Get used to it. It all comes down to numbers. More viewers have 4:3 tv than have 16:9, the producers will continue to cater to these numbers for a long time. Would you rather have white space or advertisements in the "bonus" space? Eventually I'm hoping they do some sort of progressive stretching for the 4:3 broadcasts so the 16:9 broadcasts don't get wasted space.

It isn't just 16:9 vs 4:3 though. It is a combination of the two that isn't optimal for either, nor an optimal compromise between them.

For instance, on the second attachment, the one from today, there is a 4:3 area inside the 16:9 broadcast. Inside that 4:3 area is a 16:9 area with a 4:3 embedded another level deeper, all with jumbled overlays.

Certainly not everyone can be appeased, but the current arrangement is bad for both aspect ratios. Four channel 11 logos on the screen simultaneously? Seriously, four? ;-)

Obviously they're using multiple layers of overlays which were never intended to be run simultaneously. What needs to happen is the software and production workflow to be updated to have a single level of embedding. It will likely take a couple more years before broadcasters finally get the hang of it. Then a number of more years after that, it won't matter anyway. We'll finally be able to assume a viewership with all the same aspect ratio.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to bash WPXI in particular. They just had the worst example airing when I went to take screenshots.

For instance, on the second attachment, the one from today, there is a 4:3 area inside the 16:9 broadcast. Inside that 4:3 area is a 16:9 area with a 4:3 embedded another level deeper, all with jumbled overlays.

Certainly not everyone can be appeased, but the current arrangement is bad for both aspect ratios. Four channel 11 logos on the screen simultaneously? Seriously, four? ;-)

Obviously they're using multiple layers of overlays which were never intended to be run simultaneously. What needs to happen is the software and production workflow to be updated to have a single level of embedding. It will likely take a couple more years before broadcasters finally get the hang of it. Then a number of more years after that, it won't matter anyway. We'll finally be able to assume a viewership with all the same aspect ratio.

dfiler...here's what I know - and remember, don't kill the messenger.

The squeezeback with the closing information is a multipurpose squeezeback. It was redesigned to show a 16x9 aspect ratio and is used during both news programming and other programming. It was set up to include school closings/delays and a crawl with continuous traffic and weather information.

What you see inside the squeeze (in your two images) is what would normally come out of the news control room. Inside the window, it was a normal newscast and it looks just as it would even if there were no closings. Yes, there are lots of graphics, but I think in this particular instance you found what is perhaps the worst case scenerio as far as graphics are concerned. It would look awkward having four squeezebacks with no background under any circumstance.

In the second image, you talk about the difference in aspect ratios. What you're looking at here is a camera shot provided to us by Penn Dot. Again, this is an exception not a rule. We have a few options when dealing with native 4x3 - we can leave it 4x3 with no wings, we can create a 16x9 image by adding wings, or we can stretch it. We chose wings.

You talk about four logos. You've included the text seperator we use in the crawl and you've included the logo included in the banners.

Yes, while there is a lot going on in these two screenshots, you managed to capture what I would discribe as the worst case with respect to other images you might have captured and posted.

That being said, your points are well taken.

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

While we're on the topic of WPXI graphics, I'd like to suggest that they limit bottom banners on HD broadcasts to emergency issues only, and not to plug upcoming newscasts. During an afternoon Olympic event, up comes the banner "BREAKING NEWS: Tiger Woods to Speak!" Viewers were invited to stay tuned to the news which followed. I know that it's sweeps and all, but that is just wrong, in my opinion.

dfiler...here's what I know - and remember, don't kill the messenger.

The squeezeback with the closing information is a multipurpose squeezeback. It was redesigned to show a 16x9 aspect ratio and is used during both news programming and other programming. It was set up to include school closings/delays and a crawl with continuous traffic and weather information.

What you see inside the squeeze (in your two images) is what would normally come out of the news control room. Inside the window, it was a normal newscast and it looks just as it would even if there were no closings. Yes, there are lots of graphics, but I think in this particular instance you found what is perhaps the worst case scenerio as far as graphics are concerned. It would look awkward having four squeezebacks with no background under any circumstance.

In the second image, you talk about the difference in aspect ratios. What you're looking at here is a camera shot provided to us by Penn Dot. Again, this is an exception not a rule. We have a few options when dealing with native 4x3 - we can leave it 4x3 with no wings, we can create a 16x9 image by adding wings, or we can stretch it. We chose wings.

You talk about four logos. You've included the text seperator we use in the crawl and you've included the logo included in the banners.

Yes, while there is a lot going on in these two screenshots, you managed to capture what I would discribe as the worst case with respect to other images you might have captured and posted.

That being said, your points are well taken.

Dave Morrison
WPXI EngineeringThanks for the reply! I always enjoy reading your posts.

I'm holding out hope that WPXI will eventually figure out a way to use overlays without reducing the video image to tiny postage stamp in the middle of the screen. While a perfect solution likely doesn't exist for both 16:9 and 4:3 simultaneously, there are still definitely better solutions. For instance, WTAE found a way to overlay storm info without reducing screen usage.

As for the particular examples posted, those weren't cherry picked to make a point. They just happened to be what was on the screen when the screenshot was taken. They seem like a fair depiction of what WPXI looks like when running multiple levels of overlays or "squeezbacks" as you say. (Thanks for helping with the lingo)

To prove that point, here are two screen shots taken at the exact time of writing this post...

Once again, WTAE is using screen space wisely while WPXI is broadcasting in micro-vision. ;)

Once again, WTAE is using screen space wisely while WPXI is broadcasting in micro-vision. ;)

I looked at the time stamp on the two images you posted - one from WPXI and one from WTAE. Here's what I can tell you:

First on days where there are a lot of closings and delays, we air them throughout our local news as well as the Today Show. As a matter of fact, we were the first in the market to keep the closings and delays displayed during commercials. This seems to make sense. After the Today Show is over, we go to something similiar to the WTAE image that you posted. It is a lower profile version of the squeezeback with the school names scrolling across the bottom of the page.

So while nobody has a perfect system, we're trying to make it better...one of those was to enlarge the picture to help eliminate the "postage stamp" feel.

Dave

While we're on the topic of WPXI graphics, I'd like to suggest that they limit bottom banners on HD broadcasts to emergency issues only, and not to plug upcoming newscasts.

Or plugging the "Just Pay Half" promotion.

Or plugging the "Just Pay Half" promotion.

But it's been nice catching some rays from their new radar that has "revolutionized" weather forecasting! :D

Hey Dave Morrison,

Any updates on when the WPXI repeater will be up and running in Uniontown? I know the weather conditions up in the mountains will be causing delays. It would be nice to see some programming from you folks again. I'm also hoping somebody will focus an antenna lobe towards eastern Greene County.

BobS

... and now KDKA has jumped on the banner bandwagon, as Monday night they corrupted the HD broadcasts of the comedy shows repeatedly plugging their 11 pm news coverage of Sidney Crosby's arrival in Pittsburgh.

Newsworthy? Absolutely. Worthy of a banner during a network HD show? Absolutely not.

This coming Saturday morning, Mar.6th, might be good time for Tropo's in Western Pa.

http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html#hour24

Hey Dave Morrison,

Any updates on when the WPXI repeater will be up and running in Uniontown? I know the weather conditions up in the mountains will be causing delays. It would be nice to see some programming from you folks again. I'm also hoping somebody will focus an antenna lobe towards eastern Greene County.

BobS

No info for you yet. I'll let you all know as I learn more.

Dave

But it's been nice catching some rays from their new radar that has "revolutionized" weather forecasting! :D

Research said that our viewers wanted that warm, fuzzy feeling - and to have their microwave popcorn pop on the counter ;).

Dave

PSIP says "CMG-TV" but the program guide only shows "DTV Program" like 16-1 used to show in theirs.

For Dave Kasparek http://tvdxexpo.com/dunne5.html is a DX log I happened to accidentally come across.

FYI - The channel guide info for 11.2 RTV has been wrong for the past few days (evenings?)

I'm using a basic RCA set top antenna to try and access WJAC 6 out of Johnstown, I manual tune the receiver and get a weak signal not enough to lock it in. I think the problem is that the house I'm in has aluminum siding(had issues with wifi too) any ideas on getting a better signal? Also I'm getting a weak signal from WTAE as well so I know the antenna is good, seeing as to how I'm in the Coral area of Indiana county. I'm using a 30db amp and have attempted a parabolic reflector with no luck, the reflector actually seems to decrease signal from both channels.

I'm using a basic RCA set top antenna to try and access WJAC 6 out of Johnstown, I manual tune the receiver and get a weak signal not enough to lock it in. I think the problem is that the house I'm in has aluminum siding(had issues with wifi too) any ideas on getting a better signal? Also I'm getting a weak signal from WTAE as well so I know the antenna is good, seeing as to how I'm in the Coral area of Indiana county. I'm using a 30db amp and have attempted a parabolic reflector with no luck, the reflector actually seems to decrease signal from both channels.

If the skin of the house is metal, you have to get the antenna outside of the envelope. RF signals cannot penetrate metal.

You might get lucky and get some signal trough a glass window, but you still have to avoid metal window screens and low-E glass with metallic films.

The biggest amplifier in the world cannot make up for a signal that doesn't arrive at the antenna.

If the skin of the house is metal, you have to get the antenna outside of the envelope. RF signals cannot penetrate metal.

You might get lucky and get some signal trough a glass window, but you still have to avoid metal window screens and low-E glass with metallic films.

The biggest amplifier in the world cannot make up for a signal that doesn't arrive at the antenna.


Ok so I put the antenna outside, I now have a world of new channels opened up, however I still get weak signals too weak to capture any streams. I have the 30db amp hooked up, what if anything can I do to get these signals to where I can capture the streams to get a lock?

The next thing to do is to get a proper antenna. First, go to tvfool.com, select the "start maps" option, put in your address, then click the map this button. Zoom in on the map and drag the receive location over your location if it's not there already. Adjust the antenna height to what you will use, then click on the "make radar plot" button. Share your results by posting the URL as instructed and we'll take a crack at suggesting something that will work.

