Well, I kinda guessed that KARK's engineer probably is anti-subchannel (thank God) and maybe they talked corporate into using KWBF for the subchannel activity. I really don't know what else they would pay that kind of money for a second station in a market with no unserved networks...unless they are going to keep running Mntv...Which I doubt survives...

$4m is a fire sale. Up here where I live, in a smaller market, a station with a signal no one can see, no network, little else as far as programming, and no subchannels has a deal for $5.25m going. I don't expect Fox to let MyNet go down too easily, either.

Nexstar has no subchannels anywhere, I don't think that's the engineer's doing. The only place they have them are places where their signals don't overlap, like in NWA where they have these stations with different coverage areas:

24-1 Fox HD
24-2 NBC SD

51-1 NBC HD
51-2 Fox SD

Or how about Champaign/Springfield IL:

3-1 CBS HD
3-2 MyN SD

49-1 MyN SD
49-2 CBS HD

- Trip

It was stated once back in this thread that KWBF would be powering up and turning their antenna to focus on South Arkansas after Feb 2009. Is it possible that KARK could broadcast 4.1 in two opposite directions for more coverage areas, especially down south where many complain about little to no signal from the shinall transmitters? I have no idea if this would be allowed, but its my understanding that channels like KHBS 40.1 in Fort Smith already does this with two seperate transmitters. One for North West Ark like Springdale, Fayetteville Rogers and the 2nd transmitter for Fort Smith and the River valley towns like Booneville, Danville, Clarksville and Russellville. Is it possible this type of two direction broadcast could be be on Nexstar and KARK's minds? It would make since and is now very possible with the purchase of KWBF's facilities. Just a thought from a man stuck in a hole between two big mountains:D

BTW, if Nexstar/kark did this, it would force the hand of the other stations to follow suit ,if so it would be a huge homerun in OTA for the residents/viewers of south Arkansas. I have a friends who lives near Bearden AR. They have a horrible time getting anything from Little Rock, even when Channel 7's tower was still up at Redfield they could barely get them

Since Equity has Directv/cable coverage of channel 49 in Camden, they could just use that to push their RTN statewide, so if they kept MNT they could run both/either from 49-x and still have the same coverage area. Does the sale of a station include the network its currently carrying? Then there is 20.x in Little Rock equity will still own, that they could do just about anything with. A dual direction NBC would be interesting. Maybe they could split the ugly weather maps up to the direction of the shower, so people in Lake City wouldn't have to watch weather in Rogers :)

It was stated once back in this thread that KWBF would be powering up and turning their antenna to focus on South Arkansas after Feb 2009.......
Generally, their "increase" in power will go to the southeast. Their coverage area, according to FCC engineering data, will not change dramatically (to the north/northwest) as shown in these 2 coverage maps.

KWBF-DT now:

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DS1136477.html

KWBF-DT some time in future:

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT657998.html

There is an increase in service area that will include Pine Bluff and down to Star City and Arkadelphia though (south/southeast).

Edit: Sorry, correction made, I meant to say southeast not southwest. Sometimes I don't know which direction my head screws on.

dmatch

Generally, their "increase" in power will go to the southwest. Their coverage area, according to FCC engineering data, will not change dramatically (to the north/northwest) as shown in these 2 coverage maps.

KWBF-DT now:

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DS1136477.html

KWBF-DT some time in future:

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT657998.html

There is an increase in service area that will include Pine Bluff and down to Star City and Arkadelphia though (south/southwest).

dmatch

The directional pattern of the future KWBF is to protect KY3 (aka KYTV-DT 44 ) the Springfield MO NBC affiliate. If Nexstar had any sense, they would apply to flash cut to 42 so coverage would improve. I fault the FCC for putting too many channels closed spaced for DTV. KARK has the same problem in SEARK with areas Southeast of Star City unable to get KARK-DT due to WABG-DT (both stations share RF 32).

Close Spaced DTV's in and near AR....
13 KEMV Mountain View, KETG Arkadelphia, and WHBQ Memphis (as of 2/09)
15 KTAL Texarkana/Shreveport, KHBS Fort Smith, and WXVT Greenville MS (as of 2/09)
21 KHBS Fort Smith and KPXJ Shreveport
22 KOKI Tulsa and KATV Little Rock (when the tower is completed)
24 KLTS Sheveport (as of 2/09) and KVTN Pine Bluff
25 WPTY Memphis and WMAO Greenwood MS
27 KFTA Fort Smith and KTVE El Dorado
28 KTBS Sheveport, KSFX Springfield MO, and WREG Memphis
31 KOET Eufaula OK, KWBM Harrison (as of 2/09), WLMT Memphis
32 WABG Greenwood/Greenville MS, and KARK Little Rock
36 KKAP Little Rock* (as of 2/09) and KARD West Monroe, LA
44 KYTV Springfield MO and KWBF Little Rock


*full power in name only.

Since Equity has Directv/cable coverage of channel 49 in Camden, they could just use that to push their RTN statewide, so if they kept MNT they could run both/either from 49-x and still have the same coverage area. Does the sale of a station include the network its currently carrying? Then there is 20.x in Little Rock equity will still own, that they could do just about anything with. A dual direction NBC would be interesting. Maybe they could split the ugly weather maps up to the direction of the shower, so people in Lake City wouldn't have to watch weather in Rogers :)

E* carries KKYK also.

If I'm not mistaken, the station's sale includes the network. Unless the contract is short term, MNTV would remain with a Nexstar-owned KWBF. Fox/NewsCorp will likely prop up My Network TV for a while, but even The CW is struggling to find an audience. Merge two small networks into one dog of one? Remember that The WB was young female oriented and UPN was "urban" oriented.

But I"m not an insider, just a viewer from afar. I seldom watch MNTV or The CW. Mainly CBS, NBC and FOX. I do endure ABC for a handful of shows, but its the exception.

Splitting radars? KARK (and other LR stations) can't even separate the Analog Shutdown Crawler from the DTV feed!

KATV is going to have a real problem on ch22 going SW toward Texarkana. Can't remember the call, but I get a ch22 from Texas quite often when the skip comes in, unless that station is going to move somewhere else. I've never got a signal of any kind from Ft Smith, Fayetteville, or anything in that direction. Might be a problem for those quite a ways west of here, but since Tulsa is "off the back", I doubt it will cause to much trouble for KATV. Memphis and Greenville will be a problem tho :)

KATV is going to have a real problem on ch22 going SW toward Texarkana. Can't remember the call, but I get a ch22 from Texas quite often when the skip comes in, unless that station is going to move somewhere else...

KETK-DT 22 Jacksonville TX (NBC) in the Tyler/Longview TX market. They often come in when scatter gets going well from Shreveport. Since T/L is not an adjacent market from Little Rock, I didn't list KETK, but should.

Another DTV on 22 is KMIZ-DT Columbia MO (Central Missouri).

Close Spaced DTV's in and near AR....
13 KEMV Mountain View, KETG Arkadelphia, and WHBQ Memphis (as of 2/09)

The FCC raised the concern, but the stations agreed to accept the interference. I agree that 13 should not be allowed so close together.

32 WABG Greenwood/Greenville MS, and KARK Little Rock

That's WABG's fault. The FCC gave WABG channel 54, they tried to find an in-core channel (can't fault them there), they ended up with 32. I'm not sure what else they could have gotten that would have been better, though I haven't analyzed it. I bet they could get away with 17 now, given that WXVT's abandoning 17...

44 KYTV Springfield MO and KWBF Little Rock

I think this is KWBF's fault. I seem to recall that KWBF was assigned channel 43, but this conflicts with KEJB in El Dorado and has some kind of issue with being right above the analog 42 (something about more expensive equipment). I agree that they'd be better off flash-cutting to 42.

*full power in name only.

KKAP has an app in to boost up to 1000 kW. So everyone who loves Daystar... yeah.

I personally wonder if the FCC will make some stations move around in the future. Or maybe stations will request to move on their own accord.

A number of the stations listed would be fully spaced on analog though, note the location of channels 3 analog in Memphis, Shreveport, and Springfield.

- Trip

I emailed a suggestion to AETN to put up a full time PBS-HD channel using their ch 2 low power setup, since they already have it. It would only be useful for the LR/PB area, and fr people with outdoor antennas, and wouldn't work during storms, but a full bitrate PBS station would be great, then the could subchannel AETN to death.

AETN has 2 of those three "13's". The network's UHFphobia is well known. I do know that KETS-DT was originally assigned to ch 47, KAFT to ch 45, and KETZ to ch 30.

If the analog coverage on KEMV is any indication, then WHBQ will have serious issues for its NE Arkansas OTA viewers once KEMV boosts their transmitter power (post transition)

KETK-DT 22 Jacksonville TX (NBC) in the Tyler/Longview TX market. They often come in when scatter gets going well from Shreveport. Since T/L is not an adjacent market from Little Rock, I didn't list KETK, but should.

Another DTV on 22 is KMIZ-DT Columbia MO (Central Missouri).Another 22, although low power, is K22HS analog in Eureka Springs. It will keep me from ever picking up katv 22.

Another 22, although low power, is K22HS analog in Eureka Springs. It will keep me from ever picking up katv 22.

Lemme guess, K22HS is some sort of religious broadcaster? Very few of these LPTV's have any local programming. The only ones I've ever seen that did are current day KTWN-LD 18 Searcy, and the former KIPB 65 Pine Bluff, and the later was mainly gospel huxter fare.

I wonder how much it costs to run a LP station? Say I bought a transmitter and antenna, and got permission from the owner of a tall apt building in NLR to use the roof for the antenna...what would the costs be, just electric for the transmitter and maintainance on the receive dish and antenna?

I dont understand the kW thing:confused: I hear that 1,000 kW is supposed to be full power. Yet I see on some sites KLRT and KASN listed as 5,000kW. KHBS listed as in the 3,000kW+ range. Some channels list 300kW and some really low like 20kW. Help me understand this guys, I thought 1,000kW was full power and you could not go any higher.:confused:

Analog full power on UHF is 5,000,000 (5 MW), on VHF Hi, its 316KW, Lo VHF is 100KW.

Digital in not sure, I think 1000KW is the UHF limit... Not sure what the VHF hi and lo band limits are. They also modify those limits with digital depending on your antenna height I think.

Analog full power on UHF is 5,000,000 (5 MW), on VHF Hi, its 316KW, Lo VHF is 100KW.

Digital in not sure, I think 1000KW is the UHF limit... Not sure what the VHF hi and lo band limits are. They also modify those limits with digital depending on your antenna height I think.

Thanks Dave:) That has been confusing me for a while. It seems that some sites only list one or the other while some list all.

Analog full power on UHF is 5,000,000 (5 MW), on VHF Hi, its 316KW, Lo VHF is 100KW.

Digital in not sure, I think 1000KW is the UHF limit... Not sure what the VHF hi and lo band limits are. They also modify those limits with digital depending on your antenna height I think.

Alright, here's how this works.

Analogs:
2-6 100 kW
7-13 316 kW
14-69 5000 kW

In Zone I (http://www.rabbitears.info/Zone1.jpg), that power cap is good up to 305 meters (1000 feet), in the rest of the country, it's good up to 610 meters (2000 feet). Anything above that requires a power cut.

Here's digital:

Zone I: (305 meters for all, except 14-69 which is good up to 365 meters)
2-6 10 kW
7-13 30 kW
14-69 1000 kW

Zone II: (Not a hard 610 meters, they all have calculated curves to them above 365 meters or so)
2-6 45 kW
7-13 160 kW
14-69 1000 kW

I built a calculator to tell the maximum power for a given height on my website here: http://www.rabbitears.info/calc.php It's the "Max Power vs HAAT Calculator."

Now, if you exceed those given heights, you're supposed to cut the power down, but there's an exception. A station like KARK was at 100 kW on channel 4, and to replicate that low-VHF coverage on UHF technically requires more than the power limit, so the FCC allowed them to go to 1000 kW. But FCC rules (specifically, 73.622(f)(5)) says that a station can boost power up to match the "largest station in the market." This rule is being tested right now, where a station in Ohio asked for 1700 kW on digital channel 21 to match the coverage of a VHF digital in the market, but until now has been taken to mean they can boost up to 1000 kW on UHF.

I hope that helps. =)

- Trip

Thank you Trip:) Yes, that was very in depth and I now have a much better understanding to how it all works. So, in the future, if the deal in Ohio Works out to benefit everyone, a station like KASN 38 could ask for more power, lets say up to 1500kW so they could cover the same areas as KARK and KTHV currently Do? Is that a possibliity in the future? If so, do you or anyone else think we will see request by these stations to the FCC for more power? I know KLRT is a bit weaker here than KARK and KTHV, I could defenitely benefit from them powering up a bit more.

Thank you Trip:) Yes, that was very in depth and I now have a much better understanding to how it all works. So, in the future, if the deal in Ohio Works out to benefit everyone, a station like KASN 38 could ask for more power, lets say up to 1500kW so they could cover the same areas as KARK and KTHV currently Do?

The "largest" station is KTHV, so if WBNS-DT in Ohio gets their 1700 kW (and the FCC doesn't then immediately close the hole in the rule), then stations can basically boost coverage to match the largest station. I imagine for KASN-DT that might be 2500 kW or more.

I have a list of "largest" stations on my site as well (note that I've split some markets up after the whole Nielsen Wikipedia mess a few weeks back). http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=maxcontour I keep all this stuff handy because doing things like this is what I love to do with my time. =)

Is that a possibliity in the future? If so, do you or anyone else think we will see request by these stations to the FCC for more power? I know KLRT is a bit weaker here than KARK and KTHV, I could defenitely benefit from them powering up a bit more.

I'd expect it. I imagine we'd see many stations try to get their coverage areas expanded at least a little bit.

- Trip

Appreciate all the info Trip and Dave, you guys are a big help. I'm gonna go look around your site for a bit Trip:)

Trip, your site doesn't work on my PDA, no "hover"...Is KKYK-DT you have listed on ch 49 already cut over to digital? I noticed a 49-1 appear on my Directv guide this week. If so, I have a new DX target.

Guys, I'm not familiar with Universal Sports, but to be honest I think it would be cool to have an OTA channel that carried sports 24/7. Of course I love sports and some may not, but for me I'd love it.:)

Trip, your site doesn't work on my PDA, no "hover"...Is KKYK-DT you have listed on ch 49 already cut over to digital? I noticed a 49-1 appear on my Directv guide this week. If so, I have a new DX target.

Dave, my directv guide only list

42-2 KWBFDT2 OTA

49 KKYK thru Directv

They show the exact same programming. Is the 49-1 showing in your guide the same channel as the two I listed above? Do I need to scan again to find 49-1?

Trip, your site doesn't work on my PDA, no "hover"...Is KKYK-DT you have listed on ch 49 already cut over to digital? I noticed a 49-1 appear on my Directv guide this week. If so, I have a new DX target.

In what way doesn't it work? I kept the important pages linked in the main menu so people without hover could get to the Listings and the Search, etc. It's simple JavaScript so it shouldn't be too vicious, but if it's causing an issue, I'd like to know more details. I might have to make some changes.

Guys, I'm not familiar with Universal Sports, but to be honest I think it would be cool to have an OTA channel that carried sports 24/7. Of course I love sports and some may not, but for me I'd love it.:)

Universal Sports airs a lot of Olympics-style sports and things like cycling, skiing, etc.

And I'm working on a response to your PM, but I probably won't finish it til after the debate.

- Trip

Yeah, I'm watching the debate on KARK 4-1

Dave, my directv guide only list

42-2 KWBFDT2 OTA

49 KKYK thru Directv

They show the exact same programming. Is 49-1 your showing in the guide the same channel as the two I listed above? Do I need to scan again to find 49-1?

