try PMing 7_eng about KATV going full power. He can give you move info about it... they havent told me a solid date, just that they are working on it, and it'll be happening very shortly.

Davenlr,
KETS-DT isn't going UHF.

They'll either get channel 7 or channel 10, post analog. Most likely ch 7, since katv's mutual agreement with KVTN (to let KVTN have 7) was challenged by AETN and the agreement was rejected by the FCC.

Reason: a station with analog and DTV channels both assigned in either lowband VHF (2 thru 6) or above ch 51 has first dibs on an upcoming vacant highband VHF being vacated post-analog. KVTN didn't have a digital channel in either of these bands, so KETS had first dibs on 7 in the LR/PB DMA. KETS-DT's second round channel election form is HERE (http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101092755&formid=384&fac_num=2770).
If you search the FCC site long enough, you can find where katv's agreement was rejected.

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 Keith and bowyorang.
Yeah that's my 4228+7777. It's not on a tripod. That's the top of the tower mast at the bottom of the pic. I cropped the pic to make it small enough to load in the forum. I'll try and remember to post a pic of the whole thing tomorrow. I'm sure not goin' outside to take a pic tonight. I just heard a coyote back there somewhere not far from the tower!

I would have thought KATV would just have kept channel 7 when they were forced to shut off the analog. The FCC is going to regret keeping any VHF channels post analog. All UHF digital would have make the transition a lot more consumer friendly, and the rooftops a lot less cluttered.

On another note, back when I was a kid, there were LOTS of parabolic (not solid, but screen or element makeup) with bow ties in front of them, and a small reflector behind the bow tie (in the front of the antenna) UHF antennas for those people far away from the "new" uhf stations, which were all pretty low powered back then. What ever happened to those antennas? Were they not any good? They had 4228's back then also, and people were chosing the parabolic over them. I also miss those log peroodics with the < shaped booms. Seems like the antennas back in the 70's were LOTS better than whats available today, at least choice wise.

I don't recall those. Only conventional bowties but not as many bays as a 4228.

I *really* like my 4228. For the money, it's hard to beat.

cm4228


This is my setup...and the only reason I can get KATV-DT this far southeast on a regular basis :D

I also have another combo VHF/UHF antenna, but its mostly used for VHF dxing and is mounted on an adjancent old pump-house.

Sam, how tall is your tower? I can see now that it's on a tower, by looking real closely... I'll take a couple pics of my system tomorrow.... I have two antennas on two separate masts.

Haley, about how high is your 4228? And you can receive KETS-DT with the 4228 only? I remember you being blessed with lving in an open area with no trees.. if we were all that lucky :)

Haley, about how high is your 4228? And you can receive KETS-DT with the 4228 only? I remember you being blessed with lving in an open area with no trees.. if we were all that lucky :)

My open area is mainly to the North and North-Northwest. I'm surrounded by trees otherwise, which effects my E* reception during spring/summer months.

The antenna is mounted at 25ft, and the house is on a small rise about 5 feet above the ground to my north (a cow pasture). Its approx 30ft AGL.

As for KETS-DT, I can get it but its only when the antenna is pointed NE for some reason. Unless there is an HD program listed I don't bother (I get analog KETG 24/7 and sometimes KETG-DT 13) and just watch the E* feed (i seldom watch 2-2 and never watch 2-4). 2-3 gets watched on occation though OTA.

A typical bandscan (no tropo) with this antenna pointed north-NW (toward LR/Redfield towers) would reveal these channels

2 KETS
7 KATV
9 KETG moderate, with ghosting
10 KTVE moderate, with ghosting
11 KTHV
12 KTHV-DT
16 KLRT
20 KKYK-CA Very Weak
22 KATV-DT on the deep fringe
24 KVTN-DT too weak to lock during day
25 KVTN
26 KVTH Very Weak to weak normally
30 KLRT-DT
32 KARK-DT
38 KASN
39 KASN-DT
42 KWBF weak, to moderate
44 KWBF-DT too weak to lock during day
45 KWBK-LP very weak, with technical issues //with KWBF, KWBF-DT 42-1

http://smilies.vidahost.com/otn/sad/mecry.gifhttp://smilies.vidahost.com/otn/sad/mecry.gifhttp://smilies.vidahost.com/otn/sad/mecry.gif

My rotor has been backordered!!!http://smilies.vidahost.com/cwm/cwm/cwm14.gif
They said that it would be from 5-7days before they got any in.http://smilies.vidahost.com/otn/other/jpshakehead.gif

I did figure out though, that I could go ahead and run all the lines and have my wife stand out on the deck holding the antenna while I watch the TV!http://smilies.vidahost.com/contrib/ed/laugh.gif

O'well, hopefully it will be here soon.....http://smilies.vidahost.com/contrib/unknown/face25.gif

Micah

Sam, how tall is your tower? I can see now that it's on a tower, by looking real closely... I'll take a couple pics of my system tomorrow.... I have two antennas on two separate masts.
Probably about 30 ft.

But my house is on top of a hill elevation 1405'

That helps more than the tower :-)

[QUOTE=bowyorangMy rotor has been backorderedMicah[/QUOTE]

I hate it when that happens. You should be able to hook the antenna up without the rotor while you wait. You said the pole would extent 5 ft above the roof right? Just mount it to the pole and point it at LR and see what you get. Just keep the extra coax rolled up on the roof.

I would have thought KATV would just have kept channel 7 when they were forced to shut off the analog. The FCC is going to regret keeping any VHF channels post analog. All UHF digital would have make the transition a lot more consumer friendly, and the rooftops a lot less cluttered.
KATV was supposed to have gone full power digital UHF by now, and should be soon. If they went back to 7 post-analog, they would have to turn right around and build a new digital VHF setup very soon.

In digging around on the FCC site, it seems that KETS will indeed end up on ch 7. In a case where a local station takes over an abandonded channel, it looks like the former station would have to stop remapping to that ch., once someone else grabs it. Otherwise, it will be confusing for the viewer.
http://i1.tinypic.com/262uw3k.gif

Moving to all UHF would've been nice, and many markets did. But the channel bands are crowded, and they're already giving up enough channels post-analog as it is. Most stations aren't stupid enough to stay down in lowband VHF, with all that electrical and tropo interference. And it will be possible in most places to use a UHF-only antenna and get digital channels 7 thru 51. The 4228 works fine for me on those channels.

As for KETS-DT, I can get it but its only when the antenna is pointed NE for some reason. Unless there is an HD program listed I don't bother (I get analog KETG 24/7 and sometimes KETG-DT 13) and just watch the E* feed (i seldom watch 2-2 and never watch 2-4). 2-3 gets watched on occation though OTA.

A typical bandscan (no tropo) with this antenna pointed north-NW (toward LR/Redfield towers) would reveal these channels

2 KETS
7 KATV
9 KETG moderate, with ghosting
10 KTVE moderate, with ghosting
11 KTHV
12 KTHV-DT
16 KLRT
20 KKYK-CA Very Weak
22 KATV-DT on the deep fringe
24 KVTN-DT too weak to lock during day
25 KVTN
26 KVTH Very Weak to weak normally
30 KLRT-DT
32 KARK-DT
38 KASN
39 KASN-DT
42 KWBF weak, to moderate
44 KWBF-DT too weak to lock during day
45 KWBK-LP very weak, with technical issues //with KWBF, KWBF-DT 42-1


Well from my location in El Dorado, I receive these channels 24/7 or most nights -

5 K05KG (FMN, flash cutting to digital soon....what a waste)
7 KNOE-DT (usually stable in the evening)
8 KNOE (moderate 24/7)
9 KETG
10 KTVE
11 KAQY (moderate)
12 KETZ-DT
13 KLTM (moderate)
14 KARD
16 KLRT (very good in the evenings)
18 K18AB (KNOE's translator....errrrrrr :mad: )
21 KPXJ-DT (good in evenings)
24 KLTS (very weak in daytime to moderate in evening)
27 KTVE-DT
28 KTBS-DT (good in the evenings)
30 KLRT-DT (evening)
32 KARK-DT (evening)
33 KMSS (weak in daytime)
34 KMSS-DT (excellent from early evening on)
43 KEJB
49 KKYK

As you can see, I was born a natural DXer....:)

I've never been able to receive KETG-DT from my location. An occasional hesitation on RF 13 by the receiver, but that's it. I think they should drop Create and PBS Kids... I agree... I watch 12-3 occasionally. 12-4 only comes in handy when my 5 year oild neice visits....lol

Probably about 30 ft.

But my house is on top of a hill elevation 1405'

That helps more than the tower :-)


Im sure the hill helps out a little! How often do you receive Tulsa digitals from your location?

Keith,

Once KTVE-DT 27 goes full power, I should be able to get them 24/7. I was able to get WABG-DT 32 Greenwood, MS (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1042525.html) some evenings prior to KARK-DT's power increase, but not since. WABG had DD 5.1 sound and also Lost in HD every Wednsday night, something not possible on KATV due to syndicated SEC basketball coverage.

Doubtful that i'll watch KTVE much, since NBC won't be doing regional NFL games under the Sunday Night plan (I assume).

One other item of interest to those in lower SE Arkansas. WXVT-DT 17 Greenville, MS received a construction permit (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT562993.html) in 1999. However, the application submitted in June this year (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1132056.html) shows a decresed coveage area. Dumas, which would have been in the coveage area of WXVT-DT no longer is (this also effected Grenada, MS). Obviously, this is a cost-saving issue since ERP will be decreased from 380KW to 5KW. Not sure if they will pass HD programming from CBS though.

Keith,

Here's a couple more pictures of my antenna.
http://i7.tinypic.com/264jq4z.jpg

The wildblue dish clamped onto the side of the tower is my broadband provider.
The smaller dish to the right is for D*.
http://i8.tinypic.com/264jtjs.jpg
The back of the house looks "weird" because it's an earth berm house. Sorta like a walkout basement without an upstairs. The opposite side faces south and is mostly windows.

Well, thats an awesome setup. How well does the house setup keep the A/C bills down? Earth insulation with I'm assuming, front windows designed to keep summer sun out and winter sun in? Location looks fantastic too. Some people have all the luck. I love getting calls up there in Eureka area, its just so pretty, I could drive around all day.

Sam, so you have satellite broadband? How much does that cost a month? Very nice setup...I wish I lived on a hill 1400 feet in elevation :-D Looks like you have a clear line of sight in almost all directions. Did you move to Eureka because of a job transfer, etc? Or just because of the location?

I love getting calls up there in Eureka area, its just so pretty, I could drive around all day.

Hey Dave, you said you love getting calls in the Eureka area... just wondering, but what exactly is your profession?

Keith,

Once KTVE-DT 27 goes full power, I should be able to get them 24/7. I was able to get WABG-DT 32 Greenwood, MS (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1042525.html) some evenings prior to KARK-DT's power increase, but not since. WABG had DD 5.1 sound and also Lost in HD every Wednsday night, something not possible on KATV due to syndicated SEC basketball coverage.

Doubtful that i'll watch KTVE much, since NBC won't be doing regional NFL games under the Sunday Night plan (I assume).

One other item of interest to those in lower SE Arkansas. WXVT-DT 17 Greenville,
MS received a construction permit (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT562993.html) in 1999. However, the application submitted in June this year (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1132056.html) shows a decresed coveage area. Dumas, which would have been in the coveage area of WXVT-DT no longer is (this also effected Grenada, MS). Obviously, this is a cost-saving issue since ERP will be decreased from 380KW to 5KW. Not sure if they will pass HD programming from CBS though.

WXVT doesn't mention anything about HD on their website... From what I can tell, their owner is pretty cheap. I'd be very surprised if they pass CBS HD programming. I also checked the cable system in Greenville (COX website) and they don't carry ANY HD channels. Haley, you probably receive them fairly regularly, what is your opinion of them?

And with KTVE...their chief engineer hasn't posted anything else, updating on the full power HD project. He said it would be October 15th...but we'll see.

KTAL is due to go full power HD on November 9th...but they are NEXSTAR, so that date will probably change. I wish these stations would get on the ball. They could obtain a lot more viewership if they would.

Hey Dave, you said you love getting calls in the Eureka area... just wondering, but what exactly is your profession?

I install and service commercial beverage equipment, for Bunn, Lipton, US Foods, Ben E Keith, PFG, and anyone else that has a sick coffee, tea or cuppachino machine. I work on Espesso Machines too, but those things are a pain, they are always HOT HOT HOT, burn myself every time I work on one :>

So how much area do you cover? Eureka is 3 hours away from LR... I hope your company reimburses you for gas, food, etc.

