Originally posted by petersbar
I just checked my HiPix recording from last night and it appeared to be in SD. others experiences? its in Titan and on abc.com as being in HD..I only reviewed the first few minutes...

HD came in fine on my system, however, I lost sound in parts of the show!

Calabs: re Karen Cisco: OTA or Comcast?

isnt the flyers game supposed to be hd tonight?
it is according to the schedule at comcastsportsnet.com.

Originally posted by petersbar
Calabs: re Karen Cisco: OTA or Comcast?

sorry for the late response - OTA!

So, the rumor that more HD stations would be added on October 15 (this wednesday)... is that still just a rumor... or is there some truth to it?

Originally posted by bronowyn
So, the rumor that more HD stations would be added on October 15 (this wednesday)... is that still just a rumor... or is there some truth to it?

What stations were part of the rumor? We already have CBS,ABC,NBC,PBS,WB,UPN. Who is left? Or are you talking about Comcast? I'm one of those that got sick of cable/satellite (waste of my time and money) and went to "over the air" only. Been that way for a few months now and I'm completely happy, no plans to go back.

I'm talking about Comcast. And I have no plans to go OTA. ;) Anyone?

I don't suppose it has to do with this, but UPN 57 will be broadcasting Enterprise and Jake 2.0 in HD on Wednesday.

Can anyone confirm as to whether of not NBC is transmitting from the new tower? Are they now broadcasting at a higher signal strength? This is the one station I have trouble getting...the signal seems to float

Larry:

As far as I can tell, the NBC digital broadcast signal is still weak and at the old location. So you and I (and many others) must keep hoping for improved reception soon.

--Philly Tim

Hi,

FYI for Trek fans...

Barry - your question comes at a very good time - we have just made the following announcement -

Catch an all-new ENTERPRISE - in HDTV - Wednesday on UPN 57!

UPN 57 is pleased to announce that ENTERPRISE will be broadcast in HDTV on Wednesday nights, beginning this week!

Wednesday, October 15
8:00 pm ENTERPRISE - all new!
"Exile"
Hoshi receives a transmission from a powerful telepathic alien. Directed by Voyager's Roxann Dawson.

For more Enterprise information - you can sign-up for an "Enterprise Alert" at upn57.com.

Thanks and regards,

UPN57 Programming

not Comcast, but also on the 15th, VOOM will go live with all its unique HD stations

www.voom.com

Congratulations, Channel 57-1!

Jim Chase had told us months ago in this forum that you had the HDTV equipment but needed to get it up and running. Of course, Jim has since been elevated to some sort of corporate weasel position, so you guys now get all the credit for completing this work! (Just kidding, Jim!)

Jim also told us that 57-1 would be broadcasting a series of films in HD. Some of the films have already aired (not in HD, of course), but I wonder if anyone else has the titles and dates of the remaining films in this series?

--Philly Tim

P.S. And as long as I am asking questions about the CBS 3/UPN 57 family, what is the latest ETA for the HDTV premiere of "The Late Show with David Letterman"?

I LOVE the fact that Enterprise will be in HD from now on, but I am SERIOUSLY upset by the fact that it airs in the same exact time slot as Smallville. Who were the idiots (I blame WB) that decided to do this??? Makes no sense -- there are really only a handful of scifi shows on TV so they decide to put the top 2 on at the same time? For all the masses with crappy TVs and VCRs they can record one, but these are the only high definition scifi shows on TV and there aren't to many people that can record HD, even those that can probably can't record and watch a different HD show at the same time. Why couldn't WB air smallville on another night? Monday or Tuesday would be fine.

Any chance UPN could move Enterprise to 9PM? (swap it with Jake?)

I guess as long as I'm venting -- I must say I really miss the New Twilight Zone too (is it gone for good, or did they just move it to some slot I don't know about?) Jake is pretty weak if you ask me...

Cool news on 'Enterprise' in HD! Now, only if the creators improved the show itself... ;)

Originally posted by TraderGordo
[BMakes no sense -- there are really only a handful of scifi shows on TV so they decide to put the top 2 on at the same time?

Any chance UPN could move Enterprise to 9PM? (swap it with Jake?)

[/B]

They did that on purpose to attempt to steal viewers from Enterprise. UPN57 used to re-run Enterprise late Saturday afternoon. Not sure if that is still the case. Or just watch S-ville on Easy view.

Originally posted by Barrybud
They did that on purpose to attempt to steal viewers from Enterprise. UPN57 used to re-run Enterprise late Saturday afternoon. Not sure if that is still the case. Or just watch S-ville on Easy view.

See that's what makes it even more annoying -- WB not only moved to same night, but they GOT RID OF the Sunday encore of Sville (instead they decided to re-air the first season on Sundays).

I'm still not seeing the advantage for WB. OK -- so they want to steal enterprise viewers. I don't see how that makes financial sense. First, you end up pissing off a lot of people. Second, you actually LOSE viewers overall. If they ran on different nights, they would have the same audience plus+, but by running on the same night they now SPLIT audiences between the two networks, thereby resulting in fewer total viewers than they would have otherwise had. Even if every Enterprise fan "switched over" which isn't very likely, they would STILL only have the same number of viewers they had when they weren't going head to head...

What am I missing?
So just curious -- fans of both shows -- which will you watch now that both are HD? I guess I'll watch Enterprise in HD this week just for the novelty of it. But next week will probably go back to Sville instead, and watch a crapy vcr recording of Enterprise which is what I've been doing anyway...

Is it me, but 29-1 signal is good 100% (hughes E86) for like a min, then drops below 30, then right back to 100%???!?!

damm annoying, cant watch tv!

mitch

Philly Tim
We tested the WPSG HD feed today. Put a feed of Enterprise on around noon, just to make sure everything works. Danged if we did'n get some calls complaining that we interrupted Peoples Court.
We'll be ready tomorrow night.

Hmmmmm, weasel position? Not sure about that, but I'm getting involved in a lot more TV stations now!!!
CUL Jim

Originally posted by Jim Chase
Philly Tim
We tested the WPSG HD feed today. Put a feed of Enterprise on around noon, just to make sure everything works. Danged if we did'n get some calls complaining that we interrupted Peoples Court.
We'll be ready tomorrow night.

Hmmmmm, weasel position? Not sure about that, but I'm getting involved in a lot more TV stations now!!!
CUL Jim

Thanks Jim - Sounds to me like you should be getting involved with WCAU as well to light a fire under their...................feet! ;)

WPSG-DT (57) does not show up on my Sony HD200. I seem to remember some discussion on PSIP issues. Is there anything I can do to force the channel in there?

Thanks.

Originally posted by pabuwal
WPSG-DT (57) does not show up on my Sony HD200. I seem to remember some discussion on PSIP issues. Is there anything I can do to force the channel in there?

Thanks.

They fixed their PSIP issues a while ago, but check 32-1 for mapping.

Originally posted by Jim Chase
Philly Tim
We tested the WPSG HD feed today. Put a feed of Enterprise on around noon, just to make sure everything works. Danged if we did'n get some calls complaining that we interrupted Peoples Court.
We'll be ready tomorrow night.

Hmmmmm, weasel position? Not sure about that, but I'm getting involved in a lot more TV stations now!!!
CUL Jim


Its 8pm - Just watched the opening sequence .... FABULOUS !!!!!

Re: WPSG-DT

quote:
Originally posted by pabuwal
WPSG-DT (57) does not show up on my Sony HD200. I seem to remember some discussion on PSIP issues. Is there anything I can do to force the channel in there?

Thanks.


They fixed their PSIP issues a while ago, but check 32-1 for mapping.

It doesn't show up on my hd200 either

ditto Grady...another example of something I'll watch just for the splendor of HD...

Originally posted by petersbar
ditto Grady...another example of something I'll watch just for the splendor of HD...

Looked good except for all the yellow horizontal lines that kept bolting across the screen.

Originally posted by mitchjs
Is it me, but 29-1 signal is good 100% (hughes E86) for like a min, then drops below 30, then right back to 100%???!?!

damm annoying, cant watch tv!

mitch

Probably due to the high winds we're experiencing tonite in the Philly area.

If you are in a wooded area the foliage whipping around can cause severe multipath. I'm having a LOT of trouble view anything DTV. Forced to go to Comcrap regular cable for tonight's viewing.

:(

GO CUBBIES!

I thought that was just me seeing yellow horizontal lines. What up with that?

"yellow horizontal lines" same here on UPN

I saw lots of yellow and/or green horizontal lines on UPN. Also, during Jake 2.0, I saw a block of dot pattern that periodically popped up for a second on the bottom of the screen (at varying heights).

Looks good, but clearly needs a little technical work.

Yes, green horizontal lines now & then, but PQ was quite good. Congrats UPN!

Just happy to know it was not just me and my 2 day old HDTV OTA box. ;)

I hope to be joining you guys in receiving OTA HD soon, have a pre-order in on a GWIII, and a Samsung SIR-T151 on the way. The problem is the antenna... I would like to put it outside but I don't have a big ladder, and kind of afraid of heights anyway. Putting it in the attic would be problematic for the wiring.

Does anyone know of professional installers in the Allentown/Bethlehem PA area?

Sorry if this is inappropriate for this thread, if so I will delete it.

MSmith and All:
The intermittant yellow lines were not due to the wind or your STB's. They were generated by our MCR switcher because the network frame sync. was not properly phased into the switcher. We use a Utah Scientific HD MCR switcher which, for what ever reason, will throw up a yellow full field if the input signal is lost. In this case it was right on the edge. We had checked out the net digital receiver and frame sync on Tuesday. Unfortunately on Wednesday night we had a problem with that receiver and had to use our backup CBS receiver, which we thought was properly phased. This will all be worked out by next Wednesday.
On another subject, did anyone notice any audio issues. I have never watched Enterprise before but the audio seemed echo'ey ( is that a word? ) and less centered than our usual CBS HD programming.
CUL Jim

Thanks for the info about the video glitch, Jim.

Now could you give the chief engineer at WPVI a friendly call and tell him about the cause of this problem? Their digital HD signal frequently shows those artifacts. I cannot imagine they are not aware of the flaws. Maybe they just need a hint about how to correct it?

Sorry, can't comment on the audio, since I missed the "Enterprise" broadcast. But congrats again to your fabulous crew!

--Philly Tim

I did not notice an audio problems at all - then again, maybe I was too distracted by those yellow line - ha ha ha. No audio problems I noticed

Originally posted by Professor Dave
I did not notice an audio problems at all - then again, maybe I was too distracted by those yellow line - ha ha ha. No audio problems I noticed

I definitely noticed the audio was "different". But since it isn't broadcast in DD (at least I didn't get it in DD) I didn't think too much of it. To tell you the truth, I thought the audio sounded BETTER than "normal", particularly at the beginning of the show when Hoshi was hearing the whispers, there was a very distinct suround sound feeling.

I did not noticed and sound problem.

