It was recommended that I take the older (black) one to allow OTA recording. Is there any reason I should consider the newer one? Thanks

I hope you discovered this is all backwards:
The silver one, which is the HR20, is the OLDER unit, but DOES do OTA
The black one, which is the HR21, is the NEWER unit, but DOES NOT do OTA
(THAT'S why everyone wants the "older" units... ;) ;) )

Thanks, I must have mixed up the colors. The more I read the more I see many people are unhappy with the hr21.

I see that WCCU's OTA signal is still in the shitter... anyone know what is going on?

Rose Bowl in 3 hours!!! Is anybody having problems with WICD 15-1? I usually get it fine, but with the weather, I am not picking up even a hint of signal. Is it me, the weather, or is WICD having technical difficulties?

Rose Bowl in 3 hours!!! Is anybody having problems with WICD 15-1? I usually get it fine, but with the weather, I am not picking up even a hint of signal. Is it me, the weather, or is WICD having technical difficulties?
I'm in Mahomet and picking up 15-1 at about 78% strength. That's a bit lower than normal, but I don't see any problems.

Mel

WICD OTA signal of 86 in The People's Republic of Urbana. That's a bit lower strength than usual, but nothing unusual... Of course as I spoke, signal just dropped to 0 for about 5 seconds before coming back.

EDIT: Well after that pathetic performance by the Illini, I thought I'd relax and watch Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl.... but I can't... BECAUSE WCCU STILL HASN'T FIXED THEIR F*CKING SIGNAL!

It's been weeks now since their OTA signal dropped by about 25 points. I just sent them a nastygram by email asking what in blazes is going on.

I shouldn't have to buy Cable service in order to get a decent local signal...

How do you receive WCCU? Is it off antenna or by cable? I receive them fine off antenna, and in High Def when FOX passes it. Haven't had any problems with them for some time.

If you're receiving them off antenna, you might want to check out your connections, or amplifiers. If you're on cable, then it's probably your lousy cable system. I'm betting on a lousy cable system. It seems that most of the reception problems of local stations stem from cable systems.

I have more problems receiving WILL-DT than any of the commercial stations in the market from my home north of Danville. The stations furthest from me, WAND and WBUI are much better than WILL. Why did WILL stay on VHF anyway?? Especially when all of the others are on UHF frequencies. I know it's cheaper to power for them, but when I replace my V/U antenna, I'm going with a stacked UHF bow-tie arrangement, which will probably do away with me getting WILL ever again.

How do you receive WCCU? Is it off antenna or by cable? I receive them fine off antenna, and in High Def when FOX passes it. Haven't had any problems with them for some time.

If you're receiving them off antenna, you might want to check out your connections, or amplifiers. If you're on cable, then it's probably your lousy cable system. I'm betting on a lousy cable system. It seems that most of the reception problems of local stations stem from cable systems.

I have more problems receiving WILL-DT than any of the commercial stations in the market from my home north of Danville. The stations furthest from me, WAND and WBUI are much better than WILL. Why did WILL stay on VHF anyway?? Especially when all of the others are on UHF frequencies. I know it's cheaper to power for them, but when I replace my V/U antenna, I'm going with a stacked UHF bow-tie arrangement, which will probably do away with me getting WILL ever again.

OTA. I don't have cable.

WCCU used to have an incredibly strong signal (92-100 on my Dish 211) up until about a month ago. I first posted about it on December 16, and at least 1 other person noticed the same decrease in signal strength.

WILL and WCIA come in like gangbusters here in east Urbana. My biggest problems are WAND (always has been a borderline signal at my location) and now recently, WCCU and WICD. Both are down significantly in signal strength.

A friend of mine in South Urbana, around Race & Mumford, has an HD TV and picking up local channels OTA. Yesterday he was getting WCCU in HD, OK. Thge WICD HD signal was breaking up on occasion, but only for a few seconds at a time.

Ditch the Terk and get a decent UHF outdoor antenna. Radio Shack sells a nice corner yagi that you can mount in an attic, or you can get a bow-tie type from Winegard on-line. I have a Radio Shack VHF/UHF antenna mounted in my attic and pointed a tad SW, and WCIA pegs the needle on my DirecTV receivers. You shouldn't be having problems getting WCIA with a decent antenna.

John C.

Thanks for the advice John. I took it, sort of, and bought a omnidirectional antenna from RS at the advice of the sales person there (my mileage may vary and I've got 30 days to decide if I want to keep it). WCIA at least now comes in great, but I'm not seeing anything on other channels. Scanning the forum, seems like they may be having problems?

Here's what I'm getting OTA in SW champaign: WCIA, WCFN, WILL (x3), WICD. Notables missing: WAND, WCCU, WSRP. I.e. no Fiesta bowl.

Anyone actually seeing any of the latter currently?

Thanks, Von

I'm getting WCCU at 78% and WAND and WRSP at 87%..I am in Mahomet using an indoor RS antenna that is out in my garage.

Mel

Thanks for the advice John. I took it, sort of, and bought a omnidirectional antenna from RS at the advice of the sales person there (my mileage may vary and I've got 30 days to decide if I want to keep it). WCIA at least now comes in great, but I'm not seeing anything on other channels. Scanning the forum, seems like they may be having problems?

Here's what I'm getting OTA in SW champaign: WCIA, WCFN, WILL (x3), WICD. Notables missing: WAND, WCCU, WSRP. I.e. no Fiesta bowl.

Anyone actually seeing any of the latter currently?

Thanks, Von

I get all the local channels just fine, in Savoy. WCIA was breaking up last night, but is fine tonight. No problems with WCCU, even though others seem to be having them, and that's coming in from the back side of my antenna (mounted in my attic).

I think the round omni antennas (if that's what you got) are not much better than the Terk. So . . . I think you'll really be better off with a "real" antenna. The problem is that you might not be able to get WCCU/WICD from the east if you point your antenna west toward WCIA. Solution: Buy a bow tie and take the back reflector off, which makes it a figure-8 (sort of) and should solve all your reception problems. Some folks also have had success with two antennas combined on a combiner, but I wouldn't recommend it without using sophisticated notch filters to avoid multipath problems.

John C.

Just read on dbstalk.com that due to strong currents in November, Sea Launch has delays on all their upcoming launches. Instead of a January launch, Directv 11 is now scheduled for early March. That pushes back any chance of new hd locals for the central Illinois area till at least summer now :(

jdh8668,

I may be interpreting this the wrong way, but I believe the launch of D11 is still going to be in mid January 2008, but it will take the already anticipated 2 months to get it up and running (hence the mid-March date being listed on dbstalk) before any new DMAs could be added. So, based on that some new DMAs could still have HD locals up on D11 before summer, but the bigger questions are 1) whether the champaign-decatur-springfield DMA has everything ready on their end and 2) how far back in line is that DMA (on DirecTV's list).

The Thuraya 3 is scheduled to be launched by Sea Launch in mid-January. Talk on dbstalk.com indicates Directv 11 is now scheduled for early March liftoff. I can't speak for the other stations in the market, but WAND's engineers have told me they have already been sending their hd signal to Directv for sometime now. From what I've been reading, the biggest obstacles can be contracts between our local station's parent companies and Directv. I don't know (and hope there won't be) any problems with the central Illinois' group, but in some areas of the country there are. For example WAND's former owner, Lin Broadcasting, has gone round and round with with Directv over money, to the point that their Norfolk, Va station still isn't being shown on DTV's hd locals. Thank god for my hr-20 and ota!

I get all the local channels just fine, in Savoy. WCIA was breaking up last night, but is fine tonight. No problems with WCCU, even though others seem to be having them, and that's coming in from the back side of my antenna (mounted in my attic).

I think the round omni antennas (if that's what you got) are not much better than the Terk. So . . . I think you'll really be better off with a "real" antenna. The problem is that you might not be able to get WCCU/WICD from the east if you point your antenna west toward WCIA. Solution: Buy a bow tie and take the back reflector off, which makes it a figure-8 (sort of) and should solve all your reception problems. Some folks also have had success with two antennas combined on a combiner, but I wouldn't recommend it without using sophisticated notch filters to avoid multipath problems.

John C.

John, thanks for your continued help. Can you help me a little more with understanding your suggestion wrt a bow-tie and a reflector? I'm not quite sure what sort of antenna you are referring to, can you point me at an example model?

Thanks again, Von.

p.s. yes, you are right wrt the round omnidirectional.

I am having the same problem with WBUI 23 - I haven't had it for weeks now. I miss having it on my comptuer.
Anybody have ideas on this? I have repeated rescanned my channels back in hoping to get it back.
By the way I also had trouble with Channel 20 earlier in the year.
Val


Same here on MCE2005. Still showing the same signal strength as always, but haven't been able to tune it for at least a week.

John, thanks for your continued help. Can you help me a little more with understanding your suggestion wrt a bow-tie and a reflector? I'm not quite sure what sort of antenna you are referring to, can you point me at an example model?

Thanks again, Von.

p.s. yes, you are right wrt the round omnidirectional.

I think he means one like this one

www.antennasdirect.com (http://www.antennasdirect.com/DB4_HDTV_antenna.html)

I have this one and I am very happy with it, but it is unmodified.

@Photogirl

Channel 23 has combined operations with Channel 55 in Springfield. I have called them three times over the past month and emailed. They have never responded to an email but you can usually talk to Engineering on the phone. I've explained to them that their signal is not available to anyone with a media center PC. I also explained to them that WICS had a similar problem a while back due to an error and what that error was. That was weeks ago and they still haven't fixed it. My best advice is to call engineering and let them know you have a problem. I will do so again on Monday. Anyone else reading, please do the same as it seems apparent they aren't going to be moved to act unless they get more calls. I know at least one other person has called before as well. They seem to be stiffing us for some reason. Either that or they are just not competent which I find hard to believe to be the case.

This is the number for FoxIllinois 55/23: 217-523-8855

I think he means one like this one

www.antennasdirect.com (http://www.antennasdirect.com/DB4_HDTV_antenna.html)

I have this one and I am very happy with it, but it is unmodified.

Yep. That's what I'm talking about. The reflector behind the bow ties makes the antenna directional, but you can still often pick up a signal from the "back side" (which means you can point it at WCIA to the west and still get WICD/WCCU from the east). If getting WICD/WCCU is a problem, you can try to remove the "wire screen" reflector to see if that helps, but try it stock first.

John C.

I am having the same problem with WBUI 23 - I haven't had it for weeks now. I miss having it on my comptuer.
Anybody have ideas on this? I have repeated rescanned my channels back in hoping to get it back.
By the way I also had trouble with Channel 20 earlier in the year.
Val
If you are having trouble receiving CH23 - WBUI it could be because they are using the (-1) sub-channel. The WatchHDTV software I use with my ATI HDTV Wonder card allows that sub-channel to be configured as well as sub-channels 1-10. CH20 - WICS was using the minus 1 (-1) sub-channel some time ago but it now uses the regular one. If you have configured your software for the regular sub-channel 22-1 instead of 22-(-1) you will see that you have a good signal but no picture.

Yep. That's what I'm talking about. The reflector behind the bow ties makes the antenna directional, but you can still often pick up a signal from the "back side" (which means you can point it at WCIA to the west and still get WICD/WCCU from the east). If getting WICD/WCCU is a problem, you can try to remove the "wire screen" reflector to see if that helps, but try it stock first.

John C.

Thanks - that will be my next attempt.

Von

I spoke to one of the engineers for WBUI-23 and they do have the Windows Media Center problem on their list of things to do. Apparently with the move to combine with Channel 55's operations, they have a laundry list of things to do and it's taking time to get through it. I relayed MCHansen's point about the -1 sunchannel being used and not 23-1.

I don't think WMC can tune the -1 subchannel (if that's what they're on), but if someone knows how, I'd guess I'd like to be able to do so. To the best of my knowledge WMC only accepts the 4 numeral designation, like 1231 (23-1) or 1232 (23-2) since that's what's in the guide database.

It doesn't look like E* is going to be adding the C-D-S local HD channels to their lineups this year. I guess we must be in the bottom 20% of markets not covered with HD locals.

Link (http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS106283+07-Jan-2008+PNW20080107)

The article doesn't say what additional HD channels are going to be added either. Right now D* is kicking E*'s butt around with respect to HD.

Edit: corrected link and added text below

Maybe the markets mentioned in the article are the ones being added now. I just read another story that said they are adding 61 local HD markets in 2008 which has to include the C-D-S market I'd think.

Yeah, my 18-month commitment to Dish ended a few months ago, so it's time to explore my options with respect to HD. Locals notwithstanding, I'm pretty sure I'd end up watching USA, Scifi, and Spike *FAR* more than the Voom exclusives, which is about the only thing left that Dish has that DirecTV doesn't...

For general entertainment, the following are HD channels that D* has that E* doesn't:

Bravo HD (273)
Cartoon Network HD (296)
Country Music TV HD (327)
MGM HD (255)
MTV HD (331)
Nickelodeon East HD (299)
FX HD (248)
SciFi HD (244)
Smithsonian HD (267)
Spike HD (325)
USA HD (242)
VH1 HD (335)

I'm definitely interested in FX HD, SciFi HD, and USA HD since I watch all three from time to time. I've been holding off upgrading to the E* HD package because there is little there now that I watch (TNT, TBS, ESPN), especially given the price. E* is supposedly going to offer a $10 HD package with the top 20 HD channels, whatever they are. The HD locals don't really bother me since I get everything in the C-D-S market as well as others outside the market OTA and have a HD multituner HTPC for recording.

Dish does have MTV-HD. I wonder how much of the content on the other Direct TV channels are native HD, as opposed to upconverted and (ugh!) stretched SD.

Yeh, I imagine some of it is "stretched" (why do they do that anyway?) but most shows that I'm interested in are framed/shot in 16:9 anyway I think. I don't care about the older shows. I think ABC Family is supposed to go HD this year as well. The DVDs of their shows are 16:9 so their HD should be.

Does anyone know if WCIA 3 HD is off the air? For the last few days I am getting 80% signal on my tivo, but black screen with no sound.

Does anyone know if WCIA 3 HD is off the air? For the last few days I am getting 80% signal on my tivo, but black screen with no sound.
I just checked and everything looks fine here OTA. 95% signal.

Mel

Does anyone know if WCIA 3 HD is off the air? For the last few days I am getting 80% signal on my tivo, but black screen with no sound.

Was fine last night watching NUMB3RS. 100% signal OTA.

Hi. I've got a Dish 722 and have my locals incorporated into the guide using an OTA antenna. Some of the locals (Both FOX, WICD) only list "Digital Service" and don't show program info. Is there any way to get these channels to list the program information in the guide?

Does anyone know if WCIA 3 HD is off the air? For the last few days I am getting 80% signal on my tivo, but black screen with no sound.

Not working on either of my Windows Media Center PCs either. So now both 23 and 3 HD OTA are not available on my HTPCs.

Hi. I've got a Dish 722 and have my locals incorporated into the guide using an OTA antenna. Some of the locals (Both FOX, WICD) only list "Digital Service" and don't show program info. Is there any way to get these channels to list the program information in the guide?

I got this same problem with fox, wrsp. I called the installer and he said it is hit and miss. That sounded like BS to me. I called Dish help and the dumbfounded csr could not figure it out either. I will try and call them again next time I get a free hour. It's weird because I get all the other Springfield channels and the two Peoria channels I get just fine in the program guide.

Any Dish costumers getting program info int the digital side of wrsp 55 on their 722?

Thanks guys, I have found the problem. I don't know why but 17.1, 20.1, 23.1, 31.1, 43.1, and 55.1 were all fine but no 3.1. I restarted my TIVO and 3.1 came back full strength. Strange but it is fine now.:)

Hi. I've got a Dish 722 and have my locals incorporated into the guide using an OTA antenna. Some of the locals (Both FOX, WICD) only list "Digital Service" and don't show program info. Is there any way to get these channels to list the program information in the guide?

I'm experiencing the same thing with my Dish ViP DVR 722. Any ideas on what's going on or how to fix it?

