I live on Vandenberg AFB. I am getting 100 percent signal for KCOY-DT CBS with Terk 50 Antenna. (Hughes E86) So far I can't get KSBY-DT. I will probably try and get a better attenna. The Terk 50 is by no means a great one.

I think KCOY is still testing. I don't think they have broadcast anything in HD yet. The only thing I get is the standard NTSC in digital format.

This is still a big improvement, if anybody knows Vandenberg AFB, a lot of small hills block reception.

Anyone else?

Bump.

Anybody have any luck with KSBY or KEYT?

Still only get KCOY-DT. I hope KSBY-DT increases it output.

I am going to try a Silver Sensor later today from Montecito / Santa Barbara.

With no MNF in HD on DirecTV, I sure hope KEYT gets on the air soon!

Is there any other forum where people are discussing central coast HDTV reception? I was on a great yahoo groups mailing list in NYC. Maybe we could get a small quorum together and start one. Any takers?

-Burt

Sign me up from Paso Robles, CA. I'm hoping for Charter HD-Cable soon. I will probably continue to be disappointed. Is there any chance that I could receive any over the air HD signals in Paso Robles?

Thanks,

Marshall

PS. I thought I was alone in my HD quest on the Central Coast!

Marshall,

Have you tried http://www.antennaweb.org
It's a great site. Put in your address and it'll tell you what signals you might be able to pull in, and what type of antenna is needed to get them.

-Burt

I am in Downtown SLO and I recieve KSBY-DT in 480p only. I have been trying to get info from them about when they may ever go HD, but no one there seems to know anything.

I am on Vandenberg AFB as well and am getting the KCOY-DT signal and now that I have locked my antenna in I get good enough signal that I have stable picture and sound. Much of an improvement over my analog reception. I played around trying to get NBC but understood they were not offering any HD yet from their antenna so didn't worry about it too much since I get my D* feed of the nonHD signal. I really want CBS since it has SEC HD college football and want ABC too but have heard no word on when Santa Barbara will go live. I guess I need to make some friends in the engineering sections of ABC and CBS to get the scoop. Unless someone else has done this already. BTW I have Zenith SAT520 and some radio shack UHF/VHF antenna outside/but not on my roof. I really want some OTA HD.

Mike,

I had a nice conversation with an engineer over at KEYT - ABC in SB. There is good news and bad news. First the good:

Turns out they are getting their antenna ready as we speak. He expected it to be live sometime in October.

The bad news is that they won't have any HD content for about a year. The don't have a downlink for the national HD feed. Apparently ABC pays for the downlink, while KEYT pays for the antenna. So the timing of the downlink is outside their control. My guy didn't expect it before fall '04 though.

In the meantime there will be upconverted content on their digital station. I was really hoping for some HD MNF this season, but alas the only option is Canadian satellite.

-Burt

Thanks for the info Burt. At least I should be able to get the digital signal and that will be a dramatic improvement. Signal Area "A" yeah right. I can barely stand to watch it sometimes compared to the rest of my satellite and my Digital CBS. I will probably move in the military to some other small town that has crappy Hi Def options. Sure would be nice to live in a big metro area. My hometown of Ft Lauderdale sounds good. Thanks again for the update. Maybe we could start a campaign with national ABC to hurry up their downlink delivery. How do you like your canadian sat delivery. Is that Bev or something.

Mike

Got this email update from KEYT ABC (Santa Barbara) on status of their upgrade to digital. Lots of information but not pleasing to my ears that there are yet more delays. I was hoping for a digital signal by college football bowl games at least. Ugggghhh!

Mike:
KEYT was scheduled to begin construction of our digital broadcast facility
on December 2nd but we have encountered a couple of minor delays. All of
the digital equipment has been delivered to our transmitter site and we are
now scheduled to begin construction January 11th. Our broadcasting of a
digital signal should begin within 30 to 60 days of that date.

The signal will be carried over-the-air on Channel 27. It has not yet been
confirmed which of our primary cable carriers (Cox, Comcast, Charter &
Adelphia) will carry our digital signal and on what channel. The signal
will still be in the 3 x 4 aspect ratio vs. the high definition ratio of 9 x
16. The signal will be similar to our analog signal except it will be more
crisp and be on a 3-second delay. Actual broadcast of programming in the 9
x 16 aspect ratio will be subject to the installation of additional
converters, to actual schedules of HDTV programming and the local cable
carriers clearance of our HDTV signal. At the current time we are in
discussions with Cox regarding digital & HD carriage. We have yet to enter
discussions with our 3 other cable carriers, Comcast, Charter & Adelphia.

Regards,
Bob Grissom, VP/General Manager
KEYT

That's bad news. I don't know why the FCC just doesn't do anything about stations like KEYT who have not provided a digital signal by their suspense date.

Well, I am leaving Vandenberg in March. I am moving to El Paso. I hope I have better luck.

Good luck in El Paso. How is your Espanol? I couldn't believe how high the percentage of cars on the 10 freeway was that had Mexico license plates. Seemed like 10% or so.

KEYT's slowness is not surprising. I'm seriously considering getting a Canadian Satellite package. Bell has 2 HD choices from all 5 networks! If only the had a PVR receiver available.

The FCC has no real enforcment power. They are just policy making paper-pushers.

-Burt

Spanish is not very good. But I'll learn.

I thought about going to Canadian route. The FCC basically leaves it up to the Sat companies to police themselves. Now if the Sat company is making money they look the other way.

KCOY is ready to broadcast the Super Bowl in HD. Looks like they will have other programming in HD also.
http://www.kcoy.com/images/superbowl.gif

Try this link for further information:
http://www.kcoy.com/hdtv/superbowl.aspx

OUTSTANDING!! and it would be the week before I move out to St Louis. I figured I had to move to get my OTA HD. I will obviously put my antenna back up---temporarily to watch myself. Wonder if I should invite people over to watch. Would suck if it didn't work out for HD. Has KCOY tested anything in HD yet. Guess I need to get my antenna back up and see what is on during prime time. Cool better late than never

Does anyone know when Cox will activate DVI in their SA3250 STB? Just got a plasma TV and HD service through Cox a few weeks ago and quite anxious to view HD in digital format.

Joe

Good news. The DVI is now active in Santa Barbara. Apparantly happened today. Had both component and DVI hooked up just in case the DVI became active. Can't tell much difference though!

I am new to this forum. Are you saying that Cox is providing DVI from the 3250 STB? Are they providing the cable for connection to my Mitsu 55813?

I have tried to get a satellite waiver for NBC but KSBY has refused so far. KCOY gave it to me and they are much closer. Any comments on this?

Anybody getting HD stuff OTA? If yes, what antenna are you using?

I am new to this forum. Are you saying that Cox is providing DVI from the 3250 STB?
Yes.

Are they providing the cable for connection to my Mitsu 55813?
Cox provided a component cable; I had to get my own DVI/HDMI cable to connect the 3250 to my TV which accepts only HDMI.

Can't comment on the satellite question. I gave up DirecTV for cable.

As far as OTA, in our area there's only KEYT (maybe KNBC from LA but that's a stretch) and KEYT doesn't broadcast in HD.

I received the KSBY (NBC) waiver so I can now watch NY and LA NBC channels on my DirecTV. All I am missing is ABC.

Is the local CBS giving a waiver for the CBS HD from LA via DirectTV?

How is the picture quality of the locals off DirecTV?

What transponder on Sat 119 are the locals on? It's simple to check, just tune to one of the local channels, and then goto check signal strength screen to see what transponder it is on. Doing this for each local channel would show what transponder it is on.

I believe WB5 is coming from transponder 31 because it's KFRE from Fresno, but I believe the rest are on a different transponder.

Hopefully someone can check this for me and post.
thanks.

Originally posted by tivoyahoo
Is the local CBS giving a waiver for the CBS HD from LA via DirectTV?

How is the picture quality of the locals off DirecTV?

What transponder on Sat 119 are the locals on? It's simple to check, just tune to one of the local channels, and then goto check signal strength screen to see what transponder it is on. Doing this for each local channel would show what transponder it is on.

I believe WB5 is coming from transponder 31 because it's KFRE from Fresno, but I believe the rest are on a different transponder.

Hopefully someone can check this for me and post.
thanks.

I received the CBS waiver and getting the NY and LA CBS channels. I live in Montecito.

The KEYT (ABC) signal is awful (static) and I hear that it is because KEYT is having financial problems with the new owners.
The other KSBY (NBC6), KCOY (CBS12), KFRE (WB5) and KFKX(Fox24) are all good.

I have not checked nor do I care what transponders they use.

Former Santa barbara resident here, been away a year and moving back in a couple weeks to start a new job. The HD choices seem pretty slim down there, and since I have DirecTV I'll need to use an antenna to pick up any HD channels. Probably will be living in an apt, so that's going to be tough. But it sounds like I might have a chance to get waivers to receive the national feeds via DirecTV instead, which would be great. And now that DirecTV is adding NBC HD to their lineup, and Fox as well when they go HD, that might be a great situation. Maybe they'll also add ABC HD feeds sometime soon, and we can get waivers for all.

Was it very difficult to get approved for the waiver from KCOY? How is the OTA reception in the SB area? I've always had cable when I lived there so it never mattered. Doesn't seem like it would be very good with the terrain, but I may be wrong.

When is DTV adding NBC HD? Before the Olympics?

KCOY waiver is easy to get. Just call them up.

I don't use OTA but I don't think it is good here on the south coast blocked in by mountains. KEYT the local ABC channel is OK OTA but I don't expect HD from them and I hope I get a waiver once ABC HD is available on DTV.

Dracula, I'm hoping for the same thing. DTV is adding NBCHD for the olympics, then I believe it'll become a full-time channel soon after that. I know people at KEYT from when i used to live down there, so I'm hoping I can get a waiver so that when ABC-HD gets on DTV, I'll be able to receive it. Same with Fox. Actually Fox and CBS is really all I'd really care about, for NFL, since NBC doesn't really do any sports in HD (and doesn't have any sports coverage really worth watching to begin with), and ABC only has MNF in the fall, but hopefully DirecTV will get them signed in time for the NBA season. Plus, Fox is leaping over all the other networks in terms of amount of HD content, except maybe for CBS.

That's great about NBC HD. I am a new DTV subscriber. I have an HD Tivo and was hoping to record some Olympic events on DTV. I also have Cox cable HD but cannot record, only watch in real-time.

Agree on CBS and Fox for NFL. I have the NFL Sunday Ticket for the first time and look forward to watching my Patriots every week in HD if available.

Dracula, Cox should have an HD DVR in SB, I know that was one of the first markets, behind San Diego and a couple others, to get it implemented, so call them and see when it's available. The NBC HD feed for the Olympics will be 24 hours a day, on an 8-hour block that's repeated a total of 3 times... So whatever they are showing from, say, 6am - 2 pm, will be repeated from 2pm - 10pm and then 10pm - 6am the next day. But the HD stuff will be delayed a day after the regular stuff will be shown, and probably almost 2 days after it actually happens, which sucks.

Cox Cable has a DVR available in SB but it is not HD. After having a Tivo for almost two years on my cable and now on my DirecTV, I am spoiled and cannot use their DVR. It is lame compared to Tivo.

How is the OTA reception in Santa Barbara? I called up DirecTV to ask them about waivers, and they said you deal straight with them to get waivers from the local affiliates. But Dracula, you said KCOY gave you a waiver directly from them, which I hope to do. I assume when you call DirecTV and you say "i can't get any OTA reception, can I get a waiver" they'll maybe set up a signal test. Does that mean a test on the current OTA antenna you have installed? I'll most likely be renting a place and won't be able to have a big roof antenna, so will they determine based on my small clip-on antenna what my signal is, and then grant me the waiver? ALso, does the fact that they provide locals to SB/SLO area now affect my chances of receiving the waiver to get the national feeds and HD? I only want the waiver obviously so I can watch the HD broadcasts, so I don't know if they'll say "we already give you your locals, so you're stuck with the analog signal and you can't get HD" Any help is appreciated!

Also, what do you think would happen if, when I moved down and couldn't get any of the locals OTA, I called up D* to get the waiver, and if they denied me, if I threatened to cancel and switch to cable, would they maybe agree to give me the waiver in that case? Or is their rule on waivers strictly black and white, no room for bargaining?

Originally posted by ucsbgaucho
How is the OTA reception in Santa Barbara? I called up DirecTV to ask them about waivers, and they said you deal straight with them to get waivers from the local affiliates. But Dracula, you said KCOY gave you a waiver directly from them, which I hope to do. I assume when you call DirecTV and you say "i can't get any OTA reception, can I get a waiver" they'll maybe set up a signal test. Does that mean a test on the current OTA antenna you have installed? I'll most likely be renting a place and won't be able to have a big roof antenna, so will they determine based on my small clip-on antenna what my signal is, and then grant me the waiver? Also, does the fact that they provide locals to SB/SLO area now affect my chances of receiving the waiver to get the national feeds and HD? I only want the waiver obviously so I can watch the HD broadcasts, so I don't know if they'll say "we already give you your locals, so you're stuck with the analog signal and you can't get HD" Any help is appreciated!

I have never used OTA in Santa Barbara so I do not know. You do deal with DTV for the waivers but when you get a denial (like from KCOY) you call the station and have them change from denial to approval for the waiver. No signal test involved. I got my waivers before DTV had the local channels but I don't see that it matters.

Originally posted by ucsbgaucho
Also, what do you think would happen if, when I moved down and couldn't get any of the locals OTA, I called up D* to get the waiver, and if they denied me, if I threatened to cancel and switch to cable, would they maybe agree to give me the waiver in that case? Or is their rule on waivers strictly black and white, no room for bargaining?

The waiver is from the local TV stations not DTV. DTV would love to give you all of the waivers since it means more money for them. But they are restricted by FCC rules and must get the approval from the local TV stations.

ucsbgaucho:

I recently purchased an HDTV to go along with my DTV service. I live in Goleta, and I requested that DirecTV pursue the wavers for me. They will do all the work for you, and though they say it takes about 45 days, I am now receiving channels 30 days later. Right off the block I am getting CBS-HD, ABC, and FOX, NY and LA on all. However, NBC is not coming in so I take it KSBY denied the waver. By the way, I don't think there is any over-the-air HD in santa barbara, unless you can get KCOY all the way from Santa Maria. For what it's worth, I had them note on the application that 1) I live adjacent to an airport, and 2) the mountain directly blocks the signal to Santa Maria.

dracula:

I noticed that you reversed the denial of your waver from KSBY (nbc). Is there a particular phone number I should call, or should I just start sending emails to people on this page:

ww w.ksby.com/unclassified/646967.html

Also, what was the timeframe for the turnaround between denied and approved? I'd really like to catch some HD olympics.

hypermog:

Which ABC are you getting? NY and LA? or just KEYT?

