I was really hoping to see them pick up RTN. I enjoyed it much more than MyNetwork. Love those old 60's and 70's sitcoms. Gonna lose my South Park reruns too.

On that note, Directv is supposed to be adding Comedy Central HD at its startup, next week.

RTN might end up on KASN or on KATV at some point in the future. Both stations' parent companies have existing relationships with RTN.

- Trip

Wish I had the money to buy a Digital LP...It would be fun...Run RTN, some local high school sports, old movies, and some older shows not seem anymore like Lost In space, Johnny Quest (and his pal Haaji), sci-fi stuff, with music video fillers. Run just enough advertising to pay the electric and maint bills. Would be fun.

I wonder just what it would cost to fire up a LP digital?

I sought such information at one time. It was and remains out of my price range. :(

- Trip

To gtsouheaver, and anybody else with the Sony DHG-HDD250, I went through the process of changing my TVGOS host channel to 11.1, and this morning I appear to have full guide data. Thanks to steveken for letting us know they were carrying it.

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

Dish is also carrying KATV and KTHV as well as KARK according to https://customersupport.dishnetwork.com/customernetqual/prepAddress.do

Dish is also carrying KATV and KTHV as well as KARK according to https://customersupport.dishnetwork.com/customernetqual/prepAddress.do

Yep, those have been up for a while. Looks like about a dozen Nexstar stations went live yesterday. Was just particularly waiting for KARK before we switched to Dish as the majority of network TV we watch is NBC.

-MDG

Nexstar's CBS & FOZ affiliates in Springfield, MO, also became available in HD on dish in the past few days. They are the only Springfield HD locals on dish.

DirecTV carries Springfield affiliates CBS, FOX and ABC. The owner of the NBC affiliate is still trying to squeeze more money out of D*.

Yep, those have been up for a while. Looks like about a dozen Nexstar stations went live yesterday. Was just particularly waiting for KARK before we switched to Dish as the majority of network TV we watch is NBC.

-MDG
Why would you do that to yourself? You really should go to DirecTV. At least they have all the locals over in a normal spot so you don't have to have a second dish pointed at a completely different spot in the sky. And their HD typically looks much better. PLUS, their customer support people actually give a crap about their customers. Dish's people could give a hairy rats somethingorother about their customers. :)

looks like they only had like a section left to go on KATV's new tower when I was over by there this morning. pretty tall. looks really naked without all those wires going up the middle of it. :)

Why would you do that to yourself? You really should go to DirecTV. At least they have all the locals over in a normal spot so you don't have to have a second dish pointed at a completely different spot in the sky. And their HD typically looks much better. PLUS, their customer support people actually give a crap about their customers. Dish's people could give a hairy rats somethingorother about their customers. :)

$$$ I can get TurboHD Silver for <$40 for 2 years. The D* Choice package with HD DVR jumps to over $65 after the first year + $99 upfront. Paying $70+ for cable right now with less channels. That, and the new Vip922 looks intriguing :D

-MDG

$$$ I can get TurboHD Silver for <$40 for 2 years. The D* Choice package with HD DVR jumps to over $65 after the first year + $99 upfront. Paying $70+ for cable right now with less channels. That, and the new Vip922 looks intriguing :D

-MDG

Dont forget Dish's activation fee. I take it you arent a sports fan :) Dish looks like a good deal price wise, but Im guessing their HD Only package is just that. There are still several SD channels I enjoy too.

Im sure their DVR is better. Id be happy id Directv would just release a 1 TB DVR without multiroom, media share, and all the other crap that slows it to a crawl sometimes.

$$$ I can get TurboHD Silver for <$40 for 2 years. .....
-MDGWow!

That's less than $1.6666/month. Sign me up!:rolleyes:

I couldn't resist.:)

dmatch

http://www.circuitcity.com/image/closed/theheader.gif (http://www.circuitcity.com/)

$$$ I can get TurboHD Silver for <$40 for 2 years. The D* Choice package with HD DVR jumps to over $65 after the first year + $99 upfront. Paying $70+ for cable right now with less channels. That, and the new Vip922 looks intriguing :D

-MDG

I pay $49.99 per month for DishDVR Advantage and another $30.00 for DishHD with one premium package (HBO), plus local taxes.

DishDVR Advantage includes their "America's Top 200" package, the local stations in SD (I haven't asked them to install the separate dish required to get the locals in HD), and the VIP722 DVR Receiver.

I don't know how much Direct charges for similar service, but I'm satisfied with Dish. :)

P.S. As a bonus, for the past two years I've also gotten almost all of the St. Louis Cardinal games (in SD), even though I'm not in the area designated for those broadcasts.


To keep this on topic, I'm getting the local digital signals OTA on my Radio Shack indoor antenna - the one that looks kinda like the Starship Enterprise. 4 and 25 are kinda flaky, but 7, 11, 16, 38, 42 and 49 are pretty steady.

From the Fort Smith thread:

:mad:
The word we are getting from Obama's transition team and members of congress is that they are caving in and will most likely delay analog shutdown until June 12. We expect a vote this weekend.:mad:
OH PLEASE NO!:mad:

The Bill was defeated (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hlGcM0ZxYV5dDtZR_9xfCPZnkFaAD95OFPO82). For now, anyway. :)

I've sent messages to our senators with my opinion against the delay. I feel sorry for folks that have waited until the last second but the coupons have been available since Jan. 1, 2008 (when I ordered mine).

I feel sorry for folks that have waited until the last second but the coupons have been available since Jan. 1, 2008 (when I ordered mine).
I don't feel sorry for them. Obviously, TV isn't important enough to them for them to take action. There have only been a couple of thousand commercials on about it in the last 2 months alone. They are up the proverbial creek and are without a paddle or any trees or other devices to make a paddle in my opinion.

I also emailed Sen Pryor basically telling him I spent my money and did my part, and now its the govt's turn to go through with the shutdown.

Link is right here

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-09-2A2.pdf

Those eligible in the Little Rock market are

KETS 2 (eligible, but won't be on the air much longer)
KARK 4
KEMV 6 (AETN Mtn View)
KETG 9 (AETN Arkadelphia)
KTHV 11
KLRT 16
KVTN 25 (QRM with WMAO-DT, WPTY-DT :mad: )
KASN 38
KWBF 42 (will be KARZ on 2/01/2009)

Only KETS, KARK, KLRT, and KWBF were on the original list. Looks like February 18th will be just another day with all the analog QRM provided the February 17th hard date remains and isn't delayed.

For those of us who don't know what "Eligible Nightlight Analog" is, could you please explain it to us?

For those of us who don't know what "Eligible Nightlight Analog" is, could you please explain it to us?

Analog stations remain on the air at full power showing a slide telling the idiots that see it to go to Best Buy or Wal Mart and get a real TV or a converter box.

BTW, anyone looking a for a Echostar TR40, Don's Satellite in Glenwood had a whole box of em, and perhaps other Dish dealers do as well.

I got mine directly from Echostar. It has the same remote codes as old SD dishnetwork boxes, so it works with the IR Blaster from series 1 and 2 Tivo DVRs. I have a series 1 with a lifetime sub, and didnt want to throw it away, nor did I want to pay directv another $5 a month. this works out great. I have it recording all the SD programming from the local OTA stations. The TR-40 has an excellent tuner, is TVGoes compatable, and has several event timers, so makes a great converter for old DVD recorders, vcr's and Tivo's.
List is $40+tax. Cost me $3.

For those of us who don't know what "Eligible Nightlight Analog" is, could you please explain it to us?

Here's a link to another thread on AVS Forum with more info.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15571171#post15571171

In a nutshell, nightlights are analog stations permitted to remain on the air 30 days after the DTV switchover to broadcast only DTV transistion infomation and emergency infomation. This was due to Congress passing the "Analog Nightlight Act" and signed by President G.W. Bush last month.

...BTW, anyone looking a for a Echostar TR40, Don's Satellite in Glenwood had a whole box of em, and perhaps other Dish dealers do as well.
List is $40+tax. Cost me $3.Most Sears stores carry the DTVPal. Even the Sears in Berryville, Ark. has 'em.

hey everybody!! :)

anyhow I am sick of KATV!!!!!!!!!!! f
first they can't get their HD feed on Directv fixed and now these annoying logo pillar boxes on SD program on their HD feed!!!:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
anyone know if and when the HD feed will be fixed for good? I know they ran a direct digital feed feed (so they say :rolleyes: ) but I'm still getting staggering a/v :mad:

Welcome. The pillar box KATV is the industry standard for showing a 4:3 show on a 16:9 monitor (check out ESPN, CNN, etc), it prevents burn in problems of just having a black bar on the side.

The Directv feed of KATV is Directv's problem, their link or encoder is screwing up. I wouldnt blame KATV for that. Once KATV gets back on ch22 OTA, we will have a second choice as a backup.

heheheh, I bet those ugly-ass circle-7 pillarboxes were a high priority with nicholson. Way ahead on the list compared to fixing the DirecTV feed or HD timeshift capability. Gotta have that eff'n LOGO plastered across the screen as many times as possible.

Hey, at least they aren't animated. Yet. :rolleyes:

... nightlights are analog stations permitted to remain on the air 30 days after the DTV switchover to broadcast only DTV transistion infomation and emergency infomation...Permitted to, but required, if I read correctly. According to the .pdf, very few stations are on the "interested" list. None in LR.

To gtsouheaver, and anybody else with the Sony DHG-HDD250, I went through the process of changing my TVGOS host channel to 11.1, and this morning I appear to have full guide data. Thanks to steveken for letting us know they were carrying it.

RockyF,
This is really great news. I am glad to find out the Sony units will work after Feb 17, as before. When you succeeded in forcing your host to be 11.1, were you using OTA or cable? Would the method be the same for Comcast? What channel should I force to since KTHV DT is Comcast channel 10 (or 433 in HD)?

RockyF,
This is really great news. I am glad to find out the Sony units will work after Feb 17, as before. When you succeeded in forcing your host to be 11.1, were you using OTA or cable? Would the method be the same for Comcast? What channel should I force to since KTHV DT is Comcast channel 10 (or 433 in HD)?

I'm on Charter in Benton, which provides absolutely no HD yet, so the 11.1 I used was OTA. I honestly don't know if forcing 433 would do the trick or not, but I think it would be 433 instead of 10. Do you use OTA at all?

I'm on Charter in Benton, which provides absolutely no HD yet
Me too! Any idea when HD programming is coming for Charter?

Completely off topic, but does anyone here happen to own a car stereo shop or have a wiring harness for a 2005 Saturn? LOL Just wondering, got a stereo yesterday at Circuit City's sale, but they didn't have the harness I need. Best Buy was no help either. I wanted to do it today, but everyone else that would sell it is closed right now. You know, just can't wait until tomorrow. hehehe Anyway, thought I would ask. :)

How much are their Flat Screens and Directv DVR's marked down? Bet it was a madhouse.

We went to the madhouse yesterday. Basically everything in the store is 10% off. Music and Videos are 20% off. Cables are 30% off.

How much are their Flat Screens and Directv DVR's marked down? Bet it was a madhouse.
Have no idea, didn't think to look at DirecTV stuff, but everything else is 10% off except for car stereo installation items which are 30%. I got my car stereo for 30% off when I was supposed to only get the 10%. :) Oh yeah, music and dvd's 20%.

The place was busier than I have EVER seen it. I mean, why the hell didn't they think about doing a 10% off everything sale before?? If they get THAT much business when things are 10% off, they could have saved the whole chain years ago by dong that like 2 times a year. Silly in my opinion for them to be going under and getting this much business.

What ticks me off is Best Buy is already raising their prices since their only competitor now is WalMart.

Something just crossed my mind concerning the new KARZ-42. Allenf stated a while back he expected KATV-DT to be up and running on or around 2/10, now Nexstar is saying they are transitioning to Ch. 42 to KARZ on 2/1. Does this mean we will be without KATV-DT from 2/1 to 2/10?

Did Nexstar buy just analog 42, or did they buy that and Digital 44's transmitter as well?

If the latter, we would lose 42-2 and have to watch it on analog 20. Guess we will find out.

Did Nexstar buy just analog 42, or did they buy that and Digital 44's transmitter as well?

If the latter, we would lose 42-2 and have to watch it on analog 20. Guess we will find out.

Well, I wasn't really referring to KKYK, which isn't even an RTN affiliate anymore, I don't think I'll miss it. :) I'm more concerned with KATV, which is currently on 42.3.

If we do lose it, it won't be for long.