Ok so I plotted out my address which can be found here, http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3db7c809e0cd1a55 from what I can see an attic mounted antenna is sufficient, however a roof mount may be better. If this is the case could the roof mount be mounted on a tripod and still achieve good results? Reason I ask is I have an omnidirectional dish that can be adapted to a tripod, I've never hooked it up due to not having the time to do so

Anyone seeing WEMW-LD 19 on the air in the Greensburg area? Should be repeating WBGN-CD. Not sure how it's mapping.

- Trip

I have the 30db amp hooked up, what if anything can I do to get these signals to where I can capture the streams to get a lock?

What do you see when you take the amp out of the line? Any improvement? Degradation? Sometimes these amps cause more harm than good to a digital signal.

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

What do you see when you take the amp out of the line? Any improvement? Degradation? Sometimes these amps cause more harm than good to a digital signal.

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering


Actually I never tried putting the antenna directly into line with the converter, I'll have to look at it to see what we get

Does anyone know what happened to the sub-channels on WBGN [59-x, UHF 16]? :confused:

Last night as I was tuning past 59-1 I couldn't go to 59-2, etc. as it kept throwing me back to 59-1. Then as I switched to the number pad to select the channel I noticed that hitting "5" didn't present me with a listing of any channels except for 53-1 and 59-1.

And as of this evening they (59-2, 59-3, 59-4) haven't comeback.

So did something happen that the station is unaware of; or was this a planned removal of the subs?

By the way losing their subs has improved my reception of the main WBGN signal.

Try re-scanning. I still get 59-2 and 59-3 but 59-4 (STUFF) disappeared.

Anyone seeing WEMW-LD 19 on the air in the Greensburg area? Should be repeating WBGN-CD. Not sure how it's mapping.

- Trip

Trip, nothing showing here..................

Anyone seeing WEMW-LD 19 on the air in the Greensburg area? Should be repeating WBGN-CD. Not sure how it's mapping.

No, I have been checking RF 19 daily to see if it's on the air. I'm not far from Greensburg, so their digital signal should reach me.

What do you see when you take the amp out of the line? Any improvement? Degradation? Sometimes these amps cause more harm than good to a digital signal.

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

Ok so I took the amp out of the equation, and had no improvement, so I added a length of cable and got the antenna up another 3 ft or so and boom instant reception, however I have some minor tearing but am getting good signal on 2, 4, 6, and 53. I suppose if I get it up a few more feet we'll be in great shape. Why didn't I think of that sooner? I guess it's one of those so simple we forget to try things

Ok so I took the amp out of the equation, and had no improvement, so I added a length of cable and got the antenna up another 3 ft or so and boom instant reception, however I have some minor tearing but am getting good signal on 2, 4, 6, and 53. I suppose if I get it up a few more feet we'll be in great shape. Why didn't I think of that sooner? I guess it's one of those so simple we forget to try things

The short answer is - the higher the better

My question is for both Daves:

What hardware encoders did you guys go with when you made the move to HD?

I'm guessing WPXI upgraded to something more recent with the new studio and all.

Did you guys at WTAE keep your old MPEG-2 hardware encoder or did you have to upgrade (if it was standard definition only)?

Did you guys do shoot outs between brands to determine the best ones or do you go by reputation or whatever consultants tell you?

I'm curious to know because there seems to be a good deal of competition and innovation in the broadcast encoder market. Developers can sell more of these than offline software encoders and see a better ROI.

The short answer is - the higher the better
Higher was always better when receiving analog. In digital land, higher is not necessarily better. You simply have to find the "sweet spot".

Dave

With Cox (WPXI), Hearst (WTAE), and Sinclair (WPGH, WPMY) all members of the Open Mobile Video Coalition when are we going to hear something about ATSC M/H in Pittsburgh? With the FCC taking a use it or lose it attitude toward OTA UHF spectrum it's not like the stations have any time to waste.

Higher was always better when receiving analog. In digital land, higher is not necessarily better. You simply have to find the "sweet spot".

Dave

It would be more accurate to say that "Higher is almost always better". Digital is no different than analog in this regard. UHF signals still layer more than VHF (since many old analog stations were on VHF but are now on UHF) and you're still looking for the strongest RF field with the least amount of reflected or distorted signal.

Because of the greater preponderance of digital on UHF relative to VHF, you really have to pay more attention to the idiosyncrasies of UHF propagation and reception than you used to.

Hey Dave Morrison,

Any updates on when the WPXI repeater in New Castle on RF 33 will be put up? I’m going to guess you’ll have that get that up first due to WDLI future interference with RF 48. Just curious.

While we're talking WPXI repeaters, any news about when the Uniontown repeater will be up? Thanks.

While we're talking WPXI repeaters, any news about when the Uniontown repeater will be up? Thanks.

Yup! Yesterday (4/22) at 7:30pm. You'll find it on channel 23 and it is mapped to 11.1 and 11.2. Happy viewing!

Yup! Yesterday (4/22) at 7:30pm. You'll find it on channel 23 and it is mapped to 11.1 and 11.2. Happy viewing!

Thank you Dave! Nice to have channel 11 back in eastern Greene County. Again, THANKS and WELL DONE!!!
":)"

Yup! Yesterday (4/22) at 7:30pm. You'll find it on channel 23 and it is mapped to 11.1 and 11.2. Happy viewing!

Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally, I have a rock solid signal on 11 from McClellandtown! Now I can really enjoy the RTV channel.

Now, if Only QED would do the same, I'd be really happy.

Yup! Yesterday (4/22) at 7:30pm. You'll find it on channel 23 and it is mapped to 11.1 and 11.2. Happy viewing!

Any chance those of us in Morgantown, WV will get a signal that is usable?

Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally, I have a rock solid signal on 11 from McClellandtown! Now I can really enjoy the RTV channel.

Now, if Only QED would do the same, I'd be really happy.
McClellandtown is a couple of miles due east from me. I think we can write off ever seeing WQED ever again. We are considered as line of sight to CH33 which is WV PBS. The next thing in our section of the state is to see if KDKA follows through on adding a repeater to the WV PBS site on CH31 as originally planned and approved.

Any chance those of us in Morgantown, WV will get a signal that is usable?

Can you not lock on channel 23? In the downtown area you might have a problem, but if you higher up (like around the Coleseum or the hospitals) I would expect a lock.

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

Nope, I was able to see a little bit of the signal one night, but was not strong enough. Course I am down below the coliseum a little so I imagine that the signal is not strong enough to go down in to the mon river valley part of westover. I need to get a little bit bigger antenna and try again, but the little yagi I have (50 mile range one) didn't seem to do too well.

McClellandtown is a couple of miles due east from me. I think we can write off ever seeing WQED ever again. We are considered as line of sight to CH33 which is WV PBS. The next thing in our section of the state is to see if KDKA follows through on adding a repeater to the WV PBS site on CH31 as originally planned and approved.

I think this may be happening some time here soon, based off the fact that WNPB was off air during some day light hours while "some antenna" work was done. Trying to remember when it happened, but think it was a couple of weeks ago i remember seeing it on comcast announcement.

This is from the WV Public Broadcasting website:

WV PBS maximizing coverage in northern West Virginia with signal upgrades

The digital tv antenna will be moved to the top of the tower

More than 94,000 additional viewers will be added to the current coverage area of West Virginia PBS’s signal in northern West Virginia after a $1.1 million transmission project is completed for the Morgantown transmitter (WNPB). This project will temporarily affect the coverage of television and radio signals in the Northern WV area.

During daytime hours March 22-April 23, the WNPB viewing area will experience extended periods of off-air time as crews install a new antenna and transmission line. Evening and weekend hours should not be affected. The outages will affect both over-the-air and cable viewers in several West Virginia counties including all or parts of: Barbour, Brooke, Doddridge, Grant, Harrison, Marshall, Mineral, Ohio, Preston, Randolph, Tucker, Tyler and Wetzel counties as well as Garrett County in Maryland and Somerset, Fayette, Greene and Washington counties in Pennsylvania.

This is from the WV Public Broadcasting website:

WV PBS maximizing coverage in northern West Virginia with signal upgrades

The digital tv antenna will be moved to the top of the tower ....



All is well and good, but I'd LOVE to get my WQED Neighborhood Channel :( Maybe WV PBS could carry it as another subchannel?? HINT, HINT!!!!!!!!

I'm getting addicted to all the HD documentaries. Good stuff. :)

Another subchannel has appeared on WPCB at 40-3 as "HD-test." So far it is just the same programming from 40-1 and 40-2 in pilarbox format.

Is there any chance of getting any signal from any Pittsburgh TV station here in Carmichaels? I live in an apartment that dose not allow any-type of outside antennas.
I tried numerous types of digital amplified indoor antennas on the market and the only TV station I can get is WNPB TV 24-1 24-2 24-3 Morgantown. I have a f Who live friend
Who lives across town that has an outside antenna and they get Channels 4, 11, 13, 24, and channel 5 out of Clarksburg WV.

Is there any chance of getting any signal from any Pittsburgh TV station here in Carmichaels? I live in an apartment that dose not allow any-type of outside antennas.
I tried numerous types of digital amplified indoor antennas on the market and the only TV station I can get is WNPB TV 24-1 24-2 24-3 Morgantown. I have a f Who live friend
Who lives across town that has an outside antenna and they get Channels 4, 11, 13, 24, and channel 5 out of Clarksburg WV.

Which antennas have you tried and which amplifiers? Do you have access to an attic space? I think you can do better than what you are receiving.

Which antennas have you tried and which amplifiers? Do you have access to an attic space? I think you can do better than what you are receiving.

I tried some from RCA, Phillips, and Radio Shack. I have no attic because
I live in a housing project. HUD just add new fluorescent lights in the halls
and ever since they did that Its been tearing up the radio and TV bands as well.

First step is to visit TVFool.com, use the "Start MAPS" option, and be sure the receive location is where it should be and the antenna height above ground reflects your situation. Share the results by pasting the URL here as instructed. That will tell us what signals are "in the air" your location in detail.

Is anyone able to still pickup WBGN? I use to be able to pull it in on all of my sets, now I get nothing. I have a Toshiba LCD with an extremely strong turner on the second floor with an amplified antenna and I don't even get a blip on channel 16. I'm only 12 miles SW of the city. Are they still broadcasting a digital signal?

