The cable companies aren't keeping analog services. Some carriers have already converted to completely digital and they provide basically a small cable box 'adapter' for those who only have basic cable. The end result is basically the same, but it's not as simple as just plugging the cable in.

Some cable companies are converting to digital-only, others aren't. Six months or a year ago, Time Warner Maine put out literature saying that they were not planning on going digital-only for the "fore-seeable future". I know that some other companies, and some other Time Warner divisions, have already made the change.

This article, a year & a half old, discusses the topic: http://saveaccess.org/node/2171

I don't remember where I saw the statement from Time Warner saying they were going to continue to provide analog service -- in a local news article, or on their website. They could always change their minds.

Joe

The cable companies have said a lot of things. I view it more like the writing on the wall. Using spectrum for analog is inefficient when they can force boxes on you and use the spectrum for other things.

At the very least I think analog service is going to be reduced (literally) to locals. When I had limited basic last time around I had CNN and CourtTV (and maybe a few others) as well as shopping channels.

I have limited basic right now. I get the TV Guide channel (Whoopee!), Ion (half time), GAC, two CSPAN channels, three or four shopping channels,a bunch of public access channels, and the "locals" (including two French stations out of Canada). This also gets me the available locals (no MyPortland/MyNetworkTV) in HD in clear QAM. No "real" cable network stations. I get one of the local sports networks with cut off -- black & white with lots of snow. They just put a low-pass filter into the line, and it cuts off everything above channel 2x, where 'x' is 1, 2, or 3.

I asked Skippy over on the Portland thread if he has any insight into this topic.

Joe

Hey,

My name is Chris and I am new to the Blue Hill area. I moved here from Rhode Island and I have to say I feel like I stepped back into the past two years with the TWC offerings. The internet is half the speed for the same price and the HD offerings are very limited. Where is CBS HD? I didn't read through this thread (sorry) but I am not familiar with the call letters up here and I still busy moving in. Also, where did the HD net/movie channel go? I used to frequent the RI page here on AVS forum so I'll be sure to keep checking back.

Thanks,

Chris

CBS Bangor is WABI-DT. Analog was channel 5.

Does anyone happen to know if WFVX is going to flash cut to digital on the 12th? From what I see FCC still hasn't granted their application from last April but I'm really not sure how this process works.

Antennaweb.org for my address shows WFVX at 22.1, presumably this is where they are to be post-transition? Anyone care to comment? I guess we'll know pretty soon either way, won't we?

Yep as far as I know they intend to convert to digital on their 22 UHF channel. Unfortunately I just don't know when. Conceivably they have all of their office hardware in since they're doing HD into the cable plant.

Steve just emailed me and said that WABI's deal with TWC is done and will be official soon.

Steve just emailed me and said that WABI's deal with TWC is done and will be official soon.

This might be obvious but was this deal to bring WABI HD to Bangor/Blue hill area?

Does TW have any info out there on other upcoming HD channels?

Thanks,

Chris

For a long time, I have thought that WABI would agree to have their digital signal carried by TWC when they were forced to terminate their analog signal. It seems that is the way it worked, unless WABI was entirely missing from TWC after June 12th. I didn't notice because I haven't watched WABI since TWC has not been able to carry their digital (hd) signal.

I'm guessing that TWC has been carrying their digital signal since the 12th and converting it to analog. Of course, they could have a private wire of an analog signal, but the general cable strategy has been to convert digital signals to analog for use by cable users without converters.

WABI is now in HD on TWC at channel 705

-Chris

Does anyone know if this is being rolled out in phases? As of last evening, still no WABI-HD at 705. Thanks.

FYI .... fixed the problem ... had to have TWC Technical Support send a signal to the box (weird) after attempting, unsuccesfully, to reset it manually. Now it's all good .... bring on the Patriots!!!

Kudos to WABI and TW for finally coming to an agreement on terms.

However, there's no excuse for leaving customers in the lurch for so long, and both parties have blame to share.

Kudos to WABI and TW for finally coming to an agreement on terms.