It popped up in black as an OTA channel on my HR22/AM21...shows the same guide data as ch49 from Directv sat. Don't think you need to rescan unless you have a H20. Should show up on a HR...Might be unchecked in channels you receive in antenna setup tho.

It popped up in black as an OTA channel on my HR22/AM21...shows the same guide data as ch49 from Directv sat. Don't think you need to rescan unless you have a H20. Should show up on a HR...Might be unchecked in channels you receive in antenna setup tho.

Forgot to discuss KKYK. They had a digital STA until the end of 2006, but it hasn't been renewed, so I don't know if it's on the air or not. They now say they'll have their 1000 kW digital up and running by 12/1.

- Trip

Trip, don't worry about it. This is a POS Palm Treo, with an old javascript that doesn't work on 80% of the web sites. I've thrown the phone against the wall several times hoping it would break s my boss would need to get me an Iphone :)

I'm watching the debate on PBS-HD (the real one, not the AETN knockoff hahaha)

It popped up in black as an OTA channel on my HR22/AM21...shows the same guide data as ch49 from Directv sat. Don't think you need to rescan unless you have a H20. Should show up on a HR...Might be unchecked in channels you receive in antenna setup tho.

Yes, I did not have it checked in my favorites list. I tried to tune to if but it only says searching for signal. 42-3 KATV DT via KWBF looks really nice for the debate. However, 42-1 & 42-2 are Marcoblock city at the moment. Oh....wait wait....I just found a better debate between the Dodgers and Phillies on 16-1.

I'm recording the game...dont tell me the score! :)

I'm recording the game...dont tell me the score! :)

it way back to the track and the ?'s take the lead:D

Hehe..Im caught up with the debate and at real time on the game now :)

Hehe..Im caught up with the debate and at real time on the game now :)

First World Series since the early 90's for the Phillies. I dont know what they were running tonight, but KLRT 16-1 (OTA) looked dang good in HD during the game, Wow it was sharp:D

First World Series since the early 90's for the Phillies. I dont know what they were running tonight, but KLRT 16-1 (OTA) looked dang good in HD during the game, Wow it was sharp:D

I've noticed, however, that WTBS has a LOT sharper PQ than Fox. Forgot to check if TBS was using 720p or 1080i.

Trip, your site doesn't work on my PDA, no "hover"...Is KKYK-DT you have listed on ch 49 already cut over to digital? I noticed a 49-1 appear on my Directv guide this week. If so, I have a new DX target.
Its just a black screen on my setup with searching for signal I think. I only looked at it once, saw it was nothing, figured it was just a boo boo on DirecTV's part, and ignored it.

In what way doesn't it work? I kept the important pages linked in the main menu so people without hover could get to the Listings and the Search, etc. It's simple JavaScript so it shouldn't be too vicious, but if it's causing an issue, I'd like to know more details. I might have to make some changes.Trip, I've always appreciated the rabbitear.info site, and appreciate you maintaining it.

And no offense, but I much preferred the simple straightforward links of your previous site design, vs hidden scripted links that require hovering the mouse over something to find them.

Makes it more accessible, too.

Trip, I've always appreciated the rabbitear.info site, and appreciate you maintaining it.

And no offense, but I much preferred the simple straightforward links of your previous site design, vs hidden scripted links that require hovering the mouse over something to find them.

Makes it more accessible, too.

I admit I don't much like the hovering links either, but I was completely out of space to add more links, and you can see there are a lot of them. I experimented with several designs and couldn't make anything else look as uncluttered as I'd like. This was the best compromise I could come up with.

I've been thinking about changing it again but I don't really know what else I could do with it. I'm completely open to design suggestions or mockups.

I tried doing two static rows of options but it just looked confusing. So that's off the table.

I will say though, that your complaint is the first I've had about it. I had some people tell me they thought it should revert when the mouse moved off it, but once I explained the rationale, people accepted it. (The rationale being that a lot of less-tech-savvy people would get frustrated with the menu reverting as soon as they moved off of it, so leaving it there ensured they wouldn't have trouble getting to the options.)

- Trip

Is it true that KTHV-DT 12 has to keep their power down until KETZ-DT 12 in El Dorado moves to channel 10. Will KTHV DT 12 increase their power at that time? KTHV is my only "problem" channel so I hope so.

Is it true that KTHV-DT 12 has to keep their power down until KETZ-DT 12 in El Dorado moves to channel 10. Will KTHV DT 12 increase their power at that time? KTHV is my only "problem" channel so I hope so.

KTHV is at 55 kW which is a very respectable power for VHF. It makes them the largest signal in the Little Rock market, and they have no applications or permits with the FCC to boost that further. (Not that I think they could if they wanted to.)

My guess would be that KETG-DT 13 in Arkadelphia is causing some interference. That, or you just don't have an antenna that handles VHF signals very well.

- Trip

The Northern tropo scatter is coming down on me tonight. KSPR-DT a solid lock in the living room, with Ugly Betty complete with no extra subchannels and 5.1 audio. :D

Now waiting on Life On Mars.

Oh btw, my "local" DTV ABC (KATV on KWBF-DT) isn't locking--checked at the start of Gray's (while switching over to KARK-DT for a half hour for The Office

The Northern tropo scatter is coming down on me tonight. KSPR-DT a solid lock in the living room, with Ugly Betty complete with no extra subchannels and 5.1 audio. :D

Now waiting on Life On Mars.

Oh btw, my "local" DTV ABC (KATV on KWBF-DT) isn't locking--checked at the start of Gray's (while switching over to KARK-DT for a half hour for The Office

KSPR is ch19? Signal 0...I don't get it, I'm 80 miles closer, and have a 2 mile shot right at it before the ridge....Killer.

Oh jump for joy! Fox "News" is going to be on in HD tomorrow morning on DirecTV!

Please read this with the appropriate amount of sarcasm and fake glee as you can.

Oh jump for joy! Fox "News" is going to be on in HD tomorrow morning on DirecTV!

Please read this with the appropriate amount of sarcasm and fake glee as you can.

Well, it is the most requested HD addition Directv has been receiving. I might watch it for its entertainment value. Problem with Hd news is none of the actual news footage is in HD, and to make things worse, FOX loves using internet webcams for live remotes, talk about sh*t video...
We will see. I can tell you one thing, I wouldn't watch FRANK TV out of spite for their commercial saturation on the playoffs. Once the playoffs are over, TBS goes back on my blocked channels list.

And if the Red sox win, I'm boycotting the World Series!

Well, it is the most requested HD addition Directv has been receiving. I might watch it for its entertainment value. Problem with Hd news is none of the actual news footage is in HD, and to make things worse, FOX loves using internet webcams for live remotes, talk about sh*t video...
We will see. I can tell you one thing, I wouldn't watch FRANK TV out of spite for their commercial saturation on the playoffs. Once the playoffs are over, TBS goes back on my blocked channels list.

And if the Red sox win, I'm boycotting the World Series!
I know, thats why I weep for this country.

FrankTV advertises so damn much because they can't get anyone to watch it I bet. I am sooooooo fed up with that fat bastard. Thats why I won't want playoffs on TBS anymore. I would rather listen to AM radio!

I know, thats why I weep for this country.

FrankTV advertises so damn much because they can't get anyone to watch it I bet. I am sooooooo fed up with that fat bastard. Thats why I won't want playoffs on TBS anymore. I would rather listen to AM radio!

Between Frank TV and stretch-o-vision, TBS stays blocked except for the playoffs, which I DVR and skip the commercials. I block all the stretch-o-vision channels. Makes me sick to my stomach trying to watch one.

Here! Here! Stretch-o-vision sucks!

dmatch

KTHV is my only "problem" channel so I hope so.KTHV is a very powerful VHF channel. A VHF channel takes a lot less ERP than UHF. However, VHF suffers from a lot more interference from electrical sources and distant channels than UHF, so reception is often difficult or plagued with dropouts.

In Arkadelphia, you probably need a high gain fringe area VHF antenna and probably a VHF preamp. The Channel Master CM 7777 is a good VHF+UHF preamp. Not sure what VHF antenna would be good for your area (dave? arkyman?).

KSPR is ch19?Yes, channel 19. The one I can pick up with a coat hanger @ 70 miles from the xmtr. :)

OMG, Fox "News" just put up a map of the U.S. showing the McCain/Obama breakdown of who has what state. The problem I have with this, the "poll" was done by "Karl Rove & Co." This seems like a VERY questionable poll whether it shows Obama winning or not. I mean, you are getting your poll and information about it from a Republican that has done very questionable things in the past. How reliable do you think a company owned by him would be?

Is it true that KTHV-DT 12 has to keep their power down until KETZ-DT 12 in El Dorado moves to channel 10. Will KTHV DT 12 increase their power at that time? KTHV is my only "problem" channel so I hope so.

Welcome to the LR forum....

KETZ-DT 12 El Dorado isn't much of an issue. Your issue is likely the ch13 DTV (KETG) from the nearby Gurdon transmitter. KETZ-DT is directional to protect KTHV-DT and analogs KSLA 12 Shreveport, and WJTV 12 Jackson MS. I get KTVE-DT 27 as if a local, but have never logged KETZ period, and I have logged 116 DTV stations since 2005.

If you already have a UHF antenna you are happy with, a seperate VHF antenna would work. I would recommend a directional seperate antenna for high band VHF. Winegard makes a high-band only broadband (http://www.winegarddirect.com/viewitem.asp?p=YA1713) yagi, however its not availible (yet) through "W a r r e n". They do sell a VHF/FM antenna (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/HD5030.htm) that will receive high and low band, but after 2/09 low band (2-6) won't be needed unless one is into DXing E's, FM radio or living near Memphis.

If you need a good all around performer (combo VHF/UHF), the antennas Dave and Arky run are excellent choices. What are you using at present?

Another option is using a notch filter for ch 13.

Joining two antenna systems to the tv? I have my broadband vhf/uhf/fm winegard pointed at LR using with Cm7777 amp. I have another Winegard yagi and cm 4228 pointed at FS which is amped up with another cm7777. After the two power supplies, I tried using a winegard antenna coupler to join the two coax cables but when I hook both up, it cancels the FS side out and I only get the LR channels. I thought once I got past the power supply the two signals could be successfully joined. The only channel I have that would clash on both antenna leads is 40.1 KHBS which my LR system picks up from the backside. Is there any type of joiner that will allow both to work to 1 input of the TV and Directv receiver? Is it the amps/powersupplies that are clashing? How about a Diplixer like for sat dishes? would that work or not. I'm trying to figure out a way to join both antenna setups to one input cable, then out to the ATSC tuners of my sony hdtv and directv reciever. Possible?:confused:

You need to make sure the tv side of each antenna has NO signal from a channel desired with the other antenna. With digital, they will cancel and confuse the hell out of the receiver. It is possible though. A IR coax switch would probably work better unless you are going for unattended DVR use.
If none of the signals are on the same channel, I don't know why it would cancel out one over the other. Try using a coax T instead of a splitter/combiner. Your impedance will be 37 ohms on the output, but it might work. You are in the "experimental" zone...anything might or might not work. Just putting an attenuator on the LR side might balance them and let em both come in.

...[re: KTHV 12 reception] KETZ-DT 12 El Dorado isn't much of an issue. Your issue is likely the ch13 DTV (KETG) from the nearby Gurdon transmitter.

... Another option is using a notch filter for ch 13.Adjacent channel n+1 interference is definitely a possible cause of aa72dallas' KTHV-DT 12 reception problem I forgot about.

I would definitely try a ch 13 notch filter, if one can be found. Try ebay, amazon or here (http://www.filtro.net/products/filters/index.asp). Of course, it would block PBS on ch 13.

VHF is a nuisance.

N+1 would affect reception of 13 digital, when 12 was on air. FWIW, I get a 100% signal on 12, and a 25% signal from 13 in downtown LR, so if anything, analog 11 or leakage of analog 12 from his local cable system would be more likely the culpret. If he could, look at ch 12 with an analog set and see if you see any interfering signal.

You need to make sure the tv side of each antenna has NO signal from a channel desired with the other antenna. With digital, they will cancel and confuse the hell out of the receiver. It is possible though. A IR coax switch would probably work better unless you are going for unattended DVR use.
If none of the signals are on the same channel, I don't know why it would cancel out one over the other. Try using a coax T instead of a splitter/combiner. Your impedance will be 37 ohms on the output, but it might work. You are in the "experimental" zone...anything might or might not work. Just putting an attenuator on the LR side might balance them and let em both come in.

The only channel I've found that crosses on them is 40.1 khbs from fort smith. 13.1 KAFT and 5.1 dont try to come in on the LR side like 40.1 does. Until I get it all figured out I have done this for a temporary solution.

I disconnected the LR OTA from the Directv and Connected the FS OTA system. Since I get all the LR channels via directv, I now also get FS OTA which makes it nice. Now my guide of OTA locals on my H20 looks like this with all channels being active:D


3.1 & 3.2 (Eufaula OK, OTA, OETA same as PBS, occassionally)
4 (Directv)
5.1 & 5.2 (FS OTA)
7 (Directv)
11 (Directv)
13.1 , 13.2 , 13.3 & 13.4 (FS OTA)
16 (Directv)
38 (Directv)
40.1 & 40.2 (FS OTA)
42 (Directv)
49 (Directv)

The only thing I'm missing from the LR side is 11.2 and 38.2, I think I can get by without those two on the directv. Besides, all the LR channels are still available thru my Sonys ATSC tuner:D

I wish I could get all those channel choices. You could always add a channel 12 jointenna to your system, and hook up a Winegard 10 ele ch7-13 yagi to it, just for channel 12 (11.2).

Personallly, since you will never dvr 11.2, I'd just switch to the tv tuner to check out the radar and Ugly Craigs commercials for this big giant 2.

Its funny what you come up with sometimes when you start brainstorming and rearranging cables. I never once thought about setting up my Directv and OTA signals this way until today when I was trying to figure out how to get both ants to work on one coax feed to the tuners. I guess you could say it was a revelation for me and my setup:D Of course without Directv supplying me with the HD locals and the few SD's from LR, this setup would not be possible. Thank goodness Directv decided it was in theirs and the consumers best interest to provide the locals.

Its funny what you come up with sometimes when you start brainstorming and rearranging cables. I never once thought about setting up my Directv and OTA signals this way until today when I was trying to figure out how to get both ants to work on one coax feed to the tuners. I guess you could say it was a revelation for me and my setup:D Of course without Directv supplying me with the HD locals and the few SD's from LR, this setup would not be possible. Thank goodness Directv decided it was in theirs and the consumers best interest to provide the locals.

Directv really helped me out too. Since I need the quantum pointed at Redfield, and the DAT75 pointed at Searcy for KTWN, I was missing CW. Directv fixed that. The DAT75 has an almost perfect -25 FB back rejection, so adding the gain from the 7777 gives me an almost omnidirectional UHF antenna with a +45db peak, perfect for KTWN and all the Shinall UHF's, but CW was just to weak to keep a lock without some gain. Directv fixed that problem. KETS and KTHV both come in OK if I split them pointing SW (right at KETG :)

AETN shot down my PBS-HD on ch2 idea. They said due to the size of the new high gain ch 7 antenna, they would not be able to retain their ch 2 antenna on the KASN tower.

Within last few minutes, WMPN-DT 20 Jackson MS, and KALB-DT 35 Alexandria LA logged. (plus KPLC analog channel 7 Lake Charles LA).

If you have antennas, give em a work out tonight ;)

Within last few minutes, WMPN-DT 20 Jackson MS, and KALB-DT 35 Alexandria LA logged. (plus KPLC analog channel 7 Lake Charles LA).

