Well, I know, was just playin. I know good and well that when you live in BFE even piping in sunlight can be difficult. :)

On 2/17, KOLR-DT will move back to its analog VHF ch 10 slot, reusing their old analog transmitter and antenna.

That will make a nice DX beacon down here. It was coming in almost full quieting while I got zip on any other stations up there.

Well, I know, was just playin. I know good and well that when you live in BFE even piping in sunlight can be difficult. :)

And if you live in Jasper, you need to drive 2 miles to use a cell phone. Damn that town is in a hole. People on the south side of town cant even see the Directv satellite, the mountain blocks it. XM drops out about 1/2 way down. Id go crazy there.

And if you live in Jasper, you need to drive 2 miles to use a cell phone. Damn that town is in a hole. People on the south side of town cant even see the Directv satellite, the mountain blocks it. XM drops out about 1/2 way down. Id go crazy there.
But it's such a fine place for Billy Ray, Jimmy Bob, Sue Bob, and Uncle Cletus to go coon huntin

And if you live in Jasper, you need to drive 2 miles to use a cell phone. Damn that town is in a hole. People on the south side of town cant even see the Directv satellite, the mountain blocks it. XM drops out about 1/2 way down. Id go crazy there.There's cell service there. Just not AT&T.

steveken, Newton County is one of, if not the most beautiful counties in Arkansas. Does stereotyping and making fun of people who live differently than you do make you feel better?

There's cell service there. Just not AT&T.

More bars in more places (places like Istanbul Turkey)...

My completely subjective observations have concluded that AT&T has terrible coverage as well. I'm trying to figure out just where it is that AT&T has "more bars." Maybe they mean places to go get drunk when you realize your cell phone doesn't work? :p

- Trip

You can watch the progress on ch 7's tower on the Liveview weather shot from WLR on THV2.com. Looks to be about 2/3rds of the height of KLRT's tower now.

If KLRT's tower is the tallest one closest to it, from the Wal-Mart parking lot, it appears to be almost half as tall.

You can watch the progress on ch 7's tower on the Liveview weather shot from WLR on THV2.com. Looks to be about 2/3rds of the height of KLRT's tower now.

Up to 4th guy level now @ 735' + 3 sections @30' each = 825' stacked. KLRT is 1269' to top beacon. 825/1269= .6501 or call it 65%. I'd say your eyeball is well calibrated. Wind too high today for stacking. Antipate it stacked by the end of next week. Then feedlines and antennas should take 7-10 days GOOD wx. Figure by end of January tower should by stacked with antennas and feedline. Building should be finished about then as well. Transmitter move & installation starts week of 1/12 and should be done in 2 weeks. Test and proof another week. I'm figuring on air around 2/10 or so.

A

Thanks for the progress report Allen. Yea, just rode my motorcycle to work to do the end of year backups, and about blew off the interstate. Cant beat the weather for spending a weekend outdoors on the ground tho. Happy New Year.

Up to 4th guy level now @ 735' + 3 sections @30' each = 825' stacked. KLRT is 1269' to top beacon. 825/1269= .6501 or call it 65%. I'd say your eyeball is well calibrated. Wind too high today for stacking. Antipated it stacked by the end of the week. Then feedlines and antennas should take 7-10 days GOOD wx. Figure by end of January tower should by stacked with antennas and feedline. Building should be finished about then as well. Transmitter move & installation starts week of 1/12 and should be done in 2 weeks. Test and proof another week. I'm figuring on air around 2/10 or so.

A

The tower was coming along nicely on Wednsday afternoon. I spent the afternoon in Little Rock and swung by Walmart near Shinall Mtn and took a couple of pics. I noticed viewing the pictures at home there were workers at the top of the stacked section.

I anticipate no trouble getting KATV here when DT 22 returns.

I'll sure be glad to get my OTA 7.1 back. I dont like watching the directv feed, OTA versions of the channels are much cleaner and crisp

Up to 4th guy level now @ 735' + 3 sections @30' each = 825' stacked. KLRT is 1269' to top beacon. 825/1269= .6501 or call it 65%. I'd say your eyeball is well calibrated. Wind too high today for stacking. Antipate it stacked by the end of next week. Then feedlines and antennas should take 7-10 days GOOD wx. Figure by end of January tower should by stacked with antennas and feedline. Building should be finished about then as well. Transmitter move & installation starts week of 1/12 and should be done in 2 weeks. Test and proof another week. I'm figuring on air around 2/10 or so.

A
Is there going to be any time when those of us on here might be able to watch it while you are testing it or anything? Just curious if there would be anything we could do to help out during the testing phase.

CM4220/Phillips MANT940 Antenna Comparison
Test Elevation 425' North Little Rock

Both antennas mounted at same height (25' outdoor) and fed through 100' RG6. Both antennas aligned to Shinall Mt in W Little Rock at 265 degrees. Reference Antenna is a Televes DAT75 UHF and CM quantum 1162 VHF w/CM7777 amp at 45' pointed at 45 degrees
.
The following are signal results from a Echostar TR-40 converter box.

KWBF-DT ch44
Ref: 100
CM:78-81
MANT:69

KASN-Dt ch39
Ref:100
CM:85-86
MANT:86-88

KARK-DT ch32
Ref:100
CM:81
MANT:81-83

KLRT-DT ch30
Ref:100
CM:90-95
MANT:93-96

3ABN-DT ch27
Ref:100
CM:76
MANT:61-68

VTN-DT ch24
Ref:100
CM:76-78
MANT:90

KTWN-DT ch18
Ref:84
CM:0
MANT:0

KTHV-DT ch12
Ref:100
CM:88-90
MANT:86-90

KETS-DT ch5
Ref:84
CM:0
MANT:0

Observations using MANT indoors:
In Living room through two walls, got KLRT, KARK, and a non-locking KWBF only.

With MANT in West facing window: Got all stations with lock except THV, which showed some breakups.

Conclusion, the Amplified Phillips MANT940 from WalMart compares favorably with the two bow tie Channel Master 4220, and exceeds it in cases where signals are coming in from several directions when mounted outdoors. When used indoors, it exhibits the same qualities as any indoor antenna, being very choosy about its placement, and requiring a lot of time moving it about to find a spot which will pick up all stations. As well, it does not work at all for VHF low. VHF high performance appears OK for a UHF antenna, as it did pick up ch 7 analog quite well when in the west window.

Mounting the antenna outside is definantly preferable, and it comes with all the hardware to mount it to a mast, a wall, a fence, etc. Likewise, they recommend using Rg6 or RG6QS coax if the run is longer than the included 20' of RG59.

I did not try attic mounting, as I have no power in my attic.

The MANT would be easy to test in the attic as the power inserter is at the other end of the line, but it is a pain to do and it wouldn't be easy for a comparison as you couldn't get the other up there.

But anyway, you see that it is a fairly good choice with a really small footprint. I don't have mine pointed at the mountain. I seemed to get about the best when I have it turned a bit south of the mountain. Not sure how much its twisted, but its definitely quite a bit off the mountain itself. I have it mounted on a pole with the cable input going out parallel with the ground, so I guess that would be the top of the antenna that is pointed toward the mountain if I had it pointed that way. Never really could tell what was exactly the "top" or "side" of the antenna. I just kept changing positions of it and running back in to look at the screen to see where I got what appeared to be the highest signal. I haven't tried tweaking with the Zenith yet, but I bet I could get a little more accurate of a reading that way since its got a far better scale on it than my media center.

All this is, oh, I would guess maybe 15 or 18 feet off the ground. Guess I could get my compass out and get an exact bearing on how I have it pointed, but I am not sure if that would make much a difference.

It appeared to me when checking it indoors with an analog signal, that it received fairly well regardless of the direction it was pointed, but did have one 15 degree null out of the 360 degree rotation (with the antenna vertical, flat panel pointed at the station, as the manual suggested). I found it did peak a bit higher with the top tipped toward the station, but then the stations in the other directions dropped out.

I might try it in the attic tomorrow. I actully bought it because ive never tested a fractal designed antenna, and I needed a dedicated antenna for the HR20 which I have in the closet. Its so picky about multipath, I cant use my reference antenna on it, since when Im pointed at searcy, KARK or KLRT cut in and out (which they dont on any of the other receivers). I only use the HR20 as a second sports channel for the Polaroid, so I dont need anything but NBc,ABC,CBS and Fox on it...Ill probably move the MANT to the top roof under the ref antennas (it feeds the TR40/Tivo setup in the bedroom), and put the 4220 in the attic for the HR20.
I need to move the sat line from the bedroom to the closet too, so i can use both tuners. Was gonna do it today, but I had to have my 14 yr old cat put to sleep this morning, after being up with her all night holding an oxygen bottle in front of her face, and I was to tired to mess around under the house.

OK, Put it in the attic, and there is no configuration I could find, where I could get all the stations. Funny thing is, it didnt seem to be dependant on direction, but if I got 12, I lost 44, if I got 44 and 12, I lost 32. It was an aggravating hour in the attic. I settled on 12, 30, and 32. It is amazing how much difference there is at the same height above ground between attic and roof. I dont have any metal in the roof other than the nails, so dont know why it would behave so erratically, except for the crappy HR20 tuner.

OK, Put it in the attic, and there is no configuration I could find, where I could get all the stations. Funny thing is, it didnt seem to be dependant on direction, but if I got 12, I lost 44, if I got 44 and 12, I lost 32. It was an aggravating hour in the attic. I settled on 12, 30, and 32. It is amazing how much difference there is at the same height above ground between attic and roof. I dont have any metal in the roof other than the nails, so dont know why it would behave so erratically, except for the crappy HR20 tuner.
Odd, oh well, yeah, probably the HR20 doing it to ya. Thats why if I go back to DirecTV, I am only going to use the HR20 for sat based stuff. I will leave the OTA stuff to my media center box and Zenith receiver. Seems to me that the sat based stuff is good enough now that I can rely on it. And with the weather being as non-threatening to losing the signal for me, it might be okay. (I never lost the satellites much during weather. If I did, it wasn't for too long.)

Oh, that reminds me, don't know if I mentioned it on here or not, but I sat and figured out the differences in costs between U-Verse and DirecTV. After my two $10/month credits end, I will be paying around $99 + tax for U-Verse when I was only paying like $95 or $96/month for DirecTV and was getting sports pack, HD extra pack, AND cartoon network in HD with one added receiver (H20).

The only thing that U-Verse is giving me is total home DVR and the movie channels included with my U300 package that I don't need to watch cause I have something in the range of 150 Netflix movies I should be watching and I have 2 extra boxes for other rooms. No HD extra so I could watch Universal HD and whatever else is on that package, no sports pack, no cartoon network HD, and slightly lesser quality HD.

Probably forgetting a few things here and there between the two, but I think I made my point that I was wrong in thinking that DirecTV was a lot more expensive.

It is the Hr20 tuner. Plugged the Accurian portable into it, and it locked on every DTV except KETS. I know why tho, checking the analog channels showed lots of multipath, except on ch 16 and ch 11. HR20 cant handle multipath. BTW, it brought in analog 4, although a bit snowy, so it works a little on low band. No signal meter on the portable, so dont know what the strengths are.

Welcome back to Directv. Saved a few bucks during the trial period, but I think Directv is worth what they charge, just for the quality and channel lineup.

Davenlr: Thanks for going through all that trouble and posting your results. Very enlightening!

Is there going to be any time when those of us on here might be able to watch it while you are testing it or anything? Just curious if there would be anything we could do to help out during the testing phase.

There could be. I'll keep it in mind and see if an opportunity presents itself over a weekend when the most folks can stop by. If you guys want to see the site on your own, the best way is to go up the road on Shinall, drive PAST the site, continue a 1/2 mile or so, turn around and head back down. The drive back down the hill gives the best views. Be aware that the tower crew has the road blocked from time to time. Sundays are the best days to do this as the crew tends to take that day off, also days that it is raining or windy the crew is generally not there.

A

It is the Hr20 tuner. Plugged the Accurian portable into it, and it locked on every DTV except KETS. I know why tho, checking the analog channels showed lots of multipath, except on ch 16 and ch 11. HR20 cant handle multipath. BTW, it brought in analog 4, although a bit snowy, so it works a little on low band. No signal meter on the portable, so dont know what the strengths are.

Welcome back to Directv. Saved a few bucks during the trial period, but I think Directv is worth what they charge, just for the quality and channel lineup.
Haven't switched back just yet. Still trying to talk the wife into doing it. She says that we still have a few months to decide because the 6 month suspension on our account isn't over until like April I think. I know it's somewhere around the start of baseball season anyway. I think by then we will. My son will really miss watching his shows in his room, but I think he will get over it.

I wonder, if I go back, will they upgrade my H20-600 up to an H21 or something that will let me stream recorded stuff from the HR20-700???

There could be. I'll keep it in mind and see if an opportunity presents itself over a weekend when the most folks can stop by. If you guys want to see the site on your own, the best way is to go up the road on Shinall, drive PAST the site, continue a 1/2 mile or so, turn around and head back down. The drive back down the hill gives the best views. Be aware that the tower crew has the road blocked from time to time. Sundays are the best days to do this as the crew tends to take that day off, also days that it is raining or windy the crew is generally not there.

A
Ahh, so there we have it!! Official recognition saying that I have NOT been breaking any laws when I drive up there! :) Happy now. :)

You have a H20-600?? or 700? The 700 has been recalled. You could tell them you dont want to be without a receiver for that time, and see if they will replace it from Best buy, and give you a $99 credit. Thats what they did on mine. Just make sure Best Buy has the right H21 in stock. I found their web site just shows one H21-xxx but the model in the store may have a different -xxx number.

Ahh, so there we have it!! Official recognition saying that I have NOT been breaking any laws when I drive up there! :) Happy now. :)

Nope- public road.

We do get antsy when folks drive onto the site. Off duty LRPD officers man the site overnight and on occasion during the day,

A

You have a H20-600?? or 700? The 700 has been recalled. You could tell them you dont want to be without a receiver for that time, and see if they will replace it from Best buy, and give you a $99 credit. Thats what they did on mine. Just make sure Best Buy has the right H21 in stock. I found their web site just shows one H21-xxx but the model in the store may have a different -xxx number.
Whichever it is. I guess its the H20-700 and HR20-600 that I have. Haven't looked at them in a couple of months, so I kinda forgot. :) Is there a different 21 that doesn't have the network jack on it? Or should all that DirecTV has have them now? I just want to make sure I am able to get one that does that cause I don't wanna have to deal with the DirecTV2PC app.

I think I have it backwards... Check out the cutting edge forum on dbstalk. Only one or two receivers currently have beta software for what you want.

Whoops...trouble at the OK Corral...

WPXS St. Louis 1/4/09

http://i38.tinypic.com/33v0x3b.jpg

RTN is coming back up in pieces, I hear Detroit, Phoenix, Austin, and Des Moines, at least, are once again operational. My area (Roanoke), Washington DC, and Albany, at least, are still showing the red slide of death.

