Originally posted by Paperboy2003
While watching FOX OTA the audio was very choppy, going in and out. Anyone else seeing this??

Doug

YES! I thought it was just my antenna. I guess FOX has some fine tuning to do:(

Originally posted by Paperboy2003
While watching FOX OTA the audio was very choppy, going in and out. Anyone else seeing this??

Doug

I noticed this during the 12:00-1:00 pre-game hour.

More importantly: Did anyone else notice that Directv's NYC local channels were gone for about 5-10 minutes at around 3:55-4:00? I was unable to check the analog OTA locals as my antenna is a UHF antenna. Were the OTA channels down as well or just D*'s feeds?

I must've taken 3-4 calls from irate D* Gint fans who were preparing to NOT be able to watch the game because they thought their locals were gone! :p

Oh my...has anyone checked out UPN during the giant game. Its the worst quality picture I have ever seen. Fox must have all the bandwidth for the football game. Man it looks bad....cant wait for the combiner.

During the Giants game it seems as if the audio is fine. It must just be on the National level when they are havings the problems.

And now, at the beginning of the fourth qtr, the picture is now crapping out. I sure wish they had the kinks worked out!!!

Now I have to watch SD...ugh

Doug

Originally posted by dm145
Just noticed the thread title change.

Dunno who changed it, and I started this thread. :D

I guess the mod is just trying to standardize all the thread names. The only reason for the original thread name was to try and keep the topic focused on broadcast without getting the cable and sat threads all mixed in.

Rick

On my Dish 811 receiver, Fox 5-1 and 5-2 keeps going back to 44-01 and 02.
Very annoying. Anyone else having this problem?

Is anybody getting the wb? I cant seem to get it now. I would recieve it but now i cant seem to get a signal. im in brooklyn about 6 miles from the esb with a direct sight.

Originally posted by bjohn
On my Dish 811 receiver, Fox 5-1 and 5-2 keeps going back to 44-01 and 02.
Very annoying. Anyone else having this problem?

Same thing is happening on my DISH 811, but you don't really notice it. I get a very slight flicker and that's the only way I notice that it changes from 5-1 and 5-2 to 44-1 and 44-2.

Originally posted by GRN
Same thing is happening on my DISH 811, but you don't really notice it. I get a very slight flicker and that's the only way I notice that it changes from 5-1 and 5-2 to 44-1 and 44-2.


Well the problem is when you're channel surfing, you end up on 44-1 instead of being on 5-1. Then you have to go back to 7-1

Originally posted by ragingd
Is anybody getting the wb? I cant seem to get it now. I would recieve it but now i cant seem to get a signal. im in brooklyn about 6 miles from the esb with a direct sight.

I'm getting it at 76% with no breakup, and I live out in Hempstead, LI. That's odd how so many people post messages where they're having trouble with the WB and its weak signal; it has consistently been one of the stronget channels I've gotten from day 1. NBC-DT on the other hand...............:p

Originally posted by bjohn
Well the problem is when you're channel surfing, you end up on 44-1 instead of being on 5-1. Then you have to go back to 7-1

You're right; I'll be channel-surfing, and I'll go up and get channel 51. Eh, I don't think it's the worst thng in the world; Better that than not being able to get the channel at all *cough* NBC-DT *cough* :p

Is it my imagination or is FOX-DT running Deuce Bigelow in HD?

GRN are you using a amp. to pick up the signal

Originally posted by ragingd
GRN are you using a amp. to pick up the signal

No actually................... I have a coax cable running from the antenna into the back of my receiver (DISH 811). Unfortunately, I don't have much information on the antenna because it was already bolted to the side of my chimney when I bought the house, which was almost 5 years ago. It's a regular looking antenna, no bow-tie or anything fancy. I would assume it's probably a Radio Shack job.

With that hook-up alone, I can pick up CBS-DT, ABC-DT, FOX-DT, WB-DT, NJN-DT, and WFUT, along with any available sub-channels. I can't pick up NBC-DT at all (closest I have ever gotten is 49-55%, which my receiver cannot lock onto).

WB broadcasts with literally enough power to light up a light bulb. Their signal doesn't get very far.

Originally posted by GRN
I'm getting it at 76% with no breakup, and I live out in Hempstead, LI. That's odd how so many people post messages where they're having trouble with the WB and its weak signal; it has consistently been one of the stronget channels I've gotten from day 1. NBC-DT on the other hand...............:p

the thing is I was recieving every channel fox, wb,abc, cbs and nbc but now all i get is abc and fox. This sucks. I wonder why all this is happeneing now. I got all in the 80's and 90's on the signals. The wb would breakup sometimes but it still came in. But now all I get is these two channels.

Well, CBS is the 1st net moving onto the combiner (according to GT) so they have been spotty. NBC & WB are low power so they are understandably unreliable. But, and I don't mean to sound like Pollyanna, it looks like we might actually have some light at the end of the tunnel for NY-OTA.

Originally posted by trekkerj
WB broadcasts with literally enough power to light up a light bulb. Their signal doesn't get very far.

Ironically enough, it's probably the strongest signal I have. CBS, ABC, FOX and UPN are all weaker in comparison; WB regularly hits 76-77% signal strength. Unfortunately, I'm not into any WB shows (save for the occasional episode of Smallville and ballgames). Now if only I could get NBC-DT.

I tell ya, that combiner cannot get up and running fast enough as far as I'm concerned:p

Originally posted by ragingd
the thing is I was recieving every channel fox, wb,abc, cbs and nbc but now all i get is abc and fox. This sucks. I wonder why all this is happeneing now. I got all in the 80's and 90's on the signals. The wb would breakup sometimes but it still came in. But now all I get is these two channels.

It's not the worst thing in the world; you do get to see Sunday football and MNF in HD! :)

Who's your service provider? Cable or satellite? If by chance you have a satellite dish and have your locals package, you can have your provider give you the CBS-DT signal......

As far as the other channels go, we'll just have to continue to wait patiently for the combiner.....

Slightly OT, can someone explain to me why WNYW-DT didn't carry the 1:00 game yesterday, either in SD or HD?? It wasn't a big deal since I got to watch the Eagles stomp the Giants at 4:00 but still, they put crap like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on instead? Was this some sort of blackout rules applied?

They can't show another game against the Jet game.

Originally posted by trekkerj
They can't show another game against the Jet game.
Since when, and says whom? There have been games opposite home team games often in the past. :confused:

I remember they changed that rule a while back, but have since put in back in place.

Assuming then that the Jets-Bengals game was not the big "A" game yesterday (no Jim Nantz and Phil Simms in the booth), are we to assume that unless the A-game is being shown on CBS, then we won't get to see the game in HD? Because the Jets-Bengals game yesterday was most definitely not in HD.

Originally posted by GRN
Assuming then that the Jets-Bengals game was not the big "A" game yesterday (no Jim Nantz and Phil Simms in the booth), are we to assume that unless the A-game is being shown on CBS, then we won't get to see the game in HD? Because the Jets-Bengals game yesterday was most definitely not in HD. http://cbs.sportsline.com/cbssports/schedules/page/nfl

Originally posted by trekkerj
http://cbs.sportsline.com/cbssports/schedules/page/nfl

Thanks for the link!

I'm assuming (hoping) that the only reason none of the games after October 3rd are listed as HD is because CBS hasn't yet decided which games to broadcast in HD yet.............

So, how come HDTV availability for certain games is only indicated through Sept. 26?

That's as far ahead as CBS has planned so far. They don't know which games they will be doing in HD past that date yet.

The NFL blackout rules state that if a local team is playing in town, another game cannot be shown at the same time. If the local team is away, then it is possible to have another game on at the same time.

Had CBS had the double header yesterday, then we would have gotten an additional game in the 4:00 slot, opposite the Giants. (Of course, due to the tennis, there were no 4:00 CBS games yesterday.)

Thanks for the clarification. Those blackout rules are complicated.

It used to be even worse - if the local team was in town, then you couldn't see a double header on the network that had the double header that week. It meant only 2 games that Sunday, one from the network that carried the NFC & one from the network that carried the AFC.

Thankfully, the rule was relaxed a little bit a few years back and now, sometimes, we get three games.

So why don't we get a FOX game next weekend during the Jet game at 4:00?

As luck would have it, next week is a CBS double header and the Giants are in town. The Giants are playing at 1:00, so the 1:00 CBS game is not available to us. It's really frustrating - the week the Jets are in town, it is a FOX double header, the week the Giants are in town, it is a CBS double header. :mad:

The next 2 doubleheaders are:

Week4, we should be getting New England at Buffalo 1:00pm (CBS) and
NY Giants at Green Bay 1:00pm (FOX)

then
NY Jets at Miami 4:00pm (CBS).

Week 8, we should be getting NY Giants at Minnesota 1:00pm (FOX) and
Baltimore at Philadelphia 1:00pm (CBS)

then
New England at Pittsburgh 4:00pm (CBS)

So i guess I better get that rooftop antenna now to get upn out of philly if I want to watch Star Trek in HD comes October?

