BTW, I am getting WPIX-DT on 33 not 12

I haven't been keeping up with this thread for a few months, so I'm a bit out of the loop on what's been going on. Lat night, I noticed on my HR10-250 that it was showing 9-1 and 9-2 and I assumed that the combiner was up and that UPN had finally gone HD; this was confirmed when I watched Veronica Mars in HD. So, I decided to come back here and find out the latest information.

After reading through a several posts, I see that ABC seems to be down. I checked 7-1 and 7-2 this morning, and sure enough they were black. How long has it been this way? I hope I don't miss Lost and Alias in HD tonight.

I wa also wondering about the status of WNET and WNJN - are they going to move on to the combiner anytime soon? I checked, and I am still not picking up any signal from either of them

One more odd thing - I noticed that I can tune in ABC on 45-1 on the HR10-250, but it is not listed in the 'Channels I Receive' checklist nor is it in the guide. What's that about?

Firstly, thanks to s2silber and George Thompson for immediate responses and the right guidance.

In Somers NY, 45 miles from ESB Combiner, single Silver Sensor in Attic with RS inline amplifier works with DISH 921 !!! Getting 78-87 on scale of 0-125

Just could not pull WNBC-DT, WPIX-DT (could not lock is more appropriate). Compared CBS-HD feed from E* with OTA, OTA's better !! (no compression)

Back to lurker mode.... LOL:D

WNJN is not involved with the Combiner.

We are all awaiting WNET-DT to get its transmitter installed at the Empire State Building. The hope is to be on the air end of First Quarter?????

Who knows? The station has not revealed any timetable.

On my STB, WABC-DT is coming through on channels 7.1, 7.2, 45.1 and 45.2.

Gary

what a wealth of information in this forum.

I was just woundering if anyone from West Orange, NJ in this forum getting HD OTA signal. I think my location is in one of those problem areas :( :( :(

I just got a rabitt ear antenna from BB but it didn't work for jack, I got 1 HD channels 71.1 (spanish channel). My next try is the silver sensor from sears. I'm woundering If I should try an outdoor antenna or will it be a waiste of money. I just wish DishNetwrok would carrl HD Locals to save me this pain.

I got 7-1 last night, no problems for NYPD Blue. Also got guide information on 9-1. Still no guide info for 11-1. My wish for the coming days or weeks is for guide info for 11-1 and reception for 13 PBS digital. With that, I'll be an OTA-er with nothing left on my my wish list.

dishingout, just look at 2 posts above your post, there is an answer there that worked for me (thanks to people on this thread) which should work before trying dangerous stunts on the roof.

Originally posted by dishingout
what a wealth of information in this forum.

I was just woundering if anyone from West Orange, NJ in this forum getting HD OTA signal. I think my location is in one of those problem areas :( :( :(

I just got a rabitt ear antenna from BB but it didn't work for jack, I got 1 HD channels 71.1 (spanish channel). My next try is the silver sensor from sears. I'm woundering If I should try an outdoor antenna or will it be a waiste of money. I just wish DishNetwrok would carrl HD Locals to save me this pain.

I recommend the outdoor antenna. I'm in Little Falls, north of you...kinda the same distance from the ESB. I get everything from a roof antenna with a consistant and quality signal strength.

Honestly, I'm not sure how the signal would be if you're behind South Mountain near Eagle Rock Ave. My guess is that your good proximity with the ESB should work out for you in any regards.

Look around at the locations of some of the posters. I may give you confidence to put up that antenna.

FWIW, I DO get local HDTV provided to me from DirecTV but I block them out because I favor to OTA signal with sub-channels.
___________________________________
Daily HDTV News
http://www.hdtvforum.com

Is anyone getting 7-1 on an HD Tivo? I can get a picture on 45-1, but it doesn't remap to 7-1. Any solutions?, I don't want to have to change all my season passes to Ch86.

Originally posted by dpiroh
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!

Not even a sniff in bergen county. No probs with the other combiner networks. I get them rock solid. Nothing at all from NBC. Fox is sporadic as it's always been in my location.

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

This is a recent article with much technical information on the combiner project for those like me hungering for information. dated Jan 19 2005

good reading...


By the way, in Rockland, no ABC-DT since Monday, NBC in one day out the next, CBS very strong in the morning and by evening much lower ( 68-74 on a Toshiba RP with Tuner to 44-58)

TvJazzman

I'm not getting signal on channels 5-1 & 7-1 this evening. Anyone getting these OTA tonight?

No picture on 5-1 all day, but there is also no picture on directv's ch 88. So it must be a problem with Fox.

7.1 coming in.

Be patient with 5.1 - they're working on the transmitter - increasing the power to become the Metropolitan area's most powerful station!!!

Check 5.1 later tonight.

Gary

Originally posted by TVjazzman
http://www.tvtechnology.com/features/news/News_Empire.shtml

This is a recent article with much technical information on the combiner project for those like me hungering for information. dated Jan 19 2005

good reading...




Great read and also brings into focus the enormous technical challenges of the ESB combiner.

WNYW-DT back on the air!

Strength is low!

Let's wait to see what happens.

Gary

It's now 7:05 p.m., and WNYW-DT is up to its old strength level - at least on my set, in my location.

The signal may not, as of yet, be at full power.

Gary

Originally posted by offandon
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.

This is normal (sorta) for 52. There are five sub-channels for 52. 52-1 through 52-4 run from midnight to 8pm. At 8pm 52-2 and 52-3 are shut down to clear up bandwith for 52-5 which is HD. The HD runs until 12 midnight and then it's cut off again and 52-2 and 52-3 are put back on.

Occaisionally 52-3 or some other channel may go out if an engineer is working on the equipment but otherwise, they should all be running according to the above schedule.

I probably missed this in an earlier post, but I'm not sure what the difference is between 11-1 and 11-2, other than 11-2 seems to be in mono, or have no sound, while 11-1 sound tonight seems to be jumping around the front channels.

Neither seems to be HD, although the picture is better than Cablevision's OTA signal.

Thanks.

C

11.2 is used for Spanish language soundtracks, when available.

11.1 does broadcast HD, when available.

Gary

I am no longer getting abc on 7-1 or 7-2 on my HD Tivo as well, but am getting a signal on 45-1 and 45-2. Must be an ABC issue I am guessing?


Mark

I'm getting a black screen on 7-1 and I can not get 45-1.

No SmallVille for me tonight in HD. I tried watching 11-1 but I got way too many picture freezes and splotches. Does WB do 5.1? There was no center talk.

I have lost the 7-1, 7-2 mapping, but I am also getting short audio dropouts on the 5.1 digital audio for WABC-HD. Is anybody else hearing this problem. It started last night. All of the other NY OTA channel are fine.

Steven

OK I am now getting the following readings on my HD-Tivo w/ Squareshooter on the roof and a 7777 preamp. Less than 10 miles from ESB.

28 - NBC 90's steady (Improvement due to combiner)
38 - UPN 90's steady (w/guide data - new since combiner)
44 - FOX 90's steady (Improvement not sure why)
45 - ABC 90's steady (no improvement but lost mapping to 7.1)
56 - CBS 90's steady (no Improvement)

33 - WB I have not been able to get a lock on this channel since they broadcast the wizard of Oz and I am perplexed as to why. Anyone have any ideas when the WB will improve.

Originally posted by dm145
I'm getting a black screen on 7-1 and I can not get 45-1.

The TS360 won't allow you to tune 45-1. It thinks it's a satellite channel. I tried scanning last night and it stopped on channel 45 for a while but it did not add to the guide hence no remap to 7-1. Watching ALIAS in SD was painful.

Any further word on when everyone (besides WNET) will be at full power?

Originally posted by PDPnNJ
The TS360 won't allow you to tune 45-1. It thinks it's a satellite channel. I tried scanning last night and it stopped on channel 45 for a while but it did not add to the guide hence no remap to 7-1. Watching ALIAS in SD was painful.

Yea, I noticed that it paused on 45 during the scan. I hate the way the 360 handles OTA. (signal meter stinks as well) My DST-3000 would allow you to manually enter a channel without a scan.

I'm going to try this query again... Do you live in NYC but among tall buildings? If so, what did you do to maximize your OTA reception? I live in a 3 story house in Brooklyn (across the park from park slope) but right next to me is a long row of 6-8 story apt. buildings (right between me and the ESB). Any thoughts on antenna types or pre-amps?

Thanks,

Dan

Dan -

I live in Manhattan on the Upper East Side. Although my apartment is on the 22nd floor, I'm surrounded by other buidlings, many of them higher than my apartment; and I have no line of sight to the Empire State Building.

I use a Silver Sensor indoor antenna on a windowsill. The window faces West and I basically point the antenna South or Southwest. I know that most of my reception is by way of multipath (bounce) signals, not direct pick-up.

On a scale of 0-100, my STB's meter usually reads out 52-78 for the Empire State stations. Since I live less than two miles from the stick, I don't use any preamplification.

Dan, it's so difficult and imprecise in applying one person's experiences with another's. A tenant living just nextdoor could have very different results.

I would try a Silver Sensor, one that can be returned. Try it. It's quite amazing, but no magic bullet.

Hope this has helped.

Gary

DISH 921 OTA input, Silver Sensor in Attic, RS inline Amp, Signal levels consistent around 78-82 on a 0-125 scale, yet get a somewhat grainy picture on a Philips 60" Rear projection, its not crystal clear as in Discovery HD or some HDnet programs via satellite..

Is it that the signal needs to be stronger (near 100s or 100+) or is this as high def as it gets from the combiner... thanks in advance

When it comes to digital reception, signal stength only determines whether you receive and can lock the reception in solidly. Once you've got it locked, there's no quality difference between, say, a 75 percent reading and a 99 reading. The different picture quality you're talking about here has to do with the original video source, cameras used, etc. Even on Discovery HD, for example, one program is going to look better or worse than another.

so essentially this would mean that a 90 or a 100+ signal strength will be a minimum requirement becuase with any bad weather will just drop my curent 82 down to 50 (hello pixelization and garbage !) True ?

Not necessarily.

I know this has been asked 100s of times, but I've yet to see a clear answer (and it might have changed.)

I'm getting my HDTV tuner card for my PC tomorrow, so I was hoping to pick up a Silver Sensor... what stores sell them in New York City?

I've checked J&R and the big box store websites (circuit city and best buy) and they don't seem to have it. I can't believe this thing is nowhere to be found in the entire city.

Can anyone point me to the place/location to get one?

Thanks!

The Zenith Silver Sensor antennas apparently also go by the name "Gemini ZHDTV1". I sent you a private message with more info. Dan

Originally posted by nickvlku
I know this has been asked 100s of times, but I've yet to see a clear answer (and it might have changed.)

I'm getting my HDTV tuner card for my PC tomorrow, so I was hoping to pick up a Silver Sensor... what stores sell them in New York City?

I've checked J&R and the big box store websites (circuit city and best buy) and they don't seem to have it. I can't believe this thing is nowhere to be found in the entire city.

Can anyone point me to the place/location to get one?

Thanks!

I picked up one at the Sears on Northern Boulevard in Flushing. They have(had) it in stock.

Notice it's sometimes described as the
Zenith Silver Sensor model ZHDTV1 (http://www.epinions.com/content_104524516996). This review lists various sources, and even adds a 'Gemini' prefix. -- John

Sorry for the silly question in advance.

I live in a condo complex in Queens (north by the water) on the first floor of three floors. I don't subscribe to cable and just get reception through the condo's master rooftop antenna. I only watch broadcast channels anyway. My question. If I buy a TV with a built-in HD tuner, will I get HD reception from the antenna that was probably installed around 1986? I get decent reception now with my old television.

Thanks.

Originally posted by smile16
Sorry for the silly question in advance.

I live in a condo complex in Queens (north by the water) on the first floor of three floors. I don't subscribe to cable and just get reception through the condo's master rooftop antenna. I only watch broadcast channels anyway. My question. If I buy a TV with a built-in HD tuner, will I get HD reception from the antenna that was probably installed around 1986. I get decent reception now.

Thanks.

Tune to an analog UHF station coming from the ESB (ch 68 should work)and see if you get a ghost free picture. If so, you're probably good to go.

Sorry, if you're saying I should turn to channel 68 with my present TV (panasonic CRT from 2000) and if it's ghost free (meaning without snow?), then I should be fine buying a built-in HD tuner TV?

Thanks again.