First step is to visit TVFool.com, use the "Start MAPS" option, and be sure the receive location is where it should be and the antenna height above ground reflects your situation. Share the results by pasting the URL here as instructed. That will tell us what signals are "in the air" your location in detail.

Here are my Coordinates Lat:39.88376, Lon:-79.97839 20ft AGL

I can't post up link to this fourm I get this message.

You are only allowed to post URLs once you have at least 3 posts. If you are a spammer, please go elsewhere. If not, sorry for this issue the spammers have made for.

So I posted up my Coordinates and height above.

Here (http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3dcd726fe79c70b6) is KB3REN's TVFool plot. Judging from plotting KDKA's signal coverage before making the radar plot, you are in the area where western PA's rolling hills have scattered shadows all over the place from the downtown Pittsburgh transmitters. That someone across town can get better results is no surprise - that's how signal coverage can vary in this kind of terrain that that's why a tool like TVFool can be so handy.

Now, to the details! WNPB 33 (24.1) comes in like a ton of bricks. No surprise, as you have a clear shot (LOS = line of sight) at that antenna from Chestnut Ridge. Just about anything will pick this up. Next down the list is WTAE 51 (4.1) and that is because it is 15 miles closer to you than any other Pittsburgh station. Following is a repeater for WPXI on 23, WDTV 5 (5.1), and KDKA 25 (2.1). After KDKA, signal strengths take a real hit, and I doubt seriously that you have any chance to get any of these weaker stations indoors. Frankly, you're going to have a challenge getting anything beyond WNPB.

The indoor antenna that I've seen recommended more than any other is the Terk HDTVi. You could try this if you haven't already, but I can't guarantee that you'll get anything but WNPB and, maybe, WTAE. For reliable reception, the digital TV signal must be stronger than background noise by a certain amount. TVFool helps you gauge this with the "NM", or noise margin, values.

Signals with an NM of 0 will decode, given no other losses. Since signals are subject to fading not accounted for in the predictions, an NM of 10 is usually considered the right goal. In your case, your building probably knocks 20 dB or so off signals, so we need to subtract that from NM's in your report. That puts everything but WNPB below 0. Antenna gain will add to the NM, but indoor antennas typically have only 1 to 3 dB gain (amplifiers DO NOT count in these calculations). That's why you're having such trouble.

If you can tolerate a bigger antenna inside, you can build a 4-bay bow-tie antenna pretty easily for almost nothing. Check out plans here (http://m4antenna.eastmasonvilleweather.com/index.html) that evolved from the "coat hangar" designs from YouTube and other sites. Use the plans from this site only, as the "coat hangar" designs are far from optimum. You could get as much as 14 dB gain, which would get you enough signal to maybe pull in KDKA most of the time.

Without being able to move the antenna outside, that's about the best you can do. Good luck!

Any word on RF 33 for WPXI in New Castle? I was there the other day, with my portable digiTV, and no sign of it.

WYTV came in better than last time I was there, due to its big new signal. Only thing on the TV was 21/27/33 (RF 20/41/36, of course) and the 29 analog translator for WPCB out of Sharon.

Is anyone able to still pickup WBGN? I use to be able to pull it in on all of my sets, now I get nothing. I have a Toshiba LCD with an extremely strong turner on the second floor with an amplified antenna and I don't even get a blip on channel 16. I'm only 12 miles SW of the city. Are they still broadcasting a digital signal?

yes they are not sure why your not getting it anymore im 22 miles ne of city and it comes in great you may wanna contact wbgn and see if they maybe doing something different

Oh, I also got 45 in New Castle.

It'll be interesting when WPXI puts up RF 33 there. It'll give Lawrence County decent reception of two ABC affiliates. Of course, Lawrence County is actually in the Pgh market, at least in recent years, despite its proximity to Youngstown.

My son is in a high rise near Highland Park, with a good view of the sorrounding terrain. What OTA channels should he get, and what are the actual broadcast channels? Just a pointer to the thread and message number should do it, or a link. Everything I find on the Internet is precutover and obsolete.

My son is in a high rise near Highland Park, with a good view of the sorrounding terrain. What OTA channels should he get, and what are the actual broadcast channels? Just a pointer to the thread and message number should do it, or a link. Everything I find on the Internet is precutover and obsolete.

You want to use the TV Fool (http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1) tool. Enter the address, and you'll get a very nice display of stations and estimates of how easy/difficult they will be to receive.
Keep in mind specifics such as nearby tress and tall buildings are not part of the calculation, but this is the best tool out there. Good luck.

yes they are not sure why your not getting it anymore im 22 miles ne of city and it comes in great you may wanna contact wbgn and see if they maybe doing something different

It's funny, I posted this and then it started working again. Saturday I was able to get it on all of my TVs again, just in time for the It's Alive show. :) Not sure what happened. I'm not sure where their transmitter is. I know the offices are up on Greentree road. Still, I'm up at the top of a hill and can see the tips of downtown from where I'm at, so I can't imagine why I wouldn't get constant signal.

It's funny, I posted this and then it started working again. Saturday I was able to get it on all of my TVs again, just in time for the It's Alive show. :) Not sure what happened. I'm not sure where their transmitter is. I know the offices are up on Greentree road. Still, I'm up at the top of a hill and can see the tips of downtown from where I'm at, so I can't imagine why I wouldn't get constant signal.

They are on WQED's tower in the Oakland section.

Great TROPO conditions this evening, after the storm! Was doing fine till my Channel Master rotor went out of sync again.WTOV and WFMJ came in at 100%. Usually 55%.

has wtae 4.3/4.4 crapped out for anyone since the storm last week or is it just me?

has wtae 4.3/4.4 crapped out for anyone since the storm last week or is it just me?
Can't lock the fill-in translator (4.3/4.4?) due to terrain issues but there appears to be be a signal and 4.1/4.2 are working here.

4.3 and 4.4 are all i get in the city. they were dead for like two solid days following friday night's storm, but came back to life only hours after i made that post yesterday. i was mostly hoping that nothing had damaged my antenna, and considering they just came back i'm guessing they must have just had some kind of problem with the 4.3/4.4 antenna over the weekend.

has wtae 4.3/4.4 crapped out for anyone since the storm last week or is it just me?

I am having problems WTAE too. 4.1 though. I have had to start watching it on the Dish. As luck would have it I am now having problems with DishNetworks 118 sat signal too. Sometimes I can't watch WTAE at all.

yes they are not sure why your not getting it anymore im 22 miles ne of city and it comes in great you may wanna contact wbgn and see if they maybe doing something different

now i am having trouble with wbgn it was on sometimes when i put it on come back later and its not was wondering if anyone else been having same issue its been going on past 2 days

TONIGHT AGAIN Tropo conditions great! After 8 this evening,started looking for distant stations. For the first time ever I received WEWS 5.1 WKYC 3.1 and ION 23.1 qubo 23.2 ION LIFE 23.3. Does anyone know where ION comes from?

TONIGHT AGAIN Tropo conditions great! After 8 this evening,started looking for distant stations. For the first time ever I received WEWS 5.1 WKYC 3.1 and ION 23.1 qubo 23.2 ION LIFE 23.3. Does anyone know where ION comes from?

Down the street from me? :D

WVPX/23 Akron, OH - the Cleveland market ION O&O.

BTW, I was in New Castle the other day, and still no WPXI digital translator.

Anyone hear anything about the KDKA translator in Morgantown? It was approved a while ago.

I live near Morgantown, and I pick up the new WPXI repeater great.

Has anyone been able to get 8.1 WWCP in the Pittsburgh area since the switch? I've read the previos comments about their new, low strength but was wondering if any setup would have success. My TVFool info cannot be posted yet do to lack of posts but its listed as follows:

Nm = 26.8 PWR = -64 Path = 1EDGE DIst = 47.5 Azimuth = 105
Its in the yellow zone

Before the switch to VHF I was able to pick it up with a Radioshack dish type antenna indoors next to the TV. As an Eagles fan in Steeler country I need this station back!! Help :)

Anyone hear anything about the KDKA translator in Morgantown? It was approved a while ago.

I live near Morgantown, and I pick up the new WPXI repeater great.
While the application was accepted for filing over a year ago there is no indication in the FCC database of approval.

While the application was accepted for filing over a year ago there is no indication in the FCC database of approval.

Sorry, I misread it. The FCC has it under "Accepted for Filing". What exactly does that mean?

Sorry, I misread it. The FCC has it under "Accepted for Filing". What exactly does that mean?

That means the FCC has not yet taken action on it.

- Trip

Has anyone been able to get 8.1 WWCP in the Pittsburgh area since the switch? ... Before the switch to VHF I was able to pick it up with a Radioshack dish type antenna indoors next to the TV. As an Eagles fan in Steeler country I need this station back!! Help :)

My TV FOOL conditions here are a bit worse than yours, but I have an 8' long VHF-UHF antenna in the attic, and I have been unable to lock on to channel 8 since the switch back from UHF. It doesn't matter so much now that I can get WTAE on 4-3.

My suggestion...
Put up the biggest antenna you can find on the highest pole allowable. The neighbors are sure to complain, so just hang a huge STEELERS banner from the antenna. They'll just assume you've converted, and ignore the fact that there's a big antenna above the banner. (No guarantee of reception, though.) :) If that doesn't work, does DirecTV still have NFL Sunday ticket? :cool:

Has anyone been able to get 8.1 WWCP in the Pittsburgh area since the switch?
Hopefully they're enjoying some savings on their power bill at WWCP because I can't think of any other reason for giving up that beautiful million watt channel 29 signal for a short spaced underpowered VHF disaster. They probably should have at least asked the FCC for a 15 kW channel 29 fill in translator from the same tower.

Hopefully they're enjoying some savings on their power bill at WWCP because I can't think of any other reason for giving up that beautiful million watt channel 29 signal for a short spaced underpowered VHF disaster. They probably should have at least asked the FCC for a 15 kW channel 29 fill in translator from the same tower.

