Sorry I didn't snap any HD screenshots of the Lou game. I'll try to get some of the Lou and KY game today if in HD.

I checked a few minutes ago and I was getting 762 on Insight but none of the KET stations, even though the stations numbers were showing up.
Also, I was getting audio breakups from WLKY during the game (OTA) - I hope they fix that soon :(

Was getting audio breakups on WLKY-DT, too, and an occasional video breakup. I noticed the DISH CBS-HD feed didn't have the commentator audio for about the entire first half and it was only in Pro Logic (not Dolby Digital). It was actually kinda cool as I could hear the crowd, the arena announcer, the players...it was more like being there! :)

I called Insight. They showed no record of the serial number on HD cable box.... :confused: They assume this is the problem and hope to have it fixed in the next few days. :rolleyes:

I know the serial number was recorded in their computers when the HD cable was installed because I read it to the installer myself as he recorded it for activation and it didn't work until it was activated. So, I can only guess they must have had a computer glitch and lost some of our records... I would suggest anyone else having problems give them a call. It may not come back on by itself if they lost the box numbers... Be prepared to read the "GI" number on the bottom of the box to them. Mine was very difficult to get to because of other equipment.

Anyone having problems with Oscars on 55-1? I'm having audio / video breakups and I'm showing pretty good signal strength at 81%

EDIT 9:15pm -- Problems have cleared up, might have been my equipment

Update on motion artifacts :

Sent Jim Mercer at WLKY an e-mail. He responded that he would remove the sub-channel 2 (thanks Jim)

Spoke with engineering at WAVE on the phone. They claimed the pixelation issues went away. Not true I told them. Then claimed the bandwidth being used today on the sub channel 2 (about 4/mbps) might be used for other things in the future, and the sub channel is staying. Finally, the engineer told me it was out of his hands and management decides on bandwidth allocation. So for now, we are stuck with a sub-par HD NBC signal.

cambus, I had sent e-mails as well but I got no response from either WLKY or WAVE. Did WLKY mention when they were dropping the sub-channel?

MichaelZ, the message from Jim Mercer at WLKY today:
"I have asked my engineer to remove it."

No date given but will follow up mid week if sub still exists.

Too bad you had such a hassle GregJKy. I was prepared to call and go thru the same thing since WHAS and WKET had disappeared from my Insight HD. However they showed up again last night and so I guess Insight has fixed whatever the glitch was. Maybe your call did it for all of us. If so thanks for the effort. I hate it when I have to disassemble my system to get at a serial number! I hope Insight launches ESPNHD and the other channels someone mentioned they are working on along with the locals. Anyone know what the latest is on InsightHD launches?

Hey I'm back with a rumor of my own for ya. Ken posts on the programming forum that Insight in Louisville KY will be among the few to get ESPNHD at the launch! YAHOOOEEEE. This would be good onfo for the LouisvilleHDTV forum.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=241329

Any other news?

I haven't heard back from Insight for a while... so... I'm hoping that means something's abrewin.... ^_^ If they have ESPN-HD at launch, I wonder if they'll give us a month of it free. Will they have Discovery and HD.net by then as well?

Only 6 more days. ^_^
I still want WLKY for the NCAA games though! =/

Originally posted by stovetop
I haven't heard back from Insight for a while... so... I'm hoping that means something's abrewin.... ^_^ If they have ESPN-HD at launch, I wonder if they'll give us a month of it free. Will they have Discovery and HD.net by then as well?

Only 6 more days. ^_^
I still want WLKY for the NCAA games though! =/

I e-mailed this question to Insight a week ago:

CUSTOMER COMMENTS:
The NCAA Tournament begins on Thursday and CBS is televising the primetime games in HDTV. It sure would be nice if Insight would carry WLKY's HD signals so we could enjoy the games in high definition. Thanks!

URGENCY:
urgent

****************************************************
This was their response to my question:

Dear Mr. Shanks:

We are currently broadcasting WHAS, KET, HBO and Showtime in High Definition and anticipate launching additional local broadcasters within the second quarter of 2003. We appreciate your patience.

Sincerely,
Karen Stokes
Insight Communications
Customer Liaison

Quote "We appreciate your patience"

What patience? I WANT IT NOW DAMMIT!! NOW.

one word....OTA...:p

Originally posted by silvermaxd
one word....OTA...:p

That's three words! ;)
Oh well, I suppose patience is a virtue. Unfortunately, not one I possess alot of.

How have the games looked in HD, by the way? Up to expectations?

Also does anyone have any info on ESPN-HD beginning March 30. KenH posted he thought Insight would begin carrying it on March 30 and I was wondering if anyone had any additional info.

Thanks!

Cross your fingers... I just got off the phone with Insight. I'm still trying to get my Insight HD turned back on however...

The Insight rep promised we will have: ESPN HD, Discovery HD, WAVE HD, and WLKY HD by the end of the month!!! He even mentioned a few upcoming events like the Final 4 and a golf tournament we would be able to see in HD so he must have been reading from an announcement!

Hopefully VERY good news! :D

Only 5 days.... Now if Insight can just figure out how to turn my HD box back on before Tuesday.... :rolleyes:

Here is another e-mail correspondence I had with Insight:

I wrote:
I am hearing rumors on some HDTV bulletin boards that Insight will carry
ESPN-HD beginning March 30. Is there any validity to that? Thanks in
advance.
Also, is there a target date for converting to one digital/HD box? Is it
known at this time what model decoder box will be used when the switch is
made? Thanks!


Insight's response:
Dear Mr. Shanks:
Thanks for your HD inquiry. I'm guessing my little secret leaked out.
(smile) We will be launching a little HD package for our customers. It's
still in the making, but will be well worth the wait. We anticipate
launching the new HD boxes sometime within the 2nd or 3rd quarter.
We truly appreciate your patience.
Sincerely,
Karen Stokes
Insight Communications
Customer Liaison

**********************
That's not exactly anything concrete, but sounds like something is eminent.
Also, the last time I checked about the move to a single box, the reply was 3rd or 4th quarter. This time she is saying 2nd or 3rd quarter, so that is positive, as well.

Greg,
The golf tournament they were referring to was the Masters, which is April 10-13.

Originally posted by Scott Shanks

It's still in the making, but will be well worth the wait.


I hope it's worth the wait!! Nothing I've experienced with insight has been worth much!!

I'm waiting till the all-in-one box comes out. I hope "it" has all the inputs and outputs needed unlike the "digital" box I have now which is worthless except for getting a few more channels. If it was'nt for speedvision I'd throw it out the window. Sorry for being negative but insight has not impressed me at all. Have they impressed anyone else?

I tell ya what the picture quality from cable has gone down lately for some reason. Maybe it's just my area or certain channels. Maybe OTA quality is spoiling me now.

I hope it all gets better!!:D

By Matt Stump
Multichannel News
3/27/2003 2:09:00 PM

ESPN has signed high-definition-TV-affiliation agreements with Insight Communications Co. Inc., Cox Communications Inc., the National Cable Television Cooperative, Service Electric Cable TV Inc., Utilacom Networks and Comporium Communications systems.

ESPN will launch HD Sunday, March 30 at 6:30 p.m. with Baseball Tonight preceding the Major League Baseball season opener, with the Texas Rangers visiting the World Series champion Anaheim Angels.


---
Awesome awesome news. Insight surprises me again.

This was posted in the programming forum.

And it's free?

I seriously doubt it will be free... but I'm kinda expecting them to have an introductory period with no charge.

I actually got the impression from the Insight Rep last night that ESPN and Discovery HD would be free for HD subscribers... I too would be VERY surprised if they actually are... Especially Discovery HD.

My understanding from other posts is that ESPN was pushing for ESPN HD to be free to existing ESPN subscribers. I don't understand why, but won't argue with it if thats what they want... ;) Personally, I'll believe it when I see it...

For all my complaints about Insight and the many many bad experiences with them over the years I have to give them credit this time... It looks like we may be one of the very few markets with ESPN HD at launch. Let alone even having HD over cable available at all. :cool:

WLKY now on Insight Channel 763

The NCAA game is on and it looks great!!!!!! Lots of Luv for Insight and WLKY.

On top of that Barb Harmon from Insight called me about taking a survery about a HD tier of programming. ^_^ She also said that it would include ESPN-HD and have a total of 4 channels for $10! So i guess we're getting Discovery, ESPN and the 2 HDnets!!! =)

WHAS's audio was popping earlier today, and now I can't get it in at all. Insight problem, or can anyone get it OTA?

WLKY-DT OTA is NOT in HD!

grrrrrrrrr

I'm the same...now we're getting WLKY but WHAS is not tuning in!!

I hope that $10 package does not include the networks. We're already paying Insight over $100 a month so we better get all the networks for no extra money. Not being a sports fan I won't need the ESPN package. I just want ABC, CBS & NBC HD.

Why do they have the Game Show channel on there? Nothing on that channel will be HD so what's the point?

NightowlKY... =) I bet you're getting them in HD now... ^_^

Heheh,

Can you get WHAS right now though?
We can't get it on Insight. It was on earlier today though.

All HD channels on insight are off for me. This has been going on for about a month.

I've called and called and nobody seems to have any clue. Today the tech said "well I show you don't even have a HD box".

DUDE! I'm looking at two of them right here.

"are you sure they are HD boxes?"

YES! Motorola 5100s, here are the serial numbers, please activate my HD.

We'll see...I was one of the first customers and think my records may have been messed up.

WKMJ-DT is on the air. (UHF 38) DTV remap to Ch 68.

I'm interested in signal reports compairing WKPC-DT and WKMJ-DT.

I'm getting small 'blips' on channel 51 - but far from being enough to lock in a signal. Any idea what station is broadcasting on channel 51?