- Trip

RTN just put up a East and West coast feed on AMC9, but I cant get it even with my 6' dish...others are reporting getting it tho. KkYK in LR is showing old movies (from vhs tape from the look of the bad tracking along the bottom). Always something with Equity :)

Haven't switched back just yet. Still trying to talk the wife into doing it. She says that we still have a few months to decide because the 6 month suspension on our account isn't over until like April I think. I know it's somewhere around the start of baseball season anyway. I think by then we will. My son will really miss watching his shows in his room, but I think he will get over it.

I wonder, if I go back, will they upgrade my H20-600 up to an H21 or something that will let me stream recorded stuff from the HR20-700???


You know this I'm sure, but the DirecTV boxes have multiple TV outputs, so it would likely be possible for you to slave the tv in your son's room to a DirecTV receiver in another room so he can continue to watch his shows in his room. I have a small kitchen tv slaved to the DirecTV box in a bedroom at the other end of the house. With the DirecTV RC64RB remote it works fine controlling the box several walls away from the kitchen. This setup, assumes, however, that you can run the appropriate connecting cable from one room to the other. In my case, it was easy enough to do it under the house. My foundation is head high in the back. I have never tried the wireless transmission of the signal itself. I have purchased various types of long-run on eBay for cheap, relatively speaking.

You know this I'm sure, but the DirecTV boxes have multiple TV outputs, so it would likely be possible for you to slave the tv in your son's room to a DirecTV receiver in another room so he can continue to watch his shows in his room. I have a small kitchen tv slaved to the DirecTV box in a bedroom at the other end of the house. With the DirecTV RC64RB remote it works fine controlling the box several walls away from the kitchen. This setup, assumes, however, that you can run the appropriate connecting cable from one room to the other. In my case, it was easy enough to do it under the house. My foundation is head high in the back. I have never tried the wireless transmission of the signal itself. I have purchased various types of long-run on eBay for cheap, relatively speaking.
Well, for the boxes I have, the only way for him to be able to watch something from the DVR in his room, I would have to have at least 30' of rca's running through my living room, down the hall, and in to his room. That is unless there is some way to get it to work over Cat5e so that I can just use some sort of adapter to pull it from the DVR to the network, then out to his TV in his room. I don't think something like that exists though I haven't looked. It would be easier, however, if I were able to get whichever box is necessary to do the HR to H multi-room viewing. (Dave, I still haven't been able to figure out which boxes do this and if I would be able to do it with my HR20-600.)

EDIT: HR20-700 and H20-600 is what I have. Just looked at them.

Well, for the boxes I have, the only way for him to be able to watch something from the DVR in his room, I would have to have at least 30' of rca's running through my living room, down the hall, and in to his room. That is unless there is some way to get it to work over Cat5e so that I can just use some sort of adapter to pull it from the DVR to the network, then out to his TV in his room. I don't think something like that exists though I haven't looked. It would be easier, however, if I were able to get whichever box is necessary to do the HR to H multi-room viewing. (Dave, I still haven't been able to figure out which boxes do this and if I would be able to do it with my HR20-600.)

EDIT: HR20-700 and H20-600 is what I have. Just looked at them.

Sorry, I can't help on which DirecTV boxes will have multi-room viewing. I pursued the buggy Mediashare function on my HR-21 for months and finally, in frustration, gave up on it as well as the Cutting Edge on DBSTalk, when I purchased an Apple TV which does what I want with music, photos, movies, internet radio, etc., bridging the gap between my wireless network, the Internet, and the bigscreen HDTV and surround sound system. My impression of Mediashare was that it was not ready for primetime and that maybe DirecTV should stick to what they do so well...delivery of a very high quality signal of HD programming.

I just looked around a little on the internet for an rca to cat5 converter type thing. I knew I could do it, just wasn't sure if there was anything more complex to it. Turns out, there's not.

You can be as simple as taking one Cat5 cable and chop it in half, then take a RCA cable and chop it in half, then just solder the two wires for the yellow to, say, brown & brown/white, then the white to blue & blue/white, then red to green & green/white.

Its just that easy to slave another TV to another source via a wired network in the house. Who knew? :)

Well, you could get fancy and get a network wall box like phones used to use and pop holes in it for the RCA jacks, then run leads from the RCA jacks to posts that connect to an RJ-45 plug. Just do that twice and you have a fancy kit type box.

You have a H20-600?? or 700? The 700 has been recalled. You could tell them you dont want to be without a receiver for that time, and see if they will replace it from Best buy, and give you a $99 credit. Thats what they did on mine. Just make sure Best Buy has the right H21 in stock. I found their web site just shows one H21-xxx but the model in the store may have a different -xxx number.
Its the 600's that were getting the recalls. They don't do the recalls anymore apparently. The special 800 number that was used for it doesn't work anymore and apparently they think that everything is fine now. I get all this by reading the thread about it at dbstalk. In any case, I don't think I would mess with it anyway until it starts screwing up.

The H20-600 doesnt have a network jack, and will never support MRV.

The current model being tested is I believe, the H21-100.

If you try to run RF or video using cat5 cable, you will pick up all sorts of interference. Cat5 is for digital data, or voice telephone frequencies.

RTN just put up a East and West coast feed on AMC9, but I cant get it even with my 6' dish...others are reporting getting it tho. KkYK in LR is showing old movies (from vhs tape from the look of the bad tracking along the bottom). Always something with Equity :)Yeah, what a shemozzle.

I finally was able to scan the RTN channels on AMC9 but boy are they weak on a 7.5 ft. dish. Couldn't keep them locked enough to be sure what I was watching. I used Frequency 11735 H with Symbol Rate of 4440. Maybe when the clouds move out we will have better luck.

dmatch

Retrojams is back on Equitys sat in place of one of the RTN's, so thats a plus.

The H20-600 doesnt have a network jack, and will never support MRV.

The current model being tested is I believe, the H21-100.

If you try to run RF or video using cat5 cable, you will pick up all sorts of interference. Cat5 is for digital data, or voice telephone frequencies.
Yeah, I know.

I think the H21-200 is too from what I could tell.

You don't think live video over Cat5 would work? I mean, isn't it worth a shot? I know it might be more suited for short distances, or maybe for direct extensions between, say, PS3 and TV so you don't have it right next to the TV and not over a full fledged house network, but ya gotsta try, right? LOL

You don't think live video over Cat5 would work? I mean, isn't it worth a shot? I know it might be more suited for short distances, or maybe for direct extensions between, say, PS3 and TV so you don't have it right next to the TV and not over a full fledged house network, but ya gotsta try, right? LOL

It's probably at least worth a try. Cat-5 is cheap. Just remember your not going to be able to push it through any switches/routers/hubs/etc. It's going to have to be a direct physical connection between the 2 ends. Doing that will probably get rid of most of the trash noise on the line. The cable itself is designed to limit some noise getting in but you won't know for sure until you try it. I also like the building homeaid dongle idea from above.

so, bad idea to put it through my hub? :)

so, bad idea to put it through my hub? :)

Yup, the hub will just think it's noise. Won't have a clue how to pass it "on down the wire". You could just hook those 2 pieces of cable together where they meet up at the hub. Just be careful that you keep all the pairs joined in the right order.

Hmm, ok, so then its a little more complex than I had hoped for. I do understand that its a great idea, but not when you have to span several rooms. There needs to be an easier way to slave a TV to a box if you have the need to do so.

Hmm, ok, so then its a little more complex than I had hoped for. I do understand that its a great idea, but not when you have to span several rooms. There needs to be an easier way to slave a TV to a box if you have the need to do so.

Now that I think about it, I've seen RCA (Red, White, and Yellow) Keystone jacks at Home Depot with punchdowns on the back.

Might be worth looking at.

For your interconnection you could build your own "crossover" connection with a short piece of Cat5 and punch it down appropriately.

Now that I think about it, I've seen RCA (Red, White, and Yellow) Keystone jacks at Home Depot with punchdowns on the back.

Might be worth looking at.

For your interconnection you could build your own "crossover" connection with a short piece of Cat5 and punch it down appropriately.
i.e. fish another wire through the walls?

You can try, but video is supposed to be sheilded. You could always use Sagetv media extender, and run use cat5 if the direct video method doesnt work, which I doubt it will. Probably have better success running ch3 rf over it, but then it wouldnt be HD.

Hello all - stopping in again from the DC area thread.

My father needs someone to adjust and/or install a new antenna for his home in Little Rock. The current antenna on his DishTV set up is not doing the trick and he wants to connect an additional tv to the Antenna prior to the analogue termination next month.

Can any of you all recommend a company or individual that does antenna installation and connect to TV work in Little Rock?

Thank you for your assistance.

Hello all - stopping in again from the DC area thread.

My father needs someone to adjust and/or install a new antenna for his home in Little Rock. The current antenna on his DishTV set up is not doing the trick and he wants to connect an additional tv to the Antenna prior to the analogue termination next month.

Can any of you all recommend a company or individual that does antenna installation and connect to TV work in Little Rock?

Thank you for your assistance.

Is your father receiving LOCALS (KARK NBC, KLRT FOX, KATV ABC, KTHV CBS) from Dish Network (known as "E*" on the threads here) or DirecTV (aka "D*")?

Does he have a HDTV receiver and/or DVR from one of satellite providers?

If he is receiving Digital over-the-air stations (not just analogs) from his current setup, then there is nothing more he needs to do. If he has only an analog TV he might consider subbing to his provider's local channels package. If that is an analog tv, is it connected to a converter box?

Local stations are already transmitting digital in Little Rock and have been since 2004 or so. KATV is doing so through a third party arrangement due to a tower failure last year.

I'm not aware of any installers in Little Rock, but some of the posters in the area may know of some. I'm living in upper Southeast Arkansas south of Pine Bluff.

Feel free to PM me offlist or to the group with any additional questions.

Is your father receiving LOCALS (KARK NBC, KLRT FOX, KATV ABC, KTHV CBS) from Dish Network (known as "E*" on the threads here) or DirecTV (aka "D*")?

.


Let me clarify. first my father is a child of the deperession so he is cheap. He does receive the main/local networks in SD over DishTV. He does not get any HD signal from DishTV (no DishTV HD or HDDVR Receiver - only SD DVR). So to watch HD he changes input on his TV to the Antenna so he can watch HD OTA from the local networks. This works fairly well, but the signal can fluctuate b/c the antenna is one of those that sits atop the Dish itself.

Secondly, he had an old black and white in the kitchen that was rabbit ears. Knowing the digitial switch was coming he replaced it w/ a small off-market LCD from Wal Mart. This will get HD, but the various small rabbit ears he has connected to it haven't worked well. Therefore, he'd like to connect that set to the antenna on the dish or if necessary given his location install a new antenna that would connect to both TVs.

So he needs a good antenna person. I'm a little concerned that the smaller LCD he bought from Wal Mart may have a cheap tuner in it and just can't hold a signal, but perhaps if we connect it to a better antenna set up it will work.

So I think I'm back to looking for an antenna installer in Central Arkansas.

Thanks for your assistance.

Hopefully others can help you find someone to install it for him, but I can tell you that if he is in Little Rock, his signal strength should be high enough that most any tuner would be able to work with even a modest outdoor antenna setup. PBS would be the only exception.

Let me clarify. first my father is a child of the deperession so he is cheap. He does receive the main/local networks in SD over DishTV. He does not get any HD signal from DishTV (no DishTV HD or HDDVR Receiver - only SD DVR). So to watch HD he changes input on his TV to the Antenna so he can watch HD OTA from the local networks. This works fairly well, but the signal can fluctuate b/c the antenna is one of those that sits atop the Dish itself.

Secondly, he had an old black and white in the kitchen that was rabbit ears. Knowing the digitial switch was coming he replaced it w/ a small off-market LCD from Wal Mart. This will get HD, but the various small rabbit ears he has connected to it haven't worked well. Therefore, he'd like to connect that set to the antenna on the dish or if necessary given his location install a new antenna that would connect to both TVs....

Thanks for the reply and this answers some questions.

The "dish mounted" OTA antenna isn't cutting it for DTV reception. Plus your Dad is likely getting multipath (very common in metro Little Rock) and that effects OTA reception on both analog and DTV.

Most if not all of us here are somewhat DIY'ers as OTA antenna installation goes. The cable tv industry's campaign against "ugly antennas", subdivision CC&R's (although there is an exception under the FCC OTARD (http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html)), and growth of satellite tv has cut well into the potential market of professional home antenna installers. I personally knew of one in the Monticello area but that was over a decade ago. Even high quality OTA antennas are hard to find in brick and mortar stores...most of us have purchased ours online since local selection is limited to the big box stores and Radio Shack.

It looks like my indoor antenna is not going to do the job for me. I can pick up KLRT great, KASN and KTHV fairly well, and the others are hit and miss. So, any recommendations on outdoor antennas? From my initial research, it looks like Antennas Direct and Channel Master is the way to go.

Also, do I need one with VHF or will just UHF be okay?

Thanks for the help.

It looks like my indoor antenna is not going to do the job for me. I can pick up KLRT great, KASN and KTHV fairly well, and the others are hit and miss. So, any recommendations on outdoor antennas? From my initial research, it looks like Antennas Direct and Channel Master is the way to go.

Also, do I need one with VHF or will just UHF be okay?

Thanks for the help.

You forgot the Winegard antennas.

Anything that will receive high-band VHF and UHF will work. (that includes the CM 7777). You can think AETN (KETS) and KTHV for Little Rock not being an all UHF DTV market.

You forgot the Winegard antennas.

Anything that will receive high-band VHF and UHF will work. (that includes the CM 7777). You can think AETN (KETS) and KTHV for Little Rock not being an all UHF DTV market.
Will the CM 4221HD and the Antennas Direct DB4 pick up the VHF channels? The specs say channels 14 to 69.

A reminder again of possible antenna choices.

Wal-Mart sells the Philips MANT940 antenna for $38. If you are anywhere close to Little Rock it will do a bang up job and you don't need to spend a bunch of money on amps and bigger antennas. This bookshelf speaker sized antenna does a really nice job indoors or outdoors. It is always worth a shot before trying to go for stuff that you might think is really too big for you. Wal-Mart also sells a flat panel type antenna that I believe is made by RCA. That would also be a good choice to try to see if it works for you. Both of these antennas are really cheap and easy to do yourself. The Philips one will work all the way down to Digital 12 for KTHV and maybe KETS when it goes to 7.

I own the Phillips MANT510 and it doesn't do a very good job for me. But, I also live in Benton and it's a little farther out than some. I just figured an outdoor antenna would do the trick.

I own the Phillips MANT510 and it doesn't do a very good job for me. But, I also live in Benton and it's a little farther out than some. I just figured an outdoor antenna would do the trick.
The MANT940 is probably a newer version and is designed for people within 20 miles (or so it says on the box). It is an outdoor antenna. It is a dual purpose indoor/outdoor one that is amplified and powered via an inline power injector on the TV end of the cable. (damn, why does all this sound so deja vu? I think maybe I have explained all of this in previous posts at least 2 times.) If you doubt it anymore, go back and look at what DaveNLR posted about his tests with the antenna.