This question is for Anyone
No DD 5.1 when watching Enterprise or Jake 2.0. Why not and will it ever be broadcast in DD ? I noticed ABC HD always comes with DD 5.1 audio

Thanks

Originally posted by Jim Chase
MSmith and All:
On another subject, did anyone notice any audio issues. I have never watched Enterprise before but the audio seemed echo'ey ( is that a word? ) and less centered than our usual CBS HD programming.
CUL Jim

I did notice that "echo-ey" effect. It seemed there was some processing to create a wider sound field from a two channel broadcast. It seemed to fit the needs of the show but would be distracting on a straight drama. I didn't stay for Jake 2.0 so I can't compare with that show.

Jim -
Yes, I heard the echo effect on the sound. I was hoping for 5.1, but I'd settle for decent stereo. I generally leave my receiver in "Auto Detect" mode, which kicks in Dolby ProLogic for 2-channel stuff (putting most, but not all sound in the center channel).

I don't get the echo effect on any other 2-channel digital stations.

Originally posted by TraderGordo

What am I missing?
So just curious -- fans of both shows -- which will you watch now that both are HD? I guess I'll watch Enterprise in HD this week just for the novelty of it. But next week will probably go back to Sville instead, and watch a crapy vcr recording of Enterprise which is what I've been doing anyway...

I cant explain exactly why they do it, but they always try to match their best against the competition. Just like CBS runs Survivor again NBC's Friends. They hope you are tuning them in and taping the other show.

MSmith and all:
No 5.1 on WPSG for now. We need about $45K worth of equipment and the net is not equipped yet. We are using the old, pre 5.1 channel, CBS net distribution stuff for UPN. It works for now.
CUL Jim

To All:
Thought you might be interested. I just realized an important date is approaching. I can’t believe it has been 5 years since KYW-DT hit the air. On October 29, 1998 we broadcast our first HiDef program, the launch of John Glenn into space. We did it with a 1KW temporary transmitter and an antenna on top of the Continental Building at 4th and Market St. I don’t know how many people saw that broadcast. Other than us I know at least one person did. I got a call from Sim Coliner, WCAU chief engineer at the time who told me it looked great.
Our original air date was November 1st, 1998 and we missed it by 1 day. On November 2nd, 1998 we hit the air with our main antenna at about 1500 ft. amsl and our main transmitter at 787kw erp. We’ve been on the air 24 hours a day since except a few times the transmitter broke. It was quite a struggle to make the November 1st air date. I can remember assembling the transmitter with no roof on the building, and I mean literally no roof. When the contractor was ready to pour the roof we put plastic sheets over the transmitter to keep concrete from falling on it. Now that was fun!!!
CUL Jim

Jim, as KYW-DT is the only station in Philly I can get OTA and it is not available (yet) on Comcast, I can only say THANKS for your efforts!

Three cheers for Jim Chase and his classy colleagues at KWY!!!!

--Philly Tim

Originally posted by Philly Tim
Three cheers for Jim Chase and his classy colleagues at KWY!!!!

--Philly Tim

I agree - having that kind of involvement and dedication here is great!!! Now, if he could just go in and get the COMCAST deal done so that the rest of us can enjoy the fruits of his labor! :)

David

If I were a betting man, I would bet a deal is reached in time for carriage of the Super Bowl. Just a hunch. I would also expect any deal to carry with it carriage of WPSG-DT as well.

Originally posted by JWhip
If I were a betting man, I would bet a deal is reached in time for carriage of the Super Bowl. Just a hunch. I would also expect any deal to carry with it carriage of WPSG-DT as well.

Jwhip,

Knowing how reliable you have been, I just bet the house on it.

:)

THANKS!

David

I'm a big fan of Jim Chase, KYW and CBS.

Jim makes what is a pretty sad state of DT affairs in Philly much better.

Jim -

Thanks for the info.

Any chance of UPN 57 using the CSN HD equipment for a Flyers broadcast this year?

Thanks for all of the Philly HD info guys! I just got my HD receiver setup and have a questions about some of the rebroadcast info. Last week UPN broadcast Startrek: Enterprise in HD, but when they rebroadcast it Sunday it wasn't. Is there a reason why it wouldn't be broadcast in HD since they have the capability or is the tech @ UPN still under development that they didn't want to risk it? Or is this going to be a general trend of the stations, only broadcast the original in HD and everything else is in SD?

Thanks for the info

Wasn't the last date we got the first week of October for the new transmitter? Why do they even bother suggesting dates when they never ever keep them? This was supposed to be up LAST September (2002)

DrPyro
The Sunday night version of Enterprise is a seperate feed with different barter spots and is not yet being fed in HD from the net. We do record the Wednesday night feed in HD for future use, but because of the different commercials, can't use it Sunday night.
CUL Jim

Is the HD version of Enterprise broadcast on ch 57 or is there a separate channel for HD?

Egan:

I have not yet caught the HD broadcast of "Enterprise," but it is my understanding that the HD version is broadcast on Wednesday nights on UPN's channel 57-1 ( WPSG-DT), which is really channel 32 to your tuner.

--Philly Tim

Jim-

Thanks for the information, I was hoping for an "acceptable" explanation such as what you offered. I'll be sure to watch it on Wednesdays!

Thanks
Dave

Originally posted by MSmith
Jim -

Thanks for the info.

Any chance of UPN 57 using the CSN HD equipment for a Flyers broadcast this year?

Don't forget Sixers games (and Phillies games). Since JWhip has been saying that the Wacko Center will have it's own gear soon (right?) it would be great if all 42 Flyers and Sixers home games would be HD no matter what the network. It's just a shame we don't even get all the Eagles games in WS yet, let alone HD.

Has anyone else had a problem with Channel 10 HD reception the last few nights? I only had half a picture, until they turned the HD off. The top half of the screen was dark--I've never seen anything like it.

Originally posted by jandron
Has anyone else had a problem with Channel 10 HD reception the last few nights? I only had half a picture, until they turned the HD off. The top half of the screen was dark--I've never seen anything like it.

I've had HD for a while and never experienced anything like that. I then got Comcast out on Sunday to install a 2nd 5100, and saw the problem that you are describing. Started Monday night on Leno - happened last night during primetime. I assumed that it was a problem with my cable in the house.

What happened was the top half of the screen turned black - and it had thin green diagonal lines running through the top.

Do you have Comcast, or get it OTA? Anyone else?

THANKS!

David

Yes, that's just the problem I had. I was on Comcast--I also have the Samsung 150 STB, but I didn't double check the problem on the Samsung.

Jim

HOW PERFECT!!!:(

My wife is not a big believer in HD. I figured, the perfect way to show her the difference is to flip Leno from SD to HD, and then I get this screen which the color scheme from Alien(s). That may also explain why Whoopi was in SD only last night. From what I understand, Comcast is just passing the transmission that they receive.

Anyone else out there with problems on NBC?

THANKS!

David

I noticed a problem when attempting to watch Law and Order SVU last night.

When the show first came on, I only saw 1/2 the HD signal.. the other 1/2 (the top 1/2) was black. Suddenly it blinked, and we were getting an SD signal.

I have Comcast. No antenna.

(I think that's NBC... I was looking for something HD to watch last night.)

Let's see . . . last week - reruns. This week (so far) no HD. Maybe we'll be lucky and get to watch a NEW West Wing tonight in HD.

We'll see.

David

Any other comcast customers notice on CSN-HD when they are just upconverting SD shows like daily news live or the Flyers game I'm currently watching that there is frequent jerkyness like frames are being dropped?

Originally posted by Philly Tim
Egan:

I have not yet caught the HD broadcast of "Enterprise," but it is my understanding that the HD version is broadcast on Wednesday nights on UPN's channel 57-1 ( WPSG-DT), which is really channel 32 to your tuner.

--Philly Tim
Enterprise on 57-1 on wednesday night is in hd, but the Sunday rerun is not.
mprh

WCAU - last night during Ed, I kept getting audio dropouts.
I'm using a Sony HD200 with a Silver Sensor antenna. Previously, this was not a problem.

Does KYW broadcast Sunday football games in HD?

Originally posted by MSmith
WCAU - last night during Ed, I kept getting audio dropouts.
I'm using a Sony HD200 with a Silver Sensor antenna. Previously, this was not a problem.

At least where I am in Central Jersey :p

You guys sure go to great lengths to keep perpetuating this myth...:rolleyes:

And surprisingly, the folks over at WCAU are quite mum about the situation.



:mad:

Originally posted by Egan
Does KYW broadcast Sunday football games in HD?

Only if they are carrying the Network's HD game of the week.

Check the TV Guide or whatever means you can use locally to see which game KYW is carrying....and then try the programming forum to see if that is the "HD" game of the week on CBS.

I believe the Eagles-Jets game is *supposed* to be the HD game of the week. So, yes, this week you'll see it in HD on KYW.

Thanks jaypb, my antenna is scheduled for installation on 11/6 so I won't get to see that game in HD, which is frustrating as I'm a Jets fan and don't get to see many of their games.

Originally posted by Egan
Thanks jaypb, my antenna is scheduled for installation on 11/6 so I won't get to see that game in HD, which is frustrating as I'm a Jets fan and don't get to see many of their games.

You'll get to see the Jets in HD on 12/20.

Don't know how you get your pay HD programming though (Cable/Dish/Directv)
:confused:

No HD on my cable (RCN) where I live, I will switch to DirecTV when HD DirecTivo comes out next year. Until then it will be whatever I can pull in OTA.

Originally posted by Egan
No HD on my cable (RCN) where I live, I will switch to DirecTV when HD DirecTivo comes out next year. Until then it will be whatever I can pull in OTA.

It's unfortunate that you can't get RCN's HDTV in Bethlehem. We live in W. Allentown and have been mostly satisfied with the HD selection and delivery. The only disappointment is no CBS or Comcast Sportsnet HD. Since Service Electric has both, hopefully RCN will get those two channels wrapped up soon.

Originally posted by flyersfan
It's unfortunate that you can't get RCN's HDTV in Bethlehem. We live in W. Allentown and have been mostly satisfied with the HD selection and delivery. The only disappointment is no CBS or Comcast Sportsnet HD. Since Service Electric has both, hopefully RCN will get those two channels wrapped up soon.

Yeah, I've pestered RCN repeatedly for info on when they will offer HD in my area, usually get nowhere, last guy I talked to said they are wiring in Allentown and had no plans for this area yet.

At this point I'm ready to jump to DirecTV, have a new 60" Sony LCD and I don't think I'm going to be satisfied with only OTA HD, I don't really watch that much network TV as it is.

Originally posted by Egan
Yeah, I've pestered RCN repeatedly for info on when they will offer HD in my area, usually get nowhere, last guy I talked to said they are wiring in Allentown and had no plans for this area yet.

At this point I'm ready to jump to DirecTV, have a new 60" Sony LCD and I don't think I'm going to be satisfied with only OTA HD, I don't really watch that much network TV as it is.

I don't know if this necessairly means anything but I work in Norristown , right near a the local RCN office and bumped into a RCN employee at the barber. He said that things weren't looking good over there. They had hired a new training class who were all told to go home on their first day. RCN didn't need any new reps after all.

He was worried about RCN closing down the whole office.

My guess is that if RCN is having cashflow problems HighDef might be the last thing they worry about rolling out.