Never mind - I checked the louisvillehdtv.com page and found out it's UPN.

Originally posted by William Smith
WKMJ-DT is on the air. (UHF 38) DTV remap to Ch 68.

I'm interested in signal reports compairing WKPC-DT and WKMJ-DT.

Please do a rescan and comment on this channel.
Especially folks in the out lying areas
We would like to know how the signal is getting out.
This is our Second DTV transmitter for louisville.
It is the companion for 68 analog.
It will/should have "KET-2" at about 4mbs on it for now.
(best we can do at the moment)

Who knows what the future holds for this channel?


Woo
:)

D38 Looks Good Here at 2pm

Location: Middletown, eastern Jeff Cty at Oldham Cty Line
Equipment: myHD card, Channel Master UHF in attic, RS amp

Channel: 38, 69%

Comparative:
Channel: 49, 58%
Channel: 55, 64%
Channel: 47, 64%
Channel: 26, 75%

Thanks steve...
Anyone else?

woo,

I'll scan for it on my DISH 6000 when I get home (approximately 5:30) and let ya know. Considering I'm in iffy territory with the way my antenna is just laid on a half-wall in my dad's backyard and I'm out in Crestwood and shoothing through tree trunks, that would be a good measure, eh? :)

WooWoo, I scanned it, I live in Hikes Point and I get an 84 on my HiPix. All my channels show around 84-86 except WDRB and it comes in around 78. The channel mapped correctly to 68.1

I'm getting up to a 21 signal reading on my Hughes receiver. It won't decode and the signal jumps around alot on the meter.
I'm likely getting interference from Morehead's analog on 38, given my location in Georgetown.
Other Louisville station's current signal readings:
08--no signal
17--no signal
26--18, no lock
47--72-perfect quality
49--no signal
51--no signal
55--0-3

Great reception here in Sprinhurst. Has the highest signial of any OTA stations I receive. Looks real good:)

i would expect trouble in Georgetown, you might be getting some signal from our CH 38 analog in Morehead.


What about compared to CH 17?

3-93%
15-81%
32-88%
41-70%
55-88%
58-67%
68-88%

I have 'obtain off air guides' switched on. So, some of the channels are re-mapped to their analog numbers with programming guides in text. The signal strengths are obtained with an indoor silver sensor amplified antenna moved within a three feet cube area in front of a window. The NE looking window has an aluminum storm frame which may have an affect on the antenna's placement and/or strength. The antenna is connected to an RCA 38310 38" 1080i tube with built in HD tuner. I am on River Rd near Prospect. I am enjoying as much OTA HDTV as time will allow. Especially the basketball games. 8)

Thanks folks

Has KET decided what to do with WKPC-DT and WKMJ-DT? Is there anyway we can get the PBS HD Loop on WKMJ-DT?
That would be great, but if not, putting KET1 and 2 on one and KET3 & 4 on another would be okay for at least getting full-bitrate HD for when it's offered to us.

I wish they would bring back the HD loop!! I miss it!

Don't have a numeric indicator on my Zenith 1080 but had a normal to good signal last evening near Goshen at the river. Lots of trees around which might have caused some of the video breakup that I saw.

Originally posted by stovetop
Has KET decided what to do with WKPC-DT and WKMJ-DT? Is there anyway we can get the PBS HD Loop on WKMJ-DT?
That would be great, but if not, putting KET1 and 2 on one and KET3 & 4 on another would be okay for at least getting full-bitrate HD for when it's offered to us.

WKPC-DT is part of the state wide programming service.
It has to have the same programming as the other 15 transmitters
WKMJ-DT is the "oddball" of the fleet.
Thus only KET-2 for now
We are embarking on an overhaul of our distribution network.
When completed it will allow more flexability.

(best we can do for now....Sorry)

WLKY seems to be on again on Insight 763... we'll see if they transmit CSI in HD tonight.

Ch Strength Comments
--- -------- -----------------------------
55 70-80% Signal fluctuates quite a bit and sometimes blacks out
51 85-90% Steady signal
49 74-77% Steady signal
47 94-98% Steady signal
38 75-85% Rather steady but some fluctuation...maps to 68
26 82-90% Rather steady but occasional pixelation
17 88-92% Steady signal
08 No lock Some blips but I'm running a UHF-only antenna right now

Pretty sweet seeing Channels found: 7 on my DISH 6000 setup :) Esp. considering my haphazard antenna setup right now!

I'm located in Crestwood a little less than a mile toward town from the four-way stop sign.

And, a side note...WLKY-DT is not showing CSI in HD. However, CBS-HD from DISH is.

bastages!

:)

Anybody know the timeframe for insight adding ESPN-HD?

I thought that we were supposed to have it at launch.. but maybe that was for a different region.

???

NightowlKY, I don't know how you're getting 51 and 49, I can't get more than 'blips' on those two channels. Fortunetely those are the two channels I could care less about since they aren't HD anyway! I get ...

8: 50-60 steady signal
17: 45-60 steady signal
26: 100 lock on baby!
38: blips
47: 100 lock on baby!
49: 3-6 blips - bleeech FAUX
51: 3-6 blips - Any one watch UPN?
55: 50-65 steady signal.

Out door ratshack v-120 on a 20 foot mast in St Matthews. Tried lowering, raising, rotating to make the FAUX 49 come in better, so far the best I have ever seen on FAUX is 10-15 blips (not watchable, must be @ 40 or above to watch) and when FAUX is at 15 the rest are gone. Maybe someday FAUX will boost more than one watt through the coat hanger x-mitter they must be using :D

Cheers to WLKY and WAVE for pushing anough power to get us past having to have the 'perfect' antenna, setup, and position. They are both VERY forgiving to antenna rotation, whereas WHAS and KET are more 'picky' about having the antenna pointed in the right direction. I'm just glad the x-mitters are all in the same general location!!!

DucTape....hmmm

I have a spare RS UHF-only you can have. Might help :D

Are you near power lines? What is your cable type and run length?

I also wonder if you're getting a lot of multi-path. Are you in the land of the tall oak trees there in St. Matthews??

Yea, there are a few trees in the way. I can't go tall enough to make it over them - not without a huge tower. I doubt the neighbors would aprove :D No big power lines close, and a fair run of RG6 cable, less than 75 feet. Tried amps, attenuaters, etc, and they all made it worse.

Aww...forget the neighbors! Get thee a tower up! ;)

Either that, or whip out a chain saw.

Well my receiver must be broken... I put it on 26-1 to watch the Final4 HD broadcast and noticed a lot of motion artifacts. Sooooo out of curiosity I put it on 26-2 to see if they were showing the roof-cam. Much to my dismay, there was the same programming on 26-2 and also in HD.

Now, obviously WLKY wouldn't waste bandwidth to broadcast the exact same signal twice would they? :rolleyes: What we be the point in that? (sarcasm off).

So why are they doing this? The motion artifacts are rather annoying.

-AKH

I can see the artifacts too. They had turned that subchannel off, but it's back on.

All I see is 32-01.

But, when I change channels to 32-01, my DISH 6000 takes a few seconds like it's trying to remap the channel everytime.

<shrug>

Originally posted by NightowlKY
All I see is 32-01.

But, when I change channels to 32-01, my DISH 6000 takes a few seconds like it's trying to remap the channel everytime.

<shrug>

I'm not sure how the DISH6000 works... but if you have the ability to manually go to the channels then you need to go to 26-2 to see the sub-channel.

On the recvr, the mapped 32-1 channel is really 26-1. On mine, 32-2 hasn't been remapped so entering 32-2 is telling my receiver to tune to a digital sub-channel on DT32 (and there is no digital channel at 32... only analog 32).

The second channel is still running in HD ...as of the pregame of the 2nd game anyway. Why? That is the question.

-AKH

FYI -- I noticed Insight had the Syracuse game on 763 last night in full HD. Looked pretty good for the time that I watched...

Now if they could just get WAVE going.

That's funny. I thought the final four coverage looked much better than the first round Louisville game did with respect to motion artifacts. While there were some artifacts I only saw them on extremely fast motion and too fast camera pans. Also, I'll look again tonight, but I have never seen a subchannel on 26 or remapped to 32 for that matter.

AKH, it seems to me if wlky-dt were running 2 full HD channels the game would have looked much worse than what I witnessed Saturday. In fact I was the only one in the room who noticed any artifacts at all. Everyone else was giving me the 'it's like I'm there' or 'It's like I'm looking out a window' comments. Are you sure your receiver's not in need of a rescan? Perhaps just showing 26-1 and 26-2 the same feed? My box went a little loopy last week when they started remapping 26 to 32. Screwed up the remapping for wave as well. A rescan saved the day.


Chris

Originally posted by Chris Sutton
That's funny. I thought the final four coverage looked much better than the first round Louisville game did with respect to motion artifacts. While there were some artifacts I only saw them on extremely fast motion and too fast camera pans. Also, I'll look again tonight, but I have never seen a subchannel on 26 or remapped to 32 for that matter.

Well, I've had an ongoing question in mind if I'm seeing worse motion artifacts than others for a while now (on all sources). Until the day comes I am able to go to a friend's house and watch HD on their set and receiver I guess I'll never know. Being the first on the block has its disadvantages ;)



That said, if I manually enter 26-2 I get the subchannel. I just did a reset to make sure nothing is screwy. I am NOT getting a remapped sub-channel tho (no 32-2). But 26-1 and 26-2 certainly appear on the Toshiba DST3000.

[B][QUOTE]
AKH, it seems to me if wlky-dt were running 2 full HD channels the game would have looked much worse than what I witnessed Saturday. In fact I was the only one in the room who noticed any artifacts at all. Everyone else was giving me the 'it's like I'm there' or 'It's like I'm looking out a window' comments.

