Thought this was an interesting article ... especially the visit to Saugerties (downriver from Albany) at the end of the article.

http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages_c/UpOnTheRoof.html

I'm also in Poughkeepsie with a VHF antenna aimed at NYC (picture attached - the Channel Master VHF is the antenna on the bottom). Analog reception was fine for 26 years the VHF antenna was used to receive analog broadcasts from New York. After the transition I now pick up no VHF stations, so you are doing better than me. I can get one UHF station from NYC (WNYW).


Good picture...it says alot.
If it was me, I'd break the bolts on the VHF antenna (you can buy a new U-bolt) and at least turn it north, better then that, mount both antennas above the rotor with a new 5 foot mast from Radio Shack, with the VHF antenna right above the rotor (for weight distribution), and the UHF at the top, with new transformers and 75 ohm coax....then you can turn both of them....
And please, do it for me...loose the 300 ohm twin lead...I would say that has got to be 90% of your problem...garbage in (to the pre-amp) garbage out, ESPECIALLY now with digital TV. New transformers at antennas and the "in" of the pre-amp and 75 ohm coax between will make a world of difference...you can use a standard Radio Shack splitter and f-connector male to male coupler to temporarily combine both antennas, but you should order and use this combiner after new coax is installed as a final combination:
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=UVSJ&d=Pico-Macom-UVSJ-UHF-VHF-Band-SeparatorCombiner-for-Antenna-(UVSJ)&c=Signal%20Combiners&sku=UVSJ
The VHF antenna looks like it should work well, again, rusted and dirty contacts on the antenna will really stop a signal...
The UHF antenna appears to be very functional as well...cleaning contacts here too....
I'm betting if you took some cleaning, replacing and reconfiguring time, you'd be in business.

Excuse me for jumping in on this discussion but I can't seem to figure out where to place my question in this forum. I just splurged on new HDTV and I don't want to pay Time Warner big bucks for digital. I bought a #12 antenna from Radio shack and can get about 6 digital channels including three from 17 and a couple from channel 10. I see that there are quite a few other channels I could possibly get. I'm particularly interested in CBS. I'm in a downstairs apt in Green Island and don't have access to the roof. Any ideas on how I could improve reception via antenna change? Again sorry for butting in and if this should go somewhere else let me know.

In my previous message it should have read $12 not #12. Sorry.

Excuse me for jumping in on this discussion but I can't seem to figure out where to place my question in this forum. I just splurged on new HDTV and I don't want to pay Time Warner big bucks for digital. I bought a #12 antenna from Radio shack and can get about 6 digital channels including three from 17 and a couple from channel 10. I see that there are quite a few other channels I could possibly get. I'm particularly interested in CBS. I'm in a downstairs apt in Green Island and don't have access to the roof. Any ideas on how I could improve reception via antenna change? Again sorry for butting in and if this should go somewhere else let me know.

Channel 17 and 10 are UHF stations so it sounds like you bought a UHF Antenna.. Which is OK, but to pick up CBS ( Channel 6) and a few other Albany Stations you'll need a VHF antenna too, or a combo UHF/VHF antenna.

IMO I would go back to RS and tell them exactly where you are, what your situation is( no access to roof) and that you want to receive both UHF and VHF signals and see what they got.. And hold onto the receipt so if what they recommend doesn't work any better then what you have now, you can always return it.

Thanks for the reply. The antenna I'm using "Receives HDTV, HD radio, VHF and UHF signals." I'm hoping to get some specific suggestions re what to ask for at RS. When I went there before the clerks didn't seem that knowledgeable. Thanks again.

Thanks for the reply. The antenna I'm using "Receives HDTV, HD radio, VHF and UHF signals." I'm hoping to get some specific suggestions re what to ask for at RS. When I went there before the clerks didn't seem that knowledgeable. Thanks again.

This is a good place to start... Type your Zip Code in here and see what they recommend..

http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx

fhaverly:
For $12 that must be the R-S model 15-1874, a basic rabbit ears and loop. I bought one recently for portable testing and it does about as well as I expected but it's not really suitable for regular use on the ground floor at 18 miles (Green Island). If possible, add a longer coax and try it all around your apartment and even outside to see if the walls are blocking the signal. Then at least you'll know what your chances are with a better antenna. Aluminum siding and stucco (actually the chickenwire frame the stucco is applied to) are very effective at blocking TV signals.

For WRGB (6) you'll want the rabbit ears fully extended and as near horizontal as possible. The stations are WSW from you but try all directions; you might get a better signal from a reflection.

Over in WRGB's DTV forum their CE often recommends the Channel Master CM 3010 for medium-distance reception. It's intended for outdoor use but is small enough to be used indoors in many cases. Never tried one myself, and I have no idea if it would help you. I've used a Zenith Silver Sensor (also sold by Philips) and found it to be an excellent UHF antenna for its size. Even got some high VHF with a clear shot at 11 miles but useless for ch. 6. If you have about 6' of twin lead you can make your own antenna for ch. 6 from plans here (http://www.wfu.edu/%7Ematthews/misc/dipole.html). Note that any antenna for low VHF channels will not be small.

Avoid any set-top antenna with built-in amplifier. An amplifier can't improve a signal that's poor to start with, and most of the ones in indoor antennas just make things worse. Even a top quality one can overload on a strong signal, even if it's not the signal you're trying to receive. An amp can help in certain circumstances even with an antenna close to the TV (if it's less noisy than the TV tuner's front end) but you need to get the best antenna signal you can first.

Low VHF channels such as 6 are particularly susceptible to electrical interference from all sorts of devices. Some people have found they got little or no reception from 6 until they turned off offending devices or moved the antenna far away from them. There's not much you can do about outside interference such as from nearby traffic.

Thanks for your replies. I will try your suggestions.

WRGB on 45-3
Keep in mind that if you can manage to find a location in the apartment that gets the UHF stations fairly well, and you can receive channel 45(1) (rf 43-1), the WRGB CBS channel 6 feed is simulcast on 45(3) (rf 43-3)...I would advise, tho, to get the indoor antenna as far away as possible from any electronic device (a 25 foot extension coax and an F-connectior coupler from Radio Shack will work, attaching extension to antenna coax)....the two worst culprits: your TV(s) it/themselves and computers (if a computer is an issue, turn off and unplug from wall socket). The antenna you have now will work as well as any indoor antenna (indoor amplified antennas NOT recommended)...the key is to get it far away from ANY electronic interference and pointed towards the transmitters. Set the rabbit ears about 29 inches tip to tip laying flat/horizontal....this "should" help to receive WXXA 23 (rf 7), WNYT 13 (rf 12) and WNYA 51 (rf 13)....receiving WRGB 6 (on rf 6) with an indoor antenna has been a problem for many and will surely be a lesson in frustration, but as said, if you can get 45, you can get CBS/WRGB.
Unfortunately, indoor antennas are not black and white....you will have to search for the perfect location in the apartment to put the antenna to get all channels, the higher the better...but I trust the perfect location is in there someplace....

A couple weeks back, I had a dialog with a few folks here regarding my reception of Albany TV stations from my location just NE of Utica. At that time, the only reliable signal out of that area was WNYT RF12 with 50 to 70% signal depending on conditions. Nothing else was receivable normally, but only under enhancement such as tropo openings.

A couple weekends ago, I rotated my 8 bay UHF Channel Master Antenna located close spaced (less than 3 ft.) from my 23 element VHF, to the west to pick up all the Syracuse UHF channels, keeping the VHF pointed eastward toward Albany. At that point I noticed some slight improvement in channels 6 and 23 (RF 6 and 7). Emphasis on slight.

That got me to thinking, and I did some further work on the antennas. I took the UHF completely off the main mast and mounted it on the side of the chimney, again pointing it westward for Syracuse UHF channels. I then pushed my lo/hi band 23 element VHF about 3 ft. up the mast to where the UHF was located before I moved it. The results were satisfying!

For the past two weeks, I have 100% reliability of Albany RF 6, 7 and 12 (i.e. 6, 23, 13). Channel 13 which always was 50%, is about the same. But, RF 6 improved from 0% to a steady 40 to 50 %. RF 7 (23) is now reliability at 30% to 40%. At no time in the past 2 weeks have the channels dropped out or pixelated. These channels previous were only receiveable under tropo enhancement. We have had no tropo going on, especially the past few days with the wind mixing up the lower atmosphere where tropo would occur.

My preamp has a FM trap that was enabled. I did some tweaking on it and it did help some. Even though I don't have any strong FM transmitters in the 88 to 91 Mhz area near me, I do have 4 high power FM transmitters on 94.9 96.1, 98.7, and 107.3 that are roughly 4 miles to my west. Disabling the premap's FM trap kills all VHF TV reception for me, even on local LP analog Ch. 11.

Ironically, the only local channel I don't receive OTA is Utica's own Ch. 2 (RF29). That's due to my location in the shadow of the transmitter, behind Beach Hill. I can receive it if I rotate the UHF antenna NE. But I wanted a fixed operation, no rotors, so I've got to get a small single bay UHF, point it NE and couple it into the existing UHF antenna. My Syracuse stations are all strong enough to hopefully not degrade appreciably with the addition of the single bay UHF added in the opposite direction. Another trick to try, but I don't want to ruin my UHF antenna, and that's to cut some of the reflective screen away to render the antenna bi-directional. Syracuse and Ch. 2 are direct opposite directions. Anybody ever try that trick before?

Again, things worked out well here. In closing, I do agree now with the thinking of using VHF transmitters in some locations. With the hills of the Mohawk Valley that are in between my location and the Helderberg antenna farm, VHF is able to penetrate them. The only UHF I was receiving from Albany was RF 26 (WTEN-10). That was until the local Fox station moved to the antenna farm on Smith Hill where the FMs are located. They're on RF 27 with high power. That killed ch. 10. I never was able to receive the other UHFs from Albany.

Thanks again to everybody for their suggestions. A happy ending! :)

A happy ending! :)

I'm glad you got it all worked out the way you wanted it...sometimes a little experimentation yields success....
I've been wanting to ask you about a little experiment up here I've been going thru....
On a DX station I receive, WCAX 3 (rf 22), I had been watching the SS meter slowly drop from 42% to 30% then back up, then back down, over and over.
I have a cell tower about a 1/4 mile away, right in between me and Mt. Mansfield, the Vermont antenna farm. My suspicions were that a harmonic from the cell tower might be slipping thru the shields on the exact length 2 foot phasing cables I use on the phased log periodics (as well as the 2 VHF/hi/low antenna's coax at 2 foot).
What I did was put snap on ferrite chokes at both ends of each coax that eventually connected to the 3-way combiner, that then goes into the pre-amp.
I've been watching WCAX pretty religiously now for several weeks, and although it hasn't stopped this downward drift, it will only drop from 42% to 40% now.
Does this theory seem logical to you? The chokes obviously blocked something interfering with rf 22. I suspected as each cellular radio would come up on a cell call, there would be power and frequency mixing causing what miight have been harmonically resonent with a 24 inch coax or coaxes. As a call would come up or drop, the interference intensity would change, causing this slow SS change. Very weird.
The Warren County airport is not far from me either, maybe 1/2 mile...a 24 inch antenna is resonent at 1/4 wave at 117 mhz..which is an airport frequency, and is probably packing some power...coincidence?
Anyway, what do you think?

KB2FZQ - I wish I could give you an educated answer, too many variables and unknowns for me to do that though :confused:

With the plethora of RF out there, anything is possible. If you're signal is now going from 42 to 40% with no pixelation, the chokes may have worked.

As a fellow ham, you might apprciate this tidbit. I had the opportunity a few years back to purchase a house atop Bell Hill, just to the northeast of Utica. The house's elevation was 1500 ft. Within 500 ft. of the house were a couple towers (but no TV or FM xmtrs) as the location was eyesight to the whole city of Utica and surrounding valley towns. It was also the home of a myriad of two way communications type transmitters, repeaters and whatever else. I finally shyed away from the idea as I think I would have been inundated with harmonics and compounded interference from the various sources.

I had been watching the SS meter slowly drop from 42% to 30% then back up, then back down, over and over.

Anyway, what do you think?

I think that its normal fading for such a path.

UHF Signals don't always follow the most direct route. When a signal that is refracted from the atmosphere the path length of the atmospheric signal changes as the temperature and humidity varies . A second signal knife edges off the hills. The phase of the two signals can reinforce or decrease depending on the time difference between the two paths.

No better example of the signal reinforcement and decrease is watching an analog TV channel while an airplane is in the vicinity.

I had a friend who worked for an FM station that was having frequent bursts of static and signal drop out for no apparent reason. This was happening at the studio, 7 miles line of sight to the transmitter. Come to find out there was a new paging installation on an adjacent tower that was blowing away the STL every time someone was paged. The paging company had to install some filters.

I'm betting it is safe to assume that unless someone requested such filters, the paging company most likely didn't install them and if they are only interfering with one person's reception sadly the paging folks don't give a hoot!

I'm betting it is safe to assume that unless someone requested such filters, the paging company most likely didn't install them and if they are only interfering with one person's reception sadly the paging folks don't give a hoot!

They won't give a hoot until they receive a NAL from the FCC for spurious transmissions. The FCC takes those complaints very seriously. And it's unfair to lump all paging companies as one big sloppy mess. I know some paging companies that take the operationg/maintenance of their transmission equipment very seriously. And they do respond to even singleton complaints about possible interference. It's just an example of one bad one makes everyone seem bad, unfortunatley.

I think that its normal fading for such a path.

UHF Signals don't always follow the most direct route. When a signal that is refracted from the atmosphere the path length of the atmospheric signal changes as the temperature and humidity varies . A second signal knife edges off the hills. The phase of the two signals can reinforce or decrease depending on the time difference between the two paths.

Yes, I obviously considered that, given the great distance, but it was the consistency of the interference that caused the choke install. I would expect fading to come and go as the atmosphere changed, this did not change for the entire summer, until the choke install, which limited the problem, which would tell me I have something local agitating the signal. Exactly whom or what it is, is anybodies guess, but it has eased a considerable amount since the chokes. And it only occurs on RF 22, the other DX station (RF 14, same tower) was uneffected. So, I will continue to monitor the issue, I was just curious if the theory of the choke use had any validity, specifically a comment from someone that may have done the same. Obviously, chokes on video and data cables will help to stop interference, being TV is a data stream now, it seemed only natural to stop interference using chokes.

.....as I think I would have been inundated with harmonics and compounded interference from the various sources.

I'd say that was a wise choice....I used to maintain the local 2m repeater here, set in with local government and police, we went thru much harmonic problems, that I'm betting still exisits, except for the PL that was finally installed....can't do that on the TV antenna....I think my idea was probably the only correct course of action.
As I said on another post, if the chokes eventually prove to not help the issue, I'll take them down and make a lamp out of them :D

I lost WNYA last nite, hardly any signal showing, like 1 or 2..normally a 32% at the worst...anybody have the same problem and/or know why?

It is never very good up here in Vt, but it appears to be much worse now. All other signals from Albany have been better than normal except WNYA, really almost gone.

It is never very good up here in Vt, but it appears to be much worse now. All other signals from Albany have been better than normal except WNYA, really almost gone.

Yeah, it was back last nite at around 27%....the winds have been bruttle down here, maybe they lost an antenna and it's been repaired....but it was ok last nite.

On Saturday, all the stations were 20% higher for me than normal. For example WTEN which is usually 73 for me was 94% yesterday, ION was in the 80% range. I did a scan and instead of the normal 21 stations, I got 33 including rf43 and rf21 - then at 10:30 last night everything dropped back to normal. My question is was there unusual atmospherics yesterday - or is there some type of radio interference that was off yesterday allowing me to get my "true reception"? Did anyone else notice a major increase in reception yesterday?

My question is was there unusual atmospherics yesterday -

It was atmospheric. I noticed the same thing across the board, TV and FM and I am over 100 miles from Albany.

It was atmospheric. I noticed the same thing across the board, TV and FM and I am over 100 miles from Albany.

This would explain my loosing WNYA...WVNY was interfering....again.