I cant believe that including KATV as a subchannel wasnt part of the negotiations, since Im sure KATV was paying equity to do that. Of course, KATV could always fire up their LP transmitter on ch 22 and run it from a dipole fed with RG11 hanging off the bottom of their new tower, and probably get out better than 44 :)

Yeah, I'm not getting anything tonight from 42. For that matter, I'm not getting PBS either, can anyone confirm that they have turned off their transmitter yet? I'm thinking not, because I am actually getting a very weak analog signal from KETS, but nothing digital.

Nope, 42 is still alive and kicking. Watching RJ on 42.2 right now.


errr, I mean retrojams looking like videos playing from youtube on a crappy vcr.

Kets-dt also still on.

Alright, must just be a crappy night for reception here in Benton then. I was also watching RetroJams for a bit on cable, it looks better on cable than the YouTubeVision on 42.2.

Did Nexstar buy just analog 42, or did they buy that and Digital 44's transmitter as well?

If the latter, we would lose 42-2 and have to watch it on analog 20. Guess we will find out.

They bought both Dave, but the 42 analog is awaiting the gallows on Feb 17th. I do hope Nexstar 86's the stretchovision that Equity has saddled KWBF's main channel with.

This morning while DXing, I noticed that KLRA-LP analog 58 is still on with Univision. I can see a very weak signal on ch20 down here from time to time occasionally strong enough to watch. I get them more consistantly than the parent KKYK 49 in Camden (actually near El Dorado). KKYK-CA (20) just serves as a propagation beacon for me.

I use KETG-DT on 13 as mine. Usually sits at 12% :)

I measured my antenna last night, its 29' AGL which is 440'. Best I can do without spending $1500 is putting the antenna at 40' AGL. Is it even worth the trouble for an extra 11'? The surrounding ridges are at about 500'. Id still be 20' below. I was hoping to improve Memphis, which I used to be able to get in East NLR every morning and evening.

Me too! Any idea when HD programming is coming for Charter?

I don't think Charter is interested in any upgrades in Benton. I spoke with several of the power-players in Benton and they are all disgusted with Charter. Unfortunately, they are in a multi-year contract and won't be leaving any time soon.

Charter is utterly bankrupt, and may not exist as a company in a few months. Our best hope is for Charter's assets (which would include its contract with Benton) to be sold off to someone interested in doing the necessary upgrades to make HD, DVR and cable Internet an option.

Have you considered DirecTV, Dish Network or AT&T Uverse? All provide lots of HD and are available in Benton (though Uverse is spotty... some places in town have it, some don't).

I don't think Charter is interested in any upgrades in Benton. I spoke with several of the power-players in Benton and they are all disgusted with Charter. Unfortunately, they are in a multi-year contract and won't be leaving any time soon.

Charter is utterly bankrupt, and may not exist as a company in a few months. Our best hope is for Charter's assets (which would include its contract with Benton) to be sold off to someone interested in doing the necessary upgrades to make HD, DVR and cable Internet an option.

Have you considered DirecTV, Dish Network or AT&T Uverse? All provide lots of HD and are available in Benton (though Uverse is spotty... some places in town have it, some don't).
Thanks for the info. This is good to know. The only reason I'm with Charter right now is because I'm in a rent house and looking to buy a house soon. I just moved to the area and Charter offered a no-contract cable/internet package. That's really the only reason. Once I find a permanent house, I'll get Dish or U-verse. I'm leaning more towards U-verse if it's available.

I was just surprised that Charter didn't even offer a small amount of HD, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised considering their situation. OTA HD is working fine for me. If I had ESPN-HD, I'd be set.

I assume that since cable Internet is available you are in Maumelle and not Benton?

I assume that since cable Internet is available you are in Maumelle and not Benton?
Benton, it's available. I've had it since December.

Benton, it's available. I've had it since December.

Thanks, I just called and ordered. A few weeks ago I called and they said it wasn't available. Going from 2.5 mbps on AT&T to 16 mbps on Charter will be a nice change. I heard rumors they're headed for 25 mbps this year.

If Charter would offer locals + subchannels in HD I'd get a basic package just for that. We don't go out to eat or go to the movies anymore, so TV (pay and OTA) is where it's at for us.

DirecTV has the four big ones plus 38 in HD, but no 11.2, which is an awesome little sub-channel.

I live in Arkadelphia and have a cheap Magnavox converter from Walmart. My reception on KLRT DT 30 fluctuates wildly throughout the day (19% to 70%) whereas KARK DT 32 is much more steady (38% -55%). Anyone know why? Thanks!

I live in Arkadelphia and have a cheap Magnavox converter from Walmart. My reception on KLRT DT 30 fluctuates wildly throughout the day (19% to 70%) whereas KARK DT 32 is much more steady (38% -55%). Anyone know why? Thanks!

Could be several factors:


Antenna positioning
Antenna gain
Is there a preamp connected to the antenna?
Are there any large pine trees, hills, or ridges blocking your path to the Little Rock transmitters?


Its also noted that the Magnavox converter isn't as strong for weak DTV signals as some others. I would also check you feedline to see if its RG6 instead of RG59. RG6 has less loss on UHF frequencies.

Thanks, Harley. I do have a pre-amp. How would that affect it?

Also what converter would be better for weak signal areas than Magnavox? I hear mixed reviews about RCA, and Zeniths are hard to find.

Also what converter would be better for weak signal areas than Magnavox? I hear mixed reviews about RCA, and Zeniths are hard to find.

Circuit City has had plenty of Zeniths the last few times I've been in there, of course that was before last weekend. Have you looked at Radio Shack? I've seen them there as well. It's definitely better than the Magnavox and the RCA. K-Mart may have the DTVPal.

Best Buy's Insignia is identical to the Zenith except for a different logo on the front, so that will work for you as well.

- Trip

I live in Arkadelphia and have a cheap Magnavox converter from Walmart. My reception on KLRT DT 30 fluctuates wildly throughout the day (19% to 70%) whereas KARK DT 32 is much more steady (38% -55%). Anyone know why? Thanks!
What kind of antenna? Sounds like a bad one to me, or maybe needs to be tweaked.

EDIT: NM, didn't realize how far behind the convo I was.

What kind of antenna? Sounds like a bad one to me, or maybe needs to be tweaked.

Seems pretty typical at his distance, a mixture of groundwave and tropo. The beam tilt of KARK might be more favorable to his location than KLRT. I get 0% to 30% signal, bouncing up and down, as he describes, on KETG-DT which is about 30 miles farther away from me, than Shinall Mt is from him. More real gain (antenna signal to amp input) is the only thing thats going to help him, assuming his antenna is pointed correctly. That can be accomplished with height, and amp with a better s/n ratio, or more metal :)

Seems pretty typical at his distance, a mixture of groundwave and tropo. The beam tilt of KARK might be more favorable to his location than KLRT. I get 0% to 30% signal, bouncing up and down, as he describes, on KETG-DT which is about 30 miles farther away from me, than Shinall Mt is from him. More real gain (antenna signal to amp input) is the only thing thats going to help him, assuming his antenna is pointed correctly. That can be accomplished with height, and amp with a better s/n ratio, or more metal :)
Well, I think I would figure out what type of antenna he is using. Sounds like he might benefit from an 8 to 12 element yagi, maybe, instead of an amp? I dunno though, you are the master of this compared to me. I am but a Padawan learner.

He would have to have a 4 bay or yagi like that already, I should think, to get LR at all from that distance.

Whatcha using down there in arkadelphia?
Antenna/model, amp model, height above the ground, and feedline length?

Got family of a friend I'm trying to help out with their digital conversion. The live literally in the middle of nowhere. Gotta cross a dry creek to get to their house (and if the creek rises they either stay home or in town). Anyway, they are in Hermann, MO and get 3 very snowy channels via rabbit ears (still working to determine if they are getting them from Jeff. City to the west or St. Louis to the East. Got a massive hill keeping them from getting satelite, and live too far out in the boonies to get cable.

antennaweb says they shouldn't be getting anything. Well, antennaweb can't actually find them but it makes a decent guess based on zipcode. If I force antennaweb to use a 30' above ground it shows they should get stuff from Jeff. City and Columbia to the west.

Hate to recommend they put up a 30 foot stick and get nothing. Anyone got any suggestions? Guess I could send one of my converter boxes up that way and see what they get with their rabbit ears. Send them up on the roof with the antenna, etc.

Sam

Well, I think I would figure out what type of antenna he is using. Sounds like he might benefit from an 8 to 12 element yagi, maybe, instead of an amp? I dunno though, you are the master of this compared to me. I am but a Padawan learner.

The antenna is of most importance...but the amp works as a "pump" to keep the signals "moving" down the feedline without excessive loss. (I know that sounds very simplified, but its a good analogy). The best preamps are worthless without a decent antenna to catch the signal.

His situation is much like that I experienced with WABG before KARK went full power in March 2006. I had WABG-DT in most nights, but rarely in the day. Living on the fringe is a feast or famine situation OTA.

There's always the satellite option if OTA doesn't work.

I live in Arkadelphia and have a cheap Magnavox converter from Walmart. My reception on KLRT DT 30 fluctuates wildly throughout the day (19% to 70%) whereas KARK DT 32 is much more steady (38% -55%). Anyone know why? Thanks!

Heh, someone else from the "Dell"! The type of antenna and how high up it is would be the main factors around here. It also depends where you live. In town, we are in a bit of a shadow (that hill behind the stadiums is in our path to the station towers). If you are north of the hill, or far enough west, the fluctuations are probably tree related. The guys at Dimensional Sound & Vision (the local Dish retailer) can give you pointers too. They are on the road back to the hospital on the right.

-MDG

Got family of a friend I'm trying to help out with their digital conversion. The live literally in the middle of nowhere. Gotta cross a dry creek to get to their house (and if the creek rises they either stay home or in town). Anyway, they are in Hermann, MO and get 3 very snowy channels via rabbit ears (still working to determine if they are getting them from Jeff. City to the west or St. Louis to the East. Got a massive hill keeping them from getting satelite, and live too far out in the boonies to get cable.

antennaweb says they shouldn't be getting anything. Well, antennaweb can't actually find them but it makes a decent guess based on zipcode. If I force antennaweb to use a 30' above ground it shows they should get stuff from Jeff. City and Columbia to the west.

Hate to recommend they put up a 30 foot stick and get nothing. Anyone got any suggestions? Guess I could send one of my converter boxes up that way and see what they get with their rabbit ears. Send them up on the roof with the antenna, etc.

Sam

Have then go outside, or on their roof if safe, and use a inclinometer on a camera tripod, and look due south and see if that hill is really blocking them from 48 degrees up (if they NEVER get sunlight around noon in their yard from August thru April, then they cant get sat). If they get sunlight anywhere in their yard from 11AM TO 1PM, then they can see satellites.

OTA, sounds questionable for sure.

Actually, I have a VHF only antenna with 300 ohm wire. I am thrilled that I get KARK DT 32 100% of the time and I get KLRT DT 30 99% of the time. I assume I will get KATV DT 22 when they finish the tower. KTHV DT 12 is very weak, I only get it about half the time. As my UHF is so much better than my VHF, and I am using a VHF antenna, I think I am picking up more signal with the 300 ohm wire than the actual antenna!

I am a renter so I am not going to invest a lot in an antenna.

Got family of a friend I'm trying to help out with their digital conversion. The live literally in the middle of nowhere. Gotta cross a dry creek to get to their house (and if the creek rises they either stay home or in town). Anyway, they are in Hermann, MO and get 3 very snowy channels via rabbit ears (still working to determine if they are getting them from Jeff. City to the west or St. Louis to the East. Got a massive hill keeping them from getting satelite, and live too far out in the boonies to get cable.

antennaweb says they shouldn't be getting anything. Well, antennaweb can't actually find them but it makes a decent guess based on zipcode. If I force antennaweb to use a 30' above ground it shows they should get stuff from Jeff. City and Columbia to the west.

Hate to recommend they put up a 30 foot stick and get nothing. Anyone got any suggestions? Guess I could send one of my converter boxes up that way and see what they get with their rabbit ears. Send them up on the roof with the antenna, etc.

SamAntennaweb.org is very conservative. Add about 60' to antennaweb's antenna height field to make the results a little less conservative. If terrain is really hilly there, any errors in pinpointing their exact location on antennaweb's map will result in a very incorrect prediction of reception. Also try entering the address at tvfool.com

Depending on terrain, with a good outdoor VHF+UHF fringe antenna and low noise VHF+UHF preamp, Hermann residents should be able to get either Saint Louis or Columbia/Jeff City DTV stations. Here is a coverage map of a station in STL (http://www.fcc.gov/ftp/Bureaus/MB/Databases/fm_tv_service_areas/maps/DT1250584.jpg) and one in Jeff City/Columbia (http://www.fcc.gov/ftp/Bureaus/MB/Databases/fm_tv_service_areas/maps/DT1250909.jpg).