However, there's no excuse for leaving customers in the lurch for so long, and both parties have blame to share.

In the end, no station wants to be left off cable carriage. It was no accident that WABI digital appeared on TWC on or about June 12th. We do have to remember, however, that both parties were working for fiscal advantage. That is the American way.

In the end, no station wants to be left off cable carriage. It was no accident that WABI digital appeared on TWC on or about June 12th. We do have to remember, however, that both parties were working for fiscal advantage. That is the American way.

Very true. TW can't afford to cave to individual stations' demands, lest it set a precedent for future negotiations, and WABI will seek maximum fiscal advantage given its current financial situation. Also, there's that bit about the lawsuit. :)

Just glad to finally have the programming in HD.

Does anyone have any advanced knowledge of future HD channels coming to TWC? Or even decent estimates based on other markets?

We can only hope for more excellent programming such as LifetimeHD and RFD HD.

from the take it for whats its worth comment, TWC corporate sales rep told me that the Bangor market will have SDV by end of summer.

from the take it for whats its worth comment, TWC corporate sales rep told me that the Bangor market will have SDV by end of summer.

If that's true, it'd be great!

Maybe they can reduce the horribly heavy compression they're using on some channels. I had to stop watching a movie once because the artifacts were unbearable.

from the take it for whats its worth comment, TWC corporate sales rep told me that the Bangor market will have SDV by end of summer.

you do realise that SDV wont work with the current version of i-guide. so they must be using SA or samsung boxes that have navigator on them if their going to launch SDV by the end of summer.

you do realise that SDV wont work with the current version of i-guide. so they must be using SA or samsung boxes that have navigator on them if their going to launch SDV by the end of summer.

They might do a box switch out like they did in southern Maine in the beginning of this year.

Since the digital transition I no longer get 2-2 on my two D* HR21-100. Signal strength is in the 90s. I get all other subs the CW 5-2 and Fox 7-2. I've done many rescans. I do get it on my computer card tuner. Anyone with the same issue?

Do you get 2-1 and 2-3? NBC may have discontinued their Weather Plus service. I understood that would happen at some point after NBCUniversal acquired the Weather Channel. I haven't bothered to check with my antenna since I started getting my locals thru D*; it may be that the service is not there anymore, but they are keeping 2-2 as a placeholder for some other offering in the future.

I only get 2-1 on the D*tv receivers. On my computer tuner card I get 2-2. So 2-2 is being broadcasting.

WLBZ has activated DTV on RF 2 and will shut down RF 25 later this week (possibly by tomorrow or earlier).

http://www.wlbz2.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=108801&catid=3

Channel 2 at only 3kW... vs. 25 at 575kW. Despite what the contour maps say, LOS areas are likely to see a degradation, especially if any indoor antennas are being used.

TWC just added a bunch of new HD channels this morning.

They added the same channels that Augusta got last week. No idea if they are SDV or not, channels come up very quickly.

Also looks like the Augusta area got another batch of HD channels last night.

with the additions last night we're around 66 hd channels, that includes premium.

How are you guys with all of those HD channels, now? I enjoyed going through all of the new ones, but there are only a few that I will spend any time with. Still, it's nice to have more choices.

Is it safe to say that Bangor TWC has all of the broadcast networks and most of the others? ........... Still waiting for something else?

If they added Comedy Central HD, I'd be pretty much completely satisfied...

In August 08, I switched from TWC to Directv, mainly because of the WABI - TWC drama and the fact that TWC was lacking greatly in the HD area. Now that TWC has added a significant number of HD channels, including some that I don't get with DTV and TWC and WABI are sweet on each other again I am considering switching back to TWC. Can any of you advise to as the the picture quality of the new HD offerings on TWC? Do the still use the motorola hd dvr set top box? I have determine a switch back to TWC could save me a small amount of $$$ per month, deminishes weather related outages and opens up many more hd premium channels.

Thoughts?