Does anybody have any updated info on when WNYT will be bringing the RF 18 on Bald Mt. and RF 45 in Glens Falls translators on line?

I have been wondering the same thing for a while now too. 13 (RF 12) has been coming in like crap and it would have been nice before winter if they'd gotten this accomplished. I am guessing they won't be doing much tower work until after the winter.

Last time I was near the Bald Mtn site a few weeks ago there appeared to be nothing new on the tower.

Another guess - they'll remove the analog antenna at the same time they side mount the new digital antenna.

Yeah, the West Mountain tower site here in Glens Falls has no tracks in the snow into the site either....you're probably right, it will be a spring project. I e-mailed WNYT, gee, gotta be months ago now, asking "when"...response was, looking for equipment and no end game date...oh well, thought maybe an insider might have some news.

Anybody else having problems with WCWN-43 lately? The signal has always been somewhat marginal, but tonight I don't even see a trace on the signal meter. I would chalk it up to atmospherics, but WTEN-26 and WMHT-34are coming in great. Recently, I've been watching WRGB on 45.3, so it's a double hit.

Anybody else having problems with WCWN-43 lately? The signal has always been somewhat marginal, but tonight I don't even see a trace on the signal meter. I would chalk it up to atmospherics, but WTEN-26 and WMHT-34are coming in great. Recently, I've been watching WRGB on 45.3, so it's a double hit.

There's been no problem up here at 53 miles...holds about 72% SS always..

My reception of 43 has been hit or miss lately too - mostly miss. I don't understand it - I've changed nothing about my antenna configuration (it's inside) and every other channel comes in with no problem. I don't watch much on CW or US and now that I get CBS in fine on 6, I don't really have much use for 43 although from time to time there is something on CW I want to watch and recently it breaks up to the point of being unwatchable.

I finally got around to re-arranging my antenna set up here in Poughkeepsie. I now have the following three attic-mounted antennas:

Antennas direct C4 (UHF) – Aimed North toward Albany
Winegard YA-1713 (VHF-hi) – Aimed South toward NYC
Taco antenna (VHF) – Aimed North toward Albany

The VHF and UHF antennas are combined in a CM7777 pre-amp. I tested three configurations consisting of each VHF antenna connected separately and both connected via a 50/50 splitter. The results are as follows:


UHF (not affected by VHF connections):


Callsgn-RF Signal (%) Signal Range (%) Comments

WRNN-48 70 50-85 consistent, strong signal
WTBY-27 60 50-70 consistent, strong signal
WTEN-26 65 55-70 consistent, strong signal
WCWN-43 0 0 (see below)
WMHT-34 80 70-90 Best Signal
WNJU-36 20 0-40 Fluctuates, drop outs every 1-5 min.

W42AE (analog) Good Picture, no snow


VHF (NYC-only):

Callsgn-RF Signal (%) Signal Range (%) Comments

WRGB-6 0 0 No Signal
WXXA-7 0 0 No Signal
WNYT-12 15 15-30 Frequent drop outs (< 1min)
WABC-7 20 20-30 Consistent signal, few drop outs (>10 min)
WPIX-11 55 35-65 Few drop outs (>10 min)
WNET-13 45 35-55 Few drop outs (>10 min)

VHF (Albany-only):

Callsgn-RF Signal (%) Signal Range (%) Comments

WRGB-6 15 0-20 Severe Pixellation, no audio
WXXA-7 0 0 No Signal
WNYT-12 40 30-45 Some Drop Outs (2-10 min)
WABC-7 0 0 No Signal
WPIX-11 0 0 No Signal
WNET-13 0 0 No Signal

VHF (NYC and Albany Combined):

Callsgn-RF Signal (%) Signal Range (%) Comments

WRGB-6 10 0-20 Severe Pixellation, no audio
WXXA-7 0 0 No Signal
WNYT-12 30 20-35 Some Drop Outs (2-10 min)
WABC-7 0 0 No Signal
WPIX-11 50 35-65 Few drop outs (>10 min)
WNET-13 35 30-40 Some drop outs (5-10 min)

Note that I used to receive WCWN-43 at a weak, but watchable 30%, however around Thanksgiving the signal dropped to about 20% making it mostly unwatchable. This last week the signal completely disappeared regardless of how I position the UHF antenna.

For comparison, my TVFool profile is here:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3dc201364e85e360

Finally, any suggestions about how to connect these various antennas would be appreciated. My current plan is to use an A-B switch so that I can easily switch between the Albany-only and NY-only configurations, but it would be nice not to need a switch. I doubt a jointenna would work, since I’m trying to combine a channel 12 on one antenna with 11 and 13 on the other and I understand that the Jointenna causes problems with adjacent channels. Also, I’m hoping WRGB will become watchable if the FCC ever grants their request for a power boost, so I’d want any solution to remain compatible with channel 6.

Would using a separate pre-amp for each antenna and then combining the two amplified signals with a splitter work? I would think that would do a little better than the “combined” test from above. Since the antennas are in the attic, it shouldn’t be a problem to get power for both pre-amps and combine the signals after the power insertion. Am I overlooking anything? In this case, I might need a Channel 7 jointenna to filter out any residual signal from WXXA-7 that would interfere with WABC-7.

(Note, I’m cross-posting on the Albany and NYC forums, since this is relevant to both)

Hi bwb518,

Are you south of Albany? I understand that the antenna for WCWN is side-mounted in such a way as the signal drops off toward the south. I suspect this could make those of us in the south, more susceptible to small power fluctuations or other changes that may not be noticeable to those in Albany or parts northward.

For any who are curious, I had previously concluded that my old Taco antenna outperformed the YA-1713, since it was able to pick up a couple NYC stations (WPIX-11 and WNET-13), while I couldn't get anything from NYC with the YA-1713 regardless of where I tried. However, after I took down the Taco antenna and replaced it with the YA-1713 in the exact spot, I actually was able to receive all three major NYC VHF stations (WABC-7, 11, and 13). Now, I tend to think that the YA-1713 actually performs a little better than the Taco, at least for high-VHF.

Because the YA-1713 is much narrower than the Taco, I was able to raise it up about 21 inches closer to the peak of the roof and get even better reception. I then placed my C4 UHF antenna immediately below the YA-1713. Both seemed to perform as before, so I do not believe these two antennas are interfering with each other. I then re-installed the Taco with as much separation as possible (about 3 1/2 feet) below the YA-1713. I then found that I got better signal, by raising the Taco a bit, so I ended up with about 2 feet between the two VHF antennas with the UHF antenna in between. This actually improved the UHF signal on the C4 (probably blocks some multipath).

See my earlier post for a report of the results. Basically, all of the channels are the same or better than I could previously get with the Taco antenna alone, except for WRGB-6, which was degraded from a barely unwatchable 20% to a completely unwatchable 15%. Hopefully, the FCC will approve WRGB's request to boost power and it will push me back into a watchable range.

For any who are curious, I had previously concluded that my old Taco antenna outperformed the YA-1713, since it was able to pick up a couple NYC stations (WPIX-11 and WNET-13), while I couldn't get anything from NYC with the YA-1713 regardless of where I tried. However, after I took down the Taco antenna and replaced it with the YA-1713 in the exact spot, I actually was able to receive all three major NYC VHF stations (WABC-7, 11, and 13). Now, I tend to think that the YA-1713 actually performs a little better than the Taco, at least for high-VHF.

Because the YA-1713 is much narrower than the Taco, I was able to raise it up about 21 inches closer to the peak of the roof and get even better reception. I then placed my C4 UHF antenna immediately below the YA-1713. Both seemed to perform as before, so I do not believe these two antennas are interfering with each other. I then re-installed the Taco with as much separation as possible (about 3 1/2 feet) below the YA-1713. I then found that I got better signal, by raising the Taco a bit, so I ended up with about 2 feet between the two VHF antennas with the UHF antenna in between. This actually improved the UHF signal on the C4 (probably blocks some multipath).

See my earlier post for a report of the results. Basically, all of the channels are the same or better than I could previously get with the Taco antenna alone, except for WRGB-6, which was degraded from a barely unwatchable 20% to a completely unwatchable 15%. Hopefully, the FCC will approve WRGB's request to boost power and it will push me back into a watchable range.

You should try to put the antenna outside on the roof and see what kind of signal you get. Also you are 65 miles away from the transmitters, which is a lot to ask for an attic mounted antenna.

Just to give you an idea, I have a house in Middleburgh, Scoharie County, pretty high up in the mountains. 19 miles west from the Albany stations transmitter. I have a Radio Shack VU-190XR ( the biggest one made by Radio Shack at the time) on the roof outside with a rotor and RG6 cable. No amp,no splitters. When I did a scan, this is what my signal strength says:

WRGB 6 @ 92%
WTEN 10 @ 67%
WNYT 13 @ 82%
WMHT 17 @ 87%
WXXA 23 @ 72%
WCWN 45 @ 61%

WKTV 2 @ 50% With antenna rotated NE (53 miles away)

For some reason, could never get WNYA Ch 51.

Yeah, my wife doesn't want an outside antenna, so that could be tough. When the weather get's nicer, I might take some of these antennas outside, just to see what I'm missing. I'm guessing my signal is degraded by 10-20% (eg. 20% vs. 30%) in the attic.

Yeah, my wife doesn't want an outside antenna, so that could be tough. When the weather get's nicer, I might take some of these antennas outside, just to see what I'm missing. I'm guessing my signal is degraded by 10-20% (eg. 20% vs. 30%) in the attic.

Yes, at least that much...
When you start stacking antennas of different kinds, especially in different directions, interference is gonna be a factor between antennas. With an attic installation, you just don't have the distance to separate them properly. I know that comment is moot, due to the Other Half wanting nothing to do with outside antennas....a shame. I used to have one (OH) of those...I don't anymore...
Yet I digress...
Assuming you have a normal attic, separating them horizontally might be a better idea....one at each end and one in the middle of the attic. That would give more then enough separation. And each antenna as high as possible.
I would join the Taco (assuming the Taco is a VHF-lo antenna) and 1713 with a Pico Macom HLSJ VHF Band High-Low Antenna Separator-Combiner (I use the HLSJ, works great):
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=HLSJ&d=Pico-Macom-HLSJ-VHF-Band-HighLow-Antenna-SeparatorCombiner-(HLSJ)
...then into the CM7777 on the VHF side, and the C4 into the UHF side of the amp. Set the pre-amp for both VHF and UHF input. Although it probably wouldn't matter, but I'd use same length "new" coax between all antenas and amp, and a new downlead to the TV wouldn't hurt either. Aim them in the appropriate directions, and hope for the best.
As mentioned above, you are distance challenged and also attic challenged, you may even be terrain challenged...also complicating the issue, often pointing right at the transmitter isn't always the best direction, especially at a great distance..it will take time and testing to get the fixed antennas just right, also attic installs suffer from electronic interference in the rooms under the antennas...you may have to accept that what you get, you get....until you can get the whole project outside and up on a rotor....which doesn't sound likely....

Oh, and don't expect a power boost anytime soon from WRGB...there are way too many skunks in the woodpile at this point for that to happen....best bet, figure a way to get WCWN and watch the 45-3 WRGB simulcast.

Yeah, my wife doesn't want an outside antenna, so that could be tough. When the weather get's nicer, I might take some of these antennas outside, just to see what I'm missing. I'm guessing my signal is degraded by 10-20% (eg. 20% vs. 30%) in the attic.

More food for thought. Where I work on Long Island, we have a Radio Shack midsize UHF/VHF antenna ( forgot model #) on the roof 10 floors up. We have it pointed towards NYC and we get the major networks with no problem, but we also get WRNN 48.1 which is 51 miles away, at 36% strength and no break-ups. I'm assuming it could be better if we pointed the antenna North, but this is just to give you an idea how good a signal can be with an outdoor antenna.

In this case, I might need a Channel 7 jointenna to filter out any residual signal from WXXA-7 that would interfere with WABC-7.


Unfortunately a Jointenna can't filter out co-channel signals.

If you would like to attempt to receive WABC in spite of WXXA, try stagger stacking a pair of YA 1713 antennas in the attic.

http://www.anarc.org/wtfda/stagger.pdf

SemiChemE - I live on a hill in Troy NY... although my apartment faces NE, you can see the master digital tower from my friends balcony across the courtyard from mine.

I'm wondering if there is something in my building or a nearby building that is causing a problem with 43... I can't figure out for the life of me... there are no consistent factors to my receptions woes... weather doesn't matter, nor does time of day, or even solar activity. It's quite bizarre!

SemiChemE - I live on a hill in Troy NY... although my apartment faces NE, you can see the master digital tower from my friends balcony across the courtyard from mine.

I'm wondering if there is something in my building or a nearby building that is causing a problem with 43... I can't figure out for the life of me... there are no consistent factors to my receptions woes... weather doesn't matter, nor does time of day, or even solar activity. It's quite bizarre!

You have something causing interference to channel 43. WCWN on channel 43 is between 644 and 650 MHz. Now what is causing the interference will be a tough to figure out, especially in an apartment complex. It can be caused by anything from CFLs to someone else having a noisy amp, to cable leakage.
Without an antenna and spectrum analyzer it would be tough to tell.

Here just northeast of Utica in the past couple/three days, I've noticed WNYT's signal drop from it's very stable 50/60% down to 25% and pixelating. I've never experienced this with WNYT before, it was ALWAYS my strongest station from the Helderberg antenna farm. WXXA and WRGB still up where they always are, however. Anybody else notice a drop? I would assume one would have to be on the outer edge perifery of their coverage area to notice it.

You have something causing interference to channel 43. WCWN on channel 43 is between 644 and 650 MHz. Now what is causing the interference will be a tough to figure out, especially in an apartment complex. It can be caused by anything from CFLs to someone else having a noisy amp, to cable leakage.
Without an antenna and spectrum analyzer it would be tough to tell.

I believe there is also a problem with the way 43 is transmitting. There are many, many viewing areas (Berkshire County, Columbia County etc.) that can't even get a whiff of it. I get all the other OTA's on UHF at least 60% SS but can't even get a whiff of 43. The problem has got to be with the transmitter. There were rumors that they were going to change the transmitter, but there hasn't been any changes that anyone has reported other than the signal has gotten worse. WRGB needs to wake up and address this.

WNYT and WCWN are very good up here in Northern Rutland Co. Vt. Been great "across the board", no signal degradation noted on any frequency except rf13 which I put off as ingress from rf13 WVNY Burl.

RF13's signal is quite weak in comparison to the rest.

I have had no changes in SS as of late, at 53 miles out, on all channels.
WRGB 6 did go up from 67% to 77%, but I believe that is caused by a neighbors wrecked Jeep Cherokee, parked in front and below my antennas causing some kind of ground bounce of the chan 6 signal.

Ok, WNYT back to 50/60% after that 2 to 3 day drop in signal.

For those not following the WRGB forum, the Chief has indicated the Canadian problem has gone away, and they are asking the FCC for the 30.2 kw boost to be granted before the Super Bowl.
Just an FYI....

It's been a *long* time here since my first post here in 2003! (page 5 of this thread). The gf is now my wife, and we are *finally* cutting the ties to TW. We figure the $1200+ a year savings are better spent on plane tickets each year, now :)

OK now for the question. I live in Troy on 15th St 18.7 miles from the antennas. I picked up a HDHomerun to connect to my htpc. My found in the basement uhf/vhf plug in on top of the TV antenna doesn't bring in everything, even when placed in front of a southwestern facing window. Spreading the antennas horizontally does a bit better, but still can't get all the networks.

So I think I need an outdoor antenna, but am uncertain as to what. It seems like what I need is a directional VHF antenna? I would prefer something that would mount under an eve (I can get onto my front porch but don't own a ladder long enough to get on the roof). Plus my front porch faces west and being on the hillside, I think I have a clear shot..

thoughts?

And thanks for the 7 years of reading inbetween my posts :)

esposj:
Over in the WRGB forum their CE Fred Lass often recommends the Channel Master 3010 for middle-distance (not fringe) use. It's about $25. I haven't tried it but it's not a lot of money to risk.

