Originally posted by tokerblue
Is anyone else having a problem receiving WGGB (40-1)? I've been getting blank screen for the last week or so even though I've been getting a signal between 40%-63%. I wasn't really concerned about it since the channel wasn't HD, but now I'm just curious. Just checked on my HiPix computer setup - a channel scan didn't find it ... I manually added channel 55 and it did come up with 40.1 but there is no signal level on the software tuning bar ... maybe back to low power?

After reading these forums for the past two months, I finally pulled the trigger to step up to HDTV. Locally purchased Sony KDF55WF655 hooked up to Comcast Cable (Holyoke) STB Motorola DCT5100. Signal split, one side directly to TV, other side to STB, STB to TV by component. Sony DVD-NS975a connected to TV by HDMI. Viewing range 7-10ft. Calibrated with AVIA (to my ability, intend to redo in a month). My PQ varies greatly from channel to channel and, being a newbie, I wonder if my experiences are typical or if I have done something wrong, or some equipment may be faulty (cable box?). My impressions:
INHD, INHD2, and Discovery HD have excellent PQ;
NFL playoffs on both Fox and CBS were excellent PQ, (some audio dropout in NE/Pitts game);
ESPN-HD is excellent when showing fullscreen HD, but blurry with ghosts and jagged edges when showing clips inside of "HD" pillars;
Local channels 3 (CBS) and 22 (NBC) when broadcast in HD are v.good but not the same PQ as INHD, etc, a little soft;
SD ranges from poor to acceptable PQ depending on the channel, with the lower numbered channels especially poor, with ghosts and jagged edges, screen door effect; watchable but looks worse than my 21" 12yo Toshiba. 40 (ABC) is particularly poor (and no HD yet). Watching golf on 40 was poor, ghosts on golf shafts and lack or detail. Note: no big differeence in PQ through TV tuner or STB.
DVD excellent.

I'm aware that RPLCD's have limitations and the size of the Sony may magnify the issues such as screen door effect, but the huge range of PQ has me wondering if this is just a consequence of the sources being poor or I am missing something. Anybody have similar experiences? Thanks, if this is the wrong thread, let me know, have not posted before.

One thing is how the show is taped. INHD shoots on video tape NBC and CBS when not a live show shoot on film. Video will always have that super sharp look, while film has that soft contrasty look. Cable since its still using analog, channels under 200 look like, hate to say it but look like crap. They will start digital simulcast of those analog channels so picture quality should go up. There has been some rumbling about WGGB going HD but who knows.

Originally posted by ethelred
Sony KDF55WF655 hooked up to Comcast Cable (Holyoke) STB Motorola DCT5100.
Signal split, one side directly to TV, other side to STB,
STB to TV by component.
Sony DVD-NS975a connected to TV by HDMI.
I'm not familiar with the Motorola STB that Comcast is using ... but in my opinion, these are the order of preference for monitor connections in decreasing quality: HDMI, Y Pb PR, s-video, composite ... and do I dare mention RF?! :)

A DVD typically does not have as much resolution as an ATSC broadcast. WWLP-DT 22.1 is transmitting at 16.5 mbps whilst a DVD may be in the 6 to 8 mbps rate. (And when NBC is sending HD programming the rate the affiliates get exceeds what the ATSC standard will allow.) But you may be watching a progressive scan versus interlaced output? I'm also not familiar with that Sony set - so don't know what its native resolution is.

Comcast receives WWLP-DT (and other ATSC stations) and puts them up on its plant unmodified: you should not notice or see any difference between 822 on the cable and 22.1 (RF channel 11) off air.

Some of the other things you mention - like ESPN-HD artifacts when watching programming that's really just 4:3 standard def material ... may be artifacts introduced in the upconvert. (I don't have access to that to really say from a first-hand observation.)

As for comparing WWLP-DT and WFSB-DT to INHD: what ralfy mentioned may apply here. Check out NBC programs like Las Vegas - from my memory that one seems to be pretty good with the HD quality. (I don't know what its source material is - but there's a lot of post production computer effects which leads me to believe its video and not film - maybe check elsewhere on the AVS forums!)

On the low band cable analog channels: sounds like you either have weak signal and/or interference. New set have tuner? Try comparing some of the off-air analog stations with the equiv on the cable. I wouldn't hesitate getting the cable company to check things out if the picture quality is generally degraded over a range of channels - could be something in the cable drop, wiring or even in their plant.

Not sure what the situation with WGGB-DT is ... I think around 7 Jan 2005 they increased their power (albeit just 4:3 format transmissions) but as from some time recently I'm not receiving it.

Welcome to the forum!

ralfy1, thanks, I agree the cable channels under 200 are worse, and in general "look like crap". Interestingly, animation programs look much better than "real" programs. Guess that's due to the vivid coloration? Guess we'll have to "bang the monkey" to get WGGB to get on the ball. Don't like Sinclair anyway, just wish someone else had all the golf.

RPM, thanks for the welcome. Sorry to say, I don't watch a lot of network TV, but you are right, when I have looked at prime time network shows the quality is much better. The new set does have a tuner, and that's why I split the cable signal, but I don't see much difference. Sony says the TV tuner is "better" than the STB tuner. I don't have an antenna, so no OTA to compare it to. I'm down in the valley next to the river so I'm not sure an indoor antenna will produce much of a signal. The reason I used the HDMI for the DVD and Y Pb Pr for the TV is that the Comcast STB has a DVI output, not HDMI, while the DVD has HDMI. I'm not sure if that makes it correct, but it made sense to me. Even though I use a Receiver most of the time, sometimes I use the TV audio.

Again, thanks for your help. This forum has to be one of the most helpful sites I've ever found thanks to people like you.

Originally posted by ethelred
ralfy1, thanks, I agree the cable channels under 200 are worse, and in general "look like crap".I'm not sure of the Comcast lineup ... but in general remember that the analog channel assignments on cable systems are not totally in ascending frequency order - meaning that frequency wise you've got 2-6 and then others then 7-13 and additional channels. Typically at some point there's a cut-off between the analog and digital channels ... and a digital cable STB takes care of decoding the digital channels ... which may be known by things like 88.2 88.3 88.4 or 107.17 107.21 etc. to friendly channel numbers like the two or three digit values you see on the STB.

Subjectively - how do the digital cable channels (higher numbers) look compared to the standard definition analog channels? I'm not on the same cable provider that you are ... but I think many of the digital channels look pretty good, as good as the analog channels. But in some cases I think some of the digital channels are probably allocated less bandwidth than what they should be optimally allocated based on content.The new set does have a tuner, and that's why I split the cable signal, but I don't see much difference. Sony says the TV tuner is "better" than the STB tuner. I don't have an antenna, so no OTA to compare it to. I'm down in the valley next to the river so I'm not sure an indoor antenna will produce much of a signal.You may be surprised. You should get a whopping signal from WWLP-DT which is running full power (albeit maybe some multi-path problems). WGBY-DT should be easy to pull in as well ... and quite possibly WFSB-DT which is also at high power. If you've got an old loop and/or rabbit ear antenna (from old TV?!) around ... give it a try - you may be surprised! (And it would be a good way to do an honest A/B comparison.)

As for your hookup - yes, sorry - I should have included the DVI as well. Gads ... too many ways to connect things these days! Sounds like you've got the most optimal way to connect everything up. One last idea: if you're having quality issues with some of the (lower, analog) channels ... remove the splitter and directly connect to one or the other tuner choices. That should remove a few dB's loss that you get by using the splitter.

The digital channels on Comcast start at 200, and kinda strange some look much better than others. Bandwidth most likely the issue as RPM said. They do look like my Directv channels, which is pretty good. Guess we have another Jim Rome listener here, nice ( more like donkeys over at WGGB). RPM is right you can get WWLP with a fork 500 feet underground. Funny the other day I saw a commercial on WGGB, with the WGGB logo, saying how easy it was to receive local HD over the air, and that it was free. Wonder if they know that they dont even offer HD, if it had said digital that would have been ok but it did say HD. Oh well maybe before next Superbowl they will do something.

seems to me that like directv, cable digital channels vary in quality based on the compression used on the channel. and it seems that the 'low rent' channels [fit tv anyone] are the worst while stuff like espn and the premium movie channels are the best.

I can't seem to get WWLP-HD anymore, what happened? I deleted it and rescan my channels a few times, still doesnt get it, the signal is very weak, like 10%. I am in Granby, MA, used to be able to get it without any problem, good thing I can still get channel 30 from CT.

Originally posted by richardyc
I can't seem to get WWLP-HD anymore, what happened? I deleted it and rescan my channels a few times, still doesnt get it, the signal is very weak, like 10%. I am in Granby, MA, used to be able to get it without any problem, good thing I can still get channel 30 from CT. When did the problem start happening? If you'd like, private message me and I can hook up with you off-line.

Anyone having luck with WGGB (40-1)?

Originally posted by tokerblue
Anyone having luck with WGGB (40-1)?

Although it currently is a black screen with 0% signal strength on my receiver, this station has come in at 72% a few times over the last week. If my memory is correct, they stretch the picture on their local news rather than have sidebars.

With my receiver, any channel that registers less than 75% on the signal strength meter (which is briefly superimposed over the picture when a channel is selected) is subject to frequent pixelation, freeze frames, and audio hiccups.

I've got two STB type tuners (one of the oldest, one of the newest) and two computer systems with HiPix cards in them and I can't get any kind of lock on WGGB-DT. Back in early January (I guess when they increased power?) had no problems getting them at home even with a loop antenna. Anyone able to receive / decode? (Especially with a computer tuner - that may give some better ideas what's going on!)

We've had some equipment fail and hope to have the signal back up shortly. At this point you'll see signal strength, but no picture. We have the equipment in house to get HD pass thru from ABC on the air, but the weather has delayed us.
Jim
Regional Engineering Mgr

WRacer are you in St. Louis or in Western MA? Do you have a timetable for the HD equip being installed. Even though we have all bashed WGGB for lagging behind, we all look forward to having ABC in HD.

I don't know if it has anything to do with the delay but there have been several job postings for various engineering positions at WGGB over the past two months.

Yes, I'm in St. Louis, so some what at a disadvantage as far as helping to get HD on track. Also, yes, we have been without a Chief Engineer which has left us shorthanded. I'm working on getting the SD encoding equipment back on line from here, but the HD project is of a much larger scale. We need to move equipment to the top of Mt. Tom, but have had weather issues in addition to time issues. Don't plan on HD for a month or two.
Jim

FCC Resolves Dual and Multicast Carriage Issues

The FCC resolved two significant issues related to digital cable carriage. The Order:

1) affirms the Commission's tentative conclusion to not impose a "dual carriage" requirement on cable operators (which would have required them to simultaneously carry broadcasters' analog and digital signals), and

2) affirms the Commission's prior determination that cable operators are not required to carry more than a single digital programming stream from any particular broadcaster.

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-256701A1.pdf

---

In summary: cable operators are not required to carry a broadcaster's ATSC channel in addition to their NTSC channel - thus local HD's being on a cable system are at the pleasure of the cable operator. And cable operators are not required to carry multiple sub-channels of a broadcaster's DTV signal.

Could a Springfield area viewer who receives PBS station WGBY-DT over-the-air please confirm that the channel was not broadcasting yesterday evening (Saturday, 2/19) and is not currently (Sunday) transmitting a picture?

I've been getting a black screen with 0% signal strength on all this station's sub-channels since last night. I even had to go into my local digital channel set-up menu yesterday to re-add WGBY-DT because the channel(s) had disappeared from my local channel list. When channels disappear from the guide on my receiver, it sometimes means that the station has temporarily turned off its transmission.

As this channel normally takes longer to lock onto compared to all the other local digitals except WVIT-DT, I'm not sure if my receiver is just having trouble decoding the signal or if the station is, in fact, not currently transmitting a digital feed.

Thank you.

Not sure if this helps but I am getting WGBY-DT right now via Comcast cable. "History Detectives".

Checking the channel at 11:05AM today (Sunday), I notice that WGBY-DT is no longer a black screen; it is now coming in over-the-air with its signal strength mostly fluctuating between 73-80%. But the picture is frequently freezing on one frame for a few seconds; this happens when the signal strength drops to 49%.

Channel 57-01 is showing PBS-HD and Channel 57-02 has a round-table program that has a noticeable audio sync problem.

Thanks, ethelred, for the feedback.

Here is a somewhat strange WWLP HD problem.
I record WWLP using a MYHD MDP-100 PC HD card.
I playback using theatretek 2.0

When WWLP shows it local ads, like for the news and such, and then switches back to the show, the video gets really slow for like 30-40 seconds, and then is fine. You only lose like 4-5 seconds of material in the 30-40 seconds, but it is still quite strange.

Any ideas?

This does not happen during a commerical break when there are only national ads. This does not happen on WFSB, WVIT, or WTNH recordings.

The myHD player ap does not do this, so i guess it could be said it is a theatre tek problem, but it is still strange how this is so reproducable.

Dennis
east longmeadow, ma

Originally posted by db999md
Here is a somewhat strange WWLP HD problem. I record WWLP using a MYHD MDP-100 PC HD card. ... when WWLP shows it local ads, like for the news and such, and then switches back to the show, the video gets really slow for like 30-40 seconds, and then is fine. You only lose like 4-5 seconds of material in the 30-40 seconds, but it is still quite strange. Any ideas?I've actually seen a similar thing on my setup which is quite similar to yours. I've got a HiPix card and record the transport stream ... and have noticed similar issues with the playback around the local breaks. I guess I had written it off to being possibly related to all the freebie software that I'm using with the transport streams ...