I got the KSBY waiver by calling the station on the phone and talking to a lady in charge of waivers. I don't remember her name but I think it was a Hispanic name.

You will not be able to see HD Olympics because channel 84 is not broadcast in Santa Barbara regardless of the waiver for getting NY and LA NBC channels. I was really angry when I found out so I now watch HD coverage on Cox cable channel 706. It is a pity I cannot record cable HD like I can with DirecTV HD stuff.

Here's my story for the networks.

Originally, before we had an HDTV, we just signed up for the middle package. I forget what it's called, but it doesn't matter. At that point we didn't even have locals, or anything else for that matter. However, I decided to purchase a 50 inch Sony GWIII earlier this year, and I wanted some HD service to accompany it. After I had the Triple-LNB dish installed, and the new HD sub going, for some reason, and only on the HD receiver, I also started receiving locals. The SD receivers wouldn't pull it down, but the receiver that gets the 110 sat also gets KSBY, KEYT, KCOY, and whatever fox is, along with the WB too I think. At that point I also put in the waiver request. Cut to last week, and the receiver starts acting up. It restarts itself and it has lost all of the 'surf menu' options. I re-acquire all the channels and now I have the NY and LA feeds of FOX, CBS, and yes, ABC (Channels 386 and 387), on ALL receivers in the house, in addition to the CBS-HD channels for the HD STB. Therefore, I now have access to

CBS-HD East (Channel 80)
CBS-HD West (Channel 81)
CBS East (Channel 380)
CBS West (Channel 381)
ABC East (Channel 386)
ABC West (Channel 387)
FOX East (Channel 388)
FOX West (Channel 389)

In addition to KEYT, KSBY, KCOY, and the other locals. (HD set only still)

Now, just to get that NBC waiver through ... >:-]

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

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

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

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

I emailed the controller at KSBY and I was able to receive the NBC waiver. So it is possible to get waivers for all four networks in Goleta. I have them for NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX.

Yes, I also have all the waivers. Received the ABC waiver this week and watched MNF last night from New York ABC. The reason for the waiver is the bad KEYT signal which the chief engineer of KEYT said was being picked up OTA in a Santa Maria industrial park with lots of static.

But the main reason for getting the waiver is to be able to watch ABC HD on DTV when it becomes available. That way I don't need any KEYT HD OTA.

Can you guys post the contact info for each person you talked to? I got a nice response from the GM of KCOY/KKFX since they are the same, although he never specifically said they'd grant me a waiver. I'm waiting till Tuesday to have an installer come out and set me up with D* again through the mover's package, but I think my location is going to take a very tall pole to see over the 2-story apt building immediately adjacent. I'm on Ellwood Beach Drive. How much do you think that's going to cost? And would it be more worth it do just do it myself?

So did you guys receive the waivers by going just through DirecTV, or did you contact each individual station? Sounds like you did both. For those that you contacted through the station itself, can you post email addresses or phone #s and names for me? Thanks!

By the way, you get both KSBY and KCOY through Cox for HD, and I emailed them about adding Fox Sports West to their HD lineup since they already offer it as the regular channel. I just received a "we'll forward that to our marketing dept" response. I REALLY hope I dont have to go with cable, I want to keep Directv so bad especially if I can get the network HD feeds through waivers, and with DirecTV in negotiation for inHD, and with BravoHD getting some more content ready.

Also, what does the waiver say? Does each station have their own that you just request they fax to you? Or do you type something up, send it to them and have someone there sign it and fax back? I'd like to contact all of them asap and get this out of the way so I can get the networks right off the bat and not miss any HD football!

Just call up D* and ask them to get the waivers for you. They will send them out to the applicable stations. Let them do the work. For me, the only one that denied was KSBY, and at that point I emailed them personally. I'm not going to give out his name, but it can be derived easily from information I've posted on the previous page. I mean, I wouldn't want my email address floating around on some random forums...

Thanks for the info, that is who I emailed yesterday, waiting to hear back. I emailed the chief engineer from KCOY/KKFX and got a response back saying that you can only get the HD feeds if you are in an O&O market, so obviously he's not involved in the process between his station(s) and DirecTV for the waivers. Since you went through DirecTV for them, I didn't bother emailing him back to explain it to him. :)

Well got another response from the engineer at KCOY/KKFX... interesting...

<<Chris,

DirecTv does not have agreement with KCOY or KKFX for waiver, we do not
do waiver for HD and the network will not do waiver if do not live in a
city that they own a station. But if DirecTv is doing this then I will
forward this to our legal dept. Thanks >>

Almost sounds like he was going to get the agreement with DirecTV taken away or something. So when you guys went through D* for the waiver, that means they have pre-arranged agreements with affiliates that will or will not grant the waiver? Or do they still request the waiver on an individual subscriber basis? I hope I didn't screw my chances of getting the waiver from D* for them, but if you guys were able to, why wouldn't I?

UCSBGaucho you are diminishing your chances of getting a waiver because you are not understanding the situation. Before you start asking (demanding?) waivers you should understand what a waiver is first.

There is no pre-existing arrangement between D* and any non O&O (read: Santa Barbara) affiliate for waivers. As far as the local affiliates go, they could care less about what national services (Distant Network Service, in this case) D* offers because it has nothing to do with them and their local network broadcast. You must understand that the waiver is an arangement between YOU and the LOCAL AFFILIATE that has arguably nothing to do with D*. If you have an agreement with your neighbor Bob that he will provide you all of the bicycles you want to buy, and one day you decide you want a bicycle from across town, Bob doesn't care where you plan to get the bike from. All he cares is that it's not him, understand? In this case the bike dealer across town would be Voom, echostar, D*, whatever. All that matters is that Bob has to agree to let you get your bike from somewhere else.

KCOY pays a fee to CBS in order to have the right to broadcast their content in this area. Therefore, it is KCOY's right to gain revenue if you wish to receive CBS content in this area. By asking for the D* feed, you are in affect telling them that it is your intention to bypass this right that they *pay for* and effectively circumvent their sole revenue stream. Keep in mind that you have absolutely no right *whatsoever* to get the D* west coast feed because the local KCOY is offered over D*, even if you can't get it over the air. Thus, you are asking KCOY to voluntarily wave their right to gain money off of you, purely out of the goodness of their heart -- hence the term "waiver."

Here is an excerpt from the letter I sent to KSBY, just to give you the gist. Do not copy and paste it because they will recognize it for sure.

I realize that KSBY-TV is entitled to my advertising dollar, and I also realize that KSBY-TV pays for its right to broadcast the NBC signal in my area. I would like to establish that I do receive the KSBY feed via sattelite through DirecTV's local affiliates program -- in standard definition of course. I have read the page detailing KSBY's plans for over-the-air HD broadcasting, and if and when it is available I would love to receive it.

For some time now I have enjoyed Tony, Wendy, Dave, Ryan, and the rest of the KSBY news and sports staff, and in receiving a separate channel for high-definition content, I would not cease to watch your local programming with which I am accustomed. I simply would like to have an option to switch to a high-definition feed of this fall's NBC's high-definition programming for the times when it is available.

My advice to you now is to do what I said originally, let D* do their waiver work, wait for that little results postcard to arrive, stop meddling with the affiliates, stop making quasi-demands, and go from there.

I haven't made any "demands" of any kind, and I definitely understand that by granting a waiver to anyone, the affiliate is in effect giving up one viewer and hypothetically losing out in potential ratings and advertising dollars. The reason I asked if D* had an agreement with the local affiliates is, if you guys that DO have the waivers from KCOY and KKFX, and you only went to DirecTV to get the waiver, it would SEEM to be logical that DirecTV could have an agreement in place that says "KCOY grants a waiver to those requesting it in the SB/SLO area" or something like that. Obviously in this case that is not correct, and DirecTV negotiates these waivers on an individual basis. So basically if there were two people next door to each other in Santa Barbara and both were requesting waivers from DirecTV for KCOY, one could be approved and the other denied?

So my question is, when you DID have to contact KSBY directly to request a waiver, when you received a response from them, did you have to provide them with any information about your location, or do they just fax you a form saying "KSBY grants this waiver to John Smith for the national NBC feed"? After you contacted KSBY, what was the process that ensued?

As soon as I get my service installed on Tuesday, I'm calling DirecTV to change my address and request the waivers. It took you about a month to receive the results? Does DirecTV automatically activate the HD feeds when they receive the "waiver" acceptance? Would they activate CBS, say, if they received the ok before receiving a response from NBC or ABC? Or do they wait till they have all 4?

I am guessing that there are no affiliates who have any actual agreements with D* about waivers. I'm talking about non-owned-and-operated markets here. There are probably some out in the boonies that just grant all waivers as a matter of course (in North Dakota or some such), possibly even ones closer to home. But that is the local affiliate's choice, and not a matter of stated agreement between them and D*. So yes, each case is handled on an individual basis.

Now it is true that D* goes out of their way to do the work in getting a waiver for you. This is probably because the average joe has no idea what a waiver is and would go about getting one in the wrong manner. D* of course has a vested interest in your acquiring of the waiver (they charge you $2+ for each distant network). But the fact remains that it is an agreement between you and the affiliate, even though D* does the legwork.

When you originally talked to D* about sending out the waivers, they ask you a standard set of questions about your property, how dense the area is, if you live in a multistory building, etc. They also ask you if you have anything else to put on the application. I told them I live adjacent to an airport and the Santa Ynez mountains also directly block the path to Santa Maria. After that, D* does everything and you just wait for D*'s response postcard to come back with the results. I actually figured out that some of the waivers had gone through just by surfing, but I also got the postcard shortly after that. In my case, KSBY-NBC is the only network that denied, but as you mentioned, it is possible for different results on an individual basis. Dracula was not able to get the ABC waiver initially but he did get one from NBC right away. I have no insight as to what their decision making process is. It doesn't really matter, since you can always call the station after your waiver is denied. When contacting the local affiliate, it will help to give them information about your area, especially with KCOY who actually does broadcast in HD. The other networks don't, so if HD is your angle you might want to work the aspect I showed in my previous post (I just want an HD option per se).

By the way, if all goes well, you will never actually see a waiver. D* has them faxed directly to them, and they activate the channels automatically, including the HD one(s). The only time you will see one is if you have to call it manually yourself. They do not wait until they have all 4, as far as I know. I'm sure they would not activate any network unless they received the response from that network.

*** Sorry to the other watchers of this thread for so much off-topic information ***

Final word on the subject from me. DTV does its best to get the waivers. In fact, they activated my ABC network channels even though I still don't have the postcard with the results. The guy at KEYT (I think David Teves) told me he would send it in and less than 48 hours later DTV activated the ABC network for me.

Sounds good to me, thanks for clearing all that up. I actually went on DirecTV's website and checked the Distant Network eligibility page, and it says my address is already automatically eligible for the distant network feeds of CBS and Fox, which means I dont have to do any waiting for a waiver on those, which is GREAT news (especially the LA feed for NFL, two games every day most likely). And I guess I dont mind waiting for the other ones because a) we do get the SB locals and b) they dont have NBC and ABC HD available yet, so no reason to have the waiver right this second.

Thanks for your help guys, getting my install done sometime this morning, hope they have no problems, my dish will have to go on a pole to reach from my balcony up over the roofline, maybe 5 feet, but once up there I have a perfectly clear view, which is lucky because of all the other big trees around my complex.

one other question, can you drop the locals package and keep the distant network feeds if I get granted a waiver for all four? or do you have to keep the locals to receive the Distant Networks?

Of course not.

Is anyone using the Charter HD DVR? What is the brand/model? How do you like it?

WOOHOO! Got my NBC waiver, well I haven't received anything yet, but I just called up DirecTV to check the status, and the CSR told me NBC had been approved so he activated it for me on the spot! Now I've got all 4, and with Fox HD going online supposedly in a week, I'll have that in time for the MLB playoffs. Now I wish ABC HD would get signed as well so I can see the rest of Lost!

Is that true about Fox going HD next week? I just watched the MLB championships and wondered about that.

I am also waiting for ABC HD to complete the HD network quartet.

Someone posted that on the HD PRogramming board, so I'm HOPING its true, woud be great to have 3 out of 4! Supposedly it'll be on the 12th, just in time for the ALCS and NLCS

Indeed, it does look like Fox HD will be activated soon. This is great news, considering my brother is visiting this week from Minnesota and we can possibly watch the Vikings in HD on Fox.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=4485679#post4485679

Update: Looks like the Vikes play on ESPN-HD Sunday Night Football this weekend. Awesome.

I'm a satellite virgin in SB and am planning on getting a DTV-HD satellite. I am wondering if it is worthwhile to get an OTA. Thanks.

No, there is no Over The Air HD in Santa Barbara proper, on any network. The nearest HD broadcast comes from KCOY-HD in Santa Maria, which you may or may not be able to receive depending where you live in Santa Barbara county.

http://kcoy.com/hdtv/hdtv.aspx

It matters not though, as it is quite possible to get the waivers for the four networks, three of which are broadcast in HD on DirecTV.

OK, I will answer my own question.

Just got my HD DRV from Charter. Its a SA 8000HD.

Picture quality seems similar to my Dish 811 except for CBS. The KCOY picture looks a little softer (less detail) than WCBS (NY) equivalent.
The SA8000HD is slow to respond to remote button pushes.

Looks good so far. I think I will be disconnecting my Dish soon.

LesMoss,

What network stations are available in HD from Charter in your area?

When I call them via the customer service line they say ALL networks are available but the website only shows CBS.

What other PVR's have you used? How does the SA PVR compare? I also was told that it has two tuners, is that true?

Thank you in advance for the information!

-Frank

I get only CBS (KCOY-DT, Santa Maria). I believe that is true for the whole Santa Barbara DMA.

When you call Charter you are talking to LA based customer service people. What they tell you applies to Charter's LA customers, not up here.

