Originally posted by jake14mw
Hi,

A CT person peeking in here with interest. You Boston folks should feel privalaged to have somebody from WBZ posting here. I can't even get anybody from WFSB to return an e-mail, nevermind post on our HD thread!

Bob, I'm wondering why HD games can be shown on the digital channel when they are available, vs. SD games. I don't know anything about how all of this works, but I could imagine that multi-casting multiple games on the DT channel could get involved, but why couldn't just one SD game be shown on the digital channel that is different from the one on the analog channel just for variety? Thanks for an answer if you have time.

A jealous CT HD basketball fan.
Dear Jealous,

That would be too much like work.

Actually, now that there are a significant number of digital viewers (both OTA and Cable) we have begun to care about the commercials on the digital channel, especially on high-profile events like March Madness. In the good old days when we knew the first names of all our viewers we could play around and experiment with programming on the HD side.

As for multi-casting, that requires a significant amount of additional equipment, none of which we have.

I hope this answers your questions...

Originally posted by RYankowitz
Dear Jealous,

That would be too much like work.

Actually, now that there are a significant number of digital viewers (both OTA and Cable) we have begun to care about the commercials on the digital channel, especially on high-profile events like March Madness. In the good old days when we knew the first names of all our viewers we could play around and experiment with programming on the HD side.

As for multi-casting, that requires a significant amount of additional equipment, none of which we have.

I hope this answers your questions...

Yes, I think my lack of knowledge of how this stuff works is my problem. I think the definition in my head of mult-casting is my problem. When you say that you don't have the equipment to do multi-casting, to me that means showing more than one program at a time on the digital channel. For example, showing the HD game on the digital channel and an SD game on the analog channel like you plan on doing on Friday would NOT be multi-casting. In my head, showing on Thursday ONE SD game on the digital channel and ONE DIFFERENT SD game on the analog channel is also NOT multicasting. So the thing I don't understand is why that can't be done.

Thanks, and enjoy your HD tomorrow Boston viewers!

Robert (Bob?), thanks for the good news re: the HD broadcasts! Looking forward to Friday & Sunday!

Lip sync is very bad on WBZ right now. It's not bad during the games since you can't see the announcers anyway, but during commercials and news updates very noticible.

WBZ is usually dead on with their lip sync.

Originally posted by Brett Jason
OK, HDTV newbie here, I live in Canton, MA. So I'm getting a DirectTV HD box next week. So am I to understand that for now the only way to get ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox is via an OTA antenna?

Actually if you subscribe to either the HD package or to Boston locals you will be entitled to an HD feed from CBS out of NY via DirecTV. It should show up on channel 80. It's not WBZ, but most of the HD is from a national feed anyway.

You will need an antenna for the other networks....

-- Doug

What is going on with channel 4 last night and why aren't there seperate games on the digital station? The breakups were horrible last night I hope this improves before todays games.

Originally posted by steverobertson
What is going on with channel 4 last night and why aren't there seperate games on the digital station? The breakups were horrible last night I hope this improves before todays games. Complain...complain...complain!!!

Originally posted by Benji
Complain...complain...complain!!!

You got it

Why no HDTV game from KC? Let BC game be on analog.
What a waste. :(

larry

Bob posted the schedule in this thread; games with local teams are taking precendence over HD on the digital channel.

Oh well.

Is anyone else seeing WBZ glitches? I'm still getting them both cable and OTA. Very distracting.

Originally posted by jckessler
Bob posted the schedule in this thread; games with local teams are taking precendence over HD on the digital channel.

Oh well.

Is anyone else seeing WBZ glitches? I'm still getting them both cable and OTA. Very distracting.

Are the glitches from CBS or Channel 4 I found it very annoying last night and switched off the digital station

Don't know what's happening. The glitches are very brief, and I'm not losing signal lock. OTA signal remains high all the time. Usually if I'm having reception issues, I can see bad signal strength readings.

Cable seems a little better, but it's far from perfect.


Pretty irritating.

My signal strength is fine as well but I thought last night was just horrible. I wonder if they watch what thet are putting out becuase to me tis is totally unacceptable. Where is Rob when we need him

It completely sucks. Most of my glitches are video; audio glitches are infrequent.

Whew, I thought it was just me...the video glitches on WBZDT continue to annoy.

Originally posted by ursa99
Whew, I thought it was just me...the video glitches on WBZDT continue to annoy.

Has anybody called the control room? I don't have the # with me but I will call tonight if it is no better

Originally posted by steverobertson
Has anybody called the control room? I don't have the # with me but I will call tonight if it is no better

We are aware of your comments. We have not been able to nail down what is happening, or where it is coming from. We are not, however, ignoring it.

BTW, Steve, you can call me Bob, or Robert. Anything but Rob. That is, if I'm the Rob you are referring to...

Originally posted by RYankowitz
We are aware of your comments. We have not been able to nail down what is happening, or where it is coming from. We are not, however, ignoring it.

BTW, Steve, you can call me Bob, or Robert. Anything but Rob. That is, if I'm the Rob you are referring to...

Glad to hear you are on top of it and I meant to type Bob insted of Rob sorry

Bob posted the schedule in this thread; games with local teams are taking precendence over HD on the digital channel.

I had missed that. Oh well. So, I guess we'll miss another HD game now. :(

larry

What is going on with channel 4 last night and why aren't there seperate games on the digital station? The breakups were horrible last night I hope this improves before todays games.

Oddly, both audio and video have very frequent brief dropouts during tonite's games both SD and HDTV on my MyHD 100 and no dropouts on my DTC100.

Mark H

Originally posted by RYankowitz


The schedule for this weekend will be:


WBZ WBZ-DT
Thursday
12:40 Maryland/UTEP Maryland/UTEP
3:00 Syracuse/BYU Syracuse/BYU
7:10 UConn/Vermont UConn/Vermont
9:30 Seton Hall/Arizona Seton Hall/Arizona

Friday
12:30 BC/Utah BC/Utah
2:45 Cincinnati/E. Tenn. St. 2:50 Okla.St./Eastern Wash (HDTV)
7:10 Providence/Pacific Providence/Pacific (HDTV)
9:40 Pitt/Central Florida 9:45 Kansas/Illinois-Chi (HDTV)


Bob,

What is the schedule for tomorrows games? How can I find out which games you are going to carry?

THanks,

Jim

this link isn't boston (portland, or), but it least shows what format a
few of the games are in...

link to NCAA March Madness thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=3552846#post3552846)

Originally posted by jjk58
this link isn't boston (portland, or), but it least shows what format a
few of the games are in...

link to NCAA March Madness thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=3552846#post3552846)
Unfortunatly this doesn't help me. I need to know which games our local affialte(sp?) will carry. Thanks though...

Jim

The Globe today says WBZ will be showing Miss. St-Xavier at 12:10; G. Tech - BC at 2:15, Pitt-Wisconsin at 4:45. If form holds true, the BC game will be broadcast on WBZ-DT in lieu of the HD game from Kansas City (because BC is a local team), and the Pacific-Kansas HD game will be broadcast on WBZ-DT at ~ 5 pm alongside the Pitt game on the analog channel. That's pure speculation, however.

Whew, I thought it was just me...the video glitches on WBZDT continue to annoy.
It's not just you... I've been having the same issue on my Sammy 160... No loss of audio or video, just frequent glitches and pixelation. My signal meter stays pinned at 100 at all times, even during the pixelation. It's been happening for at least a few days now. It seems to be the same issue I was having with UPN 38 DT a little while back (that eventually went away).

Ok.. what about Thursday's and Friday's NCAA games? Which will WBZ carry?

I'm more concerned with Friday's game. Bob, Can you post the schedule like you did before?

Thanks,

Jim

Originally posted by jbuszkie
Ok.. what about Thursday's and Friday's NCAA games? Which will WBZ carry?

I'm more concerned with Friday's game. Bob, Can you post the schedule like you did before?

Thanks,

Jim
Ask and you shall...

Our Friday NCAA slate will be as follows:

WBZ WBZ-DT
Game 1 UAB-Kansas UAB-Kansas (in HD)
Game 2 Duke-Illinois Georgia Tech-Nevada (in HD)

Thursday will not feature any HD games so the same slate will air on both channels.

Robert,

Any word on Red Sox games on 38 being in HD this year?

Originally posted by RYankowitz
Ask and you shall...

Our Friday NCAA slate will be as follows:

WBZ WBZ-DT
Game 1 UAB-Kansas UAB-Kansas (in HD)
Game 2 Duke-Illinois Georgia Tech-Nevada (in HD)

Thursday will not feature any HD games so the same slate will air on both channels. Thanks!! I wish the Duke/Illinois was high def! Oh well it will be high def compared to the streaming internet boradcast I had to watch for the last round! :)

Originally posted by RYankowitz
Ask and you shall...

Our Friday NCAA slate will be as follows:

WBZ WBZ-DT
Game 1 UAB-Kansas UAB-Kansas (in HD)
Game 2 Duke-Illinois Georgia Tech-Nevada (in HD)

Thursday will not feature any HD games so the same slate will air on both channels.

