So FOX isn't going on the combiner but has a seperate transmitter on ESB?
Huh... go figure.

Any idea if the transmission will be stronger w/ the combiner and thus maybe get a better signal?

Plainsboro, NJ.
I don't want to have to roof mount my antenna. I'm lazy.

Originally posted by HDugan
Once the combiner is operational it will provide WNBC, WABC, WWOR, WPIX, and WNET.
WCBS will also be on the combiner.

I kinda' wish that WABC would stay on the Conde Nast building. Ever since they did an upgrade in late August/early September, they're my strongest and steadiest signal.

Originally posted by s2silber
I kinda' wish that WABC would stay on the Conde Nast building. Ever since they did an upgrade in late August/early September, they're my strongest and steadiest signal.

I can't agree more. WABC-DT is my strongest and most steady signal. I wish they wouldn't mess with it.

I agree that ABC is the strongest.

Scotty... I need more power!
Is the combiner using Dylithium Crystals to boost it's range?
Can we get more out of her?
Will it BOOST POWER as well as combine?

Aft shields failing...
Life support failing...

Scotty.... we need more power.

sounds like you folks close in might get ABC better than Fox or CBS, but I can tell you out here in flemington, that abc gets about half the signal to me that fox and cbs do.

So those of us in the boonies want the combiner.
:-)

hope it doesnt hose you guys too much.

Originally posted by HDugan
Once the combiner is operational it will provide WNBC, WABC, WWOR, WPIX, and WNET.

Harry
Admin at http://www.hdtvforum.com
Get a daily dose of HDTV news.

Wow ...I thought all major ch's were going to be on the combiner....CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, UPN, WB, and WNET. Anyone have any other info on that?

Originally posted by michaelk
sounds like you folks close in might get ABC better than Fox or CBS, but I can tell you out here in flemington, that abc gets about half the signal to me that fox and cbs do.

So those of us in the boonies want the combiner.
:-)

hope it doesnt hose you guys too much.
I wouldn't say I'm "close in" all the way up in northern Westchester, some 45 miles from the transmitter.

Originally posted by vinnyv07
Wow ...I thought all major ch's were going to be on the combiner....CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, UPN, WB, and WNET. Anyone have any other info on that?

I'm not sure about this at all, but I think that only ABC or FOX could have been on the combiner, not both, because one is on 44 and the other is on 45. They fit a pattern...

28 NBC
33 WB
38 UPN
45 ABC
56 CBS
61 PBS

See how they're all spaced apart? Those are the stations that will be on the combiner. The odd man out will be 44 FOX.

Maybe someone else knows if I'm right or if there's another reason. If I am right, then why didn't Fox insist that it should go on the combiner along with co-owned UPN, and let ABC do their own transmitter?

- Trip

Originally posted by spankle
NBC is coming off of the GE Building
CBS and FOX are on the ESB
ABC is off of the Conde Nast Building


Anyone know where WPIX broadcasts from?

Empire State Building.

Also, I don't see what channel separation has to do with the combiner.

how the target date of 12/31 looking?

Originally posted by s2silber
I kinda' wish that WABC would stay on the Conde Nast building. Ever since they did an upgrade in late August/early September, they're my strongest and steadiest signal.
I'm about 50 miles out in NW NJ. ABC is the most reliable. It's kind of hard to say strongest without a spectrum analyzer, but WABC-DT seems to always be there.

Does anyone know if the application for WNYW to go from 246kW to 990kW will happen?

Originally posted by GSfromCT
Does anyone know if the application for WNYW to go from 246kW to 990kW will happen?
If it is, they're planning on a directional antenna, with most of the signal aimed to the east and directly north, with some small lobes towards the west/southwest, so in CT you'd probably be set. :)

Does anyone know what Fox plans on doing with it's subchannel when UPN moves to the combiner?

Originally posted by s2silber
I kinda' wish that WABC would stay on the Conde Nast building. Ever since they did an upgrade in late August/early September, they're my strongest and steadiest signal.

Here in CT near the coastline CBS & FOX are the strongest. I can pull in WABC but it breaks up frequently, even on the best days (WTNH is very strong however). NBC is non-existant.

When the combiner is done it will be nice to just point my antenna to one spot and lock it down for good!

Originally posted by trekkerj
Empire State Building.

Also, I don't see what channel separation has to do with the combiner.

I'm not exactly certain either. That's why I said I had no idea if I was right. It's just a wild guess. Perhaps someone on the project could fill us in as to why Fox won't be on it.

- Trip

Have Fox and NBC lowered their power? I was getting both fine on LI till 2-3 weeks ago. Now NBC breaks up a lot and FOX won't even lock. Does it have to do with the combiner. CBS and ABC are just fine.

Channel separation is more a factor of stations in the market and adjacent markets not a factor in the combiner. The notch filters in the combiner can be designed and tuned to any frequency. (The length of the plumbing).
Since I think the antenna and thus the combiner is only rated at something like 3MW then that limits the amount of power the stations can pump into it.
Now there are two ways of measuring power. DC at the final stage of the amplifier and the ERP which takes into consideration the gain and height of the antenna.
But you have the height and gain of the antenna. There are offsets or the way the antenna is mounted on the mast that null the signal over water.
I hope this helps some get a better picture of what is happening.
George

Originally posted by Trip in VA
I'm not exactly certain either. That's why I said I had no idea if I was right. It's just a wild guess. Perhaps someone on the project could fill us in as to why Fox won't be on it.

WNYW-DT has always transmitted from the Empire State Building using their own antenna. Therefore, there was no need to transmit from the WCBS-DT antenna.

Originally posted by GSfromCT
Does anyone know if the application for WNYW to go from 246kW to 990kW will happen?
Interesting; sometimes between 11/17 and 11/30 the application has disappeared from the FCC records I display at www.2150.com/broadcast, so I went and checked via the FCC's web site and find it was approved on 11/29/2004: http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1028495

Then I realized I don't display construction permits by default anymore, went and checked that box, and see it's now shown as a construction permit. :)

I'm no broadcast engineer, but going from 246kW to 990kW sounds like a pretty powerful boost, especially in light of George's comment that the new antenna/combiner will be "power challenged." I wonder what the implications are to all of this in terms of the relative signal reliability of the different stations?

I lost PBS 50-1 - 50-5 a few days ago, anyone else?

Overall the coverage from ESB should be ~85% of what the WTC was.

Is that greater than what we've got now from WCBS, WNYW and WABC?

Originally posted by dm145
I lost PBS 50-1 - 50-5 a few days ago, anyone else?

Here in NE Queens I was doing very well with this station until about 3 weeks ago. Since then the signal is constantly in and out, registering at about 50 per cent on my Samsung STB when it registers at all. Reception now is virtually non-existent.

i am wondering if anyone on this board lives in or near medford long island.if so what equip do you have and what hd channels are you receiving reliably?i am deciding on getting voom,directv,or cablevision.the only reason to go with cablevision is to get the local channels in hd.if i can receive hd locals with an antenna i will go for either voom or directv.thanks for any input.

You'd probably need a rotor, preamp & a large antenna. Aiming at Connecticut would probably be your best bet.

I'm in St. James, not to far from you. I have a Channel master and pre-amp in the attic and recieve CBS, FOX and ABC no problem. Once the combiner is done I should get the rest

Originally posted by Steven Drexler
Have Fox and NBC lowered their power? I was getting both fine on LI till 2-3 weeks ago. Now NBC breaks up a lot and FOX won't even lock. Does it have to do with the combiner. CBS and ABC are just fine.

I'm a little further east from you in Huntington. I haven't noticed a change. You might want to repoint or peak your antenna; maybe the wind shifted it a little.

No, the antenna has not moved. Get Steady 93% on CBS, 100% on ABC, 36-45% on NBC and 63% on WPIX. Fox fluctuates wildly from 0-45% and continually breaks up. In the past (1999) when I first started with HD, this happend to CBS when they weren't encoding correctly. I would call them and they would fix it until some other engineer came by and played with the settings.
I suspect that FOX has fooled with their encoder.

“Wizard of Oz” In HD for first time
Burbank, CA - December 1, 2004
(from thefutoncritic.com and The WB)
The WB has announced it will broadcast the 1939 movie classic “The Wizard of Oz” as a High Definition premier on Sunday Dec. 19 (7:30-10:00 PM ET).
It’s the third straight year the WB has broadcast the Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr and Margaret Hamilton epic, but its first ever showing in HD.

I guess this is just wishful thinking on my part, but what is the chance the combiner could be done by 12/19 so most of us could see "The Wizard of Oz" in HD on WPIX-DT ? Something tells me there is no chance with this never ending combiner project. Too bad. :(

Originally posted by Trip in VA
I mentioned this while I was visiting. I had the strongest signal of any station on 50-1, both 50-2 and 50-3 were blank, but there's no HD stream. I think they have a flag on 50-5 which is preventing some of the more PSIP-aware tuners from tuning the HD stream. UNC here in North Carolina had the same problem when they began HD. He said that the flag was there from before they did HD that said the x-2 (the HD) stream had nothing on it. Some tuners ignored it, while others, like mine, just would not tune x-2.

- Trip

You may want to check the last two pages of the Central New Jersey OTA discussion for answers to your NJN questions.

Just to answer some of your comments, we run four towers in NJ and we send out four digital channels during most of the day. At 8pm we cut off the -2 and -3 channels and cut in the -5 channel which is HD. We do this to free up bandwidth for the HD channel. The HD channel runs HD programming until 12 midnight at which point it's cut back off and the -2 and -3 channels are put back on. This is done everyday. Also, we are a Jr. PBS affiliate so we have to delay our PBS programming by 8 days. What this means is that our programming will NOT match a full affiliate's guide.

As far as the PSIP generator, last night it failed causing the HD -5 channel to show a black signal. We are having it looked at today. The HD will be back up tonight. The engineer is looking at getting the AC3 audio to pass-through which it wasn't doing before. It was being dumped down to two channels.

Bob,

Thanks for the great info!

Andy

Originally posted by s2silber
I wouldn't say I'm "close in" all the way up in northern Westchester, some 45 miles from the transmitter.

wow that's interesting. I think I'm about 50-52 and there's a dramatic difference the other way. Always interesting that there are so many variable.

Originally posted by hphase
I'm about 50 miles out in NW NJ. ABC is the most reliable. It's kind of hard to say strongest without a spectrum analyzer, but WABC-DT seems to always be there.