Reception at that distance is very dependent on terrain. It can be feast. Or famine. Attempting to use indoor antennas at Hermann for fringe DTV reception would be a waste of money.

NOTE: Some Saint Louis and Jeff City/Columbia stations will not be operating on their final channel assignments and/or power levels until 2/17. So reception will likely improve then. A rescan of all channels will also be necessary then.

Actually, I have a VHF only antenna with 300 ohm wire. I am thrilled that I get KARK DT 32 100% of the time and I get KLRT DT 30 99% of the time. I assume I will get KATV DT 22 when they finish the tower. KTHV DT 12 is very weak, I only get it about half the time. As my UHF is so much better than my VHF, and I am using a VHF antenna, I think I am picking up more signal with the 300 ohm wire than the actual antenna!

I am a renter so I am not going to invest a lot in an antenna.It's amazing you're getting any reception at all. That being said, to tweak KTHV-DT 12 (11-1) with your VHF antenna (assuming it's indoor), try adjusting the lengths of each VHF dipole to 41.5" or (half that) 20.75". This will optimize the dipoles to ch 12. This may also kill your UHF channels, requiring adjustment when you change channels.

Another thing that sometimes helps with borderline reception is a better converter box. Get a Zenith or Insignia (same thing). Available at BestBuy, CC, and RadioShaft. Or search ebay for Zenith DTT901 (http://www.google.com/search?name=f&hl=en&q=ebay+dtt901). Another tuner with pretty good sensitivity is the DTVPal, sold online or at some DishNetwork dealers, Sears & Sears outlets in smaller towns. If you buy at a brick & mortar store, you can return the box if it doesn't help.

Antennaweb.org is very conservative. Add about 60' to antennaweb's antenna height field to make the results a little less conservative. If terrain is really hilly there, any errors in pinpointing their exact location on antennaweb's map will result in a very incorrect prediction of reception. Also try entering the address at tvfool.com

Depending on terrain, with a good outdoor VHF+UHF fringe antenna and low noise VHF+UHF preamp, Hermann residents should be able to get either Saint Louis or Columbia/Jeff City DTV stations. Here is a coverage map of a station in STL (http://www.fcc.gov/ftp/Bureaus/MB/Databases/fm_tv_service_areas/maps/DT1250584.jpg) and one in Jeff City/Columbia (http://www.fcc.gov/ftp/Bureaus/MB/Databases/fm_tv_service_areas/maps/DT1250909.jpg).

Reception at that distance is very dependent on terrain. It can be feast. Or famine. Attempting to use indoor antennas at Hermann for fringe DTV reception would be a waste of money.

NOTE: Some Saint Louis and Jeff City/Columbia stations will not be operating on their final channel assignments and/or power levels until 2/17. So reception will likely improve then. A rescan of all channels will also be necessary then.

Thanks, I'll have them give that a shot. I also like how you've changed your signature. I certainly hope they let the conversion happen as scheduled. Everyone's had ample time to get ready and there are too many stations that have already gone off the air (or are about to) to do antenna conversions that can't come back up until other folks abandon spectrum.

Sam

... I certainly hope they let the conversion happen as scheduled. Everyone's had ample time to get ready and there are too many stations that have already gone off the air (or are about to) to do antenna conversions that can't come back up until other folks abandon spectrum.I read yesterday that one of the Obama folks pushing for the analog shutoff delay is connected with Clearwire/Sprint, the group rolling out (4G) Wimax service in limited markets. Any delay in the analog shutoff benefits them, because it delays Verizon, and others from using the TV band spectrum they bought at auction for trials of competing 4G wireless internet services in that channel block.

It appears politics as usual will still be the norm, even with the new incoming administration.

This has been discussed before, but KATV will be screwing over LOST viewers tomorrow night by preempting it with an exciting Kentucky/Auburn matchup. They are allowing us to watch it in full glorious (also washed out and blurry) SD around midnight. Looks like I'll be getting it on the internet on Thursday.

At least we only have to put up with this for most of the season.

This has been discussed before, but KATV will be screwing over LOST viewers tomorrow night by preempting it with an exciting Kentucky/Auburn matchup. They are allowing us to watch it in full glorious (also washed out and blurry) SD around midnight. Looks like I'll be getting it on the internet on Thursday.

At least we only have to put up with this for most of the season.

I guess that is why the show is called "LOST":D

This has been discussed before, but KATV will be screwing over LOST viewers tomorrow night by preempting it with an exciting Kentucky/Auburn matchup. They are allowing us to watch it in full glorious (also washed out and blurry) SD around midnight. Looks like I'll be getting it on the internet on Thursday.

At least we only have to put up with this for most of the season.
Why wait until Thursday? It will be online Tonight about an hour, maybe an hour and a half, after the show is over. You don't have to wait that long. You need to find a good, automated way to download TV shows you want to see.

If you guys would switch over to the Mac you wouldn't have this kind of problem. There is a program called TVShows that does just what I said. It automates the whole downloading of TV shows for you. It monitors torrent sites, downloads the torrent file, then launches your torrent client to get them for you. VERY easy. So, sucks to be you guys. LOL

Thanks, arxaw. I am showing my ignorance here, but could analog 16 be interfering with DT 30? Analog 16 was always so powerful that even at 55 miles I could get an almost perfect picture with one rabbit ear.

Thanks, arxaw. I am showing my ignorance here, but could analog 16 be interfering with DT 30? Analog 16 was always so powerful that even at 55 miles I could get an almost perfect picture with one rabbit ear.
I'm not arxaw, but I will put my .02 worth in. No, analog 16 is at exactly that channel assignment, 16. 30 is at 30 which is 14 channels higher. It is enough of a separation that there is no interference.

Thanks, arxaw. I am showing my ignorance here, but could analog 16 be interfering with DT 30? Analog 16 was always so powerful that even at 55 miles I could get an almost perfect picture with one rabbit ear.

I doubt it. Now if analog 16 had disappeared when digital 30 signed on, that would make some sense. The FCC used actual interference observations to develop their rules, and as such has rules regarding N+14 interference to analog signals, but no such rules about the digital receiving interference from the analog.

- Trip

Wow, even more proof that sharing 42's transmitter is killing 7 right now. I just turned it on to see some guys dancing around on those pogo leg things with flashing lights on a big screen behind them and there is nothing but blocking. It is insanely unwatchable at times.

And there is the going very soft focus and back to sharp picture thats hurting it too.

This has been discussed before, but KATV will be screwing over LOST viewers tomorrow night by preempting it with an exciting Kentucky/Auburn matchup. They are allowing us to watch it in full glorious (also washed out and blurry) SD around midnight. Looks like I'll be getting it on the internet on Thursday.

At least we only have to put up with this for most of the season.

Well, far be it from me to defend KATV on this one (I sent my letter of complaint to Richard Farrester weeks ago,) but the last Wednesday night game will be on Feb. 18, so that means only 5 of the 17 episodes this season will be pre-empted, which is far from most. Also, ABC will be reairing the season premiere Saturday night in HD, so those of us who like to watch TV on our TV's, not computers ;) can just wait until then for it. That's my plan anyway. (Actually, my wife's going out of town from Thursday evening until Sunday, so I'd wait for her to watch it anyway.) Sure, Lost is one of the shows I prefer to watch almost live, but you do what you gotta do.

Well, far be it from me to defend KATV on this one (I sent my letter of complaint to Richard Farrester weeks ago,) but the last Wednesday night game will be on Feb. 18, so that means only 5 of the 17 episodes this season will be pre-empted, which is far from most. Also, ABC will be reairing the season premiere Saturday night in HD, so those of us who like to watch TV on our TV's, not computers ;) can just wait until then for it. That's my plan anyway. (Actually, my wife's going out of town from Thursday evening until Sunday, so I'd wait for her to watch it anyway.) Sure, Lost is one of the shows I prefer to watch almost live, but you do what you gotta do.
Funny, I watch my TV on my TV, even if its downloaded from the Internet. :)

DIRECTV just added Comedy Central HD (ch 249) for those Daily Show, Cobert Report and Southpark fans. No stretch-o-vision so far.

DIRECTV just added Comedy Central HD (ch 249) for those Daily Show, Cobert Report and Southpark fans. No stretch-o-vision so far.
Not on U-Verse yet.

This has been discussed before, but KATV will be screwing over LOST viewers tomorrow night by preempting it with an exciting Kentucky/Auburn matchup. They are allowing us to watch it in full glorious (also washed out and blurry) SD around midnight. Looks like I'll be getting it on the internet on Thursday.

At least we only have to put up with this for most of the season.

ABC will have encore presentation on Saturday nights (in HD). Write the station. enough complaints is the only way they Might change.

enough complaints is the only way they Might change.
You are fricken dreaming my friend!

ABC will have encore presentation on Saturday nights (in HD). Write the station. enough complaints is the only way they Might change.

Sorry, you're wrong on both counts. 1. Lost is scheduled to repeat THIS Saturday night, but that's it. 2. stevekens already said it, but we've been complaining about this for YEARS, and they ain't budging. Rumor has it that Dale Nicholson will be retiring this year, so it's possible that future management will have a change of heart, but don't hold your breath.

Why wait until Thursday? It will be online Tonight about an hour, maybe an hour and a half, after the show is over. You don't have to wait that long. You need to find a good, automated way to download TV shows you want to see.

If you guys would switch over to the Mac you wouldn't have this kind of problem. There is a program called TVShows that does just what I said. It automates the whole downloading of TV shows for you. It monitors torrent sites, downloads the torrent file, then launches your torrent client to get them for you. VERY easy. So, sucks to be you guys. LOL

I do have a mac. I'll look into that program. How do you get the picture to your TV. I've been copying it via flash drive to my PS3. I haven't been willing to take the time to figure out how to stream it to the PS3 for free and don't want to pay for Medialink.

10am February 9, 2009.

This was observed while channel surfing earlier . Also the analog satellites KVTH (ch26 Hot Springs) and KVTJ (ch48 Jonesboro) will flash cut to digital at that time.

That's one less source of analog QRM gone...I may be able to get WMAO-DT a week early :D

Huh?

EDIT: On, read your web page...first paragraph was missing here. VTN shutting down analog in a few weeks, great. 25 is always a ghost filled mess here, due to its weird offbeat location. Wouldnt they get out better if the put their tower up in their backyard at the Agape Church? Its like on top of one of the biggest hills in wLr.

Huh?

EDIT: On, read your web page...first paragraph was missing here. VTN shutting down analog in a few weeks, great. 25 is always a ghost filled mess here, due to its weird offbeat location. Wouldnt they get out better if the put their tower up in their backyard at the Agape Church? Its like on top of one of the biggest hills in wLr.

KVTN is licensed to Pine Bluff, that explains the odd transmitter site (near England).

I was expecting KVTN to have analog to the bitter end. Maybe the other stations in town will get a clue and turn off analog early :D

KVTN is licensed to Pine Bluff, that explains the odd transmitter site (near England).

I was expecting KVTN to have analog to the bitter end. Maybe the other stations in town will get a clue and turn off analog early :D

And use the money they save to buy frickin HD timeshift equipment...

You want HD timeshift on KVTN????

I'll bet he was referring mostly to the "other" stations.:)

dmatch

I'll bet he was referring mostly to the "other" stations.:)

dmatch

Yeah, I would expect VTN to add subchannels long before they actually aired any HD. I worked there for nine years, this has definitely been an expensive transition for them, they're actually doing a better job than I would have expected.

Amazing what can be accomplished if you dont have to spend 30-40% of your income for taxes....

You are fricken dreaming my friend!

Sorry, you're wrong on both counts. 1. Lost is scheduled to repeat THIS Saturday night, but that's it. 2. stevekens already said it, but we've been complaining about this for YEARS, and they ain't budging. Rumor has it that Dale Nicholson will be retiring this year, so it's possible that future management will have a change of heart, but don't hold your breath.

I'm not going to apologize for believing that doing something--even if it may not do any good in the end (and by the way, I never said it actually would...I used the word "might")--is better than doing nothing at all.

Hey, I don't completely disagree, that's why I continue to send my complaint letters each year, it's just pretty obvious that they aren't listening.

Amazing what can be accomplished if you dont have to spend 30-40% of your income for taxes....LOL, good one, dave.

Thanks, Trip. I had read in the following articles that n+14 and n+15 were considered taboo in the past, and I didn't know if it was still relevant in today's ATSC world.

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf08739.html

http://broadcastengineering.com/RF/FCC-DTV-interference-20070419/

Thanks, Trip. I had read in the following articles that n+14 and n+15 were considered taboo in the past, and I didn't know if it was still relevant in today's ATSC world.

