Haley,

I was wondering, do you use your 4228 for KTHV-DT, or or you have a separate antenna for that? IF you use the 4228, how is the signal on that frequency, being 65 miles away?

It does well Keith, but there isn't a lot of f/b ratio on high VHF. Analogs 2, 9 (weak) , 10 (off the back end, but w/ghosting pointed toward LR), and of course 7. KETS-DT would not be a problem if the power were higher.....I have to rotate it in an almost Northeasterly direction for max signal. Because AETN 5-1 has very little in HD programming I seldom watch the OTA (I do occationally watch 5-3 , but the 5-2 is seldom watched, 5-4 is never watched).

The RS VU190 works better for VHF (its very inferior for UHF IMHO) though.

Bottom line: It will get the job done, but I wished all digital stations were UHF from the start...

To be honest, I have never found a Radio Shack antenna that performed well. When I had a VU190 on a 70' tower at my last house, I could get Memphis, but very poorly. When I removed it and installed a Channel Master Quantum, the UHF stations came in solid for 18 hours a day, and even at 2pm, I could still watch them, with signal fade. The Quantums "suburban" vhf section pulled in Memphis as well as the "Deep Fringe" vu190 as well. The elements were there, the RS antennas must just have poor signal transfer from the elements to the transmission wires running along it.

I've tried a lot of antennas and have to say that the 4228 is the best overall. It won't work too well for low vhf (chs 2 thru 6), but it does a fairly decent job on 7 thru 13. And I don't think it can't be beat for UHF.

The poor F/B VHF ratio is probably due to the fact that the "screen" is acting as the VHF antenna.

I use the VU190 for my VHF stations, and I can't say it's held up for me long...the longer elements are already starting to sag from the rest of the antenna... i tried using electrical tape to fix it, but no go... Haley, so from 65 miles away, you don't have problems with the Shinall transmitters?

I use the VU190 for my VHF stations, and I can't say it's held up for me long...the longer elements are already starting to sag from the rest of the antenna...Big birds are hell on those big honkin' VHF antenna elements :-)

After feb, '09, You can probably get rid of the beast.

Well KNOE is switching to channel 8 after analog goes dark... but I hope I will be out of the area by then :-)

I use the VU190 for my VHF stations, and I can't say it's held up for me long...the longer elements are already starting to sag from the rest of the antenna... i tried using electrical tape to fix it, but no go... Haley, so from 65 miles away, you don't have problems with the Shinall transmitters?

I've had more issues with the Redfield transmitters to date (we know which ones ;) )

Main issue is QRN (noise) from thunderstorms that effect KTHV (RF 12) as in audio and video dropouts when T-storms are between Little Rock and my location. I don't see that effecting KARK or KLRT as much. I could care less about KWBF-DT anyway since its barely a broadcaster (they'll never have the $$$ to bid for the Lincoln Financial (ex JP Sports) SEC games and keep them off KATV :( ).

My RS 190 came as a hand-me down from family earlier this year. It was pretty well beat up, but with repairs is usuable (i'm using my old CM 3041 Spartan preamp on it). Its used for DXing FM (the rare times I do so), and VHF TV. The plastic spacers tend to deterate over time and i've used wire ties to keep the elements in place. I think someone reported an 8.5 db gain on UHF on that antenna, but the 4228 is around 12-13db (conservatively).

Keith, the 190 is worth keeping for DXing VHF digital TV. But its never going to replace a single channel yagi, or a high-end VHF-UHF log periodic.

Before I moved the 4228 to its current location I had a small 4 element vhf antenna mounted with it and the cm 7777 preamp. I took it off because of reducing wind load on the rotor and allowing the 4228 to work on its own.....

Haley, what are your normal signal strengths for the Shinall towers? 70's? 80's? And which one is the strongest? Sorry for the questions... just trying to do a comparison for a few locations :)

Haley, what are your normal signal strengths for the Shinall towers? 70's? 80's? And which one is the strongest? Sorry for the questions... just trying to do a comparison for a few locations :)

KARK (32) 81%
KTHV (12) 72%
KLRT (30) 78%
KWBF (44) 0-49% (no lock)

at 7:20pm 10-15-2006 on the Dish 811 rx and CM 4228 ant/7777 preamp

(and for Redfield: i'm not including KETS-DT)

KATV (22) 92%
KASN (39) 91%

Oh, the audio for the NLCS game is pretty nice on FOX/KLRT.

KARK has always been the strongest from the LR area... KLRT is 2nd... really that is all that makes it down here on a regular basis. KASN comes in at times...locked VTN and KWBF once..that's it. Haley, if you lived 70 miles as opposed to your 65 miles away...do you think you would lose THV or any of the others? I read that after 70 miles, it's difficult to get signals due to the curvature of the Earth, but for 65 miles, you've got some good signal readings..

KARK has always been the strongest from the LR area... KLRT is 2nd... really that is all that makes it down here on a regular basis. KASN comes in at times...locked VTN and KWBF once..that's it. Haley, if you lived 70 miles as opposed to your 65 miles away...do you think you would lose THV or any of the others? I read that after 70 miles, it's difficult to get signals due to the curvature of the Earth, but for 65 miles, you've got some good signal readings..

The attached photo shows why I have had good results with getting Little Rock OTA. Pay attention to the gap in the trees. Favorable terrain always helps. The mast pole is located on the far right edge of the photo.

I just happen to be barely inside the grade B conture for KLRT, KARK, and KTHV. Before KATV"s power increase I was over 10 miles outside the predicted edge. Now if I had a forest of pine trees to shoot though, then the situation may be different. The house is also 5 feet above the northerly pasture land (its on a small rise). The only hills in the area are 2 miles away toward Star City....those block out the Greenville area stations (i can get WMAO and WXVT analogs mornings and evenings, but not 24/7). I noticed that last winter when trying to receive WABG-DT.

I'm probally sure i would get them at 70 miles, but its always good to go up as high as possilbe when in doubt.

while surfing found that KATV dropped the HD feed on The View to show a Flash Flood Warning graphic.

The three counties listed were Logan, Johnson, and Newton: neither are in the Little Rock DMA.

I have mixed feelings on weather graphics. I have no issue with stations prempting programing for needed info inside the viewing area. But Little Rock stations are notorious for plastering these graphics for counties well outside their viewing areas. Its easy to dismiss this and say "well, this is just The View ", but what about having HD dropped out for a thunderstorm Watch for Clay county during Lost or Gray's Anantomy ?

There is a fine line between warning and crying wolf

Actually, unless it's recently changed, Johnson County amazingly is in the LR DMA. This is based on ancient Nielsen ratings data back when most of NWA was in the Tulsa or Joplin DMAs. This may change though. I read that Carroll County, which is still in the Springfield, MO DMA, is very close to being moved to the NWA market. Johnson county could change, too, since the NWA market is quickly moving up the DMA ladder (up 2 points this year) and LR isn't.

As for the 4:3 shrink-o-vision, get used to it, at least until the locals cough up money for equipment to overlay weather (and ELECTION) crawls onto HD.

Sure makes HD-DNS come in handy... :-)

while surfing found that KATV dropped the HD feed on The View to show a Flash Flood Warning graphic.

The three counties listed were Logan, Johnson, and Newton: neither are in the Little Rock DMA.

I have mixed feelings on weather graphics. I have no issue with stations prempting programing for needed info inside the viewing area. But Little Rock stations are notorious for plastering these graphics for counties well outside their viewing areas. Its easy to dismiss this and say "well, this is just The View ", but what about having HD dropped out for a thunderstorm Watch for Clay county during Lost or Gray's Anantomy ?

There is a fine line between warning and crying wolf

Well the weather hasn't been kind to my reception for the past 24 hours... last night I could only get a marginal signal from KMSS-DT, as well as early this morning. Surprisingly, the signal is still there @ 11:45. It has been really windy with heavy rain since last night... so I'm sure that has something to do with it. Haley, are you having any fade on your reception?

Sure makes HD-DNS come in handy... :-)

It sure is nice to have them... although it would be nice to have some choices, OTA wise, when it's really cloudy.. at least from my location :-) My reception on D* has been fading and breaking up off and on all morning.

Keith, sounds like your dish may need alignment. The newest dishes and receivers should seldom get rain fade, except in the heaviest of precip.

Exception of course, would be locals that you may be getting that are on the "fringe" of the D* spot beam. This is why D* won't sell locals to certain zip codes in the LR DMA. They're afraid that the spot beam isn't strong enough for those areas.

Actually, the LR locals are the last to fade out during heavy rain/clouds. But my DNS/regular channels have gone out at least twice in the past couple months. But you're probably right about improper alignment. The installer I had didn't seem like the sharpest knife in the drawer. :rolleyes:

I read that Carroll County, which is still in the Springfield, MO DMA, is very close to being moved to the NWA market.

The HD signals from NWA may finally push them over the edge. My late grandmother lived in Berryville until 2002 and while she had cable for years still watched the Springfield stations for news out of habit. I can still remember my grandparents saying "we've only got 2 channels up here" prior to getting cable (they didn't have a UHF antenna).

Which reminds me, I'll be going up to Eureka for vacation next week :D

The 2" of cold slow rain we got the last two days is really helping make the colors pop on the maples up here. Should be nice fall colors next week, although not quite peak....

Actually, the LR locals are the last to fade out during heavy rain/clouds...If your location is inside the regular coverage area of that spot beam, they would be the last to be hit by rain fade, because the spot beams are the strongest signals. They drop off rapidly outside their spot coverage area.

I've heard the Ka band MPEG4 channels area on even tighter spot beams, but have no way to verify that yet. I guess I'll find out when I eventually get a 5LNB dish and LR HD LILs get on D*. If I can't pick 'em up, I'll be "moving" again.

Lordy.. My AT9 dish I ordered the 12th, arrived today, after sitting at UPS while they figured out what address it was going to, since the shipper mistyped it, and it turns out to be a Westron dish, with non-standard connectors, and not the Andrews I ordered, so now I have to get them to not only send me the Andrews dish ($37 UPS) but send me a return authorization to send this one back on their dime ($37). I feed a credit card chargeback in my future, Im sure they are gonna try to worm out somehow.

I thought TV was supposed to be enjoyable, this HD stuff is turning out to be more trouble than its worth.

dave,
What's a westron dish?

BTW, look on D* channel 114 or 578 for installation videos of the AT9 dish.

AT9's are manufactured by a couple different companies, and the Westron brand uses tiny small push on connectors. When having to install the 110/119 lnb on a second dish at a separate location, and hook coax between them, those little connectors with its fiber optic sized coax is no good, I need F connectors so I can use RG6QS. The Andrews dish uses F connectors.

Oh.

They still havent gotten the bugs out of mpeg4 tho, so I really dont need to be in any hurry I guess. Im just afraid when they enable the LR HD locals, they will shut off DNS HD, and if the OTA tuner isnt activated yet, Ill not be able to record any network stuff.

Im still trying to figure out why they dont carry CW network in HD on DirecTv. Surely they have a CW station in New York, or maybe its not big enough to be considered a network yet. Seems I remember something about having to have so many hours of programming, but it eludes me.

I don't believe they will shut off your HD DNS if one or more of your HD receivers is not MPEG4. How many HD boxes do you have activated?

Re: CW in HD:
D* could carry CW HD LIL on MPEG4 (they currently have capacity for 300 additional MPEG4 HD channels on spot beams). But AFAIK, they are currently max'd out on MPEG2 HD capacity.

Can anyone tell me how the hd network feeds from E* compare to OTA in terms of picture quality? I'm trying to decide if I should upgrade my antenna or hold out for hd locals from E*.

Can anyone tell me how the hd network feeds from E* compare to OTA in terms of picture quality? I'm trying to decide if I should upgrade my antenna or hold out for hd locals from E*.
[The only "network" feed E* carries is CBS.]

As for HD LILs, I haven't seen any A/B comparisons of D* vs E*. That would be the only way to compare PQ of the locals.

If you can get it, OTA is nearly always the highest quality local HD picture quality, compared to satellite or cable providers.

Last night all the NBC programming was shifted an hour later due to the debate.

Law and Order:CI and Law and Order:SVU were shown in HD.

Did KARK get the first HD recording equipment in LR?

I noticed that KARK timeshifted the HD, as well. I was *very* surprised...pleasantly, of course :)

Just thought I'd pass along that the tropo has been great here... even as of right now. At noon, I was getting a few Austin and Waco, TX stations.. as well as Tyler. Even now, I'm getting a lock on KALB-DT in Alexandria, LA @ 151 miles away...

I noticed that KARK timeshifted the HD, as well. I was *very* surprised...pleasantly, of course :)

I noticed L&O SVU in HD at 10pm :-)

KARK probally aired the Mountain Time feed of NBC. I doubt Nexstar would pony up for HD recording equipment right now. Previous posts from the Memphis boards, indicated WLMT during its dual affliation days would air UPN in pattern and then WB via the West Coast feed starting at 10pm.

