Indianapolis / Terre Haute / Lafayette, IN - HDTV [Text View] - Page 15

RWB

01-03-07, 02:30 PM

Just a heads up for those of us near Terre Haute or Valley area. While it seems the signal strength for Fox 38 has become pretty much hit or miss of late the good news is it seems maybe WUSI has upped their power some?

Previously (though it has been a while) DT 19-1 was a tiny blip on my LG tuner. Did a re-scan for the heck of it and I'm now receiving their 4 channels at a moderate signal strength. At first I thought maybe I was getting a good Tropo bounce or something, but after a week of different weather including the drop in temps their has been no major impact on signal strength.

As a reminder I'm 9 miles north of TH near the Vigo/Vermillion County line.

On a side note......WTHI still has a fantastic HD picture for live sporting events and David Letterman, but for some reason some of their prime time shows are looking rather bland. Old Susan or something like that (Louis Dreyfus sp?) looked especially bad the other night and reminded me of SD material.

XavierMike

01-03-07, 04:26 PM

Before I had the TiVO Series 3, I had the Motorola DVR from Comcast, and I was always surprised that Comcast rarely announced their programming changes through the message center. TiVO announces each change to the guide, so it was cool to see that Comcast has added National Geographic Channel HD and A&E HD to their high-def package. And Universal HD and MTV-HD were added a month or so ago.

Comcast is certainly developing quite a good HD lineup. I can't think of any HD channels that are out there that Comcast doesn't have, except for HDNet and a couple of the old Voom channels like Monsters HD.

I saw that. I've been watching alot of National Geographic HD lately-very cool.

Tom Weber

01-04-07, 11:29 AM

It's more of a coincidence than you think - we're a CBS station!

I know a little bit about WNDU, and they're UHF not VHF, and they use a different brand of encoder.

So, no obvious common threads yet.

Tom Weber
Engineering
WISH / WNDY / WIIH / LWS / etc.

T Heller

01-04-07, 05:45 PM

I'm all set up and very happy with my OTA reception of Indianapolis digital signals, but --anticipating watching the 500 live and in HD, since I'm almost equidistant from Louisville's towers-- I'd like to learn what RF channels the Louisville digital signals occupy.

Antennaweb.org doesn't provide this information, but there was a page at hdtvmagazine.com that could be queried for stations within "X" miles of one's location and it showed the actual RF channel for each station's digital signal. This would help me 'fine-tune' an effort to pull in the Louisville stations (i.e should I turn the UHF antenna or the upper-range VHF antenna?)

I can get a marginally-OK analog signal on Louisville's ABC affiliate, WHAS Channel 11 (which I expect is the network that will carry the 500), but with my rousing success pulling in the Indy digital/HD signals these past couple of months, I think it's likely I can get a much, much better picture off the digital signals from Louisville.

But I can't find that darned page at hdtvmagazine.com any more. My printout of their information for the Indy stations fades out, showing only "http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/programming/broadcast-market-prin..." Can anyone provide the full URL so I can query their database for the Loisville stations?

Les Auber

01-04-07, 07:45 PM

goldrich

01-04-07, 08:05 PM

T Heller, Les has a good point about the Indy 500 telecast. But regardless of whether it is in SD or HD, in order to watch it live, you'll have to find an ABC station outside of Indy. Being in Columbus, WHAS should be your best bet. WHAS-DT is currently on ch. 55. In 2009, it will move to ch. 11.

Here's another way to locate stations within approximately 100 miles of Columbus.....
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?state=&call=&arn=&city=&chan=&cha2=69&serv=&type=0&facid=&list=2&dist=150&dlat2=39&mlat2=12&slat2=5&dlon2=85&mlon2=55&slon2=16&size=9

First, go to the FCC website... http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/tvq.html Then scroll down to "Stations Within A Radius" in the light blue section. Then enter the distance for the radius. I entered 150 km. Then enter your coordinates (39-12-5 N, 85-55-16 W for Columbus). It will then list every TV station within 150 km. of Columbus. Hope this helps.

Steve

T Heller

01-04-07, 11:56 PM

Thanks for the quick replies, Les and Steve!

This will be worth the effort, no matter how it comes in. I'd rather watch the race live than on tape delay!

jrcorwin

01-05-07, 09:35 AM

Before I had the TiVO Series 3, I had the Motorola DVR from Comcast, and I was always surprised that Comcast rarely announced their programming changes through the message center. TiVO announces each change to the guide, so it was cool to see that Comcast has added National Geographic Channel HD and A&E HD to their high-def package. And Universal HD and MTV-HD were added a month or so ago.

Comcast is certainly developing quite a good HD lineup. I can't think of any HD channels that are out there that Comcast doesn't have, except for HDNet and a couple of the old Voom channels like Monsters HD.
I wish I could find these via QAM...I do get ESPN-HD, Discovery-HD, and INHD though...

jrcorwin

01-05-07, 09:39 AM

T Heller, unless ABC changes something don't count on a HD Indy 500. Last year looked very upconverted to me and if anything like it lost something over the cable. If you're expecting something that looks like the Fox coverage of NASCAR, don't. Now here's the chance for ABC to go HD in '07 and make a liar out of me...
As far as I know...ABC has nothing to do with whether or not the Indy 500 will be in HD. It's up to the IMS/IRL and the production company they hire. I thought they supplied the broadcast and ABC just picked it up....

Can anyone confirm this?

corrnd

01-05-07, 03:36 PM

Your comments above might be related to this update I just received from WTHR-DT. ..................Steve

............................................................ ..........................

Date: 12-21-06 12:58

As a ‘heads up’ I wanted to alert the Indy Forum that, due to installing new PSIP computer software to fix the program guide time error (12-5 post), as a result we’ve had to also make some manufacturer recommended upgrades and changes to the HD encoder. If you’ve lost WTHR-DT programming you may need to delete channels 13.1 and 13.2 from your receiver then do a new DTV channel search to get your receiver to again decode WTHR-DT programming. For the member who lost WTHR HD on cable this is a likely culprit and the fix is the same.

In order to fix several other HD encoder ‘issues’ we’ve found the PSIP ‘fix’ has caused, we’ve now been strongly urged by the HD encoder manufacturer to install their latest encoder software version. So please bear with us over the next few days as we find a non-HD time to take HD down briefly while the new encoder software uploads and boots. Once that is done, if you find you’ve lost WTHR-DT you may need to have your set do a DTV re-scan.

Al Grossniklaus

Director of Engineering & Operations

WTHR NBC 13

Indianapolis
Very good to know! I actually just picked up an HDTV with a QAM tuner and was surprised to find that NBC-HD came in just fine on the TV. I guess this explains it -- I'll have to run a rescan with the tuner in my HTPC.

Also, my TV briefly picked up another QAM channel on my line, the G4 channel. I'm not in front of the TV right now, but I think it came in on RF 82 (can't remember the sub-channel). I only saw it for about 3 or 4 minutes when I was going through the channels that were picked up during the scan and I can't tune it anymore. Oh well, I'm not real interested in the programming offered there, I just thought others might like to know.

NickIndy

01-05-07, 04:42 PM

Before I had the TiVO Series 3, I had the Motorola DVR from Comcast, and I was always surprised that Comcast rarely announced their programming changes through the message center. TiVO announces each change to the guide, so it was cool to see that Comcast has added National Geographic Channel HD and A&E HD to their high-def package. And Universal HD and MTV-HD were added a month or so ago.

Comcast is certainly developing quite a good HD lineup. I can't think of any HD channels that are out there that Comcast doesn't have, except for HDNet and a couple of the old Voom channels like Monsters HD.

I don't understand why Brighthouse seems so much slower at adding HD content than Comcast. Hopefully once U-verse really gets going it will force Brighthouse to get their act together.

Les Auber

01-05-07, 06:49 PM

Les Auber

01-05-07, 06:52 PM

I don't understand why Brighthouse seems so much slower at adding HD content than Comcast. Hopefully once U-verse really gets going it will force Brighthouse to get their act together.

I'm not holding my breath. The last several owner changes and satellite competition hasn't made a noticeable difference. I've been with them since they were American Cablevision and they've been a PITA to deal with since then.

nathill

01-06-07, 09:27 AM

T Heller,
Ever since ABC did the Indy 500 a few years back as a commercial with brief interruptions for racing I haven't even watched the tape delay live. By rough timing they were running about 4 minutes of commercials for each 3 minutes of racing. It was so broken up I had no idea what was happening. Last year wasn't near as bad.

I don't know who is responsible for the actual production of the broadcast. Even good SD would be better then most of what I see.

Don't forget to mention the brilliant announcer last year who talked about the great finish we're having here at the DAYTONA 500.
Where does Tony George find these guys?
I agree with your assessment of the picture quality.
I watch the NASCAR jalopies once in a while, see them banging around in HD with great sound, and then watch the "greatest spectacle in racing."
It's sad.

Les Auber

01-06-07, 10:09 AM

It's sad.

Roger that.

T Heller

01-06-07, 01:18 PM

T Heller,
Ever since ABC did the Indy 500 a few years back as a commercial with brief interruptions for racing I haven't even watched the tape delay live. By rough timing they were running about 4 minutes of commercials for each 3 minutes of racing. It was so broken up I had no idea what was happening.

Good observation; I agree. Radio is better than that sort of TV 'coverage'.

In regard to NBC's Nascar coverage -- I think I saw them run commercials simultaneously with a picture-in-picture of the ongoing race. That would be a *big* improvement to the otherwise commercial-saturated TV coverage of the 500.

I suppose IMS's contract with ABC provides a handsome share of the race's commercial advertisements -- perhaps so large a share ABC only cares to use old-generation equipment (and even a clueless commentator or two).

Considering the squeeze Tony Hulman seems to put on the race's network TV agreement, it's no wonder the winner is presented a jug of milk.

T Heller

01-06-07, 01:40 PM

T Heller,
Ever since ABC did the Indy 500 a few years back as a commercial with brief interruptions for racing I haven't even watched the tape delay live.

FYI: this discussion prompted me to drop a note to someone in the media and economic development circles who might be in a position to cause some behind-the-scene waves on this situation. (I cut & pasted our discussion as an attacment, but eliminated any data that could personally identify anyone but myself.)

Les Auber

01-06-07, 03:06 PM

The commercials in the '06 race were better handled with PIP etc though to describe the picture as anything more then barely adequate SD would still be a stretch.

nathill

01-06-07, 04:13 PM

The commercials in the '06 race were better handled with PIP etc though to describe the picture as anything more then barely adequate SD would still be a stretch.

And to pile on, I would add that to describe the announcers as anything more than barely adequate is a giant stretch.
Daytona 500?

hoosierfan227

01-06-07, 07:19 PM

Comments from Al Grossniklaus, Director of Engineering and Operations at WTHR.........................

There was a nationwide problem with NBC affiliates using Harris encoders (60% of stations use Harris encoders). Certain video during NBC HD SNF (for instance, a certain HD switcher wipe effect going to/from replays) generated artifacts in the NBC HD feed to affiliates which were interpreted as noise by the Harris encoder. The encoder would briefly automatically switch in heavy noise filtering, causing the video to go soft for a few seconds. Prior to the 8/20 game NBC and Harris sent a Technical Bulletin advising NBC affiliates to reconfigure Harris encoders to change the noise filter from an automatic to a fixed setting. This eliminated the momentary soft video during SNF.

Based on today's Colt's game I think channel 13 needs to re-read the technical bulletin(Post 3047). The blurring at the beginning of replays and coming out of replays for a few seconds was quite bad. It did seem to be corrected during most of the NFL season but noticed it the last few weeks and seems worse today.

The good news is NBC is done with football and we get to watch the game on CBS next week(maybe a couple more weeks after that ;)). CBS does seem to have a similar blurring issue on NCAA Basketball but have never noticed on college or NFL football.

nathill

01-06-07, 09:20 PM

Based on today's Colt's game I think channel 13 needs to re-read the technical bulletin(Post 3047). The blurring at the beginning of replays and coming out of replays for a few seconds was quite bad. It did seem to be corrected during most of the NFL season but noticed it the last few weeks and seems worse today.

The good news is NBC is done with football and we get to watch the game on CBS next week(maybe a couple more weeks after that ;)). CBS does seem to have a similar blurring issue on NCAA Basketball but have never noticed on college or NFL football.

I was afraid it was my old tired eyes that were having trouble focusing at the start of plays.
I guess I'm glad it was on the stations end, because I sure noticed the same things that didn't look right.
The Dallas-Seattle game looks (and sounds) a whole lot better.

nathill

01-07-07, 05:04 PM

IndyJeff

01-07-07, 05:23 PM

Wow.
Just after I'm done complaining about the quality of NBC's football game yesterday, the IU vrs. Michigan State basketball game today features white flashes that capture the whole screen for a just enough time to be totally annoying.
It even comes through on the analog feed.
But Eric Suhr just hit a three, so I'll continue to watch!

WISH/CBS is better than WTHR/NBC, but neither as as good as FOX/WXIN and ESPN.

I wonder if it's NBC or WTHR? In any event, I totally agree that it's pretty bad by HD standards. To my eyes. Fox and ESPN look much, much better - I hardly ever see any pixellation, focus problems, or image noise on these stations (compared to NBC, and even CBS). Maybe it's the difference in source material between 720p and 1080i (although my set is always displaying 1080i... so I'm not sure how that would be the reason)?

hoosierfan227

01-07-07, 07:27 PM

Wow.
Just after I'm done complaining about the quality of NBC's football game yesterday, the IU vrs. Michigan State basketball game today features white flashes that capture the whole screen for a just enough time to be totally annoying.
It even comes through on the analog feed.
But Eric Suhr just hit a three, so I'll continue to watch!

Could not agree more. This problem has been going on with NCAA basketball broadcasts since last season. For a network that does a very good job on college and NFL football, I wonder why they can't seem to fix this problem.

Maybe our resident expert Tom Weber could shed some light on this. Based on previous threads in the HDTV Programming forum this is a CBS problem not WISH.

KBandy

01-07-07, 09:03 PM

Could not agree more. This problem has been going on with NCAA basketball broadcasts since last season. For a network that does a very good job on college and NFL football, I wonder why they can't seem to fix this problem.

Maybe our resident expert Tom Weber could shed some light on this. Based on previous threads in the HDTV Programming forum this is a CBS problem not WISH.
I watched the last couple of minutes of the game, and I believe what I saw was the strobes of the still photogs. There are normally 6 or so high power strobes hung in the hall for the national press, and I'm thinking that's what it was. I was watching on a 56" Mits projection TV, and it was noticable, but not a real big deal. Maybe with another type of monitor or projector, it would be, I don't know. If you think back to watching basketball on an old SD analog tube, you probably saw the same thing, it was just not as "big" ;)

nathill

01-07-07, 09:41 PM

I watched the last couple of minutes of the game, and I believe what I saw was the strobes of the still photogs. There are normally 6 or so high power strobes hung in the hall for the national press, and I'm thinking that's what it was. I was watching on a 56" Mits projection TV, and it was noticeable, but not a real big deal. Maybe with another type of monitor or projector, it would be, I don't know. If you think back to watching basketball on an old SD analog tube, you probably saw the same thing, it was just not as "big" ;)

I wondered if strobes might be involved. It makes sense. I've seen them tear up other digital shows. I attend games now and then at Assembly Hall, and don't recall seeing them flash. But it's a possibility.

hoosierfan227

01-08-07, 10:08 PM

I wondered if strobes might be involved. It makes sense. I've seen them tear up other digital shows. I attend games now and then at Assembly Hall, and don't recall seeing them flash. But it's a possibility.

Strobes do make sense. I remember seeing them that last time I was at Conseco. What does not make sense I have noticed this problem only on CBS and not on ESPN games. Also have not noticed on any NBA telecasts.

tpassios

01-09-07, 11:48 PM

INDYSOUTH

01-10-07, 02:21 PM

MAX HD

01-10-07, 05:02 PM

Would like to know what kind of range people are getting from their HDTV OTA antenna.

