Originally posted by DanHouck
GP:

Hardly. :)

What have you done to elect conservatives lately?


Vote for them. :)

Paying for programming twice... Isn't that what Cox is having customers of the digital broadcast signal do?

ESPN is doing this approach with their duplicated signal. Emmis is not the only one.

What would clear up this issue (and my stance) is if Cox offered KMTV's DTV signal Free with the lifeline service. Would KMTV balk at this?



Not to defend KMTV on the infomercial programming, but the only time I've noticed infomercials is Sunday mornings and perhaps when a sports program is blacked out. In these cases, it is not specific to KMTV as I think I've seen all the locals here resort to them.

I can not believe how this forum has changed! What once was friendly, professional, and informative, has turned into a nasty and disrespectful venue to bicker and post misinformation.

Debate is good as long as you respect each other’s opinions and views. It is counterproductive when a poster comes to this forum and tries to bully his or her opinion on others. There has been so much inaccurate information posted lately that I don’t know where to start.

I will not get into any of the business decisions made by KMTV on the Cox issue. However, I will correct the last misinformation posted here on the forum. KMTV does NOT require all of its employees to take 10 percent of their pay in stock, it is voluntary.
The stock has done very well this year.

KMTV was last with OTA broadcast, because we had the most ambitious plan and wanted to do it right with the initial build-out. I have seen our transmitter meet FCC specs while running an ERP of just under a MegaWatt.

Viewers report good reception of our digital signal from Clarinda, Columbus, Beatrice, and even the Sioux City area and all points in-between. The digital signal has proven to be more robust than we had hoped. Many television viewers in the rural areas are embracing this technology as an alternative to snowy analog OTA.

mdg, I live near 138th and Maple and can get our OTA as well as WOWT’s signal with a cliplead hanging off of a piece of RG-6. With a $6.00 Silver Sensor antenna, I can also view channel 26 digital. Contact me and lets discuss this issue.

As far as FCC requirements go, all we have to do is transmit a digital signal OTA and cover the metro. No where in the rules does it state that we or anyone have to provide High Definition programming.

All was well in Omaha when WOWT, KETV, and KMTV were on OTA with their digital signals. When tragedy struck KETV, and their tower fell, many on this forum ran out and subscribed to digital cable and bought the four to five hundred dollar HD cable boxes. No big issues then.

Discussion is healthy and the people on this board will post their opinions. Just respect the opinions of others and post information that is accurate and to the point of the discussion.

Emmis is being very shortsighted in this move. As some have pointed out, Emmis relied on Cox to be their only digital carrier early on, now they want to bite the hand that allowed them to start building their HD user base. But more importantly, they've managed to focus all their attention on Cox and ignore the ramification this is certain to have on the outlying viewing area, not in Cox's service area.

I'm in one of those areas, 20 miles outside Omaha. And while I can pick up KMTV's OTA HD signal, it's not near acceptable quality. My tuner loses lock 3-4 times per hour, sometimes losing sound, othertimes audio, and occassionally both. But my cable operator has no plan on introducing HD signal to their digital system. They don't see the investment as profitable. And this is just one more expense to discourage the small cable operators from upgrading service.

Since we do have some KMTV employees participating in their discussion, I have one question that might help clarify some of the misconceptions: How much do you charge the cable operators to carry your analog programming? Or do you use "must carry" to force them to carry your signal without any money changing hands?

Face it, down the road you won't be broadcasting analog any longer. And you'll be pulling out the "must carry" regulations to force the operators to carry your signal. Why are you fighting them now?

Say all you want about your OTA signal being "free" the reality is that it's free if you make a $450+ investment in tuner and antenna. That discourages HD adoption, but many will jump to HD when it's just an added $4.95 per month. If anything you should be trying to speed the conversion to HD so you can shutdown one transmitter, not slowing the conversion and that's all this move will accomplish is to prolong the conversion.

This post was a ways back, but there were just some things I wanted to respond to:
Originally posted by DanHouck

And, as one of your own viewers just pointed out, you can't just receive the signal with an antenna. You also need an expensive set top box. And you have to hope there's not another building in the way or your landlord won't let you use an outside antenna if the indoor one doesn't work, or your homeowners association doesn't allow them, etc. Why do you think more than half the viewers have cable these days? ...

Actually, Federal law gives people the right to put antennas on property under their control, and it gives homeowners' associations few legitimate reasons to interfere with that right.

Originally posted by DanHouck

Your attitude totally amazes me. Have you done a head count of the number of people who have gone to all the trouble and expense to receive your "free" signal? ... It's the fault of the TV manufacturers? PULEEZE! They simply react to the market and most people don't want to pay $300 more for these tuners ... Half the TV set buyers are on cable, the tuner would be worthless to them. If they have Dish or Direct TV, the tuner box is worthless to them ...

The attitude that troubles me more is the attitude that everybody HAS to be hooked up to cable or satellite, so there's no need to spend the effort making and promoting decent OTA reception devices and how to use them. If you have satellite and have a heavy downpour in your area in the middle of the Super Bowl, if your cable company needs to make repairs in your area, if you get laid off and have to cut back on spending, or if you simply decide that all those channels simply aren't worth the cost and the fine print -- suddenly that "worthless" tuner isn't so worthless.

Originally posted by DanHouck

... The sooner more people see it, the sooner more content will be broadcast in it and the sooner the cost of tuners will come down and they'll be included in more sets.

Agreed, and the effort needs to be shared by stations, networks, cable and satellite companies, electronics stores, and forums like this one. Hopefully the players in Omaha and elsewhere will get back on track soon.

In my earlier post, I made the statement, "If anything has slowed down the DTV transition, it has been the television set manufacturers".

I was frustrated with those that had purchased HD monitors and now discover they don't have an OTA decoder (tuner). Now matter how many cable/satellite systems may or may not end up with a signal, this has always been a required component to see an OTA signal, which is our main objective.

I know there have also been many HDTV sets purchased with integrated receivers. Among those manufacturers, one has given me some very good facts:

"Mitsubishi was manufacturing integrated digital televisions LONG before the FCC mandated it. We hold 80% market share in integrated television sales. The only reason why upgradeable televisions are sold are to keep the costs down. Entry level televisions aren't marked up as much as you would think they are. And the margin is only going to get thinner. You will see the transition rapidly move this year with CableCARD-Ready televisions.
Mitsubishi has been a leader in HD".

I stand corrected and apologize to anyone that may have been offended.

Regards,

Scot,

Sometimes this forum does have heated discussions, but just because the wind doesn't seem to be blowing in your particular direction, doesn't mean that it has become "nasty and disrespectful." If you scroll back a few months, you'll see that Cox took some deserving blows over various issues over the last few months(having to purchase HD cable boxes is one that comes to mind).

I do respect your opinions and the opinions of others, and attempt to not disseminate false information myself. But contrary to what the current presidential administration feels, stating your own opinion and disagreeing with the opinions of others is just healthy political debate. If I were in your position, I would see this forum as an indication of which way public opinion (at least the opinion of technically savvy HD geeks) about the decisions of KMTV is swaying, rather than personal attacks or "misinformation."

If what we are stating is untrue, please tell us so. What else besides the employee pay issue is untrue? You have the chance to make us aware of beliefs that may be incorrect, but by just stating over and over that we are spreading misinformation, it's hard to know where we've gone wrong.

Scot, one other issue that bugs me about not having a CBS affiliate on Cox is has to do with recording. If Cox lights up the firewire interface on our cable boxes sometime in the near future and we are able to actually time-shift HD, I've got an issue of having to purchase two recording devices. Why would I want and/or need two D-VHS VCRs or HD Tivos, one for CBS and one for the other nine HD channels? I think for me the answer is that CBS will lose out again, and just not be watched at all. This is a dangerous position for a commercially support television station to be in I would think.

Just my $0.02...

Jeff

Originally posted by Mike Gann
I will not get into any of the business decisions made by KMTV on the Cox issue. However, I will correct the last misinformation posted here on the forum. KMTV does NOT require all of its employees to take 10 percent of their pay in stock, it is voluntary.
The stock has done very well this year.

Perhaps Emmis' own press release is incorrect? Paragraph 11 makes no mention of the word "voluntary" in connection with employee pay for Emmis employees.

EMMIS COMMS: Posts Improved Financial Results in Third Quarter
--------------------------------------------------------------
Emmis Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: EMMS) announced results for its third fiscal quarter ending November 30, 2002.

For its third fiscal quarter, Emmis' broadcast cash flow was $67.8 million, compared to $49.7 million for the same quarter of the prior year, an increase of 36%. Net revenue for the quarter was $155.5 million compared to $138.3 million for the same quarter of the prior year, an increase of 12%.

"This really was a remarkable period for our company," Emmis Chairman and CEO Jeff Smulyan said. "We have continued to dramatically de-lever our balance sheet, and our New York radio performance has seen a tremendous rebound. Our television group
has performed spectacularly by all measurable standards -- in addition to great ratings, they outperformed in 13 of the 14 Emmis Television markets."

These results significantly exceed the company's previous guidance as well as Wall Street estimates for revenues and broadcast cash flow. Earnings Per Share was $0.16 compared to ($0.29) for the same quarter of the prior year.

On a pro forma basis, net revenue for the quarter increased 15% and domestic radio net revenue increased 7%. Further, for the 3rd Quarter, Free Cash Flow was $26.6 million compared to $3.6 million in the same quarter of the prior year.

Emmis' after-tax cash flow was $35.6 million, an increase of 86% from the same quarter of the prior year. ATCF per share in the third quarter was $0.67, up from $0.40 in the same quarter of the prior year.

Fall 2002 ratings information for the New York market was released by Arbitron earlier this week, and Emmis had stellar results. WQHT ranked a solid #1 in its target demographic (18-34) with a 9.4 share, 2.6 share points in front of its direct
format competitor. WRKS' best ratings performance since Fall 1999 moved it to #3 25-54 with a 5.0 share, up from 12th place just last year. WQCD ranked #7 25-54 with a 4.0 share. As a cluster on a 12+ basis, Fall 2002 marked the highest aggregate
Fall cluster share since 1997.

Emmis' total debt-to-EBIDTA leverage (including senior discount notes) is now under 7x, compared with Emmis' February 28, 2002 leverage of 9.3x. Based on the guidance for its fiscal fourth quarter, Emmis' total debt-to-EBITDA leverage should be approximately 6.5x at February 28, 2003, with the company's senior bank leverage expected to be under 4x and Emmis Operating Company's total debt-to-EBITDA leverage expected to be under 5.5x.

During the company's 3rd Quarter, Emmis signed a definitive agreement with Pegasus Communications Corporation to purchase WBPG-TV, the WB affiliate in Mobile/Pensacola, which will give Emmis a second television station in the nation's #63 market.
The transaction is expected to close by the end of March 2003. Barry Mayo, a radio industry and New York City market veteran, was named as Senior Vice President/Market Manager of Emmis-New York in December. Mayo is a co-founder of Broadcasting Partners
Incorporated and has served as a media consultant since 1995. Paul Fiddick, the co-founder of Heritage Media Corporation and former President of Multimedia, was named as President of Emmis International during Emmis' 3rd quarter. In December, an agreement was reached with the Hungarian broadcasting authority that resolved pending issues and extended Emmis' national license in Hungary through 2009.

Also after the quarter end, Peter Lund, the former President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Inc. and CBS Television and Cable, joined the Emmis Board of Directors.

Emmis employees were informed Sept. 6, 2002, of the continuation of a 10% wage cut which is being supplemented with a corresponding 10% Emmis stock award. The extension of the plan, which is completing its first year, is expected to yield cash savings of approximately $14 million over the next twelve months.

The Company evaluates performance of its operating entities based on broadcast cash flow and publishing cash flow. Management believes that BCF and PCF are useful because they provide a meaningful comparison of operating performance between
companies in the industry and serve as an indicator of the market value of a group of stations or publishing entities. BCF and PCF are generally recognized by the broadcast and publishing industries as a measure of performance and are used by analysts
who report on the performance of broadcasting and publishing groups.

BCF and PCF are not measures of liquidity or of performance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and should be viewed as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, our results of operations presented on the basis of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Specifically, BCF and PCF do not take into account Emmis' debt service requirements and other commitments and, accordingly, BCF and PCF are not necessarily indicative of amounts that may be available for dividends, reinvestment in Emmis' business or other discretionary uses. Moreover, BCF and PCF are not standardized measures and may be calculated in a number of ways. Thus, our calculation of these non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to such non-GAAP measures calculated by other companies. Emmis defines BCF and PCF as revenues net of agency commissions and station operating expenses, excluding non-cash compensation.

After Tax Cash Flow is defined by the company as net income plus depreciation and amortization, plus non-cash compensation, plus non-cash taxes, less preferred dividends, and plus non-cash and non-recurring items.

The company defines Free Cash Flow as net revenues less segment operating expenses (other than non-cash compensation), corporate expenses (other than non-cash compensation), interest expense (including interest associated with its 12-1/2 % Senior Discount Notes), cash taxes, capital expenditures, and preferred dividends.

Emmis Communications - Great Media, Great People, Great Service(SM)
Emmis Communications is an Indianapolis-based diversified media firm with radio broadcasting, television broadcasting and magazine publishing operations. Emmis' 18 FM and 3 AM domestic radio stations serve the nation's largest markets of New York, Los Angeles and Chicago as well as Phoenix, St. Louis, Indianapolis and Terre Haute, IN. In addition, Emmis owns two radio networks, three international radio stations, 15 television stations, award-winning regional and specialty magazines, and ancillary businesses in broadcast sales and publishing.
* * *

Again, misinformation!