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf08739.html

http://broadcastengineering.com/RF/FCC-DTV-interference-20070419/
Well, for one, the first one is about Canadian stuff and specifically states NTSC in its tables. I don't know how well it applies down here, if it does at all, but the NTSC part tells me, with the understanding that I am an idiot on the matter, that I don't really need to worry about that.

The second one really doesn't say anything about how n+14 is bad. The only mention of it says that the n+1 through n+6 were more susceptible to interference than n+14 was at UHF 30.

I don't really see how either one of those articles would raise any kind of concerns or flags to anyone in relation to not being able to get a channel. But then again I am not real smart when it comes to this kinda stuff.

The interference still exists but I'm not sure to what extent. I don't think the analog interferes with the digital, I think it's the other way around (though I'm not certain of that). In an all-digital world, N+14 and N+15 aren't a concern.

- Trip

If you are talking about second and third harmonic interference, I doubt with the lower power levels, it will be as much of a concern as it has in the past. Ive logged digital stations adjacent to 5 megawatt locals with no problems, nor have I seen anything out of the ordinary with any of the digitals except 5.1, which is explainable.

KARK is advertising their "baby" being born Feb 1st. Caught the new logo for "Z"42 on the news this morning.

KEMV analog is looking good again, now that I have my rotor fixed. If it was a digital, however, it would never lock. Its loaded with impulse noise, even though it is quite viewable.

Haley, you have a good source of vhf lo e skip targets from Cuba, and Mexico? When is the next solar cycle peak? Ive lost track since I quit HF'ing.

Amazing what can be accomplished if you dont have to spend 30-40% of your income for taxes....

Yep. Just like the government, they're tax exempt.

Haley, you have a good source of vhf lo e skip targets from Cuba, and Mexico? When is the next solar cycle peak? Ive lost track since I quit HF'ing.

Peak? No one really knows at this point. Solar activity should have increased by now but its been in the toliet for the past 2 years. Projections are in 2011-12 perhaps 2013.

The LW and AM BCB DX'ers have it good at this point--low solar activity and being in the middle of winter. Short skip (E's) has been very rare this winter, the worst I can remember. There were reports over Christmas and a week before of E's but none since.

I worked my dxcc, but never was able to get enough confirmations, in 78... That was a peak year. 20m was 24/7. I was in Panama, and talked to a guy in North Carolina, using a dummy load to tune his 100w transceiver...S9+20 on 10m with no antenna on his end, a 2 ele beam on my end :).
78+11=89
89+11=00
Should be the end of 2011 I guess. Still 4 yrs out. Looking forward to it.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2339487,00.asp?kc=PCRSS03069TX1K0001121

Sounds like they're going to delay the mandatory shutoff to June 12, but still allow voluntary shutoffs. (?)

Talk about confusing....

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2339487,00.asp?kc=PCRSS03069TX1K0001121

Sounds like they're going to delay the mandatory shutoff to June 12, but still allow voluntary shutoffs. (?)

Talk about confusing....


No kidding. Only the idiots didn't know what was going on before... now pretty much everyone is lost on what happens next.

Well, KATV has to vacate for KETS, KETS needs to vacate for tower space. KVTN is going early. That leaves 4,11,16, and 38.
Ill assume 42 will do whatever 4 does. Since 4 wants to put 44 on its tower, that would mean 4 will have to go. What a mess. The government is a total disgrace. First ATSC instead of DVB-T like Europe, the trying to use digital on 2-6, and now this...When will it all end? When will the TV stations get to spend money on switchers and time shift equipment instead on Entergy Bills.... Good Lord...

AETN is stupidly running everything 14:9, instead of original aspect ratio 4:3 or 16:9. Just when I thought they couldn't screw up any worse, they did, tonight. Everything is squished "tall & skinny."
http://i40.tinypic.com/308jmrn.jpg

WTF is wrong with the idiots running AETN?

I watched that show on PBS-HD, and *IT* was 4:3 squished...I think the screwup there was at PBS Net...but AETN is still screwed up. 14:9 is OK for 4:3 OAR, I do that when I edit music videos, nice comprimise, but not 14:9 on 16:9 OAR, thats retarded.

BTW, when I do the 14:9 conversions, I zoom to the top/bottom safe action area, then stretch the sides a little, AETN is ZOOMING the whole picture and cutting off heads. Im hoping this is just a temporary thing til the analog shutoff. If they keep it up afterwards, Ill never watch em again...At least while I can get PBS in real HD.

BTW Steveken: Aimes IA PBS sched no longer following PBS-HD...Found an alternative, WTIUDT Bloomington/Indianapolis In ch 14. Its got the PBS-HD sched spot on.

If there are any little KU dish people here, G19 KU 12051 V 22016 has all the Music Choice radio channels unscrambled. Been free all week now. I miss it from Directv, like it better than XM.

BTW Steveken: Aimes IA PBS sched no longer following PBS-HD...Found an alternative, WTIUDT Bloomington/Indianapolis In ch 14. Its got the PBS-HD sched spot on.
I haven't screwed with trying to get the PBS-HD schedule right in so long its not even funny. I gave the lady at TMS all the information she needed to get it right. I guess she just dropped the ball on it and forgot all about it.



BTW, and completely off topic, I had the bright idea today of starting a local area help desk site, so I bought www.littlerockhelpdesk.com. Maybe I will figure out what to put up on it to get it going. Would love to make it a pay site, but I figure I have to figure out a plan to have free areas and pay areas somehow. First gotta get the content up there and get some word of mouth to get it going. I figure maybe a general forums based site first. What do you guys think?

I watched that show on PBS-HD, and *IT* was 4:3 squished...I think the screwup there was at PBS Net...but AETN is still screwed up. 14:9 is OK for 4:3 OAR, I do that when I edit music videos, nice comprimise, but not 14:9 on 16:9 OAR, thats retarded.That show was Arkansas Week. It runs on PBS national?

And 14:9 is not OK, when zoomed. It blurs the picture and chops off the top & bottom. And analog viewers, or cablecos using a center cut 4:3 version of the dash-1 channel for converting to analog, really get the shaft. The image is blurred and chopped off on all 4 sides. I have given up on AETN and will only watch Ozarks Public TV until the incompetents at AETN start showing programming in original aspect ratio again.

Digital TV is turning into a great big stinking mess.

No, I was watching Washington Week...it was the same way. If it was Arkansas Week, its definantly AETN.

Steveken: Personally, if I cant find what Im looking for from friends or free on the net, I dont bother. If you can get some content worth paying for, that you cant get free, by all means, go for it.

No, I was watching Washington Week...it was the same way. If it was Arkansas Week, its definantly AETN.

Steveken: Personally, if I cant find what Im looking for from friends or free on the net, I dont bother. If you can get some content worth paying for, that you cant get free, by all means, go for it.
My whole thought was that not everyone knows people that can help them. And most definitely most people don't know how to do basic searches to find answers they are looking for. I figured if I could generate a user community maybe that would help get locals into the act of fixing their own stuff, that would be a great thing. Maybe it could boil down to something that isn't user paid content, but more advertiser paid. I would have to figure out how to do that, though. I know there are quite a few sites out there that do this very thing. I just thought that maybe if it was something localized with the cities name in it or something, that might draw more people into it and get it going pretty good. I mean, really, how many people would have trouble remembering littlerockhelpdesk.com? I know its a little long, but it seems like a good name thats easy to say and type.

Anyway, just an idea I have had. Maybe something will come from it.

Sorry, you're wrong on both counts. 1. Lost is scheduled to repeat THIS Saturday night, but that's it.

Looks like only partially wrong...by the day. Encores of the previous week will be shown at 7 pm before the games start.

Looks like only partially wrong...by the day. Encores of the previous week will be shown at 7 pm before the games start.
Yeah, never understood why they insist on showing the previous weeks show first like that, but I guess it works out for the people that have to miss it thanks to the asinine business practices of stations like KATV. It sure does screw up the DVR's that don't have differentiating information on them to show that the first one is a repeat though.

For instance, I have noticed several times with AT&T that their guide data is extremely old in some cases (like when there were brand new episodes of Stargate Atlantis on, they listed Rainbow Sun Franks as an actor in their guide data even though he hadn't been on the show in 2 years) or it just had nothing on it to indicate whether the show was a repeat or brand new (like when I record Clone Wars from Cartoon Network it will record the same episode 2 or 3 times because it can't tell that its a repeat). In both cases, DirecTV would have the right information AND the ability to tell if it was a repeat or not. I don't know where AT&T gets their guide data, but, damn, they need to get a better source cause it is BAD a lot of the time. :)

Looks like only partially wrong...by the day. Encores of the previous week will be shown at 7 pm before the games start.

True, but most weeks, even that repeat will be pushed back into the middle of the night. I got out on the roof yesterday, and raised my antenna about 6 more inches in order to improve my reception on 42, so I could record last night's repeat in HD.

Somehow, at this hotel on the Texas side of Texarkana, they are getting Channel 7. We are about 3 miles or so into Texas. I am not sure how they are getting it, but it sure is a crappy signal. It fades in and out at times and loses audio pretty bad when it does fade out. Just thought it was interesting they incorporate Arkansas stations into their channels. They have an AETN affiliate for their PBS channel. Anyway, thats it, thats all I had to say. :)

Fritz: You catch channel "3HD"...I couldnt get a solid pic long enough to read the little call sign in the corner. Appears to be from W Texas or New Mexico from the weather map. I did read that the current temp was 71, and Ill edit this in a minute with a screen cap. Also a western on channel 2 (not aetn) and heavy qrm on KARK with antenna pointed almost right at Shinall. What an E opening.
http://i36.tinypic.com/jzckyg.jpg

Fritz: You catch channel "3HD"...I couldnt get a solid pic long enough to read the little call sign in the corner. Appears to be from W Texas or New Mexico from the weather map. I did read that the current temp was 71, and Ill edit this in a minute with a screen cap. Also a western on channel 2 (not aetn) and heavy qrm on KARK with antenna pointed almost right at Shinall. What an E opening.
http://i36.tinypic.com/jzckyg.jpg

That's KTVK channel 3 Phoenix AZ. There is a bug in the upper right hand corner that has a big A in white lettering with the word "ANALOG" below the A. (Dave, your tuner/tv's on-screen display blocks out the KTVK inserted bug.)

I logged several MX stations this afternoon as well as working some 6m SSB voice from New Mexico. Mexican skip still visible on the skip tv's ch3 as I'm typing.

As to not keep this completly off topic...I kept the zenith box parked on RF 2 so I might be able to sniff and decode the Las Vegas DTV station that is on lowband ch2...no such luck, too much analog interference.

Thanks...had just found it using w9wi.com database and wiki. Cool, new state logged! Had my digital dx box on 2 and 3, no peeps, to much noise. Did notice signal quality on ch 5 was locked on 100, and would drop to 60, and pop back up. Had definant banding and qrm on KARK analog.
Here is one with the logo I think you are talking about:
http://i33.tinypic.com/t7fvpd.jpg
Thanks.

That's KTVK channel 3 Phoenix AZ. There is a bug in the upper right hand corner that has a big A in white lettering with the word "ANALOG" below the A. (Dave, your tuner/tv's on-screen display blocks out the KTVK inserted bug.)

I logged several MX stations this afternoon as well as working some 6m SSB voice from New Mexico. Mexican skip still visible on the skip tv's ch3 as I'm typing.

As to not keep this completly off topic...I kept the zenith box parked on RF 2 so I might be able to sniff and decode the Las Vegas DTV station that is on lowband ch2...no such luck, too much analog interference.
Plus you can kinda make out Prescott and Flagstaff in the pic. :)

Who likes the New 16-2 Untamed Sports Channel? I'm really enjoying that channel so far, nice hunting and fishing shows.

1966-2009 RIP

KETS-DT 5 also went off tonight a few seconds after analog KETS channel 2.

Who likes the New 16-2 Untamed Sports Channel? I'm really enjoying that channel so far, nice hunting and fishing shows.

Not really my cup of tea, but my 11 year old nephew eats it up. He finally appreciates that I installed him a digital converter box in his room.

Don't know if you guys ever check out http://arkansastvnewswatch.blogspot.com/ but there's a note on there that KATV laid off 30 people on Friday, including program director Richard Farrester.

1966-2009 RIP

KETS-DT 5 also went off tonight a few seconds after analog KETS channel 2.

KETS 2 analog still showing up on Dish. I guess they are getting a feed in the same way as Comcast.

KETS 2 analog still showing up on Dish...Dish and several cablecos are getting AETN by alternate methods, according to AETN's web site (http://www.aetn.org).

Dish and several cablecos are getting AETN by alternate methods, according to AETN's web site (http://www.aetn.org).