Thanks for the info on WCAU. I'm frequently frustrated by this channel as it comes and goes seemingly at will. At least MAYBE they're working toward a better transmitter (based on previous posts I read from the last year). Ours went off last week and as of yesterday was still off. Any further updates on what they're doing?

Thanks, Scoob

Just saw HD on KYW for the first time on my new 60" GWIII, holy cow it was spectacular, better than any HD feed I had seen previously in a showroom. And I pulled it in with a dinky Radio Shack indoor antenna. Can't pull in any other stations. Whatever you guys are doing at KYW, keep up the good work!

Not cool at all. All this 3rd channel does is degrade the quality of their main channel, especially when showing HD. What a waste. I know WNEP in Wilkes-Barre does the same thing and it degrades their HD picture. WPVI is the only Philly digital channel multicasting. I don't find watching doplar radar to be cool or useful at all. One subchannel is bad enough but two is simply unacceptable, especially on something as useless as a radar picture.

I replaced my Zenith 520 w/a Sony HD300 last night & I get all OTA channels except 57-1 (34-1). Is this channel currently off the air?

Originally posted by JWhip
Not cool at all. All this 3rd channel does is degrade the quality of their main channel, especially when showing HD. What a waste. I know WNEP in Wilkes-Barre does the same thing and it degrades their HD picture. WPVI is the only Philly digital channel multicasting. I don't find watching doplar radar to be cool or useful at all. One subchannel is bad enough but two is simply unacceptable, especially on something as useless as a radar picture.

Yes, does anyone know an engineering contact for WPVI? I would like to lobby for BOTH subchannels to be removed.

What good does the 6.2 channel do? It is just a copy in SD of the digital channel (which they have over the regular air anyway). The 6.3 doppler radar is just idiotic.

I have definitely noticed that ABC Monday Night Football is not as crystal clear as CBS high definiton football. Now that could be due to the upconversion form 720p to 1080i (as my set does not show 720p), but the subchannels definitely won't help.

They are simply wasting bandwidth.

Anyone have a contact for WPVI (not the stupid news email) - but a real email address?

I applaud WPVI for sending out the radar picture on 6.3.

The picture is very static, which means that it takes very little bandwidth away from the HD channel.

I don't agree with their broadcast of identical material on 6.2 in 4:3. That is a waste in my mind. Apparently, they're using it to get their SD signal to some cable systems.

Originally posted by MSmith
I applaud WPVI for sending out the radar picture on 6.3.

The picture is very static, which means that it takes very little bandwidth away from the HD channel.

I don't agree with their broadcast of identical material on 6.2 in 4:3. That is a waste in my mind. Apparently, they're using it to get their SD signal to some cable systems.

How is it useful to show a radar picture forever? Particularly on clear days. Do I need to know that there is still rain in the area -- can't I look out the window for that?

Radar is a gimmick for us -- but is useful for weather forecasters.

You can always pull it up on the internet anyway.

I tried to take a look at the radar image on WPVI 6.3 and each time I tuned to it, my Samsung SIR-T165 would reset itself. I've never seen this behavior before with another signal. The box has been rock stable for almost a year.

Has anyone else seen this with a Samsung or any other box?

Agree - WHAT A WASTE!!

WLVT PBS in the Legigh Valley has 4 sub-channels - think this is setup for the cable networks = PROBLEM is I once they did this they no longer show ANY HDTV. Needless to say my subscription dollars have stopped = told them so in e-mail - no response.

Is 57-1 (34-1) currently on the air? Could someone please check? I couldn't pick it up last night on my new Sony HD300. Thanks in advance.

Originally posted by Brajesh
Is 57-1 (34-1) currently on the air? Could someone please check? I couldn't pick it up last night on my new Sony HD300. Thanks in advance.

57-1 is currently on the air showing Martha Stewart.

Originally posted by RayN
57-1 is currently on the air showing Martha Stewart.

34-1 is a PBS station (WYBE???)
32-1 is the digital station for UPN out of Philly.

Maybe that's the problem?
:confused:

Thanks. That's part of the problem -- I confused 32-1 with 34-1. I did however try 57-1 last night & got nothing. Was it ok last night? I'll try both 57-1 & 32-1 again when I get home tonight.

Originally posted by Brajesh
Thanks. That's part of the problem -- I confused 32-1 with 34-1. I did however try 57-1 last night & got nothing. Was it ok last night? I'll try both 57-1 & 32-1 again when I get home tonight.

On my E86, tuning to either 57-1 or 32-1 brings up the digital channel. What CONTINUES to kill me is the fact that I don't have any on screen guide info about what's on....PSIP issue I guess. Does anyone get any guide info for 57-1 (or 32-1). I believe my E86 just states "Local Channel" or something along those lines.

Maybe now that 57-1 actually has some HD programming they'll get the on screen info part going? :confused:

I applaud WPVI for sending out the radar picture on 6.3.
The picture is very static, which means that it takes very little bandwidth away from the HD channel.
Agreed... Anyone have a PC HDTV card connected to their OTA antenna that can tell us the bandwith used by this 6-3 subchannel? I have to believe it's well under 1MBPS... If it isn't, it should be...
I don't agree with their broadcast of identical material on 6.2 in 4:3. That is a waste in my mind. Apparently, they're using it to get their SD signal to some cable systems.
Me neither, but I do recall in the earlier days of this (now immense) thread, there was word from someone with apparent authority (maybe even a PVI engineer) that the 6-2 SD feed WAS to support cable distribution due to some "temporary" situation. At the time, it was believed to be short term, but obviously is still with us. Actually, anyone with that PC card, what's the typical bandwith of this 6-2 subchannel too? Looks quite pixellated on my TV (always has, not just since 6-3). I bet they have the BW real low on that too...

- Mike

That was me. I had emailed with the Director of Engineering, James Gilbert. He was not happy with my criticisms on the sub-channel during the NBA Finals.

He stated the sub-channel was used by cable (Comcast?) and it would be gone by MNF. Obviously, that's not the case, as they've added another one. He stated the cable HD feed is identical to the OTA feed.

720P requires less bandwidth so maybe they can get away with this on still shots. But I think high-motion shots will suffer.

I got the idea this guy was fairly arrogant and the way it is is the way it is.

If word is true on Channel 7 coming up later this week or next week, I won't care anyways. The Philly DT situation is pretty pathetic.

I don't know about you guys but 14.7 mbs for an HD feed is just inadequate to produce a high quality HD picture. I have noticed the quality of WPVI's picture getting worse and now I know why. BOth of these subchannels have to go.

Last night's MNF was in SD - presumably because the HD truck was in the wrong city (San Diego).

watching local philly fox over sat feed i have had a sound synch problem since about the middle of the mlb playoffs.
it's continued tonight for 24.
anyone else?

Originally posted by CinemVidGuy
[B]Not true. WUVP-DT 66 is multicasting. Although none of thier programming is HD, nor in english either :). If you want to get nitpicky, you could complain that WPHL-DT is broadcasting a second useless mono AC3 stream and only kicking out 1080i video at 13.9Mbs.

To be fair, my measurements for WPVI are not apples to apples. The clip I recorded yesterday was not showing real HD content. It's possible that WPVI ups the HD bit rate back to 15.3 if it was broadcasting HD from ABC. These rates can varry.



Well even IF WPVI upped the rate to 15.3 -- that is STILL below even FOX -- which is broadcasting NOT technically in high definition. How sad that FOX outperforms WPVI in bandwidth allocated to the main digital station.

This is pathetic. It looks like anything below 17 and pic quality suffers.

We need to bombard ABC here with emails. Anyone got the email of that arrogant engineer?

Originally posted by JWhip
I don't know about you guys but 14.7 mbs for an HD feed is just inadequate to produce a high quality HD picture. I have noticed the quality of WPVI's picture getting worse and now I know why. BOth of these subchannels have to go.


Any stats or any information out there as to what bandwidth is "necessary" for a true high definition picture at 720p? If so, we can present that to WPVI.

Anyone else having problems with Comcast SportsNet tonight - or is it just me? I lost it somewhere in the 4th quarter of the Sixers game.

THANKS!

David

I lost Comcast HD, ABC HD,NBC HD,PBS hd, for about 20 minutes. They're back on now for me.

Local comcast office had no idea there were any problems.

Originally posted by Dan Bither
I lost Comcast HD, ABC HD,NBC HD,PBS hd, for about 20 minutes. They're back on now for me.

Local comcast office had no idea there were any problems.

THANKS!!! Just checked - all's back. Now I can watch Leno in HD.

David

I sent WPVI a very lengthy e-mail about this yesterday. I doubt they will respond. Snt via their web page. I will let you know if they do respond. I have been noticing lip sync issues on WTXF-DT for several weeks. It is only only the national feed. I called them yesterday and spoke to someone in the master control room. They were not even aware of it. Obviously, they do not monitor their signal.

Got all OTA channels, including 57-1, to show up on my Sony HD300. I had to do a re-scan of locals. The box, after initial setup/channel scan, just wouldn't show 57-1 or 32-1 (even when I manually punched in the numbers). Weird, but it's working fine now.

Originally posted by JWhip
I sent WPVI a very lengthy e-mail about this yesterday. I doubt they will respond. Snt via their web page. I will let you know if they do respond. I have been noticing lip sync issues on WTXF-DT for several weeks. It is only only the national feed. I called them yesterday and spoke to someone in the master control room. They were not even aware of it. Obviously, they do not monitor their signal.

Thanks JWhip - Anything new on the WCAU front? fear that pretty soon the WEATHER will again be the cause of not finshing the project before the spring. AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

I deleted the original email exchange I had with James Gilbert. The original way I got to him was the form on the website, similar to JWhip. He responded the next morning.

I'm in NNJ and had been getting fairly good reception on 6-1. However, the last couple of times I tuned in the picture was fine but there was no sound. 6-2 had sound but, of course, a degraded picture.

Any suggestions as to what might be going on here?

Thanks.

Rick

Any news out there regarding WCAU's move to the new tower? I am out in Broomall (Delaware County) and the signal is all over the place)

Originally posted by LarryGMarrow
Any news out there regarding WCAU's move to the new tower? I am out in Broomall (Delaware County) and the signal is all over the place)

I'm convinced that WCAU-DT is a hoax to begin with! It doesn't exist....;)

Mulder and Scully are on the case. Short of that, try this e-mail. I haven't gotten a response since April 30th!

tim.osullivan@nbc.com

It exists, at least on Comcast. I can't get it OTA.

Is anyone recently having trouble with CBS HDTV in Philadelphia (KYW)?

I live in Lafayette Hill, only 4 miles from the antenna farm and have NEVER had trouble pulling in CBS HDTV over the air.

Within the last 10 days or so (not sure when it started), I am having lots of trouble holding the CBS HDTV signal.

It seems like either CBS went to lower power or they are having some transmitter problems or something is causing multipath (all the sudden) and interfering with my ability to bring in that particular HDTV channel.

Note that I have ZERO problem bringing in ALL other Philly over the air HDTV channels.

I have a huge UHF antenna on my roof. I am using the Samsung T-151 set top box.

This is the first time that CBS ever has been a problem for me.