Look at the date, September 6, 2002. Old policy, no longer in effect!

Voluntary now. With the growth of the stock, many employees came
out ahead and will opt to continue.

I don't care about the employee problems at Emmis and have not commented on them. But I notice that Mr. Gann does not say WHEN the policy Hal Dawg talks about was discontinued. ??

I have raised specific issues which KMTV and their few advocates here have yet to address except to accuse me of misinformation. I'll try one again. These are straight questions, give us a straight answer this time.

Why, of all the OTA channels, is Emmis the ONLY station trying to charge twice or get some additional "compensation" for the same content even though the amount of HD programming is miniscule and all coming from CBS? Is CBS charging you extra for HD football or other HD programming as opposed to analog? Is that different from the policies of ABC or NBC?

Also, would KMTV give up the additional "compensation" they are demanding when the analog signal is dropped in several years?

I posted numbers showing that Emmis earns more per share than either Comcast or Cox. I went to MSN money and pulled up charts on Comcast and Cox stock. Comcast is underperforming the S&P, Cox is about even with it. Both are way below the Nasdaq. Explain to me how my statement that cable is not wildly profitable is misinformation.

Scott of KMTV, would you care to comment on how cutting off all the cable viewers is going to address your concern about "lack of audience"? Do you think that by blocking cable carriage, about half your audience, more people are going to go spend hundreds of bucks and deal with the OTA issues which you keep trying to say don't exist?

BTW, now that you are a member here, please spend some time reading the posts on the HDTV Hardware section, most of which deal with OTA problems. You will quickly learn that OTA is not nearly as simple or reliable as you suggest.

I take it from your last post you now see that it is rational not to sell an OTA tuner as an expensive built in to HDTVs when they would be useless for EITHER Dish or cable. So much for my "misinformation" on this topic.

Rain affects cable??? I've never had a cable system that was affected by weather but every one of the antenna setups I've had have been. That snow or heavy rain will shut down dish reception is a well known fact. That wind will cause personal antennas to move around and lose the signal is a fact. That snow or ice will break them or make them inoperable is a fact.

Back to the questions. Show us how Cox or Comcast with their huge investment in the fiber optics and upgraded electronics is getting rich off of the few hours of HD broadcasts available on any network including yours. Here in Albuquerque, they've only put out a few hundred HD capable boxes at a whopping $5 per month for a $300 piece of gear which will be obsolete in a year. They are already replacing the original Scientific Atlanta boxes with Motorolas that have DVI out. How about Omaha?

Show us how much money you SPECIFICALLY have spent for HD, as opposed to the required DTV and compare it to the investment Cox has made in Omaha and Comcast has made in Albuquerque for the necessary fiber optics to carry your digital signal. List all the HD programming you are originating with your own equipment (not CBS programming). Show us how that is so much better than all the other stations in your area such that KMTV should receive special compensation alone.

Mike and Scott, you guys can dance around all you want, but the fact remains that Emmis and Emmis alone is trying to sell the same content twice and you are the ONLY OTA broadcasters apparently trying to do so in Omaha and Albuquerque, the two cities unlucky enough to have Emmis CBS affiliates.

And Emmis deliberately shut the HD signal down just before the major HD. events of the year, the playoffs and superbowl. I am not the only one who feels this is deliberate extortion. Several of the cable executives I've talked with about this situation used exactly that phrase and made it plain they won't be coerced into giving Emmis special treatment.

GP please quit trying to compare apples to oranges. ESPN is a pure pay network, not an OTA broadcaster that is allowed to use the public airwaves in return for providing the signal or signals to the public.

DLINE, actually it appears the attitude here from KMTV and the OTA folks is that everyone has to be OTA or pay twice for the same content if they want HD otherwise. No one in this thread including me has suggested that everyone has to be hooked up to cable. Where did you get that?

Dan Houck

Originally posted by DanHouck

GP please quit trying to compare apples to oranges. ESPN is a pure pay network, not an OTA broadcaster that is allowed to use the public airwaves in return for providing the signal or signals to the public.

Well I could tell you to quit ignoring the fact that when free OTA stations are sold on cable or satellite systems, they are in fact not free to subscribers. You choose to pay for free TV. That's fine. But stop complaining when some of the purchased "free" TV is no longer available. Why should you care because it's the same signal you already have duplicated on a basic tier.

Tell me, what's the fuss over losing HD when the SD programming is still available? [sarcasm]

Please don't go back on telling us KMTV wants to get paid for the same programming twice.

Broadcasters are set to serve the public via the airwaves, not cable systems.

This is so circular, as boardman says Bottem line is KMTV can pull the HD signal if they want. I won't falt them for it. KMTV is still on tha cable system. I guess I'm lucky to not be a slave to someone else for my network TV.

I'm getting real tired of all of you beating a dead horse. As far as I'm concerned this discussion is dead. Everyone has stated their case and nobody is going to change their point of view. So now here is mine. Some of you will like it and some of you won’t.

For those of you concerned about what is going on with Emmis then contact them directly. KMTV is doing what their parent company is telling them to do. Also, does anyone know for a fact that other companies (Pappas, Hearst-Argyle, as examples) are not in negotiations to do the same thing? You won't know until negotiations come to a halt and they pull another channel.

Also people talked earlier about KMTV selling advertising and something about that covers the cost for KMTV. Well Cox, Time Warner, or any other cable company does the same thing. So Cox shouldn't have to raise your rates because they sell advertising space also.

KMTV is a service provider similar to ESPN, Discovery or any other channel. The only difference is KMTV is not a national feed. So do you think it is ok for a national feed to charge double for their feeds? How much of the ESPN content is HD yet you pay your cable company twice for content that is mostly the same like KMTV.

Basically it comes to this. Some people made an decision to go with cable and other made an investment into over the air transmissions. Each and every one of us has to decide which is best for us. You may choose to change or not. No matter which way you go you will find something to bitch about. If you are with cable it will be rate increases, dropped channels, or not carrying the channels you want. This also goes for satellite users. For people with antennas it will be that the power isn’t strong enough or your not getting the tower rebuilt fast enough. It will always be something for most of you. It is all part of life and the choice that you made. DEAL WITH IT. YOU ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE CHOICE YOU MADE.

Shawn

P.S. Like someone above said, this was a great thread to come and help each other out. Lately it has become a bitch session. Let’s get back to exchanging good, helpful information.

No more politics and just the objective facts from now on :)

I agree GP particularly since you brought politics up to begin with. As for your argument that OTA is not free on cable, you still don't understand what it is that cable provides--TRANSMISSION not CONTENT. We are paying them to provide AND service a signal, not originate it. Just like we pay the phone company to CARRY our communications, not originate them.

Still waiting for you and the protagonists of special treatment for Emmis to answer the questions with objective facts and back up their "misinformation" claim. Clearly not going to happen here.

Shawn, you're in the antenna business, not hard to see where your sympathies might lie here. As far as whether the rest are following Emmis's lead I can only pass on what Comcast has said and the answer is no.

Bye. :)

Maybe I don't pay enough attention to local telecommunications politics, however I came to this forum a few minutes ago to find out the QAM channel for KMTV. Well...well...well wasn't I unpleasantly surprised. (and not alone either) I guess our local tv and cable operators still can't play together after all these years!!!

BTW, omnipotent KMTV guy, I have been paying for CBS on cable service for about 25 ******* years!!!! All your doing now is soiling on my serials.

I don't care about KMTV politics.

I dont' care about COX politics.

I do care about watching HD broadcasts.

The technology is HERE and AVAILABLE and both COX and KMTV should be ashamed of themselves for creating this debacle. Mr KMTV guy gave a wonderful, warm plea for civility a few posts back. HA! Take that sentiment to the table and fix this ugliness. A small amount of credit is due to KMTV for actually posting on this forum.....very small.

Also, I don't want some OTA, baling twine, RG-6-hanging-like-a-clothes-line, solution in my living room.

Come on children, share the ball.

Originally posted by DanHouck

DLINE, actually it appears the attitude here from KMTV and the OTA folks is that everyone has to be OTA or pay twice for the same content if they want HD otherwise. No one in this thread including me has suggested that everyone has to be hooked up to cable. Where did you get that?


In making that observation, I wasn't referring to anyone's personal attitude. I was referring to what seems to be the prevailing attitude of the stores and manufacturers. The last time I went to my big electronics store for an antenna, it was cleverly hidden in the back of the store while they visibly push satellite dependency.

As long as stores and manufacturers fail to adequately push quality OTA receivers and antennas, we're never going to reach that competitive market where the price goes down and allows more people to convert to DTV and HDTV.

So let's get back to helping your fellow Nebraskans and western Iowans get the signal.

Sounds like some money could be made setting up a store that sells antennas, HDTVs and OTA boxes.
Promote the heck out of it with radio and TV ads, heck even cable.
Promote the FREE aspect, the fact that digital is going to be required in the future, and don't go into the details that make people glaze over.
Even and AD on 10/11 covers the state with their 5000000 repeaters.

Is any one else experiencing a stutter problem on KETV with Cox here the last couple of days? I watched Monday Night Football all year and never experienced anything like this. The picture doesn't cut out and neither does the sound. It's hard to explain, but it's like the players on the field are kind of jittery. I used to experience this on ESPN, but I really haven't watched much HD on ESPN lately to see if ESPN still has that problem. All my other channels are fine. Any ideas? Thanks!

So KMTV would rather have their viewers spend $300-$400 on an OTA option when that could be money spend on their advertisers and such. Their business decisions really want to make me go out an support their station. Not!

"$300-$400 on an OTA option"

What?

Its only $99 with Dishnetwork or Direct TV How do you come up ith $400?


I called Cox again about the "FREE Local HDTV " that some of you are talking about.

They want $40 a month for it as I must subscribe to there other packages to get it.


I guess it is not free. The cable HD box is not free either. They want to rent it for $9.99 a month.

SAT sounds a lot better plus I can get (OTA) WB 15 and Fox 42 and Iowa PBS (soon) in Digital along with the Lincoln CBS (I like in South Sarpy where it comes in good).

Cox does not offer these channels.

In some cases the Dish Network model 811 is Free or new customers and the 921 (tivo like HD Recorder) is $600.

Originally posted by ScottChez
"$300-$400 on an OTA option"

Its only $99 with Dishnetwork or Direct TV How do you come up ith $400?

I called Cox again about the "FREE Local HDTV " that some of you are talking about.

They want $40 a month for it as I must subscribe to there other packages to get it.


Dish Network and DTV are also going to want $40 per month. For a $99 decoder box, you will probably be required to subscribe for at least a year. I don't know if these decoder boxes will even work for OTA if you discontinue your satellite service.

If you want HDTV without any monthly fees, you will need to spend $300-400 for a decoder box.

I don't want to spend that much to get Dish in 5 rooms in my house, I got the setup I want, I just want my KM3 on Cox again.

Let's face it, All I really want is the SuperBowl in HD.

KMTV knows I'll watch it either way, analog or digital, so it's no loss in ad revenue for them to cut off the Digital feed. I'm not going to continue to rent this stupid HD box for cox, and will probably downgrade to analog cable -- but they know they won't lose me as a customer, cause I need the cable modem, phone, etc..

So it's really the end consumer like me who is screwed here.

Cause I'm not buying a $300 box just for the few shows they broadcast in HD.

I have to agree with evilpete. I used to watch only analog cable but wanted HDTV so I hooked up through Cox and it's costing me almost $40 a month to have HDTV because of the other required services. I really only use it for football so after the season is done it can all go back.

This is one argument that Cox and KMTV should have kept to themselves. It just sours the whole HDTV experience.

Ok Here's a thought?

Could Cox carry a non-local CBS HD feed instead of KMTV?

I realize there are FCC rules for duplicate syndication that say the local station has exclusive rights, but does this apply if the local station refuses to provide the feed? ANd is HD considerd a duplicate of the analog SD broadcast of the same program?



ps..
:mad:
Thanks a lot KMTV, for ruining my superbowl party plans... Your signal may be free - but at a ridiculous expense to the end consumer.. So unless KMTV is going to start handing out free OTA receivers, they should just be happy they have a means of getting their signal out at all.

There is a third option for receiving CBS-HD content. Purchase an Echostar HD compatible receiver, purchase an RV or camper and request a waiver to receive distant channels for your camper/trailer. Whether or not a national feed waiver can still be acquired now that Omaha has been added to the locals list is open for debate.

If your waiver is accepted sign up for the national CBS feed from NY or Los Angeles for $1.99 plus a $4.99 receiver access fee and enjoy the show. While you're at it plug an antenna into the receivers 8PSK input and enjoy free OTA local HD programming, including KMTV.

It seems a bit redundant to purchase an HD receiver just to get CBS from NY but it does have its advantages, especially when weather causes drop outs here locally. I live directly south of the towers on 72nd st. in a valley between hills, 8VSB even this close to the towers is sometimes intermittent.

Happy HD-ing!

John

Question: Is anyone getting KXVO OTA since the snowstorm? They have disappeared for me.

Thanks!

PS. KPTM seems to have gotten weaker too, unwatchable now, where before I was getting them good.

Originally posted by mroot
Question: Is anyone getting KXVO OTA since the snowstorm? They have disappeared for me.

Thanks!

PS. KPTM seems to have gotten weaker too, unwatchable now, where before I was getting them good.