And they could at least unplug or turn off the Espesso machines before you come in to work on it...lol

Well, thats an awesome setup. How well does the house setup keep the A/C bills down? Earth insulation with I'm assuming, front windows designed to keep summer sun out and winter sun in? Location looks fantastic too. Some people have all the luck. I love getting calls up there in Eureka area, its just so pretty, I could drive around all day.[I apologize for going off-topic]
The wall that faces north is in the ground. The south wall is mostly windows and gets full sun in the middle of winter and none in summer. Electric bills last year (all electric) averaged $125/mo for lights, heat pump and a hot tub. This is the view facing south (http://i5.tinypic.com/27zj0hg.jpg). I haven't been back to LR since I moved up here over a year ago. No reason to.

Dave, what places have you gotten service calls in Eureka?

I haven't been back to LR since I moved up here over a year ago. No reason to.



If I had a view like that, I wouldn't have a reason to leave, either... I would rather have that view than LR's rising crime rate any day.

Sam, so you have satellite broadband? How much does that cost a month? Very nice setup...I wish I lived on a hill 1400 feet in elevation :-D Looks like you have a clear line of sight in almost all directions. Did you move to Eureka because of a job transfer, etc? Or just because of the location?Yes, I have WildBlue satellite broadband. It's around $50 a month. DSL, cable and wireless internet are available in much of downtown Eureka, and the wireless is free if you can get it. But I don't live in town, I'm about 10 minutes out in the country.

I moved up here because I have relatives in the area and have been coming here for years. I retired after working 30 yrs for SBC, now AT&T.

[Now back to our regular on-topic BS]

I dont remember all the names, Caribe was one, a cafe on 62E, a coffee shop just east of Holiday Inn Express, a couple cafes downtown in the park and carry a block area, and one up at Holiday Island, plus every two months I have to service a juice machine at the Nursing home on the pig trail just south of town. Keith: My company supplies the vehicle, gas, expenses, and if nessessary, the hotel fee and charges it back to the business contracting us. We usually group calls in the area up there so we can split the expenses between several different companies. Sorry for the off topic. Can either of you pick up KWBF 44-1 during skip? I think they are running medium power. I can get them on rabbit ears ok, but with my yagi, they peak at 100 like the other Shinall Mt stations, but when I turn the antenna away, they drop out fast, while the other UHF stations still hang in at 100. Might just be the lower tower elevation tho, just curious if you can get them, not that there is anything worth watching in digital SD. $50 a month for satellite internet? Thats not bad at all. Whats the throughput? Is that one that requires a landline uplink?

Dave,

I've received KWBF-DT here once, that was a couple weeks ago. It was only for a couple minutes, and just that one time. I wonder if they'll ever get HD equipment? Although CW looks to be the better network.. KWBF should have taken on the RTN affiliation...lol

Can either of you pick up KWBF 44-1 during skip? I think they are running medium power. I can get them on rabbit ears ok, but with my yagi, they peak at 100 like the other Shinall Mt stations, but when I turn the antenna away, they drop out fast, while the other UHF stations still hang in at 100. Might just be the lower tower elevation tho, just curious if you can get them, not that there is anything worth watching in digital SD.

Dave,

I can get KWBF-DT to lock occationally. But its not one my favorite channels anyway. Too many better choices both OTA and on the dish.

I was under the impression RTN was their network which they created to replace PAX. Its on 42-2. They cant even send the digital signal on 42-1 correctly, it looks horrible. The analog even looks better. Probably those hum bars interfering with the encoder.

I was under the impression RTN was their network which they created to replace PAX. Its on 42-2. They cant even send the digital signal on 42-1 correctly, it looks horrible. The analog even looks better. Probably those hum bars interfering with the encoder.

I've noticed that also, although its not quite as bad as the present KTVE-DT signal (at least the last time I saw it).

The only reason I can think of Equity dropping "i/pax" is that the PAX/I O&O's have 4 mulitcast channels (such the case iin the Memphis market--WPXX-DT51--and the network might have mandated those other channels be carried on digital subchannels. I'm sure Equity wants to send up their own programming (possibly Univision, or another entire informecial channel). Very suprised that KLRA-LP (analog 58 in LR) isn't carried on a third subchannel.

I was under the impression RTN was their network which they created to replace PAX. Its on 42-2. They cant even send the digital signal on 42-1 correctly, it looks horrible. The analog even looks better. Probably those hum bars interfering with the encoder.
davenlr,
People in NWA are thrilled that FOX dumped Equity stations up here, even though it was a Nexstar/Mission station that grabbed FOX. At least it's full power and HD now for most of NWA.

Eventually, equity will learn that quality does matter or they'll never amount to much.

AFAIK, none of the satellite internet services have dialup uplink any more. Even Duh-wrecked-way (now Hughesnet) got rid of dialup uplink long ago. Here are the packages & monthly pricing for Wildblue (http://wildblue.com/getWildblue/availability.jsp). Installation costs vary, depending on the package you get, length of contract and promos they are offering at any given time.

Currently, WildBlue is oversold, so there's a moratorium on new customers until they can get another satellite launched.

Yeah, their main transmitter for RTN is located just outside of town here. Why did they decide to have it based down here? They were actually suppose to flash cut to digital on June 30. That's when the call letters changed from KYPX to KKYK-DT. They are still analog as of today.

RTN may not be a terrible idea, but the way Equity is, the majority of the programming schedule is infomercials. They only show the "Retro" TV shows from 2PM to 9PM... somewhere around those times.

I've noticed that also, although its not quite as bad as the present KTVE-DT signal (at least the last time I saw it).




Their signal is still the same.... ugly lines and bars going through the picture, and barely any sound :mad:



Very suprised that KLRA-LP (analog 58 in LR) isn't carried on a third subchannel.


What programming does KLRA carry? I'm assuming they are owned by Equity...since it appears Equity owns every LP staton in the state! :rolleyes:

There are lots of religious LPTV stations in Ark that aren't equity-owned.

I know..I made that statement as a joke... since Equity probably has more LP stations than full power ones :)

The only reason equity's stations are on the air at all is to get on cable systems. they don't give a rat's a** about OTA.

But their poor quality and lack of power caused them to lose fox in NWA. :-)

I read where Equity was challenging the sale of KFTA with the FCC... I guess they aren't getting too far with that, are they?

It's something when one prefers Nexstar over the alternative :-)

I was always under the impression the FCC's rules were put into place to prevent a company like equity from pulling the business practices they are using. Looking at the FCC license applications, they use several different corporate names, all with the same address, and it just 'looks' shady, even if it might not be.

I also fail to see why the FCC even allows any new analog licenses, be if for low power or not. Once they set a deadline for a switch to digital, they should require all new licenses to be digital. Equity was STILL adding new low power stations in several different states, and some full power fox stations up north, all analog, all with NO intention of ever going HD or digital. Had the FCC required then to be digital in the first place, the poor people up there wouldnt have been stuck with substandard fox stations.

I also wondered why the FCC is granting new analog licenses. I thought I read somewhere that LP analog stations can stay analog after February 2009, but I may be wrong. It really makes me mad when I see all these cheap-o stations that won't even acknowledge digital TV exists. I rarely watch analog TV anymore. But quite a few people out there are clueless as to what HD and digital TV is, and stations that don't even promote digital TV, much less HDTV, are the ones to blame for that. Viewers see a promo stating "Available in HD" think they are watching a program in HD, when they don't even own an HDTV.

I really wish regular analog TVs would just disappear off the market :rolleyes:

I read where Equity was challenging the sale of KFTA with the FCC... I guess they aren't getting too far with that, are they?
Well, they did throw a wrench in KFTA's plans to go fox 24/7, at least until the FCC makes a ruling. Currently, KFTA can only show fox prime time shows. In the daytime, they may only simulcast KNWA (NBC).

This makes absolutely no sense to me.

I was always under the impression the FCC's rules were put into place to prevent a company like equity from pulling the business practices they are using. Looking at the FCC license applications, they use several different corporate names, all with the same address, and it just 'looks' shady, even if it might not be.
Actually, Nexstar is pulling the same stunt, using "Mission Broadcasting" as a front for stations that in reality are Nexstar's. That's what Equity's FCC challenge of KFTA stealing FOX from under them is about, but it's kinda like the pot calling the kettle black if you ask me.

I also fail to see why the FCC even allows any new analog licenses, be if for low power or not. Once they set a deadline for a switch to digital, they should require all new licenses to be digital.
I don't understand them giving new analog permits, either. But the Feb. '09 deadline is for full power analog stations only. LPTV stations are not affected and most don't even have a digital channel assignment yet.

But if you'll search the FCC site, you'll notice there are a ton of "new" digital-only station applications pouring in (example, for "ch 32" new stations, click here (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?state=&call=&arn=&city=&chan=32&cha2=32&serv=&type=0&facid=&list=2&dist=&dlat2=&mlat2=&slat2=&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&size=9) - scroll down to call sign "NEW"). They are all for "LD" or LP Digital and are probably for LPTV stations' applications to flash-cut to DTV.

What programming does KLRA carry? I'm assuming they are owned by Equity...since it appears Equity owns every LP staton in the state! :rolleyes:

The Univision Spanish-language network. With the audio levels very high and nearly distorted, the few times i've caught them OTA via tropo.

I really wish regular analog TVs would just disappear off the market :rolleyes:

They will, in due time. :D

I just wish OTA VHF TV would dissapear from the US...DTV should have been UHF only from day one.

Little Rock OTA'ers will be fortunate in one respect: No low-band vhf after 2/09. WMC in Memphis will move its digital operations to Channel 5 after the analog shutoff.

Memphis is one of the only markets I can see low band dtv working in. I lived in Blytheville for a couple years, and using a very large combo antenna, of all the Memphis analogs, channels 3 and 5 survived the trip the best during the daytime hours. Their problem is going to crop up its ugly head after dark, when skip up the Mississippi River causes tremendous skip which tends to creep up and over their signals, sometimes totally cancelling it out. Even with a large antenna, on low vhf, we were unable to null out the interference. So, during the daytime, it fared much better than high vhf or uhf did, but after dark, forget low band anywhere near the Mississippi River valley. I suspect they will move again, once the problems show up, unless, as someone pointed out earlier, they just dont care about OTA, in which case, the power savings from running a fifty KW erp on low band vs a 2.5 MW erp on uhf would probably make them quite happy indeed. In the summer, skip from Cuba and latin America will even wipe them out on occasions during the early afternoon hours. Its just an all around bad choice for television. I am really disappointed the FCC did not do it right when they had the opportunity.

I don't see lowband VHF DTV working at all because the FCC simply isn't allowing enough power to overcome impulse noise interference.

WBBM in Chicago tried digital lowband VHF and it is a dismal failure. They have since snagged highband VHF 11 in their latest channel election. WMC should take heed and get out of that band.

Lowband VHF screws up DTV reception and really throws a monkey wrench in antenna selection for the OTA viewer.

arxaw

Are you anywhere around the Eureka Springs area? My brother just moved up into that part of Arkansas and he wants me to check for any OTA HD options. I went the antennaweb route and it only shows 2 stations (non-HD) out of Fayetteville.

He has Directv, but I do not know if he can get any locals at all (much less HD) with it.

Yes, my mailing address is Eureka Springs, but I live outside the city limits.

The channels available here vary by address and not just zip code. He will either qualify for Ft Smith/Fayetteville AR or Springfield or Joplin MO, in SD, OR one of those plus some or all of the NY HD networks (CBS, NBC, etc.).

Send me a PM with his address & zip, or PM me for my email address. If you prefer not to give out his exact address, just PM/email me with an address at something very close by on the same street. It's very hilly here, and OTA reception is either feast of famine, depending on your address.

I can find out exactly what his direcTV options are and probably a rough idea of OTA he can get. If he doesn't live where he can get OTA, there's a good possibility he can get big 4 networks in HD from DirecTV via satellite.

BTW, the two discussion threads for TV "up here" are:
Ft Smith AR (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8359193#post8359193)
Springfield/Joplin MO (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8357616#post8357616)

You'll likely find me runnin' my mouth in both of those threads, as much or more as this one :-)

Yep - I did see you over there also.

My brother does not have a permanent address yet. He is looking around the Rogers - Eureka Springs area. He just retired from GM, sold his place and moved up there before he found a place up there.

rgathright,
check your PM Inbox.

They will, in due time. :D

I just wish OTA VHF TV would dissapear from the US...DTV should have been UHF only from day one.

Little Rock OTA'ers will be fortunate in one respect: No low-band vhf after 2/09. WMC in Memphis will move its digital operations to Channel 5 after the analog shutoff.


What the FCC should do is dedicate low band VHF to the public service stuff, etc.. instead of the high UHF channels. It would be nice if they could dedicate channels 2-13 for it, but I know that wouldn't happen. I can see why stations like WMC would want to move back to their analog channel after the shutoff, but no station should switch to a low VHF channel for digital. I could understand KATV staying on 7..but even they are smart enough to get on UHF.

