Originally posted by GRN
No problem. BTW they have a listing of the local channels that D* offers and the eligibility criteria here:

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/imagine/HDTV_localchannels.dsp

hi Victor G

just a few words to add to GRN's good info. as of 2 days ago D* still wasn't listing ABC in the HD locals--not to worry, its there on ch 86. and you can get it. sub to the local ch pkg OR the HD pkg. i doubt very much any station in Ct. can claim your area for a Grade B signal.
as for the combiner it seems all stations are still testing. WNET is still not on the combiner & no word on when they will be. i would suggest looking for a Silver Sensor indoor antenna on Amazon-mine works like a charm when the signal's there. good luck & enjoy!

jim

My WCBS-DT signal dropped way down to the 20s tonight and I lost the signal. Has this happened to anyone else?

I recorded yesterdays rerun of Smallville on channel 33 and with it was in DD5.1 and looked real good it was in a 4:3 window. WTF?

I am distressed that WNET is mum on the status or their WNET-DT. They are, after all, supported largely by public (individuals like me) donors, and I feel miffed that they are really *ignoring* us.

Their site has a darn mouthful of prevaricating nonsense platitudes saying (in a HDTV primer sidebox) how HDTV is usually available OTA or by CATV or satellite (don't get me started on That-being as I'm a C-bander! wondering why PBS had to use a different HD encryption than every other network and so rendering the usual rig worthless....... oops there I go,sorry) and blah blah and BTW, folks all you need is a paid subscription to one of these here CATV firms. Don't even come straight out to say "We have no WNET-HD OTA at present" they just leave it tacit and confused, no response to my "Feedback" polite query neither.

The least they could do by way of a polite (& I don't even suggest an apologetic tone, mind you) place online where a matter of fact status report might be provided us, updated biweekly or so. I hope them buggers spend lots of time sweating in the un-AC'd cabin of a jet on tarmac of JFK so they can indignantly mutter to their sweaty wives: "Gees, Honey, why can't the captain just let us know what's up, instead of leaving us stupid helpless and anxious back here? I just *hate* when the in-charge guys are so inconsiderate!"

I wish!
-Maggs

Originally posted by dturturro
I recorded yesterdays rerun of Smallville on channel 33 and with it was in DD5.1 and looked real good it was in a 4:3 window. WTF?

I have seen CBS do this also; reruns of HD shows NOT aired in HD. I don't think that episode of SV was in SD but that would also explain it.

Andy

Originally posted by s2silber
My WCBS-DT signal dropped way down to the 20s tonight and I lost the signal. Has this happened to anyone else?

I seemed to have lost WCBS-DT also. It used to be the strongest channel.

Sorry to go a little but off-topic here, but I couldnt think of a better way to reach the right audience.

I live in White Plains, NY and I am trying to upgrade my home theater setup a bit. I have a Toshiba HDTV and recently got setup for OTA HD as well - seems to be coming in well although I havent yet tested the channels since the combiner went up.

As part of this I am trying to figure out an upgrade for the audio portion of my setup - specifically speakers. I was wondering if anyone lived in the area, and would be willing to check out my setup and give me some feedback on advice on directions?

Thanks and sorry to intrude on the OTA discussion...

Originally posted by mikeny
I seemed to have lost WCBS-DT also. It used to be the strongest channel.

Yeah, I had NO CBS last night from NYC. It used to be the highest power signal I could receive and was solid.

Now I'm lucky if I can get it at all. I was able to get 4-1,4-2 and 5-1,5-2 no problem.

I was able to receive CBS from Philly 3-1.

Ah well. Hopefully this is temporary.

It was back to usual strength at 7:30 a.m. Since I lost satellite reception for a few hours last evening, apparently because of ice on the dish, I thought there might be some bigger problem.

I don't know what's going on with WNET PBS. What I do know is that NJN broadcasts HD every night starting at 8pm on the x-5 channel (barring any problems).

I don't know where Goldens Bridge is in NY but if you're near NJ, you might be able to receive the signal. Maybe from the Montclair tower?

All this week we're running a Soundstage presentation of Steve Winwood in concert in full AC3 (DD5.1) surround at 10pm. It'll run through Sunday.

We run five channels of DT every day. x-1 through x-4 from midnight to 8pm. At 8pm we cut off x-2 and x-3 and kick in x-5 which is the HD. At midnight we cut off the HD and put back on the other two SD channels.

This is done because there's not enough bandwidth to run four SD channels and the HD channel all at the same time.

Let me know if you can pick it up. Good Luck!

Originally posted by Maggot
I am distressed that WNET is mum on the status or their WNET-DT. They are, after all, supported largely by public (individuals like me) donors, and I feel miffed that they are really *ignoring* us.

Their site has a darn mouthful of prevaricating nonsense platitudes saying (in a HDTV primer sidebox) how HDTV is usually available OTA or by CATV or satellite (don't get me started on That-being as I'm a C-bander! wondering why PBS had to use a different HD encryption than every other network and so rendering the usual rig worthless....... oops there I go,sorry) and blah blah and BTW, folks all you need is a paid subscription to one of these here CATV firms. Don't even come straight out to say "We have no WNET-HD OTA at present" they just leave it tacit and confused, no response to my "Feedback" polite query neither.

The least they could do by way of a polite (& I don't even suggest an apologetic tone, mind you) place online where a matter of fact status report might be provided us, updated biweekly or so. I hope them buggers spend lots of time sweating in the un-AC'd cabin of a jet on tarmac of JFK so they can indignantly mutter to their sweaty wives: "Gees, Honey, why can't the captain just let us know what's up, instead of leaving us stupid helpless and anxious back here? I just *hate* when the in-charge guys are so inconsiderate!"

I wish!
-Maggs

I was watching the O.C. in HD on Fox and it is not as clear as watching a football game on Fox. Must me shot in a different Res.

Originally posted by cpufixer1
I was watching the O.C. in HD on Fox and it is not as clear as watching a football game on Fox. Must me shot in a different Res.

The OC is most likely converted into HD from film, where a live football game is broadcast using true HD cameras. BIG difference!

For what it's worth, I had no trouble picking up CBS-DT OTA last night for CSA and Without A Trace in East Brunswick.

Originally posted by rlindabury
I don't know what's going on with WNET PBS. What I do know is that NJN broadcasts HD every night starting at 8pm on the x-5 channel (barring any problems).

I don't know where Goldens Bridge is in NY but if you're near NJ, you might be able to receive the signal. Maybe from the Montclair tower?

All this week we're running a Soundstage presentation of Steve Winwood in concert in full AC3 (DD5.1) surround at 10pm. It'll run through Sunday.

We run five channels of DT every day. x-1 through x-4 from midnight to 8pm. At 8pm we cut off x-2 and x-3 and kick in x-5 which is the HD. At midnight we cut off the HD and put back on the other two SD channels.

This is done because there's not enough bandwidth to run four SD channels and the HD channel all at the same time.

Let me know if you can pick it up. Good Luck!

Bob - Thanks for the info on NJN. It's great that we have someone in the know available to answer our questions. That being said (and please don't take this the wrong way) I know very few people that can pick up NJN in central and southern new jersey. I live in monmouth county and I get no signal what so ever. When WLIW was putting out a signal from Long Island I was able to pick that up most nights. Every since they pulled the digital signal back in April (I believe) many people in NJ & NY have been out of luck. I have attempted to communicate with station management to inquire why WLIW was pulled (I believe due to $) and when we could expect a better signal - all to no avail. Due to all this "excellent" communication, you can imagine what I will say during the next PBS fund drive.

Originally posted by bgut1
I know very few people that can pick up NJN in central and southern new jersey. .


I get 52-5 loud and clear in East Brunsick.

Originally posted by rlindabury
I don't know what's going on with WNET PBS. What I do know is that NJN broadcasts HD every night starting at 8pm on the x-5 channel (barring any problems).

I don't know where Goldens Bridge is in NY but if you're near NJ, you might be able to receive the signal. Maybe from the Montclair tower?

All this week we're running a Soundstage presentation of Steve Winwood in concert in full AC3 (DD5.1) surround at 10pm. It'll run through Sunday.

We run five channels of DT every day. x-1 through x-4 from midnight to 8pm. At 8pm we cut off x-2 and x-3 and kick in x-5 which is the HD. At midnight we cut off the HD and put back on the other two SD channels.

This is done because there's not enough bandwidth to run four SD channels and the HD channel all at the same time.

Let me know if you can pick it up. Good Luck!

58.--NJN comes in for me but it's breaks up many times for brief moments..

I caught one HD show on 58.5 about the History of Theater about a month ago. It was very interesting and I'm generally not a theater fan. That was my first PBS HD experience.

Thanks for scheduling info. I always wondered when I should be looking for 58.5.

Wow, for the first time I got a "Server is too Busy" message on the AVS Forum. Just another sign that the public is getting more heavily into the latest technologies out there - like HD and digital TV, etc. Here we have all this money invested in good equipment for quality video (programming is another issue) but we can't get it! I'm EXTREMELY frustrated and need to vent. Indulge me. Who has dropped the ball? The FCC? The stations? It can't be us. Walk into any Electronics store and see the interest in the latest display devices. Is it 9/11 that screwed us in New York? Should it have taken three and a half years (and counting) to get back up and running (not that we were before 9/11). Where should I direct my rage where it can do some good?

On a different note of rage, what's the point of HD if the stations are going to use sub channels for revenue, making HD channels look like SD in wide screen? So far, WCBS is the only hold out in that regard, and their picture "clearly" shows it. Anything I watch in HD on WNBC or WABC is unimpressive, but it looks like that will be SOP for most NY stations. Am I wrong about that? Wasn't the idea to use sub channels off prime time, and broadcast the prime time shows in HD without subs?

We consumers have been (and are increasingly) embracing the new technology. What are those in charge doing?

end vent....thanks for your indulgance.

Originally posted by lirong

As part of this I am trying to figure out an upgrade for the audio portion of my setup - specifically speakers. I was wondering if anyone lived in the area, and would be willing to check out my setup and give me some feedback on advice on directions?


Although I have been spending some time at Vintage lately, I expect you would get some good advice from Harvey in WP.
George

Originally posted by bgut1
Bob - Thanks for the info on NJN. It's great that we have someone in the know available to answer our questions. That being said (and please don't take this the wrong way) I know very few people that can pick up NJN in central and southern new jersey. I live in monmouth county and I get no signal what so ever. When WLIW was putting out a signal from Long Island I was able to pick that up most nights. Every since they pulled the digital signal back in April (I believe) many people in NJ & NY have been out of luck. I have attempted to communicate with station management to inquire why WLIW was pulled (I believe due to $) and when we could expect a better signal - all to no avail. Due to all this "excellent" communication, you can imagine what I will say during the next PBS fund drive.

Hmm.. the reception problems seem very odd to me seeing as how we have four towers broadcasting in NJ covering the entire state as well as into PA and NY.

I'm in Piscataway and I can pick up the East Brunswick and Trenton towers without a preamp using a rotor and a radio shack attic antenna.

Obviously trees, buildings and mountains in the line of sight are going to cause problems with reception but people in central NJ shouldn't have a problem. Those down in Cape May will have a problem.

Maybe the people you've talked to aren't aiming at the right tower? Also, Digital 8 (58) is VHF and not UHF so if you have a UHF only antenna, you won't pick it up in most cases.

Below are some links with information on the towers NJN broadcasts from and the channels we run. Programming is the same on ALL our channels as it all originates in Trenton and is distributed to all towers.

Here's a couple links for you guys interested in the NJN digital broadcasts.

Here's a link to the Digital page:

http://www.njn.net/digital

This tells you the channels and the times they air and has links to the various programming schedules for each channel.

The following link tells you the channels we are on:

http://www.njn.net/television/channels/

Hopefully this information will clear up some of the confusion with what channels we broadcast on and the HD programming schedule.

My bad. I have a UHF only antenna (as I found the combo to degrade the UHF portion of the antenna) that is currently pointed to the ESB. Sorry about the rant. Even when pointed to NYC I was still able to pick up WLIW. Any idea if and when New Brunswick will switch to UHF?

Originally posted by bgut1
My bad. I have a UHF only antenna (as I found the combo to degrade the UHF portion of the antenna) that is currently pointed to the ESB. Sorry about the rant. Even when pointed to NYC I was still able to pick up WLIW. Any idea if and when New Brunswick will switch to UHF?

You *may* be able to pick it up with a UHF only antenna.....*if* you aren't using a UHF only pre-amp. I'm using a CM4228 (UHF only antenna) with a Winegard VHF/UHF combo pre-amp....and can pick up Digital 8....as well as all analog 2-13 stations. Obviously 2 is snowy and skittish, but 11 and 13 are pretty solid looking for analog channels on a UHF only antenna.

Originally posted by bgut1
My bad. I have a UHF only antenna (as I found the combo to degrade the UHF portion of the antenna) that is currently pointed to the ESB. Sorry about the rant. Even when pointed to NYC I was still able to pick up WLIW. Any idea if and when New Brunswick will switch to UHF?

No problem. If there's problems with reception, I'm sure NJN wants to know about it. As far as I know, there's no plans on moving 8 to UHF. But then I'm not a NJN employee, I'm a contractor and I don't know all the goings on.

I'll ask the engineer though. I do know that we're going to be upping the power on two towers in the spring and some equipment is being replaced with new equipment.

Originally posted by Maggot
I am distressed that WNET is mum on the status or their WNET-DT. They are, after all, supported largely by public (individuals like me) donors, and I feel miffed that they are really *ignoring* us.

Their site has a darn mouthful of prevaricating nonsense platitudes saying (in a HDTV primer sidebox) how HDTV is usually available OTA or by CATV or satellite (don't get me started on That-being as I'm a C-bander! wondering why PBS had to use a different HD encryption than every other network and so rendering the usual rig worthless....... oops there I go,sorry) and blah blah and BTW, folks all you need is a paid subscription to one of these here CATV firms. Don't even come straight out to say "We have no WNET-HD OTA at present" they just leave it tacit and confused, no response to my "Feedback" polite query neither.

The least they could do by way of a polite (& I don't even suggest an apologetic tone, mind you) place online where a matter of fact status report might be provided us, updated biweekly or so. I hope them buggers spend lots of time sweating in the un-AC'd cabin of a jet on tarmac of JFK so they can indignantly mutter to their sweaty wives: "Gees, Honey, why can't the captain just let us know what's up, instead of leaving us stupid helpless and anxious back here? I just *hate* when the in-charge guys are so inconsiderate!"

I wish!
-Maggs
Well, if that's about the way you phrased your question to them, no wonder they didn't reply. Prevaricators? Oh my!

The truth is that Ch13 is OTA, but only so they can meet their responsibility to cover their city of license. Newark. True, they are largely unreceivable other than on the west side of Manhattan, but that's just until they can get up and running on the Empire State Building. That should happen soon, but there hasn't been any official word on when that will be. Why should they? It'll only give some people more to complain about. In the meantime, Ch13 is available on many cable system in the area, but you probably already knew that.

Originally posted by jaypb
You *may* be able to pick it up with a UHF only antenna.....*if* you aren't using a UHF only pre-amp. I'm using a CM4228 (UHF only antenna) with a Winegard VHF/UHF combo pre-amp....and can pick up Digital 8....as well as all analog 2-13 stations. Obviously 2 is snowy and skittish, but 11 and 13 are pretty solid looking for analog channels on a UHF only antenna.
I have a winegard HD9095P Antenna and AP-4700 Preamp (UHF Only). No dice for me. I guess I will wait until WNET goes live on the combiner since I didn't want to install a rotor in the attic anyway. Thanks for the advice.

Enterprise looks AWESOME in HD.

I agree. Enterprise looked very good. The detail of the instrumentation on the bridge was crisp .

I heard that there are six people living on the same block in Newark are the only ones who can get Channel 13 in H.D.