They are not overly concerned with OTA, especially outside the Johnstown-Altoona-State College DMA, so long as they get cable and satellite systems to carry them.
As for translators, they have missed the chance to use RF 29 since WJAC snapped it up for a translator in Bedford.

is anyone else seeing this weird ghosting/blurring in the steelers-giants broadcast? this is the second week in the row for this issue in steelers preseason games. it looks like an encoding (?) error on KDKA's end or something. i was wondering if anyone else has noticed and/or knows what causes that. looks like crap.

I'm noticing it too! It looks horrible!

I have a question to ask for someone who knows alot about installing antennas. I'm planning on re doing my antenna setup and currently don't have it grounded to a water pipe or to a pole in the ground. But on my current setup I have a channal master 7777 pre amp on the antenna and since I have the cable going into power amp and it's plugged into the outlet, wouldn't that be grounding.

I have a question to ask for someone who knows alot about installing antennas. I'm planning on re doing my antenna setup and currently don't have it grounded to a water pipe or to a pole in the ground. But on my current setup I have a channal master 7777 pre amp on the antenna and since I have the cable going into power amp and it's plugged into the outlet, wouldn't that be grounding.

No, a wall-wart does not provide ANY grounding, much less a suitable one.

See NEC Article 810.21 for details of what a properly grounded antenna system would be . Your local library or building inspector's office should have a copy.

Well I watched the opening season game on WPXI last night. The OTA HD picture quality was disappointing. People looked mushy and the encoder looked like it had a poor slew rate. Objects would become highly quantized and distorted on transitions and quick cuts more so than on other football broadcasts I've seen.

hey is anyone else experiencing pixeling on ch 13 even though u are getting a good signal just wondering

Imagine my surprise when I went to the Spectrum Bridge website and put in zip code 15222 and saw them list channel 22 as vacant and available for use by TV Band (white space) Devices. Just to be sure I checked the FCC database and it clearly indicates that WTAE's translator is licensed.

Is KDKA fubared?

WPMY is now airing theCoolTV (http://www.thecooltv.com/) on 22-2, and hopefully Sinclair keeps it around longer than they kept The Tube.

WPMY is now airing theCoolTV (http://www.thecooltv.com/) on 22-2, and hopefully Sinclair keeps it around longer than they kept The Tube.

just so you know i believe the channel they were carrying the tube went out of business thats why it went off

just so you know i believe the channel they were carrying the tube went out of business thats why it went off

Sinclair pulled it on 1/1/2007 because they claimed issues with EAS and EI compliance, but it continued to operate for another nine months until finally closing down on 10/1/2007. It was no doubt a significant blow to them to lose a large station group such as Sinclair.

Sinclair pulled it on 1/1/2007 because they claimed issues with EAS and EI compliance, but it continued to operate for another nine months until finally closing down on 10/1/2007. It was no doubt a significant blow to them to lose a large station group such as Sinclair.

you are right sorry about that it was before i got on with digital tv i apolguise for the mistake

anyone else noticing an obscene amount of combing on the broncos-ravens game? most noticeable in the graphics crawl.

Must be a KDKA issue then since I'm seeing this on DirecTV as well. I thought I'd check here to see if anyone else was seeing this atrocious PQ issue so I'd know who to blame. :p

I'm having a strange issue with WPXI (11.1 / 2) I'm in Penn Hills with a rooftop antenna and rotor, and I have an older LG LCD TV with ATSC tuner, an OLD tube TV with a radio shack converter box, and a newly purchased Hauppauge HVR-1250 TV tuner card for my computer. WPXI comes in (and always has) come in fine on the LG TV and Converter Box. It was fine on the Hauppauge last week when I first installed it and tested it out. Last night and tonight, I had failed recordings due to no signal (I'm using Windows 7 Media Center).

Sure enough, when I attempt to change the channel to 11, it doesn't show up. I get a message that there is no signal. If I leave the hauppauge tuned to 11, eventually it will show up, and doesn't seem to lose the signal. Only when I change channels and then go back to 11.

When I do a signal strength scan in Windows Media Center, it usually shows 1 bar on 11. What things can I do to try to solve this issue? I bought the Hauppauge to record my favorite shows which happen to be on NBC!

Thanks,
Todd

EDIT: I did several more signal strength scans and sometimes is shows all 6 bars for 11.1 and 11.2, sometimes 11.1 has 6 bars with 11.2 having 1 bar as well as the other way around. They fluctuate on repeated scans (Windows Media Center scans all the channels, then goes back to the beginning.)

anyone else noticing an obscene amount of combing on the broncos-ravens game? most noticeable in the graphics crawl.

Must be a KDKA issue then since I'm seeing this on DirecTV as well. I thought I'd check here to see if anyone else was seeing this atrocious PQ issue so I'd know who to blame. :p

I think they have their interlaced fields mixed up. Deinterlacers are going to utterly fail.

The combing effect doesn't look too bad if I sit far enough away on my DLP.

However, on my Kuro, it looks absolutely horrendous and sticks out so badly.

The Country Network (http://www.afncountry.com/), a service which airs country music videos, is now on WPGH's second channel.

This is rather interesting.
What's up with this?
I picked up a stray analog signal on ch 2 this morning, thinking it might be e-skip from Canada.
But no, it is KDKA.
Here's a screencap taken about 8:29 AM
http://i348.photobucket.com/albums/q341/MainyYak/351cae6a.png

As of 10:00 AM they are still on the air.

Perhaps they signed on for the tornadopocolypse that never happened yesterday?

Probably cable leakage from a nearby cable system. Does the nearby system have KDKA on 2?

- Trip

Ahhhh... static.
Makes me nostalgic, all misty eyed for the analog era of yesteryear.

But seriously, real soon now kids won't even know what analog static even looks like.

This is rather interesting.
What's up with this?
I picked up a stray analog signal on ch 2 this morning, thinking it might be e-skip from Canada.
But no, it is KDKA.

Is Atlantic Broadband the cable company near you? They carry KDKA on 2 so that is probably the source.

Years ago I thought I was getting WWOR-9 New York on my little portable TV, but then it went to that EMI Service programming rather than the actual WWOR schedule.

Probably cable leakage from a nearby cable system. Does the nearby system have KDKA on 2?

- Trip

yeah.

well, I'm feeling pretty silly about now. :)

Anyone know what happened to the business channel on 16.2? It has been MIA for the past 3 or 4 days.

I think I might have solved the case of the missing CMG-TV subchannel.

Ion Buying WQEX Pittsburgh for $3 Million (http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/2010/11/08/46835/ion-buying-wqex-pittsburgh-for-3-million)

This is something they should have done long ago and would finally give them an OTA presence here in the largest market they don't have one. It's been a long and windy road to get one, as trying to get an affiliate of Ion's predecessor Pax, involving 16 and 40, fell through back in the late 90s.

About a week and a half ago we had a big change in the air mass over the Pittsburgh/Western PA region. So is anyone else having TV reception problems?

I suppose I should point out all the signals I receive at my location are via 2-edge diffraction (strong broadcast stations like KDKA, WTAE, WPGH, etc.) or by Tropo (weak broadcast stations like WTRF).

As for me, my viewing has been dependent not on what shows I want to watch, but on what stations I can receive depending on the time of day; how high the sun is; the air temperature, etc, etc. :(

A little late to reply but I'm having trouble with KDKA for the last 3 weeks.
The signal strength has dropped to almost nothing since then. I get alot of pixelation too. All my other stations are fine though.....

I hope they haven't cut back on their signal strength intentionally....

Weigel Broadcasting of Chicago, part owner of THIS, will be launching Me-TV (http://www.metvnetwork.com/) (Memorable Entertainment Television) nationwide December 8. Me-TV has been airing on subchannels on Weigel stations in Chicago and Milwaukee for several years.

It'll be interesting to see if WTAE picks it up, since being an affiliate of THIS it would have first right of refusal.

Weigel Broadcasting Inc. Announces the National Launch of its Classic TV Network, 'Me-TV' (http://www.metvnetwork.com/metv_release.pdf)

I can't believe that I can only get WTAE this morning. all other channels seem to be not coming in.

Anyone else having weird issues this week?

Joe, from North Hills, Bellevue

---

EDIT: Well now I seem to be getting everything. So who knows....

WPCB is now broadcasting an HD signal on 40-1 and have started an SD channel on 40-3.

hi I'm experimenting with OTA HD channels.

I'm in Pittsburgh near Oakland, using rabbit ears & get all channels ok (ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS) but struggle to get WPGH 43 (FOX 53.1) Its 4.3 miles away according to antennaweb. Anyone have ideas how to fix this ? Thanks

I'm a mile away in the North Hills and I struggle as well.

Antennaweb is not terribly accurate. Use TVFool.com instead. Be sure to use your complete address for best results.

A different style of indoor antenna may be in order. A loop/rabbit ears combo is the first thing to try, as they are very cheap. A Terk HDTVi would be the next thing to try.

has anyone heard about when ion is suppose to take over wqex

The FCC has to approve the sale of WQEX to Ion. Once they give the OK, it'll take a day, a week, a month, who knows for the switch to be final.

Speaking of the FCC, has anyone heard anything about KDKA's translator in Morgantown? It's been almost two years since they applied (July of 2009).

Speaking of the FCC, has anyone heard anything about KDKA's translator in Morgantown? It's been almost two years since they applied (July of 2009).

After a year in waiting I gave up on them to do this. I'm still hoping to see something but I'd bet it has something to do with market based funding. Since then I put up the old UHF/VHF antenna and pointed it south toward WDTV CH5 Clarksburg, WV and started watching CBS from there. I have only seen KDKA 3 or 4 times since they went digital.

After a year in waiting I gave up on them to do this. I'm still hoping to see something but I'd bet it has something to do with market based funding. Since then I put up the old UHF/VHF antenna and pointed it south toward WDTV CH5 Clarksburg, WV and started watching CBS from there. I have only seen KDKA 3 or 4 times since they went digital.

Do you also receive WBOY and WVFX?

- Trip

Do you also receive WBOY and WVFX?

- Trip

I get WBOY 90% of the time using a higher mounted VHF 10 element yagi antenna. I have had very little luck in getting WVFX Fox, about as good as trying to get KDKA. I was hoping to get WVFX because Fox Network is a tough one to get where I am located.