I have not used any other PVR, so I can't compare it to others. I think the SA8000HD has 4 tuners, 2 Analog plus 2 digital. Check out the "HDTV Recorders" forum here for better info. Charter uses the "SARA" software so the threads relating to the 8000HD on Cox or Comcast should be relevant to Charter.

KKFX HD has just appeared on channel 781 on Charter cable in SLO county.

The Super Bowl pre-game is now showing in HD.

Charter now has the 8300HD DVR available in the San Luis Obispo area. I just swapped out my 8000HD yesterday. This is a newer improved version of the 8000HD. It seems quicker to respond to remote button pushes and has a little better picture quality than my "old" 8000HD.

So, if you order an HD DVR, ask for this model.

Cox also has the HD DVR. Whether it is 8000 or 8300, I don't know. I will get one once I get my Plasma/Flat-panel LCD. I currently rent the nonHD 8000.

Location - Goleta

BTW anyone get channel 27 OTA? I think it is online now.

Originally posted by goman
Cox also has the HD DVR. Whether it is 8000 or 8300, I don't know. I will get one once I get my Plasma/Flat-panel LCD. I currently rent the nonHD 8000.

Location - Goleta

BTW anyone get channel 27 OTA? I think it is online now.

Any word on if Cox is going to pick up ABC or Fox HD soon?

Originally posted by kobe8
Any word on if Cox is going to pick up ABC or Fox HD soon?

When I talked to Cox a couple weeks ago, the CSR said they might be getting PBS and FOX soon. I am not sure if I believe him because the CSRs service both Bakersfield and Santa Barbara. He might of been talking about Bakersfield. PBS would be cool though. So would Fox and ABC for that matter.

KEYT is not HD yet. I just got an email which did confirm they are digital though. According to the email HD is coming late spring. What Cox's plans I do not know. When I picked up my new box they did say new channels are coming.

Cox now carries the 8300HD which is the same price including HD channels as the 8000SD.

Got my 8300HD last week. oh man- the interface sucks compared with TiVo.
But - I'm recording in HD! woo hoo. Plus I didn't have to buy a $1K HD-DirecTivo like my satellite buddies.

New News: Cox now has Universal HD up and running on test channel 801 tonight! We can only hope that FOX and PBS are not far behind.

speaking of PBS, I wish they would pick up KOCE or KVCR because I haven't seen a new episode of "This Old House" in two years. Thanks a bunch KCET.

I did not see Universal HD last night. That's cool it's coming.

What I did notice though is that channel 706(NBC) was not in HD and has not been in HD since I have had the 8300. Also there is a weird popping sound coming from my speakers when I watch that channel. When I used to have the 3250, about 4 months ago, 706 was in HD. I will call Cox today to complain.

goman,

I still have the 3250 and NBC (channel 706) hasn't been in HD for several weeks. Did Cox ever tell you what the problem is? I looked in on Universal HD on channel 801; it was still testing as of last night.

Joe

I just got an email back from Cox, I finally remembered to email them yesterday...

Universal HD will become officially live with IPG data April 4th.

There is some kind of hardware problem between KSBY and Cox and parts have been ordered. They did not give me a timeline when this will be fixed.

Is anyone getting the final four basketball games in HD on KCOY? I know CBS is broadcasting HD for these games and the KCOY web site says it is supposed to be HD. But I am getting the SD version (black side bars) on Charter Cable in SLO county.

Suggest you call (805) 928-4748 to complain as I did.

About a half hour after my call KCOY turned on the HD signal. OK, but the second game stated in SD also. That switched to HD after a few minutes.

Maybe they are finally learning to operate the machinery CBS sent them.

Anyway, keep that phone number handy in case the slip up again

I just got an e-mail from Aaron Klohs, KSBY TV Chief Engineer. I had asked if the plans for getting HD over the air in 2005 were still on track.
He answered "The plan to go HD market wide in 2005 is still alive! We have placed orders for the interface and distribution equipment recently. The installation and testing will take a bit - so perhaps in the fall we will have HD on our current low power channel 15 transmitter as well as the two major remaining cable TV providers."
I guess I get to be patient a bit longer,
Mike

Originally posted by mthompso105
I just got an e-mail from Aaron Klohs, KSBY TV Chief Engineer. I had asked if the plans for getting HD over the air in 2005 were still on track.
He answered "The plan to go HD market wide in 2005 is still alive! We have placed orders for the interface and distribution equipment recently. The installation and testing will take a bit - so perhaps in the fall we will have HD on our current low power channel 15 transmitter as well as the two major remaining cable TV providers."
I guess I get to be patient a bit longer,
Mike

This is funny since last year I had HD through them and Cox Cable. Call me confused but I thought they already had HD. I know they had HD for the Olympics for example.

I just reread the email.. Maybe the "two major remaining cable TV providers" does not include Cox. In any case, HD still does not work on channel 706. I would like to see Office and L&O in HD.

On a related note channel 725 is UniversalHD.

HD on KSBY(NBC) channel 706 is back. Checked last night and both 3rd Watch and L&O TBJ was in marvelous HD.

Hi, I am a new member in the SB area (near the airport) looking to get an HD set later this year. Can you tell me what HD stations are available now on Cox cable? I got a brochure from them listing some stations but I don't know if it is accurate. And how is the picture quality on Cox? Thanks!

Hi, hdtripper.. I live near the airport too and no the brochure, like their website, is not accurate.

HD stations.
706 NBCHD
712 CBSHD
715 DiscoveryHD
720 ESPNHD
725 UniversalHD
731 INHD
732 INHD2
740 HBOHD
750 SHOHD

The picture quality is very good but there is some breakup at times especially when I watch recorded programs with the SA 8300.

Thanks goman, that sounds pretty good! Hopefully Cox will get the other networks eventually. Sounds like KEYT is in the works for the ABC shows. Does anyone know if KKFX is broadcasting HD OTA up in Santa Maria?

I got a box for my computer (EyeTV 500 for Mac) that picks up OTA digital signals but of course the only one it can get is KEYT-DT which is not yet HD, and the quality is nothing special. I saw on another thread that only 3% of households in the country are unable to get any broadcast HD and we in SB are in that unlucky 3% so far. Hopefully KEYT will get on the HD bandwagon later this year and then we will join the civilized world.

The EyeTV also has a cable input and is supposed to be able to get "clear QAM" digital cable signals which are unencrypted, but I am not getting any. Users in other areas report that they can get the free HD channels (i.e. the ones carried by cable which are also broadcast OTA, like KSBY-DT and KCOY-DT) off their cable systems this way but it is not working for me. Well, I don't actually have digital cable, I have analog, but I thought that they broadcast the same thing to everyone and the difference with digital was the cable box. But maybe I'm wrong about that.

We get KKFX-HD and KCOY-HD on Charter in SLO county.

Its crazy. You get KSBY-HD, a SLO county station in HD, but we don't.

We get KKFX-HD , a SB county station, but you don't.

Has anyone tried hooking a digital cable ready TV up to Cox cable without a cable box or cable card? Are they sending any channels out unencrypted? Apparently in other areas it is possible to pick up the OTA broadcast channels this way.

If you're in SB, go with DirecTV... you get all 4 networks in HD (2 channels of each network = 8 hd network channels actually), plus the usual suspects (espn, discovery, universal, etc). The network stuff is great, especially if you dont yet have the hd-tivo like me, you can watch one network show at either 5pm or 8pm, or 6pm/9pm, or 7pm/10pm so you dont miss one show to watch another. I love it! :)

Originally posted by ucsbgaucho
If you're in SB, go with DirecTV... you get all 4 networks in HD (2 channels of each network = 8 hd network channels actually), plus the usual suspects (espn, discovery, universal, etc). The network stuff is great, especially if you dont yet have the hd-tivo like me, you can watch one network show at either 5pm or 8pm, or 6pm/9pm, or 7pm/10pm so you dont miss one show to watch another. I love it! :)

Can you get those network channels without any waivers? I think I like the DVR more than getting 2 extra channels. Although I wish I did have them and HDNet. Hmm.

Originally posted by goman
Can you get those network channels without any waivers?

No. You can't get them even with waivers under the new SHVERA law.

Ucsbgaucho is probably one of the "grandfathered" users who had them before the law and now gets to keep them as long as he continues to subscribe.

Hi everyone. I'm a brand-new HDTV watcher here in Goleta/SB. I have cox for digital cable and HD. I have the 8300 DVR. First off, does anyone know when we might expect more HD channels? Is there a good place to petition/complain/urge cox to add more channels for us in SB?

Second, does anyone have the cable coax going into an HDTV with an internal receiver (newer HDTVs have these)? I tried to detect digital channels, and all i got was a list of channels with a lot of sub channels, ie. 88-1, 88-4, etc. I also got Fuel to work though. Anyone know anything about this?

Last,
Has anyone experienced a recorded program having artifacts? I noticed something recorded on the Speed channel (Standard Def) had continuous bands of RGB moving left-to-right. Especially noticable when the background was grey (roads). The bands were angled about 30 degrees. I was unable to watch the live feed and the race isn't being re-broadcast. Thoughts?

Thanks

If you are expecting more HD channels from Cox in SB soon you are going to be disappointed. I have talked with the chief engineer at KEYT and he told me about going digital and then HD last year. I don't think they even went digital.

I have an 8300HD in my bedroom for my second HD TV and I am amazed at how much better my DirecTV Tivo works. I am so spoiled that the 8300HD is really annoying to me how it operates. In addition, I get artifacts on playback much more often than the Tivo.

I was lucky to have gotten all waivers and I can watch all networks (NY and LA) in HD (ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX) with DirecTV.

I get artifacts all the time with recorded programs too. Mostly HD channels. I read you could manually reboot the 8300 and it would clear this problem and clear all your recorded shows. I haven't tried it yet because I have programs I want to watch still.

Look in the HDTV Recorders and Players forum for more info on this solution.

KEYT is digital. I was told HD was coming late spring this year. Whether Cox picks it up is up to the 2 parties. I hope they do.

dracula... do you have any idea if I will automatically keep my existing waivers for network HD feeds through directv if I move to another location within santa barbara?

dracula... do you have any idea if I will automatically keep my existing waivers for network HD feeds through directv if I move to another location within santa barbara?

What do you mean, Santa Barbara city or county?

City... I'm in Goleta now, planning to move hopefully downtown or the Mesa, but still within the city of SB.

City... I'm in Goleta now, planning to move hopefully downtown or the Mesa, but still within the city of SB.

No problem.

I have come across a problem. I'm not sure about the cause, but I think it's the cable box's fault.

I have a SA 8300 HDDVR. Last night, I tried to use only a brand-new HDMI cable to connect the 8300 to my HDTV. When I turned the 8300 on, the default station of 715 (discoveryHD) was fine. I was able to change channels in the HD stations fine. My problem arose when I went to a non-HD channel. The 8300 didn't output a signal. Then, when I went back to the 700's (HD channels), the box still didn't output a signal. The only way to get a picture was to plug in component cables again.

Any thoughts, or other comments? I can provide more details if needed.
Thanks!

I think you might have to set it up so HDMI can pass 480 signals. This is just a guess though.

I use component with my 8300.

I also have another problem with the 8300, that is getting worse as time goes on. Sometimes when changing channels from a nonHD channel to an HD channel, the signal does not get converted to 1080i. It stays at 480p and the picture is always jarbaled and stays that way. If I turn off the TV and box for like 5 seconds the 1080i signal goes through and I see marvelous HD. If I turn off and on right away or even 3 or 4 seconds it stays as jarbaled 480p. It is quite frustrating. This used to never happen when I first got it. Now it is happening all the time.

I almost always use upconvert1.

I think you might have to set it up so HDMI can pass 480 signals. This is just a guess though.

I use component with my 8300.


How do I set up HDMI to pass 480 signals? I have the cable box in pass-through mode so it should already be doing that.

How do I set up HDMI to pass 480 signals? I have the cable box in pass-through mode so it should already be doing that.
I remember when I first got my 8300 a few months back I had to tell the 8300 what signals my TV could accept. I was on the phone with a tech when I did this. Give them a call. I think you have to hold the setup button on the 8300 to start this.

I setup my TV recently and what you do is power down the 8300HD, hold down the Guide and Info buttons and power the 8300HD back up. Select HD setup when the setup screen comes up and select the Advanced setup. Follow directions to tell your 8300HD if the picture you are seeing on the TV is good or bad. At the end, the 8300HD will be setup to output the appropriate 480i, 480p, 480i widescreen, 480p widescreen, 720p and 1080i signals.

What TV do you have?

What TV do you have?

Thanks for the help. I haven't tried the initial setup yet. Assumed things would work fine. I have a Samsung HLR-5067W. It has an HDMI input (no DVI) and 2 component. I would like the component for DVD and xbox.

Thanks for the help. I haven't tried the initial setup yet. Assumed things would work fine. I have a Samsung HLR-5067W. It has an HDMI input (no DVI) and 2 component. I would like the component for DVD and xbox.

I also have a Samsung, TX-R3079WH the SlimFit for my bedroom cabinet. I have a lot of trouble with the HDMI interface.

See my postings in the threads below:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=534963

and

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=540909

I would be interested in how your Samsung works with the 8300HD and its HDMI interface.

Thanks

Don't feel alone- I'm also arm wrestling with the SA8300 via HDMI to a Samsung HLP5063W. The Samsung definitely doesn't like the transition fron SD to HD occasionally. I even have got the "Samsung green screen of death" a few times, requiring a hard TV reboot. Sucks. I'm watching mostly via component now.

Definitely play with the 8300 setup wizard. I think you really want to only enable a single prefered SD and HD output format. I'm not near the TV right now, but I was able to eventually smooth out the shannel switching and have the TV auto jump to 16:9.

Its about time for someone to ask KEYT about the HD status again. Three more weeks and their "in the Spring" forecast is history.... grrr.

Don't feel alone- I'm also arm wrestling with the SA8300 via HDMI to a Samsung HLP5063W. The Samsung definitely doesn't like the transition fron SD to HD occasionally. I even have got the "Samsung green screen of death" a few times, requiring a hard TV reboot. Sucks. I'm watching mostly via component now.

Definitely play with the 8300 setup wizard. I think you really want to only enable a single prefered SD and HD output format. I'm not near the TV right now, but I was able to eventually smooth out the shannel switching and have the TV auto jump to 16:9.

Its about time for someone to ask KEYT about the HD status again. Three more weeks and their "in the Spring" forecast is history.... grrr.

