I received an email from Steve Soldinger <ssoldinger@ebc.ebcorp.net> regarding KWBF_DT and KYPX-DT:
"We will be on by February with KWBF-DT. KYPX does not have a separate digital channel.
Thanks for your interests."

No mention of WB in HD.... Also, does this mean they won't be doing KYPX-DT at all, or do they plan on multicasting it on a KWBF-DT sub-channel?

Tusk-

I am now getting the Little Rock stations on D*, and didn't notice the noise. Granted, I only listened for a couple of minutes, is it a constant, or just certain times, or fixed??

I believe I remember that the Chief Engineer for KLRT/KASN posts in this forum (Allen, I believe).

If so, I have a question for you. Last Friday night, how come "Enterprise" wasn't broadcast in HD? Did someone just forget to throw a switch since it is on a new night now? If so, is there I number I could call to give someone a gentle reminder?

I really appreciate the way KLRT/KASN is moving ahead with HD. This may sound a bit pathetic, but I'm a really big Star Trek fan and really the only reason I got an over-the-air tuner was to get "Enterprise" in HD (I already get KATV-HD and KTHV-HD over Comcast). So, I'd really hate to miss it again (I'm trying to see as many of last season's episodes as possible in HD this summer, since I didn't have a set top box during the regular season).

Thanks!

Originally posted by nj829
Tusk-

I am now getting the Little Rock stations on D*, and didn't notice the noise. Granted, I only listened for a couple of minutes, is it a constant, or just certain times, or fixed??

I first noticed a problem with KTHV last Tuesday, 8/3. It was still there this Tuesday, 8/10. It might have been fixed since Tuesday night. It was a constant white noise in the background that made it hard to hear what was going on in the show.

>Last Friday night, how come "Enterprise" wasn't broadcast in HD? Did someone just forget to throw a switch since it is on a new night now?


I didn't watch last friday evening and did not see any descreps concerning this. Which concerns me. Either way- op not switching to the feed, or UPN not providing the feed should have been written up on a descrep. I am off tomorrow, but I just sent an email to the master control supervisor asking him to check into it.

Are we not going to see the Olympics on D* or E* in Arkansas? I saw a list of cities that were going to get the HD coverage - and I didn't see Little Rock. I don't understand why we can't get the coverage from satelite - I mean channel 4 doesn't even transmit an HD signal.

Originally posted by allenf
>Last Friday night, how come "Enterprise" wasn't broadcast in HD? Did someone just forget to throw a switch since it is on a new night now?


I didn't watch last friday evening and did not see any descreps concerning this. Which concerns me. Either way- op not switching to the feed, or UPN not providing the feed should have been written up on a descrep. I am off tomorrow, but I just sent an email to the master control supervisor asking him to check into it.



Thanks, Allen, I appreciate it!

Originally posted by shaneotool
Are we not going to see the Olympics on D* or E* in Arkansas? I saw a list of cities that were going to get the HD coverage - and I didn't see Little Rock. I don't understand why we can't get the coverage from satelite - I mean channel 4 doesn't even transmit an HD signal. There may be some HD olympic coverage on Bravo-HD or a special HD channel on D* (with the HD tier). But to get NBC-HD on satellite in LR you'll have to "move" your service address to an address in a "white area". ;)

___________________________________
Support "digital white area" legislation HERE (http://www.iwantmyhdtv.com/iwanthdtv/)

That stinks - I am in a "digital white area" at least with NBC.

Originally posted by shaneotool
That stinks - I am in a "digital white area" at least with NBC. From what I've heard, everyone within the LR DMA is, because the proposed digital white area includes any area with a station not passing network HD. It may also include areas that have an HD affiliate that is not broadcasting at full power :)

According to the article below, lowband VHF chs 2 thru 6 suck for DTV:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/features/On-RF/f_Choosing_a_Final.shtml

D* still has the horrible white noise. I noticed it last night during the local newscast. Didn't notice it during Letterman though, maybe it is just when local broadcasting is cut into the network feed??

I cant believe what i'm seeing. Just switched to Fox and "The Casino" is in HD. Wow its gorgeous. Just looking at it a few seconds, its superior on my set to CBS.

Originally posted by vidcamguy
I believe I remember that the Chief Engineer for KLRT/KASN posts in this forum (Allen, I believe).

If so, I have a question for you. Last Friday night, how come "Enterprise" wasn't broadcast in HD? Did someone just forget to throw a switch since it is on a new night now? If so, is there I number I could call to give someone a gentle reminder?

I really appreciate the way KLRT/KASN is moving ahead with HD. This may sound a bit pathetic, but I'm a really big Star Trek fan and really the only reason I got an over-the-air tuner was to get "Enterprise" in HD (I already get KATV-HD and KTHV-HD over Comcast). So, I'd really hate to miss it again (I'm trying to see as many of last season's episodes as possible in HD this summer, since I didn't have a set top box during the regular season).

Thanks!

Just an update: "Enterprise" wasn't in HD again this past Friday (Aug. 13)

Can someone confirm that I wasn't seeing things? I'm pretty certain "Casino" was in HDTV on Fox last night.

Sorry, Azanon, I've been watching the Olympics... :)

FWIW, the [HD] logo is in the program description for Casino tonight, so maybe it was.

Allen?

KARK sucks totally and I refuse to watch their station ever again. They are doing low power digital with no HD programming, yet they refuse to allow us to have the HD Olympics feed. The HD feed is delayed 24 hours, so its not like it is taking away viewing. I'm done with channel 4 for good.

I emailed KARK asking as to why they couldn't have signed off on it for those of us with satellite receivers. I also mentioned how since there are so few of us with HD's, that the loss of revenue from our eyeballs shouldn't be a concern. Anxious to hear the response to this. Everybody should email him and see what happens.

I'm sick of the FCC propping up an obsolete business model. I gave up on Nexstar/KARK/FCC and "moved" to an undisclosed O&O city. If D* shuts off the distant HD nets to my account, I'll just dump D* and sub to Bell Expressvu.

I think O&O is becoming the way to go. Less hassle and headache. If D* can get all 4 major nets in HD, I think there will be a large amount of moving. Probably smart to reserve your U-Haul now!!

FWIW, the [HD] logo is in the program description for Casino tonight, so maybe it was.

Allen?

I'm pretty sure it was. I switched it on fox sunday before i even noticed the HD symbol by it and I instantly said "wow, whats up with that??". It was no EDTV.

If other threads are correct, Casino was shot with HD cams and archived in HD, so that might be the reason it looked so good.


I wish Allen would respond to this question....


.

Well, I contacted DirecTV about the white noise problem with KTHV. Can anyone guess what they told me?

Reboot my receiver. What a bunch of morons? Anyway, the white noise is still there and DirecTV doesn't seem to concerned about looking into it.

Alison, have you talked to DirecTV about this problem. I found some people discussing it at DBSTalk and they were getting fed up with the problem. I talked my parents into switching to DirecTV (they love the service and the TIVO) but they noticed the problem with KTHV, and they hardly notice any problems with video or audio. It's that bad.

Please try to get this issue resolved. Thanks.

Tusk,

I have been bothered with the hiss on kthv as well.

I called D* yesterday and explained the problem and that others had posted similar experiences with the noise. The csr suggested that I have everyone call to complain and maybe it would get some attention!

I just got home and the 5pm news on 11 is hiss-free on my tv!

Sorry- no FOX HD quite yet KLRT-DT is still an upconvert. The HD IRD and stream-splicer are in place. We are in the progress of building an interface box between our analog master control switcher and the stream splicer. We should have the project complete in a couple of weeks.

Allen,
Thanks for the update!

Allen,

Do you know if Comcast has agreed to carry your HD feed?

Thanks

Joe

Guess that's what I get for having only a 30" TV, sometimes its hard to tell. It looked nicer though than it usually does, when its just regular EDTV.

Originally posted by Tusk
Well, I contacted DirecTV about the white noise problem with KTHV. Can anyone guess what they told me?

Reboot my receiver. What a bunch of morons? Anyway, the white noise is still there and DirecTV doesn't seem to concerned about looking into it.

Alison, have you talked to DirecTV about this problem. I found some people discussing it at DBSTalk and they were getting fed up with the problem. I talked my parents into switching to DirecTV (they love the service and the TIVO) but they noticed the problem with KTHV, and they hardly notice any problems with video or audio. It's that bad.

Please try to get this issue resolved. Thanks.
Sorry to not respond quickly... I have been on vacation, got to see hurricane Charley in person! On that DirecTV thing, they were contacted earlier this week and had been notified of the problem. It seems to have been corrected as far as we know. We haven't had any fresh complaints!

If you are interested, CBS is carrying an NFL pre-season game in HD tomorrow and also on the 28th. I like football, but I can't get to excited about the pre-season stuff! I would rather watch the olympics..

Thanks for the reply Alison.

The day I posted my rant, I went home and the hiss was gone. I guess DirecTV finally decided to look into it.

Still shopping for TV/internet service here.

It's true that SBC may start at $57 for DSL and Dish, but if you want the top 120 package w/HD and multiple receivers, it ends up being over $90/mo. even without any premium channels. I'm not ready to shell out for HD DVR, and the up front costs for HD equipment are higher for D*.

I'm starting to lean toward comcast, which is about $10 more per month, but then I don't have to mess with an antenna to get local HD channels.

comscat is quite pricey for 1 HD box and digital on additional sets. It's a *lot* more than 10 bucks over their basic analog service (which is ~$45 just for starters). You gotta sign up for their analog basic + digital basic + HD tier $$$. Cable modem internet is another 50 bucks/month. And they don't carry all the digital OTA locals - only ABC & CBS

When you ask them for price info, ask for the bottom line total monthly cost, including taxes and local franchise fees.

I noted that TitanTv is listing KARKDT as a featured station. Must have paid for positioning since weak signal and no HD hardly qualifies for anything.

I've observed that the Comcast carried ABC SD converted to HD pictures have a little bit of vertical image problems. Could that be due to the QAM compression or from the box converting 720P to 1080i? Biggest thing I see on Ch11-CBS is a slight softening of the SD converted image.

The off-air pictures processed by my in-set tuner look pretty good in the converted SD to HD feed. Once the true HD is broadcast I can't see any difference between what my tuner does and the cable box produces but it does seem that the 1080i is much sharper on sporting events than what I've seen from the 720p. Then again it could be because of the cable box and my set (possibly) is converting everything to 1080i before it shoots it to the screen. (Too many standards and way too much conversion of images goes into this stuff anymore)

I used to be amazed to watch black and white and be able to see anthing through the snow. Now I fuss about fly specks. Times have changed :)

Originally posted by wxguy
[quote]I noted that TitanTv is listing KARKDT as a featured station. Must have paid for positioning since weak signal and no HD hardly qualifies for anything.Probably featured due to the Olympics.... You're right though, about the only thing KARK qualifies for is complaints.

I've observed that the Comcast carried ABC SD converted to HD pictures have a little bit of vertical image problems. Could that be due to the QAM compression or from the box converting 720P to 1080i?.. Probably the scaler in the STB comscat is using.

... it does seem that the 1080i is much sharper on sporting events than what I've seen from the 720p. Then again it could be because of the cable box and my set (possibly) is converting everything to 1080i before it shoots it to the screen.Again, probably the cheap scaler/format converter used in the STB is at fault for the softening of the 720>1080 conversion. ABC/ESPN live sports converted from 720p > 1080i on my setup look every bit as sharp as live sports in 1080i on CBS.

I'm anxious for FOX-HD to begin on KLRT-DT!

Hey Allen,

Do you know if "Enterprise" will be broadcast in HD on KASN-DT tonight?

I know that someone has already asked the question, but nobody replied. Does anybody know if Comcast will be adding KLRT when it goes HD.

529 days to the Winter Olympics. Odds are that here in Little Rock we will still not be able to see them in HD, since they are again on NBC.

The Winter Olympics should be on NBC-HD via DirecTV. Hopefully NBC will do a better job of the Winter Olympics than the summer olympics.

Don't look for NBC-HD on KARK-DT until the FCC forces them to go full power. When that happens, they'll have to replace their existing low power digital transmitter and will probably install HD equipment.

I got a Motorola 6208 (DVR) from Comcast yesterday. Pretty decent piece of equipment. They would have let me replace all my digital boxes with DVRs for an extra $2/mo (7+2) but I would rather go the other way on prices.

The menu system on this is improved over the older 5100s but using TVGuide still keeps it rather dark ages. Other menu guide providers have the "shrink down" like the satellite boxes when using the same equipment. I suspect Comcast has a long term contract with TV guide so that is what we're stuck with.

Also, sometime over the weekend - or maybe Monday - they added DiscoveryHD.

They rolled a contractor to bring out the box, but I complained about paying someone $10 to install something I could do for myself so they waived the housecall price. But, in the Comcast way of doing things, he couldn't take the swapout box, so I have to take it by the office myself.
In Dallas they make you pick everything up yourself unless you pay them $$$ to install it for you. I guess every system manager has his own set of procedures.

Originally posted by wxguy
... The menu system on this is improved over the older 5100s but using TVGuide still keeps it rather dark ages...So the DVR's guide still has ads that waste a lot of useful space in the guide, just like the non-DVR boxes they rent?

Originally posted by arxaw
So the DVR's guide still has ads that waste a lot of useful space in the guide, just like the non-DVR boxes they rent?

Yeah, it uses the same TV Guide based system for menuing. It has ads just like the magazine. Not a big deal to me--and since you don't use Comcast it shouldn't affect you at all.

Would be nice if they could just do it like the Weather Channel, just nothing but information. Nothing to interfer with my 24/7 enjoyment of hurricanes and tornados and water spouts and snow and rain and clouds and drizzle and ground clutter and... oops, I was watching Ch11s sub channel.

Forget everything I just said about the weather channel. I just looked and it is full of ads.

Originally posted by wxguy
Yeah, it uses the same TV Guide based system for menuing. It has ads just like the magazine. Not a big deal to me--and since you don't use Comcast it shouldn't affect you at all.Doesn't affect me, but a friend has the cableco HD box and hates the cheesy guide, which uses a very small percentage of the screen for the actual guide, and wastes the rest of the screen for logos & ads. This would be expected on a freebie OTA guide (like the ones in RCA TVs, etc.), but for paying cable customers, they should provide a better guide. My friend was interested in the DVR mainly in hopes of an improved guide. Thanks for the info.

... oops, I was watching Ch11s sub channel....'Ever notice how 11-2 is sometimes not working on the weekends? It sometimes is a "frozen" image instead of showing LiveView. Must be the weekend weather people. It's always working when Ed is there.