You're probably right... well has late night been in HD on Friday nights since football season started? I remember one night it wasn't..

Just checking to see how the weather is for everyone in the area...I've been keeping locks on all the digitals from Central/South Central LA this evening :)

Well, it looks like KATV-DT (22) has done something in the way of upping their power. I have them this morning at about 80 on the meter for the first time. The PQ sucks on both 22-1 and 22-2. I wonder if they are at full power.

KATV has to be at full power now. I'm in Benton with an internal antenna and am pulling 97-99 consistently. It even hit 100 and stayed there for about a minute. Wow. Now if they would just start broadcasting in DD 5.1. :mad:

If they are full power, they sure dont have near as good a signal here in NLR as KASN-DT.

I was showing 88 on the signal meter tonight for KATV, the same as all the other channels. I was also hoping that they would upgrade to 5.1 along with full power.

For a while now, I have noticed that AETN has not been sending out PSIP info. On all channels, it just says "DTV Program" 24/7. I was wondering if this is a problem for others, or is it just the KETZ transmitter down here?

I was showing 88 on the signal meter tonight for KATV, the same as all the other channels. I was also hoping that they would upgrade to 5.1 along with full power.

They would rather spend the money on "H(7)G Central"

Duddy Waller would be so proud.

Has something happened recently to KTHV? I noticed i'm now getting KATV at near full signal strength (due to them presumably going full power), but i'm getting frequent near dropouts from KTHV now, to the point that its sometimes unwatchable.

Azanon

azanon,

could be a signal overload. are you using a preamp?

For a while now, I have noticed that AETN has not been sending out PSIP info. On all channels, it just says "DTV Program" 24/7. I was wondering if this is a problem for others, or is it just the KETZ transmitter down here?If you're using the DirecTV tuner, enter a zip code for KETZ's viewing area and the guide info should be furnished by DirecTV after you reboot the box. If not, the D* channel guide database needs to be upgraded to include KETZ-DT, and you'll have to get the station to contact Tribune Media, the data provider for the D* Advanced Program Guide.

azanon,

could be a signal overload. are you using a preamp?

No i'm not (using a preamp).

I'm not entirely sure they're related because i dont know the exact date I started having issues with KTHV, and also the date of KATV going full power. But i'm guessing they probably are though.

If you're using the DirecTV tuner, enter a zip code for KETZ's viewing area and the guide info should be furnished by DirecTV after you reboot the box. If not, the D* channel guide database needs to be upgraded to include KETZ-DT, and you'll have to get the station to contact Tribune Media, the data provider for the D* Advanced Program Guide.


No, it's using OTA PSIP. How do I contact AETN about fixing this problem? Ive been having a problem with my OTA tuner in my H20, I'll post more about that in the H20 thread.

Send AETN station comments to:
katkinson@aetn.org programming
gschultz@aetn.org engineering
tbrooks@aetn.org deputy director
aweatherly@aetn.org executive director

Has something happened recently to KTHV? I noticed i'm now getting KATV at near full signal strength (due to them presumably going full power), but i'm getting frequent near dropouts from KTHV now, to the point that its sometimes unwatchable.

Azanon

Whats the signal look like on channel 12? Any variation.. Happen only on windy days, only when its cold? Trying to isolate here, since channel 12 goes through the join-tenna, there isnt any reason to think channel 22 going full power would affect 12. When you have the problem with 11-1, check 11-2 and see if the problem is occuring there as well. Might need to tweek the direction on the channel 12 yagi a tad.

Whats the signal look like on channel 12? Any variation.. Happen only on windy days, only when its cold? Trying to isolate here, since channel 12 goes through the join-tenna, there isnt any reason to think channel 22 going full power would affect 12. When you have the problem with 11-1, check 11-2 and see if the problem is occuring there as well. Might need to tweek the direction on the channel 12 yagi a tad.

I agree Dave; I think its best to let me monitor it a bit to see if it continues or if its associated with wind/cold. I didn't watch KTHV much last night, so i have nothing futher to add so far. I'll check 11-2 when/if it happens again and keep you up to date.

Aside from that though, the whole setup has been very solid for me (only rare issues with KARK) and i've been very happy with it considering i dont have to use a rotor to pick up any of the locals.

I'll monitor for now.

Azanon

azanon,

what antenna are you using in little rock that you don't have to rotate it to get all the locals?

azanon,

what antenna are you using in little rock that you don't have to rotate it to get all the locals?

I have a CM3021A, a Winegard YA 6260 Prostar 1000 6 El. Lo-Band Antenna (for PBS only), and a Single channel antenna: 5Y12S 5 ELEMENT YAGI ANTENNA for Channel 12 (for CBS only).

The Channel 12 antenna is integrated into the setup using a ch12 CM JoinTenna. So, channel twelve was the only station that i (we) couldnt get with the CM3021A positioned at a fixed location.

Azanon

No, it's using OTA PSIP. How do I contact AETN about fixing this problem? Ive been having a problem with my OTA tuner in my H20, I'll post more about that in the H20 thread.
It's a problem in their PSIP computer. They (AETN engineering) knows about, their trying to get it resolved.

Kelly in Conway.

Kelly, welcome to the forum.

I assume you work for AETN?

I'll monitor for now.

Azanon

OK. I also wonder if its possible water is getting into the join-tenna. It wasnt very well sealed, just sort of snapped together. Might need to cover it with a rain shield if you notice a problem this week when it rains.

Let me know.

It's a problem in their PSIP computer. They (AETN engineering) knows about, their trying to get it resolved.

Kelly in Conway.

Thanks for the info Kelly... it is much appreciated :)

I'm new to this board and live in Benton. I need help with receiving HDTV locals with my Dish Network VP211 and Sony SXRD HDTV. I've used Antenna Web for stations and antenna types, but I don't know what equipment to buy. Any recommendations would be great!
Thanks

(RockyF, I noticed you also live in Benton, so I sent you a message)

Is it THAT obvious?? <grin>hahah

And, thanks for the welcome. Good to be here.

Kelly, welcome to the forum.

I assume you work for AETN?

Is it THAT obvious??

Nope. Just a google guess (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=kelly+boswell+aetn)
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/images/icons/icon7.gif

My HD TiVo doesn't have guide data for 42-1 and 42-2.

Is there any PSIP data being transmitted for these stations?

Curious about something.

Are you guys seeing the eXtended Data Service information on AETN digital? If so, which portions are making it through; network (PBS), callsign (AETN), V-chip rating (TV-G, for example), program name (Nova), program duration time (56:26) and remaining time, VCR-autoclock setting info, etc. etc.

I've been trying to wade through some things here, and frankly, .....ahem..."some things are not as straighforward as they at first might appear."

I need some word from "in the field".

TNX,
Kelly in Conway.

Doesn't AETN have a digital TV with a PSIP capable tuner?

None that I have ready-access to.

Kelly,

Here is what the PSIP info looks like for me on KETZ-DT...Hope this helps!

http://tinypic.com/2n8x2z7.jpg

Well, I FINALLY got me a DX hit this morning. Wasnt that far, but its a start !

WHBQ-DT (http://new.photos.yahoo.com/davenlr/album/576460762332556652/photo/294928803475965452/0)

Curious about something.

which portions are making it through;

I need some word from "in the field".

TNX,
Kelly in Conway.
Hello Kelly,

Here is what I am seeing this morning.

Channel Info follows:

DTV
2-1
KETS-1
Caption

SD
English
_________

Program Info follows:

DTV Program
9:30am-10:am

DTV program

Hope this helps regarding your query.

I am able to receive KETS with an 80-90 signal quality. Channel 5 (KETS) seems to suffer quite a lot of interference here 20 mi. north of Little Rock. It probably has something to do with the air base (planes) and/or RF transmissions coming out of Camp Robinson or both. I don't know that for sure but as I have to point generally toward those two facilities to receive KETS it is my guess. The other local DTV channels seem to be much more dependable as regards inteference, but they are on higher frequency channels and don't seem to suffer the frequent interruptions that KETS does. That sucks since KETS is my favorite local channel.

dmatch

Hi ALL,

Just wondering if anyone else is viewing KATV's second channel (News 7-2) and seeing what I am seeing now that the increased power level makes it receiveable for me.

The news crawler at the bottom of the screen is cut off and I can only see the upper half of it.

Just curious,

dmatch

Yep, thats what I am seeing here as well. Appears they are not staying within the "safe area". If I could use my HR20 with HDMI to receive it, it should display the entire screen, however, the OTA tuner in that box isnt activated yet.

They (KATV) seem to have their share of problems. Just in the short time I have watched them I have seen a couple of Windows XP reboots on 7-2. Apparently, the "TV in a BOX"/ Windows XP combination isn't completely dependable. It was good for a laugh though and looked oh so familiar.

dmatch

...Channel 5 (KETS) seems to suffer quite a lot of interference here 20 mi. north of Little Rock. ... The other local DTV channels seem to be much more dependable as regards inteference, but they are on higher frequency channels and don't seem to suffer the frequent interruptions that KETS does. That's because channels 2 thru 6 don't work well for digital TV, due to impulse noise interference. KETS originally had channel 47, but wanted a VHF, because they need less power to transmit. Bad decision, because 47 would've worked great.

After analog goes dark, KETS is supposed to move to VHF channel 7. That will be better than channel 5, but even highband VHF channels 7 thru 13 have more interference problems than the UHF band.

Thanks for the info.

Try it again and see if the PSIP info has come back.

The guys tell me they found the PSIP generator wasn't accepting data from Traffic--mostly because some type of hiccup corrupted the database.

Kelly in Conway.

(Posted in response to msg#2314. Sorry for any confusion. Still learning my way around the forum.)

Hi Kelly,

Getting all PSIP data on all 4 KETS channels now. Now if the wind would just settle down I could actually watch. Trees, hills and DTV just don't get along well.

dmatch

Hi Kelly,

Getting all PSIP data on all 4 KETS channels now. Now if the wind would just settle down I could actually watch. Trees, hills and DTV just don't get along well.

dmatch


Okay, thanks. That's one item put to rest for a while.

Now, I'll try getting something worked out on the XDS info --specifically the V-chip data getting passed.

Again, many thanks.
Kelly in Conway.

Kelly,

The PSIP data and V-chip data is showing up for me on KETZ-12. Everything looks to be normal now.

DTV works great on UHF.

I think its to late to convince any of the stations to switch at this point in time. I dont know what I hate worst, 1/2 the stations in one direction and 1/2 in the other, or the mixture of VHF-LO,HI and UHF. OTA in Little Rock is a total PITA. I sure wish the stations had gotten together like they did in Birmingham, and all transmit from a shared site, and split to costs.

I would not even object to the redfield stations putting up low power DTV translators on Shinall Mt. That would work for me, as well as those in Mayflower, Conway, Greenbriar, etc.

Dave,

The tropo was pretty good thing morning... were you able to DX any? I managed to pull in some stations from Dallas, Waco, and Austin.

Na, I have to leave for work before it usually picks up on weekdays. Ill check it out tonight tho. Right now, I am not even getting a peep out of channel 13, If I cant get that, Texas is definantly out of the question.

Well at least you got WHBQ....was that the only one you got from Memphis? I'd just be happy with relilable HD reception from more networks than AETN and NBC...and FOX after 6:00PM :rolleyes:

I was setting signal (in the 12-25 range) from all the Memphis stations, but my old receiver needs at least 40 to lock in a picture. WHBQ was 55. Guess the other ones are lower power, or farther away.

Anyone getting guide data for KWBF 42-1, 42-1 ?

Anyone getting guide data for KWBF 42-1, 42-1 ?

Not sure since its weak this way, but i'm sure it would mostly say, "Paid Program".

DTV works great on UHF.

Then maybe you can receive our Ch. 20 txmtr from near Jonesboro?

Kelly

Not sure since its weak this way, but i'm sure it would mostly say, "Paid Program".

On my HR10-250 it says "Regular Schedule".

Does that mean that there is no data being broadcast?

Here in Maumelle 42-1 and 42-2 have a signal strength in the low 90's

Kelly,

Nope, I'm in NWA, across the state from Jonesboro. And a 20kW UHF station is pretty weak, anyway.

I get KAFT-DT ch 9 from Winslow at 100%, except in heavy rain, when I get rain fade. It also drops out and/or pixelates sometimes during lightning. It's the only station that is affected by weather. And it's the only VHF digital station I get, excluding tropo channels.

IMO, AETN shouldn't have used so many VHF channels for digital TV. UHF just works better.

hpb,
That's what it usually means.

Some receivers say No Information, others say Regular Schedule and others say DTV Program.

I was setting signal (in the 12-25 range) from all the Memphis stations, but my old receiver needs at least 40 to lock in a picture. WHBQ was 55. Guess the other ones are lower power, or farther away. All of the towers are in the east Memphis area off of I-40 and all stations are running at full power.

