Help for the clueless...what is "SDV?" :confused:

..and Startover ?

Help for the clueless...what is "SDV?" :confused:
Here you go (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/search.php?).

Switched digital works much like On Demand. Less frequently viewed channels are shifted to a "carousel". When a viewer with a digital converter tunes to that channel, a request is sent, and the programming is sent to that one converter. Dozens of channels that used to occupy space on numerous digital carriers now take up only 4. With the new equipment comes a spreading out of the demand to many more of what are called service groups, so there are not more folks requesting than capacity allows. As more folks get cable service, more service groups can be added to cope with the additional demands.

Startover works like VOD, and uses the same equipment. When a viewer tunes to a Startover enabled channel, a banner appears to let them know they may start that program from the beginning. Selecting the Startover option does just what it says, and the program appears from the beginning. VOD service groups are also increased to prevent someone finding a service is not available due to excessive demand.

All of this occupies the same space, in terms of digital carriers, that was previously used just for VOD, freeing up some room for more stuff.

Hope that helps.

Actually Switched Digital Video SDV converts the analog channels to digital to free more bandwidth. The digital box displays them on the analog channel locations but they are actually digital and those without boxes still receive the analog signal. I have noticed an improvement in the SD picture quality on my HDTV monitor and I assumed SDV had been turned on.

Phil

I noticed what may be a shortcoming of the 8300 DVR the other day. We paused a show starting at 9pm, and started playing it 20 minutes into it...no problems until 10, when it terminated what we were watching, and suddenly went "live," apparently to start recording a show on the same channel starting at 10...I was only recording one show at a time. I am guessing it had to do with recording a program (scheduled recording) on the same channel I had paused and was watching a delayed program (essentially recorded)...but was surprised since you can record two at once, which would have been the case.

Probably because you were watching the live buffer rather than a recording.

Anyone see this?

A poster is reporting seeing Universal HD on Channel 170 in Nashville.

Sounds like for the systems that don't have enough bandwidth to add the channel the Universal HD Olympics coverage will be on INHD2.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/show...579#post7046579

From JWhip in a different thread:

Quote:
I can confirm that Comcast and Universal have in fact reached a deal. I had heard that a couple of weeks ago but didn't ewant to post it here until I confirmed it. The deal permits Comcast to carry Universal HD but does not mandate it. It depends on region by region. IN short, it is TNT-HD all over again. The Philly market DOES NOT have bandwidth to carry it at this time. It is thought that the Olympics coverge was most important, so that will preempt INHD2 programming on our system. Nashville has the bandwidth as I am sure other areas do as well. I do not believe any system in SE Pa or any part of NJ will carry the channel full time for awhile. I do not know how long. Frankly, I get it on D* and do not think you are really missing anything as I almost never watch it. However, I realize that others will disagree with that asessment.



I figured this needed a new thread.

Can our Comcast rep confirm this for our area?

Actually Switched Digital Video SDV converts the analog channels to digital to free more bandwidth. The digital box displays them on the analog channel locations but they are actually digital and those without boxes still receive the analog signal. I have noticed an improvement in the SD picture quality on my HDTV monitor and I assumed SDV had been turned on.

Phil

Does Comcast do this? I just saw some comments about all Digital broadcasts on another forum where it appears a new box was given that is all digital.

Anyone with Dishnetwork HD 811 921 or 942 look at ch 240 WABC NY

Actually Switched Digital Video SDV converts the analog channels to digital to free more bandwidth. The digital box displays them on the analog channel locations but they are actually digital and those without boxes still receive the analog signal. I have noticed an improvement in the SD picture quality on my HDTV monitor and I assumed SDV had been turned on.

Phil

Moving some analog channels to switched, unfortunately, did not free anything up. Can't run a digital carrier in that analog space if there is already a channel on it, and we still have to run the analog for those folks without a converter. 2 carriers in the same 6MHz would only eliminate the picture for everyone. In a system that has open analog frequencies, digital carriers could be placed in the space, and may already be there in some systems, but some of us do not have any open analogs in our systems. Even if we did, moving existing analogs to switched digital would not allow us to shut those channels down, so again, nothing is freed up. Someday..., but can't do it now.

Generally 12 digital, or 2 HDs per carrier, or QAM. Shifting some of the digitals to switched, West Coast HBOs, Showtimes, Sports Packages, etc. frees up space within that QAM to add digitals, or remaining digital channels could be shifted, and combined to free up a carrier for a couple HDs.

Sorry if I wasn't clear in my previous post. I was trying to explain, in general, what currently exists, and how it is being used for right now.
Thanks

Has anyone had trouble getting UPN ota during the past week. I was getting it fine and all of a sudden it does not come in. I can tune to it for about 5 seconds and then it goes to no signal. All of the other stations come in great with great signal strength.

Can anyone in this thread fill me in on what kind of DD 5.1 pass through capability WCIV-DT has from the ABC network? I'll bet it's been discussed here before but I need a refresher course.

The reason I ask is that for the entire duration of the Superbowl yesterday I had non-existant LFE and very little surround on WCIV. My backup ABC source (WPDE-DT Florence) was no help because they don't seem to do any 5.1 yet. The receiver indicated it was getting a DD signal and decoding it, and there was "clean" announce in the center speaker, but not even a peep from the sub. In fact after a few minutes into the game, the sub went to sleep in its auto-off mode so I know it was not seeing anything from the receiver.

I was convinced something was wrong with my gear, so during the abominable half-time show, I played a bit of a show (previously recorded from HDNet) off the SA 83000 hard drive, and BAM, lots of LFE, surrounds, everything 5.1 normal. I can only conclude ABC wasn't sending 5.1 (unthinkable), or that for some reason it wasn't being passed on by WCIV. Did anyone else in the WCIV coverage area have similar audio?

For what it's worth, this is VIA TWC on the Andrews/Georgetown system. As I was seeing a DD signal, I don't think any part of the TWC plant was a factor in this.

Thanks,

Mike

I noticed what may be a shortcoming of the 8300 DVR the other day. We paused a show starting at 9pm, and started playing it 20 minutes into it...no problems until 10, when it terminated what we were watching, and suddenly went "live," apparently to start recording a show on the same channel starting at 10...I was only recording one show at a time. I am guessing it had to do with recording a program (scheduled recording) on the same channel I had paused and was watching a delayed program (essentially recorded)...but was surprised since you can record two at once, which would have been the case.


Known issue for about a week - Engineers and SA are looking at it.

Can anyone in this thread fill me in on what kind of DD 5.1 pass through capability WCIV-DT has from the ABC network? I'll bet it's been discussed here before but I need a refresher course.

The reason I ask is that for the entire duration of the Superbowl yesterday I had non-existant LFE and very little surround on WCIV. My backup ABC source (WPDE-DT Florence) was no help because they don't seem to do any 5.1 yet. The receiver indicated it was getting a DD signal and decoding it, and there was "clean" announce in the center speaker, but not even a peep from the sub. In fact after a few minutes into the game, the sub went to sleep in its auto-off mode so I know it was not seeing anything from the receiver.

I was convinced something was wrong with my gear, so during the abominable half-time show, I played a bit of a show (previously recorded from HDNet) off the SA 83000 hard drive, and BAM, lots of LFE, surrounds, everything 5.1 normal. I can only conclude ABC wasn't sending 5.1 (unthinkable), or that for some reason it wasn't being passed on by WCIV. Did anyone else in the WCIV coverage area have similar audio?

For what it's worth, this is VIA TWC on the Andrews/Georgetown system. As I was seeing a DD signal, I don't think any part of the TWC plant was a factor in this.

Thanks,

Mike

All seemed normal with WCIV via TWC here in Summerville...the sub was most notable during commercials.

Everything was good ota, perhaps the best game in 5.1 all year from ABC.

COMCAST, what were you thinking ! Moving the premium HD channels away from the other HD lineup !!!

We subscribe to all the HD premium channels ... and every few days I would sit down with the remote and scroll the guide to select the HD movies and shows to record. Having them all arranged one after the other helped because one could glance at several HD channels at once while scrolling through the time the slots.

Now with HBO-HD, Showtime-HD, Cinemax-HD and StarZ-HD spread around ... its excruciating inconvenient to do this.

Also ... if I want to know what is playing on HD ... I am less likely inclined to manually jump across to each of those premium channels.

Whoever came up with this new lineup ... missed the boat big time !!

Please put all the HD channels together ! I believe Time Warner (At least while I was in Columbia until a year ago) ... had it right ... folks who watch HD ... like to see all the HD channels bunched up together ... makes perfect and logical sense.

Please Please Please.

Max

ESPN HD

Help! Is anyone else not able to view channel 173 ESPN HD. I want to watch the duke UNC game in hi def!

ESPN was going to Blackout areas that are ACC -- and game is not in HD soooooooo!

well....crap!

Has anyone noticed that ABC will drop the HD signal to show a little bug of the upcoming newscast and once it's over it's back to HD? Very annoying and stupid.

Yes, I noticed it as well. Also, on several HD shows, it seems that the HD signal is switched off a little too early. Just before the end credits. Is this switching coming from WCIV or national ABC? Why cant they just leave it on 24/7 ?

Last night during Invasion, coming out of the next to last commerical pod, WCIV stayed in SD for the entire last act. It might have been a hung switch in the Master Control switcher, or possibly a human error in WCIV's Master Control. I don't know whether the flip to/from SD is automatic on signal from the network, timed by WCIV's automation system, or manually switched, but I agree it was very jarring to the eye. DD audio also disappeared during this.

After the last commercial pod, they returned to HD, until a minute or two before credits, but this is a common problem at many stations just before local news (e.g. at 11:00 PM). They go into "tease promo" mode on the SD side, squeezing back the network feed to run a news tease over/adjacent to the close of the network show. They can't have the DT side viewers not see the SD tease, so they force us back to the SD feed a little early. Some day when the local affiliates can afford a HD master control switcher, we won't have to endure these primitive transitions into and out of HD any longer.

Maybe someone could suggest that they trim the weather departments outrageous budget in order to expedite a local master control switcher :)

well....crap!

LOL...My sentiments exactly! As a dyed-in-the-wool Duke fan, I am always tuned in for every televised game. Of course their great success over the years has earned them a whole lot of national and HD telecasts. The fact that more than half of their games this year have been/will be in HD is a blessing...and it gets better each year. But on those occassions that I am "forced" to watch them in SD, it hurts. Then to add insult to injury, not being able to watch "The Game" in HD SUX!!!! At the very least, the final regualr season game at Cameron (against UNC) will be a national HD feed (ESPN2HD). And the entire ACC Tournament will also be on ESPNHD/ESPN2HD.

This is absolutely the best time of the year!!! :D

Anyone see this?

Can our Comcast rep confirm this for our area?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=639557

It has been reported all over country in the Programming forum that UniversalHD programming is appearing on Comcast either as a new station (for those with bandwidth capabilities) or in place of INHD2 during the Olympics. Most people were reporting that it started appearing yesterday. Not on our system yet, but maybe Andrews can give us an update? I can't imagine calling Comcast would get you any info.

There is also a thread about TW added UHD for the olympics as well, maybe Diana can chime in as well.

Comcast of Charleston has launched Universal HD on Channel 184 for our customers who have our HD level of service effective today. The on screen guide will not reflect the channel content until tomorrow.

For a detailed summary of the Olympic events go to:

http://www.hdsportsguide.com/

Choose Olympics.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Andrews Mcilwain

andrews_mcilwain@cable.comcast.com

Comcast of Charleston has launched Universal HD on Channel 184 for our customers who have our HD level of service effective today. The on screen guide will not reflect the channel content until tomorrow.

For a detailed summary of the Olympic events go to:

http://www.hdsportsguide.com/

Choose Olympics.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Andrews Mcilwain

andrews_mcilwain@cable.comcast.com
Andrews,
Thanks for the info, noticed it tonight when I got home. Is this a permanent addition or just for the olympics.

In general does Comcast have the bandwidth for upcoming HD channels. It is also rumored that ESPN2 and MTVHD are coming on to Comcast soon. I know you probably can't discuss any upcoming developments, but is our local system ready for additional HD stations. I ask because it is clear that in some parts of the country they are bandwidth limited and haven't even added TNT-HD.

Thanks,

Andy

kudos to COMCAST for adding another HD channel

I finally updated the website to reflect FOX's new broadcast location and added atp1313 as an OTA resource.

unfortunately having to watch that game in SD is something that we're likely going to have to deal with for a while because JP Sports had this position in 2002.

"Speaking for Jefferson Pilot Sports only, the technical transition to HDTV distribution of our ACC and SEC sports properties is so costly that we are waiting until there is a sufficient number of homes able to receive a HDTV signal to make the investment. Right now it looks like that will be several years at the earliest."

It took FOX five years to start broadcasting locally (with legitimate signal), something the FCC had a mandate for. I can't imagine how much longer we'll have to wait for JP Sports to willingly spend the money.

If you really want to see the games in HD I would suggest you start inquiring now.

I finally updated the website to reflect FOX's new broadcast location...
What is that link again?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=639557


There is also a thread about TW added UHD for the olympics as well, maybe Diana can chime in as well.

