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?

As I understand it, Cable company's are required to broadcast local channels in HD even for analog-only subscribers. These local signals are broadcast using quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), which I believe many TVs do not include a QAM tuner. So count yourself lucky you have a QAM tuner.

I guess the short answer is, these should be HD versions of analog channels found elsewhere on the dail. You probably won't find other QAM channels, but enjoy what you have.

Cool, thanks for the info!

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

Back in March I spoke w/KEYT. No plans to upgrade their SB tower to improve signal. I don't recall getting an exact answer why, but there aren't plans to upgrade. I don't think the benefits outweigh the costs from a business perspective. I think originally they had problems with getting sufficient power, but it's a small amount of viewers not reached by their signal, so it's probably not worth the investment. (It reaches AG, but not quite to SLO.)

However, I understood that an upgrade of channel 57 to digital is very, very cheap. Channel 57 is intended to feed Paso Robles, but after speaking with KEYT they were happy to know I can receive channel 57 on the outskirts of SLO. Thus, they could hit the SLO market over the air with a digital upgrade to Channel 57.

I see an application on the FCC site for a digital translator construction permit on Channel 31 for KEYT (K57BC station), so perhaps it's going through soon. It makes sense for them to convert in February since most people should have the equipment for digital by then (or else they lose all of their non-relay stations.)

Good to hear PBS will broadcast digital. I hope that means we'll get the multicasting KCET stations.

I hope also that KEYT's digital upgrade will occur and allow for multicasting, since I can't get the SB feed (or at least I don't want to upgrade my equipment when I'm not quite sure that I can get it). I will wait to see what happens to Channel 57 in February before investing more time or equipment.

KCAL HD, MTV HD, SPIKE HD, VH-1 HD, and MLB HD coming to Cox as early as December 1 per my latest cable bill.

Cool! Thanks for the update :)

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.
Since the question was about what's happening to Fox Channel 24, did you know that KKFX (Fox) is being multicast with KCOY (It's channel 12-2)? Also, CW network is being multicast on NBC (Channel 6-2).

KCAL HD, MTV HD, SPIKE HD, VH-1 HD, and MLB HD coming to Cox as early as December 1 per my latest cable bill.

Great to see KCAL HD there. Hopefully they do it right, and transmit it unencrypted (clear QAM).

Since the LA and SB DMAs get their HD Locals from the same satellite, it should be a no brainer to deliver it here. Can someone with DirecTV HD Locals take a look?

Great to see KCAL HD there. Hopefully they do it right, and transmit it unencrypted (clear QAM).

It's nice to get Laker road games in HD now. Has anyone checked to see if it's coming in unencrypted? I tried the other day, but wasn't able to find it on my HTPC.

Since the LA and SB DMAs get their HD Locals from the same satellite, it should be a no brainer to deliver it here. Can someone with DirecTV HD Locals take a look?
I am not getting PBS in HD, and in fact have never had a local station PBS from D*. In this DMA D* users have the national feed

It's nice to get Laker road games in HD now. Has anyone checked to see if it's coming in unencrypted? I tried the other day, but wasn't able to find it on my HTPC.

Yeah, just tried it now and couldn't pull it in on my PC. I assume it is encrypted. I got the frequency off the cable box:
KCAL-DT is at 783 MHz (ch. 122 I believe), PIDs 108/109 for video/audio.

Cox, come on. KCET-HD is unencrypted here, KCAL-HD should be as well.

Since the question was about what's happening to Fox Channel 24, did you know that KKFX (Fox) is being multicast with KCOY (It's channel 12-2)? Also, CW network is being multicast on NBC (Channel 6-2).

I suggested to KCOY back in 2002 that they should multi-cast KKFX. I moved in 2004, so I never got the benefit of it.

With the switch to digital just over 2 weeks away, I was wondering what other people are expecting to occur on that day. From everything I've heard, the following will happen to TV signals on the central coast:

1. NBC's (6) analog transmitter on Cuesta ridge will be turned off. I also believe they will increase the signal strength of their digital signal.

2. CBS's (12) analog trasmitter east of Santa Maria will be turned off. I also believe they will increase the signal strength of their digital signal.

3. ABC's (3) analog trasmitter north of Santa Barbara will be turned off. I also believe they will increase the signal strength of their digital signal.

4. The ABC repeater on Cuesta ridge (57) will have to change as channels 52-69 are being deallocated for TV use. But how it is changing is less clear. I've heard about 1) moving the analog signal to another channel and B) replacing the analog signal with a low-power digital repeater. Or maybe we are getting both? The FCC database shows a "construction permit" for a low-power digital repeater, but will it be finished in time?

5. The PBS repeater on Cuesta ridge, I've heard they are going to replace the analog signal with a digital repeater (and indeed a "construction permit" has been filed with the FCC). But will it be completed by Feb. 17th? Since this is a repeater station and not in the eliminated area of the spectrum, they don't technically have to do anything with this channel.

Has anyone heard any other news regarding local channels?

With the switch to digital just over 2 weeks away, I was wondering what other people are expecting to occur on that day. From everything I've heard, the following will happen to TV signals on the central coast:

1. NBC's (6) analog transmitter on Cuesta ridge will be turned off. I also believe they will increase the signal strength of their digital signal.

2. CBS's (12) analog trasmitter east of Santa Maria will be turned off. I also believe they will increase the signal strength of their digital signal.

3. ABC's (3) analog trasmitter north of Santa Barbara will be turned off. I also believe they will increase the signal strength of their digital signal.

According to the FCC database, all three are full-power already and will see no increases.

- Trip

Just as an update, here's what I was able to tune in unencrypted with the digital tuner on my TV on COX Santa Barbara:

Tuned Channel,COX channel,Callsign,Description
103-2,2,QVC,Quality Value Convenience Network
103-3,3,KEYT,KEYT
103-4,4,USA,USA Network West
111-2,5,CW,CW Plus
104-7,6,KSBY,KSBY
111-9,9,KCAL,KCAL
111-10,10,KCET,KCET
104-11,11,KKFX,KKFX
104-12,12,KCOY,KCOY
104-13,13,MYRTN,KEYT DT2
103-15,15,KTAS,KTAS - Telemundo 33
103-17,17,CMAC,Cox Cable Ch.17 CMAC TV
104-18,18,Local,COX Community City TV Ch.18 Cox Communications
104-19,19,CITYGL,City of Goleta
104-20,20,CCH,County Channel
104-21,21,EDACC,Santa Barbara Channel Ch 21
104-22,22,CNN,Cable News Network
104-41,41,LIFE,Lifetime Television West
104-42,42,MSNBC,Microsoft NBC
70-43,43,TELEFU,Telefutura - Pacific Feed
107-44,44,AZTECA,Azteca America Network - West Feed
107-45,45,SPK,Spike TV West
107-46,46,TWC,The Weather Channel
107-47,47,CSPAN,Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network
107-48,48,CSPAN2,C-SPAN 2
107-49,49,truTV,truTV
109-96,96,TVGN,TV Guide Network
109-100,100,LO050B,Leased Access - Cox
121-110,110,TBN,TRINITY BROADCASTING NETWORK
86-111,111,EWTN,Eternal Word TV Network
83-411,220,BOOM,Boomerang
83-9,701,HDPPV,High Definition Pay-Per-View
114-3,703,KEYTH,KEYT HD ABC
83-2,706,KSBYHD,KSBY HDTV NBC
111-100,710,KCETHD,KCETHD PBS
84-5,711,KKFX,KKFX FOX
83-3,712,KCOY-HD,KCOY-HD CBS
115-13,901,MC,Music Choice: Sounds of the Season
115-36,902,MC,Music Choice: Today s Country
115-37,903,MC,Music Choice: Classic Country
115-17,904,MC,Music Choice: Bluegrass
115-23,905,MC,Music Choice: Hip-Hop and R&B
115-22,906,MC,Music Choice: Classic R&B
115-21,907,MC,Music Choice: R&B Soul
115-14,908,MC,Music Choice: R&B Hits
115-25,909,MC,Music Choice: Rap
115-26,910,MC,Music Choice: Metal
115-16,911,MC,Music Choice: Rock
115-30,912,MC,Music Choice: Arena Rock
115-29,913,MC,Music Choice: Classic Rock
115-27,914,MC,Music Choice: Adult Alternative
115-56,915,MC,Music Choice: Alternative
115-15,916,MC,Music Choice: Retro-Active
115-24,917,MC,Music Choice: Electronica
115-28,918,MC,Music Choice: Dance
115-31,919,MC,Music Choice: Lite Hits
115-32,920,MC,Music Choice: Adult Top 40
115-53,921,MC,Music Choice: Hit List
115-51,922,MC,Music Choice: Kidz Only!
115-33,923,MC,Music Choice: Party Favorites
115-34,924,MC,Music Choice: Showcase
115-35,925,MC,Music Choice: 90s
115-39,926,MC,Music Choice: 80s
115-38,927,MC,Music Choice: 70s
115-40,928,MC,Music Choice: Solid Gold Oldies
115-44,929,MC,Music Choice: Smooth Jazz
115-45,930,MC,Music Choice: Jazz
115-46,931,MC,Music Choice: Blues
115-20,932,MC,Music Choice: Reggae
115-43,933,MC,Music Choice: Soundscapes
115-41,934,MC,Music Choice: Easy Listening
115-55,935,MC,Music Choice: Big Band & Swing
115-42,936,MC,Music Choice: Singers & Standards
115-54,937,MC,Music Choice: Show Tunes
115-48,938,MC,Music Choice: Contemporary Christian
115-47,939,MC,Music Choice: Gospel
115-19,940,MC,Music Choice: Classical Masterpieces
115-18,941,MC,Music Choice: Light Classical
115-49,942,MC,Music Choice: Pop Latino
115-50,943,MC,Music Choice: Musica Urbana
115-57,944,MC,Music Choice: Salsa y Merengue
115-52,945,MC,Music Choice: Mexicana

Hope this helps,

Phil/TW

The White House wants your opinion on The DTV Delay ACT Bill
President Obama wants to hear what the public has to say, you can comment here

http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing_room/dtv_delay_act/

Too late. The bill has already passed.


The White House wants your opinion on The DTV Delay ACT Bill
President Obama wants to hear what the public has to say, you can comment here

http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing_room/dtv_delay_act/

Too late. The bill has already passed.

No it hasnt the pres still needs to sign it or veto it.

We've been Dish customers for a number of years and have HD DVR. Upset, thought, that Dish doesn't have local channels or PBS in HD. No word when or if that's going to come.

Tried to see DirecTV quality at Costco but most channels were blocked as higher than TV-PG. What little we saw in HD looked awful.

No great fan of Cox and would prefer not to go there.

Questions: 1.) is DirecTV any better than Dish in our area? 2.) If I invest time and money in putting up an antenna for HD/DTV, will KEYT and the others look any better than they do on Dish? 3.) I'm on a ridge above Goleta with a pretty clear view toward L.A. so will I be able to pick up HD signals from there? 4.) Am I wrong in avoiding Cox?

Thanks!

Here's what I know at this point:
Dish Network has HD locals scheduled to go online in March (next month). I would stick it out with them. DirecTV is more for the sports enthusiast in my opinion, and Dish is probably more for the anti-cable person, like me. As far as the OTA channels go, none of the transmitters have plans to increase their power levels in the near future. I'm in Arroyo Grande and can currently get KSBY @100%, KCOY/KKFX @75%, and cannot get KEYT because of terrain problems. A high gain antenna on a second story can get you KEYT in our area, but it's not guaranteed. DirecTV already has our locals in HD, so you could always go for that, but if you're already Dish, I'd wait.

I agree with giant25. I read that our locals are already uplinked to Dish's new sat at 129. They just have not gotten our spotbeam going yet.

Neither Dish nor DirectTV have PBS (KCET) HD, so you might want to try an antenna for that.

Feb. 17th has come and gone. Even though local stations didn't have to switch on Feb. 17th, the local major stations all announced they would switch. Here's what I've noticed so far today:

1) Analog NBC (6) is gone.
2) Analog CBS (12) has been replaced by a repeating message telling people to buy a converter box.
3) Analog ABC repeater (57) is just gone.

#1 and #2 are as expected, but #3 is wrong. According to KEYT's webpage the SLO analog repeater should not have been affected. According to the FCC DB K57BC will be moving to a digital transmitter at channel 31. But as of now I can't find ABC anyhwere (I ran a full digital/analog rescan). Does anyone else have ABC in SLO? I hope it's back in time for Lost tonight!

Freezer,
I spoke with KEYT regarding their plans for the switchover. They don't have any plans to upgrade their SLO repeater anytime soon, even though there is a permit listed. At this point, you're out of luck for getting KEYT over the air unless you can get it from Santa Barbara (I know someone who gets KEYT from SB with a 6 ft long Radio Shack special on the second story in Arroyo Grande, but I can't get it in AG). You might try calling KEYT and asking again, and maybe enough calls will get them going, but it sounded like they didn't want to pump any money into it. I was told that 95% of the Central Coast population is already covered by cable or satellite and would not be affected by the transition. Not sure if it's that high....

Freezer,
I spoke with KEYT regarding their plans for the switchover. They don't have any plans to upgrade their SLO repeater anytime soon, even though there is a permit listed.

Actually, they have to do something. The FCC has mandated that channels 52-69 are to be evacuated. That was to occur on Feb. 17th, but deadline got pushed back to June 12th as well. So the question remains, are they just going to move the analog repeater to a different channel number, or at the same time are they going to switch the signal from analog to digital? I think those of us in SLO county need to call/email and request the latter.

Low powered stations (like the 57 translator) on 52-59 can remain on the air until the new spectrum owner tells them to get off.

- Trip

Freezer, they don't have to do anything other than shut down the repeater eventually. What I was getting at is that they don't have any plans to upgrade their SLO repeater to digital. It's not like they can flick a switch and ouput a digital signal on it, there are hardware changes and $$ involved that they don't need to spend. Most coverage maps will show the entire SLO area being covered by the Santa Barbara signal, even though we know that's not realistic without a serious antenna setup. I'm just telling you what I heard out of KEYT's mouth, so please call them at 805-882-3933 if you'd like to get an update or make a case for upgrading the repeater. Good luck and let us know if you get any info.

I'm on antenna now in San Luis Obispo, but am considering Charter's $9.99 basic cable offer. I of course am going to want to tune in clear QAM but am not sure if the "basic cable" filter (only channels 2-26 are included) will filter out the clear QAM frequencies or not.