-Robert

Kelly,

Nope, I'm in NWA, across the state from Jonesboro. And a 20kW UHF station is pretty weak, anyway.

I get KAFT-DT ch 9 from Winslow at 100%, except in heavy rain, when I get rain fade. It also drops out and/or pixelates sometimes during lightning. It's the only station that is affected by weather. And it's the only VHF digital station I get, excluding tropo channels.

IMO, AETN shouldn't have used so many VHF channels for digital TV. UHF just works better.


I understand your point about UHF working well for DTV. You've made your point. But, that train has already left the station.

The database I was reading must have been old then... This is the one I was using...

http://www.w9wi.com/tvdb/states/tn.htm

It was showing some of them lower. Dont have any explaination then why only one of them came in good enough to lock if they are all in the same place at the same power.

Tropo at the time was probably just better for some frequencies than it was for others....

Anyone getting guide data for KWBF 42-1, 42-1 ?
I see both 42.1 (KWBF) and 42.2 (KKYK) with guide data today.

This is the first time I have been able to lock these channels reliably at 40-50 % here about 20 mi. N of Little Rock. It appears they have increased power. Maybe they are up to or going to their 587 kW ERP special temporary authority power level?

If so, then when they get to their 1000 kW ERP (have FCC construction permit) they should be rock solid here.

dmatch

Just more crappy SD stuff...

KTHV-DT (12) is still suffering from the apparent inability to control the wide range of audio levels when switching from studio to commercials inside their local programming, such as their news blocks and doing local cut-ins during and between CBS HD programs.

As far as switching from local back to HD goes, they are doing pretty well, and thought that they would have been able to solve this audio problem by now as the other stations have done.

All in all, they are doing a good job and I enjoy watching all the stations OTA HD programming.

Is there any word on when D* will be offering the LR local DT channels? Last I heard is that they would be avaiable in mid-December.

KTHV is doing great switching between SD and HD compared to KATV. I don't watch a lot of tv, but I've noticed they have a hard time with Lost. It sometimes takes 10-15 seconds after the program comes back on before they switch it back to HD. This sometimes happens even in the middle of the program. Have you all experienced this?

This week was the first Lost I've watched in HD this season (even with the increase in power, a little rain last week caused too many dropouts for it to be watchable) but I don't remember any switching problems, at least not 10-15 seconds.

I noticed it in last week's episode a couple of times and randomly in the past.

Recently, a LR station did not switch back to HD after a local cut-in for the duration of the program which was about 45 minutes. The following day, I called and talked to the chief engineer and he said that it was computer error that caused the failure to return to HD after the cut-in. I , then, asked the chief engineer if his station monitored off the air and he said, "no, and if they did, the screen is so small they could not tell if they were back in the HD mode or not.

I cannot believe that a modern TV station does not monitor their programs "off air."

Shouldnt matter HOW small the screen was. If only 2/3 of it is filled with a picture, THROW THE SWITCH.

Shouldnt matter HOW small the screen was. If only 2/3 of it is filled with a picture, THROW THE SWITCH.

That's what I am thinking too. Plus, if the station does not monitor their "Off the Air" signal, they have no way of knowing if they, in fact, are "Off the Air" or not. The only way they would know if they were off the air is if a viewer calls in and tells them. Then, you get the newsroom and talk with someone that knows absolutely nothing about HD television. The master control numbers are non-published and they don't want people calling and waking them up.

They actually have alarms that go off if the transmitter drops offline, but that still doesnt warn them if there is something amiss in the signal. I wonder if anyone at Equity has ever seen 44-1? Ever notice how the picture jumps about ever second? 44-2 is fine, its quite interesting they havent noticed that for the past 2 months. I cant even watch it its so annoying.

What are you doing trying to watch that crappy SD stuff anyway? ;)

As far as KKYK-RTN (44-2) goes, they seem to have some sort of satellite encoder, or other problem, that causes audio drop-outs. This is very noticeable in music, but not so noticeable in dialog. Other sources of info give me reason to believe that virtually all the RTN satellite feeds have audio problems. It is very annoying once you notice it.

dmatch

I am really surprised the FCC allows them to be licensed with as many shortcuts as they take, not to mention to totally terrible audio, and other video abnormalities. I happened to be checking for skip this morning, and came across a paid program (not surprising in itself) on KKYK 42-2, and the audio level was so hot, it was clipping, and you could hear the hum from the camcorder motor used to shoot the video.

As of a couple years ago, there were nights when one master control operator was on duty for all their stations (14 or so I think at the time) at night, and not only had to monitor those stations, but dub all the paid programming from tape to server, and program the computers for the next days programming. Its no wonder they dont have the time to actually make sure the audio levels are correct when recording to the server, or catch video glitches and other abnormalities. Its a shame, because it could be a really professional operation, if they would spend a couple dollars and hire the right people to run it.

.... And on top of all that I have never received any response from any e-mail sent to them (Equity). Has anyone from Equity ever visited this forum that you know of?

dmatch

Doug Krile used to show up occasionally, but I havent seen him on for a long time.

The database I was reading must have been old then... This is the one I was using... W9WI

It was showing some of them lower. Dont have any explaination then why only one of them came in good enough to lock if they are all in the same place at the same power.


The information at W9WI's site is correct and up-to-date.

nladxer

Nice tropo to LA-Miss-AL Gulf Coast......

WWL-DT (36) New Orleans coming in as i'm typing, well as WIIQ-DT (19) in southern Alabama.

Yes, it was a good morning. I only got the analogs from BR and Mobile for the most part, but I did take a good screen of WWL-DT :-)
http://aycu11.webshots.com/image/6330/2000352767427274268_rs.jpg



And WVLA-DT during "Today" in HD.

http://aycu32.webshots.com/image/4111/2000361416510728857_rs.jpg

Been kind of quiet in here for the past couple weeks... just making sure everyone is still alive and well :)

KTHV's "5.1" audio is pretty awful, still getting only 2 channel stereo and not audio out of the center channel speaker when its supposed to be transmitted.

The storm friday night *once again* proved that VHF is inferior to UHF for digital OTA as KTHV had dropouts that KLRT, and KARK didn't.

Looks like the Michigan-Ohio State game won't be broadcast in HD locally due to the LF's exciting Tennessee v Vanderbilt! matchup right before. Fire up the HD-DNS if you have it.

Keith, did you get in on any of the "enhancements" on Sunday night-Monday morning?--I was out of pocket on Sunday evening.

KTHV's "5.1" audio is pretty awful, still getting only 2 channel stereo and not audio out of the center channel speaker when its supposed to be transmitted...

Their audio on satellite LIL is horrendous, too. I seldom watch 11 any more and had to take it out of my channel list, because channel surfing it was an exercise in frustration. I had to hit the MUTE button before I got to 11, or I'd get assualted with a blast of obnoxiously LOUD AUDIO.

Something's happened at kthv lateley, because they don't care about a quality signal any more.

They used to. But not any more.

And you're right about DTV on VHF channels. It sucks in stormy weather. KATV actually made a wise move by abandoning ch 7.

haley,

I managed to lock WVLA-DT from Baton Rouge again for a couple minutes, but that's about all that was out of the ordinary. Everything else was pretty normal (Alexandria/Central LA).

My OTA reception is now reliable enough that I decided to drop my local service from E*. I never watched locals through satellite anyway because of the poor picture quality. What I didn't realize is that once you drop locals, you don't get program information for OTA channels. Does anyone know of a way to get the channel info for OTA into my set top box for free? It's easy enough to look up the information online, but I'm afraid DVR functionality will be crippled on those channels. Please let me know your thoughts and experiences in this matter.

Man, that sucks. Why does E* tie the OTA guide to what you sub to? On D*, you can get the guide for local OTA channels with or without a local sub., just as long as your dish can see their main satellite.

Sam, I like your new location....lol

My OTA reception is now reliable enough that I decided to drop my local service from E*. I never watched locals through satellite anyway because of the poor picture quality. What I didn't realize is that once you drop locals, you don't get program information for OTA channels. Does anyone know of a way to get the channel info for OTA into my set top box for free? It's easy enough to look up the information online, but I'm afraid DVR functionality will be crippled on those channels. Please let me know your thoughts and experiences in this matter.

I'm suprised that E* didn't disable the OTA tuner in your STB after dropping locals. I don't get guide data for the AETN subs (Create, AETN Scholar, etc): only the main channel :(

I prefer to watch the OTA digitals anyway ....Oh, yes did you see E* added YET another waste of bandwidth (Home Shopping Network). :eek:

Sam, I like your new location....lolRecent election results confirm the location, as do our Police Chief's comments on THE referendum (http://lovelycitizen.com/Articles/ArticleViewer.aspx?ArticleID=e66d1272-8110-45ab-b07d-33c6a30c624f). http://www.geekfest.com/ubb/icons/icon14.gif

Yeah I saw that story about the measure passing... you're gonna have a lot of people moving to Eureka in droves, now ;)

KTHV's "5.1" audio is pretty awful, still getting only 2 channel stereo and not audio out of the center channel speaker when its supposed to be transmitted.

Yea, It amazes me that they can't get the 5.1 audio to work on channel 11. I reported to them months ago, that myself (a comcast user) and a friend of mine (OTA receiver) both have problems with the 5.1 audio ONLY on CBS. (KARK, KATV, and KLRT have their 5.1 working great). Only KTHV had dialog coming out of all 5 channels. I have even changed out audio receivers and still have the same problem.

They say that they have tested their system in house and everything is working fine. And that if it wasn't working correctly, their switchboard would be lighting up like a Xmas tree. Unfortunately, until they test a audio system via OTA reception or a Comcast STB, or let a viewer show them IN THE USERS ENVIRONMENT, they will assume the Dolby Digital 5.1 is working perfectly.

Mike

Yea, It amazes me that they can't get the 5.1 audio to work on channel 11. I reported to them months ago, that myself (a comcast user) and a friend of mine (OTA receiver) both have problems with the 5.1 audio ONLY on CBS. (KARK, KATV, and KLRT have their 5.1 working great). Only KTHV had dialog coming out of all 5 channels. I have even changed out audio receivers and still have the same problem.

CBS/KTHV complaints:
rjross@cbs.com

Yea, It amazes me that they can't get the 5.1 audio to work on channel 11. I reported to them months ago, that myself (a comcast user) and a friend of mine (OTA receiver) both have problems with the 5.1 audio ONLY on CBS. (KARK, KATV, and KLRT have their 5.1 working great). Only KTHV had dialog coming out of all 5 channels. I have even changed out audio receivers and still have the same problem.

They say that they have tested their system in house and everything is working fine. And that if it wasn't working correctly, their switchboard would be lighting up like a Xmas tree. Unfortunately, until they test a audio system via OTA reception or a Comcast STB, or let a viewer show them IN THE USERS ENVIRONMENT, they will assume the Dolby Digital 5.1 is working perfectly.

Mike

It seems that their management continues to deny ANY problems anywhere in their "Engineering" operation. Audio can be more complicated than video in the TV industry and it is apparent that they can't figure their audio problems out as the other local stations have done. I Still don't know why they chose channel 12 for their digital channel. Being a Gannett station, someone should have made a much wiser decision, given the wide range of channels available.

... I Still don't know why they chose channel 12 for their digital channel..You would think so, considering everone else in the area (but AETN) had the good sense to abandon the interference-plagued VHF band.

http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article.aspx?aID=96222.67123.108360&cID=e

This news is a couple of days old, but it hasn't been discussed here. Basically, ClearChannel is getting out of the TV business. As a former Fox 16 News employee, my main concern is whether or not any of my friends, like errett, are going to lose jobs, but I also wonder what, if any effect the sale of Fox 16 and the CW Arkansas might have on their digital operations. Hopefully, whoever ends up buying them will care about HD.

There's a dead cat in the woodpile at 'THV

Attempted to watch today's Cowboys-Colts game, signal is about 49% too low to decode.

Other major network Little Rock stations are of decent signal strength and making trip to near Star City.

I've noticed a lower power signal for KTHV in North Little Rock as well. Around 60 on my VIP 622 receiver. Just barely enough signal to see it. When the signal drops below 60 on this receiver I usually get dropouts.

Signals on KTHV is back to normal condition this morning. 71 % on the '811 and 72-73% on the dedicated DX receiver.

It low all evening and even checked the analog signal and it was snowy. Wonder what actually happened? Or was someone actually minding the store yesterday?

H

ps: I watched the NASCAR final on KARK, then switched to the ending of Dallas/Indy on the E* SD feed of KTHV :(

http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article.aspx?aID=96222.67123.108360&cID=e

This news is a couple of days old, but it hasn't been discussed here. Basically, ClearChannel is getting out of the TV business. As a former Fox 16 News employee, my main concern is whether or not any of my friends, like errett, are going to lose jobs, but I also wonder what, if any effect the sale of Fox 16 and the CW Arkansas might have on their digital operations. Hopefully, whoever ends up buying them will care about HD.


