D* is starting to look better all the time -- you can get the whole thing ( don't know if it's in HD though )

D* can't give you any CBS other than KCOY, so their feed would be the same as what they give Charter. But, they don't have any of our locals in HD yet. It is frusrating being captive to these small market stations. The best thing that could happen is for them to go out of business.

I think D* has a separate NCAA package or something which does have every game in HD.
Also, I don't think the blame for this rests entirely on KCOY--more on CBS itself. From reading other threads, it seems that CBS is not allowing (or strongly discouraging) stations from airing different games on their SD and HD channels. KCOY seems to have decided that they want to air the constant feed, which stays on one game and doesn't jump around (unlike the flex feeds, which jump around). The problem is that the constant feeds are SD-only, because of CBS transponder limitations. KCOY (and a lot of other stations) are sticking with the constant feed, which means SD-only. It's unfortunate, but shows how badly CBS Sports needs more transponders.
At this point, anyone who wants to see a game in HD can either lobby the guys at KCOY to go to the flex feed, or wait until it's down to 16--hopefully everything will be HD by then.

Goes to show what happens in the absence of a free market. In a free market, we could elect any CBS HD affiliate carried by D* -- if we are willing to pay. As it should be. I was a victim of the recent decision involving SHVRA -- I lost my East feeds (DishNetwork) -- which I had had for 9 years! Due to this, I had to purchase an extra box from Comcast because I lost my time-shifting capability. This did not help any of the local advertisers ( I fast-forward through all of them ) -- it only fed the coffers of Comcast. I was being charged $1.50 per distant feed and I considered it a bargain. If SHVRA were modified to ensure a free market, many smaller stations would shut down simply because of the quality they are providing. Legislated monopolies, which we have with networks, only encourage a lack of competition and a lowering of quality. Re what is happening with KEYT-HD. Not to knock KCOY -- their HD feed is of good quality -- however there is room for improvement ( people asleep at the switch shifting after commercials -- I have missed entire segments because of this -- re LesMoss's post several back ), and I would consider switching to a distant feed because of this.

Well, off the soapbox for now. Enjoy the rest of the tourney -- hopefully soon in HD! GO PURDUE!

Bis spaeter,
"Here I am -- the only HD boy in Lompoc"

With time running out in the first half of Long Beach v. Tenn, KCOY is in HD! I imagine that they are doing the compromise solution--turning to the HD flex feed when it shows the Beach game, and going back to the SD constant feed when it turns away. They've been staying with the HD through the halftime "flex", so this bodes well for the next few days.

Has anyone seen an increase in OTA signal straight of ABC (KCET). Last night was the first night I have ever have seen ABC HD on 3-1 on Frequency #27. My HR10-250 uses two tunners, one was locked at 90% and the second 65 to 75%. This is very good for 63 miles away.

Nice work picking up ABC HD in SLO. You are now among the very select few. :cool:

What kind of antenna are you using to pull KCET OTA in SLO????


Nice work picking up ABC HD in SLO. You are now among the very select few. :cool:

What kind of antenna are you using to pull KCET OTA in SLO???? I am presently using a Antennas Direct DB-4 with a Winegard :) 7777 Per-amp. Since my last post of 3-15-07 I now realize it is a little unstable, even after adjusting the antenna 10 degrees to point at the Santa Barbara Tower. I have now ordered a DB-8 and with the help of tech. support at solidsignalcom have been told I should have no problem with picking up the Santa Barbara Tower. If all goes well I will have it installed this week and post my results.

What kind of antenna are you using to pull KCET OTA in SLO????

I think kniles edited his post, but just to clear it up for the record--he mentioned "ABC (KCET)" but, I'm sure, meant KEYT. Picking up KCET (PBS from LA) OTA would be really cool, but I don't think any legal antenna could get you line-of-sight with Mount Wilson in SB or SLO. PBS is the only thing I miss from Cox's QAM lineup, especially since the analog PQ is pretty bad here.

Here's what I've found with Cox Santa Barbara.
83.1 NBC
83.2 CBS
84.2 KKFX
114.1 KABC
50 MSNBC - Physical channel is 108. For some reason it's mapped to overlap with the analog MSNBC. Right now (at 2 AM) this is so highly compressed that I actually prefer the analog transmission.

As for other channels that don't matter so much, 83.3 is a pay-per-view preview channel, and the music channels starting at 115.11 also seem to be unencrypted.

I am new to the area - will be living in Nipomo - we have signed up for DirecTV - just wondering if anyone has knowledge on when the local stations will broadcast in HD (via DirecTV)?

Thanks

Cox SB is down to just 82.2 and 82.3 for HD again. However, they are now (finally!) broadcasting at least some of the basic/extended analog stations in SD digital. So far, it is only 50 (MSNBC) and 107.41 - 107.49 (equivalent to analog 41 through 49). Hopefully, they will soon have the entire lineup on digital and add more of the local HD stations (ABC, FOX, PBS, CW).

Cox SB is down to just 82.2 and 82.3 for HD again. However, they are now (finally!) broadcasting at least some of the basic/extended analog stations in SD digital. So far, it is only 50 (MSNBC) and 107.41 - 107.49 (equivalent to analog 41 through 49). Hopefully, they will soon have the entire lineup on digital and add more of the local HD stations (ABC, FOX, PBS, CW).

What "local" HD stations are even available for Cox SB to add?

PBS, CW?

They already have ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX in HD, although not "local" as they get some of those from L.A.

What "local" HD stations are even available for Cox SB to add?
PBS, CW?
They already have ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX in HD, although not "local" as they get some of those from L.A.
Currently, only NBC (83.2) and CBS (83.3) are available, though I occasionally see Fox show up on 84.something. Note, I am talking about unencrypted QAM, as I am just using an HDTV and HTPC, but all locals should be unencrypted.

Given that KEYT (ABC) is local and now broadcasting in HD, Cox should be carrying them (they don't need to use the non-local-and-therefore-encrypted KABC from LA anymore). KKFX (Fox) broadcasts locally, but it is unclear why Cox only carries them sporadically. We also have two PBS stations (KOCE and KCET) that broadcast locally, though they aren't HD yet (actually the stations are, but not on the local transmitter). I am not sure if the CW broadcasts locally (I think they do in SLO?).

Is KABC encrypted for you? I'm getting it unencrypted right now on 114.1 using the tuner in my TV.

I am new to the area - will be living in Nipomo - we have signed up for DirecTV - just wondering if anyone has knowledge on when the local stations will broadcast in HD (via DirecTV)?

Thanks
The post #2 at the end of this link does not exactly answer your question, but it is on point.
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=83215

I am new to the area - will be living in Nipomo - we have signed up for DirecTV - just wondering if anyone has knowledge on when the local stations will broadcast in HD (via DirecTV)?

Thanks
I have had DirecTV for the last six months and from what I have read, don't expect local stations will broadcast in HD out of the Santa Barbara feed until the new year. DirecTV has alot of work to do before this happens on our area. Wavers can be put in to receive a L.A. feed but had been denied to me twice.See some of my other posts about OTA.

ABC HD can come true in San Luis Obispo, but it’s not perfect. This week I installed a new DB-8. The first thing I noticed it was twice as large and heavy as my DB-4 and needed to be wire braced, because of the winds. After aiming at Santa Barbara tower 63 miles away and fine tunings the new antenna, these were the results. 98% of the time I have been receiving a 65 to 70 % signal strength reading and great HD picture on ABC. The extra 2% are subject to line of sight, weather, trees, mountains and airplanes. Given the right weather conditions it would problem work 99.5% of the time, but living buy the airport there is always a plane or two. Line of site was never a problem, just lucky there were no hills or big trees in the way.

The three towers were at different degrees, on antennaweb .
NBC 0 degrees at 7 miles
CBS 119 degrees at 34 miles
ABC 128 degrees at 63 miles

Both antennas used a Channel Master 7777 Per-Amp. It surprised me that they acted very different as far as signal strength and reliability, not to have dropouts.

DB-4 Mid Multi-Directional
NBC 88% Very Good
CBS 90% Very Good
ABC 60-70 (60% Drop outs)

DB-8 Large Multi-Directional
NBC 65-70% Good
CBS 95% Very Very Good
ABC 60-70% (2% Drop outs)

The DB-8 increased CBS, it is in the same direction as ABC. It had a reverse affect on NBC because it is looking for signals 40 to 60 miles away, not 7 miles to the back of the antenna. The DB-4 worked very will from the backside for NBC.

The bottom line is ABC HD needs to be watched with out drop outs. So I called Antenna Support at SoildSignal and was told this could be as good as it gets, unless ABC increases its signal strenght. I’m not going to give up on this because when it is working good even the SD is 100% better than Charter or DirecTv. This is a very difficult area to get even 3 out for 4 main affiliates on OTA, and FOX is not even in the running.

Is KABC encrypted for you? I'm getting it unencrypted right now on 114.1 using the tuner in my TV.
It appears to be (unless it isn't always available and I just picked times it wasn't). It wasn't found during channel scan and I can't get it by typing it in.

I have had DirecTV for the last six months and from what I have read, don't expect local stations will broadcast in HD out of the Santa Barbara feed until the new year. DirecTV has alot of work to do before this happens on our area. Wavers can be put in to receive a L.A. feed but had been denied to me twice.See some of my other posts about OTA.

After I wrote my original inquiry I called DTV - they told me in the Fall - but I am also wondering if they would allow an LA feed until our area get HDTV.

I called DTV - they told me in the Fall - but I am also wondering if they would allow an LA feed until our area get HDTV. I still think after the first of the new year if they can get one of the two satellites off the ground without any problems. CSR's at DTV always make you fill good when you call them about their MPEG-4 roll out.
As for the second part of your question, you can always try. I have spent hours on the phone with DTV trying to get HD wavers granted with no luck. Bottom line they can't legal give you a LA feed.
In the mean time make sure your order has a 5-LNB dish and H20 or HR20-700 DVR receivers and the MPEG-4 roll and HD locals will be automatic. An antenna or (OTA) could probley pick up KCOY 12-1 in HD.

It appears to be (unless it isn't always available and I just picked times it wasn't). It wasn't found during channel scan and I can't get it by typing it in.

Actually, looking over your previous posts, you said you're getting NBC and CBS on 83.2 and 83.3, whereas for me they're on 83.1 and 83.2. I wonder if that's related.

I still think after the first of the new year if they can get one of the two satellites off the ground without any problems. CSR's at DTV always make you fill good when you call them about their MPEG-4 roll out.
As for the second part of your question, you can always try. I have spent hours on the phone with DTV trying to get HD wavers granted with no luck. Bottom line they can't legal give you a LA feed.
In the mean time make sure your order has a 5-LNB dish and H20 or HR20-700 DVR receivers and the MPEG-4 roll and HD locals will be automatic. An antenna or (OTA) could probley pick up KCOY 12-1 in HD.

Thanks for the info -

What is the MPEG-4 roll?

Question: do you (or anyone) know a good company (or individual) in the area (between SLO and Santa Maria) - who can set up a home theater system as well as calibrating a Pioneer Pro 1140?

The H20 HD set-top is the first DIRECTV receiver to process MPEG-4, the next-generation transmission standard supporting a wide range of audio and video modes and transmission speeds.
Question: do you (or anyone) know a good company (or individual) in the area (between SLO and Santa Maria) - who can set up a home theater system as well as calibrating a Pioneer Pro 1140?
Audio/Video city in SLO & SM

Thanks

Well, we finally made the jump to HD and bought a Vizio 47" LCD from Costco.

I'm in Arroyo Grande and had Charter. Their service was already spotty and it was worse with the LCD. We switched out our box and got their HD box. The HD channels look great, their digital channels look alright, but their analog channels (below channel 79) were still spotty. So we shut off Charter as their spotty service was even more noticeable with our new TV. We decided to go with Dish Network and an OTA HD.

I bought a Radio Shack antenna and only received KKFX and KCOY and a couple of spanish stations. I couldn't get KSBY or KEYT. I'll be returning the antenna and maybe try a winegard.

We finally had Dish installed yesterday with HD. Unfortunately, their local channels are not being broadcasted in HD. Does anyone know when Dish will make the conversion?

I bought a Radio Shack antenna and only received KKFX and KCOY and a couple of spanish stations. I couldn't get KSBY or KEYT. I'll be returning the antenna and maybe try a winegard.
?

I can't help you with your Dish question, but you are in a great location to receive all three locals OTA (ABC,NBC,CBS). You might need two smaller antenna, DB-4 on the same mast ,north and south. Check some of my earlyer post before you order a new antenna. Antennaweb & solidsignalcom antenna Help.

I haven't had a chance to read through the entire thread yet, but I will.

Unfortunately, I live in a townhouse and we cannot put antennas on the roof, thus we have to have them in our patios. I bought one of those Radio Shack antennas, which I believe is the same one Antenna Craft sells. Its disc shaped and 20" in diameter. It picked up KCOY and KKFX with 90% indoors, outdoors it was 100%. It couldn't find KEYT, but it did find a spanish station in Santa Barbara, but only 55%.

I pointed it north and it still found KCOY/KKFX, but I couldn't find KSBY.

At this point you just antennaweborg, input your address and it will give you alot of info. Line of sight is huge and I think the hills between you and KCOY is the problem. Help you if I can.

Did anyone on Charter Cable see the premier of the HD version of the NBC nightly news on Monday or Tuesday of this week on KSBY HD (channel 786)? The picture I saw was in 480i (as reportd by my cable box) and strangely letterboxed. The local news immediately following had the same defect. I wrote to the KSBY chief engineer and he claimed what I described was not possible because they always transmit 1080i on that feed to Charter.

