Any of you guys know where I can get Canare connectors locally here in the state of SC?

I'm starting a new business and I don't wanna have to charge customers the 6.5% Use Tax on connectors that I order from out of state. Trying to simplify matters.
Thanks in advance.

Hatfield,
Have you tried HESCO in Columbia or CECO in Myrtle Beach. Both are pretty good for stocking items or may be able to order.

Well, since I don't see any posts on what I'm seeing on WFXB, 43-1 OTA, I guess its only me! This time of year the only thing I watch on Fox is 24, and last Monday I was getting random pixelation with some audio drop outs. But the wind was blowing hard, and I thought that might be causing it.

Apparently not though because it was the same way tonight. I see small patches of pixelation in different parts of the picture a lot. Its every few minutes or more, with some audio glitches. Last Monday night was the first time I've seen that, and after 24 went off tonight, I looked at it live and its doing it constantly.

I got a solid 98 signal strength, and its doing it on both of my receivers. They are different brand dvr's, so its not the receiver. It does it no matter where I turn the antenna.

26-1 out of Wilmington shows fine.

So, anyone else seeing anything like this on WFXB ? I don't know what else I can try since moving the antenna don't stop it and both receivers are showing it. The area is North Myrtle Beach.

I know the guys at WFXB post here sometimes, so are you having any problems that you know of ?

I have noticed the same thing had to switch it to wach 57 out of columbia to watch fox sunday.

Ok, thanks. I guess they have some kind of a problem then, maybe one of them will comment on when it will get corrected.

Larry J and topher57,
I have located and repaired a problem that should eliminate the problems you mentioned. If the problem still exists for you, please let me know.

Ken's on da ball! ;)

WFXB looks much better, thanks.

Larry J and topher57,
I have located and repaired a problem that should eliminate the problems you mentioned. If the problem still exists for you, please let me know.


I couldn't check until tonight and only after 10pm. Well I did get about 10 minutes of HD 5.1 audio. Anyway, the video is fine now for me also, but the audio is still glitching. Its a very quick hiccup but no doubt there. Appears to be pretty much the same audio glitch I was getting on 24, just without the pixelation.

Its constant also, but random. It might glitch once a minute or 3 times within 30 seconds, but it never stops.

Again, its on both of my receivers and I don't have this problem on any other OTA channel, including Fox out of Wilmington. The last two showings of 24 is the first time I've had the problem with WFXB.

Thanks for responding so fast and I hope there is something you can do about these audio hiccups.

I was able to listen to the audio for awhile again today, and yes the audio glitches quite often. It is a fast drop out and might just take part of a word, but because it so consistent, makes it hard to watch.

I've also been noticing the audio glitches fairly regularly. Happens during shows and commercials as well. Thought it was just my receiver at first but from the sounds of it, I'm not the only one seeing this

I was able to listen to the audio for awhile again today, and yes the audio glitches quite often. It is a fast drop out and might just take part of a word, but because it so consistent, makes it hard to watch.
I've also been noticing the audio glitches fairly regularly. Happens during shows and commercials as well. Thought it was just my receiver at first but from the sounds of it, I'm not the only one seeing this
I've been monitoring the audio all day and have not heard a single dropout. Any details the two of you can provide regarding your equipment and configuration are appreciated.

Also, please note if you are experiencing the problem during FOX network programming 8-10PM, or during local programming.

I'll have to get back to you about the 8-10 programming, because last night it was just before 10 when I checked.

Far as the equipment, one receiver is the HR20-700 and the other is the Tivo version, HR10-250. Both also receive Directv of course. I can use optical or HDMI out for the audio, but both have the glitches, and both receivers do also.

I have a DVDO VP50 video/audio processor, but I can bypass that, so its not causing it.

The audio is going into a Yamaha receiver.

So, I'll check tonight and let you know, but I'm thinking it will still be there, but I could be wrong of course. The reason I say that is because it was sounding the exact same way when I was getting the random patches of video pixelation.

I'll also check some other things, but doubt I can correct it, because no other OTA channel is doing that exact thing. Even like I said, the Fox channel in Wilmington. Plus, WFXB wasn't until recently.

I think I have duplicated the problem you are having with audio. Audio dropouts are only happening on the digital output of my receiver at home during local programming with DD2.0 audio, analog audio outputs are not affected nor is network from 8-10 with the exception of local commercial cut ins.

I really appreciate your patience, feedback and cooperation while I work this out. I'll post when I have a fix to make sure it takes care of you too.

I think I have duplicated the problem you are having with audio. Audio dropouts are only happening on the digital output of my receiver at home during local programming with DD2.0 audio, analog audio outputs are not affected nor is network from 8-10 with the exception of local commercial cut ins.

I really appreciate your patience, feedback and cooperation while I work this out. I'll post when I have a fix to make sure it takes care of you too.

Yes, that's what its doing. I have no problem with 5.1 audio now since you stopped the video problems. So tonight I was able to test it out and everything is fine until a 2 channel commerical comes on, or your local programming. Then it starts with the audio glitch. I don't have analog hooked up.

So, thanks for checking it out and I'm glad its not the 5.1 audio doing it now.

Audio should be OK now, let me know if you still have problems.

Audio should be OK now, let me know if you still have problems.

Audio was fine today when I tried it around 6pm, with 2 channel of course. Thanks for responding and getting it corrected. I wish all stations would be that east to deal with.

Hello,

My family has an annual lease site in Ocean Lakes in Myrtle Beach. We are in the process of selling our current site and purchasing another site. When we make the move to the new site, I would like to ensure that we have some form of HD viewing. So, I have a few questions for you guys that live in that area. The area code is 29575 I believe.

If I purchase a television with a QAM tuner, what channels can I expect to receive from Time Warner Cable? Also, what is the minimum package that is required to receive those unscrambled QAM channels? In other words, is the digital tier required to receive them or can you receive them with the broadcast or cable tier package?

If QAM isn’t an option, I see that the following digital signals are available according to antennaweb.org. I suppose I could put an antenna in the attic and use the ATSC tuner to receive them. I’m just not sure how successful I’ll be in picking them up.

WFXB-DT 43.1 FOX MYRTLE BEACH SC 40.6 miles
WWAY-DT 3.1 ABC WILMINGTON NC 56.2 miles
WBTW-DT 13.1 CBS FLORENCE SC 54.9 miles
WITV-DT 49.1 PBS CHARLESTON SC 64.8 miles
WCSC-DT 5.1 CBS CHARLESTON SC 64.8 miles

I’m trying to find the least expensive way to receive some HD channels there since I don’t want to pay a lot considering we won’t be living there all the time.

Thanks for your time.

Do a search on QAM in this thread. For OTA it may have improved some but take notice how many antennas you see on houses in this area - not many.

Do a search on QAM in this thread. For OTA it may have improved some but take notice how many antennas you see on houses in this area - not many.

Thanks Gary. I found a few posts in the thread that listed a few different QAM stations. I'm still not sure of the minimum package that is required to receive them, however. Are they available with any package or do you have to have a digital tier or higher?

Unfortunately, I don't have any experience with QAM tuners. I use D* with an HR20 receiver and Terk HDTVi antenna at my main home, so I've never tried QAM via a cable provider.

Thanks again.

You will find a lot more in the Columbia thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=99727) including the first post.

Good luck with your QAM tuner TV. While some here are apparently having no problems, my TV in MB stopped receiving clear QAM channels between Feb 12 and 14 (it never did get CBS and ABC via clear QAM). The short version of the story is that the local TWC folks don't know why it happened to me and others, including the AVAC stores folks (in store and at salesmen's home). They say no changes were made to the equipment, etc. I've been waiting since March 12 for them to tell me why. Last I heard they were waiting on info from SA, the company that makes the equipment for the SC TWC system.

I've sent letters to TWC HQ, City Council, FCC, Congress, News Media, etc. Nobody cares. I think clear QAM will likely die as the cable companies use advancing technology argument to do an end around federal law and FCC regulations. We will have wasted our money.

I'll add a belated comment...

Around that time I think TWC-SC changed or deleted the Program Specific Information Protocol (PSIP) data from its clear QAM channels. Up until then, most (but not all) of them showed up on our Pioneer with the same channel ID as using their settop box (eg ch 815 for ABC).

The clear channels are all still there for us, and some still have a vestige of the old ID (e.g. "ABC-HD") but the channel now is the raw QAM number such as 100.023 for WPDE-DT 1 and 84.018 for WBTV-DT-1.

I'd suggest a rescan to see if you don't stil have all the clear QAM channels, but with "new" channel assignments.

Mike

The clear channels are all still there for us, and some still have a vestige of the old ID (e.g. "ABC-HD") but the channel now is the raw QAM number such as 100.023 for WPDE-DT 1 and 84.018 for WBTV-DT-1.


Thanks for the information Mike. I'm taking a QAM enabled TV down that way with me this weekend, so I'll see if I can see those channels after a scan.

I'll add a belated comment...

Around that time I think TWC-SC changed or deleted the Program Specific Information Protocol (PSIP) data from its clear QAM channels. Up until then, most (but not all) of them showed up on our Pioneer with the same channel ID as using their settop box (eg ch 815 for ABC).

The clear channels are all still there for us, and some still have a vestige of the old ID (e.g. "ABC-HD") but the channel now is the raw QAM number such as 100.023 for WPDE-DT 1 and 84.018 for WBTV-DT-1.

I'd suggest a rescan to see if you don't stil have all the clear QAM channels, but with "new" channel assignments.

MikeVery interesting. How did you find this out?

They've told me several times that nothing changed. You'd think that this was an obvious move that somebody consciously performed.

Okay, I'm prepared for all the opinions on this even though I'm a newbie. I live about 50-60 miles from most transmitters I want to receive. Most of them are to my west. Can you all recommend the best attic antennas, my landlord would prefer I not put up an exterior antenna. I bought a cheap antenna just to try it out and can pick up the local ETV stations and the local FOX with it. Now I know what I've been missing.
Any help would be appreciated.

TomTom, my son lives in a neighborhood with the same feeling toward an outside antenna, in his attic he has a CM4228 antenna with a preamp, and picks up all thd digital channels from columbia, sc. I am not sure but I believe that is at least 60 miles away. I on the other hand have a 4228 on a 20 ft. mast and I can pick up the columbia channels without a preamp, now that being said you have to keep in mind the terrain around you. Trees, buildings all of these things can change the reception distance in every area.

Very interesting. How did you find this out?

It's an educated guess.

One night, I think it was in mid-february, our TWC 8300 DVR was busy recording two different shows so I switched the TV over to the "Antenna" input to watch a third show live. I tuned in WIS-DT, which at its last scan came up as "NBC-HD CH 805", the same channel descriptor that the set top box shows on WIS.

Just after I switched, even before the "Channel ID" graphic was taken off the screen, it changed before my eyes to "NBC-HD 103.026"!!! Tuning up or down to the other "clear" QAM channels in memory since the last scan had the same effect; within a few seconds the old 8xx ID would disappear to be replaced by the raw QAM number. And the picture/sound stayed solid throughout.

So my theory is that the QAM system as used by TWC has the capacity to pass metadata such as PSIP through, but they have chosen to no longer upload the same channel ID as SARA uses with the SA set top boxes. (Too bad Diana isn't here any longer; I bet she could and would find out and post back here in a flash...)

I don't mind seeing the QAM channel, since we don't flip over to the antenna input very often, but my thought was that could possibly be the reason your set "lost" the clear QAM signals, and that a rescan might restore them.

OBTW our set (a Pioneer 1120) has a button on the front of the tuner module that enables/disables communication with the CATV provider. I think this has to do with CableCard functionality, which we don't have, but in the past if I did a scan with that function off, we got no "800's" as channel ID, but with it on, they did, at least for a while, show up. Check to see if your set has either a hardware (button) or software (menu option) of similar function, and if it exists, try a scan with it both on and off.

Have fun and let us know how it works!

Mike

TWC left a message for me with my wife that everything now works. I'll let you know next week.

I would just buy a channel master antenna 4221 available at http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/4221.htm.
It is just $25. I would get a good grade of rg6 & run it the shortest path to the TV & cut any extra feet off. I would not mount it in the attic. I know those folks who run the camp ground. I go with them to Myrtle Beach First Baptist Church I do not think they would have a problem with that antenna. It is small & hard to see in the sky. The Charleston TV stations & one of the Wilmington TV broadcasting antennas are just a few miles from the ocean. The signal should come right across the water. I would try a gable, vent pipe, wall mount or a chimney antenna mount. That antenna is so small it would not take much to mount. I would just get the antenna high enoughto see over the roof. I would like to hear how this works. I have more suggestions to help the TV signal if needed. But you get so many TV stations that you have all you want. I get 12 on the same antenna off Forest Brook road. The best part is DTV signal totally uncompressed like the cable & satellite OTA channels & looks much better.

