CBS on TWC I patronize thier sponsors (ad revenue). Sinclair's ABC and UPN do not get my patronage.

If Sinclair let their signal be carried by TWC I would see and patronize the sponsors on those channels.

Since I watch Fox, NBC and CBS on TWC I patronize thier sponsors (ad revenue). Sinclair's ABC and UPN do not get my patronage.

Suggestion:

Suffer thorough a few hours of Sinclair's analogue signals on Time Warner, write down all the LOCAL advertisers, compose a letter to them advising them that they should suspend advertising on Sinclair stations until the feud is resolved. Send copies to their marketing departments and/or ad agencies, the Sinclair stations, and Sinclair corporate, ABC, UPN, and the local papers. All it would take is for one major account to pull their ads to get some movement in this impass.

Bitching at Time Warner and/or the local Sinclair management is a hopeless endeavor.

When it comes time for license renewal, petition the FCC with evidence that the stations are not operating in the public's interests.

The advertisers are definitely losing out. I rarely ever even think to switch over to ABC since I am usually watching the HD stations. ABC is always a complete afterthought. I usually just start scanning through the HD stations to see whats on.



Suggestion:

Suffer thorough a few hours of Sinclair's analogue signals on Time Warner, write down all the LOCAL advertisers, compose a letter to them advising them that they should suspend advertising on Sinclair stations until the feud is resolved. Send copies to their marketing departments and/or ad agencies, the Sinclair stations, and Sinclair corporate, ABC, UPN, and the local papers. All it would take is for one major account to pull their ads to get some movement in this impass.

Bitching at Time Warner and/or the local Sinclair management is a hopeless endeavor.

When it comes time for license renewal, petition the FCC with evidence that the stations are not operating in the public's interests.

Suggestion:

Suffer thorough a few hours of Sinclair's analogue signals on Time Warner, write down all the LOCAL advertisers, compose a letter to them advising them that they should suspend advertising on Sinclair stations until the feud is resolved. Send copies to their marketing departments and/or ad agencies, the Sinclair stations, and Sinclair corporate, ABC, UPN, and the local papers. All it would take is for one major account to pull their ads to get some movement in this impass.

Bitching at Time Warner and/or the local Sinclair management is a hopeless endeavor.

When it comes time for license renewal, petition the FCC with evidence that the stations are not operating in the public's interests.
Great idea!

I do try to watch Boston Legal - I'll write down the ads that I see. Maybe we can all watch a bit over the next few days, jot down the local ads, then post here so we can all write to more local advertisers.

When it comes time for license renewal, petition the FCC with evidence that the stations are not operating in the public's interests.

That will not fly at the FCC. You have access to Sinclair's analog signal and in the FCC's eyes that is good enough because the FCC doesn't require a station to transmit in HD only digital.

That will not fly at the FCC. You have access to Sinclair's analog signal and in the FCC's eyes that is good enough because the FCC doesn't require a station to transmit in HD only digital.

Nor does the FCC require the digital signal to be carried on cable as long as the analog is available. The local ad dollars will be the place to strike. If the management at ABC45 could control the availability of their stations on cable, this would not be a topic of discussion on the greensboro board. Sinclair corp is the problem.

No, I'm not trying to boost my post count :D , this just happens to be the first time on this board that everything hasn't been about antenna configurations and OTA reception. I'm probably one of the few people with 2 Pace HD boxes, an SA8300 HDDVR, an SA SD box, and 3 TiVos in the same house. Hmm, someone's a geek.

And now I also have 2 Silver Sensors pulling in ABCHD for bowl games and the Super Bowl thanks to Tarheelbuc for the tips!


Hey buddy! Glad to help and glad those worked out for you as well! I hope you and your family had a safe holiday season and made it back ok! Holler if you need anything, Im right up the street!


Now, back on topic.

I, like most of you have blasted Sinclair every way I know of. Emails, letters, phone calls and so on. As stated, it does no good.

Noting the advertisers is a good idea...might as well give that a shot as well. Cant hurt.

I know it should not be like this since those that have TWC (myself included..along with D*) but, OTA is there now and its only going to get better. It (OTA reception) can be "had" for less than 100.00 if you look in the right places and are in the right location ( MOST are, some are not)

Search around for a low-end hd tuner and antenna and you will get ALL your locals (Fox 8 soon) You dont need Sinclair nor TWC to do this and the end result is a very good OTA HD picture.

I know I am preaching to the choir but, there are options out there :D

That will not fly at the FCC. You have access to Sinclair's analog signal and in the FCC's eyes that is good enough because the FCC doesn't require a station to transmit in HD only digital.

What happen's February 17, 2009???? Let's assume the Sinclair channel has a main channel (HTDV) and three sub-channels, one being an SDTV version of the main channel. All of these channels are components of one ATSC stream. Will the cable operator have to negociate for one signal, or all the sub-channels individually???? We could still be stuck in the same impass.

It's ironic that in the UK, satellite and cable operators are REQUIRED to offer the terrestrial channels for FREE. The consumer needs only to pay the installation expenses for the equipment. The signals are henceforth free and unencrypted.

There is talk about eventually phasing out terrestrial transmissions entirely. Brilliant !!!

Saturday AM update...

Watched "Dancing with the Stars" ( has-beens). It had only one local commercial - for Fred Astaire Dance Studios located in Greensboro and WS.

My husband wondered if we wrote a letter to the Editor of the NR to inform more people of the situation with Sinclair. A lot of folks are just now getting HD and may not know about this whole local thing - ESPECIALLY with Super Bowl coming up in a few weeks. I doubt that Tweeter, BB, and CC will inform the customers who use TWC about OTA only for ABC.

Search around for a low-end hd tuner and antenna and you will get ALL your locals (Fox 8 soon) You dont need Sinclair nor TWC to do this and the end result is a very good OTA HD picture.

I am sorry, I have to respond to this. Several posters over the last few days have stated "FOX8 soon OTA."

First off we do reach much of the population with our low power signal. I personally live off of Battleground in Greensboro close to the Lowes and with a 4228 and a Radio Shack pre-amp have had WGHP-DT from day one in 2002 when we turned the low power transmitter on.

Yes Stokesdale and Lewisville and Mocksville and eastern Burlington are out of the low power coverage area, but to insinuate that no one picks up WGHP-DT OTA is not true.

It's ironic that in the UK, satellite and cable operators are REQUIRED to offer the terrestrial channels for FREE. The consumer needs only to pay the installation expenses for the equipment. The signals are henceforth free and unencrypted.

Well this isn't the UK. There is no law requiring ANY station, analog or digital to be carried on a cable system and further, the law is written in such a way that stations can demand compensation of signal carriage, if they so choose. Now if a good faith agreement can not be reached, the FCC doesn't care. The agreement is not in the regulatory realm. There are mechanisms in place for stations who want to be on cable systems and are denied various reasons. This is not the case with Sinclair's digital signals.

I am not taking up for Sinclair, just stating what the law is for any TV station. CBS has said they too will start asking for money also when their O & O's come up for renewal of retransmission. In the end, I believe it will come to pass that all stations will be compensated for carriage on cable. It isn't good business for stations to be carried on cable, cable makes money off of it and stations get no compensation for it. It is basically legal stealing but stations are somewhat to blame allowing this condition to exist for decades. It is difficult to get the genie back in the bottle now.

Historically when the major OTA stations in a market have voluntarily been pulled from cable systems over retransmission issues, the cableco's cave because the public backlash is more than the cableco can financally support. Also the FCC sees the cableco not living up to its public service commitments for localism as well. {Time-Warner vs Disney, 1998.) In that one, on election day 1998, Disney pulled its ABC O & Os off of T-W over a retrans issue and the FCC jumped in and said that the ABC stations had to be on the cableco for public safety and information issues and both companies were admonished for their lack of good faith negotiating. The ABC stations were restored that day and the negotiating continued until a new agreement was reached. FOX also threated to pull its O & O 's in the 90's over retrans issues as well and the cablecos folded. It happens a lot.

