Well, its probably going to be hit or miss with Broadway. I had 2 individuals from broadway do my dish a year ago; the first claimed to not have a ladder tall enough to get to my roof so he had another guy out come out later that did. Both of them were definitely older than 18.

Yeah you're right, they'll get paid AFTER i am satisfied with the job. Companies like this are completely at the mercy of me being satisfied, cause i have squeeky clean credit and have no intention of needing loans for years; point being until i'm happy; they're not getting paid - simple as that.

I will be there during the day of install though, so we'll have a discussion before they even get on my roof, and if i detect they intend to do a half-ass job, then it just isnt going to happen.

....

Btw, good to hear from you clutchbrake. My Ascends are sounding better than ever now, and i have my rear speakers now mounted high on the back wall which seems to help the overall sound dispersion quite a bit. Thanks again for balancing them... i still am using your settings.

Re: your urge for wanting HD, i figured I probably helped cause that problem. I recall showing you HDNet in 1080i the day you came over :-)

Thanks for the info, y'all.

I'm disappointed NBC isn't HD. Good news about FOX, ABC, UPN, and CBS though.

Not sure I'm ready to make the jump yet though. I was hoping everyone would be HD and offer DD. It is going to take the whole deal to convince me to watch even a little bit of TV without my DTiVos.

I spent some time reading about DirecTV's HD plans last night. Looks like the timeline for me is roughly 2007. That works OK for me. I'll jump in with both feet when a large capacity HD compatible DirecTV DVR (I hate that they are dumping TiVo) is field proven and affordable. As I understand it the current HD models will need to be swapped out when DirecTV switches to MPEG-4. Still fine for OTA HD though.

I have a decent HD compatible TV right now. I bought it knowing full well it would be a transitional set between SD and HD. Once DirecTV gets their HD plans in place and going I'll definitely be on the bandwagon.

...

Azanon, I'm glad your're still happy with your Ascends. If you even want to borrow my equipment or want me to come over and recalibrate let me know. I'd be glad to.

I love my Ascends too. I just noticed one of my rear 340s is pulling one of the mounts out of the wall though! Guess I should have used more anchor bolts (or whatever they are called). I'm considering replacing the rear 340s with flush mountable 200s when I paint. I'm just not sure I want to give up matching 340s all around.

Originally posted by ClutchBrake
... I have a decent HD compatible TV right now.
If you want to see the picture quality your HDTV is capable of, go out to Wallyworld on hwy 10 & Chenal and pick up a US Digital OTA tuner (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2598451). It's for OTA & USDTV subscription TV, but works great for OTA only. USDTV subscription OTA service is not yet available in LR.

If you don't think it's worth the money, just take it back for a refund, no questions asked. ;)

EDIT to add> KTHV-DT (CBS) in LR will be adding DD 5.1 audio "soon". For details, email
technicalservices@todaysthv.com

Originally posted by arxaw
If you want to see the picture quality your HDTV is capable of, go out to Wallyworld on hwy 10 & Chenal and pick up a US Digital OTA tuner (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2598451). It's for OTA & USDTV subscription TV, but works great for OTA only. USDTV subscription OTA service is not yet available in LR.

If you don't think it's worth the money, just take it back for a refund, no questions asked. ;)

EDIT to add> KTHV-DT (CBS) in LR will be adding DD 5.1 audio "soon". For details, email
technicalservices@todaysthv.com

Funny you should mention that tuner. That is exactly why I started looking into HDTV stuff again. I was browsing the TiVo forum and someone linked to it and that set me to searching. $200 plus $XX for an antenna seemed like a small price to pay.

I've seen HDTV a few times. The first time I saw it was at Sears. I seem to recall it being Discovery HD. Wow. Then Azanon tempted me last year when I was at his house. At the time I was waiting for more local stations to go HD. They are getting very close.

OT a bit, but I LOVE that Wal-Mart. My office is way out on Chenal so it is very convenient. It is so much better than the Bowman Wal-Mart.

One last question on the 6412 HD 2 tuner comcast box....Is the DVI connection DVI d .... DVI a .....or HDMI? The projector is in the mail and So I will be buying the cables tomorrow.

umm, i know there's a difference, but i think some dvi connections are hdmi compliant, so both???
anyway, if the box supports dvi/hdmi, just buy "dvi" cables. you're not going to find different subtypes of dvi cables, the other choice being component hdtv connectors.

Originally posted by Azanon
umm, i know there's a difference, but i think some dvi connections are hdmi compliant, so both???
anyway, if the box supports dvi/hdmi, just buy "dvi" cables. you're not going to find different subtypes of dvi cables, the other choice being component hdtv connectors.

No....DVI d & DVI a use slightly different connectors...HDMI use a very different connector. You are confusing HDMI with HDMI Being HDCP compliant.

Originally posted by Born2Fly
One last question on the 6412 HD 2 tuner comcast box....Is the DVI connection DVI d .... DVI a .....or HDMI? It's DVI. But YMMV getting it to work though. My neighbor never could get his DVI to work and had to use component cables when he tried out that box.

http://broadband.motorola.com/dvr/dct6412.asp

No....DVI d & DVI a use slightly different connectors...HDMI use a very different connector. You are confusing HDMI with HDMI Being HDCP compliant.

Just go to your local best buy or radio shack and get a "DVI" cable in the TV section of the store (not the pc section). You have my word you'll be just fine. No need to unnecessarily complicate things.

I do recall, now, reading something about the upcoming HDMI connectors that are supposedly superior to DVI. They're coming, but they're not here yet, at least not in any volume. I'd be surprised if there's even one TV/LCD that uses HDMI being sold at best buy. Just a year ago or so, having a DVI connector was considered somewhat upscale (as opposed to just HDTV component).

Originally posted by Azanon
Just go to your local best buy or radio shack and get a "DVI" cable in the TV section of the store (not the pc section). You have my word you'll be just fine. No need to unnecessarily complicate things.

I do recall, now, reading something about the upcoming HDMI connectors that are supposedly superior to DVI. They're coming, but they're not here yet, at least not in any volume. I'd be surprised if there's even one TV/LCD that uses HDMI being sold at best buy. Just a year ago or so, having a DVI connector was considered somewhat upscale (as opposed to just HDTV component).

I have found out what the cable box uses DVI d...The projector is HDMI and is HDCP Compliant... So it will be a DVI d to HDMI cable....

Buy a cable at Best Buy? Cheap Cables at 5 times the price....

Sorry to say, there are two DVI types and HDMI has been around for at least 2 years now...

Originally posted by Azanon
... I do recall, now, reading something about the upcoming HDMI connectors that are supposedly superior to DVI. They're coming, but they're not here yet, at least not in any volume. I'd be surprised if there's even one TV/LCD that uses HDMI being sold at best buy. Lots of TVs (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=cat12085&type=page&sc=Electronics&qs=hdmi&cp=1&sp=Relevance&mipp=25&uq=hdmi&_requestid=16166) have HDMI now. Two DirecTV boxes have HDMI (the HD DirecTivo and the DirecTV "H10" STB).

The difference between HDMI & DVI is HDMI carries both audio & video, but DVI carries video only. The HDMI connection is not "superior" to DVI. WRT picture quality, they are the same.

Adapters are available for both if your equipment doesn't all have the same connector.

Has anyone been experiencing dropouts on KATV the last couple of days? It could just be my set up which tends to vary from day to day, but I have been pretty steady lately. I still haven't added an amp or even rotated my antenna toward Redfield, but they were solid a few days ago and now they are not.

Thanks
Rocky

The difference between HDMI & DVI is HDMI carries both audio & video, but DVI carries video only. The HDMI connection is not "superior" to DVI. WRT picture quality, they are the same.

Ahh, well who cares about that then. Anyone serious enough about their sound to demand a digital connection via HDMI should instead have a 5.1 setup anyway. And in that case, they'll be using the coax or optical jack of the STB to their receiver, not the HDMI to the TV (for audio). Forced to say, which gives me the more theatre like experience; my HDTV or my 5.1 DD Ascend acoustics, i'd have to say its a tie. Losing either would significantly degrade the overall experience.

Yes, just walking by the TV, i've noticed some sound dropouts on KATV too.

Originally posted by Azanon
Ahh, well who cares about that then. Anyone serious enough about their sound to demand a digital connection via HDMI should instead have a 5.1 setup anyway. And in that case, they'll be using the coax or optical jack of the STB to their receiver, not the HDMI to the TV (for audio). Forced to say, which gives me the more theatre like experience; my HDTV or my 5.1 DD Ascend acoustics, i'd have to say its a tie. Losing either would significantly degrade the overall experience.

Yes, just walking by the TV, i've noticed some sound dropouts on KATV too.

Can't wait till I get back from lunch to address this one!!! HDMI makes me hungry!!!

Since KATV doesn't seem to monitor this forum, you can notify the Engineering Dept about their audio problems by submitting a form at their web site:

http://www.katv.com/contact.hrb

Also email: jtidwell@katv.com

Originally posted by Azanon
Ahh, well who cares about that then. Anyone serious enough about their sound to demand a digital connection via HDMI should instead have a 5.1 setup anyway. And in that case, they'll be using the coax or optical jack of the STB to their receiver, not the HDMI to the TV (for audio). Forced to say, which gives me the more theatre like experience; my HDTV or my 5.1 DD Ascend acoustics, i'd have to say its a tie. Losing either would significantly degrade the overall experience.

Yes, just walking by the TV, i've noticed some sound dropouts on KATV too.

First off. The advantage to having a HDMI connection is to be HDCP compliant...All displays and their sources will be using HDCP copy protection in the future.I have a 6.1 system and it is getting its sound from the optical connections. Now for alot of the public, they have a TV (be it SD EDTV or HDTV) and use the sound from that. Considering they want a simple connection from the source (set top box).HDMI is it....Video-Sound-HDCP...Their all there in one simple connection that looks like a giant USB plug. The old saying is proving true...KISS (keep it simple stupid)

DVI d

http://home.comcast.net/~allmyfiles/AVS/images/DVIdplug.jpg

DVI i

http://home.comcast.net/~allmyfiles/AVS/images/DVIiplug.jpg

HDMI

http://home.comcast.net/~allmyfiles/AVS/images/HDMI.jpg

Well I called Comcast to get pricing and they said $9.95 a month so I told them to sign me up. They wanted me to have the box (6412) installed by them for more money. I declined and picked it up myself. When I got there I was told the 6412 duel tuners where out.... lets see....45 min from phone to Comcast office...they said they would be in Monday so I took one of there one tuners and will go back Monday... They also said the DVI port is not working....Sure would like to know how having the DVI disabled is helping them....

That sounds like a typical comscat experience.

First off. The advantage to having a HDMI connection is to be HDCP compliant...All displays and their sources will be using HDCP copy protection in the future.I have a 6.1 system and it is getting its sound from the optical connections. Now for alot of the public, they have a TV (be it SD EDTV or HDTV) and use the sound from that. Considering they want a simple connection from the source (set top box).HDMI is it....Video-Sound-HDCP...Their all there in one simple connection that looks like a giant USB plug. The old saying is proving true...KISS (keep it simple stupid)

1. First, you dont need a HDMI connection to be HDCP compliant. My tv uses only DVI and it is HDCP compliant. The manual specifically says it is. (its a Samsung TXN3098WHF).

The advantage of HDMI was as stated earlier; it has the ability to also carry multi-channel audo. Also, unlike DVI’s 5 meter limit, HDMI cable can be run up to 15 meters when used properly.

2. Second, when someone says DVI, DVI-D can be assumed. Both my TV (referenced above) and my STB (a Zenith HD-SAT520) make mention several times of their "DVI" connection in the manuals (since it has a DVI port) but no where will you find it specifically saying DVI-D. Also, i guarantee you i can find a DVI cable being sold at Best buy that wont specifically say DVI-D. Point being, DVI-i is not that common.

3. Third, my opinion still stands re: the sound issue. Anyone serious about the HD experience is going to have both HDTV and DD 5.1 sound or better. I really dont care about other lesser technologies.

As an analogy, i'm also into Top end pcs. I couldnt tell you the first thing about integrated video cards on MBs, because as with the HD experience, any serious PC hardware enthusist will have an add-on video card.

For those wondering, DVI-I is not important because it only differs from dvi-d in that its providing an additional 5 pins for analog connections. DVI-D provides only a pure digital connection... which is what you should strive to have if possible.

Originally posted by Azanon
1. First, you dont need a HDMI connection to be HDCP compliant. My tv uses only DVI and it is HDCP compliant. The manual specifically says it is. (its a Samsung TXN3098WHF).

The advantage of HDMI was as stated earlier; it has the ability to also carry multi-channel audo. Also, unlike DVI�s 5 meter limit, HDMI cable can be run up to 15 meters when used properly.

2. Second, when someone says DVI, DVI-D can be assumed. Both my TV (referenced above) and my STB (a Zenith HD-SAT520) make mention several times of their "DVI" connection in the manuals (since it has a DVI port) but no where will you find it specifically saying DVI-D. Also, i guarantee you i can find a DVI cable being sold at Best buy that wont specifically say DVI-D. Point being, DVI-i is not that common.

3. Third, my opinion still stands re: the sound issue. Anyone serious about the HD experience is going to have both HDTV and DD 5.1 sound or better. I really dont care about other lesser technologies.

As an analogy, i'm also into Top end pcs. I couldnt tell you the first thing about integrated video cards on MBs, because as with the HD experience, any serious PC hardware enthusist will have an add-on video card.

For those wondering, DVI-I is not important because it only differs from dvi-d in that its providing an additional 5 pins for analog connections. DVI-D provides only a pure digital connection... which is what you should strive to have if possible.

You miss the point completely...I needed to order a cable from a company that has both cables and I don't walk or buy blindly...Any HDMI connection will be HDCP compliant but DVI may or may not be...Somehow you took my question about the Comcast box as to mean I am an idiot. Sorry but you are wrong on the DVI i as not being digital as well..It does have an analog signal as well as a digital one. It does not make the DVI d Better Than the DVI i....HDMI has an audio signal as well...That makes it Bad? I don't use the audio side of HDMI, I use optical...The projector does not even have sound.....While you are going on about 5.1 for anyone who is into HDTV You are forgetting that there just may be someone on here that does not really care about the sound...I could talk about your cute little TV and say anyone who was into HDTV would never own such a small little TV.Everything you have brought to the table sounds more like a personal attack....While you assume I don't know what I'm talking about I know you are very lost (reference the cable length above...wrong).