And what will that slate be on Thursday? (c'mon St. Joe's, please, please, please). I apologize if this is something I could look up easier elsewhere. Thanks.

Joe

Nevermind... I see on WBZ's website that you'll be covering the Syracuse/Alabama game. Local interest? I did a Mapquest search (using only cities, not specific addresses) and Philadelphia is only 309.9 miles from Boston while Syracuse is a whole 310.1 miles from Boston. I might actually have to drop the $10 to watch the St. Joe's game on CBS Sportsline, unless there's any other way to get it that anyone knows of?

Joe

Originally posted by jsirbak
Nevermind... I see on WBZ's website that you'll be covering the Syracuse/Alabama game. Local interest? I did a Mapquest search (using only cities, not specific addresses) and Philadelphia is only 309.9 miles from Boston while Syracuse is a whole 310.1 miles from Boston. I might actually have to drop the $10 to watch the St. Joe's game on CBS Sportsline, unless there's any other way to get it that anyone knows of?

Joe

Specifically:

7:10pm Vanderbilt vs UConn
9:40pm Alabama vs Syracuse

There is local interest in Syracuse. My brother lives there!

Originally posted by RYankowitz
Specifically:

7:10pm Vanderbilt vs UConn
9:40pm Alabama vs Syracuse

There is local interest in Syracuse. My brother lives there!


that -- and Syracuse is a Big East school -- and very familair to fans of Boston College and UConn.

(and didn't they win a big championship in recent years????)

For fans of St. Joseph's, hope you can find a way to see them Thursday because it will probably be their final game until next season!

I need to pull in stations from just under 40 miles away (Brookline, NH) and I must install the antenna inside the attic for cosmetic reasons. What equipment do I need to pull them in consistently?

I'm a newbie to all this, so your experienced suggestions are greatly appreciated...

~ Fred

Originally posted by RagerXS
I need to pull in stations from just under 40 miles away (Brookline, NH) and I must install the antenna inside the attic for cosmetic reasons. What equipment do I need to pull them in consistently?

I'm a newbie to all this, so your experienced suggestions are greatly appreciated...

~ Fred

Hello Fred!

I'm not far from you -- I also went with an in-attic installation for the first 6 months. It just wasn't able to consistently pull in decent signals from many of the Boston stations and had trouble with CH11 (DT57) in Durham as well. After going rooftop, there are no problems with any of the locals -- even the notoriously low power CH56 (DT41) and all the 44's (DT43) come in very clear. If possible -- I would recommend rooftop.

Good Luck!

Fred,

I'll second etcarey and say your best bet is the rooftop. You don't need a large beam type antenna. All the Boston stations are UHF, and you could probably get away with something like a Channelmaster 4228, which is a little over 36" square but only 5" deep and may be cosmetically acceptable. If all you want is the Boston stations, then you probably wouldn't need a rotator. You could add a prepamp if you need a signal boost.

A lot depends on your location - how high you are - obstructions (hills, trees) can make a big difference.

FWIW I use a 20 year old VHF/UHF yagi with rotator and preamp and have no personal experience with the aforementioned Channelmaster antenna, which I used as an example.

_Paul

Fred,
To confuse you even more, but offer another option, you could try an indoor antenna. Maybe it's just me, but I'm surprised more people don't try this, rather than go through an expensive installation or a complicated setup:

http://www.starkelectronic.com/wgs2000.htm

It's not expensive, and you don't have to install it outdoors. I have mine sitting in a remote corner of my living room (hidden under chair), and I pick up ALL of the Boston stations in Rhode Island (in my 3rd floor apartment) at ~60 miles away with no problems. Of course, I do use the amplifier that comes with the antenna. It's a great solution if you can't or don't want to install outdoors.

Keith

etcarey and Mr. H(Paul),

Were you using just the antenna when you got insufficient reception for consistent viewing, or were you also using a pre-amp or amp?

pezdoctor,

Is there any reason I couldn't use something like your example in the attic? I'm technically closer than you are, given that all the Boston stations are just under 40 miles from me...

FWIW, my wife would rather not have HDTV if the choice came down to installing an antenna outdoors, so I must stay within these guidelines. If that means more than one antenna (can you do that?) or use of pre-amps or amps, then so be it -- whatever it takes to make it work with an attic mounted antenna.

~ Fred

Fred,
I don't see any reason why this wouldn't work for you, since you would have to run a cable to your attic either way. The amplifier attaches near the antenna, to make up for longer cable runs and/or signal distance.

The Winegard can be used indoor or outdoor, so it can handle the attic conditions. The only problem you might potentially experience is a major signal obstruction or atmospheric anomaly, just like any other viewer. I originally intended to place mine in the attic, but only if I couldn't find a good spot to hide it or couldn't find adequate reception.

Just ask Stark if they have a money-back guarantee if it doesn't work for you.

Good Luck,
Keith

Quick question guys. Has anyone been experiencing single audio clicks every 10 to 15 sec on whdh channel 7? Just want to make sure it is nothing wrong on my end.
If this is a problem on channel 7's end, anyone know how to contact them to let them know via email?

Originally posted by ejm
Quick question guys. Has anyone been experiencing single audio clicks every 10 to 15 sec on whdh channel 7? Just want to make sure it is nothing wrong on my end.
If this is a problem on channel 7's end, anyone know how to contact them to let them know via email?

I have been getting these clicks for several weeks.

SMK

Anybody still having problems with channel 4 out there I was still getting breakups last night and the signal meter was a solid 100. I ended up watching the NY station

Originally posted by steverobertson
Anybody still having problems with channel 4 out there I was still getting breakups last night and the signal meter was a solid 100. I ended up watching the NY station

4-1 was OK last night watching Uconn game did not notice any breakups. Although have experienced them at other times.

Seemed more or less fine to me. I had two blips, but that might have been reception.

I gues it is on my end then I have a DST 3000 receiver and I really believe that this box causes a lot of my problems with channel 4. I guess I will think about getting the new TIVO box when it is out for a while and wait for some type of price drop as I refuse to spend another 1000.00. I guess I will just have to use the NY station as my backup when I have problems with 4.

Originally posted by herb s.
4-1 was OK last night watching Uconn game did not notice any breakups. Although have experienced them at other times.
Here's the official word:

We believe we have tracked down and killed the problem, a big headache inducer for me and my studio colleague, Manny Ferreira. Very subtle and intermittent, and exhibiting different symptoms on different receivers. We devoted all of our time Monday through Wednesday this week on it. It appears to have been hiding inside our encoder, the box that takes 1.5 Gigabit/Second hi-def video and squishes down to 19.39 Megabits/Second in MPEG format. Very mysterious; doesn't like to tell us what it's doing.

So it's fixed for sure, until the next time you tell us it's not.

Thanks for your efforts, Bob. We knew you'd find it.

Originally posted by RoyGBiv
I have been getting these clicks for several weeks.

SMK

I just wrote an email detailing the problem using the programming feedback addreess. Believe it or not I got a response saying that they would forward the message to the enineering depatment. At least their listening, and maybe will get the fix soon.

Originally posted by pezdoctor
Fred,
To confuse you even more, but offer another option, you could try an indoor antenna. Maybe it's just me, but I'm surprised more people don't try this, rather than go through an expensive installation or a complicated setup:

http://www.starkelectronic.com/wgs2000.htm

It's not expensive, and you don't have to install it outdoors. I have mine sitting in a remote corner of my living room (hidden under chair), and I pick up ALL of the Boston stations in Rhode Island (in my 3rd floor apartment) at ~60 miles away with no problems. Of course, I do use the amplifier that comes with the antenna. It's a great solution if you can't or don't want to install outdoors.

Keith Keith, Which specific model are you using? I called Stark Electronics and the guy wasn't helpful at all, offering no suggestions. To paraphrase, the message he was sending was that they sell hundreds of antennas per week and nobody calls back and comlains so I should just pick one and buy it, no refunds. I'll shop somewhere else I believe...

Still, I'd like to get the exact model number from you, and can you also tell me who told you it was just as good for indoor as outdoor use? The guy at Stark said these are outdoor antennas and they would lose 50% in an attic installation...

Thanks again in advance,
~ Fred

Geez Fred,
I can't believe they treated you so poorly. Granted, it's not a big sale for them, but whatever happened to customer service? You might want to check Winegard's website for another dealer that at LEAST has a 30-day return policy (www.winegard.com)---I would hate to recommend something that might not work for your location.

NOTE: This company came up in Winegard's dealer search:
DSI/CSS
1050 HOLT AVE
Manchester, NH 03109
Phone: 603 224 5166
Fax: 603-224-5316
(may be close to you---you are in NH, correct?)