Well... I saw the usual fast camera pan artifacts but I also saw artifacts nearly every time a shot went up and players all went to the boards. I never saw that before until the Final 4.



Are you sure your receiver's not in need of a rescan? Perhaps just showing 26-1 and 26-2 the same feed? My box went a little loopy last week when they started remapping 26 to 32. Screwed up the remapping for wave as well. A rescan saved the day.

As I said, I just did a reset and I can manually enter 26-1 or 26-2 and get the same programming (that is still true as of 4:10 EST) on DT26. No other station has acted like that.

Can anyone else verify this subchannel... Don't necessarily trust the mapping but can you manually go to 26-2? I don't get a 32-2 via remapping.


Chris

akh,

I just checked and on my Sony HD200 I get 32 and 32.1 only. If I put in 26.1 I get channel not available.

I saw motion artifacts during the game. I'm pretty confident WLKY is not sending the full 19.2Mpbs. Can anyone with a HiPix verify this?

Originally posted by STEVENSHS
akh,

I just checked and on my Sony HD200 I get 32 and 32.1 only. If I put in 26.1 I get channel not available.

I'm not sure how the Sony HD200 works when you dial in the channels manually BUT obviously 26.1 exists or else you'd see a blank screen at 32.1 (since 32.1 is a virtual channel and 26.1 is the real channel).

-AKH

No 26-2 at my house last night around 6 pm. If I manually type 26-1 it sends me to the remapped 32-1. If I type in 26-2 I get Channel not available on my Hughes 86.

Chris

The basketball game looked ok but not like a full HD transfer. It looked like DVD quality at best! Some camera's looked better than others for some reason. I'm hoping the the masters looks better and that they have more HD cameras for thunder this year! Later

Steve,

The earlier rounds looked much better becuase all the cameras were HD. These had a lot of 16x9 SD shots for better slow motion, but the HD shots were still many times sharper than any DVD.. The arena camera on the ceiling was simply amazing. The main court camera was in HD, and it also was very sharp.

I'm looking forward to Thunder and the Masters this weekend as well.


John

anybody know if the master's is going to be shown on CBS here Thurs. and Friday?

I'm guessing WLKY has done something to the PSIP, eh? My DISH 6000 still takes several seconds to tune in 32-01. It's like it's remapping the channel each time I go there. And, I can't use the Recall button on my remote to go to the previously selection station after I go to 32-01.

Weird.

I emailed Jim Mercer at WLKY today about the Masters but haven't gotten anything back yet.

Insight now has channel 770 with
"
USA Masters Coverage in HD
HDTV
April 10th, 4pm/et to 6:30pm/et
April 11th, 4pm/et to 6:30pm/et
"

I'm seeing the announcement of the Masters Tournament on channel 770 along with WLKY and the Game Show network, but I've lost WHAS and the KET channels on the Insight HD box... :( Anyone else?

Also, I was watching TV at midnight and it looks like they updated the firmware right at midnight on the HD box. The screen on the front of the HD box changed to display "DL" and after about 5 minutes the box rebooted itself. The only difference I noticed is that the Game Show network is now passed straight through so my TV can now stretch it fill the screen.

I lost WHAS & KET before the firmware update, so I don't believe it's related.

Very frustrating...

I also lost WHAS and KET.... =(
Also, WHAS changed channels from 762 to 760..

WHAS and WKET are back on Insight.

Yep, i'm getting them now too. KET is now being sent through in 480i/p format, so it can be adjusted through your TV set now. Also, the PQ seems to have improved dramatically.

WLKY has been horrible at turning on their HD. Does anyone have a number we can call in to get them to turn it on?

CSI was not shown in HD at all, and Without a Trace was turned on with 12 minutes left in the show.

I've sent an email through their webpage with the complaint.

Quote "and Without a Trace was turned on with 12 minutes left in the show"

I'm not sure what you mean by this. are you saying only the last 12 minutes were HD? Cos I watched it last week and it was HD all the way thru (on Insight)

Mhh watched it when it came on after CSI.. and I didn't see it HD, I was watching through Insight as well.

Thunder Over Louisville is on now, in HD. ^_^

HD Thunder looked great! But Melissa Swann (local anchor for WHAS-11) will never live down using the "term":

"THUNDER-LICIOUS!"

Enough said!
-Alex-

Thunder looked fantastic. Doesn't beat actually being there, but it beats have to deal with the traffic. ^_^

It was great. I was surprised to see the 16x9 SD cameras. It was also neat to see the local anchors and radio presonalities in HD as well.

No HD cameras in Indiana though, which is a shame. But carrying an HD signal across the river must be pretty expensive.

Great great show. I'm glad our WHAS/ABC is a 1080i station.

On Insight's website, it states that Insight carries E in HDTV. Anyone know anything about that?

Agreed on Thunder, especially the "Thunderlicious" Swannism. Looked great, though!!

The HD cameras for Thunder were great. I was very unimpressed with all the SD cameras. I guess I am getting spoiled now that I have had a year of HD from a variety of sources.Last year I was feeling lucky just to get Thunder in HD. This year I guess I expected they would add a few more HD cameras. I don't think there were any more this year than last and the SD shots looked pathetic in comparison to the HD shots. Also, I'd prefer to see a wide view of the whole display not the zoomed shots of the bridge and the cascading sparklers. Overall I'd give the PQ a 3 out of 5 stars and the production a 2 out of 5 stars! I hope they do a better job next year.

I agree, was surprised by the amateurish production. An intern at work??

Didn't get a chance to see Thunder in HDTV, any idea if it will be re-broadcast?

I did watch the Masters yesterday and have to say that it has to be the best HDTV broadcast that I have ever seen... just an amazing picture on my RPTV, granted I've only had HDTV for 2 months. But it beats anything that I have seen on HBO or Showtime HD.

Will or WooWoo,

What's up with the KET4 HD a/o WS programs? None of the "Scheduled" HD/WS programs have aired on WKLE-DT (42) for a while now.

HDC

I just got back in town and checked the switching system. I know it missed one feed, If you can give me times I'll see if I can details from the logs.

Originally posted by William Smith
I just got back in town and checked the switching system. I know it missed one feed, If you can give me times I'll see if I can details from the logs.

Will,
I'm pretty sure all of the April dates have been missed so far as well as the ones near the end of March (23rd ish seems to stick in my mind). In fact, the last HD/WS show I can actually remember seeing was "Kiss Me Kate," but, I think I saw part of one of the WS Nature programs after the KMK feed. I'm getting my schedule info from the KET Webpage. Unfortunately, the prior dates "fall off" the website after the fact, so I can't provide exact details at the moment - perhaps the webmaster can retrieve that info for you.

HDC

Addendum: It's always possible that I may have misinterpreted *some* of the air times (CT vs ET) ... :confused:

I flipped through KET4 this weekend when some HD program about a guy chasing some birds, but I just flipped back to whatever I was watching.

I hope you guys can utilzed the extra bandwidth on the new tower soon..

HDTVgalaxy has the HD PBS Schedule..
http://www.hdtvgalaxy.com/broad.html

The schedule was full of duplicate entries ( don't know how or why) but it should be ok for this week.

Originally posted by Scott Shanks
On Insight's website, it states that Insight carries E in HDTV. Anyone know anything about that?

Where on their site does it say this? I've been looking and can't find any info on HDTV at all!

Edit: Found it: http://www.insight-com.com/about/louisville.html

But I really think that's a typo, and not that they are broadcasting E! in HDTV. :)

That is quite odd, and that is definately a typo. =)

HD is on KET4 and it looks quite good (it's 11:30). Much better than I've seen before (since January). Is this the PBS Demo Loop? It's still missing that 'wow' factor in shows like CSI, but it is still very good. I look forward to the day we can see this at full bandwidth. (push push push, nudge nudge nudge. :) ) Thanks for putting it up though!

Originally posted by William Smith
The schedule was full of duplicate entries ( don't know how or why) but it should be ok for this week.

Will,
It's back :) I was really hoping to see the NOVA program "Runaway Universe" in HD that was scheduled on or about the 3rd or 4th. But, you made up for it by sending through the HD demo loop tonight ... don't know if that was on purpose or an accident :D The HD loop was definately better than upconverted Letterman but not nearly as good as CSI or HDNet fare. All in all, a worthy effort given your current constaints:)

HDC

Anyone know if Insight is downconverting the HD material? The reason I asked, I was watching Thunder and I noticed some motion artifacts on the set (they were esp. bad on a camera pan) I was watching that is hooked to cable. My first thought was it from the cameras or equipment WHAS was using. I later (yesterday) reviewed my HiPix recording and I was showing full 19.19Mb broadcast and NO artifacts appeared in the same scene that I captured. Either the Mot 5100 is the culprit or Insight is downconverting or I am losing my vision (or all the above) :D
Anyone else notice the difference?

Could it be the fact that Insight splits the signal before going into the Mot 5100 that would cause that type of artifact? I really didn't notice it that much, though? The worst artifact I've noticed was the edge enhancement while watching The Masters. The edges around Mike Weir's black pants were screaming with edge enhancement in some shots.

Although I don't have anything to compare it to, I didn't notice any motion artifacts on WHAS's Thunder Broadcast.. either that or I just don't remember seeing them. I wouldn't know why Insight would degrade the picture though.. Cable systems aren't really in a crunch for bandwidth.

MichaelZ, can you make some screenshots of the production when you have the chance? I can host them on my site and I can post them in the thread. Shots of the anchors, interviews, planes and fireworks... anything. ^_^

Scott, I also noticed the black pants thing as well. It almost looked like his pants had a white stripe on them.

