I use the Sasem OnAir USB HDTV box. It is an external HDTV / Analog receiver, and it connects (obviously) using USB. I am very pleased with the reception I get on it. It supports both OTA and QAM, though I've never tried it using cable.

One other thing, I originally used rabbit ears in my family room, and the Sasem worked fairly well even though I had to fiddle with the antenna a lot. I replaced the rabbit ears with a Radio Shack center loaded scanner antenna, and it works great! REALLY great! No more messing with the rabbit ears, and I get all of the local stations (yes, even WTAE).

One other nice thing about the Sasem...it's got a very nice user interface, but I think the EPG could use some work. It's accurate, but it's kinda ugly. It also looks like there are several features that won't be available until later software versions are released.

There is another piece of software that works well with the Sasem called TS Reader Lite. This is freeware which acts like a "poor man's" bit stream analyzer. For the technically inclined, TS Reader Lite is a must-have.

Sasem is a Korean company, with US support at www.autumnwave.com. TS Reader Lite can be found at www.coolstf.com.

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

I'm getting WKBN on 27.1 and WYFX on 27.2 and WPGH on 27.5 and 27.6.
27.5 says "East" and 27.6 says "Mntn" and both appear to be hi-def of the same programming.
There is no 27.3 or 27.4.
Very strange.
The erroneous data on WPGH should be fixed now. It appears that the Fox Splicer was inserting bogus information into the stream. The Chief Engineer of WPGH is an old friend of mine and he explained that the last time that Fox did a software upgrade on the splicer they didn't tell anyone about it. It turns out that there have been scattered reports of this same "bug" throughout the country but it is not consistent.

Tom...this is very interesting. I have never heard of the "Fox Splicer"; I'll have to read up on it since I'm curious about it now.

Here's my question...since the first post on this, I looked at WPGH but never saw the problem as described above. Did the splicer (which I assume edits PSIP data) insert data which was only visible to some receivers but not others? Also, would we have to receive WKBN-DT first in order to see this problem on WPGH?

Just curious...

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

Apparently, not all TV's or receivers would pick up the modified data. While talking with the WPGH Chief, he said that his TV at home did not show the bogus data, but when he looked at it with a different tuner at the station, he did see it. As for the origin or selection of channel 27 as the major channel number, that appears to be random and not at all related to weather or not you have previously tuned in WKBN-DT.

Thanks for the info on the Fox Splicer, Tom. We both know how complicated PSIP can be, yet we also know how vital it is to proper DTV operation. This just goes to show you that no matter how much one knows about PSIP, it's so easy to mess up the whole stream! And once the stream is corrupt, the result is anybody's guess! Keep up the good work, and thanks for posting this info.

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

A re-scan on this end show exactly what Mr. Zocolo has said.
I no longer receive a channel 27.5 or 27.6 for WPGH.
Why do some receivers see what others cannot.
In my opinion, this looks like a real problem for the future of DTV.
Shouldn't there be universality and consistency when larger and larger numbers of people migrate to digital television.
I could only imagine how many different brands of receivers (with dfferent software) are going to be available in a few years.

Well, now you're getting into individual manufacturer's standards. ("The nice thing about having standards is that there are so many to choose from.) Not only are we dealing with the receiver manufacturers, but also with the encoder manufacturers.

The GOOD news is that they're getting better...with every new receiver and each new encoder, improvements are made to eliminate these types of issues. The encoder manufacturers are aware of some of the receiver problems and they continuously work to fix these bugs. (As a matter of fact, when I speak with Harris, they regularly ask what make and model of receiver is have the issue I am referring to.)

But lets face it...these encoders and receivers are really nothing more than fancy computers with proprietary software. How many times have we purchased something only to find out that we're nothing more than underpaid "beta testers"?

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

A re-scan on this end show exactly what Mr. Zocolo has said.
I no longer receive a channel 27.5 or 27.6 for WPGH.
Why do some receivers see what others cannot.
In my opinion, this looks like a real problem for the future of DTV.
Shouldn't there be universality and consistency when larger and larger numbers of people migrate to digital television.
I could only imagine how many different brands of receivers (with dfferent software) are going to be available in a few years.

I ran WBCB in 480x480i accidentally for about 8 months without knowing it and had no complaints. I monitor with 4 different makes/models of STB. We're on 4 different cable companies. No one had an issue. Then I got 2 calls from viewers that just bought integrated tuner TV's that said they got audio and PSIP, but the video looked scrambled. That's when I found the resolution issue and set it correctly to 720x480i. I called those two people back and everything was fine. In their efforts to build affordable sets, manufacturers take shortcuts somtimes.

These are all growing pains. The future of DTV is solid.

I am using this RadioShack Antenna just for WTAE 4-1. I use a Antennasdirect DB4 for all the other local channels. I use a ChannelMaster Jointenna to combine both of these antennas into one cable. Works great.

I do not have this antenna (YET). . . Months ago, before my purchase of my DirecTV HR10-250, I researched how best to get OTA reception. At that point in time DirecTV hadnt announced the MPEG4 that provides HD thru a 5LNB......at any rate, I paid $5 on ebay for some instructions on how best to get reception and how to set it all up. I figured, what the hell, its $5, and Im a novice anyway. This UHF75 antenna is the same one the instructions recommended.

Now that Ive had my HD setup for 3 months or so and never received a single pixel from WTAE, I plan on buying one either to mount on the mast my DTV omnidirectional antenna is mounted on, or in the attic. I need a spliiter of course to splice the omni and this UHF75, but Im hoping to aim the sucker directly WTAE in the hope that I can overcome my reception problems in Mt. Lebanon.

Dave Morrison,

What's up!!!

Game 7 of the Stanley Cup on NBC and WPXI isn't carrying it in hi-def.

Good thing I can get WTOV so I can view it the way it is being broadcast.

This is unacceptable of WPXI.

This is unacceptable of WPXI.
WOW, you should really learn to be a little more polite. Dave takes time out of his busy schedule to check on us almost every day.

Dave Morrison,

What's up!!!

Game 7 of the Stanley Cup on NBC and WPXI isn't carrying it in hi-def.

Good thing I can get WTOV so I can view it the way it is being broadcast.

This is unacceptable of WPXI.

I agree!!!!

They broadcast every preceding game without fail, but royally screw up when it comes down to the most important game of the entire season.

It's just not unacceptable, it's downright criminal!

Get your act together WPXI before the game is over!!!

I'm not blaming Dave personally. I don't think he'll take it that way.

What I am saying is this is a royal screw-up. And it's not the first time WPXI has done this.
May I remind you of some earlier NHL games that weren't broadcast on WPXI in HD (1-27-06). Refer to the posts back then.

Whoever is in charge of this kind of thing at channel 11 is sleeping at the switch.

Maybe they just don't care, I really don't know.

This is a major-market television station. They should start acting as such. This is not a back-woods Alabama television station.

I feel bad for those who spent thousands of dollars on high-end televisions and use Comcast HD and have no "over the-air" capability to fall back on.

Dave, I know you're out there. Not that you're obligated to do so, but can you explain this gross oversight?

Benji, Stillholm and others...

It's very hard not to take these kinds of comments personally. Read 'em again.

I've been forthright in all questions asked of me...I've corresponded personally with many forum members via email, and I've even talked to many of you over the phone. In the past, I have found these forums to be useful to the point that I pass many comments along to the WPXI management as well as NBC's senior engineers. I work in a timely fashion to resolve all of the problems brought up to me on these forums, and I work very hard to make things "right". However, things foul up from time to time - that's an unfortunate fact of life in any business.

That being said, you have to realize that I don't work 24/7 and that I do in fact have other responsibilities in addition to HDTV related issues when I AM here.

Do I think that someone was asleep at the switch? No...I called in last night to ask about the game. Do I think that our management doesn't care? Certainly not! But to claim that we're not acting as a major market TV station, but rather as some back-woods broadcaster is really over the top. And what's up with the "downright criminal" comment. Please!

Yes, I plan on looking into what happened with our HD broadcast last night. However, if these forums are just going to turn into a "bash-fest", then I won't feel inclined to participate.

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

Yes, don't shoot the messenger. We appreciate your checking in Dave.

I think all the hockey fans including myself were greatly disappointed and frustrated with the lack of HD from WPXI for game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, that's all. IMO hockey is the sport that benefits the most from HD coverage, so going back to SD is a letdown.
I realize hockey is a fringe sport but last night was our Super Bowl.

Regardless, stuff happens. It's not the end of the world. (that's when your helmetless star QB gets blasted off his motorcycle). ;)

WPXI also failed to turn on high def for the Arena Bowl (the super bowl for arena football) the week before. probably many didn't care, but it would have been nice to have it in high def since it was available. only SD broadcast on WPXI.

that being said, has WTAE gone out for anyone else this week? i always get a great signal from them and now all of a sudden i'm not getting a thing and nothing in my setup has changed.

Apologies, Mr. Morrison.

I get a sense you can feel our frustration over last nite's major screw-up.

The "backwoods" comment came from my ability to watch HD from Johnstown (WJAC, #98 Neilsen market size) and Steubenville (WTOV, #154 Neilsen market size) but not WPXI (#22 Neilsen market size). Nothing more was intended.

Dave Morrison is a stand up guy and doesn't deserve any abuse from readers of this forum. Stuff happens that is out of his control. Equipment problems, software problems, etc.

In this day and age it is a rare individual that goes out of his way to help others when it isn't expected. Dave took the time to send me a long e-mail regarding improving my reception of WPXI-DT, and I live 60 miles from Pittsburgh in Ohio, well out of the Pittsburgh DMA. In my opinion, that is above and beyond the call of duty. While some of you may not appreciate his efforts, you can rest assured that I and many others do.

Thank you all for the kind words. I don't deserve the kudos, but I appreciate them nonetheless. Benji5301 and I are one the same page now, and I think that both of our emails were sent out of frustration - his on the viewer end, and mine on the broadcaster end. That's all.

Please remember that my company is committed to making DTV work, and our engineering department is simply a service department; our customers are both inside and outside of this building.

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

Yes, to be honest I'm glad that Dave is here to check up on us for WPXI. Rest assured, I wouldn't mind it if other station reps hung out in these forums *looks around for KDKA*

Dave, there are a couple questions I'm curious to know the answer to. First, is the WPXI station responsible for putting out the Fox network stuff as well or does Pittsburgh's Fox station have its own HD broadcasting crew?

Also, is there are any good way of contacting WPXI whenever there's a problem similar to what Benji5301 described. Frankly, posting here and emailing appear to be the best way of *ahem* "providing feedback" about the problem in question. There's got to be a faster and better way, so that we can potentially report the problems as they occur and even get them fixed halfway through the program. I'm sure I asked this before, but I am worried that more users will come in here complaining to you specifically about some problem.

You're an excellent resource to have around here, and I'd just as soon do my best to ensure that complainers don't frustrate you off this board.

Dave, there are a couple questions I'm curious to know the answer to. First, is the WPXI station responsible for putting out the Fox network stuff as well or does Pittsburgh's Fox station have its own HD broadcasting crew?

Wha?

Dave, there are a couple questions I'm curious to know the answer to. First, is the WPXI station responsible for putting out the Fox network stuff as well or does Pittsburgh's Fox station have its own HD broadcasting crew?

Wha?

Looks like someone's confused about the new news sharing partnership between WPXI and WPGH.

Just to clarify - WPXI only produces the 10 o'clock newscast for WPGH/FOX 53. They are only responsible for that program. Anything else, they are not responsible for.

Looks like someone's confused about the new news sharing partnership between WPXI and WPGH.

Just to clarify - WPXI only produces the 10 o'clock newscast for WPGH/FOX 53. They are only responsible for that program. Anything else, they are not responsible for.
Thanks. I honestly hadn't been following that closely as I generally don't watch Fox that much.

Dave, there are a couple questions I'm curious to know the answer to. First, is the WPXI station responsible for putting out the Fox network stuff as well or does Pittsburgh's Fox station have its own HD broadcasting crew?

Also, is there are any good way of contacting WPXI whenever there's a problem similar to what Benji5301 described.

Thanks for the questions. First, as mentioned in some of the other posts, WPXI only provides Fox 53 with their 10pm newscast, though I understand that we'll be producing something for Fox during the All Star Game. Unfortunately, I don't believe this will be an HD program. Sorry.

Secondly, the best way to contact WPXI if there is an HD issue is to call our news assignment desk at (412) 237-1101. (This number is also posted on www.wpxi.com under the "contact us" section, and they answer 24/7.) They will pass the info along to our control room operators. Keep it simple - you're likely to overload the intern who answers if you use too much geek-talk.

Lastly, I figure that we'll all allowed to vent from time to time, and I think that's just what happened here on the forum. I'd just prefer to keep it constructive.

My theory about chat rooms or forum sites is this: Even if Martin Luther King and Gandhi were chatting, one would eventually call the other a Nazi! I'd just like to head things off before they get to that point.

I had some very nice email conversations with Benji and I think we're on the same page now. You all saw frustration from both of us on your screens!

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

Has anybody noticed the lip synch issue again on KDKA-DT (CBS)? I watch via Comcast, but I know in the past OTA viewers have confirmed it's a problem with the station.

It hasn't been nearly as bad as it once was until I noticed the past week or two. Watching Letterman and some other shows it was really distracting with the audio about a half second behind the video.

How long is it going to take before KDKA finally fixes this problem for good?

WPXI also failed to turn on high def for the Arena Bowl (the super bowl for arena football) the week before. probably many didn't care, but it would have been nice to have it in high def since it was available. only SD broadcast on WPXI.

that being said, has WTAE gone out for anyone else this week? i always get a great signal from them and now all of a sudden i'm not getting a thing and nothing in my setup has changed.
We've not changed anything at WTAE. Still full power. Presently investigating for interference I suspect causes intermittent reception for some viewers.

Dave K

We've not changed anything at WTAE. Still full power. Presently investigating for interference I suspect causes intermittent reception for some viewers.

Dave K


Dave I have been having some problems with WTAE for some time. All of the other Pittsburgh stations are at 95+ signal strength

Welcome to the forum, Dave K.

We need some KDKA and WPGH guys now...just so they're not all named Dave too, that will be entirely too confusing. ;)

Dave and/or Dave K

Dishnetwork had promised Pittsburgh locals to be uplinked and made available by second quarter of this year. DIRECTV has been available for some time. It seems that Dish has slowed down considerably in HD rollout. Are you able to tell us if they have approached the locals or are making any progress in the Pgh area with HD delivery? I would hate to go another football season without HD again. Any info on Dish would be appreciated.

Thanks

Dave I have been having some problems with WTAE for some time. All of the other Pittsburgh stations are at 95+ signal strength

It's not an unusual situation in Western PA hills. We are not located with the other station transmitter sites so you could get them fine but still have trouble receiving us based on your geographic location. From your posting ID it looks like your're in Ohio?

Dave

Dave and/or Dave K

Dishnetwork had promised Pittsburgh locals to be uplinked and made available by second quarter of this year. DIRECTV has been available for some time. It seems that Dish has slowed down considerably in HD rollout. Are you able to tell us if they have approached the locals or are making any progress in the Pgh area with HD delivery? I would hate to go another football season without HD again. Any info on Dish would be appreciated.

Thanks

I can say Echostar is very actively seeking an HD collection site in Pittsburgh. Whether they'll be up and running by the time regular football season starts is open to debate, but I can assure you it is an important goal for them as they know they are last to the party now.

Dave K

Welcome to the forum, Dave K.