I know you are new to this, but a little back reading sure does help. You don't have to go all the way back to the beginning, but at least back a couple of pages would help. I only say that because I know for a fact we just discussed this not that long ago. In fact, it was post 7515 which was 42 posts before you where he did his comparison. I really don't mean to sound like a jerk or anything, just letting you know.

I don't know if Radio Shack still carries the antenna I have, but it is a decent sized outdoor UHF/VHF antenna that I think I got for $40 or so, not much more than the Phillips. I also live in Benton, and have been very pleased with my reception. I occasionally have problems with KWBF-DT and it's subchannels and KETS-DT, but everything else comes in strong. I would think you're probably on the right track, a decent outdoor antenna will probably work wonders. I personally and looking forward to seeing if KETS-DT's move to channel 7 helps, and finding out if anything is going to happen with KWBF-DT, with their upcoming sale to Nexstar.

EDIT: steveken posted at the same time I did, but he's right. I had forgotten that the Philips can be used indoors or out. I mean yeah, it's not very big, but you might get better results posting it outdoors as high as possible.

I don't know if Radio Shack still carries the antenna I have, but it is a decent sized outdoor UHF/VHF antenna that I think I got for $40 or so, not much more than the Phillips. I also live in Benton, and have been very pleased with my reception. I occasionally have problems with KWBF-DT and it's subchannels and KETS-DT, but everything else comes in strong. I would think you're probably on the right track, a decent outdoor antenna will probably work wonders. I personally and looking forward to seeing if KETS-DT's move to channel 7 helps, and finding out if anything is going to happen with KWBF-DT, with their upcoming sale to Nexstar.

EDIT: steveken posted at the same time I did, but he's right. I had forgotten that the Philips can be used indoors or out. I mean yeah, it's not very big, but you might get better results posting it outdoors as high as possible.
I know it might be just a little more than the Philips, but if you could get an antenna that does pretty well at getting the stations as your "decent sized" (I read that as the normal yagi type that is probably at least 4 feet long by about 3 feet wide, which is kinda big to me) for the size of a larger hard bound book, wouldn't you rather use the larger hard bound book sized one for the sake of not having to deal with a large, prickly antenna? Granted, depending on where you live in Benton and what you have around you, the 940 may not work so well, but, hell, its worth a shot considering how easy it is to return something to Wally World.

Ahh, didn't know you had edited it. :)

Anyone getting anything from 38-2?? For some reason its getting no signal on mine even though 38-1 is fine.

Anyone getting anything from 38-2?? For some reason its getting no signal on mine even though 38-1 is fine.

It no longer exists. We took it down yesterday and we launched a new channel on 16.2 today.

E

The MANT940 is probably a newer version and is designed for people within 20 miles (or so it says on the box). It is an outdoor antenna. It is a dual purpose indoor/outdoor one that is amplified and powered via an inline power injector on the TV end of the cable. (damn, why does all this sound so deja vu? I think maybe I have explained all of this in previous posts at least 2 times.) If you doubt it anymore, go back and look at what DaveNLR posted about his tests with the antenna.

I know you are new to this, but a little back reading sure does help. You don't have to go all the way back to the beginning, but at least back a couple of pages would help. I only say that because I know for a fact we just discussed this not that long ago. In fact, it was post 7515 which was 42 posts before you where he did his comparison. I really don't mean to sound like a jerk or anything, just letting you know.
Yep...I read that post. I was just wondering if there were other recommended antennas. I had a friend that had good luck with the DB4 in NLR. I thought I'd go with that one or the CM

I will stop by Walmart on the way home and pick up the MANT940.

It no longer exists. We took it down yesterday.

E
Was there any kind of public notification of this? I only ask because I hadn't heard anything about it and the tv listings sites still list it as being up. And, if its okay to ask, why was it brought down? I didn't watch it very much, but did catch the occasional interesting show on it. Just figured there might be others out there who did watch it.

Yep...I read that post. I was just wondering if there were other recommended antennas. I had a friend that had good luck with the DB4 in NLR. I thought I'd go with that one or the CM

I will stop by Walmart on the way home and pick up the MANT940.
Ok, didn't know if you read it. Just assumed you didn't because 99.9% of the newbs that come on here don't. :) The main reason I suggested that, besides my luck with it, is that its quick and easy to pick up considering its at Wal-Mart. Most other antennas would make you have to wait and pay shipping and all to try them.

Anyone getting anything from 38-2?? For some reason its getting no signal on mine even though 38-1 is fine.

Nothing here Steveken on 38-2. The Zenith converter box shows a blank screen while the E* vip211 OTA tuner shows no signal (the default when there is a black screen).

I posted about this last night on my blog. Trip (who posts here on occasion) commented that Newport Television (owners of Variety Television) had apparently dropped it, and some former VT affiliates were airing RTN!

As for VT, I rarely saw anything of interest of their programming except stumbling across a few old shows/movies on weekends (mainly the 1950's original Dragnet). All of the ad breaks were PSAs it seemed. Looks as if two of the "subchannel networks" didn't even make the "digital switchover", and RTN is on shaky ground themselves.

It no longer exists. We took it down yesterday and we launched a new channel on 16.2 today.

E

Did you notify Directv? They dont show a 16-2 as an available channel.

You recognized me! :D (Yes, I read your blog)

WSYR in Syracuse replaced it with a radar image, and WLMT and WAWS replaced it with RTN.

KLRT joins KMYT and WXXA, apparently, in launching "Untamed Sports TV" which apparently launched about two weeks ago. I've seen no other affiliates so far and can't imagine this network having a terribly wide appeal.

The last VTV affiliate, KGPE Fresno, I'm not sure what they're doing yet. They could have launched it as well, but I can't tell.

- Trip

Yep...I read that post. I was just wondering if there were other recommended antennas. I had a friend that had good luck with the DB4 in NLR. I thought I'd go with that one or the CM

I will stop by Walmart on the way home and pick up the MANT940.

If that doesnt work, I would order one of the new Winegard VHF-Hi/UHF combos. They will work much better than a 4 bay bow tie on VHF, and come in a variety of sizes from metro to fringe.. Since they lack the VHF-lo band, the size is MUCH more manageable without the big elements at the back of a standard yagi.

I rescanned RF 30 on the vip211 (not a complete scan). The Dish channel guide is displaying a "Digital Service" so E* may not have the channel info on Untamed SportsTV (http://www.untamedsportstv.com/) yet. The Zenith converter in the 'shack is displaying "Default Event" in the PSIP.

What was this doing over on KLRT-DT unstead of KASN-DT unless there are plans for replacement subchannel programming on 38-2. :confused:

Did you notify Directv? They dont show a 16-2 as an available channel.
And on top of what Dave said, where can we find out what sort of programming is on this new 16-2?

I scanned in RF 30 on the vip211 (not a complete scan). The Dish channel guide is displaying a "Digital Service" so E* may not have the channel info on Untamed SportsTV (http://www.untamedsportstv.com/) yet. The Zenith converter in the 'shack is displaying "Default Event" in the PSIP.

What was this doing over on KLRT-DT unstead of KASN-DT unless there are plans for replacement subchannel programming on 38-2. :confused:

Just guessing, FOX is 720p and provides affiliates with the bandwidth for a subchannel so it wont detract from the main FOX programming. I think KASN is 1080i and has less bandwidth without affecting its primary channel.

DAMN IT! It just occurred to me that because of the damn Razorback basketball game tonight, we are NOT going to get the return of "Scrubs" or that "Homeland Security USA" show. I was really really looking forward to "Scrubs" too!!! damn damn damn What were they thinking moving to ABC?!?! geez.......Okay, sorry for ranting, just a little peeved right now.

And on top of what Dave said, where can we find out what sort of programming is on this new 16-2?

The link right above your post has it.

For ABC network programming http://i33.tinypic.com/2hf6yva.jpg, I told everyone a few days ago, you need a 10' dish :)

The link right above your post has it.
Oh, is that what it is? I haven't left it on that channel long enough to determine what that channel even is. All I knew is it was deer hunting and away the clicker went. :)

DAMN IT! It just occurred to me that because of the damn Razorback basketball game tonight, we are NOT going to get the return of "Scrubs" or that "Homeland Security USA" show. I was really really looking forward to "Scrubs" too!!! damn damn damn What were they thinking moving to ABC?!?! geez.......Okay, sorry for ranting, just a little peeved right now.

Razorback game tonight is on ESPN2 @ 8pm. No KATV blurryvision for the game, and new ABC programming for the rest. Everyone wins...at least tonight.

Just guessing, FOX is 720p and provides affiliates with the bandwidth for a subchannel so it wont detract from the main FOX programming. I think KASN is 1080i and has less bandwidth without affecting its primary channel.

I agree. This is an excellent move, putting the subchannel on Fox.

Can anyone send me new TSReader captures for KASN, KLRT, and KETS (if available, I don't think I have an updated one)? All data except EIT and thumbnails, etc etc. Want to get my site updated and all that. =)

- Trip

Oh, wait, is it going to be on ESPN?? Well, thats a different story then! I WILL get to see "Scrubs"! :) Yay!

Oh, wait, is it going to be on ESPN?? Well, thats a different story then! I WILL get to see "Scrubs"! :) Yay!

...unless KATV preempts for infomericals

Did you notify Directv? They dont show a 16-2 as an available channel.

We are in the process of notifying the various systems. We are also waiting on the delivery of the PSIP data so the guide will be populated.

E

Texas @ Arkansas on ESPN2 HD only 480i 4x3. "ESPN2HD" bars on both sides of screen. Earlier game involving the Little Ten game was HD.

PQ still beats the hell out of the KATV/ISP fare...

We are in the process of notifying the various systems. We are also waiting on the delivery of the PSIP data so the guide will be populated.

E

Thanks...Guess we can't get it if you havent gotten it yet :)

This may not be the appropriate place for this question, but it seems to be a good place because it is a local question regarding the Little Rock Locals. The website for D* indicates that Littler Rock locals are now available in Independence County, Ark.--Batesville. They have not been in the past. Can anyone here confirm? It takes hours on the phone to get an answer from these satellite customer reps. I am thinking of pulling the plug on E*; they want let me have Eastern Arc and only two HD Little Rock locals are currently being offered.

Thanks

Little Rock HD locals should be available it Batesville. The spotbeam has been comfirmed receiveable all the way up into Missouri. I personally know of no one there with directv to comfirm, so the best bet would be your local directv installer/sales rep, if you dont want to call Directv. It really doesnt take long to get them if you call during the day when most people are at work.

Noticed myself that 38.2 was gone. I rescanned and logged the new 16.2. The only downfall for me personally is an overall loss of signal strenght for the sub channel. I get 38.1 around 84% these days and 16.1 & .2 is about 70%. Not a problem though, I lock both 99.9% of the time:)

Wal-Mart sells the Philips MANT940 antenna for $38. If you are anywhere close to Little Rock it will do a bang up job and you don't need to spend a bunch of money on amps and bigger antennas. This bookshelf speaker sized antenna does a really nice job indoors or outdoors. Any chance this antenna will bring in the PBS digital stations? I'm in the Country Club of AR in Maumelle. I have this flat panel Phillips but it's strictly an indoor antenna.

Okay, I'm still trying to help out my friend who bought the digital converter box. He is correct: there is no audio on channel 7 and channel 4 doesn't come in at all. I disconnected the box and went back to just an antenna and all was fine. He went to buy a better antenna but that didn't help. So I'm thinking it's a bad box?

He's considering just getting a basic $10 cable package. I agree.

In related news, the government program giving the coupons out ran out of money yesterday, so no more coupons will be issued until they collect ones back that aren't claimed.

Okay, I'm still trying to help out my friend who bought the digital converter box. He is correct: there is no audio on channel 7 and channel 4 doesn't come in at all. I disconnected the box and went back to just an antenna and all was fine. He went to buy a better antenna but that didn't help. So I'm thinking it's a bad box?

He's considering just getting a basic $10 cable package. I agree.

In related news, the government program giving the coupons out ran out of money yesterday, so no more coupons will be issued until they collect ones back that aren't claimed.
Tell him to take the box back to Wal-Mart or wherever he got it and get a replacement. Its obviously defective and needs a swap out. At least I think they will swap it for you.

Any chance this antenna will bring in the PBS digital stations? I'm in the Country Club of AR in Maumelle. I have this flat panel Phillips but it's strictly an indoor antenna.
LOL, thats funny! :)


EDIT: Err, that was a joke, right? Just wanting to make sure because we have discussed the issues with getting ANY PBS digital station to death.

RTN just put up a East and West coast feed on AMC9, but I cant get it even with my 6' dish...others are reporting getting it tho. KkYK in LR is showing old movies (from vhs tape from the look of the bad tracking along the bottom). Always something with Equity :)
Finally got RTN East and RTN West this morning on my 7.5 ft. BUD, now that the weather has cleared up some. It is still a little weak but has stable picture now. It's about 10-15% above my quality locking threshold. Maybe you can "detect" it on your 6 footer now. I used 4440 for SR.

dmatch

Any chance this antenna will bring in the PBS digital stations? I'm in the Country Club of AR in Maumelle. I have this flat panel Phillips but it's strictly an indoor antenna.

No, the MANT will not pick up PBS now, its a toss up when they move to ch 7.

Finally got RTN East and RTN West this morning on my 7.5 ft. BUD, now that the weather has cleared up some. It is still a little weak but has stable picture now. It's about 10-15% above my quality locking threshold. Maybe you can "detect" it on your 6 footer now. I used 4440 for SR.

dmatch

Ill try that when I get home. thanks.

I agree. This is an excellent move, putting the subchannel on Fox.

Can anyone send me new TSReader captures for KASN, KLRT, and KETS (if available, I don't think I have an updated one)? All data except EIT and thumbnails, etc etc. Want to get my site updated and all that. =)

- Trip
I e-mailed you some of the info you wanted, but not for KASN-DT. Hopefully, someone else here that can get this channel more reliably and has TSReader can do that.

As I said in the e-mail KETS-DT has not been running any programming on DT2 for about 2 weeks now. Not sure what is up with that, but beware the info sent is only representative of the last couple of weeks. Also, we are on borrowed time with their signal since they were to go off air on or ABOUT Jan. 2, 2009 and still haven't left yet.

Edit:

I noticed that KLRT-DT is sending about 1.38 Mbps null data. Is this a buffer for stat-muxing or just wasted? The new sub-channel (KLRT-DT2) is only showing 2.36 Mbps and sure could use that 1.36 that is being sent as nulls. The primary channel was getting 15.53 Mbps at the time I captured the data with TSReader.

@davenlr: You're welcome

dmatch

Thanks, I got your e-mail and will look at it in a few minutes.

As for KETS, they will probably leave it on the air until the tower crew arrives. I see no reason to shut it off any sooner than necessary.

- Trip

Apparently KATV is now able to do full 16:9 graphics because as I flipped past them for a second I saw a banner about the analog shut-off going full screen across the top, not like the old 4:3, degraded picture banner that I am used to seeing.

Apparently KATV is now able to do full 16:9 graphics because as I flipped past them for a second I saw a banner about the analog shut-off going full screen across the top, not like the old 4:3, degraded picture banner that I am used to seeing.


