Kptm dropped the ball today, Nascar race today was in hd, but kptm did not!!!

Originally posted by Bruehaha
Kudos to the engineers on this forum. Where is KPTM at?


Watching

I have to say I'm proud to have my NPTV doing their own productions in HDTV! State wrestling this week, Mavs hockey last week, state BBall the next two weeks, maybe some Salt Dog games or Husker softball/baseball.

Good Job!

I would be curious to know how many other states have their HD production facilities?

Gpflepsen, I am also proud of NPTV, I will be making a donation next time they have a pledge drive, there Hd coverage is awesome, hopefully they will televise some Huskerbaseball in Hd this spring.

Don't forget the Creighton vs. Evansville basketball game is in HD on Tuesday night on NETV.

Originally posted by docwho
Watching

OK, I'll bite. Watching what???

Any update on KMTV?

Yeah, what timdg said. Any updates? My wife is getting upset at me, and it's not my fault! I told her, at least no one on COX is getting it either! :D

GRIZZ

I'm wondering if Kmtv ran into problems with there upgrades? I thought they would be back up Saturday.

We ran into problems indeed. The carriage for the third IOT arrived damaged Friday. The replacement, due to arrive Monday, was held up by bad weather. When we brought up the transmitter to check the tuning with the second magic tee, one of the original IOTs decided to fail. Its replacement will arrive Wednesday.

All of the RF and water plumbing has been completed. We now have to install two IOTs and tune and proof the transmitter. When completed and we get back on the air, we are allowed by the FCC to test at the 1,000 kW power level for about a week. After that time we will go back to 700 kW until the STA (Special Temporary Authorization) expires June 1. We will then operate at our full licensed power level of 1,000 kW.

I think HDTV in Omaha is going backwards

No KM3 in HD over the Air or on Cable.
No Fox over the Air in HD
No Iowa PBA over the Air in HD

KM3 goes off the Air in HD for more than a Day and its not even in the newspaper.

This all sounds like the late 60s when TV would go off the air for a day and not too many complained about it, no one called.


We need a new bill in congress. Something that gives HDTV more of a "bite" or must carry or something.

The orginal plan was that everyone would be on HD by now.

Thanks for the update Mike! So hopefully by this weekend everything will be working?

Originally posted by ScottChez


The original plan was that everyone would be on HD by now.

The original plan was to be broadcasting DTV signals.

From where/why do you always come back to the plan being to broadcast HD signals? That simply is not true.

The motivation for DTV is the release of some frequencies, so they can be reassigned and sold for profit by the government.

The only place HD comes in is being a perceived benefit by the public.

Q. Why the digital transition?
A. So we can watch HDTV.

Real answer. So a portion of the broadcast spectrum can be reassigned to more profitable uses by the government.

I keep seeing rumors about KMTV going to 480p after there upgrade to full power so they can start there own cable like system USDTV.

Is this going to happen?


I found this web site. It has me worried.

http://www.kmtel.com/KMTV.htm


Is this the pre-release web page for that new USDTV service for KMTV that everyone is talking about?


Any update?

Scott, if you would read the website you reference you'd see that KMTel's KMTV service is not affiliated with KMTV-DT Omaha.

KMTel has teamed with Direct TV to bundle phone, DSL and now television programming service. This service is called KMTV. It looks to be similar to SBC's arrangement with Dish Network.

This is not an harbinger of things to come for KMTV-Omaha.

Scott,

While I appreciate your drive to get KMTV-HD on cable, No offense, but I think you have been smoking the wacky weed lately with some of your comments on this situation and trying to find anything possible to hype this hypothetical situation. If you are really concerned about the USDTV stuff, there is a thread going on the HDTV Programming forum that is talking about Emmis and the USDTV stuff.

Emmis and USDTV (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=512154)

However, I am with you on the issue that all the other channels in town are on Cox in HD, but KMTV still has a dispute. It is hard to believe it is almost a year and a half since KMTV pulled the plug and that Cox and KMTV still are telling their customers that the other side won't talk to work out a deal. I am also upset that in the e-mail's I have sent to different high up people at KMTV(Emmis) and Cox about my displeasure and have not received any response at all. It is unfortunate that people have no common courtesy anymore to at least respond. Any response is better than no response whether it is in my favor or not. At least to know where everyone stands in this would be appreciated.

It is also unfortunate that I will not be able to see March Madness in HD. I am willing to pay for convenience if it means I don't have to crawl on my roof and buy extra equipment just so I can get an HD signal. People are probably tired of me, but it doesn't appear anything is happening other than us arguing about the situation. Both sides that probably read this board laugh their heads off that we apparently don't know the whole story.

We have not "found" the part that has apparently been lost in an eastern snow storm, but another is on the way. If it and a new IOT amplifier tube show up Wednesday morning as scheduled, we should be able to be back on the air by Wednesday night. No one should miss March Madness

At a megawatt ERP, even wildjays should be able to pick up our signal with a Silver Sensor set top antenna, granted he owns an HDTV not an HD monitor.

Originally posted by wildjays

It is also unfortunate that I will not be able to see March Madness in HD. I am willing to pay for convenience if it means I don't have to crawl on my roof and buy extra equipment just so I can get an HD signal.

KETV-DT is off the air until roughly 5pm today.

This will happen most everyday this week as we are finishing up the tower project.

Performing the elevator inspection & final tower inspection.

WOWT-DT
Jay,

Did you recently replace or re-align your digital audio chain? The old -31dB reference offset appears to have been fixed. I noticed last week that all of my tuners are now decoding your digital audio stream correctly.

Whatever you did, thanks.

John

"Hype" is all we got left to got since its been a year and there is no progress on this issue.

The hope is to gain publicity and knowledge in the newspaper and of the advertisers of both Cox and KM3.

Im sorry I did not read the whole web site, all I did was ask a question about it.


http://www.kmtel.com/KMTV.htm

I have goole programed to send me alerts on this topic, and this web site was a hit.

========AN OTHER LOCAL STATION LEAVES COX CABLE=========


Looks like the battle between KM3 (Emmis) and Cox cable has moved to an other market.

This time the local station is asking for 30 cents per sub (similar to what Satelite pays the locals).

30 cents is a lot. KM3 Emmis even tried 15 cents at one point.


Why can't the TV stations and Cable just get along and agree to terms and get along? This is only hurting the viewers.



Here are the details:

http://www.newschannel6.tv/cable_cox.asp

Originally posted by ScottChez


That's not the same deal Cox and Kmtv are arguing about HDtv and KTAl and cox are arguing about the local channel on basic cable.

Andrew Wees




========AN OTHER LOCAL STATION LEAVES COX CABLE=========


Looks like the battle between KM3 (Emmis) and Cox cable has moved to an other market.

This time the local station is asking for 30 cents per sub (similar to what Satelite pays the locals).

30 cents is a lot. KM3 Emmis even tried 15 cents at one point.


Why can't the TV stations and Cable just get along and agree to terms and get along? This is only hurting the viewers.



Here are the details:

http://www.newschannel6.tv/cable_cox.asp

SD or HD, without knowing the details this may be an all or none package deal. Taking into consideration the current market value for HD programming if this is a blanket package Cox should pay the 30 cents, that's a bargain price. DishNetwork currently charges $10 a month for their HD package. That package includes Discovey, TNT and HDNET, ESPN is also included but watching upconverts isn't much of a bonus.



John

I find it interesting to see the market pressures coming to bear on the different video distribution channels.

Satellite seems to have found a beneficial model for all parties involved.

(some)Cable systems and broadcasters are starting to find their business models don't agree with market pressures. It's supply and demand flexing its muscle.

Here is a link....and a copied 3rd paragraph......WFTX is also an Emmis Station..

www . fox4florida . com / hdtv . shtml


If you watch WFTX-TV on cable, please be aware that none of the new FCC regulations apply to cable companies, and therefore stations must negotiate retransmission consent agreements with cable operators for our digital signals just as we did for our analog signals. At the present time, WFTX-TV has not reached an agreement with the local cable operators for carriage of our digital signal. While some broadcasters chose to meet the FCC's minimum standards in complying with the digital build out, WFTX-TV built a state of the art, full power facility at a cost of several million dollars. Cable operators currently want us to give them this signal for free, while they then turn around and charge their customers a monthly fee to receive their digital tier. This is not good business, and our company has taken a hard line on the issue. Why are operators willing to pay other programming providers such as HGTV, ESPN, A&E and others and are not willing to pay WFTX-TV for a digital programming service that provides NFL, NASCAR, the Super bowl and other highly watched programming? It makes no sense.

Creighton looked great in HD last night! Thanks NE-DT

Take a look at the discusion HERE (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=512154)

Crash and burn, USDTV!!! :)

====New Topic- FULL POWER HDTV STATIONS by this SUMMMER======

With all the reports of *ALL* the over the air stations (even KPTM and Iowa PBS) being FULL power by this summer to meet FCC rules and the talk in some of the above threads about full power DTV ranges . . .

It makes me wonder will we all be able to get Lincolns, Souix Citys, Hasting's NBC, Kearney's ABC and or Kansas Cities HDTV station in Omaha with a good UHF antenna and Amp?

Any thoughts? Will it be possible? Any guess on which ones?

I know many are already getting KOLN CBS from Lincoln HD in Omaha, are they full power yet?

Once again, a big thanks to all the Broadcast Engineers here.

I hope that you can this home. For those that have HDTV over the air, a Big Thank you for the hard work on making the HD Picture and Sound the best it can be.

I know you have little say in what Corporate does- we are not complaining to you.

All I can say is if I do buy an OTA tuner someday Scott, I hope I can get KOLN/KGIN out of lincoln, because I will not watch KMTV. Their loss.

Originally posted by mdg
All I can say is if I do buy an OTA tuner someday Scott, I hope I can get KOLN/KGIN out of lincoln, because I will not watch KMTV. Their loss.

KMTV is Dolby 5.1
KOLN/KGIN is Dolby 2.0 and I've heard has problems with choppiness...

No contest - KMTV wins

Doesn't matter that much to me, still wouldn't watch KMTV, if I had the choice.

The Engineer at KOLN is way behind due to funding issues, they will catch up by this fall. He is working with almost half the budget and TWO stations.

Lincoln is one of the smaller markets in the country, they dont get as much ad buy.

The Lincoln ABC is not even doing DTV HD yet (at least anything anyone can pull in yet). Again no funding.

KLKN, Lincoln's ABC is doing DTV. Their signal is low powered and from the low tower at the station, SD 480i.

Any update on KMTV? Some parts must have gone missing....

Originally posted by ScottChez
====New Topic- FULL POWER HDTV STATIONS by this SUMMMER======

With all the reports of *ALL* the over the air stations (even KPTM and Iowa PBS) being FULL power by this summer to meet FCC rules and the talk in some of the above threads about full power DTV ranges . . .

It makes me wonder will we all be able to get Lincolns, Souix Citys, Hasting's NBC, Kearney's ABC and or Kansas Cities HDTV station in Omaha with a good UHF antenna and Amp?

Any thoughts? Will it be possible? Any guess on which ones?

I know many are already getting KOLN CBS from Lincoln HD in Omaha, are they full power yet?

Lincoln is not in the top 150 markets so I dont think they have to be full power this year, right?

