KXVO WB15 is broadcasting on DTV channel 38-1 they have been for about a year now.

The signal is low power.

I do not know why cox does not carry it. Any DTV signal will look better than the analog channels 1-80

They do not put any HD shows on there, but they could. The national WB network does have HD content at night sometimes.

Why I am receiving a 4:3 letterbox, non-HiDef Rams-Falcons game via Cox cable? Is anyone else receiving a non-HiDef picture tonight. What gives with KPTM?

I am the same, SD on cox HD feed for fox even though fox is advertising HD. I hope the superbowl is not like this. Has anyone received a HD signal from fox since they started.

Finally home no high def,

Daryl

Originally posted by ScottChez

KM3 no longer has a case.
Free is free.



You actually have to pay for some level of cable service to get the HD locals right? Seems like KM3 just wants to get some compensation for their product since Cox is getting some marginal $ for basic cable.

Here in Lincoln I had to pay $13 a month (thats the cheapest package) to get locals via cable until they were available on D* for $3 which I thought was reasonable. If D* can make enough profit on the $3 while paying KM3 why cant Cox for their base package cost?

Just my $0.02

Kptm or Fox must not be flipping the so called hd switch? I confirmed the game is in Hd and people in other cities are receiving the game in Hd. Sundays Vikings vs Eagles is a early start, and being a Sunday I bet calling will do not good? Maybe someone will figure out whats going on?

I tried to call Kptm engineering dept this morning, I left a engineer a voice mail, last week the Vikings vs Packers was in hd and so was the pregame show, so if pregame show is not in hd on Sunday we can forget about the game in Hd. Anyone else have any ideas on how to contact Kptm on a Sunday?

I called the KPTM news room number 554-4282 and got a live body and told him the HD feed was not being sent to Cox. He said he would inform the engineer who comes in on Sunday at Noon. Hopefully he is good on his word and delivers the message. Otherwise, I suggest people keep calling this number...........



Originally posted by Ronald L M
I tried to call Kptm engineering dept this morning, I left a engineer a voice mail, last week the Vikings vs Packers was in hd and so was the pregame show, so if pregame show is not in hd on Sunday we can forget about the game in Hd. Anyone else have any ideas on how to contact Kptm on a Sunday?

End of first quarter and still no Hd on the Cox Kptm hd-fd, what a bummer, sure glad Cbs will have the Colts vs Patriots in Hd.

I just called KPTM and the guy said the signal was not coming in consistantly enough so they were not broadcasting it. Something about their tower wasn't big enough. He assured me they would have it ironed out before the Super Bowl.

I thought I was getting this in HD. It looks pretty good to me.

Kptm must have fixed the problem, game went Hd in the 2 quarter, hopefully this does not happen again.

The signal should be coming off of a Satellite which is then fed via coax to their control room. There's no tower involved.
The best thing to do is to call the station each time a problem occurs. Even if it's some news intern, they will get tired of taking phone calls unrelated to their job and may mention it to somebody who can take action.
At least they have proven they are competent enough to solve the problem, if the game eventually morphed into an HD broadcast.
It might be wise to begin calling the Friday before the Superbowl and ask if the Superbowl will be in HD. That way it sets a flag in their head to have it ready to go...or at least leave sticky note in the control room.

The Fox game was having a significant amount of pixelation when it switched to HD for me, so maybe they were having trouble with their signal. I have had intermittent problems with pixelation on other channels though too, so it could have just been me.

And now the CBS game isn't in HD either, is anyone else having problems with Cox and CBS??? Oh wait I forgot, guess I'll watch something else. KMTV, your loss.

no cox pixelation for me. CBS is ok over the air HDTV.

Ch 11/G Island was having their digital dropouts on the audio feed for Saturday's Pittsburgh/Jets Game. Those dropouts are really annoying with a loud crowd always cutting out. I will be emailing 10/11 today to notify of my displeasure.

Dont forget to email

Jim McKernan, General Manager KM3
jmckernan@km3news.com

-and-

Percy Kirk, VP Regional Mgr. Cox Omaha
Percy.Kirk@cox.com


and ask for KM3 CBS in HD on Cox.

KM3 thinks everyone with HD has already switched to SAT
and cox thinks everyone with HD is with Cox and is not on SAT.

Let them know, either way they are missing you as a viewer/customer.

Neighbor wants to compare the Cox HDTV DVR to Direct TV.

Anyone know what the current model of Cox cables HD DVR is?

I think it has two tuners in it? Did they ever get the DVI turned on?

Looking to help do a comparision for him.

It's a Motorola 6412 Dual Tuner.

don't know about DVI don't have a use for it.

Andrew Wees

Originally posted by ScottChez
Neighbor wants to compare the Cox HDTV DVR to Direct TV.

Anyone know what the current model of Cox cables HD DVR is?

I think it has two tuners in it? Did they ever get the DVI turned on?

Looking to help do a comparision for him.

Yes, the DVI works wonderfully! and you can record 2 shows at once or record one show and watch another. It's pretty cool.

How much extra for the HD DVR through Cox then just a Reg. DVR?

I looked back through the posts, but must admit that I am confused. Do we or do we not have Fox in HD in Omaha via Cox or OTA?

If so, what channel with the box and QAM and what channel OTA?

I confirm that I have ABC OTA and via Cox but my OTA signal gets weak later at night for some reason.

Thanks
Matt

Steve, the Cox HD DVR is the only one available through them and it's $14.95 a month on top of the digital cable bill.

Matt, Fox HD is available on Cox on channel 810 through the box, I'm not sure what the QAM or ATSC channels are.

Matt, these numbers came from Cox:
QAM BOX #

KPTM = 107.01 810
NETV = 107.02 812
KETV = 108.01 809
WOWT = 108.02 808

If you have a TV with the QAM Digital Tuner Built-In, otherwise lease the Box and use the Box Ch#

Steve,

Actually, if you are already getting Digital Cable from Cox it is only a 9.95 increase to your bill because instead of paying 4.50 for the digital converter rental it is instead 4.95 for the DVR service and 9.95 for the DVR/Digital box combo rental. So really think of it as 9.95.

thanks

Still working on the technical comparision of Direct TV vrs Cox.

The Cox HD DVR is looking real nice.

How is the HD Picture.

Other technical research for other cable systems are showing more compression per QAM channel for HD.

What is Cox doing in Omaha. Do they have 4 channels per QAM?

Here is the post:

My TWC operator puts 4 channels on a QAM slot, at a minimum (one QAM "channel" is 38Mbps, so my best HD is around 10Mbps). Thus, I'm expecting D*'s HD to be comparable across the board to what I get currently. The major advantage of D* is the Tivo. There is nothing that compares to it, and it is probably covering a lot of sins for many folks just to have the functionality

The Moto 6412 is pretty nice, but it definitely has problems.

For me the most anoying bug is what is known as the "Subscription Bug". When I tune into a HD channel occasionally I get a screen stating I must subscribe to this channel to view it, even though I already do subscribe. This screen goes away in about 5 seconds, so it is not a big deal when you are there watching the TV. However, when setting up a recording if the DVR gets that bug it will stop the recording. So when you have a series recording setup for say, Lost, sometimes it won't record because the DVR gets the subscription screen. It can be very frustrating. It is intermittent and apparantly Pioneer is aware of the problem so hopefully a patch is coming.

You can check out more about the box on this thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=414680


Others have experienced numerous problems, but this is the only one that has hit me.

is Fox available over the air yet?

Hey Guys, please do me a favor and check the guide information on the OTA signal. I am running a PSIP test.
Thanks,

Guide info looks ok to me on the CBS evening news. This is on a Sony 30XS955 (I think that's right). All data seems to be there. Anthing in general you want me to look at?

Thanks,
Nothing in general. Just wanted to make sure there wasn't an issue with any particular brand/type of receiver, STB, etc. For the time being the server will be set up for three days worth of info.

Originally posted by Mike Gann
Thanks,
Nothing in general. Just wanted to make sure there wasn't an issue with any particular brand/type of receiver, STB, etc. For the time being the server will be set up for three days worth of info.

Thanks for getting some PSIP info up. It's too bad Dishnetwork equipment doesn't have the ability to utilize it. :(

I tuned to channel 7-2 OTA last night and was receiving the live current weather radar. This is so cool, my wife loves it! Thanks Channel 7!

================================================
THANK YOU CHANNEL 7 for the WEATHER RADAR! on channel 7-2
================================================

We love you Channel 7.

Side bar---When will KM3 have something like this?
Put some banner ads on it and make money or something, then make Cox cable carry it as part of your Must carry contract-just an idea I heard from others. Then you can make money on your Cox Cable carrage and we can all be happy.


Channel 7, Your the best.

There are many weather fans like me out there.

I promise to watch Bill and the Channel 7 weather for now on! After all I feel I owe you some ad revenue as putting the radar up on 7-2 has to cost something.

Wow that didn't take long at all!

Just got the go ahead and we have launched KETV-DT on Channel 107 in Lincoln and the rest of our Southeast Nebraska systems. Everything should be available to our subscribers about 17:00 1-22-05.

I agree. Channel 7 has always stepped up to the plate, and have the best program since the got rid of carol (no offense, but it just wasn't watchable with her on there.)

They were the first to get HD I think as we had signal ota for mnf a couple years back before it went down from no fault of their own. They have presence on this website and offer advice to us members. A big thanks from me as well.

I agree. Channel 7 has always stepped up to the plate, and have the best program since the got rid of carol (no offense, but it just wasn't watchable with her on there.)

They were the first to get HD I think as we had signal ota for mnf a couple years back before it went down from no fault of their own. They have presence on this website and offer advice to us members. A big thanks from me as well.

If Ketv-dt can be on Time Warner in Lincoln, Why can't Koln-dt CBS out of Lincoln be on Cox in Omaha?

The QAM for KETV-DT on TWC in Lincoln and surrounding communities is 80.02 FYI.

I've been checking all day on occasions on 7-2 to see their weather radar, but I see nothing. This is OTA. Is this just up for testing on occasions, or is it supposed to be there all the time?

Mike

If you do not get the new Weather channel on 7-2 you will have to do a Re-scan to get the channel. It is there.
==================================================
"If Ketv-dt can be on Time Warner in Lincoln, Why can't Koln-dt CBS out of Lincoln be on Cox in Omaha?"

I would love to see CBS out of Lincoln on Cox, but Cox is afraid to go against the FCC DMA laws. It is kind of a white border line area.

I can get KOLN HD over the air here in Omaha so Legally they can carry it, but if you look at the FCC DMA maps they are not in OMaha.

Maybe there afriad KM3 would pull there analog channel.

This is a good question to ask WHY? It just does not seem right.

I'm getting KOLN-DT and KMTV-DT OTA here in Papillion without a monthly subscription fee.

re: KOLN - Omaha KMTV - Lincoln carriage.

I am under the impression that cable systems aren't confined to carrying their DMA's broadcasters. If a neighboring DMA's affiliate can be "significantly viewed" by the cable MSO area customers, the Cable Co. can carry the neighbor's signal. Omaha and Lincoln happen to fit this scenario. Neighboring DMAs are separated by only 40 miles between municipalities.

Satellite providers were governed my more restrictive rules. They are only able to carry the respective DMA for an area. I understand that this is changing to align more with cable's 'significantly viewed' rules.

An Omaha broadcaster cannot pull their analog signal from COX, must carry rules enable Cox to carry them.

For KOLN to be carried by Cox, the affiliates permission may have to be obtained.

In Lincoln, Time Warner carries all of Omaha's locals.

Much, much may have changed over the years, but in the 80s if a cable system from City A chose to carry a network affiliate from City B and the local affiliate of the same network from City A requested it, the cable system would have to black our the City B signal (or simulcast the local network affiliate signal onto that channel) whenever there was program duplication. However, as I said, this rule goes back a ways and was well before HD. It would be interesting, though, because if KMTV pursued the spirit of this rule, Cox would have to sub KMTV for KOLN, thus putting on the cable the very signal that hasn't been carried!

Hey everyone. Just found this thread, and am excited to get some info from people local.

First off, I'm a native Lincolnite living in Vancouver, Canada right now. I'll be moving back to Lincoln middle of next month and getting a new HDTV set to go in my new apartment. I have some questions about what I should expect/what's the best way to go.

My apartment's up in Northwest lincoln, and it faces to the Northeast, so satellite is out of the question.

That leaves me with TWC. I am getting a Sony 34XBR960 TV set, which has the capability for the CableCARD.

First of all, does anyone know what brand and model the CableCARD is? Any experiences? And is it recommended?

Secondly, the HD PVR... anyone have any info on the brand and model there?

Finally, I took a brief look at the antennaweb site, but does anyone have any ideas on exactly what I should be able to get OTA and how the guide stuff would work on my XBR960?

Thanks in advance,
Brad

Time Warner would be my choice. Cable Card works fine with this model, as it doesn't with every set out there. In-fact I sold Time Warner this very set for their test bench. So they do all of their testing and adjusting using this set. Depending on where your apartment is, and how high it is, a good UHF antenna can pick up the Omaha high powered locals, but since 2 of the 3 are already carried on Time Warner, either in the clear or using the Card, you'll get plenty of programming. In the event that you'd like to pick up another CBS, as sometimes, KOLN-DT out of Lincoln, has choppy audio, you could use the built-in tuner with the antenna for KMTV-DT out of Omaha.

Hope this helps.

So you'd recommend going with the CableCARD, Steve?

Somewhat related question: Does Schaefer's carry the 34XBR960?

Brad Smith,

If you get the HD PVR, you don't need the CableCARD, you're duplicating your HDTV tuners. Plus the cards are only one way communication right now, which doesn't allow for pay per view or PVR services, or the on screen guide.

The brand of CableCARD is up to your local cable provider (TWC). The Card doesn't come with the TV, it's something you'll rent from TWC.

As far as antennas go, search through this thread for earlier discussions about which ones work best in Lincoln. Not sure about the guide with an antenna

I just came to see about KETV as I noticed it on my TWC HD Lineup. Great News! My OTA box is quickly becoming obsolete, except for Radar on 07-02.
I like the fact they run 07-01's audio on 07-02. Very nice touch.

No problems with any OTA signals, aside from the 15/42 gang. Occasionally I get one single frozen frame to lock in on an LG 4200A. Interesting box. It's the basic LG 3100A OTA box with analog/NTSC capability.