Originally posted by tmcelmurry
I know that someone has already asked the question, but nobody replied. Does anybody know if Comcast will be adding KLRT when it goes HD.

Nice you were asking about it. That got them going. It was added Tue afternoon. Wow, two days in a row with new HD channels.

ARXAW, the guide is much improved for viewing/programming: select and click. Simpler than VCR+ plus you are recording in HD.

Originally posted by vidcamguy
Hey Allen,

Do you know if "Enterprise" will be broadcast in HD on KASN-DT tonight?


I guess nobody else around here is a viewer of this show, and that' s cool. But, just out of "HDTV enthusiast curiosity", is anyone else curious as to why Clear Channel/KASN was broadcasting "Star Trek: Enterprise" in Hi-Def for months when it was on Wednesday night, but ever since it was moved to Friday night (about a month ago), it has not been in HD.

Apparently the network is feeding it in HD, because it has the advertising banner: "Life's Good (LG) in HDTV" at the beginning of the show. It's just that KASN is not showing it in HD.

I know I'm a minority of one here, but if there is any way to correct this, that sure would be cool. (surely SOMEONE else in KASN's broadcast range is watching this show and would like for it to be in HD)

Allen? Any news?

Thanks

i was glad to hear Comcast has added Discovery to its HD line-up. I'm thru my Dish commitment and ready to drop them. Any users out there ready to "review" Comcast's HD signal, channel line-up, land-mines?

Allen,

Is KLRT all set when FOX throws the HD switch? Looking forward to seeing your station in HD. I know you and your team have been working hard on this. Just wanted to know if everything was in place.

Thanks

Originally posted by vidcamguy
I guess nobody else around here is a viewer of this show, and that' s cool. But, just out of "HDTV enthusiast curiosity", is anyone else curious as to why Clear Channel/KASN was broadcasting "Star Trek: Enterprise" in Hi-Def for months when it was on Wednesday night, but ever since it was moved to Friday night (about a month ago), it has not been in HD.

Apparently the network is feeding it in HD, because it has the advertising banner: "Life's Good (LG) in HDTV" at the beginning of the show. It's just that KASN is not showing it in HD.

I know I'm a minority of one here, but if there is any way to correct this, that sure would be cool. (surely SOMEONE else in KASN's broadcast range is watching this show and would like for it to be in HD)

Allen? Any news?

Thanks


The UPN HD feed is now working correctly.

Originally posted by dlott
Allen,

Is KLRT all set when FOX throws the HD switch? Looking forward to seeing your station in HD. I know you and your team have been working hard on this. Just wanted to know if everything was in place.

Thanks

We finished the splicer commissioning process this evening. The splicer was put online at 19:52. Simply put- we are now passing FOX HD content.

Great News !!!!!

Thanks, I know it took quite an effort. We appreciate it.

Originally posted by allenf
The UPN HD feed is now working correctly. allen,
KASN-DT SD programming looks like it has reverted to 14:9 again, instead of normal 4:3 pillarbox.

Anyone else having problems with 11-2 today? Signal strength is strong, but all I get on 11-2 is a black screen. 11-1 is fine...

Originally posted by arxaw
Anyone else having problems with 11-2 today? Signal strength is strong, but all I get on 11-2 is a black screen. 11-1 is fine...

If the signal strength is strong and the screen is black, it may mean the meteorologist was making some changes to the radar. I wasn't watching, but I will check into it today.

Turns out we had some standard definition encoder lock up on us. We should be back to normal now. Rumor has it the Ark/ Alabama game on CBS is in HD on the 25th. I hate to swear by it, football schedules are so fluid. Hopefully the schedule will stick.

thanks, alison.

Originally posted by arxaw
allen,
KASN-DT SD programming looks like it has reverted to 14:9 again, instead of normal 4:3 pillarbox.

The Teranex Volare upconverter failed friday afternoon. This is not related to the UPN network HD problem which has been resolved. I am hoping for a loaner unit and/or repair in the next day or two. In the meantime, I have corrected the 14:9 stretch. The unit is locking up randomly and it takes a power cycle to wake up. It is waking up in a strange state with 14:9 being one of several problems. There are power up defaults which would normally set it up correctly on startup. The defaults are not being recalled on power up. One major problem is that the front LCD touch panel panel is dead. Makes it hard to adjust... ;) I have a method of remote control, but it takes a while to set up.

heheh, evidently HD equipment is about as reliable as old tube stuff from the 50s :)

Good job FOX! - football looked great this weekend. Thanks for putting out a nice strong HD signal.

Wait a minute? Is FOX now in HD in Little Rock? I've yet to see anything. What is broadcast in 720p at this time? Is there a way to get a listing?

Yes, FOX-HD is on KLRT-DT 16-1. The over the air RF channel is 30.
You can view dstarlin's HD guide HERE (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/dstarlin/hdtv/fall04.htm).

As usual, KATV was asleep at the switch last night. "Lost" was supposed to be in HD, but was lousy 4:3 SD.

I noticed that also. I sent this email to James Tidwell at KATV

========================

Mr. Tidwell,

I have sent you emails in the past regarding problems with the engineers forgetting to switch the broadcast signal into high definition during prime time.

Last night, once again, the first 30-45 minutes of Lost was not in high definition.

Perhaps you should consider some type of equipment to automate the switching process. I never notice these problems with KTHV or KLRT.

Is there a phone number to the engineering department that I can call during primetime to report this problem?

Thank you for your time.

Harry Broadwell

===================

No response yet from Mr. Tidwell. Everyone please send an email. His address is jtidwell@katv.com

This is either laziness or incompetence from the engineering staff at KATV.

:mad:

Originally posted by hpb
... This is either laziness or incompetence from the engineering staff at KATV.
I would say it is both.

I also contacted KATV at their web site, but got no response. I don't watch much on 7, except wheel of fortune occasionally. However, I did plan on watching "Lost", but once it came on and I saw it wasn't HD, I turned it off. I'll wait and catch it on re-runs. Hopefully by then, ABC-HD will be on DirecTV and I won't have to worry about KATV throwing the switch any more....



KATV - the HDTV Loser in Little Rock.


[EDIT:] In addition to the email address hpb posted above, you can click the General Manager link HERE (http://www.katv.com/contact.hrb), type and send your message, then hit your browser's BACK key and send the same message to Engineering and Programming.

KATV is good for wheel of fortune....Being a football fan, the only chance they have to get me to view their channel is Saturday, and Monday, but their decision to air the JP game of the week and then tape delay the afternoon game really sucks. I will only support the weekend sports guy because he went to Iowa State and grew up an hour from my hometown in Iowa...so gotta support the local guy, other than that, they are horrible.

allen f: Was excited to watch Veronica Marrs last night in HD, but it never flipped over. Any reason for that??

From what I have read so far, I live in SE Springfield....with an outdoor antenna, ABC and CBS HD from Fayeteville is do-able?

Thanks!

YMMV. You can check the digital station (-DT) transmitter power (enter only the call letters) at:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/tvq.html

If the -DT station lists a "Special Temporary Authority" to broadcast at less than full power, your odds of reception are much less...

Are the Hogs in HD tomorrow against Florida?

According to TitanTV.com (http://titantv.com/), Zap2it.com (http://www.zap2it.com) and the DirecTV on-screen guides for KTHV ch 11-1, WCBS-DT ch 80 & KCBS-DT ch 81 on D* the Arkansas/Florida game will not be in HD.

It looks like CBS' HD trucks will be at the LSU/Georgia game, immediately following the Arkansas game. It's listed as HD on channels 11-1 & 80. :(

The first half of the Arkansas Game was in HD, but the second half was switched to SD. I'm not sure what happened.

KATV - the HDTV Loser in Little Rock.

No, that'd be KARK.

"When" KATV does have their HD on, the picture quality on my set is actually superior to KTHVs, despite my TV being native 1080i. That could be a reception issue, dunno, but i don't notice the hd pixellation as much on KATV when there's a lot of graphics on the screen, like I do on KTHV; such as in football games when they pan the camera to the stands.

Originally posted by Azanon
The first half of the Arkansas Game was in HD, but the second half was switched to SD... I don't see how. CBS' HD trucks were being used to cover the LSU-Georgia game.

WRT KARK & HD, I guess we're both correct. Of course, KARK has no HD and no plans to add it. However, I was referring to stations that attempt to bring HDTV to LR. Of those, KATV is by far, the loser. 10kW transmitter and a "don't care" attitude about timely HD switching when HD is actually being broadcast on ABC.

If you want NBC-HD, you can get it now on D* by "moving" your service address to a white area or O&O market. KNBC-DT & WNBC-DT picture quality on D* is comparable to KCBS-DT and WCBS-DT. You also get quite a few out-of area football games on the D* nets, when the networks are showing different games in different parts of the country.....

I don't see how. CBS' HD trucks were being used to cover the LSU-Georgia game.

I'll take it from that you didnt see it. I dont know how myself since i'm just an end-user, but I was using an OTA antenna and it was full widescreen HD; for the first half anway. I dont subscribe to the DirectTV locals, so its not possible that i accidentally had it on the directtv non-hd version and they disabled the free viewings about 3 weeks ago, give or take.

Besides what i saw with my own eyes, its worthy of noting that 3 minutes before the game, Craig O'Neal came on TV and annouced to be sure and tune into the game "which will be in hdtv".

A knee-jerk assumption guess though is CBS got more trucks.

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
However, I was referring to stations that attempt to bring HDTV to LR. Of those, KATV is by far, the loser. 10kW transmitter and a "don't care" attitude about timely HD switching when HD is actually being broadcast on ABC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



For a while there, there were only 2; KTHV and KATV. My point is I just think that was a little harsh, given that they were either first or second to even bring us HDTV. As i stated earlier, my PQ is better on KATV. Re: the low power, I guess that is an annoyance for those having trouble picking them up, but it hasnt been an issue for me. Those switching issues are mostly an annoyance, at most, for me. "usually" they have it on, when ABC is transmitting HD. Until recently, that was far better than what we were getting even from Fox.

What's with someone having to throw "a switch" anyway? That seems so 20th century to me. In this age of automation and computers, that seems aweful archaic. A computer should be doing that.

Originally posted by arxaw
I don't see how. CBS' HD trucks were being used to cover the LSU-Georgia game.

WRT KARK & HD, I guess we're both correct. Of course, KARK has no HD and no plans to add it. However, I was referring to stations that attempt to bring HDTV to LR. Of those, KATV is by far, the loser. 10kW transmitter and a "don't care" attitude about timely HD switching when HD is actually being broadcast on ABC.

If you want NBC-HD, you can get it now on D* by "moving" your service address to a white area or O&O market. KNBC-DT & WNBC-DT picture quality on D* is comparable to KCBS-DT and WCBS-DT. You also get quite a few out-of area football games on the D* nets, when the networks are showing different games in different parts of the country.....

For the record on the Saturday Hog game there was no widescreen at all available to us for the broadcast, the whole game was 4:3. The only thing coming down from CBS in HD during that time was color bars.

As for getting computers to take breaks so the operators won't mess up the programming that is very do-able for TV stations. However, since football is a "live" telecast, break times and schedules are not determined so you cannot switch to automation for programming for those.

And finally to be precise Craig O'Neill spot said the KTHV is the "high definition leader" not that the game was in high definition. I specifically addressed that issue myself prior to the game to make sure we didn't make that mistake. The spots come fast and furious and it is easy to think that it said that when it actually didn't.

Good news....just found at Ark vs. Auburn will by carried by CBS in HD on the 16th.

Well, somehow i must have inadvertently stretched the picture to widescreen, though i dont know how since I thought you guys prestretch it (unlike abc). I've certainly been fooled before about HD vs nonHD because my HDTV is only 30", and with the upconverting and all (3:2 pulldown), it can throw me off.

As for Craig, maybe it wasnt right before the game, but i coulda swore sometime the week prior, he said the game was going to be in CBS HD. Oh well, its all heresay and not that important. Dont get me wrong about Craig though; I love the guy!

Glad to hear the news about Auburn and HD!

Originally posted by Azanon
Well, somehow i must have inadvertently stretched the picture to widescreen, though i dont know how since I thought you guys prestretch it (unlike abc). I've certainly been fooled before about HD vs nonHD because my HDTV is only 30", and with the upconverting and all (3:2 pulldown), it can throw me off.

As for Craig, maybe it wasnt right before the game, but i coulda swore sometime the week prior, he said the game was going to be in CBS HD. Oh well, its all heresay and not that important. Dont get me wrong about Craig though; I love the guy!

Glad to hear the news about Auburn and HD!

I thought you guys would like to hear about the Auburn game.

On the pre-stretching thing...you shouldn't be seeing 11-1 stretched, it is either 4:3 for SD or 16:9 HD. We supply left and right side gray bars for SD so the 4:3 image fills the screen. On 16:9 you obviously get full screen.

As for Craig O'Neill...what can you say?

On the pre-stretching thing...you shouldn't be seeing 11-1 stretched, it is either 4:3 for SD or 16:9 HD. We supply left and right side gray bars for SD so the 4:3 image fills the screen. On 16:9 you obviously get full screen.

Yeah... I know. Its so strange because I have a distinct, vivid memory of coming back down the stairs to the living room in the 3rd quarter asking myself "What happened to the picture?" meaning, why is it now in SD.

I was dillusional for a full hour and a half, and i'm only 33. Scary.

(edit) I need this for peace of mind; Did any end users out there with an HDTV, watch the first half on an HDTV and it was in 4:3 SD?

<<Did any...watch the first half on an HDTV and it was in 4:3 SD?>>
It was SD the whole time. Don't you just love to watch feetsball in blurry 480? I'll actually switch off some games that are pretty good if there is another one on in HD. Haven't watched anything on KARK in a year!

BTW, KTHV was broke sunday, so I watched a feetsball game that I didn't care about so I could see a picture that was in focus. Dunno when they got the HD fixed but by the time I switched back over they were into fuzzy SD news.

egads, am I spoiled or what?

Hello - I live 10 miles straight south of Little Rock, in the Maple Creek area (basically between redfield and Little Rock) 72065-9045. I have a Direct-TV HR10-250 HD receiver in which I'd like to hook up to off air antenna to get the local channels in HD.

I simply don't know the first thing about what a good antenna is, and I'd really appreciate some expert advice on what equipment I should use, pointing, mounting, etc. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Brett

BTW, KTHV was broke sunday, so I watched a feetsball game that I didn't care about so I could see a picture that was in focus. Dunno when they got the HD fixed but by the time I switched back over they were into fuzzy SD news.

Broke? The LSU/Georgia game looked pretty good to me in HD. Next, Alison will be telling me that one wasn't in HD either. /sigh.