Interestingly, the problem was fixed on Wednesday after my complaint.

I spoke to a tech person at Dish Network who was very helpful. Unfortunately, since the area is a second tier market, they are not actively pursuing HD for local channels. Instead they are making sure the major markets are set with HD. Thus, they couldn't provide a time frame for local HD.

He also said, the local stations are not sending an HD feed to their system. Whether its the local stations choice or because Dish has no space, its unclear.

I've already used antennaweb.org, so I've got the tower coordinates. But, the antenna I bought just couldn't get KSBY, when I pointed north, or KEYT when pointing south.

.

I've already used antennaweb.org, so I've got the tower coordinates. But, the antenna I bought just couldn't get KSBY, when I pointed north, or KEYT when pointing south.

You might try a good pre-amp channel master 7777 it could bust up your signal enough to get KEYT which I think is on the same tower as the spanish station in Santa Barbara. If your 54 miles from ABC and the antenna maxes out at 50 this could work. I think you have a mid-range antenna and you may have needed a large range. But I realize it needed to be compack for your townhouse.

Well, I went to an electronics store in Santa Maria, looking for an antenna. Unfortunately, he didn't have anything, but I spoke to a really nice gentleman there, I believe he is the owner.

We talked about HD reception and KEYT. He mentioned that he has heard a couple of different stories about why KEYT has such poor signal. One involved hardware difficulty and the other involved PG&E being unable to provide enough power to the antenna location. It was an interesting conversation.

So, I left thinking I should just buy a cheap indoor antenna and reside myself to KKFX and KCOY. So I bought a Phillips MANT940 at Wal Mart. Installed and to my surprise picked up 7 channels, including KSBY. That was a nice surprise, now maybe I can get a waiver from KEYT.

What happened to FSN HD on Cox? We used to have select games on what once was INHD2, and of course, we all know INHD2 ceased operation a few months ago. How come Cox in SB hasn't been able to provide a means to broadcast FSN HD sporting events?

Well, I went to an electronics store in Santa Maria, looking for an antenna. Unfortunately, he didn't have anything, but I spoke to a really nice gentleman there, I believe he is the owner.

We talked about HD reception and KEYT. He mentioned that he has heard a couple of different stories about why KEYT has such poor signal. One involved hardware difficulty and the other involved PG&E being unable to provide enough power to the antenna location. It was an interesting conversation.

So, I left thinking I should just buy a cheap indoor antenna and reside myself to KKFX and KCOY. So I bought a Phillips MANT940 at Wal Mart. Installed and to my surprise picked up 7 channels, including KSBY. That was a nice surprise, now maybe I can get a waiver from KEYT.
Sounds like you picked out the right antenna for your location. As far a KEYT I would agree PG&E could be an issue. Even with my large DB-8 ,that I fine tuned to KEYT I only get 60-72% with a Per-Amp. When the wind blows and there running SD I think they turn the power down and back up for nightime HD broadcasts. The signal seems to be a little unstable ( or just Low) in the middle of the day during SD programing. From 8 to 11 and early morn. is HD time and it works 99.9% of the time.
I have read some good reports about the MANT940. Two things, are you getting any signal at all from KEYT ,3-1 on 27and how strong is the signal from KSBY,6-1 on15

Any word on KCAL HD for Cox?

Any word on KCAL HD for Cox?

And Charter!

Note for baseball fans, the Dodger opening was on FSN HD today even though the guide said "Off the Air". Don't depend on the FSN HD guide.

Second note: Cox SB has the Angels FSN game coverage in HD right now on 731 (Mojo/INHD). This effectively answers my question.

Hopefully Charter will maintain carriage of the Angels game as well.

Sounds like you picked out the right antenna for your location. As far a KEYT I would agree PG&E could be an issue. Even with my large DB-8 ,that I fine tuned to KEYT I only get 60-72% with a Per-Amp. When the wind blows and there running SD I think they turn the power down and back up for nightime HD broadcasts. The signal seems to be a little unstable ( or just Low) in the middle of the day during SD programing. From 8 to 11 and early morn. is HD time and it works 99.9% of the time.
I have read some good reports about the MANT940. Two things, are you getting any signal at all from KEYT ,3-1 on 27and how strong is the signal from KSBY,6-1 on15

The KEYT conversation I had was interesting. From what he said, the GM of KEYT was recently up in Northern Santa Barbara County and SLO County, as the engineers were showing him the problems with the broadcasting to the outer regions of their market.

As for my reception. I cannot receive a signal from KEYT. Maybe I'll try at night. As for KSBY, signal is around 60-70%. I have my antenna on the top of my stairwell. This is the only was I can get KSBY. If I can mount it near the ceiling, I can get close to 91%.

The KEYT conversation I had was interesting. From what he said, the GM of KEYT was recently up in Northern Santa Barbara County and SLO County, as the engineers were showing him the problems with the broadcasting to the outer regions of their market.

As for my reception. I cannot receive a signal from KEYT. Maybe I'll try at night. As for KSBY, signal is around 60-70%. I have my antenna on the top of my stairwell. This is the only was I can get KSBY. If I can mount it near the ceiling, I can get close to 91%.
KEYT signal at 53 miles is very directional. If you had a open window, upstairs ( no walls) after 8 at night you might pick it up. The last couple of night 3-1 came in very good. One other thing which leads me back to Low Power is that the audio on 3-1 is much lower than my Directv feed SD channel 3. It's not like that on KSBY & KCOY.

My 4 yr old Sony HD receiver died so I upgraded to a HR20-100s a week ago. The guys doing the install said no local HD until the end of the year (consistent with other reports, but then these guys had only a faint clue on how to hook up and configure the box). Today I saw two items that make me think things are at least on track.
1) D* purchased new uplink equipment http://investors.radn.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=237159
2) Ok, Not really all that much to get excited about but then on the D* web site, under HD Locals it says
Here's a list of upcoming markets that will be launched:
Oklahoma City OK, Santa Barbara-San Luis Obispo CA and Fort Myers-Naples FL.
http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/packProg/channelChart2.jsp?assetId=1100086
Now, that message may stay there until the end of the year, or it could change, but it almost sounds like we are next.

I just moved into a new home in Nipomo - DirectTV installed yesterday - installer told me that they were informed that local stations in HD could begin as early as 30 to 60 days and that they were training their personnel for this as it goes to another satellite or transponder (not sure which).

That's all good news but have they sent up the third of four satellites yet. Because Dtv has a lot of work to do even after the birds are up.

That's all good news but have they sent up the third of four satellites yet. Because Dtv has a lot of work to do even after the birds are up.

D* HD Locals are done from the spot beam satellites, Spaceway 1 and 2, and they are up and running. What is not known by us mere mortals is if the local uplink facility has been upgraded
Mike

About an hour ago my wife turned on the TV and nothing was coming in - so I rebooted our new Directv HD DVR and low and behold some of the local stations were now coming in HD format. It seems that perhaps these are in the test mode or they have been added to the lineup. I still don't know the local stations that well but believe they only had channel 6 as NOT coming in HD. Just figured I would pass that on.

Good news Palermo22. Do you see KCAL, FSN Prime or KCET in HD?

I am not sure if Directv gets the channels you asked about. The only channels added to the HD channels that I previously had - are:

Channel 3

Channel 8

Channel 24

Where would I find KCAL - FSN Prime - and KCET?

I am not sure if Directv gets the channels you asked about. The only channels added to the HD channels that I previously had - are:

Channel 3

Channel 8

Channel 24

Where would I find KCAL - FSN Prime - and KCET?

You have a typo . It's 12 not channel 8
He is baiting you. KCAL & KCET are not "local" channels that the FCC allows Direct TV or Dish to carry. Though, we may get the FSN Prime when a HD show is on. Will have to wait and see.

You have a typo . It's 12 not channel 8
He is baiting you. KCAL & KCET are not "local" channels that the FCC allows Direct TV or Dish to carry. Though, we may get the FSN Prime when a HD show is on. Will have to wait and see.

I guess it takes all kinds - I couldn't care less if he has cable and can get a few more channels than I can - we'll be getting Verizon FIOS TV in about a year or so. As far as Directv is concerned: I wonder if he gets the football package that Directv offers!

As far as the local channels: just getting use to which numbers they correspond to - thanks for the correction.

Anyone out there using Directv and now viewing some of the local channels via an HD receiver; is so, is anyone experiencing muffled or unclear sound at various times?

He is baiting you. KCAL & KCET are not "local" channels that the FCC allows Direct TV or Dish to carry.

Not baiting, just asking a legitimate question. KCET braodcasts locally. It is a local. KCAL is not, but I believe it is in the "significantly viewed" category and this year carrys the Dodger games I often watch.

I want the best HD programming lineup I can get and would happily switch to D*. But, I would not give up NBC to get ABC. Right now, Charter still has the best offering for me.

I hope it gets better when the new D* sats go up.

I guess it takes all kinds - I couldn't care less if he has cable and can get a few more channels than I can - we'll be getting Verizon FIOS TV in about a year or so. As far as Directv is concerned: I wonder if he gets the football package that Directv offers!

You guys are taking my question the wrong way. I don't get the football package because I don't want it. If I did, I would put up a dish a buy it ala carte. For a while I had both Charter and Dish. Dish for HD and Charter for some of the local stuff Dish didn't have.

I do envy your shot at getting FIOS. But, don't worry, I will not ask questions on this forum about what it carries. I will check it out myself at my brother-in-law's house at Trilogy.

I do envy your shot at getting FIOS. But, don't worry, I will not ask questions on this forum about what it carries. I will check it out myself at my brother-in-law's house at Trilogy.

Les - who is your brother-in-law? I also live in Trilogy!

Not baiting, just asking a legitimate question. KCET braodcasts locally. It is a local. KCAL is not, but I believe it is in the "significantly viewed" category and this year carrys the Dodger games I often watch.

I want the best HD programming lineup I can get and would happily switch to D*. But, I would not give up NBC to get ABC. Right now, Charter still has the best offering for me.

I hope it gets better when the new D* sats go up.
I am sorry I took your message the wrong way. I thought you knew what local packages were available on Dish and Direct TV. I did not want to squash another user, but it seems I did.
Mike

Are the new Santa Barbara HD locals Meg 2 or Meg 4 ?

KEYT signal at 53 miles is very directional. If you had a open window, upstairs ( no walls) after 8 at night you might pick it up. The last couple of night 3-1 came in very good. One other thing which leads me back to Low Power is that the audio on 3-1 is much lower than my Directv feed SD channel 3. It's not like that on KSBY & KCOY.

I am in the Laguna Lake area of SLO. Since I am in an apartment I can't really use a large antenna.

I picked up the Terk HDTVa, and get KSBY, KKFX, KCOY with about 92% - 98% signal strength. I get zero for KEYT, which is interesting. I also didn't realize they started broadcasting in HD finally. I also wonder why KKFX is only broadcasting in SD, but send an HD signal to Charter.

Are the new Santa Barbara HD locals Meg 2 or Meg 4 ?

MPEG-4 only with a H-20 or HR-20. Only the LA and New York locals are in MPEG -2 on Dtv.

I am in the Laguna Lake area of SLO. Since I am in an apartment I can't really use a large antenna.

I picked up the Terk HDTVa, and get KSBY, KKFX, KCOY with about 92% - 98% signal strength. I get zero for KEYT, which is interesting. I also didn't realize they started broadcasting in HD finally. I also wonder why KKFX is only broadcasting in SD, but send an HD signal to Charter.

Your Terk Antenna is doing a good job of picking up everything I get by the airport. I now use only a DB-4 outdoor antenna and get the same thing. KKFX is a digital signal but never goes HD.
KEYT OTA is a much different story. I worked on 3-1 for two month. I tryied two high gain antennas, (DB-8 & 4228) and even two coupled antenna together (4228 & DB-4) and could not get a sold signal on KEYT 3-1. The best I did is 65% between 8 and 11 at night, but only with the correct weather conditions, and not all the time. Very rarely could I record any programing, just to many drop outs.

I even called the Head Engineer at KEYT . He told me their tower is a 4000' and only broadcasts at 250KW compared to KSBY at 1000KW and had no plans and not enough power to increase their signal output. KPMR 38-1 on Frequency 21 is within 200 yards of KEYT's tower at 1000KW and you can probability pick it up with you TERK.

The good news is KEYT could be on Directv right now and on Charter very soon. There was a commercial Thursday talking about a April 20th HD role out on Dtv and Local Cable companies. This could be the only way to get ABC HD in SLO.

Just an FYI for folks using Cox Cable in Santa Barbara.

Using an HD Homerun tuner I have found the unencrypted HD QAM channels to be:

NBC 83-2
CBS 83-3
FOX 84-11
ABC 114-3

If any others come available please post. :)

What happened to 703 on Cox (ABC-HD). I called KEYT and got an automated message saying that KEYT is now broadcasting HD OTA in SB. Is it just a licensing issue that Cox and KEYT need to work out for Cox to provide KEYT?? Anyone have any info on how long this might take? Of course I called Cox, and of course they were useless.

I better get my LOST in HD tomorrow!!!

I even called the Head Engineer at KEYT . He told me their tower is a 4000' and only broadcasts at 250KW compared to KSBY at 1000KW and had no plans and not enough power to increase their signal output. KPMR 38-1 on Frequency 21 is within 200 yards of KEYT's tower at 1000KW and you can probability pick it up with you TERK.

