Well the ratio is the same but only 3db difference? Really?


Yes, really. See here - any doubling(x1.995 to be more precise about it) of power is allways about +3db :

http://www.tpub.com/content/fc/14103/css/14103_14.htm


In fringe areas, that can be very significant. It might have made a difference for us.

That may be the case but what good is the transition to digital if it ultimately causes you to lose stations you used to receive. It seems like a counter intuitive move to make.


FCC and stations have worked hard to as much as possible have the digital stations' coverage area replicate the analog stations coverage area. In many cases, the digital station's coverage area is actually larger than the analog. But in some cases, yes, the opposite is true as well.

As, Yes, there are situations where the channel assignment involved(including involving terrain obstruction issues - for instance VHF, Low-VHF especially can "bend" around hills better than UHF signals), or the directional transmit antenna pattern used for the digital station being different than what the analog station is using including because of interference protection issues regarding other digital stations coverage areas or, cases when folks watching a very "snowy" analog signal from outside the stations coverage area --- will mean in some cases some folks won't get the digital station when they could "see" the analog ... And, there will also be cases when folks will get the digital station when they couldn't receive an acceptable signal from the analog station .... And, digital stations are often receivable beyond their predicted coverage areas just as is the case with analog ....

If you're going to look at power/ERP figures and compare a stations analog+digital service areas -- If the station is broadcasting on the same band (VHF-LO, VHF-HI, or UHF) --- It's about a 13db difference, if for instance we assume everything else is the same (same transmit antenna is used from same height/etc) .... For example, a station running 5000KW "peak" analog ERP on UHF analog would need to run around 250~312 KW "average" ERP UHF Digital to cover the same service area .....

1000KW ERP is just the maximum power level FCC allows for UHF digital ... All stations can't, and won't be allowed to run that much power. And for instance Analog Lo-VHF stations running 100 KW ERP may not be able to cover their analogs entire coverage area with 1000KW ERP UHF, or even higher ERP's than that (if they were allowed) or whatever ridiculously high power level is involved ....

Update: you'll find some important info on Planning factors for DTV reception, and info regarding how FCC defines analog and digital stations service areas, as well as info on interference protection issues involved in FCC's OET Bullitin # 69 currently avialable in PDF format here :

http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Documents/bulletins/oet69/oet69.pdf

You might also want to take a look at CFR 47, section 73.616 :

http://www.hallikainen.com/FccRules/2008/73/616/

Oh, as an example of the "13db difference" I noted above --- here's a link(PDF)format to an exhibit attached to one of my local's stations post-transition application for a Construction permit(granted by FCC in March) to operate digital on VHF 12(15.55 KW ERP "average"), with the same transmitting antenna used currently for their analog channel 12 (316KW ERP analog "peak") ... About a 13db "difference" ... Scroll down to page 8 and the contour/coverage area map/comparsion to the analog station's coverage area coutours .... Looks like The coverage area for the digital station is predicted to match the analog's coverage area pretty much exactly ...

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=623394

...as in the attached photo of my set up you can view the FM antenna on top of the mast ....

....if anybody has any suggestions after viewing this photo please suggest as ya'll have helped me tremendously before and I thank you all. :)

Sorry if I missed this+sorry for going backwards, but I'm curious concerning why are you using a FM antenna for VHF TV reception? If it's working and you are reliably receiving WDKY-DT, WLJC-DT or WKYT-DT "Loud and clear" on a consistant basis (no dropouts/etc), as you reported was the case upon installation of the antenn, great and no need to change things, but if it doesn't turn out like that on a long term basis, it might not take too much effort or expense to improve things a bit ...

As, An antenna designed for broadband VHF TV (ch 2~6 is 54~88 MHZ, Ch 7~13 is 174~216MHZ) reception should work much better for reception of WDKY-DT 4, WLJC-DT 7 and WKYT-DT 13 than a FM antenna .... An FM Only antenna will really only perform well for reception on 88~108 MHZ, they usually have best performance around Mid-FM band ... Might work OK in many circumstances for channel 6though ....

If they still have them, a Antenna such as Winegard PR5030 (for ch 2~13 and FM - last I checked I think they had changed the model # to a "HD5030", and I think Solidsignal has them) would probably be ideal, but you could also pick up something like a Radio Shack VU-90, and hook it up to the VHF input on the CM7777 (you just wouldn't "use" the UHF portion of the antenna) ... even using an antenna such as CM3010 "stealthtenna" for VHF only, I'd guess would probably work better than a FM only antenna ...

--------------------

All --- A few Further WDKY-DT Notes from here :

Note: Nothing much has changed from my earlier reports on my WDKY-DT reception, including from when they first signed on from the "new" tower site a few years back ---- For example, As is fairly common, I'm receiving WDKY-DT 4 Currently, and perfectly here from 118 miles to my south with a PR5030 at about 30FT AGL (838FT ASL), and BTW, PR5030 is far from being a "high performance" antenna(that's reserved for Broadband VHF antennas amost twice it's size) ... While I do have notch filters in line knocking down Dayton analogs on 2,7 before preamp, I don't think they are really helping WDKY-DT reception, given Antenna is aimed nowhere near Dayton for WDKY-DT reception ...

I don't quite get a lock from them all the time, but it's rare for them not to "move" the signal quality meter, even when the analog on 56 doesn't even break the snow (that's with a XG91 at 35FT + CM7778 Preamp) ..... That's with WCMH 4(analog) Columbus to my ENE at 78 miles, and blow torch local WLWT 5 analog in same direction as WDKY-DT (of course, there is 4MHZ spacing between ch 4+5, I'm sure that helps some, but my Hauppague WinTV-1600 PC tuner card seems to have poor selectivity and for instance If I add a bit of extra attenuation(~3db) in feedline when WDKY-DT is strong enough, I can decode WDKY-DT when I can't if I don't add the extra attenuation) .... But, anyway, WDKY-DT would likely be very rare here with a FM antenna, ;)

Oh, speaking of WDKY-DT, One thing I have noticed with Zenith DTT-900 CECB I've had for a couple of months now is that it performs better on Lo-VHF (for WDKY-DT anyway) than any of my other receivers .... I've had WDKY-DT in for hours on end, with perfect reception on the DTT-900, while another receiver(Zenith HDV420 - A mix of 3rd and 4th generation components in its LG chipset) only acheived a lock for a few 2~3 minute periods over that time period .... OTOH, The performance of DTV Receivers in DVD/HDD recorders I've purchased recently have been almost identical to the DTT-900's performance in regards to weak signals or multipath, so much so that side by side comparisions show pixelization/freezes/etc. at exact same times and in same places "on screen" for the pixelization on both receivers regarding very weak signals or multipath(latter induced by off target antenna aiming) -- except that is for Lo-VHF, where the DTT-900 does a little better ....

Sorry if I missed this+sorry for going backwards, but I'm curious concerning why are you using a FM antenna for VHF TV reception?

:D Cause I'm a Cheap so 'n so lol ...well really I received the FM antenna as a gift lol ...so far the only materials I have invested in are cable and the CM7777 ...the masts and antennas, mounts, ground block etc I managed to scrounge up from friends, family etc ( I did purchase a RS15-1634 antenna but returned it due to the fact I was skittish about it's built in pre-amp going out just beyond it's warranty...and Radio Shack products don't seem to be reliable anymore) ...I was using a RS VU-90 XR but when I did had it and still learning/experimenting with DTV I couldn't keep WLEX from freezing up and pixelating ...right now that antenna is at a friends but he may not use it after all due to he's thinking of moving to the Lexington area ...so I may be able to retrieve it back ...before we had the idea the antenna needed to be higher but found out with my current antenna just having it inches above the roof improved the freezing problem ...

I was not able to pick up WDKY using the RS U-75R of course till after I did install the FM antenna ...and now WDKY is a crispy, beautiful picture ..especially during their 10 o'clock news.

I got my eye on what looks like a CM4228 located at a abandoned home...including 30ft of mast ...the owner of the property ( a heir ) lives in Tenn. ...being a former resident of Powell County he still shows up at times ...when I'll see him next time hopefully I could at least purchase the set up at a very reasonable price.

"And, there will also be cases when folks will get the digital station when they couldn't receive an acceptable signal from the analog station
"

That's my case right there ...the only analog signal I could pull through decent enough to watch was WDKY ..but I'm pulling in the digitals beautifully ..

Thanks Nitewatchman for explaining how this works ...75% is over my head but I'm studying lol ...and it's good to know we all can pull together and help each other out as it's been proven here on this Thread...great bunch of people :)

Yes, really. See here - any doubling(x1.995 to be more precise about it) of power is allways about +3db :

http://www.tpub.com/content/fc/14103/css/14103_14.htm



FCC and stations have worked hard to as much as possible have the digital stations' coverage area replicate the analog stations coverage area. In many cases, the digital station's coverage area is actually larger than the analog. But in some cases, yes, the opposite is true as well.

As, Yes, there are situations where the channel assignment involved(including involving terrain obstruction issues - for instance VHF, Low-VHF especially can "bend" around hills better than UHF signals), or the directional transmit antenna pattern used for the digital station being different than what the analog station is using including because of interference protection issues regarding other digital stations coverage areas or, cases when folks watching a very "snowy" analog signal from outside the stations coverage area --- will mean in some cases some folks won't get the digital station when they could "see" the analog ... And, there will also be cases when folks will get the digital station when they couldn't receive an acceptable signal from the analog station .... And, digital stations are often receivable beyond their predicted coverage areas just as is the case with analog ....

If you're going to look at power/ERP figures and compare a stations analog+digital service areas -- If the station is broadcasting on the same band (VHF-LO, VHF-HI, or UHF) --- It's about a 13db difference, if for instance we assume everything else is the same (same transmit antenna is used from same height/etc) .... For example, a station running 5000KW "peak" analog ERP on UHF analog would need to run around 250~312 KW "average" ERP UHF Digital to cover the same service area .....

1000KW ERP is just the maximum power level FCC allows for UHF digital ... All stations can't, and won't be allowed to run that much power. And for instance Analog Lo-VHF stations running 100 KW ERP may not be able to cover their analogs entire coverage area with 1000KW ERP UHF, or even higher ERP's than that (if they were allowed) or whatever ridiculously high power level is involved ....

Update: you'll find some important info on Planning factors for DTV reception, and info regarding how FCC defines analog and digital stations service areas, as well as info on interference protection issues involved in FCC's OET Bullitin # 69 currently avialable in PDF format here :

http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Documents/bulletins/oet69/oet69.pdf

You might also want to take a look at CFR 47, section 73.616 :

http://www.hallikainen.com/FccRules/2008/73/616/

Oh, as an example of the "13db difference" I noted above --- here's a link(PDF)format to an exhibit attached to one of my local's stations post-transition application for a Construction permit(granted by FCC in March) to operate digital on VHF 12(15.55 KW ERP "average"), with the same transmitting antenna used currently for their analog channel 12 (316KW ERP analog "peak") ... About a 13db "difference" ... Scroll down to page 8 and the contour/coverage area map/comparsion to the analog station's coverage area coutours .... Looks like The coverage area for the digital station is predicted to match the analog's coverage area pretty much exactly ...

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=623394

Thanks Jeff, for the great information and useful links.

I wish I had gone to the information session the FCC had last October about the transition in Washington. It would have been great to get this kind of response to my questions from them directly. I have found their consumer oriented website lacking in this regard and no doubt it is of concern to quite a few people who live beyond the urban areas. I have even written them and I just get standard cut and paste answers. But at least, they do write back.

BTW, anyone on here ever use Stallions TV in Indiana? I was thinking since they are closer than a lot of online dealers I might try them but something about their website makes me skittish.
http://www.tvantenna.com/

Anyone have thoughts about Summit?
Denny's Antenna?
Warren?

Anyone have thoughts about Summit?
Denny's Antenna?
Warren?

I ordered a couple of CM7777's from Warren Electronics just recently and was very pleased with their super fast delivery ...I made my order late On a Friday and they were on my door step the following Tuesday...they like for you to them call toll free if you want to know the Fed Ex shipping charge which for me was $12.95 from their place to mine ..and reckon that was using their slowest method of delivery. The last time I ordered off the net from a different company it took them 2.5 weeks after I paid extra for 2nd delivery....no emails about being temporary out of stock or whatever ~~~

What does the term " Turning Radius " apply to with a antenna ? ....such as the CM4228 is listing a 20" Turning Radius ...I'm guessing if I am picking up a TV tower's signal and need to turn the mast to be able pull in another station that'll give me up to 20" of movement to line it up without dropping the previous signal ...sounds close ? ....thanks :)

Turning radius is simply the clearance necessary for the antenna to revolve around the mast. For the CM4228, it's approximately 1/2 the horizontal dimension.

Anyone know why WKYT is not transmitting the weather radar anymore.
It says Due to FCC regulations they are unable to... any ideas what's going on?