Back on November 28 (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=19558286#post19558286), I mentioned that Weigel Broadcasting was launching another retro TV network and Pittsburgh will be getting it...at the cost of another retro TV network.

Me-TV will replace RTV at 11-2 effective June 13: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/more/s_730137.html.

Back on November 28 (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=19558286#post19558286), I mentioned that Weigel Broadcasting was launching another retro TV network and Pittsburgh will be getting it...at the cost of another retro TV network.

Me-TV will replace RTV at 11-2 effective June 13: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/more/s_730137.html.

ty for the info that is a total shock cause they havent done much to get affliates like antenna tv has and i thought for sure antenna tv would be first in pittsburgh market but getting back to rtv i am thinking its not the last we heard of them they can get on one of the other channel like 22 or 53 they both can have another subchannel so i wouldnt worry just yet we might lose rtv temp but im sure they will be back

ty for the info that is a total shock cause they havent done much to get affliates like antenna tv has and i thought for sure antenna tv would be first in pittsburgh market but getting back to rtv i am thinking its not the last we heard of them they can get on one of the other channel like 22 or 53 they both can have another subchannel so i wouldnt worry just yet we might lose rtv temp but im sure they will be back
Seriously? No sentences or paragraphs?

Hint: You might find sentences useful when attempting to communicate with humans.

Edit: looking at you posting history, it appears that you have yet to post using sentences. Please be courteous to everyone on AVS and start using sentences!

ty for the info that is a total shock cause they havent done much to get affliates like antenna tv has

What? Antenna TV has very few affiliates outside of those owned or operated by its parent company, Tribune, just like MeTV.

Announced MeTV affiliates not owned by Weigel:
WCCB Charlotte
WOLO Columbia
WFXB Myrtle Beach
WFXS Wausau
WPXI Pittsburgh
K46KA Pahrump

Total: 6

Announced Antenna TV affiliates not owned by Tribune/Local TV:
KGMC Fresno
WDRB Louisville
KWKB Cedar Rapids
WNMN Saranac Lake (Burlington)
WJFW Wausau
KWWT Odessa
WZMQ Marquette
K26GS/K07XL Harrison

Total: 8

Not a huge difference, really.

- Trip

Seriously? No sentences or paragraphs?

Hint: You might find sentences useful when attempting to communicate with humans.

Edit: looking at you posting history, it appears that you have yet to post using sentences. Please be courteous to everyone on AVS and start using sentences!

ok whatever u say didnt kow you were a teacher.thought this was a forum not school

ok whatever u say didnt kow you were a teacher.thought this was a forum not school

If you wish to correspond with technical people, you'll need to loose the attitude and the terrible lack of communications skills you have exhibited. If you want to converse like a slacker, text someone or go hang out with people who think that acting the fool is actually cool.

If you wish to correspond with technical people, you'll need to loose the attitude and the terrible lack of communications skills you have exhibited. If you want to converse like a slacker, text someone or go hang out with people who think that acting the fool is actually cool.
i dont have an attitude,as far as technical people whats technical about talking about station swapping among other things.

I think I might have solved the case of the missing CMG-TV subchannel.

Ion Buying WQEX Pittsburgh for $3 Million (http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/2010/11/08/46835/ion-buying-wqex-pittsburgh-for-3-million)

This is something they should have done long ago and would finally give them an OTA presence here in the largest market they don't have one. It's been a long and windy road to get one, as trying to get an affiliate of Ion's predecessor Pax, involving 16 and 40, fell through back in the late 90s.

Does anybody have any NEW info on ION?

Does anybody have any NEW info on ION?

Just got off the phone with someone at wqed. She said ion wont be on til september30th.That is when the shopnbc contract runs out.

Does anybody have any NEW info on ION?

The call letters have changed as 16-1 is now showing up as "WINP-DT," the ones ION planned to use.

My apologizes if this is posted in the wrong forum but I couldn't find a Uniontown thread.

I just heard from a friend and saw online in a newspaper article that Atlantic Broadband has switched to 100% digital in the Uniontown area.

Does anybody know more about this?

The article says people were given a STB for analog TVs and I am wondering does that mean, they are giving people their channels in ClearQAM and just blocking them out with traps if you are to not get them?

I ask because I hope when they convert in the Johnstown area they don't require a converter box on every single TV as I have 3 QAM TVs and only one analog.

Is the STB free, as I could obviously use that on the 1 analog TV.

Just got off the phone with someone at wqed. She said ion wont be on til september30th.That is when the shopnbc contract runs out.

Thanks for the information hooviebaby on Ion network. I just checked TitanTv listings and they already list Ion as active in the Pittsburgh market. I guess they jumped the gun. It would have been nice to see something different on 16 instead of that boring jewelry channel.What a waste of a good signal!:confused:

Thanks for the information hooviebaby on Ion network. I just checked TitanTv listings and they already list Ion as active in the Pittsburgh market. I guess they jumped the gun. It would have been nice to see something different on 16 instead of that boring jewelry channel.What a waste of a good signal!:confused:

your welcome dxernut/i have more info.It says on wikipedia it may be on before september30th.It lists shop nbc on.1 but ion on .2qubo on .3 and ion life on .4 ,so i guess keep checking.

My apologizes if this is posted in the wrong forum but I couldn't find a Uniontown thread.

I just heard from a friend and saw online in a newspaper article that Atlantic Broadband has switched to 100% digital in the Uniontown area.

Does anybody know more about this?

The article says people were given a STB for analog TVs and I am wondering does that mean, they are giving people their channels in ClearQAM and just blocking them out with traps if you are to not get them?

I ask because I hope when they convert in the Johnstown area they don't require a converter box on every single TV as I have 3 QAM TVs and only one analog.

Is the STB free, as I could obviously use that on the 1 analog TV.

Uniontown did go all digital, and they added a bunch of HD channels to go with it. ABB is using DTA's like Comcast.

I can guarantee you ABB isn't using ClearQAM and has no intention to. They're not using ClearQAM here in Cumberland currently. The only stations you'll be able to get are HD locals, and in my experimentation down here, that may even be questionable. I've done some scans on others' TV's and the local stations here do not come up at all anymore. Previously (~2008) WJLA (DC ABC), WUSA (DC CBS), WTTG (DC FOX) and WJAC came in ClearQAM, the other affiliates carried here in HD on the box were not. In the past, ABB forced you to get the Motorola DVR in order to get HD and pay the extra $11/month PLUS a $4 HD fee (that's now $5). I believe this is still the case, that their standard digital cable boxes still can't handle HD.

I don't know if ABB is charging for DTA's. Their website doesn't act as if anything is different in Uniontown because ABB's website pretends that digital service is all that exists. What they sell on there as "Digital Value" is expanded basic with a box and the Music Choice channels and PPV/On Demand capability. "Digital Plus" is the only one that actually gives you the digital channels.

You're going to need boxes, I'm sure of it. In my last conversation with ABB a couple weeks ago, they had no idea when they would be updating this system. They were acting as if their internet upgrade from 8 Mbps to 10 Mbps was the hardest job ever imagined. Cumberland is tied in to Altoona/Johnstown, so we're on the same schedule, although we have a few more HD channels and different locals (although since ABB's ownership started, we've gained WJAC and WWCP here).

your welcome dxernut/i have more info.It says on wikipedia it may be on before september30th.It lists shop nbc on.1 but ion on .2qubo on .3 and ion life on .4 ,so i guess keep checking.

Hello, new member here. I just wanted to also say thanks for that info hooviebaby. If Ion does now own WINP then I really can't see ShopNBC sticking around as main programming for the months to come until their contract is up. While we don't know the details of any contract, it stands to reason that Ion is losing money by exclusively airing another network's programming.

Then this morning I noticed they were airing one of the WQED pledge drive programs for Rick Sebak's Pittsburgh DVDs. Immediately after that was a simple WINP station ID card introducing the E/I programming, again QED shows. Which I guess that would suggest WQED still has their hand in the pot somewhere. Anybody know what that's all about?

So it appears for the time being that we have a hybrid of a station where 4 parties are involved. Dunno about the rest of you but I am anxious to have 3 channels of actual programming instead of 1 that I flip right past.

I just checked in on WINP-DT and my TV scanned in the following channels:

16-1 - ShopNBC
16-2 - ION
16-3 - qubo
16-4 - IONLife

I suspected something was up when I was setting up my HTPC and Windows Media Center had listings for four channels for 16.

Yeah I was flipping thru the channels earlier and my Samsung LN46C530 automatically added them without having to re-scan. Watching the Night Owl Block on Qubo right now. Now when MeTV replaces RTV on the 13th I'll be one happy camper :)

I just checked in on WINP-DT and my TV scanned in the following channels:

16-1 - ShopNBC
16-2 - ION
16-3 - qubo
16-4 - IONLife


Is ION (on 16-2) at 720p on WINP?

(I wonder if there's some agreement to keep ShopNBC on 16-1? If not, shuffling the subchannel lineup to get ION on 16-1 might get a few extra eyes).

I just checked in on WINP-DT and my TV scanned in the following channels:

16-1 - ShopNBC
16-2 - ION
16-3 - qubo
16-4 - IONLife

I suspected something was up when I was setting up my HTPC and Windows Media Center had listings for four channels for 16.
im excited too, just in time for my birthday on saturday.i am looking forward to me tv also.i dont believe there is any special agreement . They are just honoring the rest of the contract .which i mentioned would be up september 30th so dont look for any channel movement til then.

Is ION (on 16-2) at 720p on WINP?

(I wonder if there's some agreement to keep ShopNBC on 16-1? If not, shuffling the subchannel lineup to get ION on 16-1 might get a few extra eyes).

All four channels are 480i.

I would imagine that once the ShopNBC contract expires, the channels will move up and perhaps ION Plus will be added.

All four channels are 480i.

I would imagine that once the ShopNBC contract expires, the channels will move up and perhaps ION Plus will be added.

ION Plus?

The national ION lineup is:

-1 ION-HD (720p)
-2 qubo (480i)
-3 ION Life (480i)

And qubo in M/H in select areas.