Please make it simple for a dolt like me...... Next Sunday, which of the Giants and/or Jets games will be broadcast HD and available OTA in the NYC Metro area?

The Redskins-Giants on FOX at 1pm will be HD on WNYW-DT. The Jet game will not be in HD.

Originally posted by George Thompson
In another vein, the infamous combiner is in place and in the process of having its plumbing connected to the various transmitters. Mr. Thompson- Please double check your source of this information. My source (who is in a position to know what is going on) says the combiner is still in storage in Maine.

What's going on with NBC (4-1). No center audio at all tonight. Anyone else?

Las Vegas at 9 pm had very good video and excellent 5.1 channel sound. I looked forward to LAX, but it was unlistenable with no dialog. I think someone forgot to change to 5.1 channel sound. The 3-channel sound indicated left out the center.

Cynthia

Originally posted by CynKennard
Las Vegas at 9 pm had very good video and excellent 5.1 channel sound. I looked forward to LAX, but it was unlistenable with no dialog. I think someone forgot to change to 5.1 channel sound. The 3-channel sound indicated left out the center.
Cynthia . . . and left and right front.

Originally posted by NS324
As luck would have it, next week is a CBS double header and the Giants are in town. The Giants are playing at 1:00, so the 1:00 CBS game is not available to us. It's really frustrating - the week the Jets are in town, it is a FOX double header, the week the Giants are in town, it is a CBS double header. :mad:

This is why NFL Sunday Ticket is such a wonderful thing for people living in the NY market (who can receive D*).

Originally posted by Bogney Baux
Mr. Thompson- Please double check your source of this information. My source (who is in a position to know what is going on) says the combiner is still in storage in Maine.
I hope George is right...but does anyone have any more info on this? Is the combiner being hooked up as we speak or is it still in storage?

I've been told by engineering contacts at a couple of the stations that it is actually being installed now. However, not all the stations will "combine" at the same time. For example, I heard from an engineer at WNET (PBS) that they probably won't go on the combiner until early next year.

Anyway, I don't know what Bogney Baux's talking about as far as the combiner still being in Maine.

I was searching channels last night and got WNBC. It must have been the weather as I never received it before. I am 78 miles from NYC in Litchfield county CT. I can usually get WNYW, and WWOR. WCBS is tougher. WABC is good now that they upped their power. Will WCBS boost their power when they go on the combiner or are they already at full power on their other antenna? Hope they boost it some so it is more reliable. Don't think I will ever get WPIX as the idiots at the FCC assigned them the same channel (33) that our Hartford CBS station is on. Why would they put the same channel in 2 side by side DMA's?

Originally posted by s2silber
I've been told by engineering contacts at a couple of the stations that it is actually being installed now. However, not all the stations will "combine" at the same time. For example, I heard from an engineer at WNET (PBS) that they probably won't go on the combiner until early next year.

Anyway, I don't know what Bogney Baux's talking about as far as the combiner still being in Maine.


Any updates on time frame? And as for specific stations, any word on WWOR or WPIX? Those are the two I'm most interested in (especially WWOR for Enterprise).

Originally posted by trekkerj
Any updates on time frame? And as for specific stations, any word on WWOR or WPIX? Those are the two I'm most interested in (especially WWOR for Enterprise).

I just E-mailed WOR and got a reply from a FOX rep saying UPN wouldn't be online for 3 months.

I haven't spoken to anyone at those two stations for a long time, but I recall that WPIX was very eager to get on the air with a strong signal. Remember that they were one of the first to rig up temporary digital transmission on VHF Channel 12. Other than them, my impression was that WNBC was most eager to get on the combiner since they were the only major network affiliate without a fairly strong signal.
Personally, now that I have WCBS-DT, WNYW-DT, and WABC-DT pretty reliably over-the-air, and WNBC coming in a few days on DirecTV, the digital station I've been pining for most is WNET. Guess they're pulling up the rear, though.

Originally posted by s2silber

Personally, now that I have WCBS-DT, WNYW-DT, and WABC-DT pretty reliably over-the-air, and WNBC coming in a few days on DirecTV, the digital station I've been pining for most is WNET. Guess they're pulling up the rear, though.

I am in total empathy. The one station I truly want (PBS/13) remains unavailable to us DirecTV people with great, rotating (but WNET impotent) roof antennas on LI.

Originally posted by s2silber
I haven't spoken to anyone at those two stations for a long time, but I recall that WPIX was very eager to get on the air with a strong signal. Remember that they were one of the first to rig up a temporary digital transmission on VHF Channel 12. Other than them, my impression was that WNBC was most eager to get on the combiner since they were the only major network affiliate without a fairly strong signal.
Personally, now that I have WCBS-DT, WNYW-DT, and WABC-DT pretty reliably over-the-air, and WNBC coming in a few days on DirecTV, the digital station I've been pining for most is WNET. Guess they're pulling up the rear, though.

WPIX, who has the weakest signal really needs to get on the combiner as one of the first stations. I certainly hope they let the stations with the weakest signals like WPIX come on first.

Originally posted by s2silber
I've been told by engineering contacts at a couple of the stations that it is actually being installed now. However, not all the stations will "combine" at the same time. For example, I heard from an engineer at WNET (PBS) that they probably won't go on the combiner until early next year.

Anyway, I don't know what Bogney Baux's talking about as far as the combiner still being in Maine.
Thanks S2silber .... Its good to have some positive info on the combiner for once. But Im in the same boat as you not being able to get WNET and NBC going on the Directv on the 16th. I still would like to get WPIX and WNET ...and also WOR when they come on. But if the combiner is installed its a huge step in the right direction.....Im looking foward to it.

I get WNET-DT via Cablevision. Smart Travels is a nice program in HD, but other than that, you're not missing much. You'll tire of it after a short period of time.

dang, so not in time for Enterprise. now i have to decide if it's worth the money putting up a roof top antenna to try and get philly.

Originally posted by dturturro
I just E-mailed WOR and got a reply from a FOX rep saying UPN wouldn't be online for 3 months.

Originally posted by trekkerj
I get WNET-DT via Cablevision. Smart Travels is a nice program in HD, but other than that, you're not missing much. You'll tire of it after a short period of time.

"...not missing much"? ... what about NOVA? Frontline?

I've never seen Nova or Frontline on WNET-HD. I think they are only on regular channel 13.

Soundstage is nice though.

Frontline...Nova....American Experience....programs definitely worth having and worth having in HD.

Can someone tell me what channels they are receiving now? Because I'm trying to figure out if it is my antenna because I'm only receiving channels 5 and 7. Anybody in Brooklyn receiving all the channels. Thanks for any response.

I am in Brooklyn... East Flatbush and before that I was in Sunset park.

I can receive all but WPIX and WNET. I am currently using a squareshooter but I could receive them indoors with the Rat Shack Double bowtie and channel master 7777 preamp in both locations (that's what I used before I got the square shooter).

Originally posted by s2silber
Frontline...Nova....American Experience....programs definitely worth having and worth having in HD.

Unfortunately, PQ on WNET-DT is awful due to multicasting. And their audio on Soundstage is DD 2.0 last I checked. Also disappointing.

Does anyone know what happen to WNBC-DT 4-1 and its subchannel 4-2 this afternoon. I reran the autoprogram on my tv today and it shows no signal on these two channels. However, I noticed that WNBC-DT shows up on 28-2.

Yung, Just checked and the samething as you here in Jersey.

Tony

Why is WCBS 2-1 almost never up. Its not an antenna issue because I don't get it on Directv 80 either? Oh, and I'm not getting WNBC 4-1 either right now.

Marc

I thinks it's an exaggeration to say WCBS 2-1 is "almost never up." They have been taking it down after midnight for work on the transmitter which, in turn, knocks out Channel 80, which originates from Channel 56 (2-1). Maybe they've taken it down on other occasions, too, but it's certainly "up" the majority of the time.

Originally posted by s2silber
I thinks it's an exaggeration to say WCBS 2-1 is "almost never up." They have been taking it down after midnight for work on the transmitter which, in turn, knocks out Channel 80, which originates from Channel 56 (2-1). Maybe they've taken it down on other occasions, too, but it's certainly "up" the majority of the time.


Agreed... I haven't had any problems watching/Tivo-ing any of my primetime recordings.

Originally posted by s2silber
I've been told by engineering contacts at a couple of the stations that it is actually being installed now. However, not all the stations will "combine" at the same time. For example, I heard from an engineer at WNET (PBS) that they probably won't go on the combiner until early next year.

Anyway, I don't know what Bogney Baux's talking about as far as the combiner still being in Maine. I have just been given permission to post the following by the Project Manager of the combiner installation. There is always the possibility of more delays so the time frames could change.

1. The combiner is in storage in Maine.
2. Tentative delivery to NYC is about one month from now.
3. Installation would take about another month.
4. All the stations have to be hooked up at the same time for technical reasons.