I'm in Chester (NJ) and ABC pegs my signal meter at 100. CBS follows with a steady 90 - FOX fluctuates between 80-90 - and 70 when it rains...i lose signal...aaargh. NBC I do not get at all.

on a slightly related topic: for those who are interested in how your reception is related to distance and elevation and stuff in the way, I bought a copy of TopoUSA from Delorme (months ago) and I totally love it. It is a lot of fun to see how that big hill between you and the station gets in the way or why the guy 10 miles further out gets better reception. HAMs into UHF and VHF might enjoy it also. Just thought I would mention it.

Andy

Originally posted by grodgers
I'm in Chester (NJ) and ABC pegs my signal meter at 100. CBS follows with a steady 90 - FOX fluctuates between 80-90 - and 70 when it rains...i lose signal...aaargh. NBC I do not get at all.

Gary what type of set up do you have? I'm in Randolph (a bit east) and while I get a good signal on all of those channels, I probably don't get them as strong as you do. Just curious....

Doug

Anything going on with WCBS-DT 2-1? Over the past week are so, I've been getting a lot of pixelation and drop outs. Signal strength drops to the low 70's a lot. Previously I use to get signal strength of mid-to-upper 80's.

Anything going on with WCBS-DT 2-1? Over the past week are so, I've been getting a lot of pixelation and drop outs. Signal strength drops to the low 70's a lot. Previously I use to get signal strength of mid-to-upper 80's.

Same here in Park Slope, Brooklyn. ABC has been terrible as well - must be multipath.

Anyone else having this problem? When i tune to FOX at 5-2, i get no picture for at least 90 seconds, and when the picture finallly comes in, its like a seperate frame by frame viewing. Very weird. I'm in Jersey City, NJ,
and get a signal strength of 80, which is normal for me. I usually never
get any kind of interference.

Using an RCA DTC-100

thanks,

Winston

5.2 coming in just fine OTA.

Gary

11,

I have a antenna setup in Patchogue I can show you. Give me a call. 289-9818.

Dan

Originally posted by netman
Bob,

Thanks for the great info!

Andy

No problem. Unfortunately our AC3 audio issue is going to take longer than I expected to fix and it seems our PSIP issue is ongoing. Hopefully we'll have resolution on these issues very soon.

Do we know if the Combiner completion is still on target for the end of December? This would be a nice Holiday gift. Anyone with an update, please share.

--RP--

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=4759025#post4759025

see this thread:

its a miracle (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=478246)

looks like the combiner is up and they will do low power testing this week.

high power testing next week

not everyone's transmitter is ready but everyone will be full power by the end of the year!!!!

(well that is if you believe the story...)

Fingers crossed!
Mike

I can't believe it! The end is finally is sight. *crosses fingers*

My question is which stations WILL be ready in the coming weeks to transmit, and which won't. I really want to get WWOR for Star Trek. It's in repeats, and the next new one isn't until January, so my hope it they are ready by then. Anyone have inside info? What about WPIX?

same here. Enterprise engage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I finally had my TV converged afte a year and Enterprise improved remarkably. Now for the next level!

It truly is a miracle....right up there with the parting of the red sea.

Yeah, wouldn't it be nice if WPIX-DT came back by 12/19 so we can see the Wizard of Oz in HD.

George,

Thanks for posting the link to the good news. I was already getting myself ready for another delay.

This is great news!

OK, someone has to ask what we're all thinking:

It is December 13th, 2004, right? :rolleyes:

The best news since .....since....a long long time ago.

{fingers stuck in ears}

i'm not listening ... i'm not listening ..... i'm not ...!

When I started this thread almost a year and a half ago, I didn't think it would take more than a few months for the WTC stations to get back on line (US's largest market, high demographics, etc.). Wow! Was I ever naive.

It'll be interesting to see how or if my viewing habits change. My 64" set doesn't do too well with NTSC if there's the least bit of noise or ghosting. After 9/11, I settled on WCBS, and HBO/SHO from DTV. When ABC came back up I found some shows I really enjoyed, and now Desperate Housewives and Lost are on my "don't miss" lists.

I got a DVD of the first Jack and Bobby show on WB and enjoyed it, but the ATSC picture was so distracting I watched only one episode. Similarly, I'm catching up with Smallville on HDNet. As for Star Trek Enterprise, I'd like to watch it but I'm spoiled and can't take the bad sound, noise, and fuzzy picture I get from UPN on my cable provider.

I can't receive WNBC so I don't really know what's on it.

I don't know if I'm at all representative of the early adopters who purchased HD sets. But if I am, national advertisers have missed at least this demographic in their advertising. Since they didn't appear to have put any pressure on NYC stations, I can only assume they weren't interested in me. And so my purchases have been influenced only by CBS, and to a lesser (and recent) extent, by ABC programming.

Well, I've probably wandered a great deal from the parameters I tried to set up for this thread. So to bring it back in line,

CBS - Most prone to problems with weather
ABC - Even in good weather, has drops and blockiness
NBC - Can't receive
WB - Can't receive
UPN - N/A
PBS - Only the NJ stations

Meanwhile, thanks for all the information everyone on this thread provided for those of us in the NYC area. Among the reception reports, antenna suggestions, and info from those "in the know", I've learned a great deal. It will be very interesting to see the new directions this thread takes when the combiner if finally up and running.

Thanks for being here!

Rick

"This week, low-power tests will measure performance and ensure that the antenna can handle the move to high power. The week of Dec. 13, the facility will be up and running to accommodate some high-power testing, although not all stations have finished installation of their transmitters. Davis says WABC will be at full power by the end of the year. “For the first time since 9/11, we’ll be able to broadcast at our full licensed power.”

Does anyone know what stations havent finished installation yet? Im guessing its the ones that I have trouble getting. WB...and WNET. Either way , this week they are going to start some low power testing.....which probably will mean alot of fluctuations is sig. I hope everything goes well for the week of the 13th.

Last I heard or read was that WNET would be the last station to be connected and working, and that won't be until after the 1st of the new year.

Gary

Just to summarize what took so long- it was all the lawyers....

“In general, it hasn’t been technology issues that have been the long-lead items,” says Bob Seidel, CBS vice president, engineering technology, who headed up the project. “It’s been negotiations, agreements and lawyers that have affected our pacing.”

Originally posted by michaelk
Just to summarize what took so long- it was all the lawyers....

not much of an unbiased source, though.

Originally posted by Paperboy2003
Gary what type of set up do you have? I'm in Randolph (a bit east) and while I get a good signal on all of those channels, I probably don't get them as strong as you do. Just curious....

Doug

I'm running an Antenna's Direct XG42 with a WineGard AP-4800 pre-amp. Works very well - I may have to raise it in the spring when the leaves come back on the trees - but we'll see. I'll take a pic and post it later today (pics below). The XG42 is mounted below my dish on my tripod. It's on the peak of my single-story garage, pointing right into the neighbors trees :-)

Pics:

http://www.pbase.com/image/37141147/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/37141149/original.jpg

Ok I have a question. Does anyone know if the Wb will be UHF after the combiner is on line? Or will it still be on the VHF side. I have a UHF only Ant and I was wondering about the WB. Anyone have any idea?

WB will move to channel 33 and be at high power.

I have never seen a clear answer (if anyone actually knew), other than that the ESB combiner will be at 80% of WTC, but what does that really mean??? Is WCBS going to be the same as it always was or stronger??? That is what I am gauging by, as I can usually get it here in southern CT but not over the last couple of weeks.

Will we see all of the stations on the combiner broadcasting at more power than WCBS has typically???

I sure hope so as that will be great for all in receiving range!!

scottte

So, we should expect ,,
our WABC strength to improve? Our Fox strength to be unaffected? Our CBS stregnth to be the same? and NBC, WB , and UPN will appear with similar quality to ABC and CBS?

Originally posted by shaown
So, we should expect ,,
our WABC strength to improve? Our Fox strength to be unaffected? Our CBS stregnth to be the same? and NBC, WB , and UPN will appear with similar quality to ABC and CBS?
Except for WCBS (which will just be the same), everyone else should improve, because of more power and/or a higher transmission point.

Even WNYW/FOX will improve at some point as their application to go to higher power with a directional antenna was granted (but I don't know when that will happen).

If WCBS-DT 56 stays the same power that will be fine. I just hope the signal will regain some integrity. It's fluctuated and been very unreliable lately. As mentioned previously, my strongest and steadiest signal is now WABC-DT 45 from the Conde Nast Building. They should stay there and use the combiner as a backup.

are the "tests" actual broadcasts that we can see? if so can anyone please report if you are seeing anything. Thanks

I wonder if any of the combiner tests took place today, and how the went ? Anyone have any information on this ?

Originally posted by Scott G
I wonder if any of the combiner tests took place today, and how the went ? Anyone have any information on this ?

You took the words right out of my mouth. You must be a mind reader part time. Im going to go up and do a scan...but Im sure if nobody mentioned anything that the tests didnt begin yet.

Combiner up and running or this thread hitting 200 pages? Which will come first? :)

I wonder how they plan to get NBC and ABC tested since they are already broadcasting from alternate sites. Is that an issue.

BTW, I did a scan and noticed nothing different.

Yeah, I checked several times today and did not see anything different in signal levels. I wonder if maybe the testing was put off by the weather.

Something's up. ABC went from 24.1db to 32.5db on the Fusion III signal meter. It's never been that high. Woo Hoo go combiner!

CBS is dropping in and out and is much weaker than usual. Can anyone else confirm this?

2.1 from the Upper East Side just fine all day.

I agree with Phil, 7.1 strongest that I can remember.

No signals coming through on Channel 33 (11.1) or on
Channel 38 (9.1).

Can't wait!

Gary

WXTV channel 41 (RF channel 40) also shows much higher signal strength.

I hate to be the buzzkill - but I think that is likely atmospheric rather than combiner - I have noticed increased strength from wtnh - a vhf in ct...

-maynard

I want to agree with Maynard, but the troposhperic ducting shows nothing special tonight (http://home.cogeco.ca/~dxinfo/tropo.html)

With that said, not sure what the deal is, but I NEVER pick up WABC out of NYC, I always use WTNH here in CT. I am right on the CT shoreline, between New Haven and Bridgeport and getting WABC with breakups at about 33%. Again, even on good atmospheric nights, I DO NOT get this station. So could be coincidence but I hope not!!! I would love to point my antenna towards the ESB and be done playing around!!