As Dougaha points out, if you eventually go with the HD DVR, which has been delayed for the time being, you won't need the Cable Card. If you want Guide / VOD / Pay-per-view, you could get the current NON-DVR HD box, until they get the HD-DVR'S back into stock. This would give you VOD / Guide / Pay-per view, and it is only $5.90 more a month to get the box than the card anyway. If all you want is Network HD, you wouldn't need either, as TWC puts KOLN-DT / WOWT-DT / KETV-DT / KUON-DT (PBS) over their system in the clear, and that set works fine with these channels. Here is a link to our website with a brief overview of your choices in the Lincoln Market. Yes we stock this set, call me.


http://www.schaeferstv.com/updates/Digital_TV_Stations/cablesatellitedigitalstationsupdate.htm

Steve, I notice ESPN-HD and the FOX originated NFL ST channels are noted as being 1080i. Is this a mistake? I always have been under the impression that ESPN is 720p, as is the FOX ST games.

Thanks for the responses.

Steve, I'll probably give you a call in a week or two (as I get a little closer to the move and finalize some other details).

Brad

Miss Print.

Thanks,

Hello, new to the forum.

Is it possible to get the Super Bowl on Fox in HD here in Lincoln? I have TWC currently with no Fox HD channel. I have a Sony KDF60WF655.

Is there an antenna that can bring in a clear OTA signal, if so which one. Also, what about "QAM" ? I'm not familiar with this.

Thanks for your help

Brad Smith,

Here's a pretty good article about CableCARD, hope this helps.

http://*******.com/3zstb


Doug

For those interested, I just got off the phone with TWC and the HD DVR they will be offering is the dual-tuner Scientific Atlanta 8300HD. Supposedly the first batch had a lot of problems, and they just got in a new batch to test. They are hoping sometime in February for availability.

Also, the CableCARDs are Scientific Atlanta models.

Ha Ha. I was surfing Cox's web site and found a link about "comments". So I sent my comment in. This is really nothing new to those of us that frequent this thread, but this is the canned response I got from the Cox Rep:


Dear Valued Cox Customer:

Thank you for your inquiry. Cox is committed to providing the best
customer service possible.

I do apologize for this but it might be better to send this to CBS here
in Omaha. The reason that we don't have that channel in HD any longer is
that they want to be paid for their HD signal. We have been trying to
get it back onto the lineup but have made no progress with them yet. I
do not have any new information about this at this time but if you have
any other questions please let us know.

Thank you for choosing Cox Communications as Your Friend in the Digital
Age!

Thank you.

Cox Communications Online Technical Support Team

Original Message Follows:
------------------------
Form Message
subject: Product Sales Question
detail: High definition service
FirstName: xxxx
LastName: xxxxx
Email Address: xxxxxxxx
VerifyEmail: xxxxxxxx
Phone: xxxxxxxx
HomeAddress: xxxxxxxxxx
City: Omaha
State: NE
Zip: xxxxxx

Comments: I am very disappointed that I will not be able to see the AFC
Championship game in HD Sunday evening! How come you do not have CBS in
HD when everyone else in the country has it?

Emmis (KMTV) is the reason that cox doesn't have CBS in HDTV they want paid for the signal. your statement that everyone else in the country has doesn't make sense.

Andrew Wees

Originally posted by Huskerfan
Ha Ha. I was surfing Cox's web site and found a link about "comments". So I sent my comment in. This is really nothing new to those of us that frequent this thread, but this is the canned response I got from the Cox Rep:


Dear Valued Cox Customer:

Thank you for your inquiry. Cox is committed to providing the best
customer service possible.

I do apologize for this but it might be better to send this to CBS here
in Omaha. The reason that we don't have that channel in HD any longer is
that they want to be paid for their HD signal. We have been trying to
get it back onto the lineup but have made no progress with them yet. I
do not have any new information about this at this time but if you have
any other questions please let us know.

Thank you for choosing Cox Communications as Your Friend in the Digital
Age!

Thank you.

Cox Communications Online Technical Support Team

Original Message Follows:
------------------------
Form Message
subject: Product Sales Question
detail: High definition service
FirstName: xxxx
LastName: xxxxx
Email Address: xxxxxxxx
VerifyEmail: xxxxxxxx
Phone: xxxxxxxx
HomeAddress: xxxxxxxxxx
City: Omaha
State: NE
Zip: xxxxxx

Comments: I am very disappointed that I will not be able to see the AFC
Championship game in HD Sunday evening! How come you do not have CBS in
HD when everyone else in the country has it?

In Lincoln there is no way to get a Fox HD signal over the air. KPTM broadcasts a very weak signal in Omaha, which can't even be picked up in many areas of Omaha.

Well, I also fired off an email to KM3. O.K. Here's a wierd question: Why can't Cox just use the HD feed directly from CBS? It get's beamed from a sat right? I imagine there's some legal reason? or is it mechanical?

It probably legal issues. Please post if you get a response from KMTV.

Andrew Wees


Originally posted by Huskerfan
Well, I also fired off an email to KM3. O.K. Here's a wierd question: Why can't Cox just use the HD feed directly from CBS? It get's beamed from a sat right? I imagine there's some legal reason? or is it mechanical?

Originally posted by st30247
Matt, these numbers came from Cox:
QAM BOX #

KPTM = 107.01 810
NETV = 107.02 812
KETV = 108.01 809
WOWT = 108.02 808

If you have a TV with the QAM Digital Tuner Built-In, otherwise lease the Box and use the Box Ch#

How do these frequencies correlate to the channels available on an LG LST-3410A? I have tried digital channel 107-1, for example, and get nothing.

On the LG box I have, you set the input for standard cable, as opposed to over the air. Then scan channels and it will find them.

I'm glad to hear TWC will be offering the 8300HD. The 8000's were buggy as heck from what I read. Scientific Atlanta tends to get things debugged after a few attempts though, so hopefully these will work fine.

cox box swap
According to the local cox website they will upgrade the digital network at the end of February and require new converters.

Anyone get a letter yet?

Andrew Wees

I e-mailed cox asking about KOLN's HD signal and they said that they cannot carry it because of the franchise agreement the companies have with CBS. KM3's agreement with CBS says they are the only channel carrying CBS in the market. Cox said they looked into it, but ended up not being an option.

That still baffles me though that Lincoln can carry KETV when KLKN is there as an ABC affiliate. Must have different agreements than CBS.

Everyone--

I'm not trying to steal traffic away from AVS, but I've started a website at http://www.hdtvomaha.com that we can use to organize and share information relating to our HD successes and woes. Feel free to use the site as you want, and let me know if you have any suggestions or run into any problems.

--jeff

Time Warner no doubt has different franchise agreements than Cox. Lincoln has had KETV long before KLKN existed, so it may be a case of grandfathering.
I call it being spoiled :)

I live in Omaha and wonder why Omaha and Lincoln TV markets are not 1 TV market, Less than 50 miles from east Omaha and about 35 from west Omaha, Lincoln should have been given1 affiliate and Omaha the other 3 affiliates's, I'm so sick of the 1 way street, Lincoln gets Omaha's stations and Omaha gets no Lincoln tv,

Originally posted by Ronald L M
I live in Omaha and wonder why Omaha and Lincoln TV markets are not 1 TV market, Less than 50 miles from east Omaha and about 35 from west Omaha, Lincoln should have been given1 affiliate and Omaha the other 3 affiliate, I'm so sick of the 1 way street, Lincoln gets Omaha's stations and Omaha gets no Lincoln tv,

Yea, but you guys have... Omaha. :)

I had heard that Lincoln was included into the western DMA so that DMA would have a presence in the state. Without Lincoln, the DMA would be having a tough time surviving.

At one time I came across an article about the Lincoln DMA quirks. I'll have to see if I can find it.
BTW.. Gray owns 10/11 which also owns WOWT, wonder if some sort of arrangement could be worked out for Omaha/Cox to carry 10/11 as well as 6 in Omaha since they are owned by the same folks. Long shot I suppose.

It looks like just recently (probably Sunday-Monday) KMTV started broadcasting an audio stream labeled as Spanish but it is really a constant high pitched noise. This is really annoying because even though my setup is told to record English, sometimes it picks up this other stream and totally ruins my recording.

Anyone from KMTV want to comment on this weird new addition and when we can expect it to disappear??

Thanks!

timdg,

Sorry about your recordings. We do have a second audio PID in our program stream. We had a 1 kHz test tone on to differentiate it from the main program stream. The tone came up on the French selection on our STB's here. I am now feeding main channel program audio in that second stream.

Many broadcasters will be utiliziing these streams for additional services such as a Spanish language option and descriptor information etc.

Please revue the record and playback options of your equipment, so when additional channels are programmed, your recordings are ok.

Thanks for the post and I hope all is now well with your recordings.

Thank you very much for the info. I am contacting ATI so hopefully they can get this fixed in future versions but that takes a while.

Thank you very much for the fix!
I wouldn't know what to watch if I couldn't get KMTV....

Has anyone actually had luck receiving KPTM-DT (Fox 42) OTA?

Are they transmitting actual HD material now? (It seems to me that for a while it was only 480p)?

I live in papillion (96th and 370 area), and currently get KETV 7,WOWT 6, KMTV 3, and KYNE(NETV) 17 OTA with my E* 811 receiver...

I have a radio shack yagi in my attic, which I have pointed toward crown point..

Is there any point in trying to point it at gretna in hopes of getting Fox, or is it just a waste of time? Anybody had any luck?

Is Cox Cables HD DVR Firewire out working?


Over at the Orange County, CA they use the same boxes on there Cox Cable as we do.

There are posts saying it works and you can dump to your PC

Here is the thread

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=273324&perpage=20&highlight=COX&pagenumber=50


Here is one link on how to

http://replayguide.sourceforge.net/dct6412/index.html

Here there is a guy who claims to work for cox and how it works.
Also mentions new external storage options

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=5057317#post5057317


Is this true here in Omaha yet?

Evilpete, Kptm-dt ota is only 480I no 720p ota, last I heard Kptm-dt would be going full power and ota hd July 01 2005, Superbowl in hd only on Cox, in Omaha.

Scott,
I've read up on that but have not tried it. One of these days when I get down my project list :( I shall give it a try. I thought I read somewhere that it could be done locally. But don't quote me. Wow! That "how to" from Kevin Moye is pretty good. If you try it report back your findings. ;)

Dish & Voom

Hey all, was just readying the Dish has purchashed Voom for $200M, apparently this is what the whole scoop on them buying the satellite from Cablevision was all about.

Has anyone on here used/seen Voom? I seem to remember a Charlie chat from last summer when a caller asked Charlie about adding more HD like Voom and he said that Dish wanted to add only "true" HD content, and that alot of Voom's content was SD upconverted to HD.

Bruce

Originally posted by Huskerfan
Scott,
I've read up on that but have not tried it. One of these days when I get down my project list :( I shall give it a try. I thought I read somewhere that it could be done locally. But don't quote me. Wow! That "how to" from Kevin Moye is pretty good. If you try it report back your findings. ;)

FYI

I called Cox and talked to a Jeremy and he said the firewire was enabled but they don't support it. He didn't even hesitate as if he knew what he was talking about.

You can do this, I have done it about 6 months ago. Just need the d-vhs driver that the guide shows you and then need to convert it to a useable format for DVD. I think you could probably rent ppv's and get them onto the PC as well, but I have not tried it. Maybe I will try the superbowl so I can save the commercials.

I just finished downloading a small snipet to my laptop and proceeded to open the file with Nero. Everything worked just fine!

Does the 6412 have firewire in? What is this used for? Can I hook up my computer to firewire in and then display my computer through the 6412?

Output only



Andrew wees

Originally posted by Bruehaha
Does the 6412 have firewire in? What is this used for? Can I hook up my computer to firewire in and then display my computer through the 6412?

Thank you again Channel 7

On there Weather Channel DTV Channel 7-2


They turned the live radar to Snow mode.

We can see where the Ice is and where the snow is by the colors.


I hate driving in Ice. This channel will be a life saver.

Here are the EMAIL Addresses for the Top VPs at Emmis Corp (the ones who own KM3 and the ones who made them pull the HD).

Cut and Past Comma delimited:

rmena@emmis.com,desayian@emmis.com,kate@emmis.com,staffingde partment@emmis.com,ir@emmis.com,wzberger@emmis.com,rcummings @emmis.com

(below is a line by line list)

Please Email them weekly and ask for the free HD channel to be put back on.



KM3 and Emmis one year ago said they pulled there HD Feed because cox was charging for it and making money on it.

Things have changed in the last year.

Now all cable systems in a Emmis area offer the Local HD channels FREE unscrambled via free QAM channels.

This means the Emmis reasoning is no longer valid. They have no reason to demand money for a FREE OVER THE AIR HD Signal.

After all the Government, our tax money gave them the channel. We should be able to watch it free over the air and free on cable.

It is time for Emmis to add KM3 HD back to Cox.



rmena@emmis.com
desayian@emmis.com
kate@emmis.com
staffingdepartment@emmis.com
ir@emmis.com
wzberger@emmis.com
rcummings@emmis.com

It appears that KOLN/KGIN have opted for Channel 10 & 11 for their choice of DTV operations. WOWT has opted for Channel 22.

NETV is all over the place, often opting for the lower of their UHF channels, unless they have a VHF above channel 6.
For example, 40 in Lincoln would revert back to 12. KYNE 26 woud become 17.

http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_sear.htm

type 2005% in the second window of "file number"
type NE for state.

This lists all apps for radio & TV in 2005

EvilPete,

If you moved your Yaggi up on the roof (outdoors) with a rotor I'd say your chances of picking up KPTM would be marginal to good. I've experimented at ground level with my antenna outdoors, the signal strength on KPTM did increase somewhat, probaby would have done better up on the roof of my 2 story home. I'm down in a valley here in Papillion so any height increase would help.

Mid-state electronics at 96th&Harrison has a UHF antenna on their roof, when I asked about KPTM-DT earlier this year they stated they were receiving it just fine. The gentlemen behind the counter and I spoke in general terms about HD reception in Omaha for a good 10 minutes, I'm fairly certain his comments were valid and that we weren't talking past each other.

I've often thought about moving my Yaggi out of the attic to the roof but the return on investment isn't there. With the expeption of Nascar on FOX, FOX and KXVO aren't on my daily viewing schedule so I'd be gaining nothing in return. Also, I prefer to have my equipment in the attic out of the elements and within easy reach year round if servicing is required. KXVO and KPTM will soon be at full power, with a rotor in your attic you shouldn't have any problems receiving them this summer. I can currently receive KXVO from the attic with the rotor re-positioned, KPTM comes in very rarely from the attic.

I've recently found a sweet spot on my rotor where I can pickup all of crowne point, both NETV channels, KOLN and most of the time KXVO. Once KXVO and KPTM crank up the power I hope this direction works for all stations.