If you have antennas, give em a work out tonight ;)

My problem is being 18 feet off the ground with my antenna. Its great for LR and FS, its the hot spot. However, I used to have my Quantum on the 20ft mast Roof mounted. Total height was 35 feet, Dxing was much more plentyful and successful in the 35ft days. Maybe someday it'll go back on the roof. I wanted a tower but they are too expensive now, metal is out of sight. The wife did not approve of me putting my OTA system back on the roof, we remodeled the house in 2005, got a brand new roof and put on expensive Architectural shingles, looks great and my wife said it better stay that way:( I thought it was prettier when my huge antenna towered high above it, I was always proud to pull in the driveway and see my work of art up there:D

Within last few minutes, WMPN-DT 20 Jackson MS, and KALB-DT 35 Alexandria LA logged. (plus KPLC analog channel 7 Lake Charles LA).

If you have antennas, give em a work out tonight ;)


Just checked.... I logged WLOX-DT from Biloxi and WPMI-DT from Mobile for the first time....

Just checked.... I logged WLOX-DT from Biloxi and WPMI-DT from Mobile for the first time....

Looks like someone has been hiding ;)

Nothing on RF 47, and I'm too close to KASN-DT to log WLOX-DT :(

Just checked.... I logged WLOX-DT from Biloxi and WPMI-DT from Mobile for the first time....

Sounds like you guys down south are benefiting from the miles and miles of flat land. Too bad for ya'll that its so hilly back to the North toward LR

Tulsa analog channels 3 and 8 were clear here last night and again tonight, but no locks on any digitals from that way except OETA 3.1 from Eufaula Oklahoma. I mapquested and I'm 150 miles from Eufaula. However I'm probably not near that far from their tower.

Just checked.... I logged WLOX-DT from Biloxi and WPMI-DT from Mobile for the first time....

Must be a SE Ark thing...nada in LR.

Must be a SE Ark thing...nada in LR.

http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html

Cool map. How can they make it? Is there some way they know how the tropo is going to work? Like maybe a mathematical formula or something? Looks like people in Florida might have been able to get a station from England almost. LOL Of course, I don't really know how to read that, so I could be wrong.

Arkyman, if these maps are right, you should have killer skip Sunday morning in a NNE to SSW direction. If its accurate, let me know if you can snag that ch19 from Springfield or any of the Dallas stations. LR showing a little skip Sunday AM toward Texas.

They also have a real-time vhf skip link there that uses packet radio to constantly test hops, which should prove useful if you want to know what direction an unlockable signal is coming from without wearing out your rotor.

I think the big winner last night was Keith. Nothing exotic on DTV here save for WMPN and KALB--the later with 1080i blasting on two streams. I didn't think to run to the living room to watch the barrage of macroblocking.

Just checked.... I logged WLOX-DT from Biloxi and WPMI-DT from Mobile for the first time....

I apologize for my absence.... been kind of busy with work and stuff... last night was the first night I've DXed in a while. I took some screens of WLOX and WPMI...after my post, I also locked in WXXV-DT, FOX affiliate for Biloxi/Gulfport. I'll get the screencaps posted soon :)

I apologize for my absence.... been kind of busy with work and stuff... last night was the first night I've DXed in a while. I took some screens of WLOX and WPMI...after my post, I also locked in WXXV-DT, FOX affiliate for Biloxi/Gulfport. I'll get the screencaps posted soon :)

Any chance you caught any TSReader data? That'd make my day. :D

- Trip

N+1 would affect reception of 13 digital, when 12 was on air. FWIW, I get a 100% signal on 12, and a 25% signal from 13 in downtown LR, so if anything, analog 11 or leakage of analog 12 from his local cable system would be more likely the culpret. If he could, look at ch 12 with an analog set and see if you see any interfering signal.
Thanks for the suggestion. I have experienced cable leakage in the past, but only on vhf low band 2-6, never above channel 6. I have only logged analog KSLA about twice in 12 years. Maybe it's analog KTHV 11. Maybe when analog KTHV 11 is turned off things will get better.

I'd imagine lots of things will get better without all that wideband stray Highpower RF floating around. Ch16 analog sprays rf all over my UHF band.

Arkyman, if these maps are right, you should have killer skip Sunday morning in a NNE to SSW direction. If its accurate, let me know if you can snag that ch19 from Springfield or any of the Dallas stations. LR showing a little skip Sunday AM toward Texas.

They also have a real-time vhf skip link there that uses packet radio to constantly test hops, which should prove useful if you want to know what direction an unlockable signal is coming from without wearing out your rotor.

I've never had any luck to the north around here. I think when it comes to Sprigfield MO and stations located in that part of the country, the Ozark mountains drown out any signals before they get here. Lots of small mountains even between me and russellville to the north like Chickilah Mt. , Spring Mt. and Mt. Nebo....then the Ozarks

Same here. Never even got a peep from the North, except KEMV Analog.

I've never had any luck to the north around here. I think when it comes to Sprigfield MO and stations located in that part of the country, the Ozark mountains drown out any signals before they get here. Arkyman, yep, you've got some bigguns in the Ozarks, between you and Springfield.

Arkyman, yep, you've got some bigguns in the Ozarks, between you and Springfield.

I tried 19 about 1 am this morning, barely even anything except snow and audio, I decided to not wear out my rotor and forget it. Signals from the West and the South get strong here at times. OETA from Eufaula OK is becoming pretty regular, I get it at least once a week. Never gotten anything analog or digital from Texas. Get Tulsa pretty regular, Eufaula and OKC sometimes. From the South, I used to get El dorado , Arkadelphia and Monroe, LA. when my antenna was 35 foot up. Still bite 10 and 12 from El dorado on analog but not strong enough for a dtv lock on them.

I tried 19 about 1 am this morning, barely even anything except snow and audio...Arkyman, ch 19 in Springfield is digital.

Arkyman, ch 19 in Springfield is digital.

I get some channel 19 on the analog side here, but most of the time its just snow.

surfing the net, looking for low loss dB splitters like the cable company grade regals that I use in my OTA system. Found this site and this antenna. Anyone ever heard of ti before? Looks interesting, Austrailian made I think. They claim it will pick up all bands and do it better than other antenna designs. Have no idea what the distance rating for it is.

http://www.aerialscience.com/force_antenna.pdf

I don't have a rotor on my outdoor antenna, so when I see DX I hook up the rabbit ears and try to find a sweet spot. In summer I often receive XHTV channel 4 in Mexico City and XHP channel 3 in Puebla Mexico for days in a row. There is also something Spanish speaking on channel 5. The simplicity of my 1984 Sears 12" black and white TV is great for DX

surfing the net, looking for low loss dB splitters like the cable company grade regals that I use in my OTA system. Found this site and this antenna. Anyone ever heard of it before? Looks interesting, Austrailian made I think. They claim it will pick up all bands and do it better than other antenna designs. Have no idea what the distance rating for it is.I couldn't get the pdf to d/l, but at the site, to me it looks like a gimmick antenna, sold to people who think OTA DTV requires some special "digital" antenna design . I could be wrong, though.

surfing the net, looking for low loss dB splitters like the cable company grade regals that I use in my OTA system. Found this site and this antenna. Anyone ever heard of ti before? Looks interesting, Austrailian made I think. They claim it will pick up all bands and do it better than other antenna designs. Have no idea what the distance rating for it is.

http://www.aerialscience.com/force_antenna.pdf

Several things bother me...First, assuming their claim that one antenna has 9 db gain, which I seriously doubt, it says two antennas can be combined for 14 db gain. That's impossible. The most two identical antennas can do is double (3db) assuming no combiner loss.

Second, a 300 ohm reflector? Driven element for low band more likely...At most, 2 db over a dipole. Plates used as driven element?

I would have to put this one on a credit card I could cancel the charges on if they didn't take it back.

Ill bet anything they are getting all their 9 db across the band gain from an amplifier, in which case, the antenna doesn't have any gain at all.

I thought it looked a little suspect and strange myself. Its an odd looking thing

Take a gander at what Equity plans to do to educate viewers about DTV

This is pure 100% Vel-Veeta, and would qualify as a Onion article if it were only satire.

KATV-DT subchannel of 42 is off the air tonight. DirecTV is showing a do not call us screen on their HD feed. DirecTV standard def feed is fine.

KATV-DT subchannel of 42 is off the air tonight. DirecTV is showing a do not call us screen on their HD feed. DirecTV standard def feed is fine.

I tuned away from the Red Sox/Devil Rays game on TBS to check.

E*'s SD feed is the analog signal since KATV is still up there. The OTA DTV feed via KWBF is nothing but a blank screen.

Back to the game...

I tuned away from the Red Sox/Devil Rays game on TBS to check.

E*'s SD feed is the analog signal since KATV is still up there. The OTA DTV feed via KWBF is nothing but a blank screen.

Back to the game...

OTA gives me a "bad channel" error when I try to tune. Good game.... Ill puke if Boston wins tho.

Take a gander at what Equity plans to do to educate viewers about DTV

This is pure 100% Vel-Veeta, and would qualify as a Onion article if it were only satire.
I don't get it. Explain please? I know those two don't sound like they would know a damn thing, but maybe they do or they have a good script? Just wondering.

OTA gives me a "bad channel" error when I try to tune. Good game.... Ill puke if Boston wins tho.
Oh please don't let Boston win. Their fans are more fanatical than the Razorcraps. I can't stand the hoopla about them!

Oh please don't let Boston win. Their fans are more fanatical than the Razorcraps. I can't stand the hoopla about them!

Thank God...I couldn't have stood to watch ugly Yukulis dancing on home plate for the Series...

KATV-DT subchannel of 42 is off the air tonight. DirecTV is showing a do not call us screen on their HD feed...heheh, they should leave the "don't call us" sign up until katv gets back on the air on ch 22. :)

Thank God...I couldn't have stood to watch ugly Yukulis dancing on home plate for the Series... Speaking of ugly, now you will get to watch up to 4 games at the St. Petersburg Rays on one of the ugliest fields I have seen all year. Man it looks bad. What a waste of HD.:rolleyes:

dmatch

I watched the DTV conversion show on KWBF last night. It was pretty interesting to listen to the conversations. They took calls from folks, people all the way from no experience and dont know whats going on all the way to some guys that called in to give advice who had been in the Broadcast or reception buisness for over 30 years. The guys on the show seemed pretty knowledgeable. The biggest thing the main guy kept pushing for folks having trouble with pixeling was to get rid of the rabbit ears and invest into a good outdoor Rooftop system that would be much more reliable. He also advised that if you have not done this before, please hire a professional to set up your OTA so you dont run into problems and end up calling them anyway. I agreed with most of what they were saying. Digital is a little more tricky and complicated than analog reception. Folks could live with a little snow and interference on analog, but digital presents pixeling as its interference and I dont know anyone who can live with or accept the pixeling, its horrible and one needs to set up there system to eliminate it as much as possible.

Very good advice. Indoor antennas should be labeled "For Emergency Use Only". What's up with KATV? Equity get pissed at em? I thought maybe they were running fiber to the uplink center for us, but the OTA-DT is off too.

Watch for WABC to be turned on for us in Prime Time if its not fixed.

EDIT: Well, Just checked and OTA-DT is back up on 44-3.

Speaking of ugly, now you will get to watch up to 4 games at the St. Petersburg Rays on one of the ugliest fields I have seen all year. Man it looks bad. What a waste of HD.:rolleyes:

dmatch

Yea, I thought there was a problem with my set, but it wasn't the TV, the grass on that field is funky....and the roof is rusty :)

Article (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081021/ap_on_re_us/tv_anchor_attacked_8).

Article (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081021/ap_on_re_us/tv_anchor_attacked_8).

Yea, they had this on the national news tonight, on Fox Report.

I wouldn't live in LR if someone gave me a house. I worked for their 911 center for 15 yrs, and the city is dangerous.

Yea, they had this on the national news tonight, on Fox Report.

I wouldn't live in LR if someone gave me a house. I worked for their 911 center for 15 yrs, and the city is dangerous.

Cops said there was not sign of forced entry into her home. The neighbors said nothing had ever happened like this in their neighbor before, the hood looked like a good middle class hood, really nice houses. Makes you wonder if there is a killer living in the neighborhood who got too lazy to commit their crime in another part of the city or if it was someone she knew and let into her home not knowing what the person had planned for her. I'd be surprised if this turned out to be a stranger in the hood. In middle to upper-class hoods like that, strange folks and strange vehicles don't go unnoticed. Hope there is not a thug on the lose targeting young pretty women on local tv news shows.

Yea, they had this on the national news tonight, on Fox Report.

I wouldn't live in LR if someone gave me a house. I worked for their 911 center for 15 yrs, and the city is dangerous.
The same could be said of any moderate to large sized town. EVERY city is dangerous. You just have to pick and choose where you live and what you do.

The same could be said of any moderate to large sized town. EVERY city is dangerous. You just have to pick and choose where you live and what you do.

yeah but most people dont get shot eating at mcdonalds, lying in their own beds or filling up with gas in Danville, compare that to LR and you get Daves point. LR is a bad town. Its always rated as the worst city per capita of any in the nation for crime. It even competes with Cities like Washington DC , NY City and Los Angles for Murders each year. I remember one year Washington DC reported 403 murders in 1 year for 4 million people. LR with 400,000 reported 130 murders in the same year...I'd say thats keeping pretty bad company. But you are right about watching where you go Steve. I had family that lived in LR in the 70's and 80's, one had better watch their steps down there for sure.

And you never have people go around doing stupid stuff in the sticks? Hmm, for some reason the name Ronald Simmons comes to my mind....can't figure out why. ;)

And you never have people go around doing stupid stuff in the sticks? Hmm, for some reason the name Ronald Simmons comes to my mind....can't figure out why. ;)

Yeah, there are some crazies every now and then. But Simmons was in 1987 , I'm sure something bad like that will happen again someday but its been 21 years. People like RGS live in LR and kill for appetite several times a year but they dont want to get caught, RGS didnt care anymore, he had snapped. What about all those drive by shootings in LR? That dont happen in normal towns

Yeah, there are some crazies every now and then. But Simmons was in 1987 , I'm sure something bad like that will happen again someday but its been 21 years. People like RGS live in LR and kill for appetite several times a year but they dont want to get caught, RGS didnt care anymore, he had snapped. What about all those drive by shootings in LR? That dont happen in normal towns
They don't happen in the good or better areas of town either. If you live in certain areas of town, hell yeah you are going to get drive by's. In fact, I can pretty much draw on a map where ALL of them happen. And, you know what? I don't go in those areas. :) There is a specific area that you can guarantee the biological waste will hit the fan on a daily basis. The sections of town I hang out in you only see the occasional dumbass driving through a redlight at worst. :) It's all about the good ol' basics......

LOCATION
LOCATION
LOCATION

lol

They don't happen in the good or better areas of town either. If you live in certain areas of town, hell yeah you are going to get drive by's. In fact, I can pretty much draw on a map where ALL of them happen. And, you know what? I don't go in those areas. :) There is a specific area that you can guarantee the biological waste will hit the fan on a daily basis. The sections of town I hang out in you only see the occasional dumbass driving through a redlight at worst. :) It's all about the good ol' basics......

LOCATION
LOCATION
LOCATION

lol


Well, bottom line , just keep yourself and your family in the safe parts of the city Steve:)

LOCATION
LOCATION
LOCATION

lol

Well, when I worked 911, your area wasn't immune...its just kept quiet. We could actually track the crime rate moving west with the Apt complexes. While your per capita rate is lower than the hood, I wouldn't let my guard down. One of our dispatchers mothers who lived in WLR was raped and murdered, and it never even made the news. This one probably wouldn't either had it not been the celebrity factor. The cops keep hush about stuff happening out there...makes em look bad when word gets out, and all that money starts yelling at city hall. I believe they had a big stink a month ago on Chenal in one of those $500,000 house hoods about a serial burglar/robbery thing.