Some other people have reported a pop in the audio or mixing of audio when going from local insertion back to NBC HD content. I suspect that the problem both you and I are seeing with the playback of the recorded stream is related to software syncing up the audio and video after the switch. Will look into this further. What is your perception of the audio sync of what you play back? Any difference between local and NBC or NBC HD?

I think that WWLP is always a bit out of sync. I use theatertek to add a "-10" sync correction which generally fixes it.

i really do not watch much SD WWLP.

If you recall, i mentioned the annoyance a few months back where swtiches back from local breaks caused my dolby digital receiver to take a long time to switch back to DD mode from non-Dolby Digital mode. this is a bit improved but not fixed.

If possible you should think about doing ads like WTNH. they send the audio for all ads out on the front 2 channels but keep it in Dolby Digital 5.1 so that audio receivers do not have to switch back and forth.

Dennis


Originally posted by RPMcCormick
I've actually seen a similar thing on my setup which is quite similar to yours. I've got a HiPix card and record the transport stream ... and have noticed similar issues with the playback around the local breaks. I guess I had written it off to being possibly related to all the freebie software that I'm using with the transport streams ...

Some other people have reported a pop in the audio or mixing of audio when going from local insertion back to NBC HD content. I suspect that the problem both you and I are seeing with the playback of the recorded stream is related to software syncing up the audio and video after the switch. Will look into this further. What is your perception of the audio sync of what you play back? Any difference between local and NBC or NBC HD?

Originally posted by WRacer
Yes, I'm in St. Louis, so some what at a disadvantage as far as helping to get HD on track. Also, yes, we have been without a Chief Engineer which has left us shorthanded. I'm working on getting the SD encoding equipment back on line from here, but the HD project is of a much larger scale. We need to move equipment to the top of Mt. Tom, but have had weather issues in addition to time issues. Don't plan on HD for a month or two.
Jim

Is this true? I read it on an HDTV Newsgroup...

"Sinclair has yet again demonstrated their disdain for HD viewers by shutting
down Comcast's carriage of Sinclair DT stations. Apparently Sinclair feels
that they should be paid even more per cable customer to allow cable
carriage of their over-the-air DT service.

Sinclair by the way fought (with Bob of all people) to change the US
modulation standard to COFDM to allow the use of the bandwidth for mobile
data service instead of HDTV.

For the first year of service, Sinclair also ran their WRLH-DT over-the-air
signal here in Richmond from a digitized NTSC signal literally from a pair
of rabbit ears - I am not kidding, providing a SD transmission of a snowy
ghosty picture with fuzzy sound.

I suggest we all take Sinclair's analog stations off our TV channel scan
lists and advise Sinclair of our actions."

No HDTV from WGGB Ever???

Originally posted by jsg2020

I suggest we all take Sinclair's analog stations off our TV channel scan
lists and advise Sinclair of our actions."

No HDTV from WGGB Ever???

Well, you can advise Sinclair/WGGB, but they don't care. I'd advise their advertisers, particularly locals: Balise, Bernie's, Manny's, Gary Rome, etc. Manny's & Bernie's have to know it's hurting their HD sales, but it couldn't hurt to reinforce that you're not watching.

If WGGB actually gets it up and running at this apparently higher power level, I might try a Silver Sensor & ebay OTA box this fall to see if I can pull in college football (hopefully with more HD broadcasts).

In response to repeated inquiries why Comcast cannot (will not?) provide the WTNH HD feed, they have replied that they would need a waiver from WGGB. However, when I suggested that WTNH is "significantly viewed" in Hampden county and hence exempt from network nonduplication rules, they reverted to the boilerplate response everyone gets (working to get, etc....). A reply to an e-mail to WTNH simply stated that Comcast has not negotiated an agreement to carry WTNH HD in Hampden County.

This recent FCC release appears to confirm that WTNH is "significantly viewed" and that such status should allow carriage:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-05-24A1.pdf

So my questions are:
-Is there anything invalid with my interpretation?
-Is anyone (RPM?) aware of the status of negotiations, if any, between Comcast & WTNH?

It would be nice to render WGGB/Sinclair simply irrelevant!

Originally posted by aldujaparov
In response to repeated inquiries why Comcast cannot (will not?) provide the WTNH HD feed, they have replied that they would need a waiver from WGGB. However, when I suggested that WTNH is "significantly viewed" in Hampden county and hence exempt from network nonduplication rules, they reverted to the boilerplate response everyone gets (working to get, etc....). A reply to an e-mail to WTNH simply stated that Comcast has not negotiated an agreement to carry WTNH HD in Hampden County.

This recent FCC release appears to confirm that WTNH is "significantly viewed" and that such status should allow carriage:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-05-24A1.pdf

So my questions are:
-Is there anything invalid with my interpretation?
-Is anyone (RPM?) aware of the status of negotiations, if any, between Comcast & WTNH?Carriage of a broadcaster's HD (or DTV) signal on a cable system is at the pleasure of the cable operator. See one of my previous postings in this thread for the FCC references. There's no FCC mandate that Comcast (or any cable operator) would have to carry WTNH-DT (or anyone else) on their systems ... irrespective of whether the station's analog broadcasts are significantly viewed.

There are lots of other rules - fairly complicated - on the carriage of stations on cable systems. WTNH (analog) puts a pretty good signal over Springfield / Holyoke / Chicopee (but not Northampton and points north). Its presence on Springfield area cable systems could be due to its signal coverage - or even grandfathered due to it being there for many years (before certain milestones and rules were in effect). This is probably akin to why Charter has some of the Boston stations (like WCVB) on its systems in eastern Hampden County ...

I have also heard on a number of occasions over the last year or so that Comcast needs a waiver from WGGB to be able to put WTNH-DT on their system. Any comments regarding what this waiver thing is would only be speculation on my part. It would seem logical that without such a waiver there would be no value in Comcast working on an agreement with WTNH (which may explain the response you got from WTNH).

In Massachusetts cable operators are granted licenses by issuing authorities which is typically the mayor, town manager, BOS, etc. of the municipality you live in. And in most cases - there's a committee or commission that oversees administration of the cable license. You could always consult with them. Although they have no authority to ask or mandate what a cable operator should or shouldn't carry they may be interested in viewer / consumer feedback.

The good news is that there is someone representing WGGB on this forum ... and we've been told that there will be an improved WGGB-DT. These projects are by no means small or insignificant - so its only fair to give them the opportunity to build the system that everyone's hoping for! I have no idea whether that road that goes up the old railway bed on Mt. Tom is maintained in the winter ... I've hiked it in all other seasons; I can't imagine driving it without a snow cat or something! Winter weather does have its limitations - and that's also true for a lot of work the CT stations have been doing as well (waiting for better weather).

HTH

Originally posted by RPMcCormick

The good news is that there is someone representing WGGB on this forum ... and we've been told that there will be an improved WGGB-DT. These projects are by no means small or insignificant - so its only fair to give them the opportunity to build the system that everyone's hoping for! I have no idea whether that road that goes up the old railway bed on Mt. Tom is maintained in the winter ... I've hiked it in all other seasons; I can't imagine driving it without a snow cat or something! Winter weather does have its limitations - and that's also true for a lot of work the CT stations have been doing as well (waiting for better weather).

HTH

That's all well and good, but if Sinclair is trying to get money out of Comcast then we'll never see ABC HD around here.

WGGB-DT

I notice today (Wednesday, 3/2, 4PM) that there is now picture and audio on WGGB-DT, Channel 55-01. The signal strength is bouncing all over - from 49% to 85%. The video is freezing into a still frame about every two to four seconds.

On the other area ABC affiliate, Channel 8, I noticed that just before 4PM it looked like they were experimenting with their sidebars. The sidebars were gray and the width was changing. By 4PM they returned to the usual black.

Although Channel 40 (55-01) was stretching the ABC feed just before 4, the picture appeared to have less grain than the same feed with sidebars on WTNH-DT. Digital Channel 8's picture looked almost like a mist was over the picture; it was somewhat diluted and grainy.

This post is mostly for RPMcCormick. I've been reading on here about audio sync problems with WWLP-DT. I've got Comcast and WWLP-DT (822) has had very noticeable audio/video sync issues for at least the last three weeks. It's the only HDTV channel on Comcast that does it, so I'm assuming it is the feed from the local rather than Comcast itself. Could you check into this for me. It's really annoying, which is too bad because the picture quality is awesome! I've noticed it on both HD and SD material on 822, although it seems more pronounced on the HD material (if that's even possible).

For all you people in Western MA waiting for ABC HDTV:

I've got a ReplayTV that gets its channel guide data from the same service that Zap2It.com gets theirs from. When Comcast adds/deletes new channels from their lineup, I have to wait until the guide service makes the updates before they start showing up. Sometimes they make these channel changes in advance of Comcast actually carrying the channel, and sometimes they come afterward. The reason this is signficant is within the last few days, Zap2It.com started showing Channel 19 (WCDC) in the Western MA Comcast Digital Lineup. WCDC is an ABC affiliate out of Albany, NY. Although the channel is not active yet, I'm wondering if Comcast is going to add it for the Berkshire contingent, and if they do I'm wondering if we'll soon see Channel 819--an ABC HDTV feed. Wouldn't that be great? If WGGB doesn't want to do it, I'm all for getting this feed.

Originally posted by pianoman41
This post is mostly for RPMcCormick. I've been reading on here about audio sync problems with WWLP-DT. I've got Comcast and WWLP-DT (822) has had very noticeable audio/video sync issues for at least the last three weeks. It's the only HDTV channel on Comcast that does it, so I'm assuming it is the feed from the local rather than Comcast itself. Could you check into this for me. It's really annoying, which is too bad because the picture quality is awesome! I've noticed it on both HD and SD material on 822, although it seems more pronounced on the HD material (if that's even possible).

Ditto here. I also have Comcast and have noticed the sync problems. Additionally, yesterday (Sunday), there was frequent audio dropout on WWLP-DT (822) during the golf and local news. By the way, PQ on the golf was excellent on 822 even for SD. Far superior to the analog version.

Thanks Matt for the info on the program guide and WWLP-DT sync ... the latter is being worked on.

Found the info on the program guide interesting ... so I went to titanTV to see what they're listing. (Note: I live in a town not served by Comcast so I don't know what Comcast has on their local systems.)

My experience with program guides is that they're often wrong - and worse yet, it takes a lot of work to get them corrected!

I added to my titanTV account a profile for Agawam MA, which is served out of the Comcast Westfield plant. It shows under the Digital Cable section:

802 WGBH-DT
804 WBZ-DT
805 WCVB-DT
807 WHDH-DT
and then it goes into the ESPN, MAX, HAB, etc. HD's

I double checked the profile - says the street address for the town hall and a zip code of 01001. Changing it to Granville MA (01034) shows the same info ... hmmm ... and same incorrect info for Williamsburg (01096) and Shelburne Falls (01370). Shelburne viewers should be able to view WCDC on Mt. Greylock no problem (I get a sorta watchable WCDC image northeast of Springfield - and Shelburne is a lot closer) ...

Went to the zap2it web site ... and tried Conway (01341) which it indicates is Comcast digital out of Northampton. (Conway is less than 25 miles from Mt. Greylock where WCDC is.) They have 803/822/857/861 but no WCDC.

The Comcast (web site) channel guide shows the same info as the zap2it site shows. Oh well ...

Does Comcast have any systems in Berkshire County (which is part of the Albany TV market)? If so - that may be why you'd see a WCDC and WCDC-DT entry. Anyone on cable in Hampden, Hampshire or Franklin counties that has Albany stations on their system?

Cool, thanks! Actually, now that I think about it, I believe most of the Berskhires are served by Charter cable. Nonetheless, I think it's weird that WCDC suddenly appeared in my channel guide. True, these guides can be wrong, so we'll have to wait and see. At least it's some (misguided) hope. And just to make sure I wasn't misunderstood, I don't have 819 showing up on my lineup yet, just 19. I still only have the 803/822/857/861 like everyone else. I was just speculating on whether or not we would see it.

Originally posted by pianoman41
Cool, thanks! Actually, now that I think about it, I believe most of the Berskhires are served by Charter cable. Nonetheless, I think it's weird that WCDC suddenly appeared in my channel guide. True, these guides can be wrong, so we'll have to wait and see. At least it's some (misguided) hope. And just to make sure I wasn't misunderstood, I don't have 819 showing up on my lineup yet, just 19. I still only have the 803/822/857/861 like everyone else. I was just speculating on whether or not we would see it. Although this info may be aged - Time Warner used to have Pittsfield, Dalton & Richmond MA. Adelphia has Great Barrington and North Adams and numerous towns surrounding those locales. I don't think Charter has any communities in the Berkshires but I may be wrong ...

Do you have WCDC on your cable system? (Not sure what you meant by having just 19 - whether you meant cable channel 19 or WCDC!)

Originally posted by pianoman41
The reason this is signficant is within the last few days, Zap2It.com started showing Channel 19 (WCDC) in the Western MA Comcast Digital Lineup. WCDC is an ABC affiliate out of Albany, NY. Although the channel is not active yet, I'm wondering if Comcast is going to add it for the Berkshire contingent, and if they do I'm wondering if we'll soon see Channel 819--an ABC HDTV feed. Wouldn't that be great? If WGGB doesn't want to do it, I'm all for getting this feed.

Unfortunately, channel 19/36 is not high definition or at least it wasn't the last time I watched it OTA.