TWC SC launched Universal HD on December 1 thorughout the state.... There are some other TWC Divisions in the country who have had to work on their bandwidth in order to launch the service by the start of the Olympics last night.

Interactive Update for all TWCSC Digital/HD Customers:

The 2006 Olympics Experience!

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7112244#post7112244

...snip...

For a detailed summary of the Olympic events go to:

http://www.hdsportsguide.com/

Choose Olympics.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Andrews Mcilwain

andrews_mcilwain@cable.comcast.com

I've written to Andrews separately about my issue - but I wanted to get a survey from others here.

Is anyone else frustrated by the digital noise on the NBC Olympic coverage? The screen noise is somewhat tolerable - but the audio drop outs and glitches make it intolerable. For the Opening ceremonies the drop-outs got so bad in the last half hour that we had to switch from our 8300 HD recording to the back-up recording on the old TiVo. The picture was crap but at least our ears were happy!

Comments?

Robert.

Interactive Update for all TWCSC Digital/HD Customers:

The 2006 Olympics Experience!

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7112244#post7112244


If I use it my box will reboot -- I call tech support and they tell me to swap out my box! I did that and still have the same problem. Is there some way to turn the blue screen of death off so I never see it. I only get by accident. I feel it is a waste of time. It is very slow and never has very good information. One tech person told me "oh you can only use that if you have the phone service, don't use it unless you sign up for the phone service, would you like to sign up?"

I've written to Andrews separately about my issue - but I wanted to get a survey from others here.

Is anyone else frustrated by the digital noise on the NBC Olympic coverage? The screen noise is somewhat tolerable - but the audio drop outs and glitches make it intolerable. For the Opening ceremonies the drop-outs got so bad in the last half hour that we had to switch from our 8300 HD recording to the back-up recording on the old TiVo. The picture was crap but at least our ears were happy!

Comments?

Robert.


I'm not having much of a noise problem, but the screen is freezing so frequently that I've switched to the analog channel, which is a shame because the pictures are beautiful when they're working. I'm wondering if there's some sort of bandwidth issue with NBC -- I suspect this is their most viewed HD broadcast to date.

btw, I vote for keeping Universal HD. It appears to be largely hockey (yawn) during the olympics, but you can't go wrong with a healthy dose of Quantum Leap and the Equalizer.

I've written to Andrews separately about my issue - but I wanted to get a survey from others here.

Is anyone else frustrated by the digital noise on the NBC Olympic coverage? The screen noise is somewhat tolerable - but the audio drop outs and glitches make it intolerable. For the Opening ceremonies the drop-outs got so bad in the last half hour that we had to switch from our 8300 HD recording to the back-up recording on the old TiVo. The picture was crap but at least our ears were happy!

Comments?

Robert.

Drop outs driving me crazy. I thought they would of beefed up the power or something for the Olympics.

If I use it my box will reboot -- I call tech support and they tell me to swap out my box! I did that and still have the same problem. Is there some way to turn the blue screen of death off so I never see it. I only get by accident. I feel it is a waste of time. It is very slow and never has very good information. One tech person told me "oh you can only use that if you have the phone service, don't use it unless you sign up for the phone service, would you like to sign up?"


Three things -

when was the last time you tried? There was a software upgrade 1/27 - program has been enhanced.

The olympics experience isn't on The Access Menu - tune to NBC, then press select - live Olympic info only

The tech was referring to Caller ID on TV, which is housed on The Access Menu as well - The Blue Screen you are referring to is called Instant News and More.

The Access Menu is the 'building block' for several ITV features.

If it re-boots again, we need to get you a service call and I can assist with that.

The dropouts last night were a problem at NBC uplink in NY We all had it on the HD feed

Thanks oljim, glad to hear it was not a local issue

http://www.markuyak.com/schdtv/schdtv.htm

Heavy snow and wind at NBC NY uplink/downlink

Three things -

when was the last time you tried? There was a software upgrade 1/27 - program has been enhanced.

The olympics experience isn't on The Access Menu - tune to NBC, then press select - live Olympic info only

The tech was referring to Caller ID on TV, which is housed on The Access Menu as well - The Blue Screen you are referring to is called Instant News and More.

The Access Menu is the 'building block' for several ITV features.

If it re-boots again, we need to get you a service call and I can assist with that.

This is a copy of a post I jus tmade at the MB site -- same problem in answer to Diana post this morning there.

It reboots the box again! The select button does not seem to work at all on 845 but I switched to 37 and it "worked". After closing it with the escape key, the box did a reboot about a minute later. the reboot took about 3 minutes -- which is not a good plan! :mad:

Three things -

when was the last time you tried? There was a software upgrade 1/27 - program has been enhanced.

The olympics experience isn't on The Access Menu - tune to NBC, then press select - live Olympic info only

The tech was referring to Caller ID on TV, which is housed on The Access Menu as well - The Blue Screen you are referring to is called Instant News and More.

The Access Menu is the 'building block' for several ITV features.

If it re-boots again, we need to get you a service call and I can assist with that.

This is a copy of a post I jus tmade at the MB site -- same problem in answer to Diana post this morning there.

It reboots the box again! The select button does not seem to work at all on 845 but I switched to 37 and it "worked". After closing it with the escape key, the box did a reboot about a minute later. the reboot took about 3 minutes -- which is not a good plan! :mad:

As I posted on the FMB thread.

I'll ask the Engineers and they will probably want to get the MAC address for the converter and 'look' at it in the DNCS.

And The Enhanced Menu (select button) is only available on NBC, CNBC, USA and MSNBC. It is not available on Discovery HD on 845.

This is a copy of a post I jus tmade at the MB site -- same problem in answer to Diana post this morning there.

It reboots the box again! The select button does not seem to work at all on 845 but I switched to 37 and it "worked". After closing it with the escape key, the box did a reboot about a minute later. the reboot took about 3 minutes -- which is not a good plan! :mad:

meant 945 the NBC universal HD channel

Gotcha - not there either - only NBC, USA, CNBC and MSNBC.

I finally updated the website to reflect FOX's new broadcast location and added atp1313 as an OTA resource.



Thanks KTrout.
Does anyone other than me think it's kinda lame that Fox and UPN beat NBC to their own tower??
Normally I wouldn't care since NBC programming isn't that great anyway. But it sucks trying to watch the Olympics with all the droputs.
But at least the wife is happy since she can now Tivo CBS and Fox at the same time.

Heavy snow and wind at NBC NY uplink/downlink

I see - well it should get better then I guess. But this really speaks to bad planning on behalf of NBC HD. Why would you put your uplink in an area that gets heavy precipitation and high winds on a regular basis? Why isn't there a backup uplink in LA or something?

It's frustrating because people like Comcast compete against DirectTV saying that you won't get the fuzzy picture etc during weather events - but everyone suffers when the uplink is in the thick of a snowstorm!

Things still looked bad from Sundays broadcast. It seemed that whenever Shawn White was boarding things got fuzzy.

Did anyone else notice that the HD broadcast dropped down to SD for part of the evening (recorded Sunday primetime broadcast - watching on Monday evening)? Makes me think that things got too bad for even NBC!

Anyway - I think it's appalling that NBC's premier HD broadcast is being marred because of bad weather in NYC!

Robert.

I get my NBC HD from WSAV in Sav. all HD was good sunday via OTA.

I get my NBC HD from WSAV in Sav. all HD was good sunday via OTA.

Just out of curiosity I turned on the NBC HD channel just now and it's a godawful glitchy mess - and this in the middle of one of their soaps! weather.com shows clear skies across the nation.

So is it just NBC HD via Comcast?

Other HD channels (except TNTHD at the mo) are all coming through crystal clear.

Universal HD is looking good with the Olympics coverage.

Robert.

WIS HD has looked great for the Olympics here on TWC.

I guess our local NBC doesn't have the capabilities to run DD 5.1 audio? I noticed the opening blip on the Olympics shows 5.1, but I only receive 2.0 on the digital side.

Did anyone else notice that the HD broadcast dropped down to SD for part of the evening (recorded Sunday primetime broadcast - watching on Monday evening)? Makes me think that things got too bad for even NBC!

Yes, I noticed this on Comcast. Didn't switch over to OTA to see if it was a Comcast thing. If I remember, after an hour and a half, the HD signal came on.

24 was not in HD for me.

I am currently OTA for locals.

Just curious since House and Bones were HD Tuesday/Wed.

Thanks,
Brian

Wasn't home to catch "24" on monday, so I DVR'd it with comcast 8300. Just got around to looking at it tonight and am peeved that it isn't HD. Have received it in HD all season, so it surely is produced and broadcast that way. Looked like somebody at WTAT left the switch in "stretch" mode for an HD feed as OTA folks reported basically the same thing, I'm guessing it was an affiliate blunder (again!).
Does anyone from WTAT prowl this forum, or do we need to call it in? Just wondering..........

Re-run of Greys Anatomy on ABC wasn't in hd or 5.1 either.............

Wife's diggin "House".........

Maybe it's the planets this time that aren't aligned or something.........

I got a wonderful inside look at WCIV yesterday, because my daughter's Girl Scout troop was in studio for Low Country Live (it's cookie time - call 866-GET-MINT x232 to order them from my wife, the council's Product Sales Manager). I got to see half the show in studio, and the other half from the studio control room, and then talked with the operator in Master Control for awhile.

I saw "the button", which the operator must hit to switch the HD broadcast from the localized analog feed to the national HD feed. Apparently, it's just that simple. They do have an automation system which will switch it, if they set up properly in advance. The operator conceded that when they don't go back to HD, it's probably just a matter of the button not getting hit, "out of habit" (it's right next to the button for the localized feed.) They evidently don't have the equipment to superimpose local graphics over the HD feed, so must drop to SD to show them - I'm always amazed at the difference in picture quality and color.

The only HD in Master Control is a non-HD monitor showing what's on the HD feed. When I was there (at about 11:15 am), the HD feed was running a repeat of Good Morning America , which is apparently in HD now. The station was running something else in SD. The operator says the station doesn't have recording/playback capability yet.

The station equipment is relatively new - it's a nice facility. They replaced nearly everthing after Hugo, thanks to several feet of water in their old building. That translates in business terms to 'wait until they absolutely must' to upgrade the equipment.

I wonder about audio monitoring - they usually listen to the analog side, so I wonder how they would know if the audio was having trouble on HD. On virtually all of the HD channels, audio drops before the picture does, and I have no clue whether it's a problem with my receiver (Knology SA-8000), my cable drop, Knology's antenna, the weather, the station's transmission, the HD downlink, or the network's uplink (you get the picture, pun intended). Last night, I was watching PBS HD, but was getting an audio drop every few seconds. I switched over to OTA, and only got it every couple minutes.

Watching the production of a live broadcast was about as cool an experience as any tech guy could get! The folks there were very pleasant, and the production manager that gave the tour would have spent more time with the girls showing them AVID editing on a Mac if they had time (or interest).

BTW, if you didn't know, WB and UPN are being merged this fall into the CW (CBS-Warner), so it looks like we have a real chance of seeing fresh Smallville episodes in HD eventually!
-JFS

Very informative report tyvm

You sure you mean Hugo? That was 1989.

Andrews, I was wondering if Comcast would ever be rolling out the planned Tivo/Comcast DVR in this market. I know its probably a long ways off, but it never hurts to ask. It would be something that would pull me away from Directv and their BS commitment clauses.

Does anyone from WTAT prowl this forum, or do we need to call it in? Just wondering..........
HAHAHAHA!!! LOL HAHAHAHAAAAA!!! HAHAHAHAAA!!
That is the funniest thing I've heard in years. A WTAT rep actually listening to their audience. Priceless. :D
Just joking, hightech. It's an ongoing joke around here that our local FOX affiliate is notorious for not picking up the phone, returning e-mails, or knowing anything about their programming. Extremely annoying. It was an absolute surprise when Comcast signed a contract with them a few months ago and an even bigger surprise when they boosted their power and moved antennas. Glad they're finally comin' around. Now it's NBC's turn.
That stretching of 24 pissed me off too. I wondered why everything looked so much bigger than usual at first. Then figured it out.
Welcome to the forum.

You sure you mean Hugo? That was 1989.

Yep - 16 years in broadcast equipment time is actually relatively short. Not like computers ...
-JFS

...I saw "the button", which the operator must hit to switch the HD broadcast from the localized analog feed to the national HD feed. Apparently, it's just that simple. They do have an automation system which will switch it, if they set up properly in advance. The operator conceded that when they don't go back to HD, it's probably just a matter of the button not getting hit, "out of habit" (it's right next to the button for the localized feed.)

They forgot to switch over for the first act of "Desperate Housewives" last (Sunday) night. Fortunately we were able to flip over to WPDE-DT which had it right. IMO, WCIV does better than average on the switches into and out of HD, so I can't really bash them too much. By act 2 they were on the HD feed. My main peeve in that they drop out of HD to superimpose local teases over the ABC feed, which is very jarring to both eye and ear.

Why cant they just leave the switch on? What would happen to the picture we all receive if they left it on during the teasers or commercials. Does the picture sretch, distort, or just go black?