*The model I have is currently known as the GS2000A (amplified)*

When I was first exploring HD, I think I used this site:
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx
and searched and found the Winegard was one of the recommendations. Back then, maybe 2 years ago, I believe that site showed you names and photos of specific antenna models, and you could specify indoor or outdoor use---today it only lists outdoor use suggestions by color code. I chose the one that was most unobtrusive, because I wasn't sure if I would keep it indoors or out. I explained to the guy at Stark that I might use it indoors, but that I didn't have any huge trees or hills nearby and was on the 3rd floor of one of the taller houses in the area near the RI coast. Luckily, it worked great from day two once I found the sweet spot. Maybe I assumed that it was tough enough for the outdoors, so indoors would be just as good. [If I made a mistake, it's the best mistake I've made in many years.]
;-)

Originally posted by RagerXS
etcarey and Mr. H(Paul),

Were you using just the antenna when you got insufficient reception for consistent viewing, or were you also using a pre-amp or amp?

pezdoctor,

Is there any reason I couldn't use something like your example in the attic? I'm technically closer than you are, given that all the Boston stations are just under 40 miles from me...

FWIW, my wife would rather not have HDTV if the choice came down to installing an antenna outdoors, so I must stay within these guidelines. If that means more than one antenna (can you do that?) or use of pre-amps or amps, then so be it -- whatever it takes to make it work with an attic mounted antenna.

~ Fred


In Nashua -- the attic installed antenna was used with a pre-amp (the same I now use for the roof-top). There was no rotor on the attic-intalled, but it was easy enough to go up and manually change direction. While in the attic, I was able to pull down Ch4 (DT20), Ch5 (DT30 and CH25 DT31) most nights without trouble. A slight redirection allowed CH7 (DT42) to be seen, but at the cost of the others. A full swing would allow Ch9 (DT59) to be seen. While the current roof-top is on a rotor, all the Boston Stations are now strong enough that we never swing the antenna -- except to watch CH 9 or Ch 11 (DT57).

We experimented with two "indoor" antennas -- although not the Winegard described above. We had no luck whatsoever -- not a hint of signal from either. My wife, too, was hesitant about the roof-top, but after watching some HDTV but not being able to see all her crime shows without breakup, the change was made.

Question for you, Bob, if you don't mind.

Sunday's HD broadcast of the NCAA game was outstanding...especially the DD5.1 audio. I noticed that the 5.1 feed continued throughout the basketball, 60 Minutes, Cold Case and Jesus. (Although I think some of those shows were produced in 2.0.) This is the first time I've noticed it. Why aren't all HD shows during the week broadcast in 5.1?

(I get BZ-DT from Adelphia).

Thanks!
Cameron

Originally posted by RagerXS
etcarey and Mr. H(Paul),

Were you using just the antenna when you got insufficient reception for consistent viewing, or were you also using a pre-amp or amp?

pezdoctor,

Is there any reason I couldn't use something like your example in the attic? I'm technically closer than you are, given that all the Boston stations are just under 40 miles from me...

FWIW, my wife would rather not have HDTV if the choice came down to installing an antenna outdoors, so I must stay within these guidelines. If that means more than one antenna (can you do that?) or use of pre-amps or amps, then so be it -- whatever it takes to make it work with an attic mounted antenna.

~ Fred

I'm afraid I've not experimented with indoor antennas. I originally installed the preamp to pull in the Boston UHF stations (analog) back in the 80's. I'm pretty sure an indoor antenna wouldn't work for me, but then I'm another 10 - 20 miles further out.

A rule of thumb I have seen mentioned in this thread is that if you can pull in channel 38 (analog) with your existing setup (analog TV/antenna) then you should be able to pull in the Boston DTs.

_Paul

Quite a few audio drop-outs last night for CBS prime time..."Yes, Dear" thru "CSI: Miami." A few video freezes/pixelation as well. Anyone else notice it? I'm on cable, but was it a problem OTA as well?

Bob Y.:

Can you confirm whether or not WBZ-HD will be broadcasting the two early rounds of the Masters (Thursday and Friday from 4 to 6:30) in HD?

Mickey

Originally posted by perrycom
Quite a few audio drop-outs last night for CBS prime time..."Yes, Dear" thru "CSI: Miami." A few video freezes/pixelation as well. Anyone else notice it? I'm on cable, but was it a problem OTA as well?

I saw a few during CSI Miami, thought it was on my end though but it could have been in the broadcast.

Jim

Originally posted by MickeyGee
Bob Y.:

Can you confirm whether or not WBZ-HD will be broadcasting the two early rounds of the Masters (Thursday and Friday from 4 to 6:30) in HD?

Mickey
(At the risk of answering my own question) I just received word from someone else at CBS4 that they will not be carrying the early rounds of the Masters on either CBS4-SD or CBS4-HD in the Boston area. This in spite of the fact that the CBS Network is intending to make the HD broadcast of the early rounds available to its affiliates.

Mickey

Originally posted by perrycom
Question for you, Bob, if you don't mind.

Sunday's HD broadcast of the NCAA game was outstanding...especially the DD5.1 audio. I noticed that the 5.1 feed continued throughout the basketball, 60 Minutes, Cold Case and Jesus. (Although I think some of those shows were produced in 2.0.) This is the first time I've noticed it. Why aren't all HD shows during the week broadcast in 5.1?

(I get BZ-DT from Adelphia).

Thanks!
Cameron
Those shows were not actually in 5.1 audio. We inadvertently left the encoder on, which just lights the 5.1 light - it doesn't actually create 5.1 audio. It's not something we'd want to do on a regular basis as some receivers make a mess of things under that circumstance.

Second question, short answer: not all HD shows are recorded in 5.1 - yet.

Thanks for the answer, Bob. I just get excited when it says I'm getting 5.1!

On a more important topic, is MickeyGee's info correct that BZ-DT will not air the HD feed of the Masters on Thurs. & Fri.? Doesn't make sense to me.

Originally posted by perrycom
On a more important topic, is MickeyGee's info correct that BZ-DT will not air the HD feed of the Masters on Thurs. & Fri.? Doesn't make sense to me.
New information from another thread is that InHD-1 will pick up the HD coverage of the first two rounds. I think InHD is only available on cable right now. The CBS network has been intending to make the HD feed available to the CBS affiliates, but up to now BZ/CBS4-HD is saying they won't carry it. All of this could change, of course.

Mickey

I don't know if this is within the control of UPN38 (perhaps it's originating at the source), but could someone please turn down the edge enhancement (I think that what the halos around bright objects are called) during the Sox games. It's distractingly bad, even on my small (27") HDTV monitor.

Originally posted by MickeyGee
New information from another thread is that InHD-1 will pick up the HD coverage of the first two rounds. I think InHD is only available on cable right now. The CBS network has been intending to make the HD feed available to the CBS affiliates, but up to now BZ/CBS4-HD is saying they won't carry it. All of this could change, of course.

Mickey
WBZ will be carrying the first two rounds of the Masters on Thursday and Friday. This will be available only on WBZ-DT.

Originally posted by jckessler
I don't know if this is within the control of UPN38 (perhaps it's originating at the source), but could someone please turn down the edge enhancement (I think that what the halos around bright objects are called) during the Sox games. It's distractingly bad, even on my small (27") HDTV monitor.
The noise level of the video may have been a bit high for the game. Noise and upconversion (since the game is not in HD) don't go together well. We'll keep our eye on it.

Originally posted by RYankowitz
WBZ will be carrying the first two rounds of the Masters on Thursday and Friday. This will be available only on WBZ-DT.

Excellent news, Bob...thanks!

Originally posted by RYankowitz
The noise level of the video may have been a bit high for the game. Noise and upconversion (since the game is not in HD) don't go together well. We'll keep our eye on it.

Thanks Bob for looking into it. It must be something with the source, since other programming, and even commercials during the game look fine.

Originally posted by RYankowitz
WBZ will be carrying the first two rounds of the Masters on Thursday and Friday. This will be available only on WBZ-DT.
That is good news. And I assume you mean that this will only be available OTA, not on Comcast 804?

Mickey

Bob Y.: So what's the target date for HD Red Sox games on 4 and/or 38?

Originally posted by MickeyGee
That is good news. And I assume you mean that this will only be available OTA, not on Comcast 804?

Mickey WBZ-DT is Comcast 804.

Originally posted by MickeyGee
That is good news. And I assume you mean that this will only be available OTA, not on Comcast 804?

Mickey
No. I meant it would not be available on WBZ-TV (analog).

Originally posted by Benji
Bob Y.: So what's the target date for HD Red Sox games on 4 and/or 38?

Is that a possibility for this season?

Article in the globe today says no HD on UPN38, but it is possible for the 5 or so games on WBZ.

That Griffith article makes my head throb... writers who don't know jack about HD should be banned from writing about it. They say the games won't be in HD on 38, but they offer no explanation why.

Griffith generally does a pretty good job with his reporting on TV, and gets the HD stuff right almost always, although he often forgets to mention that HD is available OTA (usually only mentions DirecTV and Comcast as HD sources).

I wonder if NESN isn't allowing OTA distribution of their HD signal, as it probably not mentioned specifically in the carriage contract.

But the SOX game is listed in my viewing guide on iNHD2. I guess we wait and see if it shows up...

Griffith generally does a pretty good job with his reporting on TV, and gets the HD stuff right almost always, although he often forgets to mention that HD is available OTA (usually only mentions DirecTV and Comcast as HD sources).
I'd agree about the TV reporting, but when I read anything from him regarding HD, it's painfully obvious to me he :
A) Doesn't have it.
B) Because of that, doesn't fully grasp the concept of how it all works.

