... The HD was really good, however, some of the lower numbered channels looked absolutely horrible. It was supposed to be digital but it looked like a snowfest on the screen for some of those channels. Is that just one of their letdowns in service?
That's just comscat.

.

I went to a friends house who has a 50" DLP 1080p and he has the HD package with Comcast. I played with it for a while. The HD was really good, however, some of the lower numbered channels looked absolutely horrible. It was supposed to be digital but it looked like a snowfest on the screen for some of those channels. Is that just one of their letdowns in service?
It's the Motorol cable box that puts out the analog stuff on the HD outputs that messes it up. I've heard version 2 of that box is much better, but haven't verified it myself. Motorola used a really cheap convertor on that port. Generally I find the digital channels (100+) are better that the old analog. I've heard Comcast is going to put all the analogs into digital so that could clean up a lot of problems.

Take the s-video output from the box and put it into an s-video input on your TV. If you watch the lower channels, you can switch to that input and you'll get a really clean picture.

It isn't as good as the analog convertor built into my tv, but is better than what gets converted from SD to HD on most of the broadcast channels.I have no idea why, but running the cable into my VCR then out a s-video port produces the best looking analog pictures on my tv. Then again, play a tape through the VCR out the same port and quality drops significantly, probably due to tape noise.

wow. Picking up KARK-DT this morning, here in Eureka Springs.

Well, got Comcast HDTV and am impressed with the HD channels. My lower channels are not too bad or fuzzy like I expected. I do have a coax cable, S Video, High Def Component, and an HDMI all connected to see the differences in the quality of each line. S video does good but scrunches the picture with bars on top and bottom. Component is excellent but the HDMI is the most sharp picture. I have an inline amplifier (10dB) to up the signal though.

I have a dual tuner dvr hd box. How would I know if it is version 2? Also, I cant find out how to setup the picture in picture feature. I thought I could with two separate connections into the tv from the box.

Is it a Tivo DVR?? Series 2 Tivo's have network connectors on them I believe, and USB ports. As for PIP, I havent a clue, you would need two separate receivers for that I believe. I dont think the DVR's are designed to output two separate programs on different ports at the same time, just record one while watching the second. I may be mistaken though.

I have a dual tuner dvr hd box. How would I know if it is version 2? Also, I cant find out how to setup the picture in picture feature. I thought I could with two separate connections into the tv from the box.
(The motorola DVR boxes that Comcast gives you are not TIVO so any advice about TIVO doesn't apply here.) I was told the easiest way to see if you have the latest version of the Motorola box is to look at the louvers on top. If you can see the cooling fan inside, you have the new box. I think the box number is 6412-II, but don't know the designation without searching for a while on AVSforum. There are people that have lots of experience using the newer boxes on some of those forums.

Anybody know if KATV 7 is showing the World Cup this Saturday in HD? According to their programming guide they aren't even showing the World Cup on regular ABC.

Anybody know if KATV 7 is showing the World Cup this Saturday in HD? According to their programming guide they aren't even showing the World Cup on regular ABC.


Thank you for contacting KATV about the 2006 FIFA World Cup games on ABC. Regrettably, KATV will not be able to carry all of the World Cup games offered by ABC due to the Federal Communications Commission mandate that we must carry a minimum of three hours of children’s programming weekly, as well as our previous commitments to local religious programming.

KATV notified ABC that we would be unable to carry six of the World Cup games and the network responded by securing another Little Rock station to broadcast these six games. All of the preempted games will be on KWBF / Channel 42.

To alert our viewers, KATV will scroll an informational text indicating the game is being shown on KWBF at the scheduled time for each game. In addition, KATV newscasts prior to the preempted games, will also announce the channel change.

The six games that will be shown by KWBF/Channel 42 (Little Rock) are:
· Saturday, June 10 at 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM
· Sunday, June 11 at 10:30 AM
· Sunday, June 18 at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM
· Sunday, June 25 at 9:30 AM

We apologize that we are unable to carry all of the World Cup Soccer games, but in lieu of our broadcasting them, we believe this is the best solution for our viewers.

Thank you for visiting the KATV website and for watching Channel 7.

Richard Farrester
Program Director

World Cup Soccer is in HD on WABC-DT. DirecTV, channel 86.
Program guide (http://directv.com/DTVAPP/glb/ProgramGuide.jsp?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&%2Fdirectv%2Fformhandler%2FProgramGuideSearchFormHandler.tit leSearchSuccessUrl=..%2Fplay%2FProgramFinder_results.jsp&_D%3A%2Fdirectv%2Fformhandler%2FProgramGuideSearchFormHandle r.titleSearchSuccessUrl=+&%2Fdirectv%2Fformhandler%2FProgramGuideSearchFormHandler.tit leSearchErrorUrl=..%2Fglb%2FProgramGuide.jsp&_D%3A%2Fdirectv%2Fformhandler%2FProgramGuideSearchFormHandle r.titleSearchErrorUrl=+&%2Fdirectv%2Fformhandler%2FProgramGuideSearchFormHandler.dat eSearchSuccessUrl=..%2Fglb%2FProgramGuide.jsp&_D%3A%2Fdirectv%2Fformhandler%2FProgramGuideSearchFormHandle r.dateSearchSuccessUrl=+&%2Fdirectv%2Fformhandler%2FProgramGuideSearchFormHandler.dat eSearchErrorUrl=..%2Fglb%2FProgramGuide.jsp&_D%3A%2Fdirectv%2Fformhandler%2FProgramGuideSearchFormHandle r.dateSearchErrorUrl=+&zip_code=&_D%3Azip_code=+&previous_zip_code=&_D%3Aprevious_zip_code=+&_D%3A%2Fdirectv%2Fformhandler%2FProgramGuideSearchFormHandle r.dateSearchAlternate=+&start_date=20060610&start_time=0800&time_zone=est&channel_type=all&category=00%2C01%2C02%2C03%2C04%2C05&year=2006&sort=viewer_channel&date_display=Sat+Jun+10&time_display=8%3A00+-+10%3A00&ampm_display=AM&timezone_display=Central&time_frame=24&timeframe_display=&_DARGS=%2FDTVAPP%2Fhtml%2Fcomponent%2FProgramGuide_Top.jsp.p rogramguide).

How can having KWBF carry the games be best solution for viewers, THEY DON'T DO HD! Anyway, I really don't care about World Cup one way or the other, but I do care about Central Arkansas having good HD coverage.

Regrettably, KATV will not be able to carry all of the World Cup games offered by ABC due to the Federal Communications Commission mandate that we must carry a minimum of three hours of children’s programming weekly, as well as our previous commitments to local religious programming.

What a bunch of lightweights. I'm not a soccer fan but did watch the US Team in the 2002 World Cup (on ESPN). KATV Time Shifts ABC saturday morning cartoons (or whatever their called nowdays) in order to show an HOUR OF INFORMERCIALS. Plus that two hour waste of airtime called Saturday Daybreak. You can bet one's sweet a** that KTBS (Shreveport) won't be pulling this stunt, they even show BOTH hours of GMA Weekends. WABG Greenwood MS, viewable in extreme Southeastern Arkansas is airing this Saturday's World Cup games. (http://titantvguide.titantv.com/apg/ttv.aspx?siteid=52205)

NASCAR fans in Central Arkansas, this is what you have to look forward to Fall 2007l when KATV preempts Nextel Cup races to show 4 hours of informericals to fill time before appeasing the elderly east Arkansas razorback fans with highlights every Sunday afternoon.

As I said before, if UA Fayetteville sponsored a car on the Nextel circuit, KATV would cancel all programming to show the races.

Those infomercials are really catching on with the stations because they are big money makers along with the Sunday religious programs. Contrary to what the stations would want you to believe, the stations (networks included) run what the SPONSORS want to see. Viewers have very little to say about what is on television or when it is aired.

Here is what really baffels me. HDTV viewers in the Greenwood-Greenville, MS Market which is a bottom 30 market will be able to see all the WC games in HD and Dolby 5.1. Same for Shreveport. Even in Fayetteville, AR at ground zero of Razorback country (although KHBS/KHOG isn't airing GMA on Saturdays).

Yeah, its the World Cup so what, Arkansasans don't give a rip about soccer, right? Thats the rationale given to us by KATV. Gotta keep them preachers on the air with 2 other full time religious stations in town, and KARK doing the same thing sunday mornings. KATV could make the E/I commetment with NO PROBLEM if they cut Saturday Daybreak one hour and pre-empted the two informericals at 9:00am. Logical, but remember we are dealing with an arrogant corporation and station that gives an aura of being cutting edge but is really Mayberry RFD in drag.

No one in the Little Rock market should have to resort to "moving" and/or putting up what amounts to dxing-grade equipment to watch the complete ABC HDTV program schedule.

... remember we are dealing with an arrogant corporation and station that gives an aura of being cutting edge but is really Mayberry RFD in drag.
ROFLMAO!

No one in the Little Rock market should have to resort to "moving" and/or putting up what amounts to dxing-grade equipment to watch the complete ABC HDTV program schedule.As long as Allbritton is the owner of KATV, "moving" may be your only relief from endless pre-empting of ABC network programming that they deem unfit or unprofitable.

As long as some local Little Rock stations refuse to grant waivers for HD stations out of New York or Los Angeles, the viewers will suffer and all because the locals are afraid of losing their precious prime-time viewers. It is amazing that television has apparently come full circle since the early 1950's when Little Rock got its first television station KRTV Channel 17. In those days, people with receivers would have a mast and bow tie antenna on their roof. It seems that we are headed back in that direction with HD and the power limits that the lawyer-controlled FCC have placed on today's UHF stations.

As long as some local Little Rock stations refuse to grant waivers for HD stations out of New York or Los Angeles, the viewers will suffer and all because the locals are afraid of losing their precious prime-time viewers. It is amazing that television has apparently come full circle since the early 1950's when Little Rock got its first television station KRTV Channel 17. In those days, people with receivers would have a mast and bow tie antenna on their roof. It seems that we are headed back in that direction with HD and the power limits that the lawyer-controlled FCC have placed on today's UHF stations.

Don't forget the set-top boxes required for those old TV's since they mostly lacked UHF tuners...... :D

I've went back years ago and read articles about early TV in Arkansas. History is repeating itself again, except there are no test patterns. The affliate/network system for local TV is a relic that needs to go. The viewers are the losers in this system that relies on the gatekeepers of Albritton, Nexstar, Gannett, Equity, Clear Channel, Sinclair, Raycom, etc.

Don't forget the set-top boxes required for those old TV's since they mostly lacked UHF tuners...... :D

I've went back years ago and read articles about early TV in Arkansas. History is repeating itself again, except there are no test patterns. The affliate/network system for local TV is a relic that needs to go. The viewers are the losers in this system that relies on the gatekeepers of Albritton, Nexstar, Gannett, Equity, Clear Channel, Sinclair, Raycom, etc.

Actually, our television receiver was a Raytheon that did have a UHF tuner built in. The receiver would go out about twice a year and the television repairman (there were only a couple in Little Rock at the time) would have to come get it and take it to the shop for a few days to find the problem if changing the tubes did not work.

KLRT signed on at around 3:00 p.m. and signed off at midnight. The station was affiliated with the Dumont Television Network, which I believe was the forerunner of ABC. The building was located on Beech Street, just off Kavanaugh in the Heights area of Little Rock.

The antenna was located on a large, self-supporing tower which stood behind the station and residents of the neighborhood were always afraid the thing would fall on their houses. We lived on the east side of Little Rock, near the airport, and the reception was good. Of course it was black and white. The old "Indian test pattern" as it was called and an audio tone, was the first thing the viewer saw and heard when the transmitter hit the air and the last thing the viewer saw and heard just before they pulled the plug at night. No registration or convergence to worry about with the Image Orthicon, just mainly resolution which was extremely poor by today's standards.

KLRT was destroyed by fire after a couple of years on the air.

In the earlier post I should have said KRTV not KLRT. Sorry folks, it's been a long time.

Interesting info on KRTV. The station was probably on Beechwood in Hillcrest. My parents bought a television in 1953 and channel 17 was the only channel they could get, except for Memphis which actually came in fairly well at times, in the summer. There were few stations or other electronic noise in those days to interfere with TV signals. If you look closely at rooftops of some of the older homes in LR, you may still find a rusty old double bowtie UHF antenna that was used for UHF ch 17.

For years, KATV was lowest power station in central ark. and the hardest to receive. With digital, they are back where they started. Funny how history repeats itself....

Didn't KRTV-KATV have the original CBS affliation prior to KTHV. Seemed that KTHV got the CBS affliation because KTHS 1090 (now KAAY) was a CBS radio affliate and the networks gave affliation priority to local broadcasters already having radio stations (ie, KARK with NBC). ABC (and DuMont before its demise) were secondary affliates on many stations well into the 1960's.

KATV did acquire KRTV in spring 1954 according to Ray Poindexer's book Arkansas Airwaves and ch 17 was taken off the air shortly thereafter. KATV's claim of being Arkansas's first TV broadcaster is misleading.

I also remember my mother talking about seeing Memphis Television in the early years (she grew up in DeWitt). More than likely WMCT ch 5 (now WMC). Which recently chose to use channel 5 as its post-transition digital channel.

BTW, it would be interesting to see old photos of those first generation UHF antennas that are still mounted on rooftops. A small handful might be in use today :D .

... it would be interesting to see old photos of those first generation UHF antennas that are still mounted on rooftops. A small handful might be in use today
I haven't been to LR lately, but IIRC, the last old bowtie antenna I saw was in Hillcrest - on a house I believe was on Cedar Hill Rd. or Cedar St. Next time I'm down there, I'll snap a pic of it if I'm in the neighborhood.

It's funny that after all these years, the bowtie is still one of the best UHF antennas you can use :-)

I haven't been to LR lately, but IIRC, the last old bowtie antenna I saw was in Hillcrest - on a house I believe was on Cedar Hill Rd. or Cedar St. Next time I'm down there, I'll snap a pic of it if I'm in the neighborhood.

It's funny that after all these years, the bowtie is still one of the best UHF antennas you can use :-)

I would really like to see one of the old, originals. I tried a search several months ago on EBAY but all they have now is new stuff.

I would be willing to bet that if one was to be found, still mounted on a rooftop somewhere, that the twin lead is probably gone. : ) That's all there was back in the day. Now, I don't know who or why anyone would want it. I remember our twin lead attached to the antenna terminals in the rear of the receiver via plastic-covered, clothespin-type connectors.

With our gigantic VHF antenna, sometimes we could get a fairly good picture out of Memphis on WMCT Channel 5, and that was with the aid of an RF amplifier that they called a "Booster." You could always tell which direction you were headed because all you had to do was look at someone's roof that had TV.

Ed Sullivan's "Toast of The Town" show was popular at that time and on that station is where I first saw Howdy Doodie and Buffalo Bob.

KATV may have taken over KRTV because I do remember a KATV engineer friend of mine telling me that when they were removing the antenna from the KRTV tower that one of the batwings got knocked off.

I think that you can find a television station that is currently on the air as KRTV. I don't remember exactly where it is.

I am so freaking mad at KATV right now I'm about to lose it. This is so bush league it isn't even funny. Using the FCC as an excuse when it really comes down to precious local ad revenue that they would lose. Screw that. Jerks.

There, I feel bett... no, I still don't feel any better. Sorry for the rant, folks, but this just kills me.

I suggest that we (as the HDTV community in Arkansas) contact ABC and simply raise hell (in a civil manner). Also contact KATV's advertisers and let them know that Channel 7 isn't cutting it with their programing and HDTV decisions.

Too bad Joan Early or Renee Shapero can't have a wardrobe malfunction on air: the fines for iindecency just went up ten fold. :p

I suggest that we (as the HDTV community in Arkansas) contact ABC and simply raise hell (in a civil manner). Also contact KATV's advertisers and let them know that Channel 7 isn't cutting it with their programing and HDTV decisions.

Too bad Joan Early or Renee Shapero can't have a wardrobe malfunction on air: the fines for iindecency just went up ten fold. :p

You can pretty well bet that if the station, or any broadcast station, thought they could sell it they would make it happen. Salespersons, or account executives as they call themselves, are the "Fair-haired Children" of broadcast.

Believe me, contacting the advertisers (the station's bread and butter) is the way to go. Anything a broadcast station does is geared to make money, even if it means not airing popular programs.

KATV is way behind the curve in the HD department.