FCC requires stations air a certian amount of Educational programming for each programming service (subchannel) ... Even Including a "weather radar" channel ...

FCC requires stations air a certian amount of Educational programming for each programming service (subchannel) ... Even Including a "weather radar" channel ...

That's why one of the stations in Knoxville dropped their weather channel. The station in Johnson City, TN still has a weather channel and they show an hour of "weather school" each morning.

If you were in an area that got the station "The Tube" that educational requirement was the reason why they stopped showing music videos on Saturday morning and showed several hours of animal shows.

FCC requires stations air a certian amount of Educational programming for each programming service (subchannel) ... Even Including a "weather radar" channel ...

Yep ... we wouldn't want WKYT to have to cut into their UK/SEC sports time. :rolleyes: :D

The rule is 3 hours of E/I programming per subchannel. There is no requirement that it be on that subchannel it could be on any of them. The rule does require at least 3 hrs be on the main service. THe programming must be branded as E/I to count.

so does this mean channel 36 is showing educational material?

Does anyone know if and when WTVQ plans to start broadcasting their local news in HD? I seem to remember that it was supposed to happen this year but I've not seen anything lately.

Thanks,
Steve

Does anyone know if and when WTVQ plans to start broadcasting their local news in HD? I seem to remember that it was supposed to happen this year but I've not seen anything lately.

Thanks,
Steve

They do have new owners now "Morris Multimedia" and from what I've been told that they are expecting some great things. I think there overall newscast needs a makeover, besides the anchors ;)

I believe the "weather school" information on the 24/7 weather is marked as "E/I"

Expect to see a few syndie programs in HD on WDKY soon. 2 & 1/2 Men and Raymond to start. There might be a TI issue with the sat feed of Raymond, but I expect to see 2 & 1/2 men in HD by the end of this week. There are some minor captioning issues to be hammered out, but the equipment is in hand.

Is WKYT ever going to broadcast Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy in HD? I swear I heard that were going to start doing that about a year ago.

Expect to see a few syndie programs in HD on WDKY soon. 2 & 1/2 Men and Raymond to start. There might be a TI issue with the sat feed of Raymond, but I expect to see 2 & 1/2 men in HD by the end of this week. There are some minor captioning issues to be hammered out, but the equipment is in hand.

I'm guessing this is why 2 & 1/2 Men is now showing in Wide Screen ..but the audio is slightly out of sync and there's jerky movements during the show .....I also noticed this morning while watching Malcolm In The Middle on WDKY that the picture was a bit slightly jerky at times ...but during Scrubs which showed right before played perfectly and in fact the best I ever seen it on WDKY....reckon they're working the bugs out of their system ?

....and WLEX at 4am had no signal right after the replay of The Tonight Show ..but it was playing on the DISH...

Is it just me or why during WDKY's showing of Two and a Half Men is still a problem ? The audio is out of sync and the picture is still jerky. Anybody else has this happening ?

2 1/2 men comes to Columbus as a digital file. I know Fox is 720p and CBS is 1080i, maybe something is lost in translation? It's certainly not unwatchable but it aint perfect by any means.

Anyone getting a stuttering picture, but perfect sound from Ket 3?

Started a few days ago.

My digital receiver is a dish network vip 722.

Anyone getting a stuttering picture, but perfect sound from Ket 3?

Started a few days ago.

My digital receiver is a dish network vip 722.

My brother was having that problem with all four of the KET channels for a couple of days this pass week...and it seems on my end at the moment ( June 8 early evening ) there's no signal at all coming from KET.

Check it out!
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WDKY


WDKY-TV KY DANVILLE USA (Digital)

Licensee: WDKY LICENSEE, LLC
Service Designation: DR Petition for rulemaking to add or modify a digital allotment -- see Docket for details

Channel: 46 662 - 668 MHz Application
File No.: BPRM-20080620AOU Facility ID number: 178288
CDBS Application ID No.: 1252054

37° 52' 51.00" N Latitude
84° 19' 16.00" W Longitude (NAD 27)

Site: Region Map Area Map Local Map


Previous Record -- Next Record

Also other Sinclair stations WMSN and WSYX moving their digital channels to the UHF side.

Wow, very cool! Thanks for posting that. So they want to take over channel 46 once the analog shutoff is complete, interesting.


Something I have been meaning to ask about here - is the power for 46.1 lower than other digitals in the area? I help someone out with this stuff and they have an outdoor UHF antenna combined with a VHF antenna dedicated to 56.1 (channel 4) via one of those special LOW-VHF, UHF combiners mentioned earlier in this thread. It is on the roof. They are in the Beaumont part of town. They have lost digital 46.1 but all of their other channels are still great. This happened maybe 2 months ago, right around the time that trees were filling up with leaves. Even tweaking their antenna did not help. So is the power for digital 46 just lower than the others? I have used an antennaweb printout to help fine tune antenna pointing so that is not the issue.

Time Warner Channels For Morehead:

wkyt analog ch#2 digital#71-1 hd#88-1
wsaz analog ch#3 digital#77-4
wdky analog ch#4 digital#71-3 hd#105-9
w10bm analog ch#5 digital#77-2
local access analog ch#6 digital#77-1
wqcw analog ch#7 digital#77-8
wchs analog ch#8 digital#77-5
wlex analog ch#9 digital#71-5
wtvq analog ch#10 digital#71-6
wvah analog ch#11 digital#77-6
wowk analog ch#13 digital#77-7
ket2 analog ch#15 digital#71-8,83-8
wpbo analog ch#17 digital#77-10
wtsf analog ch#18 digital#77-9
ket1 analog ch#19 digital ch#71-9,83-7
ket3 digital ch #83-1 (in hd at night)
ket4 digital ch#83-9
espn analog ch#24 digital hd ch#92-1
espn2 analog ch#25 digital hd ch# 114-1
tbs analog ch#45 digital hd ch#115-1
tnt analog ch#46 digital hd ch#109-3
wljc analog ch#98 digital ch#71-2
cwkyt analog ch#99 digital ch#71-10
discovery hd theater digital hd ch# 104-1
toon disney digital ch#106-5
all of the music choice channels are available also starting at ch#108-1 thru 108-48
as of June 25 208

Check it out!
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WDKY


WDKY-TV KY DANVILLE USA (Digital)

Licensee: WDKY LICENSEE, LLC
Service Designation: DR Petition for rulemaking to add or modify a digital allotment -- see Docket for details

Channel: 46 662 - 668 MHz Application
File No.: BPRM-20080620AOU Facility ID number: 178288
CDBS Application ID No.: 1252054

37° 52' 51.00" N Latitude
84° 19' 16.00" W Longitude (NAD 27)

Site: Region Map Area Map Local Map



Great find! Here is link with some of the details (requires PDF reader to open) :

http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6520031442


Here is a quote from the text of document at above link :


If the proposal set forth herin is adopted, WDKY will promptly file the appropriate application for modification to specify operation on DTV Channel 46 at Danville with facilities consistent with those specified in the attached engineering statement and, if authorized, will construct the facilities contemplated therein and place the station into operation.

Something I have been meaning to ask about here - is the power for 46.1 lower than other digitals in the area?

Assuming you mean the KET transmitter on Ch42, then yes the ERP is less than WLEX and WTVQ, which are the other two digitals on UHF. You can't really compare the ERP directly with WDKY and WKYT.

Great find! Here is link with some of the details (requires PDF reader to open) :

http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6520031442


Here is a quote from the text of document at above link :


Awesome... Thanks for the link. I was trying to find some info on it. Surprised they weren't going to be a full power 1000 kw digital station. Looks like 350 kw.

Assuming you mean the KET transmitter on Ch42, then yes the ERP is less than WLEX and WTVQ, which are the other two digitals on UHF. You can't really compare the ERP directly with WDKY and WKYT.


Thanks ----- so have you heard anything related to the lower ERP for 42 being temporary, perhaps being boosted come Feb '09? Maybe they have to have it lower due to conflicts with other nearby channels (in nearby cities)? Maybe William Smith knows?

Thanks ----- so have you heard anything related to the lower ERP for 42 being temporary, perhaps being boosted come Feb '09? Maybe they have to have it lower due to conflicts with other nearby channels (in nearby cities)?

Nope ... As far as I know, the plan is to stay at the current ERP. KET has always used the blanket approach (as opposed to the torch/beacon approach) to coverage. From my location, I can easily pull in the Clays Ferry (42), E-town and Somerset transmitters ... it's just a matter of which way I point the antenna. If my Lexington geography is correct, I think the Ch42 transmitter is almost 180 degrees from the other UHF's at your friend's house. ... It's the same direction as WDKY (Ch4)

Nope ... As far as I know, the plan is to stay at the current ERP. KET has always used the blanket approach (as opposed to the torch/beacon approach) to coverage. From my location, I can easily pull in the Clays Ferry (42), E-town and Somerset transmitters ... it's just a matter of which way I point the antenna. If my Lexington geography is correct, I think the Ch42 transmitter is almost 180 degrees from the other UHF's at your friend's house. ... It's the same direction as WDKY (Ch4)

Thanks for your input. Yep, you are exactly right about 56.1 and 46.1, my antennaweb printout showed the same thing. But the other digital UHF's (67.1, 18.1, 36.1, 27.1) are only about 45 degrees off of that. I have the bigger VHF antenna dedicated to low VHF for 56.1 pointing exactly in the 56.1 direction. The UHF one is a 4 bay flat style antenna, as I mentioned I tweaked it and had no luck at all bringing in digital 46. There are tall trees across the street in that direction (taller than the one story house where antenna is installed). Oh well. Perhaps I will check other issues (cabling) but since everything else is OK (digitals for 18, 27, 36, 56, 67) I would hate to mess anything else up. :) But perhaps a bad/loose connector is going to be more sensitive to problems with this station than all the others.

Thanks for your input. Yep, you are exactly right about 56.1 and 46.1, my antennaweb printout showed the same thing. But the other digital UHF's (67.1, 18.1, 36.1, 27.1) are only about 45 degrees off of that.

Yeah a bad connector could be the problem, but I suspect the 45 degree difference is just enough to cause the problem especially with the lower output from 42.

60 degrees might have been better, my 4228 (8-bay) has a nice secondary lobe there.

WDKY doesn't mean they are going to move the transmitter to Danville, do they? They built that new tower by KET's, so I wouldn't figure they would give that up.

Glad I didn't buy a VHF antenna if they get approved for channel 46. The homebrew twinlead has served me well.

FOX programming will certainly be less fragile to glitches if they obtain UHF (lightning\weather won't affect reception nearly as much)

WDKY doesn't mean they are going to move the transmitter to Danville, do they?

I wouldn't think so ... but the Lat/Long is different from the current location.

Makes sense to move it back. They are trying to mirror their current analog signal coverage, no better place to do that than where their analog transmitter is.

Makes sense to move it back. They are trying to mirror their current analog signal coverage, no better place to do that than where their analog transmitter is.

No it doesn't ... they already moved both the analog and digital, which are on the same tower, to Clay's Ferry, and as far as I know they own the tower there. It would be far easier to just replace the antenna with one tuned for Ch46 ... heck they might even get a sweet deal from KET on a used Ch46 antenna. :D

Hmm, make sure you aren't looking at the old STA (DS) entry in FCC info, that's for WDKY-DT's initial operation at the old tower site.

I checked the coordinates in the petition (and as listed for the petition on TV query) with the Current Licensed Facility for WDKY digital and analog as shown at FCC's TV query and it appears to be the same.

37° 52' 51.00" N Latitude
84° 19' 16.00" W Longitude (NAD 27)


==================================================

Anyway, thanks to HDTV4usinky giving us a early heads-up on this some time back ... He might have to change his AVSforum handle ;)

Looks like WLJC-DT 7 is going to increase the power after the analog off from 28kw to 70kw. The coverage area didn't change that much though...

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WLJC

Keep in mind WLJC's application for higher power and in WDKY's case, petition to move to 46 have to be granted and allowed by FCC before they can actually happen, so it other words, they may or may not "actually" happen, we'll have to wait and see ....

Keep in mind WLJC's application for higher power and in WDKY's case, petition to move to 46 have to be granted and allowed by FCC before they can actually happen, so it other words, they may or may not "actually" happen, we'll have to wait and see ....

True... :) Hopefully the FCC will approve

As of right now there are no plans to boost power on any KET transmitter.

With the impact of the budget cuts and staff reductions, I can't and won't speculate on the future of KET services.

William

I'm in the minority here, but I hope the WDKY application goes straight to 'file 13.'

I'll never snag 46.

WDKY-UHF!

The quick explanation for the 350 kW ERP would be to limit interference to WAVE-DT on channel 47 and to duplicate current WDKY analog coverage.