Heck, I wouldn't have been surprised if KETS chose to go back to channel 2 after shut off :rolleyes:

What the FCC should do is dedicate low band VHF to the public service stuff, etc.. instead of the high UHF channels. It would be nice if they could dedicate channels 2-13 for it, but I know that wouldn't happen. I can see why stations like WMC would want to move back to their analog channel after the shutoff, but no station should switch to a low VHF channel for digital. I could understand KATV staying on 7..but even they are smart enough to get on UHF.

Heck, I wouldn't have been surprised if KETS chose to go back to channel 2 after shut off :rolleyes:

KETS originally had channel 47 assigned for DTV, but the AETN power decided to go VHF on all their sites except for Jonesboro and swapped with a LPTV in Sheridan which was assigned channel 5. Then KVTN wanted to get KATV's soon to be abandoned analog channel 7 for DTV, but since KETS had low band for analog and digital it had first dibs. Seems many of the state PBS networks have used lower powered digitals compared to analog (such as Miss Public Broadcasting which i've not seen the first frame of digital, same for Lousiana Public Broadcasting--LPB)

I have many issues with AETN: limited HDTV programming, airing that God-awful Lawerence Welk, the "Create" channel instead of the PBS West Coast national feed , airing that kids channel 24/7. But the rare program in HD is true HD, and the mulitcasting is switched off

What the FCC should do is dedicate low band VHF to the public service stuff, etc.. instead of the high UHF channels...High UHF chs 52 thru 69 will also be used for super high speed wireless internet services like Wi-Max (http://ipcommunications.tmcnet.com/news/2006/may/158301.htm). Virtually everyone living where there is currently no DSL/Cable internet services available will jump on this like white on rice. Lowband VHF would not work as well for these services.

I could understand KATV staying on 7..but even they are smart enough to get on UHF.
katv has to build a full power digital transmitter and soon - like before analog goes dark. They were assigned UHF ch 22 and that's what they will use. To go back to ch7 post analog would require constructing another digital transmitter for VHF, at considerable additional cost. As cheap as Albritton is, I doubt they would go to that expense.

Heck, I wouldn't have been surprised if KETS chose to go back to channel 2 after shut off...Even they aren't that stupid (but, I could be wrong). I think they learned from their ch 5 experiment that at current power levels allowed by the FCC, lowband VHF is not a good place to be for DTV. And since it looks like they snagged ch7 for their post-analog channel, they will be able to broadcast on digital 7 using less electicity than they currently do on analog ch 2.

... I have many issues with AETN... But the rare program in HD is true HD, and the mulitcasting is switched off
Stations like to know when theyr'e doing things people like.

Contact AETN and let them know you appreciate their dedication to high quality HD programming by not multicasting during those programs. Also tell them you want to see expanded HD programming in prime time.

katkinson@aetn.org programming director
gschultz@aetn.org engineering director
tbrooks@aetn.org deputy director
aweatherly@aetn.org executive director

Not bad picture quality, but very soft and camera shots not that close. Not a show I would normally watch but checked it out since i'm off today and found out its HD.

At least KATV is passing along the HD feed......

High UHF chs 52 thru 69 will also be used for super high speed wireless internet services like Wi-Max (http://ipcommunications.tmcnet.com/news/2006/may/158301.htm). Virtually everyone living where there is currently no DSL/Cable internet services available will jump on this like white on rice. Lowband VHF would not work as well for these services.


katv has to build a full power digital transmitter and soon - like before analog goes dark. They were assigned UHF ch 22 and that's what they will use. To go back to ch7 post analog would require constructing another digital transmitter for VHF, at considerable additional cost. As cheap as Albritton is, I doubt they would go to that expense.



With WMC in Memphis going back to CH 5, I'm guessing their owners don't mind spending the extra money building another digital transmitter for CH 5.

That Wi-Max looks very interesting. I wouldn't mind getting on that bandwagon once it's up to speed :) BTW, I read what KHOG is doing over in the FSM-FAY DMA on Cox... I hope Cox doesnt give in to them.

Not bad picture quality, but very soft and camera shots not that close. Not a show I would normally watch but checked it out since i'm off today and found out its HD.

At least KATV is passing along the HD feed......

Lol...how did Barbara Walters and Rosie look in HD? :eek:

... BTW, I read what KHOG is doing over in the FSM-FAY DMA on Cox... I hope Cox doesnt give in to them.
They probably will. Most of it's grandstanding so cox can justify another rate increase- LOL.

I never have liked cablecos, but I can't stand the misinformation that khog/kfsm is putting out, like cox is charging extra for local HD channels (they're NOT). And khog/kfsm acts like they were the only ones that spent all the bux to get their channel on cox. The cableco spent money on new decoder/encoder equipment, etc. to convert khog's signal to QAM. And that HD channel takes up a *lot* of bandwidth that cox could use for other channels.

Does anyone know if the local stations are equipt to carry syndicated shows in HD here in the LR market?

Kingworld goes HD (http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=10524)

Would be nice to be able to watch Wheel in HD on KATV.

Hey everyone, got my delivery in today!
Got a quick question though.
I have heard that if you tie the 2 bays together on the 4228, you will get better reception in the higher VHF range. Do you all aggree?
Also, do I just tie the two sections of what looks like fenceing wire together with anykind of wire?
Thanks,
Micah

I doubt KATV will have it in HD for a while... lol. I hope WABC does, though :) I don't think very many stations have a way to do time-delayed HD. One day though, I hope they all will.

I think with the 4228, all you have to do is use paperclips. I read that it will work just fine with that. I haven't tried doing that, but I read that it does help VHF reception quite well :)

O'MAN! This is COOL!
Only problem is I can't get me rotor to work! :confused: I think that I got all the wires right, but it's dark now, so I don't want to get back up on the roof. I'll check it in the morning.
But for NOW!
I am picking these up, with it pointing north.
4.1 KARK-HD Dateline Looks awesome!
6.1 AETN Looks GREAT!
6.2 AETN 2 Again, looks GREAT!
6.3 KEMV 3 Another GREAT looking!
6.4 KEMV 4 AETN GREAT AGAIN!
7 ABC Can hear, but not good enough to watch
8 ABC Looks good (8 out of 10)
8.1 KAIT-DT SWEET!!!
8.2 KAIT-DT Weather GREAT!
8.3 KAIT-DT "The Tube"? (8 out of 10)
11 CBS Can Hear, but not good enough to watch
11.1 CBS-DT OH, MY GAWD!! SWEET!
11.2 THV Live view radar GREAT!!!
16 FOX About the same as 7 and 11. Must be because it's pointing north.
16.1 KLRT-HD SWEET!!!!!!
19 AETN BAD Fuzzy

There you have it. My first reaction is WOW! THIS IS AWESOME!!!!
Now I just gotta find out what's wrong with that rotor.... :(
Just curious, but it looks like this antenna is really picking up those channels below 13, fairly well. Do you think that it is mainly because of the weather, or do I just have the most awesome antenna in the WHOLE world!!!! :eek: :)

Up for a snack, so I thought I'd reply :)

You're receiving all the LR stations with the antenna pointed north? That's really impressive. When you get the rotor working, trying pointing it toward Redfield and see if you can get KASN-DT (39). Also having the rotor will help keep those LR signals locked. You may be getting some of those due to the weather. The only way to know is to check tomorrow during the day (between NOON and 2PM). That will give you a general idea of what to expect 24/7. Also if you binded the screen, that may have something to do with it.

Anyway, enjoy! :-) And Dateline isn't shown in HD... so just wait til Sunday Night Football... you won't believe your eyes!

Keith

Thanks for your reply Keith!
Yep, I got all them with it pointing north. Kinda suprised me! :eek:
I did get on the roof this morning and got the rotor going, not really sure what happen except maybe a brain fart. ;)
I did turn it around like you said, and I'm getting KASN-DT real good!
Also, I played a little trying to get some memphis stations.....I got WREG-DT 3.1, KC3A-DT 3.2, and 31.4 (WREG?). These were coming in good, but were breaking up some. Also, was getting channels 51.4, and 51.5. I don't know anything else about them except they weren't staying on, real choppy. I don't even know if the antenna was in the right direction for those stations.
A little update on my analog channels with the antenna pointed in the right direction.... ;)
AETN 2- Decent
KARK 4- Snowy
KATV 7- Real good
KAIT 8- Real good
KTHV 11- Real good
KLRT 16- Awesome
K34FH 34- Snowy
KASN 38- good


Looks as though the 4228 does do pretty good on the VHF channels as well, considering my distance. :)
I want to thank the people on here that helped my with my decisions. I know sometimes it probably seemed like I was asking obvious questions, and probably asking the same ones over and over and over and over....well, you get point. ;)

Thanks everyone!
Micah

Also wanted to say that I did tie the two bays together with some 18 guage all-purpose wire. Seems to work pretty well!

Im really surprised you were getting WREG out of Memphis! If you were checking these in the morning before 10:00AM, then that is probably due to tropo-conditions in the atmosphere. Usually, evenings and early mornings will give you a best case scenario on reception, and earliy afternoons will give you a worst case scenerio. As I said this morning, check between Noon and 2PM or so, and that'll give you a good idea of what you will receive under normal conditions. Congrats on getting the rotor to work...it will because your best friend while trying to watch HD :)

Glad you got it working good. When you are pointed at Shinall in West Little Rock, try seeing if you can get 44-1 or 44-2 which is low power equity. There is also a religious digital East of Little Rock, and I think its 25-1, but not sure. Curious what was wrong with the rotor? Backwards wires? Glad you got it all going good. I was worried about the vhf channels that far away, but guess that screen reflector and the preamp took care of it for you.

Micah,

Here is a list of Memphis area channels. The actual RF channel numbers in Parth.

WREG 3-n (28) CBS
WMC 5-n (52) NBC
WKNO 10-n (29) PBS
WHBQ 13-n (53) FOX
WPTY 24-n (25) ABC
WLMT 30-n (31) CW (currently UPN, with secondary WB)
WBUY 40-n (41) TBN (religion)
WPXX 50-n (51) I (formally PAX)

I've received at least once each of these stations, except for WPTY-DT via tropo, although openings to Jonesboro seem more common, than to Memphis from my location :confused:

Unfortunately, the main Memphis towers are in NE Memphis, and Crowley's Ridge is a sort of dividing line between Memphis and Little Rock OTA so don't count on getting these on a day to day basis.

Have you tried the AETN DT transmitter for Jonesboro, KETJ-DT (20)?

If katv shows it from a live sat feed, it will be HD. But they don't have HD delay equipment. Hell, they're barely on the air.

Dave, just "move" to Mena and get WABC-HD (and WCBS-HD, WNBC-HD and WNYW FOX-HD) free.

Hey everyone, got my delivery in today!
Got a quick question though.
I have heard that if you tie the 2 bays together on the 4228, you will get better reception in the higher VHF range. Do you all aggree?
Also, do I just tie the two sections of what looks like fenceing wire together with anykind of wire?
Sounds like an urban myth. The screens are clamped to the same pole and are electrically connected.

I'm glad you got your 4228, and figured it would work well in your location. I'm also not surprised by getting stations with it pointed backward. With my 4228 "backward", I get KYTV-DT 3-n (RF 44) and KOZK-DT 21-n (RF 23) in the upper 80s on my signal strength meter. They are roughly 70 miles away.

And the VHF performance has never disappointed me either. I even get KYTV lowband VHF ch 3 analog that's a bit sparkly, but certainly watchable on a 26" analog set. But I have no reason to watch it since KYTV-DT comes in perfectly.

IMO, the CM 4228 antenna + CM 7777 V/U preamp is the best combo available for the money.

bowyorang,
I forgot. Did you also get the 7777 preamp?

Does binding the screens together help with receiving a signal with the 4228 pointed in the opposite direction? I also read somewhere that for VHF on the 4228, it should actually be pointed 180 degrees off. Is that correct?

Keith,

I haven't found that it matters for VHF if the 4228 is pointed toward or away from the tower. It seems, at least in my case, to be bi-directional for VHF.

I've never really tried the 4228 for VHF, but I did notice it was somewhat bi-directional. IMO, the 4228 is superb, and I'm surprised Channel Master hasn't raised the price of it.

Maybe CM isn't greedy like a lot of companies.

I'm surprised that the 4228 isn't readily available from any sat TV installers; at least the ones I've asked don't have 'em. You see tons of 4228s up here, but no local dealers.....

Arxaw,

I've found that I can get KETS-DT by turning the 4228 about 90 deg to the right of the Redfield towers, which brings a signal level strong enough to lock (most of the time).