The good news is KEYT could be on Directv right now and on Charter very soon. There was a commercial Thursday talking about a April 20th HD role out on Dtv and Local Cable companies. This could be the only way to get ABC HD in SLO.

Such a shame, as you are right about 38-1, I get it nice and clear with a signal of about 75%. I have no intention of getting Charter's service, as I am totally happy with my Series 3 and the Terk. Wonder why they have no intention of increasing the power on KEYT?

[QUOTE=LesMoss]

I want the best HD programming lineup I can get and would happily switch to D*. But, I would not give up NBC to get ABC.
/QUOTE]
Just for completeness, Local NBC went HD on D* a few days after the initial rollout.
I checked the FCC website, KCAL is not classified as a significantly viewed station north of Santa Barbara (if I read the list correctly). I asked D* about an MPEG 4 version of FSN HD for this area, the reply was it will be a bit yet for that.

Such a shame, as you are right about 38-1, I get it nice and clear with a signal of about 75%. I have no intention of getting Charter's service, as I am totally happy with my Series 3 and the Terk. Wonder why they have no intention of increasing the power on KEYT?

They do have a long range plan to upgrade in 2009 when there analog transmitter at 1000 KW, needs to be removed to go completely digital. This will free up tower space and power on there site.
I have a question for you. Your Terk seams to be doing a great job of picking up CBS about 35 miles away. That is the location of your antenna. Indoors, outdoors, upstairs,etc. You got, to love that TIVO.

Has anybody here been able to get a confirmation from Charter as to when they will start carrying ABC HD via KEYT? Sounds promising from the posts that I have read thus far. I hate having to pay Charter but it really is the only option I have. I live in the Laguna Lake area of SLO in an apartment community, so I'm seriously doubting that an indoor antenna would be of any use to me. We came close to getting enough satellites for a DirecTV install but line of sight from the building only enabled two satellites to come through. Charter is the only option I have until I move.

Has anybody here been able to get a confirmation from Charter as to when they will start carrying ABC HD via KEYT?

Call Dave a KEYT 882-3928. He would have all the info. Please update the thread with your info.

Just for completeness, Local NBC went HD on D* a few days after the initial rollout.
I checked the FCC website, KCAL is not classified as a significantly viewed station north of Santa Barbara (if I read the list correctly). I asked D* about an MPEG 4 version of FSN HD for this area, the reply was it will be a bit yet for that.

Thanks for the update mthompso105. That brings D* very close. I don't have anything I watch on ABC until fall (football). If Charter does not have ABC by then, I will sign up for the minimum HD subscription on D* to get ABC and ESPN2.

Not an expert on "significantly viewed", but certainly D* could negotiate carriage if Charter has. Getting the Dodger games via satellite is always a problem. They were on KCOP last year.

Len, I assume you mean College Football, as you are aware Monday Night Football moved to NBC as "Sunday Night Football" and Sunday Night Moved to ESPN on Monday.

I'm sure ESPN doesn't want to admit it, but its basically true: NBC has the new Monday Night Football.

When is KEYT HD coming to Cox???

Right, college football. I don't watch much pro football untill the playoffs.

When is KEYT HD coming to Cox???

Why would you want KEYT HD, when we already get KABC in HD? I'd much rather watch their HD news, and they show Wheel and Jeopardy in HD also.

What are you talking about? Cox pulled KABC on Friday. That's the reason that I'm so pissed right now. There is NO ABC in HD on Cox right now. Apparently KEYT and Cox are arguing about the contract. They're both pointing the finger at the other guy, and the customer is left without ABC in HD.

HI! Long time no post. I just Emailed KEYT and thought I would share.

To KEYT Management:
Alienating your customers (viewers) in order to try and gain an upper hand in contract negotiations is both childish and foolish. I understand the stations financial situation & the desire (& need) to maximize income.
However, you are several YEARS late to the game (see attached relevant internet forum post).

Additionally, I would like to remind you that even though you are the sole owner of the rights to the ABC signal in this area (and thanks so much for reminding us by yanking the KABC approval), you are in a business where your ALL competitors already have contracts with COX and are broadcasting their HD product right now to affluent customers.

At this point I am sure what COX is offering to pay is well in line with the market. Please sign the contract, get back to work on trying to deliver better local programming and commercials.
We all would appreciate it. Thank You.

Attached: (from 8/24/04)
I emailed KEYT about their HD availability status yesterday, and here is what I got:
-----------------------------------
Most of the construction on the current KEYT DTV broadcast facility at our
transmitter site is completed. We are now waiting for PG&E to complete their installation of equipment needed supply the necessary power. Broadcasting of a KEYT digital signal should begin sometime in September. (Added: 2004)

The signal will be carried over-the-air on Channel 27. It has not yet been
confirmed which of our primary cable carriers (Cox, Comcast, Charter &
Adelphia) will carry our digital signal and on what channel. The signal
will still be in the 3 x 4 aspect ratio vs. the high definition ratio of 9 x
16. The signal will be similar to our analog signal except it will be more
crisp and be on a 3-second delay. Actual broadcast of programming in the 9 x 16 aspect ratio will be subject to the installation of additional
converters, installation of an ABC digital downlink and the local cable &
satellite carrier's clearance of our HDTV signal. We have recently been
notified by ABC that they expect to install the necessary equipment at KEYT
sometime in first quarter of next year. (Added: 1st qtr of 2005)

Regards,
Bob Grissom, VP/General Manager
KEYT
-------------------------------------------

So, it looks like another NFL season without ABC MNF in HD for us locals with COX cable. :mad: I don't think there is much of a chance, but I'm asking COX what it would take to carry KABC Los Angeles HD until the local broadcaster is up and running HD....

Has anyone out there been able to receive KEYT's new HD over the air broadcast? I have dish network and am considering buying an outdoor HD antenna so I can get KEYT in HD. I'm located in downtown SB; antennaweb indicates that I should be able to pull in the signal as long as I buy a decent antenna. Any thoughts or suggestions will be appreciated. Here's the blurb from KEYT's webpage:
KEYT Launches New ABC HD Signal
KEYT is pleased to announce that ABC HD is now available free over the air on digital channel 3-1.

Free TV is readily available. I am in SLO and easily receive KSBY, CW (used to be WB and UPN), KKFX and KCOY with my 8 bay antenna and a Channel Master 7777 amp. Coupled with a Netflix subscription, which now includes video on demand as part of the mail delivery subscription, I have no need for cable or satellite. (I use my TV as a secondary monitor with my PC which allows me to watch video on demand on my TV - it looks just like a DVD).

For $300, I bought a standard defintion TV which has an ATSC (digital) and NTSC (analog) tuner. I am very happy with the standard definition (SD) picture quality and the NTSC tuner gets in the non-digital channels, e.g. PBS. The digital picture quality (even though its non-HD) is way better than cable ever was.

Anyhow, aside from trying to get the public aware that picture perfect TV is available for free, you don't need to buy an expensive HD TV to get it, and Netflix offers the video on demand feature ....

Unfortunately, I cannot get KEYT (ABC) digitally (I can get the poor quality analog channel 57 to come in fuzzy). I also called KEYT about 6 months ago and they said their antenna is just poor quality and there are no plans to upgrade. Someone (wormzer, I believe) says they are getting KEYT with a Winegard 91X, but I'm not sure if it is a consistent signal. Others are saying they get KEYT sometimes.

So, what can we do to get KEYT to increase their signal quality? Also, I'm considering buying the Winegard 91X, but really would like some level of assurance that it will pull in KEYT's signal. (I started with a 4 bay antenna, then an 8 bay pointed directly at KEYT, so I'd rather not buy another antenna without some assurance that it will perform better). Anyone, have advice on the Winegard/getting in KEYT?

Has anyone out there been able to receive KEYT's new HD over the air broadcast? I have dish network and am considering buying an outdoor HD antenna so I can get KEYT in HD. I'm located in downtown SB; antennaweb indicates that I should be able to pull in the signal as long as I buy a decent antenna. Any thoughts or suggestions will be appreciated. Here's the blurb from KEYT's webpage:
KEYT Launches New ABC HD Signal
KEYT is pleased to announce that ABC HD is now available free over the air on digital channel 3-1.



I think you should have no problem with KEYT since you are much closer than I am (I'm in SLO). You would probably also get the SLO and Santa Maria stations. I started with trying rabbit ears (which when moved around got in the closer stations), then an amplified indoor antenna (which got in all SLO and Santa Maria stations, but I had to move it around too - not a practical set-up). Then I progressed to an outdoor set-up. With an outdoor antenna, I highly recommend the Channel Master 7777 pre-amp, which from all that I've read seems to be the best.

So, what can we do to get KEYT to increase their signal quality? Also, I'm considering buying the Winegard 91X, but really would like some level of assurance that it will pull in KEYT's signal. (I started with a 4 bay antenna, then an 8 bay pointed directly at KEYT, so I'd rather not buy another antenna without some assurance that it will perform better). Anyone, have advice on the Winegard/getting in KEYT?

Before you buy an 91XG to try and get KEYT at 3-1 look a some of my previous posts. I to live my the airport, very close to (wormzer). His 91XG is at about 30' and on the same line of site as my antenna. I would think he has had the same problem I had with low signal output, drop outs, and not reliable enough to watch a complete program, except after 9:00, every once in a while when the weather conditions are just right. You can always try, I did for two months and the low signal output of KEYT was the bottom line.

Before you buy an 91XG to try and get KEYT at 3-1 look a some of my previous posts. I to live my the airport, very close to (wormzer). His 91XG is at about 30' and on the same line of site as my antenna. I would think he has had the same problem I had with low signal output, drop outs, and not reliable enough to watch a complete program, except after 9:00, every once in a while when the weather conditions are just right. You can always try, I did for two months and the low signal output of KEYT was the bottom line.

Thanks much. When I had a VHF (Channel Master Stealth) antenna, I could get KEYT3 fuzzy and close to watchable. I estimate that I'm at about 25' high and once, for a split second, I got signal on Channel 27.

I've just finished reading this entire thread. Would someone please tell me if I'm correct about the following things regarding KEYT?

KEYT is now broadcasting in HD OTA. Yes or No

KEYT-HD is not being broadcast by any of the area cable or satellite companies. Yes or No

No one here knows for sure when area cable or satellite companies will begin to carry KEYT-HD. Yes or No

KEYT is now broadcasting in HD OTA. - YES

KEYT-HD is not being broadcast by any of the area cable or satellite companies. - NO DirecTV has it. No cable yet.

Thanks very much for the answers. The fact that you didn't select Yes or No for "No one here knows for sure when area cable or satellite companies will begin to carry KEYT-HD." is a resounding "Yes" with the exception of DirecTV duly noted. Now that I know this thread exists, I know where to come to find out what's happening, ask questions and share info about our local corner of the HDTV world. :D

Here's an update - I purchased an antenna online from Cyberestore for $85 delivered.
They are currently offering free shipping on HD antennas, plus I found a discount code with a quick google search. I settled on the high gain DB8 UHF Multi Directional HDTV Antenna. It seems that a multi directional antenna may be good for HD channels since digital broadcasts don't have the traditional woes such as ghosting due to noise coming from all directions. I went with the high gain in hopes to get some San Diego channels as well as local KEYT and possibly some of the SLO area stations. I did an experiment and briefly got the San Diego PBS HD station to come in. It looked great! I have a gift certificate to FRY's electronics, so I'm going to pick up mast, mounting hardware, and an antenna mounted pre-amp from them tomorrow.
I'll report back next week after I install everything. I'm having fun with this project. Reminds me of my dad tinkering around in our attic with VHF and UHF monsters in 1979. There's fun Associated Press article today about how rabbit ears are getting a revival. Maybe someone with higher posting privileges can post a link.

No ABC HD For Santa Barbara Cable

http://www.tvpredictions.com/abchd042807.htm

I settled on the high gain DB8 UHF Multi Directional HDTV Antenna. It seems that a multi directional antenna may be good for HD channels since digital broadcasts don't have the traditional woes such as ghosting due to noise coming from all directions. I went with the high gain in hopes to get some San Diego channels as well as local KEYT and possibly some of the SLO area stations. I did an experiment and briefly got the San Diego PBS HD station to come in. It looked great! [/list]I have a gift certificate to FRY's electronics, so I'm going to pick up mast, mounting hardware, and an antenna mounted pre-amp from them tomorrow.
.
It will be interesting to see what you get out of you DB-8. It even does about 75% form the back side of the antenna, weather you point it north or south. Two things that come to mind that might help.
1) You might look for a (CM7777) it worked great with my DB-8.
2) After you finish your install, find a output for your from your tuner. Then set up the signal strength meter and take a small TV up on the roof to do your fine tuning,it will save a lot of time up and down the ladder.

MPEG-4 only with a H-20 or HR-20. Only the LA and New York locals are in MPEG -2 on Dtv.

I was wondering about this too, since I paid so much for my two HD receivers. One is a Tivo and one without. Because there hasn't been local HD service I've been using my brothers address and have been very happy watching the LA channels in HD. But, my wife wants local channels, so I called DTV and they are sending me some type of converter at no cost so I can run my HD Tivo (mpeg2) for my local channels. The only problem is the other HD receiver (a samsung) won't work with the converters, which is okay for since it have it hook up to a standard TV right now.

So, I would check with them to see if your older HD receiver will work.