I'm working with a new DTV transition website. It will take shape over the next few weeks. I think AVS is too difficult for most people to use. Let's face it, the people that will have the most problems with the DTV transition are not necessarily the most tech savvy.

http://hdtvky.com

I'm working with a new DTV transition website. It will take shape over the next few weeks. I think AVS is too difficult for most people to use. Let's face it, the people that will have the most problems with the DTV transition are not necessarily the most tech savvy.

http://hdtvky.com

Hey, send me a PM when you get it up and running and I'll link it off of my site. =)

- Trip

I forgot to say, the site is new and under construction. If you want to help out, let me know. We all only have so much free time :)

WTVQ-36 planning high-def local newscasts by November

Lexington ABC affiliate WTVQ-36 plans to begin airing locally produced programming in high definition by November. General Manager Chris Aldridge said Wednesday that the station is investing hundreds of thousands of dollars to revamp its newscast set and add the high-definition cameras necessary. The station had been passing through ABC network programming in high-definition but had been unable to broadcast its own newscasts that way. It will be the last major network affiliate in Lexington to begin broadcasting locally in HD

http://www.kentucky.com/101/story/463299.html

WTVQ-36 planning high-def local newscasts by November

Lexington ABC affiliate WTVQ-36 plans to begin airing locally produced programming in high definition by November. General Manager Chris Aldridge said Wednesday that the station is investing hundreds of thousands of dollars to revamp its newscast set and add the high-definition cameras necessary. The station had been passing through ABC network programming in high-definition but had been unable to broadcast its own newscasts that way. It will be the last major network affiliate in Lexington to begin broadcasting locally in HD

http://www.kentucky.com/101/story/463299.html

Good! maybe they will quit taking LOST out of HD to run those ridiculous storm warning icons and runners across the screen. The quality of the show is such 20 steps backward when they do that. The colors look washed-out with far less detail in the image; not to mention that the sound is louder. And worse.. when they forget to flip the switch back to HD when they are done! I imagine they will have to upgrade their backend processing equipment for the newscasts to go HD, so logically after upgrading they can do these weather warning insertions without making the show in the 'background' look and sound like crap. Of course I would prefer they not clutter the screen at all as the weather folks are almost always wrong and hypersensitive to a gust of wind and a sprinkle of rain around here. They figure it is better to cry wolf all the time than to actually put up those weather warnings when it really is a condition of concern.

Good! maybe they will quit taking LOST out of HD to run those ridiculous storm warning icons and runners across the screen. .

I can almost live with that. It's when they drop out of HD @ 10:54pm to tell us that they have a story about a 2 headed snake (or some other trival "stuff") at 11 that gets me. :rolleyes:

I can almost live with that. It's when they drop out of HD @ 10:54pm to tell us that they have a story about a 2 headed snake (or some other trival "stuff") at 11 that gets me. :rolleyes:

Oh yeah.. I agree that is highly inappropriate. Someone should complain :D

We have a good start on the new website, at least for the lexington digital channels. Go ahead and check it out hdtvky.com (http://www.hdtvky.com) and make sure it is an easy read, let me know if it's too confusing.

Possible update for WDKY coming soon. there might be a change to maybe a different channel than 46 and maybe with an omni antenna at 1mw erp. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! If you or anyone you know are having difficulty receiving WDKY on channel 4, please call 859-269-5656 druing business hours. WDKY is keeping a log of complaints to submit with any future applications to the FCC for a channel change to a UHF freq.

If you or anyone you know are having difficulty receiving WDKY on channel 4, please call 859-269-5656 druing business hours. WDKY is keeping a log of complaints to submit with any future applications to the FCC for a channel change to a UHF freq.


Website looks great! Easy to read and understand.

When I call that number, who do I ask for? I know several people who can't get channel 4. I am one of them, with 3 TV's in the house that can't get it.

So if channel 46 isn't going to fly, what channel would work? I seem to think channel 31 would be a good one, once WKRC-DT goes back to channel 12 in February, but what do I know :)

I vote for something between uhf 14-38.

My Band A Quad is waiting.:)

Possible update for WDKY coming soon. there might be a change to maybe a different channel than 46 and maybe with an omni antenna at 1mw erp. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! If you or anyone you know are having difficulty receiving WDKY on channel 4, please call 859-269-5656 druing business hours. WDKY is keeping a log of complaints to submit with any future applications to the FCC for a channel change to a UHF freq.

My crappy AntennaCraft (RatShack) combo antenna finally popped most of it's insulators last week ... I've been debating whether to get another crappy AC low-band yagi or go with a stronger Winegard combo. ($20 vs $90ish)

For now, I'm relying on WDRB for any FOX related programming.

So if channel 46 isn't going to fly, what channel would work? I seem to think channel 31 would be a good one, once WKRC-DT goes back to channel 12 in February, but what do I know

Channel 46 would work, but WDKY would need to protect ch 47 in Louisville and ch 46 in Chillicothe OH. They would need to limit transmit power to 350 kw erp and use a directional antenna (reuse the current antenna). Let's assume you are correct with a channel 31 selection, WDKY could go omni at 1 mw erp and more closely duplicate the current channel 4 contour. Of course they would need to replace the transmit antenna.

Website looks great! Easy to read and understand. Thanks, sending a non tech type to AVS to find information is like sending a lamb to slaughter.... Our goal is to make a "KISS" website for the rest of us. It needs to be grandparent friendly (of course I am a grandparent LOL)

When I call that number, who do I ask for? I know several people who can't get channel 4. I am one of them, with 3 TV's in the house that can't get it.

Patty, the receptionist, has the log.

How much effect does weather have on digital signal? Last night (well 4:00am) during the storm I lost all of my OTA locals but still got my SD over sat.

How much effect does weather have on digital signal? Last night (well 4:00am) during the storm I lost all of my OTA locals but still got my SD over sat.

Somewhat unrelated, my home's alarm uses a radio as a backup to the phone line, and it lost service at about 2:30 am last night. The alarm beeps until someone resets the dang thing, and the alarm company calls us to let us know it's beeping (just in case we weren't already awake resetting the alarm). It uses 900 mhz and hits a tower in Winchester or Richmond. I highly suspect weather was the cause.

WDKY, the low V, will suffer impulse noise from lightening storms. I would suspect at least some attenuation at UHF freqs due to rain. Is your reception marginal to begin with? Ducting might be another issue, where a distant UHF interferes with a local station, but it would need to be a "perfect storm" Other ideas, STL suffering from rain fade but the sat feed is fed by fiber or just gathered locally (like possibly WLEX)

Has anyone heard anything on availability of HD LIL in the Lexington market on DirecTV? There were a few posts back in the Feb. time frame but I couldn't find anything else..

^^^ Haven't heard anything new, but then again I haven't been monitoring very closely.

Thanks, I was hoping that with the new D11 sat about to go live, Lexington would be toward the top of the list (based on DMA availability) but I sure can't find much information in any of the places that I know to look.

Knoxville has had HD LIL for several mos so I too would expect it to be soon. You just never know until they're actually up and running though.

Thanks, I was hoping that with the new D11 sat about to go live, Lexington would be toward the top of the list (based on DMA availability) but I sure can't find much information in any of the places that I know to look.

As far as I'm concerned, its a case of a dollar short and about 6 years too late to matter ... except, perhaps, for WDKY. :)

I have some friends that work in production at a local station, and I bug them constantly. They haven't heard a thing yet. The station is the current local receive facility for the SD locals.

Ah well, I guess I am going to have to work on my OTA antenna rotor. It is getting 'cranky' of late. Thanks for your info. I can still cross my fingers.

Good news...

DirecTV delivered a rack of equipment to WLEX to pick up the local DTV broadcasts.

Bad news...

I'm told that while the new equipment will RECEIVE the DTV signals, DirecTV will downconvert the signals to SD and pass to their headend and on to satellite.

Good news...

DirecTV delivered a rack of equipment to WLEX to pick up the local DTV broadcasts.

Bad news...

I'm told that while the new equipment will RECEIVE the DTV signals, DirecTV will downconvert the signals to SD and pass to their headend and on to satellite.


Why would D* do that? They already broadcast WLEX in SD.

Why would D* do that? They already broadcast WLEX in SD.

They are going to need some way to continue LiL after the Feb 2009 analog cutoff. And, I see "we" were omitted from the latest batch of 44 HD local markets that was announced today.

I guess it's a good thing I have the low-band yagi on the way.

I have this recurring dream (fantasy) that HD LIL from D* will provide WKYT's signal in 1080i instead of 720p.:)

They are going to need some way to continue LiL after the Feb 2009 analog cutoff. And, I see "we" were omitted from the latest batch of 44 HD local markets that was announced today.

I guess it's a good thing I have the low-band yagi on the way.

I'm with you there! I've had my attic antenna 1.5 years and looks like I'll continue for a while.

Thanks,
Steve

If you have nothing to do for about an hour, watch this video about the dish- directv LiL:

http://meta.globix.net/m/wm/cdo/woc-01/COMP008760MOD1/MSTV/071608.wvx

This video is from the mstv.org site. I would not have posted this if it was supposed to be confidential, but the link is right on the mstv.org main page

I was trying to pick up WBKI-DT last night and ended up getting WVAH-DT FOX11 out of Huntington with my regular indoor antenna for about 10 minutes. Thought that was odd, but cool. :)

Where are post from August 1 to 12?

There was a massive data loss. Here is the link, and below that is the message from AVS.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/announcement.php?f=34&a=123

AVS Forum Community:

On the morning of August 11, AVS Forum suffered a major failure in the database and backup storage. As such, we have no choice but to recover from August 2nd.

This represents tens of thousands of lost posts and new threads for the last week. There is nothing we can do about it at this time but move forward. We are sorry about the loss and will work to be sure this does not happen again. We are as upset about this as you may be, more than likely even more.

Further information located in this thread... http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1055007

Regretfully,

AVS Forum

I tried posting this in the Louisville Section with no response... so I figured to try here...

Moved to Louisville (from Vegas) in June 2007. I have had insight cable service since June 2007 with no problems. Suddenly, in early June 2008, I have had the following problems with my three HD TVs:

Samsung LN-S4096D (40" LCD) x 2
Insight Motorolla Cable Card
CONSTANT problem: Digital tiling (bottom third of screen) and audio glitching on ESPN 1 HD, ESPN 2 HD, and TNT HD. It seems the problem has gotten progressively worse. Other HD and standard channels are not affected.
TROUBLESHOOT: Insight has replaced the cable cards, replaced the signal amplifier. Insight also tried hooking up a DVR to these TVs (instead of the cable card) and the problem manifests itself in a different way (TNT HD will seem as if one frame is spliced out ever second).

Insight has also checked the signal (for each channel) at the post, at the amp, and at the TV. They have even run a separate line from the post outside directly to my CableCard TV. Nothing has solved the problem.

There is also a MINOR but separate problem with my 56" DLP which has a DVR (no cable card). It seems this may be a related issue...

Samsung LN-S5687W (56" DLP) x 1
Insight Motorolla DVR
Intermittent problem: Screen will freeze after watching ESPN 1 HD for a few hours. Audio still works while screen is frozen. Problem will resolve after switching channels.
Troubleshoot: Insight has replaced the DVR. Problem has not resolved.


Has anyone heard of these problems?

I am more concerned with the CableCard problems I am having. The DVR problem is not that annoying (just change the channel) but I think they may be related to the same problem as they occured at the same time. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Lost post of note: WDKY-DT has withdrawn their app to move to channel 46, and instead would like to move to channel 31.

- Trip

I think I actually said that channel 31 would be a great choice for WDKY... :)

WKRC-DT is going back to channel 12 in 2009. The only channels that could cause interfere with (to my knowledge) is WVLT-DT 30, WKOH-DT 31, and WSTR-DT 33?

WDKY-DT on 31 is fine with me. Glad I didn't invest in a VHF antenna and made my own cheap wireloop for them, though the VHF input on my CM7777 pre-amp will be kind of pointless since I can't pick up anything VHF extra-Central-KY-ish from Winchester. Of course my antennas are in the attic and the neighborhood deed of restrictions doesn't allow "an antenna larger than 24"". My Winegard UHF antenna is considerably much larger and none of my neighbors use rooftop antennas, so I would stick out like a sore thumb if I tried to take the setup outside. Also I am scared to go up on my roof. :)

^^^ Just don't expect this to be expedited by the FCC. It took WLEX a couple of years to get their allocation straightened out. Don't put away your VHF-lo yagis just yet.

Of course my antennas are in the attic and the neighborhood deed of restrictions doesn't allow "an antenna larger than 24"". My Winegard UHF antenna is considerably much larger and none of my neighbors use rooftop antennas, so I would stick out like a sore thumb if I tried to take the setup outside. Also I am scared to go up on my roof. :)You probably already know this, but FCC OTARD (http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html) prohibits any size restrictions on antennas by HOAs, local governments, etc. and basically there is nothing your neighborhood can do to stop you.

