ww3.waivertv.com seems to automatically redicrect to www.proximitytv.com, which doesn't seem to have any waiver information on it. Am I missing something?...

-Dan

Just got my response to waiver request through DirecTV. Big fat denied. I had asked them to let WMBD and WCIA know that I wanted a waiver so I could pick up CBS HD through DirecTV HD package since neither local will pass through the CBS HD feed. I can't understand their logic. We wont provide an HD feed and we will stand in the way of you getting one.
I understand they might not want to lose a viewer but all the does is make my even more anti- WMBD and anti- WCIA . Now I want to write letters to anyone I can telling them how terrible the local CBS affiliates are. Letters to WMBD, WCIA, advertisers on those stations, newspapers and CBS Corporate. Central Illinois CBS viewers are being held hostage by these lame local CBS stations.
CBS spends major money to provide HD programing to its customers and those local lame stations wont pass it on.

Sorry. Very frustrated.

ww3.waivertv.com seems to automatically redicrect to www.proximitytv.com, which doesn't seem to have any waiver information on it. Am I missing something?...

I think only TV stations can log on the waivertv.com. Have you called DISH to see if the waiver has shown up on their computer yet? Mine showed up a day after it was granted.

MIKE

Now I want to write letters to anyone I can telling them how terrible the local CBS affiliates are.

You might try e-mail to the CEO of CBS (I'm sure his address can be found somewhere) and complain. They might be able in intercede for you since they've spent a lot of money converting a lot of their programming to HD.

MIKE

They (CBS) could go to WAND, leaving WCIA to ABC .... no Monday Night Football in HD :-(

Actually, this would be a good idea, since ABC is 720p, even after
WCIA actually did go HD, it would leave
room for UPN on WCIA, if they allowed it to stay SD.. But I don't know if Viacom would like UPN on a station with NBC.

When analog is turned off, WAND will have a much larger range than
WCIA, since they have a higher tower, and WICA would be foolish
to put digital on 3 rather than 48.

Doug

Just wanted to say thanks to WRSP. I get a better signal from them than WYZZ. Plus it is WS. You just got a new viewer and WYZZ lost one.
I work with a guy who has trouble with his WYZZ signal too. I'm going to let him know about WRSP.
I have my cm 4228 toward Peoria and a small RS Yagi toward Springfield. Getting 45-77 signal on my Samsung 160. Signal is better (steady) with the lite rain.

Thanks again.

Originally posted by LoveMySonyHDTV
Central Illinois CBS viewers are being held hostage by these lame local CBS stations.
CBS spends major money to provide HD programing to its customers and those local lame stations wont pass it on.

Sorry. Very frustrated.

You aren't the only one. Central IL has taken a very positive turn in the past year with major HD additions (ABC from two directions, NBC, Fox from Spfld, Insight cable, etc). But CBS is the big hole. And that is where so much programming exists.

In inquiring whether CBS-WCIA would go HD or multicast the NCAA games several weeks ago, at least I got a very prompt reply. It basically said that because Nexstar owned them, and they had lots of stations, they weren't providing money to upgrade. Gave no hope.

For WMBD in Peoria, the sports guy referred my inquiry to the GM. Who still has not responded to my request. That has been my previous experience when trying to contact them as well.

I agree with your sentiment, if they aren't going to provide it, let us get it from elsewhere!

Originally posted by dgreen
In inquiring whether CBS-WCIA would go HD or multicast the NCAA games several weeks ago, at least I got a very prompt reply. It basically said that because Nexstar owned them, and they had lots of stations, they weren't providing money to upgrade. Gave no hope.

That's funny, because in the Quad Cities market, there's a CBS station which basically says its chain is TOO SMALL to afford an upgrade.

In the Cedar Rapids market, a one-station company AND a 30-station chain are offering HD on the ABC and NBC affiliates respectively, and even Sinclair is giving us HD on CBS, for crying out loud.

The issue is priorities, not how big the chain is.

The SHIVA law which has the effect of prohibiting satellite carriers or cable companies from providing out of market network feeds is up for renewal this year. The guy who owns DISH is pushing for a change to allow him to deliver network HD feeds to subscribers who can't get them over the air. The broadcaster's lobby hotly opposes this, of course. The FCC is also not happy at the foot dragging in implementing HD broadcasting.

It would not hurt to let your Congressman and Senators know you don't think the current arrange serves the public very well and needs to be changed. The airwaves are, after all, an asset which should benefit all of us, not just the lucky few who have broadcast licenses.

MIKE

I am in champaign.. have a pre amp and an outdoor antenna but cannot get WRSP in :( I was really hoping to see some fox widescreen stuff! Also any news on when our local NBC and PBS will be going widescreen? I am new to this thread.. didn't even know it was around! Glad to know I am not the only one who watches HDTV in the area!

WRSP is possible. So far nobody in Champaign who has really tried has failed. Urbana or perhaps east of forth street in Campus is a different matter.

WRSP is not easy. You need the biggest possible UHF only antenna,
preferably a Yagi-corner reflector type (not bowtie) at least 25
feet up, and a preamp that does not overload, for reliability. However,
any respectable antenna including a quad or even double bowtie will get it
occasionally. The last couple of weeks have been really, really bad
for it ... I actually had a breakup due to low signal for about 10 minutes,
and that has never happened before. Normally my margin is 6 to 8 dB.

However, it's worth the trouble.

Doug

Originally posted by jdmcdonald
WRSP is possible. So far nobody in Champaign who has really tried has failed. Urbana or perhaps east of forth street in Campus is a different matter.

WRSP is not easy. You need the biggest possible UHF only antenna,
preferably a Yagi-corner reflector type (not bowtie) at least 25
feet up, and a preamp that does not overload, for reliability. However,
any respectable antenna including a quad or even double bowtie will get it
occasionally.
Doug

When I was in Springfield I could occasionally get St. Louis DT signals. Mostly in the mornings. With a 4 bay UHF antenna, and no preamp in the attic. I did have a rotator to peak it in. My indication of a band opening was if I could pick up channel 30 KDNL inside the house. One morning I was able to also pick up Chicago and Cincinnati, with some blips on digital. However St. Louis was a sure thing almost every morning and late evening. I know that if I had set up a monster UHF antenna and 25ft tower I probably could have picked up them every night.

So I don't see it impossible to try and get WRSP in Champaign. You can pick up 20 on the west side from 40 ft up. I don't know what WRSP's DT channel is, but it's got to be lower then 52, so that should help. If it were 69, forget it. The cool thing about digital and doing DX with it is that once you have a signal (for as long as it's open) you have a perfect picture, without all the noise normally associated with band openings. Other stations from even further out (200+ miles etc..) on the same channel beating against the closer one. You just don't get that with digital, even if an analog signal is on channel with the digital, it will hardly interfere with the digital signal. It's the analog signal that gets the beating from digital, looks like added noise in the pic.

Good luck with WRSP. Anyone know if 27 is on the air, does it do Wide Screen? Somehow I doubt it. Thanks.

Originally posted by mdamberger
When I was in Springfield I could occasionally get St. Louis DT signals.

So I don't see it impossible to try and get WRSP in Champaign. You can pick up 20 on the west side from 40 ft up. I don't know what WRSP's DT channel is, but it's got to be lower then 52, so that should help. If it were 69, forget it.

Good luck with WRSP. Anyone know if 27 is on the air, does it do Wide Screen? Somehow I doubt it. Thanks.


Here in Champaign I reliably get Ch. 25 in Indy in the fall, sometimes
I even get Ch. 21 in Indy. I can tell if I will get those digitals
if I get Ch. 20 from Indy on top of Ch. 20 from Springfield with
my antenna pointing west. Normally 20 analog Springfield is watchable.

Digital stations go all the way up to 69, though not here. WRSP is 44.
WCIA is 48. 69 is not harder than 52, if you have a good antenna. Many
antennas start dropping of above 64.

WCCU is not on digital and will only be on when the FCC yanks
the analog license of 27.

Once again, in Champaign WRSP-44 is not hard at all ... you just have
to do it. In places in Urbana it may well need a 40-50 foot or more tower,
as they are behind Yankee Ridge, and, low as it is, it does matter.

Doug McDonald

Originally posted by jdmcdonald

WCCU is not on digital and will only be on when the FCC yanks
the analog license of 27.

Don't be so sure of that.

While sitting at home waiting for a plumber to show up the other day, I thought I'd give WICD a call to see when they planned to have their HD transmitting equipment operational. The guy from the engineering department with whom I spoke said they were still working on getting everything hooked up, but it was likely still a couple of months away.

If the plumber hadn't shown up right after that, I had planned to call WILL to see how they are doing.

MIKE

WILL is playing with themselves.

They are waiting to install their new
antenna. Apparently the company they contracted for to install
the antenna using a helicopter reneged and they are trying
another method. They obviously are in no hurry and
are likely using every excuse possible just to stall. This was
the story last week.

I believe that both WILL and WICD have all the needed equipment,
and basically are just not trying hard.

At this rate WEIU may beat WILL.

Doug McDonald

I believe that both WILL and WICD have all the needed equipment,

Maybe a bunch of us should volunteer to go over and help them get everything hooked up. Could it that much more difficult that setting up an HT?:D

I need help. I have had 5 Samsung 360 receivers from Directv that have not worked. A tech has been out to check the line and everything he says is ok. Directv keeps sending receiver after receiver. I am in the Princeton area. What I was looking for is someone close by that has the oval dish that maybe would let me bring a receiver over and hook it up to rule out if it is something in my setup or if it is the receiver itself. The one I have now has constant issues so it would be easy to check. If you could help me out please PM me.

Thanks

I live in urbana by lincoln and I74 and have an antena on my roof and cannot get in WRSP :( I really wish i could.. lots of shows I would love to watch in widescreen! If anyone around here is willing to maybe help me get it in I would really appreciate it!

Originally posted by Savageone79
I live in urbana by lincoln and I74 and have an antena on my roof and cannot get in WRSP :( I really wish i could.. lots of shows I would love to watch in widescreen! If anyone around here is willing to maybe help me get it in I would really appreciate it!

You are behind Yankee Ridge, and according to the Longley-Rice
diffraction model you get only 1/4 of the signal power I do, if you
have an antenna at 25 feet above the ground. To be exact, this
is about 100 yards SE of the intersection.

1/4 the power I have is bad, very bad. Basically you need more height,
perhaps 40 feet up, or even 60,
the absolute best in a dedicated Winegard or Channelmaster UHF
Yagi (not 8-bowtie) antenna, and at minimum the 7775 UHF only preamp.

Tell us what your setup is. At 25 feet and those antennas and preamp,
you SHOULD get it occasionally in the evening. At 60 feet it will
be reliable.

It's worth it, the widescreen is better than DVD.

Doug McDonald

Dear Savageone69: we've been having so fairly good tropo
propagation the last couple of days, you should have been able
to get WRSP in the evening with a modest setup. Have you tried?

Doug McDonald

I need help, I live in Westlake subdivision (Clayton and Duncan intersection) I am thinking about upgrading my directv account to get hd programming and I am curious what ota hd signals could I expect to get on the new hd receiver. I don't want something big on the side of my house but an attic mount is possible. If there is anything smaller and easier to use that would be the best. any suggestions or comments? thanks

With some fiddling, I can get all the Champaign and Decatur digital stations on an indoor amplified antenna I got at Radio Shack. Given that, it's possible that the compact Squareshooter antenna might work in this area. There's been a lot of discussion about this antenna in the HD Hardware forum.