My problem is not the picture itself but the lack of a picture. You seem to be implying that the 8300HD is to blame. I had a Sony 27HS420 TV and the HDMI connection worked flawlessly with the 8300HD. I traded the Sony in for the Samsung SlimFit because I could get 16:9 aspect ratio and 30" in my bedroom cabinet.

The problem is that the Samsung TV does not communicate properly the HDCP protocol when it is turned off and on and the 8300HD stops sending video to the HDMI interface. The Sony unit never had that problem.

Holazola,
I too saw the "Samsung green screen of death". I didn't know that was a common phenomenon. Can you or anyone write more about that? It's pretty frustrating to have an HDMI to HDMI connection and have major errors. I want to have pass-thru, because I believe (no proof) that the TV will do a better job of image processing that the 8300. Also, pass-thru changes the channels quicker!

Hi fellow Santa Barbara residents,

I have a few questions about Cox cable service...

I just got a Samsung HLR5067 and am getting Cox cable via cablecard. I'm supposing most of my problems are with the cablecard, but I have two major gripes about my service.

First of all, my TV seems to randomly lose all of its TV signals (standard, premium, HD, etc). Turning off the TV doesn't help, and resetting the cablecard doesn't work. The only thing that seems to work is to just wait it out, and the channels will eventually come back. This sucks, because I can be watching something, and all of a sudden my TV will go blank and I get that dreaded "weak or no signal" message popup.

Next, if I ever try to 'reorganize' my channels (under the cablecard setup screen) I'll have to retry *many* times until the cablecard decideds to play nice and lets the TV list all of the channels. Otherwise I'll have some pseudo-random selection of channels (1-70, 200-300, etc), as if the cablecard cannot receive groups of signals. Note this isn't a problem unless I'm resetting the cablecard or taking it out, etc because the TV remembers the channels once they are found.

My other probelm is the TV Guide feature that comes with the TV. It doesn't work! I've waited the prescribed amount of time 4x, tried different zipcodes, and I still don't see any channels listed... I don't know what the deal is with that, even Samsung doesn't know why it doesn't work. Of course, Cox has no idea what I'm talking about.

Maybe I'm just going to have to suck it up and get a STB, along with another remote to worry about! Ugh.

Does anybody have similar issues with Cox as I do? Any advice? Thanks!

DeeW,
Welcome to the crazy world of HDTV and Cox. I don't have a cable card (I have an 8300), so I can't comment about those problems.

I haven't tried the TV Guide feature at all because I didn't see a need for it. The STB has its own guide. Why did you want it?

Have you ever just let the 5067 search for signals via coax? Mine found channels like 107-31 and 107-33 etc. Does anyone have a comment on that?

easy fix... go with Directv :) hehe You'd think Cox in Santa Barbara wouldn't be so primitive, seeing as though Cox San Diego is about as far ahead of everyone in the Country else when it comes to new advancements. Guess Cox doesn't like to share

by the way, this is a TOTAL off-topic question that has NOTHING to do with TVs or hdtv or anything electronic... any of you guys know of any big, old abandoned buildings around SB? I'm talking just the walls, windows broken or not there at all, rusted, etc... I'm a photographer and trying to find an abandoned building somewhere around here to do some photography in.

If you have any suggestions, email them to me at chris@chrisaustin.us thanks!

Yes - the corner of Anacapa and Ortega. A couple of them are abandoned next to a new development on Anacapa.

I am moving to SB this month. Any recs on HD? What is better COX or DirecTV? Can you get DirecTV HD feeds from LA? Thanks in advance.
J

DTV is way better than Cox. At this time there are no ABC or COX HD channels. I don't see any in the very near future either.

j_aragon and dracula,

If you read through this thread Cox does have HD and the channels listed have not changed since last time I posted.

From D*, I believe you will not be able to get out of the area network HD channels either. You would need waivers from our locals.

j_aragon and dracula,

If you read through this thread Cox does have HD and the channels listed have not changed since last time I posted.

From D*, I believe you will not be able to get out of the area network HD channels either. You would need waivers from our locals.
Sounds like waivers are very hard to come by. Is the COX digital signal decent? Is the reception for D* solid in the foothills of SB?
J

Sounds like waivers are very hard to come by. Is the COX digital signal decent? Is the reception for D* solid in the foothills of SB?
J
Yes the Cox signal is good. I don't live in the foothills so I don't know.

Holazola,
I too saw the "Samsung green screen of death". I didn't know that was a common phenomenon. Can you or anyone write more about that? It's pretty frustrating to have an HDMI to HDMI connection and have major errors. I want to have pass-thru, because I believe (no proof) that the TV will do a better job of image processing that the 8300. Also, pass-thru changes the channels quicker!

I have just reviewed this thread and have found that other people with Samsung HDTVs also have problems with the SA8300HD. I have returned my SlimFit Samsung because it is unacceptable to have the best interface (HDMI) not work properly.

As I said in one of my earlier posts, the SA8300HD worked beautifully with a Sony 27" HDTV (27HS420) which I have returned when I found out about the SlimFit.

I am now waiting for LG to come out with their 30" slim unit (LG30FS1D) in August.

i have all the distant networks through Directv from both LA and NYC.... CBS, ABC, Fox and NBC. Its great having two choices of when to watch things, or to be able to tivo prime-time shows at 5pm-8pm instead of 8pm-11pm

I had to request waivers but since the reception OTA in SB is so bad, it was pretty easy to get them. Through Cox I believe you can only get NBC and CBS in HD right now.

how did you request the waivers?

Does anybody have an idea when Cox will decide to put KKFX and TNT-HD on for Santa Barbara? Could bandwidth be holding them back?

I know that KKFX is broadcasting in HD, which, incidentally leads me to ask, what kind of antenna would you need to pick that up from SB?

KCOY-DT is also broadcasting in Santa Maria. Don't know whats holding Cox back, but Charter here in SLO county is almost as bad. Im waiting for TNT-HD too.

To check on antennas try

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

Does anybody have an idea when Cox will decide to put KKFX and TNT-HD on for Santa Barbara? Could bandwidth be holding them back?

I know that KKFX is broadcasting in HD, which, incidentally leads me to ask, what kind of antenna would you need to pick that up from SB?
KKFX is NOT in HD over the air. KCOY is multi-casting the Fox signal on their Digital signal (shows up as 12-2 on my receiver). It may be confusing since many guides assume if a signal is digital, they will do HD, but kkxf does not broadcast over the air in HD. Now, they may be able to supply a HD signal to a cable company, I dunno

That is very interesting! I assumed they were both broadcasting on different frequencies.

OK. No assumtions just facts:

Charter cable in SLO county (or at least Cayucos) has two network HD channels:

782 = KCOY
781 = KKFX

Both present network HD content in full HD. All local content and network SD is upconverted and pillarboxed.

Update:

Last night on the SA 8300 HD box, I saw KKFX on the program guide listed as Ch. 711. It had no programming, but the slot was there. Could an HD KKFX be in the works for us Cox subscribers???

I saw on my 8300 channel guide that there was a channel #711 listed!?! There were no programs in the timetable. when I typed 711 into the remote, it tuned to the channel but acted like it was a PPV channel. Anyone else see this? Can we hope FOX HD is very soon to be here?

A while back I posted about problems with my samsung HLR5067 and HDMI from the 8300. Well, the problems have pretty much gone away. I don't really know all of the reasons, but here is how I've got everything setup right now. 8300 with HDMI to TV. The 8300 is setup to pass either 1080i or 720p. So, if it's a SD channel, the 8300 will convert it to 1080i. If I ever have any wierd problems (blank screen, channel guide makes signal "freeze", etc.) I can switch to ESPN HD (720) to force the 8300 to switch it's output from 1080i to 720p. Doing this seems to "wake" the 8300 up. If I allow 480 output, then it is converting between output types very often and seems to make the system more unstable.

I don't know about KKFX, but I can confirm we're getting FSN HD games. Tonight I tuned to what normally is INHD2 and thought I was hallucinating. I was watching the Dodger game when I tuned in and I saw the same thing, but it was in fact a HIGH DEFINITION version of the Dodger game.

This is really exciting. I was checking with the FSN website, and we'll get some laker games in High Def too! Even the Kings have some HD action coming up.


The only downside is there's only about 5-7 games left, and they're spread out, at least for the dodgers.

The picture quality of the Dodger game was quite poor in my opinion, very blocky compared to the game on InHD. I have noticed this before. I believe there was a Laker game shown earlier this year on InHD2.

Here is the schedule of upcoming Dodger games in HD.

http://msn.foxsports.com/name/HD

scroll to the bottom for FSW and FSW2

Has ANYONE been able to get a complete working OTA HDTV installation in Santa Barbara (actually Montecito) using a roof-top antenna that can consistently receive NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX and PBS from Santa Barbara, SLO, Santa Maria, L.A. or anywhere else?

Thanks in advance.

Just discovered this forum -- hope I can get some of my HD questions answered!
I am desperate for HD material to fuel my new HDTV. Comcast has been disappointing to say the least -- only KCOY for networks. Are any of the other networks broadcasting in true HDTV that can be received in Lompoc? I haven't put up an antenna since I have been informed it would be a waste of time here. Anyone in Lompoc have any experience with over-the-air reception? I am about to try DirecTV -- they tell me there's some type of "hoop" they attach to the dish that will receive a signal, however weak, from the locals when they broadcast in HD so that I can receive the HD signal via DirecTV. Seems like a strange setup. Anyone have any luck with waviers? I have NBC and ABC from Dish but don't know if they would grant them again. Any help would be appreciated. I seem to get different answers from everyone I talk to. Thanks a lot -- I look forward to your responses.

I may move to Montecito-Santa Barbara.

So, when I stayed at The Montecito Inn (Santa Barbara) this week I tested a Blake 70 inch Yagi UHF antenna with an LG 3410 OTA HD receiver on their 2-story roof in an attempt to receive OTA HDTV channels from San Diego along the coast line.

Guess what, it worked!!!

You would need a rotor (or two antennas and a switch) because half the San Diego stations use one transmitting Compass Orientation (316°) and half another (83°-84°).

YMMV



San Diego Digital Televisions Stations

Call Sign Channel Network City State Live
Compass Orientation Miles From Frequency Assignment



* uhf KFMB-DT 8.1 CBS SAN DIEGO CA 316° 9.4 55

* uhf KGTV-DT 10.1 ABC SAN DIEGO CA 316° 9.4 25

* uhf KNSD-DT 39.1 NBC SAN DIEGO CA 84° 13.5 40

* uhf KPBS-DT 15.1 PBS SAN DIEGO CA 83° 13.5 30

* uhf KSWB-DT 5.1 WB SAN DIEGO CA 84° 13.5 19

... I am about to try DirecTV -- they tell me there's some type of "hoop" they attach to the dish that will receive a signal, however weak, from the locals when they broadcast in HD so that I can receive the HD signal via DirecTV. Seems like a strange setup. Anyone have any luck with waviers?

The "hoop" is just a non-directional antenna. Only works in strong signal areas.

Be aware that DirectTV (and Dish) will be switching to MPEG4 equipment in the next few months, so, don't buy any current equipment, only lease.

If you want to try DirecTV, I would get in writing from a local dealer, the list of HD Networks you would get. Then, if waivers don't work, you can back out of the deal. Thats what I'm thinking of doing after the MPEG4 equipment becomes available. Right now, I am sticking with Charter cable which has CBS and FOX.

If you are getting the LA HD nets from DirecTV you won't have to worry about the MPEG4 swap anytime soon, or SB HD Locals for that matter. They will be broadcasting MPEG2 from the Conus sat for a couple more years, anything you buy today will still work for quite a while. The Santa Barbara DMA is pretty far off from going HD Local.

Your best bet in the Santa Barbara area is to use any LA address for your service address and have your bill sent to your real address (search for "moving"). The DirecTV signal for KEYT is pathetic at best unless something has changed recently, so you are better off getting KABC out of LA. You can still pick up the KEYT news etc. from a low profile antenna.

Thanks for the info. I am currently with Dish and was hoping they would add the other networks since I have waviers for ABC and NBC. All they can offer is CBS but KCOY will absolutely not grant waviers -- maybe they can tell me of some super-antenna that will receive their signal in this topographical nightmare. Best Buy told me the other day that they would guarantee in writing I would get all my networks in HI-DEF from DirecTV, so that put me at ease somewhat. I've been also considering the "fake address" idea but hope I don't have to resort to it.

Wasn't there some legislation last year that would classify areas such as Lompoc as "Digital White Zones" and permit us to get the LA or NY feeds if an over-the-air signal cannot be received? That would eliminate the wavier nonsense as well as getting local stations off their ***es to go Hi-Def. Anyone know what came of that legislation?

Keep the info coming -- thanks again!

Wasn't there some legislation last year that would classify areas such as Lompoc as "Digital White Zones" and permit us to get the LA or NY feeds if an over-the-air signal cannot be received? That would eliminate the wavier nonsense as well as getting local stations off their ***es to go Hi-Def. Anyone know what came of that legislation?

That legislation (called SHEVRA?) actually passed and made the situation worse. (For example, you can no longer get east coast locals. You also need to subscribe to SD locals to get distant HD nets. ) But, Mute is correct. The LA locals will probaley stay in MPEG2 for a long time. The problem is that other new HD will probably be in MPEG4. So, current equipment will not be able to get that. So, if Best Buy will guarantee all networks in writing AND lease you the equipment, I say GO FOR IT. Let us know how it goes.

That sounds like the intent of the legislation. I don't mind subscribing to SD locals to get HD-- better than not having it at all. (Until all the locals are converted, we'll continue to get hosed anyway.) Guess I'll go for it. Will let you know how it went. Thanks for your input!

LompocHD,

My parents live in VV and there may come a time when I'll have to migrate back to town to assist them. I've been using the "Canadian solution" for years now to power my HD display. I would recommend that for you if you're interested in both east and west coast network HD and a considerable amount of HD sports. I know that if I move back to Lompoc, I'll be bringing the "solution" with me.

I hear you, Bluestar... Lompoc is truly the black hole of communication. Can't even get a decent radio station. But according to the FCC all-knowing zip-code predictor, we get "acceptable" signals from all four major networks (just what is acceptable -- a snowy picture -- a snowy plover perhaps ). What irritates me is how the local affiliates, the cable providers, the satellite providers, and the lawgivers all seem to be working in concert to shoot HD in the foot. I just checked with D* and not only won't they lease HD equipment but they won't accept it in trade when the move to MPEG-4 happens ( whenever that may be ). They will throw in 4 SD receivers for free, but make us pay full price for an HD receiver. Doesn't do much for promoting the advance of HD programming. Sometimes, I wonder if it will die like "quad" in the 70's, beta in the 80's, et.al.

