To get to the point, was he (the tech at the cable company) feeding me a line or does midco really offer over-the-air HD content that is mapped to their proper channel numbers ?

I have Midco and I recently got a HDTV for the bedroom, I currently have a DVR connected to it, but when I first got it I connected straight cable to it and scanned for channels, I got the HD versions of the network channels along with the analog, I do believe they were mapped to the OTA channel numbers.

MHAIDER

I think that Midco is intermittently turning on/off the local HD channels that are in the clear to entice people to get their boxes. If this is true it's a good reason to leave them and get something else. That's just my opinion though...

Again Mhaider, thanks for your reply.

By "bleed through", does he mean your signal is too strong? I would ask them to fix the "bleed through" at your location and see what his response is. I had a friend who said he could not get KELO-HD on cable one night. They may also have been just having trouble.

I just saw a notice on KDLT that they are going all digital February 1st, so I guess we'll find out who still uses analog that day instead of the 17th. Maybe others are too and I haven't seen the notice.

Maybe you all received the SDPBS flyer also ...

On January 5th SDPBS will be adding a .3 sub.

They are also changing the lineup around a bit.

The .1 channel will no longer broadcast the national HD PBS. It will broadcast South Dakota PBS in HD. That is the same programing we presently are seeing on .2 in SD

.2 channel will be PBS World - SD

.3 channel will be Create - SD

Maybe that means our DirecTV 23 that is in the HD menu will become true HD. Doubtful, but I can hope.
Has anyone seen any HD on the PBS 2.1 channel? Since they switched, I've only seen the SD feed there. The signal looks to be HD though.

Has anyone seen any HD on the PBS 2.1 channel? Since they switched, I've only seen the SD feed there. The signal looks to be HD though.

I don't think you will see any HD on .2 or .3, only on .1 only. Looks to me like they haven't quite got the switching down yet though. I was just watching KTSD Reliance and the .1 channel had a postage stamp picture but appeared to be in HD otherwise. Switched over to NE PBS out of Bassett and the same program was in full screen HD.

I was also looking at SD PBS program guide on the net. They were listing some programs on the .2 channel in HD. Apparently they need to work on that a little also. :-)

Has anyone seen any HD on the PBS 2.1 channel? Since they switched, I've only seen the SD feed there. The signal looks to be HD though.


Just a reminder that these channels are Digital, which does not necessarily mean they have HD programming. Since each channel send something like 19 Mbit/s of bandwidth, when they separate their channels into sub-channels they are splitting that bandwidth. This would make it hard to broadcast good quality HD on 2 channels. It could be done, but will not look very good. The lower sub-channels (.2, .3, etc..) will most likely always have SD content.

By "bleed through", does he mean your signal is too strong? I would ask them to fix the "bleed through" at your location and see what his response is. I had a friend who said he could not get KELO-HD on cable one night. They may also have been just having trouble.

BVFAN

This tech from midco was essentially telling me that Over-The-Air signals were "bleeding thru"

If a OTA channel and a cable channel are the same (on analog) you get bars and interference. That's why in Brandon & Sioux Falls Channels 11 & 13 are blocked off. Also in Beresford Channel 2 (SDPB) can be seen with a little snow if you have cable hooked up.

But with DTV there is not that much room for interference, so I HIGHLY doubt this door-knob was correct

I live in Pipestone Minnesota and get all of the Sioux Falls digital channels except the digital versions of channel 36 (the CW) . I've seen in this forum that the digital channel for 36.1 is actually 51. I've tried that with no luck. Is there another digital channel for 36.2? Will this television station be increasing its power after February 17, 2009? If not, will they continue to broadcast in analog? I do receive pretty good analog reception of channel 36. Thanks for any information.

The signal is at very low power at the moment. After the transition, but not on the day of the transition, KWSD will return to channel 36 and boost power a lot (from 4.1 kW to 400 kW, while gaining 70 feet in height as well). Be patient and it will come to you. :)

- Trip

Buffalo Ridge, goto TVFOOL.COM, enter your address, check the bullet for "digital only" and it will show the expected signal strength for the stations in your area. Looks to me like you will have excellent signal for 36.

I have a question for you though. I'm located in south central SD but I get the Sioux Falls stations on Dish. This includes KSMN, . I assume that Dish picks up the signal for KSMN over the air. Occasionally, maybe once or twice an hour the signal freezes for a few seconds and gets a greenish cast. Do you ever see this over the air on KSMN? My guess is it's interference of some sort on Dish's pickup and hopefully will go away when they convert to a digital pickup.

tvfool.com and antennaweb.org are great places to start when you are looking to see what kind of signal to expect.

If you haven't gone to the thread that explains the neat Google Earth 3D tool, those with signal problems might want to take a look. It takes terrain into account and shows signal strengths for each station seperating in different colors for strength. You can zoom in right on your house.

It shows that my signal strength for the Sioux City stations is stronger than someone that would be like 8 miles closer to the towers, but I live on a hill.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=821480

So is it coincidence, a planned experiment, or poor planning that KDLT is shutting off analog on Super Bowl Sunday? NBC has the game.

** RANT **
It's great that KELO actually has HD scrollers for alerts and news, but could they PLEASE move it to the bottom of the screen! It is consistently over the score of games or cutting off someones head on a show. Do they not notice this?! Also, I have noticed today during the Steelers/Chargers game that every time before and after the scroller goes on/off the screen with flicker black! Now I am glad they don't switch to SD like KDLT and KSFY do, but since they have the technology at least they could do is learn how to use IT! Ok, I am done ranting.

So is it coincidence, a planned experiment, or poor planning that KDLT is shutting off analog on Super Bowl Sunday? NBC has the game.