I figure getting this question answered over the phone might be near impossible so I wondered if anyone on the forum has any experience receiving clear QAM with just the basic 2-26 package in SLO. Anyone? It'd be nice to have HD-FOX and HD-PBS, along with analog KCAL for $10/month.

The clear QAM channels are all above 74. Here is my list:

ABC 78.13
CBS 103.1
FOX 103.5
NBC 104.5
PBS 104.1
TBS 75.1

That said, they may use a notch filter to cut out 27-74. Why not try it and see? I don't think there is a long term commitment.

Ya, I think I'm just going to go for it and see what happens. $30 for install, but no contract. The sales guy just didn't have a clue about QAM. It's amazing how little sales people know about what they're selling.

The clear QAM channels are all above 74. Here is my list:

ABC 78.13
CBS 103.1
FOX 103.5
NBC 104.5
PBS 104.1
TBS 75.1

That said, they may use a notch filter to cut out 27-74. Why not try it and see? I don't think there is a long term commitment.

Its not just the sales guys. I asked a cable co installer what channels were availabe in clear QAM. He had no idea what QAM meant. When I clarified it to "unencrypted digital" he still did not know. All he "knew" was "you need a box for HD".

I just noticed that the 5 broadcast HD networks are listed in the Basic group on my Charter Line-Up card. So it looks like it is a notch filter probably including channel 75 to knock out TBS HD.

Did KPMR/38 & KTAS/33 end analog operations as well?

I for one am getting fed up with KEYT and their low-power signals. It's been almost 3 weeks now since they made the switch to digital and K57BC (the SLO repeater) is still off the air. I contacted the lead engineer at KEYT about this matter and here's his response:

"With the shutdown of our analog channel 3 we've had to pick up our digital channel broadcast all the way from Santa Barbara. This is the feed we need for rebroadcast on channel 57. It is proving to be more difficult than we expected. We'll get it going again. Just give us a few days."

That email was almost 2 weeks ago. This is not very comforting, KEYT from on top of a high mountain cannot even pick up their SB digital signal, so the changes of anyone in SLO picking up that signal are low. But currently we are without ABC altogether.

I've been without ABC for 3 weeks now, initially I was angry about missing Lost. Fortunately you can watch HD episodes over the Internet. So my anger is quickly turning to disgust. If KEYT doesn't get their act together soon, I'll stop watching their signal even if they do start broadcasting again. I hope they realize they are losing viewers and ad revenue.

I think I'm going to write a letter to KEYTs management and complain about this.

Man, maybe they need to move their tower to my house. I've been picking up KEYT-DT pretty darn fine this whole time. I don't watch ABC much, but know I watched the oscars in high def without a hitch.

wormzer, I think you and a few others are the exceptions! I recall you having a large antenna (91XG?) and a preamp while in a prime location as well. Give KEYT and offer your signal up for a while and see what they'll pay you!
Freezer, if I can be of any help or yell at the same people you did, please let me know. Maybe the more folks they hear it from, the better. I'll hopefully be getting HD locals from Dish Network within the next week or so, so it'll probably slow me down...

Does anyone else have a problem with 712 KCOY on cox. When watching live sports I get lots of Macroblocking.

Thanks

As someone stated that KEYT said, maybe they really are having problems feeding the digital signal. I imagine that they had to shut-off 57 to make equipment changes. I can't imagine that they'd just shut-off 57. I check channel 31 every once in awhile to see if it's been started-up in lieu of 57.

I haven't watched ABC in ages. With their fuzzy signal on 57 and irritation over trying to get the SB signal, I have gotten used to not watching them.

I watch a lot of shows on Hulu and Netflix. (I use my TV as a monitor, so it's like watching a DVD.) I'm very happy with this set-up. I watch the Daily Show, Damages (FX network), and other shows without paying for cable. What a great deal this is.

But, I have to admit that it is nice flipping through channels sometimes, so I hope ABC gets it running and that PBS goes digital too.

Ya, I think I'm just going to go for it and see what happens. $30 for install, but no contract. The sales guy just didn't have a clue about QAM. It's amazing how little sales people know about what they're selling.
@ Wormzer
any final word on what you are able to tune with the HD Homerun on Charter in SLO with Basic?
I'm considering this solution.
thanks!

@ Wormzer
any final word on what you are able to tune with the HD Homerun on Charter in SLO with Basic?
I'm considering this solution.
thanks!

haha. I actually tried to sign up, and after a 20 minute sign up process, charter customer service HUNG UP ON ME. I got routed to another CS and they wanted to take my order and I didn't feel like going through the whole thing again so I GAVE UP.

So I figure I dodged a bullet. Still proudly a non-charter customer! I signed up for mlb.com for $110 for the year and am super happy with my antenna + DSL setup.

is anyone actually receiving the K57BC digital repeater for KEYT in SLO? It's fairly low power, but I've got a good view of the ridgeline and I can't get it and can't find out whether anyone else is receiving it either. Thanks!

So, can anyone summarize what is available in the Pismo Beach area using an OTA antenna ?
I've read about the ABC situation in this thread (why would they even bother constructing a .14kw transmitter - does it just fulfill an obligation?).
What about the Channel 16 digital feed of KCET-PBS ? Is that working ? Is it HD ?
Thanks for any info.

So, can anyone summarize what is available in the Pismo Beach area using an OTA antenna ?
<snip>
What about the Channel 16 digital feed of KCET-PBS ? Is that working ? Is it HD ?
Thanks for any info.
I live in nearby Oceano
I did a rescan to confirm with rabbit ears I get 12.1, 12.2, 6.1, 6.2 & 33.1
I do get a PBS signal on 16 but it is analog, so if KCET is doing digital in this area, I can't get it.
Mike

I'm in Arroyo Grande which ota antenna are you guys using to pick these up any news on ABC?
thanks

I live in nearby Oceano
I did a rescan to confirm with rabbit ears I get 12.1, 12.2, 6.1, 6.2 & 33.1
I do get a PBS signal on 16 but it is analog, so if KCET is doing digital in this area, I can't get it.
Mike

So, I have that as:

12.1 - CBS in HD
12.2 - FOX in ? (KKFX)
6.1 - NBC in HD
6.2 - The CW in ?
33.1 - KTAS-DT Telemundo in ?

The FCC database has the PBS digital translator status as "Construction Permit" and there is a map:

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

although antennaweb.org lists it as a digital channel at 16.1 that is the same strength as 12.1

Had a question for Santa Barbara locals. I'm trying to determine whether it is Cox or KSBY which has the issue. On most of the HD programming from NBC on KSBY, there is often a few seconds where the image goes "fuzzy" for a bit. It's not static and it happens once the image switches between two very different images which made me think it was just Cox overcompressing the stream. Yet, I haven't seen it on any other channel other than KSBY 6.

Any input?

I'm not a local anymore, but I spent some time in SLO and I try to keep up with things on the Central Coast, so close enough, right? What you're seeing is a common sign of an incorrectly configured encoder at the station. My canned answer for this:
Blurring on high-motion shots is almost certainly due to your local affiliate using an improperly-configured Harris Flexicoder. The station's engineer needs to go into the config for the encoder and set the prefilter (aka "prefilt") to 1 or disabled. Having it set to 0 or adaptive causes the encoder to blur when high motion is shown, such as a fast pan across a detailed screen, or a logo flying across the screen after a replay or whatever. This issue (and the fix) is known by all the networks, and the station engineer should be able to contact the network's engineering department to confirm this.

KSBYs chief engineer is bingram@ksby.com

Has anyone in SB had any success receiving the CW OTA or otherwise?

I'm a DirecTV subscriber and apparently they won't carry the CW and they claim the locals won't let a waiver thru so I can get the LA feed.

Obviously this is a serious issue for a married man whose wife expects to watch Top Model... do I have any options?

KSBYs chief engineer is bingram@ksby.com



Should I bug this guy? KSBY multiplexes CW into their digital channel, right?

Has anyone in SB had any success receiving the CW OTA or otherwise?

I'm a DirecTV subscriber and apparently they won't carry the CW and they claim the locals won't let a waiver thru so I can get the LA feed.

First, don't bug the engineer about this issue, he has no say, it is a policy issue.

Second, the CW is part of the strongest KSBY digital feed, which is the strongest digital feed in the San Luis Obispo area, so a good indoor or even rabbit ears antenna should pick it up, barring some chance obstruction, but if you are actually in Santa Barbara, you would need a good outdoor antenna.

Third, you did not say where you are located, and we need to know that in order to give specific advice.

Fourth, any DirecTV packages without a CW channel in the locals, should have Channel 385, XETV in San Diego, the "CW West Feed" authorized in their receiver. Do you have that channel available in your Guide ?

I don't think Bill would take it as bugging if you ask a question. He might be interested to know how Cox is handling his signal. I have not noticed the phenomenon you describe via Charter Cable.

Multiplexing is only need for the OTA broadcast (NBC/CW). I think the cable providers get a raw feed (not OTA).

I don't think Bill would take it as bugging if you ask a question. He might be interested to know how Cox is handling his signal. I have not noticed the phenomenon you describe via Charter Cable.

Multiplexing is only need for the OTA broadcast (NBC/CW). I think the cable providers get a raw feed (not OTA).

There are two different questions and "0db"s question cannot be answered by the engineer. The engineer would be the ideal person for "Ink Noise"s question and "CoyoteAZ"s specific reply.

There are two different questions and "0db"s question cannot be answered by the engineer. The engineer would be the ideal person for "Ink Noise"s question and "CoyoteAZ"s specific reply.

Right, A_Dude. Thanks for clarifying.

There are two different questions and "0db"s question cannot be answered by the engineer. The engineer would be the ideal person for "Ink Noise"s question and "CoyoteAZ"s specific reply.

Yeah, now that I look back on the thread I see that the engineer is clearly not someone I need to be harassing. :)

Yeah, now that I look back on the thread I see that the engineer is clearly not someone I need to be harassing. :)

So, do you have Channel 385 available in your DirecTV onscreen Guide ?

So, do you have Channel 385 available in your DirecTV onscreen Guide ?

Oh yes of course, it is just "not purchased" and DirecTV won't let us add it. They said they could submit a waiver request but it won't be approved. I think this is Cox's way of keeping a stranglehold on young female viewers.

:confused:

Silly wife, I warned her that she shouldn't tell DTV that we moved from Ventura - particularly since we still have a mailing address there. But she wanted the SB local channels. Oops.

Oh yes of course, it is just "not purchased" and DirecTV won't let us add it. They said they could submit a waiver request but it won't be approved. I think this is Cox's way of keeping a stranglehold on young female viewers.

:confused:

Silly wife, I warned her that she shouldn't tell DTV that we moved from Ventura - particularly since we still have a mailing address there. But she wanted the SB local channels. Oops.

That is odd that DirecTV will not give you the national CW (385), when Dish Network gives the national CW in Santa Barbara.

Perhaps call DirecTV and say that if you switch to Dish Network, you would automatically get the channel, so why won't they add it for you ?

It sounds like a bureaucratic mistake...

is anyone actually receiving the K57BC digital repeater for KEYT in SLO? It's fairly low power, but I've got a good view of the ridgeline and I can't get it and can't find out whether anyone else is receiving it either. Thanks!

I live in SLO with line-of-sight to the antennas on Cuesta ridge. I have a CM 4-bay antenna pointed right at it. I am not able to pick up a digital signal for K57BC. The FCC DB lists only a construction permit, so I'm guessing it's not online yet. If it is broadcasting, I can't receive it.

I live in SLO with line-of-sight to the antennas on Cuesta ridge. I have a CM 4-bay antenna pointed right at it. I am not able to pick up a digital signal for K57BC. The FCC DB lists only a construction permit, so I'm guessing it's not online yet. If it is broadcasting, I can't receive it.

So, can you list which channels you do get ?

Thanks !

So, can you list which channels you do get ?

Thanks !

I get NBC CBS FOX CW and telemundo but no ABC in Arroyo Grande

TV Fool has a great new tool where you put in your address and it produces an interactive Google Map and a list of all the stations with radio buttons. When you click a radio button of a station, it gives you a coverage area map for that station, with your location also marked on the map.

I did this for Ch 27 (virtual 3.1) ABC and it was very interesting. It seems that every bit of elevation of your house helps the reception. All the upper middle class hillside homes in Pismo Beach and Arroyo Grande have a better signal, while the working class homes down in the flats need a high antenna or an amplifier. Being up on the plateau helps, all of the Nipomo area has a good signal, but being in the lee of the plateau, like eastern Oceano is worse. The flats of Santa Maria is also not good, being in the lee of their surrounding hills and also in the lee of their local broadcasting antennas (interference).

Anyway, the TV fool interactive tool is at:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=90

As far as PBS goes, it seems clear that they are going to use the same frequency and antenna location to broadcast digitally on channel 16 that they are now using to broadcast analog, so they must simply not be ready to convert over.

I read the above discussion on PBS on Channel 16, and decided to contact them directly and ask, and I was able to get very clear information.

The short form is that we should have PBS on KCET in HD by spring, and several other SD PBS channels as well. Read on:


We have just been awarded a federal grant to secure the needed funds to upgrade all of our local translators to digital. We have already begun ordering the necessary components and other than the potential for the winter rainy season slowing things
down, our goal is to change K16FC to K16FC-D by spring. We have also done a secondary engineering study for your area based on the recent events of reduced signal quality due to KSBY moving from channel 6 where they used to broadcast analog to channel
15 when they switched to digital operations in February.

With the change to digital operation, the overloading induced by KSBY's digital signal in the analog TV receiver causing snowy pictures or loss of signal altogether for some viewers should be a thing of the past.

We will be launching a media and member campaign in your area in advance of the switch over in order to get as many people ready as possible.

Thank you for your interest in KCET's plans for digital operations in your area and of course for being a dedicated KCET viewer.

Jeremy Howard
RF and Transmission Supervisor
KCET-TV

I then asked whether the channel would be in HD, and this was the reply:

Actually, when we go digital, we will have 4 different KCET multicast channels on the air. KCET will be better than ever, and I'm not just talking about digital quality.

Our primary KCET channel will be 16.1 for your area and it is the same program schedule as the analog or SD 4:3 aspect ratio that we currently broadcast but in HD and 16:9. We will also be airing our Orange channel which offers art, cooking, travel, and
other more adult oriented programming. PBS V-Me is a PBS Spanish language channel and offers both adult and children's programming. Last, but not least is PBS World, which offers news and public affairs programming. No more waiting for 5pm for the
kids programming to end to get your news and financial information. These services will be offered in SD or standard definition which means 4:3 aspect ratio.