Hi. I've got a Dish 722 and have my locals incorporated into the guide using an OTA antenna. Some of the locals (Both FOX, WICD) only list "Digital Service" and don't show program info. Is there any way to get these channels to list the program information in the guide?
Theoretically, you should get guide info for all the locals Dish carries (as long as you pay the $5 locals fee). Taking a quick look at the Dish Channel Chart (http://www.dishchannelchart.com/), these are:

WAND
WCIA
WICS
WRSP
WBUI
WCFN
WEIU
WILL
WSEC

The caveats are that these are the analog versions of the channels so, Dish has to map your OTA digitals to them correctly and the digital channel's programming has to mirror that of the analog's.

I think I know what's happening. Dish uses the ABC and Fox feeds from the Springfield affiliates, not the the Champaign-Urbana stations. The receiver doesn't know the local ABC and Fox OTA stations are mirrors of the Springfield stations and thus provides no guide date. I have my OTA antenna oriented so I can get the Springfield stations OTA and thus have guide date for them and the ability to easily record their programs. This something Dish ought to fix, but probably won't.

Satelliteguys are reporting the annual rate increase for Directv. Starting in the March billing cycle the following increases are taking place:
Here is the new pricing:

Choice $52.99 (up $3.00)
Choice xtra $57.99 (up $3.00)
Plus DVR $62.99 (up $3.00)
Plus HD DVR $72.99 (up $3.00)
Premier 104.99 (up $5.00)
HBO $14 (up $1.00)

Customers who are in a promotion with DirecTV will not see these new prices on their bills until their promo price expires.

Effective 2/27/08

Has anyone else noticed that FOX 27 isn't broadcasting DD 5.1? I noticed it on Saturday during the NFL playoff game and haven't seen it since. I checked both OTA and thru my Mediacon DVR.

Mel

Theoretically, you should get guide info for all the locals Dish carries (as long as you pay the $5 locals fee).

The caveats are that these are the analog versions of the channels so, Dish has to map your OTA digitals to them correctly and the digital channel's programming has to mirror that of the analog's.


Yeah, I pay the extra $5 (for now) to get the Springfield analog channels, but I don't see guide data for either ABC or FOX through OTA in Champaign. If I cancel my Springfield analogs, will I lose the program guide for CBS and NBC too?

I've been trying to make my way through the last few random pages of posts trying to figure this out. I'm a poor student but I want a new tv. I don't have any cable subscription, just broadband internet. Seemed like I was reading that with just BB and no other cable subscription I could pick up local HD channels? or maybe BB stood for something else....
Sharp AQUOS LC-32D43U - looking to buy that- has QAM tuner. I'm in an apartment so I can't have an outdoor 80 ft antenna or anything- I'm wanting to know what I'll be able to pick up and how to do it. Any help is greatly appreciated.

The TV you mentioned (since it has a built in QAM tuner), should work for you to pick up local digital broadcasts. You will need to purchase an antenna to hook up to that television though. I recently purchased the Terk TV5 (indoor) from Amazon for $30, which works well for me. They make more expensive and cheaper ones too which should do what you want.
I know you mentioned HD, but the only time you can get HD is from picking up a digital station which broadcasts a show in HD.
For example, Lost will be broadcast in HD, so if you can pick up WICD-DT (channel 15.1 I believe), then you can see Lost in HD. But on the same station, the local news, and most other programs for now aren't broadcast in HD, so you'll see a 4:3 picture unless you use a zoom function built into the tv.

I hope this info helps.

Just saw where Directv 11 will be launched March 9. Maybe we'll get hd locals by the end of the summer if all goes well.

Has anyone else noticed that FOX 27 isn't broadcasting DD 5.1? I noticed it on Saturday during the NFL playoff game and haven't seen it since. I checked both OTA and thru my Mediacon DVR.
Mel

Yeah, I noticed that watching the Sarah Connors Chronicles on Sunday. I also noticed last night that the CW channel is broadcasting in SD, again. They had gone to a HD broadcast a couple of weeks ago, but was SD last night. Anyone know anything about this?

Thanks, Marty. I was worried that I was having some equipment issues, but I guess it is the station.

Mel

I don't have any cable subscription, just broadband internet. Seemed like I was reading that with just BB and no other cable subscription I could pick up local HD channels? or maybe BB stood for something else....
Sharp AQUOS LC-32D43U - looking to buy that- has QAM tuner.

Yes, you should be able to pick up the local HD's from Insight BB with just a splitter, but I should tell you, I've read several stories about some of the Sharp QAM tuners having problems even pulling in unscrambled QAM cable signals - I read about this on the Insight forum on dslreports.com. Some Sony's (including mine) are a little touchy trying to pull in some QAM signals as well, but I found how to work around it - there are other posts about this in this forum.
You should be able to pull in all the locals in HD, except for WCFN (not in HD) & WEIU-PBS should come through as well, but ONLY in SD. You might find some music channels, but they are NOT the Music Choice service. (probably the defunct DMX service)

I have my OTA antenna oriented so I can get the Springfield stations OTA and thus have guide date for them and the ability to easily record their programs. This something Dish ought to fix, but probably won't.

So you do get guide info for 55-1 on your dish dvr?

I don't get guide data for 55-1, 27-1 or 15-1.

Yeah, I noticed that watching the Sarah Connors Chronicles on Sunday. I also noticed last night that the CW channel is broadcasting in SD, again. They had gone to a HD broadcast a couple of weeks ago, but was SD last night. Anyone know anything about this?

The CW has been recently broadcasting in SD instead of HD due to problems with the frame synchronizer causing flashes of white and orange during transitions between to and from local breaks.

As for WCCU, We've recently split the HD stream for WCCU off of WRSP so the local WCCU news and breaks will play. We have not yet gotten the equipment for encoding 5.1 sound on the WCCU stream.
--
Josh Miller
Gocom Media Engineering

Yes, you should be able to pick up the local HD's from Insight BB with just a splitter, but I should tell you, I've read several stories about some of the Sharp QAM tuners having problems even pulling in unscrambled QAM cable signals - I read about this on the Insight forum on dslreports.com. Some Sony's (including mine) are a little touchy trying to pull in some QAM signals as well, but I found how to work around it - there are other posts about this in this forum.
You should be able to pull in all the locals in HD, except for WCFN (not in HD) & WEIU-PBS should come through as well, but ONLY in SD. You might find some music channels, but they are NOT the Music Choice service. (probably the defunct DMX service)

OK I have a quick question. I too have InsightBB internet only. Will I be able to get the HD locals on my S3 Tivo just running the coax into it? I get them OTA which is fine, I just haven't tried the cable route yet.

OK I have a quick question. I too have InsightBB internet only. Will I be able to get the HD locals on my S3 Tivo just running the coax into it? I get them OTA which is fine, I just haven't tried the cable route yet.

Better stick with OTA - my understanding from reading over at tivocommunity.com, is that because all HD Tivos use the cable box numbers on ALL cable ch lineups, the ONLY way you can make them work is to get a cable card to do the "QAM# to cable box# conversion". And, since you ONLY have BB, you would obviously NOT be a legit TV customer if you asked Insight for a cable card. ;)
There's a very large post over there about getting Tivo to allow subs to enter this conversion info in the Tivo's, but it appears to no avail.

OK, so I've got classic cable subscription with the digital set top box, but no HD subscription or DVR. I thought that if I was a subscriber to even just basic cable, insight/comcast had to offer the local HD channels for free. but now they say I have to have classic PLUS the digital box and DVR to receive any HD signals. Who has some suggestions. Regular channels look like crap, no better than my 10 year old CRT, if not worse. Dishrich you mentioned I could pick up local HD with just BB and a splitter, which I did not try as I now have classic sub, but you also mentioned Sharps have some QAM problems. Is there any reason why I wouldn't be able to QAM local HD's with a classic subscription? Does Comcast encrypt those here on campus? I'm completely lost- cannot pickup a single HD channel. Is this my tv's fault, Comcast's fault, or my stupidity. I might have to return this gorgeous tv if I can't figure something out- and spending 60 bucks a month for HD channels is not an option. PLEASE HELP

OK, so I've got classic cable subscription with the digital set top box, but no HD subscription or DVR. I thought that if I was a subscriber to even just basic cable, insight/comcast had to offer the local HD channels for free. but now they say I have to have classic PLUS the digital box and DVR to receive any HD signals.

Well YEA, of course you're NOT going to get HD with a NON-HD box. But she was wrong about the local HD - if you do get the HD-DVR box, then you will automatically get ALL the local HD's at no extra charge - they are required by law to give it to you if you have at least basic (limited) cable TV. If you want other HD (like ESPN/2, etc) then actually you need classic cable AND the digital choice tier to get those. BTW, I hate to metion the obvious, but you DO realize you need to run a cable feed DIRECTLY to your TV tuner input & NOT through the digital box, for the internal QAM tuner to work.

Dishrich you mentioned I could pick up local HD with just BB and a splitter, which I did not try as I now have classic sub, but you also mentioned Sharps have some QAM problems. Is there any reason why I wouldn't be able to QAM local HD's with a classic subscription? Does Comcast encrypt those here on campus? I'm completely lost- cannot pickup a single HD channel. Is this my tv's fault, Comcast's fault, or my stupidity. I might have to return this gorgeous tv if I can't figure something out- and spending 60 bucks a month for HD channels is not an option. PLEASE HELP

First, Comcast is NOT encrypting the local HD's, so it's due to your TV (most likely & as I already told you) or because of your hook-up. There's actually an easy way for you to see for yourself - borrow either a QAM TV or borrow a Comcast HD box from somebody else in Champaign, take it to your place, hook it up & see if they come in. If they do, then you KNOW the problem is your TV, of which my only suggestions are to get Comcast's box, (which actually would only be an extra $8 over your regular box you have now) or take the TV back & try another brand.

But you are agreeing i need an HD DVR box to get any HD channels through them? So either 10 bucks added to either the basic cable, or to the classic cable are my only options to get local HD through them?

It's not really getting the local HD's for no extra charge when I have to pay 10 bucks extra to have the HD DVR box instead of the regular DVR box.

Failed to receive broadcast [E202]

Does that mean anything to anyone?- thats what i get when I tune to 3.1 where I believe CBS HD or DT is located.

Sorry for the barrage of posts-

Once and for all- does anyone with Insight, now Comcast, basic or classic service get HD channels using their QAM tuner?

I've picked up on demand programming from apparently other users as I have seen rewinding and fast forwarding, but did not pick up a single HD channel upon a channel scan.

I read about a year ago there was a debate between those who received HD in the clear w/ QAM and then those who did not get any HD with QAM.

Can anyone using their QAM in the Champaign area please post an update as to whether or not you pickup local HDs?

Sorry for the barrage of posts-

Once and for all- does anyone with Insight, now Comcast, basic or classic service get HD channels using their QAM tuner?

I've picked up on demand programming from apparently other users as I have seen rewinding and fast forwarding, but did not pick up a single HD channel upon a channel scan.

I read about a year ago there was a debate between those who received HD in the clear w/ QAM and then those who did not get any HD with QAM.

Can anyone using their QAM in the Champaign area please post an update as to whether or not you pickup local HDs?

Yes. I am in Urbana and actually only have internet service from Insight, but can tune the same HD locals via QAM that I get OTA. I can also get the music channels and random On Demand. I have a list of the stations and RF channel/subchannel I found them on.

qam 73
.3 27.1 WCCU-DT
.4 17.2 WAND-SD
.5 17.1 WAND-DT

qam 74
.3 15.1 WICD-DT
.5 12.3 WILL-SD2
.49 12.1 WILL-DT

qam 77
.2 WEIU (PBS)
.4 WCCU-SD

qam 82 Music
.21
.22
.23
.24
.25

qam 83 Music
.21
.22
.23
.24
.25

qam 90
.3 23.1 WBUI
.4 48.1 WCIA


qam 105-108
On Demand

qam 90
3 23.1 WBUI
4 48.1 WCIA

Not exactly sure what the 90 stands for... or the 3 and 4...

I get on demand channels in the 104.xx to 106.xx range, and then 48.1. 48.1 is the only local channel I am picking up.

Do the numbers I don't understand mean anything?
Otherwise I give up.

qam 90
3 23.1 WBUI
4 48.1 WCIA

Not exactly sure what the 90 stands for... or the 3 and 4...

I get on demand channels in the 104.xx to 106.xx range, and then 48.1. 48.1 is the only local channel I am picking up.

Do the numbers I don't understand mean anything?
Otherwise I give up.


90.4 is wcia (cbs)
73.3 is wccu (fox)
73.5 is wand (nbc)

and so on, you just have to put a decimal point in the channel numbers.
This is how my cable channels are without a cable box and I have the classic package. I hope this might help you.

qam 90
3 23.1 WBUI
4 48.1 WCIA

Not exactly sure what the 90 stands for... or the 3 and 4...

I get on demand channels in the 104.xx to 106.xx range, and then 48.1. 48.1 is the only local channel I am picking up.

Do the numbers I don't understand mean anything?
Otherwise I give up.

Sorry, the qam 90 means the physical channel that the stations are coming down the cable on. The underlying 3,4,etc. are the digital subchannels on that RF channel. Your TV shows you 48.1 rather than 90.4 because that station has a name encoded in the stream, but is showing you the actual physical channel numbers for the on demand stuff because it has no such information.

But DO understand NOT all TV's display those local HD's as their "local OTA" numbering - my Sony SXRD XBR2 displays ALL QAM channels, even the locals, as their actual physical/virtual QAM numbers, as do a couple other Sony models I've hooked up in the past. But, a couple recent new Sony's I hooked up for clients did it as the actual OTA #'s, so it just depends. (truthfully, I like it better with the actual QAM numbers for everything, as it makes trouble-shooting easier.

Also, there are posts a few pages back regarding some Sony's needing "extra intervention" in finding all the unencrypted QAM's as well.

Any one else having problems with 27.1 OTA? Yesterday their was nothing, then the picture is back on, and since then, can't get any audio. Have 2 tv's receivng OTA and neither one is getting audio.
Terry

Your question is very timely and rather important.

After all, it would be nice to hear the commercials during the upcoming Super Bowl this weekend, in addition to seeing the HD video broadcast. I'm not sure I'll miss Joe Buck or Troy Aikman doing the game play-by-play or analysis.

Anyone have any idea if/when WCCU 27-1 will have audio?????!

The picture is nice... audio would be spiffy keen.

I live in Normal and have had no problem receiving Champaign's DTV stations 12-1, 12-2, and 12-3 via my OTA antenna until a few days ago. I can't get any of them now. Anybody else in town having this problem, or are you aware of any broadcast problems? Thanks.

I'm farther south than you but about the same distance away from the transmitter. They were hard to receive a couple of days or so ago due to atmospherics I think. No problems now.

The Insight guy just came out to my place in Savoy and got my local HD stations working. The first three people I talked to said that I should not be getting HD with my Basic package, but finally a technical manager said that I should, and to set up a service call.

Apparently the standard filter for Basic cable blocks everything from 24 up to about 80. So I was getting WCIA and WBUI on 90, but none of the others. They previously used a filter that blocked up into the 60s, but when they added the Style channel on 72, they started installing this new filter. That explains why I got Style for a while a couple of years ago, then it just stopped. He happened to find one of the old filters in the truck, so now I get all of the local channels, including those Insight put in the 70s. When he came out, he immediately knew what the problem was, but his boss told him that I shouldn't get those channels. Then I mentioned the managers name who told me I should be getting them, and he checked with that manager, and went ahead and set me up.

My channels match snodgrass's chart above, except that my auto-scan locks on to about a dozen other channels that are always black, spread sporadically from the 70s to the 110s. Some of them have several subchannels, so editing them out is a bit of a nuisance. Oh, I think some of my music is now on different sub-channels too, but I didn't really pay much attention.

Anyone have issues with the superbowl on 27.1 dropping out yesterday on the over the air signal? We had signals in the 90's and then every once in awhile it would just drop to 41 and we'd lose the signal for a few seconds. Granted we did have thunderstorms but it persisted well after they had moved through. Not sure if it was problems with their transmitter or just trees moving in between our location and the tower. Ended up having to switch to Dish and watching the SD version. :(

Anyone know when Dish and DirecTV are getting locals in HD for the Champaign/Springfield/Decatur market? Thanks!

Anyone else not getting WCCU OTA?

I received the superbowl yesterday just fine and spiffy. Today I'm showing a signal strength of 97, but there's nothing there...