Originally posted by RPMcCormick
Although this info may be aged - Time Warner used to have Pittsfield, Dalton & Richmond MA. Adelphia has Great Barrington and North Adams and numerous towns surrounding those locales. I don't think Charter has any communities in the Berkshires but I may be wrong ...

Do you have WCDC on your cable system? (Not sure what you meant by having just 19 - whether you meant cable channel 19 or WCDC!)

You're right (again!)--Time Warner is the cable company out there. I spoke with a co-worker who lives in Dalton.

As for Channel 19, I don't have it. I was merely speculating because I noticed the change in the channel guide on my ReplayTV. My ReplayTV channel guide now shows Channel 19 (WCDC) as being part of my line-up where there was no channel 19 before (and never has been in the last 12 years that I've lived in the area served by MediaOne/AT&T/Comcast). This channel doesn't actually exist yet. There is no corresponding HDTV channel (819) showing up either. It just seemed strange to me since ABC (WGGB) is the only network that doesn't have HDTV on Comcast in my area and I'm sure Comcast has fielded numerous complaints over this (including mine). If Sinclair Broadcasting refuses or can't upgrade the equipment it seems only logical that Comcast would seek an alternate source for an ABC HDTV feed in this market, and WCDC would be the next closest one.

Originally posted by pianoman41
... there was no channel 19 before (and never has been in the last 12 years that I've lived in the area served by MediaOne/AT&T/Comcast). ... It just seemed strange to me since ABC (WGGB) is the only network that doesn't have HDTV on Comcast in my area and I'm sure Comcast has fielded numerous complaints over this (including mine). ... seems only logical that Comcast would seek an alternate source for an ABC HDTV feed in this market, and WCDC would be the next closest one.If you don't mind me asking, what county do you live in? (WCDC may be a more likely alternative candidate in Franklin and maybe Hampshire county - but I don't think so for Hampden county.)

Here's links to the service contours for the following stations:
WCDC-DT (STA) (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DS613219.html)
WTNH-DT (licensed) (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT989921.html)

It appears that WTNH-DT puts a better signal over just about all of Hampden County as compared to WCDC-DT. There's also fibre that interconnects Comcast, Charter and COX up and down the CT river valley ... so in addition to off-air possibilities one could assume a distant signal could be put into western Mass via that means as well. Maybe a call to Comcast as a subscriber would glean additional info? Just a thought!

I live in Hampshire County, right on the border of Franklin County. Maybe I'll give them a call and see what they say.

Attached please find a Microsoft MapPoint 2004 map. This was created from information from the Commonwealth's CATV web site. The data was plotted by using all the zip codes associated with a municipality - unfortunately one side effect is a couple of errors where towns (like Tolland MA) do not have their own zip code but instead share the same zip with an adjacent town. Hence it appears that Comcast serves further west in Hampden County than they really do. If I figure out a better way to plot this someday I'll make appropriate adjustments.

The same color is used for each operator - but I have also enumerated the operator's name in a number of places as well. Any place that has a gray background currently does not have a licensed cable franchise.

There are two small operations in central and western Massachusetts: Russell has its own system and Holland is fed from the COX systems across the border in CT.

Cool map, thanks!

In case you don't read this thread, an agreement has been announced:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5337335#post5337335

Now we just need WGGB to go live.

Has anyone noticed that Chan 40-DT (I know it's not HDTV), no longer appears in scans as 40-1? Rather it shows up as 55-2, the acual broadcast channel. Apparently, their remapping is no longer working. A few weeks ago PSIP problems resulted in good signal strength w/no picture. They're hoping for HDTV this summer. They better get these bugs fixed first. So anyone notice the remapping problem?

watching NCAA on WFSB, they're passing DD5.1 Thank you WFSB for following through!

We fixed the problems with the encoder and program guide today. Everyone should now be able to receive the DTV signal on 40-1. We've getting bids on installing equipment needed to get HD on the air. Hopefully work can start in the next two months.
I'm back in St. Louis so I can't see the picture...but I'm sure you'll post if there's a problem!
Jim

Hello, I am very new to OTA and have just put up a DB4 and I am receiving 6.1 HDTV,6.2 SDTV, 10.1 SDTV, 10.2 SDTV, 17.1 SDTV, 17.3 HDTV, 19 NTSC, 19.1 HDTV, 19.2 SDTV, 23 NTSC very snowy, 38 NTSC, and 45 NTSC very snowy. I was wondering if anyone else in my area. I wanted to know if I could pick up NBC in HDTV. I do not have a pre amp. I do have a Radio Shack U-75R UHF antenna mounted on the top of the DB4, connected together, I don't think it is doing much. I do have a DB8 coming and I will swap the DB4. I guess the bottom line is can I get any more stations and what do I need to do? Forgot to mention I am using the HDTV tuner in my Phillips TV and I am using about 65' of RG6 cable. Watched NCAA on 6.1 in High Def but at times it almost seemed to strong a signal. Thanks in advance for your help.
michael2468

Originally posted by michael2468
Hello, I am very new to OTA and have just put up a DB4 and I am receiving 6.1 HDTV,6.2 SDTV, 10.1 SDTV, 10.2 SDTV, 17.1 SDTV, 17.3 HDTV, 19 NTSC, 19.1 HDTV, 19.2 SDTV, 23 NTSC very snowy, 38 NTSC, and 45 NTSC very snowy. I was wondering if anyone else in my area. I wanted to know if I could pick up NBC in HDTV. I do not have a pre amp. I do have a Radio Shack U-75R UHF antenna mounted on the top of the DB4, connected together, I don't think it is doing much. I do have a DB8 coming and I will swap the DB4. I guess the bottom line is can I get any more stations and what do I need to do? Forgot to mention I am using the HDTV tuner in my Phillips TV and I am using about 65' of RG6 cable. Watched NCAA on 6.1 in High Def but at times it almost seemed to strong a signal. Thanks in advance for your help. michael2468 Hi Michael and welcome to the forums!

You may want to also see if there's a thread for the Albany market as Berkshire county in MA really belongs to Albany and not Springfield/Holyoke. (If there is an Albany thread you may find more people from your area participating there.)

You mention an analog 38 - which station? WSBK from Boston?

Looking to the southeast you may want to see if you can pull in these:

WWLP NBC analog 22 (on channel 11 DTV)
WGBY PBS analog 57 (on channel 58 DTV)
WGGB ABC analog 40 (on channel 55 DTV)

I'm northeast of Springfield and can get a half-way decent picture from WCDC on channel 19 ... but rarely can I get a lock on their digital signal. Your ability to receive the Springfield stations may be based on the terrain between you and Mt. Tom and Provin Mountains in the Springfield area. Long haul.

Thanks for the reply. I will look to see if Albany is here. Tried to point southeast with exsisting equimpment with no luck. I am right at the base of the mohawk trail, getting over the mountain is my problem.
Thanks again

Probably W38DL from 'Greylock.

The old WNYT translator displaced by WNYA...

From my vantage point, all my HD reception is
using an older RCA DTC box and roof top antenna
(Hey the old mast did come in handy after all!)

I get WTNH-HD decently here (when it's not being
whiped out by WCAU Analog from Philly) so my
wife watches ABC via WTNH instead of WGGB.

I currently live in Charter territory and choose
not to pay for cable from my vantage point.
(I don't believe Charter carries anyone locally in HD)

After working in the buisness this long, you grow
a little tired of television content anyways.

Originally posted by RPMcCormick
Thanks Matt for the info on the program guide and WWLP-DT sync ... the latter is being worked on.

Any update on the audio sync problem on WWLPDT? It's no better than when I first reported this in the beginning of March and it's really driving me nuts!! :D

The local ad switchover problems on WWLP continue.
RPMcormick, Are you guys going to do anything to try and solve this?

I need some help!

I have a sony hd300 I am using a medium range antenna from antenna direct its the vh10e.

I am only getting 33 wfsb in hartford, I cant get a signal for 22 or wgby I have moved the antenna several times but no luck. My signal strength fluctuates from bad to good with 33.

I live in Granby, Ma on the south hadley line.

any suggestions, my main goal is to get wwlp dtv


thanks, bob

haven't heard from wracer in a while: it's been a couple months, weather nice, still no WGGB HD?

also, Comcast has added WB & UPN HD in the Boston area, which puts them 3 channels up at the same cost. Hey everyone, I think it does help if we keep complaining, although it would help more if we had a satellite alternative that offered more.

there was an article in the WSJ today (sorry, not free so no link) about HD advertisers (projected HDTV's in 25% of homes by 12/05, 40% by 06). Hopefully that will start putting pressure on cable, satellite & broadcasters to bring more product.

WFSB is running at close to full power so it should be relatively easy to get it.

WGBY is very difficult to pull in from the Granby / Ludlow / Belchertown area without an amplified antenna or a good antenna mounted high up on the North East side of your house or above your house. At least this was true as of a couple months ago when I last pulled it in for a bit.

WWLP will come in fine, with a few adjustments.

WWLP is actually broadcasting on frequency 11 (digital channel 22). You might not be able to find it unless you look for channel 11 first. Unlike most digital TV stations out there, it is a VHF station. I don't know if your antenna is made to receive VHF signals, but I was able to pull in WWLP digital by using an old pair of "rabbit ear" antennas from my basement junkpile. I extended the telescoping antenna sections to 42 inches long and spread the two poles apart by 45 degrees and put them up in the second floor of my house. They worked better when the whole antenna was tipped over and lying horizontally on the floor and pointing due North.

Plan B is to buy an amplified antenna and crank up the amplifier and mount the antenna in a higher location. The amplifier should be mounted into or close to the antenna itself so it boosts the signal before sending it down the RG-6 coax and into the tuner.

I hope that some of this information is helpful, even if you already know most of it.

Originally posted by JasonAndreas
Unfortunately, channel 19/36 is not high definition or at least it wasn't the last time I watched it OTA.

WCDC-DT switched to HD after WTEN-DT went live. That was in fall 2004. Prior to that there was no way to get an HD signal to Mt. Greylock.

TNT HD Ch 833 on Comcast as of today!

Sweet thanks for the heads up. Yeah Ultra 150 you can get WWLP with a fork, the signal is so strong. I think cbagger might be on to something, make sure your ant is able to get VHF also. I see no reason why you couldnt pick it up.

Hi guys,

I live in Chicopee. Just got a Samsung HLP4667. I'm stuck with Charter and there lack of HD programming. What would I have to do to get OTA HD stuff?
The cable package doesn't even offer HD ABC or NBC!! Just HD FOX.

Originally posted by ralfy1
Yeah Ultra 150 you can get WWLP with a fork, the signal is so strong. I think cbagger might be on to something, make sure your ant is able to get VHF also. I see no reason why you couldnt pick it up. [/B]


You must be using a pretty big fork, the antenna Im using is a vhf medium range with an amp. I can no longer get wfsb, it must be my location:confused:

Altitiude is important.

The higher you can mount your antenna, the better.

If your coax run from your antenna is more than 10 or 15 feet then I suggest getting an antenna with a built in amplifier, even if it is an indoor antenna.

I switched over to WWLP-DT last night to watch Jay Leno, and noticed the worst audio lag I have ever seen! The audio lagged the video by a good second or two, giving the effect of making the program look as if it was dubbed in from another language! What Gives?

OK, I got a TERK TV-5 amplified indoor antenna this weekend. Do any of you have that model? I was wondering if you have to move the antenna to get different channels. I'm just trying to get 3-1, 40-1, 22-1 without having to move it everytime. Can you recommend a better indoor anntenna? I live in Chicopee near the base.

I have a TERK TV-3 mounted VERY HIGH up in the house and can pull in 3-1, 8-1 (sometimes), 22-1, 30-1, 57-1 (sometimes), and 61-1

My friend has a Terk amplified Satellite (DirectTV dish mounted) antenna and gets a good lock on 8-1 but he also lives up on the top of a hill.

I know that the Terks have a bad reputation but they are readily available at Best Buy / Circuit City and I was in a rush so I said, what the hey. And it works about as well as I could have expected, which was worth keeping.

I have the "rabbit ears" part of my TV-3 exteneded and laid out flat at 180 degrees apart.

The unit is hanging from a (not running!) ceiling fan blade on the second floor of my house.

3-1 and 22-1 are very easy to pull in even with the amplifier turned off.

Forget 40-1. For me, it is impossible to get and it is not High Def anyways. It is just a digital version of the standard def broadcast that goes out on the analog station. Maybe this will change someday but I am not holding my breath.

If you want high def ABC, you will need to try and pull in 8-1 from New Haven which is quite a balancing act of the right antenna angle + the right amplifier level + the right antenna direction + HIGH altitude and a clear view to the South (near a South window).

Even then, if I sneeze near the antenna, I will lose the signal :)

Your best indoor antenna for UHF signals is the Zenith / Antiference "Silver Sensor", which is being imitated by Terk with something called the HDTV1.

Point it about 220degrees South and you should get 3-1, 30-1 and 61-1 without needing to move the antenna at all.

But the same rules apply:

1) HEIGHT. Higher the better.

2) Put it near a South window in your house.

The ideal indoor location would be a window in the SouthEast corner of your house on the second floor. You could then make a try for 3-1, 22-1 and 8-1 with an amplified antenna.

Good Luck.

Thanks a lot for the reply. I will try moving it upstairs and running the coax to the living room for a better signal. I did notice last night that 40-1 said SD, when the others said HD when they were locked in. I wish it could be a lot less trial and error with these, but reading over the site, it seems everyone goes through this. Once you see the HD, it's like crack though. I've got to lock into these channels! :)

RPMcCormick,

Haven't heard much from you on the Springfield forum since mid March. Their seems to be over the air sync problems with 22.1 lately....any comments or time table when these audio problems
may get solved? Thanks.