We do watch KBIN (IPTV) quite often, I'll be curious to see how directional my system is to their 8VSB OTA once they're on line this summer. Can you say Red Dwarf in upconvert? Has to be better than my current analog UHF reception.

Oh by the way, for you smeghead fans out there, Red Dwarf The Movie is now being shot on location in Australia!

Regards

Originally posted by johnwcookjr
We do watch KBIN (IPTV) quite often, I'll be curious to see how directional my system is to their 8VSB OTA once they're on line this summer. Can you say Red Dwarf in upconvert? Has to be better than my current analog UHF reception.


I hate to say this, but right now the IPTV Digital transmitters -- at least the one in Waterloo/Cedar Rapids, Iowa -- aren't carrying IPTV's analog schedule. When they first came on, they carried special HD programming (mostly PBS with some local specials) on the main -1 channel and upconverted analog on a -2 subchannel. Some time after the State Fair, the -2 disappeared (I was told they were using "loaner" encoders), forcing me to go back to analog to watch anything on IPTV's "main" schedule. That would include Red Dwarf.

I've also been told that when they get new encoders, -2 will be back, so we'll have to see what happens.

Even with that minor complaint, IPTV Digital does have quite a bit of worthwhile HD programming, including a lot of Iowa material. I'm watching Bix Jazz Festival footage in HD right now. Hope it comes to Omaha-Council Bluffs soon.

Has anyone seen the LG LST-4200 QAM tuner for sale in Omaha? I'd like to get a QAM tuner prior to Sunday. I usually prefer to buy stuff used (ebay) but I don't think I have enough time. Or, if anyone has a QAM tuner they wish to get rid of, please contact me.

Thanks!

Best Buy has the LG 3510. Buy it and return it after the Super Bowl, but you didn't hear it from me. ;)

A little off topic, but does anyone know what the HDTV situation is in the Tri-Cities area. I know which ones are broadcasting, but how about cable availability or waivers for locals through directv or dish??

dline,

Thanks for the info, hopefully the new encoders and KBIN will come online together this summer.

John

Do you need a TV that supports QAM, or will the external tuner work? Plus I would still need Cox Basic Cable to get KPTM-HD right?

has anyone tried the qam support on the samsung sir-t451? I had a 351 that did not work and sent back to samsung. They were supposed to send me a 165 instead but I do not really need either now, but thought I might pick up a 451 from the credit I have with them, just to have as a spare if it will do QAM. The problem is that in no time at all most tv's will have this built in so it would just be a extra piece of hardware. I could get one of their dvd recorders but it is all SD. Only other options are digital camera type products and I am not sure they have anything great their either. I don't think I would be able to swing the blue ray hd recorder that is supposed to be shipping near term, but if they ship soon enough I may see if they would get me one of those. High hopes I guess.

Lincoln Journal Star reports in their "No HDTV superbowl for Lincoln" story that Fox and WB in Omaha should be up in July and on Time Warner as soon as paperwork is completed. KLKN hopes to be in HD by June, and on TWC in time for Fall Football.

Scot at KM3 is real nice and seems to know all about the HDTV and Cox issues.

He still thinks they should get paid for a Free over the Air HDTV signal that was given to them by our government (the FCC which gets our Tax money).
In a way WE the tax payers gave them that over the Air channel so we should expect to get it for free.

Cox cable is giving all local HD Channels out for free in the clear via open QAM channels now. I was at by bothers house last night at we tried it. It really works (and he just has basic cable).

Maybe he gets bonused on the Profits?

Anyway, if you got questions here is an other source to Email.

======================================
Scot Krayenhagen
Director of Broadcast Operations
402-592-9761
skrayenhagen@km3news.com

=======================================
Contact Info at KMTV is above.

Originally posted by boardmanDJ
Lincoln Journal Star reports in their "No HDTV superbowl for Lincoln" story that Fox and WB in Omaha should be up in July and on Time Warner as soon as paperwork is completed. KLKN hopes to be in HD by June, and on TWC in time for Fall Football.

Do you have a link for this story?

The tower crew is at the top of the tower working, so I had to take the DTV off the air. It will be back on by 5pm.

The story does not appear to be in their online edition.

Originally posted by boardmanDJ
The story does not appear to be in their online edition.

It may appear after today in their archives. Jeff Korbelik articles are there from the past.

What's wrong Warren? You don't want them to get 500,00 volts of electricity going through them? :) :) :)

Originally posted by ScottChez
Cox cable is giving all local HD Channels out for free in the clear via open QAM channels now. I was at by bothers house last night at we tried it. It really works (and he just has basic cable).

Am I missing something? This isn't the first time someone here has indicated that Cox Cable is giving all local HD channels out for free. When did this start? It used to be that you had to purchase a cable package. On their WWW site, it still says that you must purchase the Limited Basic package for $15 per month if you wish to receive the networks, so if they are giving all local HD channels out for free, they certainly aren't advertising that level of service.

The post also asserted that we (taxpayers) gave KM3 that bandwidth at no charge and thus we should expect to receive it for free. We do! You don't have to pay a dime to receive anything that KM3 broadcasts over that bandwidth that we gave them. However, just because it is free over the airwaves does not mean that we also have a legitimate right to make them provide us with copies of the broadcast contents via other delivery methods. If it did, I would demand that they give me Blu-Ray DVDs of every show that they broadcast (and then I would have to purchase a Blu-Ray player, but it would be worth it).

Of course, as a consumer, I would like to see the market flooded with HD content in every conceivable standard delivery method (cable, dish, and OTA), but I don't think we have the right to demand that they provide COX cable their HD content with no additional compensation (even though they used to and other stations still are).

Sarc

Sarc,

No, I don't think you missed a thing. You're one of the few on here who actually understand this OTA vs Cox problem correctly. However, I wouldn't pass up on the Blu-Ray deal. :cool:

John

Looks like the Emmis (KM3 owners) Employees are back on this board, welcome back.

Its been a year since we heard from you.


It is always good to hear from both sides. Maybe we can put our heads together and solve this problem for Upper Management at Cox and Emmis,
since they dont seem to be listening or talking to each other right now.


Here is some more to think about . . .

The KM3 side slide would have more meat IF THEY had any Unique HD Content of there own. They dont even own a HD Camera. Instead the broadcast the same CBS HD Shows that KOLN CBS in Lincoln shows Free over the air.

If it were not for that agreement with CBS for KM3 to be the only provider of CBS in Omaha, Cox would have the Lincolns CBS HD. Most in Omaha can get Lincolns CBS free over the air, so could Cox if it were not for the deal with CBS.

They only one that should be able to pull HDTV CBS from Cox is CBS, not KM3. We know CBS Corp. want HD on all cable systems as CBS in HD is one all USA Cable Systems that have HD, except for those markets with a Emmis station.

Emmis stations are the only Network station owner in the whole 210 DMA markets wanting money for free TV, why? There quarterlys show a big profit, they do not need the money.

Emmis prominantly displays their "11 Commandments" on their website.

http://www.emmis.com/profile/commandments.aspx

With this whole KM3 and Cox thing, it looks like they are only concerned with one of the commandments---Don't underprice yourself or your medium......

but fail to follow their number 1 commandment--Take care of your audiences and your advertisers-think of them and you will win.

As for the others..

11. Admit your mistakes--KM3 is not admitting they made a mistake taking their signal from cox.
10. Be flexible, keep an open mind--Nobody between KM3 and Cox is talking...what open mind?
9. Be rational, look at all the options--Looks like the only option is OTA
8. Have fun, don't take this too seriously--Obviously this whole thing is not serious to the parties involved.
7. Never get smug--Travis sure likes to toot his horn that KM3 took the HD signal away.
6. Don't undersell your product---covered that.
5. Believe in yourself, if you think it can happen it will--Apparently no one at KM3 thinks it will happen so it isn't.
4. Never jeopardize your integrity---I think that has already been done with the pub this has generated.
3. Be good to your people--If this means customers, I haven't seen it yet. I can't even get a response to a simple e-mail question.
2. Be passionate about what you do and compassionate about how you do it--No one has given me any compassion that I can't get KM3 HD.
1. I am an audience as are others in this market. Someone needs to put a fork in this issue, because it should be done!!!

Emmis needs to follow their own commandments if that is what they really believe.

Couldn't help but notice ...

Originally posted by ScottChez
Scot at KM3 is real nice and seems to know all about the HDTV and Cox issues.

He still thinks they should get paid for a Free over the Air HDTV signal that was given to them by our government (the FCC which gets our Tax money).
In a way WE the tax payers gave them that over the Air channel so we should expect to get it for free.

For the thousandth time:

The only thing the government "gave" KMTV 3 (or any other station, for that matter) is an unfunded mandate to go digital. They're being LOANED, in essence, a second channel TEMPORARILY so they can phase in digital without immediately screwing current TV viewers, but KM3 itself has to come up with the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to convert their operation.

Say what you want about KM3 and Emmis, but this ain't no free ride, folks.

I know its not a free ride and Emmis had to pay to upgrade to HD.


The other side of the story is. . .


Its the cost of doing business you alway have to put money back into it, its also a tax break.

All other TV stations had to do HDTV upgrades. Just like they had to spend money in the 50s when they first went on the air or again in the late 60's when they converted to color.

To be in TV it cost money. All major TV station did the HD Conversion and are now on Cable. Even the PBS stations did HDTV from just donation.

If Emmis was going broke, I could see them holding out for more money, but they are not. In fact there web site talks about how good they are doing.

What cant KM3 do it? There quarterly report shows a huge profit. Why are they holding out for money? Is someone getting a Bonus off of the Cox thing?

In the last quarter alone it shows $160 Million.


Link to report:
http://www.emmis.com/investors/quarterlyearnings.aspx

======GOOD NEWS ===================

Just got off the phone with the Omaha World Herald.

They heard about this Forum from some Emails about HDTV.
They are looking to do a One year later story since they first wrote about it.

They are now doing research to see if it will make a good story.

They were also asking about the new http://www.hdtvomaha.com/
They wanted to talk to the owner (are you out there)?


They would not let me post there Email address (did not want to get spammed).

Here is the OWH Email address from there Web site for Editorials.

pulse@owh.com

Please send in your ideas for a story. Or just write an editorial (I would Email both in the same Email, so you are covered).

Originally posted by ScottChez
I know its not a free ride and Emmis had to pay to upgrade to HD.


The other side of the story is. . .


Its the cost of doing business you alway have to put money back into it, its also a tax break.

All other TV stations had to do HDTV upgrades. Just like they had to spend money in the 50s when they first went on the air or again in the late 60's when they converted to color.

To be in TV it cost money. All major TV station did the HD Conversion and are now on Cable. Even the PBS stations did HDTV from just donation.

If Emmis was going broke, I could see them holding out for more money, but they are not. In fact there web site talks about how good they are doing.

What cant KM3 do it? There quarterly report shows a huge profit. Why are they holding out for money? Is someone getting a Bonus off of the Cox thing?

In the last quarter alone it shows $160 Million.


Link to report:
http://www.emmis.com/investors/quarterlyearnings.aspx

Scott

Emmis is just doing the same thing as what TNT, ESPN, TBS, HGTV, etc are all doing. That is holding out for proper payment of a signal the cable company is turning around and selling. The local stations are probably not even getting as much compensation per subscriber as some of the bigger cable channels like an ESPN or TBS or USA. That's despite the fact that more cable subscribers are actually watching one of the local over the air stations than one of the cable channels. Since Ch 3,6,7, etc are being watched by more cable subscribers, don't you think they have a right to ask for fair compensation from the cable company for their sale of the over the air signals?

Here's an idea, drop COX if they don't offer what you want in programming. That will send them a message.

COX is getting CBS'signal out there, it just happens to be analog. Yea, that sucks. You are empowered to get CBS HD, just drop COX and sign up with one of the DBS providers and put up a simple antenna. Or get a DTV OTA tuner and enjoy quite a bit of free TV. Does your TV have a built in ATSC tuner? Then just get an antenna.

I am always amazed at how people seem so attached to a cable provider for their TV service.

Originally posted by Sarcoma
Am I missing something? This isn't the first time someone here has indicated that Cox Cable is giving all local HD channels out for free. When did this start? It used to be that you had to purchase a cable package. On their WWW site, it still says that you must purchase the Limited Basic package for $15 per month if you wish to receive the networks, so if they are giving all local HD channels out for free, they certainly aren't advertising that level of service.

The post also asserted that we (taxpayers) gave KM3 that bandwidth at no charge and thus we should expect to receive it for free. We do! You don't have to pay a dime to receive anything that KM3 broadcasts over that bandwidth that we gave them. However, just because it is free over the airwaves does not mean that we also have a legitimate right to make them provide us with copies of the broadcast contents via other delivery methods. If it did, I would demand that they give me Blu-Ray DVDs of every show that they broadcast (and then I would have to purchase a Blu-Ray player, but it would be worth it).

Of course, as a consumer, I would like to see the market flooded with HD content in every conceivable standard delivery method (cable, dish, and OTA), but I don't think we have the right to demand that they provide COX cable their HD content with no additional compensation (even though they used to and other stations still are).

Sarc


I couldn't disagree more.....obviously KPTM-HD, WOWT-HD, KETV-HD, NETV-HD also disagree with you and KMTV's position on this.

KMTV, as an Omaha broadcaster, needs to get on the bandwagon and get past this impasse with Cox. Blu-Ray DVDs....come on ! Give me a break. Are you a KMTV employee? or related to one? n/m

Originally posted by gpflepsen
Here's an idea, drop COX if they don't offer what you want in programming. That will send them a message.

COX is getting CBS'signal out there, it just happens to be analog. Yea, that sucks. You are empowered to get CBS HD, just drop COX and sign up with one of the DBS providers and put up a simple antenna. Or get a DTV OTA tuner and enjoy quite a bit of free TV. Does your TV have a built in ATSC tuner? Then just get an antenna.

I am always amazed at how people seem so attached to a cable provider for their TV service.


We aren't attached to Cox. We hate them. It's just that KMTV is being ridiculous. How about we stop watching KMTV programming all together. Attack the problem from the other angle.

All I know is that the people at KETV, WOWT, KPTM, NETV appear to have more concern for their viewers. They also seem to have a better grasp of the "bigger" picture here as well. i.e. The locals that do provide a feed to Cox are all in disagreement with KMTV.

This isn't an issue with Cox, this is an issue with the local broadcasters.

And so the net results is that unless you are willing to put an antenna up you won't see the BB playoffs in HD.

Scot,

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately we are going to agree to disagree.