What I heard is that NBC is pushing it's affiliates to do the switch over early. They figure since the Super Bowl is the most watched thing, that people will prepare for the switch more actively. It will be interesting to hear how many people complain about not being able to view the Super Bowl! ;-)

** RANT **
It's great that KELO actually has HD scrollers for alerts and news, but could they PLEASE move it to the bottom of the screen! It is consistently over the score of games or cutting off someones head on a show. Do they not notice this?! Also, I have noticed today during the Steelers/Chargers game that every time before and after the scroller goes on/off the screen with flicker black! Now I am glad they don't switch to SD like KDLT and KSFY do, but since they have the technology at least they could do is learn how to use IT! Ok, I am done ranting.
Nick, I sent an email to the KELO chief engineer (chiefengineer@keloland.com (mailto:chiefengineer@keloland.com)) about this exact thing. I would encourage others to do the same. Maybe if they get enough feedback they will move all scrollers to the bottom.

Britney

Does anybody else have trouble picking up 9.2 KCAU's accuweather channel?

I can get it in my bed room, but not my living room and they are less the 30 feet apart. It's sick.

Plus KTIV added their alert 4 school closings and weather to the bottom of the screen but it really messes with the show resolution. I suggest that take it down a few inches and make it closer to the bottom of the screen.

Last night, watching 24 on Fox Midco channel 607, the picture was freezing a lot, did anyone else see this? I DVR'd it and started watching about a half hour into the show.

Last night, watching 24 on Fox Midco channel 607, the picture was freezing a lot, did anyone else see this? I DVR'd it and started watching about a half hour into the show.

I noticed it freezing at times OTA as well. Thankfully, I was able to switch to KPTH 44.1 and their feed did not freeze at all.

Buffalo Ridge, goto TVFOOL.COM, enter your address, check the bullet for "digital only" and it will show the expected signal strength for the stations in your area. Looks to me like you will have excellent signal for 36.

I have a question for you though. I'm located in south central SD but I get the Sioux Falls stations on Dish. This includes KSMN, . I assume that Dish picks up the signal for KSMN over the air. Occasionally, maybe once or twice an hour the signal freezes for a few seconds and gets a greenish cast. Do you ever see this over the air on KSMN? My guess is it's interference of some sort on Dish's pickup and hopefully will go away when they convert to a digital pickup.

GravelChan, I have not noticed KSMN OTA freeze or show any greenish cast. Hopefully you're right and it will go away when they convert!

Last night, watching 24 on Fox Midco channel 607, the picture was freezing a lot, did anyone else see this? I DVR'd it and started watching about a half hour into the show.

I was DVRing the 17 OTA feed and it sucked but then seems to get better.

Directv local KTTW 17 FOX is in HD tonight. Up until now it has been jittery SD feed.
Actually looks good, if you can call American Idol good.

http://www.northpine.com/broadcast/

is reporting:


UHF MIGRATION:
In the analog era, VHF channels were seen as desirable, with UHF stations dismissed for being weak and hard to receive. But with the digital transition looming, most VHF Low stations (channels 2-6) are choosing to keep their digital broadcasts on UHF and abandon VHF, while most VHF High stations (7-13) are converting their analog VHF channel to digital. Here's a look at the changes in the Upper Midwest:

Sioux Falls is the only area to gain a VHF channel, with FOX affiliate KTTW moving from channel 17 to 7, joining the CBS and ABC affiliates on VHF. (1/15/2009)

GravelChan,

I have not experienced the freezing up and greenish cast with KSMN digital channels.
I do get freezing/breaking up with digital channel 17.1. I might need to aim my antenna differently.

KDLT's decision to flip was made by its owners, not NBC. I work for a station owned by the same company in Duluth, MN and we are also ending analog on 2/1. I think some of their stations in ND are also flash-cutting to digital in early Feb.

However, I've been told that 2/1 is the last day of analog broadcasting...meaning that the analog transmitter will be on the air until the end of the day 2/1. This is probably also the case for KDLT, so the Super Bowl would happen before the analog shutoff.

Another FOX 17 reception data point. I had stuttering on both OTA and the Directv HD feed last night during the first half hour or so of the 7:00 Bones. I did not try 44 from SC so I don't know if it was local or network.

Hi guys haven't been here in awhile i was wondering what antenna would be good to get liveing in Sac City i have Mediacom but would like to get locals off air as well

Hi guys haven't been here in awhile i was wondering what antenna would be good to get liveing in Sac City i have Mediacom but would like to get locals off air as well

go here and enter your address. Looks like locals are from Des Moines maybe.

http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Welcome.aspx

It's a noon switchover on Feb. 17 for two Sioux City stations.

Just in from the FCC: Pappas Telecasting plans to shut off analog on KPTH at noon Feb. 17, citing in part the company's recent bankruptcy filings. Here's some of what Pappas had to say:

"Currently the licensee, along with approximately twenty other commonly controlled companies, is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and the station is operated under the guidance of a court appointed bankruptcy trustee. Allowing the station to terminate its analog operations on February 17th will help to conserve the licensee's limited financial resources and thus, is in the public interest. Furthermore, it is believed that the majority of the stations in this market also intend to cease analog operation on February 17th. The stations, including KPTH, have undertaken extensive consumer education efforts and aired thousands of viewer notifications informing the public that analog broadcasts will cease in this market on Februrary 17th. Accordingly, to avoid confusion to the public, and in light of the fact that the station is in bankruptcy, good cause exists in this instance to waive any rules or policies that might otherwise prevent the station from ceasing analog operations as intended."

Source is here: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1292692&Form_id=910&Facility_id=77451

KPTH joins KTIV in seeking to end analog on time. In fact, it appears the whole Quincy broadcast group is seeking to shut down at noon Feb. 17, not just KTIV.

As of yet I'm seeing nothing from KCAU or KMEG. IPTV (KSIN), though, is willing to leave its analog on as long as allowed, according to an e-mail another member posted here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15695329#post15695329).