Originally posted by cbagger01
I have a TERK TV-3 mounted VERY HIGH up in the house and can pull in 3-1, 8-1 (sometimes), 22-1, 30-1, 57-1 (sometimes), and 61-1.

Interesting. I have a Silver Sensor on the first floor in Feeding Hills and get 3-1 and 22-1 very easily at 85+ strength. One station that comes and goes is 61-1. Many times it does not come in but it is weird how I get the channel at different times during the day. 30-1 comes in too. I wonder if and when 61-1 puts up their new antenna I'll be able to get that all the time?

Even though it is a VHF station, the Silver Sensor should be able to kinda pull in WWLP-DT 22-1 because it is broadcast at the high end of the VHF spectrum, the frequency originall set aside for "Channel 11".

I'm sure that your closeness to the WWLP antenna helps, too.

For me, I was unable to pull WWLP-DT in from the 2nd floor of my house using a Silver Sensor. When I replaced it with a pair of rabbit ears, I was in business.

My easiest stations are 3-1 and 61-1. 30-1 is also easy to pull in, but it seems harder to get in the summertime (tree leaves maybe?)

With the TV-3 amplified antenna, I can also barely pull in that WB station from CT that broadcasts at freqency Channel 12 but I don't watch the WB for anything.

Does anybody have a D-VHS recorder and Comcast HDTV box? I was thinking about getting a D-VHS recorder, but not if I can't record from the Comcast box.

Hi,
I'm new to this forum and currently have Charter digital cable and a HD projector that has no tuner. I was looking at either getting charter HD or a OTA HD box.

My question is, what HD tuner can I buy that will have OTA HD (ATSC) and NTSC (analog cable Ch. 1-125). It's my understanding that QAM will not work with Charter since most QAM channels are scrambled. NTSC is important since most channels are not on HD and can't unscramble QAM.

I've been looking at 2 different tuners. The Samsung T451 and the LG 3510 because they have DVI output and DVD players.

How is the OTA reception in western mass? Will I be getting many channels, besides 22 & 40, like FOX and CBS? Charter doesn't have much to offer except HD ESPN.

Charter cable (Chicopee/Ludlow/Belchertown) is either using QAM256 or is using encrypted QAM signals or both.

I can't get anything when using my QAM64 tuner.

A year ago, it was possible to see the Charter Channel (infomercial) as unencrypted QAM64 but last time I checked, even this channel was unviewable.

ok, i steered away from those two boxes, above, and now I have Charter coming to install their HDTV box for me. (It better have DVI.)

Now here's the issue. They said Charter only provides for 2 HD channels in my town (ludlow). WTF is that? NESN and FOX, but for $4 more I can get Discovery and ESPN. Of coarse if I add HBO/Showtime I get one of those each in HDTV. No ABC, CBS, or NBC. Is this a joke?


Does anyone in Ludlow have ABC, CBS, or NBC in HD from Charter?

Originally posted by CraigD
RPMcCormick,

Haven't heard much from you on the Springfield forum since mid March. Their seems to be over the air sync problems with 22.1 lately....any comments or time table when these audio problems
may get solved? Thanks.

We're also still seeing these same sync problems with the Comcast HDTV feed of WWLP. It's been that way since late February/early March. I know this isn't the official maens by which to solve these problems, but it was nice to relay these problems to someone on the "inside." If anyone knows the proper parties to contact to get this solved, I'm more than happy to make that happen.

Just wondered if anyone here has the Comcast Digital Classic plan and what they are getting as far as HD programming. I recently switched over to VoIP with Concast, and obviously have their cable as well as internet service. When the tech came out he suggested I consider getting the HD package which would include HD signals of NESN, ESPN, Discovery, INHD, and I think TNT and he said it was only an extra $14.95/month. My son thinks that these channels would be available with any of the digital plans and a cablecard or HD STB.

In my case, I have a HD Tuner built-in and my Mitsubishi is cable-card ready, so I'm having them install a cablecard.

The Comcast web page is a bit confusing on all this, and it sounds like that before you can get digital high-definition programming (not PPV or HBOs... just the ESPN, NESN, Discovery, and INHD... you have to subscribe to expanded basic service as opposed to regular basic service. I really don't care to have extended basic programming as half of it is totally useless to me.

So I was wondering if someone in the real user world could tell me what they are getting other than the CBS/ABC/NBC/PBS which is what I currently get up in the 86-1 to 87-7 range. Note I have not yet seen ABC HD, and I don't know if they have thrown that switch yet. I hear guys talking about channel 866 or whatever and I get nothing in that range (yet) but maybe once the cablecard is installed that'll be different. If you're using a comcast cablecard, tell me what you're getting. Thx!

Just wondered if anyone here has the Comcast Digital Classic plan and what they are getting as far as HD programming. I recently switched over to VoIP with Concast, and obviously have their cable as well as internet service. When the tech came out he suggested I consider getting the HD package which would include HD signals of NESN, ESPN, Discovery, INHD, and I think TNT and he said it was only an extra $14.95/month. My son thinks that these channels would be available with any of the digital plans and a cablecard or HD STB.

In my case, I have a HD Tuner built-in and my Mitsubishi is cable-card ready, so I'm having them install a cablecard.

The Comcast web page is a bit confusing on all this, and it sounds like that before you can get digital high-definition programming (not PPV or HBOs... just the ESPN, NESN, Discovery, and INHD... you have to subscribe to expanded basic service as opposed to regular basic service. I really don't care to have extended basic programming as half of it is totally useless to me.

So I was wondering if someone in the real user world could tell me what they are getting other than the CBS/ABC/NBC/PBS which is what I currently get up in the 86-1 to 87-7 range. Note I have not yet seen ABC HD, and I don't know if they have thrown that switch yet. I hear guys talking about channel 866 or whatever and I get nothing in that range (yet) but maybe once the cablecard is installed that'll be different. If you're using a comcast cablecard, tell me what you're getting. Thx!


i have the digital basic for comcast and i get inhd1 inhd2(nesn) espnhd, discoveryhd, tnthd,pbs,nbc,cbs,fox theres no abc i live in westfield
i have the digital basic thats for comcast ive been wanting to get a tuner but don't know what i would pick up

is WGGB ever going to broadcast in HD? It's pathetic. I refuse to watch any of their programming until the broadcast in High Def. Get with the program.

I havent heard a thing about it. I know a few threads back someone claiming to have insight said the tower work was being down, and it would be on shortly after work was complete. That seems like a year ago these days. I have forgot about WGGB, and haven't watched an ABC show in a long time. Oh well no sense in getting all worked up about it again, I have wasted too many hours of my life getting upset at WGGB. Guess it will happen when it happens, until then I just wont watch any ABC shows, although I doubt they even care. Sorry but no news is not good news in this case.

There was a news item in the Republican last week (sorry, can't find a link on Masslive) re WGGB petitioning the Holyoke zoning board for a non-standard antenna on Mt. Tom. I was wondering if that had anything to do with their HD installation.

Any Holyoke residents out there able to give us an update?

Thought this thread had died out!

Get a tall VHF antenna with an amplifier.

Use it to pull in WTNH (Channel 8 ABC New Haven) and use the station to watch ABC in High-Def.

Last step:

Delete WGGB from your available channel list in your tv tuner.

Since Sunday Night Football is now on NBC and Monday Night Football is now on ESPN, I don't care when (if ever) WGGB will go HD and maybe if enough other people take the same approach they will get the message.

Not to get personal cbagger01 but what city do you live in. I only ask for reference on how far away you are from me. If we are kinda close I'll try getting WTNH, but if your further away and closer to their tower, I might be in for a big headache. I have tried before getting WTNH but could never grab anything, but if all it takes is a bigger VHF antenna I might give it shot. Damn its happening again I am getting worked up about ABC again. You guys have pulled me back in.

I know I've suggested this before, so I apologize. However, I still think the best course is to inform WGGB's advertisers that you're not watching and why. WGGB is delivering an inferior product. You can bet Jeb Balise, Gary Rome, & Manny all have HDTV's, so they're likely to understand. If they start pulling their advertising $, I think you can also bet WGGB will start to pay attention.

Writing ABC is another option, but probably as futile as writing WGGB or Sinclair

ralfy1,

Without giving you my exact location, I live close to the Belchertown/Ludlow/Palmer lines. My friend, who also gets WTNH lives closer to the center of Belchertown.

Both of us have 2 story houses with a decent elevation and no major objects blocking a Southwestern view. Both use amplified Terk (yeah, I know that Terk is not highly regarded here) antennas. His is an outdoor amplified unit attached to his D* dish and mine is a TV-3 indoor amplified unit.

He has a pretty steady signal (was able to watch MNF Patriots / KC game last year without interruption) with his setup. Mine requires more tweaking and is borderline.

I could care less about WGGB, it's parent company, or it's advertisers. I am not trying to "convince" them to do anything. They are businessmen who get paid to understand their respective businesses.

They have made their choice. I have made mine.

I have every intention to continue watching WTNH long after WGGB decides to go high def in the year 2016 or whenever. Why should I waste my time trying to get these rocket scientists to understand what is plainly obvious to everyone else in this area of the country? If they get the message, great. But as the great philospher Glen Frey once said, "I'm al....ready gone"

Even if they go HD in 2006, it is already too late for the reasons mentioned in my previous post.

does anyone in the springfield area know of a company that installs antennas on the roof of homes and runs cable and amplifiers to feed multiple televisions? I am looking to get this done to take advantage of the free ota hd sources in the area. this is to augment my directv installation. I checked the phone book and it seems that NO ONE is listed as doing antennae installs? is this primitive or obsolete?

I don't know about the antenna installation. I live in East Longmeadow. I can't install an antenna on the roof so I'm using a Terk indoor amplified antenna (Terk Antenna (TV5), see it on circuit city's site for $50). I can get CBS, NBC, FOX, and PBS in high definition. I can also get ABC in digital (480p).
The local ABC channel WGGB is the only problem. I'm extremely pissed off that they do not broadcast in high definition for some reason. No monday night football in high definition is really disturbing.
I think with a roof antenna I may be able to get a connecticut ABC channel but I don't know.
You might want to try an indoor like me to see how it goes.

My advice:

Get an amplified indoor "rabbit ears" unit like the Terk TV3.

Fully extend the rabbit ears and lay them flat so they are in the full horizontal position, IE:

------------------------[BASE]------------------------

Then mount it at the highest southern point in your house, preferrably near a window.

Play with the amplifier "Volume" knob and see if you can pull in WTNH at channel 10.1 (should map to digital channel 8)

Comcast HD DVR now shows WTXXD WB20 in the guide! Now if we could get 40 to go HD life would almost be complete.....Not holding my breath.

I was hoping that 40 would be high def before next thursday for the Patriots opener, but not likely. I thought 40 was supposed to be going high def this Summer, but I haven't heard anything lately.

Hi, you get these types of questions I guess alot, but this thread is so large I dont have the few days to read through, and most time don't understand. I am a complete noob with this HDTV stuff so if I could ask a few question I would love any help I could get.

1) I live in Montague MA 01351, should I bother trying to get any OTA signal or will it be futile.

2) Are there HD signals coming through Comcasts cable line that I could get if I just had a converter.

3) Is there a specific converter to get or would any one do, including a PC card since thats what I use now.

I don't think there are any digital stations you can get via antenna but I could be wrong. I checked http://antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx
for your zip code and it looks like they are all analog which I don't think would be HDTV.

Comcast has the best HDTV lineup going. I had comcast cable when I was living in boston last year and it was awesome. You should get HDTV through them. They've added channels since I had them too.

Are you trying to get HDTV on a computer monitor? Not sure how that works.

for your zip code and it looks like they are all analog which I don't think would be HDTV.

Comcast has the best HDTV lineup going. I had comcast cable when I was living in boston last year and it was awesome. You should get HDTV through them. They've added channels since I had them too.

Are you trying to get HDTV on a computer monitor? Not sure how that works.

I am looking into getting an HDTV card like the fusion 5 Gold . I read this in another forum.

Well, plug the regular cable into this card, you have a good chance of getting some "free" digital channels. I have Comcast standard (non-HD), but with this card (as well as the ATSC/QAM tuner in the TV), I can pull in PBS-HD, PBS-SD, NBC-HD, ABC-HD, CBS-HD, UPN-HD, WB-HD, 10 local channdels in SD, Telemudo, and 30+ digital music channels, free.

I was wondering if anyone here has had sucess with an HDTV card.

In Western Ma Charter cable systems, it is possible to pull in FOX61-HD. There are also some boring channels like the InDemand (pay per view) movie commericals but nothing worth watching.

However, you need to have a card that supports the QAM-256 format. A card that supports QAM-64 is useless to receive FOX61-HD.

FOX-61 digital HD is a local TV station that comes in strong using a small indoor antenna, so I have nothing to be gained by using the cable feed.

at least to Comcast Longmeadow. I assume it'sthe same for OTA? Forum says it's in HD elsewhere. Where's RP McCormick when you need him? Actually, haven't heard from him in a while, hope he's o.k.

Hello WWLP, where is the high definition Notre Dame/Michigan State game?

WVIT-DT (30.1) Connecticut is in high definition. Why aren't you? Please correct your problems.

I called them, got through to the news number 337-1160, said they would pass through to engineering.