Originally posted by bohlke
Lincoln is not in the top 150 markets so I dont think they have to be full power this year, right?
Actually, the cutoff for the July 2005 full-power deadline is the top 100 markets, and only for affiliates of the top four networks (ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC). All other commercial stations and non-commercial stations get an extra year.

Omaha and Kansas City are top 100 markets. Sioux City and Lincoln are not.

Did I see the TV add correctly again?

Creighton on HD tonight again on NE-DT

How can they do this when some stations (Fox, WB, Iowa PBS) do not even have HDTV over the air yet. NE PBS is only funded with donations.

Good job NE PBS, Im going to pledge to donate.

FYI, Iowa Public Television's DT is up on three of its nine transmitters -- Sioux City, Waterloo-Cedar Rapids, and Des Moines. They have six more transmitters to upgrade between now and next summer.

Originally posted by ScottChez
Did I see the TV add correctly again?

Creighton on HD tonight again on NE-DT

How can they do this when some stations (Fox, WB, Iowa PBS) do not even have HDTV over the air yet. NE PBS is only funded with donations.

Good job NE PBS, Im going to pledge to donate.

Creighton isn't playing tonight.

I thought they were showing hockey tonight in HD? But I could be wrong. Can't seem to find the link to check but I thought that is what I heard.

UNO Hockey is suppose to be in HD tonight.

That's what I heard, too.

Let's see. We can get our local hockey team in high def, but not March Madness?

I see KMTV-DT is back on the air. WOOHOO!

However, I'm still getting the audio dropouts. :-(

Hockey in HD, I like that better than UNO.

Way to go Nebraska Public TV. Im sending and yet other donation so I get to the next patron level.

Time Warner / Sci Atlanta 8300HD DVR

Wow! What an improvement over the horror stories that went along with the 8000!
No lock ups, even when recording two HD channels at once.
The digital channel pixelization/compression appears much softer as well.
The thing is addictive with it's ability to record at the click of a button,, whether it's on the guide, 6 days from now, or right now.
I also like the fact I can tell it to record an entire series.

VERY Tivo-esque. Let's just hope they come out with a way to add a terrabyte or two hard drive :)

I just picked up my 8300HD as well. Haven't set it up yet. I have the CableCard, and I'm interested to see what the quality difference is between the two. Will report back my findings.

Unrelated question... Will the Zenith Silver Sensor antenna work well in North Lincoln (north of Superior on 27th)? Anyone with experience with it?

Originally posted by Brad Smith

Unrelated question... Will the Zenith Silver Sensor antenna work well in North Lincoln (north of Superior on 27th)? Anyone with experience with it?

I use silver sensor at 84th/Holdrege. I get Omaha channels only because of the side of the building I'm on. I get KMTV at 88-94%, KETV about 91% and WOWT usually about 86%

FYI, in regards to audio dropouts on KMTV-DT, I decided to eliminate the possibility that it was something in the digital stream by taking the audio out of the TiVo analog, and I still had the dropouts. So it doesn't appear to be related to the dolby digital stream vs. just regular analog output. I'm confused.

M

Originally posted by mroot
FYI, in regards to audio dropouts on KMTV-DT, I decided to eliminate the possibility that it was something in the digital stream by taking the audio out of the TiVo analog, and I still had the dropouts. So it doesn't appear to be related to the dolby digital stream vs. just regular analog output. I'm confused.

M

I am getting KMTV audio dropouts on my D* feed as well? My wife says it happens 7 min in to Oprah every time.

Sunday Night Oscars

KETV 5.1 Oscar sound problems.

Folks on the HD Programming forum (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=514646&perpage=20&pagenumber=1) are reporting some drops in the center channel of the 5.1 sound feed. I had those too at the start of the program. Now it's just DD2.0 :(

We were having audio drop out and stuttering of the video for a bit. It seems to have gotten better now. I don't have a Dolby 5.1 system yet, so I don't miss the audio. :D

GRIZZ

The feed from ABC will have the 5.1 up for roughly :15 seconds out of each break, then drop out. The announcer is way down in level so I have switched the feed to stereo.

Will work with ABC in the morning on this problem. I am not so sure it is on my end at this writing.

Apologies
Warren

Warren, It very well could be your end. The guys in the national forum

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=514646&perpage=20&pagenumber=1

don't seem to be having the problem.

gpflepsen,

Thank-you for the link, it was very helpful to communicate this to ABC working on this issue that only a few affiliates had this problem.

They told me they found if they make a change to the affiliates audio delay setting in the HD decoder, this helps the receiver find and decode the 5.1.

It appears this setting centers a window the receiver needs to be in to decode the 5.1.

I hope this is indeed the problem I had, I punched up a test loop of a Shuttle launch which has 5.1 and it was OK with or without the delay setting change. Always makes you nervous if you cannot duplicate the problem under test.

Warren,

Yes, It too noticed this problem last night during the pre-Oscar red carpet show as well as throghout the Oscars.

The center channel audio did drop out occasionally, also sometimes the center channel would shift to all three channels across the front simulataneously with the left right pair being out of phase with respect to the center channel. Sounded like they were talking out of a barrel.

I flipped over to analog seven on accasion but the lack of resolution kept driving me back to channel 20.

Any chance the Indy 500 will be in HD this year? Wishful thinking.

Question, do you have a cot at the station? It seems like every time we notice a problem you're their getting your hands dirty. ;)
Appreciate the efforts.

Regards, John

This came from the HDTV programming forum, but thought it was interesting enough to post here especially because in some respects it affects the current market---1) because of the places doing this, Omaha, doesn't appear to be one of them and 2) Because of the whole KM3/Cox stuff going on. Maybe KM3 and Cox could also take advantage of this to help start smoothing things over.

--------------------------------------------------------------
From Multichannel News

http://www.multichannel.com/article...s&referral=SUPP
Multichannel News: The Cable Industry Book-of-Record

March Gladness for CBS Affils, Ops
By Steve Donohue 2/28/2005 12:02:00 AM

Credit college basketball with an assist for helping to soothe relations between local broadcasters and cable systems.

About 15 CBS affiliates plan to broadcast up to four games simultaneously during next month�s NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, and most of them have agreements with local cable operators to distribute tournament games to digital-cable customers.

Digital-must-carry rights remain a contentious issue between broadcasters and cable operators after the Federal Communications Commission ruled earlier this month that cable systems are only required to carry local TV stations' primary signals.

But with "March Madness" approaching, some CBS affiliates in small and midsized markets where college basketball is popular are teaming up with local cable operators to distribute and market the games.

While some stations are demanding that MSOs pay cash to carry their signals, general managers at several CBS affiliates said they aren't asking local cable systems to shell out any money for the hoops contests.

By splitting their digital spectrum into one HDTV service and up to three additional digital-multicast channels, the CBS affiliates will be able to broadcast up to four games live during the NCAA Tournament, which tips off March 15.

Because few consumers own digital-broadcast receivers and the antennas needed to watch the games, offering the contests to local digital-cable customers gives the CBS affiliates an outlet for their programming.

Not all CBS affiliates are willing to supply the games to local operators free-of-charge. KOIN-TV in Portland, Ore., plans to multicast the March Madness games, but GM David Lipoff said the station won't give them to the local Comcast Corp. system unless the operator agrees to pay for the matchups.

In addition to Portland, CBS affiliates also plan to multicast the basketball games in Columbus, Ohio; Detroit; Greensboro and Raleigh, N.C.; Huntsville, Ala.; Las Vegas; Lexington and Louisville, Ky.; Milwaukee; Roanoke and Norfolk; Va.; and Providence, R.I..

For cable operators, carrying the multicast signals of the tourney games from local CBS affiliates will also help them to compete against direct-broadcast satellite provider DirecTV Inc., which sells subscribers a $59 "Mega March Madness" package. Meanwhile, College Sports Television will offer a streaming-video package of tournament games.

The DirecTV package, which offers customers up to 37 games, is more comprehensive than the early-round games that operators can offer their customers with the local CBS multicasts. But the participating cable systems are offering the games free-of-charge to all digital-cable customers.

For more on digital-cable carriage of the NCAA Tournament, please see Steve Donohue's story on page one of Monday's issue of Multichannel News.

==More help for the Cox-Emmis issue ==============

Our freinds over in the Green bay forum have the same problem with there Emmis station and Cable . Over there is is the local Fox station that is owned by Emmis.

Looks like Emmis is now all alone, they are now the ONLY major broadcasting company boycotting cable. Most cable systems are now using the subchannel carrage rights was a way for TV stations to make MORE money on advertising (example channel 3-2 could be a weather or news channel with banner ads kind of like what KETV does with there Rador page on 7-2 -they just dont have banner ADs yet).

Here is the link

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5156800#post5156800

Its the Green Bay, WI - HDTV thread if the link does not work.

KOLN-HD Lincoln

Is 10/11 having problems? Time Warner 111 has been Grey all day.

I had KOLN-HD today OTA.

I got KOLN-HD in Omaha right now.

My Home Theatre Master remote died, so I finally got up off my duff and manually switched on my STB, hit my A/V switch and aimed the antenna towards Beaver Crossing. Sure enough 10 came in like a charm. Something must have gone boom at Time Warner.

My wife sat down to watch "Young and the Restless" today, and the audio dropouts were really kicking in. I hope KM3 still has plans to look into this problem. :-(

Any DirecTV users here catching PBS OTA that can get the guide info? I can get guide info from the DirecTV feed, for the 2 feeds they provide, KBIN and KUON, but not OTA. I do get guide info for the 3 main digital network stations OTA. I just checked, I also get KXVO-DT guide info OTA, but not KPTM-DT guide info.

Interesting.

Mroot, check your PMs.

Have you deleted the HD channel and rescanned since we put active PSIP on line late in January?
I will try an experiment tomorrow during the Young and Restless. See if your dropouts are still there.

Tonight I'm getting PSIP info from KOLN-DT and KGIN-DT on my DTC-100. No other stations in the Tri Cities are sending out PSIP.

Originally posted by Cornhustler
Tonight I'm getting PSIP info from KOLN-DT and KGIN-DT on my DTC-100. No other stations in the Tri Cities are sending out PSIP.

How far into the future is the PSIP going?

I'ts only going until 9 am Thursday morning.

I see in other markets that the Local CBS station is showing all 4 March Madness games at once. 1 in HD and the others in the Sub Channels.

Anyone know if KOLN CBS in Lincoln or KM3 is doing this?

Anyone of them also sending there sub channels for the games to Cable (means more advertising $$$$$ for the station).

Hint hint hint, other markets are doing this and making lots of extra $$$$$


Im surprised KETV has not put there 7-2 Weather channel on Cox yet. All they have to do is pasted a Banner Ad on the bottom and make money.

MRoot- I have not had OTA audio dropouts on KMTV-DT since I rescanned after they came back online.:cool:

G-man57. Great news. You have the HD10-250 too, right?

I rescanned the other day, but I didn't delete any channels before I tried that. Perhaps I need to dump all of my OTA channels and do a total rescan.

BTW, are you getting PSIP info on any of the PBS OTA stations?

Thanks!

Mike

Since NETV has the equipment to televise games in HDTV and both NETV & 10/11 broadcast in HDTV, will the State High School Basketball tournaments be broadcast in HDTV?

Originally posted by PAULSTORM
Since NETV has the equipment to televise games in HDTV and both NETV & 10/11 broadcast in HDTV, will the State High School Basketball tournaments be broadcast in HDTV?