NEW THIS MORNING:

Add KCAU to the list of stations going digital-only Feb. 17.

Source: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1293055&Service=TV&Form_id=911&Facility_id=11265

(Sorry it's late; I posted this info to another thread but missed this one.)

Still no word from KMEG.

UPDATE:

Today is the deadline for stations intending to shut off analog on 2/17 to file new forms. (Yes, even stations who've already filed are being asked to file again!)

As of right now (the database tends to update after midnight Eastern), forms are in from KCAU and KMEG. (KTIV also filed a silent notification 31 days in advance of 2/17.)

Maybe its just me but it seems kpth is only showing sd for the daytona 500 right now?

Edit: Seems like they fixed it

Is anyone else having problems getting a signal for KCAUDT with there H20 direct tv reciever? I can pick it up with my HR20 but not my H20's.

I'm curious...what's the farthest east anyone is receiving any of the following...KTIV, KCAU, KELO. I'm in Spencer (way east) and trying to figure out if it's worth the effort to put up an antenna.

well i am trying to get them i need to adjust my antenna hopefully today after work, but i am down in Carroll. kinda get them KCAU, and KTIV are freezing up a bit.

I'm curious...what's the farthest east anyone is receiving any of the following...KTIV, KCAU, KELO. I'm in Spencer (way east) and trying to figure out if it's worth the effort to put up an antenna.

I live 20 miles west of Madison SD and can pick them up sometimes. KTIV KCAU and KMEG Thats about 120 miles north. But I have a 15 foot antenna on a 45 foot tower.

Any one else lost OTA reception of 14.1 KMEG and 44.1 KPTH out of Sioux City? Until the last couple of days, they came in pretty solid for me - but now, nothing. Wondering if it is my setup, or more widespread issue.

Any one else lost OTA reception of 14.1 KMEG and 44.1 KPTH out of Sioux City? Until the last couple of days, they came in pretty solid for me - but now, nothing. Wondering if it is my setup, or more widespread issue.

I was just rescanning my channels, and get both of them fine. Haven't noticed anything unusual with them in the last few days. One thing I did have was that when I rescanned, 14.1 didn't show up the first time, but 14.2 did. That's happened before and a second rescan seems to bring it back. That's with a Dish 722 receiver.

Just wondering if anyone else is having trouble getting KSFY-DT since the frequency change. I have 2 Dish boxes that do not see it with a scan or tuning to RF 29. They picked up the KTTW-DT switch fine. Never had trouble with KSFY-DT before. Really puzzled on what the trouble would be.

Just wondering if anyone else is having trouble getting KSFY-DT since the frequency change. I have 2 Dish boxes that do not see it with a scan or tuning to RF 29. They picked up the KTTW-DT switch fine. Never had trouble with KSFY-DT before. Really puzzled on what the trouble would be.


I am having the same issue. I no longer am getting a signal for KSFY. Any ideas?

I am having the same issue. I no longer am getting a signal for KSFY. Any ideas?

As of 11:59pm on 2/17, KSFY not only shut off their analog signal on VHF channel 13, but they also shut off their digital signal on UHF channel 29. They then began to broadcast their digital signal on VHF channel 13. This means that everyone who was receiving KSFY over the air had to perform a channel scan to begin picking it up again. I had no problem picking it up after the switch, so I'm not sure why your receiver is having trouble.

KTTW had been broadcasting their digital signal on VHF channel 7 all along, so no rescan was needed after they shut off their analog signal on UHF channel 17.

Hope this helps!

Just wondering if anyone else is having trouble getting KSFY-DT since the frequency change. I have 2 Dish boxes that do not see it with a scan or tuning to RF 29. They picked up the KTTW-DT switch fine. Never had trouble with KSFY-DT before. Really puzzled on what the trouble would be.

Try deleting the old entry for KSFY from your dish receiver, then rescanning.
If that don't work delete all entries then rescan.

I am having the same issue. I no longer am getting a signal for KSFY. Any ideas?

KSFY is now transmitting on real channel 13 instead of 29 after the switch. Since this is a VHF frequency you may need to readjust your antenna, or rescan since the real frequency has changed.

Like other have said ...

KSFY - KCAU for sure have gone to their old frequencies so KSFY is on 13 and KCAU is on 9. I was looking for LOST Wednesday night and thinking, "Where in the heck did both my ABC channels go?"

I don't think any others have moved on Tuesday. The only two that I am aware of that are going to move are KELO from 32 back to 11 and KWSD from 51 back to 36. Not sure when.

You may have also noticed that KTTW FOX is now on channel 7-1 - the frequency they have been broadcasting as the old 17-1. My wife was punching in 17.1 wondering why she couldn't get "Idol" the other night.

Anyone else having trouble getting KCAU since the switchover? I used to get it clean, now I get nothing. I get all the others. Do I just rescan? Thoughts?

A rescan should do the trick. I had problems with my H20 recievers got them to work now.

question: are all sioux city stations (KTIV,KCAU, KMEG, KSIN,KPTH speciafically) at full power and or when are they going to be?

When KSFY went digital they changed RF channels. They were on 29 and now they are on 13. I had to rescan to pick it up, might try that. :)

question: are all sioux city stations (KTIV,KCAU, KMEG, KSIN,KPTH speciafically) at full power and or when are they going to be?

I can get all 5 you mention 68 miles away in Sioux Falls so I would think they are at full power. A straight line between Carroll and Hinton, where the towers are, must be about 80 miles. You might need a mast above the trees to get anything digital.

Try this link http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=821480

It will plot a 3D map and give you signal strength at your location based on terrain.

Here is an example of a KCAU coverage map. As you can see Carroll is on the fringe of the coverage.