Programming thread suggested keep calling, if we annoy them enough they will flick the switch, which is all that's required. Very disappointing thought, sounds like something WGGB would do, oh that's right they're one of a handful of stations in the country that don't even broadcast HD.

the number is 413-377-1160. I called them. Said something about their programming is screwed up and they would be looking into it. Doesn't sound like we'll be seeing high definition today but hopefully they will correct there problems for the future. At least they care unlike WGGB.

Yeah, I got the same response..."Programming" forgot to order HD? And no possibility of correcting? Doesn't make sense to me, but sounds like someone dropped the ball. Guy I talked to didn't seem to care.

Does anyone with Comcast cable in Western MA still see the audio/video sync problem on 822 WWLPHD?? It was *really* noticeable last spring, and I haven't watched it much over the summer. Now the fall shows are starting and it's still not fixed after all this time. It's better than it was, but the audio is still out of sync ever-so-slightly. It's driving me nuts. When I call Comcast, all they ever want to do is put in a trouble ticket and send a tech to my house. I try to explain it's not a problem at my house and they don't seem to get it. Very frustrating!! I really hope RPMcCormick shows back up around here soon.

I really hope RPMcCormick shows back up around here soon.


I think WWLP must have pulled the plug on Mr McCormick's activity on this forum at least it seems that way...he hasn't posted since 03-19-05, 09:59 AM. I have Comcast HD DVR and a Sony OTA HD receiver and WWLP audio sync is definitely off on a regular basis from both sources.

I think WWLP must have pulled the plug on Mr McCormick's activity on this forum at least it seems that way...he hasn't posted since 03-19-05, 09:59 AM. I have Comcast HD DVR and a Sony OTA HD receiver and WWLP audio sync is definitely off on a regular basis from both sources.

So then that means it's not a Comcast problem, but a WWLP problem. Who (what department/person) would I contact down there?

So then that means it's not a Comcast problem, but a WWLP problem. Who (what department/person) would I contact down there?

Did you ever make any call on this? I'll make some calls too if you get some contact info. It's really absurd now.

Also, what exactly is the story with WGGB and their HD on Comcast? I had heard a rumor that WGGB wasn't going to offer their HD channel to Comcast for some reason. What's the problem exactly? Is it possible we could get Hartfords ABC affiliate WTNH channel 8 in HD?

We will never get the Conn. ABC affiliate. Comcast already had a deal with them a couple of years ago to give us ABC from them, but WGGB vetoed it. But, the good news is that the parent company of WGGB signed a contract with Comcast last year sometime to carry all of their affiliates. The only problem is getting WGGB to actually go hi def.

WGGB isn't putting out HD at all, even OTA? You'd think they'd realize the market for HD by now.

They were supposedly working on it this summer to get it ready for fall. If you go back a few pages on this thread there was a post from somebody that supposedly worked for WGGB that said it should be ready for fall. But that person hasn't posted again and nobody has heard any new info about it. I personally don't watch any ABC shows, but monday night football would be nice. After this season it is not going to matter anyway, because ESPN is going to be covering monday night football starting next year.

The last time I spoke w/ the Comcast rep, he seemed to concede that there is no legal obstacle to delivering WTNH: WTNH is "significantly viewed" in Hampden County and therefore exempt from "network non-duplication" and "syndicated exclusivity" restrictions. However, he indicated that their information suggested WGGB is sufficiently close to HD that they would not pursue negotiation with WTNH.

If WGGB continues to drag its feet, the more complaints to Comcast the better. Complaints to WGGB and Sinclair are useless, they don't care. WGGB's advertisers may if they know we're not viewing.

I currently get "40-1" on 55-3 and nothing on 40-1, on 4 HDTV tuners. Anyone having the same problem or any idea when/if it's going to be fixed? When it finally adopts HDTV?

Charter in Chicopee/Ludlow/Belchertown is now carrying PBS-HD. The icon on the screen says WGBY. Channel 782. Funny, I just called and complained for the 1,000,000th time about programming two days ago. I was hoping for CBS or NBC, but at least this is progress.

Charter also added the other WGBY-DT subchannels (IE: PBS kids, PBS word, etc) somewhere in the 750's channel area.

Thanks - I didn't see those. I'll check tonight.

Did you ever make any call on this? I'll make some calls too if you get some contact info. It's really absurd now.



I called Comcast and they opened a ticket on it and said they'd monitor it for a 24 hour period and then get back to me. Well they never got back to me and over the last week it seems like the problem has gotten even worse. It's borderline unwatchable at this point. I'll be calling Comcast *again* to complain.

Yesterday evening experienced breakup (picture freeze, pixalation) on all of the local HD's, but not on national (ESPN, TNT, etc.). Comcast suggested checking my connections, didn't find any loose but attempted to tighten anyway. No immediate improvement, but later on the problem seemed not as bad, but still there on occasion.

Anyone else have similar experience? If not gives credence to Comcast's suggestion it's in my setup.

tnx,

Al

Yesterday evening experienced breakup (picture freeze, pixalation) on all of the local HD's, but not on national (ESPN, TNT, etc.). Comcast suggested checking my connections, didn't find any loose but attempted to tighten anyway. No immediate improvement, but later on the problem seemed not as bad, but still there on occasion.

Anyone else have similar experience? If not gives credence to Comcast's suggestion it's in my setup.

tnx,

Al

Same thing here although I didn't notice until today because the shows were recorded and they are unwatchable. Hope it clears up tonight.

Has anyone heard _anything_ new regarding a timetable (maybe?) whereby WGGB 40 in Springfield will be going HD or at least Digital? I find it amazing that the local PBS channel has been HD for a couple of years now, and Networks like NBC and CBS (or rather their local affiliates) are also broadcasting in HD... but we hear nothing about when ABC will join the rest of the world.

Sinclair must understand that when they don't offer HD broadcasts and their direct competitors do, there has to be some serious channel surfing going on each night. I don't know anyone who recently bought a 4:3 format TV... most are buying 16:9 HDTVs these days, especially the DLPs because they won't burn the screen when viewing 4:3 programming.

Maybe it would help if we listed the correct contact information for people who perhaps make these decisions. I keep wondering why they can't pick up CT broadcasts and slot in their local advertising on the fly.

WGGB-DT is broadcasting "digital", but not in HD.

It is also a very weak low-power transmission, so it is difficult to pull in for many.

As far as I know, Sinclair has yet to commit to a hard date for HD upgrade for WGGB.

Depending on your house location and antenna height, it may be possible to pull in WTNH-DT (Channel 10.1) ABC VHF high def from New Haven.

You will almost certainly need a pre-amplified antenna system.

We finally got all the equipment moved and configured to passthru the ABC HD signal. If you were watching tonight you saw some terrable swiching and miss matched audio...when there was audio, but it is installed! We did not have time to work on 5.1 audio...but that wil come later. Any comments are welcome.
Thanks for your patience,
Jim Wright

We finally got all the equipment moved and configured to passthru the ABC HD signal. If you were watching tonight you saw some terrable swiching and miss matched audio...when there was audio, but it is installed! We did not have time to work on 5.1 audio...but that wil come later. Any comments are welcome.
Thanks for your patience,
Jim Wright


I woke up to this news that I have been waiting for about three years so I am definitely excited....but right now at 5:45 AM the morning news is STRETCHED. Not good but I am sure with time it will be fixed. I understand GOOD MORNING AMERICA is in HD now so I will see at 7 AM. Of course looking forward to Monday Night Football and Desperate Housewives in HD. I will weigh in as shows can be seen (or not). One question is when if at all will the HD version make it to Comcast. I am picking up the signal with a Sony OTA box with no DVR function.


And of course I hope everything is in order for the next SUPERBOWL on Feb 5 2006! Already missed at least one in HD because WGGB was not up to snuff!

GMA--------Stretch O Rama! Oh well, patience I guess

Well it appears as though WWLPHD (822 on Comcast) *finally* got the video/audio sync problem fixed. It went away sometime during the second week of November and hasn't come back. Hopefully the fix is permanent.

Now that I got that problem solved, I can jump on the WGGB HD bandwagon. :) It can't come to Comcast soon enough. I do know, at least for me, that ABC is the least-watched network in my household and I can honestly say the lack of an HD station for primetime watching is a contributing factor. Other than 'According To Jim' and "Desperate Housewives' I don't watch anything else on ABC.

I never installed my Antenna once I got Comcast. So just wondering if ABC did go HI DEF can you get a signal without living under the tower. I remember before you couldnt ever get a solid signal. Maybe we should email Comcast and let them know how much we would like to have ABC on the lineup.

GMA--------Stretch O Rama!


GMA and all their programming is now in 4 x 3 with thin black bars on top and bottom of the screen but artifacts on top of rim of the screen...getting there?

Comcast signed a deal with the parent company of WGGB months ago to carry all of their affiliates. So, I'm sure Comcast will add 40 to the lineup in high def soon. They are probably going to wait for all the initial bugs to be worked out.

would be nice if they got this sorted out by tomorrow: ABC is broadcasting 3 college football games in HD...pro'ly wishful thinking.

I did call Comcast to make sure they're aware, but haven't heard anything back.

Sorry for all the on air problems. We know the picture was stretched and cropped and whatever. Unfortunately we ran into a last minute snag...software problems. So for now all you'll be getting is upconverted analog. We hope to have new software in a week. We'll be back in town the week of the 12th to install and work out other bugs. The long wait was due to a microwave path problem that was just resolved.

We are working with Comcast to get the HD signal on ASAP. Possibly by the end of the year if not sooner.
Jim

If anyone knows the _local_ Springfield telephone number for Comcast, could you post it here? Might not be a bad idea to have all local stations local (not 800) phone numbers listed in this thread and have it resurface once in a while.

Kinda funny I just went to Comcast's website and it say WTNH will no longer be on the lineup as of 12/14. So getting WTNH in HD was never going to happen. Guess that contract they signed makes them exclusive with analog and digital in the area.

Ralfy... you on the treo or home? Did you have to cut the post?

Capt

Hey hows it going? Yes I did cut the post, I have everything in the basement. Just need to clean up the glue on the stairs a bit. Then whenever you get a chance I would love it if you helped out.

So everything got up the stairs. Great. We'll figure something out for a weekend... coordinate with Steve. It shouldn't take us that long to piece it back together :). Hows Jeter? Gotta bring him over to play with Lily. She loves pups.

Hey... do you get ABC MNF in HD on the Dish? I still don't get the locals but I do get HBO wide screen and I think Showtime. I have to get one of the newer dishes... tried changing the multiplexer as well as the LNB... nothing.

WGGB-DT 720p broadcast first impressions:

1) Local Standard Def broadcasts look very nice. By local, I mean the 11PM News40 and the locally originated TV commericals.

2) Lots of audio/video sync issues AKA lipsync effect. I assume that this will improve when you get your new audio gear sorted out.

3) The broadcast overscan is incorrect. Most people nowadays buy 720p native resolution fixed pixel HDTVs like LCD, LCD projection, and many plasmas. These TV sets will display the edges of the picture with very little overscan, unlike old CRT televisions. Yesterday on WGGB-DT, I could see some usually hidden data values flickering on the top line of my screen. I assume that this is something like Closed Caption data or similar. You need to tweak your overscan settings so that most people cannot see these lines that are not intended for display as pixels.

Top and bottom bars have gone away and picture crisp at the moment on CH 40 digital over the air, but the signal is still very low and fluctuates every ten seconds or so. I will see if the primetime schedule is in HD tonight.....

CH 40 in HD!!!

Can't wait for Alias tomorrow night and MNF...too bad it is so late ESPN has MNF next season I think..better late than never.

So when will Comcast be providing us with the WGGB HD Feed ?

It took awhile, but we're finally on in HD and I have the streached picture fixed. Workinh on 5.1 tonight, but it looks like we might have defective decoder...new out of the box! Will try to find out about Comcast.
Jim

While you are at it, try and find out if/when Charter will get the feed.

FYI, there seems to be periods where the motion (the camera pans across a courtroom) seem jerky, almost llike there is some hesitation in the decoding.

Keep up the good work.

Hope the flight went OK. You take your chances when flying into New England at this time of year. Hope you brought a nice warm jacket :)

GMA in HD this morning, but the ABCHD Bug is slightly off the screen and the top of the screen seems cut off slightly as well. May be my set, but the other HD channels don't show this. Maybe the decoder? Last night I got no signal for Boston Legal time slot and I didn't check for 5.1, will definitely do so tonight for Alias! Thanks Jim for your input and updates on the situation.

No 5.1 for now! The Dolby decoder needs to be returned for repair. However, we're working with Comcast to get us on by Christmas...or the week after! No word on Charter....bugging them might help.
Jim

No 5.1 for now! The Dolby decoder needs to be returned for repair. However, we're working with Comcast to get us on by Christmas...or the week after! No word on Charter....bugging them might help.
Jim

Jim,

Picture is shifted slightly up when HD feed is on. It is fine all other times though. Also there was no HD tonight. WTNH in CT had Santa Claus in HD.

No 5.1 for now! The Dolby decoder needs to be returned for repair. However, we're working with Comcast to get us on by Christmas...or the week after! No word on Charter....bugging them might help.
Jim


Here's one happy Comcast customer if you can make that happen. :)

Here's one happy Comcast customer if you can make that happen. :)
Let's keep our fingers crossed: Patriots on MNF 12/26.

MNF this past week looked great. I don't have 5.1 so I did not miss it.

It was nice to be able to watch the game on my big set on the first floor without having to spend an hour trying to line up the antenna on the 2nd floor to pull in WTNH-DT.