KATV has always been way behind the curve.
Low power short tower in the early analog days.
Late to the dance with color and stereo sound.
Late to the dance with HD.
Late to the dance with full power.
A history of very bad programming decisions. Glad I don't have to put up with them any more!

... I think that you can find a television station that is currently on the air as KRTV. I don't remember exactly where it is.
It's in Great Falls, Montana (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?state=&call=krtv&arn=&city=&chan=&cha2=69&serv=&type=0&facid=&list=2&dist=&dlat2=&mlat2=&slat2=&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&size=9).

I would really like to see one of the old, originals...Here's what they looked like:
http://members.aol.com/jeff1070/k1.jpg

I've had a rotor in the box for several months that was intended for my 2m (ham radio) antenna. Since I had another mast pole around, decided to move the 8 bay (4228) to above the roofline and install the rotor.

All the local digitals (excluding KWBF-DT, which may not really exsist?) come in fine, with the exception of KETS. I can receive KETS with the 4228 but it requires me to aim the antenna in a NE direction. In spite of not cut for low vhf anyway, there is enough of a signal there (60-62%) to hold a lock during the mid-day.

I decided to check out what this will pull in under "normal" conditions and noon was just about perfect. An analog bandscan turned up (with NO tropo scatter) KEJB-43 El Dorado (UPN) with a watchable picture (a little snow), and also very weak signals form WXVT-15 (CBS) Greenville, MS, WMAO (MPB/PBS) Greenwood, MS (which is on the same tower as WABG-6/32 DT), and the weak equity stations from Little Rock, KWBF (snowy but watchable), and KYPX-CA 20 (very snowy, much like WXVT).

Oh yes, I did try to bring in that other digital RF channel 32 (WABG/ABC), but conditions are not quite right at this time. KTVE DT 27 (NBC) from El Dorado is very low power and won't come up this far under normal conditions.

Heck I even saw some e-skip come though KETS-2 analog's signal :D

Here's what they looked like:
http://members.aol.com/jeff1070/k1.jpg

Yep, that is how I remember them. Thanks for the pic.

A good caption for this pic would be: "All we need to do is stockpile about a million of these babys and wait until the early 21st century. We'll charge $59.95 each and make a killing."

Yep, that is how I remember them. Thanks for the pic.

A good caption for this pic would be: "All we need to do is stockpile about a million of these babys and wait until the early 21st century. We'll charge $59.95 each and make a killing."

lol

looks almost identical to my antenna/rotor setup.

[edit:] I was referring to HaleySEA's attachment, not the 1950s bowtie!

...A good caption for this pic would be: "All we need to do is stockpile about a million of these babys and wait until the early 21st century. We'll charge $59.95 each and make a killing."Actually, a good Channel Master 4bay bowtie is still only about 25 bucks online (plus shipping), at places like warren electronics (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/4221.htm), etc.

All the local digitals (excluding KWBF-DT, which may not really exsist?) come in fine, with the exception of KETS.

Well, I am line of sight, 4.2 miles due North of KWBF-DT and can get a signal of 8% using the Channel Master Quantum. For all practical purposes, the station does not exist, and come this fall when the CW starts on KASN, it WONT MATTER.

Congrats on the new antenna setup.

Actually, a good Channel Master 4bay bowtie is still only about 25 bucks online (plus shipping), at places like warren electronics (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/4221.htm), etc.

Yeah, but they didn't know that back then. Plus, the old, originals were built like battleships. : )

Right now as of 7:29am, getting KTBS-DT (rf 28) Shreveport, LA. Watching GMA Saturday. Only a couple of problems, they are not passing it in HD (grey bars on sides) and the Surround is dolby 2.0 and it sounds as if it were comming from a 55 gallon drum. Going with the TV's speakers for now.

I'll have to work later, but hope to catch at least a little of the World Cup in HD (if they remember to throw the swtich) down there.

H.

Update (7:43am): Contacted the KTBS control room and was informed of a hardware problem, that was causing the HD/Surround to not work properly. The engineers are supposed to be working on it.

Second Update (8:05am): KTBS went to HD briefly for the WC match, however there was NO SOUND. After a couple of minutes, HD was turned off and switched back to SD (and the sound returned). I give them credit for at least trying.

I took a couple of snapshots of the brief HD images :D

Also did a compairson between KTBS's fall-back SD-digital OTA and KWBF via E*. No contest, KTBS wins hands down.

H.

Had someone give me their old Panasonic TU-HDS20 with software rev 8.10. Picks up DirecTv HD great. PBS, NBC, ABC, CBS come in great. I cannot get FOX or UPN. On my main receiver (Hughes E86) both give me a signal of 100%, however, the Panasonic shows a picture, unlocks, looks llike its trying to get it, unlocks. UPN eventually locks but has strange wavy line in the picture. Fox never locks, shows a picture for a second, a little sound, then looks like its trying to tune it in again. Im guessing the receiver is barfing on something iin the PSIP, but dont know what to do about it. Can anyone else help?

I had one of those a *very* long time ago and it never did anything right. Biggest problems are extremely bad OTA ATSC tuner, wimpy processor and not enough RAM.

My advice: Take it down to the Broadway Bridge and toss it in the river. The TUHDS20 was the absolute worst excuse for a STB I ever tried to use! Sorry, for the rant, but the TUHDS20 is a piece of crap, and none of them ever worked right.

Reviews:
Link 1 (http://www.hdtvpub.com/viewprod.cfm/cat_decoder/thread_Panasonic/prod_TUHDS20/)
Link 2 (http://ecoustics.audioreview.com/cat/audioreview/home-video/dss/panasonic/PRD_289730_2720crx.aspx)

Thanks ARXAW, those reviews actually caused me to laugh so hard, it gave me a stomach ache at 6:30 in the morning. Yeppers, they nailed this receivers faults right on the money. I am really surprised, however, that Panasonic could even consider releasing such junk to customers in the first place. As the reviews said, its picture quality is stunning, and the ability to output all formats (or convert to the one of your choice to match your monitor) is a great feature, but not at the expense of the 10 minutes it takes to enter a channel change into it. It didnt cost anything, so Ill keep it around as a second receiver, since I have my hughes set to 480i at the moment and plugged into my Tivo. Im holding off on buying a HD-Tivo until DirecTv completes their mpeg4 switchover. Guess Ill just have to skip trying to watch fox on it, and run a second set of component cables from the Hughes to the monitor for those time I cant get by without NASCAR in HD. Thanks for the links.

I wasted many hours trying in vain to get an TU-HDS20 to work. I returned the unit I had to Panasonic repair and they sent a refurb back, which was no better, and worse in some cases. The TU-HDS20 probably can't get KLRT-DT, due to mulitipath, which it does *not* like at all.

BTW, I'm getting KARK-DT and KTHV-DT this morning, up here near the MO border. KARK-DT is @ 74% and KTHV-DT @ 51% signal strength. Nothing from KLRT-DT though....
http://i6.tinypic.com/1442teo.jpg

Can you recall if that Panasonic has any type of signal stregth meter for ATSC? I found the one for the satellites, but cannot find any for ATSC, nor did the online manual mention any.

I don't think it had an OTA SS meter, but it's been several years since I owned a TU-HDS20, so I'm not sure.

Good thing it has such a nice picture, or it would have been tossed back to the person who gave it to me :) I cannot believe they actually released this piece of crap to the public with all the flaws it in. Even with a Sony AV-2000 programmable remote, it still misses about every third number in a channel change, mysteriously retunes channels its been tuned to for hours (satellite, so multiplex cannot be an issue), has AC-3 drop outs continuously...I could go on, but you used to own one. The price I paid was exactly what this thing is worth. I sure with DirecTv would come out with a Mpeg4 HD-DVR soon.

May Ratings Are In: KATV Slides Downward (http://arkansastvnewswatch.blogspot.com/2006/06/may-ratings-are-in-katv-slides.html)
heheheh......

Arxaw,

Ironic considering that KATV has traditionally held that older, rural audience as its own for so many years (at least in this area). Now that Sat penetration has risen, those viewers are discovering that Dales General Store isn't the only place in town.

Sweet :D

H.

... Now that Sat penetration has risen, those viewers are discovering that Dales General Store isn't the only place in town.
[nor is kATV the only way to get ABC-HD any more :-) ]

alright, just moved to west little rock (hinson/cantrell area). signed up for dish instead of getting raped by comcast. rewired house with dual cable lines for dish and hd antenna. is there any way to get abc hd out in this area because antennaweb only lists 3 hd channels for this part of little rock.

any help greatly appreciated. thanks.

katv (abc) is still low power, so reception is hit or miss in many parts (most) of their viewing area. ABC-HD is available on DirecTV for some customers, but not dish.

Enter your address here (http://directvdnseligibility.decisionmark.com) to see if you qualify for ABC-HD on DirecTV.

Send a complaint about KATV's low power digital channel to their General Manager here (http://www.katv.com/contact.hrb).

katv (abc) is still low power, so reception is hit or miss in many parts (most) of their viewing area. ABC-HD is available on DirecTV for some customers, but not dish.

Enter your address here (http://directvdnseligibility.decisionmark.com) to see if you qualify for ABC-HD on DirecTV.

Send a complaint about KATV's low power digital channel to their General Manager here (http://www.katv.com/contact.hrb).

bleh, that's what I was worried about. I saw ABCHD in many area codes near downtown, but when I started moving west and north, they disappeared. Go figure. Thanks for the info. Just sent a little email, so we'll see what happens.

Thanks for the info and the links.

Enter your address here (http://directvdnseligibility.decisionmark.com) to see if you qualify for ABC-HD on DirecTV.[/url].

I live in Stuttgart and this is what that link at Direct TV says.

ABC KATV-DT Grade A (strong signal)
CBS KTHV-DT Grade A (strong signal)
FOX KLRT-DT Grade A (strong signal)
NBC KARK-DT Grade A (strong signal)

What a joke. I don't even get a hint of a signal on KATV.

The DirecTV qualification link (http://directvdnseligibility.decisionmark.com/) is for specific addresses (not zip codes), and is based on FCC predicted reception of OTA TV.

Likewise, the antennaweb reception calculator (http://www.antennaweb.org/) is based on the location and surrounding terrain of your exact address. You should enter your complete address at antennaweb to get a better prediction of OTA reception. Uncheck the "contact me" boxes so antennaweb won't send you promo stuff in the mail. If you plan to use an outdoor antenna, change the house type to "MULTIPLE STORY"

What I posted in my last post was for my specific address on the Direct TV site. I did the Antenna Web Calculator and it is pretty accurate with what I recieve, actually I get better reception with my rooftop antenna than it calculates. I guess I'll be waiting until KATV decides to increase power.

Thanks for the reply.

The antennweb.org site states that it is a conservative estimated list of stations you may receive. That is usually the case.

Although the D* site is hardly accurate WRT actual digital reception, it will let you know which network HD channels you can get from them via satellite.
To see an example of an address that qualifies, enter (http://directvdnseligibility.decisionmark.com) this address:
100 MENA ST
MENA AR 71953

Why not just throw up a UHF antenna at ground level, plug it in, and see if you can get any signal? If you can, then installing it and raising it up to roof level will probably get it for you. Also check google earth and see how high the hills are between you and Redfield.

I have a rooftop antenna, from Radio Shack. Don't remember the model number, but it cost around $80, for better or worse. It's about 20 feet above ground level. But unfortunately it looks right into some trees. Still looks like I would get at least a hint of a signal, but I get abosolutely nothing from KATV. All the other higher power stations average around 60/70 on the signal strenth meter. Can't remember the exact model number of my reciever, but it's a Direct TV Samsung TS360, if I remember right. I'd have to pull it out of the cabinet to check it and I have some short wires. Maybe it's my reciever that needs to be upgraded.

Thanks again for the help.

If the signal is there, you should be getting something, with that antenna. I doubt the receiver is the problem. What type coax are you using, and how long a run? What kind of balun are you using on the antenna to connect the coax? I'm assuming the antenna is a combo UHF/VHF. Whats you best signal strength on channel 39?

This question is relevent to those KTHV (Little Rock,CBS) viewers using their digital audio 5.1 channel (Dolby Digital).

Ever since KTHV installed their 5.1 Dolby Surround equipment (about 3 months ago) I have had a problem with the dialog (center) channel.

As you know, the dialog of a 5.1 encoded show is supposed to come out of the Center channel. With the addition of their 5.1 equipment, I noticed that the dialog comes out of ALL THE CHANNELS! Front left, front right, center, surround right, surround left. Every one of them.

I am a Comcast user. The 5.1 encoding of KARK, KATV, and KLRT work perfectly, so it is not a problem with my audio receiver.

I also have a friend who has Directv, and is using an over-the-air antenna to receive his local stations (not through Comcast). He sees the exact same problem!!! Dialog coming out of all channels, just on the KTHV feed!.

I have contacted KTHV to discuss the issue, but they don't seem to understand that they have a problem.

I'm posting this in order for anyone else that listens to the 5.1 Digital audio on your Little Rock stations. To see if you have the same issue, make sure you are watching a KTHV show in HD, and be sure you are listening through your audio receiver, and put your ear up to all your 5.1 speakers. See if you hear dialog out of each one. On the other local channels you should NOT here dialog out of them.

Anyone who can test this and affirm what I am saying, I will have more data to go back and talk to KTHV about the problem.

Thanks for your help,
Mike

Does it happen on an HD broadcast that you definitely know has DD 5.1 audio?
If you don't mind, please name a specific program.

I ask because I get this same problem on WCBS-DT ch 80 and WABC-DT ch 86, from NY on DirecTV. But only on shows that are not DD 5.1.

All of the HD broadcasts that I can find. Close to Home, CSI, NCIS, Criminal minds. Anything I can find. I have not found any HD broadcast on this affiliate that does not have this problem.

alisonf from KTHV should pop in here any minute now. If not, try sending her a PM at this link (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/private.php?do=newpm&u=7456923).

I went over this issue with Alison about a month ago. She could not explain my problem, and had not heard from anyone else having the problem. Maybe she has an update on this issue. Have you noticed the same issue?

I no longer get KTHV-DT OTA since I moved from LR but I have talked to alison on this board many times. I now only get KTHV SD (via DirecTV).

This question is relevent to those KTHV (Little Rock,CBS) viewers using their digital audio 5.1 channel (Dolby Digital).

Ever since KTHV installed their 5.1 Dolby Surround equipment (about 3 months ago) I have had a problem with the dialog (center) channel.

As you know, the dialog of a 5.1 encoded show is supposed to come out of the Center channel. With the addition of their 5.1 equipment, I noticed that the dialog comes out of ALL THE CHANNELS! Front left, front right, center, surround right, surround left. Every one of them.

I am a Comcast user. The 5.1 encoding of KARK, KATV, and KLRT work perfectly, so it is not a problem with my audio receiver.

I also have a friend who has Directv, and is using an over-the-air antenna to receive his local stations (not through Comcast). He sees the exact same problem!!! Dialog coming out of all channels, just on the KTHV feed!.

I have contacted KTHV to discuss the issue, but they don't seem to understand that they have a problem.

I'm posting this in order for anyone else that listens to the 5.1 Digital audio on your Little Rock stations. To see if you have the same issue, make sure you are watching a KTHV show in HD, and be sure you are listening through your audio receiver, and put your ear up to all your 5.1 speakers. See if you hear dialog out of each one. On the other local channels you should NOT here dialog out of them.

Anyone who can test this and affirm what I am saying, I will have more data to go back and talk to KTHV about the problem.

Thanks for your help,
Mike

Mike, I think that you will have a problem trying to convince anyone at KTHV that they have any problem with their digital audio. I have called numrous times about their inability to control the OTA digital audio levels when switching from network to local, local commercial audio, and glitches in the network HD audio, just to name a few and all the calls have fallen on deaf (pun intended) ears. The audio level problem can be solved by installing a VU meter and paying someone to watch it with their hand on the "H" or "T" pad. I still think that their network HD program audio and video pass thru their studio without any attention. I wonder if we could get an answer on that.

Altogether, all stations (excepting KATV) are doing well and someday will have all the bugs worked out. I am glad we have them.

This won't fix the DD5.1 problems, but it will put the dialog back in the center channel speaker, where it belongs:

1. Connect the analog L+R (RCA jack) audio cables to your sound system.
2. Switch from Dolby digital mode to analog mode, aka "ProLogic" or "DPLII" on your sound system when watching a station with DD5.1 problems.

If you have a universal remote, it's easy to switch between the digital and analog sound sources.