Lets get those hamsters running faster and get the combiner power kicked up a notch!!!!

scottte

I thought the testing doesn't start until next week? And WXTV isn't on the combiner so that shouldn't affect anything. Maybe we're all getting a little jumpy now that there's light at the end of the tunnel.

Originally posted by Phil Hightech
WXTV channel 41 (RF channel 40) also shows much higher signal strength.

Unrelated to the combiner project..... I picked it up for the first time about a month ago, so they probably dialed up their signal strength beforehand.

Hi Guys.. I recently just purchased:
Panasonic 50" LCD Projection TV
Samsung DVD Player (DVI Output)
Yamaha HTR-5740 Reciever
JBL SCS160SI Speakers
Direct TV w/ Samsung HD Reciever

Ok, now that the setup is out of the way, let me get to my problem.

I had all this setup in my house which is a 3 floor townhouse and I had this setup on the third floor bedroom (north side of the house) for 2 weeks. I purchased a $50 indoor antenna from Radio Shack last week and did a scan and was able to pick up
2.1
4.1
5.1
5.2
7.1
and a lot of other channels. All the main local channels were coming in with no problem at all.

Yesterday I moved all my equiment to the 1st floor living room which is on the south side of the house. I attached my antenna and was not able to pickup and Off-Air Digital or HD channels now. I then purchased a $99 Samsung Indoor Antenna and now i can only pickup 7.1. Is there anything wrong with my antenna or is that i am lower in the house and thus my antenna is not in a higher location? What are my other options to get the best off-air reception. I really want to watch the Super Bowl in HD on Fox.

Thanks in Advance...

hey everybody... new here and from nesconset/hauppauge area wondering if i will be able to recieve nyc/CT HD signals where I live with an indoor antenna...( access hole in attic is 25 inches wide... max and landlord doesnt want anything on roof...) silver sensor maybe?
any help is appreciated

Originally posted by mus27
...I had all this setup in my house which is a 3 floor townhouse and I had this setup on the third floor bedroom (north side of the house) for 2 weeks. I purchased a $50 indoor antenna from Radio Shack last week and did a scan and was able to pick up
2.1
4.1
5.1
5.2
7.1
and a lot of other channels. All the main local channels were coming in with no problem at all.

Yesterday I moved all my equiment to the 1st floor living room which is on the south side of the house. I attached my antenna and was not able to pickup and Off-Air Digital or HD channels now. I then purchased a $99 Samsung Indoor Antenna and now i can only pickup 7.1. Is there anything wrong with my antenna or is that i am lower in the house and thus my antenna is not in a higher location? What are my other options to get the best off-air reception...
Height is an important factor with OTA, Could you place your antenna where is was on the third floor and run a line down to the first floor? You may need an ampliflier because of the increased distance from the antenna. An amp or another antenna may also be an option, if you want to keep your anyenna on the first floor. It's just trial and error. Good luck.

Thanks for your reply and I just did run the setup you had described and was able to recieve excellent signals from my third floor. I might keep it perminent and figure out a way to run the cables or get an out door antenna. Which antenna would you recomend?

Did you try a small Radio Shack outdoor antenna in your attic? Works fine for me on S.I. south shore.

Last night at around 11:00pm ET, I was able to pick up WNBC at the same location where I was pointing to WCBS. It seems the testing incorporated WNBC into the combiner. I was not able to pick up WPIX nor WNET (my 2 missing channels). Is WPIX going from VHF to UHF once it's into the combiner ? I have an UHF antenna.

P.S. I was never able to pick up WNBC before so this is a huge plus. Work is being done guys, don't lose faith.

I'm on the south shore of LI approx 25 miles east of the city. I have a Samsung SIRTS 360 and a roof antenna that was there when I moved in. Using said roof antenna I have always gotten CBS (2-1) without any breakups, pixellation etc. and thats it for the major stations (4-1, 5-1, 7-1). Last night for the first time ever I got 5-1, 5-2, 7-1, 7-2 perfect with no breakups or pixellation - can you say YES MNF IN HDTV - I can after last night.... I'm guessing that the combiner is up now based on this or could it simply have been some quirk of atmospheric conditions. As far as still not getting 4-1 I'm not too concerned as I get it via Directv.

Originally posted by th003g
hey everybody... new here and from nesconset/hauppauge area wondering if i will be able to recieve nyc/CT HD signals where I live with an indoor antenna...( access hole in attic is 25 inches wide... max and landlord doesnt want anything on roof...) silver sensor maybe?
any help is appreciated

no where near you but i can use a silver sensor in my attic to get philly which is around 40 miles away.

Also I have a channelmaster 4228 up there. I drilled out a few rivets to break it into 2 parts then put it back together with a few nuts and bolts once it was through the hatch. That gets slightly better signal for philly. NYC is about 10 miles further and the silver sensor barely works whereas the CM 4228 soes a decent job (for the full power stations on the EMpire State Building - ESB).

All of the baove is with a pre-amp. I played when i first set it all up and i think i got most of philly but no NYC without it but i cant remember exactly.

Hit antennaweb.org and it will give you distances to the ESB (look at FOX and CBS- they are currently on ESB- the others are in the process of moving over there). THen you can use my experience as a guide of if the silver sensor will work. Keep in mind though that there are tons of factors so you might have bette ror worse luck than me.

Originally posted by flattie
I'm on the south shore of LI approx 25 miles east of the city. I have a Samsung SIRTS 360 and a roof antenna that was there when I moved in. Using said roof antenna I have always gotten CBS (2-1) without any breakups, pixellation etc. and thats it for the major stations (4-1, 5-1, 7-1). Last night for the first time ever I got 5-1, 5-2, 7-1, 7-2 perfect with no breakups or pixellation - can you say YES MNF IN HDTV - I can after last night.... I'm guessing that the combiner is up now based on this or could it simply have been some quirk of atmospheric conditions. As far as still not getting 4-1 I'm not too concerned as I get it via Directv.

Since Fox is not involved with the combiner it was probably atmospheric conditions helping your reception. Patience everyone, we're almost there!

Originally posted by dturturro
Since Fox is not involved with the combiner it was probably atmospheric conditions helping your reception. Patience everyone, we're almost there!

I also get 4-1 via DTV, but IMO the DTV signal is much worse than the OTA signal, probably having something to do with how D is compressing the signal.

I'm confused and maybe somebody can clear me up...

Fox and CBS are broadcasting from ESB but Fox isn't part of the combiner?
Ok...
My confusion is that I can pull in FOX but NOT CBS. I've never been able to grab CBS fom my location in Plainsboro NJ. If they are both transmitting from ESB is Fox transmitting w/ more power? I thought CBS was juiced higher?

Why do I get Fox and not CBS?

:rolleyes:

Originally posted by spankle
I'm confused and maybe somebody can clear me up...

Fox and CBS are broadcasting from ESB but Fox isn't part of the combiner?
Ok...
My confusion is that I can pull in FOX but NOT CBS. I've never been able to grab CBS fom my location in Plainsboro NJ. If they are both transmitting from ESB is Fox transmitting w/ more power? I thought CBS was juiced higher?

Why do I get Fox and not CBS?

:rolleyes:

According to: http://www.2150.com/broadcast/default.asp CBS broadcasts at a higher power than Fox. But, since they're coming from different antennas they probably have different coverage areas. One may be more directional than the other.

According to antennaweb.org, I live about 20.3 miles north of the ESB and I get both Fox and CBS. (My UHF antenna is pointed at 228 degrees.) My signal strength meter shows me getting CBS in the low 90s and Fox in the low 80s, so apparently Fox's signal is a bit weaker.


/steve

what would be the channel for HD-UPN when it comes online? 9-1?

Originally posted by spankle
My confusion is that I can pull in FOX but NOT CBS. I've never been able to grab CBS fom my location in Plainsboro NJ. If they are both transmitting from ESB is Fox transmitting w/ more power? I thought CBS was juiced higher?

Why do I get Fox and not CBS?
That is weird. Most folks have little difficulty receiving CBS. I very rarely have a problem with them. But with FOX (and ABC) I have lots of issues. I live in Matawan NJ.

WWOR Channel 9, will be broadcasting its digital signal over-the-air on Channel 38 - your tuner will remap it as Channel 9.1.

Gary

I'm next door to you and I get Fox, CBS, and ABC with just a little megawave antenna on top of my TV with no problems.

I let my neighbor down the street borrow it, and he didn't catch anything from the basement. My TV is on the first floor.


Originally posted by Gary Quiring
That is weird. Most folks have little difficulty receiving CBS. I very rarely have a problem with them. But with FOX (and ABC) I have lots of issues. I live in Matawan NJ.

Originally posted by slocko
I'm next door to you and I get Fox, CBS, and ABC with just a little megawave antenna on top of my TV with no problems.

I let my neighbor down the street borrow it, and he didn't catch anything from the basement. My TV is on the first floor. I have a large antenna in the attic but it is 20+ years old. I tried a SilverSensor but it did not do to well except on CBS. I think my issue is I have lots of large trees near me.

FOX (WNYW-DT) broadcasts from the ESB at lower power (73.8kW) using an omnidirectional antenna at a lower height than CBS right now. FOX has been granted a construction permit to broadcast at a much higher power (990kW) at the same height they're at now (1204ft) using a directional antenna; don't know when that'll happen, but it'll help a lot for most people.

what is with that fox directional antenna? The map makes it look like they only want CT to receive it not NJ? Since it will have many times more power will it have similar coverage out here in western NJ as now?

Bigger picture- unless someone in a neighboring market is also on your frequency why wouldnt you just have an omnidirectional broadcast?

I should say I'm using a CM 4228 stuffed into a first floor attic space. I tried a silver sensor on the first floor but nothing. I've found only 1 spot in my attic that I can get any signal(NY) and that pulls ABC and FOX only. CBS can't be found. If I move that bloody antenna a centimeter it's all over. I don't know how I found that spot. I had that freak'n antenna everywhere (except the logical outside). I had hopes that the combiner would let me leave that metal mesh in the attic but since I don't get CBS I'm guessing the combiner is going to do squat for me. ARGGGGHHHHH!

*kicking*
I don't want to move that antenna outside

reversed reception spankle... out.