I've never been able to pick up either station. They really need to stregthen their signal.

From tonight's Husker Football wrap-up:

Nebraska Public Television is in the process of building out an HD truck for in state service. Shook Mobile of San Antonio is doing the build-out. The trailer is 53' long with a 50' long extending/expanding wall. This is their first trailer with an extention of 5' (60"). Their normal extention is 42". Structural work should be finished late February.

Soon all state sports televised, high school, college and semi-pro baseball, will be completely done it HD.

I am hoping some of the locally produced documentaries will get nation-wide exposure.

Ok since I lost KMTV over COX (I find them both responsible like two children fighting over a toy), I tried to connect my antenna in the attic up to my HDTV Mitsubishi. I dialed in channel 45 and the receiver gives my channel information (it shows '003.01 KMTV' on-screen) but I do not have a picture. Is this because the signal strength is too low. I live just north or 120th and Military with direct sight-line to the antennas on 72nd. My antenna is in the attic pointed directly at 72nd street. What could be wrong?

I would think if you are getting the PSIP information you'd have the picture. I take it you don't have audio.

Ok since I lost KMTV over COX (I find them both responsible like two children fighting over a toy), I tried to connect my antenna in the attic up to my HDTV Mitsubishi. I dialed in channel 45 and the receiver gives my channel information (it shows '003.01 KMTV' on-screen) but I do not have a picture. Is this because the signal strength is too low. I live just north or 120th and Military with direct sight-line to the antennas on 72nd. My antenna is in the attic pointed directly at 72nd street. What could be wrong?

No audio, no picture. Just the information. Interesting though, I did an automated search and the tuner only found channel 45 (003.01).

At 120th and Military you should be getting 3, 6 and 26 with an antenna in the attic.
I am 25 miles out in Missouri Valley using an attic antenna with a Zenith OTA box and can get 3,6 and 26 just fine. On occasion I even pick up 12.
Zero luck with 15 or 42.
Is your OTA tuner an on board one supplied with your set? Does it have signal strength meter display? If so what does it say?
KMTV and WOWT OTA should be roaring in at your location.
Good luck.

One other question. How is your NTSC reception OTA using your antenna and the Mitsubishi analog tuner?

Has anyone tried using the DVI port on the Motorola box from Cox here in Omaha???, Now that KMTV is OTA only, the DVI port on my TV may need to get used. Has anyone here tried the Motorola OTA box??, it seems to be the cheapest option at $299 after rebate from Circuit City. It doesn't have DVI though. Otherwise the next alternative looks like the Samsung T351 which does have DVI for 399.

Direct TV has Signed contracts for WB15 and Fox 42

Dishnetwork has a verbal to turn on WB 15 and Fox in a few weeks all in SD.

Both Direct TV and Dishnetwork are offereing Free 5 Room installs with 5 receivers all for free for new customers.

Both are offering a Free HD Box for new customers that can also get over the Air HD.

Both rates run about $5 less per month that cox if you add the prices up and include the rental cost of Coxes boxes and the $5 extra receiver fee from the two sats.

What are you waiting for. Dump cable and switch to either Direct TV or Dish.

ADD BONUS free DVRs
================
As an added bonus both companies are offering FREE TIVOS for new customers.

Dishentwork is called a 510 its like a Tivo (in fact Tivo is sueing them)

Direct TV it is a real Tivo that can record TWO things at the same time while you watch an other.

Both DVRs record the 100% digital stream from the SAT not like the standard Tivos that convert it and record in Analog.

The SATs DVR feeds are only $5 per month for the whole house unlike the standard Tivo fee of $12 per month.

I am not a resellar. Dish a person that is PRO DBS.

Look around on the net for the lowest prices for SAT DBS or call the companies (sometimes that are more).

Get ALL OMAHA D-TV and ALL OMAHA HDTV now by leaving Cox.

Also check out the press releases from Thursdays CES.

4 new HDTV channel announcements are expected in the next week. It will take COX many Months to add more HD.

Originally posted by ScottChez

As an added bonus both companies are offering FREE TIVOS for new customers.


DTV doesn't offer an HD PVR! And the HD DISH 921 is usually described more like a VCR than a PVR. I sincerely doubt that the DISH 921 is being offered for FREE.


Get ALL OMAHA D-TV and ALL OMAHA HDTV now by leaving Cox.


KETV-DT is only available on Cox. End of story.

When the HD DirecTivo is released (supposedly in March), I will look hard at switching to DBS. However, that will still leave me without KETV-DT. Hopefully, KETV will get their tower/antenna replaced soon.

If you are referring to the DVI port on the back of the new motorola cox box, it is not active yet.. Last time that I spoke with one of their reps I was told that it would be late next summer, to fall before it was active.

Free HDTV boxes from Directv and Dish?? Tell me where you are finding your information Scott because I have never seen that offered anywhere. Just curious do you work for KMTV????

I haven't seen the offer from Direct TV, but I know Dish is offering their new 811 HD box free with new installs. I have several friends who have done this since it debuted early December. If you call Dish, be prepared for a backlog of installations caused by a huge response to the offer.

It is word of mouth and dealer advertised, as Dish network isn't actively advertising it. You can see some of the offer here: http://dishdepot.com/Cart/description.php?II=492704&UID=20040107071128192.31.106.34

Call Dish direct for the best deal though.

Mike,

Thanks for the replies. I have not tried the analog tuner since I would have to disconnect the cable and reconnect to a different input. I will mess with that later, probably Friday.

This is the built in tuner on my Mitsubishi Big Screen. I have used it connected to cox cable and pulled in several stations. Of course, CBS is no longer one of them.

I do not have a level meter. Only a search function that basically cycles through the OTA channels and captures the ones that are available. It locked on to KMTV-DTV and identifies it, but no sound or picture.

I am sitting on a hill literally looking across at the freakin towers. How directional should my antenna be? It is literally pointed at it right now. I just don't get it.

My guess would be that you have bad wire between the antenna and the TV. Checking through analog will help you see if that's the case.

Thanks Dave I will. Have to wait until Friday though

Another thought is your antenna may be too good. That is the gain of the antenna is overpowering the tuner. What are you using for an antenna?

Well, FYI, KXVO is back to full strength for me. The snowstorm must have given them some problems. KPTM still comes in rather crappy. Supposedly, they are cranking out the same amount of power, but there is a BIG difference in signal strength. I thought they were on the same antenna, too. But not sure.

Mike

Checking the reception through the analog tuner will probably tell you if your antenna lead is bad. Frankly at your location you would probably get decent reception of us and 3 with a bow tie on top of the set.
That is rather inelegant looking but would probably work. If your analog signal is good then you may be overpowering your HDTV tuner. I know that my Zenith OTA box came with a pad for use in the event of a too powerful signal.
Good luck.

Just a rant, is it just me or would money spent on ads discussing the spat between KMTV and Cox be better spent giving us the channel????

Is Cox using commercials too? I saw a couple of the commercials that KM is using..

Glad I am not a Cox customer! :p

The price for the HD Dishnetwork and HD Direct TV box changed recently.

Due to a price war they are BOTH $99 for new customers.

Both boxes get the Satelite AND FREE over the air D-TV (Digital TV) and HDTV. The locals will be on your Guide menu.


The $99 Dishnetwork offers is in the link above or just call them

The $99 Direct TV offer is talked about in detail in this link

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=151749

The offers are for new customers only.

This is the ONLY way to get all HDTV and All local D-TV in Omaha minus KETV-7 of course till there tower is up.

You wont get KETV but you will get WB, Fox, and Iowa PBS in D-TV/HDTV.

I do not work for any TV related company. I just do not like Cable due to there Quarterly Price increases.

If you want all the HDTV avl. Satelite is the way to go, trust me.

The above is the reason why I do not like cable.

The reason why I do not like Cox is that they are preventing many from watching Star Trek (which is only on UPN)

The bought the rights to UPN for this market. They then made of fake call letters making it sound like they off there O2 UPN over the air. They dont.

You can only get the Omaha UPN if you Pay Cox Money.

In other cities UPN is free over the air. If you are on Direct TV you CANT get UPN. If you are on Dishnetwork you can get UPN out of LA or NY but you have to pay extra for the feed.

Cox is preventing an Over the Air channel that most cities are size already have.

Could you imaging Star Trek in HD?

Is anyone else experiencing a stutter problem on KETV with Cox here the last couple of days? I watched Monday Night Football all year and never experienced anything like this. The picture doesn't cut out and neither does the sound. It's hard to explain, but it's like the players on the field are kind of jittery. I used to experience this on ESPN, but I really haven't watched much HD on ESPN lately to see if ESPN still has that problem. All my other channels are fine. Any ideas? Thanks!

I called Cox about my stutter problem, and they are supposed to get back to me. I'm using the HDD-200 side car box with the digital box to get my HDTV signal. The support person thinks it's an issue with the HDD-200. However, if that's the case why wasn't I experiencing problems before? The last time I had problems it took over a month to fix and I had to buy an amplifier from Cox to supposedly fix the problem. The amplifier didn't fix the problem. They later found out it was a problem here at the Council Bluffs Station. They fixed that problem and everything was running pretty well up to now.

i have been experiencing more stutters the past month or so too. I haven't really been home much, so I haven't worried about it, I have the signal split, so I was going to try a better splitter first. Now that Cox is renting the box, I think you will be happier with the speed of the new motorola box. You might even be able to get a decent price on the 200 on ebay, the big dish satellite companies still use it.

It's really bad for me. I have a HDD200 sidecar on my downstairs set, and ABC is pretty much unwatchable.

Upstairs, I have a 6200, and have absolutely no issues.

Both signals are split the same number of times. (Zero). Hah

Right now I'm watching ESPN HD - Michigan State vs. Wisconsin in a college basketball game. The stutter/jitter/dropping frames problems seems to be pretty nonexistant (I notice just the slightest jitter, or whatever you want to call it, every once in awhile, but definitely not even close to the problem I was having on this channel and KETV). I did change one setting on my t.v. (Sony 34 XBR800). I went into the advance video setup and changed the mode from interlaced to cinemotion. I'm not sure if that's what made the difference or not. I'll just keep watching.

Cox is running a Sella Thon for new customers. Any Cox Tele, HD, Digital HD , or internet for $5 a month for the first two months.

Too bad they dont have KM3 for the Super bowl in HD.

They might of sold more.

By the way when you call to order HD they forget to mention they lost KMTV in HD. They still require you to pay extra for the Digital package.

How sad this all is for the customer.

We are only talking 50Cent per month per subscriber. Heck I would pay $1 A MONTH FOR THE HD.

Scott, where did you hear 50 cents per subscriber?? And if they pay 50 cents to KMTV they have to pay it for the other networks. They pay Discovery, they pay ESPN, they pay for INHD (in directly because they own it and have to pay to produce/ purchase the content). It does add up.

The 50 cent is what they currently get from Dish Network and Direct TV.

SAT does it and it is still chepaer than cable.

I guess they figure that Cox can do it also since they charge more than SAT.


The 50 cent rate is standard across the country for Non Must Carry FCC required stations.

If a station demands must carry rights they are not alowed to charge anything.

Popular stations like CBS, NBC, ABC often do not force must carry as they know they can get some money for there signal.

Could someone provide a list of all HD ota channels I could expect to tune in using an attic antenna in Fremont? Is kmtv back up? If not, what is their timetable? Thanks.

Check out http://antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx

I would think from Fremont you could get:

WOWT-DT 22
NETV-DT 40
KOLN-DT 25 (oops)
KMTV-DT 45

I would guess that FOX and WB would fall short of you.

KOLN is 25
You might also try 31, which is KLKN, but it's highly unlikely you'll get it yet. Might be handy for future reference.

All of your channels should remap to their analog numbers (WOWT will be 6-1, KMTV will be 3-1). For some reason, KLKN doesn't remap yet.

I live out by the millard airport and can get 3,6,13, and 26, but no Fox or WB, what kind of antenna should I try? I had the Terk TV55 and that didn't work, i'm weary of getting an outdoor antenna, is their an indoor solution?

I live in Fremont, near the Golf Club, and use a Zenith Silver Sensor currently, but am getting ready to put a CM4228 in the attic. With the SS I can pick up KMTV and WOWT from Omaha and at least one NETV station with exceptional signal. I've had no luck with Fox or the WB, nor any Lincoln stations yet. I have on the rare occasion picked up KMEG out of Sioux City.

If you're trying to get both Omaha and Lincoln stations, you might try a CM 4221 which is not quite as directional. If you go with a directional antenna like the 4228 you would probably need a rotor to fine tune for either Omaha or Lincoln at any given time.

Good Luck!

Just an update and a thanks to Mike and GPFLEPSEN. It appearantly was a bad cable. When I built the house, I ran 5 coax cable from the attic to the basement (where the audio is located). The antenna wire must have a nail through it or something. I tried a second wire and everything works fine. I now get CBS, NBC and the NETV channels.

Should I be getting the Fox station as well or is that not possible in the 120th and Military area?

Thanks
Matt

Matt, I get KXVO rock-solid at 96th and Harrison using a omni-directional antenna on my chimney (it's a telemetry antenna used in hospitals). KPTM is marginal at best. Why? I have no idea since they are apparently on the same tower cranking out the same power. I also get NETV out of Lincoln perfectly, and of course, KMTV and WOWT.

Mike

thank you for your responses to my earlier post re HD ota in Fremont. looking back at it, I erred in asking about KMTV-- I meant KETV, whose tower and antenna were destroyed last summer. Any news on when they will be back up? Thanks.