I am particularly interested in receiving Indianapolis HD stations in southern IN. (just North of Bedford) but I would also like to see post from anyone receiving HD signal at long distances from the transmitting tower. If you can provide your range, (in miles) signal level, and antenna information...i.e. antenna model, installation height, antenna location and whether the station you are receiving is VHF or UHF, it would be very helpful. Your approximate location as well as broadcast tower location would also be appreciated.

Thanks,
Larry

Well Larry,first of all,it's not terribly relevant what others use for reception and the distances that can be received reliably because every situation can be/will be drastically different.

For your location,you will need some heavy metal as high up in the air as possible.Your elevation is around 640ft which is good for stations in Louisville(58mi),but you're 200ft lower than Indy(70mi) so reliable reception will be nearly impossible.Terre Haute at 45mi or so should be do-able.

Your Zip 47462 shows WTIU-30 analog at 14.7mi,so it could cause some preamp overload problems with a high gain antenna pointed towards Indy(~8deg spread).Hard to say for sure.You might put your exact address in at Antennaweb.org and check distance.

I would think at a very minimum you'd need an 8-bay for UHF and a large highbander for VHF at least 30ft above ground level using a CM777 preamp.

Greg B

RWB

01-11-07, 08:23 AM

Would like to know what kind of range people are getting from their HDTV OTA antenna.

Thanks,
Larry

Larry, the advice MAX posted above is right on and I can only tell you what I've experienced personally.

I live 9 miles north/west of Terre Haute near the Indiana/Illinois border. Getting stations out of Indy during the winter months is rare indeed. In warmer temps because of weather conditions it is hit or miss here. I forgot to add I'm looking between 70 to 80 miles to the towers.

I'm able to pick up WTIU Bloomington constantly 24/7 with a very strong signal at approximately 66 miles from the tower. I'm able to pick up the CW4 channel very hit or miss during the day (alot more misses) and can lock pretty steady during the evening hours, but signal strength is still on the poor side.

Our local affiliate towers at 29 miles away is almost maxed on my tuner.

With my setup anything within 50 miles would be no problem. Extending past that then it goes to what MAX was saying you never know.

I'm using a Channel Master 4228 antenna with a Channel Master CM7775 pre-amp (does UHF only while the 7777 will do both UHF and VHF).

goldrich

01-11-07, 09:07 AM

I'm just now getting into the HD world and will most likely be purchasing an outside antennae. I have a few questions that I was hoping someone on this thread would be willing to assist me with finding the answers:

1) What would be the best recommended antennae (brand)?
2) Would you recommend an indoor or outdoor antennae?
3) I live in Fishers around 116th and Cumberland -- does anyone know whether or not I would be able to pick up the HD signals from my house and how far away I am from the transmittor towers?

Thanks all. My apologies for this posting if it is not the right forum. I just want to make sure that I go the right direction with my purchases and I'd rather not invest in cable or satellite unless I have to.

Tim

Welcome to HD and AVS Forum, Tim. From your location, you should be able to receive the local DTV stations quite easily with almost any decent antenna, especially mounted outside. Currently, all the local DTV stations broadcast on UHF channels with the exception of WISH-DT, which is on VHF channel 9. When the analog stations are turned off in Feb. 2009, WTHR-DT will switch from ch. 46 to ch. 13. With this in mind, it is usually a good idea to include some kind of antenna that will also receive the VHF frequencies. A lot of various UHF/VHF combo antennas should work very nicely at your distance from the TV towers. The Channel Master 4228 (UHF only antenna) is a good choice for UHF stations and in some cases is quite good at receiving nearby highband VHF channels (7-13).

Virtually all of the local stations can be received by aiming your antenna to the WSW, in the vicinity of West 79th and Michigan Road. One exception is WNDY-DT 32 (23-1). This tower is located almost straight north of your location, just north of Noblesville near Strawtown. But with 1000 kW of power, you should be able to receive this station with the antenna pointed in almost any direction.

Happy viewing.

Steve

INDYSOUTH

01-11-07, 12:30 PM

tpassios

01-11-07, 01:56 PM

Welcome to HD and AVS Forum, Tim. From your location, you should be able to receive the local DTV stations quite easily with almost any decent antenna, especially mounted outside. Currently, all the local DTV stations broadcast on UHF channels with the exception of WISH-DT, which is on VHF channel 9. When the analog stations are turned off in Feb. 2009, WTHR-DT will switch from ch. 46 to ch. 13. With this in mind, it is usually a good idea to include some kind of antenna that will also receive the VHF frequencies. A lot of various UHF/VHF combo antennas should work very nicely at your distance from the TV towers. The Channel Master 4228 (UHF only antenna) is a good choice for UHF stations and in some cases is quite good at receiving nearby highband VHF channels (7-13).

Virtually all of the local stations can be received by aiming your antenna to the WSW, in the vicinity of West 79th and Michigan Road. One exception is WNDY-DT 32 (23-1). This tower is located almost straight north of your location, just north of Noblesville near Strawtown. But with 1000 kW of power, you should be able to receive this station with the antenna pointed in almost any direction.

Happy viewing.

Steve

This is great information, Steve. Thanks so much for the help. I'm going to start with an indoor antenna and see if this works. Otherwise, I'll switch to an outside one.

RWB

01-11-07, 02:25 PM

My main goal is to get the playoffs and Colts games in HiDef. I have satellite which provides local ch's 6,13 & 59 but not 8. Do you know if Terre Haute ch 11.1 broadcast most games in HiDef?

Larry, for the Colts game out of TH you're looking for 24-1 which remaps to 10-1.

Yes they normally carry the HD games and I would say this coming playoff game is a lock to be the same.

P.S. You wouldn't believe what a difference a pre-amp makes. Without the pre-amp WTIU is merely blip that comes and goes on the strength meter. With it as noted I get the station 24/7.

MAX HD

01-11-07, 07:27 PM

Thanks for the info.

With the info you guys gave me I will concentrate on Terre Haute. I currently have a yagi style VHF/UHF antenna with a 70" boom at about 20' high but I am in a bit of a hole. Terre Haute reception is non existent for HiDef and weak for analog. I believe my antenna just isn't cut out for that kind of range. It is about 15 years old. Since the HiDef Ch's in Terre Haute are UHF I am leaning towards the Antennas Direct 91XG. I already have a rotor so the height should be my only issue. Any advice on this antenna or plan is welcome. Also I am sure a preamp will probably be needed.

My main goal is to get the playoffs and Colts games in HiDef. I have satellite which provides local ch's 6,13 & 59 but not 8. Do you know if Terre Haute ch 11.1 broadcast most games in HiDef?

You definitely need to overhaul your antenna situation.XG91 good choice.You need a VHF 7-13,10 element mounted 3ft below the XG.Good choice for that would be Antennacraft,Winegard or the Funke model like I use which is the largest Highbander on the planet.Have extras if you need/want one.

If at all possible,you need to get the install at 30ft,or higher.

WTHI-DT on 24 is at full power so shouldn't be a problem.If it is,you can shoot down to Lou for CBS on Ch26.They're solid here at 70mi 24/7,but I'm not using a typical UHF install,and the antennas are parked at 990ft ASL.Don't know if they'll carry the game though.

INDYSOUTH

01-11-07, 10:45 PM

MAX HD

01-11-07, 11:18 PM

Boosted my antenna to 24' today and it helped analog WTHI ch 10 to the point where it was almost watchable.

I'm going to go ahead and get the XG91 I should see some improvement. Any suggetions on a preamp model?

Just to confirm, I would tune my TV to 10.1 to receive WTHI-DT right?

Did I read in another post that WTHI-DT will go back to ch 10 after analog is off the air or did I dream this? And if so will it be UHF or VHF?

Max, is the VHF antenna you suggest for the analog locals or is it because WTHI-DT may go back to ch 10 VHF? If it is just for locals I already get abc and nbc in HiDef from satellite. I'm not sure what wttv's plans are for HiDef though.

A highband(7-13) antenna would be for analog WTHI now or after shutdown when they go to digital on 10.And for WISH-DT now/future,and WHAS in the future when they go back to 11.With the hole you're in,anything other than TH may be impossible.

Unless your tv has direct access tuning,just do a scan.If it locks on 24 it'll remap to 10.1.

When you mount the XG it has a tilt clamp to point the antenna up at the front.This may help with your "hole" situation.

Preamp of choice is the CM7777,but 7778 will do also,as the 77 is in short supply.

WTTV is on 48 and staying there,and is full power.The XG should pull it in no problem.

Also,replace all coax in system with new RG6,with waterproof connectors(outdoors).

INDYSOUTH

01-12-07, 12:12 AM

MAX HD

01-12-07, 12:47 AM

Would a combo VHF/UHF antenna be more cost effective or are they not as efficient as putting up two separate ant. Seems like the winegard 7084p boast longer range for UHF than xg91. I guess I'm asking what would be good antenna or antenna combo?

A combo 2-69 antenna will be useless in two years,unless you want to Dx analogs from Mexico or Canada.

The XG will smoke the 7084 on the UHF side.For now,put the XG up as high as possible with a preamp and see what you can get.Report back and we'll go from there.

MStepp99

01-13-07, 09:50 PM

Recently purchased an HDTV, live in down town Terre Haute.

I have absolutely no problem accessing the WTHI-DT (w/ HD programming), WTWO-DT.

But can not get the DT version of Fox WFXW

I'm a DishNetwork subscriber, but don't want to pay for locals, cause i'm only missing 1 station.

Use a Terk UHF/VHF antenna which mounts onto the dish.

Any suggestions??? (also, any ideas when WTWO(NBC) and WFXW(Fox) will switch to HD)

Feddie

01-13-07, 10:02 PM

I know in the past some members here have actually met for a home theater demo or just group gathering meet/greet in Avon Indiana. Just to toss it out there would anyone in the greater Terre Haute area be interested in trying to arrange something similar?

I will assume usually if your checking out the HD forum you're probably into all of the A/V experience so we wouldn't limit it to just talking HD tv. Also I do not mean to exclude anyone in asking only about THaute or the Valley. It would be open to anyone who enjoys this hobby. It seems usually you have to start small or local to see if there is any interest and then expand from there.
Didn't someone ask about this a little over a year ago? I don't think it ever happened.

GLBright

01-14-07, 07:40 AM

There's a bit of discussion regarding an Indy area meet here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=621529&goto=newpost

sc173

01-14-07, 12:37 PM

Hef

01-14-07, 02:02 PM

I live in Indianapolis and antenna org and live at 38th and 465 (N.W. side) and they show the major attenna all to be 7 miles at 43 degrees from me - I'd be quessing northside 31 and 465 by that info.

Can you get those stations 70 miles away? I don't know, but there are antennas that give you distance and some say that can pull UHF from 70 miles (ABC, NBC, FOX, PBS) (CBS is the only VHF). I think Lowes carries a Channel Master (a good brand) for $100 that does "fringe" area reception and they also have a amplifier too. I'd try it. Of course if you have cable with a quam tuner you might be able to scan and get the majors for free, my brother does with Insight.

I'm having trouble getting FOX digital and analogue OTA in Indy. Anyone else?

MStepp99

01-14-07, 03:49 PM

Hef

01-14-07, 03:54 PM

I undrestood there roll out is local HD so those 100 channels could be a whole bunch of locals.

IndyJeff

01-14-07, 04:09 PM

I spoke with a guy at Circuit City today, and he said by the end of 2007 Direct TV will be offering 100 HD channels, anyone else heard this?

Also, he told me that since FOX WFXW(38) is owned and operated by WTWO-2 in Terre Haute, they don't broadcast much in DTV yet. Only some late night and prime-time programming. But I can't believe they wouldn't offer NFL football???

First, DirecTV has been saying "real soon now" for a few years now. When they say hundreds of HD channels, it means that there will be hundreds of local stations in various markets, super-compressed and down-converted to the lowest possible definition of "HD" (search the Internets for "HD Lite DirecTV").

Nobody can offer hundreds of HD channels, since there aren't hundreds of them broadcasting once you subtract all the local network affiliates.

goldrich

01-14-07, 04:11 PM

Also, he told me that since FOX WFXW(38) is owned and operated by WTWO-2 in Terre Haute, they don't broadcast much in DTV yet. Only some late night and prime-time programming. But I can't believe they wouldn't offer NFL football???

Currently, both WFXW and WTWO operate digitally but at very low power and neither one is passing HD broadcasts from their respective networks (FOX and NBC). Nexstar is slowly updating its stations with full-power transmitters and HD equipment, but according to a Nexstar letter last year, WTWO appeared close to the bottom of that list. :-(

Nexstar's FOX affiliate in Evansville, WTVW-DT 28 (7-1), is hoping to go full power and HD by the end of the month. WTVW-DT will increase its power from 4.5 kW to 1000 kW. DTV viewers south of Terre Haute might have a chance in receiving this FOX station.

Steve

MStepp99

01-14-07, 04:28 PM

Looks like i'm stuck with the distorted FOX, but NBC is DTV and clear, just not HD

I'm buying the HD Programming from DishNetwork when Tax Season rolls around. Until then I can live with this.

Anyone know how much an S-Video cable would improve my picture over AV.

nd06irish

01-14-07, 04:50 PM

I spoke with a guy at Circuit City today, and he said by the end of 2007 Direct TV will be offering 100 HD channels, anyone else heard this?

Direct TV had a press release on Monday 1-8. I cannot link the text, but it is on the DirectTv investor relations page.

goldrich

01-14-07, 04:54 PM

Hey all, nice forum! I've read the past 25+ pages of this thread and didn't see exactly what I was looking for so here it goes. (Sorry for my first post being a question.)

I live on the South East side of Terre Haute, fairly close to the HW 46 & I-70 intersection just to give you some idea. Which is also about 12 miles from all three tv towers in TH, [WTHI (CBS), WTWO (NBC), and WFXW (FOX)]. Apparently only WTHI broadcasts in HD right now, typical Terre Haute...

Well I figure I'd have no problems picking up all three of those stations with an inexpensive indoor antenna. But that would seem like a waste if I had to wait around two years for the other two stations to pick up the pace and show some HD content. So I was wondering if anyone in Terre Haute can pick up Indy stations with an outdoor antenna?

Antennaweb doesn't show Indianapolis stations for my address. According to Google Earth, I'm 70 miles to downtown Indy. I'm not sure where the towers are located in Indy though. Hopefully on the South West side......but with my luck I'm sure they are on the North East side.

So is it possible to pick up stations 70+ miles away OTA?

If so, does anyone have any antenna/pre-amp/setup recommendations?

My TV already as built in ATSC/QAM tuners and my house is wired with RG 6 coax.

Any info/recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Welcome to AVS Forum and the world of HD. That's the good news. The not so good news is that receiving the Indy stations at 70+ miles, at least consistently, is going to be tough. It's going to take a VERY good antenna with lots of gain, like the Channel Master 4228 or the 91XG from Antennas Direct, plus a good preamp (Channel Master or Winegard) and some good height for the antenna to try to improve your line of sight to the TV towers.

The Indy TV towers (4 major networks) are located north and northwest of downtown Indy. WTHR is approx. 10 miles north of downtown, west of U.S. 31 at 96th and Ditch. Most of the others are approx. 8 miles northwest of downtown, in the vicinity of 79th and Township Line Road.

Since you have WTHI-DT passing HD from CBS, that should be very easy for you to receive. For ABC-HD, you'll need WRTV-DT 25 (6-1), Indy, or some viewers in your area have had success receiving WICD-DT 41 (15-1), Champaign. For NBC-HD it will be WTHR-DT 46 (13-1), Indy and for FOX it will be WXIN-DT 45 (59-1). Just to give you an idea as to the APPROXIMATE coverage area for each of these stations, here are the links to the FCC coverage maps.............

