Jay,

Thanks for all the hard work but alas I'm not home to provide feedback on reception, however it appears the boys in Lincoln are receiving you. Looking forward to WOWT-DT going mega-watt this summer.

Regards, John

Time Warner is picking up WOWT, but I can't get it down in the valley at 27th & highway 2-ish.
The little red light blinks on my Samsung SIR-T151 though.

Nothing on 33 yet.

Originally posted by WOWT
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

You're reaching Blair.

Our transmitter is to arrive June 1. It was shown at the "National Association of Broadcasters" convention in Las Vegas last month. This is where all manufactures show the latest and greatest broadcasting equipment to the 130,000 attendees. It won the "Top Innovation Award" so hopefully it will hit the air with few problems. The antenna was delayed, with a delivery date of June 2. They were having problems engineering the brackets to fit the tower legs. The additional bracing we had to install last year to repair our damaged tower makes the mounts difficult to design.

The antenna should take 5 days to install, the transmitter about 3-4 weeks.
My Dolby 5.1 is scheduled for May 16.

I am now at the point where I have equipment arriving faster than I can install it.

Jay

No luck with channel 6 at 48th and Vine or at 56th and Vine. Will wait until June to see you again.

Will WOWT have to be off the air for any amount of time for the new transmitter install or Dolby 5.1?

UPDATE:

KBIN Iowas HD PBS does seem to come and go, they must be testing.

WB and FOX HD on 38-1 and 38-2 is down a lot. They are either testing or they are violating the FCCs DTV signal requirements (there is no waiver on file for WB only the Fox 42/43 has a wiaver).

Anyone else notice that WOWTs hi-def signal is not available on Cox tonight? Does Cox get NBC from WOWT via a direct connection or OTA?

I can get it fine. Andrew Wees


Originally posted by huskerforlife
Anyone else notice that WOWTs hi-def signal is not available on Cox tonight? Does Cox get NBC from WOWT via a direct connection or OTA?

It is on now, but there was no signal earlier. I am talking OTA.

If anybody happens to know when the Red Oak (36) affiliate of Iowa Public is on with HD I would be interested to try it in Lincoln. Oddly enough, that signal comes in pretty well on analog, but not Council Bluffs.

Originally posted by csschrot
No luck with channel 6 at 48th and Vine or at 56th and Vine. Will wait until June to see you again.

No luck for me either -- I'm in the same general area -- around 60th and Leighton. I used to get 6 at 90%+ before the move. Can still get both channel 3 and channel 7 at 90%+.

Just installed a DB-8 in my attic, to a new DirecTV H10 receiver. I can get 3,6, and 7, all great and just under 90%, but no KPTM or KXVO. Also, no KYNE but I haven't finished turning the ant. back and forth to see what it'll do.

Is there even anything on 42-1 and 38-1? I've been reading through but haven't found anything consistent. There's 0 signal strength showing for both of them.


Scott

Scoots,

Your best bet when pointing your antenna would be to focus on 38-1 first keeping in mind that 43-1 is co-located on the same tower. If you can't pick up 38-1 forget about 43-1. As far as programming I'm not sure if either are currently broadcasting but from my experience 38-1 is usually up and running.

From my location in Papillion 38-1 usually comes in on a daily basis, 43-1 rarely comes in and I've found that for whatever reason (probably multipath related) that by turning my antenna just a few more degress to the SE from where 38-1 comes in is the sweet spot for 43-1. For making these adjustments on a daily basis a rotor is indispensable.

Good luck, John

Where is the 38-1/43-1 tower located?

Also... does anyone else have a problem with no center channel with the 5.1 digital audio on KETV 7.1?

If you're getting 38-1 okay, I think KPTM is on 38-2 or 38-3. Or at leINast they were.

Also, can't get KBIN ON 33. SIGNAL barely pops up on the meter.

The KPTM/KXVO tower is out by Gretna. It's one of those tall sticks you see on I-80.

http://tiger.census.gov/cgi-bin/mapgen/gif?lon=-96.225000&lat=41.070833&iwd=750&iht=750&mark=-96.225000,41.070833,bluestar,KPTM_OMAHA_NE&on=water,miscell,counties,places,CITIES,&off=streets,GRID,shorelin&ht=0.5&wid=0.5

KPTM/KXVO is owned by Pappas. Need to start emailing them as they have forgotten about us customers/viewers.

I just heard . . .

They are so cheap, they dont want to pay the electric bill to even make there WB channel 38 DTV with enough power so everyone can watch it let alone there FOX DTV channel 43.

I live 15 miles from there tower and its often imposible to get channel 38 let alone 43.

They are going to hold out till there waiver expires in July to go with more power (as the FCC requires it by then).

Scott I got this information directly for Richard at KPTM.

KPTM (Fox #42) is only broadcasting its digital signal (channel 43) to Omaha. Their plans are to be full power and broadcasting the same coverage as the analog 42 before July 1st. They will be passing the HD 720p signal at that time. UHF 43 is channel mapped to 42.1.

KXVO (WB #15) is only broadcasting its digital signal (channel 38) to Omaha. Their plans are to replicate KXVO's analog coverage area sometime around July 1st. Upgrading to pass WB's network HD, plus upconverting local programming to match WB's format may not be finished until after July 1st. UHF 38 is channel mapped to 15.1.

If KXVO and KPTM were on Crown Point, chances are you would get them fine. Unfortunately they are out by Springfield on low power until they finish getting things ready for rollout.
I highly doubt all of these stations across the country are part of some big conspiracy. There is work to be done, the money has to be in the bank, and with many stations being owned by larger companies, it means there is more to the big picture than Omaha Nebraska.
Quite frankly, I'm impressed that anybody is on at full power yet.
If they're on by July, at full power, in a digital format, that's all that's required.

It sounds like there's a plan in place, and when that time comes, we'll have yet another treat to add to our bag of goodies.

In other words nothing has changed.

They have been on low power for over a year now.

One year of low power, why the delay for high power?
Nebraska PBS and Iowa PBS did it already.

At least they put 38-2 with the Fox feed on a year ago so we can see fox in DTV.

I think I'm going to try a good UHF amp to see if I can get anything from it at all. I can't get 38 either. KYNE 1-5 are weak, and no picture, but the signal meter at least jumps up to 30 or so.

RE: 38-2...

I have a DirecTV H10 receiver, and I can't find a way to directly add that channel (it doesn't show up in the auto-setup, or in the "secondary networks"). Anyone with an H10 know how to manually add the channel?

Commerical Television and Public Television are two entirely different business models.
As I recall, KPTM made the announcement long ago as to when they would be putting full power digital on the air. They stated their game plan.
I don't understand how there's any delay, when they stated already that they would not be on the air until June 2005.

Then why did KPTM have to file a Hard Ship waiver with the FCC last year so they would not have to do full power DTV till July?

I think KPTM is having troubles.


I also found out that they do not even own the WB station. They are the contract operators of the station. In other words the owners of the WB station out sourced everything to KPTM-Pappas.



Here is a FCC against where someone filled against Pappas and KPTM.
I think KPTM won but it looks like they are over there heads with some many stations in the area. Its on Page 2

Not sure what it all means

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-45A1.pdf

Part of the problem Pappas is having, has to do with their tower. Long long ago, in one of the first filings with the FCC there was an explanation of the tower loading issue. You can't have two DT and analog antennas for two stations on that tower at once. So, they initially mounted the two lower power DT antenna's lower on the tower.
It now looks like the rollout for WB is after KPTM is up. That would lead me to believe that once KPTM-DT is up, they are going to remove KPTM's analog and put up KXVO's DT, then drop KXVO's analog. There's probably a good chance they could mount the analog antenna's lower on the tower. Other options include combinign output into a shared antenna. Perhaps they are going to rig that up so 15 & 42 share? Who knows. I haven't seen the specifics.
That in itself is a nightmare. You figure in the number of obstacles going on in tandem, in each market pappas has stations, and you can begin to see why things are slow.
Yes, the big networks have proven they can get up and running at full power, but those are different companies.

Incidentally, it's not uncommon to have local management agreements such as Pappas has with the owners of 15. This agreement was in place when 15 first went on the air. You have an esatblished, local station provide some closet space for you and they operate the station. Most major cities have them and it allows more of the WB, Pax and UPN caliber of stations to have a signal in the communities.

Did anybody see the news on Emmis (who owns KM3)? They apparently wwant to sell off their TV properties. So, this could possibly ease concerns that Emmis wanted to dilute their DT signals and not offer HD.

Emmis wants to sell out of TV- thanks boardmanDj for the headline. . . .

I think this is great news. Maybe a Bigger company will by KM3. One that has the money to pay there employees more and also the money to make it number one in the market. More news and weather.

Heck right now they cant even afford to do the new at 6PM like the other big local stations.

It might even mean more money for more local HD content some day.
I just have not been happy with the owners- Emmis.
I am happy with the local staff at KM3, they do a heck of a lot with the little funds they get from the owners.

Maybe someday they will end up on Cox cable?


NEWS

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050511/BUSINESS/505110403/1003

MORE NEWS

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050511/BUSINESS/505110403/1003

Anyone know if there is a local company that will adjust an outdoor antenna without charging an arm and a leg?

Anyone watch any of the Iowa PBS in HD? It seems to be up full time now.


Its like having a whole new Discovery in HD channel.

I think its better than Nebraskas PBS HD channel as all they seem to show is the PBS HD feed.

Great HD Quality also.

Mostly all Unique content for our market.

Originally posted by ScottChez
Then why did KPTM have to file a Hard Ship waiver with the FCC last year so they would not have to do full power DTV till July?

I think KPTM is having troubles.

I also found out that they do not even own the WB station. They are the contract operators of the station. In other words the owners of the WB station out sourced everything to KPTM-Pappas.

Here is a FCC against where someone filled against Pappas and KPTM.
I think KPTM won but it looks like they are over there heads with some many stations in the area. Its on Page 2

Not sure what it all means

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-45A1.pdf
Still, it appears Pappas has more expansion plans to come.

Northpine.com, a site which follows upper midwest broadcasting, reported May 3 that Pappas-owned KPTH in Sioux City plans to enter a shared-services agreement with CBS affiliate KMEG there. (The site has a link to a Sioux City Journal article but it is a pay link.)

They're also trying to put a second, digital-only station on the air in Des Moines, where they currently own WB affiliate KPWB. (The callsign is KDMI in case you want to look it up in fcc.gov 's TV Query. Caroline K. Powley currently holds the license but has filed to transfer it to Pappas.)

Wow, KBIN-DT is rock solid over 90% signal strength, they must be pumping out some power, they're about 50 degrees off axis and coming in great, way to go channel 33 IPTV!

Been out of town for a week, but my ShowtimeHD and HBOHD are giving me the message, that I must subscribe to the service. My regular Show and HBO come in fine. Any one else having problems???

Originally posted by mdg
Been out of town for a week, but my ShowtimeHD and HBOHD are giving me the message, that I must subscribe to the service. My regular Show and HBO come in fine. Any one else having problems???

Yes that happened to me last week. I had to call cox and they wanted to send a tech to my house and warned me they may have to charge me. Long story short I finally talked them into trying to send a reset to the box (since I knew it was not my in-house wiring) which of course worked. They told me they can send two different signals to the box - one they consider minor and one more major. The minor signal (might have been called an H signal?) cleared it up for me.

