As for the disgust of the LXTV programs, I happen to think Sara Gore on that program is worth watching. Wow, she is very attractive.

4-2 is a big waste. Most of the time it is centered with a tiny image on the screen. 4:3 imaged Letterboxed, letterboxed again in a letterboxed. Why don't they just get rid of these 480i subchannel wasted so there main 720p or 1080i subchannel channel can look better.

What's with the Combiner today????

This morning the only Combiner stations I could receive were 56 and 45 - both at reduced levels and I'm sure that 45 was transmitting from Conde Nast.

This afternoon - 56 has disappeared!

Anyone know what's going on or off????

Now - very poor signal for 56 - registers very low - no reception.

Then - signal is gone!

Wish someone who knows what's going on would respond!!!!!

I am getting poor reception too. I can never get channel 2 RF 56 good or at all but now I can't get channels 4, 7 and 11. Channel 5 and 9 are fine. Of course I am getting channels 25, 47, 50. Craptastic channel 66 is of course is in the high 80's which is the strongest. Channel 7 which was the strongest I can only peak at in the 20's which I use to be able to get it in the high 70's to low 80's. Then of course I am going to hear from people in NJ 30 miles away with a bowtie antenna getting those stations strong. Sorry I just don't believe you. Serious though they must be running in reduced power.

I am getting poor reception too. I can never get channel 2 RF 56 good or at all but now I can't get channels 4, 7 and 11. Channel 5 and 9 are fine. Of course I am getting channels 25, 47, 50. Craptastic channel 66 is of course is in the high 80's which is the strongest. Channel 7 which was the strongest I can only peak at in the 20's which I use to be able to get it in the high 70's to low 80's. Then of course I am going to hear from people in NJ 30 miles away with a bowtie antenna getting those stations strong. Sorry I just don't believe you. Serious though they must be running in reduced power.

All my digitals are down, central jersey 40+ miles south.I usually never have any problems with them. There must be something going on, the storms today were pretty intense.

It's Saturday morning and the reception problems with the Combiner continue!

I lost my signal just before 12AM on Thursday night for most of my channels. I am hooked to an antenna on my roof and still it's a very weak signal. It's Saturday afternoon now and my signal is still weak. Is everyone experiencing the same thing?

Been complaining about it for the past month. The only channels I can get reliably are 7.1 and 5.1. The rest of the NY stations are barely receiveable! I can't watch the NCAAs on 2.1 it is so bad!

I was hoping to get rid of cable but with the crappy reception it is doubtful that I can. I will stick it out till June 12th and beyond a month or so before I give up on OTA....There needs to be dramatic improvement to make OTA viable for me. Just getting 2 channels sucks.

my 2.1 is unwatchable today :mad:

Been complaining about it for the past month. The only channels I can get reliably are 7.1 and 5.1. The rest of the NY stations are barely receiveable! I can't watch the NCAAs on 2.1 it is so bad!

I was hoping to get rid of cable but with the crappy reception it is doubtful that I can. I will stick it out till June 12th and beyond a month or so before I give up on OTA....There needs to be dramatic improvement to make OTA viable for me. Just getting 2 channels sucks.

The current outage/reduction in power has not been in effect for the past month, it just took place as of yesterday.

The reason you're receiving WABC-DT (7.1, 7.2, 7.3) is that the station is using its backup transmitter and antenna on the Conde Nast Building.

WNYW-DT (5.1, 5.2) has its own antenna on the ESB and is not part of the Combiner - the Combiner is the facility that is giving all of us reception problems.

Since late Thursday night I lost channels 2.1, 7.1 (2 & 3), 13.1 and a couple of others. I live on the highest point of Brooklyn where, theoretically, I should have "the best" signal. But I don't.

My signal is also weak on several others. Is this related to the combiner? What exactly is the combiner? Also where is the combiner located, at the Empire State Building?

The Combiner is located at the Empire State Building.

It allows many stations, although using individual transmitters, to use only one antenna.

Currently, the digital Combiner provides transmission for the main and sub-channels for:
2, 4, 7, 9, 11 and 13.

As I previously mentioned in another post, Channel 7, in addition to being a component of the Combiner, also has a backup facility at the Conde Nast Building - 4 Times Square.
This is the transmitter and antenna that WABC-DT is currently using.

I just wish that some station personnel would let us know what's going on and when the Combiner stations will be back at full power.

What is going on?? I have had no issues at all with 2.1 ever since they did the work they did a few months ago it went from being one of the worst stations to one where I get 90% signal all the time..

However channel 11.1 and 11.2 something funky is going on.. for the past two days it has been unwatchable.. good thing I can use 5.1 and 5.2 as back up's

I need to read bac a page or so but I'm sure you all heard when Channel 7 will be switching off analog and moving to digital.. 12:30pm was a interesting time I thought.

also WNYE is acting funny I was getting 50-70% signal but no picture?

What is going on?? I have had no issues at all with 2.1 ever since they did the work they did a few months ago it went from being one of the worst stations to one where I get 90% signal all the time..

However channel 11.1 and 11.2 something funky is going on.. for the past two days it has been unwatchable.. good thing I can use 5.1 and 5.2 as back up's

I need to read bac a page or so but I'm sure you all heard when Channel 7 will be switching off analog and moving to digital.. 12:30pm was a interesting time I thought.

also WNYE is acting funny I was getting 50-70% signal but no picture?

I live 25 miles away on Long Island and I get all the channels fine ( except PBS and ION, which are low power).

It's Sunday morning and still cannot receive Combiner stations!

A friend who lives in Queens and has L-O-S to ESB has no problems.

DirecTV local NY stations are fine - therefore, I imagine that the Combiner stations have either reduced power or are using the backup antennas lower on the ESB, or possibly both scenarios.

I can't remember not being able to receive signals for this length of time, and there's no communication from stations' management. Not very responsible!!!!

Just damned frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here in Monmouth County, the ESB Combiner stations
are still out. Channel 5 (5.1, 5.2) is coming in
at its usual strength. Its been this way since last
Friday.

Almost like that Cablevision scare ad come to life.

Tom

I couldn't find any info about the problems, but then current DTV viewers seem to be treated like Beta testers and that we don't warrant any "tech support."

From the WCBS website:

It's coming! Starting June 12, 2009, all broadcast television will be digital.

I have always thought this was the wrong message, but perhaps broadcasters simply don't want people to watch the digital signals yet, even though they have been around for years...

NOTICE OF DTV-RELATED SERVICE LOSSES: Some WCBS-TV viewers on Long Island may lose service due to interference from WFSB, a CBS affiliate in Connecticut, which has been authorized on channel 33, the same channel to which WCBS-TV was assigned for its digital signal.

Note the lack of mention of moving from 56 to 33.

Do stations not need to warn existing DTV viewers of frequency or band changes? It seems not.

alright, same problems as everyone else here in monmouth county...

I found some contact information that might help someone:

Shane O'Donoghue
Broadcast Manager
Empire State Building Co., LLC
350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 300
New York, NY 10118
212-736-3100
sodonoghue@esbnyc.com

Someone who knows what they're talking about might want to call...

source: http://www.esbnyc.com/tourism/tourism_broadcasting.cfm

The Combiner is located at the Empire State Building.

It allows many stations, although using individual transmitters, to use only one antenna.

Currently, the digital Combiner provides transmission for the main and sub-channels for:
2, 4, 7, 9, 11 and 13.

As I previously mentioned in another post, Channel 7, in addition to being a component of the Combiner, also has a backup facility at the Conde Nast Building - 4 Times Square.
This is the transmitter and antenna that WABC-DT is currently using.

I just wish that some station personnel would let us know what's going on and when the Combiner stations will be back at full power.

I, too, am seeing greatly reduced signal strength on DT channels 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 25. DT channels 5, 41, 47 and 68 are all normal. Also, no change on the analog side. I have a pretty solid 5th-storey rooftop mount in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn.

I only noticed the outage last night around 11 PM. This is very frustrating!

The problem is that when analog reduces power you can still get a fuzzy picture but when digital reduces power all you get is a black screen saying low signal. Don't see this as progress even if they reduced power I am only 4 miles away so I should be able to get a picture. The only station that is still strong is channel 5 because they are on there own antenna. Yesterday I checked I am still getting channel 9 good too. My mothers Apex converter box could not get channel 9 though.

Also you can live on one part of the city and can't get certain stations and someone else a few blocks away can get though stations that you can't get. I am only a few blocks from Cobble Hill. I live at the end of one zip code and a block from me is another zip code. I can't ever get a blimp of picture for channel 41 and channel 68 is has very bad multipath issues. I can be watching it and it can go to around 60% to 0% about every 10 to 30 seconds. Bet you someone a few block from me can't get channel 66 but I get it really strong particularly where I am located.

Hello,

I am in Sea Girt and have lost everything but 5-1 and 5-2.

Jeff

The Main Combiner Antenna and former power are back!

Just to let you know, I haven't seen any changes over the past week. Everything but 13 ( which I've never received) is still coming in fine. I'm about 20 miles west of the ESB using a radio shack antenna in my attic. I haven't read all the posts, but it looks like many of you having problems are south of the ESB.

The backup antennas are located on the Southeast and Northeast corners of the ESB.

The Southeast panel array is also used even when the main antenna on the mast is operational - it's a fill-in for Brooklyn and Queens.

Those who have line-of-sight to ESB probably didn't notice any difference with the Combiner stations using the backup antennas - lower on the building and putting out lower power.

Just to let you know, I haven't seen any changes over the past week. Everything but 13 ( which I've never received) is still coming in fine. I'm about 20 miles west of the ESB using a radio shack antenna in my attic. I haven't read all the posts, but it looks like many of you having problems are south of the ESB.

Just curious, do you get ION ?

All the channels that I was able to receive I am receiving them again at the same signal strengths. Glad it is fixed.

I am getting poor reception too. I can never get channel 2 RF 56 good or at all but now I can't get channels 4, 7 and 11. Channel 5 and 9 are fine. Of course I am getting channels 25, 47, 50. Craptastic channel 66 is of course is in the high 80's which is the strongest. Channel 7 which was the strongest I can only peak at in the 20's which I use to be able to get it in the high 70's to low 80's. Then of course I am going to hear from people in NJ 30 miles away with a bowtie antenna getting those stations strong. Sorry I just don't believe you. Serious though they must be running in reduced power.
Well guess what.. I too was having problems with CBS and ABC on Sat and Sun. Initially I thought that it may be because of the wind gusts (but during the previous wind gusts, I was not affected). But yesterday too, I was having problem. I had to fiddle with the directions a lot to find the sweet spot to get everything reliably.
If you happen to visit Franklin Township/Easton Avenue area, you are most welcome to visit my apt. I will post the detailed setup for my antenna and the RG-6 run from the antenna to the TV tuner and HTPC Media Center (signal split into two) when I reach home.

Don't know if others have this problem. ABC channel 7-1,7-2, 7-3 are now coming over as 72-1, 72-2, 72-3

This has happened before on other stations and has corrected itself.

Anyone know if this is something with ABC? Or with my converter box DTVPAL (don't think so)

thanks

Rescan. It's a quirk with the DTVPal.

- Trip

Rescan. It's a quirk with the DTVPal.

- Trip

What kind of scan since there are different types of scans? "find new channels"

Or something different?

ty

Everything normal on both of my two O-T-A tuners - 7.1, 7.2, 7.3.