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT988068.html
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1031586.html
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1057600.html
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT691765.html

Hopefully some of the TH area viewers will pass along more specific details. Keep us posted on what you decide to do and then how things work out. Good luck.

Steve

goldrich

01-14-07, 05:05 PM

I'm having trouble getting FOX digital and analogue OTA in Indy. Anyone else?

No, all is fine with both digital and analog via cable and OTA. Just finished watching the Seattle/Chicago game and I didn't notice any issues.

Steve

sc173

01-14-07, 05:45 PM

Of course if you have cable with a quam tuner you might be able to scan and get the majors for free, my brother does with Insight.

Hef are you saying I can possibly get my local channels in HD (when available of course) through cable? Which is really only CBS for me.

Do you know how I should go about trying this? I have Time Warner Cable and the HD box. As of now I only have the cable box connected up to the tv with coax and hdmi. There's another connection for each if I need it. Does your brother use a box or cable card? I'm not even sure if Time Warner offers cable cards.

It won't let me post a link to my tv specs, but I have a Toshiba 62MX196 just in case you need to know how many inputs I have.

I found this quote on toshiba's website....is this what you are talking about?

"Toshiba integrated digital TVs have both ATSC and QAM digital tuning capability so that you can receive terrestrial digital broadcasts as well as digital “cable-in-the-clear” broadcasts."

I'm going to look into this option first before I get an antenna. My neighborhood has problems with large antennas anyway. But this still would only get me CBS...

____________________________________________

goldrich

I appreciate your detailed response. Those ffc coverage maps help out a lot. If that cable thing mentioned above doesn't pan out this is my next best option.

Champaign and the North side of Indy are about the same distance, so I guess it just depends which one has more power.

I'm off to go read my tv's owner's manual again.

Thanks again guys.

Les Auber

01-14-07, 07:00 PM

sc173

01-14-07, 08:22 PM

sc173,
From your description your TV can tune unencrypted digital cable (QAM). It's pretty simple to hook the cable feed up without the box and try a channel scan. My Sony set gets my locals that way here in Indy on brighthouse. Your manual should show the hook up and procedure.Awesome, I'll work on that and let you guys know. I guess I just assumed that I couldn't get my local HD channels over cable since they weren't already coming in HD with the HD box. But why would they do that???....that would be too simple and would make way too much sense...

My main concern right now is getting CBS in HD in time for the SuperBowl. So hopefully this will work out.

Maybe ABC will come in HD too, since we get WRTV 6 through cable since Terre Haute doesn't have an ABC affiliate.

I appreciate all the help.

sc173

01-15-07, 12:43 AM

Well here are my findings of connecting the basic cable to my 2nd antenna coax input on my TV.

Couldn't get DTV local channels by that I mean no CBS, NBC, ABC, or FOX.

I was picking up four DTV PBS stations, 1 in HD. But I normally get it anyway with my HD box.

I found TNT HD, which I normally get with my HD box.

So nothing too exciting, except briefly getting an In Demand movie. I guess I'll start researching an antenna.

Les Auber

01-15-07, 12:00 PM

Looks like TW there doesn't carry any of the locals. An antenna sounds like the only option.

indyrob

01-15-07, 03:46 PM

sc173

01-15-07, 04:06 PM

I am getting all of the Indy stations as well as most Louisville and Cincy stations at my lakehouse outside of Greensburg IN. Straightline distance to the Indy towers is probably about 60 miles. Getting signal strengths of 70-85 on my Veiwsonic LCD set. Antenna is the DB4 sold by antennasdirect. I have it mount about 20 feet aboveground on a tower, with a rotor (needed to get all 3 cities). I was quite surprised how well I received the Indy stations as I figured this would be considered "fringe" area, but I have yet to see a dropout!Well that's good to know that kind of distance is possible. I think I have narrowed my antenna choices down to the DB4 and the Winegard MS-2000.

I live in a community that restricts large ugly antennas and towers. So something smaller like one of those two is going to have to work mounted on my roof. If I get indy stations great, if not, oh well.

Are you using a preamp with your DB4?

Anyone have thoughts about DB4 vs MS-2000?

Hef

01-15-07, 04:46 PM

sc173

01-15-07, 08:13 PM

SC173, just make sure when you do you channel scan you selected "cable" .. I'm surprised you shouldn't get the locals for free with your quam tuner if the coax is connected directly.. You might call your cable company and see if they are unencrypted.I tried "cable", I tried "antenna", I tried the 2nd coax input directly from the wall, with a splitter BEFORE the cable box, with a splitter AFTER the cable box....pretty much every combination I could think of.

The only local channel that pop up is PBS on channel 30-1.

According to Time Warner's Terre Haute website:

HD Local broadcast channels – no additional charge:

* 215 PBS HD - Bloomington
* More channels coming soon!

I'll might just pick up a cheapo antenna until my locals and time warner wake up.

MStepp99

01-15-07, 08:39 PM

Seems that WTHI has lost its HD feed tonight.

Totally sucks

Feddie

01-15-07, 09:12 PM

I tried "cable", I tried "antenna", I tried the 2nd coax input directly from the wall, with a splitter BEFORE the cable box, with a splitter AFTER the cable box....pretty much every combination I could think of.

The only local channel that pop up is PBS on channel 30-1.

According to Time Warner's Terre Haute website:

HD Local broadcast channels – no additional charge:

* 215 PBS HD - Bloomington
* More channels coming soon!

I'll might just pick up a cheapo antenna until my locals and time warner wake up.
I know it has said more channels coming soon since I moved here in Oct. 2005. :rolleyes:

MStepp99

01-15-07, 09:17 PM

anyone in TH area lose the HD feed with CBS too?

TV said "lost input signal"

JoshuaHedges

01-16-07, 11:25 AM

Hello people. This is my first post on this site. I did a search earlier for a problem I am having with my television and this site, this forum came up with the most likley place for me to find anybody who could possibly help me, because you all seem to be reasonably technically minded. My apologies if you do not think this post is appropriate for this place. If that is the case perhaps someone could direct me to the best place for my problem.

I live in England. We do not yet have HD tv reception, except on sky. The analogue signal is still fully functional across the UK. Digital is being fazed in from 2008 to 2012, different times for different areas. We get it in my area (Oxford, Central) 2010. So, I know it is nothing to do with any change in the signal, location, strength, etc. It might have something to do with atmostpherics, but as the local antenna is only 4-5 miles away on the next hill. I live near the top of the hill across a valley, so the signal is always perfect, even normally get a picture, albeit slightly fuzzy, without an ariel.

Over the last few days my television picture has started jerking, only very sightly on areas of the picture where there is no or little movement, like the background, but in the foreground where the action is and there is more movement, then very jerky.

I normally get my signal through a Sky digital box, so satellite and this is piped through video recorder, DVD player and DVD recorder, although I do have a normal ariel in and can by-pass all the other gubbins. I have therefore eliminated all other pieces of equipment and tested for this problem with the signal coming straight in through the ariel on the roof as analogue. I still get the jerky picture problem. The television cost £1800 (about $3500) just under 2 years ago, so it not old, but it is out of the manufacturer warranty period of 1 year and at that price I am a little disappointed to say the least. I can now see a large repair bill looming up in front of me. It is a Toshiba Model 36ZP38B, 40 inches. CRT not flat screen.

Has anyone got any ideas what could be wrong with it.

tpassios

01-16-07, 02:23 PM

This is great information, Steve. Thanks so much for the help. I'm going to start with an indoor antenna and see if this works. Otherwise, I'll switch to an outside one.

I wanted to follow up in the event that someone else wanted to know what I ended up with. I purchased my TV from HH-Gregg (Sony KDL40V2500) along with a decent home theater system (Sony HT7000DH) and a Radio Shack HDtv indoor antenna (Model # 15-1892) and all is working great! There is nothing like the feeling of seeing FREE HDTV! I just didn't like the idea of having to pay for what can be easily obtained for free.

Tim

Les Auber

01-16-07, 06:39 PM

Joshua,
Since it sounds like it does this with all input sources, OTA, satellite and DVD, my guess would be the TV itself. If it was just reception the DVD player should still be fine with pre-recorded disks. Sorry.

You might try a similar post over in the Display Devices forum in the CRT area. Either direct view or rear projection. Maybe someone there will be more up on the TV.

T Heller

01-16-07, 10:24 PM

Over the last few days my television picture has started jerking, only very sightly on areas of the picture where there is no or little movement, like the background, but in the foreground where the action is and there is more movement, then very jerky.

(...) The television cost £1800 (about $3500) just under 2 years ago, so it not old, but it is out of the manufacturer warranty period of 1 year and at that price I am a little disappointed to say the least. I can now see a large repair bill looming up in front of me. It is a Toshiba Model 36ZP38B, 40 inches. CRT not flat screen.

For what it's worth, I would NOT attempt any repairs by anyone other than a Toshiba representative. Don't let anyone else even touch the set.

It sounds like a defective tube (tho' I am not an expert). And, at $3,500, the manufacturer should stand behind their product, particularly one that is not very far outside of their written warranty period. Covering repair and/or replacement for this set would be seen as "customer policy" (i.e. a discretionary matter) by the manufacturer.

Best luck to you. If you approach Toshiba diplomatically, I should think they will respond appropriately.

NickIndy

01-16-07, 11:45 PM

jjmpeters

01-17-07, 05:23 AM

hoosierfan227

01-17-07, 07:28 AM

On my DirecTV HDTiVo I experienced audio drop outs during last nights broadcast of American Idol on the Indianapolis Fox affilate (WXIN). There were a lot before and after the credits and then one at least towards the end of the show. Did anyone else experience this on WXIN?

What version of software are you running? 6.3a or 6.3b? Audio dropouts are a known issue with 6.3a. If that is the version you have force a daily call and you will most likely get the update.

My wife said they experienced no audio dropouts on our DirecTV HDTivo.

Tersanyus

01-17-07, 01:23 PM

MStepp99

01-17-07, 01:48 PM

What's the story on DishNetwork....I've heard you need 2 dishes to access all 26 HD Programming stations? True or False?

Also, does anyone have a run down on the advantages of Dish 500 vs Dish 1000?

MAX HD

01-17-07, 02:13 PM

For those of you who use a Dish Network ViP 622 HD DVR here in Indy I want to let you know I have no problems with WISH DT.

Most everything I watch/record is on CBS so I was hoping that I wouldn't have any problems. I've only had the 622 for a week but have recorded probably a dozen shows off of WISH DT and have no issues with it.

Maybe newer 622's have a different ATSC tuner in them.

Thanks for that feedback.Don't know why we are having problems down here with DT-9 on three different 622's.The only other scenario I can see is the receiver has poor analog rejection cicuitry and just can't "do the WCPO/WISH dance".

Les Auber

01-17-07, 06:58 PM

I know this really is wishful thinking....but are there any Brighthouse people around here that have heard any rumblings about a TiVo/BH deal similar to Comcast and Cox? After seeing the CES preview of the Comcast TiVo box I'm drooling....

I don't know anything about any deals but if you really like the Tivo interface the S3 Tivo box does cablecard so you might be able to get most of what you want. I don't think you can get pay per view with the current cable cards but the rest should be there.

Tersanyus

01-17-07, 09:48 PM

What's the story on DishNetwork....I've heard you need 2 dishes to access all 26 HD Programming stations? True or False?

Also, does anyone have a run down on the advantages of Dish 500 vs Dish 1000?

FALSE. A Dish 1000 can see 110, 119 and 129 and that is all that is needed. A Dish 1000 is slightly bigger than a 500. A Dish 500 can't see more than 2 orbital positions so a single 500 won't be of a lot of use for HD. You could modify a 2nd Dish 500 to see 61.5 or 148 for HD programming though. My opinion? Get a Dish 1000.

I went with the Dish'n'it Up program and leased a 622 and 211. It cost 249 for all the leased equipment and a standard pro install. This is my first lease of equipment.

Tersanyus

01-17-07, 09:59 PM

Thanks for that feedback.Don't know why we are having problems down here with DT-9 on three different 622's.The only other scenario I can see is the receiver has poor analog rejection cicuitry and just can't "do the WCPO/WISH dance".

It's possible. Is it possible for you to try your 622 elsewhere? I don't know a lot about this issue but from what I read it just seems the tuner has problems with stations that transmit on VHF.

Too bad VHF isn't being totally abandoned like it should be. I thought long ago that digital was going to abandon VHF for UHF only. Guess that changed.

MStepp99

01-17-07, 10:18 PM

FALSE. A Dish 1000 can see 110, 119 and 129 and that is all that is needed. A Dish 1000 is slightly bigger than a 500. A Dish 500 can't see more than 2 orbital positions so a single 500 won't be of a lot of use for HD. You could modify a 2nd Dish 500 to see 61.5 or 148 for HD programming though. My opinion? Get a Dish 1000.

I went with the Dish'n'it Up program and leased a 622 and 211. It cost 249 for all the leased equipment and a standard pro install. This is my first lease of equipment.

I'm already a current Dish Customer and have a Dish 500. They say, that dish will access ALL HD Channels, but I have been reading otherwise on the net.

I guess we'll see when they come out to hook up my HD Package, if I don't get what I want, they'll just have to swap my dish 500 for a 1000

Tersanyus

01-18-07, 12:32 PM

A Dish 500 with just 119 and 110 will NOT have access to all HD channels available from Dish Network. See the Echostar Knowledge Base at http://ekb.dbstalk.com/dishlist.htm, be sure to scroll down to channel 9420 which is where HD channels start. You'll see that some channels are on 110 but most are at 129 (or 61.5)

Whomever told you that the Dish 500 you have now that only sees 119 and 110 will get all HD channels from Dish Network is giving blatantly false information. A Dish 1000 or alternative 2 dish system will be necessary for full HD.

Tersanyus

01-18-07, 08:12 PM

I really hate it when a program is supposed to be in HD and it's not being shown in HD. Tonight on WISH at 8pm is a repeat of CSI. We're past the first commercial break and all we are seeing is the plain, boring SD feed.

I keep expecting any second the picture will switch to the HD version. I've seen this on WISH when a live football game starts in SD and then goes to HD. It's like someone has fallen asleep at the HD switch. Oops, I forgot to push the button to switch our CBS feed to the HD feed.

I sure hope the new episode at 9pm is in HD.

mdobbins

01-19-07, 04:17 AM

I recently purchased a TiVo Series 3 and I will be calling Insight to arrange the cable card "installation". Has anyone had recent experience with the install from Insight, and if so, how did it go? What are you being charged for the two cable cards? Thanks in advance for your responses!

Mike

IndyJeff

01-19-07, 09:26 AM

goldrich

01-19-07, 04:27 PM

Can anyone recommend someone in the area who can do a professional calibration of a TV?

I did some Google searching and found the web site for a guy named Ken Whitcomb, and filled out his web form, but it appears to go into a black hole.

If anyone has any recommendations, I'd be grateful!

Yes, Ken is very good. A few years ago he calibrated my previous RPTV and he conducted a home theater demo at my house a couple years ago.

It appears that his website is currently being updated, but his vital contact stats can still be found at http://calibrationsinc.com/

Steve

IndyJeff

01-19-07, 09:30 PM

Thanks, Steve. I will give him a call.

Jeff

AlanSaysYo

01-21-07, 09:37 AM

MStepp99

01-21-07, 03:52 PM

T Heller

01-21-07, 04:18 PM

This really makes no sense....

My OTA Antenna while it is cheap, is able to pick up 10.1 WTHI-DT, and 2.1 WTWO-DT.

But not the WFXW-DT 38.1/39

All WTWO and WFXW are operated by the same company and utilize the same broadcasting tower, and WTHI's tower is right across the road.