Brian

I hooked up a Channel Master preamp, which I got from Lowe's and now I can get KBIN-DT at a peak of 75. Now I just wish they would show Doctor Who in a least digital.

KBIN-DT appears to be playing different programming compared to channel 32. I'd imagine that once they've caught up and played thru all of their stock pile of HD programming that they may start to mirror programming from 32.

Although not a big country fan last nights concert on KBIN-DT looked and sounded pretty darned good.

I'll have to remind myself to check Thursday nights (10:30) channel 33 schedule for an upconverted Red Dwarf broadcast.

John

Originally posted by johnwcookjr
KBIN-DT appears to be playing different programming compared to channel 32. I'd imagine that once they've caught up and played thru all of their stock pile of HD programming that they may start to mirror programming from 32.
That's what they're doing in Waterloo-Cedar Rapids, Iowa as well. They're playing primarily PBS HD or widescreen programming with a few of their local HD productions mixed in. The schedule is not the same, and most IPTV analog programming doesn't seem to air on IPTV-DT unless there's an HD or widescreen version.

When they first went on the air late last summer, they had an upconverted version of their analog on a subchannel, but they stopped doing that because they had to swap out encoders. An engineer indicated to me last year that they may be going back to the old arrangement when they get new encoders.

Go to www.iptv.org -- they have a button you can click on for the IPTV digital lineup.

We will be conducting tests etc. on the DT transmitter over the next few days. We may be off and on the air at various times during the day.

Originally posted by Mike Gann
We will be conducting tests etc. on the DT transmitter over the next few days. We may be off and on the air at various times during the day.

I wondered why I couldn't find a signal just now...
Are the tests just during the day or also during all the new programming during primetime?

We hope to be all wraped up by tomorrow (wednesday) afternoon. We plan to start running all three cabinets on the air at that time at the 1,000 kW level.

Mike,

You're coming in steady at the moment, now if Letterman would just make the switch to hi-def!

John

Originally posted by Mike Gann
We hope to be all wraped up by tomorrow (wednesday) afternoon. We plan to start running all three cabinets on the air at that time at the 1,000 kW level.

Is that full power? Right now I only have trouble when it is calm as the trees block it out (my guess). I was hoping the increased power would make it through the trees in the summer.

Anyone know when WOWT will be back up in HD? If they're up already, I am still having problems picking up their signal. Any ideas why?

About 3 pages back there is a note from WOWT regarding their HDTV move.

They moved the low power stuff downtown, to act as permanent backup.
Their new full power transmitter is to arrive June 1st. It will be hot off the display at the National Association of Broadcasters convention where they show off the latest and greatest gizmo's....and WOWT will have one!
Their antenna should arrive June 2nd. Give them 3-4 weeks, depending on weather, anf WOWT will finally join the other big players at full power!
It's possible that by this time next month, we could all be checking our OTA boxes every 30 seconds for a singal :)

Don't worry folks, you'll still have KPTM/KXVO to complain about for a few months :)

We have applied to the FCC to grant us permission to run full power (1,000 kW). This sould be granted in the next couple of weeks. Until then we will run all three cabinets at reduced power at the 700 kW ERP level in compliance with our current STA.

Originally posted by Mike Gann
We have applied to the FCC to grant us permission to run full power (1,000 kW). This sould be granted in the next couple of weeks. Until then we will run all three cabinets at reduced power at the 700 kW ERP level in compliance with our current STA.

Great so there is hope for me :)

Thanks

Just a question to throw out there just to generate some local conversation. Which of the Omaha/Lincoln stations will start doing their news broadcasts in HD?

To me there is no compelling point for stations to request money for their carriage on systems unless they are producing their own HD content.

To me this would be something new that would make a station unique over the others. Would that change the landscape of the popular newscasts?

KPTM-Of course I don't see this one happening anytime soon. We all know the issues even with their OTA signal and how there doesn't seem to be a lot of money available to get that completed. So I guess how could they afford the HD equipment needed for a newscast?

KMTV-This could be the thing that could put them over the top and jump back into the race for higher ratings for their newscast and get new people to check them out again since I, for one, enjoy their newscast, I just don't like that I can't get their channel in HD. Unfortunately it probably wouldn't pan out as expected because the potential viewership would be down because of the viewers they are missing that have and are dedicated to Cox Cable. I still would be interested in the number of OTA HD viewers vs Cable HD viewers in the Omaha area.

WOWT-They have been losing ground in the ratings race somewhat as KETV has claimed victory the last period. An HD broadcast by WOWT could edge out KETV and possibly lure viewers back. Channel 6 has been strong and first in a lot of things in the past and with some down times as of late, this could be a big move. Seeing Malorie in HD would be worth it by itself.

KETV-They have been striving to win the ratings battle and an HD broadcast could put them over that hump.

I don't know much about the Lincoln area channels so I can't throw my opinion out there on that one.

I think this could be a viable thing to any station if they could start producing their own HD content. Promoting the heck out of it would get people to ask about HD more and more likely to want to view HD content.

Just thought I would throw that out there.

NPTV may be the first to claim the local HD prize. :) They have the capability right now and have been doing live HD productions.

My money would be on KETV to produce their local news in HD. KLKN (channel 8 Lincoln), I doubt will ever go on air with an HD signal. Low power DTV 480i is their game. :(

I don't forsee them spending huge amounts of funds until a majority of their viewers can receive their HD efforts. I'd guess the total # of HD capable viewers in Omaha today is less than 5%. That number increases to or exceeds the %50 mark and things will change at a greatly accelerated pace. Why should the chicken cross the road when the road hasn't been built yet? I don't think implementing HD news cast at this early stage of the game would have any bottom line affect on the news cast ratings game. It takes mass market numbers to change ratings, HD viewers in Omaha aren't at this time a mass market.

Regards, John

I think KOLN/KGIN broadcasts their news in HD, can't receive their signal though so I can't verify that...

Recorded Law & Order off of NBC last night. Either I messed something up or they are broadcasting Dolby 5.1 now!
A few audio dropouts, but I'm guessing that is because of the low signal strength. Can't wait until they are at full power!
Sounds good....

KOLN/KGIN is not doing their news in HD. They broadcast a 1080i signal, but the news isn't an HD production.

WOWT did start Dolby 5.1 this Wednesday. As many experienced when Mike at KMTV went Dolby, I think everyone should delete channel 6.1 and re-program their receiver. It seemed to fix many of the audio drop-out issues with KMTV.

Our Filter assembly is installed in the transmitter building, the heat exchangers are set, the transformers are arriving next week, the transmitter the first week in June. I think we may beat the July 1 deadline.

Jay

KUSA in Denver started doing there news in HD.

They also have NBCs National and local weather scan channel on there Digital sub channel.

They also have there Doplar radar in HD.

I guess it can all be done with the proper funding.

...and a 3-4x larger customer base...

Just heard today that KOLN/KGIN out of Lincoln will start broadcasting UPN on a new channel beggining Sept 1. Initial plans are for Time Warner only then OTA later.

There is NO UPN over the air option in Omaha as Cox cable owns the rights and its only on cable of course.

Would this new UPN channel maybe on the Lincoln KOLN tower so we might be able to pick it up in omaha?

Any details?

Just heard today that KOLN/KGIN out of Lincoln will start broadcasting UPN on a new channel beggining Sept 1. Initial plans are for Time Warner only then OTA later.

RE: Audio dropouts

MRoot and others: I have been visiting with Dolby Labs on this issue. They did some research and suggested a few tweeks to help resolve the audio dropout issue with some Mits TV's and Dish Tivo receivers.

I implemented one of them Thursday and it resolved the Mits TV audio dropouts. The owneres of the two Mitz TV's with this issue didn't even have to delete and rescan.

MRoot please check us out again and see if it resolves your dropout issue. Try it first without a delete and rescan.

Thanks,

OMG!

The audio dropouts are GONE!!!

WOOHOO!

Please tell me what you found so I can pass it along to someone experiencing the same thing in Salt Lake, If I remember who it was.

This is incredible! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Mike

The CBS Dolby setup utilizes a Dolby 572 Dolby-E decoder to extract the stereo or network 5.1 audio. I also route our upconverted audio through this decoder which goes into PCM bypass when non Dolby-E audio is detected.

The 572 feeds either the two channel stereo or the six channel 5.1 to the Dolby 569 audio encoder. The 572 decoder is locked to house sync. The output of the 569 encoder is fed to the HD encoder which is also locked to house sync. The CBS setup states to set the reference source for the 569 to the input audio bitstream.

The fix:
I ran a separate DARS (digital audio reference signal) from our house sync generator (which is locked to the GPS satellites) to the 569, and set its reference to this external source. This forces the 569 Dolby audio encoder to be locked with the Tandberg HD encoder. This absolute lock of the two fixed the dropout issue.

In a nutshell, the CBS station has to run a stable external audio reference to the 569 encoder, deviating from the CBS suggested setup.

NBC does not utilize a separate decoder at all, their IRD supplies all of the audio channels. They only use the Dolby 569 and it is locked to an external reference. The ABC system utilizes a different Dolby decoder and their 569 feeds an audio frame sync. (at least this is what the Dolby site says, Warren help me out here).

This problem with the Mits and Dish Tivo receivers has been bugging me from the beginning and I was determined to get it resolved. Sorry It took so long. We have been quite busy at the station and I had to peck at it whenever I had some time.

Thanks for your patience.

On to a different topic:

CBS confirmed to me and my inquiry about an audio anomaly during the season finale of Num3rs two weeks ago and last Monday's CSI Miami. The programs did not have the correct metadata encoded into the Dolby-E stream. This resulted in the absence of Center channel audio. We had to switch to the old stereo satellite receiver.

CBS is looking into the matter and gave the affiliates an alternate setting on the Dolby encoders, if this happens again, especially tonight during Numb3rs.

Thanks for all your work on this. Do you have any hair left??? :)

Whatever happened to "Red is positive-Black is Negative"? Things get so complicated!

Arrrrg

Where did the Weather go on KETVs 7.2 channel???????????

TOday (monday) they are just showing the same as the 7-1 channel.

I guess they can now do both channels at the same time with out effecting the other, does this mean a new channel on 7-2 like maybe UPN like the Lincoln market is rumored to be doing? Hint Hint Hint hint for a money maker sub channel please . . .

Or may be a News on One channel like WOWT does on Cox cable channel 1?

Please do something or put back the weather, having 7-2 the same as the main channel seems like a waist of bandwidth.

Believe it or not, I work at a place that uses 7-2 to keep updated on the weather situation.

Looks like the channel 7-2 weather is back on, Thanks


PS I also heard that the City of Omaha Road works is also using it for work crews dispatching ect.

Hey guys - just wanted to post that Cox is now carrying NBC's Universal HD on channel 814 here in Omaha. Makes me happy that I can now watch my Battlestar Galactica in HD. WOOO!

Edit: I must say I am impressed to see station people involved in a forum like this. It's nice to be kept in the loop. I do hope that you fellas at CBS and Cox can work out the HD thing (not sure all of what is involved) so that I can watch CSI in HD without buying a OTA tuner for my PJ just yet.

Wow, I wish Time Warner would add it in Lincoln.