" We run five channels of DT every day. x-1 through x-4 from midnight to 8pm. At 8pm we cut off x-2 and x-3 and kick in x-5 which is the HD. At midnight we cut off the HD"-Bob

* Camden – channel 22
* Trenton – channel 43
* New Brunswick – channel 8
* Montclair – channel 51 - (Bob's WNJN link info)
=============================================
Thanks, Bob, for your thorough help on NJ's PBS-HD. Goldens Bridge is in northern Westchester, abt 45 miles due north of ESB / NYC. I looked at the site you linked us, but I don't know which county the cited antenna cities are in... could you advise which is closest to the middle of northern border of Westchester?

And here's where I blush with ignorance... X-1, X-2 etc are these your private
designations for the signals from your sites at Camden, Trenton, etc? Or is that a convention, a way to refer to "sub-channels"?
(Oh, how I wish this concept of "channels" had never been popularized!)

Originally posted by Maggot
" We run five channels of DT every day. x-1 through x-4 from midnight to 8pm. At 8pm we cut off x-2 and x-3 and kick in x-5 which is the HD. At midnight we cut off the HD"-Bob

* Camden – channel 22
* Trenton – channel 43
* New Brunswick – channel 8
* Montclair – channel 51 - (Bob's WNJN link info)
=============================================
Thanks, Bob, for your thorough help on NJ's PBS-HD. Goldens Bridge is in northern Westchester, abt 45 miles due north of ESB / NYC. I looked at the site you linked us, but I don't know which county the cited antenna cities are in... could you advise which is closest to the middle of northern border of Westchester?

And here's where I blush with ignorance... X-1, X-2 etc are these your private
designations for the signals from your sites at Camden, Trenton, etc? Or is that a convention, a way to refer to "sub-channels"?
(Oh, how I wish this concept of "channels" had never been popularized!)

I know it's confusing. :)

the x-1, x-2 are my way of indicating our sub-channels. Because we broadcast the same programming on four towers, all our channels are different depending on which tower you're receiving, hence the x variable.

For example, channel 8 rebrands to 58 on my tuner and we have five sub channels so, 58-1, 58-2, 58-3, 58-4, 58-5. Similarly 51 rebrands as 52-1, through 52-5. So I used x to designate any one of our four towers channels.

In the list of channels the Camden tower is the farthest south and they get farther north as you go down the list. Montclair is the farthest north tower we have. On those pages there should be a map of our coverage area. You may not be in our coverage area for Montclair but I'm not sure.

Problemis that WNET has only 2 sub ch's. They run PBS kids 24 hrs a day....that ch is actually in a package for Directv that you have to pay extra for....and I do. 5 sub ch's are useless. Even when PBS shows HD on a ch and knocks the other 2 sub ch's off the HD is really of very poor quality. The fact that there are three ch's at once running squeezes the hell out of bandwidth and makes it unwatchable. That is the reason why WNET is so attractive to me....because of just the 2 sub ch's.

Originally posted by rlindabury
I don't know what's going on with WNET PBS. What I do know is that NJN broadcasts HD every night starting at 8pm on the x-5 channel (barring any problems).
<snip>
We run five channels of DT every day. x-1 through x-4 from midnight to 8pm. At 8pm we cut off x-2 and x-3 and kick in x-5 which is the HD. At midnight we cut off the HD and put back on the other two SD channels.

This is done because there's not enough bandwidth to run four SD channels and the HD channel all at the same time.

Let me know if you can pick it up. Good Luck! Bob,

Here in Northeastern Queens I was picking up the Channell 51 signal very well until a few months ago. The signal was excellent and we were enjoying some conventional PBS rebroadcasts and also many HDTV programs including Rudy Maxa's travel shows. Then all of a sudden it went almost blank. Since then my receiver shows it at a very intermittent 3 (of 10) level and there is no reception at all. Something evidently happened at that time.

Does that ring any bells, and is there a chance that there will be more power any time soon?

Mel

Originally posted by vinnyv07
Problemis that WNET has only 2 sub ch's. They run PBS kids 24 hrs a day....that ch is actually in a package for Directv that you have to pay extra for....and I do. 5 sub ch's are useless. Even when PBS shows HD on a ch and knocks the other 2 sub ch's off the HD is really of very poor quality. The fact that there are three ch's at once running squeezes the hell out of bandwidth and makes it unwatchable. That is the reason why WNET is so attractive to me....because of just the 2 sub ch's.

Have you actually looked at NJN's HD programming?

I don't know what the bitrate is for it offhand but I can check. Last thing I watched looked as good as any CBS HD. I think the SD channels are what's being overly compressed but I don't know. I'll see what I can find out about bandwidth for the DT and what each channel is using.

I believe that the max bandwidth is 19mb/sec but I'm not sure.

Originally posted by MLM
Bob,

Here in Northeastern Queens I was picking up the Channell 51 signal very well until a few months ago. The signal was excellent and we were enjoying some conventional PBS rebroadcasts and also many HDTV programs including Rudy Maxa's travel shows. Then all of a sudden it went almost blank. Since then my receiver shows it at a very intermittent 3 (of 10) level and there is no reception at all. Something evidently happened at that time.

Does that ring any bells, and is there a chance that there will be more power any time soon?

Mel

Well, the engineer in charge of the towers is changing out equipment and also told me we were boosting power for a couple of the towers. I can check with him next week and see what the story is. Thanks for the heads-up!

You might want to try a rescan because there have been some issues with the rebranding equipment.

Newbie here. Pardon my ignorance.

I'm in Jersey City NY, about 1 mile from the Hudson River, in line with Ground Zero. I guess that puts me about 3-5 miles from ESB.

I recently bought a Panasonic TH-42PHD7UY. The DirecTv installer installed my phase 3 dish, DirecTiVo HR10-250 and a Winegard GS-1000 antenna this morning. Unfortunately, I could not get through to DirecTv to activate my account for about 1 1/2 hours. The installer eventually had to go to his next call. By the time I was able to get through, I saw that I had a few problems.

1 - When I tune to the network feeds of the locals, I only get the east coast. The DirecTv rep I spoke to when I placed the order last week, said I'd get both. Before I call back, I thought I'd ask here whether or not that is true.

2 - I can't seem to get any OTA channels except channels 7-1 and 7-2 (WABC) and the Spanish station channel 41. When I run the channel scan in the setup it only shows two channels. Is the Winegard GS-1000 a decent enough antenna to get the locals. I'm so close to ESB that I can't believe that the antenna could be the problem. I checked the connections and they're solid. I tried to rotate the antenna to no avail. Besides, it's already pointing in the direction of the ESB.

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Originally posted by ElVee
When I run the channel scan in the setup it only shows two channels.
Try tuning UHF channels individually, checking an indicator for signal strength aS you move your antenna. Check antennaweb.org for the channels. -- John

Originally posted by ElVee
1 - When I tune to the network feeds of the locals, I only get the east coast. The DirecTv rep I spoke to when I placed the order last week, said I'd get both. Before I call back, I thought I'd ask here whether or not that is true.
You're only eligible to get the east coast HD network channels.

Originally posted by ElVee
I can't seem to get any OTA channels except channels 7-1 and 7-2 (WABC) and the Spanish station channel 41. When I run the channel scan in the setup it only shows two channels.

Just so you know how to tweak the different channels on your HR10-250, go to "Messages & Setup", then choose "Settings", then "Satellite & Off air antenna", then choose "Test Off air signal Strength". Then do what John suggested in the previous post about tweaking your antenna. Just moving the antenna a little bit makes a big difference.

...and we were all newbies once...post back with your results...there are many very helpful people here for you!

edit: in fact one of most helpful already replied re: your network feeds!

Why isn't WABC-DT showing the game in HD?

Originally posted by s2silber
Why isn't WABC-DT showing the game in HD?

HDTV OTA here!

Yeah, someone finally threw the switch.

You all have provided me a ton of information. Yet I live in the North Jersey and am about 20miles west of New York City. I want to get OTA reception of HDTV. I went to antennaweb.org and typed in my zip. The result was that no DTV signals are available. I did so more research and found out that OTA is a LOS type situation and since there are two mountains between me and NYC it appears that I am SOL. However were I am confused is I did the same search on antennaweb.org for other friends further west with more mountains, as well as ones in New Brunswick and for some reason they can receive the signals no problem. The signals need to get past where I live so how can they receive them and I can't? Any suggestions on what to do to fix this would be appreciated. I can get channel 29 which appears to be a religious channel, however that is the only one. Any suggestions please.

Originally posted by jsteed
You all have provided me a ton of information. Yet I live in the North Jersey and am about 20miles west of New York City. I want to get OTA reception of HDTV. I went to antennaweb.org and typed in my zip. The result was that no DTV signals are available. I did so more research and found out that OTA is a LOS type situation and since there are two mountains between me and NYC it appears that I am SOL. However were I am confused is I did the same search on antennaweb.org for other friends further west with more mountains, as well as ones in New Brunswick and for some reason they can receive the signals no problem. The signals need to get past where I live so how can they receive them and I can't? Any suggestions on what to do to fix this would be appreciated. I can get channel 29 which appears to be a religious channel, however that is the only one. Any suggestions please.

If you are in a valley you may in fact be SOL. But, if you are partially elevated you may want to try getting a TALL pole for an off-air antenna. Fortunately you aren't very far, so a medium sized antenna with a pre-amp would do the trick. The height of the antenna will be the key.

is there going to be a formal announcement in this forum when each channel is officially up and running and out of test mode?

yesterday i tried a square shooter indoors and it doesn't pick up anything at all.

Formal Announcement?

We are fortunate when someone working at one the stations involved is kind enough to post some information. In reality, this forum contains bits of information that we individually can pick up and also our own observations.

Concerning your Square Shooter - I'm very disappointed in mine. Indoors it did next to nothing for me. On my terrace, in only provides very spotty reception. In actuality, my little Silver Sensor perched on a windowsill puts it to shame.
And the Silver Sensor can be had for a bit more than $20. You might want to consider the Silver Sensor if you must use an indoor antenna.

Gary

It's frustrating. I get every channel but WWOR with my megawave. Move it and I lose WPIX.

I might have to bite the bullet and get an outdoor antenna installed. Something I have avoided for so long. I guess I will wait until the WPIX engineer posts that they are out of test mode, or I see the guide data appear on Directv.

Originally posted by jsteed
You all have provided me a ton of information. Yet I live in the North Jersey and am about 20miles west of New York City. I want to get OTA reception of HDTV. I went to antennaweb.org and typed in my zip. The result was that no DTV signals are available. I did so more research and found out that OTA is a LOS type situation and since there are two mountains between me and NYC it appears that I am SOL. However were I am confused is I did the same search on antennaweb.org for other friends further west with more mountains, as well as ones in New Brunswick and for some reason they can receive the signals no problem. The signals need to get past where I live so how can they receive them and I can't? Any suggestions on what to do to fix this would be appreciated. I can get channel 29 which appears to be a religious channel, however that is the only one. Any suggestions please.

what town do you live in?

If your elevation is lower then the towns of your friends that could be alot. Hardly any terain is perfectly flat so even if they are further past you they could very well be of higher elevation, which would matter more then distance when looking at getting a signal.

Originally posted by Gary Press
Concerning your Square Shooter - I'm very disappointed in mine. Indoors it did next to nothing for me. On my terrace, in only provides very spotty reception. In actuality, my little Silver Sensor perched on a windowsill puts it to shame.
And the Silver Sensor can be had for a bit more than $20. You might want to consider the Silver Sensor if you must use an indoor antenna.

My Square Shooter , the one with the preamp (SS-2000), performs better than I could have hoped. I have it mounted outside and pointed pretty much directly at the ESB with no obstructions at all. I get just about all the OTA in the area at a 90% signal or higher with that antenna. Make sure you have a good compass, because I have noticed that just a difference of 10 degrees or so in pointing the antenna is the difference between 10 OTA channels and 2.

Hello? Is anyone working on the Combiner at the ESB? Is anyone monitoring this board? WWOR(38) has made a return, but WABC(45) is now gone. WCBS(56) is still surprisingly strong and WNYW(44, and not on the Combiner) is very iffy.

Enquiring minds (in NW NJ) want to know...

PoitNarf -

Glad that your Square Shooter is working so well for you. Mine is the
SS-1000, the model without the preamp. I specifically did not buy the
SS-2000 because I live less than 2 miles from the ESB. Living in the East 60s in Manhattan, the problem is not signal strength; although I live on the 22nd floor, I'm surrounded by tall buidings with no line of sight to the ESB. I do have a good compass, but I'm trying to conquer a great deal of multipath. Some of reception is better when I use reflected signals vs. aiming directly at ESB. I have the same problem with the Silver Sensor, but overall, the Silver Sensor receives more stations when located in one position than the Square Shooter. When the weather gets warmer, I'll go back out on the terrace and go through the tedium of walking the Square Shooter in different locations - degree by degree.

You mentioned that you have "no obstructions at all." Lucky, Lucky!

Gary

Does anyone know when WWOR (9-1) is going to start sending program data?

M

I sent WWOR a couple of emails last week. They have no idea when the system will be running 100%, including program data Search back a few pages for the email address and send them an inquirey. Maybe they'll bump up the priority if enough people write.

Originally posted by Morg111
Does anyone know when WWOR (9-1) is going to start sending program data?

I'd be more interested when it gets remapped to 9-1 instead of 38-1.

As had been previously posted, WWOR-DT is awaiting the delivery of new PSIP equipment that will allow the station to provide proper remapping to 9.1 and insert program information.

According to the chief engineer for New York Fox stations, the station is operating at its fully authorized ERP.

Gary

I haven't had time to scan for new channels since I was on vacation, but this is sweet music to my ears. The NYC-DT market is back in action.

Originally posted by Gary Press
According to the chief engineer for New York Fox stations, the station is operating at its fully authorized ERP.
Then why can't I get a strong enought signal to watch it? I've got good digital reception on WCBS, WNBC, WNYW, WABC and sometimes WNJN.

Originally posted by s2silber
Then why can't I get a strong enought signal to watch it? I've got good digital reception on WCBS, WNBC, WNYW, WABC and sometimes WNJN.

Don't panic yet. I have a feeling that once all the little details are in place you will get WWOR/UPN.

I'm only 15 miles west of the ESB. Whatever "they're" doing is affecting me to. For a very short tim I had a good signal...thena fringe pixeled signal...then no signal...then an adequate signal re-emerged on 38.1...today I get nothing.

What what I gather, even though they're broadcasting at full power, tweeking and adjustments are hindering the signal.

For me WPIX comes and goes.
For the last day or so WNBC was gone but is back this morning.

Is there anyone on this forum who is from Orange County, NY (60 miles north and west of NYC)?

Just bought a Sony HDTV and want to know if I should bother trying to figure out how to get off-air HDTV in my locale.

Thx.

My WCBS signal right now seems to be back where it was before the combiner work started (in the 90s). Does anyone know if anything has changed.

It has consistently been in the 60s with frequent dropout for the last few weeks.

Mike

Originally posted by eganm947
Is there anyone on this forum who is from Orange County, NY (60 miles north and west of NYC)?

Just bought a Sony HDTV and want to know if I should bother trying to figure out how to get off-air HDTV in my locale.

Thx.

I'm in south salem, 45 miles due n of NYC, w a 20 year old Yagi-type UHF/VHF RS antenna 650' ASL pointed south ,no rotor, w a very nice Channel Master Titan2 model 7777 preamp just-installed.
I never watched regular commercial broadcast VHF TV these 20 years, but that's where we must look for OTA HDTV: esp UHF!
Well, I can't see s**t in Hi def, precious little in digital TV at all, even in 480i.
That's all I'm seeing from due south of me. I doubt you'll get joy from south of you from anothr 20 miles distant.

Look for Poughkeepsie; look for help... like from antenna web at
http://*******.com/6zsr5.
Nice site, that.

Up in the Northern and NW burbs there is too much terrain to contend with. Unless you are up on a mountain, like Storm King, forgettaboutit. Michael, you probably have Bear Mountain, Dunderburg (sp) in the way. Shadows all over the place, sorry. I'm lucky that at least I have a shot down the Hudson from my Croton/Cortlandt apartment. I can see the TappenZee and Manhattan beyond.
George

Originally posted by rlindabury
Well, the engineer in charge of the towers is changing out equipment and also told me we were boosting power for a couple of the towers. I can check with him next week and see what the story is. Thanks for the heads-up! Bob,

Any word?