So, the big question: Has anyone ordered the local Hi-Def package from DirecTV? Their web site indicates they have all four networks ( 3,6,12,24 ) Wondering about the quality before I trash Dish in favor of DirecTV

... Also, any Comcast subscribers out there -- been having trouble the last couple of mornings with HD channels ( all except UHD and KSBY ) -- seems to clear by the time I get home. Wondering if it is a Lompoc issue or not.

So, if you're getting HD locals via DirecTV, please drop a post regarding quality! Anxiously awaiting some feedback! Thanks!!

Bis spaeter,
"Here I am -- the only HD boy in Lompoc"

I get the four networks from D* and the quality from my untrained eye is they are at least as good as the LA HD networks (I've had long time waivers)

There is a link all Directv subscribers will love. New bird could go up in June. http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=84971

Did anyone else not have sound on the Warriors game last night on ESPN HD? Or was this just a charter thing? ESPN had sound...hd didn't.

Did anyone else not have sound on the Warriors game last night on ESPN HD? Or was this just a charter thing? ESPN had sound...hd didn't.

Charter seems to be having problems with their Digital audio.
For about a week now, the sound has been cutting in and out, sometimes without any digital sound at all.

The analog sound is fine, as I have switched my audio input to the sound receiver to analog for the time being.

Anyone else notice this, or know why this might be happening?

Thanks for the verification of HD locals on D*. My only concern was with all the channels they are offering, bandwidth would suffer and thus the picture quality. Glad to see the new bird going up soon!


BTW, mthompso105, I thought all waviers were cancelled with the SHVERA law -- I lost my waviers on Dish Network which I had had since 1997 ( they went dark in December :( ) I know other people with D* who still have theirs :confused:


Anyway, did any non-Comcast subscribers have trouble with Law and Order CI last night in HD? about half way through the top half of picture was covered with some time of matting ( which mysteriously disappeared during commercials ) -- I suspect it was on KSBY's end -- just curious.

Thanks

I've got Cox cable and therefore am not receiving ABC-HD right now. I'm a huge Lost and NBA fan who needs HD for the finale and finals. My questions is: Can anyone recommend a good price/performance indoor HD antenna? I live in an apartment and can't mount something outside. All I'm interested in picking up is KEYT-HD. Any feedback appreciated. Thanks,

I've got Cox cable and therefore am not receiving ABC-HD right now. I'm a huge Lost and NBA fan who needs HD for the finale and finals. My questions is: Can anyone recommend a good price/performance indoor HD antenna? I live in an apartment and can't mount something outside. All I'm interested in picking up is KEYT-HD. Any feedback appreciated. Thanks,

If you live in Santa Barbara, there is a good chance that you could pick up KEYT-HD with old fashioned rabbit ears or a cheap indoor UHF antenna.

If that doesn't work, any $20 indoor UHF antenna with a built-in amplifier should do the trick.

<snip>


BTW, mthompso105, I thought all waviers were cancelled with the SHVERA law -- I lost my waviers on Dish Network which I had had since 1997 ( they went dark in December :( ) I know other people with D* who still have theirs :confused:

<snip>

Thanks
I think DISH got sued & lost about the waivers They granted waivers when they should not have or something, don't think it was the new SHVERA law

If you live in Santa Barbara, there is a good chance that you could pick up KEYT-HD with old fashioned rabbit ears or a cheap indoor UHF antenna.

If that doesn't work, any $20 indoor UHF antenna with a built-in amplifier should do the trick.

I live in Goleta and am picking KEYT-HD fine with a cheap $10 UHF antenna.

If you live in Santa Barbara, there is a good chance that you could pick up KEYT-HD with old fashioned rabbit ears or a cheap indoor UHF antenna.

If that doesn't work, any $20 indoor UHF antenna with a built-in amplifier should do the trick.

Thanks, I'm going to go get one at Radioshack tomorrow. I live lower riviera so hopefully it will work.

Thanks, I'm going to go get one at Radioshack tomorrow. I live lower riviera so hopefully it will work.

Well...$32.99 and one antenna later, I can now watch ABC-HD again. I'm able to pick up KEYT-HD, KEYT-SD (no audio), ch17 (KEYT-SD analog), KPMR-DT, KTSB-DT. If anyone knows of any other channels, please post them here. Thanks,

I have attached an Excel Spread sheet of the channels I'm able to pick up with the QAM for Cox Santa Barbara. If anyone wants to edit or update and post it up go ahead.

Shawn

It will be interesting to see what you get out of you DB-8. It even does about 75% form the back side of the antenna, weather you point it north or south. Two things that come to mind that might help.
1) You might look for a (CM7777) it worked great with my DB-8.
2) After you finish your install, find a output for your from your tuner. Then set up the signal strength meter and take a small TV up on the roof to do your fine tuning,it will save a lot of time up and down the ladder.


Hi. Where did you get your signal strength meter? I can only find ones for a couple of hundred dollars. Thx.

Maybe this is old news, but I noticed Friday night (been out of town all week) that Comcast added National Geographic and A&E in HD. Interestingly there was no message announcing this. OTOH, I had 2 messages telling me that the NFL channel was being moved. :rolleyes:

Cox in SB also has National Geographic HD.
Still no ABCHD. No PBSHD. Over the air would be ok, except for all of the money paid for DVRs. They're useless for OTA.

Does anyone have any updated info on this ABC vs Cox standoff? The NBA games suck. Lost sucks. It's getting frustrating to not have what we once did.

What channel is National Geo HD on? Is it for HD subscribers only or can I grab it with QAM?

Thanks
Shawn

National Geographic HD is 717. I don't think it is a QAM channel.

Hi all - Here's the update I promised. So I installed the DB8 antenna on my roof. I get KEYT HD just fine (100% signal with no booster), but I now realize that I could have done just fine with a much smaller antenna. If I move my antenna I can also get the San Diego PBS HD feed and a couple of other digital networks. FYI - I live in the Lower Riviera of Santa Barbara.

Yo!

Bought the $50 HD Antenna at Radio Shack that can be mounted outside.
Was too impatient to get a better deal by ordering via the web.

Trouble at first because when you auto-scan channels with your HD TV you have to remember to select "Antenna" instead of "Cable" . . . . when was the last time any of us used a rabbit ears antenna!???

Very clear signal.
I get:
3-1 KEYT - HD, and
3-2 KEYT - SD

I have no idea what the difference between the HD and SD is . . . aspect ratios do default differently.

Then ! . . . only to find out that KEYT has some "Miracle Child" Fund Raiser of some sort this weekend!! . . . BUMMER !!

I will be anxious to see "Ugly Betty" in HD again!
Wish I would have known this would work before "Dancing With the Stars" finale!

Enjoy . . .

Does anyone have an updated list of what channels can be grabbed from Cox here in S.B. via QAM w/o a HD box?

I think I see:
CBS (1080i) - 83.2
NBC (1080i) - 83.1
FOX (720p) - 84.2

ABC (480i) - 94.10 (This can be had with an OTA antenna @720p, but I was hoping they had a HD feed free and clear on QAM that they just weren't offering to subscribers due to the KEYT debacle....)

I don't think discovery, national geographic, TNT, ESPN, or any of the other channels are available? Anyone have any luck? I'm in a transition between residences and w/o a SA83000 unit, so I've been playing with the digital cable coax input on my lcd.

On another note, does anyone know if Cox digital cable is 'standard', 'IRC', or 'HRC' (this is a selection I have on my Sharp aquos television for the QAM digital cable tuner)?

Jas

Those 3 are the only unencrypted HD channels I've seen. The other unencrypted channels are all 480i versions of regular cable channels (like CNN, USA, TBS). And Standard works fine for me.

Are you guys honestly spending effort to get a free HD signal from the COX coax cable??

Crap . . I mean it is just $10/month to add HD to the Cox service.

I do not understand that one . . . sounds like a lot of effort to save $10/month.

But, getting the FREE OTA KEYT channel 3 in HD is really KEWL !!!

Are you guys honestly spending effort to get a free HD signal from the COX coax cable??

Crap . . I mean it is just $10/month to add HD to the Cox service.

I do not understand that one . . . sounds like a lot of effort to save $10/month.

But, getting the FREE OTA KEYT channel 3 in HD is really KEWL !!!


First of all, what effort are we spending? Pushing a button on our tv? WOW!

Secondly, how long have you been working for COX?????????

Actually, bobzoila, I must thank you for the education.
I did not realize that some digital television have a QAM tuner built-in.

I had assumed that the QAM tuner was an add-on product to boot-leg HD cable signals. . . . and required a "boot-leggers ingenuity" to make it work.

Now, I have to investigate whether my HD TV has a built-in QAM tuner . . . and definitely make sure my future HDTV purchases include that feature in for my selection criteria.

I spoke too soon

But, I still do think $10/month is dirt cheap for the HD selections COX provides.

This HD technology advancement is awesome . . . I even watch soccer matches these days ! :)

I need some help from Cox cable subscribers in Santa Barbara who have ATSC and QAM tuners built into their HDTVs. I bought an indoor antenna and a diplexer (signal combiner) from Radio Shack today in an attempt to get both cable channels and KEYT-HD over the air. I have an LG HDTV and it recommeds this kind of set up for both cable and over-the-air reception.

Before I attempted this dipelxer hookup I was getting all the regular cable channels just fine plus the 7 or so available HD channels. However, after hooking up the antenna and the cable to the diplexer I got KEYT-HD just fine over the cheap rabbit ears antenna but lost all the cable channels including the QAM HD channels.

My TV has an auto scan so it scanned for all possible input signals but all it could pick up was KEYT in HD and a few spanish language channels. Before I take the antenna and diplexer back to Radio Shack does anyone know what I'm doing wrong? Why can I get KEYT-HD but not all the channels I was picking up before? Thanks much.

Joe

dod2004

Your TV has separate inputs for cable and vhf/uhf. What LG was referring to is when you want to run two signals (ex:from a dish/cable and an outside antenna) using only one lead-in, but you would need two diplexers-one at each end. Since you don't say where your rabbit ears is, if it is near your tv, forget about diplexers and just connect it to your tv.

Why not just connect your rabbit ear input to your uhf/vhf input, and the cable input as is?

bobzoila,

I don't have separate inputs for cable and antenna--only ONE input labelled "Antenna/Cable In." That's why I got the combiner.

There's one more thing I need to try--selecting a different input source on the TV's menu. Even though the signal is combined coming into the TV perhaps I need to select for cable or over-the-air viewing. I'll try that when I get home.

Thanks for your suggestion.

Sorry, dod2004. I didn't think any HDTV lacked separate inputs for cable and antenna. I guess you don't have a Cox HDTV descrambler or DVR. If you did, you could of course use HDMI or Component inputs for hd/sd cable. Basically that sounds like what you are suggesting, so good luck to you.

I'm in the Santa Barbara area and just got a Pioneer 5080 yesterday. I'm able to get NBC, CBS and Fox through the QAM decoder through the cable input. Although this has two antenna/cable inputs, according to the manual, only the first input is for both digital and conventional. The second terminal is stated to only accept conventional signals. So I'm in the same boat as dod2004 and would like to use an antenna to get KEYT-HD. Anyone have a solution to this? Any luck with your setup, dod2004?

odontobear,

The diplexer/signal combiner wouldn't pass both cable and over-the-air KEYT-HD (it would only pass the HD signal) so I tried an A/B switch and it worked! I had an old manual A/B switch which worked fine but I decided to go high tech and got a remote switch ($40 at Radio Shack). I have cable going into A and rabbit ears into B and the output connected to the cable/antenna input on the back of the TV.

My only complaint is that the transition between the two isn't as sooth as I'd like but that's probably due to how the TV processes the signals. After switching from one to the other the TV still remembers the last channel it was tuned to so you have to mess with the channel input to get the one you want.

If you don't mind getting up to switch, a manual switch should work just fine. Good luck!

Thanks for the info, dod2004! I'll try the A/B switch. I'm glad it worked out for you.

Since the beginning of this week I have been unable to pick up Fox in HD. I was receiving it normally ever since I purchased my new Vizio VX32L a month ago. This tv has an internal QAM tuner.

The channel is typically 84-11 but when I surf through to that channel it skips it completely and goes on to the next one. Even when I type in 84-11 the channel doesn't show up.

I even re-scanned my channels and the same thing happens and it still did not work.

Anyone else having problems picking up Fox HD?

Are you a Chater Customer? I ask because my Charter digital channels (HD included) have been acting odd (to be polite) this week. I use HD cable boxes. My HD and pay channels disappeared on Tuesday but came back Tuesday night. Also, some of the channels aren't what they say they are. For example, CBSHD has been showing up on 786 wich is the normal NBCHD and NBCHD has been showing up on the normal CBSHD channel. The information bar still says it's NBCHD but the programming is CBSHD. This seems to only be happing in the morning. When I get home in the evening, the cable box has been rebooted and everyhting is back to normal. Very strange. I try calling the cable nazzi's but they say nothing is wrong. Gotta love Charter!

I've been having that issue too. One morning a few days ago, and again this morning. Get home after work, and all is well.

Charter is acting strange here too.
Didn't notice the NBC-CBS-FOX issue, but CinemaxHD 779 is gone completely, and the movie channels that I normally receive are not all there.
The analog channels look even worse than normal, and for some reason, I can't find ABC-HD.

Were you actually receiving ABC-HD on Charter in Atascadero? I didn't think it was available yet and I have never had it in Paso Robles.

I've lost CinemaxHD too. All of the other movie channels seem ok though.