II have just been given permission to post the following by the Project Manager of the combiner installation. There is always the possibility of more delays so the time frames could change.

1. The combiner is in storage in Maine.
2. Tentative delivery to NYC is about one month from now.
3. Installation would take about another month.
4. All the stations have to be hooked up at the same time for technical reasons.

I really hope this is true! By the way WNBC-DT is back on for me!

Tony

Ok, so which of you is right? :)

WNBC-DT on 4-1 and WNBC-SD on 4-2 came back for me as well. My tv tuner also picked up 4-3 which it assigned a label of WNBC3. Just a black screen on that channel though.

I was also given permission to post a picture of the combiner.

I have just been given permission to post the following by the Project Manager of the combiner installation. There is always the possibility of more delays so the time frames could change.
1. The combiner is in storage in Maine.
2. Tentative delivery to NYC is about one month from now.
3. Installation would take about another month.
4. All the stations have to be hooked up at the same time for technical reasons.

Does this mean UPN 9 won't be up in HD before the beginning of the new season?


M.

No chance, M!

Bogney Baux,
I guess if I had talked to Steve (the guy in the pix) in the first place he would have told me the same thing. This is what I get for listening to info from retirees returning as consultants..... sorry.
Yeah, he is in a position to know.
George
(As Tony would say, "Theirrrrrrrr, GRRRRRRate!" LOL)

Just did a rescan after reading some of the earlier posts and I noticed that NBC-DT was only broadcasting on 4-1, WPIX-DT dropped 12-1 and I'm picking up 23-1, 31-1, 53-1 & 58-

Are we having some tropo today?

I was also given permission to post a picture of the combiner.


Looks like it should be installed in a church.

M.

hi all,

Just found this thread...Can anyone recommend a good HD attenna? I live in Oyster Bay Long Island. (I have the hi def tivo box receiver) .I'm sorry if this has been discussed already.

Rob

hi all,
Just found this thread...Can anyone recommend a good HD attenna? I live in Oyster Bay Long Island. (I have the hi def tivo box receiver) .I'm sorry if this has been discussed already.

Rob

Rob,

Your going to want a medium sized directional antenna. Your about 25 to 30 miles out at most from the city. I recommend getting a Winegard HD7078p for VHF/UHF/FM or for just HD (UHF) HD9085p. Thats assuming you can put it on the roof.

Marc

Originally posted by Bogney Baux
I was also given permission to post a picture of the combiner.


It's going to be a b*tch fitting that thing into an express elevator!

Originally posted by Bogney Baux
I was also given permission to post a picture of the combiner.

So that's what happened to the monkey bars I used to play on as a kid!! :D

So from what is being said I feel we should have the combiner up and running by Jan 2005? Is that to optimistic?

Originally posted by vinnyv07
So from what is being said I feel we should have the combiner up and running by Jan 2005? Is that to optimistic?

If past history is any indicator, yes, you are too optimistic....but we can hope!

I need some help. I have the HD TiVo and have had a lot of trouble pulling in the digital stations from Manhattan with any reliability. I live in Weekhakewn, NJ (07093) on the Hudson (approx across from 60th st in the city) in an apartment. My windows face south so i have line of sight of both the empire state build and ABC's antenna. I have tried the silver senor, RS double bow tie and a $12 cheap antenna from Bestbuy. CBS used to be the best for me almost no trouble what so ever. Now I lucky if I even get a picture from CBS. Any thoughts. I can't imagine the signal is too weak I am less than 3 miles from both transmitters. Could Multi path just be too strong?

Can someone suggest the best model of antenna to try. Are there filters that help with multi-path?

Mike

PS - Really only care about CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC.

mad, you've already got CBS & NBC via D*. FOX is coming and I'm sure ABC will eventually follow suit.:)

Yes, but the OTA channels look significantly better.

Mike

Originally posted by mad6c
Yes, but the OTA channels look significantly better.

Mike
Thats why I will never take down my OTA Ant...I dont care what Directv gives me. It just wont look as good as OTA...I totally agree.

Fox says the Giants game is in HD but my receiver and my eyes think otherwise. I thought they were going to be ready....

I agree, it looks like an upconvert to me. Compared to the NFLST HD stations, something is lacking. Don't see the 3D effect.

I need some help. I have the HD TiVo and have had a lot of trouble pulling in the digital stations from Manhattan with any reliability. I live in Weekhakewn, NJ (07093) on the Hudson (approx across from 60th st in the city) in an apartment. My windows face south so i have line of sight of both the empire state build and ABC's antenna. I have tried the silver senor, RS double bow tie and a $12 cheap antenna from Bestbuy. CBS used to be the best for me almost no trouble what so ever. Now I lucky if I even get a picture from CBS. Any thoughts. I can't imagine the signal is too weak I am less than 3 miles from both transmitters. Could Multi path just be too strong?

Mike,

I live in Hoboken with a view of the Empire State Building. I don't know if you have roof access to use an outdoor antenna, but I use a winegard HD 7210p outside. It works flawlessly. It is perfect for our distance and level of building structures that could bounce signals. The link is below....

http://www.winegard.com/offair/platinum.htm#7210

Hope that helps,

Marc

Looks like good HD to me.

Originally posted by dhale
I agree, it looks like an upconvert to me. Compared to the NFLST HD stations, something is lacking. Don't see the 3D effect.

Originally posted by Morg111
Mike,

I live in Hoboken with a view of the Empire State Building. I don't know if you have roof access to use an outdoor antenna, but I use a winegard HD 7210p outside. It works flawlessly. It is perfect for our distance and level of building structures that could bounce signals. The link is below....

http://www.winegard.com/offair/platinum.htm#7210

Hope that helps,

Marc

Thanks Marc,

Unfortunately I do not have roof access. I was looking for an indoor antenna that would work well in my situation. I am in an apartment building on the fourth floor.

Mike

hi mad6c

try the Zenith Silver Sensor. available at Amazon.com. its the ONLY indoor that works for me & i've tried 3 others.

jim

You missed his post where he already tried a silver sensor.

OOOPS!!!! i sure did! sorry mad6c!! tho i am surprised you had no luck with a Silver Sensor. i've heard the higher up you are the better they work. hope you find one that does.

jim

Originally posted by mad6c
I need some help. I have the HD TiVo and have had a lot of trouble pulling in the digital stations from Manhattan with any reliability. I live in Weekhakewn, NJ (07093) on the Hudson (approx across from 60th st in the city) in an apartment. My windows face south so i have line of sight of both the empire state build and ABC's antenna. I have tried the silver senor, RS double bow tie and a $12 cheap antenna from Bestbuy. CBS used to be the best for me almost no trouble what so ever. Now I lucky if I even get a picture from CBS. Any thoughts. I can't imagine the signal is too weak I am less than 3 miles from both transmitters. Could Multi path just be too strong?

Can someone suggest the best model of antenna to try. Are there filters that help with multi-path?

Mike

PS - Really only care about CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC.
What's the layout of your apartment like? You could try the Winegard SquareShooter antenna, perhaps mounting it in a closet. Adding an attenuator to the line might be necessary to attempt to reduce any multipath signals below the threshold of your receiver; aiming it off-center might help, too, so test mounting it somewhere that would let you adjust its aiming direction would be a good idea. The SquareShooter is about 16" square, 4" deep.

Originally posted by dswallow
What's the layout of your apartment like? You could try the Winegard SquareShooter antenna, perhaps mounting it in a closet. Adding an attenuator to the line might be necessary to attempt to reduce any multipath signals below the threshold of your receiver; aiming it off-center might help, too, so test mounting it somewhere that would let you adjust its aiming direction would be a good idea. The SquareShooter is about 16" square, 4" deep.

Thanks for the suggestion Doug,

The apartment has south facing windows. I am almost directly across from the Empire State Building, about 10 o'clock if you are looking out of the window. I am on the Hudson so no tall buildings just water between me and all the transmitters. Do you know a place that would carry the squareshooter? Preferably someplace that I can return it if it doesn't work out. I can place it on top a a book self facing the windows. I can also try it in a closet but i think it would be better on the book self. The signal would have to travel through multiple walls if I mounted it in the closet. What do you think?

Mike

Originally posted by mad6c
Thanks for the suggestion Doug,

The apartment has south facing windows. I am almost directly across from the Empire State Building, about 10 o'clock if you are looking out of the window. I am on the Hudson so no tall buildings just water between me and all the transmitters. Do you know a place that would carry the squareshooter? Preferably someplace that I can return it if it doesn't work out. I can place it on top a a book self facing the windows. I can also try it in a closet but i think it would be better on the book self. The signal would have to travel through multiple walls if I mounted it in the closet. What do you think?
The fewer walls, the better. I got one just to play with (I have a 4228 in my attic). It worked fine except for WB11 on VHF 12 (it's barely comes in OK using the 4228 so I expected this), needing no amplifier, for me at 30 miles from the transmitters. I tried it in the attic, too, but at the moment it's mounted outside under the eaves, though I'm still using the 4228. I was planning to try the SquareShooter again once the combiner is active in NYC.