I got a wonderful inside look at WCIV yesterday, because my daughter's Girl Scout troop was in studio Watching the production of a live broadcast was about as cool an experience as any tech guy could get! The folks there were very pleasant, and the production manager that gave the tour would have spent more time with the girls showing them AVID editing on a Mac if they had time (or interest).



I wonder if they would mind a tour/demonstration for bigger kids (i.e. AVS forum members) who would be very interested. A couple of years ago a few of us (Ktrout, Oljim, and friends) had a tour of WCSC in West Ashley. It was pretty cool although there was no live action stuff going on, I thought it would be cool to be there during the news.

Andy

They forgot to switch over for the first act of "Desperate Housewives" last (Sunday) night. Fortunately we were able to flip over to WPDE-DT which had it right. IMO, WCIV does better than average on the switches into and out of HD, so I can't really bash them too much. By act 2 they were on the HD feed. My main peeve in that they drop out of HD to superimpose local teases over the ABC feed, which is very jarring to both eye and ear.
Yeah, that was me that got HD switched on. I'm not kidding. My fiance commented that it wasn't in HD so I called up the station, pressed 1 for the news room, and told them to flip the HD switch. The lady yelled across the room, "Somebody flip the HD switch!" Then she asked who I was and if my name was Jason. I said no, just a knowledgable customer. She said thanks. Within a few seconds, HD flipped on.
I felt important for about a minute. My fiance told me I have no life. Oh well. :p

Kudos to your fiance for knowing the difference !

They forgot to switch over for the first act of "Desperate Housewives" last (Sunday) night. Fortunately we were able to flip over to WPDE-DT which had it right. IMO, WCIV does better than average on the switches into and out of HD, so I can't really bash them too much. By act 2 they were on the HD feed. My main peeve in that they drop out of HD to superimpose local teases over the ABC feed, which is very jarring to both eye and ear.

What always blows me away is when the HD popped in, you notice how washed out the SD picture was. When it kicked on they were showing Cross (Brie) with some red top on and when the HD popped on it was almost like hot pink because it was so vibrant.

I just don't understand why SD has to look so bad on HD TV's. Golf is almost unwatchable on the digital stations. I sometimes find it better to flip it over the the analog channel to watch (of course that is very grainy looking, but at least not washed out and that slight ghosting to things.

I just don't understand why SD has to look so bad on HD TV's.
Is this on a cable box or OTA?

Is this on a cable box or OTA?

Actually both, but since I have Comcast and have all the locals, 99% is through the cable box.

Actually both, but since I have Comcast and have all the locals, 99% is through the cable box.
Try configuring the box to pass only 1080i and 720p, i.e., upconvert SD in the box not the TV.

Upon reading some messages on a camera forum regarding a new camera with some 16:9 features, I came across this statement


It's an interesting feature but doesn't seem like anything worth highlighting. Widescreen has never been much of a hit, and I can't imagine that wide tvs will be in production much longer. Unless you use a projector it simply isn't possible to recreate the cinema at home, and that's the only reason widescreen was created.

I think this individual is still in the dark ages.

First time post (newbie here)...... Hopefully I'm not considered to be from the Dark Ages. Anyway, we live in Pine Forest in the north part of Summerville and have a new HDTV (LG Plasma) and want to get FOX and NBC in HD as TWC doesn't carry them. The plan is to mount an antenna on our roof soon so we are crossing our fingers that we are not too far from the stations (gotta have American Idol, The Office, Earl, SNL in HD!!) We picked up a Sony HD DVR and wanted to know if TVGOS was available in our area? Anyone know if this is carried OTA or via Time Warner? If so, what channel carries this Gemstar TVGOS data? thanks in advance! :cool:

First time post (newbie here)...... Hopefully I'm not considered to be from the Dark Ages. Anyway, we live in Pine Forest in the north part of Summerville and have a new HDTV (LG Plasma) and want to get FOX and NBC in HD as TWC doesn't carry them. The plan is to mount an antenna on our roof soon so we are crossing our fingers that we are not too far from the stations (gotta have American Idol, The Office, Earl, SNL in HD!!) We picked up a Sony HD DVR and wanted to know if TVGOS was available in our area? Anyone know if this is carried OTA or via Time Warner? If so, what channel carries this Gemstar TVGOS data? thanks in advance! :cool:

FOX is now full power, so you should be able to pick up the HD signal with as little as a pair of rabbit ears...but may need an external or attic antenna depending on how far North you are. However, for NBC, you will need to get a decent UHF antenna on the roof. I have the Radio Shack UHF (only) antenna mounted on my roof and I get all the DTV signals OTA (NBC can still be troublesome at times). I am off of Trolly near Publix.

Can anyone shed some light as to why NBC and FOX aren't available in HD on Time Warner in Summerville? I get jealous when I talk to my Comcast friends at work who have all four networks available in HD.

First time post (newbie here)...... Hopefully I'm not considered to be from the Dark Ages. Anyway, we live in Pine Forest in the north part of Summerville and have a new HDTV (LG Plasma) and want to get FOX and NBC in HD as TWC doesn't carry them. The plan is to mount an antenna on our roof soon so we are crossing our fingers that we are not too far from the stations (gotta have American Idol, The Office, Earl, SNL in HD!!) We picked up a Sony HD DVR and wanted to know if TVGOS was available in our area? Anyone know if this is carried OTA or via Time Warner? If so, what channel carries this Gemstar TVGOS data? thanks in advance! :cool:

You might want to check and see if Knology is available in your neck of the woods, just as an option to an antenna. Im in Summerville also...off of Old Trolley. We have Knology and get all the major neworks in HD.

Can anyone shed some light as to why NBC and FOX aren't available in HD on Time Warner in Summerville? I get jealous when I talk to my Comcast friends at work who have all four networks available in HD.


If I remember correctly TWC and the 2 parent companies of our local FOX and NBC affiliates...have been unable to hash out a carriage agreement. Their lack an agreement forced me to switch to Knology. Ive been very happy ever since. If and when TWC gets carriage straightened out...i might revisit signing up with them again.

First time post (newbie here)...... Hopefully I'm not considered to be from the Dark Ages. Anyway, we live in Pine Forest in the north part of Summerville and have a new HDTV (LG Plasma) and want to get FOX and NBC in HD as TWC doesn't carry them. The plan is to mount an antenna on our roof soon so we are crossing our fingers that we are not too far from the stations (gotta have American Idol, The Office, Earl, SNL in HD!!) We picked up a Sony HD DVR and wanted to know if TVGOS was available in our area? Anyone know if this is carried OTA or via Time Warner? If so, what channel carries this Gemstar TVGOS data? thanks in advance! :cool:
Hey, Kev. Here is Ktrout's site for the "Charleston HDTV Club." :p http://www.markuyak.com/schdtv/schdtv.htm. It shows where all the local antennas are in our area and where some of us members are located and what we're using. Neat site.
If you're looking for an antenna, do some research on which antenna to get and check www.antennaweb.org for where to point it. Many here(on this thread and AVS in general) love the Channel Master 4228, but others, of course, are available. Many locals get their Channel Master antennas from Wholesale Industrial Electronics at 515 E. Bay(722-2634). They usually have to get it shipped from Columbia so call ahead.
Personally(which you can read from Ktrout's site), I have a 4228 in the attic pointed towards Awendaw. I don't use it much anymore since Comcast has picked up all the locals, but I do use it when I'm recording 2 shows on the cable box and may want to watch a different third(do I watch too much tv? :D ). When I finally get around to wiring the rest of the house, it'll come in handy when I get more HDTVs. I'm not gonna pay for an HDTV cable receiver for the few guests that come to stay in the guest room. :p Hope this helps.

Ktrout, I know you haven't been around as much, but it might be a good idea to put some of this info in your first post of this thread. Some questions are getting asked repeatedly which I know is not uncommon for any forum. You could use your first post as sort of a "sticky." Stuff like: your site and how to use it, recent updates(i.e. which stations are carried by whichever cable carrier or broadcasting from which antenna), where to get "bigger" antennas locally, and antennaweb.org so they know where to point it. If your up to it, maybe even include the form to fill out so more info can be updated on your site...although that is a lot of work I know.
Just a suggestion. Hope all is well. Power to Lowcountry television! :D

Wow, yall must have this forum email you when new posts hit. Thanks for the quick responses.....

The Channel Master 4228 is a BIG antenna, no room in my attic and my HOA would kill me. Plus, as Pine Forest Country Club is NORTH of Central and Butternut Rd., I'm worried my distance from Awendaw will require I put something on the roof. Something like:

TERK HD-TVS Slim Profile Outdoor HDtv Antenna

or

The Lacrosse from Antennas Direct

(no links until I have 5 posts)

These things look slim and stealth, any idea if they are worth a damn?
And do I need to worry about an "antenna amp"? I don't want to go too crazy for just two channels....

But my original question was about TVGOS (The TV Guide elec listings that my Sony DVR uses... aka Gemstar), does anyone know what local station carries (piggybacks) their data stream?

I could be wrong...but i dont think your HOA can stop you from putting up the 4228. Ive always been told to stay away from the Terks

Ditto. Terks suck and the federal government(FCC) says you can put anything you want("among reason") up to intercept local broadcasts be it radio or television. You can show your HOA the actual law and tell them where to "put it." :D I've posted before about the FCC's rules on antennas, but I can't find it. Still searching. I'll update when I find it.
And yeah, I'm bored this friday night. :p
Oh yeah, I also use a Channel Master 7775 Amplifier. Forgot about that. :)

Bingo. http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html
Your HOA can't say squat. Not many people know about this. They think their HOA has jurisdiction and can tell them they can't put up any kind of antenna or satellite dish. Not true. Citizens of the United States can put up anything to receive public-owned airwaves.

FOX is now full power, so you should be able to pick up the HD signal with as little as a pair of rabbit ears...but may need an external or attic antenna depending on how far North you are. However, for NBC, you will need to get a decent UHF antenna on the roof. I have the Radio Shack UHF (only) antenna mounted on my roof and I get all the DTV signals OTA (NBC can still be troublesome at times). I am off of Trolly near Publix.

Radio Shack is right down on Main St. by Wal-Mart/Lowe's.... what model number do you have? Using a preamp and/or amp also?

How does ABC come in OTA for you? And what about WB and UPN status?

Ditto. Terks suck and the federal government(FCC) says you can put anything you want("among reason") up to intercept local broadcasts be it radio or television. You can show your HOA the actual law and tell them where to "put it." :D I've posted before about the FCC's rules on antennas, but I can't find it. Still searching. I'll update when I find it.
And yeah, I'm bored this friday night. :p
Oh yeah, I also use a Channel Master 7775 Amplifier. Forgot about that. :)

Bingo. http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html
Your HOA can't say squat. Not many people know about this. They think their HOA has jurisdiction and can tell them they can't put up any kind of antenna or satellite dish. Not true. Citizens of the United States can put up anything to receive public-owned airwaves.

Having gone round and round with our HOA on this issue you are not quite right. The key is exclusive use area. They cannot stop me from putting up an antenna or dish in an exclusive use area but they can in a common area. Our building, for example, is eight units on two floors with no outside porches. Therefore we have no exclusive use areas outside. The roof and sides of the building are common use so I cannot put up an antenna or dish. None of the units have access to the attic area. It has to be a place or area that I have exclusive use and no one else can use. If we had an outside porch I could put a dish or antenna on the porch. It gets tricky but the common use v. exclusive use is the key. Belive me I would have a dish if I could but there is no exclusive use area the way our buildings are built. The outside are all common areas.

Get a real ant. CM 4228 is very good, stay away for so called HD ant.
Any good ant will work for HDTV all chs are UHF and that is what you need.
TERK s are over priced JUNK

...
And there's the catch. Let's hope Kev has some exclusive use of his property. How about it, Kev?
Boy, I'm bored. :D

Radio Shack is right down on Main St. by Wal-Mart/Lowe's.... what model number do you have? Using a preamp and/or amp also?

How does ABC come in OTA for you? And what about WB and UPN status?

I am not sure the model number, but it is their only UHF only antenna...check this link from Radio Shack.com, I think it is it:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103088&cp=&pg=1&kw=uhf+antenna&parentPage=search

I had to go to the store in Goose Creek to get it when I did...but it was only $25 (half or less of the others), and works fine. ABC comes in great...NBC is the only touchy one, only because of a tree line I have in front of me.

No pre-amp or amp...but my TV (Samsung DLP) has a built in signal booster.

Get a real ant. CM 4228 is very good, stay away for so called HD ant.
Any good ant will work for HDTV all chs are UHF and that is what you need.
TERK s are over priced JUNK

I tried the Terk...it is crap...anything advertised as "HDTV Antenna" seems to be overpriced and overrated; I agree, get a UHF antenna designed for long distances and you will do fine.