"find new channels" Does not change the 72-1, 72-2, 72-3 back to 7-1, 7-2, 7-3

Everything normal on both of my two O-T-A tuners - 7.1, 7.2, 7.3.

tv turners? or converter box?

ok a full scan seemed to fix it all. ty

I will post the detailed setup for my antenna and the RG-6 run from the antenna to the TV tuner and HTPC Media Center (signal split into two) when I reach home.
FWups..
TV and HTPC connected to the TV exclusively. You can see the white RG-6 cable coming from the antenna.
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/5319/antenna004.th.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=antenna004.jpg)

The antenna mount is also a speaker stand (rear right)
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/2050/antenna001.th.jpg (http://img6.imageshack.us/my.php?image=antenna001.jpg)

The RG-6 is a 25ft cable run from the antenna to the splitter.

I hear WABC might be pulling the plug on WABC+...

they sent a notice to Cablevision but I wonder what happens for the OTA

"WABC has advised us that they will cease operations of their multicast channel ABC Plus (ABC +) effective Monday, April 27, 2009. Cablevision was advised of this programming change by WABC less than 30 days prior to the channel deletion, which is why this notification is provided with less than 30 days notice.

At the same time, WABC will launch a new HD multicast service, Live Well HD which will launch on channel 729. Live Well HD Network is a network that covers topics that matter most in a vibrant viewer's well-lived life. Live Well HD will be made available as a digital HD service in the Broadcast Basic package. "

http://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/DPUCUndocketed.nsf/88f12116235902e185256a860056babb/85256a63004def9685257590005957e7?OpenDocument

Just curious, do you get ION ?

Haven't checked in the past few days, but ION normally comes in fine.

>>WABC will launch a new HD multicast service, Live Well HD <<

Another waste of bandwidth. Sounds like a home shopping channel

HD?

That's interesting.

Will the station be able to broadcast two HD signals at the same time?

Or will it only be HD when 7.1 is broadcasts SD?

Speaking of a waste of bandwidth - that's 4's Nonstop! An embarrassment!!!!

HD?

That's interesting.

Will the station be able to broadcast two HD signals at the same time?



I'm sure they could if they give them equal bandwidth. That means each channel only gets about 8 Mbps, which means they'll both look very soft and forget trying to watch any fast motion.

I hear WABC might be pulling the plug on WABC+...

they sent a notice to Cablevision but I wonder what happens for the OTA

"WABC has advised us that they will cease operations of their multicast channel ABC Plus (ABC +) effective Monday, April 27, 2009. Cablevision was advised of this programming change by WABC less than 30 days prior to the channel deletion, which is why this notification is provided with less than 30 days notice.

At the same time, WABC will launch a new HD multicast service, Live Well HD which will launch on channel 729. Live Well HD Network is a network that covers topics that matter most in a vibrant viewer's well-lived life. Live Well HD will be made available as a digital HD service in the Broadcast Basic package. "

http://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/DPUCUndocketed.nsf/88f12116235902e185256a860056babb/85256a63004def9685257590005957e7?OpenDocument

Any idea if they will replace 7.2 ABC plus with the new "Well HD Network " Or will that be just for cable and OTA loses a channel?

Man why can't these guys have a 24/7 movie channel. Can't be that hard

Found this and thought I would share


"Effective April 27, WABC is replacing WABC+ with Live Well HD. I'm sure everyone is looking forward to this one"

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r22197804-Live-Well-HD-replacing-WABC-

The link is where I found this information. Not sure if true

Pretty much the same info that's been posted here. There hasn't been an official announcement from WABC yet.

And there's nothing stating that it'll be HD over the air. More than one station does SD over the air and then feeds HD over fiber to the cable company.

- Trip

And there's nothing stating that it'll be HD over the air. More than one station does SD over the air and then feeds HD over fiber to the cable company.

- Trip

So your saying that Cable will have HD and OTA will have SD? Why would they go through the trouble of making 2 standards?

It is possible that OTA will get NO replacement at all?

So your saying that Cable will have HD and OTA will have SD? Why would they go through the trouble of making 2 standards?

It is possible that OTA will get NO replacement at all?

I'm not saying anything will or won't happen, it's just a possibility. I've seen it happen in other markets.

(They would do what 4-2 is doing, produce it in HD then downconvert to widescreen SD or, worse, crop it into regular SD for 7-2.)

It's possible they would decline to replace 7-2 but I'm doubting they'd do that. And if they do, the quality on 7-1 goes up.

- Trip

I'm not saying anything will or won't happen, it's just a possibility. I've seen it happen in other markets.

(They would do what 4-2 is doing, produce it in HD then downconvert to widescreen SD or, worse, crop it into regular SD for 7-2.)

It's possible they would decline to replace 7-2 but I'm doubting they'd do that. And if they do, the quality on 7-1 goes up.

- Trip

Well I tried e-mailing ABC.com and just got back a robot message. Nothing that answered my question

As you can imagine, we receive thousands of messages a day from our viewers and while we appreciate you taking the time to provide feedback regarding our programming, we are not able to respond to each one directly.

We encourage you to continue to communicate with us!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CHANGING TO DIGITAL TELEVISION:

Television as we know it is about to change! Are YOU ready?


By law, full-power television stations nationwide must switch from traditional analog transmitting to digital television (DTV) on June 12, 2009.

DTV is an innovative new type of broadcasting technology that delivers movie-quality pictures and sound, more channels, and even high definition television (HDTV) to consumers with HD television sets. While the benefits of DTV are remarkable, millions of households risk losing television reception unless they take the easy steps to receive a digital signal.

If you receive over-the-air television signals through antennas on television sets that are equipped with analog tuners – and if you do not subscribe to cable, satellite or a telephone company television service provider – you will be affected by the transition.

Learn how to prepare for DTV by visiting www.DTVAnswers.com or by calling 1-888-DTV-2009.

(They would do what 4-2 is doing, produce it in HD then downconvert to widescreen SD or, worse, crop it into regular SD for 7-2.)



Just a slight clarification. Even though 4-2 has programming that was produced in widescreen, it's still being sent out OTA and cable at 4:3 so it winds up getting letterboxed no matter what.

Just a slight clarification. Even though 4-2 has programming that was produced in widescreen, it's still being sent out OTA and cable at 4:3 so it winds up getting letterboxed no matter what.

Still? I thought they'd have fixed that by now.

- Trip

Just me speculating, but they probably think it's not an issue.

Ever since the combiner went down, to me…nothing is better. Only worse. Now I'm having problems with 4.1, 4.2 & 4.4. Damn signal is so weak it's not worth watching. Arrrgh! I hope something happens soon to get us back to where we were before this started. It was fine to begin with.

Ever since the combiner went down, to me…nothing is better. Only worse. Now I'm having problems with 4.1, 4.2 & 4.4. Damn signal is so weak it's not worth watching. Arrrgh! I hope something happens soon to get us back to where we were before this started. It was fine to begin with.

combiner went down,

What is that? My aunt lives in Queens and no signal problems at all? In fact tvfool shows that mpst stations will boost power in NYC area on June 12th

The combiner is…as I learned this weekend -->

The Combiner is located at the Empire State Building.

It allows many stations, although using individual transmitters, to use only one antenna.

Currently, the digital Combiner provides transmission for the main and sub-channels for:
2, 4, 7, 9, 11 and 13.

As I previously mentioned in another post, Channel 7, in addition to being a component of the Combiner, also has a backup facility at the Conde Nast Building - 4 Times Square.
This is the transmitter and antenna that WABC-DT is currently using.

It went down this past weekend which caused reception problems for most people in the NYC area. When it was fixed things were back to "normal". Unfortunately, I'm experiencing a weaker signal on all of the WNBC stations now.

WNBC is picky. I can get it stronger if I move my Terk antenna into a odd position. I think is that DT 29 that is interfering with it.

Also I wish they would just get rid of that 7.2 WABC+ channel. Anything would be a improvement since 90% when I put it on they are playing stupid Infomercials.

FWups..
TV and HTPC connected to the TV exclusively. You can see the white RG-6 cable coming from the antenna.
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/5319/antenna004.th.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=antenna004.jpg)

The antenna mount is also a speaker stand (rear right)
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/2050/antenna001.th.jpg (http://img6.imageshack.us/my.php?image=antenna001.jpg)

The RG-6 is a 25ft cable run from the antenna to the splitter.

I am not saying I don't believe you in particular. I see you have multiple bowties connected to another antenna. I tried it will just one bowtie with no amps or anything. Nice TV too. I could not get a TV bigger than 32" because I could not fit anything bigger in my tiny room. My room is tiny. You would be suprised how I can fit my computer and TV in the same room with a closet taking up over 1/4th of space and my bed taking up more. I have to rely on the cruddy TV speakers sound because I have no room for a surround system that I bought a couple of years ago. I have my shelf stereo in my closet because there is no other place to put it. I also have my TV sound hooked up to that for better sound. My upconvert DVD player is also in my closet. My 612 DVR is behind my TV because there is no other place to stick it. You can't even get to my window properly without moving things around which is why I had to put my Terk antenna and my printer in my Grandmothers room.

I don't feel like taking pictures but if you were here your room would be the size of a palace compared to mine.

I have an old dish echostar receiver for the satalight only networks [like AMC, TV Land & etc] & an antenna for the OTA locals. Does any one remember watching the Sound of music last winter when ABC carried it & was OTA from WABC? It looked great & was 16:9 wide screen just like it did at the movies in 1966. It was on ABC family network tonight. The resolution was ok concidering the max my dish echostar receiver does is S-video. But it was in 4:3.

Did any one else that has HD cable or dish see it?
Was it in 4:3 SD or HD 16:9?
Is the limitation at the ABC family network or was it in dish network?

What is even worse, is after paying for it to be delivered to your house it had more commercials that WABC did while WABC is free. Then seeing it so good on OTA last winter it was a let down to see it cropped. After they ODed me on commercials I changed the channel. When something is free like WABC I expect to see commercials. But when I pay for the network I expect a better service not worse. I am sorry to go on here. I will get down off the apple box now

Get yourself a library card (if you don't have one) and use your computer to have your local library get the Sound of Music for you and notify you when it is available for borrowing. It's free! Then you can enjoy it w/o any commercials and stop it if you want for a snack or potty break!

I almost never watch movies on TV anymore as the commercial breaks just destroy the continuity!

Also someone on this forum was suggesting that there are fewer commercial breaks with OTA versus cable on any given channel. I have been switching back and forth and I have not noticed any difference. If there is I don't see it.

Movies are simply not bearable on TV.....OTA or cable unless you are getting HBO etc.

"Also someone on this forum was suggesting that there are fewer commercial breaks with OTA versus cable on any given channel. I have been switching back and forth and I have not noticed any difference. If there is I don't see it."

There is absolutely no difference in the length of commercial breaks when comparing
O-T-A and receiving the same network program on cable or satellite. The length of breaks are identical. The only difference will be the "local" availabilities for commercials.

O-T-A reception will have the local station insert the commercials that they have sold.

And cable and satellite delivery will contain those commercials sold by your local cable provider or buy Dish or DirecTV.

The total amount of commercial time in no way differs!

The total amount of commercial time in no way differs!

At least you don't have to pay to watch commercials with OTA.

Here's a link to an interesting article about 1 World Trade Center (Freedom Tower) and why it may very well not become a transmission facility for New York DMA stations.

http://www.fybush.com/nerw.html

At least you don't have to pay to watch commercials with OTA.


I agree 100 0/0.

It makes me think about just turning it off & just watching the free OTA only.