I can get KETS analog and a snowy KARK analog with it also, but I never watch analog TV outside of "DXing" these days :D

Maybe CM isn't greedy like a lot of companies.

I'm surprised that the 4228 isn't readily available from any sat TV installers; at least the ones I've asked don't have 'em. You see tons of 4228s up here, but no local dealers.....

Some sat dealers probally view those antennas as competing against "locals" packages, and not enhancing the viewing experience. One TV retailer in Pine Bluff refused to stock OTA only digital boxes 2 years ago and pushed customers towards their sat service.

Mainstream viewers (not us HDTV diehards) could give a rip about OTA, since the locals came on D* and E* several years ago. They view it as a relic of the past and expect to always be able to hook up the rabbit ears to the spare tv and get "channel 7".

If they only knew about digital OTA broadcasting and the Feb 2009 analog shutoff.

Oh, the analog viewers will find out.
There will be a media blitz toward the end of the analog death march.

Mainstream OTA popularity depends on where you live, I guess. Here, OTA is still *very* popular for anyone not on cable. With a good antenna and rotor here, you can still get umpteen channels for free, even on analog.

And if you're a D* or E* subscriber here, you're stuck with Springfield locals. So most (non-HD) sat subscribers here get the Springfield locals on D* or E* and aim their rooftop antenna at NWA.

Locals on Satellite didn't eliminate the rooftop antenna here, it just eliminated the need for an antenna rotor in order for the aveage joe sat viewer to get Arkie (RAZORBACK) TV.

Hey everyone!
Haven't gotten a chance to really play with the HD during the day yet (noon-2). I did turn over there about that time yesterday during halftime for just a second and the Memphis stations weren't coming in, so I doubt that I'll be able to get them on a 24hr. basis. Most of the time that I watch tv though is in the wee hours of the morning, or late in the afternoon though. It's usually on sponge bob or boomarang in the daylight hours. I did however try it last night about 9pm and was getting them without any breaks! Sweet!

Sounds like an urban myth. The screens are clamped to the same pole and are electrically connected.



Maybe we could call the myth busters on this! :D

I forgot. Did you also get the 7777 preamp?

Yep! That may be helping a little as well.

haley-SEA,
Thanks for the list of the memphis stations! I think that I was getting most of those last night when I checked.

I have got to make some sort of file that has a list of the stations, there channel numbers, and coordinates. I know that I can get most of them off of antennaweb, it's just getting them put all together on a user friendly list. I may try and work on that in the next couple days.

One newbie question while I am at it. Ya'll are always talking about "riding the tropo" and "tropo-conditions". I know this has to have something to do with weather conditions, but could someone please give me more of a description of what that is?

Thanks!!!! :)

...One newbie question while I am at it. Ya'll are always talking about "riding the tropo" and "tropo-conditions". I know this has to have something to do with weather conditions, but could someone please give me more of a description of what that is?

Thanks!!!! :)

Here is an article from the Worldwide TV FM DX Association (WTFDA) (http://www.anarc.org/wtfda/propagation.htm) website that will explain propagation. Look below to "Tropo", as that is applicable to both UHF and VHF frequencies used by digital OTA TV.

... Ya'll are always talking about "riding the tropo" and "tropo-conditions". I know this has to have something to do with weather conditions, but could someone please give me more of a description of what that is?
And for a tropo forecast map, see:
http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html

Looks like this Thursday will be a good day for tropo in Ark.
Mornings and evenings are best.
Tropo is usually stronger in summer than in winter.

Enjoy your 4228/7777 combo :-)

Anyone watch wheel of fortune in HD tonight? The number$ looked so three dimensional they almost jumped off the wheel. Vanna looks good in HD, but Pat's bags were really showing under his eyes! LOL

Thanks for the links guys! That really explains a lot, and I'll be watching out for the right conditions from now on.
I have some updates on my channels that I'm getting in, but don't really have the time tonight to provide it all. But, I was getting a LOT of Memphis stations tonight when I started looking about 7pm. I really like the WKNO-DT channel on 10.1.
I made a quick list of 25 differant channels that I got in tonight. There were also probably 5 or 6 more that my search was picking up, but when I tried to tune in it couldn't get a signal. I'll mess with that a little later. I really wish that I had a signal meter on my tv. If I do, I haven't found it yet. :(
Gotta hit the sack!
Micah

Anyone watch wheel of fortune in HD tonight? The number$ looked so three dimensional they almost jumped off the wheel. Vanna looks good in HD, but Pat's bags were really showing under his eyes! LOL


Wheel looked FANTASTIC in HD! I was very impressed. And you were right, the numbers looked they were in 3D. I didn't catch Jeopardy! in HD at 6:00, though...I bet it looked pretty good as well.

Sam, did you see that WNBC will start broadcasting all their local news in HD starting Wednesday? :)

I really wish that I had a signal meter on my tv. If I do, I haven't found it yet. :(
Gotta hit the sack!
Micah

You'll find that a signal meter is an excellent companion. I almost had to have one. Thats one thing I like about set top HD tuners, they have signal meters :)

I wish I was getting 25 channels in digital at one time :rolleyes:

A lot of TVs have ss meters built in. My sony does, but I never use that tuner.

Didn't catch jeopardy, but will look for it. And I didn't know about WNBC's switch to local HD news either. Thanks for the heads up on both.

Yeah... I've noticed on my RCA 52" Projection, the built in tuner is absolutely horrible. The tuner on my LG 32LC2D is great, though.

It'll be interesting to see WNBC's news in HD...not too sure how excited I am to see Sue Simmons and Chuck Scarborough in HD, though...lol

Why do ya'll say that your built in tuners are no good? Do they not pick up all the channels? Just curious. I have a Sony 50" 3LCD.
Can you buy a seperate signal meter?

Tuner quality varies greatly. In a cheapie digital TV, or an older tuners w/ early generation chipsets, the tuner may not always work well with weak signals or if you have multipath problems where you live.

The tuner in my sony is pretty good, but the LG tuner in the DirecTV H20-600 is far better, so I use it. Using the D* tuner also keeps me from having to change inputs when surfing from D* channels to OTA channels. Just hit Ch UP or Ch DN to go from D* to OTA. OTA channels end at ch 69 and D* channels begin at ch 70.

Well, Im disappointed. Tivo just released their series 3 HD recorder, and while it will record ATSC SD/HD broadcasts off antenna, or digital HD off cable (with the addition of two cablecards), they totally omitted any capability to record off satellite, other than using RF channel 3 output from the sat receiver, with no way to change its channels. Whats the point? I checked Comcast, and it would cost me $40 a month more for less HD channels than I get now with DirecTv (No HDNET or HDNET Movies), and most all the popular channels are still ANALOG! DirecTv wants to see me a $599 recorder that is going to be obsolete in a year when they switch to Mpeg4. Do any of these manufacturers have a clue?

Yes most people know about the new co-host, Meredith Vieria, but the big news is that NBC is airing the show in HD in the Central time zone.

KARK-DT is passing the HD feed and it looks nice. Although, it does reveal the facial flaws some in television would not rather be seen. Tim Russert was a prime example, and Meredith looked very "made over". Much better than the "soft" HD used by ABC's GMA and The View .

... DirecTv wants to see me a $599 recorder that is going to be obsolete in a year when they switch to Mpeg4. Do any of these manufacturers have a clue?Their MPEG4 DVR is being offered now. Someone posted on another forum that they had all been recalled, but that is NOT true.

And the D* MPEG4 DVR is not $599, it's $299 if you call customer retention. You can also get one free if you have sunday ticket. Unfortunately the OTA tuner isn't enabled as yet, and won't be until October.

D* CR is: 800 824-9081

Yes most people know about the new co-host, Meredith Vieria, but the big news is that NBC is airing the show in HD in the Central time zone.

KARK-DT is passing the HD feed and it looks nice. Although, it does reveal the facial flaws some in television would not rather be seen. Tim Russert was a prime example, and Meredith looked very "made over". Much better than the "soft" HD used by ABC's GMA and The View .


I saw on the Programming section of the forum that they were going to go HD. I'd be willing to bet that Today will decline in the ratings a bit...since Meredith isn't Katie :rolleyes: Meanwhile, the CBS Evening News is still in third place in the ratings, even after Katie took over.

Their MPEG4 DVR is being offered now. Someone posted on another forum that they had all been recalled, but that is NOT true.

And the D* MPEG4 DVR is not $599, it's $299 if you call customer retention. You can also get one free if you have sunday ticket. Unfortunately the OTA tuner isn't enabled as yet, and won't be until October.

D* CR is: 800 824-9081

Appreciate the number. She said it definantly was not available here yet, but they expected it to be at the Best Buy stores and available from them in a week or so. To keep me from switching to Comcast right now, she offered me one for $49 when its available, if I wait, and took $10 a month off my bill for the next year, and threw in the 5 lnb dish. So, I wait. That was to good a deal to pass up.

Thanks.

While Im here, if you know of a thread that deals with this, what are their two new satellite locations for lnb 4 and 5, and are they the same frequency as they are using now, or another band? I live in the woods, and there is no way a single dish will get all three, let alone 5 satellites. No installer would touch my yard, so I did it myself. I have three separate dishes, a 3' for 119, a 24" for 110, and a 18" for 101, all mounted in different areas of the yard, with cables routed under the house to the 110 splitter, and multiswitch. Im worried that while *I* would be able to install 2 more dishes, that the installer wont try. If it was the same band, I could easily use spare parts to install two more, or use the new dish for the two new sats, if they are close together, and tap in from the old dishes for the other sats. I need a tech site that explains what they are going to be using, if you happen to know of one.

I got the chance to drive down through Keith's neck of the woods today, and once above the trees, it looks like a tropo lovers paradise down there in those lowlands. Highest hill I went over was under 400', and average terrain was in the mid 200' range. Super DX it looks like. Everyone had big antennas and rotors (not that I look at that kind of thing when Im driving :D )

I got the chance to drive down through Keith's neck of the woods today, and once above the trees, it looks like a tropo lovers paradise down there in those lowlands. Highest hill I went over was under 400', and average terrain was in the mid 200' range. Super DX it looks like. Everyone had big antennas and rotors (not that I look at that kind of thing when Im driving :D )

DXing can be very fun here on most nights... As of right now, I'm getting KALB from Alexandria, LA...which normally makes it's appearance after midnight, so it's a surprise. Their transmitter is 151 miles away. Nightly, after 7PM, I can receive a good signal from three of the Shreveport digitals @ 82 miles away. Yeah I'd love to get my 4228 above the trees, the opportunities would be endless... we've got plenty of pine trees down here though!

I need a tech site that explains what they are going to be using, if you happen to know of one.
Here's the MPEG4 thread on AVS (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8421376#post8421376). Also hop over to satelliteguys DOT us and dbsforums DOT com.

The MPEG4 sats are at 99 & 103 degrees and use Ka or Ku (whichever one that MPEG2 doesn't use). You need the 5LNB dish and solid copper center conductor RG6, if you don't already have it. You can NOT diplex an OTA signal with the AT9 dish because some of the frequencies they use overlap with OTA frequencies.

Thats great. I can use the new dish to get 99, 101, and 103 all from one location, then tie in the 110 and 119 dishes to the new dish somehow. Will check out those other sites as well. Appreciate the info.
Dave

Unfortunately the OTA tuner isn't enabled as yet, and won't be until October.

D* CR is: 800 824-9081

Well, this is fun. Best Buy got their truckload of HR20's into the NLR store today. They were put in storage, not officially available. The clerk tried selling me a H15 telling me it was the only one available. I happened to see the shelf sticker "Available NOW, HR20, blah blah", and pointed at it and said, grab this tag and check your computer and see if you have any. Well, guess what, they did. Said he would find them. Came back 15 minutes later with the box and handed it to me. Installed it, called DirecTv, they couldnt authorize it because I bought it, and their system only had LEASE option. Transferred, disconnected. Called back, lady said she could do it, and got it on, transferred me to customer retention for my credit. Verified the $10/mo discount, put on hold for 30 minutes while she "checked" on the $150 credit and free 5 lnb dish, and got disconnected again. Still waiting for the rush to get over before calling back.

Question: Since the ATSC tuner is not active yet (Cant even select that option in the setup software) will they turn on the New York HD locals for me do you think, until the tuner is active, if I call tech support and pretend I didnt know it didnt work? If not, I guess Im gonna have to "move" as much as I hate to do that, seems like a pain.

Thanks for the info. Worth the $299 even if I dont get the discount. Beats $999 for the Tivo and going back to cable.