At this time, WAND in Decatur is the only digital station passing through the network high definition feeds. The other digital stations are just transmitting SD. Our NBC affiliate plans on transmitting HD within the next couple of months as does PBS (so they say, both are moving very slowly). The big fly in the ointment is WCIA, which is owned by a cheapskate corporation which won't pony up the cash to allow them buy the gear to transmit HD. However, both satellite carriers have an CBS-HD feed available, but you'll need to get a waiver from WCIA to get that feed (or move your service address to Chicago). There's a lot of discussion earlier on this thread both about waivers and "moving."

Good Luck!

MIKE

I'm trying to do some research for my dad in Beardstown. Briefly, what is the DTV status of the stations in Peoria, Springfield and Quincy? Going through the thread it doesn't look like HD is a priority for many.

WRSP will have HD as soon as Fox send it to them: next fall. They have
equipment.

WICS will have HD in the not so distant future. Their
sister station WICD in Champaign will have it soon. I talked to their
head engineer 5 minutes ago and he said that they were installing
their digital microwave link next week, and that was 80% of what was left to do.

CBS in both Peoria and Champaign are owned by a company that is
virulently anti-HD and will not have it in the foreseeable future.

Doug McDonald

I tried to explain to a friend of mine that if he gets the local channels that will be offered by directv, that he will not be able to see the Chicago Bears football games because the fox feed will be from Springfied. With the feed coming out of Springfield, St. Louis Rams will be shown instead of the Bears. Am I wrong? Has anyone with the local channels with Dish Network noticed this also?

I should qualify this statement by saying that this pertains for Champaign-Urbana local channels.

Anybody hear anything happening at WMBD>

I am getting a guide for 31-1 and my Zenith is showing the HD symbol even though it is not passing through an HD signal from the network.

It is probably nothing but just checking.

I noticed it too. I have checked it each of the last few days but no signal. Wishful thinking.

I had a friend of mine that was watching the Final 4 say that there was a HDTV by Sherman?s flag. I don't know if there was really one or not but I can't believe it. Why would company that sells HDTV's buy an ad about HDTV on a station that won't provide it? Waste of money for Sherman's.

Sony I could not agree more. Why Shermans would advertise on WMBD blows me away. They need to advertise on WHOI or WEEK who actually pass through the network HD feed.

Of course I bought my SONY GWII from shermans and I had to teach the sales rep about all the features an highlights of the TV.

Most of the Sales reps don't know jack about HDTV.

Anyway you can get the CBS HD network feed if you are creative.

Not surprising.

On the Des Moines thread last fall, a lot of people were making fun of the ABC affiliate because their DT was only 500 watts with no HD, yet they were advertising a "Monday Night Football Party" contest where one of the grand prizes was an HDTV set.

All of the tags I've seen for WMBD have stated digital brought to you be Sherman's. Whereas on WEEK they always advertised HDTV brought to you be Sherman's.
It would be really cool if Shermans and other local advertisers would stop advertising on WMBD due to no HDTV, but in reality, another TV and appliance store would step in and Sherman's would just lose customers.
I do not think I've seen those bugs on WHOI analog.

Anyone have HD Cable around here? I know that in champaign urbana it is offered and even has HD Tivo type cabilities built it.. also do they pass through ABC HD and will they pass through any future stations that do HD?

Before I switched to DISH I talked to Insight about local HD. The rep said they were in negotiations with WAND to carry their HD signal. Check with them to see if that's been done. A lot of cable companies do carry local HD, so I assume Insight will as well, sooner or later. The big problem is CBS. Insight can only carry WCIA, because of the SHIVA law and they have no plans to transmit HD until forced to do so.

MIKE

Wow, glad to have found this site and this thread.

So many of the topics I thought only I cared about all right here. Particularly the acknowledgement that WMBD and WYZZ suck.

Here's my specs and some brief comments and or questions:

Morton, IL edge of town (new area no big trees) tall 2 story home vinal siding.


Current antenna: 6 or 7 year old Terk TV5 (?) powered indoor set top.

From time to time I get it positioned just right and can get all of the following with no adjustments (before my 2 year old knocks it down :( )

(40-1, 19-1), (57-1, 25-1), (30-1, 31-1), (39-1, 59-1), (44-1, 55-1), (46-2, 46-4, 47-1)

I am less than 14 miles from the WYZZ tower and the only thing between my house and the tower is empty cornfields. 28-1 pings at 06 on my Hughes E86's signal meter. I'm just under 60 miles from WRSP and it comes in strong. I am very greatful for them.

This spring I plan on contracting with someone to install a cm4228 on my chimney. I guess the only thing I fear is that I'll lose 55-1 because that antenne is "very directional". I'll need to consult with the installer before I committ any money.

Also, has anyone else heard that when WYZZ does get their act together they are going to move the location and shoot their signal from the same general area as the other Peoria stations?

Glad to be here. Take care.

Originally posted by EAW
I guess the only thing I fear is that I'll lose 55-1 because that antenne is "very directional".

Glad to be here. Take care. [/B]

Welcome! Most tuners have two antenna hook-ups. So, keep your indoor for 55 and use the outdoor for the rest.

Not a bad idea. I hold out hope of getting the set top out of the living room, but that is an option.

After reading this entire thread I noticed that the Champaign CBS and the Quadcities CBS both don't broadcast in HD.

I had hopes of snagging one of those even if it meant a big ugly Yagi. Hmmmmmm. That sucks. Guess there is no plan B outside of bribing a satellite rep to hook me up with Direct Tv's HD CBS. ;-) What am I winking for, I'm sure it's been done.

bribing a satellite rep to hook me up with Direct Tv's HD CBS

Or you could drop by the CBS station in Peoria and ask the General Manager to give you a waiver to get the CBS-HD feed. If that fails, then it's time to get sneaky. If you do try to get a waiver from the Peoria station, post your results. CBS can't be too happy at their Nexstar stations' refusal to install HD equipment and I wonder if they have asked them to be liberal in granting waivers. In the past, they would never grant a waiver, but several of us in the Champaign area have received them from WCIA.

MIKE

Well, Russ Hamilton (WCIA Station Manager) had said that he would put through the approval for my waiver the next day (3/26). Nothing showing up yet. I realize that it can theoretically take 45 days to go through, but I don't know where that delay usually occurs... I would think that the most time is spent waiting for the station to either approve or deny. My cycnical pessimistic nature makes me think he probably blew me off... :(

-Dan

My cycnical pessimistic nature makes me think he probably blew me off...

I fear you may be correct. Waivers appear to be handled via a secure website. Mine showed up on DISH's computers the next day.

Did you furnish him your account number with your satellite provider? I think they may need this to connect the waiver to your account. Maybe a polite reminder phone call might be in order.

BTW, when you spoke with him did he say whether WCIA had any plans, even distant ones, to upgrade to HD?

MIKE

EAW,

I also live in Morton and have a CM4228 mounted in my attic. It is on a rotator, but I can pick up everything including 43-1 when it is pointed correctly. When the antenna is pointed toward 43-1, I can also pick up the digitals for 19, 25, 31, 47, and 55. I have to rotate it to pick up Decatur (17-1 and 23-1) and digital 59. I should also mention I have a pre-amp.

On a side note, I actually wrote a letter to Sherman's asking them to quit advertising on WMBD until they grant waivers to everyone to get CBS-HD. I did buy my TV from them. Lot of good that letter did, huh. Has anyone tried to contact anyone at Viacom? I looked for anyone's e-mail address but none are on the web site.

HDinIL,

Wow, great info. Guess this is why a forum like this exists.

I realize that a certain amount of anonymity on the internet is a good thing but I was wondering if you would be willing to say which side of town you live on (I don't think that reveals too much). I'm towards the north (not as far as Hyde Park though), newer subdivison (10 years old or so) several blocks off of 74. Based on what I can get with an old set top terk on the first floor, I assume I'm in a good spot. Perhaps the attic is an option afterall.

If I could trouble you for two more questions:

1. Did you install yourself or contract it out?

2. How do rotors work? Specifically, do you program them to rotate when certain channels are selected or do you have to go to the channel then pick up a new remote and punch in some coordinates? Feel free to make fun of me with that question, I'm just not familiar.

Take care.

Has anyone tried to contact anyone at Viacom

Perhaps even better, the guy who owns DISH has proposed that when Congress amends SHIVA this year that satellite providers be given the right to provided a network HD feed to any market where the local affiliate doesn't pass through network HD programming. The NAB opposes, of course. Since a provision like this affects only a small number of markets, it seems it might have a chance of passage. Be sure to contact your Congressman and Senators when this bill is near a vote. Right now it is in very early committee hearings.

MIKE

EAW

YOu have a PM.

Just to disappoint you, I drove by WILL's tower this afternoon and
there is no obvious sign of any activity.

I think they are stonewalling .... the "tower survey" is just an
excuse for a station director who wants to stall.

Doug McDonald

I emailed Russ Hamilton early last week asking about the waiver status and whether they needed more information from me (I didn't have my Dish subscriber number when I went to see him back in March). I supplied all the specific information in the email, hoping I would at least get some sort of response, even if it was to say "you cannot have a waiver."

Nothing. The lack of courtesy on WCIA/CBS's part is reprehensible.

I will miss CSI, but so be it. I intend to take this next week and jot down who the major advertisers are during CBS primetime, and then send them mail explaining extactly why I will not be buying their products.

Our local CBS affiliate can go straight to hell, with FOX and PBS close behind.

-Dan

Originally posted by heavyharmonies
I emailed Russ Hamilton early last week asking about the waiver status and whether they needed more information from me (I didn't have my Dish subscriber number when I went to see him back in March). I supplied all the specific information in the email, hoping I would at least get some sort of response, even if it was to say "you cannot have a waiver."

Nothing. The lack of courtesy on WCIA/CBS's part is reprehensible.

I will miss CSI, but so be it. I intend to take this next week and jot down who the major advertisers are during CBS primetime, and then send them mail explaining extactly why I will not be buying their products.

Our local CBS affiliate can go straight to hell, with FOX and PBS close behind.

-Dan

Don't get mad, get even. You can get CBS HD either by installing a DirecTV system and giving a Chicago service address or by buying and installing a StarChoice system to get service from Canada. If you're somewhat "handy," installing the equipment isn't a big deal, and if you go the Canadian route, you'll get the superior CBC coverage of the summer Olympics as well.

check out www.global-cm.net and click on "Canadian Solution".

John C.

I appreciate the suggestion, but why should I spend an additional $30-40 a month to get an alternate provider in some other community or country?

I would sooner cease watching CBS entirely. As long as they are being given the public airwaves for free, they need to get their heads out of their collective asses.

-Dan

P.S. Even if I opted for one of the solutions you suggest, I am not "handy" in any sense of the word... :(

Originally posted by heavyharmonies
I emailed Russ Hamilton early last week asking about the waiver status and whether they needed more information from me (I didn't have my Dish subscriber number when I went to see him back in March). I supplied all the specific information in the email, hoping I would at least get some sort of response, even if it was to say "you cannot have a waiver."

Nothing. The lack of courtesy on WCIA/CBS's part is reprehensible.


Our local CBS affiliate can go straight to hell, with FOX and PBS close behind.

-Dan

e-mail to Russ won't work ... try the phone, it may work

But while it is valid to attack Fox/WCCU for not being on the air,
it is true that Fox DTV is only about 50 feet away from you ...
50 feet up higher for your antenna. You're behind Yankee
Ridge ... get above it and you will get WRSP. It might only take
25 feet. If WCCU were on, you'd of course get it on a paper clip.