Anyone know when Dish and DirecTV are getting locals in HD for the Champaign/Springfield/Decatur market? Thanks!

The Directv 11 satellite is going up in March. Then it should be mid-May by the time it gets up and running. After that it's anyone's guess. Hopefully some Wednesday morning before the end of the year (Directv usually activates new channels on Wednesdays). Also heard that we probably won't be getting any new national hd channels on Directv until the new bird is up due to bandwidth space.

Hopefully someone here can help me out. Sorry if this has exact thing has been discussed already but I thought it would be easier to ask again than read 128 pages. I'm in Champaign and am going to be getting Comcast cable installed soon. I currently have the Samsung LN-T3253H tv which has a built-in HD digital tuner. Does anyone know if I will be able to get at least the locals in HD with this TV if I only get the classic cable service (channels 2-72)? According to the manual with the TV, "With a built-in HD digital tuner, non-subscription HD broadcasts can be viewed with no set-top box needed." so I'm thinking I won't need the DVR to receive the local HD channels since local channels are OTA and not subscription services. However, Comcast CS tells me that it's very unlikely I'll be able to get them without the DVR. Does anyone have any advise or experience that they should share with me so I can make the right decision of whether to get just classic cable service or if I need the DVR to get locals in HD?

Your TV appears to only have an ATSC digital tuner. You need a QAM tuner to receive digital locals via cable.

So then I will most likely need to get the DVR in order to get the local HD channels?

So then I will most likely need to get the DVR in order to get the local HD channels?

I looked at your manual and it didn't say anything about a QAM tuner but circuit city had QAM listed in their Specifications for your model of TV. About all you can do is get classic and try it out before getting the DVR. You will find the channel numbers for the local HD in this thread also. Hope this helps you.

So you do get guide info for 55-1 on your dish dvr?

This is what gets me with Dish networks OTA built in receiver. For some reason, from day one, they have not added the ability to include the PSIP program guide broadcaster are obligated to include by law. Yet, every OTA receiver has this ability, and near as I know it's also required. The minimum spec Coupon tuners have this ability for $40. The old 6000 didn't have it, the 622, 722, 211, why is Dish Network excluded from this law? The only guide data they include for local broadcasters is if you subscribe to "locals", but that guide only works on the satellite delivered versions. On the old 6000, you could at least label each channel NBC, CBS, ABC etc.. and maybe the guide would fill in prime time and match the times, but outside of network programming, just "Digital Service", huh?

The other issue with "locals" package is if you want to see your local station, they won't deliver a secondary "satellite" affiliate (like WICD), but will only give you a station 90 miles away that has little local news, since WICS is Springfield based. Yet the law says they have to include "Must Carry" stations. Who invariably are ether PBS affiliates, and the worst of them, some satellite delivered religious station who produces maybe 2 hours a week of local content, and the rest is from the same feed that dish network already carries nationally anyway. Putting the secondary affiliate to fend for itself at a complete disadvantage, and in some cases a precarious future without satellite carriage. It's much worse in the west, with affiliates delivered from 200 miles away who never cover you. Yet a local hometown station is not available other then cable and over the air. The laws are totally biased in favor of the satellite companies. Who don't have nearly the same obligations as local cable outfits have to follow. Congress wrote some convoluted laws in this regard, and were totally influenced by the satellite companies. Those laws were written when they had little spectrum, and only were interested in the top 50 markets. Now with spot breams and new compression, they can conceivably carry every local station in the US coast the coast, that's if they cut out all the low not non-existent rated "must carry" stations. Sorry about that. Just two of my main pet peeves. With sat.

Otherwise I love their DVR. Why cable can't have a better interface or DVR like Dish or TiVo? Comcast or COX used to have a deal with TiVo, but dropped it in favor of their crummy DVR. Tucson had it for a while, then they switched, and everyone bailed and went with sat. Thanks guys for all the goings on back in Illini territory. Thank god for Big 10 Network! Ooh Altitude Network, Mountain Conference is soo good.. Thanks cable Co., I really want that channel.. Meanwhile CSU 0-10.

The other issue with "locals" package is if you want to see your local station, they won't deliver a secondary "satellite" affiliate (like WICD), but will only give you a station 90 miles away that has little local news, since WICS is Springfield based. Yet the law says they have to include "Must Carry" stations.

I believe that providing a Springfield station satisfies the must carry rule because Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, & Springfield are lumped into one "local" area. I am sure someone can correct me if I am wrong on this.

I believe that providing a Springfield station satisfies the must carry rule because Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, & Springfield are lumped into one "local" area. I am sure someone can correct me if I am wrong on this.

That's correct.

Correct, but it also depends on the circumstances...
Take the Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo/Battle Creek MI DMA, which is considered ONE large market such as ours - they have 2 ABC affiliates that cover different parts of the DMA, but BOTH are carried on DirecTV & DISH. But, each affiliate is owned by DIFFERENT companies & since both are entitled to carriage as full-power stations, they probably excercised must-carry to get put up.

In our case, evidently Sinclair was NOT able to convince either provider to carry BOTH of their stations, since both stations are owned by the SAME company. (I'm actually surprised Sinclair DIDN'T get both on this one, but oh well...)

Has anyone else having difficulty receiving WCIA (48.1) in Chatham or Rochester?

I had it once, but I rescanned the set-it no longer appears.

Others with Comcast seem to also have the same problem.

Any solutions or suggestions?

My WCIA HD is coming through on 119.59 just like it always has in Chatham, try that, should work.

Do understand that some QAM TV's/tuners work differently than others. Back before a couple months ago, SOME TV's (like my LG) picked up WCIA-HD on 48.1, while others sets (like my Sony) have ALWAYS pulled it in on 119.59. It appears that either Comcast or WCIA have done something with the PSIP mapping on their signal - now, ALL TV's that were pulling it in on 48.1 are now pulling it up on 119.59, after you do a rescan. (which my LG is doing, as are others of friends I've played with)

Well, rescanned the Magnavox, didn't find it on either channel.

Contacted a friend in Rochester to see if either of his Samsung sets were pickup up CBS-nothing happening there.

Just a quick question.

We (being the engineering department at WRSP/WCCU/WBUI) are considering putting a color bar test pattern on one of the sub channels of our stations for use in testing/calibrating OTA signals. We were interested in knowing if this would be useful or interesting at all to viewers such as yourselves.
--
Josh Miller
GOCOM Media Engineering and IT

Just a quick question.

We (being the engineering department at WRSP/WCCU/WBUI) are considering putting a color bar test pattern on one of the sub channels of our stations for use in testing/calibrating OTA signals. We were interested in knowing if this would be useful or interesting at all to viewers such as yourselves.
--
Josh Miller
GOCOM Media Engineering and ITInteresting idea...

I would use something like this, and be in favor of it -- if it did NOT degrade the quality of the HD channel in any way.

Interesting idea...

I would use something like this, and be in favor of it -- if it did NOT degrade the quality of the HD channel in any way.

I 2nd all of this - think you'd have much luck getting cable ops to carry the new subchannel? :D :D
(last part joking ;) )

Josh,
Quick question? When I watch Friday night smackdown on WBUI HD it seems that in points of the broadcast it stays in SD mode and then switches back to HD is this from the network or do you guys at the station have to manually switch after commercials?

Just a quick question.

We (being the engineering department at WRSP/WCCU/WBUI) are considering putting a color bar test pattern on one of the sub channels of our stations for use in testing/calibrating OTA signals. We were interested in knowing if this would be useful or interesting at all to viewers such as yourselves.
--
Josh Miller
GOCOM Media Engineering and IT

I would just really like to see WBUI back on a proper subchannel so I can tune it with Windows Media Center. The color bar is a fine idea if it doesn't steal any bandwidth.

Yes, this not being able to get a HD OTA picture for WBUI 23 on Windows Media Center is a pain in the butt. It's been this way since December. If you can get the correct settings for 55, why not 23?

I figured it would be posted already if there was an issue, but just in case:

Is 55/27 out OTA? I haven't been able to get 55-1 or 27-1 the past couple of days. I have rescanned every night this week and used to get 80+ on 55-1` but its not even finidng the channel now. I have Dish 722 with a radio shack HD OTA roof mounted.

Surely I'm not the first one in this thread to try this route--so does anybody think it will really get fixed this time? Or maybe I am the first one ;)

I know I've talked about this here before as well, maybe as much as 2 years ago.

I finally called the VP of Ops & Eng AGAIN this week to explain what a mess his listings have been. (beginning a couple of weeks ago, the listings were now showing the HD feed on BOTH 14.1 AND .2 - GEEZE :rolleyes: :eek: ) I explained to him how this is preventing all OTA HD subs from recording their prog, or frankly even being able to find the correct listings on their set-top boxes just to WATCH! I also explained to him how he could check out for himself how screwed up they were, just by going to zap2it.com, as those listings are the same thing sent out by the DBS providers by TMS. He told me that they had been having almost weekly calls to TMS to fix this, all to no avail. I then told him that WCIA/WCFN were able to get the DT listings fixed on BOTH stations within a week after someone on this board (can't remember their name) called WCIA to complain, & suggested maybe HE should call WCIA to see how THEY got it fixed!

Well whatever he did must have worked - all of WSEC listings are correct on BOTH my HR20 & HR10 DVR's. (as well as on-line on zap2it) Hopefully, it will STAY correct...

Great job, Rich!

Charlie

So much for the pristine video quality of some of our local stations...

http://www.sj-r.com/News/stories/25812.asp

Hopefully, this will be broadcast on our local CW network, and they'll just remove the SD subchannel to make room. I'd hate to see it broadcast on the FOX channel, especially during football season.

So much for the pristine video quality of some of our local stations...

http://www.sj-r.com/News/stories/25812.asp

Hopefully, this will be broadcast on our local CW network, and they'll just remove the SD subchannel to make room. I'd hate to see it broadcast on the FOX channel, especially during football season.

So bandwidth will be taken away from the HD feed for this crap?

Ugh.

Yes, but if it's done right, just having ONLY 1 SD subchannel shouldn't really affect the primary (HD) feed. (IOW, they should NOT try to keep the SD feed they are running now, as cd says)
Actually, this would actually be something I wouldn't mind having - there is an RTN affiliate in the St.Louis market (ch 13/40) but they only run it in the evening. I just hope it says around longer than The Tube did. (which I also liked)

The Directv 11 satellite is going up in March. Then it should be mid-May by the time it gets up and running. After that it's anyone's guess. Hopefully some Wednesday morning before the end of the year (Directv usually activates new channels on Wednesdays). Also heard that we probably won't be getting any new national hd channels on Directv until the new bird is up due to bandwidth space.

I just got off the phone with Directv and they told me that we have locals available in HD with the exception of CW. Can anyone confirm this. I am wanting to make the switch from Dish to Direct but I want to be certain that what he assured me of on the phone is true.

I just got off the phone with Directv and they told me that we have locals available in HD with the exception of CW. Can anyone confirm this. I am wanting to make the switch from Dish to Direct but I want to be certain that what he assured me of on the phone is true.
According to DirecTV's website, they are not available. I think the guy on the phone was just trying to get you to switch. :)

What the hell just happened with WCCU OTA?

I was in the midst of watching the season finale of the Sarah Connor Chronicles and during the 7:20 commercial break, the signal on 27-01 disappeared entirely... went to 0.

Reset my Dish receiver. Realigned my antenna. Nothing.... not even a hint of a signal.

I really wish they would get their sh1t together.

What the hell just happened with WCCU OTA?

I was in the midst of watching the season finale of the Sarah Connor Chronicles and during the 7:20 commercial break, the signal on 27-01 disappeared entirely... went to 0.

Reset my Dish receiver. Realigned my antenna. Nothing.... not even a hint of a signal.

I really wish they would get their sh1t together.

Same thing here.

What the hell just happened with WCCU OTA?

I was in the midst of watching the season finale of the Sarah Connor Chronicles and during the 7:20 commercial break, the signal on 27-01 disappeared entirely... went to 0.

Reset my Dish receiver. Realigned my antenna. Nothing.... not even a hint of a signal.

I really wish they would get their sh1t together.
I'm guessing it has something to do with the freezing rain we got. Any time we get any hint of ice, WCCU takes a dump. Hopefully the WRSP DirecTV feed is ok as I have yet to check the tivo to see if it turned out ok. :)

My WCIA HD is coming through on 119.59 just like it always has in Chatham, try that, should work.

I live in Springfield near Chatham and have Comcast Cable with no cable boxes or DVR. I was getting WCIA in HD from early November to the middle of January with channel 48-1 with my Panasonic HD TV with a ATSC/QAM tuner. Then it disappeared in January. I reprogrammed my tuner today, March 4, and I am still not getting WCIA in HD on 48-1 or 119-59 or any other channel. I do get WICS -ABC(Springfield), WAND-NBC(Decatur), WRSP-FOX(Springfield), WBUI(Springfield) and the PBS stations from Springfield and Champaign in HD. I callled WCIA in Champaign. They said that they transmit their HD signal from Mechanicsburg, which is close to Springfield. I do not have any antenna and only have the Comcast cable line coming out of the wall directly to my TV. If I am getting the Decatur station in HD, which is farther away than Mechanicsburg, I got to think I am getting these channels through Comcast, not over the air. I called Comcast and he insists that the only way that I can get these above mentioned channels in HD is with there DVR box. Although I was at the Springfled Home Show at the Convention Center two days ago and the Comcast folks told me that I would be getting the local networks and PBS stations with my QAM tuner. I asked the Comcast guy how I will get HD after February 2009 and he said with a cable card and no DVR. Panasonic has quit making TV's with cable cards as I believe that technology is out out date already and being replaced with the QAM tuner. See December 2007 Consumer Reports. The Comcast guy inferred that all cable card users must register their cable cards with Comcast so that they can charge the $2 per month for getting the HD signal.

If anybody has more insight as to getting WCIA in HD, I would appreciate it.

Or by the way, between November and the middle of Jaunaury, if I remember corretly, when I had a HD channel on the TV, the TV screen was full with a picture in the 16 x 9 format except the local newscasts. Since the middle of January, only the PBS stations are constantly shown in the16 x9 format. With the other four major networks channels excluding CBS that I cannot get now, sometimes the picture is in 16 x 9(usually betwween 7 and 10 PM or big sports programs) and and sometimes it is in 4 x 3 format.

SeaLaunch just announced Directv 11 takes off March 17th. Raise your glass of green beer to the heavens that day at 5:49 pm central time.

SeaLaunch just announced Directv 11 takes off March 17th. Raise your glass of green beer to the heavens that day at 5:49 pm central time.
Is that the bird that our local HD channels will be on? I wonder what orbital location that will end up in. Sure be nice if it would come in on the main dish and not the 72.5 locals dish. :)

72.5 is just a temporary solution. Our local HD channels will be on one of the newer satellites -- DirecTV 10 or 11 (not sure which).

But understand that not ALL of our locals will be on the HD birds, so for whatever remaining ones are NOT in HD, you'll STILL need the 72.5 dish ;) ;)

But there will be NO HD locals (in ANY markets) on the 72.5 dishes anyway...

I too have had the problems of WCIA HD disappearing on my set through Comcast.