- Trip

ION Plus?

The national ION lineup is:

-1 ION-HD (720p)
-2 qubo (480i)
-3 ION Life (480i)

ION Plus is listed in the ION mux on AMC 1 on Lyngsat. I haven't personally check to see if it is still an active channel.

im excited too, just in time for my birthday on saturday.i am looking forward to me tv also.i dont believe there is any special agreement . They are just honoring the rest of the contract .which i mentioned would be up september 30th so dont look for any channel movement til then.

I also rescanned yesterday all my tv's with great success reguarding the ION network.Decent CBS programming during the week starting at 3 pm daily.A refreshing change from This TV. Does anyone know where WPDN-LD is broadcasting from? I receive them with a 70% signal from 15122 location.

Does anyone know where WPDN-LD is broadcasting from? I receive them with a 70% signal from 15122 location.

WPDN-LD transmits from the old WDTV site near where Pitt Stadium used to be. That site is also home to:

WQED
WINP
WBGN
WTAE's translator on 22

See this URL:

http://www.rabbitears.info/oddsandends.php?request=location&location=Oakland+%28PA%29

i have to confirm it but i heard from a reliable source that rtv will be on wbgn channel 59.3 june 13th

WPDN-LD transmits from the old WDTV site near where Pitt Stadium used to be. That site is also home to:

WQED
WINP
WBGN
WTAE's translator on 22

See this URL:

http://www.rabbitears.info/oddsandends.php?request=location&location=Oakland+%28PA%29

Thanks Bob for the information,very interesting,now if they would put an antenna on WQED's tower for me to receive WKBN (Now that they moved the digital up further I can't receive ) I would be a happy man!

i have to confirm it but i heard from a reliable source that rtv will be on wbgn channel 59.3 june 13th

That would be a good thing if RTN went to wbgn that soon.:) Thanks hooviebaby you're on the ball once again.

That would be a good thing if RTN went to wbgn that soon.:) Thanks hooviebaby you're on the ball once again.

your welcome dxernut it is comfirmed. www.myretrotv.com/affiliates.html just scroll down the page til you get to the states.wbgn is listed in PA as pittsburgh station.

I have been trying to get WBGN since I moved to Greensburg last December with no luck at all. According to TV Fool, they've got a tower that's a mere 3.4 miles from my house (with callsign WEMW) and my antenna is pointed directly at it. I even emailed WBGN and they weren't much help. Anybody have any suggestions?

I have been trying to get WBGN since I moved to Greensburg last December with no luck at all. According to TV Fool, they've got a tower that's a mere 3.4 miles from my house (with callsign WEMW) and my antenna is pointed directly at it. I even emailed WBGN and they weren't much help. Anybody have any suggestions?

i am kind of a novice but if i was were you i would say maybe there is a obstacle between you and the tower ex. a tree maybe.i heard that digitial signals dont go though them. Thats just a starting point.if thats the case and its on your property prune or remove it.

I have been trying to get WBGN since I moved to Greensburg last December with no luck at all. According to TV Fool, they've got a tower that's a mere 3.4 miles from my house (with callsign WEMW) and my antenna is pointed directly at it. I even emailed WBGN and they weren't much help. Anybody have any suggestions?

Are you using an amplifier? If so, then you may have overload issues. Share your TVfool, please.

My TV Fool info: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d001b767659e8ac

As you can see I'm pointing a 40-mile range directional antenna at the main cluster of towers (about 300 degrees), with WEMW right in the same path. I have no major problems receiving any of them 25-30 miles away and occasionally even rake in a little from WTOV. So trees or any other obstacles shouldn't be the issue. I do have an amp before a splitter but I couldn't even receive WEMW before I installed it. I've tried various coax lengths, rabbit ears, with/without the amp and all combinations therein and couldn't pick up anything at all between 2 LCD TVs and a converter box.

After 6 months I've run out of ideas and just about given up. Now hooviebaby tells us we are getting RTV back via WBGN and once again I terribly want it. I notice on TV Fool that the signal path is the only classified as "LOS" but I don't know if that has any effect or not.

With low-power stations, determining their operational status just based on automated processing of the FCC database extracts is very tricky. Don't fault TVFool for showing that WEMW-CD is on the air, but based on this (https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101422484&formid=337&fac_num=68396) FCC filing, I'd say that station is not on the air, yet.

With low-power stations, determining their operational status just based on automated processing of the FCC database extracts is very tricky. Don't fault TVFool for showing that WEMW-CD is on the air, but based on this (https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101422484&formid=337&fac_num=68396) FCC filing, I'd say that station is not on the air, yet.

Thanks a ton, Dave.

According to the engineer I emailed at WBGN, the tower is fully operational on virtual channel 59 and in a couple weeks will also be broadcasting on VC 56 as well.

But yeah I see what you mean. Going by this application, it simply doesn't exist yet because they are low on cash and WEMW is at the bottom of their priority list. Also the TV tower map on TV Fool shows it right in the middle of a shopping center parking lot, which I know is bunk. I am very familiar with that specific area and don't know of any tower in the vicinity - period.

So either that engineer was lying through his teeth or simply wasn't in the know. According to this application no one at WBGN is paid over $10/hour so both of those situations are well within the realm of possibility.

The underlying construction permit for digital operations for WEMW was supposed to expire in January. The document I linked to was filed in March, and has yet to be acted upon by the FCC. Since then, the station's owners may have been able to get working on the digital transmitter, so the engineer may not be lying at all.

With regards to the tower location, TVFool is correctly plotting the location based on the coordinates the station filed with the FCC. The digital operation is going on the same tower as the existing analog one, so the tower should exist. Fiddling around with possible rounding errors and conversion between lat/long reference systems does not move the tower location out of that parking lot. Outside of the owner specifying the wrong location (not unheard of), I can't say what is going on.

Thanks again. I am not an engineer and learning some of this stuff as I go so you're a big help. It must be incorrect filed coordinates then because like I said, there is no tower anywhere near there. And if I do find out where it is, I'm not moving my antenna to accommodate 1 channel so I will probably never get it. Oh well can't win em all.

It must be incorrect filed coordinates then because like I said, there is no tower anywhere near there. And if I do find out where it is, I'm not moving my antenna to accommodate 1 channel so I will probably never get it. Oh well can't win em all.

I checked the coordinates listed for WEMW, and they do indeed put the station in a parking lot near routes 66 and 30. However, in searching around the surrounding area's satellite imagery, I found a group of towers and satellite dishes across Route 30 very near Seton Hill University where Mt. Thor Rd. makes a sharp turn. This could very well be the location you are looking for. Coordinates are 40.314722,-79.567072 on Google. The station asked for an extension of their construction permit until mid July to go online from that location. Six more weeks.

I have been trying to get WBGN since I moved to Greensburg last December with no luck at all. According to TV Fool, they've got a tower that's a mere 3.4 miles from my house (with callsign WEMW) and my antenna is pointed directly at it.

I'm just down the road from you, and have gotten faint images from 56 (due to yet another directional antenna :mad:) and have been checking RF 19 off-and-on to see if they have finally converted WEMW. Supposedly unlike the analog operation, the digital one will use an omnidirectional antenna.

I used to get WBGN in ClearQAM years ago through Comcast, but they removed it from the line-up. On occasion, I have gotten WBGN's main signal from the WQED tower.

I checked the coordinates listed for WEMW, and they do indeed put the station in a parking lot near routes 66 and 30.

There used to be a tower farm where Hempfield Square now stands at 30 and Turnpike 66, but it was leveled a decade ago for the big box center. An LPTV on 28 was also there, now known as WQVC-CA, that showed The Box.

I'm just down the road from you, and have gotten faint images from 56 (due to yet another directional antenna :mad:) and have been checking RF 19 off-and-on to see if they have finally converted WEMW. Supposedly unlike the analog operation, the digital one will use an omnidirectional antenna.

I used to get WBGN in ClearQAM years ago through Comcast, but they removed it from the line-up. On occasion, I have gotten WBGN's main signal from the WQED tower.

If the tower by Seton Hill that Soon2Bdark refers to is in fact their tower, then it's no wonder I'm not receiving it given my location and antenna direction. Maybe we'll get lucky when it goes digital but I'm not holding my breath. From Unity, that tower is much more in line with the Pitt towers (where I'm assuming your antenna is pointed) than where I live in South Greensburg so that's probs why you faintly pick it up, despite my living closer.

I too remember WBGN on Comcast, channel 22 I think it was, but they dropped them like 4 years ago - well before they encrypted all their QAM channels last year and forced those poorly designed "digital adapters" on most customers.

My two strongest signal sources were PBS out of Morgantown and WPXI out of Uniontown. In the past I could receive both with not much more than a paperclip for an antenna! Now WPXI which is 12 miles line of sight is only viewable occasionally at night and early mornings. Today I pointed my amplified stacked Channel Masters antenna directly at it and it's nowhere to be found. Over the last month the signal has gone from having an intermittent occasional signal drop out to today's "no signal" being found. Did something happen at WPXI like an amplifier getting cooked possibly by a lightning strike or an antenna lobe getting tweaked by the wind? I have three antennas and it's NOT receivable on any of the three.

I too remember WBGN on Comcast, channel 22 I think it was, but they dropped them like 4 years ago - well before they encrypted all their QAM channels last year and forced those poorly designed "digital adapters" on most customers.

Their Basic ("lifeline") Package is still unencrypted.

That would be a good thing if RTN went to wbgn that soon.:)

RTV is still available on WTOV 9-2.

I checked the coordinates listed for WEMW, and they do indeed put the station in a parking lot near routes 66 and 30. However, in searching around the surrounding area's satellite imagery, I found a group of towers and satellite dishes across Route 30 very near Seton Hill University where Mt. Thor Rd. makes a sharp turn. This could very well be the location you are looking for. Coordinates are 40.314722,-79.567072 on Google. The station asked for an extension of their construction permit until mid July to go online from that location. Six more weeks.

Where do you see an application for those coordinates? The request for extension that I linked to referenced the original construction permit and did not mention any change in coordinates.