PBS is of course totally reprehensible: we have two PBS stations
that have construction permits that would send us a DTV signal,
and both are foot-dragging. Both have the CP, both have the money
in the bank.

Doug McDonald

We're moving forward on WCCU, and are ordering the equipment this week. We do plan to be on in time for FOX's move to 720pHD this fall.

We do plan to be on in time for FOX's move to 720pHD this fall.

Great news. Once that happens, I'll be able to get all the digital broadcasts with a little amplified indoor antenna I got at Radio Shack. Since WILL-DT will be on a VHF channel I may have to do something additional for them.

Now if FOX can order the Bears a new quarterback all will be well in the world.

MIKE

Something in the air?

More of a general question here:

Starting Saturday I've been getting major pixelation (sp?) on channels that have always been fine. WRSP now does not come in for me and WEEK which is a short distance of my home has to be tweaked just right to come in and it will dip out.

Granted, I'm using a set top still but it's the same set top I've always used.

I guess my question is what the heck could change to cause this?

FYI, no new structures or construction or obstructions in or around my house and neighborhood.

Edit: I've just spent a little more time with my TV and I get strong signal readings 70's on the digital channels but major pixelation on all of them. Unwatchable. The Direct TV signal and channels are fine so it would seem to not be my TV.

Excellent surround sound on the ABC movie on WAND tonight. Keep it up guys. I wish everyone else sounded that good.

For the last couple of weeks I have been unable to recieve 17-1 or 23-1 on a consistent basis or at all and I live with in 15 miles of the transmitters. I am using an outdoor antenna in my attic and with the next step up in size antenna pointed towards peoria i can get 25-1, 31-1, 43-1, 46-4, 47-1. What gives? Also tonight no audio on WEEK 25-1.

last couple of weeks I have been unable to recieve 17-1 or 23-1 on a consistent basis

They are coming in good and strong in Champaign. However the lip-sync problem persists. Anyone know of a fix? If it was just one tuner, I'd blame that, but I get it on both ATSC tuners I have, though it is worse in the DISH 811.

MIKE

My head hurts.

I just got email from Russ Hamilton informing me that he had put through waiver approval on my behalf, and gave me a 10-digit reference number for the approval.

I call Dish and speak with the wonderful folks in India, who inform me that my waiver requests were all denied (the most recent being from back in February, long before I ever spoke with Mr. Hamilton). I give them the 10-digit number. CSR sounds confused as to what the number is. They put me on hold for 5 minutes, then come back and say that no such number exists. They tell me that I have to have WCIA fax them a form.

This flies in the face of what Mr. Hamilton had told me, that it was all handled electronically.

Is there any different method of contating Dish to get someone who actually knows the HD waiver process?

This is agonizingly tedious...

-Dan

WAND is not carrying the Super Bowl. Fox is carrying it. We will not have it again until 2007. Also, WAND is already at full power, not half power.

heavyharmonies,

We had a similar situation, and we basically just told the DISH CSR the following:

"WCIA says that they realize you'd rather have a fax, but all they are obligated to do is approve the waiver online, which they have done, and you should be able to get it from the website."

At that point the CSR said it might take a while to get it that way, because it's a more complicated process, etc., and we said "fine, we'll wait." It actually didn't take that long. I think the channels came on within a day.

So I'd say try again... it worked for us. We still don't get CBS-HD, but it's because we don't have a dish pointed at the right satellite. We do get KCBS and WCBS in SD, so at least we know the waiver works.

Can somebody who does have this working explain what we'd need to do to actually get CBS-HD? Right now we have a Dish 500. My understanding is that we'd need to put up another dish and point it at 61.5 or 148. Is that correct? How much would the equipment cost, or would DISH provide us with the equipment for free?

Thanks,
Erick

I'll also add that I'm seeing an audio sync problem on WAND, with both a DISH 811 and a pcHDTV card.

Can somebody who does have this working explain what we'd need to do to actually get CBS-HD? Right now we have a Dish 500. My understanding is that we'd need to put up another dish and point it at 61.5 or 148. Is that correct? How much would the equipment cost, or would DISH provide us with the equipment for free?

It gets more complicated. I just got off the phone with a Dish rep, and they introduced a whole new level of complexity to this. According to him, not only would I have to install a second dish, but since they do not have any 4-satellite switches available yet, I cannot combine the feed from the 61.5 satellite with the SuperDish feed (SuperDish points to satellites at the 105, 110, and 119 locations).

Until a 4-sat switch comes out (he says they are in the works), I would have to have a separate receiver to watch local HD on, and another one to watch everything else.

If this is true, it's more of a mess than it's worth.

-Dan

Originally posted by bdfox18doe
We're moving forward on WCCU, and are ordering the equipment this week. We do plan to be on in time for FOX's move to 720pHD this fall.

Hallelujah!

If WICD gets on the air soon and WCCU follows by the Fox deadline (football season), I'll probably get an HD-TIVO from DirecTV and say goodbye to Bell from Canada. And maybe if all the other major networks are broadcasting HD in this market, Nextstar (WCIA) will feel the heat. PBS is annoying, but I can get that off my big dish (Nebraska's state PBS service has an HD feed available via the 4DTV big dish system).

Things seem to finally be turning the corner.

John C.

Originally posted by les_S
Also tonight no audio on WEEK 25-1.

I didn't have audio on WEEK 25 (57-1) tonight either. I have heard others report this as well for HD programming. Anyone hear anything from them (no pun intended).

I would have to have a separate receiver to watch local HD on, and another one to watch everything else.

Or you could take the LNB from the Superdish that you use to get locals and put it on a dish pointed at 61.5. You lose locals via Dish but I can get all of them OTA with an indoor antenna (from Southwest Champaign). That's what I'm doing and it is reasonably convenient.

MIKE

I called WICD today and they have their digital microwave up and
working. A few minor problems remain, some boards will
hopefully arrive tomorrow. They claim it is just a matter of fixing
every little problem up as each other small one crops up, and then
they will be on in HD. This is good news.

Doug McDonald

Bloomington - Peoria 19 and 31 won't stay locked.
Have a cm 3020 mounted 6ft above the roof on a 2 story home.
Have a cm 7777 pre-amp, rotor and LST-3100a tuner. Decatur and Springfield come in ok. Wtvp from peoria comes in ok. Week comes and gos.
Have picked up nothing from Champaign. Is this normal or should I be getting all Peoria stations and some Champaign?
Mike

In Normal, I can get with Built-in HD tuner on Mitsu WS-55513

WYZZDT 43.01
WHOIDT 19.01
WAOEDT 59.39
WEEKDT 57.01
WTVP 46.01
WMBDDT 31.01 - comes in most of the time
WTVPHD 46.04

With a RadioShack stealth Antenna on my roof


Im thinking of getting a second bigger antenna to pick up springfeild

Verboten--

How is your strength on WTPV and WAOE? I am in Bloomington by the airport and cannot get a consistent signal on those with my 7 foot directional from Radio Shack, mounted on the roof and cm amp. I get all other Peoria stations fine.

Are you using an amp at all and what is your cable run? I am at just over 30 to the amp and 60 after. I was thinking that maybe an inline amp may help but am not sure.

Originally posted by tbone1218
Bloomington -

Have picked up nothing from Champaign. Is this normal or should I be getting all Peoria stations and some Champaign?
Mike

Getting Champaign stations WCIA and WICD is unlikely in Bloomington at their current pathetic power levels. At full power WCIA should be fairly easy,
WICD might still be extremely hard. WILL will be easy when they come on. WCIA and WILL are just barely under the horizon.

WILL is getting tired of my bothering them asking when they will be on ....
somebody else should call them up and ask for engineering, and
ask. But remember, they were scheduled for Jan. 15, 2004 by their
own count, then Feb. 15, 2004, then they reneged.

Doug McDonald

The following Website makes it easy to send e-mail to your Congressman and Senators expressing support for a proposed amendment to SHIVA to allow satellite carriers to provide HD programming if local stations refuse to do so:

http://www.iwantmyhdtv.com/iwanthdtv/index.jsp

It only takes a few minutes to send the e-mail and may make a difference when Congress takes up this issue.

MIKE

Originally posted by tbone1218
Decatur and Springfield come in ok. Wtvp from peoria comes in ok. Week comes and gos.
Have picked up nothing from Champaign. Is this normal or should I be getting all Peoria stations and some Champaign?

I am just North of the Bloomington airport with a 4 bay CM antenna, on roter w/ CM 7777 preamp, just above the roof line. I get 57-1 very strong. 19-1, 46-1, 46-4, and WRSP-44 out of Spfld are all very good. I can pull both WCIA and WCID with the antenna pointed correctly pretty reliabily. The shakey one is 31-1 and 43-1 is even worse.

I continue to try to pull a CBS HD (St. Louis-56, Quincy-29, Indy-9, South Bend-30, Rockford-41) just to make me more upset that we can't get anything here.

I have a Samsung TS160 pointed at Peoria Bloomington with the Radio Shack VU-190 XR. I recieve 25-1, 31-1, 43-1, 46-4, 47-1 all with a very strong signal. For some reason I don't get 19-1 and when I type in the channel it says invalid. However I do get 19 just fine. Is 19-1 located on another frequency like 25-1?

Originally posted by les_S
For some reason I don't get 19-1 and when I type in the channel it says invalid. However I do get 19 just fine. Is 19-1 located on another frequency like 25-1?

The digital channel for WHOI out of Peoria is 40-1. On first tuning, on my Samsung T-151 it then remaps to 19-1.

Is this a strong signal?? Does it compare to WEEK?

I live South East of Bloomington just off I-74 near Downs.
cm4228 antenna w/ cm7777 pre-amp, roter and LG LSS-3200A HD receiver.

The LSS-3200 has a signal meter: BAD NORMAL GOOD
but I put the signals into percentage form for the digital channels I receive.

3-1 WCIA-DT 95%
8-1 WQAD-DT (Quad Cities) 80% tonite, but some nights there is no signal.
15-1 WICD-DT 90%
17-1 WAND-DT 92%
19-1 WHOI-DT 94%
20-1 WICS-DT 95%
23-1 WBUI-DT 98%
25-1 WEEK-DT 98%
31-1 WMBD-DT 70%
43-1 WYZZ-DT 80% (Dialogue was coming from surround speakers though)
46-4 WTVP-DT 90% PBS-HD
47-1 WTVP-DT 90%
55-1 WRSP-DT 95%
59-1 WAOE-DT 91%

I could not be happier with the combination of antenna, pre-amp and rotor setup I am using. It is mounted about 5' up on a 2 story home. Thanks to the AVS forum and especially this Central Illinois thread for all the info !

Paul

I'd have given you a prize just for getting 43-1. That's a nice list. Good work.

Is there a HD CBS in there? 3-1 or 8-1?

Thanks EAW.

No local CBS-HD. A major complaint in this area.

8-1 is ABC out of the Quad Cities. Their web-site shows they are really trying to embrace DTV and HD.

I get my CBS-HD from Direct TV.

I just talked to WILL. And as I suspected, they are getting increasingly
annoyed at my calls. Very annoyed.

They are now claiming that the report on the stability of their tower
is due May 7. If they tower is judged OK they will proceed at some
unstated pace to install their DTV antenna. If the tower is not judged OK,
they won't say what happens. Presumably it means they will get to stall
another year like they already have.

Doug McDonald

I just talked to WILL. And as I suspected, they are getting increasingly annoyed at my calls. Very annoyed.