Mike,

What type of signal are you deriving from your GPS receivers for synchronization, an IRIG-B or station timing source such as a 5 or 10MHz reference? I'm just curious about what you're doing, I've experienced problems in the past when using unstable timing sources (not locked to station timing) used to lock RF modulators and demodulators.

Thanks for your efforts,

John

I saw a 50DB gain indoor antenna with HD claims on it, at Wally World.
I wonder if those work worth a hooey?
It claimed low noise which was important for Hd and all that rot.

Looked like a square shooter junior. I suppose that's going to be the new trend in antenna shapes.

John,

We have two GPS receivers that feed separate sync generators in a redundant configuration. The GPS receivers provide a time and frequency standard. The generators are locked to the GPS generated time code and 10 MHz frequency standard.

Mike,

Thanks.

All,

Did anyone watch the Huskers on NETV-HD last night, I was pointed at 26-01, their audio continues to come in low for me, all other stations in the metro area appear to have their audio reference levels set correctly now except NETV. Anyone esle have problems last night?

Regards, John

does anyone know if netv is going to boost their broadcast power anytime in the future. I live in SW Iowa and sometimes I can receive netv digital out of Omaha but it is mostly after 7:00 in the evening

Hello Everyone,

Starting Tuesday of this week thru Friday, KETV will be installing new SD & HD satellite receive equipment. It is very likely we will be unable to pass through ABC's HD programming while we transition from the existing equipment, to the new equipment.

ABC is moving their analog distribution to digital, and moving their HD distribution from QPSK to 8PSK. This is quite involved and will take some time.

I apologize for this inconvenience, we will do this as quickly as we can.

Thank-you.

Warren,

8PSK, welcome to the 21st century. ;) Any guestimate on how long before you switch over to Mpeg4? For better or for worse Mpeg4 appears to be the direction that the satellite industry is heading, Echostar is champing at the bit to acquire upgrade funds from me, not looking forward to that.

John

Both OTA Analog channels WB 15 and Fox 42 are flashing right now at the bottom of the screen that they need to do Emergency Maintance from 5 to 6:30pm

Its 6/8/2005

Why wont papas even give us the common curtesy that all the other nice station engineer around here have given us when they are about to take there stations down to do HDTV work.

My guess is they are moving somethings around to get ready for the DTV must carry full power rules.

Or maybe they are going out of business?

Who knows? It Would be nice if they would let someone know.

Or something on their analog transmitters is about to blow out, something hit the tower, they are getting some strange reading from the antenna, something in the STL is going bad....could be anything.

I noticed the Aztec America stations went dark too, so it must have been something at the studios.

Both OTA Analog channels WB 15 and Fox 42 are flashing right now at the bottom of the screen that they need to do Emergency Maintance from 5 to 6:30pm

Its 6/8/2005

My guess is they are moving somethings around to get ready for the DTV must carry full power rules.

Who knows? It Would be nice if they would let someone know.

Sometimes a phone call is all that is needed!!!!!

They ran into some serious power problems from Omaha Steel
and OPPD.

My understanding is that Omaha Steel's Arc Furnace had a problem and
blew-up a transformer that was also on the same feed as KPTM.

They had to due "Emergency Maintaince" to install a generator at
the studio to get back on the air. I'll presume that will see another
"Emergency Maintaince" when they switch back.

Universal HD Reception?

Is anyone's reception of Universal HD with COX tiling? My picture is nothing but tiles from the middle ofthe picture down to the bottom. All other channels are fine. Does any one have any idea what the culprit is?

Universal HD Reception?

Is anyone's reception of Universal HD with COX tiling? My picture is nothing but tiles from the middle ofthe picture down to the bottom. All other channels are fine. Does any one have any idea what the culprit is?

EdL

I have never had that happen. I've got a 30 in. Sony with cablecard and COX.
I watched most of U571 last night and it was clean.

EdL,

Do you have a Motorola 6412 cable box (the HD DVR)? I do, and the picture breakup issue drove me CRAZY when I first got the 6412. Cox blamed the internal wiring of my house, blamed the signal strength, blamed bad DVR boxes, blamed everything but themselves... only to find out that the HD DVR boxes have some sort of bandwidth mismatch with the HD encoders at the Cox headend. I'm guessing that whatever tweaks they had to do to the rest of the HD encoders to get them to work correctly with the 6412 they forgot to do with the new one for UHD. Please call Cox and complain so that I don't sound like the lone nut out here.

This would also explain why rmalbers for example isn't having the problem...

Jeff

I have the same problem on Universal HD ch 814 with Cox here in Papillion. At it's worst it's just a blank black screen with no audio (when using splitters), but when I run (ANY) of my coax cables (including one from Cox) directly from the Cox jack on the side of the house, in a window directly to my Toshiba MT700 projector it is like you said: all tiles. The audio also cuts in and out. I've tried everything and logic tells me that it cannot be anything in my house (checked by running that wire in direct with no splitters and using three different coaxes (coaxi?).

Anyhow, I have a service call out and they will be here between 3pm and 5pm so we'll see what happens...

(crosses fingers)

edit: I have the Motorola 6412 HD/DVR and no other channels are affected.

Well, looks like I was right in that it's not a problem on my end. The cox guy (very nice, helpful, and put up with all my looming and questions) tried everything from new cables to an amplifier to running a direct line from the main box out in the neighbors yard - none if it solved the problem. Universal HD just kept on tiling.

So, he put in a maintenance call so they can check out the node on this end and work their way back from there. Good news is my signal was crappy to begin with (SNR of ~28dB (poor/fair) with AGC at ~74% (poor/fair)), and it'll probably get touched up.

I will post further if I find anything else out. suretytek - I have a suspicion it may be the bandwidth mismatch at the headend that you mentioned.

Also, my repairman was kind enough to get me the service menu codes for the Cox Motorola 6412 HD/DVR. I'm not sure if these are floating around the net but here they are for anyone who wants to check their signal-to-noise ratios and such:

While On press:
Power->select->select
or
Power->menu->menu

One is the main service menu and the other is the HD settings I think. D3 and D4 are interesting in the main one. Obviously use at your own risk don't break something yadda yadda (I just like to look around).

That's it...have a good one all...

Also, my repairman was kind enough to get me the service menu codes for the Cox Motorola 6412 HD/DVR. I'm not sure if these are floating around the net but here they are for anyone who wants to check their signal-to-noise ratios and such:

While On press:
Power->select->select
or
Power->menu->menu



I don't understand how that works. If the DVR is on and I press Power, Select, Select it powers off the DVR before the other commands can be completed. Am I missing something?

What are the odds we can get ESPN2 HD in time for the baseball game on Friday? :-)

I know, I know. Wishful thinking.

I don't understand how that works. If the DVR is on and I press Power, Select, Select it powers off the DVR before the other commands can be completed. Am I missing something?


It works for me, even if I push the buttons relatively slowly. The box definately has to be on. That's odd it doesn't work for you - are you sure you have the Motorola 6412 HD/DVR?

Does this work for anyone else?

Universal HD Reception/Tiling

I have the standard box HD box not the DVR. I have a service call scheduled for this Friday. It makes me crazy that the tech will repeat all of the steps that you all have reported and probably still not fix the problem.

Thanks guys, I'll let you know what happens since it's on their end. They told me over the phone that it was probably cable leakage - "Please make sure your cables are tight".

Man...don't you hate leaky cables?

Waterproof, sealed cables are my next HT upgrade, right after I switch to synthetic blinker fluid on my truck.

:D

Wow, Cox sure does have a LOT of issues with there HDTV DVR

Check out this long thread. There are several other Cox cable markets using this same box with the same problem and many more.

We should move the issues to this thread as it seems like a Cox National wide issue.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=414680&page=55&pp=30&highlight=Motorola+6412

I may not be seeing KXVO and KPTM yet, but Time Warner sure is doing a decent job of getting us reliable programming in Lincoln. The HD DVR's work 99% of the time. They reboot more often than I like, but as far as programming goes, they had KETV on soon after they were back on. The seem to care about the product they put out, and I've had promt service when a tech is needed.
My only complaint is the compression artifacts on standard digital cable, but the HDTV tier looks splendid.
I even got an e-mail from TW when KETV announced their satellite switch over which might mean HD isn't available for a short time. Impressive!

I guess buying Cablevision and rebuilding the system helped.

KYNE-DT OTA programming information seldom seems correct. What's up with that?

Mike

The tech came by on Friday, and didn't have to do a thing. The problem had cleared itself up, which translates to me as COX corrected the problem on their end. The tech did indicate that COX has received several calls about the tiling on 814. He did give me his supervisor's number in case I have any further problems.

EdL

I believe the ultimate WOWT transmitter makeover deadline is near.
Not whining about anything, just curious as to how things are going. There's been lots of rain, which could have delayed some tower stuff.
If anybody from WOWT actually gets a moment away from the project I'm sure we'll hear from them though.

Does anyone really know when we will get WOW HD back on the air. I miss it down here in Shenandoah. Comes in really great when it works. Let me know please. Thanks, Dan

So when is that Must have DTV at full power FCC go into effect? Was it July 1st or July 31st?

Are both WOWT NBC, KPTM FOx, and KXVO WB all under the deadline?

KXVO wouldn't be. They get another year. It's only the "big four" networks which have July 1 of this year staring them in the face, and that would include WOWT and KPTM.

(EDIT for those just tuning in: this is only for Omaha. Lincoln is below the top 100 markets, and its stations are under the later July 2006 deadline.)

Regarding the Cox ch 814 tiling problem: Mine also went away; it seems fine now. I guess it was something close to the Cox end of the line.

The last items I read were that WOWT was simply bound by logistics. Their transmitter should already be there, but it takes time to get everything up and going. They were installing a new antenna this month.
I believe I saw, "May may very well beat the July 1 Deadline".

KPTM also expressed (in a newspaper article) that KPTM would be running full force by July 1st. KXVO would rollout later in July.

The last items I read were that WOWT was simply bound by logistics. Their transmitter should already be there, but it takes time to get everything up and going. They were installing a new antenna this month.
I believe I saw, "May may very well beat the July 1 Deadline".

KPTM also expressed (in a newspaper article) that KPTM would be running full force by July 1st. KXVO would rollout later in July.


Any links available to those articles?

From Message #3009 in this forum:

Our transmitter is to arrive June 1. It was shown at the "National Association of Broadcasters" convention in Las Vegas last month. This is where all manufactures show the latest and greatest broadcasting equipment to the 130,000 attendees. It won the "Top Innovation Award" so hopefully it will hit the air with few problems. The antenna was delayed, with a delivery date of June 2. They were having problems engineering the brackets to fit the tower legs. The additional bracing we had to install last year to repair our damaged tower makes the mounts difficult to design.

The antenna should take 5 days to install, the transmitter about 3-4 weeks.

WOWT took their crown point DT signal off on May 22nd-ish, so it's been "3-4 weeks".


Message #3056 from WOWT says:

Our Filter assembly is installed in the transmitter building, the heat exchangers are set, the transformers are arriving next week, the transmitter the first week in June. I think we may beat the July 1 deadline.

Jay
==================

The KPTM info was part of a Journal Star article several months ago regarding HD coverage on Time Warner. It was one of those little entertainment articles that they don't appear to archive.
KXVO was off the air this morning, so that could be an indication of some underworld plot to upgrade HDTV behind our backs or something :)

Thanks Dave.