Official DTV Reception map post-transition. It has some nifty features like if you click on the callsign it shows the direction oon the map as well as the Rx sensitivity:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/maps/

Also this document is really good.. seems like the broadcasters have done field coverage testing and come up with a comprehensive document for the NY market and have indicated which area will see improvement and which area will degrade after transition:

http://llnw.static.cbslocal.com/station/wcbs/dtv/New_York_NY.pdf

Hope this is useful. I saw WCBS mentioning these documents so I went to their website and got these information.

It seems the FCC map has all the details about gain/loss maps. Thus, if you can get gain/loss info on all stations as opposed to the CBS specific pdf I have pointed in my earlier post.

A number of people question the reality with the FCC's digital coverage figures when it comes to urban areas and specifically viewers using indoor antennas.

A number of people question the reality with the FCC's digital coverage figures when it comes to urban areas and specifically viewers using indoor antennas.
Yes that's the sad truth. Majority of OTA viewers rely on indoor rabbit-ear or age old outdoor VHF antenna (which may not be pointed at the right direction), cables may be old, connections may be rusted. Out of all all these issues, people may get frustrated, impatient and fall into the current pitch being done by cable cos (especially cablevision). Little does people realize that a little hassle to set up a good antenna will go a long way in having a life less complicated (less TV viewing because of less options but adequate IMO, more outdoor life.. good for both kids and adults) and free from the ever increasing cable bill.

That is why I don't watch ABC Family. Way too many commercials. Try watching The Incredibles on ABC Family with breaks all the time and then watch it on Disney Channel with only three short breaks with no real commercials. I watch it on Disney Channel. I always hated ABC Family because they overdo the commercial breaks.

I couldn't agree more with ABC Family and their relentless commercials.

My mom who lives about 1/2 mile from me and has had good reception via OTA called me last night at 9 PM to report digital 7.1 was not being received. She loves dancing with the stars and this was the first time she lost WABC 7.1 reception. I have no explanation as that has been one of our better stations. Since I have reconnected to cable I could not check out my antenna to see if I have lost it too. Uusually that is my best channel and often one of the few I get relaibly.

Anyone else out there have a problem Monday night with 7.1?

Anyone else out there have a problem Monday night with 7.1?

I have been having problems with 4.1, 4.2 & 4.4 for the last week and 1/2. Don't know if that helps but I think something is going on. It's been driving me nuts.

Were the OTA networks down early this AM (i.e. 3 o'clock AM hour)? My D* HDDVR which is set to record the Leno show at it's 3am repeat time recorded :55 of grey screened goodness...and I was just curious if WNBC was "down" at that time...or if it's just another in a long line of HR21 muck ups..... :mad:

I went over to my moms today to speak with her face to face and get to the bottom of her issue with 7.1 on Monday night. It seems that she was on 7.2 and not 7.1 and after she called me she figured it out. I thought she was telling me the picture went out but she was telling me the Dancing with the Stars was not on. She had called her neighbors and they said it was on and when she called me and said she was not getting it I assumed 7.1 reception.

By the way she is using an RCA converter box with a Sony analog TV and the reception is great.

just wondering, is WLIW now broadcasting in HD OTA or is it still just a digital channel? We on Comcast were supposed to get WLIW HD today and the two subchannels. They added them but the primary WLIW is in 480i and not 1080i HD. I'm wondering if WLIW even launched its HD channel yet.

WLIW - 21.1 gave up its HD service a few years ago.

All of the station's current digital transmission is in SD.

I've heard that HD may be coming back.

Doubt if things are going to change until at the earliest the June 12 transition.

The economy isn't helping things!!!

HD is coming back. Comcast was supposed to add WLIW HD today.

If Comcast does add something today, it's only gonna be in SD cuz that's all WLIW is transmitting at this point.

If Comcast does add something today, it's only gonna be in SD cuz that's all WLIW is transmitting at this point.

That's what I suspected, and that's why I came here to see if you OTAers were getting it in SD still. They added it in SD on EIA ch 109 here. I presume it'll get switched to HD whenever WLIW HD starts broadcasting because they've set up the QAM in a way that they have room to switch WLIW SD to WLIW HD without an impact on PQ.

Well I don't get it OTA.(I live too far away) Cablevision, carries the channel, along with the subchannels and I get it thru QAM and if/when WLIW makes the change, it would show up instantly on CV's system.

Interestingly enough my mom can't get 13.1 but she does get WLIW from her location which is surprising to me since she is 1/2 mile from me but has better line of sight.

However she is going through an RCA box to her analog TV so I can't help you with the question about whether WLIW is HD unless there is a way I can tell.

I get WLIW+subs OTA and all of it is SD, no HD.

Once again, currently, WLIW is not transmitting in HD!

only wish it would - it's the only PBS signal I get with reasonable reliability.

I read on another board that WNYZ-LD 6 is on the air, mapped to 1-1. With the FM audio also occupying channel 6. Ouch, my head.

Can anyone see the digital signal? Or, in a related question, has the signal of 87.7 suffered any?

- Trip

Just tried "Pulse 87" on FM - it tunes in at 87.75 - reception same as it was a few weeks ago when it was first brought to my attention - relatively strong and quite listenable.

Cannot pick up 1-1, although the transmission point is quite close to where I live - but I'm surrounded by tall building and no L-O-S.

Hope this helps!

Cannot pick up 1-1, although the transmission point is quite close to where I live - but I'm surrounded by tall building and no L-O-S.

I recall that you were unable to find a signal on analog 6 a few weeks ago. Perhaps this is why (digital).

If they are really broadcasting a dual analog/digital signal on 6, I would be interested in seeing if anyone can actually receive both.

I found this info on WNYZ-LP's License to Cover filing from November (bold emphasis added):

THE FACILITY WAS CONSTRUCTED AS AUTHORIZED IN THE UNDERLYING CONSTRUCTION PERMIT. IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 74.790(G) OF THE COMMISSION'S RULES, ISLAND BROADCASTING CO. PROVIDES AN OVER-THE-AIR VIDEO SIGNAL AT NO DIRECT CHARGE TO VIEWERS THAT IS COMPARABLE IN RESOLUTION TO THE ANALOG VIDEO SIGNAL PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED. ACCORDINGLY, PURSUANT TO SECTION 74.790(I) OF THE COMMISSION'S RULES, ISLAND BROADCASTING CO. IS ALSO PROVIDING AN ANCILLARY AUDIO SERVICE CONSISTENT WITH THE PUBLIC INTEREST, CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY. THE ANCILLARY AUDIO SERVICE IS NO DIFFERENT FROM THE ANALOG AUDIO SERVICE THAT THE STATION HAS PROVIDED FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. ISLAND WILL COMPLY WITH 73.624(G) OF THE RULES WITH RESPECT TO THE ANNUAL REPORT AND PAYMENT OF FEES RELATING TO ANCILLARY SERVICES. IN THE EVENT THAT A WAIVER OF FCC RULES AND/OR POLICY IS REQUIRED FOR ISLAND BROADCASTING COMPANY TO OPERATE THE STATION AS DESCRIBED ABOVE, SUCH A WAIVER IS RESPECTFULLY REQUESTED.

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1277322&Service=LD&Form_id=347&Facility_id=56043

Falcon -

You're mistaken, was never able to pickup any signal on 6 - digital or analogue.

Tried various antennas - no nothing!

The only reception was via my wonderful old Revox FM tuner.

You're mistaken, was never able to pickup any signal on 6 - digital or analogue.

I should have said that you were unable to find a *video* signal on analog 6. If it is broadcasting digitally, no analog video picture would appear. That's what I was trying to say.

FM 87.75 corresponds to the analog sound on TV 6, but now I'm wondering why you could receive it on the FM tuner, but not the TV tuner? :confused:

FM 87.75 corresponds to the analog sound on TV 6, but now I'm wondering why you could receive it on the FM tuner, but not the TV tuner? :confused:

It's been said that the audio carrier on a TV signal will travel at a greater distance than the video. Where I live, Pulse 87 and WPVI fight each other when I'm in the car, but I can't pick up either signal on TV.

Just tried "Pulse 87" on FM - it tunes in at 87.75 - reception same as it was a few weeks ago when it was first brought to my attention - relatively strong and quite listenable.

Cannot pick up 1-1, although the transmission point is quite close to where I live - but I'm surrounded by tall building and no L-O-S.

Hope this helps!


I used to be able to get Pulse 87 realllly good so good that I could see the color bars and everything with clear audio.. Now for the past 5 months it's nothing but snow and hardly any audio now it's like the SnR ratio went down the crapper..

Also I did a rescan of channels 3 days ago at night and I can pick up the ION channel but it not a clear of a picture with lots of drop outs but the scan gave me like 3 new channels on the lineup.

Channe 2.1 still coming in at 95% channel

I should have said that you were unable to find a *video* signal on analog 6. If it is broadcasting digitally, no analog video picture would appear. That's what I was trying to say.

FM 87.75 corresponds to the analog sound on TV 6, but now I'm wondering why you could receive it on the FM tuner, but not the TV tuner? :confused:

I wonder the same as well :-/

I wonder the same as well :-/

Maybe a ton of channel 5 strength is making channel 6 reception impossible there.

The FM receiver would deal with this problem much better than a TV set.

It's been said that the audio carrier on a TV signal will travel at a greater distance than the video. Where I live, Pulse 87 and WPVI fight each other when I'm in the car, but I can't pick up either signal on TV.

The following is the FCC contour for WNYZ-LP. It appears to be understated by a significant amount, but it has a null towards WPVI as well.

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=TX1229981.html

If you don't mind providing your location (city), I would be interested in seeing where these two are interfering with each other.

Out West, in the South Orange County and North San Diego County areas, the low power 6 station station in LA frequently interferes with full power XETV 6's audio, being broadcast from South of the border. The LA station is in Spanish and the Tijuana station is in English, so it's easy to tell when it changes. The volume level on XETV is also much lower.

Back to WNYZ-LP, no one is able to get the (apparent) DTV signal on 6? That's a good point about WNYW/5 blocking it out. Perhaps we will have to wait until June to see how effective DTV 6 is for WNYZ-LP.

How come analog TV now suffers from the lip sync problem? Are broadcasters trying to wean us away from reality and into the digital realm?

How come analog TV now suffers from the lip sync problem? Are broadcasters trying to wean us away from reality and into the digital realm?
The analog broadcast comes from a digital microwave the feeds the digital transmitter & also down converted & feeds the analog transmitter. Thus the problem will show up on both

Maybe a ton of channel 5 strength is making channel 6 reception impossible there.

The FM receiver would deal with this problem much better than a TV set.

Not sure since those channels are both analog and channel 5 I don't think has increased the analog strength.

Does anyone else have a problem with the audio on 2.1? I get nothing from centre channel, all the voices are now coming from the two fronts. Not sure when this started, but I'm pretty sure it was sometime last week.

I don't watch CBS much (usually FOX or ABC because wife doesn't like all these crime shows). But yesterday, I was watching Mentalist and I too noticed this problem off and on. It was not consistent though. I thought it may be something to do with their broadcast.

All I get is problems these days. I used to get everything perfectly. Then the combiner went down and nothing is the same. I have a freaking antenna on my roof in the highest point in Brooklyn facing the Empire State Building and I have problems with all of the NBC channels, 9.1, the WNET group 13.1 etc, and the Ion group of channels. Anyone else in my boat? This wasn't like this previously. I enjoyed watching tv and now it stinks!