If you really want to annoy them, make a Freedom of Information Act request for the tower report after it's due date.

MIKE

Tactics like that are a real good way to PO broadcasters where they won't talk to you at all. If you think 3 people complaining about DTv will change their plans you're sadly mistaken.

Well, in my case WILL is different. I can do more than complain. Not a lot, but some. I can stop my long standing monthly contribution to WILL and tell them why.

Not familiar with WILL and I would not take to harassing a broadcaster. #1 I don't think that would help and #2 It's not my style.

Having said that, I am aware of circumstances where stations (a station) has put their budget ahead of my HD viewing. I must say that they are perfectly within their rights to do so as the world does not revolve around me and I can live with it as a budget decision right up until the point where I am lied to and rudely dismissed after only two cordial written inquiries.

At that point, said station must understand that the world doesn't revolve around them either. They must also undrstand that just as they have budgetary concerns, I, as a person on the front end of a new technonlogy, need to maximize my investment as well and I will do so.

I talked to the chief engineer. I only sensed a slight annoyance, perhaps at being taken from his engineering work. I just asked about the status he said they are working on the equipment install and if things go well with the antenna I could expect about mid-June.

I am still amazed at WILL having the tower checked so late in the game.

Why did they not get this done before they got the equipment??
Why promise the dates that have now passed without first checking the tower?
Is this the way bureaucracy works with Public Money?

I subscribe to WILL and love their programing but something has certainly gone amiss with the management team.

I believe we should keep contacting them even if they get pissed off. It's our station and our money -- Public Broadcasting.

Cheers,

Geoffrey

Originally posted by PBM8
I live South East of Bloomington just off I-74 near Downs.
cm4228 antenna w/ cm7777 pre-amp, roter and LG LSS-3200A HD receiver.

The LSS-3200 has a signal meter: BAD NORMAL GOOD
but I put the signals into percentage form for the digital channels I receive.

3-1 WCIA-DT 95%
8-1 WQAD-DT (Quad Cities) 80% tonite, but some nights there is no signal.
15-1 WICD-DT 90%
17-1 WAND-DT 92%
19-1 WHOI-DT 94%
20-1 WICS-DT 95%
23-1 WBUI-DT 98%
25-1 WEEK-DT 98%
31-1 WMBD-DT 70%
43-1 WYZZ-DT 80% (Dialogue was coming from surround speakers though)
46-4 WTVP-DT 90% PBS-HD
47-1 WTVP-DT 90%
55-1 WRSP-DT 95%
59-1 WAOE-DT 91%

I could not be happier with the combination of antenna, pre-amp and rotor setup I am using. It is mounted about 5' up on a 2 story home. Thanks to the AVS forum and especially this Central Illinois thread for all the info !

Paul

OK Paul you make me *extremely* jealous. How many separately positions do you have for your rotor???

T

WAND-DT is at full power and has been broadcasting 18 hours a day, 6AM to midnight, as on April 1st. The FCC now requires all stations to have there DT on a minimum of 75% of the "normal" analog broadcast day.

Thumper,

I did not mean to make anyone jealous. The more I read my post the more it seemed like I was bragging; not my intent. I was hoping others in the area might try a similar setup since it has worked so well for me.

I am not sure if I exactly understand your rotor question. But I am able to tweak in each station about 2 degrees at a time (CM 9521A Rotor) and then lock them in on the rotor as the same channel as the HD receiver. For the most part there are really only 3 "positions" my antenna needs to point: East (Champaign), South West (Springfield)
and West (Peoria/Bloomington).

Paul

Originally posted by mraub
If you really want to annoy them, make a Freedom of Information Act request for the tower report after it's due date.

MIKE

I suspect that that would not be necessary ... the engineer is a nice guy,
despite getting annoyed with my phone calls.


I'll tell you what does annoy them badly:

1) complaining about their left wing politics

2) and worst of all ... absolute fear, loathing, and panic: a threat
to do a FOA on their (FM) classical music selection blacklist. That's one that
will cause incipient choking and heart attacks. We do know,
however, the piece at the top of the list: Symphony #9 by Ludwig
van Beethoven. Absolutely blacklisted are most Mahler and Bruckner
symphonies and some Brahms orchestral pieces.

Doug McDonald

Originally posted by jdmcdonald
2) and worst of all ... absolute fear, loathing, and panic: a threat
to do a FOA on their (FM) classical music selection blacklist. That's one that
will cause incipient choking and heart attacks. We do know,
however, the piece at the top of the list: Symphony #9 by Ludwig
van Beethoven. Absolutely blacklisted are most Mahler and Bruckner
symphonies and some Brahms orchestral pieces.

Doug McDonald

How do "we" know this?

What is the difference between 55-1 and 55-2? WRSP

Just curious.

Originally posted by EAW
What is the difference between 55-1 and 55-2? WRSP

Just curious.

55-1 is the standard audio and 55-2 has the SAP audio.

What is the difference between 55-1 and 55-2? WRSP

I can't get 55 over here, but the -1 is usually the main digital broadcast while -2 is a subchannel. I don't know what 55 carries on their subchannel, but WAND carries their weather radar on thier -2 channel.

MIKE

Originally posted by dsinder
How do "we" know this?


A little birdie told me. I should add that excerpts of Beethoven ane Brahms are allowed, just not the works the way they are intended to be played.

This does not apply to the evening concerts, which of course they
do not themselves program, nor the Saturday
afternoon vocal ghetto. It does apply, obviously, to the
stuff they play at night from the Beethoven Satellite Network,
which operates in strict 60 minute segments. This latter was told me
by one of their programmers, as they are not prohibited from talking publicly about that.

Doug McDonald

Well I am in Urbana and right now the only HDTV Channel I can get is WAND. Anyone know who is likely to go HDTV next and how soon?

Thanks!

Well I am in Urbana and right now the only HDTV Channel I can get is WAND. Anyone know who is likely to go HDTV next and how soon?

Thanks!

WICD will be next. Soon. They got their digital microwave STL installed.

I'm not sure what the holdup is. I don't know whether they have,
for example, the digital HD staellite downlink working yet.

After WICD it's hard to guess. WILL should, by any reasonable
criterion, be next, but they are not reasonable. They are probably
intentionally stalling until the end of their fiscal year, which is June 30.
I would not expect them to be digital before then.

That leaves WRSP/WCCU and WEIU. WRSP is, of course, actually
transmitting 1080i right now. They are promising HD when Fox starts sending
it to them (And they will switch to 720p at that time.) They are talking
perhaps turning on WCCU at the same time. Maybe.

WEIU lacks a tower. They don't even have an STA for their current
pathetic tower.

WBUI is an unknown.

Then WAND and WICD switch networks.

Then Hell freezes over.

Then ABC (i.e. WICD) overtakes CBS as the most popular
network, so we then get the most popular network in HD.

Then, finally, WCIA goes HD.

Doug McDonald

WRSP is, of course, actually transmitting 1080i right now. They are promising HD when Fox starts sending it to them (And they will switch to 720p at that time.)

It appears WRSP is broadcasting at 720p now, according to my STB. I'm not sure when they switched over. I know before they were at 1080i.

Well I would love to get fox but WCCU is all i can get in.. I hope they go HD soon or at least 480p

A guy connected with Fox Network sometimes posts on this thread. A few weeks ago he posted that the HD equipment for WCCU has been ordered and they expect to be ready by the time Fox starts 720p broadcasts in the Fall. I read somewhere else that Fox is going to use a HD distribution system that makes it relatively inexpensive for an affiliate to retransmit HD.

It looks like we should be in pretty good shape for HD here in Central Illinois by Fall. If you get a waiver from WCIA you can get CBS-HD off DISH or DirecTV.

MIKE

Originally posted by mraub
If you get a waiver from WCIA you can get CBS-HD off DISH or DirecTV.

MIKE

Problem is I don't want to pay another big bundle of money. I get
WCIA just fine ... they should simply pass through the HD that
CBS sends them. The amount of money that they need to spend
is totally negligible compared to how much their viewers have
spent on HD receiving equipment!

Somebody should call WILL-TV and ask about their so-called
"tower survey" that was supposed to be delivered last
Friday and ask "when will you actually be on"?

Doug McDonald

I agree, but NexStar claims it will cost them $1 million for each of their 50 or so stations to upgrade to HD and that expenditure won't increase their revenues significantly--a typical bean-counter approach. They bought so many stations in such a short period of time I suspect they are very cash shy.

I don't know how often CBS renegotiates their affiliate contracts and if they can force HD on reluctant affiliates in that process. I'm sure CBS is not happy with NexStar's foot dragging.

Preliminary reports suggest Congress is not going to help us out when they renew SHIVA. The suggestion for automatic waivers for markets not served by OTA HD was not included in the first House committee's recommendations. Maybe it will fly better in the Senate.

MIKE

Originally posted by mraub
A guy connected with Fox Network sometimes posts on this thread. A few weeks ago he posted that the HD equipment for WCCU has been ordered and they expect to be ready by the time Fox starts 720p broadcasts in the Fall.
MIKE

I'm not affiliated with FOX..I'm with the company that owns WRSP/WCCU, and am responsible for the system design of WCCU-DT, same as WRSP-DT.

The plan for WCCU is to be on in time for the FOX fall season..:)

First, let me apologize for interrupting the flow of OTA HDTV discussions here.

I'm an ISF calibrator, based in St. Louis, and I've recently received a inquiry from a gentleman in Champaign who's interested in having his television calibrated. However, in order to make it worth my while and not have to charge him the full brunt of my travel cost, we're working together to try to line up other folks who would be interested in having their sets calibrated.

He's provided me with contact names at several of the dealers in Champaign and I thought it might be useful to post a note here.

At this point, I'm going to be traveling to Champaign (at least) sometime in June or July. Dates are pretty flexible at the moment, but this will likely change in the next week or so. In addition to Champaign, I'd be prepared to expand this trip to cover other nearby customers in Springfield, Peoria, Bloomington or Decatur (or points in between) if there's additional interest.

I don't want to bore anyone with an all-out sales pitch, but I've been an ISF-trained calibrator for over 2 years and I've calibrated roughly 150 displays during that time. I have detailed knowledge and expertise on Mitsubushi, Hitachi, Pioneer, Sony, Toshiba, Samsung and Panasonic RPTVs and some of the plasma panels, as well as some experience with Sony, Vidikron and Dwin front projectors.

Of course, I'm happy to provide references if that's helpful.

You can find out more about me, some background on video calibrations and my price list at my web site, which is listed in my signature.

If anyone is interested or knows someone who might be, please feel free to contact me via AVS private message, and I promise that I'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Again, apologies for (temporarily) hijacking your thread.

Glad to see I'm not the only one living in the Morton area trying to get HDTV. Has anyone in the area tried to get the DT OTA channels with VOOMs receiver? I have a Terk-TV35 that in my attic. I can get WMBD, but it seems to drop the signal every few minutes. WEEK doesn't come in at all. WAOE comes in perfectly. WHOI is not registered with the VOOM box, so I guess I have to call them and have it added to the menu. WTVP comes in great and WYZZ, I get nothing. I'm guessing a preamp will clean up most of my problems. What is my chance of getting WYZZ with a preamp and an attenna pointing to Peoria instead of Bloomington?

Any suggestions on a better setup for Morton?

Stevet96

That is weird about a month I had an STB and was able to get WEEK pretty well and I am 47 miles to the south of Peoria. I am surprised you are having problems in Morton.