Last report on Ketv ota, is late 2004. Also Kmtv vs Cox fight has drawn national media attention.

Originally posted by Ronald L M
Last report on Ketv ota, is late 2004. Also Kmtv vs Cox fight has drawn national media attention.


National Media Attention?

All I found was a single article:

http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=1684

Anyone getting the CBS HDTV feed from Lincoln OTA here in Omaha?

How? What ant? What Amp?

NOt sure why I would Want to get KXVO other than to have it. On the other hand I would like to get KPTM by next year assuming that the NFL will be in HD. We will see. I am using one of those crappy TERK HDTV antennas in my attic, but it works great for me considering I have direct sight line to the towers and they are close.

MROOT, I want to hear more about the telemetry antenna in your attic.

Thanks
Matt

Originally posted by ScottChez
Anyone getting the CBS HDTV feed from Lincoln OTA here in Omaha?

How? What ant? What Amp? Scott, I'm getting Koln-dt out of Lincoln, with a large vhf-uhf radio shack antenna with a rotor with a small mast mounted on my roof, I live around 90th Pacific in Omaha.

I think if I do set up an OTA receiver to get CBS here in Omaha, I will try to get KOLN. I will never watch KMTV. It would be worth it for me to spend a day setting it up, just so KMTV doesn't get my business.

On a positive note, when everyone decides how they are going to get their DTV signals, TitanTV just revamped their WebSite, with a great user interface and improved graphics to see what's on. You can personalize your guide to whichever channel lineup you choose, and you can create your favorite channel list to get a snapshot of all your channels w/ "HD" indicators. I've found this to be much more reliable source of info than DirecTV's Guide for "True HD" content.

Check it out http://www.titantv.com

Found out that KMTV did not pull the plug on Coxes HD. Emisse (spelling?) did.

They own KMTV and they did this same thing in there other cities.

Anyone know if Cox is even talking to the right people?
The need to be talking to Emisses (Spelling?) not KMTV.

Maybe thats why KMTV is saying that Cox wont talk to them, they are talking to the wrong people.

Anyone call either parties to get updates?

The Super Bowl is soon.

Scott, this was already posted a long time ago, The parent company for KMTV is the one making the decisions. Of course Cox knows that. The fact is they won't pay, and KMTV and its parent company won't settle for anything less.

Question: I am helping out my brother in Lincoln. He is getting a SA 3250HD cable box from his Time Warner cable company in a week or so. It comes with a DVI connector. Will his cable box come with a DVI cable or will he have to go out and buy one? If he has to buy one where is a good place in the area to get one? He has a 46" Sony CRT rear-projector set which has a DVI connector. Thanks.

Better make sure the Box even has DVI output turned on before spending 100 bucks on the cable at Best Buy.

I'd agree, verify it is turned on. I would bet TWC won't supply the cable either. Advise him to not go to BB or CC, or anywhere else in town for a DVI cable. Go to tigerdirect, or pacificcable or ebay. Their is no need to spend over $30 for a 10' DVI cable. You can get them off EBay also.

Just giving an update that Cox and KMTV resumed negotiations this week. Cox customers may be getting KMTV's HD feed back in time for the Super Bowl.

My sources are at the top.


Are there any of you out there that are Cox HD subscribers NOT getting ESPN-HD, Discovery HD, INHD1, and INHD2?

Please let me know.

Thanks!

Too bad they did not get it durring there big Cox Sellathon.

They would of got more new customers.

They paid a lot for advertisng on that campaign. Seemed like the comercials ran every 15 mins on the locals.

Supposedly, Cox and KMTV have been "negotiating" for over a year, so I'm not exactly hopeful of them coming to an agreement anytime soon. Already checkin out which OTA tuner and which store has the best return policy.

Originally posted by fjerina
Question: I am helping out my brother in Lincoln. ..... Will his cable box come with a DVI cable or will he have to go out and buy one? If he has to buy one where is a good place in the area to get one? He has a 46" Sony CRT rear-projector set which has a DVI connector. Thanks.

I don't know if they will supply one. Regarding where to get a cable or other HDTV supplies, I would recommend Schaefer's TV and Appliance Center. Steve Kleinschmidt from Schaefer's maintains a presence on this forum, with very helpful input. He has helped me out at the store often and is a great local resource for local HDTV supplies and info.

Marc

Perfect Timing... Now that I cancelled by digital cable and returned the converter, they're gonna resume negotiaions.

Well, I guess if they work it out, I'll go rent another one.. The DirecTV solution is too expensive, and I don't care to buy an OTA box right now..

To the original poster: I don't think the DVI port on the Time Warner Cable Boxes in Lincoln are active yet, so it may be premature to buy a cable.

Regarding Schaeffer's: I bought a 34XBR910 from them and was very happy with their service (they helped me find some discrete codes for the remote control).

Originally posted by marck
I don't know if they will supply one. Regarding where to get a cable or other HDTV supplies, I would recommend Schaefer's TV and Appliance Center. Steve Kleinschmidt from Schaefer's maintains a presence on this forum, with very helpful input. He has helped me out at the store often and is a great local resource for local HDTV supplies and info.

Marc

I dont get they you think Sat cost more?

Both the Direct TV and Dishnetwork solutions are $99 for new customers.

That is $20 less than cox for the first year. Cox charges $9.95 per month for the box or $120 per year.

Dish and Direct are $99 for life.

Here is the link for more info.

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=151749

You have to call Direct or Dish Directly to get the deal. You cant go through a dealer in store or web.

The Dish model is the 811 .

Both solutions get KMTV 3 both offer free unlimited 2nd receivers at $4.99 PER month. Coxes price for a 2nd receiver with Guide data and parental lock outs is $6.95 PER month.

Cox rates going up.. ESPN going up.

I bet once KMTV 3 gets back on they also have to raise it an other $1

This is from there sister city. Omaha is next.

http://www.thehometownchannel.com/money/2765832/detail.html

Scott, They don't have to go to DISH directly. I can get a new customer into a 811 for 49.99 and then they will get a credit back of 49.99 on there first bill. So call your local retailer first before going through DISH or Direct. You will get better service from the retailer.

If you are in the Lincoln or surrounding area I would be glad to talk to you about options. 402-464-6995 and ask for Shawn. If I'm not in the office you can talk to Marvonne.

Shawn

Originally posted by csschrot
Scott, They don't have to go to DISH directly. I can get a new customer into a 811 for 49.99 and then they will get a credit back of 49.99 on there first bill. So call your local retailer first before going through DISH or Direct. You will get better service from the retailer.

If you are in the Lincoln or surrounding area I would be glad to talk to you about options. 402-464-6995 and ask for Shawn. If I'm not in the office you can talk to Marvonne.

Shawn

Can you get the 811 right now? I just spoke to Dish yesterday and they said they're back ordered on the 811 so I have to wait 4-6 weeks...

We have about 15 in stock right now. Give us a call on Monday if you are interested in signing up. The office is closed on the weekends. SORRY

Do you have any DIsh 921s HD DVRs (HD Tivo like) ? In stock.

Dish said you can only get them from Retailers right now due to the limited supply.

If not are you taking orders? Do you need a deposit?

We have 10 on backorder. We have only received one so far.

For What It's Worth ;) I was told today by my source that Cox and KMTV are back in negotiations. Don't hold your breath for the super bowl, but it doesn't hurt to have a little bit of optimism. I'm tired of the pissing match myself, and I'm also tired of trying to answer questions I have no answers to in the store. I think someone should just drop the hammer on both of them and say "children get along, or I'm gonna turn this car right around and go back home."

And THAT"S........for what it's worth.


Doug

I really wish Cox would add KPTM and KXVO so I don't go spend 150 to get an antenna on my roof.

COXs Call centers can only handle so many calls about this.

KM3 does not have a call center. They do not have to answer the phone and even talk about this.

COX must answer the phone or they risk loosing there JD Powers award for customer service.

Hint: call Cox every day on a status. They will then need to hire more people to answer phones in the call center (OR they might just meet and agree on something with KM3).

The Super Bowl is soon.

Shawn,

What's your existing customer price for a 921?

John

I did a comparision: The guy above is telling the truth. This is the best deal. Time to dump Cox.


Here is the new Link to the FREE FREE FREE Dishnetwork offer.

Free HD Reciever that gets both KMTV 3 and and WOWT, and PBS, A

AND WB and Fox in D-TV/HDTV

AND FREE 3 more SD receviers if you need them.

DIshentwork also has Locals in SD up. Direct TVs will be up in April.
With DIshnetwork you can also buy Two more UPN stations and 3 more WB stations if you like to Watch lots of Friends and Star Trek (Cox owns UPN here and it is not over the Air, DIrect TV has no UPN option for Omaha).

This is by far the best deal. Its $5 less per month than Cox and you get 20 more channels. Plus you OWN the box, not monthly $9.95 RENTAL FEES.

http://www.km3hd.com/

John, I went back to the retailer website to check but at this time they don't have a current customer upgrade promo for the 921. They don't have the new promo's for Feb 1st up yet so they may do something then. So you would be looking at 1000 + install. I can post something if I hear of a 921 upgrade promo.

Sorry.

Zager Antenna,

Do you install in Omaha?

You guys seem to know your product better than the stores around here.

Once in a great while we will make it up there. Most of the time people don't want to pay our trip charge to Omaha. We tell people about a company name "A Better Way" and the owner is Jeff. The owner of Zager has known Jeff for a while now. They go to team summit each year and hook up to talk about business. I also have met Jeff and I liked him. We send most of our Omaha calls to him since he is in Omaha.

I would give Jeff a call and if you don't like what he has to say give us a call. We would be glad to help you out if Jeff can't.

Thanks
Shawn

Anyone know who sells the SIR-T351's in Omaha?

And, since this is pretty new to me -- if this supports QAM, does that mean I can ditch my cox cable box - and use this device to access digital cable channels?

We can get it (SIR-T351) at NFM, but we don't normally stock it. Call in to the store and we can get pricing for you. I don't know off the top of my head.

Originally posted by dimer0
Anyone know who sells the SIR-T351's in Omaha?

And, since this is pretty new to me -- if this supports QAM, does that mean I can ditch my cox cable box - and use this device to access digital cable channels?

dimer ol' chap... Check out http://www.sevenefour.com/sasiatdewidv.html for factory refurbished and sealed 351's for $270.

That's nice - but there's some football on TV today I'd like to watch.

Man, I should plan better. :-)

(Thanks for the link!!! I'll probably go through them)

More than likely you won't be able to pick up KPTM, so you'll see the AFC Championship.

best buy had one in stock at the 72nd store on monday dimer. But they want 399. Circuit city had a motorola box without QAM for 299 after rebate a while back. QAM will not allow you to get the digital channels to my knowledge. I think they are still encrypted , but I could be wrong.

Best Buy's web site shows them 399 - $40 .. So $359.. And I'm sitting here with about $140 in reward zone coupons, gift cars, etc.. So I'd RATHER go to Best Buy..

Since I'm new to this oTA stuff, why is KPTM so hard to get? .. I'm by Boy's Town.

Ok, found a T151 open item at Best Buy (Oakview).. Ended up paying less than $100 for that + antenna..

So, now my question:

I can pick up NETV stuff fine - and it knows enough about KMTV to know it's channel 3 - but I get no signal at all... I picked up some flat-looking powered jensen antenna.. I'm guessing this just sucks. :-)

My NETV signal strength is about 80%

Dimer

The reasons KPTM is so hard to receive are listed below.

1. Effective power is only 17 KW.
2. Transmitter is located near Springfield.
3. Directional antenna is pointed at downtown Omaha. (see post #1089)
4. Adjacent channel interference causes 42 to overpower 43. (see post #1182)
5. Pappas broadcasting doesn't care about it's viewers (people paying the bills).

In south central and southwest Nebraska Pappas operates 4 stations as well as stations in Omaha, Sioux City and Des Moines. All six stations in NE are using underpowered SD digital signals. Not only that but the video quality is poor and the audio is mono on the four stations in SC NE. I can receive 2 of these (FOX 19 & ABC 36) For those of you thinking you are missing something by only receiving the analog channel you aren't missing anything. The engineers hands are tied because the station owners/operators make the decisions. If everyone reading this thread contacts their local affiliates and/or Pappas Broadcasting perhaps the wheels of change will turn a little faster. More info at these links.

Pappas web site - http://www.pappastv.com/Links.asp

FCC search link - http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/tvq.html

great score dimer, i had a 151 and it worked pretty good. KMTV is technically on channel 45, but the 151 will map it to 3, so you have to have a UHF antenna. Did they have anymore open box tuners??? A few weeks ago the target at 132 and maple had some open box silver sensors for cheap. They also have a fair selection of other antennas. You may just need to play around with the direction its pointing or even try turning the amp off.

YEAA! Went and picked up another antenna from Radio Shack.. I have about 60% signal strength on KMTV, no dropouts -- purrrrfect!

I get about 7 channels of NETV, and KMTV.. Is that all I can expect? .. Or do I need to get an attic or roof antenna? ..

dimer, I'd try simple and cheap first. Try Radio Shack's 15-2160 yagi in the attic first. You could even use two of them combined with a simple splitter/combiner.

They run about $21 at the rat shack.

I dunno what model I got (would have to go upstairs), but I just moved everything to my downstairs set, and I get KMTV, WOWT, and the NETV's with no issues. I'm leaving everything as-is.