We need some KDKA and WPGH guys now...just so they're not all named Dave too, that will be entirely too confusing. ;)

Should I change my username to WTAE Dave? ( or ABC Dave?) Whatever is less confusing.

Thank Dave...very much appreciate the feedback.

Is a HD collection site something that typically takes a long time to get up and going once they have found a site OR is this just selecting a vendor/company that does this and turning some switches.

Just trying to get a feeling if this is a month after selection or a half year or more.

Thanks again

Thank Dave...very much appreciate the feedback.

Is a HD collection site something that typically takes a long time to get up and going once they have found a site OR is this just selecting a vendor/company that does this and turning some switches.

Just trying to get a feeling if this is a month after selection or a half year or more.

Thanks again

I believe they will be up and running for most of the upcoming football season, but not necessarily in time for the start of the regular season.

It's not an unusual situation in Western PA hills. We are not located with the other station transmitter sites so you could get them fine but still have trouble receiving us based on your geographic location. From your posting ID it looks like your're in Ohio?

Dave


Yes, I am West of Steubenville Ohio.

It's not an unusual situation in Western PA hills. We are not located with the other station transmitter sites so you could get them fine but still have trouble receiving us based on your geographic location. From your posting ID it looks like your're in Ohio?

Dave


dave, I am West of Steubenville Ohio.

Should I change my username to WTAE Dave? ( or ABC Dave?) Whatever is less confusing.

Naaah, we catch on quickly. It actually makes it easier for us to "just blame Dave at the station..." :p

(totally kidding...we appreciate the participation and interest from our professional members)

dave, I am West of Steubenville Ohio.

Under FCC rules we had to utilize an antenna with a radiation pattern that would protect WSFJ -DT in Newark from interference, essentially limiting power in your direction. This is not to say you might not still get the signal with enough elevation and antenna gain or LNAs, but between the hilly terrain and the antenna pattern, the odds are against reliable reception in most of Ohio.

Sorry.

Dave

Naaah, we catch on quickly. It actually makes it easier for us to "just blame Dave at the station..." :p

(totally kidding...we appreciate the participation and interest from our professional members)


LOL

(when we see a tough question we can just say "Dave??.... Dave's not here!!!")

Under FCC rules we had to utilize an antenna with a radiation pattern that would protect WSFJ -DT in Newark from interference, essentially limiting power in your direction. This is not to say you might not still get the signal with enough elevation and antenna gain or LNAs, but between the hilly terrain and the antenna pattern, the odds are against reliable reception in most of Ohio.

Sorry.

Dave

Why in the world were they ever given 51 as well?
That's what I'll never understand about the FCC, when I see things like that.

golf is being broadcast in HD today on NBC.... but its not in HD here again on WPXI pittsburgh. this is the 3rd event i've noticed in the past 2 months that is in HD, yet not locally here. i've never noticed it on another network locally for a long long time, over year. man, i wish nbc didn't have nfl this year.

Stanley Cup Game 7 = no hd
Arena Bowl, the Super Bowl of Arena Football = no hd
Pga Golf today = no hd

hope this gets fixed before football, i'm not sure how many screw ups it will take for the problem to finally get fixed, especially since they are aware of it. lets hope it doesn't happen come football season.

Tipton,

That's ashame.

I just can't understand how this happens over and over again.

I just went HD a few months ago mainly for Steelers games, they better be in HD!

I just went HD a few months ago mainly for Steelers games, they better be in HD!

Not ALL NFL games every week are in HD, or certain matchups. Whether it is FOX, or CBS, they choose certain games to broadcast in HD, and not others. The numbers seem to be going up every year, but there are no gurantees.

The primetime games on NBC and ESPN(if you get ESPN HD) will be in HD, no question, along with teh games on the NFL Network if you get NFLNetwork HD.

Unless of course WPXI is screwed up somehow, and doesn't offer it, but I have the feeling tht won't be the case.

Now since the Steelers are the defending NFL Champions, the majority of their games will MOST LIKELY be in HD, but no guarantees of course.

Some of their games will not be in HD(HD 16:9 widescreen I mean. Of course there will be an HD image, just a POSTAGE Stamp HD image which will need Zooming/stretching/etc...)

fox does 6 games per week in HD and cbs does 3, so rest assured if the steelers are on fox it will definitely be in HD. any big game on cbs is almost always in hd, don't expect a game like pittsburgh vs. cleveland to be in HD though. i put a star next to the games that should definitely be in HD most likely:

Thursday, Sept. 7 DOLPHINS 8:30 pm (NBC) *
Monday, Sept. 18 @ Jaguars 8:30 pm (ESPN) *
Sunday, Sept 24 BENGALS 1:00 pm (CBS) *
Sunday, Oct. 1 BYE WEEK
Sunday, Oct. 8 @ Chargers 8:15 pm (NBC) *
Sunday, Oct. 15 CHIEFS 4:15 pm (CBS) *
Sunday, Oct. 22 @ Falcons 1:00 pm (CBS) *
Sunday, Oct. 29 @ Raiders 4:15 pm (CBS)
Sunday, Nov. 5 BRONCOS 4:15 pm (CBS) *
Sunday, Nov. 12 SAINTS * 1:00 pm (FOX) *
Sunday, Nov. 19 @ Browns * 1:00 pm (CBS)
Sunday, Nov. 26 @ Ravens * 1:00 pm (CBS) *
Sunday, Dec. 3 BUCCANEERS * 1:00 pm (FOX) *
Thursday, Dec. 7 BROWNS 8:00 pm (NFL Network) *
Sunday, Dec. 17 @ Panthers * 1:00 pm (CBS) *
Sunday, Dec. 24 RAVENS 1:00 pm (CBS)
Sunday, Dec. 31 @ Bengals * 1:00 pm (CBS) *

yeah, a tough ass schedule... i'd say pretty much every game will be in HD. questionable games are the chiefs, raiders, ravens, panthers. all depends on how things go during the season. plus, i believe later in the season games can be moved to monday night if its the best game that week right?

Why in the world were they ever given 51 as well?
That's what I'll never understand about the FCC, when I see things like that.


We don't really understand that decision either, but it's what we had to live with. Once all the analog broadcasting is over, there's a slight chance some other channels will become available, but it's a long shot at best.

Dave

The primetime games on NBC and ESPN(if you get ESPN HD) will be in HD, no question, along with teh games on the NFL Network if you get NFLNetwork HD.




WTAE will simulcast ESPN's broadcasts of the Steelers pre-season game on August 26 and their Sept 18 Monday night game. At this time I am being told ESPN will give us the HD feeds for these games, so our intentions are to simulcast the HD feed if it is actually produced in HD. So if you don't have ESPN HD, this should be a service to the viewers interested.

Dave

Excellent. I was actually concerned about missing Steelers games since ABC wasn't officially broadcasting them (I don't have cable and hence don't get ESPN). :-)

golf is being broadcast in HD today on NBC.... but its not in HD here again on WPXI pittsburgh. this is the 3rd event i've noticed in the past 2 months that is in HD, yet not locally here. i've never noticed it on another network locally for a long long time, over year. man, i wish nbc didn't have nfl this year.

Stanley Cup Game 7 = no hd
Arena Bowl, the Super Bowl of Arena Football = no hd
Pga Golf today = no hd

hope this gets fixed before football, i'm not sure how many screw ups it will take for the problem to finally get fixed, especially since they are aware of it. lets hope it doesn't happen come football season.Isn't the common thread here that those games were all on the weekend? It seems that WPXI is asleep at the wheel (or on autopilot) on weekends. Our friend Dave who posts here isn't usually there on weekends and has posted that he doesn't know what happens. But it happens way too often, that's for sure. WPXI needs to put some controls in place to ensure that they are properly serving the growing number of HD viewers.

Isn't the common thread here that those games were all on the weekend? It seems that WPXI is asleep at the wheel (or on autopilot) on weekends. Our friend Dave who posts here isn't usually there on weekends and has posted that he doesn't know what happens. But it happens way too often, that's for sure. WPXI needs to put some controls in place to ensure that they are properly serving the growing number of HD viewers.

was game 7 of the cup on a weekend? i can't remember... but anyways, yeah it happens alot more on the weekend it seems. i just hope it gets fixed soon, especially with NBC having football now.

Hello folks, I don't want to get off of your subject, but I need professional help! - no, not that kind, but help my reception on KDKA-DT (frequency 25) on my DirecTV UHF, local antenna. I've had satellite for 3yrs and just the other day had a "waffel" style UHF installed on my roof. I live in Monroeville, by the Mall, but at the highest point behind the Christian Church behind rt.22. I am pulling a 94 signal strength and I get large pixelation every 30 sec, almost like clockwork. but, WTAE, WQED, WPGH, WPXI are all pulling lesser signals between 89 to 92 and they never flinch and the quality is always perfect. Does anyone know of KDKA having problems with their broadcasting in HD? This occurs 24hrs a day. Thanks - Vince of Monroeville.

i'm pretty sure something is wrong with the KDKA signal, the same thing was happening in march when the NCAA tourney was going on. i've check as well and i'm locked in at 92 signal strenth with no wavering. it has to be their signal. need to let them know there is a problem. so basically i can tell you that i'm having the same problem you describe.

i'm pretty sure something is wrong with the KDKA signal, the same thing was happening in march when the NCAA tourney was going on. i've check as well and i'm locked in at 92 signal strenth with no wavering. it has to be their signal. need to let them know there is a problem. so basically i can tell you that i'm having the same problem you describe.


If it's a PSIP issue on their end, a rescan might solve it for you.

I'm currently sending an email to KDKA advising of the issue. Thanks a bunch guys. - Vince

i'm pretty sure something is wrong with the KDKA signal, the same thing was happening in march when the NCAA tourney was going on. i've check as well and i'm locked in at 92 signal strenth with no wavering. it has to be their signal. need to let them know there is a problem. so basically i can tell you that i'm having the same problem you describe.

Me, too. I didn't realize it until I tried to watch some shows on Tivo. I have no idea what my signal trength was at the time, but it has been comparable for all the transmitters in the NNE area. It was really terrible!

I called KDKA's engineering dept. and left a voicemail (Sunday) explaining the situation we're experiencing. Hopefully they do something about it.

If it's a PSIP issue on their end, a rescan might solve it for you.

Has anyone tried rescanning to see if it solved their KDKA problem? I was getting a weird message on my receiver that said KDKA was scrambled. A rescan on my end solved it.

I'd be interested in hearing what works for all of you.

<MORE> Let me revise this. It seems that I was able to clear up the "scrambled" message, but even with a strong signal, KDKA's picture still seems to freeze periodically for me.

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

Hi Guys,

I am getting my HDTV today and moving to my first house tomorrow. IT is in Swissvale, so it is Adelphia Cable. Does anyone have Adelphia? How is their HD?

I'm mainly interested in Penguins and Steelers in HD, and I play a few video games. Thanks.

<MORE> Let me revise this. It seems that I was able to clear up the "scrambled" message, but even with a strong signal, KDKA's picture still seems to freeze periodically for me.

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

I haven't had any issue with a scrambled message/signal ... but I certainly see the periodic lock-ups; they occur with both of my OTA tuners (samsung t165 and a myhd 110 pc card). Haven't tried watching KDKA on cable ...

"I am getting my HDTV today and moving to my first house tomorrow. IT is in Swissvale, so it is Adelphia Cable. Does anyone have Adelphia? How is their HD?"


I just got Adelphia about 10 days ago; previously had Dish w/o HD and relied on OTA for local HD. I have been impressed with the HD from Adelphia and the choices in HD. The only problem is no FOX in HD or TNT, but for me I get a pretty strong OTA signal for 53.1, so it's not a big deal. Oddly enough, there is a Fox Sports HD channel, so for the few Pirates' games in HD (and I assume Penguins too), it is very good. Just as a postscript, IMHO there is no contest between the quality of the digital satellite and digital cable--satellite is clearly better for digital. I have no comparison for satellite HD, but the cable HD is very good, although not as good as OTA. The added selections make up the difference from my previous setup.

This will be my first HD experience, I'm sure i'll be impressed. Thanks!

Does anybody know when upn 19 soon to be the cw will go hd?

UPDATE - I didn't seem to notice any frozen video on KDKA last night. Maybe the problem is fixed?

As for when WPCW (ch 19) will have a digital signal on the air, this item (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06194/705626-238.stm) (scroll half-way down the page) appeared in the Post-Gazette's online TV Q&A a couple of weeks ago. The best I've been able to figure out is that the FCC has been unconscionably slow in dealing with the station's applications -- a situation that's been made worse by challenges to its use of channel 49.

NBC's Sunday Night Football preseason game broadcast was riddled with problems. The screen kept pausing, the images would freeze and macroblock all over the place, rendering it unwatchable. Sometimes it would be fine for a few minutes, but as soon as you got lulled into thinking the problem was fixed, it would do it again. Lip synch was atrocious.

I don't think this was a reception problem on my end, because the commercials were fine (gee, thanks) and my antenna was pulling at least 9 bars (90%). All my other channels worked fine.

This doesn't make me very confident that I can have a Steelers opener party at my house, since NBC is carrying that game too.

Anyone else experience the same problems last night?

I only caught a few minutes of it during the second half. I saw some blocking during fast motion. Lots of complaints about blurring and other issues here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=707813

Thanks for the link, hondo21.

These guys are talking about "fuzziness" and "blurring". I wish mine had even looked that good. I'm talking about macroblocks the size of playing cards and cookie sheets, and constant image freezes and stutters. Completely unwatchable. Yet for some reason the commercials and other channels are fine.

Thanks for the link, hondo21.

These guys are talking about "fuzziness" and "blurring". I wish mine had even looked that good. I'm talking about macroblocks the size of playing cards and cookie sheets, and constant image freezes and stutters. Completely unwatchable. Yet for some reason the commercials and other channels are fine.

Bob, how are you getting WPXI-DT? I am through Comcast, and saw none of the huge macroblacks you did.

I'm getting it OTA.
I had this problem every once in while last year, specifically with football games. The Olympics broadcast in 2004 had some of the problems of fuzziness and mild macroblocking, but it's the football games that seem to really have major issues.

I'm getting it OTA.
I had this problem every once in while last year, specifically with football games. The Olympics broadcast in 2004 had some of the problems of fuzziness and mild macroblocking, but it's the football games that seem to really have major issues.

Bob...you saw this problem with football last year? WPXI didn't broadcast football last year, and I wonder if the problem now is about the same, not as bad, or worse than last year's games. Also, how were the Winter Olympics, the 2006 games in Torino? Did you watch, and if so, did you have problems?

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

Bob...you saw this problem with football last year? WPXI didn't broadcast football last year, and I wonder if the problem now is about the same, not as bad, or worse than last year's games. Also, how were the Winter Olympics, the 2006 games in Torino? Did you watch, and if so, did you have problems?

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering


he is most likely referring to college football, which you broadcasted last year. he didn't say nfl.

i'm not that confident in WPXI either personally, considering you guys have failed to have HD turned on when it was available on 3 big events recently we'll see how it goes...

Bob...just a short note to let you know that we made a minor change in our encoder at Bob's (TV21CHIEF) suggestion. Let's see if that makes any difference. And Tipton, it looks to me like we have some work to do to regain your confidence.

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

Thanks Dave. I'll keep watching and keep you posted if the problem re-occurs.

2006 winter Olympics looked fine for the most part. The opening ceremonies had some minor bugs but the rest of the Olympics went well. One of the downhill skiing events where it was snowing had some problems, but I think that was because there was so much visual data because of the snow falling.