In August 08, I switched from TWC to Directv, mainly because of the WABI - TWC drama and the fact that TWC was lacking greatly in the HD area. Now that TWC has added a significant number of HD channels, including some that I don't get with DTV and TWC and WABI are sweet on each other again I am considering switching back to TWC. Can any of you advise to as the the picture quality of the new HD offerings on TWC? Do the still use the motorola hd dvr set top box? I have determine a switch back to TWC could save me a small amount of $$$ per month, deminishes weather related outages and opens up many more hd premium channels.

Thoughts?

I'm on the Augusta system, but the picture quality is excellent. Lots of premium channels. .......... According to the sage of Bailey Island, I thought weather related outages on Directv were a myth. (I know the sage reads this thread.)

I'm on the Augusta system, but the picture quality is excellent. Lots of premium channels. .......... According to the sage of Bailey Island, I thought weather related outages on Directv were a myth. (I know the sage reads this thread.)

I think sage is something we use at Thanksgiving, isn't it? :p

If the man says he has weather-related outages on D*, who am I to say otherwise.

It is rare where I live but it may relate to signal strength, how well the dish is aimed, location, etc. I think Loudo38 who winters in FL. and otherwise lives in the L-A area and posts on the Portland thread has infrequent outages, too, at both locations

My main beef is that cable advts. would have us believe outages happen whenever it rains while ignoring that cable cos acquire their programs via satellite links.

Dana

My main beef is that cable advts. would have us believe outages happen whenever it rains while ignoring that cable cos acquire their programs via satellite links.

Dana

But the Cable satellite pickup and DirecTV/Dish Network home satellite reception comparison is apples and oranges.

First, Cable does receive signals via satellite, majority of which are on C-Band (3.9 GHz to 4.2 GHz). DirecTV and Dish Network use both KU and sub KU frequencies (11.5GHz to 12.8GHz). The higher the frequency the more susceptible to rain fade. Ask any engineer who works at a NBC station about the advantages of CBand over KU. (NBC has been using KU for years as it's primary uplink to affiliates and has a fixed CBand transponder for "rain fade" backups).

Second, the typical cable head-end satellite receive dish is anywhere from 2.7 meters to 6.0 meters. A standard directTV dish is around 60cm. Just like with a rooftop antenna, in the satellite world, a bigger dish means more gain. More gain = more signal. More signal for rain to have to fade before dropout.

Now DirecTV takes certain steps to alleviate rain fade, by using circular polarity and using higher powered transponders on the actual birds. But the bottom line is, all directv signals are susceptible to rain fade. No matter how good the dish is , how well peaked it is, etc. Due to the simple fact of being KU with a small receive antenna. So with that respect the cable company is HALF right in saying it always fades in the rain. If by rain, you mean downpour.

But the Cable satellite pickup and DirecTV/Dish Network home satellite reception comparison is apples and oranges.

First, Cable does receive signals via satellite, majority of which are on C-Band (3.9 GHz to 4.2 GHz). DirecTV and Dish Network use both KU and sub KU frequencies (11.5GHz to 12.8GHz). The higher the frequency the more susceptible to rain fade. Ask any engineer who works at a NBC station about the advantages of CBand over KU. (NBC has been using KU for years as it's primary uplink to affiliates and has a fixed CBand transponder for "rain fade" backups).

Second, the typical cable head-end satellite receive dish is anywhere from 2.7 meters to 6.0 meters. A standard directTV dish is around 60cm. Just like with a rooftop antenna, in the satellite world, a bigger dish means more gain. More gain = more signal. More signal for rain to have to fade before dropout.

Now DirecTV takes certain steps to alleviate rain fade, by using circular polarity and using higher powered transponders on the actual birds. But the bottom line is, all directv signals are susceptible to rain fade. No matter how good the dish is , how well peaked it is, etc. Due to the simple fact of being KU with a small receive antenna. So with that respect the cable company is HALF right in saying it always fades in the rain. If by rain, you mean downpour.

Thanks, Mike. Yes, my experience is just that. A downpour will interrupt satellite reception. But, we don't have many of them and the ones that do occur don't last long.