I can get all 5 you mention 68 miles away in Sioux Falls so I would think they are at full power. A straight line between Carroll and Hinton, where the towers are, must be about 80 miles. You might need a mast above the trees to get anything digital.

Try this link http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=821480

It will plot a 3D map and give you signal strength at your location based on terrain.

i have about a winegard 7084 antenna on a 5 foot mast right now and a tree nearby but think i should go to 10 foot mast?

i have about a winegard 7082 antenna on a 5 foot mast right now and a tree nearby but think i should go to 10 foot mast?

I looked at a 3D map and you have some hills that are 200 ft higher than Carroll looking NW to the SC towers. You would need an extremely tall mast to get Line of Sight to the towers.

If you happened to live on a hill around Carroll, you might pick something up.

Go to tvfool.com and put in your exact address and how high your antenna is above the ground. If it shows the SC stations shaded grey, they will be very hard to pick up.

I've attached a plot for the center of the town.

Can you get Des Moines digital?

I looked at a 3D map and you have some hills that are 200 ft higher than Carroll looking NW to the SC towers. You would need an extremely tall mast to get Line of Sight to the towers.

If you happened to live on a hill around Carroll, you might pick something up.

Go to tvfool.com and put in your exact address and how high your antenna is above the ground. If it shows the SC stations shaded grey, they will be very hard to pick up.

I've attached a plot for the center of the town.

Can you get Des Moines digital?

yes i can get des Moines i was just trying to get something diffrenet. I attached my results (my exact address) from tvfool so not sure.

yes i can get des Moines i was just trying to get something diffrenet. I attached my results (my exact address) from tvfool so not sure.

If you look at the Path column on the tvfool read out, LOS means line of sight, which is obviously the best. You then have 1 Edge and 2 Edge. You could maybe get a channel that is a 1 or 2 Edge some of the time with your Winegard antenna.

Looks like KCAU would be your best bet. If you can get any digital signal at all from SC stations, you might try a preamp to boost the signal more. That will be around $50 and I have no experience with them. Maybe others on here do.

If you look at the Path column on the tvfool read out, LOS means line of sight, which is obviously the best. You then have 1 Edge and 2 Edge. You could maybe get a channel that is a 1 or 2 Edge some of the time with your Winegard antenna.

Looks like KCAU would be your best bet. If you can get any digital signal at all from SC stations, you might try a preamp to boost the signal more. That will be around $50 and I have no experience with them. Maybe others on here do.

well sorry forgot to mention i do have a pre amp Winegard AP8700 Chromstar 2000 Series VHF/UHF Pre Amplifier (AP-8700), but KCAU was good tonight, but not good was KTIV really pixelating, kpth had pixelating, KMEG was skipping a bit, but somewhat watchable as was KSIN.

What is edge 1 and edge 2? sorry i am fairly new to this digital tv stuff.
By the way i have google earth how do you find the hills like you were saying BVFAN?

well sorry forgot to mention i do have a pre amp Winegard AP8700 Chromstar 2000 Series VHF/UHF Pre Amplifier (AP-8700), but KCAU was good tonight, but not good was KTIV really pixelating, kpth had pixelating, KMEG was skipping a bit, but somewhat watchable as was KSIN.

What is edge 1 and edge 2? sorry i am fairly new to this digital tv stuff.
By the way i have google earth how do you find the hills like you were saying BVFAN?

I'm sure someone with a better grasps of wavelengths, diffraction etc than I will correct me and explain this better than I can so.. my understanding is that when the tvfool plot shows 1 edge or 2 edge diffraction that means that you do not have LOS (line of sight) to the transmitter and the way the signal reaches you is by bending (diffracting) through the atmosphere.

The tvfool site has transmitter plots you can download and then import into Google Earth. Go to coverage maps on the site and find Sioux City. So you could download both SC and DesMoines to see terrain and how it affects your signal. Google Earth also gives you ground level altitude readouts. I just went on a straight line from Carroll to SC to see than Carroll is at 1,250 ft and there are hills at about 1,450 ft just NW towards SC.

i have attached a 3D plot of KCAU from Carroll looking straight at the SC transmitters. The purple color means you are at the edge of reception. It is better to be in the cyan range. The green is just the earth and no reception.

This is the same plot I attached before only looking at it from closer to Earth and rotating the horizion.

I'm sure someone with a better grasps of wavelengths, diffraction etc than I will correct me and explain this better than I can so.. my understanding is that when the tvfool plot shows 1 edge or 2 edge diffraction that means that you do not have LOS (line of sight) to the transmitter and the way the signal reaches you is by bending (diffracting) through the atmosphere.

The tvfool site has transmitter plots you can download and then import into Google Earth. Go to coverage maps on the site and find Sioux City. So you could download both SC and DesMoines to see terrain and how it affects your signal. Google Earth also gives you ground level altitude readouts. I just went on a straight line from Carroll to SC to see than Carroll is at 1,250 ft and there are hills at about 1,450 ft just NW towards SC.

i have attached a 3D plot of KCAU from Carroll looking straight at the SC transmitters. The purple color means you are at the edge of reception. It is better to be in the cyan range. The green is just the earth and no reception.

This is the same plot I attached before only looking at it from closer to Earth and rotating the horizion.

well would i have any better luck with a deepest fringe CM-3671 HDTV DEEP FRINGE antenna? or can i stack with a db8 antenna?

actually made a small tweak in the direction and woohoo i get sioux city tv now every channel..

I am TOTALLY new to all of the OTA stuff, as I've always had DirectTV (since 1995.) However, we may soon be moving to Orange City or Le Mars, and I see that DTV does not offer locals. OK, switch to Dish perhaps? They carry the Sioux City locals in HD - except for NBC (KTIV?) Why they could have the other Sioux City locals in HD but not NBC is baffling.