T

I'm not sure but according to antennaweb.org the PBS tower is within a half mile of me. I'm not sure if that is close enough to cause a problem. I also think it might be the voom tuner. I'm not sure how good of a signel others with voom are getting.

Anyone else having issues with the repeated CBS / UPN signal (WCIA / WCFN) out of Springfield?

On my Hughes HTL-HD, I noticed two things -- 1) no sound from either channel and 2) CBS switched from 3-1 to 49-2. Normally, I would attribute this to station issues. But, I just received a software update on my receiver last night, so that could be the problem as well.

Can anyone shed some light on this? Thanks!

Hey Steve,

HDinillinois seems to have a great set up in Morton. He even gets 43-1 (28-1) with an attic set up. I am jealous.

Right now I am getting everyting you would expect with a set top (7 year old $30 terk) except WYZZ (this includes WRSP Springfield which comes in strong). I've contacted a few people about an install but they don't make a ton of money on the deal so it's hard to get them motivated.

WILL's tower report is in: its OK.

This means that they could have made their Jan. 2004 DTV date if they
had wanted to, and not really really really been trying to procrastinate.

Their permit expires Aug. 4. This means that they have successfully
put if off as long as they could get away with. They must really really
not want to do it.

Doug McDonald

Has anyone heard any news about additions to the Insight cable HD package? I called the entry CSR and they, of course, knew nothing. I was wondering about TNT-HD. Some time ago, I thought I read something about possibly getting INHD1 and 2 (which I would gladly take but isn't that run by another cable company?)

They also said no further news on adding WEEK.

Kinda off-topic, but just a comment on TNT-HD: Nice! Got home from work today and it was active on Dish.

The upconversion they're doing is a lot better than ESPN's upconversion; they use a stretch mode where the stretch is minimized for most of the screen, increasing out to the edges (hard to describe, not sure what the proper term for it is). The quality of the SD upconverts is *much* better than watching the normal SD TNT channel. I'm watching Charmed right now, and I'd put it at almost DVD quality. Many commercials as well as promos for upcoming movies and originals are in actual HD. Occasional sync issues on commercials; I assume they'll iron out technical difficulties as they go along; after all it is the first day of official launch.

Way way cool for no additional cost... (I watch a *lot* of TNT being a Law & Order and Charmed junkie...)

-Dan

Emailed WILL over the weekend asking when HDTV would be transmitted, and got the following reply.


Our plans at the present time call for a July on-air date.

Ed West
Chief Engineer

=========
We can wait in hope:)

Cheers,

Geoffrey

Any one know how WICD is progressing in getting their HD up and running? Tuned in the Tonight Show last week and it still was not HD.

MIKE

WRSP?????

When I tuned to WRSP tonight, my (Samsung T-151) STB
hung up and I was unable to get it to display anything at all
on the screen ... no picture, no menus, no nothing ... until I removed the
antenna and turned it off and then on again, and them I could
change the channel and it worked when I reconnected the antenna.

Anybody else notice something wrong?

Doug McDonald

Just checked it on MyHD card, and it seems fine now. Maybe they had a problem earlier.

jtv

WRSP is working for me -- HTL-HD.

One thing I have noticed lately -- the audio from WCFN and WCIA (49-1 and 49-2 out of Springfield) seems MUCH louder than the other local digital channels. I think this is a recent change that occurred about the same time 3-1 was remapped to 49-2. It's extremely annoying, especially when you're purposely trying to keep the volume low (i.e. not wake a baby up) and the sound comes blaring out of nowhere. I'm to the point now that I just skip over the channels entirely and don't bother watching them any more...

I'm not usually one to b*tch, but I'm really disappointed in how the owners of WCIA / WCFN are handling the whole digital transition (no HD now or in near future, blaring audio, lackluster visual quality compared to other digital stations, etc.) They seem to be at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to digital TV. :(

WRSP is running a "new" version of PSIP, however all should be fine and with full epg now.

Originally posted by bdfox18doe
WRSP is running a "new" version of PSIP, however all should be fine and with full epg now.

My Samsung TS160 got into a reboot loop around 8:45 CST time last night. Great timing as I was flipping channels during a 24 commercial break (I get WRSP off the back of my antenna, I typically watch KTVI out of St. Louis). Are you saying that is fixed now? Or is it this "new" version that is going to cause a problem with this box?

I know this box is very sensitive to PSIP, but with the new firmware (just over a year ago), I have had very little problem with it. Its kind of amazing after all this time there are still compatibility issues.

So I got to watch the last few minutes of 24 in SD on a different box while I fought with it to change channels before it rebooted again (this was after I changed it to no satellite dish so it came right up instead of trying to download channel data after reboot). I could have disconnected the cable like jdmcdonald did, but I got it to change on about the 3rd or 4th try before it rebooted.

Don't know Matt, it shouldn't. However, my past experience with Sammy is an attitude that the problem is always caused someone else, and not them. Despite having other brands of boxes work fine side by side...
I have seen some flaky things with my 160 as well, when my Sylvania
(made by Funai) Sony300,RCA100, and others work perfectly fine.

Yall keep me posted with what you encounter..and Thanks in Advance.

Ok, the problem at this point is that both I and jdmcdonald have the issue, and those are just those that posted. Many people have this box and are on the same firmware (DirecTV was even using this model to give to customers as part of their discount deal direct to customers). The box is almost 2 years old so Sammy is done with firmware for it. And I thought most stations figured out any issues with this long ago since it is such a popular box.

So my point is, Samsung is not going to touch this issue with a 10 foot pole, so it is going to be up to WRSP to fix it, whether it is really their problem or not.

Of course, I'd have to question why 100's of other stations don't have trouble with this box . . . and many of them that did have problems at one time were able to tweak-work-around it.

I'm also assuming it wasn't a mode that still needs to be tweaked because you just turned it on or something--I'm implying from your post that "this is the way it is".

Thanks for the reply . . .

Originally posted by bdfox18doe
Don't know Matt, it shouldn't. However, my past experience with Sammy is an attitude that the problem is always caused someone else, and not them. Despite having other brands of boxes work fine side by side...
I have seen some flaky things with my 160 as well, when my Sylvania
(made by Funai) Sony300,RCA100, and others work perfectly fine.

Yall keep me posted with what you encounter..and Thanks in Advance.

My box has the "firmware" it came with. It's not a DirectTV box ...
just a plain ATSC one.

This problem is much worse than the one WCIA had .... with them,
you simply did not receive them. With this problem, the box locks
up and you can't receive anybody (until you disconnect the antenna
and change stations.)

Doug McDonald

WICD (and presumably WICS)

I found out about WICD and HDTV this morning.

They are all ready to go except for one piece of equipment.,
an HD frame synchronizer or something that sounds like that. This is
apparently only needed for NBC stations (not CBS or ABC) and
Sinclair didn't know to order this when everything else was ordered.

When it arrives they should be on within hours.

Doug MCDonald

Unfortunately, you will see more stations running the same software we are, and we will have to continue to use it as well for contractual reasons.
I have confirmed the following from two seperate sources:

Yes. It is a known bug with the Samsung units. They have agreed, publicly, to fix this problem. Check their website but otherwise advise your viewers that they need to contact Samsung for a fix.

You should not have any problem tonite on 55-1, however you should see
the same problem on 55-2. I have also alerted my contacts at Samsung.

Doug, If you'll pm me with an address I can give you a location to get firmware upgrades for you.

bdfox18doe:

send the address to mcdonald@scs.uiuc.edu (this address is
about as public as they get already)

bdfox18doe: Samsung says there is no firmware upgrade for the SIRT151

I sure hope setting it to not try 55-2 works!

Doug McDonald

I'd put it on ebay and soon. Let me know what you see tonight. Thanks.

WRSP: it seems somewhat different, does not work, but at least
55-1 does not cause total freeups ... after numerous tries I could
escape.

I bought a Motorola box, which works fine.

Doug McDonald

I'll do one more thing tomorrow to confirm the cause.

If it gets fixed I have 30 days to return the Motorola. Or maybe I'll use it
on the TV in the bedroom.

Doug McDonald

First I have a Samsung T-151. Regarding WRSP - I tuned it in tonight (the family had to see AI!!) around 6:55p. When it went from the local feed to the national WS feed, I lost red (in the RGB). I flipped to another station and came back to 55-1 and it was fine, only to lose Red again in about 10 minutes (I'm not sure exactly when). I powered down, came back and all was fine. I did this twice. The family said it then held for the remaining 1.5 hours (did they really stretch that final show out to 2 hours??).

Anyway, I don't remember having such trouble ever before. Could this wacky Red loss be attributed to any change?

bdfox18doe - you have posted on AVS since the beginning of WRSP going digital and I just wanted you to know it is much appreciated. I (we?) know more about this station than any other around here. Thanks.

You're welcome dg..Glad to help.
I'd say you have a possible monitor issue, loose or bad cable..etc..as nothing we could do would cause the loss of red.

Doug, I have made an additional change. Please let me know what you see
now.

I will try again tonight. I will have to reconnect the SIR-T151, as
I am now using the Motorola, which I don't like the "feel" of. I will do this.

With these boxes, I would NOT assume that a psip problem
was INcapable of causing loss of red. I see no reason why a
bug could not cause loss of red!

Doug McDonald

Originally posted by jdmcdonald
IWith these boxes, I would NOT assume that a psip problem
was INcapable of causing loss of red. I see no reason why a
bug could not cause loss of red!

Doug McDonald

I would, being a broadcast engineer that's intimately involved with digital.
There's No way anything in psip can cause that.

Bob: I am sorry that some of the guys are having trouble with your new psip software and I hope you can find a work-around.

On a more positive note, I wanted to let you know that I appreciate the fact that program information is now available at the press of a button. Thanks for the upgrade.

jtv

Originally posted by bdfox18doe
I would, being a broadcast engineer that's intimately involved with digital.
There's No way anything in psip can cause that.


Sure it can!!! As a computer type person, as well as having designed
lots of hardware, I assure you it can!

Scenario is all too sad and familiar. Error in PSIP causes the code
which handles PSIP to jump to a place in itself that is not supposed
to be jumped into, because the writer didn't include a test for some
rare or unexpected event. That unexpected jump causes the code
to write a number in the wrong place in the RAM.

It just accidentally happens, furthermore, that this device has
trimmable DACs. The wrong number happens to be the number
that sets the gain of the red DAC, and it sets it to zero next time
it gets set.

In my new Motorola box, last night this happened to the sound:
the sound disappeared while I was trying to tune to a very weak
station. It required a reboot to fix.


Oh yes ... I tried my SIRT-151 last night Thursday). It still does
not work, though the hangup is not total.

Doug McDonald

I have made a few changes, suggest a re-scan for those of you with Sammy boxes. I have had some strange occurrences with ours here
even with the old version of PSIP.

I tried a rescan with my SRT151 and now it works fine on WRSP.

But not on WICD: their PSIP is screwed up again and they
are now 41-02. I wonder what 41-01 is? Their HDTV without
anything on it?

Doug McDonald

Good deal Doug, I'll want to repeat a few steps next week to confirm
exactly what is happening.

Thanks.

Re: WRSP PSIP

Last night ( Friday) I could get WRSP just fine with either STB,
but there was no program guide.

Doug McDonald

Yes, I have halted EPG for this weekend.

Will WICD up its power output at any point? I am in Urbana and it cuts out sometimes.. it must be a weak signal as I get ABC from decatur in fine.

Kudos to WAND-DT out of Decatur for remembering to flip the switch for the HD hockey tonight (unlike WHOI out of Peoria). Also extra kudos for briefly going to SD for the severe weather report switch in but then right back to HD out of it!