In this area the range of channels is about what it was for analog. We used to have major channels 6-45, now we have 6-43. So we need essentially the same antenna setup we needed before. 6 is the hardest to get because it's low VHF and most mass-marketed antennas are for UHF and maybe high VHF.

If you have some twin-lead you could make a folded dipole cut to ch. 6 from plans here (http://www.wfu.edu/%7Ematthews/misc/dipole.html).

I'm about 8 miles from the transmitters. A CM 4-bay bowtie in the attic was all I needed for digital until WRGB moved theirs to ch. 6 (it picked up 7 and 12 well enough). I added the twin-lead antenna and combined the two with a UHF/VHF coupler. That system is currently feeding 6 digital tuners with no amp in the line.

Speaking of amps, don't be conned into thinking that an amp can compensate for an inadequate antenna. Try to get it working without an amp first.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm totally willing to keep experimenting with this. I haven't had a fun electronics project in a while :) Beats banging on servers all day!

One of the CM 4 or 8 bay bowties will probably be more than enough for the high channels, and I had plenty of signal on ch 6 just by attaching a dipole FM loop to the CM downlead attachment screws. I attached the balun to the same screws and it worked great.

Heck, if you have some twinlead laying around, you can make a dipole pretty easy just to try it out.

The antenna I use for VHF-hi and UHF is this one and is available here:
http://www.amazon.com/Digiwave-ANT-Outdoor-Superior-Digital/dp/B002HEUC1E
A better look at it here:
http://www.digiwavetechnologies.com/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=281
(the channel assignments are incorrect for this above page, as it was intended to be for an Austrailian buyer, their channel assigments being different then ours)
I absolutely recommend it....it is relatively compact and has great gain.
Now, I agree the FM or twin lead antenna "should?" work for channel 6 at your range, but you would somehow have to get the 300 ohm leads converted to a 75 ohm coax system, this being a 300 to 75 ohm transformer, then into a signal combiner (to combine it with the VHF-hi/UHF antenna) to the down lead to the TV or converter box. I have heard many complaints from Troy regarding channel 6. Any way you look at it, the elements for channel 6 will be very long as compared to VHF-hi and UHF elements of antennas.
The CS600 has been thrown around as a very good channel 2 thru 13 antenna also, but again, it's going to be very big.
Anyway, these are just some talking points from me, I will be curious what your final decission will be.

I doubt this is an Isolated problem, Im assuming it has todo with SDV crap that time warner does. It has nothing todo with USA Network itself, because when I had DirecTV it never did this.

Basically when I'm watching USA HD the audio will go out on my surround sound system for about 3 to 4 seconds, (my surround sound is playing it in Dolby Digital EX) its really random but it happens allot at night, Like for example, if your watching Monday Night Raw on USA HD and say a wrestler comes out and they start playing the entrance music the audio will drop, and then it will restore when the entrance music turns off. Ive notice it happens at night allot on USA HD but during the day the day it doesn't happen as much.

Im assuming because Time Warner shoves so many HD channels on its network without upgrading its network, it seems to happen when the Bitrate goes to high for time warner to handle and the channel will just lose audio. Ive notice the opposite effect on NBCHD (Channel 1813) it seems when the bitrate goes to high the HD Picture gets very pixelated and it barely looks like HD, but audio will stay intact.

What can I do about this? Is anyone else experiencing these problems cause it drives me crazy, the audio went out like a million times last night on USA HD, it seriously makes thw channel unwatchable!

Well, for one thing, call TW and make them fix it.....

I have a Channel Master 4248 UHF yagi and a 3612 log with a C/M dual input amp with 100' of RG-11 feeding my Directv receiver. I receive 6, 10, 13, 17, 19, 23 and 45 perfect 99.9 percent of the time. My question is that on my on-screen guide I get the program listing for the main channel only. The sub channels are always listed as "regular programming". Is this normal or do I need to address the receiver for something else? The sub-channels all come in perfect but with no title!
Thanks;
Steve

motorolahead:
I presume the guide for the local stations comes from DirecTV even though you get the stations themselves OTA. If so, DirecTV doesn't bother with info for any subchannel but the main one. It's not alone. Neither TV Guide On Screen (the analog version, anyway) nor the Times Union's weekly program guide lists them either. The online service I subscribe to, Schedules Direct, does list them and I believe TitanTV does as well.

You should receive guide data for all the sub-channels.

Go to System Setup, Sat & Antenna, Antenna Setup.

That should add the sub-channels to your Guide as well.

Your steps might be slightly different, since I have a CE version of the software loaded on my receiver, but I added the sub-channels about 4 years ago.

Thanks for the replies. Yes I am using my Directv receiver to process my OTA channels. I did run the setup for OTA thru the receivers and no change. With 50 dozen channels on Direct, you'd think I had more than enough stuff. Will the new digital converters decode the sub-channel titles? If so, maybe that might be the route to go. Jeez, hate to miss a re-run of Howdy Doody.

Weird, something is not right. My DIRECTV reciever (an HR22 with an AM21 OTA tuner) gets guide data for all the subchannels... even the silly weather-only ones. It doesn't get it from the actual channel's data, it gets it from Tribune right over the satellite, just like the regular guide.

Hmmm....I have a HR20-100. I had a HR22 and would re-boot itself 5 times a day for a few days then be ok for a few weeks, then it would start all over again. Went back to the HR20 then. I might get another 22 or just a sidecar digital converter, after all I should partake of the very most that FTA has to offer!!

Here's the link to the FCC TV Query application section for WRGB, under a request for Special Authority for an increase of power to 30.2 KW:

http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1322271

Shows it was granted this last Wednesday, 1-28-10.

This is the TV Query list of applications for WRGB:

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=73942

Here's the link to the FCC TV Query application section for WRGB, under a request for Special Authority for an increase of power to 30.2 KW:

http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1322271

Shows it was granted this last Wednesday, 1-28-10.

This is the TV Query list of applications for WRGB:

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=73942

Any word on if/when they're going to do something about WCWN?

The WRGB transmitter is at 30 KW as of 4:30 AM Tuesday, February 2, 2010.

Any word on if/when they're going to do something about WCWN?

What is wrong with WCWN? I get it at 84% SS, 53 miles away....

What is wrong with WCWN? I get it at 84% SS, 53 miles away....

That's pretty stong. Last time I was at my house in Middleburgh in August, it was at 61%, and thats 19 miles away. Did they increase their power since then? Or are you in a good spot?

What is wrong with WCWN? I get it at 84% SS, 53 miles away....

AFAIK, there are two problems with WCWN at least in and around Poughkeepsie:


It has a Side-mounted antenna, which leads to a distorted broadcast pattern with significantly weaker signal to the South.
For those of us very close to the W42AE broadcast antenna, it suffers from adjacent channel interference.

The WRGB transmitter is at 30 KW as of 4:30 AM Tuesday, February 2, 2010.

I can't wait to get home and check out if I can see any improvement! Last night, I receiving WRGB-6 at a fairly consistent 35%, which is watchable, but with occasional drop outs. If this can boost my signal above 50%, that would be fantastic!

The WRGB transmitter is at 30 KW as of 4:30 AM Tuesday, February 2, 2010.

TA-DA!!!

Loving it!

Now, if WNYT would actually get 18 built and on the air... all my receptions problems would be solved.

Except ion. That's never gonna happen in Troy. I doubt they invest more than they need to into anything so a translator for them anywhere nearby is a pipe dream.

That's pretty stong. Last time I was at my house in Middleburgh in August, it was at 61%, and thats 19 miles away. Did they increase their power since then? Or are you in a good spot?

I can't explain it, it just is....it's been that way since the beginning, but all the Albany stations show 70% SS or better all the time, including WRGB now at 77% (was 72%), except for WNYA (rf 13), which involves WVNY (rf 13) north of me causing interference...could be my antenna config, or the 30 db amp, I don't know, I just watch it and love it.

I can't wait to get home and check out if I can see any improvement! Last night, I receiving WRGB-6 at a fairly consistent 35%, which is watchable, but with occasional drop outs. If this can boost my signal above 50%, that would be fantastic!

I checked this morning and my signal quality has bumped. :)

Or at least it was better than the other day when I had checked it. My antenna(s) feed two HDHomerun devices and the other day I happened to check my signal levels with the little program available from the company that makes the HDHomerun (silicondust.com). My memory was I was getting a 50-53% signal quality from channel 6 (which is always my worst reception since it moved from UHF). This morning it's 65-67% so hopefully it is because of the bump in power and I will have less dropouts in the future.

What is wrong with WCWN? I get it at 84% SS, 53 miles away....

Many, many people can't get it. I get WRGB 80 % SS. Can't even get my tuner to scan it regardless of the weather. I don't know anyone around me that does get it OTA.

Many, many people can't get it. I get WRGB 80 % SS. Can't even get my tuner to scan it regardless of the weather. I don't know anyone around me that does get it OTA.

Sorry to hear that, but be patient....Chief Engineer Fred Lass has plans in the works to improve WCWN's antennas...no definate time frame, but it's coming....according to the WRGB forum...

Since the WRGB power increase, it's been a fairly consistent 60 to 70% signal here 65 miles northwest of the Helderberg Antenna Farm. WXXA and WNYT in the 40 to 50% area. Anything over 20% gives a reliable signal, so no problem with any of the VHF channels now. No Albany area UHFs are receivable, even on the Channel Master 8 bay (lost WTEN - the only UHF on rf 26 when local WFXV moved closer to my location and upped their power). Final line, between Albany, Syracuse and Utica, I've got a good selection of OTA channels and most bases covered.

The following channels (and subs, but not listed) are receivable reliably here at my location just 6 miles or so northeast of Utica with no drop outs. My antenna is a fringe area VHF directed towards the Helderbergs and the UHF 8 bay bowtie towards Syracuse. Since Albany UHFs were not received, the UHF antenna is now permanently fixed westward, and the VHF east/south eastward. No rotor necessary.

virtual RF Call Sign City
2 29 WKTV Utica
3 24 WSTM Syracuse
5 47 WTVH Syracuse
6 6 WRGB Albany
9 17 WSYR Syracuse
11 11 WPNY-LP Utica
13 12 WNYT Albany
20 30 WUTR Utica
23 7 WXXA Albany
24 25 WCNY Syracuse
33 27 WFXV Utica
40 40 WVVC Utica
51 51 W51CV Utica
56 15 WSPX Syracuse
59 59 WCNY Utica translator
68 19 WSYT Syracuse

de KQ2N

Funny thing, out here east of Albany almost at the Mass border, I can get WKTV 2 from Utica - but only on the cheap coupon converter box I got from Best Buy. The DVR and digital VCR and digital TV can't see it. All attached to the same downlead.

Guess those cheap converter boxes have a decent tuner in them.

Guess those cheap converter boxes have a decent tuner in them.
I have the Zenith 901 CECB, works very well and it out preforms my Sammy 206f.
I can get WKTV 2 if I rotate the antenna but, there is no need.

Funny thing, ....Guess those cheap converter boxes have a decent tuner in them.
i said that long ago - if you are having reception problems and your TV is old, get a convertor box, it will have a better tuner (when you have rouble, switch over to the "box") - they were designed a lot later than many TVs were - the zenith/insignia has issues with fox23/7 for some reason - others don't - the best working one is the DTVpal plus (make sure you get the "PLUS"!) it is the latest design convertor box - it receives the best and has the best program guide!!!!!
solidsignal.com has them for sale

the zenith/insignia has issues with fox23/7 for some reason - others don't -
You don't say, now and then I have macro blocking issues on WXXA.
I thought it was a multipath issue with my chimney.

Since the WRGB power increase, it's been a fairly consistent 60 to 70% signal here 65 miles northwest of the Helderberg Antenna Farm. WXXA and WNYT in the 40 to 50% area. Anything over 20% gives a reliable signal, so no problem with any of the VHF channels now. No Albany area UHFs are receivable, even on the Channel Master 8 bay (lost WTEN - the only UHF on rf 26 when local WFXV moved closer to my location and upped their power). Final line, between Albany, Syracuse and Utica, I've got a good selection of OTA channels and most bases covered.

The following channels (and subs, but not listed) are receivable reliably here at my location just 6 miles or so northeast of Utica with no drop outs. My antenna is a fringe area VHF directed towards the Helderbergs and the UHF 8 bay bowtie towards Syracuse. Since Albany UHFs were not received, the UHF antenna is now permanently fixed westward, and the VHF east/south eastward. No rotor necessary.

virtual RF Call Sign City
2 29 WKTV Utica
3 24 WSTM Syracuse
5 47 WTVH Syracuse
6 6 WRGB Albany
9 17 WSYR Syracuse
11 11 WPNY-LP Utica
13 12 WNYT Albany
20 30 WUTR Utica
23 7 WXXA Albany
24 25 WCNY Syracuse
33 27 WFXV Utica
40 40 WVVC Utica
51 51 W51CV Utica
56 15 WSPX Syracuse
59 59 WCNY Utica translator
68 19 WSYT Syracuse

de KQ2N

That's a pretty significant list, you're conveniently located between 3 markets...I wouldn't howl to loudly about Albany loses, you seem to have all covered.
Glad WRGB is solid...I'm kind of taking a mental tally of who improved after the power boost, I gained 5 SS units to 77% SS now on RF 6, so I'm rock solid.
Well, enjoy!!!

Sorry to hear that, but be patient....Chief Engineer Fred Lass has plans in the works to improve WCWN's antennas...no definate time frame, but it's coming....according to the WRGB forum...

Thanks for that info. Waiting patiently.

Thanks for that info. Waiting patiently.

Yes, patience would be a good idea, as from this comment from Fred, the antenna update won't happen soon:

"There are many steps necessary before I can develop a schedule for the antenna updates. Summer would be nice, but the Freedom bankruptcy limits what I can plan."

And thanks for that info too. At least 6 has news in HD, must've gotten it before bankruptcy? It would be nice in morning to switch to 45 at 7 AM to continue with news, but can't. Hard to watch CBS This Morning window boxed. 2010 and a major morning news show on a major network is still not in HD. And we're supposed to believe that 3D is just around the corner? Right!!

....during a weekly add-on channel search, on Friday, 2-12-10, at 3 p.m., it appears 18-3 and 18-4 is on the air, 18-3 in HD....as I'm watching, it will die with a "no signal" banner on the screen, then comes back on after 30 seconds or so. Looks like they're tweeking up on the mountain...
It's not a killer up here in the north regarding a signal strength, averaging 27% SS, but it is solid with the beams pointed right at the tower.
Thought you all might be interested...

(Additionally, I noticed all 4 channels are displaying this afternoon on channel 13 (13-1 thru 13-4))

Nice! Just in time for the Olympics too!
My box added 18 but when it remapped it to 13 it created duplicates. I have two 13.1, two 13.2, and two 13.3. I am much closer to the 18 site and with my antenna aimed at the master DTV tower I have 60% signal... pretty darn good and more solid than their main TX.

What were you getting on 13.4?

Yesterday, I had doppler radar on both 13-3 and 13-4, I would assume they are in the middle of sorting this whole mapping mess out.
My TV locked me up on 18-3 and 18-4, which is strange, assuming it would have been 18-1 and 18-2, but I've noticed that if I'm pointed away from WRGB and do an add-on search, the TV will assign 6-3, 6-4 until the signal is stronger, then the TV reassigns the channels to 6-1 and 6-2....some kind of funky software thingy with my NOC TV.
I think you were the one hoping for 18 to show up, with doubts....there ya go! :D

It was in fact me who was waiting for 18 to sign on. It is a vast improvement for viewing in the metro area and I'm sure does wonders for the rural towns east of Bald Mountain. It'd be nice if the Ion folks on 50 would put up an in town translator as well but by the time that happens I may have the disposable income to use on cable!

David,

I am getting WCWN at about 74% about 80% of the time. It is a little less reliable than WGGB40, which is at 70% about 95% of the time.