Anyone know what is going on?

I've noticed cbs getting funky lately. Some periods of pixalization and slight drop out...interestingly, I check my signal meter at these times and it was still in the very good range. What's up with that?

I'm about fed up with NBC and Fox.

Had some friends over to watch the first episode of 24 together on Fox and had horrible lip sync issues through the show...finally went to satellite it was so annoying. And are they ever going to go HD?

NBC is constantly in the no signal or poor range. It seemed for awhile that it was coming in better, but now it's consistenly poor again...very low signal on the meter. I have a new Zenith 520.

ABC is consistently good, never drops out. The PBS station is also good.

Up to recently CBS was great.

Anyone have a clue?

Bob

I started to have problems with CBS (KYW) about a week or two ago. It has gotten so bad that i switch to sat. I never had any problems with kyw or any of the other stations except channel 35 which I can't get at all.NBC comes in ok

I live near West Chester, PA. For the last few days, I have been unable to receive WPVI-DT, Channel 6. Until recently, it was always a dependable signal, but it has disappeared since shortly after they added the newest sub-channel.

CBS 3 and FOX 29 have been available consistently during this period. PBS 12 and NBC 10 have not been available for several weeks (12) or for several months (NBC 10).

What is going on?

I live in Broomall...no problems with any of these stations....as a matter of fact WCAU has been coming in strong of the last few days...no drop outs

Originally posted by Neala
I started to have problems with CBS (KYW) about a week or two ago. It has gotten so bad that i switch to sat. I never had any problems with kyw or any of the other stations except channel 35 which I can't get at all.NBC comes in ok


Neala: what set-top box do you use to pull in HDTV.

Is it a Samsung by any chance? I have a Samsung T-151.

Does anyone have email addresses for WB & WCAU? I understand the networks need to post their logo on the broadcast transmission, but both sides of the screen? The analog transmission only has the network logo. Why do these stations insist on placing their call signs on the screen. Maybe a flood of emails and phone calls would send the message

BOBP, I would call Fox 29 and complain. The more voices heard the better. I spoke last week with an engineer in the master control room about this very issue. he had no idea there was a lip synch issue. They do not seem to bother to monitor their signal. As I can only get Fox digial on cable, I can't check out the OTA signal. I have noticed some slight drop puts on KYW but no more than one ot two in an hour. Perhaps KYW has a bad part like they had a year or so ago that caused a similar problem. Caesar1, I grew up in Lafayette Hill and my parents still do. If you have any reception iussues, it must be an issue with KYW's signal. I am sure that Jim Chase will check into it when he sees these posts.

Caesar1--- I have an RCA DTC100, it is approx 3 years old. As I stated I never had problem with KYW3 until lately. The dropouts are really annoying.

caesar1
I received your e-mail this morning but a series of meetings today prevented me from responding. Now at home checking out the forum and I see your post. After I saw your message this morning I did have the xmtr tech. do a cursory check the transmitter for BER and performance. Everything looks normal. We are running full power, 787KW erp. I watched several programs Friday night and over the weekend on my Samsung 160 and didn't notice anything unusual. There was one spot in the football game yesterday that did break up, loss of audio and pixelization for about 5 seconds. Otherwise no indication of a problem. Your location, so close to the transmitter, should not pose a problem even if we stuck the 1 watt exciter into the antenna. I don't know what the problem could be but I get nervous when a viewer reports stuff like this. I've asked the xmtr guys to sweep the transmitter tomorrow just in case!!!
I will tell you we do have one problem with our transmission system. We use an old Nucomm microwave STL. Remember, we started all this in 1998. We have replaced almost everything but the transmitter since then, and not the STL. The Nucomm multiplexes the analog and digital signals onto a 7ghz mw channel. Every once in a while, during periods of very highly saturated reds on the analog channel, the digital channel gets whacked and freezes for short periods of time. You'll notice it usually on commercials with lots of chroma. We clip the video and chroma on the analog channel to prevent this, but sometimes it still bops the digital channel. WPSG has a much more modern Microwave Associates STL. One of the disadvantages of being first. I still have the arrows in my back!!!!
Looking at some of the other posts about problems with various stations makes me wonder. I have a small yagi pointed at Roxborough here in Mt. Laurel, and really never see a problem on any of the channels. Even channel 10 is not a problem here, unless they are working on the Tx.
I'll get back to you tomorrow and let you know what we find!!!!
CUL Jim

How lucky we are to have Jim Chase. Such a great resource to the Phila area DTV/HDTV community!!!!

Your information is always very helpful and EXTREMELY welcomed!!!!

Thanks again for your continued attention to us!!!!

- Mike

Originally posted by Jim Chase
caesar1
I received your e-mail this morning but a series of meetings today prevented me from responding. Now at home checking out the forum and I see your post. After I saw your message this morning I did have the xmtr tech. do a cursory check the transmitter for BER and performance. Everything looks normal. We are running full power, 787KW erp. I watched several programs Friday night and over the weekend on my Samsung 160 and didn't notice anything unusual. There was one spot in the football game yesterday that did break up, loss of audio and pixelization for about 5 seconds. Otherwise no indication of a problem. Your location, so close to the transmitter, should not pose a problem even if we stuck the 1 watt exciter into the antenna. I don't know what the problem could be but I get nervous when a viewer reports stuff like this. I've asked the xmtr guys to sweep the transmitter tomorrow just in case!!!
I will tell you we do have one problem with our transmission system. We use an old Nucomm microwave STL. Remember, we started all this in 1998. We have replaced almost everything but the transmitter since then, and not the STL. The Nucomm multiplexes the analog and digital signals onto a 7ghz mw channel. Every once in a while, during periods of very highly saturated reds on the analog channel, the digital channel gets whacked and freezes for short periods of time. You'll notice it usually on commercials with lots of chroma. We clip the video and chroma on the analog channel to prevent this, but sometimes it still bops the digital channel. WPSG has a much more modern Microwave Associates STL. One of the disadvantages of being first. I still have the arrows in my back!!!!
Looking at some of the other posts about problems with various stations makes me wonder. I have a small yagi pointed at Roxborough here in Mt. Laurel, and really never see a problem on any of the channels. Even channel 10 is not a problem here, unless they are working on the Tx.
I'll get back to you tomorrow and let you know what we find!!!!
CUL Jim

Thanks for looking into this! Great to have people on the other end to talk to.

I'm dreading that it is something that went up between/near my location (Lafayette Hill) and Roxborough causing interference. Although it looks like a couple people here are perhaps having some problem -- but not to the same extent with kyw-dt.

I wonder though why that would only effect kyw-dt and not the other stations? Note that I have a little bit of trouble with 57 digital, but not anything like kyw-dt. 57 will come in, but it takes some time. Kyw-dt will maybe come in after waiting a while, but then it shortly is lost again.

All other digital stations are no problem whatsoever. I have it on ABC digital right now waiting for Monday Night Football to start. I can use the remote and go from 6.1 to 10.1 to 12.1 to 17.1 to 29.1 -- effortlessly. 57.1 a little trouble, and then "no signal" for kyw-dt for a long time.

Is it possible for something to only interfere with your signal and not the other stations?

Thanks again for looking into this.

Posted by caesar1:
I'm dreading that it is something that went up between/near my location (Lafayette Hill) and Roxborough causing interference. Although it looks like a couple people here are perhaps having some problem -- but not to the same extent with kyw-dt.

I'm in Bucks County, around 20 miles NE of the transmitters. I've been experiencing the same problems with KYW-DT lately - I think that the evidence suggests that there is something going on with the transmitted signal.

Also, FWIW, I also experienced the loss of WPVI-DT after they added 6-3. Manually tuning to 64-1 fixed the problem.

caesar1
I'm at a loss as to your problem. The transmitter checks out. I watched the whole prime time block last night with out even one hit.
To answer your questions, definitely something could interfere with KYW-DT and nothing else. Channel 26 is 542 to 548mhz and something could be going on there that would have an effect on only us. Happens all the time. Each of the analog stations has it's unique problems. Channel 3 mostly skip and electrical interference, Channel 6 aural gets bombed by FM broadcast, and so on. I always told the GM each station had its problems, but I really realized that when the Viacom duopoly with channel 57 happened. After we moved the channel 57 technical operation to 5th and Market I would get calls from people telling me they only had interference on channel 57, or only on channel 3, but all the others come in perfect. We need to find the cause for your problem.
I doubt that a building, or other possible new obstruction could cause this problem. The STB's adaptive equalizers are really good now at removing fixed reflections. Time varying reflections are another thing. Are there any trees around your antenna that are blowing around? Anything like that, that might cause time varying reflections?
Hmmmm, now that I think about it, have you tried to pad down the signal into your STB? I remember the first Panasonic STB's could not handle RF overload very well. If you have a big antenna, 4 miles from the station I'll bet you could get shocked off the feed line!!! Try a 20db pad on the input to your STB.
If this continues I will have the guys do a full proof on the exciter.
Come to think about it, I don't know which exciter is on air right now. And, I don't know which one was on air a month ago. I'll check that out tomorrow. I'll have them switch tomorrow morning. If that makes the problem go away, we'll know what’s wrong!!! But, remember, I watched all last night, with no problems. I'm using a Sammy 160.
CUL Jim

Originally posted by Jim Chase
caesar1

Are there any trees around your antenna that are blowing around? Anything like that, that might cause time varying reflections?
Hmmmm, now that I think about it, have you tried to pad down the signal into your STB? I remember the first Panasonic STB's could not handle RF overload very well. If you have a big antenna, 4 miles from the station I'll bet you could get shocked off the feed line!!! Try a 20db pad on the input to your STB.

If this continues I will have the guys do a full proof on the exciter.
Come to think about it, I don't know which exciter is on air right now. And, I don't know which one was on air a month ago. I'll check that out tomorrow. I'll have them switch tomorrow morning. If that makes the problem go away, we'll know what’s wrong!!! But, remember, I watched all last night, with no problems. I'm using a Sammy 160.
CUL Jim

Jim:

Thanks for looking into this. There are no trees around my antenna. I am in a townhouse -- in the middle of the row of homes. There are no nearby trees.

There are trees (and terrain) in the line of sight to Roxborough -- but they have always been there. This part of Lafayette Hill is in a valley. But like I said, the terrain and trees haven't changed in the last year, but suddenly I am getting some sort of interference.

While the antenna is not a small UHF (but one of the larger models), that has remained the same the last 12 months as well (and worked great for KYW-DT until now). Here is my antenna:

http://www.channelmaster.com/images/4248.jpg

It is about 80 inches long.

I'll check tomorrow afternoon after you change the exciter. I'll let you know if I see any change.

Since you are South/East of the transmitter, I wonder if the interference is only to the North and West. I'm North West of the transmitter as is the person in this thread from Bucks County -- who also said he is having problems with kyw-dt lately.

Could there be a new antenna (radio or police or cell phone) North/west of your transmitter that was put in place recently? Is there anyway to find out such information? Or something new in the Roxboro antenna farm that would effect people to the north and west?

Anyway, I'll check again tomorrow after the exciter change. Crossing my fingers.

Thanks again for looking into this.