Another thing i dont get about KTHV though is this; You have the news crew coming on all the time (usually Craig), talking about how they're the HD leader, yet the local news isn't in HD. Are those cameras that expensive?

Call me crazy, but i would think a newscast calling themselves the HD leader would present their news in HD.

Hey guys, another sort of noobie here. I've been participating in the thread for probably a year now, but just this weekend I got an HDTV and so I can now get down to business. I also am interested in getting an antenna setup that will allow me to get all the available stations. I live in Benton, 72015, and right now I have a Radio Shack outdoor antenna, I don't remember exactly the model or size, just that it cost about $45 dollars a year and a half ago. I don't have an preamp or anything on it. I also have a set of RCA amplified rabbit ears. I hooked up a Samsung T351 that I was able to get off a guy at work, and have only been able to play around for a few minutes so far, but basically, I could get 11-1 and 11-2, with the external antenna, pointed toward Shinall, I don't have a rotor on it, so I haven't tried rotating it. With the rabbit ears, I could get 16-1 and 38-1. That was about what I was expecting, but I would really like to get 7 as well, so any suggestions would be appreciated.
My other problem is that the STB was an open box and didn't have a remote. I can control certain functions with the front panel, but I would like some more flexibility. Is anyone familiar with this box? Is it compatible with any of the fairly cheap universal remotes, or would it only work with the expensive learning remotes?

Well, I've rambled more than I meant to, but I'm just excited about the possibilities. Thanks in advance for any help!

<<Broke? The LSU/Georgia game looked pretty good to me in HD.>>
Yeah, on SUNDAY. It was fine on Sat when LSU played. Actually it was broke Sunday after 7PM that I know of--don't know if it broke earlier in the day. ESPN game was in HD that evening.

Ditto your comments about the news in HD. Although the networks don't do it and they are the ones with all the money. Maybe when they fire Rather they can use his salary to buy HD cameras for all the affilliates.

Fox News Sunday looks like HD. Or it is widescreen with a very clean processor. Any way to tell?

Originally posted by Azanon
Broke? The LSU/Georgia game looked pretty good to me in HD. Next, Alison will be telling me that one wasn't in HD either. /sigh.

The LSU game was in HD. You are not going crazy. Now on Sunday neither of the NFL games on CBS were in HD, they were both upconverted.

I hope that clears some things up. There will be a multiple choice test on this later.

There's a lot more than cameras to buy. They have to upgrade the entire local station to digital switching and HD.

To Alison: Speaking of cams, has KTHV already bought some small HD cams for news gathering? I know the local studio isn't HD yet, but some of the stuff shot on location looks sharper than stuff in the news studio. Just curious.....

Brett,
Check your Private Messages

Originally posted by RockyF
Hey guys, another sort of noobie here. I've been participating in the thread for probably a year now, but just this weekend I got an HDTV and so I can now get down to business. I also am interested in getting an antenna setup that will allow me to get all the available stations. I live in Benton, 72015..... CBS, FOX & UPN are about all you can expect to pick up right now.

ABC is very low power and has a directional antenna aimed at West LR, so you're probably SOL with them. NBC and PBS are even lower power and they aren't even HD yet, so mark them off your HD list, too.

You can complain to these low power bozos about not covering their cities of license with a DTV signal. Click below:
http://kark.com/station.asp
http://www.katv.com/contact.hrb
http://www.aetn.org/pressroom/

Originally posted by Azanon
Another thing i dont get about KTHV though is this; You have the news crew coming on all the time (usually Craig), talking about how they're the HD leader, yet the local news isn't in HD. Are those cameras that expensive?

Call me crazy, but i would think a newscast calling themselves the HD leader would present their news in HD.

Give 'em a break, they just got new SD Digital ENG cameras (DVCAM I think) not too long ago . . .

Heck, even CBS is NOT buying HD field cameras for news. They are buying Sony XDCAM (http://news.sel.sony.com/pressrelease/5121) (blu-ray disc-based) which are only SD. These camcorders run about $20K and $40K (without lens) for the two models. Most Broadcast news crews are still shooting analog Betacam SP on 4:3 cameras. A Sony Broadcast rep told me there would eventually be an HD version of XDCAM, but not quite yet.

I was able to play around a little more last night, and I was able to get 7. Actually I only watched it for a few minutes after 10 pm, but I seemed to get less drop outs on 7 than I did 16. I didn't do any signal strength tests though. I'll do that tonight. We were able to watch NCIS on 11 and Veronica Mars on 38, and I think I converted my wife. We did experience a few dropouts on 38, but mostly during commercials.

Originally posted by alisonf
The LSU game was in HD. You are not going crazy. Now on Sunday neither of the NFL games on CBS were in HD, they were both upconverted.

I hope that clears some things up. There will be a multiple choice test on this later.

Yeah, it was kind of weird. Lots of people were on the HDTV programming forum talking about the Jets game being advertised in HD yet no one got it that way (in New York or elsewhere). I wonder if CBS screwed something up on Sunday.

Originally posted by arxaw
There's a lot more than cameras to buy. They have to upgrade the entire local station to digital switching and HD.

To Alison: Speaking of cams, has KTHV already bought some small HD cams for news gathering? I know the local studio isn't HD yet, but some of the stuff shot on location looks sharper than stuff in the news studio. Just curious.....

Good eye! We do have new cameras in our news department. They are not HD they are SD, but they are capable of widescreen. They are kind of "tweener" technology. They do look noticeably better than the old cameras, as they use a very nice chip set internally. They are Sony DVCam 570s with Fuji Lens. Sweet!

You are correct, for a local studio to go "HD" the infrastructure in the studio must be upgraded to pass the larger bandwidth of the baseband video. Our studio is capable now of passing SD video (with the exception of the CBS HD equipment). We have been able to do so for over 10 years now. With the advent of digital transmitters, we can finally be digital end-to-end. I believe that Allan has a digital studio over at 16 and KARK's new location has a digital studio now. KATV? Not sure, don't think so.

As for HD in this market. It will come soon, most likely beginning with the next generation of studio cameras purchased. We will wait and see.

Originally posted by Tusk
Yeah, it was kind of weird. Lots of people were on the HDTV programming forum talking about the Jets game being advertised in HD yet no one got it that way (in New York or elsewhere). I wonder if CBS screwed something up on Sunday.

Those games and how they are picked is always kind of mysterious. But it is not just the network, it is NFL and CBS negotiating who they want seen and in what region they want them seen. We can pick some matchups but all games very political and very apt to be changed. Even SEC games you get, are never always for sure. Then there are only so many trucks that are HD. It usually works out pretty good, but sometimes you get toasted!

I remember times when CBS didn't have football, that was very bad!

Originally posted by Tusk
Yeah, it was kind of weird. Lots of people were on the HDTV programming forum talking about the Jets game being advertised in HD yet no one got it that way (in New York or elsewhere). I wonder if CBS screwed something up on Sunday.

Not true. I live in North Carolina and we got the Jets/Miami game in HD. Looked great.

I'm in town visiting my parents this week and they're having some antenna issues picking up local channels.

They have two antennae - since the towers seem to be spread out. From glancing over this forum, it seems that they should be able to get the following stations in HD (in West Little Rock) ...

CBS
FOX
ABC
UPN

anything else?

Give 'em a break

It just feels weird hearing one of the news casters talk about being the HD leader, then the news comes on and its in SD. I'll give em a break as soon as its either in HD, or they quit making that claim. Its probably about time to stop saying that anyway since Fox is in HD now, and ABC has been doing it for some time.

Originally posted by deArgila
Not true. I live in North Carolina and we got the Jets/Miami game in HD. Looked great.

I'm in town visiting my parents this week and they're having some antenna issues picking up local channels.

They have two antennae - since the towers seem to be spread out. From glancing over this forum, it seems that they should be able to get the following stations in HD (in West Little Rock) ...

CBS
FOX
ABC
UPN

anything else?

Actually, there were plenty of people in New York and Philadelphia griping about not getting the Jets in HD. I never said that no one got it. I just said that some places where it was advertised as HD didn't get it in HD.

Originally posted by Tusk
Actually, there were plenty of people in New York and Philadelphia griping about not getting the Jets in HD. I never said that no one got it. I just said that some places where it was advertised as HD didn't get it in HD.

Well, not to get into a whole thing with you here, but you specifically did say "... yet no one got it that way (in New York or elsewhere)."

Not that it really matters - but I just mentioned that I did get it for those that might have interpreted that phrase to mean no one got it in HD.

I'm just glad I don't have to watch KTHV's 2-inch cart machine go down on the air anymore like it did when I worked there in the 80's. :D

It just feels weird hearing one of the news casters talk about being the HD leader

I think ch 11 can still claim the title due to the overwhelming abundance of HD programming available. My faith was temporarily shaken on Sunday's "cold case" when they didn't switch to the HD feed until about 4 minutes into the show. Guess the bathroom break took longer than necessary.

I note that Fox feeds a lot of 480i widescreen images (like the baseball playoffs) that get converted to 720p but it is still the same fuzzy stuff you get on analog. It took CBS a couple years to get around to doing "most" sports feeds in HD. You'll know HD has finally arrived when Jefferson-Pilot contracts for HD cameras and feeds. Right now their game images are so bad they are unwatchable except on a regular 19" (or smaller) analog tv.

I still don't understand why ch4 doesn't do HD with the financial support the Network provides to convert. I get their signal fine through the rain and tree leaves even though they put out less power than my garage door opener.

Originally posted by deArgila
Well, not to get into a whole thing with you here, but you specifically did say "... yet no one got it that way (in New York or elsewhere)."

Not that it really matters - but I just mentioned that I did get it for those that might have interpreted that phrase to mean no one got it in HD.

Sorry, I was writing the way that I was thinking. Didn't mean nowhere in the US. Thanks for calling me on it. Comments like mine without public review and scrutiny can be dangerous to today's youth. :D

Originally posted by wxguy I still don't understand why ch4 doesn't do HD with the financial support the Network provides to convert. I get their signal fine through the rain and tree leaves even though they put out less power than my garage door opener.

Because Ch 4 sucks. If you read back, you'll note that it is a recurring theme. :)

KARK is owned by Nexstar, a scumbag company with absolutely no interest in HDTV. IIRC, none of the Nexstar stations are full power or HD.

Originally posted by deArgila
... they're having some antenna issues picking up local channels... They have two antennae - since the towers seem to be spread out. That's a good idea for now, what with the mediocre performance of OTA receivers and several low power transmitters in LR. Two antennas work best with an A/B switch.

If all the stations ever ramp up power and 5th generation receiver chipsets become widely available, a single indoor antenna will probably suffice.
From glancing over this forum, it seems that they should be able to get the following stations in HD (in West Little Rock) ...

CBS
FOX
ABC
UPN

anything else? Nope. That's all the HD stations in LR.
CBS, FOX & UPN are the only full power stations.
ABC is only ~10kW ERP

[Edit: Added CBS to the full power list]

Originally posted by arxaw
That's a good idea for now, with the state of receivers and several low power transmitters in LR. Two antennas work best with an A/B switch.

If all the stations ever ramp up power and 5th generation receiver chipsets become widely available, a single indoor antenna will probably suffice.
Nope. That's all the HD stations in LR.
And FOX & UPN are the only full power stations.

CBS is running at 100%.

55kw?

That's great! When did y'all start full power?

Originally posted by arxaw
55kw?

That's great! When did y'all start full power?

55kw. Sept. 20th. Not much difference in coverage, except in fringe areas. In fact, I have concerns that it is too much power for individuals that are amplifying there signals to pick up those who broadcast at lower power levels. We shall see!

alison,
I'm about 7 miles from Shinall and on a hill with little obstruction to your particular tower. I have a roof top lowband (2-6) VHF antenna + CM 7777 26dB UHF/23dB VHF preamp (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/7777.htm). The preamp is the only way I can get the piss-poor weak VHF signal from KETS-DT (and even w/ the preamp, I still get dropouts out due to all sorts of impulse noise on LB VHF). The VHF antenna is aimed at Redfield and I get 100% on KTHV-DT, but haven't noticed any overload - ever. Now if I had a Highband VHF antenna and it was aimed at Shinall....

FWIW, I can also get KTHV-DT with a simple UHF loop antenna almost anywhere in the room, aimed in any directon. Couldn't do that before y'all went full power :) Thanks

Originally posted by alisonf
55kw. Sept. 20th. Not much difference in coverage, except in fringe areas. In fact, I have concerns that it is too much power for individuals that are amplifying there signals to pick up those who broadcast at lower power levels. We shall see!

OK now it makes sense. Previously I would get KTHV about 65% and would get occasional dropouts. For the past few weeks it has been coming in at 70 ~ 72% with no dropouts. As a representative from the "fringe areas," I say thank you.

Alison: What is the maximum power for High band VHF digital stations? That king of VHF digital markets( 5 VHF dt's I think) has KLVX dt11 at 105 Kw ERP, according to the fcc database.

Originally posted by phitz
Alison: What is the maximum power for High band VHF digital stations? That king of VHF digital markets( 5 VHF dt's I think) has KLVX dt11 at 105 Kw ERP, according to the fcc database.

Not sure exactly. KTHV is actually maximized at 55kw, we were alloted less at the beginning. I will have to look at some FCC tables when I get back on Monday to see. Didn't bring all that home with me. Just thinking though, it may have to do with tower height, geography, and location of TV market. Also whether it is directional antenna or omni like ours. Where is KLVX?

Phitz mentioned "the king of VHF digital markets" which is Las Vegas. They currently have at least FIVE VHF digitals. KLVX-DT is on VHF channel 11. See list of LasVegas stations here (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?state=&call=&arn=&city=las+vegas&chan=&cha2=69&serv=&type=0&facid=&list=2&dist=&dlat2=&mlat2=&slat2=&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&size=9).

I doubt the FCC would allow KTHV-DT to go much higher power than 55kW, due to other "channel 12s" located in nearby Shreveport, Jackson, Joplin & Cape Girardeau. The 105kW Las Vegas station might be alotted more power because there may be no other nearby stations on the same frequency.

alison,
Speaking of channels, I know it's years away, but has KTHV decided which channel they're going to keep, after analog is shut off?

Originally posted by arxaw
Phitz mentioned "the king of VHF digital markets" which is Las Vegas. They currently have at least FIVE VHF digitals. KLVX-DT is on VHF channel 11. See list of LasVegas stations here (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?state=&call=&arn=&city=las+vegas&chan=&cha2=69&serv=&type=0&facid=&list=2&dist=&dlat2=&mlat2=&slat2=&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&size=9).

