Originally posted by zul0996
Dianna, is TW close to a deal?


Ditto

Unfortunately no

ROFLMAO:D
I just spent two hours feeding cable from my attic to get my CM4228 up there instead of the back porch(wind kept knocking it around)...all to get FOX for the big game!!! I log on to see what's new on the best Charleston HDTV forum in the world only to read this "great news." I wonder if you lucky ComcastHD subscribers will get FOX before sunday. I wonder if Comcast does night calls....I'm now kicking myself.:p
Whoops. Meant to give an update on my setup as well. I actually lost some FOX signal by putting the antenna up in the attic. It was a steady 75% on the porch but I'd lose signal for a sec or two if the wind knocked it around(windy days were miserable). Now, it's a steady 65%, but no loss b/c of wind. I'm happier. All the other channels are 80% or more without having to move antenna. The CM UHF amp is great.

Originally posted by fbtcu
!!!ATTENTION COMCAST HD CUSTOMERS!!!


Comcast is pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement with Sinclair Broadcasting that allows us to carry WTAT HD.


Our engineers are working with WTAT's as we speak to get the channel up and running as soon as possible.

WTATHD will be located on Comcast Channel 183.

Frank Thomas
Comcast Cable

This is bigger than the Boone Hall Oyster roast, way to go COMCAST, I love you !!!
rick

!!! ATTENTION COMCAST HD CUSTOMERS!!

Comcast HDTV Customers Can View WTAT FOX 24 in HD on Channel 183

Comcast Cable and Sinclair Broadcast Group have reached an agreement in principle that will make Fox's coverage of Super Bowl XXXIX available in high definition format throughout the Charleston area.

WTAT FOX 24 HD signal will be available on Comcast Digital Cable channel 183.

Frank Thomas
Comcast Cable

Holy Hi Def Baby!!!!!! I just got home from work and saw 183... WTAT..... double take... 183, fox, HD??!?!?! I rushed in here to see if i would be the first to post, but no luck there... THis is gonna be a good weekend, indeed.

Here's a little blip of the details:

"Carriage of the FOX digital signals should begin immediately in the following Comcast markets: Baltimore (WBFF-TV), Pittsburgh (WPGH-TV), Nashville (WZTV-TV), Richmond (WRLH-TV), Charleston, SC (WTAT-TV), and Paducah, KY (KBSI-TV).

Under the agreement in principle, the FOX digital signals will be available in time for viewers with Comcast's HD service to enjoy the ultimate television viewing experience for what is traditionally the highest rated television program of the year. Comcast customers can check local listings for channel numbers.

The companies will continue discussions with the hope of reaching a final definitive agreement for Sinclair's digital signals in the next couple of weeks..."

Let's hope this 'temporary' agreement last long enough to see Daytona as well!

As of now, all I get is a blank screen. Do I have to call COMCAST to activate it ??
rick

no, i had a blank screen, but now i got it. They have it strectched though. I hope they fix that.

They stretch their SD stuff.

Had the same problem with grey screen and turned it on 15 minutes later and had a signal.

Bernie Mac is in HD . Anything local or syndicated on WTAT is stretched, but any networked SD stuff (Simpsons, for example) is pillarboxed. Thanks Comcast, although I am all set for OTA for the game, now I can record the game in HD on my DVR.

BTW, Comcast gets some free perks on Sports Talk (Bobby Hardins radio show), he announced the Comcast was having FOXHD for the Superbowl , etc. I guess he does commercials for them so its not totally free, but I should say extra perks.

FOX in HD on COMCAST is awesome PQ. I will now be watching FOX more, and THANK YOU COMCAST, you came thru at just the right time,
Now MORE HD ????
rick

I'm a HD newbie--bought an HD LCD and "theatre in a box" before Christmas. I noticed right away that Comcast wasn't showing FoxHD and I immediately started watching Ebay and other online sites for a decent stb for ota Fox. I decided today to bite the bullet and get a good box tomorrow. AND then, I came home and found Fox on 183. Can't wait for Sunday!!!

This is great ! I got home from work this morning after a friend of mine calling me to tell me he heard FOX HD was on Comcast to tune it on and see yes it is there ! This is great , thanks Comcast !

I'm using a Radio Shack antenna and just got the UHF 30 dB pre amp yesterday along with a wall mount and extra 10 ft mast, I've currently got the antenna about 15ft up hgh on the roof of my house. The amp has greatly improved my NBC signal, but as far as I can see only because of the FM trap. When I adjust the gain, I get no improvement and it actually makes it worse. Any suggestions on a way I can get FOX HD in, on my Dish 811 RCVR, I get momentary flashes up to 56% strength from 49%, but no lockif I've got the antenna in the right spot.

Again, feel free to call me 813-6883 if you have any suggestions.

I wouldnt be surprised if thats the best you can get from Summerville....might be better if you can somehow get more elevation.

Wonder if there are any Saturday negotiations between TWC and SBG?

Originally posted by shuttermaker
I wouldnt be surprised if thats the best you can get from Summerville....might be better if you can somehow get more elevation.

Wonder if there are any Saturday negotiations between TWC and SBG?

Let's hope so.

rothfusz what R/S ant do you have? what amp?

Originally posted by shuttermaker

Wonder if there are any Saturday negotiations between TWC and SBG?


Sorry - no

You lucky dogs you, 2 DAYS BEFORE THE SUPERBOWL !!!!! Tie my shoe strings together and push me in the river now, or call me from now on MR. PROCRASTINATOR (did I spell that right?). I'll be praying for a calm day tomorrow.
Go PATS !!!

Knology has also announced to it's Customers that it has added WTAT, Fox HD Channel to it's Lineup and will be presenting the Superbowl In HD.

HL

I'm new to the Charleston HiDef scene and am very happy that I will be watching the Superbowl in HD on Fox tomorrow, but a question:
Why isn't WCBD NBC on Comcast. They broadcast in HD OTA, correct?

A friend called me up Friday afternoon telling me that Comcast was going to host Fox. I had standard cable... So I called Comcast 1st thing Saturday morning and picked up my HD box that morning.

When I got the box home... no luck.... MY house seemed to split so many times the signal wasn't strong enough in my living room. Now I had to pull out some coax from my closet and run a temp cable run that goes straight from the input to my house to my living room. Bingo. All for one football game that the Redskins aren't even playing in.

My Set up TV
http://www.torresa.com/House/tv/P1010009.html


Stadium seating
http://www.torresa.com/House/stadium%20seating/PC020036.html

Does anyone have any idea as to when the DVI port on the COMCAST SA8000 will be activated ?
rick

FOX OTA is broadcasting in 720p. What are you lucky Comcast subscribers getting? 1080i? Or would it even be different?

Originally posted by bigdog77s
A friend called me up Friday afternoon telling me that Comcast was going to host Fox. I had standard cable... So I called Comcast 1st thing Saturday morning and picked up my HD box that morning.

When I got the box home... no luck.... MY house seemed to split so many times the signal wasn't strong enough in my living room. Now I had to pull out some coax from my closet and run a temp cable run that goes straight from the input to my house to my living room. Bingo. All for one football game that the Redskins aren't even playing in.

My Set up TV
http://www.torresa.com/House/tv/P1010009.html


Stadium seating
http://www.torresa.com/House/stadium%20seating/PC020036.html

I have the same Onkyo receiver as you. Nice setup... Interesting stadium seating... :eek:
I also went snooping around on your site. What is the deal with the baskets? OCD?

Hatfield: Comcast has nothing to do with 720p or 1080i... Since Fox broadcasts at 720, it's 720 everywhere.

The next event of interest for me will be the Bud Shootout next Saturday nite on FOX. I wonder if TWC can manage to get an agreement worked out in this coming week.

The following weekend is the Daytona 500, also on FOX. I would definitely like to see this issue solved by then.

Originally posted by shuttermaker
The next event of interest for me will be the Bud Shootout next Saturday nite on FOX. I wonder if TWC can manage to get an agreement worked out in this coming week.

The following weekend is the Daytona 500, also on FOX. I would definitely like to see this issue solved by then.

Amen.

Originally posted by GRC
Does anyone have any idea as to when the DVI port on the COMCAST SA8000 will be activated ?
rick

My impression from reading some of the Hardware forums is that there was a demo software for activating DVI/FW/and pass-though, but that is may be on the back burner because Sci. Atlanta has released the 8300 DVR box with those things active already. The question may be for Frank and Comcast, are they planning distribution of the 8300HD box.

Can't speak for ComCast, but at TWC we anticipate the software download to activate the DVI on the 8300 sometime late 1Q into 2Q.

8300 has active HDMI output. DVI not available, but you could use HDMI to DVI connection.

Diana, Do you mean activate the DVI on the 8000? And do you know if this will activate the firewire ports? Another question, are you distributing both the 8000HD and 8300HD or only the 8300?

Yes sorry typo - I mean to activate the DVI on the 8000.

No, it will not activate the Firewire ports - again I cannot speak for Comcast on this point, but with TWC there will not be a DVR with active firewire until at least the summer and it will be specific units, ie, you will have to switch out the converter as there is no plans (to my knowledge at this time) to provide a download to activate the firewire ports.

TWC has both 8000 and 8300, however given the mechanics of our warehouse system, I cannot specify a time when the 8300 is available at the Summerville front count - and due to how the models were added into the billing system, customers cannot call in an request an 8300 be delivered (there is no place for a cssr to place an order for an 8300 v 8000).

All the new DVR units (HD and SD) are 8300, so they are getting out into the general population of converters in the system given the supply and demand of each area.

Clear as mud right!

So like a crack addict having some HD is good but having all the local HD is better. I decided that I needed to get after it while the broadcasters and cable companies work on their agreements. I did some upgrades at the house.

Picked up a Divco Fusion 3 QAM HD tuner card for my HTPC (included remote control)

Went to radioshack.com and ordered a Catalog #: 930-0998. I remember 19 years ago these were the bomb for getting UHF channels when I lived in Peoria. I was worried that the silver sensor was going to be too directional from my house.

I had just built my house I knew that I didnt want to be adding new cabling around the thing so I had it over wired. I had an extra RG6 quad shielded cable drop in my attic so I hooked this thing up and was able to pull in 2, and 5 and ETV's channels about 70% signal strength and 4, 24, 36 were in the 40% range. So I went and picked up a 12db amplifier from Walmart and BAM! I now get 2, 5, and ETV's signals at 100% and 4, 24, and 36 at 70%. Not bad for under $40.

Now I need to get my DVI cabled pulled for the Plasma so I can hook the cable box up correctly.

BigDog77:

I like your stadium seating. You may want to take a look at Costco as they have Berkline Home Theater seating. Black leather with built in cupholders.

Originally posted by Telcomguy
I lived in Peoria


Illini fan?

Originally posted by Telcomguy
BigDog77:

I like your stadium seating. You may want to take a look at Costco as they have Berkline Home Theater seating. Black leather with built in cupholders.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?prodid=10043079&whse=BC&topnav=&cat=&s=1

:eek: I am still paying for my TV.....I can't afford that.... I want to upgrade my Onkyo reciever some time in the future... I need more Optical inputs and I'd like HDMI inputs/outputs and right now that is out of my budget. And I am in process of ugrading my MCE computer http://www.torresa.com/House/tv/P1010034.html .

Originally posted by DianaTWCSC
Illini fan?

YES!

Big scare tonight too bad ESPN didtn't have the good camera's at the game. I hate 4:3 content now.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bigdog77s
[B]http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?prodid=10043079&whse=BC&topnav=&cat=&s=1

I could have sworn they are at the store in west ashley for about 800 per seat. but yeah what they have them listed for online is frightening.

North Carolina at Duke is not HD either. And rivalries don't get much bigger than that.

Originally posted by Gary J
North Carolina at Duke is not HD either. And rivalries don't get much bigger than that.

I thought that was tomorrow night and Vitale was doing the game in HD???? Oh well I was looking forward to that one as well.

Originally posted by Telcomguy
YES!

Big scare tonight too bad ESPN didtn't have the good camera's at the game. I hate 4:3 content now.

Promise not to bore the entire forum on this beyond this post!

Telcomguy - I-L-L

Watched the game with a Michigan fan last night at a bar on a too big, washed out wall TV, without hearing commentary, so it wasn't that great of an experience anyway - and that was almost a huge mistake, you know MU fans. I got my Master's from U of I in '91 and am truly in heaven over this season. Saturday at 1pm Wisconsin at Illinois on CBS HD will be excellent!

Anyway - watch your PM Telcomguy and we can share the "Joy in Illinois" that way without getting the forum off target!

- Thanks for tolerating the off topic Forum fans -

Originally posted by Telcomguy
[QUOTE]Originally posted by bigdog77s
[B]http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?prodid=10043079&whse=BC&topnav=&cat=&s=1

I could have sworn they are at the store in west ashley for about 800 per seat. but yeah what they have them listed for online is frightening.

maybe it is this one... http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?prodid=10031170&whse=&topnav=&cat=&s=1

But the middle seat of my sofa (http://www.torresa.com/House/stadium%20seating/PC020027.html )flips down has two cup holders and flat like a table and sides are comfortible recliners

FYI, anyone interested in calibrating their home audio setup, RatShack is making and selling their analog SPL meters again. Picked one up over here at the Mt. Pleasant store for $30 or so.

Sweet, so i'll just borrow yours when your through with it then! Thanks!

j/k, i wouldn't even know what to do with that thing...

Diana,

You are a most valued asset on the AVSForum and I truly appreciate your representation here!

TWC we anticipate the software download to activate the DVI on the 8300 sometime late 1Q into 2Q.

Is that specific to TWCSC and will that also include the analog s-video/audio outs?

Thanks a bunch.

Troy

Troy - here's the procedure for SA software downloads.

They release it to Corporate Engineering Lab. Once the lab clears it, then they give it to Division's to check in their own Headend lab's. Depending upon the set up of plant configuration, software and equipment in the field, the individual Divisions will roll out the download as quickly as possible. The big factor here is the vast combination of the big three listed above. The download could in fact be quickly released in one area, and take much more time in another based upon 'issues' that result from how the plant/software/equipment react to the download.

So, to be as specific as possible. SA reports they will release to the Corporate Lab in late 1Q into 2Q. The timing for a specific geographic area will vary. Please remember any delay an area might experience is due to the fact that releasing the software earlier could crash the system. Ask my Digital Customer's in Summerville what it's like when SA crashes the system (ala Jan 19th of this year).

Any word on when WCBD will be picked up by comcast in our area...i hope before July 4th because all the NBC Nascar Races will be broadcast in HD...OTA is an option for me but would really like the convenience of Comcast. Thanks for any help.

-B

Dolemite, you and anyone can certainly borrow it. I also have a copy of Avia that helps you through the procedures. I thought I had mine pretty well set but after calibration, my sound system purrs. Now, if I can just get my cockatiel calibrated to shut up during a movie, I'll be doing great.

"FCC says cable companies don't have to carry multiple digital channels from local stations."

For those interested:

http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusgen/ap02-10-080754.asp?t=apnew&vts=21020051158

HL

loadams:
Only one cockatiel? Try this one for size:

http://hometown.aol.com/scblader/

12 of my 14 birds. Once you figure out how to calibrate your tiel how about helping me with mine ( 1/2 mine and 1/2 my wifes) LOL

LuvThatHDTV, "GOOD LORD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I must deduce that you walk around your house with cotton in your ears !!! All kidding aside, just beautiful pets they are, and a great page you have there. With my new SPL gadget and something to test........ my bird peaks at 82 db. With 14, I guess you are in the neighborhood of a F-18.