I think it was a Notre Dame game last year where I had the freezing/macroblocking issue.

Bob...just a short note to let you know that we made a minor change in our encoder at Bob's (TV21CHIEF) suggestion. Let's see if that makes any difference. And Tipton, it looks to me like we have some work to do to regain your confidence.

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering


Uh-oh!!! Now I'm in trouble.

I was hoping someone could explain why this is or how to correct it .I can get good signals from Johnstown and Youngstown that are twice the distance away but can't break into the 70 's on the signal meter with KDKA I was counting on steeler games in high def.I'm in westdeer on a hill and have a radioshack U75 antenna.

I don't know if I should post here, so I'm hoping some of you are friendly enough to help :)

I currently have Comcast and get 7 HD channels, which I think is way too low. I've been looking at Dish and DirecTV, but am COMPLETELY lost on OTA HD and even where to start. I went to a link that tried to explain the different antennas and it made my confusion even stronger. I do know that my TV can handle OTA HD signals, it even has it's own connection just for "AIR A/D". But this antenna thing has me in loops. What kind of antenna are we talking? Roof mounted 48 inchers like I had back in '82 before Videolink wired us up? Anybody know how the reception is for Baldwin Boro (North)?

I don't know if I should post here, so I'm hoping some of you are friendly enough to help :)

I currently have Comcast and get 7 HD channels, which I think is way too low. I've been looking at Dish and DirecTV, but am COMPLETELY lost on OTA HD and even where to start. I went to a link that tried to explain the different antennas and it made my confusion even stronger. I do know that my TV can handle OTA HD signals, it even has it's own connection just for "AIR A/D". But this antenna thing has me in loops. What kind of antenna are we talking? Roof mounted 48 inchers like I had back in '82 before Videolink wired us up? Anybody know how the reception is for Baldwin Boro (North)?

Any antenna will do, there's really no difference between analog and 'digital ready' antennas. If you go to www.antennaweb.org they're a good source to help you figure out what kind of antenna would be best depending on your distance from the transmitters and other variables.

What a bummer. No HD Steelers! Also, whats with the purple KDKA logo? To bad Dish blacked out NFLHD...

Well, if any antenna will do, then I may be in luck! Out of the stations I wish to receive, all but one are in yellow (small multi-directional) which seems to be a "it's hard to screw this up" scenario. WTAE, is red, though. My huge problem is I have 3 flat wires coming off of this antenna. One is connected to a large horizontal dipole, the other is to a small rod with little dipoles on the very top of the mast. The third goes to a box, probably a rotator. I'm just gonna have to hook these wires up to a tv and see what receives and what doesn't.

BTW, why didn't CBS broadcast the preseason game in HD? Very dissapointing. NFLN was blacked out, I wonder if they had an HD feed.

Dave,
I don't know what you WPXI guys did, but this week I didn't have any of the screen freeze-ups or huge macroblocks that I had last week! Thanks!

Bob...thanks for the status report. I'm glad it worked well this weekend...BEFORE the regular season!

Dave

I was hoping someone could explain why this is or how to correct it .I can get good signals from Johnstown and Youngstown that are twice the distance away but can't break into the 70 's on the signal meter with KDKA I was counting on steeler games in high def.I'm in westdeer on a hill and have a radioshack U75 antenna.
So I guess none you guys have an answer for this question?

Watching Steelers vs Vikings on KDKA. Anyone else seeing green flash and hearing loud static when brodcast switches between HD game and SD advertisements?

Watching Steelers vs Vikings on KDKA. Anyone else seeing green flash and hearing loud static when brodcast switches between HD game and SD advertisements?
Ya I'm getting the same thing and on top of that I lose picture randomly due to my reception issues.

Did see a green flash, but no static noise. The green flash, when played in slo-mo, were a group of horizontal lines. It did get a little better as the game progressed. I also noticed a black, skinnny solid vertical bar on the left of my screen whenever a graphic was on the screen.

On the other hand, the picture quality was excellent for a homegrown game. Kudos to the big K for the hi-def feed. Wonder if they were using the NEP supershooters?

Originally Posted by vettesled
I was hoping someone could explain why this is or how to correct it .I can get good signals from Johnstown and Youngstown that are twice the distance away but can't break into the 70 's on the signal meter with KDKA I was counting on steeler games in high def.I'm in westdeer on a hill and have a radioshack U75 antenna.

Vettesled, are you using a rotor on your antenna? KDKA comes in like gangbusters for me in New Kensington, with an indoor terk hdtva antenna. I have the same antennas hooked up at work to a directv hr-20 tivo box, and LG 50PC1DR plasma with a built in dvr in Monroeville at a big box store, with a metal roof, signal strength and reception is super. I can get WATM-DT in Johnstown from my store with a cheap indoor antenna, but I do have to point to get signal. Hope this helps....

So I guess none you guys have an answer for this question?
The less information you give, the less we can help. I had to look up where West Deer was, since my knowledge of the area outside of Allegheny is poor. Had to look up the U75 antenna too, since I'm not exactly familiar with all the different antennas out there (Is this your antenna? (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103088))

Anyways, given that you're not getting KDKA very well, my guess is that there is some large piece of geography that is between you and KDKA. It doesn't help you very much, but that would be my guess.

The less information you give, the less we can help. I had to look up where West Deer was, since my knowledge of the area outside of Allegheny is poor. Had to look up the U75 antenna too, since I'm not exactly familiar with all the different antennas out there (Is this your antenna? (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103088))

Anyways, given that you're not getting KDKA very well, my guess is that there is some large piece of geography that is between you and KDKA. It doesn't help you very much, but that would be my guess.
Thanks for the response thats the antenna with rotator. I'm in northern allegheny KDKA is the only station I have the problem with 2.1 and 25.1 I thought it might be their broadcast strength or something like that.

A New Dawn for 'Today’

By Glen Dickson -- Broadcasting & Cable, 8/21/2006

Meredith Vieira won’t be the only new thing at NBC’s Today this fall.

The perennial morning-news leader, sans Katie Couric, is launching in high-definition on Sept. 13 from a revamped studio in New York’s Rockefeller Center.
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Bell says the big HD challenge will be handling different aspect ratios from the reams of footage contributed by bureaus and affiliates, most of which are 4:3 standard-definition. NBC is working to outfit bureaus and key stations with new cameras capable of 16:9 standard-definition pictures, which can be upconverted for HD broadcast.

NBC’s owned stations use Panasonic DVCPRO standard-def cameras, but NBC is looking at a high-def format for news gathering. WNBC New York will be testing Sony’s XDCAM HD format this fall.

“There will be 4:3 materials that we will still receive,” says Wallace. “The reality is that, for the next three to five years, I can’t imagine all affiliates that contribute material will be 16:9. It’s a challenge all broadcasters will be facing for the foreseeable future.”

Initially, Today will likely leave 4:3 material as a center-cut, with color tinting in the side panels. Later on, running a 16:9 picture across the top of the screen and a wide graphics bar along the bottom may be viable.

Is Wheel Of Fortune and Jeopardy going to be in hd on wpxi?

Is Wheel Of Fortune and Jeopardy going to be in hd on wpxi?

Yes, but I don't have a date for you on that.

Dave

"I am getting my HDTV today and moving to my first house tomorrow. IT is in Swissvale, so it is Adelphia Cable. Does anyone have Adelphia? How is their HD?"


I just got Adelphia about 10 days ago; previously had Dish w/o HD and relied on OTA for local HD. I have been impressed with the HD from Adelphia and the choices in HD. The only problem is no FOX in HD or TNT, but for me I get a pretty strong OTA signal for 53.1, so it's not a big deal. Oddly enough, there is a Fox Sports HD channel, so for the few Pirates' games in HD (and I assume Penguins too), it is very good. Just as a postscript, IMHO there is no contest between the quality of the digital satellite and digital cable--satellite is clearly better for digital. I have no comparison for satellite HD, but the cable HD is very good, although not as good as OTA. The added selections make up the difference from my previous setup.

I have a question regarding Adelphia. My uncle lives in Trafford and when I was visiting last weekend I had his Panny Plasma scan for digital channels, but after weeding through all of the frequencies I could not find the local HD channels. Does anyone have the actual freqs. and if so, could you list them? I wanted to show him the difference between what he thinks is HD and what HD really is.

Back here in Jersey I can pull in the locals through my Comcast feed (local HDs are not permitted to be blocked per FCC) and my Sony has the channel numbers in the 110.1 - 117.9 range.

Thanks for any help.

I have a question regarding Adelphia. My uncle lives in Trafford and when I was visiting last weekend I had his Panny Plasma scan for digital channels, but after weeding through all of the frequencies I could not find the local HD channels. Does anyone have the actual freqs. and if so, could you list them? I wanted to show him the difference between what he thinks is HD and what HD really is.

Is this what you wanted:?
Callsign | Listed Freq. | Affiliate | Actual Freq.
WPGH-DT 53.1 FOX 43
WPXI-DT 11.1 NBC 48
WPMY-DT 42.1 WB 42
KDKA-DT 2.1 CBS 25
WQED-DT 13.1 PBS 38
WQEX-DT 16.1 HSN 26
WTAE-DT 4.1 ABC 51

Dave, just tried to tune in but there absolutely no signal. what happened?

Dave, just tried to tune in but there absolutely no signal. what happened?

We had a power outage Monday night and the backup power systems failed. I assume that you tuned in around that time.

Dave Morrison
WPXI-TV Engineering

Is this what you wanted:?
Callsign | Listed Freq. | Affiliate | Actual Freq.
WPGH-DT 53.1 FOX 43
WPXI-DT 11.1 NBC 48
WPMY-DT 42.1 WB 42
KDKA-DT 2.1 CBS 25
WQED-DT 13.1 PBS 38
WQEX-DT 16.1 HSN 26
WTAE-DT 4.1 ABC 51
Unfortunately no. I am looking for the QAM channel. Example my CBS is 3.1, but through the cable it is 117.3.

Does anyone know anything about when WPCW will be on digitally??

Hello. I am hoping you guys can help me out. I live in a two-story house in McCandless Township and I am having an OTA antenna installed soon, along with the HD package from DirecTV. Do any of you have DirecTV and if so, have you had them install an OTA antenna? I want to make sure that they will install the correct type of antenna and that they won't do a bad job. I think my worry is based on the listings at antennaweborg indicating that I need a 'Medium Directional with Pre-Amp' antenna to receive WTAE broadcasts and at least a 'Medium Directional' for everything else. Any clue on if this is accurate given my location?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Unless your next-door neighbor just went through this exercise, there are no sure bet's in Western PA's hilly terrain. At best, there are only reasonable guidelines based on predicted signal coverage. I live South of you in Ross Twp and get every HD station in Pittsburgh using a medium range Radio Shack outdoor antenna with no preamp, but as the saying goes: "individual results at your home may vary" Personally I would try the antenna only first because I could always add a preamp later if needed. Contrarily, if you're significantly blocked by a hill to the South (every station in Pittsburgh is South of you) then almost no antenna preamp combination will overcome terrain. Best of luck with your project.
Dave

Does anyone know anything about when WPCW will be on digitally??

Latest word has been they are awaiting FCC approval of their application for Channel 49. I've sent the station an email asking for a timeline once they receive approval. I await an answer.
If you care to email them, try their site: http://pittsburghscw.com/feedback

Latest word has been they are awaiting FCC approval of their application for Channel 49. I've sent the station an email asking for a timeline once they receive approval. I await an answer.
If you care to email them, try their site: http://pittsburghscw.com/feedback

Thanks so much. I did send them a E-Mail

Dave and/or Dave

Any update on when Dishnetwork will have local HDs available? Many Dishnetwork owners in the Pgh area are dying to get the football games going. This was promised back in March, but it seems like they are doing absoluetly nothing.

Sorry if it's been addressed already - I searched through this thread quickly and didn't notice anything...

But is the macroblocking (I assume due to overcompression) on WPXI a local problem or an NBC issue? Whenever their is quick movement there are macro-blocks everywhere. Very distracting to me.

Thanks for any info on this issue.

Good morning Jantzen...

The macroblocking issue had been addressed by NBC when they discovered some changes which needed to be made to the encoders at the affiliate level. We made these changes, and I was under the impression this had been solved. Quick question for you - have you rescanned your channels recently? I know this sounds like a silly request, but I understand that this can help sometimes. I will address the macroblocking issue once again (I assume you noticed this during football, correct?).

The bigger issue I am dealing with right now is lip sync problems. If any of you notice lip sync problems, I'd appreciate you sending me a message through the forum. If you would include the program, the date and time, and the make and model of your receiver, this would be greatly appreciated. The occasional lip sync problem is a tough nut for me to crack.

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

The NBC football games have not improved. They are still bad. From the empirical evidence and feedback on these forums, the poor picture quality of NBC HD broadcasts with fast motion, such as the ND football games and NFL Sunday Night Football, are largely because of the subchannels (Weather Plus) starving the bitrate. This is a problem all over the country with NBC, but apparently the problems don't exist in the original production because HD clips of NBC games shown on ESPN-HD look flawless.

Check out this thread from the HD Programming subforum (just the latest of many complaining of these problems):

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=724854

Can't WPXI at least try an experiment and just turn off the weather subchannel to give the games the full bitstream they apparently need in order to look good? I find it hard to believe that anybody would complain if that weather subchannel disappeared for a few hours during high profile HD events. The current state of affairs make the network and affiliate stations look bad. We survived just fine without the weather channel all these years. I could certainly live without it.

Does anyone know anything about when WPCW will be on digitally??
I don't know the whole story, but I'm not holding my breath that WPCW will have a digital signal on the air anytime soon.

Early this year (in February, I think), the FCC finally gave WPCW permission to use channel 49 for it's digital signal and WPCW applied for a construction permit. Unfortunately, that's now been challenged by the owner of a low-power TV station in Indiana, PA which is using the same frequency.

The FCC had told the Indiana station it would have to move to another available channel, but its owner filed objections in June to WCPW's application, claiming there were no suitable channels for it to use. WPCW has petitioned to dismiss the challenge and has asked for an expedited ruling. But given the FCC's track record, I don't believe we'll see a digital signal from WPCW in the near future (after all, it took the FCC nearly *seven years* to approve WCPW's channel change application). Hope I'm wrong, but even if approval comes soon, I think the FCC's handling of this issue has been nothing short of pathetic!

The NBC football games have not improved. They are still bad. From the empirical evidence and feedback on these forums, the poor picture quality of NBC HD broadcasts with fast motion, such as the ND football games and NFL Sunday Night Football, are largely because of the subchannels (Weather Plus) starving the bitrate. This is a problem all over the country with NBC, but apparently the problems don't exist in the original production because HD clips of NBC games shown on ESPN-HD look flawless.

Check out this thread from the HD Programming subforum (just the latest of many complaining of these problems):

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=724854

Can't WPXI at least try an experiment and just turn off the weather subchannel to give the games the full bitstream they apparently need in order to look good? I find it hard to believe that anybody would complain if that weather subchannel disappeared for a few hours during high profile HD events. The current state of affairs make the network and affiliate stations look bad. We survived just fine without the weather channel all these years. I could certainly live without it.