Originally posted by smile16
Sorry, if you're saying I should turn to channel 68 with my present TV (panasonic CRT from 2000) and if it's ghost free (meaning without snow?), then I should be fine buying a built-in HD tuner TV?

Thanks again.

No. Snow indicates a weak signal. Ghosts are shadowy figures that occupy space right next to the object that is on the TV. Ghosting indicates multipathing.

If you have a small to medium roof-top antenna in Queens signal stregnth should not be an issue. Multipathing, however may be an issue.

68 may be a bad example, try 41 also. If the antenna has been up there for a while it may have moved. Aim it at the ESB for a starting point and see how the signal improves by rotating the antenna.

Thanks for the clarification. Really really appreciate it. I will see what 41 looks like but I think that's a channel (Spanish) I receive. Sorry but what's multipathing?

Also, it may be hard for me to move the antenna as I don't think I have the right to do that. But I can check with the condo management.

Thanks again.

Originally posted by smile16
Thanks for the clarification. Really really appreciate it. I will see what 41 looks like but I think that's a channel (Spanish) I receive. Sorry but what's multipathing?

Also, it may be hard for me to move the antenna as I don't think I have the right to do that. But I can check with the condo management.

Thanks again.

Multipathing in digital signals degrades the signal. Usally rotating the antenna will reduce the problem.

BTW for HR10-250 owners, I see ABC is being mapped on 7-1 again.

Originally posted by smile16
Sorry but what's multipathing?




Refers to a radio signal that winds up taking two or more paths because the signal is reflected off buildings or other obstructions. Although multipath is a problem with all kinds of radio transmission, ghosts on a TV channel are an example of multipath that you can see with your own eyes

Originally posted by dturturro
I see ABC is being mapped on 7-1 again.

Yes, hopefully is permanent.

This is a recent article with much technical information on the combiner project for those like me hungering for information. dated Jan 19 2005

No wonder it took so long.

Thanks for the post!

Tony

Ok, last night I turned to channel 41 and 68 and I see some color snow but wave-like images but hear audio of the program. When I changed channels through TIVO, I just get a black screen.

Not good signs?

Is WNBC-DT on combiner the problem or is it me that I cannot get a lock on UHF 28 on DISH 921, while all others (WCBS-DT, WABC-DT and WNYW-DT are fine) off the same ESB combiner lock and have signal strength of 78-82

The signal reaches high as 70 for few seconds, then drops to 50 and finally to zero, and then again shoots back to 70... Multipathing ? if so why just one channel...

Can anybody kindly advise...

WNBC-DT is on the Combiner.

WNYW-DT is not on the Combiner - the station has its own antenna on the Empire State Building.

Gary

Anyone have any information about the YES Network?

I Have D* and I'm hoping it gets included with the HD LIL's coming soon.

I think this is sort of off topic but the YES thread got the kaboosh and we got told to

"Continue the YES discussion in the New York thread, or HD Baseball in general in the Programming forum." (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=5071072#post5071072)

There's no NY D* thread (that I can find) and I dont want to have to wade through the whole country's baseball offerings just to find out about my yanks. Hopefully we can keep up to date here?

Bueller, Bueller, anyone?



:)

Check this thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=490500

Last night for the first time I was able to watch NJN-HD (60% signal strength) on channel 51-5. I was never able to pull it in with my attic mounted RS Yagi which is very directional. The ESB is at 189° and NJN at 214°. Does anyone know if NJN has increased it's signal strength.

Hi rao_naren...

" cannot lock on WNBC-DT

Is WNBC-DT on combiner the problem or is it me that I cannot get a lock on UHF 28 on DISH 921, while all others (WCBS-DT, WABC-DT and WNYW-DT are fine) off the same ESB combiner lock and have signal strength of 78-82

The signal reaches high as 70 for few seconds, then drops to 50 and finally to zero, and then again shoots back to 70... Multipathing ? if so why just one channel...

Can anybody kindly advise..."

I have the exact same problem...I get good lock on everything else (though lost WNYW since Thursday afternoon- hopefully they're just doing work on it...SuperBowl is coming!)...but NBC is a no go. Same thing on my 921...up to 70-73, then down to the low 50's, and then the cycle repeats. Never get signal, but I lock for a few seconds when it's in the 70's.

Thought I might add my response to this (I am about 3 miles from the ESB, in Fort Greene, Brooklyn):

>>>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.

I got an NBC signal last night for the first time in a long time--but it only lasted about 30 seconds, and then I saw "Channel not available" over the picture (???) and then it went dark. Very puzzling.
Also, CBS was having trouble--locking up and stuttering--for the first time. ABC, Fox, UPN coming in fine (the three networks I am least likely to watch, Super Bowl notwithstanding). Didn't check PBS.
I'm still adjusting my antenna (Silver Sensor in attic) because my setup is new, so another angle might be called for.

Is it usual to pull in analog stations with the HDTV tuner? I'm getting Fox and WNET as analog--5 and 13--on my antenna.

WPIX 11-1 or 33-1 I can't get a picture on either. I get about 90 points of signal but, no picture since sometime Wed (missed Smallville). I assume they are down and its not me? Or is it? On two different receivers the same thing.

Both WWOR-DT (Channel 38) and WPIX-DT (Channel 33) coming in loud and clear.

Gary

Originally posted by Gary Press
Both WWOR-DT (Channel 38) and WPIX-DT (Channel 33) coming in loud and clear.

Gary

Thanks I actually meant 33-1 and 11-1 (I typed the wrong channel).

I get WWOR-DT no problem. I just get a black screen for WPIX. Been like that since Wed sometime. Shows signal strength of a bout 90 when I check too.

Guess I will have to rescan the channels when I get home and see what happens. Monday and Tuesday WPIX was working fine.

Originally posted by Gary Press
Both WWOR-DT (Channel 38) and WPIX-DT (Channel 33) coming in loud and clear.

Gary

I see you are in NYC. Are you getting WPIX on 12 or 33 or both?


Thanks,
Jim

Jim -

I can only receive WPIX-DT on Channel 33. The VHF Channel 12 signal
is much too weak to get any reception.

Gary

Ok. I was thinking maybe since you are NYC maybe you were getting WPIX on 12. I will have to mess with it when I get home then. I get signal but, no picture. Was working on Monday and Tuesday.

Are you all ready for this?

After going through the birthing pains with the Combiner, now we are faced with problems and questions concerning television transmission from the Freedom Tower.

The following are excerpts from today's New York Times - page B3:

"Will the Spire Survive at the Freedom Tower?"

"David M. Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the architects of Freedom Tower, has never made a secret of his unhappiness with the spire, which was effectively appended to Skidmore's design. But the current questions about the spire's future do not amount - at least on the face of it - to Round 2 of the celebrated struggle between Mr. Childs and Mr. Libeskind, the master planner for the trade center site.

Rather, they reflect the technical hurdles that the spire poses for the broadcasters that are supposed to share it.

Among the questions the planners are asking themselves are these:

With the anntennas off to one side, would the building itself create too large a shadow for the broadcast signal?

Would the signal be compromised because of the distance the transmission cables have to travel from the central building core to the antennas at the tower's edge?

Assuming that the spire would be nonmetallic to avoid interfering with the broadcast signal, what sort of precedent is there for construction with composite materials on that scale and at that elevation?


All these questions can be answered. And if there are any engineering problems, they can presumably be solved. But it will cost money.

No one at the negotiating table will publicly answer these questions, including Paul Bissonette, president of the Metropolitan Television Alliance. The group, which includes Channels 2,4,5,7,9,11 and 13, signed a memorandum of understanding in 2003 with the developer, Larry Silverstein, to install antennas atop the Freedom Tower."

I'm ready to go to the nearest bar and down a few - no, make that many!

Gary

Those getting any UHF stations from a master rooftop antenna are fortunate, IMO. Our coop antenna is still VHF only, and while only 9 blocks from the E.S.B. I still can only pick up CBS reliably with my Silver Sensor and ~year-2000 RPTV HD tuner. Signals, most likely, are simply passing overhead, although they still seem to be tweaking the antennas.

With any UHF master antenna reception, assuming it's not just direct over-the-air, all that's needed is a coax to your tuner; here I need a 300-ohm-to-75-ohm balun transformer just for VHF. The rooftop antenna location, plus a reasonable building amplifier, might deliver lots of HD stations. -- John

Is it me, or does the antennaweb.org data still calculate channel directions as if the WTC was still the broadcast site?

There's a fire about 5 floors below the observation deck. Anybody check to see if
HD signals still coming in?

Originally posted by mw390
There's a fire about 5 floors below the observation deck. Anybody check to see if
HD signals still coming in?

It's a steam leak, not a fire. Everyone's on the air except Fox.

I'd like to share some information I received from a very reliable source concerning his on-site Combiner observations, as of today - Not technical measurements:

Full Power: 2, 7 and 9

Partial Power: 4 and 11

Separately, 5, which in not a part of the Combiner project, continues to work on its own transmitter, boosting eventually to its newly authorized power limit of 990kw ERP. Logic and plans would have the station at full power for Super Bowl.

Hope this helps.

Gary

Originally posted by smile16
Ok, last night I turned to channel 41 and 68 and I see some color snow but wave-like images but hear audio of the program. When I changed channels through TIVO, I just get a black screen.

Not good signs?

It sounds like the antenna is either no good or not oriented. Try a Zenith ( aka Gemini) Silver Sensor. It's an indoor UHF antenna that runs about $25. Well worth the investment.

Ok figured out what the deal is with both my HR10-250s and WPIXDT
As of Wed sometime I was unable to receive 11-1. What has happened is the channel maps were 33 -> 11-1. However now DirecTV has it 12 -> 11-1 so I get nothing. I cleared my channels and did a rescan. Now I have two 11-1's one mapped to 12 and the other 33. The one mapped to 12 has the guide data and the one that is mapped to 33 has the broadcast. Even typing in 33-1 doesn't work as it remaps it to 12.

So at least for now I can watch shows and do manual recordings. Hope they (DirecTV?) fix this soon. It worked fine last week. There is no way for me to set this manually on the box to get around this either.

This isn't a bug it's "normal". WPIX is still in test mode for the transmission from the combiner. If you go back to somewhere near page 176 in this thread you'll see their announcement.

The official broadcast for WPIX is VHF 12. that's what the folks at DTV send for guide data. Currently they do not send data for the test transmission which is on UHF 33. Until WPIX is ready to change over that's what DTV will cover.

Hopefully WPIX will make the change official soon but the ball is in their court to do so.

Tom

Originally posted by jcondon
Ok figured out what the deal is with both my HR10-250s and WPIXDT
As of Wed sometime I was unable to receive 11-1. What has happened is the channel maps were 33 -> 11-1. However now DirecTV has it 12 -> 11-1 so I get nothing. I cleared my channels and did a rescan. Now I have two 11-1's one mapped to 12 and the other 33. The one mapped to 12 has the guide data and the one that is mapped to 33 has the broadcast. Even typing in 33-1 doesn't work as it remaps it to 12.

So at least for now I can watch shows and do manual recordings. Hope they (DirecTV?) fix this soon. It worked fine last week. There is no way for me to set this manually on the box to get around this either.

For about a week though it worked the other way. You would think they would move to channel 33 quickly since virtually no one can receive 12 anyway.

Hope they officially switch soon.

Thanks for the feedback.

Hiya, I'm a Philly transplant excited to watch the SB in my new appartment.

I don't really watch TV, My HT setup is strickly for movies, but what the heck...

anyhoo I do NOT have cable TV, so I'm just going for OTA HDTV.

I have a Phillips 34pw850h
which I think is a HDTV ready monitor.

So I need a decoder box and an antenna.

I'm really on a tight budget, so I don't know what to get.

BUT, my biggest question is, can I even do this????

I live at Broadway and 125th street. where Broadway kinda dips into a sink hole and the subway is elevated for only one stop. I live toward RSD so I'm a bit elevated.

I'm on the Third floor of a 6 floor building and my appartment faces the AirShaft. Is there anyway I can get decent reception? Its a sublet rental situation so I don't have many options for locating the antenna.

Please HELP!

Thanks!!!

Last nights broadcast of StarTrek on UPN was flawless. Not one burb or sound issue. The colors on that Andorian were amazing. It will be some treat when the rest of the broadcasters go full power on the combiner.

Originally posted by jbjbjbjb
Last night for the first time I was able to watch NJN-HD (60% signal strength) on channel 51-5. I was never able to pull it in with my attic mounted RS Yagi which is very directional. The ESB is at 189° and NJN at 214°. Does anyone know if NJN has increased it's signal strength.