Mel

Originally posted by Maggot
I doubt you'll get joy from south of you from anothr 20 miles distant.
Not necessarily, 20 miles further than you might not have any problems; see this for an explanation: http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/siting.html

What a great site. Now I've got some reading to do!

Hi everyone...

I just installed a channel master 4228 antenna in my attic... The cable run is pretty long, probably about 75 feet of cable used to get to the basement plasma...

I live in manhasset long island about 15 miles from the ESP

I get the following channels well

wnbc - nbc
wpxn - PAX
wpix - wb
wynw - fox

I can't seem to get abc or cbs... any suggestions? I have moved the anteena to several different directions and can't seem to lock onto those channels.

I don't have a pre-amp. would that help?

Thanks in advance

Originally posted by mirage00
Hi everyone...

I just installed a channel master 4228 antenna in my attic... The cable run is pretty long, probably about 75 feet of cable used to get to the basement plasma...

I live in manhasset long island about 15 miles from the ESP

I get the following channels well

wnbc - nbc
wpxn - PAX
wpix - wb
wynw - fox

I can't seem to get abc or cbs... any suggestions? I have moved the anteena to several different directions and can't seem to lock onto those channels.

I don't have a pre-amp. would that help?

Thanks in advance

You could probably get away with just taking it out of the attic. If you can't, try the CM7777. You should still get CBS & UPN if you get WB & NBC, they all come from the same antenna. ABC (and PBS) will be joining soon as well.

I know they are working on the combiner so things are in flux, but tonight is just odd. No fox, no NBC and CBS is broadcasting ABC material. Maybe it's my receiver or all the rain and fog but I tuned in CSI my receiver says it's CSI and it's some wife swap with the ABC bug in the corner.

Originally posted by newhdcrt
I know they are working on the combiner so things are in flux, but tonight is just odd. No fox, no NBC and CBS is broadcasting ABC material. Maybe it's my receiver or all the rain and fog but I tuned in CSI my receiver says it's CSI and it's some wife swap with the ABC bug in the corner.

That's very strange..what time did you see CBS broadcasting ABC material? I watched the last 30-40 minutes of CSI New York without a problem OTA from northern Bergen County...:confused:

Is anyone else with a HR10-250 having problems getting WPIX-DT to remap to 11-1 ? The only way I can get WPIX-DT is to enter 33-3. When I clear the OTA channels and rescan it still won't remap. Any Suggestions ?

Originally posted by newhdcrt
CBS is broadcasting ABC material. I would suggest rebooting your receiver and rescanning the OTA channels.

It was about 10:55 EST and then the news was abc. I checked back later and Letterman was on. I have no idea what caused this.

My 11-1 became 11-2 on my hr10-250. No idea why. I lost 11-1 and the spanish feed. But I don't care since I can get 11-1, it's just listed as 11-2.

Now I can get 9-1 if I move the antenna, which I don't understand because some people say they aren't broadcasting the id info for the channel??? So why is mine reading 9-1?

Originally posted by slocko
My 11-1 became 11-2 on my hr10-250. No idea why. I lost 11-1 and the spanish feed. But I don't care since I can get 11-1, it's just listed as 11-2.

Now I can get 9-1 if I move the antenna, which I don't understand because some people say they aren't broadcasting the id info for the channel??? So why is mine reading 9-1? Since they went up on the combiner, I've always gotten both 11-1 and 11-2. Both appear to be 1080i signals of the same show, but the sound appears differently on the two stations, with 11-1 seeming fuller. Personally, I see no reason to have 11-2.

11-2 has been used for SAP - Spanish language soundtracks which are mono.

Gary

11.2 is the Spanish language broadcast according to my HD-200.

snap

Originally posted by Gary Press
11-2 has been used for SAP - Spanish language soundtracks which are mono.

Gary Interesting. I always have gotten English, but maybe I have to press the SAP button on the remote.

Not all shows have the Spanish language SAP. On my receiver - Sony SAT
HD300, it comes in automatically - no need to press the SAP button.

Gary

Keep your fingers crossed!

Something is going on with WABC-DT.

Absolutely no signal coming through for channels 7.1 and 7.2.
Additionally, DirecTV's feed of WABC-DT, on channel 86, is not broadcasting
the station. I surmise that DirecTV takes its signal off-air, not via a fiber optic link to the station.

Could this all mean that the station is doing work on the combiner????

I e-mailed the station last week asking if there were any information concerning when the combiner antenna would be operative. But unlike the terrific chief engineer at Fox stations (5 and 9) who answered me within 20 minutes, I've heard nothing from the "Mouse House."

I know a lot of you receive the current Conde-Nast transmission without problems - but I'm not that fortunate and hope that the move to the ESB will allow me and others to watch O-T-A vs. using DirecTV's feed. What a difference between using my little Silver Sensor antenna with no compression and the lower quality of the satellite feed.

Gary

Gary, I'm one of the people who gets ABC-DT from Conde-Nast without problems, until now.

15 miles west of NYC ABC-DT is out.

Well, we're back on the air.

WABC-DT's signal is stronger - but still not great.

Really don't know if the move actually did take place.

With my having to contend with so much multipath, I really can't tell -
and Conde-Nast and ESB are situated very close to each other.

Anyone else with readings and reactions????

Gary

Originally posted by ilkevinli
Is anyone else with a HR10-250 having problems getting WPIX-DT to remap to 11-1 ? The only way I can get WPIX-DT is to enter 33-3. When I clear the OTA channels and rescan it still won't remap. Any Suggestions ?

Do you still get Ch12 remapping to 11-1? When I cleared my OTA channels and rescanned I got two ch 11-1. One of them is remapped from Ch 12 and that one has guide date and I have second 11-1 from ch 33 without guide date. Just like I have 9-1 for UPN without any guide data.

Does anyone know why Channel 5 continues to waste bandwidth by broadcasting Channel 9's signal on 5-2 when Channel 9 is on the air (on Channel 38)? And the same for the Channel 5 broadcast on 38-2?

Originally posted by MLM
Bob,

Any word?

Mel

The only word I got from him yesterday is the state has to approve the cash to get the equipment so it's going to be spring earliest. :(

The only two towers being boosted are the Channel 8 New Brunswick (VHF - Double Power) and the Camden Tower (South Jersey up to 135,000 watts).

Originally posted by MLM
Does anyone know why Channel 5 continues to waste bandwidth by broadcasting Channel 9's signal on 5-2 when Channel 9 is on the air (on Channel 38)? And the same for the Channel 5 broadcast on 38-2?

redundancy and greater coverage

According to this article WWOR-DT will be required to get the PSIP information out by February 1 :


PSIP Deadline Looms
Broadcasters must have equipment in place by next month

WASHINGTON


Television stations across the country are facing a Feb. 1 deadline to upgrade their DTV transmissions to include correct channel and programming information as part of their Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP) data.

With many different vendors providing various parts of the system, there is some last-minute head scratching about how to get the data collected and fed to the proper equipment. Some stations have already been on the air with DTV signals that meet the FCC mandate, while others are still scrambling to get the technology in place and debugged. It's going to be close.

One station that has been up and running for several months with the required PSIP data is WRGB in Schenectady, N.Y. The station's PSIP data includes an electronic programming guide that's updated every three hours as well as major/minor channel information for its CBS and UPN broadcasts.

"We've been running dynamic PSIP using our VCI traffic system and Triveni PSIP generator," said Fred Lass, director of engineering for WRGB.

The station then feeds this to its Tandberg Television encoder for its digital broadcast. The data includes updated programming information for both its CBS and UPN offerings, which the station passes through in HD for CBS while maintaining an SD feed for UPN.

WRGB was able to jump ahead of the game with effective use of in-house talent, according to Lass.

"I have a software guy who likes challenges," he said, singling out Peter Hutchins as the enterprising engineer who tackled the project.

Although WRGB meets the FCC's mandated PSIP information requirement, the station's early-adopter status caused another concern.

"We're looking to change our system to meet the new ATSC standard for PSIP metadata," Lass said.


TSID

In addition to requiring electronic program guide (EPG) information, the FCC mandate also calls for the implementation of the transmission signal identification, or TSID. The TSID is a 16-bit number that associates a station's analog transmission with its digital transmission, and is key to maintaining "channel branding" of DTV broadcasters.

Each broadcaster will receive two TSIDs--one each for its analog and digital transmissions--and will include the TSID on line 21 of the analog broadcast and in the PSIP data for its digital broadcast.

Although integration into a broadcast plant is not the same for every station, solutions exist to meet the PSIP requirement.

"The gear is out there," said Earl Arbuckle, vice president of engineering for the Fox Television Group.

The Pearl PSIP generator/injector from Thales Broadcast and Multimedia is the company's PSIP generator, editor and injector. A Pearl system receives schedule information from multiple sources and generates PSIP tables; using its ASI output, Pearl injects the data into Thales' or other company's multiplexer for DTV transmission.

The solution from Harris Broadcast is its PSIPplus, which compiles EPG and channel information and supplies it to the company's FlexiCoder and UniCoder DTV encoders. PSIPplus supports automatic data importation from traffic and automation systems, as well as data from program listing services including Tribune Media Services.

Relative newcomer Lynx Pro Products recently announced its TVLynx PSIP generator, which has interfaces for TMS and Crispin automation systems and provides the data on either an ASI or Ethernet port.


MAKING PSIP EASIER

Although stations are responsible for their PSIP data, many broadcast programming from networks and the networks are angling to do what they can to make the PSIP requirements as simple as possible to their affiliates. Fox plans to use the Terayon BP5100 to "splice" between network and local-affiliate DTV broadcasts, eliminating the need to decode and re-encode the signal. The result will be glitch-free programming and PSIP data.

"We wanted to avoid the second compression cycle," said Jim DeFillipis, senior VP of TV engineering for Fox Television. "We use the best available compression at the net work level to keep the quality as high as possible for the viewer."

With FCC mandated dynamic PSIP with TSID, the need follows to monitor the MPEG signal to ensure the data is correct. One company to address this monitoring issue is Pixelmetrix, whose DVStation can monitor nearly any parameter associated with DTV signals.

Although TV stations are rushing to implement dynamic PSIP and TSID, not all broadcast circumstances will be immediately handled by the first generation of PSIP products. Two engineers interviewed for this article said that the current systems would not automatically accommodate a program "run-over" event, such as a football game in overtime or a breaking news story.

http://www.tvtechnology.com/features/news/n_PSIP_Newsp1.shtml

I live 15 miles away from NYC... I have an attic moounted CM4228... The only channel I don't get is CBS.... All other channels have a signal strenght of 68-75%

I don't know what the other information is regarding the channel stength means like "snp" or or something like that.. what should i be looking for?

NBC is the strongest, I never have a problem with signal strenghth... ABC is the weakest.

Thanks

According to this article WWOR-DT will be required to get the PSIP information out by February 1 :

Great, then I won't have to keep manually recording Enterprise.

Originally posted by mirage00
I live 15 miles away from NYC... I have an attic moounted CM4228... The only channel I don't get is CBS.... All other channels have a signal strenght of 68-75%

I don't know what the other information is regarding the channel stength means like "snp" or or something like that.. what should i be looking for?

NBC is the strongest, I never have a problem with signal strenghth... ABC is the weakest.

Thanks Hi Mirage00. Welcome over here from the Dell thread. I have an attic mounted RS antenna- UHF only. I live just past you in the Glen Head area, 20 miles from the transmitter. I have the same problem and same signal strengths. No CBS. I used to get it, just before the combiner went on line, but now I don't. Don't know why, either as it is supposed to be the one at full strength. I put in an amplifier (poor quality radio shack version) with no luck. Made things worse on all other stations. I then put in a splitter as a test, and the strengths all went up. This indicates to me that CBS, being the only full strength station, may be too strong, and we need an attenuator. I'm going to see if I can get a couple this weekend and try them out. I'll let you know when I know more. Are you set to get email notifcations of PM's?

Also it's SNR, signal to noise ratio. The lower the better. Putting in the splitter increased my signal strength without adding noise, so the SNR got better (lower) - from around 25 to around 19 as a rule. Hopefully the attenuator will work even better. Glad to know it's likely the signal and not the Dell (although you have the Dell, so they both could have the same problem). As I did once receive it very strongly (CSI Miami looks awesome in HD), and it went down right at the time of the transfer to the combiner, I'm sure it's related somehow. Eventually, I'll have to find someone who has a OTA HD receiver and borrower it. I'll try the attenuator first.

I live 33 air miles east of the ESB on the north shore and I just started to receive WNBC yesterday. Both 4.1 and 4.2 are now coming in at 74%. I have some drop-outs in bad weather. When WNBC drops out WCBS is still coming in at 89% so I think NBC is still down on power. Point is something changed yesterday at the ESB that allows me to get 4.1 and 4.2 now.

CM 4221+preamp
Pana TU-DST52

Originally posted by jgrahamiii
Hi Mirage00. Welcome over heear from the Dell thread. I have an attic mounted RS antenna- UHF only. I live just past you in the Glen Head area, 20 miles from the transmitter. I have the same problem and same signal strengths. No CBS. I used to get it, just before the combiner went on line, but now I don't. Don't know why, either as it is supposed to be the one at full strength. I put in an amplifier (poor quality radio shack version) with no luck. Made things worse on all other stations. I then put in a splitter as a test, and the strengths all went up. This indicates to me that CBS, being the only full strength station, may be too strong, and we need an attenuator. I'm going to see if I can get a couple this weekend and try them out. I'll let you know when I know more. Are you set to get email notifcations of PM's?

Also it's SNR, signal to noise ratio. The lower the better. Putting in the splitter increased my signal strength without adding noise, so the SNR got better (lower) - from around 25 to around 19 as a rule. Hopefully the attenuator will work even better. Glad to know it's likely the signal and not the Dell (although you have the Dell, so they both could have the same problem). As I did once receive it very strongly (CSI Miami looks awesome in HD), and it went down right at the time of the transfer to the combiner, I'm sure it's related somehow. Eventually, I'll have to find someone who has a OTA HD receiver and borrower it. I'll try the attenuator first.


jgrahamiii

Thanks so much for your detailed message... yes I can receive PM's. I am ordering an HDTV wonder card from ATI for my media center pc, so I guess that can serve as our test tuner to make sure its not the DELL reciever. Let me know what you come up with when you install the attenuator if that helps...

One other thing... what exactly do you mean by splitter?

Originally posted by mirage00
One other thing... what exactly do you mean by splitter?
An attenuator just reduces the signal; similarly a splitter provides 2 or more outputs from 1 input by dividing the signal between the outputs. If you place a splitter inline with only one output connected, you've effectively attenuated the one signal by about 3.5db (a little less than half).

jgrahamiii,

Please post your finds here with model and location of purchase of the attenuators you used. I'm noticing the same thing since the combiner went on-line. Luckily I have the DirecTV CBS HD feed to use, but would rather use the OTA channel. Hopefully this doesn't happen to all the channels when they go full power.

Mike

I don't know why I haven't seen any changes since they started tinkering with the combiner. Yes, I now get 38.3, but I stilld don't get 4.1 or 4.2 ota. I get NBC HD through D* now so it's not a big deal, I just find it curious that you are all saying how some channels are coming in while others are not and I'm not seeing any difference. I'd estimate I'm about 30-35 miles due west of the GWB.

Doug

Same here, Paperboy, although I'm on 14th St. in Manhattan. I haven't seen any change since way before the combiner went up. CBS is king, NBC is in and out, ABC is always good. I got UPN for about a day, but nothing in the last week or so. Others note the complete opposite, sometimes CBS being weak, NBC strong, etc. I will try an attenuator since I'm so close, but I don't think that's it. I'm only using an indoor Silver Sensor. Maybe it really is "Location, location, location."

Swisher -

You couldn't be more correct. It's Location, Location, Location!

I also use a Silver Sensor on a west-facing windowsill on the 22nd Floor in the East 60s.

NBC - since it moved, stronger than ever; ABC - very, very difficult to receive; WB - when it's on the air (more hours lately quite variable; UPN - difficult to receive; CBS - when I aim for it, can be pretty strong; Fox - not that great - awaiting them to get FCC apprpval to power up.