There are weirdos everywhere tho, I'm sure there are meth dealers out there in the stix with Arky, but I'd rather take my chances with them.

I have a big black lab with sharp teeth. Aint no one getting to far in the door around here unless he wants them to :)

BTW, didn't mean to stir up a off topic hornets nest...

Well, when I worked 911, your area wasn't immune...its just kept quiet. We could actually track the crime rate moving west with the Apt complexes. While your per capita rate is lower than the hood, I wouldn't let my guard down. One of our dispatchers mothers who lived in WLR was raped and murdered, and it never even made the news. This one probably wouldn't either had it not been the celebrity factor. The cops keep hush about stuff happening out there...makes em look bad when word gets out, and all that money starts yelling at city hall. I believe they had a big stink a month ago on Chenal in one of those $500,000 house hoods about a serial burglar/robbery thing.

There are weirdos everywhere tho, I'm sure there are meth dealers out there in the stix with Arky, but I'd rather take my chances with them.

I have a big black lab with sharp teeth. Aint no one getting to far in the door around here unless he wants them to :)

BTW, didn't mean to stir up a off topic hornets nest...
Well, yeah, apartment complexes are typically more susceptible to crime given the lack of control on who or what moves in.

I may be wrong in this, but it has been an observation of mine that people who live in coves are a little less likely to have crimes committed on them due to the fact of surrounding houses being overly aware of what is going on. I just don't think I have ever heard of someone in a cul-de-sac being broken into.

I am sure you know better than I, plus the fact that I rarely pay attention to the news because this is exactly the topic they tend to focus on instead of better stuff.

[QUOTE=Davenlr;14907135]
There are weirdos everywhere tho, I'm sure there are meth dealers out there in the stix with Arky, but I'd rather take my chances with them.

I have a big black lab with sharp teeth. Aint no one getting to far in the door around here unless he wants them to :)


I have a 220 lb English Mastiff and a Lab, better not walk anywhere near my house at night unless I'm around to call em off. Plus, round here we got shotguns, 30/30's, 30/06's, 7mm, Ruger 45's and all kinds of weapons. I've got knives, baseball bats, homemade clubs, 2x4 with nails. What we do to intruders out here dont make the news either, local law enforcement works closely with us, helps us drag em in the house and all;)

BTW, I guess we are getting off topic somewhat........I looked at my antennas today ,they look cool...wonder if that 2x4 with nails would pick up any signals:D

BTW, I guess we are getting off topic somewhat........I looked at my antennas today ,they look cool...wonder if that 2x4 with nails would pick up any signals:D

Probably better than that aussie antenna up the page further.

yeah but most people dont get shot eating at mcdonalds, lying in their own beds or filling up with gas in Danville, compare that to LR and you get Daves point. LR is a bad town. Its always rated as the worst city per capita of any in the nation for crime. It even competes with Cities like Washington DC , NY City and Los Angles for Murders each year. I remember one year Washington DC reported 403 murders in 1 year for 4 million people. LR with 400,000 reported 130 murders in the same year...I'd say thats keeping pretty bad company. But you are right about watching where you go Steve. I had family that lived in LR in the 70's and 80's, one had better watch their steps down there for sure.


As bad as Little Rock is (I lived there for a few years), Pine Bluff is even worse. And Pine Bluff lacks the cultural amenities that Fayetteville and Little Rock have. I'm not talking about "high culture" either--decent restaurants, nightlife, and a place to shop besides Walmart, or one of the Dollar Stores.

Sorry about the late response, but I was gone to Mount Magazine yesterday with the dog and did the usual picture taking/siteseeing but also brought along a VCR, Converter Box, antenna, handheld TV, and 12v inverter. I'll write about the DXpedition in my blog later today. The weather--lack of clouds, mild temps--along with cheaper gas made it too tempting,

I found out about the attack on the KATV reporter driving back. I called and checked in on my mother en route home. Very scary. But living in a rural setting as I do does not guarantee 100% safety either.

Dang Haley, you could have probably seen my farm with a pair of binoculars yesterday. Did you go by the lodge? Nice place.

Directv question for all my fine Arky friends here. I was editing my "DAD's" list yesterday and noticed that HDNET channel 306 now has a sub-channel 306-1. All it says in the grid is "To Be Announced":confused: What is this for? HDNET gonna have a subchannel? If so, is it gonna suck bandwidth from the main channel which currently looks Awesome? Is Degradation in our futures with the smaller dishes? Sure hope not

Its for Dallas Maverick games if you live in the Dallas DMA. Last year, they just blacked out HDNet, this year we will still get Bikini Destinations while Dallas metro gets basketball. We win.

[quote=davenlr;14910641] Its for Bikini Destinations

:D

... HDNET channel 306 now has a sub-channel 306-1. All it says in the grid is "To Be Announced":confused: What is this for? HDNET gonna have a subchannel? If so, is it gonna suck bandwidth from the main channel which currently looks Awesome?It isn't the same as OTA, which can only stuff so many subchannels onto a 6mhz wide broadcast TV channel. A "dash-1" channel on D* is just a different way of numbering a on D*. The way it's sent is no different than any other channel they put on their system.

It isn't the same as OTA, which can only stuff so many subchannels onto a 6mhz wide broadcast TV channel. A "dash-1" channel on D* is just a different way of numbering a on D*. The way it's sent is no different than any other channel they put on their system.

Good deal, thanks Arxaw. I was afraid they were gonna degrade HDNet, glad that wont happen like it does with OTA:)

I posted this in the DVD, any of you guys have info on my question about vertically wall mounting a normal dvd player? Follow the link to read my situation.:confused:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14911556#post14911556

I posted this in the DVD, any of you guys have info on my question about vertically wall mounting a normal dvd player? Follow the link to read my situation.:confused:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14911556#post14911556
Try it temporarily on the floor or something? It really depends on the unit and whether it has a hub that comes down and holds the disc in place while its spinning, or if it has a snap on type hub like the new ps2's have on the slim models.

KATV-DT OTA off air.
KWBF-DT OTA on air
KATV-HD Directv on but showing a VERY jerky/time lagged analog signal.

What's going on? Anyone?

KATV-DT OTA off air.
KWBF-DT OTA on air
KATV-HD Directv on but showing a VERY jerky/time lagged analog signal.

What's going on? Anyone?
Well, I could say lack of competence on either stations part, but that's just a given. :)

Just got a reply from AETN...

Their absence from Directv's HD lineup is because they currently do not have access to enough HD programming, and said once they go to 24/7 HD (rather than upconverting), they expect to be added to Directv.

She also went on to say that KETS analog AND -DT will be off the air for 4-6 weeks prior to the Feb 18th switchover, as they remove the Ch 2 and Ch 5 antennas and install the ch 7 antenna. She said neither cable or Directv would be carrying the signal due to the "logistics" of getting the programming to them.

So, I guess for Jan/Feb, your choices will be FTA sat, or if you are lucky, KETG or KEMV (which I believe is available on KTWN-DT2).

We sure live in a weird market :)

Very good advice. Indoor antennas should be labeled "For Emergency Use Only". What's up with KATV? Equity get pissed at em? I thought maybe they were running fiber to the uplink center for us, but the OTA-DT is off too.

Watch for WABC to be turned on for us in Prime Time if its not fixed.

EDIT: Well, Just checked and OTA-DT is back up on 44-3.

Dave,

I hope you're right about WABC...do you have reason to believe this or just hopeful? Tonight KATV's video and audio were so out of sync it was unwatchable on DirecTV. Seemed okay on OTA.

Just got a reply from AETN...

Their absence from Directv's HD lineup is because they currently do not have access to enough HD programming, and said once they go to 24/7 HD (rather than upconverting), they expect to be added to Directv.

She also went on to say that KETS analog AND -DT will be off the air for 4-6 weeks prior to the Feb 18th switchover, as they remove the Ch 2 and Ch 5 antennas and install the ch 7 antenna. She said neither cable or Directv would be carrying the signal due to the "logistics" of getting the programming to them.

So, I guess for Jan/Feb, your choices will be FTA sat, or if you are lucky, KETG or KEMV (which I believe is available on KTWN-DT2).

We sure live in a weird market :)

KETG for AETN. After 2/17 there will be three AETN transmitters within reach--KETS, KETG, an KETZ (the only one I've yet to log, will go from rare DX never logged, to a local). Plus channel 25 will be clear and WMAO-DT will be available with tropo scatter or maybe full time with enough antenna ;) But that ridge east of me will do me in as it currently does for WABG.

I had an interesting conversation today with a someone with the cable co serving Star City. He was working at the head end (located on the main highway), and I stopped by for a few minutes and basically, he stated that the Monticello AR cable head-end could not receive KARK-DT because of WABG-DT. Also, he stated that when KATV rebuilt and began transmitting from the new (Shinall) tower, that the FTA KU KATV feed provided by Equity would immediately cease.

The long term plans were to phase out the Star City head end and use a fiber feed from Monticello for TV service as well as cable internet. The worker was in town to convert Star City's head end to receive OTA digital for cable distribution.

Well, I could say lack of competence on either stations part, but that's just a given. :)


Or it could be an failure of a microwave receiver demod. board and a snafu on the shippers part getting a replacement counter to counter for delivery this morning.

Or it could be an failure of a microwave receiver demod. board and a snafu on the shippers part getting a replacement counter to counter for delivery this morning.
I was only kidding.

It's funny, the only time we can get a real response from someone at a station is when we talk crap about em. :)

Hey Allen, glad to see you drop in. My prayers to your co-worker. On the bright side, Directv screwed up everyone in the country with a DVR today, and had to push a software beta to the whole country. Been on their tech site trying to help all the folks with a brick for a DVR tonight... Directv's phone says "Call back later in the week". Hope all is well with ya. Don't be a stranger.

BTW, would it be a violation of some agreement to take the Comcast HD feed which I think you send them via fiber, and use it at the directv uplink site instead of OTA? I know equity is using Directv's feed of Daystar to send out on their system. Be fun to see the local Comcastic cut ins during local breaks, on Directv :)

Dave,

I hope you're right about WABC...do you have reason to believe this or just hopeful? Tonight KATV's video and audio were so out of sync it was unwatchable on DirecTV. Seemed okay on OTA.

They have been known to turn on the national feed if the local feed is down...but its not a given. Just have to check.

Hey Allen, glad to see you drop in. My prayers to your co-worker. On the bright side, Directv screwed up everyone in the country with a DVR today, and had to push a software beta to the whole country. Been on their tech site trying to help all the folks with a brick for a DVR tonight... Directv's phone says "Call back later in the week". Hope all is well with ya. Don't be a stranger.

BTW, would it be a violation of some agreement to take the Comcast HD feed which I think you send them via fiber, and use it at the directv uplink site instead of OTA? I know equity is using Directv's feed of Daystar to send out on their system. Be fun to see the local Comcastic cut ins during local breaks, on Directv :)
I was wondering what was going on with that earlier. I was in my computer room, my wife was in the living room, and all the sudden I hear "What are you doing to the dvr!?!?!" I was like "I'm not doing sh*t to it!" LOL It was kinda funny.

I also saw on DBSTalk how they have the beta for DirecTV2PC as an open beta now. It said something about how its not supposed to work with the NR software. I guess its proof that we have beta software now 'cause its working like a charm on my tv computer. Even across the wireless bridge out there. I wish they would let us delete from that program too. I don't wanna have to go out there every time just to delete something I have seen.

I can't believe they are telling people to call back later in the week. I mean, comeon, whats the deal with that. I guess I could head over there and see if I can help out any, or do you think you got it all covered pretty well? Their site is down now too! I just went there and got a "we're upgrading" type of page.

I was on dbstalk.com. Directv's site is to slow :)

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=143143

Watch for WABC to be turned on for us in Prime Time if its not fixed.They will do this if enough people complain about the lack of watchable ABC-HD in this market on D*. Of course, calling right now won't get you anyone. Email might work better.

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=143143
Yeah, thats the PC app I was referring to in post 6877. I love it except the delete when done ability.

Yeah, thats the PC app I was referring to in post 6877. I love it except the delete when done ability.

Do you have the app you can email me? Their download site has been down all night, errors, screwups. Directv is starting to get on my nerves this week.

Do you have the app you can email me? Their download site has been down all night, errors, screwups. Directv is starting to get on my nerves this week.
Just give it some time to calm down. The download takes a really long time as it is and I don't know of a reliable way to email it as every email server basically rejects exe's anymore. I am actually not having any more problems getting into the site any of the times I have tried. Seems stable now.

Just tried again, and it gave me an error.. Screw it, was just gonna play with it anyway, have no need to use it. My PC is busy enough recording from other sources anyways...Just had my GPS laptop here to clean it, and wanted to see if it would work on it. No biggie.

BTW, would it be a violation of some agreement to take the Comcast HD feed which I think you send them via fiber, and use it at the directv uplink site instead of OTA? I know equity is using Directv's feed of Daystar to send out on their system. Be fun to see the local Comcastic cut ins during local breaks, on Directv :)

As long as I have blown my cover... for all the various threads out there both here and DBStalk thread including the fellow with the giant razorback by his name...


I could bore you with what my common sense as an engineer says I should be able to do and the law's version. Short story. We can't do that. I am working on an alternative, should see relief in 2 to 3 weeks.

Echostar - complaints about no signal/wrong frequency/dialing in another markets zipcode to work around problem/guide datai ssues. I have spoken to several folks and received calls from several folks from dish. Gave them all in detail TSID, Subchannel, Frequency, maternal name of my mother, blood sample etc ,etc to alleviate to mis-map of KATV-DT to rf channel 22 instead of the current rf channel 44 we are on.

DirecTV- Lots of folks are receiving the admittedly compressed HD feed over the air with no issues. Both end users and cable head ends. The audio issue seems to be non-solvable on their end. Stood in KLRT where the local receive rack for the market is and observed their demod receiving KATV-DT with no problems whatsoever. This while on the phone with a satellite dealer in the area who was observing audio issue and macro blocking. Soon I will hand off a piece of wire with packets dropping out of the end directly fed from KATV MC. This will hopefully correct the issue.

Rebroadcast of KATV to cable head ends via the Equity mux on satellite or as a subchannel of 44.3.

This has been a challenge on both KATV's part and Equity's part. We are -assuming no unusual wx issues- 60-90 days away from own own transmitter broadcasting from our own tower in straight forward distribution path from the studio and to our viewers.

Last issue,

I have nothing to do with programming the station. I give my two cents worth on occasion sometimes to great effect - sometimes not. I have more than enough challenges on the technical end to keep me occupied. Be assured you guys- among others- stimulate my acid producing stomach glands and I take note. May be able to help, may not- with whatever the issue concerns- but I do take note.

A

As long as I have blown my cover... for all the various threads out there both here and DBStalk thread including the fellow with the giant razorback by his name...


I could bore you with what my common sense as an engineer says I should be able to do and the law's version. Short story. We can't do that. I am working on an alternative, should see relief in 2 to 3 weeks.

Echostar - complaints about no signal/wrong frequency/dialing in another markets zipcode to work around problem/guide datai ssues. I have spoken to several folks and received calls from several folks from dish. Gave them all in detail TSID, Subchannel, Frequency, maternal name of my mother, blood sample etc ,etc to alleviate to mis-map of KATV-DT to rf channel 22 instead of the current rf channel 44 we are on.

DirecTV- Lots of folks are receiving the admittedly compressed HD feed over the air with no issues. Both end users and cable head ends. The audio issue seems to be non-solvable on their end. Stood in KLRT where the local receive rack for the market is and observed their demod receiving KATV-DT with no problems whatsoever. This while on the phone with a satellite dealer in the area who was observing audio issue and macro blocking. Soon I will hand off a piece of wire with packets dropping out of the end directly fed from KATV MC. This will hopefully correct the issue.