The Bears game looks like crap cause all I can tune in is Analog

Sounds like your antenna is only for VHF channels and cannot tune to the UHF channels (i.e. above 13.) A good UHF antenna like the Channel Master 4228 only runs about $46 through Warren Electronic (google for them or call at 1-800-397-5301). But it won't do you any good for today.

(P.S. the Bears game looks like crap mostly because Rex Grossman's under center.)

MStepp99

01-21-07, 04:40 PM

I agree with Grossman.........not a Bears fan though, so I don't really care

I'm using a Terk UHF/VHF Dish Mount Antenna. I am picking up channel 38 (analog fox), just not the DTV version.

hoosierfan227

01-21-07, 06:03 PM

Anyone know if DirecTV has started carrying WISH-DT yet? With the announcement of all the national HD channels coming to DirecTV later this year, it's finally time to start looking at the new box.

Along those lines, is the OTA tuner on the new box enabled yet? It would be nice to have the new box and still pick up OTA signals for better PQ. My old HD Tivo has been acting funny lately and deleting programs from the To Do list at random. I like the Tivo interface, but it may be time to give it up.

Do not know for sure about WISH-DT but don't think so. The HR20 HD-DVR(non-TIVO) has had OTA tuner activated. Don't give up on the HD TIVO yet. The problem you are speaking about was related to a change DirecTV made in the guide data which affected all DirecTV TIVO's not just the HD ones. DirecTV has put in a temporary fix. Here is a thread from Tivo Community that explains what is going on:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=333326

TV Trey

01-22-07, 06:04 AM

Congratulations Colts, you're going to the Super Bowl. May God bless Tony Dungy always !!!

ryseja

01-22-07, 09:28 AM

goldrich

01-22-07, 12:06 PM

Thanks to fredfa......... :-)

"Led by New England vs. Indianapolis on the AFC Championship Game, CBS on Sunday beat the four competing networks combined with the prime time portion of the game at an approximate 43.06 million viewers with a 16.1 rating/35 share from 7-10:30 p.m. Including the post-game and the beginning of a late edition of Without a Trace, CBS averaged a whopping 39.80 million viewers and a 14.9/22 among adults 18-49 in prime time."

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/show...8&&#post4265568

Steve

EricST

01-22-07, 05:22 PM

goldrich

01-22-07, 06:03 PM

I am SOO PO!!
Stupid WISHTV will not give me a wavier so I can get channel 8 in HD. I live in Bloomington and my standard WISH looks like crap. D-TV say's its up to them for me to get the east cost CBS feed and they ,of all the locals ;are the only local to deniy my waiver request. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I want to see the Colts WIn in HD dang it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you receive WTHI-DT 24 (10-1), Terre Haute?
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1129758.html
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT579793.html

According to these FCC service maps, both stations should be available OTA in Bloomington.

Steve

EricST

01-22-07, 06:07 PM

Can you receive WTHI-DT 24 (10-1), Terre Haute?
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1129758.html
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT579793.html

According to these FCC service maps, both stations should be available OTA in Bloomington.

Steve
I dont have a OTA. I tried a $50 pair of amplafied rabbit ears and that only got me PBS out of Bloomington.

MStepp99

01-22-07, 08:28 PM

FWIW, WTWO and WFXW do not broadcast anything in HD.

I want to receive the DT version of WFXW, I'm very well aware that nothing is available in HD, but it would be nice to see it in a digital picture instead of analog.

ryseja

01-23-07, 01:15 AM

I want to receive the DT version of WFXW, I'm very well aware that nothing is available in HD, but it would be nice to see it in a digital picture instead of analog.

I get the DT versions (I live 3 blocks south of Collett Park) and I think even thought the DT version is better on these two, it still isn't that great, but maybe that's my set-up. Half the time I get no signal at all on 38.1, but 2.1 is pretty reliable.

My antenna is ponted south for all the stations, and last time I reprogrammed my TV it picked up channel 15 in Illinois (ABC). Since the direction is close for all 3 locals, I didn't put up a rotor. As soon as we get a dry warm day I am going to aim at channel 15 and see what I get.

Tom Weber

01-23-07, 03:04 PM

Eric in Bloomington -

I'm a bit confused. If you want to watch Indianapolis stations, you'll need a good rooftop antenna with a decent amplifier, rabbit ears will not be sufficient. The good news of that is that way the stations are free - no monthly payment to the satellite folks!

EricST

01-23-07, 04:26 PM

Tom
Yes I know that,Im saying I dont want to spend $160 + just to watch CBS

Tersanyus

01-23-07, 05:47 PM

The good news of that is that way the stations are free - no monthly payment to the satellite folks!

That's why I don't care if Dish Network ever carries Indy HD locals. It's free and has a wonderful picture with no sat company compression.

I'm also very glad my ViP 622 receiver gets your station, WISH DT, just fine Tom.

Tersanyus

01-24-07, 09:09 AM

Maybe someone here can answer this one...

The President was on for 2 hours last night so that bumped NCIS to 1:35 am. It was not shown in HD. This isn't the first time this has happened. In fact, it just happened when the Colts won against NE this past Sunday Night. Without a Trace (or was is Cold Case?) was scheduled to come on 11:35 since the game pushed it out of it's "normal" time. Since the Colts win was a big thing the news decided to go way over time too. When Without a Trace came on it wasn't in HD either.

So my question is this... Why does a program that is pushed to the middle of the night mean it won't be shown in HD? Maybe Tom Weber can ring in on this too.

RWB

01-24-07, 01:35 PM

I get the DT versions (I live 3 blocks south of Collett Park) and I think even thought the DT version is better on these two, it still isn't that great, but maybe that's my set-up. Half the time I get no signal at all on 38.1, but 2.1 is pretty reliable.

My antenna is ponted south for all the stations, and last time I reprogrammed my TV it picked up channel 15 in Illinois (ABC). Since the direction is close for all 3 locals, I didn't put up a rotor. As soon as we get a dry warm day I am going to aim at channel 15 and see what I get.

Pretty good idea to turn it toward 15. I believe WTHI's signal is strong enough you'll still be able to get even with the antenna pointed the other direction. I know it's possible because I'm able to do it every day.

jpell3

01-24-07, 04:21 PM

Does anyone have an opinion about using an omni-directional antenna for receiving HD channels? I was thinking of using one indoors.

goldrich

01-24-07, 05:20 PM

jpell3,

First of all, welcome to AVS Forum. I see it's your first post.

Now to answer your question, it would be very helpful to know your location (Indy, Noblesville, Terre Haute, Kokomo, .....) in order to better assess other variables (strong signals, weak signals, co-channel interference, etc.). Give us a little more info and then we'll see if we can help you.

My initial response is that if you are located in a very strong signal area, this type of antenna might be okay, or even great. However, if you are located in a weak signal area, I would highly discourage the use of this type of antenna, as this design will allow signals to be received from all directions (360 degrees). If you are in a weak signal area, this allows other weak signals from other directions to mix with the one you are wanting, which can cause confusion and decoding errors for the DTV receiver (audio/video dropouts, etc.).

Steve

goldrich

01-24-07, 06:19 PM

Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation has joined the Chandler family in its bid for Tribune Company....................http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16776157/

Locally, Tribune owns WXIN, WTTV and WTTK.

Steve

jpell3

01-24-07, 07:15 PM

Thanks for the welcome! I live in Terre Haute on the second floor of an apartment building. I am buying an hdtv receiver for my hdtv. I was thinking that the omni-directional antenna's would pick up extra interferance being that it receives in all directions. I have been looking at the winegard gs2200, the terk sharpshooter ss2200 and the terk HDTVa. What do you think?

Les Auber

01-24-07, 07:30 PM

jpell3,
I would have some concern about an omni-directional even in a strong signal area unless you were lucky enough to live in a low multipath area. You just can't tune a strong reflection out with an omni. Only way to know for sure is try. Check on the return policy before you buy.

jpell3

01-25-07, 12:34 AM

What is a good indoor antenna solution for receiving hdtv in Terre Haute, IN and outlaying areas? Thanks

EricST

01-25-07, 06:33 AM

Well I am dropping D-TV and going back to Insight cable. They have more of what I need then D-TV does and I am so sick of the horrible compression to HD channels from D-TV.Plus Im getting out of my contract from DTV compliments of Insight. Now I dont have to buy a $150 OTA just to get CBS.

ALEMIS

01-25-07, 08:52 PM

jpell3 - using a Zenith Silver Sensor I'm able to pick up WTHI and WICD out of Champaign. I can't get local Fox and NBC but don't care because they don't have HD. My window faces west and I'm able to picup WICD with a signal strength of 90 and WTHI with a 70.

Jhamps10

01-25-07, 10:15 PM

also, those in TH who are picking up WICD out of champaign, may be able soon to pick up WCIA 3 (CBS) out of Champaign, espically if they have a good antenna, as they will be broadcasting at 1MW of power once they get fully on-line.

goldrich

01-26-07, 09:36 AM

With the growing number of new HDTV owners looking for antenna suggestions, here is a great website from AVS Forum member Larry, in Marion, IN. He is located 55 miles from the Indy antenna farm and 44 miles from the Fort Wayne antenna farm. He describes in great detail exactly what antennas he's tried, what's worked, what hasn't worked so well, DTV signal strengths, etc. It even includes some great pictues. This is a great example of what should work for most locations within approximately 40-60 miles of the Indy TV towers.

Thanks for this super website, Larry!

http://home.indy.rr.com/challengerul/antenna.html

Steve

jpell3

01-26-07, 10:41 AM

So, everyone recommends the zenith or philips silver sensor over the terk hdtvi and hdtva. They all look like they are about the same antenna, except the terk can do VHF. Thanks

goldrich

01-26-07, 11:43 AM

So, everyone recommends the zenith or philips silver sensor over the terk hdtvi and hdtva. They all look like they are about the same antenna, except the terk can do VHF. Thanks

According to these tests, http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/comparing.htmlthe net gain on the Zenith Silver Sensor averages between 6 and 7 dBi, which appears to be best gain among the indoor antennas in this particular test. If positioned in a good spot, this will most likely work well for WTHI-DT 24. Depending on antenna placement, receiving WTWO-DT 36 and WFXW-DT 39 with their current low powers from Farmersburg could be a little touchy. Using this same antenna at my Indy location, 3-5 miles from most of the Indy TV towers, it is VERY sensitive about its location/position.

In Feb. 2009, WTHI-DT will move from ch. 24 to ch. 10, so at that time an antenna with VHF capabilities could be helpful.

Steve

jpell3

01-26-07, 12:02 PM

Thanks for the response! I am also still in the buying process for a tuner for my HDTV. I have been looking at the sirt451 and the sirt151. Any opinions for these tuners? Thanks again

jpell3

01-26-07, 12:04 PM

Is the terk hdtvi and the hdtva not worth the money?

goldrich

01-26-07, 12:20 PM

Thanks for the response! I am also still in the buying process for a tuner for my HDTV. I have been looking at the sirt451 and the sirt151. Any opinions for these tuners? Thanks again

I'm not sure about the SIR-T451, but I've had some personal experience with the 151 (older) model. Functions are nice on this one, IMO, but unfortunately it is one of the worst STBs I've tested and experimented with at decoding very weak signals. One of the AVS Forum members that lives north of T.H. around Clinton, IIRC, had the same unit and reported the same experience.

As for used STBs, a couple I would recommend for your weak signal area would be the RCA ATSC11 and the Accurian (#16-3499), formerly sold by Radio Shack. The Humax HFA100 is a fairly good receiver too, but can sometimes develop some crazy quirks.

<Is the terk hdtvi and the hdtva not worth the money? >

No personal experience with either one of those antennas.

Steve

sc173

01-26-07, 04:48 PM

Is the terk hdtvi and the hdtva not worth the money?
I bought a cheap $20 vhf/uhf/fm antenna from radioshack and can pick up wthi-dtv just fine. It doesn't pick up the digital transmissions of wtwo or wfxw at all, but from what I've read they aren't up to full power yet anyway. I'm sure it will pick them up in the future since all three towers are next to each other.

My antenna is on the floor in my basement of my brick house and I get 92-95% signal....not too shabby for $20. I believe Time Warner Cable will carry the local HD channels eventually anyway. This was just a crutch to get me by until then so I could watch the super bowl in HD.

I wouldn't spend too much on an indoor antenna....especially in the Terre Haute area....there isn't much out there to pick up right now.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062081

If you're going to spend $50, spend that on an outdoor antenna.

jpell3

01-27-07, 01:02 AM

goldrich

01-27-07, 10:05 AM

Well, I ordered a Samsung SAM DTB-H260F for $180 from Circuit City. Aparently, it is Samsung's newer model. I also went to circuit city and bought a Philips PHDTV3 antenna for $50. I heard the previous model of this one was good. Aparently, it is just like the zenith silver sensor antenna, but in a plastic casing and amplifier. I tested it on an analog tv and was able to pick up all locals and channel 15 in champaign, 48 miles away. We will see how it does when I get the receiver. Thanks for the responses.

Good luck with the new setup, and please report back with your results (DTV/HDTV stations received, signal strengths, etc.) after you've had a little time to check things out. And, yes, that is a new STB from Samsung. I'll look forward to reading your comments on its performance.

If you have any interest in a PBS station, at least from time to time you might be able to receive WTIU-DT 14 (30-1), Bloomington, IN and/or WUSI-DT 19 (16-1), Olney, IL.

Steve

Nickff

01-27-07, 06:32 PM

What HD channels would I receive if I put up a digital antenna on the south-side of Indy?

goldrich

01-27-07, 07:47 PM

What HD channels would I receive if I put up a digital antenna on the south-side of Indy?

WTTV-DT 48 (4-1) CW
WTTK-DT 54 (29-1) CW (WTTV's translator station)
WRTV-DT 25 (6-1) ABC
WISH-DT 9 (8-1) CBS
WTHR-DT 46 (13-1) NBC
WFYI-DT 21 (20-1) PBS (PBS-HD 24/7)
WNDY-DT 32 (23-1) MyNetworkTV
WXIN-DT 45 (59-1) Fox

The antenna should be capable of receiving one VHF channel (9) for WISH-DT, while the remaining Indy DTV stations are on UHF channels.

Steve

Jhamps10

01-27-07, 10:17 PM

Good luck with the new setup, and please report back with your results (DTV/HDTV stations received, signal strengths, etc.) after you've had a little time to check things out. And, yes, that is a new STB from Samsung. I'll look forward to reading your comments on its performance.

If you have any interest in a PBS station, at least from time to time you might be able to receive WTIU-DT 14 (30-1), Bloomington, IN and/or WUSI-DT 19 (16-1), Olney, IL.

Steve

also to add to the PBS theme, WEIU out of Charleston, IL could be very easy to get as well now that they are on their dt signal. goes all the way on their maps to TH. I know that TWC in TH put them on their digital cable just recently.