Anyway - was thinking maybe I could still go with Dish and their HD DVR, as it has OTA capability, and hopefully I'd be able to get the Sioux City NBC HD feed with a set-top antenna (and hopefully the Dish HD DVR will recognize it and provide guide data, etc.)

Can anyone here let me know what the odds are of getting the NBC HD feed from Sioux City in Orange City or Le Mars? With a set-top antenna? Sorry for such a newbie question, but I am when it comes to this stuff.

I'm surprised that Dish don't NBC. Maybe they will have KDLT out of Sioux Falls. I know I can get it where I live in SD on Dish. As for getting it on a antenna, you may have to get an outside one. I can get KTIV from about a little over 120 miles but have a 50 Ft tower and the pole stands another 8 Ft above that with a UHF/VHF antenna on it. Have a Ham5 rotator to turn it. :)

I am TOTALLY new to all of the OTA stuff, as I've always had DirectTV (since 1995.) However, we may soon be moving to Orange City or Le Mars, and I see that DTV does not offer locals. OK, switch to Dish perhaps? They carry the Sioux City locals in HD - except for NBC (KTIV?) Why they could have the other Sioux City locals in HD but not NBC is baffling.

Anyway - was thinking maybe I could still go with Dish and their HD DVR, as it has OTA capability, and hopefully I'd be able to get the Sioux City NBC HD feed with a set-top antenna (and hopefully the Dish HD DVR will recognize it and provide guide data, etc.)

Can anyone here let me know what the odds are of getting the NBC HD feed from Sioux City in Orange City or Le Mars? With a set-top antenna? Sorry for such a newbie question, but I am when it comes to this stuff.

Hi Jeff,

I live near there and you will not have a problem getting all locals from Sioux City or Sioux Falls. You will just have to get the correct hardware. In regards to DISH I don't know much about the locals. I have Directv and really like it's GUI a lot better than DISH's.

Ben

Hi Jeff,

I live near there and you will not have a problem getting all locals from Sioux City or Sioux Falls. You will just have to get the correct hardware. In regards to DISH I don't know much about the locals. I have Directv and really like it's GUI a lot better than DISH's.

Ben

Yeah, I'd prefer to just keep DirecTV, since we've had them since 1995 and we'd like to just keep using what we've got. Can't figure out why they can't/won't send us the Sioux City locals, it's only a little over 40 miles away (they show no locals at all available for those zip codes.)

I am TOTALLY new to all of the OTA stuff, as I've always had DirectTV (since 1995.) However, we may soon be moving to Orange City or Le Mars, and I see that DTV does not offer locals. OK, switch to Dish perhaps? They carry the Sioux City locals in HD - except for NBC (KTIV?) Why they could have the other Sioux City locals in HD but not NBC is baffling.

Anyway - was thinking maybe I could still go with Dish and their HD DVR, as it has OTA capability, and hopefully I'd be able to get the Sioux City NBC HD feed with a set-top antenna (and hopefully the Dish HD DVR will recognize it and provide guide data, etc.)

Can anyone here let me know what the odds are of getting the NBC HD feed from Sioux City in Orange City or Le Mars? With a set-top antenna? Sorry for such a newbie question, but I am when it comes to this stuff.

I have Dish (have been a sub for 4-5 years now) and we have always gotten Sioux City locals here in Sioux Center. The only time we had any issues was when KCAU and Dish got into shoving match over carriage a year or so ago. We have KTIV on our dish just fine. Now, we don't have HD (last I knew Dish didn't have Sioux City HD yet) but I haven't checked that for a while.

add:
I just checked - the Dish website says Sioux City locals in HD are up, but I can't get any more information about which networks. I *do* know that KTIV is still running the "night-light" channel on VHF 4, with their digital signal on UHF 41. I don't recall if they are going back to VHF 4 when they turn off that night-light channel or not. That shouldn't make much of a difference though.

I have Dish (have been a sub for 4-5 years now) and we have always gotten Sioux City locals here in Sioux Center. The only time we had any issues was when KCAU and Dish got into shoving match over carriage a year or so ago. We have KTIV on our dish just fine. Now, we don't have HD (last I knew Dish didn't have Sioux City HD yet) but I haven't checked that for a while.

add:
I just checked - the Dish website says Sioux City locals in HD are up, but I can't get any more information about which networks. I *do* know that KTIV is still running the "night-light" channel on VHF 4, with their digital signal on UHF 41. I don't recall if they are going back to VHF 4 when they turn off that night-light channel or not. That shouldn't make much of a difference though.

It appears that DISH carries all the Sioux City local networks in HD except for the NBC affiliate:

* Station
* Local Channel Number
* Dish Channel Number
* SIOUX CITY ABC-KCAU
* 9
* 7190
* SIOUX CITY CBS-KMEG
* 14
* 7191
* SIOUX CITY FOX-KPTH
* 44
* 7193
* SIOUX CITY NBC-KTIV
* 4
* 7192
* SIOUX CITY PBS-KSIN
* 27
* 7195
* SIOUX CITY PBS-KXNE
* 19
* 7196
* SIOUX CITY ABC-KCAU HD
* 9
* 5250
* SIOUX CITY CBS-KMEG HD
* 14
* 5251
* SIOUX CITY FOX-KPTH HD
* 44
* 5253


What do you mean by "night light" channel for KTIV?

What kind of DirecTV equipment do you have? If OTA is an option for you, I would just stick with them. I use my DirecTV box to pull in Sioux City channels here is Sioux Falls.

What kind of DirecTV equipment do you have? If OTA is an option for you, I would just stick with them. I use my DirecTV box to pull in Sioux City channels here is Sioux Falls.