Can't do anything about your fear of the roof though :)

WDKY-DR KY DANVILLE USA (Digital)

Licensee: WDKY LICENSEE, LLC
Service Designation: DR Petition for rulemaking to add or modify a digital allotment -- see Docket for details

Channel: 31 572 - 578 MHz Application
File No.: BPRM-20080620AOU Facility ID number: 178288
CDBS Application ID No.: 1252054

37° 52' 51.00" N Latitude
84° 19' 16.00" W Longitude (NAD 27)

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WDKY

Wonder how much power channel 31 would put out?

1000 kW ND. They had originally asked for 350 kW DA on channel 46, so this would be a boost of about 4-5 dB for everyone, and more than that for people would would have received reduced signal due to the channel 46 directional pattern.

- Trip

Lost post of note: WDKY-DT has withdrawn their app to move to channel 46, and instead would like to move to channel 31.

This is great news for Danville and Lexington! I'm sure a few DXers will be upset if the application is granted, but nearly everyone inside the community of license will be better served with a UHF-dt Fox station. We would finally be able to watch WDKY HD during a thunderstorm. Let's hope this gets approved asap!

On a side note, DirecTV has converted LiL in Lexington to the digital source for all stations, and I believe Dish is finished with the conversion as well.

Let's hope this gets approved asap!

It will be nice!!

How long does it usually take for these things to get approved? WSYX-UHF DT still hasn't got their application approved yet either. :)

I'm sure a few DXers will be upset if the application is granted,


I Can't imagine why.

It will be fringe viewers who are in terrain obstructed locations and can only have success receiving VHF who will have the problem.

There probably aren't many of those using WDKY-DT(especially given Lex was all UHF analog), but there are a few more who currently only receive Lo-VHF stations from the hollers who will lose TV alltogheter in 6 months if they don't have Satellite (assuming hills and trees to the South don't block those as well) ....

I think it might take a few weeks. I know of the three apps Sinclair has filed for channel changes, they've refiled this one, and had to file a supplement to the one in Madison before the FCC approved it... could be a problem with the WSYX-DT app that they have yet to resolve.

I expect we'll see an NPRM for WDKY-DT 31 in the next few weeks, unless the FCC finds some issue with it...

- Trip

Of course ... nothing is going to happen until WKRC? vacates Ch31 on or about Feb 17, 2009. So it's at least another 2/3's of a season full of glitches and break ups.

Unless one cheats the Nattering Nabobs of Neilsen Nyetiness and tunes to WDRB. ;)

It will be fringe viewers who are in terrain obstructed locations and can only have success receiving VHF who will have the problem.

Nothing new here, Lexington with its all-UHF lineup was set up from the start with its back turned to the mountains. Conversely, Knoxville had plenty of holler-penetrating VHF for the folks in East Tennessee. I suppose the proximity to VHFs in Louisville and Cincinnati had much to do with the original Lexington assignments.

I knew WDKY-4 was too good to last.

Too good to last? WDKY-4 is the most horrible station there is in Lexington. Practically noone can get it, unless you put up a monsterous outdoor antenna. That just don't fly for the city folk. :)

I see plenty of antennas in Lexington. All the better to bypass the mediocre locals for 'Ville and Cincy stations with!

I'm one of a dwindling number of country folk who attempt to receive stations not interested in broadcasting to us.

You might be surprised at what 1000kw omnidirectional on 31 might do from Clays Ferry. Don't give up yet.

Actually, we're waiting on the FCC to authorize new DTV translators so we can gap fill in eastern KY.

Why UHF in Lexington, Goes back to the fact that Lexington was too close to Huntington, Louisville, Cincy, and Knoxville for the FCC to allow VHF stations. In fact until DTV Lexington was the largest market that was UHF only. I still have a couple of Blonder Tounge UHF Converters ( They even work) that were used for early sets. It was only have the FCC mandated UHF tuners that TV in this area really took off.

Until WBLG (now WTVQ)came on the air using Ch 62, WLEX was an affiliate of NBC and ABC.

If your interested in Broadcasting history, I can recommend "Towers over Kentucky".. There are a few errors but its pretty close.

William

Actually, we're waiting on the FCC to authorize new DTV translators so we can gap fill in eastern KY.

Is all the stations in Lexington going to do this?

This is great news for Danville and Lexington! I'm sure a few DXers will be upset if the application is granted, but nearly everyone inside the community of license will be better served with a UHF-dt Fox station. We would finally be able to watch WDKY HD during a thunderstorm. Let's hope this gets approved asap!

On a side note, DirecTV has converted LiL in Lexington to the digital source for all stations, and I believe Dish is finished with the conversion as well.

For the newbie(me) i have direct tv using the h23-600 hd receiver.. does the converted lil mean that the locals in hd are really close for the lexington market via direct? it seems kinda strange to me that alot smaller markets are up and going in hd with direct than the lexingtion demographic.. thanks in advance for any help....

It will be at least after the first of the year.

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/moreInfoText.jsp?assetId=1620002

DirecTV is currently receiving the local DTV signals, but they are downconverting the signal in Lexington before passing it to Colorado (or wherever their main uplink site is).

Re: translators
There has been no talk (at least at the engineering level) of putting up a translator for WLEX.

BTW, if someone wants to make some extra $$$, open up a business to help people transition from analog to DTV reception.:)

DirecTV is currently receiving the local DTV signals, but they are downconverting the signal in Lexington before passing it to Colorado (or wherever their main uplink site is).



Thanks for the info. Do you know how they are being received? Fiber? OTA? Any chance WKYT will be left at 1080i once the HD LILS are turned on?

Thanks for the info. Do you know how they are being received? Fiber? OTA? Any chance WKYT will be left at 1080i once the HD LILS are turned on?

I think all of the receiving/capture equipment is at WLEX. I'm assuming that D* is using an OTA capture unless the uplinked station wants to foot the bill for fiber. ... Anything else is just wishful thinkin' :)

Everyone but WLEX is OTA. WLEX sends DirecTV the same signal that goes to the analog transmitter. This is a downconverted feed of what goes to the DTV transmitter.

Thanks for the info. Do you know how they are being received? Fiber? OTA? Any chance WKYT will be left at 1080i once the HD LILS are turned on?

KYT decided to downconvert to 720p to fit themselves and the CW in. So I don't know any way DirecTV would be able to leave them at 1080.

KYT decided to downconvert to 720p to fit themselves and the CW in. So I don't know any way DirecTV would be able to leave them at 1080.

It *could* be done, but I'm sure WKYT would balk at the price.

Actually, we're waiting on the FCC to authorize new DTV translators so we can gap fill in eastern KY.


Speaking of DTV translators, Just noticed on FCC site KET has recently filed(they've already been granted as well) for "License to Cover" for Augusta and Falmouth LP DTV translators ...

Congrats for getting those up, as unless I'm missing something I think they(and any others KET has up, now) are the first LP digital stations on air anywhere around here ....

Yep.. one more to go..

William

So it's not unthinkable that DTV will be offering LEX locals after the start of the year?

Yep.. one more to go..


ah, Louisa ...

Just curious, what is used for VCT major channel # for these transaltors ?

Louisa will be WKAS-DT 25 (1-4)
Falmouth is WKON-DT 52 (1-4)
Augusta is WKMR-DT 38 (1-4)

What happens if a TV tuner receives both a major digital station and it's translator?

I guess a follow-up might be, what happens if somehow (maybe because of tropo or e-skip) a TV tuner receives two commercial stations that both remap to the same channels... so for example WAAA-DT broadcasts on digital 43 and remaps to 6-1 and 6-2 and then WBBB-DT broadcasts on digital 23 and remaps to 6-1, 6-2, and 6-3...

I guess a follow-up might be, what happens if somehow (maybe because of tropo or e-skip) a TV tuner receives two commercial stations that both remap to the same channels... so for example WAAA-DT broadcasts on digital 43 and remaps to 6-1 and 6-2 and then WBBB-DT broadcasts on digital 23 and remaps to 6-1, 6-2, and 6-3...

You should get two 6-1's two 6-2's/etc.

the TSID's are still different for each station.

Normally, I don't "scan in" stations when Dx'ing and instead just tune manually to the RF channel, w/o storing the TSID/PSIP info in the receivers memory.

But, I have "scanned them in" on occasion and had that happen before with for example WKRN-DT 27 (maps to 2.x), Nashville, TN While the scan also picked up Local WDTN-DT 50 (remaps to 2.x) being received off back side of antenna. I had (at the time, I dunno if WKRN-DT has added any additional subchannels) a 2.1 from WKRN-DT, a 2.1 and a 2.2 from WDTN-DT.

If I punched in 2.1, I don't remember which station I got (it was one or the other), and could only switch between the two by either tuning by RF channel number+the program number(which most of my receivers allow) or by channel/up down through the two 2.1's.

You should get two 6-1's two 6-2's/etc.

the TSID's are still different for each station.

I think it's impossible to say with any certainty. I'm sure there are receivers that would handle things OK ... and I'm sure there are some that will balk. I seem to recall having issues in the past with this, but it may have been a case where the physical channels were the same or something else was screwy with the channel mapping. It's been awhile ...

Reasons 1 though 10 why virtual channel mapping might not have been the best idea. :)

I think it's impossible to say with any certainty.


Which is why I said "should" ....


I'm sure there are receivers that would handle things OK ...


They all *should* As long as TSID and PSIP are being implemented properly on both ends ...

What is going on with WTVQ on Directv? I know its SD. I keep seeing green pixelation. No sound loss. Someone told me from another forum that this is a known problem with especially ABC affiliates. It happens only on this channel quite often. If someone has already posted about this. I must have looked over it. Thanks.

What is going on with WTVQ on Directv? I know its SD. I keep seeing green pixelation. No sound loss. Someone told me from another forum that this is a known problem with especially ABC affiliates. It happens only on this channel quite often. If someone has already posted about this. I must have looked over it. Thanks.

On what programming? I suspect that this so called "known problem" only applies to the HD feed from ABC, and not local origin.

I haven't seen it, but then again I consider the SD-LiL from DirecTV to be worthless except as a backup to a backup. ;)

This is what I'm talking about. Check out the vid I took. It does this quite often. But ONLY on this channel. It's not the normal pixelation I see when a storm is coming. I also notice this channel has the worst pic quality of any of the local channels in Lexington (but only at times). I realize its SD but to me it's not even typical SD standards. Anyway. Here's the vid I'm talking about. Thanks



Oh wait, it won't let me post it, it says I have to post at least three posts before I can't post a URL.......

second try........wont let me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia2Tv5Yrtx4

Do you only see it on ABC network shows, or local programming? Could be a problem with their HD receiver. Have you contacted WTVQ to see if they've received other complaints?

Local news can be on and or ABC programming. Doesn't happen on any other channel. I've also noticed a difference in pic quality from day to day on this particular channel. Maybe they're doing something at the station??? I posted this on another satellite forum and someone said the green meant station equipment and the feed to directv. But since the station doesn't see it on their end, nothing is done about it or so I read. I looked for a number or email on WTVQ's website and can't find anything. I don't know anyone else with Directv to ask. I'm assuming its not on my end since its the only channel I've ever seen it on.

I posted this on another satellite forum and someone said the green meant station equipment and the feed to directv.

I haven't seen anything out of the ordinary via OTA digital, or from spot checking the LiL service from DirecTV.

Edit: ... but then again ABC/WTVQ has been off the radar this summer.

My guess is the problem lies w/DirecTV. DTV has an antenna and receiver for each station (WLEX is the only exception). So if no one else is noticing the OTA signal doing the same thing, it's probably with DTVs equipment. However, if no one else is noticing it on DTV LiL, it could be your receiver.

... and another problem is that most of the folks that participate in this thread probably aren't using the LiL service from DirecTV with any regularity.

I have 2 HR21's. It does it on both receivers. If it were the receiver wouldn't this be happening on more than just this channel? All other channels are flawless. There is a running threat regarding the green pixelation on another site.

They say:

Green is from the station equipment. Also, with the newer tuners in TV's this is not always detected from an off-air signal, so comparing the Directv picture to off-air isn't always a valid test anymore.

This usually occurs on the Fiber transmit equipment from the station to the carriers (DirecTv, Dish, cable) and is sometimes hard to correct, the standard answer from the stations is 'we don't see it'. Recordings like this and Data from equipment such as a MTM400 is the only way to prove the errors in the stream to the station.

Green pixelation has been a problem with ABC stations for years now. It's something to do with a piece of equipment in the encoder chain. There was a long -running thread about it http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.ph...een+pixelation

whoops, this link should work. The last didn't go through correctly. Thanks


http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=125609&highlight=green+pixelation

Green pixelation has been a problem with ABC stations for years now. It's something to do with a piece of equipment in the encoder chain.

Like I said before, this issue only rears it's head when the ABC network HDTV feed is active. If you're seeing the pixelation during the evening news, then the problem is elsewhere. If I'm not seeing it on the digital OTA broadcast, then the problem is elsewhere. I still haven't seen it on the LiL either.