I've noticed 16:9 graphics during their morning show for several weeks. Are there any plans to use 16:9 video from cameras in the studio? That would be swell. :)

As I've said before, the first local affiliate to offer 16:9 local newscasts will be my network of choice for a long, long time.

I e-mailed you some of the info you wanted, but not for KASN-DT. Hopefully, someone else here that can get this channel more reliably and has TSReader can do that.

As I said in the e-mail KETS-DT has not been running any programming on DT2 for about 2 weeks now. Not sure what is up with that, but beware the info sent is only representative of the last couple of weeks. Also, we are on borrowed time with their signal since they were to go off air on or ABOUT Jan. 2, 2009 and still haven't left yet.

Edit:

I noticed that KLRT-DT is sending about 1.38 Mbps null data. Is this a buffer for stat-muxing or just wasted? The new sub-channel (KLRT-DT2) is only showing 2.36 Mbps and sure could use that 1.36 that is being sent as nulls. The primary channel was getting 15.53 Mbps at the time I captured the data with TSReader.

@davenlr: You're welcome

dmatch

The bit rate you see is the bit rate coming off the bird. We do have some pad (the 1.38Mb not being used) because we have some basketball games starting next week that are coming from a different source and want to give the channel a little breathing room.

E

The bit rate you see is the bit rate coming off the bird.....

E
Thanks errett. It's great that you hang out here in order to answer the questions of this curious crowd.

Do you mean the Untamed Sports bit-rate is the same as from the bird? Looks pretty bit-starved at times on 32" screen.

dmatch

Thanks errett. It's great that you hang out here in order to answer the questions of this curious crowd.

Do you mean the Untamed Sports bit-rate is the same as from the bird? Looks pretty bit-starved at times on 32" screen.

dmatch

Yes...I thought the same thing when I watched it at home last night.

E

I know this is straying a bit off topic after the first sentence or two, but bear with me.

A thought has occurred to me, I wonder, how hard would it be for a person to cut the line on all forms of external providers like cable, satellite, fiber, and just simply go with free sources of television entertainment such as going OTA reception only? Now, I am not talking just getting and watching stuff live, but more of a method of using media center boxes for DVR functionality. Then there is also the issue of all the things watched on other networks.

I know that I can get 99.9% of what we watch on Sci-Fi, Discovery, and USA off of torrents, but what about kids shows like Diego, Superman, Spider-man, Batman, etc. that is shown on stuff like Toon Disney and Cartoon Network. Are those on torrents and reliable enough to download them too?? Then there is the lack of available sources of sports like baseball. I wonder how hard it would be to find sources of Cardinals games after they have been played? And would it be worth the waiting of several hours it would take for the source to encode and upload said game to the Internet?

The reason I am thinking this is because if you think about it, most shows the "average" family watches is on network TV that is free OTA. There are only a handful of shows that the normal family watches that are on other networks that are carried only via cable/satellite/fiber carriers. With the majority of things being carried OTA, the average family could potentially save themselves a big chunk of change every month.

For instance, with the programming we receive via U-Verse or DirecTV we pay ~$100/month. Now, if we were able to get all the shows we normally watch free either OTA or via torrents (which is still an extremely gray area in regards to the legality of the medium), that would increase the household budget $1200 in just one year. That could make or break the ability to send my son to a private school as opposed to sending him to the somewhat questionable environment of public schools that all of us had to deal with and continue to witness/hear horrible things about anymore.

I just wonder, is it a survivable task being without a pay carrier of television just to save around $1200 a year??? This sounds like the perfect subject for a blog post on a site that generates a lot of traffic. :) Or for a news article.

90% of the NON-SPORTS I watch can be watched OTA or FTA. 5% of my favorites are on FTA and not carried by any pay providers, and 5% of my shows are on pay tv only.

Unfortunantly, I love live sports, so I have Directv. If I didnt care about sports, Id be strictly FTA/OTA. I watch sports about 75% of my tv time.

Dmatch: no luck. One guy is getting rtn with a 90cm...go figure. Im sure im on the sat, found a NBC feed at 87% signal.

For anyone interested, Stark Electronics has the new Winegard vhf-hi/uhf yagi antenna series on sale. The suburban model was $69.

90% of the NON-SPORTS I watch can be watched OTA or FTA. 5% of my favorites are on FTA and not carried by any pay providers, and 5% of my shows are on pay tv only.

Unfortunantly, I love live sports, so I have Directv. If I didnt care about sports, Id be strictly FTA/OTA. I watch sports about 75% of my tv time.

Sports don't have the appeal (save for the NFL and early season NASCAR) they once did. I could go back to OTA and Netflix and be just as happy and save the money I'm paying E* each month.

Directv folks, New channel: 325 AFN (24/7 country music videos) and Untamed Sports (probably the same one thats on 16.2 OTA) on ch 225 from 7am-6pm, then its a shopping channel.

A thought has occurred to me, I wonder, how hard would it be for a person to cut the line on all forms of external providers like cable, satellite, fiber, and just simply go with free sources of television entertainment such as going OTA reception only?

I'm a member of a video production guild. Several members don't watch TV on TV at all anymore. To fit that into your scenario, go with an OTA setup then watch the rest on Hulu. :) Lot's of people do it now. Others have found it cheaper to go "a la carte" on services like iTunes. Paying for the shows they want to watch is cheaper than buying a cable package.

Were it not for sports, I'd do the same thing. We watch Hulu through our DirecTV receiver but could easily use Boxee/XBMC.

I'm a member of a video production guild. Several members don't watch TV on TV at all anymore. To fit that into your scenario, go with an OTA setup then watch the rest on Hulu. :) Lot's of people do it now. Others have found it cheaper to go "a la carte" on services like iTunes. Paying for the shows they want to watch is cheaper than buying a cable package.
Well, yeah, that would work for the most part, or getting them via torrents like I said before. But that doesn't help on the kids stuff that my son watches like Diego, Superman, Hulk, etc. I haven't found a good place to get or watch those. Other than that, it seems like it might be easy. Hell, all I have to do is pay $30 for PlayOn and I can watch Hulu, Netflix, CBS, etc through my PS3 or XBOX 360.

Were it not for sports, I'd do the same thing. We watch Hulu through our DirecTV receiver but could easily use Boxee/XBMC.
That is the other half of my problem. What do I do when baseball season kicks back in. Oh well.

I know it is not free but MLB offers subscriptions for on-line viewing ($119.95).

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/subscriptions/gift.jsp?c_id=mlb&affiliateId=mlbMENUBUYGP
• 2009 MLB REGULAR SEASON: Watch all 2,430 games online. Over 90 games live per week. Watch the rest on-demand.
• Over 100 select 2009 Spring Training games
• Streaming of both HOME and AWAY team broadcasts


That's only a little more than 1 month's Cable/Satellite bill.

Otherwise, you can get some OTA, including the Cardinals (at least you could last year, don't know about this year because of the Equity shemozzle).

dmatch

I know it is not free but MLB offers subscriptions for on-line viewing ($119.95).

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/subscriptions/gift.jsp?c_id=mlb&affiliateId=mlbMENUBUYGP


That's only a little more than 1 month's Cable/Satellite bill.

Otherwise, you can get some OTA, including the Cardinals (at least you could last year, don't know about this year because of the Equity shemozzle).

dmatch
Well, the only problem with MLB is the fact you can NOT watch ANY Cardinals games that way. Every single one is blacked out. Unless they changed their rules that is. It's ridiculous, but true. And you can't watch games in HD OTA anymore. Equity killed that after the 07 season. So, if ya wanna watch the cards in HD that looks good either 1)move to St. Louis or 2)get DirecTV and the sports pack.

SEE!!!! The bastards want to sell you that expensive package like that, then put all the blackout stuff in fine print at the bottom. The first section is from the page you sent me, the second from the zip code verification page. I hate this blackout sh&&!

UNITED STATES (INCLUDING THE TERRITORIES OF GUAM AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS) AND CANADA
Regular Season Local Live Blackout: All live games on MLB.TV are subject to local blackouts. Such live games will be blacked out in each applicable Club's home television territory (except for certain home television territories for which MLB.com may offer in-market subscription services). If a game is blacked out in an area, it is not available for live game viewing. Each game will be available 45 minutes after the conclusion of the game as an archived game (archived games are blackout free).

In addition, note:
• These blackout restrictions apply regardless of whether a Club is home or away and regardless of whether or not a game is televised in a Club's home television territory.
• All live Toronto Blue Jays games are blacked out throughout the entire country of Canada.
• Additional teams may also be subject to blackout in parts of Canada based on their region.
• All live games will be blacked out in the U.S. territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands during the MLB regular season.




U.S. ZIP code "72211" is located within the home television territory of the following Club(s), and MLB.TV is subject to blackout for all regular season live games for these Club(s):

* Houston Astros
* Texas Rangers
* St. Louis Cardinals
* Kansas City Royals

In addition, live regular season games for all thirty Clubs are subject to blackout during the national Fox Saturday and ESPN Sunday night game telecast windows.

During the postseason all live games are subject to blackout in the United States.

For non-U.S. blackouts and for complete details on U.S. blackouts, and other restrictions, click here.
Reminder: When you are traveling and accessing your MLB.TV subscription, you will be subject to that area's local blackout restrictions and not your home territory blackout restrictions.

Sorry, I didn't know that about MLB blackout restrictions.

I watched many Cardinal home games last year on BUD satellite dish/DVB/Free-To-Air/HD last year. Don't know if that will be possible this year.

Edit: Well At least I could watch the other teams I was interested in last year...Phillies/Red Sox

dmatch

Sorry, I didn't know that about MLB blackout restrictions.

I watched many Cardinal home games last year on BUD satellite dish/DVB/Free-To-Air/HD last year. Don't know if that will be possible this year.

dmatch
Well, yeah, you can do it like that if you want to go through all the hassle of getting a big dish set up. I would love to do that just so I could get free stuff, but its kinda expensive for me right now and the wife won't let me do it. Not everyone is lucky enough to be allowed to set up that stuff. :)

BTW, added more to the fine print post.

Well, yeah, you can do it like that if you want to go through all the hassle of getting a big dish set up. I would love to do that just so I could get free stuff, but its kinda expensive for me right now and the wife won't let me do it. Not everyone is lucky enough to be allowed to set up that stuff. :)
Yeah, I hear you. I understand your plight. Guess you might say you are paying for past sins.:) They have you hooked now.

Being in the boonies with no cable and, at that time no DBS/DSS, caused me to go BUD Satellite many years ago when the wife and family thought it was great to get all that stuff for free. So you might say my past has grandfathered in my current activities.

Edit: Not to rub salt in a wound :) , but my wife likes baseball so much she would put up with about anything to watch it. Go figure, ain't I lucky.

dmatch

You know, it seems to me that if even MLB recognizes that we are in the home market for all 4 teams, then DirecTV and every other provider out there should give us FSN Midwest in our base packages just like they do for FSN Southwest. Don't you think????


Just asked her if she liked it enough to get a big dish in the back yard. She kinda scoffed at it for a second, but said that she wouldn't have a problem with having a big dish in the back yard. So, that leads me to this question. Anyone know where I can get a dish and receiver for free or really cheap and would be interested in helping me set it up? :)

I really don't understand all that blackout stuff.

In an attempt to appear to be on topic :), does anyone know if there will be any Cardinal games OTA in this market in 2009?

dmatch

Well, if I can get a dish, a receiver, some help putting it all up, and some training on using it, then I might be interested in doing that BUD stuff you and Dave are always talking about. Just has to have a really attractive price attached to it. Like, maybe if someone is just wanting to get rid of it or something cause they are moving or whatever would be great. Free is always welcome and very very low price is a close second. :)

....
I know that I can get 99.9% of what we watch on Sci-Fi, Discovery, and USA off of torrents, but what about kids shows like Diego, Superman, Spider-man, Batman, etc. that is shown on stuff like Toon Disney and Cartoon Network. Are those on torrents and reliable enough to download them too?? ....
I've seen some of these available as torrents and some appear to have decent peer counts.

I would say more but I do not know the policy of this forum regarding this sort of activity.

I will say that I would guess that "delayed" viewing is not for the impatient or anyone that doesn't want to manage their viewing habits. I'm not saying you are that way, because I don't know, but I could see how that could become a full-time hobby in itself and many people might not want all the hassle.

dmatch

Cheapest place to find a BUD is out in the country. Ask people who have them in their yards, if they are still using them, and if not, you they allow you to remove it for them. New ones run $350 for 6' and up. If you find a used one, dont bother with fiberglass, they will all be warped by now. Plan on buying a jack ($85) to turn it, a controller ($85), and a receiver ($99 SD, $400 HD), and appropriate lengths of coax and control cables. Not cheap, but you only pay once.

All this talk about BUDs, I really want one, but my dad won't even let me put in a little one for PBS!

- Trip

Well, if I can get a dish, a receiver, some help putting it all up, and some training on using it, then I might be interested in doing that BUD stuff you and Dave are always talking about. Just has to have a really attractive price attached to it. Like, maybe if someone is just wanting to get rid of it or something cause they are moving or whatever would be great. Free is always welcome and very very low price is a close second. :)This kind of stuff can become a full-fledged hobby and it comes with a steep learning curve. You kinda need the do-it-yourself attitude as well as a desire to save dollars (in the longer run). I have found that most people who were into BUD viewing just to save the money and didn't have the do-it-yourself attitude have begun to drop out and go to the "dark side" (as the die-hard BUDders say). Subscription pricing is now approaching the other satellite delivery methods. It is also somewhat of a crap-shoot as to what will be available free. It's a sort of Easter egg hunt in the Clarke belt.

Our local OTA TV is by far the most cost effective TV entertainment (an obvious statement, but thought I would at least give the appearance of on topic discussion). Thank you KARK, KATV, KETS, KKYK, KLRT, KTHV, KTWN, KWBF (these are the ones I can receive reliably).

If you don't want to include BUD as one of your hobbies, and considering the uncertainty as to what will continue to be available, you probably would not enjoy it.

Edit: On a positive note. You don't necessarily need an expensive receiver, you can use a computer/PCI card/USB Device and get HD that way. If you are into computers/Video, attaching a BUD could be very interesting.

dmatch

Well, the only problem with MLB is the fact you can NOT watch ANY Cardinals games that way. Every single one is blacked out. Unless they changed their rules that is. It's ridiculous, but true. And you can't watch games in HD OTA anymore. Equity killed that after the 07 season. So, if ya wanna watch the cards in HD that looks good either 1)move to St. Louis or 2)get DirecTV and the sports pack.

Steve, unless it has changed, with DirecTV you can add the Sports Pak $12 mo.) during baseball season and get Fox Midwest (which carries lots of Cardinal games) as well as Fox Southwest. I have never understood why it is that way and given the choice, I would take Midwest over Southwest because of my preference for Cardinals baseball. But, unfortunately, that choice is not an option. I did not do this last summer but have done it in past years so unless it has changed it might be of interest to you. Except I just remembered after all this typing that you don't have D any more. Maybe it would work the same way on U-Verse.