You are correct, listening in pro-logic mode will put the dialog back on the center channel. But that is a bandaid fix. Since the network spent millions to create an HD environment, it would be nice if it would work as it was designed. I can't imagine how a problem like this would exist without the affiliate knowing about it, or knowing how to check themselves and fix the problem!!

The audio on the network flagship stations WABC-DT and WCBS-DT is screwed up, although it's only on non-HD programming. Dialog comes from every speaker in the room on all programming except HD DD5.1 encoded programs. It's sounded awful since day one but they don't seem to care about fixing it. If flagship O&O stations can't/won't get sound right, I wouldn't expect a small local affiliate to do much better.

About all you can do for now is vent in forums like this, complain to the stations, accept that the audio problems may take a while to get fixed, and use the DPL workaround.

It sorta makes sense to me that a program thats NOT DD5.1 sent through a 5.1 decoder is going to come out screwed up. What I dont understand is why they dont do like some of the stations and switch the audio from 5.1 to prologic when the source isnt a 5.1 enocded source. Im sure they could do that, all my DVD's do. The previews and menus are in prologic, and it switches to DTS or 5.1 when the movie starts. Surely they have some type of pilot signal or encoded data bits to tell the receiver what mode to switch to.

When a program is not DD 5.1, I think it's supposed to be flagged as DD 2.0, which will fix the dialog problem. IIRC, the flag is sent in PSIP data. If DD 2.0 is incorrectly flagged as DD 5.1, you get dialog from every speaker, which is what happens on WCBS-DT and WABC-DT non DD5.1 programming. It probably has to be switched manually and they just leave it on DD 5.1 all the time.

Before KTHV-DT had DD 5.1, they had an audio problem a couple of times where the dialog was coming out of all of the speakers on all CBS network programming, but not on local. They said the problem was an incorrect setting in their CBS network satellite decoder.

alisonf????

On my Comcast box I flicked over to watch one of the soccer games and noticed that Comcast has added a second ESPN-HD channel. Maybe they said something in one of their billing inserts, but I wasn't aware they had added it.

Sports is fine in HD, but their talking heads programs are a bit much. And some of these guys are really ugly :)

When a program is not DD 5.1, I think it's supposed to be flagged as DD 2.0, which will fix the dialog problem. IIRC, the flag is sent in PSIP data. If DD 2.0 is incorrectly flagged as DD 5.1, you get dialog from every speaker, which is what happens on WCBS-DT and WABC-DT non DD5.1 programming. It probably has to be switched manually and they just leave it on DD 5.1 all the time.

Before KTHV-DT had DD 5.1, they had an audio problem a couple of times where the dialog was coming out of all of the speakers on all CBS network programming, but not on local. They said the problem was an incorrect setting in their CBS network satellite decoder.

alisonf????

Sorry for the delay in responding. Comcast is reporting some audio dropouts and we are currently try to help them chase down their gremlins. Dolby 5.1 checks out fine. You are correct we originally was suffering a CBS equipment problem that has long since been solved. The CBS HD IRDs do periodically get software upgrades, we received one just a few days ago, so they are always trying to improve the technology.

We are fortunate in being a CBS affiliate in that we have an HD program in the day time we can use to evaluate our equipment and also audio testing sent weekly by CBS so we can monitor that equipment. We often get phone calls and emails from viewers absolutely positive that we have a problem. I had one just yesterday from a Y & R viewer who was sure we had issues. When it was a cable problem. When we truly suffer from a technical glitch our phones light up like a Christmas tree. All TV stations have problems even the biggest ones. Our biggest challenge is not the HD, but keeping the analog transmitters running until shutoff time. I am sure the other Chief Engineers are struggling with theirs just like us. Lecture over.

Sorry for the delay in responding. Comcast is reporting some audio dropouts and we are currently try to help them chase down their gremlins. Dolby 5.1 checks out fine. You are correct we originally was suffering a CBS equipment problem that has long since been solved. The CBS HD IRDs do periodically get software upgrades, we received one just a few days ago, so they are always trying to improve the technology.

We are fortunate in being a CBS affiliate in that we have an HD program in the day time we can use to evaluate our equipment and also audio testing sent weekly by CBS so we can monitor that equipment. We often get phone calls and emails from viewers absolutely positive that we have a problem. I had one just yesterday from a Y & R viewer who was sure we had issues. When it was a cable problem. When we truly suffer from a technical glitch our phones light up like a Christmas tree. All TV stations have problems even the biggest ones. Our biggest challenge is not the HD, but keeping the analog transmitters running until shutoff time. I am sure the other Chief Engineers are struggling with theirs just like us. Lecture over.

What about the difference in audio levels between your network, studio, and commercials causing me to wear my remote out tuning the gain down, then up again when your station switches between these sources. Also, the audio glitching or skipping, as someone referred to it, during your CBS HD programs on your digital program channel. WCBS-HD does not have the audio glitching or commercial audio level problem. You all are doing a good job but wondering when these problem be fixed.

For what another vote is worth, i continue to get audio dropouts (3/4ths of a second) on CBS despite having a strong signal strengh meter, and occasionally on KLRT; both of which i receive with an OTA antenna. I get no audio dropouts on KATV or KARK (though i have signal strengh issues with KARK). i just assumed its a multipath issue, but on CBS, its always the audio but the picture is unaffected.

I am receiving 5.1 DD sound, but even switching to 2.0 does not stop the dropping out.

I am also getting the occasional audio dropouts from KTHV OTA. At first, I thought it might be my new receiver, a Sony HDD-250, because I noticed it during recorded programs, but I have also noticed it on live programming. I don't really bother with 5.1 for casual tv viewing, but I have noticed the dropouts both in stereo and 5.1.

I, too, have noticed audio dropouts of about a second each on any HD broadcast on KTHV. It might happen 4 or 5 times an hour, or maybe none for a whole hour. I havn't payed much attention to it. I get the dropouts whether I listen to the analog or digital soundtrack. I am on Comcast.

Hey everyone...can any of the knowledgeable members tell me when the new AETN digital station in El Dorado, (KETZ 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, and 12-4) started broadcasting? I was setting up the new receiver box I got... and I noticed I am picking up KETZ on channel 12. In addition, I usually can pick up KSLA Channel 12 analog from Shreveport from my home, and now Im not picking up anything. Does that have something to do with the digital station in the area? Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone...can any of the knowledgeable members tell me when the new AETN digital station in El Dorado, (KETZ 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, and 12-4) started broadcasting? I was setting up the new receiver box I got... and I noticed I am picking up KETZ on channel 12. In addition, I usually can pick up KSLA Channel 12 analog from Shreveport from my home, and now Im not picking up anything. Does that have something to do with the digital station in the area? Thanks in advance!

According to Gary Schultz at AETN they starting broadcasting in mid May on channel 12. They are broadcasting out of Huttig located in the extreme south edge of the state.

According to Gary Schultz at AETN they starting broadcasting in mid May on channel 12. They are broadcasting out of Huttig located in the extreme south edge of the state.


Thanks for the info Allison. I can't believe they've been broadcasting for over a month and I just now noticed! I knew it was a work in progress, but I wasn't sure when they were going to go live. I'm curious, because KETZ is located on Channel 12, will that interfere too much with THV's signal down south? Not that I could ever recieve it here, but I'm sure someone in Fordyce or Monticello could, and possibly experiment some interference.

Thanks again for the info :)

Thanks for the info Allison. I can't believe they've been broadcasting for over a month and I just now noticed! I knew it was a work in progress, but I wasn't sure when they were going to go live. I'm curious, because KETZ is located on Channel 12, will that interfere too much with THV's signal down south? Not that I could ever recieve it here, but I'm sure someone in Fordyce or Monticello could, and possibly experiment some interference.

Thanks again for the info :)
Our coverage area for broadcast doesn't go into the Union County area and Fordyce is predicted as outer Grade "B"reception. The KETZ's antenna was designed to protect our contours so on paper it isn't supposed to interfere. I did air my concerns to Gary and he and the engineering consultants did their best to avoid a problem with their configuration. The FCC granted the CP and consequently have now granted the license for them because the flew under the minimum interference range. There will be interference when the two signals meet, but less than a minor % of the population will have a problem.

I have had no complaints on reception since KETZ went live.

Allison,

I've not seen KETZ and didn't know they had already went live...Only seen the KETZ station id on the TOH AETN station ID.

BTW, I receive KTVE, and KEJB analog signals here. (when pointed toward Huttig, AR)

H.

Haley, I recall you saying at one time that you are able to receive KTBS 28 and KSLA 17 out of Shreveport regularly. I'm curious as to what kind of antenna setup you have. I have the Radio Shack XR-190... I know thats not the exact model but something along those lines, and I also have the CM 7777 installed. Should I get the CM 4228? Would that be an optimal setup? Im tired of just getting KPXJ and KMSS! I dont understand why I get those because they arent even as powerful as the KTBS transmitter. I've been getting between 9 and 16% on Channel 28...pathetic! What are your suggestions?

Our coverage area for broadcast doesn't go into the Union County area and Fordyce is predicted as outer Grade "B"reception. The KETZ's antenna was designed to protect our contours so on paper it isn't supposed to interfere. I did air my concerns to Gary and he and the engineering consultants did their best to avoid a problem with their configuration. The FCC granted the CP and consequently have now granted the license for them because the flew under the minimum interference range. There will be interference when the two signals meet, but less than a minor % of the population will have a problem.

I have had no complaints on reception since KETZ went live.

They're really cutting it close though I bet! I'm curious as to why they decided not to go with the original channel of 30... I would of thought it would have been a better choice.... due to the fact that THV's digital channel is 12, and KSLA out of Shreveport is on analog 12...and KETZ's coverage area stretches over to Magnolia, which is only 50 miles from Shreveport. And I also have long wondered why KAQY (ABC) out of Monroe chose Channel 11 when they singed on a few years ago, before that we actually could receive a watchable signal from THV on occasion. Now all we get is interferance from both channels. Oh well..all good things come to an end I guess :(

Allison,

I've not seen KETZ and didn't know they had already went live...Only seen the KETZ station id on the TOH AETN station ID.

BTW, I receive KTVE, and KEJB analog signals here. (when pointed toward Huttig, AR)

H.

I can contact Gary and see if he has had some technical problems or delays. With high power RF just about anything can go wrong.

They're really cutting it close though I bet! I'm curious as to why they decided not to go with the original channel of 30... I would of thought it would have been a better choice.... due to the fact that THV's digital channel is 12, and KSLA out of Shreveport is on analog 12...and KETZ's coverage area stretches over to Magnolia, which is only 50 miles from Shreveport. And I also have long wondered why KAQY (ABC) out of Monroe chose Channel 11 when they singed on a few years ago, before that we actually could receive a watchable signal from THV on occasion. Now all we get is interferance from both channels. Oh well..all good things come to an end I guess :(

I have always questioned the wisdom of a station picking the same channel as an adjacent market. You folks that live out a ways from the big city will get the short end of the stick every time.
Alison

I was going to monitor Ch12 OTA to see if I could get the same audio dropouts I get via cable, but ran into something else.

I was going through the channels to get there and ran through 4 SD channels on 42. They were remarkably crisp (although the programming was identical), so Equity finally upped the power or moved to a new transmitter. I've got my antenna pointed to Shinall Mt. and don't see much from ch 7, and at one time could barely pick up 42.

If they are still transmitting from downtown, they must have really boosted the power for me to see it now. Who knows, maybe HD is next. :)

Oh yes......

Seeing KWBF-DT for first time tonight. Signal is weak on both the Dish811 RX (58-61%) and on the RS Accurian (60-62%). No HD, or subchannels. Stereo sound only, caught the last part of that show with the former actress from The Nanny years ago. There is also no remapping of the channel so it shows up as "44-1 KWBF". I suspect that there will probally be some multicasting with the station running RTN and also Univision (since those are SD only). Not sure if MyNet (KWBF's network this fall) will have HD programming though at the start.

Also, KATV is getting into the subchannel/news-feed game. "KATV News Now" is on 7-2 (replacing the SD simulcast) with a generic background music bed and local weather info with news briefs and a crawler that is hard to see. Pictures rotate between state radar, national radar, weather forcasts, and a "weathercam" of downtown Little Rock.

I fear KARK may not be far behind in this trend---enjoy the great pic quality on RF channel 32 while you can!

Haley, I recall you saying at one time that you are able to receive KTBS 28 and KSLA 17 out of Shreveport regularly. I'm curious as to what kind of antenna setup you have. I have the Radio Shack XR-190... I know thats not the exact model but something along those lines, and I also have the CM 7777 installed. Should I get the CM 4228? Would that be an optimal setup? Im tired of just getting KPXJ and KMSS! I dont understand why I get those because they arent even as powerful as the KTBS transmitter. I've been getting between 9 and 16% on Channel 28...pathetic! What are your suggestions?

Mainly KTBS-DT (28)and KPXJ-DT(21). And only during tropo openings, but a weak one from Texas-Louisiana would bring those two in. KSLA-DT(17), and KMSS-DT(34) need a little more help. I've even managed to snag KTAL-DT (15) a couple of times, but there was intense tropo. KPXJ is actually out of Minden and was analog until a switch-over in late summer last year to digital--it had NO seperate digital channel.

I'd pull the trigger on the CM4228----you will not regret it. On UHF, the 4228 will work wonders, but make sure you get a rotor as the beamwidth is very narrow.

Thanks for the input...I receive KPXJ regularly here at night, but still no KTBS, and that's what I'm shooting for, at least one day. I think Im going to order the 4228 here pretty soon...I wish I could get it locally. And I also get KMSS somewhat regularly... and that's what I don't understand. I get KETZ at around 65% signal, and KTVE's "signal" at about 86%, but I think their DT transmitter is located atop their old analog transmitter at their studios downtown, which is about half a mile from where we live. I never watch it though. I managed to catch my first real OTA HD broadcast last night on KETZ... and it was more pristine than I thought. Why doesn't AETN broadcast more HD?

Also, I'm picking up a signal strength on my meter on RF Channel 11 at around 38% - 46%... what could that be? The only thing I could find that would be closest, and in the direction my antenna is pointing is WYES, the PBS station in New Orleans. Is that possible? I don't think the tropo is that great tonight. I was also hoping to lock in on KNOE's signal... but it being on Channel 7 might be difficult, as I can get a snowy picture from KATV on analog. Perhaps that's the reason why KETZ signal isn't optimal for me, because I can get KSLA's analog signal fairly decent when the antenna is pointed toward the SW. I assume analog broadcasts can interfere with a DT transmission. Correct?

I assume analog broadcasts can interfere with a DT transmission. Correct?

Keith, please check your prvt msgs for more details for your area...


Yes, and vice versa. Thanks to KVTN-25 I cannot get the digital signal from WMAO (Greenwood, MS MPB/PBS). Also having KETS-DT on channel 5 makes it hard to DX analogs on that same channel (WMC used to be the strongest analog from Memphis years ago). KVTN-DT is weaker here so some analog channel 24's do make it through at times.

And another heads up. Don't be suprised to find TBN going digital soon. They made a large scale application with the FCC to flash cut to digital on their LPTV channels :(

Did a rescan this afternoon, and didn't get KWBF-DT, so if they bumped their power up, it must not have been much. MyNetworkTV's entire primetime schedule is supposed to be HD right from the start, but I'm not really going to complain if we don't have it available here. Recycled Mexican soap operas won't appeal to me anymore in HD than they do in SD.

...I'm picking up a signal strength on my meter on RF Channel 11 at around 38% - 46%... what could that be? The only thing I could find that would be closest, and in the direction my antenna is pointing is WYES, the PBS station in New Orleans. Is that possible?

I assume analog broadcasts can interfere with a DT transmission. Correct?

It's very possible you're getting tropo from new orleans.

And YES, analog broadcasts can easily interfere with digital. I have 2 channel 18s in the SAME coverage area. LPTV K18EG analog ch18 out of Eureka Springs is about 3 miles from my house. KFSM-DT (CBS-HD) in NW AR is about 50 mi away and full power. I can't get KFSM-DT until K18EG completes their move to ch 22 (moving due to fcc complaints from area residents).

If you get a CM 4228 antenna and a CM 7777 preamp you won't be disappointed :-)
http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/4228.htm
http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/7777.htm

Warren has very fast shipping via FedEx ground.

I was going to monitor Ch12 OTA to see if I could get the same audio dropouts I get via cable, but ran into something else.