Now this has gotten so far off topic that this will be my last post in this thread.I thought that people handled themselves better here.

thank you for the help arxaw....

You miss the point completely...I needed to order a cable from a company that has both cables and I don't walk or buy blindly...Any HDMI connection will be HDCP compliant but DVI may or may not be...Somehow you took my question about the Comcast box as to mean I am an idiot. Sorry but you are wrong on the DVI i as not being digital as well..It does have an analog signal as well as a digital one. It does not make the DVI d Better Than the DVI i....HDMI has an audio signal as well...That makes it Bad? I don't use the audio side of HDMI, I use optical...The projector does not even have sound.....While you are going on about 5.1 for anyone who is into HDTV You are forgetting that there just may be someone on here that does not really care about the sound...I could talk about your cute little TV and say anyone who was into HDTV would never own such a small little TV.Everything you have brought to the table sounds more like a personal attack....While you assume I don't know what I'm talking about I know you are very lost (reference the cable length above...wrong).

1. No one said you were an idiot. That's your self-reacting, defensive behavior talking to you. We just told you to go buy a DVI cable at your local store and you'll be gtg. We were right. You didnt say initially that you were "bound" to buy it from this store that had both. Sounds like you added that to me. In fact i'd bet on it. You got defensive and that's not my problem.

2. I didnt say DVIi was not also digital. I said DVIi ALSO provides an analog connection (in addition to the digital being implied by the word "also"). Please pay attention.

The "D" in DVI stands for digital. We all know that here. Glad to hear you do too.

3. You said HDMI connections differ from DVI ones in that they provide HDCP compliance. That was wrong and i pointed it out. Now you're amending what you said cause you seem to have problems with being corrected. Doesnt change you being wrong the first time though.

4. When did i say HDMI connections were bad? (answer: i didnt) If i had one, i'd still use it. In fact, if i had a choice, i'd get it over DVI being that its newer technology. I just wouldnt use the audio portion of it.

5. I'm personally attacking you but you're not attacking me? hehe, joo funny. You started jabbing me with every post from the outset when i suggested you go out and buy a DVI cable and you'd be gtg. (which, btw, would have solved your issue)

6. Big/small is relative. HDTV is HDTV.

Everytime i visit someone's home and see one of those mammoth 60' rear-projection TVs sittin on the floor, hdtv or not, all i can think is "gaudy". Different strokes, different folks. No offense to anyone here that has one of those, of course :-)

Sometimes, you can overkill.... you know, like getting 6.1 sound for a grand total of 5-10 movies that support it? /wink.

7. And you know what you're talking about? Then what's with your misinformation?

8. The supposed extra cable length support of HDMI i got from another webpage earlier today, and now forgot the link. I'm assuming the rationale was because it provides more bandwidth. I did check up on that per what you said, and noticed there are some very long DVI cables being sold, so i guess that information was wrong.

But hey, i dont have any problem being wrong. I'm wrong all the time. The whole point of this forum is for us all to put our heads together so we end up with the most accurate information.

9. Now this has gotten so far off topic that this will be my last post in this thread.I thought that people handled themselves better here.

So did i. If you had just bought the DVI cable to start with :-). And, btw, Best buy doesnt sell cheap cables. Since when is Monster Cable cheap? Overpriced maybe, but not cheap. Hells Bells go to Radio Shack then. The point was to get a DVI cable, not get hung up on the store, lol.

Originally posted by Azanon
1. No one said you were an idiot. That's your self-reacting, defensive behavior talking to you. We just told you to go buy a DVI cable at your local store and you'll be gtg. We were right. You didnt say initially that you were "bound" to buy it from this store that had both. Sounds like you added that to me. In fact i'd bet on it. You got defensive and that's not my problem.

2. I didnt say DVIi was not also digital. I said DVIi ALSO provides an analog connection (in addition to the digital being implied by the word "also"). Please pay attention.

The "D" in DVI stands for digital. We all know that here. Glad to hear you do too.

3. You said HDMI connections differ from DVI ones in that they provide HDCP compliance. That was wrong and i pointed it out. Now you're amending what you said cause you seem to have problems with being corrected. Doesnt change you being wrong the first time though.

4. When did i say HDMI connections were bad? (answer: i didnt) If i had one, i'd still use it. In fact, if i had a choice, i'd get it over DVI being that its newer technology. I just wouldnt use the audio portion of it.

5. I'm personally attacking you but you're not attacking me? hehe, joo funny. You started jabbing me with every post from the outset when i suggested you go out and buy a DVI cable and you'd be gtg. (which, btw, would have solved your issue)

6. Big/small is relative. HDTV is HDTV.

Everytime i visit someone's home and see one of those mammoth 60' rear-projection TVs sittin on the floor, hdtv or not, all i can think is "gaudy". Different strokes, different folks. No offense to anyone here that has one of those, of course :-)

Sometimes, you can overkill.... you know, like getting 6.1 sound for a grand total of 5-10 movies that support it? /wink.

7. And you know what you're talking about? Then what's with your misinformation?

8. The supposed extra cable length support of HDMI i got from another webpage earlier today, and now forgot the link. I'm assuming the rationale was because it provides more bandwidth. I did check up on that per what you said, and noticed there are some very long DVI cables being sold, so i guess that information was wrong.

But hey, i dont have any problem being wrong. I'm wrong all the time. The whole point of this forum is for us all to put our heads together so we end up with the most accurate information.

9.

So did i. If you had just bought the DVI cable to start with :-). And, btw, Best buy doesnt sell cheap cables. Since when is Monster Cable cheap? Overpriced maybe, but not cheap. Hells Bells go to Radio Shack then. The point was to get a DVI cable, not get hung up on the store, lol.




1. �umm, i know there's a difference, but i think some dvi connections are hdmi compliant, so both???
anyway, if the box supports dvi/hdmi, just buy "dvi" cables. you're not going to find different subtypes of dvi cables, the other choice being component hdtv connectors.�


In your first post you admitted you wasn�t sure about the details, as well as being wrong about just �buying DVI cables��.I needed a DVI to HDMI Cable. You also knew nothing about HDMI�..Or HDCP for that matter.

"Just go to your local best buy or radio shack and get a "DVI" cable in the TV section of the store (not the pc section). You have my word you'll be just fine. No need to unnecessarily complicate things."

�I do recall, now, reading something about the upcoming HDMI connectors that are supposedly superior to DVI. They're coming, but they're not here yet, at least not in any volume. I'd be surprised if there's even one TV/LCD that uses HDMI being sold at best buy. Just a year ago or so, having a DVI connector was considered somewhat upscale (as opposed to just HDTV component).�

Again�..So wrong�..And was corrected by arxaw with�.

�Lots of TVs have HDMI now. Two DirecTV boxes have HDMI (the HD DirecTivo and the DirecTV "H10" STB).

The difference between HDMI & DVI is HDMI carries both audio & video, but DVI carries video only. The HDMI connection is not "superior" to DVI. WRT picture quality, they are the same.�


�2. I didnt say DVIi was not also digital. I said DVIi ALSO provides an analog connection (in addition to the digital being implied by the word "also"). Please pay attention.�

I�ll give you that�.I read wrong�..


�3. You said HDMI connections differ from DVI ones in that they provide HDCP compliance. That was wrong and i pointed it out. Now you're amending what you said cause you seem to have problems with being corrected. Doesnt change you being wrong the first time though.�

Wrong�..�The advantage to having a HDMI connection is to be HDCP compliant...All displays and their sources will be using HDCP copy protection in the future�

HDMI MUST BE HDCP COMPLIANT�.DVI does not HAVE TO BE�..

�4. When did i say HDMI connections were bad? (answer: i didnt) If i had one, i'd still use it. In fact, if i had a choice, i'd get it over DVI being that its newer technology. I just wouldnt use the audio portion of it.�

You did here�. �Ahh, well who cares about that then. Anyone serious enough about their sound to demand a digital connection via HDMI should instead have a 5.1 setup anyway. And in that case, they'll be using the coax or optical jack of the STB to their receiver, not the HDMI to the TV (for audio). Forced to say, which gives me the more theatre like experience; my HDTV or my 5.1 DD Ascend acoustics, i'd have to say its a tie. Losing either would significantly degrade the overall experience.�

�5. I'm personally attacking you but you're not attacking me? hehe, joo funny. You started jabbing me with every post from the outset when i suggested you go out and buy a DVI cable and you'd be gtg. (which, btw, would have solved your issue)�

Would have solved my issue��I would have bought the wrong cable�..Needed a DVI to HDMI cable

�Everytime i visit someone's home and see one of those mammoth 60' rear-projection TVs sittin on the floor, hdtv or not, all i can think is "gaudy". Different strokes, different folks. No offense to anyone here that has one of those, of course :-)�

Well�..you jump at the chance belittle some people's sound�.Now there TV�s!

�Sometimes, you can overkill.... you know, like getting 6.1 sound for a grand total of 5-10 movies that support it? /wink.�

Now it�s 6.1 your after�..

�8. The supposed extra cable length support of HDMI i got from another webpage earlier today, and now forgot the link. I'm assuming the rationale was because it provides more bandwidth. I did check up on that per what you said, and noticed there are some very long DVI cables being sold, so i guess that information was wrong.�

Ok�.I guess me and everyone else who is run 50 and 60 foot length must be really bad a measuring�..and that�s both DVI and HDMI�.

�But hey, i dont have any problem being wrong. I'm wrong all the time. The whole point of this forum is for us all to put our heads together so we end up with the most accurate information.�

We tried to tell you you were off base�..

Like Mama used to say, "You boys take that argument outside (out of this forum, please! and into the Private Message Chamber)"

thanks wangdang

I thought he said he was done, anyway?

blah blah blah B2Fly. I'm done with you.

My goodness, I am out of town for a week and come back and we got's us a donneybrook! This type of anger is usually saved for KARK's lack of HD!

Excellent point! Ok, time to write some nastygrams to KARK. :-)

Hi, I live in downtown Little Rock close to the Capital. Anyone have feedback on OTA reception in my area? Do all channels come in well or are some poor?

Thanks

knighttd,

Assuming you're using a good outdoor antenna (Indoor antennas are a crap shoot, at best), it should be fairly easy to receive these full power HD stations:
KTHV-DT (CBS)
KLRT-DT (FOX)
KASN-DT (UPN)

You may have trouble with these low power stations:
KETS-DT (PBS)
KARK-DT (NBC)
KATV-DT (ABC)
These stations are only broadcasting at a fraction of their permitted power levels. And of these three, only KATV is broadcasting network programs in High Definition. KETS & KARK are only 480i standard def.




Do NOT buy any antenna sold under the TERK brand. They are overpriced junk.

Well, ABC News Now is gone, so KATV is back to wasting bandwidth on a useless, SD simulcast. Who's gonna watch that anyway?

Disney pulled the plug on the OTA version of ABC NewsNow.

Contact KATV Engineering (http://www.katv.com/contact.hrb) and ask them what purpose the 4:3 channel serves. It does waste bandwidth that theoretically could be used for a better HD picture.

Finally dipped my toes in the water,

Purchased a US Digital/Hisense ota-stb from Wal Mart, and connected to my VCR (the TV, a late 1980's vintage RCA Colortrak has no jacks--but a still like new picutre despite the age). Did a channel scan and here is what I receive west of Star City (flatlands with pastureland to my north with trees over 1 mile away).

2-1 KETS (same as analog channel) sd
2-2 "aetn 2" (sd)
2-3 PBS National Feed (sd)
2-4 PBS Kids (sd)
11-1 KTHV-DT (HD--grey pillars, black letterbox)
11-2 KTHV Live View Radar (sd)
16-1 KLRT-DT (HD-black pillars, letterbox)
38-1 KASN-DT (HD-black pillars, letterbox)

The antenna is a modified RS-U75R with added dipoles for low/high VHF @ 10 ft, but house sets on rise about 10ft HAAT. No preamp, cable is low-loss RG-6 (50ft). Currently have no sat. system and cable tv is not available in area.

Tried to scan for 22-1 (KATV), but its too weak and unstable to lock, didn't even bother about KARK ;)

Might take plunge later for HDTV monitor, what are the best recomendations for CRT based (not projection) under $800.

Still enjoying my Digital TV...:-)
An update, I am picking up KAFT once again, all four channels. So maybe they were off the air for a while. Am still using the 4-bay antenna and I will wait to upgrade once KATV and KARK boost their signals. I have a feeling I may get them since 11, 13, 16, 38 and 40 come in pretty strong. Now here's my question. D* Network is raising their prices, trying to get more money for IMHO crappy programming. Who wants to watch polka on Saturday nights on RFD TV? I have the 60 channel package with the Fort Smith locals on 2 DVR receivers and am paying 60-dollars a month. Now I guess it will go up another five bucks or so.

D* TV has 130 plus channels with seven locals out of Fort Smith in their package, which would include the NFL Network, ESPN Classic, G4Tech TV and some more HD programming than what is on D* Network. Oh and I could get the NFL Sunday Ticket package. (Don't tell my wife) :-)

Does anyone here have D* TV and is it better than Dish and how much are you paying for the TIVO service?

Originally posted by harry71667
Finally dipped my toes in the water,

Purchased a US Digital/Hisense ota-stb from Wal Mart, and connected to my VCR (the TV, a late 1980's vintage RCA Colortrak has no jacks--but a still like new picutre despite the age). Did a channel scan and here is what I receive west of Star City (flatlands with pastureland to my north with trees over 1 mile away).

2-1 KETS (same as analog channel) sd
2-2 "aetn 2" (sd)
2-3 PBS National Feed (sd)
2-4 PBS Kids (sd)
11-1 KTHV-DT (HD--grey pillars, black letterbox)
11-2 KTHV Live View Radar (sd)
16-1 KLRT-DT (HD-black pillars, letterbox)
38-1 KASN-DT (HD-black pillars, letterbox)

The antenna is a modified RS-U75R with added dipoles for low/high VHF @ 10 ft, but house sets on rise about 10ft HAAT. No preamp, cable is low-loss RG-6 (50ft). Currently have no sat. system and cable tv is not available in area.