Jhamps10

01-27-07, 10:43 PM

I need some antenna advice here please:
well I'm not in terre haute, but in the same area, although much farther out. say 70+ miles, plus I have different stations from different markets, so I know a rotor will be required. Now I have a question on the antennaweb height deal. Is that more for height of your antenna, height above sea level, tv station tower height, I'm real confused here. my zip is 62839. I know I'll need it to be mounted outside, and maybe a lot taller than my house (one story ranch home). I did the height of 200 feet and here's what it showed:

yellow - vhf WPXS 13 IND MOUNT VERNON IL 251° 25.9 13
yellow - uhf WUSI 16 PBS Olney IL 60° 21.7 16
* yellow - uhf WUSI-DT 16.1 PBS OLNEY IL 60° 21.7 19
green - uhf WNOI-LP 24 FMN FLORA IL 97° 6.5 24
blue - uhf WVUT 22 PBS VINCENNES IN 93° 53.7 22
blue - vhf WTVW 7 FOX EVANSVILLE IN 128° 75.1 7
blue - uhf WEIL-LP 54 CW EFFINGHAM IL 359° 37.8 54
blue - vhf WTWO 2 NBC TERRE HAUTE IN 57° 70.2 2
blue - vhf WTHI 10 CBS TERRE HAUTE IN 57° 70.4 10
blue - uhf WEHT 25 ABC EVANSVILLE IN 140° 74.4 25
blue - uhf WFIE 14 NBC EVANSVILLE IN 138° 75.1 14
blue - vhf WSIU 8 PBS CARBONDALE IL 228° 57.4 8
violet - vhf WNIN 9 PBS EVANSVILLE IN 127° 80.8 9
violet - uhf WEVV 44 CBS EVANSVILLE IN 138° 74.1 44
violet - vhf WSIL 3 ABC HARRISBURG IL 198° 76.4 3
violet - uhf WFXW 38 FOX TERRE HAUTE IN 57° 69.5 38

A LOT of these stations have DT signals, but are not at full power yet btw except for WTHI and why they aren't there besides than antennaweb is too conservative. I know that for a fact because my grandma lives about 80 miles east of st. louis and can pick up all but 1 of the STL stations pretty clearly on analog on her antenna, I have no clue what antenna it is as it was there when she moved in some 15 years ago, but it is set up maybe 5 feet at most above her house on a tower and antenna web shows her not getting ANY stl stations.

jbmoore

01-28-07, 03:23 PM

I live on the north side of Indy practically in the shadows of the transmission towers and have enjoyed OTA HDTV for about 2 years. I have a samsung sir-t351 receiver with a samsung lcd and an RCA ant200b indoor antenna. This antenna is basically rabbit ears with an amplifier that can be turned off and it also has a hoop that swivels.
Now for the problem. The HD picture quality is amazing but the reception is very inconsistent. Some of the local stations require the antenna amplifier to be turned on and others need to be turned off. It seems every station needs it own antenna position to come in at all or without pixellation. It appears that the signal is actually too strong for fox WXIN and WTHR so I need to turn off the amplification. Sometimes this does not even get rid of the inconsistent picture. I met an executive from WXIN and he said that too strong of a signal is a real problem because it bounces around the walls or something like that. WNDY can be tough to get a signal sometimes even though the tower is only in Noblesville I think. After two years of constantly getting up to change the antenna position ( channel surfing is a pain) I am ready to do whatever I need to make OTA HDTV a little less work. So my question is this: What is the best type of antenna to install that will receive the very strong signals as well as the weaker ones without having to always change positions? I can install on the roof or in the attic if that will help. There are no tall buildings near me but being an older neighborhood there are a lot of trees. Any advice here would be greatly appreciated and I apologize to all those distant readers who are struggling to get a decent signal. Brian

goldrich

01-29-07, 09:57 AM

I need some antenna advice here please:
well I'm not in terre haute, but in the same area, although much farther out. say 70+ miles, plus I have different stations from different markets...............

Check here for a post http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9616875&&#post9616875 and some previous ones, too.

Steve

goldrich

01-29-07, 10:35 AM

Brian,

Many times it is easier to receive analog and digital signals from the local TV towers when you are 20-30 miles away as opposed to being so close, as in your situation. At your location, too much signal and multipath are going to be your toughest challenges. I'm in a very similar situation, at 3 miles from the WTHR tower (96th and Ditch) and at around 5 miles from most of the others (vicinity of 79th and Township Line Rd.).

Without knowing more info (more precise location; nearby tall buildings, trees, etc.; indoor, outdoor or attic install) it's rather difficult to give a precise recommendation. Also, not all DTV tuners/receivers are created equal. Some are much better than others at overcoming strong signal and multipath issues.

Don't give out your exact home address, but if you could post a nearby intersection, that would really help. We'll see what we can do to assist.

Steve

jbmoore

01-29-07, 11:51 AM

Steve,
71st and college is the closest intersection. I am willing to get another receiver if necessary and I can mount the antanna wherever I need to.
Brian

Ken Myers

01-29-07, 01:22 PM

This really makes no sense....

My OTA Antenna while it is cheap, is able to pick up 10.1 WTHI-DT, and 2.1 WTWO-DT.

But not the WFXW-DT 38.1/39

All WTWO and WFXW are operated by the same company and utilize the same broadcasting tower, and WTHI's tower is right across the road.

The Bears game looks like crap cause all I can tune in is Analog

WTWO 2-1 and WFXW 38-1 are running low power. I noticed last week that WFXW 38-1 was apparently off the air. Not sure what is happening over there. But this could explain why you cannot get 38-1. Watch 10-1 in HD! Ken.

goldrich

01-29-07, 01:48 PM

Brian,

I recently tried to help another OTA viewer very near your location. He had been using a Zenith Silver Sensor in the attic with fairly good results, but some days he was getting quite a few dropouts. So we tested the Channel Master 4221 (4-bay bow-tie) antenna in his living room and received some higher signal levels on some of the local stations, and the signals appeared to be more stable. A few days later he mounted the 4221 in the attic with good results for a few days and then some dropouts started popping up again.

About five years ago I discovered the same issue with antennas in my attic. This is most likely the result of mutipath at work, with stable reception some days and then very erratic reception (causing dropouts) on other days. This can even be caused by the wind moving and blowing trees around, which in turn causes the "multiple" signals to move around/bounce around. When this happens your receiver detects "multiple" signals, with these various signals arriving at the receiver at slightly different times due to the time it takes the signal to bounce around, instead of one clean and stable signal, thus confusing the receiver as it attempts to decode the digital stream of information.

My personal experience has been that at least some of the multipath issues can be reduced by mounting the antenna outdoors. Let me know if you'd care to test an antenna or two. I'm less than five miles away.

Steve

jbmoore

01-29-07, 03:17 PM

Steve,
I have definitely noticed problems when it is windy. Sometimes I just give up when it is really bad and switch to analog which is not even close in quality. As for the antenna, I will try anything. I would prefer not to have to use a rotor if possible. Also, How much clearance over the roofline do you think will be necessary? The roof is pretty flat and I did have a small antenna mounted on the back side a long time ago but never really used it because it was a chinese cheapo that never really did much. It has since been destroyed in the hailstorm. I'm willing to try anything.
Brian

RSlamD

01-29-07, 05:34 PM

EricST

01-29-07, 06:39 PM

I live in Bloomington and Iv always wanted to know what kind to get for me? I live in a "Dip" East to west.I get all locals but CBS in HD of DTV but I hate spending $60 or more just to get CBS in HD.

He Save Dave

01-30-07, 05:59 PM

Hey all I posted this in another section but thought it could be a local problem.

I am getting OTA HD channels and I'm having a problem. On NBC I get a flashing constantly which is very noticeable especially in dark scenes. This is the only station I notice it on. It just keeps flashing white. What is this caused by? Advice would be much appreciated. I'd love to watch Heroes without getting a headache. :(

Does anyone else have this problem? :confused:

coolray

01-30-07, 08:21 PM

To Steve Goldrich or any other person who can help me.

Tom "Coolray" Smalley. I live in Selma and have been using my indoor VHF-UHF antenna with a rotor for the last 6 years and for the most part it has worked just fine, and I am about 1,030 ft above sea level and then the top of the antenna is about 23 feet above the ground out side for a total of about 1,050 ft, more or less.

I am trying to find someone who can install a 50' or 60' free standing tower outside my home with a XG-91 UHF antenna on top and some sort of prime VHF antenna below, for when the digital change over in 2009.

There does not seem to be anyone in the Muncie area who is installing any size antenna's or towers at all and I would like to try and get this done sometime this summer. Anyone out there able to steer me toward some who can and will do this job for me.

Thanks guys for any and all help.

Tom

jpell3

01-31-07, 01:25 PM

I received my DTB-H260F today. I hooked up the Philips PHDTV3 to it and can receive WTHI (10.1) 80%, WCID (15.1) 40% and WTWO (2.1) on and off. The amplifier in the antenna definitely helps. With the amplifier off 10.1 gets 40% and WCID and WTWO get nothing. Did WTWO already switch from 36.1 to 2.1, they must have. I am confused why I can get WCID (15.1) but WTWO (2.1) so horribly and WFXW (39.1) not at all. Overall, I am very pleased with the tuner and the antenna, for indoor (apartment) reception.

goldrich

01-31-07, 08:02 PM

Thanks for the update, jpell3. Given you're using an indoor antenna and considering the distances to the stations, that's about par for the course.

As for the difference in reception between the two stations, WICD-DT is operating with 950 kW (950,000 watts) @ 1230 ft. (height above average terrain) while WTWO-DT is operating with 1.92 kW (1920 watts) @ 880 ft. WICD-DT is using a directional antenna and Terre Haute does not receive the station's full power, but it is still plenty to cover the 50+ miles from the tower.

An earlier post indicated that WFXW-DT was either off the air or experiencing some difficulties.

goldrich

01-31-07, 08:27 PM

coolray and jbmoore, check your private messages. Thanks.

goldrich

01-31-07, 08:36 PM

Antenna folks in South western indiana...you do not need to spend $150 for a special antenna for hd. SolidSignal.com......look at the 4228 from channel master. It retails for less than $60 and I am putting on on my girlfriends home for the HD Set I just got her. If you want to spend extra for a amp and a rotor that will put you in the $150 price range.
I live in Spencer and am using Channel Master's largest "yagi" antenna that is only rated for 45 miles and get both Indy and Terre Haute. The 4228 is rated at 60+ miles and would be prefered for the longer signals. I'm fortunate to receive 2 CBS stations in HD (WTHI & WISH) and will pick the one with the best audio (usually Wish).

Interesting info from your area. Thanks for the update.

Is this the CM yagi you are using in Spencer? Or if not, is it very similar to this one? http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=ANC3023 Interesting that at your distance you are able to receive WISH-DT with this antenna.

Steve

T Heller

02-01-07, 06:43 PM

I received my DTB-H260F today. (...) Overall, I am very pleased with the tuner and the antenna, for indoor (apartment) reception.

I've been using the Samsung DTB-H260F set-top box for about two months now and can report I am VERY pleased with its performance. Its styling and compact size is pleasing, too.

It's a big improvement over its predecessor, Samsung's SIR 451 I had for about a month. The 451's software seemed to be failing (was dropping channels from my preset 'favorites' list). Plus, its styling & size made it a bit clunky '-- and its yellow LED display was annoying.

The only thing the SIR 451 had that the H260F doesn't is the ability to manually change channels from its front panel. The H260F is remote control only.

Ken Myers

02-01-07, 11:23 PM

ryseja

02-02-07, 08:47 AM

goldrich

02-02-07, 04:04 PM

OK- you all might laugh at my question,, but I'm gonna ask. The above post mentions 80% and 40 % and so on. What ezuipment do you use to get these numbers?

Most digital tuners that receive the signal over the air (OTA) include some type of signal meter. This lets you know if the signal you are receiving is weak or strong, or somewhere in between. Some display this reading in numbers (like 0 to 100), while some of them just indicate the signal strength on a sliding graph, or some you count the number of bars showing, like on a cell phone.

I've attached a couple pics. The first one is what the meter looks like on the LG LST-3100A set-top-box. The second one is the signal meter on the Sony SXRD.

Steve

coolray

02-04-07, 08:53 AM

goldrich

Hi Steve

I am interested in the info you sent to me about a little later this spring when it warms up a bit and I look forward to chatting with you guys about my situation here.

Thanks
Tom "coolray" Smalley

rhwimmers

02-04-07, 12:02 PM

Anyone ever have a problem where fusion software doesn’t display in full screen? I have black vertical bands on fox/cbs where I usually don’t. a local channel (PBS) WILL show up fine in full screen mode.. 1280x720 is my native resolution on my projector - 106" screen... media player will play in full screen no problem - and like i said another channel works fine full screen. Its almost like the broadcast isn’t the same as it was - but for them all to change all of a sudden seems strange. 720p and 1080i are the resolutions on most of the channels and there is no correlation with one vs the other and not being in full screen...meaning abc is 1080i and so is the pbs channel, but one is full screen the other isnt. As of a few weeks ago, I could it all in full screen mode?

Thanks for any help, id REALLY like full screen 106" on CBS for the game tonight!

Ross

Les Auber

02-04-07, 05:46 PM

Ross,
Any chance you're getting a upconverted SD show at the moment? Many of them are window boxed this way to preserve the aspect ratio. Full HD shows should come in full screen on a 16:9 display.

I don't have a fusion so I don't know the capabilities but they usually offer the option to stretch or zoom. This should not be required for tonight.

IndyJeff

02-05-07, 12:19 AM

So what was up with all the messed up audio during the Super Bowl commercials tonight? Analog WISH was fine, but about half of the commercials on WISH DT had massive audio dropouts.

Tersanyus

02-05-07, 12:24 AM

Well, glad someone else noticed too. Most other Super Bowls I just watch mostly for the commercials. This year most commercials were horrible in terms of the sound. Couldn't understand most of them for that audio drop out.

At least the game was completely fine! If that game had of been messed up sound wise someone at WISH would have gotten an earful.

drsimnal

02-05-07, 12:36 AM

Yeah, that was weird. And apparently not just here in Indy, though a lot of people had no problems. What was the deal. Also, I would love to see a DVD with the play by play by Bob Lamy. I don't listen to the radio during a game since there is such a delay video wise; I hate hearing what is going to happen before I see it happen. But I'd love to hear him doing the game. Do you think anything like that will be released?

Nickff

02-05-07, 06:43 AM

I am glad I was the only one with dropouts during the commercials. I thought my STB was messed up.

pecasbo

02-05-07, 06:56 AM

rhwimmers

02-05-07, 08:28 AM

Well I just reinstalled my software and the verticle bands went away - who knows... I did have some audio issues as well, some commercials would be pretty quiet and others were fine - but by no means were they unwatchable, people just had to be a bit more quiet during those, but it wasnt that bad at all.

nathill

02-05-07, 08:51 AM

Yeah, the commercials were unwatchable. My receiver kept switching between DD and Prologic and you couldn't hear half the things they were saying. I tried 3 different OTA tuners and they all behaved the same way.

What gives?

My son (living South of Bloomington) gets his HD signal from Louisville, and the audio from there was fine. (Well, at least technically.....)

hoosierfan227

02-05-07, 09:05 AM

Yeah, the commercials were unwatchable. My receiver kept switching between DD and Prologic and you couldn't hear half the things they were saying. I tried 3 different OTA tuners and they all behaved the same way.

What gives?

Based on comments in the Super Bowl commercial topic in HDTV Programming forum this was a CBS problem. It appears to have happened for a number of affiliates. Look at post #89 for the best explanation.

If I were some advertisers I would be asking for some dollars back.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=800028

goldrich

02-05-07, 09:13 AM

Yeah, the commercials were unwatchable. My receiver kept switching between DD and Prologic and you couldn't hear half the things they were saying. I tried 3 different OTA tuners and they all behaved the same way.

What gives?

BINGO!!

While the video was quite good, especially considering the rain and humidity in Miami, the audio was a train wreck. And most of the audio issues were not related to the soggy stadium conditions. Most of the audio issues were apparently coming from their master control center in New York.

During one of the Career Builder spots, those at my SB party could hear the audio coming from the analog TV upstairs in the kitchen, while we sat in front of the DD 5.1 setup downstairs in almost total silence.

It appeared to be a network issue as others across the country experienced it, too. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=800009&page=1&pp=30

This post, from a viewer in Burbank, CA pretty much summed up my experience ................

"The audio on KCBS-HD was all over the road here in LA. Pretty normal for the folks at CBS, they never have mastered the audio thing on the HD channel. You always have to have the remote in hand to adjust the audio. Thought they did a great job on the video side though. Very nice."

Congratulations Colts!!!