I am fairly confident NET will air the finals on Saturday in HDTV. The past two weeks have seen Wrestling and Swimming in HD from NET.

If KOLN/KGIN will carry the HD feed is yet to be seen. I don't know why they wouldn't. They have the capability.

Go to http://mynptv.org/nptv/index.html and select the schedule for Saturday the 5th. It shows the finals in HD.

Cool, thanks for the info, g!

Anyone getting the Nebraska girls state basketball in hd? First game appears not to be in Hd, maybe class A game will be in hd?

Nebraska Girls State Basketball is produced/directed by the folks at KOLN/KGIN.... NETV is only passing through (with NETV Chyron/breaks) the 10/11 feed...

====Update on the 7-2 Weather Channel =========

Thank you again KETV, tonight is our first Thunderstorm passing by right now just south of Platesmouth. I can see the lightening.

Channel 7-2 has Live Radar PLUS LIVE Lightening Strike near real time.

The bigger the bolt on the screen the power powerfull it was Air to Ground.

I think the Plus sign on the screen means air to air.


We all need to Email Channel 6 to ask them what they are doing with there Sub Channel. Right now the bandwidth is just sitting there doing NOTHING.

NBC has a free weather channel kind of like the weatherchannel on cable. Why is Channel 6 not using it? It is designed for subchannels so it takes NO extra bandwidth away from the main HD feed. The NBC local weather channel is already live in most cities.

I noticed Jim has a recorded forcast on there web site, maybe they are working on this. Part of the NBC weather takes the recorded local and sticks in in between the national segments. The difference between this and the weather channel is the NBC channel has many times more local weather (the weather channel only has locals on the 8's).

Here is more info on it.

http://www.nbccableinfo.com/insidenbccable/networks/weather/resources/inthenews/111504.html

======= WOWT =================================
COME ON JIM FLOWERS, CATCH UP AND BEAT KETV. YOU CAN DO IT.

here is even more info on it. Email Jim maybe he never heard of it.

Here is Jim Flowers Email. The weather on call person does read it and answer. Channels 6 has someone there almost 24x7 (HINT- there already staffed for this new channel).

precisionw@wowt.com

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds17003.html

===== UPDATE ON FOX IN HD over the air ===============

All the equipment is now in place for full power on KPTM channel 43 in HD.

Trouble is still with there budget. They did not budget any funds to wire the electric and to pay for the electric bill till June.

This is so sad, we are so close. I know doing full power HD cost a lot, but come on KPTM, all the other stations are doing it, even Nebraska Public TV which lives off donations.

Maybe we should start a fund raiser for KPTM to help them out.

I want my Fox in HD over the air.


Time to Email the station again to let them know we cant wait. Maybe they will use funds from the Emergency budget.

AN OTHER HDTV SUB CHANNEL UPDATE


Bill at channel 7 must be reading our thank yous.

Now on 7-2 they also just added the watch and warning over lay. Meaning the counties go Yellow when there is a warning.

This channel will be real handy this spring with all the Hail and Tornados.

Scottchez,

KETV is broadcasting in 720P, there's enough bandwidth left over in the 19.2Mb stream to allow simul-casting one 480 sub-channel.

With the exception of KETV-DT and soon KPTM-DT, all other local broadcasters are broadcasting OTA in 1080i. Without reducing the bitrate 1080i fills the entire 19.2Mb stream. Unlike NETV, WOWT-DT and KMTV-DT are currently broadcasting 8VSB OTA full spectrum 1080i. Therefore WOWT-DT doesn't have sufficient bandwidth to broadcast full spectrum 1080i as well as a 480 sub-channel without stealing bandwidth away from their HD channe, no bandwidth, no simul-cast weather channel. Personally I'd rather see full spectrum 1080i than split bandwidth multi-casting. On a 106" front projector the difference is noticeable.

That being said maybe some day we'll see 1080P OTA and loose the jaggies on sports. Start saving your pennies for a new 1080P native scan rate front projector! :)

John

Anybody know if Cox is planning on broadcasting the DTV subchannels to all of us cable subscibers.

Would be nice to be able to see the weather radar on 7-2.



-Scobar

Does anyone have a date when the Council Bluffs, Iowa PBS stations will be going digital?

Iowa Public TV started there annual fund raiser on the 5th.

Go here: http://www.iptv.org/


To send them an Email requesting HDTV and Donation info using there Form (you do not have to use your real name) go here:

http://www.iptv.org/contact.cfm

I would call and or Email saying your thinking of making a Donation if they Offered DTV/HDTV in Council Bluffs like Nebraska Public TV does in Omaha.

This might get them moving faster. They have plans to add Council bluffs but they are in no hurry as they seem to think no one has HDTV Sets.


You can also contact the person in charge of Iowas DTV HDTV customer feedback program and ask for HDTV in Council Bluffs. There web page still says full HDTV in 2006.

We will likely contact you in the coming months as our advisory group gets underway. In the meantime, if you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to

contact Jennifer Konfrst at 515-242-3146
or at

jennifer.konfrst@iptv.org.

=========NBCs new Weather Plus Digital Sub Channel==========

Here is a link to a LIVE feed of the Sub channel from Denver.
I think it is worth the Bandwidth.

http://9news.com/wxplus/

It is designed to use static pictures in the L shaped corner bar so it uses very little bandwidth.

In the AVS forum for Denver they report NO difference in picture quality becuase the subchannel is of the lowest quality with lots of static graphics.

Be sure to Email Channel 6 and request this channel.

I guess I don't have quite the fascination as others with the weather, but on another topic:

Any word on when Dolby 5.1 will be on WOWT?

CBS is awesome with it and WOWT is left behind now since CBS and ABC have it.

Sorry, I don't see the need for a 24/7 weather channel when it reduces, however insignificantly, the HD sprectrum. I'd bet most HDTV enthusiasts share this opinion. If you want DTV multicast nirvana go buy a satellite dish or subscribe to cox digital.

I agree, digital multicasting at the expense of true HDTV is not for me.

Does anybody in Lincoln have a problem with NETV 112 on TIme Warner?
It seems like their picture runs off the screen. (Yes, I've set the picture correctly).
I don't have this problem on other channels, but it often seems that the logos and stuff on the edges go off the screen.
I noticed it especially during the girls basketball simulcast when I would flip from 112 to 111 (10/11 digital).

I have all equipment in the station to convert to Dolby 5.1 except the Dolby Encoder. I expect it to arrive any day. After it arrives, I would expect about a week to install it and configure the system. If it was my only project, it would take a day, but installing the full power DT transmitter is time consuming.

Jay

Jay,

Thanks for the update, please let us know when your new hardware is online.

Also, I don't know what's changed in your current DD2.0 audio configuration but I'm now receiving audio from WOWT-DT without the
-31dB offset. Whatever you changed, thanks.

John

CBS has given us permission to air all of the March Madness basketball games that they provide in HD/5.1 surround sound on our digital signal.

We, therefore at times, may have a different game on the analog signal.

Now, if they would only do that for the NFL. :-)

Mike

Originally posted by Mike Gann
CBS has given us permission to air all of the March Madness basketball games that they provide in HD/5.1 surround sound on our digital signal.

We, therefore at times, may have a different game on the analog signal.

That is great news, Mike.

Are you thinking of simulcasting any games?

Do you have the capability to switch to 480p and run several downconverted widescreen EDTV games? I'm just curious what your technical limitations are.

We only have one encoder, and it has only one input. We would have to have a SD encoder and a satellite receiver for each game, and then run that into a muxer to feed the transmitter.

Thank you KM3.

This means more HD Content for Omaha. Got to love it. Im for anything that brings us more HD no matter where it comes from.

KM3 should use this with Cox as a bargaining chip.

For the first time in Omaha a different HDTV show will be on an over the Air HDTV feed that is not on the SD feed.

Maybe cox should pay something for it after all. Keep it up KM3.
Are they ever going to meet again and talk things over?


KM3 should advertise the HDTV Games as most HD Users only read this board once a month and they will miss it.

If they dont advertise they may end up doing all the work for the HDTV games only to have no one watch.

Originally posted by WOWT
I have all equipment in the station to convert to Dolby 5.1 except the Dolby Encoder. I expect it to arrive any day. After it arrives, I would expect about a week to install it and configure the system. If it was my only project, it would take a day, but installing the full power DT transmitter is time consuming.

Jay

Thanks for the update!
Does this mean the digital signal will be off for a week?

I've moved our outage to the end of April. We will remove our medium power antenna and replace it with our full power. I will then move our solid state transmitter to our downtown tower and resume broadcasting from that location while our full power transmitter is installed. I am hoping the move will not take longer than a week. Our full power transmitter is scheduled to arrive in mid-May, so I expect to be on our back-up tower for 2 months.

Jay

Just a reminder only a few more days left for the Iowa Public TV fund raiser. Please sure to tell them you will pledge only if they get HDTV in Council Bluffs real soon, they need money to make this happen. So far they are looking at 2006 as they do not have enough money.

Iowa Public TV started there annual fund raiser going on now.

Go here: http://www.iptv.org/


To send them an Email requesting HDTV and Donation info using there Form (you do not have to use your real name) go here:

http://www.iptv.org/contact.cfm

Originally posted by ScottChez
Just a reminder only a few more days left for the Iowa Public TV fund raiser. Please sure to tell them you will pledge only if they get HDTV in Council Bluffs real soon, they need money to make this happen. So far they are looking at 2006 as they do not have enough money.

You're kind of proposing a catch 22- chicken/egg conundrum here Scott. The best way to break the impasse would be to pledge to get them the money they need to get HD up for you.

Originally posted by ScottChez
===== UPDATE ON FOX IN HD over the air ===============

All the equipment is now in place for full power on KPTM channel 43 in HD.



Thanks for the update.
Although your info is wrong.

Maybe a phone call to an "actual" engineer
would make it clear

Fox 42 was doing some testing on their analog the other night (2am-ish), with a low power. Barely able to pick it up in Lincoln. Got test patterns.
So, go wild on the speculation :)

Hey folks,

I live in Lincoln and have been, for the last week or so, trying to get setup to receive off-air DTV signals at home. I can pickup two CBS's (3 & 10) and two ABC's (7 & 8), but I can't for the life of me pickup PBS (which I really care about) or NBC-6 (which I don't care much about). I'd appreciate any suggestions you all could give me on how to improve my PBS reception. Here's what I've got so far:

I've got 3 different HDTV receivers that I'm auditioning at the moment, and have similar results with all three. The one I'm leaning toward keeping is Circuit City's $230 Pro Brand HD3150 (which is a repackaged version of Radio Shack's Accurian HTS6000).

My antenna is in the attic of my 2-story home a block north of 48th & Normal. It's probably 25 feet above ground, which is near the top of a hill. I'm a half mile due south of BryanLGH hospital, but I don't expect that to interfere with my reception to Omaha (37 degrees NE) or even to PBS in Mead (18 degrees). There are a few tall trees in my older neighborhood, but the height of my antenna should clear most of them. There is a residential power line in my path, but it only serves a few houses. I'm really not good with heights, so I'm not wild about moving the antenna up to the roof. Besides, it looks tacky and we have a highly visible house. I'd probably bypass DTV altogether before I did that.