Here's something that the cable industry never mentions. Utility power at my location is susceptible to interruption due to weather. We are 15+ miles from the substation. Power is delivered via poles down a peninsular and then via more poles stuck in the mud parallel to a bridge to our island out in Casco Bay. Trees blow down in storms and knock down the wires. During the Patriots Day storm of 2007 we had violent winds and power was out all over the state. Cable has only a short-term battery backup on the poles before it goes out. During that storm, we were without utility power for five days.

I have a whole house backup generator. But, there is no reception from cable during power outages of any duration. With DirecTV I have perfect reception during utility outages.

So, maybe so-called rain fade does affect satellite in occasional downpours. But, in power outages of any duration, local cable fails while satellite doesn't.

Dana

Has anyone heard when WFVX is going to switch to HD over the air? They received their Digital Flash Cut permission in September by the looks of it.

http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1236054

Is Bangor happy and satisfied with all of its Time Warner Cable HD channels?

For the record. WABI-DT was granted their request to move from UHF 19 to VHF 13 for their transmitter signal.

I wish they would stay where they are. I get them rock solid. I lost all signal with Channel 2 when they moved. And yes I have VHF antennae. I get Channel 7 no problem.
Is it true that Channel 2 dropped down to 3kW? If so, who can pick up that signal?

Anybody in the Bangor area able to receive WLBZ channel 2 OTA since they moved and cut power?

Anybody in the Bangor area able to receive WLBZ channel 2 OTA since they moved and cut power?

when did the switch occur?

I finally got cable, but I had received it okay in late December...

Sept 09

if it was Sept, then I was able to receive it ok, actually using a UHF antenna. It had to be rotated correctly, but for me it was easier to receive than Channel 5.

i'm located on Kenduskeag ave in Bangor

Anyone here able to receive WVII over clear QAM via TWC? I get all the other local channels but 7, including WFVX. Time Warner tech doesn't even KNOW what QAM is or what it does. I just sent an email to WVII and I'm awaiting a response.

What brand HD Dvr is TWC Bangor installing these days?

Anyone here able to receive WVII over clear QAM via TWC? I get all the other local channels but 7, including WFVX. Time Warner tech doesn't even KNOW what QAM is or what it does. I just sent an email to WVII and I'm awaiting a response.

I'm sure that you are already aware, that a scan should find WVII HD. For a while it was even on TWC's Augusta system. I have no idea why.

Asking WVII is a good idea because they should know.

I'm sure that you are already aware, that a scan should find WVII HD. For a while it was even on TWC's Augusta system. I have no idea why.

Asking WVII is a good idea because they should know.
Mike Staples from WVII emailed me back yesterday afternoon. They recommend contacting TWC again, since they do supply the feed and get it over their digital cable receivers. Unfortunately, that doesn't really give me any new info, since I am certain people would make a lot of noise if they lost their ABC channel on their digital cable package. Several scans in the last 2 weeks tell me two things: everything other local channel shows up, and apparently I'm the only one using clear QAM to receive OTA HD signals via cable.

One other interesting thing- one channel displays a Linux box command line screen. I suspect that's the WVII transmitter but no one knows it's offline.

Mike Staples from WVII emailed me back yesterday afternoon. They recommend contacting TWC again, since they do supply the feed and get it over their digital cable receivers. Unfortunately, that doesn't really give me any new info, since I am certain people would make a lot of noise if they lost their ABC channel on their digital cable package. Several scans in the last 2 weeks tell me two things: everything other local channel shows up, and apparently I'm the only one using clear QAM to receive OTA HD signals via cable.

One other interesting thing- one channel displays a Linux box command line screen. I suspect that's the WVII transmitter but no one knows it's offline.

It would seem that WVII is not there if you cannot find it with a scan. It will be very hard to change that because cable companies are very difficult to deal with on clear QAM for locals. They act like they don't know what you are talking about and, sadly, perhaps, they don't. They want those damned boxes in the revenue stream.