Sehr gut.

I'll be ebaying off my last HDD-200, and returning a cable box to Cox.

Does anyone in Omaha pick up KPTM-DT? If so, can you tell me what the antenna you use is and where you are located? I bought the biggest OTA outdoor antenna from Radio Shack you can buy. And I live at about 132nd and Harrison.

I noticed Dish Network ads running on KM3 tonight during Harrah's Sound Off. They were touting the ability to receive the Super Bowl via OTA HD. Included in the deal was an OTA antenna. The included antenna offer is different from any other Dish ad I've seen.

Sorry, I didn't catch the phone number given, though I'm sure it was a local retailer.

I sent an email to KPTM a couple weeks ago, asking if they had plans to increase their power. I received a reply from Richard Graham, who is their Chief Engineer. In part, this is what he told me:

"We are working on increasing power, but that will take some time. Our VHF competitors have been much more successful, as their cost to operate a full-power VHF transmitter is one-fourth the cost to operate a full-power UHF transmitter. That leaves alot more money to build digital facilities, which carry a multi-million dollar price tag. Compounding that is the fact that advertisers are not yet ready to pay more for ads just because they run in digital as well as analog."

He then had a couple more questions for me, regarding my antenna setup and orientation. He mentioned trapping channel 42, so it doesn't overload the digital receiver. He mentioned that KPTM analog is cranking out 5,000,000 watts and digital is only 12,000 watts.

He asked if I got channel 38 (KXVO), which I do like gangbusters. KPTM for me is weak and pixelates alot. He mentioned that both stations use the same antenna and the same power levels. This is why I wrote to him in the first place...as KXVO comes in MUCH better, and I have moved my antenna around alot to make sure I am getting maximum signal.

Now, here is the good part! He stated:

"We are trying to make 42's digital the second stream on KXVO-DT, since the transmitters are side-by-side. It would become KXVO-2 if this succeeds."

Since I get KXVO so well, that would be fantastic, if this were to occur. Anyway, there you have it.

Mike

Originally posted by mroot
I sent an email to KPTM a couple weeks ago, asking if they had plans to increase their power. I received a reply from Richard Graham, who is their Chief Engineer. In part, this is what he told me:

"We are working on increasing power, but that will take some time. Our VHF competitors have been much more successful, as their cost to operate a full-power VHF transmitter is one-fourth the cost to operate a full-power UHF transmitter. That leaves alot more money to build digital facilities, which carry a multi-million dollar price tag. Compounding that is the fact that advertisers are not yet ready to pay more for ads just because they run in digital as well as analog."

He then had a couple more questions for me, regarding my antenna setup and orientation. He mentioned trapping channel 42, so it doesn't overload the digital receiver. He mentioned that KPTM analog is cranking out 5,000,000 watts and digital is only 12,000 watts.

He asked if I got channel 38 (KXVO), which I do like gangbusters. KPTM for me is weak and pixelates alot. He mentioned that both stations use the same antenna and the same power levels. This is why I wrote to him in the first place...as KXVO comes in MUCH better, and I have moved my antenna around alot to make sure I am getting maximum signal.

Now, here is the good part! He stated:

"We are trying to make 42's digital the second stream on KXVO-DT, since the transmitters are side-by-side. It would become KXVO-2 if this succeeds."

Since I get KXVO so well, that would be fantastic, if this were to occur. Anyway, there you have it.

Mike


Hmm, very intresting, the thing about what he said that bothers me is that PBS runs on UHF, and their digital signal is very good. PBS is a station that operates on their pledges money.

I thought the law was that they all had to at least have a D-TV signal by now.

How can they call a limited signal as meeting the FCC requirement. No wonder HD-TV is not widespread yet. The stations are doing a end run around the interpretation of the law.

I think that if Fox and WB do not do full power D-TV then we should all be alowed wiavers to get other Cities on DBS. Direct plans to soon have Fox in HD (it was in a press release).

I may be wrong , but does FOX even do TRUE HD anyway? I tought it was something like " FOX Enhanced Widescreen ". or something like that at 480p.

Originally posted by cblake
I may be wrong , but does FOX even do TRUE HD anyway? I tought it was something like " FOX Enhanced Widescreen ". or something like that at 480p.

Correct 480p Widescreen with full HD launching in Sept.

My brother-in-law lives in Lincoln, NE (68360) just north of Lincoln on a hill - What stations should be available OTA from there?

Thanks!

Hey could recieve these digital stations

KUON-DT 40.1 PBS Lincoln NE 59° 29.7 40
KOLN-DT 10.1 CBS Lincoln NE 221° 15.2 25
KMTV-DT 3.1 CBS OMAHA NE 58° 54.8 45
KLKN-DT 8.1 ABC Lincoln NE 126° 18.5 31

I am willing to bet the reception for kptm depends on your reciever as well. I live at 159th and harrison, not very far from kptm towers... I printed a land map and ran attentas direct to the reciever, amped, not amped, omnidirectional, directional. No dice. Everything else picked up great, even recieved lincoln, etc... I have an sir-ts165 directv / dish combo. There are others on this post who recieved kptm.

If you are getting kxvo or kptm what is your reciever? I am betting 0 responses for sir-ts165.

Thoughts?

Daryl

I have the Hughes E-86 HD satellite receiver. I get KXVO great, and KPTM is not watchable right now. It has been watchable, but not lately. This is with a very small antenna on my chimney at 96th and Harrison. This area is on somewhat high ground.

Mike

I see at the NFM Nebraska Furn Mart that they carry the Dish 811 and 921.

I wonder if they will be giving big Discounts on them durring the Berkshire Stock holders sale. I bought one share so I could get discounts there.

When you say that NFM " carries" the 811 & 921 , does that mean that they have them in stock? I didn't think anyone around here had anymore 921's yet.

csschrot - thanks for the referral to Jeff at "A Better Way".. I talked to him today, and should have my Dish 811 installed thursday..

I've got a somewhat off-topic question for anyone out there with Dish experience:
Since I'm gonna put an antenna up to pick up HD -- is there any point to paying the 5 bucks to get the locals (standard def) off the sat instead of just picking them up OTA?

I realize that most SD is VHF, and HD is UHF, but don't most antennas do both anyway?

Wow, did anyone catch the State of the Union address last night in HD? .. WOW!! I didn't know these things were broadcast in HD, but sure enough, i switched over from Fox News to ABC-HD, then NBC-HD.. Both had it..

Amazing.

Now, someone needs to tell Hillary that she needs a bit more makeup. OMG, she looks scary.

And, Kennedy looked pretty bad.. Man, did he get poison ivy or something? Geeeze..

evilpete,

You might need to get the locals so the OTA matches up on the guide with data. Otherwise, you may have to program it on your own your you wont have any guide data.

Let us know how or if there is guide data once you get it. I would go with out the local for now. If it does not work it is FREE to add the package later, but it cost $5 to downgrade or remove it.

Originally posted by ScottChez
evilpete,

You might need to get the locals so the OTA matches up on the guide with data. Otherwise, you may have to program it on your own your you wont have any guide data.

Let us know how or if there is guide data once you get it. I would go with out the local for now. If it does not work it is FREE to add the package later, but it cost $5 to downgrade or remove it.

Mine pulls the guide info from OTA, without paying for the local package.. Shouldnt be an issue.. Give it a try, if it dont work/ or if you get lousy reception on some channels, add the package.. 3 and 6 should be fine, but 7 being only analog might leave some to be desired for signal..

So I was looking at that offer from Dish Network, but I had some questions and I am hoping current users might be able to answer.

1.Do you have any problems with reception? Cable ads on TV seem to make a bid deal about how weather can effect picture quality, etc.

2.With using an OTA antenna with the HDTV box do you have to switch inputs to get the locals? Do they just show up on the box, under a different channel?

3.Anyone know if the Dish install includes installation of the antenna?

Thanks in advance.

redwood -
I just got mine installed yesterday, so I can't comment much on weather issues, etc..

The 811 receiver does include the OTA channels in the guide, so you don't have to switch inputs, it's just like changing to any other channel.

The package I got did not include an antenna - but I did not use the offer that KMTV has, which apparently does include an antenna. (Mainly because I only wanted a one-year commitment)

There is a thread in the hardware forum about the 811, where you can find out more about the specifics of this receiver..

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=333609

Originally posted by redwood
So I was looking at that offer from Dish Network, but I had some questions and I am hoping current users might be able to answer.

1.Do you have any problems with reception? Cable ads on TV seem to make a bid deal about how weather can effect picture quality, etc.

2.With using an OTA antenna with the HDTV box do you have to switch inputs to get the locals? Do they just show up on the box, under a different channel?

3.Anyone know if the Dish install includes installation of the antenna?

Thanks in advance.

1) It is true that reception can be interrupted by very heavy rain. The ads put out by cable are gross exaggerations. If your dish is mounted with a clean line of sight to the satellites and aimed properly you shouldn't be bothered by loss signals. Over the past 6-7 years I have experienced probably 6-7 total episodes. The weather has always been severe thunderstorms with an actual threat of destructive weather. I have never lost signal during normal rainy weather. I have never lost signal during the winter time.

2) The local channels are seamlessly integrated into the receiver box. All the satellite channels are 101 and up. The locals are on their respective broadcast number. The digital channels remap to their corresponding analog counterpart. If I want CNN, I punch in 2-0-0. To go to KMTV HD, I punch in 0-0-3-0-1 for 3.01.

3) A local ad (to Omaha) was advertising an OTA antenna installation. What the details are I don't know. Installing an OTA antenna isn't very hard, nor are they expensive. To get a feel for what you need go to antennaweb.org and see where you sit for directions to the broadcast towers.

I would call a local installer if you want to have a chance of having the HD receiver installed before the Super Bowl. Direct calls to Dish are having a few weeks wait. Demand for the HD 811 has far exceeded their anticipated demand.

Here is something wierd.

Today I was going to mount this antenna on my roof. But before we got it on the roof we tried it out to test the signal just sitting on our deck, The funny this is we picked up KPTM and KXVO fine, but when we mounted it on the roof, We couldn't pick up KPTM at all, but picked up Ch. 25, CBS in Lincoln. Any way to pick up KPTM also, I don't want an antenna sitting on my deck.

One week...i.e. 7 days to see if the "children" can "share the ball".


Come on KPTM! Show us u care.
COX, same goes for u.

I assume you meant KMTV not KPTM.

I have a problem. I am a DirecTV subscriber and they do not carry local channels in Omaha yet. I am sure this is not news to this forum. So, I have been using COX basic cable for the last year to get local channels, but I have gotten tired of paying them, even $10 for something that is free and not in HD.

So, I dug out a few antenna from the basement, ran a cable from the attic to the 'rats nest' where all the cables come together in the basement, and found a configuration that works for most all analog and some digital channels. I still need to get FOXHD, but I get KMTVHD great and WOWT sorta OK. I know I will need to get a better UHF antenna for the digital channels, but for now this works and I can cancel COX cable on Monday.

OK, here is my problem. UPN does not have an Omaha affiliate, at least not over the air. I am a fan of the show Enterprise and I don't want to miss it, but since I am ditching COX, I am losing UPN. I know that there is an UPN station in Lincoln, on channel 17, but I don't know if I can get that in Omaha. I don't know if they even offer HD.

I am close to 132 and Maple, up on a hill. I am hoping a better antenna will do the trick, but first, I would like to know if anyone else has had any luck with receiving this station in Omaha. Thanks for any advice.

David Griswold

Lincoln has no UPN station, Cox2 is your only hope. You could get Dish Network which would allow you to get a distant out of market UPN.

I recorded Cold Case in HD last night and watched it (MyHD, stock software.) They are always doing different things with the color and lighting on that show. I think it is just for dramatic effect to indicate the places in the show where they are flashing back to past events. I think it is intentional. Good show.

GRIZZ

Originally posted by davidgriswold
I recorded Cold Case in HD last night and watched it (MyHD, stock software.) They are always doing different things with the color and lighting on that show. I think it is just for dramatic effect to indicate the places in the show where they are flashing back to past events. I think it is intentional. Good show.

GRIZZ

You are correct, Cold Case is produced this way. I called CBS personally and that was the response.

MROOT: LENO is not on KMTV-HD, or KMTV.

Cox cable has a Monoply on all UPN in Omaha. They bought the rights so no one can do free over the air here.
Its only on O2TV on cox.

Who to talk to about this to get it fixed: Email CBS- Viacom they own UPN.

Here is the contact for the Central Time Zone UPN Rep.

I have contacted this person in the past. They said they were happy with the 75% market coverage that cox gives them. I also asked for UPN in HD as they have several shows in HDTV (most major market show them in HD now).

I said that is 75% Omaha Metrol NOT the who DMA market of OMaha and Lincoln. And many do not have or want Cox.

I suggested that they add a UPN SUper Station like DishNetwork has. On Dishnetwork it is only $1.50 more a Month for one of the UPNs. If you want Two UPNS and 3 WBS it is $5 more a Month.

Anyway I sent the suggestion and they said they will research the idea and they were happy to know they have UPN fans in OMaha.

I would EMail them and let them know you dont want Cox and you want to watch UPN on Direct TV (dont tell them I sent you as they probably would not want a flood of emails caused by me).

Tell them you cant watch UPN and would love to watch many of there show either free over the Air or on Direct TV.

here is the address.

kafreedman@CBS.com Below is the Email.