I was going through the channels to get there and ran through 4 SD channels on 42. They were remarkably crisp (although the programming was identical), so Equity finally upped the power or moved to a new transmitter. I've got my antenna pointed to Shinall Mt. and don't see much from ch 7, and at one time could barely pick up 42.

If they are still transmitting from downtown, they must have really boosted the power for me to see it now. Who knows, maybe HD is next. :)

I am getting a signal strength of 100% pointed toward Shinall Mt. Most impressive. Just in time to lose the WB and all the HD shows Ive been missing for three years :)
Just checked with an indoor antenna on another receiver, and cannot get any signal at all, so apparently they are still low power.

It's very possible you're getting tropo from new orleans.

And YES, analog broadcasts can easily interfere with digital. I have 2 channel 18s in the SAME coverage area. LPTV K18EG out of Eureka Springs is analog and about 3 miles from my house. KFSM-DT (CBS-HD) in NW AR is about 50 mi away and full power. I can't get KFSM-DT until K18EG moves to ch 22 (due to fcc complaints from area residents).

If you get a CM 4228 antenna and a CM 7777 preamp you won't be disappointed :-)
http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/4228.htm
http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/7777.htm

Warren has very fast shipping via FedEx ground.

That has to be the reason I'm getting 49% on signal strength on some channels, and not picture. For example, there is a Channel 10 here, and I turn t 10 on the receiver and it shows 49...no movement. I'm here in northeastern Boone county right now, and can get KYTV and KOZK. The HD on both look OK.. but it doesnt look as good as AETN does. They really need to turn off multicasting! Do they really think anyone is watching UPN 15 or Weather Plus during an HD program? I think not. And some of the things I hear from people when talking about HD...they do not have a clue as to what it is.

arxaw, do you think it's possible for me to receive KEMV (CH 35) from here? I'm in Diamond City....and all I have here is an RCA rabbit ears...with the fine tuner. I currently get KYTV at 70% and KOZK at around 65%. Would it help reception any if I put the rabbit ears on top the roof? I'd really like to see the fireworks from DC in HD on Tuesday. I think Im going to ordee CM 4228 when I get back to South AR.. I have the CM 7777 installed finally...and can tell a noticable difference in analog and the one DT station nearby. I really want to get Shreveport HD though. Maybe with the 4228 I'll managed to pull it in.

KEMV-DT is on channel 13, and Diamond City looks to be on the very edge of KEMV-DT's coverage area (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DS991410.html). Unfortunately, KAFT analog in Fayetteville is also on channel 13 which almost gets out that far (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=TV302039.html), and might cause interference. So, depending on which way the wind is blowing, you may (or may not) be able to pick up KEMV-DT in Diamond City. Or if conditions are right, you might even get KAFT-DT from Fayetteville on channel 9! This is assuming a good outdoor antenna and preamp, though.

That has to be the reason I'm getting 49% on signal strength on some channels, and not picture. For example, there is a Channel 10 here, and I turn t 10 on the receiver and it shows 49...no movement.If you're in Diamond City, channel 10 is KOLR out of Springfield. Their digital channel is 52 and very low power.

Bottom line: right now it's likely that the only reliable OTA digital you'll get in Diamond City is KYTV-DT 3-1, 3-2 & 3-3 and KOZK-DT 21-1, 21-2 & 21-3. Both stations have sub-HD-quality video, due to insane multicasting.

For more info on local TV there, check out the Springfield, MO thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7893368#post7893368).

Looks like comscat may be getting a little more competition in LR soon.
Article at Arkansas News (http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2006/07/01/News/336799.html)

I have a rabbit ears here.... so Im not going to even attempt to pull in KEMV from Mountain View. I was only getting 9% signal on my receiver from there. I'm getting KYTV and KOZK from Springfield at about 70%. I know it's sub-HD quality, but to me, it looks much better than DVD, even. I have an outdoor antenna and CM 7777 pre-amp at my home in El Dorado and only pick up KTVE's digital "signal" and also KETZ, the new AETN transmitter in El Dorado. I'm going to invest in that CM 4228 when I get back home though.


edit - I purchased a CM-3016 from Lowes for $35.00, very small antenna, but boosted the signal on 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3 from 70% to 88%. 21-1, 21-2, and 21-3 to 78%. Still haven't locked on to anything else, but I have the antenna about 9 feet off the ground, with no preamp or anything. I'm just going to leave it here, I'll have it here when KOLR, KSFX, and KSPR go full power.

For anyone watching KWBF-DT (44-1), Is anyone getting any PSIP info? Mine doesnt remap on either receiver, and on the Panasonic, after about 5 minutes, the receiver just spontaneously reboots when its on 44-1 (doesnt do that one any other channels).

For anyone watching KWBF-DT (44-1), Is anyone getting any PSIP info? Mine doesnt remap on either receiver, and on the Panasonic, after about 5 minutes, the receiver just spontaneously reboots when its on 44-1 (doesnt do that one any other channels).

Its also lower power than the other channels, so the signal isn't as reliable here. KWBF is not remapping, giving program info, nor broadcasting in HD.

At least it has better picture quality than the very few times i've seen KTVE-DT (which is not saying much).

At least it has better picture quality than the very few times i've seen KTVE-DT (which is not saying much).

I emailed KTVE earlier today to see when they plan on getting up to speed...so maybe we'll hear some good news..I'm not counting on it though. KTVE has the reputation of being the cheapest of the cheap in years past.

It has been a few days since I noticed any audio dropouts on HD from channel 12(11). Anyone else notice it seems to have gotten fixed? Curious to know if it was a broadcast problem, fiber encoder problem or a Comcast error. I didn't change Comcast boxes so I know it was somewhere else upstream.

It has been a few days since I noticed any audio dropouts on HD from channel 12(11). Anyone else notice it seems to have gotten fixed? Curious to know if it was a broadcast problem, fiber encoder problem or a Comcast error. I didn't change Comcast boxes so I know it was somewhere else upstream.

I have not watched much on KTHV in the past few days but the audio glitching, skipping, dropouts, or whatever you want to call them were evident OTA when KTHV was in HD network programming. WCBS-HD was not having the problem so I figure it was somewhere within KTHV's domain that the problem was occuring. I have noticed as many as eight or ten in some programs and as few as one or two at other times.

Also, KTHV still has a big difference in program audio on their digital channel when they switch from network to local audio, studio audio and commercials in newsblocks, etc. Some of the audio levels have to be nearly peging their VU meter. The problem with audio levels does not seem so bad off satellite, just digital OTA. I would have hoped that they would have that under control by now, the other stations' digital OTA audio levels seems to be fine. Can't get any help by complaining via telephone to their "engineering" department or management.

... Also, KTHV still has a big difference in program audio on their digital channel when they switch from network to local audio, studio audio and commercials in newsblocks, etc. Some of the audio levels have to be nearly peging their VU meter... Can't get any help by complaining via telephone to their "engineering" department or management.
Try contacting BobRoss (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/member.php?userid=738) on this board. He is VP of CBS East Coast operations.

Try contacting BobRoss (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/member.php?userid=738) on this board. He is VP of CBS East Coast operations.

The problem is with KTHV. There is no problem with WCBS-HD audio that I have found. What can Mr. Ross do about the local station?

If the problem is a huge difference between CBS network audio and local audio, he can probably do something, or at he may contact the station.

If it's affecting your enjoyment of CBS programming due to EXCESSIVELY LOUD LOCAL COMMERCIAL INSERTS from the local affiliate, I think he might want to know about it.

If the problem is a huge difference between CBS network audio and local audio, he can probably do something, or at he may contact the station.

If it's affecting your enjoyment of CBS programming due to EXCESSIVELY LOUD LOCAL COMMERCIAL INSERTS from the local affiliate, I think he might want to know about it.

The network does not bother me because I usually watch WCBS-HD. It's during the local news on KTHV-DT that the difference in levels is irritating. I figure that it's a self-adjusting malfunction that will one day correct itself, propbably when the right corporate person notices it. I know that corporate personnel have been known to check into a local hotel for a few days and air check the programming of their station(s). Then again, if the sales people are able to sell time, who cares. The FCC loosed its reins years ago on big-corporation broadcasters.

Looks like USDTV's days are numbered (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=697993).

and that's a good thing.

however I doubt that multicasting will decrease because of usdtv's death.

I can't receive KARK-DT this far south, but was just curious if they planned on starting to multicast in the future? I hope not... I plan on KTAL out of Shreveport to be my NBC HD OTA... and I'd hate to think they would start multicasting once they go full power in November.

I can't receive KARK-DT this far south, but was just curious if they planned on starting to multicast in the future? I hope not... I plan on KTAL out of Shreveport to be my NBC HD OTA... and I'd hate to think they would start multicasting once they go full power in November.

Keith,

Please don't give KARK/Nexstar any ideas :(

They've actually managed to take on an apperence of a decent mid-major market since going HD/full power (excepting their lack of wire service for news and "outsourced" sports via KNWA).

The audio levels are somewhat lower than KTHV, KLRT but its DD 5.1 on network programming.

But the temptation will be there to add a weather/news subchannel since KATV did so a few weeks ago, and KTHV has for some time.

If Nexstar can make a buck multicasting, you can bet they will eventually do it in LR.

Up here in NW Arkansas, Nexstar will be multicasting on their NBC affiliate, KNWA (will be on the air in a week or two). Once everything is up and running, KNWA-NBC will be on on 50-1 and KFTA-FOX on 50-2.

I also get NBC KYTV-DT out of Springfield. They show NBC in 1080i on one sub channel, UPN in 480i on a 2nd sub channel and NBC WeatherPlus on a THIRD sub channel. The picture quality stinks on all 3 channels and they don't seem to care.

It's sad, but I think most stations are going to multicast.

Thats a shame...I mean I dont care if they multicast...it's a great concept, but they could at least be considerate enough to turn off the additional channels when broadcasting an HD program. Ive been watching KYTV and KOZK over the past two weeks while I'm in the area (leaving tomorrow) I did a PQ comparison of 21-1 and 21-2 one night when the two channels were airing the same program, and 21-2 looked maybe marginally better than 21-1. 3-1 looked alright while in NBC primetime....I have to admit it looked great to me, but then again in El Dorado I've been having a difficult time getting decent HD, until I get my 4228 in. AETN looks great while airing HD.

And I found out it's almost impossible to use a rabbit ears for HD!

... [KYTV-DT] 3-1 looked alright while in NBC primetime....I have to admit it looked great to me... It depends on your display's capability and how large a screen you're viewing. On larger screens, KYTV-DT HD looks "almost" DVD quality, but certainly not HD quality.

And I found out it's almost impossible to use a rabbit ears for HD!Depends on where you are, if the stations are full power and what kind of OTA tuner you're using. Also, dipole "rabbit ears" won't work well for most UHF. Most stations are using UHF for OTA DTV . You need a UHF loop antenna or other UHF antenna like a bowtie or silver sensor..

Did somethng happen at KWBF-DT? I had them locked in with a decent signal last week but nothing now. I think it was 44-1 but again might have been 42-1. My guide shows both channels for this station.

Also, I noticed tonight that KARK-DT is selling the "crawl" at the bottom of the screen. Saw it on the 6:00 p.m. news tonight. I noticed at least four or five sponsors whose logo/name appeared to the left of the crawl when it was punched up. I am sure that the other stations will follow suit.

Bel,

Thats pretty common with the Nexstar owned/controlled stations for newscasts. KTAL, KTVE, and KNWA/KFTA does this I know of.

Wow..things have been very quiet in this thread for a week! Where is everyone?

Wow..things have been very quiet in this thread for a week! Where is everyone?

I don't know where everyone is. I have been wondering the same. Maybe all questions have been answered and all problems solved. :)

It looks like KWBF-DT is back on high power on 44-1. I have them at almost the same amount of signal as KLRT-DT and KARK-DT which hover around 95/100 on my signal strength meter.

It looks like KWBF-DT is back on high power on 44-1. I have them at almost the same amount of signal as KLRT-DT and KARK-DT which hover around 95/100 on my signal strength meter.

Not here. KWBF-DT is missing as usual. Not that the programming is missed though especially off network. I'm beginning to think KWBF's definition of "full power" is as misleading as those endless informericals they and sister station KYPX air.

Just wanted to let you all know that Paul Eells passed away in a car accident this morning.... though you will all have heard this when you awake....

KATV's Full Story (http://www.katv.com/news/stories/0806/349055.html)

Rest In Peace, Paul.

Oh my.

I have worked with Paul for 8 years at KATV, and never have I known a kinder, more friendly person. He always greeted you with a smile, and I never knew him to have a cross word with anyone. Lots of heavy hearts today.

I grew up watching Paul on Channel 7. Things are going to be very different without him around....

He interviewed me one time back in the early 90's and I remember him to be very friendly and down to earth.....

Prayers to his family, and to the family of the other person killed as well......

Arkansas is losing a lot of good people, here lately. I grew up wth Paul, as well. He was one of the good guys. I feel as I've lost a member of my own family.

It's a double tragedy that another person was also killed before their time....

...It's a double tragedy that another person was also killed before their time....
Perhaps I missed it, but I never heard a word on this evening's kaTV news about the woman from Dover who was also killed. The other LR stations mentioned her, as did KHOG in Fayetteville. Did anyone hear anything about her on kaTV's 5pm news?

I thought they did mention her at 6 and 10...but not a 5. I think they went to Dover an interviewed some people there.

42-1 is glorious SDTV, while subchannel 42-2 is now listed as KKYK.....No audio or video on 42-2. Power levels far below other Little Rock DTV's (except KVTN, KETS, and KATV).

I can't help but laugh at the irony of "America's First All HD Network" being in SD in so many markets :p

Bring on The CW on KASN in HDTV (should be interesting, at least for a while).

(btw, future Shreveport CW (and lame duck UPN) station KPXJ is already using the moniker CW21 on their station ID's, etc)

I truly hope the CW will be worth all the hype... I know it'll be better than UPN and WB :cool:

Think Reba's wrinkles will show up in HD?? At least Smallville will finally be watchable.

Think Reba's wrinkles will show up in HD?? At least Smallville will finally be watchable.

Maybe not under heavy foundation. I did catch that Reba show last night on KWBF-DT......looked good, on my hamshack tv (13" analog connected to a USD box for DXing purposes). Oh, the new logo for the station was seen in a promo where the old WB42 logo is blown up and the new one appears. You can sure as heck not expect to seen blown away any of the endless informericals, fringe religious programs (including the infamous Jim Bakker), the strange attempts at "newscasts" and call-in shows with Gary Lee Robbins, and all those Party Poker dot com ads. Oh yes, MY 42 won't be much different than the WB 42 its replacing. All the way down to its off hue colors.

My question is, will Equity even attempt HDTV on KWBF-DT?

My question is, will Equity even attempt HDTV on KWBF-DT?

Are you kidding? They can barely do SDTV.

Are you kidding? They can barely do SDTV.

....or NTSC analog for that matter :p

As bad as Equity's flagship is (and its scraping the bottom of a cruddy barrel), the worst SDTV (not analog NTSC) I'm aware of/seen in Arkansas has got to be KTVE-DT RF 27 in El Dorado. Mono sound, very low power (does not cover its major viewing area of Monroe, LA), and the picture appears to be relaying an analog feed off rabbit ears. There are even 2 lines that go up the screen. The only station I know of where the *analog* picture quality is better than the digital. Although, this situation is supposed to change by years end (maybe, but DTV/HDTV upgrade deadlines I don't take literally).

....or NTSC analog for that matter :p

As bad as Equity's flagship is (and its scraping the bottom of a cruddy barrel), the worst SDTV (not analog NTSC) I'm aware of/seen in Arkansas has got to be KTVE-DT RF 27 in El Dorado. Mono sound, very low power (does not cover its major viewing area of Monroe, LA), and the picture appears to be relaying an analog feed off rabbit ears. There are even 2 lines that go up the screen. The only station I know of where the *analog* picture quality is better than the digital. Although, this situation is supposed to change by years end (maybe, but DTV/HDTV upgrade deadlines I don't take literally).


Agreed...I'm just happy the chief engineer has been keeping us up to date .... he posted a time table for full-power HD... along footprint map of coverage. It'll be great when it's online...I just hope there aren't too many delays :)

Agreed...I'm just happy the chief engineer has been keeping us up to date .... he posted a time table for full-power HD... along footprint map of coverage. It'll be great when it's online...I just hope there aren't too many delays :)

Meanwhile, while KTHV-DT's switching is good, its unique problem of not being able to control audio levels when switching from network, to local, to commercial is yet to be solved. Where did I put those batteries for the remote?