Steve

Les Auber

02-05-07, 12:21 PM

GLBright

02-05-07, 05:05 PM

IndyJeff

02-05-07, 06:51 PM

About all I noticed watching WISH-DT over QAM from brighthouse was some of the commercials were on the quiet side. While not right I thought this was an improvement over the usual practice of blasting you out of the room when they come on. I thought the picture was pretty decent overall. Seeing rain as rain instead of the usual general gray blur was different. If there were any dropouts or pixelization I missed it.

I watched most of the game OTA, and when I realized that the problem with the commercials was ongoing, I tried Comcast 233 (WISH-DT) and they had the problem too. I ended up putting WISH analog on tuner 2 of the TiVO and WISH-DT on tuner 1, and flipping to tuner 2 for the commercials... :)

I thought the PQ of the game was excellent, though. It was much better than previous CBS HD games, in my (untrained) opinion.

Jeff

goldrich

02-05-07, 07:35 PM

Out here in Monrovia we lost all sound at half-time. It didn't just switch to DPL, it just stopped. Total silence. Had to switch to analog to hear Prince, et al. Miraculously the sound came back as soon as the half-time show ended. Am I the only one who had this problem? Using a Samsung OTA receiver. Friends in Indy receiving the game on cable reported no problems.

Greg

For my setup (WISH-DT via Bright House), the half-time show with Prince was one of the best sounding portions of the entire broadcast. It sounded very good. I'm not sure why you lost it.

As a side note, I just read this....................

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Indianapolis Colts'
rainswept victory over the Chicago Bears averaged more
than 93 million viewers on Sunday, making it the
second most-watched Super Bowl and third most-watched
U.S. telecast ever, Nielsen Media Research reported.

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2007-02-05T224949Z_01_N05484005_RTRUKOC_0_US-SUPERBOWL-RATINGS.xml&src=rss&rpc=22

furball43

02-05-07, 09:08 PM

Just talked with WTHR engineering who said company policy will still be to sacrifice HD network signals for the school closing crawl at the bottom of the screen. Heroes in SD on 13.1 right now.

When will these people realize that once you go HD...you CAN'T watch anything else. Emails have been sent to the station's GM, Engineering and Sales departments voicing my displeasure. I've switched the station to watch 24 in wonderful HD splendor.

Chris

Tersanyus

02-05-07, 10:33 PM

WISH did the same thing on CSI: Miami. SD with a crawl for school closings. Why of why can't they figure out how to put the dang crawls on the HD feed? It can't be that hard! Then only a few minutes into the show the center channel audio is gone when they switch to the HD feed. Can't hear a thing anyone says. Note that the audio was fine on the SD with crawl feed.

This is also not the first time this missing center channel has happened on WISH-DT either. All other audio channels are fine. This "issue" really peeves me off. SD commercials are fine though.

Oh, and this CSI: Miami is a 2 parter so it won't do me any good to watch it next week.

I really think all these stations need someone to monitor what is coming out of thier stations. Someone at WISH should have the HD version of their station on and hear that there is a problem.

Ok, just got back from a commerical break. About 45 seconds back into the program the audio comes back on the center channel.

Guess someone noticed the problem.

And I can't even use closed captions as my TV doesn't support CC over the HDMI input. (I use a Dish Network ViP 622.)

justalurker

02-05-07, 11:25 PM

And I can't even use closed captions as my TV doesn't support CC over the HDMI input. (I use a Dish Network ViP 622.)The 622 has captioning built in. It is deep in the menus (Menu-8-8, then 1 and select on or off, then done, then VIEW TV) but it is there. The receiver overlays the captions on the video sent via HDMI.

goldrich

02-06-07, 08:21 AM

....................... I've switched the station to watch 24 in wonderful HD splendor.
Chris

I might add that while watching 24 in HD on WXIN-DT via Bright House, I didn't have to babysit the volume control. The volume levels were quite uniform as the sources changed (program to commercial to promo to local commercial to program, etc.). Nice job, Rich and Rick, at WXIN.

Steve

Wolfithius

02-06-07, 09:00 AM

Glad to see someone else had the problem with the voices on CSI: Miami last night. I just put up an antenna in the Knightstown area. I understand the signal is very sensitive and I thought it might have something to do with the direction the antenna was pointed. I don't want to buy a rotor. Right now the antenna is setting on a ledge on an overhang over our family room. Got to put it in the attic. Can I expect any signal loss in the attic vs. in the house? Or will there be signal loss from adding diplexers? Also, anyone got a lead on who I could call out in Henry County or Hancock County to do a good job on this? I'm 56 years old and non-technical and figure I will put a foot through the ceiling.

hoosierfan227

02-06-07, 10:38 AM

He Save Dave

02-07-07, 04:42 PM

Anyone having a problem with NBCHD channel flashing in the dark areas? Its ruining Heroes for me. :(

jjmpeters

02-07-07, 06:13 PM

Looks like a few of us complained about Heroes. Here's the response to my email. Looks like we're headed in the right direction, but man its frustrating. I think I may just download the episode of the internet in HD and watch it that way.

=========

Thank for your e-mail.

The FCC requires that when important public information such as school closings is aired, it must air on both SD and HD channels. While we do not yet have HD squeeze and crawl equipment on line, which is why we have to revert to 4:3 SD when airing such information on our HD channel, the good news is that we are right now in the process of installing a completely new state of the art HD/SD master control which includes HD squeeze and crawl equipment so this issue will soon be a thing of the past.

I appreciate your feedback. WTHR management has discussed this issue and will try to limit airing this info as much as legally possible on our HD channel.

As you are aware, the costs to replace station equipment are enormous so all of the station equipment cannot be replaced at once. Replacement of older SD equipment with new HD equipment must be done over years in carefully planned stages. The very expensive transmission system (transmitter, antenna, microwave, etc.) and encoder were done first. We next converted our production control and studios to HD last year, since that is on air a lot. Now we are replacing our 1989 vintage station Master Control which has no equipment to squeeze and "crawl" HD video.

I appreciate that you watch WTHR and hope that you’ll bear with us as we progress though the long and expensive process of replacing all of our SD equipment so our public information crawls will be entirely HD.

Al Grossniklaus
Director of Engineering & Operations
WTHR NBC 13
Indianapolis

==========

Just talked with WTHR engineering who said company policy will still be to sacrifice HD network signals for the school closing crawl at the bottom of the screen. Heroes in SD on 13.1 right now.

When will these people realize that once you go HD...you CAN'T watch anything else. Emails have been sent to the station's GM, Engineering and Sales departments voicing my displeasure. I've switched the station to watch 24 in wonderful HD splendor.

Chris

chibul

02-08-07, 06:55 PM

jpell3

02-11-07, 10:04 PM

Does anyone know when WTWO and WFXF will be HD and full power?

ThePhunk

02-11-07, 10:26 PM

Is anyone else having a problem with HD WRTV? I have had a lot of drop-outs lately, tonight I'm getting no signal. I am having no problems with any other channel.

Thanks!

goldrich

02-12-07, 07:48 AM

Does anyone know when WTWO and WFXF will be HD and full power?

WFXW-DT.....?
WTWO-DT.....Try August, 2008....http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7978663&&#post7978663

ken6432

02-12-07, 03:40 PM

Here's a question for Comcast subscribers.

Check your guide for tomorrow for Discovery HD and ESPNHD. Is anything listed for you? I had two Chicago Bulls games set to record on ESPNHD over the weekend, and noticed they were no longer listed. For both of these channels, the guide says "To be announced". Does anyone know why?

Has anyone else lost the ability to tune in ESPNHD, Discovery HD, and TNTHD lately. I used to be able to tune to these channels without using the cable box, but I lost those three sometime recently. I am just trying to determine if it is my TV or something that Comcast has changed. I have not tried hooking up my cable box again as I was hoping this would be temporary.

gdouglas54

02-12-07, 06:52 PM

hoosierfan227

02-12-07, 07:36 PM

nathill

02-12-07, 09:34 PM

Has anyone else lost the ability to tune in ESPNHD, Discovery HD, and TNTHD lately. I used to be able to tune to these channels without using the cable box, but I lost those three sometime recently. I am just trying to determine if it is my TV or something that Comcast has changed. I have not tried hooking up my cable box again as I was hoping this would be temporary.

I am not on Comcast, but not too many months back Insight here in Bloomington started encrypting several channels I was receiving in the clear. I was receiving unencrypted video on demand movies ordered by other folks, but then one day the word "scrambled" appeared on those channels.
My guess is that Comcast got tired of folks receiving the channels you mentioned without paying to rent a cable box.
I would bet pretty good money they ain't coming back as unencrypted channels. I'll bet when you hook up the cable box, you'll have 'em just fine.

YJBrian

02-13-07, 02:27 PM

Lost TNT-HD and INHD. Never received Discovery or ESPN. Also lost one of the PBS multi-cast stations. Looks like Comcast maybe catching up with us ;) .

I have been waiting this one out as well. I've lost most of the HD stations that would tune without the box. It seems they have shifted some of the local station around as well, but even that is a little screwy (i.e. 59-1 shows up as WXIN-HD from the TV's auto scann, but was showing channel 8(CBS) in HD). I am hoping that we get back the basic HD stations. Having TNT-HD was nice, but I would like the locals back.

Still get the on demand shows though.

wrwine3

02-14-07, 10:38 AM

Yep, I lost mine too within the last week. Also, noticed that some of my locals are on a different channel.

Glad to here my Sony DVR isn't flaking out. Over the weekend I did a rescan and lost all but the Weather Channel and INHD2 (nothing on it except for the occasional NFL game). If I manually tuned the local CBS and NBC, I still received them as of Monday night (recorded Heroes). But the qam tuner will not find them anymore. I have not verified anything else.

What I had was:

75-2 ABC
75-4 WB
76-300 TNT
77-1 ESPNHD
77-2 DiscoveryHD
80-1 NBC
80-3 FOX
81-1 WFYI PBS
81-2 CBS
81-3 WFYI PBS
81-4 WEATHER LWS
81-6 WFYI PBS
81-2 INHD
81-3 INHD2
87-1 CSTV

But on the brighter side, they did fix the TVGOS issue with no listings. I'm going to miss NASCAR on TNT in HD though.

IndyJeff

02-14-07, 03:21 PM

Glad to here my Sony DVR isn't flaking out. Over the weekend I did a rescan and lost all but the Weather Channel and INHD2 (nothing on it except for the occasional NFL game). If I manually tuned the local CBS and NBC, I still received them as of Monday night (recorded Heroes). But the qam tuner will not find them anymore. I have not verified anything else.

Maybe all this change means they are getting ready to implement digital simulcast in the Indy market (100% digital channel lineup for digital cable subscribers). Indy seems to be one of the last markets to make the switch. There are rumors that Comcast is also exploring switched video in certain markets (which as a TiVO Series 3 owner I hope they don't do).

RWB

02-14-07, 04:26 PM

Yipee, WFXW DT in SD has been back on the air this past week.

jasonblair

02-15-07, 05:57 PM

Yipee, WFXW DT in SD has been back on the air this past week.Yay... more crap in 480i from Nexstar. I'm seriously ready to go to war with that company! Give us 1080i on WTWO and 720p on WFXW!

jasonblair

02-15-07, 06:06 PM

WFXW-DT.....?
WTWO-DT.....Try August, 2008....http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7978663&&#post7978663Notice the question was when will they go HD and be at full power.

From the post you refer to, they will be at full power in August 2008. They will convert from 480i to 1080i when someone kidnaps the Nexstar CEO and forces him at gunpoint.

a_greer

02-15-07, 08:58 PM

Was watching the office, a really good episode too, and in the middle of it, they killed the HD feed, went to the 16*9 SD in the 4*3 frame, then sqweezed that up to fit in a bar with info about what is closed tomorrow.. they already have a channel dedicated to that! that is what 13.2 is all about! (it is a subvchannel that most cable systems in Indiana carry in basic lifeline packs too)

This is the sort of crap that drives back-ally HD downloads of the shows, I cant get HD from iTunes, but I could have gotten it if I were allowed to buy out of market affiliates or national feeds...

Is there a solution to this problem, is it common? what is the excuse WTHR, you brag about being the only local HD station in town and you cant do an HD overlay?!?!?!?!

Brandon Martin

02-15-07, 09:39 PM

Is anybody else getting a seemingly random "popping" noise on WTHI-DT? I've noticed it the past couple nights on CSI. It only does it on network originated material - when they go to locally originated stuff (unfortunately in 14:9 stretch that I can't make right no matter what I do), the popping goes away. It's somewhat random, although the interval between pops (about 1/4-1/5 of a second) seems constant. The pops are happening on both channels, but not at the same time (nor does it perfectly alternate).

I can't say that I've watched anything other than CSI, but since it also happens during the commercials I'm not inclined to believe it has anything to do with the show. I guess I'll know after Shark later tonight.

The popping isn't deafeningly loud or anything, but it's definitely loud enough to be annoying and noticable.

Tersanyus

02-15-07, 10:42 PM

furball43

02-15-07, 11:29 PM

Scroll up to post 3670.

And they are not the only HD station in town. All the major stations in town broadcast in some things in HD. Unless you mean HD news. Then WTHR is the only one here with HD news.

But, with the constant closing information, WTHR's news has NOT been in HD for almost a week. Even funnier when one of the weathermen told us to take a look at the beautiful snowscape in HD from the HD tower cam.

I guess that everything will be worked out by 2009 :)

jasonblair

02-16-07, 08:16 AM

I guess that everything will be worked out by 2009 :)ONCE AGAIN... 2009 is not the date that everything has to be in HD. It is the date everything has to be digital. Even if that digital signal is 480i and mono sound.

George Molnar

02-16-07, 10:32 AM

ONCE AGAIN... 2009 is not the date that everything has to be in HD. It is the date everything has to be digital. Even if that digital signal is 480i and mono sound.
Here is what FCC Rule 73.624(b) actually says: "The DTV service that is provided pursuant to this paragraph must be at least comparable in resolution to the analog television station programming transmitted to viewers on the analog channel."

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/get-cfr.cgi?TITLE=47&PART=73&SECTION=624&YEAR=2004&TYPE=TEXT

So that's 4x3, 480i, and stereo (or perhaps mono) audio.

Widescreen, 1080i (or 720p), and/or 5.1 audio are optional embellishments at the station owner's discretion.

RWB

02-16-07, 12:40 PM

Here is what FCC Rule 73.624(b) actually says: "The DTV service that is provided pursuant to this paragraph must be at least comparable in resolution to the analog television station programming transmitted to viewers on the analog channel."

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/get-cfr.cgi?TITLE=47&PART=73&SECTION=624&YEAR=2004&TYPE=TEXT

So that's 4x3, 480i, and stereo (or perhaps mono) audio.

Widescreen, 1080i (or 720p), and/or 5.1 audio are optional embellishments at the station owner's discretion.

:mad: :mad: :mad:

Not at you George, thanks for the clarification.

RWB

02-16-07, 12:45 PM

Tersanyus

02-16-07, 04:17 PM

But, with the constant closing information, WTHR's news has NOT been in HD for almost a week. Even funnier when one of the weathermen told us to take a look at the beautiful snowscape in HD from the HD tower cam.

I guess that everything will be worked out by 2009 :)

Right. And when WTHR has to show the crawl for school closings they can't do that and show HD. They stated in that post above that the crawl only works on the SD feed. They stated that they will be able to show the crawl with HD soon.

What I love mostly now is that most HD broadcasts have none of that crap advertisements at the bottom of the screen. You know the, "Your're watching CSI: Miami. Catch an all new episode of Survivor tomorrow" and that crap. CBS loves to use that AOL yellow guy. The old analog feeds have these. They are so annoying. Rarely do you see these on the network HD feeds. But I bet they will be shown on HD feeds soon enough. See the cable channels that have both an SD and HD feed. Both are usually the same. TNT HD comes to mind. So many advertisements.