Cheers,
Dave

Any chance I can pick up KATV-DT in Greenbrier (72058)? I've skimmed through the board and noticed many have problems with this station. I have a Directv HR10-250 with an attic mounted antenna. It's an older antenna my parents used years ago, so I'm not sure what model it is, but it looks somewhat similar to the ChannelMaster 3679. I couldn't pick up much until I got an amplifier (Radio Shack), and now I get KARK-DT, KTHV-DT, and KLRT-DT with signal strengths ranging from 65 to 85. I can't get anything from KATV-DT. Antennaweb can't find my address, but when I map my zip code and mark approximately where my house is on the map, it lists KATV but not KATV-DT. Is there anything I can do to pick it up or just wait for their power increase?

thanks,
josh

josh, in addition to their lower power, KATV's transmitter is also located in Redfield, not on Shinall, so you would have to reposition your antenna in order to receive them. Look at the map on antennaweb, and it should show you the direction to point the antenna. KASN-DT is also located at Redfield, so if you can tune in 38, but not 7 you're probably out of luck for now.

Josh,

Can you get KASN-DT (RF 39) 38.1? They are full power and located also at Redfield across I-530 from KATV's tower. If you can get KASN, then the likelyhood of getting KATV when it reaches full power is likely. I'm 40mi from KATV and its a "fringe" signal for me as its directional and low power (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DS988996.html)

....Because KARK sees fit to put High School football scores in bottom of the screen graphics.

There's always the *analog* feeds (NTSC ch 4, D*, E*) guys!

Leave the HD alone KARK, Nex$tar!!!

I noticed KARK didnt have Leno in HD. Does KTHV have Letterman in HD? Or are they showing scores?

Thanks for the responses, guys. I am getting KASN-DT, with a strength of about 50. I had never checked it before because I never watch that station. I assume I may be able to get a little better signal by adjusting my antenna. So I'm guessing I'll just have to wait until KATV increases their power to get KATV-DT.

thanks again,
josh

Thanks for the responses, guys. I am getting KASN-DT, with a strength of about 50. I had never checked it before because I never watch that station. I assume I may be able to get a little better signal by adjusting my antenna.

KASN will have some improved primtime programming on the 18th (Monday) with the CW Network debut. Many of the better shows from the old WB network, and some from UPN will be shown. Unlike the former local WB affliate, full power and HD will be the order of the day (for those programs CW airs in HDTV)

The days of all court shows/urban sitcoms, etc on KASN appear to be over mostly.

I noticed KARK didnt have Leno in HD. Does KTHV have Letterman in HD? Or are they showing scores?

I didn't check Letterman, I pretty much parked over on KARK looking to see when the switch would be thrown back to HD. Leno remained SD after the "Fearless Friday" graphics were removed, and Conan was shown in glorious letterboxed SD.

KARK appears to be imitating their competition over on KATV by HD incompetence :mad:

Amazing isnt it? Hard to believe its so difficult to have someone flip a switch. They should just hire someone at minimum wage, who's only job is to flip the switch. As for the "Fearless Friday" graphics, I was sure I saw them overlaid on Leno in HD last week, but I might be wrong there. In any case, if I want scores, Ill log on the internet, if I want to know about a severe thunderstorm in Bentonville, Ill log onto the internet, or switch over to THV2 or the weather channel. I wish they would stop that insane bullcrap.

These stations are going to promo everything they can now since it is getting close to the Fall season and a rating period. Apparently they haven't figured out how to insert or "super" the promos over HD network programming yet.

I have called the KARK newsroom on several occasions and asked them to tell the "button puncher" in the control room or wherever they do it to please let us view this program in HD like NBC intended for it to be seen. I guess they just forget to do it or are they have one person doing the work of three in there.

I still have to say that KLRT mastered the HD broadcast in Central Arkansas early on and are still number one in all respects in switching their HD programs from Fox network.

KTHV is still having audio level problems with their commercial audio vs. studio audio on their digital channel 11.1 and will have until they care to train someone to monitor and control the levels. Apparently their management does not monitor what is going on. Management mostly cares about selling air time but when you see a station running promos in their 6-O'clock newsblock, they have selling problems. The lighting in their Weather segment in the Weather Garden is pitiful.

KATV is still trying to do something, don't know what.

I didn't check Letterman, I pretty much parked over on KARK looking to see when the switch would be thrown back to HD. Leno remained SD after the "Fearless Friday" graphics were removed, and Conan was shown in glorious letterboxed SD.

KARK appears to be imitating their competition over on KATV by HD incompetence :mad:

Maybe KARK can't figure out how to have the scores on their analog signal only. If they want a subchannel, then I think this would be the best use of one! I'd much rather have HD with a little bit of reduced bandwidth, than ugly letterboxed SD..meanwhile, over at KTAL, they are still broadcasting in SD, apparently. Havent heard anything from KTVE.

BelElDel, the reason KLRT doesn't have problems with switching is because Fox installed a splicer system in all their HD capable affiliates which eliminates the need to "flip the switch." I don't know all the technical details, but they were discussed at length on the programming boards here back when fox first went HD in Sept. '04.

RockyF, thanks for the information. I don't know all the technicals details either and apparently the other stations' management doesn't see the need in having it in their operations. I have found that in most cases, management considers the Engineering or Technical Departments a "necessary evil" that they don't try to learn about or understand and, it is the viewing public that suffers.

I agree, but the important thing to remember in this case, was that it was a network decision. The other local stations don't have anything like it because their networks don't have it. Fox got a lot of flack for waiting so long after the other networks to do HD, but at least they learned how to avoid some mistakes when they did start HD.

Question: Since the ATSC tuner is not active yet (Cant even select that option in the setup software) will they turn on the New York HD locals for me do you think, until the tuner is active, if I call tech support and pretend I didnt know it didnt work?
Their software is setup so that they cannot enable DNS-HD from NY on a service address that does not qualify for HD DNS. Only option is to "move" your service address to somewhere like Mena.

PM me for details.

I bet Mena has a lot of D* subscribers now a days :D

Has anyone experience problems with their DVR since the storm last night? The HD channel I was recording went black and still hasn’t come back online. Left the box unplugged overnight but still nothing. The problem is isolated to that channel (233)

I spoke to another person who is having the same problem. He was watching a different channel then me and he his went black during the storm also.

NLR Comcast.....Any suggestions?

I bet Mena has a lot of D* subscribers now a days :D

Yep.

HOLY COW!!!! :eek:

I did a little surfing tonight and have picked up 17 more stations!!!! I know these have to be because of tropo conditions, but WOW! :eek:
I am picking up WFIQ 36.1 If I researched it right, that is out of Birmingham Alabama!!!! Approx. 198 miles away! Can someone please verify that? I don't know what signal stregth because I don't have a meter, but it is coming in without ANY breaks! Looks awesome. Also, I am getting some stations from Nashville! Cool. I like this stuff! :D

I too have noticed the enhanced tropo conditions tonight :) I managed to snag..

KETK (RF22) Tyler, TX
WNPT analog 8 Nashville, TN
Also tried locking on to some of the Memphis digitals (mainly WPTY) but it didn't last very long. I betcha it's due to all the rains...and fog greatly helps the airwaves!

Actually WFIQ is the Alabama Public Television affiliate for Florence, AL.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WFIQ

Tropo is often good right before a front passes through.

I have noticed that it's very good before a front, and then after the front there's nothing.. so it's kind of a win-lose situation.

Has anyone in the Little Rock area had their set calibrated? If so, who did the job and are you happy with it? I have had a Toshiba 34HFX85 since about January and there are some geometry tweaks that really need to be done to it, and though I know how to get into the service menu and tool around a bit, I don't really know what I'm doing. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Strange, KATV-DT/LP which usually gives me a full scale reading on the meter is only peaking at 45 tonight, 5-1 is peaking at 55, its usually full scale as well, but 13-1 from Arkadelphia is hitting 45, and Im getting a channel 21 I cant lock video on. Seems my path to the southeast is screwed up, but the southwest is cooking.

Snagged WKRN-DT 27 (2-n) Nashville tonight, and relogged several west TN DT's.

Dave, that 21 is probably KPXJ out of Shreveport. KTBS and KPXJ are in to 90s down here tonight. KMSS is near 100, but I think that storm last night knocked out their transmitter, b/c there is no picture. I'm also receiving KALB (Alexandria, LA) with a signal in the upper 80's, KARK and KLRT in the 80's.

Also, about KATV, that may be due to a digital station on channel 22 near Tyler, TX. I locked on them earlier.. it's KETK, the NBC affiliate for that market. And their may be some CCI on Channel 5..which may be destabilizing the KETS-DT signal :)

Dave, do you normally receive KETG (13) out of Arkadelphia? I've never been able to here, but I have an analog LPB station in Monroe on that same frequency.

For the record, WABG and WXVT from Greenville, MS are now showing up (analog) :)

I would have had WZTV-DT 15 also in Nashville if not for pest WXVT-15 Greenville, MS :(

Noticed an oddity about WBBJ-DT 43 Jackson, TN. 7-1 was normal programming // with WBBJ analog, but 7-2 had the SD video, but audio was from NOAA weather radio. 7-3 had the obiglitory radar channel also with NOAA WX radio audio. Talk about wasted bandwidth on 7-2.

Haley, have you managed to get anything from Alabama yet?

The people at WBBJ apparently don't know what their doing when it comes to multicasting..lol

For the record, WABG and WXVT from Greenville, MS are now showing up (analog) :)

I can top that: WMC analog (Memphis) is breaking though local KETS-DT 5

Haley, have you managed to get anything from Alabama yet?

The people at WBBJ apparently don't know what their doing when it comes to multicasting..lol

Not tonight, but thought I got Alabama on Sept 9th with WHDF-DT 14 Florence, AL. However, the transmitter for WHDF-DT is located in Minor Hill, TN.

Those border stations are a little decieving (examples: KHBS, KWBM, etc)

I count the state the transmitter is in for logs.

The FOX affiliate in Memphis is causing severe CCI with KLTM.... I'm also getting some CCI on KTVE...looks to be the PBS station in Memphis.

I also discovered something earlier tonight...a lot of people may have already known about this, but if you turn your FM radio to the lowest freq. on the dial, it will provide the audio for Channel 6. I noticed this in the car this afternoon..I actually saw it on Wikipedia and tested it out...low and behold, I was getting the audio from KTAL. Now I'm getting audio from WABG.

For the record, WABG and WXVT from Greenville, MS are now showing up (analog) :)

Now, WXVT-DT 17 is showing up. New logging here. Yes, its very low power since the coverage area barely reaches Lake Village, AR .

I was turning the rotor and found several Jackson, MS stations and WXVT analog was near local quality, so I punched in 17 on the Accurian STB and video poped up. Then hit the add-channel button and the WXVT psip showed up.

Even WABG analog is showing up via the CM 4228!

Also relog of WJTV-DT 52 Jackson, MS

Yeah, WXVT is low power... you should be proud... is the PQ okay? I haven't heard anything from Jackson yet, with the exception of WLBT analog, CCI with KTBS.

Yeah, WXVT is low power... you should be proud... is the PQ okay? I haven't heard anything from Jackson yet, with the exception of WLBT analog, CCI with KTBS.

Its on par with KTAL-DT and KVTN-DT: SD, but decent.

I need sleep, lol

Well Im afraid my DXing is over for the night, as the power has gone out all across town... Don't know why, because the weather isn't bad, I had to connect my laptop and use the emergency dial up..thats the only way Im typing this... just my luck.... well good night!

Thanks for the link Keith. That helps a lot.

Just a little update from last night.
I ended up getting

WBBJ-Jackson TN
WFIQ- 36.1,36.2 Florence AL
WBUY- 40.1,40.2,40.3,40.4 Holly Springs MS

Plus I got a lot of new Memphis stations (at least I think they were memphis).
WMC 5.1,5.2,5.3
WKRN-2.1,2.2
43.3 ABC
50.1 My 50
50.2 PAX
50.3 WORSHIP
50.4 Faith TV
WHBQ-13.1 FOX

All these were coming in strong with no breaks. Must have been a real good night for DX'ing!

Micah

I think i must be in Texas this morning....

KLTV-DT 10 Tyler (via the VU190 combo) 7-1, 7-2, 7-3
KFXK-DT 31 Longview 51-1, 5-2 (KLPN-TV)
KETK-DT 22 Jacksonville, TX (Tyler DMA) 56-1, 56-2
KVUE-DT 33 Austin 24-1, 24-2

edit: now getting KEYE-DT 43 Austin 42-1 (no mulitcasting :) )

Note: "locals" on 10 and 22 were overcame by 2 of these stations :eek:

For the record, WABG and WXVT from Greenville, MS are now showing up (analog) :)
Sometimes the 4228 is even a great lowband VHF antenna :-)

I get KYTV analog 3 pretty good with it (~70 mi away).