I have reprogrammed it several times-still no HD CBS.

thx josh for the opportunity to offer input

i would say overall this is a bad idea

subchannels rob bandwidth and unfortunately most local engineering departments do not have the current quality equipment to properly stat mux a low bandwidth channel at a low rate. more than likely you've got a crummy harris flexicoder and will steal 5mbps to send out the subchannel. such a subchannel is only useful for about 2 minutes and only useful to about .0001% of the population.

the only use to your users of color bars are for some basic color calibration that nearly no one has a clue on doing or cares about adjusting. color bars do nothing else as far as testing, reception or calibration goes. for those rare users that do need this, there are MANY solutions in which one get can color bars on their HD inputs (HD players, PCs, test generating equipment from local installer) you need more patterns to do a proper color calibration that just the one anyway.

there is also a habbit of donig a temporary subchannel, and then leaving it on robbing bandwidth and filling it with other crap. just because your harris or other purchase came with a basic free SD encoder doesn't mean you have to use it.


what your viewers are concerned with is a 24/7 solid telecast, with solid and reliable PSIP programming data and proper pid mapping for everything else, using the full bandwidth of the 6mhz alloted to give us a quality product. we care about instataneous reliable switching of feeds, engineers who monitor the audio and video for errors and correcting them in real time, not 2 days later. it would be great if you were more proactive in testing and monitoring your feeds both OTA using different stb models, as well as sat and cable. accurate program guide data and accurate station time are a must, as well as monitoring audio levels and matching them properly - no please don't crush everything with a high dial norm.


having lived in a prior market where locals provided such, it has been almost a nightmare living in this current state. providing a high quality main channel is incrementally more important than any of the substandard options available to fill a subchannel at this time. who would trade a fantastic HD channel for a barely watchable one just to get some low rate music videos or stale weather data?? i understand the station economics to push such crap so it is obviously has little to do with engineering. doing things properly though is in the locals stations interest as alternate feeds are becoming increasingly available. if a local screws up my feed i'm going online to download from a market that can do it properly and lead others there if need be.

television programming is not rocket science and people with far less technical knowledge and equipment have done it property for half century so there are no excuses.


http://www.w6rz.net/
will give you more patterns than most know what to do with, but be careful as you may find your display is suboptimal

Just a quick question.

We (being the engineering department at WRSP/WCCU/WBUI) are considering putting a color bar test pattern on one of the sub channels of our stations for use in testing/calibrating OTA signals. We were interested in knowing if this would be useful or interesting at all to viewers such as yourselves.
--
Josh Miller
GOCOM Media Engineering and IT

anyone know if there is a way i can get comcast's HD through media center, i have had insight classic for years and just bought a 42 inch LCD for the living room, upgrading from a 27 inch LCD, now in the bed room, My plan was to set up my PC in the office running vista ultimate with HD and run xbox 360's to the two tv's. it works great with analog and a duel tuner but i want all that comcast will have. BTW anyone know when we will get more HD from comcast. oh yeah please please dont say i should get cable cards, i just dropped $1500 on the tv and xbox.

Media Center doesn't do QAM digital, the cable digital standard. Also not all cable systems put all the locals in clear QAM. Why this is so, I'm not sure. There are a couple of options. If your tuner card and its software do clear QAM digital, bypass the Media Center software and use the included recording software. The other option is to use the HDHomeRun which converts clear QAM to one of the OTA broadcast frequencies so Media Center can receive and record the signal.

http://store.snapstream.com/hdhr.html (HDHomeRun)

I have Comcast in SW FL where I have a vacation home and have tried recording clear QAM with three different tuner cards with three different software packages. All are unreliable. I seldom get a complete recording. Most of the time a fatal error occurs which stops the recording. This is with a DVico Fusion USB Gold, Avermedia 180, and Hauppauge 1600. I've gone back to just putting up an antenna and doing ATSC HD recording. I haven't tried the HDHomeRun myself as of yet. I likely will on my next visit South.

the MyHD card will be the most reliable for that, although some other usb sticks will get it done too

you still have to deal with qam channels constantly changing or the occasional cable co screw up and putting a local into encryption


I have Comcast in SW FL where I have a vacation home and have tried recording clear QAM with three different tuner cards with three different software packages. All are unreliable. I seldom get a complete recording. Most of the time a fatal error occurs which stops the recording. This is with a DVico Fusion USB Gold, Avermedia 180, and Hauppauge 1600. I've gone back to just putting up an antenna and doing ATSC HD recording. I haven't tried the HDHomeRun myself as of yet. I likely will on my next visit South.

i think i will just wait until i can afford a new server i will get a computer with cable card support, any one want to help me raise the money??

Does anybody know when Dish network will be getting locals in HD in the Champaign market?

It may be a while. We aren't on any list Dish has released and a new satellite launched a few days ago failed to achieve orbit, which will set everything back a few months. Put up an antenna. OTA is easy here in the flatlands.


Does anybody know when Dish network will be getting locals in HD in the Champaign market?

...a new satellite launched a few days ago failed to achieve orbit...
Hey Mike,
Any ideas what happens when a satellite doesn't achieve orbit? Does it burn up in the atmosphere on reentry, or does it come back to the surface? If it crashes, I suppose statistically speaking it's more likely to hit water, but in theory it could also find my roof, couldn't it? ;)

I'd guess if it got high enough it would go into some orbit, just not the one intended for it. I wouldn't head to the basement just yet; so far as I know no one has yet suffered injury from something falling from space.


Hey Mike,
Any ideas what happens when a satellite doesn't achieve orbit? Does it burn up in the atmosphere on reentry, or does it come back to the surface? If it crashes, I suppose statistically speaking it's more likely to hit water, but in theory it could also find my roof, couldn't it? ;)

Thanks for the info. I am not the most inclined person to attempt putting up an OTA antenna. I should learn because I have 3 HDTVs in my house and of course only get HD on the one with the sat box on it. I have tried to use an indoor antenna but not much luck in my location. I will keep hope alive that one day............

Tried to search the forum for this first. I currently have Comcast, and FOX (WCCU) hasnt had 5.1 for a few months now? Anybody know why that might be? thanks!

For those unable to find WCIA-DT on Comcast QAM, try re-scanning. I have been working with their main head-end tech and we've hopefully got the problem fixed.

We think they were re-generating our PSIP data somewhere in their chain, so they disabled that function to allow passthrough for our PSIP data.

Tried to search the forum for this first. I currently have Comcast, and FOX (WCCU) hasnt had 5.1 for a few months now? Anybody know why that might be? thanks!

Don't know about the 5.1 sound but they have a problem with low sound volume. I have to crank up the sound on my TV just to here them but I can switch over to my roof antenna and get Fox out of Bloomington and their volume is much louder then WCCU. So a call to WCCU might be in order to see what their problem is.

I live in Springfield near Chatham and have Comcast Cable with no cable boxes or DVR. I was getting WCIA in HD from early November to the middle of January with channel 48-1 with my Panasonic HD TV with a ATSC/QAM tuner. Then it disappeared in January. I reprogrammed my tuner today, March 4, and I am still not getting WCIA in HD on 48-1 or 119-59 or any other channel. I do get WICS -ABC(Springfield), WAND-NBC(Decatur), WRSP-FOX(Springfield), WBUI(Springfield) and the PBS stations from Springfield and Champaign in HD. I callled WCIA in Champaign. They said that they transmit their HD signal from Mechanicsburg, which is close to Springfield. I do not have any antenna and only have the Comcast cable line coming out of the wall directly to my TV. If I am getting the Decatur station in HD, which is farther away than Mechanicsburg, I got to think I am getting these channels through Comcast, not over the air. I called Comcast and he insists that the only way that I can get these above mentioned channels in HD is with there DVR box. Although I was at the Springfled Home Show at the Convention Center two days ago and the Comcast folks told me that I would be getting the local networks and PBS stations with my QAM tuner. I asked the Comcast guy how I will get HD after February 2009 and he said with a cable card and no DVR. Panasonic has quit making TV's with cable cards as I believe that technology is out out date already and being replaced with the QAM tuner. See December 2007 Consumer Reports. The Comcast guy inferred that all cable card users must register their cable cards with Comcast so that they can charge the $2 per month for getting the HD signal.

If anybody has more insight as to getting WCIA in HD, I would appreciate it.

Or by the way, between November and the middle of Jaunaury, if I remember corretly, when I had a HD channel on the TV, the TV screen was full with a picture in the 16 x 9 format except the local newscasts. Since the middle of January, only the PBS stations are constantly shown in the16 x9 format. With the other four major networks channels excluding CBS that I cannot get now, sometimes the picture is in 16 x 9(usually betwween 7 and 10 PM or big sports programs) and and sometimes it is in 4 x 3 format.

GOOD NEWS
I (Jimhidef) wrote a letter to Comcast on March 11 concerning my problem mentioned above about not getting WCIA in HD. They said that I should be getting all the local channels in HD and that they would send a technician out to fix it. The tech called before he came out. He then gave the standard line that you need a DVR to get the local channels in HD. I then talked to his boss's boss and he agreed that I should be getting them all in HD. The tech came out and repaired some things to make sure I had a good signal and then we tried channel 119-59 and 119-1 for WCIA HD after reprogramming the TV and got nothing. He hooked a DVR up temporarily and got WCIA in HD and said the problem was my TV. Next day I hooked up a 30 year old 12 inch square UHF antenna temporarily on my roof and got all the local channels in HD including WCIA on 49-2 and WCFN on 49-1 except the Champaign PBS HD on 12-1 and 12-3 because they are VHF and my antenna was not. I went to my friend's house who was getting WCIA on 119-59 on his Sony and on 119-1 on his Sharp. I took his Sharp and hooked it up at my house and got WCIA HD on 119-1. I called Panasonic and explained the problem to them. They said it was the cable company's problem. I wrote another letter to Comcast on March 19 explaining to them that I thought it was their problem. I got a call from Comcast on March 21 and he told me to reprogram the TV and try 119-59 now as they had made some changes at their main system head end. I reprogrammed the TV and got WCIA HD on 119-59 and now I get WICS Springfield on 119-2 instead of 20-1. The other channels stayed the same except I don't get 17-2 SD, which is Decatur's doppler weather radar map. With my TV when I reprogram, the HD station letters and HD notation (example=WCIA-HD) automatically appear ordinarily in the caption box opposite the channel number ( example=48-1) on my TV list of channels. However, with WCIA on 119-59 and WICS on 119-2 that is not true. The Comcast person told me that these channel locations are a temporary fix and that WCIA will be on channel 48-1 eventually. My guess is that is why the HD station letters and HD notation are not showing up. Also, when I punch in 119-59 or press the info button when I am on 119-59 or 119-2, it does not list the station call letters such as WCIA. So for my Panasonic TV with a QAM tuner, if I did not know channel 119-59 was the one for WCIA HD, I would have to surf through my list of "yes" channels to find which one was WCIA.

Has anyone noticed random bouts of audio static on WCIA-HD on Comcast? I have a yamaha receiver and HDMI to receiver as well as optical. I've had Comcast here about 20 times and they replaced an amplifier and claim I have the better signal coming in then the techs do at their own houses. I'm beginning to wonder if it's a problem with the feed from WCIA as I don't experience it with other channels.

It happens particularly on full blown HD programming like the basketball games. Ugh frustrating...I've DVR'd some of it and Comcast wants to come back out and see my recording. I'd be interested to hear of others experiencing these issues.

Thanks

Don't know about the 5.1 sound but they have a problem with low sound volume. I have to crank up the sound on my TV just to here them but I can switch over to my roof antenna and get Fox out of Bloomington and their volume is much louder then WCCU. So a call to WCCU might be in order to see what their problem is.

It is very low too. I am able to tell if there is a 5.1 signal or not. I think that probably has something to do with the low volume. There was a post earlier by someone who seemed to work at WCCU about how they didnt have the 5.1 equipment in because they separated WCCU and WRSP, but that was in January. I was just seeing if there was an update.

Has anyone noticed random bouts of audio static on WCIA-HD on Comcast? I have a yamaha receiver and HDMI to receiver as well as optical. I've had Comcast here about 20 times and they replaced an amplifier and claim I have the better signal coming in then the techs do at their own houses. I'm beginning to wonder if it's a problem with the feed from WCIA as I don't experience it with other channels.

It happens particularly on full blown HD programming like the basketball games. Ugh frustrating...I've DVR'd some of it and Comcast wants to come back out and see my recording. I'd be interested to hear of others experiencing these issues.

Thanks

Indeed, I have too and I get WCIA-HD over the air. Very loud static pops now and again. I believe it is the station and not your setup. Lately it has been worse though.....:eek: It only happens on WCIA, no other network does it.

I've had the pop/crack from WCIA-DT OTA since they went live last year. I usually watch WMBD-DT instead. WMBD's problem is that the network sound and local sound are at markedly different levels. I wonder if the engineers even listen sometimes. Since I don't care about the ads it doesn't matter much to me. One has to wonder how some engineers are able to get things right and others can't seem to get it together. Is it equipment differences or differences in expertise? One can't really fault engineers if it's the lack of the right gear causing the problem.

The link to WCIA's engineers seems to be dead on their website. If anyone recalls the e-mail to the station's engineers, I'd suggest we notifiy them of this problem. I've noticed it as well on a Dish 622 DVR.

I haven't heard about this problem. Does the static burst occur at totally random intervals, not when going from network to a local break or vice-versa? We monitor our off-air DTV signal in master control and I haven't had any reports of this happening, but obviously there is a problem somewhere.

If I'm reading the previous posts correctly this is occurring on both cable and air. I will make sure my techs are monitoring the digital demod audio (they don't always have that monitor up because of the delay with our analog) and look for the problem.

The interference bursts seem to occur randomly. The next time I watch a show I've DVR'd from WCIA I'll keep track of any such occurences so you can look at them if they don't show up on your monitoring.

We appreciate your response to the thread.

Thanks Chief, the static does seem random but I have never noticed it during commercial breaks, only during program material and again not that often. When it does happen I usually jump off the couch.....:)

Thanks for looking into this WCIAchief.

It is totally random. It seems to do it particularly during full blown HD content such as the basketball games. I can watch an hour of the game and it will be totally fine and other times it does it every 5 minutes. Like the other guy mentioned, it's like a loud scratch/pop that only lasts for like 1 second tops. It's enough to get you off the couch when it comes through my home theater. I've DVR'd some of it and had Comcast come look at it. They believe it is indeed a problem from WCIA. They've replaced all my equipment, wiring, and amplifier on the pole, and traced the signal from the headend all the way to my house. Thanks chief for looking into this!

It has nothing to do with switching back and forth from commercial, or audio switching from 5.1 to 2.1.

Thanks guys for your responses. I was beginning to think I was nuts!

No one is nuts, and it is WCIA.
I am OTA only and get it too, so it's not a cable problem.
I have had it during both Letterman and the 10 o'clock news, so it isn't a local vs. network issue.

What it sounds most like to me is like when a built up static charge is released.
It seems it could be anything, from an ungrounded bit of gear on the tower building enough charge in the wind and then releasing to ground, to an unstrapped tech in a gear room touching something in there.

Good luck Chief, and thanks.

Mike

I watched many hours of basketball on WCIA this weekend and can't recall the problem occuring even once. Did anyone have the problem this weekend?

Has anyone else experienced the static during upconverted (non-CBS HD) programming? We're trying to determine if the problem is occurring in our processing or the CBS HD receiver itself.

I had my master control techs monitor the digital audio signal this weekend and they did report a few dropouts, all during the games. I'm going to set up a consumer receiver and see if I can replicate the static problem. I did ask our receptionist to let me know if she heard any problems with the HD receiver up front, so we're trying to hit this from several angles.

Thanks again Chief for your attention to this problem. I don't watch TV outside of primetime so I'm not able to respond to your inquiry. I watch WCIA live but record off WMBD-HD with my HTPC to avoid the sound issue.

Has anyone else experienced the static during upconverted (non-CBS HD) programming? We're trying to determine if the problem is occurring in our processing or the CBS HD receiver itself.

Hi Chief - thanks for looking into this. I've noticed the cracks/pops mainly during CBS HD programming. Sometimes when coming back from commercial, or soon afterwards, but I don't know if that's consistent. I too didn't notice any during basketball this weekend. But as the network shows come back, the TiVo's chugging away and maybe it'll catch some. If that happens, I can give a timestamp.

-TBK

Comcast customers have probably noticed that ABC Family Channel and the Disney Channel have been added to our HD lineup. There's not a whole lot that interest me on either channel. It would have been nice if we had the Family Channel while Kyle XY was on. The one thing I do like about both channels is that they show everything OAR and don't stretch things llike other channels do.

Comcast customers have probably noticed that ABC Family Channel and the Disney Channel have been added to our HD lineup.

I noticed TiVo added them to the guide, but when I tuned to them there was no content (just a grey screen.) I didn't look in the CableCard diagnostics to see if it was an authorization issue or not. I assumed it was in preparation for the bigger line up change later this month and maybe they weren't "on" yet. Were you seeing content on 930, 931? Is this via CableCard or a Comcast box?

TBK, concerned it might be a plan/authorization thing, or worse, an SDV thing.