There are plans to increase power on two of the towers but nothing has been increased at this point as far as I know.

If you do not have any subscribed service and only want OTA HD then buy a cheap Samsung tuner, the cheapest is the older SIR -T151 or the newer T165. I also set up my home theater for movies but since my front projector is HD I purchased the T151. When a movie is shown in HD it blows away upconverted DVD movies. Cannot wait for the Super Bowl just hope that the finicky FOX will be up at full power

Originally posted by tmtech

The official broadcast for WPIX is VHF 12. that's what the folks at DTV send for guide data. Currently they do not send data for the test transmission which is on UHF 33. Until WPIX is ready to change over that's what DTV will cover.

Hopefully WPIX will make the change official soon but the ball is in their court to do so.

Tom

The official channel for WPIX is UHF 33-1 not VHF 12.
VHF 12 was/is a temporary slot until the Combiner is done and it will transmit solely on UHF 33-1

Originally posted by dm145
The official channel for WPIX is UHF 33-1 not VHF 12.
VHF 12 was/is a temporary slot until the Combiner is done and it will transmit solely on UHF 33-1


Thank you for the channel UHF 33 advice, and to everyone else with their contributions. I'm able to get CBS, FOX, ABC, UPN, and WPIX using a Radio Shack 15-1880 in the attic 26 miles away from ESB. Now to hope for NBC to come in.......

Rub it in!!!!!

I don't know what happened, but my indoor antenna can no longer get WWOR :( All I recorded was an hour of darkness! To make matters worse, the SD recording also got screwed up. Good thing I have it set to record in the guest room in SD.

I went to Bestbuy today and bought 5 indoor antennas. The only one that was able to pickup WWOR was:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1091102061935&skuId=6832314&productCategoryId=cat08081&type=product

Still can't pick up WPIX and WWOR at the same time.

I think I'm going to bite the bullet and just hire a company to mount a rooftop antenna. I'm tired of fiddling with this stuff.



Originally posted by Gary Quiring
Last nights broadcast of StarTrek on UPN was flawless. Not one burb or sound issue. The colors on that Andorian were amazing. It will be some treat when the rest of the broadcasters go full power on the combiner.

http://www.dielectric.com/broadcast/news_story.asp?ID=78

Originally posted by slocko
Rub it in!!!!!

Still can't pick up WPIX and WWOR at the same time.

I think I'm going to bite the bullet and just hire a company to mount a rooftop antenna. I'm tired of fiddling with this stuff. You may be going crazy for no reason. I don't think the WB is full power yet. I would *guess* that if you can get CBS and UPN with no issue the rest on the combiner will also be no problem once they are done.

Been lurking around the forums and just wanted to post my experience for anyone in the Morris County area in NJ. I live in Rockaway Township(Wharton is the town) and used a Zenith Silver Sensor antenna purchased from Sears.

Without having even mounted it in the attic yet I have been able to pick up at good strength:

CBS, Fox, ABC, and UPN, as well as a few NJN feeds, Channel 40(I believe its Univision) and local channel 63.

From what I gather WPIX is still not running full power on 33 but I would assume that will work once those issues are settled since its from the same location as everything else from New York.

I was very impressed with the performance of the antenna and would recommend people in the area give it a shot(you can return with no issues) before going crazy with antennas.

I think my issue with 9 and 11 may be related more to the frequencies at which the channels broadcast, than power.

I'll try a silver sensor. The terk one that looks just like a silver sensor didn't pick up any channels at all. Of course it was the only one without amplification.

Just got a quote for a rooftop antenna including installation, $399 plus tax.

Ouch!!! I guess I'm going to just give up on Smallville in HD (sorry, rather watch TPOL in HD than Lois Lane). I'm moving in 6 months and I am not going to pay that much for something I can't take with me.

Originally posted by jason423
Been lurking around the forums and just wanted to post my experience for anyone in the Morris County area in NJ. I live in Rockaway Township(Wharton is the town) and used a Zenith Silver Sensor antenna purchased from Sears.

Without having even mounted it in the attic yet I have been able to pick up at good strength:

CBS, Fox, ABC, and UPN, as well as a few NJN feeds, Channel 40(I believe its Univision) and local channel 63.

From what I gather WPIX is still not running full power on 33 but I would assume that will work once those issues are settled since its from the same location as everything else from New York.

I was very impressed with the performance of the antenna and would recommend people in the area give it a shot(you can return with no issues) before going crazy with antennas.

How far are you from ESB?

Originally posted by dturturro
It sounds like the antenna is either no good or not oriented. Try a Zenith ( aka Gemini) Silver Sensor. It's an indoor UHF antenna that runs about $25. Well worth the investment.

Thanks for responding dturturro!

So, if I buy the panny TH42PD25U (with built-in tuner), I will have to buy the Zenith Silver Senor antenna too? Or should I just have the condo maintenance people orient the antenna?

The Silver Sensor's only about $25. Go with that.

Originally posted by dturturro
The Silver Sensor's only about $25. Go with that.

Ok. Thanks!

Originally posted by dturturro
How far are you from ESB?

My place is about 35 miles or so from the ESB.

Originally posted by slocko
Just got a quote for a rooftop antenna including installation, $399 plus tax.

I too inquired with a satellite company before deciding to put up my own antenna. IIRC, they wanted $350 (without a rotor/pre-amp) back in January 2003. I decided to just take the plunge and do it myself (actually put 2 different OTA antennas up, but that's a WHOLE 'nother story :p ).

I may have actually spent upwards of $250 on all the hardware(antenna/rotor/pre-amp/wiring/mounts/masts)....but IMHO it was worth it. Maddening as it was.....I learnt some stuff :D

Okay Jay, whenever you want to learn some more, I will gladly let you practice on my roof :)

Originally posted by slocko
Okay Jay, whenever you want to learn some more, I will gladly let you practice on my roof :)

I only walk on my own roof (or my parents) for insurance purposes of course :D

I guess what it came down to was: The ONLY way for me to watch OTA HD was for me to get an antenna on my roof. I couldn't see paying someone THAT much money....so I figured....what the hey. I'd do it myself. Some parts were maddening....but overall I can't complain (2 years later now).

I NEVER would have thought I'd put up antennas on my own....until I saw what HD looked like....but I know I'm probably preaching to the choir ;)

Since last weeks storm I can no longer get a strong lock on either NBC HD or their weather related station. Prior to that signal strength was 80-90% on Dish 811.

same here.

this stuff fluctuates a lot.

WABC-DT sub channel has the message on it now:
http://img195.exs.cx/img195/1734/snapshot0000.th.jpg (http://img195.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img195&image=snapshot0000.jpg)

Is WPIX-DT at full power? I am in Staten Island and getting a 100 signal on CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX and UPN but WPIX is 55-65.

As of this past Friday, 4, 5 and 11 not at full power.

Gary

I've gone from having a flickering signal last week on Ch 7 that wouldn't lock in, to absolutely nothing. Not a single bar in the signal strength function. Nothing at all. Is this a Brooklyn thing, or is ABC really off the air completely?

Originally posted by bjohn
http://www.dielectric.com/broadcast/news_story.asp?ID=78

thats for the NTSC transmitters for FOX and WNBC not HDTV

Originally posted by stracke
I've gone from having a flickering signal last week on Ch 7 that wouldn't lock in, to absolutely nothing. Not a single bar in the signal strength function. Nothing at all. Is this a Brooklyn thing, or is ABC really off the air completely?


That is really strange. I am getting a 100 signal on WABC-DT in Staten Island.

I am getting 70% from WABC-DT in Northern, NJ.

-getting 78% in Rockland County NY for ABC-DT but 44-56% for CBS and 44% for NBC...

CBS always gets worse in the evening but close to 70% the next morning.

Go figure...

Originally posted by jason423
My place is about 35 miles or so from the ESB.

Wow, 35 miles out and you're getting good reception from a Silver Sensor? Are you doing anything else?

Originally posted by dturturro
Wow, 35 miles out and you're getting good reception from a Silver Sensor? Are you doing anything else?

I'm in the same vicinity and use a Radio Shack double bowtie inside and get everything perfectly. In our case, it's not the distance, but the altitude and line of sight to the ESB. From where I am, I can see Manhattan from my complex in certain spots, and I'm on a 600 ft hill. It helps a whole lot. A friend of mine is 10 miles closer to the city, but much closer to sea level, and he can't get anything with an indoor antenna.

Originally posted by stracke
I've gone from having a flickering signal last week on Ch 7 that wouldn't lock in, to absolutely nothing. Not a single bar in the signal strength function. Nothing at all. Is this a Brooklyn thing, or is ABC really off the air completely?

I'm still getting ABC-DT in Brooklyn (Clinton Hill), tho' the signal is weaker than it used to be. Down to about three bars now, but still usable.

I'm on a high floor, with an unobstructed, if oblique, view of the ESB. With only a cheap GE set-top antenna, which I place on my windowsill (reception improves dramatically there), I have little trouble receiving all the combiner stations (excepting WNET, of course), plus FOX, NJN, WNYE, PAX, and some Spanish channels.

I've had major problems holding a lock on WNYW (RF44) last night and this morning. It has never been a problem before. Anyone else having this issue?

I've been getting ABC on 7-1 and 7-2 on the HR10-250 sinceat least last Friday night. For whatever reason, I can also still tune it in on 45-1 and 45-2 although those still do not scan into the channel list or appear in the guide.

Originally posted by jgrahamiii
I've had major problems holding a lock on WNYW (RF44) last night and this morning. It has never been a problem before. Anyone else having this issue?

The engineers continue to work on WNYW-DT's upgraded transmitter on the ESB.

The plan is to be at full power in time for the Super Bowl.

Gary

Trekker...are you in Powdermill?

I'm getting NBC now although still not at full strength, at 4.1 and 4.2. ABC CBS come in full strength. Fox comes and goes. But I am getting it on 5.1 and 9.2. When I punch in 44 on my remote Fox comes in but it says it's 5.1. Strange. Still getting WPIX on 11.0 11.1 and 11.2. NJN is there some nights and gone on others.

Got a second? Can you do me a favor? I entered my street address on antennaweb.org to try and help me correctly position my antenna for the ESB. When I look at the street level map, the direction it suggests pointing my antenna to receive 44, 28 and the other networks seems way off to me. I think it might be indicating WTC still instead of ESB. Could someone try this with their own street address to confirm this? I'd be very grateful.

Dan

Two things:

1. You may be correct but if you look at CBS or CBS-DT the bearing should be correct

2. These are MAGNETIC not GEOGRAPHIC headings. A map and a compass will vary (I think about 10 degrees around here).

Originally posted by netman
Two things:

1. You may be correct but if you look at CBS or CBS-DT the bearing should be correct

2. These are MAGNETIC not GEOGRAPHIC headings. A map and a compass will vary (I think about 10 degrees around here).
Thanks very much for checking this out -- I'm still confused though. When I look at CBS-DT (56) on the map antennaweb provides for my address it appears to be pointing at WTC. I just want to know where to point my antenna... :mad: Dan

P.S. I'm not looking at the compass numbers, I'm just looking at where the lines are pointing to leading away from my home on the street map.

Difference between the magnetic & true heading on east coast is about 14 degrees; subtract that from true to get magnetic.

Using NOAA nautical charts, from Prospect Park Brooklyn to ESB it's 5.2 nm bearing 12 degrees magnetic. From Bay Ridge it's about 7.5 nm bearing 30 degrees.

Dan, what area are you in - I'll recheck it.

Dave

From western Brooklyn (cursor near 86th St & Belt Pky) the bearing to WTC is 28 degrees and to the ESB it's 33 degrees - only 5 degrees difference. I determined this using Maptech Chart Navigator, using a line tool which shows distance & bearing between two points on a map.

Dave

Originally posted by dswenson
From western Brooklyn (cursor near 86th St & Belt Pky) the bearing to WTC is 28 degrees and to the ESB it's 33 degrees - only 5 degrees difference. I determined this using Maptech Chart Navigator, using a line tool which shows distance & bearing between two points on a map.

Dave
Thanks for checking on this Dave. I must admit I'm a newbie at this and I was going by my mental impression of where I thought the ESB was in relation to my home. I did some checking on various maps and I think antennaweb is probably right. The degree of separation between WTC and ESB is much slighter than I thought when viewed on a map (see attached). I'm going to go with what antennaweb states and see if that works for me.