That brings up another thing I hate. WXIN shows A LOT of these type of advertisements on SD stuff. Watch The Simpsons at 6 and 7 pm. This "bestest ever" banner ad during the program really sucks. It takes 1/3 of the screen. They used to speak advertisements during show credits at the end but stopped. I e-mailed them complaining about that and I guess many others did so they stopped.

Here's a note to people who work at TV stations.... Your advertisements should come between program segments. Not while the program is on!

And yes, the 2009 date only means digital. Not necessarily HD. That is the biggest misconception about HDTV there is out there now. People think everything will be HD in 2009. Nope. Digital can be 4:3 and mono sound. Just as long as whatever is being broadcasted is digital.

The big 4 networks and several smaller networks here in Indy are already transmitting in digital. Channel 40 (WHMB) is not HD and may never be but they are digital.

Who is really going to be hurt by that 2009 date is the people with older TV's who ONLY have an antenna. They will need some kind of set top box, which will be subsidized by the government, to get the digital signals I get now with a rooftop antenna. They'll be upset at first. But once it is over and they get the same channels they do now, plus some subchannels, and have no ghosting, they'll be happier.

a_greer

02-16-07, 08:31 PM

Scroll up to post 3670.

And they are not the only HD station in town. All the major stations in town broadcast in some things in HD. Unless you mean HD news. Then WTHR is the only one here with HD news.
Yes, they run ads talking about how they are the only OTA that can do local HD in Indy...then they make their graphics look like crap...guess if it snows here Monday, I will just DL Heros while I am at the office Tuesday...

a_greer

02-16-07, 08:34 PM

Right. And when WTHR has to show the crawl for school closings they can't do that and show HD. They stated in that post above that the crawl only works on the SD feed. They stated that they will be able to show the crawl with HD soon.

And my point is if you cant do a simple crawl in HD, how can you possibly do an entire newscast ion HD?

This is Indiana in Winter time, they didn't think the crawl was important enough for HD migration or something?!?!?

a_greer

02-16-07, 08:38 PM

Looks like a few of us complained about Heroes. Here's the response to my email. Looks like we're headed in the right direction, but man its frustrating. I think I may just download the episode of the internet in HD and watch it that way.

=========

Thank for your e-mail.

The FCC requires that when important public information such as school closings is aired, it must air on both SD and HD channels. While we do not yet have HD squeeze and crawl equipment on line, which is why we have to revert to 4:3 SD when airing such information on our HD channel, the good news is that we are right now in the process of installing a completely new state of the art HD/SD master control which includes HD squeeze and crawl equipment so this issue will soon be a thing of the past.

I appreciate your feedback. WTHR management has discussed this issue and will try to limit airing this info as much as legally possible on our HD channel.

As you are aware, the costs to replace station equipment are enormous so all of the station equipment cannot be replaced at once. Replacement of older SD equipment with new HD equipment must be done over years in carefully planned stages. The very expensive transmission system (transmitter, antenna, microwave, etc.) and encoder were done first. We next converted our production control and studios to HD last year, since that is on air a lot. Now we are replacing our 1989 vintage station Master Control which has no equipment to squeeze and "crawl" HD video.

I appreciate that you watch WTHR and hope that you’ll bear with us as we progress though the long and expensive process of replacing all of our SD equipment so our public information crawls will be entirely HD.

Al Grossniklaus
Director of Engineering & Operations
WTHR NBC 13
Indianapolis

==========Run the ticker only durring ads in prime time: might give DVRers a reason to not fast forward...

Sorry I didnt see this one before posting my comment about "The Office" and thanks to the above post that referanced it.

I guess I wouldnt have been so ticked if it were WXIN,WISH or WRTV because they dont scream "We do local HD!!!" all the time.

Tersanyus

02-16-07, 11:18 PM

And my point is if you cant do a simple crawl in HD, how can you possibly do an entire newscast ion HD?

This is Indiana in Winter time, they didn't think the crawl was important enough for HD migration or something?!?!?

I don't know how things work at WTHR. They said that they cannot show a crawl when broadcasting HD so they must switch to SD. A station cannot upgrade all of their equipment at the same time. The switch to HD is costly.

WHTR can broadcast the entire news in HD. The studio cameras were upgraded this past October. Field cameras aren't HD yet. This is why you see that large blue HD logo written sideways when they are using a camera not in studio.

I have noticed in the last few weeks that the weather radar screens are now in full HD widescreen. Some of the forecast graphics aren't yet. It used to be only the main newscasters themselves were shown in full HD with all others in SD with that blue sideways HD logo on the left and right.

The simple answer right now is that WTHR CANNOT broadcast in HD and have a crawl at the same time. They will in the future. Right now you have to live with it. Y'all need to cut WHTR some slack. They are the only ones here in town that CAN broadcast the local news in HD. It may also shock you to know that months ago they had to switch to SD during rain/thunder/tornado warnings too.

Just be glad we are in a fairly major city where we can get HDTV. Some of the people even here in Indiana can't get HD. I think it's people in Terre Haute and nearby. I know those folks do post in this very thread but I usually skim by those posts since they don't apply to me. They get stations digitally but not necessarily in HD.

I would also like to note how other stations here in town handle HD broadcasts and crawls. WISH seems only to show the crawls in commercials. Occassionally a program will begin in HD but when back from commercial be in SD with the crawl. Then after next commercial go back to HD. This tells me that WISH can't do HD and crawls at the same time. About 80% of the programs I watch are on WISH. I only watch 2 programs on ABC. I haven't seen a crawl during HD on WRTV. WXIN? Sorry to say I don't watch much of their HD. Will sometimes catch American Idol but that's it.

I also forgot something earlier. You mentioned they should use their Skytrack Weather Network to broadcast school closings and such. I do believe the law states that school closings/weather alerts must be broadcast on the main channel first. I for one don't watch 13.2 much. Most people are probably ignorant of that fact that Skytrack even exists despite it being carried on basic cable.

Just relax folks. None of us know how things work at a television station. And remember that these network stations broadcast in HD for free. I get their signal right from the air for free. Do these have to bradcast in HD? Nope. The only requirement is that they transmit digitally.

goldrich

02-17-07, 10:55 AM

Great post, Tersanyus. Believe me, the local Indy stations are working as fast as MONEY will allow them to convert equipment to HD. Unless a station has the correct HD equipment and setup, it is not possible to run the crawl and an HD broadcast at the same time. This is not a unique situtation here in Indy.

Compared to just over five years ago when I bought my first HDTV setup, the advances in network and local HD broadcasts/technology is amazing. Indy HD stations are progressing quite nicely.

Some of us, like myself, remember the mid 60's when most stations started transitioning from black & white equipment (video recorders, cameras, switchers, etc.) to color. While WISH-8, WFBM-6 (now WRTV-6) and WLWI-13 (now WTHR-13) converted to color during this time frame, according to my old TV Guides as a reference, along with my own memory button, WLFI-18, Lafayette didn't get color cameras in the studio for local newscasts until around 1970. And it appears that WTTV-4 along with WTWO-2 and WTHI-10, Terre Haute, didn't update to color cameras in the studio until somewhere around late 1970 to early 1971.

We are witnessing another television transition which takes time and lots of money, which generally has to be budgeted for months and even years in advance.

Steve

goldrich

02-17-07, 11:23 AM

Notice the question was when will they go HD and be at full power.

From the post you refer to, they will be at full power in August 2008. They will convert from 480i to 1080i when someone kidnaps the Nexstar CEO and forces him at gunpoint.

Yes, my answer regarding HD (for WTWO-DT) was an assumption. Meanwhile, your answer could be correct, too. Since Nexstar employees don't post any information, my comments were based on Nexstar's track record with other nearby stations (WMBD-DT, Peoria; WCIA-DT, Champaign; WTVW-DT, Evansville) These stations installed equipment for full power and HD at the same time. Due to inclement weather, the WCIA-DT project is not yet finished but the station is now passing CBS-HD. Also, the WTVW-DT project is still in progress.

Steve

a_greer

02-18-07, 12:40 AM

I don't know how things work at WTHR. They said that they cannot show a crawl when broadcasting HD so they must switch to SD. A station cannot upgrade all of their equipment at the same time. The switch to HD is costly.

WHTR can broadcast the entire news in HD. The studio cameras were upgraded this past October. Field cameras aren't HD yet. This is why you see that large blue HD logo written sideways when they are using a camera not in studio.

I have noticed in the last few weeks that the weather radar screens are now in full HD widescreen. Some of the forecast graphics aren't yet. It used to be only the main newscasters themselves were shown in full HD with all others in SD with that blue sideways HD logo on the left and right.

The simple answer right now is that WTHR CANNOT broadcast in HD and have a crawl at the same time. They will in the future. Right now you have to live with it. Y'all need to cut WHTR some slack. They are the only ones here in town that CAN broadcast the local news in HD. It may also shock you to know that months ago they had to switch to SD during rain/thunder/tornado warnings too.

Just be glad we are in a fairly major city where we can get HDTV. Some of the people even here in Indiana can't get HD. I think it's people in Terre Haute and nearby. I know those folks do post in this very thread but I usually skim by those posts since they don't apply to me. They get stations digitally but not necessarily in HD.

I would also like to note how other stations here in town handle HD broadcasts and crawls. WISH seems only to show the crawls in commercials. Occassionally a program will begin in HD but when back from commercial be in SD with the crawl. Then after next commercial go back to HD. This tells me that WISH can't do HD and crawls at the same time. About 80% of the programs I watch are on WISH. I only watch 2 programs on ABC. I haven't seen a crawl during HD on WRTV. WXIN? Sorry to say I don't watch much of their HD. Will sometimes catch American Idol but that's it.

I also forgot something earlier. You mentioned they should use their Skytrack Weather Network to broadcast school closings and such. I do believe the law states that school closings/weather alerts must be broadcast on the main channel first. I for one don't watch 13.2 much. Most people are probably ignorant of that fact that Skytrack even exists despite it being carried on basic cable.

Just relax folks. None of us know how things work at a television station. And remember that these network stations broadcast in HD for free. I get their signal right from the air for free. Do these have to bradcast in HD? Nope. The only requirement is that they transmit digitally.My only complaint is that they brag about all of their HD capabilities, constantly harping on "we are the only HD news in Indy" and not only can they not deliver the blizzard coverage in HD, while the hosts are saying "look at our HD tower cam" they cant even overlay a scroll in HD...Let me get this streight...it is more important to strap a pricey HD cam to the top of a broadcast tower than to get the computers and video processors to embed weather info in the HD feed?

My point is simply this: either (go) or get off the pot: don't brag about your HDness when you still have all of these quirks: it makes the station look amaturish and undermines the hard work of all of the engineering people pulling it together...I understand that it is pricy, but I would think they would understand that when they brag about being local HD capable, I, as a viewer, expect them to be. Am I expecting too much? HDTV can hardly be called an "early adopter" thing now-a-days...

nickhammond

02-18-07, 05:54 PM

i have the sa8300hd dvr (brighthouse) and i cant stand it. the search program alphabetically feature only lets you search the first letter of a program title (and this is just the first if many gripes). does anyone have suggestions on a replacement?

Les Auber

02-18-07, 05:59 PM

Take a look at the Tivo series 3. It does the analog cable fine. Does work for HD with the QAM channels brighthouse broadcasts in the clear. It is also supposed to work with cablecard though I haven't tried that yet.

nickhammond

02-18-07, 06:06 PM

come to think of it, this is probably the wrong place for this discussion. however, thanks for the advice on the 3 series tivo. it is just way too pricey. i wish brighthouse in indy (and for that matter, all service providers) would let the customers have a little more power in this hd world.

dkgoalie

02-19-07, 10:10 AM

My only complaint is that they brag about all of their HD capabilities, constantly harping on "we are the only HD news in Indy" and not only can they not deliver the blizzard coverage in HD, while the hosts are saying "look at our HD tower cam" they cant even overlay a scroll in HD...Let me get this streight...it is more important to strap a pricey HD cam to the top of a broadcast tower than to get the computers and video processors to embed weather info in the HD feed?

My point is simply this: either (go) or get off the pot: don't brag about your HDness when you still have all of these quirks: it makes the station look amaturish and undermines the hard work of all of the engineering people pulling it together...I understand that it is pricy, but I would think they would understand that when they brag about being local HD capable, I, as a viewer, expect them to be. Am I expecting too much? HDTV can hardly be called an "early adopter" thing now-a-days...

Perhaps this was addressed already ( sorry I have not read all 124 pages of posts here ).

I was watching the Saturday Morning WTHR-13 HD News and noticed that both the broadcast and sports ticker were both in HD. Can't the sports ticker be used for school closings?

Also, on weekdays I catch about 30 minutes of the Today Show before heading to work. I've quit watching as it is in SD and been flipping to GMA as it is in HD.

Plus I hate when Al Roker pitches to WTHR for the local weather and they give you 10 seconds of weather and jam a 20+ second commercial in there. It is more than annoying as they come back to the Today feed 5-10 seconds late. Ever hear of backtiming, WTHR?

- dk

wpnas

02-19-07, 11:59 AM

sc173

02-19-07, 10:49 PM

i live in terre haute and just bought a new tv for the bedroom. already have hd programming from time warner in the front room. this new tv has ntsc/atsc/qam tuners built in. what do i need to do get my premium channels and the local hd channels that OTA on this tv. do i need an antenna and a cable card?Well in order to get your premium channels you'll need another hd cable box or cable card (i'm not even sure if they offer cable cards in TH, I've never checked). With my qam tuner with just the basic cable coming from the wall connected up I can get TNT and PBS in HD, but none of the encrypted premium HD channels. Those only show up with my cable box.

You'll need an antenna to get the locals in HD. WTHI is the only one that comes in for me and I only live about 10 miles from the towers. WTWO and WBAK or whatever it's called now aren't up to full power yet.

wpnas

02-20-07, 08:44 AM

thanks

wpnas

02-20-07, 03:10 PM

how do i hook the antenna up and the cable so i don't have to flip a switch back and forth? use a diplexor?

RWB

02-21-07, 07:23 AM

For members who do not live in Terre Haute I believe you probably have followed the story line enough here on the forum to understand our frustration with our local NBC affiliate. We have only one local that broadcasts anything in HD yet there are three stations.

Who ever came up with this brilliant idea should be fired.

http://www.wtwo.com/news/default.asp?mode=shownews&id=7337

The above link is a story that WTWO had on their main news cast last night talking about the switch from Analog to Digital. Not once did they mention at some point they (WTWO) will be showing HD programs. Of course this was done on purpose since they don't, but unsuspecting folks will think TWO is on the ball and ready for that video revolution.

Already mentioned by members here is the fact WTWO only has to go digital and not required to actually show any HD programming really is the plan it appears.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

wrwine3

02-21-07, 11:07 AM

Maybe all this change means they are getting ready to implement digital simulcast in the Indy market (100% digital channel lineup for digital cable subscribers). Indy seems to be one of the last markets to make the switch. There are rumors that Comcast is also exploring switched video in certain markets (which as a TiVO Series 3 owner I hope they don't do).

I rescanned with my Sony DVR again. Now it shows only fourteen channels received by the QAM tuner. I lost all the Music Choice channels now. Going through the channel list between 68 and 90 I found only eight channels. I dug a little further and found they moved ABC, CBS, NBC and WNDY to their digital equivalents.

ABC - 6.1 and 6.2
CBS - 8.1 and 8.3
NBC - 13.1
WNDY - 29.1

I did not find FOX WXIN. Perhaps they have additional work to do here in Muncie.

posg

02-21-07, 01:05 PM

wpnas

02-22-07, 07:53 AM

goldrich

02-22-07, 08:08 AM

so i hooked up a phillips hdtv antenna and i can not get it pick up 10.1. CBS HD. I can get the regular cbs but not hd. signal strength will not go past 45. someone please help. i have the cable from the wall going into the antenna, then the antenna into the tv. the antenna has a switch and that is on cable and tv is set to cable. i tried with both on antenna and the got the same thing. also, i have been to antennaweb.org.