I noticed TiVo added them to the guide, but when I tuned to them there was no content (just a grey screen.) I didn't look in the CableCard diagnostics to see if it was an authorization issue or not. I assumed it was in preparation for the bigger line up change later this month and maybe they weren't "on" yet. Were you seeing content on 930, 931? Is this via CableCard or a Comcast box?

TBK, concerned it might be a plan/authorization thing, or worse, an SDV thing.

I am accessing these channels through Comcast box on 930 and 931. On Monday the channel guide was showing the content as "to be announced". Tuesday the channel guide started listing the content for each channel.

As far as the lineup changes, the new channel lineup announcement we got inthe mail last week an asterisk lists all of the other HD channels as "New coming soon." I assume that many of these will not be showing up when the new channel lineup takes effect on April 30.

I am seeing disney hd and famhd but when I select them it tells me I am not authorized. I'm paying for the hdpak too. My guess is they are in test phase and they are there for the headend folks and the techs at home.. ?

i am getting a huge 1ft wide green bar on WILL-DT PBS OTA on the right side of the screen....anybody know what the problem is?

I am seeing disney hd and famhd but when I select them it tells me I am not authorized. I'm paying for the hdpak too. My guess is they are in test phase and they are there for the headend folks and the techs at home.. ?

Mine says the same thing. It says I am not authorized. I don't get the HD pak, but from what I understood neither of these channels were supposed to be on the HD pak. I am not really that concerned right now because I don't watch anything on either one of these channels, but now I am starting to wonder if we are going to have to pay extra for some of these new channels.

but now I am starting to wonder if we are going to have to pay extra for some of these new channels.

You need to look CAREFULLY at the new price/channel list sent out last week.
Over here in Spfld, the new HD are scattered around the different (new) digital basic tiers: Digital Starter, Digital Classic & the Sports Entertainment Pak. Also, the "new HD Pak" ONLY consists of HD Net & Movies - NOTHING else.

To answer your question on these specific channels, these are on the new Digital Starter pak - but since none of these new pkgs take effect UNTIL 4/30, then I would imagine you'll have to wait until they take affect, before you can even get them.

Again, this is over in Spfld/Decatur, so YMMV - but I would imagine since you are in the same region, it'll be pretty much the same packaging...

You need to look CAREFULLY at the new price/channel list sent out last week.
Over here in Spfld, the new HD are scattered around the different (new) digital basic tiers: Digital Starter, Digital Classic & the Sports Entertainment Pak. Also, the "new HD Pak" ONLY consists of HD Net & Movies - NOTHING else.

To answer your question on these specific channels, these are on the new Digital Starter pak - but since none of these new pkgs take effect UNTIL 4/30, then I would imagine you'll have to wait until they take affect, before you can even get them.

Again, this is over in Spfld/Decatur, so YMMV - but I would imagine since you are in the same region, it'll be pretty much the same packaging...
Over here in Champaign-Urbana we also have the effective date of 4/30. I'm not sure I want to keep the HD Pak for only two channels, although I really like the HDNet Movie Channel. From what I have read in other threads about Comcast, HD Net channels aren't offered to very many Comcast areas. I'm guessing it is available to us because it was available with Insight.

I am wondering exactly how many of the new channels will actually be available on 4/30. The explanation for these channels is - NEW channels coming soon. That does not make me feel confident that all will be showing up on 4/30. We will just have to wait and see.

I had a static blip in the 34th min of Crimnal Minds last night. My equip is HR20, HDMI to a Sony 46 XBR3. It was not a live broadcast it was DVR'd and in HD.

Anybody else not getting 17.1 (WAND)? Was getting all the locals in HD, just have basic cable from the wall, no DVR or box. Yesterday was not getting 17.1 or 17.2. Recanned channels, now 17.2 is 120.70. But can't get 17.1, does this have anything to do with Comcast now taking over? Got everything fine when it was Insight. Maybe I have to wait until the 30th when the new channel line up goes into effect?

Anybody else not getting 17.1 (WAND)? Was getting all the locals in HD, just have basic cable from the wall, no DVR or box. Yesterday was not getting 17.1 or 17.2. Recanned channels, now 17.2 is 120.70. But can't get 17.1, does this have anything to do with Comcast now taking over? Got everything fine when it was Insight. Maybe I have to wait until the 30th when the new channel line up goes into effect?

I don't think that Comcast has taken over control of the OTA signals, yet. The only way they could control this is if they have conspired with WAND to reduce their power, or something.

I don't think that Comcast has taken over control of the OTA signals, yet. The only way they could control this is if they have conspired with WAND to reduce their power, or something.

Uh, but they CAN change how they are putting them out over their OWN cable plant. I suspect Comcast is moving the OTA's around in their QAM's, to be able to efficiently squeeze as much bandwidth out of their existing plant, to accommodate all that new HD material. Some of the local digital/HD's are eating up an entire QAM, which obviously is NOT using their limited bandwidth efficiently. ;)

Since I have a list of the exact QAM freqs for every OTA digital/HD Insight was using, I guess I need to check my own set & see if anything moved around. (my Sony does not do any PSIP remapping on QAM channels, so it will be very easy to tell if Comcast HAS moved things around - I'll get back to you all on this)

Anybody else not getting 17.1 (WAND)? Was getting all the locals in HD, just have basic cable from the wall, no DVR or box. Yesterday was not getting 17.1 or 17.2. Recanned channels, now 17.2 is 120.70. But can't get 17.1, does this have anything to do with Comcast now taking over? Got everything fine when it was Insight. Maybe I have to wait until the 30th when the new channel line up goes into effect?

Someome sent me a private message. I think it was you although the private meassage was more detailed than this one. I tried to send a reply but I am unfamilar with the private message system and I could not get it to work. So hopefully you will read this mesage and it will help. In fact I got locked in and could not get out in order to get back to this site for a while. But to answer your question, my channel listing on my Panasonic HD TV now lists 17-1 twice. As I surf through the channels, I get WAND HD on the first 17-1 and I get " channel not available" on the second one. I have not reprogrammed my TV yet to see if that would make any difference. I have now lost the two WILL and the two WSEC PBS HD stations from Comcast, also.

Secondly, for the last two weeks I was surfing through the channels from Comcast on my Panasonic DVD recorder connected to my Panasonic HD TV. Most of the channels from 2 through 23 are snowy, although at times 2 through 7 are clear but the channels 24 through 72 are all clear. However, if I surf through the channels on my Panasonic VHS recoder/DVD player connected to my Panasonic analog TV, all the channels are clear. I'm guessing this may be a combination of two things: 1. maybe the compatibility of an analog DVD player/recorder with a HD TV 2. Comcast making changes to their system as mentioned on this message board concerning Comcast trying to get HD channels on these lower channels (2 - 23) and installing their new digital starter service that is starting up on April 30. I don't think it is a coincidence that the lower Comcast channels 3/HD48-1, 2/HD20-1 and now 10/17-1 have moved temporarily to 119-59, 119-2 and who knows what channel for WAND. WB channel 23-1 HD has not been affected yet but I will take a wild guess and bet that will happen week.

The other thing that nobody complains about is the 4/3 picture. When I got my TV in November the regular analog channels were full screen( 16/9) and they still are. But if my memory is correct, from November to the middle of January the HD channels were all full screen no matter whether it was HD programming or not with the possible exception of the local Champaign, Decatur or Springfield news at 6:00 PM. Now the only time the HD channels are full screen is if the program is in HD according to the newspaper TV guide. The simple fix is to press the aspect button on my Panasonic TV but I think Comcast did cause this change as it happened about the same time as the Champaign station changing from 48-1 for most TV's to 119-59.

9:12 PM Saturday night during bball game over Comcast

9:12 PM Saturday night during bball game over Comcast

WCIA that is

I'm getting brief .5 second complete audio cutouts along with the "static blips" as well. I'm in the CU on comcast with DVR.

Anybody else not getting 17.1 (WAND)? Was getting all the locals in HD, just have basic cable from the wall, no DVR or box. Yesterday was not getting 17.1 or 17.2. Recanned channels, now 17.2 is 120.70. But can't get 17.1, does this have anything to do with Comcast now taking over? Got everything fine when it was Insight. Maybe I have to wait until the 30th when the new channel line up goes into effect?


MY SECOND RESPONSE
Try channel 128 for WAND HD on Comcast. According to my channel list this channel is listed as a "no" channel, but when I punch it in I get WAND-HD. Remember in my first response I said that I am getting WAND HD on 17-1 but I also have a second listing of channel 17-1 and get a"channel not available" message. I'm guessing if I reprogram my channels, I will lose both 17-1 listings and channel 128 or 128-something will be a "yes" channel for WAND HD. As I may have mentioned in some previous message, awhile back I went through all the "no" channels in my Panasonic TV channel list by punching in the numbers and got several HD channels including 100 WSEC, 117 WILL, 118 WAND weather radar (SD), 119 WICS, 127 WILL and 128 WBUI but no WCIA, WAND, WRSP or the second WSEC. AT the time if I changed 119 from a "no" to a "yes" on my TV channel list, I was able to surf to that channel but it would appear as snow. At the time my guess was that these were not for the public but were test channels for Comcast. It appears I was mostly right because about one week later WICS went from 20-1 to 119-2 for us. It is interesting that I was getting WBUI (CW) HD on 128 before and now it appears to be WAND HD. I just tried the other channels such 100 but I get "channel not available" message. However the station letters such as WSEC HD is displayed. This tells me there may be more changes.

For myself as long as I am geting ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in HD I will live with that until April 30th and then see what I getting. I believe these channel numbers in the 100's are temporary for the local network HD channels as the guy from Comcast admitted that WCIA will return to 48-1 like it was originally. It would be nice if Comcast told the public what the hell is going on with these HD channels.

So is anybody not getting the 5.1 signal on FOX broadcasts?

I live on the West Side of sprirgfield, near Koke Mill Rd. I recently had an OTA antenna installed, but while I have no problem receiving 17.1, 17.2., 20.1 and 55.1, I can't get any of the 14 (.1,.2,.3) stations. Is anyone else having a problem?

So is anybody not getting the 5.1 signal on FOX broadcasts?
Haven't received a 5.1 signal through Comcast for at least a month here in Urbana.

Haven't received a 5.1 signal through Comcast for at least a month here in Urbana.
Same here in Mahomet through Mediacon...Also, the last time I checked, I couldn't get 5.1 OTA, either.

So is anybody not getting the 5.1 signal on FOX broadcasts?

No I never get 5.1 on FOX over Crapcast in the CU

Is it my imagination or has the WCIA HD content significantly decreased in quality in the last week? It seems like the tournament games (tonights included) are significantly lower quality than the previous rounds. When there is a lot of motion, the picture pixellates heavily. I've noticed this in both the OTA feed and the feed on comcast.

Is it my imagination or has the WCIA HD content significantly decreased in quality in the last week? It seems like the tournament games (tonights included) are significantly lower quality than the previous rounds. When there is a lot of motion, the picture pixellates heavily. I've noticed this in both the OTA feed and the feed on comcast.

I haven't noticed the picture quality getting any worse lately, however I am still experiencing the audio issues discussed above. Pretty soon here, Comcast is probably going to start compressing the HD Channel feeds more to fit in the new lineup of HD channels. So I wouldn't be surprised eventually seeing quality diminish over Comcast.

Check this out for example: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1008271

I wish they would update their infrastructure instead of compromising quality.

Or is it: Comcast to add 20 "HD" channels! ? Let the debate begin!

http://www.tvpredictions.com/comcastadd040808.htm

Or is it: Comcast to add 20 "HD" channels! ? Let the debate begin!

http://www.tvpredictions.com/comcastadd040808.htm
As I have stated in several postings in this thread the mailer that we got that announced the channels came with an asterisk by each of those mentioned channels that said -*NEW channels coming soon. I will be very surprised if we see all these channels on April 30.

I just wanted to check to see if anyone could shed some light on what's needed for the installation of Dish Network HD here in Central Illinois. I currently have a SuperDish that pulls in the locals. Will that dish be sufficient for bringing in the HD content, or will they need to install another sat. dish as well? If another dish is needed, what direction does it need to be aimed? Just wanted to check to see what I may need to deal with.

Also, I'm looking to upgrade to the 722 DVR. Any opinions, feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

OrangeandBlue33

I just wanted to check to see if anyone could shed some light on what's needed for the installation of Dish Network HD here in Central Illinois. I currently have a SuperDish that pulls in the locals. Will that dish be sufficient for bringing in the HD content, or will they need to install another sat. dish as well? If another dish is needed, what direction does it need to be aimed? Just wanted to check to see what I may need to deal with.

They will remove the SD & upgrade you to a DISH 1000. Those SuperDish's will NOT work for the HD programming & actually, are NO longer used, since our locals were moved to the 119 bird a couple years ago. (you actually ONLY need a D500 for SD reception in our market now) Since we are in the central part of the US, the D1000 will see 110/119/129. But, DO realize you will NOT be getting OUR locals in HD - ONLY the national HD channels. And there is no timetable from DISH as to when our locals WILL be up in HD.

I haven't had much experience with the 722, but everything I've read seems to says it's pretty decent; the one problem I do have with it, is that it only has ONE OTA tuner, which is a deal-breaker for me. Personally, I'll stick with D*, since it has more HD than DISH does now anyway.

They will remove the SD & upgrade you to a DISH 1000.

I haven't had much experience with the 722, but everything I've read seems to says it's pretty decent; the one problem I do have with it, is that it only has ONE OTA tuner, which is a deal-breaker for me. Personally, I'll stick with D*, since it has more HD than DISH does now anyway.

Thanks dishrich! I had NO idea that locals had moved to 119. No wonder I haven't been having the dropouts like I used to have.

As far as the 722, what does D* have that would be comparable or better in an HD DVR? It seemed to me that a big plus with the 722 is that you could basically have 3 recorders going at once - 1 with the OTA input, 1 with TV1 and 1 with TV2. I'm hoping that I could get a decent enough OTA signal to really take advantage of that functionality. Has D* announced a time frame for HD locals here?

Thanks again for help!

There's a lot of discussion on the PVR's sold by Dish and Direct at www.dbstalk.com The consensus seems to be that while Direct's PVR's are improving, the Dish 622/722 remains the cream of the crop. I've had a 622 since it first came out and I have been very pleased with it. Very intuitive with quick response to IR commands. However, having only one OTA tuner sometimes is a problem.

I'd be surprised if either satellite carrier offered us HD locals anytime this year. We are not, to my knowlege, on either's list of future additions. Dish just lost a satellite due to a launch failure, so that may delay things even further with them.

There's a lot of discussion on the PVR's sold by Dish and Direct at www.dbstalk.com The consensus seems to be that while Direct's PVR's are improving, the Dish 622/722 remains the cream of the crop. I've had a 622 since it first came out and I have been very pleased with it. Very intuitive with quick response to IR commands. However, having only one OTA tuner sometimes is a problem.

Thanks for the input Mike. I'll do a bit more reading to see what other users are saying.

As far as the 722, what does D* have that would be comparable or better in an HD DVR? It seemed to me that a big plus with the 722 is that you could basically have 3 recorders going at once - 1 with the OTA input, 1 with TV1 and 1 with TV2. I'm hoping that I could get a decent enough OTA signal to really take advantage of that functionality. Has D* announced a time frame for HD locals here?

D* right now has the HR21, which UNFORTUNATELY, does NOT have OTA tuners built in, but is supposed to be coming out with an OTA add-on soon. (but they have been saying this for several MONTHS now) :confused: If you can find someone with an HR20, it's a great DVR & DOES have dual OTA tuners built in, which is what I have. (plus I have a spare one I'm keeping to activate later)

As far as HD locals, I'd be willing to bet D* WILL have our locals up before E* does, since E* just lost that new satellite, while the new one D* just launched DID make it & is supposed to be put in operation in a couple months, which is supposed to enable them to beef up their local HD markets.
But it really does't matter to me personally - I get my HD "locals" from Chicago & use an OTA antenna for the "real" ones, so I'm all set right now. :D

I've heard good things about the VIP622 as well. However, beware of the VIP612 (at least until the software matures). Several people have had issues with this box (see various threads as DBSTalk). My inlaws recently "upgraded" to the 612, and have had lockups, freezes, reboots, etc. I'm hoping future software upgrades will provide some stability, but right now it isn't all that reliable.