The cablcos may have HBO and ESPN and all, but in the end, most people have cable for a better quality local TV station picture. Digital and HD defeats that reasoning, as has been stated in this thread on many occasions. Cablecos are afraid of that. Why do you think they have started adding all of this other crap to keep you signed up? They know you can go to sat or now digital OTA. When analog goes away, these cablecos that have been holding out on the digital side will have to either cave financially or through must carry take these stations. In the end, the cablecos can't live without the local stations, that is historical fact. Sat found that out.

ESPECIALLY with Super Bowl coming up in a few weeks. I doubt that Tweeter, BB, and CC will inform the customers who use TWC about OTA only for ABC.

We did a story a couple of weeks ago about the number of HD sets sold over Christmas and one of the sales people interviewed said that only 3 stations in the market were broadcasting digital and only two of those were in HD! Of course he didn't mention which stations were involded.

When I have questioned these people in the big box stores (I go in "undercover" frequently. ;) ) they have no clue. Most have no idea what the difference is between HDMI and RGB much less who is broadcasting what. Their goal is to sell you the most expensive TV and they will say ANYTHING to get you to buy it, truth or not.

Can anyone recommend to me someone who could pull a cable line through the wall into my attic? It's an outside wall and kind of in a trickly place to get to so I don't want to attempt it myself. I am hoping to find someone who won't charge me an arm and a leg to come out to pull one wire. Any ideas?

"Money at crux of TV debate
Sinclair, Time Warner at odds over charge to carry HD signal"

http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ/MGArticle/WSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128769314684

I assume an agreement will be made between Sinclair and TWC by 2009 but if not, WXLV has a digital channel that they probably would allow TWC to carry for free. 45.1 is a digital channel but it is SD only that could be given to TWC to cover any must carry requirement. 45.2 is the HD channel.

Is TNT now encrypted? I can't seem to get it anymore with my Fusion card.

"Money at crux of TV debate
Sinclair, Time Warner at odds over charge to carry HD signal"

http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ/MGArticle/WSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128769314684
Thanks!

I just shot the NR folks the link with my intro and explanation, Maybe they'll do an article or reprint this one.

foxeng,

OK, professionally you're a broadcast guy, and I'm a cable guy. I understand both sides of the issue. I'm neutral as far as who's getting the better of who.

But, what I guess escalates my anger is the fact that as a consumer, I don't have the option of "shopping at another store". Examples, Sinclair has chosen not to broadcast UPN in HDTV in my market. May I, as a consumer, via cable or satellite, gain access to a UPN affiliate that does??? NO, NOT ALLOWED!!! If Sinclair decides to manipulate network programming to forward it's own political agenda, can I view that network elsewhere??? NO, NOT ALLOWED!!!

On the other hand, if Time Warner Cable decides not to carry a particular cable channel, let's say Bravo in Raleigh, as a consumer, I have at least two alternate sources to access that programming.

Broadcasters have the upper hand here. The cable operator MAY NOT import another affiliate of a given network. Broadcasters exploit that reality, and the consumer suffers.

In a perfect world, there would be no carriage requirements, either must carry or retransmission consent, nor would there be any market exclusivity afforded to an affiliate of a given network. Broadcasters would have to perform, not merely exist, in order to earn compensation.

The biggest problem with cash compensation is that it's a movement away from the traditional broadcast business model, delivering advertisers to viewers by producing programming that viewers want to see. Not by being subsidized indirectly from it's viewers.

Like I've said earlier, the local network affiliate model is rapidly becoming obsolete. There may be a day in the not so distant future where most stations become "PAX's" or "TBN's", unattended sticks pumping out sateliite or fiber delivered network feeds 24/7.

And for what it's worth, cable is responsible. And maybe that's why some broadcasters behave as they do towards cable.

PS There is many a broadcast station that owes it's existance to the cable delivery model.

foxeng,

You sound someone I'd probably enjoy having a couple of beers with (meant as a compliment).

As a broadcaster, what do you think of this as an "interum" solution????

Sinclair allows Time Warner to add both it's HDTV channels as a "tier". Time Warner agrees to pay Sinclair 50% of the tier revenue, and Sinclair sets the price, maybe $1.50/month.

Who loses???? I figure that it's gonna cost a subcriber anywhere between $25 and $300 to gain access to these channels over the air depending on his location and equipment. Both Time Warner and Sinclair spend a lot less time dealing with angry customers. And it buys time. Your thoughts????

HOWEVER, the satellite industry turns around and charges an ADDITIONAL FEE for local channels.posg, while there is a $5 dollar charge for locals from Directv, they cost me more with Time Warner. Before Directv offered locals in this area is used to get the very basic channels from TWC, 2-13 but not HBO, and it cost me $8.00. So when I was able to get the channels from D* I was able to save a few bucks. Additionaly when HD locals come to this area from D* there will be no additional charge for them since I'm already paying for the analog locals.

It's been awhile, but I used to subscribe to only the local channel package from DirecTV. At the time, unless you subcribed to one of their packages, there was a $5 access charge plus the $5.95 for the locals, making a total of $10.95.

It's been awhile, but I used to subscribe to only the local channel package from DirecTV. At the time, unless you subcribed to one of their packages, there was a $5 access charge plus the $5.95 for the locals, making a total of $10.95.I've never seen an access charge, but then again I've never had just the local channels. That charge may still exist today. However, when you look at D*'s website they don't have any detail about getting local channels only. In looking at my bill, they don't even have the local channels listed out separately like they used too. All I have on my bill the total choice premier package, the HD package and my extra receivers. It looks like that if you get a programming package you get the locals along with it, like cable (not counting the unadvertised 2-14 package I used to get from TWC).

On this link below they say the programming package is $3.00 less if locals aren't available in your area.

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/packages/base.jsp

As a broadcaster, what do you think of this as an "interum" solution????

I don't know if there is one at this late date. IMHO, this whole "transition" has been mishandled at all levels. The sooner there is only one station to worry about, I think it will be better for all concerned, cable, broadcasters and consumers.

foxeng,


But, what I guess escalates my anger is the fact that as a consumer, I don't have the option of "shopping at another store". Examples, Sinclair has chosen not to broadcast UPN in HDTV in my market. May I, as a consumer, via cable or satellite, gain access to a UPN affiliate that does??? NO, NOT ALLOWED!!!


Sinclair has not chosen to not broadcast UPN in HD, anymore that WGHP will be at the current power level they are at now. They will be quite powerful and heavily viewed once they are at full power. Sinclairs WUPN is waiting on equipment to complete the HD passthrough to enable consistent HD programming when offered by UPN. Some of the equipment is on backorder but continues to trickle in.

Now if UPN just had some programming to watch :)

yeah, UPN's most viewed program isn't even broadcast in HD. Smackdown!

While flipping by I've seen some WUPN programming in HD but I've never stayed on the channel long enough to watch any of it. But they do have some programming in HD.

I actually got sucked into a horribly bad Tara Reid thriller one night. I started out seeing if I could lock in WXLV, WXII, and WUPN at the same time with my rabbit ears and wound up stuck for an hour.

While flipping by I've seen some WUPN programming in HD but I've never stayed on the channel long enough to watch any of it. But they do have some programming in HD.
No, we know they have programming, but I mean programming anyone would want to watch. :D

No, we know they have programming, but I mean programming anyone would want to watch. :DOh, sorry. You didn't specify :p :D

There is going to be an article in the Greensboro N & R Wednesday AM about the TWC Sinclair issue and the Super Bowl in HD. I was interviewed for it - I am SO afraid I screwed up something when I spoke to the reporter....AAAUUUGHHH!

I guess we'll see in the morning - please don't bash me if it's not right. I tried :o

http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060118/NEWSREC0101/601170333

Pam,

The article in the News&Record looks reasonably accurate and reads well.
(I'm not sure about the accuracy of your home theater being in your living room. )

You did good.

Joe L.

Pam,

The article in the News&Record looks reasonably accurate and reads well.
(I'm not sure about the accuracy of your home theater being in your living room. )

You did good.

Joe L.
Thank you!
BTW, you are right about the theater ;)
It's above the garage...But we live there :D

There is going to be an article in the Greensboro N & R Wednesday AM about the TWC Sinclair issue and the Super Bowl in HD. I was interviewed for it - I am SO afraid I screwed up something when I spoke to the reporter....AAAUUUGHHH!