Since the outage on the Combiner, all channels are about the same with the exception of WPIX-DT - this channel is registering somewhat lower on my "signal" meter.

yeah I have the same issue with 9.1 for the time being I can watch my show which also shows up on 5.1 at the same time with less if any break ups.

I have been having problems with 4.1, 4.2 & 4.4 for the last week and 1/2. Don't know if that helps but I think something is going on. It's been driving me nuts.
The 4.4 is the best addition on TV, for the hockey from Switzerland I will have to remove my current box since it has only Now-Next EPG, and go to 12hours EPG of my iNet1921.
My current Coship APT automatically changes from lost signals on vhf and goes to uhf assigned spots, if you get No Signal dialog box, try to go for the (virtual)station you can get printout from www.tvfool.com. wnbc4-1.2.4 is also on 28; WABC7-1.2.3. on ch.45; 2.1-56.1 etc.
What happen is this, punch in 9WOR the box goes to 38-1 retrieves the signal then transfer to 9-1,2 as you see on TV in less than 1 second.
Every time I loose signal on WNET13-1.2.3-Vme it goes by itself to 61-4,5,6 then transfers the signal back to 13-1,2,3
Incidentally, on Manual Search/Scan all channels from 1-23 and 62-69 are empty, 24is25-1.2; all vhf have already asigned ch. spots on uhf, you hear on TV telling you to rescan in June, so if your box is unable to find the desired ch. then punch in vhf ch. you want, see what happens.
Use also Channel Edit but the best way is Manual Search/Scan from 1-69 and move the rab.ears Ant. for each ch.(6-1 by itself transferred to 1-1, though it is impossible to get signal)

wow they must be doing work... I have a lot of channels with no signal...

the only channel that works with 90% signal is 2.1

the channels with no signal is:

5.1
7.1
9.1


poor signal on 11.1

wow they must be doing work... I have a lot of channels with no signal...

the only channel that works with 90% signal is 2.1

the channels with no signal is:

5.1
7.1
9.1


poor signal on 11.1

Definitely they are doing some work. I had to reorient my antenna to get 5.1 stable. Others are fine as of now.

And 5.1 has its own antenna having absolutely nothing to do with the Combiner stations - 2.1, 4.1, 7.1., 9.1, 11.1, 13.1 and their sub-channels.

Go figure!

Well it appears that sometime this morning, WABC+ (7-2) switched to 720p in preparation for its transformation to Live Well HD in a few days. It also appears that both 7-1 and 7-2 seems to be split evenly at 6 mbps! :eek::eek::eek:

I can just imagine the complaints coming soon about why Ch. 7's picture looks softer now.

When did WNJU-DT 47.1 start broadcasting in 1080i? Just noticed it now.

And 5.1 has its own antenna having absolutely nothing to do with the Combiner stations - 2.1, 4.1, 7.1., 9.1, 11.1, 13.1 and their sub-channels.

Go figure!

Makes completely sense then. For me only 5.x was giving problem. We had to watch American Idol at 9.2. I haven't checked today though.

When did WNJU-DT 47.1 start broadcasting in 1080i? Just noticed it now.

A couple of weeks ago. I think today is supposed to be their first regularly scheduled non-upconverted HD transmission.

- Trip

What happened to wliw 21-2, 21-3, 21-4?
I used to get these channels ota across the sound in CT.
Are they still broadcasting or do I have an Attenna or HR20 issue?
Thanks.

Well it appears that sometime this morning, WABC+ (7-2) switched to 720p in preparation for its transformation to Live Well HD in a few days. It also appears that both 7-1 and 7-2 seems to be split evenly at 6 mbps! :eek::eek::eek:

I can just imagine the complaints coming soon about why Ch. 7's picture looks softer now.

Its a Stat Muxed signal. I ran through a TS Reader and saw 10.4 for 7-1, 5.3 for 7-2, and 2.0 for 7-3. It fluctuates based on content. I'm sure priority is given to 7-1.

What happened to wliw 21-2, 21-3, 21-4?
I used to get these channels ota across the sound in CT.
Are they still broadcasting or do I have an Attenna or HR20 issue?
Thanks.

Do a rescan. They changed the PSIP info to 21-1, 21-2, 21-3

Its a Stat Muxed signal. I ran through a TS Reader and saw 10.4 for 7-1, 5.3 for 7-2, and 2.0 for 7-3. It fluctuates based on content. I'm sure priority is given to 7-1.

Thanks. I don't have TS Reader so I recorded each stream and played them thru VLC this morning when the news was on and that's what I came up with at the time.

Do a rescan. They changed the PSIP info to 21-1, 21-2, 21-3



Thanks. I don't have TS Reader so I recorded each stream and played them thru VLC this morning when the news was on and that's what I came up with at the time.

You are welcome. Sometimes they are in the 6 range (7-1 & 7-2), but I guess that was all needed at the time. True test will be during NBA this weekend.

How do you see data rate via VLC?

Its a Stat Muxed signal. I ran through a TS Reader and saw 10.4 for 7-1, 5.3 for 7-2, and 2.0 for 7-3. It fluctuates based on content. I'm sure priority is given to 7-1.

So you have TSReader? Which stations can you receive from your location?

- Trip

How do you see data rate via VLC?

Tools --> Media Information and then click the Statistics tab

Wow all of these goings on and my antenna is down.

Have no fear, it is going back up this weekend and will be joined by a second stacked CM4228.

16 elements of DTV grooviness. :) :) :)

What kind of programming will the new WABC 7.2 channel have? Any links to their schedule?

This is currently on Wikipedia:



Live Well HD Network is an upcoming home, health and lifestyle high definition digital subchannel network owned by Disney-ABC Television Group that will premiere on April 27, 2009, and broadcast in 720p. Currently, carriage of the network seems to be confined to all of ABC's owned and operated stations on their Plus-branded subchannels (for instance, WABC-DT2 in New York), and carriage of the network has been picked up in high definition by Comcast's Houston, Texas system [1] and Cablevision's New York/Tri-State systems.[2] All of the other ABC O&O's are confirmed to air LWHDN on their region's majority cable systems according to the network's site, however it is unknown if the network on those stations will be carried in HD or in 480i standard definition.

According to the programming schedules for the subchannels which will carry the network, it will not be a strict 24/7 channel; the stations will mix Live Well HD's various programming in with the existing schedules of their Plus channels, which usually feature each station's local newscasts aired on a delayed basis, local weather information, and ABC O&O local programming such as KGO-TV's View from the Bay.

I'm not going to Live Well with the crappy PQ on WABC-DT 7.1.:mad:
All the heavy filtering on GMA and The View with the lower bit rate makes the PQ look even worse.
I can't wait to check how bad Dancing With The Stars and The NBA Playoffs look.

When you have older women as the big names/big influence on shows, you're going to
get very soft HD pictures - especially the close-ups.

It all started, interestingly enough in SD, with Dan Rather and Mike Wallace at CBS!

Here's the LWHD webiste:

http://livewellhd.com/story?id=6777600

Looks very similar to how the ABC O&O web pages are set up

7.2 is now transmitting HD produced programming in WS.

The audio appears to be a bit "rubbery" vs. that on 7.1.

Unless the ABC engineers have some magic up their corporate sleeves and have found
a way to preserve the quality of 7.1's picture while giving us HD on two channels, this is a very misguided decision.

Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should!!!!

And if this venture winds up being successful in their eyes, look out. You'll see other station groups, even the ones doing 1080i doing something similar.

Save us from these corporate idiots!

The PQ on WABC-HD now looks soft and very compressed. The worse looking HD channel. I though they would have gotten rid of 7.2 but instead they make that a HD channel that most of the time will be showing nothing but infomercials like it does now. 7.1 use to look good at 720p but now it is soft dull colors and very compressed. :mad

The other questions is why have 7-3 (Accu-Weather), when they never promote it! Say what you want about NBC's Weather Plus but at least it was promoted on every weather cast before NBC bought the Weather Channel.

Before:
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/9103/eyetvsnapshot893.jpg
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/548/eyetvsnapshot1075.jpg

After:
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/460/eyetvsnapshot1115.jpg
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/1252/eyetvsnapshot1122.jpg

WABC-DT looks like 16:9 SD now...

Yup. Comparing the Today show and Good Morning America is just sad. GMA looks like internet video.

All of this for an HD infomercial channel?

When I look up tv listings online on imdb.com, it says for Cablevision LI, CH 729 is WABCDT-2 which is Live Well. Although some channels were added last night (AEHD,HistHD), I do not get 729. So I'm assuming they are going to add this soon.

When I look up tv listings online on imdb.com, it says for Cablevision LI, CH 729 is WABCDT-2 which is Live Well. Although some channels were added last night (AEHD,HistHD), I do not get 729. So I'm assuming they are going to add this soon.

Technically, it's already there on 107 (or whatever ABC+ is on in your area) If you tune to it, the HD indicator lights up. They're moving that to 729 on Monday.

Technically, it's already there on 107 (or whatever ABC+ is on in your area) If you tune to it, the HD indicator lights up. They're moving that to 729 on Monday.

Yeah your right, it is 107 and it is HD, although I don't know if they have a lot of HD programming.
Hopefully they'll add ION HD soon too.

WABC-DT OTA does not look much better than the Dish Network feed. I use to watch it more OTA because of the better PQ but now even the Dish Network feed has better PQ. I am not pleased. They should have just gotten rid of 7.2 or not make it 720p and left it at 480i. Now WABC-DT OTA looks worse than internet video because I have some HD internet video and it looks much better. Everyone please call or write to WABC and tell them that you have these big HDTV's and the PQ looks like SD. I only have a 32" 1080p HDTV and I notice it right away during Lost. I said it must just be ABC having PQ issues until I found out that 7.2 infomercial garbage channel is at 720p. I can just image how bad it would look on a 52" 1080p HDTV.

The complaints are going to grow much larger tomorrow when those NBA games air.

The only way to possibly change this idiotic waste of bandwidth is not just complaining on this Forum but directly to WABC.

Unfortunately, this idea came straight from Disney and is going to happen at all the O&Os. Chicago and Philly have already changed.

WABC-DT OTA does not look much better than the Dish Network feed. I use to watch it more OTA because of the better PQ but now even the Dish Network feed has better PQ. I am not pleased. They should have just gotten rid of 7.2 or not make it 720p and left it at 480i. Now WABC-DT OTA looks worse than internet video because I have some HD internet video and it looks much better. Everyone please call or write to WABC and tell them that you have these big HDTV's and the PQ looks like SD. I only have a 32" 1080p HDTV and I notice it right away during Lost. I said it must just be ABC having PQ issues until I found out that 7.2 infomercial garbage channel is at 720p. I can just image how bad it would look on a 52" 1080p HDTV.

Wow where to start. My aunt does not have a LCD HD and can not see a difference in PQ. That said she is happy to have another channel to watch (soon). I do agree that the crapppy new programing does not deserve HD and at most SD. Especially if this new channel takes away PQ from the main channel which makes all the revenues. Even if 7.2 was going to be 24/7 old movies it does not deserve HD.

Question: IS 7.1 in 1080p? Or was it reduced to 720p?

They should make ALL subs 480p or SD

I would have to agree here.

Does this change the quality on Cable systems? Or do they have more space to make high quality?

7.1 has always been 720p from day one.

Most of the large cable systems receive their signals from the major stations by way of fiber optic connections - therefore, there should not be a diminishing of quality.

Those systems getting their signal O-T-A will suffer with a poorer picture - this is how, I believe, the satellite providers are fed.

Most of the large cable systems receive their signals from the major stations by way of fiber optic connections - therefore, there should not be a diminishing of quality.