Yeah, it's still an option for D. My only beef with having to pay extra is that MLB shows us in the home market for both so both should be free as part of the subscription. Lots of HD games last season, you missed out. As far as uverse, no one there has a clue if Midwest would be given as part of sports pack. It's all wait and try and see. Plus they don't have the HD feeds on all the time. I can't even see the Midwest feeds on my list (anothe don't know why bit from them).

This kind of stuff can become a full-fledged hobby and it comes with a steep learning curve. You kinda need the do-it-yourself attitude as well as a desire to save dollars (in the longer run). I have found that most people who were into BUD viewing just to save the money and didn't have the do-it-yourself attitude have begun to drop out and go to the "dark side" (as the die-hard BUDders say). Subscription pricing is now approaching the other satellite delivery methods. It is also somewhat of a crap-shoot as to what will be available free. It's a sort of Easter egg hunt in the Clarke belt.

Our local OTA TV is by far the most cost effective TV entertainment (an obvious statement, but thought I would at least give the appearance of on topic discussion). Thank you KARK, KATV, KETS, KKYK, KLRT, KTHV, KTWN, KWBF (these are the ones I can receive reliably).

If you don't want to include BUD as one of your hobbies, and considering the uncertainty as to what will continue to be available, you probably would not enjoy it.

Edit: On a positive note. You don't necessarily need an expensive receiver, you can use a computer/PCI card/USB Device and get HD that way. If you are into computers/Video, attaching a BUD could be very interesting.

dmatch
Oh, I've got the do-it-yourself mentality. I do that with all my computer stuff too. I just have the cheapskate mentality to go with it. :) I don't like to spend ANY money if I can help it. hehehe I would gladly do this stuff if given the right opportunity and equipment. As you say, there is no guarantee as to how much longer all this stuff is free for the viewing if you have the equipment. Would hate to get into it and spend all kinds of money if it dies in the next year. Getting a card for the computer sounds like a good idea too. I may look into all this stuff just to see what I can find.

Oh, I've got the do-it-yourself mentality. I do that with all my computer stuff too. I just have the cheapskate mentality to go with it. :) I don't like to spend ANY money if I can help it. hehehe I would gladly do this stuff if given the right opportunity and equipment. As you say, there is no guarantee as to how much longer all this stuff is free for the viewing if you have the equipment. Would hate to get into it and spend all kinds of money if it dies in the next year. Getting a card for the computer sounds like a good idea too. I may look into all this stuff just to see what I can find.
Would like to discuss the topic more but since this is a local HDTV forum I guess I should just suggest a forum(s) where these things are discussed. I and davenlr both frequent:

http://www.websitetoolbox.com/mb/rickcaylor

(This is one of the friendliest forums I have had the pleasure to visit)

There are others:

http://www.satelliteguys.us/

(I am not a member but find a lot of info here from time to time)

http://forums.satforums.com/SatForumMaster/start/login.php?webtag=mpg

(This is their BUD/MPEG-DVB/FTA forum. There is also a 4DTV forum associated with satforums - but 4DTV is primarily for subscription TV and can not be done on computer)

http://www.lyngsat.com/america.html

(Not a forum but has a list of all the satellites/channels in North America. Channels on a satellite that are colored yellow are free-to-air/FTA)

Anyway, might want to browse around if you have the time and are curious. There are probably others that I haven't stumbled upon and perhaps davenlr knows some more places to visit on the web.

The short story is, excluding a dish/LNBs/computer, and using only open source free software, you can get into MPEG/DVB/FTA for about $200 or possibly less.

dmatch

All this talk about BUDs, I really want one, but my dad won't even let me put in a little one for PBS!

- Trip

Thats a shame, the dish isnt that much bigger than a Directv Dish.

Thats a shame, the dish isnt that much bigger than a Directv Dish.

It's not the size of the dish, it's getting the cable into the house and getting it to the house. The house is surrounded by trees, so the dish would have to go on a pole in the field. The cable would have to be buried and somehow get into the house without drilling any holes (he has a rule, no drilling holes) and then get feed up to my room.

- Trip

It's not the size of the dish, it's getting the cable into the house and getting it to the house. The house is surrounded by trees, so the dish would have to go on a pole in the field. The cable would have to be buried and somehow get into the house without drilling any holes (he has a rule, no drilling holes) and then get feed up to my room.

- Trip

I can understand that. This http://i38.tinypic.com/10qky0w.jpg is my 36" PBS dish, its tucked into a corner behind some shrubs, and is on a non-penetrating mount held down with a concrete block. I fed the cable into the house through a vent hole (also usually ways into house next to gas lines, telephone, old cable tv, etc. Then it just comes up through the floor. If you have cable tv in your room, and the drop for your room terminates at a splitter outside, you could run an A/B switch to select between cable and sat. In any case, its a lot of fun. Hope you have success eventually.

36" isn't that big at all. How much stuff can you receive with that? PBS only or what?

I can understand that. This is my 36" PBS dish, its tucked into a corner behind some shrubs, and is on a non-penetrating mount held down with a concrete block. I fed the cable into the house through a vent hole (also usually ways into house next to gas lines, telephone, old cable tv, etc. Then it just comes up through the floor. If you have cable tv in your room, and the drop for your room terminates at a splitter outside, you could run an A/B switch to select between cable and sat. In any case, its a lot of fun. Hope you have success eventually.

Your dish setup is interesting, but I doubt I could make it apply to me. I've thought of a lot of those possibilities for getting the cabling inside the house and ruled them out for one reason or another. All the pipes and wires come in where the driveway is, and tearing up the driveway won't go over well (not that the dish would work on that side of the house). Dad doesn't want wires going into the vents because it's unsightly and requires "modifying" the vent. My room's on the second floor, so the cable would have to be fished through the wall (which is packed with fiberglass) up to the attic and then all the way across to the other side of the house (getting it from the attic into my room is easy, I've already got network cables going there). I'd probably have to put an amp on it or something.

And I'm an OTA-only viewer, no cable available where I live. :)

- Trip

36" isn't that big at all. How much stuff can you receive with that? PBS only or what?

Every station listed on www.ftalist.com
Click english stations. If its there, the 36" dish can get it. It cannot get C band...which is where ESPN and most HD network feeds are.

Hey guys... I just wanted to let you all know that I tried out that Phillips indoor/outdoor antenna at Wal-Mart. We needed something here at my office to receive OTA, so I picked one up the other day. I'm just outside of downtown Little Rock and I get everything except 2, 7 and 42. I mounted it at about 20 feet on the roof of our building. Very disappointing, to say the least.

Hey guys... I just wanted to let you all know that I tried out that Phillips indoor/outdoor antenna at Wal-Mart. We needed something here at my office to receive OTA, so I picked one up the other day. I'm just outside of downtown Little Rock and I get everything except 2, 7 and 42. I mounted it at about 20 feet on the roof of our building. Very disappointing, to say the least.
I bought one the other day as well (MANT940). I get better results than my Phillips MANT510, but channel 7 is still flaky. I'm going to run a new line down my wall and mount it in the attic this weekend. I'll let you know if I get better results.

I must have '24' in HD by Sunday and Monday. ;-)

I bought one the other day as well (MANT940). I get better results than my Phillips MANT510, but channel 7 is still flaky. I'm going to run a new line down my wall and mount it in the attic this weekend. I'll let you know if I get better results.

I must have '24' in HD by Sunday and Monday. ;-)

Well, if it doesnt work, Radio Shack has your answer: VU-90XR cat# 15-2152 $59.95

Have it installed 5' above 20' high metal roof out on East Broadway in NLR (two miles east of Alltel) and get all stations including KETS-DT and KTWN-DT. SHINALL MT stations all almost full scale on a zeinith converter box.

I bought one the other day as well (MANT940). I get better results than my Phillips MANT510, but channel 7 is still flaky. I'm going to run a new line down my wall and mount it in the attic this weekend. I'll let you know if I get better results.

I must have '24' in HD by Sunday and Monday. ;-)
Well, you are in luck because "24" is on 16 and not 7. :)

Guys, I wouldn't worry about problems with 7. In just another month or month and a half 7 will be back on the right freq with a LOT more power. Just wait it out. I doubt there is anything on ABC that you will just HAVE to see that bad. :) If you do, find another source. I just wouldn't condemn an antenna just because it can't pick up 42's sh**ty signal. :)

Well, if it doesnt work, Radio Shack has your answer: VU-90XR cat# 15-2152 $59.95

Have it installed 5' above 20' high metal roof out on East Broadway in NLR (two miles east of Alltel) and get all stations including KETS-DT and KTWN-DT. SHINALL MT stations all almost full scale on a zeinith converter box.
You have what installed at 5' above 20' high metal roof? The MANT or the Rat Shack special?

Well, you are in luck because "24" is on 16 and not 7. :)

Guys, I wouldn't worry about problems with 7. In just another month or month and a half 7 will be back on the right freq with a LOT more power. Just wait it out. I doubt there is anything on ABC that you will just HAVE to see that bad. :) If you do, find another source. I just wouldn't condemn an antenna just because it can't pick up 42's sh**ty signal. :)

Um, Lost returns on Jan. 21st. Oh wait, Ch. 7's just gonna pre-empt that for basketball and run it in SD in the middle of the night anyway!

You have what installed at 5' above 20' high metal roof? The MANT or the Rat Shack special?

The Radio Shack special. It works great. I also see Radio Shack is now selling Winegards new VHF-Hi/UHF series... $79 is to expensive tho, it will come down.

The Radio Shack special. It works great. I also see Radio Shack is now selling Winegards new VHF-Hi/UHF series... $79 is to expensive tho, it will come down.
HOLY CRAP!!! 80" boom length!!!! No wonder you get EVERYTHING in so good! Ain't no way in Haities I can get something THAT big approved by my wife!!

Um, Lost returns on Jan. 21st. Oh wait, Ch. 7's just gonna pre-empt that for basketball and run it in SD in the middle of the night anyway!
Yeah, we have come to expect to not be able to see that in HD from 7, so we just rely on torrents or any other method we can find. Maybe Dave can record it for all of us and put it up on his FTP.

HOLY CRAP!!! 80" boom length!!!! No wonder you get EVERYTHING in so good! Ain't no way in Haities I can get something THAT big approved by my wife!!

The VHF section isnt that big, the boom length comes from the UHF directors. They used to make a VU-60 which was only about 48", but guess they discontinued it. In any case, if you want all the stations, with a good margin, you have to put some aluminum on the roof or in the attic.

Just saw KtHV2's liveview...KATV's tower is really getting up there.

The VHF section isnt that big, the boom length comes from the UHF directors. They used to make a VU-60 which was only about 48", but guess they discontinued it. In any case, if you want all the stations, with a good margin, you have to put some aluminum on the roof or in the attic.

Just saw KtHV2's liveview...KATV's tower is really getting up there.
I get all the stations that matter with the MANT.

2 doesn't matter to me because they rarely show the shows I like in HD.

42 doesn't matter because it has nothing at all I like to watch on it. I have seen pretty much everything they show because its all reruns. Plus the stretched out picture makes me sick to look at.

7 does matter on occasion (but less now that Kristin Fisher is leaving), but I can deal with it until their tower gets put up.

I wish I could see THV2, but the video card in my little over year old computer apparently decided to die on me, so I am waiting on my new video card to come in before I can get my media center box back up and going. That is one of the MAJOR drawbacks to running a system with a new x16 PCI-E video card.

HOLY CRAP!!! 80" boom length!!!! No wonder you get EVERYTHING in so good! Ain't no way in Haities I can get something THAT big approved by my wife!!


80" !!!???

how do you work with something that small?

Jeez!

A


http://i41.tinypic.com/jucrvk.jpg

80" !!!???

how do you work with something that small?

Jeez!

A


http://i41.tinypic.com/jucrvk.jpg
Is that the actual antenna part of the tower that is going to be radiating out the signal?

yep

yep

Is that a SLOT antenna, or do driven elements mount through those slots? Most transmit antennas Ive seen have some form of element, is this a new design or just not completely assembled yet?

Is that a SLOT antenna, or do driven elements mount through those slots? Most transmit antennas Ive seen have some form of element, is this a new design or just not completely assembled yet?

Slot Antenna. It just got back from the galvanizer and will go to final fab next week. Should ship in 2 weeks or so.

A

Well, you are in luck because "24" is on 16 and not 7. :)
Hahaha! Yes, thanks, I know it's on 16. It's a good thing.

So what's the timeframe for 7 getting their tower in place? Will they ever finish?

Hahaha! Yes, thanks, I know it's on 16. It's a good thing.

So what's the timeframe for 7 getting their tower in place? Will they ever finish?

See the post right above yours...the ch 22 antenna picture up a little further. Timetable was posted by allenf a couple pages ago. Watch construction on ThV2 w little rock weathercam shots, its the tower on the left that almost up to the same height as the others... Almost there.

Slot Antenna. It just got back from the galvanizer and will go to final fab next week. Should ship in 2 weeks or so.

A

Whats the gain on that? Curious if a scaled back homebrew would be possible. Ive never seen a true omnidirection horizontally polorized antenna for consumer use, except the "halo" mobile 6m antenna.

Whats the gain on that? Curious if a scaled back homebrew would be possible. Ive never seen a true omnidirection horizontally polorized antenna for consumer use, except the "halo" mobile 6m antenna.

A gain of 22.2 (13.4dbd) horizontal and 5.5(7.5dbd) vertical. Antenna is designed with an ERP of 1Mw horizontal and 250Kw vertical. Length is ~60', diameter with radome is 18", & overall weight is 12,400 lbs.

I have seen designs in the microwave region for home brew slot antennas. Keep in mind that the design is not broadband. I'd imagine that there would be some difficulty covering the entire UHF band. Might be able to build one that covered small segments adequately so in the LR you'd have one for KLRT & KARK for example.

A

Bet I'd make the DX journal with a 6 ton, 60' antenna on my roof :)

Id love to hook that up to a receiver when it gets up on your tower, just to see what it would pick up before they tied it into the transmitter...Damn, where did I put the waveguide to F connector adapter...

A gain of 22.2 (13.4dbd) horizontal and 5.5(7.5dbd) vertical. Antenna is designed with an ERP of 1Mw horizontal and 250Kw vertical. Length is ~60', diameter with radome is 18", & overall weight is 12,400 lbs.

Might be a bit large for my roof. :D

- Trip

[QUOTE=Davenlr;15516442]Bet I'd make the DX journal with a 6 ton, 60' antenna on my roof :)

I have a gut feeling you'd make the 6 o'clock news for an imploded house too:D

Missing getting my Dakar highlights in HD. Anybody know what the deal is with Versus HD channel 448? Did it get dropped? I get audio and a still image of a picture frame on a desk?????

Was doing my weekly Wally World trip today and took a pic from the parking lot. It was kinda dark and stuff, so I had to jack up the exposure in Preview to get it where it was viewable. Anyway, you can see it on the left and whoever's on the right (who's tower is that? I keep forgetting).


EDIT: Still don't know how to do those in post pics like you guys do, so I just attach them.

Bet I'd make the DX journal with a 6 ton, 60' antenna on my roof :)

Id love to hook that up to a receiver when it gets up on your tower, just to see what it would pick up before they tied it into the transmitter...Damn, where did I put the waveguide to F connector adapter...