Did D* confirm that they would give you all 4 HD networks? I would not trust what a Best Buy salesman said.

Check this site for what stations you could receive

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

Is anybody in Lompoc receiving KKFX in HD? There is a slot at ch 213 on their cable box labeled simply "KKFX" ( not KKFXH ) where it is to go. All I am getting is a duplicate of channel 11 -- same grainy picture in 480p. The KKFX engineer assures me that the signal is being sent to Comcast in 720p. Comcast insists that "it's not our equipment" despite the fact I went to their office and witnessed the same thing on their equipment. Can anyone in the Comcast of Lompoc area shed some light on this ( preferably someone in the city of Lompoc )? I've spoken to everyone and am going around in circles at this point. Thanks!

C'mon KEYT. We need an HD signal out here. It's starting to get embarassing inviting friends over for Monday Night Football and having just the boring SD channel. Please, do what you can to expedite high def in Santa Barbara.

C'mon KEYT. We need an HD signal out here. It's starting to get embarassing inviting friends over for Monday Night Football and having just the boring SD channel. Please, do what you can to expedite high def in Santa Barbara.
If you really want to send KEYT a message, contact the General Manager. I would be interested in hearing the reply

I did that right after I posted the message...

New here... great to see a forum (local) that I can learn from!

I just bought my new HDTV, but before I did, I called Charter to see how many channels they are offering in HiDef. According the the CSR, they are offering "about 10", but she said that CBS would not be one of them offered in the service. She said that CBS wants too much $$ for their HD feed.. which sux. I want HD for Sunday football.... :mad:

Can anyone tell me if they have Charter HD cable in the Paso Robles area, and what channels they are getting? Also, how well the reception is?

I'm kind of excited, because my HDTV is 1080p (Mitsubishi WD-52628 DLP)... so it's supposed to look really good with the 1080i conversion.

Oh, and if someone could give me the 411 on the acronyms you guys use.. I figured out what "OTA" is, (over the air)... is OTA referring to antenna broadcasts?

Charter won't be able to connect the HDTV converter until the 25th.. so I'm stuck with 480i for now (I have the digital cable box).. it's not too bad... but I'm jones'n for the HD picture.

Thanks in advance! :D

Just discovered this forum -- hope I can get some of my HD questions answered!
I am desperate for HD material to fuel my new HDTV. Comcast has been disappointing to say the least -- only KCOY for networks. Are any of the other networks broadcasting in true HDTV that can be received in Lompoc? I haven't put up an antenna since I have been informed it would be a waste of time here. Anyone in Lompoc have any experience with over-the-air reception? I am about to try DirecTV -- they tell me there's some type of "hoop" they attach to the dish that will receive a signal, however weak, from the locals when they broadcast in HD so that I can receive the HD signal via DirecTV. Seems like a strange setup. Anyone have any luck with waviers? I have NBC and ABC from Dish but don't know if they would grant them again. Any help would be appreciated. I seem to get different answers from everyone I talk to. Thanks a lot -- I look forward to your responses.

Hey hey!

Grew up in Lompoc (that's why I don't live there any more....). :D

Graduated in '82... yep, Lompoc definitely is over the top in the "don't get no love" department. They are usually the LAST ones to get any *techie* stuff.

Best of luck to you...

HDinPaso,

I think Charter is the same all over the county. You get CBS and Fox so you are set for Sundays. Also HDNet, HDNet Movies,ESPN and Discovery.

Picture quality is great on these channels. You might want to get the HD DVR also. Its a pretty nice service at a reasonable cost.

HDinPaso,

I think Charter is the same all over the county. You get CBS and Fox so you are set for Sundays. Also HDNet, HDNet Movies,ESPN and Discovery.

Picture quality is great on these channels. You might want to get the HD DVR also. Its a pretty nice service at a reasonable cost.

Ok, so let me see if I get this straight...

CBS is part of the package? According the the CSR I talked to.. it's not.. if so.. SWEET!

Oh ya, I already have the DVR coming. It was part of the package I have right now...

Thanks!

HDinPaso,

The problem with talking to Charter CSRs is that they are in LA or India or some other cyberspace location. They dont know the local rules of this tiny population somewhere between SFO and LAX.

I think you will be getting the Moxi DVR. I have the older SA8300HD. Let us know how it works and if I was right about the HD channels.

HDinPaso,

The problem with talking to Charter CSRs is that they are in LA or India or some other cyberspace location. They dont know the local rules of this tiny population somewhere between SFO and LAX.

I think you will be getting the Moxi DVR. I have the older SA8300HD. Let us know how it works and if I was right about the HD channels.

Will do Moss. The installation isn't for another week..... so I have to suffer with the digital until then... I'll give the the scoop after it's installed.

.. about their lack of HiDef programming. :mad: I spoke with an engineer, and was informed that there was no timetable for HiDef programming for this service area. I wrote a letter to the station manger:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello,

My name is Troy Dawson, and I live within the KEYT service area, in Paso Robles, Ca. I am contacting you in regards to your Hi Definition programming. I use Charter cable as my cable service provider, and recently upgraded to an HDTV. I noticed, when checking out the available HiDef programming, that it is not offered by KEYT. I contacted your engineering department, as was notified that not only is it not offered, but there is no time-table for it in the immediate future. I am concerned, because even the small market channels (KKFX & KCOY) are already offering HiDef programming, and KSBY is within a couple of weeks from offering it locally, yet one of the biggest service area providers is not?

As you are well aware, HiDef consumer population is growing, and I'm sure if you ran a poll in your service area, you'd find that a good portion of the consumers in your service area own, or plan to own a HDTV within the next 3-12 months. I would consider it an oversight, and a dis-service to your customers, not to consider upgrading HiDef programming for the growing population of HDTV consumers in your area.

My question is; why has HiDef not been considered, and why is it not in the plans for the immediate future?

I was looking forward to watching Monday Night Football (one of the biggest sporting events offered during the workweek), as well as the other sporting events offered by ABC (college football, basketball, baseball playoffs, etc.). I am asking what constraints you are up against, and when consumers like myself can look forward to HiDef programming from one of my favorite stations offered by my cable service.

Regards,

Troy Dawson
Paso Robles, Ca.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We'll see what kind of response I get, and will post it here when I get it.

I contacted KSBY, and again spoke with their engineer. According to him, they are within 2 weeks of getting HiDef programming up and running. He said that they are having problems with the Closed Captioning, but have a solution in the works, and expect it to be resolved withing the next couple of weeks. He said that it is against the law to offer programming that does not offer Closed Captioning.

I emailed KEYT for the 3rd time regarding HD last week. I haven't received a reply yet.

They better have it for the World Cup next summer.

KKFX is still not here in Cox land.

... I contacted KSBY, and again spoke with their engineer. According to him, they are within 2 weeks of getting HiDef programming up and running. He said that they are having problems with the Closed Captioning, but have a solution in the works, and expect it to be resolved withing the next couple of weeks. ...

Good news, but then, of course, we have to wait for Charter to pick it up. Who knows how long that will take. Charter corporate announced TNT and Universal HD months ago, but our local outlet still has not turned them on.

Kind of funny when you think about KSBYs current excuse. Every station in the country has to provide closed caption. Hundreds of NBC stations are already broadcasting in HD. And KSBY here in little old SLO has to invent a solution?

Thanks for keeping us informed.

They better have it for the World Cup next summer.


Or you will do ... ?

Good news, but then, of course, we have to wait for Charter to pick it up. Who knows how long that will take. Charter corporate announced TNT and Universal HD months ago, but our local outlet still has not turned them on.

Kind of funny when you think about KSBYs current excuse. Every station in the country has to provide closed caption. Hundreds of NBC stations are already broadcasting in HD. And KSBY here in little old SLO has to invent a solution?

Thanks for keeping us informed.

No problem... of course, once KSBY gets HD programming up and running, then it will be time to hit Charter up to get it as part of their selection of HD channels.

I CAN be a pain in the ass if need be. :D

Enjoyed your above post. I'm a transplant from Indiana ( 20 years ago ) myself. It's hard to believe that with such a rising population there wouldn't be more AV techies clamoring for more services. But I'll have to give Comcast credit -- their broadband is excellent -- 6mbps on Monday! ( Ref. post #135 regarding Comcast woes ) But take heart: we're getting 3 more channels on Comcast.... drumroll ....
PBS for Kids ( let's here it for Barney ) Lifetime Movie Channel and LOGO (whatever that is) all in stunning "digital" SD!!!! Whoopeeeee.

Anyway I'll keep the faith.

BTW, I used to have a big dish til it got destroyed in a storm 3 yrs ago. I think they are still popular in the Paso area. What HD is available on C or Ku band and how difficult is it to obtain? Wasn't going to get a new one, but if that's what it takes.......

Later

... the only HD boy in Lompoc ...

Did you all see the announcement in Thursday's SB News Press announcing 3 new Cox channels? Two of them will be Hi Def--TNT on channel 722 and Fox (KKFX) on channel 711. Third new channel is non hi def Fit TV on channel 252. Now if we could just get KEYT and KCET... .

Or you will do ... ?
go to Germany.. j/k...

It would be 2006 and still no ABC HD...

I don't know what I would do.. Start a petition?

Cool news about FOX HD and TNT HD... When will it start?

FOX and TNT HD start on Cox on October 15.

About a month an a half ago I e-mailed the cheif engineer of KEYT about receiving HD from corporate such as the primetime shows and sports events. I don't think he understood me because he didn't mention anything in his reply about receiving HD for those things, only refering to KEYT news and their own broadcasting. He essentially said that they have not made plans to broadcast in HD an there is no such discussion in the near future of changing to Hi Def. Wow, way to go KEYT, great customer satisfaction.

Great news about TNT and FOX, HOUSE in HD is going to be great!!!!

About a month an a half ago I e-mailed the cheif engineer of KEYT about receiving HD from corporate such as the primetime shows and sports events. I don't think he understood me because he didn't mention anything in his reply about receiving HD for those things, only refering to KEYT news and their own broadcasting. He essentially said that they have not made plans to broadcast in HD an there is no such discussion in the near future of changing to Hi Def. Wow, way to go KEYT, great customer satisfaction.

Great news about TNT an FOX, HOUSE in HD is going to be great!!!!

I met Anne Smith the current owner of KEYT on a flight from Santa Barbara to Denver and I asked about going to HD and she said that they had lots of problems to solve and it would take time. She was a very nice lady and she shared her salad with me after I told her that I had no food. She just got married to Michael Towbes.

About a month an a half ago I e-mailed the cheif engineer of KEYT about receiving HD from corporate such as the primetime shows and sports events. I don't think he understood me because he didn't mention anything in his reply about receiving HD for those things, only refering to KEYT news and their own broadcasting. He essentially said that they have not made plans to broadcast in HD an there is no such discussion in the near future of changing to Hi Def. Wow, way to go KEYT, great customer satisfaction.

Great news about TNT an FOX, HOUSE in HD is going to be great!!!!

I wonder what the hang-up is? You would think.. based on KEYT's service territory, and the fact that KKFX and KCOY have already gone to broadcasting in HiDef, that they would be geared up and ready to go...

Go figure?

So if they do switch to HD, does that mean I have to watch their crappy local news in HD too? I can't imagine them getting HD soon since they'd rather do things on the cheap with that sweatshop of interns at their disposal. Besides, isn't most of the content that's really worth watching on KEYT originating on the big networks anyway?

And don't I have to pay Cox more money to view these extra HD channels right? Better not raise my rent.

My last two emails (along the same lines as those above) to the KEYT GM have gone completely unanswered. Grrrrr.... How can we become a bigger voice? Should we write an open letter to KEYT via the Santa Barbara News Press??

Has anyone asked whether Cox could/would pick up KABC HD (how about on ch 707?!) It was KEYT that forced Cox to remove them several years ago due to territorial / advertising$$ issue. If we HD viewers are so unimportant to them (as they don't even have a PLAN), then they certainly shouldn't mind having KABC fill in until they get their act together-- right?? Is it legally possible?

Whenever I call or email Cox, I never seen to get hooked up with anybody who knows anything or manages to forward the request to someone who does....

So if they do switch to HD, does that mean I have to watch their crappy local news in HD too? I can't imagine them getting HD soon since they'd rather do things on the cheap with that sweatshop of interns at their disposal. Besides, isn't most of the content that's really worth watching on KEYT originating on the big networks anyway?

OH man. Don't hold your breath on the Local stuff produced in HD....ever.
I just want them to pass through the Network HD feed.

I wonder what ABC national thinks of KEYTs lack of progress? Don't they help provide equpment and technical expertise to the locals? Where can we cross post to find out?

Cox does broadcast Channel 4 and Channel 5 news from LA. Getting them to broadcast primetime HD ABC is a good idea. I'll email Cox.

Wow Cox is fast.. I already got a response. They said they get all their local network HD signals OTA... hmm..

They also said they have a list of most requested channels which is tracked by their marketing department.

I just spoke with Charter... I will be getting their HD *Moxi* (DVR) box in my installation. They said the HDMI/DVI ports are *active*, but they do not provide any support for them. They said the technician will use the composite connections, and if I want to supply the cable for the HDMI/DVI inputs to my TV, I can, but I have to supply it myself.

Now to the question:

Is anyone using the *Moxi* (DVR) box?
What's your experiences with it?
Is anyone using the HDMI/DVI outputs/inputs for their HD box to TV?
What's your experiences with that?
What kind of signal quality can I expect from the composite inputs? 1080i? (I currently have the possibility for 1080p)
What kind of picture quality do you get from your HD box with non-HD channels?

So many questions... so little time. :D

My last two emails (along the same lines as those above) to the KEYT GM have gone completely unanswered. Grrrrr.... How can we become a bigger voice? Should we write an open letter to KEYT via the Santa Barbara News Press??

Has anyone asked whether Cox could/would pick up KABC HD (how about on ch 707?!) It was KEYT that forced Cox to remove them several years ago due to territorial / advertising$$ issue. If we HD viewers are so unimportant to them (as they don't even have a PLAN), then they certainly shouldn't mind having KABC fill in until they get their act together-- right?? Is it legally possible?