Sorry, but you can't do OTA (over the air) reception and cable at the same time. In order to watch WTHI-DT 10.1 via your antenna, disconnect the cable TV feed from the antenna. Feed the antenna to the "antenna" connection on your TV, if it has separate inputs (cable and antenna) otherwise use the one signal "input" on the back of the TV, and make sure your TV is set for "antenna" and not "cable." This is usually found in the menu section.

Steve

wpnas

02-22-07, 08:18 AM

can you use a diplexor and make this work? that cable and antenna at the same time. oh by the way thanks for the quick response.

goldrich

02-22-07, 08:33 AM

can you use a diplexor and make this work? that cable and antenna at the same time. oh by the way thanks for the quick response.

I'm not aware of any diplexor for feeding OTA and cable simultaneously. If your TV has only one input for cable and antenna, an A/B switch (available at electronic stores like Radio Shack; one RS unit comes with a remote control) should handle your situation.

Don't forget to switch your TV from "antenna" input to "cable" input when you want to go back to watching stations via the cable feed through the QAM tuner.

Steve

wrwine3

02-22-07, 08:38 AM

I rescanned again last night. My QAM tuner picked up FOX at 59.1 and WTTV (CW) at 4.1. I now have most of my local HD channels. The notable exception is PBS.

wpnas

02-22-07, 09:04 AM

the antenna that i have has a switch for antenna or cable. if it is set to antenna isn't that the same as hooking the antenna up to the tv without the cable hooked up?

Tersanyus

02-22-07, 11:56 AM

can you use a diplexor and make this work? that cable and antenna at the same time. oh by the way thanks for the quick response.

Diplexers only work for combining cable and satellite signals. Cable and antenna use the same frequencies. That's why if you look at a diplexer you'll see it has an ouput for satellite and antenna, not cable and antenna.

goldrich

02-22-07, 01:08 PM

the antenna that i have has a switch for antenna or cable. if it is set to antenna isn't that the same as hooking the antenna up to the tv without the cable hooked up?

Personally I'm not familiar with that antenna so I have no idea how to answer your question. If it is designed that way, then, yes, it sounds as though that might work as an A/B switch. Give it a try and see if it works. Just make sure that you are not feeding the antenna signal (OTA) and the cable signal into the TV tuner at the same time. That will destroy both signals.

If your antenna is working correctly, and if you are less than 20-25 miles from the WTHI tower in Farmersburg, you should be able to receive 10.1, or DTV channel 24, if your receiver must first find the real RF channel and then remap it to 10.1.

Steve

RSlamD

02-22-07, 03:38 PM

the antenna that i have has a switch for antenna or cable. if it is set to antenna isn't that the same as hooking the antenna up to the tv without the cable hooked up?

Not knowing the model of television is part of the issue. Some televisions allow dual connections, many others are tying all 3 tuners into the one coax rf input(as it sounds like yours is). The tuners then need to be switched to either Air or Cable and then a new search ran for the signal source you are looking for.

Cable cards are available in "The Haute" however with the changes the cable industry have been making on their spec's to force the consumer to use the box instead.....go ahead and get the box and hook it up to the tv with HDMI.

If you have any other questions let me know.

Randy

T Heller

02-23-07, 06:29 PM

Since discussion above has touched on OTA/cable/satellite connections (what to do & what not to do), I'd like to pose a similar question.

Last fall, I mounted UHF and VHF antennas and a pre-amplifier on my building's roof and strung some RG-6 coax cable to a digital set-top box to enable my HD-ready LCD to display high-definition OTA signals from the Indy stations, about fifty miles north. I've been very pleased with how nicely my effort worked out.

I live on the second floor of a building alongside three other condominium units. One of my neighbors has expressed interest in bringing this OTA signal into her unit. And I'm wondering exactly what may be necessary to accomplish this. I'm operating under the assumption that this is do-able, but I need some talking through it.

She currently gets DirecTV. All units in the building have coax feeds to wall jacks in their units. These jacks are fed from the rooftop satellite dish through an 8x2 multi-switch one floor down. The multi-switch is powered and has a SAT and an ANT in connection.

Now, to the heart of the matter:

I know she'll need a digital tuner to receive the OTA signal and feed it to her HD-ready set. (Her set has adequate video in ports: composite, component, S-video and DVI. I suppose the component one is currently in use for the satellite service, but I'm not sure.)

So, my thinking/questions are:

1. Will running the pre-amplified OTA signal from the rooftop antennas and pre-amp through the 8x2 multi-switch degrade the signal *I* currently get by routing the signal directly from the roof to my digital tuner? (Before I venture into hooking up my neighbor, I want to know if I may unwittingly reduce the signal strength received by *my* tuner and degrade the dependability my digital picture quality.)

2. If the multi-switch doesn't introduce noise or signal loss, then could I in effect splice the multi-switch into my coax run from the rooftop antennas to the tuner in my unit? That would take care of me (my first obligation, of course.) Or would taking my feed off a multi-switch that's hooked up with both a SAT and ANT in feed present some problems?

--
Now, next step: about adding my neighbor to this OTA signal.

3. Can the SAT and ANT in signals from the multi-switch share the *same* in-building distribution coax through which she receives her satellite service (i.e. the coax from the multi-switch to her unit)? If so (as I suspect is the case), I suppose I'd have to connect her digital tuner and her satellite receiver in serial, before connecting each of them to whatever video-in ports on her TV she wants the OTA and SAT feeding, right?

We're only talking one television set in her unit, so she wouldn't be seeking to access more than one signal at a time.

If I've overlooked anything, please let me know. I appreciate any and all advice. This forum has been a god-send.

MAX HD

02-23-07, 08:27 PM

T Heller

02-24-07, 12:11 AM

Tom,
This may work.Some of the powered multiswitches have a built-in preamp for OTA,some don't.Get the model # and do a little research.Either way you can still try it.Run the antenna coax(amplified or unamped) into the mutiswitch,then use a VHF/UHF-SAT multiplexer and break the signals apart on the receiver end and see if it works.You can get the mutiplexer at Radio shack.

Thanks for the quick comment, Greg. I'll dig into this further tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the earlier discussion re: OTA/cable/satellite prompts a desire to more fully understand a technical aspect of these various signals. What exactly does the multiplexer do - is it a high/low frequency filter that splits the satellite signal bandwidth from the OTA antenna bandwidth? And someone remarked earlier that cable and OTA conflict - does this mean their signal frequencies overlap?

Is the satellite signal converted to an 'intermediate' frequency along it's path to the TV? It's a ~2.3 GHz downlink from the bird, right, but the dish converts it to some intermediate frequency (~900 MHz?) and then the satellite receiver finishes the signal processing job when it pumps the video signal to the display?

I suppose antenna-fed OTA signals are not converted to an intermediate frequency band along the antenna-to-tuner chain, nor I suppose are cable signals either between the curb to the cable box. So while you couldn't run OTA and cable signals together on the same in-building distribution cable, there's no conflict between running satellite and OTA (or cable) signals on a single coax cable, say from that multi-switch, right?

And while a multiplexer can split OTA from satellite running down the same coax, it wouldn't do any good to separate OTA from cable signals, right? (I'll beat all the mystery out of this yet!)

coolray

02-27-07, 11:47 AM

To wrwine3

Hi

I live out at the Reservior and was wondering what sort of antenna's and what type and size of tower you are using there in Muncie. I would love to chat with you about your setup if you don't mind.

Thanks

Tom "coolray" Smalley

wpnas

02-27-07, 12:35 PM

i finally figured my stuff out. the antennas i was using had amplifiers and i couldn't receive the hd signals. so i bought a 12 dollar antenna from walmart and boom it works. i don't get as many channels as i did with the amplified antennas but i get hd. thanks for your replys.

Tersanyus

02-27-07, 09:18 PM

What is it with WISH and missing center channel audio? Tonight on NCIS there was no voice audio, you only heard surround sounds like birds chirping and background noises. After first commercial about 3 minutes in the missing center audio comes back.

I checked on several TV's this time. It occured on all of them. Even the TV's without surround sound systems attached. While the audio was missing I switched to my TV's ATSC tuner and no voices.

I also think this has happened to NCIS several times now. I'd have to go back thru some of my posts in this thread but I think this may be the 3rd time this has happened on NCIS. I know it has also happened on CSI: Miami. I recall recently about half of the first episode of a 2 parter had missing voice audio.

It seems like someone had fallen asleep at the switch and forgot to switch on the center channel audio.

Tom Weber do you have any comment on this?

pecasbo

02-28-07, 07:03 AM

Anyone know the status of the negotiations? Why are they having so much trouble with WISH that they didn't with the other networks?

T Heller

02-28-07, 12:35 PM

Some of the powered multiswitches have a built-in preamp for OTA,some don't.Get the model # and do a little research.Either way you can still try it.

The multi-switch is a Perfect Vision PVMS5x8. The specs I found for it at Sadoun Satellite includes this: "Insertion Loss: -5db 54- 806 MHz, 0db 950- 1750 MHz, -2dB 1751-2150 MHz"

If I interpret this correctly, I'll lose *substantial* signal strength on the VHF/UHF (OTA) band if I introduce this device into the pathway between my antennae and my digital tuner.

I'm *very* leary to do anything that will degrade my signal. Maybe I'll look around for an amplified multi-switch that won't suck up dBs for VHF/UHF frequencies. This multi-switch seems to be optimized for satellite signals. (I suppose that's why it's approved by DirecTV!)

Tom Weber

02-28-07, 04:04 PM

I was watching NCIS at home, and called the control room right away, but as I had just moved that piece of equipment 3 days previously, it took an extra 30 seconds for them to find the right piece of gear to switch.

I'm not absolutely clear on what happened. My motive in these instances is to get things switched correctly as quickly as possible, and not take any time for diagnosis, so I just don't know for sure if something was in the wrong mode, or it was in the right mode and needed a swift kick in the neutrons.

The reason I moved the equipment is so that I could install the 5.1 channel audio processor, which, if I get it configured right, -should- (Yes, I DO have my fingers crossed, but no fair peeking) help out a LOT in these instances, and help smooth out sudio levels, as well.

I had hoped to get this stuff installed in January, but then we got ludicrously busy <g>.

All I know on negotiations is that they traded emails even on Saturday, the day before the Super Bowl, and still have not agreed, even now.

Tom Weber
Engineering
WISH / WNDY / WIIH / LWS / ad nauseam

IndyTom

02-28-07, 08:20 PM

All I know on negotiations is that they traded emails even on Saturday, the day before the Super Bowl, and still have not agreed, even now.

Tom Weber
Engineering
WISH / WNDY / WIIH / LWS / ad nauseam

Tom - thanks for keeping us posted!

Tersanyus

02-28-07, 09:31 PM

Tom Weber,

Thanks for keeping us updated.

These people in the control room need to pay more attention. Jericho tonight was in SD for most of the program. There's no closings or bad weather on the way so it can't be that keeping the signal in SD. At least we had audio.

This really, really peeves me off.

BRADH

03-01-07, 11:52 AM

mhowie

03-01-07, 10:07 PM

I just joined the HDTV club and am impressed with the efforts at Channel 13 in Indy especially their newscasts-- just wonderful on the HD presentation. My question, however, regards WISH- Channel 8 Indy... I find shows advertised in HD on other networks (Fox- American Idol, NASCAR; NBC- Law and Order, Tonight Show) to be well done and they show up full screen. I have not yet watched ABC enough to determine how their HD output is presented. Some of the CBS (Channel 8) HD content during primetime which I assume is being offered in hi-def, however, is not showing up full screen (the sides are truncated like it is an SD broadcast--perhaps it actually is?). I am using an OTA antenna. Is this problem unique to my setup or is there a deficiency with the HD signal from WISH? I emailed their "chief engineer" a week or so ago and never heard back.

Thanks,

He Save Dave

03-01-07, 11:18 PM

I'm having such a problem with my OTA signal. I keep getting this white flashing which is especially noticable in dark scenes. Any suggestions? Thanks. :)

Les Auber

03-02-07, 06:57 PM

The window boxed WISH programs are probably upconverted SD. That works out in general to look better then any stretch I've seen to fit full screen. Nothing looks quite right.

Tom Weber

03-05-07, 01:46 PM

WISH sends along whatever the network sends on their HD feed - some commercial material is 16:9, other material is standard 4:3. Local material is all 4:3 at this time.

I have no idea off the top of my head why some commercials may show in 16:9 on one network and in 4:3 in another network.

Tom Weber
Engineering
WISH / WNDY / LWS / WIIH / ad infinitum

Les Auber

03-05-07, 05:14 PM

Some networks may not be preserving the aspect ratio and stretching 4:3 to 16:9 just as a guess.

mjconnor10

03-06-07, 02:05 PM

I'm having such a problem with my OTA signal. I keep getting this white flashing which is especially noticable in dark scenes. Any suggestions? Thanks. :)
You're going to need to provide a whole lot more information than this. Set? Receiver? Location?

RJLYON

03-07-07, 09:35 AM

How much are you paying for a cable card in from Comcast in Indy?

IndyJeff

03-07-07, 10:27 AM

How much are you paying for a cable card in from Comcast in Indy?

I have 2 cable cards, and according to them, the first one is free and the 2nd one adds $7.50/mo. to my statement. It's listed as a digital receiver -- I called and asked why a digital receiver shows up every month since I don't rent a box from them, and they said that's how they list it if you have 2 cable cards.

I'm not sure anyone at Comcast's customer service knows what they are talking about, but that's the answer I got.

Jeff

RJLYON

03-07-07, 11:27 AM

Thanks for your help. They are charging me $12.95/mo for 1 card and it is also listed as a digital reciever with remote on statemant. They are the worst!

nathill

03-08-07, 08:31 AM

Thanks for your help. They are charging me $12.95/mo for 1 card and it is also listed as a digital reciever with remote on statemant. They are the worst!

And cable companies wonder why they have bad reputations :D
Do they really think more advertisement dollars are going to make any difference?

IndyJeff

03-08-07, 09:39 PM

Thanks for your help. They are charging me $12.95/mo for 1 card and it is also listed as a digital reciever with remote on statemant. They are the worst!

I will double check that price on my next statement to make sure I told you the right number.

CsquaredIN

03-11-07, 09:33 PM

Tom,

I was wondering what WISH-TV's plans were for the NCAA tournament as far as HD and multicasting goes. Is multicasting even a possibility anymore since all the games are in HD? I realize it is impossible to multicast all games in HD, but do you have the option of multicasting in SD? Will you be showing a game on the analog channel and a different game on WISH-DT (unless it's a game of local interest)? I love HD, but I really enjoyed the multicasting of the tournament when WISH did it a few years ago.
Thanks in advance for any insights you might be able to give.

nathill

03-12-07, 08:16 AM

XavierMike

03-12-07, 10:35 AM

I saw Comcast added SANHD as channel 201, but it isn't broadcasting yet. Anyone know what this is?

sjanson

03-12-07, 12:26 PM

CsquaredIN

03-12-07, 08:21 PM

After digging around for a few minutes on WISH-TV's site, the schedule for Thursday:
12:25 PM Boston College vs. Texas Tech
2:40 PM Butler vs. Old Dominion
7:10 PM Ohio State vs. Central Conn State
9:45 PM Indiana vs. Gonzaga
Right above this it says, "The same game will air on our analog signal and our digital signal."

Tom,
It has been stated by Ken H in the HDTV Programming forum that "If the local affiliate is in a Flex Region, they will broadcast the game in HD. If the local affiliate is in a Constant region, they will upconvert the SD Constant feed."
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=817525

I assume games involving IU, Butler, Purdue, and Notre Dame will be Constant feeds and therefore will not be HD here in Indy. That does not make sense at all to me. Can WISH get around this? Can you show the HD Flex feed instead of the upconverted Constant SD feed? Thanks for your help.