I guess we'll see in the morning - please don't bash me if it's not right. I tried :o

Great article! Does anyone know if the Sinclair-owned FOX stations worked out a temporary, one-day deal last year to allow TWC to broadcast the super bowl last year on TWC in hi def? I wonder if something like that would be possible this year for TWC and the Sinclair-owned ABC affiliates. Wishful thinking, I guess!

Some did, some didn't.

Great Article Good Job Pam!! I just think its a shame that if this was the Raleigh/Durham market we would not be having this problem. I live in Graham, and here we get WTVD 11 out of Durham also as a ABC, but we dont get the HD channels it has. They are broadcasted in Durham/Raleigh market. If Time Warner wanted to put some pressure on Sinclair, they should open all the Triad up to the Raleigh/Durham ABC and see if that would help. Just my thought

I am new to the forum. I am wondering if anyone could give me some information on receiving off air HD channels in Greensboro? Type of antenna, indoor vs outdoor, and reception of major network stations. I bought a Terk HDTVa for indoor and get good reception on ABC and CBS. I had trouble with NBC last night (Jan 17th) but it is much better today. No FOX however. Any help is appreciated. I live in Northwest Greensboro off of Battleground.

^ FOX 8 is installing their new transmitter as we speak, and you should be able to lock them in in a month or so.

I am new to the forum. I am wondering if anyone could give me some information on receiving off air HD channels in Greensboro? Type of antenna, indoor vs outdoor, and reception of major network stations. I bought a Terk HDTVa for indoor and get good reception on ABC and CBS. I had trouble with NBC last night (Jan 17th) but it is much better today. No FOX however. Any help is appreciated. I live in Northwest Greensboro off of Battleground.I had trouble with NBC on Tuesday as well. I can normally get NBC without problem but the high wind that night played havoc with the signal.

I had trouble with NBC on Tuesday as well. I can normally get NBC without problem but the high wind that night played havoc with the signal.


You gotta hate high winds affecting OTA reception. I wish there was a way to avoid that problem. Normally my pic is perfect, but the other night some of the HD channels were unwatchable.

You gotta hate high winds affecting OTA reception. I wish there was a way to avoid that problem. Normally my pic is perfect, but the other night some of the HD channels were unwatchable.
I can pretty much get everything but WGHP at the moment. On both the 17th and last Saturday the only ones coming in were WXLV, WUPN. On SaturdayI was able to get WFMY, though pretty weak. When the winds died down everything came in great again. Its amazing how the winds can mess with the OTA signals like that.

I wish TWC would get NBC Universal-HD for the winter olympics

Is NBC Universal going to have extra coverage. I believe they said that all the HD coverage would be identical to the SD broadcast this year, no second rate announcers or delay.

Just looked on NBC website and they list all event coverage. Looks like UHD, CNBC and USA will only have second tier olympics coverage. The main NBC network has the primo coverage.

NBC will have Olympic coverage (on average) from:

4pm - 5pm
8pm - 11:30pm
Tonight Show with Leno
12:30-1:30 cermonies
1:30am - 5:00am primetime replay

All HD

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.

FYI. Don't know if this has been previously cleared up since I am just now finding and reading this forum, but I recently in the last couple of weeks had my standard TWC box changed to the HD box and it is a Pace 550P. So TWC must still carry them.

Thanks!

No one was sure about that one!

I live near New Garden Road and Battleground Ave. in (Northeast) Greensboro. Has anyone living near that location been able to aquire a HD signal from ABC45-WXLV by using the Zenith Silver Sensor indoor antenna? If so what signal strength and under what kind of conditions? Near a window? Facing which direction? South? On bottom floor or higher up?

I have one coming on Tuesday and wondered what my chances are of getting an HD signal.

Thanks to anyone who can give me any info on this.

I live near New Garden Road and Battleground Ave. in (Northeast) Greensboro.
I believe you're in NorthWEST Greensboro, unless they've moved that intersection. :)
I'm just a few miles further out Battleground/220 at Lake Brandt and I can get ABC with a Zenith Silver Sensor inside. On one TV I have the Zenith on the 1.5 level of my house on top of an armoire facing South down 220 towards Asheboro. I only get 40% but that's plenty to stay locked in. Up on the 2nd story I have another Silver Sensor on the floor that gets a signal of 80%.

Depending on whether you're on a hill or have lots of buildings/obstacles, I think you should be fine.

If you'll go to www.antennaweb.org you can put in your exact address and print a small map that will show your house in relation to the surrounding streets and show you where the various TV transmitters are located so you'll know how to aim it.

Good luck.

I believe you're in NorthWEST Greensboro, unless they've moved that intersection. :)
I'm just a few miles further out Battleground/220 at Lake Brandt and I can get ABC with a Zenith Silver Sensor inside. On one TV I have the Zenith on the 1.5 level of my house on top of an armoire facing South down 220 towards Asheboro. I only get 40% but that's plenty to stay locked in. Up on the 2nd story I have another Silver Sensor on the floor that gets a signal of 80%.

Depending on whether you're on a hill or have lots of buildings/obstacles, I think you should be fine.

If you'll go to www.antennaweb.org you can put in your exact address and print a small map that will show your house in relation to the surrounding streets and show you where the various TV transmitters are located so you'll know how to aim it.

Good luck.

OOPS! Your right of course....Northwest!

I live in Stoneville, which is about 30 miles north of Greensboro and I am able to get all the networks except Fox 8. I hope to be able to also receive 8 when the new tower is complete. I have a Terk 32 mounted in my attic. The antenna is roughly 40-45 feet above ground. The weakest signal I receive is channel 45, around 70%. Not bad I think for an attic mount. I'm using a Directv H-20 for the tuner.

Trey

Anyone wonder why they keep showing Time Warner commercials advertising ABC-HD(winston-salem)? I saw one yesterday saying to be sure and catch the superbowl in HD on abc? Now I would love that as much as the next person but stop tempting us with these comercials. This is not the first abc hd advertising I have seen this year. Anyone have any insight into this?

My guess is that it's just one of WXLV's commercials in their ad loop for TWC.

Anyone wonder why they keep showing Time Warner commercials advertising ABC-HD(winston-salem)? I saw one yesterday saying to be sure and catch the superbowl in HD on abc? Now I would love that as much as the next person but stop tempting us with these comercials. This is not the first abc hd advertising I have seen this year. Anyone have any insight into this?


TWC may negotiate with Sinclair to air ABC-HD for superbowl?

I was enjoying Fox's Dolby Digital last night. Just want to make sure I understand correctly. Is it a correct statement to say that the only local affiliate that can pass along dolby digital encoding is WGHP-FOX. So WXLV(ABC), WFMY(CBS), and WXII(NBC) all pass along stereo sound even though the DD5.1 flag is lit up?

Based on responses on previous pages, it looks like this occurs because the national network encodes the event in DD5.1 originally, (hence the flag is lit), but our local affiliates lack the equipment to pass along the 5.1 encoding.

If this is the case, any estimate on time frame as to when our other local affiliates will upgrade? Thanks.

Is it a correct statement to say that the only local affiliate that can pass along dolby digital encoding is WGHP-FOX. So WXLV(ABC), WFMY(CBS), and WXII(NBC) all pass along stereo sound even though the DD5.1 flag is lit up?
I asked both WFMY and WXLV. WFMY says that they don't currently have the equipment. WXLV said that they do process 5.1. The time I asked WXLV about, the Sugar Bowl, they said they had equipment failure. Not sure about WXII.

I was enjoying Fox's Dolby Digital last night. Just want to make sure I understand correctly. Is it a correct statement to say that the only local affiliate that can pass along dolby digital encoding is WGHP-FOX. So WXLV(ABC), WFMY(CBS), and WXII(NBC) all pass along stereo sound even though the DD5.1 flag is lit up?

Based on responses on previous pages, it looks like this occurs because the national network encodes the event in DD5.1 originally, (hence the flag is lit), but our local affiliates lack the equipment to pass along the 5.1 encoding.

If this is the case, any estimate on time frame as to when our other local affiliates will upgrade? Thanks.