I know Insight is taking the 8VSB signal and converting it to QAM and I am hoping they are rewrapping the mpeg stream without converting but who knows?
I noticed the artifacts in a daytime shot when panning the crowd while announcer talking. It looked like mosquitos had attacked the crowd :)

I think the blue hue that was showing up on the Master's was from a bad camera or some other tech. difficulty. I only saw it on that one particular hole.

Stovetop, I have only archived the fireworks display from this years show. I think I have some of the airshow from last years Thunder but I am not sure. What kinds of shots would you like?

Originally posted by MichaelZ
I know Insight is taking the 8VSB signal and converting it to QAM and I am hoping they are rewrapping the mpeg stream without converting but who knows?
I noticed the artifacts in a daytime shot when panning the crowd while announcer talking. It looked like mosquitos had attacked the crowd :)



Me thinks they are only remodulating the signal.
No further compression

Does anyone know if WLKY will be passing 5.1 sound anytime soon?

Also, with the Derby around the corner, I wonder what Insight's progress with WAVE has been.

Originally posted by Scott Shanks
Could it be the fact that Insight splits the signal before going into the Mot 5100 that would cause that type of artifact? I really didn't notice it that much, though? The worst artifact I've noticed was the edge enhancement while watching The Masters. The edges around Mike Weir's black pants were screaming with edge enhancement in some shots.

Sounds like a lot of edge enhancement. I seem to recall CBS had a lot of problems with EE at the last Masters.

BTW, just cool fyi to all, the wind today knocked my antenna onto the ground from that little half wall I had it sitting on. It's laying on the ground pointing toward that wall and the barn in my dad's backyard.

AND, I am getting locks on WDRB-DT, WAVE-DT, WHAS-DT, and WLKY-DT! :eek:

I can 't believe it!

Jerry, Bravo on your awesome antennae. As I recall, you seem to have some amazing luck with your antennae setup.

FYI i got an email from Insight that reassured me they will have some new HDTV offerings "including more locals" and "ESPN-HD" in the 2nd quarter 2003. I guess that is between March and June. No promise about WAVE in time for Derby. I'm not holding my breath. I can pull it in via antennae if Insight chokes and doesn't carry WAVE by Derby day.

Finally, I didn't get any noticeable pixelization for Thunder, the SD cameras were worthless, but the HD cams were rock solid.

Jerry, It sounds like your antenna was made by the "coat-tanger" corp.

Their motto:
Vandalism may improve reception......

Originally posted by woowoo
Jerry, It sounds like your antenna was made by the "coat-tanger" corp.

Their motto:
Vandalism may improve reception......

LOL!

I'm going to take a pic of it later today (if the rain is gone). And, if I can find the cable from the camera to the laptop, I'll actually post it, too. Might have to wait until after I move this weekend.

NightOwl,
I notice your Mits is ISF Calibrated... Is there a tech in Louisville, or was this part of a tour? You planning on have this redone after the move? Maybe we could organize some people....

Any word on when Insight will be giving us WAVE in HD? Or anything else for that matter.

I got an email this week from Insight saying they will add " more locals and more national HD channels in the 2nd quarter 2003. I guess that means WAVE since they are the only other HD local at this point. That should happen by June if it happens in the 2nd quarter. Let's hope so.

Storm knocked out cable last night so I was surfing the local OTA channels and seen that the PBS HD loop was on. I had already seen most of the stuff but I did'nt care because it was a great picture even though there was a storm going on:p . I noticed the picture is alot better than before. Some of shots were just stunning and there was hardly any pixelization issues as before. It's nice to have OTA when the crappy cable goes out. Thanks PBS!

I also surfed onto the demo loop and noticed an improvement in PQ. I hope this is a sign of things to come. Will or Woo, are you guys doing anything different? You've still got 4 sub-channels so I wonder what if anything has changed.

Ditto here for the HD picture quality improvement. Last night was the first time it has looked better than a DVD. What's the secret?

-Reagan

Is the demo loop scheduled to run at a certain time (like late Sunday night) ?

It was supposed to be a program ( not the loop). We don't run the loop because of the program rights issue ( and last minute schedule changes). The loop is in 1080i and is converted to 720p. No we didn't make any changes in the system. A lot depends on source material from PBS..

If you convert to 720p does that mean that Insight converts back to 1080i or does my TV convert to 1080i? How long have you bee doing this process because the New Jersey material looked so much better than when i had seen it about a year ago. The clips were extended and so I am not sure if there was also different source material or the same material edited to include more scenes. Bottom line question: how long have you been doing the conversion and what does Insight do?

Also FYI one of our AVS posters is now a local celebrity. Jerry Turner does an HDTV promo for WKET. Nice job Jerry I caught your spot last night.:D

:D

I haven't seen the spot yet, PCS. Hope I didn't look too bad! LOL! Was it shown on analog KET 15 as well as the digitals?

Insight is coming out Fri. to install that Triple Play thing so I'll get whatever HD they offer. Not sure if I'm going to put up the DISH for the DISH 6000 as they require a $100 deposit and renters insurance (which I'm getting anyway) . If there was a way to get the DISH 6000 to receive OTA w/o having to lock onto the satellite that would be great.

Before last July, we ran the loop at 480i widescreen (downconverted from 1080i). After some equipment upgrades we re-started airing the HD programs in 720p in February. Insight doesn't convert the feed at the headend. The conversion is either in their settop box or your display. If you had the hardware it might be a good idea to compare the cable decoder to the off-air decoder to see how well it performs (jitter, macroblocking, color reproduction,etc). IF the box is set to output 1080i then all resolutions will be displayed as 1080i.

E-mailed Steve Langford (WAVE's GM) about the Derby and Insight. He called me back personally within 5 minutes (impressive, huh?). He said that the Derby will definitely be HD OTA and were hopeful to have it on Insight. He said that there is no problem with Insight and that they were combining the HD and the analog feed contract so it would all be covered in one agreement and that was the hold up with Insight.

great news Scott!!!:)

Jerry

Don't know about the analog. I believe I was watching KET4 or KET2. Nice choice on the hawaiian print shirt! LOL

KET1 and KET2
No promos on KET4

Originally posted by William Smith
KET1 and KET2
No promos on KET4

I was checking on the half-hour and hour when I had a chance last night but haven't seen it yet. And, PCS, yeah, the Hawaiian shirt ended up being a good idea to show color better and the pattern of, say, a striped shirt would have been bad (moire?). And, considering the day I filmed that was cold, rainy and just plain nasty, it helped lighten the mood. :)

And, great news about WAVE-DT and the Derby! I wonder, though, if WAVE will drop that 2nd digital channel to help out the PQ?

After some equipment upgrades we re-started airing the HD programs in 720p in February.

William,
Am I correct in assuming that you are converting both the 480i/p WS and 1080i HD formats to 720P for broadcast?

HDC

Actually PBS is upconverting them to 1080i before transmission to us... then we take it back down to 720p

Anyone else get audio sync problems on WLKY via Insight or OTA last night? It was similar to the audio difficulty they had the first week or two they went OTA with the DTV signal. This is the first time I've noticed it since then.

I watched CSI (via Insight) last night and I didn't notice anything.

I watched CSI OTA - Looked/sounded OK as well.

Is anyone else having trouble picking up any stations over the air or is it my TV?

never mind it was my TV. I had to unplug it and plug it back in. Working now!!! awwwww what a relief tit is!!

Silvermaxd,

You are so correct, but I am surprised at your candor when you say, "awwww what a relief tit is."

Thanks for the funny typo! It certainly sparked my morning cup of java!

<rant mode>
Well...so much for going with Insight. Had a scheduled appt last fri. from 11:30 - 2:30. They are NEVER on time so I stopped to get some lunch on the way home and got there and there was already a note on the door. I had missed the installer by 2 min.! ARGH. So, I call up Insight and try to get them to send the guy right back as he probably hadn't gotten too far away. They said he would make a 2nd run. Ok, fine.

Well, 2:15 comes along and still no one so I call up and they said the installer made a 2nd attempt at 12:23. I was like...what?!?! I was home, had the front door open a bit and my car was about the only one in the parking lot and it's right in front of my door. Unless he knocked on the door with a feather I think he was lying through his teeth. Next installment time? Derby Eve (another week) and I won't be home. So...no more cable modem...going the DSL route. And I'm glad :) I am so sick of Insight's pi**-poor customer service (this is definitely not the first time I've had installation delays/problems).

So, I go to BellSouth's website and in minutes have an order in place for phone/DSL to be setup on 4/29 (tomorrow!). I'll be using an old DSL modem a buddy of mine has so I don't have to wait for theirs to come in the mail. I'll have my antenna up in the attic by then, too, and hopefully have my HTPC put together and I'll be getting HD OTA again. I may have to break down and reactivate my DISH account (wish the DISH 6000 could work as OTA-only w/o a satellite signal lock).

Oh well...
</rant mode>

On a good note, my videotape of the new KET promo spots arrived and I finally saw my commercial. :D Wow...I thought I'd be just one person with a few soundbites in the whole commercial. Didn't know I was the whole commercial!

Happy Derby Week!

PCS,

maybe a typo and maybe not!!! hahaa

Jerry,
Congrats on the video....
BTW Wont the 6000 work if it sees the bird but does not have an active account?

I believe that the 6000 does not need an active account to receive OTA Digital. Just needs to see 1 satellite.

Pretty sure of this...but I would love to hear a confirmation.
-Alex-

Yeah...the 6000 will work w/o an active account but not w/o satellite signal lock. I'm trying to avoid having to setup a dish at the new place just to get OTA. Have a MyHD card but the HTPC it's going in has either motherboard or memory problems. Going to take a bit to work that out.