I certainly can understand your frustration at not being able to receive UPN over the air in Omaha, and we here at UPN would like nothing better than to have UPN on a broadcast station in the market.

While I have been working to secure clearance of UPN in Omaha, the full power stations are committed to the other networks, so having UPN on Cox Cable reaching 75% of the market is our best option right now. I keep close watch on the market to see what opportunity for us may arise.

We are always looking to improve clearance and knowing we have such fans in Omaha will help in the effort.

Best regards,

Kate Freedman
Director, Central-Mountain District
UPN Affiliate Relations

Originally posted by KMTV
You are correct, Cold Case is produced this way. I called CBS personally and that was the response.

MROOT: LENO is not on KMTV-HD, or KMTV.

My apologies. I have no idea what I was thinking there, and have removed the post.

Now....WOWT! Why is Leno never in sync in OTA HD!!:o

Mike

The link between Burbank and NBC is the problem causing Leno sound out of sync.

Does anyone else find it ironic that Cox has the monopoly on UPN (owned by Viacom) in this area which in not broadcast OTA and KMTV won't put CBS-HD( owned by Viacom) on Cox. I'm not suggesting a conspiracy of any kind, but it's just ironic. Maybe Viacom should give KMTV the UPN license instead :) We all know KMTV is dedicated to providing their signal to as many people as possible.

P.S. Scott you make it sound like Cox is the one monopolizing the UPN signal , but if you read the email you posted it is pretty clear by their response that no one wanted to pay for the UPN signal and pay to broadcast it. As we know from KMTVs posts setting up broadcast equipment is very expensive!! Cox bought it because the could for cheap I'm sure, you can't blame Cox for that. In this small of market, you can't justify paying for a new broadcast setup to broadcast the junk that UPN has. If there was a higher bidder , Viacom would have sold it to them.

Lincoln Channel 17....
Lincoln is part of a really goofy DMA that is Lincoln-Grand Island-Hastings.
OMaha isn't part of Lincoln or Vice Versa
Why? Complex reasons, but Oh, let's see...10/11 (Lincoln/Grand Island) as near as I can tell helps make this possible. Our "local" NBC affiliate is KHAS in Hastings.
So while Channel 17 in GI is considered Lincoln we are forced to watch it on Channel 18 or 56 on 1kw repeaters that cover Lincoln on a good day.
No way it will bounce into Omaha.

I now have a much better understanding of the UPN situation. Everyday, I learn something more about the finer points of living in Omaha/NE. Sometimes, I wonder if I was better off being unemployed in Sacramento... :confused:

GRIZZ

Cox is the problem with UPN.

If you look at the old Fox and WB License it says WB/UPN.

Then Cox came along. Now WB can not air any of the UPN shows like Star Trek.

With Out Cox they could buy the UPN content and Air the good shows over the Air.

Cox owns all the rights now.

Today with D-TV they also had the option to put UPN on a Sub D-TV channel. Even KM3 could do that. There is a station in Des Monies that does this with some UPN shows.

You just need to buy the rights, but right now Cox has a Contract on it. Its not up for a Renewal for a while.

KMTV is not owned by Viacom/UPN so they have not say in the rights.

Thats why I call it a Monopoly for Over the Air broadcasts.

Whoo-hoo!!!!

[Associated Press]

NEW YORK -- The Daytona 500 will be the first NASCAR race to be broadcast in high definition on network television.

The Feb. 15 race is being shown by NBC.

Besides a clearer and sharper picture, director Mike Wells said Thursday the HDTV broadcast will allow viewers to see more cars on the left and right of the screen than they would with standard television.

"It gives you that bigger feel," Wells said. "You feel so much more a part of the event."

The network has no immediate plans to broadcast future races in high definition.

NBC has had success with the Daytona 500 before. The network's broadcast of the 2002 race got a 10.9 rating, the highest ever for start-to-finish coverage.

NBC Sports, Fox Sports, Turner Sports, TNT and FX are entering the fourth year of a six-year, $2.8 billion deal to broadcast NASCAR.

How is it Cox's problem??? Viacom knew very well that Cox had no intention of broadcasting the signal. Nobody forced them to give Cox the contract. How is that a monopoly? Viacom/UPN sold it to the who they wanted to , nobody twisted their arm. Blame Viacom for giving a contract to Cox knowing full well that Cox wasn't going to broadcast it. If Viacom gave Cox a long term contract with no buyout if a broadcaster comes along that is their fault.

Cox and UPN.

It is a monoply when Cox makes up FAKE call letters to make other investors think they are broadcasting over the air.

Go here click on find local station on the left.

http://www.upn.com/

They put in fake call leters.

Until last week it used to not even say cable channel to, it just said channel 2. I got them to change that.

The call letters belong to a west cost station.

Cox does not want anyone doing UPN over the air.

Kind of like they do not want to Pay KMTV 50 Cent for the HD feed.


As you can tell, I do not like cable.


"Stop feeding the Cable Pig"

http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/getdish/FreeDish/index.shtml

My brother that lives in Crete (near Lincoln) picked up a Scientific-Atlanta high-def cable box model 3250HD from his Time Warner cable system. He told me the DVI video connector or the digital sound outputs (coax or optical) were not enabled. That's seems strange. Why is that? Does anyone have an opinion on this? Thanks.

fjerina,

The digital audio outputs should be enabled, he probably has to go into the setup menu for the cable box and turn them on. As far as DVI goes, I don't know of anyone that has DVI enabled yet. It's a matter of software upgrades from everything I'm being told. My Cox cable rep told me that here in Omaha DVI won't be enabled until at least November of this year.

Hope this helps.

Doug

I am getting a pretty good picture with a fairly cheap attenna in my attic, and I am wondering if additional money would be better spent on a better attenna or a amplifer? What is the best attenna and/or amp for the money?

GRIZZ

fjerina


Both Optical and Coax are enabled full time as well as both analog audio outputs for all TV channels. The 3250 was a major upgrade from the 3100, the DVI is a few months away, but one thing that he should do is set the default aspect ratio for Non-HD programs, as far as "Stretch" or "Zoom" or "Side Bar", I wouldn't suggest Side Bar if he owns a CRT Based or Plasma set, but DLP's & LCD''s are fine.

thanks for the correction mdg. KMTV...not KPTM.

i was just hoping they would wave their arguments and let us view the Superbowl in HD like last year. Fat chance when the fat cats are involved. One of the biggest draws all year and COX and KMTV are BOTH screwing us over.

Isn't greed great ?? it obviously ranks higher than customer sat from their perspective.

(COX really does need to ditch the commercials regarding DISH bashing. I don't have DISH however the anti-Dish commercials are blatantly gross over-exaggerations that are only hurting COX, imho. COX is obviously concerned about losing business to DISH..et.al. however these commercials have nearly inspired me to switch over.)

To heck with COX and Dish. If you want the best football programming, DirecTV is the only way to go, IMHO. I just finished my second year of the 'NFL Sunday Ticket' and I am looking forward to next year!

As for the SuperBowl, I get Channel 3 in HD, OTA, with a 60% signal with a cheap attenna. Picture is great! I am good to go! COX can go pound salt.

GRIZZ

I have friends who have Cox and HD.

I realy do wish the best for KM3 and Cox. They need to work things out for the existing Cox customers.

Many needs to watch the Super Bowl in HD.
Its a big thing.

How about it KM3 treats it like a pay per view event. Get KM3 in HD for a Month for a couple of $$'s per c ustomer. Would that make everyone happy?

I found this posted on the Internet about Cox.

Interesting point made by TRAVIS JUSTICE
==================pasted====================

YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS BUT KM-3 IS BROADCASTING IN HDTV, AND IT'S FREE. THAT'S RIGHT, FREE!

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH... COX COMMUNICATIONS DOESN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS. IF YOU HAVE AN HDTV AT HOME, COX WANTS YOU TO BUY ITS HDTV PROGRAMMING.

BUYER BEWARE, TOMORROW KM-3 IS PULLING THE PLUG ON ITS HD SIGNAL TO COX. HERE'S WHY, COX IS TAKING A FREE SERVICE AND MAKING MONEY OFF IT. THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

NOW COX WILL TELL YOU THAT KM-3 IS BEING OFFERED AS A FREE SERVICE ON ITS HDTV PACKAGE. THAT'S NOT TRUE, BECAUSE TO GET WHAT IS ALREADY FREE YOU HAVE TO BUY A DIGITAL PACKAGE ON COX. THEY'RE MAKING MONEY, WE'RE NOT.

THINK ABOUT IT, WE HAVE THE SUPER BOWL, WE HAVE THE NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT, WE HAVE THE MASTERS AND WE HAVE THE NUMBER ONE PRIME TIME LINE-UP IN AMERICA. WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS THIS, I THINK WE HAVE THE ONLY HDTV PROGRAMMING WORTH WATCHING.

ALL WE WANT IS FOR COX TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. PAY US FOR OUR SIGNAL. INSTEAD THEY WANT TO USE AND EXPLOIT US FOR PROFIT.

PAYING FOR CHANNELS IS NOTHING NEW TO COX. IT PAYS HBO. IT PAYS THE CABLE NEWS NETWORKS, BUT THEY DON'T LIKE TO. IT'S NO SECRET THAT COX IS IN A HUGE FIGHT WITH ESPN. CHECK OUT THIS WEBSITE, WWW.KEEPESPN.COM, I THINK YOU WILL FIND IT EDUCATIONAL. WHAT I IT BOILS DOWN TO IS THIS, COX CARES MORE ABOUT PROFIT THAN PROGRAMMING.

WE HAVE TRIED FOR MORE THAN A YEAR TO WORK OUT A DEAL THAT IS BEST FOR KM-3, COX AND YOU THE VIEWER. IN MY OPINION KM-3 HAS ACTED IN GOOD FAITH. COX HAS ACTED WITH ARROGANCE.

CABLE TV HAS MADE US ALL FORGET THAT TELEVISION IS FREE. IT STILL IS FOR YOU THE VIEWER.

CALL COX, THE NUMBER IS 933-3000. TELL THEM IF THEY WANT TO PROFIT THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE TO PAY.

I'M TRAVIS JUSTICE... THAT'S FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.

COMMENTS:

E-MAIL ADDRESS: travis@km3news.com
PHONE: 593-2706

What a load of garbage! You could receive KMTV-HD on Cox without paying for the digital tier of service. All you needed was a QAM receiver. Current Mitsubishi HD sets with built-in receivers have QAM tuners. Standalone QAM receivers are starting to be available, also. Just because they keep repeating this lie doesn't make it true.

And another thing.... Doesn't he know how to turn-off the caps-lock key? Quit shoutin' already!

Originally posted by ScottChez
I found this posted on the Internet about Cox.

Interesting point made by TRAVIS JUSTICE
==================pasted====================

YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS BUT KM-3 IS BROADCASTING IN HDTV, AND IT'S FREE. THAT'S RIGHT, FREE!

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH... COX COMMUNICATIONS DOESN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS. IF YOU HAVE AN HDTV AT HOME, COX WANTS YOU TO BUY ITS HDTV PROGRAMMING.

BUYER BEWARE, TOMORROW KM-3 IS PULLING THE PLUG ON ITS HD SIGNAL TO COX. HERE'S WHY, COX IS TAKING A FREE SERVICE AND MAKING MONEY OFF IT. THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

NOW COX WILL TELL YOU THAT KM-3 IS BEING OFFERED AS A FREE SERVICE ON ITS HDTV PACKAGE. THAT'S NOT TRUE, BECAUSE TO GET WHAT IS ALREADY FREE YOU HAVE TO BUY A DIGITAL PACKAGE ON COX. THEY'RE MAKING MONEY, WE'RE NOT.

THINK ABOUT IT, WE HAVE THE SUPER BOWL, WE HAVE THE NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT, WE HAVE THE MASTERS AND WE HAVE THE NUMBER ONE PRIME TIME LINE-UP IN AMERICA. WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS THIS, I THINK WE HAVE THE ONLY HDTV PROGRAMMING WORTH WATCHING.

ALL WE WANT IS FOR COX TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. PAY US FOR OUR SIGNAL. INSTEAD THEY WANT TO USE AND EXPLOIT US FOR PROFIT.

PAYING FOR CHANNELS IS NOTHING NEW TO COX. IT PAYS HBO. IT PAYS THE CABLE NEWS NETWORKS, BUT THEY DON'T LIKE TO. IT'S NO SECRET THAT COX IS IN A HUGE FIGHT WITH ESPN. CHECK OUT THIS WEBSITE, WWW.KEEPESPN.COM, I THINK YOU WILL FIND IT EDUCATIONAL. WHAT I IT BOILS DOWN TO IS THIS, COX CARES MORE ABOUT PROFIT THAN PROGRAMMING.

WE HAVE TRIED FOR MORE THAN A YEAR TO WORK OUT A DEAL THAT IS BEST FOR KM-3, COX AND YOU THE VIEWER. IN MY OPINION KM-3 HAS ACTED IN GOOD FAITH. COX HAS ACTED WITH ARROGANCE.

CABLE TV HAS MADE US ALL FORGET THAT TELEVISION IS FREE. IT STILL IS FOR YOU THE VIEWER.

CALL COX, THE NUMBER IS 933-3000. TELL THEM IF THEY WANT TO PROFIT THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE TO PAY.

I'M TRAVIS JUSTICE... THAT'S FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.