Tried to scan for 22-1 (KATV), but its too weak and unstable to lock, didn't even bother about KARK ;)

Might take plunge later for HDTV monitor, what are the best recomendations for CRT based (not projection) under $800. If you added a good low noise preamp like the CM 7777 V/U (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/7777.htm), you might be able to get KATV-DT to lock, if you're getting any signal at all now.

Wallyworld has some great deals on directview HDTVs. The 30" Sanyo (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2601425) I saw at a WM here in LR had a fantastic picture, and it has a built in tuner, too. Not sure if it could beat the HiSense at fringe reception, though. If it worked well, you could return the HiSense box for a refund. The WM web site shows the Sanyo "out of stock", but you might call around and see if a nearby WM has one in stock.

Kelly,

You mentioned Dish Network's possible rate increase. I made the decision to forgo the "dish" or D*TV at this time. Even though I got to see a demo of locals on Dish Network recently, it wasn't enough to make me get the service. Besides I would have had to upgrade to the HD reciever should I aquire an HDTV monitor later (to see HD content). And there are only a few cable channels that are in HD presently. And still have to use the antenna to get locals in HD.

RFD-TV, what is that???

As for KATV-DT, I cannot get a lock on the signal--its very unstable and signal strentgh varies wildly going strong then completely dropping out. Might be the low height or lack of preamp. BTW, I live just right outside the service contour for KLRT-DT and the signal is about 50%, but haven't seen a dropout yet. Also according to antennaweb, I was only supposed to recieve KETS-DT and KASN-DT, but getting decent analog signals from KLRT and KTHV previoiusly gave me hope. BTW, KTHV-DT is very strong about 80% here.

Another take, the Wally World box has a zoom function that can be set independently for each channel for those still on the old-school (NTSC) TV's; it helped for SDTV programming on HD stations (instead of the "postage stamp" effect).

Did watch "American Idol" in widescreen last night but it dropped back to 4.3 (SD?) for a brief period not during a commerical (during which time the "FOX" bug came on the screen). Anyone with an *actual* HDTV notice this?

Originally posted by Kelley
... Does anyone here have D* TV and is it better than Dish... I've had D* (DirecTV) since 1995. IMO, D*s HD equipment is superior to Dish Network's. DirecTV's new OTA HD tuners are supposedly much better than Dish Network's. You can also order D* packages without locals if desired, and save ~5 bucks a month. With Dish Network, locals pricing is now included in their programming package prices and cannot be deleted for credit.

You can choose one of the DirecTV Spanish packages and save a little more money too, compared to DirecTV's TotalChoice & TotalChoicePlus packages. Although not advertised much, the Spanish (ParaTodos) packages include a *lot* of English language channels, too. Click below to see if any of the spanish packages have enough English channels to suit your needs. http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/learn/ParaTodosPackages.dsp

For TotalChoice packages & prices, go here:
http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/learn/Packages_Comparison.dsp

Harry-
I can''t get cable where I live, so I'm basically stuck with the 4 or 5 channels I can get if i drop the dish. So I need one of the gray disks. RFDTV is some Rural Farmrs television. It's stupid...lol. 99 percent of the channels in the 9400 catergory on the Dish are stupid, yet they promote those as part of the 60 they give you. Add to that the 10 plus shopping channels you're left with cable ala 1980....

Originally posted by harry71667
...RFD-TV, what is that???http://www.rfd-tv.com/start3.html

Did watch "American Idol" in widescreen last night but it dropped back to 4.3 (SD?) for a brief period not during a commerical (during which time the "FOX" bug came on the screen). Anyone with an *actual* HDTV notice this?This is a common occurence, and it's often the fault of the local affiliate. But it's anyone's guess as to what caused the glitch you saw in the middle of programming.

When HD broadcasts are on, most local affiliates have to manually switch back to the HD feed after local breaks or local programs end. If they are "asleep at the switch", you'll get the SD version of the show until the MCO "throws the HD switch".

KATV does this a *lot*. In fact, they did it last night on the first part of ABC's "Lost". KTHV also forgets to throw the switch occasionally. Their weekend people seem to be worse about this.

Bottom line, if you know a show should be in HD but it's not, most of the time it's the local affiliate's fault.

Yeah i saw the switch to SD too during American Idol. Interesting how that also affects the DD sound too.

It was addressed earlier in this thread, but i still find it amazing that an actual human has to throw a switch to go from HD to SD, and back to HD again. Seems like this could/should be automated.

The drop to HD on American Idol was to put in that "Idol Minds" graphic. I noticed it go to 4:3, then the graphic, and then back to HD. It said only on Fox 16 so I am assuming that this is something local. I work at 16 in the news dept. on the weekends, but I'm not really sure what this Idol Minds thing is. Errett would probably know. Also, as far as the "throwing the switch" thing goes, Fox has a splicer that the other networks don't have, that eliminates that switch, but they did have to switch it over to show that graphic. I wasn't listening in 5.1, so I didn't really notice the sound change.

KLRT is the HD leader as far as i'm concerned (locally) since it has DD 5.1. Also, it seems like they have a LOT of shows in HD too, maybe more than CBS? KTHV needs to quit saying they're the HD leader now until they at least step up to digital sound. And i have a 1080i native TV, but i'm not noticing any picture quality dropoff consdering my STB has to convert it to 1080i from 720p. Granted I only have a 30" HDTV....... but it wouldnt be fair to dock them for using 720p because there are certainly plenty of TVs, including most HDTV capable LCDs/Plasmas that run 720p native anyway.

Its been debated on other threads, but i think Digital sound and picture should go hand in hand.

I'm with Azanon in regards to digital sound and picture going hand in hand. I was very disappointed when I found out only KLRT was offereing DD.

God only knows when it will be but I'm ready for everything to be DD (or whatever the next standard will be). I find watching a show like Battlestar Galactica without DD 5.1 distracting.

Originally posted by RockyF
The drop to HD on American Idol was to put in that "Idol Minds" graphic. I noticed it go to 4:3, then the graphic, and then back to HD....Fox has a splicer that the other networks don't have, that eliminates that switch, but they did have to switch it over to show that graphic. I wasn't listening in 5.1, so I didn't really notice the sound change. I thought the whole point of the splicer was so the local station could add these types of things without dropping back to SD.

Xesdeeni

What is the status of WB HD in LR? They offer a lot of HD that has a different focus that sets it apart from the leaden, dreary dramas and humorless sitcoms on CBS&NBC.

Azanon, I agree with you about 5.1 and HD going hand in hand and I email Alison about it a few weeks ago. She said that they should be able to add 5.1 by the middle of the year. Also, I can't really tell much of a difference in 1080i and 720p on my 51" 1080i set.

Xesdeeni, you are probably right about that, and I'm really only guessing, but I like I said, I saw it drop to 4:3, do the graphic, then come back to HD, so I thought that was the issue. I know that the other stations don't put the weather maps in the corner on HD broadcast, but I've never made the comparison with 16. I'll try to ask Errett if I see him tomorrow.

phitz, I asked this question a couple of weeks ago and didn't get an answer, so maybe somebody's heard something since then. Smallville is the only show I really watch on WB, but it would be nice to get them in HD. Of course NBC HD would be nice too.

The drop to SD during American Idol was our fault on the local end. We thought we had it bypassed for the HD feed, but we were wrong. Got it straightened out for the Super Bowl though.

Hope you guys enjoyed the game in HD and we are looking forward to Daytona!

E

I kept getting dropouts during the super bowl. It got so bad I had to switch to WNYW on D* to watch the game in HD.

Anyone else have problems with KLRT-DT during the SB?

Yes, I had a problem with the klrt-dt broadcast. I can hear the sound, but I get no picture. I think the problem is with my A** HDTV wonder (which is the only HD tuner that I have.) I could watch klrt-dt perfectly in December (but not in August - Novermber), but then it stopped working before the new season of 24! I had to watch the superbowl in sd. The kets, kthv, katv, and kasn digital stations all come in fine (kark is too weak.) I could buy a stb tuner, but I like being able to record hd shows and I don't want to waste any money. I would appreciate any helpful ideas anyone might have.

thanks

I had no dropouts of sound or picture during the Superbowl.

Anybody have any audio on UPN during Veronica Mars?

Hey guys, I have a question for you. What stations in LR are O&O?

Thanks,
Tommy

Hey guys, I have a question for you. What stations in LR are O&O?

None.

Well, looks like I might be moving my D* service to NY so I can keep my HD DNS feeds until they get HD LIL in LR.

Thanks.

UPN audio problem was on the local end. We discovered and corrected the problem this morning.

Does anyone get their SD Little Rock locals through DirecTv? I've noticed over the past month that all of the stations have a black bar at the top and bottom when my tv is in natural mode. When I stretch the 4:3 picture to fit the 16:9 tv, I end up with black bars on the left and right. All other channels (i.e. ESPN, A&E, Discovery, etc.) are fine. Just curious. I think DirecTv is getting a bad feed.

Has anyone seen the marcoblocking on KETS-DT. It has gotten severe since Friday. BTW the signal levels here are fine 85-90% with a preamp.

Also, have a question about KATV: what are the plans for 7-2. Will there be another news feed, or (hopefully not) another radar feed.

Originally posted by Tusk
Does anyone get their SD Little Rock locals through DirecTv? I've noticed over the past month that all of the stations have a black bar at the top and bottom when my tv is in natural mode. When I stretch the 4:3 picture to fit the 16:9 tv, I end up with black bars on the left and right. All other channels (i.e. ESPN, A&E, Discovery, etc.) are fine. Just curious. I think DirecTv is getting a bad feed.

Haven't seen the black bars on D* locals. I use OTA for the locals anyway. Way to bandwidth starved to watch thru D*. OTA is a much better option for me.

Originally posted by harry71667
Has anyone seen the marcoblocking on KETS-DT. It has gotten severe since Friday. BTW the signal levels here are fine 85-90% with a preamp.

Also, have a question about KATV: what are the plans for 7-2. Will there be another news feed, or (hopefully not) another radar feed. harry71667,
I'm getting the same macroblocking on KETS-DT. I think their encoder is hosed.
Send complaints to:
aweatherly@aetn.org


WRT KATV-DT, quite a while back I was told by someone at KATV that they had plans to do some sort of local news on 7-2, like a replay loop of previously shown local news. This was before ABC News Now ever came on the scene (and left), so I don't know if they have any plans for 7-2 at all, except KATV-480i.

I think 7-2 is a waste of bandwidth, but have heard that cable operators in some areas are using SD subchannels for their cable feeds. So maybe that's what KATV is going to use it for.

Originally posted by dlott
Haven't seen the black bars on D* locals. I use OTA for the locals anyway. Same here.
Why pay for blurry locals on D* when you can get crystal clear digital OTA for free?

American Idol still dropped to SD for the Idol Minds gfx last night. I'm gonna e-mail Errett real quick and see what's up.

An update....

Finally seeing a decent picture on KETS streams this evening :)

Earlier this week during some major ducting, was able to lock in (for a while) KARK-DT and even KVTN-DT (no sound though). Logged some of the analog LPTV's and even some out of town stations (but no DTV's).

I've already gotten spoiled with this, the low band (vhf) analog OTA's (espcially KARK) look bad with all the static inherient with fringe reception.

What are the status of the Memphis OTA digitals? I live too far for everyday viewing but could get them occationally during tropo enhancements.

I think it was Tuesday night in between two of the ABC network shows there was an announcement from Dale Nichols the GM of KATV.

He stated that they have received many calls complaining about Lost and Alias being preempted by Razorback basketball and that next year KATV will have the ability to broadcast multiple shows simultaneously.

I wonder how the order will be set. Razorback on 7 and 7-2 and Network programming on 7-1? or something else.

Originally posted by harry71667
...What are the status of the Memphis OTA digitals? You can check the Memphis local thread here:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=4441186#post4441186

Originally posted by hpb
I think it was Tuesday night in between two of the ABC network shows there was an announcement from Dale Nichols the GM of KATV.

He stated that they have received many calls complaining about Lost and Alias being preempted by Razorback basketball and that next year KATV will have the ability to broadcast multiple shows simultaneously.

I wonder how the order will be set. Razorback on 7 and 7-2 and Network programming on 7-1? or something else.

File this under Common Sense: sometimes its too obvious--If this was a great use for multicasting, *this was it*. I heard Dale Nicholson mention $3M to upgrade. Methinks this is the upgrade to KATV's digital signal (allowing full power transmissions) and/or HD studio equipment (to time shift, etc HDTV programming). I'd bet the farm, KATV promotes HDTV/DTV once the power increase occurs

Network and contractual objections aside: KATV *could* have shown both last night, but most viewers would have not been able to choose (being on analog cable, D* and DishNetwork, and analog OTA).

I really don't care what katv does. I get Lost, Alias etc. on WABC & KABC in HD on D*.

Did you contact KETS re their macroblockin problems? I did and then they fixed the problem a couple of days later. Just wondering if they received any more complaints. Probably not, since most people can't receive their weak signal, anyway. :(

Originally posted by arxaw
...Did you contact KETS re their macroblockin problems? I did and then they fixed the problem a couple of days later. Just wondering if they received any more complaints. Probably not, since most people can't receive their weak signal, anyway. :(

Yes, AETN heard my complaint :). I also found out about AETN's HDTV plans. Beginning mid-March, the network plans to air HDTV programming in prime time and collapse the subchannels during HDTV transmissions. Also the East/Central time zone National feed (aka AETN-3, 2-3) will be converted to a full time educational feed.

I still question AETN's choice of a shoehorned low VHF channel, as it all but shuts out any viewers in east central Arkansas, and western parts of central Arkansas.

It was all about doing DTV on the cheap. Never mind that few of their viewers (and their most likely supporters) can actually receive the lowband VHF channel.

Installing HD equipment that only a handful of people can receive is a waste of the state's money. They should've kept their original UHF channel assignment (ch 47).