Let's hope the upcoming Pats game will also be broadcast on WGGB-DT in HD.

Surprise! Last night, I rescanned QAM channels on my LG LST-4200A STB and there was 86-1, WGGB-DT ABC-40, at 720P! I'm in Agawam, so I assume that the Comcast West system, fed from the Westfield East Mountain head-end, is providing the feed. Since I don't have one of the Motorola Comcast boxes, not sure if they have mapped the new channel yet. Audio was just 2-CH.
John

Nope I'm in Agawam with Comcast and it has not yet been Mapped to the 6412.
It would be nice if they got it up by Monday night's Patriot Game, but I'm not holding my Breath. Since MNF is gone after this year Ch 40 is a little too little and a little too late

Happy Holidays, WGGB 40 is now on Comcast. Channel 840. It took long enough but its on.

Comcast's guide as of noon today just lists 840, no call letters and no programming information...(to be announced). Looks like the last MNF game will be able to be recorded, but unless they replace that faulty encoder there won't be any 5.1 audio. All in all still a nice Christmas present....I believe ABC has some HD basketball games this Sunday as well. The audio seems to be going low to high on Comcast as well.

heard from the comcast rep that they began testing today, could last 2 weeks. Reception could be hit or miss during that period, but at least we'll have a shot at Monday's game & the bowl games.

It's been a long wait, but thanks to Sinclair/WGGB/Comcast for finally putting in the effort.

NBA double header is supposed to be in HD, is not via Comcast. I assume likewise for OTA?

Hope that's not a bad omen for Pat's tomorrow.

NBA double header is supposed to be in HD, is not via Comcast. I assume likewise for OTA?

In East Windsor, CT I'm able to receive both WTNH from New Haven and WGGB from Springfield over-the-air.

At 4:20PM, Sunday, December 25th, the Lakers/Miami Heat game is in high definition on digital Channel 8 but only in standard digital on Channel 40-1.

After reading in one of the posts that "Good Morning America" was now in high definition, I checked this morning around 8AM to find that it was in HD on WTNH but not in HD on WGGB. (On the HD network feed, the in-studio segments are in high definition while the on-location reports are in standard digital with "GMA" borders on each side.)

Last Sunday evening, an ABC movie was also in HD on 8-1, but only in standard digital on 40-1.

WGGB-DT's picture is excellent, and the audio does not drop out as it does on Channel 8-1. (To get Channel 8-1's audio back, I have to press the up or down channel key to temporarily leave the channel; when I return to the channel I'll have audio for about ten minutes before it cuts out again. This is with a Dish Network 811 receiver.)

WGGB-DT's only shortcoming is that the station apparently forgets to "flip the switch" to pass through high definition programming when the network offers it.

NBA double header is supposed to be in HD, is not via Comcast. I assume likewise for OTA?

Hope that's not a bad omen for Pat's tomorrow.


No HD for NBA for OTA but later that night the repeat of Desperate Housewives was indeed in HD both OTA and Comcast. Is there a telephone number that someone has to get a hold of the place where they "flip the switch"? I've noticed GMA is sometimes in HD and then not at others...someone asleep at the switch. I guess they need to get into the swing of things, but they sure as h*ll better be on the ball for the last MNF on broadcast tv tonight. Still no 5.1 and picture shifted up on two different HD tv's in my home.

I had Good Morning America in HD on Comcast 840 this morning!! Finally MNF and LOST in HD. What were the issues that took so long getting this up on Comcast? Anyway, I'm glad it's up. Now we need to get the Pats back to the Super Bowl!!

...Is there a telephone number that someone has to get a hold of the place where they "flip the switch"?...

On the Hartford HD AVS Forum, posters have suggested calling the station's newsroom (when it's after business hours) and either let them know of the problem or ask to be connected with the engineering department.

In checking for the contact numbers on WGGB's website, I notice that there is an ad near the top of the homepage for December 26's Patriots vs. Jets in "HD TV". (wggb (http://www.wggb.com/))

Channel 40's main phone number: (413) 733-4040

Channel 40's newsroom: (413) 733-8840

Channel 40's newsroom e-mail address: news40@wggb.com

I believe that occasional forum poster "WRacer", the Sinclair engineer based in St. Louis who is supervising the Channel 40 HD conversion project, periodically reads this Springfield forum for viewer feedback.

I also noticed that Desperate Housewives was finally in HD but there is a 1/2 second lipsync problem and an occasional image stutter (not the stutter artifact that you get when the signal level is too low, the stutter was actually really smooth). I don't have this problem with WCVB TV-5/DTV-20 out of Boston which I also receive OTA using a Sony HD-100.

Tonight during MNF the only lipsync problems I noticed were during the IBM commercials that were in HD. The only other issue I noticed was during the game, the right portion of the screen was missing from about the middle of the ABC-HD logo/bug.

I was missing a small piece (really just the right edge) of the logo as well, but was wondering if that's just overscan in my tv (I haven't gone into service menu to adjust).

Otherwise, I thought the broadcast looked very nice...had forgotten all the graphics they add (haven't watched MNF since getting the tv in April '04).

The logo wasn't cut off on my TV so you might have to adjust yours.

Thanks to everyone for the input. We have problems with the operations staff at WGGB. If you do not get a program in HD feel free to call me and I'll get it on if possible. I've gone over the procedured several times but....!!!

Jim
314-259-5757 office
314-852-8355 cell

Thanks to everyone for the input. We have problems with the operations staff at WGGB. If you do not get a program in HD feel free to call me and I'll get it on if possible. I've gone over the procedured several times but....!!!

Jim
314-259-5757 office
314-852-8355 cell


Thank you Jim for your continued thoughts and help. There are three Bowl games coming up next week on ABC and of course the SuperBowl....

Is there a timetable for the 5.1 fix? Thanks again!

Thank you Jim for your continued thoughts and help. There are three Bowl games coming up next week on ABC and of course the SuperBowl....

Is there a timetable for the 5.1 fix? Thanks again!

I just about have everything resolved to get 5.1 on in St. Louis, but I'm in Flint now and not sure when I can get back to WGGB. I'll do my best to get it on by the Super Bowl.
Jim

Thanks to everyone for the input. We have problems with the operations staff at WGGB. If you do not get a program in HD feel free to call me and I'll get it on if possible. I've gone over the procedured several times but....!!!

Jim
314-259-5757 office
314-852-8355 cell

Jim: I'm passing on my thanks + from several other friends who aren't on AVS for your help to get WGGB up on HD! I've heard some of the stories and know that their technical staff is very limited, so I can understand the issue. Too bad you can't set up some type of auto-HD detect & switching scheme! I'm watching via OTA and Comcast using an LG LST-4200A. The signal and quality of ABC-HD looks very good.

I've had a still image of I think Mark Russell since before noon (via Comcast). I don't think there's anything I need to watch today, so won't bother Jim or WGGB, but thought I'd notify them here in case they're checking.

While channel surfing between 2 and 3:20PM on Saturday, December 31st, I've noticed that the same "frozen" HD picture of a man in a suit holding a coffee mug has been on WGGB-DT for about an hour. I think that the mug has the "Good Morning America" logo on it, so I'm not sure if this freezing of the video happened early this morning and has been broadcast "frozen" ever since then.

Also noticeable is the black band that exists at the bottom of the screen due to the HD picture not filling the screen as it should. The man's head is slightly off the screen because the normal space above it is completely out of the picture. The entire image needs to be lowered to put the black band out of view.

I've also noticed that the Channel has re-mapped from 55-1 to 40-1.

The frozen image left the channel at 3:23PM, when regular programming returned.

While channel surfing between 2 and 3:20PM on Saturday, December 31st, I've noticed that the same "frozen" HD picture of a man in a suit holding a coffee mug has been on WGGB-DT for about an hour. I think that the mug has the "Good Morning America" logo on it, so I'm not sure if this freezing of the video happened early this morning and has been broadcast "frozen" ever since then.

Also noticeable is the black band that exists at the bottom of the screen due to the HD picture not filling the screen as it should. The man's head is slightly off the screen because the normal space above it is completely out of the picture. The entire image needs to be lowered to put the black band out of view.

I've also noticed that the Channel has re-mapped from 55-1 to 40-1.

The frozen image left the channel at 3:23PM, when regular programming returned.

Didn't read this until tonight. I was on the phone for an hour today correcting the problem. Again, don't hesitate to call me (see earlier thread) ....I could have corrected the problem on Friday....the monitor at the station failed, so no one noticed it. You viewers are sometimes very helpful in getting this new technogogy fine tuned.
Jim

All I can say is, holy crap pigs DO fly!! Thanks Jim for all your hard work getting WGGB in HD on Comcast--especially before the MNF game. When I first saw your post a while back saying WGGB would be on Comcast by Christmas I said to myself, "No f'in way. Pigs will fly first." Your contributions to this project--as well as to this forum--are invaluable. A thousand thank you's are in order.

great news. High Defintion is on WGGB channel 40. Notre Dame game looks great.

The Pats on ABC against the Jags on Saturday and hopefully in the Super Bowl. A million thanks for getting this up and running!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

switched back to SD...same with others?

back in hd

We have problems with the operations staff at WGGB.
Are you still looking for an operations tech or do you need a station engineer (or a bit of both?)

NICE!

Multichannel News:

New England Sports Network said Thursday that it will become the first regional sports network to air an entire season in HD when it delivers every game of the 2006 season for Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox.

The network added that it produced 152 live HD games in 2005, and it plans to boost that total to more than 225 in 2006.

In addition to game coverage, NESN will also originate more than 700 studio programs in HD this year, the network said.

NESN will fire the first pitch of its 2006 baseball season Friday, Feb. 17, with 45 days of Red Sox spring-training coverage including daily reports from Tom Caron and Don Orsillo on NESN SportsDesk.

Any word on Charter broadcast channels in HD? As of right now, I only get FOX in HD here in Chicopee. I have to use my anntena for cbs and abc. Don't really watch anything on nbc, don't know if it's available OTA.

BTW, thanks WGGB for getting HD OTA!

Just found out today, in time for the Pats game tonight. :)

Cheers.

You should also get PBS in HD from Charter.

Depending on your antenna height and other conditions, you should be able to pull in

Callsign Network Channel Physical Freq
WFSB-DT CBS 3.1 33.1 UHF antenna
WTNH-DT ABC 8.1 10.1 VHF antenna (amplified)
WTXX-DT WB 20.1 12.1 VHF antenna (amplified)
WWLP-DT NBC 22.1 11.1 VHF antenna
WVIT-DT NBC 30.1 35.1 UHF antenna
WGGB-DT ABC 40.1 55.1 UHF antenna
WGBY-DT PBS 57.1 58.1 UHF antenna
WTIC-DT FOX 61.1 31.3 UHF antenna

Because you already geet FOX & PBS through Charter, and ABC through WGGB-DT OTA, you are really only missing CBS, NBC and the WB network as far as "reachable" stations go in my experience.

WB is difficult to pull in without an amplified antenna mounted in a very high place.

NBC should be pretty easy. You have 2 options. Get a UHF antenna and point it Southeast and watch Channel 30 (you may need to play around with the direction and antenna placement to pull it in), or you can get a pair of VHF "rabbit ears" and use them to pull in Channel 22.

Channel 3 CBS is located in about the same direction as Channel 30, so you can probably find a "sweet spot" with your antenna that can pull in both stations.

Good Luck.

Anyone in western Mass. having trouble getting WTIC 61.1 OTA that usually gets it?

I started to watch LOST in HDTV tonight on WGGB TV-40 and I had switch back to the regular analog channel. The HDTV video signal was delayed close to 1/2 - 3/4 of a second behind the audio. The video and audio were in sync during SDTV commercials but everything went out of sync as soon as the show came back on. The same problem happened during Invasion.

Anyone in western Mass. having trouble getting WTIC 61.1 OTA that usually gets it?


It's baaack...thanks

No audio on Comcast 803 for the Pats game... Anyone else?

Edit: Fixed itself

There are still severe lipsync problems with WGGB-40 during hdtv broadcasts. Non-hidef shows and commercials are no problem. I also don't have any problems with WCVB TV-5/DTV-20.1 (ABC) out of Boston so I know its not a problem with my receiver but more than likely a problem (based on passed experience) with WGGB's PSIP?

Very OT, but does anyone here have any old PC100/133 168-pin memory laying around that tehy don't need? I'm trying to piece together a slave machine that will be mainly used to run some older HDDs that have a lot of music and digital pictures on them. I've only got a 64 Meg stick and I can't build a W2K OS system with that little memory.

Mike

Very OT, but does anyone here have any old PC100/133 168-pin memory laying around that tehy don't need? I'm trying to piece together a slave machine that will be mainly used to run some older HDDs that have a lot of music and digital pictures on them. I've only got a 64 Meg stick and I can't build a W2K OS system with that little memory.

Mike
IronHorse.....
I have a 128MB strip (PNY) - it's PC133 ONLY....Pulled it from an older PC, but still OK; I use DDR400 for most of my installs/builds now....You're welcome to it....All I ask is to be reimbursed for shipping...Plz see my PM to you....

Dale...

Thanks so much for the offer. I emailed you with mailing address, etc. If anyone else has any working PC100/PC133 sticks... I have two more empty slots :D!