Yesterday, I had doppler radar on both 13-3 and 13-4, I would assume they are in the middle of sorting this whole mapping mess out.
My TV locked me up on 18-3 and 18-4, which is strange, assuming it would have been 18-1 and 18-2, but I've noticed that if I'm pointed away from WRGB and do an add-on search, the TV will assign 6-3, 6-4 until the signal is stronger, then the TV reassigns the channels to 6-1 and 6-2....some kind of funky software thingy with my NOC TV.
I think you were the one hoping for 18 to show up, with doubts....there ya go! :D

Last night, 18 was weak, but with that I found some answers....
On my TV, 13-3 is actually 18-3, doppler radar, with a weak signal, as was 18-3 and 18-4, so I'm not sure if they will continue re-mapping or just leave it. I didn't think 18 was going to be that reliable up here, and I was right. I am waiting for the WNYT RF 45 translator on nearby West Moutain, 9 miles away, that is in the planning mode, that signal should rock my TV. But, none the less, RF 13 is a 77% SS all the time, so I'm not missing anything.

I wish they wouldn't remap the translator because neither of my converter boxes will automatically default to the stronger signal. If they are going to remap at least could they make the signal from 18 come up as 13.4, 13.5, and 13.6?

I'm happy for the vast reception improvement though!

Anyone else having issue with WTEN?
Started last Thursday night with the signal dropping from 80% to 20% or less.
Not all the time, like every 30 seconds.
I had issues with WTEN last summer but, then the signal would stay strong and I had drop outs.
WTEN was my strongest station until WRGB boosted power.

I wish they wouldn't remap the translator because neither of my converter boxes will automatically default to the stronger signal. If they are going to remap at least could they make the signal from 18 come up as 13.4, 13.5, and 13.6?

I'm happy for the vast reception improvement though!

Well, obviously one of the 18 channels is mapped as a 13 channel, 13-3, at least on my tuner it is....the equivilent of 13-1 and 13-2 are 18-3 and 18-4.
I don't understand why they don't just put 18 up as 18-1, -2, -3...people will find it if they just tell us on air, maybe during a news broadcast.
I'm also experiencing a drift on the 18 channels, it will go as low as 20% SS, with dropouts, then go up to 40% SS then back down, etc. I might expect this with VHF, atmospherically, but not UHF...all my UHF stations drift less then 2% SS. So, I can only hope they are still working on the new transmitter and it will settle down eventually. You're probably not seeing the drift where you live, but could you do me a favor and see if you see any drifting with the SS at you're location. That might tell me if it's me, or them. I may have some intermittent interference up here on RF 18.
Thanks

Anyone else having issue with WTEN?
Started last Thursday night with the signal dropping from 80% to 20% or less.
Not all the time, like every 30 seconds.
I had issues with WTEN last summer but, then the signal would stay strong and I had drop outs.
WTEN was my strongest station until WRGB boosted power.

I've seen no changes up here, 53 miles from the transmitter, solid 77% SS.
If it has stopped dropping the signal, it might have been a temporary atmospheric disturbance.

Thanks for the response.
Nothing I can do about atmospheric conditions.
Right?
What was that site that mapped tropos conditions?

What was that site that mapped tropos conditions?

http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html

You're probably not seeing the drift where you live, but could you do me a favor and see if you see any drifting with the SS at you're location. That might tell me if it's me, or them. I may have some intermittent interference up here on RF 18.
Thanks

I was in fact seeing some drifting the other night - not sure why but it started breaking up every 30 seconds or so... it's good now.

I really wish though they'd map it as 18.X instead of 13...:(

http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html

Thanks:)

I was in fact seeing some drifting the other night - not sure why but it started breaking up every 30 seconds or so... it's good now.

I really wish though they'd map it as 18.X instead of 13...:(

Thanks...that says alot. The 30 second drift is exactly what I'm seeing. Not unlike many or most that went thru the digital conversion, it took a couple weeks to get all the bugs out....I'll be patient and see how it ends up. As I said, 18 is just a redundent channel, 13 is fine up here, I just want to have 18 in the event 13 might go down for some reason.
And yes, I agree, 18.X would make things much less confusing then mixing the 2 transmitters into multiple sub-channels on 13.....not counting more confusion once the translator up here comes on line, if it ever does come up. I would have thought RF45 up here would have been priority to cover the north country, but must be equipment was already on the Bald Mountain site after the digital switch....

My WNYT-HD signal was 92% than it just dropped in the 30-45% range with pixelation. Atmospheric interruption?

Don't know.
I had issues with WTEN last weekend, the tropo map says there is nothing even close in the forsee able future.
Everything is fine now.

David,

I am getting WCWN at about 74% about 80% of the time. It is a little less reliable than WGGB40, which is at 70% about 95% of the time.

I did a rescan of my kitchen Samsung and it scanned in WCWN at 20% SS, but picture seems solid. Channel Master STB won't scan it though.

My WNYT-HD signal was 92% than it just dropped in the 30-45% range with pixelation. Atmospheric interruption?

It all depends on which WNYT you are watching, there is 13-1 and now 18-1, the new translator in Troy, both are transmitting the same programs simultaneously,....depending on where you live, your TV may be defaulting on the new 18-1 and it is weak at your location. I would do a rescan, or if you can, do an "add on channel search", which will leave what is on your TV now, and add any new stations. I would say it's not atmospheric.
Additionally, there is still a question if WNYT adjusts the power output on the 13-1 transmitter now that 18-1 is on air...TV Fool showed some changes on receive power for me up here a while back in the "pending" screen, but I now see the current and pending screens are identical for both 13 and 18...and curiously TVF shows 18 stronger for me then 13, but in reality, 13 slams in here, while 18 is hit and miss...very strange.

I have 2 13-1 channels. Both have about 45-48%. I'll try a rescan.

I deleted one of my 13-1 channels. Here is something interesting, if I tune to 13-1 directly by entering 13-1 my signal strength is in the 40% range. If I channel surf using channel down/up my signal strength is 95-100%. Go figure. This just happens with WNYT.

I have 2 13-1 channels. Both have about 45-48%. I'll try a rescan.

I deleted one of my 13-1 channels. Here is something interesting, if I tune to 13-1 directly by entering 13-1 my signal strength is in the 40% range. If I channel surf using channel down/up my signal strength is 95-100%. Go figure. This just happens with WNYT.

Here's the answer, I emailed the director of engineering at WNYT and here's his response:

"Bill,
Thanks for the report. You are probably seeing the 18-3/4/5 due to weak or distorted signal since the transmitter digitally identifies as 13. You will see two 13-1s, two 13-2s, etc. We are operating the channel 18 transmitter at 10 kW under an Special Temporary Authority (STA) from the FCC pending receipt of additional adapters we need to switch over to a larger and less lossy transmission line that runs to the antenna. Once the parts come in and we are able to schedule a tower crew, we will increase to 15 kW per our construction permit.
We are currently running tests and are working on some issues with the transmitter, so it may be a couple of weeks until the output stabilizes, and probably sometime toward the end of next month before we increase to 15 kW.
I am working on details for the Glens Falls transmitter, including a possible change in transmitter location. At this point, I expect that will be on the air sometime in September or October due to lead time on transmitter / antenna components and working through lease details.
Rich"

Your strong channels are 13 proper, VHF RF 12, from the Heilderberg antenna farm, the weak 13's are UHF RF 18, from Bald Mountain, in Troy.
Some may get RF 18 better then 13, some may get 13 better then 18, such is my case, and you too. Once they go to full power, things may change.

Thanks.

Rich from WNYT was right, I just managed to get the 18-3, 18-4 the other day due to some atmospheric enhancement, but it was even weak at that point. Yesterday, I couldn't bring it in no matter what I did...so I will have to wait until it comes up to full power, that 5 extra kilowatts should make the difference (I hope).

I just got a OTA tuner from Directv, AM21 to go along with my Directv DVR. Guess what, I can't get WNYT 13-1 now. I get 13-2, 13-3 fine. No signal on 13-1.

I just got a OTA tuner from Directv, AM21 to go along with my Directv DVR. Guess what, I can't get WNYT 13-1 now. I get 13-2, 13-3 fine. No signal on 13-1.

It appears WNYT is gonna cause more problems then answers with there dual transmitters, This can all be solved by mapping the new transmitter as 18-1, -2,-3. I assume you rescanned. Tuner sensitivity is different in every tuner, but if the RF 13 was strong before the AM21, you should get 13-1. I would also try to manually delete RF 18 if you can, if you initially did a scan. Also, the double reboot may help, unplug the AM21, disconnect the coax, plug back in and do a scan, after scan is done, unplug again, reconnect coax, plug in and scan again. Sometimes it clears the memory and on the second scan, you get what you should get. This new AM21 seems confused, and is defaulting on a weak 18-1, but without being there to mess with it, I have no idea what else to try.
Keep me posted on what you do and what the results are, I may come up with some other answers.

EDIT:
I just Googled the AM21, designed to pull OTA HD programs and record them to the DirecTV DVR.
Question is, can you see and record the other X-1 HD channels, 6-1, 10-1, 17-1, 23-1?
Eventually, all these stations should put up a show in HD on -1 sooner or later, are they gone too, or just 13-1?

I finally got 13-1 to show up. I had to redo my AM21 setup 7 times, than it finally grabbed 13-1 no problem. One question I have, WTEN 10-1, why does signal strength range from 67% at times to 87%. I'm using a Terk indoor antenna and my location from the broadcast towers is about 11 miles. I'm going to try and keep tweaking. WXXA, WRGB, PBS & WNYT are pretty solid.

You have been a big help, thanks!

Do not let them install a VIP612 as the unit does not work as it should.
There is almost no over the air reception.
Bad picture - freezes often - my first one would reboot do to a bad hard drive, several times a day.
My second one is not able to pull in OTA and I have a great antenna.
I use a projector which has no tuner so I need my box to provide OTA.
Dish wants me to spend $200.00 for a 722K. No way, I was told the 612 would do the job.
I've only been with Dish for 3 months and I'm ready to leave.
Any advice?????

Dave Wood

I finally got 13-1 to show up. I had to redo my AM21 setup 7 times, than it finally grabbed 13-1 no problem. One question I have, WTEN 10-1, why does signal strength range from 67% at times to 87%. I'm using a Terk indoor antenna and my location from the broadcast towers is about 11 miles. I'm going to try and keep tweaking. WXXA, WRGB, PBS & WNYT are pretty solid.

You have been a big help, thanks!

Glad you got it working....as far as signal strength, my reception has been down about 10% the last 3 days across the board, I was suspicious I may have some problems on the antennas, as I had to pull the rotor for repair, and I may have loosened a connector. But if you are saying you're seeing a lower signal, we may just be in an atmospheric disturbance currently, and when the weather changes, the signal will come back, the low pressure from the last storm is still sitting and spinning over Greenland, and still affecting our weather, this possibly causing some receive problems. A wait and see if it changes additude would probably be frugal.

WTEN has been a bit better now for me. How is your signal strength with WCWN? This is the only one I can't get fully solid. I get break-up about every 5min. I looked at antennaweb.org and that transmitter tower is in the same location as the rest. I have read that WRGB needs to increase the WCWN signal.

EDIT: Moved antenna to crawl space in attic. WCWN-DT much improved.

Do not let them install a VIP612 as the unit does not work as it should.
There is almost no over the air reception.
Bad picture - freezes often - my first one would reboot do to a bad hard drive, several times a day.
My second one is not able to pull in OTA and I have a great antenna.
I use a projector which has no tuner so I need my box to provide OTA.
Dish wants me to spend $200.00 for a 722K. No way, I was told the 612 would do the job.
I've only been with Dish for 3 months and I'm ready to leave.
Any advice?????

Dave Wood

Knowing how many TV's and what DISH equipment you have could help provide a better answer, but based on the info you provided:

There have been many reported problems with the 612. I would avoid it if at all possible. I have not used one, but I do have a VIP722 (not K). The tuner on it is ok. The 722K has a slot for a dual OTA tuner cartridge that allows you to record 4 programs at once, 2 sat and 2 OTA. A plain 722 has 2 sat and one OTA tuner built in. You can purchase a new 722K for around $320. If you do not need to feed 2 TV's, a 211K has a single sat and single OTA tuner, but no DVR. It can be had for around $120 and an external hard drive can be attached for a one time (per account) fee of $40 making it a DVR just like the 612 & 722. Keep in mind that with DISH's new pricing structure the 722K will cost $17 per month whether owned or leased and a 211K will cost $7 per month whether owned or leased.

WTEN has been a bit better now for me. How is your signal strength with WCWN? This is the only one I can't get fully solid. I get break-up about every 5min. I looked at antennaweb.org and that transmitter tower is in the same location as the rest. I have read that WRGB needs to increase the WCWN signal.

EDIT: Moved antenna to crawl space in attic. WCWN-DT much improved.

Funny you should ask about WCWN...I was bragging to another poster a while back that I was getting WCWN at 84%, which was true up until the middle of January, then I noticed it has only been 52% as of late. They may have changed something, but it used to be hammering in here...oh well, it's still solid.
And the move to the attic...I am always suspicious of indoor antennas...there is so much Radio Frequency Interference inside a room or house these days, cell phones, computers, even the TV itself, that can disrupt the digital data stream of the TV signal. With the attic move, you're higher and away from the interference, therefore a better signal to the TV. I'd bet there will be an improvement on all the channels after the attic move.

I'm getting alot better reception up there. WCWN is about 92% for me and holding steady. I still have some tweaking I'm going to try.

Back to 10% and under today. Can't lock a program on.

WNYT RF 18 finally showed here yesterday, 27% SS at 9am, 32% at 9:30 am, 37% at 3 pm, 40% at 6 pm, as I watched, it looked like they were bringing the power up slowly....I thought I had it made, it appeared they boosted the power to the 15 KW they're authorized for, 40% is good here for a weak UHF station. I quickly checked 18 early this morning and it was gone. Yesterday's strong signal may have been contributed to the heavy, wet snowfall, or the LOS this morning may be the snowfall...I will check later this morning. Very disappointing. :mad:

Try manually punching 7-3 for 23-1, 7-8 for 23-2

What happen to WXXA 23-1 & 23-2? I'm not getting nothing tonight.

EDIT: just went to my analog TV and noticed that 23-1 is now 7-3. I can't tune directly with my AM21. I'll have to re-scan. Is 7-3 the new channel?

NO fox for me tonight either.
Thought it must be storm related on there end.

I'd just tune 7-3 for now and wait for them to remap to the correct identifier...there was no channel info on 7-3, telling me it's only temporary.
They may have been on the mountain Tuesday night/Wednesday morning doing maintainence and realized if they didn't get down as the storm started, they might not get down untl spring, and left the channels as they were.

Prisoner,
Your AM21 gets local channel info for OTA reception from over the satellite, so you will have to wait until they bring 23-1 back up before you'll see it on the AM21. The satellite download for channel info will not put the 7-3 into the AM21, as 7-3 is not on the list for local channels. The AM21 does not scan from the antenna to supply channels, as a standard converter box would do. The satellite has to tell the AM21 which local channels to look for.
That appears to be the downside of that system.
If it was me, I'd have a standard or HD back-up converter box available, with all local channels loaded on it, to switch out the AM21 so as to watch a certain station on the (AM21) TV until they fix that channel, but that's just me, I'm just paranoid by nature.

^^^ Yes, that is the downside to the AM21. I thought maybe they were changing station numbers. I still have WXXA through my satellite with HD now but as you said, no OTA with AM21 until WXXA corrects itself.

Did anyone on here with Time Warner get upgraded to Navigator yet? if so, what are your thoughts about this upgrade? I got a letter from TW on Tuesday telling me that I'll be upgraded soon. I've been reading some blogs from people in other parts of the country who have been upgraded to Navigator... there are lots of complaints.

What happen to WXXA 23-1 & 23-2? I'm not getting nothing tonight.

EDIT: just went to my analog TV and noticed that 23-1 is now 7-3. I can't tune directly with my AM21. I'll have to re-scan. Is 7-3 the new channel?

I am having the same issue as of 7 AM this morning - I have a signal strength of 83 but my receiver can not map the channel to a virtual station and refuses to display a picture. Could the PSIP stream be screwed up? Rescan did nothing for me.

^^^ Tune directly to 7-3. That should do it until they switch back to the normal 23-1. If you are using a Directv AM21 than your in the same boat as me.