Whenever I call or email Cox, I never seen to get hooked up with anybody who knows anything or manages to forward the request to someone who does....

Mine also have gone unanswered... the GM is probably tired of getting questions about HiDef... and not having a suitible answer.

That's ok tho.. by what.. 2007, all programming will be converted to HiDef if I recall? Who's going to be my bitch then.. eh KEYT? ;)

goman- that is the exact "canned" response I have recieved in the past...

Is anyone using the *Moxi* (DVR) box?
What's your experiences with it?
Is anyone using the HDMI/DVI outputs/inputs for their HD box to TV?
What's your experiences with that?
What kind of signal quality can I expect from the composite inputs? 1080i? (I currently have the possibility for 1080p)
What kind of picture quality do you get from your HD box with non-HD channels?


Moxi has its own thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=412846
your Moxi questions are best answered there. Yours is probably one of the first Moxies in this DMA.

Composite inputs? I think you (and Charter) mean component (3 wires R,G,B).
That gives excellent quality. I doubt you will notice the difference between Component and HDMI. But, with HDMI you will have the convenience of one cable for both video and audio. Also the satisfaction of knowing your video (and audio) is going digital all the way.

Analog channels are better decoded by my TV than my cable box. You should split the cable so it goes directly to your TV and the Moxi. Then you can check out the difference for yourself

HDinPaso,

I just noticed you have one of the new Mits 1080 sets. Do you realize you have a built in digital cable tuner? You should be able to tune channels 781 (FOX) and 782 (CBS) by just hooking the cable to your set as I suggested above.

Not true that all broadcasting will be in HD by 20xx (whatever year congress finally comes up with). It just has to be digital.

HDinPaso,

I just noticed you have one of the new Mits 1080 sets. Do you realize you have a built in digital cable tuner? You should be able to tune channels 781 (FOX) and 782 (CBS) by just hooking the cable to your set as I suggested above.

Yes, I do.. but I will be the 1st to admit that I'm not sure how to go about doing that. Does that mean that I can just hook up the cable directly to the TV, without the HD reciever? How do I *tune* in the channel? Will the signal be true HD, or does it need the HD reciever to convert the analog to HD?

Damn newbies... :D

Yes, I do.. but I will be the 1st to admit that I'm not sure how to go about doing that. Does that mean that I can just hook up the cable directly to the TV, without the HD reciever? How do I *tune* in the channel? Will the signal be true HD, or does it need the HD reciever to convert the analog to HD?

Damn newbies... :D

OK try this.

Take the cable out of the Charter STB and plug it into your set.

Set the TV input to TV (not Input 1 or whatever your STB is on)

Press 782 on the remote.

If that does not do it, get out your TVs manual and read the directions for initial setup. You may need to change something to select "Cable vs OTA (Over the Air).
I don't have a Mits TV but this stuff is usually found by pressing the "Menu" button and then "Setup".

You really are a newbie. You would have to do the same thing to set up a regular analog TV.

HDinPaso,

Another thought. Your TV will also support Cable Card. This will let you watch digital premium stations (like ESPN/Discovery) without using the cable box. It also gives you a third tuner so you can watch live TV while recording 2 others. Might also give you a better picture. Call Charter and have them add it to your Moxi order. You can then ask the cable guy to split your feed as I suggested above.

OK try this.

Take the cable out of the Charter STB and plug it into your set.

Set the TV input to TV (not Input 1 or whatever your STB is on)

Press 782 on the remote.

If that does not do it, get out your TVs manual and read the directions for initial setup. You may need to change something to select "Cable vs OTA (Over the Air).
I don't have a Mits TV but this stuff is usually found by pressing the "Menu" button and then "Setup".

You really are a newbie. You would have to do the same thing to set up a regular analog TV.

Ok, I'll try this tonight and see what happens.

And uh.. 4 the record.. I haven't had to do a channel search in 7 years... just have to jog the memory..

HDinPaso,

Another thought. Your TV will also support Cable Card. This will let you watch digital premium stations (like ESPN/Discovery) without using the cable box. It also gives you a third tuner so you can watch live TV while recording 2 others. Might also give you a better picture. Call Charter and have them add it to your Moxi order. You can then ask the cable guy to split your feed as I suggested above.

I spoke with Charter, they said that the cable card is not offered in my area, and answered some FAQ's for me.

1) The cable card will not allow for interactive networking. SOOOOOOOOOO.. .what this means is, no Pay-per-view, no channel info.. .etc. Big whoop.

2) Cable card is not supported by Charter in my area.. (Well gee.. probably why they don't have the freakin' card here in the first place!)

3) No no DVR with cableCARD.. well, that is a downer.

Yadda yadda yadda..... so, I guess I'll be going with the HD box anyways...

1) The cable card will not allow for interactive networking. SOOOOOOOOOO.. .what this means is, no Pay-per-view, no channel info.. .etc. Big whoop.

2) Cable card is not supported by Charter in my area.. (Well gee.. probably why they don't have the freakin' card here in the first place!)

3) No no DVR with cableCARD.. well, that is a downer.

Yadda yadda yadda..... so, I guess I'll be going with the HD box anyways...

I was not suggesting you skip the cable box. But that you add the cable card.

My Charter rate card for "San Luis Obispo County" dated August 24, 2005 shows a line item for cable card priced at $1.50 per month.

It is my understanding that Cable Card support is an FCC requirement.

Did the CSR you talked to really know where you live? I only ask because they usually get it wrong. Remember the answer you got about CBS?

I was not suggesting you skip the cable box. But that you add the cable card.

My Charter rate card for "San Luis Obispo County" dated August 24, 2005 shows a line item for cable card priced at $1.50 per month.

It is my understanding that Cable Card support is an FCC requirement.

Did the CSR you talked to really know where you live? I only ask because they usually get it wrong. Remember the answer you got about CBS?

I asked the CSR if the cable card was offered for our area, and she said no.

Charter absolutely sux!

I called 2x's to make sure that my order was correct... 1 HD box w/DVR, and one HD box for my bedroom. So, what does the installer show up with?? The MOXI box only... How can you screw that one up? Especially when I made SURE the 2nd box was included on the order.

I got the MOXI box hooked up... and right away I saw flaws in the picture. The installer said he had never seen the *red pixelated* images in the picture before. Also, the incomming images were in 480i, and the installer couldn't figure out how to get it to change... even on the HD channels. So I told him that he could go ahead and go, that I would work on it and figure it out.

I went to the set up screen, and found how to configure the box to TV resolution.. and set it for 480i, 720p and 1080i. But in doing so, it didn't correct the red pixels that were showing up in the HD channels, as well as the non-HD. Plus, the audio kept coming in choppy, which is really annoying. What's funny is, the Digital cable box that I had been using was better quality, both video and audio. I moved the digital box to the TV in the bedroom so that I could use that TV.

I called Charter this morning to have a technician come out and find out what was going on... and I made sure to have them bring out another MOXI box to change out if this one doesn't work. I can't believe I had to tell them to make sure they bring another one out... the CSR didn't sound like she was going to make sure that the installer would bring one.

Anyways.. to say that I am highly disappointed at the service (or, lack of) I got with Charter would be a gross understatement.

I'll let you know what happens after Thursday...

I asked the CSR if the cable card was offered for our area, and she said no.

Charter absolutely sux!

I called 2x's to make sure that my order was correct... 1 HD box w/DVR, and one HD box for my bedroom. So, what does the installer show up with?? The MOXI box only... How can you screw that one up? Especially when I made SURE the 2nd box was included on the order.

I got the MOXI box hooked up... and right away I saw flaws in the picture. The installer said he had never seen the *red pixelated* images in the picture before. Also, the incomming images were in 480i, and the installer couldn't figure out how to get it to change... even on the HD channels. So I told him that he could go ahead and go, that I would work on it and figure it out.

I went to the set up screen, and found how to configure the box to TV resolution.. and set it for 480i, 720p and 1080i. But in doing so, it didn't correct the red pixels that were showing up in the HD channels, as well as the non-HD. Plus, the audio kept coming in choppy, which is really annoying. What's funny is, the Digital cable box that I had been using was better quality, both video and audio. I moved the digital box to the TV in the bedroom so that I could use that TV.

I called Charter this morning to have a technician come out and find out what was going on... and I made sure to have them bring out another MOXI box to change out if this one doesn't work. I can't believe I had to tell them to make sure they bring another one out... the CSR didn't sound like she was going to make sure that the installer would bring one.

Anyways.. to say that I am highly disappointed at the service (or, lack of) I got with Charter would be a gross understatement.

I'll let you know what happens after Thursday...

UPDATE:

It was the box. The tech showed up yesterday afternoon, and replaced the MOXI, and right away, it was working properly.

We also hooked up the DVI cable, which, BTW, doesn't work on the MOXI boxes (even tho Charter says the post is active), but works on the AS 3250.

HDinPaso,

See this post about getting DVI to work

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6265946&&#post6265946

The advice I have heard from local insiders is that we should not hold our breath waiting for HDTV from KEYT. The station is supposedly strapped for cash and barely able to keep afloat. Capital investments necessary to broadcast in HD will be slow in coming.

It's frustrating because presumably KEYT has the ability to receive the ABC network feed in HD. You'd think they could just connect two cables together to send that on to Cox. But it doesn't work like this. For Cox to show KEYT-HD means that KEYT has to be broadcasting over the air in HD. That means updating all of KEYT's transmission and communication facilities.

As far as Cox showing KABC, it won't happen because KEYT has a legal monopoly on ABC's signal in this area. That means they get advertising revenue for ABC broadcasts in the local area. If KABC were being shown we would see the ads from LA and not the local ones. It would take money out of KEYT's pockets. KEYT won't allow that, it would be bad for their business. They pay a lot of money for that monopoly and they have to extract as much as they can for it.

Bottom line, I don't expect KEYT-HD to happen until there is enough demand for HD that some deep pocket either funds KEYT or buys it outright, with the intention of upgrading the signal to a first class HDTV operation. Problem is that local TV in a market the size of SB is not a high profit operation.

For Cox to show KEYT-HD means that KEYT has to be broadcasting over the air in HD. That means updating all of KEYT's transmission and communication facilities.


Are you sure of this? It was my understanding that KSBY was supplying Cox with an HD feed even though they are not transmitting in HD over the air.

Problem is that local TV in a market the size of SB is not a high profit operation.

hdtripper - Unfortunately, what you say is likely very true. It is still amazing that this is the situation in an area with so much Hollywood $$ floating around.
All the more annoying because KCOY, KSBY, and KKFX have managed to do it...

Just looking at the DMA listing of stations- some tidbits:

We are #121 (or 122) now, with about 225,000 households (~0.2% of 110 Million Total Nationwide)

We are part of the only 11% nationwide who do not get ABC HD yet.

Of the 121 DMAs larger than us, there are only 17 that do not broadcast ABC HD, and 4 don't even have an ABC station in their DMA.

We are the largest DMA in California without ABC HD.

Down the list, Monterey-Salinas, CA (125), Palm Springs, CA (153), and Yuma, AZ-El Centro, CA (170) Dont even have ABC Locals. Eureka (KAEF?)(194) is the only other non HD ABC station in California, best I can tell...

chew on that.

Now I thought that was the purpose behind the passage of SHEVRA (sp?) -- to give those of us in "unserved" areas an opportunity to receive HD via the LA feed. It seems logical since the advertisers don't broadcast during the programs, just allow the HD signal through during the shows and switch to the local feed during the all-important local ads. It is AMAZING with the wealth in SB that this situation exists at all! Good luck -- maybe sometime in this decade we will get the HD we have paid for. Anyone else in Lompoc on this board? When is the KKFX-HD situation going to get resolved???

Here I am ... the only HD boy in Lompoc ...

The purpose of SHEVRA was politics as usual. In return for strengthening the monopoly (by eliminating access to "distant networks") of the local network franchisees (e.g KEYT). The politicians (e.g Lois Capps) got favorable coverage at election time from the local network stations. All this was done under the "spin" of "give those of us in "unserved" areas an opportunity to receive HD".

Welcome to the real world.

Let's say.. I wanna ditch the whole MOXI thing and utilize my cableCARD slot and TiVo.. how can this be done, and what would it take?

='|

I don't think there is a CableCard HD Tivo yet. So, you are stuck with your Moxi for a while. Did you finally convince Charter to give you a CableCard? If you would consider a non-Tivo, look at this

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-D2chYoHhIGF/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=116500&I=158HDD250

Not to change the subject but I noticed tonight that KSBY is broadcasting over the air in HD :D
I know they had been feeding some cable systems with an HD feed but tonight's prime time show showed up on 6.2 in HD. I am interested how sports will look.

Not to change the subject but I noticed tonight that KSBY is broadcasting over the air in HD :D
I know they had been feeding some cable systems with an HD feed but tonight's prime time show showed up on 6.2 in HD. I am interested how sports will look.

I found out a little over a month ago that they were well within a month or so from brining HD to their line up. Now if Charter will pick it up?

Not to change the subject but I noticed tonight that KSBY is broadcasting over the air in HD :D
I know they had been feeding some cable systems with an HD feed but tonight's prime time show showed up on 6.2 in HD. I am interested how sports will look.


Hopefully Comcast of Lompoc, also. They still haven't straightened out the Fox situation ( which we were to have before the Superbowl ). Really enjoying watching my beloved White Sox in stunning KKFX SD. NBC has some great stuff on prime-time HD which I am looking forward to seeing. Glad to see some of it showing up on TNT-HD. If anyone in Lompoc reads this thread, please post something!!

bis spaeter

... Here I am ... The Only HD Boy in Lompoc .....

HDinPaso,

You might find this thread interesting:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=594916

It tells how one Charter customer was able to get a Cable Card. See post #23

What is with the weird Fox bug on their HD programming. Where only the FO are in the corner of the screen. I find it distracting. It is local or a national bug? I haven't watched much baseball but don't remember it being there when I have. Just with the HD programming.

Don't know, goman. The KKFX feed was actually working in Lompoc a couple of months ago for a couple weeks before permanently crapping out. That oversized "bug" appeared most of the time. Since you are experiencing it, maybe it has something to do with the KKFX feed. When I talked to the engineer at KKFX, I was told they were sending out their signal in "780p" -- thought it was 720 p -- never got that clarifed...could have something to do with it. Glad you are at least receiving it. How's the quality? Comcast says " our equipment is functioning" (so why am I still getting it in 480i?) -- so you might give KKFX a call or e-mail. Good luck to you and ***GO SOX***



... here I am, the only HD boy in Lompoc...