Rebroadcast of KATV to cable head ends via the Equity mux on satellite or as a subchannel of 44.3.

This has been a challenge on both KATV's part and Equity's part. We are -assuming no unusual wx issues- 60-90 days away from own own transmitter broadcasting from our own tower in straight forward distribution path from the studio and to our viewers.

Last issue,

I have nothing to do with programming the station. I give my two cents worth on occasion sometimes to great effect - sometimes not. I have more than enough challenges on the technical end to keep me occupied. Be assured you guys- among others- stimulate my acid producing stomach glands and I take note. May be able to help, may not- with whatever the issue concerns- but I do take note.

A

Allen, thanks for the update. When the new Katv tower is up on Shinall Mt., will I get your signal via OTA as strong as THV and KARK? They are my two strongest signals from there. Before your old tower fell, I locked Katv in the 77% range, both thv and kark are about 87%, thanks for the info:)

I am in hopes it will equal or exceed KLRT's.

KTHV being high band VHF is a "distractor" for purposes of comparison. KLRT is on rf ch30 and we will be on RF ch22. Close enough so to speak- both UHF, both proportionately close in frequencey as compared to VHF HI-Low and UHF high band stations.

As designed and being built, we both have similar input power to the antenna and overall antenna gain and pattern. But, I am adding 25% vpol (vertical polarization) to our antenna system. This is old VHF trick that has gained renewed interest in the last few years. The FCC allows 1 Mw-ERP for UHF DTs based on -in general- non-interference and an ADDITIONAL vertical component not to exceed the main (hpol) component. There are several contributing technical items/regs inside that statement, but simplified it is along the lines of don't exceed your licensed power&contours (horizontal) with your vertical component. This gives us the ability to broadcast at 1MW ERP (horizontal) with an additional 250Kw of vertical. Potentially- I suppose we could have gone for 1MW vertical, but the old saw about diminishing returns kicks in. i.e. how much do you expend to get a small percentage gain? Current industry thought is the sweet spot of cost/benefit is 10-25% vpol. I had the margin on my transmitter to go for the upper end. We have the unique opportunity to build out a DT facility from scratch with 5-10 years more of industry experience since other stations built out including our Redfield site.. Will it make a huge difference? probably not- but it will add SNR margin for folks with an indoor antenna, on the edge, behind obstructions, mobile devices (gasp), etc.

A

Allen, thanks for all the info, I'm really looking forward to a strong, less compressed HD signal from KATV in the near future. Keep up the good work.

PS.-Any chance for 5.1 audio from the new transmitter?

DirecTV-...
...Soon I will hand off a piece of wire with packets dropping out of the end directly fed from KATV MC. This will hopefully correct the issue.Allen,
This is the only solution for the "KATV/Equity/DirecTV bad mpeg2>mpeg4 conversion" debacle. Thanks.

One question: Will the direct-line feed still be used after KATV 22 is back up?

PS.-Any chance for 5.1 audio from the new transmitter?

I would like to include it-will be a capital approval thing, been working on it.

A

Allen,
This is the only solution for the "KATV/Equity/DirecTV bad mpeg2>mpeg4 conversion" debacle. Thanks.

One question: Will the direct-line feed still be used after KATV 22 is back up?

yepper

yepperyippee :)

Well, AT&T U-Verse salesmen just came by here. Apparently we are one of only 6 houses on our street that is set up from the D-SLAM to get Fiber to our house. They gave us the whole spiel about it, told us the prices, and said we had a 30-day period to get out of it.

While we didn't really want TV, but just the Internet itself, they couldn't do the Internet only, so we went ahead and got the TV part too. $59 for the U200 and $35 for 6Mbps down Internet. Still cheaper than DirecTV and Comcast Internet put together. I figure I would give the U-Verse a shot and would probably just kill it in the 30 days even if it means giving up the $150 they promised us along the way, that way I would get to keep the Internet for cheaper part.

They claim they are adding 30 more HD channels in the next 3 to 4 weeks and are also bumping up their max Internet to 16Mbps in about the same timeframe I think. They also said that in 3 to 4 weeks the multi-room viewing is going to be going as well, so we can send Diego to my son's TV and not worry about watching it in the living room.

The only thing about the whole deal that worries me is:
1) how are they going to get the service to the house
2) I hope that Cartoon Network HD is one of the channels they are adding in the next few weeks (love me some clone wars hehe).

Thats about the only channel from their HD lineup that I didn't see that I watch on a regular basis. I also wonder if FSN SW and such are in HD like they are on DirecTV. I have just gotten so used to DirecTV again that I hate to switch off of it, but if we are paying something like $90 a month for it and we can get U-Verse for $59 a month, then we would be foolish not to switch. Plus, I have never been real happy with the alignment of my dish and we have had a couple of nights this season so far where we lost the dish cause of rain.

I forget who it was that got the U-Verse a while back, but if you could post up some pictures of the box that feeds out the Internet and TV so I can know what to expect, I would appreciate it. Also, if you could go through for me how they got the connection to the house, that would be great too. I would just hate for them to use the old copper that the telephone used to run on to get it into the house.

Allen: Thanks for taking the time to keep us all up to date. I know how much work you are in the middle of, and the Direct line (no pun intended) to Directv is fantastic. That offers Statewide (almost) coverage. I honestly can see no difference in OTA or Directv on Fox16, and now KATV soon will follow. The mpeg4 recordings save lots of disc space too.

Have you read the new ATSC spec (forget version number), which allows for 1080p OTA? No, I wouldn't want to replace all my ATSC receivers, but thought it was interesting. Wonder who the first will be to try it?

Steveken: You sold out your kids Cartoon network Hd for AT&T ?? Just kidding. You'll be back, and we'll be watching Ned Perme on a fiber to Mpeg4 direct link :)

Allen: Thanks for taking the time to keep us all up to date. I know how much work you are in the middle of, and the Direct line (no pun intended) to Directv is fantastic. That offers Statewide (almost) coverage. I honestly can see no difference in OTA or Directv on Fox16, and now KATV soon will follow. The mpeg4 recordings save lots of disc space too.

Have you read the new ATSC spec (forget version number), which allows for 1080p OTA? No, I wouldn't want to replace all my ATSC receivers, but thought it was interesting. Wonder who the first will be to try it?

Steveken: You sold out your kids Cartoon network Hd for AT&T ?? Just kidding. You'll be back, and we'll be watching Ned Perme on a fiber to Mpeg4 direct link :)
Wasn't his Cartoon Network HD, it's mine!!! He could care less about it most of the time. In fact, I don't think he watches anything off of it. And I am only doing the TV portion of it for the novelty. I am not sure what will come of it in the long run. It's mainly to get a better Internet service. My Comcrap has been dropping out on me and resetting itself quite often lately and I am frankly tired of it. My router is a sucky piece of silicon too.

Plus, if it really is good it will save us about $20 or so. I mean, I can use an extra $20 a month, can you? Besides, the DirecTV is only going to be suspended while we are with this. We are on a contract with them for another year I think it is, so its not like we can just cancel. If we suspend it, it will only be like 5 months left (by the time everything gets installed and we need to shut it down) when we undo it. Plus, since there is no contract with AT&T, we can just go back to DirecTV if we don't wanna get stuck with the cancellation fee and things will be back to normal, hopefully.

Well, until one of the DirecTv competitors carry the Sports pak, and MLB Extra Innings HD, its a no go for me, even if it was free :)

To be real, other than sports channels, and an occasional movie or two, the only thing I watch on DirecTv I can't get on my FTA or OTA systems, are Fox News HD, CNN HD, TWC HD, and HDNet Movies. I rarely watch anything else.... Matter of fact, if ESPN were offered in the Family Pak or with the Sports Pak, I could save $35 a month...Smart marketing people knew better than to include ESPN's in their cheap tier "grrr". I do get most ESPN games in HD free on FTA, but sometimes its a hassle trying to find which satellite its on...Takes my receiver about 5 minutes to search each satellite band, and ESPN uses two bands and about 5 different sats, that's up to 50 minutes to search them all for a feed...Easier to just turn on Directv....except for NASCAR, I'd go crazy if I had to watch the ESPN/ABC commercial frenzy with highlights of the wrecks that happened during the commercial break :) Love that non commercial coverage, and its really interesting listening to the commentators when they aren't "live".

I checked back with Arkwest here in yell county today about their IPTV service. They informed me that they still do not have HD boxes and there has been no discussion about getting them, only SD. IMO, that is not preparing for the future. They acknowledged that they have had complaints from people using HDTVs about the blocking. I've got news for them, when that current customers old analog tv wears out, stops working or they just decide its time for a new tv, they are gonna lose more customers when they see all the blocking on that new HDTV when their old analog set never had that problem, it makes no sense to me at all to provide everything you need for HD then skip out on the STB that can deliver it to the tv:confused:. One of the techs that works for them (my neighbor) told me about a year ago that he also does not understand it. He said he tried to get them to invest in the HD boxes but they were more expensive so they said no. He said it really aggravates him that they are delivering the capability of HD to the house, to the modems and then the SD STB that hooks to the tv degrades it down to analog quality, basically they deliver the signal then cut the legs out from under it with the SD only capable box. All I know is that as long as they stay with the SD Amino box, I wont be a customer. What these folks dont seem to understand is that all HDTV's make their signal with sports look like crap. Imagine a $2,000 HDTV like mine and then the main source I want to feed it connects via COMPOSITE! No way, not on my HDTV, I'll just stay with Directv and OTA.

Steven, I hope they are setting you up with HD capable boxes, you better check out the box and the way they hook it up to your tv. BTW, when Arkwest ran Fiber optics all over this area a few years back , I dont remember them changing the copper wire to the house. However, they may have changed it before that, I cant remember. So there is probably a good chance you'll still be stuck with the copper wire between your house and the box, but I dont know much about that stuff, it may be standard procedure to leave the old wires from the box to the house.

Originally Posted by Davenlr:
Very good advice. Indoor antennas should be labeled "For Emergency Use Only". What's up with KATV? Equity get pissed at em? I thought maybe they were running fiber to the uplink center for us, but the OTA-DT is off too.

Watch for WABC to be turned on for us in Prime Time if its not fixed.

EDIT: Well, Just checked and OTA-DT is back up on 44-3.



Dave,

I hope you're right about WABC...do you have reason to believe this or just hopeful? Tonight KATV's video and audio were so out of sync it was unwatchable on DirecTV. Seemed okay on OTA.

Yeah, but how long is is going to be fixed this time???

In addition, I have yet to see the station run an apology to let the average viewer know it's not the fault of their receiver. Guess the stations don't have to apologize for "Technical Difficulties" any longer.

Well, AT&T U-Verse salesmen just came by here. Apparently we are one of only 6 houses on our street that is set up from the D-SLAM to get Fiber to our house. They gave us the whole spiel about it, told us the prices, and said we had a 30-day period to get out of it.

While we didn't really want TV, but just the Internet itself, they couldn't do the Internet only, so we went ahead and got the TV part too. $59 for the U200 and $35 for 6Mbps down Internet. Still cheaper than DirecTV and Comcast Internet put together. I figure I would give the U-Verse a shot and would probably just kill it in the 30 days even if it means giving up the $150 they promised us along the way, that way I would get to keep the Internet for cheaper part.

They claim they are adding 30 more HD channels in the next 3 to 4 weeks and are also bumping up their max Internet to 16Mbps in about the same timeframe I think. They also said that in 3 to 4 weeks the multi-room viewing is going to be going as well, so we can send Diego to my son's TV and not worry about watching it in the living room.

The only thing about the whole deal that worries me is:
1) how are they going to get the service to the house
2) I hope that Cartoon Network HD is one of the channels they are adding in the next few weeks (love me some clone wars hehe).

Thats about the only channel from their HD lineup that I didn't see that I watch on a regular basis. I also wonder if FSN SW and such are in HD like they are on DirecTV. I have just gotten so used to DirecTV again that I hate to switch off of it, but if we are paying something like $90 a month for it and we can get U-Verse for $59 a month, then we would be foolish not to switch. Plus, I have never been real happy with the alignment of my dish and we have had a couple of nights this season so far where we lost the dish cause of rain.

I forget who it was that got the U-Verse a while back, but if you could post up some pictures of the box that feeds out the Internet and TV so I can know what to expect, I would appreciate it. Also, if you could go through for me how they got the connection to the house, that would be great too. I would just hate for them to use the old copper that the telephone used to run on to get it into the house.


I have followed the U-Verse deployment for about 3 years, reading about it in areas like Houston, Dallas and other areas and watching the vrad cabinets (I think they're called) pop up in the area where I live (NLR). If fact, based on what I was reading and since I already use ATT for everything else except tv, I was thinking I would sign up for U-Verse as soon as it became available. Not to be, since now that it is being offered, I cannot get it. In the interim, I've become more firmly attached to DirecTV (their customer since 1997).

Steve, FYI, if you're in the neighborhood of the ATT store in the new shopping center in WLR (where JC Penney is now located), they have U-Verse running live in the store. Last time I checked it was not in either of the ATT company stores in NLR. I was in the WLR store 2-3 weeks ago and sat down and played with it for awhile. The only plus I saw over DirecTV was how fast the channels changed using the remote. The programming choices did not measure up to DirecTV and in my perception the quality of the HD picture was not quite up to what I have become accustomed to on DirecTV and OTA. Anyway, after spending a little time watching U-Verse, I wasn't so disappointed about not being able to get it.

Please keep us posted on how it works out for you.

I checked back with Arkwest here in yell county today about their IPTV service. They informed me that they still do not have HD boxes and there has been no discussion about getting them, only SD. IMO, that is not preparing for the future. They acknowledged that they have had complaints from people using HDTVs about the blocking. I've got news for them, when that current customers old analog tv wears out, stops working or they just decide its time for a new tv, they are gonna lose more customers when they see all the blocking on that new HDTV when their old analog set never had that problem, it makes no sense to me at all to provide everything you need for HD then skip out on the STB that can deliver it to the tv:confused:. One of the techs that works for them (my neighbor) told me about a year ago that he also does not understand it. He said he tried to get them to invest in the HD boxes but they were more expensive so they said no. He said it really aggravates him that they are delivering the capability of HD to the house, to the modems and then the SD STB that hooks to the tv degrades it down to analog quality, basically they deliver the signal then cut the legs out from under it with the SD only capable box. All I know is that as long as they stay with the SD Amino box, I wont be a customer. What these folks dont seem to understand is that all HDTV's make their signal with sports look like crap. Imagine a $2,000 HDTV like mine and then the main source I want to feed it connects via COMPOSITE! No way, not on my HDTV, I'll just stay with Directv and OTA.

Steven, I hope they are setting you up with HD capable boxes, you better check out the box and the way they hook it up to your tv. BTW, when Arkwest ran Fiber optics all over this area a few years back , I dont remember them changing the copper wire to the house. However, they may have changed it before that, I cant remember. So there is probably a good chance you'll still be stuck with the copper wire between your house and the box, but I dont know much about that stuff, it may be standard procedure to leave the old wires from the box to the house.
Every U-Verse box is HD automatically. And, yes, it appears as though they use your POTS copper to the house. Mine copper somewhat upgraded a few years ago when the jackasses that were putting up my fence cut through the original. I can't remember how much of it the phone guy replaced, but I do know that he left part of it sticking out of the ground near the fence that I am still pissed about to this day.