Just for grins, check your DirecTV signal strength on Sat 119, transponder 25. This is where the Lexington LiL resides.

PS: My advice would be to get a couple of AM21's and an OTA antenna to go with your HR21's and forget about the SD LiL's :)

This usually occurs on the Fiber transmit equipment from the station to the carriers (DirecTv, Dish, cable) and is sometimes hard to correct, the standard answer from the stations is 'we don't see it'. Recordings like this and Data from equipment such as a MTM400 is the only way to prove the errors in the stream to the station.


There is NO fiber equipment between WTVQ and DirecTV. DTV is picking up the OTA broadcast like everyone else here. The fact the problem's been seen on local news rules out TVQ's ABC HD receiver. It might be: TVQ's encoder (in which case other OTA receivers should see the problem), DTV's receiver/modulator/fiber/other transmission chain (in which case other LiL receivers should see the problem), or something specific to your location.:confused: Does it happen around the same time every day? Can you look at your DTV signal strength when the problem happens vs. when it's not happening?

my signal strength on that sat and transponder is 90. As far as happening everyday and at what times. I have seen it happen during syndicated programming like Judge Judy, daytime soaps, local news, ABC prime time programming. It seems to be at its worst during the early afternoon than any other time, and sometimes, I don't see it at all. I'm wondering if its just something people shrug off or if it is something on my end only? I don't know. Wish I had the HR20 and not 21 for OTA.

my signal strength on that sat and transponder is 90. As far as happening everyday and at what times.

Humm ... ordinarily I'd say that would be good, but I've never gotten less than 100% on 119/TP25 ... other than during rain-fade events. It's usually the last one to wink-out in those cases too.

Early afternoon might suggest some tree/wind involvement. I'll keep spot checking, but my gut feeling is that it's probably something specific to your equipment a/o installation ... with the stipulation that I really haven't watched anything from the SD-LiL's ... too little, too late ... It could be happening and I just haven't seen it during the spot checks.

As far as line of site......No tree issues at all. Perhaps wind, I don't know. At what point does directv signal start pixelating? I would think it would have to be below 30. And while 90 may not be 100 percent, still shouldn't be a signal strength issue though.I don't know. As far as rain fade that I have experienced in the past, it was NEVER GREEN pixelating.:) This is not my area of expertise to say the least. I don't even know what "lil" stands for. I tried the OTA with an indoor antenna at one time and completely gave up on it. Could not get it to work. And being that I can't DVR anything with OTA unless I have a HR20. Not really interested in OTA. :)

I don't even know what "lil" stands for.

Local into Local.

FWIW, I spooled up about 30 minutes worth of WTVQ from the LiL feed on my DVR (HR21) this afternoon ... I didn't see a single glitch or stray pixel.

Not really interested in OTA.

Then you're not likely to find much help in this thread.

Do you all have any antenna recommendations to pick up Fox & CBS for Mt. Sterling? I ordered the antennas direct db4, and I'm going to try it out this afternoon. Right now I can pick up all the UHF's without a problem and with good signal strength.

Leave it to Lexington, to be in the 9% that uses VHF.. *sigh.

Re: DirecTV signal strength...

Is that a 90 on a 100 scale or is the top of the scale 130? Dish might need peaked or LNB need replaced. Are you going through a multiswitch? Can you bypass the switch and see what that does signal strength wise?

Does the problem happen long enough that you can call DirecTV when it happens?

Do you have any friends/neighbors with DirecTV LiL that you can call when it happens to see if they see the problem?

Re: DirecTV signal strength...

Is that a 90 on a 100 scale or is the top of the scale 130?

It's 90 out of 100 ... and that was my point ... It would be unusual to get less than 98-100 from the Lexington spot beam unless there were some dish alignment or other signal issue.

Apologies for sometimes snarky tone, but I just don't see the point of chasing problems not related to getting an actual High-Definition signal. ;) :)

THis is a complete and total newb question, but...

When using an OTA antenna, are you only able to get the local affiliates (WKYT, WLEX, WDKY, PBS, etc.) or can you also pick up the other HD channels that TWC offers on their digital packages (ESPN/2, HDNET, TNT, TBS, etc.)?

You only get the local affiliates. If you want ESPNHD, DiscoveryHD, etc you need satellite or cable.

Would be glad to call Directv to have the re-align my Dish. But I thought they would only do this when signals are below 70. And I am using SWM due to D* determining they couldn't run the additional cable for the dual tuner HD DVR. Funny, 2 weeks ago when I checked my signal strength, it was upper 80s to low 90s. Today when I checked, it was mid 60s to upper 70s. The Dish is bolted into studs in the side of my house, clear line of sight. I'm not getting pixelation on any channels, even the other night when it rained, just TVQ. But that was happening on TVQ before the SWM was put in. Is it not true that if your signals get too low, D*'s system notices this and they will call you? I've read this happening to some people.

Mark-

I don't know if DirecTV keeps a check on signal strength on customer's receivers. However, your problem could be a bad cable... I suggest bypassing your switch just as a test.

Ok, will do. I am about to ask a question some of you may consider lame. But please consider my lack of knowledge in this field. In Lex, Out of all local channels, whether it be cable, or sat (I have had all three), I notice WTVQ has the worst pic and audio quality of the four. I know this isn't the case for HD ABC broadcasts now, but just something I've always noticed and wondered why.

I notice WTVQ has the worst pic and audio quality of the four.

Yep ... especially since D* is now taking the feed from the digital xmitter. The color balance has always been way off on WTVQ's upconverts from the analog signal.

The signal path for SD material is:

analog from WTVQ's main switch -> digital upconversion to 720p -> digital xmitter -> OTA to DirecTV's LRU where it's center cut, converted back to 480i, sent on a few 22,300mi hops back and forth from ground to satellite and then to your HR21 which probably converts it back to either 720p or 1080i for output to your HDTV. ... And this doesn't even address what happens before it gets to WTVQ.

Actually, it's a wonder that there's anything left at all of the original SD analog signal. :)

But yeah ... there's always been something off with the original ...

Hello all,

Doing my interweb forum duty here and adding a data point or two for the OTA people.

I live around Leesburg (half way between G'town and Cynthiana on hwy 62.) I'm 20 miles and 30 miles from Lex transmitters and 55+ from Cincinnati towers. House is 1.5 story.

Installation is problematic - lots of trees, nowhere to really bracket a ground up pole or tower, don't want to spend a ton of money. Old antenna is a CM yagi style UHF eave mounted, about 8' long. Amazingly, it gets WDKY just fine, but WKYT and WKLE not so much. Always been horrible on analog for those two, and now 50/50 in digital. A small tree has grown into a big tree right in its path.

6 months ago I started researching the whole thing, 2 months ago I had all the parts and have been waiting for decent weather and my installer to be in the mood.

Got everything up yesterday. I can't remember all the manufacturers and part numbers and I'm too lazy to look them up. If someone really needs to know exactly what something is I'll check.

Parts: WG 7696; Hy-Gain rotor; Baird SSRM ballast mount and 2" 5' steel mast. Ballast is 4 solid (half size) cement blocks per side (it'll take 6 per side.)

Cool stuff - with all new cable and hardware, even the good channels look better. All Lexington channels come in no problem. In the right conditions I can get every network from Cinncy except ABC (WCPO) so unfortunately I can't compare ABC picture quality to WTVQ, which so obviously sucks.

In steady rain today I could still get NBC and CBS and the Oxford PBS no problem.

Weird stuff - I had to rescan the recorder (Philips HD thing) and got "22" - turned out it was Dayton lol.

Really cool stuff - with WKLE on, I turned the rotor to Cinncy and it didn't go away. This is my weakest channel. I thought the rotor was already busted and hadn't moved. Actually went out with a flashlight to see. It wasn't busted.

With the antenna pointed at Cinncy, I get all the local channels here just fine - in the rain and with all the leaves out. I'm trying really hard not to hammer the "!" key here. I'm amazed and delighted because I hate, detest, despise, and loathe WKYT. Have for decades. So now not only can I view CBS network HD programming in HD, I can record it too without worrying about the rotor. I know people in the Cinncy forum bitch about WKRC a lot, but they don't have to look at KYT's disgusting picture, and so far I have no complaints about the non DD sound from KRC.

By the numbers - on the set's (Panny 700u) signal meter, with the rotor pointed at Lex, 100% for main networks and low 90s for Fox and KET. With the rotor pointed at Cinncy, mid to high 80s for all channels from wherever.

So there you go, a simple installation of a good quality but not huge antenna and good things happen.

In the right conditions I can get every network from Cinncy except ABC (WCPO)

Just an FYI WKRC digital is currently on UHF channel 31 (remaps to 12-1 and 12-2), but will be moving to VHF 12 after they turn their analog off. You noted that you receive all of the networks in Cincinnati except for WCPO... WCPO is currently the only station in our market with its digital on VHF (10, remaps to 9-1 and 9-2). The WCPO and WKRC broadcast towers are very close to each other, on the side of I-71 just northeast of downtown. I guess what I'm saying is that if you're not receiving WCPO now, you may lose WKRC when they switch to channel 12.

^^^ not to mention that the atmospherics were a wee bit wacky 2 days/nights ago too, so I wouldn't count my chickens (aka receivable stations) just yet ...

Not counting chickens yet, but pretty confident. I just checked and have them all but WCPO, and best case for me is night.

I'm aware of the channel 12 move and that was one of the reasons I did this - assuming that VHF would be better for reaching me over the hills and through the trees. IIRC at the time I checked they seemed to be keeping the 800 kW transmitter for WKRC, and WCPO is only 16 kW, so I'm assuming that's the reason I can't get them.

I'm aware of the channel 12 move and that was one of the reasons I did this - assuming that VHF would be better for reaching me over the hills and through the trees. IIRC at the time I checked they seemed to be keeping the 800 kW transmitter for WKRC, and WCPO is only 16 kW, so I'm assuming that's the reason I can't get them.

WKRC-DT will have 15.55 kW on channel 12 once 02/17/09 arrives.

VHF covers the same distance with much less power, thus why WCPO-DT only has 16 kW.

- Trip

Oh-oh lol. My antenna only goes down to channel 7 theoretically though, so maybe I'll get lucky with 12. There's a thread somewhere where a lot of people had the opinion that the low powered digital UHF channels were going to be inadequate in many regions of the country after the switchover. I think it'll take a few years after Feb. to work out the basic kinks, and who knows if the minor kinks, like cheapskate local channels not upgrading equipment will ever be.

I could always get a bigger antenna :)

Would be glad to call Directv to have the re-align my Dish. But I thought they would only do this when signals are below 70. And I am using SWM due to D* determining they couldn't run the additional cable for the dual tuner HD DVR. Funny, 2 weeks ago when I checked my signal strength, it was upper 80s to low 90s.

Mark ... you are officially vindicated.

At approximately 6:18pm and again at 6:21pm ET today (9/12,) I finally saw your bursts of green pixelation / picture break up on WTVQ via D* LiL. I'm spooling up some digital OTA right now to see if it's there also. In any case, I'm still getting 100% SQ on 119/Tp25, so it's not a signal strength issue.

That having been said, if your satellite signal strengths are trending downward, you may still want to have D* take a look at your alignment.

Hey all,
I am looking for some of your collective expertise. I finally have decided to kick the cable habit and am going with apple TV and OTA HD. The only issue is that I am having trouble selecting an appropriate antenna. I live in the Veteran's Park area, walking distance from the school. I have checked antennaweb and all the main local towers are within 12 miles. I am looking for an multidirectional to put up in the attic but am unsure of what antenna I should purchase, if I need an amplifier or not. Any experience and/or recommendations are greatly appreciated.

analog from WTVQ's main switch -> digital upconversion to 720p -> digital xmitter -> OTA to DirecTV's LRU where it's center cut, converted back to 480i, sent on a few 22,300mi hops back and forth from ground to satellite and then to your HR21 which probably converts it back to either 720p or 1080i for output to your HDTV. ... And this doesn't even address what happens before it gets to WTVQ.

Not quite... once it hits DTV's head end in Lexington, it goes via fiber to Colorado, not satellite. Also, I would expect a signal quality difference on TVQ... they haven't put in their HD studio cams/switchers, etc, which they're in the process of doing now. KET is also going through their transition period to upgrade their equipment.

Not quite... once it hits DTV's head end in Lexington, it goes via fiber to Colorado, not satellite.

Either way, I think we've confirmed that the WTVQ pixelation issue is somewhere upstream of our receiving dishes.

I wasn't able to confirm or refute whether the pixelation is originating in the DT feed or somewhere down stream. I wasn't fast enough switching over to the OTA receiver.

BTW ... while watching a bit of 20/20 last night, you could see the color balance shift on the LiL as WTVQ-DT was dropping in and out of the ABC-HD feed ... just confirmation that D* is using the DT for capturing the LiL.

Either way, I think we've confirmed that the WTVQ pixelation issue is somewhere upstream of our receiving dishes.