You know- I know lots of guys including myself who have hooked up the broadcast antenna to a receiver during a maintenance window. It is amazing what can be seen because of the height and occasionally the right propagation conditions. I always wanted to hook up the old AETN ch2 antenna to my Heathkit SB-110 6m xcvr. Can you imagine doing that during a sporatic E opening!!!?

You know- I know lots of guys including myself who have hooked up the broadcast antenna to a receiver during a maintenance window. It is amazing what can be seen because of the height and occasionally the right propagation conditions. I always wanted to hook up the old AETN ch2 antenna to my Heathkit SB-110 6m xcvr. Can you imagine doing that during a sporatic E opening!!!?

:eek: That sounds amazing!

- Trip

Missing getting my Dakar highlights in HD. Anybody know what the deal is with Versus HD channel 448? Did it get dropped? I get audio and a still image of a picture frame on a desk?????

Coming in OK on Directv... Showing HOLY ... right now with a surfer being chomped on by a shark.

You know- I know lots of guys including myself who have hooked up the broadcast antenna to a receiver during a maintenance window. It is amazing what can be seen because of the height and occasionally the right propagation conditions. I always wanted to hook up the old AETN ch2 antenna to my Heathkit SB-110 6m xcvr. Can you imagine doing that during a sporatic E opening!!!?

That's called "making you're own conditions". :D

One might could decode KOKI-DT Tulsa or KETK-DT near Tyler with that antenna and hooking up a Zenith converter box to the feed line. The hardest part would be getting an adapter to interconnect the two!

Allenf or errett, whats the local plans right now for Feb 17th if the Govt extends the deadline?

It would be kinda hard for PBs to run digital on 7 if KATV didnt turn off analog, and I can just imagine most stations are limping their tube finals along by now...

Thats assuming of course the Govt leaves the choice up to the stations of course. I really cant see how the govt could force stations to spend thousands of dollars to maintain dual transmitters after the deadline...without somehow subsidizing the cost.

Lately I have been receiving KLRT-DT 16.2 OTA on my Zenith DTV conveter box. My D* DVR does not recognize this OTA channel. Any ideas why I can receive it on converter box and not DVR receiver. Signal strength of KLRT-DT and KLRT-DT 16.2 is same on converter box meter.

Lately I have been receiving KLRT-DT 16.2 OTA on my Zenith DTV conveter box. My D* DVR does not recognize this OTA channel. Any ideas why I can receive it on converter box and not DVR receiver. Signal strength of KLRT-DT and KLRT-DT 16.2 is same on DVR meter.

It wont show up on directv boxes until KLRT gets the program guide info on zap2it.com, then it will take a week or two for it to show up in the directv database.

Thank you for that information.

Allenf or errett, whats the local plans right now for Feb 17th if the Govt extends the deadline?

It would be kinda hard for PBs to run digital on 7 if KATV didnt turn off analog, and I can just imagine most stations are limping their tube finals along by now...

Thats assuming of course the Govt leaves the choice up to the stations of course. I really cant see how the govt could force stations to spend thousands of dollars to maintain dual transmitters after the deadline...without somehow subsidizing the cost.

No idea...could get really interesting soon.

E

Allenf or errett, whats the local plans right now for Feb 17th if the Govt extends the deadline?

It would be kinda hard for PBs to run digital on 7 if KATV didnt turn off analog, and I can just imagine most stations are limping their tube finals along by now...

Thats assuming of course the Govt leaves the choice up to the stations of course. I really cant see how the govt could force stations to spend thousands of dollars to maintain dual transmitters after the deadline...without somehow subsidizing the cost.

No idea...could get really interesting soon.

E

I agree with E-

Any idea why KATV-HD doesn't have program info on any dvr guides? The information doesn't show up on my Tivo HD or my friends Dish DVR. Just wondering.

It wont show up on directv boxes until KLRT gets the program guide info on zap2it.com, then it will take a week or two for it to show up in the directv database.Contact the site shown below for corrections to directv, zap2it, titantv and other guides provided by Decisionmark.
http://info.titantv.com

Your Tivo and Dish receiver probably get guide data from the stations PSIP. On my Dishnet TR-40 I currently show no guide data for KARK, or any of the stations transmitting on ch44 (KATV,KWBF,KKYK). Discounting KARK, its probably a screw up at Equity causing the lack of guide data on the others.

I also noticed KTHV appears to have allocated more bits to the main channel. The football games arent going in and out of focus this weekend, as it has the past several.
Directv has current guide info.

My Tv which only shows current program info, also says NO INFO for KARK, KATV, KWBF, and KKYK.

I agree with E-

I understand your stations current need to maintain analog, but for the rest, why dont they just shut down analog now, while they legally can?

I mean really, how many people actually watch analog OTA that an extra 30 days is going to help?

Id so much rather see the locals investing in HD switchers, time shifting equipment, and studio cams, than paying a huge electric bill to keep joe 12pak in analog tv for 30 more days...when he will lose TV anyway because his head has been under a rock for two years.

Any idea why KATV-HD doesn't have program info on any dvr guides? The information doesn't show up on my Tivo HD or my friends Dish DVR. Just wondering.
On *E, KWBF-DT (42.1) program info is shown for KATV-DT (7.1). Has been that way ever since 7's tower fell.

On *E, KWBF-DT (42.1) program info is shown for KATV-DT (7.1). Has been that way ever since 7's tower fell.

Yes

I just look at the KATV SD program info ("7-0" listed under E*)

What do you guys think about Obama trying to push the DTV changeover date back from Feb 17th? They claim 100,000 households do not have a digital to analog converter box and are not prepared for the cut off date. Blame is on the Gov for running out of $40 coupons and not supplying enough money to cover it.

Its BS. I wrote Pryor and expressed my displeasure.

What do you guys think about Obama trying to push the DTV changeover date back from Feb 17th? They claim 100,000 households do not have a digital to analog converter box and are not prepared for the cut off date. Blame is on the Gov for running out of $40 coupons and not supplying enough money to cover it.
They've had more than enough time. Sucks to be them. *shrug*

I agree with you guys, its been put off for long enough. I'm ready for Feb 17th and the changeover myself

Wow, this is a first for me I have to say. I am usually called a di*k or an as*ho*e for saying things like that. :) Kind of a negative view on things. Glad to see I am not alone on this one. This makes me feel better.

On a related note, since I have two converter boxes, I am probably going to take one up to my grandparents house. I really don't need two, I just got two because I had two coupons. I just want them to have it so in the off chance their Dish goes out or something they can still watch TV. They have a pretty decent outdoor antenna, so it should work pretty well once I tweak it.

The new 7 (22) antenna is cool. I saw "World's Toughest Fixes" a few weeks ago where they replaced a 150' or so antenna atop a 2000' tower up in the Dakotas. They had to remove the old antenna & install a new one. Scary part was the gin pole assembly was unsupported top-heavy weight above the 2000' mark. They were throwing things off the tower (alerted ground crew first!) & timing how long it takes to hit the ground. The mini-cam with parachute was neat to watch. All this with a short window of time to get the station off the air, antenna removed, new antenna delivered & installed then gin pole lowered below antenna level so they get back on air again by sundown. Interesting show, I think it is on one of the Discovery channels.

That would have been fun to see. Sorry I missed it.

The new 7 (22) antenna is cool. I saw "World's Toughest Fixes" a few weeks ago where they replaced a 150' or so antenna atop a 2000' tower up in the Dakotas. They had to remove the old antenna & install a new one. Scary part was the gin pole assembly was unsupported top-heavy weight above the 2000' mark. They were throwing things off the tower (alerted ground crew first!) & timing how long it takes to hit the ground. The mini-cam with parachute was neat to watch. All this with a short window of time to get the station off the air, antenna removed, new antenna delivered & installed then gin pole lowered below antenna level so they get back on air again by sundown. Interesting show, I think it is on one of the Discovery channels.

I saw that show, which aired on National Geographic Channel. Those UHF broadcast antennas are HUGE. The station featured on World's Toughest Fixes was Sioux Falls SD NBC afilliate KDLT.

Last year, I made several visits to the AR History Commision newspaper archives and found several articles and photos of early Arkansas television including the 1953-1954 KRTV (UHF channel 17) tower and antenna. The tower holding the KRTV antenna was self-supporting and caused a major dustup in Hillcrest at the time. Many people at the time of KRTV going on the air used converter boxes (http://www.geocities.com/k8zhd/TVBox.html) for older sets or installed "tuning strips". New sets were also sold with built in UHF tuners, but UHF tuners were NOT required by law to be on all new TVs until 1964 (the All Channel Tuner Act).

I believe the "converter"boxes you are refering to were just RF amplifiers used to amplify weak TV signals. Prior to KRTV, Channel 17, residents of little Rock had to try and receive signals from Memphis. The station was WMCT and everyone with a television set had at least a 20 foot mast with VHF antenna pointed toward Memphis in hopes of receiving even the faintest signal. These RF amplifiers were in boxes and sat on top of the TV set and were called "Boosters" and sometimes you needed to turn it on and sometimes you didn't. Not until KRTV did LR residents have a quality signal. KRTV was reveived via a UHF, single bow-tie antenna. We had a 21-inch Raytheon receiver that had both UHV and VHF tuners.

I had a UHF converter box. It had an analog tuner, and you hooked your UHF antenna and vhf antenna into it, and then a rf ribbon to the tv. When you wanted uhf, you tuned to ch 3 and then used the tuner on the converter.

You guys are showing your age. :D ;)

You guys are showing your age. :D ;)

Yea? I can also remember going to my friends house after grade school, to watch commercials. Now, as stupid as that sounds, the programs were in black and white, but about once or twice per show, you could be awestruck by a commercial in COLOR. On a round tube RCA console. I was a teen when we could afford our first COLOR set, we all gave up Christmas presents that year, and dad used the Christmas present money to get the family a color tv.

It was the next morning I was up on the roof (in Wisconsin, with a -20 wind chill), mounting a rotor and a Channel Master antenna so we could watch the blacked out (in Milwaukee) Green bay Packer games from ch 3 in Madison, 65 miles away. No coax either, has to run 300 ohm twin lead with the appropriate twists, down standoffs screwed into the wall. Worked good. Side benefit was we got all the Chicago stations, and South Bend Indiana stations, and Rockford, ill stations. Watched the Cubs with my friends every summer...snowy and fading analog. Those days are numbered as shown here http://i36.tinypic.com/333kaiw.jpg

You guys are showing your age. :D ;)
"
I'm not that old, but can remember when sitcoms were "taped before live studio audiences" and MTV being only videos...with some decent music on them. I only saw MTV at friends/relative's houses out of town, because growing up in rural Lincoln County because we didn't have cable available nor one of those C band systems. In fact, all the (land line) phones in the sticks were party lines. This was in 1983, 1984!

"
I'm not that old, but can remember when sitcoms were "taped before live studio audiences" and MTV being only videos...with some decent music on them. I only saw MTV at friends/relative's houses out of town, because growing up in rural Lincoln County because we didn't have cable available nor one of those C band systems. In fact, all the (land line) phones in the sticks were party lines. This was in 1983, 1984!


Yeah, this is more my time... I remember wondering whether the live studio audience was given cue cards and told when to laugh. It seems like they always laughed at the dumbest jokes.

Has 42.1 already changed their coverage area? I've not been able to lock it in over 2 months. Strongest Signal I can get is 41-47%. Signal strength used to never get below 51% and most of the time was 61%. :confused:

Hi Arkyman,

I was wondering how 42 was doing for you in your neck of the woods.

I don't think their coverage area has changed. If/when Nexstar (KARK parent company) takes over and implements their construction permit and the coverage does change, I believe/hope it will get better for us. Nexstar engineering plans indicate that they will not be using the same biased (to south/southeast) antenna pattern that Equity was going to use. There was a post about the Nexstar construction permit some pages back.

Edit: Here's the page.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15308459#post15308459

I think maybe our hot-spots are shifting/weakening a bit due to the change of seasons. I can still get 42 but it has definitely become poorer in signal quality in the last couple of months. It has dropped about 10-15% in quality and I can barely get it now with a very low margin for error and I am closer in than you.

dmatch

I have similar issues receiving 42.1 and it's subchannels in Benton. Some nights it comes in decently, other nights I can't get a lock at all. Sometimes it seems to be weather dependent, but not always.

Hi Arkyman,

I was wondering how 42 was doing for you in your neck of the woods.

I don't think their coverage area has changed. If/when Nexstar (KARK parent company) takes over and implements their construction permit and the coverage does change, I believe/hope it will get better for us. Nexstar engineering plans indicate that they will not be using the same biased (to south/southeast) antenna pattern that Equity was going to use. There was a post about the Nexstar construction permit some pages back.

Edit: Here's the page.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15308459#post15308459

I think maybe our hot-spots are shifting/weakening a bit due to the change of seasons. I can still get 42 but it has definitely become poorer in signal quality in the last couple of months. It has dropped about 10-15% in quality and I can barely get it now with a very low margin for error and I am closer in than you.

dmatch

Thanks for the info dmatch. Hopefully we will get a stronger signal from them in the future. I dont watch a whole lot on 42, but I do watch it some. They were carrying the Cowboys preseason games in 2008.

I have a Sony DVR hooked up to Comcast cable (no cable box) that uses the TVGuide onscreen data for it's DVR programming. I noticed about 10 days ago that all of the guide data just had 'No Listing' through all 7 days worth of programming. I initially thought that the DVR had a hardware failure. But, I know someone else that has a device that uses the TVGOS data hooked up the same way as mine, was also missing the Guide data.

I understand that the TVGOS is passed on through the local CBS affiliate. Does anyone know if KTHV have already trurned this off because of the upcoming end of analog broadcasting?

Thanks

I have a Sony DVR hooked up to Comcast cable (no cable box) that uses the TVGuide onscreen data for it's DVR programming. I noticed about 10 days ago that all of the guide data just had 'No Listing' through all 7 days worth of programming. I initially thought that the DVR had a hardware failure. But, I know someone else that has a device that uses the TVGOS data hooked up the same way as mine, was also missing the Guide data.

I understand that the TVGOS is passed on through the local CBS affiliate. Does anyone know if KTHV have already trurned this off because of the upcoming end of analog broadcasting?

Thanks
I just downloaded a copy of Arcsoft TotalMedia which can get the guide data OTA just like you are talking about and it worked just fine for me. Saw plenty of guide data. Dunno what to tell you.

I have a Sony DVR hooked up to Comcast cable (no cable box) that uses the TVGuide onscreen data for it's DVR programming. I noticed about 10 days ago that all of the guide data just had 'No Listing' through all 7 days worth of programming. I initially thought that the DVR had a hardware failure. But, I know someone else that has a device that uses the TVGOS data hooked up the same way as mine, was also missing the Guide data.

I understand that the TVGOS is passed on through the local CBS affiliate. Does anyone know if KTHV have already trurned this off because of the upcoming end of analog broadcasting?