The antenna is connected to the receiver via about 150' of Belden RG-6 quad shield coax. Due to the home-run wiring configuration in my house, the antenna signal is split (currently just 3 ways) in the basement before it reaches the primary entertainment center in my living room. I have two in-line signal amps in the attic totalling about 20 dB, which I imagine is sufficient to compensate for the long run and the split. I've tried removing either and both amps, with no improvement.

The part I'm fuzzy on is the antenna. My primary antenna that I've used for a few years is a Radio Shack 50" 18-element UHF/VHF/FM antenna. In analog mode, it gets channels 8, 10, and 42 quite well, but 6, 7, and 12 are sketchy. (FYI, this DTV goose chase is primarily an attempt to get a good reception on PBS for my kids.) In digital mode, I've tried angling it anywhere from about 10 to 60 degrees, with the best overall reception on channels 3/7/8/10 coming at about 45 degrees (despite antennaweb claiming that PBS is at 18* and Omaha is at 37*). The best PBS signal I can get is about 50%, which isn't enough to decipher a signal on any of my 3 receivers. Channel 6 is even worse.

Today I tried buying a 4-bowtie UHF-only antenna (approx 18x36"). The digital signal strength with this antenna was no better and often worse than with my old antenna. I tried positioning it in several places and at different angles within my attic, but to no avail.
I tried using a 2-way splitter to hook the UHF-only antenna in parallel with my UHF/VHF/FM antenna, but that didn't help, either. (I later realized that I had different cable lengths between the splitter and the two antennas, so the lack of improvement isn't too surprising.) My UHF antenna is the floor model from Shaefers, and I personally saw it get great reception on PBS at the home show last month.

That's probably all the relevent info, but I'll be happy to provide any other info. Any help in improving my PBS reception would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Obi-Wan,

Best thing for you to do is call Shawn at Zager antenna in Lincoln. If he can't get PBS for you , you can't get it. Cost a little to have it done , but eliminates all the headaches of doing it yourself.

Nice to see that someone is getting KLKN though:)

Obi-Wan I get 3,7,8,10,12 all from my squareshooter and a pre-amp pointed at the Omaha towers. I am at 20th and Lake which is not such a great place (in a valley). I am hoping that I will get 6 as soon as they up the power. I did have to put in on the roof to get what I wanted.

WOWT-DT has been off the air some lately. I don't know if it's related to their future upgrading.

I live at 40th and Old Cheney. I use two antennas, an antennacraft mxu59 100" boom yagi pointed towards Omaha, combined with a Radioshack 15-2160 aimed towards the west via two equal lengths of coax and a typical splitter/combiner. These are mounted in my attic then boosted with a 12db RCA booster from Menards. I get all the local channels fine.

Double check any barrel connectors, cable end connectors for ground wires, etc. I had one barrel connector ruining my weaker stations (6 and 7), so rule those out.

I'd eliminate all splits to begin with. Remove all the variables then add things in until you find the problem.

If it comes down to it, take a receiver to the attic and connect it and run from there through your distribution system via the SD RF connector. If that shows a degraded picture, you know it's not the antenna system, but rather the distribution system.

According to CBS, there will be HD broadcasts of the NCAA Tournament games from Cleveland where the Jays are playing. Is there any chance that KM3 and Cox can put aside their differences to let the Jays game be on Cox cable that night? It would be great to be able to watch the Jays in HD and a nice PR move to help settle differences a little bit between Cox and KM3.

I don't know if this helps, but NETV has a shorter broadcast day. I think they kick on around 9 or 10 and shut down around 10pm. They should come in otherwise on channel 40.
Channel 6 (22) is a different story, but based on how well channel 7, just two channels down digitally, at 20, they should come in pretty good once they are up to full power.
You might also try an antenna amp. Avoid Wal-Mart specials (Gemini, Recton, etc).
I'm surprised you can't get NETV, as it has a pretty solid kick, at full power into town. My antenna picks it up well when aimed in the general Omaha vicininty with the others.

Right now if you want KM3 and the Jays in HD the best solution is Direct TV or DIshnetwork.

Direct TV has a HD Tivo and Dishnetwork has 921 DVR and there new 942 DVR home media like solution (due out next week).

They also both have non DVR HD Receivers alv.

I'm considering going to dish. I see all the Free dish and 4 box deals, but what can I expect extra, should I want HD? Do you simply need to pick up one of the HD DVR boxes? Do you have to buy additional dishes?

Dave, if you're looking to go with Dish Network, I'd visit Satelliteguys.us (http://www.satelliteguys.us/forumdisplay.php?f=16) and read up on any offers they currently have. Look at their sponsor's website for what deals are out there. HD will cost you a premium with either dbs service (don't forget $1 Voom :)).

If you then have your heart set on Dish, call Zager Antenna (dishmanusa.com) for a better service experience than is likely with calling Dish direct.

I also agree:

KPTM is ready for full HDTV over the air.

They are just waiting for the budget for the Electric install (very costly) and the budget funds for the monthly electric bill (which is very large). Were talking June.

Originally posted by bjohnson2004
I also agree:

KPTM is ready for full HDTV over the air.

They are just waiting for the budget for the Electric install (very costly) and the budget funds for the monthly electric bill (which is very large). Were talking June.



Maybe a phone call to an "actual" engineer would
clear it up.

At least they appear to be moving forward. There has been LOTS of late night testing on 42 analog, and I notices an application for "special temporary authority" for 42. That can mean a number of things. (reduced power, moving to a temporary antenna, taking meter readings standing on your head).
I believe in their original pitch to the FCC there was some concern about having all four stations (15/42 and their digital counterparts) all on the same tower.
Could be some juggling going on.

Dave, have you heard if KPTM and WXVO will us the same antenna and the same carrier for both channels, say FOX on 42.1 and WB on 42.2?

Here is the Email Address for the VP at Pappas.

MAngelos@pappastv.com

I would send an Email asking that they speed up there HDTV activation.

They probably do not even know that NO ONE can get there UHF 43 HDTV feed due to the DTV signal being so close to there Analog 42 channel.

No one can get there DTV signal, not even if your 10 Miles alway.

Ask them to speed things up and allow early budget funds for the DTV power.

You never know, it might help.

RE: Audio dropout issues on some Mitz TVs and Direct Tivo DVRs.

Even though I deleted the second audio channel from our Stream, I found out that the Guide Builder server that was feeding our PSIP muxer had a PID that announced a second audio channel. I had corporate delete this PID as of 10:30AM Tuesday morning and this cured the dropout problem on a Mitz diamond television. This after he deleted and rescanned our channel after the PID was removed.

Hopefully this will also resolve the issue with the Direct/DVRs. If we add a second audio back to provide an alternative language selection for programming, this problem may return. Mitz televisions have the ability to use flash memory cards to upgrade their firmware. I'm sure that the dish providers have provisions to upgrade firmware via satellite.

If you have issues with the audio, please delete and rescan our channel.

By law KPTM and KXVO will broadcast on their respective allocated digital channels. 43 for KPTM and 38 for KXVO. What program content they choose to air is up to them.
A signal must be present on each allocation.

I noticed in other markets they have WB stations like KXVO showing full HDTV Shows and Movies.

Has anyone heard, will KXVO start doing this also once the KPTM sub channel 38-2 is removed? I would seem like a waist of bandwidth if they dont do HDTV.

I got 43-1 in a HD test pattern last night.

Hmmmmm, I live 15 Miles from the tower.

Might be a good sign. The signal was very weak.


"NEED MORE POWER SCOTTY"

I emailed that address from Pappas, they said the end of Summer now for full power DTV on there digital channel.

Right now its so low powered it does not work because its so close to the analog 42 channel.

There was something about filling an other waiver with the FCC???

Anyone know when there license is up for renewal, I think you can file complaint letters when the license is open for inspection.

There can be no more waivers for KPTM/KXVO digital allocations. I believe this was discussed deveral months ago when the FCC told the top 100 markets to basically 'use it or lose it', when it came to their digital allocations.

Once 43 is full power, the fact that 42 is adjacent shouldn't be a huge problem. We've seen the timeline and there's probably not much we can do about it. This is the deadline the FCC is happy with, and at this point, they are operating under their special temporary authority on 38 & 43.

In the meantime, there was an STA issued for channel 42. That's the analog. STA's can be issued for a number of things. Could be use of a temporary antenna for 42 while 43 moves to the top of the tower, or at a reduced power while they are doing the buildout.
The FCC database doesn't show details on Special Temporary Authority.

Any word on what March Madness coverage we will get from KMTV and KOLN/KGIN starting tomorrow? Multicasting? HD game on the digital channel with the in-market game on analog? Any news?

Originally posted by Brad Smith
Any word on what March Madness coverage we will get from KMTV and KOLN/KGIN starting tomorrow? Multicasting? HD game on the digital channel with the in-market game on analog? Any news?

Brad, That is what I am wondering. Will the Creighton game be in HD, 5.1?
According to this link from KMTV's web site
http://www.checkhd.com/programming/hdtvupdate-station.aspx?StationId=4875&PSIPId=170&CallSign=KMTV-DT&Network=CBS
none of the games will be in HD? I am confused, again. Oh well, at least "Spring Break, Shark Attack" will be in HD on Sunday!

Maybe KM3 will do the game in HD as a
Pay per View event
since they bent on turing there DTV signal into a Pay TV cable service.

Haaaaa! :)

TitanTV currently lists KBIN-DT, channel 33, Council Bluffs going live on 1 April. Is this a joke or old data?

I've a contact across the river, I'll write a letter and see what the inside scoop is. This is interesting, I thought they were still a couple months away...


UPDATE: I couldn't find my old email responses from KBIN engineering so I contacted them thru their website. They responded (rather quickly I might add) that they should begin broadcasting in April, how soon in April is dependent upon the weather and how long it'll take to install the new dual mode antenna (analog/digital.)

Looking forward to KBIN-DT!

John

Does anybody know exactly what hours KUON (NET/PBS out of Lincoln) broadcasts their DTV signal? How early do they start? Not before 9am weekdays, it appears. Do they broadcast any later than 10pm on weekends? Do they have any plans to extend those hours anytime soon? Am I the only one who isn't getting PSIP (channel guide) info for KUON's 38 different subchannels?

The main reason I started working to get DTV was so my kids could watch PBS in the morning and so I could watch Austin City Limits on Saturday nights. I've finally gotten my antenna setup well enough to get KUON (had to sacrifice KLKN), but it appears I still can't get most of the shows I care about. DTV quality (even on my analog TV) is nice & the PSIP info is handy, but if I've got to keep switching between analog & digital to pick up different feeds, it may just not be worth the trouble right now. I'm debating just returning all the equipment and trying again in six months or a year.

Is there any web site or something that has timetables published for when the nearby stations are going to be making improvements in their transmitting power or hours of operation? I've read the recent poop in this thread on KPTM's upgrades coming in late summer.

Iowa PBS in DTV HDTV in April.

Thats what they told me when I pledged my $200


Im thinking they wont make it till summer is more real, as there pledge drive is way short this year.

Get out those Check books guys? Call em

Right now NETV is just broadcasting until 10pm. I'm guessing it's cost savings, due to their large number of stations.
PBSkids.org is a great site for schedules. You can set it up to remember which stations programs you want to remember.

PBSHD.org is similar. All the shows from the HD feed schedule.

I have noticed that NETV is showing much more HD stuff on their HD feed, regardless of what is scheduled for analog.