I've got an HR-20. Been happy with it, and with DirectTV. Until I started investigating, I didn't realize that the HR-20 would integrate OTA channels in with the satellite channels, including schedules, etc. I thought it just provided a way to connect your antenna up to the TV along with the DVR. I attached my rabbit ears today to the HR-20 and entered the zip for Kansas City as my local OTA (it's about 20 miles away and is my local sub) and boom! There are not only the locals I sub to with DirectV, from the rabbit ears, but also some local digital channels not on the DTV locals sub. Very cool.

So - if I can pick up the Sioux City networks via OTA, I may just stick with what I've got. Hopefully a set of rabbit ears will get them all, since its pretty flat with few big buildings or hills in between Orange City and Sioux City!

Yep, the HR20 have the integrated digital tuner. the new HR21-23 all need the external tuner (AM21) from DirecTV that attached to the receiver. It's nice to get the sub-channels and secondary markets all on your DVR. Most the Sioux City station send a strong signal out, so you should be able to pick them up with a good antenna. Have fun with your move!

What kind of DirecTV equipment do you have? If OTA is an option for you, I would just stick with them. I use my DirecTV box to pull in Sioux City channels here is Sioux Falls.

So, does the DirectTV box display the schedule guide data for the Sioux City OTA channels, even though they don't carry those channels?

So, does the DirectTV box display the schedule guide data for the Sioux City OTA channels, even though they don't carry those channels?

Yes.

Yes.

Ah, perfect then. If I can get the OTAs then I'll just move my DirectTV setup with us (while seeing how much I can get from DTV to stay with them on the move - they've given me some nice incentives in past moves) and use OTA for the Sioux City local networks. I assume at some time in the future DTV will add those to their satellite feed, but in the meantime sounds like no problem.

Thanks!

It appears that DISH carries all the Sioux City local networks in HD except for the NBC affiliate:

What do you mean by "night light" channel for KTIV?

That's a reference to KTIV still broadcasting on VHF 4 a looped program about the DTV transition, how to get your tv signals, use of a converter box, etc. The FCC set up some rules just prior to Feb 17 after the deadline got pushed into June and a lot of markets said "we're still switching on Feb 17". From what I remember reading, at least 1 station in a market had to run this broadcast for a period of time after Feb 17. That is, every station in the market couldn't just go dark on the analog signal. Apparently, PBS stations didn't count, because Iowa Public Television kept all their analog signals on and are still running the dual signal (analog and digital).

As I recall, it's a cost issue and expensive for a commercial station to run both analog and digital transmitters at the same time, so many wanted to switch as soon as they could.

well sorry forgot to mention i do have a pre amp Winegard AP8700 Chromstar 2000 Series VHF/UHF Pre Amplifier (AP-8700), or can i get more gain from say AP 8275 PREAMP?

Does anyone know when the Sioux Falls CW (channel 36.1) is going to increase their signal strength? I even live towards the east side of Sioux Falls and am unable to pick them up.

They are supposed to be moving digital to channel 36 when analog ends, so it'll probably be around June 12.

Just a heads up for those with Dish Network. KELO, KSFY, KDLT and KTTW are now up and running in HD on Dish.

Does anyone know when the Sioux Falls CW (channel 36.1) is going to increase their signal strength? I even live towards the east side of Sioux Falls and am unable to pick them up.

I live just 40 miles NW of them and can't see the digital signal. But can see the analog just fine. So will miss this channel.:(

I live just 40 miles NW of them and can't see the digital signal. But can see the analog just fine. So will miss this channel.:(

According to the info I have CW-DT is on channel 51 but is scheduled to switch the
digital to channel 36 on June 12th. I think you will probably be ok at that time.

My experience out here in the south central part of the state is that the digital signals come in better than analog when they get full power on their final channel. I have 4 channels, all 55-60 miles away that come in just fine on digital.

Chan

Shows here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KWSD I don't know if 4.1 KW is alot of signal power, but hope it gets more. :)

When they move back to channel 36 on June 12, it should increase from 4.1 kW to 400 kW. An extra 20 dB should definitely help. ;)

- Trip

Download this pdf, it shows the current analog coverage and the projected DTV coverage for stations in the Sioux Falls DMA.

http://www.fcc.gov/dtv/markets/maps_report1/Sioux_Falls-Mitchell_SD.pdf

When they move back to channel 36 on June 12, it should increase from 4.1 kW to 400 kW. An extra 20 dB should definitely help. ;)

- Trip

Did not help me. Lost this one, unless the changed the channel. is it still Digital: 51? Anyone else loose it?

Did not help me. Lost this one, unless the changed the channel. is it still Digital: 51? Anyone else loose it?

They are still broadcasting an analog signal this afternoon, so I am assuming they should switch overnight sometime. Try rescanning in the morning and see what you come up with. They will be broadcasting their digital signal on channel 36 as opposed to channel 51 when they do switch.

Nope no luck for me. Lost KWSD and get KTTW spotty at best. Can swing the antenna around and get KTTM tho. Wonder if KWSD keeps the power low to keep from over broadcasting on KTTM, They are on 12.1 Going to miss the CW. :(

Sent KWSD an email asking about their digital signal.They never boosted the signal yet, hope soon :) Here is what was said.

Mine:

After your station went digital I lost your signal. I live in Winfred SD about 40 miles as the crow flies. I have my convertor box hooked up and receive all channels but yours. I have a 65 element deep fringe antenna 65 feet in the air and can turn it for adjustment. I miss the CW, do you plan on boosting your signal? Are you still on channel 36.1 on digital? Thank You.


Response:

I’m sorry you’ve been unable to pick up our digital signals. We continue to broadcast the same strength after dropping our analog as before we dropped it. However, our current digital transmitter is not as powerful as what it will be in the future. Our plan is to convert our old analog transmitter to digital, which will provide a significantly stronger signal that you should be able to receive. Make sure you are pointed toward Rowena, and continue to rescan periodically. We have discovered our transmission line has a leak which allows rain to get in. This causes our weak signal to become even weaker. We periodically drain the line which should help, and we’ll be draining it again soon.