I don't mind if you post this as it really helps to get the word out.

I was watching Flash Forward on my Samsung TV directly connected to the cable, and I noticed on my AV receiver that the audio was 2.0 rather than 5.1. This was on KEYT ch# 114-3, I know CBS HD and Fox HD come in at 5.1, is this just an issue with this show, (I'm pretty sure this show is supposed to be 5.1), or is this a KEYT thing. I haven't been able to see if any other shows are coming in at 2.0 on this channel yet, though I watched it yesterday and didn't notice anything, but I also don't specifically remember looking at what the shows were outputting their audio at, so I might just not of noticed it.

Shorties
Long story short, I think it is a KEYT thing. I get KEYT another way yet have only 2.0 audio from them also.

A_Dude, does Jeremy Howard Know by any chance, If Bakersfield viewers will receive KCET 28 HD. KCET anolog station UHF channel 46 is broadcasting from the Bank OF America building off of Truxtun Avenue, in Bakersfield, Cal.
Thanks:)

He replied:

Same basic plans for Bakersfield as well as all of our existing translators. I am coordinating all of them right now. The only difference is that the Bakersfield signal isn't being pounded to death by an adjacent high power digital station like you folks [he is referring to San Luis Obispo]. The one factor that affects Bakersfield is that the receive site we use on Frazier Mtn. to microwave our LA signal to the channel 46 transmitter is over 8000' so if winter arrives too early, we may have to wait until spring in order to complete that part of the project.

Until I get solid delivery dates for the various parts for all of the translator upgrades, I can't give any estimates of when each site will be switched to digital.

Jeremy

It turns out that Engineers rarely get emails and are happy to answer them, but the commercial aspect of the business of the channels other than PBS, makes them reluctant to post anything publicly or allow anything to be posted. (This is somewhat illogical, because when I emailed them, I was just some anonymous viewer, so how is it different to tell one anonymous viewer from all anonymous viewers ?)

So, I have to paraphrase, and just the give the overall situations:

- FOX in SLO is owned by the people who own CBS in SLO. Right now, CBS is in HD on the digital transmitter and Fox is in SD. This is because CBS allows them to run a slightly lower bandwidth HD signal, while FOX national office will not. They hope to get a permit to build a separate digital transmitter for FOX, but since they do not even have the permit yet, we are talking a couple of years before it would be operational.

- ABC does have a permit to convert its existing K57BC transmitter to digital, which would then provide coverage for SLO. In this case, it is simply whether funds will be budgeted to do the job.

- As mentioned before, KCET-PBS was able to get a federal grant to convert its analog repeaters to digital, and so this will happen in 2010 (with luck in the first half of 2010).

However, the commercial stations all state that 95% of their customers get local stations from cable or satellite, and that they have very little motivation to do anything about OTA service.

I get the impression that if it were impossible to convert an analog transmitter to digital, then all local stations today would only be on cable or satellite.

SUMMARY:

- PBS to convert SLO in 2010, with luck first half of 2010.
- ABC hopes to have funds to convert SLO in 2010.
- FOX "plans" to build a digital transmitter in SLO, more likely in 2011.

Please do not send angry emails about any of these situations. In this economy, money is tight for everyone, and local stations are struggling to pay the bills amidst increasing competition. So, at least be polite.

Another viewer in Bakersfield curious about the KCET translator situation. "Please do not send angry e-mails"? That must be why KCET never responded to mine! In Bakersfield KVPT PBS from Fresno has a digital translator on RF and virtual channel 18. They started broadcasting that signal in April 2008 and they shut off analog channel 34 in February 2009. In my e-mail to KCET I said that I will not watch snowy letterboxed and sometimes pillarbox in letterbox KCET in analog when I can get KVPT in digital snow free HD that I can choose how to display on SD sets. I guess they don't respond to e-mails that are only gripes!

Another viewer in Bakersfield curious about the KCET translator situation. "Please do not send angry e-mails"? That must be why KCET never responded to mine! In Bakersfield KVPT PBS from Fresno has a digital translator on RF and virtual channel 18. They started broadcasting that signal in April 2008 and they shut off analog channel 34 in February 2009. In my e-mail to KCET I said that I will not watch snowy letterboxed and sometimes pillarbox in letterbox KCET in analog when I can get KVPT in digital snow free HD that I can choose how to display on SD sets. I guess they don't respond to e-mails that are only gripes!

They already answered !!

Read my post above that has the word "Bakersfield", post # 816.

I sent KCET thta e-mail in early September and they never responded to me.

I sent KCET thta e-mail in early September and they never responded to me.

Perhaps it ended up in their SPAM folder by accident.

Anyway, the Bakersfield information is in the post. Summary of the status is that they are waiting for the transmitter parts company to give them a firm delivery date.

Shorties
Long story short, I think it is a KEYT thing. I get KEYT another way yet have only 2.0 audio from them also.

Ugh, I wonder if they have any plans to upgrade that before Lost premieres next year.

Is anyone in the Santa Barbara area seeing KBAB-LP 50 on the air digitally? If so, what is it airing?

- Trip

Ugh, I wonder if they have any plans to upgrade that before Lost premieres next year.

Unlikely.

It turns out that ABC used to provide affiliates with a single 5.1 stream that they could simply patch directly to the transmitter. Six months ago, they changed to providing ten separate channels (the six channels of 5.1 plus a stereo downmix and a Spanish language stereo downmix), and evidently due to the recession, KEYT apparently does not have the extra funds to acquire and install the necessary professional level equipment to encode the 5.1 feed themselves, so they provide the stereo downmix instead.

PS Where I lived before, the ABC affiliate only provided mono audio until the digital transition required them to make changes.

They are running the same digital stream as KJLA-DT 49 from Mt. Wilson.

Another station in Santa Barbara has filed a license app. KVMM-LD 41. I am betting the station is airing MTV tr3s, but I could be wrong. Can I get a confirmation as to whether it's on the air, and if so, how it's mapping and what it's airing?

- Trip

Another station in Santa Barbara has filed a license app. KVMM-LD 41. I am betting the station is airing MTV tr3s, but I could be wrong. Can I get a confirmation as to whether it's on the air, and if so, how it's mapping and what it's airing?

I'm not in front of my TV right now (I'll check later), but there is a channel in the area that airs MTV tr3s (I just can't remember the channel number).

Out of curiosity, why does someone in Virginia care about Santa Barbara ??

Because I run www.rabbitears.info which lists stations nationwide. :)

- Trip

Unlikely.

It turns out that ABC used to provide affiliates with a single 5.1 stream that they could simply patch directly to the transmitter. Six months ago, they changed to providing ten separate channels (the six channels of 5.1 plus a stereo downmix and a Spanish language stereo downmix), and evidently due to the recession, KEYT apparently does not have the extra funds to acquire and install the necessary professional level equipment to encode the 5.1 feed themselves, so they provide the stereo downmix instead.

PS Where I lived before, the ABC affiliate only provided mono audio until the digital transition required them to make changes.

Ouch (To the mono thing), well, thats good to know. Another thing I noticed just recently is that KEYT doesn't look HD, it says its an HD stream, but it feels and looks like a 720p stream that has been downgraded to 480p. Especially compared to Fox or CBS HD networks, it just seems low quality. Is KEYT ABC HD actually HD? Do they just produce a lower quality broadcast compared to the rest of the networks? Or am I just mistaken.

Dang !

It is very difficult getting KEYT-DT in the 5 cities area.

Supposedly it is transmitted from the same place as Univision, and 5 db weaker.

I added a Winegard preamp and amplifier set, and tweaked the position and orientation of the antenna and it improved Univision from Fair to Good (borderline Strong), and yet I still get zero on RF channel 27...

A-Dude, thanks for finding out the scoop on KCET near San Luis Obispo. I am thrilled that they will be multi-casting (didn't know that was possible on a translator station). I sent a thank you note to KCET about it.

I've gotten used to not watching KEYT, so I'm not missing it anymore, but it would be nice if they converted. (If I recall correctly, the digital version would be on Channel 31, instead of 57.)

Is anyone able to get K28GY in Goleta? This is supposedly the KCET channel 28 repeater on broadcast peak. I get KEYT from BP just fine, but I've never been able to tune 28. I can get the K26FT channel 26 repeater off of Gibraltar which is not LoS, and is farther away. 26 has a few dropouts though depending on weather.

28 shows up on antennaweb and tvfool - is it not really there, or is it maybe pointed away from me?

thanks.

It's not yet on the air.

- Trip

It's not yet on the air.

- Trip

Well that would explain it. It's been showing up everywhere for at least the 6 months I've been looking at OTA HDTV, and I've never seen a note to that effect. Anyone know when it's slated to go online?

-David

I heard Spring. There was a message posted here a few pages back I think about it.

- Trip

I am up near Islay Hill and am having trouble bringing any signal, even KSBY. I've tried a DIY Antenna design as well as an amplified indoor/outdoor one. Both have been mounted in my attic. I randomly got received KCOY and FOX during some initial testing and when I first built the DIY antenna I was able to get KSBY and CW in clearly. But now I can't pull anything at all. If there are any others in SLO that have had better luck I would like to hear from you.

Antenna:
UHF 470-870 MHz
VHF 47-230 MHz
Gain 20 +/- 3dB

TV:
Panasonic TC-P50G10
Visio VX37L

I see a number of SLO folks in here but no SLO thread but I posted a reception issue to "San Luis Obispo, CA - HDTV" thread. Or did it need to go here? I'm looking for help to figure out how to get any signal in this dead zone we live in. Thanks!

Probably should have gone here.

- Trip

I see a number of SLO folks in here but no SLO thread but I posted a reception issue to "San Luis Obispo, CA - HDTV" thread. Or did it need to go here? I'm looking for help to figure out how to get any signal in this dead zone we live in. Thanks!

I've always just posted here--didn't even know there was a SLO thread.

We live in a dead zone in Grover and can't take advantage of OTA broadcast/reception without going through the crazy, crazy hoops of antenna building, mounting, and installation. With Dish 'til Nov '11.

Still poke my head in here once in a while to keep up to date though. There's a few other posters who live locally. Sure they'll chime in.

-Oh, and welcome! Great forum here, lots of info & help.

We get KCOY (CBS) and KKFX (Fox), KSBY (NBC) and CW, and several Spanish stations via digital indoor antennas.

I've found that 1/4 inch of movement makes a big difference for KCOY (and therefore KKFX). I used TVfool.com's website tool to find station transmitter location (SE, just east of the Edna Valley from directionally from SLO) so I knew where to start for locating the KCOY signal. I use an amplified antenna for each TV. Amplification appears to be necessary for us to receive the KCOY signal.

KSBY's signal is so overpowering that I have the back of the antennas pointing toward the transmission tower on Cuesta ridge and still receive KSBY and CW fine.

I've found that the sensitivity/quality of the TV tuner makes a large difference as well. Two of our TVs are actually computers with a USB TV tuner. I changed the tuner on of them and got better reception for KCOY, its rock solid and looks great now.

The third TV is a 25 inch Hannspree TV from Costco. It seems to have the best tuner of them all as it can receive the TV signals perfectly at a much lower indicated signal strength. It also has an analog tuner and receives PBS (from their Cuesta ridge site) as well.

The computers are each using a cheapo digital antenna from Monoprice. The Hannspree TV is using the Terk HDTVa antenna.

Hope this helps! Keep at it, it took me many hours of tweaking the antenna direction and location (changed walls, then put it in a window, etc.).

I see a number of SLO folks in here but no SLO thread but I posted a reception issue to "San Luis Obispo, CA - HDTV" thread. Or did it need to go here? I'm looking for help to figure out how to get any signal in this dead zone we live in. Thanks!
dustind,

I posted a lengthy reply to your post in the "San Luis Obispo - HDTV" thread you started, with my experiences with receiving OTA in SLO. We receive KCOY, KSBY, Fox, CW and several Spanish stations with only indoor antennas. Check it out.

Well I'm jealous if you are getting clean signals. I'm using the same Monoprice antenna you have plus I've tried a home built coat-hanger... I've even tried combining them. Still nothing. I think I'm in a perfect dead spot between Islay and Riggetti hills and maybe the signals are getting blocked, I've tried in the attic, outside, and all over the house with two different TV's (Panansonic & Vizio). And I'm past hours and into days of testing.

Topics merged.

dustind,

I went through the same thing, perhaps not quite as bad as you are experiencing. Then finally, everything clicked. In one room, it made the difference by moving the Monoprice antenna to a south facing window with the unit facing toward KCOY's transmitter.

In another room, the Hannspree TV would not receive KCOY with a Monoprice antenna. What's really strange is that I thought the antenna or amp may be bad since the amp light would never come on. Then I took a known good Monoprice antenna from the other room and tried it there. The amp light would still not come on. I'm not an electrical engineer but perhaps there is some sort of impedance mis-match between the Monoprice antenna and the Hannspree TV. Who knows? I tried a Terk HDTVa for the Hannspree and KCOY then came in perfectly.

At first, in the highest room in the house, I had a problem receiving KSBY with the Monoprice antenna pointed toward the Cuesta ridge transmitter. The Monoprice antenna has an amp, so I guessed that the extremely powerful KSBY signal could be overloading the antenna/amp combination. I turned the antenna away from Cuesta ridge (KSBY) and added an additional length of cable (2x10ft), and now KSBY came in perfectly. With a little fine-tuning antenna pointing I was able to receive KCOY as well.

Bottom line: The KSBY signal is so strong, you may need to do something to tone it down, while the KCOY signal is weak so you'll definitely need an antenna amp for it and the antenna must be aimed almost perfect as well for KCOY.

Try the Terk HDTVa from Amazon.

Well I'm jealous if you are getting clean signals. I'm using the same Monoprice antenna you have plus I've tried a home built coat-hanger... I've even tried combining them. Still nothing. I think I'm in a perfect dead spot between Islay and Riggetti hills and maybe the signals are getting blocked, I've tried in the attic, outside, and all over the house with two different TV's (Panansonic & Vizio). And I'm past hours and into days of testing.

One simple thing I didn't realize when it came to digital tv (at least on my tv) is that you have to rescan for channels, i.e. you can't just type in the station number to see if there is a signal. Because I didn't know this, I spent a lot of time trying to get in stations by typing them in after the initial scan that picked up KSBY. If you can get in channel 24 (FOX's analog), then you're pointed in the right direction to get the SLO digital signals.