Value Electronics (www.*********************) sells it. Call them and talk to Robert Zohn (the owner) and tell him what you need to try; they're in Scarsdale. I'm sure he'll work with you on return privileges. Their normal policy is a 20% restocking fee on opened items.

Originally posted by trekkerj
Looks like good HD to me.

It looks like HD to me as well, though not as good as some of the other channels. I think they are using too much compression on the signal. I've seen some of the FOX pre-season football games that were upconverted in their 'High Resolution Widescreen' 480p format, and they definitely did not look as good. Besides, they actually show a 'High Definition' logo during the broadcast, so it is definitely HD.

I didn't say it looks like HD, i said it looks like GOOD HD to me. Obviously it's HD, but you're right about the compression. A Fox engineer in another thread said they are not giving each feed a whole lot of bandwidth for now, but it should increase. Still looks pretty good to me, but they still mix in too many non-HD cameras. The HD skycam was pretty cool.

Originally posted by trekkerj
Ok, so which of you is right? :)

(i.e., About where the combiner is, what's going on with it, when it will be ready and whether all stations have to go live at the same time.)

Well, we're actually both right. Just spoke again with a WNBC engineering contact. Yes, the combiner, itself, that monkey-bar like contraption in Bodney's post, is sitting in Maine right now. However, all the piping and other preparation work at Empire for its installation is currently going on, as hooking up the combiner after all that is the easy part. Bogney's timetable seems to be correct, as well: around mid-November.

As for all the stations needing to go live at the same time....that doesn't seem to be the case. I don't think you're going to see WNET-DT broadcasting from the combiner untill well after the other five stations go on the air from there.

Originally posted by s2silber
I don't think you're going to see WNET-DT broadcasting from the combiner untill well after the other five stations go on the air from there.

Why not?

Originally posted by Paperboy2003
It's going to be a b*tch fitting that thing into an express elevator!

That's what I was wondering. Is it disassembeled and brought up in some kind of freight elevator, or is it airlifted in?

They'll probably air drop it by helicopter or have King Kong climb up with it.
:)
As for why WNET-DT won't go live at the same time...it's financial and other issues on their part. I was told it would probably be sometime early next year.

has anybody noticed NBC-4 in NYC has been worse then normal of late???

Originally posted by s2silber
As for why WNET-DT won't go live at the same time...it's financial and other issues on their part. I was told it would probably be sometime early next year.

Can you find out from your contact why WLIW-DT dropped HD programming earlier this year? Was it for "financial" reasons too?

What about the rest of the stations currently not broadcasting at full power or not at all in HD, like WWOR and WPIX?

As for why WNET-DT won't go live at the same time...it's financial and other issues on their part. I was told it would probably be sometime early next year. [/B]

I took a look up at the ESB on my way home today and saw a whole bunch of stuff at the top near the S/E corner (33rd & 5th.) I was in a hurry and had a bad angle by the time I saw it. It could have been scaffolding but it did look something like the famous combiner.jpg. Is it wishful thinking or could something be happening? I will not be working in the city again until later in the week, so if anyone else has a look up there, please post and let me know if my eyes are ready for lasik.

Originally posted by s2silber
As for why WNET-DT won't go live at the same time...it's financial and other issues on their part. I was told it would probably be sometime early next year.

I smell another fund raising telethon coming up......

"Many people go without High Definition television every day. Just think, by contributing as little as $3 dollars a day we can give these important people the increased picture quality that they need and deserve. Please give, your help and contributions go a long way...."

WWOR-DT 5-2 is coming in horribly for me. My signal strength is decent, varying from 76 to 81 however the image the past few days has been very pixelated. Has anyone else experienced this? The season premier of Enterprise is a few weeks away and I hope the pixelization issue gets remedied quickly.

Originally posted by Yung
WWOR-DT 5-2 is coming in horribly for me. My signal strength is decent, varying from 76 to 81 however the image the past few days has been very pixelated. Has anyone else experienced this? The season premier of Enterprise is a few weeks away and I hope the pixelization issue gets remedied quickly.

Yes, PQ is bad on 5-2 right now.

Originally posted by Scott G
Yes, PQ is bad on 5-2 right now.

That's because 5-1 is broadcasting in HD for FOX's prime time shows.

Originally posted by Paperboy2003
I smell another fund raising telethon coming up......

"Many people go without High Definition television every day. Just think, by contributing as little as $3 dollars a day we can give these important people the increased picture quality that they need and deserve. Please give, your help and contributions go a long way...."

I'd be happy to contribute for that! Of course they'll have to move to the combiner before I could receive it:mad: What comes first, the combiner or the egg?!

I noticed the sound on WCBS-DT 2-1 on my sony 34xbr960 was significantly louder than my other channels (both analog and digital). I was just wondering if other people are experiencing louder sound on WCBS-DT?

Yung,

WCBS-DT is always louder than the other stations; about 6 to 8 db I would say. I wish all the stations would settle on a common average volume.

Cynthia

Is WNBC's sub-channel gone? I'm not picking it up right now.

Originally posted by Yung
WWOR-DT 5-2 is coming in horribly for me. My signal strength is decent, varying from 76 to 81 however the image the past few days has been very pixelated. Has anyone else experienced this? The season premier of Enterprise is a few weeks away and I hope the pixelization issue gets remedied quickly.

Over the past year or so 5-2 is hit or miss. I do not even bother anymore, it is not HD.

Originally posted by s2silber

Well, we're actually both right. Just spoke again with a WNBC engineering contact. Yes, the combiner, itself, that monkey-bar like contraption in Bodney's post, is sitting in Maine right now. However, all the piping and other preparation work at Empire for its installation is currently going on, as hooking up the combiner after all that is the easy part. When it was politely suggested to check the status you said "Anyway, I don't know what Bogney Baux's talking about as far as the combiner still being in Maine." Now that it comes out that he was correct, you say you were also right because they were preparing Empire for it. At least George admitted he was wrong.

Yes, I was wrong about the combiner's present location in Maine -- guilty as charged. Having been told that the combiner was ready and that installation was going on, I had mis-understood that statement as meaning that the device itself was actually being hooked up, rather than that preparations were ongoing for its installation even while the unit itself resided elsewhere. My apologies for this, and for mispelling his ID, to Bogney Baux.:o

One thing is for sure...Im just glad there is progress. Just want progress. I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Originally posted by dswallow
The fewer walls, the better. I got one just to play with (I have a 4228 in my attic). It worked fine except for WB11 on VHF 12 (it's barely comes in OK using the 4228 so I expected this), needing no amplifier, for me at 30 miles from the transmitters. I tried it in the attic, too, but at the moment it's mounted outside under the eaves, though I'm still using the 4228. I was planning to try the SquareShooter again once the combiner is active in NYC.

Value Electronics (www.*********************) sells it. Call them and talk to Robert Zohn (the owner) and tell him what you need to try; they're in Scarsdale. I'm sure he'll work with you on return privileges. Their normal policy is a 20% restocking fee on opened items.

Doug,

I'll look around and see if I can find the square-shooter at a local store. You also mentioned an attenuator. Would this be something I can pick up at Radio Shack? Can you suggest a model? Are they expensive? I also purchased a the terk antenna advertised in bestbuy's ad this week. Looks like the silver sensor but it also has two dipoles to pick up vhf signals. The UHF element is removable so you can rotate it vertical. Funny thing is it seems to work just as well without the UHF element. Could it be that the signal i'm receiving is just too powerful and over powering the receiver. At this point i'm willing to try anything. Thanks.

Mike

Originally posted by vinnyv07
One thing is for sure...Im just glad there is progress. Just want progress. I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I can see it already....

"Due to the heavy snow storms blanketing Eastern Canada and Maine, we're unable to transport the combiner from Maine and the project is on hold until the Spring thaw..."

Originally posted by vinnyv07
One thing is for sure...Im just glad there is progress. Just want progress. I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Are you sure that isn't the 4:53 express to Poughkeepsee?
GT

I find it very strange at times there won't be any postings on this thread for a number of days in a row, and then all of a sudden you get a barrage of postings.

OK. I just had to post something :-)

So where's the combiner?
:)

In Maine.

Hey guys....Im bored so Im going to ask this question. Anyone in NY (Im from Staten Island) pulling in any OTA from Phil? I would like to try and pull in Fox for another football game but Im like 70 miles away and I wanted to see if anyone has had any success from my area or any other area in NY. I once got CBS from Phil but it was strong enough for a picture that was steady. I want to try again but am unsure if I should...I would sure like to get more football going in my house.

You will need a good antenna as high up as you can get it, a preamp right at the antenna, a rotor and a little luck and you might be able to do this. It will also help if you are not in the shadow of Todt hill or Grymes hill from the point of view of Philly. It will REALLY help if you are ON Todt hill!