Having gone round and round with our HOA on this issue you are not quite right. The key is exclusive use area. They cannot stop me from putting up an antenna or dish in an exclusive use area but they can in a common area. Our building, for example, is eight units on two floors with no outside porches. Therefore we have no exclusive use areas outside. The roof and sides of the building are common use so I cannot put up an antenna or dish. None of the units have access to the attic area. It has to be a place or area that I have exclusive use and no one else can use. If we had an outside porch I could put a dish or antenna on the porch. It gets tricky but the common use v. exclusive use is the key. Belive me I would have a dish if I could but there is no exclusive use area the way our buildings are built. The outside are all common areas.


Being the president of my HOA I can tell you the law limits what the HOA can do. As far as OTA reception...the HOA cannot keep you from doing the "minimum" to recieve a signal. For example, if you put an antenna on a 20 foot pole, and it only requires 10 feet...then they can force you to lower it. (but proof is tough, and they will have to hire an expert to testify in court to force you to lower it) Our biggest problem has been with satellite dishes...people will put it wherever sometimes, especially when a cost is associated. My advice...work with the HOA a little (give notice and explanation), and see if you can do anything to hide the antenna (for example, one of our residents put up some nice bushes in front of their dish that was an eye sore).

I am not sure the model number, but it is their only UHF only antenna...

I had to go to the store in Goose Creek to get it when I did...but it was only $25 (half or less of the others), and works fine. ABC comes in great...NBC is the only touchy one, only because of a tree line I have in front of me.

No pre-amp or amp...but my TV (Samsung DLP) has a built in signal booster.

Thanks RFrank, the Model: U-75R doesn't look too big at all (maybe the wife won't even notice it when she returns from her trip) :D

It's in stock at GCreek store, I will have it on my roof this afternoon. Don't think my Sony DHG-HDD500 HD DVR has any sort of "booster" like your Samsung has though, so wish me some SIGNAL SUCCESS!

(maybe the wife won't even notice it when she returns from her trip) :D

ut oh.

Well, the Radio Shack UHF only antenna is on the roof and BAM!!: the Sony HD DVR picked up EVERY local digital broadcast (even on this rainy day!!).

Thanks to everyone for your advice.

Now if I can just get this TV Guide (Gemstar) thing-ah-ma-gig to load I can start setting up the DVR.

Oh yea, I found the UPN digital channel (Chirs Rock's show is kinda funny), but what is the deal with The WB?? My daughter loves Smallsville......

Well our local station has let us down again. What is going on with WTAT? No HD last night and today. Nascar not even in 5.1.

Yep. FOX around here is a joke. No HD or 5.1 today.

I hope they get it fixed in time for 24 tomorrow.

Yes, they are somewhat of a joke. Did anyone call the station to see if they need to flip the switch?

Yes, they are somewhat of a joke. Did anyone call the station to see if they need to flip the switch?
I called earlier and asked them to flip the high definition switch. They responded, "What's high definition?" :confused:

:D :p
I kid.

Hello - headed to Greensboro again for another 2 day meeting. Please report any issues to 866-892-7201 in the meantime.

Have a great week.

I called earlier and asked them to flip the high definition switch. They responded, "What's high definition?" :confused:

:D :p
I kid.

Hatfield,
Did you actually call? I tried but got the phone tree from hell. Does anyone out there know if WTAT has: a. A clue? b. an extension to call after hours (when all the bloody HD programming is broadcast)? c. an employee actually running master control (as mandated by the FCC) who can recognize and switch program streams into the digital transmitter? d. a station liason monitoring this forum? e. a keen interest in alienating large segments of their potential audience (and revenue source) f. a clue?

This is absolutely pathetic. I had to watch "24" in "peephole-vision" two weeks ago, and then the first NASCAR race of the season covered by fox in HD is sent out by the same bunch of luddites as SD. I guess it's time to get "pro-active" on their sorry butts. It's time to start making phone calls, sending e-mails, and generally wasting a lot of my valuable time to get these inept cretins attention. If anyone out there has a number to call please post it.

Regards,
Hightechredneck

Why cant they just leave the switch on? What would happen to the picture we all receive if they left it on during the teasers or commercials. Does the picture stretch, distort, or just go black?

Each network and their affiliates have different ways to handle the HD/SD switch. In most mid to small market stations, there is no local ORIGINATION capability for HD material yet, so the feed to the DT transmitter basically has a simple 2 x 1 or "A-B" switch in front of it. Side A is a copy of the stations NTSC (480i) signal, perhaps upconverted to 720p or 1080i, but still just a copy of the analog station output, whatever its source, warts and all. Side B of the switch is the direct feed of the network, in its native DT format (but which may be carrying only an SD signal at times, depending on the program).

Since the station set up this way has no way to superimpose local elements in the feed to the DT transmitter, they have to "flip the switch" for every local commercial availability, local news, and for that matter the "teases" leading up to local news too. If they left the switch in the B side all the time, the DT viewers would see no local material (especially commercials!) and we'd see "black", or network promos/test signals/program advance feeds, stuff that they can't normally put out on the air in real time. That might be nice at times but I do like to see the local weather, especially during hurricane season...

Anyway, some day when budgets permit, the A-B switch will hopefully be replaced by a DT capable Master Control switcher, and some of the old NTSC production gear will also be replaced, so that smooth local to network transitions and back can be made. Next would come DT record/playback/editing gear, for better time shifting and local HD commercial production/playback, and maybe eventually HD studio cameras, field news gathering gear, and a production switcher to pull it all together. For an average size TV station, all that could be a million dollar plus investment, not counting the new transmitter, maybe a new/ 2nd tower location, etc.

BTW I think FOX has the best DT transition plan so far. Most of their affiliates get a "bit splicing" box as part of their HD downlink package which can seamlessly go into and out of the network feed, tied into an automation signal from the network. CBS, ABC, and NBC don't (yet) have such a device and leave it up to the affiliate to engineer their plant as best they can afford for now.

Sorry to be that wordy but you raised an interesting quesiton; hope that helps.

Mike

WTAT isn't the only one "asleep at the switch". Last night ABC was replaying "Forrest Gump" and WCIV had it on in glorious SD, and BAD SD at that. WPDE had it in HD, and original aspect ratio, too (thanks, ABC), but unfortunately WPDE has no 5.1 gear.

WTAT isn't the only one "asleep at the switch". Last night ABC was replaying "Forrest Gump" and WCIV had it on in glorious SD, and BAD SD at that. WPDE had it in HD, and original aspect ratio, too (thanks, ABC), but unfortunately WPDE has no 5.1 gear.

Greys Anatomy in SD, we need a phone list for the local stations to call and tell them to flick the switch.

Greys Anatomy in SD, we need a phone list for the local stations to call and tell them to flick the switch.
I called - they're having problems with the audio, so are leaving it SD.
-JFS

I called - they're having problems with the audio, so are leaving it SD.
-JFS

Thanks for the update.

Satori,
Excellent explanation of how the switch works. Can you tell us why a station wouldn't spend a hundred bucks an hour to keep an engineer "at the switch" on a weekend monitoring and alternating between the two feeds? Back in the day, before automated local insertion, a person was actually paid to listen for prompts from the network for Local Insertion openings and closings. (Gasp!!) I am sure that a thorough search of the local video gamers community could turn up persons capable of monitoring two different screens and operating an A/B switch with cat-like reflexes. Seriously, the networks and consumers spend billions on sending and acquiring HD signals, and our local affiliate thinks so little of their consumers (the audience) that they won't make an effort at passing along the best product they have? Completely inexcusable. WTAT doesn't need to worry about local weather for me because I will not support them by watching their news telecasts, and I will DVR as much of their programming as I can, if only to fast forward through the local commercials.

It all must be tied in with Sinclair Broadcastings new motto:
"At Sinclair Broadcasting, we're not happy 'till you're not happy"

Hightechredneck

Before I spend $$$$ on an HDMI cable...
I just got a SA 8300HD from Comcast (I'm in West Ashley) and want to use HDMI to my plasma. I see in the diagnostic screen the HDMI is not enabled. Does it sense the connection if there is a HDMI cable connected or is it a software thing? Did a search of the forum and saw that some in this area in the past have seen this work. Thanks in advance....

As soon as you plug in your HDMI cable, it will become "enabled".......

... Can you tell us why a station wouldn't spend a hundred bucks an hour to keep an engineer "at the switch" on a weekend monitoring and alternating between the two feeds?

I can't speak for the Charleston area stations specifically (well, I did go through WCSC last year with the "HD Club", so I know a little about their setup). In general though I suspect it's mostly about economics. Right now probably 96% of the viewers are still getting their TV via the analog/NTSC transmitter, so most of the effort in Master Control is making sure all the local spots, the main source of revenue, air correctly, the local news gets on air, etc. The operator is probably lucky to have a single monitor showing an off-air feed of the DT transmitter, and may have very limited DT audio monitoring capability (maybe a meter and no loudspeakers at all).

The harried MC op - who probably makes more like $20-25 an hour; only the union techs in the top ten markets or at the networks themselves could command salaries approaching $100/hr - is focused on the SD operation and once in a while in the heat of the tight local break window occasionally forgets to flip the switch. And that little HD monitor off in the corner just isn't his highest priority cause he/she knows where the money is being made..the boss just told him so the last time the car dealer spot didn't roll on time!

At some stations instead of manual control, the A-B switch is controlled by the station's automation system. This works pretty well most of time, until its data gets out of sync with what's really on air. A classic example is/was Monday Night Football, which NEVER ends at exactly 11:00 PM. But the automation system doesn't know that and blindly switches back to SD at 10:58:30 like it does most other nights as the station teases then starts local news.

Until the main focus in master control is on the DT feed, I think we DT viewers will continue to suffer with the occasional glitch. Once the analog transmitters are turned off in a couple of years, things should get dramatically better! I've already seen a marked improvement in the last year (as long as I've been watching DT here in the low country) and think our area stations are doing a credible job for the 4% of their audience. Not perfect, but at least going in the right direction.

Mike

And yet again FOX has screwed up 24 for the second week. They've "zoomed in" to eliminate the side bars of SD so it looks like the show was filmed with the cameras right up against the actor's faces(I don't think it's stretched). Annoying and actually made me a bit queasy for a sec :eek: .
Oh well. I tried calling, but got the "phone tree from hell." :D Meaning that after-hours calls go to an automated directory. I don't feel like guessing last names of employees. :mad:

"The harried MC op - who probably makes more like $20-25 an hour; only the union techs in the top ten markets or at the networks themselves could command salaries approaching $100/hr - is focused on the SD operation and once in a while in the heat of the tight local break window occasionally forgets to flip the switch."

"Until the main focus in master control is on the DT feed, I think we DT viewers will continue to suffer with the occasional glitch."

Another little hour long glitch from WTAT again for 24. I guess the four percent of us who can see the signal get a four percent effort one hundred percent of the time.
Personally, I think WTAT's strategy is brilliant. I mean what's four percent when we're talking advertising revenues? After all, that four percent is probably all rich-guy fat cat early adopters who can afford one of them there High dafinishun TV's; you know the types - local captains of industry, small business owners - the sort of people who might consider advertising on a local TV station. Good thing WTAT is impressing the heck out of us with such steadfast commitment to quality.
Bottom lines are what it's all about, and the bottom line is that WTAT ownership and management are to blame for this magnitude of stupidity (Not some poor button masher in MC). Either ownership and management are too cheap to hire sufficient staff and purchase necessary equipment, or they are willing to sully their reputation with the very people who might have the means and interest in doing business with them. Bravo!! ...... Gee, I wonder if Johnny Dangerfield from Johnny's suzuki has an HDTV.... I need to give him a call and ask if he wants to buy an HDTV and join the "four percent" club, then he could watch his local spots in peephole vision with the other anointed ones in the community.
Excuses are the crutches of the mediocre.

Disgustedly,
Hightechredneck

Is the new channel lineup still taking affect March 1st? If so are there any other changes taking effect then or in the next few months?

I recorded American Idol and it was in HD, WTAT must have things back in order.

I highly recommend these SONY HD DVRs to everyone. I was reluctant for the longest time because the MSRP is $999 for the 500gig version. But Tweeter had them on clearance for $249 (and quickly sold out). But now you can find them on ebay for less than half the original MSRP (paid $399 for mine). Watch HD on your time! I loved our old Tivo, but this HD recorder rocks!

I wonder if WTAT has PSIP issues? My D* H10 receiver has a strong signal, but no picture or sound. My other two receivers seem to be fine though. It seems they had similar issues a few months ago. But, since there's no way to contact them, it'll will probably stay this way for several days or weeks or months.

Same here strong signal but no picture or sound on 24-1

No ota here either, my box is receiving the signal, but for some reason, remaps to 2.1. :confused:

I really appreciate the channel changes and not have my DVR pick up the new channels. WTF. How can it still show the proper program name but improper channel. Wouldn't one think some research should have done to make the change smoother?

What was the purpose for changes to the channels anyway? Someone bored and not have anything better to do?

Ah geez, Lancer. That sucks. Hope you didn't miss Lost, it was a good 'on.
I thought about how the channel changes would screw up recordings earlier today and erased every scheduled recording. Reprogrammed everything from scratch just to be on the safe side. Apparently I was right. Sorry I didn't think to post the suggestion here.

I recorded American Idol and it was in HD, WTAT must have things back in order.