No ABC-HD on charter.
It was intended as a flippant remark regarding Charter's KEYT-HD issue.

I'm starting to get really pissed off that we don't have KEYT-HD....it better be online before the Fall TV season starts....anyone hear any updates? Also, why hasn't Charter added some of the HD channels that other companies carry such as Food Network HD among others?

I've asked them at Charter about more HD channels...they say they'll add them as soon as they're available.

When I told them the channels I wanted have been available in HD for a while, they had no answer. :mad:

Join the club! Still no ABC-HD in Lompoc on Comcast either! Isn't KEYT supplying the signal to Cox in SB? If so, seems we should have it by now! Really want it in time for the sports season. Anyone have any success with Direct-TV? They supposedly have it available.

Grrrrrrr :mad:

Its not a technical problem. KEYT wants to be paid by the cable companies for their digital signal. Cable companies say no.

http://www.tvpredictions.com/abchd042807.htm

Join the club! Still no ABC-HD in Lompoc on Comcast either! Isn't KEYT supplying the signal to Cox in SB? If so, seems we should have it by now! Really want it in time for the sports season. Anyone have any success with Direct-TV? They supposedly have it available.

Grrrrrrr :mad:

KEYT is on Direct-TV, looks good. They must have coughed up the $...

Thanks for the verification, mthompso105! D* may get a new customer in a few weeks!

So, my conclusion from everything I've read about the KEYT issue is this:
KEYT is attempting to get the local cable & satellite operators to pay them for carrying the KEYT HD signal on their lines. Apparently, either other broadcasters give away their feed for free, or they do not require as high a payment, since all other networks are currently carried by Cox in my area. This leads me to believe the fault is with KEYT, not Cox (in my case, perhaps Charter in yours).

I highly recommend that everyone here call KEYT and start bugging them about this. Until they know that we're pissed, and we know it's their fault, they're likely not to do anything. It should only take a couple minutes of your time:
1) Leave a comment on the KEYT viewer comment line: 805-882-3935
-- AND --
2) Call their main office and ask to speak with someone about the HD-on-cable issue. Do NOT accept "no" as an answer. Do NOT accept their little pre-written paragraph about "negotiations" as a valid answer. INSIST on speaking with someone and see what you can find out: 805-882-3933

Maybe if everyone in the area does this, we'll actually get somewhere. At least by football season

- O

Also, you can try emailing them at: comments -at- keyt -dot- com

- O

Join the club! Still no ABC-HD in Lompoc on Comcast either! Isn't KEYT supplying the signal to Cox in SB? If so, seems we should have it by now! Really want it in time for the sports season. Anyone have any success with Direct-TV? They supposedly have it available.

Grrrrrrr :mad:
Directv is so much better than Cable. All four local in HD. I can not tell the difference in PQ between CBS and NBC OTA and Directv feeds, ABC is in HD with out an antenna . Almost free install up to four rooms. Same week installs out of Santa Maria. HR20-100 is a great DVR , very nice front end and the bottom line is Sept. 15th there adding at least 25 more HD channels.

I am on Charter cable. I just got a new Pioneer 6010FD. It is my first set with a digital cable (QAM) tuner. A channel scan (no cable card) found only CBS,NBC and FOX. I thought someone said that FSN (ch 799) was also in the clear. Is that true? If so, what is the QAM channel number?

Anyone have any experience with a cable card from Charter?

I am on Charter cable. I just got a new Pioneer 6010FD. It is my first set with a digital cable (QAM) tuner. A channel scan (no cable card) found only CBS,NBC and FOX. I thought someone said that FSN (ch 799) was also in the clear. Is that true? If so, what is the QAM channel number?

Anyone have any experience with a cable card from Charter?


Why has Cox Cable not been able to get a signal carriage deal with ABC-HD in Santa Barbara?

mkerdman -

Look at my post yesterday. I believe it's KEYTs fault. I also left some contact info so you can call and ask them for details.

mkerdman -

Look at my post yesterday. I believe it's KEYTs fault. I also left some contact info so you can call and ask them for details.

Fault? One party wants money the other party does not want to pay. The government owns the airways and make the rules.

If you want to make a call, call Lois Capps and tell her you will not vote for her if KEYT HD is not on cable by Sept 15. (That's the date I get Direct TV).

Don't hope for a good result.

Fault? One party wants money the other party does not want to pay. The government owns the airways and make the rules.

If you want to make a call, call Lois Capps and tell her you will not vote for her if KEYT HD is not on cable by Sept 15. (That's the date I get Direct TV).

Don't hope for a good result.


Why are you waiting until Sept 15th?

Why are you waiting until Sept 15th?

15th is arbitrary. I want ABC for the college football season. I seldom watch ABC otherwise. Also I want to make sure the new DirecTV bird is flying straight so they will be able to add Golf/Versus HD. We should know by then. And who knows maybe Charter will give us a surprise in the next 30 days.

15th is arbitrary. I want ABC for the college football season. I seldom watch ABC otherwise. Also I want to make sure the new DirecTV bird is flying straight so they will be able to add Golf/Versus HD. We should know by then. And who knows maybe Charter will give us a surprise in the next 30 days.

I decided to jump Charter's ship last weekend and called DirecTV. Aug 24th is the install date. Total up front cost is about $100 for 2 HD receivers. With only one HD receiver, it is basically free install.
Got 4 months free with the NFL and NASCAR package. I understand that Golf/Versus HD is alredy up.

I was tired of waiting for ESPN2 and ABC, and with football season coming along with a boatload of new HD channels, I figured it was time.

I will post again once it arrives with first impressions.

I decided to jump Charter's ship last weekend and called DirecTV. Aug 24th is the install date. Total up front cost is about $100 for 2 HD receivers. With only one HD receiver, it is basically free install.
Got 4 months free with the NFL and NASCAR package. I understand that Golf/Versus HD is alredy up.

I was tired of waiting for ESPN2 and ABC, and with football season coming along with a boatload of new HD channels, I figured it was time.

I will post again once it arrives with first impressions.
I hope you have a good install.
I don't think Golf/Versus HD is up on D* until the new Sat. goes into production.

I tried going with dish back in may but had a LOS issue with my balcony location... I was pissed off. Coast Satellite out of Atascadero was great to work with though, much better than the DirecTV guys. Either way, I'm screwed and stuck with Charter.

KEYT seriously is irritating the hell out of me. You don't see KSBY, KCOY, KKFX asking for the same thing? And they are broadcasting OTA for free? The government needs to step in and investigate why KEYT is being so money hungry.

I decided to jump Charter's ship last weekend and called DirecTV. Aug 24th is the install date. Total up front cost is about $100 for 2 HD receivers. With only one HD receiver, it is basically free install.
Got 4 months free with the NFL and NASCAR package. I understand that Golf/Versus HD is alredy up.

I was tired of waiting for ESPN2 and ABC, and with football season coming along with a boatload of new HD channels, I figured it was time.

I will post again once it arrives with first impressions.

Looking forward to your report. I hope you will keep your Charter service long enough to give us a side by side comparison of the HD quality.

Thanks to everyone for their validation of availability and quality of HD locals via DirecTV. I was afraid with offering so many markets that bandwidth and thus quality would suffer, but that doesn't appear to be the case from what I am reading here. Glad to hear about the new HD channels arriving next month as well. So, I guess I'll give the greedy folks at KEYT til Labor Day, after which I will have to ditch Comcast. Here's to success, DirecTV :)

Bis spaeter,
Here I am -- the only HD boy in Lompoc

Go Boilermakers :D

Okay, I now have DirecTV and can pass on some information on the comparison between DirecTV and Charter.

First I must say that while the HD quality on DirecTV is okay, it is not quite as good as charter provides.

The installation had some problems and the installer will have to return next week to install the proper (5LNB) dish. This will give me access to the local HD's and some other new MPEG4 channels I do not currently receive.

Another disappointment is the slow response to the receiver. Changing channels takes a lot longer compared to Charter.

There are a lot of good things about DirecTV that Charter doesn't offer. ESPN2, Nightly feeds of HD sporting events on a number of extra HD specific channels, NFL network games in HD, Showtime HD, multicasting (such as Nascar and Tennis) on a bunch of different channels, etc.

Also, the SD channels on charter 2-99 look much beter than Charter. The digital cable channels on Charter 100-600 look better on Charter. The XM music on DirecTV sounds a lot better than the Charter music channels.

Once the followup install is complete, I can give some info on the comparison of HD locals, etc.

I live in AG up on the mesa. I just had DirecTV installed yesterday which included the HD DVR and the slimline 5 LNB dish. I see that Channels 6 (NBC), 12 (CBS) and 24 (Fox) comes in in HD but Channel 3 (ABC) does not. I even tried to get it at Channel 81 (ABC), but it says it isn't available. Is there something wrong with my DVR? Thanks

I would recommend a call to a CSR, they can walk you through a few things.
If you feel the need to do it yourself, verify you have KEYT listed twice in the channels I get list, try to refresh your services (at D* web site under troubleshooting, again a CSR can do this for you).
Good Luck

I would recommend a call to a CSR, they can walk you through a few things.
If you feel the need to do it yourself, verify you have KEYT listed twice in the channels I get list, try to refresh your services (at D* web site under troubleshooting, again a CSR can do this for you).
Good Luck

I just got off the phone with DTV and they said my equipment checks out and that the problem is probably that Channel 3 is having technical problems. I left a message at Channel 3's engineering dept. to call me back.

Since you are in Oceano, when you bring up the guide for evening prime time shows, does your guide show the program is showing in HD? Mine shows it for Channel's 6, 12 and 24 but not for Channel 3.

Thanks

The guide almost never shows HD for a show on KEYT, but if the show is in HD from ABC, it will be HD on KEYT
A guide entry being wrong is not new....

KCET (PBS) is up in HD on Charter. I don't see it in my SA8300HD guide yet but its on clear QAM channel 104.1. It says in the Charter bill I just got that it should be channel 788 when it arrives in the guide.

Glad I waited to order DirectTV. I don't think they have KCET HD and PBS is higher on my priority list than ABC.

Edit: I got it into the guide by rebooting the box. Just rescheduled my PBS recordings to HD.

I got a free Sony 34in CRT HD from friends for hauling it out of the their garage.I live in Woodstock, Santa Ynez, off Roblar and Brinkerhauf. The house is in a gulley with hills all around. But I have an unobstructed view of Santa Ynez Peak and can see KEYT's and KPMP's towers 11mi away. We have no cable out here so I tried OTA with a $29 RS U75-R yagi on a 15ft mast.

Had to pull the yagi off LOS 20deg in order to get the Sony to lock-up to 3.1 & 3.2 on #27. Big problem is KEYT's low power and interference from KCET's analog repeater on #28. KEYT's SD and HD are 95-100% all the time and KPMP's 1000kw SD is a solid 100% all the time.

I saw my first at-home live HD last weekend, kids baseball, and got completely
blown away by the wide screen and awesome picture quality. I hope ABC continues to use ESPN for their live sports. My wife is a collage football fanatic, maybe she will let me move the 200# Sony CRT into our bedroom where we watch all tv in bed?

I want to start looking for some local OTA DTV stations from up north, SM, SLO, but with the hills I have little hope. Any suggestions besides a 50ft mast? I observed a huge DTV spectrum at 723mhz or VHS channej #56. Its definately a digital signal with no programing present. Anyone know what it is ......Tom

KCET (PBS) is up in HD on Charter. I don't see it in my SA8300HD guide yet but its on clear QAM channel 104.1. It says in the Charter bill I just got that it should be channel 788 when it arrives in the guide.

That's great news--has anyone seen KCET-HD on Cox yet?

Had to be the first to post this!

News flash ... KEYT HD quietly appeared in the Comcast lineup tonight! Looks good so far ... watched 2 George Lopez episodes in HD and looked great! Actually called D* today -- hopefully won't need it now. Football starts tomorrow -- maybe common business sense prevailed or maybe Comcast paid up, but Thank You Comcast for getting it done! Keep the pressure on guys -- maybe the other cable companies will soon follow!

Bis spaeter...:):)

Had to be the first to post this!

News flash ... KEYT HD quietly appeared in the Comcast lineup tonight! Looks good so far ... watched 2 George Lopez episodes in HD and looked great! Actually called D* today -- hopefully won't need it now. Football starts tomorrow -- maybe common business sense prevailed or maybe Comcast paid up, but Thank You Comcast for getting it done! Keep the pressure on guys -- maybe the other cable companies will soon follow!

Bis spaeter...:):)I too just stumbled on to KEYT HD on Friday night. HD programming looks fine. Late news in SD looked REALLY lousy compared to SD on KSBY and even KKFX/KCOY. That said, at least it's there now. :D

:)Here is a list of all the HD programing that will be available within the next two weeks.

(Numbers with an Asterisk (*) is available only with H20, H21, HR20 and HR21 receivers with MPEG-4) A numbers without an Asterisk is the current MPEG-2 HD channels.
A&E *265
Big Ten Network HD *220
Cartoon Network *296
Cinemax HD East *512
Cinemax HD West *514
CNN HD *202
Discovery HD Theater 76
ESPN HD 72, *206
ESPN2 HD 73, *209
Food Network HD *231-1
FSN New York HD *624
The Golf Channel HD (shared with Versus HD) *604
HBO HD East 70, 509, *501
HBO HD West *504
HDNet 79
HDNet Movies 78
HGTV-HD *229-1
The History Channel HD *269
Madison Square Garden HD *621
MHD (HD only) *332
The Movie Channel HD *544
NFL Network HD *212
National Geographic Channel HD *276
Showtime HD 71, 543, *537
Showtime HD West *540
Smithsonian Channel HD (HD only) *267
Starz Comedy HD *519
Starz HD East *520
Starz Edge HD *522
Starz Kids & Family HD *518
Starz HD West *521
TBS in HD *247
TNT HD 75, *245
Universal HD 74
Versus HD (shared with The Golf Channel HD) *604
The Weather Channel HD *362

Now that KEYT-HD is on Cox, does anyone know when it will follow to Charter? Do we know why it finally showed up on Cox? Did they pay?