Lowband VHF (chs 2-6) haven't worked well for DTV anywhere they've been tried. Too much impulse noise interference (appliance, hair dryer etc. dropouts) and too much tropo/e-skip interference from co-channels during certain parts of the day/year, etc. On analog, impulse noise shows up as sparklies and dots on the screen, but on digital it can cause annoying A/V dropouts.

Guess i wont be getting it cause i have a UHF only antenna. I ended up cancelling my D* subscription cause even the HD movies look worse on my TV than DVD movies run in 480p. The only channels that ever had nice picture quality on my D* were HDnet, DiscoveryHD, and ESPN HD. HBO HD sucked for me.

The "upside" to a smaller HDTV (like my 30inch) is that 480p looks pretty darn good on it.

For some reason, the audio quality is/was always far better from a DVD for me, despite many of the HBO movies being in DD 5.1. Also, i'm a DTS nut, and get all giddy when a movie supports that (on DVD).

Azanon,
Right now, D* is cramming 3 HD channels onto 1 transponder. Using MPEG2, there just isn't enough bandwidth to do that for 1920x1080i. So they're down-rezzing some of the channels to something like 1280x1080i to save BW. Be sure and tell the CSR poor HD quality is the reason you're cancelling. I am considering cancelling when my free 6 months of the HD package runs out.

Also, DirecTV has made it harder to reach a live human on their regular numbers. You might want to try:
800 730-4742
or
800 600-8977

On the bright side, D* HD picture quality will improve substantially later in the year when they get the first two of several new satellites working.

D* will also give you a new HD box that does MPEG4. But LR HD subscribers may not get a new box until D* gets the LR HD channels on the satellite (and in MPEG4). IIRC, they're going to do box swaps on a market by market basis.

The new HD boxes will be made by Humax and have vastly superior OTA tuners compared to existing boxes. A cheap indoor antenna will probably be all you need for solid reception of FULL POWER stations.

Most of what i like to watch is on local networks anyway, which as you've said, you can get the best HD quality OTA. I've been doing pretty well with my indoor antenna lately.

The other thing i like to watch is movies. I've just found that Netflix has been a far better solution for me than paying for premium movie channels on D*, cause i can rent exactly what i want to, get better sound, no dropouts, and no degraded/faded looking picture quality like i was getting on HBO. Give it a few years, and we'll have Blue-Ray or some other similar technology to rent/view HD DVD movies.

Mail-order movies is the bomb.

RE: Canceling D* -- I found HD happiness by trading in my E* box for CramCast. Their Satellite Trade In program is a good deal financially, about half price of their normal digital rates. That made it worth doing even though I had to pay E* for a couple of months to finish out a contract. I never watched HD-Net or HD-Net movies -- but the two channels of INHD have have provided the family with lots of good programming -- these are part of the cable HD package at an extra $5 a month. If you decide to switch, check out the two-tuner HD-DVR deals -- $10 a month, but you don't have to pay the $5 for the HD package. There are drawbacks, but it works for us.

I will wait for MPEG4 on D* instead of switching to scumcast cableco.

Scumcast has provided horribly incompetent service to me in the past; so bad that I will go back to just OTA TV before I ever go back to cable. I know they've improved somewhat, but they still have service problems, at least in my neighborhood. YMMV

Anyone in the know have an idea how long until we see our local news station using HD for their telecasts? Again, I think of THV claming to be the HD leader, with no HD news and I get a little confused. I know they just mean they "pass on" HD from CBS, but still. If its as glorious as Craig says it is, you'd think new HD cameras would be at the top of THV's buy list.

Are we talking months, years, decades? Anyone wanna take a stab?

Azanon

Originally posted by Azanon
Anyone in the know have an idea how long until we see our local news station using HD for their telecasts? Again, I think of THV claming to be the HD leader, with no HD news and I get a little confused. I know they just mean they "pass on" HD from CBS, but still. If its as glorious as Craig says it is, you'd think new HD cameras would be at the top of THV's buy list.

Are we talking months, years, decades? Anyone wanna take a stab?

Azanon

The only info I can recall on this came from Allison on 10/07/04

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.


__________________
Alison Fletcher
Director of Technology
Today's THV

For now, i'd be more than satisfied with 480p widescreen, if that's what your cameras can do. I only own a 30" HDTV now, so 480p looks pretty darn good on it. Of the two primary benefits of HDTV (widescreen and sharper more vibrant image), the aspect i like most is simply the widescreen, panoramic view. The extra crisp detail is just a cherry on top for me. I imagine if i had a 50"+, i might say otherwise.

Again, for whatever reason, the end user is not seeing widescreen even at 480p though you say the camera is capable of it (the widescreen i mean, my TV upconverts 480i to 480p). I didnt think widescreen alone required much more bandwidth, if any additional amount at all.

It's even easier than that. For the most part, the same SD equipment can be used for widescreen 480i (480p is a different story). So they could switch to widescreen 480i, without changing any equipment (the 4:3 monitors would just show tall skinny video). They'd have to re-do their graphics, but that's just a simple matter of doing a horizontal shrink. And they'd have to be able to cherry-pick the middle region to downconvert to 4:3 for the SD analog broadcast. But it seems like it'd be relatively easy, and worth the marketing hype they could generate from it.

Xesdeeni

Originally posted by Azanon
... I imagine if i had a 50"+, i might say otherwise.You would :)

I don't think widescreen SDTV would be a format most viewers would like. Fox Network's failed experiment with "480 widescreen" made them the HD Losers until they upgraded to real HDTV.

I don't think widescreen SDTV would be a format most viewers would like. Fox Network's failed experiment with "480 widescreen" made them the HD Losers until they upgraded to real HDTV.

Speak for yourself. I thought the fox 480 widescreen was fantastic myself. Even then, they had the DD 5.1 sound. Now with 720p display, its tweaked even better. But for me, it was merely a tweak.

Again, you're comparing that to true HD. What we have now for our local news is SD, letterboxed news. Surely SD widescreen news > SD letterboxed news, at least for someone with a widescreen TV.

Hey i'd love a 40+" LCD HDTV, but they're still so out of sight pricewise, i'm just not ready to bite that bullet. And i'd just be dissatisfied with a rear-projection TV.

According to the KTHV website (http://www.kthv.com) the station is carring 3 streams of the NCAA Tournement. Thusday's schedule is shown. Note that the games seen on digital 11-1 are *not* // with analog channel 11. The "Live View" stream (11-2) will apparently be prempted for the third channel of games.

Another unrelated subject: 2-3 (KETS, Central Arkansas and the other AETN "n-3" channels) are showing PBS You (http://www.pbsyou.org) instead of the East/Central PBS national feed. The West PBS national feed (2-2) still remains, as is the KETS low power digital signal.

WOW....well I know what I'll be going when I get home from work today...:-)

Originally posted by harry71667
...The West PBS national feed (2-2) still remains, as is the KETS low power digital signal. I wish AETN would remove the bright AETN² logo on 2-2. Being in the upper right corner of the screen, it often ends up right on top of people's heads. At the very least, they should dim the logo and move it down to the bottom of the screen.

I emailed AETN to complain about the logo (and lack of sufficient transmitter power). No response so far.

Speaking of AETN, does anybody know the status of the of the other station in the network. We always talk about Ch. 2, but I can't seem to find anything about the others, specifically Ch. 9 out of Arkadelphia. I live in Benton, so I figure if they have better power, I could possibly get it, but I can't get a blip out of 2.

RockyF,
KETG in Arkadelphia is only transmitting at ~7kW ERP (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?state=&call=ketg&arn=&city=&chan=&cha2=69&serv=&type=0&facid=&list=2&dist=&dlat2=&mlat2=&slat2=&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&size=9).

It's a shame that several central AR stations including AETN don't care enough about DTV to transmit at a strong enough signal to even be reliably received in the Pulaski/Saline area.

Email Tony Brooks at AETN
tbrooks@aetn.org

Had to work most of the evening, and only got to see 4 hours today of the NCAA 's. Even though I'm using only a standard (non-digital/non-HD) TV, the downconverted signals (from 11-1, and 11-2) look great in comparison to the OTA analog signal (some light "snow") at my location.

If there is ever a killer app for "multicasting", this is it :)

AETN 3 (aka 2-3) is going by "AETN Scholar". A prmitive 1970'ish slide covers the screen (with no sound) between programs on "PBS You" , and the pledge drive shows (// with 2-1) are shown during prime time.

A few questions before I go...

What channels are the locals going to keep after transistion?

Is KWBF broadcasting a digital signal at all? they are shown to be another d**n "STA". The only thing I have seen on digital channel 44 was KYTV (http://www.ky3.com) Springfield, MO during a tropo opening last month (my first dtv "dx", excepting KARK ;) )

Since KTHV, KLRT & KASN already have full power transmitters, they may keep the digital channels they are currently using. Hopefully, some of the folks from those stations who post here will chime in and let us know the facts.

I looks like katv will use channel 22, if this FCC application (http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101040079&formid=382&fac_num=33543) is correct. They also have an application for a new full power dual-channel antenna for chs analog 7 & digital 22 to be installed below their existing analog antenna. I heard that their existing (el-cheapo) low power/directional setup for DTV 22 will be obsolete, because it can't be upgraded to full power.

KARK has filed an application (http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101037027&formid=382&fac_num=33440) to use channel 32, which they currently use for DTV. Even if allowed, it would be stupid to use lowband VHF channel 4 for DTV. Chs 2-6 are plagued by impulse noise and tropo interference.

KETS-DT is temporarily using channel 5 for DTV. They can't go full power on 5 because there are too many other nearby "5" stations already. KETS has chosen to wait (http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101037164&formid=382&fac_num=2770) until the second round of channel selection to pick a channel. Both of their existing VHF channels (analog 2 & DTV 5) are poor choices for DTV.

Thanks for the info arxaw, although I actually spoke a little too soon. I made a slight adjustment to my antenna Wed. evening, because KATV was dropping out. I had been hesitant to do that, because I had a solid lock on 11 and 16, and could sometimes get 7 good, but when there was a little rain it would drop out real bad. So I turned my antenna about 45 degrees, not even an eight of a turn, and saw 7 lock in real well. I then checked 11, 16, and 38 so I was happy. Well, last night, right after I posted, I decided to do a rescan just for grins, and now 2-1 through 2-4 are coming in strong. Still nothing from KARK or KVTN though. I am still running the midpriced Radio Shack antenna with no preamp or amp. I was very suprised to see them come in so well, and they were still there this morning. Has anybody else shown any improved reception, or could this just be a weather thing?

Originally posted by harry71667
...Is KWBF broadcasting a digital signal at all?
I don't think so. FWIW, they have chosen channel 44 as their post-transition channel. They might be interested to know that viewers in this area have been getting Springfield 44 during good tropo conditions, because it might interfere with their new DTV station. You can contact KWBF at:
LWITHROW@EBCORP.NET

The only thing I have seen on digital channel 44 was KYTV (http://www.ky3.com) Springfield, MO during a tropo opening last month.. [/B]Cool. Did you contact KYTV's engineers (http://www.ky3.com/contactinfo.asp)?

The farthest DX TV reception I've picked up at my current address is KRIV ch 26, out of Houston, TX. Just analog, though.

Originally posted by RockyF
... I am still running the midpriced Radio Shack antenna with no preamp or amp. I was very suprised to see them [KETS-DT] come in so well..I've noticed no increase at all for the signal strength of KETS-DT.

A good preamp may improve your reception of LP stations. Like the CM 7777 (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/7777.htm).

I"ve been doing some checking on the FCC station query on stations ouside of LR DMA predicted to be recieved in portions of Southeast Arkansas.

KTVE (NBC) El Dorado, AR /Monroe, LA--DTV channel 27. Currently an STA and broadcasts only to immediate El Dorado area. Full power signal (w/transmitter at Huttig, AR) should reach nearly to Pine Bluff to north, and Greenville, MS to east, and Minden, LA to West. DMA--Monroe/El Dorado. (Note: KARD (FOX), KNOE (CBS), KLTM (PBS) and KAQY (ABC) transmitters are located near Columbia, LA south of Monroe and barely reach Arkansas with grade B *analog* signal)

WABG (ABC) Greenwood/Greenville, MS--DTV channel 32. Predicted signal reaches near Monticello and towns of McGehee, Lake Village, and Dermott. Unlike Analog channel 6, its directional (to protect KARK-DT???). Transmitter at Inverness, MS (near Indianola, MS). Not on air yet.

WMAO (PBS/Miss Public Television) Greenwood/Greenville--DTV channel 25. Non-Directional but same transmitter location as WABG. Currently on air but I have not received it yet with current antenna system.

WXVT (CBS) Greenville, MS--DTV channel 17. Smaller coverage area than WABG, but transmitter located between Shaw, and Cleavland, MS (due east of McGehee)so Arkansas covearge nearly comparable. Currently operating as an STA (receviable in Lake Village?)

Of all these stations, only WMAO (http://www.etv.state.ms.us) seems to promote DTV much less HDTV. The other stations have no mention of DTV/HDTV on their websites.

OK, now that I can get KETS-DT, I want some HD. Harry, in a post from a month ago on the last page, you said that they told you they would do HD in mid-March. Hey, that's now! You've already noted the changes in their subchannels, so has anybody seen any HD yet?

Originally posted by RockyF
... has anybody seen any HD [on AETN] yet? Nope. No HD yet.

[you didn't expect AETN to actually meet a deadline did you? <LOL> ]

Arxaw,

I did email the KYTV engineering with the reception report. Also documented the receptions with a couple of dozen digital photos of screenshots (of the KY-3 HD feed [3-1] and the UPN-15 SD subchannel [3-2] ) for personal records.

That station has a killer signal especially if one lives on a hill in North Arkansas. I expect some serious co-channel interfernce with KWBF when it goes live. Same scenaro with WABG-DT (Greenwood), and KARK-DT in Drew, Arkansas, Desha, and Lincoln Counties.

Beautiful day today, so I decided to check my signals, KETS-DT was full of dropouts, and I couldn't get KLRT at all. Anybody else having problems getting 16 today.