FOX is the only network to send DD 5.1 directly from the network through the stations untouched. The other networks send it to the stations, but they require the stations to manipulate it and then reformat it to be sent out. Some stations can, some can't.

WGHP does not have any local DD 5.1 equipment but by manipulating the HD encoder, we can send our regular Dolby surround on local programming and we let the network send true DD 5.1 directly from LA and because of the way FOX does HD, we can send that DD 5.1 straight through locally untouched and therefore not requiring any DD 5.1 equipment locally.

With local programming, by the encoder manipulation, that is how we are able to have center channel, left, right channels, not just left and right as some of the other stations do.

It is a little hard to follow, but it seems to work!

I installed the 4228 (with CM preamp and CM rotor) in my attic over the weekend and am pleasantly surprised with the results. Local stations I'm receiving are WXII, WFMY, WXLV, WUNL, WUPN and WGHP. I'm getting WSOC, WCNC, and WCCB out of Charlotte. I haven't gotten a chance to try for stations out of Roanoke and Raleigh yet, but my position on the Forsyth/Davidson line might make getting those markets impossible. I'd like to get WTWB but if I remember correctly they are at low power, or are having problems with their digital signal.


Edited to show I'm also getting WGHP-DT with no dropouts.

Foxeng, what's the new live date for the tower?

I'm having a wierd problem this evening. I don't know if this is just me or not. I went to watch Las Vegas on WXII (12-1) this evening and I got a searching for signal message on my screen. Sometimes with wind and a good rain I get this message. So I checked my signal strength. I am getting about 85% signal strenght which is more than enough to bring in a picture. No drop outs or anything like that either. So I switch back and it still says it can't find the signal. But then I change to 12-2 and it comes in perfect with no problems at all. I switch back to 12-1 and nothing.

Is this just me or are others having a similar problem?

Same thing for me with WXII. I get an image for about 1 second and then it goes away. The signal strength shows a solid 90%. The regular analog signal comes in OK via OTA.

My TV switched to channel 31 for WXII. Maybe because my antenna is not directly
pointed at Sauratown Mtn for the channel remapping to work, but this has never
happened regardless of where the antenna was pointing. For those having trouble,
try channel 31 for the digital feed.

C Snyder

I had the receiver re-scan for OTA signals, now WXII is working again.

Foxeng, what's the new live date for the tower?

Not too far away now. We have the cooling system working and the electricians tell me they will have the wiring done today (Tuesday). Of course they said they would have it done last Thursday so who knows! They really don't have that much else to do. I also have to hookup the remote control and that will take a couple of days. I hope we can start off line testing next week and then we will see how things go from there. That will determine when we go live.

...but my position on the Forsyth/Davidson line might make getting those markets impossible. I'd like to get WTWB but if I remember correctly they are at low power, or are having problems with their digital signal.

You should be able to pick us up as well from there.

WTWB is operating at VERY low power. I talked to Don Moore a little while back and he is having problems with the transmitter. Our transmitter is just 4 miles from his and I have trouble getting WTWB that close. I don't get it at my house in north Greensboro at all. WTWB is not programming in HD. They are upconverting everything from their analog STL at the transmitter.

UPN, WB to Shut Down; New Network Formed
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060124/ap_on_en_tv/tv_network

Sinclair should have sold the WUPN call letters while they were still worth something..........

[QUOTE=foxeng]You should be able to pick us up as well from there.


10-4. I'm picking up WGHP-DT loud and clear.

So what do people think will happen with our local UPN and WB? I personally think 48 will become the CW affiliate and 20 will become an independent channel. 48 seems more technically advanced. They are putting out more power and are least broadcasting HD to those of us that have an antenna.

Question for those who are pulling in Roanoke and Charlotte stations. I'm trying to tune in WDBJ out of Roanoke. Their UHF is on 18. My Accurian receiver has already rerouted FOX Charlotte to 18. So now when I hit 18, it automatically goes to WCCB, not WDBJ. Any ideas how I can get around this issue?

Question for those who are pulling in Roanoke and Charlotte stations. I'm trying to tune in WDBJ out of Roanoke. Their UHF is on 18. My Accurian receiver has already rerouted FOX Charlotte to 18. So now when I hit 18, it automatically goes to WCCB, not WDBJ. Any ideas how I can get around this issue?

Point toward Roanoke and do an add scan and if it sees it, it will add it.

Point toward Roanoke and do an add scan and if it sees it, it will add it.

Thanks, I'll try that.

So, Raleigh is getting Universal HD on TWC on Feb 1st. Any bets as to how long it will take for us to get it?

I've been buggin TWC G'boro to get UHD for the olympics.....

I hope SA can sell some MCP-100 DVR/DVD recorders to TWC this year. I want one.

On TWC-Greensboro it seems like some of the SD channels are now being sent to the STB digitally. The 900 series channels are gone and the channel switching on SD channels is slower like the subscription SD digital channels. Anyone else confirm what I think is gooing on? The PQ from SD seems a bit better.

This is interesting. I was wondering when this would start happening. Assuming it has started, it really affects folks who have one or more sets just using their analog cable-ready capability (ie, no STB).

^ My basement TV is plugged straight into the cable, and I have had no problems.

Anyone watching the NHL on WXII today? I noticed something a little wierd. I get my locals through DirecTV. The feed I am getting on my dish is showing the Flyers and Lightning, but on 12-1 OTA its the Rangers and Penguins. Does WXII usually broadcast the games this way, almost like alternative programming?

Anyone watching the NHL on WXII today? I noticed something a little wierd. I get my locals through DirecTV. The feed I am getting on my dish is showing the Flyers and Lightning, but on 12-1 OTA its the Rangers and Penguins. Does WXII usually broadcast the games this way, almost like alternative programming?

DirecTV usually picks up the analogue transmissions OTA and uplinks them from a facility in the local market. The uplink site for the Greensboro market is at 496-F Gallimore Dairy Road in Greensboro.

You indicate that digital WXII 12-1 had a different game than DirecTV. The question is what game was on analogue WXII, as this is what DirecTV carries.

The analog game was Flyers and Lightning and the digital game was Penguins and Rangers.

The analog game was Flyers and Lightning and the digital game was Penguins and Rangers.

Then for what ever reason WXII was programming 12.1 differently than analogue 12.

When you think about it, what a great concept that would be. For those channels that multicast, when their network affiliate broadcasts more than one national game to offer the other game(s) on one of their subchannels. I'm sure there are a lot more things involved for something like that (ad revenues, etc.), but that would really be a great feature offering if they could do it.

I can't speak for WXII or MR12, but from what you have described, it sounds like the analog receiver was on one game and the HD receiver was on another game. It does sometimes happens when stations have to switch independently the SD and HD feeds and the master control operator doesn't catch that the games are different, particularly if they are not into that sport.

Even though FOX simulcasts the SD feed on the HD feed, we still have to check to be sure that both feeds match up. They don't always. Several years ago FOX did a cut in during the day and had a press conference from the state department on the analog and had M*A*S*H that was airing on FX at the time on the HD. Since we have the digital and the analog feed ganged together on the master switcher, we had the press conference on analog and M*A*S*H on digital. We had to manually dump the HD feed and we complained to network. They got it fixed REAL quick.

But things do happen that is sometimes beyond the control of the local station.

When you think about it, what a great concept that would be. For those channels that multicast, when their network affiliate broadcasts more than one national game to offer the other game(s) on one of their subchannels. I'm sure there are a lot more things involved for something like that (ad revenues, etc.), but that would really be a great feature offering if they could do it.


Last year WFMY showed different NCAA regional tourny games on their different subchannels. WRAL in Raleigh has been doing that for the last 5 or 6 years.

Last year WFMY showed different NCAA regional tourny games on their different subchannels. WRAL in Raleigh has been doing that for the last 5 or 6 years.
That's good to know. I guess that shows how long I've had my OTA :) You mentioned the NCAA tourney on WFMY, I never thought to check but did they do it this past season for the NFL too?

^ No, only weather on their subchannel. Last year, they did add 2 more subs a few days before the first round of NCAAs both OTA and on TWC. PQ really sucked for the digitized analog feeds on the subchannels, but they had an HD game on each timeslot, though it was affected by the loss of bandwidth.