Thanks,

Dan

Attach 2

attach 3

even if you aim exactly at the direction antennaweb says, you will most likely need to fiddle with the antenna a bit to get the best reception. I'm 40+ miles out but i can still get a signal in a swath of 12or 20 degrees. From as close as you are- I would guess you can get a signal from a similar arc.

Once you aim it in the ballpark- have someone watch the signal meter on your tuner and let you know when you get the highest level as you spin the antenna slowly (just a degree or 2 at a time). Now that everything is on the ESB- if you get one station at it's peak you should theoretically get them all good at the same angle, but just to be sure check each channel and fiddle with the aim a little each time to make sure the same direction gets the best signal for the most channels.

Its moreart than science.

Originally posted by michaelk
Once you aim it in the ballpark- have someone watch the signal meter on your tuner and let you know when you get the highest level as you spin the antenna slowly (just a degree or 2 at a time). Since my wife thinks I'm insane for "wasting" all this time on HDTV and similar gadgets, that would leave my 5-year-old daughter for an assistant. This is going to be an interesting experience... Thanks for your help! Dan

if your tuner makes a one, you can just have your daughter hold the phone to the receiver and then you can listen on a cordless phone or a cell phone when you're on the roof/in the attic.


or tell your firends- no super bowl in HD unless they get off their butts and help!

:)

Originally posted by DanC-P
Since my wife thinks I'm insane for "wasting" all this time on HDTV and similar gadgets, that would leave my 5-year-old daughter for an assistant. This is going to be an interesting experience... Thanks for your help! Dan

If you're in Brooklyn you can probably get a Silver Sensor rather than an outdoor antenna.

Originally posted by dturturro
If you're in Brooklyn you can probably get a Silver Sensor rather than an outdoor antenna.

Yup- I'd agree, I can get philly at about 38miles with a silver sensor so definetaly try that. (I assumed the silver sensor didn't work, but we all know what happens when you assume....)

Anyone having any trouble with WABC-DT tonight? I am getting very low signal, the D* feed is fine...Usually my OTA for WABC-DT is very strong...

FWIW, WABC-DT is low 90s (100 is tops) for me now. No idea what it was earlier in the night.

I couldn't get anything from WCBS last night - zero. Was I alone? Dan

I for one am very happy that the Combiner is finally up. Unfortunately I wish that the stations would get their act together. Channel 4 was one of my best channels, now it's unusable. Channel 5 and 11 are "here today, gone tomorrow". All I want to do is get a reliable orientation for my Wingate antenna. I really don't want to keep going up a roof 30 feet to get a lock. I'm only 8 miles away from the ESB and have these problems, I can only imagine what some of you are going through. Here's a question for you Guys, should I just lock in on Channel 2, since it is the only one at full strength, and just wait for the others to follow suit?

Concerning full power - in addition to WCBS-DT, WABC-DT and WWOR-DT are now both transmitting at full power. NBC and PIX , as of last Friday, are still not at 100%.

Even though all of the Combiner stations are using WCBS-DT's antenna, they all transmit at different frequencies. Unless you have totally unobstructed line-of-sight to the Empire State Building, different frequencies will react and interact differently. It's enough to drive a sane person crazy. I'm plagued with multipath reflections, and if I get one station well from the Combiner, I lose a diifferent one. With my indoor Silver Sensor, I'm constantly changing its positioning. And, in a given day, reception can change drastically. I can empathize for those of you using an outdoor antenna.

Additionally, we're awaiting WNET-DT to connect its new transmitter to the Combiner.

Channel 5 is planned to be at full power by Sunday for the Super Bowl.

Wish you well,

Gary

Originally posted by DanC-P
I couldn't get anything from WCBS last night - zero. Was I alone? Dan

No problem for me to get CSI: MIAMI last night at 10 in East Brunswick OTA.

Originally posted by jcord51
I for one am very happy that the Combiner is finally up. Unfortunately I wish that the stations would get their act together. Channel 4 was one of my best channels, now it's unusable. Channel 5 and 11 are "here today, gone tomorrow". All I want to do is get a reliable orientation for my Wingate antenna. I really don't want to keep going up a roof 30 feet to get a lock. I'm only 8 miles away from the ESB and have these problems, I can only imagine what some of you are going through. Here's a question for you Guys, should I just lock in on Channel 2, since it is the only one at full strength, and just wait for the others to follow suit?


Every ESB station (except WNET) comes in fine for me in suffolk. I am 35 miles away from ESB. The stations are fine.

I'm beginning to think that people, like me, who are very close to the ESB are having more reception problems than people who are 20-30 miles away...

I agree DanC-P I am less than 10 miles away (in Brooklyn) with a clear line of site and have only received WPIX-HD once since the towers went down. Futhermore, I received better reception on same stations with indoor antenna (Rat Shack double bow-tie) than I do now with a roof top antenna (Square Shooter).

Originally posted by dswenson
From western Brooklyn (cursor near 86th St & Belt Pky) the bearing to WTC is 28 degrees and to the ESB it's 33 degrees - only 5 degrees difference. I determined this using Maptech Chart Navigator, using a line tool which shows distance & bearing between two points on a map.

Dave

So if I'm about 15 miles from Manhattan with an outdoor antenna pointing at the old WTC site, I shouldn't worry too much about reorienting in the direction of ESB? I don't feel like getting on my snowy roof before Sunday...Right now I'm getting CBS, NBC, WOR & PIX fine; FOX & ABC not very strong.

Thanks.

John

Originally posted by DanC-P
I'm beginning to think that people, like me, who are very close to the ESB are having more reception problems than people who are 20-30 miles away...

Being very close in to NYC can certainly cause problems but being 35 miles out behind a hill is no bargain either. Both are reception issues that need to be dealt with.

I am not a fan of indoor antennas but an outdoor antenna has its own needs. First off is a good feed line and good connection technique. Since UHF antennas tend to be small I would put a rotor on any rooftop UHF install. For the cost of a modest rotor you could save a ton of time. As someone pointed out you have to deal with a lot of reflections close in and direction of best pickup may be hard to predict. In addition anyone less than 15 miles out should not be playing with preamps as I see mentioned too often.

In the past, stations ran low power "translator" channels for you guys real close in. I guess that is a thing of the past.

John - the difference of 5 degrees I mentioned is because that location is almost due south of both the WTC & ESB. Using an antenna pointed to the old WTC site would only work if you are basically due north or south of them. I would leave it & hope FOX increases power. If Sunday comes & no change then break out the climbing gear!

Dave

Dave, sorry, I should have mentioned that I'm roughly equidistant from both ESB & WTC. High school math is remaining stubbornly buried in the recesses of my brain.

John,

Anyone else having a problem with the video on 4.1 and 4.2?

For about the past half-hour or so, no picture - the audio comes through and the PSIP. The DirecTV feed of 4.1 is fine.

Strange!

Gary

I can't tune in the OTA feed from here but the feed from Cablevision is fine.

Originally posted by Gary Press
Anyone else having a problem with the video on 4.1 and 4.2?

For about the past half-hour or so, no picture - the audio comes through and the PSIP. The DirecTV feed of 4.1 is fine.

Strange!

Gary
NBC is coming in fine for me (weak, as usual, but with image and sound). Today is the first day the digital channels are required to follow the PSIS norms -- I'm told that with some receivers you might have to rescan to get certain channels correctly. Just a thought... Dan

Boy, is this weird!

I've re-scanned - I've "Re-Set" my Sony SAT HD-300 STB - I've manually inputted Channel 28 and no luck. Every other channel is fine!

As I mentioned above, no video on 4.1 and 4.2. The audio for both channels is from 4.1 - although the PSIP is showing two different programs.

I've also noticed that with the re-scanning etc., 28.3 is now a part of my station list - no picture, the audio is from 4.1 and there's no program information. I also have been blessed with channel 28.4 - no picture - no program information, with audio from NBC's Weather Plus Channel.

As DanC-P mentioned, it's got to be WNBC doing something with the PSIP -
and my STB is having a problem with whatever the station has fed out!

Wow! Just when you thought it was safe to watch HD, O-T-A!

Help!

Gary

As of 21:00 EST I am getting channels 28-1 and 28-2 instead of 4-1 and 4-2

I am not getting 4-1 or 4-2 either tonight and they usually come in pretty strong for me. Nothing on 28-1 or 28-2 either

Originally posted by mw390
As of 21:00 EST I am getting channels 28-1 and 28-2 instead of 4-1 and 4-2

Me, too. WNBC-DT is all messed up tonight. Now it is on 28-1.

On my Fusion HDTV3/MCE2005 OTA setup, WNBC-DT is coming up as Weather Plus instead of normal NBC-HD tonight... however, using the dvico software I can tune it in fine, but for some reason MCE2005 is tuning to weatherplus instead...

It was fine last night (watched jay on it.)

Hmm....

Oh just an update on my silver sensor hunt, I found one in the Sears on Queens Blvd. I checked out a few Circuit Cities and Best Buys and they only had the Terk that looked like the Silver Sensor...

So in case anyone else is looking, Sears got em! (But they're $40, instead of $25 online)

My DTC-100 crashes when I tune to Fox 5-1. I have to power-cycle the DTC100 to gain control of it again. Anyone else having this problem? Bad timing, what with the Superbowl coming up....

Originally posted by gnormhurst
My DTC-100 crashes when I tune to Fox 5-1. I have to power-cycle the DTC100 to gain control of it again. Anyone else having this problem? Bad timing, what with the Superbowl coming up.... I'm not having any problem with Fox 5-1 -- in fact it's still my only reliable channel! Good luck for the Super Bowl! Dan

I too had audio and no video on NBC DT 4-1 last night.

Query: I still have no progamming guide information on 11-1 WPIX OTA. I thought maybe with the Feb. 1 PSIP deadline yesterday, I would start to get it. Is anyone getting guide infor OTA? I tried a re-scan last night to no avail. By the way, if it matters, I have a Hughes HTL-HD.

I now have 28-3 and 28-4. No guide data. No 28-1 or 28-2. 28-3 and 28-4 are what 4-1 and 4-2 usually are.

Also 11-1 and 11-2 is still all screwy. still maps to 12 instead of 33.

Dan -

I feel a bit better now that unfortunately you're sharing the same problem I'm having with no video.

Are you getting video this morning?

You're correct about 11.1 - surprised that Tribune hasn't gotten its act together.

Gary

Gary, Unfortunately, I'm sitting in my office and can't play with my TV till I get home this evening.

Originally posted by dan57
I too had audio and no video on NBC DT 4-1 last night.

Query: I still have no progamming guide information on 11-1 WPIX OTA. I thought maybe with the Feb. 1 PSIP deadline yesterday, I would start to get it. Is anyone getting guide infor OTA? I tried a re-scan last night to no avail. By the way, if it matters, I have a Hughes HTL-HD.

I have audio/video on 4-1 and 4-2 (as of this AM) on my E86 and DTC 210....BUT it took LONGER THAN USUAL for audio/video to come in. My wife actually thought the boxes were messed up. By longer than usual I mean 10 seconds or so to get video. I'm guessing that there is some sort of PSIP or guide data that's gone a bit wacky on some STB's??

Weird.

:confused:

Well, my STB is back to normal - 4.1 and 4.2 both have audio and video. No more mapping on 28.3 and 28.4.

Called Channel 4 engineering this morning, and the engineer with whom I spoke had just come in, but had already heard there were problems. His counterparts at CNBC had forwarded "Forum" e-mails with complaints.
I imagine that the "Forum" was this one. I'm amazed that in took the flaghsip station of NBC this long, more than 12 hours, to figure out what went wrong!

Additionally, WNBC-DT is not at full power, and the engineer on the phone had no information when the station would be at 100%. He did mention that there have been a number of calls about poor reception from people who were happy with the old transmission location - 30 Rock.

Gary

Gary Press, what's their number? I agree with you that the old transmission location WAS better.

4-1 and 4-2 are back (20:00 EST)

Is anybody having problems with 7.1 and 7.2? They must have been updating ther PSIP data all day today, as I have had to rescan the channels on my Samsung STBs several times. I have been having trouble with them for several weeks, causing lockups and rebooting. No trouble with any of the other NYC DTV stations.

Well, on my set at least, there was no question that the sharpest picture was coming from WCBS. Fox, for some reason, seemed to be broadcasting NTSC quality on their 5.1

However, WCBS had major audio problems - 10 to 15 dB higher than the other stations and making noticeable jumps in volume.