I guess with the newly formed partnership of Comcast and WTAT, there will be no big hurry to get things moving in Awendaw for us OTA people, bummer.

I just saw tonite where Comcast customers can look for a companion thru On Demand....wonder if thats in HD as well :)

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comcast, Sinclair Near Digital, HDTV Deal

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

By Linda Moss

2/10/2005

5:27:00 PM [et]

Comcast Corp. and Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. are nailing down a long-term digital-HDTV-carriage deal that could serve as “a template” for the rest of the cable industry, an official at the broadcast company told analysts Thursday.

The nation’s largest MSO and Sinclair are in the process of finalizing an agreement in principle that they reached last week, which allowed Comcast to carry Super Bowl XXXIX in the six markets where the broadcaster owns or operates Fox affiliates: Baltimore; Pittsburgh; Nashville, Tenn.; Richmond, Va.; Charleston, N.C.; and Paducah, Ky.

During a fourth-quarter-earnings conference call Thursday, Sinclair CEO David Smith spoke in generalities when asked about the status of negotiations with Comcast.

“We made a short-term deal with them to be able to carry the Super Bowl because we believe they were clearly acting in good faith in an effort to construct a long-term deal with us, and my sense is that we should get that deal done,” Smith told analysts.

“I can’t tell you if it’s going to be in 20 minutes or 20 days,” he added. “But everybody’s working on it very hard and, in the end, if we do get it done, it will clearly be in Comcast’s best interest and our best interests.”

Both Smith and a Comcast spokeswoman declined to comment on whether or not the MSO will tender cash to carry Sinclair’s HDTV or digital signals.

“I’m just not going to comment on it … because I know Comcast’s sensitivity to disclosing these kinds of things and, certainly, it’s not in our best interest to disclose anything, given that we’ll be negotiating with 100 other cable companies -- systems -- in the next couple of years,” Smith said. “Actually, not in the next couple of years, it’ll be this year, because the retrans [retransmission-consent deals] end this year.”

Sinclair owns, operates or provides sales services to 62 TV stations in 39 markets.

“In the event that we do get a deal done with Comcast, my sense is that it will kind of lay the groundwork for every other cable company within our industry where we broadcast,” Smith said.

“My sense is that it’ll become somewhat of a template for other cable companies to look and say, ‘Well, if Comcast can do the following, then I guess we better be prepared to do the following, given that they’re the leader in the industry.’ So we’d like to get it done,” he added.

The Comcast spokeswoman said the digital-signal-carriage deal it is finalizing with Sinclair is comparable to the deals it has struck with other broadcasters.

During its conference call, Sinclair also voiced its support for Nexstar Broadcasting Group Inc., which has pulled the signals for several of its stations from Cox Communications Inc. and Cable One Inc. in a retransmission-consent dispute over cash for carriage.

“They deserve a lot of credit, and I hope they succeed,” Smith said. “I think [Nexstar president] Perry [Sook] is in a unique situation because he is using the opportunity that he has in small markets … In a three-station marketplace … it just seems to be that the consuming public’s view of the world is going to be, ‘If I can’t watch the basketball games on CBS or Desperate Housewives on ABC or whatever,’ they are not going to be deprived of that opportunity, and they will go where they have to go get it.”

He added that he’s heard some “staggering numbers” in terms of the defection of cable subscribers to direct-broadcast satellite in the markets where Nexstar pulled its signals.

“I don’t think that it really bodes well in the long term for the cable industry to want to do what they’re doing, from the standpoint of allowing these people to leave,” Smith said, “because once they leave, there’s no reason to come back.”

He welcomed the entrance of phone companies such as Verizon Communications and SBC Communications Inc. into the video business, pointing out that markets will have four direct competitors -- a cable company, a phone company and two DBS providers -- all offering TV services.

“We think in the long term, that’s a good thing for the industry to have four competitors who want our product, and I think that as those four competitors kind of carve up the marketplace, we’ve got to kind of stand in the middle and figure out how to take the best financial advantage of it that we can,” he added.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyone know when our local CBS will be getting the DD 5.1 signal up and going?

Now with FOX on Comcast, it's looking like their DVR is looking better and better. Now, only if NBC would get picked up I could tape everything in HD instead of concentrating on watching NBC shows and taping the others.

If I have the HD box does anyone know if Comcast will let me drop it off and pick up the HD/DVR rather than scheduling an install?

Originally posted by shuttermaker
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comcast, Sinclair Near Digital, HDTV Deal

-----------------------------------------------------------
HUH ???? What the heck does this mean for COMCAST ???? Is it only temporary ?????
rick




By Linda Moss

2/10/2005

5:27:00 PM [et]

Comcast Corp. and Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. are nailing down a long-term digital-HDTV-carriage deal that could serve as “a template” for the rest of the cable industry, an official at the broadcast company told analysts Thursday.

The nation’s largest MSO and Sinclair are in the process of finalizing an agreement in principle that they reached last week, which allowed Comcast to carry Super Bowl XXXIX in the six markets where the broadcaster owns or operates Fox affiliates: Baltimore; Pittsburgh; Nashville, Tenn.; Richmond, Va.; Charleston, N.C.; and Paducah, Ky.

During a fourth-quarter-earnings conference call Thursday, Sinclair CEO David Smith spoke in generalities when asked about the status of negotiations with Comcast.

“We made a short-term deal with them to be able to carry the Super Bowl because we believe they were clearly acting in good faith in an effort to construct a long-term deal with us, and my sense is that we should get that deal done,” Smith told analysts.

“I can’t tell you if it’s going to be in 20 minutes or 20 days,” he added. “But everybody’s working on it very hard and, in the end, if we do get it done, it will clearly be in Comcast’s best interest and our best interests.”

Both Smith and a Comcast spokeswoman declined to comment on whether or not the MSO will tender cash to carry Sinclair’s HDTV or digital signals.

“I’m just not going to comment on it … because I know Comcast’s sensitivity to disclosing these kinds of things and, certainly, it’s not in our best interest to disclose anything, given that we’ll be negotiating with 100 other cable companies -- systems -- in the next couple of years,” Smith said. “Actually, not in the next couple of years, it’ll be this year, because the retrans [retransmission-consent deals] end this year.”

Sinclair owns, operates or provides sales services to 62 TV stations in 39 markets.

“In the event that we do get a deal done with Comcast, my sense is that it will kind of lay the groundwork for every other cable company within our industry where we broadcast,” Smith said.

“My sense is that it’ll become somewhat of a template for other cable companies to look and say, ‘Well, if Comcast can do the following, then I guess we better be prepared to do the following, given that they’re the leader in the industry.’ So we’d like to get it done,” he added.

The Comcast spokeswoman said the digital-signal-carriage deal it is finalizing with Sinclair is comparable to the deals it has struck with other broadcasters.

During its conference call, Sinclair also voiced its support for Nexstar Broadcasting Group Inc., which has pulled the signals for several of its stations from Cox Communications Inc. and Cable One Inc. in a retransmission-consent dispute over cash for carriage.

“They deserve a lot of credit, and I hope they succeed,” Smith said. “I think [Nexstar president] Perry [Sook] is in a unique situation because he is using the opportunity that he has in small markets … In a three-station marketplace … it just seems to be that the consuming public’s view of the world is going to be, ‘If I can’t watch the basketball games on CBS or Desperate Housewives on ABC or whatever,’ they are not going to be deprived of that opportunity, and they will go where they have to go get it.”

He added that he’s heard some “staggering numbers” in terms of the defection of cable subscribers to direct-broadcast satellite in the markets where Nexstar pulled its signals.

“I don’t think that it really bodes well in the long term for the cable industry to want to do what they’re doing, from the standpoint of allowing these people to leave,” Smith said, “because once they leave, there’s no reason to come back.”

He welcomed the entrance of phone companies such as Verizon Communications and SBC Communications Inc. into the video business, pointing out that markets will have four direct competitors -- a cable company, a phone company and two DBS providers -- all offering TV services.

“We think in the long term, that’s a good thing for the industry to have four competitors who want our product, and I think that as those four competitors kind of carve up the marketplace, we’ve got to kind of stand in the middle and figure out how to take the best financial advantage of it that we can,” he added.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally posted by shuttermaker
I just saw tonite where Comcast customers can look for a companion thru On Demand....wonder if thats in HD as well :)
Yeah, I can't wait to "try" it only to have my girlfriend walk in at that moment. I'd be in the doghouse for sure.
Loadams and Dolemite, you seriously may be on to something with a sharing program. I'm about to start pulling a bunch of cable and would love to borrow a Canare crimp tool and good compression tool from someone. A share system might be fun too. Get to meet a everybody. Charleston's a small town; any abusers could be tracked down and strung from the new bridge.:D

For those that were undecided on switching to Voom, this looks to be great news and the install is still only $1.00 for 3 rooms.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050210/105819_1.html

Originally posted by r.jones
For those that were undecided on switching to Voom, this looks to be great news and the install is still only $1.00 for 3 rooms.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050210/105819_1.html

How well does the provided antenna work for OTA reception?

How well do you get any or all of the local HD signals?

Originally posted by Hatfield
Loadams and Dolemite, you seriously may be on to something with a sharing program. I'm about to start pulling a bunch of cable and would love to borrow a Canare crimp tool and good compression tool from someone. A share system might be fun too. Get to meet a everybody. Charleston's a small town; any abusers could be tracked down and strung from the new bridge.:D

I have a pretty complete set of wire termination tools for RG6 and Cat 5 since I did all of that stuff myself in my house. You can certainly borrow them if you like. Let me know.

Originally posted by shuttermaker
How well does the provided antenna work for OTA reception?

How well do you get any or all of the local HD signals?

I just got Voom last month. And yes $1 has them come out and install the dish and antenna outside your house. I live in Mt P so I only get 4,5,and 7... waiting for 2, 24 and 36 to move to Awendaw. I could get channel 2 but would have to point in different direction... trying to get most bang for the buck.

Most HD on voom kinda sucks.... You get like a western channel, kung fu channel, fashion channel, and auction channel. But then again good HD will make anything watchable.

One thing that is lacking is the equipment. I used to have DirectTV HD with a samsung box. All voom has is an old motorola reciever. But most of the standard channels you get and you get TNTHD. Dish is supposed to be in a deal to buy them... see if they get better or fold all together after that.


One more thing Voom requires only a 6 month commitment... come fall I will be going back to Direct TV.... the only provider of NFL Ticket.

I used to be a DirecTV sub also...I miss the NFL ticket and the NFL Network.

Originally posted by shuttermaker
How well does the provided antenna work for OTA reception?

How well do you get any or all of the local HD signals?

I had an existing mounted OTA antenna ($20.00 RS UHF), so I didn't bother with mounting the provided OTA antenna.

I live in Goose Creek and get all locals except Fox and UPN, however I couldn't receive them before I had Voom. When all the antenna work is complete in Awendaw, Fox probably won't be a problem.

The choices on Voom far outweigh anything the other providers have.
I love it. If you have a HDTV you gotta feed it the best HD!

3 Questions
1) What kinda HDTV systems all you have?
2) And a good HD picture needs good sound. What kind of sound system do you have?
3)How are you getting your HD.. OTA, Comcast, Satellite (which one) or Hybrid

Originally posted by bigdog77s
3 Questions
1) What kinda HDTV systems all you have?
2) And a good HD picture needs good sound. What kind of sound system do you have?
3)How are you getting your HD.. OTA, Comcast, Satellite (which one) or Hybrid

Except for my TV everything I have is a few years old, and I'm happy with everything except the speakers.

1. Hitachi 57F510 , Zenith HD-SAT520
2. Yamaha RX-Z1, JBL Studio Speakers
3. DirecTv, OTA from the Silver Sensor. (Had a RS outdoor antena for Fox for the SuperBowl.

Mike

Sony KV40XBR800
Sony STR-DE885 receiver
Sony DVP-NS715P progressive scan dvd player
Bose Acoustimass 6 ( yes, I know Bose, but my 16 yr old confiscated my Advents and also wife factor)
Comcast digital cable - old Scientific Atlantic 2000
Motorola HDT-100 OTA receiver
1 normal Silver Sensor
1 Silver Sensor with alternating fins bent 25 degrees.
More remotes than I care to elude on.

Originally posted by bigdog77s
3 Questions
1) What kinda HDTV systems all you have?
2) And a good HD picture needs good sound. What kind of sound system do you have?
3)How are you getting your HD.. OTA, Comcast, Satellite (which one) or Hybrid

1) Samsung HL-P5063W (50" DLP)
2) Onkyo HT-S760 6.1 surround sound with Onkyo DVD Plaer DV-CP701
3) Voom with Voom's standard OTA antenna

would like a new stereo.... need more hook ups (hopedully HDMI but that is very pricey) and wouldn't mind better speakers

-Also have home built Windows Media Center Edition PC

loadams you need my remote.... Logitech Harmony 688 http://reviews.cnet.com/4505-7900_7-30969237.html?tag=also
It programs by computer .. works great

Originally posted by bigdog77s
3 Questions
1) What kinda HDTV systems all you have?
2) And a good HD picture needs good sound. What kind of sound system do you have?
3)How are you getting your HD.. OTA, Comcast, Satellite (which one) or Hybrid

1) Toshiba 51HX93 (w/ HDTV tuner)
2) Onkyo TS-DX595 Receiver, Energy Take 5.1 speakers
3) HD OTA via the Toshiba and a Silver sensor (for NBC only now),
3a) also OTA via Samsung TS-160 (my HD DirectTV receiver, (available for sale to someone looking for
a reasonably priced HD DirectTV or OTA receiver)
3b) Comcast 8000HD STB.

Originally posted by bigdog77s
-Also have home built Windows Media Center Edition PC

loadams you need my remote.... Logitech Harmony 688 http://reviews.cnet.com/4505-7900_7-30969237.html?tag=also
It programs by computer .. works great

I have just built a HTPC. I have a long way to go to get it where I want it. HTPC seems to be a hobby in itself, and I don't have the time to get everything working yet.


Add another vote for the Harmony 688. I've had mine for a while now, and it is still the best remote I've ever owned. I've tryed a few of the pronto's and a couple touch screen Sony's. The hamony does everything they do with a much better interface.


Originally posted by AndrewG

3a) also OTA via Samsung TS-160 (my HD DirectTV receiver, (available for sale to someone looking for
a reasonably priced HD DirectTV or OTA receiver)


PM me about the ts-160. Do you know if it works with the new D* satelites for the locals. If it does it would go great with my toshiba 34hd82 thats in my bedroom.

Originally posted by Precision Power

I have just built a HTPC. I have a long way to go to get it where I want it. HTPC seems to be a hobby in itself, and I don't have the time to get everything working yet.
.


couple good sites out there for ya
http://www.thegreenbutton.com/
http://www.htpcnews.com/
check out the forums in those 2 sites....

and for parts...
http://www.pcalchemy.com/

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by bigdog77s-3 Questions
1) What kinda HDTV systems all you have?
2) And a good HD picture needs good sound. What kind of sound system do you have?
3)How are you getting your HD.. OTA, Comcast, Satellite (which one) or Hybrid
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1) Pioneer PRO-1120
2) Denon AVR-2105 with B&W 604 Series 3 mains (5.1 setup)
3) TWC (Georgetown/Andrews system) primary, with SA8000 STB and PVR. NB: Tried temporary antenna for OTA (mostly failed attempt to get Superbowl in HD from Fox WFXB up here, too far from WTAT low power) but only get 1 more station than via TWC, so have taken it down.