Are my eyes deceiving me or is WAVE on Insight HD now? Is this just for the Derby or is it on for good? I sure hope so.

gnj1958-- what Insight channel is that on ? thanks

762 = WAVE on Insight! :D

Is "Friends" not broadcast in HD??? I'm looking forward to Leno tonight at least! (Hopefully, it is in HD...)

To get:
WHAS it took the Super Bowl
WLKY it took the NCAA tournament
WAVE it took the Derby

If it weren't for sports, I wonder if we would be getting HD from Insight?!? :D At least we finally got them all. Now if FOX would only get it together. How embarrassing for them... :mad:

I thought WHAS was on 762, WLKY on 763 and WKET on 764-767

can someone give an update?

thanks, Steve

It is confusing...

WHAS moved from 762 to 760 a few weeks ago. (I believe stovetop first reported this on April 10.)

So currently:

760 = WHAS
762 = WAVE
763 = WLKY
764-767 = KET

Now I hope they get HDnet and Espn-Hd, Discovery, etc.......

:D

Friends is not in HD. Of the three majors, NBC has the least amount of HD, I believe.

As I'm sure you are aware, Insight is supposed to introduce an HD package with the channels MZ mentioned. It is reportedly going to cost $10 per month (which is a little steep IMHO). I'm guessing it will be rolled out 2nd or 3rd quarter (April - Sept).

I was going to suggest to Steve he update his wonderful LouisvilleHDTV site with the updated Insight info. If anyone hasn't checked it out already, it is www.louisvillehdtv.com

I updated the site with the Wave Insight channel #, thanks for setting me straight Greg. Previously in the thread someone mentioned the model number of the Motorola boxes that Insight uses. Someone care to post that again so I can create a link to the box specs? have a nice weekend, Steve

The Insight Motorola box is the DCT-5100. I'm not sure of the firmware version, but I believe it is the latest one. It was updated a couple of weeks ago.

^_^ My Insight HD has been on/off for the past couple of months now. I called today about getting credited on my account for it.

I did see WAVE up last night, but my HD was running like at half bandwidth or something, so it wasn't watchable (at best i would get half the screen). I emailed WAVE letting them know I would tell their sponsers I was not happy with their station though unless they bumped up the quality. I suggest everyone do the same! ^_^ We got WLKY to turn off their subchannels, I don't see why we can't do the same with WAVE.

I sent the below e-mail to WAVE GM on Sunday. Received no response.

---------------------------------------
Steve--

I've asked your engineering team several times to remove sub-channel 2 (47-2) on your digital feed because of pixelation issues on 47-1. Is it WAVEs strategic plan to limit the bandwidth on the primary HD feed? As you prob know, multicasting degrades the NBC HD 1080i material.

I'm hoping you will follow the lead of other NBC affiliates and remove this sub-channel.

I'd like to discuss further if you have a moment. Thanks!

Steve Hardin (steve@cambus.com)
http://louisvillehdtv.com
499-0099
---------------------------------------

Wow...

The GM at WAVE just called me! That was quick! He said he didn't know of any multicasting going on currently, but he knew that the engineer was playing with it. He said he was going to talk with him about sending out the HD feed at the highest quality possible! Great news! Hopefully my Insight will be working tomorrow!

We also talked about several others things about bandwidth and stuff, the whole converstation was pretty rushed though. We also talked about how some local anchors would have to be switch out because of the detail in 1080i, I found that pretty amusing. Anyway, all he got were compliments about the PQ, so make sure you let them know your complaints or they won't know what's wrong.

I was really impressed with Leno last night. I thought it looked fantastic. If I was going to demo HD to someone, I think I'd show them that.

I could see the lack of clarity on it. Even though I could only get half a screen at a time on it (and that may have attributed to the problem), what I could see was very reminiscent of KET's HD... I definately don't think it was the 'benchmark' HD show that everyone is saying it is (at this bandwidth). The clips I downloaded looked much better.

Getting lots of break-ups on Insight's NBC coverage of the Derby... anybody else seeing this? REALLY frustrating! :(

Yes, very frequent breakups, pixilization, switching from 16:9 to 4:3 in the same camera shot- VERY distracting and annoying. I live in New Albany a few miles from the towers on the Knobs and normally get a rock solid picture. Very poor job by NBC / WAVE! I'm glad I didn't have friends over to see this mess.

This was OTA, not via Insight.

My friends actually made me switch over to the analog signal for the race -- not a good day in HD-land. :(

Same here. The break ups were very annoying. Ended up watching it on analog too. I guess if Rick was having the same problems OTA it must of been WAVE not Insight that was the problem.

Same annoying breakups / pixilization here... I assumed it was Insight growing pains, but I guess not. Based on the treads in the main programming forum it must have been a local problem with WAVE only, since it doesn't look like other cities had these problems. Family I had over to watch the broadcast were not impressed to say the least, but we did stick with the HD broadcast hoping it would improve. Unfortunately it didn't. :(

NBC's HD broadcast of the Derby was an embarassment. There is nothing more can be said of such a piss poor display. I wish HDnet had donne the broadcast. BTW, I let Wave know what I thought of the debacle.

Wow, I did not think a production of a national event could be that bad. I thought my eight year old had escaped and was pushing the buttons that were causing all of the bad pictures and breakups, but she was here and she said she didn't do it.

All of my friends and family are rushing out right now to get HDTV sets so they can experience totally rotten television.

And now I have to listen to a bunch of crap from my wife on why I paid thousands of dollars for the equipment that brought that fantastic event into our home.


they burried the ball, deep.

Bad,Bad Bad

Hamlet said there was "something rotten in Denmark", but today I think something was rotten in Louisville and also quite spoiled - NBC's broadcast of the derby. Breakups, crappy SD, pixelization, loud volume on local commercials. I think eleven year olds could have done a better job. What a waste! I've got a recording of this POS and it should be used in all schools to show how to f* up a network broadcast that should have been quite wonderful.
I hope CBS, ABC - hell even Fox gets the derby in the future if this is the kind of crap we are to expect from NBC.

It could be worse ... At least you guys in the 'Ville have a high-def NBC station to complain about :D

HDC

You think you have it bad, I ordered HD through insight to be installed last week so we could have a derby party with a live "HD" feed on my 120" screen.

WTF - it's a two minute race, and they couldn't deliver a feed that isn't lost every 5 seconds? And what's the deal with NBC anyway? All they can afford is a single HiDef camera that was in on about 5% of the time? And as others said the non-hidef cameras where absolutely horrid quality.

I guess the local stations could care less about their "hi-def" material as they must figure nobody watches it. If that's not the case, somebody from NBC should damned well be canned next week.

Originally posted by MichaelZ
Breakups, crappy SD, pixelization, loud volume on local commercials. If you don't mind my stepping in, I'm not sure all of this is NBC's fault. Sounds like some of it may be your local affiliate. On WLWT-DT in Cincinnati, I noticed no pixelization and the only breakups (and the worst video) came from the wireless SD cameras. Commercials and program were at only slightly different audio levels, here. Although, sometimes, the used car dealers just SOUND louder <g>.

Doc in N.Ky

Please go to www.wave3.com, click on the contact us buttom, and send a message to the general manager. That's the only way we're going to get the problem fixed. Most of the comments they have recieved about their DT broadcasting have been positive. The GM is very interested in sending out a high quality signal.

Rick214, I live about 2 miles from the towers and I was getting breakups also OTA.

I can't believe I wasted my time recording it and watching it. Biggest POS HD broadcast I've ever ever seen. Why did they(NBC) waste their time coming down here and setting up for only 90 minutes of crappy coverage. They should have been showing all day coverage IMHO. I did see that NBC is doing it again next year :(.

I'm glad I did'nt have anyone over to see HDTV so poorly represented. I watched some of the masters that I had on tape yesterday. Now thats how an HD broadcast should be done!

Does anyone know if The Gin Game will be HD tonight on KET? It is listed as HD on KET's site, but showing on KET2 in the TV listings. I did not think KET showed any HD on KET2.

Thanks.

Originally posted by Scott Shanks
Does anyone know if The Gin Game will be HD tonight on KET? It is listed as HD on KET's site, but showing on KET2 in the TV listings. I did not think KET showed any HD on KET2.


Scott, there is another KET4 / HD schedule on the website www.ket.org/dtv/programs.htm . According to that schedule The Gin Game is going to be broadcast in "HD"

HDC

I got it. I thought the simulcasts were from KET1 not KET2. Thanks for the help. Much appreciated.

I'm receiving a black screen on KET4 ? Anyone else?

Same here - sound but no picture.

OTA - not Insight.

Actually I don't have sound either on KET4.

Check out todays CJ Business section -- 1/8 page KET ad (I think on page 3) with our now famous AVSer Jerry Turner! Thanks KET for increasing awareness!

Originally posted by cambus
I'm receiving a black screen on KET4 ? Anyone else?

Ditto from Richmond/Lexington OTA - picture went away about 7:50pm.

Oh well, at least I wasn't forced to choose between PBS and HBO tonight.

HDC

I didn't get KET4 tonight either via Insight 767. I watched The Gin Game on KET2. Did anyone get the point of the show?

I agree that the Derby problems must have been local since I haven't heard of anyone else in the country having these problem. But still, if they're going to advertise its available in HD, something more than 10% output from HD camera's might be something to think about next time.

I had one guest that kept saying "Are you sure they advertised that this was in HiDef?"

One a more positive note, did anyone catch the tv movie on CBS about Lucille Ball? That was the single biggest piece of eye candy I've ever seen. The colors, the resolution UNFREAKINGBELIEVABLE! Amazing that I could sit through that otherwise gossipy crap show just for the visuals - but man those visuals were the best examples I've seen yet of HD. Totally jaw dropping.