Anyone notice that KTHV is transmitting two 11-2 channels. What is going on with this?

I am picking up 11-1 and two 11-2's. Both 11-2's are transmitting the same info; weather radar, promos, commercials, etc.

Well the power was back on this morning, so I checked out the 4228, and I was getting all the Jackson digitals, and a new logging...WFIQ-DT, that APT station out of Florence, AL. I like the way they do their HD...only ONE subchannel, like Mississippi Public Broadcasting. LPB does okay, but two subchannels are a little too much for the 1080i feed.

Sometimes the 4228 is even a great lowband VHF antenna :-)

I get KYTV analog 3 pretty good with it (~70 mi away).


That's impressive for lowband VHF..@ 70 miles? I have a problem receiving a channel 3 that's 80 miles away, with a large directional VHF antenna :rolleyes:

Anyone notice that KTHV is transmitting two 11-2 channels. What is going on with this?

I am picking up 11-1 and two 11-2's. Both 11-2's are transmitting the same info; weather radar, promos, commercials, etc.

Try rebooting your receiver and rescanning for ota channels.

Plus I got a lot of new Memphis stations (at least I think they were memphis).
WMC 5.1,5.2,5.3
WKRN-2.1,2.2
43.3 ABC
50.1 My 50
50.2 PAX
50.3 WORSHIP
50.4 Faith TV
WHBQ-13.1 FOX

WMC - Yes, Memphis.
WKRN - Nashville!
43.3 ABC - Must have been WBBJ ABC 7 Jackson, TN.
The rest were Memphis stations, too.
Nice DX'ing. :)

OK, the new CW network did a great job on Smallville tonight. Its amazing it took a change of stations before we could finally see this in HD. Way to go Clear Channel !!

There have been a few changes in "network" bugs this year:

ABC is using a smaller version of the ABC circle-HD bug it used last year for sports for general primetime programming.

NBC's is located on the lower left corner and smaller without the letters "NBC" below.

CBS's is unchanged.

CW's is the standard CW bug located within the standard 4:3 framing in right hand center-right corner for HD. Wished they would use a seperate bug for HD and move it closer to the right.

FOX is also unchanged.

Dave, I agree about Smallville. I couldn't wait another week to see it in HD, so we rewatched the season finale. Actually, our DVR cutout and we missed the last :30 seconds or so when it first aired, so we had to watch the whole hour again just to see what we missed :). I've got to say, Smallville is the single biggest reason I was glad to hear about the UPN/WB merger, and even gladder to hear that KASN got the CW affiliation here. 5 seasons of watching it in SD on the hardly watchable 42, and now we finally can watch it in HD. I can't wait for the season premiere! The bug in the 4:3 frame didn't bother me too much, but it would be nice for it to be moved to the right.

I have been watching them, alabeit a season behind, on HDNET. HDNET is premiering season 5 next week, so Im debating whether to stay a year behind, or try to watch season 5 and 6 at the same time. Decisions Decisions... Jericho, on CBS looks good also. It has a lot of promise in the sci-fi department.

I would like to be able to view Ryder Cup golf, live, in HD this morning on KARK- DT channel 4.1, but KARK insists on not switching to HD. I called and a woman employee said that if the program is not "shot" in HD then we can't air it in HD. I told her that yesterday it was in HD and I know it is in HD now because I can see the program, originating "live" on WNBC in HD. KARK would still not switch. If it were a technical problem, they should have aired an apology, but stations don't do that anymore. I think that it was a mental malfunction.

I certainly hope that KARK trains its employees to switch to HD when local HD is offered by D*, otherwise we will not be able to see NBC-HD programs off-air on KARK. Doesn't anyone in management at KARK monitor what their station is doing? This is very frustrating to be able to receive KARK off-air and still not be able to view a program in HD. Thank goodness I have a waiver and can watch WNBC-HD New York for now.

I Wonder how long it will take for KARK to have its employees trained to switch properly like KLRT.

KNWA (also Nexstar owned) did the same thing up here this morning. It was in 1080i on KYTV-DT out of Springfield and in HD on WNBC-HD, as you posted.

arxaw, I may be wrong but I know that at one time, KNWA's NBC programming passed thru KARK's "control room" and was fed to KNWA via fiber optic. Also, KARK provided the program switching for KWNA. If this is still true, this might account for the program not being shown in HD in both locations this morning.

When I called KARK back, a man, this time, told me that the program was "not offered" to KARK in HD. I doubt that.

I think you're correct on their MC being shared facility in LR.

The guy on the phone was a complete idiot.

Hi,
I'm new to the forum and just put up an antenna to pick up off air HD channels. The main channel I was striving for was the new CW KASN for Smallville. I am getting 82% signal strength, but when the channel displays, it goes in and out, and pretty much locks up my dish receiver. I can't change channels, go to guide, or even power off. Totally non responsive. It'll eventually shut down my receiver and and start back up having to re-aquire sattellite when it does. When it finally gets back up, I have to IMMEDIATELY push guide to get to another channel, or it'll do it all over again. None of the other HD channels do this, and 11 and 42 have less signal strength. What could be my issue here? Or is it an issue with KASN? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Is the signal strength steady? If so, it may be a PSIP data error problem coming from the station that is affecting your type of receiver.


Any ClearChannel folks reading this?

The strength might drop to lowest of 79% and go up to 83% but the other channels do the same thing with out a problem. And sorry for my stupidity, but what is PSIP, and if this is the problem, can I fix it?
Thanks

PSIP description from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSIP).

You cannot fix PSIP data errors. If in fact that is the problem, the only people who can fix it are at the KASN.

Neither of my receivers are having problems with KASN, however, I have had this same problem occur before with psip data. Whats strange, is sometimes its with one receiver, sometimes the other, but never both at the same time on the same channel. Its possible you might be getting a little multipath confusing the receiver on that channel. Try orienting your antenna a couple degrees different and see if that clears up the problem if you continue to experience it. Check channel 38 analog also, and see if you notice any noise or interference that could be confusing the digital signal, or ghosts.

Hi,
I'm new to the forum and just put up an antenna to pick up off air HD channels. The main channel I was striving for was the new CW KASN for Smallville. I am getting 82% signal strength, but when the channel displays, it goes in and out, and pretty much locks up my dish receiver. I can't change channels, go to guide, or even power off. Totally non responsive. It'll eventually shut down my receiver and and start back up having to re-aquire sattellite when it does. When it finally gets back up, I have to IMMEDIATELY push guide to get to another channel, or it'll do it all over again. None of the other HD channels do this, and 11 and 42 have less signal strength. What could be my issue here? Or is it an issue with KASN? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Is that the Dish 811 receiver?

Its causing mine (E* provided with the old HD pkg) to blank out video/audio and bring up the on-screen display often every 10-15 seconds, but only recently. Signal levels here on KASN are in the 87-91% range (depending on time of day). I just switch over to a second receiver (RS Accurian) if I want to watch The CW (which is my closest and strongest DTV/HDTV signal here).

My guess is that a software issue (from either side?) is causing the signal from KASN to not play nice with the Ol' 811.

Might be time to upgrade to a ViP211 if possible.

Does your TV have a built in OTA (digital) tuner. Try it if you have one. Most HDTV's in use do not, but all TV's (not just HDTV) larger than 24" sold since July are required to have them.

Yep, it's an 811. I called dish about an upgrade receiver. Does anyone know if this problem will go away with the 211? Also considering a set top box. Anyone using a samsung SIRT451?

If it's only crashing on KASN-DT, the PSIP data they are sending is non-standard.
Contact KASN

...Its causing mine (E* provided with the old HD pkg) to blank out video/audio and bring up the on-screen display often every 10-15 seconds, but only recently. .Contact KASN and ask them if they've made any recent PSIP changes. They probably have, with all the switchover to the CW.

Just wondering, but i saw an ad on KARK earlier tonight about "Preserving Local TV". I went to the site, and it appears every station being "affected" is a Nexstar station. What is this about?

http://www.preservelocaltv.com/welcome.shtml

Sounds like the FCC might be considering limiting the number of stations one company can own again. This is a strange one. If that were the case, companies like Nexstar and Equity BEG for a restriction, while Clear Channel is a great arguement against it. Let us know if you figure it out.

I'll be looking to see if I can find more info on the subject..I would like to know how it turns out. Dave, how was the "move" to Mena?

Yeah Dave, how's your TV reception in Mena?
Mine's always been great "there" ;-)

Just wondering, but i saw an ad on KARK earlier tonight about "Preserving Local TV". I went to the site, and it appears every station being "affected" is a Nexstar station. What is this about?

http://www.preservelocaltv.com/welcome.shtml

Go to:
http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/index.jsp
In the search box, enter: preservelocaltv.com

The site was put up by nexstar. Evidently, there's some legislation that's not in their favor and they're trying to sway public and legislative sentiment for their own financial gain.

<rant>
Personally, I think OTA broacast TV already has already been given too many "protections" by congress and the FCC.

Imagine being told you can't go to a newstand and buy out-of-town newspapers that carry AP wire services or other services the demogaz carries. IOW, you must only read AP news in the demogaz or other local paper.

This is exactly what has happened with broadcast TV. Although the technology exists to watch news and programming from network affiliates in other cities (via satellite) you are forced to watch network TV only through your local broadcast affiliate, regardless of the quality of the signal. And you're barred from watching news and local info from other towns' local stations.

I disagree with this because it's a form of censorship. If an obsolete business model is dead or dying, let it die. If local TV can thrive on its own, it can and will. But it shouldn't be propped up with "protectionist" legislation enacted by pressure from paid lobbyists for the NAB.
</rant>

Contact KASN and ask them if they've made any recent PSIP changes. They probably have, with all the switchover to the CW.

We have not made any PSIP changes in a few weeks. Last time I checked (Sunday), I was seeing us fine at home with my Dish ViP622 and tuner built into my Samsung TV. I will re-scan tonight and see if I am having the problem. I had an 811 for a while and it has one of the worst ATSC tuners in it I have ever experienced. I am in Maumelle and could not see any of the DTV stations regularly with the 811.

Also, our tuners at the station for monitoring the DTV return are not having any trouble receiving KASN-DT. They are Samsung set-top boxes.

I will post back tomorrow and let you know what I find.

Sorry it took so long to respond...

E

Are there any good DTV tuners out there with HD and DVR cabilities besides the new Tivo Series 3?

Are there any good DTV tuners out there with HD and DVR cabilities besides the new Tivo Series 3?
Not to my knowledge.

You can build your own with a PC.

Go to:
http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/index.jsp
In the search box, enter: preservelocaltv.com

The site was put up by nexstar. Evidently, there's some legislation that's not in their favor and they're trying to sway public and legislative sentiment for their own financial gain.

<rant>
\clipped
</rant>


I have to agree Sam.... watching a out of market station is like going out of town to shop as WaL-mart. I personally dont like the local one because of quality of service, etc. So I shop at Magnolia or Camden. Same company, just a differemt town. Next thing they're going to do it make that illegal :rolleyes:

obuengineer, actually there are a couple of standalone HD-DVR's out there, but they are hard to find. check out the HDTV recorders section of AVS for some discussion. LG made one, and I have the Sony DHG-HDD 250. It's a pretty good box, if you can find it. The TVGuide flakes out sometimes, but it beats a monthly service fee for Tivo. I found mine open box at the WLR Best Buy in May, but I haven't seen them lately. Mine is 250 gigs, but they also made a 500 gig version. I believe all of these are discontinued, but they can be a good deal if you can track one down.

I left a message with a KASN engineer. He never called back. I went ahead and ordered an upgrade 211, which will be here tommorrow. Well, tonight I happen to turn on "the new CW" and guess what, it's working just fine. Go figure! Oh well, I've been having a few glitches with one of my 811's so I'll just swap it out, and have MORE HD channels. Thanks for the replies and suggestions!

Havent been home long enough to move to Mena, all that packing you know. Was actually in Fayetteville today, local tomorrow, was supposed to go work in Mena, but the boss is going. Friday its Bentonville, Joplin, Cassville, and Eureka Springs. Long Day. Maybe Ill be able to move Saturday ;)

Havent been home long enough to move to Mena, all that packing you know. Was actually in Fayetteville today, local tomorrow, was supposed to go work in Mena, but the boss is going. Friday its Bentonville, Joplin, Cassville, and Eureka Springs. Long Day. Maybe Ill be able to move Saturday ;)

Well have fun up there in the Ozarks... are the leaves changing color up there yet?

I wish D* and E* would put the CW on their DNS service... what do you think the chances of that would be?

Last night, the E* 811 box worked good on KASN-DT. Watched (cough,cough)...One Tree Hill for a while.

The novelty of seeing it in HD wore out *very* quickly.