From there it appears as though they hook that into some other box or something, then run the TV's off of that. I don't know if they run the TV's via coax, or run Cat5e or Cat6 to each TV. I hope its the latter and they pop in the jacks for free. The salesman said they would run network jacks for free. And, if its really going to take 4 to 6 hours to get this crap set up, then I would imagine part of that is popping in jacks. I don't wanna dick with my coax from my DirecTV dish in the likely event that I say the hell with U-Verse TV.

Steve, FYI, if you're in the neighborhood of the ATT store in the new shopping center in WLR (where JC Penney is now located), they have U-Verse running live in the store. I was in the WLR store 2-3 weeks ago and sat down and played with it for awhile. The only plus I saw over DirecTV was how fast the channels changed using the remote. The programming choices did not measure up to DirecTV and in my perception the quality of the HD picture was not quite up to what I have become accustomed to on DirecTV and OTA. Anyway, after spending a little time watching U-Verse, I wasn't so disappointed about not being able to get it.

Yeah, I had pretty much the same opinion after looking at it in the Shackleford Crossing store. It looked pretty crappy to me, but I was just assuming its because they didn't have enough bandwidth from the DSLAM to feed it a fast enough connection. I am pretty close to my box, so I would think mine might be better.

In any case, the main reason I am doing this is because not only is Comcast like $15 higher for the same speed Internet, but they are actually INCREASING rates on a couple of fronts. Also, over the past week or so I have had periods where my damn modem would just resync itself and make me have to sit and wait for extended periods for no obvious reason. I figured it might be because of them installing their new load balancing equipment, but I dunno. Just tired of the crap screwing up and their threats of usage caps.

So, even though I am going to lose my ClearQAM most probably, I am wanting to get away from Comcast. I just hope the Internet is good enough for me. The only way I could get the U-Verse Internet was by getting the TV too. The sales guy said I could cancel the TV portion and keep the Internet, so, if that's true, then its good enough for me. :)

Well, AT&T U-Verse salesmen just came by here. Apparently we are one of only 6 houses on our street that is set up from the D-SLAM to get Fiber to our house. They gave us the whole spiel about it, told us the prices, and said we had a 30-day period to get out of it.

While we didn't really want TV, but just the Internet itself, they couldn't do the Internet only, so we went ahead and got the TV part too. $59 for the U200 and $35 for 6Mbps down Internet. Still cheaper than DirecTV and Comcast Internet put together. I figure I would give the U-Verse a shot and would probably just kill it in the 30 days even if it means giving up the $150 they promised us along the way, that way I would get to keep the Internet for cheaper part.

They claim they are adding 30 more HD channels in the next 3 to 4 weeks and are also bumping up their max Internet to 16Mbps in about the same timeframe I think. They also said that in 3 to 4 weeks the multi-room viewing is going to be going as well, so we can send Diego to my son's TV and not worry about watching it in the living room.

The only thing about the whole deal that worries me is:
1) how are they going to get the service to the house
2) I hope that Cartoon Network HD is one of the channels they are adding in the next few weeks (love me some clone wars hehe).

Thats about the only channel from their HD lineup that I didn't see that I watch on a regular basis. I also wonder if FSN SW and such are in HD like they are on DirecTV. I have just gotten so used to DirecTV again that I hate to switch off of it, but if we are paying something like $90 a month for it and we can get U-Verse for $59 a month, then we would be foolish not to switch. Plus, I have never been real happy with the alignment of my dish and we have had a couple of nights this season so far where we lost the dish cause of rain.

I forget who it was that got the U-Verse a while back, but if you could post up some pictures of the box that feeds out the Internet and TV so I can know what to expect, I would appreciate it. Also, if you could go through for me how they got the connection to the house, that would be great too. I would just hate for them to use the old copper that the telephone used to run on to get it into the house.

Steveken, I think I'm the guy you are looking for. I can share my hook up experience and facts with you. I'm about 1500 ft from the VRAD as the cable is laid. It is fiber optic to that point, then copper to the house. They will work on your phone box outside. You need to REQUEST CAT5 be run and to NOT cut your coax. He ran the CAT5 from the box out back, around the house, to my office, where I wanted the Gateway (their modem/router). Then he ran another CAT5 back following the same route to my living room for the set top box. I specifically wanted it that way b/c I didn't want the Gateway in my living room. Otherwise it would have just been one line to there. There's no ethernet jacks, if that was what you are referring to.

The Gateway takes upwards to 10 minutes to come online fully. Don't look forward to days when the power goes out. It has a built in router, but I turned it off b/c I'm an Apple fanboy and like my Airport Extreme. The technician will probably not know how to do that, so just smile and nod at everything he says, then go back and set your stuff up later. LOL

My internet is great. It has never gone out. I'm on the 6 Mbps level of service. Very pleased.

TV picture quality is livable. That's about all I can say. It is definitely NOT better than *D or *E and comparable to Comcrap. When my service was finally up (after 4 days of technicians) and a few setting adjustments on my TV, I'm good with the PQ. There are some ongoing issues, however. The HDMI firmware is not passing surround sound, so you only get 2.0 sound from it. Therefore I'm running component and optical audio. But there's issues there...the audio goes out and back in--like a brief pause--about every minute or so. Sometimes I don't notice; other times I do. But it is the lesser of the two evils, so I put up with it. The third issue, which I confirmed just this morning...for some reason all-white images (like at the end of commercials or the full Apple ads or some transitions in shows) go crazy. But it goes away and the picture comes back as soon as the white background is gone. /shrug

Like you, I hate Comcast. I'm saving $40/month over them with the U200 and 3rd level of internet. Plus for all my trouble, they are taking 10% of that for a year. (I also have been automatically upgraded straight to Tier 2 support now. Ha) The money savings and the fact they are not Comcast compensate the slightly poorer quality of HD to me.

As far as the navigation, it IS fast channel changing. You can set your DVR from any internet connection. I can't speak to the whole home DVR as it is just me and one TV. SD--the few times I watch it--is very nice. I miss my "favorites" button on the remote. You have to navigate too far in the menu to make setting them up and using that feature worth it. I like being able preview a channel in a PIP way without actually changing the channel. I like how they organize the channels. For example, CBS-SD is 11 and CBS-HD is 1011. ESPN is 602, ESPN-HD is 1602. And so on.

To answer your specific channel line up question, there IS Fox Sports SW in HD, but only when they are actually broadcasting in HD. A lot of times it is "off the air". I don't think there is Cartoon Network in HD and it isn't in the list of 30 channels they are adding next month. One other programming note, they actually have ESPN-U!! Woohoo! Everything else I emailed you the list.

I will say that support--billing or technical--is excellent. It's friendly, familiar, and they will work with you until you are satisfied. Been a good experience through all the trouble of getting it set up.

Lemme know if I can answer any more questions.

The screencaps from last Friday evening, as promised...


WPMI-DT 15-2 Mobile, AL
http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/2982/1017h23m46ch152nbcweathcx9.th.png (http://img505.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1017h23m46ch152nbcweathcx9.png)


WLOX-DT 13-2 Biloxi, MS
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/1511/1017h23m48ch132247weathyi4.th.png (http://img136.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1017h23m48ch132247weathyi4.png)http://img136.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

Every U-Verse box is HD automatically. And, yes, it appears as though they use your POTS copper to the house. Mine copper somewhat upgraded a few years ago when the jackasses that were putting up my fence cut through the original. I can't remember how much of it the phone guy replaced, but I do know that he left part of it sticking out of the ground near the fence that I am still pissed about to this day.

From there it appears as though they hook that into some other box or something, then run the TV's off of that. I don't know if they run the TV's via coax, or run Cat5e or Cat6 to each TV. I hope its the latter and they pop in the jacks for free. The salesman said they would run network jacks for free. And, if its really going to take 4 to 6 hours to get this crap set up, then I would imagine part of that is popping in jacks. I don't wanna dick with my coax from my DirecTV dish in the likely event that I say the hell with U-Verse TV.

Steve, when Arkwest ran my IPTV, they came into the house to a modem which could operate an internet DSL connection and Two Tvs. From the modem they run the Cat5 to each TV where it plugs to the STB they supply. Then you have your usual outputs to connect the TV. The STB Amino boxes that Arkwest uses only offers RCA Composite or S-video connection from the STB to the TV, however, we could never get the S-vid to work on any of the TV's so we had to go with the lowest of the low to connect, Composite. Their Amino DVR's offer an additional Component YPBr output for the Tv, but its only 480i component and not 480p. 480i component looks like crap on an HDTV. So, they should run Cat 5 to each room and hook it to the Ethernet connector on the back of the STB. They plug your regular phone line into the modem first, then out with the cat 5 from the modem and to the STB's. At least that is the way they did mine, hope this helps:)

... 480i component looks like crap on an HDTV.Yes, it does.

But 480i component does look very very good on an old Panasonic SD CRT I have, which has a 480i component input. It's the only SD CRT I've ever seen that has component input.

I used to have an old Hughes D* Standard Def box with component output connected to this Panasonic set. But it bit the dust. So, I've got a DirecTV HR20-700 DVR connected to it now. The box cost me a little bit up front, but the monthly cost is the same as if it was an SD receiver only. Picture quality's better and I get all the HD channels on it, too. In SD, of course...

My HR20 is hooked to one of those 7" widescreen Accurian portable lcd tv's...Its SD, but the PQ is awesome :)

Yes, it does.

But 480i component does look very very good on an old Panasonic SD CRT I have, which has a 480i component input. It's the only SD CRT I've ever seen that has component input.

I used to have an old Hughes D* Standard Def box with component output connected to this Panasonic set. But it bit the dust. So, I've got a DirecTV HR20-700 DVR connected to it now. The box cost me a little bit up front, but the monthly cost is the same as if it was an SD receiver only. Picture quality's better and I get all the HD channels on it, too. In SD, of course...
I have an SD CRT in my bedroom that has component inputs. Its a 19" Sanyo Flat Tube SD CRT I bought at Wally World a few years back.

Yes, it does.

But 480i component does look very very good on an old Panasonic SD CRT I have, which has a 480i component input. It's the only SD CRT I've ever seen that has component input.

I used to have an old Hughes D* Standard Def box with component output connected to this Panasonic set. But it bit the dust. So, I've got a DirecTV HR20-700 DVR connected to it now. The box cost me a little bit up front, but the monthly cost is the same as if it was an SD receiver only. Picture quality's better and I get all the HD channels on it, too. In SD, of course...

This is where Arkwest made a mistake with their IPTV. Most folks have these boxes hooked up to an older analog set, and as you say, it looks great on them. But these sets will die, be thrown out or simply replaced sometime down the road. They will be replaced with an HDTV, and that is when the IPTV will rear its ugly head and folks will say.......Hello...is this Directv? When can you set me up?

Allenf: My condolences to all the people at KATV on your loss. I was shocked when I heard the report on Fox News this morning. Hope they catch the guy fast.

Allenf: My condolences to all the people at KATV on your loss. I was shocked when I heard the report on Fox News this morning. Hope they catch the guy fast.

Ann Pressley passing is truly sad, my condolences to her family, friends and everyone at KATV. I just cant imagine nor do I ever want to know the pain her family must be going thru.

I just cant imagine nor do I ever want to know the pain her family must be going thru.

I'm all in favor of reducing the time for drug offenses and non-violent crimes to make room for mandatory life w/o parole for all violent offenders. Crimes like this, likely for $100 and a tank of gas are just beyond my comprehension.

The man leasing (http://www.thedailycitizen.com/articles/2008/10/27/news/local_news/news03.txt) KTWN to Crain Media is apparently in some hot water.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081028/ap_on_re_us/tv_anchor_attacked;_ylt=AiWolMbq5h4rQx60UEtD1HvLLJ94

Ann Pressley passing is truly sad, my condolences to her family, friends and everyone at KATV. I just cant imagine nor do I ever want to know the pain her family must be going thru.

I was searching through AVS to clear my mind a bit and thought I'd see what was going on in this thread.

As a member of her family, I thank you for your condolences. We have been overwhelmed at the outpouring of love and prayers. Anne was my niece, and you are right - the pain is there - but knowing she has gone on to be with her Heavenly Father gives us some solace. It will be a long healing process, but we will somehow make it through. Her bright star is now shining in Heaven. God bless you all.

Anne's Aunt Pam

I was searching through AVS to clear my mind a bit and thought I'd see what was going on in this thread.

As a member of her family, I thank you for your condolences. We have been overwhelmed at the outpouring of love and prayers. Anne was my niece, and you are right - the pain is there - but knowing she has gone on to be with her Heavenly Father gives us some solace. It will be a long healing process, but we will somehow make it through. Her bright star is now shining in Heaven. God bless you all.

Anne's Aunt Pam

Thanks for checking in Pam, and my condolences go out to you and your family.

I was searching through AVS to clear my mind a bit and thought I'd see what was going on in this thread.

As a member of her family, I thank you for your condolences. We have been overwhelmed at the outpouring of love and prayers. Anne was my niece, and you are right - the pain is there - but knowing she has gone on to be with her Heavenly Father gives us some solace. It will be a long healing process, but we will somehow make it through. Her bright star is now shining in Heaven. God bless you all.

Anne's Aunt Pam

Pam W, I think I speak for everyone here in the Ark thread when I say our hearts go out to you and your whole family. My wife and I have 4 children of our own and it hurts to think of Anne and what happened to her. She was someones beautiful daughter, something like this could happen to any of our children or even us, we just never know the future. Its such a cruel world we live in, but God knows all things, he knows who did this. In times like this all one can do is just believe that God will give us the comfort and strenght to make it thru. In closing, I'll say this. What a beautiful woman Anne was both inside and out, we will truly miss her shinning face and uplifting smile. God bless you and your family in this tragic time in your lives. Please come back and visit us from time to time just to say HI:) and let us know how you and the family are doing. We truly care, and you and your family will always be in our prayers.

On 2-17-2009 At Midnight or a little before, I'm gonna tune to one of the analog channels to witness it officially go off the air. That night will end and Era in broadcasting, I'd like to be watching when the tv goes to snow. That may not make a lot of sense to some, but I'll feel a little sad when analog ceases. After all, it will be history in the making and I will be able to say I was there and witnessed it first hand. Much like the turn of the century in 2000 which also marked the Millenium. Wow, in our life times, we've witnessed some true markers in the history of man. On the bright side, as soon as the analogs shut off, I'm going to be scanning like crazy for the next few days with my fingers crossed hoping I lock many new stations:D Just read on AETN's website that they plan on digitally covering all the areas their analog signal covered for years. Hope I can still get them down here in Yell county. They say on the site that right now they have a emergency transmitter which is very low power and cant cover much area, also they are only about half the height on the KASN tower as they were on the KATV tower. They also mentioned having to currently keep power very low as to not interfere with KFSM 5 in Fort Smith and a ch 5 out of Memphis.

On 2-17-2009 At Midnight or a little before, I'm gonna tune to one of the analog channels to witness it officially go off the air. That night will end and Era in broadcasting, I'd like to be watching when the tv goes to snow. That may not make a lot of sense to some, but I'll feel a little sad when analog ceases. After all, it will be history in the making and I will be able to say I was there and witnessed it first hand. Much like the turn of the century in 2000 which also marked the Millenium. Wow, in our life times, we've witnessed some true markers in the history of man. On the bright side, as soon as the analogs shut off, I'm going to be scanning like crazy for the next few days with my fingers crossed hoping I lock many new stations:D
You know, I would think it would go to snow too, but there are some ambiguous statements out there about it. For instance, KATV keeps running that crawler across the top of the screen during some shows that says stuff like "full-power" broadcasting will be coming to an end and some people "may" lose programming from them. Every time I see this I wonder, does that mean they will have low power analog on the air???

You know, I would think it would go to snow too, but there are some ambiguous statements out there about it. For instance, KATV keeps running that crawler across the top of the screen during some shows that says stuff like "full-power" broadcasting will be coming to an end and some people "may" lose programming from them. Every time I see this I wonder, does that mean they will have low power analog on the air???