COMMENTS:

E-MAIL ADDRESS: travis@km3news.com
PHONE: 593-2706

Hi DEF . I have asked this question before but was never really answered. If you have a Mitsubishi set with QAM tuner, do you have to subscribe to digital cable or are the HD channels available in the clear. I have heard confliciting reports. I know you don't need a box, but someone here or in a store told me that the channels weren't available on QAM unless you subscribed to a digital package.

HiDefHusker, do you get Omaha (COX) HD locals (sans KM3) while not subscribing to a digital package?

In order to receive the HD channels through Cox, you have to pay for the digital tier.. You have to have their box in order to get any of the premium channels too...

Do they trap the signal outside or something, because in Lincoln, we get WOWT-DT @ 90.20, KOLN-DT (CBS) @ 77.11, and PBS @ 104.7 as long as you pay for basic cable, they don't bother trapping the signal beyond Ch 80, but if you only subscribe to LifeLine 2-22 Channels they obviously filter at Ch. 22 approx. 215 Mhz. It would seem like an aweful lot of work to place traps outside every house, unless it is some type of electronic filter. I've asked the question before, as well, but have never seen an answer posted by COX. TV's that work in Lincoln, are Sony 550 series / All Mits Integrated models, Toshiba's new 93 Series and Scenium Integrated DLP sets. As far as Set-top boxes, the SIRTS351 is supposed to have QAM tuning, but we've never gotten it to work in Lincoln, and I'd heard that was the same for Omaha. We are currently looking at LG's new QAM/8VSB Digtial Receiver to sell as well for those who don't want to have to lease TWC's box. FYI

Correction, KOLN-DT is 79.11 in Lincoln, sorry.

I've heard those LG's are excellent boxes. The Samsung's tend to have audio problems in the digital modes and the LG's are apparently better at pulling in signals.
Let us all know if the QAM works.

Will do. I saw 3 of their new models at CES. One unit will be around $349.95 retail with QAM/8VSB, the other will add Built-In DVD player with an internal Scaler for 720P/1080i Output on a single Cable, DVI I believe, $499.95, and a 3rd model will contain a hard drive w/ Gemstar Guide built-in, but pretty pricey for $999.95 for only OTA/QAM recording, but the 2 entry level models will make sence for people with limited number of inputs on their TV's. I've yet to figure out how Gemstar is going to be able to map QAM channels in various markets, seeing how Mitsubshi TV's tune their QAM with different Subchannels than say a Sony, for instance a Mits will tune KOLN-DT at 79.11, and a Sony picks it up at 79.07, talk about confusing the customer.

Steve,

Speaking of confusing customers, I'm confused myself. I thought Sony only has an ATSC tuner, not a QAM tuner. Aren't those ATSC (8 VSB) channel listings, and not QAM channels?

Confused in Omaha...


Doug

Originally posted by mdg
Hi DEF . I have asked this question before but was never really answered. If you have a Mitsubishi set with QAM tuner, do you have to subscribe to digital cable or are the HD channels available in the clear. I have heard confliciting reports. I know you don't need a box, but someone here or in a store told me that the channels weren't available on QAM unless you subscribed to a digital package.

I have a co-worker that has a new Mits with integrated tuner. He does not subscribe to the digital tier. He receives WOWT-DT and KETV-DT. He used to receive KMTV-DT. He reads this forum--maybe he'll stop lurking and post his experiences. :D

I tried several times at my Friends house. Confirmed what Cox says on there web site.

You must PAY for the Digital Teir to can any of the so called FREE local HDs like NBC and ABC and used to be KM3.

Some other cable systems across the country have these QAM channels open to any paying cable customer, even the basic package.

This is what KM3s complaint is all about.


Free is not really free. Its kind of like Clintons definition of what IS is.


I wonder if there is some kind of Filter or Trap action going on that Cox is not telling us.

Maybe your Co Worked USED to have or still has a Digital Teir and thus it is working as the traps or filters are not there at the house or on the neigborhood main box.


Maybe if we figured this out we could solve KM3s and Coxs issue and get them in agreement again. NO FILTERS on the QAMS , thus Free realy would be free again. As customers someone should go meet with each side. EMails dont seem to work with either party.

Here's hoping that KMTV's OTA broadcast stays functional. Another Super Bowl Sunday event coming up... glad it's not on KETV this year, for reasons that are all too obvious. Last thing I need is having a group of folks over for glorious NTSC analog OTA on the big screen. Ugh!

Super Bowl in 2001 was great on CBS and Cox. It was absolutely spectacular, even if they were using 2nd tier announcers at that time. I don't have Cox anymore but I damn sure have an 8VSB receiver! I can't wait to see the improvements in quality this year. Can't believe that was three years ago... :)

Talked to Cox.

They said they are still talking to KM3 this week.

The super bowl presure must be there.

Keep calling and Emailing.

I am forced to dispute some misinformation.
I have never had anything other than standard analog cable and my MITS with its QUAM tuner receives the unscrambled HD signals from KETV, WOWT, and PBS. There are no filters anywhere on the COX system to stop digital signals. Think about it. You can go to COX pick up a digital tuner go home, hook it up, they program it and away you go. They do not send a guy racing out to your neighborhood to beat you home and remove a filter someplace. OTA HD signals are as available as the analog signals if you have the correct equipment.

So COX is marketing the HD OTAs as being included in the digital tier when they in fact it is not required. Kind of not telling the whole story. Why? If people think they need to upgrade to digital service they will. If they think they need to rent COX's HD box they will. COX is just making money on the misinformation. Perhaps they don't intend for folks to receive the OTA HDs free but it would cost too much to install traps system-wide.

ScottChez,
You mean, kinda like what Bush's definition of what 'WMD' is? A bunch of molding crates of 12 year old surplus? I am certainly glad he eliminated that THREAT to the US. I feel so much safer now.

:D

OK, now that both side have had their pokes, back to HD stuff...

COX called me last night on the eve of my service being turned off and offered to cut my bill in half for 3 months. Since I was only getting basic service, it saved me $8 a month. This will give me time to get a better antenna setup and watch the rest of this season's 'Enterprise' on UPN. Since I have heard rumors that they are going to cancel it, I won't have worry about UPN any more.

On the post concerning HD from COX, I was told that for only $4 more a month (I was paying $13 for basic cable) I could get HD programming. This $4 was for a digital box rental. The only reason I didn't do it is because my 'HD receiver' is a PC with a MyHD MD-100 card it in, and I didn't know if that would be compatible with the HD signal from COX. My TV has input for both RGB and Composite, but I don't know what kinda signal that COX's box puts out.

GRIZZ

Can anyone comment on their experiences picking up KPTM and KXVO digital? (I know most already have stated that they can't get it - but wondering about those who can)

I live in Papillion (84th and Lincoln area) and currently pick up
KMTV(CBS 3) (92%)
WOWT (NBC 6)(88%)
KYNE/NETV(PBS 26)(85%)

I don't get KXVO(WB) or KPTM (Fox) Digital at all. The analog OTA I pick up is apparently too strong, with mutlipath/ghost problems on both these channels.

I am currently using a non-amplified radio shack ($20 Yagi/directional UHF) antenna in my attic. Any chance I might pick them up if I added a amp and pointed towards KPTM??

For those that have Mits Sets, make sure to set the DTV Ant input to Cable mode, and I believe it has to be in the HRC mode, then plug the QAM numbers in directly w/ the Sub Ch. etc.. Earlier posts indicate the QAM frequency, I certainly thought you'd be able to use QAM tuners without paying for the digital tier.

HDLover. Thanks for the reply.

I agree with what you are saying as the actual cable coming into the house is plugged directly into the Mits. i.e. bypassing the digital set box. It is an unaltered QAM signal that is NOT being filtered or scrambled.

REgarding the post awhile back about Travis the Twit. Of course anything this guy says is going to be totally biased toward the company that is signing his paycheck. That is, unless he wants to be fired. I would prefer to hear a voice with a little less bias toward the subject matter.

FWIW, I don't like cable companies. I think they gouge us just for the sake of keeping their wallets fat. They are a service organization not unlike a gas company (MUD) or electric (OPPD). However, they certainly don't act in our best interests and they are NOT accountable like the aforementioned service providers. Granted entertainment is not as life altering as gas/electric service however there certainly are some similiarities.

KMTV. This is where my ire really gets raised. This organization is trying to hold the Superbowl hostage in an attempt to leverage COX into paying them to supply HD. As I have said all along, I have paid for ABC, NBC, CBS on my cable system for over 25 years. Back in 1979, I could pull all those channels off the air for free. Albeit, they were either ghosty or snowy i.e. the picture quality was poor even if you lived in the city limits. Then cable came to town. Cable offered these same broadcast network channels as well as some others. I swear that this was analogous to seeing HD back then. Crystal clear picture, good sound, man we were in hog heaven. That was the service that cable provided back then.

Now fast forward 25 years........all of a sudden CBS (who ruled the tube back then btw) and more specifically, KMTV wants money from this same cable station that has been broadcasting their signal for 25-30 years????

What sense does that make? NONE. And who are the casualites? We are.

I don't REALLY care how they work this out, I just want it taken care of by Sunday. (I'm not holding out much hope.)

Your thoughts?

Are you saying that if I put the cable directly into the DTV input on the back of my Mits TV, I should be able to receive HD? Or is this only on HD TVs. Mine is a few years old and only HD Ready. That's why I have the separate receiver.

GRIZZ

Griz, your TV has to have an integrated tuner able to decode QAM. Otherwise you won't get Cable HD without a box.

I live in Elkhorn and get the following DTV stations:
KXVO-DT at 100%
WOWT-DT at 80%
KMTV-DT at 65%
KYNE-DT at 75%
KOLN-DT at 70% (this is a surprise)
KUON-DT at 50%

KXVO-DT and WOWT-DT have signal quality problems (too much signal and/or multipath). I don't get anything from KPTM-DT. I have two ChannelMaster antennas combined (VHF/UHF pointed at Crown Point and UHF-only pointed at Springfield). I need to try some attenuators to knock down one or both of the antennas. I welcome any other suggestions.

You shouldn't need an amplifier to pickup KXVO-DT (if your antenna is pointed the right direction). I don't know about KPTM-DT.

GRIZZ

Mits integrated sets have 4 coax connectors on the back, 2 analog inputs A & B, 1 Loop Output, and then toward the left side in a separate area, 1 that is labled DTV. I'm guessing you just have a monitor, but if you have an integrated set it should work. What is the model?

I have a WS-65857. There are no 'antenna' input in the DTV section, just 'YPrPb/GRBHV' RCA jacks. I am pretty sure I just have a 'HD monitor'.

I would certainly like to find out how to adjust my overscan so that I can see my entire Windows Desktop with my HTPC. I have heard of 'secret menus' but I have never been able to access them.

GRIZZ

For the service menu, do a search here in the RPTV section for the service menu info. Also try http://www.hometheaterspot.com/html/index.php

FYI, I sent a question to Cox Technical Support. Wonder why there's so much confusion out there? This is ridiculous...

Question sent to Cox:

My question is about HDTV. If my TV has a QAM tuner built in,
do I still have to subscribe to the digital tier to get the unscrambled
HDTV channels with my QAM tuner? Thank you very much in advance.

***********************************************

Answer from Cox:

***********************************************
Dear Valued Cox Customer:

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

Yes, you will need the digital Gateway which is $4.95 extra a month plus
the HDTV Converter box, which is HD and digital ready. The converter box
is $9.95 per month. This will allow you to get the onscreen guide,
access to pay per view movies, 45 music channels, and HD channels.

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

Thank you.

Cox Communications Online Technical Support Team

Bounce it back to them and ask specifically about the OTA HD channels.

I couldn't agree more. It's too bad Cox doesn't participate in this thread.

Originally posted by Dougaha
FYI, I sent a question to Cox Technical Support. Wonder why there's so much confusion out there? This is ridiculous...

Originally posted by ScottChez
I tried several times at my Friends house. Confirmed what Cox says on there web site.

Did your friend have expanded basic service (channels 1-79)?

I wonder if there is some kind of Filter or Trap action going on that Cox is not telling us.

There is a filter installed if you don't have expanded basic service.

If you have a QAM tuner you do not need to have digital to watch HDTV. You will be able to get all the locals except KMTV through the Cox Coax cable. Also if you hook up an antenna on Sunday you should be able to pull the superbowl OTA. The only reason you would get a digital Gateway is to watch Discovery HD, ESPNHD, INHD1 &2, HBOHD, and SHOHD. As these are scrambled signals.

Well, Doug, I am certainly glad they didn't send you a canned answer, and dealt with the specifics of your question!

These are the same people that put on their website that you need expanded basic cable to use their Internet access. I have had their internet access for a year now, with just basic service. When I called recently to cancel the basic service, I point blank asked if it would impact my internet access, and the rep told me that the two are not dependent on each other. I said to myself 'no sh*t, but that is not what your website says!'

COX can't find their a** with both hands.

GRIZZ

The friend has channels 1-80, but there is a Trap FIler out there. It must be for HBO analog.

It bet it is blocking the QAM.

evilpete,

Some in Papillion are also saying they can get the Lincoln CBS in HD. Can you also get the lincoln ABC in HD, just turn or add and other antenna (you get more local programing options if you add lincoln).

I just called KM3 for an Update.

They said they are still talking but it does not look good. I you want the Super Bowl in Time in HD on Sunday, you need to go buy a OTA Turner at one of the local Supers stores (NFM, BB, CC).

becuase:

The Dish Network special is so popular it is taking weeks to get them installed now.