Tonight will be a interesting night, at least early on, but I won't be home to see the shows in HD.

Oh yeah, I saw the nexstar created "the-slky-is-falling-on-local-tv" website. What Nexstar won't tell you.....


Nexstar was late to HD in Little Rock. The old UPN network was HD before NBC here
Razorback Nation is produced by KNWA, certainly not a local LR station
KARK *had* to play gatekeeper on turned out to be a bad show that should have died a quiet death
Some nexstar stations (KARD) won't be digital until 2008

Haley-SEA,
Add KSNF & KODE in Joplin, and KOLR & KSFX in Springfield to the long list of Nexstar stations that probably won't see full power and/or HDTV any time soon.

Keith, yes, the trees are starting to change up here :-)

Haley-SEA,
Add KSNF & KODE in Joplin, and KOLR & KSFX in Springfield to the long list of Nexstar stations that probably won't see full power and/or HDTV any time soon.
...

That would be 50% of the commerical stations in the Joplin market are controlled by the Nexstar Cartel....50 Percent!

KFJX (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=83992) (FOX) doesn't even have a digital channel. I'd hate to be suck in the Joplin area with the only viable local OTA being KOZJ and KOAM.

Preserve local TV my ***!

... I'd hate to be stuck in the Joplin area with the only viable local OTA being KOZJ and KOAM.
Actually, KOAM is still LP. If they were at full power I could pick them up, but I can't. I get their analog channel on my analog tv.

Any word on KATV's move to full power? With Lost starting up next week, I'm anxious to get a solid signal from Redfield with no dropouts. I was able to watch the preview on Wednesday night in HD, but with some dropouts. Lost is absolutely beautiful in HD! It's a shame I live in NLR and can't get a good signal from KATV. I suppose my poor choice of antenna (Terk HDTVs) is partly to blame.

What's really stoopid is katv is advertising their 7-2 "news now" channel that hardly anyone can even pick up reliably, because the mighty they're the last commercial big4 network station in LR to go full power.

Complete idiots.

Because the masses (those not using HDTV) actually believe the facade KATV has built up over the past 40 years of being cutting edge, KATV's foot dragging IMHO has hurt mainstream adoption of HDTV in central Arkansas.

I'm sick of having dropouts when storms are close and no DD5.1 on ABC OTA here.

All of NWA's big 4 stations are full power HDTV. It's a shame LR has to play catch up with podunk.

Just wondering, but is KATV showing Wheel and Jeopardy! in HD?

Also, I've noticed a lot of problems with the HD versions on Jeopardy! amd Wheel on the WABC feed... it will go in and out of HD, sound skipping, and the video freezes at times. Has anyone else noticed this that has WABC on D*? It's only during the airings of these shows. I just wanted to make sure it was on their end.

I've noticed a few audio and video dropouts on wheel in HD on WABC-DT on DirecTV.

Just wondering, but is KATV showing Wheel and Jeopardy! in HD?


The program director told me they don't have any capability of taping it in HD and sending it to the transmitter. He also mentioned the syndicator has had lots of trouble sending their HD to stations, so that may be the cause of the NY feed problems you're seeing.

Wheel had been hyping their HD program but I guess most of their broadcasters can't send out that program in anything but SD since it is not coming on a network feed.

I don't think anyone in Little Rock can do an HD tape and rebroadcast.

Maybe some day.

Maybe they should buy a Directv TIVO to record on. Its amazing to me a consumer can have a HD digital recorder, but a network tv station cant handle it. For crying out loud, it doesnt have to be a $100,000 recorder, its digital !!! Just grab the bitstream on a computer, and replay it. Its not rocket science.

The program director told me they don't have any capability of taping it in HD and sending it to the transmitter. He also mentioned the syndicator has had lots of trouble sending their HD to stations, so that may be the cause of the NY feed problems you're seeing.

Wheel had been hyping their HD program but I guess most of their broadcasters can't send out that program in anything but SD since it is not coming on a network feed.

I don't think anyone in Little Rock can do an HD tape and rebroadcast.

Maybe some day.

You can rest assured that KATV will be the last major in town to do so....probally first quarter 2009.

On a followup of the last sub-thread....Any predictions of Little Rock broadcasters that will start HD newscasts (at least in the studio), and possibly syndicated fare. Larger markets are already at this stage but down here in the land of governors-from-tar-paper-shacks we still haven't gotten past the first wave officially yet.

Please chime in..... :p

The smaller the market, the less incentive there is for the station owners (Gannett, allbritton, nex$tar, et al) to spend money on local HD.

In smaller markets with less advertising revenue, they're much more likely to spend money on degrading their HD PQ with multicasting on extra sub channels.

If I was a betting man, I would say Fox16 news at 9. Its PQ is already good. Im not sure if they installed HD capable stuff in their new studio or not. KARK also has a new studio, and wants to take back the top spot, so they would be my second guess. KATV thinks their stuff already doesnt stink, and KTHV is more gossip news than serious stuff, so I doubt they are to concerned with HD news, and Im guessing their old building isnt wired for it. All speculation and guessing of course.

Nexstar and Allbritton stations will be dead last converting to locally originated HD in LR. It took katv YEARS to even convert to MTS stereo sound. And they're last to the dance w/ full power DTV.

Wasnt KATV the first station to "TEST" MTS stereo, and then last to actually use it? I recall some big hoopla about them being the first to test it in the market...

Wasnt KATV the first station to "TEST" MTS stereo, and then last to actually use it? I recall some big hoopla about them being the first to test it in the market...IIRC, they were the very last station in LR/PB to add MTS stereo sound to their broadcast signal. I think they had some sort of connection w/ comscat cable that allowed the cableco to pass abc network stereo sound to subscribers. But katv had no MTS stereo sound for OTA viewers for years after it was adopted in 1984 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multichannel_television_sound).

And after they finally added MTS stereo for passing ABC network stereo programming, they used some gawd-awful fake simulated stereo for the mono audio on their local newscasts, and other non-network stuff. It was bad - on a pro logic surround system it sounded like the voices were in a well or something and coming from all over the room; instead of front & center. :-(

We have not made any PSIP changes in a few weeks. Last time I checked (Sunday), I was seeing us fine at home with my Dish ViP622 and tuner built into my Samsung TV. I will re-scan tonight and see if I am having the problem. I had an 811 for a while and it has one of the worst ATSC tuners in it I have ever experienced. I am in Maumelle and could not see any of the DTV stations regularly with the 811.

Also, our tuners at the station for monitoring the DTV return are not having any trouble receiving KASN-DT. They are Samsung set-top boxes.

I will post back tomorrow and let you know what I find.

Sorry it took so long to respond...

E

Just as a follow up to this, I am not seeing any issues at home or the station and we have received only the one complaint from the poster. If no one else is having issues, I am going to close the book on this one.

I am still around if you guys have questions, but will only be checking in a couple of times a week for the next couple of months. We have a lot going on currently and time to check in is scarce. If it is a pressing issue you guys are having, you are always welcome to contact me at the station.

E

WOW, look at the tropo predictions for this week :-)
http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html

WOW, look at the tropo predictions for this week :-)
Saturday's forcast is about the best I've seen for our area!

This morning I was getting a good signal from WSIL (159 miles) with my antenna pointed about 100 degrees away from them! Also getting WBUY (109 miles) with my antenna pointed in their general direction.

I really need to install that rotor that is waiting in the garage this week, and see what I can find.

WOW, look at the tropo predictions for this week :-)
http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html

Looks like you will be picking up Paducah! Of course, Im in the so-so area, as usual :)

Might be able to nab KNWA-DT hopefully on Friday morning :D

I hope there will be some things out there worth locking on to... it's really been about average the past few mornings around here. I'll be on the look out, though :)

I hade received an email from James Tidwell, Director of Engineering, KATV with an update on them going full power.
It had been scheduled for an end of September completion, but has been delayed and "The transmitter Crew and Tower Crew are working at the transmitter site as I write this e-mail. There was some component delivery problems and weather that prevented the tower crew from going up the tower. " and that it sohould go full power in "2-3 weeks if the weather holds and there are no major problems with the
installation. It has to be certified to meet FCC specs before it can go on
air."

Malcolm

Well that's some good news... looks like everyone is going full-power, one by one :) It will be nice when the low power days are over for all stations.

I hade received an email from James Tidwell, Director of Engineering, KATV with an update on them going full power.
It had been scheduled for an end of September completion, but has been delayed and "The transmitter Crew and Tower Crew are working at the transmitter site as I write this e-mail. There was some component delivery problems and weather that prevented the tower crew from going up the tower. " and that it should go full power in "2-3 weeks if the weather holds and there are no major problems with the
installation. It has to be certified to meet FCC specs before it can go on
air."

Malcolm

That's super news! I am picking up "Lost" fairly well if I turn my antenna just right, but I do experience occasional dropouts. Once they go full power, I'm sure those dropout will be history. Maybe I will be able to receive all the LR stations (except PBS) without having to turn my antenna!

LP DTV is history in NWA, while LR's katv is dragged kicking & screaming into the future :-)

KFTA-DT (rf 27) comming in near Star City as i'm typing this. Signal near 70% at times.

Had to laugh, Fox station in New York showing the Mets vs Dodgers. After commercial break... 30 seconds of 4:3 then WHOOPS, 16:9. And you guys thought it was only our local guys screwing up :)

This switching stuff is rediculous anyway. Why dont they just upconvert the local crap to 16:9HD, and leave it in HD mode all the time?

Even better idea, drag the non-conformists into the 21st century, Transmit everything from the HD feed, and letterbox it for those 480i 4:3 holdouts.

Had to laugh, Fox station in New York showing the Mets vs Dodgers. After commercial break... 30 seconds of 4:3 then WHOOPS, 16:9.... Yeah, even the flagship stations screw up occasionally. Or maybe it could've been a network problem....


drag the non-conformists into the 21st century, Transmit everything from the HD feed, and letterbox it for those 480i 4:3 holdouts.NBC has done some letterboxed 480i feeds for some of their 16:9 HD dramas. Probably a trial balloon to see how many complaints they get.

Post-analog, I doubt if everything will get letterboxed on 480i cable and sat feeds though. They will likely zoom the picture to 4:3 and crop the extra L & R width out of the 16:9 image.

KFTA-DT (rf 27) comming in near Star City as i'm typing this. Signal near 70% at times.
Got WJTV, Jackson, MS up here yesterday morning @ a steady 100% signal strength.
That's approx 364 air miles :-)
http://tinypic.com/2d017i1.jpg

http://tinypic.com/40c1p94.jpg

You guys make me sick. Here I sit with high dollar antennas, and am 1/2 way between you guys, and am not picking up squat :) Jackson is the only station I ever have picked up skip wise. Just in a bad spot I guess. My old house 2 miles down the road was great, I could get Memphis, and Mississippi every night....

Dave, what ATSC receiver(s) and what antenna(s) do you have? Do you have a preamp?

Im using a HNS E86 atsc tuner, Channel Master Quantum Suburban VHF/Deepest Fringe UHF as well as a Televes Yagi. No preamp. Coax run is only 50'. Elevation is 425', roof mounted antennas at 15' and 20' above ground. Ridge to west at 500', ridge to east at 550', Ridge to south at 525', ridge to North at 600'. Im on a hilltop in the middle of a valley surrounded by higher hills. SOL!

Wow Sam, that's very impressive! I get WJTV here occasionally, but never at 100%. It's always in the 60's. What else sis you manage to receive this morning?

Dave, maybe you should install that 100 foot tower you were thinking about...haha :)

Na, not worth the expense unless I could pick the station up all the time. Might be worth it for Memphis, not for skip anymore. To much other stuff I could spend the money on, like HD-DVD, more storage space, etc.

How come NBC's HD is so lame? Im watching NASCAR, and there is so much pixellation and fuzzyness around moving objects I wouldnt even call it HD. Ive seen sharper DVD's. Its the same on local and D*. Has to be the network itself. Cant believe NBC would show such a crappy HD picture.

Yeah I think NBC-HD is the lowest quality of the four networks... CBS, FOX, and ABC are much better. To me, it doesn't look sharp at all on D*. Especially today! Some things look okay on that feed, but sports is always sub-par quality on there.

How come NBC's HD is so lame? Im watching NASCAR, and there is so much pixellation and fuzzyness around moving objects I wouldnt even call it HD. Has to be the network itself. Cant believe NBC would show such a crappy HD picture.
One camera in particular was having problems. Overall, their NASCAR coverage is subpar to what Fox does in the first half of the season.

Na, not worth the expense unless I could pick the station up all the time. Might be worth it for Memphis, not for skip anymore. To much other stuff I could spend the money on, like HD-DVD, more storage space, etc.