Of course....we wouldn't want Seacrest to not be in HD. Thanks WTAT. What a joke?

Speaking of 24, did anyone see the commercial for "24: The Game"

Very nice. Supposedly in stores this week.

24 hours in the life of Jack Bauer. Now we're talkin

Well, crap. I'm right now watching some of the stuff I recorded earlier(Lost, Criminal Minds, CSI) and I'm seeing the same pixelation I had way back in October.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6452374#post6452374
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6695076#post6695076
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6784668#post6784668
After about 7 tech visits and maintenance calls, Comcast finally fixed it mid-January. Replaced tap and buried line. Now it's back. Not as bad, but of course still a nuisance. Guess the channel changes screwed somethin' up. Changed frequencies? :confused:
Now I get to jump through the same hoops again trying to peg this problem. What a pain. If I have to wait another 3 months to get a remedy like the last time, I may be hoppin' over to a dish. :mad:

UPDATE: I recorded/watched a bunch of the HD channels last night to see if my problem had actually come back and it looks like it might have been a fluke. Everything came in perfectly last night with no pixelation whatsoever. Keeping my fingers crossed.
And I would like to highly commend Andrews for a prompt response to my conundrum. He PMed me early yesterday morning after reading my post requesting my info. I replied and told him I would update him today on last night's observations. Today, I didn't even have to PM him...he called me personally to see how it went. THANK YOU! He even had the tech supervisor for Mt. Pleasant call to see how everything went. Now THAT is customer service!! Thank you guys so much!
In the conversation I had with both of them, I learned that Comcast was doing work in my area for the channel changes which may explain some of the pixelation that scared me into thinking my problem had returned. I also learned that the channel change is an effort to standardize all channels throughout the Comcast market. He also specified that it was not a frequency change which I had supposed caused my problems to return; the channels were only remapped to where they are now. Lots of info.
Again, thank you Comcast! Even though it took three months to rectify my earlier problems, you guys pro-rated some of my fees and eventually got eveything squared away. And with such a quick response to my current scare, you have a customer for life. :)

Anyone else notice that at first Universal HD was left at its old location and now it is gone from the HD lineup. In the programming forum they discussed that many locations wouldn't keep UHD after the Olympics and that it replaced INHD2 in many locations. I thought we were good. So I guess it means Comcast doesn't have an agreement with UHD for carry. So no new HD stations for Comcast since TNT-HD last year. Lets hope they are progressing on the ESPN2HD front and maybe some of the new stations coming up.

Folks,

I wanted to take a minute and post a couple of updates as I have been out of town.

The Comcast/UHD carriage was a temporary agreement. We do not have a long term agreement with Universal HD currently. We are working on getting a permanent agreement.

In regards to the channel re-alignment please understand that we were conforming to a national channel roster. I apologize for any inconvenience.

In talking about other potential HD channels we may add I cannot comment on what we add next. The primary reason for this is that HD carriage deals are made far above my level in Comcast. Just because nothing is posted here does not mean we are dormant in our HD plans.

Regards,

Andrews Mcilwain

Andrews_mcilwain@cable.comcast.com

Since the channel realignment on Comcast, I cannot receive INHD2. My cable box will tune to channel 206 (I belive, am at work right now), but the picture is gray with no sound. The channel info does appear at the bottom of the screen. I still get the other channel INHD, but INHD2 has all the sports especially college bball and I miss it. Also, I'm experiencing loss of sound on 115, 116, and 121. Some times the audio is there and some times not. Some times it all 3 channels and some times only one or two. Anyone else having this problem. Except for this problem, everything else is fine. The HD is still beautiful and sharp.

Since the channel realignment on Comcast, I cannot receive INHD2. My cable box will tune to channel 206 (I belive, am at work right now), but the picture is gray with no sound. The channel info does appear at the bottom of the screen. I still get the other channel INHD, but INHD2 has all the sports especially college bball and I miss it. Also, I'm experiencing loss of sound on 115, 116, and 121. Some times the audio is there and some times not. Some times it all 3 channels and some times only one or two. Anyone else having this problem. Except for this problem, everything else is fine. The HD is still beautiful and sharp.





Well, got home and everything I complained about in my post works now. Don't know for how long. Hopefully, I'll be able to watch some of the college games on INHD.

I mentioned in a previous post a couple of months ago that everytime there was a pro bball game on INHD, I would tune in and get the same gray screen with no audio that I mentioned today. I hope this doesn't happen when a college game is on.

WTAT seems to be OK now.
I don't know if it had any effect, but I sent a brief explanation of the problem to their email address and asked them to forward it to engineering. Maybe it worked, or maybe it is coincidence, but at least it's working as of now :~)

Ah geez, Lancer. That sucks. Hope you didn't miss Lost, it was a good 'on.
I thought about how the channel changes would screw up recordings earlier today and erased every scheduled recording. Reprogrammed everything from scratch just to be on the safe side. Apparently I was right. Sorry I didn't think to post the suggestion here.

I wish I was thinking it would mess things up. I did catch Lost, but missed something that was on before it.

Has anyone heard when Comcast here in Charleston is going to upgrade it's IPG?I see it one their website but nothing about it here. Their guide needs to be updated badly. It looks, for lack of a better word, pitiful compared to D* and E*.
Also when can we expect the Tivo software to be intergrated into DVRs? Thanks for any input you may have.

Looks like WTAT is asleep at the wheel again.

Bad Boys II is not in HD or 5.1 and it is supposed to be.

Guess that means same crap for 2 hours of 24 tomorrow night!!!!

Looks like WTAT is asleep at the wheel again.

Bad Boys II is not in HD or 5.1 and it is supposed to be.

Guess that means same crap for 2 hours of 24 tomorrow night!!!!

What's up with the NASCAR broadcasts. Fox hasn't showed one in HD yet (California, Mexico)!
It will be a great day when ESPN takes it over again.

California was HD on FOX WFXB so why are you blaming them?

What does WFXB have to do with it we have had no HD on WTAT.

Ok, I'll spell it out. He said "Fox hasn't showed one in HD yet". Fox has.

Are WTAT and WFXB owned by two different companies? That might explain the haves and have nots.

Yes - two different FOX affilaites owned by two different franchises.

WTF is the deal with WTAT? I'm almost positive that they're showing American Idol in HD, but not 24? What's the deal?

I hate WTAT. Who can we call tomorrow? Stupid Idol will be in HD, but no 24, Bones, House, Sunday night movie.

I wonder if they have 2 different people working Monday vs. Idol nights.

We'll know the Sunday/Monday person is asleep if Idol and House are in HD tomorrow. Certainly they won't forget to put Seacrest in HD. Probably in his contract.

Yes, my kids love the all powerful Idol, and yes it has been in HD for the past couple of weeks. Don't shoot the messenger, call WTAT!

Question:

I tuned into INHD channel 206 on Comcast to watch the Nuggets/Grizzlies basketball game only to find the gray screen with no audio. When I called the local trouble number, I was told that only people who subscribed to the NBA package could see the game. I asked why a package game was being shown on one of the HD channels and she said INHD was an in demand channel. I replied that it was an in Hi-Def channel and nothing in the on screen channel guide or in the Channel Guide magazine or on the INHD website indicated that the games were for NBA package viewing only.

Her supervisor will call me because I politely replied that if what she told me was true, then Comcast was guilty of false and misleading advertising. Every week I get an email indicating what's on INHD (206) and INHD2 (207) and there is no mention anywhere that the NBA basketball games are by subscription only. I'm able to see everything else on advertised including NHL Hockey.

Anyone out there have any more info on this? Also, is anyone having problems with intermittant loss of audio on 115 and 116. I know that most people probably don't watch these channels but I like the History International programming and my wife likes to watch reruns of Murder She Wrote. Yesterday, both channels were fine. Tonight, no audio.

Thanks in advance for any info ...

Yes, my kids love the all powerful Idol, and yes it has been in HD for the past couple of weeks. Don't shoot the messenger, call WTAT!

Not trying to shoot the messenger. My first sentence said I hated WTAT. Second sentence said who do we call there? anyone have phone numbers, emails, anything?

Previous posting on this board say they can never get WTAT to answer phone calls or emails. So I don't think that will work either. What else would you suggest?

Not trying to shoot the messenger. My first sentence said I hated WTAT. Second sentence said who do we call there? anyone have phone numbers, emails, anything?

Previous posting on this board say they can never get WTAT to answer phone calls or emails. So I don't think that will work either. What else would you suggest?

I submit to anyone with the time and patience to follow through, the best way to "get through" to the folks at WTAT that this is a real issue that needs to be fixed is to contact the local advertisers on the show and imply to them that there's a large movement of people who are trying to pick up the signal from other stations or national feeds because WTAT is incompetent.

I think that WTAT may be having technical problems. 24 started on in HD last night but kept locking up and pixelating. Then they switched to SD.

I shot WTAT an e-mail last night after 24 complaining about the third week of zoomed SD. Of course, I'm still waiting for a response. I also pointed out this forum and how we are all upset about their broadcasting. Maybe if we all e-mailed, we could get a rep on here like we have with Andrews and get something done about. Their comments e-mail is comments@wtat24.com. Maybe we can get something done.
I always think of William F. Buckley's essay "Why Don't We Complain?" (http://www.yeworld.net/index/LSFP/PSFAL/R/199_20011130/199%2053%2020011130200401.asp) when I want to get something changed. He writes about uncomfortable temperatures on a train in 1961, but it's the same concept. We need to complain to get stuff changed.

Ok, I'll spell it out. He said "Fox hasn't showed one in HD yet". Fox has.
WTAT is FOX for me. Therefore, as far as I'm concerned, FOX hasn't showed the races in HD. So let's not get our panties in a wad and play word games (AKA trolling).

Just to clarify. NBC had Daytona(first race of the season) in HD. Then WTAT/FOX did have the next race(Auto Club 500) in HD, but they also had some SD cameras on the back stretch and other locations around the track. I think most of it looked like crap overall. Even the HD shots, but eveybody thought that(http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=649790). Last weekend's only race was a Busch series in Mexico. Mexico doesn't have much HD capability so it was not broadcast in HD anywhere. Every Nextel series should be in HD, but let's hope they don't mix HD and SD cameras again and also improve HD pic quality.

WOW! A response from WTAT!

"I understand your concern over the past few week we have been having a
problem with our equipment that we have received from FOX. We are currently
working with FOX to resolve the problem.

----- Original Message -----
From: Hatfield
To: <comments@wtat24.com>
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 11:17 PM
Subject: Complaint about HD 24

> I am watching my Comcast HD recording of 24 I DVRed earlier. I'm noticing
> for the 3rd straight week that you guys are stretching or zooming the
> Standard Definition feed of 24 instead of showing the true High Definition
> feed. I would like to know why. American Idol is in true High Definition
> as well as some of your other shows. Why can't 24 be in true High
> Definition? I would also like to point you towards a website where many
> local customers are voicing their discontent for WTAT.
> http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=221319&page=130&pp=30
> Please respond with an explanation.
> Thank you.
> Hatfield"

So they do respond! I'll be waiting with bated breath that this gets worked out!

WTAT is FOX for me. Therefore, as far as I'm concerned, FOX hasn't showed the races in HD. So let's not get our panties in a wad and play word games (AKA trolling).
I thought I was helping you out letting you know your problem is not no HD broadcast from FOX. Hopefully by now you have figured out it is your local. At least I will give you the benefit of the doubt.

I thought I was helping you out letting you know your problem is not no HD broadcast from FOX. Hopefully by now you have figured out it is your local. At least I will give you the benefit of the doubt.

Yes, I had it figured out long before your initial reply. This isn't the only HD forum I visit. I guess I should have clarified myself a little more but sometimes I forget how anal retentive some people can be.

I am glad to see that others are finally getting as fed up with WTAT as I have been for years. I attempted to start an email blitz to them several times with little to no response. Good luck getting any results from them.

Ok - its that time of year again! The Men's Big Ten Basketball Tournament!

Tomorrow bright and early I leave for Indianapolis to cheer on my beloved Illini to a Big Ten Tournament Championship. I will not have internet access so please call Customer Service if you have any issues 866-892-75201.

I'll be back in the office Tuesday am!

Go Illini!

Anyone able to see "The Unit" on WCSC in HD ?

I called WCSC...."problem with the HD switch"

isnt that lovely?

I also called WTAT during NCIS and was told they are having problems. It is good that they are hearing from many people so that they know that the HD feed is being watched.

Maybe next week we can see both in HD

You didn't call WTAT to complain about NCIS, did you, Darthtom? Wrong channel, dude. NCIS is CBS. LOL :D

I also did not get the CBS program, THE UNIT, in HD last night. What is going on with the BEST HD chanel in Charleston. Great program BTW,
rick

I also called WTAT during NCIS and was told they are having problems. It is good that they are hearing from many people so that they know that the HD feed is being watched.

Maybe next week we can see both in HD

He rightfully equates WTAT with HD problems. Im sure it was just a typo..LOL

FYI: WTAT did have Idol in HD again last night, but it did switch to SD for roughly 3 minutes in the middle of the telecast.