WICD is not a weak signal in Urbana. It's strong. When it goes
full power it will be overwhelming as in overloading.

CBS is not in Decatur ... it's half way to Monticello, East Urbana
is half way in between it and WICD. WAND and WBUI are in Decatur, but
are full power.

I have occasional problems with WICD, since I usually watch
it off a reflection from a tree. The Motorola box seems a bit better
handling this than the Samsung.


Doug McDonald

Doug,
Can you receive WCCU Analog?

D'oh! I don't know why I thought your box was a TS160 (DirecTV box). I knew the TS160 was a problem box (real sensitive to any signal issues, and that counts PSIP changes) but I didn't think it shared this "feature" with other models.

Originally posted by jdmcdonald
My box has the "firmware" it came with. It's not a DirectTV box ...
just a plain ATSC one.

Sorry I meant ABC from decatur! On a bright note I got in fox from springfield the other night around 9pm.. it is the first time I have been able to recieve the digital signal from springfield! It isn't very reliable but it is neat that I can get it at all.

first time I have been able to recieve the digital signal from springfield

I put a very high gain UHF antenna in my attic, but was never able to get FOX from Springfield. With WCCU set to upgrade to HD by this Fall, I kind of gave up on it.

If anyone is interested in a high gain UHF antenna and amp, PM me. I'll make you a heckuva deal. I'm now thinking that a Squareshooter mounted on my satellite dish bracket may be all I'll need for local HD. I hope Congress doesn't change the law and screw up my CBS HD waiver. And I'm still waiting on a DISH 921 HD PVR.

MIKE

I was talking to someone who previously received '0%' on his signal meter from WYZZ. By signal meter I'm talking about the strength meter on his Satellite receiver. He said that yesterday he was showing '80%' but there was no picture.

I've given up even checking that station so I couldn't comment to him on whether or not I'd noticed anything.

Does anyone know if maybe they are testing and/or improving the tower/signal for WYZZ?

Originally posted by bdfox18doe
Doug,
Can you receive WCCU Analog?

Sure. But the picture is crappy, even with the best antenna. The signal
is strong but is below a hill about a mile from me, by a few feet, and
we get a reflection off the Assembly Hall. It has never ever been watchable.,
and I basically never watched it, even for important sports events.

It's too far away and the tower is too low. At full power the digital
should work OK.

Doug McDonald

Originally posted by Savageone79
Sorry I meant ABC from decatur! On a bright note I got in fox from springfield the other night around 9pm.. it is the first time I have been able to recieve the digital signal from springfield! It isn't very reliable but it is neat that I can get it at all.

WRSP-DT is absolutely reliable for me. What came in last night ... not
the first time, however ... was WICS-DT-42 from Springfield, which
is a low power station.

Sometimes later in the Summer I can get St. Louis and the Quad Cities
digitals and more frequently Indy WRTV-DT-25 and WFYI-DT-21.

Doug

I posted here last month about a calibration tour that I was organizing for the Central Illinois area in June.

Original AVS Central Illinois ISF Tour Message (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=3788092#post3788092)

That tour is now confirmed for the week of June 7-12.

In the event that anyone missed the original tour announcement or just hasn't gotten around to contacting me, I wanted to let you know that I still have two openings during those dates where I could schedule calibration sessions.

If anyone is interested, please contact me by phone on one of the numbers below. I'll be finalizing my Central Illinois schedule this Saturday at 6 pm.

Thanks.

Originally posted by jdmcdonald
Sure. But the picture is crappy, even with the best antenna. The signal
is strong but is below a hill about a mile from me, by a few feet, and
we get a reflection off the Assembly Hall. It has never ever been watchable.,
and I basically never watched it, even for important sports events.

It's too far away and the tower is too low. At full power the digital
should work OK.

Doug McDonald

You are exactly describing the meager engineering put into that facility (WCCU) from the beginning. A tower height of only 450ft some 30 miles from Urbana. Compare that to WICD's facility of 1300ft with less overall power at slightly less distance. Height means everything, and pumping out 3 million watts with a directional pattern still won’t cut it. From what I understand of the microwave links they used. They had a microwave picking up 55 off air some 30 or so miles west of Champaign. I remember it had a lot of problems, I heard it took a lighting hit at some point in its life and they just started using an antenna in Urbana at the studio. Not much better then what the cable company was getting at the time. In fact, the cable company would often just take 55 direct from their tower south of Urbana because it had a better signal.

Things might have changed since then. I would hope they have built a full digital microwave link from SPI that does not graze the ground between towers, so when the corn grows it won't get disrupted. That's the other thing; they need a digital link to pass the FOX HD. They could simply upconvert from SD and be done, nothing says they have to do HD. If this gives any indication, they have had that digital transmitter in their facility for years waiting to be turned on. Maybe they did not have the antenna, but they had the transmitter way before anyone did in the market.

I really hope they do things right for the area, C-U and the surrounding counties have had little choice in over the air HD. At least WAND made it happen. I remember when WCIA said they would be first in HD. Ha! Now that corprate greed has taken over, meaning Deathstar, I mean Nextstar. I bet Midwest Television Inc. would have done HD if they still owned WCIA.

Originally posted by mdamberger


Things might have changed since then.

Yea, I'd say. Only about 10% of the post is correct now..

Originally posted by bdfox18doe
Yea, I'd say. Only about 10% of the post is correct now..

If I'm wrong now, let everyone know what has been done since the marginal days of WCCU. If FOX HD will be passed at the WCCU facility, then obviously substantial capital has been invested to make that happen. I know that the WRSP studio had a complete master control rebuild in recent years with digital infrastructure. But it always seemed that 27 got the short end of the stick. The investment in that facility seemed to be minimal at best after sign-on. Was that in 1987? I assume at least the part about a 450ft tower is correct, the FCC data base still shows this. That being the primary complaint from jdmcdonald about reception.

No, the primary WCCU reception complaints are Mt. Hope and
the Assembly Hall.

A taller tower would correct the Mt. Hope problem but
not the Assembly Hall problem. DTV with any respectable
receiver should correct both. Since WCCU-DT is an adjacent
channel to WCCU-analog, there is no problem with a low
power transmitter, the FCC won't allow it.

Doug McDonald

I have re-enabled EPG on WRSP-DT, We'd like to see if the new firmware
spooled to the Samsung 160's earlier this week works any better. (Matt?)

Thanks in advance for the help.

Originally posted by mdamberger
obviously substantial capital has been invested .

It has. All of the equipment required for WCCU to pass FOX's HD signal
has been ordered. If all goes well, WCCU will be on in time for the fall
debut of FOX's HD...with about 330kw ERP to boot.. :)

I'm in Morton.

I have a friend in North Peoria. Fox is a big area of frustration for him. He lives in a higher part of town, has a two story home and a DB4 chimney mount. He gets all other digital locals (WHOI, WEEK, WMBD, WAOE, PBS).

With this set up, he occasionally gets WRSP Springfield (44-1) 55-1. He does not receive WYZZ (28-1) 43-1.

Note: I live very close to the WYZZ tower less than 14 miles and can't get it with my cheapo set top. Yet I can receive 55-1 rock solid strong with it. Hope that doesn't change when they make there changes in the fall for the HD.

I can receive 55-1 rock solid strong with it. Hope that doesn't change when they make there changes in the fall for the HD
WRSP already has all the equipment installed and online for HD this Fall, we're just waiting for FOX to start delivering the HD programming.

good news indeed.

Any news on how far away we are from WICD HD?

About 6 inches (of cable). They are missing one piece of equipment
needed for NBC: if they were CBS they would be on in HD now, but
NBC needs a piece they did not know about. It's ordered.

Doug McDonald

Why does TitanTV show WCCU-DT being on the air? Are they?

Doug McDonald

No, not yet. 9/1st estimate date. We're working with them on several
projects is why It's there.

Those of you with Samsung STB's, here is the link to the upgrade. This upgrade should fix the problems you may have encountered with reception
of WRSP-DT.

http://www.samsungusa.com/stb_upgrade/

Just a quick note, WHOI-TV (ABC, Peoria) wasn't showing the NBA game tonight in HD. I called the newsroom and they said that they got hit with lightning earlier tonight and analog was the only thing they had left.

Originally posted by jdcolombo
I live in the Arbour Meadows subdivision in Savoy,
John Colombo

Anywhere near Jay St?

WMBD and WYZZ are poorly run stations that couldn't care any less about viewers and/or HD.

Maybe if the WYZZ tower was taller than.............. oh.............. me, I could get their digital signal since I'm less than 15 miles from it. But no. That is apparently asking too much.

I wouldn't even care except Springfield (which is great) doesn't show enough Simpsons and WYZZ also has Frasier late at night.

And as far as seeing CSI or Golf in HD on CBS? You will either need to fib to your satellite provider (they'll look the other way, it's money in their pocket) or accept the fact that it is unattainable in Central Illinois.

Originally posted by John151
Anywhere near Jay St?

Yep. Jay Street is a couple of blocks south of me.

John C.

Originally posted by EAW

And as far as seeing CSI or Golf in HD on CBS? You will either need to fib to your satellite provider (they'll look the other way, it's money in their pocket) or accept the fact that it is unattainable in Central Illinois.

Or get Bell ExpressVu or StarChoice from Canada, both of which carry all the US Network HD programming. Bell has just added WGN-DT to its channel lineup, which means I now get WB programming in HD, as well as all the home Cub and Sox games on WGN. WGN carried two of the Cubs/Cardinals games in HD, and the picture quality was excellent; made me feel like I was there at Wrigley watching the game.

But with the weather last night, it sure was nice to have WAND via antenna. The rain killed my signal on both Bell and D*, but the NBA was in glorious HD on WAND, solid as a rock. I would happily give my business to the local HD stations - but right now, we have only one . . .

John C.

You will either need to fib to your satellite provider

Or you can visit the station manager for your local CBS station and request a waiver. It sounds like you are in Peoria and I don't the attitude of the manager there towards waivers, but people in Champaign-Urbana have got them from WCIA.

I've got nothing against a little harmless fibbing, but trying it the right way first seems a better approach. If that doesn't work, then fib!

MIKE

Anyone else have problems getting the finals last night?

I saw earlier int he thread that WHOI was hit by lightning so they did not have HD(I verified this last night).

But I was having problems with WAND. I usually get a normal signal but about midway thru the 2nd quarter I started audio dropping and then get pixelation and my signal was bad. Normally I would attribute this to weather but it looked clear outside and something else weird happened.

The signal strength would go back up and I would get the picture just fine (no audio or pixelation) but it look like it was dropping frames(like on a computer that is nor fast enough to play WMV-HD files). For those of you without computers, if was like the game was in slow motion but at regular speed. So every other second the action would play then pause then play then pause.

Anyone else see this? Was WAND having issues with HD pictures or digital signal strength last night or was it just me?

WHOI looked like crap last night at my house. Grainy, fuzzy, you name it, I had problems with it. How long ago was that lightning strike?

I get WYZZ rock solid out at my house in Metamora. It's been one of the channels I've had the most success locking in actually. I'm just using a Channel Master Stealth Antenna that was provided to me by VOOM, and I'm using the VOOM standard receiver to view the signal.

I've got every single one of the Peoria/Bloomington Locals locked in right now.

Last night WRSP went bonkers again:

It stopped working at all with my Motorola box. If I scanned the
channels it skipped it. It I punched "44" in, it got the RF and then immediately
went to Ch 49.