Or, if you really wanted more HD football, go for sunday ticket and get all the HD games.

Originally posted by netman
You will need a good antenna as high up as you can get it, a preamp right at the antenna, a rotor and a little luck and you might be able to do this. It will also help if you are not in the shadow of Todt hill or Grymes hill from the point of view of Philly. It will REALLY help if you are ON Todt hill!
Im not in the shadow of Toad Hill or Grymes Hill...Im on the side facing Philly closest to NJ. Im going to give it a shot ...just need to take off rom work to do it.
Yes i could sub to THE SUNDAY TICKET but thats not as fun!!!

Also not as cheap. :) Good luck.

I live on the North Shore near St. Vincents Hospital. I have a small corner Yagi (Antennas Direct) with a CM 778 amp on a 15 foot mast (ground mounted). I DO NOT have line of sight on the ESB because there is a wooded obstructing rise less the 1/4 mile away.

Even so I pick up all the OTA channels with the exception of WNET with a strength of 8 to 10 on my Samsung box.

I also have a Silver Sensor which will receive all channels including WNET but positioning and lead length is very critical.

For what it's worth: FM reception via the Yagi and a splitter is excellent not so with the SS

I hate to be a total newbie, but what exactly does adding a pre-amplifer to your rooftop antenna do?

I asked the guy who ran some RG6 cable from my existing rooftop antenna if I needed an amp or pre-amplifier and he said no. He told me I would only need an amplifier if I was splitting the signal up alot. I have my rooftop antenna connected to 3 tvs in my house and he said it was not needed. He also added that if there were any signal problems, that adding a pre-amp would only amplify the problem and make reception even worse.

If you have good signal levels where you live and a short coax run you may not need a preamplifier. The reason you may need one is a bit technical and has to do with the "noise figure" of your installation. Any receiving device has a specification called noise figure. It dictates how weak of a signal the device can turn into something usable. The loss of the coax from the antenna to the device adds to this noise figure and effectively lessens what you can pick up. By putting the preamp on the roof you not only remove the coax loss from the equation but you also hope to have a preamp with a better noise figure than the receiving device. When you are dealing with weak signals a mast preamp can make a big difference. If all your signals are strong it may actually cause problems.

Most pre-amps can give enough extra signal to help compensate for splitting the signal down the line so they can help feed multiple TVs in that case.


As for:

He also added that if there were any signal problems, that adding a pre-amp would only amplify the problem and make reception even worse


This is simplistic and often incorrect. It depend on what the signal problems are.


For your location I would tend to agree with his assessment as long as you start with a good antenna.

Thanks netman. I don't know what type of antenna I have on the roof, the guy told me that it is a Channel Master that is probably about 25 years old. The antenna installation guy said he uses a similar CM antenna that I believe is now discontinued but pretty similar to the current CM 3016, but without the split boom.

Yesterday I installed a new HD antenna and I started having a problem with Fox HD OTA. With all other OTA channels my receiver would pick them up right away, but when I would go to Fox it would tell me it was Searching for Signal and then eventually find it. The weird thing is that once it found a signal it gave me a really high signal strength, over 90. Anyone have an idea why this might be happening? Thanks.

Latest advisory, Mid-late November to light up ESB HD combiner-antenna.

Thanks for the update. Sounds about inline what others have said as well. Hopefully, it's for real this time. It was supposed to be LAST november. :) Better late than never.

Originally posted by jschramm
The weird thing is that once it found a signal it gave me a really high signal strength, over 90. Anyone have an idea why this might be happening? Thanks. Your receiver doesn't give a measure linearly related to signal level. It's a signal quality sampling of some sort. When it's calculating that number, it's looking at how much error correction must be performed to decode the signal being received; you could have a very weak signal (by signal level) and still get a high number if the receiver is able to decode it well enough it is using very little of the extra data to recover from errors.

Is the ESB combiner going to provide a greater signal than we are getting right now from CBS and FOX??? I am sure it will help the other stations, but just curious if there will be any gain from the 2 stations already on the ESB, thanks.

scottte

So am I. Right now, my strongest and steadiest signal is from WABC-DT Channel 45. They're coming off the Conde Nast Building and since they did an upgrade of the transmitter about a month ago, the signal's been great even up in distant parts like mine.

NEED HELP!

Can I get a recommendation of a UHF/VHf attic antenna for rec'ving HD signals about 30 miles out? I have no clue and I need advice!!!!!

thanks.

Cablevision just got ABC today, so the only thing I am missing now is WB-11. I bet they will get that one before the mythical "combiner" comes on-line. Isn't irony great!

Originally posted by spankle
NEED HELP!

Can I get a recommendation of a UHF/VHf attic antenna for rec'ving HD signals about 30 miles out? I have no clue and I need advice!!!!!

thanks.

I'm about 30 miles out and I have a mid sized antenna (RCA3036) with a CM 7777 preamp on my roof. I don't know how well it'd work inside the attic, though.

I'm also about 30 miles out from NYC, with a Channel Master 4228 and Channel Master 7777 preamp, but they're in my attic. I get all the NYC stations, even 11-1, though sometimes it breaks up pretty frequently.

Originally posted by scottte
Is the ESB combiner going to provide a greater signal than we are getting right now from CBS and FOX??? I am sure it will help the other stations, but just curious if there will be any gain from the 2 stations already on the ESB, thanks.

scottte


Scottte, CBS has been on the antenna since it went up. No extra gain there.
GT

Dound and dturturro - Thank you!

I'm looking at your antenna's now and deciding if they seem good for my application. I see you both are using a CM preamp. Is that necessary? Should I conclude that it's a must buy? I know even less about preamp stuff than antenna's. I'm such a newbie.

Doug.. I'm shocked you can pull in 11 (WB) since it's listed as a VHF station, even if it is choppy at times. I'm happy though.

Let me know if I need something else.

Originally posted by spankle
Dound and dturturro - Thank you!

I'm looking at your antenna's now and deciding if they seem good for my application. I see you both are using a CM preamp. Is that necessary? Should I conclude that it's a must buy? I know even less about preamp stuff than antenna's. I'm such a newbie.

Doug.. I'm shocked you can pull in 11 (WB) since it's listed as a VHF station, even if it is choppy at times. I'm happy though.

Let me know if I need something else.
The CM4228 has decent reception of the high VHF channels and 11-1 is on VHF12. That's why I have the CM7777 preamp (VHF/UHF) instead of the CM7775 (identical, but UHF only).

The funny/sad thing about 11-1 is that all summer it barely ever broke up so often it was unwatchable, but once the fall season began, it's pretty much regularly unreliable so I have to record both 11-1 and 11 to make sure I can watch programs from it. Hopefully we really are less than 60 days till the combiner starts going online, and that should take care of 11-1 for good.

I also have a Winegard SquareShooter installed outside, under the eaves of my house. With it I can pick up everything but 11-1 from NYC, with or without a preamp. Actually on the 4228 I can remove the preamp and only lose 11-1, but I need the preamp for Philadelphia stations (though I haven't looked at those since early this year).

I'd bet that unless you've got more than 100 feet of coax between the antenna and the receiver, the preamp wouldn't really be needed in your situation, but unless you're within a couple miles of a strong VHF or UHF transmitter, it shouldn't overload anything and cause problems, either. I'd err on the side of just getting it so you have it when you install everything and can do it all at once. You can always remove it if you deicded it wasn't needed.

BTW, I got all my antenna equipment from www.warrenelectronics.com.

I now have both a distribution amp' and a pre-amp with my CM 4228. Does having an amp' nullify the pre-amp? The signal runs through the pre-amp first.

Originally posted by s2silber
I now have both a distribution amp' and a pre-amp with my CM 4228. Does having an amp' nullify the pre-amp? The signal runs through the pre-amp first.
The preamp is the important step -- amplifying the signal at the antenna where it's strongest; then as the signal travels over the coax, there's a slight loss and noise gain per foot, and through any connections. At the distribution amp, you're now amplifying the signal that reaches it, adding more noise but also increasing signal levels, typically to cover losses through splitting or longer cable runs.

Unless you're splitting the signal a lot or running pretty lengthy cabling, the distribution amp probably does more harm than good.

Neither amplifier can improve a signal that isn't there -- meaning if you put a TV right up at the antenna and can't get a signal, an amplifier is very unlikely to help you get one; it's just taking a decent enough signal at the antenna and amplifying it to account for further losses in your distribution chain.

I would add that while Doug is 30 miles from the transmitters there is a lot of water involved in that 30 miles. There are a number of factors that go into this including terrain and distance and height. It would not be easy for anyone to predict your results. You may just need to try. Keep in mind the CM is very directional and you may need to spend some time to get the best results. Follow what Doug says about the amp vs preamp. If you do give it a try, good luck with it.

Hey I have good news for those of you waiting for the combiner.

I just saved $600 dollars by switching to Geico :D !