I wasn't able to confirm or refute whether the pixelation is originating in the DT feed or somewhere down stream. I wasn't fast enough switching over to the OTA receiver.

BTW ... while watching a bit of 20/20 last night, you could see the color balance shift on the LiL as WTVQ-DT was dropping in and out of the ABC-HD feed ... just confirmation that D* is using the DT for capturing the LiL.

Thanks!!!!!!!!! Whew, I'm glad its not something on my end. My signals are back up again for some reason but have had no issues so I won't worry about it unless something drastic happens...... And about the color balance. I notice that too; when watching ABC Network feed, even though its SD, the picture is much much better! Then when it goes back to TVQ dropping out of the HD feed, the picture is just pure crap!

Hey all,
I am looking for some of your collective expertise. I finally have decided to kick the cable habit and am going with apple TV and OTA HD. The only issue is that I am having trouble selecting an appropriate antenna. I live in the Veteran's Park area, walking distance from the school. I have checked antennaweb and all the main local towers are within 12 miles. I am looking for an multidirectional to put up in the attic but am unsure of what antenna I should purchase, if I need an amplifier or not. Any experience and/or recommendations are greatly appreciated.

I would use a small VHF/UHF antenna pointed at the Winchester/MOW towers a second small VHF/UHF pointed at Clay's Ferry with a combiner (also known as a splitter) with NO amplification. You might get by with a UHF antenna pointed at WKYT but if you are getting new antennas anyway I would go with a U/V to make sure you get 13. A few places carry antennas, I'd try Radio Electronic on Skain Ave behind the Herald Leader. I would not use an omni. I'm not sure I'm an expert, but like Tomas Edison, I know many things that don't work and a few that do. Before you buy two antennas, maybe one antenna pointed at Clay's Ferry will work, you'll never know unless you try. If you want to get jiggy with it, you could build a dipole for channel 13 and channel 4, and use a small uhf antenna for everyone else. Check out http://www.wfu.edu/~matthews/misc/dipole.html

Tomas Edison I'm not sure I can spell either.

OMG, the heavens must have opened up and shined on me today. I believe I have done the impossible and picked up Faux 56. I have the Terrestrial Digital V15 pointed at 242 degrees, and it's picking it up with about a 95% signal strength and I'm a good 25 miles away. In the same position it's picking up channel 13 (27-1) and all of it's extras at about 85%.

For UHF I'm using the Antennas Direct DB4 and I'm bringing those in with no problem at 100%.

I talked to one of the engineers at faux 56, and he told me after the transition they have a waiver in with the FCC that would allow them to move to UHF channel 31... However he wasn't sure if they where going to grant it.

OMG, the heavens must have opened up and shined on me today. I believe I have done the impossible and picked up Faux 56.

It's never been "impossible" to receive, it's just keeping it from constantly dropping out that's the problem. :)

Alright.

I'm a noob to the entire OTA scheme. Previously I used OTA on my SDTV at college, but I finally got a television with an HD tuner over the summer and was looking forward to watching 24 and House in HD. Unfortunately since I'm in a dorm in Berea, KY, I'm not getting a good reception with my Phillips MANT510 indoor antenna.

Is getting WKYT or WDKY a lost cause?

That antenna will handle V & UHF, so that by itself won't rule out 'KYT and 'DKY. However, the fact it's an indoor antenna and you're in (presumably) a concrete dorm in Berea is probably your issue. You might need to upgrade the antenna, or at least move it around in the room. Since you're in Berea, if you have space to put up a directional antenna and point it to the north it might help.

The bad thing about digital is it's pretty much "all or nothing". In the analog world, you could tell when you were starting to get close to the signal, you don't in digital.

Alright.

I'm a noob to the entire OTA scheme. Previously I used OTA on my SDTV at college, but I finally got a television with an HD tuner over the summer and was looking forward to watching 24 and House in HD. Unfortunately since I'm in a dorm in Berea, KY, I'm not getting a good reception with my Phillips MANT510 indoor antenna.

Is getting WKYT or WDKY a lost cause?

Did you extend your dipoles? WDKY is in the lower band at ch 04.

I tested the mant510 before and found it a pain having to change the amp settings for whenever a station needed an adjustment. Try seeing if anyone around has a regular loop antenna to try out. I have a single RCA loop antenna with no preamp and am getting Fox and all the other stations here in Winchester.

Anyone notice sound issues on the CW HD on Thursday (9/18) night?

I recorded the season premier of Supernatural and it cut in and out of Dolby throughout the program -- pretty much making it unwatchable. Just curious if it was a broadcast or receiver issue.

This was OTA to a Dish 622 if that matters.

Anyone notice sound issues on the CW HD on Thursday (9/18) night?

I recorded the season premier of Supernatural and it cut in and out of Dolby throughout the program -- pretty much making it unwatchable. Just curious if it was a broadcast or receiver issue.

This was OTA to a Dish 622 if that matters.

It was fine from WBKI ... apparently WDKY on 27.2 and KET on xx.3-HD are using some setting(s) that are causing DVRs from both satellite companies to glitch in one or several ways. OTOH, I don't see the problems on my standalone ATSC receiver.

Hey, are you guys getting the Alabama/Arkansas game in HD via Raycom on WKYT?

It's HD from WVLT in Knoxville. WYMT is showing it SD but it's likely they've just forgot to flip the switch.;)

Hi everyone,

I've been a member here forever, with over a thousand posts, but for some reason can't log in or recover my password, so I had to make a new account.

My question is:

Is there a map anywhere that shows the physical locations of the broadcast towers in Lexington? I'm out off Greendale Rd., and I'm trying to maximize my antenna strength.

Thanks in advance.

Never mind, I found www dot antennapoint dot com. Very useful!

I think I'm going to try the DB2 from Antennas Direct...any company that puts the following disclaimer in their offiical manuals catches my attention!:


WARNING
Do not attempt to install if drunk, pregnant or both.
Do not eat antenna.
Do not throw antenna at spouse.

That antenna will handle V & UHF, so that by itself won't rule out 'KYT and 'DKY. However, the fact it's an indoor antenna and you're in (presumably) a concrete dorm in Berea is probably your issue. You might need to upgrade the antenna, or at least move it around in the room. Since you're in Berea, if you have space to put up a directional antenna and point it to the north it might help.

The bad thing about digital is it's pretty much "all or nothing". In the analog world, you could tell when you were starting to get close to the signal, you don't in digital.

Yeah, I'm thinking of getting a directional antenna when I get paid on Monday.

Funny: I'm getting Fox 13 out of Memphis on the analog right now, haha.

Hey, are you guys getting the Alabama/Arkansas game in HD via Raycom on WKYT?

It's HD from WVLT in Knoxville. WYMT is showing it SD but it's likely they've just forgot to flip the switch.;)

'KYT had the game in HD. I know Raycom was building some HD production trucks, guess they're working. :D

The guy at WYMT told me they didn't have the capability yet to do HD with Raycom. I guess it requires some upgrade/capital. Maybe soon.

Sam

Do you think the D* WTVQ LiL green pixelation and audio dropouts will be corrected in NOV when they switch? I'm thinking of "moving" to NY

Sam

Do you think the D* WTVQ LiL green pixelation and audio dropouts will be corrected in NOV when they switch? I'm thinking of "moving" to NY

What kind of change is going on with D* in November w/ the lexington locals?

for help with what kind of antenna to get / where the towers are use tvfool.com

Sam

Do you think the D* WTVQ LiL green pixelation and audio dropouts will be corrected in NOV when they switch? I'm thinking of "moving" to NY
I agree, what November switch? DirecTV is currently receiving TVQ's (and KYTs, and DKYs, etc) DTV signal, but they're downconverting before sending to colorado.

Someone commented that they are getting their studios ready for HD in Nov.

Someone commented that they are getting their studios ready for HD in Nov.
Ahhh... assuming the "green pixelization" problem only affect D*, then TVQ's switch to HD studios won't change/fix that. TVQ is broadcasting a DTV signal. D* receives that signal, fibers it to Colorado, and then puts it up n satellite. The November switch by TVQ would only change local origination (ie: newscasts). My understanding is the pixelization also affects network (which TVQ is passing in HD), so no, that won't fix the problem. Sorry.

I thought it had cleared up. I hadn't seen it in a couple of days. But today is worse than ever. Wild!

A follow up: I once again recorded OTA Supernatural last night (622 Dish) and once again the sound cuts in and out between DD and PCM -- most annoying thing ever, and pretty much unwatchable.

I'm watching CW right now and it is staying DD -- but it is an SD program (one of those Judge whomever shows) so I'm not sure if this is indicative of a CW / program / hardware problem or what.

Is anyone else seeing this issue? I only watch Supernatural on CW so this is the only show I have to go by. I'm going to try recording through my other two options (a 2nd 622 and then a Window's Media system recording from an HDHomeRun) next Thursday to see if it is the OTA source for me, or the system.

Note this is the only OTA show (of maybe 10 or so a week) that does this -- but again it is the only CW show I watch/record (although the final moments of Smallville which precede Supernatural were showing the same audio issue)

It was fine from WBKI ... apparently WDKY on 27.2 and KET on xx.3-HD are using some setting(s) that are causing DVRs from both satellite companies to glitch in one or several ways. OTOH, I don't see the problems on my standalone ATSC receiver.Any idea what setting that is and if there is anything I can do about it on my end? Again I've not tried the other 622/HomeRunHD yet so I'm not sure if this is isolated to a single receiver in my house or not -- I'll try them next Thursday.

Any idea what setting that is and if there is anything I can do about it on my end?

Sorry ... I'm clueless on this one. For now, my only workaround is to watch CW (and KET-HD) stuff live from the standalone receiver.

What HD channels come with Basic Cable?

I have digital cable with cablecards, and when I take out the cards I still get a few HD channels, but I don't know if that is because I have the digital package, or whether I would get those channels even if I had basic.

The reason that I ask is that my digital package promotion is over and I'm trying to decide whether or not it is worth it to keep.

Sorry ... I'm clueless on this one. For now, my only workaround is to watch CW (and KET-HD) stuff live from the standalone receiver.

I record the entire stream on my good, old MyHD MDP-120 HD capture board and then use HDTVToMPEG2 to separate CBS from CW. Oddly enough I cannot watch them with MyHD on that PC after recording or after separation (video is jerky, audio stutters horribly), but the files play fine on my MCE 2005 PC to the HDTV and old 5.1 receiver I use. So I record Smallville, but am also capturing Survivor at the same time. and then separate them out, edit commercials and watch on the other PC running Media Center. The other option is to watch CWKYT live. It's when you try to get 'fancy' and record just one subchannel (and not both) that the sound gets wonky. Maybe newer cards and receivers handle what WKYT is doing for multicasting two HD shows at the same time, but not any of my equipment is too friendly about it unless watching live.

I record the entire stream on my good, old MyHD MDP-120 HD capture board and then use HDTVToMPEG2 to separate CBS from CW. Oddly enough I cannot watch them with MyHD on that PC after recording or after separation (video is jerky, audio stutters horribly), but the files play fine on my MCE 2005 PC to the HDTV and old 5.1 receiver I use. So I record Smallville, but am also capturing Survivor at the same time. and then separate them out, edit commercials and watch on the other PC running Media Center. The other option is to watch CWKYT live. It's when you try to get 'fancy' and record just one subchannel (and not both) that the sound gets wonky. Maybe newer cards and receivers handle what WKYT is doing for multicasting two HD shows at the same time, but not any of my equipment is too friendly about it unless watching live.

Interesting ... actually the receiver that works for me is vintage 2002, a couple of years older than the DVR. I'm starting to think that it's probably a resource issue (as in not enough buffer memory being allocated.) But that's just a wild guess.

Interesting ... actually the receiver that works for me is vintage 2002, a couple of years older than the DVR. I'm starting to think that it's probably a resource issue (as in not enough buffer memory being allocated.) But that's just a wild guess.

I think my MyHD MDP-120 card has a 2nd gen tuner in it. It has always been slow for MyHD to tune the KET channels too. A developer for Macro Image Technology actually looked into it for me and identified it was something KET was doing with the stream and they could not change the code to accommodate (without causing issues for every other channel). He didn't give specifics, but I wonder if WKYT is deviating from some standard for running two HD feeds on the same stream.

I think my MyHD MDP-120 card has a 2nd gen tuner in it. It has always been slow for MyHD to tune the KET channels too. A developer for Macro Image Technology actually looked into it for me and identified it was something KET was doing with the stream and they could not change the code to accommodate (without causing issues for every other channel). He didn't give specifics, but I wonder if WKYT is deviating from some standard for running two HD feeds on the same stream.

I never heard a thing from Macro Image Technology, there are samples available for receiver manufacturers to test their units with our stream if they desire. I've had our stream checked by everyone I can think of and we pass everytime.

William

Feel free to jump for joy.