Thanks

I've also got the Sony, and I've been losing program information as well. Actually, the TVGOS info has been being sent through the local PBS affiliate during the analog era, not CBS, so I would actually think it would be KETS who would be turning it off (although I don't remember losing it when the tower fell.) CBS will be carrying the digital version of TVGOS, but I don't know if KTHV is sending it yet. I am hooked up to Charter Cable in Benton, and my guide actually has been updating, just not as far out as it used to, basically just updating each day for that day, more or less. There is a huge thread dedicated to this DVR, in the HDTV recording area, and folks there have been discussing for months how to future proof the machine. I've been putting off messing with it, but I guess the time has come to figure it out. I've recently added a TivoHD into the mix, but I still don't want to lose the functionality of the Sony, I really enjoy having three tuners and recorders.

I've also got the Sony, and I've been losing program information as well. Actually, the TVGOS info has been being sent through the local PBS affiliate during the analog era, not CBS, so I would actually think it would be KETS who would be turning it off (although I don't remember losing it when the tower fell.) CBS will be carrying the digital version of TVGOS, but I don't know if KTHV is sending it yet. I am hooked up to Charter Cable in Benton, and my guide actually has been updating, just not as far out as it used to, basically just updating each day for that day, more or less. There is a huge thread dedicated to this DVR, in the HDTV recording area, and folks there have been discussing for months how to future proof the machine. I've been putting off messing with it, but I guess the time has come to figure it out. I've recently added a TivoHD into the mix, but I still don't want to lose the functionality of the Sony, I really enjoy having three tuners and recorders.
Again, just like my previous post, KTHV is now sending out the guide data OTA because I got it when I used Arcsoft TotalMedia software with my ATSC TV tuner card.

42 will be full power. Until the lawyers get through ,we will be using the current transmitter and antenna. After that the transmitter will be moved on up the hill and mounted right at about the 860 ft level.Dielectric will probably be the antenna of choice, just like 32. Right below the ch 32 side mount. There are no plans for sub channels. Viewers will get the full 19 meg.

Thanks for the update RFMonkey, but the BIG qUESTIoN: What are you going to run for programming? We will be out of a MyNetwork and RTN...here in town.

42 will be full power. Until the lawyers get through ,we will be using the current transmitter and antenna. After that the transmitter will be moved on up the hill and mounted right at about the 860 ft level.Dielectric will probably be the antenna of choice, just like 32. Right below the ch 32 side mount. There are no plans for sub channels. Viewers will get the full 19 meg.


RF Monkey, that is great news for us fringe folks, thank you for the update. I get Kark 32 anywhere from 80-90%. I should have no problems locking 42 in the future:)

Im curious, as of right now, NO digital station in town is running the -DT antenna at the top of their tower (unless Im mistaken 38/39 or 11/12 are using the same antenna for both if thats even possible). Is there any advantage to running a top mounted antenna vs side mount, other than the few extra feet?

RE: Channel 42

Bring on Universal Sports! ... Unless is stretch-0-vision like now.

dmatch

42 will be full power. Until the lawyers get through ,we will be using the current transmitter and antenna. After that the transmitter will be moved on up the hill and mounted right at about the 860 ft level.Dielectric will probably be the antenna of choice, just like 32. Right below the ch 32 side mount. There are no plans for sub channels. Viewers will get the full 19 meg.

That's encouraging, but here is my only concern about KWBF-DT....

KYTV-DT (NBC affil. Springfield MO) also operates on ch 44. There could be an issue with both signals colliding in parts of North Central Arkansas and a resulting "no man's land" much like in parts of SE Arkansas because of KARK and WABG (Greenwood MS) sharing a channel. Its a shame you guys can't get another channel (say ch 42 for DTV instead of ch 44 and avoid this issue) for KWBF-DT.

That's encouraging, but here is my only concern about KWBF-DT....

KYTV-DT (NBC affil. Springfield MO) also operates on ch 44. There could be an issue with both signals colliding in parts of North Central Arkansas and a resulting "no man's land" much like in parts of SE Arkansas because of KARK and WABG (Greenwood MS) sharing a channel. Its a shame you guys can't get another channel (say ch 42 for DTV instead of ch 44 and avoid this issue) for KWBF-DT.

If there is interference, the way I understand it, the FCC could/would require both stations to cut back on power which could affect many viewers and could leave fringe viewers or those caught in the middle without a signal at all. Is this a correct assessment? The only problem with omnidirectional broadcasting is that a power decrease will bring the circle in from all directions.

I all reality, with the mountains, and the directivity of UHF yagis, plus their front to back ratio, the chance of interference from the back side of the antenna for someone in the middle should be negligable. I can null out KASN with mine and Im only 25 air miles from it.

Attached is an excerpt from Channel 44's engineering proposal that shows predicted interference levels. it is from:

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=707562

There does appear to be an increase in interference with KYTV, but it's small.

dmatch

Did KETS ever turn off analog 2 and/or DTV 5 like they had indicated would happen on 1/2?

Thanks,

According to haley-SEA's site, no. They got permission to shut it off as early as 01/02, but told the FCC in their 387 that it wouldn't be shut off until "about 01/15." I imagine they're leaving it on the air until the tower crew shows up. No point in leaving people without service any sooner than necessary.

- Trip

Did KETS ever turn off analog 2 and/or DTV 5 like they had indicated would happen on 1/2?

Thanks,

They might as well... This http://i34.tinypic.com/n1qav8.jpg is the current quality in North Little Rock with a FRINGE VHF antenna and CM7777 preamp at 25' AGL. Pretty sad. I actually get KEMV ch 6 stronger.

Did KETS ever turn off analog 2 and/or DTV 5 like they had indicated would happen on 1/2?

Thanks,

Both transmitters are still running.

They might as well... This http://i34.tinypic.com/n1qav8.jpg is the current quality in North Little Rock with a FRINGE VHF antenna and CM7777 preamp at 25' AGL. Pretty sad. I actually get KEMV ch 6 stronger.

Its that bad in Star City, KARK analog is stronger here. The first two days analog KETS came back on the air in June 2008, it was greeted by copious amounts of sporadic E interference. I even managed to log several "skip" stations with a low power KETS, something I could not do prior to the tower falling.

There will be something on analog "channel 2" this summer, but it will come from Canada, Mexico, Cuba, and other areas outside the US. Canada will switchover in 2011, so there will be three good years of Canadian skip. If the sunspots ever heat up to its peak (maybe) near 2011, some interesting F2 skip may be seen.

BTW, there are several low band DTV channel 2-6 stations that will remain on the air. The new CECB's (especially the Zenith) are somewhat more friendly to DXing as the channels can be added manually and the PSIP information when received will automatically remap the channel and make the station easier to ID.

BTW, there are several low band DTV channel 2-6 stations that will remain on the air. The new CECB's (especially the Zenith) are somewhat more friendly to DXing as the channels can be added manually and the PSIP information when received will automatically remap the channel and make the station easier to ID.

Thats what I love about the Pansat 9200HD. Not only does it have autoscan, it ADDS new stations to the current list, even if its already logged a station with different PSIP on the same channel, so it in effect, can store unlimited numbers of stations on the same channel. It also lets you manually step one channel at a time, just like an old analog tuner, so you can see a signal strength blip on a channel, even if its so weak it wont lock, which allows you to 360 the antenna to find it. I like the fact it keeps a record of every station its ever locked on, so you can search by call letters to see if youve logged it. In the autoscan mode, or manual mode, if it scans in a station whose psip is already in memory, it wont duplicate it. So you can pick up changes easily (like 16.2) but go back and see there used to be a 38.2.

My coax got wrapped around somehow tonight, and ripped a slice open in the sheild, and the rotor quit working. I have to go up there and replace the coax tomorrow, and try to figure out if I burned out or broke the rotor motor...before it gets COLD. Ive got a backup rotor, but Im out of coax, so Lowes, here I come. At least it didnt burn out the 7777 which is still working.

I sure wish I could get ahead enough to put up a 50' tower...I hate working on the roof standing on a 3' tripod trying to reach all the stuff.

Thats what I love about the Pansat 9200HD. Not only does it have autoscan, it ADDS new stations to the current list, even if its already logged a station with different PSIP on the same channel, so it in effect, can store unlimited numbers of stations on the same channel. It also lets you manually step one channel at a time, just like an old analog tuner, so you can see a signal strength blip on a channel, even if its so weak it wont lock, which allows you to 360 the antenna to find it. I like the fact it keeps a record of every station its ever locked on, so you can search by call letters to see if youve logged it. In the autoscan mode, or manual mode, if it scans in a station whose psip is already in memory, it wont duplicate it. So you can pick up changes easily (like 16.2) but go back and see there used to be a 38.2.

My coax got wrapped around somehow tonight, and ripped a slice open in the sheild, and the rotor quit working. I have to go up there and replace the coax tomorrow, and try to figure out if I burned out or broke the rotor motor...before it gets COLD. Ive got a backup rotor, but Im out of coax, so Lowes, here I come. At least it didnt burn out the 7777 which is still working.

I sure wish I could get ahead enough to put up a 50' tower...I hate working on the roof standing on a 3' tripod trying to reach all the stuff.
Why on earth would you buy coax from Lowe's of all places????? You really should buy cable from a good, reputable dealer that knows what the hell they are doing. For instance, go to www.monoprice.com and look at their coax. You might be pleasantly surprised by the pricing. Here is a link to their RG-6 cable http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10216. You will notice it is only $7.14 for 50' of black RG-6 (F). Bet Lowe's can't beat that. Sure, you might be without a day or two, but for the money you will save you can stick that towards your 50' tower. :)

Closest place I know with RG6QS in by/ft amounts. This is only until spring anyway, when I plan to install a 15' tripod on the roof (have to reinforce the rafters under it first), with a RG11 master feed to the amp, the short RG6QS runs from the amp to the two antennas. That will get the antennas up to about 45' AGL.

Closest place I know with RG6QS in by/ft amounts. This is only until spring anyway, when I plan to install a 15' tripod on the roof (have to reinforce the rafters under it first), with a RG11 master feed to the amp, the short RG6QS runs from the amp to the two antennas. That will get the antennas up to about 45' AGL.

Dave, with the RG 11 and 45' AGL are you trying to pick up WMC-DT 5(Memphis) post-transition? :D Y'might be able to get a sniff or two daily and some lockable pictures once in a while (that is if there isn't anyone running a clothes dryer within a block ;) )

Memphis is my target. I used to get all the Memphis stations about 15 hrs per day, but a slightly taller hill East of me, is blocking it.

I would also like to snag KAIT.

Again, just like my previous post, KTHV is now sending out the guide data OTA because I got it when I used Arcsoft TotalMedia software with my ATSC TV tuner card.

Good to know, I guess I just need to read up on the Sony thread about how to force the box to use 11.1 as the host channel. Like I said, folks have been talking about it for months, I just wanted to wait until closer to the analog cut-off to try it.

Closest place I know with RG6QS in by/ft amounts. This is only until spring anyway, when I plan to install a 15' tripod on the roof (have to reinforce the rafters under it first), with a RG11 master feed to the amp, the short RG6QS runs from the amp to the two antennas. That will get the antennas up to about 45' AGL.

RG11 is what I run from the pre-amp to power supply on my Fort Smith setup. LR set up is Commercial grade RG6. I believe the RG 11 I have is copper coated core...it was cheaper.

Oh, ok then. :) I just try to convince everyone I talk to that they should shop at monoprice.com for their cable needs. They have damn near everything a person would want. Don't know if they have any 11 there or not, haven't looked for it. If they do, probably would be cheaper than Lowes

Im curious, as of right now, NO digital station in town is running the -DT antenna at the top of their tower (unless Im mistaken 38/39 or 11/12 are using the same antenna for both if thats even possible). Is there any advantage to running a top mounted antenna vs side mount, other than the few extra feet?

KASN is a top mount combo for both 38 and 39.

E

Woah, something new I just saw! On KATV's OTA signal (haven't checked U-Verse yet), there is a KATV and the logo in blue on the left and right side of the screen. Interesting.

Woah, something new I just saw! On KATV's OTA signal (haven't checked U-Verse yet), there is a KATV and the logo in blue on the left and right side of the screen. Interesting.

Yep, Its on directv too, but on directv the video is verky and the audio sync is way off. Last night the video was good and the audio encoder was resyncing 5 or 6 times per minute. Directv just cant seem to get it right on KATV. KATV OTA is ok.

Fixed my OTA. Cable wasnt cut, just looked that way in the dark. Rotor cable is cracked all over, cheap 5 strand ribbon. One had shorted to rotor case. Taped it up, and will replace it this spring, so Im back in business.

I think Im just going to go with a 40' tower bracketed to the eve at 18', with no guys. I dont think I want a 15' tripod on the roof. The tower will get me 20' above the roof, then 10' mast, so that puts the antenna at 50' AGL and lets me mount my scanner antenna, and the MANT940 and the 4220 all on one tower, as well as a sodium vapor sercurity light to cover the side and front yard. Ill just see if I can drive to Plano, Tx on one of my Texas service calls, with a trailer, and haul it back myself, or find 5 sections locally.

To those who enjoy LOST and care:

The premiere of LOST will not be shown on our local affiliate of ABC. It is being preempted by a basketball game (which isn't even the Razorbacks). The only way this is going to change is if we let the station know we do not agree with their programming decisions. I wrote a letter. Please take a couple minutes to do the same if you agree. Here's the link: http://cfc.katv.com/contact.cfm

Pass this on to any LOST fans you know in the area.

Here's my strongly worded letter. You can be nicer if you want:

It appears the premiere of LOST is being pre-empted by a basketball game. This has happened in the past and I feel it is irresponsible broadcasting to the parent network. This is the #1 rated show and fans have been waiting since May 2008 for it to come on! What's even worse than it being shoved to midnight is this channel does not have the technology to rebroadcast it in HD (as of last season anyway). If this station ever gets a "7.2" channel, I strongly suggest considering putting the games on it and leaving the parent network programming alone. For now, it seems this station will continue to stay out of touch with its viewers.

Edit: It does appear that ABC is using their Saturday night prime time slot to do encore presentations of LOST. So we'll get the chance to see it in HD then. But still.....

Edit: It does appear that ABC is using their Saturday night prime time slot to do encore presentations of LOST. So we'll get the chance to see it in HD then. But still.....

They are only doing the Saturday night replay of it because NBC has been doing it for some time with shows like "Knight Rider". But yeah, the as*hol*s in the programming department need to get a fracking clue so we don't have to hear our wives bitch about it not being on when it should be. :)

EDIT: Nevermind what I had before. Looks like on the 21st there will be one on at 7, but it is probably just a clip show or a recap show, huh? Trying to figure out what I can do to get it to record the HD version.

I wrote my letter to Richard Farrester last week. He said that Lost would be pre-empted through Feb. 18th. I also encourage everyone to write him, for what good it'll do.

If someone wants to buy me a T3 line, Ill stream the Lost HD version in real time :)
When does it come on ABC?

OTA viewers in Desha, Chicot, Eastern Drew, Eastern Ashley, and Southeastern Lincoln counties can watch Lost in pattern, in HDTV, and with DD 5.1 audio on WABG-DT 32 Greenwood/Greenville MS.