That is going to be interesting. There are some situations that could come up. One
result could be another owner in the market could pick up either KLRT OR KASN but not both. If this happens, it would more likely be KASN. I doubt that a new owner will acquire both stations. Equity and even Nexstar look to be out since both are already up to their eyeballs in debt .

If Raycom took KLRT or KASN, then say goodbye to the pristine PQ, as The Tube would roll into town (like it did for KSLA, WMC, and KAIT), and also a second subchannel (news/weather would be added).

All of this is just speculation and monday-morning quarterbacking........

I think I read somewhere that FOX doesn't allow subchannels, or only a very small part of the bandwidth for them. That's why you don't see many FOX stations with subchannels..the only place I have seen FOX with a subchannel is is Jackson... They have WUFX as 35-1 which is MyNetTV-SD.... and then they have WDBD as 40-1, and that is the FOX-HD channel. I think this happened because they are owned by the same company.. and they swapped affiliations recently or something along those lines..lol....y'all get my point :)

I just thought I would let you all know I've moved to the Jackson area, so I probably won't be getting the LR digitals on a regular basis except during tropo :( On the other hand, it's nice to finally have the big 4 networks in HD OTA, along with the 24/7 PBS-HD feed :) I experience random dropouts on couple stations (mainly WJTV and WMPN)...I get a 100% signal from them...so would an attenuator help this situation? The NBC affiliate (WLBT) is broadcasting on VHF 9... and I can definitely tell by watching them... my signal for them is in the 65-68% range. They also have WeatherPlus on 3-2, and The Tube on 3-3. I can't really tell that the PQ is all that bad... maybe I just got used to the compressed NBC-HD feed on D*...lol... in any case, that's my situation for now... you are all my friends in this thread, so I'll still be posting in here, of course. You've all been very helpful to me since March, and I thank you! You all have a Happy Thanksgiving, if I don't talk to any of you before Thursday :)

Keith, Hope you enjoy Jackson.

Did you keep D* and if so, did you tell them that you moved?
Or did you just tell them your mailing address changed?

Sam, I just moved my mailing address... when are the LR HD Locals due to be rolled out? I'm thinking about "moving" to Marshall before the LR locals come out, so I can keep the NY feeds..weren't the LR HD locals due out by the end of the year?

Are you still able to get the LR locals?

The D* press release said the LR HD locals are "supposed" to be added by the end of '06. So, probably by the end of 1Q of '07, the way things go.

I would wait to "move" to Marshall until you have to. Some addresses in Marshall (surrounded by hills) can't get any locals OTA, and D* won't sell locals in the Marshall ZIP Code, due to weak spot beam strength. Those addresses can order Standard Def DNS channels for $1.50 a channel. For something like 50¢ more, you can get both the NY & LA standard def channels, but per SHVERA rules, they can only give you the NY or LA HD channels - but not both.

Which LR station will be first to offer local HD programming such as their local news shows?

My guess is KLRT. I don't think that KARK's parent company will spend the money anytime soon, KTHV is still wrestling with their audio and lighting problems, and KATV is just getting started with HD and is about two years behind the curve.

I have a CM3021A, a Winegard YA 6260 Prostar 1000 6 El. Lo-Band Antenna (for PBS only), and a Single channel antenna: 5Y12S 5 ELEMENT YAGI ANTENNA for Channel 12 (for CBS only).

The Channel 12 antenna is integrated into the setup using a ch12 CM JoinTenna. So, channel twelve was the only station that i (we) couldnt get with the CM3021A positioned at a fixed location.

Azanon

Azanon,
Do you have a picture of your setup? I have a 4221 with a 7777 preamp and had good reception (minus AETN) for all of the locals until KTHV started messing with their signal. I am wondering if a change is in order for my setup. I am in Hillcrest with the 4221 pointed southwest, splitting the difference between Redfield and Shinall.

Hey Sam,

No the spotbeam is too weak for my location, but I'd still like to keep the NY-HD feeds, if possible. I'll figure something out...lol..

KeithAR2002,

I would be very careful about "moving" again.

Dish network just lost a lawsuit over transmitting distant networks, and they are being forced to shut off all of their DNS customers (~900,000 custs.) by 12/1. I've heard that D* has become very leery of granting DNS to anyone now, especially customers with separate mailing/service addresses.

If you're getting HD DNS right now and want to keep it, I would not make any changes to your account. Check http://satelliteguys.us for details.

Hey Sam,

Thanks for the info on that... I'm going to leave well enough alone for now :)

Oh yeah, and I hope you enjoy all the snow you'll be getting in the next couple days... I bet it's pretty up there when it snows.

GMA loses HD, via KATV

around 7:40am, when GMA came back from ads (KATV switched to a local ad to cover a PSA), the video was 4x3 SD instead of 16x9 720p. It has been up to this writing.

Anyone with the DNS feed still see HD on GMA?

UPDATE: 802am, HD feed is back up at KATV.

With the exception of the usual half-second 4:3 blips before and after local cut ins, it was HD all morning here on KHOG-DT.

GMA was in HD all morning on WAPT-DT... so I guess it's KATV messing up... what's new? :) Actually, they've been doing pretty well with HD, haven't they?

Anyone else experiencing a big drop-off in KATV's signal? Since they bumped up to full power earlier in the fall I have been consistently getting a 95-99% signal strength, but over the last couple of days it is down to 70-75% and drops out quite a bit.

I am considering getting rid of my C* digital STB ( No Firewire etc) and replacing it with an Autumn Wave OnAir HDTV tuner and basic cable.

1) Does anyone on the forum have experience with this tuner?
2) Are all channels on C* still in the clear for QAM, except the premium channels?
3)In particular, can I get the free OnDemand movies

Thanks, samcguire

WOW. Over the past couple days I have read (or skimmed) 80 pages of thread postings. On top of that I have also been reading threads involving satellite reception, HDTV cable, and HDTV Televisions. I am definitely suffering from information overload. The amount of knowledge on this board is staggering. What did we ever do without the internet?

Needless to say I am posting for the answers to some yet unanswered questions, as well as guidance and opinions. Be gentle with me, I bruise easy. :)

Here is my situation. I recently (last 2 monthst) went from not owning any HD Televisions to now having two of them, one of those a Plasma. I live in Searcy, which is near by Higginson where a previous poster (Micah) resides. I learned alot from his postings and the assistance that was given to him. I am a cable subscriber (basic, no STB). Obviously I am searching for HD content.

I have an OLD antenna (20+ years) that was attached to my house when I moved in. The crew who installed my Plasma ran a new cable from that existing antenna (just to see what would happen) with no preamp and connected it to my TV. To our surprise we were able to receive broadcast from all three major stations (KTHV, KATV, KARK). No WB (KWBF) or FOX. I do plan on following the recommendations provided to Micah and obtaining a 4228 antenna and the 7777 preamp to boost my reception.

Now here come the questions. Eventually I would also like to receive the sports channels (ESPN, ESPN2, etc) in HD, so I will be looking at switching from cable to either D* or E* in the near future. HD cable isn't an option in White County and apparently won't be for quite sometime. Do I understand things correctly in that I would run the cable from my 4228/7777 into my satellite receiver when I get one? Why would I be concerned about local channels through the satellite provider if I do this?

A couple other real basic questions. What is multicasting? Is this why there is a second channel that displays a weather map and news headlines for some channels?

I'm sure I'll have some follow up questions, but I've bent you ears long enough for right now.

MB

Do I understand things correctly in that I would run the cable from my 4228/7777 into my satellite receiver when I get one? Why would I be concerned about local channels through the satellite provider if I do this?

A couple other real basic questions. What is multicasting? Is this why there is a second channel that displays a weather map and news headlines for some channels?
MB
You need an off air antenna to receive HD locals, neither of the satellite providers have HD locals for Arkansas yet. The installer can insert the antenna signal into the satellite’s coax and then split it out just before the satellite box. No need for 2 runs. Right now E* has more HD content. I’ve had them for years and am very happy. Check out the vip622 for the best in HD satellite receivers dishnetwork com

Rant on.
As for multicasting, there is one reason for it, money. The broadcasters hope to get more ad revenue from the extra channel. During the political bartering when the HD standards were written up, the broadcasters were able to finagle being able to degrade the HD signal to get enough bandwidth to broadcast another low def channel. Now they can get 2 for the price of one. At first when THV did it, they had live radar on their second channel, how cool. Now they have switched over to what looks like their web page, it sucks. They went form something usefull that nobody else had to a knock off of a web page.
Rant off.

Welcome to the new guys, good to have some more converts here. samcguire, I work for Comcast, but in the ad sales and production department, and I live in Benton, so I can't subscribe to Comcast, so I may not be able to answer you're questions completely, but my understanding is that only the local channels will be in the clear on QAM. I'm pretty sure you have to have the cable box to get On Demand stuff. Maybe somebody with a QAM box and Comcast will be able to answer your question better.

Misbehaving, with a good antenna set up, you should be able to also receive Fox 16 and CW 38, if you can get KARK, KTHV and KATV. Fox's tower is on Shinall near 11 and 4, and 38 is at Redfield with 7. You might have to get a rotor, I believe the 4228 is pretty directional. BTW, KWBF is now MyNetworkTV, not WB, and they don't do any HD anyway, so in my opinion, they're not really worth going to the effort to get. KASN 38 is now the CW which will be where most of the old WB shows are.

Hopefully, this will help you guys out a little bit, and others will chime in too. I am actually in going to be in the process of moving this weekend, just a few blocks from my current location, but I'll have to kind of start over as far as antenna placement and all that goes. The good news is, my new house is at slightly higher elevation, and I plan on getting a better antenna, so hopefully I'll be able to get everything I can now, and maybe a little more.

From Broadcasting and Cable. At least some people are interested in quality.
-----
Over the years content distributors and owners have been grappling with dual-stream HD delivery, sending out or mastering two versions of programs: one in HD and one in SD. But increasingly both networks and studios are embracing a new concept: single-stream workflows.

For companies like Warner Bros. that means readying its massive movie and TV library for HD distribution.
Classic programs like Gilligan’s Island or Looney Tunes are being converted from film stock to cleaned up digital masters that can be served out to HD displays.
“HD has provided us with the rational to remaster library assets,” says Darcy Antonellis, EVP, Warner Bros. Distribution and Technology Operations, SVP Worldwide Anti-Piracy Operations.

“Even for content produced in the last 10 years huge improvements can be made in scanning processes and dirt and scratch removal.”

It takes about 10 hours to ready an 8-minute cartoon for HD (eight hours of telecine work) while a 22-minute episodic can take up to 13 hours (with the majority of time dedicated to color correction and dirt and scratch removal.
Studios with library content aren’t the only ones facing the call for streamlining production and mastering processes. Richard M. Friedel, Fox Networks Engineering and Operations EVG and GM, says the network has been seamlessly and transparently delivering programs like American Idol to both HD and SD viewers without requiring two production processes.

“We think we’ll get to single stream distribution via MPEG-4/AVC and statistical multiplexing to help cut transponder costs,” he says. But the network is still hunting for an effective way to convert MPEG-4 streams to MPEG-2 delivery.

Education, says Friedel, is a huge part of any network or station’s move to HD. The network-trained production teams the new glossary of HD terms like side curtains and widescreen. “They took to the concepts very quickly, but I can’t understate how much effort there was in training,” he says. “And we now have a training department at Fox.”

Glenn Reitmeier, NBC Universal VP, technology standards, policy and strategy, says even the best single-stream distribution methods can be short-circuited by different approaches at local stations, cable operators and satellite distributors.

“The best signal you can get is a direct over-the-air signal because the cable headend picks up the HD signal and goes down to about 13 Mbps which makes the quality a little less than over-the-air,” says Reitmeier. “And in DBS there are not only different bit rates but codecs being used.”

While HD is all about delivering visually alluring images the mixing and matching of codecs and bit rates is a threat. “It’s very important that we don’t turn the ‘Wow’ of HD into a ‘yuck,’” says Reitmeier.

You need an off air antenna to receive HD locals, neither of the satellite providers have HD locals for Arkansas yet. The installer can insert the antenna signal into the satellite’s coax and then split it out just before the satellite box. No need for 2 runs. Right now E* has more HD content. I’ve had them for years and am very happy. Check out the vip622 for the best in HD satellite receivers dishnetwork com

Thanks for responding Rider. Already I am more confused and have more questions. Assuming I go with the 4228 antenna and I already have a cable run to my TV (which is near where the sateliite receiver will be), why do we need to insert the signal into the satellites coax and split out again?

Also, when and if local stations (in HD) do become available on satellite, is there a reason why I would consider adding them if I already have my own antenna setup?

Thanks!

... The installer can insert the antenna signal into the satellite’s coax and then split it out just before the satellite box. No need for 2 runs...This is called "diplexing." Diplexing is no longer an option on new DirecTV HD installs because of interference with the way the new MPEG4 channels will be sent over the coax.