Are things off the air? 6 has been off since early this evening. Now 10/26 and 43/45 seem to be off the air. I am getting 13/18 fine, I deleted 12 so I don't know... 23/7 is on, as is 51/13...

Nevermind. Just 6 is off the air.

Must be due to weather. Helderburg is getting pounded with snow.

23-1, -2 was back to normal last nite...my TV deleted the 7-3, 7-8 channel reference and returned WXXA back to 23.
The storm probably caused reception problems to any marginal signal, but all should be well now.

23-1, -2 was back to normal last nite...my TV deleted the 7-3, 7-8 channel reference and returned WXXA back to 23.
The storm probably caused reception problems to any marginal signal, but all should be well now.

I have everything bsck except for 43 (45) which has been ok for a while. Unfotunately none of my receivers allows me to directly access sub-channels unless I find them in a scan so if 23 is on 23-3 - I would never find it. Dish receivers also do weird things with channel 13. I get it on rf 12,28,28 znd sometimes 21. The receiver will translate 12.1 to 13.1, but will translate 28.2 to 13.2, and 38.3 to 13.3, so I get different signal strngth on each digital subchannel.

Here's a blip from the WRGB chief engineer about the storm, it will probably relate to all the transmitters on the Helderberg antenna farm:

"There was more than 4 feet of snow at the site as of Thursday at midnight. It has all fallen since Tuesday. It's still snowing tonight. The power has flashed on and off many times. The trees in the surrounding forest are cracking due to the weight of the snow.

In some cases there, the three phase power (480/277 volts) has a partial failure of one of the three phases. When that occurs, the generator starts and takes over, but some equipment doesn't react well to 10 seconds of two phase power. Friday morning the WRGB transmitter popped a 100 amp breaker. Friday evening the WCWN transmitter didn't restart right away after a partial power failure. The remote control for the transmitters hung up, even though it's connected to a UPS. (uninteruptable power supply)

At 1 AM Friday I switched the generators to the test mode to avoid further power problems."

I guess this is the risk you take when you put transmitters up on a mountain, obviously the higher up the better in terms of signal but mother nature can really throw a monkey wrench (or in this case 4 feet of snow) into your plans when you're on a mountain!

I recently hd my HD Reciver form Time Warner Cable UPDATED! no joke, updated thats rare words from time warner cable, they recently added teh new guide called Navigator.
http://www.timewarnercable.com/MediaLibrary/4/73/support/navigator/program%20guide/see_whats_playing.jpg
http://www.timewarnercable.com/MediaLibrary/4/73/support/navigator/program%20guide/channel_bar.jpg
http://www.timewarnercable.com/northeast/support/navigator/programguide.html

My only complaint is that it is a lil slower but its allot easier on the eyes then the previous theme

I have to ask...are any of you having drop outs on Channel 13? Over the past week I've been seeing intermitent drop outs with the SS dropping quickly to 0% then back to 72% causing pixelation and freezing the screen.
Anyone else seeing this?

I have to ask...are any of you having drop outs on Channel 13? Over the past week I've been seeing intermitent drop outs with the SS dropping quickly to 0% then back to 72% causing pixelation and freezing the screen.
Anyone else seeing this?

WNYT 12/13 has never been a problem for me and has been fine over the past week. However, I have had lots of problems with WMHT 34/17, WTEN 26/10, WKTV 2/29, and WCWN 43/45 since we had all of the snow. (46" at my house. Ugh!) I still have at least 2 feet of the white stuff out here and I imagine there is a lot on the ground between my house and the transmitters. I'm all 1 or 2 edge, so maybe when the signals hits those edges, the snow on the ground is reflecting more of the signal into space? I don't know. Reception was fine on all of these stations prior to the storm, when there was very little snow on the ground. I think you are LOS to the farm, so I wouldn't think it would matter as much, but who knows. One thing for certain: DTV is touchier than analog was.

WNYT 12/13 has never been a problem for me and has been fine over the past week. However, I have had lots of problems with WMHT 34/17, WTEN 26/10, WKTV 2/29, and WCWN 43/45 since we had all of the snow. (46" at my house. Ugh!) I still have at least 2 feet of the white stuff out here and I imagine there is a lot on the ground between my house and the transmitters. I'm all 1 or 2 edge, so maybe when the signals hits those edges, the snow on the ground is reflecting more of the signal into space? I don't know. Reception was fine on all of these stations prior to the storm, when there was very little snow on the ground. I think you are LOS to the farm, so I wouldn't think it would matter as much, but who knows. One thing for certain: DTV is touchier than analog was.

Yes, isn't THAT coincidental....my issues with WNYT 13 DID start right after the snow storm.....huh..
I am one of the lucky, residing in the Hudson Valley, where most of the precip was rain...there is little snow left here...lots of MUD, but not much snow.
But in general, WNYT 13 remains a solid 72% SS station, all of the Helderburg farm transmitters are LOS, and all remain solid and strong, except for this recent little gremlin on channel 13. Fact is, 12/13 is so stong here, I can point the antennas 45° east away from the transmitter, get 12/13 at 50% SS and loose the interference completely.
So, I have to assume it's a local interference, but thanks for your report, it was very helpful.

Maybe when the signals hits those edges, the snow on the ground is reflecting more of the signal into space? I don't know.

I know one person who had an antenna in the attic that was bothered by snow on the roof.

Yes, isn't THAT coincidental....my issues with WNYT 13 DID start right after the snow storm.....huh..
I am one of the lucky, residing in the Hudson Valley, where most of the precip was rain...there is little snow left here...lots of MUD, but not much snow.
But in general, WNYT 13 remains a solid 72% SS station, all of the Helderburg farm transmitters are LOS, and all remain solid and strong, except for this recent little gremlin on channel 13. Fact is, 12/13 is so stong here, I can point the antennas 45° east away from the transmitter, get 12/13 at 50% SS and loose the interference completely.
So, I have to assume it's a local interference, but thanks for your report, it was very helpful.

Well, it appears this time, it was me. Due to the way the cables need to be run on the antennas, the HLSJ I use to join the channel 6 only VHF-lo and channel 13 only VHF-hi antennas had to be placed upside down, the back of the HLSJ acting like a small cup, which collects rain water (and snow). Last time I was on the roof, the plate on the back of the HLSJ was very rusty and the seal had deteriorated, making me suspicious of problems, even tho rf 6 and rf 13 were not having problems. I bought another HLSJ, water sealed the back and put it up there.
Low amd behold, the WNYT issue instantly disappeared, no more drop outs.
I can only think that the water in that little cup on the HLSJ would freeze and thaw, expand and contract, eventually water got into the HLSJ and was causing the dropout on the RF 12 frequency, as all the antennas join together before going into the pre-amp.
I've been watching WNYT pretty closely this last week and I have seen no problems.
Just another little bug in the system, all better for now.

TWC Navigator Tips,

When Navigator was released in 2006-2007 we in Milwaukee Wisconsin along with Lincoln Nebraska were the first to get it. The guide at the time was such a putrid, steaming unreliable POS that half way into 2007, our TWC office canceled any more updates to it for a year to work out bugs.

We got Navigator in April of 2008 and I was so nervous about it, but it was fine. There are STILL things that need improvement. However, the difference in speed and reliability is like night and day.

You need a good box to run Navigator well. AT LEAST an SA 3000 series or higher. The newer the better. DVR subs should have AT LEAST an SA-8240 or better DVR. Or one of the new Samsung boxes.

Most Pioneer boxes, old SA boxes below 3000, old DVR SA-8000 model boxes SUCK running Navigator. This is often because of memory limitations in the older boxes. Get a new box, or at least have the models recommended above.

Next, make sure your wiring and signal strength are very good. When we had Navigator, we had an issue where it was rebooting several times a week. An in house tech, (and when you call for service, make sure you ask for an in-house tech) replaced our cable lines and now the box reboots maybe once a month. Navigator is more sensitive to line input and signal strength than the other guides. This is unfortunate.

There are still issues, but now, they relate to Navigator not being in compliance with 2010 IPG standards. Rumors of Keyword Search, Guide Filtering, and Remote DVR Management are coming in future updates. I think Navigator should get up to Passport after those features are added. They are supposed to be coming later this year, possibly beginning after the late spring early summer transition periods.

Jack

(Also copied to Cleveland Ohio and Albany New York Threads. The next areas getting TWC-Navigator.)

I don't know whether it is related to the Navigator release or not, but ever since it was released to the SA8300HD box in another part of the house, my Tivo S3 has problems maintaining signal lock on A&E HD.

I wonder whether the box running Navigator is now taking more of the signal strength to run and there is less remaining for the S3.

It appears WNYT RF 18 is finally running it's authorized 15 KW as of last night, up from it's 10 KW test mode. I was seeing a 32-40% SS last nite...since it came on-air, RF 18 was not even close to marginal here. Last nite it was a solid, watchable signal here 37 miles north of Bald Mountain.
Just thought I'd mention that for those looking for an alternative to WNYT RF 12.

UPDATE:
The increased signal strength is due to a new low loss coax on the transmitter creating a higher ERP, the actual power increase to 15 KW is reportedly scheduled by the end of this week.

UPDATE 3-23-10
They threw the switch yesterday at about 2:15 p.m. and slowly brought the power up...I am seeing a 45-47% SS at my location on RF 18, last evening and still this morning.

I don't know whether it is related to the Navigator release or not, but ever since it was released to the SA8300HD box in another part of the house, my Tivo S3 has problems maintaining signal lock on A&E HD.

I wonder whether the box running Navigator is now taking more of the signal strength to run and there is less remaining for the S3.

The 4250HDC I have in one room updated to navigator either last week or the week before, but the 8300HDC I also have just updated today. Seems a slight bit slower but I really like the new DVR features like recording for overruns.

Is the 8300HDC still the latest hardware for TWC DVRs? Seems a bit dated...

Now that the HD OTA scheme seems to be working so well here at this residence, it seems to me that an OTA HD DVR should be the next addition on the equipment list.
If there are any available, I'd like to pass the signal thru the DVR for it to go directly to the HDTV, yet have the option to capture a specific show on a specific channel.
I'm sure this is a tall order, but does anyone know if these are available?
I've searched the web...the boxes I found made my eyes glaze over...so I'm asking here.
OH YES....I'm also a cheap skate.
TIA

Now that the HD OTA scheme seems to be working so well here at this residence, it seems to me that an OTA HD DVR should be the next addition on the equipment list.
If there are any available, I'd like to pass the signal thru the DVR for it to go directly to the HDTV, yet have the option to capture a specific show on a specific channel.
I'm sure this is a tall order, but does anyone know if these are available?
I've searched the web...the boxes I found made my eyes glaze over...so I'm asking here.
OH YES....I'm also a cheap skate.
TIA

This is the only one I've really heard decent things about that's specifically designed for OTA: http://www.dishnetwork.com/dtvpal/dvr.shtml but I haven't used it I do my OTA-DVRing with my DIRECTV box so I don't have a need for one.

You could also consider getting an OTA card for Windows Media Center if you already have an XP Media Center, Vista Home Premium or Windows 7 machine in the house.

Now that the HD OTA scheme seems to be working so well here at this residence, it seems to me that an OTA HD DVR should be the next addition on the equipment list.
If there are any available, I'd like to pass the signal thru the DVR for it to go directly to the HDTV, yet have the option to capture a specific show on a specific channel.
I'm sure this is a tall order, but does anyone know if these are available?
I've searched the web...the boxes I found made my eyes glaze over...so I'm asking here.
OH YES....I'm also a cheap skate.
TIA

I, along with a few others here, use this:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31YCRF7GKDL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
It is a Sony DHG-HDD500 DVR. Besides having a free TV Guide and being able to record OTA HD, it also has a cable card slot. I paid $250 for mine back in 2006. (http://albanyhdtv.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=boxes&thread=1578&page=1) Since they are no longer being produced, you would need to buy one used now, but they are available on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Sony-DHG-HDD500-60-Hour-High-Definition-Recorder/dp/B00067TYFO) andeBay (http://catalog.ebay.com/Sony-DHG-HDD500-500-GB-400-Hours-Video-Recorder-/66789152).

While I'm a TiVo fan and the TiVo Series3, TiVo HD, or TiVo Premiere will allow you to record OTA HD, I don't use mine for OTA recording so I can't tell you how well that setup works. Current TiVo owners can pick up a new TiVo Premiere with a lifetime subscription for $499. (http://albanyhdtv.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=gotopost&board=boxes&thread=3301&post=8889)

However, IMO your best bet would be to go with Window Media Center and a HD OTA TV tuner card. I picked up the ATI TV Wonder HDTV Tuner for PC for $20 (ATI TV Wonder HDTV Tuner for PC for $14.99 + $5.00 shipping) (including shipping) a few months back. Free guide data is available.

For a self-proclaimed cheapskate, the TV Tuner card for your PC is the cheapest, assuming you already have a PC with Windows7.

However, IMO your best bet would be to go with Window Media Center and a HD OTA TV tuner card. I picked up the ATI TV Wonder HDTV Tuner for PC for $20 (ATI TV Wonder HDTV Tuner for PC for $14.99 + $5.00 shipping) (including shipping) a few months back. Free guide data is available.

For a self-proclaimed cheapskate, the TV Tuner card for your PC is the cheapest, assuming you already have a PC with Windows7.

I agree, and on top of that in my opinion the Window Media Center DVR is the best I've ever used and I really do miss it (what I don't miss is the cable TV I had to use it WITH) :)

OK, guys, I appreciate the info....the only PC in the house is this laptop I'm banging on right now. Adding cards is probably not an option, so a stand alone DVR is likely the only answer.
I'll look around using your suggestions...
Thanks again..

People are definatley using them too.
When our program guide was off by 2 minutes, we got about 4 or 5 calls from people who were upset about the differential, because it affected their DVR recording.

(Forunately I have fixed the time drift issue, and we are transmitting perfect time now.)

I have been using the DTVPAL DVR OTA for the last year. I would not watch TV without it.
http://www.echostar.com/DTVPalDVR/index.html

Hunter that unit is fantastic.
Two tuner HD DTV DVR with 30 hours HD record time.
I was very excited then I saw the price $300.
At that price I will look for it cheaper elseware maybe on the Bay.
For know I will continue to use my DVD recorder, not HD but, not $300 either.
Thanks for the link.

Is anyone experiencing severely slow channel switching and switching delays now that Capital District ime Warner has changed their digital cable format or look?

My box is hooked to tv via HDMI cable. I had some intermitent dlays in past but now it is extremely slow and sometimes it is delayed so that I click up three channels it does nothing and then starts changing.

Any advice or knowledge would be appreciated
joe

I, along with a few others here, use this:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31YCRF7GKDL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
It is a Sony DHG-HDD500 DVR. Besides having a free TV Guide and being able to record OTA HD, it also has a cable card slot. I paid $250 for mine back in 2006. (http://albanyhdtv.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=boxes&thread=1578&page=1) Since they are no longer being produced, you would need to buy one used now, but they are available on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Sony-DHG-HDD500-60-Hour-High-Definition-Recorder/dp/B00067TYFO) andeBay (http://catalog.ebay.com/Sony-DHG-HDD500-500-GB-400-Hours-Video-Recorder-/66789152).


I just sold mine on eBay a few months ago... after 3 years of use, it sold for twice what I originally paid for the item new. Bought New at Tweeters in Guilderland for $250. Sold Used on eBay for $499.

Apparently the Tivo lawsuits have convinced many manufacturers to not offer these types of products anymore.

WRGB is seeking another fill-in translator, this one on channel 24 in Kingston.

- Trip

WRGB is seeking another fill-in translator, this one on channel 24 in Kingston.

- Trip

This has been confirmed by the WRGB chief engineer...no time schedule as of yet.

WRGB has officially filed for 24 in Kingston and 19 in Pittsfield, MA.

WRGB is seeking another fill-in translator, this one on channel 24 in Kingston.

- Trip

Sweet! Mid-Hudson Valley folks rejoice! I wonder if they could (re)use the old WTZA/WRNN tower up on Overlook Mountain?

http://www.catskilltech.com/Catskills/Catskills02.html

Doesn't look like that's what they're using.