Jim Chase wrote:
If this continues I will have the guys do a full proof on the exciter.
Come to think about it, I don't know which exciter is on air right now. And, I don't know which one was on air a month ago. I'll check that out tomorrow. I'll have them switch tomorrow morning. If that makes the problem go away, we'll know what?s wrong!!! But, remember, I watched all last night, with no problems. I'm using a Sammy 160.

FWIW, this evening (Tuesday, 4 Nov, around 9:30 PM) KYW-DT was coming in perfectly for me in Bucks County. The power level is so high that I need to put some attenuation in to get perfect reception. I'm using a Terk 44 dish-mounted amplified antenna, which faces the transmitters.

With 20dB attenuation the signal strength goes down from 95 to 90. On some other channels the strength would go from 95 to 0 with 20 dB, so there must be plenty of power making up here from KYW-DT.

Other than the recent issues with KYW-DT, all other Philly DT signals come in perfectly here, except for WCAU.

WPHL 17.1 - had audio sync issues during Gilmore Girls last night. Looked like they switched the video to the HD feed but didn't switch the audio.

Originally posted by caesar1
Jim:


Could there be a new antenna (radio or police or cell phone) North/west of your transmitter that was put in place recently? Is there anyway to find out such information? Or something new in the Roxboro antenna farm that would effect people to the north and west?


Several public safety (police, fire, ems, etc) radio systems use the 500 - 512 band for broadcast. For example the Bucks County system uses several 501 Mhz repeater channels for their digital trunked system. Harmonics from a nearby transmitter can be interfering with the signal.
There are similar systems in central NJ also.

Joe

On top of all said about yesterday's reception, someone at WPVI forgot to flip the switch during NYPD Blue.....it was in SD for a while!

Jim Chase - Do you know anyone over at WCAU that you can talk to about getting their tower up and running sooner than later? Perhaps there's a conflict of interest there, but you've been so helpful on this forum, I just HAD to ask!

Thanks

Another thread states that WNBC-DT may be up within 2 weeks!

Originally posted by Jim Chase
caesar1
Come to think about it, I don't know which exciter is on air right now. And, I don't know which one was on air a month ago. I'll check that out tomorrow. I'll have them switch tomorrow morning. If that makes the problem go away, we'll know what’s wrong!!! But, remember, I watched all last night, with no problems. I'm using a Sammy 160.
CUL Jim

Well IF you did the exciter switch today, that fixed it. I have no problems tonight with KYW-DT. I had on the Country Music Awards for 15 minutes without one glitch. First time in a week or so that KYW-DT was steady for more than a minute or two.

So either it is the rain helping out with my interference issues, or the switch of the exciter worked.

Was there in fact a switch of exciters today?

If so, can we permanently get rid of the exciter that was used yesterday?

Is there some sort of difference between the exciters that would cause me to have interference with one, but not the other?

Thanks for any light you can shed on this.

I'm hoping you did switch exciters, or I have to hope for 365 days of rain (or at least when CSI is on and on Sundays for the NFL on CBS)!

WPSG 57.1 - Last night during ST: Enterprise and Jake 2.0 we had occasional extremely short audio dropouts. However, it could easily have been the weather - there was lightning about.

I noticed the same thing on Enterprise last night on 57-1. There may have only been two or three and you didn't miss any dialogue at all. I didn't watch Jake 2.0.

First time I tuned in to Enterprise, and I was a little disappointed in the PQ. It looked a little fuzzy and soft. Not as crisp as, say, CSI or Raymond. Is that how it normally looks on UPN?

Yes, it is alittle soft, puts looks much better that the analog cable pic.

No question about THAT! One other show where PQ is leaps and bounds better in HD compared to analog cable is Angel. Between all the dark scenes (vampires don't do well in light), and the very fuzzy resolution, analog was extremely painful to watch. Now if only WCAU will get it together, I can watch The West Wing in HD. Another one of those shows that is really hurting in analog. What's up with THAT?!

Originally posted by JWhip
Yes, it is alittle soft, puts looks much better that the analog cable pic.

Calabs
CBS and UPN HD networks both originate from the CBS Broadcast Center in New York. They are both distributed on a 45mb satellite ds3 to the stations. At the stations it is decoded back to full bandwidth 1.3gb. It is switched along with VTR's, character generators, and video file servers and fed to the ATSC encoder. The 19.2mb ATSC data stream is fed by microwave to the respective transmitters. At the transmitter it is re-clocked and fed to the exciter. Both KYW and WPSG use Harris transmitters. The only real difference between KYW and WPSG is the upgraded KYW satellite receivers and Dolby audio equipment for the 5.1 channel sound. WPSG uses the original CBS stereo only receive equipment.

The differences in picture quality you see from program to program comes from the original master. Just like in the movies, the picture is soft, dark, bright, etc. The audio is loud, soft, compressed, ets. Just like the producer wanted it.

By the way, you might be interested to know that some of what you see is fed by the net a day or two before air. We record it and play it back on Panasonic HD2750 tape machines.
CUL Jim

Originally posted by Jim Chase
Calabs
CBS and UPN HD networks both originate from the CBS Broadcast Center in New York. They are both distributed on a 45mb satellite ds3 to the stations. At the stations it is decoded back to full bandwidth 1.3gb. It is switched along with VTR's, character generators, and video file servers and fed to the ATSC encoder. The 19.2mb ATSC data stream is fed by microwave to the respective transmitters. At the transmitter it is re-clocked and fed to the exciter. Both KYW and WPSG use Harris transmitters. The only real difference between KYW and WPSG is the upgraded KYW satellite receivers and Dolby audio equipment for the 5.1 channel sound. WPSG uses the original CBS stereo only receive equipment.

The differences in picture quality you see from program to program comes from the original master. Just like in the movies, the picture is soft, dark, bright, etc. The audio is loud, soft, compressed, ets. Just like the producer wanted it.

By the way, you might be interested to know that some of what you see is fed by the net a day or two before air. We record it and play it back on Panasonic HD2750 tape machines.
CUL Jim

Thanks for the detailed explanation Jim. That clears things up quite a bit. That IS very intersting about the feed from the net onto HD tape. Could some of the loss in resolution be coming from the transfer process?

Originally posted by Jim Chase
CBS and UPN HD networks both originate from the CBS Broadcast Center in New York. They are both distributed on a 45mb satellite ds3 to the stations. At the stations it is decoded back to full bandwidth 1.3gb. It is
UPN HD in Philly originates from New York and yet UPN NY (Fox subchannel) isn't broadcasting in HD. Ironic. Traffic jam when you're already late. No smoking sign on your cigarette break. 10,000 spoons.... yeah yeah yeah.:(

To Jim Chase:

Jim, still waiting to hear if the exciter was in fact changed on Wednesday, November 5th.

Since Wedensday night, my kyw-dt reception has been fine. Watched all of CSI last night -- with only some brief minor pixelation.

However, I'm not sure if this is just a coincidence (due to weather or something else), or if in fact you changed exciters as you indicated would probably happen on Wednesday morning (the 5th).

If the exciters were changed, is there anyway to avoid going back to the exciter used on November 4th -- so I don't get the same reception isssues down the road?

Thanks.

Is WCAU still broadcasting OTA? I had the signal this morning, but it just disappeared?

Can anyone confirm?

WPVI - Sunday night.

During 10-8, it was a mess.

First, they started with 5.1 sound but no picture.

Then, they changed to HD picture but no sound.

Later, they got it right. Then the picture froze for several minutes.

Last, they had HD picture but 2-channel sound - only the left and right front channels of the 5.1 soundtrack. The characters were on the center channel and were not heard.

I finally gave up and tuned to the regular signal.

Does anybody at WPVI or ABC care?

I can't believe that WPVI is also messing up the audio for the Monday Night Eagles-Packers game.

Channel 10-1 has been coming in great the last couple days.

I noticed today that WCAU is coming in from several directions as a rotate my antenna...

No problems here in Broomall with the audio on WPVI...

larry really?

others in this thread here...

http://avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=2908914#post2908914

are also complaining of the audio center sound coming from the left surround.

I'm in Broomall and the sound is definitely coming from surround left, voices coming from left rear. Can't believe they haven't fixed it yet.

Bob

just to add the sound during commercials is normal.

switching to 94 wysp for the sound is useless because you hear it first due to the delay.

I don't think the sound on ABC during commercials is ever normal in my opinion. The center channel is always silent. During the shows the sound is usually normal and voices come out of center.

Now the voices are all coming out of left rear and the center channel is dead silent. The commercials are as always, stero front with no center.

bob

Correction - crowd noise coming from center.

Bob

I found if I watch the HD signal and listen to the audio from my ReplayTV they are are almost impossible to tell that they are indepedent signals.

Audio fixed!!!!

Just tin time to watch my beloved birds finsih the pack off :-)

Bob

Does anyone from WPVI represent themselves on this forum? Just wondering what took 2 hours and 45 minutes to fix.

I notices someone said 10-1 is coming in better than ever. I now have absolutely no signal strength coming in in NBC OTA digital.

Is there work being done at the antenna these days that would contribute to this, or poor transmission?

The only other thing that has changed is the leaves have fallen off the trees. Could that have an effect?

WHen I got my new STB, Zenitz, 10-1 came in great. Now, it is consistently in the "bad" signal meter area.

I would like to know if anyone knows of any work being done at the transmission site before I climb up on the roof and adjust the antenna. Everything else is coming in great. Now I wonder if an adjustment is going to effect the other stations.

Thanks,
Bob

Originally posted by bobkunkle
Does anyone from WPVI represent themselves on this forum? Just wondering what took 2 hours and 45 minutes to fix.

That was the poorest excuse for a High Definition broadcast I have ever seen on a supposedly "major" production. After all, ABC Monday Night Football is a premeir event -- you would think if they got it right for anything, they would get it right for this.

First of all, there was a national problem regarding constant pixelation in the picture. This was reported at ABC affiliates all over the country. This problem was NEVER resolved.

Secondly, and this is particularly galling, since our beloved Eagles were on Monday Night Football, ONLY the local ABC affiliate here (WPVI) had a Dolby Digital sound problem. This problem persisted until half-way through the 4th quarter -- where the announcers were coming from the left surround (instead of the center) and the sound was just royally messed up altogether.

There is absolutely no excuse for this to persist for almost 3 hours.

Someone at WPVI was not paying attention.

Well at least the Eagles pulled it out -- or it really would have been a horrible night.

I even had a buddy over to see a High definition football game for the first time for him. Needless to say, he was not impressed -- and kidded me about my horrible equipment.

Of course when the Eagles are NOT on Monday Night Football, the picture and sound are perfect (or I'm at the game -- i.e, home opener).

CBS is still the shining star for High Definition broadcasts (football and otherwise). Their productions are top notch. ABC should be ashamed.

I have Comcast HD TV via the Motorola 5100. I have to echo the remarks of Ceasar1. The constant pixelation in the picture was horrible. My wife was watching the game with me -- which is rare - - and she quit watching because the picture was driving her nuts. At first I thought the problem was with the DVI connection. I tried component, however, and it was just as bad.