Upon re-evaluating my thoughts on this issue I have come to the conclusion that this is NOT a cable tv issue as
you state. (i.e. Cox) Rather, this is an issue between local broadcasters. KETV, WOWT, KPTM, NETV all disagree
with your position and they are willing to provide a DT signal to me, a cable-tv subscriber. Your argument is with the other
local broadcasters, not Cox.

And what all this means to those of us people that freely choose to buy Cox services is that we will not see any KMTV
programming in HD. I’m sorry, but I find KMTV’s position reprehensible. I hope that KMTV will find a solution….soon.



________________________________________
From: Scot Krayenhagen [mailto:Skrayenhagen@km3news.com]
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2005 6:00 PM
Subject: RE: HDTV: Cox and KMTV

(sbswrmd),

I appreciate your comments. KMTV-DT is proud to be broadcasting 700,000 watts ERP, 1 million watts ERP by March 1, 2005. Our signal is free over-the-air, available to you and almost everyone within a 90 mile radius of our transmission facility. Our primary business is television broadcasting, and that is exactly what we are doing, according to all FCC rules and regulations. This build out to digital television didn't come cheap, I can tell you it cost millions. CBS is a leader in true HDTV programming as well. FYI, cable did not come onto the scene until the mid to late 1980's. If you have a problem concerning the programming on your cable subscription, I shouldn't have to tell you to call your local cable provider. I am not here to tell you that your opinion is right, wrong, or indifferent.

I can tell you, if you had the Dishnetwork or DirecTV HDTV receivers, they have an over-the-air decoder built in that automatically incorporates the local digital signals into your television allowing you to pull in all subscription programming and local broadcasters.

Regards,


KM3 News - Omaha/Bellevue/Council Bluffs
Clear. Accurate. To The Point.

Scot Krayenhagen
Director of Broadcast Operations
402-592-9761
skrayenhagen@km3news.com

==============WELCOME=========================

Welcome all the other Cities that have Emmis owned stations.

It Turns out we all have the same problem as Emmis has pulled/rejected there HDTV signal from there Cable providers also.

I posted in each of there Cities Forum asking that they also Email there local Emmis station. I also gave them the link back to here for more info.
Some cities have started petitions and have talked to there congressmen about making a new HDTV-DTV OTA law like they just did for SAT (DBS).

Its is good to know we are not alone out there. It sounds like there are about 100,000 plus un-happy Emmis viewers out there.

Mobile, AL-Pensacola, FL:WALA-TV WBPG-TV
Tucson, AZ:KGUN-TV
Ft. Myers-Naples, FL:WFTX-TV
Orlando, FL:WKCF-TV
Honolulu, HI:KHON-TVKGMB-TV
Terre Haute, IN:WTHI-TV
Topeka, KS:KSNT-TV
Wichita-Hutchinson, KS:KSNW-TV
New Orleans, LA:WVUE-TV
Albuquerque-Sante Fe, NM:KRQE-TV
Portland, OR:KOIN-TV
Charleston-Huntington, WV:WSAZ-TV
Green Bay-Appleton, WI:WLUK-TV

ScottChez,

Have you contacted the cable company about not being able to get KMTV's HD signal on the cable co's lineup? What was their response?

My suggestion, by a Dish or Directv system, like many of us, and catch the OTA signal. With my Dish receiver, I have the OTA locals right on the lineup with all the Dish channels. From my experience Dish & Directv are cheaper and with an OTA antenna, you might be able to pull in more distant HD signals like I have in Kearney when the weather is right. A lot of the time I pull in KOLN-HD way out in Kearney. The hated KMTV comes in a fair number of times in the summer, too. I'm especially looking forward to seeing what my reception of KM will be when they go full blowned 1 million watts.

Life isn't fair.

But the fact is, there is no must carry law for HD signals, and KMTV doesn't have to play nice. And they know darn well that they don't lose viewers because of it.. If people want to see something on their station, they will either watch in SD, or find another provider..
(Sure some hardcore geeks will only watch HD.. but most people don't care if the signal is HD, just like they don't care if a movie is widescreen or not.. They are watching a show for content, not technical specs.)

I wanted the Superbowl in HD last year, so I switched to E*..

Which gets me to my point.. Let's pick on somebody else, too.. How about Pappas Telecasting and KPTM... What's their excuse for not having a decent OTA signal???
That's even worse than not being on COX!!!! :D

Actually, must carry is there for the TV station and not the cable company. A TV station can either request a fee for their station's signal on the cable lineup or request to be carried with no compensation. Since some stations might not have the negotiating power to request a fee, they can still force the cable co to carry their signal since it would be in the best interest of the station to be on the lineup for ratings, etc. I think, though, that a station has to meet some standards to request "must carry" status.

However, once again I'll say that maybe 25% of people have HDTV compatible sets. 15% of that 25% (which breaks down to 3.8% of American households) actually watch HDTV content. How much of that 3.8% of America watches HD OTA? How much of that 3.8% is watching HD on Cable? Or Sat. without OTA?

We are part of this 3.8% that is trying to help set the standard for future things. Unfortunately we have to deal with the KMTV's and the Emmis' and the Sinclairs to set the standards so the future HDTV viewers don't have to. But, on the other hand for KM3 to hold out for 3.8% of the viewers, at this point is it really worth the price?

This argument will never end until everyone is watching HD content, which will still be years from now. However, screwing us out of HD content because we are the pioneers isn't right.

I hope what I am trying to say makes sense. I just don't have the money to switch services and buy extra equipment just so I can get one channel in HD that I don't have. That to me is a disservice to people who want to use and take advantage of the technology.

I called NFM looking for a HiDef tuner set top box. The sales person told me that they no longer carry them, because "cox decided to let people rent them."

Is it true that I can't buy a HiDef tuner at NFM?

Hi ScottChez thanks for your post on he Green Bay thread. Here is what your really dealing with with Emimus Communications. They want be a content provider. They will never give their HD signal to cable. They will pass 480P but only when they have to. Look for them to also stop broadcast OTA HD and resort to down rez 480P. The reason they will do this is so they can sell you thier version of Broadcast TV proprietary HD signal. You wont get CBS OTA when they launch their grand plan. The Hd signal will only be available through the Emimus offering. I you can tell I am Madder then a boiled Hornet over this. It won't be until sometime in 2006 that they will be broadcasting. I can't get the FOX WLUK signal OTA in my present location. So I am just SOL for the Super Bowl as I was for the GB Packer games. Just think what its like to have someone messing with the Huskers Big Red HD broadcast. I written to every one I know of including the Fox national network. So Ive done my part good luck and sorry for such a long post.



Here is a little question and answer from the WLUK Green Bay as to why the digital signal will not be on cable



Q. Will I be able to receive the digital and HD programming on cable?
A. You will not be able to receive FOX 11’s digital or HD programming by way of cable. Cable companies are essentially resellers of programming. As of this writing, Northeast Wisconsin cable companies have not approached FOX 11 to discuss terms to carry our digital signal.

MY synopsis: This statement is untrue in the Green Bay Press Gazette on Sunday they had an article on HDTV. In the article a Time warner spokesmen is quoted that they have indeed made an offer to WLUK.

A. Here is a resent Quote from Jay Zoler "I can assure you that every other station is getting something for their signal. I don't
know what it is, but they do. Multiply the amount you pay each month by
135,000 homes (cable homes). It is a staggering amount of money they
receive. "
MY synopsis:What use to puzzle me is was why WLUK would pass up the juicy revenue stream that the other local station are getting form Time Warner. I know now they never intended to ask Time Warner for revenue for there digital signal. WLUK lies on their own home page as to who is at fault for the lack of FOX programing on cable. Folks we stand a snowball chance in hell if getting WLUK on cable. As for all you folks who are going to get a OTA set top box and antenna setup. You will lose that investment the minute the new WLUK system starts up. So go ahead and take Jay Zollers advice and add that antenna and $300.00 set top box. You know its free(LOL). Soon that set top box will be a nice door stop.

Q. Why wont cable companies broadcast FOX 11digital signal?
A. In a nutshell, here is the issue. Cable companies want FOX 11 to give them our digital programming, including HD programs, for free. They in turn want to charge their subscribers for our programming. If you currently subscribe and receive a digital package from a cable company, you know about the significant additional charge. Cable companies keep 100% of that fee.

MY synopsis Not true they have an offer from Time Warner. Remember the quote earllier from Jay Zolar the general manager at WLUK. "I can assure you that every other station is getting something for their signal. I don't
know what it is, but they do. Multiply the amount you pay each month by
135,000 homes (cable homes). It is a staggering". What outright crap.

It is customary for cable companies to compensate cable channel providers for their signal. The Weather Channel, ESPN, USA, Bravo, Cartoon Network, Lifetime, FX, CNN, Discovery, and virtually every other channel is compensated by the cable companies for their programming. ESPN receives over $2.00 per month per household. Cable companies refuse to compensate broadcasters for their signals even though cable subscribers watch FOX 11, CBS, NBC and ABC almost 70% of the time.

MY synopsis I don't remember paying any extra in my digital cable package when the locals were added last year I only had to rent a HDTV set top box. I could be wrong. WLUK could get money for there signal but the money other local stations are getting for Time Warner isn't enough. Because they plan to be a provider.

Q. How can I receive FOX 11’s digital and HD signal?
A. There is good news. Viewers who want to watch digital and high definition signals have other options.

You can purchase an HD set with a built-in tuner. Many new HD sets are now being manufactured complete with HD tuners. This will allow you to receive all of Green Bay television’s digital signals over the air for FREE.

DirecTV or DISH satellite providers have come to terms with WLUK FOX 11. Both companies offer an option that enables you to receive over the air HD signals from local broadcasters.

You can purchase a digital tuner from a local electronics company. They are a bit pricey, but will allow you to receive all of Green Bay television’s digital signals for FREE.

MY synopsis: For now. Expect the OTA signal to be 480P when they start up of there competing microwave system is up and running. WLUK doesn't have to broadcast in Hi Def for OTA and will I believe keep all FOX HI DEF programing proprietary there version of Dish like TV.


Q. What does the future of digital look like?
A. There is a national broadcast initiative that is very exciting and gaining enormous momentum. As you read this, plans are developing that would enable you to receive all the local broadcast stations in HD, plus approximately 30 of the most popular cable channels, all over the air for around $25.00 per month. It is the next great wave of over the air digital broadcasting. We hope to see this come to the Green Bay market some time in 2005 or 2006.

MY synopsis: This startup will be costly for WLUK as this microwave system will require allot of hardware. Dish installations and set top boxes. They will I believe fail but that just me.


If you are a digital cable subscriber and want to receive FOX 11’s digital and HD programming, call your cable provider and encourage them to work out an arrangement with us. If you are already paying for digital programming, tell them you don’t want to miss some of the best sporting and prime time programming available.


MY synopsis: What a "crock of do do !!!! LOL

I hope this gives you a better understanding of all the issues surrounding digital and high definition television.


Jay Zollar
Vice President and General Manager
WLUK FOX 11


I believe that WLUK should be pay something for there signal on cable. I just think it should be the same as the other local TV stations. We get to see capitalism at work in Green Bay. WLUK can negotiate what every they think the market will bare. I just don't care for the 3rd grade handing of the debate and just plane outright lies that Jay Zollar spews.
At least he put his BS in writing and everyone on this sight will be better informed.
Sorry for the long post


__________________
HDTV is clear get the picture

Quote "However, screwing us out of HD content because we are the pioneers isn't right." unquote, you need to speak for yourself, this pioneer put up an antenna about 1.5 years ago and has been receiving free KMTV-DT since then!

Hi Jonwcookjr

You will sound a different tone when Emmis Communications turns your nice HD TV into a 480P wonder. Good luck fellow pioneers. You really didn't want CBS in HD did you? Oh to bad.

Those of you that watch KMTV start writing down all of the local advertisers that advertise on KMTV. (Personally I quit watching every show on CBS except Survivor or the rare occasion that they didn't have the Chiefs or the Broncos on their NFL coverage). Post them here, and then everyone here call those local businesses and tell them that they would get more exposure to their advertising if KMTV had a high definition signal on Cox. Tell them that you will not buy any products from them as long as they continue to advertise on a station that treats it's potential viewers in that way. I would say to do the same to Cox, but this clearly looks like a problems with the parent company for KMTV. Please do the same in the Green Bay market or any other areas. Hopefully the parent company will get the picture. Local stations derive their revenue from advertising, the small fee they may get paid from a cable company is smaller compared to their advertising revenue. There is obviously some ulterior motive here. But if they see it interrupting their revenue stream, they may change their mind.

I can not believe this.

I just confirmed what "jdallaire" posted with one of there VPs. They do plan for 480p and there own OTA cable like system. Already budgeted for it. That's why adding the higher wattage on there DTV is so important.

We need to put a stop to the Emmis plan 480p and a Cable like system, it is just not right. I think the law needs adjusted.

We need to tell the Omaha World Herald of this new news. Too bad 7 Can Help cant help.

We need to tell the advertisers and warn them about 480p and the new cable system.

Its like going backwards . . .

Pasted from above= "They want be a content provider. They will never give their HD signal to cable. They will pass 480P but only when they have to. Look for them to also stop broadcast OTA HD and resort to down rez 480P."

Write your congressmen...

http://www.iwantmyhdtv.com/iwanthdtv/

...that's the only way the law will change!

When you say KM3 is going to sell content, are you referring to them being part of the USDTV system? If so, that will suck a big one. I will never watch KM3, KOLN will be my CBS source.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=449375&highlight=usdtv

http://www.usdtv.com/index.php

USDTV is THE enemy of HDTV enthusiast.

I am going to a Superbowl party that has Cox basic cable. my question to Omaha cox Hdtv viewers is: if I bring my hdtv and my Cox hd box 6412 will I be able to receive Kptm-hd on channel 810 ? Thanks.

Ronald

I bet you will have some issues because of the signal that the house you are going to is expecting and sending just a basic cable signal. It is probably similar to when you move to a different house. I had to call Cox even after I moved to a different house and everything was supposed to be transferred over, I still had to call them so they could re-send a signal to my cable box I brought from the old house. But, maybe you will get lucky. I would doubt that it works though. And then if you have to call them some questions will arise from that.

But, I don't know the answer for a fact, just my own experiences of when we moved and took the cable box with us.

I received an update from Richard Graham, the Chief Engineer at Pappas Telecasting of the Midlands. Here's the short of it: OTA is SD only, COX is rebroadcasting the 720P signal for KPTM, so for best results on any set that can natively display 720P, strap your HD tuner to output at 720P! I put the whole message at http://www.hdtvomaha.com.