If I used the Samsung T-151, it behaved like WICD sometimes does:
it picked up the signal, tried a while, then said "no signal", then
after 5 more seconds it gets one channel, 44-1.

Doug McDonald

Yes, should be more better later this am..

Hey HEAVYC

is that an amplified version of the Channelmaster Stealth antenna???

T

According to the WHOI newsroom tonight, the HD is still out. I asked if there was any date for the return and he didn't have any. He said they were going to run a crawl indicating that there would be no HD tonught. I for one am switching to WAND Decatur OTA.

All of WRSP-DT's broadcasts are in DD5.1 now. Enjoy!

Very cool, Ken. Thank you! :D

Originally posted by thumperxr69
Hey HEAVYC

is that an amplified version of the Channelmaster Stealth antenna???

T

Yes, they installed an amplifier.

Is anyone having trouble with WCIA-DT? I could not get it last night
on either my Samsung or Motorola receiver using either antenna.

Doug McDonald

Originally posted by jdmcdonald
Is anyone having trouble with WCIA-DT? I could not get it last night
on either my Samsung or Motorola receiver using either antenna.

Doug McDonald

I called, their encoders are sick.

Doug McDonald

Originally posted by jdmcdonald
I called, their encoders are sick.

Doug McDonald

So is their HD development plan. :mad: :mad: :mad:

Looks like it was WB-23's turn tonight. Their analog channel was fine, but the sound track on their digital channel had serious background static - perfect video, but poor sound. Same static on two different boxes, while all other digital channels were fine.

jtv

WB-23 was like that last night as well...

What happened to WRSP's program guide? It seems to be gone
for good..

Doug McDonald

We've encountered a software bug and are awaiting the program MFG
to get back to us.

I own a 57H83 here locally in central Illinois, Clinton, and I am trying to sell it. Local pickup is required by buyer and I am having a hard time selling it to other forum members because they live in Texas or Washington. I don't want to ship this thing. Its a wonderful TV, I have had it for about a year now, My wife want something smaller like DLP or LCD so I would let it go to someone who would like to pick it up for $1200. Let me know if you are interested by email. leschristy@mchsi.com. I hope I haven't offended anyone by posting here.

I received a positive email from WICS the other day. I had requested information on the digital signal that is very weak. I had hoped that maybe they would be ready for HD in time for the Olympic games. Here is their response.

Dear Mr. Cragoe,

We are currently working to get the equipment and technology in place to
broadcast in High Definition but we do not, as yet, have an estimated
completion date. Some of this equipment is also necessary for the
boosting of our digital signal. If you would like you may check with me
again in 30 days for an update.

Thank you,

Alaina C. Marx
Human Resources/Programming Coordinator
WICS/WICD

That is good news. Isn't WICS changing networks?

Have you ever tried to tune in WEEK(NBC) out of Peoria? I get it in real well.

Originally posted by Pacragoe
I received a positive email from WICS the other day. I had requested information on the digital signal that is very weak. I had hoped that maybe they would be ready for HD in time for the Olympic games. Here is their response.

Dear Mr. Cragoe,

We are currently working to get the equipment and technology in place to
broadcast in High Definition but we do not, as yet, have an estimated
completion date. Some of this equipment is also necessary for the
boosting of our digital signal. If you would like you may check with me
again in 30 days for an update.

Thank you,

Alaina C. Marx
Human Resources/Programming Coordinator
WICS/WICD

I received a positive email from WICS the other day

As reported earlier in this thread, WICD supposedly lacks only one minor piece of gear to get their HD signals on the air. It's sure taking them a long time to get it. Haven't they heard of FEDEX?

MIKE

I think the problem with WICD and their one piece is that
these companies don't stock things, they only make to order.
However, Sinclair had to get one for each of their (few) NBC
stations.


Doug McDonald

"One-Piece" is fairly common, and quite often these parts are NOT
available for immediate shipment, and are build to order.
Unless you pay a premium price for a service contract, delivering or replacing an HD encoder can take up to 30 days.

It's not the encoder. They (WICD) have the encoder. I was not quite
sure exactly what the missing part did, but the words implied
some sort of synchronizer or time base corrector (of course, that's
not teh same as an analog time base corrector) or at least something
involving time.


Doug

same thing..most of this is build to order, even spares may not be available
on short order..that will change as time goes on and hd becomes more important.

To Stevenage and others in Central IL

I read the February 2004 Annual report from the Sinclair Broadcast Group regarding switching to a new network. This is a quote from the report.


"The NBC affiliation agreements with WICS/WICD (Champaign/Springfield, Illinois) and WKEF-TV (Dayton, Ohio) are scheduled to expire on April 1, 2004. NBC recently informed us that they intend to terminate our affiliations in Dayton and Champaign/Springfield effective on or about September 2004 and September 2005, respectively, in order to affiliate with another station in each of those markets. We are currently engaged in discussions with the ABC Television Network regarding affiliating with ABC in those two markets since the stations which are scheduled to acquire the NBC affiliations in Dayton and Champaign/Springfield are currently ABC affiliates and will be giving up that affiliation in order to become NBC affiliates. "

Bob and Doug,

You guys seem to have a good understanding of the technical end of things and I wonder why HD encoding, switching, etc. is not all done with software on powerful (but now cheap) computers? Are the data demands of HD so high that even today's powerful CPU's would choke trying to handle the data load or is it mainly reliability concerns.

Just curious.

MIKE

The needs of an HD encoder are well beyond even the most powerful
of present PCs, if you want even passable results.

The input to an encoder is vastly higher bitrate than the output.

Everything after the encoder is perfectly well within the capabilities
of PC hardware .... given the proper plug in cards to inpput and output
signals, of course. Software is a different matter of course: to use the
PC might require totally custom software; this I don't know.

I should add that software HD encoders are available for PCs, but these
are far from real-time.

Doug McDonald

There is no hope for HDTV from WICD before August ... they are hoping
for the Olympics.

Doug McDonald

Is anyone else getting audio drops on PBS-HD (ch. 46-4).
It sounds like the audio is skipping for a 1/2 second and happens about every 15-20 seconds or so.
At first I thought it was my LG 3200A box, but it has the new 2.0 firmware and this is the only channel it happens on.

Thanks
Paul

I just talked to WILL. Their digital antenna has been delivered and installation is in progress. They hope to have their digital and HD signals on the air by the first part of August, before the expiration of their current waiver. Their analog signal will be off the air for a few days during the installation of the new antenna, but cable feeds will continue.

Tomorrow I'm going to install a Winegard Squareshooter antenna. Based on reports on this antenna, I should be able to get all local digital signals with it (from Southwest Champaign). I'll post my results, in case anyone else is considering this compact antenna.

MIKE

PBM8,

Yes. Also confirmed by someone else I know. We both have E86's.

Thanks EAW.
Any ideas as to what the problem might be from WTVP.
I am going to send an email to them about it. Have either of you with the E86's sent them a note ?

Thanks
Paul

Originally posted by mraub
I just talked to WILL. Their digital antenna has been delivered and installation is in progress. They hope to have their digital and HD signals on the air by the first part of August, before the expiration of their current waiver.
MIKE

This is bizarre. "Hope" "August"? They've had 7 months to install
everything except the transmitting antenna and transmission line
and are "hoping" to beat their construction permit deadline? They should have everything else in place at their studios, the STL installed and tested,
the transmitter installed etc., already.

Doug McDonald

WILL have really dragged there boots on this one.

Made me so mad that only a few months ago they had to have to structure check for the new antenna -- darn that should have been done last year.

PBM8,

We must be lazy. We have not. Please let us know what they tell you.

EAW,

They (WTVP) must be getting alot of emails cause mine would not even go through. It came back that their webmail box was full or something to that effect. I just used the generic email address from their website unless someone knows a more direct email address to get a response.

Paul

So what is the story with WTVP exactly? I hardly ever see any HD programming on there.

Heavy, you must be going to 47-1. Their HD programming is on 46-2 and 46-4 (at least for me that's what comes in). It is stunning IMO. One of my better looking channels.

I just wish that #1 the guide was there (all is says is "regular schedule") #2 they would address the audio droppout issue.

PBM8, not that you work for me or anything ;-) but I called them months ago and unlike some others in the area they were really nice and answered my questions. So if you get bored before me, give em a ring.

Ah....I bet you anything that's the problem then. I didn't know there were different channels. As soon as VOOM releases the next firmware update, I'll scan for those channels and add them to my box.

EAW
As soon as VOOM releases the next firmware update, I'll scan for those channels and add them to my box.

Have you any idea when Voom will have its next firmware update?

Thanks,

Geoffrey

Well, they keep saying very soon. The new rumor is the firmware will start being rolled out in the next 48 hours.

Sorry hadn't been back to the thread, as I told you by e-mail (old news now) the new firmware took care of things. Thanks for working with me on it.

This was for the TS160, and the upgrade was sent over the stream by DirecTV. Now I see it was a broadcast flag issue. Did not know that was the case. Interesting.

Originally posted by bdfox18doe
I have re-enabled EPG on WRSP-DT, We'd like to see if the new firmware
spooled to the Samsung 160's earlier this week works any better. (Matt?)

You're welcome , Matt..
Currently not sending EPG on WRSP. as I have found a software bug in the
data import of the PSIP program, and haven't had time to get back on the problem.

Anyone notice WICS out of Springfield is now broadcasting in 1080i? The picture is kind of screwed up (very tiny black bars on the sides -- much smaller than normal 4:3 bars) and all programming appears to be upconverted at this point -- but it looks like we might have another HD station in Central IIlinois very soon! :cool:

Now, if the local CBS station would just get their rear in gear... grrr....

Earlier this week the outgoing administrator for Channel 20 stated on the radio that WICS would be broadcasting in HD in time for the Olympics! He also went on to say that it is possible that WAND (ABC) and WICS (NBC) would change locations. ABC in Springfield by around Sept. 2005.

I pray that they boost their digital signal. How strong was the signal you received Chili_dog?

I actually receive their signal quite well. I have a Hughes HTL-HD. When performing the ATSC Signal test, 20-1 (ch 42) displays a signal strength of 93 (presumably out of 100). I'm not very far from the towers, though. Only about 10 miles or so.

I'm in Champaign. WICD-DT is 15 miles from me, also at pipsqueak
power, and is my strongest station. WICS is 69 miles and is
essentially invisible most of the time, though on rare occasions
I have seen it. The tower of WRSP is near it ... and I get that
reliably ... that's what power will do for you (and WRSP is at
1/3 their allocated power.)

Doug McDonald

Hey Chili,

What brand and model antenna are you using??? You using a preamp or amp at all???

I live 10 miles north of the Springfield airport. Scoping out what I need.

Thanks

T

I've got a ChannelMaster 4228 8-bay antenna with a CM7778 preamp. Combo works great for getting all Springfield and Decatur channels. The only problem station is the local PBS station -- and the only reason it's a problem is because of the direction that my antenna is facing.

Hey Chili just how "directional" is that antenna??? Can you say approximately where you live??? North side by the airport?? south west side by the mall??? Could you give us a general direction??? I actually live about 10 miles straight north of the Springfield airport and I am looking at getting one of these antennas. Are you using a rotor at all???

Thanks

T

You and I must live very close to each other. I live about 10 minutes north of the airport (not sure exactly how many miles).

The 4228 is fairly directional -- although not as directional as a Yagi style antenna would be. Most of the stations I watch are 40 degrees apart, with one straggler at 60 degrees. 60 degrees is pushing it with this antenna, but I was able to find the sweet spot between the stations and receive them all consistently.