It's not easy living in Manhattan. I guess if I wanted line of sight, I could move to Iowa!

Awaiting WNET-DT - which is not available via my DirecTV dish.

Gary

One must wonder how we will ever make the complete switch from analog to digital...

swisher -

Just imagine what it's going to be like for those of us who have DirecTV.

Our receivers and dishes will soon be obsolete as Direct switches from MPEG 2 to MPEG 4 compression.

Between the combiner and MPEG 4, I'm ready to jump from the 22nd Floor!

Gary

Originally posted by rlindabury
The only word I got from him yesterday is the state has to approve the cash to get the equipment so it's going to be spring earliest. :(


What state and who do we start bombarding with mail to light a fire under 'em?

As of 2 days ago I got all the locals from my attic antenna connecting through my HD811 receiver. A few dropped off since then, I thought it might be the heavy fog or something. I scanned and got some back and manually replaced others, but I cannot get CBS ch2 back. I scanned, reset, removed, manually installed (56), called Dish network 3 times... What's going on? Anyone else have this?

Almost forgot, I get a 90%+ signal when I manually check it to install, but nothing happens when I press "save". I can't believe Dish is just not responding, saying"you did everything right". lol Well, now what? I want channel 2. I rent the receiver, maybe they'll give me a new one if it's faulty.

Any thoughts?

Originally posted by ElVee
Newbie here. Pardon my ignorance.

I'm in Jersey City NY, about 1 mile from the Hudson River, in line with Ground Zero. I guess that puts me about 3-5 miles from ESB.

I recently bought a Panasonic TH-42PHD7UY. The DirecTv installer installed my phase 3 dish, DirecTiVo HR10-250 and a Winegard GS-1000 antenna this morning. Unfortunately, I could not get through to DirecTv to activate my account for about 1 1/2 hours. The installer eventually had to go to his next call. By the time I was able to get through, I saw that I had a few problems.

1 - When I tune to the network feeds of the locals, I only get the east coast. The DirecTv rep I spoke to when I placed the order last week, said I'd get both. Before I call back, I thought I'd ask here whether or not that is true.

2 - I can't seem to get any OTA channels except channels 7-1 and 7-2 (WABC) and the Spanish station channel 41. When I run the channel scan in the setup it only shows two channels. Is the Winegard GS-1000 a decent enough antenna to get the locals. I'm so close to ESB that I can't believe that the antenna could be the problem. I checked the connections and they're solid. I tried to rotate the antenna to no avail. Besides, it's already pointing in the direction of the ESB.

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

First off that antenna is trash, pick up something like this as a start-- http://www.antennasdirect.com/db4_bow.htm

What part of jersey city are you living in? If your on the western side of Kennedy Blvd getting down to Westside or further West your going to be "iffy" -- if your in the heights you should be good to go, if your down by the waterfront it will depend on what buildings are between you and empire.

I don't watch much on NBC these days, but I'm glad DirecTV started carrying the HD channel because I haven't been able to pick it up OTA in the last couple weeks. It used to come in loud and clear, but no more. No problems with any other OTA signals though.

Consistently for the past few nights, I can get WPN and WPIX, however NBC continues to be sporadic with a signal strangth around 55 in Central New Jersey (near Flemington). Does anyone know if the testing is done and that this will be the best we can do ?

after rebooting my Samsung 160 WWOR-DT is now mapping as 9-1 with partial prog. info. the guide lists titles but no prog. details. after midnight it says only "regular schedule". WPIX-DT has full guide info until 10 PM then lists titles only. so it looks like WWOR-DT is sending at least some PSIP info. anyone else getting this tonite?

jim

Did CBS NY change their broadcast channel? I doubt it, but on both my 811s I can't get them back into the receiver. Ig get a strong signal in the 90s but can't "add" them. Also, when on BC 56, I see that the bottom number is also 56 and not Channel 2. That's strange. Why would both my receivers be doing that?

Is there something I'm missing here? I reset the receiver with the front button, unplugged the receiver, removed the channels and added them back with a scan AND manually... Have I tried everything? Dish has no idea what's going on. They said maybe CBS is'nt broadcasting on 56 anymore. I doubt it... anyone?

Did Enterprise have breakups on Friday?

I had sporadic pixelation and I want to make sure it's not my hd-tivo heading south again.

thxs.

Enterprise came through fine the entire show.

Originally posted by Morg111
Great, then I won't have to keep manually recording Enterprise.

WWOR-DT received its PSIP gear today and the crack tech crew already has it on-line. If you rescan your receivers, you should now be getting 9.1 and 9.2 instead of 38-x. Guide data should also be available. It's being input manually right now, so may not be as complete as what will be available when the listing service is tied into the PSIP computer next week (hopefully!).

If anyone has problems with this PSIP data, please respond to me via PM. All of the Fox O&O stations will roll out this same system in about a week, so any comments, good or bad, would be appreciated.

Thanx,

dtv4u

Originally posted by mad6c
jgrahamiii,

Please post your finds here with model and location of purchase of the attenuators you used. I'm noticing the same thing since the combiner went on-line. Luckily I have the DirecTV CBS HD feed to use, but would rather use the OTA channel. Hopefully this doesn't happen to all the channels when they go full power.

Mike Ok. I am 20 miles from the ESB on the north shore of LI. I have a Dell plasma with an ATSC tuner built in. I have a Radio Shack 15-2160 UHF outdoor antenna in my attic. With just the cable run, I get 4, 5, 7, 9 (38), 11, 31, 41, and 68 at what the Dell says is a signal strength of between 55 and 70 and an SNR of 22-25. I have not been able to get CBS since it went on the combiner, but it used to be my strongest signal.

If I put in a radio shack 10db inline amp at the antenna, I get lower signal strength on all channels with no change in what I can receive. If I put in one radio shack 6db attenuator at the TV end, every signal increases in stregth by about 10-12 and the SNR goes down to about 17-20. I still get all the stations but CBS, though my strongest signal, 68 - now over 80, pixelates sometimes. If I put in either a second attenuator, or a splitter, the lesser signals go up even higher, but I lose all the stations which had signals close to 80 with one attenuator. Their signal strengths now generally show 10 or 20, they don't come in at all, and sometimes, the signal strength briefly shows 100. Still can't get CBS.

So, amp makes things worse, 1 6db attenuator makes things better, and 2 makes the best stations unreceivable. This makes no sense. It almost seems backward.

Any thoughts?

Originally posted by dtv4u
WWOR-DT received its PSIP gear today and the crack tech crew already has it on-line. If you rescan your receivers, you should now be getting 9.1 and 9.2 instead of 38-x. Guide data should also be available. It's being input manually right now, so may not be as complete as what will be available when the listing service is tied into the PSIP computer next week (hopefully!).

If anyone has problems with this PSIP data, please respond to me via PM. All of the Fox O&O stations will roll out this same system in about a week, so any comments, good or bad, would be appreciated.

Thanx,

dtv4u

I cleared and rescanned my HR10-250 and I lost mapping for 9-1&2 and 11-2(33). I can still tune manually to 33-3 & 38-3.

My Zenith HR230 mapped both WPIX & WWOR appropriately. I'm even getting guide data for both!

My 921 never had any guide problem with either of these. And I got WCBS working again.

Anyone having any luck with the HR10-250?

Originally posted by jgrahamiii

If I put in a radio shack 10db inline amp at the antenna, I get lower signal strength on all channels with no change in what I can receive. Radio Shack preamps have a bad reputation on AVSForum. The usual recommendation is the Channel Master 7775 or 7777.

Originally posted by jgrahamiii
So, amp makes things worse, 1 6db attenuator makes things better, and 2 makes the best stations unreceivable. This makes no sense. It almost seems backward.

Any thoughts?


Well to start with I do not remember what you are measuring with but in any world I have ever been in SNR is NOT better if lower; it is better when higher. Signal compared to noise: bigger difference means more signal and less noise. So if this number is really being presented as SNR (and it is correct) you want it to be higher.

Second the only way a preamp will improve reception in any real sense is if it improves the noise figure of your "system". The system is your receiver and the coax and feed system. Yes the gain of the preamp is part of what helps but not as important as does the preamp have a lower noise floor than your receiver has WITH the coax loss added in. This is a bit long to explain (I will if you want) BUT what it means is a poor preamp is worse than no preamp.

Third other "signals" can cause problems for you. This again could be worse with a poor preamp.

The best place in your system to improve SNR is the antenna.

I keep thinking that in Glen Head with a decent antenna you should NOT be having problems unless you have some kind of interference problem which will be made worse with a preamp in most cases. Keep in mind CBS is quite a bit higher in frequency than the other channels so the problem may only exist there. You may also have a multi-path problem due to the hilly environment.

If I were you I would:

Remove preamp or get a better one
Check entire system for good connections, good coax, etc
watch some analog signals over the antenna and see if anything becomes evident (ghosts, snow, weakness)

Originally posted by Bogney Baux
Radio Shack preamps have a bad reputation on AVSForum. The usual recommendation is the Channel Master 7775 or 7777. I can't disagree, but I wasn't certain it would help at all, and needed something I could get locally and easily, at least as a test. It appears the attenuator worked better.

Originally posted by netman
Well to start with I do not remember what you are measuring with but in any world I have ever been in SNR is NOT better if lower; it is better when higher. Signal compared to noise: bigger difference means more signal and less noise. So if this number is really being presented as SNR (and it is correct) you want it to be higher. They say the mind is the first thing to go. Of course you are correct, and I was thinking backwards.

Now, I'm wondering if the Dell Signal Strength indicator is backward as well. On the moitor for my wireless card in my computer, Signal and noise are listed in dBm, and are negative numbers. The more negative, it seems, the lower the signal (or noise level). This must be some sort of logrithmic scale, since SNR is computed in dB, is a positive number, and is the difference (not the division), between the two. If noise is -100dBm, and signal is 60 dBm, then the SNR is reported as 40dB.

So if this is all true and a larger number in the signal strength report is actually worse, then the attenuator is not giving me stronger signals, it is reducing them, and possibly adding noise as well. The amp, OTOH, increased the signal strength. I guess I'll have to try a 7777 and see if that helps. The only thing is, that with no signal at all, I get a signal strength of 0, which would indicate that higher is better.

One question. AS I said, CBS is the only one I can't get with nothing but wires. There is an airconditioner blower unit in the attic just off the site line of the antenna to tower. Is it possible this could be blocking on CBS? Thanks.

i am not an expert in these matters, but i thought an attenuator would weaken or attenuate the signal.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&newwindow=1&oi=defmore&q=define:Attenuate

it's used in situations where you may be too close to the source.

i thought an amplier would not need a definition :)

Originally posted by slocko
i am not an expert in these matters, but i thought an attenuator would weaken or attenuate the signal.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&newwindow=1&oi=defmore&q=define:Attenuate

it's used in situations where you may be too close to the source.

i thought an amplier would not need a definition :) That was why I was confused when my signal strength number actually increased when I put on an attenuator, and when down with an amp.

Originally posted by jgrahamiii
I can't disagree, but I wasn't certain it would help at all, and needed something I could get locally and easily, at least as a test. It appears the attenuator worked better.

If you're looking for a local distributor of ChannelMaster pre-amps and antennas try:

http://www.lnl.com/
LNL Distributors
235 Robbins Lane - Syosset, NY 11791
516-681-7270

Picked up ChannelMaster 4248 antenna and 7777 pre-amp there.

Originally posted by UroDoc
If you're looking for a local distributor of ChannelMaster pre-amps and antennas try:

http://www.lnl.com/
LNL Distributors
235 Robbins Lane - Syosset, NY 11791
516-681-7270

Picked up ChannelMaster 4248 antenna and 7777 pre-amp there. Thanks!

Yes, I cleared and rescanned with my HR10-250 and I got 11-1, 11-2, 9-1 and 9-2 added to my guide. Previously they were listed as 11-1, 11-2, 38-3 and 38-4. No guide data yet though.

Originally posted by dturturro
I cleared and rescanned my HR10-250 and I lost mapping for 9-1&2 and 11-2(33). I can still tune manually to 33-3 & 38-3.

My Zenith HR230 mapped both WPIX & WWOR appropriately. I'm even getting guide data for both!

My 921 never had any guide problem with either of these. And I got WCBS working again.

Anyone having any luck with the HR10-250?

Originally posted by monetnj
Yes, I cleared and rescanned with my HR10-250 and I got 11-1, 11-2, 9-1 and 9-2 added to my guide. Previously they were listed as 11-1, 11-2, 38-3 and 38-4. No guide data yet though.

I even tried changing my local area network and I'm still not getting 9-1 or 11-X(33). What S/W version are you on? Have you had a recent download/call?

Originally posted by jgrahamiii
That was why I was confused when my signal strength number actually increased when I put on an attenuator, and when down with an amp.

Note that most "signal strength" indicators on DTV receivers are actually indicating either bit error rate or, at best, some combination of actual signal strength and bit error rate. That's why a greater signal level (with an amp) can actually seem to decrease the signal level. What's really happening is that the receiver is being overloaded and the recoverable bit error rate is actually increasing. There is a "sweet spot" for RF levels for any given receiver. The best place to improve the signal is to get the best antenna you can and orient it for optimal reception. Use a good quality coax (RG-6; not RG-59) and properly attached connectors and you shouldn't need an amp for most applications.

Hope this helps,

dtv4u

Originally posted by dtv4u
Note that most "signal strength" indicators on DTV receivers are actually indicating either bit error rate or, at best, some combination of actual signal strength and bit error rate. That's why a greater signal level (with an amp) can actually seem to decrease the signal level. What's really happening is that the receiver is being overloaded and the recoverable bit error rate is actually increasing. There is a "sweet spot" for RF levels for any given receiver. The best place to improve the signal is to get the best antenna you can and orient it for optimal reception. Use a good quality coax (RG-6; not RG-59) and properly attached connectors and you shouldn't need an amp for most applications.

Hope this helps,

dtv4u


jgrahamiii,

I agree 100% with the above. Especially since you are as close to the ESB as you are. Yes, the AC unit could be a problem but it seems like something else the way you describe it. Everything dtv4u says about coax and antenna and connectors will be much more critical on CBS than on the lower channels. Do you have any RG59 in line? If so throw it out. If you must have the antenna in the attic make sure it is a good one. Try a new position if you can to see if that helps. If you have windows in your attic put the antenna out a window temporarily as a test. You should have good reception but there can be strong signals where you are from many other sources which could make matters worse when you use a pre-amp. Here in western suffolk, 35 miles from ESB I use a pre-amp but for the NY stations it is barely needed. I have an 8 bay bow tie (4228) about 20' off the ground on the roof. I have high ground a mile or so in front of the antenna.


By the way, since so many of the "readings" our consumer products give us can be confusing it is another reason to start simple. Antenna, coax, receiver. Once you get that right you can "fine tune"

Originally posted by netman
jgrahamiii,

I agree 100% with the above. Especially since you are as close to the ESB as you are. Yes, the AC unit could be a problem but it seems like something else the way you describe it. Everything dtv4u says about coax and antenna and connectors will be much more critical on CBS than on the lower channels. Do you have any RG59 in line? If so throw it out. If you must have the antenna in the attic make sure it is a good one. Try a new position if you can to see if that helps. If you have windows in your attic put the antenna out a window temporarily as a test. You should have good reception but there can be strong signals where you are from many other sources which could make matters worse when you use a pre-amp. Here in western suffolk, 35 miles from ESB I use a pre-amp but for the NY stations it is barely needed. I have an 8 bay bow tie (4228) about 20' off the ground on the roof. I have high ground a mile or so in front of the antenna.


By the way, since so many of the "readings" our consumer products give us can be confusing it is another reason to start simple. Antenna, coax, receiver. Once you get that right you can "fine tune" Thanks, Netman and dtv4u. I will try all your suggestions. I do have only RG-6 cable in the run. The main "iffy" item in the original setup (no amps or attenuators) is the 300ohm to 75ohm converter at the mast. I've bought a better one and will put it in to see if that helps. Otherwise, there was nothing else other than cable. I only tried the other items when I found I could get everything but CBS, which is supposedly broadcasting with the most power off the converter. I think the next set is to try to reaim and/or move the antenna within the attic. Mirage00 is having the same issues with CBS from 5 miles closer in, but pretty much on a line to the ESB. I wonder if it is something in their signal pattern?