How many of you that post in this area are watching the NCAA Tournament in HD? Are there any local viewing points (Bars, restaurants, etc) that have HD sets in their establishments and which ones are showing the NCAA Tournament in HD?

Obviously since I am going the cable route, I am not seeing any in HD, but just wondered how many other people are watching it in HD? This board may not get a good sampling, but I was trying to get a feel for how many are doing OTA HD vs. Cable HD in the Omaha/Lincoln area.

From stats I am seeing, there is only a 3.75% of the viewers in the whole nation watching HD content, but how much of that is OTA vs. Cable? 50-50, 75-25, 60-40?

I am also trying to figure out how Digital TV and HD content will get off the ground if some organizations aren't providing it to hardly anybody through the different mediums available. To me I see it as, "Get everyone you can enjoying the Digital TV/ HDTV and then if you want more money it becomes justified." There just aren't enough viewers and enough demand for people to feel there is a need for compensation.

I guess I would like to see some numbers from KMTV on what justifies compensation compared to the other local stations that are providing HD content for free. It's not like there are locally produced HD content being done to differentiate. If anyone should be asking for money it would be NETV since they have been doing their own HD productions.

Watching it OTA here in Lincoln.

I wathed it in HD OTA as well as 8 other freinds and relative I know at there homes.

I know this becuase there were Audio drop outs on KM3s HD feed that we were complaning about from the creighton game. The did not last long, but it bugged us enought to mention it .

If you need stats call Direc TV and Dishnetwork, thats were most of the HDTV viewers are, its the only way to get KM3 in and complete packaged solution from a provided. Cable does not have KM3.

Many in Omaha also get KOLN CBS in HD (cox does not have this).

And the KETV weather channel 7-1 over the air (cox does not have this).

And WB 15-1 and Fox 15-2 in digital (not in HD yet) (cox does not have this).

Also Iowa PBS will be in HD next month, and they dont have a contract with Cox for DTV so Over the air is the way to go for DTV and HDTV.


With Dishnetworks new 942 home media center solution for mulitple room HD DVR due out next week I thing Dish is the way to go for HD. Cox is not the way to go (no content, not home media solution for HD).

http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/products/receivers/dvr/index.shtml

Just curious Scott, why do you keep calling Dish Network's 942 a "Home Media Center Solution" with multiple room HD DVR? I think that is a bit misleading.

The 942 is an HD/SD dual TV receiver. It can supply one and only one HDTV with an HD signal. It's secondary TV connection is SD only. The 942 is limited to only one OTA DTV viewing- on the main HD output. The second TV cannot view live OTA TV.

For about $100, a DTV OTA tuner can be bought off eBay.

I haven't received KETVs weather channel (7-2) lately. Is it still active?

Originally posted by mroot
I haven't received KETVs weather channel (7-2) lately. Is it still active?

At the time you wrote this, I was getting it here in Lincoln OTA just fine.

BTW, I noticed that this afternoon, KUON (Lincoln PBS) is FINALLY broadcasting PSIP info for their 3 main subchannels, and the info runs until midnight, not 10pm. Last night, they stopped broadcasting at 10pm and had no PSIP, so I'm curious to see if they do indeed broadcast til midnight tonight as advertised. I didn't think to check what time they started broadcasting this morning, but I'll check tomorrow & see if they've extended their hours in both directions.

And another question about KUON: Do they only broadcast HD on their separate HD subchannel, or do the occasionally broadcast HD shows on 12-1, 12-2, and 12-3 as well? I'm auditioning two tuners right now. The one I'll probably return has an indicator that tells me when a signal is HD, but the one I'll probably keep has no such indicator. The former picks up a separate HD feed that's usually got the same program as one of the other subchannels. The latter only recognizes the first 3 subs, but one of them is always broadcasting the same program that the other tuner gets on NET-HD. I can't tell if it's HD or not, since I don't yet have an HD-capable TV.

It appears the NETV always broadcasts HD programming with a 12-5 flag. Whatever is going out over analog is in SD on 12-1.

Originally posted by ScottChez
I wathed it in HD OTA as well as 8 other freinds and relative I know at there homes.

Cox has KPTM(Fox) channel 810.

Andrew Wees



I know this becuase there were Audio drop outs on KM3s HD feed that we were complaning about from the creighton game. The did not last long, but it bugged us enought to mention it .

If you need stats call Direc TV and Dishnetwork, thats were most of the HDTV viewers are, its the only way to get KM3 in and complete packaged solution from a provided. Cable does not have KM3.

Many in Omaha also get KOLN CBS in HD (cox does not have this).

And the KETV weather channel 7-1 over the air (cox does not have this).

And WB 15-1 and Fox 15-2 in digital (not in HD yet) (cox does not have this).

Also Iowa PBS will be in HD next month, and they dont have a contract with Cox for DTV so Over the air is the way to go for DTV and HDTV.


With Dishnetworks new 942 home media center solution for mulitple room HD DVR due out next week I thing Dish is the way to go for HD. Cox is not the way to go (no content, not home media solution for HD).

http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/products/receivers/dvr/index.shtml

gpflepsen,

Who can afford my than one HDTV?

I think its the perfect solution for most with there Main HDTV on the main level but a SD TV everywhere else. With this you can watch the HDTV channels in SD down converted.

It works in Single mode or dual user mode also if you dont want to use it as a 2nd TV source.

I think its the best thing out there till direct TV gets there TRUE home media center you next January. It will have 4 tuners and feed other TVs like the 942 but it will also have TV3 and TV4 outs via Wireless.

Every year it gets better out there.

Scott, have you seen this?

http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=58736

For those in Lincoln with TWC, are 107 and 112 down for you, too? They've been gone for me since about noon today.

Is anyone having problems with 12.1 NETV (broadcast ch 40) during evening broadcast OTA? I get 12.5 but not 12.1. I delete then rescan the channel and ... nothing.

It appears that NETV only uses.1 when they are showing a different program in HD on .5 in the evenings.

NET-1 and NET-HD had different programming tonight.

Does anyone know where I can get a small/med sized outdoor UHF antenna in Omaha? I'm sick of the infrequent but annoying dropouts I'm getting.

Does anyone know where I can get a medium sized UHF outdoor antenna in Omaha? I getting sick of the very infrequent, but still annoying dropouts.

Originally posted by rmalbers
Does anyone know where I can get a medium sized UHF outdoor antenna in Omaha? I getting sick of the very infrequent, but still annoying dropouts.

How about Radio Shack?
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F003%5F001%5F002%5F000&product%5Fid=15%2D2160

Cheap, works - My silver sensor works even better indoors than this though...

Radio Shack 15-2160

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&category_name=CTLG_003_001_002_000&product_id=15-2160

http://www.radioshack.com/images/ProductCatalog/ProductImage/15/15-2160.jpg

Try Radio Shack, or any industrial-type electronics supply house. Look for brands like Channel Master or Winegard.

You might get a better response by looking / posting here Omaha/ Lincoln Thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=144464)

Threads Merged.

OK, this is a good time to ask this question. I have this Radio Shack antenna in my attic. I get terrible reception with it, and I have resorted to using a Zenith Silver Sensor, which I also have in the attic. I generally get 90%+ signals with this, but it is very directional and although most of signal sources are due east, there is one to the south-east, and I can't get that very well. Also, most sources are relatively close. I can see the 4 antennas on 72nd street from my front porch.

So, here is my question. Why is my reception so poor with the Radio Shack antenna? I would expect it to at least as good, if not better than the cheaper, smaller Silver Sensor.

Does it matter which of the leads from the antenna goes to which conductor on the coax cable? I swear, the thing just seems 'broken', if such a think could happen with an antenna.

Any advice would be appreciated.

GRIZZ

I have the same thing, Silver sensor and same Rat Shat

Silver sensor is by far the best, I also use the channel master 7777 amp, the key is to get the rad shat anntenuator and tune it down.

I get everything, including Lincoln from Papillion.

Take the Rat shar ant back, dont by there AMP either. I tried that also, no good.

I'm having an issue with 10/11 HD (channel 111) on TWC in Lincoln. I have the CableCard in my TV, and when i change from any channel 114-117 to 111, it locks in the audio and video fine for about 5 seconds, then drops out for a second, then comes back. I had TWC check my signal strength and swap the CableCard with a brand new one. Same issue. They are thinking it is something strange with the 10/11 feed that is confusing the TV or the CableCard. This doesn't occur with my DVR. Any ideas?

"Any ideas?", yes, buy an off air tuner and antenna. ;)

Oh, I got that, too. TV has an OTA tuner in it, and I have the Silver Sensor.

During the Friday HD games, I noticed some breakup and hits during both of the games from the high center camera. I had master control switch to the non-Dolby backup receiver for a while and the hits were still there.

I called the CBS air control and they confirmed that the main camera, from that venue, was having hits and other issues this evening.

Mike,

I noticed a few of those brief pixel breakups today too during the Illinois/Arizona game. Great game by the way. Also at one point the picture went black but the audio was live and the score box was still on screen, interesting bugs in the machines.

John

I got the outdoor Radio Shack antenna shown above and it did the trick. I haven't had a dropout since. I think my problem with the indoor antenna is just where the tv is in the house. To many walls and a fireplace between the tv and the transmitter's antenna. Any news on Iowa Public TV HD?

RE: Cox CableCards and Mitsubishi DLP's (and possibly Sony LCD)

We're learning (at NFM) that Mitsubishi DLP's with cablecard functionality apparently don't have the latest firmware required to interact with Cox's cablecards. This can be resolved by calling Mitsubishi's customer service number and they will send out a compact flash card with instructions on how to do the update yourself. This is required before the cablecard will work right.

Apparently some of the TVs work for about a week or two and then stop.

Hope this helps.


Doug

Originally posted by rmalbers
I got the outdoor Radio Shack antenna shown above and it did the trick.

Good to hear you're up and running.

I don't know why people bag on this antenna; just because it's from Radio Shack? It's a good performer and is 1/2 the cost of some others.

I tweaked my Antenna for my HD Direct Tivo.


One Silver Sensor in the Atic removed from the plastic stand and laying on its side on one of the roof beams pointed towards the Lincoln CBS Tower in Milford Ne (which is west of Lincoln).

I also have the Channel Master 7777 amp with the Radio Shack Attenuator set way down.

I get CBS KOLN Lincoln, all the OMAHA Stations including 15-1(WB) and 15-2 (fox) and both Nebraska PBS 12 and 26.


Basically I get everything all the time.


Im now ready to try the Iowa PBS in Council Bluffs, should be on the are any time. Is that going to be channel 33?

I just order the Dishnetwork 942, should get that in April sometime. Going to dump Direct TV.


Whats with all this Full Power talk in June (a requirement) does this mean we might see more Lincoln or maybe Souix City or KC Stations in HD?

Yes, the Rat Shack 2160 is a great performer for the money, I have one on a rotor up in the attic.

Scott,

Have you done your homework with regards to Echostar and the upcoming migration to MPEG4? Once MPEG4 comes on line our current MPEG2 HD receivers will be unable to receive future HD programming. Echostar has run out of room for future HD programming on their current transponders. Once they acquire more satellite real-estate they've hinted at delivering all new HD content in MPEG4 format instead of the current MPEG2 format. I've a pair of Echostar 6000's, I'm afraid these will be obsolete soon (ie unable to receive new HD channel content when it becomes available.)