I put an indoora antenna with the amp at my parents house and they're able to pick up PBS
WGBY and WGGB-40 from mass.
My question is does WGGB-40 broadcast in HD ? I was watching Road to perdiction on ABC from New haven and it was in HD but not at WGGB-40

I put an indoora antenna with the amp at my parents house and they're able to pick up PBS
WGBY and WGGB-40 from mass.
My question is does WGGB-40 broadcast in HD ? I was watching Road to perdiction on ABC from New haven and it was in HD but not at WGGB-40

I think they just got HD up and running recently. I get it on Ch. 55-4.

Dale...

Thanks so much for the offer. I emailed you with mailing address, etc. If anyone else has any working PC100/PC133 sticks... I have two more empty slots :D!
I did NOT get your e-mail!! Please try it again....
Also....I found another stick of 64MB PC100 to go with the 128...I'll send 'em both!! :D But please re-send your addy so I can get the stuff to you....Thanx!

Can anyone recommend a retailer and installer for Dish Network dishes? I live in a condo in the Springfield area and cannot install a dish myself.

Thanks.

Can anyone recommend a retailer and installer for Dish Network dishes? I live in a condo in the Springfield area and cannot install a dish myself.

Thanks.

Have you asked at the local BB or CC store? They should be able to provide you with
a contractor. Dish Network might also be able to help.

Can anyone recommend a retailer and installer for Dish Network dishes? I live in a condo in the Springfield area and cannot install a dish myself.

Thanks.

If you call Dish Network, they may have a local contractor install the dish, or, because Dish Network's regional hub is in Woburn, Mass., a Dish employee may be sent from there to your location.

When I phoned Dish to set up service, they sent two installers who were not directly employed by the company but who had an arrangement with Dish to do installations in the area.

They clamped the dish to a vent pipe on the apartment complex's roof during the month of February.

When leaves started coming out on the trees in May, my receiver lost contact with one of the two satellites. I called Dish again and they sent a company tech from Woburn who moved the dish to a better place on the roof where it could not only "see" over the trees, but also allowed my receiver to get much improved signal strengths for the two satellites (110 & 119).

A little disappointing to not have DD 5.1...however, on the pregame, I'm not seeing the audio delay reported earlier, so at least that's been fixed.

Audio during the superbowl was fine but there were a few HiDef commercials that had lipsync problems. The situation was the same during the previous playoff games. Those were fine except for the IBM commercials in HiDef. A few of the Boston stations had similar teething problems and in those cases (if I'm remembering correctly, this was 2-3 years ago) the sync problems were related to something in the PSIP?

Holy crap, imagine my surprise when my tv suddenly added a new channel to the lineup - 783 CBSHD! Thanks Charter. Two more networks to go :cool: Would have preferred NBC with the Olympics starting this week. I can get ABC with an antenna. But progress is progress :)

Now 795 - Universal HD has popped up! High Def Olympics? WooHoo!

It's still dark but I assume something is imminent.

Now 795 - Universal HD has popped up! High Def Olympics? WooHoo!

It's still dark but I assume something is imminent.

Just noticed it too. I called the 800#, but the CSR couldn't provide me with any details.

All they have to do now is offer the 2 remaining networks, ESPN2 HD, and the NBA PPV package- and I'll be content. :D

As of last night, I did not have Channel 783 CBSHD on my Charter HD Digital Cable system (Cablecard).

I did have 795 UNVHD but it was just a black screen - NOT AUTHORIZED

I tried doing a new channel auto scan, but neither channel appeared after the scan completed.

And now Universal HD is lit! Showing an old Nicholson movie right now... Sweet!

So both CBS and UniHD in one week. Keep 'em coming!

(BTW- this is via cablecard. Both stations automatically got added to my channel list without my intervention)

Am I correct in thinking you might have a Panasonic tv?

Another week has passed and LOST on WGGB TV-40/DTV-55 still has major lipsync issues. I had no problems with WCVB TV-5/DTV-20 out of Boston.

Another week has passed and LOST on WGGB TV-40/DTV-55 still has major lipsync issues. I had no problems with WCVB TV-5/DTV-20 out of Boston.

Sorry for the lip sync problems on WGGB. I'll be there next week and try to resolve or minimise the sync issues. Some sync problems are coming from the network.
Jim

Jim,

not to be a nag, but has there been any progress on this front?



Al

just a quick note that Comcast has also added Universal @ 846. From the programming forum it's not clear whether this is permanent or temporary to provide more Olympics coverage.

Update:

Both Universal HD (UNVHD) at channel 795 and WFSB-DT (CBS HD) at channel 783 are working on my SONY HDTV and Charter Cablecard.

I guess they wanted to try it out in Chicopee first.

Hopefully we can get NBC HD, ABC HD, FOX SPORTS NEW ENGLAND HD and TNT HD soon. I can get NBC and ABC OTA, but I still can't watch the Celtics lose again in HD yet.

Sorry for the lip sync problems on WGGB. I'll be there next week and try to resolve or minimise the sync issues. Some sync problems are coming from the network.
Jim
NO problem, my experience has been that every station in Massachusetts has had similar problems. I wasn't sure if you guys had hired anyone and I didn't see any responses here.

thanks for looking into it,
--jason

I noticed we're getting Universal HD on Comcast now. The Olympics look nice, much better than WWLP's Hi Def feed of it. I noticed they Have Battlestar Galactica but it seems they are running last season. Do they carry the new shows or only the Reruns?

Have any of you guys with cablecards noticed that some days stations call letters and some info is missing in the HD range and it still works when you select it? Or on other days, stations are missing? I've had Fox HD and INHD2 and INHD1 drop off the menu altogether at different times. Then they mystereiously come back.

Curious if it's just my setup or something that has happened to other Comcast users in this area.

Jim,

not to be a nag, but has there been any progress on this front?

Al

Got 5.1 on tonight...did anyone notice? Still have lipsunc issues...may not leave 5.1 on until corrected.
Jim

Got 5.1 on tonight...did anyone notice? Still have lipsunc issues...may not leave 5.1 on until corrected.
Jim

Just put on this morning's GMA and the lip sync issues persist with 5.1 still on. Do you know if WGGB is at their "maximum signal" power for OTA? The signal seems to fluctuate sometimes.

I noticed we're getting Universal HD on Comcast now. I noticed they Have Battlestar Galactica but it seems they are running last season. Do they carry the new shows or only the Reruns?

Only old stuff. Old seasons of things like Monk, L&O, Knight Rider, etc too. Visit http://www.universalhd.com for programming info. It's kind of cool to have old film-based series like Knight Rider converted to HD. Looks pretty good!

Have any of you guys with cablecards noticed that some days stations call letters and some info is missing in the HD range and it still works when you select it? Or on other days, stations are missing? I've had Fox HD and INHD2 and INHD1 drop off the menu altogether at different times. Then they mystereiously come back.

Curious if it's just my setup or something that has happened to other Comcast users in this area.

I have Charter, but FWIW, I have never seen that problem. In fact, I was amazed how the new channels like CBSHD and UNVHD just suddenly appeared as I was just surfing with channel up/down one day. I figured I would have had to re-scan or manually add them or something. I was pleasantly surprised.

What I don't like about the cablecard, though, is the fact that they can take control of OTHER inputs on my tv. The cablecard apparently allows the cable company to broadcast emergency message crawlers on the tv. The first time I saw it I was watching a SD channel but the crawler went clear across the screen like it was HD, so I was intrigued. Then I realized it did it even while watching recorded shows on the PVR and that it *wasn't* part of the recording. THEN I discovered that even if you change inputs to, say, DVD it STILL showed up!

I can appreciate the ability to know about a local emergency even if you are watching time shifted TV or a DVD or whatever. But they have direct access to the tv to muck up my movie or whatever I'm watching on DVD to display this giant blue scrolling test message every few days and I can't see any way to be able to control it or stop it! That is a big problem and I'm wondering if I should ditch the cablecard. I assume it's that that is allowing them this control, obviously a STB cannot take control of all of the tv inputs. Is there anyway to disable this?? It was never disclosed that this would be possible and I am not happy...

Only way I know:

Unplug the cable from the wall.

Only way I know:

Unplug the cable from the wall.

True, dat :D

Sorry for the lip sync problems on WGGB. I'll be there next week and try to resolve or minimise the sync issues. Some sync problems are coming from the network.
Jim
Still having problem with lipsync during hidef video. The SDTV format commercials have no problems and are just fine. :)

Still having problem with lipsync during hidef video. The SDTV format commercials have no problems and are just fine. :)

Thanks for the update. I think I have it resolved....will adjust on my next trip there and hope to add 5.1 audio. Waiting for one more piece of equipment.
Jim

Does anyone know the digital channel numbers for Comcast in Northampton area? I have a cable box and digital package, but my TV supports digital direct decoding and it's nice not to have to turn on the cable box all the time; I have most of the channels, but am missing some key ones and it's a major pain to go thru 76.1, 76.2, 76.3 etc, looking for them. I know that many a scrambled and won't be available, but for the ones that are, like local stations and basic cable it would be great to have a list. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

JMD

Is WWLP-22's volume extremely low for anyone else? I have to turn up my TV to around 40 (when 20 is sufficient for most of the other digital channels), and then some of the commercials will really blast me out. If I surf other channels after watching WWLP-DT I usually end up forgetting to turn down the volume first. My ears can't take much more of this.

I get it through Comcast not OTA, so the problem could be their's I guess. Anyone else having trouble?

Is WWLP-22's volume extremely low for anyone else? I have to turn up my TV to around 40 (when 20 is sufficient for most of the other digital channels), and then some of the commercials will really blast me out. If I surf other channels after watching WWLP-DT I usually end up forgetting to turn down the volume first. My ears can't take much more of this.

I get it through Comcast not OTA, so the problem could be their's I guess. Anyone else having trouble?


Volume is low for both Comcast and OTA...welcome to the world of constant adjustments—enjoy the ride because you have no choice other than not watching at all.

Thanks for the update. I think I have it resolved....will adjust on my next trip there and hope to add 5.1 audio. Waiting for one more piece of equipment.

Hello Jim!
Any word on when you are coming back to western Mass to fix the lipsync problem?

Have a great weekend!

Am I the only one experiencing audio drop-outs with Charter? I thought it was confined to CBS and it was a problem on their end, but now I've had it happen with many different channels, HD and not. Just a lot of random interruptions to the audio that are brief but cause the amp to switch out of 5.1 and back so there is a rather long break in the sound. Very annoying to say the least...

I think it is the stations, because I get audio dropouts from comcast on many of the local stations also.

Is anyone else still having major lipsync problems with OTA channel 40 / WGGB?

I can't comment on the lip sync issue as I avoid the channel when it's in HD because there is always a black band across the bottom of the screen and the tops of people's heads are nearly cut off. The picture is not "matted" right within the borders of the TV screen; it needs to be lowered a little to fill the screen properly.

When Channel 40 is in standard digital, the picture fills the screen correctly, extending all the way down to the bottom of the TV screen. But when standard digital commercials are shown within an HD program, they have that same black band at the bottom as the HD program has; they don't reach the bottom of the screen.

Only one or two posters have commented about this on this forum, so I'm wondering if this black band does not show up on cable, just over-the-air. The band is not present when the other area ABC affiliate, WTNH-DT, New Haven, is in high definition.

Is anyone else having problems with OTA reception of channel 57? I'm line of sight from transmitter, up at 480 feet above sea level, using a Sony WEGA 32" CRT HDTV with a directional outdoor antenna and a preamp mounted in the attic to make up for line loss. I get digital channels 3, 8, 18, 22, 30, 40, and 61 with no problem, and 20 with some pixelation and drop outs.

However, 57 picture has to be the worst of all. On 57.1, I get tons of pixellation anytime there is fast motion or a lot of motion (eg, field of grass waving in breeze) that rivals trying to watch streaming video on a dial-up connection. Lately, there has also been a video noise burst once every second which looks like analog snow covering entire picture for 1 or 2 frames. On 57.2, I often see lots of distracting fine dots surrounding people (transition area from people to background).

When 57.3 and 57.4 are up and running during the day, I get lots of audio noise, in the form of 3-4 rapid pops or snaps at irrgular intervals on all of 57's channels.

Another problem involves the guide feature- which is only correct when all of 57's channels are up and running. When only 57.1 and 57.2 are up on nights and weekends, the guide on 57.1 shows the programming for 57.2, and the guide for 57.2 shows no information available.

All this makes watching 57 HDTV painful at best, and unwatchable at worst. What's going on? Seems like they are trying to stuff 10 pounds of data into a 5 pound data stream. I tried emailing them about a month ago, but haven't gotten any reply.

Anybody else seeing this? I've also tried rotating antenna, removing preamp, adding attenuation in line, hoping that maybe I was overloading the tuner or getting multipath, but no luck. The diagnostics screen on TV shows 98% signal strength, lock, and no data errors when all this is going on.

Tom

You nailed it exactly. They ARE trying to cram 10 pounds of data. WGBY maintains multiple digital channels (Classic, Kids, World, Gavel, regular, and HDTV) but they only have their single channel worth of bandwidth to do it. So what do they do? Divide it up and narrow the pipelines like Cheney's arteries. If you try to watch the hdtv channel during the day or weekend or whenever there is programming on any of the other channels you will see exactly what you describe. There is nothing you can do with your antenna to fix it, you are getting a perfect signal as your diag screen shows. I get it via cable and it's the same way. There are times though when it's gorgeous, especially after 8pm during the week. Shows like Smart Travels can often look incredible and really show off the beauty of hdtv. Other times it makes you want to hang yourself for spending all that money to get *this*. :rolleyes:

I agree completely. 58-01, Channel 57's HD channel, is hands-down the best showcase for high definition programming, provided the program has been made from scratch in HD. Channel 58-02, which shows what analog 57 is airing, always has that fuzziness that one associates with an oft-played VHS tape.