I thought there was a way on the stb to figure out the qam channel you are currently on but I couldn't find it. I'll run a scan tonight and post if I find wvii or not. You are correct they are not on 72.2 anymore.

I thought there was a way on the stb to figure out the qam channel you are currently on but I couldn't find it. I'll run a scan tonight and post if I find wvii or not. You are correct they are not on 72.2 anymore.

I believe you will have to disconnect your TWC box and operate your tv directly from the cable in order to run a scan to find the QAM channel for our friend. On the other hand, I suspect WVII is not on a QAM channel or he would have found it himself by doing a scan. It would be very nice of you, however, to give it a shot from your direct cable connection.

I have a tv in the kitchen that I use to get the locals in hd via the qam tuner. I just haven't watched Wheel of Fortune in awhile.

Thanks for the help, guys. I gotta work up the nerve to call TWC again, but it would be great to have a "second opinion" in the meantime. :D

wvii is on 99.2

Thanks! I'll have to tune it manually, since both of my tuners won't pick it up. Apparently it's a pretty weak signal on my end.

Thanks! I'll have to tune it manually, since both of my tuners won't pick it up. Apparently it's a pretty weak signal on my end.

The signal shouldn't be all that weak if it is arriving via cable. Let us know how it looks after you punch in the numbers.

Hello all - I have a well running HTPC setup but no cable or digital OTA 'realtime' content yet. I am near the horse race track in Bangor. From the research I have done so far it looks like I need to have a rooftop mounted antenna, although I would rather have it in my loft. I think there is only wood and insulation and no metal. Looking for any opinions...

My son is moving to Orono into an apartment. TWC services the area and sat is not an option. On their site it shows $59.95/mth as their lowest cost option. Fully digital, DVR, etc. Obviously he is not doing this.

Anyone have a current list of what is available via QAM on that system? Isn't there supposed to be a basic cable tier by law?

TIA

They should have classic cable which is channels 2-70.

wvii is on 99.2

Sorry it took so long to get back. I finally got the ATSC QAM tuner running again via the projector. 99.2 is not a valid channel, and scan on all three of the QAM tuners I have won't pick it up. So for now, WVII OTA for me on a separate tuner on my computer. :(

Sorry it took so long to get back. I finally got the ATSC QAM tuner running again via the projector. 99.2 is not a valid channel, and scan on all three of the QAM tuners I have won't pick it up. So for now, WVII OTA for me on a separate tuner on my computer. :(


Still at 99.2 as of last night on my set. Anyone else confirm?

The Patriots play their first 2010 preseason game tonight. According to info here (http://www.patriotsdaily.com/2010/08/patriots-2010-preseason-tv-network/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PatriotsDaily+(Patriots+Daily)) WVII-TV Channel 7 will carry tonight's game and two others on Thursday Aug. 26 @ 7:30 PM vs. the L.A. Rams and Thursday Sep. 2 at the NY Giants @ 7 PM.

Next week's pre-season game is in Atlanta also on Thursday night @ 8 PM on FOX.

The NFL Network will likely carry these games on replay.

Go PATS! :p

Dana

When did 5 start broadcasting local news in HD? I guess I missed it, it's very nice.

Has WABI sitched over to VHF-13 yet?

I'm still getting it on stb programed year/s ago. Do you have a date it was suppose to happen?

PS: I'm also getting PBS and now or whenever, has 12-3, but in SD

Their website says "early Dec 2010". No telling how old that posting actually is.

Hi Bangor! TWC's Augusta system includes both WGME and WABI (CBS). I have noticed that WABI has an excellent HD picture except that it has a strong tendency to pixelate on a busy scene such as during a football game. Some people see thais as blurring, but it occurs when movement is too fast for pixels to provide full resolution.

Do you see this condition over the air or on cable in the Bangor area? I am guessing that you do because WABI uses some of its bandwidth for the signal of the CW network.

We may be losing WGME for awhile due to cable negotiations and will have to rely on WABI during that time.