Lol... Who does the best job in the HD department, in your opinion?

From what I've seen, it looks as though opinions are split between THV and KLRT. Does KLRT have many problems with switching back to HD after commericals, audio, etc?

Lol... Who does the best job in the HD department, in your opinion?

From what I've seen, it looks as though opinions are split between THV and KLRT. Does KLRT have many problems with switching back to HD after commericals, audio, etc?

From what I see, KLRT has just about overall mastered the DT/HD challenge that was put to Central Arkansas broadcasters in the last year or so. In my opinion, KLRT was the first to more or less master the switching problem, followed by KTHV, and KARK. There have been times that KTHV "button punchers" did not know the program on CBS was in HD and they were not transmitting in HD which told me that they were not monitoring their DT/HD signal "Off Air" as should be required as S.O.P. in their shop. Maybe they are now.

KARK still has the problem of their DT audio sometimes being out of sync with their video. This is evident when they are local/live such as in their news blocks. Their switching has come a long way in a short period of time that they have been transmitting at full power DT. I have noticed this problem with KLRT but it is usually of short duration before they correct it.

The main problem that KTHV has now is the wide range of audio levels on their DT channel 11-1 (12-1) when switching from network to local. A viewer can sometimes tell when the button puncher switches from network. Just before a local newsblock when the local control room that is about to "punch" the newsblock takes control of audio and video from their Master Control, the audio level will go up, then down when the news intro starts, then change again when they go to studio, then change again when they go to commercial. I used to think that their CBS (network) programming went straight thru their control room, un-attenuated and they would just switch out of it and into it when the time came with no one watching any levels. This is not apparent on the analog channel, just DT.

To answer your question, I would have to say that KLRT is the leader in HD/DT quality of broadcast here in Central Arkansas with KARK coming in second. I don't think that KTHV is aware of their DT audio problem or at least won't admit it and no one can convince their management of it. I am able to receive WABC-DT courtesy of D* and don't bother to watch KATV at the present time so I don't know where they stand.

All of the Central Arkansas stations have come a long way, and, as I have said before, we are foutunate to have them. I like my OTA HD programs.

Well last night, I did I scan with my 4228 pointed toward the north, and locked on to KLRT-DT, KARK-DT, and KASN-DT.

KLRT-DT's signal strength was in mid to upper 80's, KARK was in the mid 70's for the most part, and KASN was in the lower to mid 60's (probably due to the antenna not being pointed toward Redfield). KLRT was always about 10% higher in strength than KARK, by comparison. That surprised me, because they're both on the same tower. Do they operate at the same power level?

I probably could have brought in KTHV-DT, but my VHF antenna doesn't have a rotor, and I didn't feel like messing with the roof last night..

When is KATV going full power? They REALLY need to get to work on that.... it looks bad for them that they're the only major network not at full power. I imagine quite a few viewers in Central AR are qualified for WABC-HD... and they should see that!

Keith, interesting pics of your reception.

Do you get any digital stations that are broadcasting in lowband VHF (chs 2 thu 6)? I'm referring to actual RF channels, not remapped channels....

I've never logged anything on channels 2-6. KETS is the nearest low VHF digital channel, and a local church broadcasts on channel 5 here. I don't expect to receive anything on those channels, but I'll be pleasantly surprised if I do.

Well last night, I did I scan with my 4228 pointed toward the north, and locked on to KLRT-DT, KARK-DT, and KASN-DT.

KLRT-DT's signal strength was in mid to upper 80's, KARK was in the mid 70's for the most part, and KASN was in the lower to mid 60's (probably due to the antenna not being pointed toward Redfield). KLRT was always about 10% higher in strength than KARK, by comparison. That surprised me, because they're both on the same tower. Do they operate at the same power level?

I probably could have brought in KTHV-DT, but my VHF antenna doesn't have a rotor, and I didn't feel like messing with the roof last night..

When is KATV going full power? They REALLY need to get to work on that.... it looks bad for them that they're the only major network not at full power. I imagine quite a few viewers in Central AR are qualified for WABC-HD... and they should see that!

Don't now about their power levels but KLRT and KARK are not on the same tower. KARK shares a tower with KTHV. KARK-DT's antennal is side-mounted just below KARK's (Channel 4) analog antenna which is just below KTHV's antenna. So, if your rotor is pointed toward KARK it is pointed toward KTHV, and, at that distance, it would also be pointed toward everything on Shinall.

KLRT's tower is on the East end of Shinall Mountain, The KARK/KTHV tower is on the West end of the mountain.

I've never logged anything on channels 2-6...
Your digital reception might improve if you removed that bottom antenna shown in your photos, and use only the 4228. It usually works fine for highband VHF channels 7 thru 13, because the large screen acts as a VHF antenna.

Have you tried that?

That setup was from about a month ago. I actually have the 4228 about 5 feet higher (around 27 feet), on the highest peak of my roof, with the RS VU-190 where the setup was originally. That CM 3018 I have in a storage room, since Lowe's wouldn't take it back. I just moved the RS antenna to it's current location yesterday (at 25 feet), and can now receive KETZ 24/7, and KNOE-DT a little better. I was receiving them very weel last night, so I'll have to check tonight and see if it wasn't just the weather. Later on, I may invest in the CM 3671.

KLRT's tower is on the East end of Shinall Mountain, The KARK/KTHV tower is on the West end of the mountain.


Thanks for clearing that up...I knew KARK shared a tower with someone, but I wasn't quite sure :)

Keith,

Those are some nice pics, especially of Conan's guest :D . Noticed that the menus/displays on the Proscan box look *just like* the RS Accurian OTA receiver. I use it to view OTA live when I'm recording programs from the E* box, and to record in widescreen SD, HD programming for time shifting (to dvd-ram, since I don't have a DVR).

Tomorrow morning if you are up, may be good conditions for enhanced reception espcially into Eastern/Southeastern Texas. I might give the 4228/7777 a workout since i've got the day off, in the morning.

H.

In Decending order.....

KLRT 30 No mulitcasting, excellent sound (DD 5.1).

KARK 32 In spite of cheapskate owners. DD5.1 and no mulitcasting.

KTHV 12 Best overall network, sound issues and mulitcasting ("THV 2) hurt HDTV PQ.

KASN 39 Full power, just needs the CW programming. No multicasting.

KATV 22 Needs a digital signal to match the analog. At least 7-2 is somewhat useful (7 News Now) nowdays.

KETS 5 Lowband VHF, low power, and limited HDTV. But when its there, its very good (mulitcasting is turned OFF). But not enough HD programming.

KWBF 44 Lame duck WB with SD only. My Network programming is not very inticing. And neither is the syndicated fare from Equity's flagship. 42-2 shows a blank screen (supposed to be simulcasting KKYK 49/20). Low power but seen occationally here.

KVTN 24 SD, all Pray for Pay.

Well, this evening, after giving up on getting a usable signal from KNOE-DT, I decided to point the 4228 toward LR, just curiously checking to see if KLRT-DT and KARK-DT were there. I really didn't expect anything, but low and behold, I turn to KLRT, and I'm getting a signal. Around 50%, a couple dropouts. So, I then decided to check KARK. No avail on my built in LG tuner, but I plugged the coax into my ProBrand STB, and I see glorious Sunday night football in HD @ around 67%. :D I've never really tried pulling in anything from LR, but I may start checking nightly, to see. I took some more screens to add to my album :)

Those are some nice pics, especially of Conan's guest .

Haha... I agree it's a very good pic! And Conan seems to be liking his guest, as well... by where his eyes are...lol

KARK doesnt have multicasting, but on the NFL game tonight, I am getting a lot of macro blocking on close up moving shots. I cant believe the network is sending out such a crappy picture, what would KARK be doing that would cause this, or is it a receiver problem on my end?

I noticed that as well. Although the signal dropped out a little while ago, it was noticable. I imagine it's probably NBC, as I've read threads in nearby DMA's complaining of the same thing.

KARK doesnt have multicasting, but on the NFL game tonight, I am getting a lot of macro blocking on close up moving shots. I cant believe the network is sending out such a crappy picture, what would KARK be doing that would cause this, or is it a receiver problem on my end?

I was seeing the macro blocking on my 26" Panny. Just imagine those viewers in markets where NBC stations multicast (Memphis and Springfield, MO come to mind) putting up with reduced bandwidth *and* the native macro blocking from NBC's feed :(

Keith,

Tomorrow morning if you are up, may be good conditions for enhanced reception espcially into Eastern/Southeastern Texas. I might give the 4228/7777 a workout since i've got the day off, in the morning.

H.

Yes, conditions were excellent last night... best I've seen in a long time :) I managed to receive stations from the following markets (I won't list Shrveport, as that is semi-normal for me.)

Alexandria, LA (DMA #176)

KALB-DT 35 (NBC, common visitor)
KLPA-DT 26 (LPB)

Lafayette, LA (DMA #124)

KLFY-DT 56 (CBS)
KADN-DT 16 (FOX)

Lake Charles, LA (DMA #175)

KLTL-DT 20 (LPB)

Beaumont, TX (DMA #138)

KITU-DT 33 (TBN)

Little Rock-Pine Bluff, AR

KARK-DT 32
KLRT-DT 30
KASN-DT 39
KVTN-DT 24
KWBF-DT 44

Houston, TX (DMA #11)

KHOU-DT 31 (CBS)
KTRK-DT 32 (ABC)
KTXH-DT 19 (UPN/MNTV)
KFTH-DT 36 (Telefutura)
KHCW-DT 38 (WB/CW)
KZJL-DT 44 (Spanish Ind.)
KXLN-DT 46 (Univision)
KTMD-DT 48 (Telemundo)

I couldn't get KPRC-DT 35 (NBC), due to KALB-DT 35 on the same channel. Same goes for the FOX affiliate KRIV, because KTVE-DT is on that frequency.

The tropo was so intense, that KTVE's transmitter went offline, and a Grade "B" picture from KLFY in Lafayette was seen OTA, and even on cable. KTVE-DT had the audio from KLFY in their channel, with snow. Snow on a digital channel...sheesh. I thought it was hilarious.

It was something to watch so many commericals in Spanish...

Haley, did you have pretty good luck this morning?

I added the photos I look last night to the album, and moved the newest ones to the first of the slideshow, in case anyone is interested.

Real Newbie here guys! Please be patient.
I just got my first HDTV a few months ago. A 50" Sony 3LCD.
I hooked it up to a small pair of bunny ears when I first got it, but was only able to recieve one HD channel, very shortly. I wasn't too concerned about it at the time, and kept putting off getting a bigger antenna. Now I WANT HDTV!
What I need is for someone to hold my hand and show me what I will need.
I live in Higginson AR, 72068. I am about 45 or 50 miles from Little Rock. As I'm sure you all know, at this time there is only 2 channels available, 1 UHF and 1 VHF. I would be very happy just to get these.
I have also seen where some of you guys look like you have some sort of super antennas! :eek: This wouldn't be something that I would have to have right now, but would be interested to know more about them (cost, recieving distance).
This is my first time to take a dip into the HD swimming pool, so please....not TOO many big words and abbreviations that I have to look up would be greatly appreciated. :rolleyes: :D :D :D
Thanks!
Micah

Get a Channel Master CM 4228 antenna (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/4228.htm)
Get a Channel Master CM 7777 preamp (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/7777.htm)

You can get a mast to mount it with from any Radio Shack. Install it as high as possible and aim toward Little Rock and you may be surprised how many channels you'll get.

Real Newbie here guys! Please be patient.
I just got my first HDTV a few months ago. A 50" Sony 3LCD.
I hooked it up to a small pair of bunny ears when I first got it, but was only able to recieve one HD channel, very shortly. I wasn't too concerned about it at the time, and kept putting off getting a bigger antenna. Now I WANT HDTV!
What I need is for someone to hold my hand and show me what I will need.
I live in Higginson AR, 72068. I am about 45 or 50 miles from Little Rock. As I'm sure you all know, at this time there is only 2 channels available, 1 UHF and 1 VHF. I would be very happy just to get these.
I have also seen where some of you guys look like you have some sort of super antennas! :eek: This wouldn't be something that I would have to have right now, but would be interested to know more about them (cost, recieving distance).
This is my first time to take a dip into the HD swimming pool, so please....not TOO many big words and abbreviations that I have to look up would be greatly appreciated. :rolleyes: :D :D :D
Thanks!
Micah

Well, first of all, welcome to the forums. I don't live in the Little Rock DMA, I'm actually in the northernmost part of the El Dorado/Monroe, LA DMA; but I've receieved some of the Little Rock digitals from my location at times.

Actually, there are more than two digital stations in the Little Rock area. I'm assuming you think they're only two stations, due to your antennaweb estimate. Here is the list of full power HD channels in the LR area:

KLRT-DT (Digital Channel 30) (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT602206.html)
KTHV-DT (Digital Channel 12) (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT601619.html)
KARK-DT (Digital Channel 32) (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT286175.html)

The transmitters of the stations above are located in the Chenal area of West Little Rock.



KASN-DT (DT 39) (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT611467.html)
KATV-DT (DT 22) (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DS611447.html)
KETS-DT (DT 5) (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DS991418.html)

The transmitters of the stations listed above are in the Redfield, AR area, between Pine Bluff and Little Rock. Of these stations, you are most likely to receive KASN-DT. KATV-DT currently operates at low power, but you may be able to get it on some evenings. KETS-DT is low power, and operates on the low-VHF band, which means it is very prone to RF interference.

In your location you will probably be able to get KEMV-DT (DT Channel 13) (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1129835.html) for AETN in Mountain View. Check antennaweb.org for the direction of the analog KEMV (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=TV23222.html), which is 6. Antennaweb gives a conservative estimate of what you can receive.. in many cases you'll be able to get stations that aren't listed in their list.

For ABC, you are fairly close to Jonesboro, so you may be able to receive KAIT (DT Channel 9 (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT674328.html)).. if KATV proves unsuccessful.

I hyperlinked all the stations, which will take you to their predicted coverage map. I hope this helps.

For an antenna, I would look at the CM 4228 (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/4228.htm), which is a great UHF antenna...and also does well for VHF channels 7-13. Of course, a separate VHF antenna would be recommended.. in that case, I'd go with the CM 3020 (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/3020.htm), which you can get at Lowe's for 99.00... a bit higher than Warren Electronics (http://www.warrenelectronics.com) sells it for.

You'll also need a good preamp. The CM 7777 (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/7777.htm) has a very low noise figure, and also has separate inputs for UHF and VHF.

4228 would be all you need... but these are just some recommendations. The only time rabbit ears are okay for digital tv, is when you live very close (within 20 miles) from the towers. I'm afraid you're going to need an outdoor antenna to get digitals. But once you get one, you'll more than likely be able to get quite a few, due to your location. I hope this helps. :)

Real Newbie here guys! Please be patient.
I just got my first HDTV a few months ago. A 50" Sony 3LCD.
I hooked it up to a small pair of bunny ears when I first got it, but was only able to recieve one HD channel, very shortly. I wasn't too concerned about it at the time, and kept putting off getting a bigger antenna. Now I WANT HDTV!
What I need is for someone to hold my hand and show me what I will need.
I live in Higginson AR, 72068. I am about 45 or 50 miles from Little Rock. As I'm sure you all know, at this time there is only 2 channels available, 1 UHF and 1 VHF. I would be very happy just to get these.
I have also seen where some of you guys look like you have some sort of super antennas! :eek: This wouldn't be something that I would have to have right now, but would be interested to know more about them (cost, recieving distance).
This is my first time to take a dip into the HD swimming pool, so please....not TOO many big words and abbreviations that I have to look up would be greatly appreciated. :rolleyes: :D :D :D
Thanks!
Micah

Micah,

Welcome to the board. I'm about 65mi from the Little Rock (Shinall=S) towers, and 40 from the Redfield (R) towers. I get the following stations pretty much 24/7:

KTHV 12 (cbs) (S)
KARK 32 (nbc) (S)
KLRT 30 (fox) (S)
KASN 39 (upn > cw) (R)
KATV 22 (abc) (R) low power. directional to NW from Redfield.
KETS 5 (pbs/aetn) (R) with 4228 rotated NE, since its a lowband, low power VHF

I get these occationally (with decent enhancement)

KWBF 44 (wb > my) (S) seldom watch anyway
KVTN 24 (ind. religious) (near england, AR) never watch anyway


Your best signals from Little Rock will be KTHV, KARK, KLRT, and KASN. KWBF is low power, KATV is both low power and directional away from your area. The best alternative for ABC for you is KAIT-DT 9, and here is the coverage map (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT674328.html) , it appears you are inside the grade B coverage area. Also, might be worth a try for KEMV-DT 13 (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DS991410.html) .