--jeff

Just have the owner of the residence get the DVR box just for the weekend. He can take it back on Monday. People do it all the time. Make sure he picks it up today.

Your box should be able to get Fox in HD from any house as they Signals are Un scrambled.

Its just a matter of if there is a trap out side filtering the Digital TV. Cox has been going around Removing all of these traps as they like everyone to do SELF installs so they can get free installs.

Let us know if it works as it will lead to the Free is free issue and KM3.

I stand corrected. Good call ScottChez.

Check out the USDTV Channel Line up.

For $19.95 you only get cable 11 Channels. I am sure they can double or tripple if more local TV stations in the area go for it.

11 Channels for $19.95 + $80 install + $4.95 for the 2nd TV + Tax

http://www.usdtv.com/why_usdtv-channels.php


Install of the Atenna is $80 if you cant do it your self (most cant as our DTV tower are not in the same localtion (KMPTM/WB and the others).

Oh and get this, you back to that $4.95 for each addition recevier change, plus you still have all those taxes to pay. For two TVs your looking at $30 with tax.

More details
=================

One-time charge of $19.95 for each USDTV receiver.


A monthly service fee of $19.95. Service fee for additional receivers is $4.95 per month for each additional receiver.


Depending on reception in your area, you will need either a small indoor antenna or an outdoor antenna. An existing TV antenna may be sufficient. Antennas, if needed, are sold separately through USDTV for $29.95.


Free professional installation is available through USDTV.

They (USDTV) mention getting HDTV as part of their service, but that's not really true. If other OTA broadcasters in the area are not a part of the USDTV system, you can get them in HD. USDTV uses all the sub-channels left after the main broadcaster has down-converted their HD signal to 480i or 480p.

You can do the math, there is no way a channel can consist of two, three or four sub-channels and still support an HD channel with any degree of keeping the HD impact.

If you are an HD fanatic, USDTV is pure evil.

Hi folk

the Green bay WLUK Emumus situation my not be a USDTV system.

I would think a down Rez of the regular HD signal to be 480P OTA. That way they can offer the only place to get the Green Bay Packer is Hi DEF is through their USDTV system type offering. This is just to great of a kidnap Scheme to pass up. The also get all the FOX network sports offering. I will bet you anything the minute the new USDTV system is turned on the down rez the old signal. This to will come to pass.

Denial is more then a river in Egypt.

On a reception note to the KETV engineer, here in Kearney last night from around 10:30 to 11:30, I was pulling in your signal along with KMTV's and KOLN's plus the usual locals. I have a Dish Network receiver with the 8VSB tuner. It was a little hard locking in on Ch 7's digital sig at ch 20. I'd imagine that's so because the KTVG Ch 17 (GI) digital signal is at ch 19 and the KHAS Ch 5 (Has) digital signal is at ch 21.

There was some good tropo overnight. In Lincoln you could get Grand Island stations and Sioux City/Sioux Falls.

Hi Everyone,

I will be shuting down KETV-DT sometime after 7am Saturday morning 2/5/05 as the tower crew will be near that antenna. Will be back on by 5pm.

PaulStorm:
Thanks for the note, I wish it went 170 miles everyday <wink>

I am currently running a test of Dolby 5.1 during the program Numb3rs.

The Dolby equipment worked great. I will next test the switching through the gigabit router. If the switches are clean, the gear will go online early next week.

According to the local cox website they will upgrade the digital network at the end of February and require new converters.

Anyone get a letter yet?

Andrew Wees

Warren @ KETV, I forgot to mention how your station was the only one that lit up the Dolby indicator on the amplifier.

Dolby 5.1 on CBS! - It doesn't get any better than that - Thanks alot!

I noticed a CBS show with the Dolby 5.1 logo on it. This is good news!!

Now why are we complaining about ANY of this HD stuff? Isn't it more fun when they slowly add toys? If everybody signed on in HD with 5.1, we would never have anything to look forward to!

*ducks from flying boxes tuned to SD broadcasts*

The very nature of technology is to continuously add "toys." So in general, yes, that's one thing most of us look forward to. I think the conflict is that (a) those who have spent so much $$ on new equipment want to see a return on their investment asap, and (b) there are specific events that, if available in HD but not locally, can be a huge disappointment to some.

Now, changing the subject somewhat, what (if anything) am I as a consumer going to notice is different in the "new" Cox digital system?

OK, I know this has been brought up, but can someone bottom line it for me:

Can I get FOXHD OTA today to watch the game? In any way, shape or form, even if it is 480p?

GRIZZ

davidgriswold,

No you can't get FoxHD OTA until sometime this summer. You have to have either Cox HD service or a QAM tuner that will receive cable in the clear.

Doug

No...sorry, there is no Fox OTA in HD. You might be able to pick up their digital signal and watch the game, but not in HD.

Mike

Originally posted by davidgriswold
OK, I know this has been brought up, but can someone bottom line it for me:

Can I get FOXHD OTA today to watch the game? In any way, shape or form, even if it is 480p?

GRIZZ

If you can take a rifle and shoot the tower, you may have a good chance to pick up the broadcast. Please don't take this in any way as a suggestion to shoot the tower!

KPTM's digital signal is very weak and broadcast directionally towards Omaha from just south of the Flying J near Gretna.

Thanks for the update Mike Gann at KM3, we all know you are not involved with the Emmis KM3 and Cox dispute. The issue is controled way up at the VP level at Emmis. You are in Operations.

Thanks for your hard work on Dolby and the HD signal.

But if you even get a chance to leave hints for the Emmis VPs if they ever visit the station, please mention that we all want 1080i always and no USDTV with CBS at 480p.

"I am currently running a test of Dolby 5.1 during the program Numb3rs."
-Mike Gann, Operations Supervisor KMTV

How does that USDTV work?
My current box will pick up all the OTA channels, including the sub-channels.
With USDTV do they put a 480 broadcast on the main channel and scramble their HD material on a subchannel which is decoded only by a USDTV box?

That's wrong on so many levels, but I would like to know all the facts.

USDTV works just like Satellite. With Sat there is a channel or what they call a transponder. They put a digital signal down that transponder. The box a the end then take the signal and un splits the channels. Like with Direct TV and Dish they can get I think about 8 channels out of one transponder depending on the compression.

With USDTV, the same thing except the send the sign down one of the DTV sub channels. They use an unmapped channel number like 3-70.

The USDTV box takes the signal on 3-7 decodes its and compresses it and then un splits just like a SAT signal. What they get with compression is about 11 channels per sub DTV change IF the main channel is dropped to the low quality 480P

For every station that that Emmis talks into going down to 480p and signing up with USDTV they get an other 11 channels.

Just like with SAT (DBS) you must have a box to unscramble and uncompress, thus the $4.95 fee per extra box.

Also since its DTV, if rabit ears dont work, an Atic or roof antenna is required and thus an other $80 fee (home many here get all there DTV signals all OK with out an atic antenna-none I bet).

So the price is a lot like Cable or SAT (DBS). I think the only market for this is those that cant get cable at all and those who dont like the SAT DBS minimum $29.95 rate plan.

After talking to Cox and Timer Warner they both plan to out due any USDTB price by $5 and still offer more channels if they come to the area.

The start up cost is about 1 Million, then Cox and Timer Warner beat them on the price by $5, then Emmis is out 1 Million per market, If I was a Emmis Stock holder or if I had any 401K or stock options from an employee plan, I would sell right away.

Anybody who offers fewer channels than cable or Satellite for nearly the same price is risking a lot. Cable penetration is roughly 80% nationally, so what would the average Joe do? Rent a cable box or invest in lots of extra stuff?
Anybody who wants to go that route would probably go all out and get a Dish. That's what I would do.
Lots of cable companies use Fiber Optic these days, so OTA signal quality is irrelevant. Cable would still have a better picture than OTA.
Also, if they don't offer that one channel you like to watch, then the average consumer won't switch.
Seems like a really bad idea to me. I guess the marketplace will decide.

Thanks for the explanation of High Defintion 8-track style. :)

=======EMMIS and COX Solution ========================

Talked to my lawyer friend who happens to love His new HDTV Set on Cox.

Here are the legal options.

Emmis is correct, under the current laws we can not ask or make KM3 be carried on Cox in HD.

Under there current (dumb) contract signed by CBS, Cox can not carry the KOLN CBS in HD even though it qualifies under significatly viewed, and we can all get it with rabbit ears in the atic. In other cities cox would carry both CBS channels why the stations are only 40 miles apart, this is normal.

Legal Options
==========

1. Write CBS Corp. The KM3 and CBS contract is due for renewal soon. Ask CBS to change the contract so it states that if the CBS HD Feed is not carried at 1080i in any Cable or Satellite system that System has the right to get the feed from the nearest Over the air source, which for the Omaha area is Lincoln.

What this means is Cox could carry KOLN Lincoln CBS, but the contract has to be changed at renewal time. We all need to write CBS Corp.

2. Change the Law, the FCCs entent was to switch everyone to HDTV. Why would anyone do this just to get 480p. The FCC should adjust to interpret the law to say, that no station can charge for any sub channel usage or become a Cable like system since the Frequency was given to them for free.

3. Write KM3 advertisers and boycott.

This is capitalism. The advertisers pay KM3. If the advertisers cut back becuase we cant watch there Ads, then KM3 will have to adjust there plans or run out of money and sell.

Advertisers do not know the channel they are advertising on is not carried in HD on Cox. They think all viewers are happy.


Sorry about any spelling or grammer but I want to pass on what my friend said.

Time to get out the pen and write.

What are the QAM channel numbers for the unscrambled network feeds on Cox in Omaha?

Originally posted by tcassette
What are the QAM channel numbers for the unscrambled network feeds on Cox in Omaha?

Just off the top the main ones are:

107.01 - KPTM
107.02 - NETV
108.01 - ABC
108.02 - NBC

There are some others but I can't remember them. Try doing a search of forum .

One thing I see wrong with your statement


This is capitalism. The advertisers pay KM3. If the advertisers cut back because we cant watch there Ads, then KM3 will have to adjust there plans or run out of money and sell.

Cox carry's the analog KMTV so the advertisers wouldn't care.

Andrew Wees


Originally posted by ScottChez
=======EMMIS and COX Solution ========================

Talked to my lawyer friend who happens to love His new HDTV Set on Cox.

Here are the legal options.

Emmis is correct, under the current laws we can not ask or make KM3 be carried on Cox in HD.

Under there current (dumb) contract signed by CBS, Cox can not carry the KOLN CBS in HD even though it qualifies under significatly viewed, and we can all get it with rabbit ears in the atic. In other cities cox would carry both CBS channels why the stations are only 40 miles apart, this is normal.

Legal Options
==========

1. Write CBS Corp. The KM3 and CBS contract is due for renewal soon. Ask CBS to change the contract so it states that if the CBS HD Feed is not carried at 1080i in any Cable or Satellite system that System has the right to get the feed from the nearest Over the air source, which for the Omaha area is Lincoln.

What this means is Cox could carry KOLN Lincoln CBS, but the contract has to be changed at renewal time. We all need to write CBS Corp.

2. Change the Law, the FCCs entent was to switch everyone to HDTV. Why would anyone do this just to get 480p. The FCC should adjust to interpret the law to say, that no station can charge for any sub channel usage or become a Cable like system since the Frequency was given to them for free.

3. Write KM3 advertisers and boycott.

This is capitalism. The advertisers pay KM3. If the advertisers cut back becuase we cant watch there Ads, then KM3 will have to adjust there plans or run out of money and sell.

Advertisers do not know the channel they are advertising on is not carried in HD on Cox. They think all viewers are happy.


Sorry about any spelling or grammer but I want to pass on what my friend said.

Time to get out the pen and write.

Can cox deliver a 480p signal for channel 3? It would be better than the analog signal, "for now".

=Cox can not carry any KM3 digital signal, 480p or 1080i per as the license signed is only for the SD. Darn Emmis lawyers where smart, they wrote in Standard Feed on analog VHF frequency 3 only in the orginal Cox License contract.

=The advertisers do care that KM3 is not on Cox in HD.

Look at there ratings. KM3 is in Last place for the 10PM news.

One reason why is what they call the cross over factor.

Viewers that watch a Prime Time show have a better chance of staying on that channel for the 10PM news due to the teaser ads that run.

Since there are less watch the CBS HD feed becuase they cant see it and they dont like the SD stuff anymore (rather have HD than SD), there ratings are down.

Advertisers need to know about the cross over ratings factor.

Plus if advertisers know there or even think there is a boycott there ears perk up and start asking questions, the questions then go to the Emmis sale reps. Then the Emmis sales reps have something to say when the Emmis VPs wonder why Ad sales are lower becuase they had to sell at lower market rates.

So Yes I think they will care, if we tell the advertisers whats going on. They have no clue right now.

Originally posted by ScottChez

Since there are less watch the CBS HD feed becuase they cant see it and they dont like the SD stuff anymore (rather have HD than SD), there ratings are down.


What percentage of Omaha viewers do you think a) own an HDTV, b) have Cox as their only source for HD signal, c) choose what to watch based on SD v. HD rather than program content and d) don't change the channel to watch their preferred newscast? I'd bet it's a meaningless percentage and advertisers wouldn't care.

Originally posted by ScottChez
2. Change the Law, the FCCs entent was to switch everyone to HDTV. Why would anyone do this just to get 480p. The FCC should adjust to interpret the law to say, that no station can charge for any sub channel usage or become a Cable like system since the Frequency was given to them for free.


No, the FCC's intent was not to switch everyone to HDTV, it was to switch everyone to DTV, nothing more. And while the cost isn't huge the stations don't get the bandwidth for free, they have to buy a license. The federal government makes hundreds of millions a year licensing TV stations to use the bandwidth

And I'm not sure you've thought through the complexities and implications of the FCC trying to force HDTV OTA. Or the FCC trying to prevent stations from retransmitting via alternative mediums for a fee.

The issue is far more complicated than most here allow. They see it an as an issue of us being entitled to HD signal. They don't grasp the conflicting issues that the OTA broadcasters, cable providers, and satellite providers bring to the table. So many here see it as a simple issue that Cox doesn't charge directly for the local HD signals so why should the local broadcaster expect compensation. Set aside the history of cable providers threatening to charge the broadcasters for bandwidth that necessitated the "must carry" rule. Just focus on whether the cable provider does benefit from carrying that signal today.

Cox advertises that you can get the HD locals from their service, so their marketing people must feel they can make money by advertising that as a feature or value added service. But set aside that little debate and look at the satellite providers how Dish and Direct have scrambled over the past few years to get locals up, and how Voom has failed to attract subscribers. If you've followed that market at all you'll quickly reach the conclusion that a significant percentage of potential subscribers won't consider the service if they can't get their locals. Dish and Direct are willing to pay locals for carriage rights because they realize that their customers expect it and without customers they can't bill for more profitable services.