We are in your DMA but get a mixed bag of off-air HD signals, including both WIS-DT/Cola AND WCBD-DT, for example.

Mike

I gave a shot at FOX-DT today...I was able to get a choppy signal after I held my antenna about 10 feet above my 2 story house...no way my HOA (in Summerville) will go for that. 3 questions:

1. How well will a pre amp work? I am using a Radio Shack UHF only antenna - good for all the other OTA channels (I can even get the low power NBC signal if I aim it just right)

2. What is the deal with Time Warner's SLOW acquisition of HDTV signals for our ONLY cable option...anyone have an idea when they will acquire a FOX DTV signal?

3. Does anyone know when the new higher powered antenna will be operational (OTA signal)? Why is FOX so week now?


Thx,
...Rob

1a) Mitsubishi WS-65611 RPTV for main viewing
1b) Apex AVL-2776 LCD for FROG/exercise room.

2a)Sony DE-985 receiver (mainly for dual 5.1 inputs---before universal SACD/DVD-A players), B&W 603 S2 for Front L&R, B&W LCR6 S2 for center, B&W 601 S2 for rear L&R, JBL PSW-D115 sub.
Also Sony SCD-CE775 SACD 5 Disc carousel changer and Panasonic DVD-RP91 DVD Audio Player
2b) Frog has powered Altec Lanising ADA-305 pro-logic computer speaker
with a Samsung DVD-HD841 1080i/720P DVD player. (dorm room system!)

3a) Mits built-in tuner and D* H10 receiver.
Radio Shack 50" #15-2151 antenna with Radio shack 30dB pre-amp/amplifier #15-2507
Also JVC HM-DH30000u HDTV VCR for time shifting with TV tuner.
3b) Sony Sat HD-200 with Silver Sensor and old Radio Shack amplifier.

RFrank:
Check out the FCC website for OTA. Your HOA can't say a damn thing if it's less then 12ft above the roofline.
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

Having been involve in condo politics, there are ways to put a dish or ota antenna up but it gets into the exclusive use rule. You cannot put it up in a common area, for example, I live in a building with 8 units so the roof is common area and you cannot put up the dish, the outside walls are a common area, no dish. But if we had a porch then the dish could go there that is an exclusive use area. A friend lives in a place where the homes are single family homes but it is an HOA -- he can put up a dish since he "owns" it all. It gets tricky but it can be done. Example, my AC unit outside is exclusive use I can put a dish on top if it and then since we "own" both outside and inside the windows bring the signal in the window without cutting a hole in the building. I tried that and it would only work in the fall/winter because of trees.

Good luck. We had a guy put a dish on the side of the building and he had to pay for the removal and the repairs to the common area (the side of the building)

Originally posted by bigdog77s
3 Questions
1) What kinda HDTV systems all you have?
2) And a good HD picture needs good sound. What kind of sound system do you have?
3)How are you getting your HD.. OTA, Comcast, Satellite (which one) or Hybrid


1. Hitachi 32UDX10S (2+ years old) will be replaced in the next 2 weeks

2. Kenwood VR-6070

3. Panasonic DVD RP-62

4. TWC service with the SA 8000 HD-DVR (No OTA reception at this time) and if TWC will get on the ball, maybe never.

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by bigdog77s
3 Questions
1) What kinda HDTV systems all you have?
2) And a good HD picture needs good sound. What kind of sound system do you have?
3)How are you getting your HD.. OTA, Comcast, Satellite (which one) or Hybrid
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Hitachi 61 projection HDTV Monitor
2. Sony 5.1 reciever (on the blink, going to get a receiver with Component in and out as well as 5.1/6.1/7.1 - simplify changing sources - looking for one with 3 component inputs which are hard to come by and be reasonably priced :D)
3. TW HD reciever with DVR (the DVR is awesome for "catching" some off hour HD programing), Samsung OTA reciever with RS UHF only antenna (needed for NBC and if I can ever get the FOX signal locked in)

Sammy 50"hln, Krell HTS. Krell AMPS, B&W speakers, COMCAST HD/with HD8000, and NO PROBLEMS at all. The sound and PQ IS AWESOME.
rick

Originally posted by GRC
Sammy 50"hln, Krell HTS. Krell AMPS, B&W speakers, COMCAST HD/with HD8000, and NO PROBLEMS at all. The sound and PQ IS AWESOME.
rick


Krell seperates, B&W Drool!!!! I have heard that setup with the nautlius 803's and htm1 at AV warehouse. It was the best Ive ever heard. You have my dream setup!

Originally posted by bigdog77s
3 Questions
1) What kinda HDTV systems all you have?
2) And a good HD picture needs good sound. What kind of sound system do you have?
3)How are you getting your HD.. OTA, Comcast, Satellite (which one) or Hybrid

1. Sharpvision DLP Projector with 96" screen in Theater, Samsung 43" HLN DLP in Family Room, Panasonic 34" Direct View in Master
2. Marantz Pre-Amp, Marantz 5 Channel Amp, Carver Amazing III Towers and Definitive Tech center and rear in Theater. Marantz Pre-Amp, Proton Power Amp and Jamo Sub/Sat with InWall rear in Family Room. Older Onkyo receiver and Magnepan front and InWall rear in Master.
3. OTA with Silver Sensor. DirecTV others with HDTivo and Hughes HD box. HD Matrix video switcher serves the 3 locations any of the connected sources.

Originally posted by bigdog77s
3 Questions
1) What kinda HDTV systems all you have?
2) And a good HD picture needs good sound. What kind of sound system do you have?
3)How are you getting your HD.. OTA, Comcast, Satellite (which one) or Hybrid

1) Toshiba 61 inch Theaterview HD in family room and a Sanyo HT30744
(pretty good HDTV set for the money. See it at your local Walmart) for
the BR.
2) JVC DD5.1, DTS, prologic receiver
3) Voom (It's the only HD provider, the others are mere imitators).

patyoung, thanks, man. I will definitely PM you when I can get a weekend to get it all going. Little busy at the moment. But I definitely appreciate the reply. What kind of crimp tool is it? I'm gonna use Belden 1694A, Leviton Quickports and Canare connectors all around.

Originally posted by bigdog77s
3 Questions
1) What kinda HDTV systems all you have?
2) And a good HD picture needs good sound. What kind of sound system do you have?
3)How are you getting your HD.. OTA, Comcast, Satellite (which one) or Hybrid

1)KDF-55WF655 RPLCD(umr-tweaked)
2)Marantz SR7400 with Mission m72i fronts, m7c1i center, and m7ds surrounds.(Had Monitor Audio silvers, but had to compromise with the ladyfriend when I got the 55in. tv. Had to sacrifice big speakers for smaller ones...BAH!) Oh, and an SVS Sub comin' soon.
3)Built-in tuner, Channel Master 4228 UHF antenna, and Channel Master 7775 UHF amp. Probably gonna upgrade my Comcast account soon.

I can highly recommend the Krells and the B&W 803 N. The sound out of the system on a good HD broadcaast is awesome, completely "surrounding" you. And really well mastered DVD's thru the Denon 3910 is HD in PQ. The Denon also is amzing at SQ, in fact better than COMCAST 8000. I can honestly say that the 3910 outperforms COMCAST HD in both PQ and SQ. It has to be the greatest DVD player. BTW, Sammy 507HLN, all calibrated with AVIA.
rick

Originally posted by bigdog77s
3 Questions
1) What kinda HDTV systems all you have?
2) And a good HD picture needs good sound. What kind of sound system do you have?
3)How are you getting your HD.. OTA, Comcast, Satellite (which one) or Hybrid

1) Sony PFM-42B1 Plasma HDTV
2) Integra DTR-8.2 Receiver, B&W 602.5 S3 Tower front speakers, B&W LCR60 S3 Center Channel, B&W ASW600 Sub, B&W 600 S3 Rear speakers.
3) OTA + D* via Hughes E86 Sat Receiver. OTA via CM4228 roof mount + rotator + amp. My location isn't as good as OlJim, lots of trees blocking my southern view so the stations in that direction are really tough. I can get Fox (WTAT) on a really good day (but missed the Super Bowl), NBC and UPN come in sometimes, CBS and ABC most of the time. I am getting the D* HD Package, mostly because they gave me 6 months free. Not planning on keeping it past the 1 yr point unless they add some more channels fast, what's there gets old pretty quick.

I'm also getting ready to add a DVICO Fusion 3 QAM to my HTPC, hopefully that will improve my OTA reception (the Hughes tuner is pretty old comparatively) and let me get the Charleston stations more consistently (not to mention record in HD!). I'm using Beyond TV 3 to do SD stuff and it's great, highly recommended if you're looking to build your own PVR. No HD support yet, but hopefully that's on the way.

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHEN WCSC DT WILL HAVE DD 5.1 SURROUND SOUND?

Diana,

Are there still negotiations ongoing between Sinclair and TWC? Are they better than the ones between the NHL and the NHLPA :)

Originally posted by shuttermaker
Diana,

Are there still negotiations ongoing between Sinclair and TWC? Are they better than the ones between the NHL and the NHLPA :)

Yes

I surely hope so!

Other than the Sinclair issues, any new discussions about the NFL network ?

Not that I'm privy to - although my understanding is they are ongoing.

bellvg:
WCSC has DD 5.1 They broadcast at least one CSI: Miami in DD 5.1 and last years superbowl in 5.1. The biggest thing is that CBS doesn't have any/many shows in DD 5.1

Like the Grammys?

Exactly, I couldn't believe the Grammys weren't DD... Oh well, some of those performances sounded great anyway.

As for my setup, being a recent college grad, I may hold the title for best bang-for-the-buck system.

-Apex 65" HDTV (Don't knock it! It's a beautiful picture!) $1400
-Onkyo HT-S770 6.1 receiver and speaker system $400
-Ebay'd the sub that came with the above system and purchased a badass Velodyne ~ $300
-Comcast cable w/ SA8000 DVR
-Harmony 659 remote $110

All internet purchases = tax free :cool:

I asked the same thing about WCSC and its DD 5.1 a couple of days ago. The Grammys were in 5.1 (at least according to the intro blip), but I was unable to get any 5.1 audio. I also have not been able to get any off of CSI Miami or Numbers which the initial intro says it's HD 5.1. I have tried OTA and through Comcast and neither have 5.1. I think this is a problem on the local end, but can't seem to be able to clarify since some say they get CSI Miami.

Velodyne, that's rocking the neighbors china.

Wonder if Eldon is hanging around, and could possibly toss us some test signals late one night.

I saw that CSI Miami was supposed to be in 5.1 also, but it wasn't here either.
I did get 5.1 one time on CSI Miami but I think that's the last time I got it from any CBS show.

Anyone notice the picture freeze and audio loss on WCSC-DT throught the day? Seems the frequency is increasing.

Been out of town for a while...... good to be home.

1) Toshiba TW56x81
2) Pioneer A/V Rcvr w/ Infinity Surrounds
3a) COMCAST 8000HD
3b) Toshiba DST-3000 (When I'm not letting someone borrow it. It's in Orlando right now)

Still working on arranging a tour, getting a suitable map for the Lowcountry and updating the website.

Did contact Eldon about 5.1.
Did contact TitanTV about adding 177 Cinemax and 183 FOX to COMCASTs listing.

Well back to working on new house.

Re: "...picture freeze and audio loss on WCSC-DT"

We get WCSC-DT via TWC here in Georgetown (ch 810), and it has what I would call "regular" artifacts. By that I mean every 15-30 seconds there will be an odd small patch of pixilated area here and there, and maybe once every 5 minutes or so a major blocky area that might be 1/3 the screen width. Not at an objectionable level, but very noticable.

Last night (2/15) during NCIS, there was a "new" defect. Several times during the show, the audio dropped out briefly, but for our setup it became objectionable because the Dolby decoder in the Denon receiver would take a second or two to resume decoding to 5.1 which exaggerated the problem.

All other HD channels here via TWC seem solid; only WCSC has this level of problems.

FWIW,
Mike

Originally posted by dolemite77


All internet purchases = tax free :cool:

Of course you paid your SC use tax on your income taxes :D

Word from WCSC:

The DD5.1 audio switching is supposed to be taking place automatically. It operated correctly when CBS conducted their configurations tests. For whatever reason, it apparently is not working now. They are looking into it.

quote:Originally posted by bigdog77s
3 Questions
1) What kinda HDTV systems all you have?
2) And a good HD picture needs good sound. What kind of sound system do you have?
3)How are you getting your HD.. OTA, Comcast, Satellite (which one) or Hybrid



1) Hitachi 53" widescreen HDTV, true 1080i.
2) 5.1 Dolby surround. Logitech processor.
3) Home built PVR using MythTV (http://www.mythtv.org). Two Air2PC DVB HDTV Tuners. Two PVR-250 Tuners for recording from Dish Network. Can record 4 shows at once. 500Gigs of storage. HDTV playback 1080i or 480p switched based on the recordings being played back.

My HTPC has come in handy. I record 8 shows on friday nights, all within a 3 hour timeframe. 24 on Fox has been nice to record / watch in HD. I can get all the local channels in HD with a Radioshack 75mile yaggi. The Air2PC cards work much better than other HDTV tuner cards I have used. The pcHDTV card required two antennas to get all the local channels.

Man, I wished I had the money you guys spent on your systems. Just to chime in:

I have a cheap Samsung 47" rear-projection HDTV I bought a few years ago (hey, at least it's 1080i and 16x9).
Logitech Z-680 for audio (has DD and DTS 5.1 and THX certified).
MythTV PVR running on Linux (mythtv.org)
Currently using two Hauppauge PVR-250 to receive signal from RCA 435 Directv receivers. Also using two Air2PC ATSC tuner cards to record HDTV over-the-air. I also have a pchdtv.com HD-2000 and an HD-3000 ATSC OTA capture card which aren't currently being used. Currently have about 540Gig of hard drive space for recordings. This also has all of my music, pictures, and videos.

--
David

Originally posted by Precision Power
I have just built a HTPC. I have a long way to go to get it where I want it. HTPC seems to be a hobby in itself, and I don't have the time to get everything working yet.


Which HTPC software did you go with? I am using MythTV which includes just about anything I could want. Including HDTV capture. And recently added, even firewire capture from cable boxes.

What do you still have to do to get your current system where you want it?

--
David

I use Windows Media Center Edition. Does Myth TV work with HDTV through a cable box or Satellite. I heard that the only way you can capture HDTV was through OTA.


Originally posted by onyxsoft
Which HTPC software did you go with? I am using MythTV which includes just about anything I could want. Including HDTV capture. And recently added, even firewire capture from cable boxes.

What do you still have to do to get your current system where you want it?

--
David

Does anyone pick up FOX HD in Summerville? If so, what equipment do you have? Having trouble here...

Side note: Does anyone know if TWC will get with the program like the rest of the cable companies in the area (Knology and Comcast) and get FOX HD over cable??

It is getting a bit ridiculous...what so we have to do...threaten to switch providers?

I havent tried the OTA for FOX here in Summerville, but i tell you what, when it reaches that point where i have to put up an antenna...im likely to put my dish back up as well.

Here's some additional information from WCSC.

"CBS has told us that with the metadata they are currently sending we will have to purchase a new box for the 5.1 audio to switch in automatically. We are in the process of getting a quote for this box. In the meantime, Dolby has given us some settings for their encoder that may make it switch for us. We are trying that tonight. If it doesn’t work, we will have to switch manually until we can get the new box. CSI: New York tonight is supposed to be in 5.1. I would appreciate feedback to let me know if the Dolby changes work or not."