Also, the first few minutes of the King of Queens on CBS were screwed up in HD so they switched to SD until about 5 minutes left in the program.

FYI: WTAT did have Idol in HD again last night...
And again tonight.
Apparently when FOX wrote me that "we have been having a problem with our equipment that we have received from FOX," they actually meant that "our equipment just doesn't read 24, but all the other crap like Skating with Celebrities, American Idol, Bones, and everything else that's supposed to be in HD is fine." :mad:

Okay, set up the DVR (Comcast) to record Criminal Minds (CBS 9 PM) Bones (FOX 9 PM) Invasion (NBC 10 PM) and CSI:NY (CBS 10PM) tonight. Switched the channel to CBS to watch Criminal Minds and right as it starts, the DVR kicks me to FOX, then while still watching CBS for CSI, as soon as it starts, it kicks me to NBC.

I can maybe understand the second switch, as maybe with these stupid network, lets run a show a minute longer, I had programed 3 shows, but really this should give me an error rather than turning the station.

Have we had a bad firmware upgrade go bad or is it something else?

I have Knology and my 8300 DVR does the same thing to me...if im understanding you correctly

Okay, set up the DVR (Comcast) to record Criminal Minds (CBS 9 PM) Bones (FOX 9 PM) Invasion (NBC 10 PM) and CSI:NY (CBS 10PM) tonight. Switched the channel to CBS to watch Criminal Minds and right as it starts, the DVR kicks me to FOX, then while still watching CBS for CSI, as soon as it starts, it kicks me to NBC.

I can maybe understand the second switch, as maybe with these stupid network, lets run a show a minute longer, I had programed 3 shows, but really this should give me an error rather than turning the station.

Have we had a bad firmware upgrade go bad or is it something else?

I have a similar problem with Time Warner.

Anyone know if Idol was on in HD tonight?

In going to my OTA to watch CSI on CBS, I passed by FOX and noticed The OC was not in HD. So I was curious if Idol was and then they flipped the switch off???

Wow, that's alot of acronyms!!!!

And again tonight.
Apparently when FOX wrote me that "we have been having a problem with our equipment that we have received from FOX," they actually meant that "our equipment just doesn't read 24, but all the other crap like Skating with Celebrities, American Idol, Bones, and everything else that's supposed to be in HD is fine." :mad:

Well, as evidenced by Americal Idol tonight...(15 minutes into the show-no HD)...WTAT's problems are not limited to 24....

Well, WTAT can't get OC right either. Zoomed SD.(No, I don't watch it, but the fiance does. :rolleyes: )
I'm actually keeping track of every one of theirs shows now and documenting which ones they get right and which ones they screw up. Maybe they'll see a pattern or something like a certain employee who can't get it right. I don't get how equipment trouble could only screw up a select handful of shows and not others. We'll see.

Just reading the above posts. I flipped by Idol as soon as it started to see if it was HD and it looked like it was. Was I wrong? Did it switch to SD after 15 min?

Just reading the above posts. I flipped by Idol as soon as it started to see if it was HD and it looked like it was. Was I wrong? Did it switch to SD after 15 min?[/QUOTE]

Yep!!!

Anyone else having a problem with their 8300HD reacting slow to command over the last few days on TWC? I wonder if they did an upgrade and messed it up again.

BTW, my unit has been switching to the recorded channel for a couple of months or so. It is very annoying!

I haven't watched much basketball this year and thought I'd tune in to the ACC Championship Tourney - then I quickly realized that JP Sports is still in the dark ages and prevents us from seeing these games in HD. I turned it off.

When I get a chance I think I might send them another e-mail inquiring about their plans to broadcast in HD. I would encourage everyone to do the same.

How is the SEC Championship on Nationally on CBS, but not available in Charleston? ACC is on CBS tomorrow.

Some say it might be on a Comcast channel, but I have DirecTv. Anyone know if DTV will show the game anywhere?

I haven't watched much basketball this year and thought I'd tune in to the ACC Championship Tourney - then I quickly realized that JP Sports is still in the dark ages and prevents us from seeing these games in HD. I turned it off.

When I get a chance I think I might send them another e-mail inquiring about their plans to broadcast in HD. I would encourage everyone to do the same.


If you have an email addy...id be glad to send one as well.

Amen!
Give me that JP email!! I want to let them know that I NEED to watch my Tigers in HD as they beat up on the rest of the ACC during basketball season.





<sarcasm>

No race in HD (WTAT), no sound WCIV, problem switchers.............

$5,000,000 reward for the HD gremlin !

I think the race was HD...just very crappy HD. I'm still waitin' for some more input over in the HDTV Programming Thread of the Race (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=654906).
I'm starting my DVRed WCIV Grey's Anatomy right now so we'll see...

WTF!!! Worthless recording!! NO SOUND! I have finally missed my first ep of Grey's Anotomy! Damn....Great show. I got so turned off by "med shows" b/c of ER. Just dragged eveything out entirely too far. This show toppled it. Soo much better. :mad: I'm pissed I missed it.

(later)DAMN! Desperate Housewives is another worthless recording!! Now I'm angry. I'm sorry, but Sopranos OF COURSE is the priority show of the evening. Everybody would be watching. Why "F" this up? How could they?
Again I'll bring up the essay by the great William F. Buckley. "Why Don't We Complain?" (http://www.yeworld.net/index/LSFP/PSFAL/R/199_20011130/199%2053%2020011130200401.asp). I'm e-mailing a complaint and I hope all of you do too. http://www.abcnews4.com/contact.hrb(I'm assuming "Programming")
Later

[snip]http://www.abcnews4.com/contact.hrb(I'm assuming "Programming")
Later

I think Engineering might be a better choice, or Operations (if it's there). I left a comment with Engineering.
-JFS

I sure did not think the race was HD

The race wasnt HD, it was stretched SD. I did notice that around lap 64 or lap 67 that it filckered to HD with 5.1 surround. They went to commercial and when they returned to the race it was back to stretched SD and stayed that way for the rest of what I saw.

The race wasnt HD, it was stretched SD. I did notice that around lap 64 or lap 67 that it filckered to HD with 5.1 surround. They went to commercial and when they returned to the race it was back to stretched SD and stayed that way for the rest of what I saw.

That's what I saw too.

Congrats to WTAT! They managed a whopping whole 5-10 minutes HD of the race.

Truly pathetic :mad:

why not email them and see if they will get us HDTV

It is pathetic. WTAT officially sucks. I've been tryin' to get WFXB up in Myrtle, but to no avail.
I said I was keeping track of FOX's performance so here goes:

Monday March 6
8-10 24 NO HD
Tuesday March 7
8-9 American Idol HD,"but it did switch to SD for roughly 3 minutes in the middle of the telecast"
9-10 House HD?(Didn't watch)
Wednesday March 8
8-9 Bones HD
9-10 American Idol HD
Thursday March 9
8-9 American Idol HD for 15 min. then NO HD
9-10 OC NO HD
Friday March 10
8-9 Nanny 911 NO HD, but not supposed to be
9-10 Trading Spouses NO HD, but not supposed to be
Saturday March 11
8-9 Cops NO HD, but not supposed to be
9-10 America's Most Wanted HD?(Didn't watch)
Sunday March 12
4-8 Nascar UAW 400 NO HD
8-8:30 Simpsons NO HD, but not supposed to be
8:30-9 War ??
9-9:30 Family Guy ??
9:30-10 Free Ride ??

So from this, they are, at the very least, 4 for 9. Pathetic. :mad:
If anyone can help me out to fill in some of the blanks of the shows I missed, please do.

UPDATE 8:15pm- Hmmmmmm. Prison Break is in HD. This looks promising for 24 this evening. Let's hope.

Damn.
8:42 Prison Break flips to zoomed SD
8:43 Flips back to HD
8:44 Flips back to SD
8:49 Flips back to HD and continues to the end.
9:00 24 is in SD :confused: The previews at 8:59 were in HD. Why in the hell not just leave it?!

BTW-For those confused, I figured out how to tell what WTAT is sending by looking at the emblem at the bottom right of the screen. SD is just "FOX" in whitish transparent letters. HD is "FOX 24" in whitish transparent letters with a black box around it.

Okay now this is getting ridiculous. Prison Break was in HD but as soon as it was over someone flipped the switch to SD. I think someone is doing this on purpose now. Maybe they do read this forum and are getting ticked off at people slamming them. Rightfully slamming I must say. Let's see the last 3 weeks no 24 in HD and two weeks of no HD for Nascar. If something is wrong why is it happening on certain shows and not others. I gave them the benefit of the doubt but now I am ticked!!!!! (I am sure they shaking in their boots over that!! LOL)

I feel your pain. However, Im so glad that I only depend on WTAT for Nascar. During football season I care even less because im an AFC fan(Jags season ticket holder). WTAT and FOX for that matter could close up shop and Id never lose a winks sleep.

The sound quality has been horrible on this channel the last couple of nights. If I switch to analog WCSC it is fine but in HD it gets louder/softer and has a lot of pops. I have TW in the Murrells Inlet area. It was so bad I finally gave up on Letterman.

Anyone else having that problem? It only seems to be on WCSC HD

Yeah, WTAT needs to suck it up, as well as the rest of the stations.

HOLY COW !!!!! What a great idea !!!!!

Why not run a crawler on the screen letting us HD'ers in on the technical mess.
Could live with that than a conspiracy.

The sound quality has been horrible on this channel the last couple of nights. If I switch to analog WCSC it is fine but in HD it gets louder/softer and has a lot of pops. I have TW in the Murrells Inlet area. It was so bad I finally gave up on Letterman.

Anyone else having that problem? It only seems to be on WCSC HD

Having the same issues thru Knology on WCSC

[B]WTAT Fox 24 - telephone 744-2424 9a-5p (receptionist/operator)

Call and ask for "Programming Information" (you will talk to "Bill")
Be polite - ask if tonights programming will be shown in hi-def.

Call and ask for "Master Control/Engineering" (Not sure who will answer)
Be polite - ask if a crawl line can be inserted indicating "Technical Difficulties" when the HD feed is not being passed through (for whatever reason)

Call and ask for "Sales"
Be polite - ask the sales representative if the station has the capability to produce local spots in HD. (maybe that might cause one to consider advertising with them)

Call and ask for "Station Manager" (you will be sent to the voice mail box)
Be polite - ask for details regarding any or all of the issues raised within this forum - i.e. when will "certain programmes" be passed on in HD; will the station designate a representative to this forum (preferably an engineer who's not a spiteful MCO stealthily surfing this thread); if the problem is equipment provided by the FOX network, who do we contact at FOX to have it fixed; etc........

If we all put the number in our cel phones and each of us takes five minutes a day to call and speak with any one or all of these departments, I think we will see some action.

If just 24 (ha ha) people call each day, they will be getting about three calls per normal business hour. They will get tired of the phone calls and will begin a dialogue with the HD community, and maybe an effort will be made to do what should have been done YEARS AGO!

Remember - Be very polite, we don't want our calls to be considered harassment (but I'm sure they will be considered just that - too bad.) Kill 'em with kindness, and keep calling daily, 744-2424.

Repeat Daily -744-2424
E-mails can be ignored and deleted. Telephone calls must be answered, transferred and hopefully logged by someone.

Stuck in traffic? Call 744-2424
In the waiting room at the doctors office? Call 744-2424
Morning coffee break? 744-2424
Mad as hell? Not gonna take it any more? Call 744-2424
Be polite. Do what's right. Call 744-2424
You can make a difference. Call 744-2424

What's that number again? Oh yeah, 744-2424.

Be super nice and friendly (if you are nasty they can easily hang up and claim harassment, effectively ignoring you, but if you keep calling and are nice they have to take you seriously)

744-2424; 744 24 24; 7 4 4 24 24
Got it? Good.

Cheers,
Hightechredneck

I tried calling about the programming information and got Bill's voice box. I may try again later today. I want to see Nascar in HD so bad.

Mad as hell? Not gonna take it any more? Call 744-2424

LOL
"You've got to say, 'I'm a HUMAN BEING, Goddamnit! My life has VALUE!' So I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it, and stick your head out, and yell,
'I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!'..." :)
-Howard Beale in the movie "Network"

Power to the people. :D

BTW-For those confused, I figured out how to tell what WTAT is sending by looking at the emblem at the bottom right of the screen. SD is just "FOX" in whitish transparent letters. HD is "FOX 24" in whitish transparent letters with a black box around it.
Well, nevermind. American Idol looks to be in HD tonight, but it's the "FOX" logo in the bottom right so the above observation is incorrect. So either I mispoke earlier or they're switching it up to make me look like a fool. :p

Finally got around to pestering JP Sports about their weak HD position and found this posted on their website.......

R/JP Response to HDTV blackouts of ESPN HD during the 2006 ACC Tournament
01/16/2006
Raycom Sports and Jefferson Pilot Sports are regrettably unable to provide our viewers with games in HDTV for the 2006 ACC Basketball tournament (March 9-12). The technology for high definition distribution of syndicated (or non-network) telecasts is not yet to the point where all of our local TV stations can pull down a HD feed, process the signal and then successfully rebroadcast it out to their local viewers. At this time, there is unfortunately no industry standard that is compatible across all television stations for this type of distribution.