I think that one of the reasons that Springfield's ABC affiliate Channel 40 has such a sharp digital picture is because the stream isn't diluted by multi-casting other sub-channels. The full bandwidth goes to one channel and not divied up for weather radar, etc.

Channel 3's sub-channel for Springfield (3-02) also has that fuzzy look with a lot of video noise. Last month the station added a third sub-channel (3-03) for the college basketball play-offs, and it looked like the type of video that you'd see on dial-up internet, with small blocks of pixels surrounding each player.

The term "broadcast quality" use to mean the best, most professional picture possible. From what I've seen, multi-casting just can't deliver it.

I am not having as much trouble with 57 except for the guide problems. I have 2 channel masters (one is a 3671 other I believe is a 3020 that got a little banged up)stacked on top of each other on roof and both hooked to a preamp and a rotor. I am located in southeast part of Springfield. Except for times when it is windy I don't have any trouble pulling a strong signal and I think the hd programming on 57.1 is probably the best quality of all the ota channels that I get. 3.1 is probably very close to that.
I am also getting 19(N.Adams 10),22,30,40,61 and just started pulling in ch.8 (around 70%)&59(just barely 50%) from New Haven this a.m. . Not sure if the conditions are just right but had not been able to receive ch. 8 since I started trying last november.

With the right equipment and the right bandwidth allocation, it is possible to multicast and get a decent quality HD subchannel.

But you need the right equipment and the right adjustments to pull it off. WFSB & WTNH don't seem to have any problems with 1 HD channel + 1 SD channel.

WFSB managed to have 1 HD channel + 2 SD channels and kept high quality on the HD channel at the expense of low quality on the 2nd SD channel.

If I were WGBY, I would leave "regular" for the analog broadcast frequency and then multicast only 1 additional SD channel, probably "PBS Kids" since it's probably their most popular daytime subchannel.

Otherwise, they will need to rethink the big picture in order to deliver all of their available content in high quality. Maybe they should broadcast digitally on two different frequencies like 57.1 (HD) & 57.2 (SD) and then 59.1 (SD) 59.2 (SD) 59.3 (SD).

Or maybe they can downscale thier HD signal to 720p and free up bandwidth for 2 standard def subchannels.

Just my $0.02...

TNT-HD has been added to Charter (Channel 797).

I'm watching the end of the Cavs-Wizards game right now, I'd the picture on par with Fox-HD.

Yep, excellent!! I hadn't ventured up that high in a while so thanks for the notice. I love the way they just pop up now and then. Always a welcome surprise. Keep 'em coming Charter! :)

:eek: Whoah! Almost as if on cue, Charter has ditched the WGBY HD feed and replaced it with WGBH HD instead. The quality is EXCELLENT. It's as if they could read our minds (or posts)! I hope this is permanent, the quality is so much better and the programming too. Right now instead of Jim Lehrer it's a HD special on Europe, France in particular tonight. We still have all the other wgby feeds so won't miss any programming, and the HD channel really should showcase HD which wgby certainly did not. Thanks Charter!

I'm surprised they're able to do that, WGBY should have network exclusivity (much like wggb preventing wtnh to bring in HD even when wggb had nothing to offer). Maybe it's different for PBS? or WGBY not as hung up? anyway, good for you, would love to see WGBH HD on Comcast...but that might signal the end of WGBY.

Lost in HD on WGGB OTA still has major lipsync issues. What I discovered today is that Good Morning America has no problems, the video and audio are in perfect sync!

Dangit! I was watching PBSHD live just now when it went dark for about 15 minutes then came back as WGBY :mad:

Any one else having problems with FOX 61 HDTV OTA from Hartford (channel 61.1)? I lost it for a week or two last month after they swapped some equipment. I was receiving it fine till tonight (May 17), when it disappeard out of the channel line-up on my TV again! I tried doing an "auto program rescan", and an "add new digital channels" scan, but TV still doesn't find 61.1.

Last time around, I even tried doing a factory reset and had no luck getting 61.1 back till it just popped up on it's own a few weeks later.

Well Comcast keeps adding channels. First it was ESPN2, now MTVhd and NESNhd have been added.

Anyone know the deal with ABC sports on WGGB-HD? I'm watching the world cup on it now, and not only is it 4:3, but the picture quality is crap. The games shown on espn2HD look great... I'm watching both channels through Comcast in Amherst.

I just went to HD so I'm not sure if this is the norm or not. If it is, I'm damn glad there won't be any NFL games on ABC anymore.

Well Comcast keeps adding channels. First it was ESPN2, now MTVhd and NESNhd have been added.

Hey Ralfy...

THey add this stuff but I still haven't seen anything on NESN HD. Last night I tried to watch the RS game thinking NESN HD would carry it. No dice. Then I tried INHD1/2 and no dice again. I tried ESPN HD and they have the NBA draft on? You'd think in New England they'd have two of the hottest 1st place teams (Mets & Red Sox) on _something_ HD but nothing. I woulnd up getting the game on the dish, on the conventional NESN 623 channel as I can't get locals (the leaves are here).

Oh well... see you saturday at the game. Look forward to tailgating.

Capt Mike

NESN HD carries every single regular season RS game and every one is in HD. I watched the RS-Mets game last night in glorious HD and it was a great game to boot! The only ones they haven't shown were the weekend interleague games where Fox had the rights. They start at 6 with the pregame, also in HD, and the games are at 7. I can't imagine that Comcast could be showing something else on that channel? Charter has had full time NESN HD long before I subscribed and I've watched nearly every game. Crowd surfing is awesome in HD at Fenway ;)

Can anyone in Hadley recommend Charter for HD? I dumped them 6 years ago due to crappy selection and service, and after dealing with the two major dish outfits I'm thinking of coming back. However, I have to say they don't make it easy, though...the Charter website shows that Hadley has HD channels in the lineup, but in another area it says HD "not available in your area." So which is it? Also, trying to talk to a csr involves insane wait times and inexperienced/unknowledgeable answers, then a tranfer to another department, etc...

I'd appreciate anyone from Hadley commenting on Charter's:
-HD selection
-Charter PQ vs. DTV PQ
-Pricing
-Blackout rate (storm-affected power-outs)
-Overall satisfaction

Rant/rave on! Many thanks.

My sister is in Chicopee and their HD content is pretty sparse.The only networks
you get in HD are Fox,CBS and PBS.You have to pay extra for NESN,Discovery HD,TNT and Universal (she doesn't subscribe to any premiums HBO,etc).

PQ in HD is good,in SD it's fair (IMO) and I know she pays a fortune for what little she gets.

Compared to what I get in suburban Boston,her service stinks.

I live in New Britain, CT, just southwest of Hartford. I can not receive WWLP, WGGB or WGBY on analog or digital. Comcast carries analog channel 57 on cable channel 12, but no 22 or 40. Comcast carries the primary channel of 3, 8, 20, 30, 61 ("3-1", "8-1", etc.) and PBS-HD to substitute WEDH-DT channel 42 of Hartford, which isn't on the air yet.

When I did a scan with the QAM tuner on my Sanyo 26" LCD HDTV, I also got NBC Weather Plus, which is really 35-2, a.k.a. "30-2". I don't pick up YES-HD or NESN-HD since those feeds are scrambled without a converter.

Depending on how I have my indoor antenna pointed, I can also get WCTX-DT (UPN) channel 39 (a.k.a. "59-1") from New Haven. I can't get a signal to lock on WUVN-DT (UNI) channel 46 (a.k.a. "18-1" Univision and "18-2" Telefutura) of Hartford. I get mixed results with WHPX-DT (I) channel 34 (a.k.a. "26-1" I, "26-2" PAX, "26-3" Worship and "26-4" Faith TV) of New London.

Getting back to the Springfield area, Merideth should do away with channel 33-3, a.k.a. "3-3" and devote more space to the "CBS 3" service on 33-2, a.k.a. "3-2". It'd be nice to have a better signal of that station soon since, on a rare occasion, they'd carry a different NFL game than the one WFSB is airing for Hartford/New Haven.

I see that "The Tube" is now showing on 55-3. Actually shows real music videos all the time and not all the other stuff on MTV these days....

I see that "The Tube" is now showing on 55-3. Actually shows real music videos all the time and not all the other stuff on MTV these days....

Shows up on my SONY OTA as 40.2 and is unwatchable as it pixelates constantly but the antenna strength is fine.

Shows up on my SONY OTA as 40.2 and is unwatchable as it pixelates constantly but the antenna strength is fine.

I get pixellation once a minute or so but my signal strength is fairly low as my antenna is pointed south (and is currently looking at a lot of leaves!)......

Try tuning the "real" channel number at 55.3 or 55.4 instead of the mapped channel number at 40.2

Somtimes for me 40.2 appears with no sound, but 55.3 works just fine.

Anyone have trouble getting the Notre Dame game on Saturday nite, CH 40 digital? When I tuned with my Radio Shack Receiver it would only come up with something called The Tube, a music show of some kind. Rescan didn't help. It's a new problem since I always get CH 40 fine. I suspect 40-1 had the game because I saw it flash by one time when I attempted a retune.

Try other channels besides 40-1

"The Tube" is normally broadcast on mapped channel 40-2, but sometime it appears by mistake at 40-1.

If 40-1,-2,-3,-4 don't work, please try the "real" channels for WGGB-DT, at 55-1, -2 ,-3 -4

and see if you can pull it in.

Also, try doing a "rescan" again from time to time. Maybe they will fix the channel mapping problem soon or already have done so. You won't see the "fix" until you do a rescan.

What's up with WTIC61 HD on Charter? A few weeks ago it suddenly changed with bright gray side bars instead of having everything stretched to wide. But it looks HORRIBLE, the gray is too distracting and the remaining picture is all but unwatchable with these grid like lines all over, especially during something like the Simpsons where it's really evident. Is this a station thing or a charter thing? I guess that channel is useless now except for primetime when it's HD. Will have to watch the regular analog channel for the rest :\

I think it is FOX61 that decided to use the grey bars for non-HD stuff. I also have it here with Comcast.

Yes, the grey bars must originate at the TV station.

What confuses me is why their 4:3 non-HD TV shows STILL look better on the analog FOX61 instead of the digital station. Those gridlines are annoying.

They grey side bars are actually a nice improvement over the previous annoying "stretch mode" for non-hd programming.

"Sister station" WTXX-DT channel 12 (a.k.a. "20-1") still stretches left and right during non-HD programming. Yes, it's WTIC-DT putting up the gray pillarboxes on either side as I get the same thing here in New Britain, CT (9 miles southwest of Hartford).

So I finally got my OTA antenna in the perfect position to pull in WGGB for the big Lost premiere. Imagine my massive disappointment when it was only 2 channel audio! The same for The Nine immediately following. So what is the current story with channel 40 and DD5.1 audio?

"Sister station" WTXX-DT channel 12 (a.k.a. "20-1") still stretches left and right during non-HD programming. Yes, it's WTIC-DT putting up the gray pillarboxes on either side as I get the same thing here in New Britain, CT (9 miles southwest of Hartford).

Well it sure makes it easy to identify local commercials. When watching Fox HD programming most commercials are with the black sides, the local ones pop over to gray and then back. Why would they ever think of doing this? The PQ of the show itself is absolutely atrocious and then the black to gray to black transitions are even more distracting. They are making their own channel completely unwatchable, what, are they just morons down there?

I think they are having some sort of problem with the de-interlacing when they upscale the local content from 480 interlaced up to 720 progressive.

Either way, if it is the deinterlacing or if it is the upscaling, the quality loss is quite noticeable.

Compare the quality of WTIC-DT local content versus WFSB-DT, for example, and the difference is stunning.

So I finally got my OTA antenna in the perfect position to pull in WGGB for the big Lost premiere. Imagine my massive disappointment when it was only 2 channel audio! The same for The Nine immediately following. So what is the current story with channel 40 and DD5.1 audio?
Did you have any problems with the picture and audio not being insync during HDTV? If the source material is regular SDTV 4x3 there was no problems, like during some commercials. As soon as Lost came back from one of those twenty-thousand commercials the audio was delayed again.

No I didn't notice that in this case but I'll look for it tonight. I have adjusted the delays with my receiver to accomodate even the cable HD channels which are often off a little too. It may have masked it a bit. Of course when Evangeline is on the screen I am not looking at mouths anyway ;)

So is it true that they don't have 5.1 right now? And what is the plan/future for that? It makes a huge difference in the experience....

I'd appreciate anyone from Hadley commenting on Charter's:
-HD selection
-Charter PQ vs. DTV PQ
-Pricing
-Blackout rate (storm-affected power-outs)
-Overall satisfaction

Rant/rave on! Many thanks.

Anyone have anything to add about Charter service and PQ? I also live in Hadley and just bought a HD set and am wondering if I should stick with D* and ungrade to digital or jump to the only cable option here, Charter.

Is the quality of the SD channels worse than D*? Any help?

Ken

I can't compare to satellite as I've always had cable, but the Chicopee Charter PQ is quite good, the few exceptions are due to the broadcasters like the miserable Fox61 HD and the bandwidth limited multi-channel WGBY suite. My major complaint with Charter is their paltry channel lineup, they still don't have GSN for sake of the gods! I have been living without my Match Game all this time. And still no NBC or ABC HD feeds. No HD movie channels like InHD or whatever. You pay over $7 for just a handful of HD feeds.