I will be able to tune in tonight so I don't need any feedback. Just wanted to let everyone know that WCSC is working on the solution!

Originally posted by RFrank
Does anyone pick up FOX HD in Summerville? If so, what equipment do you have? Having trouble here...

Side note: Does anyone know if TWC will get with the program like the rest of the cable companies in the area (Knology and Comcast) and get FOX HD over cable??

I live in Coosaw Creek which is right next to Summerville. :) I have a post earlier in this thread that list what I use to get all the local HD channels.

Originally posted by bigdog77s
3 Questions
1) What kinda HDTV systems all you have?
2) And a good HD picture needs good sound. What kind of sound system do you have?
3)How are you getting your HD.. OTA, Comcast, Satellite (which one) or Hybrid


1: 42" Vizio HD Plasma
2: Sherwood 5.1 surround sound reciever, BIC 52 series surrounds + Sub
3: Time Warner Speed of light package with HD tier and HTPC with Fusion 3 QAM gold (digital cable and OTA reception) for non-cable retransmitted local channels and only 400 GIG's of storage.

Unfortunately, I didn't see the automatic switch at the start of CSI:NY. If anyone did, please let me know.

Thanks.

I am not getting 5.1 for CSI:NY on TWC for WCSC channel 810.

Originally posted by Gary J
I am not getting 5.1 for CSI:NY on TWC for WCSC channel 810. Not getting it on my Zenith OTA box channel 5-1.Originally posted by onyxsoft
Which HTPC software did you go with? Meedio.
Originally posted by onyxsoft
I am using MythTV which includes just about anything I could want. Including HDTV capture. And recently added, even firewire capture from cable boxes.
Are you capturing OTA HD or are you capturing video via component cables?
Originally posted by onyxsoft
What do you still have to do to get your current system where you want it?
Right now my main goal is a video server. I want to put my growing DVD collection on my HTPC. I have a long ways to go, I just started using powerstrip. I have a few other hobbies, and my htpc has taken a backseat to the others. I've auctually unhooked it until I have more time to tweak.

My set-up .

TV Toshiba 50H81 ( 50" ) , Comcast Cable HD , DVR

Receiver : Pioneer 6.1
speakers : JBL S38II's ( fronts ) , JBL S36II's ( side ) , JBL S center II .
sub : SVS 20-39PC+........ house shaker !

Originally posted by bigdog77s
I use Windows Media Center Edition. Does Myth TV work with HDTV through a cable box or Satellite. I heard that the only way you can capture HDTV was through OTA.

I only capture OTA because that is all I needed. Recently support was added for recording unencrypted QAM from digital cable (doesn't need a cable box). This is using the Air2PC ATSC card. Another recently added option is to capture HDTV from the firewire port on some cable boxes. According to an FCC regulation the cable company must supply you with a firewire output for HDTV channels if you request it.

Currently it isn't possible to record HDTV from satellite. I only record SDTV from my Directv receivers. There are a couple of options here. First is the HDTiVo from Directv or the Dish HD PVR (don't know the model), but these lock you in to just the features they give you. Second is a company called 169time.com which modifies satellite receivers to output firewire.

In addition to all the nice user features, MythTV is open source (at no charge). Nice for us programmers to be able to modify things and add new features as we like.

--
David

Originally posted by Precision Power
Are you capturing OTA HD or are you capturing video via component cables?


I am capturing OTA. Unfortunately the amount of processing power required to capture from component inputs is just out of reach right now. I still haven't found anyone on the Internet that has been able to crack that nut.

--
David

I have and use Voom exclusively but have basic cable as a backup. I, like many others, can't get Fox OTA (Goose Creek). I called Comcast today and thought about upgrading my service to add the HD locals. It would be just a couple of dollars more /month. The CSR informed me that Comcast was just in a temporary agreement with Sinclair/Fox for the Superbowl and were no longer carrying FOX HD until an agreement is finalized. Is this true?
I was in Circuit City last Sunday and watched a few minutes of qualifying on one of their displays that had Comcast HD.

Im starting to think thats why TWC has been sitting on their thumbs. TWC will be a follower and not a leader....TWC customers wont get FOX HD via Sinclair until a finalized contract is in place between Comcast and Sinclair.

Just my speculation of course...

Well I think I will rewire some things so I am able to record my OTA HD throught my HTPC. I am using Voom... so many HD and yet i can't record them. it sucks.

Onyxsoft.... have you used to Windows MCE 2k5? Any idea how this compares to Myth TV. I know there are a few options out there.. Windows MCE 2005, Myth TV, Sage TV. I am not much into trying to configure the thing to work. I want to set it and it work. I am not computer illiterate by any means but too much work is not worth it in my opinion.


Originally posted by onyxsoft
I only capture OTA because that is all I needed. Recently support was added for recording unencrypted QAM from digital cable (doesn't need a cable box). This is using the Air2PC ATSC card. Another recently added option is to capture HDTV from the firewire port on some cable boxes. According to an FCC regulation the cable company must supply you with a firewire output for HDTV channels if you request it.

Currently it isn't possible to record HDTV from satellite. I only record SDTV from my Directv receivers. There are a couple of options here. First is the HDTiVo from Directv or the Dish HD PVR (don't know the model), but these lock you in to just the features they give you. Second is a company called 169time.com which modifies satellite receivers to output firewire.

In addition to all the nice user features, MythTV is open source (at no charge). Nice for us programmers to be able to modify things and add new features as we like.

--
David

Bigdog77s, AFAIK, Sagetv doesn't support HD recording yet, but there is a strong outcry of wanting support. I'm hoping to build an HTPC/Sagetv server in the future(when I get around to it) and use a Fusion card(I've read in HTPC forum it's nice) to record OTA as well. Some have been successful recording HD through firewire(FCC mandates that it be activated upon request), but the last time I was in paying my bill at Comcast, I asked about Firewire being activated and they looked at me like I had a third eye. Anyone know if they've activated the firewire port on any Charleston STBs?

Originally posted by AndrewG
Of course you paid your SC use tax on your income taxes :D

Of course silly! I wouldn't forget to do that! :D

Hey Guys - Annual Girls Weekend to Charleston is about to begin. I'll be away from cell phones, email and internet until Monday.

If you have an issue, please call customer service at 866-892-7201

Have a great weekend and go Illini!

Harris And CBS Team on March Madness Games in HD
Number of games broadcast in HD will increase from 12 to 39


Harris Corporation and CBS Sports announced today an agreement in which Harris will sponsor High Definition Television ( HDTV ) coverage of the 2005 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship for a second consecutive year, and the number of games broadcast in High Definition (HD) will increase dramatically from 12 to 39.

HD coverage will include 24 High Definition games from four of the eight first round sites March 17-20. The four sites will be split with two being Thursday/Saturday sites, while the other two will be Friday/Sunday locations. In 2004, HD games originated from only one first round site.

This year's Sweet Sixteen will be even sweeter in that all 12 games from the four regional sites in Chicago, Albuquerque, Austin and Syracuse will air in HD. In 2004, only one regional site broadcast HD games.

And for the sixth consecutive year, CBS Sports will air the two national semi-final games and the National Championship Game in High Definition.

The telecasts, which will be presented live by CBS Sports, will be "unified" productions produced in HDTV 's highest definition format, 1080i, and downconverted for the CBS Television Network's analog broadcast coverage. This production technique also produces a better quality analog picture. Whether watching in widescreen HD or traditional 4x3 analog, viewers will see the same camera angles, replays and graphics and will hear the same play by play.

Once again, the High Definition NCAA Basketball Tournament games will be broadcast in 5.1 channels of CD quality surround sound. The addition of surround sound audio to the broadcast, coupled with the clarity of 1080 lines of picture resolution, will bring the stadium experience to the viewer's home.

"There is nothing like March Madness, and there is nothing like March Madness in HD and 5.1 surround sound on CBS," said Sean McManus, President, CBS Sports. "Now our friends at Harris are making it possible to take our HD coverage of the tournament to the next level. This is the sixth consecutive year we have broadcast the Final Four in HDTV , re-affirming CBS's leadership in HD Sports broadcasting."

"Working with CBS to enable HDTV broadcasts of the NCAA tournament is part of Harris' commitment to the future of television ," said Jeremy Wensinger, president of Harris' Broadcast Communications Division. "One of the best ways we can ensure the wide-scale success of digital television in the United States is by giving the American public the chance to experience HDTV , CBS Television Network.2 with its crystal clear pictures and dynamic surround sound, for themselves. High-visibility events like the NCAA tournament are an excellent way to do this."

CBS Sports' coverage of the 2005 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Final Four and Championship games will be broadcast live Saturday, April 2 (6:00-11:00 PM, ET) and Monday, April 4 (9:00-11:30 PM, ET) from St. Louis, Missouri.

CSI in DD 5.1 and sounds awesome. Thanks Ktrout and whoever else was able to get through with WCSC and get things straightened out. So far, CBS has great 5.1 tracks and ABC and FOX aren't even close.

Originally posted by Hatfield
but the last time I was in paying my bill at Comcast, I asked about Firewire being activated and they looked at me like I had a third eye. Anyone know if they've activated the firewire port on any Charleston STBs?

The 3250HD has Firewire activated. I had it before the 8000HD, and connected to my Toshiba TV via Firewire.

Originally posted by r.jones
The CSR informed me that Comcast was just in a temporary agreement with Sinclair/Fox for the Superbowl and were no longer carrying FOX HD until an agreement is finalized. Is this true?
I was in Circuit City last Sunday and watched a few minutes of qualifying on one of their displays that had Comcast HD.

Still showing HD as of tonight. I think that the agreement is still being finalized but they are still showing HD in "good faith" Check the programming forum, but it might be worked out already. I would guess if they are still on tonight, they will still be on on Sat or Sun, or whenever the high-speed left turns are on :D

CBS 5.1

WCSC is in the process of purchasing the equipment for the automatic switching but until it's in place Eldon coordinated with the controllers that the switching be done manually. It's not anything any of us did, it's WCSC caring enough to do the right thing.

I agree with Andy in that I don't believe FOX HD coverage will be pulled.

We have discussed FOX quite a bit here, but does anyone know about NBC HD getting added to cable? I get the OTA signal, but it is a pain to switch to.

...Rob

NBC HD

There really is no way to tell as this is also a corporate decision. I'm hoping that once Sinclair and COMCAST hammer out a decision that a similar agreement might be made between COMCAST and Media General, maybe in the same way that once the guy picked #1 in the NFL draft signs a contract others follow based on market value etc.

I suggest you write Steve Gleason, Director of Programming at the Media General Broadcast Group (sgleason@mgbg.com) and ask him the same question.

Originally posted by KTrout
NBC HD

There really is no way to tell as this is also a corporate decision. I'm hoping that once Sinclair and COMCAST hammer out a decision that a similar agreement might be made between COMCAST and Media General, maybe in the same way that once the guy picked #1 in the NFL draft signs a contract others follow based on market value etc.

I suggest you write Steve Gleason, Director of Programming at the Media General Broadcast Group (sgleason@mgbg.com) and ask him the same question.

Thanks, I sent him a note a few minutes ago...hopefully he replies:D

...Rob

Anybody else experience wicked freeze during NBC's Law&Order:Criminal Intent. Sound is good, but it's frozen on one picture of woman in white shirt standing there facing two detectives. Been awhile now.

HDTV for a computer projector.

I'm at a friend's house this evening watching the All-star game on TNT and trying to figure out how he can run his Comcast HD Receiver to his computer so he can have the computer output to his LCD/DVi projector.

He is running a monitor out from his computer to his LCD projector, and his Comcast HD receiver has the Component output jacks, but his LCD projector doesn't have a component input only DVI. So right now he is left running regular SD from the receiver to his computer and then to the LCD projector.

This is a great setup he has here, any ideas on a card for his computer that would have component inputs, so that he can get the total package from his HD receiver?

Reply to this post for me and I'll relay the message to him.

Thanks,

Scott

Originally posted by rothfusz
HDTV for a computer projector.

I'm at a friend's house this evening watching the All-star game on TNT and trying to figure out how he can run his Comcast HD Receiver to his computer so he can have the computer output to his LCD/DVi projector.

He is running a monitor out from his computer to his LCD projector, and his Comcast HD receiver has the Component output jacks, but his LCD projector doesn't have a component input only DVI. So right now he is left running regular SD from the receiver to his computer and then to the LCD projector.

This is a great setup he has here, any ideas on a card for his computer that would have component inputs, so that he can get the total package from his HD receiver?

Reply to this post for me and I'll relay the message to him.

Thanks,

Scott

Not sure if this is what he needs but he might want to check it out.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_10_2/ati-aiw-9700-pro-6-2003.html

rothfusz, your question might be better answered over in the HTPC forum, but I'll give it a shot:
HD STB->Coax->MyHD MDP-130 PC card "inside" Computer(running Powersrtip)->DVI cable->Projector

MyHD MDP-130 PC card:
http://www.mitinc.co.kr/mitinc/e_site/prod/prod_mdp130.jsp
Brand spankin' new and it's gotten some good buzz. Now, I've gotta get one. Thanks, rothfusz!
Good thread on what Cliff Watson(beta tester and AVS member) has been able to achieve with the new MDP-130:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=4934369#post4934369

Originally posted by RFrank
Thanks, I sent him a note a few minutes ago...hopefully he replies:D

...Rob

I asked the same question afew weeks back and got this as an answer from Tim at WCBD. Basicaly the same statement Sinclair is giving.

"We greatly regret the inconvenience that you endure in not getting our HD signal off the cable system. I hope you have also contacted the local Time-Warner office to let them know how you feel. The lack of cooperation between our parent company (Media General) and Time Warner stems from the fact that we have a copyrighted product that we are willing to provide free of charge to our viewers, but we want to have the opportunity to provide other programs within the same bandwidth on which we could make money to cover our investment (digital broadcasting will allow for that).
Time-Warner and most other cable companies want to take our free product and charge you for it (on the digital tier), and they intend to strip away the other programs we would include in our bandwidth. They don't want us providing more competition to their other cable channels. We don't think any of this is fair and we won't allow Time Warner to do it to us.

If you or any of your friends have any problems with tuning your over-the-air receiver, please e-mail me, Tim Coghill, Operations Manager at WCBD, and I will refer you to a staff engineer for assistance. We are very sorry again, that you are unable to enjoy our HD programs that we have invested millions of dollars in providing to you because of Comcast's restrictive policies. We hope to eventually get this straightened out.

Tim Coghill
Operations Manager
WCBD-TV Charleston , SC "

I received a very quick, albiet short, reply:

Thank you for your interest in News 2. We hope in time to be able to work out our
differences with Time Warner so that WCBD will be included on their HD digital tier.
I'm sure it is frustrating to try and get the OTA signal in Summerville. Right
now we are broadcasting our digital signal in low-power from the tower located at
our studios, but by 7/1/06 we will be broadcasting in full-power from our tall tower
in Awendaw.

Originally posted by RFrank
I received a very quick, albiet short, reply:

Thank you for your interest in News 2. We hope in time to be able to work out our
differences with Time Warner so that WCBD will be included on their HD digital tier.
I'm sure it is frustrating to try and get the OTA signal in Summerville. Right
now we are broadcasting our digital signal in low-power from the tower located at
our studios, but by 7/1/06 we will be broadcasting in full-power from our tall tower
in Awendaw.

The full power date of 7/1/06 is a long way off. Is this the same tower that FOX 24 will also be using to broadcast their HD signal at full power?