If it's not that, I'd go for getting KSBY. Their signal is so strong, I can't imagine that it's not coming in (it should come in with rabbit ears just about anywhere). Try it on a long cable, walking around the room, at different heights.

KCET are now giving a rough date of one month from now, for turning on K16FC-D from San Luis Obispo. :cool:

Has KCET said anything more about switching channel 46 in Bakersfield to digital?

Has KCET said anything more about switching channel 46 in Bakersfield to digital?

I only had asked about SLO, but he had previously said that they were going to do all of them at once.

They have received all of the parts, and right now, they are establishing and testing the digital feeds to the transmitters.

I would expect all of the conversions in April, and if there is not official notifications by mid-April, then I will inquire for you, but meanwhile they will be busy doing the work, so I don't want to use any more of their time with inquiries.

KCET are now giving a rough date of one month from now, for turning on K16FC-D from San Luis Obispo. :cool:

Thanks for that update.

I used to get 19 stations pre-digital, some of them doubles and one triple, I think 13 of them unique.
The following were first coming in with a converter box.
3.1 / 3.2 - since disappeared - SB
6.1 / 6.2 - always clear - SLO
12.1 / 12.2 (24.1) - SM
29.1
33.1 - since disappeared
38.1 / 38.2 / 38.3 - mostly clear with rare disappearances

Old crt tv, zenith converter box, archer 15-1108 amplifier, and yagi antenna. (http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l15/Tommymc51/home/antenna.jpg)
Here is the tvfool readout (http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d7b0e031f9ddf9a), pointed to SLO with the guide of an antennaweb map.

KCET's translator in Bakersfield is now digital! Maybe you guys are getting your translator switched soon. I am surprosed that they did not have a crawl on the analog signal for the last 30 days saying that "We will be terminating this analog signal".

Just did a scan, no joy. I will just have to practice some patience.

Just did a scan, no joy. I will just have to practice some patience.

The engineers cannot be in Bakersfield and San Luis Obispo at the same time...

Jeremy Howard, the RF engineer for KCET (PBS), says that the KCET translator in San Luis Obispo should be converted to digital this week as K16FC-D (channel 16).

He is looking for a couple of people to give feedback on the signal and picture quality on Thursday and/or Friday (especially since the neighboring channel 15 (KSBY) is strong).

If you are interested in volunteering, send me a PM with your city and rough hours of availability. We especially are looking for someone in San Luis Obispo city area, but also elsewhere in the area.

Jeremy Howard, the RF engineer for KCET (PBS), says that the KCET translator in San Luis Obispo should be converted to digital this week as K16FC-D (channel 16).

He is looking for a couple of people to give feedback on the signal and picture quality on Thursday and/or Friday (especially since the neighboring channel 15 (KSBY) is strong).

If you are interested in volunteering, send me a PM with your city and rough hours of availability. We especially are looking for someone in San Luis Obispo city area, but also elsewhere in the area.

That's great news, thanks. PM on the way.

The plan is test some programming tomorrow (Friday) morning.

I've not heard anything from pbs, but will take a look in the morning.

Thanks for the updates.

I tried twice today (Thursday) to get the digital signal on 16. (I was getting the analog very nicely.) Does anyone know if it's on the air yet? A-Dude, you said they'd broadcast a show on Friday. I will try tomorrow and report back.

I'm very excited about the change! Thanks to all who kept up with contacting KCET about it.

I don't know if the KCET folks are done tuning their parameters but I just did a scan & getting a 720p signal calling itself 16-1 (KCET-HD) and several sub-channels. This is in Oceano with powered rabbit ears. I admit it is a weak signal but I am happy to at least see it.

Thank you KCET! Beautiful reception! I am receiving your signal 100% with 4 multi-cast channels (16-1, 16-2, 16-3, 16-4). I am in SLO (by S. Higuera and Los Osos Valley Road). FYI, I am using an 8-bay Channel Master antenna on top of a single story roof pointed toward Cuesta Peak. (I still get KCOY in Santa Maria this direction and I'll bet if I point toward Santa Maria, I'll still get KCET - sorry, no time to try it today.)

Thanks to all the others who contacted KCET about it.

I'm not getting any channel 16 signal in Santa Maria.

Awesome, KCET is now broadcasting digitally! A_Dude, I sent you a PM about testing. I'll go ahead and post my test results here.

Location:
I live in SLO near the corner of Los Osos Valley Road and South Higuera. I am 8 miles from the transmitters on Cuesta ridge and have direct line-of-sight to the towers. I have two different antennas on my roof which I can switch between. One is a 4-bay aimed at Cuesta ridge, the other is a homemade yagi pointed towards Santa Maria.

Channels:
When I scanned for new channels my TV found 7 new channels. It found 16.0, 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4, 16.9, and 16.10. However, only 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, and 16.4 are valid. I have noticed in the past sometimes my TV scans a ghost channel like this, so it's likely a bug with my TVs firmware.

Signal Strengths:
Here are my signal strengths for both antennas. I've included several digital channels for comparison.

4-bay pointed at Cuesta:
KCET(PBS) - 92%
KSBY(NBC) - 98%
KCOY(CBS) - 65%

Yagi pointed at Santa Maria:
KCET(PBS) - 84%
KSBY(NBC) - 87%
KCOY(CBS) - 92%


All and all I'm very pleased with the signal, PBS looks great in HD. It's very breezy outside today and usually the wind causes occasional drop-outs for me and so far PBS hasn't dropped out once.

Thank you very much KCET! I'm so looking forward to shows like Nova and Nature in widescreen HD.

Thanks A_dude for keeping us updated about kcet. I live in Nipomo and have a clear view of north and south. I've got my 4-bay pointed towards the Santa Barbara stations. Kcet is coming in at 84% on my tv tuner and about the same on my htpc. Great job kcet! Perfectly clear quality programing.

Jeremey Howard, RF and Transmission Supervisor for KCET-TV stated this morning:

Yep, we are only putting out 15Kw vs. 1Mw for our neighbors at KSBY so it stands to reason you might need to get something pointed more or less in the general direction of Cuesta.

Once you do, it should be great. As soon as I got everything buttoned up at the transmitter on Friday, I went straight to San Miguel, which is the northernmost point I used to be able to see our analog signal before KSBY fired up ch. 15. I was happy to
once again see our signal with the antenna in hand standing next to my work truck. For fun I left the antenna in the back seat and the TV and Converter box going as I traveled back south. On several occasions it would lock up and barely break up at all
for miles at a time at freeway speed.

I was able to also see it to the south in Santa Maria on the first couple of miles of Hwy 166 as it heads east holding the antenna as well.

I plan on taking a day pretty soon and devoting it to see just how our coverage has changed.

Oh, and just for a cool test, since you have your antenna pointed at SB, can you see my channel 28 down there? We just got it all converted to DTV a couple of weeks ago and it should overlap to Santa Maria, but I haven't had a chance to check that one
yet. I used to get both 28 and 16 in the Santa Maria Costco parking lot on analog, so who knows?

Thank you very much for the reports from the forum. They help to quickly see where we are. For the folks who can't get it yet, they may just need to do a channel scan on their converter box, DTV set, etc. Depending on the tuner software, some will not
tune a new channel until it's complete, while others can find the primary (.1) channel and automatically download the data for all the associated sub channels as well. Either way a new scan is always a good first thing to try for a new, or for that
matter, an existing channel that suddenly disappears.

The .9 and .10 channels are for furure TV Guide on screen use. We used to provide this data on our analog channels for years for people who have VCRs or DVRs that use the TV Guide program guide to record shows. The new digital version will be
compatible with newer devices designed to look for that data.

Comments from the San Luis Obispo area (5 Cities, Santa Maria, Morro Bay, etc.) on the new KCET digital channels and their programming and picture and sound quality (as well as signal strength, either subjective or numerical) would be appreciated !

Oh, and just for a cool test, since you have your antenna pointed at SB, can you see my channel 28 down there? We just got it all converted to DTV a couple of weeks ago and it should overlap to Santa Maria, but I haven't had a chance to check that one
yet. I used to get both 28 and 16 in the Santa Maria Costco parking lot on analog, so who knows?

I've never been able to pull in a signal from SB 28 here in Nipomo.

Neither 16.1 nor 28.1 are coming in to my location in Northeast Santa Maria.
I was picking up both of them before the change to digital, but analog does not come in now either.

The top of 166 is not a good test, as that is the highest elevation around here.
It is much higher ground than Santa Maria and there are only a few farmhouses there.

My Zenith converter box picks up new channels automatically.
I have done several scans and several times have input channel numbers, none of which picked up anything.

My antenna is pointed directly to KSBY 6.1, as per the antennaweb map.
The distances are 31.2 and 39.2 miles. Perhaps the 15 watt signal is not strong enough.

Comments from the San Luis Obispo area (5 Cities, Santa Maria, Morro Bay, etc.) on the new KCET digital channels and their programming and picture and sound quality (as well as signal strength, either subjective or numerical) would be appreciated !

No signal for 16.1 or 28.1 here.

Do you want comments about their digital translator on channel 46 in Bakersfield? Picture quality: HD is ok, but definately suffers from having so many subchannels. We also have a translator of KVPT from Fresno and the HD quality is better on that station (they are in 1080i and only have 2 subchannels). Picture quality on World and KCET Orange is very good for SD. Zooming in on pillarboxed shows provides full quality widescreen SD. KVPT really waters down the bitrate on their Create subchannel. Zooming it results in a Youtube quality picture. It is the old tradeoff of HD quality vs subchannels. If the same show is on both KCET HD and KVPT HD, I will choose KVPT. KVPT preempts PBS primetime shows for local pledge programs more often than KCET, so KCET is a nice backup to have. Sound quality: All subchannels have full CD quality stereo sound. Programming: I am very glad to have the World subchannel. A lot of good programs, plus usually a second chance to watch something I missed the night before on the main channel. KCET Orange has some good shows too. I do not speak Spanish, so I never watch V-ME (KVPT has V-ME also). Signal quality: Definately inferior to a full power station or KVPT's translator. Outdoors I can get a fairly consistent lock after adjusting the rabbit ears a little (I often watch tv outdoors on an SD Durabrand set that has a built in digital tuner). Indoors is much more of a problem. Much harder to find a good spot for the antenna, and even then an average of at least one pixellation or dropout every 5 minutes, sometimes much worse. The biggest negative is that Brigth House cable does not carry KCET in HD, nor any of it's subchannels. That means flipping the A/B switch and using an antenna to receive the over the air signal is the only way to watch KCET in digital. They do carry the main channel in analog, but forget that! They carry KVPT in HD, along with the Create subchannel. So for most PBS viewing, I still choose KVPT over KCET. I wish Bright House would add KCET in HD, along with the subchannels. Brigth House isn't interested in my comments, because according to them I am not supposed to get ANY digital channels (they pretty much consider clear QAM users to be legalized pirates)!

Mr Hawk,
The question was specifically for users in the SLO area. It kinda feels like a thread intrusion since you also cross posted your reply to the Bakersfield forum.
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To answer the question, using an indoor powered rabbit ears/hoop, my TV measures strength in "bars" and I get between 2-4 for 16.1. I do get signal breakup once in awhile, should get solved if I put in an outdoor antenna. For comparison I do get digital channels 6 & 12 with 8-10 bars of strength.
Mike

I appreciate Desert Hawk's detailed and instructive contribution, which certainly has relevance to this area,
and I would rather that mthompso105 not try to speak for the rest of the people on the forum.

Now that KCET digital has been up for several weeks I wanted to update my previous post.

For the most part the KCET signal is great. I love having multiple PBS channels! I've only found 2 problems with the signal.

1. The "guide" feature does not appear to work. On all my other digital channels when I select "guide" on my TV it shows me the name of the program, a description, as well as minutes remaining in the program. However for KCET none of this info is present.

2. Occasionally I get digital drop-outs, the screen pixelates for a second then back to normal. This happens on average about once every five minutes. However I do not think the problem is on my end nor between me and the transmitter on Cuesta ridge. When this happens the KCET signal on my end is holding strong in the mid 90s, the channel never unlocks, and there are no decoding errors. My guess is somewhere between LA and Cuesta ridge is the problem. As I understand it the KCET signal is transmitted from mountain top to mountain top from LA (Mt. Wilson) to Cuesta ridge where it's broadcast for our enjoyment. I'm guessing somewhere in that chain of transmitters and receivers the signal occasionally drops-out.

These dropouts are not visible in the Charter Cable feed. I assume that OTA feed is based on the same link up from LA. So that would put the problem somewhere between SLO and Cuesta Ridge.

Jeremy reports:

I was up in SLO yesterday and corrected the time and program errors on our PSIP on K16FC-D. Just for those guys info. we haven't been using that microwave system for over 2 years since we began sending our programming up there on DS3 fiber. The drops
could be caused by anything from hits in the fiber to local interference, although we honestly haven't had it on the air long enough to know until we see more feedback.

Anyway, the programming should be fine, but if there are any problems, a channel scan may be in order as I also changed the channel ID's on .3 from KCET V- to KCET VME and .4 changed from KCET W to KCET WLD. I noticed that my converter did not refelct
the change in PSIP until I did an update channel scan, but the change in time and programming seemed to be fine as I did not need to do anything to verify that the local time was correct other than ativate the giude function.

Have a great Memorial Day!

Can anyone in SLO get the KEYT digital signal that broadcasts from Santa Barbara? I seem to recall that one poster (wormzer?) mentioned he was able to get channels 3.1/3.2 and he was in San Luis Obispo, but I'm not sure.

Also, does anyone have any new news on the conversion plans of of the KEYT translator station K57BC to digital?

(As side note I can't even get the analog KEYT on UHF channel 57 where I live in SLO. I live near the intersection of Laurel Lane and Southwood on the south side of SLO.)


Thanks in advance.

Can anyone in SLO get the KEYT digital signal that broadcasts from Santa Barbara? I seem to recall that one poster (wormzer?) mentioned he was able to get channels 3.1/3.2 and he was in San Luis Obispo, but I'm not sure.

Also, does anyone have any new news on the conversion plans of of the KEYT translator station K57BC to digital?

(As side note I can't even get the analog KEYT on UHF channel 57 where I live in SLO. I live near the intersection of Laurel Lane and Southwood on the south side of SLO.)

Thanks in advance.
The only person who has ever reported consistently getting KEYT-DT from Santa Barbara, in San Luis Obispo was this post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16002232#post16002232).

But you reminded me that it has been over 7 months since we received an update from KEYT so I contacted them and will report back any new information on the status of the K57BC conversion to digital.

Topic title edited.