I dont know, but I guess on 2-17-09 we are gonna find out. All the stations have been very vague in their explanations about what is truly gonna happen. Makes me wonder if they even truly know, they all could be looking at each other in confusion and saying .......HUH:confused:

Low power analog will indeed still be available, they are not covered by the Feb 09 switchover deadline. I don't know the exact power level that the FCC uses to determine.

Currently, I get a couple stations which might quality... Ch 9, ch 20, ch 28, ch 36, and ch 58. It might be by the license type rather than actual power...Im not real sure.

Low power analog will indeed still be available, they are not covered by the Feb 09 switchover deadline. I don't know the exact power level that the FCC uses to determine.

Currently, I get a couple stations which might quality... Ch 9, ch 20, ch 28, ch 36, and ch 58. It might be by the license type rather than actual power...Im not real sure.

It is license type. The FCC power caps are as follows:

Analog VHF: 3 kW
Analog UHF: 150 kW

Digital VHF: 0.3 kW
Digital UHF: 15 kW

- Trip

Low power analog will indeed still be available, they are not covered by the Feb 09 switchover deadline. I don't know the exact power level that the FCC uses to determine.

Currently, I get a couple stations which might quality... Ch 9, ch 20, ch 28, ch 36, and ch 58. It might be by the license type rather than actual power...Im not real sure.
I am not talking about just any station, I am talking about on KATV which I believe falls under the category of cutting all analog service. Their crawl sounds like it might still be available, however.

... KATV keeps running that crawler across the top of the screen during some shows that says stuff like "full-power" broadcasting will be coming to an end and some people "may" lose programming from them. Every time I see this I wonder, does that mean they will have low power analog on the air???"May lose" instead of "will lose" is to cover a station's a**. That way, if you happen to not need a converter, don't know it, and buy one that isn't needed or can't be used (cable or sat-only viewer), it's not the station's fault. Because they said you "may" lose your signal, not "will" lose it.

Some LPTV analogs will still be around for some time. Even LPTVs on channels 52-69 in the 700mhz band that were auctioned off may stick around until the auction winners tell them to shut down. But they're on a sinking ship...

Full power stations like katv, KTHV, etc. don't have licenses to continue operating analog TV at low power. And their analog licenses will not be extended.

Thanks, Sam. That makes a little more sense. I didn't think about it in that respect.

You know, I would think it would go to snow too, but there are some ambiguous statements out there about it. For instance, KATV keeps running that crawler across the top of the screen during some shows that says stuff like "full-power" broadcasting will be coming to an end and some people "may" lose programming from them. Every time I see this I wonder, does that mean they will have low power analog on the air???
I thought those vague statements that are being made were to account for the fact that the viewer "may" have cable and not be using the OTA transmission to view their programming as well as they "may" have a digital ATSC TV already.

dmatch

Did anyone lose DNS HD channels from DirecTV on Monday? I assume this is the turn off you guys were talking about. I never got a phone call from D* so I didn't know if I would lose mine or not. Actually, they are off on one of my receivers and still working on the other.

Did anyone lose DNS HD channels from DirecTV on Monday? Mine went away yesterday.

Folks in the FSM/NWA DMA are still getting theirs, but will lose them when NWA locals are added to D* soon.

Springfield, MO DMA viewers in Northern Ark. (Boone, Carroll, Newton, etc.) will also lose their HD DNS soon too, with the exception of WNBC-DT. The owners of KYTV, the NBC affiliate in Springfield, haven't reached an HD carriage agreement w/ D* yet.

Mine went away yesterday.

Folks in the FSM/NWA DMA are still getting theirs, but will lose them when NWA locals are added to D* soon.

Springfield, MO DMA viewers in Northern Ark. (Boone, Carroll, Newton, etc.) will also lose their HD DNS soon too, with the exception of WNBC-DT. The owners of KYTV, the NBC affiliate in Springfield, haven't reached an HD carriage agreement w/ D* yet.

Are you keeping your SD distant networks? I'm kind of torn. I only use them to record shows like the amazing race that comes on Sunday night and the start time is off because of football (I can use LA), or to watch other NFL/NCAA games that might be shown in markets other than ours. But at ~$150 a year for E/W all 4 networks for a few games and a few shows, it seems like a waste.

I guess my biggest reason for thinking about keeping them is knowing I will never get them back if I drop them.

Are you keeping your SD distant networks?I didn't qualify for SD DNS - only HD DNS, and only from NY.

I guess my biggest reason for thinking about keeping them is knowing I will never get them back if I drop them.There are ways to get them back, but it's becoming more and more difficult.

I don't really miss NY channels much. I only used them as backup and to record networks in MPEG4, which uses less DVR hard drive space. I still get HD locals from three markets; Springfield MO, Ft Smith and LR.

SD DNS (Eastern) is available free if you are in the country and can find someone willing to give you their old C band dish. All 5 network affiliates are available. ABC and CW are also available in HD, free.
Mountain Time ABC, NBC and Fox also available.

I lost my HD DNS channels from NY on Sunday October 26th. Saturday the 25th, I watched football on ABC and CBS from NY. Next day they were gone.:( I used them mainly for sports. On Saturdays and Sundays, they carried games that were not available in our region. Therefore I got our games on the Antenna, and additional games from the DNS's. Sad day for my sports selections and availability

I lost my HD DNS channels from NY on Sunday October 26th. Saturday the 25th, I watched football on ABC and CBS from NY. Next day they were gone.:( I used them mainly for sports. On Saturdays and Sundays, they carried games that were not available in our region. Therefore I got our games on the Antenna, and additional games from the DNS's. Sad day for my sports selections and availabilityLOL, I mainly watched WABC-DT for Wheel of Fortune in HD.

Fortunately, KFSM-DT just added local HD timeshift capability, so their delayed and syndicated HD programming, including WOF is all in HD now. Great timing http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/images/icons/icon14.gif

Fortunately, KFSM-DT just added local HD timeshift capability, so their delayed and syndicated HD programming, including WOF is all in HD now. Great timing

Is Wheel and Jeopardy supposed to be in like widescreen HD? I ask because I keep seeing it say HD beside the show name, but it still looks like regular 4:3 SD content. Just wondering.

Is Wheel and Jeopardy supposed to be in like widescreen HD? I ask because I keep seeing it say HD beside the show name, but it still looks like regular 4:3 SD content. Just wondering.

They're not in HD on KATV-DT yet, if that's what you're watching.

Is Wheel and Jeopardy supposed to be in like widescreen HD? I ask because I keep seeing it say HD beside the show name, but it still looks like regular 4:3 SD content. Just wondering.WOF & Jeopardy have been 16:9 full HD for a long some time now. At least they have been on WABC-DT.

IIRC, it still says "HD Where available", which of course, would not include katv.

Well, that just figures. :) And, yeah, they may say where available, but I know on Jeopardy for certain that through the whole show it says "Jeopardy HD" in the lower portion of the screen, so I just assumed it was HD, but just 4:3 HD.

I'm pretty sure whenever any of the local stations acquire the ability to record and playback any non-network HD content, it will be heavily discussed here. :) I personally was hoping KASN-DT would have be able to do HD by this weekend's debut of "The Legend of the Seeker" but AFAIK that's still not the case.

Well, that just figures. :) And, yeah, they may say where available, but I know on Jeopardy for certain that through the whole show it says "Jeopardy HD" in the lower portion of the screen, so I just assumed it was HD, but just 4:3 HD.There's a definite, very noticeable difference in HD 16:9 vs SD 4:3 versions of these shows. WOF, particularly. Both are 16:9 and likely shot in 1080p, with the locals rebroadcasting them in 720p or 1080i. KFSM-DT (http://www.kfsm.com) is 1080i.

I'm pretty sure whenever any of the local stations acquire the ability to record and playback any non-network HD content, it will be heavily discussed here. :) I personally was hoping KASN-DT would have be able to do HD by this weekend's debut of "The Legend of the Seeker" but AFAIK that's still not the case.
Have these people never heard of a fricken TiVo?????? LOL

Have these people never heard of a fricken TiVo?????? LOL

I realize a broadcast station is a little more complex to run, but I can record 4 HD channels at one time and play them back whenever I want. Why can't our local networks?

I realize a broadcast station is a little more complex to run, but I can record 4 HD channels at one time and play them back whenever I want. Why can't our local networks?

Using comsumer grade recorders when those 480i digital decks record SD so well? You are kidding right?

Using comsumer grade recorders when those 480i digital decks record SD so well? You are kidding right?
Are you kidding? :)

I'M being sarcastic. PBS prempts Nova in HD to time shift it an hour to SD, and I record it off their satellite in HD on a $199 usb recorder... Ill even buy em one if they would use it.

I knew you were. I wish we could get the engineers that spy on us here to tell us what the reasons are that they don't buy even a low end device to time shift in HD.

I realize a broadcast station is a little more complex to run, but I can record 4 HD channels at one time and play them back whenever I want. Why can't our local networks?They can.

If their parent company allows purchase of the equipment to do it.

They can.

If their parent company allows purchase of the equipment to do it.
general cop out response that the corporate suits usually give. *shakes head*

general cop out response that the corporate suits usually give. *shakes head*sorry if the truth hurts.

sorry if the truth hurts.
wasn't meaning you.

Rocky Horror Picture Show in HD, KWBF-DT, and MnTV-HD on Gal 16 if you want some bandwidth.

Classic halloween movie.

Too bad not true HD. Just stretch out HD on KWBF. Close enough I guess....shrug.

I'm watching the MyTV HD feed on Gal 16, and it looks great. I wonder if KWBF is taking down the MyTV SD feed and stretching it?
I'm recording both, will do a compare tomorrow with screen caps.

Too bad you don't have a Slingbox that would do HD. Would love to stream it from you. :) Guess I just need to buy it on BD.

I missed the first segment on Gal16, but have it on KWBF. Ill try to edit the first segment and the Gal16 feed minus commercials together into a mpeg4 HD file and if it turns out, you can P2P it from me.

Cracks me up, they "Fuzzied out" the breast on the medusa statues...hilarious.

Edit: Looks like MnTV is going to show it again for West coast at 10pm, so Ill try to grab the first segment then. Never tried to edit two h.264 video files together, so we will see what happens. Computer is running now cutting the commercials out of the main 1.75 hr movie file now.

Well, they reran the movie, so I recaptured the whole thing. Cutting commercials now. File will be 8 GB, so should fit on one DL DVD data disc. Its in H.264/AC3.

Well, that just figures. :) And, yeah, they may say where available, but I know on Jeopardy for certain that through the whole show it says "Jeopardy HD" in the lower portion of the screen, so I just assumed it was HD, but just 4:3 HD.

I've seen the same thing arxaw has seen on KFSM DT 5.1 out of the FS market. I watched Wheel of Fortune in all its Glory in HD the other night. 16x9 Full HD, looks great. I also checked the shows on 7.1 KATV OTA (42.3) and KATV via Directv. KATV is definitely still 4:3 standard crap o vision. Flipping from Wheel of Fortune on KATV to KFSM is like going from a Horse and Buggy to a Brand New Ferrari:) All you've gotta do is figure out a way to get KFSM 5.1 via OTA Steve. If you'd just go on up to Shinall Mt and put your antenna about 1,100 feet up on one of the Towers, you might get it:D

Ill bet after Feb, when all the stations can put their full attention to running one ATSC, they will start investing in HD equipment. Right now, I'm sure a lot of funds are being tied up running dual setups. Hopefully.
I just captured, edited, and played a two HR movie in HD, using a total of $1500 of equipment and software, and the results were perfect, so I know they can do it. I'm guessing the reason they don't, is their current NTSC switchers and mixing consoles won't support the HD video, and we see how choppy it looks when they switch back and forth from local to network. I'm not sure how many stations are running Inversion (Computer server based switchers, and VTR tape controller), but KWBF was, and it was 480i only at the time. I'm sure it will be a while. It will be interesting to see which station goes to full HD master control first. I'm betting one or both of the Clear Channels...although KATV's owner has some other stations doing HD news I think.

Ill bet after Feb, when all the stations can put their full attention to running one ATSC, they will start investing in HD equipment. Right now, I'm sure a lot of funds are being tied up running dual setups. Hopefully.
I just captured, edited, and played a two HR movie in HD, using a total of $1500 of equipment and software, and the results were perfect, so I know they can do it. I'm guessing the reason they don't, is their current NTSC switchers and mixing consoles won't support the HD video, and we see how choppy it looks when they switch back and forth from local to network. I'm not sure how many stations are running Inversion (Computer server based switchers, and VTR tape controller), but KWBF was, and it was 480i only at the time. I'm sure it will be a while. It will be interesting to see which station goes to full HD master control first. I'm betting one or both of the Clear Channels...although KATV's owner has some other stations doing HD news I think.

I dont know about their studio, but KATV's tower and transmitter setup should be state of the art and more adavanced than the other broadcasters. Thing is, will KATV use this to their advantage, or just sit back and be the last to get things done like they have been traditionally?

I don't know. Unfortunantly, the STL and transmitter are only half the story. If the master control room equipment is all NTSC, then that's the best they can do, except when the directly connect the network sat downlink into their STL, which effectively bypasses all master control. They have added at least some capability (severe weather overlays), so its just a matter of money to replace the recorder decks with HD, and the switchers.
The transmitter was a big expense. Once that is taken care of, I'm sure we will see improvements. PBS has no excuse though, they are prempting and time shifting prime time HD programming, knowing they don't have the equipment to do so without losing the HD...thats inexcusable IMHO.

I don't know. Unfortunantly, the STL and transmitter are only half the story. If the master control room equipment is all NTSC, then that's the best they can do, except when the directly connect the network sat downlink into their STL, which effectively bypasses all master control. They have added at least some capability (severe weather overlays), so its just a matter of money to replace the recorder decks with HD, and the switchers.
The transmitter was a big expense. Once that is taken care of, I'm sure we will see improvements. PBS has no excuse though, they are prempting and time shifting prime time HD programming, knowing they don't have the equipment to do so without losing the HD...thats inexcusable IMHO.

Does PBS use the "we are publicly funded" "we cant afford it" cop-out?

Does PBS use the "we are publicly funded" "we cant afford it" cop-out?
If they do, then I say we somehow get messages to their state/governing board before the next meeting and let them know until they resolve the problem, they will get no more funds from us as the general public. They can run telethons as much as they want, but they won't get anywhere from those of us who know what is right and wrong.

AFAIK, the only other local HD around here is Tulsa local news...
KJRH-DT (http://www.kjrh.com) 56
http://i35.tinypic.com/2wcgmc3.jpg

If AETN intends to take advantage of the new file delivery system being implemented by PBS then it would be somewhat wasteful to spend a lot of time, effort or money on a short-term solution for time-shifting HD. The Next Generation Interconnection System (NGIS) that PBS is now in the process of building should take care of all that.

It is my *guess* that this may have something to do with their decision making. I don't know much about the time-line of implementing the NGIS but I think they started the process back in 2006 so they might be about ready to go with it soon. I would be interested to know if Kelly knows anything regarding this. Are you there Kelly?

dmatch

If AETN intends to take advantage of the new file delivery system being implemented by PBS then it would be somewhat wasteful to spend a lot of time, effort or money on a short-term solution for time-shifting HD. The Next Generation Interconnection System (NGIS) that PBS is now in the process of building should take care of all that.

It is my *guess* that this may have something to do with their decision making. I don't know much about the time-line of implementing the NGIS but I think they started the process back in 2006 so they might be about ready to go with it soon. I would be interested to know if Kelly knows anything regarding this. Are you there Kelly?

dmatch

What's NGIS? I sort of HD video on demand PBS stations can use to pull network programs off the networks servers whenever they like? If so, that would be cool.