Hey,

I've been living at Folly and just moved houses. I was previously able to pick up all the digital channels over a middle of the line antenna I bought at Radio Shack. This antenna does not seem to be quite as effective at my new location. I have more interference now. Just for fun, I took an antenna that I used in the bedroom (rabbit ear type for digital) and set it outside the door, and it picked everything up. Unfortunately, it requires power so that really makes that an unrealistic option. Can someone recommend a good antenna that should work? I'm looking for something smaller so that I can just set it on the deck without going on the roof (I'm in a rental). Oh, and I do use an amplifier already. Thanks for any help you guys can give me.

Trip

Question:

Right now I have Comcast Digital Cable w/ HD and DVR and two premium channels - HBO and Cinemax. I guess that is considered the Silver or Gold Package? I don't know. Anyway, I don't currently have High Speed Internet. I was wondering what the rates might be to include that? Does anyone else have anything similar? Any promotions going on now? I know it's a bit off topic, but thanks!

dolemite77, you're wanting Comcast Advantage. Digital+HBO+MAXorSHO+Cable Internet
I think around $101 with one STB; additional $7 per STB and $3 modem rental if needed. I rented my modem thinking I'd need the "service" if it broke. It hasn't so I'm considering buying a Motorola Surfboard modem and saving the $3 a month. Call Comcast at 554-4100 for more info.(It's sad, but I actually have that number memorized:rolleyes: )
I hope I'm not violating any rules, but it's only a call away.

sounds great, thanks alot man!

Originally posted by Hatfield
dolemite77, you're wanting Comcast Advantage. Digital+HBO+MAXorSHO+Cable Internet
I think around $101 with one STB; additional $7 per STB and $3 modem rental if needed. I rented my modem thinking I'd need the "service" if it broke. It hasn't so I'm considering buying a Motorola Surfboard modem and saving the $3 a month. Call Comcast at 554-4100 for more info.(It's sad, but I actually have that number memorized:rolleyes: )
I hope I'm not violating any rules, but it's only a call away.

How are you getting such a good deal? I pay $103 before taxes for digital, internet, and HD box (no PVR).

I guess i could get in on this too right? Anybody seen this promo?
Comcast Special (http://www.comcastspecial.com/)

Dell has one too just like this with $75 rebate, but no mp3 player...

lancer1991, you had me questioning myself as well so I just called Comcast. My bill is 111.40 before taxes each month. I have the Comcast Advantage Package which is Preferred Basic+Digital Cable+HBO+Cinemax(or Showtime)+Cable Internet+1 STB which is $108.40/month. (I thought it was $101, but they had a rate hike in April unbeknownst to me since I use auto-bill-pay and rarely second guess them...stupid me.) I also rent a modem for $3/month making it $111.40+taxes. About to upgrade to HD box for additional $5/month. The package is nice.

Two things...

First, I noticed on a Comcast flyer I got at Circuit City when I bought my LCD that Gold Advantage was a dollar or so more expensive than what I pay now for HD, Digital, HBO, hi-speed internet, and one STB rental (before taxes). Gold advantage included Cinemax or Showtime in addition to HBO. So I called my friendly service number and was told the following.

"Since you signed up for hi-speed internet during a promotion as $19.95 for 3 months, you are not eligible for Gold Advantage which is like a promotion or special bundle". I replied that it didn't appear that Comcast was advertising the packages as promotions but rather as normal rates. I asked if after a certain length time after signing up for a promotion if I could transfer my service to the gold package and I was told NO. Sounds fishy to me.

Next, I just turned on my TV and FOX HD is NO LONGER being broadcast on channel 181 (I think). It was on last night, but not now. I guess the freeby is over.

Made my purchase today. I went with the Sammy 4674. TVA gave me a good price with free shipping and delivered.

Its scheduled to ship 3/4/05

Now i need to look at DVD players :)

Thanks so much for all your input...very very helpful

Mike

Originally posted by mikeld999
Two things...

First, I noticed on a Comcast flyer I got at Circuit City when I bought my LCD that Gold Advantage was a dollar or so more expensive than what I pay now for HD, Digital, HBO, hi-speed internet, and one STB rental (before taxes). Gold advantage included Cinemax or Showtime in addition to HBO. So I called my friendly service number and was told the following.

"Since you signed up for hi-speed internet during a promotion as $19.95 for 3 months, you are not eligible for Gold Advantage which is like a promotion or special bundle". I replied that it didn't appear that Comcast was advertising the packages as promotions but rather as normal rates. I asked if after a certain length time after signing up for a promotion if I could transfer my service to the gold package and I was told NO. Sounds fishy to me.

Next, I just turned on my TV and FOX HD is NO LONGER being broadcast on channel 181 (I think). It was on last night, but not now. I guess the freeby is over.

I just got my HD box yesterday from comcast just for FoxHD so I could watch the races in HD (I have Voom for my HD fix but I'm unable to get Fox OTA). I just called Comcast and the CSR said the negotiations with Sinclair didn't go, so they had to pull FoxHD. She wasn't sure if or when they would get it. This Sux!!!!

Looks like that Sinclair - Comcast deal really did fall through, it is discussed in the programming forum. I feel for everyone who can't get it, but I have to say that after reading some of the things that were potentially in the deal (no inside info here, except through pretty reliable sources in that forum), that I am not in favor of it.

It sounds like both Sinclair and Media General (our NBC owners) want complete carriage of any signal they broadcast. While we don't see it now each could multicast mulitple news, weather, sports, shopping shows inside the bandwidth allocated for their digital signal. Any additional signals will take bandwidth from their main HD channel. This will result in reduced quality of the HD signal, the thing we all want for football, NASCAR, and regular programming. If the cable companies agree to carry what ever is broadcast, then there would be no reason not to multicast as many things as possible. If the cable companies don't agree, then it won't be as financially attractive to multicast (not nearly as many viewers), and hopefully most of the HD bandwidth will be left alone.

Frank or Diana can probably give us more info, if they are able, but IMHO, tough negotiations are probably good for the future of HD.

r-jones and mikeld999

I sent both of you PMs but they are not showing as sent and I keep getting an error message. If either of you did not get them, please email me at Frank_Thomas@cable.comcast.com and I will explain. Thanks.

Frank Thomas
Comcast Cable

Originally posted by AndrewG

It sounds like both Sinclair and Media General (our NBC owners) want complete carriage of any signal they broadcast. While we don't see it now each could multicast mulitple news, weather, sports, shopping shows inside the bandwidth allocated for their digital signal. Any additional signals will take bandwidth from their main HD channel. This will result in reduced quality of the HD signal, the thing we all want for football, NASCAR, and regular programming. If the cable companies agree to carry what ever is broadcast, then there would be no reason not to multicast as many things as possible. If the cable companies don't agree, then it won't be as financially attractive to multicast (not nearly as many viewers), and hopefully most of the HD bandwidth will be left alone.

All TV manufacturers (i.e. Sony) need to get behind this. It would be hard to sell a HDTV if multicasting has reduced the PQ to near SD.

The FCC needs to step in and define what a HD signal is.

I'm sure many of you know or heard about the highly recommended services of Greg Loewen of Lionav.com for his outstanding ISF calibration abilities. I just contacted him through e-mail and he would be willing to do a tour in the Charleston area in April if he can get enough bookings. The email he sent to me is as follows:

hi Don
I would love to come to your area however I do not have any current
bookings
there. I would need at 3 jobs to confirm at your location (so please
tell
your friends! :-) )
To book a calibration, complete the booking form at www.lionav.com and
use
the paypal interface to send the $50 travel fee. The ISF calibration
for all
applicable scan rates (and inputs) is $400, which is due at the time of
service.
If you are serious about me coming to your area, please book now and I
will
try to get some other jobs in your area. It would be in April. If I do
not
get the work needed to get me there, I will happily refund you the
travel
fee.
Feel free to email or to call with any questions or concerns,
regards

Gregg Loewen
Lion Audio Video Consultants
240 Knowlton Corner Rd
Farmington ME 04938
----------------------------------------------------------------

So, if anybody around here is interested in having your TV/monitor calibrated to it's highest potential by one of the best, let me know and we can see if we can make it happen.

Don "Hammer" Moody

Originally posted by AndrewG

Frank or Diana can probably give us more info, if they are able, but IMHO, tough negotiations are probably good for the future of HD.

Even if I were important enough to be filled in on top-level negotiations - which I am not - I wouldn't be able to comment. Deal points for all our contracts be it Broadcast Retransmission Consent or ESPN are all confidential.

I would like to buy a STB to view HD OTA. I have Comcast HD and enjoy it, but would like to watch NBC and Fox in HD. So, how's the OTA reception in the Brickyard Plantation area of Mt. Pleasant? Also, any thoughts on which STB to buy or what type of antenna to get? I'd like to use an indoor type.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice y'all might provide.

On Tuesday night, March 8th I'd like to call the first meeting of the Lowcountry HD Club.

Where: WCSC's Main Studio, 2126 Charlie Hall Blvd. (see attached map)
When: Meet and Greet 6 pm
Facility Tour 6:30 pm
Who: Anyone Interested

This is an opportunity for us to get together and accomplish a few things:
1) Take a behind the scenes tour of WCSC's studio and see who and what's involved with broadcasting NTSC and HDTV conducted by real live engineers!
2) Consolidate information about what YOU are using to successfully receive OTA broadcasts. (Those participating do receive "Pay It Forward" credits, I checked).
3) Put faces to screen names.

If you need help getting out of coming home for dinner, try www.kitchenpass.com.

Seriously, I would encourage you to come if you have any interest on how a TV station operates. WCSC has been great to the HDTV community and this is kind of a show of appreciation to them. I'm also extending an invitation to Diana @ TWC and Frank @ COMCAST if they would be interested.

I ask that you please let me know if you (and family members) plan to attend so that WCSC can have an idea. You can PM me or reply here on the forum.

Thanks and I look forward to seeing you there.
Mark

I didn't want to bog down the meeting notice with too much information, but I envision those willing to help out providing info on their OTA reception like:

1) Approximate Location - I will hopefully have a large printout of the Lowcountry by then.
2) STB, Antenna, Amplifier equipment information
3) Optional Installation Pictures
4) Notes or helpful hints

Eventually I hope to gather all this and put in on a website. The first page will be a map with all locations across the Lowcountry. "Hotspots" will open up another page indicating your installation information and other things you would like to add.

I feel this will be an easier way to help out people like mikeld999 who is just trying to get into the HD game.

OK, back to work.
Mark

Mikeld,

Welcome. I think you are currently beyond FOX's reach with an indoor antenna in Brickyard. NBC is possible if you have a decent line of sight towards their current broadcast location of near the base of the Cooper River bridges in Mt. P.

I will have to defer the equipment and antenna question to other members for the time being, sorry.

Off Topic --- Disappointed in Channel 5 (WCSC)

I was just watching the Michigan St/Indiana Basketball game, and as soon as that game went to overtime, channel 5 switched to Florida State/Clemson game. Aside from the fact that this is a battle for absolute LAST PLACE in the ACC, why would they cut away from an Overtime game to go to the first few minutes of another game.

This happened a few years ago when Duke was playing at St. Johns and St. Johns came back to take it to OT. As soon as they cut to commercial between Regulation and OT, they switched to the South Carolina/Kentucky (I think) game. In that USC game, they failed to score a single point for 10 minutes. Is this more exciting than an OT game? IMHO, NO!!!

This is all shades of the infamous "Heidi Game" back in the 60's when one of the major networks - I think it was NBC - cut to a scheduled showing of the Sunday Night Movie, Heidi, with a couple minutes still left in a NATIONALLY TELEVISED NFL game. If I recall correctly, NBC received darn near 1 million calls on their New York switchboard within the first few minutes. This led to the decision that sports would not take a back seat to "regularly scheduled" programs, if the game is running long or goes into overtime.

It is a shame that this kind of thing can - and does - still happen on a local level. As far as sporting contracts go, I would believe the language of the contracts state at some point that if the previous sporting event (or any event for that matter) runs long, that the earlier event holds precedence over any secondary event.

Can't we all simply agree that the final five minutes of a sporting event is generally more important than the first five minutes?

All this being said, I am not particularly a fan of any of the four teams mentioned above. But some of you out there might be. And since this happened to me a few years ago with Duke being preempted for USC, I can sympathize with your frustration. Maybe someday these programmers will clue in to the fact that the finish is more important than the start.

atp1313 - I absolutely agree - and so you know WLTX in Columbia did the same thing as WCSC in Charleston

the Big Ten game going to overtime "HAS" (had now) an impact on who wins the outright championship of that Conference... the game they switched to, while local, did not have any sort of consequence, especially in the first few minutes.

Ok, yeah, I'm a Big Ten fan, who wanted Michigan State to win very badly because I want my Fighting Illini to win the Conference outright on their own on their home court on Senior Night - not get it by default because MSU lost... but that's besides the point - you just DON'T leave a game in OT!

Just sent this to FOX and Sinclair...i know it probably won't do any good, but we have to try....

Dear Sirs,

I find the treatment of your viewers in Charleston SC to be disgusting....

You will not let local cable companies carry your HDTV signal, yes you do broadcast
free OTA, but the power is so low, you have to live within 5 miles to get a decent signal.

I could understand totally you holding the signal from the cable companies if you where broadcasting from the awendaw antenna at full power, this would easily be recievable OTA
I live in summerville SC and get all the locals OTA and via TWC except FOX24 WTAT, yes i use an outdor antenna, but no signal from FOX...

You are only hurting yourselves and turning your HDTV customers away from your stations.....
you need to address this situation NOW...not Later...you are only one remote button press from never being watched again...

Sincerley,

Paul Jones
Summerville, SC

Good Morning,

Just wanted to thank you guys for the invitation to join the Low Country HD Club tour at WCSC. It sounds very cool and I would have never expected to be included - so I'm very honored.

Unfortunately I have a Finance Class here on Tuesday and Thursday nights, so I am unable to make the trip down.

Have a great week!

Diana,

How come foxHD is available on TWC in all the other SC areas but not summerville?

Paul

Quite simply we have been able to execute a contract with WACH in Columbia and WFXB in Florence-MB. We are not yet successful with WTAT.

I'm not privy to the negotiations, so I can't tell you any specifics on the hold up.

Originally posted by Paul_J2
Diana,

How come foxHD is available on TWC in all the other SC areas but not summerville?

Paul



WACH is a Raycom affiliate. WTAT is a Sinclair affiliate. Couldnt find who owns WFXB...maybe its independent. Sinclair and TWC do not play well together, which is why we dont yet have FOX in HD. :)

WFXB is BackChannelMedia. I think....

WFXB is Media General

Originally posted by shuttermaker
WACH is a Raycom affiliate. WTAT is a Sinclair affiliate. Couldnt find who owns WFXB...maybe its independent. Sinclair and TWC do not play well together, which is why we dont yet have FOX in HD. :)

Sinclair and cable companies in general do not play well together. In other parts of the country Sinclair owns CBS and ABC affiliates and folks there don't get those stations on cable.



I have to agree with Paul, I am sure most of us would agree, that this FreeOTA HD stunt only works if you can actually receive an OTA signal of reasonable strength. Funny thing, WCSC is the strongest by far of the OTA stations, but also the first one on all the cable companies. Everyone can get it OTA. But WCBD and WTAT, the weakest, also the last, or not at all on cable.


Andy

Just bumping the tour information................


WCSC Tour & Lowcountry HD Club Meeting

On Tuesday night, March 8th I'd like to call the first meeting of the Lowcountry HD Club.