TWC, at least, does not appear to reencode. They take what they get from the local, whether it comes from fiber or OTA. You think WABC bought a special encoder for the cable cos?

707 looks newly terrible in S. Manhattan, FWIW.

Unfortunately, this idea came straight from Disney and is going to happen at all the O&Os. Chicago and Philly have already changed.

So has RDU's WTVD and it looks like crap... Didn't mind 1HD and 2SD subs, but 2HD and 1SD subs looks like ass! JMHO

There is absolutely nothing on this new Live Well channels that interests me, so why make 7.1 suffer in PQ. When I was watching Harry Potter last night, the PQ did not seems as good.

They confused MPEG-2 with MPEG-4 AVC in terms of bitrate! Anyway I can't believe that ABC will broadcast their programs that way from now on, it's unwatchable

They confused MPEG-2 with MPEG-4 AVC in terms of bitrate! Anyway I can't believe that ABC will broadcast their programs that way from now on, it's unwatchable

Their money maker is 7.1. Any sub is not going to generate the cash as the main station. If they make the PQ so bad that people stop watching ABC as much. Then they got a BIG problem.

All Subs should be SD imo.

There are those that say there should be any subs at all, like CBS does with its O&Os.

Right now, WNJU-DT 47.1 Telemundo OTA is broadcasting Monday's episode of WWE RAW with the Spanish-language soundtrack. That's great, cause my family can't get the SAP audio when it airs on TWC's USA HD channel, even though the opening credits metion that SAP is available.

Unfortunately, Telemundo is showing that HD programming in 4:3 SD upconverted to 1080i.

I guess they aren't prepared to receive the HD feed. Shame. You'd think they'd try to increase HD programming. So far it's only like 2 hours of soap operas each week in HD. I haven't seen an HD commercial either.

:(

The other evening, 47.1 had an HD telecast of the Billboard Latin Music Awards from Coral Gables, Florida.

Ok this if for the people who get 11.2 LATV from NYC AND use a DTVpal.

As you might of know there was no audio on this channel for many many months. Well Audio is now back.

7.2 right now is showing Paid Programming and then even more Paid Programming. So now we have terrible PQ on the main channel so that stupid horrible waste ridden I wish would just die infomercials can be at 720p and not one infomercial is even in HD. How much of Live Well HD programing will there actually be about a few hours a day with the rest Paid Programming crud.

By the way Dish Network carries about 10 24/7 Paid Programming all the time waste of space channels.

7.2 right now is showing Paid Programming and then even more Paid Programming. So now we have terrible PQ on the main channel so that stupid horrible waste ridden I wish would just die infomercials can be at 720p and not one infomercial is even in HD. How much of Live Well HD programing will there actually be about a few hours a day with the rest Paid Programming crud.

By the way Dish Network carries about 10 24/7 Paid Programming all the time waste of space channels.

How hard could it be to put in a nice 24/7 SD old movie channel? With Ads

All I get is problems these days. I used to get everything perfectly. Then the combiner went down and nothing is the same. I have a freaking antenna on my roof in the highest point in Brooklyn facing the Empire State Building and I have problems with all of the NBC channels, 9.1, the WNET group 13.1 etc, and the Ion group of channels. Anyone else in my boat? This wasn't like this previously. I enjoyed watching tv and now it stinks!

I'm up in Washington Heights and the exact same thing is going on with me. I can get the analog channels just fine, but the digital signals which all used to be picture perfect are now completely unwatchable. Does anyone know who we can complain to? Should I try 311?

"Should I try 311?"

New York City has absolutely nothing to do with whether you get good reception or any reception. The places to complain are the stations and the FCC.

Do you really want to clog the 311 telephone lines when people are worried about
Swine Flu?

"Should I try 311?"

New York City has absolutely nothing to do with whether you get good reception or any reception. The places to complain are the stations and the FCC.

Do you really want to clog the 311 telephone lines when people are worried about
Swine Flu?

Maybe people won't be clogging the 311 lines if they can get a proper OTA signal so they can watch the news. In fact, one of the important purposes of OTA is to disseminate news and important public announcements.

If the OTA digital issues are not resolved by 6/12 there will be a lot of complaints from many people in the NY City area about the lousy reception. I have seen great reception as good as cable and bad reception where it is unwatchable and for the most part it is bad now. I don't know what they are doing with the transmitters and I don't care. The fact is it should have been getting better as we get closer to the cutoff and instead it is getting worse. Perhaps they are trying to drive people away from OTA. Sure looks like it to me.

I know some people are still getting great reception but there are many of us who see it going backwards.

I am trying my darndest to dump cable but after spending close to $300 on an antenna, amplifier, installation etc. it looks like OTA is not going to be a suitable alternative. I feel really sorry for everyone who is in the same boat as I am. I will see how things go on and after 6/12 but I have little faith in those engineers at the ESB and the people paying them.

If the OTA digital issues are not resolved by 6/12 there will be a lot of complaints from many people in the NY City area about the lousy reception. I have seen great reception as good as cable and bad reception where it is unwatchable and for the most part it is bad now. I don't know what they are doing with the transmitters and I don't care. The fact is it should have been getting better as we get closer to the cutoff and instead it is getting worse. Perhaps they are trying to drive people away from OTA. Sure looks like it to me.

I know some people are still getting great reception but there are many of us who see it going backwards.

I am trying my darndest to dump cable but after spending close to $300 on an antenna, amplifier, installation etc. it looks like OTA is not going to be a suitable alternative. I feel really sorry for everyone who is in the same boat as I am. I will see how things go on and after 6/12 but I have little faith in those engineers at the ESB and the people paying them.

Ok stupid question time. You got the right antenna for your area? It is facing the right way. I seen posts where people faced it 180 degrees wrong way.

^Really? I though everyone knew to put the small end of the antenna towards the signal they want to receive.

Is ABC's 720p bitrate still low?

I'm located 52 miles from Empire near Toms River NJ. All the combiner signals are as good as they ever were except 13.1. My antenna is 100 foot ASL with a good preamp.

Last time signals were weak was the weekend where Empire was using the lower antenna a few weeks back. Things went right back to normal the following Monday morning.

The point is if there are problems line of sight to Empire it's time for an equipment check on the receiving end. If the antenna was spec'd and installed professionally consider contacting the installer to see what they think. If you are using a preamp try removing it or reducing gain is so equipped. It could be overloaded.

BTW, there are some good conditions right now and later today for TVDX.

Is ABC's 720p bitrate still low?

Yes it is. Dancing with the Stars looks like crud. Lots of pixelation and washed out colors. All this for a wasteful HD infomercial channel.

^Really? I though everyone knew to put the small end of the antenna towards the signal they want to receive.

Not true. Most amateurs. Me included would think the bigger end faces the towers. Not true

I read a whole 10 page thing on here about a guy who did just that. People here asked for pictures and explained he had it backwards.

Yes it is. Dancing with the Stars looks like crud. Lots of pixelation and washed out colors. All this for a wasteful HD infomercial channel.

No kidding....I noticed the basketball game on Sunday looked like crap and thought it was just a one time event.

Shame on WABC for doing this.

7.1 now looks like CRAP! This a huge step backwards. They might as well go back to SD.

Booooo!!!!

John -

Just wondering, what's the size of your screen?

The larger the screen the worse the bit-starved picture will look.

I'm watching Dancing with the Stars and it looks like the picture goes out of focus like every couple of seconds or so. Its a lot worse on 7.2 on the LiveWell channel. Is this because of the sub taking up bandwidth?
When I go to my Cablevision feed I do not see it. So is this only an OTA isue?

Update: I just checked my other HDTV with a seperate OTA antenna, and I do not see this happening, so apparantly it's just my set-up on my den TV, something is causing inteference.

Not true. Most amateurs. Me included would think the bigger end faces the towers. Not true

I read a whole 10 page thing on here about a guy who did just that. People here asked for pictures and explained he had it backwards.

That is just too funny. I went back and read that. If you hadn't told me about that I would have thought it to be unbelievable.

That is just too funny. I went back and read that. If you hadn't told me about that I would have thought it to be unbelievable.

Well that is why I said stupid question and asked him if it was facing right way? Small side toward towers

One time in the late 1990's, we had a big windy storm and the antenna on my roof was turned around, small side facing east. I have no rotor (I know such a stupid omission on my part) so I had to get on the roof, and secure it facing the right way. One neighbor walks over and mentions to me that my antenna is facing the wrong way. I asked him if he would rather come up and help out or just stand there direct me. He said he felt safer on the ground and proceeded to tell me where to move it to get the best reception. Great to know I wasn't alone in the fight for free TV. I've had to move it a few times since then for reasons we all know. And he was there helping me from the ground, telling me stories of installing antennas in the 50's through early 70's. When ever he sees me up there he's always saying, you know they make items that will rotate the antenna from the ground. :)

What about the other ABC's stations?

All of the ABC owned stations will be/are doing the same stupid thing.

It's a corporate decision.

You question is a good one but not relevant for me. I have a Channel Master CM4228 UHF antenna with a CM 7777 amp.

As I said in my post I have gone days with reception in the mid 80's and upper 90's on my meter and other days many of those channels can barely get above 60. How can that be? Such a wide variance. Reception as good or better than cable one day and not viewable a few days later? And no discernable reason such as rain, wind etc? It not like it was the rain and then when the rain goes away the great reception comes back. That does not happen.

My antenna was put up by a Pro and positioned with the aid of a compass. It has not budged.

Although I an 30 miles out and in hills there are many who are much closer that have noticed the same issues. While there are many who say they have not seen any changes. So it must be something with the digital transmission that causes these anomalies that did not happen with analog reception. I still say this will be a big complaint on and after 6/12 when many people are going to notice that the new and supposed better digital reception experience is not good for them at all.

You question is a good one but not relevant for me. I have a Channel Master CM4228 UHF antenna with a CM 7777 amp.

As I said in my post I have gone days with reception in the mid 80's and upper 90's on my meter and other days many of those channels can barely get above 60. How can that be? Such a wide variance. Reception as good or better than cable one day and not viewable a few days later? And no discernable reason such as rain, wind etc? It not like it was the rain and then when the rain goes away the great reception comes back. That does not happen.

My antenna was put up by a Pro and positioned with the aid of a compass. It has not budged.

Although I an 30 miles out and in hills there are many who are much closer that have noticed the same issues. While there are many who say they have not seen any changes. So it must be something with the digital transmission that causes these anomalies that did not happen with analog reception. I still say this will be a big complaint on and after 6/12 when many people are going to notice that the new and supposed better digital reception experience is not good for them at all.
Wow that stinks. Well I am here to help and think of things you missed.

Another Stupid question. You have a UHF antenna. What stations use VHF currently? What stations are changing in June? What antenna do you use for VHF?

Also did your installer use RG6 coax?

I wish you luck and if I remember correctly you live in 1 of the 5 burrows of NYC? If so you will be glad to know that NYC, most of the stations there are boosting power on June 12th. Also they will move the digital antenna in the better spot where the analog antenna is now.

All of the ABC owned stations will be/are doing the same stupid thing.

It's a corporate decision.

Crap!

All of the ABC owned stations will be/are doing the same stupid thing.

It's a corporate decision.
Why would they purposely hurt their main money making station? After watching a few minutes of LiveWell it is clear it is not very good. imo and does not deserve HD

Just hooked this up yesterday. I Live 25 miles from ESB and get everything except 13.1 and 47.1 . Not bad for a cheap bowtie antenna.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bsGp7iJrCTc/SfjguwKmtwI/AAAAAAAAAbw/M33cDfLbEn0/s640/016.JPG

John -

Just wondering, what's the size of your screen?