First It's 15%, not $600, and second, stop wasting my time.

Is anyone else having problems with WNBC-DT? I never had a problem with them before but I haven't been able to get it now for the last couple of days. All the other stations still come in fine.

Is anyone else having problems with WNBC-DT? I never had a problem with them before but I haven't been able to get it now for the last couple of days.

Vic, No problem here in Jersey, watch WNBC-DT last night and just checked it this morning.

Tony

Originally posted by slocko
Hey I have good news for those of you waiting for the combiner.

I just saved $600 dollars by switching to Geico :D !

I thought it was funny.....

It's about the 10th time I've seen someone post the 'geico' joke on a forum I read in about the past couple of weeks.

Originally posted by dswallow
The preamp is the important step -- amplifying the signal at the antenna where it's strongest; then as the signal travels over the coax, there's a slight loss and noise gain per foot, and through any connections. At the distribution amp, you're now amplifying the signal that reaches it, adding more noise but also increasing signal levels, typically to cover losses through splitting or longer cable runs.

Unless you're splitting the signal a lot or running pretty lengthy cabling, the distribution amp probably does more harm than good.

Neither amplifier can improve a signal that isn't there -- meaning if you put a TV right up at the antenna and can't get a signal, an amplifier is very unlikely to help you get one; it's just taking a decent enough signal at the antenna and amplifying it to account for further losses in your distribution chain.
Excellent explanation. Thanks. In my case, it seems that increasing the signal level was a more important factor than the added noise. With the amp, I can now receive WABC-DT reliably. With just the pre-amp, it was literally day in and day out.

Originally posted by trekkerj
It's about the 10th time I've seen someone post the 'geico' joke on a forum I read in about the past couple of weeks.
Nobody in NJ should, though. Geico won't write insurance for NJ residents.

Yes they will. Um, can we get back to the topic, please?

Originally posted by s2silber
Excellent explanation. Thanks. In my case, it seems that increasing the signal level was a more important factor than the added noise. With the amp, I can now receive WABC-DT reliably. With just the pre-amp, it was literally day in and day out.
Which preamp are you using?

The Channel Master 7775. I guess what I was trying to determine before was whether the amp' made the pre-amp' redundant, but you answered that question.

Better than all the other NYC area HD channels, that is. Maybe a dumb question, but I'm always disappointed when I flip from CBS to any other HD channel and feel I've lost a lot of clarity. Is this a matter of compression, antenna power, processing quality? Will it likely change with the, um, combiner?

Originally posted by Swisher
Better than all the other NYC area HD channels, that is. Maybe a dumb question, but I'm always disappointed when I flip from CBS to any other HD channel and feel I've lost a lot of clarity. Is this a matter of compression, antenna power, processing quality? Will it likely change with the, um, combiner?

CBS is the only station that does not multicast.

What does multicasting have to do with HD quality?

I have a similar pre-amp question like everyone else.

Background: I'm in Todt Hill in Staten Island. Somewhere between the button and top of the hill. But I do have high trees nearby. And Grymes Hill may be an impediment. Regular over the air signal wasn't so hot even pre-911 and isn't great now.

At the moment I just have a MyHD card I watch on my monitor waiting until I can get decent signal strength before getting the more expensive toys. I have an ancient attic antenna but had better results with a silver sensor. With 32% before about the cutoff I can get up to 80% on CBS. Fox is JUST over the threshold with frequent dropouts. And ABC is just under the threshold occasionally "dropping in."

Plans: I'm looking at installing an outdoor antenna. With the aim to also get decent over the air signal to those tv sets without directv. I'm looking to have about 4 or 5 rooms done. I plan on having a professional installation but am not certain how much the guy I'm talking with (who is offering a pretty good price) actually is familiar with HD.

Question: On the general forum for my distance from NYC (about 10 miles) people seem to recommend against a pre-amp. But I notice everyone here is using a pre-amp. At my distance (particularly if you're in Staten Island) is it recommended? Since pre-amps can hurt channels with strong signals could it hurt after the new broadcast tower is recommended?

Bonus question: I'm sure everyone asks this but. If anyone is in Staten Island or the vicinity. Any recommendations for equipment I should use? Would a dual VHF-UHF antenna be good enough?

Originally posted by tvuser1
What does multicasting have to do with HD quality?
It reduces the amount of bandwidth available to the HD broadcast.

I dunno if its just a fluke or maybe something going on at ESB or what but I just did a re-scan of my channels and I'm now suddenly getting THE WB in HD on Channel 12, and WNBC-HD on channel 28 in bergen co. with my same antenna setup that could never pick them up....

Just some favorable atmospheric conditions, most likely.

Originally posted by dturturro
CBS is the only station that does not multicast. WNBC-DT no longer multicasts also.

CBS was a little spotty for me the last few weeks. Were they testing or something? Have they gotten back to their normal operating status?

Originally posted by Bogney Baux
WNBC-DT no longer multicasts also.

Did not notice that. Maybe they did this to correct some audio issues they were having on the HD channel.

How is it that all the New Jersey people can get WNBC-DT yet most of use here in New York are SOL? *sigh* :(

Originally posted by GRN
How is it that all the New Jersey people can get WNBC-DT yet most of use here in New York are SOL? *sigh* :(

Were did you get either of these "facts" from?

I notice all the video used on the WNBC show Jane's New York has black bars on the top and bottom which would indicate the show is recorded with HD cameras yet the video on WNBC-DT is 4:3.

Does anyone know why the show is not broadcast in HD?
Does WNBC not have support for local HD program broadcasting?

Why would bars at the top and bottom tell you the show is recorded with HD cameras?

When some HDTV shows are shown at 4:3 the bars are used so you can view the full area of the screen that would be cropped if the show was in full screen 4:3.

NBC does this with shows like ER shown on the non HD feed.

I don't think WNBC would just use them for effect on but I could be wrong.

Originally posted by GRN
How is it that all the New Jersey people can get WNBC-DT yet most of use here in New York are SOL? *sigh* :( I live in Matawan, NJ and cannot get WNBC-DT. The signal is too weak for my attic antenna. I only get CBC, FOX and ABC. No WPIX either.

Originally posted by Gary Quiring
I live in Matawan, NJ and cannot get WNBC-DT. The signal is too weak for my attic antenna. I only get CBC, FOX and ABC. No WPIX either.

I'm in Randolph, at a good altitude, and also cannot get 4 in at all

I'm just down the road in Morris Plains and get it fine with a rat shack indoor antenna. I think the signal is aimed more toward NJ than Long Island.

Originally posted by netman
Were did you get either of these "facts" from?

"Were" did I get these facts from? I never said they were "facts", more like an observation. It seems like every post about WNBC-DT is from someone in NJ. Look at the prior posts. But as Dennis Miller was fond of saying "that's just my opinion; I could be wrong".

In any case, maybe someone has an answer to this because I sure as hell don't: I can get WPIX-DT clear as day, 77% signal strength on my DISH 811 receiver. Mind you, it's a signal that everyone seems to agree is weak and difficult to lock onto, yet my receiver and antenna have no problem with it. By that same token, I can get a signal from WNBC-DT, albeit at 49% strength and can't lock onto it. Anyone know if a pre-amp would help? Or should I just save the money and wait for the combiner? Decisions decisions......

Originally posted by trekkerj
I think the signal is aimed more toward NJ than Long Island. Actually just the opposite.


http://www.2150.com/files/antenna_plot_64907_38_0.jpg

(the red line is due north from the transmitter)

The real problem is that 10.5kW at 886 feet is just not a lot of power for UHF 28.

GRN,

A preamp might help but my guess is it still will not have NBC come in for you with no problems. They are transmitting from a relatively low antenna amongst tall buildings. You just may need to wait for better reception. Even the ESB is not what was planned years back as the transmitter site. That site has been taken away from us. It was not the broadcasters who did that.

Many of the people you see in NJ are just plain closer than you are and some have better terrain between them and the transmitter but the truth is many in NY are doing fine with NBC and many in NJ are not.

I am in Suffolk (33 miles from the transmitter) and I get NBC but it does breakup some. I can watch but I wait for better reception from the combiner and then further down the line the new tower on the trade center site if that ever gets built.

UHF reception is line of site; it is about height, distance and terrain. I have a topographic map which makes some of these reception issues people have much easier to understand. For example between myself and the ESB is miles of ground which is HIGHER than I am. THAT does little to help my reception.

I live in Matawan, NJ and cannot get WNBC-DT. The signal is too weak for my attic antenna. I only get CBC, FOX and ABC. No WPIX either.

Gary, I live only a few miles from you and I get WNBC-DT just fine. I have the Channel Master 4228 antenna (in the attic) and 7775 preamp from IEI, airport plaza and the LG LST-3100A receiver.

Tony

Originally posted by Gary Quiring
I live in Matawan, NJ and cannot get WNBC-DT. The signal is too weak for my attic antenna. I only get CBC, FOX and ABC. No WPIX either.