Direct your concerns to Jim Gilbert, who is the chief engineer at WPVI.

Joe

Strange...I had a perfect picture through the whole game last night. No pixelation at all. Not one problem with the picture. However the surround sound was terrible.

Originally posted by jcardani
Direct your concerns to Jim Gilbert, who is the chief engineer at WPVI.

Joe

contact information please -- email, etc.?

can anyone pick up comcast cable with a QAM tuner (such as the sammy t315)? I have comcast analog cable and comcast internet and was wondering that if it was passing the digital internet if it would also pass digital cable with the QAM tuner.

Thanks for your help

what the heck is going onm at channel 6?

to start the 8 o clock prime time the sound was worse then last night .
with the center coming from several different speakers. the after 5 or so minutes it became very low volume.

until 12 after 8 in the middle of a commercial the sound seems to have been fixed.

Bob,

I too have seen a drop in signal strength on 10-1 within the last month or so. It went from about 70 to about 40. I was ready to head on the roof for some tweaking too. I believe 17-1 is sightly lower as well but 3-1,6-1,29-1 and 57-1 are looking good. 12-1 is crappy strength but always has been.

I am in the Valley Forge area. Anyone else notice this?

Originally posted by whotony
what the heck is going onm at channel 6?

to start the 8 o clock prime time the sound was worse then last night .
with the center coming from several different speakers. the after 5 or so minutes it became very low volume.

until 12 after 8 in the middle of a commercial the sound seems to have been fixed.

now back to normal which means the center channel is still to low compared to the other STATIONS that broadcast hd and DD.

I sent a note to WPVI 6 through their website's complaint link, and I got this back:
------------------------------------------
Yes, we have had 5.1 audio encoding problems over the past several days which was resolved as of last night. The problem involved the reversal of front and surround channels with in our Dolby Encoder. No one seems to know how they got reversed!!!!!

As far as MNF is concerned....there were problems Monday night with video freezing. The problem was at the source since the picture freezing was observed on both SD and HD feeds.

We were working on the system Sunday and it is possible that after we made adjustments, the system was rebooted (necessary). When this happens, picture and sound go away and it usually requires that the receiving set top box may need to be reset or re-acquire channels.

Unfortunately, both the encoding software/hardware and receiving software/hardware is not quite ready for "prime time" yet. We, the broadcasters and viewers, are still very new to this transition to DTV and there are still many issues to be resolved at both the transmission and receiving end. Not an exact science yet. Although, the software and hardware at both ends are rapidly improving. We're just not there yet.

James D. Gilbert
VP of Engineering
WPVI-TV Ch.6, WPVI-DT Ch.64
4100 City Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

He included his phone and e-mail addresses, but I've chosen not to make them public here. I'm sure that you can send a complaint through the same web link.

Has anyone heard any news on boosting signal power on this new tower??? It's been a while and I thought it was going to be completed by now.

thanx

Who's signal are you referring to? :confused:

Originally posted by Signalseeker
Has anyone heard any news on boosting signal power on this new tower??? It's been a while and I thought it was going to be completed by now.

thanx

Originally posted by MSmith
I sent a note to WPVI 6 through their website's complaint link, and I got this back:
------------------------------------------
Yes, we have had 5.1 audio encoding problems over the past several days which was resolved as of last night. The problem involved the reversal of front and surround channels with in our Dolby Encoder. No one seems to know how they got reversed!!!!!

James D. Gilbert
VP of Engineering
WPVI-TV Ch.6, WPVI-DT Ch.64
4100 City Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

He included his phone and e-mail addresses, but I've chosen not to make them public here. I'm sure that you can send a complaint through the same web link.

Well since you have the email address, could you ask him to elaborate on the AUDIO problem on Monday Night football. He said that was a general audio issue fixed "last night".

Well the audio during MNF was fixed -- but by then it was halfway through the 4th quarter. In other words, whatever audio problem they had during MNF, was fixed BEFORE last night.

Why did it take WPVI so long to fix the audio issue during MNF? Could you email him that please?

There's a link on www.wpvi.com for compliments and/or complaints. I don't want to get in the middle of discussions between others. I withheld the phone and e-mail address, as they aren't available on their website and he hasn't directly invited comments from here.

Some of the comments here have been ... "emotionally laden". I'd rather not see the engineers "shut down" to our comments.

Originally posted by MSmith
There's a link on www.wpvi.com for compliments and/or complaints. I don't want to get in the middle of discussions between others. I withheld the phone and e-mail address, as they aren't available on their website and he hasn't directly invited comments from here.

Some of the comments here have been ... "emotionally laden". I'd rather not see the engineers "shut down" to our comments.

I've been there many times and posted polite, non-emotional complaints about their HDTV broadcasts before.

Never heard back from them ever -- including from last Monday Night.

Since you have the direct email, I was asking for you to do us ALL a favor.

It wouldn't be in the middle of anything, but would help us all. Also, it would clarify the issues from Monday Night -- c'mon just do it -- don't be scared.

I live in Northern Jersey in the Chester area.
I receive all the Philadelphia HDTV Channels;
except for Channel 10-1 NBC. The following
are my signal strengths:
CBS 3-1 = 95%
ABC 6-1 = 75%
Fox 29-1 = 50%
WB 17-1 = 60%
UPN 57-1 = 80%
NBC 10-1 = 20%

I need a 40% signal to view. Every once in a blue moon
I get a 40% signal on 10-1 NBC; usually late at night.

Does anyone know why I can receive all the Philadelphia
signals; but almost never receive NBC 10-1.

I'm in a similar situation to RHarmon: I live across the river in Burlington, but NBC-10's signal has completely dropped out for me in the last 3-4 weeks. Doesn't even register on the meter. All other Philly stations are pretty strong and I have no (consistent) problems with any station but NBC. Thought matters would improve once the vaunted new tower was up and the tranmitter was in place. Is this done? I thought a few weeks ago people said they were transitioning.

I can't get a steady signal from WPVI (ABC) since last night. Both my AccessDTV and my Samsung set-top box. Using an indoor silver sensor and never had a problem until now. Anybody else?

Thanks,

Bob

WPVI (6-1) is ready rock solid steady 100% on my Samsung TS-160 stb. I'm in Central NJ, 48 miles from the transmitter.

Originally posted by SteveK2
WPVI (6-1) is ready rock solid steady 100% on my Samsung TS-160 stb. I'm in Central NJ, 48 miles from the transmitter.

Always rubbing in, ey? :D Can't judge from your reception Steve, since your one of the few in our part of the woods that picks up WCAU. You must live in "Antenna Camelot"! ;)

So WHEN is NBC going live? I've given up on WCAU. :mad:

Quick update-
I rescanned my digital channels the other night and NBC showed up with a good signal strength. When they switched (if they did), it must have confused my receiver. So now I'm set with all of the channels. If you're having issues with the NBC-10 signal, may I suggest rescanning to see if that helps matters.

This is the only station I have any trouble with, so I wonder what they're doing with their signal?

Am I going to see my first HD Eagles game today???

thx,
Frank

no.

the eagles are on fox today. that game will be in fox high res widescreen. not true hd.

Thanks whotony

No widescreen for the eagles on Comcast so far. :(

Nevermind, just came on after the commercial. Eagles black jerseys are fugly.

I'd like to know why some weeks the pre-game show is in widescreen, and some weeks it's not (way more not on FOX 29), where FOX 5 in NY is widescreen EVERY WEEK. As like today, the moron who forgot to flip the WS switch for the highest rated program in Philly from 1 to 4 for a home team telcast is probably the same one who forgets that the pre-game show is widescreen also.

I never noticed the pre game show in WS ( I don't watch it that often), but half time usually seems to be.

Just out of curiousity, and that fact that my HDTV tuner card should be in soon, based on the following conditions, what antena's seem to work well.

7-8 floor of a concrete building (steel studs) facing East, in SocietyHill (philly near del. river). If need be, I can and will errect a mast on my 8th floor balcony to get a view over the top of the building so as to see the farm to the west.

TIA

Originally posted by Calabs
Always rubbing in, ey? :D Can't judge from your reception Steve, since your one of the few in our part of the woods that picks up WCAU. You must live in "Antenna Camelot"! ;)

So WHEN is NBC going live? I've given up on WCAU. :mad:

I can't believe my good reception luck, either. But it is a case of 'finding the sweet spot'. Just by moving the antenna 2 feet left (southeast) and 1 foot down, determines whether I do or don't get 29-1, Fox Philly. At current spot, Fox Philly is strong @77%, 10-1 WCAU is a little weaker at 54%, but both are good and steady. Been that way now since about August, thru good tropo days and bad.

Is 17-1 down this evening? I was going to rotate and watch Smallville this week but I can't pick up the signal. I am going to watch enterprise instead.

Is 17-1 down this evening? I was going to rotate and watch Smallville this week but I can't pick up the signal. I am going to watch enterprise instead.

I was watching Angel and Smallville with no problem.

no problem here in central nj.

I checked this morning and my antenna got turned 90 degrees counter-clockwise from where it was set because the the bad rain storm yesterday. When I get home from work tonight I will have to turn it.

I've got Comcast HD with the Motorola 5100 box. Picture quality is nice, but pixelization and audio drop outs occur frequently enough to be distracting. I have noticed this mainly on broadcast network shows but also on HBO. MNF is particularly bad.

Is there a way to tell if this is a problem with the broadcaster, the local affiliate, Comcast, or my signal/box? I checked the 5100 inbound status; it usually shows from 0 to several hundred correctable errors and 0 unconrrectable. Is this as good as HD gets? I'm beginning to wonder what all the fuss is about.

Hey, just wondering if anyone else is getting the HD signal for Monday Night Football from WPVI-6 ? I have good signal strength and am receiving 6-2 and 6-3 but nothing on 6-1. Thanks

i get the standard signal on 6-1 right now.
it started out as hd bet it switched over.

Originally posted by supercomando
Hey, just wondering if anyone else is getting the HD signal for Monday Night Football from WPVI-6 ? I have good signal strength and am receiving 6-2 and 6-3 but nothing on 6-1. Thanks

Just flipped back to 6-1 OTA and it looks HORRENDOUS!

Obviously not HD.

Something must've happeend. Haven't had a chance to look on the programming forum. THAT'S how you'll know if it's a national issue/broadcast issue vs. a local one.

CSI Miami is on now.

I'll check 6-1 during that...

The channel (180) wont come on so no broadcast. Froze up in the beginning of the 2nd qtr.

anyone think this is local only (WPVI)?

Same here

Well, still nothing on 6-1 great signal strength almost 90% but just a black screen. Channel 6-2 looks like a pixel mess. I had this once before and had to reset my receiver which I just did but no luck.

pretty much all my OTA is worthless tonight

storms!

SOMEDAY comcast will have all the local Digital channels

and i dont have to play with anntenna s**t


not to mention... HD feed of MNF is gone


mitch

Originally posted by mitchjs
pretty much all my OTA is worthless tonight

storms!

SOMEDAY comcast will have all the local Digital channels

and i dont have to play with anntenna s**t


not to mention... HD feed of MNF is gone


mitch

Must've been a WPVI issue, as 7-1 out of NYC is OTA...or it is as of 11:00 PM

Everyboday esle catch the same garbadge coming from ABC MNF game last night?