There's more to it than just shutting off the few MB the Weather Channel takes up. There was a post last night from someone who saw the artifacts on a station that didn't have any subchannels. Here's the post. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8452016&&#post8452016)
The incoming NBC feed is excellent, it boils down to encoder settings, firmware, and generation of the encoder at the stations. As a matter of fact I've noticed over the past few weeks there's grumbling about Fox, CBS and ESPN too depending on the market and source. The fact remains that we're going from 1.5 GIGA bits down to 19 Megabits. That's almost an 80 to 1 compression factor.
Now I'll duck and cover! :D

Dave and/or Dave

Any update on when Dishnetwork will have local HDs available? Many Dishnetwork owners in the Pgh area are dying to get the football games going. This was promised back in March, but it seems like they are doing absoluetly nothing.

I don't have any info on this at this time. Sorry.

Dave - WPXI

Thanks Dave

I was hoping for some better news. Sad they have put people in this position of deciding between keeping our satelitte receivers or switching to cable.

not sure if it will help, but there has been lip synch problems on the first 2 NFL games on nbc. both the steelers opener and this past sundays game.

Dishnetwork said end of 2006 or early 2007. Talked to them last week. so have no idea when we will get any HD channels.

Is anyone else having serious audio sync issues with KDKA?

I tried to watch a few of the season and series premiers this week but they have all been around 0.8 seconds out of sync.

The Unit, NCIS, Smith, and Jericho were all horribly botched.

The audio sync is so bad that KDKA programming isn't worth watching really. It could be my equipment... but why is it only CBS/KDKA?

Is anyone else having serious audio sync issues with KDKA?

I tried to watch a few of the season and series premiers this week but they have all been around 0.8 seconds out of sync.

The Unit, NCIS, Smith, and Jericho were all horribly botched.

The audio sync is so bad that KDKA programming isn't worth watching really. It could be my equipment... but why is it only CBS/KDKA?

I could be your equipment. I have only watched NCIS, but it was fine. My receiver is a Tivo HR10-250 from DTV.

I could be your equipment. I have only watched NCIS, but it was fine. My receiver is a Tivo HR10-250 from DTV.

CBS (KDKA-DT) is the only network I have sync issues with. Letterman is off by almost a second - it's like watching a dubbed Japanese sci fi flick from the fifties. NBC, ABC, FOX, WB, and PBS HD feeds have perfect, in sync audio. Using an Echostar Model 6000 as one source with an OTA, and a Sony DHG HDD250, also with the OTA.

The funny thing is, that when KD goes to a local insert during network programming, the audio is fine for local content. I have a friend with a comcast dvr box who is having the same problems with KDKA in Tarentum...hmmmm.

I noticed the KDKA/CBS lip sync issue last night on Shark. It was way less than a second, but it was there. And not there on local. I have an SA box from Adelphia. I did not check the OTA.

Is anyone else having serious audio sync issues with KDKA?

I tried to watch a few of the season and series premiers this week but they have all been around 0.8 seconds out of sync.

The Unit, NCIS, Smith, and Jericho were all horribly botched.

The audio sync is so bad that KDKA programming isn't worth watching really. It could be my equipment... but why is it only CBS/KDKA?


I'm watching KDKA in Johnstown via Atlantic Broadband (Scientific Atlanta STB) and have noticed a few lip sync "events" but they have been brief and sporadic. One of the common suggestions I've seen posted elsewhere on this forum is to try remapping the channel in question. Good luck.

I've read through this forum throughout the last few days and I'm still in need of some help. I want to avoid comcast HD and get the OTA HD. I get a pretty good signal on KDKA, I get Fox somewhat but it does break up a good bit. I have a basic set of rabbit ears for now, so I'm guessing a better antenna would help out. I've taken a look at the antennaweb and it gave me an area to focus on for my coverage. I'd like to stay on the cheap end for an antenna ($50 or less) and indoor if possible, or at least attic install. I've seen a ton of different antennas out there and I'm not sure where to go from here.
I'm expecting that WTAE will be the hardest since it says I'm about 20 miles on that signal, but that is as far as I would need at least.
Any help is greatly appreciated folks.

Thanks
Pk

I've read through this forum throughout the last few days and I'm still in need of some help. I want to avoid comcast HD and get the OTA HD. I get a pretty good signal on KDKA, I get Fox somewhat but it does break up a good bit. I have a basic set of rabbit ears for now, so I'm guessing a better antenna would help out. I've taken a look at the antennaweb and it gave me an area to focus on for my coverage. I'd like to stay on the cheap end for an antenna ($50 or less) and indoor if possible, or at least attic install. I've seen a ton of different antennas out there and I'm not sure where to go from here.
I'm expecting that WTAE will be the hardest since it says I'm about 20 miles on that signal, but that is as far as I would need at least.
Any help is greatly appreciated folks.

Thanks
Pk


Channel Master 4228 is the best for uhf HDTV OTA. I bought mine from www.solidsignal.com

Is anyone else having any recent problems with their OTA reception of KDKA-DT? Normally my signal strength is a solid 100% for KDKA-DT but for the last few days it has been running around the mid 60's or lower. The channel's signal strength has occasionally dropped off low enough that I totally lose the signal. All other stations I receive OTA are still showing the same signal strength on my receiver so the problem seems to be with KDKA.

Is anyone else having any recent problems with their OTA reception of KDKA-DT? Normally my signal strength is a solid 100% for KDKA-DT but for the last few days it has been running around the mid 60's or lower. The channel's signal strength has occasionally dropped off low enough that I totally lose the signal. All other stations I receive OTA are still showing the same signal strength on my receiver so the problem seems to be with KDKA.



It has been fine here 99%

Is anyone else having any recent problems with their OTA reception of KDKA-DT? Normally my signal strength is a solid 100% for KDKA-DT but for the last few days it has been running around the mid 60's or lower. The channel's signal strength has occasionally dropped off low enough that I totally lose the signal. All other stations I receive OTA are still showing the same signal strength on my receiver so the problem seems to be with KDKA.

Have you had any leaves fall near you? This time of year, the foliage changes can make a difference.

Have you had any leaves fall near you? This time of year, the foliage changes can make a difference.

KDKA has always been at a signal strength of 100% at my house. This is over several years and has been independent of seasons. Leaves or the lack of them on trees have never had any noticeable impact on the signal. The signal strength of all the other PGH channels I receive have not changed. All of them come in at 100%. This include WTAE which some people apparently have had problems receiving. I'm getting D*'s newest HD receiver installed later this month. I'll have to see if that fixes the problem. In the meantime maybe I'll play around with the alignment of my outside antenna to see if that helps.

I've had OTA problems the last week or so with every station. I think it may be related to the TiVo 6.3a update. But I have a 4228 on the roof (North Hills) and rabbit ears inside and neither is working worth crap right now. :mad:

I've been having problems with my OTA reception lately. I've had to move my antennae (CM 4228) about 40 degrees to pick up everything that used to come in and I can't get WTAE at all now. I may have to watch Lost in SD tomorrow!!! I'm in Plum near New Kensington using a Dish 811 as my receiver. Could it be fall foilage?

I've been having problems with my OTA reception lately. I've had to move my antennae (CM 4228) about 40 degrees to pick up everything that used to come in and I can't get WTAE at all now. I may have to watch Lost in SD tomorrow!!! I'm in Plum near New Kensington using a Dish 811 as my receiver. Could it be fall foilage?
It could be fall foliage or it could be the fact that WTAE is pretty much in a completely different direction from all the other networks. Combined with autumn and the nasty rain we've had, and the fact that the 4228 IS a directional antenna could contribute to you not getting WTAE. I also suspect that WTAE's broadcasting antenna is obscured by hills which weaken the signal already though I've yet to confirm that.

Using antenaweb, I see that from a generic location in Plum, you should aim your antenna SSW and see if you still don't get signal.

I personally have to turn my antenna any time I want to watch WTAE, and I'm in Squirrel Hill.

Hello, I am new to the hdtv arena. I have recently purchased a Sony 40' LCD XBR2 series tv. I live in the Moon Twp area just past the airport and close to the Beaver County border. With an old two post antenna from a 10-15 year old tv, I am able to pick up channels NBC, CBS, Fox, and just recently with the posts set to about 12" in length and pointed in the general direct I can get ABC, which is about 29 miles from my location. I have tried a few indoor atennas from RCA, powered units, but none perform like this old two post antenna. ABC will drop if someone walks infront of the tv, but I can live with it. Now, I would like to try a good quality indoor uhf antenna. If I could just get PBS to come in everything will be perfect. Antennaweb recommends a large antenna for pulling in ABC. Now, some questions.

1. How is this antenna pulling in abc? it has a flat cable connecting it to the tv. the cable is only 12-18" long. It does have nice hefty diameter poles, compared to the cheap RCA posts.

2. With a good quality uhf indoor antenna, do you think I could get ABC without the dropping if someone walks threw the room?

3. Any recommendations on a good performing indoor uhf antenna.

I called Laketon TV and they will install a roof top antenna with all the other necessary parts for $299. Now that I am getting ABC I am reluctant to pay, with the performance from this old antenna.

Thanks for any tips, comments, suggestions.

Bob

I bought a Channel Master 4228 and rotor at solidsignal, a mast at Radio Shack and used a fiberglass pipe I had laying around for the pole. I had Venus Satellites install it on the side of the house, they used a diplexer on the exisiting satellite cable run which works fine. I usually get signals that jump around from 85 to 97 percent or so. KDKA drops out rarely, WPXI is solid, WTAE was decent unitl recently it's non-existent, WPGH and CH22 is solid (CH22 also has The Tube) and WQED is solid and very nice. I was actually picking up DTV from Altoona/Johnstown.

1. How is this antenna pulling in abc? it has a flat cable connecting it to the tv. the cable is only 12-18" long. It does have nice hefty diameter poles, compared to the cheap RCA posts.

2. With a good quality uhf indoor antenna, do you think I could get ABC without the dropping if someone walks threw the room?

3. Any recommendations on a good performing indoor uhf antenna.
1. You may be lucky or you may actually be picking up a reflection from somewhere.

2. Without expensive tools, this is impossible to say with any certainty. Indoor antennas and reception with them is based on Voodoo :-). No, not actually, but there are times back when I relied on a small indoor antenna where the signal would cut out a lot, and I couldn't figure out whether it was me walking across the signal path, or if it was the weather for the day or the alignment of the moon (Signals shouldn't cut out on a good clear winter day, right?)

3. The Silver Sensor is considered by many to be one of the best typical indoor antennas. I'm able to get every channel but WTAE with consistency (WTAE was inconsistent with me). However, depending on what you consider indoor, the silver sensor doesn't hold a candle to other antennas. I purchased a Channel Master 4221 and keep it in my attic with a very long wire running down to my TV area. Even with the long run, I got better WTAE reception than with the Silver Sensor (as an added bonus, the long run acts as a semi-decent VHF antenna as well). I watched the Steelers beat the Seahawks with no picture drop out with the CM4221. This never would have happened with the silver sensor.

Does anyone know when Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune will start being broadcast locally (WPXI-TV/DT) in HD? The broadcasts and EPG say they are in HD, but the actual program doesn't look like it...

3. The Silver Sensor is considered by many to be one of the best typical indoor antennas. I'm able to get every channel but WTAE with consistency (WTAE was inconsistent with me). However, depending on what you consider indoor, the silver sensor doesn't hold a candle to other antennas. I purchased a Channel Master 4221 and keep it in my attic with a very long wire running down to my TV area. Even with the long run, I got better WTAE reception than with the Silver Sensor (as an added bonus, the long run acts as a semi-decent VHF antenna as well). I watched the Steelers beat the Seahawks with no picture drop out with the CM4221. This never would have happened with the silver sensor.


I went and bought the Silver Sensor but it could not pull in channel 4. It did get all the others i currently get. Oh well, I am just glad I have this old antenna, I guess that just dont make things like they used to.

One more question, what is the difference between a uhf and vhf antenna. I thought these two post atenna's where vhf antenna's? If so, I am really confused about why it is working so well.

Btw, there is a Heros marathon Sunday night starting at 8pm. Broadcast in HD and a pretty cool to boot.

Does anyone know when Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune will start being broadcast locally (WPXI-TV/DT) in HD? The broadcasts and EPG say they are in HD, but the actual program doesn't look like it...

You're right, the local programs are not yet being broadcast in HD. We are working through a closed captioning issue right now, and I suspect that as soon as we get that resolved, we'll be broadcasting Wheel and Jeopardy in HD. Sorry, I don't have a date for you on that yet.

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

Sorry about the screwed up halftime and third quarter of the Notre Dame/UCLA football game this afternoon. We lost the NBC HD feed due to an equipment failure here in Pittsburgh. I was able to get in to the station and swap equipment so that we were able to get the HD feed back on the air by the beginning of the 4th quarter.

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering.

Haven't made it through an episode of 'Friday Night Lights' without losing the HD signal for a significant time at some point.

Same for SNL last night, plus had absolutely no picture, just sound, for a good 20 minutes or more. Last half of the show was in SD.

I'm on Comcast, anyone else get the same problems off of their antenna feed?

I went and bought the Silver Sensor but it could not pull in channel 4. It did get all the others i currently get. Oh well, I am just glad I have this old antenna, I guess that just dont make things like they used to.

One more question, what is the difference between a uhf and vhf antenna. I thought these two post atenna's where vhf antenna's? If so, I am really confused about why it is working so well.
The difference between the two is essentially size. UHF antennas don't have to be terribly large to pull in a good signal. Try the silver sensor with Fox-53 analog. You should be able to pull in a VERY good signal, since that's a UHF station. Try doing the same with KDKA and the signal will probably be crap at best since that's a low VHF station. Generally speaking to get lower frequencies, you need to use a larger antenna.

The difference between the two is essentially size. UHF antennas don't have to be terribly large to pull in a good signal. Try the silver sensor with Fox-53 analog. You should be able to pull in a VERY good signal, since that's a UHF station. Try doing the same with KDKA and the signal will probably be crap at best since that's a low VHF station. Generally speaking to get lower frequencies, you need to use a larger antenna.

ok, this is where I must be confused. I originally assumed abc, cbs are vhf channels since they are on 2.1 and 4.1. But antenna web shows these as UHF. Does the channel they appear on have nothing to do with uhf or vhf?

ok, this is where I must be confused. I originally assumed abc, cbs are vhf channels since they are on 2.1 and 4.1. But antenna web shows these as UHF. Does the channel they appear on have nothing to do with uhf or vhf?

Just about all the HDTV channels in the US are on the UHF frequency - 2.1, KDKA-DT, 4.1, WTAE-DT have UHF frequency assignments of 25 and 51.

Just about all the HDTV channels in the US are on the UHF frequency - 2.1, KDKA-DT, 4.1, WTAE-DT have UHF frequency assignments of 25 and 51.

Welcome to "channel mapping", ezerhoden. WPXI-DT, for instance, is on UHF Channel 48. That being said, the powers that be figure that you're used to hearing "Channel 11", not "Channel 48". With that in mind, we send metadata to your HD receiver which translates the "unfamiliar" channel 48 to the more familiar Channel 11.

Since WPXI offers two digital channels, you can either choose to watch 11.1 (which is either true HD or an upconverted analog signal depending on the day part), or you can choose to watch Weather Plus on 11.2, which is a standard definition digital channel.

Clear as mud now? Hope not! We're here to help!

Regards,

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

Same for SNL last night, plus had absolutely no picture, just sound, for a good 20 minutes or more. Last half of the show was in SD.


Well, er, uh...I don't know what to tell you. I hate when that happens! Sorry about the video. I'll look into it.

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

You're right, the local programs are not yet being broadcast in HD. We are working through a closed captioning issue right now, and I suspect that as soon as we get that resolved, we'll be broadcasting Wheel and Jeopardy in HD. Sorry, I don't have a date for you on that yet.