C

I've ALWAYS been getting WCBS and channel 68-1 louder than the others. I have to turn the sound down every time

I tried watching SmallVille again on 11-1 and no go. I almost thought it was good. The first 40 minutes was almost perfect and then the last 20 minutes was unwatchable with constant freezes. When is the WB going full power?

I get no signal OTA or on Cable TV. I guess the ESB work is not 100% done yet.

it appears all the stations on the combiner shut down around midnight. nothing OTA but FOX. no NBC-DT or CBS-DT on D* either. repair work on the combiner?

jim

Same here... NO DT channels except for Fox. Thought it was my antenna for a second. Must be doing some late night repairs.

Hi, I am going to be setting up (or attempting to, at least) a HTPC later this morning. I just got a ATI HDTV Wonder yesterday, and will be trying to get any channels I can with its included antenna at first.

I live in Lindenhurst (Long Island, South Shore, just over the Nassau/Suffolk border). I have checked antennaweb.org and I seem to live about 30 Miles from most (5) antennas (Empire State Building, I guess). There seem to be (2) more on almost the same trajectory about a mile further (New Jersey Stations). I seem to be about 8 Miles away from PBS in Garden City, and then 30 Miles away from (2) channels in Riverhead/Smithtown.

Whew... With any luck I am hoping to get 10 HD stations... Is this unreasonable to hope for with the little indoor antenna included with the HDTV Wonder? Any suggestions for an attic mounted antenna? I have just started looking at the ones at Radio Shack. I don't want to 'put the cart before the horse' though.

Any thoughts on what I could/should expect would be greatly appreciated. I am glad that I read that some channels seem to be down... I might have been ripping my hair out if they were still out and I thought it was something that I was doing wrong.

Well, those people from Channel 4 are at it again!!!!

No video on 4.1 and 4.2. Same audio on 4.1 and 4.2.
28.3 and 28.4 have reappeared - no video, but separate audio - No program information.

Unlike the Tuesday/Wednesday problems, the signal this morning has been extremely low.

No other station is the world's largest media market has had so much trouble!

General Sarnoff is "spinning" again.

I hope the guys at CNBC pass this along to 30 Rock.

Gary

Originally posted by Deadkenr
Hi, I am going to be setting up (or attempting to, at least) a HTPC later this morning. I just got a ATI HDTV Wonder yesterday, and will be trying to get any channels I can with its included antenna at first.

I live in Lindenhurst (Long Island, South Shore, just over the Nassau/Suffolk border). I have checked antennaweb.org and I seem to live about 30 Miles from most (5) antennas (Empire State Building, I guess). There seem to be (2) more on almost the same trajectory about a mile further (New Jersey Stations). I seem to be about 8 Miles away from PBS in Garden City, and then 30 Miles away from (2) channels in Riverhead/Smithtown.

Whew... With any luck I am hoping to get 10 HD stations... Is this unreasonable to hope for with the little indoor antenna included with the HDTV Wonder? Any suggestions for an attic mounted antenna? I have just started looking at the ones at Radio Shack. I don't want to 'put the cart before the horse' though.

Any thoughts on what I could/should expect would be greatly appreciated. I am glad that I read that some channels seem to be down... I might have been ripping my hair out if they were still out and I thought it was something that I was doing wrong.

I think the most honest answer to your question is -- you just have to try and see. Predicting what you will be able to pick up is impossible. In my case antennaweb overestimated what Iwould be able to pick up. As far as an attic mounted antenna many people have had great luck with the Zenith (or Gemini) Silver Sensor antenna which can be found online for around $25. Good luck! Dan

Originally posted by mw390
I've ALWAYS been getting WCBS and channel 68-1 louder than the others. I have to turn the sound down every time
WCBS-DT was also significantly louder on my Dishnetwork satellite feed -- it's not just an OTA problem. Dan

Greetings All:
Some observations regarding the State of the Union last night in high-def OTA...viewing on a Panasonic 32" Tau with a Dish 921 receiver, living approx. 20 miles from NYC, ABC had the best looking picture, followed by NBC. I noticed some artifacting on Bush's red tie on NBC which was absent from the ABC feed. And let me note here that I finally received WNBC-DT again...signal level was mid 90~110 on the 921's meter...I do believe WNBC has increased power from a few days ago. I rate CBS third...it looked a bit grainy, sort of like low signal to noise, than ABC & NBC. FOX was the worst...appeared to be 480i upconverted...was the worst I ever saw FOX look...hope they cover the Super Bowl better!

An engineer from WCBS told me (before the speech) that their coverage was not going to be HD -- he said it would be upconverted. It looked pretty good to me. I just wrote him again asking him if it was really upconverted 480i. Dan

Do you get WNJN? If so, on what channel?

I'm new to OTA HD. When I first hooked up my old roof antenna the only OTA signals I got were 4-5 WNJN PBS stations/sub-stations. They came in very strong and had some interesting HD shows (Violent Hawaii, a show on volcanoes, a show on a train museum etc.) although they repeated night after night. I bought a Silver Sensor and starting using that instead of the roof antenna (with the SS I get CBS, NBC, FOX and UPN). Now when I hook up the roof antenna I can no longer find the WNJN signal -- I'm not sure what channel I was receiving it on in the first place. I found one reference source that says it should be on channel 54 but I get zip when I tune there. Help!

I use O-T-A Channel 51 - which remaps to:

50.1
50.2
50.3
50.4
50.5
52.1
52.4
52.5

on my STB.

Hope this helps,

Gary

Hi Dan...
I can only get WNJN if I rotate my antenna about 160 degrees (thus losing site to Empire & losing all the network channels). This was about a year ago, when I first started hooking everything up. I'm afraid to try it now for fear of losing the 'sweet spot' I am now in, receiving all the other channels perfectly!

Originally posted by dpiroh
Hi Dan...
I can only get WNJN if I rotate my antenna about 160 degrees (thus losing site to Empire & losing all the network channels). This was about a year ago, when I first started hooking everything up. I'm afraid to try it now for fear of losing the 'sweet spot' I am now in, receiving all the other channels perfectly! Yeah, the old rusty antenna on my steep roof is pointing due south and I haven't built up the courage to try and change its direction. WNJN was the only channel it picked up (zero from ESB). That's why I switched to the silver sensor which gets the other networks but not WNJN. I'll try Gary's numbers tonight to see if old bessy can get the signal once again. Thank you both for your replies! Dan

The General has stopped "spinning" - at least for the moment!

4.1 and 4.2 are back to "normal."

Signal stregth/quality is only fair. Still waiting for 100% power.

28.3 and 28.4 have disappeared.

We'll see how long this will last!

Gary

I am in Wilton, Ct. 42 miles from Manhattan with a Winegard bi-directional (bat wing so-called). Per antennaweb.org the direction for NYC stations is 231 degrees. The original installation had the antenna pointed 180 degrees where I received WLIW 21-2 and 21-3 solid but no HD, ABC 7-1 and 7-2 the best HD, CBS at 2-1 pretty steady and Fox and UPN on 5-1 and 5-2 intermittenly. I had the antenna repositioned yesterday to the 231 degree position. The results are weird - ABC 7-1 and 7-2 totally gone, Fox and UPN on 5-1 and 5-2 no longer viewable but with some signal, UPN and Fox on 9-1 and 9-2 solid but Fox is SD not HD. Newly received is WPIX 11-1 and 11-2 solid and ABC out of New Haven solid on 8-1 and 8-2. WLIW 21-2 and 21-3 remains solid. No NBC on 4-1 and 4-2 in both cases.

Anybody have any ideas on why the total loss of ABC 7-1 and 7-2 and the effective loss of Fox and UPN on 5-1 and 5-2. I have two receivers and the result is the same on both (a Voom Motorola and a Directv Hughes).

Any help would be appreciated.

Martin21:confused:

Don't forget that antennaweb directions are magnetic and not "true".

Last week for the first time I picked up WNJN (52-5) while pointed at the ESB on an attic RS 15-2160 UHF Yagi. Signal was strong at 63%. This week no WNJN signal detected but no lock on a Dish 811. I think last weeks sinnal was stronger. Same with 4-1.

Originally posted by jbjbjbjb
Last week for the first time I picked up WNJN (52-5) while pointed at the ESB on an attic RS 15-2160 UHF Yagi. Signal was strong at 63%. This week no WNJN signal detected but no lock on a Dish 811. I think last weeks sinnal was stronger. Same with 4-1. I wrote to WNJN and got an initial request for more info from me. If they get back to me with anything interesting regarding their signal strength etc. I'll post it here. Dan

Deadkenr...

I'm next door in Amity Harbor. When I first got the TV I attached an old UHF loop antena just to see what I could receive. I was able to get CBS (2.1 or 46). What a pleasent suprise! I then went to radioshack and got the 15-2160 and mounted in the atic. Initially I only got two more channels. Last week I rescanned, and am now getting CBS, FOX, WLIW and a few others. Still no NBC or WPIX, but I understand the transmission power may increase soon.

Does your TV have an internal QAM tuner? With basic cable I'm getting about 10 digital stations from Cablevision. But that's another story.

Dave

Originally posted by DanC-P
I think the most honest answer to your question is -- you just have to try and see. Predicting what you will be able to pick up is impossible. In my case antennaweb overestimated what Iwould be able to pick up. As far as an attic mounted antenna many people have had great luck with the Zenith (or Gemini) Silver Sensor antenna which can be found online for around $25. Good luck! Dan That looks to be VERY much the same one that ATI included. I am (currently) beating my head against the wall with network problems. As soon as I get those straightened out, I will get to the HDTV stuff. Thanks for the input.

Anybody using a 'booster' on one of those indoor "Silver Sensor" antennas? Does it make a big difference for you?

you mean inline UHF amp, then yes I am using Rat Shack UHF inline on Silver sensor, works great...

Naren

Originally posted by Johnr0836
Don't forget that antennaweb directions are magnetic and not "true".

If I use a compass, which I did, I am using magnetic, correct?

Martin21

Yes, magnetic.

Is anyone currently receiving WNJW? I can't get it :mad:

Thanks,

Dan

Originally posted by DanC-P
Is anyone currently receiving WNJW? I can't get it :mad:

Thanks,

Dan

Who is WNJW ? Or you meant WNYW ?

Originally posted by PDPnNJ
Who is WNJW ? Or you meant WNYW ? Sorry, I actually meant WNJN in Jersey.

I hate to harp on this, but, is there any word on WNET going to the combiner?

Good afternoon, everyone. I am new to OTA HDTV, so please excuse a few questions I have. I live in Midtown Manhattan, near the BMW Building and CBS, so could I use an indoor antenna to get OTA HD signals? If that's possible, what antenna(s) do you recommend? (If you can reccomend an antenna, of course).

Thanks for any assistance you can give!

hi decepticon

most people on this forum would probably point you to the Zenith/Gemini ZHDTV-1. it sounds like you live within 2-3 mi. of the ESB. multipath is always an issue and the Zenith is reputed to be very good at dealing with it. i live just off 9th Ave. behind the Port Authority and i can get pretty much every signal from the combiner plus FOX.
you can find this antenna at Sears or on Amazon.com. its 1/3 cheaper on Amazon but returning it if it doesn't do the job might be more difficult. good luck & tell us more about your system.

jim

Unfortunately, you'll never know until you try one.

It's all location, location and location!

Add in, a lot of luck.

Try the Silver Sensor. See if you can return it if it doesn't work for you.

Gary

BTW decepticon the Silver Sensor is the same antenna i just recommended. it's the common name for it. i used the model # in case you did an Internet search. and Gary's right-trial and error and then more trial. again good luck!!

jim

Originally posted by GoldenBoy
I hate to harp on this, but, is there any word on WNET going to the combiner?

WNET just doesnt seem to care if they provide a good strong sig for the surrounding area. Im not watching or contributing any cash to WNET until they provide a strong sig.

Come on Vinny, so many of us are frustrated by not being able to receive an HD signal from 13.

But please put things in perspective.

WCBS is owned by Viacom
WNBC is owned by General Electric
WABC is owned by Disney
WNYW and WWOR are owned by News Corp.
WPIX is owned by the Tribune Company

Take into consideration the lowering of funding by Washington, Trenton
(WNET is officially a New Jersey station) Corporations, Foundations and after the market went south, the smaller contributions by "Viewers Like You," you'll begin to appreciate the huge financial hardships that all public stations have had to face.

It's true that there was insurance to cover part of the loss of the World Trade Center transmitter and antenna; but there was also a mandate that WNET's first obligation was to serve its home city - Newark, New Jersey!

Yes, the antenna atop WNET's offices and studios on West 33rd Street is a joke - but what do you expect?