As for DirecTV, I personally have the HR20 and have been very happy with it. It was a rough transition from Tivo at first, but after getting used to it, I wouldn't want to go back. It's that good (in my humble opinion).

After doing some more research, it appears that the signal strength of the E* 129 is a bit on the weak side. Anybody have any experience here with the signal strength of the HD content coming off of 129? I'm a bit concerned as I have a branch in my neighbors back yard that might cause me some problems. 110 and 119 are not an issue, but 129 is a bit further west and I may have some issues. Would a decent size leafy branch be enough to disrupt the line of site?

Once again I really appreciate everyone's feedback!

OrangeandBlue33

Beware of the VIP622. Don't get me wrong, it is a great unit, but I had a problem with the hard drive freezing. I sent 4 different units back before I got one that worked. Been about 6 months with no issues.

Beware of the VIP622. Don't get me wrong, it is a great unit, but I had a problem with the hard drive freezing. I sent 4 different units back before I got one that worked. Been about 6 months with no issues.

Thanks Carrman. Do you have any experience with the external HD storage? Do you know if you're able to view programs that are saved to the Hard Drive or do they have to be copied back on to the receiver before you can watch them?

Sorry, I have no experience with an external hard drive. I have been thinking about it though. I hope you will keep posting so we can see how it works out for you.

Hi in the last few days several local network HD channels seem to have dissappeared from my Champaign IL Comcast lineup. I am using cable straight into the set without the box and have a built in QAM tuner. PBS 12-1 and 12-3 have totally dissappeared and 17-1 is breaking up very badly. I tried a rescan with no luck on these issues. Anyone know what is going on or have a good contact name at Comcast? I have had no luck at all on the phone with them. My digital signal meter is showing a weak strength signal on 17-1 peak of 64 and bouncing around 53 to 64 and it is fluctuating a lot. 15.1 is also now missing. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. Very honestly I have been EXTREMELY dissapointed with Comcast since they took over. Their customer service on several ocasions has been absolutely dreadful. I am shocked at the rudeness as well as the lack of skill and knowledge by the folks that answer their phones.

I have 2 622's and neither has been a problem. It sounds like Dish may have got a bad batch of hard drives. There's a long discussion at www.dbstalk.com on what external drives work best with the Dish DVR's. You might want to look at that thread before buying. Most work well; some have been troublesome.

On another point, none of the Cardinals games channel 23 broadcasts on Sunday have been in HD for me. I tried 23.1 and 23.0, but both were just 4:3 SD. Is that been true for everyone else? Last year I thought most were in HD.

I have 2 622's and neither has been a problem. It sounds like Dish may have got a bad batch of hard drives. There's a long discussion at www.dbstalk.com on what external drives work best with the Dish DVR's. You might want to look at that thread before buying. Most work well; some have been troublesome.

On another point, none of the Cardinals games channel 23 broadcasts on Sunday have been in HD for me. I tried 23.1 and 23.0, but both were just 4:3 SD. Is that been true for everyone else? Last year I thought most were in HD.

Thanks for the info. I'll check out that thread.

Regarding the Cardinals. I watched a game a week or so ago and it was not in HD on 23. It seems that previously in this thread there was some discussion about 23 having some HD problems. I'm viewing mine with a QAM tuner from Comcast Cable. Last season the games were in HD - so something is up.

Hi in the last few days several local network HD channels seem to have dissappeared from my Champaign IL Comcast lineup. I am using cable straight into the set without the box and have a built in QAM tuner. PBS 12-1 and 12-3 have totally dissappeared and 17-1 is breaking up very badly. I tried a rescan with no luck on these issues. Anyone know what is going on or have a good contact name at Comcast? I have had no luck at all on the phone with them. My digital signal meter is showing a weak strength signal on 17-1 peak of 64 and bouncing around 53 to 64 and it is fluctuating a lot. 15.1 is also now missing. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. Very honestly I have been EXTREMELY dissapointed with Comcast since they took over. Their customer service on several ocasions has been absolutely dreadful. I am shocked at the rudeness as well as the lack of skill and knowledge by the folks that answer their phones.

Try contacting Art Svymbersky (Customer Service Manager) in the Urbana Comcast Office. His direct line is: 217-239-1575. I had to file a formal complaint with the city before getting any useful assistance from Comcast (via Art). Since working with him I have been able to get most of my issues resolved. At least enough until I live in a different location where I can either get satellite or better yet, Fiber. :rolleyes:

If you can't get anywhere from there let me know. I have a good contact with the city that can probably get you some satisfaction.

It's unfortunate this company has to operate in such a way. Even worse they sold out.

Best of luck!

Thanks for the contact name at Comcast I am sure it will come in handy. I was reading another board late last night and came across a list of HD channel designations for Comcast Champaign. Going through them manually I was able to get back 12.1, 12.3 and 15.1 although the list didn't seem to be 100% correct it was very helpful. I don't have enough posts to post links yet it was on a site called silicondust DOT com under the resources tv channels tab you put in your zipcode for the list


Here is the link

"http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/lineupui?Cmd=LocationProgramsWeb&Country=US&Postcode=61821"


New question: Is there some reason why Comcast doesn't carry the PBS 12.2?

New question: Is there some reason why Comcast doesn't carry the PBS 12.2?

Because it's the SAME feed as analog OTA 12, in SD, so no reason to take up the extra bandwidth. We have the same thing with WSEC-14 in Springfield, who carries their analog SD feed on 14.1 over here.

Hey,

I'm new to posting but I have followed this thread a little bit. Basically, I'm a novice but I found something surprising yesterday.

I simply have a QAM tuner inside my 32 inch Westinghouse HD TV. Initially, I've recieved 12.1 (PBS), 15.1 (ABC), 17.1 (NBC), 27.1 (FOX), 93.3 (CW), 93.4 (CBS). Lately, however, I recieve channel 91.9 (Fox Sports Net) only when the same sporting event is on Comcast Sportsnet and Fox Sports Net.

Also, this morning I did a rescan and recieved a picture on channel 71.1. It was ESPN HD. Is this normal? Or what is going on?

I live in Urbana, I scanned my tv channels again last night and received HDNet and HDmovie channel on 88.1 and 88.2. I have comcast but no box on this tv. Was thinking I might get a 2nd box for this TV but will wait and see what channels continue to be available via the qam tuner.

Am I the only 1 that lost WCIAHD last night? Finally a new episode of Moonlight and 3.1 as well as 31.1 CBS were both off. The rest of the networks were fine. Man, I never have a problem with WCIA, it is always 80-90% strength. Oh well, guess I'll watch on the computer.....:(

I live on the West Side of sprirgfield, near Koke Mill Rd. I recently had an OTA antenna installed, but while I have no problem receiving 17.1, 17.2., 20.1 and 55.1, I can't get any of the 14 (.1,.2,.3) stations. Is anyone else having a problem?

I live a ways west of you and just got an RCA DTA800 converter box at Walmart. With rabbit ears, it gets 14.1, 14.2, and 14.3 just fine (as well as 20.1 and 55.1). It gets either a frozen picture or no signal on 17.1 and 17.2.

I live a ways west of you and just got an RCA DTA800 converter box at Walmart. With rabbit ears, it gets 14.1, 14.2, and 14.3 just fine (as well as 20.1 and 55.1). It gets either a frozen picture or no signal on 17.1 and 17.2.

You might wantto try a preamp. Something like: http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=ANC7777

I have no problems with
14 and subs
17
20
49
55

I also receive 31 (most of thime at 80%) from Peoria.

The antenna I am using is http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=SCM4221A. This setup has been in-place for almost 3 years in my attic. Call me lucky but I set it up and eyeballed where it was pointing (SSE) and it has never been moved.:D

HTH
T

I live in Urbana, I scanned my tv channels again last night and received HDNet and HDmovie channel on 88.1 and 88.2. I have comcast but no box on this tv. Was thinking I might get a 2nd box for this TV but will wait and see what channels continue to be available via the qam tuner.

I'm getting HDnet on 88.5 and HDmovie on 88.6 with my Sony XBR so I'm sure this will be encrypted in the future but those two channels sure look nice.

They will remove the SD & upgrade you to a DISH 1000. Those SuperDish's will NOT work for the HD programming & actually, are NO longer used, since our locals were moved to the 119 bird a couple years ago. (you actually ONLY need a D500 for SD reception in our market now) Since we are in the central part of the US, the D1000 will see 110/119/129. But, DO realize you will NOT be getting OUR locals in HD - ONLY the national HD channels. And there is no timetable from DISH as to when our locals WILL be up in HD.

I haven't had much experience with the 722, but everything I've read seems to says it's pretty decent; the one problem I do have with it, is that it only has ONE OTA tuner, which is a deal-breaker for me. Personally, I'll stick with D*, since it has more HD than DISH does now anyway.

The Dish 622/722 as well as the 222 will accommodate OTA mixed into the L-band feed. There's a thread on how to do it over on DBS Talk in the 222 thread. It's really simple and requires no extra coax to the receiver(s). I'm doing it and works fine for your HD locals. The receivers will map your OTA locals right into the channel lineup where they belong. They appear with a yellow background in the guide.

D* no longer supports OTA in their new HD receivers.

Anyone else experiencing major audio and some video issues tonight? I got a DVR and have been having all sorts of problems tonight. It started around 7pm on WAND with the video being way ahead of the audio and now everything is jacked up. It's so bad I can't stand to watch the TV. Let's hope this is just related to the change over that's supposed to happen Wednesday.

The engineer from channel 23 promptly replied to an e-mail inquiry on why the Cardinals games were not in HD. They are in the process of installing a new dish will allow them to get this HD feed and hope to have this work completed fairly soon.

The engineer from channel 23 promptly replied to an e-mail inquiry on why the Cardinals games were not in HD. They are in the process of installing a new dish will allow them to get this HD feed and hope to have this work completed fairly soon.

Good news! Now, if they can keep winning we'll be in good shape!

does anyone have any idea when Fox will get 5.1??

For those of you with HR21 receivers, the AM21 is now available on Directv's site. Log in and go to kits and equipment to order it. $50 plus tax. This will now give HR21 owners the capability of receiving ota.

I was very surprised this morning to see that Comcast had added all the channels that were mentioned in a mailer a month or so ago, including WGN and the Sci-Fi channels.

I was very surprised this morning to see that Comcast had added all the channels that were mentioned in a mailer a month or so ago, including WGN and the Sci-Fi channels.

Marty, How is your picture quality? Mine seem a bit worse than before, but I can't tell if they are actually a little worse or if I am just seeing things because of all of the stuff I have heard about Comcast lowering the picture quality.

Marty, How is your picture quality? Mine seem a bit worse than before, but I can't tell if they are actually a little worse or if I am just seeing things because of all of the stuff I have heard about Comcast lowering the picture quality.
I can't really tell if the PQ is worse or not. I watched an episode of Mythbusters that I had already seen at a friend's house on Dish HD. The quality didn't seem any different on Comcast than it did on my Dish.

so are these new channels available now? I remember we had FamHD and DisneyHD but werent able to watch them.

so are these new channels available now? I remember we had FamHD and DisneyHD but werent able to watch them.
I am using a DVR to receive HD channels and I started getting all the new channels yesterday, April 30.

Yeah I have all of the new channels which is nice. Though, you need a DVR to enjoy any of the new HD Channels. So if you are just using an HDTV with a built in digital tuner you're screwed. Unless you have a TV with a cable card slot. It's $17.95 for a second DVR. They claim they might be coming out with just an HD Box rather than DVR. We'll see...Comcast is such a screw you company...

true, but with insight you had to have a DVR if you wanted HD. Comcast told me they were having HD only, DVR only boxes. Personally, i dont see why you wouldnt want the DVR. GLorious.

true, but with insight you had to have a DVR if you wanted HD. Comcast told me they were having HD only, DVR only boxes. Personally, i dont see why you wouldnt want the DVR. GLorious.

Don't get me wrong, I love the DVR functionality. I however do not like the almost extra $20 a month tacked on to my bill to rent a second one just so I can have all of the HD channels on my other HDTV. I checked today and you can't buy one either.

Don't get me wrong, I love the DVR functionality. I however do not like the almost extra $20 a month tacked on to my bill to rent a second one just so I can have all of the HD channels on my other HDTV. I checked today and you can't buy one either.

Sounds like a job for TiVo, or any CableCard supporting device. :)

TBK, couldn't help himself

Since it's been a while since anyone has made a complete list, here's what I've got on unencrypted QAM via Comcast:

12.1: WILL-HD (PBS)
12.3: WILLSD2 (PBS)
15.1: WICD-DT (ABC)
17.1: WAND-DT (NBC)

21.1: WGN
27.1: WCCU-HD (FOX)
27.2: WCCU-SD (FOX)

71.x: Empty (possibly ESPN-HD on 71.1?)
75.x: Empty
76.x: Empty

77.1: WEIU
77.2: WCCU
77.3-9: Empty
79.x: Empty

80.x: Empty
81.x: Empty
82.x: Empty
83.x: Empty
86.x: Empty
88.1: HDNet
88.2: HDMovies
89.x: Empty

90.1: WBUI-DT (CW)
90.2: WCIA-DT (CBS)
91.1: Empty (occasionally shows FSN HD)
91.2: Empty
92.x: Empty
93.x: Empty
94.x: Empty
98.x: Empty
99.x: Empty

100-104: Empty
105-108: On Demand
110-111: Empty

Anyone found anything else interesting?

Anyone found anything else interesting?

Well, since you're reporting for the Champaign headend, here's what's happening on the Springfield one...

First of all, ALL of the unencrypted DMX music has totally vanished; not just encrypted, but totally gone.
(not that surprising, since Comcast doesn't use it here anyway)
Then evidently, Comcast has encrypted all of the digitals that should be; there were several in-the-clear for the past couple weeks. (3 Showtimes among several I could pick up on my QAM TV) The ONLY ITC digitals showing up here are as follows:

WGN-HD 85.1
WRSP-HD FOX 91.3
WICS-HD ABC 119.2
WCIA-HD CBS 119.59
WAND Weather 120.71
WSEC Create 125.5
WILL Create 125.55
WSEC-HD PBS 126.2
WILL-HD PBS 126.3
WBUI-HD CW 127.1
WAND-HD NBC 127.70
WEIU-PBS Charleston 128.65

Now another thing you'll notice - my listings do NOT have PSIP channels. That's because I scanned the cable with 2 different TV's & even the one (an LG LCD) that previously listed the OTA's in their PSIP positions, did NOT do it this time with ANY of the OTA's, so I have to believe Comcast is NOT sending the local PSIP's in the streams.

Now, one could argue that WGN-HD might/should be encrypted, but I'm wondering since WGN-SD is on broadcast basic service anyway, that maybe it's going to stay this way. It's the only non-OTA HD channel unencrypted, so there's hope there.

Of course, any of this could change tomorrow... ;) ;)

TV Predictions announced that DIRECTV's new HD satellite, Directv11,which was launched in March, will be ready in the third quarter. At that time, DIRECTV says it will have the capacity for 150 national HD channels. Hopefully this means our HD locals in Central Illinois won't too far away.

Is this the hold up to the promised delivery of PBS locals in HD?

For those keeping score, Dish Network flipped the switch on 22 new HD channels today. Trying to keep pace with DirecTV....

DISH NETWORK® CHARGES FORWARD WITH ANOTHER ROUND OF NATIONAL HD CHANNEL LAUNCHES (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=128348)

And then overnight disappeared 10 of the Voom package HD channels that subs were paying for in the Ultimate HD Package.

WCIA OTA audio crack last night (Monday) during stupid pet tricks on Letterman.

And then overnight disappeared 10 of the Voom package HD channels that subs were paying for in the Ultimate HD Package.

And now they are ALL gone...

And then overnight disappeared 10 of the Voom package HD channels that subs were paying for in the Ultimate HD Package.
One step forward, two steps back for me. The 4 primary reasons I chose Dish and pay for the HD lineup were ESPN 1 and 2, Rave, and MonstersHD. Half of those are now gone. And the business about more new channels is crap. As I was scanning through my HD channels last night, most of the new ones were not even showing full-screen hi-def programming when I was surfing. Ugh.