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the info. It's very useful to have a station rep active on this forum!

There are some new developments here in the 'Burgh, and I thought it might be nice to have one spot to gather everything together.

The Good:
WYTV, the ABC affiliate in Youngstown, is on the air. For everyone on the North side of town who can't get WTAE (and that includes just about everyone), this is awesome news. They're not yet on 24/7, but they've been lighting up the transmitter when ABC has HDTV programming. I've been able to pull it in using my less that perfect attic antenna setup, so a good percentage of us should now get ABC in HDTV and DD 5.1. Can you say Super Bowl?

Also, WQED is playing with their setup. As noted in another thread, they've been multicasting on 13.3, 13.4, 13.5. and 13.6 during the day. The plan is to use the full datastream for PBS HD programming. The demo loop appears to be history already.

KDKA and WPXI continue to put out quality, high-power signals. KDKA should be DD 5.1 sometime next year.

The Bad:
WPGH-DT is up and running of course, but at 480i. No HDTV here anytime soon.

The Ugly:
WTAE is at flea power, and will stay that way for years. Now that I can get WYTV, I really don't care. :)

WCWB (WB22) is also at flea power. Another Sinclair-owned station pushing the digital transition.

WNPA (UPN19) is currently awaiting FCC approval on a proposal to change the original DTV channel allocation and move the transmitter closer to the city. The application has been at the FCC for a year and a half, but they haven't yet heard anything. Once a construction permit is granted, it will take several months worth of work to get up and running, but Viacom has budgeted the money to make it happen.

Since joining the AVS Forum, I've found these market-specific threads of particular interest. Although I'm from Johnstown and find the Johnstown-Altoona-State College thread of primary interest, this Pittsburgh thread is also of practical use.
Since Dave McWilliams began this thread four years ago much has changed, but the first post on the thread has not. Dave no longer lives in the Pittsburgh area, and so I was wondering if any of the regular contributers to this thread might be interested in updating the first post. Just my 2¢ on this Monday morning.

Since joining the AVS Forum, I've found these market-specific threads of particular interest. Although I'm from Johnstown and find the Johnstown-Altoona-State College thread of primary interest, this Pittsburgh thread is also of practical use.
Since Dave McWilliams began this thread four years ago much has changed, but the first post on the thread has not. Dave no longer lives in the Pittsburgh area, and so I was wondering if any of the regular contributers to this thread might be interested in updating the first post. Just my 2¢ on this Monday morning.
As far as WYTV, I believe they're up and running at full power 24 hrs. although I cannot receive their signal here in Washington County. All Youngstown stations are up and running but I can only receive WKBN-DT's signal. WFMJ's signal is blocked here by a stupid idiotic low power signal on analog channel 20 by WBGN-TV. WKBN-DT is multicasting with a FOX feed on 27-2. Picture quatlity on 27-1 is good, but 27-2 is mediocre.

WQED-DT is only operating on channel 13-1 as a full time full service HD outlet. I denote no simulcasting here. WQED-DT has awesome PQ.

KDKA-DT and WPXI-DT are operating full time with full power with HD programming. WPXI-DT is multicasting with NBC's Weather Plus (worthless to me, I'd rather see a full time doppler radar) on 11-2. Both are utilizing Dolby 5.1 technology. Both got great picture quality although the audio on 2-1 (KDKA-DT) is too loud.

WPGH-DT is up and running 24/7 with a multicast. 53-1 is HD and 53-2 is SD. 53-1 has great PQ.

WTAE-DT is up and running 24/7 with full power. I have absolutely no problem receiving thier signal here in Washington County (South Strabane Twp.). Thier PQ on HD broadcasts is 720P and is great. Their PQ on all other (upconverted 420) broadcasts leaves a lot to be desired. Very smeary looking. I have been quite disappointed with thier non-HD quality for a long time, but it doesn't look like they're going to do anything to correct it.


WCWB-DT is also up and running full time. As with WPGH-DT, their PQ on HD broadcasts is great. WCWB-DT is multicasting a music channel (I believe "The Tube") on 22-2.


WNPA (analog channel 19) is STILL waiting for FCC approval to go digital. Their allocation on channel 49 is used by a low-power outlet in Indiana County and the owner of that station is single-handedly blocking their firing up digitally. They've also asked the FCC for permission to use channel 30 but thus far to no avail.

Hope this helps.

As far as WYTV, I believe they're up and running at full power 24 hrs. although I cannot receive their signal here in Washington County. All Youngstown stations are up and running but I can only receive WKBN-DT's signal. WFMJ's signal is blocked here by a stupid idiotic low power signal on analog channel 20 by WBGN-TV. WKBN-DT is multicasting with a FOX feed on 27-2. Picture quatlity on 27-1 is good, but 27-2 is mediocre.

WQED-DT is only operating on channel 13-1 as a full time full service HD outlet. I denote no simulcasting here. WQED-DT has awesome PQ.

KDKA-DT and WPXI-DT are operating full time with full power with HD programming. WPXI-DT is multicasting with NBC's Weather Plus (worthless to me, I'd rather see a full time doppler radar) on 11-2. Both are utilizing Dolby 5.1 technology. Both got great picture quality although the audio on 2-1 (KDKA-DT) is too loud.

WPGH-DT is up and running 24/7 with a multicast. 53-1 is HD and 53-2 is SD. 53-1 has great PQ.

WTAE-DT is up and running 24/7 with full power. I have absolutely no problem receiving thier signal here in Washington County (South Strabane Twp.). Thier PQ on HD broadcasts is 720P and is great. Their PQ on all other (upconverted 420) broadcasts leaves a lot to be desired. Very smeary looking. I have been quite disappointed with thier non-HD quality for a long time, but it doesn't look like they're going to do anything to correct it.


WCWB-DT [now WPMY] is also up and running full time. As with WPGH-DT, their PQ on HD broadcasts is great. WPMY-DT is multicasting a music channel (I believe "The Tube") on 22-2.


WNPA [now WPCW] (analog channel 19) is STILL waiting for FCC approval to go digital. Their allocation on channel 49 is used by a low-power outlet in Indiana County and the owner of that station is single-handedly blocking their firing up digitally. They've also asked the FCC for permission to use channel 30 but thus far to no avail.

Hope this helps.

Thanks benji15301, that's an excellent summary. Now if only we had someone on this board with moderator powers to insert this into the first post, life would be golden!

I receive WTAE OTA here in Johnstown. I agree their HD is generally excellent.

Can someone (the more the better) check WPXI's (NBC) digital channel to see if closed caption is working ok on your tv for any live news and maybe local produced shoows. There may be some caption problems where caption overlaps itself making it unreadable. I am not sure if the problem is located at station or if it is a TV issue. This could also be set-top issue too as it happens on either OTA or DirecTV's HDTV local channel.

thanks,
bob

just checked wpxi, no problems with the CC.

just checked wpxi, no problems with the CC.

Thanks for checking.. what did you use, OTA or DirecTV and what kind of TV brand/model ?

thanks
bob

Is anybody else having problems with WTAE? I can get 4-1 on Wednesday nights without a problem. But the rest of the week I get nothing but a black screen.

Thanks benji15301, that's an excellent summary. Now if only we had someone on this board with moderator powers to insert this into the first post, life would be golden!


I don't have moderator powers, but I can edit my own post. :p

From PBRTV:
"WYTV has added another channel to it's Digital tier. It's their Skymax Doppler Radar that shows current conditions in the Youngstown region as well as other areas as far north as Crawford county. You can find the Skymax Radar at 33.3 on your HD receiver, though I am not sure if it will be added to area cable systems. It's also not clear if there are plans to add a weather service or if it will remain a radar channel".
Man I wish one of the local Pittsburgh stations would do this.

From PBRTV:
"WYTV has added another channel to it's Digital tier. It's their Skymax Doppler Radar that shows current conditions in the Youngstown region as well as other areas as far north as Crawford county. You can find the Skymax Radar at 33.3 on your HD receiver, though I am not sure if it will be added to area cable systems. It's also not clear if there are plans to add a weather service or if it will remain a radar channel".
Man I wish one of the local Pittsburgh stations would do this.
WPXI's 11.2 doesn't cut it for you?

WPXI's 11.2 doesn't cut it for you?

You don't know how many times I just wanted to check out the radar before I walked out the door.

If I wanted to know the info. that 11-2 provides, I would watch the Weather Channel or the local forecast on the news.

Sometimes all people want is something simple. Really. Something simple.

Just turn on the TV, tune to 11-2 and there's the radar! How much simpler can life be?

That's not what you get with Weather Plus. You have to stand around and wait.

If I am going to do that, then I'll fire up the computer and check it there.

Todays football game not in HD? What is going on here? Fox broadcasts all their games in HD. Atleast next weeks game is on Fox.

Todays football game not in HD? What is going on here? Fox broadcasts all their games in HD. Atleast next weeks game is on Fox.

Football Night In America not in HD either as I sit watching it. Info on Comcast display says it should be. Hope the game is HD, I'm an Indy transplant living in Pittsburgh. :D

It switched to HD for me on KDKA-OTA. It took like 15-20 minutes or so. Dunno about you guys but I had about a 1-2 second sound delay with the game. I don't think we have a KDKA rep on this board, but even if we did, I'm not certain they'd be able to help us, because I think the problem may have been with CBS Sports, not KDKA.

If you didn't get the game in HD by the 2nd quarter, there may have been something wrong w/ your service provider. I got it in at least widescreen (I have a digital tuner, but no HDTV).

It switched to HD for me on KDKA-OTA. It took like 15-20 minutes or so. Dunno about you guys but I had about a 1-2 second sound delay with the game. I don't think we have a KDKA rep on this board, but even if we did, I'm not certain they'd be able to help us, because I think the problem may have been with CBS Sports, not KDKA.

If you didn't get the game in HD by the 2nd quarter, there may have been something wrong w/ your service provider. I got it in at least widescreen (I have a digital tuner, but no HDTV).

I'm confused...you said you have no HD, but it switched to HD for you.
And what do you mean you have a digital tuner, but it's not HD?

I have a digital tuner that downconverts for me. But on a typical non-HD broadcast, it's 4:3 AR done a little unusually. I have black bars above and below the picture normally, but when it's a non-HD broadcast, I also get black bars on the left and right of the picture. The size is consistent with an SD broadcast. Whenever this happens, I can stretch the picture to fit my TV without any real loss.

However, whenever HD is being broadcast, I receive a 16:9 AR signal. I have the black bars above and below, but no left & right bars. Truthfully, I cannot distinguish between a 1080i and 720p due to it being downconverted to 480i for my non-HDTV, but I can distinguish between any of those signals and 480i. I presume whenever I receive a 16:9 signal, I'm receiving HD. I honestly don't believe any of the stations would broadcast a 16:9 non-HD (DVD-quality) picture. I think the way they're setup, it's HD or SD, nothing in between. FWIW, the audio I was receiving was definitely 5.1, but this is less meaningful since some stations will broadcast an SD video w/ 5.1 audio signal.

If someone tells me I'm wrong and the networks DO occasionally send out non-HD 16:9 signals (either 480p or something anamorphic trickery similar to some widescreen DVDs), I'll shut up and refrain from any quality control comments until I finally get a real HDTV (probably some time next year). But I'm not convinced that the networks do this.

Today's game started out for me w/ a 4:3 AR, but part way through the 1st quarter, it switched to 16:9 and there was a noticeable picture quality enhancement. I just assumed some one turned on the HD switch at that time. I didn't watch any other games aside from the Steelers today, so I can't speak for those games (or networks).

Sorry if I caused anyone any confusion.

Hi guys, glad to find a place to ask a question about the OTA HDTV here in Pittsburgh. I live in North Oakland off Centre Ave. I can get CBS and FOX here at signal strength of 80-90% and I am 4.2 and 4.8 miles away from the towers. According to antennaweb, I should also be able to receive NBC and ABC, which are 3.2 and 14.1 miles away. I played with the antenna with different angles and locations, but couldn't get them at all. Do you guys know how to get all the channels listed on antennaweb? BTW, I am using an indoor Silver Sensor antenna bought from amazon. Thanks a lot.

Can someone (the more the better) check WPXI's (NBC) digital channel to see if closed caption is working ok on your tv for any live news and maybe local produced shoows. There may be some caption problems where caption overlaps itself making it unreadable. I am not sure if the problem is located at station or if it is a TV issue. This could also be set-top issue too as it happens on either OTA or DirecTV's HDTV local channel.

thanks,
bob

I've noticed this since I got an LG "LST-3510A" HD receiver a couple of years ago. If I used the LG to display closed captions, on WPXI-HD there sometimes was a problem. Not on scripted shows, where the captions are pre-produced and pop on the screen a sentence at a time (those were fine), but on live shows that were being captioned in real time. When the text reaches the end of a line that line is supposed to slide up so the typing can continue on the next line. On WPXI-HD the line did not slide up and the new text overtyped the old, making it almost unreadable.

However, last night on the Tonight Show it was sliding up! Maybe the problem has been discovered and fixed.

Thanks for checking.. what did you use, OTA or DirecTV and what kind of TV brand/model ?

thanks
bob
i was watching OTA thru a dish 921 dvr, the dvr provided the CC.

Hello,

I am new to the forum, but i figured I came to the right place for help. I live about 15 miles north of Pgh. (Cranberry Twp) I am running an HDTV tuner out my PC. I have it hooked up to a silver sensor. I am getting about 50% signal strength from kdka and wpgh. i can get some youngstown but not very well. My question to anyone who is willing to answer. Would it be worth my money to get an Amplified Indoor Ant - like the Terk HDTVa to imrove my reception? Any suggestions on placement, angles, direction, welcome.


Thanks!

Hi guys, glad to find a place to ask a question about the OTA HDTV here in Pittsburgh. I live in North Oakland off Centre Ave. I can get CBS and FOX here at signal strength of 80-90% and I am 4.2 and 4.8 miles away from the towers. According to antennaweb, I should also be able to receive NBC and ABC, which are 3.2 and 14.1 miles away. I played with the antenna with different angles and locations, but couldn't get them at all. Do you guys know how to get all the channels listed on antennaweb? BTW, I am using an indoor Silver Sensor antenna bought from amazon. Thanks a lot.
I honestly don't think you'll be able to pick everything up. I'm a little surprised that you can't pick up NBC since that's in the same rough direction as CBS and FOX for you. I'd say the Hills (like the Hill District) and apartment buildings will keep you from receiving everything anyways.

All I can tell you is to point the antenna in the rough direction that the stations are at. However, for you, that may not be as applicable since you may get a stronger signal from multipathing and reflections than you would with directly pointing at it. Start with the compass coordinates though and play from there.

For those southwest of the city, I have had success getting KDKA, WPGH, and NBC out of Stuebenville with an antenna that I got at Radio Shack for $50. I live in a valley and didn't have high hopes, but I'm glad I tried this in order to get HD locals. I have a silver sensor coming that I am dedicating to trying to pick up WTAE. Just thought I'd post my success in case any other people in my area are browsing the forums trying to decide what to do. People having trouble with WPXI may want to try the Stuebenville NBC.

Hello,

I am new to the forum, but i figured I came to the right place for help. I live about 15 miles north of Pgh. (Cranberry Twp) I am running an HDTV tuner out my PC. I have it hooked up to a silver sensor. I am getting about 50% signal strength from kdka and wpgh. i can get some youngstown but not very well. My question to anyone who is willing to answer. Would it be worth my money to get an Amplified Indoor Ant - like the Terk HDTVa to imrove my reception? Any suggestions on placement, angles, direction, welcome.