I watched a few minutes of Lucy. I was, as you said, jaw dropping good. I'd love to know what happened to KET4 last night.

This is the email I sent Saturday to Bill Eschbach <beschbach@wave3tv.com> at WAVE and his response sent to me today:

5/3/03:
What happened to your Derby coverage? My goodness what a mess! Almost constant breakups, pixilization, switching from 16:9 to 4:3 in the same camera shot- VERY distracting and annoying.

I was view this OTA and not via Insight. I live in New Albany a few miles
from the towers on the Knobs and normally get a rock solid picture. Very
poor job by NBC / WAVE! I'm glad I didn't have friends over to see this
mess.

Hopefully something went very wrong unexpectedly and this will be the
exception rather than the rule.

AND PLEASE TURN OFF SUB CHANNEL 3-2!!! Who in the world would be watching digital SD anyway when HD is available? Having a sub channel only takes away from the bandwidth and therefore picture quality of the HD feed. I sure hope you all change your mind and decide to do HD the right way. Take a look at WHAS for some quality viewing with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound.

............... A frustrated viewer.

Rick .....
New Albany, IN
-------------------------------------------------------
5/5 reponse from Bill Eschbach <beschbach@wave3tv.com>:

I viewed the 5pm-6:30pm part from the NBC uplink at Churchill using WAVE's off air DTV signal. We did not see any pixiling. NBC used a reduced
bandwidth transponder, so our (WAVE) bandwidth was more than required and 3-2 is allocated a very small number of bits. All of WAVE originated
signals is in the 4x3 format. Only NBC true H.D. is in 9x16. NBC did
report some transmission problems at the start, but was mainly with the
audio. As far as 5.1, that is an NBC decision only. FYI, NBC viewed our
DTV signal for two days prior and did not see any problems and said our
up-converted Oaks Day coverage was some of the best looking DTV they have seen in the country. Bill
--------------------------------------------

Comments?

Murphy works on Derby Weekend.....

and sometime modern electronics go on strike.


William

RE: WAVE 3-2

I guess pixelation, compression and handing a digital signal are new to Bill and the gang at WAVE. His response is pathetic and shows his lack of knowledge in the area.

I've spoken with Bill before on the phone, and he claims broadcasting 3-2 simultaneously with 3-1 has no impact on HD performance. I told him he was wrong he needs all of the 19.2M bandwidth especially on scene changes, fast moving subjects.

I'm surprised by WAVEs lack of expertise in the digital area. My wife and others can see the pixelation. Recorded HD material from the Atlanta NBC affiliate is noticeable better. WAVEs HD picture is softer. When the camera pans or subjects are moving, watch out, the picture is a mess. Jay Leno had a musical guest on last week, with a lot of flashing lights and band members jumping around. I've got proof on my hard drive that WAVE HD is not up to par.

He could not have been seeing the same thing everyone else was. The drop outs, in my opinion, was the most annoying part of the problems. These certainly were not limited to the first part of the broadcast. If memory serves, there was a dropout in the middle of the race. I'll have to check my tape. Oh well, Rick, sounds like your complaint fell on deaf ears didn't it?

Originally posted by William Smith
Murphy works on Derby Weekend.....
and sometime modern electronics go on strike.
William

You guys need to fire that Murphy guy. ;)
Better luck next time. Thanks!

I watched the Derby OTA in St Matthews and got constant drops/pixels. The SD stretched sub-channel was solid though :D The HD broadcast was unwatchable. And mig sig strength was 100% so I know it wasn't a sig strength issue. WAVE is always rock solid for me.

Whatever Bill @ WAVE was watching was NOT what was being broadcast!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Scott Shanks
[B]He could not have been seeing the same thing everyone else was. The drop outs, in my opinion, was the most annoying part of the problems. These certainly were not limited to the first part of the broadcast. If memory serves, there was a dropout in the middle of the race. I'll have to check my tape. Oh well, Rick, sounds like your complaint fell on deaf ears didn't it?

Yes it did. I hope he gets lots of other emails so that he doesn't convince himself there wasn't a real problem:

Bill Eschbach <beschbach@wave3tv.com>

Can't find the guy but you sure see his handywork..

<grin>

I don't understand why THEY didn't see what WE were seeing, and it hasn't stopped either. I tried watching back to back episodes of Law & Order:CI last night and got the same problem through both shows i.e pictures cutting out every 10 seconds or so. WAVE definately have a problem somewhere.

I received an e-mail from Mr. Eschbach. Apparently, they are trying to pinpoint the problem. He said they had comments both good and bad.

I'd like to know who made the good comments and how they were viewing the signal... I don't feel like I'm being picky. With all of the dropouts it was not watchable.... :(

I don't have a recording of it, but if someone else does maybe we should offer to let WAVE see what we saw so they understand the problem?

RE: who made the good comments?

a better question would be how many Mint Juleps Eschbach consumed Saturday at the track while watching the OTA broadcast of that mess. Everytime we saw a blip, I think he was hitting the page button for the waitress.

Originally posted by GregJKy

I don't have a recording of it, but if someone else does maybe we should offer to let WAVE see what we saw so they understand the problem?

GregKy, that's exactly what I offered and I believe they are to take me up on it. I was watching the debacle from both OTA and cable and I think there was less pixelization OTA, it definitely had some dropouts.

BTW, the 3-1 bitstream was 15.2mb and the 3-2 stream is taking 3.2mb. Looks like they still have the footprint still there for the old 3-3 stream which used 1mb before.

Hey guys this could be our chance to really get the point across to WAVE! I also sent an email and Bill Eschbach asked me for feedback. I think they are truly trying to get it right. If you haven't sent in your comments (remember be positive about HD while you blast WAVE's pathetic signal). Here's the email again for anyone interested.

mailto:beschbach@wave3tv.com

Let's put on the pressure! We deserve better HD than this pitiful showing of the Derby!

I was not home to watch the Derby coverage. So, I'm not sure about the dropouts. But, I would like to know more about the pixelization problem. I have an RCA F38310 (38" tube w/ built-in HD tuner) and WAVE HD lookes pretty much like the other local OTA HD broadcast. I do not have cable HD to compare. Maybe my set is too small for the pixelization to show up. Is it on all WAVE-DT OTA? Or, just WAVE HD? Or, certain WAVE HD broadcast?

Another person at Wave3 called me right befoe 5 today. I believe it was Bill Eschbach, but I had trouble catching the name because I was on the road. Anyway, he seems genuinly interested in improving the picture, although he did not seem to know 100% of what he was talking about. He said that they can't send HD without sending the entire 19.3 mpbs, but then went back to say they're dedicating 13mbps to it. I tried to explain that they still have the bandwidth from the 2nd subchannel still unallocated to anything, but I don't think he understood.

Anyway, I strongly suggested he go onto www.louisvillehdtv.com for some direct viewer feedback and he thought that maybe a good idea. Unfortunately there is a RIP WAVE3'S @$$ thread going on.. so that may not be a good impression.. Heheh, maybe someone should change it to, "thoughts on the WAVE's HD" =)

stovetop, that's my rip wave's a$$ thread :D I sent Bill the transport stream of the derby for them to see what was going on. I believe they are going to have some out of town experts look at it. I guess he will like my thread ;) I started that one after a few too many derby drinks! LOL! I hope he has a sense of humor :)

I think any of the Dreby threads on this forum would be good. No one, besides people from Louisville, reported constant drop-outs and pixelization.

Anyone having audio dropouts again on WLKY? Last night's Guardian was unwatchable and I checked back during Judging Amy (during commercials while I was watching NYPD Blue) and it was still going on. WAVE and WLKY are really frustrating!

I am seeing the audio dropouts on our CBS affiliate here in Lexington(WKYT) also. Maybe it is a problem with the CBS source.

My Insight HD finally 'works'. (it's been on at night for 2 out of 4 days now)
And I finally got a chance to check out the Jay Leno Show, I caught it on Friday, and last night with Katie Curric. I thought the PQ was pretty good, even with the lowered bit rate. The fast motion was very pixelated, and even some low movement had pixelation. Definately would like to see what this looks like at the full bandwidth. It sucks how they turn it off RIGHT after the tonight show, I would like to watch Conan as well.

I've also never caught an audio dropout on CBS..

Anyone gotten any word from WAVE about what happened with the Derby? The Preakness is this Saturday and I hope it turns out better.

Conan is not in HD. But, it would certainly look better on 762 than on 02, though.

Yeah, sorry, I didn't mean to imply that it was in HD, I just think it's a funny show. But I have to manually switch the input on my TV (i have the wrong remote for it) so I just flipped to Jimmy Kimmel instead (not HD).

Thanks for the feedback folks. No more audio problems for me with WLKY since last week so I guess it is fixed for now. I too hope WAVE gets its act together in time for the preakness. Any word on ESPN-HD or HDNET on Insight? The 2nd quarter 2003 is nearing an end and they promised them in the 2ndQ. I hope they keep their promise and it comes in the next few weeks.

Didn't have a chance to check check out the Preakness... was the coverage any better this time around?

I recorded about 30 minutes of it. Most of the coverage was SD, but the actual race was HD. Of course, the race picture was less than desirable in Louisville thanks to WAVE and their unwillingness to dump the multi-cast channel 2.

There was noticeable pixelation around the moving horses. Enough to make you say, yuk! Multicasting has become an issue in other cities, check out what Mark Cuban (owner of HDNET) thinks of multi-casting:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=2020259#post2020259

WAVE, please give us the full 19.2Mbps !