Not that does anyone in Central Arkansas any good, but at least there are parts of this state that have other choices for ABC programming.

They are only doing the Saturday night replay of it because NBC has been doing it for some time with shows like "Knight Rider". But yeah, the as*hol*s in the programming department need to get a fracking clue so we don't have to hear our wives bitch about it not being on when it should be. :)

EDIT: Nevermind what I had before. Looks like on the 21st there will be one on at 7, but it is probably just a clip show or a recap show, huh? Trying to figure out what I can do to get it to record the HD version.

That's correct. 7 pm is just a recap show. The 2 hour premiere is scheduled to start at 12:35 am that night. Encore presentation (not by our affiliate but by the parent company) on Saturday.

I wrote my letter to Richard Farrester last week. He said that Lost would be pre-empted through Feb. 18th. I also encourage everyone to write him, for what good it'll do.

Would we get anywhere by complaining to ABC itself, instead of our local POS station?

That fancy new tower won't do kaTv viewers much good if they're still gonna pre-empt almost everything worth watching on abc. :)

At least out here in the state's fringe, we have a choice of more than one OTA network affiliate to watch. If a station pre-empts something (rare) or forgets to flip the damned HD switch (not so rare), we're outta there, and just flip over to the other affiliate.

Would we get anywhere by complaining to ABC itself, instead of our local POS station?

I guess it depends on ones point of view. I personally love sports and dont watch shows much so I enjoy watching the basketball myself. Its this way all across the country in different markets which show regional sports in primetime

I guess it depends on ones point of view. I personally love sports and dont watch shows much so I enjoy watching the basketball myself. Its this way all across the country in different markets which show regional sports in primetime
While I love sports myself, I think if a station commits to being a network affiliate, which is protected from viewers having the right to watch another out of market station, they should be responsible enough to air the programming they committed to show. The ball game should be the program time shifted.

KARK did the right thing, and bought a second station. KWBF even ran their sports on KKYK instead of preempting WB.

In the past, KKYK or KWBF would air the network show, if it was preempted, but with the advent of HD, its not possible, unless the ball game was in SD and they ran KKYK/KWBF in HD.

While I love sports myself, I think if a station commits to being a network affiliate, which is protected from viewers having the right to watch another out of market station, they should be responsible enough to air the programming they committed to show. The ball game should be the program time shifted.

KARK did the right thing, and bought a second station. KWBF even ran their sports on KKYK instead of preempting WB.

In the past, KKYK or KWBF would air the network show, if it was preempted, but with the advent of HD, its not possible, unless the ball game was in SD and they ran KKYK/KWBF in HD.

However, this has been going on as far back as I can remember. When I was a kid in the 70's they were doing the same thing then. Sometimes the games were time shifted but that was due more to ticket sales and the guarantee of a sell out more than anything. I guess my point is that this is nothing new and anyone in Ark knows this has been the case for decades

Shortly into Law and Order tonight at 9P, KARK attempted to air a weather warning map but couldn't quite get it right. The bottom portion of the map was cut off and there was a vertical, black bar on the right side of the picture. After about 10 minutes they removed it and as of 9:35P it was still off. I don't mind the maps so much as long as they don't screw the program up. This attempt was a dismal failure.

As far as the KATV thing goes, that station (and all others) air what the sponsors want to be aired. Case in point is the "Lander's Award show that aired at 9P on that station following the basketball game that pre-empted the ABC program at that time.

I seldom if ever watch anything on KATV.

The program on KARK that airs at 11:30A, weekdays, is one big 30-minute commercial, divided into 3 or 4 different sponsored segments.

It's free TV, but you gotta watch what they air.

... I think if a station commits to being a network affiliate, which is protected from viewers having the right to watch another out of market station, they should be responsible enough to air the programming they committed to show...Dave, you hit the nail on the head.

These greedy affiliates want the best of both worlds: being a protected network affiliate you're forced to watch and being able to yank network programming any time a bigger buck comes along, leaving the average viewer no way to watch regular network programming.

Their lobbyists through the NAB, have also gotten laws slanted in their favor, forcing cablecos & sat companies to carry their channel, even if they don't want to -or- force them to pay to carry their channel if they do want to.

ABC should find a new affiliate in LR, willing to carry their programming.

Dave, you hit the nail on the head.

These greedy affiliates want the best of both worlds: being a protected network affiliate you're forced to watch and being able to yank network programming any time a bigger buck comes along, leaving the average viewer no way to watch regular network programming.

Their lobbyists through the NAB, have also gotten laws slanted in their favor, forcing cablecos & sat companies to carry their channel, even if they don't want to -or- force them to pay to carry their channel if they do want to.

ABC should find a new affiliate in LR, willing to carry their programming.

When was the last time anyone saw a station air the NAB "Seal of Good Practice" slide? When was the last time anyone saw a station air a "Technical Difficulties" slide when they have audio or video problems such as the pic and audio being out of sync? Now days, they don't even air a station I.D. when returning to the air after being off the air for a few minutes or a few seconds. The FCC regs are a joke now.

When was the last time anyone saw a station air the NAB "Seal of Good Practice" slide? When was the last time anyone saw a station air a "Technical Difficulties" slide when they have audio or video problems such as the pic and audio being out of sync? Now days, they don't even air a station I.D. when returning to the air after being off the air for a few minutes or a few seconds. The FCC regs are a joke now.

FCC=Federal Cleavage Checkers

I understand where you are all coming from, but to do what you all are saying would mean no longer carrying Razorback sports.....I dont think the majority of Arkansans would be happy with that decision. Of course this is just my opinion and I do respect each one of yours as well. I guess I'm just playing the devils advocate role on this one:D

I understand where you are all coming from, but to do what you all are saying would mean no longer carrying Razorback sports.....I dont think the majority of Arkansans would be happy with that decision. Of course this is just my opinion and I do respect each one of yours as well. I guess I'm just playing the devils advocate role on this one:D

Another station will pick up the SEC syndicated games. That happens in other markets.

Another station will pick up the SEC syndicated games. That happens in other markets.

Yeah, KWBF-DT after Nexstar gets them up to full power would be a good choice. I'm assuming they'll still be a MyTV affiliate, and who would care if their network programming is pre-empted (with the possible exception of Friday Night Smackdown rasslin'?)

We havent got a difinative answer, but it was suggested Nexstar will run Universal Sports. Who knows though. Once KATV gets their transmitter online next month, they always have the option to put the games on a subchannel, since everyone will have digital tv's. Its already been demonstarted they can run two 720p channels at once. I rather suspect thats what they would do in the future, once Nicholson is gone. Will just have to see.

Yeah, KWBF-DT after Nexstar gets them up to full power would be a good choice. I'm assuming they'll still be a MyTV affiliate, and who would care if their network programming is pre-empted (with the possible exception of Friday Night Smackdown rasslin'?)

The netlets are in flux now. Rumors of The CW's future are flying, and their programming is stronger than My Network TV and that isn't saying much.

A sub-channel is a good idea. I just hope they don't divert too much valuable bandwidth. The other problem is that DirecTV and Dish Network *do* carry KATV in HD but they most likely won't carry 7.2 at all, even in SD. This means that the majority of customers out there are stuck without access to the Razorback games. That's not likely to happen.

You can't make every one happy, though I agree that it doesn't make sense not to honor your commitments with regards to carrying ABC programming. Frankly, I think the only solution is for Congress to allow us to watch network feeds on Dish or DirecTV directly instead of through affiliates, but that'll NEVER happen.

I understand where you are all coming from, but to do what you all are saying would mean no longer carrying Razorback sports.....I dont think the majority of Arkansans would be happy with that decision. Of course this is just my opinion and I do respect each one of yours as well. I guess I'm just playing the devils advocate role on this one:D

Two options: shift the game or put the sports on their "second" channel. Are they even going to get 7.2 when their tower is up?

WSET up here where I live is co-owned with KATV, and they have RTN on their subchannel. The pre-empt the programming on RTN for Liberty football and basketball from time to time though I don't recall them ever doing that sort of pre-emption on the main channel.

I don't know if it applies to KATV in any way, but thought it might provide some kind of hope...

- Trip

A quick call to the E* guys out there. Dish is now listing KARK as being in HD:

LITTLE ROCK NBC - KARK IN HD 4 5192

Anyone verify that's actually live? Perhaps see if KLRT is possibly sitting on 5193? ;)

-MDG

Rocky

I have been without the TVGOS for about one month as well. I don't know if it being transmitted via Comcast, or whether KETS stopped sending it. I did contact the Eningeering Dept at KTHV and was told they would be broadcasting the TVGOS data streem, but there was not date given when the equipment would be installed. Hopefully, it will be at time of transition. In addition, I think the TVGOS is a proprietary data stream that is now owned by Macrovision (bought from Gemstar), and their website indicates that Comcast will (is capable) of broadcasting the TVGOS data after digital transition. The real question, that I have is will the SONY units recognize and work with the new digital data stream since they were designed for analog reception. Several other SONY users claim that the SONY will work just fine. I hope they are right.

Rocky

I have been without the TVGOS for about one month as well. I don't know if it being transmitted via Comcast, or whether KETS stopped sending it. I did contact the Eningeering Dept at KTHV and was told they would be broadcasting the TVGOS data streem, but there was not date given when the equipment would be installed. Hopefully, it will be at time of transition. In addition, I think the TVGOS is a proprietary data stream that is now owned by Macrovision (bought from Gemstar), and their website indicates that Comcast will (is capable) of broadcasting the TVGOS data after digital transition. The real question, that I have is will the SONY units recognize and work with the new digital data stream since they were designed for analog reception. Several other SONY users claim that the SONY will work just fine. I hope they are right.
You might have missed my saying this on the last couple of pages, but TVGOS data is being sent OTA Digital. It is my belief that KTHV is sending this as I have never heard of anyone else saying anything about any other digital channel sending out the data. I say I know for a fact it is sending it OTA because I put some software on my computer (ArcSoft TotalMedia) that can get the guide data OTA and its getting the guide data just fine. The software has the option to either get the guide data via the Internet or OTA, so I chose OTA and have no reason to believe that it isn't getting it OTA.

I wonder, is the guide data that is provided to all the set top converter boxes getting data through TVGOS or is it really in each and every stream sent out by the station? If it is just on each channel by the station, then why can't your Sony boxes get data the same exact way? Seems like it would be a mildly simple code change in the firmware to enable this and solve problems in the process.

With that said, I also wonder whether this guide data that I am seeing in the ArcSoft program is being received from each channels stream independently or if it is really coming via TVGOS? It would seem more logical for it to pick it up via each separate stream since the data is already there. If that is the case, then disregard my first paragraph. :)

I'm not sure the software you are using is the same as the software from Gemstar/Macrovision on the SONY units (and other brands). The data stream, when working properly, downloads the data several times daily and gives an 8-day program schedule.

When was the last time anyone saw a station air the NAB "Seal of Good Practice" slide?...Oh, 30 years ago, maybe. Maybe longer.

The NAB now is nothing but a bunch of lobbyists.

Rocky

I have been without the TVGOS for about one month as well. I don't know if it being transmitted via Comcast, or whether KETS stopped sending it. I did contact the Eningeering Dept at KTHV and was told they would be broadcasting the TVGOS data streem, but there was not date given when the equipment would be installed. Hopefully, it will be at time of transition. In addition, I think the TVGOS is a proprietary data stream that is now owned by Macrovision (bought from Gemstar), and their website indicates that Comcast will (is capable) of broadcasting the TVGOS data after digital transition. The real question, that I have is will the SONY units recognize and work with the new digital data stream since they were designed for analog reception. Several other SONY users claim that the SONY will work just fine. I hope they are right.

Have you lost the guide completely? My guide is still updating, it just seems to be updating one day at a time. I didn't think to look at it this morning, but in the evenings, it seems to have listing through about 4 am the next morning. Better than nothing, but it makes it hard to make sure you've got something set for a few days out. If steveken is correct, and the info is being sent out by KTHV-DT, and not KETS Analog, then we may have to force the Sony to recognize 11.1 as the new host channel, as you said others have had success with this. I don't know if you've come across this site yet:
http://www.spiffspace.com/forum/index.php
but it's an entire forum dedicated to the DHG-HDD/250 & 500. It's got a lot of great info, including how to force the host channel.

Goodbye KWBF, and hello to KARZ: http://www.virtualpressoffice.com/publicsiteContentFileAccess/49711/49711.html/?fileContentId=49711&fileName=49711.html

IRVING, Texas & LITTLE ROCK, Ark. --(Business Wire)-- Jan 15, 2009 Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXST) announced today that its previously announced acquisition of television station KWBF-TV in Little Rock, Arkansas from Equity Broadcasting is expected to close on January 30, 2009. In addition, Nexstar will re-launch the station with the call letters KARZ-TV on February 1, 2009.

KARZ-TV or “Z-42” will offer a wide variety of programming from MyNetworkTV shows such as the hit WWE Smackdown!, along with successful first run shows such as Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, and off-network programming including Family Guy, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Sex and the City.

KARZ-TV will also feature the one-hour, prime time, leading local newscast programming produced by Nexstar sister station KARK-TV. This newscast will be “First in Prime” airing at 7:00 p.m. and is expected to drive growing viewership of Razorback Nation, the state’s leading coverage of University of Arkansas sports originating live from sister station KNWA-TV’s Fayetteville Studios.

Commenting on the acquisition, Nexstar Broadcasting Group President and CEO, Perry A. Sook said, “KARZ-TV represents a great opportunity to increase our level of service to Little Rock viewers and advertisers. We intend to super serve the local community, as viewers will see more local programming including local sports and expanded segments from the award winning KARK News teams. KARZ-TV’s full power digital signal will also represent an upgrade over the station’s existing signal in the market, allowing more viewers to receive great programming and sporting events in High Definition while creating a deeper platform for advertisers to reach local consumers.

“We are also excited that our acquisition of KARZ-TV extends Nexstar’s long-term strategy of identifying accretive acquisitions and prudently expanding our portfolio by operating multiple stations in concentrated geographic areas. In this regard, Little Rock will become the 19th market in which Nexstar owns, operates, programs or provides services to more than one station in its 29 markets, and KARZ-TV will represent the 51st television station which the Company owns or for which it provides sales, programming and other services.”

Wow, so there really is going to continue to be nothing at all on there that would interest me or my family. Well, other than the womens portion of "Smackdown" which always makes me smile. hehehe

And they are actually going to expect people to watch the news during prime time? I don't see that going over very well except for the demo that just gets off work at 6 or is elderly and is not geared towards the content the rest of us enjoy.

Maybe if they throw enough money at Fayetteville they can get the basketball crap away from KATV. That would be the only real benefit to buying that station and putting "local sports" content on it, thus freeing KATV to show what most of us really want on Wednesday nights. Hell, its probably partly the fault of crap like KATV pulls that "Pushing Daisies" got cancelled (I believe it was poor ratings that caused it anyway).

Anyway, let them have another news channel that they can sell car dealerships air time on. Lord knows we need to see more Crain ads cause we have NO idea what they sell.