Thanks!
I would invest in an outdoor antenna,even better get a rotor with it. I live near Kennywood, and get great reception an all my Pgh stations , also wnpt Morgantown West Virginia PBS , WJAC WWCP WATM all coming from Johnstown,I sometimes get WFMJ-DT but 85% of the time it fades in and out. Hope that when Analog is history WFMJ wil increase their signal from 460KW to 1000.00KW and that will solve my problems. Good luck with your antenna experience.

Hope that when Analog is history WFMJ wil increase their signal from 460KW to 1000.00KW and that will solve my problems. Good luck with your antenna experience.

Can't do it. Too much interference to other stations and Canada. If I could have done the megawatt I would have. There's someone down around Washington PA that can see us.

Can't do it. Too much interference to other stations and Canada. If I could have done the megawatt I would have. There's someone down around Washington PA that can see us.



99% here , just booms in Chief

in general what kind of amp could i add to my silver sensor to increase the gain?

Unfortunately, no amplifier can increase the gain of the antenna. An amp, especially an inline amp, can reduce the loss of a long cable run and the loss from splitting the signal for different tv's or tuners.

Unfortunately, no amplifier can increase the gain of the antenna. An amp, especially an inline amp, can reduce the loss of a long cable run and the loss from splitting the signal for different tv's or tuners.


ok i am confused then. Does this also apply for amplfied antennas such as the terk hdtva? or maybe i am thinking of gain in the wrong manner. And is the amplifier in an amplfied antenna the same as a in-line amp? Thanks for the help.

TV21Chief: WFMJ/WBCB-strong signal/absolutely no dropouts for several weeks; attic antenna, Mt. Washington, Pgh. Even though the CW's not in high-def, your digital signal sure beats WPCW's analog :)

TV21Chief: WFMJ/WBCB-strong signal/absolutely no dropouts for several weeks; attic antenna, Mt. Washington, Pgh. Even though the CW's not in high-def, your digital signal sure beats WPCW's analog :)

Thanks. I pass these along to my higher-ups and continue to get a paycheck. :D

Can't do it. Too much interference to other stations and Canada. If I could have done the megawatt I would have. There's someone down around Washington PA that can see us.
Too bad can't increase power, because you have 2 very good stations there , and an excellant news cast with a beautiful new news set. I have received WFMJ-DT better in the summer with trees than now that they are are gone. I guess I'm in a multipath and the Pittsburgh stations are too strong.Also 2 streets up from me is a ham radio guy with about FIVE different ham radio antennas on his house,which probably ain't helping matters.I really was counting on better things to come when the analog plug was pulled.Thanks for the information TV21 Chief. Guess I'll go back up on the roof and "Play" with a CM4228 Antenna !

Too bad can't increase power, because you have 2 very good stations there , and an excellant news cast with a beautiful new news set. I have received WFMJ-DT better in the summer with trees than now that they are are gone. I guess I'm in a multipath and the Pittsburgh stations are too strong.Also 2 streets up from me is a ham radio guy with about FIVE different ham radio antennas on his house,which probably ain't helping matters.I really was counting on better things to come when the analog plug was pulled.Thanks for the information TV21 Chief. Guess I'll go back up on the roof and "Play" with a CM4228 Antenna !

Sorry. I remember reading about a low power TV down there on channel 20 too.

Also 2 streets up from me is a ham radio guy with about FIVE different ham radio antennas on his house,which probably ain't helping matters.


Those darn ham radio guys! Maybe he'll let you tap into his antenna array!

Dave Morrison, aka: W3WX
WPXI Engineering

Stated earlier, I was able to get CBS, FOX, and NBC, and others from a valley around Washington. I finally had time to play with my silver sensor and was able to get WTAE, barely last night, so I know it is possible. FYI Washington PA people. Have to do some more playing to get a better signal.

ok i am confused then. Does this also apply for amplfied antennas such as the terk hdtva? or maybe i am thinking of gain in the wrong manner. And is the amplifier in an amplfied antenna the same as a in-line amp? Thanks for the help.

I tried a terk with bad results.

From Google definitions:
Antenna Gain- The ratio of the signal, usually expressed in dB, received or transmitted by a given antenna as compared to an isotropic or dipole antenna. Antenna gain can only be achieved by making an antenna directional, that is, with better performance in one direction than in others.
www.kareoke.com/glossary/microphone_glossary_of_terms.htm

An antenna has a certain gain based on its size, shape, & directionality. Putting an amplifier on it can't increase that gain. An inline amp attached to the attenna before the cable run into the house (I'm assuming that's what the terk has) will help preserve that gain on the run to the TV. The Terk I tried was a non-directional antenna (therefore low gain) that attached to my satellite dish. Since all our Pittsburgh digital stations are uhf, I got much better results from a 4 bay bowtie antenna. I also have a small indoor "silver sensor" that does pretty well. It works best aimed out a window - and I don't use an amplifier on it.

As has been stated many times on this forum, go to antennaWeb.org to find the best antenna for your location.

I'm trying to finish setting up my MythTV system for HD OTA reception. I have an older Air2PC card and using my existing omni-directional antenna I'm able to find and lock onto a number of channels. Unfortunately, there is a largish hill directly behind my house in the direction of most of the Pittsburgh signals. I'm able to get KDKA-DT and WPGH-DT pretty solid, but I can't seem to find or lock onto WPXI-DT at all. AntennaWeb and other sites show the WPXI transmitter to be within 1 degree as compared to KDKA's.

Does anyone have the frequency for WPXI? If I had that I could try to manually tune the channel using the Linux dvb-apps azap tool.

Thanks for any help.

...Kevin

I'm trying to finish setting up my MythTV system for HD OTA reception. I have an older Air2PC card and using my existing omni-directional antenna I'm able to find and lock onto a number of channels. Unfortunately, there is a largish hill directly behind my house in the direction of most of the Pittsburgh signals. I'm able to get KDKA-DT and WPGH-DT pretty solid, but I can't seem to find or lock onto WPXI-DT at all. AntennaWeb and other sites show the WPXI transmitter to be within 1 degree as compared to KDKA's.

Does anyone have the frequency for WPXI? If I had that I could try to manually tune the channel using the Linux dvb-apps azap tool.

Thanks for any help.

...Kevin

WPXI-DT is on Channel 48. The antenna coordinates are: N 40° 27' 48.0" W 80° 0' 15.0"

Happy hunting!

WPXI-DT is on Channel 48. The antenna coordinates are: N 40° 27' 48.0" W 80° 0' 15.0"

Happy hunting!

Thanks for that info, but I already knew the channel number. I was hoping to find the frequency. I think I found it elsewhere as 617028615 Hz. I also need some other piece of information called the service id. Not sure where I might find that or even if I really need it.

At this point I still can't tune the station although I think I should be able to.

...Kevin

According to this site (http://www.csgnetwork.com/tvfreqtable.html), Channel 48 is somewhere around 674- 680 MHz.

No idea on service id though.

From what I understand, if the 75 ohm coax from the antenna is 100 ft or less in length, an amp is of little use. An amp in front of a splitter though can be useful to preserve the signal strength to multiple feeds though. Most equipment will work on a very minimal signal. Its the signal to noise that means something.

well for what its worth here is the conclusion to my experiment. I put an 10db in-line amp on my silver sensor, the power injector end was paced on my tv input. I was getting 33% signal from WQED and that rose to 67% I also got about 10% signal boost of wpxi and kdka. It also alowed me to finally pull in Mynetwork and Tube Music. I do get Fox in but different strengths at different times of the day. I had about a 50' cable run.

What kind of amp? I tried one on the roof antenna at the antenna and only managed to blow most stuff out.

I had the same problem Bill, when I connected a CM 7777 amp to my antenna I lost several stations.Now I'm stuck with a new $65.00 amp that isn't any good to me. Will try to sell on E bay later for $50.00

I bought my TV at Best Buy. I probably wouldn't do that again though, but I already knew what model I wanted so I didn't have to put up with too much of the salesman's stupidity. Next time I'll probably buy from an online dealer, check the Hardware forum for advice maybe. I got my DTC-100 used on ebay. You'll probably want to purchase a newer generation receiver though. Again, read through some of the stuff in the Hardware forum. Good luck and welcome!
Buyers beware of Best Buy also. I purchased a 27" Samsung HDTV and ch 11 & 2 has frequent picture freezes. I know it has a week tuner , but best buy says there is nothing wrong with it.I also purchased a 27" SDTV "Orion" brand Tv from Wal Mart and it pulls in the digital stations better than the $650.00 set I bought from best buy. Also Wal mart's extended warrenty was only $17.88 for a 2 year extended warrenty. Best buy's was $59.00 but if they don't fix it what good is it? Moral to the story, you don't always have to spend big money on a name brand, when a cheep brand will sometimes do! Man am I glad I didn't buy the $850.00 tv from Best Buy a Samsung also that I originally wanted. Buyers shop around,compare prices and warrentys and you might end up with a decent HDTV good luck!

Anyone know if the KDKA simulcast of tonight's Steelers game will be in HD? I seriously doubt it, but wasn't sure.

I was wondering the same thing. I don't see any reason it wouldn't be in HD. They have an HD channel, NFL Network has an HD feed but no HD channel, Comcast doesn't have to pre-empt INHD that way.

That seems entirely too logical to come true. :rolleyes:

I'd like to know too. I'll be out this evening, but want to record the game.

Should I record INHD or KDKA-DT (via Comcast)? Right now I have INHD set to record. Maybe I should do both.

Well, it was in fact broadcast in HD! It looked pretty darn good too. Actually, there was too much detail--I could see how crappy the field was, and the frozen spit on Bill Cowher's chin!

According to the last Charlie Chat. Dishnetwork has Pittsburgh local HDTV stations as of December 14th. You will need a dish 1000 since the new HD stations are on the 129 satellite. You also need one of the new mpeg4 receivers (ViP211 or ViP622 DVR receiver).
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=72779

I just checked my listings for Dish. No locals are showing up for HD. I do have Dish 1000 & a ViP 622 DVR. I' currently pointed at 110/119/129. Are the locals on some other satellite? Maybe their not live yet. I played with the settings and nothing. SO my guess is their on another satellite or their not live yet.

Hello,

I'm about to plunge headlong into seeking HD OTA signals. I've been lurking a while and am catching on to the precarious nature of signals in the Pittsburgh area. I'm in Mt. Lebanon (near the top of a hill, but not quite at the top) and ordered an antenna from antennas direct and hope that it's going to do the trick. Are there any folks from this area (near Washington Rd. & Mt. Lebanon Blvd) that are having luck pulling in decent reception? Sorry for the narrow question, I tried searching Mt. Lebanon and got 953 results....ouch. Thanks! :o

The antenna I ordered was a DB8.

--Bob

Bob,

I live in Peters, just across the county line off McMurray Rd. I needed a second antenna to get 4-1. They are about 100 degrees off of everybody else. I also live just over the crest of a hill. I am getting good signals from everybody, even after losing 3db from the antennna joiner.

Bob

Thanks for the info Bob, I have high hopes. Last night I gave the antenna a little "check" from the basement of my house, and got CBS, NBC, PBS and FOX. I decided then that an attic mount might be enough, so there it is. I'll find out Christmas morning (when I hook the TV up to the antenna) if the reception is as good (hopefully better) in the attic as it was in the basement. Wish me luck.

--Bob

Hi everyone, I live in Hermitage, up 79 a ways, and since we're losing all of our links to Pittsburgh through the cable company, I was wondering if anyone knows if there's a way to pick up any of the Pittsburgh stations OTA. We lost the WPXI PCNC and WTAE, and we're about to lose Fox Sports Pittsburgh and KDKA. I know we can't get the FSN OTA, but at least some of the broadcasts of Pittsburgh events would be nice. I live in some sort of dead zone, as I can't get reception from Youngstown stations, but my friends and neighbors have better luck than me. Any help would be appreciated.

Hi everyone, I live in Hermitage, up 79 a ways, and since we're losing all of our links to Pittsburgh through the cable company, I was wondering if anyone knows if there's a way to pick up any of the Pittsburgh stations OTA. We lost the WPXI PCNC and WTAE, and we're about to lose Fox Sports Pittsburgh and KDKA. I know we can't get the FSN OTA, but at least some of the broadcasts of Pittsburgh events would be nice. I live in some sort of dead zone, as I can't get reception from Youngstown stations, but my friends and neighbors have better luck than me. Any help would be appreciated.
Being in Heritage, you should be able to receive WFMJ,WKBN,WYTV with no problem. Try a roof antenna with a rotor If you don't already have one.With a Channel Master 4228 or a 91XG Antenna you should be able to receive some Pittsburgh Stations and at your location, if you have the antenna high enough , you should be able to receive some Cleveland stations.I got my Antenna thru "Antenna's Direct" very nice people to deal with and their antennas have a lifetime warrenty.I needed some parts for my antenna , and they sent them to me for free!Don't go preamp crazy at first try the antenna without at first,then if you are not satisfied,go with a pre amp but use caution because I bought a CM7777 and have too much gain.Fine your true North and get antenna directions from www.antennaweb.com and go from there. Good luck and Happy New Year!!!

Thanks for the reply. I ordered a DB-8 antenna to try to get Pittsburgh stations. I can get the Youngstown stations over my cable, but we're going to probably lose KDKA and WPGH, so I won't be able to see any Steelers games next year. Have to remedy that somehow, because I honestly don't care about Cleveland, which is what's replacing Pittsburgh on our cable.

The HD feed for WPGH is blank for me OTA. Anybody else having problems?

I've lost Fox and ABC (Fox is hovering around 40-50%, ABC is between 4 and 10%). I normally get them both with a great signal....I have no idea what's going on.....maybe wind and the weather change? I'd love to hear any enlightened explanations.....what a drag with the BCS game going on right now.

How are you receiving your OTA channels? I'm having the same problem, and this is the 2nd time it has occurred to me. I currently get my OTA channels via a DirecTV HR10-250 DVR(v3.1.5 software). What happened to me that 53-1 and 53-2 (which broadcast on 43-1 and 43-2) were suddenly switched to 43-3 and 43-4. So, if I tune in 43-3, I can watch WPGH. The only problem is 43-3 doesn't have a program guide (only "Regular Schedule") so I can't record anything or set up any season passes for that channel. I did something last time that corrected the problem, but I can't remember what I did. I done several reboots and erased the programming data, but I still only get WPGH on 43-3 and 43-4.

I receive OTA channels via rabbit ears and all stations (with the occasional exception of ABC) come in perfectly. Fox stations 53.1 and 53.2 had no signal last night throughout the BCS game. They worked just fine for the NFL playoffs over the weekend.

I called the station this morning and they had received several other calls describing the same problem. They said that some viewers were able to watch the game OTA but were going to look into whether one of the power devices/signal boosters on the antenna was not working properly.

WPGH's phone number is 412-931-5300 for anyone interested in following up.

I don't get it. Fox now shows up at 43-1, not 53-1, and 4-1 dropped off the map when I could get it pretty well up until yesterday. Do the stations just get reassignments, or is there some sort of coding that my TV reads differently now? I'm set up with an AQUOS 32" LCD and an Antennas Direct DB-8. I played around with the direction of the antenna last night (it's in my attic...no problem until now) and it didn't do anything dramatic. I haven't been in the OTA business very long, this is the first time that this has happened, but what a downer. Especially with ABC having such good programming.........grrrr.

yeah, WPGH was at 43-3 last night, wonderful. great timing with the BCS championship airing on fox last night.