A rotor will be needed in your situation, since the better antennas are very directional. The 4228 UHF (will work for 7-13 also), and 7777 preamp from channel master are excellent choices, and from personal experience will do the job. Also, get the best quaility coaxial cable (RG-6 double or quad shield), don't skimp on this and make sure the connectors are on properly.

H.

Haley, did you have pretty good luck this morning?
.

Couldn't make it out of Shreveport late Sunday night, into Monday morning. Did photo the Tube's (12-2) top of hour id on KSLA-DT. Conditions were open more to Memphis/Jonesboro (but not that strong), than to Shreveport Monday morning :( , although I did lock into KTBS and KPXJ briefly. One stinkin' new analog logging: KPOB-15 Popular Bluff, MO (a relayer for WSIL-3 in IL)

Glad you got the Houston DT's, its a thrill ride getting a true tropo duct opening. Last long-haul trops for me was to Dallas-Ft Worth on August 2nd. Among that bunch I got the former indies KTVT (CBS)and KXTX (Telemundo) digital signals. Both stations have changed quite a bit since their carriage on some Arkansas cable systems (late 1970's, early 80's) ended two decades ago.

I remember when KTVT was carrie as an independent, and KDFW was the CBS affiliate there, until they switched to FOX... and that's when TVT took over the CBS affiliation. I don't remember KXTX, but then again I'm lucky to have remembered KTVT :)

Thanks everyone for your input! That gives me a LOT to go on. I'm glad to here that there is more channels out there that I will be able to get also. :)
Now all i have to do is convince the wife why I need an antenna, when I have Satellite. :rolleyes:
Thanks!!!
Micah

Now all i have to do is convince the wife why I need an antenna, when I have Satellite. :rolleyes:
Thanks!!!
Micah

Micah,

One weekend take your wife to Best Buy in Little Rock, and let her see the HDTV section. Once she sees her favorite program in HD, or any program, for that matter... she'll understand. Because HD is like a drug, once you see it, you're addicted. I have to make myself watch analog now...even if it's a favorite show. Unfortunately I don't get HD reception very reliably in my location, except for AETN.. which only broadcasts a few HD programs a month. I usually can get a couple Shreveport digitals on a nightly basis, mainly the FOX affilate. I don't get it during the day (maybe 2 days out of the week, with breakups-o-plenty)..but in most cases I start receiving them reliably in time for the FOX HD primetime lineup.

As for tonight, I'm actually getting KARK and KLRT-DT..it was nice to watch NBC late night in HD for a change! Again, I don't get the LR digitals on a nightly basis, but it's a treat when I do. I guess it makes me appreciate HD that much more. Good luck with the antenna and the wife! I'm sure it'll work out for you. The 4228 is a fairly pleasant looking antenna.

Keith, I have to digress on that.

Best Buy, and most of the big box stores don't have live HD airing, they use a special Sat demo feed, and often its a SD image which is stretched to 16x9. A better idea for Micah is to find one of his friends that has HD, and a working HD OTA setup. Even a visit to a local mom and pop sat dealer will be better than what the big box retailers offer on info. Many push their own agenda (such as cable or a particular sat provider), or are very clueless. There is way too much mystery with HDTV for Joe and Jane Public, just don't add to her confusion. ;)

Keith, I have to digress on that.

Best Buy, and most of the big box stores don't have live HD airing, they use a special Sat demo feed, and often its a SD image which is stretched to 16x9. A better idea for Micah is to find one of his friends that has HD, and a working HD OTA setup. Even a visit to a local mom and pop sat dealer will be better than what the big box retailers offer on info. Many push their own agenda (such as cable or a particular sat provider), or are very clueless. There is way too much mystery with HDTV for Joe and Jane Public, just don't add to her confusion. ;)


In the Shreveport Best Buy, they have most of the televisions set to a local digital channel, or if not, it can easily be switched over. For example, while I was in Best Buy last night in Shrveport, a salesman was showing a couple that they could watch 24 hour news on 3-3, and then switched to the ABC-HD feed on 3-1, where "According to Jim" was shown. About half the televisions were set on KPXJ, though. The other half was either on KTBS's radar image, or KSLA-DT.

I don't think Circuit City does this, because I went across the street to them after I left BB, and nothing happened when I pushed the channel buttons.

I haven't been in Best Buy in Little Rock in probably two years, so maybe the Shreveport store is the only one to do this, I don't know.... just letting you know what experience I've had with them :)

Thanks for the great info guys/gals. I may try to go to some places this weekend and check them out.
Does anyone know, is there any major retailers that carry the Channel Master Antenna and/or preamp? Just trying to cut down on my cost of shipping. I did a quick search and couldn't find any.
Thanks,
Micah

In Little Rock, I tried calling a few of the distributors listed on the Channel Master website (to order a CM 3671) and all the ones I called have to special order them. I guess you could do that, I don't know if they charge you shipping, and the prices may be higher if ordered locally. Here is the link (http://www.channelmaster.com/Pages/distributorlocator.htm) of Channel Master distributors in AR. You can try calling them to find out specific prices, etc, but in the end, it'll probably be cheaper to order online. Lowe's does carry a few of the Channel Master antennas, like the 3020 (http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=56239-000000693-3020&pad=true), but the CM 4228 will be the best choice for HD.

For the CM 7777 preamp, that will almost have to be ordered online, or special ordered from a distributor.

In the Shreveport Best Buy, they have most of the televisions set to a local digital channel, or if not, it can easily be switched over. For example, while I was in Best Buy last night in Shrveport, a salesman was showing a couple that they could watch 24 hour news on 3-3, and then switched to the ABC-HD feed on 3-1, where "According to Jim" was shown. About half the televisions were set on KPXJ, though. The other half was either on KTBS's radar image, or KSLA-DT.


Keith,

Sounds like BB has finally gotten with the program in Shreveport. I didn't see any "locals" during a trip to the LR BB late in 2005. Of course with the popular ABC station (to the masses) here being so closeted about HDTV, it hurts the cause everywhere in this area.

I have a Terk HDTVs (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-lLpABm5B9VG/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?search=terk+hdtvs&i=209HDTVS) antenna that I've posted about before on this forum. It's expensive and not that great. I have no preamp connected to it. I'm wondering if I hook up one of these CM 7777 preamps to it that everyone here seems to rave about if I will get better reception. I'm in lakewood in North LIttle Rock, so I shouldn't need too much help with the signal. The only station I just can't get that I'd like is KATV. KTHV is watchable, and KARK and KLRT have good reception for me.

Yes! I love the BB in Shreveport... I go there every week just to look around. Lol...they should hire me, as while I'm in there, I hear a salesman feeding a bunch of bull to a customer, I amost want to go over there and correct him. I've never been too fond of CC, especially in WLR and Shreveport. The onse in SHV has NO checkouts open! Which means you have to go to customer service ans wait in line forever in order to make a purchase. Plas, the employees in SHV seem a bit like they don't care at times.

Meanwhile, last night was another good tropo night...received all the full power digitals from LIT (except THV) continuosly(sp). All the Alexandria locals, inculding KALB as usual.

analog wise, I received KSPR, KWMB, and KOZK from Springfield... There was heavy CCI with KLAX and KWBM, even with the 4228 pointed north. KLAX was pristine when pointed south. WMAO from Greenwood, MS also nulled out the local TBN relayer on ch 23 here.

I have a Terk HDTVs (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-lLpABm5B9VG/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?search=terk+hdtvs&i=209HDTVS) antenna that I've posted about before on this forum. It's expensive and not that great. I have no preamp connected to it. I'm wondering if I hook up one of these CM 7777 preamps to it that everyone here seems to rave about if I will get better reception. I'm in lakewood in North LIttle Rock, so I shouldn't need too much help with the signal. The only station I just can't get that I'd like is KATV. KTHV is watchable, and KARK and KLRT have good reception for me.

In your case, a preamp would probably help with KATV, but then overload the other locals. You could try one, and then get an attenuator from Radio Shack, which will help reduce strong signals in an area, to kepp it from overloading. An engineer from KATV messaged me yesterday letting me know they were in the process of going full power, and it shouldnt be much longer. I'll be willing to say that when they go full power, you'll get them :)

KWBF is covering up the WB logo with its generic MY42 logo on network programming (on Smallville tonight) on both 42-1 and the analog ch42 signal. The digital signal is making trip as of now, also 42-2 is *finally* showing video from KKYK-CA 20/KKYK 49. It looks slightly better than the E* feed but not much.

And no its not an informerical, but the The Beverly Hillbillies

H.

KKYKs transmitter is located outside El Dorado (they are still analog).... it was actually a good station when the PAX lineup was on (Diagnosis Murder, Early Edition, etc)... now they air old sitcoms and dramas from the 60's and 70's for about a 1/4 of the day. The rest of the schedule consists of informercials.

KKYK is the flagship station for Equity's wannabe network RTN, Retro Television Network. So far they have it on a handful of their stations around the country. When the UPN/WB merger was announced back in January, I think they hoped to sell it to some of the other stations that would be losing affilations, but MyNetworkTV got most of them. http://www.ebcorp.net/ Here is a liink to Equity's website. It's not clear if they really do any HD anywhere.

Well, one thing is for certain, Equity is obsessed with having as many LP stations as possible. Thats probably why they cant do HD, or a decent digital signal on any station, because they spend all their money on building lowpower and translator c*ap.

I woke up during the night, and turned to KARK-DT... and they were airing an episode of Conan in HD. It was probably around 2:30 am, and I don't think NBC has the late, late rerun airings of Leno and Conan in HD. I know KALB doesn't, anyway. Anyway, I just thought it was a little odd. At first I thought it may have been the west coast feed, but it wasn't. Oh well, I'm not complaining!

I woke up during the night, and turned to KARK-DT... and they were airing an episode of Conan in HD. It was probably around 2:30 am, and I don't think NBC has the late, late rerun airings of Leno and Conan in HD. I know KALB doesn't, anyway. Anyway, I just thought it was a little odd. At first I thought it may have been the west coast feed, but it wasn't. Oh well, I'm not complaining!

KARK runs the repeats of Leno and Conan under the NBC Late night banner. Both are HD. At one time (i've not checked in a while), NBC fed its stations the old reruns of SNL, some dating back to the 1970's, and KARK aired those. Of course there was that programing train wreck of having that religious programming on between SNL and the Classic SNL's. IMHO, the early episodes (pre 1980) are far funnier, especially the first 2 seasons (not old enough to watch those originally though).

Okay, this will probally stir some discussion but here it goes.

AETN to increse its HD programing.

KATV to actually promote HDTV and not bump network HDTV programming for ho-hum Lincoln Financial (the Jefferson-Pilot branding is history) matchups. Add that long awaited power increse also

For KTHV to get back to basics and fix the audio problem

KARK to not give in to the seductive siren of multicasting.

KASN to have the majority of the CW lineup to be WB standouts and not UPN also rans.

And for KLRT to stay the course (network wise).

Anyone care to add to this list? (this is far from complete).

H.

When I first read your post, I thought you were saying "AETN will increase HD programming"...lol...you got my hopes up. KARK and KLRT seem to be the best in the market, of course I only have KARK, KLRT, and KASN-DT as a frame of reference. I haven't caught any HD programming on KASN..KARK at times seems to have audio sync issues on NBC late night (a half a second at most). KATV is in the process of going full power according to an email I received from the engineering department, and will be up very soon. KARK will probably add a news subchannel one day soon (they wont add NBC WeatherPlus, as I found out that costs the stations lots of money) I'm surprised KLRT doesnt multicast.

Haley-Sea, I can agree with your wishlist. I would add that I would hope that KATV would also add 5.1 audio along with the power increase. Of course, KASN will have nothing to do with the CW's schedule which was announced back in May. KASN has their new preview website up at www.cwarkansas.com. I guess it would be nice for KWBF 42 to also add HD and up their power, but considering MyNetworkTV's schedule, I don't think will be missing much.

The MNTV affiliate in Shreveport, KSHV, is going overboard with promoting the new network. They have a number of billboards across the city promoting "Desire", as well as plenty of radio advertisments on a couple of local radio stations. They were saying "no reruns, ever" which will be a bunch of bull later on.

Rocky, I think I remember reading that you work for KLRT..or did so in the past.. do you still?

As of now, equity doesnt have the satellite bandwidth to transmit anything in HD, and they multiplex what they have onto a few transponders, their transmitters and LPTV stations use those feeds with cheap DVB receivers to pick up and feed their transmitters. Even after all these years, they still cant get the AC hum bars out of their video which the claim is caused by their UPS. I would suspect they will never have HD on any of their stations, except perhaps their local station here in LR, which I suppose they could feed the HD network feed to via microwave link. I find it interesting that during heavy storms, you get see the DVB receivers "searching for signal" on their local transmitters hahaha. Retro TV is what they are geared up for, at least they dont have to worry about feeding Granny and Jed in HD hahaha

Keith, I left KLRT about a month ago, I am now a Producer at Comcast. AFAIK, errett is still the man to get the best KLRT/KASN info from, he's the chief engineer there. As far as any Comcast viewrs here, the HD stuff isn't my department there, but I will try to stay on top of any development that might come up.

Retro TV is what they are geared up for, at least they dont have to worry about feeding Granny and Jed in HD hahaha

RTN is a good concept, but with Equity, any "good" concept is turned into a horrible disaster. I don't foresee very many stations picking up affiliation..most would probably prefer to be Independent than get involved with that. What hurts Equity stations, are the endless infomercials, low-budget reality shows, talk shows, etc. Any station that does that, cannot expect any loyal viewers. I would prefer to watch snow than subject myself to that! I wonder what share their "newscast" pulled in the ratings? lol...

I suspected either errett or allenf would be the ones to talk to about KLRT/KASN. Although I haven't seen a post from either of them in a while. I don't really have any complaints fo them, they're doing an excellent job!

So, is working for Comcast better than working for Clear Channel?

Thank goodness that KTHV has not figured our how to, or just doesn't want to, insert their little state map with all the weather warnings on it into network HD programming. This is good because that little tone thing they played every five minutes is very irritating.

As a matter of fact, I can't remember seeing their THV orb on HD programs. It just bolsters my belief that that CBS HD programming comes thru their control room and goes straight to their transmitter uninterupted, thus accounting for the range of audio levels when switching from net to local and back again.

I wish someone would locate their audio distribution amplifier (if there is one) for CBS Network HD audio, stick a tuning tool in it, and adjust it to match their local audio. But then, there is the other problem of their commercial audio during their newsblocks being erratic.

In my humble opinion, at this point, KLRT, KARK, and even KASN have them beat technically.

KARK and KLRT's news set lighting is very good, as is their resolution.

Anyone seeing and hearing the same things?

Thank goodness that KTHV has not figured our how to, or just doesn't want to, insert their little state map with all the weather warnings on it into network HD programming. This is good because that little tone thing they played every five minutes is very irritating.

As a matter of fact, I can't remember seeing their THV orb on HD programs. It just bolsters my belief that that CBS HD programming comes thru their control room and goes straight to their transmitter uninterupted, thus accounting for the range of audio levels when switching from net to local and back again......

In my humble opinion, at this point, KLRT, KARK, and even KASN have them beat technically.

KARK and KLRT's news set lighting is very good, as is their resolution.

Anyone seeing and hearing the same things?

KASN's time is coming, with CW programming. Their traditional target demographic by the lame-duck UPN network filtered down to syndicated programming. I see some of that changing with the new network. IMHO, KASN has been a sleeping giant waiting for the right moment, and a waste at times when NBC was relegated to SD feeds on D*, E*, analog cable, and analog OTA locally.

It seems since KARK's increase in power and adding HD, their perception has changed. After years of being a non-player, their resurgence is amazing. It also helps that NBC has aquired NFL rights after a gap of several years. Second best sound (behind KLRT), but only due to the slightly audio levels, but it does sound great. The picture quailty during local news is far superior to rival KATV, must be due partly to the upconversion, and also to an all digital audio/video chain(?). Adding Matt Mosler just raised the stakes in the morning news wars, and should be interesting to see KATV's and KTHV's moves.