Also some great tropo lately with the warm weather. Have been getting 3 & 7's digital signal very well eve to morning. 42/15's analog signals have been very strong all the way to Kearney.

If Gannett bought these Emmis TV stations, would this mean that we might actually get KM3 in HD on Cox? It would be hopeful that way since the stations Gannett owns in Cox territories are on their HD tier. The sooner the better!

Gannett looking to Buy (http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050623/BUSINESS/506230406/1003)

Anybody else locking in on WOWT in Lincoln? I wonder if they're up , or if the atmosphere is bending in my direction :)

WOWT is coming in for me at 85% - past month its been around 45%...

COX RECALL NOTICE

Grandma got a recall notice in the mail Wednesday for here HDTV Recevier.
Its not he DVR HDRV.

Whats up. The letter just says there is a defect and to bring it in for a swap.

Is this related to the other HD channel issue above?

WOWT is gone again today. Must have been luck. That's ok, I know they will be back soon and bouncing down into my valley.
Is there any chance that eventually there will be some sort of standardized modulation and peak processing placed on digital stations? They seem all over the road with their local, national and even commerical spot levels. I enjoy the fidelity, but it's murder on the ears.
I know there's a natural limit to digital audio. Anything past 100% is distortion.
I certainly don't wish for the current processing we hear on analog. Hearing a pin drop on the other side of the golf course, as the AGC kicks in isn't necessary.

Any news on when Fox 42 will be OTA with HD? Will they really be on by Friday?

here in red oak at 7:00 I am getting KOLN-DT, WOWT-DT, and some PBS-HD channel I have never gotten before. Does anyone know the reason for this?

This time of the year the atmosphere does goofy things to radio and TV signals.

Pete,

Unfortunately no, PAPAS won't be broadcasting full power HD OTA for at least another month. From a reputable inside source the hardware required for going full power digital is now on site however the weather hasn't co-operated as anticipated. Papas broke ground on their new transmitter building on the 1st of May, their progress since then is very commendable, a lot of work has been accomplished over the last sixty days. They are in the midst of a full scale tower retrofit, and the tower crew is champing at the bit.

I know many of you here are going to pitch a fit reading this but have a bit more patience, the end of July mid-August will come quickly.

Regards, John

I'd rather know the truth than speculation, paranoia or conspiracy theories. Thanks for the update.
I wondered with all the rain we've had, if that wouldn't intterupt the process. Any sort of weather that isn't "Sunny and Calm" tends to put a damper on broadcast related work at the tower.

Hi Everyone,

The DTV & NTSC transmitter will be shut down at the main site from 9am - 11am on Thursday. DTV OTA will be silent during this time, NTSC will be broadcast from the Studio tower.

We are wiring in a new backup generator to the automatic transfer switch during this time and need to remove power.

Time Warner cable will be dark on KETV-DT during this time, Cox Cable will be un-affected.

Is it true that the FCC will fine a station $500 a Month for not meeting full power requirements?

I wonder if the FCC in Washinton even knows they will be late? After all who from the FCC can pick up a station out here or even care?

KXVO has an extension on file. Perfectly legal as they aren't reuired ot meet the July deadline. KPTM is most likely safe because of a recent application relating to a license change. Their new antenna for digital is apparently going to be lower than they first figured. So, the FCC has to approve this. Looks like they will actually be able to put out a little more power to compensate. Never a bad thing.

Anytime you're curious about a station just plug the call letters into this page


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

Looks like WOWT is at full power now, I am getting them great. Does anyone know if KMTV is full power yet as they are the only one (outside of KPTM) that I cant pull from Lincoln?

Must be full power, it seems to be effecting my signal strength on 25, 10-1. I'm also pulling 32-1 & 32-2 out of Iowa. Another PBS, but has a lot more HD.

The FCC database still shows KM3 at 700KW, with an application to crank it up to 1000K.

Weather conditions have allowed me to get 32 as well. This morning I pulled in Sioux City's Public station, plus NTV out of Kearney, KHAS out of Hastings and 17 out of GI.
(Wish I ad some good skip from KC!)
WOWT has been coming in and out the past few days. I figured they were playing with their output and making sure everything was good to go.

It appears KOLN-DT has dropped to about half power via an STA from the FCC.

Anyone know what they plan to show on Iowas PBS sub channel 32-2?

32-1 is there HD feed, but 32-2 is just a black screen for me?

Heck even an other regional radar map like Ketv would be better than a black screen.

Anyone know what they plan to show on Iowas PBS sub channel 32-2?

32-1 is there HD feed, but 32-2 is just a black screen for me?

Heck even an other regional radar map like Ketv would be better than a black screen.
When IPTV DT first came on in Waterloo-Cedar Rapids, sub 2 was an SD upconvert of their analog, while the main channel carried only widescreen and HD shows. They discontinued the sub because of encoder issues, forcing viewers to go back to analog to watch much of IPTV's non-HD programming (Britcoms, kids shows, public affairs, etc.) From what I understand, they're about to bring back that simulcast subchannel.

KETV-DT will be off the air for roughly 2 hours this afternoon, WOWT-DT is sweeping their transmission line and tuning their new antenna.

TIME FOR SUMMER TRIVIA as we wait for Omaha to finish the OTA HDTV Build out with WB and FOX almost done (the last of the Omaha Channels to do HDTV that we can actualy watch over the air).


Question ONE:

KETV has to go off the air in DTV so WOWT can sweep. Why?


QUESTION TWO:
I was wondering, what are the other towers at Crown Point? I know WOWT and KETV are there, what else?


QUESTION THREE:
What about the 4 Towers now down to 3 towers South of Omaha? Almost directly south of the 4 towers at crown point except they are at about 66th street instead of 72nd street, they are in Sarpy count just sout of Hiway 370?

What are they? Why did one of the towers just get taken down.

TIME FOR SUMMER TRIVIA as we wait for Omaha to finish the OTA HDTV Build out with WB and FOX almost done (the last of the Omaha Channels to do HDTV that we can actualy watch over the air).


Question ONE:

KETV has to go off the air in DTV so WOWT can sweep. Why?


QUESTION TWO:
I was wondering, what are the other towers at Crown Point? I know WOWT and KETV are there, what else?


QUESTION THREE:
What about the 4 Towers now down to 3 towers South of Omaha? Almost directly south of the 4 towers at crown point except they are at about 66th street instead of 72nd street, they are in Sarpy count just sout of Hiway 370?

What are they? Why did one of the towers just get taken down.

Question 4: When will KMTV go full power, if they have I havent noticed much of a signal strength change. I am getting 60% and higher on KETV and WOWT now.

I've been lurking on this forum trying to get useful information for what channels are available and how to get the best signal. I thought I'd share my results since there have been some questions about reception in south Lincoln.

I'm on a hill near 56th and Old Cheney in Lincoln. I'm currently getting 3, 6, 7-1 and 7-2, 8, 10, 12 and 32-1. 32-2 is there but no picture. I think it is just a carrier. The 32-1 signal has been on and off the air for the past couple of weeks.

My antenna is pointed at Omaha from my roof (roughly north-east). I'm getting 90% or better signal from 3,6, and 7. 10 and 12 are around 80% and 8 is between 30 and 50%. (I can't give better numbers as my Vizon just has a signal strength bar.) 32-1 is also between 30 and 50% but looks way better than 8. I ran high quality coax down from the roof and I'm boosting it with an old 10db booster from Radio Shack that I've had since the late 80's. The antenna is a UHF beam from the same era. All old stuff but still works. It has two fins that fold out. I think they still sell it at Radio Shack.

What is up with KLKN? Are they ever going to go HD and do we care?

Kudos to the people at KETV. The updates on this forum are timely and very helpful. Desperate Housewives doesn't need to be HD but it sure looks good.

Kudos to WOWT as well. Leno looks so awesome in HD and ER will be sweet this fall. I missed WOWT while it was down.

More information on Iowa Public TV's plans would be great. If they feed their normal signal on 32-2 we can finally get Doctor WHO over the air in Lincoln Nebraska again. (Not available since the late 80's.)

Also, since 6 went on the air, our analog CH 6 on Time Warner cable has developed a nasty static overlay. It is painful to watch compared to the digital feed over the air. If cable doesn't get their digital act together, people might be tempted to cancel their service.

Question: Is anybody using D-VHS to record? Is it worth $900?

Sorry for rambling.

Question one:
Just an educated guess on this one. KETV and WOWT towers are adjacent to each other, but so is Channel 3. So, I suspect it may have to do with the fact that 20 and 22 are close on the spectrum. To get a good sweep of 22, they might need everything clear within several channels.

Question two:
From left to right, the towers on Crown Point are 94.1, Channel 6, Channel 7 & Channel 3.
(I've been known to flip 6 & 3, but I was thinking the went opposite of dial position).
94.1 was the original WOW-FM tower, but with Journal moving into the old "Radio Ranch" they are in the process of combining 92.3 with 94.1, and perhaps 104.5's auxilary.
All of those towers have a number of different FM stations on them. Makes sense. Keeps all the RF in one place.

Question Three:
The towers south of Omaha, if they are somewhere near 370 in Bellevue are KFAB's towers. They run one tower at 50,000 watts daytime and a four tower directional pattern after dark. This is to protect 1110 out of Charlotte. This is why KFAB can be heard in California at night, but not Iowa. The old self supporter in the array needed to be replaced, so they took it down and will be erecting a new tower. Right now they have special authority to run 5,000 watts non directional at night.

Question four:
There in an FCC application to increase the power. It's a matter of when the FCC grabs it off the pile and gives their blessing.

Question four:
There in an FCC application to increase the power. It's a matter of when the FCC grabs it off the pile and gives their blessing.

Kinda ironic isnt it, the FCC makes the July 1 deadline and then makes KMTV wait. I am still very optimistic that I can pick them up as soon as they go full power.

Please excuse the double post.

Vizon guy, your reception is impressive using the retro equipment. I use a Channel master amplifier (about 26db if memory serves) and get good results. I'm in that dip near the base of 27th & Highway 2.
Channel 8 is a piece of cake right now since they are transmitting from their studio tower over on 10th Street. I'm not confident we will get a good signal from their tower out West which is further than 10/11's. At one point, somebody had indicated that they had intended to be up to full power by fall. Whether that's high definition is another issue. It's almost a 'who cares' since we get a good solid signal from 7.

32 should be at full power, but I too notice it's an unstable signal. I don't get 32 analog, so I'm not surprised. I do managed to get their 36 (KHIN in Red Oak) affiliate better most of the time by aiming my rotor a shade north of the omaha channels.. I wonder if when they take 36 full power digital if we might have better luck there. Their digital channel is 35 though, and I believe one of the Lincoln tv repeaters (56 I believe) was going to move to 35. It appears 36 has elected to stay on 35 after the transition.

As you may recall, last winter we added a third IOT cabinet and tested at the megawatt level for a week or so, then went back to the 700kW level per our STA license.

Last month we filed with the FCC to increase our power to one megawatt, haven't heard from them yet.

KMTV is the third tower from the North. The towers from the North: WOWT, KETV, KMTV, and the fourth, slightly shorter, is the Journal Group tower.

Wow talk about a lot of Omaha History on TV towers.