Now that KEYT-HD is on Cox, does anyone know when it will follow to Charter? Do we know why it finally showed up on Cox? Did they pay?

I didnt see where anyone said it was on Cox, just Comcast.

No ABC-HD on Cox as of yesterday.
By the way, this whole thing is absolutely ridiculous.

Longtime Dispute With Cox Finally Ends in Agreement
copied from www.independent.com September 6, 2007 By Drew Mackie

Cable TV provider Cox Communications released a statement today indicating that the rift between it and Santa Barbara's ABC affiliate, KEYT, seems to be mended. A contract dispute had resulted in a lack of a high-definition broadcast of KEYT and the ABC network programming it features, even though the San Luis Obispo-based NBC affiliate KSBY and the Santa Maria-based CBS affiliate KCOY already had hi-def broadcasts in Santa Barbara. Today, the two entities announced that they had reached an agreement and that Cox's Channel 703, as of today, will air a visually clearer version of the ABC shows that air on Channel 3.

"We have made it a priority to provide our viewers with high definition programming. We are thrilled to reach this agreement with Cox Communications in our mutual quest to provide our viewers with the best programming available, now in the highest standard possible,” said KEYT Vice President and General Manager Cathy Jacquemin in a press release.

The specifics of the disagreement between KEYT and Cox have never been explained by officials from either entity. David Edelman, Cox's director of public affairs, decline to discuss the subject today but instead stressed the fact that an agreement had been reached. "As part of the contract renewal, we're not talking about it," Edelman said. However, some speculate that it may have stemmed in part from an agreement that Cox made with Los Angeles ABC affiliate KABC to air the 2006 Super Bowl while KEYT readied the equipment necessary to broadcast a hi-def signal. When KEYT was ready to go, however, the deal didn't happen. Now that the problems that KEYT and Cox chose not to discuss with the public have apparently been put to rest, Santa Barbara residents can look forward to seeing favorites like Lost and Grey's Anatomy more clearly than they could before.

For more information on high-definition service from Cox, visit Cox's website or call them at (805) 683-6651.

I'd like to talk to this Cathy person and find out why Charter is left out of this loop. This is messed up.

First it showed up on Comcast, then Cox in the span of a week. It seems like KEYT is in the deal-making mood before the new season premieres. A Charter deal might still be forthcoming.

pip11 I sure hope you're right, I feel burned that the only station we have been added is KCET (PBS) in HD.

First it showed up on Comcast, then Cox in the span of a week. It seems like KEYT is in the deal-making mood before the new season premieres. A Charter deal might still be forthcoming.

I would suggest to KEYT they improve their OTA digital service on UHF channel #27, 3.1 and 3.2 before the new season premieres. Seems OTA messages on this forum are unanimous, KEYT is the "sick-man" network in the Santa Barbara area. I live only 11mi from their xmitter and can see their towers, yet my Sony has a terrible time locking to their signal. Sometimes I have to leave the Sony just sit there on #27 displaying "NO SIGNAL" for 10 to 30min before it snaps into lock. Once I get digital lock, signal quality is 97% to 100% and never breaks lock. KEYT's received signal spectrum is 20db less than co-located KPMP's 1megawatt indicating KEYT is only 10kw when they are authorized for 250kw! The spectrum's frequency shape is terribly distorted with almost a 10db lo to hi slope across its top! If this was not bad enough, immediately adjacent KCET repeater on channel #28 has its NTSC carrier 25db higher than KEYT's peak, which probably is why my Sony has a huge problem acquiring digital-lock on KEYT? I get the impression that KEYT intends to do nothing with their OTA digital service until Feb 14, 2009, when their analog goes down!

We had to replace our old CRT recently and ended up with a low-end Vizio from Costco...Apparently with an ATSC tuner built in. I'd like to try a rabbit-ears type approach to getting OTA HD locals for KSBY, KCOY, Anybody out there around 13th & Grand have OTA reception experience they'd care to share?
-thanks in advance.

Go to Antennaweb.org, put in your address and if both stations come up yellow, your plan may work. Line of sight is everthing and KSBY may be a problem because of the mountains, but there output is stronger than KCOY. OTA is all trial and error.

We had to replace our old CRT recently and ended up with a low-end Vizio from Costco...Apparently with an ATSC tuner built in. I'd like to try a rabbit-ears type approach to getting OTA HD locals for KSBY, KCOY, Anybody out there around 13th & Grand have OTA reception experience they'd care to share?
-thanks in advance.

I live in Oceano, not too far from you, I have powered rabbit ears, the trick for me was to get them high up. I ended up with mine in the rafters of my garage and I get a signal from KSBY of 45 to 50 (hey it comes in, most of the time) and 75 to 80 for KCOY

I live in Oceano, not too far from you, I have powered rabbit ears, the trick for me was to get them high up. I ended up with mine in the rafters of my garage and I get a signal from KSBY of 45 to 50 (hey it comes in, most of the time) and 75 to 80 for KCOY

I live in Santa Ynez Valley in the northern hills. I now get KEYT, SB at 11mi with a south facing RS yagi and get KCOY SM at 19mi with a north facing RS yagi on a 15ft mast on a 20ft hill top. I switch between antennae by coax relay selector with remote spst switch. I now get great DVT from both ABC, CBS and SD only FOX. All I now need is NBC for the Olympics if nothing else. Only NBC I'm aware of is KSBY, SLO at 59mi. Their repeater in SB is behind the mountains and I'm not aware of a repeater in SM. KSBY is too far away and behind too many hills to get even the slightest indication on my spectrum analyzer. Does SM have a repeater, if so where? Has anyone got KSBY OTA in my area, like Solvang, Buellton Los Olivos or even Santa Ynez?

For anyone on Cox in Santa Barbara/Goleta, I just came back and found that the QAM channels for both KEYT-HD and KKFX-HD are marked as "encrypted", though the channels are actually not encrypted. I had to tell MythTV to ignore the encryption flag before it would attempt to tune either channel. I don't know if TVs or other software pays attention to these flags, but it is worth checking if these channels aren't showing up for you.

Also, Cox isn't sending out channel names with each channel; no surprise given cable's traditional denial that clear QAM exists.

Today in northern Santa Barbara County, Comcast added the HD versions of the Food, HGTV and History channels. As usual, there was no announcement.

pip11,

You said "I just came back and found that the QAM channels for both KEYT-HD and KKFX-HD", which QAM channel is KEYT-HD on?

I have KSBY, KCOY and KKFX fine (83-2, 83-3, 84-11), but i can't seem to find KEYT.

Many thanks

pip11,
which QAM channel is KEYT-HD on?

I have KSBY, KCOY and KKFX fine (83-2, 83-3, 84-11), but i can't seem to find KEYT.

It should be on channel 114-3. KABC-HD used to be on the same frequency. Here is the channels.conf entry for any interested Linux people:
KEYT-HD:735000000:QAM_256:74:75:3

Seems KCET - HD just went live. Channel 710. Enjoy The War in HD!

Was down for at least 4 hours tonight. Something about a transformer problem on the HD feed.

CBS HD feed on KCOY is still down today.

What are all the current HDTV (Only) Clear QAM Digital Channels for Cox Cable Santa Barbara?

i.e. 83.1 is NBC-HD etc.

Is KCET-HD (PBS) on a Clear QAM Channel (I saw it on my Cox DVR)?


Thanks!

It should be on channel 114-3. KABC-HD used to be on the same frequency. Here is the channels.conf entry for any interested Linux people:
KEYT-HD:735000000:QAM_256:74:75:3

Are you sure that channel is still on 114.3?

Is KCET-HD (PBS) on a Clear QAM Channel (I saw it on my Cox DVR)?

I won't be in Santa Barbara for a week or so, so I don't know about the status right now.
On Tuesday night though, I was able to get it at 717 MHz, which should map to channel 111.100. I've never really been sure how TVs assign these channel numbers, so it's an estimate. That brings the HD channels in clear QAM to 5 (KCET, KKFX, KCOY, KSBY, KEYT). There are many more clear channels which are just digital SD versions of regular cable channels. I have found that the first 13 channels are all clear, along with CNN and channels 41-50.

Would someone kindly provide me with the Cox Cable Santa Barbara Clear QAM HDTV-Only channel Mappping (i.e. 83.1 for KSBY - NBC-HD) for:

KCET, KKFX, KCOY, KSBY, KEYT

Thanks!

I won't be in Santa Barbara for a week or so, so I don't know about the status right now.
On Tuesday night though, I was able to get it at 717 MHz, which should map to channel 111.100.


Yes, 111 equals D00 on my MyHD 130, which is KCET-HD.

The next subchannel up on D00 is ABC-HD.

What type of tuner did you use to determine the 717 MHz frequency and how did you convert that to 111.1?

What type of tuner did you use to determine the 717 MHz frequency and how did you convert that to 111.1?

To get the frequency, I usually use a script called qamscan (I use Linux, with MythTV and mplayer to watch HD). It finds all the QAM channels, then tries viewing them to determine encryption or not. It takes a while to run though, and isn't always reliable.

I now have access to a Cox DVR (SA 8300, non HD), and I used that to find the frequency for KCET (it works for other channels as well). I tuned to the channel (and just got a gray screen), then went into the diagnostic mode by holding down SELECT until the mail icon flashed on the unit's front display. Then hit INFO. I had to page over a few displays using VOL +, and maybe the 3rd or 4th screen had the QAM frequency on it.

As for the frequency->channel mapping, the Linux tools come with this file: us-Cable-Standard-center-frequencies-QAM256 (http://www.linuxtv.org/cgi-bin/viewcvs.cgi/dvb-apps/util/scan/atsc/us-Cable-Standard-center-frequencies-QAM256?rev=1.1&view=markup) It has channel numbers interspersed with the frequencies every 10 channels.

BUMP OF PRIOR POST:


Would someone kindly provide me with all of the Cox Cable Santa Barbara Clear QAM "HDTV-Only" channel Mappping (i.e. 83.1 for KSBY - NBC-HD) for:

KCET, KKFX, KCOY, KSBY, KEYT

Thanks!

Effective November 6, 2007 Charter Communications will be offering the following new hi-definition channels. ESPN2 HD, Starz HD, The Movie Channel HD, A&E HD, History HD and MHD. I still see no sign of KEYT HD, but at least their throwing us a bone or two. This according to a mail announcement sent by Charter Communications.

Ah, the eternal dangling carrot...I'm ready to jump ship to DirecTV, but ESPN2HD is the one I've been waiting for....guess I've got some thinkin to do.

Effective November 6, 2007 Charter Communications will be offering the following new hi-definition channels. ESPN2 HD, Starz HD, The Movie Channel HD, A&E HD, History HD and MHD. I still see no sign of KEYT HD, but at least their throwing us a bone or two. This according to a mail announcement sent by Charter Communications.

EDIT* When, not where, did you get this information? I have Charter HD because my landlord won't allow me to put a dish up. This is definitely appreciated...but still no sign of ABC HD?

If you love to watch HD and can find a placed to have a dish installed, here is a link to all the new Directv HD programming. http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=98562
Every Wed. since 9/26 they have added more HD, about 45 new ones, plus all four Locals have been available for months.:)

I have to agree with kniles on Directv.

I left Charter for Directv a couple of months ago.
At first I was a bit disappointed by Direct's HD picture quality (see post #641 on this thread).

Then, a few weeks ago, they launched about 30 new HD channels. The PQ on these new channels is as good or better than anything on Charter.

They will be adding another 30 to 40 in the next month or two as well - pretty much every channel you ever would want to watch will be in HD.

HDeeJunkie,

What is your take on the quality of our locals? Is there an HD PBS feed available yet? These are the two things that are keeping me with Charter.

HDeeJunkie,

What is your take on the quality of our locals? Is there an HD PBS feed available yet? These are the two things that are keeping me with Charter.

There is no PBS available in HD.
The PQ of the HD locals is equal to the quality that charter provides, except of course for ABC which looks great.

[QUOTE] I now have access to a Cox DVR (SA 8300, non HD), and I used that to find the frequency for KCET (it works for other channels as well). I tuned to the channel (and just got a gray screen), then went into the diagnostic mode by holding down SELECT until the mail icon flashed on the unit's front display. Then hit INFO. I had to page over a few displays using VOL +, and maybe the 3rd or 4th screen had the QAM frequency on it.
[QUOTE]

I have several SA 8300 STB's and you exact keystrokes on the remote do not work for me:

"then went into the diagnostic mode by holding down SELECT until the mail icon flashed on the unit's front display. Then hit INFO. I had to page over a few displays using VOL +, and maybe the 3rd or 4th screen had the QAM frequency on it."

Are you sure you didn't miss something in the explaination aboe?

I have several SA 8300 STB's and you exact keystrokes on the remote do not work for me:

"then went into the diagnostic mode by holding down SELECT until the mail icon flashed on the unit's front display. Then hit INFO. I had to page over a few displays using VOL +, and maybe the 3rd or 4th screen had the QAM frequency on it."