Where: WCSC's Main Studio, 2126 Charlie Hall Blvd. (see attached map)
When: Meet and Greet 6 pm
Facility Tour 6:30 pm
Who: Anyone Interested

This is an opportunity for us to get together and accomplish a few things:
1) Take a behind the scenes tour of WCSC's studio and see who and what's involved with broadcasting NTSC and HDTV conducted by real live engineers!
2) Consolidate information about what YOU are using to successfully receive OTA broadcasts. (Those participating do receive "Pay It Forward" credits, I checked).
3) Put faces to screen names.

I ask that you please let me know if you (and family members) plan to attend so that WCSC can have an idea. You can PM me or reply here on the forum.

Thanks and I look forward to seeing you there.
Mark

PS - Map can be downloaded from original post on Page 133.

"Long time reader, first time poster"
I've been reading the posts here for awhile, ever since one of your members told me about the site. I've recently entered the world of HDTV by being talked into the purchase of a Sanyo 30" HDTV and digital cable, also by above mentioned AVS member. So, now I visit this site to keep up with the all of the HDTV info. Anyway, I just wanted to make one small comment about the discussion regarding FOX and Comcast and TWC. If you are all in need of FOX HDTV and have trouble getting it over the air, as do I, why not switch over to Knology? They carry FOX HD on their digital feed, along with the WCSC HD. Of course you don't get the HD for the ABC and NBC affiliates, but they generally come in pretty clear over the air in West Ashley.

tom

I would really love to attend the HD meet and greet but I am going to be in Columbia on business.

:(

Originally posted by TMCHSSC
"Long time reader, first time poster"
I've been reading the posts here for awhile, ever since one of your members told me about the site. I've recently entered the world of HDTV by being talked into the purchase of a Sanyo 30" HDTV and digital cable, also by above mentioned AVS member. So, now I visit this site to keep up with the all of the HDTV info. Anyway, I just wanted to make one small comment about the discussion regarding FOX and Comcast and TWC. If you are all in need of FOX HDTV and have trouble getting it over the air, as do I, why not switch over to Knology? They carry FOX HD on their digital feed, along with the WCSC HD. Of course you don't get the HD for the ABC and NBC affiliates, but they generally come in pretty clear over the air in West Ashley.

tom

Some don't have the Knology option. The development I live in on James Island has Knology in the front of the development with the oldest homes (6 year old homes), but the area I'm in (3 year old homes) doesn't have the service.

Anyone experiencing trouble with WCSC OTA ?

After the wind storm the other night, I needed to clear the memory on my Moto HDT-100. After a auto scan, WCSC does not show up nor any luck with a manual scan. I'm getting a "Get channel success" message but no channel. Don't know if it is PSIP related or not.

edit - WCBD is now showing VIPER radar on 50-2, now the weird thing is when I do a manual scan for WCSC, it takes me to WCBD's virtual channel.
NUTS !!!!!!!!!

Loadams,

5-1 and 5-2 have disappeared from my STB also. I also noticed that WCBD has apparently started broadcasting their VIPER radar sweep on new channel 2-2. I haven't rescanned yet pending just waiting to see if WCSC straightens this out for us.

I noticed this last night when trying to find CSI:NY. No 5.1 or 5.2. Just checked right now and I'm still not getting them.
Just did an auto-program and NBC is now on 50.1 and their Viper radar is on 50.2; still no WCSC. Maybe Ktrout can see if their doing work on the towers today.

Mark I will be up for the WCSC thingeee, see ya next week
Jim

My STB (D* H-10) is whacked also with WCSC. But my TV tuner seems OK.
I see WCSC and can tune to it if I redo my zip code setup. But if I change channels then I lose it! I think I need to rescan; but since I can't manually add channels I'm afraid to scan and lose other channels.
I wonder what the average Jane or Joe does when all of a sudden their channels just disappear like this? Those people who don't know what PSIP is or that it even exists? The ones who just want to turn on their TV and have it work?

Poor bastartds!! LOL

Well I did a scan with the TV tuner and I got this:
WCSC 5.1 is on 47.3
5.2 is on 47.4 (neither remaps)
WCBD 2.1 is on 50.1
2.2 ( Line Vipir) is on 50.2 (neither remaps)
WCIV 4.1 is on 4.1 ( remapped correctly)
WTAT 24.1 is on 24.1 ( 40 remapped correctly)
PBS works correctly also 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3
UPN not good enough to get signal today

On my STB WCSC is non-existant. It sees two channels and has signal strength but no picture or sound. But now NBC has audio when the zip code is selected. (the sammy bug)
And The Live Vipir is on 50.2 instead of 2.2.
Looks like it's two steps forward and one step back!
With my STB I get

What's going on the WCSC? 5-1 & 5-2 disappeared last night. Still nothing. However, 2-2 appeared.

Thanks everyone, with the Tournament coming up, I was bugging a little last night, maybe there will be a fix by then.

Ktrout, I'll have to pass again on the tour. I've been wanting to meet you in person and thank you for helping me when I first got started.
Reading posts from OLJIM, ANDREW, LUVTHATHDTV, SHUTTERMAKER, and everyone has been invaluable info, and to put names with faces would be great. I'll hopefully join in one day real soon.

I would also like to go on the tour again but I have to work night shift that night (Yuck). Hopefully ya'll will enjoy it. Maybe next time!

Sounds like there is a lot of interest in the HD club. We should plan another thing soon. I was thinking we could check out some of the local watering holes for their HD offerings. I know that Bobby Hardins near me has a least one HD set up. And I know some places downtown do as well

Mark will have to be creative to get more folks next time.

Andy

Just checked the OTA out there and noticed what others are noticing. Rescanned for channels, and 4-1, remapped and 7-1,7-2,7-3 came up. 50-1 and 50-2 mapped and like others noticed the Viper weather on 50-2. But no sign of WCSC, either at 47 or 5-1. I checked the signal meter, and 47 is at 99% as usual, but either directly tuning or scanning brings up nothing. Comcast's WCSC feed is fine.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH WCSC DT 's SOUND? DURING THEIR LATE NITE ,THERE HAS BEEN A WHISTLE SOUND.
VERY ANNOYING!

WCSC is Fixed...Yahoo!!!!
And NBC still has audio even with the zipcode entered!!
Double Yahoo!!!

WCSC responded to your inquiries on the PSIP with an e-mail basically stating the following:

The service WCSC pays to provide their program information in PSIP form changed something that fouled up their PSIP insertion computer. They disconnected the service and re-booted the computer to correct the problem with channel numbers. Program information will not be available until the problem is corrected. (I couldn't tell if program info is fixed in LuvThatHDTV's post).

They ask for your patience while the problem is being corrected.

I say thanks for letting us know and good luck.

We can razz them Tuesday night if it's not fixed by then.... :)

I finally have joined this "club" as a full member - I broke down yesterday and spent the $562+ at Wal-Mart for a Sanyo HT30744 30" widescreen. For those not familiar with this set, it's got an integrated ATSC tuner, 2 component HD inputs, 1 HDMI input, 2 composite inputs, and an optical audio output. It seems like a pretty decent package.

I'm on the middle of James Island, and already had a Comcast 8000HD DVR, which they let me install myself a few months ago. I was surprised to find out last night that they charge the same $9.95 for the DVR without HD channels as for with them, which makes wonder why they bother to make the distinction. Indeed, when I first got the box, I was able to watch all of the HD channels, which looked and sounded much better than the analog versions. I had switched my recording selections over to the HD channels when I found that Comcast had decided I wasn't an HD subscriber a couple weeks ago.

I bought a $20 Phillips amplified set top antenna for OTA reception. It took awhile to figure out how to orient it to get a decent signal on 50.1 & 2. I got great signal, of course, on 47.1 & 2 and 7.1-3, but didn't initially get 4.1. I get it now, but am surprised it's not stronger since it's on the same tower as 47 and 7. No Fox or UPN so far, but I didn't want to stay up all night.

Questions: Would the vaunted Silver Sensor work better and/or help me get Fox? Is is possible to get Fox on James Island with an indoor antenna? I have a Radio Shack outdoor antenna perched in my attic that I tried (briefly) before I went to Dish Network and eventually to Comcast, but I'm reluctant to mess with getting a cable from the attic to my TV. Since it's obvious that Comcast isn't going to have either NBC or Fox in the near future, I need a decent interim solution.

I'm surprised how difficult it is to interconnect and setup these things, and have already helped a few of my computer customers fixup their HD setups to work correctly.

Watch out for the 'HD Zoom' button on the Comcast DVR remote. I was fairly confused for awhile because the HD channels didn't look right on the widescreen, until I realized that the zoom got turned on somewhere along the line!

I also discovered at least one recent DVD is mislabeled ("The Cooler", which says it's 1.85:1 instead of 2.35:1), and finally got to see what non-anamorphic discs look like on a widescreen, but those are topics for some other thread.

BTW - I had posted a question about the digital sound from the 8000HD awhile back - I couldn't select Dolby ProLogic on any of the digital channels unless I switched to the analog inputs, so was getting the same sound on both left and right speakers, and nothing from the center. I replaced the 6-year-old receiver with a new Pioneer unit and it works great now!

KTrout:
Program info is correct on both my D* H-10 and my Mits built-in.
Thanks WCSC for the fix!

LuvThatHDTV: Thanks for the update and good news

OlJim: Glad to hear you'll make the first Lowcountry HD Club meeting at Channel 5 next Tuesday night. [Notice how I slipped that in there!] (For those with antenna questions, here's your chance to meet someone that's really in the know)

AndrewG: I did think about that and know the owner of a bar that's closer ..... Trayce's First String Sports. I'm planning on contacting them for an "unofficial" visit after our meeting (Too many ambulance chasing lawyers out there to actually meet at a bar).

TMCHSSC: Good point about Knology and FOX.

jfschroeder: I think you'll get some valuable assistance at the meeting Tuesday night.

bellvg: That's the first I've heard of that.... we'll check in to it.

OK back to working on the house.

jfschroeder,

To answer your question, yest it's possible to get FOX and UPN on J.I. with a set top antenna. I have a Silver Sensor which I ended up running in my attic and I receive all the local stations. Feel free to PM me and I'll give you more info if you want.

Just a quick Sunday night / Monday morning reminder that the HD Club Meeting is Tuesday night at Channel 5's TV Station in West Ashley.

There's been a pretty good response but I haven't heard from some key contributors to the forum yet!

Stop by if you can, starting around 6 pm or a little earlier.

Thanks,
Mark

What's happened with the Audio, very loud and annoying static.
I guess I won't watch CSI Miami after all.

Same problem. It was fine up until 9, then I surfed and when I came back at 9:30 it was there. Had to watch in SD (which stands for horrible picture).

Signal strength is fluctuating real bad also.

was bad on left ch only, for first 15 min. I just went to rt ch for first 15 min.

Thank you to Eldon for staying late and taking us through Channel 5's facility in West Ashley. Also thank you to those that came, especially those from out of town.

Mike: I was not able to locate your "neighborhood" with my map program. It's an old one, but I'll need more info from you if possible. Please PM or e-mail me with a street intersection.

Anyway, I quickly put this page together this evening. But it will give you an idea of what I'm hoping to accomplish with this. As more people contribute information I will most likely go to more detailed sub maps indicating locations.

here's the temporary address: www.markuyak.com/schdtv/ota/testmap.htm

click on the numbers to find information about that person's OTA reception configuration. I think with enough people, we can easily direct newbies on tried and true methods and equipment that they should be able to use for OTA reception. If you are interested in participating, which I hope a lot of you are, please fill out the attached form and return it to me either at kilgoretrout@comcast.net or via PM. The contact information is OPTIONAL and would be posted on the website, so please make sure it's OK with you before filling that out. I withheld some information on the forms I received tonight because I don't think I explained that at the meeting. If you are OK w/ telephone numbers etc. being posted, then please let me know.

I didn't put the broadcast locations on the map yet, but plan to in the near future.

guess that's all for now.

First, thanks to Mark and Eldon for the meeting last night. Informative and enjoyable as always!

Using all of your tips, I reoriented my attic Radio Shack antenna and got a pretty strong signal from everything but Fox, which was AWOL. The picture I got on WCBD was terrible on HD material from the network - it looked like the colors were misaligned, in particular the red shifted over several inches. It looked fine when they were local, and again later on Conan. Other channels, including 2.2, looked great. Did anyone else see this?

I couldn't find Fox for the life of me. I tried buying a mast-mount amplifier from Wal-Mart (Philips), but it actually seemed to make reception worse! I know OlJim recommends a Channel Master with a rotator - maybe that will be next.

It all makes me growl anew that our two (three) weakest stations can't get a deal done with Comcast. They may be hiding behind their corporate entities, but that doesn't mean jack for us here. Perhaps it's time for FCC complaints - if they can generate large fines for a two second indecent exposure, can't they do anything about bad faith policy compliance? Fox's efforts to broadcast HD so far are unsatisfactory. They clearly could at least be on cable right now. The multicast issue is for now a non-starter - neither WCBD nor WTAT are really using it now anyway, so why not make a short-term (6 months to 1 year) deal?

BTW - what's the deal with WB in this market? Is it a real station, or just a satellite feed that the cable companies drop in spots to make look local? Are we going to get their programming in HD at any time in the foreseeable future?

Sorry for the rant - I was up late fiddling with this, and the kids were difficult this morning ...
-JFS

Sounds like you guys had a great time and have the beginnings of a very helpful database for HD viewers in your area! Sorry to have missed the tour, I would have found it very interesting.

Thanks to Mark and Eldon...

for organizing and hosting the meeting and tour at WCSC last night. It was interesting and informative, and of course nice to put faces with some of the regular screen names here.

Looking forward to seeing other facilities in the area in the future too.

Mike

Originally posted by jfschroeder
It all makes me growl anew that our two (three) weakest stations can't get a deal done with Comcast. They may be hiding behind their corporate entities, but that doesn't mean jack for us here. Perhaps it's time for FCC complaints - if they can generate large fines for a two second indecent exposure, can't they do anything about bad faith policy compliance? Fox's efforts to broadcast HD so far are unsatisfactory. They clearly could at least be on cable right now. The multicast issue is for now a non-starter - neither WCBD nor WTAT are really using it now anyway, so why not make a short-term (6 months to 1 year) deal?

BTW - what's the deal with WB in this market? Is it a real station, or just a satellite feed that the cable companies drop in spots to make look local? Are we going to get their programming in HD at any time in the foreseeable future?



I can bet you that Fox (WTAT) is meeting the letter of the law regarding digital signal compliance. There is no requirement for HD, but there is for digital broadcasting. I would guess the they will be ready for full power from the tower as soon as the deadline hits. They must know exactly how long they can get away with that weak signal covering no territory, and when they would have to be in compliance.

I also bet that Comcast wouldn't mind a short term contract, but I would guess that is why WTAT has no interest in it. When they finally multicast, they wouldn't want to renegotiate a contract then.

WB is not a broadcast OTA signal.

I wish all the major cable companies would terminate their analog contracts with WTAT 24 (Sinclair) so that no one in the area (except the two or three in the tri county area that can get them OTA) could receive their broadcast. How would current and potential advertisers feel about this? Sinclair would either:

A) Negotiate a more resonable Digital contract

B) Increase power and quit dragging their feet to complete work at
the new tower.

Of course you have to keep in mind that if the cable companies cancelled their analog carriage of WTAT (they might be required to carry it via must carry regulations, I don't know) there would be a huge uproar from the ~90% of people who get only analog Fox via cable and don't want or see the need for a digital version. We are biased because we have seen the light (in its HD beauty) and the terrible analog Fox signal looks horrid on large screen digital sets.