Please keep trying, it will get better.



Thanks for letting us hear from you.



Mike Smith

Sales Manager

I saw a commercial on KTTW the other night during Seinfeld promoting a new digital station that they are going to add. It's called This TV and will be broadcast on channel 7.2. Does anyone know when KTTW will be adding it? They may have said it on the commercial but I didn't catch the whole thing.

I saw a commercial on KTTW the other night during Seinfeld promoting a new digital station that they are going to add. It's called This TV and will be broadcast on channel 7.2. Does anyone know when KTTW will be adding it? They may have said it on the commercial but I didn't catch the whole thing.

Shows on the web site as only coming soon. As This TV

http://www.kttw.com/

This TV is on the air

This TV is on the air

I see them testing, but 90% is rebroadcast of Fox 7. On Fox 12 they have not even started.

I see them testing, but 90% is rebroadcast of Fox 7. On Fox 12 they have not even started.

I guess maybe I only have turned over in primetime and it is definitely different.

Who can pass up "Haunted Honeymoon" with Gene Wilder?

What is Fox 12?

I guess maybe I only have turned over in primetime and it is definitely different.

Who can pass up "Haunted Honeymoon" with Gene Wilder?

What is Fox 12?

KTTM in Huron. Satellite station of KTTW.

Any chance I can get a new capture of KTTW? :)

- Trip

http://www.lptvanswers.com/local_lptv.html

says these are the only lptv stations in Sioux Falls


26 KCPO-LP
42 KAUN-LP
44 KCWS-LP
48 K48DK
51 K56GF
53 K53EG
56 K56GF


and for sioux city area

5 KSXC-LP
23 KAZS-LP
51 K54GK


is that right or is LPTV answers off on their info.

KWSD should be considered low power also, live 40 miles away and have an deep fringe antenna 60ft up and can't receive it. :( They are finally testing KTTM 7.2 in Huron. So I can see ThisTV. :)

KWSD is operating at low power temporarily. They're a full-service station.

- Trip

JUST IN OVERNIGHT: KCAU seeks UHF "fill-in" translator

The proposed translator (http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1326670&Service=LD&Form_id=346&Facility_id=11265) would transmit 2.7 kW on channel 30 from what appears to be a location fairly close to downtown Sioux City. A coverage map (https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=782347&formid=346&q_num=5110) indicates the translator would cover the metro area and outlying areas out to about Salix, Luton, Lawton and Hinton, IA; Jefferson, SD; and Hubbard and Homer, NE.

The translator is similar to three others sought by Citadel in Des Moines, the Quad Cities and Lincoln.

Has anyone else been able to get KTIV stations 4-1 or 4-2 lately? I haven't been able to get a signal for quite a few days now.
It's strange, because its usually been one of the strongest signals for me to get in the past, here in NW Iowa. But for the last week, the only NBC station I've gotten is 46-1, KDLT out of South Dakota. At least I have that to fall back on.

I just checked and am not getting a signal here in Chancellor, SD, either. I haven't been watching those channels lately, so I don't know when it went out.

I can pick it up, 14 miles west of Madison SD Just early morning and late at night.

I've gotten KTIV back over the last couple days, though the signal has been a bit "spotty."

A few months ago I tried to get KTTW or KTTM direct but my rotor did not work so I climbed up to tower and had aimed it toward KTTW but it was in and out. In hind sight I am not so sure it was KTTW as it peaked like it was off the back of the antenna so it really may of been KTTM. According to the FCC maps I should be able to get KTTW here but I don't seem to be able to. I decided to wait until I fixed my roter which I recently did. Now I am not sure what I am getting??? I have dish receiver with an on the air connection. I may have to hook one of my coverter boxes up.

Anyway with the Dishnetwork receiver I do a local scan and I get 7.1 and 7.2 KTTW but only if I point toward Huron where Channel 12 is at. I delete the 7.1 and 7.2 and scan pointing toward Sioux Falls and I get nothing.

When I have 7.1 and 7.2 on my scan list I can peak the signal strength in the direction of Huron. It would appear that channel 12 is saying it is 7.1 and 7.2 rather than 12.1 and 12.2. This is a big antenna with lots of gain and I am getting good peaks on everything else. It all a VHF/UHF antenna.

How to the west of Sioux Falls is anyone getting KTTW CH 7 (used to be 17)?

A few months ago I tried to get KTTW or KTTM direct but my rotor did not work so I climbed up to tower and had aimed it toward KTTW but it was in and out. In hind sight I am not so sure it was KTTW as it peaked like it was off the back of the antenna so it really may of been KTTM. According to the FCC maps I should be able to get KTTW here but I don't seem to be able to. I decided to wait until I fixed my roter which I recently did. Now I am not sure what I am getting??? I have dish receiver with an on the air connection. I may have to hook one of my coverter boxes up.

Anyway with the Dishnetwork receiver I do a local scan and I get 7.1 and 7.2 KTTW but only if I point toward Huron where Channel 12 is at. I delete the 7.1 and 7.2 and scan pointing toward Sioux Falls and I get nothing.

When I have 7.1 and 7.2 on my scan list I can peak the signal strength in the direction of Huron. It would appear that channel 12 is saying it is 7.1 and 7.2 rather than 12.1 and 12.2. This is a big antenna with lots of gain and I am getting good peaks on everything else. It all a VHF/UHF antenna.

How to the west of Sioux Falls is anyone getting KTTW CH 7 (used to be 17)?

Hi Ed, Dish receivers can be weird when the local channels change rf and/or virtual channels (this goes back to June of course). The first thing I would try is too delete all local channels, reset the receiver than scan them in again. Maybe even after you reset the receiver first scan them in with the antenna unhooked to clear everything out.