Bottom line is, purchasing Echostar HD receivers now is a gamble, you may end up having to upgrade again sometime during the next 12-18 months.

Also, I'm not entirely sold on MPEG4 compression or more importantly how it's currently used. I've yet to see MPEG4 encoded content that looks as clear/detailed as full spectrum HD 1080i MPEG2. All of the WMV and DIVX encoded media I've seen to date is great and takes up little storage space but doesn't hold up well when compared to an original MPEG2 media source. Maybe a high quality 35mm film master converted directly to high bit rate MPEG4 for HD distribution would look great but to date I haven't been able to view any such material.

Regards, John

I believe the full power rule applies to the top 100 markets. So, KC is definately included if that's the case.
So far the only full power DT station though is Channel 9, which is DT 7.
Obviously, we have no way of testing to see if that signal comes in around here. Should be interesting once everybody goes full power down there.
Just in time for summer DX!!!

Yes I read about every Thread on the Satguys and DBStalk forums. Thanks for the advice. This Mpeg4 is tricky.

Here is my take and my plan.

As a new sub I will get the 942 for $5 a month on there DHA lease. Since its a lease I believe I will have FULL upgrade protection for when they have Mpeg4 (next year). Yes you have to pay the $250 to upgrade your lease for the 942 but that still cheaper than the $799 price for the HD Tivo.

Comparing to Direct TV they wont have Mpeg4 in omaha till mid 2006, by then my Dish contract with Dishnetwork will be up (April 2006) by then I can either return the 942 and go with Direct TV under there new customer free MPeg4 plans (I will change may address again before I leave direct TV next week ).

In other words I am covered for MPEG4 with free upgrade from both companies next year. Worst case with Dishnetwork when Mpeg4 hits, they may make me sign a new one year contract to get the new Mpeg4 receiver or maybe a new $250 upgrade fee. Worst case with Direct TV I will get Free HDTV Mpeg4 receivers under my Wifes name. Either way its cheaper than the $799 HD Tivo today

And the is NO MPEG4 today. DOnt fear it- PLAN FOR IT. Direct TV knows where the money is, they announce only the Top 12 markets will get Mpeg4 this year as they do HD locals.

Still we cant predict the future, but with Dishnetworks new $5 a month lease plan I think all NEW customers are covered. Things have changed. This lease thing is somewhat new for DBS.

Direct TV is rumored to also be starting the lease plan on there new MPeg4 boxes. Leasing gives you more upgrade protection it also gives them more LEGAL protection from hackers (as the boxes have to be returned ).

Also with my 942 I will get a free 522 Home Media Central DVR that pips TV to all TVs in the house on channel 65. My 942 will also pip HD down converted to SD on Channel 60. I will end up with a cable like head end or Home Media central solution, that is leased so I can get rid of it in a year and get all new stuff then if needed.

Im also betting on there Dishnetwork VOOM purchase and that they may also add some Voom HD channels as they are buying the Voom Sat in 5 months (if approved). Well either get Voom channels or more HD content in general.

This is my plan, hope Im right.

PS
If anyone wants to try Dishnetwork and they would be a new sub, I have an extra extra $50 off referal numbers. Let me know and I would glad to refer you.

FINALLY!!!!!! :D
























Well, it's April 1st....what did you expect? ;)

Is anybody in the Tri-Cities having trouble with Channel 5 remapping their digital signal to Channel 10? On my Dish Network receiver, whenever I do a manual add or digital scan, the digital channel 21 for KHAS remaps to channel 10 which is screwing up my system since I also get KOLN-DT remapped to channel 10. Is my Dish receiver not working right or is it Channel 5's digital signal with a remap to 10? FWIW, in the past, they never had a remap at all from their Ch 21 digital signal.

More Sports coming from NETV-HD

Husker baseball and softball returns for a new season to NET Sports. The Husker Softball team hosts the Texas Longhorns at Bowlin Stadium in Haymarket Park on Saturday at 2 p.m. (1 MT) on NET2.

Then, it's time for baseball as the Big Red faces Creighton's Bluejays at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. (5:30 MT) on NET1. And the Huskers host the Iowa Hawkeyes, at Lincoln's Haymarket Park on Wednesday at 6 p.m. (5 MT).

If you have an HDTV set, watch all three of these games on NET-HD, 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.

Is anyone getting, or not getting, 12.01 NETV-1 during their evening broadcast hours OTA? I haven't had 12.01 for a few weeks now. I do get 12.05 NETV-HD in the evening. I also get 12.01 during the daytime.

mroot that was a sick joke

It's too bad that KMTV and Cox couldn't at least work out an agreement for the Final Four like the local CBS affiliate and Cox down in Wichita.
-------------------------------

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/entertainment/11291063.htm


Cox adds high def for games

Final Four available on cable Channel 602 today and Monday.
BY BOB CURTRIGHT
The Wichita Eagle


It's only temporary, but sports fans with high definition sets hooked up to local cable are going to get a taste of HD for the Final Four matchups.

Cox Communications and KWCH, Channel 12, have reached a temporary agreement that will allow the HD signal to be carried on cable Channel 602.

The NCAA semifinals are at 5:07 and 7:47 tonightand the final is at 8 p.m. Monday.

Both spokesmen for Cox and KWCH said they were happy to cooperate for this venture because of the high public interest. But neither was offering anything beyond Monday.

"We hope that there will be a long term HD resolution soon," said Joan Barrett, vice president of Channel 12.

Local HD owners have been frustrated during the past year as negotiations apparently stalled between Cox and KWCH to carry Channel 12's HD programming on local cable.

The sticking point has been whether Cox should pay for Channel 12's HD signal. For similar reasons, Cox does not carry the HD signal of NBC affiliate, KSNW, Channel 3.

Other local stations have reached agreement and are in HD on local cable.

My RCA DTC-100 was remapping KHAS DT to 10-1 so I did a rescan and it still went back to 10-1 as well. I have no idea what they are up to. I spoke with the general manager in February after they elected to remain on channel 5 for their digital frequency. I told him I thought it was a bad idea since no other station in the state has elected to remain on a low band vhf frequency besides KNOP Channel 2 in North Platte. (which is also owned by Greater Nebraska Television, Inc.) I think they are trying to save money by putting out less power on a lower frequency but personally I don't think it would work when there is so much interference from thunderstorms and other manmade sources on the lower frequencies. Time will tell.

"It's too bad that KMTV and Cox couldn't at least work out an agreement for the Final Four like the local CBS affiliate and Cox down in Wichita", actuall it's too bad COX doesn't rent an HD box with a built in 8VSB tuner. Their off air signal is so easy to receive, al ot of forum members report success with nothing more than STB rabbit ears.

Thanx crnhstler. Now I know my receiver isn't messed up. Have you emailed or called them to tell them that their signal is remapping to Ch 10 on everybody's receiver? Channel 10/Lincoln can't be happy with that. I will try and email or call sometime today to tell them the problem. I'm guessing they might not be aware.

"actually it's too bad COX doesn't rent an HD box with a built in 8VSB tuner."

John, you're joking right?

From the goodness of their heart, they'll provide you with a tuner that will let you receive a channel they're fighting about with a major broadcaster and also directly compete with their service?

Surely you jest.

Doug,

Look at it this way, they could free up bandwidth by providing receivers w/8VSB tuners+STB rabbit ears, that way they'll still look good to their customers while refusing to anty up! :)

I had completely missed out on April Fools last week.

John

Okay, so I took the time to find out what it would take for me to get KMTV over the air. I ned a set top receiver and some type of antenna whether it is just rabbit ears or something else. It would still cost me $250 to get the box and for just 1 channel that I want that I don't currently get.

So I ask the question again. What difference does it make if I pay $250 up front for the opportunity to get local HD channels when I can pay $9.95 a month to rent a box I need to get the local channels plus other channels not local (ESPN, INHD, etc)? I'm not paying to get the local channels, I am paying to use the box. It will still take me 2 1/2 years to pay the same amount of money as it would to go out and buy the set top box...then I would have the opportunity to upgrade. What does KMTV care if I pay my money to lease a set top box versus buying one straight up.

Maybe if there was a $50 set top box of some kind, it might be worth it, but not $250 for 1 channel.

I guess we will have to agree to disagree but either way it still costs us, the consumers, money for the product. There is no such thing as free. I wish KMTV would stop using the "Free" as an excuse to provide the consumers a product. I also wish someone from KMTV or Cox would let someone know where things are at and where the hold ups are. We as consumers can make noise either way. I don't care how it gets fixed, but I wish it was fixed.

wildjays,

Things are the same place they have been for the last year. Absolutely no where. There is not going to be an agreement anytime soon. It is not up to KMTV, it comes from their parent company. Scroll back a couple months. There are a few posts on why KMTV's parent company is holding out--- They are starting their own content provider company in their local markets.

Still no KM3 in HD on Cox.

Tommarow getting Dishnetwork installed with the new 942 HD DVR, that does two rooms with two indepentent HD Shows, even shows HD channels in SD for the 2nd TV.

PM me if you need anyone to refer you so you get an extra $50 off.

ScottChez,

Let us know your impressions of the 942 HD DVR after you've had it for a few weeks. My current set-up has a DISH 811 with one output to a ReplayTV (SD) and one output to my HD set. Instead of connecting my antenna to the 811 I have it connected to a computer with a MyHD 120 so I can record HD content (and pause/rewind live HD content). If the 942 has better PVR functionality than the MyHD card, I would definitely be interested in moving the MyHD 120 out of the system and using the dual-tuner aspect of the 942.

Also, Scott, I assume you will be receiving KM3 HD OTA. Let me know if you experience any audio dropouts with this unit. I have the Hughes HD-250 TiVo with DirecTv and I get audio dropouts roughly every 3 minutes, lasting about a second. I only get this on KMTV-HD.

Thanks!

Mike

Originally posted by mroot
Also, Scott, I assume you will be receiving KM3 HD OTA. Let me know if you experience any audio dropouts with this unit. I have the Hughes HD-250 TiVo with DirecTv and I get audio dropouts roughly every 3 minutes, lasting about a second. I only get this on KMTV-HD.

Thanks!

Mike

Mike, it's not just you. My Dish Network 921 has the same audio drops every few minutes. I don't notice it on any other OTAs.

Originally posted by mroot
I have the Hughes HD-250 TiVo with DirecTv and I get audio dropouts roughly every 3 minutes, lasting about a second. I only get this on KMTV-HD.

I have the HR10-250, as well. I have the same problem that you described. I have tried clearing all scanned OTA channels and rescanning, but that didn't help. However, I'm not sure that the clearing and rescanning really worked. When the summer reruns start, I'm going to try clearing and deleting everything. If that doesn't work, I'm going to try restoring from a backup image. Maybe we'll have the 6.2 upgrade by then and the problem will be fixed. :rolleyes:

That's interesting. I've been in contact with Mike Gann with KM3, and he's really been trying to determine why it's doing that. I haven't heard from him lately, but he HAS been researching the problem. I've heard of another OTA station in Salt Lake (if I remember correctly), that also is experiencing this phenomenon. I'm really starting to believe it must have something to do with KM3's broadcast equipment in some way or another. I have no other explanation. Other than it drives my wife crazy. :-(

Originally posted by mroot
That's interesting. I've been in contact with Mike Gann with KM3, and he's really been trying to determine why it's doing that. I haven't heard from him lately, but he HAS been researching the problem.
They might need to obtain an HR10-250 of their own. :D

Other than it drives my wife crazy. :-(
Ditto.