No deep pocketed corporate parent to make the needed investment to happen rapidly. Also please remember that General Electric chose to put its antenna atop the GE Building at 30 Rock - not on Conde Nast, not of the Empire State Building until WCBS made its antenna available for the Combiner. Also, GE controls "real estate" of its own on the Empire State Buidling for the WNBC analogue signal - and deep pocketed G.E. chose to defer offering a "good" signal until now.

Yes, I can't wait. But we're dealing with a "relatively" poor cousin who is trying, and will scrape things together to get you its signal.

Support 13, don't damn them!

Gary

:( after all this trouble to get Enterprise in HD, and they go ahead and cancel it.

Originally posted by vinnyv07
WNET just doesnt seem to care if they provide a good strong sig for the surrounding area. Im not watching or contributing any cash to WNET until they provide a strong sig.

I called WNET a few weeks back and the rep I spoke to said there was no firm time-line in place. Some on this site have speculated that it will be sometime at the end of Q1.

The rep seemed happy to hear that people were interested in OTA transmission. Call the station, make your voice heard. If they don't know they have an audience they will not be in a rush to get the funds for the project.

Who knows, maybe if enough people call they'll figure out that a pledge drive for HD might just net them the cash they need?

I'd contribute if I thought it would make a difference.

I'm watching Bernie Mac, and WNYW seems to have changed their bug on HD broadcasts. They got rid of the red, and the white isn't nearly as bright, and is somewhat translucent. It's much better than the old bug, which was far too distracting.

I was wondering why I have problems receiving CBS on both my D* Samsung HD recevier (OTA.. not thru satellite) and my Pioneer built in HD receiver OTA.. The rest of my OTA locals seem to come in fine and besides the frequency assignment everything appears fine. The OTA I use is the channelmaster that D* installs with their HD installs. Is CBS that hard to pick up? I live in Norhtern NJ.



here is the info from antennaweb
FOX 199deg 12mi 44freq
CBS 199deg 12.1mi 56freq
ABC 199deg 11.5mi 45freq
NBC 198deg 11.2mi 28freq


TIA

Z

Originally posted by slocko
:( after all this trouble to get Enterprise in HD, and they go ahead and cancel it.

What do you mean, cancel?

Originally posted by zoepup
I was wondering why I have problems receiving CBS on both my D* Samsung HD recevier (OTA.. not thru satellite) and my Pioneer built in HD receiver OTA.. The rest of my OTA locals seem to come in fine and besides the frequency assignment everything appears fine. The OTA I use is the channelmaster that D* installs with their HD installs. Is CBS that hard to pick up? I live in Norhtern NJ.
Z

I'm in Brooklyn and I can't get CBS -- I get all the other networks. Dan

Originally posted by netman
What do you mean, cancel?

Unfortunately UPN has cancelled ENTERPRISE. last new episodes will air in May. and just when the stories are getting better!!!


jim

I think I've posted this information before but here's a recap.

NJN has four towers in NJ that all broadcast the same programming which is generated in Trenton and distributed out through the four antenna towers.

To tune in the DIGITAL channels you select your closest tower or one that's not obstructed. Tune to the appropriate channel using this list:

Camden – channel 22
Trenton – channel 43
New Brunswick – channel 8
Montclair – channel 51

The above are the ACTUAL channels to tune to. They are REBRANDED (show up on your receiver) as follows:

Camden – channel 23
Trenton – channel 52
New Brunswick – channel 58
Montclair – channel 50

Please note that the New Brunswick channel (8) is VHF and NOT UHF. If you have a UHF only antenna and preamp, you will not be able to receive it. So, a Silver Sensor will NOT receive 8/58.

Camden and New Brunswick towers are slated to get a power boost in the spring.

Originally posted by DanC-P
Yeah, the old rusty antenna on my steep roof is pointing due south and I haven't built up the courage to try and change its direction. WNJN was the only channel it picked up (zero from ESB). That's why I switched to the silver sensor which gets the other networks but not WNJN. I'll try Gary's numbers tonight to see if old bessy can get the signal once again. Thank you both for your replies! Dan

Maybe there's some misunderstanding but NJN isn't broadcasting from the ESB nor the combiner. NJN has their own four towers in NJ.

As for power, what information are you looking for? I can ask the engineer and get the information back to you.

Originally posted by DanC-P
I wrote to WNJN and got an initial request for more info from me. If they get back to me with anything interesting regarding their signal strength etc. I'll post it here. Dan

Bob -

Can you explain the following to me?

I live in mid-town Manhattan, using a Silver Sensor indoor antenna, I receive (someof the time) O-T-A Channel 51 remapped as:

50.1
50.2
50.3
50.4
50.5

The above I understand, but then I also receive:

52.1
52.2
52.3
52.4

My Sony SAT HD-300 STB refers to all of the above remapped channels beginning with 52, as also O-T-A Channel 51 from Montclair not Channel 43
from Trenton.

I'm almost positive that both Channels are coming to me from Montclair -
both display the same signal quality/strength and I doubt that I'd be able to receive a stable picture from Trenton.

Any idea what my Channels with 52 as prefixes are? And where are they coming from?

NJN has been a great help with WNET-DT not being available to me; and with WLIW having abandoned HD broadcasting.

Thanks,

Gary

Gary,

I receive RF channel 51 from Montclair, but it remaps to 52.1, 52.2, 52.3, 52.4 and 52.5 on my Zenith HDV-420

Mike

Originally posted by zoepup
I was wondering why I have problems receiving CBS on both my D* Samsung HD recevier (OTA.. not thru satellite) and my Pioneer built in HD receiver OTA.. The rest of my OTA locals seem to come in fine and besides the frequency assignment everything appears fine. The OTA I use is the channelmaster that D* installs with their HD installs. Is CBS that hard to pick up? I live in Norhtern NJ.



Where in Northern New Jersey are you? I'm in Rockland County near Montvale , NJ and before the Combiner project CBS used to be pretty solid. Now, since the combiner, I get wonderful CBS reception in the AM but as the sun goes across the sky and finally down, my reception goes "south" (Pun intended).

Otherwise other stations are fine, and I'm awaiting Combiner complettion so that I can plan strategy to get remining reception problems resolved..

Originally posted by TVjazzman
Where in Northern New Jersey are you? I'm in Rockland County near Montvale , NJ and before the Combiner project CBS used to be pretty solid. Now, since the combiner, I get wonderful CBS reception in the AM but as the sun goes across the sky and finally down, my reception goes "south" (Pun intended).

Otherwise other stations are fine, and I'm awaiting Combiner complettion so that I can plan strategy to get remining reception problems resolved..

I am in Tenafly NJ.. About 5 minutes north of the GWB. what is the combiner thing I see talked about on here so much. Is there a quick explanation or a thread that would help me understand it.

If I remember correctly, when I first had the OTA put up I received CBS. HOwever, it was misaligned too far to the east and I did not get many other channels. After realigning it properly I get every station I should get (except CBS). It perplexes me because CBS appears to be in the same line as the others.

TIA

Z

Originally posted by dturturro


Who knows, maybe if enough people call they'll figure out that a pledge drive for HD might just net them the cash they need?

I'd contribute if I thought it would make a difference.

I would give if I knew it would mean getting their Ant in place. Dont get me wrong about WNET....I understand they dont have the cash that the other nets do. Does anyone know how much it would actually cost to get their sig and equipment on the combiner? Im all for a pledge drive for HD. Im going to call WNET during the week and see if they listen. I pay extra for PBS KIDS to Directv ...so if the OTA sig was available to me , I would give PBS the money instead of Directv. Even though it isnt much...it would be something.

Originally posted by zoepup
I am in Tenafly NJ.. About 5 minutes north of the GWB. what is the combiner thing I see talked about on here so much. Is there a quick explanation or a thread that would help me understand it.

If I remember correctly, when I first had the OTA put up I received CBS. HOwever, it was misaligned too far to the east and I did not get many other channels. After realigning it properly I get every station I should get (except CBS). It perplexes me because CBS appears to be in the same line as the others.

TIA

Z

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

Read this artricle, it is a bit technical, but will give you a wonderful overview of what the combiner is and what it will accomplish. Also, if you look at the previous 10 or so pages of this thread you'll get a good sense of what stations are involved and which aren't.

You may have a problem with muli-path (do a search in google for multi-path) basically multiple paths of the same signal hitting your antenna and causing problems...

It may take moving your antenna, not just rotating it to accomplish all channel reception. And until all is completed on the Combiner, various channels do testing that affects your reception. This in turn could affect your reception levels... So once the Combiner moves and testing are complete, you'll have a baseline to try and match. They will not change much, you may or may not have to...

At least that's my read on teh next few months and my reception problems...

Read Peter Putman (WWW.HDTVEXPERT.COM) he writes rather well on OTA problems and reception...

good Luck and good viewing

According to antennaweb.org, I should be getting channels 4, 7 and 11 at 116 degrees (1.9 miles away) and channels 2, 5, 9 and 13 from 70 degrees (3.9 miles away).

From the map, it looks like the channels at 116 degrees are at the WTC site and the channels at 70 degrees are at the ESB.

Are the channels that are supposed to be at 116 degrees still coming from somewhere else downtown or have they been moved to ESB?

Thanks!

2,4,5,7,9 and 11 are now all coming from the ESB.

13 is currently still located on West 33rd Street in Manhattan.

Gary

Originally posted by TVjazzman
... And until all is completed on the Combiner, various channels do testing that affects your reception. This in turn could affect your reception levels... So once the Combiner moves and testing are complete, you'll have a baseline to try and match. They will not change much, you may or may not have to...
...
good Luck and good viewing [/B]

Is there a deadline for when it will be completed (even if it has slipped)? I installed a Winegard PR-4400 in my attic in Central NJ a few days back, and I find great variation in reception with time of day as well as the channels.

Thanks.
Chris.

I just did a rescan (5:00 pm feb 5th) WB 11 (Wpix) now has guide data on 33-1 (11-1).

Chris -

There is no deadline.

It will be finished when it's finished.

WNBC-DT appears to be at full power as of today.

WPIX-DT, as has been mentioned, today, finally got its PSIP providing program information working on 11.1. - it was supposed to be in place on 2/1. I don't believe the station is at full power yet.

Channel 13 is yet to go on the Combiner.

Separately, although not part of the Combiner project, WNYW-DT had hoped to achieve full power by the time of tomorrow's Super Bowl. But they are not ready, so, for the present, they will continue to transmit at the station's previous power - a bit less than 25% of its newly authorized level.


So, as you can tell, the work on the Empire State Building is a continuing process.

Gary

Originally posted by HDntheCity
Unfortunately UPN has cancelled ENTERPRISE. last new episodes will air in May. and just when the stories are getting better!!!


jim

http://www.saveenterprise.com/

Originally posted by Gary Press
2,4,5,7,9 and 11 are now all coming from the ESB.

13 is currently still located on West 33rd Street in Manhattan.

Gary

Thanks.

Also, I get WNYW on 9-2 and 38-4 but it does not map to channel 5. This is my only local that currently won't map correctly.

Is anyone else having this problem? Is this a DirecTv issue?

Hmm.. that does seem very odd. I don't have an answer for you. The only scenario I can think of is that the rebranding isn't being picked up correctly by your receiver. I guess there could be a problem with some of the rebranding from one of the towers but I don't have any conclusive information on that.

51 remapped as 50 is the way it's supposed to be.

43 would remap as 52. I suppose it's possible you are getting Trenton.

I'm in Piscataway and I can get 8/58 and 43/52 no problem. I have issues with getting anything from Montclair (51/50) and you'd think I would be able to get that due to proximity but I believe there's a mountain chain between me and the Montclair tower.

You might want to see if you can delete that channel and then tune to 43 and see if it comes in and remaps to 52. I don't know your receiver but that's what I would do with my Samsung.

I find I can sometimes receive NYC stations when a Silver Sensor is pointed towards NYC and I still get some Philly stations which are almost 180 degrees out. So, maybe you are getting Trenton as well as Montclair. You'll have to test and see.

Just to be clear, it doesn't much matter because the programming is the same regardless of which tower you tune to. So, you may as well pick the one you receive the best with the least grief and just use that one.

Originally posted by Gary Press
Bob -

Can you explain the following to me?