TWC does seem to be sending the SD channels digitally to the STB I have. The PQ seems much better esp when I was watching something on NGC. I wonder if they will eventually cut off analog cable to gain more bandwidth.

I can't speak for WXII or MR12, but from what you have described, it sounds like the analog receiver was on one game and the HD receiver was on another game. It does sometimes happens when stations have to switch independently the SD and HD feeds and the master control operator doesn't catch that the games are different, particularly if they are not into that sport.


Close. NBC failed to notify us which game was being broadcast in HD and therefore the correct game didn't show up on our program log. As a result we didn't switch to the correct game when it came on, and the OP just assumed that the correct game was being shown on 12.1. By the time the OP realized the discrepancy the game had already started and it was too late to switch feeds. Next week shouldn't be an issue since I don't believe any of the games are slated to be shown in HD.

I just received a letter from TWC - almost 2 pages worth. In essence. it says

"The programming rights licensed to WXLV, in most cases, are exclusive to this market. WXLV holds exclusive rights to carry the Super Bowl. Therefore, we have done all we can reasonably do to secure a right of carriage, but have not been given permission to carry their programming in HD. While we remain optomistic that WXLV will eventually grant carriage rights to Time Warner Cable, realistically it appears WXLV will not permit carriage of this important event in high definition.

The consequence of this action, unfortunately, is to use the viewing public as pawns in a dispute which should be resolved transparently by the two parties. WXLV contends that Time Warner charges its customers for the carriage of WXLV. This is patently false, as the rate for Basic Service is regulated, and the cost elements which are permitted to go into this formula are controlled entirely by the FCC and local governments. No costs associated with the carriage of WXLV are included in this formula. WXLV does, however, provide its signal free to over the air customers using public air waves for which they pay nothing."

And it goes on (and on).

That sounds like as much as much spin as is on the Sinclair website. Everyone should know that the local stations gave up the right to ask for compensation on the basic service when they elected for "must carry". The compensation thing only come about for the HD channel.

Pam,

Sinclair's contention is that they don't need to be on cable because their HDTV signal is available free over the air.

There are two problems with their argument.

1) The vast majority of the installed HDTV base are "HDTV-Ready" products that can display HDTV signals from an external piece of hardware, but DO NOT have built in ATSC (digital/HDTV) tuners.

2) Regulations ("Have One, Have Both") that go into effect in March require set manufacturers to include ATSC tuners in addition to analogue tuners, IF they have an analogue tuner. However it DOES allow manufacturers to build sets with NO tuners at all. Sony has announced TUNERLESS LCDs at a price point $300 less than a similar product with the built-in tuners designed to appeal to the person who gets his/her signals from a cable or satellite provider.

While Sinclair may have been banking on ubiquitous ATSC tuners, THEY ARE WRONG. They simply NEED cable more than they want to admit.

posg,

I agree with you. I am one of the HDTV-ready folks as my set was one of the earlier HD models. Sinclair can just keep digging their grave as far as I am concerned. It's a shame I like Boston Legal :(

Hi folks. Been watching this board for a long time and just finally registered the other day. Thought you may be interested in an email exchange that I've had with Sinclair.

I have been debating on ditching TWC and going with DirecTV (for OTA HD tuner) and antenna. But have since decided that my beef was not with TWC, rather Sinclair.

Anyway, on Sunday I sent this to Sinclair with a CC: to the comments department at ABC45
I am writing to express to you just how profoundly disappointed I am in your company regarding its position on Hi-Definition retransmission rights.

As a resident in the Greensboro NC area and Time-Warner customer, I am one of your consumers that is unable to view my local ABC affiliate’s free Hi-Definition signal. I have researched the Sinclair/Time-Warner position extensively and have a firm understanding of what is at issue. What is at issue is you’re demanding compensation from a cable provider to re-transmit your free digital signal to your potential consumers, like me. The solution for us consumers is to go out and spend several hundred dollars to buy an HD tuner, mount an antenna, run cables into the house and after all of that, cross my fingers and hope that I am able to receive your free digital signal over the air. If not, then I have just wasted several hundred dollars and several hours of my time.

It is no secret that our local ABC affiliate (ABC-45, WXLV) is one of the least watched networks in my local viewing area. Last year, it was decided to cease any local broadcast news coverage, as the ratings could not compete with other local network affiliate news programs. Why were the ratings so bad that a local network affiliate had to cease operations of what should have been a local station’s staple program and replace it with Family Feud? Could it be partially because a vast majority of our population is not able to view our ABC affiliate in Hi-Definition? Perhaps.

It is terribly unfortunate for your advertisers, as this local station is completely ignored by the ever growing Hi-Definition viewing community.

If you care about your advertisers and especially the people you are broadcasting to, you will be more open to Time Warner retransmitting your free digital signal. Holding your consumers hostage will not help ABC-45 regain its market share and it will not help ABC-45 advertisers (or potential advertisers) to market their product and achieve proper value for their advertising investment.

Respectfully,

And then today I received this response from Sinclair (and ironically the same letter that Pam mentioned above)
Thank you for your comment. We have been trying to negotiate with Time Warner for sometime now, but to no avail. In fact, in other TW markets we have agreements for the carriage of our HD signals except for Time Warner. I would imagine that your monthly fee already includes the primary signals in the market. Yet TW accepts that payment from you each month without delivering the ABC or UPN stations to you.

:rolleyes:

Correct me if I am wrong, but will the shut down of analog a few years from now be what brings ABC-45 in DTV to TW? Isn't there the 'must carry' rule that will require it, as there will no longer be an analog signal to broadcast? I wouldn't think that that necessarily means HD if ABC-45 still puts both SD and HDTV on the air when the analog signal is gone, as they may still not allow the HD programming to be rebraodcast by TW. On the other hand, if all they end of sending over the airwaves is an HDTV signal, then it would solve this then anyway, wouldn't it?

I got the TWC letter yesterday too, Pam. It stinks for all those caught in the pissing contest between Sinclair and TWC. I am the only person I know in the office who will be watching the game in HD.

I forgot to mention that I also received the 2006 "brochure" from TWC which happily announced that cable rates are going up and there are *zero* new channels in 2006. They actually touted that silly new A-button menu (Enhanced TV) as a great new feature. I am nonplussed and underwhelmed. (and pissed)

Seriously, if they don't add ESPN2-HD by the Fall I am going to be very unhappy.

Hopefully the TWC letter will stir the pot and get TWC customers mad at Sinclair......

No new HD channels :(

I was hoping for Universal HD from NBC. NGC-HD would be nice too. I still have not subsribed to the HD-pack since the programming doesn't seem worth it. Since ABC is not HD I'll watch NBC, CBS and FOX programming instead of anything ABC has to offer. Lost is the only ABC show that I watch from ABC in SD.

Although since TWC is sending SD signals digitally to my STB the PQ is way better than before for SDTV.

Correct me if I am wrong, but will the shut down of analog a few years from now be what brings ABC-45 in DTV to TW? Isn't there the 'must carry' rule that will require it, as there will no longer be an analog signal to broadcast? I wouldn't think that that necessarily means HD if ABC-45 still puts both SD and HDTV on the air when the analog signal is gone, as they may still not allow the HD programming to be rebraodcast by TW. On the other hand, if all they end of sending over the airwaves is an HDTV signal, then it would solve this then anyway, wouldn't it?

TV stations elect either "must-carry" status, or, if they consider themselves essential enough, choose "retransmission consent". A station that elects retransmission consent negociates an agreement with the cable operator for the privelege of carrying his programming. Seperate agreements are required for analog and digital signals.

WXLV has elected the retransmission consent route and will likely continue to do so even after the analog shutdown.

Telemike, it might be time for us to start emailing TWC-Greensboro with "If TWC Raleigh is getting Universal HD, why aren't we?"

TV stations elect either "must-carry" status, or, if they consider themselves essential enough, choose "retransmission consent". A station that elects retransmission consent negociates an agreement with the cable operator for the privelege of carrying his programming. Seperate agreements are required for analog and digital signals.

WXLV has elected the retransmission consent route and will likely continue to do so even after the analog shutdown.