Seems that everything is back to normal as of 4:45 p.m. today. Now if they can just stay that way...

Has anyone out there with Comcast checked channel 217 lately? Looks like we might lose a couple of HD Channels. :mad:

53-1 and 53-2 are gone again from my guide and being broadcast on 43-3 and 43-4. It fixed itself yesterday, so I'll just wait it out. Hopefully this is a temporary glitch with DirecTV and won't become common.

I found ABC at it's listing number (51.1).....I could swear that it wasn't there last night, but I might be crazy. I moved my antenna to WTAE's direction and let the strength of CBS, NBC, PBS and Fox carry the weight without the direct aiming. It seems to have done the trick. It's a learning experience....now I know that I have to look around every once in a while to see if things have shifted around. I was just lucky to figure the FOX thing out for the Gator blow-out.

yeah, WPGH was at 43-3 last night, wonderful. great timing with the BCS championship airing on fox last night.
I have been getting WPGH on 43.1 43.2 also but the problem is 43.1 is not in high def. I e mailed engineering this evening, hopeing someone will fix the problem before the season premeire of "24" this coming Sunday! :mad:

the penguins flyers game today, so it starts at the beginning of the game on the rangers/bruins game (the sd feed is right, but our HD feed is on the rangers game) a minute or so they finally switch the hd feed to the pens game but of course it isn't in HD. this is just pathetic.

ok midway through the first period it swtiches back to the rangers hd feed, then to the pens hd feed...but we have no sound for about 5-6 minutes. finally over half way though the first we have hd video and sound YAY.

Yes, Tipton, you are correct...that's pretty much the way the WPXI-DT aired it yesterday. I was on the phone with our control room operators trying to fix things as quickly as I could. That being said, I just KNEW that no matter how quickly I fixed things, SOMEONE would comment here. Tipton, you won the Dave Lotto - it gets you an attaboy and a cookie. Here's the "attaboy", and I owe you the cookie!

Seriously though, if you would like me to go into more detail with you, send me a private message with your email address and I'll reply back to you personally.

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

Hello to my hometown.

I moved away in 1990 but my parents and brother still live in shaler

I live in Virginia and just set up my OTA system.

I'm trying to explain to my brother who lives in shaler how easy it is to get HD for free.

First I'd like to recommend an antenna, my brother's house is on a hill facing south, so you can see the FOX, KDKA, and WPXI towers. They should be easy to receive with just an indoor antenna.

Since WTAE is about 20 miles away and in a different direction, what would any of you recommend for an antenna?

I live about 20 miles from a broadcast antenna here in virginia and a set top antenna works fine for me, but there are many varialbes. How strong is WTAE's signal in the north hills?

Thanks!

I live on a hill in Irwin. The tower for WTAE VHF is so strong here it blows out everything unless you have a directional antenna and point it 90 degrees away. Comes in on my front load washing machine. With UHF digital though it is hit and miss. I don't know if it is multipath or what. I have both a big UHF_VHF and a UHF bowtie (don't remember but about 5 ft by 5 ft with multiple receptors) and I have to constantly tweek the direction. Lots of pixelation and audio dropouts. Is the HF broadcast site over in Scottdale like the VHF or just a goofy signal?

Early on, I thought the HDTV digital broadcasts were eventually going to go to VHF and replace the old analog. The thing with VHF is it is not as restricted to diirect line of sight as UHF I thought. With the hills and buildings and trees in Pittsburgh area, UHF is hit and miss a lot of tiems but VHF can usually come thru with a directional antenna. Are they staying with UHF and wil they at least boost signals eventually???

Yes, Tipton, you are correct...that's pretty much the way the WPXI-DT aired it yesterday. I was on the phone with our control room operators trying to fix things as quickly as I could. That being said, I just KNEW that no matter how quickly I fixed things, SOMEONE would comment here. Tipton, you won the Dave Lotto - it gets you an attaboy and a cookie. Here's the "attaboy", and I owe you the cookie!

Seriously though, if you would like me to go into more detail with you, send me a private message with your email address and I'll reply back to you personally.

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering


i appreciate the efforts, but it is dishearting that this trend is continuing with NHL on NBC yet again this season. there were problems last year as well. i hope it will be resolved.

also, is there any way to turn up the overall volume level being sent by WPXI ? right now WPXI is at least 10db lower than every other local OTA channel and its pretty annoying sometimes.

Tipton...

First, I have an inquiry in to NBC on a miscommunication between the network and the affiliates. Since this is a holiday, I don't expect a replay back until tomorrow at the earliest.

Secondly, regarding audio levels, beefing up the audio levels is not as easy as you might think. I'd like to refer you to an article from Broadcast Engineering, December 2006. Here's the link: http://broadcastengineering.com/news/nbcu-dialnorm-dtv-audio/index.html.
Here's another link (it's MUCH more technical, and it by the same author): http://broadcastengineering.com/audio/broadcasting_managing_audio_levels/index2.html.

The author Jim Starzynski is a principle engineer at NBC, and personally speaking, this guy's brilliant! He's also been very accessible to me on a personal level. The articles are about one of the 29 metadata parameters that we have to deal with in broadcasting digital television. It's called DIALNORM.

Rather than go into a detail explanation about Dialnorm here, let me suggest that you read the links I provided. However, in a nutshell, the Dialnorm data is the average loudness of a program's dialogue channel. Dialnorm means dialogue normalization, and it is used to keep the audio between network feeds, local programs and commercials at a consistant level so you don't have to keep turning the volume up and down during any given program.

Due to NBC's use of this Dialnorm parameter, we have WPXI set to match NBC. I can't speak for other local stations and networks, so I don't know if they have adopted the ATSC Dialnorm recommendations. If they haven't, they should - Dialnorm makes all the sense in the world to me.

If any of you have any other questions, please feel free to post here.

Dave Morrison
WPXI-TV Engineering

Tipton...

First, I have an inquiry in to NBC on a miscommunication between the network and the affiliates. Since this is a holiday, I don't expect a replay back until tomorrow at the earliest.

Secondly, regarding audio levels, beefing up the audio levels is not as easy as you might think. I'd like to refer you to an article from Broadcast Engineering, December 2006. Here's the link: http://broadcastengineering.com/news/nbcu-dialnorm-dtv-audio/index.html.
Here's another link (it's MUCH more technical, and it by the same author): http://broadcastengineering.com/audio/broadcasting_managing_audio_levels/index2.html.

The author Jim Starzynski is a principle engineer at NBC, and personally speaking, this guy's brilliant! He's also been very accessible to me on a personal level. The articles are about one of the 29 metadata parameters that we have to deal with in broadcasting digital television. It's called DIALNORM.

Rather than go into a detail explanation about Dialnorm here, let me suggest that you read the links I provided. However, in a nutshell, the Dialnorm data is the average loudness of a program's dialogue channel. Dialnorm means dialogue normalization, and it is used to keep the audio between network feeds, local programs and commercials at a consistant level so you don't have to keep turning the volume up and down during any given program.

Due to NBC's use of this Dialnorm parameter, we have WPXI set to match NBC. I can't speak for other local stations and networks, so I don't know if they have adopted the ATSC Dialnorm recommendations. If they haven't, they should - Dialnorm makes all the sense in the world to me.

If any of you have any other questions, please feel free to post here.

Dave Morrison
WPXI-TV Engineering

FWIW, I have also set my dialnorm to match NBC, and yes I'm lower than the other stations.

Tipton...

First, I have an inquiry in to NBC on a miscommunication between the network and the affiliates. Since this is a holiday, I don't expect a replay back until tomorrow at the earliest.

Secondly, regarding audio levels, beefing up the audio levels is not as easy as you might think. I'd like to refer you to an article from Broadcast Engineering, December 2006. Here's the link: http://broadcastengineering.com/news/nbcu-dialnorm-dtv-audio/index.html.
Here's another link (it's MUCH more technical, and it by the same author): http://broadcastengineering.com/audio/broadcasting_managing_audio_levels/index2.html.

The author Jim Starzynski is a principle engineer at NBC, and personally speaking, this guy's brilliant! He's also been very accessible to me on a personal level. The articles are about one of the 29 metadata parameters that we have to deal with in broadcasting digital television. It's called DIALNORM.

Rather than go into a detail explanation about Dialnorm here, let me suggest that you read the links I provided. However, in a nutshell, the Dialnorm data is the average loudness of a program's dialogue channel. Dialnorm means dialogue normalization, and it is used to keep the audio between network feeds, local programs and commercials at a consistant level so you don't have to keep turning the volume up and down during any given program.

Due to NBC's use of this Dialnorm parameter, we have WPXI set to match NBC. I can't speak for other local stations and networks, so I don't know if they have adopted the ATSC Dialnorm recommendations. If they haven't, they should - Dialnorm makes all the sense in the world to me.

If any of you have any other questions, please feel free to post here.

Dave Morrison
WPXI-TV Engineering

thanks for the response and looking into things. i hope things are fixed from here on out.

i understand what you are saying abou the audio levels... but every other station is the same level yet nbc is different and about 10db lower. for end users like myself its annoying... maybe there should be some sort of standard for ALL stations to follow. granted, i'm sure somone else would decide this but i'm sure you understand from an end users perspecitve when all other stations are the same level and wpxi is 10db lower its weird.

i appreciate the efforts, but it is dishearting that this trend is continuing with NHL on NBC yet again this season. there were problems last year as well. i hope it will be resolved.

also, is there any way to turn up the overall volume level being sent by WPXI ? right now WPXI is at least 10db lower than every other local OTA channel and its pretty annoying sometimes.

For me, while WPXI is on the quiet side compared to other stations, it's actually where it's supposed to be. With my home theater setup, I worked out what 75dBC on my receiver and this is the setting that is optimal for DVDs, movies, etc. I've found that this feels like the case for my replaygained music that I keep on my HTPC. It's ALSO the volume where I feel WPXI and NBC stuff is optimal.

I like WPXI where it is and would like the other stations to tone it back a bit.

Are they staying with UHF and wil they at least boost signals eventually???


At this point in time, the stations have declared to the FCC which RF they are going to broadcast on after the digital transition.

Someone on the Richmond,VA thread posted the declarations for Richmond stations, and I've searched for Pittsburgh stations, but couldn't find anything.

Could WPXI let us know what they are going to do?

At this point in time, the stations have declared to the FCC which RF they are going to broadcast on after the digital transition.

Someone on the Richmond,VA thread posted the declarations for Richmond stations, and I've searched for Pittsburgh stations, but couldn't find anything.

Could WPXI let us know what they are going to do?

According to the FCC's Digital Channel Elections section, the current digital channels in Pittsburgh will generally remain the same with the exception of WQED and WQEX:
WQED 13 (gives up 38)
KDKA 25
WQEX 38 (gives up 16 and exchanges 26 for 38)
WPMY 42
WPGH 43
WPXI 48
WTAE 51
WPCW 49 (if the FCC ever gets around to approving their construction permit)

In Johnstown, WJAC (NBC) will keep 34, while WWCP (FOX) will give up 29 and return to 8.

WFMJ (20), WKBN (41), and WYTV (36) in Youngstown will all keep their current digital channels.

A full list is here:

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf

Whoa... So Johnstown is going to be broadcasting digital on a VHF channel?

Whoa... So Johnstown is going to be broadcasting digital on a VHF channel?

Yes, the FOX station has elected to use their analog channel (8) for digital, although I cannot understand why. Comparing the coverage maps for 8 and 29, they are actually going to serve a smaller area (perhaps they are counting on the high cable penetration here in the mountains, as well as switching their analog translators to digital to make up the difference).

hey i was wondering if anyone else was having trouble picking up a signal from KDKA DT all day yesterday. my signal went from 70% to 0%. were they working on there tower or something? kind of wanted to watch the afc champ game in high def.

No problems pulling in KDKA DT (OTA in Forest Hills) for me, Jake. The usual lipsynch issue but the AFC game looked great throughout. Even the confetti at the end of the game was rendered fairly well.

The sound occasionally went out, but otherwise, I'm there with Bob McLaughlin, the game looked great for me throughout.

For those interested, it appears that PBS (Channel 13, WQED) has added a standard definition channel to accompany their digital HD channel.
Right now WQED-HD is on 13-1 and WQED-SD is on 13-2.
This is probably going to be a simulcast of analog channel 13.

Yes benji15301 I also noticed January 31 ,07 that WQED added their 13.2 channel . It's about time.Now it would be nice if WTAE and KDKA would offer sub channels.,especially KDKA should have offered the CW network until the transmitter will be built for channel 49 my guess 3 years from now at the rate they are going! By then Smallville will be cancelled and it will not matter whats on that station anyway. Thanks for the input!

I've heard some complain that transmitting on a subband reduces the maximum bandwidth available for the main stream. I have no idea if this is true or not though, can anyone confirm it?

Quick explanation: Say a channel broadcasts have a capacity for 19.2 MB/s for all channels. The sum of all the subchannels can be no more than 19.2 MB/s. This concern is only applicable to networks that broadcast their feed at close to the full capacity of a station's bandwidth.

So can anyone confirm the above is true, and is this ever a problem?

I've heard some complain that transmitting on a subband reduces the maximum bandwidth available for the main stream. I have no idea if this is true or not though, can anyone confirm it?

Quick explanation: Say a channel broadcasts have a capacity for 19.2 MB/s for all channels. The sum of all the subchannels can be no more than 19.2 MB/s. This concern is only applicable to networks that broadcast their feed at close to the full capacity of a station's bandwidth.

So can anyone confirm the above is true, and is this ever a problem?

Read through some of the posts from the Charlottesille/Harrisonburg HDTV forum.

Some posters to the forum, call HD with multi-casting HD-Lite because is does take away from the Picture Quality.

Our local NBC station is aware of this, and they drop the bit rate for the multicasting channels when an HD program is on, like Sunday Night Football.

I've heard some complain that transmitting on a subband reduces the maximum bandwidth available for the main stream. I have no idea if this is true or not though, can anyone confirm it?

Quick explanation: Say a channel broadcasts have a capacity for 19.2 MB/s for all channels. The sum of all the subchannels can be no more than 19.2 MB/s. This concern is only applicable to networks that broadcast their feed at close to the full capacity of a station's bandwidth.

So can anyone confirm the above is true, and is this ever a problem?
Experts question quality of local HDTV
Friday, February 02, 2007
By William LaRue
Staff writer

Consumer-electronics consultant Peter H. Putman was in Syracuse watching an HD broadcast of NBC football last September, when he noticed the video often had "little blocks and squiggly things."

He was disappointed but not shocked. Even as consumers rush out to buy high-definition sets to watch Sunday's Super Bowl, Putman says, many U.S. stations are degrading their HD by squeezing it to make room for subchannels in their digital signals.

Chris Geiger, general manager at NBC affiliate WSTM-TV (Channel 3) in Syracuse, says the station's decision to add subchannels to its digital signal hasn't harmed its HD, which offers super-sharp pictures, wide-screen video and digital sound.

"We've never had any kind of complaint (from local viewers). We're clearly comfortable with our signal," Geiger says.

Time Warner Cable spokesman Jeff Unaitis says the cable company hasn't detected any substandard quality to the HD signals it receives over the air from Syracuse stations and then retransmits to customers without any changes.