KLRT on the technical side is very good, the main issue is the "bench is shallow", for the news department. It will come in time. If the station can get a morning show (a "Good Day Little Rock", etc) together, "16" could do well with getting viewers away from some of the cable news channels (Old line 3 loyalists will be harder to bring aboard) and a few of the casual Network morning shows.

KTHV proved a decade ago, they could be a major player, they can get back to being on the cutting edge by fixing the audio issues, and upgrading some of the syndicated programming. And a makeover on THV2 (i'd wish it would go back to the old radar image for PQ's sake :p ) wouldn't hurt.

The still awaited KATV power increase will expose HDTV viewers in the hinterlands the reason KATV dares not promote HDTV on-air: an overrated station with a good news department, and a nominal ABC affliate. At least the big ABC college games will be in prime time, the problem is that its competing against ESPN and ESPN2 (and in SD with FSN-SW and TBS). KATV needs to dump Lincoln Financial (formerlly JP Sports) SEC games and let someone else (KWBF perhaps?) pick those up. The real fun will be come Janauary when popular ABC shows are tape delayed to SD Hell so central Arkansas can get 2 Razorback games a year, and bunch of Vanderbuilt-S. Carolina-type matchups. I can almost bet the farm WOF and JEP *won't* be in HD this fall via KATV.

I'm thinking that since KARK is bringing in Matt Mosler, it may push them into the #2 slot in mornings. I guess we'll just wait and see, though.

Hey guys and gals!
I'm about to purchase one of the CM4228's and their preamp. I had another question though.
As for poles....What do you use? Do you buy an actual antenna pole? About how much $ am I looking at if I go that route? Also, I had heard of someone using the top rails to chainlink fences. Anyone done anything like that?
Of course, like most others, I am looking for the best bang for the buck.
Thanks!
Micah

I just got a couple of 5 foot masts from Radio Shack. They cost about 11.99 a piece. Warren Electronics sells them as well, and probably a little cheaper. You may want to order them while you are ordering your 4228 and preamp. I thought about using the poles off of chain link fences, but it's just simpler to use a regular antenna mast. How high are you going to have the 4228, and what kind of mount did you decide on using?

Hey guys and gals!
I'm about to purchase one of the CM4228's and their preamp. I had another question though.
As for poles....What do you use? Do you buy an actual antenna pole? About how much $ am I looking at if I go that route? Also, I had heard of someone using the top rails to chainlink fences. Anyone done anything like that?
Of course, like most others, I am looking for the best bang for the buck.
Thanks!
Micah

Don't forget a rotor so you can get the CW and ABC from Little Rock (when KaTV finally does the power increase), and PBS from Mountain View.

Hey Keith!
I have a single story house. I think if I where to put it on the end the house it would probably go higher. The highest point of the eve is probably around 15 feet (guesstamation). So if I put a brace of some kind there, maybe about 20ft.? I would like to have it by my deck so it would be easier to get to if I need to swing it, but would probably only get it up around 15ft.? this will be my first antenna to set up, so I really don't know stable these things are the higher they go without some sort of brace. Any help with this would be helpfull as well.
As for the kind of mount...any suggestions?
In fact, if someone could give me a list of everything that I will need to get it up and going, that would REALLY help! I know the antenna, preamp, some sort of pole, an RG-6 coax (or whatever that good kind is). Info on a rotor would help as well.
I have some heavy duty pipe that I thought about cutting about a 4ft section off of, and burying about 2-3ft of it so that a pole will stick down in and be easier to turn.
Any suggestions would be appreciated though.
Thanks
Micah
One other thing, I saw where Warren Elec. charges like $16 for shipping on the antenna. I know the antenna is big, that is why. But, anyone have any idea of how the shipping is when you add other things like an amp, or even poles to it? Does it just keep escalating, or do they do you right when you order more?
Thanks haley-SEA, I was still typing when you posted. I'm a pecker. :)

I use a tri-pod mount, like the one listed here (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062019&cp=2032057.2032187.2032189.2032207&pg=4&allCount=45&parentPage=family). It's easy to install, and all you'll really need is five feet of mast for it. Of course it will require you to drill a few holes in the roof, but you can use a seal to keep it protected..and plus it wont require guy wires. If thats not an option, you can probably get a telescoping mast from Lowe's, dig it in to the ground, use a couple wall mounts to mount it to the house.. and can probably safely get it up to 20 feet without having to guy it down or brace it.

You'll want to get this rotator (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/9521A.htm), as it has the best motor on the market and you can also program it for each channel (example - push 16 on the rotator remote, and it would turn the antenna in the direction of CH 16). You would have to program it to do that, though.

also, you'll need some supplies to ground the antenna, to protect it in case of a lightning strike. You can find these supplies on Warren Electronics (http://www.warrenelectronics.com) website.

And RG-6 coax is excellent :)

Im not sure about the shipping price... for me, they always send me the shipping total in a separate email. Hope this helps!

Keith

All that sounds great. The only thing is, I have a metal roof. I'm not sure that the tripod will work well on it. I may have to use a mast. :(
Thanks for the link to the rotor. It is a little over my budget, but I'll just have to see.
THanks
Micah

If you have an electric supply store, check their prices on EMT conduit. I use this in leu of the high priced "antenna" poles, and find its usually thicker, and withstands the wind better. Its also heavier, and withstands ice loading better. The best thing, its usually about 1/2 the price of antenna masts. Downside, you dont get the interlocking for multiple pieces, but 10 ft below the rotor, 5 ft above, gives a good match for a tripod mount. Most tripods come with foot sealer which will work fine on a metal roof. Silicone will as well. Just make sure you have space between the ribs that match up with the tripod. I would try to stay away from the push up masts and their multiple guy wires, not only are they a pain to install, but the guy wires usually cost a lot for ones that wont rust, and the additional hardware is quite an added expense. As mentioned before, dont skimp on the grounding for the mast and rotor.

Homey Despot and Lowes have electrical EMT conduit cheap. You could also use galvanized plumbing pipe. Just don't get something flimsy that could bend in the wind.

Be sure you ground the 4228's antenna mast and install a coax ground block where the coax enters the house. If you use a ground other than your power meter loop ground (like a separate ground rod), connect the separate ground to the meter box ground with a large piece of ground wire. This is very important to prevent the possibility of a buildup of voltage difference between the 2 grounds, damaging your TV and other electronics.

Speaking of the 4228, I was ridin' the tropo wave this morning. I'm in NWA, a few miles from the MO border, and using the 4228 + 7777 preamp, I was picking up KARK-DT, katv-DT [not a typo], KLRT-DT and KASN-DT. All but katv were ~mid 90s on the signal strength meter. katv was around 51% SS. Not a peep out of KTHV-DT. So much for VHF travelling farther than UHF...

Speaking of trops.....

KOMU-DT 36 Columbia, MO (NBC) came in (6:02am) 1 HD, 2 subchanels (WX Plus and "KOMU-CW"---was airing, The Daily Buzz

and very briefly at 9:10am, KSDK-DT 35 with main HD, and NBC WX plus.

(i know this is analog, but noteworthy, got KTVI-2 over KETS-2 with video early this morning. At 9:28 this morning KETS was off air, so got audio and video as well until KETS went back on air w/color bars test pattern, but stil could hear KTVI audio)

just wished i heard more activity on 2m ssb ham radio though, and gotten a few more St Louis DT's (addendum: just worked a ham on 2m ssb at 9:46am central on 144.180Mhzfrom Grid EM48 near St. Louis)

I've never get a peep out of KTHV down here, either. Most likely due to KETZ being here on 12. I've even turned the RS 190 toward Shinall and still just a 49%...meaning there's interference. KARK, KLRT, and KASN I receive regularly down here with the 4228 and 7777 preamp. All be it after 8PM, but they are there like clockwork.

There was a storm earlier this morning, so I didn't get a chance to check what I was receiving... for some reason, I don't like surfing the airwaves during a bunch of lightning :( Oh well, maybe tomorrow morning.

Keith

I've never get a peep out of KTHV down here, either. Most likely due to KETZ being here on 12. I've even turned the RS 190 toward Shinall and still just a 49%...meaning there's interference.
If you can ever catch KETZ off the air, see if KTHV comes in. If so, you've proved it is interference. I would then file a VERY BIG complaint with AETN for choosing ch 12 for KETZ.

Well I know it's interference, because KETZ just drops to that 49% mark in the late evenings, it's usually when I'm receiving KARK and KLRT-DT. In order to get any reception from them at all during that time, the antenna has to be pointed directly at them, and there's still only a signal of 61%-62%. During the daytime I can get a signal in the 70%-72% range, and that's with the antenna pointed toward Columbia, LA. And I also get no signal from them when there is tropo to my southwest, because KSLA analog 12 interferes greatly during that time. I wish there was some way to prove this to them, I've emailed them before about this problem and got no response. :mad:

Just curious, but what has happened to Alison from KTHV, and all the other station representatives from Little Rock? They used to be on here daily.

If you use a ground other than your power meter loop ground (like a separate ground rod), connect the separate ground to the meter box ground with a large piece of ground wire. This is very important to prevent the possibility of a buildup of voltage difference between the 2 grounds, damaging your TV and other electronics.


Please, correct me if I am wrong, but if I will have to connect the 2 seperate gounds together wouldn't it be better and easier to just connect the mast to the meter loop ground in the first place? Would there be any advantage to haveing a seperate ground?
Also, another amateur question. As for the meter loop ground, I went outside and looked at it and under the loop I see a large pipe and beside it a wire that runs down. Is the wire the ground? I can't see where it meets the ground because it goes behind my deck. If I where to connect to it, do I need a special connector for it? Is there a certain place that I need to do it at, or just anywhere along the wire?
I think for now, I may do without a rotor. Correct me if I am wrong, but it looks like all the stations that I will be recieving will be from the Little Rock area (besides PBS), so I should be able to point it in that direction and get good reception on all of them, right? And for the PBS station, I could just go out and turn it in that direction. I may be wrong, but it just seems like a lot of money to turn my antenna every once in a while for one channel. Like I said though, I may be over looking something.
I think that I have also decided to just go with a tall mast instead of mounting on a tri-pod. If I was going to use one though, I would definantly be able to see the benefit of a rotor. I just don't like the idea of putting more holes in my metal roof than necessary. I live semi-sorta in the country, so there in no ordanances against them to deal with. In fact, right now I look out of the ordinary without an old rusted antenna outside. :)
Thanks and any more suggestions and/or correcting of my thoughts would be appreciated. :D
Micah

You only need to connect to the meter box ground. You can do it either at the box itself, or the wire from the box to the ground rod, or the rod itself, doesnt matter. No reason for a separate ground, unless you are a long distance from the meter box, as ground wire normally used for tv systems isnt really that great for long distances. While it would be ok to balance the ground between the meter ground and your antenna system ground, it wouldnt be able to reliably handly a lightning strike nearby if it ran all the way under or around your house first, hence the separate ground.

You wont pick up PBS with a 4228 up there, so dont even worry about it. YOu would need at least a 5 element channel 2 yagi, or large multiband antenna to pick up channel 2 right now (actually channel 5 digital). A rotor might get you Memphis, or ABC out of Jonesboro, but if NBC and FOX are all you are interested in, a rotor probably wont be nessessary. In your location, Im not sure a 4228 will have enough gain on channel 12 to get you CBS either. Is there a reason you cannot install a large UHF/VHF antenna with preamp there?

Well I didn't think he would be able to get KETS-DT, but KEMV-DT would be a very good possibility.

As Dave said, the 4228 may not have enough gain for KTHV-DT 12, the 4228 does a good job on certain VHF channels, but 12 is not as good. I have a AETN digital OTA here on Channel 12, about 27 miles away, and I had a VERY difficult time receiving it with the 4228. I had to reinstall my RS antenna for it..so now I have both the 4228 and the RS antenna on the roof. I now receive AETN 24/7. YMMV, though... if it doesnt work, and you REALLY want CBS-HD, then get one of the VHF/UHF combo antennas from Lowe's.

And about getting a VHF/UHF combo as opposed to a 4228... I've found if one lives a significant distance from the transmitters, the 4228 does a better job of locking in the signal. I definitely get better reception with the 4228 than I did with just my RS antenna by itself. I wish I did live closer, then I could take for granted all the digitals coming in 24/7 :)

As Dave said, the 4228 may not have enough gain for KTHV-DT 12, the 4228 does a good job on certain VHF channels, but 12 is not as good. :)

Actually, KTHV-DT 12 is one of the channels that I REALLY DO WANT. So it looks as though the 4228 won't fit the bill. At least not in that respect. Would you recomend that I get another kind totally (something larger), or supplement it with another? Kind and links are appreciated.

Davenlr, I had done a little research on the lightning strikes on antennas and had come to the conclusion that if a strike does occur a ground isn't going to do anything. I thought that the ground was to reduce the chance of the strike, by bleeding off any static electricity generated by wind and such. Is that not right? I wouldn't figure a small ground wire could totally handle bleeding off a 50 Billion volt lightning bolt. I could be wrong though.

Thanks,
Micah

Well, yes and no. Grounds are strange, lightning is stranger. While it would levelize the ground, and bleed off the static charges, its also to prevent a fire from a strike. Thin wire run a long distance would melt before the bolt finished its dirty work. Doesnt matter much really though, I saw what was left of a 3 foot ground wire the size of a set of auto jumper cables after lightning hit a ham radio tower, and it was basically vaporized, however, the transmitter on the antenna mounted on the tower was still working afterward. Just do whatever is easiest for you. Anything is better than nothing at all. The big thing is just not to have a voltage differential between your power ground and your antenna ground, if they are different. You can check here (http://www.starkelectronic.com/antenna.htm) and see your choices. A large channel master or Winegard UHF/VHF would work, or you could go the route of the 4228 and one of the VHF only antennas, and use a combiner. It just depends on your budget, and what you want to do. A 4228 and a cheap combo antenna through a U/V coupler would work also. Unfortunantly, channel master no longer makes the antenna I would recommend, it had a deep deep fringe UHF secton, and a suburban VHF section, which would have been perfect for you. In any case, you will want the preamp between the set and the first passive device be it a coupler or the antenna itself.

bowyorang,
YMMV, but I get very excellent reception with the 4228 on channels 9, 10, and 12 up here in NWA. If you go to this antenna comparison site (http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/comparing.html) and scroll down to the NET Gain chart, you'll see that the CM 4228 (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/4228.htm) does almost as well as many VHF/UHF combo antennas. Also see this article at TV Technology (http://www.tvtechnology.com/features/On-RF/2006.01.25-f_doug.shtml) - quote:
"...FCC DTV planning factors are based on antenna gains of 4 dB, 6 dB and 10 dB for low-VHF (Channels 2-6), high-VHF (7-13) and UHF (14-69) respectively. Kerry Cozad of Dielectric measured the Channel Master Model 4228 eight-bay bowtie-with-screen UHF antenna and measured gains of approximately 3 dB, 9 dB and 15 dB for low-VHF, high-VHF and UHF. This UHF-only antenna exceeds the planning factor gain at both high-VHF and UHF!"

Keith,
You may be getting interference from other channel 12s in your region that the 4228 could be picking up. bowyorang shouldn't have that problem where he lives. He should also be able to pick up AETN/PBS out of Mtn View on ch 13, with the 4228. Out in the sticks, a good low noise VHF/UHF preamp is also needed, like the CM 7777 (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/7777.htm).
Don't waste your money on a noisy coax amp from walmart or ratshack.

Thanks Davenlr for the info, I may have more questions later tonight after work....:)
Do ya'll think that the CM 3671 would be just as good as having a 4228 and a vhf antenna? Or does having one antenna for each offer something better?
Thanks
Micah

The problem with combining antennas is that if not connected exactly right, you may get multipath interference, and/or a net signal loss.

If I were living where you live:
I would get the 4228 antenna and 7777 preamp. If you can't get KTHV-DT VHF channel 12 very well (which I doubt) with the 4228, just add a highband VHF antenna to the 7777 preamp later. It has separate VHF/UHF coax input terminals. You'll have to open the 7777 preamp and switch the input slider switch from "combined" (combined is default) to "separate" V/U antennas.

FWIW, using the 4228/7777 antenna/preamp, I get virtually all of the stations in this list (http://users.wildblue.net/esbears/stations.html), including the following VHF stations:
Ch 9 Fayetteville - 45 miles
Ch 10 Springfield - 71 miles
Ch 12 Joplin - 60 miles.