- Trip

The FCC map confirms you are right about the location of WRGB's Channel 24 translater, Trip. The blue star is just outside the city limits near Exit 19 on the NYS Thruway.

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1361768.html

But I'm still happy that the coverage area will include Poughkeepsie.

For reference the application for WRGB's LD is about a mile or two south of the 94.3/100.1 transmitter towers.

Is anyone experiencing severely slow channel switching and switching delays now that Capital District ime Warner has changed their digital cable format or look?

My box is hooked to tv via HDMI cable. I had some intermitent dlays in past but now it is extremely slow and sometimes it is delayed so that I click up three channels it does nothing and then starts changing.

Any advice or knowledge would be appreciated
joe

Hi Joe,

How old is the box? And when is the last time that your cable wiring and signal strength was checked? What's the model of the box that is running slow?

If the problem persists for more than 24 hours, request an in-house technician to come out and check your line and signal strength and also request the newest box they have. Get an SA or Cisco 3000 or higher OR a Samsung box if you are a non-DVR subscriber. If you are a DVR subscriber, see if you can get an SA or Cisco 8300 or higher box. The newest models are in the 8500's and 8600's, but some divisions may not yet have them. OR try a new Samsung DVR.

Jack

For reference the application for WRGB's LD is about a mile or two south of the 94.3/100.1 transmitter towers.

I see the WRGB translator in Kingston will run only 5 kw on UHF RF 24. I'm curious if that power level will aquire that many new viewers?

I see the WRGB translator in Kingston will run only 5 kw on UHF RF 24. I'm curious if that power level will aquire that many new viewers?

I suspect they may pick up a few viewers around Kingston, who wouldn't bother with a VHF antenna. Otherwise, the gains seem pretty minimal. According to tvfool, the channel 6 signal will still be much stronger for me here in Poughkeepsie.

It will probably be just strong enough to wipe out the WNYE signal that I can pick up off the back of my antenna anytime there is a hint of favorable atmospherics. Of course, I must live in some kind of Signal Vortex, since I get WNET-13 and WPIX-11, which TVfool indicates I shouldn't and I can't get WNYT-12 and WXXA-7, which TVfool indicates I should.

I think we're all in a Signal Vortex at some point, at some place on the "dial", no matter where you live. The transission has suffled the cards, if you will. It continues to frustrate me how the FCC (or the stations themselves who don't understand overlapping signals) continue to drop channel frequencies to stations that will interfere with another station. I have been chasing RF chan 18 from Troy, N.Y. since mid-winter. The only time it would come in strong enough to be stable was during rain or snow events. I finally realized that either/or both WVTB or WMFP, both chan 18, were interfering with Troy on clear days, but attenuated in bad weather. I finally bought an HD-9022 and tied it into the system, and Troy chan 18 is finally stable 99.9% of the time, only because this new antenna has such a tight beam width, I believe, it is overcoming the interference from the rear and side of the antenna system. This probably wouldn't have been an issue during the analog days, but now, the digital data stream we use is easily corrupted, by just about anything.
52 pick up, in my opinion.....

It just cracks me up a little, that I am able to get WPIX-11 at about 70%, when tvfool.com shows the Pwr at my house as -106.6 dbm. It is 64.1 miles and 2nd edge diffraction. Meanwhile, WNYT-12 is Line of Sight and 66.2 miles with Pwr of -68.4 db, but I can't get it.

If I'm doing the math right and the TVfool model were accurate, the WNYT-12 signal should be ~6800x stronger. Somehow, I don't think my math is the problem...

The antenna (YA-1713) does drop a bit for 12 and 13, but usually I can get WNET-13 as well.

It just cracks me up a little, that I am able to get WPIX-11 at about 70%, when tvfool.com shows the Pwr at my house as -106.6 dbm. It is 64.1 miles and 2nd edge diffraction. Meanwhile, WNYT-12 is Line of Sight and 66.2 miles with Pwr of -68.4 db, but I can't get it.

If I'm doing the math right and the TVfool model were accurate, the WNYT-12 signal should be ~6800x stronger. Somehow, I don't think my math is the problem...

The antenna (YA-1713) does drop a bit for 12 and 13, but usually I can get WNET-13 as well.

Well, this is my point exactly...if you look at my TVFool report (under my signature) you'll see WNYT RF 18 showing it should boom in here...that was not the case until I put up the HD-9022...on a clear day, it would bomb. Rain, it was in the 60's % SS. Your RF 12 may have an interfering station, and it doesn't matter if WNYT-12 is line of site, the two signals battle each other, and you get nothing. You might try to pull WNYT RF 18, which I would guess is 360° from you, you'd have to check your TVF report. RF 18 is a duplicaate of WNYT-12...you might be able to get it.
Yeah, just looked at your TVF report, I can't explain why RF 12 is weak, RF 18 is out too....

I agree, but I should point out that what amuses me is that I can get WPIX-11 when all sources indicate that I shouldn't. The lack of WNYT-12, while disappointing, is not all that surprising, since I realize that interference, multipath, a misplaced tree or a whole host of other factors could be causing the problem.

I can understand not receiving a signal that should be there, but how do I explain receiving a signal that shouldn't be there? If my understanding of TVfool is correct, I should need an antenna with a gain in the neighborhood of 16dbi to barely get it. My antenna is good, but certainly not that good!

Well, the signal path is obviousy working for you with Channel 11, I don't think TVF can calculate the channeling of the signal thru mountainous caverns. Such as in my case, TVF shows WPTZ and WCAX as way down the list, 2edge. Yet, they both come in here 70 and 50% (respectively) at 91 miles away. The chief engineer's comment at WCAX was...."WHAT! You have a 1500 foot high tower?" No, 15 feet up, but I have the Lake Champlain Valley and the Lake George Valley, in direct path to the transmitters, obviously channeling the signals right to me. Amazing but true. I suspect WPIX is just coincidently doing just that for you.

Well, the signal path is obviousy working for you with Channel 11, I don't think TVF can calculate the channeling of the signal thru mountainous caverns.

I have the tV fool /Google Earth program that has a more accurate coverage area, and its amazing how it takes into account valleys and mountains.

SemiChemE, I don't know exactly where in Poughkeepsie you live, but just out of curiousity I ran the program for you with WPIX and WNYT.

Here is WPIX coverage. Where you see the purple area indicates small but otherwise receivable signal. Notice in some hills and valleys where you get no signal at all.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bsGp7iJrCTc/S-VDQBtuhmI/AAAAAAAAArM/0-C7kjdhu5M/s800/Poughkeepsie.jpg

Here is WNYT:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_bsGp7iJrCTc/S-VFyJFNPcI/AAAAAAAAArY/SS9F0qvhaF0/s800/wnyt%20poughkeepsie.jpg

OK, good maps....but what does the colors blue and purple mean exactly?

OK, good maps....but what does the colors blue and purple mean exactly?

Purple is the weakest signal. To give you an idea, here is a broader view of WNYT coverage :
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bsGp7iJrCTc/S-b8wZpIhyI/AAAAAAAAArk/lytGY-Wj9eI/s800/wnyt%20coverage.jpg

WNYT transmitter is in the upper left of the picture.

I live just off of Rt-9 about a mile north of Spackenkill (113). I don't see any pink in that area for the WPIX signal. As for the WNYT map, it's probably in a Light Blue section, although it's hard to tell, since I'm very close to the bottom edge of the map.

I live just off of Rt-9 about a mile north of Spackenkill (113). I don't see any pink in that area for the WPIX signal. As for the WNYT map, it's probably in a Light Blue section, although it's hard to tell, since I'm very close to the bottom edge of the map.

Here are maps that I zoomed in on your area:

WPIX
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bsGp7iJrCTc/S-fkLknKu0I/AAAAAAAAAsY/AJawDNTYU3k/s800/WPIX%20Poughkeepsie.jpg

WNYT
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_bsGp7iJrCTc/S-fjnskxwFI/AAAAAAAAAsI/bh2lyyuTFnc/s800/wnyt%20poughkeepsie.jpg

I guess you are getting lucky with PIX as it looks like the signal is almost 0 in your area, but these maps are only an approximation of signal strength.

OK, purple is weakest...
Here's a TVF map of WPTZ's signal at my location, WPTZ is 91 miles away to my northeast...
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c30/kb2fzq/wptzsignal.jpg
Here's what actually is happening on my TV...
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c30/kb2fzq/DSC00085.jpg
What I'm saying is, TVF is a great tool as an estimate, but can not be carved in granite....

What I'm saying is, TVF is a great tool as an estimate, but can not be carved in granite....

Am I reading the signal strength meter right on your TV? It looks like it's pegged.

I also noticed that station transmits at 650 KW, which is more than a lot of other stations.. Does that have anything to do with it?

Am I reading the signal strength meter right on your TV? It looks like it's pegged.

I also noticed that station transmits at 650 KW, which is more than a lot of other stations.. Does that have anything to do with it?

The meter is reading 85% SS and yes, 650 kw has everything to do with it. My point being, TVF shows it in purple here, a weak signal, when actually, it slams in here all the time. As I said, TVF is a great tool, but topographic situations can greatly distort the readings TVF predicts. No one was more surprised then me the first time I turned the antennas north, and sat watching a Plattsburg TV station...it was amazing, considering that TVF indicated I had little or no chance of receiving it. But there it was. I first thought..tropo ducting...but that was incorrect. The station has continued to show here at that SS, all the time, for going on a year now.
So, my position is that one should cautiously use TVF's data, and then actually attempt to receive a station. A sweet surprise may be in the making...

The best I have done so far is pick up a station 60 miles away, from Long Island I picked up a station in CT.
91 miles is pretty impressive especially in the mountains.

The best I have done so far is pick up a station 60 miles away, from Long Island I picked up a station in CT.
91 miles is pretty impressive especially in the mountains.

Yes, pretty amazing. I am sure the valleys of those mountains are actually doing the work, funneling the signal to me. I also get WCAX from the same tower as WPTZ, WCAX is running 443 kw, and is not as strong as WPTZ. I get WCAX in the 40's SS, but in summer, a very large, dense weeping willow tree in my northern path will attenuate WCAX's signal a little bit, but WPTZ remains strong.
Here's a pic of my setup:
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c30/kb2fzq/DSC00082.jpg
The top 2 antennas are phased VHF/UHF logarithmic periodics, the big one is used to receive WRGB RF 6, this all goes into a 10G212 30 db gain pre-amp.
There is now an HD-9022 UHF antenna under the rotor being used to receive the troublesome WNYT RF 18 from Troy, N.Y. that is not in the picture.
The system works...

The top 2 antennas are phased VHF/UHF logarithmic periodics, the big one is used to receive WRGB RF 6, this all goes into a 10G212 30 db gain pre-amp.
There is now an HD-9022 UHF antenna under the rotor being used to receive the troublesome WNYT RF 18 from Troy, N.Y. that is not in the picture.
The system works...


Does that rotor turn the whole assembly? Which direction do you primarily point to, WRGB or WPTZ?

Yes, all antennas turn above the rotor, except the new HD-9022 not in the picture that is fixed below the rotor, pointed south. Primary direction is south towards Albany, to the transmitters antenna farm on the Helderbergs, 53 miles away.
There are a few local gardening shows on WPTZ I watch, but mostly I'm pointed south.

I know several of you on the board have an interest in OTA, I have a couple different tidbits. First, went camping with the motor home up to Moffit Beach State Park on Sacandaga Lake (not Res.) in Speculator over the weekend. I had the spot right out in the open on the south side of the beach. Cranking up the Winegard motor home antenna (almost standard equipment on motor homes) I did several scans on the tv with different antenna positions. I can see the scan process stall on the TV when it's trying to lock on to a station, and it did this several times. But, the only channel receivable was Ch.2 (RF29) Utica. It seemed like I could rotate the antenna through a 60 degree sweep and it still was visible. No Albany VHF or UHF channel was strong enough to be received, although I did hear several Albany FM stations that transmit from the same location.

Back to home base just northeast of Utica. I would say in the last month or so, WXXA (RF7) has dropped down considerably in signal level although WRGB 6 and WNYT (RF12) are still way up there. I understand transmitter antennas can be tweaked in elevation and am wondering if that's what happened. I doubt any WXXA engineering staff lurks here on the board, but this has gotten my curiousity. What used to be up in the 50 tp 60 % area is now down to 20% at best. I even went up on the roof and rechecked/redid my connections.

I know several of you on the board have an interest in OTA, I have a couple different tidbits. First, went camping with the motor home up to Moffit Beach State Park on Sacandaga Lake (not Res.) in Speculator over the weekend. I had the spot right out in the open on the south side of the beach. Cranking up the Winegard motor home antenna (almost standard equipment on motor homes) I did several scans on the tv with different antenna positions. I can see the scan process stall on the TV when it's trying to lock on to a station, and it did this several times. But, the only channel receivable was Ch.2 (RF29) Utica. It seemed like I could rotate the antenna through a 60 degree sweep and it still was visible. No Albany VHF or UHF channel was strong enough to be received, although I did hear several Albany FM stations that transmit from the same location.

Back to home base just northeast of Utica. I would say in the last month or so, WXXA (RF7) has dropped down considerably in signal level although WRGB 6 and WNYT (RF12) are still way up there. I understand transmitter antennas can be tweaked in elevation and am wondering if that's what happened. I doubt any WXXA engineering staff lurks here on the board, but this has gotten my curiousity. What used to be up in the 50 tp 60 % area is now down to 20% at best. I even went up on the roof and rechecked/redid my connections.

Hi Gary,
I'm sure you're aware of this website:

http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html

There has been a lot of ducting going on lately with all this heat, very likely it may be affecting some of your reception.
I hit the wrong button on my remote the other day and wiped out all my stored channels....got them all back except WNYA 51.1, a weak station, and haven't been able to lock it, due to WVNY to my north interfering....I'm waiting for a rainy day to lock it in agan, when WVNY is attenuated a bit in the rain...
Additionally, tree leaves may also be attenuating the signals, I've pretty much lost WCAX to my north due to a very large, dense, weeping willow tree...this also happened last summer, so it was no surprise this summer, it was expected.

Yes, I'm familiar with the dxinfocentre site, and being a licensed radio amateur as you, I'm in tuned with the various propogation characteristics throughout a large portion of the frequency spectrum.

No, my antenna is in the clear for the most part, any trees are quite distant and below the horizon. It was just puzzling that only rf ch. 7 was affected, not rf ch. 12 for example which is relatively close in frequency. I could go the route of a ch. 7 yagi, but after the addition (and associated loss) of a combiner, not sure I'd be ahead of the game.

Of course, I'm so busy here in summer, not much time for tv watching so I may wait it out and see if the signal returns next fall.

73

de kq2n

I would say in the last month or so, WXXA (RF7) has dropped down considerably in signal level.

The other possibility is that interference to channel 7 has increased. Channel 7 is 174-180 MHz. FM stations between 88.1 and 88.9 MHz can create second harmonics and stations between 88.1 and 91.7 can cause third order IM within channel 7.

The other possibility is that interference to channel 7 has increased. Channel 7 is 174-180 MHz. FM stations between 88.1 and 88.9 MHz can create second harmonics and stations between 88.1 and 91.7 can cause third order IM within channel 7.

I totally agree that the FM harmonics could be his issue, but I find it perculiar that the issues have cropped up in the last month or so. I would have thought this would have been an ongoing issue if it was FM interference, thru winter and into spring, but his comments tend to indicate it is a current issue.
I remember last summer when Albany viewers complained here on this forum of WXXA disappearing one football afternoon:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=232530&page=139
The result being a severe ducting condition where a distant RF 7 reached Albany and blocked the WXXA signal. This event didn't effect me that day, I can only think I'm too far north. Gary may have a moderate version of that event going on currently.

It could be FM actually - there have been a generous handful of non-com sign ons in recent months and I think there are a few between the RF 7 tx site and your location....