I have previously written that since the combiner ( and perhaps since the onset of winter) I have had more DTV channels than I ever had.

But, an interesting thing happened on Saturday.

As I was watching the Jet game and,as the sun went down. I watched my signal for CBS only go from a very very steady 68-70 to a unusable 40-58 (locking and unlocking constantly).

CBS has been mostly steady for me in Rockland County NY (35 miles north) since the combiner work (and before) as it was my only channel for almost a year.

ABC (which I could never lock onto) remains to this day at the 68-70 numbers as do a few others,. NBC has gone that high somedays and other days unavailable.

So, can't imagine that as the sun set on Saturday, as technician was assigned to power down (or lower) any signal equipment. But, as a former CBS employee at their Broadcast Center in NY, anything is possible.

Otherwise, solar propogation?

Can't wait until combiner work is done and WNET-DT is on so that I can properly gauge what to do next,.

Higher antenna? 5th Generation ATSC tuner? etc.etc.

Originally posted by jgrahamiii
Mirage00 is having the same issues with CBS from 5 miles closer in, but pretty much on a line to the ESB. I wonder if it is something in their signal pattern?

At this point one has to wonder. But think positive.

Do you know a model number of your antenna or can you describe it (sorry if you already did)?

I am beginning to think atmospheric conditions and/or DT gremlins cause quirks. In fact, I believe that when the sun goes down my reception goes up. I am 42 miles from ESB in CT and watched the entire Jets game with minimal freeze-ups and drop-outs. In fact, CBS is my second most reliable OTA channel, ABC being the best. None of them are there all the time and are not totally reliable even when there.

Martin21

I got at least an 8 point jump in signal strength across the board this weekend. I'm in central nj and rarely get NBC,CBS or WPIX but this weekend everthing was strong. I hoped the reports were to be that the ESB was powered up stronger this weekend but I guess it's only atmospheric since nobody else seems to be talking about a boost in power.

I guess there's something to be said for cold/gray/dreary days after all.

' speaking of cold dreary days, I find that my reception has been at it's best only when it's one of those sunny days leading into clear nights.

Cold gray dreary has been underperforming for me.

Go figure!

I just checked and CBS is still marginal for me 48-58 and ABC is still solid at 68-70. Tomorrow for fun, it'll change and CBS will be back up and ABC will be maginal. Then, for more fun NBC will kick in as if it was always there, until there is something I want to watch on NBC, in which case, it'll play hide and seek...

Finish the combiner work, then and only then can I begin to figure out my next steps, if any.

oy!!

WABC-DT coming in stronger. Not great, but much better than it has been.

Is the station on the combiner? Still awaiting for 7 to respond to my e-mail of last week asking about planned date to move.

Gary

Originally posted by Gary Press
WABC-DT coming in stronger. Not great, but much better than it has been.

Is the station on the combiner? Still awaiting for 7 to respond to my e-mail of last week asking about planned date to move.

Gary

They Must be on the Combiner (I live roughly 15 miles from the ESB in the Woodlawn/Yonkers area) My CBS signal dropped from 90 to 80 last week so I went fiddiling with my Attic antenna on saturday to try to get a stronger signal. I was able to get CBS at 90, NBC at 92, Wpix at 92, WWOR at 90. But I couldnt get Fox or ABC above 75-80 on my Directv HR10-250. In fact I have never got ABC above 80 since they started broadcasting again.

I just checked ABC and its now coming in at a very high 95. The strongest of all.
Fox sill is coming in at 75 therefore ABC Must be on the combiner as of today.

I also did a rescan on my HR10-250 to try to get the remapping of WOR to 9-1.
The first time I did it it still couldnt see it and it went to 38-3 again. I then reentered my area information and then did another rescan and it correctly remapped it to 9-1. I havent checked yet but I hope the program info is there :)

Originally posted by netman
At this point one has to wonder. But think positive.

Do you know a model number of your antenna or can you describe it (sorry if you already did)? Having a hard time getting to the RS website, right now, but I believe the model is a Radio Shack 2160. If I remember my names correctly, it is a Yagi Corner type antenna, sor something like that.

Originally posted by jgrahamiii
Having a hard time getting to the RS website, right now, but I believe the model is a Radio Shack 2160. If I remember my names correctly, it is a Yagi Corner type antenna, sor something like that.

Certainly looks directional enough to be busting your chops with aiming. Maybe it is just the direction (the AC could be warping the aim a bit too). When I aim my 8 bay it is SHARP. A few degrees on the rotor make a big difference. There is no way I could have aimed it "by eye" even on the roof.

You can't/don't want to roof mount your antenna?

This is one thing I dislike about attic mounting. It tends to be unpredictable.

Originally posted by netman
Certainly looks directional enough to be busting your chops with aiming. Maybe it is just the direction (the AC could be warping the aim a bit too). When I aim my 8 bay it is SHARP. A few degrees on the rotor make a big difference. There is no way I could have aimed it "by eye" even on the roof.

You can't/don't want to roof mount your antenna?

This is one thing I dislike about attic mounting. It tends to be unpredictable. I'll roof mount it if I have to. But if I could just get CBS, I'd have everything. I don't get any pixelation or dropouts on any other stations, so this is a one station problem.

I've heard that WWOR has "fixed" their PSIP so that it shows 9-x instead of 38-x (or maybe 38-(x+2)!) My set still shows 38-3 for the HD UPN and 38-4 for their retransmission of FOX5.

My set is a new RCA DLP. Anyone know what type of receiver is buried inside this unit? It's ATSC/NTSC/QAM and works quite well.

Anyone else with this set (or another) also have this problem?

Originally posted by hphase
I've heard that WWOR has "fixed" their PSIP so that it shows 9-x instead of 38-x (or maybe 38-(x+2)!) My set still shows 38-3 for the HD UPN and 38-4 for their retransmission of FOX5.

My set is a new RCA DLP. Anyone know what type of receiver is buried inside this unit? It's ATSC/NTSC/QAM and works quite well.

Anyone else with this set (or another) also have this problem?

Same here with my HR10-250 (ditto for WPIX-DT).

I did a quick search with my RCA DLP and it mapped 38 to 9.1 and 9.2. After the scan I was no longer able to get Fox on 5.1. I have to tune to 44 for Fox. Last night I was still able to get WWOR DT on 38.x. Tonight if I tune to 38 it jumps to 5 Analog. My guess it is a combination of memory in the set and fine tunning of PSIP at the stations.

Hello All, Does anyone have info on WNYE RF ch 24? I could never pick it up. Signal strength was always very low. Now I'm getting a solid 70. I'm not sure if there's anything worth watching, but it is listed as a PBS affiliate.
Anyone else picking this channel up now?

I see now that WNYE is analog CH25 with the digital signal on CH24 being broadcast in 480i. I guess they bumped up the power.

channel 24 has been on the air for several months now.

They are broadcasting from Brooklyn.

They are no longer a PBS affiliate, so they show mostly their own content.

Originally posted by hphase
My set still shows 38-3 for the HD UPN and 38-4 for their retransmission of FOX5.

Horrors. Haven't been able to tune (and lock in) any new ESB combiner channels only 9 blocks away. (North-facing and tuning building reflections with a Silver Sensor and vintage (<year-2000 RPTV Philips tuner). This suggests tuning to just the 38.0, 45.0 etc., all I've tried periodically, wouldn't work.

WCBS-DT has always been tunable, and remarkably I once tuned NBC and ABC from the trade tower with this setup. Suspect the ESB signals are being beamed overhead, while the distant trade tower signals bounced just right from a nearby building. -- John

I did end up replacing my silver sensor and it worked fine. Weird that just went "bad" like that.

Over here in Staten Island I can really tell the difference with the combiner. I've never received a better signal. On my MyHD card I'm getting CBS at 100% (which I've never seen it do before) and it never goes below the 90s. The rest of the major networks are in the 70s or 80s except for ABC which is in the 50s or 60s and still has an occasional dropout.

I guess it's a good thing I lost the number to the installer I was going to use for an outdoor antenna. Though I'm still tempted to bite the bullet and do so just to improve my lousy analog reception or maybe see if PBS is possible.

Originally posted by Taget
........ or maybe see if PBS is possible.


I highly doubt if you'll get WNET DT-13 in Staten Island. You stand a pretty good chance of getting PBS out of New Jersey (50-5 from Trenton or 52-5 out of Maplewood.)

No, I haven't had a recent download. My software version is showing as 3.1.5e-01-2-357.

Originally posted by dturturro
I even tried changing my local area network and I'm still not getting 9-1 or 11-X(33). What S/W version are you on? Have you had a recent download/call?

i got 9-1 and 11-2 on the HD-Tivo as soon as they came on line.

Anyone know of current status of WNET-HD programming transmissions north of NYC?
Here, 35 miles due north of ESB, I have a roof Yagi up 650 ' ASL, elements favor southwards, with CM Titan2 7777 UHF/VHF pre.amp. My ATSC tuner is onboard a new JVC DT100 D-VCR. Best HD reception for me is WLIR- 2 & 3.
I just want NET's programming of PBS-HD. I've waited a long time and can be patient... but I wouldn't want to miss important updates or encouraging news!
The WNET site is not responding to any such questions: nor acknowledgement of concern, nor stroking, nor apology: not one these 6 mo.

Thanks, Dean

Dean,

WLIW (WLIR is an FM radio station :) ) is not in the same direction for you as the new york stations so keep that in mind. Other than that WNET is running very low power from an antenna pointed toward NJ so you probably have to wait till they are up on the main antenna. I hope it wont be too long, WLIW is right around the corner from me and the lack of HD from them is a major irritant to me.

Andy

ps: What about NJN? You should get one of their stations. Maybe 51 (I think)

Originally posted by netman
What about NJN? You should get one of their stations. Maybe 51 (I think)

Like Dean, I'm north of the city as well, but only about 20 miles. Problem with NJN is that it's at 260 degrees from my locatoin, and I'm pointed at 220 to maximize reception from the ESB. I did receive a reply from WNET last month, but it was very vague as you can see:

"Thank you for your interest in our High Definition broadcasting.

We are currently broadcasting in High Def on Time Warner channels 713 and 714.

We are High Def over the air on Channels 61.2 and 61.3. Our over the air transmission is in a Southerly direction only. If you are not in a narrow area South to South West of the Empire State Building, you are probably not receiving our signal.

We are continuing to improve the signal and gradually transmit in a 360 Degree radius. Unfortunately we can not currently estimate a date for full service.

Thanks for Writing,

Joe Ramirez
Member & Viewer Relations
Thirteen/WNET 212-560-2888"

Originally posted by sluciani
...I did receive a reply from WNET last month, but it was very vague
Joe Ramirez
Member & Viewer Relations
Thirteen/WNET 212-560-2888"
Has anyone tried calling this number to press for a better answer? If not, I volunteer.

I was going to call, but figured there was no sense bothering Mr. Ramirez because I believe a previous poster in this thread recently mentioned that he knew it was going to take WNET a few months to get the requisite equipment. It's understandable that a publicly funded station might have difficulty raising the needed money for this.

I've already resigned myself to a March or April launch. If it happens sooner, I'll be pleasantly surprised, but if it doesn't happen till then, at least i won't be too disappointed.

/steve

Originally posted by sluciani
I was going to call, but figured there was no sense bothering Mr. Ramirez because I believe a previous poster in this thread recently mentioned that he knew it was going to take WNET a few months to get the requisite equipment. It's understandable that a publicly funded station might have difficulty raising the needed money for this.

I've already resigned myself to a March or April launch. If it happens sooner, I'll be pleasantly surprised, but if it doesn't happen till then, at least i won't be too disappointed.

/steve

What a breath of fresh air: Someone who preaches patience.

I get WNJN, and they have a PBS-HD subchannel (52-03). It's nice to see those travel shows in HD, or some documentary on Incan Indians in HD, or some concert from someone I've never heard of in HD, but to be honest if I lost the feed for WNJN I wouldn't exactlly light up the switchboard in outrage trying to find out why I lost my signal, why isn't it working, why are they doing this, when are you going to get your signal back up, let me talk to one of your engineers, etc. etc. etc. I really enjoyed PBS maybe 28 years ago, when I was still in diapers and watched Sesame Street on a daily basis. Today I wouldn't miss it if it went off the air.

I would think that with CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, WB, and UPN, that would be enough HD content for the average person. On any given night, you can watch a ton of shows in HD from the major networks. Complaining that you can't get a clear feed from PBS, that they're moving too slow, or that you're going to call the station to complain because you don't like their press release strikes me as over the top, and more a case of wanting something not because you really need it, but because it's there.

I'm not trying to be facetious, but honestly: Is there anyone out there who is THAT hard up for PBS-HD? I'd like to hear from the members...........

Originally posted by GRN
What a breath of fresh air: Someone who preaches patience.

I get WNJN, and they have a PBS-HD subchannel (52-03). It's nice to see those travel shows in HD, or some documentary on Incan Indians in HD, or some concert from someone I've never heard of in HD, but to be honest if I lost the feed for WNJN I wouldn't exactlly light up the switchboard in outrage trying to find out why I lost my signal, why isn't it working, why are they doing this, when are you going to get your signal back up, let me talk to one of your engineers, etc. etc. etc. I really enjoyed PBS maybe 28 years ago, when I was still in diapers and watched Sesame Street on a daily basis. Today I wouldn't miss it if it went off the air.

After LOST ended I actually tuned by 50-5....and caught a special on The Dead Sea and the high concentration of salt in the water.

Kooky stuff.....but interesting nonetheless.... :D

Originally posted by jaypb
After LOST ended I actually tuned by 50-5....and caught a special on The Dead Sea and the high concentration of salt in the water.

Kooky stuff.....but interesting nonetheless.... :D

Definitely interesting stuff. Don't get me wrong; I tune into WNJN every now and then myself, but my point was this: When NBC was on low power, people complained that they couldn't get it. Now it's on the combiner and looks to be strong. When FOX was on low power, people complained that they couldn't get it. Now it's on the combiner. Pretty much the same for the other major channels as well (CBS, UPN, WB, ABC). It just seems that there's no pacifying some people on this forum. Just when another channel is testing and looks to be ready, the next post is "when is this channel going on the combiner". It seems like nothing that the engineers and crews do at the ESB is good enough; there's always one (or two, or three) individual that has something else to complain about. And this is for free OTA chanels; I can't imagine what it would be like if people were actually paying for these channels.

Let me tell you, for a while, I was not getting NBC, ABC or WB. In a household where the favorite shows are Law & Order, Monday Night Football and Smallville , that pretty much sucked. But I wasn't on this forum asking to have the phone number for this engineer, that station, this guy, that guy, etc. I just figured that there was work being done and when it was done, it was done and I would get my channels back. My calling the station/engneer and hounding him about the fact that I wasn't getting a signal wasn't going to make the work go any faster. Mind you, I think it's useful when some of the people here that have connections speak to their inside people and can share some news with us, but does anyone on this forum actually think that Joe Schmo calling up and pestering an engineer is going to make them snap at attention and work faster and harder than they already are? Does anyone on this forum think that calling WNET and constantly asking them when they are going to improve their signal is going to make them move any faster than they possibly can? I think not.

"I'm not trying to be facetious, but honestly: Is there anyone out there who is THAT hard up for PBS-HD? I'd like to hear from the members."

Well, I guess I'd be less than candid to pretend that I find this attitude very enlightened or praiseworthy. It sounds to me like this: "I don't think you should want what you want: are you so out to lunch that you don't like what I like? want what I want? Is it not obvious: I have good taste and you don't!<<rolls his eyes>> If you're really interested in dumb stuff, please raise your hand"

Well, my hand is raised. I have no interest in commercial network broadcasts, but for SuperBowl , the Simpsons, and Ebert/Roeper at the Movies I watch nothing at all from those services. I could defend this POV, my tastes... but for heaven's sake: there is no arguing taste, not in the USA.
Otherwise you'd surely dump on folks who eat caviar , or sushi , or raw oysters. I won't rant, but this should be old and familiar ground- even to a young man, and there are no exceptions at all:
de gustibus non disputandum est (apologies to better memories than mine, -but my Latin was from '64!)