The FCC today issued an NPRM for WDKY-DT's request to move to channel 31. This means that there's now a 30-day window during which the public can file comments, and if no comments are received, the FCC will grant the channel change at some point soon after that comment period ends.

Of course, comments can be filed in favor of it without delaying the proceeding. If anyone's interested, the comments have to be mailed (as in paper and envelope) and I can provide instructions on how to do so.

- Trip

Here's the FCC WDKY Ch 31 NPRM :

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-08-1499A1.pdf

See paragraph 6 and the appendix for more info on filing comments ....

Feel free to jump for joy.

The FCC today issued an NPRM for WDKY-DT's request to move to channel 31. This means that there's now a 30-day window during which the public can file comments, and if no comments are received, the FCC will grant the channel change at some point soon after that comment period ends.

Of course, comments can be filed in favor of it without delaying the proceeding. If anyone's interested, the comments have to be mailed (as in paper and envelope) and I can provide instructions on how to do so.

- Trip

Sorry, I don't know what this means. What is the benefit of moving it to channel 31?

Also, my cousin who lives in Lexington (I live in Harrodsburg) said that he got a bunch of new HD channels yesterday. He is up to 38 HD channels. He has TWC digital cable. Wondering if anyone else had a change?

It means the FCC is close to letting WDKY-DT move from channel 4 to channel 31.

Benefits include no more dropouts during lightning, no more destroyed signal when electrical devices are used, and no more gigantic antennas required to receive it.

- Trip

It means the FCC is close to letting WDKY-DT move from channel 4 to channel 31.

Benefits include no more dropouts during lightning, no more destroyed signal when electrical devices are used, and no more gigantic antennas required to receive it.

- Trip

Thanks. I have digital cable so I am not up to speed on OTA stuff.

WOO HOO! No more gigantic antenna! Hope it gets approved...

Not to mention the power level at 1MW!
Currently on ch 4 they are at 26kw. Ch 31@1000kw will be a little better coverage....

WOO HOO! No more gigantic antenna! Hope it gets approved...

Not to mention the power level at 1MW!
Currently on ch 4 they are at 26kw. Ch 31@1000kw will be a little better coverage.... VHF frequencies need much less power to cover the same area... you can't compare those numbers.

I wish the other Lexington stations would increase their power.

I bought the VIP 306 and it works great for WDKY and WKYT. Since WDKY is on a tower 10 miles closer to our location in Laurel Co. than the other stations, I suspect we will have no issues with its move to 31. However, WLEX and WTVQ can be spotty and usually only come in at night. I am thinking of replacing the 91-XG with a cm4228 and perhaps raising the antenna another 5 feet to see if that improves reception. If I could get the 4228 to work for WKYT since it has some ability with VHF too, I might try pointing the VIP306 towards Knoxville to see if it will work for WBIR.


WOO HOO! No more gigantic antenna! Hope it gets approved...

Not to mention the power level at 1MW!
Currently on ch 4 they are at 26kw. Ch 31@1000kw will be a little better coverage....

Looks like Insight is adding more HD channels...

www.mosthdforfree.com

Sorry if this has already been discussed.

It means the FCC is close to letting WDKY-DT move from channel 4 to channel 31.

Benefits include no more dropouts during lightning, no more destroyed signal when electrical devices are used, and no more gigantic antennas required to receive it.

- Trip

BUT, their changing over to channel 31 will interfere with Cincinnati WKRC DT-31 which I can pick up here in Winchester from time to time!

WKRC-DT will be on channel 12. Channel 31 will be vacant except for WDKY-DT.

- Trip

WKRC will go back to DT channel 12 in Feb.

This might make for some co-channel interference with WYMT 12 in Hazard but I assume the FCC has looked at this and considers it OK.

WDKY hasn't flipped the switch to go HD yet,today.:mad:

I'm assuming it's related to this.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=14788681&postcount=6034

- Trip

I never heard a thing from Macro Image Technology, there are samples available for receiver manufacturers to test their units with our stream if they desire. I've had our stream checked by everyone I can think of and we pass everytime.

William

Yeah, I'm not blaming you guys. The developer that had an interest in 'fixing it' died. The last response from them years ago (I provided a sample to them) just said they could fix it, but it would break the product for every other single station in the country. Don't think I ever got a reply asking for further explanation. It's an old product now and newer tuner cards don't have the difficulty, so I just dropped asking them. The card does tune the subchannels.. just ultra slow to tune onto them and off of them whereas every other channel in the area is zippy quick. That never made any sense to me. The card doesn't handle the dual HD of WKYT when they switched CW to HD, so choke it up as a product that has not kept pace with technology.

Sorry ... I'm clueless on this one. For now, my only workaround is to watch CW (and KET-HD) stuff live from the standalone receiver.

He didn't give specifics, but I wonder if WKYT is deviating from some standard for running two HD feeds on the same stream.

Just a quick follow-up from my efforts in recording OTA CW.

Last Thursday I recorded Supernatural on 2 different 622s as well as on a computer running Windows Vista Media Center recording from a HDHomeRun. As expected the HDHomeRun worked fine and the 622s still had audio issues.

I also spoke to a friend of mine who records Smallville (on a 622 as well) and he has had the exact same problems with audio drop outs. One other thing he noticed was that the 622 watching a show on CW live didn't have the problem, it was only a PVRed recording that would have the drop outs. I've not encountered this myself (I watch almost no live TV.. ever).

A very odd situation -- one that I'm not sure who to contact to resolve. I hesitate to call Dish, I'm sure they are going to blame the provider -- and I'm not 100% sure who here locally in Lex to call.

Anyone know a good place to submit a problem description to at KYT/CW?

p.s. Dish has a 722 on the way to me (hopefully I get it in tomorrow) -- I'm curious to see if it has the same issue at the 622.

WKRC-DT will be on channel 12. Channel 31 will be vacant except for WDKY-DT.

- TripAnd Channel 4 will be vacant except for WHBF in Moline IL :mad:

And Channel 4 will be vacant except for WHBF in Moline IL :mad:

Actually, KSNB-DT in Superior, NE is trying to get relocated from DT-34 to DT-04. That's the kind of stupidity that occurs when a bank is put in charge of a TV station.

- Trip

Actually, KSNB-DT in Superior, NE is trying to get relocated from DT-34 to DT-04. That's the kind of stupidity that occurs when a bank is put in charge of a TV station.

- Trip

I have a slightly used Harris Platinum transmitter that will do 3.5KW of channel 4-DT with an Apex exciter that we expect to be available shortly after 2/18/2009. We can throw in a Dielectric cold fusion harmonic filter (that I nearly cut in half thinking it was 1 5/8" transmission line), a Dielectric channel 4 mask filter, a 5000w load, 1 5/8" coaxial patch panel, 1100' 3" transmission line (Dielectric; 50 ohm; includes hangers), a 3" gas barrier, 1 5/8" to 3" transition, 3" to N transition. and a Dielectric panel antenna with a peak gain of 9.2dB (with respect to half wave dipole). Easily transportable to Nebraska.

Edit:

Transmitter only installed twice. Once by a crew from Harris, once by a couple WDKY engineers about a week before some February football game. We did clean it up a bit after the rush install job, and yes, we did have Harris proof the transmitter after we installed it both times.

So after february, will you be changing your moniker to "HDTV31usinky"?

:)

Well I get parts of why a station might want to be on DT-04. Like the power bill. A $10K power bill is tough to swallow in this economy. The NE station was analog 4, so there are actual VHF antennas installed and pointed at the transmitter. So it might work out in NE. It's not like they have a million people watching their station. I figure a $10K power bill in Lexington works out to a few cents per month per OTA household. In Superior NE it might work out to several dollars a month per OTA household. Add in the expense of a purchasing and maintaining two tube transmitter. It's getting tight in broadcast television. Advertising has more outlets, the economy sucks, tv people really fear for their jobs. It might be a situation where they have a positive ROI on channel 4 and negative on 34. If a bank is running things and the ROI is negative, they just might close up shop. Poor channel 4 DT is better than no Fox affiliate at all. Just my 2 cents :)

So after february, will you be changing your moniker to "HDTV31usinky"?

:)


funny!

Well I get parts of why a station might want to be on DT-04. Like the power bill. A $10K power bill is tough to swallow in this economy. The NE station was analog 4, so there are actual VHF antennas installed and pointed at the transmitter. So it might work out in NE. It's not like they have a million people watching their station. I figure a $10K power bill in Lexington works out to a few cents per month per OTA household. In Superior NE it might work out to several dollars a month per OTA household. Add in the expense of a purchasing and maintaining two tube transmitter. It's getting tight in broadcast television. Advertising has more outlets, the economy sucks, tv people really fear for their jobs. It might be a situation where they have a positive ROI on channel 4 and negative on 34. If a bank is running things and the ROI is negative, they just might close up shop. Poor channel 4 DT is better than no Fox affiliate at all. Just my 2 cents :)

Nobody's going to be able to see 3 kW on channel 4. Especially not during a storm, when people might need to see it.

- Trip

If they are requesting 3kw ERP wow..... not much. Still better than closing up shop. But an exciter and IPA would be all they need. Forget about needing to have a broadcast engineer on staff. It wouldn't take much more than 6-10 RUs for the entire transmitter :)

3.5kW tpo not erp... well that's what I'm selling. If they are requesting 3kw ERP wow..... not much. Still better than closing up shop

They want 3 kW ERP. Claims it'll cover more than the analog does now.

- Trip

They want 3 kW ERP. Claims it'll cover more than the analog does now.

- Trip

last "off topic" post, I promise. If they want to go that route (low-v), they need to request the maximum that their engineering consultant thinks the FCC will allow. It doesn't cost that much more to broadcast 26 kW of DT-04. A little more up front, but not enough to justify using peanut power. Wasn't their UHF CP for 1MW? 3kW of channel 4 will not duplicate that. Besides, there will be "used" channel 4 transmitters available shortly. The Harris Platinum transmitter WDKY has uses 15 kW input power, that's $36 a day (@ .10 kWh), and it never breaks. The exciter is a different story (it breaks), but you need that in any case. In the winter the transmitter will even heat a couple thousand square feet for basically free. If they are going to do this they should do it right.

Here's what happened (maybe), someone that is running the station (maybe a bank officer) asked the consultant to duplicate their current analog contour as cheaply as possible, and the consultant delivered exactly what they asked. I guess I should read their OTA thread, call their engineers and plead with them to look into the light :) Nobody received channel 4 in Lexington until after it went full power from Clay's Ferry.

Glad WTVQ is finally going to go HD at the end of the month!! Noticed that they torn down their 15 year old news set over the weekend.

Glad WTVQ is finally going to go HD at the end of the month!! Noticed that they torn down their 15 year old news set over the weekend.

Take the set pieces and setup your very own newsroom at your house. ;)

last "off topic" post, I promise. If they want to go that route (low-v), they need to request the maximum that their engineering consultant thinks the FCC will allow. It doesn't cost that much more to broadcast 26 kW of DT-04. A little more up front, but not enough to justify using peanut power. Wasn't their UHF CP for 1MW? 3kW of channel 4 will not duplicate that. Besides, there will be "used" channel 4 transmitters available shortly. The Harris Platinum transmitter WDKY has uses 15 kW input power, that's $36 a day (@ .10 kWh), and it never breaks. The exciter is a different story (it breaks), but you need that in any case. In the winter the transmitter will even heat a couple thousand square feet for basically free. If they are going to do this they should do it right.

Here's what happened (maybe), someone that is running the station (maybe a bank officer) asked the consultant to duplicate their current analog contour as cheaply as possible, and the consultant delivered exactly what they asked. I guess I should read their OTA thread, call their engineers and plead with them to look into the light :) Nobody received channel 4 in Lexington until after it went full power from Clay's Ferry.

Three things on the exciter...

1. It must have the correct RF level for the RTAC.

2. You will have to re-bias the driver as it ages.

3. Check the UPS that protects the exciter.

William


William

Take the set pieces and setup your very own newsroom at your house. ;)

LoL! Nice, but it would be an embarrassment to my house.

LoL! Nice, but it would be an embarrassment to my house.

No worse than the old WDKY news set. I remember the echo in the acoustics on that set.

Lexington, KY is now the largest DMA in the USA to not have HD locals for DIRECTV, whats the deal, when are the coming, why the delay, anyone have some inside info on the subject, (such as somebody from one of the local networks?)


HD locals by DMA

http://members.cox.net/oknewshawk/DTV_LIL_DMA.html



Upcoming cities (Lexington, not even on the list!!!)

http://directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=3620002

Lexington, KY is now the largest DMA in the USA to not have HD locals for DIRECTV, whats the deal, when are the coming, why the delay, anyone have some inside info on the subject, (such as somebody from one of the local networks?)

Rumor has it that one or more of the local stations may be holding out for more than D* is willing to pay.

Pretty good read here for people interested in the digital transition ....
http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/560647.html

No mention of WDKY trying to get moved to 31. That's a big oversight since they are telling people they need new antennas, and 13 can usually be picked up with a UHF antenna anyway.