Dave, I didn't see an application with those coordinates. The location I referenced is from Google' satellite imagery for an antenna site located close to the application coordinates, which I postulated may be their tower.
I may be wrong. I've been wrong in the past, and I will probably be wrong again in the future.:)

Understand, but the way you wrote your post implied that the extension referenced the tower site you found. It does no such thing. If the tower is what is intended, then the owners need to file an amendment to specify that. Actually, the status of the extension is not settled as far as the publicly-available records indicate. The extension is shown as "Accepted for Filing" which means that the FCC has not evaluated it yet. There is a chance that it may be dismissed as it was filed AFTER the original construction permit expired.

Their Basic ("lifeline") Package is still unencrypted.

I forgot about that lifeline stuff. Isn't it like $10 or 15 for only the locals? You can probably get more channels OTA for free. But I wouldn't give those greedy underhanded crooks at Comcrap one thin red penny. I'd rather have zero TV than drink their kool aid again.

RTV is still available on WTOV 9-2.

Thanks JK77 I'll have to check them out. I receive WTOV-9 24-7 really good. Does any know if WJAC-TV 6 still has RTV?:) I also receive them great all year round, but have been too lazy to spin my rotor in that direction.

no they are ME-TV

I forgot about that lifeline stuff. Isn't it like $10 or 15 for only the locals? You can probably get more channels OTA for free. But I wouldn't give those greedy underhanded crooks at Comcrap one thin red penny. I'd rather have zero TV than drink their kool aid again.

I don't know what it costs separately as I have their cheapest Internet plan and the ClearQAM come along for the ride. It is the locals plus a few others like WGN America, TV Guide Network. It is nice to get a localized Weather Channel and WeatherScan which is not available on DIRECTV, but also WJAC (albeit in SD) which I lost two years ago.

Unfortunately the Lifeline program costs $19.99 per month. This gives you just basic channels. Seems a little costly for really nothing.

Unfortunately the Lifeline program costs $19.99 per month. This gives you just basic channels. Seems a little costly for really nothing.

240 a year for locals and a few more so so channels? Give me a break. Also, don't you have to qualify for that (i.e. low income)? It's nifty if it comes along free with internet like JK says. I used to have one of their internet & TV packages and would have dropped the TV portion if I knew that. Kinda bums me out to hear that lol.

hey i got a question. i get wkbn and wneo only at night and not sure why,was hoping someone would have the answer.I know they are further away but it got me puzzled

Yeah last night was definitely quirky. I managed to rake in WKBN with a solid signal and I never even knew it existed. I think high humidity (it was solid fog around here) during night is ideal for OTA reception.

During the daytime we are bombarded with a ton of energy from the sun. Some of that is in the right frequency to interfere with various forms of transmissions/broadcasts. Basically, it raises the noise floor for radio communication. The sun also goes through cycles, some on the order of months and some that have a period of years. The sunspot cycle is 11 years and is due to peak in 2012. The peak in 2001 cause massive radio blackouts.

ty to both of you for your responses.

Yeah last night was definitely quirky. I managed to rake in WKBN with a solid signal and I never even knew it existed. I think high humidity (it was solid fog around here) during night is ideal for OTA reception.

Tropo ducting helps carry UHF signals long distances, and fog is usually a tip off to the temperature inversion creating said duct.

A few weeks back there was a tropo duct that overloaded my HTPC with channels from Cleveland.

Tropo ducting helps carry UHF signals long distances, and fog is usually a tip off to the temperature inversion creating said duct.

A few weeks back there was a tropo duct that overloaded my HTPC with channels from Cleveland.

Ducting? I've never heard of a phenomenon described as such. I would have paid more attention in earth science if I had only known it would help me get more free TV one day :D

http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html Here is the place to check for Tropo's ..keep it on your list !

I noticed today they had now a 4th subchannel,but dont know what they are doing with it.They are currently showing programming from the main channel on it

WPCB is deleted from my lineup so I don't exactly keep up with them. Who watches these religious stations? I know plenty of super religious people and not a single one of them watches church on TV.

WPCB is deleted from my lineup so I don't exactly keep up with them. Who watches these religious stations? I know plenty of super religious people and not a single one of them watches church on TV.
well someone should tell dish network that i got 10 different freaking religious channels on it directv isnt probably much better.so in other words some people must watch it or it wouldnt be in a regular package.

I think it's pretty sad that about 95% of all low power/independent stations in the whole country today are religious. The only thing I can figure is that they are owned by rich televangelists and other powerful members of the Christian community. They are just blowing their money to "spread the good word". I have NEVER seen any advertising on these stations. They can't be publicly funded, can they?

well someone should tell dish network that i got 10 different freaking religious channels on it directv isnt probably much better.so in other words some people must watch it or it wouldnt be in a regular package.

Thank them because religious and home shopping channels pay DISH and DIRECTV for their carriage, otherwise their packages would cost even more.

It makes perfect sense for shopping channels to pay the cableco's considering its essentially 100% advertising. But religion? You'd think that any religious establishment would DISCOURAGE people getting their sermons and conversations of christian beliefs for free at home instead of forking over $10 at church on Sunday.

I live north east of town, about 25 miles north east.. i decided to give getting HD OTA reception a shot at my house..

I first tried http://antennaweb.org/aw/Stations.aspx to get an idea of what to expect..

If you enter my address/area, it reveals 7 total stations, and WTAE-DT is not one of them.

If i could get WTAE-DT i'd be set.. this would cover the major networks.

At this point i tried an HD antenna, the RCA111 (non-amplified).. i tried various locations and spots.. and angles.. and only 1 position gave me all 7 that are on this list.

If this website doesnt list WTAE as being possible.. does this mean that no matter what Antenna i use, whether indoor or outdoor, ill never get that station?

I hate to through say $300 into an outdoor antenna setup (with install fees) to find that i'm no better off.


Thanks in advance

Try using TVFool.com instead of Antennaweb. Antennaweb is very conservative, often failing to show channels which should be available. Post the bolded link that TVFool provides and then we'll be able to tell you whether WTAE is feasible.

- Trip

Try using TVFool.com instead of Antennaweb. Antennaweb is very conservative, often failing to show channels which should be available. Post the bolded link that TVFool provides and then we'll be able to tell you whether WTAE is feasible.

- Trip

I tried it first by zip and using 6 foot above ground to start (in house 6 feet above etc):
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d3e4760d91fd087

It does list the station though. Although with a roof mounted solution of some type. I was also hoping if it had to be roof to not have to turn the antenna.

Well, WTAE has two transmitters, the main one on 51, and a low-power one on the WQED tower on 22. As long as you're not worried about WPCB, I think a single high-VHF and UHF antenna aimed at the WQED tower would work for you.

- Trip

Well, WTAE has two transmitters, the main one on 51, and a low-power one on the WQED tower on 22. As long as you're not worried about WPCB, I think a single high-VHF and UHF antenna aimed at the WQED tower would work for you.

- Trip

By single high-vhf and uhf, do you mean one mounted up on the roof somewhere, aimed in that general direction?

Any ideas what is considered a good one to buy, but not super expensive? (i have never bought one before or looked into it). I've seen some on amazon though, not sure on the effectiveness of each type. Also, who do most people call to do these types of installs, once you get the antenna?

I'll let someone in your area make a referral with regard to an antenna installer, as I'm not familiar with installers in Pittsburgh. :)

And yes, I mean a single antenna aimed in that direction. I've never used one personally, but the folks in the Cleveland thread like the HBU33, which is available at Radio Shack and thus could be returned if it doesn't work for you. Additionally, you could return it and then buy online for less even if it does work for you.

- Trip

Well, WTAE has two transmitters, the main one on 51, and a low-power one on the WQED tower on 22. As long as you're not worried about WPCB, I think a single high-VHF and UHF antenna aimed at the WQED tower would work for you.

- Trip

By single high-vhf and uhf, do you mean one mounted up on the roof somewhere, aimed in that general direction?

Any ideas what is considered a good one to buy, but not super expensive? (i have never bought one before or looked into it). I've seen some on amazon though, not sure on the effectiveness of each type.

I'll let someone in your area make a referral with regard to an antenna installer, as I'm not familiar with installers in Pittsburgh. :)

And yes, I mean a single antenna aimed in that direction. I've never used one personally, but the folks in the Cleveland thread like the HBU33, which is available at Radio Shack and thus could be returned if it doesn't work for you. Additionally, you could return it and then buy online for less even if it does work for you.

- Trip

Wow, i am really kicking myself for taking down the antenna from about 6 years ago when i moved in.. it looked very similar to that one.. though i think the coax would have needed changed.

What about something like this.. its about $25 and slightly more modern looking, though i really dont care as long as it works http://www.amazon.com/Remote-Controlled-Outdoor-Antenna-Rotation/dp/B004EIJXES/ref=sr_1_18?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312917510&sr=1-18 Does amplified vs non amplified matter?

No, that antenna is known to perform very poorly and be very shoddy in its construction. Plus, it is amplified, and you probably do not need amplification in your location. Even if you did, the internal amplifiers on antennas like that are usually very noisy and do little to help reception.

Make sure that whatever coax you use is RG-6.

- Trip

Go with the HBU33. I have used several Antennacraft antennas from RS over the years and their performance often exceeds that of similarly designed Winegard and Channel Master antennas. Right now I have Antennacraft Y7-10-13 mounted on my roof where previously there was a Winegard YA1713 for reception of VHF high and the the Antennacraft model rejects signals better and has better gain.

Wow, i am really kicking myself for taking down the antenna from about 6 years ago when i moved in.. it looked very similar to that one.. though i think the coax would have needed changed.

What about something like this.. its about $25 and slightly more modern looking, though i really dont care as long as it works http://www.amazon.com/Remote-Controlled-Outdoor-Antenna-Rotation/dp/B004EIJXES/ref=sr_1_18?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312917510&sr=1-18Does amplified vs non amplified matter?
Antenna technology hasn't changed for many decades and probably won't change for many decades more. A good antenna doesn't cost that much because antennas really are amazingly primitive. They're just sets of metal wires or thin metal tubes cut to length and arranged at proper distances from eachother.