I have the HR10-250 also, getting audio drop outs.


Just got the 942 yesterday. NO AUDIO drop outs.

Selling my HR10-250 on ebay right now.

I have recently started having problems getting KETV.. (7-01 and 7-02)..

I have a E* 811 with a RatShack Yagi in the Attic.. KETV used to come in at 90%+ signal strength, but now only reads 49%, and won't lock on consistently..

Has something changed with KETV, or is this just a bug in my 811?

I would try deleting KETV from your list and then try readding to see if that clears it up. We have had to do this in the past with other channels.

Evilpete,

Try rotating your antenna slightly. I have the same problem from time to time throughout the year. My Yagi locks up on Crowne Point (20, 22, 45) from multiple directions. My neighborhood is in a valley and we're surrounded by two story homes. I'd imagine multipath is part of my problem, nevertheless the off axis peaks change from time to time and allways are weather dependent. I can consistently find a direction to point that is solid but it seems like it change a bit from time to time.

I live straight south 1 block west of 72nd street in Papillion. My Crwone Pointe rotor angle has a range between 340 (NW) to 20 (NE). CBS locks up solid anywhere within this range but KMTV and KETV are hit and miss, I have to tweak until they lock and then signal strength is generally good in that direction for awhile. Oddly enough pointing straight North usually results in either KMTV or KETV dropping out.

My problem may be multipath or the fact that all three towers are basically in a straight line directly north of me, either way our rotor sure comes in handy.

Regards, John

Originally posted by evilpete
I have a E* 811 with a RatShack Yagi in the Attic.. KETV used to come in at 90%+ signal strength, but now only reads 49%, and won't lock on consistently..

I've got the same set-up, except with a SilverSensor and have the same problem just south of 36th and 370. I've cleared my locals and rescanned, sometimes 7-1 and 7-2 get added back, sometimes they don't. We had the same solid signal strength until recently. Last night it was pretty good, but dropped to 49% once and we lost it for the night.

My new Dishnetwork 942 home media center solution works great. I get Lincolns CBS ALL of Omaha including WB and Fox on the Digital 38-1 and 38-2.

And Ketvs 7-2 weather.

Thats ALL HDs all of the time. What a good OTA TURNER!!!!!

For New customers you lease it for $5 a Month so you get Mpeg 4 upgrade protection. There is a $250 lease upgrade fee to get the 942, but its still cheaper than everything else.

http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/products/receivers/dvr/index.shtml



Anyone ready to switch let me know, I got an extra extra $50 referal rebates if I refer you. Just PM me.

Originally posted by ScottChez
[B]

For New customers you lease it for $5 a Month so you get Mpeg 4 upgrade protection. There is a $250 lease upgrade fee to get the 942, but its still cheaper than everything else.



Scott, there is no way in hell you can tell folks that the 942 and the $5 lease fee gives you upgrade protection for the MPEG4 transition. You're reaching here, buddy. No where anywhere has E* even hinted about the 942 to MPEG4 transition agreement.

I realize you want to move club dish cards, but please don't make it so blatant.

Thats not what the CEO said on the Charlie Chat Monday.

Think about it. Direct TV is doing free Mpeg4 upgrades when theres comes out . . . . Cable does free receiver upgrades.

No one is going to PAY for new receviers when they are leasing, thus free upgrades like he said.


I also read the small print on the Dishnetwork lease. You can return the equipment at anytime and or lease new models.


I know this is hard for existing Dish Sub as you do not have lease options yet. The CEO did say Lease options will be avl to existing sub later this summer.

Leasing is the way to go when technology is changing all the time. Think about it.

UPDATE: Also found out that MANY with currently leases for 525 and other HD models have alreadying turned in there old leased models and upgraded to the new 942 models.

Leasing is the waive of the future, box gets outdated, turn it in and get the new model. Just like with Cable TV.

Direct TV is starting there lease plan in January with there own new Home Media center solution.

Is KOLN-DT xmitting at full power? I've decided a good way to avoid audio dropouts from KMTV-DT is to watch KOLN-DT instead. I seem to get it fairly solid from 96th and Harrison, but wondered if a preamp on my small antenna might bring it in perfectly. Anyone had good luck with a preamp, like the Channelmaster 7777 (I believe).

Thanks!

Mike

Anyone notice problems with WOWT keeping their signal HD?
I don't watch a lot on WOWT, but when I do it seems like a show start out 16x9 HD, but part way through it stay 4x3 after a commercial...
Friday night's Trial by Jury is a good example of this happening...

All,

I'm out of town for the next four weeks, can someone please scan for digital channel 33 KBIN-DT (Iowa PBS) out of Council Bluffs a couple times each week during the next couple of weeks? I suspect we may see something from them before the end of April or at the latest early May if the weather cooperates.

Looking forward to KBIN-DT!

Thanks, John

FYI for WOWT OTA DT viewers.
Starting early Monday morning WOWT DT will go off the air while some work is completed involving the transition to a full power system.
We will be removing the medium power transmitter and antenna array from Crown Point and will install them at our studios downtown.
This will clear the way for the installation of a new high power transmitter and antenna array at Crown Point.
No disruption of cable delivery is anticipated. It is hoped that we will be back up with a signal from downtown in about a week.

When this project is completed WOWT will have both a full power DT transmitter at Crown Point and a medium power back up downtown, each on it's own tower.
Thank you for your patience.
Mike Plews
Chief Photographer
WOWT

Not that I use my antenna w/rotor on the roof with my Zenith HD-SAT520 since I moved from DirecTV to Time-Warner cable but...

any ideas how this will affect Lincoln viewers viewing OTA broadcasts?

So all Dishnetwork and Direct TV HD DVR owners need to change there events to record off the Analog stations this week.

This can be Time consuming, maybe I just wont watch the show this week?


I take it this upgrade will be done in time for the MAY Network Sweeps?
I wonder if the NBC Network would be concerned if it was still down by then??

I use the Channel Master 7777 to get the Lincoln CBS from Omaha.

Works great. You must use an anntenuator to tune the power down though. Put it in the back of your TV.

I dont watch KM3 anymore.

Great news!!

Since this is "National Unplug your television week" it makes sense that WOWT do this now. :)
It sure will be nice to have a full power signal from WOWT, in addition to the backup they are moving to their downtown studio. I'll be interested to see how this works from Lincoln.

Anyone try scanning for KBIN-DT channel 33 lately?

Regards, John

Any one have an email contact for Iowa PBS and the HDTV KBIN that is was due on any day??

Is anyone else not getting WOWT HD on Time Warner in Lincoln? I know the post earlier mentioned no cable outtages were expected, but it's been out since yesterday for me.

Brad, I'd guess TW was taking the HD feed from OTA. I lost it yesterday also.

I'm sure TWC gets the signal right off the air, so we're out of luck for now.
If somebody in Omaha can let us know when the low power transmission makes it back on the air we can check and see if TWC can pull it it. They have a slightly bigger tower than some of us at home :)

I haven't see any activity on 33 for KBIN at all

Anyone having trouble picking up WOWT tonight, or is it only me? Have the Silver Surfer and my signal goes from 45% to 55% to 0% to 77%... It's jumping around everywhere.... weird.

Anyone else expericing this tonight? Can't watch Revelations in HD :(

I had some trouble picking it up last night, I thought it was just me. Guess not. They might be tweaking something and had to lower the power or something. Who knows.

Earlier in the week somebody posted that they would be taking down their antenna and moving it downtown so they could but the full power one up at Crown Point.

Originally posted by boardmanDJ
Earlier in the week somebody posted that they would be taking down their antenna and moving it downtown so they could but the full power one up at Crown Point.

Hmm.. that makes sense I guess. I am getting everything except for WOWT.

Is KPTM running HD yet OTA? I see it in my DirecTV listing but all I get is searching for signal. :(

Scott, where did you pick up your CM 7777?

Thanks

Mike

Originally posted by Absolut


Is KPTM running HD yet OTA?

Not yet. June is the rumored launch date for HD on KPTM-DT.

Well, I picked up a CM7775, which is a UHF-only preamp. I hooked it in and can you believe my signals are worse than when I started? I know I have it hooked up correctly. KOLN-DT won't come in at all, where before it would at least come in with little pixilation. All other stations are weaker, but come in fine since they are strong, but even their signals show weaker on my signal strength meter built into the Hughes HD10-250.

When I unplug the power supply, everything drops bigtime, so at least it's doing something.

Any ideas?

Mike

Can you hook it up to analog and see how reception is? I would think if analog came up all snowy looking it would be a bad preamp. Otherwise, if you see lots of ghosts, it's possible you are getting overload and the equivalent of ghosts of digital.
If that's the case, check and make sure the FM trap is on and try an attenuator (available at radio shack). Amplification is good in the right doses, but too much can make things go bonkers.

This in from KBIN:


"John:
Everything is installed. We are in the final finish-up stages. I would guess within the next two weeks at most.
Remember…Channel 33. I would be interested to hear from you on our signal quality (or if you can even receive it).
Thanks,
*name removed*
IPTV Engineering"



Looks like they'll be going live soon, woohoo!


CM7777 - Mike I installed one of those, I had to go to radio shacke and pick up an attenuator. My signal wasn't being overdriven by much, but turning the pot wiper arm about 20% of its total throw does maximize signal strength on my tuners. Give it a shot...also, a question that I have to ask is where did you install the CM7777. Installing it at the end of a long cable run will amplify the noise floor just as much as the signal. For best results the amp should be installed right at the antenna.

Regards, John

Where is IPTV's CB tower? Just wondering of my chances in Lincoln for reception.

gpflepsen,

From my house in Papillion KBIN is about 13 miles at about 52 degrees. A bit far for Lincoln, I guess we'll know soon.

John

Well, the preamp is at the antenna, with about a 4-foot piece of coax. The 7775 is for UHF only, and there aren't any switches inside like the 7777. I went with the 7775, because I have no need for analog stations, and the specs were the same on UHF for both. Should the coax to the antenna be even shorter? Can that matter that much? KOLN wasn't all that strong to begin with, so I doubt I'm getting overloaded, and it is even weaker than my straight-through feed.

Mike

I used the Silver Sensor in the Atic, the bigger UHF only anntennas did worse.

4 ft is fine.

You may not think your over loaded but the 7775 and 7777 are very powerful, you must put an anntenuator at the TV and tweak it about once a month as the weather changes.

Im ready for Iowa PBS, we may all have to retweak our anntennas again to get it, I hope not.

Could some one do a breaking news post when its up?

10/11 may not be overpowering, but remember, you have Analog 26 (NET) in Omaha next to Digital 25 (10/11). An amplification of 26 could goof up 25.

That does make sense, Dave and Scott. I'll give that a try.

Thanks!

Mike

I had the same problem (signal drop) when I hooked up my high gain Winegard 8275 pre-amp. It was fine when my antenna was in the attic but when I went outside there was too much signal for it to handle. So I went on eBay, purchased a medium gain Winegard 8700 and everything has worked perfectly since then. The key is not the dB gain but the total input. You can see that the 8700 can handle more signal than the 8275.