I learned a few things this past weekend. First, I learned that Ocean Lakes has its own flavor of cable channels. The channels are provided by TWC, but they don’t match the lineup of the regular TWC offerings in the Myrtle Beach area. This is because the campground includes at least two of their own channels; one for general campground information and another for property sales information. In order to provide those channels, they shuffle around the order of some of the other channels. The other thing I learned was that different QAM tuners display the digital channels it receives differently. I assumed they would all show up with the same channel numbers on different television models, but that is not the case. Most of you may already know that, but I’m new to QAM, so it was news to me. The channel numbers are very close, but not exactly the same.

We installed two different brands of televisions this past weekend, so I’ll post my results for the digital channels. Since Ocean Lakes has a unique cable situation and since QAM tuners apparently display channels differently, this information may not be useful for anyone. However, I figured I would post it just in case someone does find it helpful or informative. We are using the Basic cable lineup from the campground. They also have an Extended package, but we are not paying for that since it is just a vacation home.

Vizio VX32L

82-25 ABC (WCIV-DT 34 Charleston, SC) 720p
84-18 CBS (WBTW-DT 56 Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC) 1080i
84-19 MyNetworkTV (WBTW-DT2 56 Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC) 480i
87-37 FOX (WTAT-DT 40 Charleston, SC) 720p
100-1 ETV HD (?) 1080i
100-20 SCETV (?) 480i
100-23 ABC (WPDE-DT 16 Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC) 720p
100-39 South Carolina Channel (?) 480i
101-42 NBC Weather Plus (WIS-DT2 41 Columbia, SC) 480i
101-50 through 101-96 Much Music 480i
102-19 SCETV (?) 480i
102-51 South Carolina Channel (?) 480i
103-26 NBC (WIS -DT 41 Columbia, SC) 1080i
103-37 FOX (WFXB-DT 51 Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC) 720p
103-42 NBC Weather Plus (WIS-DT2 41 Columbia, SC) 480i
104-6 SciFi Channel 480i
107-2 CBS (WCSC-DT 47 Charleston, SC) 1080i

Toshiba 19HLV87

82-1 ABC (WCIV-DT 34 Charleston, SC) 720p
84-1 CBS (WBTW-DT 56 Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC) 1080i
84-2 MyNetworkTV (WBTW-DT2 56 Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC) 480i
87-2 FOX (WTAT-DT 40 Charleston, SC) 720p
100-1 ETV HD (?) 1080i
100-2 SCETV (?) 480i
100-3 South Carolina Channel (?) 480i
100-4 ABC (WPDE-DT 16 Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC) 720p
101-3 through 101-42, 101-45 through 101-51 Much Music 480i
101-44 NBC Weather Plus (WIS-DT2 41 Columbia, SC) 480i
102-5 SCETV (?) 480i
102-6 South Carolina Channel (?) 480i
103-1 NBC (WIS -DT 41 Columbia, SC) 1080i
103-2 NBC Weather Plus (WIS-DT2 41 Columbia, SC) 480i
103-3 FOX (WFXB-DT 51 Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC) 720p
104-5 SciFi Channel 480i
107-2 CBS (WCSC-DT 47 Charleston, SC) 1080i

I would just buy a channel master antenna ...

We decided to just go with the QAM for now. We may be missing out on some OTA HD channels and/or subchannels, but the QAM is receiving enough to keep us from having to install an antenna right now. We at least get an HD signal for the big four networks and ETV HD this way.

I just purchased my father a new TV for his exercise room (his old one didn't even have hookups for a DVD player)- It's a Sharp 37" LCD set. I was wondering if anyone knew what the HDTv options for Marion SC are- I live in Seattle so can't test them myself. It seems he gets his cable through TWC in Dillon but he doesnt have the digital cable. i'm finding the TWC website hard to search to determine if HDTV programming is even an option. TvGUIde doesnt think so.. here in Seattle through Comcast I can decode qam signals so.. here are my questions:
- Is HDTV an option?
- If so are qam signal broadcast
- Is OTA an option- looks like Fox broadcassts from near Mullins....
- or, should I tell him just to get sattelite (dish vs directtv?)

chris

drchriswu Time Warner recently took over Adelphia cable in marion the best i can find out about it, and TW is kinda slow updating their website. You can call this toll free number and see what they have to offer. 1-866-892-7201

I am looking to add an OTA antenna to my HR20-700. Can anyone recommend an installer near the Surfside Beach area? Also, how good is the reception and would an attic antenna do the job?

Thanks

drchriswu, I do not think he will need any thing except a uhf antenna. location is near enough to the stations he should get all of the networks except NBC. It may not be that easy to receive. I would not get HD digital cable. There are only about 2 or 3 channels in hd 16:9 that you are paying for that you can not get from an antenna. All of the rest of the channels are all SD 4:3. There are several Networks that are HD in 16:9 that you can receive free off the antenna.

I am looking to add an OTA antenna to my HR20-700. Can anyone recommend an installer near the Surfside Beach area? Also, how good is the reception and would an attic antenna do the job?

ThanksI have put them up myself. I would get a uhf antenna. Since you are near the the coast you may receive all the networks from Charleston except ABC & you may receive ABC from WWAY off the back or from WPDE off the side. I really would not mount an antenna in the attic. The uhf antenna you will need is so small it is much harder to see than an direct tv dish. They will receive so much better because the attic will weaken the signal & you need the height for a strong signal. You can send a private message if you want more information how to set it up or what to get & I will be glad to help

I went by the TWC office in MB yesterday. I was asking for a channel lineup card for clear QAM tuners. I really didn't expect to get one, but I thought they would at least call the tech folk in the back. Instead I was surprised to speak to a CSR who had actually heard of QAM. Aside from saying that there was no such card, she said that when SDV was implemented, these tuners would not be able to receive anything. CFR says the basic tier, often called the broadcast tier, can not be scrambled/encrypted. Since SDV isn't technically encrypting, the cable companies must be laughing about getting one by the FCC (assuming the CSR is correct).

Obviously this won't affect those using a cable box, a satellite receiver, or getting their signals OTA, but by now I would assume that given the millions of TV's sold with clear QAM tuners (plus some cablecard TV's and S3 Tivos), there must be at least a coupla hundred thousand folks out there trying to use clear QAM capable systems.

I suspect most of the HD sets that have QAM capability have it primarily to support Cable Card functionality. It's easy to add QAM to a tuner that already is ATSC-capable as the RF section and MPEG/Dolby decoding functions are common to both modulation schemes.

The cable card enables the conditional access the provider needs to secure premium content, while the internal QAM tuner does the actual demodulation. If you are NOT using a cable card, it's a nice side benefit to be able to watch those few channels without any conditional access restrictions (like off-air networks, TNT, Discovery) but in practice of limited use on most cable systems. They would much prefer you to use their STB instead!

We use the QAM function of our Pioneer as a "third" CATV tuner in conjunction with the two in the CATV set top box, a SA8300. There are times when it's busy recording two shows at once, and we'd like to watch a third program. With a little planning that can often be the one that is "in the clear" on a QAM channel.

It's not clear to me why using SDV would necessarily prevent receiving clear-QAM channels, unless their plan is to effectively make EVERYTHING conditional acess. That would mean giving out STB's to all the customers who are still primarily analog ch 2-78 users and aren't now either HD or SD-Digital customers, an expensive and messy proposition. It may also be illegal for them to remove "free" access to the off-air channels for basic or analog only customers, but there is much discussion about this and it's not clear to me how the FCC rules are to be interpreted.

Anyway, FWIW a recent scan on our TWC system showed these HD channels unencrypted (your headend will likely be somewhat different, and they do move them around from time to time without notice):

82.25 WCIV-DT (ABC)
83.37 WTAT-DT (Fox)
84.18 WBTW-DT (CBS)
91.15 TNT-HD
100.1 SC-PBS HD
100.23 WPDE-DT (ABC)
103.26 WIS-DT (NBC)
103.37 WFXB-DT (Fox)
107.2 WCSC-DT (CBS)
107.17 Discovery HD Theater

and these SD digital channels or sub-channels:
102.19 SC-ETV
102.21 SC-ETC-The SC Channel
101.42 WIS-DT-2 Weather Plus
84.19 WBTW-DT-2 (MY-TV)
104.6 Sci-Fi Channel (NOT the HD version!)
101.50-101.96 45 Music Choice channels

plus a few barker/preview channels which I did not list as they aren't very interesting.

Happy QAM-hunting!

Mike

I have never understood the QAM posts no matter how clear they make them. The previous post went into great detail but either that is not available with my set or I need a different type of antenae or I have the setup wrong on mine. Am living in an apartment so the indoor antennae is really the easiest and for now my only option. What am I missing here?

I have a Sony KDL40V2500 and this review says I have the QAM Tuner http://www.thegeekbeat.com/home/sony-kdl-40v2500-lcd-television/

I have a SA 8300 from TW. I just redid a scan for digital channels and got the following - all very clear.

This is the lineup I get.
13.1 13-News
13.2 13-myTV
15.1 WPDE-DT
21.1 WWMB CW
21.2 WWMB-CW
33.1 ETV
33.2 SC Chnl
33.3 ETV-HD
43.1 WFXB-DT

21.1 and 21.2 both say WWMB-CW but they show different shows. I don't get that either lol.
I have found it is nice to have the OTA channels when there is the rare cable problem or I am recording two programs and want to watch another one.

It's not clear from your post whether your "scan" was via antenna or cable, but maybe this will help:

QAM is the modulation technique CATV providers use to send all digital signals to your home via their cable, both SD and HD. ATSC is the modulation technique used by over-the-air TV stations to transmit their digital signal(s) to your home, either SD or HD, via an antenna, e.g. rabbit ears, attic, roof, whatever.

Most HD TV's and some SD TV's made in the last couple of years have tuners that can demodulate both ATSC and QAM digital signals, as well as the older analog NTSC signals. If you are using an antenna, somewhere in the setup/scan menu is an option to search for "air" or "broadcast" signals, and you would expect to find channel descriptors like those you cited (13.1, 13.2 etc.). I would infer from your post that your scan was via an antenna for "air" signals.

On the other hand if you were to connect a raw split of the cable feed into the set, and ask the tuner to search for "cable" stations, you would probably get raw QAM channels in the 80-125 range, with various extensions after the dot. Many of them would be blank or black or blue because the subchannel is scrambled (encoded for conditional access). In my example above there were two clear QAM signals on channel 100, PBS on .1 and WPDE-DT on .23.

On some CATV systems, the raw QAM channel can be remapped to a more convenient description, but in our area I don't think TWC provides the data. It's possible your Sony set is finding the PSIP information transmitted by the station which would give you the "mapped" channel number like 13.1, but our Pioneer can't do that, so I'd be surprised if that were the case.

Anyway, since you say you have the SA8300, you are getting all the TWC channels you have subscribed to via the component or HDMI input to the set from the set top box. That leaves the RF input (the "F" connector on the back) free to use either an antenna, OR a split of the cable, if you want, but you don't need either unless there is a channel available that way that is NOT on the TWC lineup and you would like to watch.

You know us AVS'ers, we want ALL the possible options for program choice. We experiment with these things to find as many channels as possible, but frankly the 8300 is what we use 98% of the time at our house because it's convenient, has an integrated program guide, and easy DVR options. As an example, once or twice last season, WCIV forgot to throw the switch for Lost so instead of suffering with it in SD, we switched to the set's tuner and watched it on WPDE-DT instead; they seem to be better at the SD/HD transitions than WCIV.

Anyway, hope that clarifies things some, but if not fire away with questions!

Mike

Actually ATSC is the legal standard and has requirements for both OTA (over the air, generally called ATSC) and cable. I thing the OTA equivalent to QAM is called 8VSB.

gail2Magic's lineups correspond to OTA reception. Her description leads me to believe that her TV's tuner is connected to an tenna and she also has a cable box connected, but it's not clear. Cable companies in some places have populated the data stream with information identifying broadcast digital channels with the same info as you'd see with OTA reception (ie 13-1). TWC used to (until about FEB 14) populate the data stream with the same information as would be used by a cable box (ie CBS would be channel 810). I can't speak for what TWC is doing hereabouts now because my Westinghouse at MB has a myriad of design problems. The solution for Westinghouse TV's is to ship it to California and get a firmware update that will cause different problems.

In doing a scan last week in MB, I did not find TNT-HD or Discovery-HD. I was in the AVAC store last Thursday and overheard comment like "They took away Discovery, too", so the lineup may have changed. The Sci-Fi digital channel was strange. Picture Quality wasn't that great, but there was information on the sides of the Picture that didn't appear in the analog version. The Westinghouse also displays digital SD as widescreen, so all of this may be related to tuner problems in the TV. I once had a Samsung DirecTV HD tuner that would expand SD channels to fill the widescreen, then cut off the sides to make it appear as 4:3. They never fixed it.

While Satori84 says that most TV's are setup for cablecard use, I don't think you can find a current model cablecard TV at under 40". This may have changed recently with the announcement of new models. You can still get a new 26" Sharp cablecard model from a few years ago. Qam tuners have made their way down to 26" TV sets (maybe 20") by now, bit even that capability is not always advertised. Cable company support of clear QAM tuners is so poor that most electronics salesman will not even discuss it unless you bring it up. The big box stores rarely have a TV hooked up directly to cable, although they sometimes have an HD cable box.