Misbehaving,
So, if you want DirecTV (which has more sports options), you'll need a separate coax run from the antenna to the D* receiver to pick up the local OTA HD channels. Regardless of which sat provider you choose, a separate coax for the antenna is always preferable if you use a preamp.

A CM 4228 antenna (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/4228.htm) and CM 7777 preamp (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/7777.htm) would probably work well in your case. It should get you all the LR stations except KETS-DT. But you can likely get PBS out of Mountain View or Jonesboro with the above combo.

Thanks for responding Rider. Already I am more confused and have more questions. Assuming I go with the 4228 antenna and I already have a cable run to my TV (which is near where the sateliite receiver will be), why do we need to insert the signal into the satellites coax and split out again?

Also, when and if local stations (in HD) do become available on satellite, is there a reason why I would consider adding them if I already have my own antenna setup?

Thanks!
You don’t need to, most people just prefer the simpler/cleaner approach of a single cable run. I currently use a separate antenna run for the same reason as you, it was already there and since I have problems pulling in KATV I didn’t want to chance any signal loss.

I would expect that both E* and D* will have HD locals by next year. If anyone out there knows, please chime in. I’ll be glad when they arrive because I seem to live in a bit of a RF dead zone and my HD locals can be iffy. KATV is the worst, but lately KTHV (only 6 miles away) has been flakey.

...Also, when and if local stations (in HD) do become available on satellite, is there a reason why I would consider adding them if I already have my own antenna setup?DirecTV is supposed to add the LR HD channels by the end of '06, but they're running behind schedule. They should be available 1Q of '07. Local HD broadcast channels are free to all D* subscribers that choose to subscribe to local channels. All you need is the latest D* HD receiver and the 5LNB dish, which is now supposed to be the standard dish with all HD installs. Make sure they install the 5LNB dish if you go with D* No subscription to the "HD package" is required to receive HD locals.

HD locals on satellite make a good backup for OTA if your signal is weak, but the picture quality is not full 1920x1080i HD resolution. D* downrezzes 1080i channels to only 1220x1080i. If your TV cannot resolve full 1920x1080 you probably won't notice a difference, but if it can, you may see reduced PQ on satellite.

Analog TV in the Netherlands was shut down today (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/world/4393351.html) . The bad news, the monopoly given the license to take over the old channels put in a USDTV-style OTA pay-tv system over the "excess" bandwidth. No mention of HDTV though in the article.

I currently am using an antenna that has been attached to my house for 20+ years to pull in my local channels (3 of them right now) and I'm looking to upgrade my equipment. A fellow board member has generously offered to sell me an antenna (Channel Master 3671B) and Pre-amp (Winegard AP-8275) that he purchased but never installed. I have some questions about the pre-amp though. What purpose does it actually serve. It doesn't appear to have any power run to it, is that true? If I wanted to split the signal between two Televisions, is there something else I would need? Any information you can offer me would be appreciated.

I currently am using an antenna that has been attached to my house for 20+ years to pull in my local channels (3 of them right now) and I'm looking to upgrade my equipment. A fellow board member has generously offered to sell me an antenna (Channel Master 3671B) and Pre-amp (Winegard AP-8275) that he purchased but never installed. I have some questions about the pre-amp though. What purpose does it actually serve. It doesn't appear to have any power run to it, is that true? If I wanted to split the signal between two Televisions, is there something else I would need? Any information you can offer me would be appreciated.

Mast mounted preamps (as opposed to distribution amps which are one piece) have a seperate amplifier, and power supply. The amp is mounted near the antenna and power is feed in the coax (usually low voltage DC) from the power supply "brick" which is plugged into the house AC current.

IF a preamp is used DO NOT CONNECT A SPLITTER between the preamp, and the power supply. connect a splitter downstream from the power supply.


Ant > preamp> preamp pwr supply> Splitter (if needed)> TV (and or STB/DVR, etc)

Preamps help to reduce losses by long coax runs. They are not miricle workers but do help keep a lock on signals otherwise in marginal locations. Preamps are not usually recommended in strong-signal areas.

If you are considering a new preamp, check this one out (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/7777.htm). I have one and it does the job quite well (with a CM 4228 8 bay antenna).

... A fellow board member has generously offered to sell me an antenna (Channel Master 3671B) and Pre-amp (Winegard AP-8275) that he purchased but never installed. I have some questions about the pre-amp though. What purpose does it actually serve. It doesn't appear to have any power run to it, is that true?That antenna is *very* large. 173" long, 110" wide and weighs about 19 lbs.
http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/3671.jpg
Make sure you have plenty of room for installing it, and avoid putting it up on a windy day!

Preamps are installed on the antenna mast as close to the antenna as possible. This is to prevent amplifying any noise that may be picked up by the coax, that a conventional "cable amp" installed indoors would amplify. The power supply is typically installed in the attic or behind a TV, and the power is supplied over the same coax as the TV signal. So you don't have to run extra wires for power. Here's a chart showing how to install a typical antenna & preamp.
http://tinypic.com/29crnz9.gif

As haley said, any spitters running to multiple TVs MUST be connected downstream from the power supply. If you use a preamp and have satellite, do not attempt to diplex the OTA & Sat signals onto a single coax. If you don't know what you're doing, it can cause all sorts of problems including frying the preamp, power supply, and/or sat equipment.

Thank you both! That was very informative and helpful.

I received my 4228 and 7777 yesterday and I plan on installing it Friday afternoon. I have a quick question. Is there any advantage (or disadvantage) in leaving my old antenna up and just placing the 4228 above it, and running the lead from my old antenna into the VHF input on the 7777?

Thanks in advance.

1. What kind of antenna do you currently have?
2. What is your location (ZIP Code is sufficient - 9 digit ZIP would be better)
3. What channels do you really want to try to receive?

My current antenna came attached to the house when I purchased it, so it is 20+ years old and I don't know what kind it is. My zip is 72143. I am interested in all of the major network channels (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and CW.

I am running a lead from the old antenna to my TV now and I am receiving everything except FOX and CW, with CBS coming in at only 40%.

Take the old antenna down.
Install the 4228 antenna + 7777 preamp on the mast.
Use new RG6 coax, if your current coax is very old.
http://tinypic.com/4bjlab7.gif

Do not change the 7777 preamp switches (inside the amp) from their factory defaults.

My current antenna came attached to the house when I purchased it, so it is 20+ years old and I don't know what kind it is. My zip is 72143. I am interested in all of the major network channels (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and CW.

I am running a lead from the old antenna to my TV now and I am receiving everything except FOX and CW, with CBS coming in at only 40%.

The 4228 as you know is a UHF antenna. I don't think it will get the 2 stations out of the Little Rock area that are VHF (KETS-PBS-5 and KTHV-CBS-12). You didn't mention whether you can receive KETS-PBS or not on the old antenna (or whether you wanted to) but I don't think you will be getting it (or CBS) with the 4228.

Let us know how the 4228 works out. I've been thinking about getting one, but then there's KETS-PBS and KTHV-CBS on VHF so I stick with the large combination antenna that I currently have hooked to the CM 7777. I would be real curious what your system would pull in if you hooked up both antennas, since that is likely what I would try if I got a CM 4228.

Good luck,

dmatch

Take the old antenna down.
Install the 4228 antenna + 7777 preamp on the mast.
Use new RG6 coax, if your current coax is very old.


Do not change the 7777 preamp switches (inside the amp) from their factory defaults.

I am curious as to why you would not try both antennas. If it doesn't work you take down the old one and live without the VHF channels, but if it did work you potentially gain 3 more digital channels (PBS & CBSx2 here in central Arkansas). Is there some fatal flaw with the CM 7777 with regards to changing the preamp switches?

I am not being sarcastic here, I just really would like to know what I might be getting into if I got a CM 4228 myself and tried to hook up my old VHF/UHF combo antenna along with a new one so that I wouldn't lose PBS and CBS.

dmatch

Before posting my suggestion, I asked the OP who lives in the Searcy area what stations he wanted to receive. He mentioned all but PBS. The 4228 is sold as a UHF antenna, but works well for highband VHF channels 7 thru 13. So he'll easily be able to receive all the networks he is interested in with this combo, including KTHV-DT on VHF channel 12. He probably won't get KETS-DT on ch 5. But he can get KEMV-DT from Mountain View on ch 13. See below.

Being so far from LR, I suggested he simply the installation (and eliminate the possible avg. 3 dB loss that occurs when two antennas are combined), by taking down the old antenna, which is probably corroded any way.

The screen on the 4228, makes a great bi-directional highband VHF antenna, so he can get KEMV off the back side of it.
http://www.fcc.gov/ftp/Bureaus/MB/Databases/fm_tv_service_areas/maps/DT1134244.gif

I'm in NWA and currently use a 4228 antenna + 7777 preamp. I get all the regional UHF channels and also highband VHF channels 9, 10, 12 & 13 perfectly with this combo. Channel 10's tower is 70 miles away from my house.

Read about the 4228 in the paragraph titled "Pro Performance," in this article on antennas (http://www.tvtechnology.com/features/On-RF/2006.01.25-f_doug.shtml) at TV technology dot com.

Thanks for the reply. I had also looked at that same KEMV-DT foot print. Searcy is pretty close to the edge of the 36 dBu contour. I am almost exactly the same distance from KEMV-DT and can get it adequately on a large VHF/UHF combo antenna w/ CM 7777, so hopefully the 4228 will perform as you suggest. Having fought with TV reception amongst the trees and down in the valley for so long I have grown somewhat pessimistic about reception.

Anyway, as you said, there was no mention of PBS as a desired channel. CBS was mentioned though, but in that case I guess the 3dB loss of combining the old antenna would pretty much do away with any improved gain that it normally would have provided, making reception of CBS a matter of distance/local conditions. Since it was mentioned that CBS could be received on the old antenna (although apparently marginally) maybe the pre-amp and new antenna will do the trick.

I find your optimism about the reception on a CM 4228 somewhat encouraging with respect to my circumstances also. When you pointed out that:

"The screen on the 4228, makes a great bi-directional highband VHF antenna, so he can get KEMV off the back side of it."

Do you think the CM 4228 is better for backside tuning than a standard log-periodic VHF/UHF antenna? If so, then that IS encouraging because I can almost backside tune KEMV right now on the VHF/UHF combo antenna.

ddmatch

It would depend on the antenna, but for most people around here, the 4228 works great as a bi-directional antenna for highband VHF (chs 7 thru 13).

On the contour maps for digital, reception often goes beyond the blue circle...

Here are screen shots of some of the VHF channels I get with the 4228 + 7777.

KOLR Analog VHF ch 10 Springfield, MO
70 mi away:
http://tinypic.com/2yw96j6.jpg

KAFT Analog VHF channel 13 Fayetteville, AR
45 mi away:
http://tinypic.com/30u7hv8.jpg

KAFT-DT 13-1 - Actual channel is VHF ch 9 Fayetteville, AR
45 mi away:
http://tinypic.com/2prcyhf.jpg


I don't have a screen shot of KODE analog VHF ch 12, in Joplin because I didn't want to move the antenna rotor.

I just wanted to follow up and let anyone who might be curious how everything turned out for me. I received my 4228 and 7777 from Warrens Electronics promptly and fully intact. I purchased 25' of new poles from Radio Shack (Lowes was out). I had more difficulty taking down the old antenna than I did putting up the new one because it was so old and rusted. Once the antenna was up I concentrated on the wiring. I had to be a little creative running power to the 7777, but once I had that taken care of it was a piece of cake. I split the signal coming out of the 7777 between my main TV and another HDTV in the rec room.
Since I am not utilizing a rotor I climbed back up on the roof, had my wife rescan for channels on the TV, and then tweaked the direction the antenna was pointing until all my desired channels had a signal stength of 80% or better. I now receive all the major locals (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW) and even PBS from Mountain View. My Father-in-law was over for Christmas and was so impressed with the reception that he now wants me to put the exact same set up in his house.

I once again want to thank everyone who answered my questions and offered suggestions. It really did make a difference!!

MB

MB, I'm glad the 4228+7777 combo worked for you, (even with the signal split to two TVs).

Just curious:
1. What's your signal strength on KEMV-DT 6-1 (actual channel is VHF 13)?
2. What VHF analog channels do you get?
3. Are the analogs watchable?
4. Do you get any other distant digital channels (try rescanning during the early evening)?

HD locals on satellite make a good backup for OTA if your signal is weak, but the picture quality is not full 1920x1080i HD resolution. D* downrezzes 1080i channels to only 1220x1080i.

Something doesnt sound right about that because 1220x1080 would produce a more square image than even a standard 4:3 ratio. To completely fill a widescreen TV with a 1220x1080 image, something will have to be stretched/distorted per mathematics. "Downrezzing" (say to fit a 720p LCD) wouldnt change this dilemna either because the downrez would have to be done proportionally unless the image was going to be distorted (dimentionally).