I doubt the FCC would allow KTHV-DT to go much higher power than 55kW, due to other "channel 12s" located in nearby Shreveport, Jackson, Joplin & Cape Girardeau. The 105kW Las Vegas station might be alotted more power because there may be no other nearby stations on the same frequency.

alison,
Speaking of channels, I know it's years away, but has KTHV decided which channel they're going to keep, after analog is shut off?

My guess is the reason KLVX is at 105k is that the antenna's HAAT is only 371 meters, whereas KTHVs is 518.7 meters. Could be why they run at higher power. Just a guess.

It may be awhile before analog shuts off, but stations are having to decide right now what their permanent channels will be. Either 11 or 12 will be good for us, we haven't picked yet. They both have interference issues.

Originally posted by alisonf
... Either 11 or 12 will be good for us, we haven't picked yet... If you moved the digital to 11 (after analog shutoff), would a lot of new equipment have to be purchased?

Originally posted by arxaw
If you moved the digital to 11 (after analog shutoff), would a lot of new equipment have to be purchased?

You bet.

No matter who you rooted for, the Yanks and Red Sox games were great baseball and the OTA HD from KLRT was great. But game 7 kept breaking up, to the point that i watched it in SD. Any tips? I am using an internal, amplified antenna, that usually locks in KLRT at around 75. Can't do external.

Antenna brand?
Nearby obstructions?
Antennaweb "color" rating for KLRT-DT?

Antenna brand? Jensen -- connected thru DishSat 811
Nearby obstructions? McCain Mall, trees, possibly Lakewood House, although my compass reading misses it if i use the AntennaWeb specs
Antennaweb "color" rating for KLRT-DT? Red. KLRT and KTHV, both Red, are the only OTA stations I even try to get. I rarely move the antenna. And as I mentioned, Game 6 was great, while 7 was too much hassle. Can the weather impact OTA digital? Electrical load?

Thanks for the help!

Yes, weather can affect reception. However, a better antenna would probably help your intermittent reception.

Has anyone else noticed Fox is in DD 5.1? It sounds wonderful and I hope to see CBS and ABC upgrade soon to this as well.

No doubt about the antenna. Game 7 last night (Cards and Astros) was fine, with a good, strong picture.

KTHV is really struggling today. First, my wife says she was watching blue's clues this morning, and then they switched to end of tonights movie during that (8-10pm), lol. Cold case was a mess, all in SD, but they restarted the show once, then switched abruptly back to the commercial again. Now the 8-10pm movie is on and its in SD too.

Swithed to the world series on fox and man that's outstanding; the picture quality and the DD 5.1.

Yeah the weekend crew at Channel 11 really needs some training or NO DOZE. Alison, what's the problem with the weekend people?

I had to watch the Sunday Movie on WCBS-DT on D* to get the HD version. (FWIW Azanon, WCBS-DT on D* has DD 5.1 capability)....

I cancelled my D* for now. I only got the non-HD local version anyway, when I did have it. All those locals they added a few months back were all SD to my knowledge.

From some of the talk on HDTV programming, it seems like the problems lie with CBS this past Sunday, not THV.

Originally posted by Azanon
From some of the talk on HDTV programming, it seems like the problems lie with CBS this past Sunday, not THV. You are correct. CBS has only one HDTV network. On Sunday, the HD programming started about 2 minutes late due to NFL over-run in another region so it was consequently out of wack with our program schedule. We were forced to take the SD feed to stay on time. This usually shows up on football days and is resolved on the analog channel because CBS runs multiple networks to offset the time shifts. But today is a new day with HD. In time, I am sure CBS will build out their facilities. But for now, CBS puts their resources into sports where the HD benefits are greater. So, there is our reality for now. Thanks for your patience.

We were forced to take the SD feed to stay on time.

To stay on time so you could run a promo with Randy and the crew touting your HDTV stuff?? I finished watching cold case in fuzz to see if you ran any more jokes, but didn't stay with the stupid movie. No wonder Desperate took the ratings for the evening. I think it was a foolish management decision and doesn't respect the viewers who spent their money for access to quality images only to be forcefed SD content.

Anyhow, I got my dollar and book for November so it will show up when I refuse to watch SD content on a digital channel.

Originally posted by alisonf
... On Sunday, the HD programming started about 2 minutes late due to NFL over-run in another region...Alison, et al.,
After seeing the movie wasn't HD on 11-1, I bailed on KTHV-SD and flipped over to WCBS-DT, where the movie was in HD.

So you can see where I would tend to blame the MCO. But in this case, I guess the MCO was not the problem. Thanks for the explanation.

[Edited to "lighten up" comments.] ;)

i haven't seen anything lately about the Comcast HD line-up for the Little Rock area. I know Comcast added Discovery HD in some markets. Did they in Little Rock? What else is coming across the cable in HD?

Originally posted by wxguy
To stay on time so you could run a promo with Randy and the crew touting your HDTV stuff?? I finished watching cold case in fuzz to see if you ran any more jokes, but didn't stay with the stupid movie. No wonder Desperate took the ratings for the evening. I think it was a foolish management decision and doesn't respect the viewers who spent their money for access to quality images only to be forcefed SD content.

Anyhow, I got my dollar and book for November so it will show up when I refuse to watch SD content on a digital channel.

Normally I do not comment on items that frankly aggravate me ( insert another verb here- but trying to be polite.) Here is a look behind the scenes. ..
Alison called the friday beforehand and we had a long heartfelt conversation about the fallout of THV running a game out of pattern and the fallout here on AVSForum. I am sad to say we anticipated the view put forth here. I am a vigorous competitor the KTHV. ( They beat me by 3 days dammit for the first DTV broadcast in the LR market!!!) I am not an apologist for their business decisions. But folks, you got to understand the realities the she & I work under. Lighten up.

Speech mode off-returning to normal programming :)

BTW- the reference to a diary did not escape me.

Allen

"Dir. of Engineering ClearChannel HD Mobile""


Allen,

What's ClearChannel HD Mobile?

.

Originally posted by allenf
...we had a long heartfelt conversation about the fallout of THV running a game out of pattern and the fallout here on AVSForum. I am sad to say we anticipated the view put forth here.

Since I posted originally, I'll give you my perspective. I isn't personal, so don't take it that way -- it's an outsider looking in.

Management knew there was going to be a timing problem (out of pattern?) and they knew it would irritate people. So when the decision was made to not feed HD programs on the digital, they felt abused that someone voiced their opinion.

My non-scientific research, based on show of hands in the 30-60 age groups I've visited, says about 10% of that demographic is already HD capable. This forum is probably just tv wonks who want to know where and why. We may not represent fully the feelings of that 10%, but I'm willing to bet there is a general displeasure over the Sunday HD decisions.

So management decides it is ok to blow off that 10% (which will likely be up to nearly 20% by super bowl considering the rate at which HD sets are going out the door in central Arkansas.)

I suggest that since the HD crowd is insignificant just open up the HD feed from the network on the digital and let it rip. You won't be able to insert your local commercials, but we're not significant, remember? But the chief managers won't let you run programs without commercials ( or station promos which push HD programming-that's the absurdity) so what are you to do? Well, first off, don't blame the messenger.

Trust me, people "vote with their remote" so it will eventually take care of itself, all to the local station's detriment. And to the ad buyers who are interested in seeing that 10-15% of their normal audience on a channel went poof. Savvy satellite users can take an O&O feed to get around the problem. Cable users are going to Desperate Housewives or Malcomb, or hitting HBO or Discovery. I suspect few off-air HD users are stuck with only off-air so they do have choices.

We're all "friends" here and should be able to advocate for our position to improve and encourage HD programming in this market. There is an old adage that says "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Some of us are simply telling the tv managers and ourselves that "It's broke!"

I'm sorry you took the earlier comments in a way not intended. I was shooting the arrow farther up the management chain, and it must have hit you by mistake.

This thread seems to have died recently so I thought I'd join up and make a post here. Has KARK 4-1 increased there power finally, or is it just a weather fluke. Last night and again this morning, I can get the KARK HD channel, although it's struggle to lock at times. It really doesn't look like HD, at least from what little I've seen, and without looking way back in the thread, I think this has been discussed before if I remember correctly.

Also got KVTN, 25-1, last night, but this morning it's very sporadic. I live in Stuttgart, and can get KTHV, KASN, and KLRT, just fine all the time.

Anyway, has KARK finally increased there power on 4-1, and is it really HD, sure didn't look like it last night.

It's great to see some of the station personel participate in this forum, please keep it up, it's very informative.

KARK is still only 480i. Their parent company, Nexstar is interested in multicasting for $, but has no interest in HD. About the only time I watch KARK is for news/weather if KTHV is running late with theirs due to sports overtime, etc. I get NBC-HD on D*

I just now checked KARK's signal strength and it's coming in now at 93% for me. It used to be ~69% and sometimes unstable. Not sure if it's due to a power increase, leaves falling, the weather or just a fluke. According to this FCC site (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=33440), KARK still has a Special Temporary Authority (STA) to operate at a measly 4kW ERP.

Comcast senior vp digital television Mark Hess said this is the first time Comcast customers in Washington state will get dual-tuner digital video recorder (DVR) services along with other enhanced digital cable services including video-on-demand, high-definition TV, games and such interactive information services as on-demand news, weather and sports.

It won't be long before this reaches Little Rock. I've heard there is a move toward putting the entire lineup into digital format. HBO and Showtime should have VOD available at no extra charge -- we'll see. No word on whether there will be additional HD channels or even VOD HD. One can only hope. My Comcast HD DVR is presently limited by being only a single tuner but I'm not supposed to time shift this month so it doesn't matter.

The storms a week or so ago was the last straw with Dish. So I called Comcast and finally got an agent who understood a bit more about HD (trust me, some don't even know what HD channels they get, which HD channels are PPV or not and so on). Turns out Comcast has a "Dish Buyback" program. Give 'em your boxes, get a $400 credit for a pretty good package and, admittedly, a contract. Still cuts my TV bill in half. Install free.

Problem arose at install -- they had to drop a new line to the house. This alone was worth a ton! Pix quality GREATLY improved over days of yore before that new line was dropped.

There were a few bugs along the way getting the install date, and yes, I hate the ads on the channel guide and channel ID bar. And I am not sure about how the Favorites lists work.

BUT: Spousal Approval Factor soared, thanks to simpler operation on all non-HD TVs. PIP is back -- probably my all time favorite TV feature, and a nice surprise -- under Dish, it took quite a while for the next picture to show every time I changed channels on my TV (not sure what the technical term for that is), but the speed of channel hopping has greatly increased, enabling even more channels to be surfed during commercial breaks.

I'm pleased so far, and like Bob in the Enzyte commercials, I've got a happy little partner back in the clubhouse.

(Side note: I had neither cable nor Dish during the coverage of the Clinton dedication. Basically used the dead cable in the house as an antenna. Channel 16 came in GREAT. And I thought they did a pretty good job of the coverage. It's nice to have a 4th "news" outlet in town.)

A few days ago, about 3 days or so, digital channel 4 (4-1) was no longer showing up on my DTV menu. Now as of yesterday, i'm no longer seeing digital 16 (16-1). The others are showing up though. Is this just me or is it everyone? I'm still seeing the regular analog versions of the stations though.

I did cancel my directTV membership, but i've been disconnected from that for over a month, and that didnt affect my local digital transmissions which i pick up with my OTA antenna.

Thanks,

Azanon

I've got a Samsung SIR-TS 360, and I've been having this problem for several months, and I still subscribe to Direct TV. 16-1 and 25-1,will disappear from the menu, and I can add them back, five minutes or less, they may be gone. Also, I keep getting the 9-x's appearing even though I delete them, next time I look, they are back.

I thought it was a problem with my reciever, maybe it's not just not mine then.

Originally posted by Azanon
A few days ago, about 3 days or so, digital channel 4 (4-1) was no longer showing up on my DTV menu. Now as of yesterday, i'm no longer seeing digital 16 (16-1). The others are showing up though. Is this just me or is it everyone? I'm still seeing the regular analog versions of the stations though.

I did cancel my directTV membership, but i've been disconnected from that for over a month, and that didnt affect my local digital transmissions which i pick up with my OTA antenna.

Do you mean the channels aren't in the program guide, or you can't receive them at all? If you can't receive them at all, reboot the box and do a re-scan of OTA digitals.

Is your STB still connected to the dish? If not, select NO DISH from the dish setup menu and reboot the box. Rescan for OTA digitals. With no dish connection, you will only see program guide info for stations that are providing it.

[EDIT to add OP quote]

Is anyone getting KETS-DT at all? For several weeks now, I get nothing on:
2-1
2-2
2-3
2-4

I used to receive KETS-DT at least some of the time, but now, not even a blip on the SS meter....

Originally posted by arxaw
Do you mean the channels aren't in the program guide, or you can't receive them at all? If you can't receive them at all, reboot the box and do a re-scan of OTA digitals.

Is your STB still connected to the dish? If not, select NO DISH from the dish setup menu and reboot the box. Rescan for OTA digitals. With no dish connection, you will only see program guide info for stations that are providing it.
If you are referring to me, I am connected and still subscribe to DirectTV The channels are in the add/romove setup, I just have to put them back in the program guide. But they disappear soon after.

I live in Stuttgart and I can't get digital 25 anyway so that one doesn't matter anyway. But I do get 16-1. I can get it by manually entering it with the remote, but it still doesn't show up in the program guide. And I have rebooted numerous times.

I can't get 2-x, 7-x or 25-1 at all. Once in a while I get a few pixels on 4-1, just a tease. I've got a radio shack rooftop anntenna, don't remember the model. The only time I've gotten 4-1 was a while back as I mentioned in a few posts above, and that was short lived, nothing since.

By the way, I sent an e-mail to the channel 7 station manager, about there low power, I'm sure I'll here from him soon. Heh, Heh.

Thanks for those suggestions arxaw. I'll try those things when i get home.

Azanon

(edit) Haidan, i believe arxaw was answering me.

Originally posted by HaiDan
If you are referring to me, I am connected and still subscribe to DirectTV The channels are in the add/romove setup, I just have to put them back in the program guide. But they disappear soon after.HaiDan, I was replying to Azanon's post.... sorry if I confused you. If you have disappearing channels, it could be to low or intermittent signal strength, or a bug in your model of STB. Sometimes you can workaround the "disappearing/reappearing channels" annoyance by adding all the channels you ever watch (both DirecTV & OTA locals) to a Favorite channel list and LOCKING the STB. This may or may not help, depending on the model STB you have.

By the way, I sent an e-mail to the channel 7 station manager, about there low power, I'm sure I'll here from him soon. Heh, Heh. Next time you email him with a complaint, also send a "CC:" of the email to Rick Chessen, the head of the FCC Digital TV task force: rchessen@fcc.gov

I was changing through my digital channels last Friday and got a message when I hit Kark that the channel had re-mapped to 32.1. I hit the enter button and 32.1 came in instead of 4.1. On Saturday I got a similar message on Fox--re-mapped to 30.1 from 16.1.