Gail2Magic: If you understand any of this, you now know more, maybe significantly more, than most TWC CSR's.

I do understand much better now...thanks. Makes so much more sense.

Let me explain better my setup. I have my Sony TV tuner set to an indoor antennae. I have the HDMI on the TV set to the TW HD Cable Box.
When I did the scan, I was scaning using the tv and antennae. I understand now that I did not have it setup for the QAM and how TW limits that now anyway.
I really do appreciate the extra explanations.

I know from experience that I probably already know more than most TW CSR lol.

I did a re-scan last night and also found that TNT and DiscHDTheater are no longer in the clear on TWC here. Also gone are the 45+/- Music Choice channels, but then I never listen to them anyway, so it's no loss.

M

Hi. I've noticed that WPDE's 15.1 video is jerky sometimes, and it all seems to occur at random. Does anyone here experience the same issues? I am receiving OTA.

Brad

does WWMBDT broadcast off of the same digital freq? If so, the two channels may be fighting for bandwidth. They have a gizmo that does that, but a Roanoke, Va station has already upgraded its statistical mutliplexor once,

WPDE15.1 has had that jerky vid problem for a long time. Comes and goes randomly. WWMB21.1 has it to, just not near as often as WPDE. I've e-mailed the engineer there a couple times in the past about it to no avail. Also have e-mailed him about 21.2's audio dialog coming from the surrounds and not the front speakers. I gave up.

vstone - According to antennaweb WPDE and WWMB are not on the same frequency. They are off of the same tower though.

daryl - glad to know it isn't only me that is having the problem. I haven't had any video problems with WWMB yet, only a few audio problems here and there. I wish WPDE woud get their stuff fixed. Sometimes I try to watch WPDE b/c my other ABC station (WWAY 3.1) has it's own set of problems..... We won't even go there. The majority of the times, neither station is as it should be.

Hi. I've noticed that WPDE's 15.1 video is jerky sometimes, and it all seems to occur at random. Does anyone here experience the same issues? I am receiving OTA.

Brad

Yeah, they've had a stuttering video problem forever and refuses to even talk about it. I can even see it on the a TWC SA8300 also, just not quite as bad for whatever reason. I looked for it on purpose wondering if it was just something to do with OTA and my equipment. Could be some people don't notice it as much or watching on a smaller screen.

Way back when I thought they'd actually correct it, the engineer and station manager did email me back a few times, not that they ever admitted to seeing it. Just like they never added 5.1 audio, or not the last time I checked, the dropped frame video stutter mess they have just never changes.

I reckon they figure about 100 people watch it and don't care, or have no idea how to fix it. ABC had this problem and I know it can be corrected but again, I guess they don't care. But you can email them over and over and could be they will pay attention one day.

That's why I watch WWAY when I can for ABC shows like LOST.

I prefer WWAY as well, but take tonight for example. There was some HD content being broadcast on ABC, but WWAY wasn't switching/displaying to HD. The same show on WPDE was in HD...but with their jerky video. So tonight, I have 2 ABC stations, and neither are working correctly. It really gets on my nerves sometimes. Since I've had HD, the only stations I've have trouble with are both of the ABC's. </end vent>

We watched WPDE from 10 to 11, everything was fine in HD. No problems.

I prefer WWAY as well, but take tonight for example. There was some HD content being broadcast on ABC, but WWAY wasn't switching/displaying to HD. The same show on WPDE was in HD...but with their jerky video. So tonight, I have 2 ABC stations, and neither are working correctly. It really gets on my nerves sometimes. Since I've had HD, the only stations I've have trouble with are both of the ABC's. </end vent>

Ever since the FCC did away with needing a 1st or 2nd class FCC license (later combined as just a general class licencse) as an engineer for the station or to work in the tech areas the quality of the local stations here in the flo/Mb DMA are really bad. They changed the rules just after I obtained my license in Atlanta (1st class with radar endorsement). Used to be an extremely difficult test even for great techs as all the wrong answers you could get if you inverted a formula or numbers would be a possible answer prompting some to jump at a wrong answer on the multiple choice exam just because their answer matched a choice. Worked for 23 years here locally and meet some really bad station engineers and staff at many in this DMA. WIS was the only station where I meet top notch people and their feeds always proved it. I remember calling WBTW 13 6 hours before game 7 of Atlanta Minn WS (I believe it was Minn) and told them they had either a bad PA tube or waveguide damage as I could see heavy low cycle reflections in their waveform and they told me I was crazy and there I sat at 8:05 PM Game time and their waveguide burnt a huge section out due to ice weight pulled waveguide connector loose thus causing high power arching to ground I can imagine the flame in the night sky. We were the only service provider in area to carry game 7 that year as I prepared to switch to another source in the days you could cherry pick without written contracts and a verbal approval from station GM was all you needed. BTW was off air for considerable time due to delivery time of waveguide of that size and length let alone tower crew working in ice conditions, but as always John Hannahs crews could always do you right if you had the material and the money to pay for a great job. I did get an apology from the station and mention in our own national stock 10k report as excellent example of our level of commitment to our customers. Have a lot of local press clippings to remember the great times as that. WGSE 43 days of constant 24/7 FCC rules of signal quality and after looking at their equipment faintly remember Fisher-Price labels on their equipment (chuckle). I spent 4 hours one day giving them a list of all that was wrong at their station but they insisted that if we would take down our quad UHF configured array with 175' .750 feed cable and put up their color master home antenna with RG-6 feed that it would fix all the problems we pointed out to them. FCC needs more field inspections and less time writing regs that the stations don't follow because of lack of proper engineering staff due mainly from lack of proper offer of pay and benefits to get quality staff to apply to their openings. Oh well one mans opinion as to why slack operations in this DMA will continue until enough people speak up to either the stations GMs or the FCC but I don't believe there are enough people willing to spend the time it would take to get enough attention to make them spend the money for proper maintenance and staff so we can enjoy what the FCC meant for us to get in the first place.

I prefer WWAY as well, but take tonight for example. There was some HD content being broadcast on ABC, but WWAY wasn't switching/displaying to HD. The same show on WPDE was in HD...but with their jerky video. So tonight, I have 2 ABC stations, and neither are working correctly. It really gets on my nerves sometimes. Since I've had HD, the only stations I've have trouble with are both of the ABC's. </end vent>ABC out of Lynchburg, VA was having the same problem last winter. I don't remember the particulars, but I think they needed to replace some expensive of equipment that wasn't readily available.

hello I am new to the MB area (actually live in Murrells Inlet) and I have a question regarding HD OTA reception. Our HOA will not allow a rooftop antenna so I was wondering about the reception I would get with a indoor HD antenna? I have checked antennaweb and tvfool but I am not familiar with the clarity of reception in this area and whether these sites are completely accurate or not. So if anyone has any information on channels available with an indoor antenna I would great appreciate it. Thanks.

Last night for the first time I picked up WFXB DT 43.1 FOX TV during King of the hill. This came in over the local PBS which is on 18 also.

JTREDSKIN says is HOA will not allow roof top antennas. That may not be correct depending on where he lives. The FCC lets you put an antenna or dish in an exclusive use area -- one only you have access to. If you live in a typical condo, a building with several units you would not have exclusive use to the roof, that would be a common area. But if you live in a free standing town house and you have to pay for the reroofing your self you can put the antenna up. You most likely will not be able to put up an antenna, but maybe! I wold like to have a dish but no exclusive use area in our condo.

Having said all that, TW in Murrells Inlet offers a pretty good package of HD stations, you might want to check out the prices to be able to get the 800's (that is where all the networks and other free HD stations are). I am not a big fan of TW but in a condo you really don't have much choice.

I can't post any URL's to help you until I get 5 post under my belt...lol

Ok...now I've got enough....here we go..

Visit www.antennaweb.org, punch in your information, and it will tell you what channels you can expect to receive. I would expect you to receive the channels in yellow, green, and very possible red with the antenna recommendation below

If your HOA doesn't allow antennas on rooftops, I would recommend a Winegard MS-2000 in your attic. It will work better than any "indoor" antenna in my opinion. I have one in my attic and it receives all of my stations up to 40 miles away reliably. Here is a link with some more info on the antenna:

http://www.dennysantennaservice.com/1073325.html

I recommend ordering from them as well. They have a great return policy just in case you are not satisfied.

Brad

jtredskin: If satellite dishes are allowed then I would put up a small UHF antenna. But I would put up a uhf or an antenna that is very hard to see. I would first check to see what you can receive on analog. Then use your notes from the analog TV observation to get an idea what you may receive HDTV. If you have a portable TV [analog] with a bow tie antenna on the TV. I would get up on the roof where you plan to mount an antenna, like near a chimney. I would see what uhf channels you can receive. Try and see how well you can receive on channel 36 then try adjusting the antenna turning a little at a time to find the best possible position. Write down what you see on that channel and the position of the antenna. Then try channel 26, channel 39 and write down the results of those channels and the antenna position. These channels are from the same location so you should only need to adjust the antenna for one of the channels. Next try channels 15, 21 & 43. This is a test to see HDTV you will get with an antenna. I think a small uhf antenna and maybe an amplifier is all you will need. Try this & let me know. I will give more suggestions from your notes

mb2foru at aol: Some thing else may interest you. In 1954 WBTW went on the air with a new transmitter lined up at the factory to operate on channel 8. That station was one of the strongest in South Carolina. In Conway their signal on a signal channel antenna cut to channel 8 was a -7db. Then in order to build a new station up in North Caroline in 1962 WTBW gave up channel 8 & accepted channel 13. They took down the channel 8 antennas off the tower & put up a new channel 13 antenna. The channel 8 antenna was loaded up on a truck & sent to the new location in North Carolina. But the transmitter was totally realigned to channel 13. The signal dropped from a -7db on a signal channel antenna cut to channel 8 to a – 19 on a on a signal channel antenna cut to channel 13. The station never had the power that is did again over that tower. They claimed that problem was because the higher frequency. But from my calculations at the worse case scenario the most is should have went down was 5 db. I believe if the had of loaded the channel 8 transmitter on the truck & sent it away with the 8 antenna & installed a brand new tuned from the factory a channel 13 transmitter most folks would have never be able to see any difference. & if there was any difference it would have been very little. Then in 1980 they went on a 2000 foot tower with a brand new tuned from the factory a channel 13 transmitter.

mb2foru at aol: Some thing else may interest you. In 1954 WBTW went on the air with a new transmitter lined up at the factory to operate on channel 8. That station was one of the strongest in South Carolina. In Conway their signal on a signal channel antenna cut to channel 8 was a -7db. Then in order to build a new station up in North Caroline in 1962 WTBW gave up channel 8 & accepted channel 13. They took down the channel 8 antennas off the tower & put up a new channel 13 antenna. The channel 8 antenna was loaded up on a truck & sent to the new location in North Carolina. But the transmitter was totally realigned to channel 13. The signal dropped from a -7db on a signal channel antenna cut to channel 8 to a – 19 on a on a signal channel antenna cut to channel 13. The station never had the power that is did again over that tower. They claimed that problem was because the higher frequency. But from my calculations at the worse case scenario the most is should have went down was 5 db. I believe if the had of loaded the channel 8 transmitter on the truck & sent it away with the 8 antenna & installed a brand new tuned from the factory a channel 13 transmitter most folks would have never be able to see any difference. & if there was any difference it would have been very little. Then in 1980 they went on a 2000 foot tower with a brand new tuned from the factory a channel 13 transmitter.



Another example of how the local channels here have operated over the years and not learned anything about serving customers rather than save a few dollars in thier pockets. I knew the engineers where pretty slack around here when I starting getting calls from them about what to do or what I thought about certain things after I spoke at one of their annual technical conventions. I have seen things around here that have just shocked me beyond belief and never would have come close to seeing where I came from. Would love to have taken a FCC guy to many sites just to see the look on thier faces. After sending poloroid 600's of spectrum analyzer and waveform scope to FCC all I believe the stations got was an FU with strong letter to follow. I stronly believe that no station could be operating that bad so they just were in denial of the truth. FCC has never been staffed to a level to enforce the rules they make and just keep adding to. The fines alone would pay for additional staff and the customers would be the winners in such a change.

Ok...now I've got enough....here we go..

Visit www.antennaweb.org, punch in your information, and it will tell you what channels you can expect to receive. I would expect you to receive the channels in yellow, green, and very possible red with the antenna recommendation below

If your HOA doesn't allow antennas on rooftops, I would recommend a Winegard MS-2000 in your attic. It will work better than any "indoor" antenna in my opinion. I have one in my attic and it receives all of my stations up to 40 miles away reliably. Here is a link with some more info on the antenna:

http://www.dennysantennaservice.com/1073325.html

I recommend ordering from them as well. They have a great return policy just in case you are not satisfied.