Chan

I have sent an e-mail to the KTTW engineer to try and find out why KTTW and KTTM both scan as 7.1 and 7.2. I tried my idea of pointing the antenna at Huron KTTM and getting SDPB out of Beresford off
the back of the antenna but it did not work. The signal off the back of the antenna is not strong enough.

Ed Gray
W0SD

Here is the explanation from John Bennet Chief Engineer for KTTW. It looks like eventually I will be able to have both channels in my SCAN LIST.

Hi Ed,

We have new equipment at the Huron site and it is not working right. It
should identify the station as 12.1 and 12.2.

The equipment manufacturer and us are trying to correct the problems we have
it the equipment. But it does put out both of our program streams right now.

This is an ongoing troubleshooting of the problems we are doing. You may
notice at times it is identified as 12.1 and 12.2. That is when
The equipment is working partly. and has not locked up. The manufacture
assures us it will work. So we are working with them to make it work.

John Bennett
Chief Engineer for
KTTW Fox 7 and KTTM Fox 12

I also see the same on my converter box. can get confusing if you receive both KTTM and KTTW. The Huron transmitter has had so many problems lately that it is off air than on. Hope they figure it out soon. Also hear that KSFY will be adding a new channel after the first of the year, hope it will be a good one. :)

Most of these TV Engineers run on a limited budget, minimum wage and a pack of Marlboro's.

Try visiting with the KTIV Engineer, sounded like somebody from Radio Shack. I guess they don't have the funds to pay for Furthering Education and training. Most don't have an FCC Engineering First Class Phone Ticket which isn't required any longer.

So the TV Stations find the "Hobby Tech" Type people so they can get away with Paying them low wages, they act smart (to get hired), but when the Rubber meets the road, forget it.

KTIV altered their radiation pattern from what I heard, they want it put back but forgot how to do it!

But why with these Public Stations don't they have the Budget to function correctly with precision, and along comes Public TV out of Chandler Pumping out a gorgeous Signal on (20-1) I can get with Rabbit ears right here north of Sioux Falls. I called the engineer, we visited for a Half-Hour, the guy is really very knowledgeable and has his act together, even enjoys his work!
They operate on Donations- Go Figure..

KTIV channels 4-1 and 4-2 (UHF CHANNEL 41) was CO-CHANNEL Clobbering a High-Power Translator in the Worthington area rebroadcasting KARE-11 out of the Twin Cities who was also on the same channel 41.

Rumor has it, they turned their power down at KTIV trying to avoid interference and legal problems as well as screw-up their Radiation pattern to the Northwest Iowa area.

So they loose their Audience, sales fall, people bitch, and now the viewers are most likely gone. As opposed to simply changing their Frequency and Stay High-Power like they were.

So for you North West Iowa Viewers, you might need a 200 foot Tower now for the CW on KTIV.

But get a load of this- KMEG and channel 9 (KCAU) from Sioux City are FULL SCALE in Northwest Ioway with Rabbit-ears, so it isn't the terrain!...........

Any Signal Reports from SPENCER? OKOBOJI AREA??

KTIV channels 4-1 and 4-2 (UHF CHANNEL 41) was CO-CHANNEL Clobbering a High-Power Translator in the Worthington area rebroadcasting KARE-11 out of the Twin Cities who was also on the same channel 41.

Rumor has it, they turned their power down at KTIV trying to avoid interference and legal problems as well as screw-up their Radiation pattern to the Northwest Iowa area.

So they loose their Audience, sales fall, people bitch, and now the viewers are most likely gone. As opposed to simply changing their Frequency and Stay High-Power like they were.

So for you North West Iowa Viewers, you might need a 200 foot Tower now for the CW on KTIV.

But get a load of this- KMEG and channel 9 (KCAU) from Sioux City are FULL SCALE in Northwest Ioway with Rabbit-ears, so it isn't the terrain!...........

Any Signal Reports from SPENCER? OKOBOJI AREA??


RadioOP,
I first posted in this thread on page 45, regarding issues I was having with the KTIV signal. I live near the Spencer area. Since I initially posted the first time, my KTIV digital signals have gotten better, but are not perfect.

To give you a idea of my setup, I use a DB8 Multidirectional HDTV Antenna mounted inside of my attic in a multiple story house. This works rather well for most of the channels in my area. However, occasionally with the 4.1 and 4.2 channel broadcasts, I will get the *glitch* effect of a sudden signal drop, you know, the pixel artifacting of the image and dropping of audio. My solution when watching NBC? I turn to KDLT 46.1 out of South Dakota, while being father away, seems to consistently have a better signal. (Though they broadcast their audio slightly lower than KTIV) Some days KTIV is just fine, other days it's barely watchable. It seems rather random.
I hardly ever bother to watch the CW 4.2 channel, even though its the only CW station I can get, because it's not broadcast in HD. (And I can easily just download a widescreen version of shows I watch on the CW off the Internet)

Interesting- Even in the Spencer area KTIV is not the greatest? Wow.

Try this if you can:

Order a WINEGARD MODEL AP-8275 ( I tested many TV AMPLIFIERS) This one has the lowest noise level and the most uniform gain factor across the Bands. Very well designed. You can Order them from SWIDEN DISTRIBUTING in Sioux Falls, Mike sends them overnight VIA Spee-DEE. KTIV should arrive Full-Scale.


Are you using a Digital TV or a Converter box? Some of the worst Converter Boxes with poor Tuners are the Magnavox-Radio shack, Digital Stream,RCA is okay but....Zenith (also manufactured as an ENSIGNIA) has the Hottest front-ends in them plus Fast Scanning...

Point your Antenna Northeast then, see if you get WCCO, KSTP,KARE etc out of minnesota! We get about 48 to 53 digital channels in Worthington.