Most of the local TV stations on the R/JP network are all currently set-up to handle only their own network’s HD feeds (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, WB, UPN, etc.) and not one being delivered to them from an outside source or third party. In fact, there are some networks that do not allow their affiliates to even use network-owned HD transmission equipment for anything other than programming supplied by the network. Because we utilize different affiliates up and down the East Coast, we cannot produce one HD feed that these stations could universally process and properly rebroadcast. This is the same reason that the current top syndicated shows such as Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, the morning & afternoon talk shows and the off-network sitcoms are not yet distributed in an HD format.

Likewise, R/JP is contractually obligated to blackout ESPN in all markets where a local TV station is televising a game in order to protect the local stations that have the broadcast rights to these games. Formats do not apply to television rights (a high definition feed displays the same content as a standard definition feed (the game itself) except for the audio and video quality differences). We must do this in order to protect the R/JP stations that carry the other 30-plus games we offer throughout the regular season. If we did not implement this blackout, then the result would ultimately mean less ACC basketball for our fans.

Raycom Sports & Jefferson Pilot Sports are working with our stations to try and remedy this situation for future ACC Tournaments. We believe in the HD format and hope to deliver it soon to our loyal viewers across the ACC footprint. Thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter.


And then of course, here's the real reason, e-mail from Roger Roebuck (rroebuck@jpsports.com) October 2002.

"Speaking for Jefferson Pilot Sports only, the technical transition to HDTV distribution of our ACC and SEC sports properties is so costly that we are waiting until there is a sufficient number of homes able to receive a HDTV signal to make the investment. Right now it looks like that will be several years at the earliest.

Thank you for your input.

Roger Roebuck
Director of Syndication
Jefferson Pilot Sports "

Obviously basketball season is over for them, but this is really more for next years football broadcasts.

I blame the ACC as much as anyone for allowing this deficiency to continue. If they want their product to be held in high regard they need to ensure it is broadcast with the highest standards. Could you imagine Augusta National allowing the Masters to be shown in SD? The Super Bowl? The World Series?

WCSC's engineers reset the audio processing board today. I just turned on the TV and didn't hear any pops in the three minutes i had it on. Apparently, this just starts happening from time to time and the problem cannot be simulated or repeated.

I don't disagree with you Gary J. I think some execs might have been dumb and happy and not looking ahead on this. JP Sports would probably be able to find some money if the ACC indicated they might have to talk to ESPN or another network that had HD in place.

Well, nevermind. American Idol looks to be in HD tonight, but it's the "FOX" logo in the bottom right so the above observation is incorrect. So either I mispoke earlier or they're switching it up to make me look like a fool. :p

I'm not so sure you were wrong, hatfield. I caught the beginning of Idol and the picture quality looked very soft. My set always displays 720p for WTAT-DT no matter what they send - stretched SD, stretched HD ("24"), or true HD. Of course, if they had a representative participating in this forum, we might get some info.....

Regards,
Bill

Here's one to post beside your TV.

The direct line phone numbers into Master Control of each of the 4 stations:

WTAT Master Control
529-2250

WCIV Master Control
971-5474

WCBD Master Control
216-4904

WCSC Master Control
402-5709

So, next time they don't flip the "switch" give them a friendly reminder.

The direct line phone numbers into Master Control of each of the 4 stations:...
:eek:
Things just got really interesting for Charleston television.

Viewers of the Charleston area unite...but let's not tick them off. Just friendly reminders when needed.

Thank you "thehdmole" and I totally agree with you Hatfield. Let's remember that the Master Control operators are busy doing many things and the digital side is not their first priority.

I got a response from JP Sports. They indicate the earliest they will be able to broadcast in HD is Fall 2007.

WTF!!! Worthless recording!! NO SOUND! I have finally missed my first ep of Grey's Anotomy! Damn....Great show. I got so turned off by "med shows" b/c of ER. Just dragged eveything out entirely too far. This show toppled it. Soo much better. :mad: I'm pissed I missed it.


My wife was so disappointed she said "Let's not bother recording anything in HD anymore!" - too many cocked up transmissions and a pitiful excuse for a DVR!

I've compromised by ensuring that TiVo is reliabliy recording all the favorite shows in SD as a backup.

What a pitiful situation!

Robert.

Absolutely...if youre so inclined to call...please kill them with kindness.

I can't believe it the race is in HIGH DEFINITION.

I was about to post the same thing when it flipped to SD just a sec ago. Flipped back to HD now and it looks beautiful. Thank you, FOX! Let's hope it keeps.

Oh wonderful. We finally get a fantastic-looking HD pic of the race and it's delayed by rain. :mad: Mother nature's come to arms. She's in a fighting mood.
The recording of last year's race looks awesome though. Thanks again, WTAT!! :)

Is anyone having issues with HBO HD on Comcast? I tuned in for the Sopranos last week, and there was nothing on the screen on 300. 301 was working, as were all of my other HBOs and HD channels. I checked this afternoon, and it's the same thing. It's killing me to have to watch the new season in SD...

Am I the only one?

Thanks.

Watched both weeks on 300 without a problem.

When did the premium HD channels get renumbered? I programmed my Harmony to tune HBO on 176 (or something like that) but now it's at 300. Had me worried last week when I was getting ready for the Sopranos.

HBO HD has been fine for me also for first 2 eps. of Sopranos.

Robert.

Time for the weekly FOX rundown. Before I begin, I will say that I did see improvement, and not just on FOX. Every station seemed to be on the ball this past week. Kudos! :)

Monday March 13
8-9 Prison Break HD w/ "black box" logo...BUT those hiccups: 8:42 SD, 8:43 HD, 8:44 SD, 8:49 HD to the end.
9-10 24 NO HD w/ "white FOX" logo :confused: :mad:

Tuesday March 14
8-10 American Idol HD w/ "white FOX" logo...at least it seemed HD to me

Wednesday March 15
8-9 Bones ??(Didn't watch it.)
9-9:30 American Idol HD w/ "white FOX" logo
9:30-10 The Loop HD w/ "black box" logo...BUT had a few hiccups: at 9:44 SD w/ "white FOX" logo 8:53 HD w/ "black box" logo

Thursday March 16
8-8:30 '70s Show seemed SD w/ sidebars and "black box" logo
8:30-9 The Loop HD w/ "black box" logo
9-10 OC HD...BUT had a few hiccups: at 9:38 SD for 30 seconds then flipped back to HD

Friday March 17
8-9 Nanny 911 NO HD, but not supposed to be
9-10 Trading Spouses NO HD, but not supposed to be

Saturday March 18
8-9 Cops HD
9-10 America's Most Wanted ??(Didn't watch)

Sunday March 19
1-6 Nascar Golden Corral 500...HD :) BUT a small hiccup to SD at 1:06 then back to HD...and then rained out. :mad:
8-8:30 Simpsons HD?...looked better than usual
8:30-9 War at Home HD w/ "black box" logo
9-9:30 Family Guy HD w/ sidebars? and "black box" logo...looked better than usual
9:30-10 Free Ride ??(Didn't watch)

So there it is. They are getting better. Couple small spasms here and there, but I'm gonna send this on and maybe they can see a pattern or whatever.
Again, feel free to correct/add anything I might've missed.

BTW-robus, the channel switch occurred March 1. Comcast is standardizing their entire market(if I understand correctly) to one common channel lineup.

hmmmm, I watched Cops on WTAT and it was in HD for me (OTA).

I'm loving TNT HD recently: the NBA games and The Gladiator and Forest Gump in HD were a real hit at my house.

I have not watched Cops in years and only assumed that since it was not filmed with HD cameras and that it is an older show that they wouldn't broadcast it in HD. And you know what they say about what happens when you assume. You make an A** out of U and ME. :D So I am wrong. Cops was in HD. Nice.
How about America's Most Wanted? Did you watch it?

BTW, everybody, 24 is in HD. :) I repeat 24 is in HD. First time in a month. :)
Way to go, FOX!

Okay, I'm a newbie. New equipment, new attitude. Until I learn the protocol of the forum, please bear with me. I have Directv for locals and OTA for locals in HD. I receive all but Channels 4 and 36 in HD. Receiver says it can't find the signal. Any help appreciated. Please forgive me if I am out of order or on the wrong thread. Thanks.

Hootenanny what ant do you have, give your location.

Okay, I'm a newbie. New equipment, new attitude. Until I learn the protocol of the forum, please bear with me. I have Directv for locals and OTA for locals in HD. I receive all but Channels 4 and 36 in HD. Receiver says it can't find the signal. Any help appreciated. Please forgive me if I am out of order or on the wrong thread. Thanks.

At this time, I do not believe 36 is in HD. I would call the engineer at the station to find out for certain. :)

At this time, I do not believe 36 is in HD. I would call the engineer at the station to find out for certain. :)

It's not much, but 36 (UPN) does broadcast some shows in HD on their national slate, and I have received a very spotty HD signal from them since they moved to the new tower. I think their shows in HD are like "Everybody Hates Chris" and "Girlfriends", neither of which I have ever seen, excpet on the channel guide.

Appreciate all suggestions on Channel 4 HD. I live on James Island, about 2 miles north of Folly Beach and use a regular Radio Shack uhf/vhf antenna. Like I said, I get 2, 5, 7 and 24 in HD, but not 4 and 36. Many thanks, guys for any help.

A UHF only ant would be better, the U75 is Pn 15-2160 $25

I have a question regarding OTA HD. I am using a Phillips indoor HD antenna with 50dB amplification. I can only pick up channels 5 and 7. I live on Clements Ferry Rd about 5 miles north of I-526. Per antennaweb(dot)org, i am within 10 miles of 2, 4, 5, 7, 24, and 36.

What can I do to improve reception and to actually see channels 2, 4, 24, and 36?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Is an outside antenna out of the question? Are there any tall trees, buildings, or bridges blocking your line of sight between your ant. and the TV towers?

I'd rather not have to put up an outside antenna, but it's not out of the question. There are pine trees around the North and West sides of the house, but not that dense. Other than that there really isn't that much around the neighborhood. Denton Shipyard (small for shipyards), along Hwy 41 is to the east a couple of miles, that is the only thing of significance that could be causing problems.

Is the Phillips indoor HD antenna in the attic or on top of the TV ? Somepeople have better success putting their antenna in the attic.

Are your reception problems recent or just in the last couple weeks?

I have the TV and the Antenna in loft in the 2nd floor of the house. I have only been able to get channels 5 and 7 since I've had the whole setup, since late Jan. i'm trying to wait out my current satellite contract to upgrade to hd sat or comcast.

I can try putting the antenna up in the attic and running some RG-6 down the wall, which should be pretty easy since I ran some conduit down that wall during construction.

Phillips does make a UHF only antenna that I could replace mine with (mine is vhf/uhf). Also, what about the Terk indoor antennas at best buy? any good?

Terk ants are overpriced JUNK,
For $25 you can get a good outdoor UHF ant from R/S 15-2160
You can bet that any ant that says they have 50db amp is going to have bad noise figure and will hurt more than help a DTV signal.

Or, if you must use an indoor antenna, I've had pretty good luck with a silver sensor and a cable amplifier. I live in dunes west and using that set-up, upstairs I can get all the channels without moving the antenna.
The amplifier is from radioshack, but they don't sell it anymore (at least not on the website). It is about 10 years old and has a viable gain up to about 20dB. There may be something similar out there.

Yeah, I would suggest trying the antenna without the amp just for s**ts and giggles

Yea, I live way up in the northern part of Summerville and the $25 Radio Shack antenna gets me ALL the locals ALL the time. I was amazed.

You must live in The Penisula or Beresford Hall or Beresford Commons off Clements Ferry Rd. Just stick the the UHF only antenna in your attic, point it towards Mt. Pleasant and enjoy your HD.

Appreciate all suggestions on Channel 4 HD. I live on James Island, about 2 miles north of Folly Beach and use a regular Radio Shack uhf/vhf antenna. Like I said, I get 2, 5, 7 and 24 in HD, but not 4 and 36. Many thanks, guys for any help.

I'm about 3 miles from Folly, near Fort Lamar, and with a Zenith Silver Sensor I can get all the locals. I now have it in the attic, but was able to get 4 while on the 1st floor prior. I have my antenna facing a little East of North (at least by my best guess that is). You should be able to get all the channels where you're at.

Hello all. I am moving to Charleston from the Washington DC area. I will be in the McLaura Hall area, and am looking for how reception is for OTA DTV there.

Also, I am trying to figure out if Knology or traditional cable is better. Any comments or thoughts? I plan to do both OTA and some cable. Here in DC I have OTA HD, and SD-only D*.

I am a broadcast engineer, and am familiar with OTA operations, along with computers and radio equipment in general. While I have been lurking here for a while, this is my first posting.


Thanks in advance.
Terry

Welcome to the forum Terry, your insight should prove to be useful. Im not sure where the McLaura Hall Area is so I cant comment on reception for you. I believe knology is still the only local cable provider to offer the 4 major networks in HD.