The market has changed from the days when cable was up and coming. A viewer now has at least four options to choose from free OTA, cable and two satellite providers. Where the broadcasters used to be uncertain of their place in an evolving world with cable and thus pushed for "must carry" many are now seeing that they have something they can sell to a carrier.

If the FCC isn't careful and puts the type of restrictions and demands on broadcasters you are talking about they may find that all they accomplish is to drive OTA broadcasters out of business, have local stations disappear to be replaced by satellite, cable and microwave superstations. While I certainly want my HDTV, I know I'm going to pay for it one way or another and I'm far more in favor of free markets shaping the environment with the FCC playing a role to serve the public interest which is to ensure that local broadcasters don't disappear anytime soon.

Looks like the Emmis stock is crashing. Maybe they will get bought/merged soon and we wont have to worry about it.

Reading through the posts on this board, the HDTV on Cable issue and USDTV issue is also being talked about by the investors.

Here is the Yahoo board and stock chart:

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=EMMS&d=t

The message board is in the right column called "Message Board"
The new and press section is at the bottom.


Maybe we should call in on there next quarterly investors conference call and ask questions about USDTV and the pulled HDTV feeds. That would bring even more questions to there P&L

Channel Elections (After analog ceases):

KPTM has opted to stay on 43 (bummer...Fox 42 is an institution, but opens up skip potential from other regions!)

KHGI will stay on 36, instead of migrating back to 13. (The Hayes Center satellite on 6 will stay on 18)

KDUH will be on 7.

I called one KM3 advertisers today to get a feel of the issue.
They asked that I not use there name.

He said KM3 never told them that the HD feed was pulled from cox last year.
He was under the assumption that there ads were on both channels on Cox SD and HD. He thought now that Fox is on Cox, all Network News slots on Cox are in HD (important for there target market age and income group).

I talked him into asking for an advertising discount on there next AD run since they are missing there target market (a market viewer that often has at least HD set in there house or plans to get one soon).

I bet you can guess who the advertiser is now, but please dont mention it here as they asked real nicely to not be listed shown on AVS as it might effect there barganing power for AD price when they buy a run again.


Keep calling and writing, you CAN make a difference.

Is anyone experiencing occasional audio dropouts on KM3-HD? I'm not seeing (hearing?) this on any other channels. I've heard it for the past few days, but since no one else has mentioned it, I thought I'd bring it up.

Mike

On the Cox web site it says eveyone getting a letter MUST change out there cable box for a new model.

Why

What are they changing, does this give there system that new compression which will allow for room for more HD channels?

I noticed two other Cox markets just added UHD (NBCs Universal HD). One even has Starz HD.

Has anyone heard any details on the box swap?

I only have SD in my upstairs right now, and I only bounce around the 800 channels through s-video on my apex 32", it looks near dvd quality and is much better than analog. So I never even see channel 3, hence no reason to watch it unless they have some great program I happen to hear about.

CBS 5.1 is now on-line.

All of the CSI's (CSI, Miami and NY), King of Queens, Numb3rs, Grammy's, and NCAA basketball.

WOW! That .1 channel really makes a difference. :)

They are replacing the DCT 1000's

Sometime in March the guide on the non DVR/HDTV boxes will be switched to a guide like the guide on the DCT 2500 and HDTV/DVR. That is what I was told when I got my email reply asking about the webpage. I don't know if the DCT 2000's will be able to handle the 1/4 screen video in the guide, Pioneer the maker of the guide software says the DCT 2000 can't handle1/4 screen video in the guide, but Cox says the guide has been updated and will work on the DCT 2000's we shall see.

Andrew Wees


Originally posted by ScottChez
On the Cox web site it says eveyone getting a letter MUST change out there cable box for a new model.

Why

What are they changing, does this give there system that new compression which will allow for room for more HD channels?

I noticed two other Cox markets just added UHD (NBCs Universal HD). One even has Starz HD.

Has anyone heard any details on the box swap?

Originally posted by ScottChez
I called one KM3 advertisers today to get a feel of the issue.
They asked that I not use there name.

He said KM3 never told them that the HD feed was pulled from cox last year.
He was under the assumption that there ads were on both channels on Cox SD and HD. He thought now that Fox is on Cox, all Network News slots on Cox are in HD (important for there target market age and income group).

I talked him into asking for an advertising discount on there next AD run since they are missing there target market (a market viewer that often has at least HD set in there house or plans to get one soon).

I bet you can guess who the advertiser is now, but please dont mention it here as they asked real nicely to not be listed shown on AVS as it might effect there barganing power for AD price when they buy a run again.


Keep calling and writing, you CAN make a difference.

Let me see if I understand you.

-You don't want Emmis to start competing with Cox by offering their own cable equivalent service.
-You're worried Emmis might pull the 1080i signal from OTA.
-You want Emmis to give their signal freely to Cox, who will use the fact that they carry that signal in their marketing, profiting from free content.
-You're willing to pay Cox for cable to get the HD feed, when the HD content is free over the air.
-You're opposed to Emmis doing a USDTV type service where (if it is USDTV or follows the same model) you'd pay less per month for the same content you want from Cox.
-And you think advertisers aren't getting what they paid for because KMTV news ad slots aren't on Cox in both HD and SD. (Considering that none of the news programs in Omaha are in HD, do you really think that many HDTV owners are choosing their news based on whether it is the DTV signal or not?)

Do you work for Cox? Admittedly I don't live in the city limits of Omaha, so Cox is not an option for me, thus the entire Cox/KMTV situation has zero impact on me. I've been receiving KMTV-DT OTA for free for nearly two years. But as an outsider it seems plainly apparent that the battle you are fighting is inconsistent at best or purely for the benefit of Cox at worst.

KMTV has done a great job of meeting the FCC deadlines for getting DTV to the Omaha market. While Cox was dragging their heels at carrying the HD signal years ago, KMTV was lighting up the airwaves with the new technology.

Cox and KMTV each chose to run their businesses like the money making ventures that they are, as such they agreed to disagree. Right now KMTV is GIVING away what you want OTA: crisp, clean HD signal. Think about one of the things you are worried about: Emmis going with to a fee-based service for HDTV. Consider, getting advertisers to pull ads or negotiate lower rates because they're not giving the feed to Cox tells Emmis several things a) you are willing to pay somebody to get the HD signal, b) relying on advertising dollars is a fickle business model, and c) a corollary of a, the big bill to light up an OTA tower may not be the great investment it once was as people that are supposedly in the know don't care that the signal is free, they're willing to pay for it to be delivered... Think about it, there's a decent chance you are helping them make the decision to offer HD as a premium...

Here's an idea, buy an HD Receiver then you will get WOWT-DT, KETV-DT, KMTV-DT, and NETV-DT for free OTA. Then hammer KPTM for truly failing to live up to their obligation as an FCC licensee, there's a legitimate case there. You'll also be sending the message to KMTV that you aren't interested in paying for the HD signal they are currently giving for free.

If you don't want to buy the receiver, consider Dish where you can rent the box to recieve the free OTA signal. It still muddies the waters of free/fee-based a bit, but as you are then accessing their free FCC licensed signal you are making the case for perpetuate the existing OTA broadcast model.

Fight for them to put it on Cox and you're telling them you don't mind paying to get the HD signal. Whether or not Cox is charging directly for the HD signal, KMTV sees clearly that you are willing to pay them and that you WANT HD to be available on your pay service. They put 2 and 2 together and see a profit opportunity. Take that incentive away from them. Make the case that they are expected to continue "giving" it away for free OTA.

Otherwise, accept the fact that one way or the other you are going to be paying for KMTV...

I have said it many times in this thread, empower yourself to get KMTV. You don't really need COX.

I think the real issue is the viewer. If you want it, go get it. KMTV is easily available.

Lets make that three positive OTA broadcast posts in a row, go buy an antenna and cut your Cox off. :cool:

I find funny KMTV's previos owners had a contract with cox for the HD signal, but after Emmis took it over they canceled the contract. It seems Emmis is the on that doesn't care.

Andrew Wees

Originally posted by ajwees41
I find funny KMTV's previos owners had a contract with cox for the HD signal, but after Emmis took it over they canceled the contract. It seems Emmis is the on that doesn't care.

Andrew Wees

Really? Emmis bought KMTV in 2000, KMTV didn't have an HD signal until 2003.

Then why was KMTVHD on cox in the first place? It seems funny that they would allw cox to carry the HD signal for a few months then request money for the signal.

Andrew Wees


Originally posted by tylerdurden
Really? Emmis bought KMTV in 2000, KMTV didn't have an HD signal until 2003.

Funny thing. I am a COX customer. For my phone and Internet access. No doubt about it, they beat Qwest in price/speed on both POTs and High speed Internet every time.

But, for TV content, I use DirecTV and get my HD OTA through my DirecTV receiver. It's the best of both words. Dump COX for TV.

tylerdurden, you are right. We need to forget about this KM3/COX crap and put the fire to KPTM. I've missed the Superbowl in HD and I will miss the Daytona 500 too! Not to mention 24! If the were just transmitting SOME OTA HD signal, I would find a way to pull it in, but it appears to be nothing. Argh! :mad:

GRIZZ

Originally posted by davidgriswold
We need to forget about this KM3/COX crap and put the fire to KPTM. I've missed the Superbowl in HD and I will miss the Daytona 500 too! Not to mention 24! If the were just transmitting SOME OTA HD signal, I would find a way to pull it in, but it appears to be nothing. Argh! :mad:

GRIZZ

I recently purchased a BRAVO HD1 OTA receiver and was surprised I was not able to get an HD signal from KPTM as I live within 4 miles of their antenna! Then I read the post on HDTVOmaha.com that KPTM does not even have the capability to broadcast HD OTA yet.
I have also been surprised at how little actual HD content is being broadcast at this time OTA. It reminds me of the 60's when color was being introduced, and what a big deal that was. Back then if you had a color TV, and rooftop antenna with a rotor you were cutting edge. Similar to where we are today.

Originally posted by tylerdurden
Let me see if I understand you.

-And you think advertisers aren't getting what they paid for because KMTV news ad slots aren't on Cox in both HD and SD. (Considering that none of the news programs in Omaha are in HD, do you really think that many HDTV owners are choosing their news based on whether it is the DTV signal or not?)



I for one never watch KMTV news. Mainly because I usually leave it on the same channel as the HD show I just watched. Also there is local advertising on during Primetime too, not just during the news. KMTV is losing viewers because of this guaranteed. All this talk about buying a dish and all that is crap too, just like some of you can't get cox and are complaining about KPTM, some of us can't get satellite for various reasons. I picked up a great OTA signal with a friend's box with just a cheap indoor antenna, but can't do nor do I want to do satellite. And I only have two sets of component inputs on my set one for HDTV , one for DVD.

This would all be different if Cox wasn't required by law to carry KMTV, yet Cox can't go out and put a competitor's HD signal(KOLN lincoln) on their service. I really don't even care anymore because I quit watching CBS. That is what this is doing. Why do you think the KMTV news in last begin KETV and WOWT. Sure it is probably due to Travis Justice( I don't see what Todd and Tyler see in him), but I bet the HD issue impacts their ratings also.

Originally posted by ajwees41
Then why was KMTVHD on cox in the first place? It seems funny that they would allw cox to carry the HD signal for a few months then request money for the signal.

Andrew Wees

I believe they did it thinking Cox was going to provide it as a part of their basic package and not try to upsell customers using it as hook. But then Cox made it part of the digital tier and (probably most importantly) were upselling customers to upgrade digital using the local HD's as the carrot.

And the sales pitch at the time was that upgrading customers would get the first year free. Cox didn't make it clear what they would be charging customers for after the first year. KMTV felt they should act immediately so that if Cox intended to charge for the free local feed they would get fair compensation.

Now it appears that debate may be moot. Though Cox doesn't seem to be making it clear that you don't need to upgrade to digital service...

However, a lot of other things have taken place in the interim. For example, Viacom and Disney own many locals, plus they own a number of cable/satellite stations. In the local markets where Viacom and Disney have a local presence they have negotiated deals where the local cable MUST accept (and pay for) MTV2, ABC Family, or some other channel or package of channels, if they agree to that they can have the HD local feed free. They are not directly charging for the local HD, but the message is clear, cable channels know that the local HD's are yet another "premium" to lure customers.

Where 30 years ago it was "unthinkable" to pay for TV programming, today it equally "unthinkable" not to pay for programming. That shift in culture, combined with the technological capabilities now available offer opportunities for new business models or ventures, and this conversion from analog to digital TV may be the best opportunity for some businesses like Emmis to evolve their business.

I don't know what the market is going to look like 10 years from now, but right now their are a lot of evolutionary ideas being floated, tested, and a lot of battles being fought. The free HD signal is there for us today, and I fear if we don't make it known that we appreciate that, want that, and instead focus on getting signals delivered via paid medium we'll make it really easy for free local OTA broadcasts to vanish or exist in a minimal role...

At the same time, I suspect it may be inevitable. Every day new businesses are successfully forming around subscription models. First it was cable, then pay-per-view, next came satellite radio, followed by on-demand movies and TV programming. Most recently Napster introduced the subscription music library and I suspect that before long on-demand satellite/cellular/wireless radio subscription services might start to slip into the market eventually relegating CD's to the same rack you find cassette tapes on today. TV is exploring models where they can cash in more directly on the ever growing subscription market and reduce their reliance on advertisers.

Originally posted by mdg
I for one never watch KMTV news. Mainly because I usually leave it on the same channel as the HD show I just watched.

Ratings don't support that this is typical behavior. Consider the 9 o'clock leadings each day of the week and their positions in the ratings:

Monday: #1 NBC, Medium, #2 CBS, CSI:Miami They are separated by a very narrow margin week in, week out

Tuesday: #1 NBC, Law & Order: SVU, #2 CBS, Judging Amy a bit bigger separation but still the solid number 2 lead-in

Wednesday: #1 CBS, CSI:NY, #2 NBC, Law & Order

Thursday: #1 NBC, ER, #2 CBS, Without a Trace This night marks the biggest gap between #1 and #2

Friday: #1 CBS, Numbers, #2 ABC, 20/20 I have a hard time using this right now as Numbers is a new program but the fact is that NBC's #3 with Medical Investigation is so low that if I remember correctly CBS was still #2 prior to introducing Numbers and the #1 for this night hasn't been in the top two the rest of the week.