I live in mid-town Manhattan, using a Silver Sensor indoor antenna, I receive (someof the time) O-T-A Channel 51 remapped as:

50.1
50.2
50.3
50.4
50.5

The above I understand, but then I also receive:

52.1
52.2
52.3
52.4

My Sony SAT HD-300 STB refers to all of the above remapped channels beginning with 52, as also O-T-A Channel 51 from Montclair not Channel 43
from Trenton.

I'm almost positive that both Channels are coming to me from Montclair -
both display the same signal quality/strength and I doubt that I'd be able to receive a stable picture from Trenton.

Any idea what my Channels with 52 as prefixes are? And where are they coming from?

NJN has been a great help with WNET-DT not being available to me; and with WLIW having abandoned HD broadcasting.

Thanks,

Gary

Originally posted by ElVee
Thanks.

Also, I get WNYW on 9-2 and 38-4 but it does not map to channel 5. This is my only local that currently won't map correctly.

Is anyone else having this problem? Is this a DirecTv issue?

That's the way it's being broadcast right now. It's not a DirecTV issue. FOX-WNYW-SD is being simulcast on 9-2 (38.4). Conversely, UPN-WWOR-SD is being simulcast on 5.2 (44.2).

Originally posted by mikeny
That's the way it's being broadcast right now. It's not a DirecTV issue. FOX-WNYW-SD is being simulcast on 9-2 (38.4). Conversely, UPN-WWOR-SD is being simulcast on 5.2 (44.2).

Thanks. So, is there a FOX WNYW-HD OTA channel ?

Originally posted by ElVee
Thanks. So, is there a FOX WNYW-HD OTA channel ?

Yes, UHF channel 44. This should map to 5-1 (Fox HD) and 5-2 (UPN simulcast).

Originally posted by rlindabury
Hmm.. that does seem very odd. I don't have an answer for you. The only scenario I can think of is that the rebranding isn't being picked up correctly by your receiver. I guess there could be a problem with some of the rebranding from one of the towers but I don't have any conclusive information on that.

I'm seeing a similar situation here in Nassau county. I am receiving channel 51 but my Zenith HD230 and my 921 maps to 52. My HD TiVo shows 50 in the guide and banner, BUT if I do a meter reading on channel 51 it displays the PSIP as channel 52. Weird stuff.

Originally posted by slocko
:( after all this trouble to get Enterprise in HD, and they go ahead and cancel it.

Tell me about it. After nearly a year of having an HD set, and over three years of watching Enterprise in SD, I was so happy to finally be able to get the show in HD, only to hear on the 10 O'Clock news two weeks later that it will end it's run in May. :( The future is not looking good for the Star Trek franchise on television at all. From the original (in re-runs), straight through to Enterprise, I have been watching Star Trek my entire life. I will be saddened when it is gone.

Originally posted by GoldenBoy
Tell me about it. After nearly a year of having an HD set, and over three years of watching Enterprise in SD, I was so happy to finally be able to get the show in HD, only to hear on the 10 O'Clock news two weeks later that it will end it's run in May. :( The future is not looking good for the Star Trek franchise on television at all. From the original (in re-runs), straight through to Enterprise, I have been watching Star Trek my entire life. I will be saddened when it is gone.

Perhaps the next incarnation will be by someone who's actually seen Star Trek before!

Originally posted by dturturro
Perhaps the next incarnation will be by someone who's actually seen Star Trek before!

If there is a next incarnation. I fear that, because of Enterprise's poor performance in the ratings that the 'suits' will shy away from any additional Star Trek shows.

Originally posted by Gary Press
Chris -

There is no deadline.

It will be finished when it's finished.

WNBC-DT appears to be at full power as of today.

WPIX-DT, as has been mentioned, today, finally got its PSIP providing program information working on 11.1. - it was supposed to be in place on 2/1. I don't believe the station is at full power yet.

Channel 13 is yet to go on the Combiner.

Separately, although not part of the Combiner project, WNYW-DT had hoped to achieve full power by the time of tomorrow's Super Bowl. But they are not ready, so, for the present, they will continue to transmit at the station's previous power - a bit less than 25% of its newly authorized level.


So, as you can tell, the work on the Empire State Building is a continuing process.

Gary

Gary,

I'm getting all the digital channels except NBC-DT and PIX-DT (Freq 33). However, I do still get PIX-DT off Freq 12 (strength of 68).

On Freq 28, NBC and PIX (33) I'm getting signal strengths in the 20's and 30's.

I just find it hard it to believe that NBC is at full power when UPN and everything else is coming in strongly enough.

Gary, I fully agree with your observation. NBC is now unviewable with a "0" to "40" and then back to "0" signal! It was my most reliable station. I am using a 921 Dish receiver.

Originally posted by jcord51
Gary, I fully agree with your observation. NBC is now unviewable with a "0" to "40" and then back to "0" signal! It was my most reliable station. I am using a 921 Dish receiver.

I wasn't getting nbc for a short while, but now I am.

I'm searched around and haven't found much discussion for OTA reception in Fairfield County, CT. I guess most people have satellite or cable.

Antennaweb.org shows next to no digital stations for my location (I'm roughly 50 miles from NYC). I was hoping to pick up the networks with a Channel Master 4228 UHF and 7777 preamp on my roof. Before I risk life and limb, I was wondering if anybody in this area (Wilton, Weston, Ridgefield, New Canaan) has had any luck pulling in NYC stations OTA? Or is antennaweb accurate in that the best I can hope for is PBS out of Bridgeport?

Any insights greatly appreciated.

wlm, antennaweb tends to be rather conservative in its estimates. Many people here report getting stations that antennaweb does not project they can get. Hopefully someone here is from your area and can provide some insight ... if not you may have to find a way to try it out yourself.

If you post some more details I am sure people here could give more insight. Things like exact location, height of your location, mountains or other obstructions, etc. If you have a clear shot to the towers 50 miles should not be too far.

As of today in Staten Island I am getting a 100 signal on all the networks including WPIX which before was only 55-60. Still waiting for Ch 13.

Originally posted by wlm
I'm searched around and haven't found much discussion for OTA reception in Fairfield County, CT. I guess most people have satellite or cable.

Antennaweb.org shows next to no digital stations for my location (I'm roughly 50 miles from NYC). I was hoping to pick up the networks with a Channel Master 4228 UHF and 7777 preamp on my roof. Before I risk life and limb, I was wondering if anybody in this area (Wilton, Weston, Ridgefield, New Canaan) has had any luck pulling in NYC stations OTA? Or is antennaweb accurate in that the best I can hope for is PBS out of Bridgeport?

Any insights greatly appreciated.
50 miles from NYC should definitely not be a problem for you unless there's some substantial terrain issue between you and the transmitters -- and even then it'd need to be relatively close to your side.

I receive Philadelphia stations from some ~60 miles away and NYC stations from 30 miles away.

Do you have a rotator or are you trying to aim manually? If the latter, I'd say before you go "risking life and limb" that you get a Channel Master 9521A rotator to install; it makes the aiming step a whole lot easier, even if you then never move it again.

Wlm,

Wilton is 40 miles from the ESB according to my topo map. There is some terrain between them slightly higher than Wilton so your immediate location will play a part in reception. If you get the antenna up as high as you can and use a rotor as Doug suggests (I ALWAYS suggest a rotor) you have a decent chance.

To expand on the concept of a rotator -- I have about a 3° window where I can receive WPIX-DT fine (via VHF12 -- things are better with UHF33 now). If I didn't have the rotator in order to have found that position, I'd probably have come to the conclusion it was not a station I could receive -- manually adjust the antenna in 1° increments and running back down to the TV to check channels just is a time consuming way to do it. If you're near the antenna when moving it and having someone else check reception, your body is affecting the reception.

I rarely play with moving it -- initially I played with it so I could watch Philadelphia channels sometimes, but now that NYC is mostly back to normal I really haven't moved it once in almost a year. But I don't regret the investment in the rotator for a minute.

NBC was out to lunch this morning for me OTA. First time since it went on the combiner. More combiner work?

Without any "inside" knowledge, I'm sure that WNBC-DT has been working on its signal.

On Saturday, for me at least, it became the strongest/best signal on my set-up. Yesterday, not that great. As of a few minutes ago, nice and strong, almost at Saturday's level.

It's difficult to be more exact because I'm using a Silver Sensor - and with this antenna, the slightest change in position can provide a tremendous change in its pick-up.

Gary

Thanks for your replies ... sorry I'm late in responding; been working all weekend ... I will try out the Silver Sensor and report back. I live on 57th Street and 10th Ave., so hopefully, I'll have some good news!

I have a SHARP Aquos LC-26GD4U 26 inch HDTV LCD TV, recently purchased.


replies to my original post:
HDntheCity:
hi decepticon

most people on this forum would probably point you to the Zenith/Gemini ZHDTV-1. it sounds like you live within 2-3 mi. of the ESB. multipath is always an issue and the Zenith is reputed to be very good at dealing with it. i live just off 9th Ave. behind the Port Authority and i can get pretty much every signal from the combiner plus FOX.
you can find this antenna at Sears or on Amazon.com. its 1/3 cheaper on Amazon but returning it if it doesn't do the job might be more difficult. good luck & tell us more about your system.

jim


Gary Press:
Unfortunately, you'll never know until you try one.

It's all location, location and location!

Add in, a lot of luck.

Try the Silver Sensor. See if you can return it if it doesn't work for you.

Gary


HDntheCity:
BTW decepticon the Silver Sensor is the same antenna i just recommended. it's the common name for it. i used the model # in case you did an Internet search. and Gary's right-trial and error and then more trial. again good luck!!

jim

Gary,

I'm seeing a very low signal from NBC this morning. CBS is ~90, NBC is barely hitting 60 and the others are ~70-75.

My NBC signal used to hover in the high 70's low 80's... Whatever they did wasn't good for me!!

Tom


Originally posted by Gary Press
Without any "inside" knowledge, I'm sure that WNBC-DT has been working on its signal.

On Saturday, for me at least, it became the strongest/best signal on my set-up. Yesterday, not that great. As of a few minutes ago, nice and strong, almost at Saturday's level.

It's difficult to be more exact because I'm using a Silver Sensor - and with this antenna, the slightest change in position can provide a tremendous change in its pick-up.

Gary

Originally posted by dswallow
50 miles from NYC should definitely not be a problem for you unless there's some substantial terrain issue between you and the transmitters -- and even then it'd need to be relatively close to your side.

Also stated by dswallow
To expand on the concept of a rotator -- ... <deleted> If you're near the antenna when moving it and having someone else check reception, your body is affecting the reception.

Doug, and others:
I live in Summit, NJ (North Central NJ?), about 25 miles from NYC. As I stated a day or so back, I just installed a Winegard PR-4400 antenna in my attic with a 28dB Winegard UHF pre-amp (probably overkill, according to the Winegard Tech Support, based on the 25 mile distance). I finally have the antenna pointed in the general direction of ESB (considerably different than what antennaweb recommended for my location), but I find something interesting. I certainly observed the second point you made above, where when I am near the antenna and/or adjusting it, that affects the reception and when I move away, it changes. This I understand.
But I also observed that often I am only able to pick up only one or two of the big three (not including NBC) - for example, yesterday I could pick up Fox on 5.1 and UPN on 5.2 pretty solid, with occasional breakup, but not CBS or ABC. A few days back, it was CBS alone but not the other two. At other times, it was just Fox and ABC. Is there a method to this - maybe because they are sharing the transmitter (?), only one of them operates at full power at a time? (I saw the posts from several people saying they received all channels at full power recently.)
If not, could this be an effect of slight postioning changes that you refer to above , even though all are originating from ESB? I can understand if all the ESB channels were received at about the same quality. By the way, this holds under a few different weather conditions (rainy, wet, cloudy, clear, sunny, etc). I am loathe to invest in a rotor, if something other than my ability to postion the antenna is limiting my reception.
On a side note, even though this is a UHF antenna, I can receive WNJN (58.1-58.5) very well, despite their being transmitted on VHF. Also their reception is mostly unaffected by the orientation of the antenna.
Thanks.
Chris.

Chris,

I live a few miles west of you (Long Hill Twp.) and I was experiencing the same problem. I set up a DB4 in my attic and saw the same symptoms. NJB (58) came in strong no matter what, even though it is VHF. I chalked this up to proximity to the signal. But for what I wanted (FOX for the SB) it was a hit or miss proposition. Solid one day, not a sniff the next. What I found that is now working for me, was to put a Silver Sensor in the attic, attached to a CM-7775 pre amp. I'm getting FOX, ABC and UPN with no dropouts. Not doing so well with CBS, but I get that from the dish so it doesn't bother me that much.