There is a PBS station out of Jacksonville that I am able to get off the back of the antenna once in a great while. It's not very reliable, though. I think if I removed the reflector off of the antenna, I could probably receive it consistently. That might open me up to multipath problems, however.

I did not bother with a rotor since I could get all the stations (except PBS).

Hope this helps. Good luck to you!

Chill and Thumper,
you guys should be able to get PBS from Peoria. I have the db4 DB4 (http://www.antennasdirect.com/db4_bow.htm) and I can get it most of the time along with the other locals. I don't have a rotor, it is just pointed in the sweet spot. I live just south of the airport.

I'll see if I can get the Peoria station. One thing I neglected to mention above is that my antenna is in my attic. Given that, I'd be very surprised if I could get Peoria. Worth a try though.

If we need to take this off-line I am more than willing. I am not sure everyone else in the "Central Illinois" wants to hear our geography tales:o

OK I give ...I do live in Athens and here are my gory details...

Last December I bought an open box Zenith HD420 STB (to supplement my Dish 501 receiver). Just trying to get my feet wet and seeing what the environment was like, I only using a *small* loop antenna on top of TV I was able to get WAND, and WRSP reliably without lots of fiddling around. The only Peoria station I could get was WEEK (NBC) and the reception was spotty from my small antenna. Steven age is right yes we could get WEEK and other Peoria stations but probably only with a rotor since the 4228 is so directional. I called WICS and griped about their low power signal back in December and we know their story. When I use the antenna selector from Antenna selector from TitanTV (http://titantv.com/ttv/AntennaSelector/start.aspx?broadcastType=digital) it seems to select a pretty small antenna. Have you guys tried this???

Before I put up an antenna I really want to make sure it will get the 3 biggies (ABC, NBC and FOX) reliably. (I currently receive a waiver on the D* dish to get East/West CBS feeds, so I should be able to get these in HD when I switch)

If only NBC would raise their power level I would probably step in.

Another problem I have is the WAF. Antennas are unsightly to her. Now that I went to D* for satellite I am really waiting on the HD-TiVo to be a little more reasonably priced. Just doing as much research as possible.

Thanks Steven and Chili

If aesthetics is a big concern, you might try a Winegard Squareshooter. It looks likes a rather thick pie box; no more unsightly than a satellite dish. With a preamp, I'm able to get a good lock on WRSP-DT in Springfield, which is over 50 air miles from my house. I diplexed it with splitter mounted backwards and a Silver Sensor pointed to the East to get WICD. Even though combining antennae this way can cause multipath problems, the OTA receiver in my DISH 921 can apparently handle them.

MIKE

Over the past several days I've been able to intermittently pick up WICS-DT which is now 1080i. I've have not seen any HD source material yet. They must still be working on that. I was rather surprised when it showed up in my channel guide in South-East Urbana.

I spoke with someone at WICD last week to verify their digital channel number and was told they're still short one piece of gear to complete their HD transition. He said one of the missing pieces had shown up that day, but did not know when the last piece was slated to arrive.

MIKE

I don't know if this means WICD is getting closer to HD or not, but I'm now watching ER (which NBC sends out in HD) and it is in 16:9 format kind of centered on the screen, with black bars all around. When they switched to a commercial it was standard 4:3 pillar-boxed. Resolution looks to be 480i, though I can't figure out how to make the DISH 921 tell me what it is receiving.

MIKE

This thread has been dormant for a while, so I’d thought I’d post my experiences using the Winegard Squareshooter for Central Illinois DT reception. In a nutshell, it works great. Though claims for this compact antenna resemble those you hear on late night TV (Turns your whole house into one giant antenna!!), the engineering behind it must be solid since most purchasers seem satisfied.

I ended up putting all my antennae in the attic area which is at the highest point in my 2 story house. I live in Southwest Champaign, near where Windsor Road passes over I-57.

I pointed the Squareshooter a bit south of due West. It gets all digital stations in that direction, including a solid lock on WRSP-DT 55 in Springfield, about 64 miles away from my house according to antennaweb.org. However, the Squareshooter is directional enough that it won’t pull out enough signal from WICD, which is to the East, for my receiver to lock on. I ended up putting a small Radio Shack corner reflector (Catalog #: 15-2160) in the attic facing East. I connected them together with a splitter inserted back-wards. Though hooking up two antennae this way can cause severe multipath problems, both my DISH HD receivers seem to cope with it fine.

The output of the backward splitter goes to a Channel Master 7778 pre-amp and then through about 70 feet of coax to the CATV junction box on the side of my house. There I split it 1x2 with a splitter that passes DC (to power the pre-amp) with one leg going to the DLP RP I use for general TV watching with a DISH 921. The other leg goes through a pair of satellite-OTA diplexers and about 40 feet more coax to a DISH 811 in the HT room. Both receivers get a good lock on all the local digital channels.

Since attic mounting cuts your signal by at least 50%, I’m thinking that a Squareshooter mounted on the roof outside might be able to get WTHI, the CBS affiliate in Terre Haute, IN (75 miles away according to antennaweb.org) once they increase the power and antenna height for their digital and HD signals, though I don’t when that’s going to happen.

I hope my experience might be of assistance to others in the area getting ready for the increase in HD program availability which should be here by this fall. I've got about $200 invested in antennae, pre-amps and associated hardware. Since I'm saving the $5/month DISH charges for SD locals, my payback for the investment (not including my time) is 3.3 years.

MIKE

*great* post mraub. I would hate to put my antenna in the attic but the WAF is pretty strong right now. I would rather go with the CM 4228 mounted outside but it is nice to see the Squareshooter with such positive results.

T

Solid Signal has some open box Squareshooters they're selling for $75, if anyone wants to give one a try for less than they usually go for.

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?CAT=Antennas%20TV&PROD=OBO-SS-1000

MIKE

I've been out of town: how are WILL and WICD doing? I really
expected to see WILL-DT on the air since their permit is running out and
they have no excuse ("forget ot get a tower survey" is not a valid
excuse), and to see WICD in 1080i even if upconvert.

Doug McDonald

I visited the WILL tower on Saturday. The old antenna was off the tower but the new one not yet on the tower. It was on the ground waiting to be lifted into place. WILL-TV was off the air for an hour yesterday morning. Perhaps it was to move the transmission line from the temp antenna to the new antenna. They have had a tower crew there for nearly two weeks now so one would think the antenna part should be nearly done.

I've been driving by the site every day for the last 2 weeks while on my way to work on the WCCU site. The antenna is up and the gin pole has been taken off the tower at the WILL site.

Ken,
Is WCCU-DT not on the air at all (even though it's listed on antennaweb.org)? It's never shown up on any of DTV receiver scans. Any predictions when you'll start transmitting digitally?

MIKE

No, WCCU-DT is not on the air yet. We hope to have it on the air in time for the debut of FOX HD programming this Fall.

Central IL was the most appropriate locale I could find for this question.

Has anyone successfully received WWTO-DT Channel 10, LaSalle? I believe they are only 50 watts at the moment! Likewise, I have never picked up the slightest amount of signal from this station in Monee, even though I get WWTO 35.

Here's a question. I'm in Metamora (about 15 miles from Peoria). What stations outside of the Peoria one's can I expect to receive.

Right now, I can get WAND out of Springfield, and some others out of the Quad Cities. Occassionally, I get NBC-5 out of Chicago.

However, I've yet to find a CBS or a Fox outside of WMBD, and WYZZ in Peoria/Bloomington. I can receive both of them, but I'd just like to know if there are others out there.

WILL DELAYS AGAIN

WILL has found another excuse to not turn on their
digital station .... yesterday they filed with the FCC YET ANOTHER
extension request ... this time to October.

They claim that they submitted a work order to O&M in 2002
to install power and air conditioning at the transmitter, but that
it not only is not done yet, but work is just started. Having
dealt myself with O&M, this is a silly excuse. They are slow ...
but not that slow .... and can get work done in a timely
manner if need be. They claim they have no "pull" to get O&M to
do the work. This is silly.

They are now talking October.


Doug McDonald

HeavyC

For FOX you might try WRSP-DT 55 from Springfield. I get a good lock on it from Champaign and it looks like Metamora is about the same distance away. I posted details earlier in this thread on my antenna set-up.

MIKE

This is really NUTS!!!!!!!!

Why on earth would they want to keep delaying their HD transmission - it does not make any sense??? Surely if they were to be on-line many would increase there giving to WILL or others might even start giving.

This whole thing is very short sighted by WILL.

Think we need a write in campaign.

Cheers,

Geoffrey

Originally posted by gels
This is really NUTS!!!!!!!!

This whole thing is very short sighted by WILL.


Carl Caldwell is apparently a strange guy, seriously marketing
and business driven.

Doug McDonald

Hi everyone. I'm in Omaha, Nebraska, and I have a customer who's moving to Decatur. He's purchasing a Panasonic integrated plasma with ATSC, QAM, and CableCard. Can anyone in this forum give me a synopsis of what my customer can receive for digital and HDTV signals? Thanks a lot. Please write me back either in private messaging or through this forum.

Doug

Hi everyone. I'm in Omaha, Nebraska, and I have a customer who's moving to Decatur. He's purchasing a Panasonic integrated plasma with ATSC, QAM, and CableCard. Can anyone in this forum give me a synopsis of what my customer can receive for digital and HDTV signals? Thanks a lot. Please write me back either in private messaging or through this forum.

ABC-WAND On air with HD

NBC-WICS (Springfield) Plans to start HD for the Olympics

FOX-WRSP (Springfield) Will be HD this fall when FOX starts HD

PBS-WILL October???

CBS-WCIA (Champaign) No plans for HD (Nexstar owned). Can try to get waiver to obtain via DISH or Directv.

I don't what (if any) HD Decatur's cable system offers.

MIKE

In Decatur he can easily receive OTA digital all the networks except
PBS, which will be on in OCtober, or so they say. Only ABS is currently
HD, but NBC will be in HD for the Olympics, and Fox in HD as as soon
as Fox network goes HD. PBS will show HD when it comes on and
PBS sends it. CBS will be in HD when Hell freezes over. WB will be in HD
some day, who knows? UPN will be in HD when Christ reappears on earth.

Doug McDonald

So it's interesting that WILL managed to shoot themselves in the foot by having their broadcast die during coverage of the final night of the Democratic national convention.

As per their website:

"Friday, July 30: Satellite and non-cable TV viewers: WILL-TV is temporarily off the air because of unexpected complications during our digital conversion."

jtv

WOW - was I surprised last night when I was able to search for HD/DT OTA channels with the new software on the VOOM BOX.

Here in Danville I was able to get the following channels from Indianapolis:

25-1 ABC WRTV-HD

13-1 NBC WTHR-HD

25-2 RTV 6 = news channel 64

59-1 FOX 59 WXIN-DT

13-2 SKYTRAK - Regional weather

18-1 CBS WLFI-HD (out of Lafayette)

All continue to be received this morning, but I think I might lose them come the fall.

Cheers from a happy HDTV guy,

Geoffrey

Last night was not a particularly good night for getting Indy in
Illinois. It is surprising that you did not get WFYI, digital 21, PBS,
as here in Champaign it is second to come in after 25. Night before last
was far better.

Doug McDonald

Thanks Doug:

I'll try again tomorrow night and see what I can get from Indianapolis. Would love to get PBS.

So are you saying that I did pretty good considering your comment:

"Last night was not a particularly good night for getting Indy in
Illinois."

Cheers,

Geoffrey