This got me to thinking: Ch 12 from Joplin is probably why I can never pick up KTHV-DT in LR, which is also on ch 12. Joplin drowns it out w/ interference. I occasionally get all the other LR digital stations when conditions are right. Even katv-DT was coming in a few days ago.

Just curious, but what has happened to Alison from KTHV, and all the other station representatives from Little Rock? They used to be on here daily.

Keith...

I am still around, mostly lurking. We have a lot going on right now, but if I see someone asking a KLRT or KASN question, I will jump in and respond.

E

Just curious, but what has happened to Alison from KTHV, and all the other station representatives from Little Rock? They used to be on here daily.

I am still here too.

arxaw, when is that K18EG due to move to channel 22? I noticed on your channel list that K18EG wasn't listed, but KFSM-DT was. That would be good if they moved already. I also noticed that KOAM-TV is broadcasting digitally on CH 13... isn't that a poor decision, since KAFT is on analog 13? Do you ever receive KOAM digitally?

Keith...

I am still around, mostly lurking. We have a lot going on right now, but if I see someone asking a KLRT or KASN question, I will jump in and respond.

E

I am still here too.

Well it's good to know you are both still here! I was just a little concerned since it's been about two months since one of you posted. Anyway, thanks for still keeping up with us all :)

Well E, I've got a KASN question I meant to ask you in person and never did. I have read that the CW will have 5.1 audio, which UPN never did. Is KASN-DT set up to broadcast in 5.1?

Thanks

ARXAW, great web site on antenna comparisions. I never considered bonding the two 4228 screens together to simulate a VHF element. His charts do indeed show the gain there, very interesting. I even learned something about my DAT75 I didnt know. I thought all three yagi segments were the same, I didnt know they were for different parts of the band. I sure wish I could try using a 7777 preamp here in town, what do you think the odds are of being able to use one without 16 analog overloading it are? It has overloaded every preamp I have tried up to now. I need something tho, since I can usually get a 10-15 signal from a lot of these out of town stations, but never quite enough for a lock.

Dave, have you ever gotten a lock on any digitals outside of LR? I remember you telling me one time that you could receive KTVE 10 and KNOE 8 some mornings on analog... It's too bad you don't still have that 70 foot tower! I'd pay almost anything to get one here.

I got a lock ONE MORNING out of Jackson Ms, but that was it. Stayed in long enough to catch a station ID, and then faded away. Yea, I really miss my 70' tower.

Well E, I've got a KASN question I meant to ask you in person and never did. I have read that the CW will have 5.1 audio, which UPN never did. Is KASN-DT set up to broadcast in 5.1?

Thanks

KASN is not setup for a 5.1 broadcast. UPN told us they would never offer a 5.1 track, so we never had anything in place. Don't know what will happen going forward, but I can tell you it has come up in multiple discussions.

E

I got a lock ONE MORNING out of Jackson Ms, but that was it. Stayed in long enough to catch a station ID, and then faded away. Yea, I really miss my 70' tower.

How tall is your tower now? Or do you have one? I get a couple of the Jackson digitals occasionally... the strongest one from that area is MPN, on digital 20. WAPT and WJTV are the second strongest. Which one did you managed to lock on to?

WJTV I believe. Analog twenty here is to strong. Dont have a tower anymore since I moved. Have a 3' tripod on a 15' high roof, 5 foot mast, rotor, then the quantum right above the rotor and a Televes nine feet above that.

I have been craving a tower, but I wouldn't know where to go here locally to find an installer, etc.

It's too bad you can't get a 100' tower... then you could maybe get Memphis :) I imagine a 100' tower would be a HUGE undertaking, though..not to mention expensive.

Towers are pretty easy. You dig a 3sq ft hole, set the tower base in it, fill it with concrete <ok, that part is a chore>, but from then on, you just clamp on a gin pole to the section in the ground, hoist the next section up with the pulley on the top of the gin pole, and lower it down over the current section, insert 6 bolts, move the gin pole to the new section, and repeat. At fourty feet, you need to start using guy wires. They just slip over the tower legs before inserting a new section on top. Took a couple hours for two people to go up seventy feet. Yea, a hundred feet would probably clear my ridge to the east and get me Memphis. Its digging the 3sq ft hole in solid rock preventing me here. I cant afford a backhoe to dig it, and Ill be damned if I do it by hand.

OK!
Let me run this by you guys and see what y'all think, again. ;)
This has to do with the way that I'll have my mast set up, the grounding and such is another subject for later.
Alright, I have 14ft between the ground and the pinacle of the roof. What I am thinking of doing is this. I am going to dig a 2ft. hole and concrete in a 2" (outside diameter) pipe that will be sticking approximatley 1ft. out of the ground. Then I am going to take a 10ft and 5ft mast and concrete that into the other pipe at 1ft. below the ground surface. That will mean that the mast pipe will actually be concreted in 2ft deep inside the 2" pipe, and the 15ft mast will be right at the pinacle. Then I will take one of the Channel master 9521A rotors and will place on that. Then take a 10 ft. mast and top it with a CM4228. :eek:
How's that sound? How does everyone feel about the 10ft mast on top? Do you believe that it will be sturdy enough to hold the antenna without additional support like guy lines?
Also, is the Rotor support bearing like on http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/9521A.htm (HERE) something that I will have to have.
Y'alls advice on what kind of brace to use at the pinacle would also be helpful.
Thanks for all your guys help! I am listening to every one of you and your guys help is VERY much appreciated! :)

Thanks!
Micah :cool:

Read this over on DBSTalk.

"Little Rock DMA Locals in HD

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Technicians have been in town all week at the ClearChannel building upgrading the DirecTV fiber equipment to carry HD for locals in this market. LILHD must be around the corner."

Here's a direct link to the thread (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=62677).

ARXAW, great web site on antenna comparisions. I never considered bonding the two 4228 screens together to simulate a VHF element...

... I sure wish I could try using a 7777 preamp here in town, what do you think the odds are of being able to use one without 16 analog overloading it are?

Yeah, the large screen on the back of the 4228 just happens to make a dandy highband VHF antenna :-) That screen is the reason it will happily pick up chs 7 -13 where a smaller 4221 sometimes won't.

When I lived in Little Rock, I used a 7777 and never had an overload problem with it. YMMV depending on where you live and what receiver you're using - OTA is always a crap shoot! A newer generation tuner with good multipath rejection may help your situation, too, if you're surrounded by hills. They really make a huge difference in OTA reception.

arxaw, when is that K18EG due to move to channel 22? I noticed on your channel list that K18EG wasn't listed, but KFSM-DT was. That would be good if they moved already. I also noticed that KOAM-TV is broadcasting digitally on CH 13... isn't that a poor decision, since KAFT is on analog 13? Do you ever receive KOAM digitally?K18EG not showing up on antennaweb.org is just a fluke. From this FCC map, you can see that K18EG is in Eureka Springs.
I live NW of Eureka, above the white river, between Beaver Dam and the little community of Beaver, AR
http://www.fcc.gov/ftp/Bureaus/MB/Databases/fm_tv_service_areas/maps/TX221343.gif

That puts me within the coverage area of both KFSM-DT 18 and K18EG-analog 18. They interfere with each other, and K18EG hasn't moved to ch 22 yet. I'll be glad when they do.

As for KOAM-DT, I can't receive them because they're low power and analog 13 KAFT in Fayetteville would interfere until it goes off the air for good in '09.

OK!
How does everyone feel about the 10ft mast on top? Do you believe that it will be sturdy enough to hold the antenna without additional support like guy lines?
Also, is the Rotor support bearing like on http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/9521A.htm (HERE) something that I will have to have.
:

Sounds good to me. 10' above the rotor is fine for a UHF antenna's windload. Shouldnt need the thrust bearing, its used to relieve the rotor bearings from bearing the weigh of heavy antenna arrays or multiple antennas, the 4228 isnt going to stress the bearings at all. So your rotor will be at roof peak level? You could just run a metal strap from eave to eave around the rotor motor then, since it wont be turning.

Dave, there is a 50 foot tower across the street from me, at a house that has been vacant for years. I know the neighbors personally, though... and they still own the house. It's very rusted..and it's probably 25 years old. I don't guess one like that would be a good choice, would it? :)

K18EG not showing up on antennaweb.org is just a fluke. From this FCC map, you can see that K18EG is in Eureka Springs.


I never heard anything from KNOE about my complaint to them about their CH 18 translator. If they could at least fix the interference on the neighboring channels, it would be great.

Oh well, I'm not going to have to put up with that much longer... Here in a couple weeks I'll be moving to Shreveport and won't have to worry about not receiving KSLA due to interference :)

Are you going to keep DirecTV? If so, just go online, change your mailing address and keep your "service" address where it is now....

That's exactly what I planned on doing. :) It will just be nice to have relilable OTA for a change. What's going to happen when the LR locals go up in HD? Won't the DNS go away? I wish that wouldn't happen... I guess if I want to keep the NYC HDs...I'll just "move" to Marshall in Searcy county...lol.

When local HD channnels are added, you become disqualified to receive HD DNS from NY. I'm not sure how they handle folks who haven't upgraded to the larger 5LNB dish yet. Some people can't install that dish,due to space or limited install locations. It is quite big & bulky. If forced to get one, I have already talked to a local D* installer, and explained where I "live". He said he would be more than happy to do a 5LNB dish swap for about 50 bucks labor. As hard as they are to align, I don't think I want to tackle the job myself.

The problem with Marshall is you won't get any regional local channels (they're in the LR DMA, but D*'s spot beam supposedly is too weak in the Marshall area to offer locals there) and you have to pay $1.50 per channel for each NY station you want, so the cost is slightly higher. But when D* starts adding HD LIL to more and more markets next year or so, "moving" to places like Marshall may be the only way to still get NY HD channels.

If D* is doing HD fiber links from the local stations to the uplink center (anyone know?), that should be better quality than if they receive the channels OTA for uplinking. But if other threads are true, D*'s MPEG4 is still too buggy for me to mess with.

Dave, there is a 50 foot tower across the street from me, at a house that has been vacant for years. I know the neighbors personally, though... and they still own the house. It's very rusted..and it's probably 25 years old. I don't guess one like that would be a good choice, would it? :)

Be OK if the sections arents rusted together, or you have enough manpower to winch it down and pull it back up in one piece.

Just placed my order with Warren Elec.! Can't wait to get on the OTA HD bandwagon!
Wish me luck! :)
Micah

Just placed my order with Warren Elec.! Can't wait to get on the OTA HD bandwagon!
Wish me luck! :)
Micah

That's great to hear! Enjoy the crystal clear PQ from HD :) I'm actually going to order me another 4228 from Warren's here in a couple days... VERY good value for the performance, IMO.

Be OK if the sections arents rusted together, or you have enough manpower to winch it down and pull it back up in one piece.

I bet towers aren't very good for 4228's, are they? Being so heavy... oh well, that tower across the street is probably a lost cause... it has vines all over it and everything. I just started noticing it lately, and wondered how difficult it would be to take it down.

Sounds great. Hope it all pans out for you. I think you will love the rotor. Its so nice to be able to turn it by entering the compass heading. Sure beats the old compass dial ones.

Yep. For about 50 bucks plus shipping, you can't get a higher gain UHF antenna that usually will work well for highband VHF as well.

YMMV, usual disclaimers apply, blah blah blah......

Keith,

I don't consider the 4228 "heavy". It is much lighter than the V/U combo monster it replaced.

Hey guys, need one or two quick opinions on setting this thing up.
I am putting up some of the poles today and getting it concreted in before the antenna and all get here. I'll be able to put the top mast, antenna, rotor, and amp on the top whenever they arrive by getting on the house.
The question that I have is this. I have 2 10ft. and 1 5ft mast. I can put one 10 and one 5 together and it will be right at the pinacle. Then I could place the rotor and a 10 ft. mast on top of it to make 25ft.
The other situation is that I could use the 2 ten ft. sections on the bottom then the rotor and a 5ft. mast with antenna, ect.
The thing is that with the first scenario there would be a brace right where the rotor is for more support, but would have a 10ft. mast , antenna, amp to turn. the second situation would have only a 5ft. mast to turn with, ant. ect, but the rotor would be about 5ft. up from the brace.
Any opinions on this? :confused:
Micah

The shorter the piece is above the rotor that you clamp the antenna to, the more stable your antenna will likely be. Use a 5 footer on that piece.

Thanks arxaw!
I put the 2 10 ft. sections up to make sure I could reach, and I could. Now I'll just have to get over the vertigo. :eek:
Micah

LOL, that's what beer is for.

JUST KIDDING!

Dont know if it will get rid of vertigo, but it will make the crash landing less painful.

Been a couple years since I had a beer, so it wouldn't take much! :rolleyes: I got 'er all concreted in today as well as the yard mowed, wish I could do something other than mow the dang yard on one of my three days off a week. :mad: :p
Don't know how long it'll take for the goodies to come in, but I'll be ready and waitin! :D

Micah

You'll get an email when everything has shipped...you'll probably get it by Friday. And dont worry about the heights...I was terrified of height, and getting on the roof, messing with that antenna has cured that phobia :)

And dont worry about the heights...I was terrified of height, and getting on the roof, messing with that antenna has cured that phobia :)

Hey Keith!
I fell off a 125 ft. bluff onto about and 85deg. slope and rolled another 75ft. down the hill crushing 3 vertebrae and needing several hundred stiches when I was 19. I'm betting that getting on the roof and looking up isn't going to help. :D :D :D
I'm not to scared of heights, just get a little dizzy. :D

Wow....well I'd say you were very lucky! I've never had a serious injury like that in my life (knock on wood).... but you have sufficient cause to have anxiety. Be careful when you start working on that... are you going to have anyone assist you?

Be careful when you start working on that... are you going to have anyone assist you?

I got a good buddy that won't mind too much. :D

It wouldnt hurt to wear a climbing belt secured to something on the roof to prevent you from meandering past the edge either. Extra safety is never wasted.

Thats good that you have someone to help you...I recruited my old boss to help me when I first installed my RS 190 antenna. It's really not as difficult as I thought, and I ended up installing the 4228 myself... and I've moved the whole system twice myself. Whatever you do, don't try working on the roof with that stuff on a windy day! :)

It wouldnt hurt to wear a climbing belt secured to something on the roof to prevent you from meandering past the edge either. Extra safety is never wasted.

I fully agree. Also avoid areas near power lines when transporting and installing the antennas


As for the coax, make sure you have there is enough to make a loop where the rotor can turn and not bind up the coax.

As for the coax, make sure you have there is enough to make a loop where the rotor can turn and not bind up the coax.

I was going to ask how to do that, but I figured that it would probably tell me some where in some directions. Does the rotor turn it from 0 to 359deg. one way, and then go back the other way? Exactly what kind of "loop" are you meaning? Will it show me in the instructions?

As for the safty belt, I have several. The only thing is there in no where to hook it to on the house. No worries though, I think that I have figured out a way to do it rather than hang over the edge. ;)

...Does the rotor turn it from 0 to 359deg. one way, and then go back the other way? Exactly what kind of "loop" are you meaning? Will it show me in the instructions?
The rotor rotates 360° to due North, where it stops and will go no further. Then if you reverse it, it will go all the way round the other direction 360° until it stops again at due north. The rotor and antenna should be pointed north during installation. The instructions will 'splain all of that.

The "loop" is just slack in the coax and is put near the rotor so it won't get tangled up in it when you rotate the thing. Cable tie, tape or use standoff insulators (best) to attach the coax above and below the rotor, and make the loop shorter than MINE LOL. That reminds me, I need to climb up the tower and redo that loop. Mine has too much slack in it.
http://i7.tinypic.com/260dhfl.jpg

Sam,

Is that your setup? if so, it's pretty good. Are you using a tripod? It looks as though there are tripod legs toward the bottom. If so, is that pretty secure? It looks pretty high for no guy wires..I thought about adding another 5 feet of mast on mine, but was afraid to do it.

Thanks Sam!
Nice lookin setup you have there.
Micah

Playing around a little tonight, and with the exception of PBS channel 5, I can get all the digital stations by pointing my antenna about 1/2 way between the two transmitter sites, all except KATV, which is right at the margin for my receiver to cut out. Any news on when they will go full power? Im assuming since I can get 39 full scale, I should be able to get 22 as well. Im just gonna write PBS off until they go to UHF or do something with that low power transmitter of theirs.