You'd think being a TV reporter he'd invest and get himself up to speed on it all.

I also think his radio reporting is jaded and biased.

Agree. I do get the sense that he doesn't have an HD setup himself. He should impress upon his employers the necessity of getting an HD setup for his work. :) And he's not a techie guy, so I generally don't expect him to understand or spend space in his column explaining the nuances of 720p vs 1080i, etc.

But his facts (carriage, what's in HD, what's not) are almost always right, which is head and shoulders better than a lot of the crap and misinformation that I see published in other newspapers. Just the fact the he's reporting on it has to be increasing HD awareness around Boston immensely.

I don't really pay attention to what he says about radio.

Originally posted by jckessler
Agree. I do get the sense that he doesn't have an HD setup himself. He should impress upon his employers the necessity of getting an HD setup for his work. :) And he's not a techie guy, so I generally don't expect him to understand or spend space in his column explaining the nuances of 720p vs 1080i, etc.

But his facts (carriage, what's in HD, what's not) are almost always right, which is head and shoulders better than a lot of the crap and misinformation that I see published in other newspapers. Just the fact the he's reporting on it has to be increasing HD awareness around Boston immensely.

I don't really pay attention to what he says about radio.
I'm with you on this one. I have seen a lot of good information in Griffith's columns. In today's, I think he asked the right questions about today's game, but they didn't tell him why. I assume that is why he took a negative tone about them not carrying the game in HD. In any event, he is one of the few writers consistently keeping us up to date on the local HD sports scene.

From Bill Griffith's column in todays Globe:

"Don Lowery, director of communications for CBS4 and UPN38, said, "We've done some experimenting with the Sox signal in HD, but don't expect to use it this season on UPN38. There is, however, a chance one or more of the CBS4 games will be carried in HD."


Bob Yankowitz, why is the signal no good for CH 38?

Off current topic, but 38-1 coming in lousy in here in SE NH, anyone experiencing similiar problems. Other digitals seem OK.

UPN 38-1 is comming in fine, my problem is with FOX 25-1 today...

Here is the schedule for CBS Sports' HDTV broadcasts of the PGA TOUR, in addition to the 2004 Masters®. All in 5.1.

Broadcast Dates
And Times (PM, ET) Tournament Location
Apr. 8 (4:00-6:30)(11:35-11:50) The Masters Augusta National Golf Club
Apr. 9 (4:00-6:30)(11:35-11:50) Augusta, Ga.
Apr. 10 (3:30-6:30)
Apr. 11 (2:30-7:00)

Apr. 17 (3:00-6:00) The MCI Heritage Harbour Town Golf Links
Apr. 18 (3:00-6:00) Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Apr. 24 (3:00-6:00) Shell Houston Open Redstone Golf Club
Apr. 25 (3:00-6:00) Houston, Texas

May 1 (3:00-6:00) HP Classic of New Orleans English Turn Golf & CC
May 2 (3:00-6:00) New Orleans, La.

May 8 (3:00-6:00) Wachovia Championship Quail Hollow Club
May 9 (3:00-6:00) Charlotte, N.C.

May 15 (3:00-6:00) EDS Byron Nelson TPC at Las Colinas
May 16 (3:00-6:00) Championship Cottonwood Valley Course
Irving, Texas

May 22 (3:00-6:00) Bank of America Colonial Colonial Country Club
May 23 (3:00-6:00) Ft. Worth, Texas

May 29 (3:00-6:00) FedEx St. Jude Classic TPC at Southwind
May 30 (3:00-6:00) Memphis, Tenn.

June 3 (12:55-1:10 AM) Memorial Tournament Muirfield Village Golf Club
June 4 (12:55-1:10 AM) Dublin, Ohio
June 5 (3:00-6:00)
June 6 (2:00-6:00)

July 24 (3:00-6:00) Greater Milwaukee Open Brown Deer Park Golf Course
July 25 (3:00-6:00) Milwaukee, Wisc.

July 31 (3:00-6:00) Buick Open Warwick Hills Golf & CC
Aug. 1 (3:00-6:00) Grand Blanc, Mich.

Aug. 7 (3:00-6:00) The International Castle Pines Golf Club
Aug. 8 (3:00-6:00) Castle Rock, Co.

Aug. 19 (12:55-1:10 AM) World Golf Championship: Firestone Country Club
Aug. 20 (12:55-1:10 AM) NEC Invitational Akron, Ohio
Aug. 21 (2:00-7:00)
Aug. 22 (2:30-7:00)

Aug. 28 (3:00-6:00) Buick Championship Tournament Players Club at
Aug. 29 (3:00-6:00) River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn.

Originally posted by reillys
UPN 38-1 is coming in fine, my problem is with FOX 25-1 today...

Where are you located? 38-1 still not coming in as before signal breaking up with pixellation. 25-1 OJ, even 56.1. Robert Y. anything going on at 38-1 transmitter?

Originally posted by herb s.
Where are you located? 38-1 still not coming in as before signal breaking up with pixellation. 25-1 OJ, even 56.1. Robert Y. anything going on at 38-1 transmitter?
It's a nice little transmitter, right now happily broadcasting "Muppet Treasure Island."

Originally posted by herb s.
Off current topic, but 38-1 coming in lousy in here in SE NH, anyone experiencing similiar problems. Other digitals seem OK.

Agreed. Not receiving 2-1, 5-1 and 25-1 here in Andover today, normally I receive all three without significant issues. 4-1,7-1,38-1 all OK. No wind or precip, and no leaves yet, wonder if its atmospheric since no other reports of problems.

Ah well, at least I can turn the ol' CM4228 towards Manchester for Alias tonight....hope they're up, its been a while since I've had to resort to tuning them in.

I did not check 38-1 last night, but 5-1 was certainly MIA here in Southern NH. We too had to swing the rotor north to get our Alias 'fix'.

Craig

i don't know the technical term, but Alias on 5-1 was in and out of HD mode for most of the show.

In and out of HD, and when it was in HD, it kept switching in and out of DD 5.1

Originally posted by Doug G
Agreed. Not receiving 2-1, 5-1 and 25-1 here in Andover today, normally I receive all three without significant issues. 4-1,7-1,38-1 all OK. No wind or precip, and no leaves yet, wonder if its atmospheric since no other reports of problems.

Ah well, at least I can turn the ol' CM4228 towards Manchester for Alias tonight....hope they're up, its been a while since I've had to resort to tuning them in.

2-1, 2-2 and 5-1, 5-2 went missing for a while last night, but they were back in time for Alias at 10PM. I didn't check 25-1 OTA, but it was fine on Adelphia cable.

5-1 was bouncing in and out of HD OTA, so I switched to WMUR's feed from Adelphia. It is good to have options!

Question for you, Bob, there's a rumor that the MCI Heritage golf will be on InHD for the early rounds on Thursday and Friday simulcast on USA . Will WBZ-DT continue to provide the HD feed, or was that a one-time-only deal for The Masters?

EDIT>> My bad...I see by CBS's release that the only Thurs/Fri coverage scheduled so far (hint: PGA Championship) will be The Memorial (6/3 & 4) and the World Golf Championship (8/19 & 20).

Bob,

The Red Sox game is looking much better on WSBK-DT. No halos/ghosts around the players.

Don't know if you've changed anything, but it looks better.

Still a lot of edge enhancement, but I suspect that originates with the broadcast (seems to be the norm for baseball broadcasts).

The Sox game sounds like crud though. I suspect that's more to do with the broadcast location than anything else... road games can be pretty hit and miss.

-Steve

What sound? The SkyDome is completely empty!

I just noticed for the first time last night that WJAR-DT (10-1) OTA from Rhode Island was broadcasting something.
I don't recall this being mentioned recently. Up until yesterday, the channel showed in the satellite guide but I never saw any programming on the channel.

Keith

Originally posted by pezdoctor
I just noticed for the first time last night that WJAR-DT (10-1) OTA from Rhode Island was broadcasting something.
I don't recall this being mentioned recently. Up until yesterday, the channel showed in the satellite guide but I never saw any programming on the channel.

Keith

They just turned on yesterday. Don't be surprised to see WLNE (6) on-air soon as well.

Originally posted by RYankowitz
They just turned on yesterday. Don't be surprised to see WLNE (6) on-air soon as well. And they just turned off today. No signal coming now.

For those of you in the Rhode Island reception areas, both WJAR and WLNE are on the air this evening with very strong signals. Apparently they are working to get WSBE on the air as well, and that may disrupt reception for the next few days on the other 2 stations. WLNE is coming in on 49-3 and 49-4. They are not sending PSIP data yet. But their signal is super strong in SE Mass.

If WMFP loses it digital for not constructing, will its allocation be open for someone new, and WMFP would go off the air when analog is shut off?