They flat out lied and said no national PBS feed was available. What a crock of crap. Looks like DIRECTV didnt make the list. will have to check when I get home. Directv does offer a national PBS feed, although its SD (like KETS's attempt at Hd)

Will AETN's OTA coverage be better after the transition to digital? I.E. will in inddor antenna work in Maumelle when they go digital only?

Will AETN's OTA coverage be better after the transition to digital? I.E. will in inddor antenna work in Maumelle when they go digital only?

You'd be lucky to get KETS on an indoor antenna, even when they boost their power on their new channel 7. KETS & KASN will both be from Redfield, all others are right across the river on Shinall Mountain.

KARK has a new page up with the Weekday schedule for Z-42. It doesn't say exactly, but I'm guessing they are going to delay MyNetworkTV programming an hour, from 8-10 pm.

http://arkansasmatters.com/content/entertainment_KARZ

KARK 42 Programs
Coming Soon: News in Prime - Bob Clausen, Melissa Simas, & Mike Francis present an hour long newscast at 7pm weeknights.

Weeknights on KARZ 42

Bonnie Hunt Show 8-9am

Morning Show with Mike and Juliet 9-10am

Judge Alex 10 & 10:30am

Christina’s Court 11 & 11:30am

Eye for an Eye 12pm

Jury Duty 12:30pm

Trivial Pursuit 1pm

Access Hollywood 2pm

House of Payne 3 & 3:30pm

King of Queens 4 & 4:30pm

Family Guy 5 & 5:30pm

Who Wants to be a Millionaire 6 & 6:30pm

Sex and the City 10 & 10:30P

Yawn...

AETN is still on E* (channel 2-0) in SD. The Arkadelphia analog tx (KETG 9) is still on, and I presume KEMV is also.

While visiting my parents today, I noticed that Pine Bluff Cable is carrying AETN on the same channel position (12) as KETS-DT but its been replaced by KETG 9 and it sure looks like its made a long trip with all the lines and snow.

E skip is wild at the moment. Within the past half hour: WCBS 2 NYC, KDKA 2 Pittsburgh, WMAR 2 Baltimore --which is in very storng at peaks at this time. VCR is rollin'

KARK has a new page up with the Weekday schedule for Z-42. It doesn't say exactly, but I'm guessing they are going to delay MyNetworkTV programming an hour, from 8-10 pm.


KARZ could be using the Mountain Time Zone feed of MNTV and provide what little HD that network broadcasts(hopefully, and not SD timeshifting). I'm thinking that Nexstar-LR is trying to avoid a bloodbath with head to head news competition with KLRT ("Fox 16") at 9pm. A smart move on KARZ's part would be an extended 7-8am version of the KARK morning newscast, but I suspect infomericals will fill the hours before 8am.

Im getting 2 from Pittsburg, and 3 from somewhere over there. Awesome.

called directv and they told me they wouldnt be picking up PBS until post transition, so they gave me a $15 credit for the loss of ch 2 hahahaha. I was actually seeing it they would give us PBS national on ch 379, but she said that would take a waiver...What a joke these laws are. Maybe I could send em a pic of WCBS's E-skip and get it under the "significant viewed" law hahaha.

Thanks...had just found it using w9wi.com database and wiki. Cool, new state logged! Had my digital dx box on 2 and 3, no peeps, to much noise. Did notice signal quality on ch 5 was locked on 100, and would drop to 60, and pop back up. Had definant banding and qrm on KARK analog.
Here is one with the logo I think you are talking about:
http://i33.tinypic.com/t7fvpd.jpg
Thanks.

Dang that looks a lot like trying to watch KATV while growing up in Pike County:eek:

You'd be lucky to get KETS on an indoor antenna, even when they boost their power on their new channel 7. KETS & KASN will both be from Redfield, all others are right across the river on Shinall Mountain.Curses, foiled again.:rolleyes:

Curses, foiled again.:rolleyes:

If you got the old KATV before their tower fell down, there is a good chance you might get KETS-DT on ch 7.
If not, the antenna to get it would only be 36" wide and a couple feet long. Would easily fit in an attic.

Who likes the New 16-2 Untamed Sports Channel? I'm really enjoying that channel so far, nice hunting and fishing shows.
I personally don't care for it. But then again, I am not of the demographic that would have any interest in the show (read not of the redneckish variety....j/k). My nephew and brother-in-law might like it.

Don't know if you guys ever check out http://arkansastvnewswatch.blogspot.com/ but there's a note on there that KATV laid off 30 people on Friday, including program director Richard Farrester.
Woo Hoo! He was probably more primarily the bane of popular TV more than Nicholson is. In my experiences as a radio guy and my dad being a former radio guy, the PD is the single, primary point of most problems when it comes to content that people want other than the sales department. Its been a while since I have had to deal with a PD and their shenanigans, but I doubt its changed. :)

They flat out lied and said no national PBS feed was available. What a crock of crap. Looks like DIRECTV didnt make the list. will have to check when I get home. Directv does offer a national PBS feed, although its SD (like KETS's attempt at Hd)
Are you saying DirecTV doesn't have any local PBS right now like Dish does? Interesting. Wonder if we can call and get the national since they will be out for a long time.

KARK has a new page up with the Weekday schedule for Z-42. It doesn't say exactly, but I'm guessing they are going to delay MyNetworkTV programming an hour, from 8-10 pm.

http://arkansasmatters.com/content/entertainment_KARZ

KARK 42 Programs
Coming Soon: News in Prime - Bob Clausen, Melissa Simas, & Mike Francis present an hour long newscast at 7pm weeknights.

Weeknights on KARZ 42

Bonnie Hunt Show 8-9am

Morning Show with Mike and Juliet 9-10am

Judge Alex 10 & 10:30am

Christina’s Court 11 & 11:30am

Eye for an Eye 12pm

Jury Duty 12:30pm

Trivial Pursuit 1pm

Access Hollywood 2pm

House of Payne 3 & 3:30pm

King of Queens 4 & 4:30pm

Family Guy 5 & 5:30pm

Who Wants to be a Millionaire 6 & 6:30pm

Sex and the City 10 & 10:30P
Ohz boyz, thatz beez some qualitiez programzin thur!

Are you saying DirecTV doesn't have any local PBS right now like Dish does? Interesting. Wonder if we can call and get the national since they will be out for a long time.

Nope, no PBS. as per previous post, they refused to let me get PBS national without a waiver. I did get a $15 "it sucks to be you" credit :). I didnt push the issue. Im sure if I emailed the head office, I could get it. I dont really care though, I get PBS-HD1, 2, and 3 as well as AETN via either KTWN-2 or KEMV 6 analog. I was just making sure Directv was aware of the issue. Since Dish and Directv use the same receive site, I cant figure out why Dish has it and Directv doesnt.

On a bright note, the CSR told me to call KETS and ask them what to do. I told her I already had, and told her KETS advised me to switch to Dish or Comcast, both of which still had it...she gave me a LONG pause, and asked if I was going to do that. hahaha. I said hell no, they dont have MLB EI!

KTWN-DT.2 has a great PQ for SD, its 14:9 tho. They must be grabbing KEMV-DT, which I cant get, although KEMV analog comes in good here.

I didn't see that second post talking about it. I was just posting as I came across the posts I wanted to respond to.

In any case, if anyone has an iPhone and they want a stand to let them watch stuff in landscape mode, here is a great mod for your phone. Really easy to do. Doesn't look half bad either if you do it right. http://www.deanying.com/PermaLink,guid,a99a1c06-b55b-4001-afeb-46a707055ecc.aspx

Oh, and can you believe the crap that KATV is doing right now with the weather stuff on the HD stream??? When they are running the closings and stuff, not only do they have that extra, unnecessary tab saying something to the effect of "Weather delays" or "Weather closings", but they have the stuff coming up in the middle of the screen, in two-line format.

Common sense would tell you that it would be a better idea on the HD stream to put "Weather delays" or whatever on the far left side of the screen under their left pillar, then run the businesses/schools names and locations in a single line scrolling across the bottom. That way, you aren't taking up 1/3 of the screen with that crap that doesn't affect a vast majority of the viewers.

On top of that, they put the damn weather map and all the different warnings in the upper right of the 4:3 viewing area??? I mean, geez people! By the time you deal with the pillars, the map and descriptions of the colors, then the closings on the bottom, you might as well have a 27" square TV instead of a 42" widescreen TV!



EDIT: They have apparently taken the closings thing off during "Wheel". But the map is still in a VERY VERY bad spot.
EDIT EDIT: Its back again during that bachelor show.

And, just wondering, has anyone else noticed on KARK the past few times HD has been on it that they have a thin line of some sort up the right side of the screen where the normal 4:3 cut-off would be? At first I was thinking that my TV was messed up or something till I changed channels to check it out. I got used to it pretty quick, but I have to wonder what is going on over on their side to make that line show up like that?

Oh, and it appears they have bumped down their weather map enough to where the words in their "Live 4Warn Doppler" are cut off about half way. Kinda odd, but welcome as I like as much real estate as they can leave us when that stuff is on.

.....

KTWN-DT.2 has a great PQ for SD, its 14:9 tho. They must be grabbing KEMV-DT, which I cant get, although KEMV analog comes in good here.I thought you had seen the same replace the smart card notification on that channel (KTWN-DT2) that I had seen (perhaps it was someone else?) .... Anyway, that indicates to me they are probably using the Dishnet signal and should have no interruption as long as Dishnet doesn't. I have also seen searching for satellite messages that indicates they are using the Dishnet signal.

When they first started re-broadcasting for AETN they were using an analog signal and it probably was KEMV (just guessing) but soon after switched to what we see now.

dmatch

Oh, and can you believe the crap that KATV is doing right now with the weather stuff on the HD stream??? .... Holy crap! They are effectively using half the vertical screen when all is said and done.

dmatch

Yea, I forgot they were using Dish's feed. I do like their radar map. Im not even gonna comment on ch 7. Wonder why they dont do like Fox News, and put the 4:3 screen on the left, and use the remaining screen for three boxes, stacked vertically with
1: radar
2: warning map
3: closings

Would make more sense than covering the show with all that stuff. Maybe their overlay box cant handle it, but seems like it should, since the dual pillars and all are there. Who knows.

And, just wondering, has anyone else noticed on KARK the past few times HD has been on it that they have a thin line of some sort up the right side of the screen where the normal 4:3 cut-off would be? At first I was thinking that my TV was messed up or something till I changed channels to check it out. I got used to it pretty quick, but I have to wonder what is going on over on their side to make that line show up like that?

Oh, and it appears they have bumped down their weather map enough to where the words in their "Live 4Warn Doppler" are cut off about half way. Kinda odd, but welcome as I like as much real estate as they can leave us when that stuff is on.Yeah, I see it too right now... Like you said appears to be where 4:3 picture would stop on the right side.

Edit:I can't believe you tricked me into watching that dancing stuff.

dmatch

Think thats a artifact from the weather map overlay? Its actually inside the 4:3 action area.

I bet it is...Guess we'll see when they do HD without the overlay if that was what it was.

Edit: Line went away when overlays were removed.

dmatch

The senate signed the delay. I wonder what this means for AETN. Will they fire their analog 2 or digital 5 back up? They can't come up on 7 until after KATV analog shuts down.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090127/tv_nm/us_dtv_congress

Last I read the delay was to be voluntary. If that is to be the case then I would guess it would be up to KATV whether they want to switch "on time" or not. I'll bet they are ready to get on with the show.

dmatch

Yeah, I see it too right now... Like you said appears to be where 4:3 picture would stop on the right side.

Edit:I can't believe you tricked me into watching that dancing stuff.

dmatch
LOL, not my intention. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't either of my two sources that had it on them. I first noticed it two weeks ago while trying to watch "Knight Rider". Was rather irritating for a while.

You know, it would be nice if KARK would use their crap that we all know they have to quit with the fricken raping of HD programming when there is winter weather. I mean, do we really need pictures of snowflakes all around it just to see the closings?

I agree. What I saw for a while was really "over the top". At one time I was watching a 16:9 picture pillar barred to accept 4:3 which was further pillar barred (with snow-flakes) with essentially another smaller 16:9 letter boxed picture. Or at least that's what I thought I was seeing. Maybe I was getting tunnel vision.;)

dmatch

Have we determined yet what is going to happen to KATV next Monday when KARZ comes online?

Have we determined yet what is going to happen to KATV next Monday when KARZ comes online?

I havent seen anything is print or their advertising to suggest that ch44 was included in the deal. Im assuming they will use ch42 analog...they did say they were going to up the height, etc...so perhaps they are going to build out a ch42 digital on KARKs tower, and just flash cut when they shut off analog.