These changes occurred on my tv's built-in hd tuner. The stations still come in as before on Voom.

Same thing is happening on my Mitsu TV tuner. No remapping on a couple channels. I only use it for backup or to watch something while I'm recording another HD on the DVR. The 2-tuner DVRs from Comcast can't get here soon enough!

My TV's tuner occasionally doubles up channels and internally remaps things. I think it has something to do with the weak signals from some of the stations. Does something internally to assign extra 11s to ch 7. Seems to occur when going down channel and 7 doesn't lock in very fast. The tv tuner remaps everytime you look at a channel. Don't think the sat boxes do that, but I could be wrong.

Not a big deal to me since I'm watching the cable version 99% of the time.

Most sat boxes get their EPG and channel mapping from the sat provider (when connected to a dish). OTA tuners rely on PSIP for guide info and channel mapping. Non-standard PSIP data and weak or intermittent reception can affect this.

I decided it was my turn to email Perry Chester at KARK since NBC just announced NASCAR in 2005 (http://www.nascar.com/2004/races/tune_in/12/01/nbc_tnt/index.html) will be in HD. When I asked if KARK would be broadcasting this programming in HD his short but sweet response was "We are currently exploring that."

Arxaw,

Conwaycorp claims to be the first cable system in AR to offer Aetn in hidef.
I have a Qam tuner in my tv but Conwaycorp scrambles their Hd so I've not seen it.

The FCC mandated that cable must carry the OTA digital channels unencrypted, specifically for your QAM tuner. You might want to "encourage" Conwaycorp to fix this or get fined.

Xesdeeni

Hi guys...

I am Allen's replacement at FOX 16 and UPN 38. I just wanted to let you know that we are in the process of upgrading our PSIP generator and you may not find us on 16-1 temporarily, however you should be able to find us at 30-2. This should be back to normal next week.

Feel free to ask any questions and I will try to answer them.

Errett

Hi Errett,

I have a question for you about KASN-DT. Last night (Friday, Dec. 3), I tuned to KASN-DT about 5 minutes before Star Trek: Enterprise was to come on at 7pm.

All was fine until the show started. I saw about 1 second of the beginning of Enterprise, and then the screen went black. I had to watch the show from the crappy looking analog feed via Comcast.

I kept the digital station on my screen with picture-in-picture and I noticed that everytime a LOCAL commercial break would come on (Watson's ad, for example) the picture would return on KASN-DT, but as soon as the network programming would start up again, the screen would go black. Signal strength remained constant and strong. It was just as if the station was broadcasting "black".

I know the network HD feed was working earlier in the week since I watched "Kevin Hill" when it came on (Wednesday, I think) in HD.

Since I get all the other local HD channels through Comcast, the only reason I have an OTA tuner is to get KASN-DT, and more specifically Star Trek: Enterprise, so it is kind of disconcerting when I tune in and it isn't there, especailly since most weeks (including this week), we have some people over to watch the show with us. It is kind of a weekly event around our house, and it falls rather flat when you have to watch the grainy SD picture on a 50 inch screen.

Thanks for any info/help you can provide with this.

David

Hey David...

Not sure what happened last night. I got called after the fact and was told the problem had occured. We will be looking into it Monday.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

E

Thanks for the reply, Errett.

By the way. Is there a phone number that people can call up at clear channel at night where they could get in touch with someone who could look into problems like this as they are occurring?

I realize that knowing about the problem at the time it is happening may not insure that the problem could be fixed in time to see the rest of the show. But, at the very least, if the engineers knew of the problem and could see it occurring in real time it might help them in diagnosing and fixing it for the future.

Thanks,
David

The engineering staff was actually aware of the problem. They called the transmitter engineer thinking the problem was on that end and it was not. Our MCOs are good about getting hold of an engineer when there is a problem. Usually when you see trouble with a broadcast there is at least one of us working on it.

I will hopefully have some answers tomorrow.

E

Hey errett, welcome to the AVS Forum.

This question has been discussed in the past on this board but I don't remember the answer. Why does Channel 38 not show the rebroadcast of Enterprise on Sunday night in HD? I had recorded Enterprise on Friday and found that I had the same problems as vidcamguy so I tuned in on Sunday night but it was not carried in HD. I ended up watching it in regular SD.

The problem has been found and fixed with the KASN issue from Friday night.

As far as the Sunday Enterprise feed is concerned, that is not something that is provided by the network. We record that feed and then roll it back on Sunday night. We are currently only set-up to pass HD programming from the networks, not originate it locally, so that inhibits us from capturing the HD feed and playing it back (that and a bunch of other logistical stuff).

Thanks for the questions and keep watching.

E

If someone set you up with a PC and an HD card, could you capture your own broadcast and re-broadcast it in HD?

Xesdeeni

Originally posted by jstrossner
Arxaw,

Conwaycorp claims to be the first cable system in AR to offer Aetn in hidef.
I have a Qam tuner in my tv but Conwaycorp scrambles their Hd so I've not seen it. When did AETN begin HD broadcasting? I haven't seen anything yet on KETS-DT that was in HD.

I believe Xesdeeni is correct stating that it is against FCC regulations to scramble OTA digital channels on a cable system. Those channels must be "in the clear" ....

Well, Friday night's Star Trek Enterprise was indeed in HD on KASN-DT. Unfortunately, the audio and video were out of sync by about 2 seconds. (I can't remember if the video was ahead or behind the audio, but they were way out of sync)

Thanks for getting the HD feed back up, but do you have any ideas about this A/V sync issue?

The show was a rerun last week, so no huge loss. But, still...


Thanks,
David

New 2 tuner DVR from Comcast is hooked up. It's a little faster switching than the single tuner as long as you're not recording something. Doesn't write to the disk first, so that wait is gone.

ARXAW, you can tell your friend that the menu with this is vastly improved. Even has a small PIP (like the satellite tuners) so you can see the current program while you're scrolling around.

Seems to be a problem with getting all my channels authorized, but they'll roll a truck on Wed to fix it. I think it is a bad box (I didn't drop it, so don't blame me!)

Don't know what the issue with sync was, but we did have an encoder fail and that may have contributed to it. We will keep our eyes on it and see if it happens again.

E

What channel is the HD signal for KASN?

KASN is on channel 39, but it should remap to 38.1.

Please list the channels you are receiving OTA in the Central AR area.
I'm getting:

KETS-DT
2-1 • ~66% (PBS-1)
2-2 • ~66% (PBS-2)
2-3 • ~66% (PBS-3)
2-4 • ~66% (PBS-4)
(KETS-DT reception varies greatly for me, depending on time of day and weather conditions. Early evenings or during lightning are worst, due to interference)

KARK-DT
4-1 • ~77% (NBC-SD)

KATV-DT
7-1 • 100% (ABC-HD)
7-2 • 100% (ABC-NewsNow)

KTHV-DT
11-1 • 100% (CBS-HD)
11-2 • 100% (LiveView Radar)

KLRT-DT
16-1 • 100% (FOX-HD)

KASN-DT
38-1 • 100% (UPN-HD)

Originally posted by arxaw
Please list the channels you are receiving OTA in the Central AR area.
I'm getting:

KETS-DT
2-1 • ~66% (PBS-1)
2-2 • ~66% (PBS-2)
2-3 • ~66% (PBS-3)
2-4 • ~66% (PBS-4)
(KETS-DT reception varies greatly for me, depending on time of day and weather conditions. Early evenings or during lightning are worst, due to interference)

KARK-DT
4-1 • ~77% (NBC-SD)

KATV-DT
7-1 • 100% (ABC-HD)
7-2 • 100% (ABC-NewsNow)

KTHV-DT
11-1 • 100% (CBS-HD)
11-2 • 100% (LiveView Radar)

KLRT-DT
16-1 • 100% (FOX-HD)

KASN-DT
38-1 • 100% (UPN-HD)

arawx,

Here are my readings:

KETS-DT
2-1 • ~68% (PBS-1)
2-2 • ~68% (PBS-2)
2-3 • ~68% (PBS-3)
2-4 • ~68% (PBS-4)

KARK-DT
4-1 • ~76% (NBC-SD)

KATV-DT
7-1 • ~95% (ABC-HD)
7-2 • ~95% (ABC-NewsNow)

KTHV-DT
11-1 • ~90% (CBS-HD)
11-2 • ~90% (LiveView Radar)

KLRT-DT
16-1 • ~92% (FOX-HD)

KASN-DT
38-1 • ~92% (UPN-HD)


Everyone Merry Christmas,

Today's readings:

KETS-DT
2-1 • ~28% (PBS-1)
Have never seen a picture.

KARK-DT
4-1 • ~89% (NBC-SD)

KATV-DT
7-1 • ~90% (ABC-HD)
7-2 • ~90% (ABC-NewsNow)

KTHV-DT
11-1 • ~95% (CBS-HD)
11-2 • ~95% (LiveView Radar)

KLRT-DT
16-1 • ~99% (FOX-HD)

KASN-DT
38-1 • ~99% (UPN-HD)

I did call Conwaycorp and ask if their Hd channels were scrambled. The csr put me on hold and made a call. "Yes, our channels are scrambled," was her response. I told her that it was my understanding that these channels were to be in the clear per the FCC. She put me on hold and called the department she couldn't give me the phone # for. "They said to hook up the cable, it should work. If it doesn't email them and they'll figure something out."

I subscribe to basic to get tv in the kids' rooms. The QAM tuner didn't pick up anything. The channels are 501-510.

Jeff

Has anyone else seen that KATV plans on preempting Lost and Alias for Jefferson Pilot basketball games? It is already scheduled that way for January 5th, and I have heard that it will be every Wednesday. I don't care anything about basketball, so I don't know the full schedule, but this doesn't even mean just Razorback games. I don't know how many fans of these two shows there are here, but if there are I would like to encourage you to contact them. The do plan on show the programs later in the evening, but as far as I know they do not have the capability of tape delaying in HD, so this is a pretty big deal. Anybody agree? I hope so.

About signal strengths, I haven't pitched in yet for various reasons, but I'll give a quick summary. I use a Samsung T361, and it shows signal strength with bars not percentage numbers, so I can't give an exact strength. I live in Benton, and cannot get KETS, KARK or KVTN at all. KATV comes in very strong with very few dropouts, and KTHV is even better. KASN is probably about 50% and I have a few dropout. KLRT is unusual. Sometimes it comes in fairly well, but other times I can barely get a signal. I am using an external antenna pointed toward Chenal, so I would think I would get KLRT better that KATV or KASN, but that's not the case. I don't have an amplifier in the line at all, I am hoping to try one soon. I know that there are several amps mentioned throughout this thread, but can anyone recommend one I can get locally that I can try?

Thanks

Originally posted by RockyF
Has anyone else seen that KATV plans on preempting Lost and Alias for Jefferson Pilot basketball games? ... they do not have the capability of tape delaying in HD, so this is a pretty big deal.
Correct.

KATV's equipment is still mostly analog. The only HD they can do is pass-through of real-time ABC-HD satellite feeds. If you subscribe to DirecTV, you can avoid local pre-emption of network shows by "moving" your service address to a white area address. That will get you CBS-HD, FOX-HD & NBC-HD from NY & LA. ABC-HD will be added very soon.

... I don't have an amplifier in the line at all, I am hoping to try one soon. I know that there are several amps mentioned throughout this thread, but can anyone recommend one I can get locally that I can try?Avoid any amps or preamps from Radio Shack or bigbox stores like wallyworld or HomeDespot. Their rated specs are not accurate and many of them are too noisy for digital TV. Stick with a good low-noise preamp.

The preamp frequently recommended on AVSForum is the ChannelMaster CM 7777 VHF/UHF, which I've had very good results with. However, it is not available locally. Warren Electronics (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/7777.htm) can get you one in about 2 to 3 days FedEx. If it doesn't help, you can always sell it on eBay.

RockyF,

What specific antenna are you using?

I believe it is the VU-90XR from Radio Shack.

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F003%5F001%5F002%5F000&product%5Fid=15%2D2152

I have seen the CM 7777 recommended before, I was just hoping to find something I could get quick, and return if it doesn't work, but I might get desperate enought to order it.

I know it can be done, but I'm trying to keep my satellite bill as low as possible, I just have SD from E*, so I'm not going to do the "white area" thing just yet. Thanks for the suggestions.

Hey, how come none of the Fox NFL games or prime time stuff was in HD this past Sunday (December 26)?

Originally posted by RockyF
I believe it is the VU-90XR from Radio Shack.You should be able to get KLRT-DT (fox) and KASN-DT (upn) with no dropouts, since they're broadcasting at full power. A good UHF-only antenna (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/4221.htm) might work better, and might get you KARK-DT, although they're not HD. A UHF antenna would still get KTHV-DT, which is highband VHF, but can be received with UHF antennas. KTHV-DT is full power.

The UHF antenna wouldn't get you KETS-DT (in lowband VHF on channel 5), but they're operating at such piss-poor low power, most people can't receive it reliably anyway.

Do you have to rotate your radio shack antenna when switching between the Redfield & Shinall Mtn. Stations?

Actually, I don't have to rotate the antenna, which really suprised me. That's one of the reasons I am confused about my reception. Pointing at Shinall, and I get 11, 7, and 38, but can't get 16 well. It's really weird.

The CM4221 UHF antenna and CM7777 preamp mentioned in my previous posts would likely lock in your reception.

Thanks for the advice, arxaw.

Quick question for you guys.......I will be getting a HiDef projector in a few weeks and am looking into Comcast for HDTV. Can anyone tell me what set top box they will use and the connections (HDMI,DVI, Component, ect) used on that box?
Thanks for the info.....

Born2Fly

KLRT was not in HD from Friday through Monday due to equipment problems. We were trying to get support to correct the issue, but this time of year support is very limited. Problem has been resolved.

E

Originally posted by Born2Fly
Quick question for you guys.......I will be getting a HiDef projector in a few weeks and am looking into Comcast for HDTV. Can anyone tell me what set top box they will use and the connections (HDMI,DVI, Component, ect) used on that box?
AFAIK, you can either get the Motorola HD box or the HD box w/DVR. You *may* be able to find out the model numbers from comscat, or perhaps a cable user will chime in with specific model numbers.

A neighbor of mine just got the Moto HD box with DVR. He tried to get DVI to work, but couldn't (neither could comscat - the tech was clueless), so he gave up on DVI and is using component connections to his DLP set :(

Comcast gave me the Motorola 6200. I do not have DVR version. My DVI connection is fine. I bypass the set-top box for non-HD channels, as the "scaler" in my Sharp LCD TV works better that way.