I watch a bit more commercial stuff than Maggot but, yes, I miss my PBS-HD.

-patient netman

Originally posted by GRN
What a breath of fresh air: Someone who preaches patience.

I get WNJN, and they have a PBS-HD subchannel (52-03). It's nice to see those travel shows in HD, or some documentary on Incan Indians in HD, or some concert from someone I've never heard of in HD, but to be honest if I lost the feed for WNJN I wouldn't exactlly light up the switchboard in outrage trying to find out why I lost my signal, why isn't it working, why are they doing this, when are you going to get your signal back up, let me talk to one of your engineers, etc. etc. etc. I really enjoyed PBS maybe 28 years ago, when I was still in diapers and watched Sesame Street on a daily basis. Today I wouldn't miss it if it went off the air.

I would think that with CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, WB, and UPN, that would be enough HD content for the average person. On any given night, you can watch a ton of shows in HD from the major networks. Complaining that you can't get a clear feed from PBS, that they're moving too slow, or that you're going to call the station to complain because you don't like their press release strikes me as over the top, and more a case of wanting something not because you really need it, but because it's there.

I'm not trying to be facetious, but honestly: Is there anyone out there who is THAT hard up for PBS-HD? I'd like to hear from the members...........

I did not think FOX is part of the combiner project?
PBS-HD is something I want. "Soundstage" alone makes it a must have.
The PBS your talking about is a sister station and has pretty weak programming.

Originally posted by netman
I watch a bit more commercial stuff than Maggot but, yes, I miss my PBS-HD.

Same here. It's killing me that I have to Tivo the new Ken Burns special "Unforgiveable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson" in SD. I'm a fan of specials like this, "American Masters" and "Great Performances".

/steve

Originally posted by GRN
What a breath of fresh air: Someone who preaches patience.

I get WNJN, and they have a PBS-HD subchannel (52-03). It's nice to see those travel shows in HD, or some documentary on Incan Indians in HD, or some concert from someone I've never heard of in HD, but to be honest if I lost the feed for WNJN I wouldn't exactlly light up the switchboard in outrage trying to find out why I lost my signal, why isn't it working, why are they doing this, when are you going to get your signal back up, let me talk to one of your engineers, etc. etc. etc. I really enjoyed PBS maybe 28 years ago, when I was still in diapers and watched Sesame Street on a daily basis. Today I wouldn't miss it if it went off the air.

I would think that with CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, WB, and UPN, that would be enough HD content for the average person. On any given night, you can watch a ton of shows in HD from the major networks. Complaining that you can't get a clear feed from PBS, that they're moving too slow, or that you're going to call the station to complain because you don't like their press release strikes me as over the top, and more a case of wanting something not because you really need it, but because it's there.

I'm not trying to be facetious, but honestly: Is there anyone out there who is THAT hard up for PBS-HD? I'd like to hear from the members...........

The other side to this coin is that stations (esp PBS) need feedback. So not calling at all is as bad as calling too much. You have to reach a balance.

I miss my NOVA in HD.

Originally posted by berniec
First off that antenna is trash, pick up something like this as a start-- http://www.antennasdirect.com/db4_bow.htm

What part of jersey city are you living in? If your on the western side of Kennedy Blvd getting down to Westside or further West your going to be "iffy" -- if your in the heights you should be good to go, if your down by the waterfront it will depend on what buildings are between you and empire.

I live in the downtown area, by Van Vorst Park. I'm in a 4 story brownstone, so I estimate the height of the roof is about 50'. From my roof, I do not have a direct view of the ESB, but the buildings that are in the way are on the waterfront, probably over a mile away. I used to have a direct view of the antenna on the WTC, so I will have a view when they complete the Freedom Tower.

The DB4 antenna looks nice. I assume I'd have to get the combiner along with it to work with the HR10-250.

The description says it's a multi-directional antenna, yet the install instructions say to point the elements in the direction of the transmitter. Will I get stations from all directions or should I consider an antenna rotator?

I live in Westchester and get 9-1,9-2 and 11-1, 11-2

I have two HR10-250's and do not get guide data for any of the above channels. I reset both boxes last night and rescanned for OTA stations. On one box I even removed all the OTA stations and did the scan and power cycled. Not a big deal as I am sure it will work itself out but, just curious if anyone with a HR10-250 has guide data on these two stations?

Thanks,
Jim

Originally posted by GRN
<snip>
I would think that with CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, WB, and UPN, that would be enough HD content for the average person.
<snip>
I'm not trying to be facetious, but honestly: Is there anyone out there who is THAT hard up for PBS-HD? I'd like to hear from the members........... Just who appointed you the official AVS judge of good taste?

I'd trade three of the above for WNET in digital/HD and the PBS HD feed.

Originally posted by jcondon
I live in Westchester and get 9-1,9-2 and 11-1, 11-2

I'm surprised to hear that. I'm in Westchester, too, and can't get hide nor hair of WPIX-DT. As for 9-1 (38/WWOR-DT) I've been able to scan it in a couple of times to 38-3, but then it either breaks up or disappears. I'm using the LG LSS3200a DirecTV HD receiver. BTW, how do you clear OTA channels?

i guess with the snow falling last night i couldn't get a lock on 7-1 and the Tivo didn't record Lost. American Idol was pixelating really bad that it was unwatchable.

Good thing I had backup season passes on an SD Tivo in another room.

After this experience, I am considering just using the D* feeds instead of OTA. I am thinking the tradeoff in PQ is worth not hassling with an antenna.

Originally posted by jcondon
.......just curious if anyone with a HR10-250 has guide data on these two stations?

Thanks,
Jim

Jim, I have a different receiver (a Hughes HTL-HD) and do not get guide data for these two stations. I don't believe the data is being sent. Is anyone getting guide data for these two stations using any receiver?

I also live in Westchester and get 9-1,9-2,11-1,11-2 without much trouble. I don't get any guide data at all for any OTA stations. I have the same Hughes receivers.

Any ideas on how to fix this?

I have a Sammy 360 and I get no guide data for 9-1/2 11-1/2. But if I put on channel 9, then switch to 9-1, the guide updates itself. Same thing with 11-1.

*edit* I also want my PBSHD. I don't live in the path of the lousy signal WNET sends now and cannot get NJNHD.

Originally posted by dan57
Jim, I have a different receiver (a Hughes HTL-HD) and do not get guide data for these two stations. I don't believe the data is being sent. Is anyone getting guide data for these two stations using any receiver?

I get guide data info for 11-1, none for 11-2, 9-1 or 9-2. 11-2 shows up on my guide as "local digital", 9-1 as "WWORD" and 9-2 as "WNYW", but no guide data. I have the DISH 811......

Ok thanks for the feed back guys. Seems some get guide data for 11-1 but, not for the other stations.

I tried viewing the guide data for 9 and 11 (from DirecTV) and then looked at 9-1, 9-2, 11-1, and 11-2 nada. The stations are properly listed but, no guide data. Good to know I am not the only one.

My two HR10-250 are of different months. Had one go bad so its not likely they are exactly same box. Both are running what I believe to be the latest software.

Will just have to wait it out and see what happens in the next couple of weeks. I am just happy I get everything but, 13-1 now. I might drop DirecTV locals but, the HR10-250 shows SD from OTA on most stations in a smaller window. I think 11-1 still displays in Wide Screen but, the rest are in a box. I have 4:3 HDTV's This maybe addressed in a future software upgrade.

Last Friday I was able to watch ST Enterprise in HD from 9-1 OTA. It did glitch twice once for about 2 seconds the other time just for a second or less.

Also noticed some audio popping (really faint but, it was there). I do not have Surround Sound FWIW.

But, overall it looked amazing one of the better looking shows in HD. A couple Saturday's ago I recorded and watched the 3 hours of Battle Star Galactica from DirecTV NBC HD feed and it looked ok. No where as impressive as this. Perhaps it was converted from from film or something. Some scenes actually looked SD to me.

I have the hr10-250 and low 90s for strength for 11-1.

HELP! Are all the combiner stations now broadcasting? I asked becuase I can not get any station in other than Montclair NJN and Trenton NJN. Before this combiner I used to be able to get all the stations in (except WNBC). I have seen others post losing CBS, WPIX and UPN, and I thought my demise was simply waiting for the combiner to go full power.

Now I am wondering if my amplifier ( CM 7775) died. I reported several months ago that I noticed a couple of VHF stations were appearing on my set, vhf signsals should not be able to pass through the 7775. Perhaps this is a sign that the amp is crapping out?

I tried rescanning the TV, I see the stations and all I get is around 26% signal strength for most of them. Just when I thought all my gremlins were gone!!!

Anybody else experience this with their amps?

Originally posted by dm145
I did not think FOX is part of the combiner project?
PBS-HD is something I want. "Soundstage" alone makes it a must have.
The PBS your talking about is a sister station and has pretty weak programming.

Part of the problem is that the PBS stations DO need feedback. They need to hear that you are clamoring for HD content. If they don't hear it, then they don't realize that maybe it should be a higher priority.

A running joke around some PBS stations when it comes to the HD goes something like "Have you heard anything from our one HD viewer lately?"

If you want more HD programming on any PBS station, call in or write in and make a case for more HD programming on that station. ;)

Originally posted by slocko
American Idol was really unwatchable.


No argument there:rolleyes:

Originally posted by sluciani
Like Dean, I'm north of the city as well, but only about 20 miles. Problem with NJN is that it's at 260 degrees from my locatoin, and I'm pointed at 220 to maximize reception from the ESB. I did receive a reply from WNET last month, but it was very vague as you can see:

"Thank you for your interest in our High Definition broadcasting.

We are currently broadcasting in High Def on Time Warner channels 713 and 714.

We are High Def over the air on Channels 61.2 and 61.3. Our over the air transmission is in a Southerly direction only. If you are not in a narrow area South to South West of the Empire State Building, you are probably not receiving our signal.

We are continuing to improve the signal and gradually transmit in a 360 Degree radius. Unfortunately we can not currently estimate a date for full service.

Thanks for Writing,

Joe Ramirez
Member & Viewer Relations
Thirteen/WNET 212-560-2888"

This was a few pages back. It seems worth revisitting by the tone of the last few posts.

Remember that 9-1 OTA is uncompressed signal versus D* NBC feed which most likely was compressed by Direct.

Originally posted by jcondon
Last Friday I was able to watch ST Enterprise in HD from 9-1 OTA. It did glitch twice once for about 2 seconds the other time just for a second or less.

Also noticed some audio popping (really faint but, it was there). I do not have Surround Sound FWIW.

But, overall it looked amazing one of the better looking shows in HD. A couple Saturday's ago I recorded and watched the 3 hours of Battle Star Galactica from DirecTV NBC HD feed and it looked ok. No where as impressive as this. Perhaps it was converted from from film or something. Some scenes actually looked SD to me.

I have the hr10-250 and low 90s for strength for 11-1.

Originally posted by rlindabury
Part of the problem is that the PBS stations DO need feedback. They need to hear that you are clamoring for HD content. If they don't hear it, then they don't realize that maybe it should be a higher priority.

A running joke around some PBS stations when it comes to the HD goes something like "Have you heard anything from our one HD viewer lately?"

If you want more HD programming on any PBS station, call in or write in and make a case for more HD programming on that station. ;)

Actually, the point was not about whether PBS should get more HD content; my point was whether bombarding Joe Ramirez, the member relations person at WNET would get WNET on the combiner any faster. As another post indicated, isn't WNET the last station that is scheduled to go on the combiner? And isn't that estimate supposed to be towards the end of the first quarter 2005? It's taken this long to get the other networks on the combiner; PBS does not have the funds that, say, an ABC or NBC does. Their going on the combiner later than everyone else is probably as much monetary as anything else. I could be wrong, but when I think of PBS, I don't think of CEO's rolling around in money wondering how many millions they're going to charge for ad space. I think of exactly what their letters stand for: public broadcast station, probably with a lot less money to allocate towards projects like the combiner that its much-more wealthier counterparts have.

So to clarify, and this is for everyone that attacked me personally with posts like "who appointed you the judge of good taste" and "I have good taste and you don't", who didn't bother to read my follow-up post because they were too busy thinking up REALLY witty gems like those, this is my point: WNET is scheduled to go on the combiner later this quarter. It took stations like ABC and NBC years to go on the combiner, with millions of dollars they could spend on the project. How many people here think that calling WNET and complaining that they can't get a signal or that it's taking too long to get on the combiner going to make them move faster than they already are? It's probably a moot point anyway, because I'm sure a month or two from now when we hit 300 pages, someone will still be asking "has anyone contacted WNET about the combiner lately? We haven't heard anything in two days and I want to find out what the holdup is".......

Steve, I am just outside of White Plains. Alot closer then you are to NYC.

I get low 90s for CBS, NBC, ABC, UPN, WB. I think 90s for Pax too but, they are frequently not broadcasting and don't have HD.

Fox is low 80s

I get a few other stations but, nothing that has HD. I can not get RNN (Out of Rockland?) since my antenna is pointed the wrong way.


I was unable to use that WineGard I got since I wanted to mount it on my Chimney and it was directly over the flue. I had to mount on a specfic spot on my roof to get around a couple of trees on my neighbours lawn. Perhaps now that the combiner is up the trees will not be as big an issue.

I ended up picking up a Square Shooter S1000 Antenna and the Channel Master 7777 preamp. And a cheap 22db line amp at Walmart.

I probably don't even need the preamp and line amp anymore but, I am not climbing up on the roof in the winter to experiment with it. I did need it and the inline amp to get WABC in the 70s so I could watch it.

No idea how to reset the OTA channels in your box. I have a different box.

Slocko, I know about the DirecTV compression. I don't really notice much of a difference on my 32" and 40" Tvs. Maybe when they are more or less done with the combiner I will record / watch from OTA instead of DirecTV's feeds.

If they reair the 3 hours on NBC in HD I will watch it on the OTA instead of DirecTV and see if it looks much better.

Originally posted by GRN
.. because I'm sure a month or two from now when we hit 300 pages, someone will still be asking "has anyone contacted WNET about the combiner lately? We haven't heard anything in two days and I want to find out what the holdup is".......


You think that will take a whole month or two?!

You might try re-aiming your antenna if it is easily accessible. I know that before the combiner, I could get all the stations (except WPIX), but not all of them at the same time. WCBS and WNYW/WWOR were in one direction and I had to turn the antenna another 15 degrees or so counter-clockwise to get WABC and WNBC. However, in late December, I kept the antenna pointing at WCBS and WNYW/WWOR in anticipation of all stations beaming from the ESB (and thus, in those stations general direction). Lo and behold, this proved to be the case. I get all stations in at least the 80s. This makes me wonder if those people now having trouble getting the stations from the ESB (when they got them before when they were more spread out) have not readjusted their antennas to receive from the new trasmission point. Worth a try at least.

Originally posted by Signalseeker
HELP! Are all the combiner stations now broadcasting? I asked becuase I can not get any station in other than Montclair NJN and Trenton NJN. Before this combiner I used to be able to get all the stations in (except WNBC). I have seen others post losing CBS, WPIX and UPN, and I thought my demise was simply waiting for the combiner to go full power.

Now I am wondering if my amplifier ( CM 7775) died. I reported several months ago that I noticed a couple of VHF stations were appearing on my set, vhf signsals should not be able to pass through the 7775. Perhaps this is a sign that the amp is crapping out?

I tried rescanning the TV, I see the stations and all I get is around 26% signal strength for most of them. Just when I thought all my gremlins were gone!!!

Anybody else experience this with their amps?

In order to save money, Enterprise is being filmed on HD video this year. It looks a lot smoother this year than last year when it was filmed. Battletar Galactica looks like it is film-based or at least being given the grainy treatment. Based on statements of the producers of Battlestar, this is probably being done to give it a war documentary type feel. Can't wait to see it in HD when Universal HD starts rebroadcasting the SciFi series.