Digital signals are radio waves too...

They just carry 1s and 0s instead of audio and video.

- Trip

For those of you experiencing problems getting WTVQ on DirecTV... DirecTV swapped out their 'TVQ receiver Saturday morning. This is at least the third if not the fourth receiver installed for TVQ.

Apparently this switch was prompted by viewer complaints.

I too have Directv and can't believe Lex doesn't have locals in HD yet. I read on another forum regarding it being the fault or perhaps a "local" station not willing to agree, however I called them wanting to know why they didn't have an agreement to go to HD on Direct and they all said they do!

I agree Mark.. I'm not sure why they are dragging their feet with Lexington locals...

Someone will have to post some screenshots of TVQ 36's HD Newscast tomorrow. I just moved to Louisville over the weekend, and I won't get to see how it looks. Hopefully their picture won't be "washed out". WAVE 3 is the only one here that has local HD. That stinks! :(

heads up for those of you with DVRs

Fox announced a schedule change

Tuesday, 11/25:
*8:00pm HOUSE (O) (OTO) (67 min.)
*9:07pm FRINGE (O) (OTO) (Slide – ends at 10:07pm)

I heard an advertisement on 104.5 The CAT radio this morning that WTVQ was going HD with the news this evening. I'll try to capture something.

EDIT: Sorry.. forgot to record it. :(

I just noticed Jeopardy is in HD on WKYT. When did this finally happen? I didn't notice if Wheel of Fortune was in HD yet.

I just noticed Jeopardy is in HD on WKYT. When did this finally happen? I didn't notice if Wheel of Fortune was in HD yet.

Yep both in HD ... probably as of this (last) Monday, but I don't know for sure. I'm usually trying to cut into the DVR backlog from 7-8pm.

FYI, Info on WDKY's PRM for Channel change to 31 was published in Federal Register On Monday, October 20 -- It begins near bottom/middle of page 2 :

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-24911.pdf

So, we have actual dates for the end of comment period, now :


DATES: Comments must be filed on or before November 19, 2008, and reply
comments on or before December 4, 2008.

WTVQ-DT 36.2 is picking up the My Network TV, since nobody can get WBLU-LP 62. Just wonder if they will do like WKYT and make both 36.1 and 36.2 both HD.

http://www.kentucky.com/101/story/576026.html

Just wonder if they will do like WKYT and make both 36.1 and 36.2 both HD.

Great ;) At this rate, I'll be down to only 1.5 watchable "local" stations (2 if WDKY gets Ch31.) I guess the "good" news is that WHAS-DT is moving back to Ch11.

KET not included. :)

PS: WBKI had audio issues Thursday, so I was forced to watch Smallville and Supernatural from CWKYT ... I have no words to describe the horror I witnessed.

2 things:

1. Is there any push for WKYT (CBS) to stop downrezzing their programming from 1080i to 720p? I've always wondered why this channel never looked quite as good as some of the other locals, and was reading that they were downrezzing their signal in order to conserve bandwidth for the CW, so I guess that is why.

2. Has anyone else noticed that during certain programming (I've mostly noticed this on sports programming) on WTVQ (ABC) the picture starts out of focus and slowly comes into focus; then, if they switch cameras, the same thing occurs again, etc.? I used to think it was my TV, but then noticed the same thing watching a football game at a friend's house the other day. Also, it has done this with both Insight HD and now with OTA HD now that I have D*, so it's not the reception method. Not sure if this is an ABC issue or a WTVQ issue.

^^^
1. WKYT doesn't care about PQ. They are raking in the $$$$, and they have a captive audience, therefore there is no incentive for them to change their ways.

2. Both ... there have been encoder issues with ABC and their affiliates from day 1.

So is WDKY still analog in Lexington? I just got an OTA antenna and all channels come in great, but WDKY FOX is analog.

So is WDKY still analog in Lexington?

New around these parts, hey? :)

WDKY (digital) is on Channel 4 ... you'll need a big honkin' VHF antenna to pick it up with any degree of reliability.

PS: If you search through this thread, you'll find numerous posts on the subject.

I've lived here in Lexington for 12 yrs. But I've never had the need for OTA so just recently interested in it :). I don't have a big honkin antenna, just a cheap indoor antenna and I'm getting everything clearly except WDKY which only picks up analog. :(

2. Has anyone else noticed that during certain programming (I've mostly noticed this on sports programming) on WTVQ (ABC) the picture starts out of focus and slowly comes into focus; then, if they switch cameras, the same thing occurs again, etc.? I used to think it was my TV, but then noticed the same thing watching a football game at a friend's house the other day. Also, it has done this with both Insight HD and now with OTA HD now that I have D*, so it's not the reception method. Not sure if this is an ABC issue or a WTVQ issue.

2. Both ... there have been encoder issues with ABC and their affiliates from day 1.

If it's the same issue as WKRC (CBS affiliate in Cincinnati), it's a setting on the station's encoder called "adaptive filtering" I believe. I also believe it should be turned off to fix the problem.

If it's the same issue as WKRC (CBS affiliate in Cincinnati), it's a setting on the station's encoder called "adaptive filtering" I believe. I also believe it should be turned off to fix the problem.

Yep that's part of it. Of course, the weather/soon-to-be-MyNetwork sub-channel probably doesn't help much. I usually don't notice it much except during sports programming.

I've lived here in Lexington for 12 yrs. But I've never had the need for OTA so just recently interested in it :). I don't have a big honkin antenna, just a cheap indoor antenna and I'm getting everything clearly except WDKY which only picks up analog. :(
Make sure the antenna will work with VHF... that's probably your problem. And you don't need a "big honkin'" antenna, but you might need to move your antenna higher.

Thanks. I have a couple of questions. On WTVQ, when they run the crawl the picture goes from HD to SD and looks terrible. But when WLEX runs the crawl, it stays in HD. WHY? Also, Some of the daytime shows that are broadcast in HD, like Price is Right, it's actually in HD, but Oprah isn't even though it is broadcast in HD. Also, I was flipping through the guide, Young and Restless says HD, but it isn't in showing up in HD either. Is it just up to these stations?

Thanks. I have a couple of questions. On WTVQ, when they run the crawl the picture goes from HD to SD and looks terrible. But when WLEX runs the crawl, it stays in HD. WHY? It comes down to what equipment the station is using to switch the main feed... WLEX has a complete HD switcher & HD Character generator that allows everything to stay HD. I'm guessing WTVQ's 'HD' switcher is just a straight, cuts-only switcher and doesn't allow the interface of graphics... so in order to do crawls/election returns/etc, they need to go back to their SD switcher and then upconvert that signal.


Also, Some of the daytime shows that are broadcast in HD, like Price is Right, it's actually in HD, but Oprah isn't even though it is broadcast in HD. Also, I was flipping through the guide, Young and Restless says HD, but it isn't in showing up in HD either. Is it just up to these stations?Although syndicated shows might be produced and sent out to stations in HD, that doesn't mean the stations have a) an HD satellite receiver to receive the show and/or b) a way to "store" the show in HD.

Hope this helps.

Interesting development for Dish network Lexington HD Locals....

According to this satguys link (http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-network-uplink-center/154083-uplink-activity-report-11-6-2008-1-02am-16-changes.html) most of the HD channels have been uplinked (but are not available) to their 77W location. This location is not one of their standard locations but uses a new Eastern Arc dish (to point to 61.5/72.7/77 locations).

What is interesting is I have not seen Lexington mentioned ever as an UPCOMING LAUNCH location or mentioned as an Eastern Arc location (http://www.multichannel.com/blog/350000435/post/1480033948.html).

Talked with rep in Directv's Retention area today. Asked if she had any info on when they would be delivering local HD for Lexington that had not been made public. She checked and said that her area had no information about when Lex. might be in line. Disappointing!

WTVQ is using their .2 subchannel to show wrestling right now, so I guess the "My Network TV" channel is running now. I'm actually disappointed.. I tuned in to see what the weather was going to be. I'm going to miss that. :(

It is 704X480P @ 29.97fps
Not sure about bitrate, but the image looks not-so-great

i know some of you dont get local or distant but i sort of like having NY stations since i have been grandfathered in,
i hope they take their time.

I noticed WKYT and the CW Lexington rebroadcast shows Oprah in HD, but WHAS in Louisville doesn't! Same with WAVE in Louisville, they show Ellen in SD, WLEX shows it in HD.

I noticed WKYT and the CW Lexington rebroadcast shows Oprah in HD, but WHAS in Louisville doesn't! Same with WAVE in Louisville, they show Ellen in SD, WLEX shows it in HD.
From my understanding, WHAS has *NO* HD capability other than what network sends. WAVE's HD capability is four cameras, a scan converter, and some graphics. Their news pieces, although 16x9 are still SD.

WKYT/CW & WLEX have full blown HD stations... can record, store, & playback HD content. The news stories (with some exceptions) are also HD.

i know some of you dont get local or distant but i sort of like having NY stations since i have been grandfathered in,
i hope they take their time.

There's always FTA, at least til Nagra-3 is deployed across the board on DN. Not advocating it, just saying...

From my understanding, WHAS has *NO* HD capability other than what network sends. WAVE's HD capability is four cameras, a scan converter, and some graphics. Their news pieces, although 16x9 are still SD.

WKYT/CW & WLEX have full blown HD stations... can record, store, & playback HD content. The news stories (with some exceptions) are also HD.

After I posted this I did some research and found on this forum people throughout the country posting whether "Oprah" was in HD on their local. It's amazing how many large city local stations can't broadcast the syndicated shows in HD. I never knew what was involved in making this happen until researching it. Can't wait til D* adds Lexington locals, since all stations are HD OTA!! To think all Lexington news broadcasts are HD and Louisville isn't! Funny.

Interesting development for Dish network Lexington HD Locals....

According to this satguys link (http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-network-uplink-center/154083-uplink-activity-report-11-6-2008-1-02am-16-changes.html) most of the HD channels have been uplinked (but are not available) to their 77W location. This location is not one of their standard locations but uses a new Eastern Arc dish (to point to 61.5/72.7/77 locations).

What is interesting is I have not seen Lexington mentioned ever as an UPCOMING LAUNCH location or mentioned as an Eastern Arc location (http://www.multichannel.com/blog/350000435/post/1480033948.html).

Anyone know anything else on this?

Booker Noe - there is a little more info.

According to this link (http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-network-forum/154264-new-ea-markets-nov-19-a.html) November 19th is the turn on date. They have also uploaded Louisville and Cincy just today according to this link (http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-network-uplink-center/154504-uplink-activity-report-11-10-2008-1-02pm-228-changes.html).

Also, this Eastern Arc setup - in general - is supposed to be for new subs only (until February I believe). But I am a bit unclear how they treat cities that are defined as Eastern Arc cities (such as what we will be on 11/19). I am sure we can be upgraded but I am not sure what the upgrade price is. You should either be able to add a single dish pointing to 77W or replace the current dish with a new one they have named 1000.4 that is made to point at the 61.5/72.7/77 locations.

WTVQ is using their .2 subchannel to show wrestling right now, so I guess the "My Network TV" channel is running now. I'm actually disappointed.. I tuned in to see what the weather was going to be. I'm going to miss that. :(

It is 704X480P @ 29.97fps
Not sure about bitrate, but the image looks not-so-great

Weather is back on 36.2! :)

yea it is nice to have the weather on 36.2.....but they need to update the loop more often. I hate to tune in to see lets say the current weather for example....Lets say it is 10 pm and have to watch a loop of the forecast for Today. When it is 10 pm it is not today it is Tonight or this evening and you do not need to watch a 8am loop all of the way thru to 10 pm they can back it upto 9pm then proceed to the current time of 10 pm why watch a loop or a forecast or a loop of a storm that is already moved thru and is already up into Penn., or into W.Va. or Va. why watch the past when they need to update more often and stay current more often.
Also the blurriness has always been there on 36. As far as I can ever remember 20 or so years or maybe longer. I remember watching He-man back in the 80's (83 and 84) and it was blurry then. You think they would of caught on by now and fix the problem. maybe they are tighter than bark on a tree in spending money to update their equipment. I went thru several Tv's over those years and it is still blurry. And even when I watched TV at my neighbors house it was blurry then as well. So I ruled out it was not my TV or reception. Cable, Antenna, Directv, or Dish or etc.

Looks as unless you are new customer you will not be getting the HD locals in Lexington anytime soon since they are pointed at a different sat.

I see where Echostar 11 is shown in the 110 degree orbit...If this is true then yes we might but unless this is a typo or a mistake who knows??? Everyone else says 61.5 degrees. Who knows who is wrong or right?

Echostar 11 is at 110, Echostar 3 is at 61.5. lyngsat.com can tell you what is where.

Haven't seen anyone else mention it yet, WKYT is finally airing Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! in HD. Kudos to them.