Are you sure you didn't miss something in the explaination aboe?

I guess I missed something subtle--these keystrokes aren't on the remote, they're on the unit's front panel. IIRC Select is to the right of the LED display, Info is on the left.

I found these unscrambled QAM channels; anybody know any others? (Especially like to find KCET):

3-1 KEYT
6-1 KSBY
83-5 to 83-48 & 83-105, 83-106 Music Choice Channels
83-107 NBA
84-9 52MX
89-4 HBO Family
90-1 FLIX
92-4 Starz Black
94-10 Starz Black Pacific
100-1 KKFX
102-1 MOJO
102-2 ESPN2
105-1 ESPN
105-2 Music HD
110-2 to 113-11 Various premium channels at various times skipping around
116-1 Universal HD
117-2 A&E
119-3 Food Network
121-2 HGTV
122-1 KCOY
122-2 HD Theater (Discovery, Science, etc.)
123-1 VS/Golf Channel
123-2 TNT
124-1 TBS

I guess I missed something subtle--these keystrokes aren't on the remote, they're on the unit's front panel. IIRC Select is to the right of the LED display, Info is on the left.

Are these "service menu" keystrokes on the SA 8300-HD DVR from Cox?

I found these unscrambled QAM channels; anybody know any others? (Especially like to find KCET):

3-1 KEYT
6-1 KSBY
83-5 to 83-48 & 83-105, 83-106 Music Choice Channels
83-107 NBA
84-9 52MX
89-4 HBO Family
90-1 FLIX
92-4 Starz Black
94-10 Starz Black Pacific
100-1 KKFX
102-1 MOJO
102-2 ESPN2
105-1 ESPN
105-2 Music HD
110-2 to 113-11 Various premium channels at various times skipping around
116-1 Universal HD
117-2 A&E
119-3 Food Network
121-2 HGTV
122-1 KCOY
122-2 HD Theater (Discovery, Science, etc.)
123-1 VS/Golf Channel
123-2 TNT
124-1 TBS

Would anyone kindly post a list like he one above for Cox Cable Santa Barbara
"Clear-QAM256" channels?

Thank you in advance in this regard.

It looks as though KEYT-HD may finally be coming to charter customers in the San Luis Obispo county area. I just checked my program guide and it looks like charter has started to reshuffle their HD channels. Also, KEYT_HD is now listed on Channel 783.

Yep, KEYT-HD is up on Charter. Now if there was just something I wanted to watch on it...

Would anyone kindly post a list like he one above for Cox Cable Santa Barbara
"Clear-QAM256" channels?

Thank you in advance in this regard.

About a month ago I went through the local Cox Santa Barbara channels using my HDHomerun and here's what I came up with:

Channel Station
83-2 NBC HD
83-3 CBS HD
83-9 Previews
111-13 KCOP (13)
84-9 KCAL (9)
84-11 FOX HD
111-10 PBS
90-1 STARZP
98-1 NBA preview?
103-2 QVC
103-3 KEYT
103-4 USA
103-5 CW (KSBYDT2)
103-6 KSBY
103-14 KBEH
103-15 Spanish something
103-17 COMTV
103-81 Local Gov of some kind
104-7 TBS
104-8 COX 8
104-11 FOX
104-12 CBS
104-18 SB Local
104-19 Goleta Local
104-20 Arts
104-21 EDACC ? (culture)
104-22 CNN
107-41 LIFE
107-42 HSN
107-43 TBN
107-44 AZTECHA
107-45 SPIKE
107-46 WEATHER
107-47 CSPAN
107-48 CSPAN2
107-49 COURTTV
108-50 MSNBC
110-72 TV Guide
110-73 Real Estate?
110-74 TELFU (Spanish)
110-75 Shop NBC
110-76 Paid Prog
110-77 Jewelry TV
111-1 NBA (Preview?)
114-3 KEYT HD
115-13 to 115-57 Music Choice (?)

Enjoy :)

Effective November 6, 2007 Charter Communications will be offering the following new hi-definition channels. ESPN2 HD, Starz HD, The Movie Channel HD, A&E HD, History HD and MHD.

All showed up today as scheduled. Things are looking up at Charter.

I rescanned for clear QAM channels and found that HDNet Movies is now in the clear on 102.1. Maybe a mistake?

Cox Santa Barbara now has PBS in HD on 111-100. :)

Channel 13 KCOP has vanished and been replaced by "My Network TV", no idea what that is. :confused:

Anybody else experiencing this?? Beginning last night and continuing this morning, can't get ESPN2-HD (COMCAST Santa Maria channel 203). The SD channel is there but not the HD. The system is exhibiting behavior like it does when there's a blackout of a game being carried by a local channel - i.e., just a blank screen when selected.

Yup, same on Comcast Lompoc....

(just a reminder -- I've got a 91x pointed at SB from southern SLO, near the ariport)

I tuned up my antenna system a couple weeks ago with some better connectors -- (ideal compression connectors over junk Home Depot crimp-on -- thanks Brian!) and realigning and am now receiving KEYT-DT1 and DT2 good enough to watch and record. There is the occasional dropout (sound is continuous, but picture skips) but not more than one a minute at the worst and many half-hour shows record without a glitch.

I use an HTPC with 2 different tuner cards -- Hauppauge 1600 and Fusion Lite 5. It's the Fusion card that's getting the good reception. Some reason, the Hauppauge card doesn't handle the signal at all. So, I removed KEYT-DT1 and DT2 from the Hauppauge lineup and only include them in the Fusion card lineup. My software is smart enough to only use the Fusion for tuning KEYT-DT.

The Fusion card only shows mid 70% signal for KEYT, but it's enough for the Fusion card to perform pretty darn well.

Since we're an antenna-only family now, KEYT-DT2 (MyNetworkTV?) is a really great resource. Kinda like TV-Land for antenna folks (Get Smart, Brady Bunch, Little House on the Prarie). Pretty happy with it.

matt

Wormzer great job on bring in KEYT-DT. You could be the only one in SLO with a stable signal. Your 91x at about 30’ with a clear shot at the KEYT tower is a great combo. KEYT tower is at 4000’ but not a very strong signal compared to KCOY & KSBY and 65 miles is a long ways for OTA. I live very close to you and tried for months to bring in KEYT–DT with a CM4228 and a DB-12 at about 22’. Worked best about 9:00 at night when the winds died down. But it was always unstable at best. I’m now using a DB-4 and get KCOY & KSBY and every now and then there it is ABC HD. Keep up the good work because KEYT-DT is all about equipment and install in SLO.

I waited about 10 days before filing my report here -- just waiting to lose the signal, but it's kept up rather well. We watched a Brady Bunch (recorded around 4:00 pm) and it had lots of video studders, but only one or two audio drops. Other shows are coming in fine tho.

I do have a CM7777 that's pumping up the signal a bit, and yeah, I've got a real tall house, with perfect southern exposure, so that's all good. I wonder how much credit to give my Fusion tuner card, since it seems to be doing a whole lot better than my Hauppauge.

I too used a CM 7777 but at about 300 yards out my path was being blocked by some very tall eucalyptus trees by the creek, but my path to KCOY was as clear as yours. I think your Fusion tuner card is defiantly a big factor, but antenna height and line of site are key to your success. Besides the 91x is as big as it gets for large directional OTA. One question for you, can you get KSBY of the back side of the 91x. When I used a CM4228 & CM7777 it over powered KSBY. I seem to remember reading one of your earlier post, that you used two antennas.

I just want to thank everyone who contributed to this thread, you all have helped me allot. I just purchased a 19in Element LCD HDTV: FLX-1910

I have cox cable expanded but I only get 2 HD channels clear:
83-2 NBC HD
83-3 CBS HD
I do also get the music channels, 115-13 to 115-57
But the other channels instead of being at their respective #'s they are all included in channel 1008. Including, PBS HD, FOX HD, and ABC HD (pretty sure its ABC) only problem is I have audio only on PBS, not FOX or ABC.

I live in Santa Barbara, and Im using my ATSC tuner included with my LCD, plugged into the cable line. Now someone earlier in the thread mentioned something about some TV's not being able to process MPEG-2 audio, is that what this is? And if so why does PBS work but not ABC, or FOX? All 3 are channels included in the 1008 channel.

Also, If later on I move to cox digital with the box and expanded HD will I still have this audio problem? Or will the box fix it?

Thanks in advance for any help!
-Jon

For all you Lakers (and Clippers) fans out there, it seems as though Cox has struck a deal with FSN West HD and FSN Prime Ticket HD. I've noticed a few games now where they have broadcast the HD feed on Mojo HD 731.

In the case of the Clippers game, it was FSN Prime Ticket HD that was being broadcast Mojo during what was scheduled as an NBATV HD broadcast on the program guide.

With the Lakers, it's FSN West HD being broadcast on Mojo during what was scheduled in the program guide as a bunch of regular Mojo shows (like those 30min shows like wallstreet warriors, london live, that betting game show, etc.).

So far, it doesn't seem like they have the same deal with KCAL HD, so no road games that I've seen so far, but I'll keep my eyes peeled. It's unfortunate that the guide doesn't show that the games will be broadcast, but it's always worth a quick check to 731 when watching a game to see if it's in HD.

Charter just announced HD pay per view in the bill I just got. I went to check it out on channel 999.

I didn't find any movie I wanted to see, but I checked the free previews. Its all streched SD. What a waste of bandwidth.

Well, as usual (meaning with no prior announcement), KCET-HD has shown up on Comcast in northern SB county.

Just a heads up... looks like Charter just added another new HD channel... check out channel 794. It's label is MOJO... no clue what that is but more HD is always good.

A quick question: I was able to get Starz on my Cox cable via clear QAM and now all of the sudden it's gone (Chan 90-1), but a friend of mine with the same TV is still able to get it. Any reason this may happen?

I also can't seem to get PBS in HD.

Any help would be great,

thanks,

gS,.

TBivo, MOJO has some great content. From the website:

"MOJO HD was created exclusively for the discerning upscale male, with attitude, wit and style ... Original shows are about wide-ranging men's interests including high tech, finance, comedy-reality, adventurous travel, music, cuisine and spirits. Other programming includes high profile professional and college sports, movies, concerts and big events."

Yep, KEYT-HD is up on Charter. Now if there was just something I wanted to watch on it...

I only seem to tune in to ABC for sports, but it seems that nothing on KEYT-HD is actually in HD.

Am I just unlucky? Or is there really a dramatic lack of HD on this channel?

I only seem to tune in to ABC for sports, but it seems that nothing on KEYT-HD is actually in HD.

Am I just unlucky? Or is there really a dramatic lack of HD on this channel?You're not unlucky. I have Comcast and with the exception of sports in HD, KEYT's content is a POS. Even their SD transmission looks like crap.

I too used a CM 7777 but at about 300 yards out my path was being blocked by some very tall eucalyptus trees by the creek, but my path to KCOY was as clear as yours. I think your Fusion tuner card is defiantly a big factor, but antenna height and line of site are key to your success. Besides the 91x is as big as it gets for large directional OTA. One question for you, can you get KSBY of the back side of the 91x. When I used a CM4228 & CM7777 it over powered KSBY. I seem to remember reading one of your earlier post, that you used two antennas.

Wow -- good memory! Yes I do have two antennas running, but I use the second one for PBS(channel 16) only. KSBY comes through the back side of the 91x+CM7777 configuration just fine (90%+)

You have to give Fusion props because my Hauppauge 1600 falls flat with the exact same signal. Trouble is, my fusion is the old Lite version that is no longer supported. Guess I'll be holding onto XP for a while longer...

766 Animal Planet
767 Discovery Channel

Just appeared.

Has anyone in the SLO area had any Channel Guide info problems lately. I have 2 Moxi boxes and have not updated the Guide info since 12-18-07 and so I now have run out of data.

Anyone else having this problem?

TIA

Tim

Trying to find FOX and ABC HD... along with any other in the clear QAM HD channels...

So far I have been able to find:
NBCHD - 83.1
CBSHD - 83.2
PBSHD - 111.5 (only 720p)

Trying to find FOX and ABC HD... along with any other in the clear QAM HD channels...

So far I have been able to find:
NBCHD - 83.1
CBSHD - 83.2
PBSHD - 111.5 (only 720p)

Fox should be on channel 84, and ABC should be on channel 114. Unfortunately, Cox's PSIP tables have never really been set up right, so sometimes the channels all have the channel # of 1008, they'll be marked as encrypted, etc. I've also seen most of the basic cable channels (CNN, etc.) on clear QAM, but I haven't tried it in a few months.

Fox should be on channel 84, and ABC should be on channel 114. Unfortunately, Cox's PSIP tables have never really been set up right, so sometimes the channels all have the channel # of 1008, they'll be marked as encrypted, etc. I've also seen most of the basic cable channels (CNN, etc.) on clear QAM, but I haven't tried it in a few months.


Nothing on 84.1 and nothing on 114.1.... Anyone else?

Curious, but anyone here in SB and has Cox with a HD-DVR with an HDMI and experiencing audio dropout at all when viewing recorded programs? Cox has mentioned to me that they do not support HDMI although the connection is there. So I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this?

Curious, but anyone here in SB and has Cox with a HD-DVR with an HDMI and experiencing audio dropout at all when viewing recorded programs? Cox has mentioned to me that they do not support HDMI although the connection is there. So I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this?
I've noticed this issue as well hooked up through HDMI. My box also sends a black signal instead of no signal at all through HDMI when its turned off (which makes it difficult to tell if the TV is on or off, so there have been many times where the box is off and not the TV). I'm surprised that Cox doesn't officially support HDMI through their boxes yet, you'd think that by now they would have started to do that. HDMI has been the de-facto standard for a few years now.