Same experience here north of the Lehigh Valley. It's the first time in a few weeks that this occured. Rain and adverse weather I guess. MNF in SD is just not the same anymore.

MNF was a HD no go. The wind was blowing like crazy last nite. Nothing channel Six can do about an Act Of God ;)

Other stations were coming in ok.. I watched Everwood in HD from WB ok... it did go in and out a few times but it was in HD.

last night only 3-1 and 29-1 57-1 comming in worth a damm

10-1 & 6-1 & 17-1 were freezing

does anyone get all the digital stations in lets say 99% of the time
cause i feel until 99% is achieved its pretty much worthless
I know my parents wouldnt tolerate the freezing / pixelation

i know this my comcast cable works 99.9999%


mitch

"i know this my comcast cable works 99.9999%"

So does my CBS national feed from DishNetwork. Of-course, cathing these stations off the air sometimes you are going to have a blip here and there, last evening was unusual.

The only station I don't get 99.999% of the time lately is WPVI. ANd that's new. Up until a couple of weeks ago it was rock solid all the time also. Now it is hit and miss. I have a hard time believeing last night's problems were related strictly to weather. I had steady reception on all other channels. I'm up on a hill in Broomall which is just outside of Philadelphia.

I think WPVI SUCKS at HD. Their audio for anything but the actual HD prgram is terrible, with no center channel on commercials, etc. They're up to 3 subchannels now, with a friggn' weather map taking up bandwidth as well as SD in addition to HD. Their picture quality is not nearly as good as is used to be.

And their signal ihas been terribly unreliable and I strongly suspect it is a broadcast issue not a reception issue. After all, they all broadcast from the same tower farm and I don't have ANY issues with anybody else.

I'd like to provide them with feedback if anyone knows where to send it.

Bob

How does the presence of subchannels OTA affect the cable channel? What I mean is since your saying WPVI has 3 sub channels (which I wouldn't and didn't know) does that mean Comcast's ABC feed is at the same bandwidth as the now diminished OTA, or does Comcast get a full bit rate feed?

Bob, go to their web site and send a complaint. They will not likely respond as they have never responded to mine. They will multicast no matter what we say. It has been having a clear negative effect on the PQ of their HD signal and they clearly don't give a damn.

couldn't have said it better myself. The football games on ESPNHD on Sunday night, are just spectacular.

I could have sworn Comcast had tonights Sixers game on their HD schedule. Now I see sorry ass ESPN picked up the game. :(

I received this e-mail today.

--Philly Tim

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

Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2003 12:45:28 -0500
Subject: December DTV Schedule
From: "Dianne Chenault" <dchenault@whyy.org>

Greetings:

Changes to the WHYY DTV Programming

PBS Distribution Services recently announced in February 2004, PBS will
launch the PBS HD feed. The feed of PBS currently being shown on WHYY
channel 12.1 has been a “test” laboratory feed containing HD content
clips (known as the HD Loop) along with some PBS and APT HD programs.

Starting in February, the channel will no longer contain “HD Loop”
material. Instead, it will be a service of complete programs along with
HD interstitials. (In fact, effective December 8, 2003 PBS will begin
replacing the HD Loop with complete programs. PBS is considering the time
between December 8 and February 1 as an unofficial test period.)

Coming Spring '04

12.1 will be a 24/7 simulcast of WHYY's Channel 12 programming.

Phase 2 of WHYY’s digital broadcast strategy currently under development
will offer a second choice (12.2) program schedule comprised of selected
encore WHYY productions, other content available to WHYY not currently
aired on TV12, unique new content and premium PBS delivered High
Definition programs during the primetime evening hours.

As our plans are finalized and we are ready to launch our new DTV service
(12.2) , we will keep our "DTV Viewer Community" up to date via email and
postings to our DTV Web Site.

Airing in December
Attached you will find a December DTV 12.1 schedule listing, in addition a
separate document with complete program descriptions for all programs
airing in December is also attached.

December HD Programming Specials

CHRISTMAS AT LUTHER COLLEGE (See Monthly Schedule)
HD - 60 Minutes
Christmas at Luther features 6 choirs including the internationally
renowned Nordic Choir conducted by Weston Noble. The musical accompaniment
is provided by the Luther College Symphony Orchestra. A total of over 600
musicians perform from one of the country's finest collegiate music
programs.

THE DUTTONS HOLIDAY SPECIAL LIVE FROM BRANSON (See Monthly Schedule)
HD - 60 Minutes
This large family of incredible musicians do it all _ stunning harmonies,
hot dance numbers, and instrumental virtuosity in a wide variety of
musical styles and holiday selections. Recorded live at The Dutton Family
Theater in Branson, Missouri! on state-of-the-art high definition cameras
by the crew from the hit TV series “Touched By an Angel” This holiday
special is like none you have ever seen.

Christmas at Baylor - 12/23 @9:00pm - 12/ 24 @8:00pm - 12/ 25 @10:00pm
HD - 60 Minutes
This Christmas special, featuring students and faculty from Baylor
University's renowned School of Music,includes a mixture of classical and
popular Christmas selections. The 150-voice Baylor Choral Union and the
100-piece Baylor Symphony Orchestra will be complemented with selections
performed by the Baylor Chamber Singers and the Baylor A Cappella Choir.

FIESTA IN THE SKY - 12/8 @10:00pm - 12/13 @8:00pm
HD - 30 Minutes
This 30-minute program chronicles the 1998 Kodak International Balloon
Fiesta, a colorful nine-day event that takes place in Albuquerque, New
Mexico, every October. Archival film footage and interviews with fiesta
participants reveal the history of the event, how the balloons work and
why the fiesta is the most popular ballooning event in the world.

Hi Mozvz, I'm from Bath and would like to know if your success ratio is any better than mine. I am just concerned with the 3 major channels at this time. Receive cbs the best as usual, will get something every night but on most nights will get some pixelation. Next up is abc, would say that 50/50 at best. Can't even get a signal out of nbc. Outside of hanging the wife off one end of the antenna, would like to know what you are doing that I might not be aware of. On superbowl sunday might even consider the wife thing.
I have a channel master uhf only with a preamp.

joe g

whoever said that Comcast HD was availble 99.9999% of time.....

I have no stations now includnig the Flyers, which is the only reason I have them as an HD source. I assume that others are suffering along with me?

Originally posted by petersbar
whoever said that Comcast HD was availble 99.9999% of time.....

I have no stations now includnig the Flyers, which is the only reason I have them as an HD source. I assume that others are suffering along with me?
Looks fine here - Flyers up 4-1. Remember, they are moving the games off of Ch 172 after tonight, and they will be on 175.

David

Originally posted by petersbar
whoever said that Comcast HD was availble 99.9999% of time.....

Comcast HD was a disaster last night in Abington

drhill, the way the channel feeds are piped into the encoder at WPVI means that any additional sub-channels added severely affects the hd picture quality, both OTA as well as the feed to Comcast, since they are one in the same. This drives me nuts, because Monday night football is vastly inferior to the picture quality we get from ESPN Sunday night football....theoretically they should be the same since they are both 720p and provided by the same company/equipment. More complaints should be made to WPVI regarding this detriment to HD.

Here is the link to complain to WPVI

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/features/contactus_complaint.html


I'll even include what I wrote as a guideline for those who are extremely lazy ;)

-------------------------------------------------------------
Please discontinue multi-casting on your digital station. It is severely affecting the quality of HD programming, including but not limited to Monday night football. It is a disgrace. Your weather map is useless, since anyone can just hop online to check the weather or turn to channels that are entirely dedicated to the subject. The standard definition broadcast is pointless since anyone with a digital tuner, is going to watch the HD signal, not the standard def. Monday night football looks horrid compared to ESPN's Sunday night broadcast, and they should be of similar quality since they are being delivered using identical equipment and the same format from the same company. The fault lies with your station. Listen to your customers and discontinue the multicasting. I know for a fact that you have received other complaints from friends of mine. How many viewers have written in thanking you for the weather or standard definition broadcast. I would guess very few. If you truly read your complaints and praise, count up the number of people unhappy with this policy and then count up the those who have given it praise and you will see that the majority of your viewers want multicasting to end. Do you listen to your viewers or not? Thank you.
-------------------------------------------------------------

hey....what do you know.....a quick response......a very rude response that gives me no answers and serves no purpose....but quick all the same.

-----------------------------------------------
ndoggac,

We do listen to our viewers and take their comments seriously but since you
already have all the answers, it would be pointless for me to try and
address your concerns. Good luck.

James D. Gilbert
VP of Engineering
WPVI-TV Ch.6, WPVI-DT Ch.64
4100 City Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131

voice: 215-581-4542
fax: 215-581-4515

Wow, another classy response from Mr. Gilbert!

Get ExpressVu. :)

does anyone know if Fox (and Comcast) will have this Sunday's Eagles vs. Dallas game in Widescreen/16:9 or will it only be shown in 4:3?

Thanks ndoggac. Being that I have no intention of ever viewing an OTA signal I didn't know whether I should care about multicasting or not (aside from it ruining others experiece). I knew it wasn't good, but didn't think it effected me at all. :(

Fascinating...

ndoggac - your email was rather caustic, but you did raise some valid concerns. Regardless of a customer's tone, you'd think some customer service skills would come through on the recipient's part. If someone on the front line (customer support/help desk/line tech, etc.) would respond like that, they'd get their ass reamed by a supervisor.
It's nice to know that once you hit VP level you don't need to address customer's concerns anymore and can be as flippant as you'd like.

Originally posted by flyersfan
ndoggac - your email was rather caustic, but you did raise some valid concerns. Regardless of a customer's tone, you'd think some customer service skills would come through on the recipient's part. If someone on the front line (customer support/help desk/line tech, etc.) would respond like that, they'd get their ass reamed by a supervisor.
It's nice to know that once you hit VP level you don't need to address customer's concerns anymore and can be as flippant as you'd like. I suppose the station should've just written some meaningless "thank you for your comment" letter and tossed his note in the trash can. It may be a little caustic, but it sure is nice to know he touched a nerve and got an honest response.

I don't see how you equate a smart-ass response with an honest one, but that's fine. IMO, Mr. Gilbert's tone indicates indifference regarding this concern and he has certainly tossed the note in the trash.

Since he's not here to defend himself, I'll refrain from further comment on that email thread.

The MNF games haven't been much interest to me lately, so I haven't had the chance to critically view the broadcasts. I'll check it out next week to confirm for myself that the quality has or has not degraded. I certainly don't have a golden eye (or ears), so if it looks worse to me, that's saying something. :)

Originally posted by flyersfan
I don't see how you equate a smart-ass response with an honest one, but that's fine. IMO, Mr. Gilbert's tone indicates indifference regarding this concern and he has certainly tossed the note in the trash. Considering the tone of the original note, it's certainly the kind of comment that would first arise from reading it; it's probably quite honest in the sense that it conveys exactly what he thought when he read it.

I had written a note to WPVI about their audio troubles a few weeks back. I wrote a civil note, and got a civil response.