Will you be working for one of the local affiliates?

MacLaura Hall is off of Ashley River Road in West Ashley right? If so then you probably have both Knology and Comcast options. I have Comcast and my neighbor has Knology so I am familar with both. Comcast also has all 5 networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and PBS) in HD although Knology does have some other things like HDNet instead of Comcast's INHD. They both have the same SA 8300 HD-DVR, so it probably is just a matter of service and potential future channels. Knology still has UniversalHD and Comcast stopped it after the Olympics.

Thanks shuttermaker and andrewg. Yes, McLaura Hall is off Ashley River road, across the river from the Charleston airport. I will check out both Knology and Comcast, the present homeowners have Knology. Anything would be a step-up from Cox here in northern-Virginia.

I don't have any plans at the moment to work at one of the affiliates, but you never know. Retiring from the rat-race. I'm still working for a couple more months yet...
Terry

Newbie here. I have Uhf outdoor ant in attic. Live in Pimlico plantation, just above Goose Creek. First experience with DTV, OTA only. Get all local channels very good except 2.1 not at all. TV (toshiba 42HP95) knows it's there but very low signal strength and can't lock. Also 36.1 shows excellent signal strength (>95) but the pic is blank and no audio. Had this new setup since mid Feb and this is only problem. Anyone here have an idea? Great to find this Charleston thread! :) :)

For several days last week and weekend, I was having to turn up my audio to drastic levels to hear anything recorded on 2.1. It was only on this channel, so I am fairly certain that this was not an equipment issue. It was only a problem when I changed channels/recordings and nearly woke the neighbors because the new show/channel was so much louder.

Anyone else notice this?

tc1: 2-1 originates from a different location. Aim your antenna towards the cooper river bridge and see if that doesn't allow you to dial in 2-1 while at the same time still get all others.

atp1313: i seem to recall experiencing the same thing.

oh yeah, reason I came here................

WCSC will carry all four days of the Masters in HD this year again on 5-1, regardless of what's broadcast on the analog side.

atp1313: i seem to recall experiencing the same thing.
Glad it wasn't just me. It still seems to be happeing. Is this something that we should call the Master Command and mention? I have never called in so I don't know if this is "worthy" or if a call to the main switchboard would be sufficient.

oh yeah, reason I came here................

WCSC will carry all four days of the Masters in HD this year again on 5-1, regardless of what's broadcast on the analog side.
Sweet! And to think that my wife is going out of town the night before the Masters and coming back late that Sunday...4 days of uninterupted golf bliss!! :p

I just e-mailed Dressler about ESPN2HD being added before MLB opening day (as he and others have led us to believe for months now). Well ... surprise, surprise-- he's changed his tune.

He reports no progress in adding ESPN2HD or the NFL Network. If you're like me and love sports, this might just be the last straw. Come on Verizon Fios!!

KTrout

Thanks, tried it and still the same. No 2-1 and blank silent 36-1 with strong signal. BTW ant is Terk TV32 and was at approx 140 deg tried at 160 and even 180 with no change.

Tom

KTrout

Thanks, tried it and still the same. No 2-1 and blank silent 36-1 with strong signal. BTW ant is Terk TV32 and was at approx 140 deg tried at 160 and even 180 with no change.

Tom

Let the criticism begin on the Terk antennas. ;)

Seriously..they are overpriced junk

Let the criticism begin on the Terk antennas. ;)

Seriously..they are overpriced junk

UH-OH :eek: Looks like me stumbled on to the hot button for this category! To late though and will be at least a year before I can (safley) convince LOML that we need to buy another if that's the answer. It is a shame I would really like to get NBC in HD. The others as I said all come beautiful with signals over 92 at lowest but UPN blank and silent. UPN supposed to be 170 deg from me and NBC 177. Kinda wierd.

Tom

Move the one you have now outside
A good UHF is under $60 and you may have better luck with 15-2160 R/S for $25
Terks overpriced JUNK

Tom from your location 2-1 should be about 140-145 deg all the others would be around 105-110
I would del. 36-1 and re scan. they have had some PSIP trouble

Tom,

The operations manager at NBC said they would be moved to their tower in Awendaw by July, at the latest. Then you should be able to pick them up, even with a Terk....
If that gives you any hope!

Hello all, first time post, long time lurker.
Just wandering if anybody else is having problems with their SA 8300 box.
Main problem is that the unit crashes/reboots every time you record 2 programs at the same time and try to watch a program you all ready have recorded or recording 2 shows at once and pausing one of the shows your recording.
I gone through 2- 8300 boxes, 1 8000hd box which would not even record.
I got my second 8300hd box yesterday from Knology and it does the same thing same thing as the first one. Installer said they know about the problem and there would be a firmware upgrade Friday morning. (has not happened)

anybody with same problems with SA8300hd or is it a bad run with Knology??

Tom,

The operations manager at NBC said they would be moved to their tower in Awendaw by July, at the latest. Then you should be able to pick them up, even with a Terk....
If that gives you any hope!

Thank you very much for that information. Even though it's not good knowing it would have saved me a tremendous amount of time! I'm the "there's gotta be a way I just haven't found it yet" type. I should hope they will reach me then or they have really screwed up. There's at least 15,000 homes planned within the next few years within a 10 mile radius of me and I don't know how many more out to 20 miles.

OK, I'm stuck with the Terk as It's 2 months old and extra parts and carton are long gone. However, I have some hard facts for those that follow after me on this bumpy road. Not wanting to be the black sheep here I went to Radio Shack this morning and got the 15-2160 for $24.99. Set it up in place of the terk and tried all the way from 90 through 180 degrees. The $24 R/S gave the same results as the $99 (MSRP) Terk TV32 including minimum 92 sig strength on all ch ;) ! So I leave this data, not speculation, to the next freshman class. Guy at R/S in Goose Creek was very nice and got my 24.99 back so I'll just enjoy the beautiful picture I get on the rest and wait till summer for NBC.

What is the deal with the snow on NBC? This has happened before and was eventually cleared up after a couple of weeks. Seems like it has been going on well over a couple of weeks now. Getting it on Comcast and OTA.

TC1 why not try your ant outside.

Gave that a lot of thought. Decided I've put enough time and aggravation on one channel. If ch 2 still doesnt want their advisertisors to reach the probably fastest growing pop in the area after they move to Awendaw this summer I will be forced to reconsider. Note to advertisors, you can find us on other local channels. For anyone curious not only is the OTA HD as good as any DVD but the Dolby surround is also if you have a decent A/V setup.

Tom

Anyone else have any trouble tonight with their Comcast DVR? I was in the middle of dinner when I happened to walk through the living room and glanced at the DVR to make sure it was recording 24. It wasn't. :mad: I only missed 11 minutes and got it squared away. But I also checked to see what happened. It didn't record Prison Break either and on the scheduled recordings page it said it was recording Prison Break from 9-10 on FOX and 24 from 9-10 on FOX. :confused: Wierd. Anyone else?

A little OT, but speaking of Fox, anyone else having a problem with Fox's volume? It got extremely loud last week for me and sounds distorted. OTA it sounds fine. I have analog Comcast and it sounds the same on all TVs in the house.

yeah i noticed the "overgained" audio on fox for a few days, though i think it's gone now. They have many problems, it seems. Nothing like watching Judge Judy's streeeetched out face just so they can say it's in widescreen :)

I picked up a $20 radio shack uhf outdoor antenna and have gotten excellent results with it. I tried it in my attic but couldn't get all the channels. On the roof, 2story house, I get all the local networks. I'm about 20 miles from downtown chas so wasn't sure how well it would work but very pleased with the results.

The irony is that just last fall I was working on my house and ripped off the old rooftop antenna that was on the chimney when we moved in several years ago! Actually gave it to a friend. Now I'm out buying a rooftop antenna! At least the new one is much smaller.

Tom,
I had the same problem with my Terk HDTVs. I went out and got a Channel Master CM 7775 UHF Preamplifier with Power Supply (CM7775) and I get everything with no drop outs. The problem is that you are probably getting a signal but they are not broadcasting a a high power. I have a Terk HDTVs and the Channel Master CM 7775 UHF Preamplifier with Power Supply and now I get NBC(2.1, 2.2), CBS(5.1, 5.2), FOX(24.1), PBS(7.1, 7.2, 7.3), UPN(36.1), ABC(4.1). I ordered it from Solid Signal. Here is the website:
http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=ANC7775

HEADS UP, ALL COMCAST(and maybe others) DVRers!!

I checked some of my other recordings and found that they are all off. Flip This House didn't record early this morning and I just checked my NCIS recording for this evening and it says "9:00-10:00." Supposed to be "8:00-9:00" and always has been. As of right now, it's not going to record(not highlighted). I think the Daylight Savings Time jump must have messed everything up. Just wanted to post this up in case anyone else has to redo all their programming like I'm doing right now.

2006 Master's Coverage


Standard Definition

Thursday 4 to 7 pm USA - local Basic Cable Channel
Friday 4 to 7 pm USA - local Basic Cable Channel
Saturday 3:30 to 7 pm CBS - local Basic Cable Channel
Sunday 2:30 to 7 pm CBS - local Basic Cable Channel


High Definition

Thursday 4 to 7 pm Universal HD - Channel 945
Friday 4 to 7 pm Universal HD - Channel 945
Saturday 3:30 to 7 pm CBS - HD - Channel 810
Sunday 2:30 to 7 pm CBS - HD - Channel 810

I'm preparing a letter to Comcast and Scientific Atlanta about the many short comings of the SA 8300HD cable box. Does anyone have any flaws to add to my list?

1) All Programmed Recordings are screwed up by a Day Light Savings time change.
2) All Programmed Recordings are screwed up by Comcast's Channel Line-up change.
3) When watching a recorded program while the end of the program is still being recorded the box kicks you out of the program when it ends in realtime. Additionally, it doesn't bookmark your last point so you have to start at the beginning or end and shuttle back.
4) Turn on the AUX Inputs.
5) You can't increase the length of a scheduled recording. ie, if you want to record until 10:02 (instead of 10:00) to ensure you get to see the "next week on 24".

Of course, the more important question and I'm sure Comcast's answer is:
When is Comcast releasing a TiVo box?

Anyone else have any trouble tonight with their Comcast DVR? I was in the middle of dinner when I happened to walk through the living room and glanced at the DVR to make sure it was recording 24. It wasn't. :mad: I only missed 11 minutes and got it squared away. But I also checked to see what happened. It didn't record Prison Break either and on the scheduled recordings page it said it was recording Prison Break from 9-10 on FOX and 24 from 9-10 on FOX. :confused: Wierd. Anyone else?

I didn't check to see if it received any upgrades, but mine rebooted sometime during primetime. Not exactly sure when though, but I know it did.

Read this post
joemat spent $130 on a TERK HDTVS then spent $53 on a CM 7775 all this money to get the same signal as a $25 R/S 15-2160 with no amp.
Look at solid signal web site the Terk 32 is $89, now look at the Winegard 4400 same ant for $21.
Wake up, TERKS are OVER priced JUNK

Sorry the Winegard 4400 is $19

oh yeah, reason I came here................

WCSC will carry all four days of the Masters in HD this year again on 5-1, regardless of what's broadcast on the analog side.

KTrout - Maybe there is something different happeing on the terrestial CBS-HD broadcast, but OTA 5.1 is NOT showing HD Masters coverage. It appears to be showing identical Analog signal. Maybe someone got their facts wrong.

I see Diana posted a note about UniversalHD showing today and Friday action already, but thought you should let your source know that something is not right in their notes to you.

Now, the good news...the coverage is awesome and I love that they have limited commercials!!! :p :D

KTrout - Maybe there is something different happeing on the terrestial CBS-HD broadcast, but OTA 5.1 is NOT showing HD Masters coverage. It appears to be showing identical Analog signal. Maybe someone got their facts wrong.

I see Diana posted a note about UniversalHD showing today and Friday action already, but thought you should let your source know that something is not right in their notes to you.

Now, the good news...the coverage is awesome and I love that they have limited commercials!!! :p :D

Yeah, I was disappointed to see after recording what I thought to be the Masters on Comcast CBS HD that there was only normal programming. Well at least I can watch SD on USA tonight. Good to see TW on the ball, but what's the deal Comcast?

Got a note from the Engineer at WCSC. Looks like it might have been overlooked yesterday. I'm pretty sure it will be on today.

COMCAST just passes what's provided to them, it's not their fault.

Braves in HD


All home games for TBS and Turner South will be filmed in HD.

All TBS Home games will be aired in HD on TWC Special Events Channel 813

During the Month of April, All Turner South Home games will be aired in HD on TWC Special Events Channel 814

We do not know yet what HD rights we might obtain for Turner South after the sale of the network to Fox Cable Networks closes at the end of this month. We are working to obtain this information and will let you know as soon as we know.

Got a note from the Engineer at WCSC. Looks like it might have been overlooked yesterday. I'm pretty sure it will be on today.

COMCAST just passes what's provided to them, it's not their fault.

I'm referring to the fact that TW has an arrangement with a station where it was picked up, where Comcast has no station and is relying on the locals to take care of it.