I find that KETS-DT (RF ch 5) reception is *very* weather dependent. Their signal is just too weak, and there are too many variables that can cause problems with their low power signal in the VHF low band. Down the road, it looks like KETS-DT will abandon the low-VHF band for a better DTV channel choice. In their latest FCC application, they appear to have given up rights (http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101037164&formid=382&fac_num=2770) to keep chs 2 & 5 post-transition.

What was your signal strength on KLRT-DT?

I just ordered Voom and was wondering if anyone else in the area had it. Who did the install and how did it go? Does the antenna for OTA channels work well? Thanks.

Don,
I've had Voom for about a year. Installs Inc. contracted with an installer in Little Rock. Installation was quick and uneventful. I already had an OTA antenna set up, so I didn't use the Voom antenna.


Jeff

I think Custom Satellite on W Markham still installs voom.
501 221-3474

I wonder how the Echostar (Dish Network) buyout will affect voom subs, if it goes through.

There is a lot of discussion about Voom's future over in the HD Programming section, but I don't think anybody knows for sure.

Did anybody else see stars on 7-1 last night. I was just switching around right at 7 PM, and on 7-1 there was just a solid black screen with stars on it. 7-2 was carrying Extreme Makeover like usual. It only lasted about 5 minutes into the show, but I don't know how long it was up before that. Weird.

In regards to the Arkdelphia KETS, I am in Hot Springs and made an attempt for the digital signal, and got some strength, but not a lock. Just using RS 15-880's...didn't spend that much time on it, but if someone had a higher rooftop with an amp, I would bet they could get it, at least in hot springs. I think Little Rock is too far for you guys to get anything from them.

Last week, it was great to see KTHV carry multiple games of the NCAA's--yet tonight and last night, 'THV airs the *same* game on 11-2 as on 11-1. C'mon, at least show the same game as on analog 11. I hate having to switch over to an analog channel, kinda reminds me of seeing NBC shows on KARK :(

Originally posted by nj829
In regards to the Arkdelphia KETS, I am in Hot Springs and made an attempt for the digital signal, and got some strength, but not a lock. Just using RS 15-880's...didn't spend that much time on it, but if someone had a higher rooftop with an amp, I would bet they could get it, at least in hot springs. I think Little Rock is too far for you guys to get anything from them.

You might want to point the antenna toward Gurdon which is their QTH. I've not received the KETG (Arkadelphia) digital signal, though the analog signal is snowy but watchable here (when antenna is aimed). Too bad that the KETS *digital* signal is directional, low power , low band and misses Hot Springs.

AETN is finally airing HD programming....

However....(yes, there is a catch)

It is running the "PBS HD" feed only during prime time (7-10pm)--programming differs from KETS analog. Also the multicasting is shut off during this time.

Anyone else notice and how is the PQ on a real HD set (and not downconverted analog like me :( )

I haven't seen HD on KETS-DT yet, but am glad they finally started.
I'm shocked they're actually doing the right thing by not multicasting during HD. Multicasting during 1080i HD seldom works well.

Now, if they would just up their power level to overcome the problems inherent w/ the low VHF channel they begged for. That ain't gonna happen, though. It would interfere with all the protected channel 5 stations in surrounding areas.

I saw an add on KWBF Saturday night saying that you could now watch all WB shows in HD. This was a local ad specifically for 42 (not a national ad). I'm not getting any signal for 42 on my HD Tivo.

Has anyone else heard about this and have they started broadcasting?

Their website doesn't have any mention of it that I can tell, and titantv still says they are "Under Review," so I don't know. With our luck, if they are on, they probably are running on power levels similar to KARK-DT and KETS-DT. I'll run a rescan when I get home, but I'll believe it when I see it.

only thing i see on digital 44 this morning is KYTV (http://www.ky3.com) and its comming fairly good, although its starting to drop...BTW, the second (mulitcast) channel 3-2, is that of the UPN sister station (an LPTV on analog ch 15), and is *not* running an informerical---airing a somewhat tabloidish program, The Daily Buzz . 3-1 is airing Today----

meanwhile over at KARK, no signal in NW Lincoln County, again.

Only thing I saw of note on KWBF's (http://www.wb42.com) site is that Dwayne Graham ended up there. Maybe he should investigate the station's airing of Jim Bakker, lol.

Originally posted by RockyF
...With our luck, if they are on, they probably are running on power levels similar to KARK-DT and KETS-DT. Yep.

If they're on at all, they have an STA to transmit at only 6.7kW ERP. See:
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?state=&call=kwbf

The FCC maps show that their "STA" 6.7kW transmitter is downtown, probably on a building and not very high (~600 ft or so). Don't look for reliable reception, if any.

If you want to bug the station, call 501 219-2400

Yeah, I saw that note about Dewayne being over there, I'll have to check that out this afternoon. I hope it's not as bad as Doug Krile's show. I worked with Dewayne for several months there at 16, so it's good to see he's got a job, but c'mon, 42 is the bottom of the barrel. I worked with Doug 9 years ago at 4, and he's a great guy, but that newscast is just bad. Anyway, somewhere back on this thread, there was a mention that WB42's tower was going to be on the TCBY, sorry Metropolitan Bank Tower, so would that much height help the signal any?

Originally posted by RockyF
... somewhere back on this thread, there was a mention that WB42's tower was going to be on the TCBY, sorry Metropolitan Bank Tower, so would that much height help the signal any? I wouldn't call ZERO much "height", compared to other stations in the area

Per FCC site (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=37005):
KWBF-DT: Antenna Height Above Ground Level: 0 meters AGL

For comparison, here's KASN-DT's
Antenna Height Above Ground Level: 571 meters AGL

Well, KATV is also showing 0 meter AGL on that site, so I figure that can't be right. I also don't really trust the contour maps, as they show that I should be able to get KARK in Benton.

You're right about the contour maps. Hell, I can't get KARK today either, and I'm ~7 miles from Shinall and can almost see the tower from the hill I live on. Doesn't matter, I watch WNBC-HD out of NY ;)

I had Voom installed last night and the dish location on my garage worked out well for the satellite reception. However, with the Winegard Sensar II antenna attached to the dish, I was only able to get KHTV from where I live at a low area in Pleasant Valley. The installer says he will try and get Voom to approve whatever antenna I want installed. I was wondering if I should try and stick with the Winegard because its bidirectional and that might be the best antenna in my situation where the stations at Redfield and Shinall Mt. are almost 180 degrees apart. I would ask for an install apart from the dish which will allow me to move it up 20 more feet to the roof and actually direct it towards the signals. Or, should I go ahead and ask for the CM4331 with the CM777 preamp to be installed on the roof? Thanks for your help.

Don

I would ask for a CM 4221 antenna (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/4221.htm) and CM 7777 preamp (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/7777.htm).

If Redfield and Shinall are 180° off axis from you, you might get away with aiming the 4221 toward Redfield. If that gets you KATV & KASN (in Redfield) but not KTHV & KLRT (on Shinall), try removing the screen wire grid on the back of the CM 4221 to make it bi-directional.

Don't hold your breath trying to get KETS or KARK. If you do get them, consider yourself lucky.

Don,

Sorry to say that I wouldn't expect the Voom installer to return with a different antenna. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=515000 . Looks like we have another 3 weeks to enjoy Voom!

Jeff

(also see: http://www.voom.com/ )

Maybe you'll luck out and VOOM won't bother to collect their receivers. If so, you can use them for OTA reception (unless they somehow send a signal to kill the receivers' OTA feature).

My Channel 183 on Comcast which is Fox HD has been black for a day or so. They off air or is that a cable problem?
-------------
Well, I looked at it about 10pm Sat and it was back on.
Maybe something intermittant going on?

I haven't noticed any problems lately with FOX-HD on KLRT-DT, WNYW-DT (NY) or KTTV-DT (LA).

I had some audio problems on KASN-DT a few days ago, but the station seems to have fixed the problem.

It does look like Voom is dead. I went up and moved the antenna, and I am able to get KHTV, KASN, and KETS all with reception in the 90's. I guess I am picking up KETS because the Weingard Sensor II is VHF/UHF. I tried for KLRT but the reception would register at 95 one second and then be at 80 the next. It looks like I will have to go back to Comcast but I hope the Voom boxes coninue to work so I can use them for KETS.

Tdnich,

How is the PQ on KETS (the HD feed from 7pm-10pm), I'm stuck on a NTSC set for the time being, but the downconverted signal is much better than the OTA analog. Have not heard any reports, and what is Comcast going to do since AETN is offically passing HD. You should be able to get all the locals (at least ones that *actually* send out a DTV signal.

Harry,

I took a look at KETS last night during primetime. The picture quality was great. The only problem was no sound. I believe it was that way the night before also.

I sent an email to Mr. Brooks about the audio problem during the KETS HD broadcasts. The reply from the engineers is below:

"Recently we have received several complaints from both CATV companies
and
over the air viewers about the audio going away when AETN digital
service
is switched to HDTV during prime time.

We have checked the off air signals of both KETS DT and KETG DT during
HDTV programming and there is audio on the air.

Tests were made with both the Sanyo DTV television set and the Sanyo
DTV
set top box converter. Results were identical.

Anyone watching AETN's HDTV signal and experiencing audio difficulties
most likely has operating errors on their end. We are working with the
cable companies talking them through any problems on a case by case
basis.
The CATV system in Texarkana was accused of having audio problems, but
they too verified that they were receiving sound during our HDTV tests
this morning."


Can anyone tell me what the operator error on my part could be? I have no problem with KHTV HD audio and no problem with audio during multicasting of KETS. What could be different on my end when they switch to HD broadcasting that causes me not to get the sound. Thanks.

Originally posted by harry71667
... what is Comcast going to do since AETN is offically passing HD. You should be able to get all the locals (at least ones that *actually* send out a DTV signal. Perhaps comscat can't pick up KETS-DT's low power signal from their site. Lots of people can't.

(BTW, is comscat carrying UPN-HD yet?)

Originally posted by tdnich
... I took a look at KETS last night during primetime. The picture quality was great. The only problem was no sound. It could be a PSIP problem. On some TVs and external STB tuners, if the audio being sent doesn't match the PSIP audio information, the result is no sound. In the past, PSIP problems have caused "no audio" problems for certain receivers at both KLRT-DT and KATV-DT.

If you truck on down to the local Best Buy/Circuit City/etc. and tune in KETS-DT on their HD tuners/TVs and there is no audio on many/all of them, that's pretty compelling that there is a problem on KETS's end.

I live in the DFW area (monitoring this thread for my parents' sake), and several months ago the local CBS affiliate's HD signal disappeared from two of my three HD tuners. Similar results were felt around town. Since it didn't disappear from all the tuners in the area, they claimed it wasn't their problem. But more and more people complained, until they finally realized they had done something on their end. [In their case, they indicated they had introduced a problem with the signal-to-noise ratio that was causing some tuners to fail while others worked.] They fixed the problem, and all has been well since.

A friend indicated something similar happened with the local NBC affiliate a week or so later, but none of my tuners was impacted. He said he contacted them and the problem was resolve in a couple of days. In both cases, neither of us changed anything. It was all at the transmitter.

If their stream is mostly compliant, but much on-the-shelf equipment can't recieve it, then it's a pretty good bet they'll want to try to fix it, even if they are "sure" it's not their fault.

Xesdeeni

For those interested, after the first two rounds of DTV channel election (their final destination once the analog channels are shut off), here's what the area channels have chosen, according to the FCC filings:

KETS - none
KARK - 32
KATV - 22
KETG - none
KTHV - 12
KZJG - none
KLRT - 30
KVTN - 7
KVTH - 26
KJLR - none
K34FN - none
KKAP - none
KASN - 39
KWBF - 44
KHUG - none
KTVV - none
K55GE - none
KLRA - none
KIPB - none

Xesdeeni

Xesdeeni,

Thanks.

Did you assemble this list manually, or is it from a web site with the info on one page?

arxaw -- still no HD for UPN on Comcast yet. Ditto The WB.

Originally posted by arxaw
Did you assemble this list manually, or is it from a web site with the info on one page? There was a link to the FCC site on the antenna thread and it gave instructions on how to find the info (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5476843#post5476843). I checked the list for LR and went to each station's list of filings. I wanted to encourage people to avoid UHF-only antennas (although no low-VHF is OK).

Xesdeeni

Hi All,

Something odd has been happening to me this week. On my OTA HD box (Samsung), when I tune to KLRTDT I get a black screen. The "digital sound" indicator is on, and the signal strength shows up as strong as ever, but just a black screen. I know they are broadcasting because I can see it on Comcast. (my comcast connection breaks up so much that I often swith to the OTA box to watch HD shows like "House").

Have they changed something about how they broadcast. Are they adding some sort of copy protection that my box can't decode?

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Originally posted by vidcamguy
... Something odd has been happening to me this week. On my OTA HD box (Samsung), when I tune to KLRTDT I get a black screen. The "digital sound" indicator is on, and the signal strength shows up as strong as ever, but just a black screen...Try rebooting (unplugging) the STB. That may help. Also do a rescan for OTA channels. If this doesn't help, definitely contact KLRT MCO at
501 225-0016. They would probably like to know about the problem. It's possible they've made some non-standard PSIP data changes. This will sometimes affect only some brands/models of STBs, but not others. Ask the MCO if they've made any changes to PSIP this week.

WRT the broadcast flag, it was just struck down by a Federal Appeals Court (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/06/technology/06cnd-tele.html?ei=5065&en=d3112e78e35d1c94&ex=1116043200&partner=MYWAY)! :)

I surfed by 16 a little this afternoon, and it was fine on my Samsung OTA box.

I have the same problem with my Direct TV Samsung reciever. All I get on 16-1 is a black screen and no sound. Signal level is the same as always. And I did reboot and it didn't help.

I'm getting 16-1 fine on my Samsung TS-160 & TS-360 boxes. I am also sub'd to DirecTV.

HaiDan & vidcamguy, do y'all subscribe to DirecTV, or are you using the boxes for OTA only?

Originally posted by arxaw
I'm getting 16-1 fine on my Samsung TS-160 & TS-360 boxes. I am also sub'd to DirecTV.