You can catch more flies with honey, folks .....

A couple things here -

1). This is Jim Gilbert at his finest. He was the same way to me, so this is just how he is. I guess being the #1 station in a substandard market for so long can give you that attitude.

2). I have compared WPVI and WABC's broadcasts of MNF and have seen no difference. I have compared mainly static scenes and not high-motion scenes. This is where I am sure the multicasting hurts the PQ.

flyersfan........
Don't forget the Eagles/Dolphins game is on MNF a week from Monday
**and** the Super Bowl is an ABC telecast this year!!!
I *do* notice a better PQ on ESPN's Sunday Night Game on my Sharp 9000DLP/106" DaLite Hi-Power combo.
I prefer the OTA signal rather than the Comcast feed whenever I have the choice.
Terry M.

tmpsu-
I believe you have bad information on the Super Bowl, will be on CBS not ABC.

Originally posted by pabuwal
A couple things here -

1). This is Jim Gilbert at his finest. He was the same way to me, so this is just how he is. I guess being the #1 station in a substandard market for so long can give you that attitude.

2). I have compared WPVI and WABC's broadcasts of MNF and have seen no difference. I have compared mainly static scenes and not high-motion scenes. This is where I am sure the multicasting hurts the PQ.

Perhaps this really has to do with the given affiliate's network...

Compare all this to CBS...

mmisbin......
My mistake, you are correct re: Super Bowl.
CBS this year.
My OTA tuner will come in handy then.
Wonder how many football (Eagles?) fans here are scurrying to get cheap OTA tuners with a RatShack UHF antenna???
Terry M.

My OTA tuner - Samsung T351 (open box - no manual, no documentation!) to a Samsung HLN567 via dvi cable. Better picture than comcast HD thru component cable.

I'm still praying that Comcast will add CBS before said SuperBowl. We had a big party last year, and I don't want to get a OTA Tuner/Antenna if I don't have to, but it may come to that, or else no party at all. Beh.

E-A-G-L-E-S!!!

there are alot of people praying with you!!!
This really needs to happen......doesn't make sense that it hasn't happened already. $$$ talks.

Rumor (and therefore completely unreliable information!) is there will be an announcement @ Dec. 22 regarding CBS-HD on Comcast. What do I believe? I bought an OTA hd tuner.

now that Comcast SportsNet has moved to Channel 175 (I'll miss INHD2)....does anyone know what will happen to channel 172??

Are there any rumors for more HD channels on Comcast (DiscoveryHD, HDnet, other??)

In HD2 is still there on 175. CSN-HD is gone. The upconverted CSN that is. When CSN is doing an HD game, they will pre-empt 175 and show it there. All they need to do is flip a switch that has been installed in the control room at the Wac House.

In HD2 is still there on 175. CSN-HD is gone. The upconverted CSN that is. When CSN is doing an HD game, they will pre-empt 175 and show it there. All they need to do is flip a switch that has been installed in the control room at the Wac House.

So, JWHIP, is what MMISBIN is saying true?

jwhip is right - CSN-HD programming and INHD2 are still around, just all on ch. 175.

I just saw this press release from Comcast SportsNet. I have deleted the contact's phone number so he/she doesn't get lots of non-press calls.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: JAMIE FLINKMAN (215) XXX-XXXX

Comcast SportsNet Moves High Definition Productions To Channel 175
Move From Channel 172 To Comcast SportsNet INHD2 On Channel 175
Effective Immediately


Philadelphia (PA) - Comcast SportsNet, the 24-hour regional sports network, will move its high definition productions of Flyers hockey, Sixers basketball, and Phillies baseball to Comcast SportsNet/INHD2 channel 175 on Comcast Cable systems in the Philadelphia area.

Fans in the Philadelphia area with the appropriate HDTV sets and
converters will now be able to find their favorite teams in high definition
on channel 175, just three spots up from its previous home on channel 172.
The amazing technology maximizes the picture and audio quality in a
wide-screen, theater-like display resulting in a picture up to six times
sharper than the standard analog television set.

Comcast SportsNet INHD2 and its sister channel INHD (now channel 174), offer sports, movies, specials, and shows from around the world produced in high definition. The network will deliver Comcast SportsNet scheduled high definition productions to its viewers and then return to its normal programming following the conclusion of each event.

The first HD telecast on Channel 175 will be the Flyers vs. Calgary
Flames at 7pm December 16th followed by the Sixers vs. Miami Heat game
December 17th at 7pm.

For a complete schedule of HD games, log onto
www.comcastsportsnet.com.


Comcast SportsNet (www.comcastsportsnet.com) is the regional,
24-hour sports cable television network serving nearly three million basic
cable subscribers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware from its studios in the Wachovia Center. The network is managed by Comcast Regional Sports Television, which consists of two regional sports networks servicing the Philadelphia and Baltimore/Washington television markets. Comcast SportsNet in Philadelphia is the home of Philadelphia Flyers, Sixers and Phillies, as well as over 11 originally produced programs.

###

This is what I have heard regarding new HD channels on 12/22 from Comcast in the Philly area

Cinemax HD = ch. 318
Starz! HD = ch. 368

check it out at http://www.comcast.com/phlhdtvtvg/

Looks like we will have 11 HD channels from Comcast in Philly on 12/22

the q - JWhip has an "in" at comcast, hence me askin if there was any chance of the CBS, as he has mentioned that there may be in the past, but I haven't heard anything of late. I'm actually thinking of getting STARZ (as Skin-e-max doesn't hold much interest to me).

Originally posted by ndoggac
hey....what do you know.....a quick response......a very rude response that gives me no answers and serves no purpose....but quick all the same.

-----------------------------------------------
ndoggac,

We do listen to our viewers and take their comments seriously but since you
already have all the answers, it would be pointless for me to try and
address your concerns. Good luck.

James D. Gilbert
VP of Engineering
WPVI-TV Ch.6, WPVI-DT Ch.64
4100 City Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131

voice: 215-581-4542
fax: 215-581-4515

What is Mr. Gilbert's direct email address? I hate using that complaint form. I have submitted 3 or 4 messages, but have never received ANY response (and they were very politely worded messages).

Since Mr. Gilbert did not say do not disclose his email address, I think you have every right to do so.

I would email something like:

Doesn't multi-casting on your digital station severely affect the quality of HD programming?

Isn't your weather subchannel not really needed, since anyone can just hop online to check the weather or turn to channels that are entirely dedicated to the subject?

Isn't the subchannel that is merely a standard definition broadcast of the HD signal not really needed since anyone with a digital tuner, is going to watch the HD signal, not the standard def?

I do note that some people have stated that Monday night football on WPVI-DT looks worse compared to ESPN's Sunday night broadcast? Do you know what the cause for that would be?

Out of curiosity, how many viewers have written in thanking you for the weather or standard definition broadcast subchannel? Do you have any numbers on the postive vs. negative feedback for those subchannels?

Please let me know your position on multicasting and if wpvi-dt will continue to do so, even if it effects the quality of the main HD channel?

Thank you.

Just happened to be looking over at TitanTV (purveyor of frequently incorrect HD program labeling)....and noticed that they had tonights Flyers game listed as HD...and it's a home game. Is UPN EVER planning on passing through an HD feed since COmcast wired up the arena for HD for their SportsNet broadcasts ???

:confused:

DAMM you comcast

Im assuming, that CSN 172 is gone...
and the non HD programming i have to watch on channel 41(lansdale) which is fricking analog cable

unlike 172 which is digital with dolby audio and 24/7 in widescreen
ok, its streatched widescreen sometimes... but at least i didnt have to screw with tv's aspect ratio (not a bad as ESPNHD non HD stuff)

now if i have to jump from analog to digital cable, that SUCKZ!

man, the only reason i have comcast is for CSN
otherwise INHD programming is boring, and everything else i get
via OTA (when it works) and DirecTv

only goes to show there is no perfect solution!

mitch

The Flyers' game tonight is in HD. However, it is in HD on HD Net. It is not a CSN production. Due to blackout restrictions, it will not be available in this market, except for any replays.

Originally posted by JWhip
The Flyers' game tonight is in HD. However, it is in HD on HD Net. It is not a CSN production. Due to blackout restrictions, it will not be available in this market, except for any replays.

I'm *hoping* that the HD Net blackout doesn't extend to where I am in Central NJ. For some odd reason, I can remember quite a few Braves-Phillies games (again, for some odd reason) being blacked out where I am in Middlesex County NJ via D*). Not sure if it was this summer or last, but I know it happened.

Guess I'll have to check when I get home.

Thanks for the heads up!:D

The blackout restrictions for HDnet haven't affected us in the Lehigh Valley yet. Of course, it was an away game the two previous times they were on, but I believe it applies either way.

My fingers are crossed... tonight should be a nasty game, and I can't wait to enjoy it in HD! :)

Has anyone else lost digital audio from Comcast (Motorola 5100)? In the past unpligging the box for a minute has solved the problem but not today.

Originally posted by mdm180
Bob,

I too have seen a drop in signal strength on 10-1 within the last month or so. It went from about 70 to about 40. I was ready to head on the roof for some tweaking too. I believe 17-1 is sightly lower as well but 3-1,6-1,29-1 and 57-1 are looking good. 12-1 is crappy strength but always has been.

I am in the Valley Forge area. Anyone else notice this?

Not the best form to reply to my own post, but it looks like NBC 10-1 is back up to the 75% signal strength for me. I didn't change anything in my setup so they must have done something. I doubt that this is the new tower or anything but something changed - for the better this time.

Your improved reception could also be weather conditions, mdm180. The condition of the troposphere affects broadcast signals. Channel 10-1 is still pretty much useless to me here in Center City (too weak to receive).

--Philly Tim

I have definately seen the affects of tropo and this seems different. Since I put my rooftop antenna about 6 months ago, I could receive 10-1 pretty consistantly at around 60-75 signal strength on my DTC-100. Then around the last time that they were "moving to the new tower" it dropped to 40 and I could only receive it intermittantly. This lasted until last week when it returned to the previous strength. Like I said, not sure what happened but I am not complaining!

My antenna was knocked out by the winds from a few weeks ago, I just had the antenna repositioned, and wcau comes in now at 50%.
The tech told me that wcau cannot raise their output because it will interfere with a heart monitoring equipment somewhere in New Jersey.
Is this guy pulling my proverbial leg?
mprh

MPRH
He probably isn't. When each DTV station is licensed they have to notify every hospital, nursing home, invalid care center, and so on. This is because the FCC allowed low power consumer and professional equipment to transmit on unused, UHF television channels.
There was a station in Texas that had a channel 6 analog, channel 7 digital, or something like that. I can't remember the exact channels, but when they fired up the new DTV transmitter it knocked out every heart monitor and other wireless medical device in town. That's when the FCC required us to notify all health care facilities in the coverage area.
When I put channel 26 on the air I had to create the list manually. We called all the municipalities in the coverage area and got names of health care facilities. I remember we had a temp that spent two weeks making up all the letters. By the time we got around to channel 32, there was a service we used. $1200 for about 980 letters.
CUL Jim