Brad


FYI The FCC passed regs in the cable act of 92 that prevents HOA, POA and condo ass. from preventing owners from putting up dishes 18 inches and smaller and DTV, HDTV antennas needed to receive grade B signal contours in your area. So basicallly you nieghbors cannot stop you from putting up what you need to get the signals the goverment gives you the rights to get off air and through sattelite. The FCC site has all the documents you need to prove it to them and a call to the Atlanta field office will get you help in fighting an aggresive HOA from denying you your rights. Put your equipment up and fear not the wrath of the idiots that think they control your property.

The key is exclusive use. You cannot put a dish up unless the HOA allows it or you have an exclusive use are to place the dish. The most common exclusive use area would be a porch or patio. We live in a condo that does not have any exclusive use areas outside. All our outside areas are common areas and belong to everybody, you must put a dish up in an area that is exclusively yours.

This is the quote form the Nov 2006 Q and A from the FCC

"Q: What types of restrictions are prohibited?

A: The rule prohibits restrictions that impair a person's ability to install, maintain, or use an antenna covered by the rule. The rule applies to state or local laws or regulations, including zoning, land-use or building regulations, private covenants, homeowners' association rules, condominium or cooperative association restrictions, lease restrictions, or similar restrictions on property within the exclusive use or control of the antenna user where the user has an ownership or leasehold interest in the property."

What this really says is the HOA can control common areas. I would like to put up a dish and have researched this in great detail.

Anybody know if TWC is going to offer the CW network in HD anytime soon? You'd think that since they have WPDE in high def they'd be able to add WWMB no problem

Anybody know if TWC is going to offer the CW network in HD anytime soon? You'd think that since they have WPDE in high def they'd be able to add WWMB no problem


It does appear they would, but since they refuse to do so, then that pretty much tells what they think of HD. Back when Diana use to post for TWC she would brag about SC being a test market and SDV. Well, it doesn't seem to be doing them much good, they have less HD than most large cable companies, and won't even add local one's.

Oh, I'm not on cable so it don't matter too me anyway. Everything can be gotten OTA pretty easy these days.

In addition, from time to time we make certain changes in the services that we offer in order to better serve our customers.
The following changes/launches are planned:

Bonus with Digital Converter
Now Available - American Auctions Network – Channel 1120

Bonus with Basic Cable and HD Converter
October 1, 2007 – TBS HD – Channel 838
October 1, 2007 – HGTV HD – Channel 834
October 1, 2007 – Food Network HD – Channel 835
October 1, 2007 – History HD – Channel 837
October 1, 2007 – CNN HD – Channel 839

Bonus with HD Converter and Subscription
October 1, 2007 – Cinemax HD – Channel 906
October 1, 2007 – The Movie Channel East HD – Channel 916

Digital Serviceable Areas
October 15, 2007 - Fox Business Network - Channel 145

They turned them on here today in Florence along with the LMNHD (Lifetime HD on 836).

Great to have more choices.

Gail

All, we're doing some work on the WFXB Digital chain today and tomorrow. All should be fine for tonight, those of you with Antennas will probably need to do a re-scan tomorrow. Any problems, let Ken and I know here.

Yo Bob (bdfox18doe)!

Please, Please, Please take over WPDE15 and WWMB21 so we can get some consistent HD picture quality. :( Like we get on WFXB43.

Yo Bob (bdfox18doe)!Please, Please, Please take over WPDE15 and WWMB21 so we can get some consistent HD picture quality. :( Like we get on WFXB43.

Oh Nooooooooooooooooo.. the 6 stations I have are more than enough fun.:rolleyes: But thanks for the compliment on WFXB..:)

Oh Nooooooooooooooooo.. the 6 stations I have are more than enough fun.:rolleyes: But thanks for the compliment on WFXB..:)
Yes we understand that. But Bob, your children are now grown mature adults and it's time you let go and let them spread their wings and fly away from the nest and make it in the world using what you instilled upon them. Then you can adobt two children (WPDE15 & WWMB21) that desperately need your love and nuturing to grow and mature to adulthood to become fine upstanding stations and a shining example to the broadcast community. ;)

Okay Bob, I am getting WFXB 43-1HD-english and 43-2HD-spanish is this permanent or just for baseball or a test?

Okay Bob, I am getting WFXB 43-1HD-english and 43-2HD-spanish is this permanent or just for baseball or a test?

That would be permanent. Some programs, like the Simpsons, have descriptive video which can be quite funny at times.. SAP or DVS is only provided by WFXB during FOX network time periods at this point. You can also access 43-2 audio by toggling your audio language on 43-1...

Yo Bob,

Are you transmitting one 720p HD channels and just including 2 seperate PSIP info to get it map to 2 different channels? What bitrate you using (18mbits)? ;)

Yo Bob,Are you transmitting one 720p HD channels and just including 2 seperate PSIP info to get it map to 2 different channels? What bitrate you using (18mbits)? ;)

Yes, 17 mb/s for local. Network varies as it comes from the encoders at FOX TOC in LA, and will be up to ~16 mb/s or so.:)

Was anybody getting audio on WBTW-HD 13-1 during primetime lastnight? I was not getting audio at all except when they switched to a local advertisement.

Boy this is pityful. Four Florence/Myrtle Beach HD stations and only one has it's act together and thats due to an engineer from Charlotte area heading them up. Although I must say by the looks of Thursday night WPDE-HD 15-1 finally got that jerky video fixed (knock on wood).

Anybody heard anything lately about the NBC station suposedly being built for the Florence/Myrtle Beach area?

one has it's act together and thats due to an engineer from Charlotte area heading them up. ?

To be truthful, I have a LOT of help from 5 other guys who are usually just as talented or more so than me..and that includes WFXB's cheif engineer Ken. The same guys handle WCCB and WOLO. So we get a LOT of practice..

To be truthful, I have a LOT of help from 5 other guys who are usually just as talented or more so than me..and that includes WFXB's cheif engineer Ken. The same guys handle WCCB and WOLO. So we get a LOT of practice..
I can accept that. But WFXB-HD's transmittion has been pretty smooth since it was turned on. The others haven't been up to WFXB's level. WBTW has been on the ball more so than WPDE/WWMB though. I'm not actually complaining, just pointing out the obvious. :)

Yes, 17 mb/s for local. Network varies as it comes from the encoders at FOX TOC in LA, and will be up to ~16 mb/s or so.:)
Nice. :D

Yeah, I did a survey for them and the station manager emailed me and thanked me for my input. He said they plan to go on line in the middle to late summer of 2008, in time for the olympics. The channel will be 32. I asked if that was the digital number and he said yes. We will see.

Yeah Daryl, it was out here in Florence, I had a friend call and ask me if my sound was working for ghost whisperer and I told her yes, but I was watching OTA on WLTX out of Columbia.

Thx topher57. :)

I found the Fox station 43.2 on Sunday, I love it. I can finally watch and hear the game, but not the announcers. I hope they keep this going for race season. My guess is I don't have sap, so I don't hear the Spanish tranlation.
As for NBC's affiliate, last I heard was to be on air before next summer's olympics.

I found the Fox station 43.2 on Sunday, I love it. I can finally watch and hear the game, but not the announcers. I hope they keep this going for race season. My guess is I don't have sap, so I don't hear the Spanish tranlation..

No spanish on NFL. You will hear spanish there if present. Usually, it's only for sent for baseball. We get a lot of positive comments on this, a lot of Nascarp fans love watching the race without having to hear DW. :D

I wonder if we will then get 4 NBC stations? More important, what will become of the current NBC HD. The way TW does business we will get the new NBC station and lose the NBC HD:eek:

Is anyone experiencing problems receiving ABC HD thru Time Warner last night and today? All I have is a black screen.

Yes, I had to switch to my antenna.

I got nowhere with Time Warner so I called Mr. Huggins at WPDE. He called Time Warner and got it fixed. WPDE HD is working fine here now.

Am having a problem with some other HD channels not showing too so TW is sending a tech over on Tuesday.

I think some of the hd channels not coming in has something to do with this switched digital stuff they are using. If I scan through the channels some of them won't come in, but if I actually punch the channel number in they pop up like they are supposed to.

Recently moved back to 29512 and as expected, no HD through the local cable company (Northland Cable). I picked up a basic antenna (Philips 50db indoor) and am receiving WPDE, WBTW fairly well and spotty reception on WFXB.

Was curious though if anyone here might be in my area and have knowledge about Northland's claim to be adding HD service in January '08?

Oh to be back in Wilmington with my TWC HD service! :(

Thanks,
Brandon

Is WPDE digital down today?, I can't get HD via cable or antenna.

WPDE was down last night in HD.

I wish TWC would give us some HD alternatives to WPDE and the Columbia NBC affiliate which is even more screwed up.

We're in Murrells Inlet. Seems like Charleston affiliates would make more sense.

WWMB 21-1 and 21-2 was down lastnight also and still is.

It came back on the air sometime during the 3:30 football game so maybe they fixed it?

bpear I switched to my qam tuner and watched the ohio state-michigan game on abc out of charleston. the alternative for wis nbc will be available in the late summer of '08.

Is anybody getting anything on WWMB-HD 21-1 or am I the only one thats lost them?

you are not the only one. i have tried to contact the tech staff and only get the answering machine. i left messages but no response.

I wrote WWMB/WWPDE's GM (Billy Huggins) yesterday but got no reply yet. But, I just checked a few minutes ago and 21-1 and 21-2 is back on-the-air.

just as mysteriously the signal disappeared a few days ago it returned a couple of hours ago. still no rhyme or reason as to what happened.

Anybody else notice that WBTW appears to be locked into 5.1 audio for local broadcasts, even though they don't do 5.1 local ? That's what I've been getting for awhile now and it causes problems on a TV that is only using L/R inputs. The audio just isn't there at times when they do interviews outside the studio, because the sound is being directed to the wrong channel.

I only use OTA though, so not sure how a cable box is handling that, but maybe better than a OTA receiver. Some of my family kept telling me when looking at the local news sometimes they couldn't hear anything. So I recorded it myself and saw my audio receiver was showing 5.1. That's using digital out of course. The sound wasn't coming out of the center speaker and at times it would only come out of one speaker. Thats when the audio isn't working on L/R analog out.

I emailed them and they're looking into it, but said I was the only one that had mention it. But the engineer did say something probably wasn't right somewhere and it would take awhile to find it.

But I was curious if anyone else using OTA was seeing the same thing. I see it on three different directv type receivers, so I don't know how it could be just me.

I've also been having trouble with some of the channels in TWC'c HD Tier as well as HBO and Showtime HD. Every once in a while for an hour or so the picture will be highly pixilated and the sound distorted. It's not all the HD channels and it's usually one of the HBO and Showtime channels.

Customer Service has reset my box to no avail and have a technician coming over Monday. It's been OK for a couple of days. What's he going to look for?

I am having the same problems with ESPN2HD but not ESPNHD, the HD tier but not the network channels that are part of that tier, and the hockey package. It does come and go. It was bad for a while this morning and seems to be OK now.

They did the reset deal and a guy is coming Tuesday!

This is so obviously a head end problem but they need to send a guy out to tell me that as I have tried to tell them already!

I've also been having trouble with some of the channels in TWC'c HD Tier as well as HBO and Showtime HD. Every once in a while for an hour or so the picture will be highly pixilated and the sound distorted. It's not all the HD channels and it's usually one of the HBO and Showtime channels.

Customer Service has reset my box to no avail and have a technician coming over Monday. It's been OK for a couple of days. What's he going to look for?
Probably signal strength.

the tiling is back as bad as ever ugh! I called TW and they said we said someone would come out on Tuesday! Yeah so!

tiling went away last night for about an hour, then back it came! All is working fine this morning. We shall see!

I haven't experienced any problems for a few days but I'm still having the TW guy come out this afternoon.

If I may ask, kjpjr, what general area of Murrells Inlet are you in? I'm in Wachesaw East.

I haven't experienced any problems for a few days but I'm still having the TW guy come out this afternoon.

If I may ask, kjpjr, what general area of Murrells Inlet are you in? I'm in Wachesaw East.

Funny you should ask, we live in Riverwood so that same basic area. Why don't you tell the guy that and maybe I won't need the service call:D

I have also had ongoing problems (for a couple of years) with my boxes rebooting for no reason, do you?

No rebooting problems here that I'm aware of.

I'll make a point to tell him I'm not the only one with picture problems in this general area.

I haven't had a TW guy in my house since I got HDTV three years ago and I'm not looking forward to this afternoon.

I just got a call from Chris at TWC. He said it's a line problem affecting our area and a technician is working on it as I post this. No technician will be coming to my house.

That's fine with me. Hope you are OK now as well kjpjr. :)

Hopefully that will solve that problem. I am going to still wait for "my call" tomorrow and see what they say. Thanks for the info.

still having the tiling problem, seems to be getting worse. It is more often and on more channels. Chris the tech dude is on his way as we speak! It was bad yesterday morning, went away all day, kicked back up during the second period of the hockey game, left for the third period until just before the end. It is acting up now. That is why Chris is on his way!

An occasional blip and freeze but by and large we're OK less than a mile from you as the crow flies.