The ratio of 1920x1080 (nearly) exactly fits the ratio of a widescreen TV. Likewise, 4:3 Tvs use 4:3 resolutions (ie: 640x480).

So what am i missing, or am i right?

The directv 1080i channels are still 16:9. They're just downrezzing from total number of horizontal pixels in true HD (1220 - D* vs 1920 - OTA HD).

Even 480i can be sent as 16:9. It's one of the 18 ATSC formats.
I've never seen broadcast 16:9 480i. It would look like crap.

EDIT: Actually, D* is sending 1920x1080i channels as
1220x1088i (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=03d&q=directv+1088+resolution&btnG=Search), not 1220x1080i.

If your TV won't resolve more than around 1220 horizontally, you won't see the difference. On better quality HDTVs, the difference is visible.

I recently installed a Winegard Sensar amplified antenna at my parents house close to Alexander. From their location, the local stations are almost exactly 180 degrees apart. The bidirectional nature of the antenna gives them good reception for all the local channels. However, I am having one problem. KATV comes in at 98% and has a great picture, but there is no sound. I have no problems with the analog signal. Can you give me any suggestions to try in order to fix this problem. Thanks.

Try unplugging/reconnecting power to the tuner or TV. Then, rescan for OTA digital channels.

If that doesn't help, contact KATV Engineering here (http://www.katv.com/contact.hrb).

The directv 1080i channels are still 16:9. They're just downrezzing from total number of horizontal pixels in true HD (1220 - D* vs 1920 - OTA HD).

Even 480i can be sent as 16:9. It's one of the 18 ATSC formats.
I've never seen broadcast 16:9 480i. It would look like crap.

EDIT: Actually, D* is sending 1920x1080i channels as
1220x1088i (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=03d&q=directv+1088+resolution&btnG=Search), not 1220x1080i.

If your TV won't resolve more than around 1220 horizontally, you won't see the difference. On better quality HDTVs, the difference is visible.

Mine is 1366x768 so I would lose something.

Ok, well i'm still not understanding the mathematics because resolutions have to be dropped proportionally for the image to not be distorted. 480i isnt 640x480 by accident. That's exactly a 4:3 ratio because that's the ratio of a non-HD TV. 1920x1080 also isnt exactly a 16:9 ratio by chance either; its because that's the same dimensions as an HDTV. So, If you squeeze a 1920 horizontal to 1220 but maintain the Y axis at 1080 (or 1088) then everything will look squashed.

So, using algebra, a 1220x image should be downrezzed to 686.25 on the Y axis (for an HDTV).

I don't understand the math either. All I know is D* sends 1080i channels as 16:9 @ 1220x1088i and your TV rescales it to 1366x768p.

On your TV's resolution, it would likely be very difficult to tell the difference between true HD and D*'s "HD Lite".

Well arxaw, i have noticed what a lot of D* subscribers have, and that is that HBO HD, SHO HD, and HDnet Movies are noticeably not pure HD. They dont even compared to, say Discovery HD or HDNet. And I think that's consistent with that lawsuit I saw filed. So D* apparently must be using at least 2 different HD resolutions and/or bitrates for those channels.

I dont remember; do we have anyone from KATV that frequents this forum?

If so, would you tell whoever controls the "HD Switch" that Wheel of Fortune is now in HD and has been for at least 4 days (when i first became aware of it). Its not that i watch the show really but it would be interesting to check out Vanna White in HD for the first time.

hey guys, I need some help..I am in Clarksville at the in-laws, and they have Suddenlink Cable (bought the Cox franchise here), according to Suddenlink's website, they should be getting 2 of the networks in HD from the QAM tuner in the tv, but I can't seem to find them after a couple of searches. I was wondering first if there is anyone else from Clarksville on here that knows the QAM channels for the local HD (KTHV is one of them, can't remember the other network), and also if you guys know a quick and easy way to get the FCC info on the must carry unencrypted for HD network signals.

Thanks!

...and also if you guys know a quick and easy way to get the FCC info on the must carry unencrypted for HD network signals.Try looking at these google links (http://www.google.com/search?q=digital+must+carry+%22in+the+clear%22).

If so, would you tell whoever controls the "HD Switch" that Wheel of Fortune is now in HD Wheel of Fortune can't be shown in HD by KATV because it's tape-delayed. KATV doesn't have HD time shifting capability.

Vanna looks great on WABC-DT on D* (720p - not HD Lite) :-)

Well arxaw, i have noticed what a lot of D* subscribers have, and that is that HBO HD, SHO HD, and HDnet Movies are noticeably not pure HD. They dont even compared to, say Discovery HD or HDNet. And I think that's consistent with that lawsuit I saw filed. So D* apparently must be using at least 2 different HD resolutions and/or bitrates for those channels.All of those channels are sent 1220x1088i. The reason the movie channels look "softer" than HDnet or Discovery HD is because most material shown on HDnet or Discovery HD is shot with HD video cameras, not film. The movies are film-to-HD transfers, which always look less sharp than live/taped HD cam video.

The D* lawsuit is about the fact that early adopters bought D* HD equipment to watch D* at full 1920x1080i resolution, and the fact that D* boasted that the original resolution of an HD channel would be passed along unchanged, when rebroadcast on satellite.

At some point (early on), D* figured out how to cram 3 1080i channels onto 1 MPEG2 transponder by stat-muxing, and reducing the horizontal resolution from 1920 to 1220. This is less than "full HD" that was first advertised and is the basis for the lawsuit.

(720p stations ESPN, ESPN2, ABC & FOX are not downrezzed on D*)

thanks arxaw, I have limited computer time here so having a quick link page will help a ton!!

If so, would you tell whoever controls the "HD Switch" that Wheel of Fortune is now in HD and has been for at least 4 days (when i first became aware of it). Its not that i watch the show really but it would be interesting to check out Vanna White in HD for the first time.

Wheel was touting their HD very strong when they started their new season last September. I was curious also , so I asked the guy in charge why they still did the SD form.

He said they don't have the equipment to capture the hd signal, and even if they did he didn't have any way to get it to the transmitter. At that time he said the syndicator was having trouble with the hd feed since they needed to resend it several times to get it to the stations with the proper equipment.

For some reason they don't send the feed "live" which would solve the problem for their switching equipment.

It seems to be a simple problem to solve if I can capture the HD stream onto my laptop, then play it back. But I guess it the real TV world things are never simple.

... he said the syndicator was having trouble with the hd feed since they needed to resend it several times to get it to the stations with the proper equipment.I've watched WOF & Jeopardy in HD quite a bit in HD on WABC-DT, via D*. Other than a few audio glitches, I haven't seen any "trouble with the HD feed."

Sounds like KATV-BS

resolutions have to be dropped proportionally for the image to not be distorted.

I suspect it is electronics mathematics not algebra. they can double pixels, drop pixels, etc. to maintain a proportion. They can do mixes of doubling or dropping to generate any proportion they want. for example, the Mitsu TV I have uses a proportional stretch on SD images so the middle of the screen is nearly true while it begins stretching as it expands out to the edge of the widescreen.

Your TV does the same thing to get their images up to their native standard. It is interesting that most TVs have better transform algorithms to scale 480 to 720 to 1080 and the reverse than most TV stations have to convert their 480 pictures to their HD format. Only a few stations worry much about picture quality anymore it seems.

I've watched WOF & Jeopardy in HD quite a bit in HD on WABC-DT, via D*. Other than a few audio glitches, I haven't seen any "trouble with the HD feed."

Sounds like KATV-BS

I don't know why he would make up something. I don't think the broadcaster would air a defective recording, so if they need a couple restarts to get a glitch free 30 minutes, then they put on the last one. Seems to me that "a few audio glitches" is part of the trouble with the HD feed.


audio problems plague these people in their digital world. I see lots of difficulty getting audio and video synced.

I suspect it is electronics mathematics not algebra. they can double pixels, drop pixels, etc. to maintain a proportion. They can do mixes of doubling or dropping to generate any proportion they want. for example, the Mitsu TV I have uses a proportional stretch on SD images so the middle of the screen is nearly true while it begins stretching as it expands out to the edge of the widescreen.

Your "for example" is exactly what i'm talking about; the image would be distorted in that case. That mode is typically referred to as panoramic mode, and I can tell a TV is using it within just a few seconds. Most any HDTV buff who's into this sort of thing can do that.

Now that i think about it, they most likely just eliminated pixels on the ends so that only 1220 is left, since the "1920" represents the width portion of the screen. Since the critical information is normally within the "4:3 square", doing it that way wouldnt be extremely noticeable. Of course they'd have to "zoom" the original image to make it completely fit again on both axis. If that's the case, then what's really lost is not detail so much as content.

A couple of items.....

KASN recently added a subchannel (38-2) which is a radar loop reminisent of the old KTHV Live View radar channel pre "THV2".

KATV (via ABC) will finally air a Razorback game in HD (Capital One Bowl) at 12 noon.

Watched the Razorbacks on KATV in Crossett with 4228 antenna and CM 7777 Monday with very few glitches. KTVE (NBC El Dorado) is scheduled to go digital tomorrow. Life is good. :)

fn1234,
Welcome to the forum.

What other channels do you get with your 4228+7777?

Watched the Razorbacks on KATV in Crossett with 4228 antenna and CM 7777 Monday with very few glitches. KTVE (NBC El Dorado) is scheduled to go digital tomorrow. Life is good. :)

Welcome to the forum fn1234

I'm upstate near Star City, and get all the essential Little Rock OTA network affilliates (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CW, and with a turn of the rotor aprox 110 deg PBS) with my CM4228/7777 combo. Have you tried WABG-DT (RF 32 6-n) @ Greenwood, MS. They broadcast ABC w/ DD 5.1 sound and also mulitcast FOX digitally (in SD). Your likely out of range for KLRT (RF 30 16-n) but WABG would work for a digital Plan b for FOX if you don't have DNS from a certain sat provider until KARD (RF 36 14-n) goes full power/HD sometime in 2008

If you can get KATV, then in all likelyhood KASN-DT (RF 39 38-n) the CW affliate should make the trip also.

BTW, KTVE analog is grade B in my area and I should receive the full power digital once it activates and goes live.

Oh, have you tried KNOE-DT (RF 7 8-n) yet?

Thanks for the welcome haley. I have been reading this thread at least a year, but never posted before. Digital and HD OTA was almost unavailable to me until I installed the 4228 antenna with CM7777 and rotor a couple of months ago. I have a Dish 622DVR and a HD TV (Mitsubishi WS-55807-about 5 years old). I have been around hoping for more HDTV for years. I first had a 12 foot fiberglass dish with VideoCipher, now that's been a while. Life is good, I now receive KETZ (PBS) El Dorado, KATV and KASN (Pine Bluff-LR), also WABG (Greenville-Greenwood,MS) most 24 hours. After dark receive WJTV (Jackson, MS), KMSS, KTBS, KPXJ (Shreveport, LA) KARK and KLRT (Little Rock) most nights. I am looking forward to having KTVE (El Dorado) come on line. I have difficulty received any Monroe, LA stations because of a huge oak tree in line of site.

Just letting everyone know, KTVE, the NBC affiliate in El Dorado, went full power digital as of 8PM tonight. The signal is currently in SD, but will be in HD by the weekend once they fix some problems with their microwave link. Their signal should reach well in to the LR DMA, falling short just south of Pine Bluff. The Chief Engineer was wanting some signal reports, so if anyone can lock into them from the LR DMA, post it on here, or in the Monroe/Shreveport thread :)

fn1234,

Just curious, but what kind of signals are you getting from KATV and WABG? Sounds like you're in pretty good shape, all you need is CBS and FOX! KNOE-DT (RF CH 7) probably won't make it to Crossett because of KATV analog. Also, do you get any other digitals from Jackson (WAPT, WMPN, etc)?

Keith,

KTVE-DT is booming in (89-90%) but that is pointed right at Huttig. I can't get them of course pointed toward my locals (Little Rock), but only need to turn about 240 deg to get them at a decent signal level (60-70%).

Just curious about the SD (480i) signal right now, but just got home and catching up on posts....

Hi...Newbie here, but I just wanted to pass along that a new update was applied to the D* HD receiver, and the OTA HD tuner is now active for the local channels. I discovered that an update was done on December 20th, and I decided to check to see if the OTA capability was now working....and it is! YAY! Everyone may already know this, but since I hadn't seen any posts on this, I thought I would mention it. :)

Welcome to AVSForum, artvguy2007!

D* HD receivers have always had OTA HD tuners. Perhaps you're referring to the D* HR20-700 DVR? Until recently, its OTA tuner didn't work.

fn1234,

Just curious, but what kind of signals are you getting from KATV and WABG? Sounds like you're in pretty good shape, all you need is CBS and FOX! KNOE-DT (RF CH 7) probably won't make it to Crossett because of KATV analog. Also, do you get any other digitals from Jackson (WAPT, WMPN, etc)?