Winegard chart - http://www.winegard.com/offair/pdf/Chart29.pdf

MODEL GAIN NOISE TOTAL INPUT
AP-8275 29 dB 28 dB 2.9 dB 2.8 dB 29,000 μV 30,000 μVV

AP-8700 17 dB 19 dB 2.8 dB 2.8 dB 110,000 μV 93,000 μV

I also use RG-11 to minimize signal loss and can receive channel 10.1 every night when the weather warms up. Distance is 101 miles. We also have a channel 26 in the opposite direction (30 miles) broadcasting a full power digital signal which doesn't seem to give me any problems. I think it is the total UHF signal (both analog and digital) that is overloading your pre-amp.

By the way one of the top DXer's in the nation uses two 8700's for his system!

http://www.oldtvguides.com/DXPhotos/

Originally posted by johnwcookjr
gpflepsen,

From my house in Papillion KBIN is about 13 miles at about 52 degrees. A bit far for Lincoln, I guess we'll know soon.

John

From my sipherin', I appear to be about 50-60 miles from KBIN-DT's tower. It'd be nice to be able to get their 200kW signal.

At 27th & Highway 2 in Lincoln it's roughly 52 miles at 56 degrees. The Big 3 at crown point are at about 42 degrees, so hopefully there's hope here in South Lincoln. I'm sure those up on the hill (Old Cheney) will get it with little effort with an outdoor directional.
WOWT is showing at 51 miles away, and we got it at it's low power with 30 feet of pole from the ground, in a dip.

I'm close to 40th and Old Cheney with a great view over the valley to the northeast. I'm hoping my 100" yagi in the attic will come through for me. :)

Any further word on when WOWT will be back on the air? How is the move going?

From: http://www.jsonline.com/enter/tvradio/apr05/321886.asp

REALLY LIVE FROM NEW YORK: The New York Post says the next big show making the transition to ultra-sharp world of high-definition TV will be NBC's "Saturday Night Live."

The live comedy show should be ready to make the HDTV plunge next October. "SNL" follows NBC's other late-night entertainment shows, Jay Leno's "Tonight Show," which has been airing in high-def for years, and "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," which made the change this week.

FWIW, I just added VOOM's 10 HD channels (21 by 2006) to my Echostar account. That plus KBIN-DT coming soon and I've a lot of HD programming choices.

Now if History and SCI-FI would go HD I'd be in heaven...

Did you have a dish pointed at 61.5 already? I'm debating whether to re-aim my 148 to 61.5 or wait until Dish Network makes an announcement regarding mirroring the channels at 148.

Yes, during our initial installation 4 years ago we pointed a dish at 61.5 to pick up HD, that was before Echostar moved programming over to 110. Since the migration I've been using the 61.5 antenna just to pickup CBSHD channel 2 out of NY and now VOOM.

I thought VOOM took a dump.

BTW, I tossed in about 13 db of attenuators and that fixed my preamp problems. I'm going to try and get 2 single channels attenuators to knock out 26 and 42 to see if that helps bring in KOLN-DT and KPTM-DT, even though KPTM-DT is rolling in pretty good right now.

VOOM as a content delivery system is no longer in business but the content is now being subbed out to other providers, Echostar was the first to come to an agreement for delivery.

Let me know if and where you find a channel 42 notch filter, the last time I looked they were not a readily available commercial off the shelf item and a custom build ran into hundreds of dollars.

With IOWA PBS in HD due soon on KBIN.

Im worried about pointing almost in the oposite direction to get it.

Any one know where you can get those Filters so you can have TWO Anntennas. The filter would only allow channel 33 in so you dont get that Multi pathing.

The filter might also help some with getting Lincoln better (its almost in the oposite direction of Omahas big 3 (the filter would only allow channel 25 in).

Scott, you can also use a common splitter/combiner to combine antennas. Use equal lengths of coax to the antennas.

That is the cheap, simple solution and the first to try. If it fails you can call Zager antenna in Lincoln for custom designed antennas.

If found the special combiners that remove Multi Pathing.

They cost too much I think

http://www.warrenelectronics.com/Antennas/joiners.htm

John, I talked to a technical expert at ChannelMaster and he mentioned a single channel attenuator, but then he emailed me back and said that they will also attenuate 5 channels above and below the channel you want removed. Doesn't sound too good when you want to attenuate channel 42. That sounds like it will wipe out 43 also. And I wanted to knock out 26 analog to get 25 digital (KOLN-DT), so that won't work too well either. Damn.

Still no 6-1. WTF?

Email received Monday morning from Dennis Wilden at WOWT - Not quite sure what all he means though:
---
The old transmitter is being moved a new, more powerful one is being installed. Should be back to normal by Wednesday.

---

Originally posted by timdg
Email received Monday morning from Dennis Wilden at WOWT - Not quite sure what all he means though:
---
The old transmitter is being moved a new, more powerful one is being installed. Should be back to normal by Wednesday.

---

Well, from my interpretation it looks like WOWT-DT should be on my fall 2005.



;)

Originally posted by johnwcookjr
FWIW, I just added VOOM's 10 HD channels (21 by 2006) to my Echostar account.

How did you add the VOOM channels to your Echostar account? Call customer service? Is Echostar the same as Dish?

End of July 2005 is the cutoff for all TV in the market for being full power digital. If memory serves, there was a conversation several months go which indicated WOWT would be ahead of this deadline.

Originally posted by PAULSTORM
How did you add the VOOM channels to your Echostar account? Call customer service? Is Echostar the same as Dish?

Dish Network. I added the V*HD channels yesterday too. You need a dish pointed to 61.5. If not, they will charge you $100 to install the second dish. $5 additional to the HD pack.

=======HOW TO GET VOOM on Dishnetwork==============

1. IF YOU ALREADY HAVE DISHNETWORK and a HD Receiver

a. Omaha DMA

Everyone in the Omaha DMA has the Nebraska PBS on 148. By FCC law Dish has to give you a 2nd Dish to point to it (cost about $100). The install has to be free also (an other $50 or so value).

So if you do not have the 2nd Dish call them and order it so you can get PBS.

Then after the installer leaves (or just give him and extra Tip $$$) point it to 61.5 and then order your 10 HD Voom channels.

They cost $5 (which is a good price as I think the 21 Voom channels cost about $45.

b.
If you live in the Lincoln-Hastings-GI DMA you are on a Super Dish. You will need to buy the 2nd dish since all your locals are on one dish.

If your not sure use this link to find out what locals and what dish is in your area.

https://customersupport.dishnetwork.com/customernetqual/prepAddress.do


2. If you do not have DISHNETWORK and you have VOOM

Call them up and ask for the special VOOM Switch discount.
Also use the Club Dish referal code numbers to avoid the $49 activation fee (see below).

3. If you have Direct TV or Cable and want Dishnetwork.

Call them up and get the new customer discounts. Ask for the $19.95 a Month for 3 months Top 180 channel discount.
Also use the Club Dish Referral codes so you dont get the $49.95 extra charge. The HD Pack is $9.95 a month the Voom pack is an other $5.
The HD Pack is free for 6 months for new customers.

=======CLUB DISH Referral DETAILS======

Use one of these codes (extras included if one is used)
If you use one PM me so I can mark it as used

CDT053260297 Edit: This one was used

CDT052959101
CDT052959091
CDT052838348
CDT052838330
CDT016823293
CDT042664006
CDT042663998

===pasted text from the coupon==========

THIS SPECIAL GIFT CERTIFICATE ENTITLES YOU TO DISH NETWORK SATELLITE TV FOR THE WHOLE HOUSE (UP TO 4 ROOMS) WITH DIGITAL HOME ADVANTAGE INCLUDING:

FREE Activation ($49.99 value),
FREE Standard Professional Installation (up to 4 TVs),
PLUS a $49.99 credit on your first bill.
Call 1-888-920-GIFT(4438)


Important
Requires valid major credit card, Social Security Number and qualifying programming purchase. Participation subject to credit approval.
Qualifying programming purchase starts at just $29.99/month, including local channels (where available). If service is terminated or downgraded, equipment must be returned to DISH Network. Certain receivers must be continuously connected to a phone line or will be subject to an additional monthly fee.
Optional DISH Player - Digital Video Recorder available at no additional up-front cost. Monthly DISH Network DVR Service fee applies and varies based on programming subscription level.
This ClubDISH certificate good for new, first-time residential DISH Network customers only.

FYI for you all. The Low power transmitter has been succesfully moved to it's new home downtown. Now the limiting factor in getting back on with a signal is how quickly the tower crew can do their part.
Windy conditions can play havoc with their schedule but we are making good progress.
Jay would be a better authority on this but I am told that we will be at the same radiated power as we were out at Crown Point but at a somewhat lower elevation.
Once the new high power set up is installed and running we should go from about 60,000 watts erp to close to our licensed limit of 1,000,000 watts erp and will be using a higher gain antenna array at Crown Point.
I am told that even the FCC cannot revoke the inverse square law so this will not mean that our signal footprint will become ten times larger but it is expected that we should be able to punch through bad weather much better.
Thanks for being patient.
Mike Plews
WOWT

ER's audio on channel 6 for the past 2 Thrusday's cut out, but the HDTV feed through cox was fine.


Andrew Wees

We resumed broadcasting from our studio tower at 5:15 p.m. today. We are pushing the transmitter hard to make up for the antenna elevation loss.

Let me know if we are reaching you.

Jay

===BREAKING HD NEWS ALERT ======

1.
KBIN Iowas HDTV PBS is now on in HD.

Its Digital channel 33. It seems to be very strong from Papillion when it is working.
(they must be tweaking it or something as it sometimes goes out)

They show 100% independent DTV shows than whats on the normal SD Iowa PBS, in other words, it is truely a NEW channel for our market. The Digital schedule lists mostly shows after 6PM M-F and most of the day noon on for the week ends.

Good luck everyone it picking it up.
We are all here to help so let us know your DTV signal issues.
Anyone from lincoln able to get it?

2.
WOWT HD also is back on the air the not as tall down town tower.
WOWT HD the signal strenght is 78 Percent here in Papillion, it was around 87 so not bad. Thiis on my Dishnetwork 942 receiver.

3. Bad news

Its May 4th, Did KXVO WB and the Alt feed for Fox go off the air? They were on Digital channel 38
38-1 WB
38-2 Fox

Personal notes:

I would think they (WB and Pappas) would of at least given us the courtesy to let us know.
When is must carry DTV? This summer, seems like Pappas is Going backwards.
Can they afford there electric bill again for the DTV transmitter.
Two Public TV stations have now made it with just donations, Pappas cant even do it and they made a Million dollar proffit last quarter.
Seems strange.
Someone needs to email them again.


-scott

Lincoln: 84th & Holdrege
WOWT is averaging about 45-50% signal strength with my silver sensor. Sometimes drops to about 35%, but its holding ok....

Lincoln: 27th & Fletcher (basically 27th and I-80)

WOWT is not coming in for me with my simple Silver Sensor (but then it wasn't before). No luck with the Iowa PBS, either. My guess is those with more powerful antennas will have better luck.

I'm near Villisca, IA and always have had a signal strength of 75-80% on WOWT-DT, but I'm not getting anything now.

For comparison, KMTV-DT is 80-85% and KETV-DT is usually 85-90%. These values are as reported by a MyHD MDP-130.

Is there any word on when the main antenna and transmitter will be installed?

Tom