Does anyone know anybody at Cox who knows about re-wiring houses due to bad signals? The reason I ask, is because I rent in a condo thats privately owned, and recently I've been receiving horrible signal just in my room. Some channels I won't even get, and the signals drop in and out. I've had two tech's come out and basically said sorry, u'll have to talk to your landlord about re-wiring. Tomorrow I'm climbing into the addict and replace the line that comes into the room with a RG6 line, as im currently using the old wiring from i dont know how long ago.

Does anyone know if cox will do that for me? I pay their monthly service fee for in house problems, but I'm not really sure and quite honestly almost embarressed to call a tech and ask such a question. Or, if the tech have been giving me the run around and been avoiding replacing at least the lines in the addict and the wall. If not I'll end up doing it myself.

I've been told for cox to do the work outside or something, they need permission from my landlord and what not. It seems rather difficult to do such a thing when just dropping a line from a splitter thats coming into the house and down the wall could be a quick easy fix.

Anyone mind sharing their experiences with this? Thanks! -Jeff

I just noticed that HD On Demand is now showing up on Cox Ch 701.

When I select 701 it tells me I've committed a "fatal error." How do you access Cox's HD on demand? Do you have to have a telephone line connected?

When I select 701 it tells me I've committed a "fatal error." How do you access Cox's HD on demand? Do you have to have a telephone line connected?

I just go to Ch 701 and it loads automacially. No phone line required. SD On Demand is on Ch 01.

Today's Daily Nexus includes an article on rising cable package rates (http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=16092) for Cox customers. There is a mention of more HD programming, but no real details:

"The company hopes to increase options for their viewers by adding new HD channels for customers to choose from this year, Muench said. This expansion, she said, is one of the factors that contributed to the price hike."

Has anyone heard about any new HD channels arriving for Cox in SB? I keep hearing how every other Cox stations outside of SB is getting new channels, especially in AZ but nothing here.

Anyone know if Direct TV is offering KCAL 9 in High Definition in Lompoc?

I have Comcast right now, but if I can get all the Laker games in HD, I'm switching over to Direct TV.:D

Anyone know if Direct TV is offering KCAL 9 in High Definition in Lompoc?

Nope, not at this time

Does anyond have have a complete list of the COX Santa Barbara Clear QAM SD &HD Channels, ** including their Sub-Channels **?

Thank you in advance for your assistance in this regard.


Murray

Anyone know if Direct TV is offering KCAL 9 in High Definition in Lompoc?

I have Comcast right now, but if I can get all the Laker games in HD, I'm switching over to Direct TV.:D

I'm right there with you, I was hoping cox would add KCAL HD so I can watch my Dodgers in HD but I doubt it ever happens. Hopefully Direct TV will add it some day. Does anyone know if people can get KCAL HD in the LA area on Direct TV?

I'm right there with you, I was hoping cox would add KCAL HD so I can watch my Dodgers in HD but I doubt it ever happens. Hopefully Direct TV will add it some day. Does anyone know if people can get KCAL HD in the LA area on Direct TV?
Yes, folks in the LA area can get KCAL in HD from Direct TV, according to the Direct TV web site's local channel page.

Does anyond have have a complete list of the COX Santa Barbara Clear QAM SD &HD Channels, ** including their Sub-Channels **?


Here's (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12137704#post12137704) the list I made a couple of months ago, in November they added KCET-HD at 111-100.

I pretty much watch the HD channels and they haven't changed (unless somethings been added), the SD's don't change very often.

Good luck. :)

So I was determined to switch to Direct TV. I cannot stand not being able to view Dodger games in HD when I have a giant tv at home :)

So I hop onto the DirectTV website and apparently with my zip here in SB I cannot get KCAL. Beyond frustrating, seeing as cox offers KCAL. I know Cox has KCAL in HD in Orange County, I wish they would add it here.

It's sad to see that just about every other Cox region has 30+ HD channels as of early this year, but for SB I don't see any announcements of any new channels for us here.

It's sad to see that just about every other Cox region has 30+ HD channels as of early this year, but for SB I don't see any announcements of any new channels for us here.

I have to agree. I don't understand why we haven't gotten any new HD channels for over 6 months it seems. I, too, keep reading about all of the other Cox markets getting 10-20 new HD channels, but why not us? The least that we could ask for was the rest of the Discovery suite, it seems that since the rest of Discovery went HD, most of the good shows that were on Discovery HD Theatre aren't there anymore. I also find it interesting that Cox managed to strike up a deal with Fox Sports Net to broadcast Laker games and override Mojo HD (showing that they know that Mojo HD is a waste of a channel), but why didn't they just give us Fox Sports Net in HD? Cox's current policy towards a lack of HD channels is really rather frustrating and starting to get on my nerves. Cox needs to understand that if they don't catch-up with the HD channels they'll start losing customers to satellite rather quickly.

I for one am getting tired of ABC's weak signal - both their digital signal out of SB and their analog repeater on Cuesta ridge. So I sent KEYT an email. I thought I'd post that email and the response I got.

-- original email ----------
I'm curious how the upcoming digital TV switch on Feb 17th 2009 will affect your various broadcast towers.

1) Your main tower located north of SB. I don't know if you are aware or not, but very few (if any) people as far north as the city of SLO are able to receive your digital signal. I know of one person with an extreme gain yagi antenna mounted high on his roof who can get your signal some of the time. Anyway, after the switch to all digital are you planning on boosting the power of the digital signal?

2) The analog repeater located on Cuesta ridge (ch 57), are their plans to change this to a digital signal and/or boost the strength? As I understand it low power repeaters are not required to switch to digital. However, the FCC is reorganizing the channels and ch. 57 will no longer be valid so you're going to have to at least change the channel frequency. Hopefully other changes (like digital and/or more strength) are planned as well.
-- original email ----------

-- reply from KEYT's chief engineer ----------
You are correct in everything you've said. We are working on these issues. I have no doubt that the deficiencies of our digital signals for SLO will be resolved prior to 2/17/09.
-- reply from KEYT's chief engineer ----------

It sounds like there is hope. Of course, I'll believe it when I see it. I did see on TVFool.com that KEYT plans to increase their digital signal from 232kW to 586kW on or before 2/17/2009. That's 2.5 times stronger of a signal, that should go a long way to help those of us in SLO receive their signal.

I won't go on about how my KEYT-DT picture has been flawless for months now in south-slo :) so I'll ask another question.

Does anyone know what the plan is for PBS broadcasting in SLO? I'm able to pull in the KCET repeater off of cuesta no problem (K16FC) but is there a plan for K16FC-DT? Worst case: it goes away completely I suppose.

The KCET-DT feed is already here in SLO feeding the Charter head end. So, my guess is that they will cut over the local broadcast near the deadline.

The fact that Charter has the HD feed is the only thing keeping me from switching to DirecTV.

(I should have probably made it clear that I'm talking about OTA KCET -- no more cable bill for me!)

And just to answer my own question -- I just talked to the tech guy at KCET about the K16FC repeater (and man, these tech guys are always so cool when you can finally get through to them).

He said that low power repeaters will be allowed to broadcast after the 2/09 date, but KCET is planning on a digital upgrade anyways (maybe this year I think?) to help reduce confusion. Folks are now switching over to digital boxes, but the configuration of an analog passthrough that would be required to keep repeaters like K16FC viewable is way too much for the average viewer to configure.

So digital OTA for KCET by 2/09 perhaps, but analog K16FC will persist at least. Sweet.

It sounds like there is hope. Of course, I'll believe it when I see it. I did see on TVFool.com that KEYT plans to increase their digital signal from 232kW to 586kW on or before 2/17/2009. That's 2.5 times stronger of a signal, that should go a long way to help those of us in SLO receive their signal.

I don't know where that information came from, but the FCC database indicates that KEYT-DT is operating at 250 kW and will continue to do so for the forseeable future. I read a filing that stated KEYT-DT wanted to go up to 1000 kW, but that the power company told them they'd be unable to provide them that kind of power. At some point after the transition they may attempt to go up to 1000 kW again (without analog transmitters to power, it may be possible) but until that time, KEYT-DT is doing the best it can do.

K16FC has a construction permit to do 15 kW on channel 16 digitally. Here's the pattern:

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1234266.html

Hope it helps...

- Trip

Is everyone else not getting KSBY in HD? I'm on Cox in Isla Vista, and KSBY has just been an upconvert for the last few days. First noticed it on Thursday night, and the Derby isn't very exciting in SD right now.

I just moved to Goleta from the Chicago area. I am having some HD issues and I don't know if its normal thing out here. I am using Cox and I have the digital cable box and I am getting the QAM feed. I've noticed a good amount of programs that use to come in HD seem to not get broadcast in HD out here. For example, this week Scrubs, The Office, and 30 Rock weren't in HD on NBC. Anybody know what's going on? I am assume this is what pip11 is referring to also?

My feed of KSBY on Direct TV is fine, the Kentucky Derby was in HD and looked good, I just checked my recording of last night's Law and Order and it looks fine. It might be a problem with the KSBY link to COX.

Charter's feed of the Derby was full HD here in SLO.

Medium and Conan are in HD tonight on KSBY on Cox, so the problem seems fixed.

New to this post. Been on the Los Angeles Thread. Currently receive the LA Stations under analog (NBC, PBS, KOCE, FOX, TBN, etc). Under digital may get about 5 LA Stations due to refraction, and the local low power station ( 45 TBN, 23 Music). Under digital get the Univision Channels 38.1, 38.2. Gave up cable 6 years ago Will never go back. Am hoping to get KEYT digital if they go full power. I think they will at some point. My philosophy one should not get cable or paid satellite these days. And it everybody did that, then someday you might have repeat and retransmit stations across the country. Being done in Utah. You can always go the free satellite route (TBN-Glorystar) for free television if your unhappy with one station. Then there's always radio. My one suggestion is to really use TVfool, and the online maps get the maps you need and cut and paste to your computer (control/alt then shift), or take a digital picture of the screen Hope you have a nice day.

One antenna am interested in looking into is combining three Radio Shack bowties (360 degree coverage), then an inline amplifier (10db), then two 10db distrobution ampifiers to get the picture. This design can handle wind loads easily (except maybe a hurricane) and is cheap ($4.19 each at RS) so less than 60 for an outdoor antenna, and then secure it for grounding. A person used one of these and is getting signals from San Francisco to San Jose (80 miles?).

10 new HD Channels coming to Cox on July 1:

Effective July 1st Cox is excited to LAUNCH 10 NEW HD
CHANNELS and 3 NEW Digital channels as follows: USA HD
Channel 704, TBS HD Channel 707, CNN HD Channel 722,
CNBC Channel 724, AMC HD Channel 726, Discovery HD
Channel 732, Lifetime HD Channel 741, History HD Channel
755, HGTV HD Channel 755, Food Network HD Channel 764,
MTVU Channel 240, MTV Tr3s Channel 241, and Chiller
Channel 243. For a complete listing of all the channel
re-alignments visit our website at www.cox.com/santabara.

10 new channels, just in time for me to move out and lose access to my roommate's HD TV. :p

Great news!

Well, it least it's a few channels. There are only 1 or 2 of those I will really watch, but still no love for the sports guys. Where FSN sports or KCAL? HDNET and HDNET movies? Hopefully more to come.

With the Feb. 2009 cutoff fast approaching, more information is becoming available as to what we (antenna users in SLO) can expect.


KCET/PBS (ch.16) - has applied for and been granted a "construction permit" for a digital repeater on Cuesta ridge. It appears the analog repeater will change to ch.15 and the new digital signal will be ch.16 (virtual 16.1). The new transmitter will have a broadcast power of 15 kW.
KEYT/ABC (ch.3/ch.57) - has applied for and been granted a "construction permit" for a digital repeater on Cuesta ridge. The new signal will be ch.31 (virtual 57.1) and broadcast with a strength of .14 kW. That is a very weak signal, the existing signal (which is hard to get with my line of sight antenna mounted on my roof only 8 miles away) is .8 kW. To put .14 kW into perspective, that's equivalent to a 100W and a 40W light bulb together.


In addition to these changes, I've read that both KEYT and KCOY will increase the digital broadcast signal of their main towers which will make reception easier.

The one I can't find info on is KKFX (Fox). I don't know what, if anything, is going to happen to their analog signal on Cuesta ridge.

And even more perspective, KSBY's digital signal from cuesta ridge runs at 1,000 kW with over 7,000 times more power than KEYT repeater.

Can someone explain the reasoning behind KEYT running such a low power antenna at all? I can only figure it adds to their total number of viewers for advertising revenue calculations?

matt

Looks like the rest of the new HD channels have been put up from Cox... Science HD, A&E HD, Travel HD, MAX HD, other premium HD channels.

Hi,

I am trying to access HD channels without the converter box that cox supplies. I'm using a 19 inch Samsung HD TV connected directly with the coaxial cable. I have found the following in HD:

83-2 NBC HD
83-3 CBS HD
84-5 FOX HD
111-100 KCET
114-3 ABC NEWS HD

I don't understand what these subchannels mean and why I get these in addition to the normal numbered channels. Also, are there any more HD channels I can pick up without the box?

Also, I'm located in Goleta (Isla Vista)

Thanks,

Matt