HaiDan & vidcamguy, do y'all subscribe to DirecTV, or are you using the boxes for OTA only? Yes I do subscribe to Direct TV. I get 11-1/2, and 38.1 just fine. I don't even get a hint of a signal on 2,4, and 7, but I never have except very rarely on 4.1. I haven't been able to get 16.1 probably in maybe a week or so the more I think about it. I live in Stuttgart.

Edit: I forgot to mention I have a TS-360.

I would call the station at the number in post #1132 (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5589884#post5589884) above.

Originally posted by vidcamguy

I know they are broadcasting because I can see it on Comcast. (my comcast connection breaks up so much that I often swith to the OTA box to watch HD shows like "House").


1. You have a bad dropline from the pole to your house, or used multiple signal splitters (or low bandwidth splitters) making the digital signal too weak.
2. You have an amplifier on the line which is overdriving the digital box.

Either causes HD picture breakup. Mine is rock solid -- you should have the same. Ask for a technician visit to clear it up.

BTW, Comcast loaded the Video ON Demand software Sunday evening. Tons of stuff to watch, but nothing HD. (I didn't expect that anyhow). If you have problem #1, you could have problems getting VOD.

I am not aware of us having any problems with the DTV signal. We are receiving it fine back at the station and I get it fine at home. Someone suggested this earlier, but have you rescanned for channels? You would be surprised how many problems that corrects.

Post and let us know if you are still having problems.

E

Originally posted by errett
I am not aware of us having any problems with the DTV signal. We are receiving it fine back at the station and I get it fine at home. Someone suggested this earlier, but have you rescanned for channels? You would be surprised how many problems that corrects.

Post and let us know if you are still having problems.

E You know that fixed the problem. I checked first and got no picture, then I scanned the channels and it's back now. Thanks for the help.

Originally posted by errett
I am not aware of us having any problems with the DTV signal. We are receiving it fine back at the station... errett,
Just curious, have y'all rebooted the encoder or made any PSIP changes lately?

We have not made any changes since mid to early April. The changes we made then may have required a reboot to your box, depending on the age.

E

Thanks.

For those with OTA boxes (stand-alone, and sat w/ ota tuners) y'might want to do a scan this morning and tonight and tomorrow morning. Might get some stations that normally don't make it in one's local viewing area.

And some of these actually send out what appears to be HD signals.

I'll recap this morning's logs later.

Here is a website (http://home.cogeco.ca/~dxinfo/tropo.html) that shows possible propagation conditions.

wow, today looks pretty good for tropo.

For people w/sat boxes, on many of the boxes, you have to tell the box "no dish" in the setup menu, to scan/pick up stations out of your area. The box usually only looks for channels shown in the D* guide. Telling the box you don't have D* service will force it to scan for all available channels. YMMV depending on the brand/model of D* STB you have.

Sorry I took so long to post, been a wild week so far.

I rebooted and re-scanned my OTA box. Cleared up the KLRT problem. It is coming in fine again. Thanks for the advice.

Had Comcast tech come to my house today to look at the HD breakup problem. He told me that it is a problem with the dual tuner DVR box from Motorola and that was why it was an intermittent problem. He said that Motorola would send out a fix that would work for a while, then it wouldn't, then they would send out a new fix,etc. He said my cables and splitters were fine and that EVERYONE with the dual tuner HD DVR from Motorola was having the exact same problem and I was not alone. He suggested that I switch to the SINGLE TUNER DVR. He said that if I got that box, all of my problems would go away (but of course I would loose the ability to record one show while watching another).

To those of you who subscribe to Comcast and use the various HD boxes they offer, does this ring true?

None of comscat's excuses ring true.

My neighbor gave up on comscat HD service after replacements of several boxes (both types of DVRs) and trying different types of boxes, and replacement of all the wires in his house did not fix his intermittent but very annoying dropout problems. They finally told him that "HD is new and the boxes are still buggy"...blah blah....

He switched to DirecTV+OTA and hasn't had any problems with D* HD channels or OTA Digital (except for KARK-DT, which is low power and isn't HD anyway). He does get analog KARK very well, so he chose the "No Locals" option and gets a few dollars credit on his monthly bill.

I dumped comscat for D* in 1995 and haven't looked back.

Well here are the *digital* stations outside of Little Rock area that I received near Star City (Lincoln County)

18 KSFM-DT (5-1, 5-2, 5-3) Fort Smith-Fayetteville CBS (tx @ Winslow, AR)

21 KHBS-DT (40-1) Fort Smith (tx @ Cavenal Mtn, OK) ABC

23 KOZK-DT (21-1, 21-2, 21-3, 21-4) Springfield, MO (tx @ Fordland, MO) OPT/PBS

44 KYTV-DT (3-1, 3-2) Springfield, MO (tx @ Fordland) NBC

Also rx all Springfield full power analogs except KOLR (channel 10 is local here being KTVE only 65 mi away) and also KWBM (WB) Harrison.

Interesting, KHBS-DT had to overcome strong signal from KOZK analog (ch 21) to make it in but my tuner only receives ATSC signals.

(Update--"dead" link removed from this evening's post).

Please.... don't even give that dead station the benefit of a link on this thread....



.

I took the link down.

Originally posted by vidcamguy

To those of you who subscribe to Comcast and use the various HD boxes they offer, does this ring true?

No, it's BS. I've got the dual tuner 6412 and it never glitches.

I heard they are going to start distributing a dual tuner box that has some new hardware in it to clean up the output of converted analog channels on the component section of the box. (really grainy pictures for those of you with satellite boxes). right now I switch to an svideo or component input to see a clean image.

Call them again and ask for an escallation. You got a tech that didn't want to string a new drop line. If nothing else, ask for a refund for the time you've paid for hd and not gotten a clean signal.

Or ask for a separate drop to your HD box.

IF they give you lots of bs again, call Mike Wilson at Comcast.

My neighbor just took his dual tuner box back to Comcast and got a new one. His had gone completely "blue screen." Turned out he had it stacked tight in his rack and the heat build up was enormous. Give that dude plenty of air! Don't know if that will clear up some of the intermittent drop-outs or not, but it can't hurt to air it out.

My wife and I were getting ready to watch 24 last night, and I had to rescan in order for KLRT to lock on. (It had been a while since I watched local HD, so the tuner needed reseting I guess.) I locked onto KATV for the first time last night. It droped in and out, but it was trying at least. This week, I'm getting my CM 4228 8-bay antenna and the CM 7775 booster. (The guy at the antenna place said I didn't need the CM 7777 since I was UHF only). So, I'm anxious to see what I'm able to get with the new antenna. But I do have a question. Should I hook up the 4-bay along with the new antenna, or would that conflict with the 8-bay as far as signal is concerned?

See previous posts re KLRT-DT and reboots.

If you get KTHV-DT, you are watching VHF channel 12. The 8bay and 4bay CM antennas have roughly the same gain (http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/comparing.html) @ ch 12. If your signal strength for KTHV-DT is strong, you wouldn't benefit from a CM 7777 V/U preamp. But if KTHV-DT is weak, the CM 7777 would be a better choice than the UHF-only CM 7775.

I would not attempt to connect both the 4bay and the 8bay antennas.

First off to your question about KTHV. It's my second strongest signal I get so I should be ok with that.

Has Little Rock stations upped their power? I"m getting KATV around 75-80 percent AND get this, I"M WATCHING KARK...Oh my Lord. 70-80 percent signal. And, keep in mind, I'm not on my 8-bay with amp yet. Just running the 4-bay.

It's Trying hard to lock onto KPOM out of Fort Smith (24, 27-digital), but to no avail. I"m hoping that the new antenna will help there.

By law, the big 4 networks in the top 100 markets (http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/Issues/digitaltv/DTVstations.asp) must be at full power no later than July 1, 2005. It's possible that KATV & KARK have already upped their power.

OR: Signal strength readings taken early in the morning or evening, when conditions are better for DX reception (http://home.cogeco.ca/~dxinfo/tropo.html), will often be higher. Might be a fluke.

Regardless of the reason for high readings now, you should be getting both of those stations reliably by July 1.

Yea, I checked the stations about 45 minutes later, 4 had dropped to about 50 percent but still locking on and 7 was all but gone...It gives me hope that the new antenna and booster might help..

Yea, I checked the stations about 45 minutes later, 4 had dropped to about 50 percent but still locking on and 7 was all but gone...It gives me hope that the new antenna and booster might help..

I'm like a kid in a candy store...I can't wait to install this thing. Question. The brackets are more of a right angle than the u shape. Will I need a different mast for this puppy?

Well,,,I do better on my crappy lightweight 4-bay with no amp....SIGH
I'm dissapointed. I can't put the antenna very high as it's topheavy. All I get is 16, 38 and 40. 40 improved to nearly 100 percent, i would say 98-99 percent, but the others dropped...oh an no sign whatsoever of 4, 7, 11. I LOST 11!!!! And that was my second strongest station. So it's either the amp (CM 7775) since it's UHF only, or the height really really, really was helping me. (I had it at 30 or 35 feet) I guess I'll take this one down and send it back and get a refund...Maybe when 4 and 7 go full power, I'll get those ok...

Any thoughts? (At least I can watch Lost tonight on 40)

Both height (especially 30'-35' in fringe areas) and direction will affect reception. Even vertical TILT will affect it. You *are* using a rotor, right?

Also, compared to the 4221, the 4228 is very very directional. Just a couple of degrees off of the right direction can kill reception. This is a characteristic of any high gain antenna. The higher the gain, the more directional it is and the more accurately you have to aim the thing.

Yes I'm using a rotor and it is 'tilted' a little. What about the 7775 Booster? Do you think it has something to do with that?

Those morons at the Fox 16 new station announced 15 minutes before the end of American Idol "they'll be going live to Carrie's celebration camp" (paraphrased) (before they had actually announced the winner in CST). I was like WTH?? They are a very incompetent newscast and are apparently inconsiderate as well.

Well, I was not at work last night, so I don't know the details, but basically all they meant was that they were going to be live from the Carrie party whether she won or not. There is no way they could have known she was going to win. The show was live in our time zone.

The show was live in our time zone.

Oh, well i didnt know for sure one way or the other. I know they sometimes say on the mic "brought to you live", but that doesnt necessarily mean we're not viewing a recording. I thought it could have possibly been live in EST. /shrug I presume (?) its definitely not live in PST, otherwise they'd have to watch the show really earlier outside of "primetime"?

Well strike the "inconsiderate" comment then. They're still incompetent, and use tabloid style new reporting (IMO, of course).

Yes I'm using a rotor and it is 'tilted' a little. What about the 7775 Booster? Do you think it has something to do with that?I think your main problem is you need to get an antenna back up to the original elevation you started with, and maybe also be from mis-aiming of the 8bay, which usually requires *precise* aiming.

The 4bay (@ 30') + a good preamp may be all you need. I would've gotten the CM 7777 Vhf/Uhf preamp.

Yea, that's kinda what I was thinking. It's strange the 4-bay would work sooooo well, but I've got elevation to help out and a straight line of sight shot for central Arkansas. I'm thinking of experimenting more this weekend and getting the 7775 booster instead, maybe in Fort Smith. I may try to go there today and see if I can get one in stock.

Oh...the 4-bay is made by antennacraft. I didn't think they were that great, but who would have known...

Another note, I just looked at the tech specs of the u-1000 model. It's ONLY 8.1db gain. WOW. And the 4228 model of CM don't do that well. Very interesting. I have a thought. What about putting another U-1000 on along with the current one, giving me an 8-bay, that is very light. I think the pole could handle it...

Getting the 7777 booster. They have one in Fort Smith. It's the 200 model series, but it's got 26db gain, so it should do the same thing...

Ok...I didn't get the 7777. Place was closed. So I went the local Rat Shack and got their AMP...30DB...Stronger than the CM 7777. So I put it on..and 11 16, 38 and 40 all at 95 percent plus. 7 was coming in and out. Now tonight, I try again. 7 is locking on at 70 percent, 4, yes 4! is coming in at 60-65 percent, 11, 16, 38 and 40 are all there 13 (Digital 9) is hitting at 80 percent and 29 out of Fayetteville locked into the memory, but unwatchable. I'm also trying hard to lock onto 5 out of Fort Smith (digital 18) and 24 (DIgital 27). Also, a digital 31 is giving me readings but not locking on. I think it maybe OETA out of Eufala, as it is the closet digital 31 to me. I doubt it's Kansas City or Saint Louis, but who knows.

I'm using the CM 4228 8-bay at about 25 feet. I'm going to have to lock it down more as it's leaning a little. I'm afraid a good wind will blow er down. Bit overall, very impressed and happy.

Channel 16-1 appears to be down today. Anyone else having problems?

I watched a few minutes of the race this afternoon on 16-1, and it was coming in fine, but I didn't leave it on long.

Another question, has anyone noticed Ch. 11's weather radar missing from 11-2? My tuner is still tuning 11-2, but it's just a blank screen.

Another question, has anyone noticed Ch. 11's weather radar missing from 11-2? My tuner is still tuning 11-2, but it's just a blank screen.

11-2 is blank for me too. This is the same issue I am having today with 16-1. It appears to be tuning, but the screen is blank.

The remodeling at KTHV's news set may have something to do with the missing 11-2. Or maybe the weekend crew dropped the ball (again). I've noticed it missing several times in the past, always on the weekends.... Either a blank screen or a frozen radar image.

Send comments to: technicalservices@todaysthv.com

We had no problems with the KLRT digital transmitter over the weekend. Any time you see something like that, try a channel re-scan. That will clear a lot of problems.

E

We had no problems with the KLRT digital transmitter over the weekend. Any time you see something like that, try a channel re-scan. That will clear a lot of problems.

E

The channel re-scan did the trick. Thanks for the info!

Speaking of station re-aligning:

KARK Firing (http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/news/article.asp?aid=40976)

Interesting. I doubt this will change anything about their low power, non-HD digital station, as far as I can tell it is Nexstar that seems to be anti-HD. However, we are only a couple of weeks away from the July 1st deadline for them to up their power. Has anybody heard any updates on what they are doing for that? It would be nice for them to add HD and up the power on that date, but it would really suprise me.