So, as a result, Sinclair may end up with many of their stations excluded from cable systems altogether post analog shutdown. If they negotiate the consent agreement prior to that, then they will have the cable vendors locked in I guess?

If the cable vendors do not agree prior to the shut down, and there is no longer an analog signal to retransmit, then I wouldn't want to be an advertiser on any Sinclair owned stations at that point if my advertising wouldn't be reaching a large percentage of the audience it was intended to reach.

As far as the event on Feb 5, thankfully I have OTA capability.

So, as a result, Sinclair may end up with many of their stations excluded from cable systems altogether post analog shutdown. If they negotiate the consent agreement prior to that, then they will have the cable vendors locked in I guess?

If the cable vendors do not agree prior to the shut down, and there is no longer an analog signal to retransmit, then I wouldn't want to be an advertiser on any Sinclair owned stations at that point if my advertising wouldn't be reaching a large percentage of the audience it was intended to reach.

As far as the event on Feb 5, thankfully I have OTA capability.

This situation will be resolved long before the analog shutdown. But, here's an interesting ironic twist.

Sinclair owns the UPN affiliate (WUPN-48) in the local market. Pappas owns the WB affiliate. UPN and WB are essentially merging, meaning one of these two stations will be affiliated with the new CW network, the other will be left in the cold.

Here's where there's some leverage. Guess who owns half of the new CW? Time Warner!!!!!!!! If you were Time Warner would you affiliate with a local station owner with whom you had a history of hostility?

If I were Time Warner Cable, I'd tell those jerks at Sinclair that if they have any designs at winning the CW affiliation battle in markets where Sinclair has UPN and/or WB affiliates, they'd better start behaving. And they'd better make sure to make CW available in HD, as well as analog, to every cable and satellite household out of the gate.

I've emailed TWC about having UHD for the Olympics, have not heard back.

This reminds me of HBO scrambling their signal back in the late 80's and there was all kinds of uproar from people who had the c-band back yard dishes. Dish owners called foul because they were told they now must pay for a decoder and a monthly fee to watch what they had been receiving for free. They had bought extremely expensive satellite systems at the time to get cable channels on satellite. Courts sided with HBO because it was their signal. As long as local broadcasters meet FCC guidelines with providing a primary local signal to cable they have no other legal obligation. HD right now is a luxury not a neccesity. Most HD viewers have made substantial investments into a HD TV, cable package, set top box & antenna etc. Time Warner seems to be the only one making money on local HD. They pay ESPN, Discovery and other networks for carrying their programming. Comcast and other cable companies around the country have worked out compensation deals with Sinclair and networks and other broadcasters. Time Warner has a monopoly in a lot of markets (triad included) and feel they do not have to deal. While Sinclair should be sensitive to viewers who want the HD programming they offer, Time Warner should do the same. The HD signal in its present form is a separate product. HD TV is still in its infancy and will take several years for it to grow to meet everyones expectations. I am amazed that with the progress that has been made with technology people have become seemingly dependent on cable for programming. Even on this board basic over the air reception questions are asked that our grandparents knew. Out of convenience we have become ignorant. If we have an ice storm Sunday and cable lines are pulled down you will not have the Superbowl on basic cable. That antenna might be handy then. I guess it seems like I am defending Sinclair but I don't really mean to. I just think they have the right to ask for compensation for the HD product. Time Warner wants to retransmit that signal, charge their customers for it but not pay anything for the right to it. We buy bottled water that we could bring from home because it's better and convenient. (just an example). I know I will get flamed for this opinion but that's just what it is, an opinion.

hdviewer,

A broadcast license is granted to an entity to provide "free over-the-air" programming over airwaves owned by the public.

The business model needs to be wholly supported by providing such a service.

If the business model starts to incorporte revenues derived from direct or indirect subscription fees, then the necessity to provide programming that could stand alone on an over-the-air platform is diluted, and the public is in someways cheated.

In other words, ratings become of less importance, and therefore the quality of programming, if the station owner is receiving cash compensation in addition to advertising revenue.

And again, Time Warner does not charge incremental fees to receive local HDTV channels. If your TV has a built in QAM tuner, you don't need a set-top box or a cable card, or anything that cost a nickel's more than the entry level package costs.

posq,

It doesn't matter what you or I think, the marketplace is moving towards local stations receiving cash compensation from cable. CBS has said that they will actively seek cash compensation on their O & Os when the retrans agreement comes up.

With DBS and VideoIP paying for locals, cable will be forced to. I guarantee you, if WXLV-DT was on DirecTV HD LIL or if there was a videoIP service available with WXLV-DT on it right now, TWC would be losing subs this week because of the Super Bowl. I know that there are many new antennas that have gone up this week because of the Super Bowl, and very few if any will be coming down next week. Those people now have another source of programming that TWC doesn't offer. That is NOT what TWC wants to hear, and as a cable guy, you understand that.

Please call WXLV!!

WXLV
3500 Myer - Lee Drive
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
(336) 722-4545


Ask them to send the Super Bowl at Full Bandwith and delete the second 4:3 channel. They are sending their HD at 12.5 mb/s down from the full 19.3 mb/s

posg

Business models change and must change and adapt with the times. If I take your reasoning then if all local over the air broadcasters decided to use the ability to broadcast 5 channels of standard definition signals all with separate programming then cable should provide channel allocations in the digital tier and carry those channels for their customers. Just with the 4 major networks that would be 20 extra channels on cable not counting minor networks and independents. The overall business model has changed and broadcasters are trying to figure out what to program on the digital subchannels or who to lease them to.

posq,

It doesn't matter what you or I think, the marketplace is moving towards local stations receiving cash compensation from cable. CBS has said that they will actively seek cash compensation on their O & Os when the retrans agreement comes up.

With DBS and VideoIP paying for locals, cable will be forced to. I guarantee you, if WXLV-DT was on DirecTV HD LIL or if there was a videoIP service available with WXLV-DT on it right now, TWC would be losing subs this week because of the Super Bowl. I know that there are many new antennas that have gone up this week because of the Super Bowl, and very few if any will be coming down next week. Those people now have another source of programming that TWC doesn't offer. That is NOT what TWC wants to hear, and as a cable guy, you understand that.

I wouldn't mind paying extra to get my local broadcast channels in HDTV. Not at all. What pisses me off is not being given the choice. If CBS wants me to pay a subscription, offer me the option, and let me decide. I just don't like being denyed the option.

I feel for people without an HD tuner in their TV who haven't bought a set top box before now. Finding any reasonably priced one around here is seemingly impossible now. I am glad I bought my Rat Shack model when I did. I may barely use it, but at least I'll get to see the Super Bowl this weekend in HD. (And then shut the receiver off for about 7 months! :p )

I need help with antenna set up. who do you guys and gals recomend???????

In greensboro near lake brandt.....

If you're just looking for ABC for the Super Bowl...

I live beside Lake Brandt. Just go buy a Zenith Silver Sensor for $20, aim it down 220, and you're good to go.

HDViewer,
I don't really have a problem with what you've posted except for the insinuation that people are somehow lazy or ignorant because they don't know much about setting up a terrestrial antenna 'like your grandpa did'.

I don't know how to churn butter either, but that makes me neither lazy nor ignorant. It means I haven't spent my time trying to reinvent the wheel. If every generation started over learning how to reinvent the wheel, then society/technology would never progress. You take the progress that has already been made, and then you build upon that.

I'm smart enough to know that both Sinclair and TWC want what's financially best for themselves, that's business. But my problem with WXLV and Sinclair is the apparent disdain for their customers based on the email responses I've gotten from them. At least TWC is smart enough to PRETEND to care about me.

Is ABC 45 doing 5.1 audio now? It sounds like it but I can't tell if its true 5.1. They sound different (for the better) than before.

Whoops, sorry Jacksonian, I did not mean to imply that people were lazy or dumb. I used ignorant in reference to the fact that hooking up an antenna is not on the average cable subscribers radar in watching tv nowadays. I also know that some people with tuners may not be able to put up an antenna due location of dwelling such as an apartment and subdivisions that will not allow unsightly antennas that may be required to get the job done.