I think all the Voom channels are still uplinked. They just removed the mapping so the receivers can't see them. Some are speculating this is Ergen's way of telling Voom to get its act together and get some new content and stop repeating the same things. He told them this quite a while ago and since there's been no new programming, the axe fell. I have a feeling they are likely gone for good to free up a couple more transponders. The failure of the last sat to reach orbit has left E*cramped for space and altered both their national HD and HD LiL plans. More info may be forthcoming at Team Summit tomorrow. D* has some good deals especially with the AAA discount in addition to their own new sub discounts. I'm going to wait it out and see what happens with E*. If E*goes down there'll be no competition for D* and it'll get even more pricey than it already is. E* subscriptions were down over 80% but they turned a profit anyway.

Most, if not all the Voom uplinks, are now gone as well.

Anyone lose their HDNet/HDNet movie channels on Comcast in Champaign in the past few weeks? I get all the other HD channels except for those 2. (well minus the premium ones I don't pay for of course) Does this require a separate package for these 2 channels or did Comcast screw up something on my plan? (would have been nice to watch the shuttle launch today on HDNet) Thanks!

Anyone lose their HDNet/HDNet movie channels on Comcast in Champaign in the past few weeks? I get all the other HD channels except for those 2. (well minus the premium ones I don't pay for of course) Does this require a separate package for these 2 channels or did Comcast screw up something on my plan? (would have been nice to watch the shuttle launch today on HDNet) Thanks!

Are you sure you had them after Comcast took over from Insight. Comcast and HDNet have been engaged in a cage match for a while if memory serves. I don't have Comcast nor did I ever have Insight, but I know there was bad blood between the two, i.e., CC and HDNet.

Anyone lose their HDNet/HDNet movie channels on Comcast in Champaign in the past few weeks? I get all the other HD channels except for those 2. (well minus the premium ones I don't pay for of course) Does this require a separate package for these 2 channels or did Comcast screw up something on my plan? (would have been nice to watch the shuttle launch today on HDNet) Thanks!

HD Net and HD Net movie channels are available on our local Comcast system, but they are a separate package that costs $6.99 a month. There is also a Sports Entertainment package that includes the NFL Network in HD that costs $4.00 a month.

To cut costs I have been thinking of dropping both packages. The Sports Entertainment package is where Comcast wants to put the Big Ten Network. I wouldn't object to that if it included the Big Ten Network Channel in HD as well. If no HD channel then the BTN should be on the basic tier like what the Big Ten wants.

Are you sure you had them after Comcast took over from Insight. Comcast and HDNet have been engaged in a cage match for a while if memory serves. I don't have Comcast nor did I ever have Insight, but I know there was bad blood between the two, i.e., CC and HDNet.
Well I just got cable about a month ago since I was unable to have DirecTV at my new location. I had HDNet until they flipped on the new HD channels, then they no longer were viewable. Ironically I get the NFL Network in HD, so you'd think I'd get HDNet too. I'm not sure why they would charge $7 for 2 channels, I'll pass on that.

When Insight was the cable provider they were charging $7 for the 2 HD Net channels plus several other of the HD channels we had. Right now I can't remember which ones were part of that extra charge. When Comcast took over they took all but the HD Net channels out of the extra charge tier.

I'm guessing that the only reason we still have HD Net channels available is through an agreement that was in place with Insight and the charges for those channels are reflected in the $7/month to customers.

I live in Jacksonville, IL - 30 miles west of Springfield. I have Dish Network with a 722. I'm struggling to find a CBS-HD feed OTA. I've done all the research on TVFool and Antennaweb, so I know where the signals are and where I should be pointing the antenna. I'm just a long way away from CBS.

I can pick up the WICA (ABC) and WRSP (Fox) HD feeds from Springfield with no trouble at all. 35 miles away, 100% signal. I can pull in WAND (NBC) out of Decatur, some 76 miles away with my DB4 + Radio Shack preamp/amp combo at about 65-75% signal. In the afternoon and evenings I can pull in WCFN out of Decatur as well. During the morning the signal is too erratic to use. The antenna is in an east-facing attic window.

But no matter what I do, I can't seem to pick up any CBS OTA feeds. I know that WCIA is re-broadcast on a subchannel of WCFN out of Springfield, but I can't even pick up WCFN. And I've read here that the subchannel is an extremely low-powered 'rimshot' signal, useless on the west side of Springfield, nevermind 25 miles further west in Jacksonville.

It's a long shot, but is there anyone here that lives west of Springfield that can offer advice on snagging a CBS-HD feed via OTA? I've tried to get KHQA out of Quincy and WMBD out of Peoria with no success, even in the middle of the night. I can live with the SD signal from Dish, but I'd just love to figure out how to get CBS in HD too.

I've also read here that the Radio Shack amp I have isn't very good. Should I pick up a ChannelMaster 7777 and return the other? Would that make a difference?

Is there any chance that after the Feb '09 conversion that the situation will improve? Any chance that WCIA could ever 'turn up' their signal on the repeater in Springfield? There's a real CBS OTA black hole over here!

I have heard from Dish that they are planning to have 100+ more local markets in HD by the end of 2008. While I have not heard that Springfield/Champaign is explicitly one of them, I can't help but think that they're getting close. Springfield/Champaign is the 156th largest market in the US and they have HD Locals up in many 75-100th market-size areas now.

Call dish network and tell them you moved to St. Louis and get all 4 in HD on 118.75, or Chicago on 129 and get the real WGN in HD also. It is easy to do, just give them a business address and add an apartment number, and go paperless billing.

Well that's certainly an interesting idea. So what would I do if I ever needed a tech to come to my house? Tell them I moved back?

Actually...heck, my step-brother lives in Chicago, I could just use his address. Do people really do this to get their locals in HD?

Well that's certainly an interesting idea. So what would I do if I ever needed a tech to come to my house? Tell them I moved back?

Actually...heck, my step-brother lives in Chicago, I could just use his address. Do people really do this to get their locals in HD?

Yes, people do this, but as you have indicated, there are downsides. The major downside is the one you have already identified: you can't have a DISH tech come to your "home" because your home for DISH purposes is not real. You can "move back" to your real address, but I suspect that doing this more than once might raise someone's interest. So if you don't think that you can handle technical troubleshooting on your own, or deal with a dead receiver on your own, or fix satellite aiming issues on your own, then this route probably isn't for you.

What I would do is nothing for now. I don't know what Dish's HD Local plans are, but DirecTV has just successfully launched a new satellite that is expected to come on-line by the beginning of July, and the plans are for them to add Champaign/Springfield HD locals in due course (probably by sometime in the fall, though admittedly this is pure conjecture on my part, based upon their schedule/sequence in adding the Champaign/Springfield SD channels). At that time, you could switch to DirecTV and have your HD locals.

Full disclosure: I am a long time DirecTV subscriber, but I have no financial or other interest in DirecTV (and I actually recommended to my in-laws that they get DISH instead). I have also in the past "moved" to a friend's address in Chicago for purposes of getting the Chicago HD locals, but with the advent of receiver leasing plans and more advanced technology in dishes and multiswitches, I found that the "moving" route ended up being more technical hassle than I was willing to bear long-term. Of course, I get all the HD locals with an attic antenna, so I had other options that you don't.

John Colombo

PS. There is another route you might try. Instead of the RS antenna in the attic, try using a high-gain corner-yagi antenna mounted OUTSIDE as high as you can possibly get it. Mounting an antenna in an attic results in considerable signal loss, which isn't much of an issue if you are fairly close to the transmitter, but which is a major issue if you are trying to get distant signals.

By "high-gain corner yagi" I mean something like this:

http://www.winegarddirect.com/viewitem.asp?p=SHD9095

And you'll likely need a rotor plus a good preamp (not Radio Shack, but rather something like the Blonder-Tongue CMA broadband series: http://www.blondertongue.com/media/pdfs/catalog_classes/reception/preamplifiers.pdf)

John C.

jdcolombo, thank you for the excellent reply. That's great advice.

Yes, I know it's only a matter of time before we get our locals in HD via satellite. What a happy day that will be. My good friend is a D* subscriber and he's been paitently waiting for a couple of years for their HD locals. With their new bird the time may be soon. I hope it is. I'm fairly confident that *when* D* figures out to do locals here, E* won't be too far behind in their efforts to stay competitive. Or of course I could just switch (though I really prefer Dish's DVR's).

No, I don't think I'll 'move'. The primary reason is that I think I'm pretty close to actually being able to pull in all 4 primary networks in HD. While I'd love to get the Chicago HD locals, I don't know if I really want to deceive DN to do it. Fox & ABC are a no brainer, and NBC is working well. If I had zero HD locals, it'd be a thought though. I'm reasonably technical but really not in the mood to be responsible for my own dish problems.

I am beginning to think that this Radio Shack preamp/amp isn't really helping. Last night, my NBC feed was hit-or miss. Signal strengths would go from mid 70's, then fall to nothing. Then jump back to 55%, then 75%, then nothing. Lots of fluxation. I tweaked the anteanna alignment a bit, but it didn't seem to help. I decided to remove the Rat Shack gear from the equation and just run the line (50' of RG6) directly from antenna to the back of my 722. That helped a lot. The signals lost 5-6% from the 'peak', but they were all much more stable. Only perhaps fluxuating a % or two. The result was a very watchable signal on the 76-mile away WAND feed, with a half-second of pixelation every 2-3 minutes and no drop-out in sound. WRSP & WICS, 35 miles away, showing 100 and 95% signals.

As you probably know, it's a beautiful, cool, calm, and perfectly clear morning here in Central Illinois. I decided to flip on WAND this morning and was surprised to find that my usually ~68-70% strength was at 88% this morning. I ran the auto-tune just for grins and giggles and lo-and-behold, it found more channels than ever before. I'm now receiving the WCIA 3.1 (CBS) and 3.2 (WCFN) feeds. That's *96* miles away from me! It also found another pair of PBS HD feeds from 86 miles away. They are *really* weak, at about 60%, which means they are right on the cut-off and might not really be watchable if the signal degrades at all. But I did flip on their morning news and it did work. I'm sure that with more turbulent weather (or even just daytime heating) they will dissapear, but I am very pleased that it's at least technically possible for me to receive WCIA-CBS in HD.

Am I correct in that a decent preamp/amp might be able to boost that by a few % points? Is the ChannelMaster 7777 a decent one?

Maybe I do need to get an antenna up on the roof!

I have alway received CBS HD programming via WCIA OTA 49.1 or maybe 49.2? on the Springfield WCFN repeater.

Now 49.1 shows actual WCFN programming and not CBS programming?

I get CBS-WCIA digital programming on 49.2 WCIA OTA, but nothing in HD....atleast Letterman was not in HD las night ... Has something changed?

I also noticed that I can now scan 3.1 WCIA which I assume is the Champaign JD feed? It shows signal strength of 68, but will not lock OTA.

I thought maybe 3.1 increased the signal strength and 49.1 CBS-HD springfield repeater was dropped?

Any ideas

I just started following this most excellent forum and have had a chance to chat with John Colombo (thanks man, you are awesome!).

Antennas are basically pieces of metal fashioned to capture a range of signals, joined by a transformer which "translates" the signals to uhf/vhf, correct? On Metacafe there is a short video (which I cannot post the link for because I am a new member):
coat_hanger_hdtv_antenna_better_than_store_bought_amazing

What exactly is one paying for when one buys a $50 or $100 antenna? If I am mainly interested in picking up local stations, is there any reason I cannot simply throw some 12 or 10 gauge wire in my attic? And by "throw" I mean following something basic like the video in that metacafe link.

My biggest problem right now is that my attic is not really user-friendly, and I have no way of measuring signal strength, so "aiming" the antenna would be a bit of a pain. The good news is that I live in a rather flat neighborhood (Prairie Fields), the major source of disruption coming from Williard Airport. From talking with jdcolombo and looking up information on antennaweb.org, I have a really good idea of which signals I want to capture, and where they are.

I'm new to this OTA HD world. I don't know a lot about antennas.

But I do know this: the $10 pair of rabbit ears from my closet could barely pick up stations 30 miles away. The $70 Terk HDTVa antenna (at Best Buy, cheaper online) could pick up the 30-mile stations and *almost* get the 76 mile one. The $40 AntennasDirect DB4 from Amazon can pick up the 30 and 76 mile ones reliably, and is *almost* pulling in signals from 96 miles away. And that's unamplified.

The design for that coat-hangar antenna looks to be the same as the DB2/4/8. I won't pretend to understand the physics of it, but it's the same idea with the bow-ties. The fact is that we all live in different houses with different terrain and in different locations. I'm sure there are some people that live where they can get 20+ HD stations with a sheet of tin foil. While others have NASA-esque antenna arrays on their roof to just pick up a couple. I have no doubt that the DIY antenna can work.

For me, it's totally worth $40 to have a pre-made one that was designed by someone who knew what they were doing. I've spent a lot of money on the TV and my home theater, and I want the best OTA signal possible. But hey, certainly worth giving the home-made ones a shot, as I dont' think you could hurt anything!

The only way to really do this is to buy antennas from places with good return policies and try them out for yourself.

And about aiming in the attic: I totally agree. Do they make reasonably priced gizmos that measure the signal strength at the antenna? My wife is getting a bit tired of being asked to sit in front of the TV and call me on my cell phone while I'm in the attic pointing the antenna..." 63...64...68....nothing....66...nothing....64....66....."

jdcolombo, thank you for the excellent reply. That's great advice.

Am I correct in that a decent preamp/amp might be able to boost that by a few % points? Is the ChannelMaster 7777 a decent one?

Maybe I do need to get an antenna up on the roof!

Hi again.

There are two very important specifications for an RF (radio frequency) preamp: the gain (expressed in db) and the noise (also expressed in db). What you want is a preamp with a reasonable amount of gain (10-20db) and as little added noise as possible. If your preamp adds too much noise to the signal, it's not going to do much for you. With digital transmissions, it is all about the C/N ratio (carrier to noise). If your digital receiver has enough useable carrier over the noise level, you get a picture; if it doesn't, you get breakups or nothing.

Think of this this way. Suppose that you would like to overhear the conversation of your neighbors who are outside talking next to their air conditioning compressor. If the compressor wasn't running, you could hear them clearly, but the compressor noise masks their conversation. If you simply amplify the audio from next door, you will amplify the compressor noise along with the conversation, and that just gets your louder garbage. But if you can amplify the conversation without adding or amplifying any of the noise, you might be able to hear what is being said.

So when looking for a preamp, you need one that provides signal gain (the carrier) with as little added noise as possible, in order to improve the C/N ratio that goes to your receiver. You also want a unit that can tolerate signal overload well if you are near powerful transmitters.

I've never used the Channel Master 7777, though it does seem to have a good reputation on the forums and it's gain vs. noise specs are very good. When it comes to things like signal preamps and distribution amplifiers, I tend to stick with professional-grade equipment. My theory is that if it is good enough for the cable system's head-end, then it probably is good enough for me. That's why in my prior post I recommended the Blonder-Tongue wide-band UHF preamp, which has relatively low noise (as these things go) for the amount of gain and good overload tolerance. B-T equipment is used by cable systems all over the country (there are other professional-grade equipment providers as well). Yes, it is more expensive than others (I think it is about $150), but this is an area where I think you pretty much get what you pay for.

Having said that, moving an antenna outside gets you a significant improvement in gain with NO added noise (the noise is already there - it's whatever the residual noise level in the antenna is, which won't change by moving the antenna outside). That's the best of all worlds. But if you just can't or don't want to do that, then investing in a better pre-amp might do it for you. Radio Shack isn't known for the quality of its electronics . . .

John C.

EDIT: There is a thread on the HDTV Technical forum that lists a bunch of preamps, some of which have extremely low noise ratings. Take a look here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=546066

I just started following this most excellent forum and have had a chance to chat with John Colombo (thanks man, you are awesome!).

Antennas are basically pieces of metal fashioned to capture a range of signals, joined by a transformer which "translates" the signals to uhf/vhf, correct?

What exactly is one paying for when one buys a $50 or $100 antenna? If I am mainly interested in picking up local stations, is there any reason I cannot simply throw some 12 or 10 gauge wire in my attic? And by "throw" I mean following something basic like the video in that metacafe link.