I just have a question for the moderators and other viewers. Can I post Charter HD updates in this thread or should I start a separate thread?

I just have a question for the moderators and other viewers. Can I post Charter HD updates in this thread or should I start a separate thread?

There is a stickied thread that is an index of all threads:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=453241

"HDTV" refers to all sources, if the area were larger there would be separate "OTA" and "Charter" threads.

So, feel free to post in this thread, if you are in Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo counties.

A Dude, thanks for the info. It's been since November 3rd since we've seen HD channel additions for Charter. So I recently PM'd Umatter2charter on some updates for our area. He told me July or August for some additions, no info on what channels. I looked across the country's recent channel additions and based on our demographics and or past additions we will probably get 4-6 additions which will probably include (MLBHD, SyFyHD, LifetimeHD, Comedy Central HD, NatGeoHD, VersesHD give or take one or two). You can always try to influence what charter adds by PMing Umatter2charter or going to Charter Direct on dslreports.com. I'll keep everybody informed when I get some more info. Some additional info, until we get SDV charter is usually adding HD channels by moving 2 or 3 analog channels to digital.

I hope they add Versus before the Tour de France. Would also vote for Golf Channel. Is there a way to communicate with them without signing up for a Twitter account?

What is the time frame for SDV?

I hope they add Versus before the Tour de France. Would also vote for Golf Channel. Is there a way to communicate with them without signing up for a Twitter account?

What is the time frame for SDV?
LesMoss,
You can go to the Charter Direct forum at dslreports.com and contact them directly. Charter is supposed to go 60% SDV by the end of the year, however I'm not sure if where they are concentrating there SDV upgrades in. They have 3 main areas Midwest, West and South. They usually start in the Midwest and Louisiana with there upgrades, your guess is good as mine. Also, Golf channel could be one of the additions, they have GolfHD in about half of there footprint.

baja - Can you give a brief opinion on Charter in SLO County ? Things such as picture quality, customer service, broadband (if you have that), pricing. Have you compared the offering to what you would get with DirecTV or Dish Network ? Thanks.

baja - Can you give a brief opinion on Charter in SLO County ? Things such as picture quality, customer service, broadband (if you have that), pricing. Have you compared the offering to what you would get with DirecTV or Dish Network ? Thanks.

Sure Adude,
THe picture quality on Charter in HD is pretty good, certain channels are better then others, (CBS is probably the worst). Digital channels PQ is comparable to satellite, the analog in my opinion is horrible, I try not to watch in analog as much as possible. THe CSR techs that have come to my house are knowledgable and i have no problems on my service. It probbaly helps that I live in a new neighborhood with brand new lines. I have a 24 month guarantee price of $205 internet, phone, and cable. A salesman gave me his card and he will extend that when it needs to be, (we'll see). I got 25 down and 3 up charter interent service, and on speed tests i usually it 32 and 3.5. Unlimited local and long distance. With the 24 month guarantee I got every movie channel, sportsview, hd view, and every digital channel.

THe only experience i have with satellite is living with my parents a couple of years ago and visting them, they have 3 different companies for phone, internet and satellite. DSL which is slow as hell 3 up and 1 down. Their Direct TV keep rearranging their HD package so my parents keep getting less HD channels every year because Directv puts the channels in different packages and tells them if you want the hd channel back you have to upgrade their package. with all three seperate bills my mom says they pay about the same as me and they don't have any movie channels.

The one downside with charter I have to say is lack of HD linear channels, we have 34 right now. For instance where I used to live (Oakley) Comcast puts out 97 Hd channels. So I'm always bugging charter online CSR's with e-mails and posts, don't forget about the West. My final opinion, in my house at least, charter services are very reliable.

baja - Can you give a brief opinion on Charter in SLO County ? Things such as picture quality, customer service, broadband (if you have that), pricing. Have you compared the offering to what you would get with DirecTV or Dish Network ? Thanks.

Sure Adude,
THe picture quality on Charter in HD is pretty good, certain channels are better then others, (CBS is probably the worst). Digital channels PQ is comparable to satellite, the analog in my opinion is horrible, I try not to watch in analog as much as possible. THe CSR techs that have come to my house are knowledgable and i have no problems on my service. It probably helps that I live in a new neighborhood with brand new lines. I have a 24 month guarantee price of $205 internet, phone, and cable. A salesman gave me his card and he will extend that when it needs to be, (we'll see). I got 25 down and 3 up charter internet service, and on speed tests i usually it 32 and 3.5. Unlimited local and long distance. With the 24 month guarantee I got every movie channel, sportsview, hd view, and every digital channel.

THe only experience i have with satellite is living with my parents a couple of years ago and visting them, they have 3 different companies for phone, internet and satellite. DSL which is slow as hell 3 up and 1 down. Their Direct TV keeps rearranging their HD package so my parents keep getting less HD channels every year because Directv puts the channels in different packages and tells them if you want the hd channel back you have to upgrade their package. with all three seperate bills my mom says they pay about the same as me and they don't have any movie channels.

The one downside with charter I have to say is lack of HD linear channels, we have 34 right now. For instance where I used to live (Oakley) Comcast puts out 97 Hd channels. So I'm always bugging charter online CSR's with e-mails and posts, (don't forget about the West). My final opinion, in my house at least, charter services are very reliable.

baja - Can you give a brief opinion on Charter in SLO County ? Things such as picture quality, customer service, broadband (if you have that), pricing. Have you compared the offering to what you would get with DirecTV or Dish Network ? Thanks.

Sure Adude,
THe picture quality on Charter in HD are pretty good, certain channels are better then others, (CBS is probably the worst). Digital channels PQ is comparable to satellite, the analog in my opinion is horrible, I try not to watch in analog as much as possible. THe CSR techs that have come to my house are knowledgable and i have no problems on my service. It probably helps that I live in a new neighborhood with brand new lines. I have a 24 month guarantee price of $205 internet, phone, and cable. A salesman gave me his card and he will extend that when it needs to be, (we'll see). I got 25 down and 3 up charter internet service, and on speed tests i usually it 32 and 3.5. Unlimited local and long distance. With the 24 month guarantee I got every movie channel, sportsview, hd view, and every digital channel.

THe only experience i have with satellite is living with my parents a couple of years ago and visting them, they have 3 different companies for phone, internet and satellite. DSL which is slow as hell 3 up and 1 down. Their Direct TV keeps rearranging their HD package so my parents keep getting less HD channels every year because Directv puts the channels in different packages and tells them if you want the hd channel back you have to upgrade their package. with all three seperate bills my mom says they pay about the same as me and they don't have any movie channels.

The one downside with charter I have to say is lack of HD linear channels, we have 34 right now. For instance where I used to live (Oakley) Comcast puts out 97 Hd channels. So I'm always bugging charter online CSR's with e-mails and posts, (don't forget about the West). My final opinion, in my house at least, charter services are very reliable.

Sorry for the multiple posts my internet and computer at work sucks. It had a glitch or something.

Just an update: I'm getting K28GY-D (the KCET repeater on Broadcast Peak) perfectly now in Goleta (Ellwood area) using my attic antenna. Next is to try a directional VHF to grab KSBY via K10PV-D from Gibraltar Peak. I need to find something reasonably priced that will fit.

-David

The Santa Barbara OTA Univision broadcast is now in HD.

This means that SLO and Santa Barbara residents can see the World Cup in High Definition for free (as long as they speak Spanish or don't mind Spanish commentary).

Univision HD also went live on Charter today as well.

(We have added KPMR – HD (Univision) today just in time for the upcoming World Cup Soccer Tournament. A precursor to adding more SD/HD content in Atascadero is the completion of our Switched Digital/Simultrans initiative. A more reasonable time period for adding more content will be early 2011.
Regarding CSN California, we are aware that this is an extremely popular sports channel, yet Charter does not have a programmer carriage agreement with Comcast for this service. We will revisit a potential deal for 2011.)


My thoughts;
Hopefully they will be able to add a couple of channels this year before they do the SDv switch next year. If you like A's, Giants, Sharks or Warriors, please PM Umatter2charter and ask for the channels CSN California and Bay area. All of charter's additions are added based on popularity and people asking for them.

I got the "early 2011" reply from Umatter2charter to my request for more HD also. Will Switched Digital mean new DVRs? I am still running an old SA8300. At least it is reliable. I have heard of many problems with Moxis.

I got the "early 2011" reply from Umatter2charter to my request for more HD also. Will Switched Digital mean new DVRs? I am still running an old SA8300. At least it is reliable. I have heard of many problems with Moxis.

It probably won't mean new boxes. I heard from Paul Whipp (Charter sales man) he's getting 6412's in pretty soon. His phone # is 3107381167. I just got my 3rd Moxi, they only last about a year, however I love the interface, guide, and the way you program it. AS long as you keep the Moxi's ventilated and clean out the fan area they last about a year with no problems until (usually a brownout) the box gets fried.

Univision HD also went live on Charter today as well.

Could you give me a channel number? I found the Uni HD logo on 293 but the picture was not HD.

Could you give me a channel number? I found the Uni HD logo on 293 but the picture was not HD.

Not all Univision programs are HD yet, some are SD, so that could be the problem... the World Cup and most of primetime is in HD...

This might be fruitful optimism, however charter is moving 2 analog channels to digital on July 13. The last time they did that they were able to add hd channels to the lineup. "Let's keep our fingers crossed"

I lost KCOY (and therefore Fox-DT) a while back and had not been to tune them in. So yesterday I spent 3 hours playing with tuning and antennas and learned quite a bit.

The Monoprice antenna I had been using has an incredibly small sweet spot. As little as 1/8 inch movement results in KCOY going out, and even spot-on it does not stay locked in.

So I switched to a 30+ year old small "rabbit ears" antenna. Even with the ears only expanded to about 12 inches (for each ear), I am now receiving KCOY-HD (and Fox-DT) perfectly as well as KSBY-HD (and CW-DT), KCET-HD and its sub-channels, and Telemundo-HD. Antenna pointing was much easier than with the Monoprice antenna, and the signal quality is much higher.

Because I also had a concern about possible EMF interference (from PC equipment) I also added a quad-shielded antenna cable. I don't think it made a difference, but it is apparent that the high transmit power of KSBY is not interfering with reception of KCET at this location (SLO city).

I lost KCOY (and therefore Fox-DT) a while back and had not been to tune them in. So yesterday I spent 3 hours playing with tuning and antennas and learned quite a bit.

The Monoprice antenna I had been using has an incredibly small sweet spot. As little as 1/8 inch movement results in KCOY going out, and even spot-on it does not stay locked in.
Are you using the power inserter for the Monoprice antenna ?

Also, did you try turning it 180 degrees ?

Yes, I always used the small preamp supplied with the Monoprice antenna as I found that tuning KCOY was hopeless without it. I've tried the antenna in many different orientations including 180 deg reversed. The Monoprice antenna seemed to do best when "fronted" towards KCOY as both KSBY and KCET were strong enough to be received when the reverse side of the antenna pointed toward Cuesta Peak.

The ease of tuning with the rabbit ears has caused me to abandon the Monoprice for this particular PC. I'm still using another Monoprice for a different TV and I find that it also has the small sweet spot issue -- but I have all the channels tuned in on that one and hopefully they will stay that way!

Anything new regarding KEYT's K57BC digital project?

Has anybody in Santa Maria had success receiving KCET digital from Cuesta Ridge? If so, what equipment are you using?

My Radio Shack outdoor UHF antenna (located in my upstairs attic) with a Channel Master amplifier and DirecTV HR20 tuner fail to recognize K16FC-DT. TV Fool shows my distance as 32.8 miles from the Cuesta antenna.

Thanks,
Jimbo

Has anybody in Santa Maria had success receiving KCET digital from Cuesta Ridge? If so, what equipment are you using?

My Radio Shack outdoor UHF antenna (located in my upstairs attic) with a Channel Master amplifier and DirecTV HR20 tuner fail to recognize K16FC-DT. TV Fool shows my distance as 32.8 miles from the Cuesta antenna.

Thanks,
Jimbo

You might be closer to the KCET Santa Barbara digital transmitter...

You might be closer to the KCET Santa Barbara digital transmitter...

No luck that direction. KCET Santa Barbara digital transmitter is 38.4 miles away (with mountains between) and shows as "edge" reception on the TV Fool chart with -104.9 dBm signal power. That transmitter only has 2.600 kW ERP.

The KCET San Luis Obispo transmitter is 32.8 miles away with a "green" rating on the chart and -50.8 dBm signal power. The San Luis Obispo transmitter has 15.00 kW ERP.

Is anyone else having problems with the KCET signal from Cuesta Ridge (K16FC)? I noticed an odd problem that started yesterday. Some of the subchannels work, others do not.

16.1 - gone (no signal)
16.2 - works
16.3 - video but no audio
16.4 - audio but no video

You are correct, I had similar results. I even tried rescanning but it did not help.

Is anyone else having problems with the KCET signal from Cuesta Ridge (K16FC)? I noticed an odd problem that started yesterday. Some of the subchannels work, others do not.

16.1 - gone (no signal)
16.2 - works
16.3 - video but no audio
16.4 - audio but no video

I have also lost 16-01 and it shows up on 16-03 !

I have emailed the KCET engineer with all our reports of this problem

I live in Nipomo, CA, between Santa Maria, and San Louis Obispo, and I've been having similar problems the last couple of days. It seems as though my KCET received signal level has suddenly dropped several dB. All of the subchannels are weak. Audio is gone most of the time, and the video pixelates badly.

I've never had KCET signal strength to spare, but generally the signal is acceptable. The last couple of days it has not been viewable. Perhaps a bird took up residence in their feed. Sure hope they fix it soon; I enjoy their programing very much.

Dan

Anyone have contact information for the technical people at KCET responsible for the signal from Cuesta Ridge?

Thanks,
Dan

Anyone have contact information for the technical people at KCET responsible for the signal from Cuesta Ridge?

I have emailed the engineer responsible. He has not replied, but over the past few days, the symptoms have changed, indicating that he is too busy working on it to reply.

Now the KCET Cuesta Ridge signal is dead, so I assume they are working on it !

Jeremy, the engineer at KCET responsible for the translators replied:

Thanks for the reports. We had a problem with a signal processor/converter at the Tx site causing the PSIP information to change by itself, loss of audio, pixelation, etc. I am having the manfacturer repair it as I write this, and I hope to have us
back to normal operation tomorrow. I did manage to get the time corrected yesterday before removing the converter so the EPG should be back to normal as well. Right now the Tx is in standby mode so it's basically off the air as of about 4:30 yesterday.