Someone sent me this link

It even has pictures. KFAB is at the end. Crown point is towards the top.

There is even some Lincoln.

http://www.fybush.com/site-011017.html

Strange occurance on 3.

Had the Left and right analogs feeding the stereo on Channel 3 (During CSI) and all I'm hearing is background noise and theme music. The lips move but you caon't hear anything.

I noticed it was a 5.1 presentation, so something must be encoded wrong for old fashioned stereo.

Strange occurance on 3.

Had the Left and right analogs feeding the stereo on Channel 3 (During CSI) and all I'm hearing is background noise and theme music. The lips move but you caon't hear anything.

I noticed it was a 5.1 presentation, so something must be encoded wrong for old fashioned stereo.


I just flipped it over to ch 3.1 and all I have for audio is the background music. This is only on the 5.1 program material.

*side topic*
The term 'Flipped it over", is that a hold over from the old analog and mechanical tuner days when the dial would sweep by at about 5 times the knob speed? :)

On to a different topic:

CBS confirmed to me and my inquiry about an audio anomaly during the season finale of Num3rs two weeks ago and last Monday's CSI Miami. The programs did not have the correct metadata encoded into the Dolby-E stream. This resulted in the absence of Center channel audio. We had to switch to the old stereo satellite receiver.

CBS is looking into the matter and gave the affiliates an alternate setting on the Dolby encoders, if this happens again, especially tonight during Numb3rs.

Looks like this has happened before....

KBIN-DT 33 comes in great, it pegs my meter at 100%, the only channel to do so from my location.

*side topic*
The term 'Flipped it over", is that a hold over from the old analog and mechanical tuner days when the dial would sweep by at about 5 times the knob speed? :)

And the teeth ALWAYS broke off so that you had to wedge a piece of paper or screwdriver into the back of the knob for one channel.

My parents had an old magnavox that worked great through the 80's. (Had to have been at least 25 years old)

Good Morning, anyone have a update on Kptm ? I thought July 1 was the final deadline ?

Good Morning, anyone have a update on Kptm ? I thought July 1 was the final deadline ?

Patience Grasshopper, patience...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=5821289&&#post5821289

Ronald,

I took a tour of their facilites last week, they're currently about a month behind the July 1 schedule. Impressive facility, expect good things once upgrades are complete!

John

Thanks for the info guys, Also with more stations going full power anyone pulling in K.C. Sioux City, Des Monies, ota?

Dear AVS Forum Members

CC: Omaha World Herald.


Subject: KPTM KXVO FCC Complaint- Please file a complaint with the FCC now.

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html



My self and others believe that it is un fair for KPTM and KXVO to miss the July 1st full power requirement, while KMTV, WOWT, and KETV have spent Thousands on equipment, over time, and extra fees and at times extra fees to have the equipment express shipped or over night aired.

This is not the first time they have missed a dead line. Pappas the owners of KPTM and contractor for KXVO have missed the July 1st requirement. They also missed the 2004 low power requirement by filling a hard ship waiver. They refuse to spend the funds needed for Over Time and fees to local union contractors to get the job done on time.

Even today, NO one can get any DTV signal from KMPT or KXVO unless they are with in 10 Miles of the tower. In fact there has been NO out from KPTM 43-1 for over 4 months violating the 2004 waiver.

While the other 3 stations have spent the money to get the job done, Papass has instead moved the funds to there bottom line and have shown a profit for the last couple of quarters.

This is not fair to the other Omaha stations and the engineers that have worked hard to get the job done.

Thus, I think it is only fair that we file a complaint with the FCC so that they will be fined.
The owners of Pappas should not get away with this causing there customers to miss out on HDTV, there employees to not get paid extra, and the other 3 stations to loose to there there bottom line.

It is not fair.

Please use this web site

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html

Dear AVS Forum Members

My self and others believe that it is un fair for KPTM and KXVO to miss the July 1st full power requirement, while KMTV, WOWT, and KETV have spent Thousands on equipment, over time, and extra fees and at times extra fees to have the equipment express shipped or over night aired.
As if your complaints will help get the upgrades done any quicker. They are all working on their upgrades. KXVO doesn't have a July 1st deadline.

Life is not fair. The sooner you learn that, the better off you'll be.

Just a suggestion. Before you send this letter to the FCC, please run it through a grammer checker. I am not trying to be a smart-A$$, I just think the FCC will be more willing to read a letter that uses "their" and "there" correctly. I am behind you because I want EVERYTHING in HD, but doubt anything will be done. Good luck.

Is it me, or does everything that has been discussed a page or two back, always come back up for discussion?

The KPTM/KXVO scenario has been discussed. They are building out a NEW facility at the transmitter site. They are moving forward. As we found out with KETV, despite their superb job on building an entirely new tower from the ground up and installing a new antenna system, there are delays. Weather is the main factor, and I'd rather not have guys falling off towers on windy days or being zapped off of them during a thunderstorm.
Then there's the fact that KPTM has an application into the FCC to get approval for their new antenna height. The FCC would look favorably at this, as progress.

Since KXVO is not required to meet the July 1st deadline, I'd rather them focus on KPTM. Since both stations are on the same tower, which can add additional headaches to the scenario, the engineers have their work cut out for them. Most likely hard working engineers like the other stations that just had to put one full power digital station on the air, instead of two stations with 4 antennas on a tower that was built for two.

While pappas is not the fastest horse in the race, they are a smaller company, with many stations to put on the air, and that costs money. Why rush it anyway. Won't it be much more fun when the awe of 24/7 Live Doppler 7 radar on 7-2 has worn off, and then we can have something all new to drool over on our HD sets?

warning getting on soapbox...

Is it me, or does everything that has been discussed a page or two back, always come back up for discussion?



Ok I know it has been discussed but come on, its not like the July 1 deadline was a surprise. Someone at a high level made the $$ decision to risk fines and wait until the last minute to implement a plan. That someone should have to deal with their choice. If the FCC had any teeth they would fine them even a minor amount to show that they are serious about moving the transition forward but I am not going to hold my breath. Of course as long as they are ready for the NFL I guess I wont care much, its just more of a principle thing.



While pappas is not the fastest horse in the race, they are a smaller company, with many stations to put on the air, and that costs money.

I used to buy that argument until I read this press release off of their webiste:


http://www.pappastv.com/PressReleasesdetail.asp?ID=51

(snip)


Company Profile

Pappas Telecasting Companies is the largest privately-held, commercial television broadcast group in the United States in terms of U.S. Household coverage as defined by Nielsen Media Research. The company owns 25 market-leading Fox, WB, ABC, CBS, UPN and Azteca America affiliates, and operates three other stations pursuant to local marketing agreements, in all regions of the United States. Additionally, Pappas owns 15 on-air digital channels, operates three others under LMAs, and has an agreement to purchase one additional digital channel. The company holds construction permits to build 24 additional television stations, and has an option to purchase a construction permit for a full-power, five million watt station. Pappas also owns KMPH-FM NewsRadio 107.5 in Fresno, is moving KTRB-AM 860 from Modesto to the San Francisco-San Jose radio market, and is constructing KPMP-AM 840 in Modesto. According to statistics from Nielsen, Pappas Telecasting television stations serve more than 15% of all U.S. television households. In addition, the company owns or operates television stations in markets reaching 34% of U.S. Hispanic households and nearly 37% of all U.S. Hispanic persons age 2+. In total, Pappas owns, operates, or is constructing stations in 25 Designated Market Areas.

Surely as the largest comercial television broadcast group they could get the funding required for such a project.

I am hoping for good weather so this can be a dead issue, I certainly do not blame the local engineering group as I am sure their hands are tied.

/soapbox

serenity now, serenity now..... I feel much better :)

Serenity won't be out until Sept 30th. I'd love for it to be out now!

Oh not the movie? Sorry...

A little humor here...a little there... :)

So KPMT missed the July 1st date and they are late.


We are guessing at the end of July, but since there is no press release or posting from KPTM this is only a guess.

What if July turns into August. Then into September and October.

I think the FCC needs to be in on this as with out the threat of a fine, they may keep slipping the date. A simple Email to the FCC is all it takes.

I think the Fine is only $100 a Month, but still $100 will get noticed by upper management. What if press get wind of the fine?


There is nothing new in the Omaha-Lincoln HD market this summer, so what else do we have to talk about except KPTM?

Based on the number of engineers at the SBE meeting, in which a tour of Pappas's new Omaha transmitter building, I think it's safe to give their reports of "by the end of July" some creedence. If not, we storm the August meeting! :)

Other topics? I had a busy weekend with my rotor.

Sioux Falls stations Monday morning around 4am (KSFY the ABC affiliate and KELO 1 &2 CBS and UPN). Sunday morning contained some nice skip from Des Moines. Too bad it was the weekend and infomercials. :(
I didn't realize that channel 8 in Des Moines was also assigned DT-31 like Lincoln's 8. I locked into 31 to watch 8, but I got Des Moines. (KLKN goes off the air late at night).

Earlier in the week I got some nice skip from KC around 8am. I watched KCTV on 24. I got KMBC analog on 9, but their digital allocation is 7. For some reason it won't come in. :)

I get a strange public station from Kansas quite a bit on 16-DT. It remaps to channel 9. Smoky Hills Public Television.

So, not a bad week for poking around.

Its 7:22 and Kptm is not showing the MLB all-star in Hd yet, I really hope Kptm flips the switch very soon...

% KPTM FCC Complaint Update


I got a letter back from the FCC (I used a different more politicaly correct letter when I sent it).

The reply is KPTM filed for a hardship extenstion till Jan 1, 2006. There was a mention about a channel 42 and 43 conflict that I did not understand.
The letter said the extenstion is currently under review by the FCC. Durring the review all Complaints on the station must be reviewed durring the 1 Month review period and they will become part of the public record.

They thanked me for the information and said it would be put into there record.

The problem, as I've been told, is that Channel 42 analog currently overwhelms Channel 43 digital, signal-wise. Perhaps they want to move to a different frequency for digital broadcast.

Mike

I never could get 43-1 even when it was working.

"Houston we have a problem"

I guess they should of thought of this sooner. Seems to me 42 and 43 are real close together, wait, they cant get any closer. Then you put it on the same tower?
Conflict?

I dont know much about DTV and the UHF band, but is it even possible for this to work at all?

It's actually better to have adjacent stations co-located. All of those stations on the low end of the FM band and Channel 6 (which is assigned audio at 87.75ish) would have problems if they were not located up on crown point.
Less of a chance of funky anomolies with signals coming from different towers and all.

Once 43 is up to full power, it will easily overcome 42. Your tuners internal workings will have their work cut out for them though. You won't see it unless you are way out on the fringe though. You'll simply have two bright lightbulbs instead of a blowtorch next to a birthday candle.

Digital signals have narrower bandwidth than analog, so that also helps. Two analog signals next to one other would be really evil.

Both analog and digital TV signals are 6 mHz wide.

Oh?? I was told that digital was narrower and took up less bandwidth. Perhaps those two things are like apples and oranges though.
I think it was a radio engineer who told me that though.

KYNE-DT's signal lately has just gone down the toilet. I can't hardly get them anymore. Has anyone else experienced this problem? I can receive 40-1 (NETV) great, but their audio is way too low. What is up with that?

Anyone? Anyone?