CBC!? Now that is GOOD reception! :D

;)

Originally posted by netman
GRN,

A preamp might help but my guess is it still will not have NBC come in for you with no problems. They are transmitting from a relatively low antenna amongst tall buildings. You just may need to wait for better reception. Even the ESB is not what was planned years back as the transmitter site. That site has been taken away from us. It was not the broadcasters who did that.

Many of the people you see in NJ are just plain closer than you are and some have better terrain between them and the transmitter but the truth is many in NY are doing fine with NBC and many in NJ are not.

I am in Suffolk (33 miles from the transmitter) and I get NBC but it does breakup some. I can watch but I wait for better reception from the combiner and then further down the line the new tower on the trade center site if that ever gets built.

UHF reception is line of site; it is about height, distance and terrain. I have a topographic map which makes some of these reception issues people have much easier to understand. For example between myself and the ESB is miles of ground which is HIGHER than I am. THAT does little to help my reception.

I know this is WAY down the line, but when ALL stations have converted to digital, will they be allowed to return to their analog frequencies? Translation: would CBS-DT broadcast digitally from channel 2 rather than 56?

Originally posted by dturturro
I know this is WAY down the line, but when ALL stations have converted to digital, will they be allowed to return to their analog frequencies? Translation: would CBS-DT broadcast digitally from channel 2 rather than 56?

currently the plan is to let the stations choose which frequency they would like to continue broadcasting on.

Originally posted by berniec
currently the plan is to let the stations choose which frequency they would like to continue broadcasting on.

Nice! Don't VHF antennas tend to have better ranges than UHF?

The lower VHF frequencies seem to be open to considerably more interference for ATSC broadcasts; it takes a lot less power to broadcast at the lower frequencies and cover the same area than it does at higher frequencies.

Originally posted by dturturro
would CBS-DT broadcast digitally from channel 2 rather than 56? Unless the FCC has changed the rules, they will not be on channel 56. Channels 52 to 69 are going away for TV use. WCBS will have to choose a channel number below 52 that becomes available or convert channel 2 to digital.

Originally posted by Bogney Baux
Unless the FCC has changed the rules, they will not be on channel 56. Channels 52 to 69 are going away for TV use. WCBS will have to choose a channel number below 52 that becomes available or convert channel 2 to digital.

most likely not 2, i forget the specifics but somewhere in the country there is a CBS HD station on either channel 2 or 3 and they are having a lot of issues gettin a reliable HD signal out over that low a channel

Originally posted by berniec
somewhere in the country there is a CBS HD station on either channel 2 or 3 WBBM-DT channel 3 Chicago.

Originally posted by s236
Gary, I live only a few miles from you and I get WNBC-DT just fine. I have the Channel Master 4228 antenna (in the attic) and 7775 preamp from IEI, airport plaza and the LG LST-3100A receiver.Tony It is most likely height and trees that effect my reception. I have some very tall trees that block my house due north.

I also got the channel master pre-amp from IEI. It made very little difference in my signal strength. I am using the HR10-250 (Tivo) as my OTA tuner. I am not sure upgrading my old attic antenna will make a difference. The IEI folks told me where I live I have little chance of getting NBC with a better antenna.

Gary, once the new antenna combiner is up on the ESB, and WNBC-DT is up to full power, you should have no problem getting WNBC-DT, so take heart, it won't be too long from now! If you want a decent signal now, go with the 4228, and mount it on the roof...antennas mounted in the attic always compromise reception

Originally posted by cgorra
If you want a decent signal now, go with the 4228, and mount it on the roof...antennas mounted in the attic always compromise reception I have no option for a roof antenna (landlord issues). I just am not sure a 4228 would work any better in my attic.

Until last Thursday I was using a Winguard PR8800 (attic mounted). When I first put it up, more than two years ago, I could reliable receive all of the Philly stations. After about 10 months I lost FOX and then last year I lost PBS. I tried adjusting, cleaning etc. but nothing work. Last Thursday I put up a Antenna Direct DB8 in the same place as the PR8800. With no adjusting I received PBS all the time and FOX in the evenings. On Saturday I turned the antenna 180 degrees toward NYC because I really want to be able to get the baseball playoffs. Without any adjusting I received CBS, FOX+UPN, ABC and during the evenings NBC. I am also receiving NBC WP and sometime PBS out of Philly as well. It's all very strange to me but the new antenna really out performs the Winguard.

Does anyone know if WABC will have either more power or greater NJ coverage after it moves to the ESB - if it does? Even in good weather I get 2 or three short dropouts an hour.

Thanks.

Rick

Anyone have trouble with WCBS-DT during prime time last night? My signal was going all over the place with frequent drop-outs. WABC-DT was strong and steady.

Is there any word on UPN-HD? I'd love to be able to watch Enterprise in HD this Friday.

Not until after the combiner is completed, so probably not for a while. Sorry. I've been waiting for this too, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen in the very near future. Hopefully, they will start HD transmission of UPN9 before the Enterprise season ends.

Originally posted by trekkerj
Not until after the combiner is completed, so probably not for a while. Sorry. I've been waiting for this too, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen in the very near future. Hopefully, they will start HD transmission of UPN9 before the Enterprise season ends.

Well that just sucks. Oh well.

No idea on when the combiner is finished?

Latest target date is mid-November, but that could change.

Originally posted by s2silber
Latest target date is mid-November, but that could change.

Thanks for the heads-up.

upn-hd is the only channel missing for me to be in ota hd heaven.

i decided to just wait for the combiner instead of spending money to have a pro install an expensive roof antenna so I can maybe catch the philly station.

that stinks, i can even get reception for upn or wb from my location too. its not even lsited on the digital stations only analog

anyone in hunterdon county nj (45 miles out) getting fox hd ????

thx.

aceman

Originally posted by rkunces
that stinks, i can even get reception for upn or wb from my location too. its not even lsited on the digital stations only analog

Doesn't UPN air digitally on channel 39 or 59 in CT?

it might but it still doesn't show up on my list of digital stations i can recieve via OTA.

Originally posted by Aceman
anyone in hunterdon county nj (45 miles out) getting fox hd ????

thx.

aceman

I'm in flemington and i can squeek out an occasional signal from fox in NY with a 4228 with a pre-amp in my attic. But I can get Philly's fox real easy with the 4228 or a silver sensor, either in the attic and no pre-amp needed.

Originally posted by s2silber
Anyone have trouble with WCBS-DT during prime time last night? My signal was going all over the place with frequent drop-outs. WABC-DT was strong and steady.

WABC-HD is broadcasting at full power from 4 Times Square, there are not involved in the combiner @ ESB so their signal is already as good as its going to get

Originally posted by berniec
WABC-HD is broadcasting at full power from 4 Times Square, there are not involved in the combiner @ ESB so their signal is already as good as its going to get Incorrect. WABC-DT will be on the combiner.

Does channel 9 (UPN/WOR) have a HD channel in NY?

Originally posted by Bogney Baux
Incorrect. WABC-DT will be on the combiner.
Yes, it will, but I hope moving on to the ESB combiner from 4 Times Square won't diminish WABC-DT's current signal quality. Right now, for me, it's significantly stronger and steadier than WCBS-DT and WNYW-DT (Fox).

Originally posted by s2silber
Yes, it will, but I hope moving on to the ESB combiner from 4 Times Square won't diminish WABC-DT's current signal quality. Right now, for me, it's significantly stronger and steadier than WCBS-DT and WNYW-DT (Fox).

Me, too. I wish WABC-DT would just stay where they are. They are my strongest signal.

2 weeks ago, I had some difficulty pulling in WABC during MNF, but last Monday, it was coming in very strong. Did they increase their power? I'm having company for Monday Night Football this Monday, and I am hoping that the signal remains strong.

I pull in WABC and WCBS both pegged at 100% so you should see a minor increase if anything since they will have a slight hight increase when them move to empire

I'm not sure that height is the determining factor; any one person's signal strength is affected by a number of variables. It's just that, in at least a few cases noted here, WABC-DT has been the strongest and steadiest signal ever since their upgrade about a month ago.

Originally posted by Gary Quiring
Does channel 9 (UPN/WOR) have a HD channel in NY?

No. FOX is currently rebroadcasting UPN's analog channel in its subchannel 5-2.

Originally posted by s2silber
WABC-DT has been the strongest and steadiest signal ever since their upgrade about a month ago.

Agreed. WCBS is 2nd and WNYW is 3rd. WNBC is non-existant for me.

"I'm not sure that height is the determining factor; any one person's signal strength is affected by a number of variables. It's just that, in at least a few cases noted here, WABC-DT has been the strongest and steadiest signal ever since their upgrade about a month ago."




Yep. Good example: here in Deer Park FOX is stronger than the rest.

Originally posted by PDPnNJ
No. FOX is currently rebroadcasting UPN's analog channel in its subchannel 5-2.

The quality of that is so poor I watch the analog channel (9) instead. FOX should stop wasting bandwidth carrying the same program material you can get elswhere.