I feel for people without an HD tuner in their TV who haven't bought a set top box before now. Finding any reasonably priced one around here is seemingly impossible now. I am glad I bought my Rat Shack model when I did. I may barely use it, but at least I'll get to see the Super Bowl this weekend in HD. (And then shut the receiver off for about 7 months! :p )

Tuners are still over $180 from what I've seen around. If I could get a tuner for less than $75 it might be worthwhile but then I'd have to bump my dvd player from component input to S-video.

If I could get a choice to add ABC-HD for $0.75 a monthI might subscribe.

I was in Circuit-City last night. Their off-the-air tuners were all priced around $225. I doubt you'll find anything under the $100 mark. On-line you can find some around $175, but it seems like the promise of $50 set-top-boxes won't be true till we get much closer to the shut-down of analog.

Lots of folks looking at HDTV's in Circuit-City. I wonder how many know the only way to watch the Superbowl in HD will be to have a UHF antenna connected. If I had more time I would have let one of the salespeople try to sell me a new TV.

On the other hand, I'm set for this weekend too. The old TV antenna on my house has a fairly large set of UHF elements and, even without a preamp, when pointed south picks up ABC just fine connected to an LG LST-3510 tuner.

Oh yeah, I think all the customers of TW with HDTV boxes got the same 2 page letter as Pam describing why they will not be carrying ABC-HD anytime soon. :mad:

Joe L.

Just got off with WXLV they have uped their bandwith on the HD station from 12 mb/s to 14 mb/s and fixed the dolby decoder. So we should be getting a better picture and true 5.1 sound from WXLV now.

Does anyone here use DVICO Fusion HDTV Tuner card to capture QAM? If so do you know what the QAM channels are? they don't match up with the "real QAM channels". For some reason their addressing scheme is a little different. If someone could help me out it would be much appreciated.

Here is the text (from http://www.abc45.com/inside/time_warner.shtml )

AN OPEN LETTER TO WXLV VIEWERS

February 2, 2006

Dear Viewer,

If you are a subscriber to Time Warner Cable, you recently received a letter from them blaming Sinclair Broadcast Group, the owner of WXLV, for Time Warner’s failure to carry WXLV’s digital signal. Although we prefer to negotiate in private, since Time Warner has chosen to send such a letter and since nothing could be further from the truth, we feel compelled to respond.

In March of 2005, Sinclair made a proposal to Time Warner to allow them to carry the digital signal of WXLV. Time Warner failed to respond to that proposal for more than seven months. When Time Warner did respond, its proposal was so inadequate that following rejection of the offer by Sinclair, time Warner promised to send a revised proposal. To date no such proposal has been received.

In the meantime, Sinclair has reached agreement for the carriage of the digital signals of its television stations, with many cable and other multi-channel video providers, including the largest such companies, Comcast, DirecTV and Echostar. We have also reached agreement with Verizon, which will be launching video programming in its markets soon and we anticipate doing the same with AT&T in the near future.

Closer to home for WXLV’s viewers, we recently reached an agreement in principle with Lexcom, a local telephone company, to ensure the continued carriage of WXLV’s digital signal by Lexcom. Many subscribers to Time Warner are in an area served by Lexcom and if those subscribers wish to receive WXLV’s digital signal, we suggest that they contact Lexcom to switch from Time Warner. In addition, although we do not know DirecTV’s specific plans for Greensboro, we do know that they are rapidly rolling out carriage of digital signals of local broadcast stations and you may want to contact DirecTV to find out when you will be able to switch to their service in order to watch WXLV’s digital signal.

You are paying Time Warner quite a bit of money every month in order to receive programming. Time Warner takes that money and uses it to pay the cable channels, such as Animal Planet, MTV and HGTV. We believe, and the ratings certainly support the view, that the programming broadcast by WXLV, such as the Super Bowl, the Academy Awards, “Desperate Housewives” and “Lost” is much more important to you. If that is the case, we suggest that you contact Time Warner to let them know that they should allocate some of the money you pay them to receive the programming that matters to you. You are paying time Warner in order to receive programming; shouldn’t they use your money to buy the programming that is most important to you?

It is unfortunate that our viewers are stuck in the middle of this negotiation. It is also unfortunate that Time Warner chose to drag its feet in responding to a proposal made by Sinclair, even while we are able to reach agreement with so many of Time Warner’s competitors. To solve this problem, Time Warner needs to hear from you. Let them know that you would rather they use some of your cable fees to pay for programming you want, rather than for cable channels you likely never watch. Vote with your feet by switching to Lexcom or, as soon as they offer HD, to DirecTV.

Sincerely yours,

Ron Inman
General Manager


I just received a letter from TWC - almost 2 pages worth. In essence. it says

"The programming rights licensed to WXLV, in most cases, are exclusive to this market. WXLV holds exclusive rights to carry the Super Bowl. Therefore, we have done all we can reasonably do to secure a right of carriage, but have not been given permission to carry their programming in HD. While we remain optomistic that WXLV will eventually grant carriage rights to Time Warner Cable, realistically it appears WXLV will not permit carriage of this important event in high definition.

The consequence of this action, unfortunately, is to use the viewing public as pawns in a dispute which should be resolved transparently by the two parties. WXLV contends that Time Warner charges its customers for the carriage of WXLV. This is patently false, as the rate for Basic Service is regulated, and the cost elements which are permitted to go into this formula are controlled entirely by the FCC and local governments. No costs associated with the carriage of WXLV are included in this formula. WXLV does, however, provide its signal free to over the air customers using public air waves for which they pay nothing."

And it goes on (and on).

I am distraught, livid, inconsolable, pissed, fumed, riled and MAAAAAAAAD!!!! I can't believe this sh@%t. Some one please tell me what to do??? I have a 140" screen which i've been meticulously tuning and rehearsing for this event. Now i have 40 people comming over to watch NTSC!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????? I gotta figure out an OTA solution now that wont have me taking out a second mortgage... OH AND THE SUPERBOWL IS THIS SUNDAY!!!!!!! thanks for the letter TODAY.

Ok... can i send an antenna OTA signal to the timewarner explorer 3500 hd box? help me... some one throw me a bone here.

Ok... can i send an antenna OTA signal to the timewarner explorer 3500 hd box? help me... some one throw me a bone here.

No. No cable boxes that I have heard of receive ATSC OTA broadcasts. If you want the Super Bowl in HD, you will need to get a OTA digital box and connect it to an antenna.

Regarding Sinclair response:

RUBBISH !!!!

Ok... can i send an antenna OTA signal to the timewarner explorer 3500 hd box? help me... some one throw me a bone here.I was in Circuit City in Greensboro last night... they had several HDTV tuners that could be connected to a UHF antenna to provide a signal for your 140" screen.

They were priced between $225 and $275. An outside UHF antenna would add less than $100 to that. Don't know if an inside antenna would work from your location. Odds are an inside antenna may not work. Don't know if you need a preamp to get sufficient signal... (I did not need one from NW Greensboro)
Go to antennaweb.org to determine the distance, direction, and signal level based on your specific location.

So... not sure how much you can spend without taking out a second mortgage, but for $300 - $400 you might be able to present something other than NTSC. Let's see, 40 guests, $10. per...

Joe L.

Regarding Sinclair response:

RUBBISH !!!!
I agree

I am distraught, livid, inconsolable, pissed, fumed, riled and MAAAAAAAAD!!!! I can't believe this sh@%t. Some one please tell me what to do??? I have a 140" screen which i've been meticulously tuning and rehearsing for this event. Now i have 40 people comming over to watch NTSC!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????? I gotta figure out an OTA solution now that wont have me taking out a second mortgage... OH AND THE SUPERBOWL IS THIS SUNDAY!!!!!!! thanks for the letter TODAY.
Howdy eatmorepossum!

We have been discussing this very problem the last several weeks (and really, the last few years). The WS Journal had an article about the Sinclair TWC dispute a few weeks ago and then the News and Recored followed up the following week. It has been in the news - I am sorry you are just hearing about it.

The receiver "on the cheap" will be your hardest find. But I hear (and have seen) the Silver Sensor antenna does quite well for less than $50. Jacksonian, did you say around $20?

Good luck!