I thought the Preakness broadcast was just as bad as the Derby. I would get multiple video dropouts between 4:3/16:9 SD/HD shots. I finally switched over to cable - my guests were on complaining :( I did flip back to HD for the actual race and it was ok but there was some minor pixelization. I was going to review it today on my PJ to see how bad it really was :(
NBC at one point apologized for the sound and video issues saying there was equipment problems from the rain. I hope that was the root cause of the problems I was seeing.

Woo hoo!

Finally have the HTPC built and up and running with the MyHD MDP-100 card!

I finally figured out to turn on 'separate monitor' for VGA and by the time I noticed that CSI:Miami had *just* gone off! DOH!!

I'm only getting 48-64% on WAVE-DT at the moment with a ragged out double-bowtie from RS. I'll have to work on a more permanent solution over the next day or two. But, hopefully I can at least catch Leno in HD tonight before I go to bed. Would like to end the day on a good note.

:D

Anyone still noticing audio probs on WLKY/CBS ? Driving me nuts tonight

I noticed them for the first time this week as well.

I can not watch CBS HD on WLKY due to the maddening audio problem. I emailed the Chief ENG. and received this reply:

WLKYTV passes CBS audio throught embedded in the serial video stream. We do
no processong of it in any way. I will Listenen to a couple of shows
tonight and see how it is.

Jim

The WLKY audio problem...is that it's kind of hissy and quiet? Not sure if it's the MyHD card or the sound problems. Sound off NBC's Tonight Show feed didn't seem as crisp as I remember when I had my DISH 6000.

And, what's with WAVE shutting down at midnight??? Half of the Tonight Show remains...I missed Jewel in HD last night! :mad:

Jerry, pay your electricity bill, I saw Jewell last night on in HD, nice

lol

maybe the signal strength finally dropped enough to where it froze.

I'll check again tonight as well as running a better antenna setup (I have access to an attic here at this townhome and have plenty of cable!)

:)

Anyone else hear anything from Insight on when/if they are going to add the HD channels they were promising back in March? I sent an e-mail. Directv is going to offer a package of HDnet, Discovery-HD, Espn-hd, etc. for $11 (7/1/03) and it looks like I may pull the plug on Insight if they don't get their a$$ in gear.

Michael,

Wish they'd toss in HBO-HD and Showtime HD. I'd be all over that!

Folks, I haven't been around for a while, and haven't had a chance to watch much HD, but tried to watch Game 1 of the NBA finals tonight and could not get a picture from WHAS (between 10-30% on my signal meter). WLKY and WAVE were running around 70-80%, and WDRB was very low also (but that's normal). My antenna placement has been the same for months now (it's indoors so no storm issues), and WHAS has always been strong in the past. Anybody noticed this?

Thanks.

PS - ESPN-HD in DirecTV, FINALLY!

Bruggles, I did not watch the whole game but it was working great for me!

My antenna right now is a Radio Shack double bowtie that has a broken strip between the bowties but it gets WLKY-DT, WKPC-DT rather well and WAVE-DT mostly in but I get nothing on WHAS-DT...not a blip at all. I'm probably 200-250' lower in elevation here off Hurstbourne than I used to be out off the Snyder near Pewee Valley and there I had an antenna on the roof. Figured I'd get locks on all the channels, though, being a few miles closer in.

<shrug>

I'll futz with the antenna tomorrow evening.

Thanks for the feedback. I am at the top of the hill in Prospect (just into Oldham Co.). I will work with my antenna some more this week, too. Maybe its a directional thing (I noticed when I turned it 10 degrees or so I got a better signal on WAVE (although it didn't help WHAS). But previously, I had to tune it to get WAVE and WLKY, while WHAS always was at least decent. I need to put it up in the attic anyway (it's kind of in the way in the guest bedroom :>) so maybe I'll get to that sooner rather than later.....

I didn't watch the NBA tonight, but I'm getting about 70% strength for WHAS at 11:30pm, which is normal for me. My antenna is in my attic.

In other news, I sent a note to Liberty (WAVE owner) regarding the sub channel on Wave and the pixelation issues. Received a response, and it's doubtful they will be changing their position. This is not an engineering issue at WAVE, but corporate decision at Liberty. I'm assuming they wish to resell this piece of spectrum in the future. When the HD NBC feed is live on Dish/DTV, I'll lobby the FCC to allow us to purchase the feed.

Good deal, Steve.

I grabbed this screenshot (http://www.conjur.com/images/HarrisonFord2.jpg) off The Tonight Show tonight.

Looks good but I think it would be better (esp. noticeable when the camera pans) if that stupid @$$ sub-channel were gone.

Jerry,
Great picture, thanks! As the shot indicates, the low/no motion shots still look good on Wave (maybe a bit soft)

Any motion like horse racing shows the problem. Even the wife will ask why the picture is making her sick (!)

Anyone buying DirectTV for the July launch of Discovery, ESPN-HD?

Good to see some action on this thread again. The NBA finals in HD looked great on WHAS via cable last night. Some early audio sync problems were gone by game time. I thought it looked as good as CBS NCAA finals.

I'm hoping Insight gives us the channels they promised. Looks like they are late on delivering. Maybe if D* is going to have this package of channels that sounds exactly like what Insight promised back in March then Insight may have this package available to them in July too. I hope so.

It is nice to see this thread active again. Not much new has been happening lately, though.

I'm more looking forward to Insight combining the digital box and the HD box than the new channels. I'm getting kind of tired of having to switch back and forth between the boxes when channel surfing. Has anyone heard what box they are intending to use?

ooo...the NBA finals *are* in HD? Are they over yet?

I really need to get my antenna situation rectified! :D

The NBA finals looked great last night and the Stanley Cup Sat. and Mon. were quite good as well. In HD you can actually see the puck. Another game tonight!


Chris

I'm wondering if WHAS has decreased the OTA power output. I was getting LOTS of dropouts and pixilations last evening (6/4/03) trying to watch the NBA finals. It was too much to stand - I had to watch the SD channel.

I live a few miles from the towers in New Albany. I have an attic antenna but have not had this much problems with WHAS-DT since Millers Electronics installed it last year. Sometimes when it's overcast and foggy I get some breakups but it was clear last night.

This makes me think WHAS has turned down the power some.

Originally posted by Rick214
I'm wondering if WHAS has decreased the OTA power output. I was getting LOTS of dropouts and pixilations last evening (6/4/03) trying to watch the NBA finals. It was too much to stand - I had to watch the SD channel.

I live a few miles from the towers in New Albany. I have an attic antenna but have not had this much problems with WHAS-DT since Millers Electronics installed it last year. Sometimes when it's overcast and foggy I get some breakups but it was clear last night.

This makes me think WHAS has turned down the power some.

Spring/Summer time tends to bring on several types of signal propagation anomalies - I have had to adjust my antennas to compensate.

HDC

You guys remember a couple months back when I posted I was picking up all of the digital stations here in town (including WDRB and it's weak signal) after my antenna fell on the ground.

Well, finally got the pics off the camera.

Check it out:

Antenna on ground (http://www.conjur.com/images/AntennaDown.jpg)
Wall it used to rest on (http://www.conjur.com/images/AntennaDown2.jpg)

It used to rest on the half wall in pic 2 and was pointed between the tree and the barn roof. You can tell it's a good 90degrees (or more) rotated on the ground from where it should be pointing :)

Jerry, that is unbelievable !

WTF!!!!!!

No stanley cup finals? WHAS put the damn crusade on instead of the stanly cup?

Please give me a number...I'm getting read to tear into somebody.

Sorry, had to rant. I have 10 guests over for "you gotta watch hockey in HD, it is unbelievable" and instead I get this crap.

WTF!!!!!!

Guess they'll pre-empt the NBA Finals tonight, too, eh?

Anyone bothered to call WHAS yet? I can't find my email I got some time ago from the GM.

Ok two points here:

1) WHAS could learn how to use the power of multicasting.

2) Somebody may need to reevaluate their priorities if they truely believe major league sports are more important than what Crusade For Children does.

HDC

PS: These are just my opinions - I could be wrong.

Going to tread lightly here so as not to start a flame fest but

1) Agreed...heck...if WAVE does it non-stop, WHAS could do it for a couple of hours.
2) I'm far beyond caring about the Crusade for Children as a necessary all-weekend broadcast. Why does one charity deserve that when there are so many others out there (others more deserving, imo)?

Oh well...I'll leave it at that :)

I'm with you guys on the idea of multicasting. This seems like the perfect example of a situation when it is warranted UNlike what WAVE is doing.

I must comment that the Crusade for Children is one of the most SIGNIFICANT charities in Louisville and MANY helping organizations are funded by this drive. It is very effective and helpful and if a choice has to be made I understand how the Crusade is a priority over any other event for just one weekend per year. Furthermore I got to watch a bit of the upconverted show Sat. PM with the Neville Bros. from Ky Center for the Arts. It was very entertaining and PQ was nice for an upconvert.

Lets think about priorities guys: the wellbeing of kids in wheel chairs, etc. or our lust for high paid jocks strutting their stuff. I enjoy it as much as the next guy but the Crusade is a GOOD thing.

BTW, the NBA game on WHAS last night was in HD and PQ was awesome.

The hockey game was on Insight channel 8. Not HD, of course, but at least you could see it.

************NEWS FLASH FOR LOUISVILLE INSIGHT VIEWERS*********


Insight has added Discovery Theater and ESPNHD to the channel lineup. I still hope we can get HDNET or HDNET movies. Let the good (HD) times keep on rolling. The PQ on Discovery HD has the wow factor. I just saw an upconverted golf match on ESPNHD and it was not impressive, but I look forward to seeing an actual HD event on ESPNHD before passing judgement.

Things are looking up with 8 channels in HD plus PBS in DTV via cable total 9-10 DTV options for Louisville HDTV owners. That makes it harder for someone to say there is not enough content.