If you are going from satellite -- ask about special deals with Comcast.

Thanks for the info....I would like to get the two tuner DVR HD box...Does anyone no the pricing and availability in little rock? I have comcast for both digital cable and internet and it runs about $110 right now...

Originally posted by wangdang
... I bypass the set-top box for non-HD channels, as the "scaler" in my Sharp LCD TV works better that way...My neighbor was bitching about the really bad analog PQ, when viewed through the cablebox tuner. The problem is the cheap scaler in the Moto STBs.

Your solution would work, but it sounds like a hassle, switching inputs to watch different channels. Also, don't you lose the guide when you use the TV's tuner instead of the cablebox?

Here's my experience using the Comcast Moto 6412 HD/DVRs:

The box rents for $10/mo. Getting HD access on cable is another $5, so plan on a total package of $15 if you are going from SD to HD/DVR.
'
The two tuner system is really nice for timeshifting programs - watch one and record another, or record two of them at the same time. I've not tried using the 1394 or DVI ports for viewing. I just stick with the component cables and get a picture I'm happy with.

Looking at the SD output on the component system is really bad. Their website says it has to do with their conversion from 480 to 1080 and doing something wrong. I just lay it off to sloppy engineering and looking down the road too far...I guess they thought everyone would switch to HD immediately.

If I plan to watch a program in SD, I use another input on the set using the S-video output from the motorola box. My Mitsubishi switches really easily. That video method is about the same quality as what my TV produces by running the cable signal into the NTSC tuner. Also it gives me a way to watch two programs at once with PIP. I get all the menus with the S-video input.

If you have a HD tuner in your set, you can avoid the moto box and get your HD signals directly using the QAM decoder. Everything but the premium channels is carried in the clear.

Originally posted by wxguy
... If you have a [QAM] HD tuner in your set, you can avoid the moto box and get your HD signals directly using the QAM decoder. Everything but the premium channels is carried in the clear. But you lose the guide. And although you may be able to get some non-premium HD channels now, eventually the only HD channels that will not be encrypted are the local broadcast stations. Comscat just hasn't gotten around to encrypting them yet in LR.

Actually, they aren't intending to scramble the non broadcast channels since there are so few people with actual digital + qam tuners around. The new TV sets that are cable ready with the card provide all the control they need. You don't get the guide with those either and no PPV. Anyone who wants the guide, HBO (etc) and PPV capabilities, cough up an extra $15/mo. and get your box. We're still about 3 years away from getting a working card that will handle the cable guides-plus there is something in the works to eliminate new technology boxes anyhow. Eventually everything cable based will come off a card the cable companies rent to you (just like a box ) but I haven't heard what the card costs.

Of course when Nexstar attempts to charge Comcast for carrying their signal, and Comcast throws them off the system, you'll see more interest in off-air reception and antennas sprouting all over the place. Then again I almost never watch channel 4 anyhow since the programs suck and nothing is in HD.

Too bad we can't do that white area thing with cable. :D

Originally posted by wxguy
... Of course when Nexstar attempts to charge Comcast for carrying their signal, and Comcast throws them off the system, you'll see more interest in off-air reception and antennas sprouting all over the place. Then again I almost never watch channel 4 anyhow since the programs suck and nothing is in HD...[yawn] The only time I ever watch KARK is on a Sunday evening when I want to see the local news and it's delayed on KTHV due to sports (I never watch KATV news).

NBC-HD looks great on WNBC-DT & KNBC-DT via D* :)

Well, i'm new to the board. Have not aquired any HDTV equipment presently but am considering a settop box for standard TV when some of the weak locals increase the signals. What are some recommondations, and also what was AETN thinking when getting a shoehorned-low VHF dtv channel.

What's up with KATV? It appears that 7-1 and 7-2 are operating on reduced power the last few days.

Does anyone here know what the problem is?

Originally posted by harry71667
Well, i'm new to the board. Have not aquired any HDTV equipment presently but am considering a settop box for standard TV when some of the weak locals increase the signals. What are some recommondations, and also what was AETN thinking when getting a shoehorned-low VHF dtv channel. harry,
Welcome to the board and this thread in particular :)

You can check transmitter power levels by entering the station call letters (only) here: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/tvq.html

Stations that have a Special Temporary Authority have permission to and are likely operating at low power, mainly because the stations' owners are cheap. But in the case of AETN's (KETS-DT) power level, they are prevented by the FCC from operating at higher than 2kw ERP because their lowband channel 5 has full power stations in several directions from LR that are protected from interference.

KETS gave away perfectly good UHF channel 47 to a Sheridan station in exchange for their unprotected LP channel 5. I blame this on stupidity on the part of AETN. Lowband VHF does not work well for 8VSB digital TV, particularly at the piss poor power levels they are trying to get away with. I think AETN did the channel swap just to get on the air as cheaply as possible. IOW, they're not really on the air - at least not reliably enough to watch without annoying dropouts. They did UHF-for-VHF channel swaps in other parts of the state, too, but central Ark is the only one stuck with a lowband channel assignment that requires a monster antenna to receive. And even then, it's plagued by annoying A/V dropouts from impulse noise.

Send complaints to AETN's director:
aweatherly@aetn.org
AETN's director of engineering:
gshultz@aetn.org
"CC:" the email to the FCC's digital TV task force chairman: Rick Chessen
rchessen@fcc.gov
so AETN will see you're sending the complaint to more than just them.

Speaking of AETN:
<soapbox> What IDIOT at AETN decided to plaster a huge white channel logo bug to the TOP corner of the screen on ch 2-2? It's really annoying, especially when the logo is overlaid over someone's face :(
</soapbox>

Originally posted by toakley1
What's up with KATV? It appears that 7-1 and 7-2 are operating on reduced power the last few days.

Does anyone here know what the problem is? I'm not sure.

I'm still getting them at 100% using a CM 4221 UHF antenna + CM 7777 preamp, which helps, as does being on a hill.

Their maximum allotted power is 750kw (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?state=&call=katv), but:
KATV originally got a STA from the FCC to operate at reduced power level of only 30kW ERP, then went back to the FCC and got another STA to operate at even lower power of only 10kW ERP. So, who knows what power level they are actually getting away with at the moment.....

Comments to: jtidwell@katv.com Other contacts at KATV:

KATV Transmitter @ Redfield:
501 397-2318

Little Rock Engineer:
324-7792
Larry Porterfield:
324-7793
Transmitter @ Redfield:
501 397-2318

Main Number:
324-7777

Programming Director
324-7783

This FCC application (http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101020746&formid=381&fac_num=2770) makes it appear that AETN has no intention of increasing digital transmitter power until after analog goes dark.

If this is true, then why in the hell are they wasting money on installing HD equipment, when no one can really watch them, at least not in the LR area.

Originally posted by arxaw
I'm not sure.

I'm still getting them at 100% using a CM 4221 UHF antenna + CM 7777 preamp, which helps, as does being on a hill.


Thanks for the info.

I can only assume that it's a transmitter issue at KATV because I can receive all the other major channels except KARK 4-1. I even get the AETN channels.

At the time of this writing, KATV has started coming in again, but weaker than it normally does. Perhaps they have been working on the problem.

Thanks again.

Originally posted by toakley1
... I can only assume that it's a transmitter issue at KATV because I can receive all the other major channels except KARK 4-1. I even get the AETN channels.

At the time of this writing, KATV has started coming in again, but weaker than it normally does. Perhaps they have been working on the problem.Hmm... My signal strength hasn't changed at all for KATV-DT.

You said you can get KETS-DT. What part of town do you live in? At times, do you have A/V dropouts or pixelization on KETS-DT? Just asking, because I live on a hill with no obstructions between me & Redfield, and I have a lowband VHF antenna and VHF preamp, but KETS-DT is iffy at times for me, due to dropouts caused by interference affecting lowband VHF.

Originally posted by arxaw
Hmm... My signal strength hasn't changed at all for KATV-DT.

You said you can get KETS-DT. What part of town do you live in?

I live in Cabot, so I'm 35 to 40 miles north of Redfield. My KETS-DT reception has been surprisingly good. I have occasional dropouts, but the channels are very watchable. We probably get a clearer shot of the transmitter than many people in LR because of the flatter ground (even though it is farther away).

I get some dropouts on most of the channels, so I plan to step up to a better antenna in the future. I'm probably relying too much on my preamp for reception.

:D

I sent an e-mail to KATV's mister Tidwell around the first of December, giving my opinion's and feelings on there low power digital broadcast. I just got a reply a few days ago from him.

The jist of what he said is, all of the broadcast industry is under FCC mandate to increase their DTV power or loose their non-interference protection. KATV is under going engineering studies to ascertain the best approach to meet the requirements. He also said, that it will be an expensive undertaking but in KATV's case they may also be required to replace the tower. That tower replacement coupled with a larger transmitter will be a major expenditure.

I really never thought I would here from him, but I was surprised by his very cordial reply. I would have liked it better if he said they were increasing the power tomorrow.

I live in Stuttgart and I don't even get a hint of a digital signal from KATV and AETN. I get CBS, FOX and UPN very well, although the signals jump up and down wildly. KARK's signal doesn't look that much worse, than these three channels, but it only rarely pops in, usually in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Question, what is the signal strength required for the channel's to lock in? And secondly, as I am getting fluctuations in signal strength on 4.1, would a line amp do me any good. I've got a Direct TV Samsung model 360, ( think that's the model), and a Radio Shack antenna, don't know the model, but I paid about 80$ for it. I know that not even a line amp will help me get KATV and AETN, but I sure would like to get KARK. And I've got my antenna up as high as I can get it, about 30 feet.

One more thing, if I decide to drop Direct TV and get local cable service, with the Direct TV reciever still work to get the local over the air DTV signals.

Thanks guys.

Originally posted by HaiDan
... KATV is under going engineering studies to ascertain the best approach to meet the requirements. He also said, that it will be an expensive undertaking but in KATV's case they may also be required to replace the tower. That tower replacement coupled with a larger transmitter will be a major expenditure. KATV shouldn't have to replace their tower but they will have to replace the directional antenna they are currently using with their low power transmitter. They could've avoided a digital transmitter + directional antenna replacement if they had bought a full power digital transmitter + omnidirectional antenna to start with. That's what KTHV, KLRT and KASN did. Allbritton wanted to do KATV-DT on the cheap and now they have to pay for that short sighted decision.

Question, what is the signal strength required for the channel's to lock in? It varies by model of receiver. A steady signal is more important than a strong signal, and a different antenna would likely help with that. Like the CM 4228 8bay bowtie (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/4228.htm). But don't expect miracles like picking up KARK-DT from Stuttgart.

One more thing, if I decide to drop Direct TV and get local cable service, with the Direct TV reciever still work to get the local over the air DTV signals. Yes.

Hi...

This is my first post...YA!!!!

I'm in Clarksville, and YES I am getting reception, quite a bit actually. My new Sony 46 incher is to be delievered today, but I have been experimenting. I went and got a US Digital receiver from Wally World. I tried two indoor antennas, which didn't work much. Then I tired the silver sensor. WOW. I am able to pick up KHBS out of Fort Smith (Analog Channel 40, Digital Channel 21) just about anywhere. Then I continued experimenting. I moved it to a window, continuted to pick up Channel 40 with about 95 percent and also locked onto KLRT (Analog Channel 16, Digital Channel 30) with 60-70 percent. (This is good for an NFL nut like me).

So I took it one step further and got an old shower curtain rod and put the antenna on top of it and took it outside. Another improvment. I was still able to pick up KHBS and KLRT. Then in a scan, KTHV (Analog Channel 11, Digitial Channels 12-1 and 12-2) locked on. I continued moving the wire, yes the cable wire, around and was able to lock KTHV in at 80-90 percent. Then in another scan, KASN (Analog Channel 38, Digital Channel 39) came in spotty, about 60 percent. I was able to see their weather forecast pretty good though. The receiver was also trying to lock on to Digital Channel 9, which I think might be KAIT Channel 8 out of Jonesboro. I'm not sure.

I am not getting anything else out of Fort Smith. (KFSM Analog Channel 5, Digital Channel 18 or KFTA Analog Channel 24, Digital Channel 27). Fox KPBI Channel 46 doesn't even have a digital channel. In any case, 0 percent readings. I am also not picking up KETS Channel 2 or 13 or KATV Channel 7. Nothing on KARK Channel 4 either, but I've read the horror stories on Channel 4 anyway, so I don't expect to get those since I'm over 80 miles anyway.

I need to know which outdoor antenna to get for my area. I think it's worth it since I'm picking up four networks between the two cities.

BTW, I am operating a 30db amplifier on this silver sensor. Please respond, as I believe I am the first person to report from Johnson County. BTW, a person in Pope County (Russellville) said I wouldn't pick anything up digitally. He's a tv salesman too. What an idiot.

I am on Dish Network also, and lan to eventually upgrade to the HD receiver model 811.

Welcome to the forum!

The wallyworld USDigital receiver is very good. (The newer model coming out soon will be even better than the "DB-2010". Both are better than the OTA receiver in the 811, so you might want to hang onto the USDigital box, or return it to WM and buy another one later, if the 811 doesn't work as well for OTA.

You won't get KETS (~1kW power) or KARK (~4kW) or KATV (~10kW) until they increase their power. Top 100 market commercial stations have to do that this year, but public TV (KETS) doesn't have to increase power until 2006, or so. KTHV, KASN & KLRT are already full power. The "channel 9" you got a blip from was probably from either KAIT from Jonesboro or AETN out of Arkadelphia (http://www.aetn.org/transmitternfo/). Check the reception map for your address at:
http://www.antennaweb.org/

Antennas? Since most everything you can receive is UHF (chs 14-69) or highband VHF (chs 7-13), I would get a good UHF antenna. Most UHF antennas can also receive chs 7-13 with no problem. I would try a CM 4228 8-bay bowtie antenna (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/4228.htm). It is also directional like the Silver Sensor, so a rotor may help with your reception.

I got my antenna installed before the storms hit on Wednesday. I got one from Radio Shack. It is NOT a Radio Shack antenna though, thank goodness. I can't remember the brand, even though it was only 40.00. I believe it's a four bay. Also got a 30 foot telescoping pole, five foot antenna mast and a programable rotor. They had it marked for 89.99. I offered 59.99 for it and got it. I put the pole up about 15-20 feet and picking up the following.