Mike

http://www.kolnkgin.com/upn

Not here yet, but I know 25-1 makes it to parts of Omaha

Any idea when it goes live or am I just not able to pick it up?

I emailed their info address. I'll post more when I find out.

Mike,

I suspect that NETV (40-1) isn't correctly processing the audio feed. I too experience a -31dB reference offset from 40-1. In the past the Dishnetwork demo channel and WOWT-DT both exhibited the same -31dB reference audio offset that you're currently seeing from channel 40. Most 8VSB/DD tuners appear to ignore flags (or correctly read the bitstream rather than ignoring them) in the bitstream that causes the audio offset but a few decoders such as my Lexicon's process these flags differently and shift the reference level down causing the low audio output similar if not identical to what you're experiencing. If memory serves (I'd have to re-read this thread) WOWT-DT either re-configured or replaced their digtial audio encoder correcting this problem, Dishnetwork effectively did the same thing several years back and I haven't experienced this problem from them since. I first gleemed my understanding of this phenomenon while troubleshooting Dish's demo problem from a similar thread here on AVSForum several years back and remember forum contributors explaining their interchanges with Dishnetwork engineers on this problem and eventual solution. Also, my Lexicon decoders led credence to the -31dB offset argument that others had written about, I could visually verify from the Dobly Digital decoder settings that the audio feed was in fact offset by -31db. I saw the same reference settings from Dish Demo and WOWT-DT then and still see the same offset when viewing channel 40-1 today. Using these past experiences, I'm suggesting that the problem you're seeing is probably at NETV's end, someone needs to bring this to their attention and see if there's a work around (configuration change on their encoder.) Last year (at least it seems like last year, may have been during the winter) I tried to contact NETV engineering via their website about this problem but didn't recieve a reply. Last summer I also contacted WOWT-DT engineering about their encoding problems, they eventually repaired the problem however it probably wasn't corrected due to my prodding, more than likely due to some other underlying issue causing them to re-integrate their audio encoder scheme.

I'm running on semi-white haired gray matter here so if someone else has a better recollection of the troubles and fixes please speak up.

Regards, John

With regard to some here expressing concern over the close proximity of KPTM's channels 42 and 43, I'd say Boardman has hit the nail right on the head. Once KPTM-DT is up on the top of their 1400+ft tower and running at full power there shouldn't be a problem. Case in point is KBIN-DT Council Bluffs, channel 33 running right next to her analog sister station on channel 32, although KPTM is higher up on the UHF scale their expected power output should be more than sufficient for the metro area, looking forward to it.

Sheesh, with all these changes in broadcasting coming so soon and with the eventual demise of analog on the horizon, I've three 8VSB tuners in the house today, a pair of Dishnetwork recievers and a computer card with 8VSB to time shift sporting events like the Indy 500. What I truly need now is 2 or 3 inexpensive set top boxes (STB) to use on the other run of the mill TVs lying around the house (or in the camper) that run via rabbit ears, when will the proverbial 8VSB tuner $35 add-on STB hit the market????????

I can't be alone in this thinking, there must be a demand for such a STB, where are they?

John

I know my mother would love one of those boxes. I'm guessing they'll be a dime a dozen right before analog goes off. Right now, why sell them when people can buy your new higher priced TV sets?

Where's Kraco when you need em!


UPN UPDATE:
Found a link to it on the Journal Star site. Sept 1st is the launch date

http://journalstar.com/articles/2005/07/14/local/doc42d59a6abaa62416674801.txt

BREAKING NEWS? WOWT and UPN KOLN and UPn RUMOR ALERT ON

To me this is breaking news, at least it would of been when Star Trek was on UPN.

UPN in Omaha this is great, I can get KOLN 10-1 (25-1) so that automaticaly means I will get 10-2 (25-2) UPN. Its a new channel folks, get excited.

Any new DTV channel is good news.

Might as well ask Direct TV and DIsh network to carry it also so we wil be sure to have Guide info.

I know cox will never carry it, they made there own UPN station.


===== R U M O R A L E R T ON============================

Channel 6 and KOLN 10 are owned by the same company?
I wonder if WOWT will also put UPN on 6-2 ???????? This would be soo easy to do as the content would already be there, just rebroadcast it. Kind of like how Koln and KGIN do it today or how the 4 Stations of the NTV network used to do it (now there is what only 2 stations of NTV?).

After all its call UPN nebraska, would seem they would want it all over nebraska.
And COX cable does not have an over the air UPN so the rights are open for anyone to buy.


I wonder if WOWT is listening, seems like a money maker for them.


RUMOR ALERT OFF Here are the facts so far
============================================



http://www.kolnkgin.com/upn


http://journalstar.com/articles/2005/07/14/local/doc42d59a6abaa62416674801.txt



On the air soon, and yes 25-1 makes it to parts of Omaha 25-2 will also
(10-1 or 10-2)



EMAIL WOWT
======================================


Since they are also owned by the same company as KOLN

How about asking WOWT to carry the UPN station on there 6-2 sub channel.

That way everyone can watch it.

Just an idea.

sixonline@wowt.com

NEGATIVE

NEGATIVE

NEGATIVE, WOWT-DT needs to keep right on doing what they're currently doing, broadcasting full spectrum HDTV! If you want 480p nirvana go order cox digital cable! Leave the 19.2mb 1080i and 720p content alone.

I didn't spend all this money on HD equipment to watch SD material!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wonder if WOWT will also put UPN on 6-2 ????????

I know someone working at WOWT. He told me in May that WOWT was going to broadcast UPN.

I can also receive KOLN-DT, and do not get guide info. What is required to receive that?

Mike

UPN in Omaha
It depends on if KOLN/KGIN got UPN because they are a CBS affiliate (who is under the same parent company us UPN) or because Grey is working out deals with all their stations. Then the UPN contract with Cox comes into consideration.
It will be nice to have a solid UPN signal that isn't imported from GI. They did their best, but the microwave and LP channel 18 aren't that easy on the eye certain days.

I don't know if 10/11 are sending program guide data. I don't see it now.

There has also been speculation that the new channel 50-something in Lincoln will be on 10/11's tower and could possibly be a UPN affiliate. But there's now solid proof of that.

I wonder why UPN is going to 110 on the digital tier. That's currently the channel allocation for Discovery HD. OF course the block where they stuck HD is limited because indemand starts at channel 123. (Easy as 1-2-3). Maybe they are going to move the HD tier for more future expansion. Guess we find out in September.

I dont' see any degradation if an HD cahnnel has one SD sub channel. I see more degradation on cable from a straight HD channel though.

I just got confirmation that WOWT now owns over the air rights for UPN and the ink is still wet on the contract. They expect a formal press release this fall.

Linolns UPN will go up first, they are in a different DMA so there can not be any over lap per contract terms which means they will not show the exact same UPN nebraska feed. It will be called UPN Omaha, It will be Omahas UPN with loal comerials and news, the UPN network feed will be the same but the local stuff will be unique per terms.

No date given and no info on what channel or if it will even be on 6-2.

The info is just too new to have all the details from my source. Myabe other people can dig them up (FCC fillings or something).

I would NOT call it a rumor any more. The source has never been wrong before, thats why there is NO dates or channel info yet- (does not want to be wrong in it, since he cant confirm it). he can confirm and has seen the contract though.

Just a matter of knowing when this will happe, sounds like late fall would be my guess.

Also said COX has almost signed the contract to carry there new UPN station (Cox has first right of refusal if they can do a UPN over the station, which they have NEVER had).


============WHAT THIS MEANS===================

For Omaha the first part of Next year we will have COUNT EM Two new Independant UPN ota DTV (not HDTV) stations, as many can get KOLN and WOWT (assuming UPN is on WOWT 6-2 and not there own DTV)

This is good

Just a quick FYI...KETV-DT will be off the air Wednesday 7-20-05 from roughly 8:30am - 12pm. We will be programming a transfer switch and testing a generator which feeds the transmitter site.

Johnwcookjr....
Theres room for both without degrading the HD.

"So you think you can dance" is completely unwatchable.

It's 25+ minutes into the premiere of Fox's new show and the a/v is fubar?!?

come on guys....

"So you think you can dance" is completely unwatchable.

It's 25+ minutes into the premiere of Fox's new show and the a/v is fubar?!?

come on guys....


OK, looks like it's working fine now.

I don't know if anyone else has experienced this or not, but I finally got a response from NET about their problems with KYNE-DT and NET. Specifically, poor signal strength from KYNE-DT (digital 17), and the extremely low audio on NET (digital 40), along with no program information. They have acknowledged all problems and their engineers are working on it. Apparently some water got into some areas it shouldn't have in the KYNE transmitter, and they are on reduced power. No timetable for when all problems will be resolved. Just an FYI....

Mike

Great, just wonderful, there goes any chance of a future 1080P full spectrum broadcast. Once the domino's start to fall and they continue to steal bandwidth for SD stuff it's just a matter of time before OTA HD is no more.

For those of you who think you can't tell the difference between 19.2 and 14Mb/s HD it's time for you to upgrade your equipment, on second hand, since true full spectrum Hi-Def programming will no longer be available, why bother.

Off topic but PQ related is the picture quality difference between clean 19.2Mb off air programming such as Jay Leno when compared to a properly mastered 25Mb/s DVHS tape. The higher bitrate DVHS does provide a noticable improvement in picture quality. Aside from bandwidth stealing by the broadcasters, Sony's failed attempt to promote the superior BluRay format over Toshitba's lower bandwidth mpeg4 HD-DVD format is truly depressing.

Given how slow every one is at adopting DTV and HDTV I think stations using some kind of sub channel like 6-2 or 7-2 or how 10-2 will be doing is the waive of the future.

For one it gives them the extra profit margins the stations need (they got to pay the engineers ect . . . )

And it gives the consumer a reason to get a DTV tuner (so they can watch those channels if they dont have cable) maybe they have Dish or direct TV.

I dont think anyone can stop it.

For nebraska, rememer Nebraska Public TV started all the sub channel stuff.

Most are just following what is already happening in the Big city markets.

So we will get less HDTV quality, but we will all get more DTV channels.


Who knows K E T V K M T V


Maybe KETV or KM3 will also come out with there own sub channel, maybe a PAX Channel or 24 hr news channel or something. Maybe a 24 hr sports channel, you never know what creative minds might come up with.

They probably want the extra profit like WOWT and KOKN will be getting.

K E T V and K M 3 hint hint


There is GOLD in those Digital Towers.

It's not just NETV. I have pulled in, or been to other places with PBS in HD and it's not uncommon for them to be running a configuration similar to NETV. Must be some sort of standard. PBS, PBS Kids, PBSYou and some data channel. Full HD in the evening.
But that's OK. I really don't need to see Barney in brilliant 1080i!

Using the proper equipment, you can share the bandwidth between and HD and one or two SD signals without a noticeable loss especially if you prioritize the HD stream.

The future for broadcasters is definitely to have multiple channels in the stream. As for revenue..that will be a hard one. Unless the station is using the additional channels for multi-networks, it’s hard to say how they can generate additional revenue unless they can convince advertisers to sponsor 'content specific' use of the channel. I think you may see more local effort on the stations part. Possibly covering local events that would not warrant pulling prime network feed off. The other option is if the networks start to provide additional content. There has been some experimenting with multiple streams such as during the Olympics and with election coverage. Weather channels also seem to be growing in popularity.