<quote>
quit dragging their feet to complete work at the new tower.
</quote>

Eldon mentioned that he is waiting on the people doing the WCBD/WTAT tower work so that he can get some work done on his tower. In fairness, I have no clue what the timeframe or effort involved is for tower and transmitter upgrades. It could be that they are working as fast as humanly possible, have a small team, haven't been paid recently, or whatever. Having seen the WCSC tower facility a year or so ago (thanks KTrout and Eldon!), it's obviously no small undertaking, and is extremely specialized work.

From what Eldon says, the WCIV digital transmitter is fairly small compared to a full-power version, and they will probably not upgrade it until the deadline (which might be as late as 2009!). Apparently these "deadlines" are pretty soft. I wonder what WCBD and WTAT will put in?

I agree that WTAT is probably following the letter of the law at the moment; when I asked Eldon why I could occassionally get WTAT but not WMMP (UPN), which share one stubby tower, he noted that the other antenna was mounted on the other side of the tower (in the opposite direction). So, they met the letter if not the spirit of the deadline that required them to have digital signal OTA, which I believe passed for this market. Likewise, I'm sure their analog contracts with Comcast et al don't allow an early exit for either party except under very specific conditions. I do recall some mention about one of the contracts being close to ending, though ...

All of this speaks to having better communication with and from the involved parties. It's why people like Eldon and Diana are godsends here - we're not looking to hurt anyone's business (though it may sound like it from our frustrated posts), but rather to get the best product available to all in the most efficient way. In a perfect world, that would be high power OTA from a single point in each market, allowing a simple antenna setup. Of course, this world is anything but perfect
-JFS:cool:

Presumably the good folks at WCBD are messing with their HD signal. Last night the color misalignment was gone, but in its place was loud static much like what WCSC has periodically experienced (a problem card in one of the Dolby cards at Ch 5), as well as shifting mid-program between HD and SD. Unwatchable last night.
-JFS

Hey Guys.... just wanted to let you know I'm headed into a couple of meetings and then to the airport at 4pm. Four Day Weekend in Chicago for the Big Ten Tournament! Wee Haw!!!!

So, if you have a service issue - please call 866-892-7201.

I'll be back in the office Tuesday - but holed away until I get all month end reports done.

Have a great week/weekend and GO ILLINI!

[i]Originally posted by jfschroeder

From what Eldon says, the WCIV digital transmitter is fairly small compared to a full-power version, and they will probably not upgrade it until the deadline (which might be as late as 2009!). Apparently these "deadlines" are pretty soft. I wonder what WCBD and WTAT will put in?

I agree that WTAT is probably following the letter of the law at the moment; when I asked Eldon why I could occassionally get WTAT but not WMMP (UPN), which share one stubby tower, he noted that the other antenna was mounted on the other side of the tower (in the opposite direction). So, they met the letter if not the spirit of the deadline that required them to have digital signal OTA, which I believe passed for this market. Likewise, I'm sure their analog contracts with Comcast et al don't allow an early exit for either party except under very specific conditions. I do recall some mention about one of the contracts being close to ending, though ...

-JFS:cool: [/B]

Unfortunately, the reason Comcast doesn't have Fox or NBC is a multicasting issue. Our cable providers are looking out for our (and their best interest) not to carry the crap sub channels Sinclair and Media General wants to force upon us. This will cause your HD set to be an over priced SDTV set.
They will rob bandwidth from the HD channel to broadcast Sinclair Home Shopping network 1, 2 and 3. The end result will be pathetic HD or HDLite.
Your local PBS has a total of 3 channels now and it makes their PBSHD look bad.

Originally posted by jfschroeder
The multicast issue is for now a non-starter - neither WCBD nor WTAT are really using it now anyway, so why not make a short-term (6 months to 1 year) deal?
-JFS


Isn't WCSC "multicasting" thier signal? The regular HD and the weather radar? Or do I not understand what multicasting is? Someone mentioned how the PBS HD signal is degraded by the multicasting, but I don't see that effect on the WCSC signal. Both signals from WCSC are carried on TWC.

Also, what is the connection between WCSC and WTAT? Why do they have some of the same news people? It makes me wonder why WCSC is so good, and WTAT is so difficult if there is a "partnership" of some sort.

Thanks so much to all who attended, I learned alot from everyone! I am a true HD novice and have only recently started out a couple of months ago with Comcast 8000 DVR and liked the service, but was suprised to find out that they didn't carry all the local channels. Thats when I found this forum and it has been very helpfull. I live in Goose Creek and have just purchased Samsung SIR-T451 and gave the DVR back to Comcast (I had it just for HDTV). I could recieve all local stations EXCEPT Fox and UPN using the biggest 'Attic' antennas that Radio Shack carried (in my attic, of course) with a Philips 10db amp from Wal-Mart. After talking with Oljim, I went and purchased a Radio Shack #15-2160, a UHF only outdoor antenna. I put it on a three foot pole right outside my window, and I now get a 70% signal from FOX! I now get all locals (except for UPN, which from an earlier post is pointed away from me) without having to redirect my antenna.

In short, thanks again to Eldon for the tour and the pictures, and Ktrout for inviting us all out to the station. I am looking forward to touring the tower soon!

RFrank-

The FCC digital terrestrial standard, what's used for over-the-air transmission and usually called ATSC, supports a data stream of about 19.2 megabytes that fits into the space of one traditional TV channel using a modulation scheme called 8VSB (don't worry about what that is now except to note that the cable companies typically use a different modulation scheme called QAM which is better suited to the "closed" world of wired distribution.)

Each station can chose how to use that bandwidth, subject to some intrepretation of FCC rules. This might mean one very good HD signal only, or one pretty good HD signal at 1080i and one or two other low bit rate signals (e.g. a weather radar), or one pretty good HD signal at 720p and one or two lower quality programs more or less equal to standard def, or possibly 4-5-6 standard def programs (no HD), or even possibly some non-TV bits such as text, internet access, etc. All except the first are types of multicasting, which the ATSC standard supports, but which may, at times, result in artifacts such as tiling (pixelization) when the total bits needed exceeds the 19.2MB capacity. I see this problem regularly on SC ETV as they are trying to carry a 1080i HD stream and TWO SD streams all at the same time, which is really pushing the ATSC standard to the limit.

As we learned Tuesday, WCSC hard codes most of the 19.2MB for the HD stream, using I think only about 1.5MB for the WX radar. If all is working correctly, the HD stream should "never" be affected by this modest kind of multicasting, at least if it gets to you over the air.

The cable companies typically unbundle the 8VSB ATSC data stream into individual program streams, then modulate the ones they "want" or have rights to retransmit back into the cable system using QAM. Even though they show up as separate "channels" on your CATV set top box, they have been "bundled" into groups of QAM subchannels, which also have certain toal bandwidth constraints. So it is also possible for the CATV system to degrade the digital TV programs by trying to stuff too many things into their pipe too.

As a practical matter, most recently upgraded CATV systems have oodles of bandwidth, but they have to use it is a way that is most cost effective so they can show a return on the capital investment. And as noted in earlier in this thread, the OTA broadcasters and the CATV ops are at odds about exactly what "must" and "can" be carried, so there is an "electropolitical" angle to this that we'll just have to let play out. In the meantime, I'm impressed that both OTA and cable delivery of HD is as good as it is, despite both technical and business hurdles.

Mike

Also, what is the connection between WCSC and WTAT? Why do they have some of the same news people? It makes me wonder why WCSC is so good, and WTAT is so difficult if there is a "partnership" of some sort.

WTAT doesn't have a news department, so it pays a fee to WCSC to deliver its news content. The set for Fox is in an adjoining room between the WCSC set and newsroom, and they use the same air talent and production facilities. I didn't make the connection until the first time we did the tour more than a year ago - it's funny, because you start on the WCSC set, walk through an unmarked firewall and all of a sudden you're at Fox! There apparently is no other significant relationship between the stations, so that's were the cooperation ends.

Last night I picked up a Radio Shack Terk amplified antenna that looks an awful lot like the Silver Sensor. It is nearly omnidirectional as was mentioned at the meeting, although more unidirectional when it comes to Fox, which I can get with about a 75% strength - enough to watch and experience only periodic audio drops. Even when pointed for Fox, most of the other stations come in very strong. I don't quite understand how I can get WCIV and WCSC strongly, but get ETV more weakly, but there seems to be periodic fluctuation of the strength on nearly all of the channels. I put the thing in my attic and get a somewhat stronger signal, which works okay because the amplifier portion connects near the TV.

WCBD looked and sounded much better last night, although most (all?) of their stuff was SD last night. CSI on WCSC was interesting in 5.1 - I've never heard "Who Are You" that way before - it was strange hearing only Pete and his guitar on the center channel. They don't use the surround much otherwise, but it is there.
-JFS

Just a quick post to say that I haven't received anyone else's information regarding how they receive OTA broadcasts. I know a lot of you do it so please fill out the form and send it in. The more the better. I may not get to it right away, but eventually I'll get the site to where it's useful.

If you are concerned about privacy issues, all I'm asking for is screen name. I don't want exact addresses either.

Feel free to send in pictures of the install as well. They can be on the link to your info.

Thanks.

Originally posted by Satori84
As we learned Tuesday, WCSC hard codes most of the 19.2MB for the HD stream, using I think only about 1.5MB for the WX radar. If all is working correctly, the HD stream should "never" be affected by this modest kind of multicasting, at least if it gets to you over the air.

The cable companies typically unbundle the 8VSB ATSC data stream into individual program streams, then modulate the ones they "want" or have rights to retransmit back into the cable system using QAM. Even though they show up as separate "channels" on your CATV set top box, they have been "bundled" into groups of QAM subchannels, which also have certain toal bandwidth constraints. So it is also possible for the CATV system to degrade the digital TV programs by trying to stuff too many things into their pipe too.


As far as I know Comcast has a policy of no "recompression" of HD signals, Mike seems to know how they get it reencoded for QAM transmission, but I think you will see that Comcast sends you what they get. Which is why you can see the problems of PBS whether OTA or on cable, their HD picture is compromised at the source. Frank can probably confirm this but I read in the programming forum that it is a national policy of no compression.

I think it is great how many new names are showing up on this forum especially since the tour/meeting on Tuesday. Lots of good questions and new sources of answers.

Sorry I couldn't make it, unexpected timing mishap, but next time, I look forward to it. Ktrout, I will be sending my OTA info ASAP.

Andy

Originally posted by jfschroeder
CSI on WCSC was interesting in 5.1 - I've never heard "Who Are You" that way before - it was strange hearing only Mick and his guitar on the center channel. They don't use the surround much otherwise, but it is there.
-JFS

Its true that the intro is really the only thing that gives you a surround effect, but I guess that is to be expected, since it is a primarily a investigation show. Although they seem to give some "bullet travelling through a body" surround effects now and then as well. I look forward to CBS using the surround effects more for sports and movies.

strange hearing only Mick and his guitar on the center channel

You mean Pete and his guitar don't you? :D

Doh!! - fixed the post. It is truly heresy, but I occasionally get the bands mixed up ...

About Sinclair's stance...............

This was in the "programming" forum, and I don't know about the authenticity of it, just reading. Sorry if it's been posted here before.

http://www.sbgi.net/misc/cable_resale_local_tv.pdf

JFS,

Glad to here you finally got FOX. Are the audio drops you get very short, not to the point where you mis what is being said, but enough to be noticed? If so, I think that is what everyone is getting. I know I get it and I posted about it and a couple of others said they get the same.

To all,

How about the trailer for Star Wars 3? The 5.1 audio was probably the best I've ever heard come from a TV broadcast. It was as strong as a DVD. My rear channels were loaded with audio and loud. Only wish they could have shown it in HD like many of the super bowl commercials.

Sorry I didn't get a chance to make it to the tour. Actually had arrangements for my wife to get my daughter out of daycare so I could go, and she ended up getting sick again. Sounds like everyone had a good time.

Mark, I'll get my info over to you shortly.

Thanks to those that got your info to me today. Had a window tonight so I got a few more things done with the website. I plan to add link to antennaweb.org and maybe a paragraph or two with a little detail, but just getting the basics started right now.

Still plenty of room left for additional people. Please send info.

Comments / Constructive Criticism's are welcome.... I'm just winging this thing.

www.markuyak.com/schdtv/schdtv.htm

Have a good weekend.

Originally posted by loadams
About Sinclair's stance...............

This was in the "programming" forum, and I don't know about the authenticity of it, just reading. Sorry if it's been posted here before.

http://www.sbgi.net/misc/cable_resale_local_tv.pdf

I see Sinclair only told their side of the story. Didn't mention a word about multicasting.

A while ago there was a discussion about WTAT and their digital broadcasts. I would actually make the argument that WTAT is not meeting the minimum requirements of DTV transmission because with the grant of an STA (special temporary authority) for digital transmissions they are supposed to be at least "serving their community of license" until a permanent facility is constructed and a license is granted.

I don't think WTAT meets that requirement. There's a lot of people not able to receive FOX's signal here in the immediate Charleston area.

It's a worthless argument because there's nothing we can do about it, but I still feel it's worth noting.

Originally posted by DianaTWCSC
Hey Guys.... just wanted to let you know I'm headed into a couple of meetings and then to the airport at 4pm. Four Day Weekend in Chicago for the Big Ten Tournament! Wee Haw!!!!

So, if you have a service issue - please call 866-892-7201.

I'll be back in the office Tuesday - but holed away until I get all month end reports done.

Have a great week/weekend and GO ILLINI!

Ughhh! Man I wish I was there!

Go ILLINI!

Have fun!!!!!

It's not just WTAT. In the "reception" forum, alot of Fox stations have their viewers frustrated with low power all over the country. To be perfectly honest, the ONLY time I complain about not being able to receive WTAT is when a sporting event is being broadcast, otherwise, I'm not really a big fan of FOX'S programming.

Ktrout, your right on the head about their delivery. They consider themselves a "broadcast" network, but yet take little effort to get it over to us. Think about............. Your watching a baseball game in Spring on FOX, and a severe storm is approaching, you will have no idea to get the kids in to safety. A dangerous criminal is on the loose in your neighborhood, again, you've got no idea..........because they have no way of getting that info to you in real time, but yet they are considered to be a local network, serving the community from A to Z.
And I will think you will see more STA's from them in the future because the digital deadline will certainly be pushed up. They probably don't see the need until the absolute deadline nears.

And yes, a worthless argument. I don't know why I even went on about this.

loadams you hit the nail on the head, the Fox station in Sav is very low power and NO HD

Ktrout, please check pm.

Oljim, you must have a "tower" down there !!!

lancer1991 and all:

Some Dolby Digital info from my setup; kinda related to Fox.

I have a Sony 5.1 receiver, a Mitsubishi TV with built-in tuner, a JVC D-VHS VCR and a DirecTV H-10 HDTV Sat receiver (among other items). I have an optical audio cable connected from the VCR to the receiver and also a coax digital audio cable connected from the TV to the receiver. The D* receiver also uses optical audio connected to the receiver. And there's also a firewire cable between the TV and the VCR. (the firewire cable basically makes the VCR like an external tape drive for the TV and it's MPEG-2 decoder; a bit bucket if you will)
When I watch Fox in DD on the D* receiver I have no audio dropouts, when I watch on my old Sony Sat HD-200 I used to have audio dropouts. Watching on my TV's built-in tuner I also have dropouts.
But here's the strange part. If I play back a recorded show from Fox I get dropouts if I let the TV send the DD bitsream to the receiver, but if I use the VCR output, I get no dropouts.
I wonder if this means Fox has issues with it's PSIP data or it's DD bitstream? Since I am using the same DD decoder in my receiver and sometimes I get dropouts and other times I don't, it sounds like it might be possible.
Especially when I add this:
If I record CBS in DD I get something entirely different. If I play back CBS through my TV's output then everything is normal. But when I play back from my VCR's ouptut I get absolutely no audio. Even if I setup the VCR to ouput PCM instead of DD I get no output. ( I haven't tried analog output yet)

Any ideas on if or how WCSC will multi-cast NCAA Tournament games? Can they actually broadcast two HD signals at the same time using the bandwidth/power already available to them? Or can they only do 1 HD and one SD. It is my understanding that they have the capacity to split their signal into 4 or five total streams...am I way off on this?