Saturday: This night is a mess, ABC runs movies, specials or random programming, NBC runs re-runs of Law & Order, while CBS runs 48 Hours. But most weeks CBS is #1 or #2...

Sunday: #1 ABC, Desperate Housewives, #2 CBS, Without a Trace Though WaT is very closely followed and occassionally edged out by Law & Order: Criminal Intent

So looking at the lead-in, KETV should be bottom with WOWT and KMTV close #1 and #2, but KMTV isn't competing.

Conclusion: People change the channel to watch the news they like.

Cox has the market until an affordable HD PVR system comes to light for me. If I could go look at a MYHD pc with qam and play with it, it may be the affordable solution, but I am afraid of it not being wife friendly.

you only prove my point tyler. Those ratings are national ratings, but for me I don't watch those shows on CBS, so maybe in Omaha those CBS shows have lower ratings due to the lack of HD. That may translate into less people watching their 10 oclock news. I don't think KMTV/Emmis realize this. For me that is true and for quite a few others I would guess. I have a limited amount of time each week to watch TV, there are too many shows to watch each week. I like watching programs in HD. I used to watch CSI all the time when it was in HD, now I don't. I never watched 24 on Fox before it was HD, but do now. KMTV's loss.

To get Fox in HD just call up the Direct TV CSR and tell them you moved to Minneapolis. You will get there locals and the NY HD locals like Fox and CBS.

Leave your Billing address the same.

Search on the works "move" in the DBS forum for details on what to say and do. Sounds real common and the CSRs dont care becuase Direct TV gets paid the same no matter what.

Originally posted by ScottChez
To get Fox in HD just call up the Direct TV CSR and tell them you moved to Minneapolis. You will get there locals and the NY HD locals like Fox and CBS.

Leave your Billing address the same.

Search on the works "move" in the DBS forum for details on what to say and do. Sounds real common and the CSRs dont care becuase Direct TV gets paid the same no matter what.

So after calling for us to put a stop to Emmis' rumoured plans to charge for their HD feed, you're suggesting that we pay DirecTV for a network HD feed?

I am for all HD, Cable or SAT.

Many cant get KM3 in Cox in HD. I complain about this (I think we can do something about it).

Many cant get KPTM in HD on Dishnetwork on Direct TV. I spent months complaining about this and got no where (Pappas just does not have it in there budget till this spring- there is no money for it right now).


I just want HD. Is that not what this forum is about.
Im just try to get it everywhere. Once there are more options for HD, more channels will start offering HD like the cable networks.

I dont mind paying fair maket value for it (some may not, thats cool too).
With Dishnetwork and Direct TV, that seems to be around $3 for the networks. Seems fair. ( $3 divided by the 8 locals = 37 cents a channel)

For a while there Cox was offering KM3 25 to 50 cents per HD customer. KM3 turned it down.

I do not work for any TV related company of any kind. Im just a guy that loves HD and who cant spell.

Help me out here. Dont work against me.


Say it together, I want my HD now!

Scotty,

"I just want HD. Is that not what this forum is about." you're right, it is. I originally started this thread over two years ago with HD reception in Omaha as the medium of discussion. As the towers went online, we had a great dialogue amongst ourselves discussing what works, what doesn't work and how to fix it.

Since that time this thread's taken on a different tone, its turned into a giant Cox wine and cheese party! Though sifting thru all these posts looking for a snigglet of OTA recepetion updates is a bit tiresome I have to admit, some of the arguments posted for and against are amusing.


Regards, John

i'm joining this thread a little late and haven't yet read through all the previous comments, so excuse me if i ask redundant/already addressed/stupid questions.

isn't kptm broadcasting hd over the air? we have it on cox and i can't imagine a station providing it to a cable carrier before actually offering a terrestrial signal. or are they offering it terrestrially (is that a word?) but just not via satellite? that seems rather unfair. you sat viewiers have my sympathies if that's the case. "24" is glooooooorious in hd and i even watch "american idol" since it looks so great. "the o.c." is also superb, though i personally don't think it is shot ideally for hd. for some reason, the picture seems to pale in comparison to both "24" and "american idol."

but if you poor non-hd kptm viewers really want to watch "24" or "the o.c." or "american idol" with a better picture, you can find online -- if you know where to look -- hdtv rips of just about any program that, when processed through tmpgenc or a similar program -- are noticeably better than analog (though not nearly as nice as hd).

THE LAW SAID KPTM had to be full power Dec 31st.

Guess what? they filed a hardship waiver and the FCC granted it. They have till summer now.

I find it strange the Nebraska public TV cand do all HDTV with j
ust donations and KPTM cant do it with the backing of the rich Pappas Telecomunications company.

I think they "cooked" the books and only reported the local money problems of KPTM and KXVO. They must be a sub divisision or something LLC company.

Just dont know how they got that waiver approved.

Iowa Public TV has a waiver also. That I can see, as they did not get very many donations. They are also due in full power for Council Bluffs before this summer OTA.

Originally posted by ScottChez
THE LAW SAID KPTM had to be full power Dec 31st.

Guess what? they filed a hardship waiver and the FCC granted it. They have till summer now.


I posted a quote from their press release a while back about Pappas being one of the largest broadcast groups in the US. I just dont understand how they could qualify for a waiver but I dont know the restrictions (sigh). I guess we will have to wait and see if they make the July 1st deadline.

Does anyone know if they are planning to use the existing tower for the HD OTA antenna?

Scott,

I have to admit, KPTMs financial situation makes one wonder, however I doubt KPTM will drag their feet any longer than they have to. I've met some of their engineers, and they're just as anxious as anyone to get the transition completed. I firmly believe the bean counters are pulling back on the reigns at this time however those bean counters probably aren't 100% accountable to Omaha, the blame probably resides further up the Pompous food chain.

IPTV/KBIN not getting any donations, bah humbug, I sent them a check last year, however it was a rather small check.


ABC KETV LOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did anyone catch tonights episode of Lost over the air? During the first half hour I experienced continuous audio dropouts and occasional video pixelation on 7-01. The second half of the program was OK. The dropouts occurred on multiple 8VSB tuners, however the video feed on 7-02 (weather radar) and 2.0 audio on 7-02 were fine, only 7-01 appeared to have problems. It did appear that once KETV reset whatever device controls the aspect ratio the problem dissipated.

Alias was OK.

John

Hey, I was just complaining about that 'audio drop out' issue in the HR10-250 forum. I thought it was my unit. Good to know it wasn't me.

GRIZZ

The video and audio problem with Lost was my HD receiver at the studio. I have been experiencing an intermittent problem with it doing this.

To correct the problem I have to switch back to 4x3, reboot the receiver and wait for it to come back on-line, and then go back to HD. This due to I only have one HD receiver.

The good news is, ABC is converting its analog (NTSC) satellite delivery to the affiliates to digital, as part of this new equipment rollout, I will be receiving two new HD receivers (different brand), so this problem should go away. I will also be receiving a second Dolby 5.1 decoder, this will enable me to switch between receivers and decoders and still stay in HD should a device fail.

The above equipment is on order.

Originally posted by johnwcookjr
ABC KETV LOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did anyone catch tonights episode of Lost over the air? During the first half hour I experienced continuous audio dropouts and occasional video pixelation on 7-01. The second half of the program was OK. The dropouts occurred on multiple 8VSB tuners, however the video feed on 7-02 (weather radar) and 2.0 audio on 7-02 were fine, only 7-01 appeared to have problems. It did appear that once KETV reset whatever device controls the aspect ratio the problem dissipated.

Alias was OK.

John
john, i noticed it too, and because i've experienced problems with "lost" the ENTIRE season, i got angry enough to shoot off an e-mail to ketv. luckily, they apparently have at least one cool person working there. just minutes after i e-mailed the station, he corrected the problem and sent me the following e-mail explaining everything (i'm hoping he won't mind that i share):

I apologize for this problem. I am having a problem (intermittently) with the HD receiver I use for ABC programming. It will intermittently have this problem with the audio, and or video. I have to go back to 4x3 to reset this receiver, and wait for it to boot back up, I can then go back to HD. I think part of the problem is, ABC during the day does not have their HD signal up on satellite, and this receiver does not like the signal going away.

ABC is going to move their analog signal delivery to digital for the analog channel 7 side of the house, when they change this to digital, I will be getting two new HD receivers, so this problem should go away. In the mean time, I try to reset this receiver once a week in a effort to not get this problem on the air.

Thank-you for the feedback, and watching KETV!!!

so it looks as if my lowly little complaint prompted them to fix it immediately. cool! that's more than can be said for kptm, who took a few days to respond to me after i e-mailed them following last week's episode of "24." as some of you probably noticed, when the show came back from the last commercial break, it was in analog, then when the next episode teaser played, it was back in hd. but yeah, i tend to go a little ballistic when my "lost" and "24" viewing is diminished by annoyances like that. luckily, i've never had hbo hd screw up on me during "sopranos" or "deadwood."

looks like he beat me to the punch himself. thanks, warren!

Warren,

Thanks for the feedback.

Now I'm wondering what make/model your current receiver is and what model you're replacing it with? Sounds like an SBE/IEEE luncheon discussion topic.

John

I am glad the problem was fixed with Lost last night. I was starting to think it was my equipment as well, Moto 6412 from Cox. Of course, then I switch to the West Wing and there is no sound on the HD channel. Oh well, glad analog still worked.

I do love the dual tuners, but I think I am getting greedy, now I want a third tuner!!

Originally posted by bohlke
Does anyone know if they [KPTM] are planning to use the existing tower for the HD OTA antenna?

I copied this off the HDTVomaha.com site, hope that is OK?

"KPTM-DT: Simulcasting standard-definition 24/7 on channel 43, mapped as 42-1. The transmitter is located halfway between Omaha and Lincoln. ERP is 16kw, with the antennas 300 feet above ground. This signal is SD because the microwave link between the studio and transmitter site cannot pass HD. A new microwave system has been ordered, with expected installation sometime in April or May. The full-power transmitter has been ordered, with installation expected in June. We intend to have the new transmitter operational before July 1st. The full-power antenna will be 1500 feet above ground."

I dont know if this means a new tower, but it will be much higher.

Sorry Ive been away.

I have been busy writing all the KM3 advertisers.
Some have even called me.

Good News.


Woodhouse (one of Omaha Big advertisers) plans to pull there Ads from KM3.
It turns our there sales contract for the last set of Advertisements clearly said the slots would run on SD and HD over the air and on cable.
The KM3 sales rep forgot to mention that HD was pulled from Cox.

I bet they ask for credit.

Keep up writing those letters telling them about the boycott, it can make a difference.

Originally posted by G-man57
I copied this off the HDTVomaha.com site, hope that is OK?

Sure is!

I received an update from Richard Graham... They (KPTM/KXVO) will be running 360kW at full power when complete.

Anyone experiencing this???

This seems to happen on KM3 ALOT, but not noticing it on any other channels. This is through a Hughes HD10-250 TiVo using DirecTv. I get audio dropouts roughly 3 minutes apart, and lasting about 1 second. It's practically every 3 minutes, like clockwork. BUT, when I play it back, the audio dropout isn't there. If I do the skip-back button on the remote, it plays fine, and when the recording is finished, there isn't any dropout. I'm not sure if it's my TiVo, KM3, or even my amp! Thought I'd ask here first. Not even sure if there are any other HD TiVo users here in this forum. Anyway, it used to happen much less often, but now, it does it alot. Again, though, not on any other channel...whether it is DirecTv, or one of the other OTA channels.

Thanks.

Mike

Nebraska Public tv now has it own Hd capabilities, tonight it aired the OSU vs NU wrestling dual, live from Lincoln in Hd. Great Job!!!!

From a recent e-mail from NETV;

"The NETV garage is home to a brand new remote broadcast truck. Measuring over 50 feet long it has the latest in High Definition television technology and we're taking it on the road to Omaha this month. NETV Sports has the UNO Mavericks taking on the Wolverines of Michigan in hockey action on Saturday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. (6 MT). If you're lucky enough to have an HDTV set, you can watch the game on NETV-HD, which is available over the air (click here for a list of our HDTV broadcast channels) and in Omaha on Cox Cable channel 812 and in the Lincoln area on Time Warner channel 112. You can also catch all the action on NETV."

Keep in mind that the commercial business models are totally different than the Public Television models.
All of Nebraska's money came from donations to ETV or indirectly from Federal Funding. They only need to focus on Nebraska. They do however generate revenue from their Satellite uplinks which have, at times, served a national capacity for programming feeds.

A large conglomerate like Pappas may be making tons of money, but it all pans out. Some markets make more, some make less. You're still dividing the collective pie by hundreds of stations and staffs. ETV has very little staff at their transmitter points. You can't yet program the entire Pappas chain from one or two control rooms. (ETV feeds are the same, except Omaha).

It all boils down to money, and not all markets will get up to speed at the exact same time.

KETV-DT is off the air currently (8:30am), tower crew is working near the antenna.

Will be back on later today. Just did not want anyone adjusting your antenna.

Warren

Any comments on WOWT?
I only watch Law & Order (original one) on there. Saturday I got glitches several times. (I use the ATI HDTV Wonder and this time the glitch was different then any it introduces - it could not recover from this one). Wednesday night L&O was 4x3. Are they having HD problems or possibly messing with equipment to install 5.1? (I'm hoping for the last one - CBS is even better now with 5.1!)

anyone preorder the myhd 130? should solve alot of the kmtv 3 problems. I remember picking up channel 3 with just a cox cable hanging out the back for an antenna. I think I will order it at the last possible time just to play with it. For $249 and $50 spare pc from work, I am in with a dvr with OTA and QAM for under $300. I just need to up the Hard Drive which I need to do on the 6412 anyway. With HD you can't save stuff long it seems.

FWIW, my myhd 130 is in transit, so I can't report on it's performance yet. I have had a myhd 120 for about 9 months and have been very happy with it. I am about 75 miles SE of Omaha and the myhd 120 has worked great. The myhd software reports signal strength of 97-100% for channel 3. Channels 6 & 7 are only about 85%, but that still gives me a perfect picture on my 51" rptv. The newly released software (1.65) solved the couple of very minor software related annoyances that I had as well as adding timeshift capability. I would highly recommend the myhd card.

Just wondering if anyone is getting the hockey game on NETV-HD OTA?


Craig

I watched the first few minutes on 12.05. It looked good, but I think it could be improved. It seems to be a bit underexposed, which may be lending it to appearing a little soft.

Can we get any word on the use of the HD equipment for the upcoming State Wrestling and Basketball tourneys?