I just noticed CBS is showing an increase in strength. Pegs the meter @32.5db on the Fusion III. All time high for my location.

combiner up??low power tests??is that why CBS was BAD last night lower then normal power reading? anyone else.my picture was breaking up during NCIS

Originally posted by michaelk
Bigger picture- unless someone in a neighboring market is also on your frequency why wouldnt you just have an omnidirectional broadcast?

In this case a cardoid pattern will nul to the south and not waste coverage over water. In other cases not cover mountains or dessert. Get the picture. In some areas you want a directional pattern.
George

Originally posted by spankle
*kicking*
I don't want to move that antenna outside

reversed reception spankle... out.

/wiseass mode on

Aw hell that 4228 on my roof is the prettiest darn thing! Get a rotor and put that thing up on the roof where it belongs! You KNOW you WANT to.
{singing}....up on the rooof .....

/end spankle torment mode

Originally posted by Robert Packman
combiner up??low power tests??is that why CBS was BAD last night lower then normal power reading? anyone else.my picture was breaking up during NCIS

If there have been any tests...I havent seen any results. Things are about the same as they have always been for me. CBS- always good...nbc - a no show, Fox is good enough for a steady picture and so is ABC. WB and WNET I cant get at all. Im looking foward to the testing to see if that makes a difference. But I have seen none so far.

Originally posted by michaelk
what is with that fox directional antenna? The map makes it look like they only want CT to receive it not NJ? Since it will have many times more power will it have similar coverage out here in western NJ as now?

Bigger picture- unless someone in a neighboring market is also on your frequency why wouldnt you just have an omnidirectional broadcast?

Several things:

1) No point in broadcasting over water.

2) Have to protect WVIA-TV 44 in Scranton.

3) Have to protect WMCN-DT 44 in Atlantic City/Philadelphia.

Plus, WNYW-DT currently broadcasts at 246 kW. With two or three exceptions on that directional plot they have, all areas will get that amount of power or more.

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/polarplot?temp=68229&rotate=0.00&p0=0.887&p10=0.814&p20=0.941&p30=0.922&p40=0.910&p50=0.897&p60=0.883&p70=0.873&p80=0.865&p90=0.864&p100=0.871&p110=0.885&p120=0.859&p130=0.866&p140=0.769&p150=0.875&p160=0.568&p170=0.783&p180=0.317&p190=0.510&p200=0.099&p210=0.357&p220=0.406&p230=0.448&p240=0.480&p250=0.497&p260=0.493&p270=0.469&p280=0.431&p290=0.388&p300=0.702&p310=0.288&p320=0.511&p330=0.395&p340=0.798&p350=0.719&p360=0.887&

- Trip

after looking at the map of how FOX 5's signal will be, how do we know approx how far it will go into CT????? Is there any way to have that polar plot over layed onto a geographical map????

scottte

Originally posted by vinnyv07
If there have been any tests...I havent seen any results. Things are about the same as they have always been for me. CBS- always good...nbc - a no show, Fox is good enough for a steady picture and so is ABC. WB and WNET I cant get at all. Im looking foward to the testing to see if that makes a difference. But I have seen none so far.

I also have not seen any evidence of any tests. My signal strengths are exactly the same all week. Absolutely nothing has changed. I have checked constantly. All I noticed was a bump up in the signal on the two rainy days on Monday and Tuesday. I always get a slight bump up in signal levels in the rain. I do not see any evidence of the combiner changes. Please tell me there is not problems and further delays with the combiner...

There is not problems and further delays with the combiner...

Originally posted by scottte
after looking at the map of how FOX 5's signal will be, how do we know approx how far it will go into CT????? Is there any way to have that polar plot over layed onto a geographical map????
Enter your exact lat/long and the red line on the polar plot is the direction from the transmitter to your lat/long, so you can see the specific strength towards you from the transmitter. At least that'll give you an idea if you're getting close to the max signal or some lesser amount.

Anyone else get some MAJOR flickering on ABC last night? Watching "LOST", every 10 secons or so, there would be a flash/streak of various colors (brought me back to the 60s') :D It was so bad I had to go SD with all of its blur and washed out color. :eek:

I didn't seem to have it on any other OTA stations, so I assumed it was the station's problem.

Calabs, I noticed the same thing Tuesday night watching NYPD Blue. Every so often, I got a flash - mostly green. I also didn't see this on any other station.

Do you remember the 60's?

Originally posted by Calabs
Anyone else get some MAJOR flickering on ABC last night? Watching "LOST", every 10 secons or so, there would be a flash/streak of various colors (brought me back to the 60s') :D It was so bad I had to go SD with all of its blur and washed out color. :eek:

I didn't seem to have it on any other OTA stations, so I assumed it was the station's problem.

I'm glad you posted this, I had the same thing and now at least I know there was nothing wrong with my TV. How about that show though, isn't it awesome!!! Do you know when the next episode is going to be (I noticed that next week is a repeat)?

Originally posted by Calabs
Anyone else get some MAJOR flickering on ABC last night? Watching "LOST", every 10 secons or so, there would be a flash/streak of various colors (brought me back to the 60s') :D It was so bad I had to go SD with all of its blur and washed out color. :eek:

I didn't seem to have it on any other OTA stations, so I assumed it was the station's problem.

Ahhhh, it's good to know it's not yet ANOTHER problem with my HR10-250 - thanks for posting!

Yes, I had exactly the same issue. I was able to repeat the problem when replaying, so I knew it was in the data stream somewhere - but didn't know whether it was in the OTA stream, or induced by my receiver ;-)

Netman... your response was too funny.

I DO want my antenna outside, I do, I do.
I just want somebody ELSE to do the work!
I'll be singing when I do it because you know I'll have to now.
You know it. I know it. Everyone reading this forum knows it.
Best reception is outside. I'll have to suck it up and do it.
I think I can get away with it if I put lights on it for Christmas but
how do I decorate it the rest of the year so
the wife doesn't complain? Ideas?:D

Originally posted by Calabs
Anyone else get some MAJOR flickering on ABC last night? Watching "LOST", every 10 secons or so, there would be a flash/streak of various colors (brought me back to the 60s') :D It was so bad I had to go SD with all of its blur and washed out color. :eek:

I didn't seem to have it on any other OTA stations, so I assumed it was the station's problem.

Right you are Kenny! My wife said the same thing to me, "FIX THIS! WHAT IS THIS....I CAN'T WATCH LOST LIKE THIS!"

I wonder if there's any mention of it in the LOST thread over on the programming forum to see if it was a NATIONAL issue....or maybe, JUST MAYBE, it's this elusive combiner thingie!

Yeah, yeah, THAT'S the ticket.....:p

I've seen this a few times on ABC over the last week or so. I'm glad other people saw this also, I was hoping it was not the HDMI port on my HD Tivo going south.

It looked very strange if you paused it.


Mike

Originally posted by dan57
Calabs, I noticed the same thing Tuesday night watching NYPD Blue. Every so often, I got a flash - mostly green. I also didn't see this on any other station.

Do you remember the 60's?

I did not watch ABC last night, but I saw this occurence that you describe on Tuesday night on ABC. It must be some station problem.

Originally posted by dan57
Calabs, I noticed the same thing Tuesday night watching NYPD Blue. Every so often, I got a flash - mostly green. I also didn't see this on any other station.

Do you remember the 60's?

Good to know. Too bad D* doesn't offer an HD feed of ABC to compare. If this is re-appearing on a nightly basis, perhaps a call to the engineer is appropriate at this point? Anyone game?

Believe it or not, I remember more of the 60's now than during the 60's! :eek:

This looks like an WABC problem. I first noticed it a couple of weeks ago during Desperate Housewives.

I too had the green 'banding' or splotchiness. I posted something in the Lost forum, but I really should've put in here. Glad I wasn't the only one. I too thought it might be my Hr10-250.

WHEW!

D

I spoke to a WABC engineer who confirmed that the interference did originate with the local broadcast. They're working on it.

Originally posted by s2silber
I spoke to a WABC engineer who confirmed that the interference did originate with the local broadcast. They're working on it.

Thanks s2silber!.............and thank you Mr./Ms. WABC engineer!

Originally posted by dm145
There is not problems and further delays with the combiner...
Hello....dm145...care to expand on that message? I know that it was wriiten that low power testing was set to begin this week....and its thursday. Are the tests they are running this week not going to make a difference in our sigs?

Originally posted by vinnyv07
Hello....dm145...care to expand on that message? I know that it was wriiten that low power testing was set to begin this week....and its thursday. Are the tests they are running this week not going to make a difference in our sigs?

I believe the tests are scheduled for the week of the 13th which is next week.

I just received this encouraging news:

We just received word regarding HDTV transmissions. All Monday night primetime programming (8-10), Veronica Mars, Kevin Hill, and the Friday night episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise, will be aired in HDTV effective December 13th.



Sincerely,


Viewer Services

dude, you made my day.

Originally posted by dturturro
I just received this encouraging news:

We just received word regarding HDTV transmissions. All Monday night primetime programming (8-10), Veronica Mars, Kevin Hill, and the Friday night episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise, will be aired in HDTV effective December 13th.



Sincerely,


Viewer Services

Does say via OTA!

Originally posted by dm145
Does say via OTA!

Yes. I requested an ETA on when channel 38 would be going live.

Originally posted by dturturro
Yes. I requested an ETA on when channel 38 would be going live.

That sounds really really good......thanks for the info dturturro. Its so difficult to be patient.

4 days, 32 minutes. And counting. :)

Are we sure they weren't talking about this?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=480510

Originally posted by michaelk
what is with that fox directional antenna? The map makes it look like they only want CT to receive it not NJ? Since it will have many times more power will it have similar coverage out here in western NJ as now?

Bigger picture- unless someone in a neighboring market is also on your frequency why wouldnt you just have an omnidirectional broadcast?
Fox says that they will be using elliptical polarization, which means that some of the almost one million watts (ERP) will be in the vertically polarized signal. The coverage will still be roughly what it is now. It takes A LOT of power to extend the coverage by just a few miles. Remember your math -- pi x r-squared. Power is roughly proportional to area.

Look here.

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1028495.html

Originally posted by hphase
Fox says that they will be using elliptical polarization, which means that some of the almost one million watts (ERP) will be in the vertically polarized signal. The coverage will still be roughly what it is now. It takes A LOT of power to extend the coverage by just a few miles. Remember your math -- pi x r-squared. Power is roughly proportional to area.