KARK has been bcasting for nearly 60 years--how many billions have they made in that time-- New commers fox and upn run solid digital stations. Are the KARK folks that cheap? Looks they would want to give a little back. Let"s see-- At this late date in the digital game--minimal ABC and PBS NO WB no NBC HD. Conformation that Little Rock is a fourth or fifth tier city getting more backwater by the day

... Are the KARK folks that cheap?...No.

But Nexstar (http://www.nexstar.tv/), KARK's parent company is that cheap. Their NO full power/NO HD policy is affecting folks in other markets, too, like Springfield/Joplin & NW AR.

I heard KWBF is on the air now. Anyone able to pick it up yet?

Just did a rescan, and didn't get WB, but then again I didn't expect to here in Benton. It would be nice to have it by the start of the fall season.

I'm still curious what KARK is going to do on Friday, if anything. I think I'll shoot them an e-mail today and see if I can get any answers.

Has anyone heard anything about which stations in the Little Rock DMA met the July 1 deadline to be to full power?

Ch. 4 did not. I sent them an email, and the response I got was the rather broad "Q4" for full power and HD. Ch. 7's signal doesn't seem to be any stronger on my signal meter than before. It doesn't appear that anything has changed to me, any other opinions?

Send complaints to:
KARK general manager: bjones@nexstar.tv
"CC:" a copy of the email to: rchessen@fcc.gov

KATV general manager (via contact form): http://www.katv.com/contact.hrb
Tell KATV's GM you are also sending a letter of complaint to Mr. Chessen, the head of the FCC's DTV task force.

Let them know how pissed you are for spending a lot of money on an HDTV that can't even reliably receive local OTA digital television.

FCC complaints will be in the station's public comment file at license renewal time.

Just curious if they intend to do ANYTHING about it...

AETC fans Check out paragraphs 12 and 13 in this link.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-1619A1.pdf

Does anyone know what order specified full power by July 1?

I was flicking channels on my tv tuner and found Channel (44) 42 was on the air.
Got 42.01 as SD 16:9
42.02 SD 4:3
42.03 listed no data
42.04 listed no data

They got a few good programs in HD on that network. Hope the HD equipment is on the way.

Does anyone know what order specified full power by July 1?Not sure, but it only applies to the big 4 networks and not PBS, smaller networks or independents.

Oh, and apparently it doesn't apply to anyone who applied for and received waivers like Allbritton, Nexstar, etc.

I was flicking channels on my tv tuner and found Channel (44) 42 was on the air.
Got 42.01 as SD 16:9
42.02 SD 4:3


What signal strength are you receiving? Not showing up in Conway.

Jeff

16:9 SD huh, have there been any actual hd shows on since you found it? I will do a scan when I get home tonight, but I doubt I'll be able to get it in Benton either.

KWBF-DT has an STA (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=37005) to operate at only 6kw and 196m tower height. The "STA" tower is on one of the downtown office buildings.

When eventually forced to go full power, they will be on Shinall and at 1,000 kw ERP.

What signal strength are you receiving? Not showing up in Conway.

Jeff

My TV doesn't have a signal strength meter, so I don't know. I was getting a bit of breakup when I first found it so I moved the antenna to where it points directly downtown. That cured it. 196meters? That has to be on top of the big brown building. From Conway you'd have to shoot through the gap in the hills to see it.

It's not really widescreen image they are sending (like Fox used to do) out but stretched 4:3 from the regular broadcast. You're not missing much.

I couldn't get a signal in Benton with my antenna the way it is, so I may play with it a little today. I keep my antenna pointed toward Shinall, and can get 7 & 38, in addition to 11 & 16, so I generally leave it where it is. I actually can get 2 if I point it toward Redfield, but I don't have a rotor, so I generally don't bother with PBS. I'm also still not using an amp, so that might help too.

I couldn't get a signal in Benton with my antenna the way it is, so I may play with it a little today. I keep my antenna pointed toward Shinall, and can get 7 & 38, in addition to 11 & 16, so I generally leave it where it is. I actually can get 2 if I point it toward Redfield, but I don't have a rotor, so I generally don't bother with PBS. I'm also still not using an amp, so that might help too.
According to their antenna transmission profile, you probably never will see their low power signal. They are shooting everything north-east and south. Almost nothing southwest so Benton/Bryant is a dead zone. :confused:

Figured as much, I guess I just need to give up trying to be optimistic about some of this stuff.

Just checking in again to see if anyone knows of someone in LR that has got into the business of installing outdoor OTA antennas. I never hired Broadway cause they seemed like they were going to overcharge and didn't seem to know what they were doing. I think I'd only trust them with satellite dishes (what they normally do.)

I'm still suffering with an indoor silver sensor and/or radio shack double bow-tie.

I have searched the forum and I cannot find a list of channels that are receivable in Hot Springs. Can someone please point me in the right direction to find such a list?

Probably the best thing to do would be to plug your address into www.antennaweb.org and see what turns up. I live in Benton, and can get 7, 11, 16 and 38 very well, and get 2, but not as solidly. 11 and 16 broadcast from Shinall and 2, 7 and 38 are in Redfield. I really can't answer your question, but that might help you get started.

Thanks for the reply Rocky. I am really hoping to get the skinny from someone that has tried to revive in Hot Springs. I have used the website and just want to hear a real world story. :)

movieboy_hd,
Distant reception is very dependent on your exact location. An antenna setup that works for someone down the block from you may not work for you at all.

Antennaweb conservatively predicts what stations you should expect to receive, based on the terrain, elevation and distance from the stations at your home address and 9-digit ZIP.

So if antennaweb is to be believed I would not be able to receive any channels in HD. So let me ask if anyone that lives out off Thornton Ferry Rd. in Hot Springs is able to receive any HD channels.

Movieboy,

There used to be a guy on here from HS, his name is shaneotoole, but looking back, it doesn't appear that he has posted in some time. He said that we was able to get 11 and 16. While this thread is definitely the best place I have been able to find information about local reception, the bottom line is that you just have to experiment to know what you're gonna get. Of course, keep us updated.

movieboy_hd,
Do you live in a low lying area (like near a river or stream), with hills between you and LR? If so, it's very possible that you can't get any over the air digital TV stations.

The title says it all. Does anyone have heard when the DS will happen on Comcast here in Little Rock.

Also, I'm getting hooked up on Friday so will TNT HD show up in the linup?

What about Fox Soccer Channel?

Thanks for any info

No, the title doesn't say it all actually. Are you talking about Comcast, or what provider? Also, you should just post this in the Little Rock thread, not start a new one.

Yes, I am talking about Comcast and I could not find a Little Rock specific thread. Sorry.

Hey agi,

Sorry, I misread your post, you did say Comcast, although I still didn't understand your question. I don't have Comcast though, so I can't answer, but now that this has been merged into the LR thread maybe somebody can.

Movie Boy-
Welcome to one of the armpits of HD land. I lived in HS, off of Twin Points at the top of Rocky Reef Circle, and with a pair of amplified bunny ears was able to receive UPN HD. I did upgrade my bunny ears to the Rat Shack 1550 which is suppossed to be the King of bunny ears (along with the silver sensor) and could receive.....UPN HD. I was able to get ABC in sometimes, but the weather had to be just right, once they go full power they won't be an issue to get in. Fox and CBS never came in, but Shaneotool was able to get those stations. I am not sure where he lived at in the area though. AETN out of Arkadelphia would regisiter on the signal meter, but never actually locked in. With an outdoor antenna, and an amp, plus a rotor, you should be able to get a lock on all of those if you are in the right location. NBC I doubt will come in at all, but it isn't HD anyway. Best of luck and let us know how it goes, as I am interested in seeing someone succeed in getting HD there!
Arxaw, I saw you in the Joplin/Springfield thread and that you moved, are you in NW Arkansas, by Joplin, or near Harrison/Branson/Springfield area? I've relocated to Pea Ridge, and was able to get some Tulsa HD off my bunny ears when I first moved in, but nothing currently, I figure it was just DX'ing time. I plan on putting up an actual man's antenna soon, but was curious if you had any info on the Joplin HD's...

Thanks to everyone who responded. I have had my HDTV for about seven months or so and I am very anxious to get some HD content on it. That being said I guess I'm going to wait until Resort TV Cable starts offering HD. They keep telling me by the end of the year / first of the year. Let's hope that they get it out on time and that they do not charge an arm and a leg for it.

BTW, does anyone on here have any information on the Resort TV Cable HD roll out? Just curious.

Thanks again guys!!

Does anyone know when KARK or WB will broadcast in HDTV?

Dchan:
Here's some info on the Central Ark. area stations:
KASN and KLRT are at full power.
KATV, KARK & KTHV are all broadcasting at low power. The LP stations may be difficult or impossible for you to receive. At the least, you'll need a very good VHF/UHF outdoor fringe antenna + preamp and a rotor to receive the low power stations.

Only KATV & KTHV are passing network HD programming. None of the other stations are in HD at this time.

I am a new user in the DTV/HDTV world and found the quoted post from 2003. Is there a current synopsis of the stations for 2005? Full power vs low, 720p vs 1080i, aspect ratio etc.

I have a new TV with an internal digital tuner and it seems to pull in all of the local channels with ease (but it does not have a signal meter). I also have just hooked up a DirecTV HD HR10-250 and seem to be having problems with 16-1 (KLRT-DT). Have read a little that the HR10-250 may be a little too sensitive and I am going to try an attenuate the signal to see if that helps.

BTW, I am in central LR, near UAMS and have Winegard Sensar antenna mounted on the roof of a two story.

jparry,

I will try to sum it up for you, but if I get anything wrong, somebody else can jump in and correct me:

Ch. 2 KETS: low power, broadcasting from Redfield, they do some HD in primetime, but usually multicasting 4 subchannels

Ch. 4 KARK: low power, no HD, transmitting from Shinall

Ch. 7 KATV: fairly low power, but I can receive it okay in Benton. HD on 7.1, SD simulcast on 7.2, transmitting from Redfield

Ch. 11 KTHV: I don't know if they are at full power, but they are at an acceptably high level. HD on 11.1, low bandwidth weather radar on 11.2. Transmitting from Shinall

Ch. 16 KLRT: Full power, HD and 5.1, no subchannels, transmitting from Shinall

Ch. 25 VTN: Low power SD, transmitting from England

Ch. 38 KASN: Full power, HD, no subchannels, transmitting from Redfield

Ch. 42 KWBF: I don't honestly know the status of this one, I understand that they are on, but like 4 I can't get them in Benton, but I think they are on in SD, transmitting from a building downtown.

Like I mentioned, I live in Benton, so my reception results will be different than yours. You are probably in a good area, except for the fact that the 2 main transmission areas are in different direction, so you will probably need a rotor for you antenna. Be sure and go to www.antennaweb.org and plug in your address to get the exact directions to point you antenna.

Hope this helps

Rocky,

Thanks for the info. I am getting everything but KLRT with my HR10-250. Not sure why, since the TV gets it without any issues. The antenna I am using is supossedly "bi-directional". I did that on purpose knowing that I had the shinal/redfield issue.

What is the actual channel number for 16-1?

The actual digital channel KLRT is 30. As one of the few full power stations, 16 should be an easy one to get, but I had trouble getting it when I first set up my system, and I just helped a friend in White Hall set up a system, and 16 gave him a few issues as well, although that could have possibly been a problem with the receiver (the Radio Shack Accurian). KLRT's chief engineer Errett posts on here regularly, so maybe he can help you out.

There shouldn't be any issues with the KLRT Digital Transmitter. I check it daily from home and all is well.

In fact, I am watching the Yankees game right now and it looks great. I use an antenna to receive the signal OTA in Maumelle.

E

jparry,
If you live near UAMS, you probably have multipath problems. If you have "ghosting" on analog channels, multipath is the likely culprit.

Your new TV probably has a better OTA chipset than the D* box, and can deal with multipath better.

A more directional antenna would likely help, too.

Again, does anyone know when KARK4 will start broadcasting in HDTV?

Thanks!

agi,
I e-mailed KARK again a few days ago to ask that question, and haven't received a response, so who knows?

Last I had heard, they had ZERO plans for HD. Cheap owner on that aspect of it.

I have tried a Radio Shack attenuator to fix my presumed multi-path problem getting a lock on the KLRT-DT signal with my HR10-250 without any luck. Here are some basics from my location and the signals I am currently getting from the D* box and my TV (the TV gets KLRT-DT without any problems). I like to do almost all of my viewing through the HR10-250 in order to take advantage of the DVR capabilities, so I would like to solve the problem with KLRT signal from that perspective.

Station Direction Distance Signal HR10 Signal TV
KETS 160 20.3 65 78
KATV 160 20.3 95 98
KASN 163 22.1 92 95

KARK 285 11.1 60 73
KLRT 286 10.6 no lock 81
KTHV 285 11.1 71 87

I am currently using a multi-directional Wingard GS-2000 mounted on a very tall two-story house. As you can see from the comparison between the HR10-250 and my TV, the TV gets a better signal across the board. This is expected based on the newer chipsets used.

I "think" I may need to do some sort of joining (using a ChannelMaster Join-Tenna model 0585-2?) of two antennas in order to get the lock on KLRT and still get the other VHF/UHF signals from both directions.

Any experts out there want to throw in their 2 cents as to whether this might work and which antenna I should try? Any other ideas?

No HD on Lost tonight, and I just flipped past 7 last night, and noticed a show (Rodney?) that should have been in HD that was not. Anybody know if they just forgot to "flip the switch" or if they are having technical trouble?

I have tried a Radio Shack attenuator to fix my presumed multi-path problem getting a lock on the KLRT-DT signal with my HR10-250 without any luck. Here are some basics from my location and the signals I am currently getting from the D* box and my TV (the TV gets KLRT-DT without any problems). I like to do almost all of my viewing through the HR10-250 in order to take advantage of the DVR capabilities, so I would like to solve the problem with KLRT signal from that perspective.

Station Direction Distance Signal HR10 Signal TV
KETS 160 20.3 65 78
KATV 160 20.3 95 98
KASN 163 22.1 92 95

KARK 285 11.1 60 73
KLRT 286 10.6 no lock 81
KTHV 285 11.1 71 87

I am currently using a multi-directional Wingard GS-2000 mounted on a very tall two-story house. As you can see from the comparison between the HR10-250 and my TV, the TV gets a better signal across the board. This is expected based on the newer chipsets used.