I think i read somewhere on this forum that WCSC has to broadcast the same content on SD and HD. Which means they will only broadcast one game at a time. Im sure others here can confirm or correct this. It may be possible to kill the weather radar in favor of a second ball game but...im not sure.

I purchased a Sammy SIR-TS360 from ebay this weekend. Looks like i will be getting back into the OTA game. I still have my CM 4228 from when i lived on Johns Island....WTAT was sketchy as far as getting a signal on the Island...and the distance from my new place here in Summerville is almost identical.

Wish me luck.

If you truly are a bball junkie or want to watch games that you care about your best bet is to go to cstv.com and buy their indemand package for your computer. If you have a high-speed connection you can watch any game you want plus get the interviews, etc . They are charging $20 for the service for the entire tournament. Since I spent 40 years of my life in WI and MI and now live in this area I really don't care at all about ACC or SEC basketball and will buy the pack so I can watch the games I want and not what CBS wants. I still remember when ESPN was showing the first weekend -- it was so much better than CBS. Besides I can't stand Billy Packer and his love affair with the ACC! (RANT)!

What is up with WCSC and the Friday night prime time lately?

A few times they have had Joan of Arcadia on at 2:07 Sat morning and this past weekend Numb3rs was on at 4:37. At least that is what the guide said. It actually started 10 minutes late. I normally wouldn't mind as I just record these on my PVR and watch when I have time, but they weren't in HD and I missed the last 10 minutes of Numb3rs.

--
David

Here's the entire Final Four BBall schedule for the first two rounds.....

Working on finding out what games will be shown here locally.
This at least gives you an idea of the games possible in HD.
FOLLOWING ARE THE TIP TIMES AND GAME SEQUENCES FOR TOURNAMENT PLAY ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, MARCH 17 & 18 AS WELL AS THE TIP TIMES AND POTENTIAL GAME SEQUENCES FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, MARCH 19 & 20.


THURSDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 17
12:00N-5:00PM CNYT/9:00AM-2:00PM CPT

12:20PM CNYT/9:20AM CPT
Indianapolis I Kentucky vs Eastern Kentucky

12:25PM CNYT/9:25AM CPT
Cleveland I Alabama vs Wisc-Milwaukee
(Available in HD)

12:40PM CNYT/9:40AM CPT
Boise I Pacific vs Pittsburgh

12:45PM CNYT/9:45AM CPT
Tucson I Oklahoma vs Niagara
(Available in HD)

2:40PM CNYT/11:40AM CPT
Indianapolis II Cincinnati vs Iowa

2:45PM CNYT/11:45AM CPT
Cleveland II Boston College vs Pennsylvania (Available in HD)

3:00PM CNYT/12:00N CPT
Boise II Washington vs Montana

3:05PM CNYT/12:05PM CPT
Tucson II Utah vs UTEP (Available in HD)





THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 17
7:00PM-12:00MID CNYT/4:00-9:00PM CPT

7:10PM CNYT/4:10PM CPT
Indianapolis III Texas vs Nevada

7:10PM CNYT/4:10PM CPT
Cleveland III Wake Forest vs Chattanooga (Available in HD)

7:20PM CNYT/4:20PM CPT
Boise III Arizona vs Utah State

7:25PM CNYT/4:25PM CPT
Tucson III Gonzaga vs Winthrop (Available in HD)

9:30PM CNYT/6:30PM CPT
Indianapolis IV Illinois vs Farleigh Dickinson

9:30PM CNYT/6:30PM CPT
Cleveland IV West Virginia vs Creighton (Available in HD)

9:40PM CNYT/6:40PM CPT
Boise IV LSU vs UAB

9:45PM CNYT/6:45PM CPT
Tucson IV Texas Tech vs UCLA (Available in HD)


FRIDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 18
12:00N-5:00PM CNYT/9:00AM-2:00PM CPT

12:15PM CNYT/9:15AM CPT
Worcester I Charlotte vs NC State (Available in HD)

12:25PM CNYT/9:25AM CPT
Nashville I Florida vs Ohio (Available in HD)

12:30PM CNYT/9:30AM CPT
Oklahoma City I Oklahoma St. vs Southeastern LA

12:30PM CNYT/9:30AM CPT
Charlotte I Minnesota vs Iowa State

2:35PM CNYT/11:35AM CPT
Worcester II UConn vs UCF (Available in HD)

2:45PM CNYT/11:45AM CPT
Nashville II Villanova vs New Mexico (Available in HD)

2:50PM CNYT/11:50AM CPT
Oklahoma City II Southern Illinois vs St. Mary's (CA)

2:50PM CNYT/11:50AM CPT
Charlotte II North Carolina vs
Oakland/Alabama A&M



FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 18
7:00PM-12:00MID CNYT/4:00-9:00PM CPT

7:10PM CNYT/4:10PM CPT
Worcester III Syracuse vs Vermont (Available in HD)

7:10PM CNYT/4:10PM CPT
Nashville III Louisville vs LA-Lafayette (Available in HD)

7:20PM CNYT/4:20PM CPT
Oklahoma City III Wisconsin vs Northern Iowa

7:25PM CNYT/4:25PM CPT
Charlotte III Duke vs Delaware St.

9:30PM CNYT/6:30PM CPT
Worcester IV Michigan State vs Old Dominion (Available in HD)

9:30PM CNYT/6:30PM CPT
Nashville IV Georgia Tech vs George Washington (Available in HD)

9:40PM CNYT/6:40PM CPT
Oklahoma City IV Kansas vs Bucknell

9:45PM CNYT/6:45PM CPT
Charlotte IV Stanford vs Mississippi State



SATURDAY, MARCH 19
1:00-10:00PM CNYT/10:00AM-7:00PM CPT

1:10PM CNYT/10:10AM CPT
Tucson I (National) Gonzaga/Winthrop vs Texas Tech/UCLA (Available in HD)

3:20PM CNYT/12:20PM CPT
Boise I Washington/Montana vs
Pacific/Pittsburgh

3:40PM CNYT/12:40PM CPT
Tucson II Oklahoma/Niagara vs Utah/UTEP (Available in HD)

5:30PM CNYT/2:30PM CPT
Cleveland I Boston College/Penn. vs Alabama/Wisc-Milwaukee (Available in HD)

5:40PM CNYT/2:40PM CPT
Indianapolis I Kentucky/East Kentucky vs Cincinnati/Iowa

5:50PM CNYT/2:50PM CPT
Boise II Arizona/Utah St. vs LSU/UAB

8:00PM CNYT/5:00PM CPT
Cleveland II Wake Forest/Chattanooga vs W Virginia/Creighton (Available in HD)

8:10PM CNYT/5:10PM CPT
Indianapolis II Illinois/Farleigh Dickinson vs Texas/Nevada


SUNDAY, MARCH 20
12:00N-7:00PM CNYT/9:00AM-4:00PM CPT

12:10PM CNYT/9:10AM CPT
Worcester I(National) UConn/UCF vs Charlotte/North Carolina St.(Available in HD)

2:15PM CNYT/11:15AM CPT
Nashville I Louisville/LA-Laf. vs Georgia Tech/Geor.Wash (Available in HD)

2:20PM CNYT/11:20AM CPT
Oklahoma City I Oklahoma St/SE LA vs So. Illinois/St. Mary's

2:30PM CNYT/11:30AM CPT
Charlotte I UNC/Oakland-Alabama A&M vs Minnesota/Iowa

2:40PM CNYT/11:40AM CPT
Worcester II Syracuse/Vermont vs Michigan St/Old Dominion

4:45PM CNYT/1:45PM CPT
Nashville II Florida/Ohio vs Villanova/New Mexico

4:50PM CNYT/1:50PM CPT
Oklahoma City II Kansas/Bucknell vs Wisconsin/Northern Iowa

5:00PM CNYT/2:00PM CPT
Charlotte II Duke/Delaware St. vs Stanford/Miss State

Yes, that much is already all over the web.

onyxsoft:

I don't know what the problem is with WCSC and Friday nights but it is annoying, especially with Joan of Arcadia a couple weeks ago. Besides not being in HD, it looked like it was recorded on a $20 Wal-Mart VCR.
I saw on DirecTV that Joan was on the east coast (NY?) and west coast (LA?) CBS channels at the normal times and in HD, but we get to suffer through second rate programming and even worse quality when the show is eventually broadcast.
A couple of years ago I questioned CBS about college football coverage and their choice of games. They were carrying a Jefferson Pilot game (something like Wake Forest vs. Duke) instead a Florida State vs. Miami, which the rest of the country was watching. Their reply to me was that they had a contract and couldn't carry anything but that JP game of the week. But now they can show the prime-time show at 2:37 a.m. instead of 8 P.M.?? I don't get it!!
And if it's going to be shown later, why can't they play it back in HD? I know CBS has an HD recorder. I've seen it.

I believe the Joan of Arcadia episode in question was preempted by a local charity telethon.

Originally posted by shuttermaker


I purchased a Sammy SIR-TS360 from ebay this weekend. Looks like i will be getting back into the OTA game. I still have my CM 4228 from when i lived on Johns Island....WTAT was sketchy as far as getting a signal on the Island...and the distance from my new place here in Summerville is almost identical.

Wish me luck.

Let me know if you get a reliable signal from WTAT in Summerville...not much luck for me.

:(

Speaking of Jefferson Pilot, here's new I received today regarding the timetable they have for broadcasting in HD.

"We will not be providing HD telecasts of our ACC and SEC sports until the 2007 football seasons at the earliest."

Hey guys. I've been away from the forums for a little while, but now I have an emergency! I'm kind of scared that my 65" is dying on me or something. Last night, it was working great, as usual... beautiful picture. But tonight, I turned it on and the convergence was a good bit off. I've had this TV since about Christmas 2003, and i never have had a problem with it. So anyway, i went in the menu and went to adjust the convergence, but it doesn't seem to help! Text now has a prominent green shadow to the right, and other colors are not lining up either throughout the screen... Since I can't seem to fix the convergence myself, does anyone have any suggestions or ideas? Possibly a repair man that someone knows locally who could come out and look at it? I hope i can get it fixed before the big games coming up! Thanks!!!

NCAA BASKETBALL FIRST ROUND THURSDAY 03/17/05

12:20PM KENTUCKY vs EASTERN KENTUCKY
2:40PM CINCINNATI vs IOWA
7:25PM GONZAGA vs WINTHROP (HDTV)
9:40PM LSU vs UAB

NCAA BASKETBALL FIRST ROUND FRIDAY 03/18/05

12:25PM CHARLOTTE vs NORTH CAROLINA STATE
2:50PM NORTH CAROLINA vs OAKLAND / ALABAMA A&M
7:25PM DUKE vs DELAWARE STATE
9:30PM GEORGIA TECH vs GEORGE WASHINGTON (HDTV)

The earlier schedule (which is all over the internet) indicates that Charlotte vs. NC State is in HD, I'll check into why it's not listed by WCSC.

Where's my 'Cuse game? I enjoyed watching the Big East Tourny in HD on ESPN over the weekend.

How about NBC doing a charity event during a Sunday round of golf? Seems to happen every year. Why can't they do it on Saturday where at least you don't miss who wins or not. The best was this morning on NBC news they showed Vijay missing his put and Harrington winning, but not saying "oh, sorry no one could see this live." Put the charitys on PBS.

Must have been local not NBC. I saw the putt live here.

dolemite77:
Who makes the TV?

Originally posted by LuvThatHDTV
dolemite77:
Who makes the TV?

Well........... even though it's an Apex, she's given me a great picture until now. TV Details (http://www.apexdigitalinc.com/proddetail.asp?category=Televisions&subcat=&linenumber=39)

I get 5-2 radar on 5-1, nothing on 5-2 both tuners

TWC has no HD from WCSC at the moment both channels are quiet.


Correction the main WCSC feed has the radar now

What's been going on? No HD the past two nights.

now 5-1 has no sound, 5-2 back to radar

Read this news report on another thread, seems Comcast and Sinclair have reached an agreement

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050316/phw022_3.html

WCSC had a massive power failure early this morning which is why things have been goofy.

Nice find shuttermaker, reads that way anyway.

Seems that Comcast customers in Baltimore are now enjoying Sinclair broadcasting. Guess those that had it briefly for the superbowl just had to wait for a flick of the switch.

Anyone here in the lowcountry with Comcast able to receive the HD signal?

Diana, I will be waiting with great anticipation for some positive news from the folks at TWC

nope, no Fox HD here yet... By the way, I got my TV fixed back to normal... Thank GOD! I just left her unplugged overnight, and i guess it reset itself.

The APEX lives!

dolemite77:
Glad to hear it. If it happened to be a Mitsubishi then I could have given you some service menu hints on how to adjust the convergence using the service menu. I used my service menu to get much better geometry on my Mits. The geometry was originally OK, but I had pretty bad overscan. Once I adjusted the overscan then I had real bad geometry along the edges of the screen. 4-5 hours after messing with the service menu convergence it looks much better. Mainly because the S.M. allows adjustment of the green gun also, not just the red and blue guns.
Also I have an Apex 2776 LCD TV and my original Apex DVD player ( the first MP3 DVD player). Nothing wrong with Apex!

WCSC was ok 2 min after I posted msg. They had a power outage

Thanks LuvthatHDTV! While you're talking about overscan, that reminds me. My tv has always had a bit of an issue there. It seems to cut off about an inch or two all the way around the screen, but only if it's in one of the YbPbRb inputs - the composite and s-video inputs (not that i really use those) are fine. For instance, the news channel (fox, cnn, etc) tickers at the bottom are usually cut off a bit, as are some channels' watermarks in the corners of the screen. I wish there was a way to "shrink" or zoom out just a couple of notches... Anyone with any ideas? It's not a huge deal. I'm just happy to have a pretty picture again.

Comcast 77.4 = Fox HD

Okay, I'll bite, you have CableCard to receive Comcast? It is not up on their box tonight. I have never been able to tune in any of the HD stations using my TV's digital tuner (no CableCard, just QAM tuner), whenever it found any signals there would be a message that the digital signal is encrypted. I knew their digital tier was encrypted but I thought the HD stations would be available.

If you do have CableCard, I am sure a lot of new users would be interested.

Andy

what is cablecard? And how can you tune 77.4 on digi cable?

Originally posted by AndrewG
Okay, I'll bite, you have CableCard to receive Comcast? It is not up on their box tonight. I have never been able to tune in any of the HD stations using my TV's digital tuner (no CableCard, just QAM tuner), whenever it found any signals there would be a message that the digital signal is encrypted. I knew their digital tier was encrypted but I thought the HD stations would be available.

If you do have CableCard, I am sure a lot of new users would be interested.

Andy

Do a rescan of your digital cable, my provider has the networks available in clear QAM (minus NBC) even Fox.