DVRecordings leave something to be desired, however. Loss of picture for a few seconds and loss of sound for several more occur much too frequently.

Keep us informed.

The problem's back again worse than ever. Technician is coming over Friday at 1 PM.

This is BS!

How's your reception KJPJR?

Chris came last week, checked a few things inside and outside. One problem he found was that my signal strength was too high. TW backed it off or at least Chris told me they did and all seems well since then. I watched hockey the last couple of nights and had no problem.

Call Chris on the cell phone # I sent you in a private email, he said you should do that.

Good luck!

Had the same problem here in florence sc, signal strength too high, haven't had a problem since they backed it off.

Thanks topher -- I still wonder why it takes TW a year or so to figure this out! When I get the right guy to come out he sees the problem in ten minutes!

I am glad it may be fixed since I pay TW about $150 a month for services it would be silly for me to expect they would work like they should!

Rant over GO WINGS!

I'm still a little wary, he told me the reason for the signal strenth being too high was because of the cooler weather. Now I am wondering when the summer gets here will the signal strenth be too low. He told me that to low of a signal strength as well as to high of a signal strength will cause the tiling problem.

I got a similar kind of message about the heat. We shall see! I can be a pest when needed!

Everybody complains about the weather but nobody does anything about it! :D Not even the cable guys!

I had problems on and off all afternoon and it was 80 degrees today!!!!!!!!! What cooler weather?

I left a message on Chris' voice mail. He never called me back. If I get a call at 1 PM Friday telling me all is well I am going to rip him a new a-hole.

This has been going on for over a month.

Chris came over and checked inside and out and installed an amplifier. My signal's on the weak side he says.

Nice guy! I didn't give him any grief.:o

Ten minutes after he left picture and sound act up again. Signal has to be strengthened and Chris has put in order for service.

good luck he worked hard with me and the problem seems to be "solved". Even the random reboot seems to have gone away!

I'm still screwed up! Problems started up again around 5PM.

TWC said a line technician followed up after Chris and he will have to come out again on Wednesday between 1 and 5 and I will have to be home.

At this point I am doubtful this will ever be corrected.

Turned on TV at 3PM today and problem is worse than ever. Tiling and poor audio on all of the newer HD channels.

At 5:40 PM screen went blank on all of the affected channels and a message came up that channel was temporarily unavailable. In a few minutes all channels came back on the air with no apparent problems. They are all perfect.

I'm wondering if this is due to Sun Outage. Thoughts?

I'm also certain technician coming over tomorrow will be a complete waste of time.

I'm wondering if this is due to Sun Outage.

Sun outages occur around the vernal and autumnal equinoxes in March and September, when the geostationary satellite arc and the sun line up with downlink dishes. TWC-SC has multiple downlink sites around the state, so they have the means to eliminate it altogether using their statewide fiber loop, but I don't know if they actually do that or not.

Sorry you are having issues, but be patient. TWC may have to escalate the troubleshooting to the next level, but they will make you whole in time. First step by-the-book is to ensure proper levels etc. at the demarc and at your set(s), STB status, then levels at the pedestal/pole where your tap starts. Once that's been eliminated or repaired, if there are still problems they usually call in the next level techs. I've been through this kind of issue in the Georgetown system and in our case helped them pin down an intermittent problem in the headend.

A wild a** guess is that the node in your neighborhood has an issue, possibly related to SDV activation. Do you have any nearby neighbors (within a block or two, likely on the same node) with similar problems? I'd make a few calls to see if that is happening, and encourage them to call TWC Service too; if multiple homes in the same neighborhood complain it gets bumped up the service chain.

Mike

bpear1600
what he said!

Mike:

Be patient? I've been patient. It's been over a month we've had this problem.

Why is it the same block of channels and never 840, 845, and only one HBO, Showtime and ESPN? In other words why is it the channels most recently added for the most part?

I have no idea who my neighbors are much less if they have HDTV but I do know that several friends serviced by TWC are experiencing problems with HD reception.

Thank you for your help.
Bob

TWC sent Chris over again. Nice guy but what's he going to do he didn't do the first time he was here? Nothing.

He said problem could be in underground cable and he would have a guy out tomorrow to "shoot the cable". Also, I'm to call his cell number when the tiling comes back so I can tune to 210 and look for something.

Round and round we go....

Happy New Year to all..

bpear, what's happening with your TWC issues? I'm hoping since the 19th they've fixed the problem.

Mike

I never heard anything after Chris was at my home on the 19th.

Everything was pretty much OK until New Year's Eve around 9:45 PM when the same block of channels had severe tiling. Since then an occasional blip but generally OK.

I'm just tired of dealing with them. They'll just send the same guy over again and he doesn't have any more answers.

If it gets bad again I think I'll insist that they run a new line straight to my HDTV. If they won't and can't fix the problem I'll go back to DirecTV which I had for six years in Surfside.

Thanks for your concern.

bpear, I know this doesn't sound right, well at least it didn't to me. I had the same problems you had and always the same channels. Guy came and after a little searching came in and said my signal strengths were too strong. Sent a guy out to cut them back some, and haven't had the problem since. Been about a month now. I don't know if that is true or not, but he said to strong a signal for hd was like a weak signal for analog. Whatever he did, The problems hasn't returned.

The guy definitely said my signal was too weak.

If he comes again he'll probably say the problem is in my house wiring. :D

Is anyone getting the Giants/Bucs game in HD on WFXB TWC?

No, I believe it was a FOX problem, I tried watching in HD on fox out of Charleston and Columbia, and both were heavily pixelated and you really couldn't hear what the announcers were saying it was pretty bad. When it popped up on WFXB late in the game I switched back to the other two stations and their signal was perfect. It was better to watch in SD until they fixed the problem.

We did have a technical issue during the NFL game yesterday, we aired the SD version until we were able to work out the issue. HD was restored by the end of the game.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

Our NBC affiliate on TWC in Murrells Inlet is WIStv.

Does anybody know why the last 15 minutes of shows like Las Vegas and Medium are broadcast in SD?

For all I know it may be all 10 PM shows on this station.

The heavy pixeling on the non network 800 channels, 951, 945 and the entire hockey package started again! It got real bad Sunday night and it still bad today. I called TW and they will send a tech person out Thursday between 1 -3. So that person can tell me -- you have a problem -- or there is no problem now!

I thought it was fixed in early December -- foolish me!!

If I only could have a dish:mad:

Between my road runner, cable and sports packs I only send TW about $170 every month, why would I expect the stuff to work

If I only could have a dish:mad:

Why can't you? As to legal rules regarding your ability as a homeowner to install an antenna or a dish:

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/consumerdish.html

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

This is the quote from the rules -- deals with exclusive use. I don't have exclusive use outside so no dish! You can put one inside, maybe, but to do that where we live the dish would be almost flat and take up a lot of our master bedroom space. Also there is a signal loss problem inside even if you put the special glass in the window. So I move or I am stuck with TW and the chances of selling this condo are slim and none!

"Under the OTARD rules, an owner or a tenant has the right to install an antenna (that meets size limitations) on property that he owns or over which he has exclusive use or control. This includes single family homes, condominiums, cooperatives, townhomes, and manufactured homes. In the case of condominiums, cooperatives, and rental properties, the rules apply to “exclusive use” areas, like terraces, balconies, or patios. “Exclusive use” means an area of the property that only you and people you permit may enter and use. If the area is shared with others or accessible without your permission, it is not considered.

OTARD rules do not apply to common areas that are owned by a landlord, a community association, or jointly by condominium owners. These common areas may include the roof or exterior walls of a multiple dwelling unit. Under certain conditions, if a common antenna is available for use by residents, then the community association or landlord may reject or not permit the installation of an individually-owned antenna or satellite dish, provided the service and costs are the same. "

I will be on the Grand Strand this weekend and would love to watch the game Saturday night in HD. Are there any bars that have local HDTV. I have been in a few before over there that had nice LCD sets but no HDTV signal. It looked awful. I guess I am spoiled with my home set. Thanks for the help.

Frank
Columbia, SC

I have a 57" HD with a great HTIB set up. So I want a crowed smoky sports bar? I stay right here. There are two good SB's in the MB area, both "up north". Overtime is one and Oscar's is the other. They could have HD but I don't know.

. So I want a crowed smoky sports bar? .

We engineers recommend Scotty's in Surfside if you do..:)

Surfside recently passed a town-wide no-smoking ordinance, which if you are a non-smoker and like the Sports Bar environment, would be a big plus. The ordinance is controversial and may not in fact be enforced at Scotty's, but it might be worth a call (843) 238-9363. Nice oceanfront location too...

Also in today's Sun News Kick's section, there is a two page spread on local Sports Bars. Couldn't find a subpage with the info, but here's the homepage:

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/

They reviewed Five O'Clock Somewhere (MB), Wild Wing Cafe (Garden City), Underdog Family Sports Grill (Little River), and Overtime Sports Cafe (NMB). If you need more infor on any of these 4, let me know.

Mike

The ordinance is controversial and may not in fact be enforced at Scotty's, Mike

Not if some of the WCCB-WOLO-WFXB engineers have a say in it. I don't smoke, but some of the other guys that bring you HDTv on a daily basis do.

We usually stay at the days inn beside scotty's..a short stumbling distance away!

KJPJR, how did you make out with your pixelation issues? Was Chris able to solve the problem?

I've still got some tiling off and on but not enough to get upset about until last night. Between 9:30 and 10 FOODHD and HGTVHD were both unwatchable and LMCHD was out much of the evening.

They're sending somebody out Saturday. I hope it's not Chris. Nice guy but he has no answers.

Couldn't TWC sort their accounts in such a way to determine who has HD in my area and whether there have been similar complaints?

Their phone people are nice too but a complete waste of time.

Last night was the strangest yet! I went to the hockey package at 10:00 to watch the Red Wing game. All the hockey channels were gone! I called TW and they did say there was a problem with the head-end and they were working on it. At 11:00 they were still gone so just for the heck of it I recorded what wasn't there and went to bed. When I got up this morning, the recording started immediately from the push of the play button but it was badly pixeled off and on for the 2 periods I recorded. But the Wings won so that helped! The packages seems to be OK now.

Tried to watch a game on the hockey package tonight and it pixeled off and on all during the game. So did all the other hockey channels, 951, 160,161,162, all the HD channels higher than the networks No one at TW seems to have any IDEA what is going on, except two people have told me that we should rewire the house! I might consider that except I live in an eight unit condo on two stories. I live downstairs but the cable is on the other side. UGH!

That's what my brother was told by his cable company up in Massachusetts. Of course, he had been using the same wiring without problem when he had DirecTv. I wonder what they would do if somebody rewired his entire house and the problem still existed. Do you think they would reimburse him? Fat chance.

I don't have "major" issues at the moment but still the pixelation at times and the audio blips. Seems like every show recorded on the DVR has a few seconds here and there with no audio or some distortion.

It's strange that reception was fine for three years and all of a sudden there's a problem with "house wiring". LOL.

Yo bdfox18doe or WFXB (Ken),

I saw somewhere (http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/02/01/true-51-surround-sound-coming-to-the-big-game/) that this year they will be using Neural Surround encoding to send a 5.1 signal over a stereo feed for this years Superbowl so receivers with Neural Surround (Neural THX Surround) processing can have 5.1 playback. Obviously this is for the analog and SD digital audio I would assume. Will Fox actually be using that stereo signal on their analog and SD digital broadcasts?

Will Fox actually be using that stereo signal on their analog and SD digital broadcasts?

I dunno.:)

I dunno.:)
But your the goto guy! Hehe, j/k. :)

You mean the Not-So-Crackpot DTV Engineer? :p

I have noticed that there is a faint line running vertically down the screen on the left hand side of my television when I watch wpde. This line is not on the edge of the screen but about three inches from the edge (50 inch tv). I use dish network and do not receive my locals in hd. I was wondering if anyone else notices this or if it is just me, and if there is anything I can do about it. It is not visible on all scenes, but is visible on scenes with a light background. I have been noticing this for 4 weeks now and it only is apparent on wpde. I only watch LOST on this station, but have also noticed it when flipping through at other times.

Called TWC last week about the tiling and a line technician (Michael) came over Wednesday. Everything was tested again and he's at a loss to explain why this issue persists.

KPRJR, you are on a different node. If we have a simultaneous issue it's one that is affecting all TWC customers.

The tiling has now invaded all my HD channels in the evenings. 805 (NBC) is almost unwatchable with the sound drops and blips and the jumbled picture. Everything I recorded from the 14th on has been a mess. Deal or No Deal last night was all screwed up.

The guy gave me his cell number and said to call him between the hours of 8 and 5 so I just gave him a call. He had absolutely nothing to say other than to keep him informed. He did say there were some station issues yesterday but had no details.

I wonder if DirecTV is this bad.

A buddy of mine that lives in MI gave up on cable last fall and went to the dish. He told me he loves it, says the times it loses signal are few and far between. He says it has happened 3 or 4 times in the last six months and never for more than 30 seconds. He made the switch for the Big Ten Network issue but wonders why he did not do it years ago.