KHBS-Fort Smith 95-97 percent.
KLRT-Little Rock 85-90 percent
KTHV-Little Rock 90 percent on both 12-1 and 12-2
KASN-Little Rock 70-75 percent on both 39-1 and 39-2
KAFT-Fayetteville. Initally was picking up 70-80 percent on 45-1, 45-2, 45-3 and 45-4. However, last night, wasn't picking up anything. Maybe had something to do with the storms.

I'm still running the 30 db amplifer also. It tried to lock onto 9 out of Arkadelphaia, and even tired to grab KARK at one point, but it wasn't strong enough.

Another interesting thing. When I pointed AWAY from Winslow is when I picked up KAFT. It was clearly pointed toward Little Rock whern KAFT came in clear.

KTHV comes in good in two directions, toward Shinall and also toward Poteau, Oklahoma, where KHBS is.

KHBS is very directional as is KLRT and KASN.

Kelley,
Just curious, what's on 39-2? I only get 39-1 (aka 38-1) on my DirecTV/OTA receiver...

Does your antenna look like one of these?
http://home.swbell.net/arxaw/tv/4221.jpg________ http://home.swbell.net/arxaw/tv/4400.jpg
If so, which one?

If you're getting "blips" or intermittent reception on some channels, you could probably improve those stations significantly with this antenna (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/4228.htm) and low noise preamp (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/4228.htm).

Thunderstorms will definitely affect low power stations.

If you're getting reception by aiming "away" from a transmitter, you're probably getting a bounce off a nearby mountain. Are you anywhere near Hwy 21? I drive that road about once a month and have seen several shiny new antennas on mountain-top homes along that road recently...

I'm more between 21 and 103. Probably about 4-5 miles from highway 21. The antenna on the right is what mine looks like.

39-2 is the same broadcast as 39-1. only thing I can think is that's it's a 480 or 720 format. I'm still trying to figure out all those formats and what I need to do to get them on my screen. I watched Lost last night, but I look bacvk and son't think I had it in HD. I was watching it in full screen...

Also, can I put the 8-bay in addition to my four bay I have now. That would be 12-bay, but would there be signal loss?

Read your TV's manual to see what it's native resolution is (probably 1080i or 720p). Then, set the output of the OTA tuner to whatever the native resolution is. The tuner will convert everything to the correct format.

Combining 2 antennas yields mixed results and is a crap shoot at best. You could try it, but you often end up with worse reception than before :(
The 8bay would greatly increase gain vs the 4bay. The tradeoff is the 8bay requires more precise aiming than the 4bay.

Increased gain = increased directionality.

Where did you buy your existing amp? Is it 2 piece or one?

The Amp is a Maganvox from Wally World. One piece inside deal. I'm going to go to Lowes today and see what they have to offer in antennas.

Those amps are not nearly as good as a CM 7777. The gain is overrated and they are not low noise. Noise kills a digital signal. Also, you need a 2 piece amp, aka a "preamp". The actual amp is installed as close to the antenna as possible (on the mast), and the power supply is installed behind your TV or tuner. The power is fed to the amp via the same coax that goes to the antenna. No separate power supply line is required.
http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/7775to78.jpg

The stuff you get from wallyworld, lowes, home despot, etc. won't work nearly as well as the Channel Master stuff you can order online from warren, stark or dishplace. You can always try though. Make sure they'll let you return whatever you buy....

I'm going to eventuallly try the CM model. Lowes had CM's, but not the one I wanted. So next month I'm thinking of upgrading. I've spent alot of money on this and I need to slow up for a while...lol...(Looking at investments now and getting debt free.). I just bought 100.00 worth of digital optical 6 foot componet cables. They are supposed to be one step higher than the red, green, blue component cables. We shall see. I was having problems with those last night. Blue was the only color working....

Oops....I just looked in the instruction manual and they are saying component is better than tghe composite, even the optical cable....hmmm....anyone trying either cable...

Component cables are what you want to use. Any standard video grade component cables will work. I've never heard of "optical" component cables.
RatShack here in LR has Monster® component cables for ~43 bucks, which was cheaper than their house brand cables. You can also buy them at other places that sell such stuff.
If your colors look wrong (all blue or red, etc.), check your cables to make sure they're connected to the correct jacks at both the TV and STB. Also, make sure they're seated firmly. Both of the above will cause off-color pictures.



Do NOT use COMPOSITE. That is not a High Definition connection.

Originally posted by arxaw
The stuff you get from wallyworld, lowes, home despot, etc. won't work nearly as well as the Channel Master stuff you can order online from warren, stark or dishplace. You can always try though. Make sure they'll let you return whatever you buy....

Some Lowe's sell the Channel Master 7777, so I would call around to the different stores.

Kelly,

I'm assuming your using a standard tv to view the digital signals before the Sony arrives. What does the picture output (composite analog) look like in comparison to DVD, etc. That is good news for you on the receiving end. I've just moved to Star City and have a modified UHF antenna (with VHF dipoles) for OTA channels (currently have no d*tv/dish right now). And with my location (pasture land for one mile with few trees) even at the low hight, analog channels come in decent (execpt KWBF-42, Pax 20). I think my chances of getting the digital KTHV and KASN are good, and have a shot with KLRT. Will have to wait for power increase for KARK, and KATV.

And to ARXAW, is the KETS-DT signal directional?

Originally posted by harry71667
... is the KETS-DT signal directional? Very directional, and only 1.05kW :(

Here is some transmitter info on KETS & KETS-DT from the FCC site (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=2770).
And a graph showing the directionality of their digital antenna in Redfield, on KASN's tower (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/polarplot?temp=66440&rotate=0.00&p0=0.509&p10=0.388&p20=0.336&p30=0.262&p40=0.204&p50=0.221&p60=0.204&p70=0.262&p80=0.336&p90=0.388&p100=0.509&p110=0.680&p120=0.850&p130=0.971&p140=0.996&p150=0.926&p160=0.838&p170=0.875&p180=0.960&p190=0.939&p200=0.806&p210=0.733&p220=0.832&p230=0.907&p240=0.834&p250=0.732&p260=0.807&p270=0.938&p280=0.961&p290=0.875&p300=0.839&p310=0.924&p320=0.996&p322=1.000&p330=0.973&p340=0.849&p350=0.681&p360=0.509&).

To look up info on other stations, enter only the call letters at this site (http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/tvq.html).

Well, bad news for the US Digital receiver. I'm getting blue hues on the screen when I go through the HD input on the Sony 46incher. There are two inputs, Input 5 and 6 on the Sony for the High Def. The DVD Player works great in eitherr input. We watched a movie on it last night. I'll have to start charging admission now for movie watching at my house. :-)
I took the second US Digital receiver back to Wal-Mart and got another one. Hooked it up with my Monster component cables, and again, the red does not work. Still blue hues in either input. I called Sony and they couldn't figure it out either. Only thing they could say is that the US Digital receiver and the Sony tv are not compatible in some way. But yet, the S-Video and the RCA jacks work fine with it, but there won't be any HD by using those. So now, I guess it's a trip to Little Rock or Fort Smith to get some other brand of receiver. Any ideas????

Harry, on my 13 incher tv I was using to test eariler this week, the signals were fantastic. Makes CHannels 4 and 7 on the cable look like crud. I even thought that the OTA signal of Channel 40 looked better than the Dish network signal of Channel 40.

Originally posted by Kelley
Well, bad news for the US Digital receiver. I'm getting blue hues on the screen when I go through the HD input on the Sony 46incher. What resolution is the USDigital box set to (480i 480p 1080i 720p)? Try 1080i. If that doesn't work, try 720p, then 480i or 480p. If it works on 480i or 480p, see if there is a setting in the TV's menu that be changed for inputs.


I guess it's a trip to Little Rock or Fort Smith to get some other brand of receiver. Any ideas???? The LG4200A (http://www.monitoroutlet.com/M10134.html) is the best OTA receiver currently available, according to this thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=4949267#post4949267). Not sure if it's available locally or not. You might check with Audio Dimension (http://www.audiodimension.com/LittleRockLocation.htm) in LR.

[i]
Your solution would work, but it sounds like a hassle, switching inputs to watch different channels. Also, don't you lose the guide when you use the TV's tuner instead of the cablebox? [/B]

I have a Sharp LCD and use a "Home Theater Master" remote. I have Input Selection set up on the remote so it is as easy to switch inputs as it is to change channels. I've split the signal into three lines before it hits the cable box -- one to the box, one to my DVR (a stand alone unit), one into the TV's antenna connection which must be used in order to enable PIP (the Sharp won't take 2 signals from the HD-box for PIP -- it's one thing i do not like about Sharp!).

One more weird thing that happened when switched from Dish to Comcast, its that the non-HD signals that come thru the box must either come in 4:3 with scaling disabled or come in scaled but defaulted to super Stretch with scaling enabled. This was a hidden menu item in the moto box that Comcast helped me find. This became a real pain when changing channels because when i went back to a non-HD from an HD channel, it went back to defaulted Super Stretch -- a real ugly thing for channel surfing. Anyway, that's why i just pop the Input button.

As to the Comcast Guide -- it is okay, but the Dish was far, far superior.

(Sorry for delay in answering, I've been offline with the flu)

wangdang,
[Hope you're over the flu and feeling better now]

My neighbor's comscat HD is crapping out. He gets *lots* of dropouts and pixelization on the HD channels, mainly the HD locals. Cableco's been to his house repeatedly, but all they've really done so far is a couple of STB replacements, which haven't helped. He's at his wit's end with them. Other than dumping cable, any suggestions so he can get comscat to fix the problem?

Also, which model Home Theater Master remote are you using?

Sony said anything about changing the input setting and the instructions don't say anything either. So i'm assuming tha isn't it. Possibly it is in the receiver settings, but again, I can't remeber if there is a setting for it or not. I'm at work now and I'll try when I get home. And if it don't work still, I'll go and get a better brand and try it, maybe Samsung or the LG4200...

IIRC, the USDigital box has a DTV output selector and an output resolution selector on the back panel.

Make sure they are set to COMPONENT OUTPUT and 1080i resolution.

Refer to your user manual.

Arxaw: I am not suffering the drop-outs you mentioned, but i do have a suggestion. When I switched to dish originally, Comcast (fearing that I would steal their signal), dropped the line between my house and the pole. when i re-subscribed, they had to run a new line. It made a MONSTROUS improvement in my non-HD TV's over the PQ they had before from Comcast. The installer told me that the lines and connections get so chewed up by squirrels, weather and so forth that there is often signal degradation. Maybe your friend could see if a friendly installer would re-run the line.

As to my remote: I am using the home Theater Master MX-500. I've used a number of "higher tech" (Harmony) and "lower tech" (Radio Shack) universal remotes, but this one works well and also has a high Spousal Approval Factor (she likes buttons). in fact all my set-up goes thru an extensive SAF process.

Finally got it fixed. It was in the settings....LOL...I'm stupid..:-)

Now, should it stay on 1080 all the time? I'm just wondering since different networks broadcast at different definitions.

Originally posted by arxaw
My neighbor's comscat HD is crapping out. He gets *lots* of dropouts and pixelization on the HD channels, mainly the HD locals. Cableco's been to his house repeatedly, but all they've really done so far is a couple of STB replacements, which haven't helped. He's at his wit's end with them. Other than dumping cable, any suggestions so he can get comscat to fix the problem?



A couple things I've noticed:
KTHV Ch11 seems to be having problems with their network feed with video dropouts. Local commercial inserts are fine, but it can start again when going back to HDNetwork. Seems to be better lately.

Signal strength on cable channels, either too little, or too much causes those dropouts. If they put a signal amplifier on your neighbor's cable to boost a "weak" signal that can overload the Moto box. If you see any "bleeding" from Channel 11 into the C-CPAN program ask for a new drop line--your current one is damaged. It should have been replaced in the past 5 years as part of the upgrade. He may have some older cable in his system.

Ingress from a neighborhood Xbox or Playstation can mess up the signal, but you should see a degredation in all the digital channels with dropouts.
The tech's meter may not show it...the engineers use some sort of spectrum analyzer to see it.

Finally, make sure all your splitters are full bandwidth 5-900mhz types. Older splitters certify only up to about 600mhz.

Originally posted by Kelley
... should it stay on 1080 all the time? I'm just wondering since different networks broadcast at different definitions. Yes. Set it and leave it alone.

Every stations' programming, regardless of format (480i, 720p, 1080i, etc.), will be converted by the box to 1080i and sent to the tv in 1080i.

I found something interesting here about certain antennas at this link.

http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/comparing.html

As I look at this, the 4228 seems the best. But I noticed the Winegard antenna is also good for my Fort Smith Channels. Here's the way I see it.

The Channel Master 4228 would be the antenna to use for the following Little Rock channels.

KLRT-30
KARK-32
KWBF-43
KAFT-45 (Fayetteville)

The Winegard 8 bay would be better for the majority of the Fort Smith Channels.

KFSM-18
KHOG-21
KATV-22 (Little Rock)
KFTA-27

Is it possible to run BOTH these antennas with the CM 7777? KFTA-27 could go with either atenna as the gain is the same.

PS...KTHV-12 will run on either antenna I'm sure.

Folks at Chan. 7 made a smart move -- they are carrying the Inaugural activities in High-Def, making even a bunch of boring politicians worth watching. Since pool-cameras are being used for much of it, I suspect CBS might be carrying the show in HD too, but someone at KTHV must not know how to throw the switch. And of course, my remote has a disabled NBC button, so who cares what KARK is doing.

Well, it's ABC not Ch. 7 who made the smart move, but it was good to turn on the tv a 6:30 am and see HD. I am at work now, so I can't check to see if CBS is doing anything, but there is a thread on the HDTV programming forum about ABC's coverage.

At the moment, the inauguration is 4:3 upconvert on KTHV-DT, WCBS-DT NY KCBS-DT LA, WNBC-DT NY and KNBC-DT LA. It is 16:9 HD on KATV-DT, WABC-DT NY and KABC-DT LA.
Don't blame Channel 11, CBS dropped the ball on this one....

Speaking of KTHV-DT, has anyone else noticed intermittent audio dropouts and slight pixelization on channel 11-1 lately? Signal strength during dropouts never drops below 100%.

I stand corrected, but still glad the HD is avaiaible here.

You can *try* using a hybrid splitter/combiner (http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F003%5F001%5F003%5F001&product%5Fid=15%2D1234) (as a combiner) to combine the two antennas into the CM 7777 input, but it's a crap shoot at best.

Your best options are:
Rotor with one antenna and one CM 7777 preamp.
Two antennas and two CM 7777 preamps, using a remote controlled A/B switch (http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1&catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F003%5F010%5F011%5F000&product%5Fid=15%2D1968) to jump between the two.

KTHV-DT is full power highband VHF, which usually works ok using a UHF antenna. The test page you listed shows the Winegard 8bay has slightly better gain for channel 12 (11-1's actual broadcast channel).