Keith,

Both signals come in 70 to 85. On good nights or early morning KATV might be in the upper 90s. No other signals from Jackson on a regular basis.

KTVE SD looks good, get in 90s on the backside from any direction. Joe said the HD should be going by the weekend.

Can this be done, and how do you do it, if I'm not using a STB? My 4228/7777 antenna preamp combo runs straight to my TV. Is there a recorder out there that would allow me to record these HD transmissions?

Yes.

Google "TiVo Series3 HD (http://www.google.com/search?q=+%22TiVo+Series3+HD%22)"

Also see the HDTV recorder threads (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=7&f=42) on this forum.

Hi folks,

Using yet another option (a home theater personal computer), I've been recording and timeshifting LR HDTV for about 3.5 months now. It has it's headaches sometimes, but the results overall have been great. Plus, I have a feeling most of the troubles that I do experience result from my so-so reception (which in turn results from my use of just about the worst antenna setup imaginable).

Welcome to AVSForum, artvguy2007!

D* HD receivers have always had OTA HD tuners. Perhaps you're referring to the D* HR20-700 DVR? Until recently, its OTA tuner didn't work.
Yes, ARXAW, I was referring to the HR20-700 (I think mine be a 300....) SORRY I wasn't more specific.

Yesterday I found a sweet spot to point the antenna (CM4228) where I can receive the major Little Rock locals (except KETS-DT) and KTVE-DT.

Once KTVE's microwave issues are resolved, they should be HD. Right now, they are just relaying KTVE-10 analog. It will be interesting to do a comparison (PQ, sound) between two NBC network OTA stations.

I was watching KATV last night and all of the content was SD, but it made me wonder because I have noticed numerous times where a program would start out in SD and suddenly switch to HD (the Arkansas Captial One Bowl was like that). I have read numerous comments on this board regarding switch flipping and how some stations (KATV seems to be a prime offender) are lax about swtiching back and forth between HD and SD.

My question is this........is there really a switch and is there a human being responsible for throwing it? If there is a switch, why does it exist? It is so hard to believe that in this age of modern technology that control of such an important aspect of the viewing experience remains in the hands of a technician who frequently is asleep at the wheel. Can someone enlighten me?

No HD on Good Morning America from Little Rock's nominal ABC affiliate.

Misbehaving, it's true.

At many stations, including KATV, they must manually "flip the switch" when they cut to local ads. When the HD program returns, the MCO has to manually switch back to the HD feed, or the program will be in glorious 4:3 SD. At most stations where this problem occurs, it happens most frequently during the weekends. I assume the reason may be people with less experience working the weekend shift, but there is no excuse for this lameness any more.

Complain to katv's General Manager (Dale Nicholsen) at their web site:
http://www.katv.com/contact.hrb
Or email him directly: dnicholson@katv.com
Give specific times or programs when the screw ups have occurred.

The problem with most broadcast stations, radio and TV, is that management views the Sales department as the bread and butter and everyone else in the building as necessary evils.

Being a retired "Engineer" from one of the LR stations, I can tell you that the stations probably have one person on duty, doing the job of two or three in the master control room. This could account for the lousy switching that we are seeing and lack of audio level control on one in particular.

Also, automation has become a necessity in that it has replaced many of employes at not only the station but the transmitters as well. I am sure that all the LR stations control their transmitters on Shinall Mtn. by remote control.

The stations, and networks, air what the sponsors want to see, not the public. I could go on-and-on about the broadcast industry but all you have to do is watch what all the local promos are about . . . News, News, News. It's their biggest money maker, or should be.

OK I've been happy with the LR OTA stations for the most part, but my wife is begging me for cable. Does anyone here have an HD package from LR Comcast? If so, do you mind if I ask a few questions?

OK I've been happy with the LR OTA stations for the most part, but my wife is begging me for cable. Does anyone here have an HD package from LR Comcast? If so, do you mind if I ask a few questions?
Ask away either here or in a private message.

Ask away either here or in a private message.

Thanks.

Basically, I'm considering using an HTPC to timeshift cable HD (I'm currently doing this with OTA). This results in two basic questions. I'll ask here for posterity since I'd guess others will have the same questions at some point...

1) If your TV is QAM-capable, have you ever tried tuning the stations with your TV only (no cable box)? If so, what (if anything) comes in unencrypted?

2) What model cable box do you have. I realize this doesn't necessarily mean Comcast would give me the same one, but at least it gives an idea of what they're using.

TIA, and if anyone else wants to chime in, I'd certainly appreciate that too. The bigger the sample size, the better the information.

Hey guys, new to the forums and new to the hi def world. Hooked up a 622 a couple of weeks back. Have the OTA antennas hooked up. I live in Benton and am picking up all the HD locals over the antenna. Im having a bad lip snyc problem with KTHV. The audio seems to be running behind the video. Only local that seems to have this problem. Im I the only one around with this problem? Thanks Kev

keve,
This new Dolby invention won't help with bad audio sync, but it's probably the only way KTHV's audio volume level problem will get ever be resolved, since the station doesn't care about fixing it.
Article here (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/01/08/BUGBMNE3T71.DTL).

Thanks.

Basically, I'm considering using an HTPC to timeshift cable HD (I'm currently doing this with OTA). This results in two basic questions. I'll ask here for posterity since I'd guess others will have the same questions at some point...

1) If your TV is QAM-capable, have you ever tried tuning the stations with your TV only (no cable box)? If so, what (if anything) comes in unencrypted?

2) What model cable box do you have. I realize this doesn't necessarily mean Comcast would give me the same one, but at least it gives an idea of what they're using.

TIA, and if anyone else wants to chime in, I'd certainly appreciate that too. The bigger the sample size, the better the information.

re #1 Yep, I've tuned the broadcast HD channels direct into the TV decoding the QAM signal. I noticed in the mailer from Comcast (with the latest prices) that they said the broadcast HD channels will need a settop box. I recall seeing comments on this forum that they have to send them out in the clear, but it looks like they are changing something - maybe some new rules are now in effect. We'll find out in Feb what the deal is when they implement their new lineup and charges.

re #2 I've got their dual tuner DVR with 80 meg hard drive. I understand they have an upgraded tuner with 120 meg drive but I haven't bothered to switch them out. The prime advantage to the new box would be better output of analog/nonHD content when viewed on the HD input on your tv. (I usually switch to S-video input if it gets too noisy.) They are supposed to be converting everything but the basic lineup to digital so lots of bandwidth will be freed up.

Make sure you get a dual tuner box. You can watch one show and record one at the same time, or record two and watch a timeshifted show (zapping though the commercials) at the same time. They are loading a bunch of Video-on-Demand stuff, some of it in HD, so that may be something of interest also. VOD does require a box since it needs two-way. If you get a cable and their DVR you might not use your PC for timeshifting again, unless you want to record three programs at one time.

I noticed in the mailer from Comcast (with the latest prices) that they said the broadcast HD channels will need a settop box....comscat is either lying or they will be breaking the law if they do this.

FCC regulations require cablecos to send local OTA broadcast stations unencrypted, or "in the clear."

Thanks so much, wxguy. I would really like to avoid a Comcast DVR box since 1) I'd be paying Comcast more, and 2) I would lack any flexibility with what I record (saving permanently, burning to DVD, watching on another TV, etc). I realize it may be unavoidable though. In any case, an update (in February) would be much appreciated.

What's concerning to me, arxaw, is this post (http://avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9319636#post9319636) in my QAM FAQ thread. In short, they do need to send the OTA stations in the clear, but sending them in SD will meet the requirement in their eyes. We'll see, I guess.

... but my wife is begging me for cable...
My comments re the DVR dual tuner were based upon your original question and premise. Face it, she wants to watch Oxygen and Lifetime. I figure you'll have to spend your money on a DVR or on a really comfortable couch, cause that's where you'll be spending your nights. At least, that's my Dr. Phil take on it. :)

I'll let you know the HD channel status in Feb.

My comments re the DVR dual tuner were based upon your original question and premise. Face it, she wants to watch Oxygen and Lifetime.

...and HGTV :rolleyes:

Thanks so much for the help.

comscat is either lying or they will be breaking the law if they do this.

FCC regulations require cablecos to send local OTA broadcast stations unencrypted, or "in the clear."

They are not breaking the law. In order to send a HD signal to your house, it needs to be encoded to 16quam. That is the format the cable channels are. All digital cable channels are this or a similar format. Most TVs cannot decode 16 quam. Thus the need for the cable box. The newer "cable ready" TVs, can decode 16quam. However, the channels may not be decoded like they would be using the cable box. For example, the channel may be wrong.

I know that cable uses QAM. And you do not need a cable box to decode QAM channels that are in the clear. All you need is a TV with a QAM tuner.

If the channels are clear QAM and the cableco still says you need their STB, they are lying.

I know that cable uses QAM. And you do not need a cable box to decode QAM channels that are in the clear. All you need is a TV with a QAM tuner.

If the channels are clear QAM and the cableco still says you need their STB, they are lying.

I said that in my first post. Take time to read the entire post please.

KTVE-DT (El Dorado/Monroe) has HD signal up. Main channel 1080i w/ DD 5.1 sound and a low res sub on 10-2 (radar image, no audio).

Haley, how would you compare KTVE-HD to KARK-HD? I can't wait to see SNL :) And you are correct about the poor signal propagation... KMSS is making it through, but too many breakups to watch. KTBS is too weak to decode. It's been like this for a few days (I'm in El Dorado for right now). I'm just happy that KTVE is finally online :D

I just hooked up new LCD HD panel with integrated QAM tuner for my M-I-L. I have not had cable for quite a while (have D*), so I am curious if anyone has the actual mapping list of Comcast without a cable box.

The channel numbers listed on TitanTV appear to relate to a cable box

My first pass of channel scan revealed KTHV-DT at 1.1 and KATV-DT at 2.1. It looks like 106.3 is KASN-DT. I could not seem to find a DT channel for KARK or KLRT. Is Comcast passing these through free and clear?

If anyone has a spreadsheet of the channels that I could print for my M-I-L I would appreciate it.

Haley, how would you compare KTVE-HD to KARK-HD? I can't wait to see SNL :) And you are correct about the poor signal propagation... KMSS is making it through, but too many breakups to watch. KTBS is too weak to decode. It's been like this for a few days (I'm in El Dorado for right now). I'm just happy that KTVE is finally online :D

I can't even get KARK tonight (or KTHV or KLRT). Normally its not a problem, but the weather system is working some de-enhancement. The head on head comparison will have to wait.

I gave up on watching SNL regularly years ago...but did check it out briefly. PQ (and sound) is good on KTVE. Nice to have a second (HD) OTA NBC station where a year ago there were none.

I don't watch SNL regularly, either, but it is nice to see it in HD :) Now if we could get AETN to show more HD programs, we would be in good shape, or I would, anyway.

Something that has puzzled me; the cable system here added an HD package to the cable, and KNOE-DT (CBS-HD) is on there. My TV has a QAM tuner, but when I search for channels, everything is "scrambled". There is one channel that is in the clear, and that is some NBA preview channel. I sent an email to Suddenlink about this, but I got no response. I thought maybe I was just doing something wrong, but I don't know. Do any of you regulars have any suggestions?

Thanks.
1) If your TV is QAM-capable, have you ever tried tuning the stations with your TV only (no cable box)? If so, what (if anything) comes in unencrypted?

These are the HD channels that are in the clear on Comcast QAM:

1. KARK-HD
2. KATV-HD
3. KTHV-HD
4. KLRT-HD
5. KASN-HD
6. PBS-HD

Also, KATV2, KTHV2, & the 3 PBS SD channels are broadcast in 4:3 SD. Which is interesting because KATV2 is not listed in my Motorola's digital cable guide. 95% of the digital channels a QAM tuner will find is pure junk. You get to see a few test channels & some of the OnDemand programming that is being accessed by your neighbors. I know this because I can watch them rewind and fastforward.

I have verified this on multiple sets in multiple regions of Little Rock.

Also, I have also configured a TV in Hot Springs on Resort Cable. They only have KARK-HD, KATV-HD, PBS-HD, and KTHV-HD in the clear. At least as of December 2006. I guess they are still working with KLRT on HD carry rights?

You get to see a few test channels & some of the OnDemand programming that is being accessed by your neighbors. I know this because I can watch them rewind and fastforward.

That's hilarious.

Thanks for the specifics.

These are the HD channels that are in the clear on Comcast QAM:

1. KARK-HD
2. KATV-HD
3. KTHV-HD
4. KLRT-HD
5. KASN-HD
6. PBS-HD



Do you know what the actual digital channel maps to without a cable box? For instance, I have found that KTHV-HD maps to 1.1 on my M-I-L's TV, but have not been able to find where KARK-HD and KLRT-HD are mapped.