Hello All:

Thanks for your help with my OTA HDTV questions. I have another one. Two fellow members recommended the Zenith/Gemini ZHDTV-1 /Silver Sensor indoor antenna. Can I also use the Terk HD-TVi indoor antenna? I can go downtown and get one; what are your thoughts on the Terk?

Thanks again!

Originally posted by aup
Doug, and others:
I live in Summit, NJ (North Central NJ?), about 25 miles from NYC. As I stated a day or so back, I just installed a Winegard PR-4400 antenna in my attic with a 28dB Winegard UHF pre-amp (probably overkill, according to the Winegard Tech Support, based on the 25 mile distance). I finally have the antenna pointed in the general direction of ESB (considerably different than what antennaweb recommended for my location), but I find something interesting. I certainly observed the second point you made above, where when I am near the antenna and/or adjusting it, that affects the reception and when I move away, it changes. This I understand.
But I also observed that often I am only able to pick up only one or two of the big three (not including NBC) - for example, yesterday I could pick up Fox on 5.1 and UPN on 5.2 pretty solid, with occasional breakup, but not CBS or ABC. A few days back, it was CBS alone but not the other two. At other times, it was just Fox and ABC. Is there a method to this - maybe because they are sharing the transmitter (?), only one of them operates at full power at a time? (I saw the posts from several people saying they received all channels at full power recently.)
If not, could this be an effect of slight postioning changes that you refer to above , even though all are originating from ESB? I can understand if all the ESB channels were received at about the same quality. By the way, this holds under a few different weather conditions (rainy, wet, cloudy, clear, sunny, etc). I am loathe to invest in a rotor, if something other than my ability to postion the antenna is limiting my reception.
On a side note, even though this is a UHF antenna, I can receive WNJN (58.1-58.5) very well, despite their being transmitted on VHF. Also their reception is mostly unaffected by the orientation of the antenna.
Thanks.
Chris.
A few degrees can really make a difference. You may simply be aimed right now where you're actually getting a reflection of the signal rather than something more direct; of course that then could mean you'd have multipath issues too. Are you familiar with the terrain between you and the transmitters? I know there's some valleys/"mountains" up in northern NJ which could have detrimental effects. If you can check that on a topographic map, you might find there's something significant in your way. But barring that, sort of thing, or something behind you or to your sides which might be a reflection point for the signal, I would expect the PR-4400 to work. The 8-bay version would be more directional and could help you if you're having some multipath problems, allowing you to find a point where the major source of your multipath ends up in a null area of the antenna, thus not affecting your signal.

The rotator though is really a good investment. It doesn't really need to be the fancy remote-controllable CM9521A, though it's certainly more convenient than most... any rotator would help you be able to do fine tuning aiming.

You could also use the link in my signature to the broadcast station info, get your actual lat/long first, use the -13.5 magentic deviation that'll be the default and see what direction it gives you (with that magnetic deviation, you should have accurate compass headings to use), but all the NYC stations come basically from one of two locations.

Well, after my hopes that WNBC-DT had finally gotten its act together - after on Saturday receiving the station at its strongest level so far; after the station providing video and audio on 4.1 - the engineers are back with their "tinkering!"

And, I'm back to no picture on 4.1 and 4.2. 4.1's audio is on 4.2.
28.3 - no picture - WNBC-DT's audio; 28.4 - no picture - Weather Plus audio.

Back to the drawing boards!!!!

Let's hope that things return to "normal" by this evening.

Gary

Originally posted by dswallow
A few degrees can really make a difference. You may simply be aimed right now where you're actually getting a reflection of the signal rather than something more direct; of course that then could mean you'd have multipath issues too. Are you familiar with the terrain between you and the transmitters? I know there's some valleys/"mountains" up in northern NJ which could have detrimental effects. If you can check that on a topographic map, you might find there's something significant in your way. But barring that, sort of thing, or something behind you or to your sides which might be a reflection point for the signal, I would expect the PR-4400 to work. The 8-bay version would be more directional and could help you if you're having some multipath problems, allowing you to find a point where the major source of your multipath ends up in a null area of the antenna, thus not affecting your signal.
...
You could also use the link in my signature to the broadcast station info, get your actual lat/long first, use the -13.5 magentic deviation that'll be the default and see what direction it gives you (with that magnetic deviation, you should have accurate compass headings to use), but all the NYC stations come basically from one of two locations.
Thanks, Doug. I did look up your link earlier. Great site. The orientations on that site match those I got from antennaweb.com. That makes the first possiblity you mention (that I might actually be receiving the reflections) plausible. I will look up a topo map of New Jersey in the library.
I am also exploring another plausible lead, which is that my Winegard AP-4800 pre-amp (28 dB) is being driven to saturation because of my being within 25 miles of ESB. The Tech at Winegard immediately mentioned this possibility, and thought that the overloading could sometimes be sufficient to cause the receiver to give up. He told me to try connecting some attenuators in the path, but that experiment came out negative. Gary Press mentioned recently that Fox is transmitting at less that 25% of maximum, and if the others are already at maximum, then from the data on your site, it is easy to see why the preamp could deal with the Fox signal, but would be driven to saturation by the others.
Pursuing the reflection possibility a bit further, why the reflection only of Fox and not ABC or CBS? Is it frequency related?
Thanks.
Chris.

It's 2:48 p.m. and WNBC-DT is back among the living!

Let's hope it'll stay with us for a while.

Gary

Originally posted by daoust501
Chris,

I live a few miles west of you (Long Hill Twp.) and I was experiencing the same problem. I set up a DB4 in my attic and saw the same symptoms. NJB (58) came in strong no matter what, even though it is VHF. I chalked this up to proximity to the signal. But for what I wanted (FOX for the SB) it was a hit or miss proposition. Solid one day, not a sniff the next. What I found that is now working for me, was to put a Silver Sensor in the attic, attached to a CM-7775 pre amp. I'm getting FOX, ABC and UPN with no dropouts. Not doing so well with CBS, but I get that from the dish so it doesn't bother me that much.
Thanks. That really helps, because of the proximity of our locations. I will add this to my list of things to try, if the Winegard setup does not work.
Chris.

Originally posted by decepticonleader
Hello All:

Thanks for your help with my OTA HDTV questions. I have another one. Two fellow members recommended the Zenith/Gemini ZHDTV-1 /Silver Sensor indoor antenna. Can I also use the Terk HD-TVi indoor antenna? I can go downtown and get one; what are your thoughts on the Terk?

Thanks again!


I have the Silver Sensor. I literally replaced the Terk in place of the Silver Sensor and got NO SIGNAL WHATSOEVER

Originally posted by rlindabury
Maybe there's some misunderstanding but NJN isn't broadcasting from the ESB nor the combiner. NJN has their own four towers in NJ.

As for power, what information are you looking for? I can ask the engineer and get the information back to you.

Bob, thanks very much for your reply. Here's the deal in a nutshell. When I first connected my roof antenna to my receiver and did a scan, the only channels I received were WNJN + substations. I didn't know enough about HDTV to understand exactly which channels I was tuned to (I didn't pay attention to the numbers). I went out and bought a Silver Sensor (for the other channels) thinking that I would just switch back to the roof antenna when I wanted to watch WNJN. Unfortunately, now when I hook up the roof antenna, I no longer receive any signal, ZERO. I'm wondering if when I first was receiving WNJN it was because they had temporarily boosted the power (maybe a test...). I was receiving a very strong and steady signal, now I get zilch (I tried all the different towers you mentioned). Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Dan in Brooklyn

I had a similar experience in NE Queens. New Jersey public TV for a few weeks, then almost no signal and no picture since.

Originally posted by aup
Thanks, Doug. I did look up your link earlier. Great site. The orientations on that site match those I got from antennaweb.com. That makes the first possiblity you mention (that I might actually be receiving the reflections) plausible. I will look up a topo map of New Jersey in the library.
I am also exploring another plausible lead, which is that my Winegard AP-4800 pre-amp (28 dB) is being driven to saturation because of my being within 25 miles of ESB. The Tech at Winegard immediately mentioned this possibility, and thought that the overloading could sometimes be sufficient to cause the receiver to give up. He told me to try connecting some attenuators in the path, but that experiment came out negative. Gary Press mentioned recently that Fox is transmitting at less that 25% of maximum, and if the others are already at maximum, then from the data on your site, it is easy to see why the preamp could deal with the Fox signal, but would be driven to saturation by the others.
Pursuing the reflection possibility a bit further, why the reflection only of Fox and not ABC or CBS? Is it frequency related?
Thanks.
Chris.
Are there any FM stations broadcasting near you (really near)? They might overload your preamp if it covers those frequencies... similarly if there is a close-by transmitter in the frequency range covered by your preamp, it might be the reason the preamp causes problems. If it's a VHF/UHF preamp, it probably can be affected by a strong local FM transmitter. If the preamp doesn't have a built-in way to block FM signals, you can get an FM block and place it inline between the antenna and preamp.

Have you tried it without the preamp inline at all?

I was able to receive all UHF digital stations (pre-combiner) from NYC at 30 miles using a Winegard SS-1000 SquareShooter antenna, with no preamp. I've not yet tried it now that the combiner is mostly operational, and certainly would expect it does at least as well as before.

BTW, if you haven't seen it already, have a look at http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/fixes.html (and many of the other pages on the same site).

Originally posted by dswallow
I rarely play with moving it -- initially I played with it so I could watch Philadelphia channels sometimes, but now that NYC is mostly back to normal I really haven't moved it once in almost a year. But I don't regret the investment in the rotator for a minute.

I second that emotion!

I'm dumbfounded at how far the OTA viewing in (in my case) Central NJ has come since I started this expensive hobby in February 2003. I risked the 'ole life and limb to climb up and put up not one but TWO OTA antennas/rotator setups....and now I haven't swung back towards Philly in nary a year or so on one rig and about 10 months on the other.

*Still shaking my head in amazement*.....:p

I have done a large number of TV antenna installations over the past 35 years. The cost of a rotor is so small compared to the benefits. With a very directional antenna, like many of us use, it is close to impossible to aim the antenna by hand no matter what some may think. WHAT IS YOUR TIME WORTH!?!? With a rotor you could have a simple aiming situation figured out in 15-20 minutes, a complex one is an hour or so. The walkie talkies to the roof, the yelling up and down and climbing back and forth ... That kind of rooftop activity is for the birds.

Channel Master 9521a is the name, OTA is the game. If your serious about OTA then you need a rotator. It's worth the effort. Occassionally I tweak the setting based on the weather and the latest combiner "tuning" . Use the remote from the sofa to make the adjustments.

By the way, Loews (Garden City) have Channel Master 9521a rotators in stock. ~ $90.

Originally posted by Gary Press
Without any "inside" knowledge, I'm sure that WNBC-DT has been working on its signal.

On Saturday, for me at least, it became the strongest/best signal on my set-up. Yesterday, not that great. As of a few minutes ago, nice and strong, almost at Saturday's level.

It's difficult to be more exact because I'm using a Silver Sensor - and with this antenna, the slightest change in position can provide a tremendous change in its pick-up.
Well, after my hopes that WNBC-DT had finally gotten its act together - after on Saturday receiving the station at its strongest level so far; after the station providing video and audio on 4.1 - the engineers are back with their "tinkering!"

And, I'm back to no picture on 4.1 and 4.2. 4.1's audio is on 4.2.
28.3 - no picture - WNBC-DT's audio; 28.4 - no picture - Weather Plus audio.

Back to the drawing boards!!!!

Let's hope that things return to "normal" by this evening.

Gary

Let me do a little rumor control here. WNBC-DT is at 50% power, still, always has been. No engineers were tinkering with the transmitter since it first came on. Yes, there was a faulty PSIP generator last week, but that has been fixed. I'll let you know when the extra 3db of signal strength is finally squeezed out of the Thales transmitter thingy.....
I can only help you theorize why you are getting fluctuating signals.
Welcome to the world of Digital UHF!!
Unless an RF engineer with a calibrated spectrum analyzer and dipole is out doing contour evaluations, I would consider all the variables in your system including atmospheric effects. LOL....

George

I am using a Fusion HDTV card for OTA broadcasts. It works fine, except for the Fox network. During commercials, and only during commercials, it causes the card to crash. This doesn't happen on any other channel, just Fox. Other people in other threads in the AVS forums have reported the same thing, and this happens all over the country. Would anyone want to take a guess as to why this might happen? What is going on during the commercials, and only on Fox? If someone could figure it out, maybe it could be fixed.