I was surprised to see 10-1 on air last night as well. I had been seeing it in the DirecTV program guide for weeks, and then a few days ago it showed up on TitanTV's program guide, but I assumed that was because it was now being carried by Cox cable in RI. I thought there were significant lip synch issues for the few minutes I watched it. I will look forward to that and the other RI locals being on air. It will be particularly nice to get WSBE since that is the one local that I can't get at all with my current OTA antenna.

SMK

Does anyone know when the Providence Fox affiliate is planning to air a digital signal ?? I am waiting for the day I can watch "24" without dropouts

Can anything be done about the annoying lip synch problem with 38-1? Star Trek was particularly out of synch last night.

Originally posted by elbig
Can anything be done about the annoying lip synch problem with 38-1? Star Trek was particularly out of synch last night.

Enterprise has been out of sync like this since UPN-HD started in the fall. It seems UPN38 has little interest in fixing it, despite many requests here.

Wow.

Where I live is a pretty ideal location for receiving the Boston OTAs. I'm on the 5th (top) floor of my building, and at night can actually see the Newton tower lights off in the distance. I use a silver sensor mounted on a pole outside on my balcony... and I receive all 9 of the Boston signals very well. (100% on most, 93% on WFXT, 69% on WB56 and 66-1). Tonight I did a slight antenna adjustment towards Providence and am now receiving 10-1 JAR at a 54%-63% clip, no break-ups or issues. I can't believe I'm pulling it that well with a silver sensor. I wonder how the signal will hold up for me during the day. I also picked up 49-2 and 52-1, but got only 0-20% on them and no lockable signal. Best part is, the antenna move didn't effect the strength of the Boston channels as well.

Too bad it's an NBC affiliate, my least favorite network. Their PQ is definetey sub-par comparing it to WHDH's. If more of these Providence stations go online with a lockable, and fairly powerful singal like this, I might just have to put a nice new Yagi up on the pole on my roof. I'd love to receive a second Fox affiliate (for the Simpsons) and a second CBS affiliate (for football).

I disagree with you about the PQ of WJAR-DT. I think WJAR is very comparable to WHDH. On the other hand, WPRI suffers greatly in comparison to WBZ probably due to its multicasting.

Originally posted by Benji
I disagree with you about the PQ of WJAR-DT. I think WJAR is very comparable to WHDH. On the other hand, WPRI suffers greatly in comparison to WBZ probably due to its multicasting.

I agree 100% with you Benji. Have been very impressed with the picture and audio quality of WJAR. On the other hand, WPRI's picture is no where near as sharp as WBZ and the audio seems to be stereo rather than DD.
I am curious to see how the multi-casting of WLNE will effect the picture quality and if they will pass along 5.1 like WCVB

Has anyone else lost directv ch 80 ? I am now saying programming not available in my area after having it since the beginning.

Originally posted by bcushman
I agree 100% with you Benji. Have been very impressed with the picture and audio quality of WJAR. On the other hand, WPRI's picture is no where near as sharp as WBZ and the audio seems to be stereo rather than DD.
I am curious to see how the multi-casting of WLNE will effect the picture quality and if they will pass along 5.1 like WCVB I emailed WLNE earlier today about HD/DD 5.1 and chief engineer Jim Brown responded that HD/DD 5.1 should be up and running hopefully within the next week.

Originally posted by jalferes
Has anyone else lost directv ch 80 ? I am now saying programming not available in my area after having it since the beginning.


looking at the time and date of your post, I'd say the Sox-Yankees Game was blacked out in Boston. Did ch 80 return after the game??

yes it did come back - but the game wasn't on cbs - it was on 38 - but it is back - so no worries - you get your hd tivo yet Benji ?

jalferes - ch 80 is actually the CBS New York feed and the Yankees play their games there when not on YES...

Actually the game was on CBS.... but in New York, that's why 80 was blacked out in Boston for the duration of the game. The dreaded yanks have a similar deal to Boston, with most games on their NESN equivalent YES, and one a week on the CBS OTA affiliate. (whoops, beat me to it nuzzy)

After studying some more SD and HD shows on WJAR-DT and comparing more to WHDH-DT (viewing on a Toshiba 57" HDX82 CRT RPTV), I'm ready to revise my stance on the PQ a little. PQ seems comparable, if not identical. Both very clear and sharp. But I am seeing noticable differences in color... WHDH seems like the color is a heck of a lot better.. more saturated and better flesh tones. I'm not especially technical when it comes to describing this stuff, but I know what I see... The color on WHDH just looks sharper, more real to life to me. I'm not going to recalibrate just for JAR either, since I'm happy with how HDH and all the other Boston OTAs look at my current settings.

I don't receive PRI to compare it with WBZ. JAR is comparable to WHDH, but the difference in the color I'm noticing makes me prefer 7-1.

Originally posted by jalferes
yes it did come back - but the game wasn't on cbs - it was on 38 - but it is back - so no worries - you get your hd tivo yet Benji ? I'm waiting for the Moto 6208 from Comcast.

Originally posted by jalferes
yes it did come back - but the game wasn't on cbs - it was on 38 - but it is back - so no worries - you get your hd tivo yet Benji ?

the game wasn't on CBS -- but locally in NYC it was on WCBS-CH2, which is what DirectTV Carries.

Has WFXTDT increased power? Until today I could not get the signal (around 20 on my DTC 100) - today a solid signal with strength around 45.

It hasn't increased for me. I'm still around 50 percent.

Is it just me or is Alias HD breaking up a lot tonight?

WBZ-DT (digital only - not on WBZ-TV4 analog) will broadcast the Golf Channel's coverage (taped from earlier in the day) of the final round of the "HP Classic of New Orleans" golf tournament in high definition from 3:00-5:00pm.

Enjoy...

Originally posted by elbig
Is it just me or is Alias HD breaking up a lot tonight?

Alias was fine for me in Andover. I only noticed a small blip during a commercial. It was very windy up my way so I attribute that blip to weather. You might try a larger, more directional antenna.

Doug G. Thanks I am going to check out my antenna but before I started fiddling around I wanted to double check with others. Actually I live close to the towers so maybe I need an RF antenuator.

I thought I would cross post this from the Winegard Squareshooter thread as I have noticed some of you have or have tried to get both the Providence and Boston stations from my general neck of the woods (North Attleboro). Any ideas innovative ideas (other than getting a big antenna with a rotor :))

Okay, I finally got around to installing the SqS and CM7777 I ordered. It worked pretty well for the channels I was trying to pull that were about 25 miles away with a big improvement over the Terk44 I had installed previous (who would have guessed )

Problem is that because of the SqS's directional nature (which I knew about but decided to try it anyway) I am no longer able to pull most of the stations which I could previously about 7 miles away (albeit in the opposite direction). So I am wondering if anyone has any ideas as to what might work in my situation. When talking to SolidSignal, I recall that he said that if the SqS proved to be too directional that I could try another UHF antenna and take the back screen off. Seems to me it was one of the Channel Master bowties he mentioned. Does this make sense?

It appears, based on my location, what I need its an omni-directional, or at a minimum a bi-directional antenna. Now I realize the ideal solution would be to get a bigger antenna and a router, but I live in an apartment building and cannot rock the boat too much or get too extravagant. So what I need is a *small* omni/bi-direction antenna. I did a bit of looking and here is would I found

Winegard Sensar II (but this is really too big of an antenna)

Winegard Metrostar Omnidirectional

Channel Mater 3010 (not sure how directional it is)

Channel Master 3000 SMARTenna Omnidirectional

Channel Master 4221A 4-Bay Bowtie

Here are the channels in my area and you'll notice that the big networks are almost completely opposite of each other. (~150 degrees apart).


yellow - vhf WPRI-DT 12.1 CBS PROVIDENCE 175° 7.1 13
yellow - uhf WLNE-DT 49 ABC NEW BEDFORD 179° 7.8 49
yellow - uhf WLWC-DT 22 UPN NEW BEDFORD 138° 24.7 22
yellow - uhf WJAR-DT 10.1 NBC PROVIDENCE 179° 7.8 51
yellow - uhf WNAC-DT 54 FOX PROVIDENCE 182° 7.3 54
green - uhf WSBE-DT 21 PBS Providence 240° 10.6 21
green - uhf WWDP-DT 52.1 SAH NORWELL 92° 12.4 52
blue - uhf WGBH-DT 2.1 PBS Boston 26° 23.7 19
blue - uhf WGBX-DT 44.1 PBS Boston 26° 23.7 43
blue - uhf WBZ-DT 4.1 CBS Boston 26° 23.7 30
blue - uhf WCVB-DT 5.1 ABC Boston 26° 23.7 20
violet - uhf WFXT-DT 25.1 FOX Boston 29° 23.5 31
violet - uhf WSBK-DT 38.1 UPN BOSTON 26° 23.7 39
violet - uhf WHDH-DT 7.1 NBC Boston 29° 24.0 42
violet - uhf WBPX-DT 32 PAX BOSTON 28° 23.7 32
violet - uhf WUTF-DT 66.1 TFA MARLBOROUGH 359° 29.6 23

I am planning on keeping the CM7777 to use with whatever antenna I end up with. However, my question are:

- would an Channel Master 4221A with the back screen taken off possibly be a better fit for this area?
- is taking the back screen off even an option?
- are there any small antenna's that I have listed (or not) that would work better (even without a rotor)?