I wonder how many of Cox's 2,500 HD customers have left or will leave soon once there other option is in place (SAT or OTA)?

ABC Lincoln isn't HD, it's just converted SD to 480i DTV.

I get the lincoln CBS but no lincoln ABC in HD, I live in the Millard area, out by the airpost if this helps.

Originally posted by ScottChez
The friend has channels 1-80, but there is a Trap FIler out there. It must be for HBO analog.

It bet it is blocking the QAM.

Does the friend have Cox internet service? Maybe they don't install the filter if you have their internet service.

I would imagine it probably isn't doing to well considering Dish Network's price increase goes into effect on 2/1/04

Any retailers on here or any one know of any that have the Dishnetwork

921 DVR in stock in the LINCOLN OR OMAHA AREA.

Someone wants one for there Super Bowl party.

It is the 1.2 GIG HDTV DVR Tivo like recorder with Over the Air and SAT recording to the HD with soon to be turned on Firewire out and USB ports.

I think they are MSRP $1,000 right now.

Wow a 1.2 Gig hard drive?? That will record about 5 minutes of HD if that.

Both the 921 and the HD Tivo record the MPeg level native from the SAT stream so it is compressed.

That mean 30 Hours of HD time or 230 SD time.

These are not like the SD Tivos that you use with Cox.

OH and I did get the decimal wrong. Its 120 Gig.


The SD Non-HDTV Cox DVR wil lbe 80 Gig (no HDTV)

I replied back to Cox Tech Support with the following message:

I'm sorry, but I was told this is not true. A friend of mine who owns a
Mitsubishi Integrated HDTV said that he doesn't subscribe to any Digital
Package and he gets KETV, WOWT, and PBS for free.

Doug

And this is the reply I got:
****************************************

I'm sorry that you were told the wrong thing. If you have a QAM tuner
you do not need to have digital to watch HDTV. You will be able to get
all the locals except KMTV through the Cox Coax cable. Also if you hook
up an antenna on Sunday you should be able to pull the superbowl OTA.
The only reason you would get a digital Gateway is to watch Discovery
HD, ESPNHD, INHD1 &2, HBOHD, and SHOHD. As these are scrambled signals.

Your friend wouldn't happen to 720PGUY would it?


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

Thank you.

Cox Communications Online Technical Support Team

****************************************

Looks like somebody's watching!

So the problem with KM3 is that you have a choice.

Spend $500 on a QAM campatible box or the extra $400 for the QAM ready TV.

Or $9.95 a month for the Cox box if you get a Digital teir.

For the price I would want the $9.95 a month box as it can do the scrambled channels. But to do that Cox make extra money on the Teir.

Is see both sides now. This will never get solved. They are both right.

Actually, you need an ATSC tuner to receive KM3. A QAM tuner will only get you cable in the clear, which, right now, I understand to be NBC, ABC, and PBS.

Doug

Originally posted by Dougaha
...

Thank you.

Cox Communications Online Technical Support Team


Hello Cox Communications Online Technical Support Team !!! :)

ATSC is for OTA signal.
QAM is for any cable signal.
This is for digital, which is not necessarily HD, which is not like digital cable, which is different from NTSC, although some OTA boxes have NTSC, but not all have QAM, and....

No wonder Grandma is soooo confused!

So you need the $600 box at NFM that can do both QAM and over the air HDTV.

Who is going to buy that we you can rent it for $9.95 a Month (if you pay for the Digitial teir).

Maybe Cox would make KM3 happy if they alowed the rental with any Cox Services. Then free really is free.

Scott,
Can you tell me the make and model of this 'QAM and OTA' receiver?

Also, does anyone know if there is a QAM receiver in a PCI card yet, ala the MyHD and others? I would prefer to continue in the direction with my HTPC, but I would change directions if I need to.

GRIZZ

Gris,

It's the Samsung SIR-T351

Doug

AFAIK, the SIR-T351 doesn't have QAM. Read the Official AVS HDTV Forum STB Synopsis:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=179095

It was originally advertised as supporting QAM, but they dropped that after it was released.

Originally posted by ScottChez
Maybe Cox would make KM3 happy if they alowed the rental with any Cox Services. Then free really is free.

I think that Cox should give me a FREE 65" Mits HD. That would really be FREE. :D

We all seem to agree now that if you acquire the correct equipment the KM3 HD signal via COX is the same price as the analog KM3 signal. Km3 is wrong in their assertions that COX is making money off of the HD signal.
Is anyone from KM3 listening?

I do not agree. Cox will not let you get the $9.95 HDTV box unless you sign up for at least a $40 minimum package. I just called them again.

They are making money.

NO ONE is buying those $600 boxes to get QAM cable signals. Youd be crazy to, the technology is changing to fast. The $9.95 rental is the only way to go, thus Cox is making lots of money.

Both side are right in a way. How sad for the customers. Many will not see the Super Bowl in HD this year.

Over the Air KM3 in HD is not Free on Cox. Its $40 a month unless you buy the $600 box with is not free either. Free is not free.

This spat was about the signal being free--not the hardware.

Scott--- "cox is making lots of money" , look again at one of my previous posts. If you check out the financial information for Cox you will find that they do not make lots of money in fact they have been losing money the last few years. So get your facts straight.

OK, if I have basic cable. I assume that there is a trap at some point that is keeping me from getting anything higher than 28. So, if the digital channels are higher than 28, I won't be able to get it, right?

So, what does this filter look like, and where would I most likely find it? ;) I would like to do some 'testing'.

GRIZZ

Here is a thread with all of the current hardware available to receive unencrypted QAM.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=359806

Could anyone update a list of current ATSC and QAM channels available in the Omaha metro area, along with their frequencies? Thanks a lot...

Doug

Cox is making lots of money. Look at there quarterly reports.

They take the money from cable and put it right back into there infrastructure designs so they can make even more money in the future on Voice over IP and Internet.

By putting the money back into buying new things they dont have to pay full taxes on it. And then down the road they will make even more money on the new Telephone and Internet division.

You need to study the business models more.

Originally posted by ScottChez
Cox is making lots of money. Look at there quarterly reports.


http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=COX

A quick look at their quarterly reports shows that they lost money last year (the 4th quarter report isn't available yet). So what??? How does this even remotely relate to the dispute between KMTV and Cox.

Now that everyone agrees that the local HD signals are available to anyone with Cox expanded basic, you argue that they should rent their hardware to anyone that wants it. While that might be nice, why should Cox be required to do that? They are certainly losing money renting a $500 box for $9.95 a month (it will take ~4 years of rental income to pay for a box that is obsolete in 1-2 years). It should be up to Cox to decide how to lose their money.

Went looking for an OTA box today. No one has them in stock. Any one know where I can find one for tomorrow???

I know that the last few times I have been in Sears, they have always had one of the three OTA tuners they carry on display. Here is a link to there site:

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/search.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=ELEC&cat=DVD%2C+VCR+%26+Other+Video&subcat=Set-Top+Boxes&displayTarget=Subcategory

I have seen the Samsung there every time I have been there. Check out the one at the Crossroads.

Circuit City is supposed to carry a couple of models, but I haven't been there in awhile. According to their website, the items are out of stock. :(

http://www.circuitcity.com/searchresults.jsp?c=1&b=g&catoid=-11081&department=Televisions&first=yes&qp=0&dupDept=null

If all else fails, you can come to my house and watch the game! :D

Good luck!
GRIZZ

Nope, sears says when you call the store that they don't stock them, only order them. Circuit City is out.

Well, that is new. I bet they have one on display. Maybe if you begged, they would sell it to you!

GRIZZ

I assume you have called Best Buy too?

GRIZZ

mdg, do ya have a Sam's Club membership? They are supposed to carry the Samsung SIRT151X.

http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/main_shopping.jsp?coe=0&oidPath=0%3a-23542%3a-23589%3a-24290%3a714968&mt=a&n=0&BV_SessionID=_SC_1153353983.1075605739_CS_&BV_EngineID=ccccadckihilemicfkfcfkjdgoodflg.0

GRIZZ

I was off today, but I thought we had a couple of the DirecTV Samsung boxes w/ ATSC tuners on the closeout table, you might try calling in on Sunday to see if they still have them...

Doug

Doug,
Where do you work? I would love to pick one of those up.

GRIZZ

I did not see any at Sam's yesterday when I was buying snacks for the game. I will most likely just get one of the Directv open box units. Both Best Buys had a couple, did not try furniture mart. Will figure something out. Wish I hadn't sold my T151 on ebay in Oct. Oh well.

You shouldn't have put it off til the day before too. These things sell fast the week leading up til the Super Bowl.

Lets hope for all us OTA people that the snow will not mess with the reception. It will strengthen the need for getting it back on cable if it does. I don't care how I get it, I just want a good solid feed. Will snow mess with satelite reception?

Brian

This may have already been addressed but will Time-Warner cable in Lincoln carry CBS HD for the Super Bowl today???

Looks like NO super Bowl in HD on Cox.

Looks like the customer lost this one.

Maybe next time.

It was fun playing though.

Time Warner will Pass through KOLN-DT Ch. 111 on the HD box, or 79.11 using a QAM tuner.

So whatever KOLN sends over the air will be available on cable as well.

They did the playoffs in HD, so I'm counting on it in HD.

And it looks absolutely awesome!!!

(Is this where I start whining about it not being in Dolby 5.1?) :)

Yeah, I was a little upset about that too, after I spent the better part of the day getting my Dolby 5.1 running on my HTPC! WTF? Probably the single most watched show in HD ever, and they broadcast it in stereo.

But, it does look great.

GRIZZ

gris,

sorry about the late post, but I work at Nebraska Furniture Mart for future reference.

Doug

I got the game OTA HD in Omaha. Did anyone else think the pre-game and halftime show audio was choppy? The actual game audio was fine.

Brian

I noticed that the audio quality was iffy, but I was not going to blame the transmission. I have a pretty small antenna, so I was happy just to get a consistent 50 to 60% signal.

I did, however, notice some problem during the halftime show with video quality. Specifically, I couldn't tell the costume from the skin. Almost like she wasn't covered up at times!! ;)

GRIZZ

Yes, I heard the choppy audio as well.. I thought the signal was dying -- nice to hear (well, sorta) that others had it too.

The game was awesome.

I went to the Cox HD guide today and it had the channel and the shows listed in there guide.

When I went to the channel KM3 HDTV it said Temp Off the Air.

Does this mean they plan to add it back soon?

Scott, it has had the channel listed in the guide ever since they took the channel off. My guess is they just haven't taken the time to change it. If they were going to compromise I would guess it would have been before the Superbowl.

For anyone looking to buy an OTA tuner. I took back an open box samsung T165 that I purchased on Sunday from furniture mart. I also had purchased an open box Mitsubishi DVHS VCR that day. I wasn't able to get them to work together. I think it was a problem with the VCR. The Samsung was marked down to $420 and the Mits was $199. Great deals, but I just don't have time fiddling with it to make it work. Supposedly based on the posts in the other forums they do work together. They come with full warranty.

I think the only VCR that will work with the Samsung is the JVC unit, and the Mits VCR needs to be connected to a Mits Integrated TV.

st-- others on this forum in the HDTV recorder forum swear that the combo works. The manual for the samsung states it is compatible with the JVC and the Mitsubishi. After reading the other forums and the responses I got in the HDTV recorder forum it sounds like maybe it just needed the heads cleaned in order to record. The samsung would connect and recognize the Mits. It would even do the timer recording, but the recording did not play back.

Good, to know. Thanks.

On the Cox Channel list is now shows KM3 in HD. It did not list this last week.

Is this an error? Its not back on is it?

http://www.cox.com/Omaha/Digitalcable/dcLineup.asp

QUESTION:

If you sign up for Cox HDTV, do they tell you there is NO CBS in HD like there web site says?

Should we sign up and then cancel pretending like we did not know. That might get them back to talking to KM3.

UPDATE: I heard talks all broke off.

We sign people up for Cox HDTV at NFM, and I tell everyone that they won't get CBSHD until Cox and KMTV resolve their differences.

Doug

NEW COX DVR and NEW COX VOD

ALSO:

I got an Email from Cox as to why there Web page channel list and there System guides are not updated.

=========pasted text=================
We have not removed KM3 HD from our listings yet as we are still hoping
to add this programming to our lineup again. Cox has been trying to
work with KMTV for some time now to resolve this issue for our
customers.

Cox will be releasing DVR this year, but we do not have an exact
release
date yet.

Some Digital Video Recorders have the ability to record
programming in HD, but we are not aware if this will be available
through Cox. We will have more detailed information as to the features
of the box as a release date approaches.

We will be releasing Entertainment On Demand (EOD) to our customers in
March.

Just checked.

Cox has there DVR active at there Arizona site.

Turns out it does not do HDTV only SD.

on there web site site they say you need TWO boxees one for HD and one for SD DVR Each are $9.95 a month the DVR fee is $5 more a month.

Did anyone watch ER last night? TitanTV showed that it was supposed to be in HD. OTA was not in HD. Hmmm.

Update - Apparently NBC didn't broadcast in HD. :(
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=362765

So what is wrong with Fox and WB?

Did the FCC laws say they had to be on D-TV by now.

Can anyone realy truely get WB and Fox both that are in the path from there FCC required path (coverage area) of from there towers to Downtown Omaha.


Should we reported them to the FCC? How do you complain to the FCC anyway?

Maybe this will give them more motivation to spend more money on there towers so we will have HD TV in time when fox cuts over to 720P