BTW, new PBS transition ad:
The change to digital TV is coming soon. for more information call 1-888-CALL-FCC... hmmmm.

THV ch 11.1 is gonna report on a possible delay of the DTV transition on the 10pm news. Sounds like Obama may be proceeding to push the transition date back.:mad: I think the TV world should be the least of the Presidents worries right now:confused::rolleyes:

I havent seen anything is print or their advertising to suggest that ch44 was included in the deal. Im assuming they will use ch42 analog...they did say they were going to up the height, etc...so perhaps they are going to build out a ch42 digital on KARKs tower, and just flash cut when they shut off analog.

Licenses can't pop out of nowhere. KWBF-TV and KWBF-DT are legally speaking the same station. Nexstar is building out DT-44.

- Trip

They said its already passed the senate, has to go thru legislation and then on to the President to sign and approve. They mentioned also that Obama has already said he endorses such a bill.......what the FRICK:mad: I guess later on when ther are still people not ready, they will push it back again. I guess its not fair that some folks have sat on their Asses until the last moment. Sounds like Obama is for equalization accross the board. He also wants to take money from one persons pocket and put it in another so we all have the same amount of money................wheres the puke button:mad:

Licenses can't pop out of nowhere. KWBF-TV and KWBF-DT are legally speaking the same station. Nexstar is building out DT-44.

- Trip

Got a link to nexstars license for DT44? Id like to read it, as well as their application to move it to their big tower.

Well, none of you addressed my main question there of what is going to happen to KATV. I am guessing that noone really knows. I am also guessing that they have agreed to let them continue to leech off of them until the new tower is up and running. I wonder if they are going to drop 42-2? You know, KARZ could probably be better off if they just dropped everything else they carried on that channel that isn't news related. It appears to me that they are pushing that channel as purely "news only" and that anything else on there is just filler. I would think they could find something else to do with that other time than running the same garbage as they are running now. I really really hope they have something in place to air the Cardinals games in HD from channel 5 in St. Louis next season.

Along those same lines, I was at Wal-Mart today and looked at the tower. It doesn't look like ANYTHING has been done on it in over a week since the last time I mentioned looking at it. At that time, it looked like there was still another 2 sections that could go on top of it. Oh well, I guess they have topped out the tower and are now just waiting on the antenna to go on top of it. Was just wondering if that is the case or not. I haven't driven up there in a very long time, so I have no idea if there are more pieces on the ground or not.

That was kind of rude. Got a link to nexstars license for DT44? Id like to read it, as well as their application to move it to their big tower.

Sorry, wasn't attempting to be rude.

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1281923&Service=DT&Form_id=301&Facility_id=37005

There's the app for channel 44, with this statement: "ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT 3 HERETO IS THE LETTER OF RIVER CITY BROADCASTING, INC., THE CURRENT LICENSEE OF KWBF, GRANTING ITS CONSENT TO NEXSTAR BROADCASTING, INC. ('NEXSTAR') TO FILE THE INSTANT APPLICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 73.3517 OF THE COMMISSION'S RULES. NEXSTAR IS THE PROPOSED ASSIGNEE OF KWBF (SEE FCC FILE NO. BALCT-20081015AAY)."

No stations have been able to split their analog and digital. The FCC will not allow it, because they're "companion channels" and are to turn in one or the other at the end of the transition. The analog and digital have the same facility ID number.

I'll put it like this, I wouldn't put it past Equity broadcasting to TRY something like what you're suggesting :D but it wouldn't fly with the FCC and it's not what has been applied for.

- Trip

I was just wondering, since Equity has ch 20, here in town also, and thought they might try to keep digital 44 to use as a companion for ch20 (or 58 which they are also running here).

I guess on Feb 1st, we will find out what happens to KATV-DT then.

I was just wondering, since Equity has ch 20, here in town also, and thought they might try to keep digital 44 to use as a companion for ch20 (or 58 which they are also running here).

I guess on Feb 1st, we will find out what happens to KATV-DT then.

If Equity had wanted one, they could have filed a few years ago when the FCC was taking applications for companion channels for low-powered stations.

It's an interesting idea, but the only way that would have had any chance at working is if KKYK-CA was a full-powered station. Even then the FCC likely would have frowned on it.

At this point, I think Equity is SOL. They're trying to sell their stations, and I imagine it won't be easy since most of them are junk. It couldn't have happened to a more deserving company.

- Trip

It's amazing how much Sarah Chalke's head looks like the state of Arkansas! *rolls eyes*

They have GOT to figure out a way to get that damned weather map down to the bottom bar beside the fricken closings!!!

The Fox News solution won't work for KATV because many cable systems now take the HD feed and do a "centered pan-and-scan" down-conversion to SD. After 2/17 (or 6/12 or whenever) it's either that or letterboxing the HD signal, and the same Luddites driving the delay will likely complain about the black bars, so pan-and-scan it is.

I was just crusing through some threads from cities in the neighborhood...guess what everyone is complaining about? Could it be weather maps and closings...Memphis WMC went to 4:3, pillar box, then shrunk THAT, to make room on the bottom for the closings.

bTW, KTWN had a blank screen for Nova tonight, and the heavy rain was causing a little pixellation on the HD netrwork feed.

Dave, you ever get the other episodes of "Make 'Em Laugh" from PBS? Well, its not like I have actually watched the one you did get that I downloaded from you, was just curious because I am 99.999% sure there were a couple more eps of it to go.

EDIT: Looks like Ep 3&4 aired on the 21st and 5&6 will be on tomorrow (28th) night. Here is a breakdown of the ep names:

3. Season 1, Ep 3: Slip on a Banana Peel: The Knockabouts
4. Season 1, Ep 4: When I'm Bad, I'm Better: The Groundbreakers
5. Season 1, Ep 5: Never Give a Sucker an Even Break: The Wiseguys6. Season 1, Ep 6: Sock it to Me?: Satire and Parody
6. Season 1, Ep 6: Sock it to Me?: Satire and Parody

Yea, Ive got it. 68.51.18.83 5/6 should record tomorrow.

They flat out lied and said no national PBS feed was available. What a crock of crap. Looks like DIRECTV didnt make the list.What AETN said (direct quote (http://www.aetn.org/outreach/dtv)) was: "Systems in Central Arkansas not mentioned above are not technically capable and/or cannot financially afford to receive a signal from AETN." That means AETN's own feed, *NOT* the national PBS feed. National PBS (HD or SD) is *NOT* a proper substitute for AETN.

But then, there were several ways D* could have picked up the AETN signal, from getting KAFT at the Fort Smith LRF (IIRC that's what E* is doing) to even Comcast's analog cable feed. D* certainly doesn't fall into either the "not technically capable" or "cannot financially afford" categories.

Yea, Ive got it. 68.51.18.83 5/6 should record tomorrow.
sweet, thanks. you da man!

EDIT: Oops, connection refused by server.

sweet, thanks. you da man!

EDIT: Oops, connection refused by server.

Doesnt show any attempts. ??

And no, PBS HD isnt a substitution for AETN, there is no comparison at all.

Oh hell no! PBS-HD is 300 times better than AETN could ever hope to be!



This is what I am seeing when trying to log into your server, Dave.....

Status: Connecting to 68.51.18.83:21...
Status: Connection attempt failed with "ECONNREFUSED - Connection refused by server".
Error: Could not connect to server

Oh hell no! PBS-HD is 300 times better than AETN could ever hope to be!
For what it offers, PBS-HD is great; I watch it more than AETN. (It seems to me PBS-HD carries more "true" HD programming than just about anyone else.) But there's no way PBS-HD will ever carry "Arkansas Week" or other AETN-originated programming; that's why we still need AETN. (Edit: And let's not forget OTA viewers; their ONLY source for PBS is the local affiliate.)

For what it offers, PBS-HD is great; I watch it more than AETN. (It seems to me PBS-HD carries more "true" HD programming than just about anyone else.) But there's no way PBS-HD will ever carry "Arkansas Week" or other AETN-originated programming; that's why we still need AETN. (Edit: And let's not forget OTA viewers; their ONLY source for PBS is the local affiliate.)
Just a quick question, do you work for AETN or something? Just wondering cause you sound like you know more about this than you actually say.

I would rather watch AETN, but they downconvert 1080i to 720p, downrez from 16:9 to 14:9, timeshift the most popular shows from the standard (and Hd) timeslot to a later SD upconverted 480i broadcast, and do just about anything they can to piss off anyone with a HDTV that loves PBS.

Id donate just for NOVA and NATURE, but not when I have to pay $650 to buy a dish to watch it in HD.

I may be confused, but I had AETN on channel 2 on D* last night. Checked when I got home from work at about 6pm. Was going to call and complain to see if I could get some credit like Dave.

Live in McRae

I may be confused, but I had AETN on channel 2 on D* last night. Checked when I got home from work at about 6pm. Was going to call and complain to see if I could get some credit like Dave.


Same here. I was disappointed. :D

Havent even checked...So they have it working now? Still a SD feed, or did they put up the HD feed?

Edit: Later in thread it was determined that the north Ark. ice storm was the culprit.

It appears that Dishnet may have put up a different signal on a different channel for AETN and KTWN-DT is no longer getting it (haven't re-tuned to it I guess).

One less source for KETS!

dmatch

Story here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28896344/

Story here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28896344/
Yay! The article says it transitioning on Feb 17th would leave approximately 6.5 million households unprepared. Umm, I'm sorry, but the definition of unprepared says something about something that the person doesn't know is happening happening, right? That would mean that 6.5 million households would have to have absolutely no idea this was going to happen, right? Comeon!

Yay! The article says it transitioning on Feb 17th would leave approximately 6.5 million households unprepared. Umm, I'm sorry, but the definition of unprepared says something about something that the person doesn't know is happening happening, right? That would mean that 6.5 million households would have to have absolutely no idea this was going to happen, right? Comeon!

Right, and if they have no idea it's happening, that just means they don't watch TV anyway, since the warning ads have been unavoidable, so the transition won't affect them after all. :D

Hopefully the switch will happen before they can try to reintroduce the bill. I dont trust any of those b*stards.

Im sure since I have two expired coupons, Im considered on of the poor uninformed that will lose TV on the 17th.

I cant figure out where Directv is getting the AETN feed. Its noise free, but is letterboxed AND 4:3, with a weird 16:9 aspect white line at the bottom of the letterbox. Very weird looking.

Allen, how is the tower coming along? Like I said the other day I went out to wal-mart and looked at the tower and it didn't look like anything has been put on it in at least a week. Is it topped out now? From the base of the mountain at wal-mart, it doesn't look like its as tall as the tower right next to it (STILL can't remember who's tower that is directly next to it. reminder anyone? :) ). Looks like it might be two sections lower. Anyway, just curious. And, can you say for sure what is going to happen to KATV come Monday?

I cant figure out where Directv is getting the AETN feed. Its noise free, but is letterboxed AND 4:3, with a weird 16:9 aspect white line at the bottom of the letterbox. Very weird looking.

Yesterday, Dish still had an AETN feed, but the program guide said "off air." Today, AETN is gone from Dish.

Right, and if they have no idea it's happening, that just means they don't watch TV anyway, since the warning ads have been unavoidable, so the transition won't affect them after all. :D

I'm wonderin'

That 6.5million figure, is that total households or households with TV? Even in 2009, there are certain religious sects that discourage or forbid TV viewing. There is one such group in the Star City area.

This switch OFF can't begin too soon for me ;) Personally, all the analogs can go away tomorrow.

Over on the Arkansas Times blog, there has been discussion of the shutoff both yesterday and today.

Allen, how is the tower coming along? Like I said the other day I went out to wal-mart and looked at the tower and it didn't look like anything has been put on it in at least a week. Is it topped out now? From the base of the mountain at wal-mart, it doesn't look like its as tall as the tower right next to it (STILL can't remember who's tower that is directly next to it. reminder anyone? :) ). Looks like it might be two sections lower. Anyway, just curious. And, can you say for sure what is going to happen to KATV come Monday?

Well, the first question should probably be "Allen, do you still have a job?" I certainly hope so. But after that, yeah, I've been curious about all this as well. It certainly looks like there will be some interesting things going on around here in February, whether Obama and Congress keep pushing for the delay or not.

Yesterday, Dish still had an AETN feed, but the program guide said "off air." Today, AETN is gone from Dish.

Its a black screen on E*

BTW, I attempted to tune in KETG-DT 13 ("9-n") just now, signal is coming up for air and that's it...too weak to keep a lock on. And this is on the Zenith converter box, not the less sensitive tuner in the E* 211 HDTV rcvr.