Thanks for any help!!

Also: FWIW I am able to pickup the single VHF station great with both the Terk44 and the SqS so I would anticipate that another UHF antenna could do the same.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=3760008#post3760008

Originally posted by ecopoesis
Enterprise has been out of sync like this since UPN-HD started in the fall. It seems UPN38 has little interest in fixing it, despite many requests here.

The audio-sync problem is ridiculous. It really helps to ruin the whold HD experience. Maybe Bob has someone we can contact to complain?

Originally posted by HDorBust
The audio-sync problem is ridiculous. It really helps to ruin the whold HD experience. Maybe Bob has someone we can contact to complain?
No, I'm the guy to complain to. We have been working on it, unsuccessfully so far, I'm afraid. The problem is deep in the mysterious bowels of the MPEG encoder, and it differs from WBZ-DT because UPN's method of distribution isn't the same as CBS's.

We're still plugging at it, with help from the crew in NY. If I have anything to report to you, I will.

Originally posted by RYankowitz
No, I'm the guy to complain to. We have been working on it, unsuccessfully so far, I'm afraid. The problem is deep in the mysterious bowels of the MPEG encoder, and it differs from WBZ-DT because UPN's method of distribution isn't the same as CBS's.

We're still plugging at it, with help from the crew in NY. If I have anything to report to you, I will.

Thanks, it helps to know that you are working on it.

Thanks Bob. I too have been very annoyed with this lip-synch on 38-1.

Bob,

What about the issue of getting PBS, CBS, ABC and NBC signals very strong but I barely get a signal from UPN. I live in Canton.

Rich

Originally posted by greenelucky
Bob,

What about the issue of getting PBS, CBS, ABC and NBC signals very strong but I barely get a signal from UPN. I live in Canton.

Rich
Let me know about your setup, please. Indoor/outdoor antenna? Type, brand, model. If outdoors, do you have a rotor? Length of cable to your TV. Any splitters, amplifiers? Anything else that may apply.

Originally posted by RYankowitz
Let me know about your setup, please. Indoor/outdoor antenna? Type, brand, model. If outdoors, do you have a rotor? Length of cable to your TV. Any splitters, amplifiers? Anything else that may apply.

Antenna: Radio Shack U-75R Located on the roof, no rotor, pointed toward Needham
Cable : Length 50 feet
Splitter: None
Receiver: Samsung TS360

The same happens with channel 25 and I receive the analog stations just fine.

I'm not familiar with the operation of your receiver, but have you tried punching in the actual channel number (For FOX25 punch in 31-1, and for UPN38 punch in 39-1)?

Perhaps the autoscan just isn't seeing those channels for some reason.

I get the channels. And I can punch them in directly. I just get a very weak signal from those two stations.

Up until recently I could could not get a signal strength above 25 - it is now in the 45 to 50 range. Has the DT signal been increased?

I do notice that when certain shows are on, mainly popular shows like 24, 25 comes in great. Then when it is regular programming it is very weak. Lets face it why use a lot of electricity on a signal strength when you know there is hardly anyone watching that signal.

Stations typically don't vary their power output during the day, as far as I know. Often though, reception is better at night, which is probably why you're having better luck during "24" than during the day.

One more thought: Both 25-1 (78kW?) and 38-1(135kW) are at significantly lower power than 2-1, 4-1, 5-1 or 7-1 which are in the 500-600kW range. I'm not sure if that's factor, though.

I have problems with both 25 and 38 to the point I hardly check anymore. I also notice sometimes they come in very strong and other times forget about it.

That sums up my situation. I hardly check anymore and that we are told now that they are both a very weaker signal, kind of explains why sometimes they are good and sometimes they are not.

I am near NH border, and use a CM3021 4-bay bowtie on the roof w/o any preamp. I have been getting a weak (20-30%) 56-1. All other channels, including 25-1, have always been 100%.

After installing a cheap 10dB booster ($19.97 at Walmart) painlessly near the TV, I got 56-1 at 75-80%, and pulled-in channels 10 and 12 from RI for the first time ever. I am so impressed, I'll install a mast-mounted pre-amp this weekend.

So, try installing an RF amp if you haven't done so already.

NTN1 thanks for the info

Originally posted by greenelucky
Antenna: Radio Shack U-75R Located on the roof, no rotor, pointed toward Needham
Cable : Length 50 feet
Splitter: None
Receiver: Samsung TS360

The same happens with channel 25 and I receive the analog stations just fine.
Originally posted by jckessler
One more thought: Both 25-1 (78kW?) and 38-1(135kW) are at significantly lower power than 2-1, 4-1, 5-1 or 7-1 which are in the 500-600kW range. I'm not sure if that's factor, though.
The difference in signal strength between WSBK-DT/WFXT-DT and the other stations isn't as significant as you might think, especially when the comparison is done in decibels. For example, WSBK's 135 kW is 7.3 dB lower than WBZ's 725 kW. Unless you are at the fringes you won't see this as a dramatic difference in signal strength on your receiver.

I live in New Bedford, with a CM4228 on the roof and no amplifier. I get all the Boston and Providence stations, almost all the time (occasionally some trouble with WLVI-DT).

Seeing you are in Canton, a good deal closer, I'd suspect a bad cable or connector. I'd look at those before I tried a pre-amp.

NTN1,

What a great idea. I already an channel master amp and antenna so
it never occured to me that I might need one near my equipment.

I was getting 20% using the Fusion 3 and the MyHD tuners and 30 to 40% with the Zenith HDS20.

I had a high quality Electonline amp handy so I installed just before the tuners. 56.1 is now at 60% on all tuners and all other stations are 90+.

I think both amps might be a good idea.

-- Rich

Rich B,

I tried the amp at the TV because it was a quick and dirty test. I would have preferred to use a mast-mount amp right at the antenna itself.

I have been watching HDTV for a year w/o ch 56-1 because it was the only one at 20-30%. I never thought of using an amp due to the fact that all other channels were already at 100%. I had thought while the amp could boost 56-1, it would overload all other channels.

Recently, I bought the 10dB (10dB typ, 12dB max) booster at Walmart to help distributing my Comcast analog cable signal to the many rooms in the house. Just for kick, I hooked it up to the HD antenna line at the TV. To my surprise, 56-1 jumped to 75-80%, and all other channels remained at 100% w/o any signal-overloading symptoms. I had missed out on 56-1 for a year, but no longer. It's now watchable 100% of the time. More HD is always better as 56-1 broadcasts a lot of movies and several shows in HD.

Great news, off to try now.

Originally posted by Benji
Jim...I used to have a BUD before I moved to my condo. Years ago I could get the NFL Sunday ticket before it was called that, and for free. However, at the end, everything became scrambled, and with the occasional exception of some news feeds, no premium-type stations were available anymore. I don't think you'll be able to get NESN-HD free but good luck anyway.

What is a BUD?

Big Ugly Dish

You're kidding, right? Actually, I suspect not. In that case the implication from previous posts seems to be that HD signals via satellite providers were not always scrambled. Is this (still) true?

Originally posted by milstone
You're kidding, right? Actually, I suspect not. In that case the implication from previous posts seems to be that HD signals via satellite providers were not always scrambled. Is this (still) true? SD signals were not always scrambled. HD has been scrambled since day one.

Originally posted by rudolpht
Great news, off to try now.

No improvement with amp near set, which to me makes sense.

Originally posted by NTN1
Rich B,

I tried the amp at the TV because it was a quick and dirty test. I would have preferred to use a mast-mount amp right at the antenna itself.

I have been watching HDTV for a year w/o ch 56-1 because it was the only one at 20-30%. I never thought of using an amp due to the fact that all other channels were already at 100%. I had thought while the amp could boost 56-1, it would overload all other channels.

Recently, I bought the 10dB (10dB typ, 12dB max) booster at Walmart to help distributing my Comcast analog cable signal to the many rooms in the house. Just for kick, I hooked it up to the HD antenna line at the TV. To my surprise, 56-1 jumped to 75-80%, and all other channels remained at 100% w/o any signal-overloading symptoms. I had missed out on 56-1 for a year, but no longer. It's now watchable 100% of the time. More HD is always better as 56-1 broadcasts a lot of movies and several shows in HD.

Tried the amp yesterday and nothing. UPN and Fox still come in lousy.

I think the difference is the signal to noise. If you have have low noise and low signal then increasing the gain can help.

It could also be the amp, but I would hate to recommend trying a different amp.

-- Rich

Would appreciate any advice, folks.

Live in Shrewsbury, and have an older radio shack antenna on a roof mount, and and HR10-250. I've tried a CM amp, but it hasn't helped at all.

Currently, here's what I get:

Great:
CBS (30)
NBC (42)
UPN (39)

Varies (sometimes great, often unwatchable)
ABC (20)

Occassionally viewable
PBS (19 and 43)

Never
Fox (31)
WB (41)

Most of these are coming from the same tower, right? So I don't understand the discrepancy.