Antennas are, in fact, "tuned" pieces of wire. The basics of antennas are pretty simple. What you want is a piece of wire that resonates at the same frequency that you are trying to capture. So, for example, if you're goal in life is to get 94.5 FM on your radio, what you would do is build a piece of wire that would resonate at 94.5 mhz - or the "wavelength" of the radio transmission.

But there are a number of practical problems with this. First is precision; you would want to cut your wire antenna to EXACTLY the right length to maximize its ability to capture the frequency your are looking for. The second is that usually people want to capture a range of frequencies, not just one. So you'd want different pieces of wire arranged in the right order and "hooked together" in some way to pick up the range of frequencies your a looking for. And then there is the matter of "gain" (here, we're not talking about amplifying a signal; instead we're talking about how much better a combination of tuned wires can pick up a relevant frequency in comparison to a single piece of wire). By combining pieces of wire in the right way, an antenna can hone in on the relevant frequencies better than a single piece of wire cut to full or half or quarter wavelength. Good antenna design, therefore, is a mixture of precision and compromise - finding the right design elements to maximize capture of the relevant frequencies. There are whole books on antenna design; ham radio operators know this stuff cold and many of them do design and build their own antennas. But for us common folk, it is a MUCH better idea to let the engineers at Channel Master or Wineguard do it for us. What you get for your $100 is precision manufacturing and high-level engineering to design the best compromise for pulling in the UHF frequencies (which span a fairly large range).

You could probably build a nice dining table, too. After all, most of them are simply rectangular pieces of wood with either a central pedestal or four legs. But do you really have the tools and want to spend your time doing it?

John C.

I have alway received CBS HD programming via WCIA OTA 49.1 or maybe 49.2? on the Springfield WCFN repeater.

Now 49.1 shows actual WCFN programming and not CBS programming?


OK guys, HERE'S how the channels work...

3.1/WCIA-DT,CBS-HD, 3.2/WCFN-DT,MNT-SD
These are on digital ch 48, from the Seymour (Champaign) digital transmitter

49.1/WCFN-DT,MNT-SD, 49.2/WCIA-DT,CBS-HD
These are on digital ch 53, from the Mechanicsburg (Springfield) digital transmitter. And yes, 49.2 IS definitely CBS-HD, whenever 3.1 is. But 53 is on low power, so there are issues with it reaching outside the Springfield area.
BTW, this station will be moving to digital 13 next Feb, so FYI...

Bottom line - both digital stations transmit EXACTLY the same prog, in the same format, so just use whichever one is strongest.

. And yes, 49.2 IS definitely CBS-HD, whenever 3.1 is. But 53 is on low power, so there are issues with it reaching outside the Springfield area.

Sorry, my first question did ramble...

49.2 has NOT been transmitting any nightime HD network programming for the last few nights. I just get a nice digital 4:3 signal.

The low power would explain why I can't get 49.2 above 70on the west side of spfld though.

I can't get a lock on 3.1, even though I get a higher signal strength on my Dish 622 DVR than I do on 49.2

The Radio Shack U75 high gain UHF antenna is $30 or less iirc. I'm between Dec and Springfield and point mine at Peoria for WMBD-31 HD. There's enough signal spilling over from the sides that I have no trouble also receiving 3, 17, 20, 23, 43, and 55. I don't always get 12 since it's on an upper VHF channel but my HDTV ATSC tuner usually pulls it in even with a weak signal.

The C_D_S market is the #84 DMA iirc but we haven't appeared on any E* list of which I'm aware for LiL HD. This is in spite of the fact that some smaller DMAs already have or will get HD LiL before us. E* says they are still shooting for 100 HD local markets by year-end. We'll just have to wait and see. They'll have to announce later this summer or early fall to prevent an exodus to D*. They lost a lot of subs this past quarter because of their failure to get more national HD and locals online. The OTA locals, if one can receive them, are a better picture anyway afaic. The Echostar 14 launch failure screwed up some plans it would seem.

I also want to thank J Miller at 23/55 Engineering for getting the problem with WBUI-23's ATSC signal reception with Windows Media Center straightened out. I know he reads the board from time to time.

I just got Comcast HD cable, since my Dish reception went out when my apartment owner put in new windows (unless I open the window, of course) and I never was able to get the 110 satellite, even with open window.

The installation was a comedy, since the lady who took my
order was completely clueless.

So was tech support when I called to find out how to switch to 720p, though
he was close enough that I was able to figure it out without RTFM, which
was impossible since the installer didn't supply a manul, or know where
I could find one. I think I found a manual at the Motorola web
site. We shall see.

Questions: is there a channel lineup online that I can print out? I've
got what appears to be the "classic" digital package (lacks
e.g. GSN and BBC America but seems otherwise quite comprehensive).

I found most of the oddball digital-only locals I get OTA, but
can't seem to find WILL 12-3 or WEIU-2. At least not that I remember.
Are they there, and if so where?

Is the DVR box producing component output for the channels
available in analog from the analog, or are they digital? I noticed that
some channels appear twice (in SD of course, not the HD at very high number) and the lower channel # seems a better picture, which I
think may be the analog one. Is this correct? Looking at the
signal on a spectrum analyzer, most channels below 500 MHz are
analog (but not all) and most above that are digital (but not all.)

I have not yet decided whether the overall quality of digital is
as good as OTA or better than Dish (it's not worse than Dish) for
the channels I watch.

Doug McDonald

Fantastic advice again, John C. I really appreciate it. Your explanation makes great sense.

I'll give this 7777 a shot and see how it does. I understand that amplifying noise just results in louder noise. If it doesn't help, then I'll probably put in a few calls to local antenna installers and see what they'd charge to install this antenna up on the roof. I know that the best solution is to get the best signal possible to start with, and the only way to do that is to get the antenna up on the roof.

It's interesting though, the RF characteristics of what can be received. I've spent a lot of time moving that antenna round in my attic and playing with where it could be mounted. It only really seems to pull in the 70-mile NBC station in this one window. If I attach the antenna to a broom handle, open the window and stick it outside as high as I can reach (which is about 5 feet lower than it would be if it were mounted up there on a J bar), the reception doesn't improve, it actually loses a % or two. If I move to other windows on the east side, it loses the NBC signal completely. If I hang it out of a north-facing window but point the antenna east towards the signal (less trees in the way), it loses the NBC signal completely. Just sort of bizzare that this one window seems to be the sweet spot. Makes me want to know where other sweet spots are.

I have this fear that if I pay someone to install the antenna on the roof that they'll not improve the situation. And then I'll have an antenna that I can't (realistically) access to tinker with, as well as worrying about lightning strikes or storm damage. I realize it's a really generic question and would vary from person to person, but is it expected that OTA antenna installers would survey the signals to find the optimal place for the stations you want?

Anybody know anyone who does attenna installs in the C-U, Rantoul area? Every lead I have tried so far as came up a bust.

Looks like E* has added WGN in HD channel 9446. Go Cubs!!!

Anybody know anyone who does attenna installs in the C-U, Rantoul area? Every lead I have tried so far as came up a bust.

Did you try Good Vibes in Champaign?

John C.

I have this fear that if I pay someone to install the antenna on the roof that they'll not improve the situation. And then I'll have an antenna that I can't (realistically) access to tinker with, as well as worrying about lightning strikes or storm damage. I realize it's a really generic question and would vary from person to person, but is it expected that OTA antenna installers would survey the signals to find the optimal place for the stations you want?

That I don't know, since I have my own antenna in my attic. But I also have a rotor, which helps me fine tune reception from my couch. If you go the outdoor route, I'd strongly recommend a rotor for the reasons you suggest (trying to fine tune reception without any good access).

UHF signals can be tricky. Heavy foliage can affect reception. Maybe your window has a clear line of sight without trees??? And certain times of day and certain weather create conditions in which UHF signals bounce off the troposphere, causing all kinds of wacky things. I once picked up a digital station from Iowa at 2:00 a.m. right after a thunderstorm.

Given the cost of an outdoor installation with a rotor, your best route probably is to try the CM 7777 first. Even if you then decide to go outdoor, the CM might prove useful, or an easy re-sell to someone else.

John C.

Received the 7777 today and have it all hooked up. It's helping, though not as much as I had hoped. I'm getting about a 5% boost on the signal strengths on all of the channels. Definitely making the channels I receive a bit stronger, though it doesn't matter on two of them since they're always >90% signal and totally stable. It is helping the 75-mile NBC feed though, which used to occasionally drop, so that's worth it. It's giving me about the same level of boost as the Radio Shack one, but it's a lot more stable. Still no dice on the 96-mile WCIA tower. :(

As it stands now, I can get WRSP & WICS out of Springfield, and WAND out of Decatur. That's 3 of the 4 major networks in HD. That's 1 better than I thought I'd be.

I could spend another $50-$100 on a rotator, then another couple hundred bucks on an install, and maybe get that final CBS-HD feed. Maybe. Still a long way away. Probably what's really needed is one of those nice Yagis, though that's a whole other level of fun. For me, that's just too much work and money for just the one additional HD channel. The SD feed from Dish doesn't look that bad. Not $300+ bad anyway. I think I'd rather get a Blue-Ray player. ;)

I think at this point I'll just be happy with it as-is and hope that within the next year or so, Dish will figure out how to bring me my locals in HD. :cool:

Thanks again for all your help and advice. I really appreciate it!

That I don't know, since I have my own antenna in my attic. But I also have a rotor, which helps me fine tune reception from my couch. If you go the outdoor route, I'd strongly recommend a rotor for the reasons you suggest (trying to fine tune reception without any good access).

UHF signals can be tricky. Heavy foliage can affect reception. Maybe your window has a clear line of sight without trees??? And certain times of day and certain weather create conditions in which UHF signals bounce off the troposphere, causing all kinds of wacky things. I once picked up a digital station from Iowa at 2:00 a.m. right after a thunderstorm.

Given the cost of an outdoor installation with a rotor, your best route probably is to try the CM 7777 first. Even if you then decide to go outdoor, the CM might prove useful, or an easy re-sell to someone else.

John C.

I posted this over on the Illinoishomepage.net forum area that WCIA set up too. But there's almost no traffic over there so I thought I'd post it here too.

I'm really looking for someone like 'wciachief' to comment on this, someone who is in the know. But I'd love to hear anyone's ideas on it too....

Over here in Jacksonville, I can sometimes pick up the 'rimshot' WCFN-49.2 WCIA feed on clear evenings after about 9pm, and have occasionally even been able to grab the real WCIA 3.1 feed, but only really late at night (midnight+) and if the atmosphere is really calm. Yes, I'm sure a bigger and better placed antenna (see above discussion) would help, but I'm curious about the 'supply-side' of the equation.

1) Is there any hope that WCIA/WCFN will ever bump up the signal strength on the Mechanicsburg WCFN tower? According to TVFool.com that is supposed to be a 1000kW tower. Higher than WICS (767kW) and much higher than WRSP (335kW), both of which I can receive at near 100% signal strength over here in Jacksonville. Oh how I wish I could get that WCFN feed so well. I really want my CBS in HD. Is the WCFN tower actually broadcasting at this strength? If not, will it ever? If yes, it must have a really short tower, or it's extremely directional! ;)

2) I see that after the 2/17/09 transition, WCFN is moving from UHF channel 53 to VHF channel 13. Other than needing a VHF antenna, will there be any change to the signal strengths? I know that VHF signals travel further than UHF signals. So would it be possible or likely that I would be in a better position to receive the WCFN (with it's WCIA subchannel, as that's all I care about) broadcast over here via VHF after 2/17/09?

1) Is there any hope that WCIA/WCFN will ever bump up the signal strength on the Mechanicsburg WCFN tower? According to TVFool.com that is supposed to be a 1000kW tower. Higher than WICS (767kW) and much higher than WRSP (335kW), both of which I can receive at near 100% signal strength over here in Jacksonville. Oh how I wish I could get that WCFN feed so well. I really want my CBS in HD. Is the WCFN tower actually broadcasting at this strength? If not, will it ever? If yes, it must have a really short tower, or it's extremely directional! ;)

No. WCFN-DT is currently operating at 587' 1.81 kW. Not the 1000 kW TV Fool shows. It's a surprise that anyone can receive that signal.

WCFN-DT 53 will never see the 1000 kW. The FCC is allowing stations with out-of-core channels (like 53) to abandon building final facilities on that channel and focus only on their final channel.

2) I see that after the 2/17/09 transition, WCFN is moving from UHF channel 53 to VHF channel 13. Other than needing a VHF antenna, will there be any change to the signal strengths? I know that VHF signals travel further than UHF signals. So would it be possible or likely that I would be in a better position to receive the WCFN (with it's WCIA subchannel, as that's all I care about) broadcast over here via VHF after 2/17/09?

WCFN-DT 13 should be much much much stronger than the current channel 53 signal.

- Trip

Thanks, Trip. Interesting stuff. So why does TVFool think it's a 1mW tower when it's really only 1.81kW?

Since WCFN-DT 13 will be so much stronger, do you think that I can be fairly optimistic that I will be able to receive both it and the WCIA subchannel? With a VHF antenna, of course.

No. WCFN-DT is currently operating at 587' 1.81 kW. Not the 1000 kW TV Fool shows. It's a surprise that anyone can receive that signal.

WCFN-DT 53 will never see the 1000 kW. The FCC is allowing stations with out-of-core channels (like 53) to abandon building final facilities on that channel and focus only on their final channel.

WCFN-DT 13 should be much much much stronger than the current channel 53 signal.

- Trip

Thanks, Trip. Interesting stuff. So why does TVFool think it's a 1mW tower when it's really only 1.81kW?

They originally had a construction permit to operate at 1000 kW, and the assumption was originally that the FCC would require stations to build out those facilities. So when the maps for TV Fool were made, that 1000 kW number was used.

Since WCFN-DT 13 will be so much stronger, do you think that I can be fairly optimistic that I will be able to receive both it and the WCIA subchannel? With a VHF antenna, of course.

I don't know exactly where you're located, nor do I know what power levels and (more importantly) tower height WCFN-DT will be using. However if you can see the analog 49, I'd imagine you'll be able to see the digital on 13.

- Trip

Anybody know anyone who does attenna installs in the C-U, Rantoul area? Every lead I have tried so far as came up a bust.

I don't know if you have found an attenna installer yet but you might contact Rich Warren, who writes a technology column for the News-Gazette. He has written a couple times about an installer he has used. I can't remember the name of the installer but I can give you Rich Warren's email so you can contact him. Rich Warren's email address is hifiguy@mchsi.com

Good luck

Good Vibes installed mine about 2 years ago.

I don't know if you have found an attenna installer yet but you might contact Rich Warren, who writes a technology column for the News-Gazette. He has written a couple times about an installer he has used. I can't remember the name of the installer but I can give you Rich Warren's email so you can contact him. Rich Warren's email address is hifiguy@mchsi.com

Good luck

I have not found anybody as of yet, so I appreciate the info. Thanks! I will email this gentleman and see where it goes.

I assume everyone here has heard that the Big Ten Network and Comcast have finally worked out a deal. It looks like BTN will start showing up on Comcast on August 15. The other nice thing is that Comcast will be providing the BTN in HD for all states that have a Big Ten team. I was glad to hear that.

Is anyone else irritated with WAND and their over-use of the weather alert displays. When this station shows any alerts about weather condition they only broadcast the 4x3 SD signal. It was so irritating to not be able to watch last Sunday's US Open because WAND had a Thurnderstorm watch alert for only one or two counties. There was just no need to keep that alert up constantly like they did. Has anyone contact WAND about this?

I was happy to see that WCIA invested in equipment that will display the weather alerts over the HD signal.

I discovered another HD channel on our Comcast system that I didn't know we had. It's the Science HD Channel. It is #957, right below Cinemax among other premium channels. Not a lot I am interested in watching on it, but I thought I would let other Comcast customers know.

Is anyone else irritated with WAND and their over-use of the weather alert displays.

I don't think they have much choice about noting the watches and warnings. It's a public service they have to provide. Also their goal is to be the best and most knowledgeable weather station in central IL. Until they get the newer equipment that'll integrate into their regular broadcast, we'll have to put up with the annoyance for a bit longer.