KAR-Z....its still gonna be on 42.1 ...right? did they move the 42 antenna to the KARK tower? I'm hoping to pick it up more consistently on the 1st. Currently, I cant get it at all. Any info?

tropo scattter is letting KTBS-DT 28 Shreveport (ABC) lock at 6:41pm ! :D

Might get to watch Lost en "HD" tonight (maybe if it holds up).

ps, KETK-DT 22 (56-n) NBC in East Texas is also locking. The same channel assingment that KATV-DT will be back on soon. KETK is showing Entertainment Tongiht in a 16x9 format (i'm watching on the Zenith) so presuming its HD, or at least "hachdee".

I went and looked on my zenith box (cause its easier to test each channel) and saw that 15 was trying to come in, but was too low to lock.

Its a black screen on E*
.....KTWN-DT2 is too!

dmatch

Yesterday, Dish still had an AETN feed, but the program guide said "off air." Today, AETN is gone from Dish.
If they aren't showing the "There's no need to call us" slate maybe you should call them. Perhaps they have something SNAFUed and don't know it.

dmatch

Tropo is too unstable, KTBS-DT 28 (3-1) drops out at 7:20pm....however it returned at 7:26pm. DD 5.1 audio to boot

However, an update on KETK-DT, ET which is SD on KARK and KSLA-DT 17 (12-1) Sheveport is true HD on the Jacksonville-Tyler-Longview NBC affiliate. Confirmed by my monitor and the E* OTA tuner.

AETN's still going strong on Comcast in Little Rock.

(BTW, I do not work for AETN. I know a little bit about how the satellite carriers do locals from when I was a E* customer years ago.)

This information just in from the AETN website (http://www.aetn.org/):

KEMV/KEMV-DT Channel 6 and KAFT/KAFT-DT Channel 13 are off the air due to power outages in their respective areas resulting from recent ice storms. Viewers in Central Arkansas who watch via Dish Network are also without programming because Dish Network uses the KAFT signal for both Northwest and Central Arkansas. AETN broadcasts will resume as soon as electric crews are able to restore power to transmitters at these sites. We thank you for your patience.

That explains AETN's loss on both E* and KTWN-DT.

This information just in from the AETN website (http://www.aetn.org/):
That explains AETN's loss on both E* and KTWN-DT.

Even God doesnt like 14:9 :)

This information just in from the AETN website (http://www.aetn.org/):



That explains AETN's loss on both E* and KTWN-DT.

Fayetteville? E* must be tying together the Fay and LR feeds for AETN at E*s downlink receive center before the final uplink to the birds. It was a clear picture the few times I took a look.

From KARK engineering: at this time, KARZ will be on digital 44 only. Effective first Monday in Feb 09. Analog 42 subject to change.

From KATV engineering, KATV will be allowed to remain a subchannel of KARZ (unknown if it will change from 44-3 to 44-2 or stay)...subject to change, but those are the current plans.

KATV ch 22 full power digital current on air estimate, February week 2.

Directv is showing the national PBS SD east coast feed on channel 2. Setting the DVR to pillar box, and the tv to zoom results in a good 480i 16:9 feed.

Are we sure the ice won't keep either KARZ or KATV from going on the air as scheduled?

Also, from reviewing the FCC filings for KWBF/KARZ, I'm not sure if it will change over to Nexstar as planned next week. Though the application to transfer the license from River City Broadcasting (a Equity subsidiary) to Nexstar has been approved, another transfer application is now pending to put the license with River City as "debtor in possession". Though that's a rubber-stamp FCC technicality for stations that go into Chapter 11, that should have been done BEFORE the Nexstar application was approved; its being filed afterwards could delay or even derail the Nexstar deal. (Edit: Especially now that Equity is being run by a "chief restructuring officer" who might reject the Nexstar deal if he/she thinks KWBF is worth more.) In addition, the FCC has STILL not yet approved Nexstar's application to put KARZ's DTV transmitter on the KARK tower, even though it's supposed to be on as soon as it becomes KARZ.

Finally, if the DTV delay bill goes thru (I pray it doesn't--I emailed both senators, yet Sen. Pryor co-sponsored the bill; I also emailed Congressman Snyder twice, the second time AFTER he voted for it), it seems KATV will have sole discretion as to whether or not to keep analog 7 on the air thru 6/12. In that event, will KATV keep analog 7--even though that will likely keep KETS off the air for nearly 5 months??? I've mentioned the KATV/KETS issue in all my emails as a compelling reason NOT to delay the transition, but they're just not listening...

Well, the engineering dept at KARK said this afternoon, KARZ was a go on digital 44. Im guessing they are going to do it, especially since they are advertising the hell out of it. I suppose if the FCC made a last minute squash, they could always just put KARZ on channel 32-2 til things get worked out, but I dont see that happening. They probably wont move the antenna until analog 4 goes off air, why pay two tower crews when they can do it all at once.

If in doubt, give em a call. They were real nice to chat with, as was KATV's engineering dept. They like it when viewers show interest in their behind the scenes and often overlooked jobs.

If in doubt, give em a call. They were real nice to chat with, as was KATV's engineering dept. They like it when viewers show interest in their behind the scenes and often overlooked jobs.

Except when you are asking for a frakin waiver!

I'm getting KETS here in Maumelle on channel 2 from DTV. It's got that funky white line at the bottom and a different schedule. Instead of the News Hour starting at 5:30, it was 6:00 and some business program was on instead. The picture seems darker too. Anyone else experiencing the darker picture?

Its a remap of channel 379. PBS-X (PBS East SD) schedule. They got lots of complaints. Might just be temporary til they can get a AETN feed, or maybe it will stay on until KETS-DT returns....

Except when you are asking for a frakin waiver!

Come on, there isnt station in the country thats gonna approve a waiver for someone living in the same county as the transmitter. Thats why I never even applied. It was easier to just move to the vacation house for a while.

As a member of the KARK engineering management and the person with the responsiblity of granting waivers and maintaining the transmitters,I will have to agree, you're probably not going to get a waiver if you live within eye site of Shinall Mt.

As a member of the KARK engineering management and the person with the responsiblity of granting waivers and maintaining the transmitters,I will have to agree, you're probably not going to get a waiver if you live within eye site of Shinall Mt.

I mean, he (we all) did have a valid arguement for a waiver for ABC, since the local station was off the air, but the reality was that it takes 45 days to approve a waiver, and they were back on the air before then.

Congrats on KARZ... can you elaborate on tower,antenna,transmitter plans?

I think this has been brought up, but not really answered, so maybe RF Monkey can answer this: Will KARZ finally get rid of KWBF's stretch-o-vision? And also, will HD MyNetworkTV content still be in HD, maybe by using a Mountain Time Zone feed as someone else suggested (not that I really ever watch MyTV programming)?

Hopefully, RF Monkey will answer your question, but unless I am totally wrong, MyNetwork HD only has two PIDs on G16, One HD and one SD...so unless KARZ has HD timeshift capability, I dont see how they could do anything except run MyNet with a 2 hr delay (9 to 11pm) or timeshift in SD. Guess well see Monday :)

EDIT: Found the guide for Monday...
5pm Family Guy
5:30 Family Guy
6:00 Who Wants to be a Millionaire
6:30 Who Wants to be a Millionaire
7:00 KARK 4 News at 7
8:00 Twilight Zone
8:30 Twilight Zone
9:00 Masters Of Illusion (HD)
10:00 Sex and the City
10:30 Sex and the City

Tues shows KARK News at 7 followed by 4 eps of Vice Squad labeled as (HD).

Its a remap of channel 379. PBS-X (PBS East SD) schedule. They got lots of complaints. Might just be temporary til they can get a AETN feed, or maybe it will stay on until KETS-DT returns....Oh, so in effect, they granted a temporary waiver for a national feed? When you say complaints, did you mean about PBS not being available or about the picture quality? Is anybody else noticing the dark picture?

About it not being available. Legally you dont need a waiver if no local station in your dma serves the network they are providing. Thats what I was talking to Directv's DNS department about Monday. Guess they listened.
Yes, the brightness is about 50% of normal, but better than Dish network and KTWNs 100% blacker than normal :)

I still would like to know if KARZ is going to work a deal with News Channel 5 in St. Louis to carry the Cardinals games in HD this season on Sundays like KWBF did in the 07 season.

Hopefully, RF Monkey will answer your question, but unless I am totally wrong, MyNetwork HD only has two PIDs on G16, One HD and one SD...so unless KARZ has HD timeshift capability, I dont see how they could do anything except run MyNet with a 2 hr delay (9 to 11pm) or timeshift in SD. Guess well see Monday :)

EDIT: Found the guide for Monday...
5pm Family Guy
5:30 Family Guy
6:00 Who Wants to be a Millionaire
6:30 Who Wants to be a Millionaire
7:00 KARK 4 News at 7
8:00 Twilight Zone
8:30 Twilight Zone
9:00 Masters Of Illusion (HD)
10:00 Sex and the City
10:30 Sex and the City

Tues shows KARK News at 7 followed by 4 eps of Vice Squad labeled as (HD).

Yeah, I glanced through the guides on Zap2It earlier today, it looks like they still have some issues with the guide, but as expected they are delaying MyTV programming an hour. Someone else had suggested a Mountain Time Zone feed, I didn't know if one actually existed or not. I certainly don't expect them to have HD timeshift capability, but who knows, they might surprise us. The one thing that surprised me about their schedule was the lack of Regis and Kelly. I guess they're not as big as they once were, but it's still a fairly high profile show, and it doesn't appear to be on Z-42's schedule. The arkansasmatters.com website has video of Melissa Simas's appearance on the Corey and Jay show talking about the new station and newscast.

At least three ads this morning on KARK 4 News This Morning has stretched ads (Watsons, Central Arkansas Dental, Crain Ford). (a check of analog 4 shows the ads "cut" off at the sides). Betweeen 5:10 and 5:28am.

This is NOT a good move for the guys at The House Of Nexstar!

Update 5:46am: more s t r e t c h e d ads--Success vision, Orr Furniture. Looks like KWBF's cancer has spread and perhaps these ads are intended for KARZ.

I did a check of TitanTV listings...they have not been updated for Monday---the usual KWBF program grid still shown and MNTV programing for 7-9pm.

I watched a few of the ads on KARK this morning, and they were a mix of 16:9 and 4:3, but the former appeared to have been shot at 16:9, not stretched. The circle logo for "Vw" was a perfect circle. Will have to watch more closely.

EDIT: The Orr furniture and Gary Green ads appeared to be stretched. Strange mix of 16:9 and 4:3. I wonder if the advertisers themselves are requesting the ads be stretched?

As long as the programming doesnt get that treatment Im OK. I 30skip the ads anyway.

Yes, the brightness is about 50% of normal, but better than Dish network and KTWNs 100% blacker than normal :)Ages ago I had an SD national PBS feed from DTVand it didn't look like this. Jeez, how can they put out crap like that? I presume it's a function of the picture being provided by the PBS station and not DTV?

Just an FYI, not that it matters, but on U-Verse, 42's programming for Monday at 7 it shows "The Twilight Zone" (and in HD at that, lol). So, not surprising, this is another instance of how U-Verse doesn't have good program guide data. They are probably getting their guide data from TitanTV like Haley-SEA saw.

KTWN-DT2 is now showing the "There is no need to call us" slate that, apparently, Dishnet finally put up.....And the old "Su smartcard expirara pronto" just popped up over that (is gone now).

dmatch

KTWN-DT2 is now showing the "There is no need to call us" slate that, apparently, Dishnet finally put up.....And the old "Su smartcard expirara pronto" just popped up over that (is gone now).

dmatch
LOL, you should call them up and tell them that they need to get a new smartcard. Tell them that you have let them embarrass themselves long enough. :)

I would but..."I don't think anybody's back there":rolleyes:

The attempts I have made at contacting them (e-mail) have gone completely unacknowledged.

Do you have a number for them (KTWN)?

I have tried telling them about their "hidden programming" problem that effects 4 out of 5 of the sources I have had for the channels. 2 different HDTVs and 2 different STBs will all suddenly refuse to display what they report as "hidden programming".

When this happens (very roughly 10% of the time), the HDTVs remove the channels from the channel lists necessitating a complete rescan of all channels everywhere to get the KTWN-DT channels back, eventually. Usually lasts 1-2 hours (not sure). The only device I have that is unaffected by this is a computer USB stick/Windows MCE. I knew there had to be something good about MCE. ;)

Edit:I frequent KTWN-DT2 very often as a more stable source for AETN programming.

dmatch

I watched a few of the ads on KARK this morning, and they were a mix of 16:9 and 4:3, but the former appeared to have been shot at 16:9, not stretched. The circle logo for "Vw" was a perfect circle. Will have to watch more closely.