I "think" I may need to do some sort of joining (using a ChannelMaster Join-Tenna model 0585-2?) of two antennas in order to get the lock on KLRT and still get the other VHF/UHF signals from both directions.

Any experts out there want to throw in their 2 cents as to whether this might work and which antenna I should try? Any other ideas?

It sounds to me like it might be your antenna, the GS-2000 is not great in a multipath situation and the pre-amp on it may be causing overload. You may need a more directional antenna. You might try some cheap rabbit ears to see if it is an overload problem.

No HD on Lost tonight, and I just flipped past 7 last night, and noticed a show (Rodney?) that should have been in HD that was not. Anybody know if they just forgot to "flip the switch" or if they are having technical trouble?


I noticed that also.

I have sent this email to James Tidwell (jtidwell@katv.com) to complain.

I have sent Mr. Tidwell emails in the past regarding problems with KATV switching from a Standard Definition to an High Definition signal during primetime.

Mr Tidwell,

This past week, Friday and Sunday primetime programming was transmitted in SD.

Is there a phone number that I can call to report this issue when it occurs? It is very frustrating to watch a soft, faded picture on my HD equipment when I sharp, bright, widescreen picture is available at the flip of a switch.

Thanks,

Harry Broadwell

I copied the general manager and the programming department also.

Unless this is an equipment failure the enginering staff is not throwing the switch when they should either due to untrained or lazy staff.

Please sent an email to Mr. Tidwell. If enough of us complain maybe it will get resolved.

Wow, Mr. Tidwell was quick to reply. Here is what he said in his reply

Mr. Broadwell,
I apologize for any inconvenience. ABC recently converted their satellite program delivery to digital. During the process the feed to our HD receiver was disrupted and the receiver parameters were changed. We have been working to correct the problems and thought we were successful only to discover we were not. ABC does not feed any HD programs during the day so we have no way of testing until the prime time programs. We've been working with ABC, Andrew, and Harris to correct the problem. Thank you for your patience.
James Tidwell
Director of Engineering
KATV


So I guess I have to apoligze for all the bad names I was calling the guys at KATV.

:(

I was flicking channels the other night and noticed Comcast is now carrying the AETN "HD" feed on 190 and the other three SD feeds on other channels. For those of you who can actually see them off air, do they ever broadcast anything in HD? I might tune them in sometime. I presume the three SD feeds go away when they do HD stuff?

Something else I was wondering about. TitanTV lists Fox 16 news as being in HD. Where do they get that from? Might be nice digital cameras but it's not HighDef. Do they have it listed wrong or am I going blind?

AETN broadcasts some HD programs at night. When they do HD, they turn off sub channels 3 & 4, but still broadcast SD on the first sub channel. If the comscat guide shows which programs are in HD, search for HD programs in prime time on AETN.

TitanTV guide has a lot of errors. You can email them and sometimes they'll correct the errors. They used to show NBC programs on KARK-DT as being in HDTV.

I also email James Tidwell after I made that post a few night ago, and got a similar response. While he doesn't seem to be as in tune with the HD situation as Alison and Errett, I think he is starting to realize that there are a few of us out here who really like our OTA HD. Changing the subject a little, but I also asked him when we could expect 5.1 audio, and he responded that they pass along what they get from ABC. I told him that all I got from them was 2.0, and so he checked, and sure enough, they do not have the equipment it takes to send 5.1, and he didn't even know it. He said they don't have a way to check for 5.1 at the station and he doesn't have a receiver at home. Now, like hpb, I'm really not trying to badmouth Mr. Tidwell, but I just find it strange that the engineer does not even know what the station is broadcasting.

And wxguy, I've noticed that TitanTV and CheckHd.com both show Fox16 News as HD, but as an editor and tape playback operator there, I can assure you that they are wrong. I wish that the higher ups had thought to do HD, since the operation only started a year and a half ago. It would really have been cool to come out of the gate in HD, and been the first in town to do HD news, but it didn't happen. Errett could say better than me what the chances of future HD news would be, but from my end of the operation, I can tell a lot of work would have to be done. I had heard rumors in the past that Ch. 11 was going to do HD news sometime, but I haven't heard anything about that recently. Maybe Alison could let us know if there's any chance of that?

If the comscat guide shows which programs are in HD, search for HD programs in prime time on AETN.

The 'TV guide' channel guide doesn't say anything about what is in HD. I did notice AETN was doing some programs in widescreen SD. I'll have to look at the channel periodically to figure out what is HD. I can always PVR it if something looks interesting.

I also email James Tidwell after I made that post a few night ago, and got a similar response. While he doesn't seem to be as in tune with the HD situation as Alison and Errett, I think he is starting to realize that there are a few of us out here who really like our OTA HD. Changing the subject a little, but I also asked him when we could expect 5.1 audio, and he responded that they pass along what they get from ABC. I told him that all I got from them was 2.0, and so he checked, and sure enough, they do not have the equipment it takes to send 5.1, and he didn't even know it. He said they don't have a way to check for 5.1 at the station and he doesn't have a receiver at home. Now, like hpb, I'm really not trying to badmouth Mr. Tidwell, but I just find it strange that the engineer does not even know what the station is broadcasting.

And wxguy, I've noticed that TitanTV and CheckHd.com both show Fox16 News as HD, but as an editor and tape playback operator there, I can assure you that they are wrong. I wish that the higher ups had thought to do HD, since the operation only started a year and a half ago. It would really have been cool to come out of the gate in HD, and been the first in town to do HD news, but it didn't happen. Errett could say better than me what the chances of future HD news would be, but from my end of the operation, I can tell a lot of work would have to be done. I had heard rumors in the past that Ch. 11 was going to do HD news sometime, but I haven't heard anything about that recently. Maybe Alison could let us know if there's any chance of that?

I would like to do news in HD. But when the big networks don't even do news in HD you can see that it will take a while for local affiliates to make the change. Some local stations already have, in our broadcast group we have two stations doing news in HD. But they are located in big television markets where the dollars invested make more sense. At this point, after being on the air for 3 1/2 years with channel 12, we have yet to gain revenue from our digital installations. Millions were spent. So you can see how company accountants might get a little hesitant to jump out there. I am hopeful that prices on the new gear will come down soon.

Thanks Alison,

That's pretty much what I thought, like I said, I had just heard a second hand rumor, a couple of years ago. Anyway, maybe someday.

Something else I was wondering about. TitanTV lists Fox 16 news as being in HD. Where do they get that from? Might be nice digital cameras but it's not HighDef. Do they have it listed wrong or am I going blind?

I have repeatedly contacted them about this, but when they make the News non-HD at 9PM, it also changes all of our shows that are in HD to non-HD. They must have a flaw in the system or something, because no matter how many times I ask them to change it, it is never right.

So if antennaweb is to be believed I would not be able to receive any channels in HD. So let me ask if anyone that lives out off Thornton Ferry Rd. in Hot Springs is able to receive any HD channels.

I live in Hot Springs on Ridgeway St, which is on the side of town closest to LR. I have the biggest antenna they had at lowes and a preamp someone on this thread told me about. I have the antenna pointed in the direction antennaweb says channel 16 and 11 analog are coming from. Antennaweb doesn't show any digital signals available at my house either - but I can pick up 16 and 11 at about 70 - 75%.

I think Thornton Ferry is a little farther away from the tower, it may be more difficult for you to get a signal.

Someone told me that resort cable will be getting HD around Dec or Jan as well. Resort Cable must be the worst cable Co in the country - that being said, I may switch from dish when they get HD.

Response to my inquiry regarding HD at KARK from Mr. Rogala:

From Rick Rogala, Gen Mgr KARK

The work on our full power digital transmitter will begin in the next few weeks. I just got word today that the company that supplies the digital RF equipment may be slightly delayed in delivery, which will push the launch of HD programming to January.

All the best,

Rick

I have repeatedly contacted them about this, but when they make the News non-HD at 9PM, it also changes all of our shows that are in HD to non-HD. They must have a flaw in the system or something, because no matter how many times I ask them to change it, it is never right.
Thanks for the answer. Sounds like whoever they get their schedule from (maybe TV guide?) has a HD flag wrong. Also nice programming to feed the news on your sister station when baseball is on, but I missed it since I didn't see the change until I looked closely at a lineup.

Has comcast ever said when they will carry your UPN digital signal? There is enough HD on there to do it. I can switch to my onboard TV tuner to get the pictures but it isn't always convenient when I'm surfing through. Looks like the new Chris Rock show is in HD-it's pretty funny in SD also, just fuzzy.

ark steve,

Great news about KARK, although I still have to say I'll believe it when I see it on my own tv, but I hope they make it.

wxguy,

UPN 38 will join Comcast's HD lineup on Nov. 17 on Ch. 185.

... Antennaweb doesn't show any digital signals available at my house either - but I can pick up 16 and 11 at about 70 - 75%...

Antennaweb.org states they give a "conservative" estimate of channels receiveable at an address.

Does anyone in the central Arkansas area have the Radio Shack Accurian tuner? If so, have you experienced lockups with Fox 16. I have been trying to help a friend in White Hall (north of Pine Bluff) get his HD set up. He has tried two of these receivers and both of them lock up on 16. Signal strength seems to be fine, and other channels work fine. I tried it at my place and it did the same thing. I'm sure there are other folks around using this box, because they are selling out everywhere, but I don't know if anybody who posts on here has one. We are just trying to figure out if this is a fault of the reciever, or with Fox or a combination.

Errett, is there anything Fox does different than other channels that could cause this?

Thanks

Errett, is there anything Fox does different than other channels that could cause this?

We pass 5.1 Dolby Digital audio!! Sorry, couldn't resist.

I don't know what could be causing it. We are compliant with PSIP data and we are on the correct PID mappings per the FCC. I have no trouble with my Samsung TV, or the Viewsonic or Samsung tuners we use at the station. Another Engineer here has a Sony LCD with integrated tuner and he has no problems. It sounds like a problem with the box itself, unfortunately.

E

I am 4.2 miles from their transmitter (downtown as I understand it) with a DAT75 and live on top of a hill. Only one ridge is between me and downtown, about 50 feet higher than my antenna is, preventing me from actually seeing the buildings down there. I get a signal strength of about 8 (out of 100), and the signal locks and unlocks. Is anyone else picking this station up, and are they actually sending out HD of smallville, etc, or is it just a SD feed of their analog signal?

Dave

Is anyone else picking this station up, and are they actually sending out HD of smallville, etc, or is it just a SD feed of their analog signal?

Dave
I got CH44 for a while after they started up, but they don't show up at all on my set anymore. Probably cut their power to 25 watts to save money. Doesn't matter for us HD buffs since they don't show anything but their standard SD picture. It barely qualifies as a TV station anyway.

Speaking of barely qualifying, ABC has been hyping their morning show as being in HD, but it doesn't look like KATV knows how to do it. Has anyone posted a query to them? I recall they were having problems managing their HD feed for the prime time shows.

Good Morning America is only in HD for Eastern and Pacific time zones, we won't get it until sometime next year. In this case, its an ABC problem, not KATV.

Looks good on WABC-DT on DirecTV.

Hey guys,

I'm a new member from South Arkansas. I have a "transistional" OTA setup (no HD monitor as of yet, but a OTA digi box and a decent antenna system). Wonder if there are other's in my area that have OTA HD. I can get all the stations save for KARK-DT and KWBF-DT (okay, I don't get KVTN-DT often, but never watch it anyway :P ), although KATV is very marginal and occational dropouts.

I'm a DX'er which explains the OTA receive system.

Where exactly in south Arkansas are you? You sound like you are getting about all that you should be able to outside of Little Rock. I live in Benton, and I have a friend in White Hall, and we both pretty much get the same as you. In fact, I've never been able to get KVTN-DT for that matter. KVTN, KARK and KWBF are all on really low power. KATV is relatively low. My friend in White Hall is only 15 miles south of the tower, and it's the station that gives him the most trouble as well. I believe the main problem is that their transmitter is direction, shooting toward West Little Rock, so if you are on the south side, the power is even weaker. I don't have a problem in Benton, even with my antenna pointed toward Shinall.

KATV is only broadcasting at 10kW ERP. On UHF, that's not much. They're also using a directional antenna which barely covers their cities of license LR/PB. See FCC map HERE (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DS988996.html).

Rocky,

I'm in western Lincoln County (west of Star City, and 3 miles from the Cleveland/Lincoln Co line).

Araxw, the only reason I'm getting KATV-DT is that.

A) using a CM 4228 with a preamp
B) my location has few if any trees to my NW.
C) antenna is mounted @ 20ft above ground level

And yes, the signal suffers more dropouts than KTHV or KLRT.

I'm literally getting them on the back side of their coverage, although accoring to the maps, i'm outside the coveage area. I can get weak signal from KWBF analog and even KYPX-CA (20) at times. (As for Low-VHF, that is RX'd with a 4 el log peri which is connected with the 4228 and preamp).

One more thing i've noticed, the *local* programming (not FOX network, which looks and sounds great) on KLRT-DT suffers from tiling and the voice and video being out of sync at times.

A friend up here in NWAR is have problems aiming his 4228.

Do you find the 4228 pretty directional? IOW, will just a slight movement throw it off-aim?

Very much so. Since its mast is mounted on a pumphouse i've gotten away with not using a rotor, but its tricky.

I can find that if I can find KWBF analog, *most* everything in LR comes in fine...and during decent tropo, sometimes from Springfield, MO :p

The only thing harder than getting certain stations from Little Rock is getting *anything* digital from Mississippi. Its the only adjoining state i've yet to DX from (ATSC). Thats counting the supposed MPB digital transmitters from Oxford and Greenwood.

... during decent tropo, sometimes from Springfield, MO :p

Most likely KYTV-DT (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=36003). Their DTV xmtr is ~3500' above sea level!

Did KATV ever broadcast the football game in HD last night? When I first changed over they had a still image of some Disney movie up there and then at some point they switched to an SD broadcast of the game. Or am I just going crazy?