Thanks A_Dude and others for the updates. What a great resource for OTA folks like me for info on local service issues. Silver lining: being without KCET for a few days here in Los Osos makes me appreciate their programming even more.

I'm continuing to have difficulty receiving the KCET signal; It's back up, but I can't decode it. I hope it's not just me, and that they are still trying to fix their signal. Are others still experiencing the problem? Any more updates A_Dude?
Thanks,

Dan

I'm continuing to have difficulty receiving the KCET signal; It's back up, but I can't decode it. I hope it's not just me, and that they are still trying to fix their signal. Are others still experiencing the problem? Any more updates A_Dude?
Thanks,

Dan
It's not just you, the channels keep breaking up even though the signal strength is the same as it was before. On the plus side, the time it advertises is now correct. :)
Mike

It's not just you, the channels keep breaking up even though the signal strength is the same as it was before. On the plus side, the time it advertises is now correct. :)
Mike

I did email the engineer that it was working, but heavily pixelated, but I imagine he knows and is working on fixing it...

I haven't had any improvement receiving KCET's signal.

I have three different receivers, with two different antenna systems, and the degree of pixelation, and absence of audio varies across subchannels from receiver to receiver. I'm wondering if this isn't more of an adjacent channel interference problem than a problem with KCET's signal processing. I receive a very strong channel 6.1 which I believe is on RF channel 15, right next to KCET on RF 16, and also out of Questa Ridge.

Are others still having difficulty receiving KCET?

A_Dude, have you had any feedback from KCET's technical people? Are they done, or are they still trying to make improvements?

Does anyone know if channel 6.1 changed their signal strength or antenna pattern around Aug. 1?

Thanks,
Dan

I haven't had any improvement receiving KCET's signal.

I have three different receivers, with two different antenna systems, and the degree of pixelation, and absence of audio varies across subchannels from receiver to receiver. I'm wondering if this isn't more of an adjacent channel interference problem than a problem with KCET's signal processing. I receive a very strong channel 6.1 which I believe is on RF channel 15, right next to KCET on RF 16, and also out of Questa Ridge.

Are others still having difficulty receiving KCET?

A_Dude, have you had any feedback from KCET's technical people? Are they done, or are they still trying to make improvements?

Does anyone know if channel 6.1 changed their signal strength or antenna pattern around Aug. 1?

Thanks,
Dan

It would be an astonishing coincidence if KSBY changed their signal exactly at the same time as KCET had a major system failure in their transmitter.

I think it likely that the fixed part was not the entire problem and so they are waiting for another part to be fixed...

Jeremy, the engineer at KCET responsible for the translators replied again:

Looks like there was a fiber problem that was confirmed by AT&T that was reported as fixed this afternoon, but we are still seeing an error on our fiber equipment here in Los Angeles which leads us to believe that the problem likely still exists. I have
a meeting scheduled with the Telco Monday morning, in hopes it will lead to fixing the problem for sure.

Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience.

Have a nice weekend.

Everything is working now on KCET from Cuesta, at least on my TV.

If you are still having problems with KCET from Cuesta, post here.

Otherwise, enjoy!

You guys are getting ABC in SLO? OTA? How come I can't pull this signal in.
I'm in AG
thanks

You guys are getting ABC in SLO? OTA? How come I can't pull this signal in.
I'm in AG
thanks

Read the last 5-10 pages of the thread.

Read the last 5-10 pages of the thread.

So I take it it's working I shouldn't have to adjust my antenna should I if I'm getting nbc cw fox and telumondo should I?

So I take it it's working I shouldn't have to adjust my antenna should I if I'm getting nbc cw fox and telumondo should I?

It's much more complicated than that. ABC is farther and in a different direction, for starters.

You could click on "Search Thread" and type "KEYT".

Everything is working now on KCET from Cuesta, at least on my TV.

If you are still having problems with KCET from Cuesta, post here.

Otherwise, enjoy!

It's much more complicated than that. ABC is farther and in a different direction, for starters.

You could click on "Search Thread" and type "KEYT".

well which is it I'm lost

well which is it I'm lost

never mind I got all excited thinking ABC:confused: Maybe some day we will get that up here

But I can't get KCET what does it take to get that?

But I can't get KCET what does it take to get that?

Do a rescan on your TV in its menu system.

If you do not have Channel 16 when that is finished, then you might need to adjust the direction of your antenna.

It is in the same direction as Channel 6 KSBY, but is less powerful.

Anyway, try the rescan (could be called "Automatic Scan" or "Channel Scan") and see if it adds it (because it has not always been working during the past weeks.)

A_Dude,

I take it KEYT has no updates on the conversion of the K57BC translator to digital?

A_Dude,

I take it KEYT has no updates on the conversion of the K57BC translator to digital?

I have not heard anything new. The last was that they were in the process of presenting a plan for the conversion to the owners.

Do a rescan on your TV in its menu system.

If you do not have Channel 16 when that is finished, then you might need to adjust the direction of your antenna.

It is in the same direction as Channel 6 KSBY, but is less powerful.

Anyway, try the rescan (could be called "Automatic Scan" or "Channel Scan") and see if it adds it (because it has not always been working during the past weeks.)

Can't pull that 1 in!

Can't pull that 1 in!

What sort of antenna and pointed where ?

Or better yet, post to the Official Antenna thread on this same Forum, where several experts can help you to pull in more stations:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=381623

Radio shack antenna up on the roof pointed at CBS. Like I said I can get NBC CW CBS FOX Telumondo

I've read through the last few pages of this thread and seen nothing about this, so I guess I'll ask.

I live in Goleta (93117), and want to cancel my cable. I'm wondering if it's possible to pick up channels from LA. Mainly, what I want that I can't get from somewhere closer is Fox in HD. TV Fool shows those channels in red and says I'd likely need a roof mounted antenna... they're 104 miles from me, I assume on Mount Wilson.

If it's going to be possible, I'm willing to put up something very large (HD8200U or CM3671), but I don't want to go through all that to find out it can't be done.

Anyone have any experience or comments with it?

Anyone have any experience or comments with it?

Unless you luck out and someone from Goleta posts, then you need to post to the other thread here where there are several very helpful antenna experts:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=381623

Anyone have any experience or comments with it?

I'm in Goleta and I was able to pull an intermittent Fox signal signal from my attic mounted ClearStream when it was pointed in that direction. I was planning on trying again at some point from the other side of the attic which has a clearer shot.

I'm in a condo, so I'm not going to be installing anything on the roof. My guess is that you could pull it pretty good from the roof assuming you didn't have anything nearby blocking you. Not sure what would happen to reception in bad weather though, that's a long haul.

-David

I'm in Goleta and I was able to pull an intermittent Fox signal signal from my attic mounted ClearStream when it was pointed in that direction. I was planning on trying again at some point from the other side of the attic which has a clearer shot.

I'm in a condo, so I'm not going to be installing anything on the roof. My guess is that you could pull it pretty good from the roof assuming you didn't have anything nearby blocking you. Not sure what would happen to reception in bad weather though, that's a long haul.

-David

Thanks! Were you able to pick up anything else? I think I'm gonna to try it out.

Thanks! Were you able to pick up anything else? I think I'm gonna to try it out.

Actually, looking at my notes, I don't think I was able to pick up KTTV because it's VHF, which the ClearStream1 can't get. I was able to pick up UHF KCBS (with dropouts) from Mt Wilson which gave me hope for using a VHF antenna when I can get one.

Sorry for any false hopes, but I think it's at least worth a try with the appropriate VHF antenna.

I do plan on getting a VHF - probably a ClearStream5 to chase after K10PV-D (NBC) when I can scrape the cash together. I'll probably try pointing it at Mt. Wilson first to see what I can see.

Let me know if you have any success.

-David

dbosso: As an update... I got a Winegard YA-1713, Antennas Direct 91XG, and a CM7777 pre-amp. With them all sitting on my lawn, I pulled everything (KTTV, KABC, KTLA, KCAL, KNBC, KOCE, KCOP, KCBS, also local KEYT and a bunch of other stuff) in pretty well. I have stuff on the way to get them on my roof and will report back when that's done.

A_Dude: Thanks for recommending that other thread, they've been very helpful.

Excellent news. I don't think I could fit that monster in my attic, but I will see if there's room. Please keep me informed on what kind of signal stability you get once it's on the roof. Will it be on top of a first or second story?

Thanks!

-db

Did anyone else notice that channel 12-2 (Fox) is now in HD? I thought it was always Fox-DT in standard def but I swear the Niners game was in HD over the weekend. Anyone? Also, still no KEYT-HD for me in Arroyo Grande, but I have a friend pulling it in from Grover Beach.

SiliconDust shows KCOY 12-1's CBS programming as 720p now, so I suspect 12-2 has gone HD.

- Trip

12-1 has always been in HD though. 12-2 was always in SD.

12-1 was in 1080i, not 720p. CBS sends its programming in 1080i, but 720p is more conducive to dual HD.

- Trip

And I notice that KCOY has been dumbed down to 720P on Charter cable too. Was 1080i previously.

Ah yes, I see what you mean. I did know that KCOY was 1080i but didn't realize that was your point. Good call, but 1080i and 720p are actually very close in bandwidth as I recall, so I wonder if that was really it. So has anyone actually confirmed that KKFX is in 720p now? I keep turning it on when there's SD programming on. I guess I'll find out on Sunday when the NFL is on...

I had previously asked why KKFX was not in HD and the KCOY engineer replied that they were required to use 1080i for KCOY, so there was not enough bandwidth to send KKFX in HD even though it was only 720p. He added that they would eventually build a separate transmitter for KKFX.

Well, from the above, it looks like they figured out it would be cheaper to just get CBS to agree to 720p.

All this is great for network programming, but there is still no local programming in HD.

Well, from the above, it looks like they figured out it would be cheaper to just get CBS to agree to 720p.

So KCOY is 720p, and not 1080i?!:confused: If so, does this explain why the PQ of KCOY looks horrible especially when one compares it to KCBS in L.A.?

So KCOY is 720p, and not 1080i?!:confused: If so, does this explain why the PQ of KCOY looks horrible especially when one compares it to KCBS in L.A.?

KCOY was 1080i and KKFX was 480i.

Now people are reporting that KKFX is "HD", so that would mean that they made both 720p, otherwise it would not fit in one transmission.

KCOY was 1080i and KKFX was 480i.

Now people are reporting that KKFX is "HD", so that would mean that they made both 720p, otherwise it would not fit in one transmission.

KKFX is in HD (720p), and their PQ is pretty good by the way! But KCOY is just terrible. You can really tell how bad their PQ is when you watch their NFL broadcasts. Wow, really bad!

Do you know if there are plans to change KCOY back to 1080i in the near future? After all, CBS broadcasts in 1080i, not 720p.

I had not even heard about this change, so I have not heard about any future change either.

After everything that we did to adjust our antennas for PBS this summer, now comes this:

KCET To Go Independent Effective January 1, 2011
KCET TO GO INDEPENDENT
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2011

Los Angeles -October 8, 2010 - KCET announced today that it will become the largest independent public television station in the United States effective January 1, 2011. This decision is the result of KCET and PBS' inability to reach an agreement on a reduction in PBS fees and greater programming flexibility. KCET will continue to carry the full PBS line-up through December 31, 2010.

Al Jerome, KCET President and Chief Executive Officer, issued the following statement:

"After four decades as the west coast flagship PBS station, this is not a decision we made lightly. We have been in discussions with PBS for over three years about the need to address challenges that are unique to our market as well as our station.

"As an independent public television station, KCET will be committed to investing in Southern California by developing, acquiring, producing and distributing content across all media platforms. We will continue to offer the KCET audience programming from leading national and international sources. Some of these series are currently on our air.

"Our plan is to become the media partner for the many diverse, creative voices in our community with stories to tell, art to exhibit, music or dance to perform and news to report. We will partner with other public service organizations so that our viewers can learn about the good work being done, but not often reported in the commercial media. We will use our broadcast spectrum and broadband capabilities to expand public service at a time in our history when people of all ages want to actively participate in the recovery and growth of our region."

By going independent, KCET is addressing issues unique within the PBS system. The station's PBS dues were increased by 40% because of its extraordinarily successful fundraising effort on behalf of A Place of Our Own/Los Nios en Su Casa. The dues were then frozen at the highest rate in the station's history just as the economy tumbled, leading to decreases in contributions from viewers, corporate underwriting, and foundation grants. Further, KCET is in the only market with four overlapping stations, which is why the station had been pursuing a consortium with the other stations in the Southern California region.

Gordon Bava, KCET Chairman of the Board, stated:

"Our Board of Directors decided unanimously that KCET could best serve Southern California by allocating our supporters' funds to locally focused news and cultural programming and other national and international quality content While separating from the PBS mother ship is daunting, the potential of providing a media platform for the creative, scientific, and cultural communities of Southern California to create informative and entertaining noncommercial programming with a fresh perspective is very exciting."

KCET will remain a non-profit, viewer-supported public media organization, operating under a non-commercial, educational television broadcast license awarded to Community Television of Southern California as an independent public television station.
###

I am very curious about what will happen with KCET's translators. Here in Bakersfield we will still have a full service PBS station via KVPT Fresno's digital translastor. If nothing changes, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Victorville, and Palm Springs will have no OTA PBS. I wonder if it would be possible for KOCE to lease bandwidth on KCET's translators? Would this be against PBS's rules since translators owned by non-member station KCET would have PBS programming on them, or since the subchannel would be entirely under the control of KOCE therefore it would be no different than if a subchannel were leased from a commercial broadcaster? On the HD message board there is a thread about 2 HD streams on one RF channel. As can be expected on this website of HD fans, the opinion on that is vast majority negative. However, under the circumstances, it might be the best thing in this situation. KOCE should lease space on KCET's translators, and the translators should carry KCET's HD channel on -1 and KOCE's HD channel on -2, both in 720p with 9 point whatever megabits. The other subchannels of KCET and KOCE would not be carried on the translators. KCET and KOCE could offer a full bandwidth direct feed to cable systems and satellite companies if desired. This solution would keep PBS available OTA on the coast and in the desert, and since KOCE would be available OTA, would presumably lock in KOCE as the "local" PBS station in those DMAs and prevent cable companies from importing KQED, KVPT, or KPBS.

Is KKFX still broadcasting in analog? They need to stop the analog and flash cut the LP signal to digital. They could leave a SD simulcast on full power KCOY, since the full power signal has greater range. Here in Bakersfield our FOX affiliate is also a low power station, KBFX. They recently went digital and HD. The simulcast in SD on full power KBAK was retained. Altogether we have 6 digital LP stations, 5 of them in HD. All low power stations need to get with the 21st century and kill the analog. We still have 11 analog LPs here.