What is with the weird Fox bug on their HD programming. Where only the FO are in the corner of the screen. I find it distracting. It is local or a national bug? I haven't watched much baseball but don't remember it being there when I have. Just with the HD programming.

My theory is that broadcasts where only the FO in FOX appears in the lower right-hand corner is due to a 4:3 digital image (not 16:9 HD) is being blown up (by Cox?) to fill the 16:9 screen thus cutting off part of the logo. The programs I've seen the FO on don't seem to be in HD but in good 4:3 digital. Just my guess.

Does anyone else have terrible compression errors (I guess that's what they are) when watching 712 (CBS)? It's especially horrible during football and lots of movement? I don't see this on discover HD or ESPN HD. Although, ESPN HD has wierd green blocks that sort of flash before the football is snapped.

uiucsb- yes in live sports I have seen those compression errors you are talking about. Except the US Open. I don't remeber them then. Maybe because most of the background is static.

But I do remember bad breakup during the College Basketball Final Four and obviously with Football.

I want to pay for and watch/record NBC-HD, CBS-HD and FOX-HD on COX in Santa Barbara using a My-HD QAM-256 PCI Capture Card in my PC.

Does anyone know for sure whether or not NBC-HD, CBS-HD and FOX-HD are "in the clear" (unscrambled) on COX in Santa Barbara?

Thanks in advance.

I want to pay for and watch/record NBC-HD, CBS-HD and FOX-HD on COX in Santa Barbara using a My-HD QAM-256 PCI Capture Card in my PC.

Does anyone know for sure whether or not NBC-HD, CBS-HD and FOX-HD are "in the clear" (unscrambled) on COX in Santa Barbara?

Thanks in advance.

They are. I can tune all three channels using my Fusion5 HDTV tuner card.

They are. I can tune all three channels using my Fusion5 HDTV tuner card.

Cool!

While I uinderstood that Cox SB broadcasted NBC-HD, CBS-HD and FOX-HD (networks only), the Cox website only lists the following HD channels:


706 KSBY (NBC) HD
715 Discovery HD Theatre
720 ESPN HD
731 INHD1
732 INHD2
740 HBO HD
750 Showtime HD


Which (5) HD channels are in the clear for your Fusion5 HDTV tuner card to view/record?

Cool!

While I uinderstood that Cox SB broadcasted NBC-HD, CBS-HD and FOX-HD (networks only), the Cox website only lists the following HD channels:


706 KSBY (NBC) HD
715 Discovery HD Theatre
720 ESPN HD
731 INHD1
732 INHD2
740 HBO HD
750 Showtime HD


Which (5) HD channels are in the clear for your Fusion5 HDTV tuner card to view/record?

I can tune NBC-HD, CBS-HD, FOX-HD, and Universal HD. It might be possible to receive some of the others, but the Fusion software is pretty picky about detecting QAM channels.

My wife is from Santa Barbara and I was there three weeks ago for a wedding. While there, I set up my sister-in-law's plasma with the Cox SA 8300. Believe it or not, Cox set it up using the RF so my sister-in-law was not watching HD for 8 months and thought she was. Anyway, after setting it up for them, I noticed the artifacts on the CBS SEC game, Florida-LSU I think. They were much much worse than what I see here on our CBS affiliate in Philadelphia which does not multicast. I believe your CBS affiliate multicasts. If that is the case, what you were seeing was due to the bit starving of the HD signal by your affiliate and is why I am so dead set against multicasting. Complain to them about it. It can't hurt although it will most likely fall on deaf ears.

I can tune NBC-HD, CBS-HD, FOX-HD, and Universal HD. It might be possible to receive some of the others, but the Fusion software is pretty picky about detecting QAM channels.

Thanks!

I called Cox and they swore that nothing HD was in the clear.

How do you find the PQ of the HD recordings that you make with your Fusion card?

Thanks!

I called Cox and they swore that nothing HD was in the clear.

How do you find the PQ of the HD recordings that you make with your Fusion card?

I'm quite happy with the PQ.

In watching today's football games on KCOY-DT over the air, it seemed more pixalated (a word? I dunno) than usual. In looking at the posts about CBS broadcasts in another area of the board, I saw no complaints. I was wondering if folks getting KCOY via cable see the same thing, or does KCOY put out a better signal to local cable. I was also wondering if they give cable a DD 5.1 sound. I only get a digital stereo signal for audio from any KCOY broadcast.

KCOY and KKFX were both very broken up during the HD football games today. Pretty much unwatchable. Even the sound was distorted. "pixalated" is being kind. Maybe you got a better picture than I saw on Charter cable.

I have noticed problems the last couple of days, but just checked a few minutes ago and KCOY looked OK. (But they were not doing HD, just upconverts of SD)

Happy to announce that about a week ago KKFX showed up in HD on Comcast. I didn't catch much of the games on Sunday, but did catch the end of the 2nd game. I did notice that the "bug" on the other HD programs during prime time did not appear and I found the picture and sound absolutely fantastic! A few periodic artifacts and mild tiling. The tiling, however, has always been more of a problem on KCOY-HD, although it has significantly improved. I noticed it more during the BB season, and during dimly lighted scenes on the prime-time shows during the week. Anyway, 2 down and 2 to go (NBC and ABC) Maybe early next year????

bis spaeter...

"Here I am -- the only HD boy in Lompoc..."

I was all ready to commend KCOY for doing a better job today's football game, it had a lot fewer breakups or picalations. But alas, it looks like their digital signal on Ch 19 went off-air around 3:30. It's still off as I write this. I doubt it is my equipment, I am still getting KSBY's digital signal via my antenna.

The only person I know of getting HD over the air in Oceano... ;-)

I left the house about 2:30 -- KCOY and KKFX were both brilliant on Comcast. Got home a couple of hours later -- both channels functioning. Must have been their OTA signals -- did it ever come back on? Curious -- can you get KKFX-HD or are they still cable-only? Nice location to get 3 networks OTA == we won't even mentinon KEYT ( oops -- I mentioned it! ) LOL.

Both channels did go dark sometime after primetime on Friday, however, for a couple of hours. Don't know what that was all about -- all other Comcast HD was perfect. Keep the faith!


bis spaeter...

"Here I am, the only HD boy in Lompoc..."

KCOY's OTA digital signal came back up sometime during the day today, dunno when, had to do that pesky work thing...
KKFX has no HD transmitter, they do come in on 12.2 in SD, multicasting on KCOY's digital signal

Hi all,

I recently acquired an HDTV, and whenever I watch KCOY on channel 12 (the non-HD channel in S.B.), there is a little white spot/mark at the top left of the screen. It only appears on KCOY and not on other channels...strange.

Anyone else seeing this white mark?

Thank you!

Hi all,

I recently acquired an HDTV, and whenever I watch KCOY on channel 12 (the non-HD channel in S.B.), there is a little white spot/mark at the top left of the screen. It only appears on KCOY and not on other channels...strange.

Anyone else seeing this white mark?

Thank you!

I connected an antenna to my NTSC card and verified that a white spot/mark does exist. It looks like a capital T tipped to the right "-|" I have attached two screen captures showing the mark. The signal quality isn't the best, but the mark is there.

Hope that helps.

-Frank

I was all ready to commend KCOY for doing a better job today's football game, it had a lot fewer breakups or picalations. But alas, it looks like their digital signal on Ch 19 went off-air around 3:30. It's still off as I write this. I doubt it is my equipment, I am still getting KSBY's digital signal via my antenna.

The only person I know of getting HD over the air in Oceano... ;-)

Well Oceano sure but I'm getting OTA in Grover Beach :) . At least I was until I checked today and KCOY 19 isn't broadcasting, still getting NBC's 15-1 so I wonder if it is their equipment, anyone else having trouble with KCOY's HD channel?

Well Oceano sure but I'm getting OTA in Grover Beach :) . At least I was until I checked today and KCOY 19 isn't broadcasting, still getting NBC's 15-1 so I wonder if it is their equipment, anyone else having trouble with KCOY's HD channel?

I just checked KCOY OTA (12.1) and it available, with over 80% signal strength with my cheap antenna, in Nipomo.

Well Oceano sure but I'm getting OTA in Grover Beach :) . At least I was until I checked today and KCOY 19 isn't broadcasting, still getting NBC's 15-1 so I wonder if it is their equipment, anyone else having trouble with KCOY's HD channel?
What I noticed yesterday was KCOY was sending out signals on 19.3 & 19.4, or at least that is what my receiver said, and nothing on 12.1 & 12.2. I think what happens, but this is absolutely pure speculation, is some info gets lost and the signal loses it's association with Ch 12. This is not the 1st time this has happend but it is working Ok now.
Glad to see others get KCOY's HD signal OTA.

Just wondering, for you OTA receivers of KCOY -- are today's football games being shown in HD? Comcast has Fox in HD but not CBS. Go Drew!

Thanks

Just wondering, for you OTA receivers of KCOY -- are today's football games being shown in HD? Comcast has Fox in HD but not CBS. Go Drew!

Thanks

Neither of todays games shown by KCOY were produced in HD by CBS

Hi,

I am new to this section of the forums. I've read through all the threads brielfy but still have a few questions I am hoping can be answered. I currently live in Goleta, CA, near the airport. I am subscribing to DirecTV with the local packages option. Due to my housing situation I *cannot* switch to Cox. They are not allowed on the premises due to an exclusive agreement with DirecTV. Do I really need to censor, D*? Anyway...

1. Why does SB have such poor OTA reception, in general. I am not even talking about HDTV. I don't know of a single person in SB/Goleta that doesn't subscribe to Cable/Sat. What is the technical reason?

2. Why is KEYT-ABC so poor here? It is the worst channel by far. Here's a snippet of what I wrote the GM:

Of 100's of channels of various quality, KEYT consistently has the poorest reception. Again, this is viewing through 5 different residences, 2 zip codes, Cox Digital Cable Box, Cox basic cable coax, DirecTV, CRT TV, LCD Rear Projection, and Plasma. One example is during any viewing of the show Alias. Every time there is a commercial break and your news person comes on with a snippet, the screen completely freezes and audio cuts out. Sometimes during the show, there will be a large green vertical bar covering the center of the screen and the audio will freeze

3. What can I do to increase the quality of my local channels via D*? I already subscribe to the local channels package. How do waivers work? Is there a FAQ?

4. If I were to get the waivers, would I need new equipment? Currently I don't subscribe to HD D* and don't plan to. I just want better quality local channels. Could my standard receiver and dish receive the HD local channels? Couldn't I make a case that if I was in a better location I could receive the HD locals OTA, and thus wouldn't need to subscribe to the local channels? Will D* waive my (HD) equipment costs so I can receive the local HD channels? Sorry if this got confusing.

Anyway, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Sygyzy,

1. Poor OTA is because all of the stations except KEYT are too far away to get over the air. NBC comes from SLO and CBS and FOX come from Santa Maria.

2. Don't know. KEYT is the only station in our DMA that has no plans for HD. Too cheap.

3. Nothing can improve the quality of your locals from D*. If I understand the SHERVA law correctly, you can't get waivers for HD since you have your locals available on D*. You might try though.

4. You would need to replace your existing D* box with an HD capable one. Are you the box owner or is the building management the owner?

LesMoss,

First off, thanks for replying.

1. Man, this is very disappointing. Personally, back home, , my family never had cable or satellite. I can't imagine how bad it would have been growing up here, unable to afford it. I guess I would have gotten out more.

2. What is DMA?

3. I thought waivers were for people who can't receive the local channels clearly enough OTA so they go through DirecTV. That is, I am entitled to receive local channels and since they can't properly serve me and I created a medium for which they can deliver local channels to me (D*), they would give me a waiver to get the HD version?

4. I am the box owner. Well more accurately, I pay to rent the box from a local installer and I also pay D* for service.

Looks like I am out of luck :(

Do a search for "moving", you can get all your HD stations with D* through LA HD.

Sygyzy,

DMA stands for Designated Market Area. The government divides the country into around 200 DMAs and grants one network station in each DMA a monopoly to deliver a given network's content to that DMA. SLO and SB are lumped together in one DMA so, for example, KSBY has the monoploly on delivering NBC content to you. You can't get it from anywhere else unless they give you a waiver. But, they have no incentive to give you a waiver. So, forget it.

About 7 or 8 months agao, KSBY did grant me a digital waiver, though ABC, Fox & CBS did not. Maybe they felt sorry for me living in Oceano... ;)

LesMoss - Thanks for the depressing news :(

mthomps105 - What is a digital waiver? Like for digital cable?

<snip>

mthomps105 - What is a digital waiver? Like for digital cable?
I have Direct TV with HD. When you get HD, they will apply to the local stations to give you a digital waiver and if they agree you can get Network HD broadcasts from LA, the waiver we used to get was in essence an analog waiver. Anyway, it was called a digital waiver on the postcard they sent me, I surmised the rest....

According to my last bill I got from Cox, MTVHD is coming January 16. I personally stopped watching MTV 10 years ago. Not really looking forward to this. I think 4 other SD channels are also coming.

Also the bill said InDemand will roll out HD and OnDemand services soon.

Hello All,
I'm new to HD and I must confess . . . I LOVE IT! If I could only get more? The dudes at KCOY are my hero's. They provide the lone shining star in a sea of medocrity. Now if the other networks would follow their lead we'd be stylin'! I also receive FOX with my rabbit-ears but I haven't seen anything in hi-def from them yet. I'm planning/saving to get the HR10-250, but I'm worried about the quality. My current sat/tivo box looks terrible on most channels. It looked a lot better with my old tv.

Will the HR10-250 improve the quality of standard channels also? I know they won't be hi-def but it would be nice the see less macro-blocking. I dream of a day when all my channels look as nice as KCOY does.

I talked with KSBY and they said they're currently broadcasting a low-powered digital OTA signal but I didn't find out if they're putting any hi-def content on it or not. It's not worth spending any $ on a new antenna if it's just 480i output. What should I do? I want MORE HD damn it!!!

HDTV_starved,

KSBY is broadcasting HD content. Unfortunately, they will not give it to Charter (or probably other cable cos) for free. So Charter and KSBY are "in negotiation". That means an indefinate delay. Got this from the chief engineer at KSBY a week or so ago.