Originally posted by s2silber
I'm not sure that height is the determining factor; any one person's signal strength is affected by a number of variables. It's just that, in at least a few cases noted here, WABC-DT has been the strongest and steadiest signal ever since their upgrade about a month ago.

for the majority it would be the deciding factory, UHF signals travel via line of sight, the higher a transmitting antenna the more it can "see" -- now this will moreso help those living farther out then in the city where the signal bounces around off buildings, etc.

For me the height would mean a ton...Im in Staten Island on the wrong side of Toad HILL. Alot of us over here in SI have trouble getting sigs OTA....the higher the better. It could only help. CBS is still my strongest sig...with ABC in 2nd and then Fox ...NBC I cant get at all OTA...Im getting NBCDT via Directv.

When all is said and done, it is hard to beat height - on both ends if possible. It would surprise (but not shock) me if ABC got worse with the move to the ESB and boy I live for the day we get a taller site in NYC.

i'm just about to get a HDTV pci card for my htpc and wanted to get an idea of what (if any) channels i'm going to get.

I live on the UWS on NYC - near 100th street. i'm on the 3rd floor of a large building and i face west. i can use an internal antenna but thats about it...

does anyone know what channels i can look forward to receiving?

thanks

Did anyone else catch the Smart Travels program on Athens and Delphi, Greece tonight on WNJN? Most awesome picture I've ever seen. If more retailers had properly calibrated sets and showed awesome stuff like this in the store, I can't imagine how anyone would be on the fence about getting an HDTV......

Originally posted by pipsqueak
does anyone know what channels i can look forward to receiving?

Check it out:

http://www.antennaweb.org

Originally posted by pipsqueak
i'm just about to get a HDTV pci card for my htpc and wanted to get an idea of what (if any) channels i'm going to get.

I live on the UWS on NYC - near 100th street. i'm on the 3rd floor of a large building and i face west. i can use an internal antenna but thats about it...

does anyone know what channels i can look forward to receiving?

thanks

I'm currently using the FusionHDTV 3 Gold Qam and I'm really not getting that many channels using a silver sensor antenna(indoors). I live on a 3rd floor also and I only get ABC. But if you're a Time Warner cable, I would recommend this card because using QAM, I'm currently receiving CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, PBS, TNT HD, Discovery HD with great picture quality. You dont have to worry about orientating the antenna looking for good signals.

Has anyone been having trouble in the last few days with WCBS-DT, Channel 56? Couldn't watch the Jets game yesterday because of wildly fluctuating signal strength, and other times couldn't even get a signal with the bar down in the 20s. What's going on? It wasn't atmospheric because WABC-DT and WNYW-DT, while not at their strongest, were more than adequate.

Originally posted by s2silber
Has anyone been having trouble in the last few days with WCBS-DT, Channel 56? Couldn't watch the Jets game yesterday because of wildly fluctuating signal strength, and other times couldn't even get a signal with the bar down in the 20s. What's going on? It wasn't atmospheric because WABC-DT and WNYW-DT, while not at their strongest, were more than adequate.

Nope no problem. Although it has been doing this weird thing lately: I'll put the channel on, and it will fluctuate between 49-55%. Then it goes black for about a second and locks on at 73%. It doesn't break up after that, but if I switch channels and turn back, it wil do the same thing. It never used to do that before, although before it only used to lock on at about 66%, so if anything the signal seems stronger now.

Cablevision added two WLIW channels WLIW-DT and WLIW Create.
I noticed the channel which I believe is WLIW-DT is a SD simulcast of WLIW-TV 21.

What are the channels and subs for the OTA WLIW-DT?
Could it be I am not tuning in the correct channel?

WLIW is on Ch 22. They have two subs and as you see neither has any HD content. Subs are 2 and 3 according to MyHD

On a similar note, is anyone getting WLIW via OTA in the central Jersey area? I used to get it periodically, but it just flat out dissappreared a while back.

Someone in another group said WLIW is no longer broadcasting in HD but they are using that bandwith to broadcast two subs.

Calabs, you are not missing anything; WLIW has no HD content.

ice, I just said that :)

It's too bad, too. I NEVER watched PBS but I actually started watching NOVA and some other assorted shows on WLIW. I even wrote them and pointed out how an HD pledge drive would probably bring in more money than most of there drives. Now I'm stuck waiting for WNET to go high power on the combiner.:(

Anyone having problems receiving WCBS-DT (56-1)? I have no signal for this station.

Yep, same here. Been like this a while today.

CBS-DT Came in fine during Raymond, I seem to be having trouble with ABC.

Mike

Originally posted by mad6c
CBS-DT Came in fine during Raymond, I seem to be having trouble with ABC.

Mike

Same here; WABC-DT is coming in at 60% tops for me, breaking up like crazy. It's actually been like that the last few nights......

Originally posted by mad6c
CBS-DT Came in fine during Raymond, I seem to be having trouble with ABC.

Mike

CBS OTA for me is all mangled on TWO DIFFERENT CM4228 antenna hookups that feed 3 different Hughes E86 D* receivers. Signal strength of 30 to 70 and back and forth....when 100 is the norm.

Also---the D* HD CBS feed is messed up here and there. Not as bad pixelation as the OTA feed....but some problems noticeable during commercials.

All other OTA channels from NYC are normal signal strength so far tonight....including WABC-DT.

anyone get OTA NBC? it's the one channel i was hoping to get but i have no reception..

A WCBS engineer told me yesterday that the station has been doing transmitter and antenna mast work this past week or so. The drop-outs and low signal strength have been caused by the need to go to auxiliary equipment from time to time. He said he expects things to be back to normal in time for sports this weekend. From there, work continues on the combiner project, with cautious hope that it will be ready to go in about a month.

Originally posted by s2silber
From there, work continues on the combiner project, with cautious hope that it will be ready to go in about a month. The combiner project reminds me of another project - Duke Nukem Forever. The wait continues.......

Does anyone know whether ABC-DT is doing work on their antenna/signal? It was coming in strong for me since they turned the signal back on, but the last few days it's barely been breaking 49%. Can anyone find out (from ABC's engineers)? And no, "my signal strength is fine" is not the answer I'm looking for :p

Originally posted by s2silber
A WCBS engineer told me yesterday that the station has been doing transmitter and antenna mast work this past week or so. The drop-outs and low signal strength have been caused by the need to go to auxiliary equipment from time to time. He said he expects things to be back to normal in time for sports this weekend. From there, work continues on the combiner project, with cautious hope that it will be ready to go in about a month.

Thanks for the update! I wasn't noticing the loss of signal since I'd been watching baseball and just happened to flip tonight.

Originally posted by GRN
Does anyone know whether ABC-DT is doing work on their antenna/signal? It was coming in strong for me since they turned the signal back on, but the last few days it's barely been breaking 49%. Can anyone find out (from ABC's engineers)? And no, "my signal strength is fine" is not the answer I'm looking for :p

Actually, "my signal strength is fine" is an acceptable answer from someone who is close to you. I can not find "from parts unknown" on the map, so I can't give you helpful information. Since I can't say "my signal strength is fine" from Selden, I'm not sure if I'm helping you...:p

Every time I see one of the stations go up or down is signal strength or the signals get more or less stable I think "maybe they are working on the combiner" [you need to envision those swirly lines from a TV dream sequence here]. I think it is a plot to deplete our sanity cause thing always return to the way they were. I mean why is CBS working on an antenna or mast they plan to not be using in a month or so? This is all a conspiracy run by the Illuminati.

(told you may sanity was depleted)

Originally posted by netman
I mean why is CBS working on an antenna or mast they plan to not be using in a month or so? The present antenna will still be used by WCBS-DT. The combiner will "combine" the WCBS transmitter's output with the outputs of the other stations and feed this antenna. Instead of one station radiating from this antenna, there will be six.

Originally posted by Bogney Baux
The present antenna will still be used by WCBS-DT. The combiner will "combine" the WCBS transmitter's output with the outputs of the other stations and feed this antenna. Instead of one station radiating from this antenna, there will be six.


Is CBS going to run more power than they are now when all is setled in?

Originally posted by seldenpat
Actually, "my signal strength is fine" is an acceptable answer from someone who is close to you. I can not find "from parts unknown" on the map, so I can't give you helpful information. Since I can't say "my signal strength is fine" from Selden, I'm not sure if I'm helping you...:p

You don't know where Parts Unknown, NY is? Shame on you! :p

Actually I live in West Hempstead, on the South Shore of Nassau County LI, about 17 miles from the broadcast signal.

Originally posted by netman
Is CBS going to run more power than they are now when all is setled in? My educated guess would be no.

Maintenance the rest of week should be back friday night.I work at wcbs-tv
engineering.

Originally posted by BCastro
Maintenance the rest of week should be back friday night.I work at wcbs-tv engineering.
Thanks for confirming. How about the question above regarding power levels post combiner?