Hi Gary,
I'm sure you're aware of this website:

http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html

There has been a lot of ducting going on lately with all this heat, very likely it may be affecting some of your reception.
I hit the wrong button on my remote the other day and wiped out all my stored channels....got them all back except WNYA 51.1, a weak station, and haven't been able to lock it, due to WVNY to my north interfering....I'm waiting for a rainy day to lock it in agan, when WVNY is attenuated a bit in the rain...
Additionally, tree leaves may also be attenuating the signals, I've pretty much lost WCAX to my north due to a very large, dense, weeping willow tree...this also happened last summer, so it was no surprise this summer, it was expected.

Received this e-mail the other day from WCAX Transmitter Supervisor in response to my inquiry about their long awaited power increase. Thought this might be of interest to you


"Greetings;
Our old chief engineer was the guy who thought that the power increase was worthwhile. He passed away last november and I think the power increase died with him. I recommended to management that we not pursue it further, primarily because viewers 5 to 10 miles from the mountain have serious multipath problems and I think that more power would make it worse close in". regards


Transmitter Supervisor
WCAX TV

It could be FM actually - there have been a generous handful of non-com sign ons in recent months and I think there are a few between the RF 7 tx site and your location....

Also WMHT-FM (89.1) has a construction permit to upgrade to the big DTV tower.

If you aim your antenna at the tower, you'll also be aiming it at 89.1's antenna too. They filed an STA about a month ago, so its possible they are now running from that tower now.

Back to home base just northeast of Utica. I would say in the last month or so, WXXA (RF7) has dropped down considerably in signal level although WRGB 6 and WNYT (RF12) are still way up there. I understand transmitter antennas can be tweaked in elevation and am wondering if that's what happened. I doubt any WXXA engineering staff lurks here on the board, but this has gotten my curiousity. What used to be up in the 50 tp 60 % area is now down to 20% at best. I even went up on the roof and rechecked/redid my connections.

If they tweaked the transmitting antenna to the point you lost reception of WXXA, then you'd lose WNYT as well, as they both are combined into a single antenna. They are using a standard balanced combiner between both stations. It is possible the WXXA transmitter has dropped down in power, by loss of power modules or such, I can't answer that though.

Of all the ripples I CAN discribe here with this OTA hobby, here in Hudson Falls, NY, WXXA remains one of my strongest stations at a 72% SS, always.
If 89.1 is indeed causing issues towards Utica, it doesn't appear to be an issue here.
Even though you have no trees right on top of you, I still remain with my theory that all the leaves between you and WXXA are causing attenuation, as said previously, it's very perculiar that the issue started just as the tree leaves came into full growth.
Thanks for the email from WCAX...I reset antenna positioning yesterday (a blast of wind must have moved the antennas about 15°) and that allowed me to put the antennas back in full north direction, which brought WCAX into lock in....it's not stellar, but it's there. I guess the power boost up there is off the table...oh well...

WMHT-FM (and HD too!) Doesn't appear to be on the air yet full time from the DTV tower. Fred at WRGB had posted on the forum that a crew was climbing the tower this past week and will again next week. I'm assuming they are installing the new WMHT-FM antenna system. Fred said the WMHT folks could confirm it...

My thought is that if it's on the same tower that might actually be better for reception than being in between point A and B...

Also WMHT-FM (89.1) has a construction permit to upgrade to the big DTV tower.

If you aim your antenna at the tower, you'll also be aiming it at 89.1's antenna too. They filed an STA about a month ago, so its possible they are now running from that tower now.

As in KQ2N's case, I would tend to think when 89.1 FM comes on line, on the big tower, it shouldn't effect WXXA, frequency-wise, but may cause awful havoc with WRGB 6 (running in the middle at roughly 85 mhz)....89.1 on the same tower as RF 6????
RF 6's bandwidth is 82-88 mhz, that's not very far away from 89.1, gee, who approved that project????
Do you agree, W1KNE?
My above theory troubles me....I hope I'm just being paranoid....

But the second harmonic of the 89.1 signal falls in the middle of channel 7. I could definitely see it causing a problem.

- Trip

I don't think there'll be any more of a problem than exists now (if any) considering that 89.1 is moving from their current tower to the DTV tower which are about a mile away from one another and 89.1 is lowering ERP with the move so if anything may help if the problem exists anywhere.

I live in Troy which is in the city grade of both stations (with 89.1 still unmoved) and I have no problem with RF 7 except when atmospheric conditions cause it.

The WMHT CP MOD shows the antennas going up 78 feet, with an ERP drop from 11 kw to 6.1 kw, almost half. The change may help any current interference....

The only speculation I had is, that from their current site, (1.5kM north of the DTV tower, on WMHT-TV's analog tower), you aren't aiming directly at the antenna but at the DTV tower, south of it. With the move complete, then instead of aiming your receive antenna near the FM, now you will be aiming it AT the FM. So whatever power difference there is, is offset by the fact your now pointing right at the tower.

On a completley unrelated note, has anyone ever done one of those FM mix factor calculations to see if there is a mix factor falling on one of the VHF channels? I can do one, but it will take a bit.

The only speculation I had is, that from their current site, (1.5kM north of the DTV tower, on WMHT-TV's analog tower), you aren't aiming directly at the antenna but at the DTV tower, south of it. With the move complete, then instead of aiming your receive antenna near the FM, now you will be aiming it AT the FM. So whatever power difference there is, is offset by the fact your now pointing right at the tower.

On a completley unrelated note, has anyone ever done one of those FM mix factor calculations to see if there is a mix factor falling on one of the VHF channels? I can do one, but it will take a bit.

Yes, I failed to notice the coordinate changes on FCC FMQuery yesterday, I had assumed they were already on the WRGB tower....
WRGB has assured me that there "shouldn't" be an interference issue, but of course, that will remain to be seen....
Being you know about FM mix factors, I'd like to ask you if you could do a calculation, please....

Oh I completley forgot about this. I will get to it when I get a chance.

Heading up to my place in Middleburgh this weekend for the first time since last August. I'm curious to see how my Radio Shack VU-190 antenna survived the winter and also if any changes in signal strength. I still got my numbers from last year so I can compare.
I could not get 51.1 last time, I'm going to try again.
Also going to give 55.1 (ION) a shot again.

UPDATE:
We'll just got back, all the channels still come in strong. My antenna lost another element, but still functioning great.
I was getting 51.1, but breaking up pretty bad. Also I can get 55.1 ION when I point the antenna North with 50% SS, no breakups.

Over one year later since the switch to digital TV over the air .... was it a success?

http://www.retrevo.com/content/blog/2010/06/dtv-transition-one-year-later

http://arstechnica.com/telecom/news/2010/06/a-year-of-digital-tv-who-won-the-transition.ars

Over one year later since the switch to digital TV over the air .... was it a success?

http://www.retrevo.com/content/blog/2010/06/dtv-transition-one-year-later

http://arstechnica.com/telecom/news/2010/06/a-year-of-digital-tv-who-won-the-transition.ars

Here on the edge of the digital cliff, I feel schizophrenic even trying to judge. I see a huge improvement in quality, but a disastrous plunge in reliability. Raw channel count has made a huge leap (from 10 to 25+), but variety has plummeted. I now get 7 PBS channels, 4 weather channels, 5 religion channels, 3 Spanish channels, 2 ABC's, 2 CW's, 2 ThisTV's, a Korean Channel and an infomercial channel.

The above wouldn't be so bad, but I completely lost NBC, Fox, and MY, while CBS, and one each of the ABC's and CW's are pretty unreliable.

Overall, it probably has been an improvement, since my pre-transition reception was pretty bad, but an agonizingly painful one at that.

The hit or miss of digital OTA tends to drive those like us in the fringe off their rockers. Our 30 year old rooftop antennas for analog just didn't cut it for digital. They have been retired. There also hasn't be a resurgence of new rooftop antennas in our neighborhood though. Most had cable or satellite (still see the dishes) and continued to keep what they have. There is also not exactly a lot of professional antenna installers in the Poughkeepsie area (maybe an occasional satellite dealer who will do terrestrial TV antenna installatons?). Here's a throwback to the old days - in Silicon Valley of all places!

http://www.siliconvalley.com/opinion/ci_15368990

Wonder if he would move his biz to the Hudson Valley? :-)

I can't say I blame any business owners for completely neglecting the OTA market here in Poughkeepsie. Other than myself, I don't know anyone who would even consider installing an antenna. Most people around here consider PayTV (Cable, satellite, or fios) as the only option. The few people that don't have it, either go without or rely on the internet and Netflix.

I will admit I am one of those that did not jump off the cliff when OTA DTV became available....I still have DirecTV in standard definition, only because I've had it so long, many channels have become a mainstay in this household. But a 50/50 watching schedule between Sat and OTA has also occurred, this only because of the High Def I get on OTA. Now that I consider myself successful stablizing all channels on OTA that are available to me, I would consider the transition a success. I still have one local LP station that is still in analog, an occational stop on that channel reminds me where we were and where we are.

As far as home OTA reception, I'd say the DTV transition has been a success. With the myriad of channels I receive from Utica/Albany/Syracuse, one can't deny the crystal clarity of Digital. Ghosting and snow is gone and I find the new weather sub-channels with their almost constant radar very useful.

Where I find it not as much a success is with my camper's TV which would equate to anybody living out in deep fringe areas. Through the Adirondacks for example, reception was marginal in analog, now with digital, what were snowy signals (but watchable for the news for example) are now non-existent.

Also Any interference (particularly on VHF rf channels such as from a passing car) with analog was tolerable as the signal would still be visible and audible, with digital you lose both audio and video for those moments.

Wonder if he would move his biz to the Hudson Valley? :-)

Is Bruce Radio still in Business? Bruce Yates sounds alot like Dick Boughman.

I remember Bruce's Television. I've seen references online to that establishment in Pleasant Valley and Amenia in Dutchess County, but I'm not sure if he is still in business. There were so many TV repair shops 25-30 years ago, but now they have faded away.

Yes, TV and radio repair have gone to the wayside, these days with the K-car style TV's, if it dumps, go buy a new one for not much money....
There used to be a TV/radio repair shop on Main St, the street heading into downtown Glens Falls from Northway exit 18 (I had him repair my parents 1949 wooden floor radio before I was a Ham)....the weeds are tall, and the sign is faded....I'm not even sure if Fix-It-Base on South St is still in business, that place was around forever...it's the 21st century, I guess....

Some of these Mom & Pop TV and appliance stores survived by going into satellite TV. Some also do custom work with home theaters. Sink or swim I guess. I heard Bruce TV does that kind of work now, so I am hopeful they've adapted and didn't go out of business.

"Over one year later since the switch to digital TV over the air .... was it a success?"

Like many on these forums, I guess my answer is...probably :) I enjoy it, although at times it has been frustrating.

Certainly an extra lineup of channels is nice, and when the signal is good so is the picture. The old chore of manipulating the rabbit ears for certain analog channels however was replaced with a more difficult challenge of orienting a rooftop antenna(s). Plus I do think there is some technical competency required for OTA DTV. Not tooting our own horns here but most of us early adopters are hams, engineers, technical hobby types who are patient enough to tinker and understand RF a bit more than the average consumer. Unless a consumer is in really good proximity to a transmitter, they might indeed become frustrated.

I've never had cable/satellite so in my case the DTV OTA was an improvement.

I don't doubt that many of you are hams. I see your ham call signs in your forum user names, postings, etc. Kind of the same thing with computers - you have your early adopters and tinkerers who build their own PC and experiment with things like Linux. But most PC users aren't like that. They have no patience. Most consumers hook to cable because they don't have the patience for fiddling with antennas. I have to admit - I am one of those who gave up on OTA reception and got cable TV service after going from snowy analog reception to no digital reception. Sorry to say, my roof climbing days are over.

Trust me, I don't like heights! So my roof climbing is limited too. I combined a ham antenna project with my DTV endeavor a few years ago. My recent addition of the folded dipole for VHF-WRGB CH6 went in the attic - lucky for me it worked :)

I can say with confidence that all the contributors to this forum are tinker types to a certain degree. I found this place extremely helpful when I got started in 2005. Excellent group of interested tech types of all stripes. More broadcast engineers should browse forums like this to reap all the free field data that is available.

Yup, the best advice always came from the tinkerers on this forum. I still like to tinker but I now prefer to stay on the ground. When I was a teenager I had no fear walking around on the roof helping my Dad replace the TV antenna with a bigger and better one. I had much better balance back then. Now I take to heights like a cat takes to water.

By the way, it was 30 years ago when I first read: "Beginner's Guide to Ham Radio" by Len Buckwalter. I was a kid with CB radio back then who was curious about Amateur Radio. I don't have the CB radio anymore, but I still have that book somewhere.

The analog shutdown caused me to loose channels. I didn't watch them much, but with analog I could receive;

WCAX 3 or WFSB 3 depending on the aim of the antenna
WTVH 8
WVIT 30
NBC on Mt. Ascutny, VT
WUNI 28 in Worcester, MA
WTXX 20 Waterbury, CT

I get none of them on DTV.

It's also much harder to pick up WKTV in Utica on 29 than it was on 2.

I hate to bust up your OTA love fest here but I see some Pough. locals posting and was wondering if anybody happens to know of an Authorized DirecTV installer who might do what DirecTV is calling custom work.

I believe I only require work done on the ground floor but if that can't be done, custom work will be required to replace the dish located on top of a tower approx. 30' in height.

The guy DirecTV sent just looked at the dish and decieded whatever I needed to be done couldn't be done, because if I needed a new dish, he wasn't going to be the guy to put it up there.
Anyway, since what you folks use for reception is usually above ground, I thought this might be a decent place to look for help.

Thanks

I hate to bust up your OTA love fest here but I see some Pough. locals posting and was wondering if anybody happens to know of an Authorized DirecTV installer who might do what DirecTV is calling custom work.

I believe I only require work done on the ground floor but if that can't be done, custom work will be required to replace the dish located on top of a tower approx. 30' in height.

The guy DirecTV sent just looked at the dish and decieded whatever I needed to be done couldn't be done, because if I needed a new dish, he wasn't going to be the guy to put it up there.
Anyway, since what you folks use for reception is usually above ground, I thought this might be a decent place to look for help.

Thanks

I'm afraid I don't know any installers in Poughkeepsie. Arace Electronics (http://www.araceelectronics.com/home.html) in Kingston seems to have a bucket truck and could probably do the work if you can convince them to come out so far without charging an arm and a leg.

I bought a Tripod antenna mount and a grounding plate there a year or so ago. The clerk told me they used to do a lot of antenna installations, but that business had kind of died out in recent years. Now they seem to be mostly focused on Repairs and Electrical (electrician) work.

I'm afraid I don't know any installers in Poughkeepsie.

Ok, well thanks but I really need some Authorized guy with a bucket.

I had Hughs Sat. in Red Oaks Mill do the inital tower install some years ago and it was no problem for them to plop a dish down on top of the thing.
I can't use them this go around cause their not "Authorized" DirecTV people.
Well I can use them if I want to pay for the entire job but I thought it might be nice if DirecTV paid a portion of the tab this time around :)

Thanks anyway

I don't know of any authorized DirectTV installers in Poughkeepsie, but doing a search on Google turns up some far away.

Waterbury, CT: (203) 437-4998‎
Yonkers, NY: (914) 595-2179‎

Trying to track down the guy Tower Guy mentioned in a previous post, I think you might want to give Bruce Yates a call. Maybe he's an authorized DirectTV installer? Bruce Television, 1015 Freedom Rd, Pleasant Valley, NY 12569. (845) 635-3835

Another place you can try.

A Direct Dish Satellite TV
(845) 485-3046
237 North Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY

I think they are a DirecTV vendor but not sure if they are a authorized DirecTV installer.

WTXX 20 Waterbury, CT

I get none of them on DTV.


WTXX analog was always hit or miss in Poughkeepsie. Someone a mile away from me could pick it up on a old Radio Shack indoor twin bowtie UHF antenna, while our UHF rooftop Yagi antenna got nothing.

I heard Waterbury's WTXX-DT now comes from Rattlesnake Mountain in Farmington. The terrain of the Litchfield Hills also makes any signal from Connecticut difficult. I have a friend in Torrington, CT who can't pick up anything, and he's less than 20 miles away from the Rattlesnake tower.