Look here.

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1028495.html
I don't particularly trust those service contour maps to indicate much of anything useful. For example, look at WPIX on VHF12 (now): http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DS619341.html

Then look at WPIX on UHF33 (combiner): http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DS1003817.html

Now, we can go blah blah blah about VHF frequencies needing far less power to cover the same area as higher frequencies, but WPIX is practically receivable by no one outside of a very limited area right now, yet if you took their service contour map to mean anything, you'd expect a great likelihood of receiving their signal inside that contour, especially far inside it.

The FCC says (http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/MB/Databases/fm_tv_service_areas/mapinfo.html):

These maps display the service contour for the FM or TV station that is generally protected from interference caused by other stations under the present FCC rules. However, interference-free reception is not guaranteed at all locations within this contour. Local conditions (for example buildings, terrain, receiver quality, type of receive antenna used) can influence reception of a radio signal.

Service does not stop at this contour line. In most cases, FM or TV stations can be received at locations well beyond the location of the mapped contour, with interference-free reception becoming less likely at greater distances. As a result, most stations actually provide serve to a substantially greater area than depicted by this contour. However, reception in in areas outside of this service contour is not protected from interference caused by other authorized stations.

And that seems to be a significant understatement in this particular case.

So I can accept it represents an area the FCC will ensure has no signal interference from other stations on the same frequency, but it sure isn't even close to representing who might have a chance of actually receiving their broadcast, at least in the real world.

Yes, you have to take all this information with a grain of salt. The WPIX coverage maps show roughly the same area of coverage on channel 33 at both 160 kW and 260 kW, not very likely. But it is 2.5 times the coverage that shown for channel 12 at a measly 120 Watts(!)

I am also surprised that I receive WNJB on channel 8 with my UHF antenna. I am just barely within their service contour, at least by the FCC map.

Contrary to what you would expect, all these calculations and allocations don't always translate to receivability, as their disclaimer mentions. As you said, a lot of it has to do with protecting other stations from interference. That is, once they build their stations out to their maximum allocated power.

Originally posted by spankle
I DO want my antenna outside, I do, I do.
how do I decorate it the rest of the year so
the wife doesn't complain? Ideas?:D

Well at least for a powerful antenna the 4228 is pretty low profile. You could even get the 4 bay unit. If you want to do some testing first you could buy one or two ten foot masts and prop the thing up next to the house with a roll of coax to see how it works. If it looks promising, roof it. The best thing that happens when it is up on the roof is it gets much more stable but I feel you pain; I no longer enjoy working on roof-top antennas as I used to.

Looks like I'll be up on the roof on the 13th to grab the combiner's transmission. :D

There must have been some testing done on the combiner this afternoon. WCBS-DT was off the air for a time. It is now back on the air and is the signal is a little weaker.

Originally posted by Scott G
There must have been some testing done on the combiner this afternoon. WCBS-DT was off the air for a time. It is now back on the air and is the signal is a little weaker.

I usually get cbs at 97...now Im getting it at around 93 -94.

Originally posted by vinnyv07
I usually get cbs at 97...now Im getting it at around 93 -94.

Yeah, that sounds about right. That is about what it is for me. It is still a good signal just a little lower.

I was wondering what was going on with CBS today. I was re-scanning my channels on the Samsung SIR-T150 and I couldn't get anything from CBS. :(

At least now I know it was down and it wasn't my antenna or other hardware.

And for Lost wednesday, I had the exact same dropouts and I'm doing OTA into the Samsung.

For a while, every few seconds it was flickering data across the screen. Was annoying and had me concerned. Now I'm a bit relieved. :)

Originally posted by Scott G
There must have been some testing done on the combiner this afternoon. WCBS-DT was off the air for a time. It is now back on the air and is the signal is a little weaker.

I thought CBS was not part of the combiner project?

WCBS is the biggest and most important part of the combiner project.
The other stations will be using WCBS' antenna for their own transmissions!

Gary

Anyone heard whether or not we can expect anything new from the combiner (wwor 38, etc), in the near future? Anything happening this upcoming week? Don't know what kind of testing they were doing, but I haven't noticed a thing so far.

I have a dish 921 that has recently been given a new software revision. I have a signal strengh of 77 for WABC (45) but can not get a picture to display when tuned into the station. Will it work on Monday? I live in Howard Beach.

cbs-2 recently all over the scale vg power then drops and then back to good..anyone else notice

Same thing for me Robert. When it is steady, the signal registers lower than it did last week (which is when I last checked CBS).

Originally posted by NS324
Same thing for me Robert. When it is steady, the signal registers lower than it did last week (which is when I last checked CBS).

I hope this is just for a few days.If not,i have lost my best OTA (as far as Programming)

Originally posted by NS324
Same thing for me Robert. When it is steady, the signal registers lower than it did last week (which is when I last checked CBS).

I noticed on Friday WCBS-DT went off the air for a while in the afternoon. When it came back the signal was a little lower. I wonder if this has something to do with combiner work ?

my signal was bouncing as i watched(yesterday) 94-65-93-47 like that..something is screwey..hope they get it fixed

Nice to see WABC fixed their flashing line video problems.

NOT.

Perhaps when the combiner goes online it will go away. I imagine that a completely new set of equipment will be used from the ESB.

I noticed that line issue two weeks ago, it was also then that WABC kept switching to the HD video and audio test loop.

NYPD Blue also also had problems this week so I watched the analog WABC-TV feed.

Here's a still of the line on WABC-DT tonight:
http://img128.exs.cx/img128/9149/PDVD_072.th.jpg (http://img128.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img128&image=PDVD_072.jpg)

Greetings from 10514 Mt Kisco, 32 miles north NYC. I have a 20 year old large RS yagi roofmounted (elevation 650') rarely used for OTA VHF these 2 decades.
I *believe* it has UHF coverage (a V-shaped tail with multiple small elements suggests it, I hope) but I use BUD as there was no cable b/o inadequate population density here '86. We are in woods w 4 acres and lots of deer ticks.

Well, anxious to timeshift HD somehow, I just got the new JVC DVCR "DT-100" with an intrinsic ATSC tuner (my CRT is HD-ready only). C-band HD is gorgeous, but no way to timeshift it yet. For me, that means it is a mere curiosity to show off to visitors. Until I can timeshift it I won't watch it.

The DT-100 digital tuner Auto-Setup says that there are no DTV signals coming off my RS Yagi - nothing of significance (bar graph says sig strength is < 9/100)
So I hope for better times when the transmissions switch to the Empire State antenna. Even then I guess I may need a Pre-amp so I got one at the Bed Hills RS today.

We'll see.

Originally posted by Maggot
I have a 20 year old large RS yagi roofmounted (elevation 650') rarely used for OTA VHF these 2 decades.
I *believe* it has UHF coverage (a V-shaped tail with multiple small elements suggests it, I hope) I would suggest hooking the antenna up to a TV and seeing if any analog UHF stations come in. Channel 41 from Empire would be a good one to try.

Originally posted by icemannyr
I noticed that line issue two weeks ago, it was also then that WABC kept switching to the HD video and audio test loop.

NYPD Blue also also had problems this week so I watched the analog WABC-TV feed.

Here's a still of the line on WABC-DT tonight:
http://img128.exs.cx/img128/9149/PDVD_072.th.jpg (http://img128.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img128&image=PDVD_072.jpg)

funny- but i think the green lines might be a network issue. Either that or all the stations have the same crappy setup. ABC out of philly does the same thing. I havent personally seen any where the line is as thick as the above still, but it frequently happens that a thin green line flips accross the screen for a split second and then goes away. Doesnt happen regularly but it is fairly often. I have never seen it on any other channel. Just ABC.

Anyone check UPN today? 38-1

Originally posted by dm145
Anyone check UPN today? 38-1 I ran a search today at about 6am and there was no difference (except PXN didn't come in as well).

I don't think there's anything to indicate that it would come on today. The previous post about December 13th likely has nothing to do with WWOR. UPN is expanding it's HD lineup tonight, and I think that was what the email response was about.

Originally posted by dm145
Anyone check UPN today? 38-1

Shall be funny to see how many posts regarding the Combiner and 12/13 come in today :D

Sadly, I'm too skeptical to even check on a daily basis anymore
:mad:

I am starting to get pessimistic about this combiner thing again. I saw no evidence of any testing last week. There is no new station like WWOR or WPIX on today. Why do I think that this combiner thing has lost steam again.

hd newbie with a few questions....., please
just upgraded my service with d* on saturday to hdtv packages
i live in staten island , very close to new jersey.... - i bought the ota ant as well,
my local hd (ny) chs werent coming in , i recieved NJ local - tech (installer) said it was becasue of when the twin towers went down , no new antenna has gone up - so , in my area , i cnnot recieve ota hd signals - true ? or a fairy tale ?
what is up with ch 7 (ABC) could not get desp housewives in hd - what will be with mnf tonight ? - will that answer be the sdaem as my 1st question ?
why only some (10 - i think) sunday ticket games are in hd ? why not all ?
why was i able to see jets/steelers in hd and not giants/ravens - both were offered in hd from d* - i understand i probab was blacked out for the giants , but then why not for jets ?
thanks for any help or replies - very frustrated and not nearly as excited as i thought i'd be...

The channels are being broadcast in HD. ABC from the Conde Nast tower. NBC from GE bldg and Fox and CBS from Empire State Bldg. There will be a migration shortly of all of these channels to the ESB once the combiner project is complete. You just getting into this now saves you many headaches as most of us have been waiting for the project to be completed and running. Word is, if you can trust it, that the project will be up and running shortly.

Time will tell...

sorry, but what is "ESB" and, if i'm am getting cbs and nbc in hd , WHY am i not recieving - abc or fox ?
thx for your reply, btw

ESB=empire state building

Originally posted by Scott G
I am starting to get pessimistic about this combiner thing again. I saw no evidence of any testing last week. There is no new station like WWOR or WPIX on today. Why do I think that this combiner thing has lost steam again.
The only inference that the combiner would be up today came from that one e-mail from UPN about network HD programming being expanded on Dec. 13. That really had nothing to do with Channel 38 or the combiner, in particular. Last week, I spoke to engineers at two different New York stations, all of whom said the same thing -- that they're shooting for getting the combiner project on line by the end of this month. No guarantees, but that's the goal. It's a lot more definitive than anything said before, so even if the Dec. 31 goal isn't met, we do know that the project is in its final stages of completion.