If this county had not elected bush we would not be in the mess we are now and I could sell my condo and have a dish! Maybe that was a little too political, if you think it was you will have to get over it :)

The president is the reason you don't have a dish. Okey-doke.

Yo WFXB-DT 43.1 (Ken, Bob?), what happened to the guide data?

Our T1 line was cut yesterday and we are unable to process guide info until the phone company gets it repaired. It should be restored by tomorrow.

Our T1 line was cut yesterday and we are unable to process guide info until the phone company gets it repaired. It should be restored by tomorrow.
Ah, thanks for the info Ken. No biggie, just curious. :)

Our T1 line was cut yesterday and we are unable to process guide info until the phone company gets it repaired. It should be restored by tomorrow.
Getting guide data now. :)

I saw this elsewhere on AVS Forum and thought some of you might also like this email too. I just emailed her asking her about any new HD channels that we might be getting here in SC. Sure can't hurt. When you call TW customer service, they seem to not even know which ones they have now.


Email Melinda Witmer at TWC Corporate, the SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF PROGRAMMING OFFICER if you want more HD Channels!!!
Melinda.Witmer@twcable.com

https://uma.att.com/attributes/224-AMSSVideoQuestion1-CONTENT-X-X-X-X.html


The is the ATT line-up(s) if you go further into the site you will see the exact channels.

As near as I can see the the 400 package is all you could need and is $125 a month with high speed Internet included. There are packages for lesser amounts. I have no idea when this will be available and where.

If you want to explore further here is a zip code that will work 06878. A friend of mine from CT got this about 3 months ago and says it is the best yet!

New HD Channels FYI
833-The Learning Channel HD, 846 Discovery channel HD,848 Science Channel HD,849 Animal Planet HD

Anyone notice that WBTW-DT had started broadcasting their local news in HD? The 11:00 PM news Sunday, 3/16/8, was in full HD. Camera perspectives are all new -- no more ultra-close-ups of the anchors. Any thoughts? Myrtle Beach TV is finally catching up to the major market broadcasters.

Anyone notice that WBTW-DT had started broadcasting their local news in HD? The 11:00 PM news Sunday, 3/16/8, was in full HD. .

I'm told it's 16:9 SD and not "true" HD.

I'm told it's 16:9 SD and not "true" HD.
True, that some segments are stretched SD, but the live anchored portions are true 1080i HD. No mistaking it for upconverted SD.

Are they saying or displaying that it's HD? Seems like they would be shouting it from the roof tops.

True, that some segments are stretched SD, but the live anchored portions are true 1080i HD. No mistaking it for upconverted SD.

And what do you base that on? I'm told the cameras are not HD from reliable sources.

And what do you base that on? I'm told the cameras are not HD from reliable sources.

I know true HD when I see it -- what I saw of the live anchors was exactly the same HD picture quality as I receive on the local news from WNBC 4 from New York via satellite (yes I have a waiver for HD). Also they featured a segment showing the new studio facilities, equipment and control room on the 11:00 PM news -- mentioned that the cameras were robotically computer controlled and that on-camera personnel had been practicing with the new equipment for some period of time. Showed several clips of these rehearsals with all of their news anchors.

It wouldn't surprise me. Media General owns WSLS-DT in Roanoke and they started doing HD a few months back, and I mean true HD. They tested it for a little while, and only when they were sure it was solid did they start announcing it from the rooftops and whatnot.

- Trip

start announcing it from the rooftops and whatnot.


I still do not hear anyone saying WBTW is doing this (and whatnot). I do not see anything about it on their website either.

Ken will be doing some testing tonight on WFXB-DT starting at 10pm, please send us any comments or feedback you may have here.

Anyone notice that WBTW-DT had started broadcasting their local news in HD? The 11:00 PM news Sunday, 3/16/8, was in full HD. Camera perspectives are all new -- no more ultra-close-ups of the anchors. Any thoughts? Myrtle Beach TV is finally catching up to the major market broadcasters.
Looking now. Looks good but the anchor shots look a tad soft and black level looks a bit high. They just showed off the new set and didn't mentioned it being in Hi-Def at all. They said it's hi-tech but never said hi-def. Compared to WRAZ's HD newscast WBTW's looks like widescreen SD, maybe 480p upconverted (like FOX's old format) instead 480i upconverted.

Yea, I caught the tail end of that here at home.. take a look at Ch-13 analog..during news that is.

Didn't get to catch ch-13's analog newscast.

Ken will be doing some testing tonight on WFXB-DT starting at 10pm, please send us any comments or feedback you may have here.
Testing 1080i vs 720p like before? I'll try to remember to watch. BTW, is TWC Lumberton hub ever going to add 43-1 HD? We're in the Florence/Myrtle Beach market (though we get WRAZ-HD 50-1 FOX but not WRAZ analog). We get 43 analog (have for years).

Duuuuuuuude! WBTW's analog 6pm newscast of the anchors is wacked. It's squeezed horizontally. I have to set my tv's aspect ration to full to get the picture normal and switching between 31 analog and 13-1 digital the image edges are vertually identical with a tad bit more info on the left edge in the analog picture. Hehe, funny stuff. Their analog newscast is anamorphic! :)

I received an email from the GM of TV13 this morning stating that the 16:9 converter for the analog broadcast is not on site yet. They hope to have it installed by Friday. :cool:

I just purchased a Zenith Digital Tuner from CC today and its a really nice unit. It was setup and working in about 3 minutes. :)

Now if I can just get the signal from WIS to lock...

I was shocked to see CH 25 and 19 lock from CAE. But no WIS hmmmm :confused:

Mitch

Anyone else getting a black screen - audio but no video on WPDE HD Time Warner 815 (Time Warner)?

I called Time Warner and they said everything is ok on their end. All my other channels are fine. They sent a signal to supposedly fix the box but still the same.

The channel comes thru fine OTA but not thru Time Warner.

Anyone else getting a black screen - audio but no video on WPDE HD Time Warner 815 (Time Warner)?

I called Time Warner and they said everything is ok on their end. All my other channels are fine. They sent a signal to supposedly fix the box but still the same.

The channel comes thru fine OTA but not thru Time Warner.
All fixed :)

Duuuuuuuude! WBTW's analog 6pm newscast of the anchors is wacked. It's squeezed horizontally. I have to set my tv's aspect ration to full to get the picture normal and switching between 31 analog and 13-1 digital the image edges are vertually identical with a tad bit more info on the left edge in the analog picture. Hehe, funny stuff. Their analog newscast is anamorphic! :)
When I posted this yesterday I didn't think of the implications of what I was seeing. At least not until I was watching WFXB-DT 43-1 testing their 10pm news broadcast in widescreen last night. I noticed WFXB 43's analog broadcast was anamorphic during the news broadcast as well. That's when it hit me. Yesterday marked the first true turning of the tides for us early digital widescreen tv adopters. For so long we've put up with watching 4:3 SD (analog and digital) with either sidebars or stretched horizontally making everything look short and fat.

Now it's time for the late adopters or those choosing to keep their 4:3 analog sets by adding a set-top converter box to deal with either letterbox broadcasts or horizontally squeezed images making everything look tall and skinny. :)

Now I know we still have a long long way to go before 4:3 broadcasts are a thing of the past (in truth it never will be gone thanks to restoration and archiving of current, past and some future content), but seeing anamorphic broadcasting on two local stations newscast yesterday (even if it's a temporary thing) truly marked the change of tv broadcast in my eyes. :)

Ken @ WFXB and the guys at WBTW are working on the issues today with the news in widescreen.

Ken @ WFXB and the guys at WBTW are working on the issues today with the news in widescreen.
Yep, I knew it was a temp thing or else they would have a lot of pissed off viewers and phones ringing off the hook. But it still marked a big change a coming. :D

BTW, the black level looked a bit off. Blacks was a bit washed out.

I see WBTW 13 now has the analog newscast cropped to a 4:3 image from the 16:9 image on 13-1.

I watched the WBTW-DT 6PM local newscast, and applaud them for their first (visible) efforts in gearing up for local HD origination.

The live studio camera shots while full 16:9 correct aspect video did not have the snap I would expect from native 1080i cameras. I suspect they are using either 480i cameras in the 16:9 mode, or upconverting 4:3 and shooting/protecting for a 16:9 with an electronic crop.

Most of the graphic elements were also 16:9, but with no obvious high detail in them I couldn't tell if they were generated in 480 or 1080. Curiously some of the SD taped elements (Field news material, e.g.) were shown in native 4:3 pillarboxed, and others were "stretched" to fill 16:9. I personally prefer pillarboxing 4:3 material to avoid the add 50 pounds look of stretched faces, but I can also understand why some find the bars distracting. Better solution would be to add some non-black sidebars, like ESPN -HD does. I think the staff needs to pick one or the other treatment and stick with it in either case.

So while the overall effect was a bit uneven, it was definitely a major step up in overall PQ. Of the DT signals I can get via TWC, WBTW is the only one I am aware of making this upgrade so far. I'm looking forward to more and better in days to come.

I suspect they are using either 480i cameras in the 16:9 mode, or upconverting 4:3 and shooting/protecting for a 16:9 with an electronic crop.
It's in 16:9 mode with the sides cropped off for the 4:3 analog broadcast (probably protecting for 4:3). I could quickly switch between 13-1 and 13 to compare the text on the backdrop behind the anchor.

TWC Lumberton is in the Wilmington market and TWC Florence/Myrtle Beach is in a separate operating division not connected with that area.

TWC Lumberton is in the Wilmington market and TWC Florence/Myrtle Beach is in a separate operating division not connected with that area.
From what I remember TWC Lumberton use to be in the Wilmington market but not for quit some time. It's been part of the TWC Florence/Myrtle Beach market for a while and is why TWC Lumberton dropped WWAY TV ABC 3 and WSFX TV FOX 26 to carry WPDE TV ABC 10 and WFXB TV FOX 43 a few years ago.

Market DMA map for Myrtle Beach-Florence (http://research.backchannelmedia.com/dma/show/Myrtle_Beach-Florence)
Market DMA map for Wilmington (http://research.backchannelmedia.com/dma/show/Wilmington)

BTW, Digital OTA NBC going live August 8, 2008. WMBF DT 32 NBC (http://wmbftv.com/)

Just wondering if anyone else is having this problem with WPDE: A yellow line on the left hand side of the picture. This is the only station where it appears and it is on all programming (including commercials). I am using Dish Network. I've added a picture to show what I'm talking about.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i196/zzandrewst/DSC01157.jpg

I get WPDE in sd via Directv and HD I can pickup OTA. No yellow line.

I get WPDE in sd via Directv and HD I can pickup OTA. No yellow line.

Maybe it has to do with dish network. I e-mailed WPDE and they said they would contact Dish to try to figure out what was going on.

Anyone in the Myrtle Beach area having total loss of WPDE-DT's (15-1) sound?

Both my Direct-TV HD receivers have NO sound on WPDE-DT on over-the-air reception. Sound is normal on every other local over-the-air Digital channel, including WWMB-DT (21-1, 21-2 and 21-3). I've contacted the station, but received no answer yet. The sound on every other channel (satellite and over-the-air) is OK, so I can't believe it's a receiver problem (not identically on two receivers). And, it makes no difference if the feed to the TV monitor is HDMI or Component -- there simply is no sound.

What's really strange is that the sound comes throgh OK if I tune into WPDE-DT using the digital, over-the-air tuner in the TV. Can there be some decoding problem with the Direct TV receivers that's not present in the TV tuner?

It's not the ABC network feed either, because the sound comes through fine on WWAY-DT (3-1) from Wilmington.

Anyone in the Myrtle Beach area having total loss of WPDE-DT's (15-1) sound?

Both my Direct-TV HD receivers have NO sound on WPDE-DT on over-the-air reception. Sound is normal on every other local over-the-air Digital channel, including WWMB-DT (21-1, 21-2 and 21-3). I've contacted the station, but received no answer yet. The sound on every other channel (satellite and over-the-air) is OK, so I can't believe it's a receiver problem (not identically on two receivers). And, it makes no difference if the feed to the TV monitor is HDMI or Component -- there simply is no sound.

What's really strange is that the sound comes throgh OK if I tune into WPDE-DT using the digital, over-the-air tuner in the TV. Can there be some decoding problem with the Direct TV receivers that's not present in the TV

It's not the ABC network feed either, because the sound comes through fine on WWAY-DT (3-1) from Wilmington.

I have the same thing. No sound using the D receiver, but there is sound using the TVs tuner.

I have the same thing. No sound using the D receiver, but there is sound using the TVs tuner.
Got a reply from Mark Olson, Chief Engineer at WPDE, this morning. Problem is on their end due to the failure of some piece of equipment. He says that indeed some digital receivers fail to recognize the digital sound signal WPDE=DT is currently broadcasting and Direct TV receivers are one of those.

Said he was going to contact Direct TV to try to correct, but I don't see how they can do anything for a problem isolated to just a single OTA broadcast channel. Can't see them downloading some new firmware for such an isolated problem. Guess we'll just have to wait til WPDE gets their equipment fixed.