I would love to see a Local weather channel like what NBC has with Weather Plus, but since I am guessing WOWT is going with UPN for there sub channel we will never see that (NBC has the rights and WOWT is NBC).

I guess KM3 or KETV could do it. KETV already kind of already has a weather channel on 7-2.

Step one
All they would have to do is play a looping replay of there News Forecast in a corner box with the live radar in the main box.
Step two
They could then use the Live TEMP that they display during the AM news casts.
Step three
Add a scrolling new bar at the bottom like they have done before.

Step four
The weather loop would have the advertisements.


There see, I did it, I just made a local weather channel and a lot of new ad dollards for KETV.

KM3 or KPTM do you want to beat them to it? There is money to be made out there.

Have you gents given any thought to starting a Standard Defintion in Omaha thread?

:eek:

Scottchez:
A weather channel could be squeezed in. They take very little bandwidth.

As I mentioned, with the right equiptment you can get very creative.
The PBS in Milwaukee does 4 SD channels and 3 weather channels (different audio) during the day and 1 HD, 1 SD & 3 weather channels at night.

And thats with current methods.

Here's what I see happening. I don't think local stations outside of the top 10 markets will invest much in HDTV local programming.
Therefore, the only HD stuff will be network primetime. That's not all that bad. Sporting events and prime time are enough, aren't they? Do you really want to see Dr. Phil in 1080i splendor? So, during the day, stations can offer multicasts, then at night flip it over to full blown HD, with a possibility of one sub channel.
Equipment is expensive, which will help keep stations from offering 500 sub channels.
It's realistic to expect daytime offerings up to 4 varieties of talk/game shows. Look at a program like Jerry Springer. Not a huge audience, since it comes and goes. Stick something like that one a sub-channel during Oprah, and you now have two audiences.
I honestly don't think the networks will go for their affiliates downgrading their HD signals by much, since they have invested so much in them.

"Have you gents given any thought to starting a Standard Defintion in Omaha thread?"

Finding people in the Omaha Lincoln DMA is hard to imposible. A new thread is not needed, we would loose half the people.

We got a good place here. Lets stay togethere.

Hello,

I was wondering if KMTV is at full power yet?

Thank you,

Craig

Still sitting at 700kW ERP, waiting for the FCC go-ahead to turn up the power.

The transmitter is ready to go to a megawatt.

Still sitting at 700kW ERP, waiting for the FCC go-ahead to turn up the power.

The transmitter is ready to go to a megawatt.

Lets hope they get to it before the NFL starts you would think they would be all over this??

Lets hope they get to it before the NFL starts you would think they would be all over this??

We need to get some people hired/appointed into the FCC that have HDTV sets in their homes. :)

Any updates on KPTM? The last reasonably reliable source had them on the air mid-month if all went well, but more likely by the end of the month.

Well, late last night the WB was running a scroll across the bottom of the screen explaining that they would be off the air for a short duration today and would be running low power this week due to the need to do equipment installation and tower work.

Hmmm......

I know this is an unrelated topic, but considering the thread is the Omaha and Lincoln area, I thought I'd ask...

I've been searching for an ISF calibrator to calibrate my HDTV, and my searches have come up empty. I did, however, find a top calibrator based on the East Coast that is willing to do a "mini-tour" if I could sign up 5 interested individuals who want a calibration. If you are interested, please drop me a PM (so we can keep this thread on topic).

I now return you to your regularly scheduled discussions.

Custom Electronics and The Sound Environment both have ISF calibrators as far as I know. They're all in Omaha though. (Didn't want to keep going OT, but figured you should know in case the mini-tour falls through...)

The old custom electronics store at 56th and O in Lincoln may be able to help also.

I've called all of those places, and none of them typically do Sony televisions. They'd be willing to do it if I bought the service manual, but I don't prefer someone who's never done a TV similar to mine before doing it.

But, like jonnyozero3 said, it's a good fallback option if the mini-tour falls through.

I had Gregg Loewen calibrate my old Panny about 15 months ago. He was doing a tour and I happened to fit in between KC and Minneapolis. If you're not in a hurry you might be able to work something out.

http://www.lionav.com/mgreggloewen.html

Yeah, I contacted him awhile back. He's not heading to the area anytime soon, unfortunately.

Have you tried the guy from Big Bang Electronics? The ISF site doesn't list him, but I was quite sure that he was certified. Goes by Big Bang around here too I think. May be worth a call.

No. I'll look into it. Thanks, middle america.

No problem. Let us know what you find out.

How bout just buying a DLP? :) Oh, Oh, there goes the can of worms.

How bout just buying a DLP? :) Oh, Oh, there goes the can of worms.

Sounds like the solution to me! :D

Or just get the Digital Video Essentials DVD and do it yourself.

Mike

Only problem with both of those suggestions is that a DLP still needs calibration, and I already calibrated with Avia (comparable to Digital Video Essentials). There is a huge difference between calibration with those DVDs and calibrations performed with all the proper equipment, signal generators, etc. An ISF-certified calibrator is the best way to go (if you want to spend the money, and I do). But the Avia calibration is sure a huge improvement over the out-of-the-box settings.

Not sure if this was posted already but it appears that UPN Nebraska is up on 10-2 now (at least it was this morning). It looked like they were showing the same programming as 10-1 though?

Brad, you're correct. My eyes just aren't that discerning. :) What does it generally cost for an ISF guy to calibrate a projector? And what kind do you have?

It's $400 for DLP sets. I have a direct-view CRT (Sony KD-34XBR960), which costs $350 to calibrate.

O.K. Thanks. Now back to your regular scheduled programming......

UPN network programming begins in September. Fox 4/17 still have the contract until then for the Lincoln-Hastings DMA. Unless something changes, which it may, I would hope 10/11 is doing some early testing and planning.

What are some of the channel numbers for the big networks that might be at full power. We can check.

"K.C. Sioux City, Des Monies"

UPN network programming begins in September. Fox 4/17 still have the contract until then for the Lincoln-Hastings DMA. Unless something changes, which it may, I would hope 10/11 is doing some early testing and planning.

Has anyone been able to determine if the PQ has dropped since they added 10-2? I haven't checked to see if they are running the 10-2 along with any HD content. So far I have only been able to see it when they had some SD programming on.

What are some of the channel numbers for the big networks that might be at full power. We can check.

"K.C. Sioux City, Des Monies"
If you're looking to gain a Fox, the only outfit from those three markets that offers any hope is probably going to be KDSM in Des Moines (analog 17, DT 16). Unfortunately, they're only licensed for 500,000 watts, but if any of you are reading this from western Iowa, you can always try them. They have Fox HD.

Sioux City Fox (KPTH-TV 44/DT 49) is owned by Pappas, has a Special Temporary Authority for 2,000 watts, and also has an extra year to go full power since they're not in a top 100 market.

Kansas City Fox (WDAF-TV 4/DT 34) has an STA for 9,000 watts and appears to be facing significant tower issues. They're aiming to get on the air late this year, according to their extension application. (http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101058490&formid=337&fac_num=11291)

Getting WB from these markets is pretty much hopeless. The K.C. station (KSMO-TV 62/DT 47) is low power, the Des Moines station (KPWB-TV 23) came on too late to get a companion digital channel, and the Sioux City station (KXWB) isn't even a "station" -- it's a cable outlet.

The only station I've been able to pull in digitally, on a good skip night, has been KCTV 5/DT 24 out of KC. It's the longtime CBS affiliate, and they are kicking out full power.
From reading the KC thread in the past, it appears they are very frustrated with their Fox affiliate too.
The other night I was able to pull in a couple of Des Moines channels. Channel 8 in Des Moines in DT 31, same as Lincoln. 16-DT is really hard to get because of KXVO being a local full power station. I've also had some success with 13/23-DT while carries Des Moines radar on their sub hcannel, just like KETV.

Do I dare mention I was watching Minneapolis stations the other morning around 7am? :)

DTV UPN Nebraska is on the Air on Channel 10-2 (in test mode).
=========================================

KOLNs 10-2 sub channel is NOW on the air.

On my Dish 942 is shows UPN NE as the channel on 10-2


You have to delete the channel then re add it to get it.

Right now they are just testing by showing there analog channel as reported above.

As for HD quality on 10-2 I cant tell the difference, looks the same to me, actualy its better as KOLN DTV now comes in STRONGER than before.

It used to be about 55 on the meter, now its been over 75. Did they up the power or repoint it towards Omaha?


WOW, I cant wait for UPN

Confirmation on WOWT and Omaha's new DTV UPN channel
=======================================

1. They have a public Job Opening in Sales for WOWT and UPN

doing research, preparing special projects and reports, and creating sales related materials for WOWT, UPN and Internet

http://www.mediabizjobs.com/entry.htm



2. Someone Inside Emailed me, but I promised on to mention the source.

It will be on Channel 6-2. The estimated date is late Fall.

3. The Owners Gray, have already started 3 other UPN secondarys earlier this year. Looks they have a BIG Profit from these.

http://biz.yahoo.com/e/050510/gtn10-q.html


KETV and KM3, looking at the Financials from the Gray querterlys and the large profiles, why are you not doing a Secondary DTV channel?

I hear PAX is still avliable, also independent channels are possible like in Big City markets? How about a Sports channel?

http://biz.yahoo.com/e/050510/gtn10-q.html

Re: 10.2 carrying UPN NE--I'm picking that up most of the time in Kearney as well--tried to re-add Ch 11's dig sig at 32 but it wants to remap to 10 so I didn't "save" the changes since I pick up KOLN-DT most of the time. Has anybody else had the same problem in Cent Nebr? Will drop an email to 10/11 engineering to see why this is happening.

Love the hot wx of late and the accompanying skip--all the Omaha sigs have been coming in real strong into Kearney quite a bit of the time and not even dropping out very much. Was nice to watch Monday Night Football in HD last nite with full Dolby. Last week I was pulling in the digital sigs from as far away as Cedar Rapids, IA to right here in Kearney. WOW!

I have a friend who has a Hitachi TV with a QAM tuner built in, shouldn't he be able to receive the local HD channels offered by Cox? He is seeing the two PBS stations, but not the other channels. He called Cox and they want him to get a set top box, but he just wants the locals not the premium content. Shouldn't this be possible? Let me know, thanks!

No, Cox's channels only come via their STB. I believe he would be able to pick up the locals with an antenna, though.

QAM won't do over the air. For that you need an 8-VSB demodulator. That's an HDTV tuner in Earth language.

Cox used to broadcast all of their locals in the clear on QAM. When did they stop???

I can receive the following channels from Cox using the QAM tuner in my TV:

107-1 FOX KPTM
107-2 NET
108-1 ABC KETV
108-2 NBC WOWT
There are also a bunch of music channels available.

When I first got the TV last April I could pick up all the high-def channels offered by Cox via QAM including ESPN-HD, Discovery-HD, INHD1 &2 but that ended in June. I can still get the locals though.

I was just checking around on the Cox Omaha site and they have a PDF for a channel lineup that lists TNT-HD on Channel 819 effective September 14th.

http://www.cox.com/Omaha/Info/PDFs/Digital_Linuep_0805.pdf

We still need 805, but don't get me started......