Originally posted by frank bavaro
what is up with ch 7 (ABC) could not get desp housewives in hd - what will be with mnf tonight ? - will that answer be the sdaem as my 1st question ?

Maybe you need a better antenna or you are not aiming in the right spot, or tuned to the wrong channel? CBS and FOX are both broadcasting from the ESB (Empire State Building). ABC is from atop of 4 Times Square and should be plenty strong enough for you.

why only some (10 - i think) sunday ticket games are in hd ? why not all ?

Because there are only so many HD trucks to go around (which you need at the stadium in order to produce in HD), not every game can be in HD. Also, there is only so much bandwidth available on DirecTV's satellites. They are already running very thin and have to overcompress just to get 10. Be happy you have that at least. Until they launch more satellites next year, this will be the case. But that is a topic for the programming forum, not here.

thx for your answers- i'll keep learning and trying

Originally posted by frank bavaro
hd newbie with a few questions....., please
just upgraded my service with d* on saturday to hdtv packages
i live in staten island , very close to new jersey.... - i bought the ota ant as well,
my local hd (ny) chs werent coming in , i recieved NJ local - tech (installer) said it was becasue of when the twin towers went down , no new antenna has gone up - so , in my area , i cnnot recieve ota hd signals - true ? or a fairy tale ?
what is up with ch 7 (ABC) could not get desp housewives in hd - what will be with mnf tonight ? - will that answer be the sdaem as my 1st question ?
why only some (10 - i think) sunday ticket games are in hd ? why not all ?
why was i able to see jets/steelers in hd and not giants/ravens - both were offered in hd from d* - i understand i probab was blacked out for the giants , but then why not for jets ?
thanks for any help or replies - very frustrated and not nearly as excited as i thought i'd be...


OTA issues sound like you have a clueless installer - There are lots of D* subscribers in Staten Island getting NYC locals in HD ota.

I had a clueless installer too (see my post in the HDTV hardware forum) when it came to OTA - they brought some cheapo winegard "green" rated antenna ( I am in blue zone), and they didn't even put the power supply on the antenna (it says right on it "Amplified Antenna - 12v) - and I got Zilch/nada/nothing/zero. I called D*, asked them what the extra $49 I paid for the OTA antenna was for, and they gave me a credit for it. I used that $$ to buy a decent OTA antenna/preamp - and now I'm happy as a clam.

my guy a wineguard up for me as well
i have no idea wheather or not he "powered" it
what is the deal with diff colored zones or ratings ?

Originally posted by frank bavaro
what is the deal with diff colored zones or ratings ?

http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/antenna.aspx?color=R

Originally posted by Maggot
The DT-100 digital tuner Auto-Setup says that there are no DTV signals coming off my RS Yagi - nothing of significance (bar graph says sig strength is < 9/100)
So I hope for better times when the transmissions switch to the Empire State antenna. Even then I guess I may need a Pre-amp so I got one at the Bed Hills RS today.

What type of cable do you have connected to your antenna? I suggest you upgrade it to RG-6 before trying to add an amp. As for better times, currently WCBS-DT (56) is broadcasting from the ESB at high power, so I don't expect you will see an improvement when the combiner is activated.

Frank, I am in East Brunswick, NJ - just over the Outerbridge Crossing from Staten Island. I usually get CBS, ABC and FOX rock solid. I get NBC with a slightly weaker signal, but generally quite useable. I get UPN good on 5-2, but they have no HD yet (I hear that is about to change). I can't get WB-11 or WNET-13 at all.

I would think that you should expect similar results where you are. I have a Channel Master UHF antenna on the roof with a pre-amp.

Originally posted by dturturro
I just received this encouraging news:

We just received word regarding HDTV transmissions. All Monday night primetime programming (8-10), Veronica Mars, Kevin Hill, and the Friday night episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise, will be aired in HDTV effective December 13th.



Sincerely,


Viewer Services

This is the post that started "the combiner is ready rumors". Off with his head! It says nothing about NYC OTA.

Originally posted by dan57
Frank, I am in East Brunswick, NJ - just over the Outerbridge Crossing from Staten Island. I usually get CBS, ABC and FOX rock solid. I get NBC with a slightly weaker signal, but generally quite useable. I get UPN good on 5-2, but they have no HD yet (I hear that is about to change). I can't get WB-11 or WNET-13 at all.

I would think that you should expect similar results where you are. I have a Channel Master UHF antenna on the roof with a pre-amp.

To add to this thought, my parents are in Huguenot. I set up an OTA antenna for them and (currently) they can pick up 2-1/4-1:2/5-1:2/7-1:2 solidly. Occassionally they can pick up some of the NJN HD channels as well even though the RS Yagi (19.99 UHF ONLY) antenna is pointed towards NYC. I DID NOT hook up a pre-amp either. I gave them a Samsung OTA T-151 (???) STB.

Which D* HD receiver do you have???

I live in Great Kills in SI and Im getting CBS, FOX, ABC , UPN(not HD) and some PBS stations in the 50's and PAX. NBC is a no show for me ...I have tried and tried. I have a UHF ANT mounted up on my roof around 20 ft up with a 10 ft mast. Im getting NBCDT through Directv and still really never watch it. NBC's HD just isnt worth the bother. I would like to get UPN in HD just to see what Star Trek looks like on Friday nights. WNET would be nice also...but I guess we are all going to have to be patient and wait. We waited so long thus far...whats another 2 weeks or 2 mths.... I was looking foward to some combiner testing.

Originally posted by dm145
This is the post that started "the combiner is ready rumors". Off with his head! It says nothing about NYC OTA.

Actually, the post that started this all was this one:

WCBS DT to return to 24/7 HD (on D*, too!)
After reading countless posts criticizing either WCBS (or DirecTV) for the CBS HD East feed signing off at midnight ET, I thought it might be a good thing to post the reason.
It has nothing at all to do with CBS being cheap. And everything to do with CBS being helpful to its fellow stations in the wake of 9/11. And now, within the next couple of weeks, it is going to end, and WCBS DT will be on air in HD 24/7.

Soon: 24/7 WCBS DT on DirecTV
Broadcasters Pull Together
CBS helps five New York stations return to DTV broadcasts

By Ken Kerschbaumer Broadcasting & Cable 12/6/2004

For the first time since 9/11, five New York City broadcasters will begin full-power, over-the-air DTV broadcasts. That’s thanks to CBS, which is letting competitive stations transmit their signals through its Empire State Building antenna.

WABC, WNBC, WWOR, WPIX and WNET lost their DTV facilities when the World Trade Center was destroyed. With available real estate atop the Empire State Building and WCBS willing to grant access to its DTV antenna, the stations decided it was a logical place to build DTV facilities.

This week, low-power tests will measure performance and ensure that the antenna can handle the move to high power. The week of Dec. 13, the facility will be up and running to accommodate some high-power testing, although not all stations have finished installation of their transmitters. Davis says WABC will be at full power by the end of the year. “For the first time since 9/11, we’ll be able to broadcast at our full licensed power.”

The end of the project actually has ramifications outside of New York. Throughout the project, WCBS(DT) signed off at midnight to accommodate workers. The problem: WCBS(DT) is used by DirecTV to serve the entire nation. “At midnight, the country goes dark. Once the work is completed,” says Seidel, “we’ll be 24/7.”


If you re-read it, last week was for low power test and this week was for high power testing. The problem is nobody knows what form those tests will take. Fox' E-mail listing 12/13 as a date simply reinforced what we thought (or hoped) would be the go live date for the combiner.

Also, upon re-reading the E-mail I noticed something disturbing, the E-mail says December 13th. It did not say December 13th , 2004!

Originally posted by jaypb
Shall be funny to see how many posts regarding the Combiner


the who?!

just noticed that 5-2 stopped showing UPN and is now showing a copy of fox

As of 8:20 p.m., O-T-A, 5.2 is broadcasting UPN, Channel 9 per usual.

Gary

it says UPN but the programing is the same as FOX

Not on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

Just double checked. 5.2 is Channel 9, not Fox Channel 5!

Gary

im watching trading spouses on 5.2 and switching between 5.1 and 5 and it is the same show... i am on long island... can anyone else confirm thhis or am i going crazy hoping for the combiner

shappyss - something must be wrong with your tuner?

im gonna check on my other hd box and see whats going on

When did CBS wake up and start doing 5.1 ? Just noticed that CSI Miami sounds great.

Tonight. See my thread in the programming forum. Another nice surprise.

" I would suggest hooking the antenna up to a TV and seeing if any analog UHF stations come in. Channel 41 from Empire would be a good one to try."-Boggs

Great tip.
I saw other posts here and went to CEA fror a site map and was so pleased that there is a UHF sta in Poughkeepsie 10 miles nearer than NYC (just 22 miles) *and* ...it's digital PBS! : my main objective!!
It is north, tho, and my yagi points S at NYC. Also a hillock N of here rises abt 10 degrees... I believe these transmissions are line-of-sight Boggs?
I have a fine ham array, HF dipole... and a 2 meter (142MHz) Yagi pointing North! Hmmmm.
Listen, Boggs: just how important an improvement are you guys expecting from the migration of services to the ESTB array when it happens? Is it thought likely to be dramatic?
That CEA site is very nice.
Thanks again for all your helpful guidance.

Originally posted by Maggot
" I would suggest hooking the antenna up to a TV and seeing if any analog UHF stations come in. Channel 41 from Empire would be a good one to try."-Boggs

Great tip.
I saw other posts here and went to CEA fror a site map and was so pleased that there is a UHF sta in Poughkeepsie 10 miles nearer than NYC (just 22 miles) *and* ...it's digital PBS! : my main objective!!
It is north, tho, and my yagi points S at NYC. Also a hillock N of here rises abt 10 degrees... I believe these transmissions are line-of-sight Boggs?
I have a fine ham array, HF dipole... and a 2 meter (142MHz) Yagi pointing North! Hmmmm.
Listen, Boggs: just how important an improvement are you guys expecting from the migration of services to the ESTB array when it happens? Is it thought likely to be dramatic?
That CEA site is very nice.
Thanks again for all your helpful guidance.

Umm... there is no digital PBS stations in Poughkeepsie my friend. There is only a low-powered analog translator, W42AE, for WMHT-17 in Albany. It's at 19.3 kW, but it's analog.