I don't know that D will do anything at all since it sounds like it"s PDE's problem. I only watch it for the local news. So it's not a big deal for me.

[QUOTE=Daryl L;13427777]From what I remember TWC Lumberton use to be in the Wilmington market but not for quit some time. It's been part of the TWC Florence/Myrtle Beach market for a while and is why TWC Lumberton dropped WWAY TV ABC 3 and WSFX TV FOX 26 to carry WPDE TV ABC 10 and WFXB TV FOX 43 a few years ago.




Daryl, that mapping is incorrect. I work for TWC, Grand Strand and it's the South Carolina division. Lumberton has always been in the Eastern Carolina Division and operates separately.. I hope this helps.

I work for TWC

Hey, how about turning on ESPN News HD?

Daryl, that mapping is incorrect. I work for TWC, Grand Strand and it's the South Carolina division. Lumberton has always been in the Eastern Carolina Division and operates separately.. I hope this helps.
Ok I'll accept that. Maybe that's just for cable channels and is separate from the local networks DMA carriage. Because I believe Lumberton is part of the Florence/Myrtle Beach DMA for the local networks. I'm in Pembroke NC ang get TWC from the Lumberton hub (part of the Raleigh/Durham/Fayetteville devision). Don't know why the Lumberton TWC hub (which covers Pembroke, Fairmont and I think Rowland) is forced to carry the Florence/Myrtle Beach locals then over the Wilmington or Raleigh locals. WWMB21 CW refused to allow Lumberton to carry the WLFL22 CW HD channel. The Fayetteville TWC hub gets the Raleigh locals.

Does anyone here use Roadrunner through TW? My tests through Speedtest.net show about a 50% faster connection starting this week.

Greensboro Server:
Up - 5232 kbps
Down-360 kbps
Ping (200 mi) - 129 ms

Wash DC Server:
Down - 5618 kbps
Up - 323 kbps
Ping (400 mi) - 85 ms

These are pretty close to the TW-RR advertised rates of 5000dn/360up. I don't like the ping times (under 40 ms would be much better), but I think RR's main node is not actually 200 or 400 miles from either of these two test servers, and without doing a traceroute I don't know how many relay sites were in the path.

What king of actual specs were you getting before and now?

Mike

Typical of what I get now -

5/13/2008 5:02 PM GMT 24.148.189.164 6749 kb/s 357 kb/s 142 ms Atlanta, GA ~ 300 mi



Typical of what I got previously -

2/29/2008 7:45 PM GMT 24.148.189.164 4791 kb/s 361 kb/s 101 ms Atlanta, GA ~ 300 mi



Greensboro resuts show similar differences.
.
.
.

I hear that we have a new digital station coming in August. WFMB, an NBC affiliate, will be broadcasting on channel 32 from a tower located south of Conway in the Bucksport area. Anyone got more details?

Scott

BTW, It is hard to believe that it has been almost 6 years since I started this thread.

Scott Burns

WMBF-DT 32 launches 08/08/08.

http://www.wmbftv.com/

FCC coverage map (may not be accurate):

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1171163.html

- Trip

BTW, It is hard to believe that it has been almost 6 years since I started this thread.Scott Burns

Where ya been Doc?

Typical of what I get now -

5/13/2008 5:02 PM GMT 24.148.189.164 6749 kb/s 357 kb/s 142 ms Atlanta, GA ~ 300 mi



Typical of what I got previously -

2/29/2008 7:45 PM GMT 24.148.189.164 4791 kb/s 361 kb/s 101 ms Atlanta, GA ~ 300 mi



Greensboro resuts show similar differences.
.
.
.
I got an e-mail from TWC saying I got a speed boost from 5 Mbps to 7 Mbps today also. Had to reboot my modem to get the boost to kick in. My results use to be just under 4900 kbps, now their just under 6900 kbps. :) No change in Uploads. Still average around 350 kbps.

I did not get the email but my speed boost is hanging in there.

This is still advertised on Earthlink/RR website. I wonder if the price and/or speed has changed for the faster one.

EarthLink High Speed Cable Internet
Downstream speeds of up to 5.0Mbps
Monthly Charge: $41.95

EarthLink High Speed Cable Internet
Downstream speeds of up to 8.0Mbps
Monthly Charge: $72.95

Bob,

I still lurk occassionally. I have an 18 year old that just finished his first year at the Citadel, a 17 year old high school junior, a 4 1/2 year old, and triplets that will be 3 next month. Needless to say, life is busy.

I still enjoy OTA HDTV. I built a PC that I use to record shows with Windows Media Center. It is great. The only problem is that since it is set to record automatically, my antenna has to stay in a fixed location. Unfortunately, I do not watch NBC now, not because I cannot get it but because I have to spin my antenna around to Columbia.

I am hoping that this new station will be strong enough to receive without moving my antenna, but since it is 90 degrees off axis at my location from WBTW, WPDE, and WFXB, I am doubtful.

Anyone know when they will begin testing their signal?

Bob, what have you been up to?

Scott

Bob,

What about combining the signal from two fixed antennas? Would I need a channel 32 filter of some sort? Didn't Channel Master used to make something called "Join-tennas"?

Scott

I did not get the email but my speed boost is hanging in there.

This is still advertised on Earthlink/RR website. I wonder if the price and/or speed has changed for the faster one.

EarthLink High Speed Cable Internet
Downstream speeds of up to 5.0Mbps
Monthly Charge: $41.95

EarthLink High Speed Cable Internet
Downstream speeds of up to 8.0Mbps
Monthly Charge: $72.95

Our website reflects the speed change but no price difference. Speed was increased for both from 5 Mbps to 7Mbps and from 8 Mbps to 10 Mbps.

For a while, signal from Florence was just ROARING in here. WBTW was destroying WSET analog. Same for WPDE and WBRA analog. Those are my two strongest locals.

In the process, I managed to decode WBTW-DT and WPDE-DT. And WUNU-DT. Both 15 and 31 maxed out my signal meters, WBTW-DT was at about 70%. Nothing out of WFXB or WWMB because of WDBJ-DT on 18 and WCWG analog booming in on 20.

Just letting everyone know. =)

- Trip

Bob,

What about combining the signal from two fixed antennas? Would I need a channel 32 filter of some sort? Didn't Channel Master used to make something called "Join-tennas"?

Scott
I would wait until they go on the air & see how you receive the new station. You may not have to do any thing to receive WMBF. I receive WFXB 90 degrees [off the side] of the antenna & I live 35 miles from their tower. Weather it will work or not will depend on a few things.

1- how much signal is in the area you are located / the distant you are from the tower.

2- the type of your antenna & the design.

If the antenna has only one driven element the signal like the Channel master 4194 corner reflector, it may not come in. Most of the other antennas have multipal driven elements and the bus [the wires that connect them togther] will pick up the signals off the side. The VHF/UHF combo is an example. The antenna I have that recieves on the side is Channel master 4225 4 bay bow. In the analog days signal off the side was a problem & may cause ghost on the screen. But with digital TV either you receive it or you do not or it is some where in between, meaning it is in & out. My guess is that any where in Horry County the signal will be so strong it will come in on a out door antenna no matter where the antenna is pointed. I am really pleased to receive all this HD signals free. I do not have the money to spend on the TV cable. But I love seeing the reruns on the digital WBTW 13-2.

For a while, signal from Florence was just ROARING in here. WBTW was destroying WSET analog. Same for WPDE and WBRA analog...

This time of year it's not unusual to get various kinds of "anomalous propagation" that will extend the range of both analog and digital signals hundreds or sometimes several hundred miles beyond the "normal" coverage pattern.

For example when a slow moving weather front creates a thermal inversion, a process known as "ducting" can occur where the RF signal is carried almost like a pipe or duct for a very long distance. It's especially common along the east coast in spring and fall where colder air from the ocean zone is pushed in under warmer humid air.

Other events like tropospheric scatter, ionosphere shifts in the E-layer, even aurora events during high solar activity, can bounce broadcast signals thousands of miles past the typical "ground wave/line of sight" range. For normal TV watchers these events rarely disrupt local reception, but for a small band of fans (TV or FM DXers) who chase them it's something to look forward to:

http://www.wtfda.org/
http://pages.cthome.net/fmdx/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TV/FM_DX

Mike

This time of year it's not unusual to get various kinds of "anomalous propagation" that will extend the range of both analog and digital signals hundreds or sometimes several hundred miles beyond the "normal" coverage pattern.

For example when a slow moving weather front creates a thermal inversion, a process known as "ducting" can occur where the RF signal is carried almost like a pipe or duct for a very long distance. It's especially common along the east coast in spring and fall where colder air from the ocean zone is pushed in under warmer humid air.

Other events like tropospheric scatter, ionosphere shifts in the E-layer, even aurora events during high solar activity, can bounce broadcast signals thousands of miles past the typical "ground wave/line of sight" range. For normal TV watchers these events rarely disrupt local reception, but for a small band of fans (TV or FM DXers) who chase them it's something to look forward to:

http://www.wtfda.org/
http://pages.cthome.net/fmdx/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TV/FM_DX

Mike

I'm quite familiar with it, but those are some good links for those who aren't.

I was rather surprised I didn't see any digitals from Wilmington even though I had WUNJ-TV on analog.

- Trip

EDIT: What a shame it's so late, I'm dead tired, and about to go to bed. I've got WPDE-DT again, it's not even close to decoding as I haven't turned the antenna, but my WinTV-D is giving me about 6 dB SNR on it, and I know it's WPDE-DT because they have a carrier offset of 25 KHz, the only station I know of with such a large offset.

Our website reflects the speed change but no rice difference. Speed was increased for both from 5 Mbps to 7Mbps and from 8 Mbps to 10 Mbps.

I sure wish your service was available in Long Bay Golf Community instead of HTC.

EDIT: What a shame it's so late, I'm dead tired, and about to go to bed. I've got WPDE-DT again, it's not even close to decoding as I haven't turned the antenna, but my WinTV-D is giving me about 6 dB SNR on it, .


You should get a real tuner for times like this.. the Zenith DTT900 and 901 Q-Pon boxes have extremely hot tuners.. I'd bet it will put that WinTv-D to shame.:)

I have two DTT900 boxes in the house. I just generally use the WinTV-D because I like its signal meter. It's the most useful of any I've seen. (Then when it's up to 14 dB SNR, I run downstairs and watch a clean image on the Zeniths)

I'd buy a new tuner tomorrow if it had the same signal meter. Do you know of a receiver with that type of signal meter?

- Trip

I'd buy a new tuner tomorrow if it had the same signal meter. Do you know of a receiver with that type of signal meter?
- Trip

Just for fun, I'd see what the zenith does when the WinTvD barely lock's it. I'd be interested to see what you find in that scenario.

I have seen some recievers with a combo signal / quality meter.. but they aren't the quality receivers the zenith is, generally they use older tuners. I have a friend at LG, he confirms the 900/901 use the 6th gen chipset.

Just for fun, I'd see what the zenith does when the WinTvD barely lock's it. I'd be interested to see what you find in that scenario.

I have seen some recievers with a combo signal / quality meter.. but they aren't the quality receivers the zenith is, generally they use older tuners. I have a friend at LG, he confirms the 900/901 use the 6th gen chipset.

I've done it, actually.

For WBRA-DT 3 (low-VHF) I find that the Zenith locks solidly when I have 14.8 dB on the WinTV-D (it wants 16.2 to decode cleanly as a bare minimum).

For the UHFs, I find it decodes cleanly down to about 13.8 dB on the WinTV-D. The WinTV-D wants at least 15.5 dB or so for those, depending on interference.

I want a computer-based receiver with the 6th Gen chip, but I don't think any exist.

- Trip

Any TWC Clear QAM Users still about? Sometime since early May they changed QAM frequency assignments and/or PSIP table info. I can no longer find NBCHD or PBSHD in my vacation home, even though I can get ABC, CBS, FOX, and a few digital SD stations including NBC Weather and PBS-2 and 3. After I waited an hour to talk to somebody who knew what they were talking about, I was informed that TWC doesn't support "tuners" and since I was only paying for channels 2-98 or whatever I couldn't get the HD broadcast channels.

It is my understanding that:
1) Local broadcast signals are required to be carried in the clear and are required to part of the basic tier.
2) HD channels are not subject to "must carry: rules until the applicable analog transmitter is turned off. If they are carried they must not be encrypted.

Does this sound like I should have to rent equipment and buy a higher tier to you?

Did you rescan? These channels always come and go because the cable companies hate the rule and make it difficult so you'll get a box.

Rescan is how I found the ones I found. Some HD, some SD, some broadcast, some cable, it makes no sense (other than your explanation, of course).

As a DX fan, I have locked WITN in Greenville NC from Fort Mill SC at 85% on many times :) . I can lock WBTW however my signal will jump from 10% to 70% back to 10. Analog is pretty clear so I am curious to see what happens after the flash cut back to VHF 13 next year.