EDIT: The Orr furniture and Gary Green ads appeared to be stretched. Strange mix of 16:9 and 4:3. I wonder if the advertisers themselves are requesting the ads be stretched?

As long as the programming doesnt get that treatment Im OK. I 30skip the ads anyway.
I stumbled on one of their in-studio programs (I think it was Arkansas Showcase) this morning that was stretched and looked pretty bad. I hope they get over that awful stretch-o-vision stuff.

On a brighter note, I noticed that KATV-DT toned down their sidebars on embedded 4:3 content and have gone with a more subtle gray layout...Not as in-your-face as it was when it was bright blue. It's still distracting to me though.

dmatch

I stumbled on one of their in-studio programs (I think it was Arkansas Showcase) this morning that was stretched and looked pretty bad. I hope they get over that awful stretch-o-vision stuff.


KARK has been doing full power DTV for nearly three years and now they discovered needing to stretch?

This CANCER needs to be nipped in the bud ASAP. I have zero tolerence for strech o vision even if its the cheesist infomerical broadcast.

On a brighter note, I noticed that KATV-DT toned down their sidebars on embedded 4:3 content and have gone with a more subtle gray layout...Not as in-your-face as it was when it was bright blue. It's still distracting to me though.
dmatch

Feeling very one step forward, two steps back with the stations this week. I noticed on one of the Greene commercials that some of the text looked right. Either it was an overlay done in post, or the font was originally condensed :D I just noticed the KATV change too. A bit more plasma friendly!

-MDG

http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article.aspx?aID=111953.54928.124091&cID=e&page=1

Arkansas Business has an interesting article about the downfall of Equity.

Well, Ill do the same thing I do with stations on Directv that stretch...block them out of my guide :). I have just about quit watching any of the "big three" anyway. I watch UGLY betty on ABC, Heros, and Leno on NBC, Idol on Fox. All the rest is PBS, sports, or Discovery/Nat Geo type stuff, and lots of Comedy Central.

I just cant get into network fare anymore. Its all copies of stuff I got bored with years ago... How many CSI's are there now? How many dance and fattie shows? And its amazing there are any courts at all, since all the judges are on daytime tv.

I just got a letter back from Pryor, who said while he will take my comments under advisement, he is still in favor of the extension, because as he put it, the Commerce Dept screwed up.

Cant wait til its warm so I can turn off the tv and jump on my bike and ride out to the woods and go hiking.

I stumbled on one of their in-studio programs (I think it was Arkansas Showcase) this morning that was stretched and looked pretty bad. I hope they get over that awful stretch-o-vision stuff.

On a brighter note, I noticed that KATV-DT toned down their sidebars on embedded 4:3 content and have gone with a more subtle gray layout...Not as in-your-face as it was when it was bright blue. It's still distracting to me though.

dmatch

How does stretch-o-vision work since the satellite and cable companies are switching their SD locals from analog to cropped versions of the digital feeds? Are they showing 4:3 stretched and cropped?

How does stretch-o-vision work since the satellite and cable companies are switching their SD locals from analog to cropped versions of the digital feeds? Are they showing 4:3 stretched and cropped?Yep. Which is exactly why stations shouldn't zoom, stretch or otherwise mangle the aspect ratio (helloooo AETN?)

Yep.

Hey Sam. you and your antennas survive? I had to drive to Jonesboro today, and lets just say that the ONLY VHf/UHF antenna I saw north of Possum Grape that wasnt twisted, broke in half, or totally missing from the towers and roofs, was a single lonely Channel Master Quantum, shimmering with at least an inch of ice on each element, but hanging in there...the rest were unsalvagable. Ill bet the antenna installers/dealers are gonna rake up replacing all of em.

http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article.aspx?aID=111953.54928.124091&cID=e&page=1

Arkansas Business has an interesting article about the downfall of Equity.
Wow, what a story. Are there any criminal charges being brought against the former board for taking all that money from Luken and not paying the bills? Seems like there are many many other charges that could be brought up if one knows the law. Just seems like the people at the top of the food chain there need to be sent up the river for a long time or at least be forced to lose a crapload of money that they were paid.

Well, Ill do the same thing I do with stations on Directv that stretch...block them out of my guide :). I have just about quit watching any of the "big three" anyway. I watch UGLY betty on ABC, Heros, and Leno on NBC, Idol on Fox. All the rest is PBS, sports, or Discovery/Nat Geo type stuff, and lots of Comedy Central.

I just cant get into network fare anymore. Its all copies of stuff I got bored with years ago... How many CSI's are there now? How many dance and fattie shows? And its amazing there are any courts at all, since all the judges are on daytime tv.

I just got a letter back from Pryor, who said while he will take my comments under advisement, he is still in favor of the extension, because as he put it, the Commerce Dept screwed up.

Cant wait til its warm so I can turn off the tv and jump on my bike and ride out to the woods and go hiking.
I can't stand Pryor. He seems almost as bad as Snyder who can NOT answer a question directly. I sat in on an interview with Snyder one time and was just amazed at how he managed to dodge each and every direct question he was asked. He never gave an actual answer to anything.

Pryor doesn't make contacting him very easy in my opinion. You have to go to his website and use a forum to email him from what I remember. Then, when he does answer, he answers you in the most complex legalese that I have ever seen. Just doesn't seem very friendly to the people who he is supposed to represent.

I'm looking at KARK right now with ET on and am not seeing any stretch-o-vision.

I'm looking at KARK right now with ET on and am not seeing any stretch-o-vision.

That stretch-O-Vision makes the lady announcer on that "We'll talk law" commercial for the lawyer that has to advertise look like she weighs about 300 pounds. I just wonder if she has seen it. I would not pay for that if I were a sponsor.

Yea, thats what we need to do, call KaRK and ask for the "REAL FAT LADY WHO DOES THAT LAWYER SHOW". Bet SHE would put an end to stretch-o-vision pronto.

BTW, the Senate (pryor) passed the fricken extension AGAIN today and sent it to the House in a manner where instead of 2/3rds they only need a majority. House should vote on it next Weds.

Hopefully our local stations are going to pull the analog plug Feb 17th on their own (provision of the bill), and not drag this on and on and on.

Roll call of bad aspect ratios:

KARK-DT...some ads tonight on their 5pm newscast are 16x9 stretched. I normally don't watch mid day TV (unless I'm DXing).

KETG-DT/analog (AETN Arkadelphia). AETN continues 16x9 cropovision on 9-1 (when I finally got it to LOCK). The analog feed on 9 is stretched and cropped but shows more of the guy's head on that Washington week or whatever its called. Its so bad the ancientlog viewers can't even see the AETN log bug!

KARZ-DT....having a bad feeling they're going to Jump The Shark on Day One (next week--see KARK).

(E* still showing the "don't call us" message on 2-0 I'm sure it will be off all weekend until power is restored to KAFT.)

KATV must have an issue showing Wife Swap...

Doesnt matter, Im watching real tv http://i36.tinypic.com/qohil1.jpg
hahaha.

That stretch-O-Vision makes the lady announcer on that "We'll talk law" commercial for the lawyer that has to advertise look like she weighs about 300 pounds. I just wonder if she has seen it. I would not pay for that if I were a sponsor.
Well, #1, she kinda does. :) I may be joking, I may not be. I'll let you decide. #2, who gives a crap about that lawyers paid infomercial. He looks like a weasel and I wouldn't trust what he says.

*The views expressed here-in may or may not be my own. I reserve the right to backpedal and cover my ass in situations as needed.

Yea, thats what we need to do, call KaRK and ask for the "REAL FAT LADY WHO DOES THAT LAWYER SHOW". Bet SHE would put an end to stretch-o-vision pronto.

BTW, the Senate (pryor) passed the fricken extension AGAIN today and sent it to the House in a manner where instead of 2/3rds they only need a majority. House should vote on it next Weds.

Hopefully our local stations are going to pull the analog plug Feb 17th on their own (provision of the bill), and not drag this on and on and on.
I have said it once and I will say it again, our system of government is seriously flawed and needs to be scrapped and started over again. The main foundations of government still work well, but we have too much extra BS piled on top of it that makes it ineffective and somewhat outdated.

KATV must have an issue showing Wife Swap...

Doesnt matter, Im watching real tv http://i36.tinypic.com/qohil1.jpg
hahaha.
??? They were showing Aljazeera?

Wish one of my local stations carried that! :D

- Trip

??? They were showing Aljazeera?

No, not that I would object to seeing it as a subchannel...but, I was just commenting that KATV preempted Wife Swap again, to show a St Judes Hospital beg-a-thon. I was watching AlJazeera (story about a river on the boarder of Napal and India that floods all the residents on the Indian side out every year cuz they rerouted it in Nepal). Was interesting, and NOT about Obama and how our economy sucks (cnn) or how we all wish Bush was still president (Fox News (sic)). Actually, the anchor is kinda good looking, figured it would help you all try to get Directv to carry it :)

Speaking of Directv: Major League Baseball Extra Innings is $10 more this year *BUT* HD access is free if you already have HD, no Superfan, no extra $50... $179 autorenew, $189 Earlybird.

Batter Up !

I have said it once and I will say it again, our system of government is seriously flawed and needs to be scrapped and started over again. The main foundations of government still work well, but we have too much extra BS piled on top of it that makes it ineffective and somewhat outdated.

You have to remember that the FCC is now mostly comprised of a bunch of lawyers. Wait a minute, I believe that most of Congress is too. That's the problem right there!

KATV must have an issue showing Wife Swap...

Doesnt matter, Im watching real tv
hahaha.

I was too busy chasing Mexican TV skip to notice what KATV was doing. Grabbed XEWO channel 2 Guadalajara MX, a semi-Independent Televista station (which in practice sounds like....KATV ;) ). As usual at night, it was a telenovella, from Canal Cinco. A big ol' "TVT" logo embellished the upper right-hand corner

FWIW the pop-up promo sillyness that caught on with US/Canadian networks is also used south of the border. Televista's Canal Cinco (channel 5 Network) is the broadcaster for the SuperBowl(tm) down there and has a logo with the SB logo morphing to the Canal Cinco one. At least its not taking up 1/3 of the screen....yet.

Wow. I CHECKED and didnt see no stinking skip...Ih wait, I was pointed at Europe..doh.

Hey Sam. you and your antennas survive? We survived out here west of town, but downtown Eureka & points East were hit much harder. I don't think Berryville has a single tree with the top still in it. It's as bad or worse than LR in '00.

My CM 4228 antenna and others in the area were covered in ice, but not damaged at all. Most yagis around here were badly bent from the ice load. Exception is a Winegard HD7694P I installed at a motel recently. The shorter 7-69 elements hold up a lot better than the old lowband VHF antennas.

Coxcable is out in most of NWA and KNWA-DT is dark. Looks like there may be no stupor bowl for KNWA OTA/cable viewers. But KNWA-DT is still up on D*. I heard D* gets a direct feed from KNWA's sistah station, KARK.

Roll call of bad aspect ratios:

...AETN continues 16x9 cropovision on 9-1 (when I finally got it to LOCK). The analog feed on 9 is stretched and cropped but shows more of the guy's head on that Washington week or whatever its called. Its so bad the ancientlog viewers can't even see the AETN log bug!Actually, AETN is cropping/zooming/mangling/distorting everything to 14:9. It's usually a blurry mess with small bars on a biga** 16:9 HD set. On a 4:3 SDTV, it's just chopped off on all sides. Complete utter idiots in charge of our public TV network in Arkansas.

I've been wondering that too.

Anyone viewing KARK-DT via DirecTV tonight notice program audio and video breakup? Was still happening during their 10pm newscast. OTA was fine. I figure DirecTV is gonna get a lot of calls tomorrow if they don't fix this by the time the Superbowl starts. Wonder who at this station decided to air every other commercial in Stretch-O-Vision? Worst technical department in this market.

Anyone viewing KARK-DT via DirecTV tonight notice program audio and video breakup? Was still happening during their 10pm newscast. OTA was fine. I figure DirecTV is gonna get a lot of calls tomorrow if they don't fix this by the time the Superbowl starts. Wonder who at this station decided to air every other commercial in Stretch-O-Vision? Worst technical department in this market.
I don't think its fair to blame the technical department for something like the Stretch-O-Vision. They were probably told to by upper management. They don't just suddenly say "hey, we can do this, so lets do it!" If they did, we would probably have a sub-channel with weather info on it by now. The technical department is responsible for things like making sure the signal up to DirecTV and such is working right and making sure the transmitter stays on the air. They have NO say what-so-ever in anything that the station itself airs. So, again, its not fair to say that they are the worst department in the market. That falls on the shoulders of the former Equity people who couldn't get a decent enough signal out to everyone.