[Post edited to correct links]

wangdang, like you, I left KARK out of the picture, too :)

I seldom watch KARK-SD and it's not in my sat box's favorites list either.

The shame of it all is that this month's "Sound & Vision" has a blurb about NBC transmitting 5.1 surround sound on West Wing and other prime-time NBC shows. Oh well - maybe in the next world or whenever somebody buys out KARK ... hopefully before the next Olympics.

Originally posted by arxaw
At the moment, the inauguration is 4:3 upconvert on KTHV-DT, WCBS-DT NY KCBS-DT LA, WNBC-DT NY and KNBC-DT LA. It is 16:9 HD on KATV-DT, WABC-DT NY and KABC-DT LA.
Don't blame Channel 11, CBS dropped the ball on this one....

Speaking of KTHV-DT, has anyone else noticed intermittent audio dropouts and slight pixelization on channel 11-1 lately? Signal strength during dropouts never drops below 100%.

Do we get any brownie points for providing a low-def live stream of the president's ceremony on our website right now? Thought I would try.

To me you get points for just keeping up with this forum!

Alison, you always get brownie points on here :)
You can't help what CBS does (or doesn't do)....

WRT my pixelization & A/V dropout problem on KTHV-DT, Alison, are y'all having any encoder problems?.

Originally posted by arxaw
Alison, you always get brownie points on here :)
You can't help what CBS does (or doesn't do)....

WRT my pixelization & A/V dropout problem on KTHV-DT, Alison, are y'all having any encoder problems?.

Thanks to both of you! No encoder problems that I know of. The most likely culprit is the HD network receiver. It has to be cycled off from time to time. I will get it rebooted before I leave today.

Thanks Alison!

I have also noticed the dropouts on Ch. 11. As I've mentioned on here before, it took a lot of trial and error to get my antenna situation settled, but I know how dropouts normally look when my reception is iffy, and what I've been getting from 11 has been a bit different. The main difference is that it didn't affect the audio. Anyway, I'll try to check tonight and see if the reboot helps. Thanks for the input Alison!

Changing the subject a bit, but I was wondering if anybody has heard anything about WB42 lately. I'm sure it's not likely but I just thought I'd ask.

I did watch the web-cast Alison, so I applaud and thank you for having it on. Do you have a way of seeing how many people are using/used the live cast? I watched hurricane coverage from Florida stations last year and thought it was a great idea and am glad to see someone in Little Rock now doing the same!

On a completely different topic, does anyone watch the KATV SEC basketball games when Arkansas isn't included? I am amazed at the fact that instead of running 2 of ABC's top programs (of which there are what, 3???) instead they have signed off to carry Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee, Old Miss at Bama, etc. Not being from Arkansas, I don't watch the games regardless who is on, but I did notice this past weekend that the OSU-ISU game was blacked out on the ESPN basketball package due to local coverage by the ABC affiliate, who instead was showing Florida vs. somebody...Thank goodness for Sirius that I could listen to the game instead since I got the shaft from KATV.

Originally posted by nj829
On a completely different topic, does anyone watch the KATV SEC basketball games when Arkansas isn't included? I am amazed at the fact that instead of running 2 of ABC's top programs (of which there are what, 3???) instead they have signed off to carry Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee, Old Miss at Bama, etc. [/B]

Not sure, I know that KATV is bent on carrying the Razorbacks no matter what. In 1996, the station carried the JP SEC Football/Basketball games instead of even the network's (ABC) college football coverage that year--KATV blamed ABC for the problem, but the next year ABC allowed KATV to show the ABCgames on a slightly delayed basis, and still does. KATV even prempted part of a college game (that was rescheduled for a friday night) so it could show a "Razorback V. Texas" special this past year.

Usually though, KATV carries the ABC programming during sweeps (save for the Hogs).

Since this is a HDTV/ATSC board though, any word on whether KATV is going to dump its VHF channel or keep its present digital assingment when NTSC transmissions are phased out?

And during a random search of the FCC database, the proposed coverage map for KWBF's new digital station shows the coveage area *reaching* Star City. Is Equity required to bring it up full power July 2005, or is it only the four majors?

Originally posted by harry71667
... any word on whether KATV is going to dump its VHF channel or keep its present digital assingment when NTSC transmissions are phased out?KATV must have a full power DTV station on the air by July '05. This will require a new full power transmitter and omnidirectional antenna and to replace the 10kw low power + directional antenna setup they are currently using. If they get on the air full power by the deadline, the new setup will have to be on channel 22. If they want (and are allowed) to go back to channel 7 for their post-analog DTV channel, it will involve additional expensive transmitter changes.

... the proposed coverage map for KWBF's new digital station [ch 44] shows the coveage area *reaching* Star City. Is Equity required to bring it up full power July 2005, or is it only the four majors? July '05 is the full power deadline for the Big 4 in the top 100 markets (LR is market #57). Deadline for all other commercial stations is July '06. Article here (http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=2190). If they miss this deadline, they may lose interference protection for their channel.

Originally posted by nj829
I did watch the web-cast Alison, so I applaud and thank you for having it on. Do you have a way of seeing how many people are using/used the live cast? I watched hurricane coverage from Florida stations last year and thought it was a great idea and am glad to see someone in Little Rock now doing the same!

On a completely different topic, does anyone watch the KATV SEC basketball games when Arkansas isn't included? I am amazed at the fact that instead of running 2 of ABC's top programs (of which there are what, 3???) instead they have signed off to carry Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee, Old Miss at Bama, etc. Not being from Arkansas, I don't watch the games regardless who is on, but I did notice this past weekend that the OSU-ISU game was blacked out on the ESPN basketball package due to local coverage by the ABC affiliate, who instead was showing Florida vs. somebody...Thank goodness for Sirius that I could listen to the game instead since I got the shaft from KATV.

I am glad you liked the web cast. You will be seeing more and more of this in the future. It is handy for people that don't have access to TV at work to be able to watch live programming from their computer. And yes, we can track how many "streams" are used from our hosting service. For example on our Clinton library coverage, we had over 3000 simultaneous streams at one point.
I also think I may understand the situation with KATV and JP sports. If you sign up for Hog games, you actually sign up for all of the SEC baskball or football package. So whenever JP sports covers a game, the station is committed to carry it. So it is a blessing and a curse. It is great to have the Hogs on TV, but it is bad to pre-empt your network. I, for one, like to see the Hogs play, or any sports for that matter, and don't mind missing ABC that much...but that's me! Hope that helps!

Alison,
Did y'all reboot the CBS receiver?

I haven't noticed any more dropouts or pixelization today. If I see any tonight, I'll let ya know. Thanks.

[ EDIT: Alison, your reboot evidently fixed KTHV-DT's dropouts. :) ]

I can't figure out what the data rate of the video feed is from work. I don't have broadband at home, so I'm wondering whether my piddly 50Kbps is worth the trouble?

Xesdeeni

Originally posted by arxaw
Alison,
Did y'all reboot the CBS receiver?

I haven't noticed any more dropouts or pixelization today. If I see any tonight, I'll let ya know. Thanks.

We rebooted everything but still saw some pixelation, the research continues until the gremlins are found!

As for the data rate needed to view streaming, you probably need at least 140kb/s for a decent playback of the stream, but you can try!

Sorry for the long delay in responding....my computer bit the dust


Originally posted by wxguy





If I plan to watch a program in SD, I use another input on the set using the S-video output from the motorola box. My Mitsubishi switches really easily. That video method is about the same quality as what my TV produces by running the cable signal into the NTSC tuner. Also it gives me a way to watch two programs at once with PIP. I get all the menus with the S-video input.

.

I would like for the box to output from both the DVI & S-Video at the same time...The reason for this is the box will connect too both a Panasonic AE-700u Projector & a old CRT TV...DVI = Projector...S-Video = old TV. Will it do this or will I have to change outputs in a menu within the Cable box? The projector will be displaying the Hi Def & the old TV the the SD..

Originally posted by Born2Fly

I would like for the box to output from both the DVI & S-Video at the same time...The reason for this is the box will connect too both a Panasonic AE-700u Projector & a old CRT TV...DVI = Projector...S-Video = old TV. Will it do this or will I have to change outputs in a menu within the Cable box? The projector will be displaying the Hi Def & the old TV the the SD..

I believe that if a port is active on the box then you can hook it up. There isn't a requirement to switch outputs between composite, component, s-video ...they are all hot.

There is a forum on the Motorola boxes elsewhere, so maybe someone there can answer that with certainty. Some places have mentioned the DVI port wasn't activated by their cable co. I've not spent $$$ on a DVI cable just to find out if it's active here.

Speaking of KTHV-DT, has anyone else noticed intermittent audio dropouts and slight pixelization on channel 11-1 lately? Signal strength during dropouts never drops below 100%.

So glad to here this is not just me. The football game was very frustrating yesterday cause i was getting a lot of audo dropouts, yet my signal strengh is full and my picture seems unaffected. I'm not noticing the pixellation.

Just estimating, ive noticed the audio problem for about 2 weeks now.... the intermittent dropouts. I just assumed i was having multipath problems.

Azanon

I asked this about a year ago, but gonna ask it again to see if anything has changed:

Does anyone know someone or a company they'd recommend to do an outdoor, roof mounted antenna installation in W. LR? I'm already wired to my roof to my DirectTV dish, and have separate wiring for an antenna on the roof now, but I currently have no OTA antenna installed.

I've had a CM 4221A in a box for over a year now (4-way bowtie), and would love to get it installed. Its so large though, that i'd need to have probably a dedidated mast or my wiring might have to be extended to my chimney for a chimney mounting.

My house is two story, and i'm afraid of heights esp considering the slope of my house which makes me nervous, otherwise i'd do it myself.

Azanon,
You might check with Audio Dimensions on S Bowman re antenna installs.

And I'm still getting A/V droputs on KTHV-DT as well...... Alison?

Buddy of mine just added the dual-tuner HD DVR from Comcast. Works fine. And without the annoying TV-Guide ad popping up on the channel information banner. Basically cost him only $5 per month more than if he had only Comcast HD. Tempting ...

Read others' experiences with the comscat dual tuner DVR here (http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,12309134~reverse=0;days=10;root=catv;mode=full).
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/images/icons/icon13.gif

Well, i decided to hire Broadway Satellite to do the antenna install instead (CM 3021) (mainly because if they bump the satellite dish, they'll have the expertise to realign the dish... just bumping my satellite dish throws it off).

They're going to charge me $149 for a tripod antenna mount plus the installation. For you guys that know more about roofs than me (which is probably most of you), should i be worried about all the holes being drilled in my roof? Just not sure if i'm asking for trouble with holes being drilled, even if they caulk them.

The 3021 is the exact same antenna as the 4221. Just a different model number.

A tripod roof mount should work fine for a small 3021/4221. Make sure they caulk the holes with silicone caulk or roofing caulk and you shouldn't have any leak problems. Ask to see the caulk. They should not use cheap "latex" caulk. It won't hold up as well as silicone or roof caulk.

Insist that they ground the mast per (NEC) National Electrical Codes. The mast should be grounded to the same grounding point as the satellite mast; preferably the main electrical power ground for your home. If a secondary ground rod is used, a large (bonding) ground wire must be connected between the ground rod and your main power ground source.

Any coaxes coming from the antenna or sat dish must also have a grounding block installed near the point where the coax enters the house. This grounding block should also be connected to the main electrical power ground.

Originally posted by Azanon
Well, i decided to hire Broadway Satellite to do the antenna install instead (CM 3021) (mainly because if they bump the satellite dish, they'll have the expertise to realign the dish... just bumping my satellite dish throws it off).

They're going to charge me $149 for a tripod antenna mount plus the installation. For you guys that know more about roofs than me (which is probably most of you), should i be worried about all the holes being drilled in my roof? Just not sure if i'm asking for trouble with holes being drilled, even if they caulk them.

Man, I was just about to post for you to be VERY cautious about hiring Broadway. They did my initial DirecTV install in 1998. The kid they sent out didn't look a day over 18 and had to borrow some of my tools to get the job done. A cordless drill and socket set, to be exact. He did a horrible job not only mounting it but pointing it as well.

About a year later I decided to get an antenna mounted to the side of my house. I decided to give them another chance. I called and got a reasonable quote from them. I told them about my last install and told them I wanted someone older and more experienced this time. They agreed. Several hours after the time the install was supposed to happen no one had shown. I called and the guy on the phone said he thought that had been rescheduled. I told him it had not and he said he would send someone out ASAP.

About an hour later the same incompetent kid that installed my satellite dish showed up. I had to leave so I couldn't supervise the install. I just had them run the cable under the house to a hole in the floor behind the TV.

When I got home to check out the installation I was pissed. I should not have paid before checking out the job. The kid did a piss poor job of mounting it. He had only used two bolts and zip ties. I swear to God, zip ties! If I still lived there I would post pictures. This was the house I sold before moving to LR and checking out your speakers.

I adjusted the antenna for reception myself. The hardware was good. The only problem was that anytime there was even the slightest wind the antenna would sway and my reception would go to crap.

I suppose I should have called them back to come fix it but I didn't want them near my house again. They will never get another dime of my money and I'll never recommend them.

When I moved in 2003 I used Custom Satellite for my new install. I could have gotten the free install from DirecTV but I was afraid they would contract through Broadway. I believe the installer from Custom Satellite was named Chris. I couldn't possibly have been happier with the job he did. He didn't just do the job, he really went beyond the call to make sure my reception was perfect and that the install was as clean as possible. If you ever need a satellite or TV service install and Custom Satellite offers it I recommend them.



Now I have to try to find a good place in this thread to start reading. I have the urge to buy something and once again I'm leaning towards HD equipment. I need to find out the status of LR stations.

Originally posted by ClutchBrake
... I need to find out the status of LR stations.

-PBS KETS-DT VHF channel 5 low power ~1 kW ERP
Multicasts 4 subchannels of PBS programming @ 480i only.

-NBC KARK-DT UHF channel 32 low power ~4 kW ERP
480i no multicasting (yet).

*ABC KATV-DT UHF channel 22 low power ~10 kW ERP
720p HD + one subchannel of ABC News Now @ 480i

*CBS KTHV-DT VHF channel 12 full power.
1080i HD + one low bandwidth radar image subchannel @ 480i

**FOX KLRT-DT UHF channel 30 full power.
720p HD - no multicasting (yet)

*UPN KLRT-DT UHF channel 39 full power.
1080i HD - no multicasting (yet)

- = SD only
* = HD
**= HD + DD 5.1 sound

For antenna pointing map, go to http://www.antennaweb.org