I also noticed my DVR is showing KETS running at 720p now... wonder if that's permanant, or just a fluke?

I hope they keep their brand shiny new satellite they just moved to...I can pull in both HD and all SD PBS net feeds on a little 3' dish with great signals now since they moved a few weeks ago, off their weak and low power AMC3 sat.

NGIS is a file delivery system that local PBS affiliates will be able to use to get video files delivered via ASI (probably fiber optics) instead of having to record them from the live satellite stream. I hope they still keep a live satellite stream after the switchover though

I can't explain it too well so maybe a google of PBS NGIS would get better explanations.

dmatch

Didn't understand it to well reading on it either. Seems to be a digital video on demand for affiliates using satellite...AMC21 to be specific. They are already using MPEG2 for PBS-HD1 and 2, using one transponder. They are either going to use a LOT of satellite bandwidth, or this system will use a proprietary compression scheme (which I suspect is the case, as they specified the brand receiver and software version needed). Hopefully they will leave the PBS-HD feed up for us personal sat users, as I'm sure I can't pick up the signal they are going to be using. Hopefully KETS will use it, so I won't have to use a big dish.

...I also noticed my DVR is showing KETS running at 720p now... wonder if that's permanent, or just a fluke?720p (not 1080i) is a permanent change - at least in the evenings. Same as KOZK/KOZJ in SW MO.

Since so many of their stations do excessive multicasting, PBS should switch to 720p instead of 1080i for PBS-HD. It would make more sense.

....They are either going to use a LOT of satellite bandwidth ....
Looking at it closer it *appears* there are 2 ways that an affiliate will be able to receive programming, via live satellite (QPSK MPEG 2 DVB) or thru the ASI input on their Sencore IRD. Using the ASI input implies use of fiber optics to accept delivery of a DVB MPEG2 transport stream, so that wouldn't necessarily involve satellite bandwidth.

If I interpret all of what I have looked at this morning correctly It does appear PBS live satellite feeds will remain but in ?HD only?. I'll have to look a little closer to see what they might do with their SD stuff like schedule 501-504 feeds.

Heh!, if anyone has interpreted any of this differently please chime in. All this will soon be happening in conjunction with analog switch-off and I find it interesting.

dmatch

Makes sense, since what's the point of sending SD after Feb. I did read there was encrypted keys in the video that would trigger the output video to conform with the format the station requests...That is interesting.
I'd love to see PBS World in HD.

And Razorsnack fans: The Hog whoopin' is fixin' to commence on Horizons 2, 12129 H 13000 480p for free or PPV or ESPN Gameplan on D*...weird...must have the wrong game on....Looks like Tulsa forgot to show up....

What the hell was that crap that channel 7 was showing for the big game between Texas and Texas Tech? The picture would go blurry and blocky. I literally though my eyes were going bad until I changed channels to see that it was just 7. That was the crappiest HD I've seen.

What the hell was that crap that channel 7 was showing for the big game between Texas and Texas Tech? The picture would go blurry and blocky. I literally though my eyes were going bad until I changed channels to see that it was just 7. That was the crappiest HD I've seen.

7 is sharing bandwidth on KWBF-DT until their new tower gets built. The HD is very overcompressed due to having two HD feeds and an SD on a single channel like that, but it's the best they can do until they finish rebuilding their own transmitter, which should hopefully happen by the end of the year.

- Trip

That was the crappiest HD I've seen.

To add to Trips post, if you are on Directv, KATV is trying to run a fiber link from their Master Control room directly to the Directv receive site. When complete, you will get full bandwidth mpeg4 on ch 7 from Directv. Think that should be done in a week or two...

I'm actually surprised it works as well as it does. If they shut KKYK off, it would actually work running two 720p stations on one transmitter. The new ATSC specs also include Mpeg4 compression, although I don't think any OTA stations plan on using it, nor are there any receivers I know of that can use it.

7 is sharing bandwidth on KWBF-DT until their new tower gets built. The HD is very overcompressed due to having two HD feeds and an SD on a single channel like that, but it's the best they can do until they finish rebuilding their own transmitter, which should hopefully happen by the end of the year.

- Trip
Yeah, I'm not so sure they can get it up by the end of the year. I know they have 2 months to do it, but I was up there today and it doesn't look like they are too awful close just yet. I didn't go onto the site itself, but I was on the street beside it. They have all the guy wire pads laid it looks like and there are a bunch of pipes or tubes or something on the east side of the site that I don't know what they are for. I took a few pics, I will put them up to flickr and link them on here later.

.....
I'm actually surprised it works as well as it does. If they shut KKYK off, it would actually work running two 720p stations on one transmitter. The new ATSC specs also include Mpeg4 compression, although I don't think any OTA stations plan on using it, nor are there any receivers I know of that can use it.
KKYK gets so little bandwidth as it is I doubt it would make much difference if it were turned off. But then again those bits might be the ones that broke the camel's back.

Do you know which flavor, or if all of MPEG4 standard, is now included in the ATSC specifications? Part 2 (ASP/XVID)? Part 10 (h.264/AVC)? If Part 10 (h.264) were included that would make a big difference.

dmatch

Yeah, I'm not so sure they can get it up by the end of the year. I know they have 2 months to do it, but I was up there today and it doesn't look like they are too awful close just yet. I didn't go onto the site itself, but I was on the street beside it. They have all the guy wire pads laid it looks like and there are a bunch of pipes or tubes or something on the east side of the site that I don't know what they are for. I took a few pics, I will put them up to flickr and link them on here later.

I've got a friend who builds big towers like this all over the country. He said depending on the size, the crew hands and if everything is ready to erect the tower, it can take anywhere from 1 week to a month. That is if everything goes smooth. He said he has worked on some for up to 3 months when they've had problems. He has installed towers all over the country anywhere from 200ft up to nearly 2,000 ft.

Yeah, I'm not so sure they can get it up by the end of the year. I know they have 2 months to do it, but I was up there today and it doesn't look like they are too awful close just yet. I didn't go onto the site itself, but I was on the street beside it. They have all the guy wire pads laid it looks like and there are a bunch of pipes or tubes or something on the east side of the site that I don't know what they are for. I took a few pics, I will put them up to flickr and link them on here later.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skendel/2996827698/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skendel/2996827142/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skendel/2996826376/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skendel/2995986031/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skendel/2996825024/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skendel/2996824436/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skendel/2996823834/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skendel/2996823352/in/photostream/ (north side of the road where the guy wires will go)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skendel/2995983073/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skendel/2995982399/in/photostream/

I wish these were better, but, again, I only had my iPhone 3G with me. I think these are kinda in reverse order with the first ones being at the bottom. The last pics at the top you might be able to make out that there are some kind of pipes or poles or something off in the distance (in full 1600x1200 size (I know, an iPhone can do that? lol)).

Anyway, thats just the latest updates from my trespassing. Its been a couple months since the last time I went up. LOL I know, I know, its not really cause I am not going on private property cause I am staying on the road, and its a public road, and since I am a ham I can go up there to see my club's repeater sites and all. Just crackin a joke. I think the only area that big no trespassing sign at the bottom is talking about is the little trail like area just behind it where the power poles go through.

Do you know which flavor, or if all of MPEG4 standard, is now included in the ATSC specifications? Part 2 (ASP/XVID)? Part 10 (h.264/AVC)? If Part 10 (h.264) were included that would make a big difference.

dmatch

No idea. Just read about it on Engadgethd, but they didn't go into any technical detail. I would hope it would be h.264 as that appears to be the spec everyone else is going to. I know its what I use here, and I can get a pristine 1920x1080 movie w/AC3 audio, 90 mins, to fit in 8GB. I could go even smaller. Its pretty good
compression.

To add to Trips post, if you are on Directv, KATV is trying to run a fiber link from their Master Control room directly to the Directv receive site. When complete, you will get full bandwidth mpeg4 on ch 7 from Directv. Think that should be done in a week or two...


I'm actually surprised it works as well as it does. If they shut KKYK off, it would actually work running two 720p stations on one transmitter. The new ATSC specs also include Mpeg4 compression, although I don't think any OTA stations plan on using it, nor are there any receivers I know of that can use it.

Hopefully, the fiber link will help for DirecTV viewers. However, several times I have observed the same macroblocking in the DirecTV signal with the OTA signal. I'm trying to be patient!

Hopefully, the fiber link will help for DirecTV viewers. However, several times I have observed the same macroblocking in the DirecTV signal with the OTA signal. I'm trying to be patient!

Currently, the DirecTv signal *is* the OTA signal, DirecTv is just receiving the mpeg2 44-3 channel with an antenna, sending it to the uplink site, muxing it with the other OTA's, and sending it out with mpeg4. After they run fiber, the Directv signal will be directly from KATV Master control. For OTA viewers, it will still be low bandwidth until ch22 comes online.

BTW, I believe Fox16 on Directv also uses a master control direct feed...since the Directv receive site is at their station.

To add to Trips post, if you are on Directv, KATV is trying to run a fiber link from their Master Control room directly to the Directv receive site. When complete, you will get full bandwidth mpeg4 on ch 7 from Directv. Think that should be done in a week or two...

I'm actually surprised it works as well as it does. If they shut KKYK off, it would actually work running two 720p stations on one transmitter. The new ATSC specs also include Mpeg4 compression, although I don't think any OTA stations plan on using it, nor are there any receivers I know of that can use it.Thanks all for clearing that up. I'm happy to know my eyes aren't failing me. I hope the direct link helps. Am I wrong to think that when it comes to technology, LR is still in the horse and buggy era? I remember years ago reading an HD article in the Dem/Gazz and the local stations said they would all be waiting until the final drop-dead date to upgrade.

Thanks all for clearing that up. I'm happy to know my eyes aren't failing me. I hope the direct link helps. Am I wrong to think that when it comes to technology, LR is still in the horse and buggy era? I remember years ago reading an HD article in the Dem/Gazz and the local stations said they would all be waiting until the final drop-dead date to upgrade.

The cover for LR locals as local HDTV content goes:

Thank God For Joplin (or Thank God For Greenville MS)

Pretty sad when Tulsa a smaller market has HD content on some local news and even syndicated programming on one station. With our current broadcasters and their status-quo mentality, as long as the masses aren't clamoring for non-conference "hawg" games in "HachDee" there won't be a move in any camp.

I don't expect local LR news in HD before November sweeps 2009.

Pretty sad when Tulsa a smaller market has HD content on some local news and even syndicated programming on one station. Even KFSM-DT in Ft Smith can do time shift & syndicated programs in HD. KHBS/KHOG-DT also had that capability, but lost it when they started doing the CW on a dash-2 sub channel of 40/29.

Those who can receive it might want to keep an eye on KTWN-DT to see what's going on. Since Saturday (Nov. 1 2008) all I have seen them running is their radio/weather channel on 18-1 and color bars on the other 3 channels. No America One and no AETN/PBS. Wonder what's up.

dmatch

I noticed, but figured their computer just crashed :)

Not getting any indication of any signal from KETS-DT here. For it to show no response at all is unusual. Anyone else not getting KETS-DT?

Edit: Never mind. It just came back on. They must have had a transmitter glitch.

Also, KTWN-DT is still radio-weather and 3 sets of color bars. They are running an intermittent notice that they know they are experiencing technical problems.

dmatch

Yeah, was going to say I have all 4.

Get ready for more OTA TV interference.

The FCC tentatively approved the use of white space devices, which will broadcast in the frequency bands that until now were reserved for OTA TV broadcasts.

I've got enough problems with interference already with some channels with tropospheric interference, impulse noise, N+1+2+3 interference and soon to be white space device noise....That is not good news. It is pretty clear to me that the FCC really would rather everyone pay for TV via satellite or cable.

dmatch

I've got enough problems with interference already with some channels with tropospheric interference, impulse noise, N+1+2+3 interference and soon to be white space device noise....That is not good news. It is pretty clear to me that the FCC really would rather everyone pay for TV via satellite or cable.

dmatch

You failed to mention the p**s poor frequency coordination by the FCC and broadcasters--as in too many short spaced ch 32's, 15's, 13's etc. Even with the broadcast band channels 52-69 cut, there is no excuse for collisions on many of the mentioned channels above.

Personally I'm not sure I buy the "FCC prefers us to pay for locals", but the NAB and their lobbyists sure hate us DX'ers or those watching significantly viewed channels from nearby markets.

Personally I'm not sure I buy the "FCC prefers us to pay for locals", but the NAB and their lobbyists sure hate us DX'ers or those watching significantly viewed channels from nearby markets.

There I think you hit the nail on the head. Seems no one wants us to be able to watch neighboring cities at all.

I see Directv is firing up Fort Smith locals Thursday. Sure would be nice if I could watch them.

You failed to mention the p**s poor frequency coordination by the FCC and broadcasters--as in too many short spaced ch 32's, 15's, 13's etc......
That's what the reference to N+1+2+3 interference was about....Nearby channel interference turns out to be more significant than expected. Newer TVs that meet the FCC criteria for n+1 interference (adjacent channel) are now being found to be affected by other channels such as n+2, n+3, n+4. Even after all these years of preparation (something like 12) they failed to recognize this or they (FCC) just didn't care, take your pick. This ain't pretty and the white space noise certainly ain't gonna help.

dmatch

It is pretty clear to me that the FCC really would rather everyone pay for TV via satellite or cable.
Where do you think they get most of their funding from? :)

Anyone notice on NBC's coverage (at least on 4) that they have major overscan where the numbers on the right side of the screen are cut off? Can't even see the 8 in the Decision 08 part.

Where do you think they get most of their funding from? :)
I would say the FCC is funded by taxes, but since there is such a large budget deficit and national debt, I guess I would say it is funded by taxes, loans and the printing press (paper dollars), like the rest of government.

Please elaborate.

dmatch

Anyone notice on NBC's coverage (at least on 4) that they have major overscan where the numbers on the right side of the screen are cut off? Can't even see the 8 in the Decision 08 part.

Looks ok on my Aquos. About an inch and a half on either side of the blue and red boxes...on 46" screen. They definantly are pushing the "HD Safe area" if your set has overscan, it might be overscanning more than it should be. On my Polaroid, which has overscan, Both sides are showing correctly as well.

Anyone notice on NBC's coverage (at least on 4) that they have major overscan where the numbers on the right side of the screen are cut off? Can't even see the 8 in the Decision 08 part.
Just went there to look and I see the same thing you do. No 8 in 08.

dmatch

...I see Directv is firing up Fort Smith locals Thursday. Sure would be nice if I could watch them.Better'n LR locals, at least when they're on the air. I've never seen stations go off the air so much as they do in the FSM/FAY market.

Terrible lip sync problem on THV2 11-2. Not very professional.

dmatch

I would say the FCC is funded by taxes, but since there is such a large budget deficit and national debt, I guess I would say it is funded by taxes, loans and the printing press (paper dollars), like the rest of government.

Please elaborate.

dmatch
it
was
a
joke

...I see Directv is firing up Fort Smith locals Thursday... On the D* web site TV guide (http://directv.com/DTVAPP/epg/theGuide.jsp) for ZIP 72732 it even shows that they are adding KPBI Eureka Springs (myNetwork) in HD.

Since KPBI my34 hasn't flash cut to DT yet, I wonder how D* will be getting the HD signal. Direct link from Equity, maybe?

Its funny, they have had 38 up in HD for a few weeks now, but they still do not list it as HD available yet. I wonder if they even know they are doing it. LOL

Its funny, they have had 38 up in HD for a few weeks now, but they still do not list it as HD available yet. I wonder if they even know they are doing it. LOLKASN HD shows up in both the online and on screen D* guides.

http://i35.tinypic.com/2m4y6b5.png