The larger the screen the worse the bit-starved picture will look.

I'm sure that's true--if we all watched TV on iPod sized screens...we would have no need for HD. :)

It very noticeable on my 42" screen--- ABC looks really soft.

Just hooked this up yesterday. I Live 25 miles from ESB and get everything except 13.1 and 47.1 . Not bad for a cheap bowtie antenna.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bsGp7iJrCTc/SfjguwKmtwI/AAAAAAAAAbw/M33cDfLbEn0/s640/016.JPG

Great man, what's your strategy for June 12th and half the stations go to high VHF?

Great man, what's your strategy for June 12th and half the stations go to high VHF?

I'll have to wait and see. Actually I do get the analogs pretty good so maybe its a good indication of the reception I'll get when they do switch.
Heck I have a set of rabbit ears in my attic right now for my other HDTV and that picks up everything as well ( except 13.1, 47.1, 31.1). So who knows.

I'm pretty bummed about ABC's poor HD picture quality since adding Live Well HD on 7-2, so it occured to me last night that it might be interesting to compare disk usage for some shows I have stored on ny TivoHD.

For comparison purposes we'll start with some other network shows:

The Mentalist 4/28 2-1 6.66 GB
Reaper 4/28 11-1 6.52 GB
24 4/27 5-1 5.64 GB
Chuck 4/27 4-1 5.53 GB
Bones 4/23 5-1 6.54 GB
Smallville 4/23 11-1 6.52 GB
Lie to Me 4/29 5-1 6.27 GB

Now ABC:

Pushing Daisies 12/17 7-1 4.83 GB

D.Housewives 3/22 7-1 4.05 GB
D.Housewives 4/19 7-1 4.14 GB
D.Housewives 4/26 7-1 2.62 GB

Castle 4/13 7-1 4.05 GB
Castle 4/20 7-1 3.60 GB
Castle 4/27 7-1 2.34 GB

Cupid 4/14 7-1 4.72 GB
Cupid 4/28 7-1 2.74 GB

Unusuals 4/21 7-1 5.28 GB
Unusuals 4/22 7-1 2.97 GB
Unusuals 4/29 7-1 4.40 GB

Lost 4/29 7-1 4.50 GB

Grey's A. 3/26 7-1 3.23 GB
Grey's A. 4/23 7-1 2.55 GB

Personal remarks: This confirms that ABC picture quality has never been as good as the competition. I haven't yet watched any of these shows other than last night's episode of Lost and it appears it might be too painful for some of them to bother. Of note is that last night, 4/29, both The Unusuals and Lost received more bandwidth than other recent primetime shows. Lost appeared normal to me, which is good, if not great. I checked the 11:00 PM news and it looked awful, so it makes one wonder if they're going to provide more bandwidth for primetime only. I also noticed a black screen on 7-3 a bit before 11:00 PM but I don't know if that had anything to do with last night's readings.

I did send an email to ABC news on their local website, letting them know I've switched from being a longtime watcher of their local news to WCBS, because of the poor picture quality. I encourage everyone to complain and help bring them to their senses. I have no doubt that they will lose many more 7-1 viewers than they will gain with the crap they're broadcasting on 7-2. Someone should be fired.

Steve

You question is a good one but not relevant for me. I have a Channel Master CM4228 UHF antenna with a CM 7777 amp.

As I said in my post I have gone days with reception in the mid 80's and upper 90's on my meter and other days many of those channels can barely get above 60. How can that be? Such a wide variance. Reception as good or better than cable one day and not viewable a few days later? And no discernable reason such as rain, wind etc? It not like it was the rain and then when the rain goes away the great reception comes back. That does not happen.

My antenna was put up by a Pro and positioned with the aid of a compass. It has not budged.

Although I an 30 miles out and in hills there are many who are much closer that have noticed the same issues. While there are many who say they have not seen any changes. So it must be something with the digital transmission that causes these anomalies that did not happen with analog reception. I still say this will be a big complaint on and after 6/12 when many people are going to notice that the new and supposed better digital reception experience is not good for them at all.

One suggestion, which may or may not work. At 30 miles do you really need the CM7777 pre-amp to amplify the signal? AFAIK, Morris Town is not in a fringe reception area. Its in a area where the OTA signal gets blocked by the mountains, so its more likely that you have a multipath situation because of reflections coming from different area. And I think CM4228 have sufficient gain and directivity to handle the signals without any pre-amp. At least for me, when I tried to add a Terk pre-amp after the eagle-aspen 2-bay I lost couple of channels and made things worse (I am at 33 miles from ESB, though at higher elevation than your location). So I run the antenna without any pre-amp even at 25 ft run of RG6 cable from the antenna to the TV (and with signals being further split into two.. in effect making the signal strength half to each tuner). From the posts I see here, people generally use the CM7777, if they are more than 50-55+ miles from broadcast. You can probably point your antenna towards Philly and probably get a better reception than NY with your pre-amp setup.

The installer used RG6 quadcore. Lexus I am 30 miles west of the ESB in the hills of Morris Cty.

Kousib: I think I tried early on to just hook the CM4228 in the house by a window and the reception was not too good but got better when the amp was hooked up. That was in Sept of last year so my memroy may be failing me. I could try it again with the antenna up on the roof but my problem is it is quite high up and I am chicken **** when it comes to heights. I recently got as high as the bottom of mast to hook a ground to it and that was pushing my envelope.

What I might do is simply wait till 6/12 and see what my reception is. Then maybe I can find someone not a chicken like me to unhook the amp and see what happens. For this to work the CM7777 amp has to be disconnected at the antenna.

My other alternative is at my mom's 1/2 mile east of me. Her antenna is not as high up and a little easier for me to get to. She has the same setup but going to a converter box not a HD TV. Actually speaking of her setup. She is not having any problems with the CM4228 and CM7777 reception. While she does not pull in 13.1 which is on low power she is getting WLIW 21.2 ans 21.3. Which I think is incredible.

It might be simpler to disconnect her from the amp and see what the impact is and that should be close to what will happen to me. If her reception stays the same or improves without the amp then that could be my problem. Now that the weather is getting nicer I might be able to coax one of my kids who has no fear of heights to work with me...

Maybe people won't be clogging the 311 lines if they can get a proper OTA signal so they can watch the news. In fact, one of the important purposes of OTA is to disseminate news and important public announcements.

You need to call the station or the FCC if you are calling anyone.

The only station that 311 can help with (probably) is WNYE.

Just hooked this up yesterday. I Live 25 miles from ESB and get everything except 13.1 and 47.1 . Not bad for a cheap bowtie antenna.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bsGp7iJrCTc/SfjguwKmtwI/AAAAAAAAAbw/M33cDfLbEn0/s640/016.JPG

I tried that antenna and I could only pick up stupid channel 66 and 47. I was able to get 5 and 7 but only if I held it in the air. Also the cord is too short. I am only 4 miles from the ESB and I just don't get how you can get better reception with that peace of crud much further away. I went back to my Terk HDTVi which gives me the best reception.

I just watched a bit of Live Well WABC-DT2. Some cooking show was on. Not only was the picture not much better then a SD picture, the audio was so out of synch it was laughable. Was almost funny in a dubbed kung-foo movie type of way.

I tried that antenna and I could only pick up stupid channel 66 and 47. I was able to get 5 and 7 but only if I held it in the air. Also the cord is too short. I am only 4 miles from the ESB and I just don't get how you can get better reception with that peace of crud much further away. I went back to my Terk HDTVi which gives me the best reception.


I ran RG6 from my TV into the garage, up the corner siding and along the soffit, where I then connected a 75-300ohm transformer and hooked up the bowtie. It is 20 feet above ground. Height is a big factor for my reception. On the first floor I was getting almost nothing.

Since you have it outdoors I think you are in danger of picking up superimposed voltage from lightening in the area during a storm, voltage transients, static charges etc. If and when this happens you could FRY your TV and other electronics.

There is lots of info on the NET as to the codes that require grounding outdoor antennas and the need for it.

You are taking a big chance.

Never tried the bowtie outdoors. I would have probably gotten better reception but I can't not run it outside because we have new windows and I can't run any lines through the windows.

I noticed the main channel 7 looks better yesterday. The colors are sharper and richer. Still I would have wanted that 7.2 infomercial channel gone instead in 720p.

Since you have it outdoors I think you are in danger of picking up superimposed voltage from lightening in the area during a storm, voltage transients, static charges etc. If and when this happens you could FRY your TV and other electronics.

There is lots of info on the NET as to the codes that require grounding outdoor antennas and the need for it.

You are taking a big chance.

Thanks for the advice. I figured its under the soffit not really exposed to the elements, the chances of that happening would be less than a regular antenna. I'm not sure how exactly I would ground the bowtie.

All of a sudden now I can't get ION, and 41.1 comes in breaking up. Maybe something to do with the recent rain? I was getting a strong signal a few days ago.

Don't know if others have this problem. ABC channel 7-1,7-2, 7-3 are now coming over as 72-1, 72-2, 72-3

This has happened before on other stations and has corrected itself.

Anyone know if this is something with ABC? Or with my converter box DTVPAL (don't think so)

thanks

My iNet or Coship would have put WABC7-1 into 45-1,2,3 that is the place for ABC, any number above 69 the box returns to last posted number
under 69. As long you get the signal video-audio at 72- I would not worry,
but it seems the box is running amok for 7-1 should find path to 45-1.
The Coship Manual scan-search shows 1-23 and 62-69 ch.empty so there
is nothing above 62 much less 69, I think your TV tuner is running on cable 2-125 and it may have confused your dtvPAL.

My iNet or Coship would have put WABC7-1 into 45-1,2,3 that is the place for ABC, any number above 69 the box returns to last posted number
under 69. As long you get the signal video-audio at 72- I would not worry,
but it seems the box is running amok for 7-1 should find path to 45-1.
The Coship Manual scan-search shows 1-23 and 62-69 ch.empty so there
is nothing above 62 much less 69, I think your TV tuner is running on cable 2-125 and it may have confused your dtvPAL.

Fixed this long ago. Thanks for the reply though. Seems to be a DTVpal issue. A full rescan did the trick.

Funny you think that. I do have the analog tv in cable mode using an OTA antenna. Reason was we picked up extra stations

For some reason today my OTA Digital TV is coming in just fine. Anyone experiencing something similar? Did some maintenance/upgrading occur on the transmitting equipment?

No work on the ESB from what I've been told.

You're being way too logical trying to find reasons for changes in your reception.

You're dealing with temperature, rain, humidity and God knows what else.

It can drive you crazy!!!!

All of a sudden now I can't get ION, and 41.1 comes in breaking up. Maybe something to do with the recent rain? I was getting a strong signal a few days ago.

Must have been the rain cause now I have it back.

Can never get now anyway ION, 41.1, 2 and 13.

WPXN-DT (ION) went 720p today (5/5). TSReader shows it's been averaging about 10mb for the main channel, 2.5mb each for .2 and .3 and just under 2mb for .4

The picture looks surprisingly decent on the main channel.

WPXN-DT (ION) went 720p today (5/5). TSReader shows it's been averaging about 10mb for the main channel, 2.5mb each for .2 and .3 and just under 2mb for .4

The picture looks surprisingly decent on the main channel.

Once the rain stops, I'll be able to check it out.

Too bad I can't check it out as I can't even get a blimp of a picture for WPXN-DT.