It's great to see stateside produced HD! :)

tawill, i was reading a bit up on this myhd, it looks like it can only record digital tv, but it can record through the s-video input, does not seem to make sense. I need to find a way to output to component or rgb and s-video and then I think this would do the trick.

Bruehaha, the MyHD cards will record analog thru the s-video input, but it does a very poor job of it. It is really only for OTA digital and the new MyHD 130 also works with unencrypted QAM cable. If you want to record analog, there are many much better solutions.

Personally, I use the MyHD 120 for OTA digital and an ATI AIW 9800 for what little analog recording I do. I have had a c-band dish for 20 years that still works great and with various upgrades over the years, I am able to receive quite a bit of HD content from it. Unfortunately, I have never found any way to record this.

There is lots of great info about the MyHD cards in the Home Theater Computers section of this forum. Cliff Watson is a great source of info on exactly what they can and cannot do.

Originally posted by G-man57
I copied this off the HDTVomaha.com site, hope that is OK?

"KPTM-DT: Simulcasting standard-definition 24/7 on channel 43, mapped as 42-1. The transmitter is located halfway between Omaha and Lincoln. ERP is 16kw, with the antennas 300 feet above ground. This signal is SD because the microwave link between the studio and transmitter site cannot pass HD. A new microwave system has been ordered, with expected installation sometime in April or May. The full-power transmitter has been ordered, with installation expected in June. We intend to have the new transmitter operational before July 1st. The full-power antenna will be 1500 feet above ground."

I dont know if this means a new tower, but it will be much higher.

Thats great news, I was hoping they would not need to put up a new tower as that would make their timetable compressed. Now Im just hoping that I will be able to pull it in without adjusting my squareshooter (pointed at KETV/KM3/WOWT).

I had many audio dropouts during the Grammy's last night, about every five minutes. The video was great though!

Found out from NETV that the Creighton/Evansville game they are broadcasting on 2/22 will be in HD. The SD broadcast will be on College Sports TV nationwide.

My Upconverter card just died. The manufacture admitted that they have
issues with the card after 2 years on-line. I will order a new one tomorrow ($8,000). I should have a delivery schedule tomorrow.

I put our HD bug up so you don't start playing with your antenna before you determine the problem is mine.

Jay

mroot:

Check the post before yours. It was just merged in.

anyone else notice a few glitches in tonight's (feb. 14) broadcast of "24"? the handful i noticed occurred mostly when edgar styles was talking to his mom the second time, toward the end of the episode. other than that, no complaints about tonight's episode -- no midstream format changes or anything!

also, and my apologies for posting off-topic, but did anyone catch tonight's "24 minutes later" question and/or answer? i totally spaced it off.

This afternoon, Tuesday Feb. 15, KMTV-DT will be shutting down the digital transmitter. We are in the process of modifying our plumbing system to accomodate a second heat exchanger, flush the entire system and adding a third IOT cabinet.

This will allow us to broadcast at our maximum licensed power of one megawatt ERP. We expect to be down for one day, maybe two, depending on how many gremlins may appear. Please bear with us.

Mike Gann, Assistant Chief Engineer for KMTV-DT, will keep you apprised of our progress as it happens. Please make a note of your signal levels, Mike will be asking for feedback when we begin broadcasting at the maximum level.

Thanks for your patience,

Scot, has anyone else mentioned to you about audio dropouts on your digital signal? I sent an email to Mike Gann a couple days ago about it, but haven't received a reply. I get everything else just fine, be it over-the-air or DirecTV, but I constantly get audio dropouts on the DT signal, generally about every 3 minutes lasting a second.

Thanks!

Mike

Originally posted by mroot
I constantly get audio dropouts on the DT signal, generally about every 3 minutes lasting a second.
Same here.

MROOT,

How long has this been happening? Can you tell me if it happens during CBS, local, both? Other than the post just now from HiDefHusker, I had not heard a word of problems with DirecTV equipment. I will begin asking around.

Thanks,

FWIW, I noticed quite a few audio drops during the Grammy Awards. On a few occations I would hit the skip back 10 sec button and the skip wouldn't be there. Don't know why. This was only during the 5.1 portions of the actual Grammy feed.

It doesn't do that on other broadcasts.

DVR 921 with Dish Network.

p.s. I just watched the intro music set and had three audio drops from recording. They were not dropped when I went back over them. It could be my equipment, but I can't recall this happening with any previous recordings. Could be something in the audio stream?

gpflepsen:

Exactly...same thing here! I would skip back, and the skip wouldn't be there either. It's always on Young and the Restless, CSI, your news at 10. Basically on just about everything. I never see it on anything else, meaning any other source. Not on WOWT, or KETV, or any of the DirecTV channels, high-definition or standard. You also provide the signal to DirecTV for their broadcast of the locals, but that is fine, but I always watch your digital signal OTA. I never have the problem on Pay-per-View. I'm not sure if it's a 5.1 problem with your signal either. But it's been happening for at least a month, I'd guess, maybe longer. I have a Hughes HD10-250 Hi-Def TiVo, FYI.

And, like I said, it generally happens once every 3 minutes for one second.

Mike

We began broadcasting the 5.1 audio on Feb. 8. Does anyone remember this happening before that time? I will consult with Mike Gann. One thing we can try is disabling the Dolby equipment for an evening, after our transmitter upgrade. We will drop you a line here on the forum to coordinate.

I greatly appreciate the feedback.

I have Oprah on right now, and have yet to experience the dropout. My receiver shows it as Pro Logic, so I assume 5.1 is not being activated at this time. I'll post my experiences. Not sure how many OTA digital observers there are on this forum, but I hope others will post their experences also.

Mike

I read yesterday that Cbs has announced there Hd coverage for Ncaa tourney, they are showing 16 first rounds games 8 each on Thursday and Friday and 4 games each on Saturday and Sunday and all games in Hd for the Sweet sixteen and of course the final four. I have a question to KMTV, is on the first round games on Thursday and Friday, and Second round games on Sat, Sun, Example ,1 Kmtv analog is showing Ku vs Alcorn St No hd coverage of this game, at the same time OSU vs Southern Ill, is in Hd, will you be able to show this game on KMTV-Dt ? Thanks.

mroot, I have not received any of your e-mails or any PMs, so that is why I haven't replied, sorry about that.

I watched all three hours of the Grammys and didn't hear any audio dropouts or any other problems on my LG STB. Other people I know who watched live on their Samsung STB's and even an integrated tv/receiver said all was well.

Some DVRs may have a hard time processing all of the information while you watch an HD program at the sime time you are recording it. That is why when you play it back later it is ok.

As mentioned earlier in this forum, we are running a second audio channel. When I installed the Dolby 5.1 gear, I had the option to either pass-thru the AC3 information with the HD encoder or mute the channel. Currently the AC3 audio is being passed-thru on the second channel. This may be too much info for your DVRs to record and play at the same time.

When I get back to the studio, hopefully this week, I will mute the second audio channel and see if that helps the audio issue with your DVRs.

Regarding basketball, I will have to check with programming etc. for your answer. I have been up to my eyeballs with transmitter stuff this week.

I am curious to some of the engineers on the list. What happens now with analog signals when you move something around? I have been around for 28+ years that I can remeber and I do not remember not having a signal. Can we expect this long term, or are at what point will the priority be to make these changes incrementally or phased, or implemented in non production hours?

Mr. Gann, thank you for the reply. The email I sent was addressed to feedback@km3news.com, as I could not find a better address to use. Not a big deal. We seem to have a great forum here to exchange information. The senario about the DVRs not being able to record and play at the same time would be something to look into, however it doesn't explain why we don't have the problems on other channels, unless it IS the second channel of audio causing the problem. I don't know if any of the other stations here in Omaha are doing the same thing. I live close to your station on Mockingbird, and would certainly be receptive to having you see for yourself what it does, if you so desire. I just would like it to work well for all of us.

Thanks again!

Mike

FWIW, I don't have problems with audio dropouts on KOLN-DT (Lincoln).

Interesting tidbit...according to the FCC database

Channel 4 in Sioux City has opted to use 41 for final DT operation.
Channel 41 in Kansas City has opted to use 42 for final DT operation.
Channel 42 in Omaha has opted for channel 43 once analog goes away.

With the right conditions, it might be possible to get all these channels after the FCC tells everybody to kill Analog. If KPTM were at Crown Point I would be less optimistic of this possibility in Omaha.
I'm in Lincoln with Sioux City at roughly 04 degrees, Omaha at 38 and KC at 138. Should work with my directional at least one night in July :) (and 50 years from now when they get around to signing off analog)

Originally posted by Ronald L M
will you be able to show this game on KMTV-Dt ?
Ronald,
Last year we tried to do this very thing. CBS would not clear us to run a different game than schedule on the DTV system. The year before that was when we first entered the Irag war and CBS had extensive coverage during the playoffs. Again, they would not clear us to run the basketball games on the DTV system. Rest assured I will be pushing them to allow us to run seperate games, if that scheduled is not in HDTV.

Originally posted by Bruehaha
Can we expect this long term, or are at what point will the priority be to make these changes incrementally or phased, or implemented in non production hours?
Bruehaha,
Because we have both, an alternate and a backup NTSC transmitter and antenna, we are afforded the luxury of doing repairs while on these systems. As well, we do extensive maintenance of the primary system during off peak hours. We also have upwards of 400,000 possible viewers in the coverage area.

Concerning the DTV system, there is only one exciter, one antenna, and three tubes. The work that we are doing on the system at this time will help ensure that we can run on one, two, or three tubes, have a backup up cooling system, so we can do major repairs and remain on the air. There will come a time when we will have a backup transmitter system. Rest assured we are working to this end.

The install and maintenance that we are currently doing could be compared to those systems first installed in the 1950's, which were off the air as much as they were on the air. And keep in mind, most Americans still have no clue what DTV is.

Originally posted by boardmanDJ
With the right conditions, it might be possible to get all these channels after the FCC tells everybody to kill Analog
Boardman,
You are correct, we should be able to pull in signals from all over with the correct antenna rotor mix. I can't say any thing about Kansas City, however, all four networks in Sioux City will be sitting on top of 2000' towers and have output power similar to KMTV-DT.

I have had reports of reception of our signal from Sergean Bluff, IA, just on the edge of Sioux City and expect they will be able to see us from North of Sioux City when we finish our build out. And we are on a 1200' tower.

Thanks for your questions.

Scot, any chance of me being able to put my antenna (for reception) on your tower? It doesn't have to be right at the top, I'd be happy with somewhere around 900-1000 ft. :)

gpflepsen,

First I'll tell you about the costs.......it'll probably run you in the neighorhood of $5,000+ to have a tower feasibility study done, followed by $5,000+ to have the tower crew mount it (I'll have them change out my tower lights at the same time), then a couple grand to run it down the tower via fiber. But you should be able to pick up a lot of channels!

Then of course, we would have to set up a little lean-to so you can come out and connect your television to it! What does your wife think of this?

By lean-to, you mean four walls? I think she'd be up for moving!

To be serious though, it'd be interesting to see what kind of reception we could get with an antenna mounted 1500' up.

What about the HD microvave system to get the signals back home?
I would assume you would place the OTA box at the base of the tower, in the shack, with a high speed connection to change channels and adjust the rotor.
And don't forget the filters for 3, 6, 7, 20, 22 and 45. I have a feeling there might be a possibility of overload.


Get 10,000 of your close friends to chip in and it's pretty darned cheap!

F

Mike,

Was KMTV back online at full power yesterday evening? I tried one of my receivers last night (conneted to a dedicated antenna pointed at Crowne Point, no rotor) and saw a big fat goose egg for singal strength. KETV was coming in just fine on this same receiver/antenna combo earlier in the week.

I didn't try the systems in the basement connected to my rotor but KMTV ususally comes in upstairs on this other antenna even though you're running at reduced power.

Are you guys up and running? I'd expect an increase in reception on this secondary system once you go full power, maybe a trip to the attic for an antenna alignment is in order.

Please let me know when you've completed repairs and are back on line.

Regards, John

Thursday evening:

RF plumbing (second magic tee switch/combiner, feedlines and filters) in place. Second sump tank and pumps installed. Second heat exchanger installed and wired. Third IOT cabinet wired to 480 Volts. 4,000 pound beam supply transformer in place and wired. Water plumbing is being completed tonight.

Friday, flushing the new and old plumbing with distilled water and Cascade dishwasher detergent, while being heated with two 155,000 BTU torpedo heaters. Then, two complete rinses with distilled water. Next comes the final fill of a 50/50 mix of distilled water and Dow Therm antifreeze. We will be using over 800 gallons of distilled water for this project.

Also on Friday, IOT tube and cavity to be delivered and hopefully installed in the new amplifier cabinet. Tuning and proofing will follow.

This is a huge project and will take some time. Will let you know when we are back up.

Kudos to the engineers on this forum. Where is KPTM at?

Mike,

It sounds like you're having more fun than any one engineer should be allowed to have, need some help? ;)

Seriously, thanks for the hard work, I'll be watching for your return and will provide some constructive criticism once complete. :)

Cascade Dishwashing detergent, hmmm, do you use arm and hammer around there too?

Thanks for the update, John

Mike, FWIW, I have also had audio drop outs with the OTA HD signal. I am using a DirecTV HR10-250.

GRIZZ

"you're soaking in it!" Oh wait, that was palmolive.

Who would have thought an enginner would have needed a Home Ec degree? It began in the 70's with 'baking' of Reel to Reel tapes.
I wonder if Jet Dry has any effect on ghosts??

GRIZZ, have you had the dropouts on any other channel other than KMTV-DT? I have not.

Thanks!

Mike

I also have the 10-250.

Originally posted by mroot
I also have the 10-250.
Same here. I see a trend here. :(

Except for the fact that it only happens on KMTV-DT OTA.

M

I have also had audio drop outs, as I posted earlier, only on KMTV-DT OTA.
My receiver is a Bravo D1 OTA.

Is Kmtv-dt back up yet?

Originally posted by mroot
Except for the fact that it only happens on KMTV-DT OTA.
Mine only happens on KMTV-DT OTA.

Ahhhh, G-man57. Thanks for your reply. Glad to hear that I'm not losing my mind imagining this. I got an email from Scot at KMTV, and they hope to pursue the possible audio problem within the next couple weeks.

Mike

Lincoln TimeWarner Subscribers...

I'm set to get my HD-DVR this coming Wednesday afternoon. I'll give it a good work out (Two nights off work) and report back. The CSR who called me about it couldn't tell me the model. I told her I had heard about bugs, and she said those had all been fixed.
They are even sending an installer out, so it will be interesting to see how they perceive their product (explanation, correct hookup, etc).