Originally posted by slocko
Remember that 9-1 OTA is uncompressed signal versus D* NBC feed which most likely was compressed by Direct.

Originally posted by GRN
Actually, the point was not about whether PBS should get more HD content; my point was whether bombarding Joe Ramirez, the member relations person at WNET would get WNET on the combiner any faster. As another post indicated, isn't WNET the last station that is scheduled to go on the combiner? And isn't that estimate supposed to be towards the end of the first quarter 2005? It's taken this long to get the other networks on the combiner; PBS does not have the funds that, say, an ABC or NBC does. Their going on the combiner later than everyone else is probably as much monetary as anything else. I could be wrong, but when I think of PBS, I don't think of CEO's rolling around in money wondering how many millions they're going to charge for ad space. I think of exactly what their letters stand for: public broadcast station, probably with a lot less money to allocate towards projects like the combiner that its much-more wealthier counterparts have.

So to clarify, and this is for everyone that attacked me personally with posts like "who appointed you the judge of good taste" and "I have good taste and you don't", who didn't bother to read my follow-up post because they were too busy thinking up REALLY witty gems like those, this is my point: WNET is scheduled to go on the combiner later this quarter. It took stations like ABC and NBC years to go on the combiner, with millions of dollars they could spend on the project. How many people here think that calling WNET and complaining that they can't get a signal or that it's taking too long to get on the combiner going to make them move faster than they already are? It's probably a moot point anyway, because I'm sure a month or two from now when we hit 300 pages, someone will still be asking "has anyone contacted WNET about the combiner lately? We haven't heard anything in two days and I want to find out what the holdup is".......

My reply was in response to the person I replied to and specifically to his last line stating that NJN was a sister station and programming was weak. It had nothing to do with you.

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by dm145
I did not think FOX is part of the combiner project?
PBS-HD is something I want. "Soundstage" alone makes it a must have.
The PBS your talking about is a sister station and has pretty weak programming.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For SD content, WB seems to have a larger picture than all my other channels (i.e., the side bars are much smaller than with the other channels). Is this typical or is does this have something to do with my TV (Samsung HLP5663)?

Also, are all of the locals that are on the combiner now at full strength?

Originally posted by RMSko
For SD content, WB seems to have a larger picture than all my other channels (i.e., the side bars are much smaller than with the other channels). Is this typical or is does this have something to do with my TV (Samsung HLP5663)?



Rich, it's not your TV as it happens on mine as well. I remember reading something about this here before. They seem to zoom their picture a bit as it cuts off around the perimeter.

Originally posted by RMSko
For SD content, WB seems to have a larger picture than all my other channels (i.e., the side bars are much smaller than with the other channels). Is this typical or is does this have something to do with my TV (Samsung HLP5663)?

Also, are all of the locals that are on the combiner now at full strength? Don't know the answer to your second question, but PIX (WB) zooms their picture slightly to avoid some of the black bars on the sides. We all see this. The expense is that there is some loss of preceived resolution and some clipping top and bottom. Also, any zoom mode on your TV or STB designed to handle a 4:3 picture will now "overzoom".

Originally posted by GRN
<snip>
WNET is scheduled to go on the combiner later this quarter. It took stations like ABC and NBC years to go on the combiner, with millions of dollars they could spend on the project. How many people here think that calling WNET and complaining that they can't get a signal or that it's taking too long to get on the combiner going to make them move faster than they already are?
<snip> GRN,

Can you tell us what your source is for the information that WNET will go on the combiner later this quarter?

Actually, it took just DAYS for the commercial stations to go on the combiner, once there was a combiner--the delay having to do with the availability of space at the ESB. Perhaps you weren't around while all this was going on.

I agree with the poster who said that WNET needs our continual prodding to know that it's something important to their larger community. I think they think all Channel 13 watchers do it via cable.

This post is concerning all the back and forth going on in regards to WNET. I realize that some of you out there are dying for it to be on HD, others, including myself not so much. As far as not having the dough, I'd like to point out a couple of things about Ch13. Number 1, Marvin Kitman (Newsday TV guy) has been writing for years how they (WNET) have been raising money and pissing it away on things like refurbishing a West Side NY building at a cost that did not sound like peanuts and number 2. When WNET was jockeying to merge with Channel 21 (WLIW) and it was good because they could get their poor brethren on HD sooner and blah blah and we now see how well that has worked. NO HD, just 2 SD channels. So yeah,WNBC and the others are flush with cash, but if they thought they could get away with selling commercials on little 10 inch TVs in black and white they'd do it, and poor little channel 13 may not have the bucks but they go about spending money like the same drunken sailors in the Congress

Regarding WPIX-DT, I emailed their guy the other day and he said he'd be posting soon about their progress but to put it succinctly, they are on CH33 24 hrs a day for about a week and they will be going to full power very soon.

Has anyone had reduced signal strength and consequent break-ups on WNYW-DT, Channel 44, lately? I have. First time it's ever happened like that. Maybe they're making the switch over to the combiner?

Hi,

I'm having a guy install a duplexer on the sat. dish on my roof today so that I can try to use the big old UHF antenna that came with the house to pull in OTA HDTV with my Dish 811 that is in the mail. I have this sinking feeling that I might be wasting my money... The big old antenna (not sure of brand) is on the third floor of a house that faces Propsect Park and has a clear view of the park to the southwest (not a great direction for signals I suppose). My house is on Ocean Ave. has a row of 6-8 story apt. building between it and NYC and the ESB transmitter. Do I stand a chance in hell of getting any HDTV signal? Antennaweb says yes, but with all the buildings around me I have my doubts... I won't get the HDTV receiver for 7 days or so and I just wanted to hear some opinions.

Thanks!

Dan in Prospect Lefferts Gardens

Originally posted by s2silber
Has anyone had reduced signal strength and consequent break-ups on WNYW-DT, Channel 44, lately? I have. First time it's ever happened like that. Maybe they're making the switch over to the combiner?

FOX is not part of the combiner project. They have their own antenna on the ESB. Maybe when you were watching they had a technical glitch or were doing work on their equipment.

Originally posted by berniec
First off that antenna is trash, pick up something like this as a start-- http://www.antennasdirect.com/db4_bow.htm

What part of jersey city are you living in? If your on the western side of Kennedy Blvd getting down to Westside or further West your going to be "iffy" -- if your in the heights you should be good to go, if your down by the waterfront it will depend on what buildings are between you and empire.

Originally posted by ElVee
I live in the downtown area, by Van Vorst Park. I'm in a 4 story brownstone, so I estimate the height of the roof is about 50'. From my roof, I do not have a direct view of the ESB, but the buildings that are in the way are on the waterfront, probably over a mile away. I used to have a direct view of the antenna on the WTC, so I will have a view when they complete the Freedom Tower.

The DB4 antenna looks nice. I assume I'd have to get the combiner along with it to work with the HR10-250.

The description says it's a multi-directional antenna, yet the install instructions say to point the elements in the direction of the transmitter. Will I get stations from all directions or should I consider an antenna rotator?

Can anyone else recommend this antenna?

http://www.antennasdirect.com/db4_bow.htm

Or is there a comparable Channelmaster or Winegard?

I'm also looking into the 9521A antenna rotator.

Thanks.

Channelmaster 4228 is a 2x2 bowtie. They have a 2 bowtie model too I forget the model number.

But if you're in jersey city I'd take the light rail down to the newport mall and pick up a Silver Sensor at the Sears for 30 bucks first. Try that out- it can sit right on top of your tv or book shelves, whatever and you can move it around all over your house/apartment before spending the time and effort with the 4228. I can get philly from almost 40 miles away with the silver sensor.

If it doesnt work return it to sears and then go through the hassle of getting one of these big monsters shipped to you from someplace online. (I have a 4228 to to get NYC- if I didnt want the NY channels for sports and News, i'd be happy with just hte silver sensor for Philly)

Originally posted by ElVee
Can anyone else recommend this antenna?

http://www.antennasdirect.com/db4_bow.htm

Or is there a comparable Channelmaster or Winegard?

I'm also looking into the 9521A antenna rotator.

Thanks.



way over priced.

Check out www.lnl.com

Look at Channel Master

BTW:

4228 is 8 bay

4 bay is 4221

Originally posted by netman
way over priced.

Check out www.lnl.com

Look at Channel Master

BTW:

4228 is 8 bay

4 bay is 4221

Oh wow, Syosset! I grew up in Plainview. This wouldn't happen to be were the old Lafeyette Electronics used to be, would it?

Looks like the 4228 will only get UHF. The DB4 says it gets VHF/UHF/FM.

Originally posted by ElVee
Oh wow, Syosset! I grew up in Plainview. This wouldn't happen to be were the old Lafeyette Electronics used to be, would it?

Looks like the 4228 will only get UHF. The DB4 says it gets VHF/UHF/FM.
The 4228 is UHF-only but has decent performance in the high VHF frequencies. I get WPIXDT/VHF12 from 30 miles away with a 4228 in my attic connected to a 7777 preamp.

Originally posted by ElVee
Oh wow, Syosset! I grew up in Plainview. This wouldn't happen to be were the old Lafeyette Electronics used to be, would it?

Looks like the 4228 will only get UHF. The DB4 says it gets VHF/UHF/FM. No, sorry. That is now a Home Depot. Used to be a K-Mart before that. LNL is on Robbins Lane, south of Jericho, closer to the Expressway.

Originally posted by RMSko
For SD content, WB seems to have a larger picture than all my other channels (i.e., the side bars are much smaller than with the other channels). Is this typical or is does this have something to do with my TV (Samsung HLP5663)?

Also, are all of the locals that are on the combiner now at full strength?

Rich,

WPIX uses 14:9 ZOOM for non-HD programming in their digital channel.

I have a 4228 that I bought from LNL and am NOT able to use it. I can sell it for a decent price. You can contact me at mw390@attglobal.net. We can meet somewhere (I am in Levittown, Nassau) and get it to you

Thank you Monet. I have a rotator and have tried all different directions with no success. As you mentioned I to noticed the signal shift a couple of months ago but I assumed my antennae got moved by the wind.

Must be my amp. I'll get the 7777 this time.

ABC has disappeared for me

I live in Brooklyn (Williamsburg) with line of site to ESB, no obstructions. I'm 2.79 miles away, using a Radio Shack Bow Tie on top of my sir-t351. ABC was never a problem, one of the most reliable stations. Starting about 3 days ago I can't get a signal. On my strength meter (I know, they're unreliable) when I try to get ABC I see 6-7 bars that come and go, it won't lock on. Other commercial stations come in well, some slight adjustment of aerial needed for UPB or WB vs CBS FOX.

Do I need an attenuator (too much signal) or an amp? I get 8 bars on CBS and NBC. Anyone else seeing a change in ABC? Any info at all would be appreciated.

TIA Mark Stracke

You might try taking the amp out of the loop entirely and see what you get. I did that once when my 7777 got fried and it actually improved the stability of a lot of the stations and some of them I was not getting at all improved dramatically. I couldn't get the fringy ones as well of course.

Originally posted by Signalseeker
Thank you Monet. I have a rotator and have tried all different directions with no success. As you mentioned I to noticed the signal shift a couple of months ago but I assumed my antennae got moved by the wind.

Must be my amp. I'll get the 7777 this time.

Can someone summarize what is on the combiner now and what their power levels are.

Ok I'm confused it appears that ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, UPN, and WB are the major networks broadcasting in DT. Not all are UHF (WB) are at the same compass heading. Is this expected to change or since the antenna will be in on my roof, Is it that I just better choose which stations I want? I see references to various satelite (Directv and Dish) broadcasts of HDTV yet all I can see on their sites is that CBS is in HD? Am I incorrect or are they also broadcasting HD on other channels via sats. I know that various locals are broadcasting yet the lack the programming that the majors do, so my concern is how to get the locals in HDTV and what is the best solution. I plan for an antenna but it sounds that a cable or satelite may also offer a solution.

Originally posted by Gary Quiring
Can someone summarize what is on the combiner now and what their power levels are.

Don't know about power levels, but it appears that CBS/NBC/WB/UPN are all up and running on the combiner at the ESB.

ABC should also be on the combiner but I'm not positive they have made the move.

WNET should be on the combiner sometime in the first half of '05 (hopefully by the end of 1Q05).

FOX broadcasts off its own antenna on the ESB and is not associated with the combiner project.

Originally posted by chrisb3
ABC should also be on the combiner but I'm not positive they have made the move.
I am told that they are but not yet at full power.

Originally posted by stracke
ABC has disappeared for me

I live in Brooklyn (Williamsburg) with line of site to ESB, no obstructions. I'm 2.79 miles away, using a Radio Shack Bow Tie on top of my sir-t351. ABC was never a problem, one of the most reliable stations. Starting about 3 days ago I can't get a signal. On my strength meter (I know, they're unreliable) when I try to get ABC I see 6-7 bars that come and go, it won't lock on. Other commercial stations come in well, some slight adjustment of aerial needed for UPB or WB vs CBS FOX.

Do I need an attenuator (too much signal) or an amp? I get 8 bars on CBS and NBC. Anyone else seeing a change in ABC? Any info at all would be appreciated.

TIA Mark Stracke


I live in Lower East Side and have same problem with an outdoor antenna.

Originally posted by chrisb3
WNET should be on the combiner sometime in the first half of '05 (hopefully by the end of 1Q05). Can you please let us know the source of this information.

I posted this over at TC also, but I thought I would check here...

I had a manaul recording of Smallville on WPIX-DT.

I was checking my TODO list this morning and got this interesting error.

"Manul Recording on Wed 1/26 8:00 pm WPIX-DT

This program will not be recorded because it is no longer in the program guide".


What?

The problem is that since the WPIX-DT feed is still in "test mode" we still HAVE no guide data. So I have been using a manual recording. But if I didn't check, than it wouldn't have recorded.

There may have been some glitch somewhere, but this really looks like some sort of bug.

I deleted and recreated the manual recording, at now it looks fine.

Just warning my neighboors..

(Not sure if this should be in Season Pass warnings, or HD-Tivo group)..

__________________

Originally posted by MLM
Can you please let us know the source of this information.

Just repeating what has been posted elsewhere in this thread regarding WNET-HD.

Originally posted by Bogney Baux
I am told that they are but not yet at full power.

I thought ABC had moved but wasn't positive. Thanks.

Originally posted by chrisb3
Just repeating what has been posted elsewhere in this thread regarding WNET-HD. I'm afraid this is a bit circular, and we are simply quoting each other. It seems nobody really knows when WNET will be on the combiner and WNET won't tell us. Too bad!

Hello everyone, thanks for all the great posts and advice that I find on AVS forum. It really is a great site. I'm what you call a newbie, and with that said, is there any specific topic for HDTV OTA in North NJ?. The reason I ask is that there are 200+ pages in the NY, NY thread, and sorting though all those posts could be very time consuming. I was thinking perhaps North NJ could have its own thread, because I'm curious what signal strength other users are having in NJ? I'm sure there are enough NJ users that would make the thread useful as I flipped thru many of these pages in this thread. Like I said, i think the web site is one of the best, and I do understand that a lot of hard work goes in to maintaining this thread, but splitting it up could be a really good benefit for everyone involved. I'm sure people in the 5 boroughs aren't really interested in NJ, and vice versa.....

Originally posted by pgardyasz
Hello everyone, thanks for all the great posts and advice that I find on AVS forum. It really is a great site. I'm what you call a newbie, and with that said, is there any specific topic for HDTV OTA in North NJ?. The reason I ask is that there are 200+ pages in the NY, NY thread, and sorting though all those posts could be very time consuming. I was thinking perhaps North NJ could have its own thread, because I'm curious what signal strength other users are having in NJ? I'm sure there are enough NJ users that would make the thread useful as I flipped thru many of these pages in this thread. Like I said, i think the web site is one of the best, and I do understand that a lot of hard work goes in to maintaining this thread, but splitting it up could be a really good benefit for everyone involved. I'm sure people in the 5 boroughs aren't really interested in NJ, and vice versa.....

Not sure it really makes sense.

We are all in the NYC DMA. We are all aiming at the same towers.
I think some of the the most frequent posters to this thread are from NJ.