I've read all about this square shooter, as well as the CM 4228... would either of those as a roof mount make any difference?

I guess what I'm asking is - if these signals are coming from the same direction, and I'm getting some and not others... is it correctable?

Thanks!

I have the same thing - some stations are rock-solid (2, 4, 5 & 7) others come and go (25, 38).

I did notice a difference in using a CM 0747 vs. a RadioCrap amp. I might try wiring an outlet into the attic to see if boosting the signal on that end helps any.

I have an attic-mounted yagi, about 30 miles from Needham towers, lots of treetops obscuring horizon.

I just want to clear up something:

1/ Installing the amp near the TV is NOT necessarily the solution. I did it only because it was a no-brainer quick and dirty test for me. The result should be just that: quick and dirty. If you try it and get some improvement, then by all means, get a high quality mast-mounted amp. Usually, it's best to amplify the signal near the antenna, not near the tuner. If your antenna cable is very long (50ft or more), poor quality, or have a lot of interconnects in the path, then you might need another amp near the tuner to compensate for the line loss. BTW, a mast-mounted amp does NOT require power to be wired up there. The preamp will be at the antenna, and the power unit can be in your living room, with nothing (such as splitter to route signal elsewhere) in between. Make sure you follow the instructions so not to blow anything up.

2/ Garbage in, garbage out. You need some positive signal-to-noise ratio, no matter how weak, for the amp to work. If your signal is near or below the noise floor, then the amp will just give you stronger noise. I think if your receiver reports some weak but stable signal level of 10%, 20%, or more, then a decent amp should do it. If you get 0% in the first place, then the amp would not help.

3/ If you have no success with an in-door or attic antenna, then try a roof top, especially if you are 20 miles or more from the towers with trees (no hills) in the way.

Originally posted by ursa99
From Bill Griffith's column in todays (4/9/04) Globe:

"Don Lowery, director of communications for CBS4 and UPN38, said, "We've done some experimenting with the Sox signal in HD, but don't expect to use it this season on UPN38. There is, however, a chance one or more of the CBS4 games will be carried in HD."


Bob Yankowitz, why is the signal no good for CH 38?

Bob: Any update on this for CBS4 or UPN38? Thanks.

Originally posted by perrycom
Bob: Any update on this for CBS4 or UPN38? Thanks.
Sorry for the long delay in answering.

Right now it looks like there will not be HD coverage of Red Sox games on either 38 or 4. Besides technical issues involved in getting an HD signal from the park to the studio, our contract for the games on 38 does not allow for HD transmission. That could change, but it's far from a sure thing for this year.

On WBZ, the games we will carry are not scheduled to be produced in HD.

Too bad. Thanks for the reply, Bob.

Bob,

Thanks for clearing up the Sox on UPN38/WBZ4 issue. I'm certainly disappointed to hear that there's a contractual issue. Since the Boston DMA can't receive these games on NESN anyway, it seems like this should be resolved at some point. At least I can hope that this can be resolved by next season.

our contract for the games on 38 does not allow for HD transmission. That does not surprise me in the least. As far as I know, cable (and Comcast in particular) is the ONLY way to get Red Sox home games on HD. Comcast uses this extensively in their advertising campains as this is (one of the few) ways they can get an edge on satellite. I'm sure they'll fight tooth and nail to keep that advantage.

The bottom line... don't expect HD Sox games anywhere but cable anytime soon.

-Steve

Bob,

I don't know if you're responsible for this, but the games on WSBK-DT look a lot better than last year, even though they're in SD. There was horrible outlining/ghosting around all bright objects previously, and that is now gone. The signal is very, very clean, and much better than my analog signal from Comcast.

If you're responsible for the improvement, thanks!

Originally posted by Steve O
[B]That does not surprise me in the least. As far as I know, cable (and Comcast in particular) is the ONLY way to get Red Sox home games on HD.

actually RCN, Adelphia and starting yesterday, Charter all have NESNHD. Also, in another thread, someone said that they had emailed NESN asking about NESNHD on DirecTV and NESN responded that they were in negotiations, but had no date when it may start. It seems Comcast doesn't have that much control over who gets NESNHD, especially given that RCN (a direct competetor in Boston) has it.

Originally posted by Steve O
That does not surprise me in the least. As far as I know, cable (and Comcast in particular) is the ONLY way to get Red Sox home games on HD. Comcast uses this extensively in their advertising campains as this is (one of the few) ways they can get an edge on satellite. I'm sure they'll fight tooth and nail to keep that advantage.

The bottom line... don't expect HD Sox games anywhere but cable anytime soon.

Cable IS the only place to get NESN HD right now, but not only with Comcast. It's also currently available on Adelphia, Charter and RCN HD cable systems. Comcast was first, but they aren't exclusive anymore as many of their ads would lead you to believe. Heck, you see Adelphia HD promos on the NESN HD feed during a sox game on Comcast.

As far as fighting tooth and nail to keep it, that's not the case because the issue with Directv or Dish not carrying it has to do with a shortage of bandwidth, not them opting not to pick it up for some other reason. Neither of them possess the capacity to add local sports HD feeds to their systems right now (that may change once Directv's new satellite is up and running). If you call NESN as a frustrated satellite owner, they'll tell you as much... the NESN HD feed has indeed been offered to the dish companies, and for the bandwidth reasons mentioned above, neither have any current plans to add NESN HD.

Even NESN was not HD tonite, it was very clear SD, but nonetheless, it was SD, too bad too.

Anyone else having bad pixelation and freezing on 4-1 OTA, specifically the golf this weekend?

Originally posted by Brett Jason
Anyone else having bad pixelation and freezing on 4-1 OTA, specifically the golf this weekend?
The transmitter gives itself a clean bill of health. At home in New Bedford (43 miles from the tower) I've seen no problems.

4-1 was being received without problems in SE NH.

Bob Y. ....Any info on when digital channel 28 will be OTA?

Bob Y. Thanks for solving the lip synch problem on Star Trek Enterprise HD. I was *finally* able to enjoy the HD version. Too bad, it was the finale so I'll have to wait until next season. But at least it was a great finale.

WGBH has had no accurate guide data for their HD transmission (where they are just broadcasting the PBS HD feed) or for any of their sub channels on WGBX 44 on DirecTV.

Now that I have an HD Tivo, it would be nice to have accurate guide info to make recording easier. Does anyone know how DirecTV gets the guide data? and what can be done from WGBH's end to get it to DirecTV?

SMK

They get the guide listings from www.zap2it.com. They have the guide listing for WGBHDT2 as being wrong as well. I'm not sure if they are not updating their information correctly or if WGBH is giving them the wrong info.

Either way DirecTv is just giving us the garbage they receive. I know this has been wrong since at least October last year when I first go my HD receiver.

Originally posted by Benji
Bob Y. ....Any info on when digital channel 28 will be OTA?
We have completed installation of the transmitter (see the attached file for a picture of it). However, it is all dressed up, with nowhere to go, as we have not yet installed the antenna on the tower (along with the structural modifications necessary to support it).

Before we can do that, we must obtain permits from the town, which will take a few months. The earliest you can expect to see anything will be this fall.

Originally posted by elbig
Bob Y. Thanks for solving the lip synch problem on Star Trek Enterprise HD. I was *finally* able to enjoy the HD version. Too bad, it was the finale so I'll have to wait until next season. But at least it was a great finale.
I was beginning to think no one had noticed!

The credit belongs to Manny Ferreira, our studio engineering crew chief, who kept plugging, along with a few of the DTV experts at CBS in New York.

Originally posted by elbig
Bob Y. Thanks for solving the lip synch problem on Star Trek Enterprise HD. I was *finally* able to enjoy the HD version. Too bad, it was the finale so I'll have to wait until next season. But at least it was a great finale.

Yes. Thanks Bob!

BTW, the finale was not last week. The last episode is this Wednesday.

-- Rich

RichB. Oh yeah, your right, the finale is tomorrow. I have seen so many finales recently that I got mixed up. I hear Enterprise has been picked up again (I think Fridays). It got off to a slow start but I think it is fairly decent now.

I saw this on the Tivo forum:

Porky Pig the Borg: You will be assim...assim...assim...absorbed

Is there a reason the Sat reshowings are not in SD, at this point in time?

Here is an interesting contrast to Frank M's posted about his reception
in Shrewsbury. I live in Northborough, the next town East of him. I
have a CM4228 antenna with about 25db of pre-amplification:

Look at the differences:


Frank (Shrewsbury) Me (Northborough)
CBS (30) Great Great
NBC (42) Great receivable about 20% of the time
UPN (39) Great receivable most of the time
ABC (20) Sometimes Great Great
PBS (19) Occasionally Viewable Great
PBS (43) Occasionally Viewable receivable most of the time
Fox (31) Never Great
WB (41) Never receivable most of the time


As you can see, there are a lot of differences - many in opposite
directions (compare NBC42 to FOX31).

I suspect that the "signal strength" meter on most boxes is not
actually the amount of signal but perhaps the bit-error rate of
the channel. In this case, bad multi-path interference would lower
the "signal strength" reading for a channel. On my Dish 811, the
meter seems to indicate 49% if there is anything at all, but won't
lock until the reading goes over 50%. It also never shows a value
greater than 0% and less than 49%.