I don't watch SNL regularly, either, but it is nice to see it in HD :) Now if we could get AETN to show more HD programs, we would be in good shape, or I would, anyway.

Something that has puzzled me; the cable system here added an HD package to the cable, and KNOE-DT (CBS-HD) is on there. My TV has a QAM tuner, but when I search for channels, everything is "scrambled". There is one channel that is in the clear, and that is some NBA preview channel. I sent an email to Suddenlink about this, but I got no response. I thought maybe I was just doing something wrong, but I don't know. Do any of you regulars have any suggestions?


My in-laws have Suddenlink in Clarksville, and I can't get them to respond to email until a week or 2 after I send it. This last one I got apoligized for the delay, and if I still needed an answer to call them direct. I haven't done this yet since it's not my HD that I am missing out on, but I would assume you will need to call directly, and see if they have any idea as to why you can't get them. I would bet they have them scrambled and no intentions to unscramble them until they get called on it...

Are any of the local big four (Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS) broadcasting their news in HD? Is there any time table for them to start if they're not doing so already?

I'm getting my HD tuner for my laptop soon so I was wondering...

My in-laws have Suddenlink in Clarksville, and I can't get them to respond to email until a week or 2 after I send it. This last one I got apoligized for the delay, and if I still needed an answer to call them direct. I haven't done this yet since it's not my HD that I am missing out on, but I would assume you will need to call directly, and see if they have any idea as to why you can't get them. I would bet they have them scrambled and no intentions to unscramble them until they get called on it...

Well I just got an email back from them today, they said I had to subscribe to HD services to get the channel. That's a bunch of bologna. I'm going to forward it to the FCC whenever I get some time, maybe that'll get their attention. I liked Cox....is Suddenlink a new company? I hadn't heard of them until they took over here.

Are any of the local big four (Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS) broadcasting their news in HD? Is there any time table for them to start if they're not doing so already?

I'm getting my HD tuner for my laptop soon so I was wondering...


Kevin,

None of the stations in LR are doing local news in HD. They do network HD, but nothing local. I don't even think there is a plan for them to do local news in HD right now... there used to be a lot of reps from the local stations here in the forums, but I haven't seen a post from them in a while.

Are any of the local big four (Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS) broadcasting their news in HD? Is there any time table for them to start if they're not doing so already?

The only network HD programming is mainly scripted dramas and comedies. And most major sports. No local programming (including local news in HD) and the LR locals lack equipment to broadcast syndicated shows (WOF, Jep) in HD or "tape delay" network HD.

That said, things are going to get better. Its just some broadcasters are kicking and screaming into the future. We are just at the first wave of HD, the second wave (local news) is some years off.

Hey haley,

Was "Today" in HD on KTVE Wednesday morning? I tried watching the Law and Orders on Tuesday night, but there was no sound.... the local commericals and news were okay, and the network was in HD, but it was silent. Im ready for the weather to change, because reception has just been absolutely horrible for the past week! :mad:

Hey haley,

Was "Today" in HD on KTVE Wednesday morning? I tried watching the Law and Orders on Tuesday night, but there was no sound.... the local commericals and news were okay, and the network was in HD, but it was silent. Im ready for the weather to change, because reception has just been absolutely horrible for the past week! :mad:

The proof is in the pudding (or screen caps)

I am currently deployed in Iraq and I will be home shortly. I have Direct TV HD-DVR and I have always had issues with ABC 7-1 coming in at Little Rock AFB. While I am here My parents have my home theater setup at their home in West Little Rock and they can't get local NBC HD, ABC HD, and FOX HD. Is it possible it is just the off-air antenna? I am confused because I thought I was closer to the local stations in West LR vs at the base to get reception for those channels. Anyone having this issue or had a fix for this. Thanks I will be home in the middle of next month to fix this whichever place I find. I haven't decided if I am moving back to base housing

I am currently deployed in Iraq and I will be home shortly. I have Direct TV HD-DVR and I have always had issues with ABC 7-1 coming in at Little Rock AFB. While I am here My parents have my home theater setup at their home in West Little Rock and they can't get local NBC HD, ABC HD, and FOX HD. Is it possible it is just the off-air antenna? I am confused because I thought I was closer to the local stations in West LR vs at the base to get reception for those channels. Anyone having this issue or had a fix for this. Thanks I will be home in the middle of next month to fix this whichever place I find. I haven't decided if I am moving back to base housing

KARK, KLRT, and KTHV are in WLR. KATV is out in Redfield (near PineBluff). So that's probably why you are having trouble picking it up...

As for WLR reception of WLR stations... I live in WLR about 10 miles from the antenna, but I can't get crap because I'm built into a hill and completely covered with trees. Signal cuts in and out all the time. So if you've got lots of trees, then that could be your problem.

Well, 7-1 did just recently increase to full power, and it improved my reception in Benton, so your problem at the base could have just been related to their low power. As for your parents, it could be antenna related. Remember 4, 11 and 16 are at Shinall Mtn. and 7, 38 and 2 are in Redfield, which could require a rotor, depending on where in West Little Rock they are. If they are east of Shinall, the two tower location would almost be in opposite directions. Are your parents able to get CBS 11-1 and CW 38-1?

Do you know what the actual digital channel maps to without a cable box? For instance, I have found that KTHV-HD maps to 1.1 on my M-I-L's TV, but have not been able to find where KARK-HD and KLRT-HD are mapped.

If I recall correctly,

For Comcast, KARK, KATV, KATV2, KTHV, and THV2 and KLRT are all like very low, like 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Then PBS and CW are in like the 80s or some randomly high range. I don't have a QAM TV at home, I can't check for you.

But if you can't find most of the important stations in the low range, something is wrong.

I am currently deployed in Iraq and I will be home shortly. I have Direct TV HD-DVR and I have always had issues with ABC 7-1 coming in at Little Rock AFB. While I am here My parents have my home theater setup at their home in West Little Rock and they can't get local NBC HD, ABC HD, and FOX HD.Your parents may need a better outdoor antenna. Or they may be in a dead spot for OTA reception, due to hills, etc.

Which D* DVR do you have? The latest DVR, the HR20-700 has slightly better OTA tuners than the D* HD Tivo model: HR10-250.

I am currently deployed in Iraq and I will be home shortly. I have Direct TV HD-DVR and I have always had issues with ABC 7-1 coming in at Little Rock AFB. While I am here My parents have my home theater setup at their home in West Little Rock and they can't get local NBC HD, ABC HD, and FOX HD. Is it possible it is just the off-air antenna? I am confused because I thought I was closer to the local stations in West LR vs at the base to get reception for those channels. Anyone having this issue or had a fix for this. Thanks I will be home in the middle of next month to fix this whichever place I find. I haven't decided if I am moving back to base housing


How old is your tv? The older receivers have a problem dealing with multipath. This is a condition where your receiver actually gets more than one signal from a transmitter. The receiver sees the main signal and reflected signals from buildings, mountains(hills), and even trees. These signals can cause the receiver to loose lock if they are strong enough. Since your receiver is having a problem in west Little Rock, I would guess that is your case. The signals in west Little Rock get bounced off of everything. The best thing to do is get an antenna which is very directional. This will isolate your receiver from most but not all of the bounced signals. It should work though. I live in Cabot and have no issues picking up the digital stations. Hope this helps and thanks for your service in Iraq.

If they are east of Shinall, the two tower location would almost be in opposite directions. Are your parents able to get CBS 11-1 and CW 38-1?

Yes they are east of of Chenal or HWY 10, basically heading towards the Chenal Walmart near Joe T. Robinson. The channels they get now are 11-1, and a couple of others. I know about the new CW it went into effect I believe around October? But I don't get that channel either. I want to upgrade to the new MPEG-4 HD-DVR from Direct TV because my understanding is they now started broadcasting local HD through Direct-TV now. I just didn't want to spend the money for the reciever at the current price. I can honestly wait until this current one breaks and they replace it on my cover plan. Will a better off-air antenna help the situation. Also, I am probably moving either in Sherwood, Jacksonville or NLR. The base will be my last resort if I don't find a confortable house to rent in either of the cities. Thanks

Your parents may need a better outdoor antenna. Or they may be in a dead spot for OTA reception, due to hills, etc.

Which D* DVR do you have? The latest DVR, the HR20-700 has slightly better OTA tuners than the D* HD Tivo model: HR10-250

I have the TIVO model HR10-250 and that was my thought was the outdoor antenna.


How old is your tv? The older receivers have a problem dealing with multipath. This is a condition where your receiver actually gets more than one signal from a transmitter. The receiver sees the main signal and reflected signals from buildings, mountains(hills), and even trees. These signals can cause the receiver to loose lock if they are strong enough. Since your receiver is having a problem in west Little Rock, I would guess that is your case. The signals in west Little Rock get bounced off of everything. The best thing to do is get an antenna which is very directional. This will isolate your receiver from most but not all of the bounced signals. It should work though. I live in Cabot and have no issues picking up the digital stations. Hope this helps and thanks for your service in Iraq

My display which is currently the one my parents are using is the Sony LCOS 60" XBR1 1080P. When I was at the base I did have a booster hooked up and it made things a little bit better for 7-1 but sometimes the channel would still digitize from time to time.

Dan'sHiPix

When I find a new place I will hit you up if you have recommendations on antennas. Thanks

Your parents might try using the Sony HDTV's built in OTA tuner, instead of the weaker tuner in that D* Tivo. Most new Sony HDTVs have excellent OTA tuners that aren't bothered by multipath.

Your parents might try using the Sony HDTV's built in OTA tuner, instead of the weaker tuner in that D* Tivo. Most new Sony HDTVs have excellent OTA tuners that aren't bothered by multipath.


But won't I lose the ability to record to the DVR if that was possible?

They would only lose the ability to record local OTA stations they receive w/ antenna. But if they're having trouble receiving them w/ the HD Tivo' tuner, that wouldn't matter anyway. Because if you can't receive them you can't record them.

It might at least tell you if the weak tuner in the Tivo is part of the problem.

What antenna are they using?

They would only lose the ability to record local OTA stations they receive w/ antenna. But if they're having trouble receiving them w/ the HD Tivo' tuner, that wouldn't matter anyway. Because if you can't receive them you can't record them.

It might at least tell you if the weak tuner in the Tivo is part of the problem.

What antenna are they using?


Your right what was I thinking :D


The antenna that is used is the standard one that Direct TV provides to their installers. The same was used at the house I was at on the base before I deployed and at my parents house in WLR.

Antenna could very well be a big part of the problem. The antennas D* uses are not that great.

LR OTA digital tv is so screwed up. In addition to having towers in different directions and distances, you have the added problem of two stations being on the VHF bands, and all the rest are on UHF. So, you often need a combo V/U antenna, possibly two + an A/B switch or signal combiner. Or one VHF/UHF antenna, plus a rotor. It all depends on where you live, the antennas & receivers you're using. And luck.

Ugh, I'm not a big fan of KATV right now. They're going to broadcast SEC basketball on two Wednesday nights right before my favorite show (LOST). Should the basketball game run over, LOST will be broadcast after the game......in SD. That's frustrating. But that's Little Rock, I guess. I just moved here from St. Louis so I'll have to adjust....and hope that the basketball games don't last too long.

And I'm a fan of basketball and the SEC. But I don't think that it should take the place of new episodes of shows (I don't mind skipping reruns).

Anyways, props to KATV for responding quickly to my e-mails. Maybe they can record and broadcast HD some time in the next few years. Until then, I'll have to hold to hope that the games don't go into overtime.

Kevin

I wonder if KATV will continue to brand itself as channel 7 after Feb., 2009, when KETS moves their DTV station to 7?

If so, it will be very confusing if you have a tuner that takes you to the first sub-channel of RF channel 7 (7-1, not 22-1) if you just key in a 7 on the remote. The Samsung DTB-H260F does this.

Welcome to Little Rock Kevin, yeah, I've complained to KATV the last couple of years, when basketball was pre-empting Lost and Alias. I don't think it would bother me as much, if they just did it for Razorback games. I'm glad ABC moved Lost to 9 for the rest of the season, so I'm hoping the games don't go to long, but even if we're stuck with SD, I'd rather it be delayed just a few minutes, than stuck on at 12:30 in the morning. I had been looking forward to "Knights of Prosperity" and "In Case of Emergency" and I watched the pilots, but I'm not sure I'm going to continue recording them overnight or not.

Yeah, I'd much rather watch it delayed. But one of the main reasons I'm getting a HD tuner for my laptop is to watch LOST in glorious HD. At least it's only on the 7th and 28th so the rest of the time I should get to see it in HD.

I'm kind of surprised ABC allows KATV to do it. That's gotta be killer for their program audience. And don't the commercials get postponed too? Doesn't that make advertisers upset?

I just don't think it's a good idea. But whatever. The Program Director said they hope to have all of their HD updates in the next couple of years or so including timeshifting HD.