I think I see more Long Island and NJ people in this thread sometimes, than actual Borough residents...

Originally posted by mw390
I have a 4228 that I bought from LNL and am NOT able to use it. I can sell it for a decent price. You can contact me at mw390@attglobal.net. We can meet somewhere (I am in Levittown, Nassau) and get it to you

I'm still leaning towards a UHF/VHF/FM antenna (ChannelMaster 5646 or the DB4), rather than the 4228, but if I decide to go the 4228 route, I'll let you know. My parents are in Bethpage, so picking it up would not be a problem.

Originally posted by mishagray
Not sure it really makes sense.

We are all in the NYC DMA. We are all aiming at the same towers.
I think some of the the most frequent posters to this thread are from NJ.

I think I see more Long Island and NJ people in this thread sometimes, than actual Borough residents...

I echo this thought. I will add, though, that there is a Central NJ thread which makes sense as we as in the New York as well as Philly viewing area.

Originally posted by mishagray
Not sure it really makes sense.

We are all in the NYC DMA. We are all aiming at the same towers.
I think some of the the most frequent posters to this thread are from NJ.

I think I see more Long Island and NJ people in this thread sometimes, than actual Borough residents...

Agreed. As for pgardyasz, check our locations and form your judgement based on that.

Originally posted by PDPnNJ
Agreed. As for pgardyasz, check our locations and form your judgment based on that.

I did check your guys locations, but I didn't want to go through all 4,200 posts. AND mishagray mentioned he sees more NJ or LI people than actual borough residents. I'm not saying to dismantle this thread, but I thought in my own opinion many people would benefit from split threads [NJ, LI, etc] even if we are receiving signals from the same tower. Looks like I'm going to start from page 1 and work my way up. Many thanks to every1 who contributes to this thread!!!

pgardyasz: I would suggest going back and reading the posts from December 2004 and this month. This should give you all the important information since the combiner started operation.

It's a little after 12 noon, and there's no O-T-A signal from WNYW-DT.

Possibly Fox is ramping up the transmitter to its newly approved level of 990kw - making it the most powerful station in the area. Perfect timing for Super Bowl.

Gary

Originally posted by pgardyasz
I did check your guys locations, but I didn't want to go through all 4,200 posts. AND mishagray mentioned he sees more NJ or LI people than actual borough residents. I'm not saying to dismantle this thread, but I thought in my own opinion many people would benefit from split threads [NJ, LI, etc] even if we are receiving signals from the same tower. Looks like I'm going to start from page 1 and work my way up. Many thanks to every1 who contributes to this thread!!!

pgardyasz, what kind of information are you after ? I'm sure we can all help without you reading this gigantic thread.

I've recently had low or disappearing signal strength on WNYW-DT, too. Yes, let's hope it's because they're boosting the signal and not because something is screwed up right before the Superbowl!

I hope it's (at least) back on/sorted by this evening. I don't want to miss 24.

Glad to know that some others have been having the same problems as me though. Makes me happy that it's not just my set-up/location/technical hamfistedness.

Originally posted by dan57
I echo this thought. I will add, though, that there is a Central NJ thread which makes sense as we as in the New York as well as Philly viewing area.

there'e also an eastern LI thread for those interested.

I'm not having a problem with fox but ABC isn't tuning on 7-1. I have to enter 45-1 to get it and it doesn't remap it.

Kind of odd... I thought DTV told it that 7-1 can be found on "45". If that's the case how could this happen? Signal strength if fine though I notice when it's testing channel 45 it never says it's WABC-DT like it does for other channels.

Tom

Lost channel 7-1 and I cant get anything on 45-1. Think they're doing something

OTA from Glen Ridge NJ

I'm in North Jersey , Glen Ridge NJ, Essex County. I'm a Mets fan and want to get WPIX OTA. Can anyone recommend an installer who would know the right Antenna to use, be able to do a good install at a reasonable price?

I'm currently receiving all my OTA HD from Comcast, but they do not offer WPIX.

thanx for the help.

Folks,

Up in Northern Westchester NY, 45 miles from ESB, connected a Silver Sensor to Dish 921 and got CBS-DT only (signal level 66 boosted by Radio Shack inline UHF amp to 78) using the Scan DTV option.

While I am in the process of ordering a CM4228, and 7775 Preamp for the attic install, my question is should I have seen any of the other big networks in the scan at low signal or am I going to see them once the CM4228 is installed

Regards
Naren

I would've thought you'd have picked up WABC-DT and maybe even WNYW-DT, too. WNYW's been fooling around with their transmitter the past couple of weeks, so that may explain the problem there. However, WABC-DT is now my strongest signal most of the time, so I would keep trying to scan for either or both of them. I don't know the Dish receiver, but if you can do manual scans for the channels individually you may get lucky.

Originally posted by frankx99
OTA from Glen Ridge NJ

I'm in North Jersey , Glen Ridge NJ, Essex County. I'm a Mets fan and want to get WPIX OTA. Can anyone recommend an installer who would know the right Antenna to use, be able to do a good install at a reasonable price?

I'm currently receiving all my OTA HD from Comcast, but they do not offer WPIX.

thanx for the help.

Hey Frank, I'm in Glen Ridge too; according to antennaweb.org, we need a medium directional rooftop antenna for WPIX & NBC, & a small multi-directional for practically everything else. I was getting CBS, FOX & ABC with an indoor Philips antenna I bought from Walmart. When I hooked up to the old-fashioned rooftop antenna that was already on the house, I got the same, but slightly stronger. Subsequent re-scannings have now given me everything except PBS. (Fox has been wavering the last few days, but apparently it has for other folks too.) My point is, you might find you get everything you need with an indoor antenna; maybe try that Silver Sensor that folks here seem to recommend, see what you can pick up, & if it's less than adequate, spring for the rooftop antenna (needless to say, if you have an old one on the roof already, simply hook it up!)

John.

Are you saying that you can get WPIX with the Silver Sensor?

If that's the case I'll pick up a used HD receiver and i will be OK. I don't want to have to install an antenna on my roof if I can avoid it.

I am now getting guide data for 9-1 and 11-1. When I brought up my guide I saw two 9-1's and 9-2's. Neither with guide data. So I went into my HR10-250 to delete the dupes and noticed 11-1 and 11-2 were also duplicated. So I turned on the extra (new) 11-1. And low and behold guide data for 11-1.

Still nothing for 9-1. Went out ran some errands and things and came home and now the 'new' 9-1 had some guide data too. Only a couple days for both. I think out till Saturday for 11-1 and maybe till Thursday for 9-1.
So I was unable to set a season pass for ST Enterprise.

The old channels had * in the name in the Channels I receive list. The new ones do not. So I guess in a couple days this will populate.

My other HR10-250 had both sets of 9-1 and 11-1 when I just checked them one set had guide data the other did not. So I removed the set without data.


Also I too am not seeing any signal on 7-1 but, do see it on 45-1. So whatever they did effected me as well.

For now I use DirecTV's HD channels over the OTA ones till they get a bit more stable.

So, has the signal strength improved on either one?

Originally posted by frankx99
Are you saying that you can get WPIX with the Silver Sensor?

If that's the case I'll pick up a used HD receiver and i will be OK. I don't want to have to install an antenna on my roof if I can avoid it.

No, I've never owned a silver sensor. I was just saying that initially the rooftop antenna wasn't getting me any more stations than the Philips indoor antenna I bought from Walmart with my Sanyo HD-built-in tv. Very slightly higher signal strength, but only CBS, FOX & ABC (this was about 2 or 3 months ago). Resetting my tv to re-scan for HD stations has subsequently brought me what I described above. I returned the indoor antenna, otherwise I'd check it for you to see what it brings in now.

Also, I'm probably in the lowest part of Glen Ridge (admittedly there's not all that much variation), with no direct view of Manhattan; your living room might well be higher than my chimney.

John.

excuse me, I assumed it was a silver sensor because I owned one in the past that worked well. Was your indoor antenna amplified? How is reception on WPIX? As you might be able to guess I am a Mets fan and want to see HD broadcasts come April. I believe we are neighbors considering I live south of Bloomfield Ave also.

Originally posted by jcondon
I am now getting guide data for 9-1 and 11-1. When I brought up my guide I saw two 9-1's and 9-2's. Neither with guide data. So I went into my HR10-250 to delete the dupes and noticed 11-1 and 11-2 were also duplicated. So I turned on the extra (new) 11-1. And low and behold guide data for 11-1.


Tune to this channel and then check the OTA signal strength. You may be seeing the channel 12 version. If so, that signal level is much lower than 33. Good luck!

Originally posted by frankx99
excuse me, I assumed it was a silver sensor because I owned one in the past that worked well. Was your indoor antenna amplified? How is reception on WPIX? As you might be able to guess I am a Mets fan and want to see HD broadcasts come April. I believe we are neighbors considering I live south of Bloomfield Ave also.

The indoor antenna had a gain button; does that mean it was amplified? (forgive me, I'm kinda new to all this). It was only $25, too; from reviews I've read, the silver sensor should work better, & isn't as ugly.

WPIX comes in great; I can't give you exact numbers because my tv just shows signal strength as a bar varying from weak to strong, but it looks good, & never pixillates. I just hope Fox gets its act together before the Super Bowl!

John.

Have faith about Fox getting its act together before the Super Bowl.

As I write this, they're working on stepping up the output to 990kw ERP -
making WNYW-DT the most powerful station in the area!

If you like what you're getting from the Combiner, "you ain't seen nothing yet!"

Gary

Originally posted by JPBV
Hey Frank, I'm in Glen Ridge too; according to antennaweb.org, we need a medium directional rooftop antenna for WPIX & NBC, & a small multi-directional for practically everything else. I was getting CBS, FOX & ABC with an indoor Philips antenna I bought from Walmart. When I hooked up to the old-fashioned rooftop antenna that was already on the house, I got the same, but slightly stronger. Subsequent re-scannings have now given me everything except PBS. (Fox has been wavering the last few days, but apparently it has for other folks too.) My point is, you might find you get everything you need with an indoor antenna; maybe try that Silver Sensor that folks here seem to recommend, see what you can pick up, & if it's less than adequate, spring for the rooftop antenna (needless to say, if you have an old one on the roof already, simply hook it up!)

John.

Hey JBVD, there's a guy from Totowa section of Paterson who's been installing antennas for years. Call information for Tom Fuscaldo. Tell him what you want.


I'm in Little Falls NJ. (15 miles west of ESB) Does anyone know what else is going on for our region? I can't get OTA WLIR. Is it even in HD?

I also never seem to get WPIX and UPN at the same time, but when I do get one or the other the signal is SOLID.

Weak signals used to go crap with wind. I had NO problems with our recent storm. Everything was SOLID.

________________________________________________________

Daily HDTV News
Http://www.hdtvforum.com

Originally posted by HDugan
Hey JBVD, there's a guy from Totowa section of Paterson who's been installing antennas for years. Call information for Tom Fuscaldo. Tell him what you want.


I'm in Little Falls NJ. (15 miles west of ESB) Does anyone know what else is going on for our region? I can't get OTA WLIR. Is it even in HD?

I also never seem to get WPIX and UPN at the same time, but when I do get one or the other the signal is SOLID.

Weak signals used to go crap with wind. I had NO problems with our recent storm. Everything was SOLID.

________________________________________________________

Daily HDTV News
Http://www.hdtvforum.com

You are only a few miles west of me and I get all the current channels via an indoor antenna. Silver Sensor. I do have to tweak it from time to time.
CBS - always solid
NBC - have to play around to get it solid without losing three other ch's
ABC - was solid until yesterday, will check tonight
FOX - always solid
UPN - pretty good but don't really watch
PIX - same as UPN
PBS - NJN on 50-5 (not WNET) only a couple of nights a week
I also get the non-hd ch's PAX 31-1 and a couple of Spanish ones

WLIW is no longer HD just digital

Originally posted by s2silber
So, has the signal strength improved on either one?


I didn't check the signal strength as I have been getting low 90s for both 9-1 and 11-1

low 90s for everything but fox. Fox low 80s.

This is on a hr10-250 which goes upto 100 as max

Originally posted by dturturro
Tune to this channel and then check the OTA signal strength. You may be seeing the channel 12 version. If so, that signal level is much lower than 33. Good luck!

I will check when I get home but, seriously doubt I am pulling the channel 12 one. Isn't that VHF as well? My antenna is a Square Shooter which really doesn't pick up VHF too well and I am just over 30 miles from ESB.

But, that may explain why there are two entries in the guide for 11.

Originally posted by jcondon
I will check when I get home but, seriously doubt I am pulling the channel 12 one. Isn't that VHF as well? My antenna is a Square Shooter which really doesn't pick up VHF too well and I am just over 30 miles from ESB.

But, that may explain why there are two entries in the guide for 11.

I found multiples today when I got home too. Only the new 9-1 was getting guide data. 11-1 is still showing Regular Schedule for me.

Originally posted by dturturro
I found multiples today when I got home too. Only the new 9-1 was getting guide data. 11-1 is still showing Regular Schedule for me.

9-1 has titles and descriptions
11-1 shows titles only

Greetings All:
I have inside information that I can accurately guarantee that WNBC-HD is broadcasting at half power from Empire on the combiner. Personally, I was able to receive WNBC-HD at about an 80 on a scale of 0-125 on Dish Networks 921 receiver the first week of January, but now can no longer get a lock. I live in Rutherford, NJ, about 15 miles West of NYC, and have an attic antenna. I get a 120 from CBS, 110 from FOX & 125 from ABC.

My question is- in the surrounding area, are many forum readers still able to receive WNBC-HD, or are your experiences similar to mine and you either can no longer lock to signal or have a much lower level? I'm going straight to the top with the answers to this question.

Thank you!

Is 7-1 up?

dpiroh, 4-1 has been hard to receive of late.
my stb has a horrible OTA meter so I can not compare levels

WNBC's signal is as good as it has been since they moved over. WPIX seems a little stronger but WABC has been out since last night when I posted. I assume they're moving over to Empire State. WNYW does seems to be a little stronger than of late

I'm not getting 7-1 or 7-2 right now either.

I have been a little out of touch for a while due to renovations, but I am noticing the following tonight ... if anyone can tell me if this is normal these days I would appreciate it.

I am getting ABC on 45-1 and it isn't mapping to 7-1. I am getting UPN 9 on 5-2 like I used to but now I get 9-1 UPN 9 and get FOX 5 on 9-2. I am getting PBS on 52-1, 52-2 and 52-5 is HD, but no 52-3 or 52-4 which I was getting yesterday I think.

I checked 7-1 earlier (about 7:30pm) but now it's gone. Watching "NYPD Blue" in SD, argh !

Originally posted by PDPnNJ
I checked 7-1 earlier (about 7:30pm) but now it's gone. Watching "NYPD Blue" in SD, argh ! I scanned through my HD recording of NYPD Blue and it was fine except that the last 15 minutes were in standard definition. This was on a Hipix computer card.

Offandon -

Yes, WABC-TV, for some reason, is now coming through not only on 7.1 and 7.2, but also on 45.1 and 45.2.

WWOR-DT is on the Combiner with its signals mapping as 9.1. and 9.2. 9.2 is a SD transmission of WNYW - Fox 5. Both stations are owned by Fox.

Concerning New Jersey PBS, during prime time, starting at 8 p.m., 52.3 and 52.4 go dark to allow for more bandwidth - this allows 52.5 to transmit High Definition.

Hope this helps and that renovations went well.

Gary

Thanks Gary, I appreciate the info ... it's amazing how much can change in a few months. Our living room is just about done with the new plasma in it that will be mounted on the wall this weekend ... that is what I connected my OTA antenna to ... a few months ago before the changes I had the Sammy TS-360 connected to the antenna and things were different.

The last few days I get nothing on 7-1 but, get a steady 90 on my hr10-250 for 45-1

I also checked my signal strength last night for WPIX-DT and was getting 71-78 peeking at 80.

And for WWORDT I was getting 85-88 peeking at 90.

Thought last week I was getting a stronger signal for WPIX-DT

Here's a link to a good article on the combiner...

http://www.tvtechnology.com/features/news/News_Empire.shtml

Dave