Any idea when/if WMBF 32 will begin testing? I scan daily to check but nothing yet,though I'm just outside their fringe area. Also on August 8th they go live and my TWC Lumberton NC hub is dropping WECT 6 NBC for WMBF 32 NBC on the 8th (we're part of the Florence/Myrtle Beach DMA).

You guys down in the Myrtle Beach area will be getting a great weatherman on WMBF once it launches.
Jamie Arnold just left my local NBC station WITN in Washington NC and has joined WMBF.
He is really good, we all hated to see him leave WITN.

Any idea when/if WMBF 32 will begin testing? I scan daily to check but nothing yet,though I'm just outside their fringe area. Also on August 8th they go live and my TWC Lumberton NC hub is dropping WECT 6 NBC for WMBF 32 NBC on the 8th (we're part of the Florence/Myrtle Beach DMA).

I read up on that , and they had to cease WECT because of FCC rules, being that both stations are owned by Raycom. The weird thing will be, WECT's analog and digital signal will reach that area, but the WMBF signal won't even come close, and they cannot raise tower or power because they are surrounded by stations in all directions also using the channel 32 frequency. They IMO should ask to get on another channel so they can cover the market a little better OTA.:D

Should be interesting reception though during temperature inversions!

WECT's digital signal I can't hardly ever get due to the direction of their antenna. I'm hoping WMBF's signal will give e a better chance.

WECT is going on the WWAY tower at the 2000' level with WSFX and increasing power very shortly, and they will power all the way up by Sept 8, so I bet you will see it then. It will have the same antenna radiation as WWAY and WSFX too.

WECT is going on the WWAY tower at the 2000' level with WSFX and increasing power very shortly, and they will power all the way up by Sept 8, so I bet you will see it then. It will have the same antenna radiation as WWAY and WSFX too.
That would certainly help. I get WWAY and WSFX digital about 75% of the time.

Might want to check 6.1 now, as I am getting them at 82% and normally during the day I get them at 30%

Might want to check 6.1 now, as I am getting them at 82% and normally during the day I get them at 30%
I checked, no WWAY or WECT for me any yesterday. I was getting WSFX thought. Probably the weather increased your signal strength. My t doesn't have a signal strength meter so couldn't check that.

WECT is back to 35% so it must have been the weather, and WWAY is at 92% but no picture today on 3.1 or 3.2

I didn't used to get WECT hardly at all until I switched out some sorry RG-6 coax to 25 yr old twin lead I had lying around from antenna to mast amp, and raised antenna height a couple of feet, now I get them all the time and I am outside of their radiation and on the wrong side. I have learned a lot by playing around with antenna's and connectors!!!!!! :)

Looks like TWC of Lumberton NC is finally adding WFSX' s HD to the lineup along with the Addition of WMBF HD.
August 8, 2008: WMBF will replace WECT on Channel 9 as the new NBC affiliate in the Lumberton viewing area. The HD, digital and WeatherPlus channels of NBC affiliate WNCN will also be replaced by the WMBF digital signals on cable channels 217-219. Additionally, the digital signals of the local FOX affiliate, WFXB, will replace the digital signals of WRAZ on channels 250-252.
I will miss Retro Television Network that WRAZ carries on it's sub channel though. Now if WWMB could get their act together and get their HD channel on cable here too. I get them OTA but would be nice to be able to DVR them when not at home sometimes.

Looks like TWC of Lumberton NC is finally adding WFSX' s HD to the lineup along with the Addition of WMBF HD.

I will miss Retro Television Network that WRAZ carries on it's sub channel though. Now if WWMB could get their act together and get their HD channel on cable here too. I get them OTA but would be nice to be able to DVR them when not at home sometimes.

WBTW carrys retro Television Network on their sub 13-2. But their digital channel is uhf 56 over a side mount antenna. Side mount antennas normaly have a blind area or at the very least a weak area in their coverage. I do not know which side of the tower the antenna is. My guess is it is on the south east side thus the north west of their tower would be that weak area. They have 1000000 erp on dtv 56 so you may be able to receive them. But when they cut the analog off they will put the digital on ch 13 over the top mounted antenna. So if you are receiving ch 13 analog now with fair to good signal you should be able to receive 13 after 2-19-09

WBTW carrys retro Television Network on their sub 13-2.
I get 13-1 & 13-2 OTA and on cable. Although carries some RTN programming that I watch, like American Hero, 21 Jumpstreet and Off Beat Cinema on 13-2 (241 on TWC) I thought 13-2 was mainly MyNetwork Television network. WRAZ's 50-2 (251 on TWC) RTN channel carries mostly different RTN shows than WBTW 13-2 does, like Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew mysteries, Wild Wild West, Rawhide, Get Smart among several more. But I'll live. ;)

Hey guys, I am new to Myrtle Beach and have a few questions.

1) Which is the preferred provider around here? Time Warner, DirecTV, etc.? Why?

2) For those with DirecTV, how is the OTA HD reception? I'll be living in Plantation Point (basically 38th N and 17). HD is really important to me so I am wondering if Time Warner is the default way to go or if the OTA reception is good enough to have DirecTV? I would really like Sunday Ticket, but HD locals is more important to me.

Thanks for your replies, I appreciate any help you can provide.

Hey guys, I am new to Myrtle Beach and have a few questions.

1) Which is the preferred provider around here? Time Warner, DirecTV, etc.? Why?

2) For those with DirecTV, how is the OTA HD reception? I'll be living in Plantation Point (basically 38th N and 17). HD is really important to me so I am wondering if Time Warner is the default way to go or if the OTA reception is good enough to have DirecTV? I would really like Sunday Ticket, but HD locals is more important to me.

Thanks for your replies, I appreciate any help you can provide.

We have great choice of OTA here. You will get a good signal with a UHF antenna. Just mount it to the same place on your gable near where you would like to mount your dish. You may get a few extras if you use a preamp. If you do get a amp make sure it is VHF & UHF so you can receive your VHF high band channels. We have one on the air now [etv 9] & one [CBS 13] coming after the cut on 2-19-09. The big VHF antennas are not needed because none of the stations are going to use low band VHF. The UHF will receive the VHF high band if the are strong enough. Some of the UHF antennas are so small that they are harder to see then the direct TV dish. There are some folks that still use the old 300 ohm flat lead with good results with out a amp. 300 ohm does have less loss than coax but extra care is needed it is mounted. The 300 ohm when carring digital UHF it needs to be twisted 3 twist per foot all the way down. You have to put some money up front to get your signals coming in but ,then it is free from then on. I have seen my neighbors TW HD cable & my OTA HD looks much better. Most every thing else besides the OTA is still SD. So when you get HD cable you are really paying for [for the most part] what you can get free. If you are short of money on your budget I would first try the antenna alone & see. You might get so many channels that you do not miss the cable. That is my opinion, but I used to work at a TV shop putting up antennas so I prefer the antenna.

Hey guys, I am new to Myrtle Beach and have a few questions.

1) Which is the preferred provider around here? Time Warner, DirecTV, etc.? Why?

If you are considering cable, you may have a second option other than TWC. Many parts of Horry County have been overwired by Horry Telephone Cooperative (HTC), who offers the usual full slate of telecomms options, including cable, internet, IP phone, twisted pair phone, etc. Some areas now have been upgraded to a fiber-to-the-home package (apparently similar to the Motorola FIOS service, but their trade name is Bluewave) that does "everything" through a single FO connection. I don't know if HTC is in Plantation Point but a call to their office will answer that. I couldn't find a service area map on their website... http://www.htcinc.net/index.cfm

We have a second home on the old AF Base with basic HTC service and are happy with the technical quality and pricing. We don't own a common space outdoors so an OTA antenna isn't a good option for us there. And the towers are in several different directions, so a rotator or multiple antenna stack might be needed anyway. Thanks to the very flat "low country" terrain and low vegetation, a high omnidirectional OTA antenna may do very well, however.

Whichever way you go, good luck, and welcome to the Grand Strand!

Mike

BLUEWAVE WEB SITE

Here is a link for more information:

http://htcbluewave.com/bluewave.html

I hope I can get this soon!

I disagree with what Mike said about the rotor & the omnidirectional antenna.

WBTW-CBS WHMC-ETV WPDE-ABC WFXB-FOX WWMB-CW WMBF-NBC are all in the same general direction. They are also so strong that it does need the antenna to be pointed directly at them & it does not need an really strong antenna to receive them. I can receive them with a bow tie indoor antenna inside my house. But with a in door antenna it may go in & out as you walk around in the house. I have an out door UHF & the stations are are rock soild.. I receive all those stations & do not turn the antenna. These antennas I think would do it. http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=AD-SR15 or
http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=MXU47
or similer is about as much as you will need. An omni may work but they need a strong signal. there are stations in Charleston SC & Wilmington SC but they are the same netowrks of the stations I listed. Unless you really want to recieive stations from those cities I do not think a rotor or a omni is needed. I know if you have the TV cable they will not receive stations from those cities from HTC or TWC.

TDockUSC

As for a phone service I would go with Verizion. They have by far the best deal for phone & internet. They are not greedy & they do not raise your rates [as some companys do] if you do not go through them for TV signal.

But they will give you a great deal if you do go though them for Direct TV.

They are an honest company that does not get any of your Fed tax to fund their cables. They are just trying to stay alive with what they have. I have heard some angry customers that said they made a big mistake not going on verizion.

Someone told me that WMBF-NBC has started testing their broadcasts. Does anyone know what OTA they are using so I can check them out?

Someone told me that WMBF-NBC has started testing their broadcasts. Does anyone know what OTA they are using so I can check them out?

They will be over the UHF channel 32 freq. Their tower [according to the FCC] is 5 or 7 miles south east of Conway east of US 701. I thought I was receiving them the other day. But, as it turned out a HDTV NBC station up in northern NC I was receiving by the occassional TV DXing that some times happens.

Channel not available


I get this very often. It will come and go. I understand it has something to do with SDV problems but for what I pay it should not be a problem!!

Last night, for example, most of the baseball package channels had the message. It did come and go but that does make it hard to watch a game.

The night before most of the HD channels above 820 had the message.

I also see it once in a while on just random channels.

Anyone else have this and/or solved it?

Thanks

Often if you switch back to the channel it will be available because it has by then been switched in.

They will be over the UHF channel 32 freq. Their tower [according to the FCC] is 5 or 7 miles south east of Conway east of US 701. I thought I was receiving them the other day. But, as it turned out a HDTV NBC station up in northern NC I was receiving by the occassional TV DXing that some times happens.

Thanks

Thanks for all the replies guys, I appreciate it.

I just an article today which says that DTV will be adding HD locals here by the end of the year. I tried to post a link but it thinks I'm a spammer or something.

When that happens, would you cable folks still stay or move? If not, what's better about TWC here? Still trying to figure out what I'm going to do.

Thanks.

Anybody seeing a test signal from WMBF ch 32 yet?

Scott

Thanks for all the replies guys, I appreciate it.

I just an article today which says that DTV will be adding HD locals here by the end of the year. I tried to post a link but it thinks I'm a spammer or something.

When that happens, would you cable folks still stay or move? If not, what's better about TWC here? Still trying to figure out what I'm going to do.

Thanks.

All the providers want to sell you all your communications sevices. The offer a deal if you have 2 or more services. TWC is going to attempt to sell you your phone service. But I feel there dissadvantage to TWC phone service. I know that the Verizon central offices have their switching equipemnt powered by 48 volt batteries. The batteries of cource are powered by a 220 volt ac charger/power supply. Also they have a generator with a 500 gallon propane gas tank behind the building for power in case their is a power outage. In Myrtle Beach we do have power outages & hurricanes. TWC could not tell me that their phones would work in a long power outage. I know that in such a time with Verizion you will have a dial tone on your phone. TWC would not say their phone system would. In Myrtle Beach the power can be out for days.

Thus I would go with Verizion, phone wire line with a dsL & with the direct TV. I too get a UHF antenna to receive my local channels. I would have the antenna because it will still receive the TV signals even with every thing else is out. All of the TV stations al have generators so they will be on the air when the TV cable is out. If you put your antenna in the attic I would buy a small 12 db indoor single out put port amp like at K mart. I would put it in the attic right under the antenna. You can hook as many digital TVs as you want to it.

I have been here when we have hurricanes sitting in the TV dark because the cable at my folks was out. If you have your phgone through the TV cable it will be out too. In such times the cell phones are so overl loaded you can not make or receive calls too.

For those with Directv this September the Florence Myrtle Beach area should be getting their Locals in HD from their new satellite D11.

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

Any idea when/if WMBF 32 will begin testing? I scan daily to check but nothing yet,though I'm just outside their fringe area. Also on August 8th they go live and my TWC Lumberton NC hub is dropping WECT 6 NBC for WMBF 32 NBC on the 8th (we're part of the Florence/Myrtle Beach DMA).

WMBF is on the air with only a station id card steady on the screen. I do not know if this is an aux low power transmitter or the high power. I am so close I can not tell. MY RCA HD TV does not have a signal level meter. I have not hooked up my other dtv box to make a measurement. I need to connect my signal db meter to make a true measurement.