KCET announced today that it will become the largest independent public television station in the United States effective January 1, 2011

That just sucks! For people in LA this shouldn't be a big deal, they can watch one of the other 3 PBS stations. But for those of us in places like SLO, we're going to lose all access to PBS programming like Nova and Nature.

I really hope PBS and KCET can work something out before Jan. 1st.

Is KKFX still broadcasting in analog? They need to stop the analog and flash cut the LP signal to digital. They could leave a SD simulcast on full power KCOY, since the full power signal has greater range. Here in Bakersfield our FOX affiliate is also a low power station, KBFX. They recently went digital and HD. The simulcast in SD on full power KBAK was retained. Altogether we have 6 digital LP stations, 5 of them in HD. All low power stations need to get with the 21st century and kill the analog. We still have 11 analog LPs here.

Yes, KKFX is still broadcasting in analog on ch. 24. I'm surprised they haven't cut that transmitter over to digital yet. Yes this costs money, but currently it's mostly money down the drain. They are paying the power bills to broadcast and how many people are actually watching the analog signal? Obviously we'll never know, but I suspect it's very few.

That just sucks! For people in LA this shouldn't be a big deal, they can watch one of the other 3 PBS stations. But for those of us in places like SLO, we're going to lose all access to PBS programming like Nova and Nature.

I really hope PBS and KCET can work something out before Jan. 1st.

I agree. And after all the work KCET's engineers did and the requests from folks like us. I've been enjoying PBS's programming almost every night and I will be quite bummed to lose it. Guess it's just netflix again. I'll miss the timely news and commentary from PBS. I'll miss the NOVA, nature, POV, Masterpiece Theater, and so much more.

I'm not too into community programming either - I'm thinking of the lovely productions we had on the community access station in SLO. Sure, the quality from LA might be better, but nothing as relevant as PBS. Come on PBS - give KCET a better deal! We are badly in need of the less biased news of PBS on the Central Coast.

I went to KCET's website and read the article, "Ask Al: KCET Goes Independent" and the comments below. (It's under "about us" on their site.) Sounds like it will also affect LA bigtime, unless the other stations pick-up PBS programming. However, it doesn't sound like they'll carry it all.

I agree. And after all the work KCET's engineers did and the requests from folks like us. I've been enjoying PBS's programming almost every night and I will be quite bummed to lose it. Guess it's just netflix again. I'll miss the timely news and commentary from PBS. I'll miss the NOVA, nature, POV, Masterpiece Theater, and so much more.

I'm not too into community programming either - I'm thinking of the lovely productions we had on the community access station in SLO. Sure, the quality from LA might be better, but nothing as relevant as PBS. Come on PBS - give KCET a better deal! We are badly in need of the less biased news of PBS on the Central Coast.

Now that I've read more about it, not so sure it's all on PBS's shoulders. I take it back when I said, "Come on PBS - give KCET a better deal!" It sounds like both KCET and KPBS are playing hardball. KCET, this is a bad move - we like your station because it runs PBS programs. PBS and KCET - you need to work it out - it's a lose-lose situation right now, for everyone.

Two feeds of PBS-HD plus most of the sub-channels are available on a one meter Ku band dish for free after equipment costs. Obviously this is not a solution for everyone such as those in apartments or without a clear view of the southern sky, but it is an option. There is a lot of information on this subject at satelliteguys.us and many other sites.

http://www.ocbj.com/news/2010/oct/17/koce-readies-become-regions-pbs-tv-flagship/

The challenge for KOCE: going from serving largely OC to all of Southern California, including Palm Springs and Santa Barbara—cities that now fall beyond the station’s broadcast tower.

“We’re trying to find a transmitter for Santa Barbara and are working with KVCR in San Bernardino to deliver PBS to Palm Springs,” Rogers said.

KOCE is trying to get an OTA signal in Santa Barbara. Hopefully a digital one and not crappy analog. The article says nothing about San Luis Obispo or Victorville. They are probably not worried about not being available OTA in Victorville since it is part of the L.A. DMA and they have cable and satellite must carry status there. I know that low power stations are not entitled to must carry, but having 1 OTA signal somewhere in the coast DMA might prohibit cable companies from importing KQED or KVPT. It is highly unlikely that KOCE will be available in Bakersfield, since KVPT was named as the "primary PBS station for the valley", according to KVPT.

http://www.ocbj.com/news/2010/oct/17/koce-readies-become-regions-pbs-tv-flagship/

The challenge for KOCE: going from serving largely OC to all of Southern California, including Palm Springs and Santa Barbara—cities that now fall beyond the station’s broadcast tower.

“We’re trying to find a transmitter for Santa Barbara and are working with KVCR in San Bernardino to deliver PBS to Palm Springs,” Rogers said....



Well I don't know what KOCE's Rogers is talking about here.

KVCR already carries PBS programming OTA and on cable/satellite to Palm Springs.

It broadcasts OTA in Palm Springs area from 2 low power transmitters which are due to flash cut to digital.

Meanwhile KVCR is already committed to launching a new locally produced, nationally distributed, Native American channel in partnership with the San Manuel Indians in 2011.

Presumably they will drop Create or MHz Worldview to accommodate that.

Is KOCE intimating that KVCR may rebroadcast KOCE's primary channel? Or are they looking to have KVCR carry some PBS programs they don't already carry on their primary channel.

As to Santa Barbara the quickest way to get on air there is as a sub on an existing channel or snapping up someone else's CP. Otherwise it is a long haul for a new low-power application of their own.

KKFX is in HD (720p), and their PQ is pretty good by the way! But KCOY is just terrible. You can really tell how bad their PQ is when you watch their NFL broadcasts. Wow, really bad!

Do you know if there are plans to change KCOY back to 1080i in the near future? After all, CBS broadcasts in 1080i, not 720p.
Just noticed today that KCOY on Cox Cable is back up to 1080i. PQ looks better than it did prior to them trying 720p. Is this a cable only feed (like KKFX in HD from the Fox splicer) or OTA as well?

Just noticed today that KCOY on Cox Cable is back up to 1080i. PQ looks better than it did prior to them trying 720p. Is this a cable only feed (like KKFX in HD from the Fox splicer) or OTA as well?

I have my locals via DirecTV and I am also noticing an improved PQ for KCOY (especially the last couple of days). Can't tell for sure if they are back to 1080i though. My receiver has always displayed a 1080i resolution for KCOY, even though (as other posters have noted) KCOY has been 720p. So no way to tell by simply looking at my receiver's resolution.

Can anybody else confirm that KCOY is back to 1080i?

KCOY is now back to 1080i on Charter Cable also. Looks better.

KCOY is currently running at about 14.3 Mbps. KCBS, which has no sub-channels and uses variable compression, runs in the high 14s and low 15s.

Earlier this year, KCOY ran about 13.2 Mbps, which ironically didn't change after their shift to 720p. The CBS eye in particular looks much more clear now. Bitrate itself doesn't usually signify PQ however. My guess is they updated their encoder.

The CBS eye in particular looks much more clear now.

Exactly! This is what I am seeing, much clearer now. Last week the CBS eye looked very blurry. Much better now!

KCOY is currently running at about 14.3 Mbps. KCBS, which has no sub-channels and uses variable compression, runs in the high 14s and low 15s.

If you're using TSReader, it's showing you an average value. If KCBS has the same gear as WCBS, KYW, etc, and I suspect they do, then the bitrate spikes as high as 17.5 Mbps and can go way down below that, depending on the content.

Are you using TSReader?

- Trip

If you're using TSReader, it's showing you an average value. If KCBS has the same gear as WCBS, KYW, etc, and I suspect they do, then the bitrate spikes as high as 17.5 Mbps and can go way down below that, depending on the content.

Are you using TSReader?

- Trip
Great website!

This is from MediaInfo analyzing the programs I've transferred to my PC from my TiVo or recorded off my USB tuner. It is the average bitrate.

I'll see if I can get TSReader to work with my clear QAM Avertv Hybrid Volar USB stick and find out more.

I don't think TSReader supports ClearQAM on generic BDA receivers at this time. I think it does support Hauppauge receivers with ClearQAM though.

TSReader does support OTA on generic BDA receivers, though.

- Trip

Works with the HDHomeRun on QAM, or if you can record an unfiltered transport stream with any card you can use the File source to load it.

I talked to the engineer at KCOY, and he confirmed that they changed back to 1080i!:) I guess this explains the better PQ via DirecTV. Good for KCOY!

So what are they doing for KKFX? Back to 480i? Widescreen at least?

Re-watched parts of last nights Mentalist on my PS3 with the bitrate meter on. The episode was set at a horse track and featured a lot of fast motion scenes. The highest I saw the bitrate meter go was 16.2, but several scenes featuring the horses racing pixilated at 14.5 without further bits being reallocated. At the same time, I also noticed a lot of film grain and fine detail in the slow moving scenes. In comparison, KCBS has always had a much more smooth DNRed like picture ever since switching to their new encoder last year.

I also caught some of the Big Bang Theory last night, whose fast moving opening sequence was a pixilated mess. But all in all, a massive improvement by KCOY. I'm glad they took viewer input into consideration and switched back to 1080i.

Now if only KEYT could do something about their bitrate averaging 11.7 and having a PQ much less than iTunes 720p downloads...

Now if only KEYT could do something about their bitrate averaging 11.7 and having a PQ much less than iTunes 720p downloads...

Yeah, KEYT has to get their act together. Their PQ is a blurry mess (via DirecTV, at least).

For anyone interested, here is a TSReader analysis of KEYT-DT 27. It looks like there is a lot more room for an ABC HD feed than they're using at present...

MPEG-2 Statistics
Table Sections Processed CRC Errors
PAT 2.6k 0
CAT 0 0
PMT 4 0
ETT 3.6k 0
PSIP 2.6k 0
EIT 2.3k 0

Continuity errors: 0
TEI errors: 0
Sync Losses: 0
Calculated multiplex rate: 19392659 bps
General Information
Source: ATSC BDA Source (No Status)
Tuner: Channel 27 (551 Mhz)
Signal: n/a
Network Type: ATSC
Run Time: 000:04:16
PID Usage Chart
0x0000 (0.08% ~ 0.02 Mbps) 0x0000 MPEG-2 Program Assocation Table
0x0030 (0.02% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x0030 MPEG-2 PMT for program 3
0x0031 (60.51% - 11.73 Mbps) 0x0031 MPEG-2 Video for program 3
0x0034 (1.01% ~ 0.20 Mbps) 0x0034 AC-3 Audio for program 3
0x0040 (0.02% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x0040 MPEG-2 PMT for program 4
0x0041 (21.16% - 4.13 Mbps) 0x0041 MPEG-2 Video for program 4
0x0044 (1.01% ~ 0.20 Mbps) 0x0044 AC-3 Audio for program 4
0x1d00 (0.06% ~ 0.01 Mbps) 0x1d00 ATSC EIT-0
0x1d01 (0.01% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d01 ATSC EIT-1
0x1d02 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d02 ATSC EIT-2
0x1d03 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d03 ATSC EIT-3
0x1d04 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d04 ATSC EIT-4
0x1d05 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d05 ATSC EIT-5
0x1d06 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d06 ATSC EIT-6
0x1d07 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d07 ATSC EIT-7
0x1d08 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d08 ATSC EIT-8
0x1d09 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d09 ATSC EIT-9
0x1d0a (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d0a ATSC EIT-10
0x1d0b (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d0b ATSC EIT-11
0x1d0c (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d0c ATSC EIT-12
0x1d0d (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d0d ATSC EIT-13
0x1d0e (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d0e ATSC EIT-14
0x1d0f (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d0f ATSC EIT-15
0x1d10 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d10 ATSC EIT-16
0x1d11 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d11 ATSC EIT-17
0x1d12 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d12 ATSC EIT-18
0x1d13 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d13 ATSC EIT-19
0x1d14 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d14 ATSC EIT-20
0x1d15 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d15 ATSC EIT-21
0x1d16 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d16 ATSC EIT-22
0x1d17 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d17 ATSC EIT-23
0x1e00 (0.02% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e00 ATSC Event ETT-0
0x1e01 (0.01% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e01 ATSC Event ETT-1
0x1e02 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e02 ATSC Event ETT-2
0x1e03 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e03 ATSC Event ETT-3
0x1e04 (0.01% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e04 ATSC Event ETT-4
0x1e05 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e05 ATSC Event ETT-5
0x1e06 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e06 ATSC Event ETT-6
0x1e07 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e07 ATSC Event ETT-7
0x1e08 (0.01% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e08 ATSC Event ETT-8
0x1e09 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e09 ATSC Event ETT-9
0x1e0a (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e0a ATSC Event ETT-10
0x1e0b (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e0b ATSC Event ETT-11
0x1e0c (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e0c ATSC Event ETT-12
0x1e0d (0.01% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e0d ATSC Event ETT-13
0x1e0e (0.01% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e0e ATSC Event ETT-14
0x1e0f (0.01% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e0f ATSC Event ETT-15
0x1e10 (0.01% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e10 ATSC Event ETT-16
0x1e11 (0.01% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e11 ATSC Event ETT-17
0x1e12 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e12 ATSC Event ETT-18
0x1e13 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e13 ATSC Event ETT-19
0x1e14 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e14 ATSC Event ETT-20
0x1e15 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e15 ATSC Event ETT-21
0x1e16 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e16 ATSC Event ETT-22
0x1e17 (0.01% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e17 ATSC Event ETT-23
0x1e80 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e80 ATSC Channel ETT
0x1ffb (0.23% ~ 0.05 Mbps) 0x1ffb ATSC Base PID (TVCT, MGT, RT, STT)
0x1fff (15.68% ~ 3.04 Mbps) 0x1fff MPEG-2 NULL Packet

For anyone interested, here is a TSReader analysis of KEYT-DT 27. It looks like there is a lot more room for an ABC HD feed than they're using at present...