WTXX analog was always hit or miss in Poughkeepsie. Someone a mile away from me could pick it up on a old Radio Shack indoor twin bowtie UHF antenna, while our UHF rooftop Yagi antenna got nothing.

I heard Waterbury's WTXX-DT now comes from Rattlesnake Mountain in Farmington. The terrain of the Litchfield Hills also makes any signal from Connecticut difficult. I have a friend in Torrington, CT who can't pick up anything, and he's less than 20 miles away from the Rattlesnake tower.

Yep. WTXX is on sister station, WTIC's tower on Rattlesnake. The 1200 foot WTXX tower on Peach Orchard Road is basically vacant.

Does anyone here know what is on the digital channel 30 from Ellenville?
(W30AZ). Wikipedia wasn't much help, but it's on the air from Sam's Point (where the 99.3 FM is located)

Originally Posted by NervousCat View Post 4468 WTXX analog was always hit or miss in Poughkeepsie. Someone a mile away from me could pick it up on a old Radio Shack indoor twin bowtie UHF antenna, while our UHF rooftop Yagi antenna got nothing.

I pickup txx from queens, ny mostly at night i use xg91 uhf yagi

Does anyone here know what is on the digital channel 30 from Ellenville?
(W30AZ). Wikipedia wasn't much help, but it's on the air from Sam's Point (where the 99.3 FM is located)Are you sure they're transmitting in digital? I checked the SiliconDust Lineup Server for Ellenville, NY (http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/lineup_web/US:12428#lineup_2503058) and whoever has an HDHomeRun there isn't getting it.

Does anyone here know what is on the digital channel 30 from Ellenville?
(W30AZ). Wikipedia wasn't much help, but it's on the air from Sam's Point (where the 99.3 FM is located)

TV Fool listed W30AZ as 22 miles west of Poughkeepsie, but I've never been able to pick up Channel 30 with either analog or digital OTA tuners when the UHF rooftop antenna was aimed west towards Ellenville or Liberty NY. They must be putting out a really low power signal. Try asking your question to the NYC OTA forum - maybe one of the forum members in Orange or Sullivan Counties might have actually picked up their signal.

ebo:

SiliconDust has some quirks to it that you pick up if you use it long enough. For instance, if the PSIP is invalid, sometimes it will show it at the bottom of the list without a virtual channel, but sometimes it will just fail too show anything at all. A good example of this is to look at the Dallas listings, where KODF-LD is clearly received due to the presence of 26-3, but 26-2 and 26-1 do not display due to a PSIP issue.

In addition, while they have listings for every zip code, that doesn't necessarily mean that listing is for that zip code. They often find the nearest zip codes and extrapolate from that what should be available. I could be wrong about that, but that's the impression I have.

- Trip

Trip:
Yes, I've seen oddities with the SD Lineup Server which, after all, depends on information sent to it by HDHomeRun tuners when they do a scan for channels. You can sort the listings by actual channel, so if it shows up at all it should be easy to spot.

Using Google Earth with the FCC TV station overlay, it appears that Ellenville (12428, 3 mi.) is the closest town of reasonable size; entering its zip in the SD server probably gives accurate results for Ellenville. Cragmoor (12420) is under 2 mi. and on a hill so it should have great reception, but entering that zip returns listings for Wawarsing at the same zip (but really 12489). Apparently Wawarsing is so small that Google Earth doesn't consider it worthy of mention.

I doubt I'll get down to Ellenville any time soon but if I do I'll pack my laptop and USB tuner and see what I can get. Judging from the OTA stations they do receive, I'm glad I don't live there.

NervousCat:
Yes, they're very low power; under 1 KW I think I read in my research. ERP could be as high as 15 KW.

W1KNE:
W30AZ is owned by John Mester Income Family Trust, which also owns W30AJ in Syracuse, which is a Home Shopping Network affiliate. Guilt by association, but if I had to guess, . . .

TV Fool listed W30AZ as 22 miles west of Poughkeepsie, but I've never been able to pick up Channel 30 with either analog or digital OTA tuners when the UHF rooftop antenna was aimed west towards Ellenville or Liberty NY. They must be putting out a really low power signal. Try asking your question to the NYC OTA forum - maybe one of the forum members in Orange or Sullivan Counties might have actually picked up their signal.

Don't necessarily believe everything you see on your TVFool report...If you look at my report, at the top of the list, you'll see rf channels 39, 45 and 31. Although these transmitters have been granted authorization to transmit by the FCC, 39 and 45 aren't even on the mountain yet, and 31 is LP, not in digital yet, and the analog station appears to be off the air...so what you see isn't always what you get.

EDIT:
Oops, looks like WRGB had there RF 39 removed from the list, 45 and 31 are still there....Ran a new report, it's still there, but still not on the mountain...

Are you sure they're transmitting in digital? I checked the SiliconDust Lineup Server for Ellenville, NY (http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/lineup_web/US:12428#lineup_2503058) and whoever has an HDHomeRun there isn't getting it.

Hmm, well I stood in front of the digital transmitter with the ATSC exciter and the RF power meter showing 100% (http://www.necrat.us/w30az.html), so I am quite positive they are digital.

I figured it was shop at home or some other "sat-trans" type setup.

For those of you that might be a weather nut like me, you'll be pleased to know that WNYT is showing radar from, what it appears, the Heilderbergs instead of radar from Bald Mountain, which was horrible...it is now (at least it was last evening) the same radar they show during a news broadcast, but now also on 13.3, 24/7...it shows a 3 hour loop (when the actual weather broadcast isn't happening), each pass ending at the current time, so you can see where a storm came from and where it's headed...it is a far better improvement for the OTA gang....I hope they don't change back to the old radar....this is great now...

Did WNYT relocate their radar or is it down and they are piggybacking off the NWS (like WTEN) radar for now?

Can anyone tell me what the QAM channel/Virtual Channel numbers are for local HD content on Time Warner Cable in the Watervliet area? They used to be on 17.X, but I'm told they aren't there anymore. I'm trying to help someone regain their HD stations from a remote location. They don't have or want a set top box, preferring instead to use the TV's tuner.

Thanks.

Did WNYT relocate their radar or is it down and they are piggybacking off the NWS (like WTEN) radar for now?

Well, I am just quessing, but the radar now on 13.3 is definately the same radar screen they use during a broadcast weather section during the evening news....when the radar sweep needle is up, the needle on the screen originates from the antenna farm area in the Helderbergs, the old 13.3 radar originated from the Bald Mountain area, where the old 13 was located and 18.1 is today. I would guess a piggyback of NWS radar is what's on 13.3, but again, it's just a guess....maybe someone from WNYT will jump in here and explain it....

Well, I am just quessing, but the radar now on 13.3 is definately the same radar screen they use during a broadcast weather section during the evening news....when the radar sweep needle is up, the needle on the screen originates from the antenna farm area in the Helderbergs, the old 13.3 radar originated from the Bald Mountain area, where the old 13 was located and 18.1 is today. I would guess a piggyback of NWS radar is what's on 13.3, but again, it's just a guess....maybe someone from WNYT will jump in here and explain it....

WNYT's radar is on Bald Mountain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Baldmountaintroy.jpg). The problem is, as you can see those transmitters are right next to the radar. Those sectors are completely blocked from the radar's view. This means a wedge of MA and VT aren't covered by the WNYT radar sweep. Also, the radar is much less powerful than the National Weather Service's.

The NWS Radar is in East Berne, NY and this is the radar WNYT and even WRGB use the most. When you see the sweep, take a look at where its coming from, and whether the colors change along with the sweep. A true live sweep will rescan everything so nothing should stay the same on the radar screen, there should be slight movement of what is shown.

Every station uses software to show a sweep on the NWS radar now though, which only updates every 5-6 minutes at most. When a new radar image comes into the station from the NWS, the sweep will update the picture the viewer sees but this is not a true live image.

If it seems confusing, that's because it is. They probably do that on purpose.

Can anyone tell me what the QAM channel/Virtual Channel numbers are for local HD content on Time Warner Cable in the Watervliet area? They used to be on 17.X, but I'm told they aren't there anymore. I'm trying to help someone regain their HD stations from a remote location. They don't have or want a set top box, preferring instead to use the TV's tuner.

Thanks.

As far as I know they are generally in the 18.xx where xx is the channel number. So Channel 13 is 18.13, Channel 6 is 18.06 and so on. Only exceptions are some sub-channels of Fox i believe that are something like 5.26.

Can anyone tell me what the QAM channel/Virtual Channel numbers are for local HD content on Time Warner Cable in the Watervliet area? They used to be on 17.X, but I'm told they aren't there anymore. I'm trying to help someone regain their HD stations from a remote location. They don't have or want a set top box, preferring instead to use the TV's tuner.

Thanks.Can't you just rescan and see what you get? According to the SiliconDust Lineup Server, the locals are primarily on RF channels 102 and 104 with some on 74, 95, 98 and 121.

Can't you just rescan and see what you get? According to the SiliconDust Lineup Server, the locals are primarily on RF channels 102 and 104 with some on 74, 95, 98 and 121.
Actually, we did a scan, but there are still challenges walking seniors through the process. Having the numbers will save some time.

As far as I know they are generally in the 18.xx where xx is the channel number. So Channel 13 is 18.13, Channel 6 is 18.06 and so on. Only exceptions are some sub-channels of Fox i believe that are something like 5.26.
Thanks gfbaseball22. I'll give these a try.

WNYT's radar is on Bald Mountain ....

Right, but the original point made by the other poster is it appears WNYT has MOVED that radar off of Bald Mountain and onto the Heldebergs near their DTV site.

I don't see an application in the FCC database listed to relocate their Doppler transmitter however. The licensed location stands at the current site.

Right, but the original point made by the other poster is it appears WNYT has MOVED that radar off of Bald Mountain and onto the Heldebergs near their DTV site.

I don't see an application in the FCC database listed to relocate their Doppler transmitter however. The licensed location stands at the current site.

I don't think anything was moved, 13.3 is now using the NWS radar it appears, same as used on the news broadcast. Previous to Tuesday, it was the Bald Mt. radar on 13.3, that had the "wedge" gap in the radar...
And, yes, unfortunately, with the new radar in sweep needle mode, it is not real time radar, it appears to update every 10 minutes or so....but, when they bring up the 3 hour loop, the precipitation will change on every 3 hour pass...this, I hope, will eventually be the final radar on 13.3, the 3 hour loop.

Just an FYI, WNCE, rf 31.1, came on line yesterday...the GM says the official on air date will be 7-19-10, as testing and adjusting continue, but audio and video was on air yesterday. FCC records show power at 15 kw, so some of you may be able to receive it...I'm 9.1 miles away, I see an 88% SS...
Just an FYI....

KB2FZQ - I like the new radar from WNYT. The green blob that was a permanent fixture on the old radar just to the west of Great Sacandaga is gone too.

de KQ2N

KB2FZQ - I like the new radar from WNYT. The green blob that was a permanent fixture on the old radar just to the west of Great Sacandaga is gone too.

de KQ2N

Well, here's the issue REALLY bugging me with the "New" radar....
If you watch the new 13.3 radar during news times, what's on 13.3 is a mirror of what is used on the weather report section in the studio....they move the map around, the result is I loose any radar in my area...yesterday afternoon, Mr. Drawbridge must have been bored, as he messed with the radar all afternoon, the result showing up on 13.3...very frustrating if you're trying to see if a thunderstorm is approaching...the old radar was hardlined to 13.3, rarely any interference from the studio, occationally, you'd see a cursor move across the screen, mostly just radar. Granted, the new radar is better, but they have to put the radar link for 13.3 on a separate computer, put it up and leave it alone...and they need to make it real time, as now, it only updates the precip on the screen every 5 minutes, unless they put up the 3 hour loop, which updates each time the loop ends...it may be better, but it's got more bugs on it then my dog....Bill is not happy...

I prefered the old radar only because you could see up north.
Currently there is a channel 13 banner covering the top part of the screen.
It should be live, no doubt.

Just an FYI, WNCE, rf 31.1, came on line yesterday...the GM says the official on air date will be 7-19-10, as testing and adjusting continue, but audio and video was on air yesterday. FCC records show power at 15 kw, so some of you may be able to receive it...I'm 9.1 miles away, I see an 88% SS...
Just an FYI....

Thanks, I get this over in VT But what ta heck is it? I see two streams playing content and two test patterns, all in sd. a google search wasn't much help
thanks again for the info

Thanks, I get this over in VT But what ta heck is it? I see two streams playing content and two test patterns, all in sd. a google search wasn't much help
thanks again for the info

It's just a small, local, independent TV station here in Glens Falls that just got their digital transmitter on line....they're still testing.
The plan is local programming on 8.1 and 8.2, and future plans on 8.3 and 8.4, those with test patterns...I think it's a "kid in a candy shop" type of thing, they had that one analog channel on air for so long, now there's 4...I'd say they're trying to do the very best they can with the new technology...keep an eye on them, I think things will get much better as they go...

Has anyone gotten the new Samsung H3260/3270 boxes from the counter in Albany?

I'm on the old SA8300 HDC and was wondering if the new boxes are any better, offer any additional DVR space. Not sure if the Samsung mentioned above is a DVR but are there new DVR boxes newer then the piece of crap I have? That box after Navigator upgrade has been terribly slow (techs have been out) and I constantly run out of DVR space in the fall and winter.

Was wondering if new boxes are better/more storage.

Thanks

I have a SONY HDTV w/ QAM digital tuner. I was able to watch TW HD channels (18.08 for instance) without the use of a cable box... one of the reasons I purchased the SONY. Now I seem to have lost all those digital channels. Did TW do away with them?

Thanks

I have a SONY HDTV w/ QAM digital tuner. I was able to watch TW HD channels (18.08 for instance) without the use of a cable box... one of the reasons I purchased the SONY. Now I seem to have lost all those digital channels. Did TW do away with them?

ThanksNo, but they have been moved to different physical channel numbers. Just re-scan. In addition they have also been renamed. Rather than being named for the equivalent STB numbers (e.g. 18-8) they are now named and sort following the associated analog channel (WXXA-HD for example is now 8-1, WRGB-HD is now 6-1 instead of 18-6, etc.)

I suppose you could make the case that it is more intuitive for those that never had a digital cable box to have the digital local channels adjacent to the analog versions.

No, but they have been moved to different physical channel numbers. Just re-scan. In addition they have also been renamed. Rather than being named for the equivalent STB numbers (e.g. 18-8) they are now named and sort following the associated analog channel (WXXA-HD for example is now 8-1, WRGB-HD is now 6-1 instead of 18-6, etc.)

I suppose you could make the case that it is more intuitive for those that never had a digital cable box to have the digital local channels adjacent to the analog versions.

I rescanned our HDTV several days ago afterTWC moved the 18.xx QAM channels to 6.1 etc.. When I do a rescan of my 950Q tuner in my PC, I can't get WRGB or WNYT. I've sent a problem report to hauppauge and am waiting a reply but I haven't bothered to contact TWC because their reply is usually that they don't support QAM.

In the meantime, does anyone have a suggestion where the problem might be? I've tried different software (WinTV 7 and BeyondTV) with the same results. I was able to get all the local HD QAM channels when they were at 18.xx.

Wayne

KB2FZQ - I like the new radar from WNYT. The green blob that was a permanent fixture on the old radar just to the west of Great Sacandaga is gone too.

de KQ2N

The old radar is back on 13.3, thank goodness...I suspect that the reason they changed to the NWS feed in the first place was to repair the revolving motor for the radar antenna....it used to spin around wildly, then stop, then spin...it's very stable now...and it's real time again...LIVE, LIVE, LIVE!!
Yes, that gap to the east is still there, but the rest of the area coverage is good...I'm glad it's back....

Cool!

Cool!

Looks like the sweep needle is gone on the radar....haven't had any rain so it's hard to tell if the radar is even working...it's been a couple days....we'll see...Earle is coming....

The needle was back on 9-3-10...hope it lasts.....