Sorry.

- Trip

Originally posted by dm145
When did CBS wake up and start doing 5.1 ? Just noticed that CSI Miami sounds great.

A good surprise - but my CBS signal has really gone down the tubes in the last week - I've gone from 80% signal to mid-60's - no other stations have been affected. Once I hit about 62%, I start getting dropouts - I've had to switch to D* channel 80...ugh.

Only problem with the 5.1 on CBS is their center channel is set too low - when I turn the volume up where I can hear the dialogue, the sound effects/music from the sides blow my wife out of bed upstairs... and she starts screaming for me to turn it down. Don't have that issue on other 5.1's - so I hate to readjust my receiver.

Originally posted by grodgers
A good surprise - but my CBS signal has really gone down the tubes in the last week - I've gone from 80% signal to mid-60's - no other stations have been affected. Once I hit about 62%, I start getting dropouts - I've had to switch to D* channel 80...ugh.

Only problem with the 5.1 on CBS is their center channel is set too low - when I turn the volume up where I can hear the dialogue, the sound effects/music from the sides blow my wife out of bed upstairs... and she starts screaming for me to turn it down. Don't have that issue on other 5.1's - so I hate to readjust my receiver.

You know I thought that it was me. After watching CBS I pulled out the old sound meter thinking someone must have messed with my setting only to find that they were set correctly. I was going to do some more intense checking this evening. Thanks for saving me some time.

I was given permission to post the following by the project manager.
This information is current as of 12-14. There is always the possibility of delays.

WCBS-DT is currently operating through the combiner.
WWOR-DT may be on the air Thursday.
WPIX-DT and WNBC-DT on the air relatively soon thereafter.
WABC-DT by the end of the year.
WNET-DT sometime next year.

That may explain why some see lower signal strength on CBS. Over all, great to hear.

Thanks for the update!

Thanks for the info. As always, we will keep on scanning. :) Hopefully, Enterprise in HD Friday (it's a repeat, but still...)

Originally posted by dm145
That may explain why some see lower signal strength on CBS. Over all, great to hear.

Why would there be lower signal strength if operating through the combiner?

Originally posted by dm145
That may explain why some see lower signal strength on CBS.
Why would that explain lower signal strength on WCBS-DT?

Originally posted by Bogney Baux
I was given permission to post the following by the project manager.
This information is current as of 12-14. There is always the possibility of delays.

WCBS-DT is currently operating through the combiner.
WWOR-DT may be on the air Thursday.
WPIX-DT and WNBC-DT on the air relatively soon thereafter.
WABC-DT by the end of the year.
WNET-DT sometime next year.

Great news, Bogney !

I have no problems getting WABC nor WCBS. Can't wait for WPIX, WNBC and WWOR !

Originally posted by s2silber
Why would that explain lower signal strength on WCBS-DT?

Because "sharing" is always a compromise. The trade-off of having all the other stations on the same antenna as CBS is that the WCBS signal strength may not be a high as it once was. Also the antenna pattern may have shifted slightly. I'm still getting WCBS-DT at %84 in Huntington.

So, then, how long has WCBS been on the combiner? For me, WCBS's signal strength, steadiness and reliability hasn't been what it used to be for several months now. I now get WABC the strongest, and as the only one of the "Big Three" networks NOT available on DirecTV, I'm afraid that it won't be as reliable as it is now off the Conde Nast building.

Originally posted by plasmafan
Because "sharing" is always a compromise. The trade-off of having all the other stations on the same antenna as CBS is that the WCBS signal strength may not be a high as it once was. Also the antenna pattern may have shifted slightly. I'm still getting WCBS-DT at %84 in Huntington.

Don't forget that they are doing low power tests this week and if all goes well full power tests next week.

I don't think we should worry about power level just yet... lets wait until everyone is on the new gear.

I doubt that "sharing" is causing WCBS' strength to be lower lately.
That is not the philosophy and the physics behind combiners. My suspicion is that while people are working up there, the power at times is being compromised. And once all the bells, whistles, pipes and cables are installed, tested and running, we then will be able to truly judge the strength and quality of the various signals.

Although Viacom, the owner of WCBS, wants to help the other stations, I am sure that in no way would it allow its signal to be diminished - just to help or even to get some compensation from competing television stations.

Gary

Originally posted by Gary Press
My suspicion is that while people are working up there, the power at times is being compromised. And once all the bells, whistles, pipes and cables are installed, tested and running, we then will be able to truly judge the strength and quality of the various signals.
Your suspicion agrees with what I have been told. WCBS-DT is not 100% in all directions at the moment.

Originally posted by Bogney Baux
I was given permission to post the following by the project manager.
This information is current as of 12-14. There is always the possibility of delays.

WCBS-DT is currently operating through the combiner.
WWOR-DT may be on the air Thursday.
WPIX-DT and WNBC-DT on the air relatively soon thereafter.
WABC-DT by the end of the year.
WNET-DT sometime next year.

So I guess this means we will not have WPIX-DT back on in time for the Wizard of Oz on Sunday 12/19. :(

It depends what "relatively soon thereafter" means.

Between Thursday and end of year:p

I know I am a rank newbie here: almost beneath contempt. I don't require reassurances over the class system, but I do need to apologize for what follows: it may be old-hat, ignorant, and even plain wrong.

There's much excitement in the air re: the anticpated performance of the newer Dig UHF feeds by network broadcasters since they're shifting to the ESB's antennas. Already there even, tho at low power as they set up. You still hope for enhanced reception as transmit power ramps up.

Ham radio enthusiasts (tho I am not well versed in the world above 50 MHz) place great emphasis on the *small* importance of transmission power, and a part of the hobby delights in demonstrating that antenna designs of decent elegance are as effective at very lower power ("QRP") than at high power. The reverse logic is also true in my experience (tho I repeat my world is below 50MHz) namely: if it sucks at 100w it'll suck only slight less at a KW.

My own UHF reception is bad (useless bad) and I'll a better signal to get ATSC at all... but if the only remaing tweak from the provider side is to be "higher power" I'm not feeling encouraged to hear it. It'd mean I need to improve my own ant/receiver.

I know I am a rank newbie here: almost beneath contempt. I don't require reassurances over the class system, but I do need to apologize for what follows: it may be old-hat, ignorant, and even plain wrong.

There's much excitement in the air re: the anticpated performance of the newer Dig UHF feeds by network broadcasters since they're shifting to the ESB's antennas. Already there even, tho at low power as they set up. You still hope for enhanced reception as transmit power ramps up.

Ham radio enthusiasts (tho I am not well versed in the world above 50 MHz) place great emphasis on the *small* importance of transmission power, and a part of the hobby delights in demonstrating that antenna designs of decent elegance are as effective at very lower power ("QRP") than at high power. The reverse logic is also true in my experience (tho I repeat my world is below 50MHz) namely: if it sucks at 100w it'll suck only slight less at a KW.

My own UHF reception is bad (useless bad) and I'll need a better signal if I'm to see OTA HD at all... but if the only remaining tweak from the provider side is "higher power" I'm not feeling encouraged to hear it: for it'd mean to me that I'll need to improve my *own* ant/receiver.

Originally posted by Maggot
I know I am a rank newbie here: almost beneath contempt. I don't require reassurances over the class system, but I do need to apologize for what follows: it may be old-hat, ignorant, and even plain wrong.

There's much excitement in the air re: the anticpated performance of the newer Dig UHF feeds by network broadcasters since they're shifting to the ESB's antennas. Already there even, tho at low power as they set up. You still hope for enhanced reception as transmit power ramps up.

Ham radio enthusiasts (tho I am not well versed in the world above 50 MHz) place great emphasis on the *small* importance of transmission power, and a part of the hobby delights in demonstrating that antenna designs of decent elegance are as effective at very lower power ("QRP") than at high power. The reverse logic is also true in my experience (tho I repeat my world is below 50MHz) namely: if it sucks at 100w it'll suck only slight less at a KW.

My own UHF reception is bad (useless bad) and I'll a better signal to get ATSC at all... but if the only remaing tweak from the provider side is to be "higher power" I'm not feeling encouraged to hear it. It'd mean I need to improve my own ant/receiver.

WCBS and WNYW are already on the ESB at full power, so they are not a factor.

WNBC is at 10.5 kW from the top of the GE building, which is rather short compared to the ESB. Plus, 10.5 kW isn't that much either.

WABC will see much less improvement, being that it, too, is on a shorter building/tower, but is at 400 kW.

WWOR isn't even on the air, so it stands to show the greatest improvement (obviously).

WPIX is at 125w on channel 12 from the SIDE of the ESB. Compare that to 160,000w on channel 33 from all sides.

WNET is at 2.66 kW from the roof of its studios, with a directional array to put ALL of its signal toward Newark.

To say that the ESB will not improve reception much is a lie. But I will agree with you on one point. There is a certain amount of power with digital where you cover the whole coverage area. After that point, you are only making it easier, not actually expanding coverage. But that's not the factor here, as most of the stations are not at a good transmitter site or at enough power to pass that threshold.

- Trip

Maggot,
From what I gather WCBS DT is not at full power during this trial phase. But I doubt it will increase more than 3db at your location. Everyone will benefit from higher power and antenna height. In the would above 50 MHz line of sight is important. The additional height will give a larger contour to the coverage area. However, in the world above 50 MHz shadows caused by mountains and structures are more common. So, you gotta get your antenna up on a mast for better reception in those hilly Northern Westchester environs. As I remember you have a lot of shadows up in your neck of the woods. I know my motherinlaw does in Heritage Hills. Good luck.
de, WB9YRR
George

whoo hooo !!!!
d* guy just left and sure enough my ota wasn't aligned properly
i can now recieve local hd chs 2 ,4, , 5, 7, 9 and 11 !!!!!!!

So 9 is up?

I think he means 5-2.

is scanning for OTA stations necessary if you know their channel number?

in other words, do I need to scan to pick up 9-1 once the combiner is up, or can I simply just punch in 9-1 and my receiver will lock on to the signal (provided I can receive it of course)

i know it sounds like a stupid question :(

I know that most of us have "combiner-envy" but please, let's be careful in announcing that new signals are available when they are not.