Also channel 7 looks horrible again. All compressed and the Live Well channel is a big waste. Like one infomercial. All this so the main channel could look terrible. No one is going to watch Live Well so why does there main channel have too look bad.

WPXN-DT (ION) went 720p today (5/5). TSReader shows it's been averaging about 10mb for the main channel, 2.5mb each for .2 and .3 and just under 2mb for .4

The picture looks surprisingly decent on the main channel.

I like 31.2 Qubo for the kids, 31.3 ION life is ok, but that worship channel 31.4 has to go.

Does WPXN have any programs in HD though? The mostly run 70's and 80's sitcom and drama reruns from what I see when I click thru.

Checked out station last night and "Boston Legal" was there in HD and not looking bad at all.

In fact, better than WABC-DT (7.1) since the station's latest idiocy!

Anyone else notice that WPXO-LP, Caribevision, which normally broadcasts Spanish-language programming, has, since at least yesterday, been broadcasting a test pattern with a text crawl, in Spanish, saying:

"We are sorry for being off the air due to that we are changing our analog transmitter to digital. Soon, you will be able to enjoy our programming with the best digital quality. Muchas Gracias."

Being an "LP" (Low power) station, they are not required to meet the June 12th deadline, but it seems they have plans to do so.

BTW, if you are showing a test pattern, you are not "off the air"; you have merely suspended programming.

Checked out station last night and "Boston Legal" was there in HD and not looking bad at all.

In fact, better than WABC-DT (7.1) since the station's latest idiocy!

Good to know thanks. One of the challenges of working overnights is that your not really up to date on the latest goings on of some stations. During the day it's kinda a wasteland.

Too bad it isn't still Classic Sports like it was a few (5 or so) years ago.

Something is going on at WXTV-DT 41.1 Univision. Up until yesterday, they were broadcasting at 480i. Today I checked and it was 720p. Then I checked back just before posting this message and it's at 1080i.

The did say they would be ready to broadcast the World Cup games in HD. Those games start in June 2010.

Something is going on at WXTV-DT 41.1 Univision. Up until yesterday, they were broadcasting at 480i. Today I checked and it was 720p. Then I checked back just before posting this message and it's at 1080i.

The did say they would be ready to broadcast the World Cup games in HD. Those games start in June 2010.

Wow.. FIFA World Cup 2010 in HD.. nice.. I wish they broadcast a separate English audio stream or English CC taking adavantage of the digital technology to broaden their viewer base.

Also never able to get WXTV-DT 41 so I can't check out that station either. Don't understand since I am only 4 miles away from the transmitters but I can get stations further away easier. Now most of the stations are in HD except for channels 25 WNYE which the strollers says that they will be in HD and channel 66 WFME which will always be in cruddy 480i.

Something is going on at WXTV-DT 41.1 Univision. Up until yesterday, they were broadcasting at 480i. Today I checked and it was 720p. Then I checked back just before posting this message and it's at 1080i.

The did say they would be ready to broadcast the World Cup games in HD. Those games start in June 2010.

Well they went back to 480 so I guess it was just a test for now.

Yesterday was a decent day weather wise, and I still can't get ION 31.1, so I don't know by them switching to 720P affected the transmission of their signal or not, because I used to get them before the HD switch.

The switch to HD should not affect your ability to receive the station.

Also never able to get WXTV-DT 41 so I can't check out that station either. Don't understand since I am only 4 miles away from the transmitters but I can get stations further away easier. Now most of the stations are in HD except for channels 25 WNYE which the strollers says that they will be in HD and channel 66 WFME which will always be in cruddy 480i.

Reddice if you have not already tried this, is there another tuner you can try?( another ATSC TV, converter box) Perhaps maybe the tuner on your TV is defective or loading down the signal? Just trying to eliminate possiblities.

Also never able to get WXTV-DT 41 so I can't check out that station either. Don't understand since I am only 4 miles away from the transmitters but I can get stations further away easier. Now most of the stations are in HD except for channels 25 WNYE which the strollers says that they will be in HD and channel 66 WFME which will always be in cruddy 480i.

Hey Reddice,

I've been following your ongoing difficulties for a few months now, and I'm keeping my eyes out for a solution for you. I'm wondering how many other stations are very close to you. We already have a pretty good idea that you're severely affected by multipath, but now I'm wondering if there aren't nearby stations that are overwhelming your TV's tuners or any antenna amplifiers that you might have.

Have you ever looked at TVfool.com and made note of what stations are very close to you? If so, could you list them for us? List anything within five miles, and list the "PWR (dBm)" specification too. Also, do the same for any radio stations via FMfool.com - an overly-powerful FM radio signal can overwhelm a tuner or signal amplifier just like a strong TV signal could, and it would affect many channels, not just the nearest frequency.

Let us know. This might be another good clue about what's going on with your reception.

Finally received ION again after re-adjusting my bowtie and doing a re-scan. It actually looks good. I was watching Lethal Weapon 3, it did not seem in OAR (2:35 according to imdb) but it still looked good.

Anyone else notice that WPXO-LP, Caribevision, which normally broadcasts Spanish-language programming, has, since at least yesterday, been broadcasting a test pattern with a text crawl, in Spanish, saying:

"We are sorry for being off the air due to that we are changing our analog transmitter to digital. Soon, you will be able to enjoy our programming with the best digital quality. Muchas Gracias."

Being an "LP" (Low power) station, they are not required to meet the June 12th deadline, but it seems they have plans to do so.

BTW, if you are showing a test pattern, you are not "off the air"; you have merely suspended programming.

Yes, CV34 Analog ceased to broadcast, and now is only digital, but
right now it shows only logo with color bars, I got it on Manual scan then
made Add on to memory, its pathway leads to ch.31.
Here is little problem, ION31 has pathway to ch.30, it retrieves the signal
1or 2 or 3 or 4 and transffers it to 31, Scan of CV34 goes to 31, thus I have
double 31 one ion31-1.2.3.4 the other 31-1.2.3.4CV34 together 8 but only 5 are functional
The first 31(30) is Ion31-1.2.3.4. the second set of 31(34) is CV34-1
which was on Analog and the rest of 31(34)-2.3.4. are empty. In June, after
reScan ION will be on ch.30 and CV on 31, permanently.
More importantly the signal is strong, this past week Univision41-increased
power and it is much easier to get their signal, I hope 47Telemundo will do
the same as 41, I wish I spoke spanish.
All the spanish broadcasts like 11-2LA(57.1inCa); 68-;41-; even 13-Vme have much stronger broadcast sound system, much better than English broad
casts, why ?

"I hope 47Telemundo will do the same as 41"

47 is doing a lot. Phase I reflects the FCC's recent approval to activate a fill-in transmitter and antenna on top of the Conde Nast Building (4 Times Square) to supplement the West Orange, New Jersey tower's signal. This fill-in will help reception on the east side of Manhattan and further east Brooklyn, Queens and the rest of
Long Island.

Phase II has WNJU-DT moving its main transmission point from West Orange to very high on the Empire State Building's antenna mast. Not only the height, but also, at this point, it will be the strongest signal from the ESB.

"I hope 47Telemundo will do the same as 41"

47 is doing a lot. Phase I reflects the FCC's recent approval to activate a fill-in transmitter and antenna on top of the Conde Nast Building (4 Times Square) to supplement the West Orange, New Jersey tower's signal. This fill-in will help reception on the east side of Manhattan and further east Brooklyn, Queens and the rest of
Long Island.

Phase II has WNJU-DT moving its main transmission point from West Orange to very high on the Empire State Building's antenna mast. Not only the height, but also, at this point, it will be the strongest signal from the ESB.

I know I explained to my Aunt that after June 12th she will have no more problems getting 47.1. Of course I do not know why she likes it. She can not speak Spanish lol

I know I explained to my Aunt that after June 12th she will have no more problems getting 47.1. Of course I do not know why she likes it. She can not speak Spanish lol

Their primetime telenovelas include English Subtitles on CC3.

Super cool. It used to be only those who couldn't speak english who watched the daytime soap operas, now if you can't speak spanish you can learn spanish watching spanish soap operas.

Their primetime telenovelas include English Subtitles on CC3.
Really I wonder if you can get cc3 on DTVpal? What is cc3? the third CC?



Hey thanks she will like that

Super cool. It used to be only those who couldn't speak english who watched the daytime soap operas, now if you can't speak spanish you can learn spanish watching spanish soap operas.

She enjoys them. Even though she does not know Spanish.

She was so upset when the DTVpal could not get sound on LATV that has since been fixed on Stations end.

Their primetime telenovelas include English Subtitles on CC3.

Is this the same for channel 41.1?

Man you made her day. Ty

Channel 47 is one of my most strongest channels and it is one of the most furthest away from the New Jersey tower. I have a feeling that when it moves to the ESB it will be weaker for me. Channel 41 I never ever got a blimp of a picture. I tried different antennas and moved them all over the place but the highest I was able to peak the signal was around 20%. If they boosted power I still can't get it. I can't speak Spanish but my father can and he watched channel 41 but can't get nothing on my parents converter box.

I am having serious trouble with Channel 13 today. Perhaps because of the wind??? I haven't had any issues picking up this channel in many months and I am picking up all the other channels just fine today. Perhaps they are doing work on their transmitter?

Is this the same for channel 41.1?



Yes, but the only show I've seen CC3 available is Sabado Gigante.

Yes, but the only show I've seen CC3 available is Sabado Gigante.

Is CC3 English subtitles only or would channel 41.1 use a different CC like 1 to 6?

Is CC3 English subtitles only or would channel 41.1 use a different CC like 1 to 6?

From what I've observed, both stations use CC3 for English. Don't know if either uses CC2 for anything.

Channel 47 is one of my most strongest channels and it is one of the most furthest away from the New Jersey tower. I have a feeling that when it moves to the ESB it will be weaker for me. Channel 41 I never ever got a blimp of a picture. I tried different antennas and moved them all over the place but the highest I was able to peak the signal was around 20%. If they boosted power I still can't get it. I can't speak Spanish but my father can and he watched channel 41 but can't get nothing on my parents converter box.

Ironically, I can get 41.1, but not 47.1.

From what I've observed, both stations use CC3 for English. Don't know if either uses CC2 for anything.

ty

Channel 47 is one of my most strongest channels and it is one of the most furthest away from the New Jersey tower. I have a feeling that when it moves to the ESB it will be weaker for me. Channel 41 I never ever got a blimp of a picture. I tried different antennas and moved them all over the place but the highest I was able to peak the signal was around 20%. If they boosted power I still can't get it. I can't speak Spanish but my father can and he watched channel 41 but can't get nothing on my parents converter box.

Reddice, you're in Brooklyn - you will have a devil of a time getting 41. Check out the polar plot at fcc.gov (search for WXTV) of their signal - they pump almost all their signal to the north to Washington Heights and the Bronx. I have one magic spot where I can get a stable signal from them (just like with WMBC and some other channels).

I wish they would either go omnidirectional or add a fill antenna because they are the leading Spanish station.

Whenever I do a chanel scan lately it finds 61-9 and 61-10, but they never have any audio or video. For description it just says RF61-9 or RF61-10. What are these going to be?

Is this the same for channel 41.1?

Man you made her day. Ty

The telenovelas from channel 41 cannot air with English subtitles because Univision doesn't own the rights, their primetime telenovelas are produced by Televisa from Mexico.

As of right now only Telemundo shows English subs on CC3 on their telenovelas.