But a CBS executive overseeing the network's HD telecast of the NFL's Super Bowl concedes "it's still a wild West" when it comes to maintaining the high quality of a high-definition broadcast once it leaves the network.

"We do as much as we can. But when it gets to affiliates or DirecTV, or when it gets to some of the cable guys, it's hard to say what happens," says Ken Aagaard, CBS Sports senior vice president of operations and production services.

Aagaard says engineers at CBS believe adding any subchannel to a digital TV signal takes away from the quality of the HD.

Complete Article is here.http://www.syracuse.com/living/poststandard/index.ssf?/base/living-3/1170410694303660.xml&coll=1

Read through some of the posts from the Charlottesille/Harrisonburg HDTV forum.

Some posters to the forum, call HD with multi-casting HD-Lite because is does take away from the Picture Quality.

Our local NBC station is aware of this, and they drop the bit rate for the multicasting channels when an HD program is on, like Sunday Night Football.
So I guess the moral of the story is, becareful when wishing for sub channels from other stations. You may not be happy with what you get on the main feed.

So I guess the moral of the story is, becareful when wishing for sub channels from other stations. You may not be happy with what you get on the main feed.

So I guess the moral of the story is that when there's a problem with an OTA HD signal, blame the affiliate. There couldn't possibly be a problem with the network's feed!

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

Dave, most definitely there can be problems from the network and often are. In the case of NBC and the generally poor quality of their HD sports I truly believe that part of the problem has to lie with the NBC feed, because similar reports have come from people all over the place. Sunday Night Football is widely known for looking the worst of any network's NFL games, consistently. Yet there have been reports by some that what they've seen directly from the network encoders looks good. So I don't know.

However, there is no denying that multicasting by the local affiliate has a definite negative effect on the PQ. That may be even more pronounced if the network feed is suspect to begin with. I know there's probably no going back, that stations like yours aren't going to drop the weather subchannel, apparently not even for "big" network events like the Olympics or NFL games. But can't you at least minimize the bandwidth that's allocated to the subchannel?

I don't think anybody much cares if they see some artifacts when checking the weather for a few minutes. I'm sure you wouldn't get a single complaint about that channel. But a whole lot of people with big screens are greatly annoyed seeing the pixelization, "swimming" grass, etc., during NBC sporting events. Especially when the game on CBS or Fox looks so much better.

So I guess the moral of the story is that when there's a problem with an OTA HD signal, blame the affiliate. There couldn't possibly be a problem with the network's feed!

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering
Dave, if it makes you feel any better, I completely trust WPXI to do things properly. Very rarely have I seen problems come from your affiliate, and they typically don't last.

I don't trust the other affiliates to get their act together. I remember not too long ago, KDKA had a serious problem with the volume of their local commercials. I don't know how long it took for them to correct that. And with WTAE, there are still too many people who just can't receive their digital broadcast despite the fact that their analog broadcast comes in cleanly. If either of them were to implement multicasting, I'd expect their HD broadcast to suffer until they figured out how to properly do things.

At this point, I don't even know whether or not the other affiliates are properly broadcasting their meta information (for a while, they weren't). There's a lot of reasons to distrust the other affiliates when it comes to knowing and using their equipment properly.

I'm sorry that I'm giving the affiliates a bad rap, but right now that's the impression I've gotten from the results and responses I've seen so far. I honestly wish the others could have a rep like you on this site providing feedback to the rest of us.

I guess I shouldn't have tried to deflect "blame" since there's certainly plenty to go around. With that in mind, even with affiliates running subchannels, the notion that all of the OTA ills are as a result of what the affiliates are doing is just plain wrong.

I simply take offense at the comments made by CBS Sports senior vice president of operations and production services. (Do you see anything in his title that says Engineering or Tecnical? This is some programming guy covering his backside!)

On the affiliate end of things, again, there is room for improvement, and as stations begin to update to the next generation of encoders, the home viewer will continue to see signal improvements - even with existing subchannels.

With respect to the other stations, they have really good and smart people at their facilities - I would be proud to work with and learn from any of them. Like the rest of us, they have network/encoder issues unique to their plants. They will work through them like we all do.

And lastly, the metadata (called PSIP - Program and System Information Protocol) is so unbelievelably complicated, and so very easy to foul up! This is not an excuse for bad metadata, but an explanation. It is one of the reasons I appreciate everyone's participation on this forum - you all can give me "clues" to potential problems we might have.

I think I'll quit here for now, and I'll respond later if anything new comes up or if anyone would care for further explanation.

Dave Morrison
WPXI Engineering

One other thing...I want you all to know that I wasn't taking a cheap shot at sthayashi. The cheap shot was meant for the CBS programming wonk!

Dave

I live about 15 miles north of Pgh. (Cranberry Twp) I am running an HDTV tuner out my PC. I have it hooked up to a silver sensor. I am getting about 50% signal strength from kdka and wpgh. i can get some youngstown but not very well. My question to anyone who is willing to answer. Would it be worth my money to get an Amplified Indoor Ant - like the Terk HDTVa to imrove my reception? Any suggestions on placement, angles, direction, welcome.Hi jake! I'm slowly making my way through this thread and came across your post. I'm also in Cranberry Twp, near the intersection of Powell & Glen Eden. So I have some nice hills between my location & the Pittsburgh stations' transmission towers.

I ended up swiping a relative's old VHF/UHF antenna from their attic, since they haven't actually used it since they had cable installed 30 years ago. I placed it in my attic, roughly aimed it in the direction of Pittsburgh, and was able to get the following digital stations:
25, 2-1 KDKA-DT 1080i (CBS)
29, 8-1 WWCP-DT
29, 8-2 WATM-DT
38, 13-1 WQED HD 1080i (PBS)
38, 13-2 WQED SD
41, 27-1 WKBN-HD 1080i (CBS)
41, 27-2 WYFX
42, 22-1 WPMY-DT 720p (MNTV)
42, 22-2 WPMY-DT
43, 53-1 WPGH-DT 720p (FOX)
43, 53-2 WPGH-DT
48, 11-1 WPXI-DT 1080i (NBC)
48, 11-2 WX PLUS
50, 40-1 WPCB-DT

Before settling on this antenna direction, I also tried roughly pointing it towards Youngstown, and was able to receive the HD stations 33-1 WYTV (ABC) and 21-1 WFMJ (NBC), but I could not get 11-1 WPXI (NBC), 13-1 WQED (PBS), and 22-1 WPMY (MNTV). I might give it another shot though, since I'd really like to receive an HD ABC affiliate, and WTAE doesn't seem to be trying to serve the area north of Pittsburgh.

But to answer your question, if my experience is any indication, get a good rooftop directional antenna and shove it in your attic if you don't want to mount it outside. I have no amplifier and a pretty short (~10') cable run.

I think I'll quit here for now, and I'll respond later if anything new comes up or if anyone would care for further explanation.
Thanks, Dave. For a second there, I thought I really ticked you off with my last couple posts. I've seen problems that could have only come from the network feed, and since they have a presumably much larger budget and staff, there shouldn't be such problems. The most annoying for me is the lack of normalization for their commercials. Motorola's Blackjack commercial is especially bad.

One question I do have which may seem obvious is this: Do most affiliates (or WPXI) actually encode the stream from the network? I was under the impression up until the last couple days that the feed came from the network already encoded in HD/Mpeg-2/whatever and the affiliates simply multiplexed additional channels/PSIP-data. I know that the affiliates digitally encode local broadcasts, but I had thought that that particular data was just SD.

If the affiliates DO encode the network feed themselves, does that mean that WPXI could broadcast at a higher quality (like 1080p or beyond), pending the proper encoding and multiplexing equipment?

One question I do have which may seem obvious is this: Do most affiliates (or WPXI) actually encode the stream from the network? I was under the impression up until the last couple days that the feed came from the network already encoded in HD/Mpeg-2/whatever and the affiliates simply multiplexed additional channels/PSIP-data. I know that the affiliates digitally encode local broadcasts, but I had thought that that particular data was just SD.

If the affiliates DO encode the network feed themselves, does that mean that WPXI could broadcast at a higher quality (like 1080p or beyond), pending the proper encoding and multiplexing equipment?

Nope you didn't tick me off. Sorry for posting that message the way I did.

First, please refer to the following web page. It's got some pretty good information: http://www.coolstf.com/mpeg/

We do not get network signals that are already encoded. We treat the network HD signals as any other source we need to process. Anything that comes out of our HD switcher (be it native HD programming or locally upconverted content) needs to be encoded into 1080i before it goes up the stick.

The metadata is also processed in our encoder. Think of the metadata as a roadmap for your receiver. The metadata defines the video streams, audio streams, etc. It tells you receiver which video stream goes with which audio stream; it tells your receiver which audio stream is the Dolby 5.1 front pair, the rear pair, and the LFE channel. It contains the program guide.

There's alot going on, but in a nutshell, we're not able to pass NBC programming directly to the viewer without encoding it first.

Dave

Hi jake! I'm slowly making my way through this thread and came across your post. I'm also in Cranberry Twp, near the intersection of Powell & Glen Eden. So I have some nice hills between my location & the Pittsburgh stations' transmission towers.

I ended up swiping a relative's old VHF/UHF antenna from their attic, since they haven't actually used it since they had cable installed 30 years ago. I placed it in my attic, roughly aimed it in the direction of Pittsburgh, and was able to get the following digital stations:
25, 2-1 KDKA-DT 1080i (CBS)
29, 8-1 WWCP-DT
29, 8-2 WATM-DT
38, 13-1 WQED HD 1080i (PBS)
38, 13-2 WQED SD
41, 27-1 WKBN-HD 1080i (CBS)
41, 27-2 WYFX
42, 22-1 WPMY-DT 720p (MNTV)
42, 22-2 WPMY-DT
43, 53-1 WPGH-DT 720p (FOX)
43, 53-2 WPGH-DT
48, 11-1 WPXI-DT 1080i (NBC)
48, 11-2 WX PLUS
50, 40-1 WPCB-DT

Before settling on this antenna direction, I also tried roughly pointing it towards Youngstown, and was able to receive the HD stations 33-1 WYTV (ABC) and 21-1 WFMJ (NBC), but I could not get 11-1 WPXI (NBC), 13-1 WQED (PBS), and 22-1 WPMY (MNTV). I might give it another shot though, since I'd really like to receive an HD ABC affiliate, and WTAE doesn't seem to be trying to serve the area north of Pittsburgh.

But to answer your question, if my experience is any indication, get a good rooftop directional antenna and shove it in your attic if you don't want to mount it outside. I have no amplifier and a pretty short (~10') cable run.


Garsh...what kind of signal strength are you getting from the pittsburgh channels?

Garsh...what kind of signal strength are you getting from the pittsburgh channels?I was using a Sceptre X32GV-KOMODO TV (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=748984) to test the signal strength. I was getting mid-80's for most of them. I think WPXI may have been the weakest one, around 77-78. When a signal got below 70, the picture would start to drop out.

Every one of these stations is broadcasting in the UHF band, so you could try a UHF-only antenna, like this one (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103088). It's both cheaper & smaller than a UHF/VHF/FM combo antenna. I think I read somewhere (probably earlier in this thread) that WQED might be moving to the VHF band in the near future though (once analog broadcasts are stopped, maybe?).

did anyone else watch LOST tonight from WTAE and become insanely annoyed by their obnoxious news promos that are run during the show and take the picture from HD to SD (like a local weather warning) and also take the sound from dolby to stereo increasing the volume a great deal. this must stop asap.... i can't believe a station would be so dumb to ruin their HD broadcast like this.

did anyone else watch LOST tonight from WTAE and become insanely annoyed by their obnoxious news promos that are run during the show and take the picture from HD to SD (like a local weather warning) and also take the sound from dolby to stereo increasing the volume a great deal. this must stop asap.... i can't believe a station would be so dumb to ruin their HD broadcast like this.


Yes, we noticed on this end too.

They've been doing a lot of that recently.

It goes from a crystal clear HD pix to a smeary/blurry picture with much much louder audio. They keep switching back and forth to run promos.

It's very annoying!!! And stupid to boot.

My question is, can't they see this on their end?

Why are we the only people that can see this stuff?

did anyone else watch LOST tonight from WTAE and become insanely annoyed by their obnoxious news promos that are run during the show and take the picture from HD to SD (like a local weather warning) and also take the sound from dolby to stereo increasing the volume a great deal. this must stop asap.... i can't believe a station would be so dumb to ruin their HD broadcast like this.I haven't watched LOST from last night yet. It's on my DVR and I'll probably watch it tonight and see for myself.

But this practice is nothing new with them. In January 2005 I sent an e-mail to WTAE complaining about these program break-ins that ruined the HD experience, both how jarring it is and how often they were doing it. At the time they had broken in at least 6 times during an airing of ALIAS for flash-flood watches and warnings, which I thought was a little excessive.

I got a reply from David Kasperek, Director of Engineering at WTAE. He said that they "are actively seeking a better technical solution than what is presently available to us for emergency weather announcements on HDTV because we agree this is a big problem," and " As soon as we can find and implement a less disruptive method, I can assure you we will do so." He also gave me a lot of stuff about their obligation to the public yada-yada regarding the frequency of the announcements.

So I guess if they have been "actively seeking" a less disruptive method they still must not have found it yet, over 2 years later. Or maybe they forgot about it.

I don't know if Mr. Kasperek is still there, but his e-mail address was dkasperek [at] hearst.com, if you'd like to try to send him a note. I may do so again after I watch LOST, probably tonight.

did anyone else watch LOST tonight from WTAE and become insanely annoyed by their obnoxious news promos that are run during the show and take the picture from HD to SD (like a local weather warning) and also take the sound from dolby to stereo increasing the volume a great deal.Just watched it last night. Yep, quite annoying. Apparently they also did this during Grey's Anatomy.

Garsh, (or anyone that cares to comment.)

Do I have to propperly ground and antenna that I mount in my attic?


BTW I get a usable signal with a silver sensor and a inline amp. However every time I want to watch a different channel I have to move the antenna to a different position (balancing on make shift shelves of shoeboxes and speakers) Its sort of comical. My wife is very patient.

Did anybody see strange picture anomolies on WPXI-DT last night?

I was watching on Comcast, so I don't know if it existed OTA, but there were repeated problems with the entire picture being overlayed with a pink/blue imprint of some sort. It happened a lot during THE OFFICE and then I saw it again later on too. Never saw anything like it before.

Do I have to propperly ground and antenna that I mount in my attic?I was wondering that myself. This article (http://www.orlandodigital.tv/faq5.htm) states that you should. I guess I'll need to look into doing that. :o

I have confirmed with co-workers in different cable systems that the picture issues (pink/blue imprint) on WPXI-DT last night were there on their systems too. So it appears to be a problem that occurred at the station or network. Although I assume I would have seen something about it in other threads if it was a network issue.

Dave, any insight on what that was?

Sorry if this has been asked, it didn't come up in a search, but when watching the WB (or CW whatever it is now) on both OTA and channel 214 through Comcast does anyone else have weird sound issues. The dialog comes through the center and surround channels on all HD programming. It's like the center is doubled through the rears. I have yet to hear anything out of the front left and right. Again, this happens both OTA and channel 214 Comcast. In case anyone asks, my speakers are hooked up correctly, as it is just this channel. By the way, when I watch it upstairs on Channel 214 on the other HDTV, the sound is fine, as all I have upstairs are the TV speakers.

I was wondering that myself. This article (http://www.orlandodigital.tv/faq5.htm) states that you should. I guess I'll need to look into doing that. :o

I grounded mine.