I'm going to let the format wars play out....hate the fact that the standards are not uniform on the new "DVD's". Saw one ad for an upcoming movie (Click ) on DVD and Blu Ray.

Yeah I think NBC-HD is the lowest quality of the four networks... CBS, FOX, and ABC are much better. To me, it doesn't look sharp at all on D*. Especially today! Some things look okay on that feed, but sports is always sub-par quality on there.

NBC Sports (NASCAR and NFL) HD PQ is a step below FOX, CBS, and even ABC/ESPN. The times i've watched Sunday Night Football , there is a beautiful picture on stills, but any movement, all downhill. FOX seems to be consistant, and CBS is hampered by the local multicasting.

A couple of "skip" vidcaps from early Sunday AM

Wow. I wasnt aware there were any stations left that signed off anymore....

Some stations still do in smaller markets. And a lot of small market stations turn off their DTV transmitter late at night to conserve power.

KATV info: A friend of mine (who knows someone at katv) told me that they have all their full power stuff in place and should be operating at full power within a week. Better late than never, I guess.

Yeah I think NBC-HD is the lowest quality of the four networks...I agree.

Not sure what the problem is, but they just can't do sports with motion scenes without turning them into a blurry mess. Pic looks fine until the camera or objects move. Then it goes blurry. And if you add multicasting, like they do up here on KNWA-DT and KYTV-DT, the PQ degrades even further. If the cam is following a running football player, the crowd in the background literally turns into pixelly squares.

Wow Sam, that's very impressive! I get WJTV here occasionally, but never at 100%. It's always in the 60's. What else sis you manage to receive this morning?I would've taken more pics, but my digital camera battery died. However, I remember getting some PBS station on 20-1 and 20-2 with signal strength of 94 to 98% and KXII (CBS) out of Sherman TX. Oh, and the usual Tulsa/Okmulgee stations that frequently come in.

Dave,

OMG, you're still using an E86? Except for the Panasonic tuhds20, the E86 has to be the weakest ATSC tuner D* has ever made. Call D* customer retention and tell 'em your E86 died and they'll lease you an H20. Monthly cost is the same as owning a receiver. Only differences: they replace def. receivers free and you have to return the receiver if you ever cancel service. And you can keep your E86, although I don't know why you'd want to use it. The PQ is so much better with the H20 compared to an E86 - both on HD and SD.

I've heard all the claims about the Televes antennas, but IMO, the combo of a Channel Master 4228 antenna (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/4228.htm) + 7777 preamp (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/7777.htm) is hard to beat. And the 4228 works great for chs 7 thru 69. I can even get ch 3 analog with it, but it's a little snowy at times. Of course KY3 is about 70 miles away....

Im probably going to try the 7777 amp. Ive just had so much problems with channel 16 analog overloading all the amps Ive tried, I hesitate to spend any more money trying. As for the Televes, its great for pinpointing stations, terrible if you want to pick up anything that is off more that 3 degrees from the direction its pointed. The Channel Master Quantum, which unfortunantly isnt made anymore, has the best UHF section of any antenna Ive tried before, including the 4 bay. I havent tried an 8 bay yet. Maybe once my tuner gets activated on my HR20, Ill see how it looks and upgrade. Quantum kicks ass tho, for PBS 5-1 (100%) with almost no drop outs during storms. So, do you think the 4228/7777 combo and the HR20 when tuner is activated, would pick up those stations the HNS currently shows a 3-25 signal level on? I get lots of 3-6 level stations in the morning, but they never get strong enough to lock a picture.

... So, do you think the 4228/7777 combo and the HR20 when tuner is activated, would pick up those stations the HNS currently shows a 3-25 signal level on?If it's an HR20-700 series, it's made by Pace. I have no idea what kind of OTA chipset Pace is using in that thing. If you had an H20-600 (LG chipset) and a 4228 + 7777 combo, I would bet money on solid reception of channels that the E86 struggles to lock onto. With my H20-600, I can pick up Springfield and Fayetteville with the antenna in almost any direction, because the H20 just loves the multipath signals that bounce off the mountains up here that would kill an E86.

Check with the DVR forums to find out what chipset is in the HR20...

I see where D* announced it will be adding LR mpeg4 locals before the end of the year. Im assuming once its enabled, those in "Mena" will lose their NY feeds???

Anyone uh, "living" in the Little Rock DMA, that qualifies for HD DNS, (due to not actually being able to receive any HD OTA) will lose HD DNS when their HD locals are activated.

I belive they don't shut them off until you can actually get the HD locals. IOW, you must have a 5LNB dish and MPEG4 receiver. If their records show you have a both of these, then HD DNS will likely be shut off on the day the LR HD locals are activated.

davenlr,

where did you see the news about the LR locals?

EDIT: Never mind, I found it:
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=66797

Interesting. Well, since my HNS wont get Mpeg4 channels, I guess as long as I have that receiver activated.... :) Hopefully they cant force me to accept an "upgrade".

They're mailing out mpeg4 receivers in the pacific time zone, to hasten the end of MPEG2 HD DNS. Eventually, those subscribers will be required to have the AT9 dish to get HD locals, just like some markets require a 3LNB dish or 2nd dish for SD locals.

It will happen here eventually, but not overnight.

I dont care if they want to give me a new mpeg4 receiver for my HNS, they just better not charge me a "rental" fee :)

I really like having the HD-DNS.... while I don't have anything at all against the LR stations, it's nice to have the NY stations because there are no weatherbugs, etc on during HD. I actually really like the LR locals... the main reason I got satellite was to "move" so I could get KTHV, KARK, and KLRT... since every local channel on cable down here is from Louisiana (with the exception of KATV). I may "move" to Marshall so I can keep the distant nets... Sam, do you think the PQ will be better on the new LR HD locals than the distant nets, or do you think PQ will be improved across the board since they will have more bandwidth?

Was the World Series in HD on KLRT-DT Monday night? I just happened to check KMSS-DT from Shreveport OTA while the game was on, and it was not in HD on there. Was it just on their end? I didn't get a chance to check the D* FOX feed.

... I may "move" to Marshall so I can keep the distant nets... Sam, do you think the PQ will be better on the new LR HD locals than the distant nets, or do you think PQ will be improved across the board since they will have more bandwidth?If you don't have the 5LNB dish, they can't shut off your NY HD DNS until you get one installed. Now, at some point in the future, they may require you to get one, but I'm not sure if that will ever happen. I know people here in Carroll County that still get the NY SD locals because they didn't want to add the required 2nd dish aimed at 72.5° to get SD LIL here. They use antenna for locals.

I don't know if the LR HD LILs will look better than NY HD DNS. Time will tell, but (at least initially), I doubt it.

Was the World Series in HD on KLRT-DT Monday night? I just happened to check KMSS-DT from Shreveport OTA while the game was on, and it was not in HD on there. Was it just on their end? I didn't get a chance to check the D* FOX feed.

Yes, it was in HD.

I dont care if they want to give me a new mpeg4 receiver for my HNS, they just better not charge me a "rental" fee :)There is NO difference in monthly cost for leased equipment vs owned equipment.

Only differences:
Leased receivers are replaced free by DirecTV if they become defective.
Leased receivers must be returned to DirecTV if you disconnnect service.

Didnt know that. Thought it was $4.99 a month extra for leased receivers... Thanks.

So... when exactly will KATV-DT go full power? I've been keepin a watch on my receiver on CH 22 but it's still too weak of a signal to decode... the only CH 22 I've ever locked on to is KETK-DT from Tyler, TX.

Didnt know that. Thought it was $4.99 a month extra for leased receivers... Thanks.First leased receiver is included in your basic bill (same as if you owned the receiver - no difference in cost).

All additional receivers are charged a $4.99 lease fee, instead of a $4.99 "mirroring" fee. Same price, different name (and you get replacement receivers free if they're leased).

So... when exactly will KATV-DT go full power? I've been keepin a watch on my receiver on CH 22 but it's still too weak of a signal to decode... the only CH 22 I've ever locked on to is KETK-DT from Tyler, TX.According to katv, full power HD will be on the air within the next 2 weeks.

Very strong signal from KATV-DT at the Palmyra community (near Star City) . Just checked a few minutes ago after arriving from work.

Signal that was in the 67-70% range yesterday is in the 92-93% range on the Dish 811

I disconnected the antenna feed (from the CM 4228) and did a rabbit (ear) test. Signal locked on the 811 at 67%.

Signal on the Radio Shack STB is 94%

Signal is nearly full scale on the USD box connected to my capture card in the ham shack with the CM 4228

Signal on the USD STB is still strong on the RS VU190 combo antenna

No apparent tropo based on signals from weaker stations

Anyone else able to confirm what i think happened?
:D

Haley, I just checked down here and I am not getting anything from them...the only thing from LR I am getting at the moment is a snowy KLRT on 16. I usually have better luck with LR digitals later in the evening... so I'll do a check throughout the night for them..but it sounds like they increased power :)

Very strong signal from KATV-DT at the Palmyra community (near Star City) . Just checked a few minutes ago after arriving from work.



Yesterday, NO SIGNAL on my rabbit ears in the bedroom.

Today, KATV-DT coming in great.

Looks like they did something :)

Ugly Betty with only 2.0 Audio (no DD 5.1) on KATV :mad:

I've been getting 59-63 in NLR on my dish 622 receiver from KATV with the antenna pointed directly at redfield. Now I'm getting a steady 70. Not the big jump that I'd hoped for, but it will be helpful.

Just as a follow up to this, I am not seeing any issues at home or the station and we have received only the one complaint from the poster. If no one else is having issues, I am going to close the book on this one.

I am still around if you guys have questions, but will only be checking in a couple of times a week for the next couple of months. We have a lot going on currently and time to check in is scarce. If it is a pressing issue you guys are having, you are always welcome to contact me at the station.

E

Thanks for looking into things, I've got a new 211 receiver and all is well with my signal now.

I dont mean to be a complainer, but was wondering about a couple of things...

Is there any plans for 5.1 sound? Even the stereo signal on the digital channel comes in weaker than the standard definition channel.

I know this isn't going to be an issue with most, but whats up with the closed captioning on the digital broadcast? My wife has a hearing loss and relies on it big time. It is either WAY ahead of whats happening, or too fast to read it. Also, extra captioning from somewhere else (another show perhaps) pops up. The captioning on the standard channel does fine, so we have to watch it instead.

I sent am email through the CW website with these questions. I dont know if it'll get to you or not errett, but if it does, sorry for the bombardment from both ends. Just thought I'd post here to in case you didn't get it.

Thanks

Just checked my main system, KATV has increased power, but no where near full power. I have my antenna pointed about 1/2 way between Redfield and Chinal. I get solid 100 signal levels from 12, 30, 32, and 39. Im getting about 75 from 44, and 45 from 22, and 55 from 5. Yesterday, I was getting 3 from 22, so they did something, but not full power. Im assuming full power should be about the same strength as 39, which it isnt. At least I can watch it now tho!

Doesn't they usually take a while before cranking a new transmitter up to full power?

... Im assuming [katv] full power should be about the same strength as 39, which it isnt...
KATV
Full allotted power: 750kW ERP
Antenna HAAT: 574M (~1866 ft )

KASN
Full allotted power: 1,000kW ERP
Antenna HAAT: 590M (~1918 ft )

KATV: Lower power. Lower antenna.

Not sure why KATV was only allowed 750kW instead of 1,000kW, since there are many other DTV stations on ch 22 (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?state=&call=&arn=&city=&chan=22&cha2=22&serv=DT&type=0&facid=&list=2&dist=&dlat2=&mlat2=&slat2=&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&size=9) that were allotted 1,000kW.

Well I never got anything from them last night.... KARK and KLRT were in the 80's, and usual. KASN has never came through here very strong, even when I rotate the 4228 from 350 to 15-20 degrees. So I guess if they are operating at 750kw now, then we can't expect any more power increases :(

KATV: Lower power. Lower antenna.

.

Well, 40' and 1.5 db really should not amount to the kind of difference in signal I am seeing, but anything is possible with RF. Guess if it doesnt change by Monday, Ill call down there and see if anyone will tell me whats up.

In any case, their signal level will be hard to guage since their low power was directional at me, and their high power is theoretically omni. People outside of the directional beam of the low power transmitter should be the ones noticing the big difference.

Maybe they aren't finished testing....

I'm noticing a bit better signal from 7, but it's still lower than the other channels. I've not been able to get a good signal in several weeks, but I haven't actually thought to check signal strength, but now it's sitting at about 72 compared to 83-88 for the others. As long as I can get a good signal on Wednesday, I'll be happy, I've had to watch Lost in SD the last two weeks.

It's too bad they can't be at 1,000kw... :(