Caribevision also shows English Subtitles with their Brazilian and Argentinean telenovelas (this channel is no on the air right now).

From what I've observed, both stations use CC3 for English. Don't know if either uses CC2 for anything.

On Channel 41 I've only seen them use CC3 English subs with the Latin Grammys.

Whenever I do a chanel scan lately it finds 61-9 and 61-10, but they never have any audio or video. For description it just says RF61-9 or RF61-10. What are these going to be?

Probably a bug in your TV's firmware.

WNET broadcasts two data streams which are part of the "Update TV" service which provides firmware updates for some TVs and STBs. Your TV should not be displaying them as available channels.

Channel 13 back up to normal signal strength......

Super cool. It used to be only those who couldn't speak english who watched the daytime soap operas, now if you can't speak spanish you can learn spanish watching spanish soap operas.

and some wonderful women :)

Whenever I do a chanel scan lately it finds 61-9 and 61-10, but they never have any audio or video. For description it just says RF61-9 or RF61-10. What are these going to be?

Both of my Samsungs do this. Lets see what happens next month when the analogs are shut down. WNET will move down to channel 13 and the 61's should go away.

Then the ghost streams will be on 13-9 and 13-10 and still have nothing on them for you to watch. They're safe to get rid of.

- Trip

What happened to the transmitters after the september 11th attacks? Did they all move to some kind of aux facility on another building?

I thought some of them were on the Armstrong tower in New Jersey?

http://www.nerw.com/wtc-recovery.html

- Trip

Take a look at this:

http://www.fybush.com/wtc-recovery.html

This should give you an idea of what went on.

Here in the New York DMA, in many ways, we're still trying to catch up.

I thought some of them were on the Armstrong tower in New Jersey?

That was temporary.

Local townsfolk started to complain about all the "radiation."

That was temporary.

Local townsfolk started to complain about all the "radiation."

Alpine is now considered a regional communications hub. That status has protected the site from neighbors complaints. The reason they didn't go for landmark status is because if that had been granted they would have been disallowed from making necessary changes such as adding and removing antennas from the tower. The issue with Alpine is that now with Conde Nast and Empire there are better altenatives for NY broadcast coverage.

Take a look at this:

http://www.fybush.com/wtc-recovery.html

This should give you an idea of what went on.

Here in the New York DMA, in many ways, we're still trying to catch up.
A good read..

not sure if some of you watch WABC (I'm late on this) but as they were doing the weather they decided do show the people on top of the ESB a nice overhead shot with all the antennas in view.. too bad I did not have the antenna connected to my capture card.

tight for space that's for sure.

Does anyone have any idea as to what time of day on 6/12 the stations are actually going to switch frequencies? From what I understand, 2-1, 7-1, 11-1, and 13-1 are all moving.

I would have figured they'd switch at midnight or some such thing, but I saw a ticker on the bottom of an ABC broadcast recently that said 12:30PM on June 12. The dtvanswers web site says "you may need to rescan your channels after June 12".

I'd rather not waste my time rescanning my MythTV system before all the stations have switched. For that matter, I have to aim my antenna to Philly and rescan that as well.

Tom

I hope I can get 7, 11 and 13 on 6/12. Never got a high VHF channel. Channel 8 which is NJN affiliate I can only peak at about 10%.

Are in the same predicament as you are....waiting for 6/12 and hoping things get better. I am sort of in a holding pattern right now. Still have basic cable but also spent money on an antenna, amp and professional roof install. Some days believe it or not I have received all the NY and Jersey stations with a signal strength of 85% and better on up to close to 100%. That is better than my cable signal. Yet 90% of the time with the exception of a few channels the signal is below 70% to losing the signal completely.

I can't turn cable off unless I get better results.

Some have made some suggestions, like try it without the amp. I will be trying that but my guess is something else is causing such wild swings in reception. It appears the weather has some impact but it does not explain it all. I have had great signal strength in a wind driving snow/ice storm this past winter. I have had bad signal strength on a beautiful sunny day.

I think a lot of people will be happy on 6/12. I also think there will be a lot of mad people too! I'm not sure where I fit in this but at only 30 miles west of the ESB I should be happy....

This thread is a great resource. I have the ABC Subchannels turned off (note to broadcasters-I have ALL the junk subchannels turned off-just like my Sat boxes have all the trash channels "unlisted" in the Guide-if I own a DVR in order to zap commercials and I do, I'm NOT going to turn them on in a guide....).

7.1 OTA was just "not right". I thought it was my TV, which worked fine on other channels (still perfect on CBS) and with my Dish HDTV. Blu discs looked correct. 7.1 was driving me nuts.

At least now I know why...Bad Idea, ABC-Dizzney.:mad:

Many folks probably have not accounted for trees and reception. My OTA location gets NYC very well-but only in the winter do I get WNJN from Montclair, NJ. The antenna is pointed at NYC, with NJN off-axis. Signal strength drops in direct proportion to leaf density. Since SD is on channel 50 and HD on 51, it's a clean comparison.

Kind of interesting actually. In the winter, SD and HD feeds are perfectly clear. When spring comes, the SD feed goes snowy while HD stays perfect, and once threshold signal drops below, HD is lost, while SD is very, very snowy and nearly unwatchable. HD stays for most of the SD-what SD remains is not great. I don't care enough for a rotor. I can see that a fair amount of folks who get snowy SD will be happy with HD, but some folks used to a snowy SD signal will be "out of luck" come HD- at the fringes.

One thing missed by many is that putting up an antenna may not be enough. Antennas at these frequencies are funny things...in my Amateur Radio life, I raised a 2 meter antenna (think VHF-high) up 20 feet...and lost one of my repeater stations. While "as much metal as possible as high up as possible" is a good rule, moving that antenna laterally if possible and trying a few locations will oft make a big difference-there is significant multipath at the UHF frequencies that HDTV uses. Small movements can make a difference.:)

Does anyone have any idea as to what time of day on 6/12 the stations are actually going to switch frequencies? From what I understand, 2-1, 7-1, 11-1, and 13-1 are all moving.

The analog termination notices showed the relative times of day that analog would end. Presumably, the stations that are moving will do so soon after.:

WCBS CBS 2 - PM - to be a nightlight
WNBC NBC 4 - PM - to be a nightlight
WNYW FOX 5 - Eve
WABC ABC 7 - PM - to move analog to 4 Times Square building from May 2009 until 6/12/09
WWOR MyN 9 - Eve
WPIX CW 11 - Eve - Reduction - 50% as of August '08
WNET PBS 13 - PM
WLIW PBS 21 - Eve
WNYE ind. 25 - Eve - to be a nightlight
WPXN ion 31 - Eve
WXTV uni 41 - Eve
WNJU telem 47 - PM
WNJN PBS 50 - AM - Reduction - 75-90% of population served
WNJB PBS 58 - AM - Reduction - 75-90% of population served
WFUT telef 68 - Eve

Eve = after 6pm and before midnight. Here is an example filing:

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1301791&Form_id=910&Facility_id=9610

However, in the LA area some have changed, so it may be the same situation for NYC. One of the local stations here listed the times of day for the VHF (analog) stations a couple weeks ago, but I have not seen anything else.

As for VHF, my experience in San Diego shows that it's much more difficult to get DTV signals on VHF than UHF in downtown/urban areas. KFMB vanished from my parents' condo last year and KGTV disappeared in February when they moved back to 10. Both had the best signals when they were on UHF. I was able to find a place outside and around the corner of the building to pick them up, but had no luck at all in the unit. To be fair, however, the old analog VHF signals were completely unwatchable.

How many other people have adopted UHF DTV signals in urban areas only to be losing some of them soon?

Oh well, as I joked with SnellKrell, all one has to do is hang a 5'+ boom from the ceiling. Someone else said they could be redesigned and disguised as a ceiling fan. :D

Speedlaw,

You may be right about the trees but I can't say that yet. I hooked my house up in September/08 when the trees where I am at were still full of leaves and I had some of my better days reception wise. I was very encouraged expecting that when the leaves came down in the fall my reception would get better and it did not. In fact some of my worst days for reception were in the winter even on nice dry sunny days.

So your theory may work for many people but for me it has not panned out. I had planned to remove a few trees but from what I am experiencing it would not matter.

I will wait to see what happens 6/12 and the days that follow into the coming winter and that should pretty much confirm whether trees matter for me...

Speedlaw,

You may be right about the trees but I can't say that yet. I hooked my house up in September/08 when the trees where I am at were still full of leaves and I had some of my better days reception wise. I was very encouraged expecting that when the leaves came down in the fall my reception would get better and it did not. In fact some of my worst days for reception were in the winter even on nice dry sunny days.

So your theory may work for many people but for me it has not panned out. I had planned to remove a few trees but from what I am experiencing it would not matter.

I will wait to see what happens 6/12 and the days that follow into the coming winter and that should pretty much confirm whether trees matter for me...

Of Course. every location is different. Hams call trees "green attenuators" but I'd never cut them down. You can't assume your tree is the problem. Looking at the transmitter location for NJN, there are several ridges between me and the transmitter, so it's no doubt a cumulative effect. I just get the textbook HD vs. analog tradeoffs in my location.

Of Course. every location is different. Hams call trees "green attenuators" but I'd never cut them down. You can't assume your tree is the problem. Looking at the transmitter location for NJN, there are several ridges between me and the transmitter, so it's no doubt a cumulative effect. I just get the textbook HD vs. analog tradeoffs in my location.


Trees I can deal with. With a strong antenna & amp [if indoors like in a attic] or preamp if the antenna is out doors I can over come the loss from the trees. But steel building I can not deal with. I have an portable TV in the Kitchen. By moving down the counter I could get the stations I want. Then I went next door to help move a couch. While in there I found there was an upright freeser right in the path of my TV signal. So when I moved the tv down the counter I was getting the TV from the behind the blind spot caused by the freeser.

I love this forum too and enjoy the information being shared.

I also wish all of you posters would ADD your location like I did and a number of others on this forum have done. Seeing where you are located (even if not the detail that I gave) would help us to see the relevance of your issues or suggestions etc. Just go into your profile and update it. Also some of the experts monitoring this forum have made suggestions directed specifically for my location which they see. An added benefit of providing locations.

Thanks

The analog termination notices showed the relative times of day that analog would end. Presumably, the stations that are moving will do so soon after.:

WCBS CBS 2 - PM - to be a nightlight
WNBC NBC 4 - PM - to be a nightlight
WNYW FOX 5 - Eve
WABC ABC 7 - PM - to move analog to 4 Times Square building from May 2009 until 6/12/09
WWOR MyN 9 - Eve
WPIX CW 11 - Eve - Reduction - 50% as of August '08
WNET PBS 13 - PM
WLIW PBS 21 - Eve
WNYE ind. 25 - Eve - to be a nightlight
WPXN ion 31 - Eve
WXTV uni 41 - Eve
WNJU telem 47 - PM
WNJN PBS 50 - AM - Reduction - 75-90% of population served
WNJB PBS 58 - AM - Reduction - 75-90% of population served
WFUT telef 68 - Eve



Thanks for the info! The one there that doesn't seem to make sense is 11. As I understand it, they have to vacate 33 for CBS to use, so they need VHF 11 if they're going to have a digital broadcast.

I'm still unclear on how all the changes will affect my reception, but I'm out in central NJ. My analog VHF reception was always OK. Things I've read led me to believe I should be ok, or may even get better reception....got my fingers crossed.

Tom

Ironically, I can get 41.1, but not 47.1.

We can't get 47.1 here because W36AZ (NJN) is on channel 36.