Ironically, if an antenna looks high-tech or advertises special features, it probably performs poorly. There is no such thing as an "HD" antenna so don't worry about looking for that as a feature. What you need is the same type of antenna you've seen on the top of houses your entire life.

Buy an un-amplified antenna and only add an amplifier if needed.

I've had good experience with channel masters. Check out the channel master 4221 ($40) or 4228 ($80).

The hardest part will be mounting an antenna properly on the roof and then running the coax to where it is needed...

Is anybody else having a problem with KDKA OTA? I just turned it on for the first time since January and I'm getting nothing. The antenna is in the same position and every other channel is fine, but it was gone in the OTA channel listing, and it's not being found in an OTA search either. Manually entering "2-1" on the remote takes me right to plain ol' "2," and it's nothing but snow and static. Could it be a problem with my set or did I miss something in the past seven months? Any ideas?

Try to rescan

Delete the KDKA entry, then using your remote change the channel to 25 so your set looks for the RF channel, rather than 2 which is the virtual channel.

KDKA has always been a fidgety channel for me.

Has anyone noticed that WQED has added yet another channel on 13.4? Seems to be a variation of the Neighborhood Channel with only WQED-produced programs. Doesn't appear to have a name of it's own.

I saw it lock in last week.

It reminds me of occasional video channels I find in muxes on satellites, as I have seen Dave & Dave and a Chris Fenimore cooking show airing with nothing the rest of the time.

Has anyone noticed that WQED has added yet another channel on 13.4? Seems to be a variation of the Neighborhood Channel with only WQED-produced programs. Doesn't appear to have a name of it's own.

Timing of it seems funny too. Just a thought, but shop nbc contract with winp ends at the end of september. time will tell but maybe 13 is gonna keep shop nbc and use that channel for it , i personally hope not.Looks like they are testing it out right now.

Timing of it seems funny too. Just a thought, but shop nbc contract with winp ends at the end of september. time will tell but maybe 13 is gonna keep shop nbc and use that channel for it , i personally hope not.Looks like they are testing it out right now.

I hope NO shopNBC either!

Let's make it the Rick Sebak Channel!

There seems to be a 40-4 channel, too. I tripped over it when I discovered 13-4.

--

Larry

Considering QED has a non-commercial license, I don't think we need to worry about ShopNBC moving to 13-4.

According to a post on WQED's Facebook page, 13-4 will be the "WQED Showcase" channel which will officially debut later this fall. It will air an eclectic mix of various programming from QED's library.

I've been having some issues over the past week or so with channel 11 (.1 and .2) dropping out. Sometimes I can't get it in at all. Every other channel is coming in fine and I haven't made any adjustments on my antenna. Anyone else having issues? Should I try a rescan? Thanks!!

Tiga

I've been having some issues over the past week or so with channel 11 (.1 and .2) dropping out. Sometimes I can't get it in at all. Every other channel is coming in fine and I haven't made any adjustments on my antenna. Anyone else having issues? Should I try a rescan? Thanks!!

Tiga

WPXI has been the same for me. This is the time of year when reception starts slightly altering with the changing seasons (although usually for the better in the fall/winter). Yeah I'd try rescanning if you haven't already. I usually do it once a week just for giggles.

Just flipping through the stations on my TV, I noticed 16-4 disappear and IONLife now on 16-3. Sure enough the entire ION mux has moved up one, eliminating ShopNBC as 16-1 is now ION HD.

It seems Windows Media Center is good at predicting changes, as I noticed the EPG had made the change yesterday afternoon while 16-1 was still broadcasting ShopNBC. It had also added the ION listings to 16 back in June before the mux went live.

TitanTV had it listed pretty far in advance too. Do you know what WMC utilizes for its EPG? Could be TitanTV or maybe even its own. I disconnected the cable from my computer last winter and haven't even opened WMC since then so I'm not sure.

Zap2It provides the WMC guide data.

Hope everyone is having a merry christmas. I wanted to let everyone here know wbgn is going to replace Universal Sports with Live Well Network Jan 1st.

Universal Sports is dropping their OTA affiliates and will become a cable/satellite-only channel: Universal Sports Spikes Over-the-Air Model (http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/473670-Universal_Sports_Spikes_Over_the_Air_Model.php).

The Greensburg affiliate for WBGN is STILL not operational after several years now. I haven't heard anything since discussing it on this board back in June. They are apparently never going to raise the capital necessary to construct it. :(

The Greensburg affiliate for WBGN is STILL not operational after several years now. I haven't heard anything since discussing it on this board back in June. They are apparently never going to raise the capital necessary to construct it. :(
I understand do not worry i will contact the station owner and see what is going on.According to wikipedia all his stations are broadcasting but it must be wrong.I will post here tommorow night what i find out.

IIRC, Wikipedia also said WPCW-DT was on the air for years on RF 49.

Isn't this the station whose licensed location points to a parking lot?

Please do not use Wikipedia as a technical source. This FCC site, http://licensing.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/cdbs_pa.htm is the primary source. The best secondary source is http://rabbitears.info/.

Isn't this the station whose licensed location points to a parking lot?

Yes the same station discussed back in June (a few pages back). it is supposed to be callsign WEMW, another translator relay of WBGN. Originally they couldn't complete construction by the license deadline due to lack of funds so they applied for an extension. When I emailed a WBGN engineer back then he said it was already operational, which was a laugh considering my complete inability to receive it and the FCC filings.

Six months have now passed and nothing new. So I don't know what is going on with them. It's a big mystery.

Isn't this the station whose licensed location points to a parking lot?

Yes, the FCC database shows it broadcasting from the parking lot of the Hempfield Square shopping complex. Up until 1998-99 when construction began, there was a tower farm located at the site which was the location of WHJB-AM, 107.1, and an LPTV now known as WQVC-CA to name a few.

I found out from rabbitears.info it is not on the air yet. Their permit to build it now is extended to sept 1 2015 according to the site.

WQVC-CA is owned by the same people. Their latest coordinates actually point to a tower to the northwest of the parking lot on Tower Ln in Irwin. My guess is that WEMW will be going on the same tower eventually, but the owners have forgotten to modify their proposal properly.

http://www.hdtvexpert.com/?p=1612 why we should be happy to receive ota programming [let's hope the FCC keeps HANDS OFF our ota]

http://www.hdtvexpert.com/?p=1612 why we should be happy to receive ota programming [let's hope the FCC keeps HANDS OFF our ota]The article is really about the increasing cost of cable TV and how the cost of ESPN and other sports channels are imposing a "sports tax" on nearly all cable subscribers. While I like watching the Steelers as much as the next guy it does seem unfair that ESPN, Root Sports, etc. are not either al a carte or on a sports tier and that many who are either not sports fans or who would choose not to pay high sports channel prices are being ripped off. It's also very unfair (almost criminal) that ESPN, etc. are using this "sports tax" to take more and more sports events off of local broadcast television stations.

" why we should be happy to receive ota programming " [quote] the free sports that we now receive FREE, OTA may not be IN THE FUTURE...wAS my point

What was the deal with the NFC championship game last night on fox? I was at a friend's house and his TV was giving a rather unexpected "encrypted signal" error. I thought it was a typical reception or TV issue, but then today I saw on facebook that others were unable to watch it too.

Did WPGH actually broadcast this game?

I watched it on 53 without any problems.

I watched it on 53 without any problems.
Thanks. I try not to be that guy asking if a station is off the air because he is having reception problems. But that night we couldn't receive it in the two households we tried and a friend in the neighborhood also couldn't get reception.

Anyway, good to hear it wasn't a contractual issue resulting in a blackout. While the NHL is mostly unavailable via antenna, at least the NFL is still broadcasting OTA.

Is anyone else having trouble picking up 4-3 and 4-4 today? We lost them on all 3 TVs at home (2 different antennas) and I couldn't get them at work today either.

Is anyone else having trouble picking up 4-3 and 4-4 today? We lost them on all 3 TVs at home (2 different antennas) and I couldn't get them at work today either.

now that you mention it i did too.i also havent picked up channel 65 in a while though.i think when the antennas are located at which is in the same place they are having major problems.

Losing 4-3 and 4-4 can't be that big of a deal. Aren't they *occasional* duplicate feeds of 4-1 WTAE and 4-2 THISTV? Once in a great while I will pick them up and they automatically appear in my channel lineup.

Losing 4-3 and 4-4 can't be that big of a deal. Aren't they *occasional* duplicate feeds of 4-1 WTAE and 4-2 THISTV? Once in a great while I will pick them up and they automatically appear in my channel lineup.
4-3 and 4-4 are broadcasting identical content as 4-1 and 4-3 as far as I know. This is because some WTAE's main broadcast tower had to be located too far from their northern viewership. They would prefer a more central location but it isn't permitted. If I remember correctly, this would encroach on the territory of a station in Youngstown. WTAE's solution was to broadcast on a second frequency to better cover the poor reception areas.

[WTAE] would prefer a more central location but it isn't permitted. If I remember correctly, this would encroach on the territory of a station in Youngstown.

The chief engineer of WTAE used to post here on a regular basis. As I recall, the current Buena Vista site was selected for two reasons in the late 1950's. The station was to have been licensed to Irwin and a location closer in to Pittsburgh would have created short-spacing to channel 4 in Columbus.

Now that WTAE's digital is on RF-51, I see no co-channel conflict. The adjacent channels (on RF-50) nearby are WEAO in Akron and WQLN in Erie. I'm not sure that moving to, say, Ivory Avenue would have been undoable because of technical reasons or perhaps it may be simply that Hearst owns the property at Buena Vista.

By the way, it appears that the digital antenna isn't at the top of the tower. Their analog height was 961' and the current HAAT is 895'. Another 66' of elevation probably wouldn't hurt. :)

I can't even get WTAE-DT anymore since the all digital transition.

Losing 4-3 and 4-4 can't be that big of a deal. Aren't they *occasional* duplicate feeds of 4-1 WTAE and 4-2 THISTV?

RF 22 is a low power translator broadcasting from the QED tower in Oakland, for those within and north of Pittsburgh who can't receive the main signal from Elizabeth Township. It's mapped as 4-3 and 4-4 to avoid issues with those who might get 4-1 and 4-2 as well.