There's a glimmer of hope on the horizon for 805. Emmis is selling its TV properties, and, hopefully, the new owner won't be as contentious. We can cross our fingers!

I'll agree with you on needing 805. Basically 2 years now. How sad. Would be nice if it was before the new fall season...oh wait I"m dreaming.

I think I would have a heart attack if I actually saw CBS programming in HD. The other sad part is that I will probably be able to see old CBS programming in HD on different HD channels before the actual local CBS channel. Now that is crazy.

The other sad part is that I will probably be able to see old CBS programming in HD on different HD channels before the actual local CBS channel. Now that is crazy.

ZING. Boy, that's funny. I agree though, I really want CSI in HD - I wish the parties involved would just figure it out for our sake. Damn already-rich people's wallets getting in the way of my TV evening ;)

Thanks for the head's up about TNT-HD; that made me very happy. I had called them and requested that channel awhile back. I guess it worked...heh :)

You guys can see CBS HD easily OTA. :-)

Yes, but since I have a front projector it means I have to buy more $$$ stuff :(

And since I REQUIRE cable for the Sci-Fi channel and Spike, I'm screwed :)

i live on the east side of fremont. i receive hd wowt, ketv and kmtv ota via my attic ant. (no rotor), all with strong signal. two questions:

1. when is fox hd coming on (previous posts say early aug.)?

2. will i get it with my current setup?

thank you.

Channel 15 and more recently 42 have been on low power, which seems to indicate they are actually on the tower. (You don't want to be radiating 500KW with workers up there!)
The weather looks good the next couple of days, so hopefully they can wrap it up before those 'chance of thunderstorms' mid week.
If they sign on at full power, as required by FCC regs, you should be able to pull them in fine.
Depends on how directional your antenna is. Crown Point is at 105 degrees and KPTM's tower is roughly 140.
Might need to go play with the antenna some nice fall day.

Channel 15 and more recently 42 have been on low power, which seems to indicate they are actually on the tower. (You don't want to be radiating 500KW with workers up there!)
The weather looks good the next couple of days, so hopefully they can wrap it up before those 'chance of thunderstorms' mid week.
If they sign on at full power, as required by FCC regs, you should be able to pull them in fine.
Depends on how directional your antenna is. Crown Point is at 105 degrees and KPTM's tower is roughly 140.
Might need to go play with the antenna some nice fall day.

That was some of my thinking when I made this (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=5967069&&#post5967069) post a while back. We can only hope for FOX HD for the NFL season.

thank you boardmanDJ.

of course, nfl hd is the concern. i got fed up when directv wanted an extra $100 (on top of their annual usual extra $20) for the hd games we received at base price last year so i cancelled sunday ticket this year (after subscribing since 95) betting fox would be up by the end of aug. i am starting to sweat a little here.

AND---your $100 dropped to $49 for ongoing subs.

Just an FYI...

ABC will not be able to feed any HD programming from 8/23 - 8/26 due to replacement of their HD router. Monday Night Football should not be affected on 8/22.

Warren, or anyone else who can answer... Is there even a slight hope that a single Husker game will be televised in HD this year???

UPN-NE (10.2) is now just carrying the audio of KOLN-DT's signal with a black pic. They still don't have 11.2 testing yet.

Brent at 10/11 engineering said they were working thru some technical issues when I asked him why KGIN-DT (Ch 32) was remapping to 10. He said he was glad to hear from someone that's watching their HD signal and that he would keep me updated on when they get their technical issues solved. His email is brent.haun@kolnkgin.com. Real nice response from a person that I'm sure is very busy right now getting ready to launch UPN Nebraska. I gave him a link to this forum in case he didn't know about it.

I'm omce again out of town TDY to DC. Anyone hear anything out of KPTM as far as going HD off their new tower infrastructure? During my last visit (end of June) with their engineers, those engineers that I spoke with felt that OTA HDTV broadcasts may begin within a 4-6 week timespan which brings us to about now.

Any word???? Has anyone retuned their OTA receivers lately?

Regards, John

KPTM and KXVO Analogs are still at low power. KEFM, which broadcasts off the same tower is using their Auxilary site because of tower work.
So, nothing on the air yet, but they are obviously working on it.
I'd think a congolmerate like Clear Channel wouldn't want one of their stations on reduced power for too long, so hopefully that will keep Pappas motivated.

Lots of DX opportunites here and there, if you're a night owl. Even had KDLT (NBC) in Sioux Falls this morning which isn't up to full power (last I knew).

I got this email yesterday from a pretty reliable source:

Just talked to their engineer & they hope to be transmitting full
power by Sept. 1st but may still NOT be HDTV. They are currently
finishing the tower work to get the high power transmitters on the air
but he said they may come on with upconverted anolog signals as the
digital equipment is NOT installed yet!!! He thinks they have all the
equipment except no 5.1!!! but still needs to be installed & setup which
he was told it was scheduled to be done soon--may even be done by the
Sept. 1st deadline but he doubted it!!!


We'll See.

Looks like KPTM will miss yet another deadline!!!! I'm sure there buildout requires alot of work, but this should have been done long before 05, Looks like NFL opening weekend Sept 11 on KPTM will be in SD for ota users.

Got this from a VERY reliable source:

KPTM is to be installing the new antenna today on the top of the tower.
The
project has been a long and trying one for them.

I was driving down I-80 today and wondering.

Maybe I am looking at the wrong tower, but is the KPTM tower the one just to the east of the gretna Outlook malls, maybe 2 miles east of I-80?


If so is that the HDTV Ant on the very top. It is skinnyer there the main part of the tower?

If this is the right tower, it looks taller than the ones at Crown point the 3,6, and 7 towers.

I emailed Dan Sommers, the enginner at KPTM concerning the digital update. Here is the response I received.

We are in the process of putting a new digital antenna at the top of our tower. During this process, we are operating on a temporary antenna at both reduced power and height. We are scheduled to have this build out completed by September 3 when our signal should return to normal.

Thanks for watching.

We’re Your Station KPTM FOX 42

The Heartland WB KXVO 15

I've been following this thread for quite some time, and really appreciate the knowledge that you guys bring to the table here. My question is a bit off topic though. I've been using a small antenna by my equipment to bring in HD signals, and can get pull in a fairly strong signal from everything to the North East (I live on the hill above lake Zorinsky at 174th and L) but I'm wondering if there is something inexpensive that I can mount in my attic that will pull in everything, using my Dish receiver for the set top box as I am for my little antenna. I've got a great unobstructed view from my house, and I think that I'm ready to step up. Any suggestions?

I have a Dish receiver and this is what I use for my Atic. I can also get the Lincoln CBS and UPN station(goes live in Sept, they are testing the channel now) 10-1 and 10-2.

1. Silver Sensor Ant (yes it is small, but it is made for DTV).

2. Channel master 7777 amp

3. Antennuator at the TV set.


The Antennuator is the key to the design. You have to turn it down so it does not over load the Dish receiver.

I get all DTV channesl with this setup. I point it between KOLN and KPTMS towers.

Thanks Scott. Where can I buy one of these in Omaha?

Emmis Communications has announced an agreement to sell several stations to several buyers, including KMTV to Journal Communications.

So...just how well do Journal and Cox get along?

UPN Nebraska must officially flip their switch on at 11 am 9/1 with Matlock, Hawaii Five O, News, I Luv Lucy, Little House, Travel In Style, Entertainment Studios , Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Becker, My Wife and Kids, Cheers, Access Hollywood, then UPN programming at 7. Looks like infomercials weekdays 9-11 am. An Antiques Collectible Show runs overnights till 9 am. Weeknights: Oprah at 9 pm, Jeopardy at 10, Husker sports show at 10:30, News at 11 pm, Blind Date @ 11:30, Antiques at midnite.

Pulled the info from here: http://titantvguide.titantv.com/apg/ttv.aspx?siteid=53413

UPN Nebraska must officially flip their switch on at 11 am 9/1 with Matlock, Hawaii Five O, News, I Luv Lucy, Little House, Travel In Style, Entertainment Studios , Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Becker, My Wife and Kids, Cheers, Access Hollywood, then UPN programming at 7. Looks like infomercials weekdays 9-11 am. An Antiques Collectible Show runs overnights till 9 am. Weeknights: Oprah at 9 pm, Jeopardy at 10, Husker sports show at 10:30, News at 11 pm, Blind Date @ 11:30, Antiques at midnite.

Pulled the info from here: http://titantvguide.titantv.com/apg/ttv.aspx?siteid=53413

Will all of this programing be HD?

Will all of this programing be HD?


No, it will be in standard definition on one of their sub channels on their digital stream.

If you catch KOLN-DT over the air right now, they're broadcasting the same programming as KOLN-DT 10.1.

FYI, I just checked the link and for some reason the listings aren't there for Sept 1st for UPN-Nebraska.

KPTM/KXVO does have their tower South of the outlet malls. There's also an FM in the same area, further South, which is KGBI/KLTQ.

Looks like cox in Las Vegas carries a HD Journal station ABC affliate. Hopefuly the sale will go through and cox will get it back on channel 805.

Andrew Wees




Emmis Communications has announced an agreement to sell several stations to several buyers, including KMTV to Journal Communications.

So...just how well do Journal and Cox get along?

I heard this morning on Z-92 (a Journal owned radio station)that Kmtv ownership change to Journal will be in about 2 months, so I would not expect Kmtv-dt on Cox Comm until after this date.

In the event of an LMA between Journal and Emmis, it could be a couple of years. Depends on how both parties have to wrangle things so the FCC can approve the sale of KM3 after Journal sells a couple of their radio properties.

AN LMA gives day to day control to Journal while Emmis still actually owns it.

UPN Nebraska must officially flip their switch on at 11 am 9/1 with Matlock, Hawaii Five O, News, I Luv Lucy, Little House, Travel In Style, Entertainment Studios , Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Becker, My Wife and Kids, Cheers, Access Hollywood, then UPN programming at 7. Looks like infomercials weekdays 9-11 am. An Antiques Collectible Show runs overnights till 9 am. Weeknights: Oprah at 9 pm, Jeopardy at 10, Husker sports show at 10:30, News at 11 pm, Blind Date @ 11:30, Antiques at midnite.

Pulled the info from here: http://titantvguide.titantv.com/apg/ttv.aspx?siteid=53413


I noticed tonight that Channel 6-2 now has a still shot of the Channel 6 logo. Getting ready for UPN?

I hope WOWT has the UPN station up soon.

Also any word on the new shows going into syndication here locally? I hope someone picks up My Wife and Kids.

I heard this morning on Z-92 (a Journal owned radio station)that Kmtv ownership change to Journal will be in about 2 months, so I would not expect Kmtv-dt on Cox Comm until after this date.


The news release is at the bottom of this page. There is hope, maybe in time for the playoffs and some solid SEC games in HD!

http://www.kmtv.com/press/

I hope WOWT has the UPN station up soon.

Also any word on the new shows going into syndication here locally? I hope someone picks up My Wife and Kids.


See my post on the lineup of Ch 10.2 UPN Nebr....they'll have My Wife & Kids. Should be receivable OTA even in Omaha since I can catch it many times in Kearney.

WOWT-DT 6-2 is now running a loop of WOWTV promos and other network ads w/out sound. They must be tweaking the BW for the subchannel.