KSBY said they DO supply their feed to COX cable subscribers. Although I don't know of anyone with cox cable. My sister has HD cable up in the bay area and I wasn't very impressed. Yeah it looked pretty good, but KCOY OTA is clearly better. She's going to get an antenna soon. She didn't believe me when I told her that rabbit-ears would provide a better picture than cable.

Looks like we're SOL for the Super Bowl & the Rose Bowl. Both are on ABC :(

So KSBY is putting out a Hi-Def feed for their prime-time line-up? How well do you think I'd pick it up from Groovey Beach? I'm just above the Rite-Aid off Oak Park. Anyone in my area pickin them up clearly? What kind of antenna would you suggest?

from Bill Ingram chief engineer <bingram@ksby.com>:

"... We currently
broadcast both standard definition and high definition programming on
UHF channel 15 (SD on service 6.1 and HD on service 6.2). The HD signal
has been on about a month now. Negotiations are under way for HD
carriage on Charter Cable. I do not when they will be concluded.
If you are in an area that receives KSBY's analog channel 6 broadcast
you should be able to receive the HD signal with a UHF antenna and
digital tuner."

Sounds like you should give it a try. This might help

www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx

Anyone know if KSBY-HD will make it to Comcast? Having trouble e-mailing Bill Ingram. As for ABC, it's a lost cause. Can't even get it in SB -- apparently the richest city on the central coast can't afford the conversion. 2009 maybe?? Wish D* would get the SHVERA thing cleared up so we wouldn't have to beg stations like KEYT for waviers. Oh, well. Here's to a Happy New Year and more HD!

bis spaeter...

"Here I am, the only HD boy in Lompoc"

Mr. Bob Grissom (KEYT Local Station Manager) has a complete disregard for any courtesy to or respect for myself, or fellow Santa Barbarian's, in not even acknowledging their letters, or emails, on the subject of waiver requests for ABC HD. This just shows what complete lack of class he and his local TV station have.

I know that Shevara gave him the legal right to deny HD waiver requests. I feel, however, that he doesn't have the moral right to continue to completely ignore us , virtually spitting in our faces, without consequences.

We need to form a protest group. This could be started on this Santa Barbara AVS Forum HDTV website, (and publicized on any and all other related issue websites). Each member of the group would be advised to individually contact all of the local KEYT advertisers by mail, to inform them that we will be boycotting them from any business patronage in the future as long as they continue advertising on the KEYT station. This would not be a threat, just a statement of fact. (Of course, NBC, CBS, and FOX local stations would be excluded from this action, because they have been generally approving Digital waiver requests).

The protest group would operate like this. Starting in Jan., 2006, any business who advertises on KEYT, would be notified by letter, from any and all interested persons who own a HD TV but who have been denied the right to see ABC High Definition TV, that they will not only be identified to all the members, but will be recommended to be blacklisted by the members from any future business dealings. This will naturally include all owners of HD TV's who are presently unable to receive ABC HD because of KEYT stations prior actions, as well as any other sympathizers to our cause . I'm sure individually all these advertisers will be interested in knowing that what would be considered to be the most affluent future customers (those who have purchased High Definition TV's are probably mostly from the SB upper income bracket) will be taking all their business to their local competition. Naturally, those businesses that utilize local NBC 6, CBS 12, and FOX 11, advertising will be the preferred businesses.

This is a necessary step, because Grissom and KEYT are obviously not progressing towards a logical upgrade in service, with little progress in 3 years, and nothing in process, and apparently, are too selfish and vindictive to allow any of the local residents (except for their privileged personal friends) to receive ABC HD. So be it.

The ABC network is losing the primary reasons for wanting to watch it, with almost no significant football or major sports broadcasts after this years NFL playoffs, so from now on, who really cares? Well, we care. We have been treated with the utmost disdain and disregard by KEYT for an overly significant period of time.

The HD KEYT Protest Group’s proposed charter believes that KEYT has overused its station granted Shevara authority, because of Grissom’s complete lack of business ethics, and abnormal acts of discourtesy. All persons who own a HDTV, and subscribe to DTV, or Cable, should be able to enjoy all HD programming that is being broadcast, on all networks, if they choose. The fact that a local financially strapped station can deny these rights to local residents out of pure spite is not acceptable. If owners of a station cannot afford upgrading to HD, they should not have the right to deny HD to all persons who just happen to be in their DMA.

My opinion. Any others?

KEYT is a business. They are not doing this from spite. They think it is in their best business interest. And its legal.

The real enemy is your congressional representative Lois Capps who supported the SHERVA law. Write to her and tell her you will not vote for her unless this is changed by the next election. The real answer is to get the law changed so that if you can't get HD over the air from your local station, you can get it from another station.

Unfortunately, Lois Capps depends on KEYT to get re-elected.

The fact is that until HDTV owners become a significant fraction of the population, we will have no commercial or political leverage.

KEYT is a business. They are not doing this from spite. They think it is in their best business interest. And its legal.
That doesn't excuse them from ignoring business ethics in not even replying to formal letters and emails..
The fact is that until HDTV owners become a significant fraction of the population, we will have no commercial or political leverage.
I don't agree. Political leverage is what you make it to be. KEYT is strugling financially, and can't afford to lose any of their advertising base. We are a growing and well heeled dissident group, we HDTVers. We can't wait for congress to act- the lobbyists will always bribe the lawmakers to get what they want, anyways.

KKFX (FOX) is only a low power analog station, they do have a digital SD sub-channel on KCOY's signal (yes the dreaded multi-casting). So, even though they can get a HD signal to the local Cable Co.'s, they don't broadcast one over the air. When I called the station to ask about a waiver, I was given the # of the clear-channel office in Bakersfield. I was connected to a person who insisted they already provide Direct TV with HD, so I was not eligible for a waiver. When I tried to correct them, the conversation when downhill :confused:
Mike
BTW, I think making personal attack's against the folks who work at a station as being counter productive. I've never had good luck with them either, but I don't think they are evil.

Mike,
I don't believe the FCC and congress intended for Sherva to give a local
station manager the absolute right to ignore their public viewers and their
correspondence, and deprieve them of the right to fight back when they are
being deprived of what should be theirs. Counter productive to what?
Getting what we are entitled to? We have the right to do what must be done
to change things that are unjust, as long as it is done legally. If KEYT
can't afford to keep up with the state of the art in Digital Broadcasting,
they should get out of the business, not drag us all down with them just
because we happen to be in their DMA. I didn't say they were evil, they
just lack any semblence of professionalism in their dealings with their
clientele who are just looking for answers to their questions. Of the US
200 largest DMA's, we are the only one in CA without access to ABC HD.

Relax, it is just TV :)
Until the FCC comes up with digital rules, incompetent station management can be frustrating...

Until the FCC comes up with digital rules, incompetent station management can be frustrating...

WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE WE DO AGREE ON SOMETHING. (KEYT incompetent station management)

Cheers

"KEYT incompetent station management"

I will agree with that one too. Its not just HDTV. I have seen them leave overtime sports events to show paid advertising programs. Nobody at home, just the computer running things.

And while we are complaining, what about KCET? Are you getting HD from them? People in LA are.

I have stopped subscribing. Maybe you should consider that too.

KCET is not picked up in HD by DirectTV or any Santa Barbara local Cable provider.

For HD set owners whose cable providers aren’t yet offering digital cable, you can receive KCET on channels 59.1 and 59.2 in LA only with an outside antenna.

This is an entirely different situation than the local KEYT. KCET has upgraded to HD.

In SLO and northern Santa Barbara counties, we are too far away to get the LA signal OTA. KCET has a transmitter here but only analog SD. So, it looks exactly like KEYT to us.

Les

Similar, but one big, big difference. KEYT is a commercial station, whereas KCET's operating funds come from public donations, and government subsidies. Without public donations, they would probably fold.
If we can get KEYT's advertising base to dry up, they will be out of business. What an admirable goal!!!!!!!!! :p

KCET is not picked up in HD by DirectTV or any Santa Barbara local Cable provider.

For HD set owners whose cable providers aren’t yet offering digital cable, you can receive KCET on channels 59.1 and 59.2 in LA only with an outside antenna.

This is an entirely different situation than the local KEYT. KCET has upgraded to HD.


Is anyone getting the five major network (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS- plus Minor Networks WB, UPN,) WB, UPN, by Over-the-Air ATSC HDTV reception in Santa Barbara from L.A. and/or San Diego?

Please tell me which channels you can recieve good watchable signal on and what kind of outdoor/rooftop antenna and which transmitter (Mt. Wilson in L.A., etc.) you are using for each channel.

Thanks in advance.

KSBY HD just appeared in the program guide at channel 786 on Charter Cable.

Unfortunately, the screen is currently blank. But at least there are signs of progess. Hope it settles down in time for the Olympics.

Both FOX (781) and CBS (782) HDs are also breaking up badly, just as they were last Sunday. Do OTA viewers see this too or is it just Charter?

On my Charter Moxi I have no channel info, but KSBY is broadcasting in HD on 786. The Tonight Show is in HD right now.

<snip>

Both FOX (781) and CBS (782) HDs are also breaking up badly, just as they were last Sunday. Do OTA viewers see this too or is it just Charter?

I watched much of the last half of the game on CBS (KCOY) last sunday, no real issues. Can't comment on Fox ( KKFX) as they do not broadcast HD OTA :(

Has anyone else been experiencing signal breakup on the local HDs? I had assumed it was a KCOY/KKFX problem, but now with KSBY having the same problem it must be a Charter problem or maybe just my SA 8300HD. (Sounds like tim5455 is doing OK on his Moxi.)

HD Net/Movies, ESPNHD and Discovery HD are just fine. Only problem is with the locals.

bobzoila, I agree with you. Well stated! I can live with the fact that they're a poor little company with no chance of upgrading their equipment. I also realize it may not be completely their fault since ABC is on the hook for a great deal of the equipment they need. BUT that doen't excuse the fact that they're ignoring the customers in their area by not granting HD waivers. WHY NOT? They've granted me a SD waiver (Directv) but I'm still waiting on HD. The superbowl is coming up! Has anyone printed out a waiver and just gone into their office? I will. SB is an hour south of me, but if I don't get my waiver soon they'll have a very large unhappy man camping in their lobby. I just want to state that I love KCOY. I'll shop with their advertisers all day long! They ARE the central coast's HD leaders.

Is ANYONE living in the SLO/Pismo area receiving ABC in HD? Cable? DISH? Directv? If I don't get a waiver soon (from Directv) I'm switching to a different service (at least I'll theaten to ;)).

Looks like we got another HD channel!! MTV HD! Although I probably won't watch it ever, it's still nice to see the channel lineup increasing since I've been getting HD cable from Cox since June '05...

bobzoila, I agree with you. The superbowl is coming up! Has anyone printed out a waiver and just gone into their office? I will. SB is an hour south of me, but if I don't get my waiver soon they'll have a very large unhappy man camping in their lobby. I just want to state that I love KCOY. I'll shop with their advertisers all day long! They ARE the central coast's HD leaders.

Well stated, hdty_starved. It will take an organized effort to make them aware we won't take this lying down. We are all being starved, and KEYT is thumbing their nose at us, and laughing while they do it.

Good luck on your camping sojourn. Likewise my sentiments on KCOY.

Bob

Test Channel 703 on Cox??? Anyone else see this last night.

Is Keyt and ABC coming to HD?

From today's Newspress, potential good news for those of you who have Cox (I already get all the networks in HD from LA through DirecTV, so this isnt a big deal for me)....

Santa Barbara County football fans couldn't (sob!) watch the Rose Bowl via super-sharp high-definition TV, but today there's light at the end of the tube for the Super Bowl.

And until midweek, the likelihood of Santa Barbara's ABC affiliate KEYT airing an HD signal for the Feb. 5 game looked dimmer than a moonless night on TV Hill.

Then top management flew in, KEYT's general manager got canned and there's every possibility that there'll be an immaculate reception of HD for the Super Bowl and into the future.

If countless complex electronic, logistic and legal hurdles are overcome, Cox Cable's 4,500 HD customers, Comcast's North County subscribers and San Luis Obispo residents will be able to see "every bead of sweat on Bud Light bottles as clearly as those on the players," via HD's super-sharp image, as USA Today put it.

Everyone else will be watching KEYT's regular analog picture, along with 90 million other Super Bowl Sunday viewers in what has become a national quasi-holiday, complete with de rigueur beer-and-snacks parties.

The HD problem is that the prior ownership of Channel 3 didn't install the necessary equipment, a station official said. As Cox explained to its many frustrated HD customers after the Rose Bowl, "KEYT has the exclusive rights to offer the HD ABC product in this market.

"Unfortunately, they do not offer an HD signal so we do not have any product to deliver." Cox urged its customers to call KEYT to push for the service, at least to import a picture for the game.

Cox suggested that KEYT allow it to bring in an ABC signal from somewhere else on a one-day basis. But negotiations with KEYT GM Charlie Hogetvedt were apparently going nowhere.

I own an HD-capable TV and recently leased a Cox box and was surprised that there was no ABC HD signal for the Rose Bowl. When I got complaints early this week from reader Fred Brown, I called GM Hogetvedt.

He suggested I talk to Michael Granados, president of the former Smith family group of TV stations, who was flying in that very day. The next day I learned that Hogetvedt, who'd only been at KEYT a few months, was gone, and that Granados was pulling out all the stops to try to make HD a possibility.

According to reader Brown, Hogetvedt felt that offering a one-day HD airing of the Super Bowl might lure viewers from the regular channel analog broadcast and could require rebating revenue back to the national advertisers.

Granados, who runs the stations in which Boston Ventures bought a majority interest from the Santa Barbara Smith family in 2004, took over KEYT management and immediately began talks with Cox.

Things were processing well Thursday, he told me, but cautioned that much work needs to be done and success isn't guaranteed.

Cox is all for the project. Christina Villanueva, GM at Comcast, told me Thursday that she'd be delighted to carry the game if all went well with the hookup.

Interestingly, ABC expects that more than half of the much-enjoyed Super Bowl commercials will run on razor-sharp HD. Advertisers spend an average of $2.4 million for a 30-second spot, and many are willing to pay the extra costs for HD.

About 16 million U.S. households have at least one HD-capable TV set, and it's a fast-moving trend.

Satellite TV subscribers also get the ABC HD signal from KEYT and will be left high and dry for the game unless Granados is successful.