Yep yep. ^_^ I saw this when I got home too, there is another thread around here that I started about it. Very very cool. I was watching trading spaces in HD yesturday and this morning while getting ready for work.

Great work Insight. I think we'll see HDnet here soon as well. I actually got a response from a CSR there and they said the problem was bandwidth, but I don't know how accurate that is...

How was the overscan on ESPN-HD for you guys. The scores running at the bottom of the screen was half cut off for me?

I agree that Discovery Theater definitely has the WOW factor associated with it. I watch part of the LPGA skins last night on ESPN-HD. That looked like 4:3 streched to 16:9 to me. Everyone looked at little wider than they should have.

I posted in the other thread, but yes - ESPN overscan was a little annoying.. thought it might have been my Toshiba TW40x81..

I couldn't be too upset about it though.. it's great to see more HD channels

Discovery really impressed me with the PQ.. just amazing

Yeah, the overscan is annoying, but I think it's just part of them manipulating the picture so that it looks better stretched to 16x9.
It also maybe because 720p is optimized for LCD and DLP monitors where there is little or no overscan.
There won't be any HD on it untill saturday though.

Discovery is very very impressive though. I'm really enjoying watching it. Last night's selection of programming wasn't too enticing though, but most of the time I just get lost in the picture.

Just having all the commercials and promos directed toward HD is fantastic, unlike HBO and Showtime where it's just from the SD channel.

Someone on Louisvillehdtv.com says we'll have HDnet by sometime tomorrow. ^_^ I hope it's true!

Did anyone try to watch any of "Over Alaska" on KET4 last night?

HDC

Or at least offer the National PBS loop to Insight...
With Discovery-HD, I really have no reason to watch KET at all anymore. It really is a shame as this could have propelled KET/PBS in my book.
=(
edit: not that the new KET1-4 isn't useful to someone though... I just value HD far more than having 4 SD selections. When you feel like you're no longer in you living room watching TV.... that's when it's worth watching to me.

I wish we could convince them to shut off KET 2&3 (OTA) when they try the HD thing. After seeing the real deal on HDNet a few months back, it was reallly painful to watch this airing - barely DVD quality if it even rose to that level.

HDC

I don't think they can shut off KET2 because it drives their NTSC channel. I could be wrong.

Originally posted by cambus
I don't think they can shut off KET2 because it drives their NTSC channel. I could be wrong.

Yeah, I seem to remember wsmith saying something about "simulcasting" requirements in reference to SD / HD licenses as well ... Oh well it did look better than the SD feed on KET2 but not by much.

HDC

Did anyone catch Over Beautiful British Columbia last night on Discovery Theater? Stunningly beautiful! It's on again today at 2pm if you missed it last night or this morning.

I did watch British Columbia - just awesome. I understand that DiscoveryHD and ESPN-HD are on a 30 day free trial. HD NET movies are coming this weekend. Not sure of the price for any of this after the trial period.

HDNET is now on channel 777 and HDNET Movies is on 778.

Many factors play into why KET2 has to stay up while KET4 is in HD, the biggest being the issues of how decoders handle switching between HD and SD. (It has to do with re-sizing the video buffers while they are in use) As soon as there is a good technical solution that doesn't destroy the CH 68 analog feed believe me I'll try it..

The other issue is how receivers handle service's that are turned off.
( Example: Receiver tuned to KET3, KET3 disappears from the datastream, receiver goes to KET1 and has to be manually tuned back to KET3. Also similar issues with cable co's equipment.)

Don't get me started on Ch. 38...... Its not a technical problem..

William

Sonyman, that's great news. ^_^ I'm not getting off until 5 though! >_<

Insight is doing a great job... Especially when there are much larger cities with much larger parent cable companies that don't do half or any of what Insight does. =) Now all we need is a one box solution and programming guides. ^_^

Now all we need is a one box solution and programming guides.

Amen to that!

I'm at a bit of a dilema on what to do about the extra $10 a month for the HD package. ESPN rarely offers anything true HD. The movie schedule on HDNet movies looked pretty weak honestly. Discovery Theater is impressive so far, although the content is bound to get a little old after awhile. I'm debating between keeping the package and dropping HBO or vice versa. Anyone else having the same thoughts/reservations?

I think it is worth it for HDNet and Discovery. I have so few examples of HD Video content, and both of those channels just offer a plethora of it (well, as much as can be expected anyway). I'm sure ESPN-HD and HDNet movies will have somethign on once in a while that appeals to me though. If this can't be the package that comes included with my double-play package, then I will be dropping Showtime. But.. I was going to drop it anyway when Cinemax or Starz! becomes available.

Is Cinemax and Starz! going to be offering an HD service? I heard rumblings about Starz!, but I hadn't heard anything about Cinemax.

Originally posted by Scott Shanks
I'm debating between keeping the package and dropping HBO or vice versa. Anyone else having the same thoughts/reservations?

I want it ALL!!! :D

Unfortunately, I have to wait for D* to put it up ... and then there's the issue of whether D* will be able to pull it off without degrading the PQ.

Sign me, "No HD cable in Mudville."

HDC

Last year I bought a brand new home and got a new Pioneer Elite 520HD to put in it. I had DirecTV installed in my new house instead of Insight Cable because I had read somewhere or was told (probably by some salesman) that satellite provided more lines of resolution than Insight so satellite would provide a better SD picture on a big screen TV.

Several months ago I had Insight broadband (cable modem) installed but did not go with Insight for TV viewing because of the resolution issue and also because I didn’t want to give up HDNet. I live in New Albany not very far from the towers so local OTA SD and HD reception is not an issue for me.

Now that Insight will have the same HD offerings as D* (on July 1) I must decide if switching to Insight is the way to go. My decision will mainly be based on image quality but I also don’t want to do without NFL Sunday Ticket.

After reading all the threads concerning D* and compression I’m wondering if Insight is now and in the long run going to have a better quality (uncompressed? less compressed?) signal. Now that HDNet is being shown on Insight, has anyone compared Insight’s HD picture to D*? If Insight is much better than D* I may have to get both since NFL-ST is exclusive to D*. Can I get Insight’s HD package without an expensive subscription?

The HD scene seems to be changing very quickly so I’m also thinking maybe I should just wait and see how good the HD looks on D* after July 1st before making a decision.

Anyone have a strong opinion on Insight vs. satellite regarding quality?

Originally posted by William Smith
.... Don't get me started on Ch. 38...... Its not a technical problem..

William,
Sounds like you have a bad case of conflicting "mission statements" ... :D

Anyway ... just out of curiosity, and forgive me if you've answered this before, how much bandwidth are you allocating to KET4 when it's running in 720p mode? And the final question ... you wouldn't happen to have any inside info on what's up with WLEX-DT would you? I haven't been able to get a response from Dave Powell via e-mail ...

HDC

Originally posted by Rick214
Anyone have a strong opinion on Insight vs. satellite regarding quality?

I can't speak about Insight .... but I suspect that their digital service would be only marginally better than D*. Everyone seems to have caught the "more is betterer bug" including cable companies. My advise, keep D* for now, sign up with Insight for a month and compare them side by side on your set ... keep whichever one looks best ... or keep both or dump them all.

HDC

Edit: By "digital service" above I meant analog SD feeds being converted to a digital stream to pack in more channels not HD per se...

Same issue as before program rights and duplication in a market. KET2 must be transmitted on Ch 38 as its the companion analog signal.

We had to get it on the air before May 1, 2003 to meet the deadline.

KET4 In HD runs about 9 Mbps in video and 384 kbps in audio.

Last I heard about WLEX-DT was still no ruling on the channel change, that has to be done before a CP can be issued.

When I worked there it was the station of firsts in the Lexington market.... sad to see it today..

First on the air (1956)
First in Network Color (1962)
First ENG trucks (Late 1970's)
First in Stereo (1985)

Originally posted by William Smith
KET4 In HD runs about 9 Mbps in video and 384 kbps in audio.

Last I heard about WLEX-DT was still no ruling on the channel change, that has to be done before a CP can be issued.

When I worked there it was the station of firsts in the Lexington market.... sad to see it today..

First on the air (1956)
First in Network Color (1962)
First ENG trucks (Late 1970's)
First in Stereo (1985)

Yikes!!! ... that would explain everything re KET4 HD.

The odd thing about WLEX is I seem to remember that they made a big deal about upgrading their newsroom and switching equipment in preparation for digital ... something has obviously gone horribly wrong ... It seems like they run the risk of interferring with WTVQ if they use CH39 or PAX if they stay on CH22 ... maybe that's what's holding up the works?

HDC

Actually, the best way for the adjacent channels DTV to work with minimal interference is to co-locate them. WLEX-DT is supposed to be put on the WTVQ tower....

720P doesn't require as much bandwidth as 1080i

WLEX's former owners fixed it up and sold it...

Originally posted by William Smith
WLEX's former owners fixed it up and sold it...

Holy Cow! I just rechecked the FCC database ... just how many times has the ownership changed since 1995?

Oh well, at least they have a consistantly good analog OTA - probably the best overall from my location. I'm getting the itch to put up an 8 bay outside for WAVE-DT though.

HDC

How cool is it that these new channels keep popping up on Insight? HDNet and Discovery or both amazing. I did see the Discovery show on British Columbia. It WAS awesome if a little overlong. Enough to make me very homesick though (from Seattle area).

What's the deal with ESPN, though? They're using some aweful cropped and stretched mode that makes their standard def stuff unwatchable. And I've yet been able to catch any HD programming at all. Is this particular to Insight, or is ESPN HD like that for everyone?

All in all, for those of us that only watch HD content on TV, the insight offering is getting pretty darned satisfying. Now if they could just fix ESPN...