I don't want to be seen defending Sinclair because they've done a lot of bad things in the past but if Sinclair can come to agreements with so many of TWC's competitors, why can't TWC and Sinclair come together. Maybe it isn't all Sinclair's fault.

Yeah Pam, I got it from Buy.com for $20. Works great even in the floor beside the TV.

I am distraught, livid, inconsolable, pissed, fumed, riled and MAAAAAAAAD!!!! I can't believe this sh@%t. Some one please tell me what to do??? I have a 140" screen which i've been meticulously tuning and rehearsing for this event. Now i have 40 people comming over to watch NTSC!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????? I gotta figure out an OTA solution now that wont have me taking out a second mortgage... OH AND THE SUPERBOWL IS THIS SUNDAY!!!!!!! thanks for the letter TODAY.

You did not now that there was no ABC-HD for TWC until the letter came?

I just sent Sinclair another email regarding their "letter".
I am writing as many local advertisers I can find. Trouble is, I've only seen one (Fred Astaire) since I started watching. Papa Johns is advertising on their website to do a local order. I'll write them as well...

If anyone notices any local advertisers on 45, let me know. I'll write them. If a lot of us write letters, it won't help for the Super Bowl this year, but it'll help out for future shows and specials.

The "insider" talk is that in all the cable deals Sinclair has managed to negociate, at the end of the day, there was no cash on the table, they basically caved.

Also, with Monday Night Football going to cable, I predict there won't be ANY sports on the broadcast networks in five years or so, including the Super Bowl. The network lineup will consist of "Law & Order: Traffic Court", and "CSI: Cleveland", and "Dancing with Geraldo". Oh, and "The Not So Young Anymore & The Restless".

Dinosaurs !!!!

I predict there won't be ANY sports on the broadcast networks in five years or so, including the Super Bowl.

I doubt that since at least the NFL can't afford to lose the revenue that OTA broadcast brings it. The highest rated cable show is still only in the 4 or 5 million viewers nationwide with the average number in the 1 to 2 million nationwide range. Even some of the worst rated OTA network shows have more viewers than that.

Nationwide American Idol is posting 35 million viewers a week. Cable only dreams of numbers 1/4 that.

I doubt that since at least the NFL can't afford to lose the revenue that OTA broadcast brings it. The highest rated cable show is still only in the 4 or 5 million viewers nationwide with the average number in the 1 to 2 million nationwide range. Even some of the worst rated OTA network shows have more viewers than that.

Nationwide American Idol is posting 35 million viewers a week. Cable only dreams of numbers 1/4 that.

ESPN is collecting upwards of between $2-3/household/month times some 85,000,000 households in subscription fees alone. They can afford it (football)....and they will get it. Because, at the end of the day, it's not how many viewers and ad dollars you attract, it's total revenue, including subscription fees.

Cable learned that formula 30 years ago. Broadcasters are just now discovering that they can, and will lose viewers, and ad dollars, and therefore revenue. They are just now coming to the reality that their world is changing and subscription fees may be necessary.

ALL of the major broadcasters, by the way, are heavily involved in cable programming networks.

I was watching checking out abc45 last night since the abc.com web-site indicated that "dancing with the stars" was in HD. Earlier in the day I had used the abc45.com web site to send them a question to inquire if it would be, since titantv did not have it listed as being in HD but the listing on abc.com said it was HD.

Well, they responded... but originally answering a much different question... "why their signal will not be available on TW cable for the Superbowl"

From what I could understand, they are getting blasted with calls and inquiries. All they were doing is referring folks to their web-site where they had their response to the TW letter. My initial question was answered with the "stock answer" to go to their TW response web-page. I responded back and said their answer had nothing to do with what I had asked and that I had already seen the TW letter and their response, but my question had nothing to do with either.

Eventually they passed my question to the chief engineer Zane. He did his best and said they pass along whatever the corporate feed gives them, splicing in local commercials, but unchanged otherwise. He sent along a copy of a HDTV program listing sent to affiliate stations that did not have "dancing with the stars" listed as HD, but added they would inquire why the abc.com listing said different.

Last night, I was checking it out with my HDTV tuner (unfortunately, DWTS was not HD) and saw they had added a local "crawl" across the top of the screen directing viewers to their abc45.com web-site to learn why TimeWarner was not going to be carrying the Superbowl in HD. If they had that crawl active all day I can understand why the program manager was numb from answering calls and e-mail.

Looks like the feud is being opened up the the public even more.

Joe L.

ESPN is collecting upwards of between $2-3/household/month times some 85,000,000 households in subscription fees alone. They can afford it (football)....and they will get it. Because, at the end of the day, it's not how many viewers and ad dollars you attract, it's total revenue, including subscription fees.

Cable learned that formula 30 years ago. Broadcasters are just now discovering that they can, and will lose viewers, and ad dollars, and therefore revenue. They are just now coming to the reality that their world is changing and subscription fees may be necessary.

ALL of the major broadcasters, by the way, are heavily involved in cable programming networks.

It will take more than ESPN to make up any OTA network money difference for the NFL. If ABC had the Sunday games and not the falling ratings primetime Monday night game, ABC would not have moved it to ESPN.

And yes, the number of viewers do matter, cable or OTA. ESPN will have quite a bit of red ink because of the NFL deal. FOX could afford it because it had a lot more eyeballs than ESPN. ABC brought in many non sports eyeballs to Monday Night Football. ESPN will not. ESPN will need not only sub fees, but advertising as well to keep that red ink in check. If it can't, they will dump the Monday night game as well. Disney does run on profits you know.

With the falling MNF ratings, ABC will make more money with regular primetime fair on Monday nights than football. That is the ONLY reason it moved to ESPN, nothing else. The real estate on network primtime is VERY expensive. Football couldn't sustain it anymore. Sunday afternoon, there is nothing there anyway so football, and other sports do well, plus people are home to watch, where on Monday night, people are involded in other things with the family and such. Sunday afternoon is football, Monday night isn't anymore.

And what does it matter if all of the major broadcasters are in cable? Only Disney and News Corp is in cable sports and the rest are in news, along with News Corp. News is the big cable benefactor, not sports. Cable can only compete when there is a national game of interest and God knows MNF on ABC have had more busts for games in recent years than hits. With the regionalism of sports, cable sucks at and the OTA networks excel. Always have. Even with FOX Sports on cable going with regional sports, they still need the network for the regional MLB and NFL games. That is why the NHL and MLB have such low ratings until they get to the CS games and the Stanley cup games (REGIONALISM). I could care less about the Toronto Mapleleafs or the LA Dodgers until they reach a championship game. Cable doesn't do regional well and needs a regional distribution system to complete their national coverage. OTA does that CHEAPLY, particularly since cable isn't paying for the local station signal. So sure, its a good deal for cable. They get something for nothing. If they have to pay for it, they have to rethink how they do business and God forbid, reduced profits. They run on profit too.

And that is the whole bottom line here, profits for the companies involved, be it Sinclair, Time-Warner or anyone else.

Eventually they passed my question to the chief engineer Zane. He did his best and said they pass along whatever the corporate feed gives them, splicing in local commercials, but unchanged otherwise. He sent along a copy of a HDTV program listing sent to affiliate stations that did not have "dancing with the stars" listed as HD, but added they would inquire why the abc.com listing said different.

Zane is a good guy. I know him. He is just caught in the middle of all of it. A lot like me! When you are on the bottom, it all rolls into you!! ;)

foxeng,

I certainly understand the profit motive. But a good sound long term business strategy has always been to be sensitive to the needs and wants of the end user (in this case viewers), not the short term return to the market.

Sinclair is the classic case of the "bleeder". They are not a "local" broadcaster with any interest in the local community. In fact, it looks like they'll be out of the local news business across their footprint. And long term, their lack of passion for broadcasting will be their demise.

While I have the utmost respect for true broadcasters such as Capital Broadcasting here in Raleigh, I despise those who operate broadcast stations like real estate syndicates.

It's ironic that WRAL is aggressively persuing real time internet streaming of their signal to computers within their DMA because "we need to be available on any and all platforms the consumer uses to access programming".

It's good to know that the accountants haven't ENTIRELY taken over.

Too bad TWC-Greensboro can't get an ABC-HD feed from Raliegh.......