Gary

Originally posted by slocko
is scanning for OTA stations necessary if you know their channel number?

in other words, do I need to scan to pick up 9-1 once the combiner is up, or can I simply just punch in 9-1 and my receiver will lock on to the signal (provided I can receive it of course)

i know it sounds like a stupid question :(

It *may* depend on your type of receiver. I know with my Hughes E86's I'm pretty sure I have to type in the actual station assignment (i.e. 28-1 for NBC's 4-1, 45-1 for ABC's 7-1 etc...) the FIRST time I tried to receive that station.

After it "gets" that there's a signal on 4-1, it will automatically "tune" to it....if that makes sense...

Originally posted by slocko
is scanning for OTA stations necessary if you know their channel number?

in other words, do I need to scan to pick up 9-1 once the combiner is up, or can I simply just punch in 9-1 and my receiver will lock on to the signal (provided I can receive it of course)

i know it sounds like a stupid question :( My limited understanding is that the actual RF station (NBC uses 28, for example) is usually scanned for. The signal itself then provides the mapping information for the tuner to put it on 4-1. My TV has a general scan, which looks for anything out there, though it takes forever. To find NBC, I have to scan for 28.

Since I need to orient my Silver Sensor to tune stations, plus study an on-screen graphic showing signal/multpath peaks and several locked-in readouts, I tune each station's UHF frequency separately.

They've no doubt been posted here earlier, but to get a UHF list for later upcoming E.S.B. station activations, I logged onto antennaweb.org, got a list of all local stations, selected the digital-only option, and printed them out. Just takes a moment. [Edit: See a simultaneous post has provided them]-- John

What real channel numbers (like 56 for CBS) should we be scanning to see when new signals may be coming up due to combiner activity?

This is what I have from antennaweb, but some things don't match up.

The message told us:
WCBS-DT is currently operating through the combiner.
Real 56 Digital Number 2-1
WABC-DT by the end of the year.
Real 45 Digital Number 7-1, 7-2
WNBC-DT OTA soon, before end of year.
Real 28 Digital Number 4-1
WPIX-DT OTA soon, before end of year.
Real 33 Digital Number 11-1
WWOR-DT may be OTA Thursday Dec-16.
Real 38 Digital Number 9-1?
WNET-DT sometime next year.
Real 61 Digital Number 13-1?
[Edit: Thanks people]

Are these the only stations that will be on the combiner? What is the rest of the real and digital numbers? Are any of them VHF?

Originally posted by tincan
What real channel numbers (like 56 for CBS) should we be scanning to see when new signals may be coming up due to combiner activity?

This is what I have from antennaweb, but some things don't match up.

The message told us:
WCBS-DT is currently operating through the combiner.
Real 56 Digital Number 2-1
WABC-DT by the end of the year.
Real 45 Digital Number 7-1, 7-2
WNBC-DT OTA soon, before end of year.
Real 28 Digital Number 4-1
WPIX-DT OTA soon, before end of year.
Real is it 33? Digital Number 11-1
WWOR-DT may be OTA Thursday Dec-16.
Real ?? Digital Number 9-1?
WNET-DT sometime next year.
Real ?? Digital Number 13-1?


Are these the only stations that will be on the combiner? What is the rest of the real and digital numbers? Are any of them VHF?

UPN will be on 38 & WNET will be on 61.

WPIX-DT = Channel 33
WWOR-DT = Channel 38
WNET-DT = Channel 61

You have listed all of the stations that currently will be on the combiner.
All of them are UHF stations.

Gary

Can anyone tell me why WWOR shows up on 5-2 and not 9-1 ?

Because it is currently a subchannel of WNYW-DT. It has not had its own transmittter since 9/11. That will be changing very soon.

We hope it will change soon.

I just did a scan (12/16 8:40am) and I still don't see UPN (9-1). What time was the it scheduled to go on?

my fault guys, sorry - i was at work and listened to the d* guy and babysitter
checked it out when i got home - no ch 9 or 11 - again sorry
the others look great though !!!!!!!!!!

what is the purpose of 5-2? The content is the same as 9 and the quality same or worse. Is it only to comply with the FCC?

Originally posted by trekkerj
Because it is currently a subchannel of WNYW-DT. It has not had its own transmittter since 9/11. That will be changing very soon.

Yes, it's merely to comply with the FCC for WWOR to transmit a digital signal - nothing more.

Gary

4:17PM and no WWOR-DT:(

Unless they're waiting for prime-time I guess we're on delay number 1,234,567!

Originally posted by dturturro
4:17PM and no WWOR-DT:(

Unless they're waiting for prime-time I guess we're on delay number 1,234,567!

If I had to guess, I would actually think that they would turn on WWOR on the combiner on Friday. Kind of silly to turn it on today. There is no HD programming on UPN on Thursday nights.

Just my .02 and certainly not any kind of official information. :)

With the rate of time that it has taken for this combiner project, should we be surprised if there is a delay in the stations actually being put on the combiner ?

If it takes as long as the combiner took to install we should have all the channels on the combiner by about 2008.

JUST did a scan....nothing at all to report that is new. Im not very suprised. I hope Im wrong, but I dont feel that we will be watching Star Trek in HD on Friday night.

There was a weak digital signal on 33 last night, too weak to tell but I assume it was PIX. Since I never normally check it I do not know if that is unusual or not. I would guess they don't normally run that transmitter since they have 12 on the air. If it is not normal for them to run 33 they may have been ramping up. I see nothing tonight but the signal was quite weak here in western Suffolk; it could be there now and too weak for me to tell.

Originally posted by netman
There was a weak digital signal on 33 last night, too weak to tell but I assume it was PIX. Since I never normally check it I do not know if that is unusual or not. I would guess they don't normally run that transmitter since they have 12 on the air. If it is not normal for them to run 33 they may have been ramping up. I see nothing tonight but the signal was quite weak here in western Suffolk; it could be there now and too weak for me to tell.

You were probably picking up the CBS affiliate out of Maryland/Delaware. When tropo is working just right I've picked this up in the past.

It says may be on Thursday!

WCBS-DT is currently operating through the combiner.
WWOR-DT may be on the air Thursday.
WPIX-DT and WNBC-DT on the air relatively soon thereafter.
WABC-DT by the end of the year.
WNET-DT sometime next year.

Did anyone really think it would happen?

Is WPIX WB? Do you mean I might be able to record Smallville in HD????

Wow Enterprise and Smallville in HD.

It's getting harder and harder to put up with SD these days.

Originally posted by netman
There was a weak digital signal on 33 last night, too weak to tell but I assume it was PIX. Since I never normally check it I do not know if that is unusual or not. I would guess they don't normally run that transmitter since they have 12 on the air. If it is not normal for them to run 33 they may have been ramping up. I see nothing tonight but the signal was quite weak here in western Suffolk; it could be there now and too weak for me to tell.

Channel 33 is the channel of WFSB-DT in Hartford, also, is it not?

- Trip

I hope Im wrong, but I dont feel that we will be watching Star Trek in HD on Friday night.

Which Friday night do mean ? Which year ? :mad:

Please excuse my skepticism, but this combiner has been so on going and so many delays I just won't believe any of these stations are actually coming on until we see them.

Did someone say CBS was going through the combiner? If so, I hope its not at 100%, as I can no longer receive it in Media Center with a Fusion Card. I am about 62 miles north of NYC. Hopefully, they are still tuning the antenna and this is a temporary thing.

On the bright side, fox seems to be coming in much better than it used to.

Oh well,

-maynard

Originally posted by Maynard


On the bright side, fox seems to be coming in much better than it used to.

merely coinsidence-- fox is not even involved with this project, they have their own antenna for their HD signal elsewhere on the tower @ ESB.

I am receiving FOX for the first time here. Maybe coincidence but it works now. It never worked before.

WCBS-DT 56 is gone. At 0%.
Its even gone from DirecTV's feed, which is kind of funny in a way.


WNBC-DT 28 (4-1) is fine.
WABC-DT 45 (7-1) is fine.
WXTV-DT 40 (41-1) is fine.
WNYW-DT 44 (5-1) is fine.

It has been discussed previously here that WCBS-DT goes dark to allow work on the combiner. Also, what seems strange, is that DirecTV gets its feed of WCBS-DT O-T-A, not by way of a dedicated feed - therefore, CBS-DT East on DirecTV also goes dark.

I specifically got up early this morning to to see if there were anything new with the combiner. Unfortunately, the answer is NO!

I guess the schedule that we were all counting on is out of the window.

After the tragedy of 9/11 - with stations trying to get their analogue signals back on the air first and foremost, I still find it so frustrating that the world's number one media market can't get its act together in a timely manner.

I'm sure that there are a lot of dedicated engineers and others working on the combiner who share our frustration - I guess we have to adopt the philosophy when it happens, it happens - and leave it at that.

There's not a thing that we can do!

Gary

Originally posted by dturturro
You were probably picking up the CBS affiliate out of Maryland/Delaware. When tropo is working just right I've picked this up in the past.
Channel 33 is the channel of WFSB-DT in Hartford, also, is it not?
- Trip

It could have been either. Kind of hard to say but the 4228 is incredibly directional; signals would need to be very strong to come in off the side like that. Too bad I was too lazy to go to the rotor and check.
I guess the schedule that we were all counting on is out of the window.
-Gary
Yeah, shocking isn't it!?
After the tragedy of 9/11 - with stations trying to get their analogue signals back on the air first and foremost, I still find it so frustrating that the world's number one media market can't get its act together in a timely manner.

I'm sure that there are a lot of dedicated engineers and others working on the combiner who share our frustration - I guess we have to adopt the philosophy when it happens, it happens - and leave it at that.

There's not a things that we can do!

Gary


Agreed

-Andy

Gary,

"It has been discussed previously here that WCBS-DT goes dark to allow work on the combiner. Also, what seems strange, is that DirecTV gets its feed of WCBS-DT O-T-A, not by way of a dedicated feed - therefore, CBS-DT East on DirecTV also goes dark."

CBS announced that this will no longer be happening. I checked a few nights last week and they were on past mid-night. Last night may have been an exception.

I'm sorry, BUT THERE IS NO COMBINER. It's all been a facade. Lie.

(sorry, this is not official word, but might as well be)
:(

I think we should kick that moron who wrote that aricle. where did he get his information from anyway?


What I find SOOOO amazing is that the Spanish channels are always transmitting at excellent signal strength (granted not in HD)

I know,

I get 41-1, 68-1, and lately 71-1 all perfect.