MPEG-2 Statistics
Table Sections Processed CRC Errors
PAT 2.6k 0
CAT 0 0
PMT 4 0
ETT 3.6k 0
PSIP 2.6k 0
EIT 2.3k 0

Continuity errors: 0
TEI errors: 0
Sync Losses: 0
Calculated multiplex rate: 19392659 bps
General Information
Source: ATSC BDA Source (No Status)
Tuner: Channel 27 (551 Mhz)
Signal: n/a
Network Type: ATSC
Run Time: 000:04:16
PID Usage Chart
0x0000 (0.08% ~ 0.02 Mbps) 0x0000 MPEG-2 Program Assocation Table
0x0030 (0.02% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x0030 MPEG-2 PMT for program 3
0x0031 (60.51% - 11.73 Mbps) 0x0031 MPEG-2 Video for program 3
0x0034 (1.01% ~ 0.20 Mbps) 0x0034 AC-3 Audio for program 3
0x0040 (0.02% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x0040 MPEG-2 PMT for program 4
0x0041 (21.16% - 4.13 Mbps) 0x0041 MPEG-2 Video for program 4
0x0044 (1.01% ~ 0.20 Mbps) 0x0044 AC-3 Audio for program 4
0x1d00 (0.06% ~ 0.01 Mbps) 0x1d00 ATSC EIT-0
0x1d01 (0.01% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d01 ATSC EIT-1
0x1d02 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d02 ATSC EIT-2
0x1d03 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d03 ATSC EIT-3
0x1d04 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d04 ATSC EIT-4
0x1d05 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d05 ATSC EIT-5
0x1d06 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d06 ATSC EIT-6
0x1d07 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d07 ATSC EIT-7
0x1d08 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d08 ATSC EIT-8
0x1d09 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d09 ATSC EIT-9
0x1d0a (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d0a ATSC EIT-10
0x1d0b (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d0b ATSC EIT-11
0x1d0c (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d0c ATSC EIT-12
0x1d0d (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d0d ATSC EIT-13
0x1d0e (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d0e ATSC EIT-14
0x1d0f (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d0f ATSC EIT-15
0x1d10 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d10 ATSC EIT-16
0x1d11 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d11 ATSC EIT-17
0x1d12 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d12 ATSC EIT-18
0x1d13 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d13 ATSC EIT-19
0x1d14 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d14 ATSC EIT-20
0x1d15 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d15 ATSC EIT-21
0x1d16 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d16 ATSC EIT-22
0x1d17 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1d17 ATSC EIT-23
0x1e00 (0.02% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e00 ATSC Event ETT-0
0x1e01 (0.01% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e01 ATSC Event ETT-1
0x1e02 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e02 ATSC Event ETT-2
0x1e03 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e03 ATSC Event ETT-3
0x1e04 (0.01% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e04 ATSC Event ETT-4
0x1e05 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e05 ATSC Event ETT-5
0x1e06 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e06 ATSC Event ETT-6
0x1e07 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e07 ATSC Event ETT-7
0x1e08 (0.01% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e08 ATSC Event ETT-8
0x1e09 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e09 ATSC Event ETT-9
0x1e0a (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e0a ATSC Event ETT-10
0x1e0b (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e0b ATSC Event ETT-11
0x1e0c (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e0c ATSC Event ETT-12
0x1e0d (0.01% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e0d ATSC Event ETT-13
0x1e0e (0.01% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e0e ATSC Event ETT-14
0x1e0f (0.01% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e0f ATSC Event ETT-15
0x1e10 (0.01% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e10 ATSC Event ETT-16
0x1e11 (0.01% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e11 ATSC Event ETT-17
0x1e12 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e12 ATSC Event ETT-18
0x1e13 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e13 ATSC Event ETT-19
0x1e14 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e14 ATSC Event ETT-20
0x1e15 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e15 ATSC Event ETT-21
0x1e16 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e16 ATSC Event ETT-22
0x1e17 (0.01% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e17 ATSC Event ETT-23
0x1e80 (0.00% ~ 0.00 Mbps) 0x1e80 ATSC Channel ETT
0x1ffb (0.23% ~ 0.05 Mbps) 0x1ffb ATSC Base PID (TVCT, MGT, RT, STT)
0x1fff (15.68% ~ 3.04 Mbps) 0x1fff MPEG-2 NULL Packet

And what do these numbers mean in regards to better or worse PQ for KEYT?

They're wasting 3Mb/s on nothing and only giving 11.73Mb/s to the HD video, which is not sufficient for good HD PQ. Giving that 3 to the HD channel would noticeably improve quality. There's no logical explanation for why they're doing what they're doing.

They're wasting 3Mb/s on nothing and only giving 11.73Mb/s to the HD video, which is not sufficient for good HD PQ. Giving that 3 to the HD channel would noticeably improve quality. There's no logical explanation for why they're doing what they're doing.

Got it, thanks for the explanation!

And as far as KKFX, they are 720p with very good PQ.

For their cable feed, KKFX passes through the national FOX feed and just adds their logo, like most FOX affiliates do with the splicer system. I wish all the networks had splicer feeds, especially ABC.

@ Trip
Just emailed the KPMR and KEYT files

If they're feeding both networks (CBS and FOX) in HD over the air, then I doubt they're doing that in this case. For cable, maybe.

Also, did you ever e-mail me? I have been having some e-mails getting lost lately, I hope yours are not among them.

- Trip

I was just wondering if anybody has CW in HD in San luis Obispo county.

I was just wondering if anybody has CW in HD in San luis Obispo county.

Not OTA.

I was just wondering if anybody has CW in HD in San luis Obispo county.

Your only option would be to get DirecTV or DISH and "move" to LA or Fresno and hope you were under the spotbeam footprint for those cities.

I noticed that Charter in Ventura has CW in HD, I think they have the LA CW affiliate. I guess all of us up here has to wait, probably a long time!

Your only option would be to get DirecTV or DISH and "move" to LA or Fresno and hope you were under the spotbeam footprint for those cities.

I don't know specifics about DirecTV, but in terms of DiSH, satelliteguys.us has spotbeam maps and channel lists for each market.

DiSH's LA spotbeam does not quite reach SB or SLO (unless perhaps you had a bigger dish), but DiSH's LA HD locals include CW-HD, KCAL-HD, Uni-HD and Tel-HD, but no PBS-HD yet.

DiSH's SF spotbeam reaches SLO well and SB fairly well, but does not include anything other than the 4 networks in HD, and MyNtWK-HD

DiSH's SB/SLO spotbeam also includes Bakersfield and Fresno, but none has a CW-HD.

DiSH's feed includes guide data for all the OTA HD channels in SLO/SB, so that you can use their HD-DVR to record those also.

i just noticed tba channels from 301 to 371 on my by box (charter san luis obispo county) it looks like duplicate channels 2-71. Maybe they are testing the SDV-simultrans initiative?????

Yes, I see 301-371. To me they look like slightly better qualty than the analog equivalents. I also notice that the "Expanded Basic" channels are encrypted. A sign of the future as they eliminate analogs. I also notice that the QAM channel numbers have been scrambled. For those that care, here are the new ones for the clear QAM HDs:

ABC 104.1
CBS 106.2
FOX 106.1
NBC 104.2
PBS 105.3

I have not got guide data yet on my media center PC. Hope they have not broken that.

THis is my conversation with charterdirect at dslreports.

I live in 93422, over the weekend I noticed channel #'s 302-373 showed up on my charter box as TBA. So I clicked on them and noticed that they 2-73 duplicates in digital form. Any info on this? Is charter testing SDV or simultrans?

I would be happy to check into that for you. I will post back here as soon as I have more information.


Thank you for your patience, I have checked the area and I show that the broadcast center has been changing broadcast settings to prepare for a move to simultrans. However, I do not have any information on when that change is scheduled to go live.

Does that answer all of your questions?


Are these duplicate channels in the 300's permanent or temporary?


That is an excellent question. I will need to check with the broadcast group to see what plans are in place for that signal range. I will post back here as soon as I have more information.

I got a response from our marketing group that that channel range is just for testing purposes and there are no plans to utilize the channels for broadcast. Once new channels are available, they will be announced, along with their channel numbers, on your statement or via a separate mailer.

Baja,

Thanks for the info. What is simultrans?

Next question for them: Are we going to get a new PBS station when KCET abandons PBS at year end? If so which one and will it be HD?

LesMoss,
I asked the PBS question a couple of weeks ago and they said they were still in talks with carrying a different PBS station, more likely KOCE out of orange county or KQED in the bay area. my thoughts, it's likely to be KOCE because we get the LA stations.
Simultrans is transmitting the analog stations 2-73 digital at the same time, so people with boxes can get a better picture as well with people without boxes still get the channels. It also allows charter to switch and group them easier when they install SDV, which it looks like they are they are about deploy in are area. Which is pretty cool, in the areas they have SDV they are in the 50-60 HD channel range.

I asked the PBS question a couple of weeks ago and they said they were still in talks with carrying a different PBS station, more likely KOCE out of orange county or KQED in the bay area. my thoughts, it's likely to be KOCE because we get the LA stations. Re. PBS/KCET, has anyone heard whether or not Comcast will do something similar for its subscribers in northern Santa Barbara county?

I am sure that a cable company would not cut off access to PBS. If KOCE works out a deal with KCET to lease bandwidth on their translators then KOCE would have to be the station Central Coast cable systems carried. I know that low power stations aren't entitled to must carry, but KOCE being available OTA would probably block the importation of out of market KQED or KVPT. Someone once posted that he thinks that leasing bandwidth on a translator station isn't allowed; that a translator must be a 100% rebroadcast of the parent station. Here in Bakersfield KABE-LP is licenced as a translator and is effectively a translator of KFTV Fresno. However KABE inserts Bakersfield advertising and station identification; it is not a 100% rebroadcast of KFTV. Therefore I assume that KOCE could lease bandwidth on KCET's translators (if PBS will allow it, that is). I doubt that KVPT would grant Central Coast cable systems retransmission consent. If KVPT became the PBS station for the Central Coast then obviously donations to KVPT would increase. That would be good for them, but their PBS dues would also increase. There is always the possibility that in coming years that KCET and PBS will work out an agreement and KCET become PBS again. Since KCET has an OTA presence on the Central Coast, they would be back on cable and KVPT would be forced to be dropped. However PBS probably would not reduce KVPT's dues, but lock them in at the higher rate even though donations would drop a lot. That would be financial disaster for KVPT. The scenario could play out with KQED also, but KQED has lots of money and it would not be a disaster for them. I think your most likely outcome will be to get KOCE. KOCE will not be able to lease bandwidth on KCET's translator in Bakersfield because KVPT has just been named the only primary PBS station for Bakersfield.

Note that KCET will continue to get "American Public Television" syndicated programming like Rick Steves' Europe and Art Wolfe: Travels to the Edge.

http://www.aptonline.org/aptweb.nsf/vPrograms/Index-Programs

as well as other syndicators of "non-commercial" programming.

I can't think of any PBS-exclusive programs other than Nature, Nova, Frontline and Masterpiece Theater.

I can't think of any PBS-exclusive programs other than Nature, Nova, Frontline and Masterpiece Theater.

NewsHour?
Sesame Street and all the other PBS kids programming?

90% of what we watch on KCET is PBS. I doubt KCET will be on at all after the switch, especially if it's more junk like SoCal Connected. Fingers crossed that KOCE can work something out for Santa Barbara quickly.

-db

I really hope KCET starts airing "The Desert Speaks". As should be obvious from my screen name, I love the desert (Bakersfield and the surrounding area is technically a desert). The old "PBS HD Channel" had the show. It is full of lots of great information about the world's deserts, as well as lots of HD eye candy. I haven't been able to watch it since December 2008 (KVPT kept the PBS HD Channel longer than KCET did). The Desert Speaks is produced by KUAT Tucson and distributed by American Public Television. I want it back!

I really hope KCET starts airing "The Desert Speaks". As should be obvious from my screen name, I love the desert (Bakersfield and the surrounding area is technically a desert). The old "PBS HD Channel" had the show. It is full of lots of great information about the world's deserts, as well as lots of HD eye candy. I haven't been able to watch it since December 2008 (KVPT kept the PBS HD Channel longer than KCET did). The Desert Speaks is produced by KUAT Tucson and distributed by American Public Television. I want it back!

Go to KCET.org, find the viewer/member email address and send them the above paragraph.

Also wikipedia says that HD-Net shows it, although it is not currently in the schedule.

But a search of the Dish Network Guide shows that HD Theater (aka "Discovery HD Theater") channel is showing two episodes on Tuesday morning at 10 and 10:30 (perhaps they do so every Tuesday morning).

On KCET's website I already posted it on the "What would you like to see on the new KCET" message thread. I do not get Discovery HD Theater. I only get the clear QAM channels.

From Charter Marketing Dept;

1. We posted a newspaper ad and ran bill messages announcing new channel additions. His bill cycle probably has not received the message yet. On or after December 13 we will be adding the following channels to the San Luis Obispo lineups which covers the Atascadero community:
a. Sprout channel 105 to the Digital View tier
b. Disney Channel HD to 758 on Expanded Basic (HD Only)
c. Comedy Central HD to channel 764 on Expanded Basic (HD Only)
d. Syfy HD to channel 755 on Expanded Basic (HD Only)

2. We ran a newspaper ad in November about KCET and recently submitted bill messages that are cycling on all bills that are a part of the San Luis Obispo lineup.
a. Starting 1/1/11, KCET will no longer be a PBS affiliate. On or after 12/30/10 KCET will be moved from its current channel of 8 on Basic to channel 309 on Basic with a Digital Box. We will drop carriage of KCET HD on channel 788 and add Vme which is a multicast of KCET to channel 312.


I'm awaiting an answer of what pbs channel they are going to carry after Jan 1st.

Thanks for the reporting Baja. Its too bad they are dropping KCET-HD. There could be some good content there even post 12/30/10. Hopefully they will at least add an HD version of the new PBS channel.

BTW, my 11/22 bill has no mention of any channel changes. Where do the "newspaper ads" go? I read the Tribune regularly and have never seen them.

[LesMoss/Quote]BTW, my 11/22 bill has no mention of any channel changes. Where do the "newspaper ads" go? I read the Tribune regularly and have never seen them.[/QUOTE]

I'm not sure, i was wondering the same thing. I haven't seen any seperate mailers in a long time either. I remember they use to announce changes on KVEC a year or 2 ago and I haven't heard any on there in a while either.

Thanks for the response. I like all of the changes, however it doesn't say what channel is going to be PBS after Jan 1st.

From Charter at dslreports.com
Currently that is still being discussed and can't be released until we have it confirmed

Thanks for the reporting Baja. Its too bad they are dropping KCET-HD. There could be some good content there even post 12/30/10. Hopefully they will at least add an HD version of the new PBS channel.
If they do, then Charter subscribers will be able to get both channels, since you can get KCET-HD over the air with antenna as described earlier in this thread.