I've also noticed that my Zenith tuner is better at receiving the
troublesome stations than the Dish 811 (OTA mode).

Bob

Bob Y., any talks yet with Comcast about cable carriage of UPN 38?

Originally posted by mgpt6
Bob Y., any talks yet with Comcast about cable carriage of UPN 38?
Will probably happen eventually, but for now, since we only have one regular HD show, we're not tops on their list.

Any word on Comcast carrying the WB?

Originally posted by rjd
Here is an interesting contrast to Frank M's posted about his reception
in Shrewsbury. I live in Northborough, the next town East of him. I
have a CM4228 antenna with about 25db of pre-amplification:

Bob


Why the 25db of pre-amp??? Are you trying to get channels 35, 57 and 59 from New Hampshire? [I'm in Framingham, and only use a 28db pre-amp to get NHPTV-57 from Durham (70+ miles away!)].

Since you're only about 20 miles from the Needham towers, you may be overdriving the signal or excessively amplifying the multipath. Multipath is my biggest problem, and the best solution so far has been the CM remote-controlled rotor [from Stark].

--Jim

I live in Westborough and have a Silver Sensor inside an apartment on the ground floor. With just the antenna I could get all the Boston DT stations solidly in the yellows on my T151, with occasional dropouts. During the winter, the signal got worse (but never unwatchable) so I added a Winegard UHF 29db preamp, which put me solidly into the greens for every station. Though I realize everyone's situation is different, and you guys have much larger, outdoor antennas, sometime a little preamp (or not so little in my case) can go a long way.

When I first bouth my HD set I used a set of rabbit ears with a 10DB amp. I recieved all of the boston stations- even when many were at low power :) This was Summer of 2002.

I was surprised at the signal, but there is really nothing obstructing the LOS between Taunton and Needham. I did get some dropouts when somebody woud walk to the kitchen though.

I've since gone to a yagi on the roof and it's simply too directional. I'll be switching the antenna this summer (it was only $20) and refining the mounting location to the highest point on my roof. I have the added factor of being surrounded by Boston and Providence markets with ~90 degrees between the prime transmit sites (Needham and Rehoboth) Then there's WLWC in East Freetown- due South (and waiting on their antenna work- the transmitter is in). I'm less than 5 miles from that tower- which overlooks our water supply.

Originally posted by tcable
When I first bouth my HD set I used a set of rabbit ears with a 10DB amp. I recieved all of the boston stations- even when many were at low power :) This was Summer of 2002.

I was surprised at the signal, but there is really nothing obstructing the LOS between Taunton and Needham. I did get some dropouts when somebody woud walk to the kitchen though.

I've since gone to a yagi on the roof and it's simply too directional. I'll be switching the antenna this summer (it was only $20) and refining the mounting location to the highest point on my roof. I have the added factor of being surrounded by Boston and Providence markets with ~90 degrees between the prime transmit sites (Needham and Rehoboth) Then there's WLWC in East Freetown- due South (and waiting on their antenna work- the transmitter is in). I'm less than 5 miles from that tower- which overlooks our water supply.
I'm on a line more or less due south of you, in New Bedford. I have a CM4228 on the roof; no rotor. With the antenna aimed north to Needham, I still pick up the Providence (Rehoboth) stations full-bore. I did some experimenting with the 4228 before I mounted it. You may be surprised at how well WLWC-DT will come in from the rear. Time will tell...

Got a message on CH. 80 D* tonight, program is not available in your area. Anyone in Boston market area receiving same message. Will call D* to find out what the problem is. Programming should be available as it was previously

That was the Yankees game being blacked out. Most friday night Yanks games are on WCBS, and being out of market and not paying for the baseball package, we aren't authorized to receive them.

Originally posted by rudolpht
Is there a reason the Sat reshowings are not in SD, at this point in time?

Bob Y, can you help elucidate on Enterprise repeat showings?

Originally posted by sha_now
That was the Yankees game being blacked out. Most friday night Yanks games are on WCBS, and being out of market and not paying for the baseball package, we aren't authorized to receive them.

Thanks, saved me a phone call.

For those who may not have noticed, looks like all the FOX O&O stations (which includes WFXT here in Boston) switched to broadcasting 720p format recently. My Panny TU-HDS20 set for hybrid mode is now outputting a 33kHz scan rate on 25-1 which confirms they are no longer transmitting 480p. Its still upconverted 480i content for now, but I must say it looks markedly better than the 480p they were doing previously.

Now, if we could just get the FCC to allow them to boost the power to an acceptable level before next season....ah well, 1 out of 2 ain't bad?!

I agree with ypu - the low power situation really stinks - Does anyone know if the Providence Fox affiliate will be online anytime soon ?

Originally posted by jalferes
I agree with ypu - the low power situation really stinks - Does anyone know if the Providence Fox affiliate will be online anytime soon ?

Just checked Titantv.com , FOX 54 WNAC-DT Awaiting FCC Permit , hopefully it will be soon.

Originally posted by rudolpht
Bob Y, can you help elucidate on Enterprise repeat showings?
Wednesday night repeat showings are broadcast live, so to speak, via UPN, in HD.

The weekend repeats are recorded on Saturday mornings from UPN, which sends them only in SD. These repeats are optional for UPN stations, and they contain a different set of commercials and promos than the Wednesday night broadcast, so we could not re-air that version.

Originally posted by vfrjim
Just checked Titantv.com , FOX 54 WNAC-DT Awaiting FCC Permit , hopefully it will be soon.

Can someone give me a definition of what "Awaiting FCC Permit" means? Is the station ready to go on the air once the permit is issued?

Awaiting FCC Permit: These stations have applied for a permit from the FCC to broadcast in digital, but are still waiting for a decision from the FCC. The projected date that the station will be broadcasting a digital signal is not known at this time.

That is from Antennaweb.org

Doesn't look like they will be ready for a long time if they have no permit in place.

Yes, WFXT has changed to 720P in anticipation of 720P programming on Fox this fall. At this point all local programming will still be upconverted but Fox Network and Sports programming including football will be phased in with a number of shows this summer through fall.

By the way before the calls start, WFXT will be going low(er) power on 31 sometime this month as we will be replacing our NTSC transmitter and will use the DTV rig as part of our interim NTSC transmitter during construction. This may last as long as 2 months on 31 as there is a great deal of construction needed to replace our 27 year old RCA TTU-110.
Our signal will drop approximately 8 db while we are on a backup solidstate transmitter.

I apologize to our OTA viewers but we hopefully will be able to reach the cable headends during this transition.

Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT

Bill,

Thanks for the info! And for stopping by to give us a heads-up. It will really save a lot of frustration, tweaking and questions now that we know up front that WFXT will be doing some construction.

Question for you if you don't mind. When the NSTC upgrade is done is there any talk of increasing the power on WFXT-DT, or even down the road?

Welcome to AVSForum!

Thanks!
-S

Originally posted by RYankowitz
Wednesday night repeat showings are broadcast live, so to speak, via UPN, in HD.

The weekend repeats are recorded on Saturday mornings from UPN, which sends them only in SD. These repeats are optional for UPN stations, and they contain a different set of commercials and promos than the Wednesday night broadcast, so we could not re-air that version.

Thanks. I assumed it wasn't an issue of being obstinate on the local front. Thanks.

Originally posted by BHolbrook
Yes, WFXT has changed to 720P in anticipation of 720P programming on Fox this fall. At this point all local programming will still be upconverted but Fox Network and Sports programming including football will be phased in with a number of shows this summer through fall.

By the way before the calls start, WFXT will be going low(er) power on 31 sometime this month as we will be replacing our NTSC transmitter and will use the DTV rig as part of our interim NTSC transmitter during construction. This may last as long as 2 months on 31 as there is a great deal of construction needed to replace our 27 year old RCA TTU-110.
Our signal will drop approximately 8 db while we are on a backup solidstate transmitter.

I apologize to our OTA viewers but we hopefully will be able to reach the cable headends during this transition.

Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT

Since I am in RI and get a perfect signal OTA now, I hope that the work will not be delayed and will be done by the time the football season starts. It will be a real bummer if I can't get WFXT during football season.

SMK

At this point the plan is to simply got back to our 76 Kw (EIRP) signal on 31 after construction is completed. That is all we are licensed for but we still have an open application before the commission to increase that but its status is undecided.

On the construction front, we hope to begin phase 1 that involves going to the backup DTV rig possibly as early as this upcoming week. Our plan is to be back up to full power on DTV with substantial completion of the project by mid August.

There will also be some minor outages and power drops on NTSC during the construction but those should be at a minimum.


Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT

Originally posted by RYankowitz
Wednesday night repeat showings are broadcast live, so to speak, via UPN, in HD.

This past Wednesday (6/2), the first Enterprise show was in HD, but not the second show. Was that intentional? What can we expect next Wednesday?

anyone watching the Golf? Weird noise in the back, like a swarm of Cicadas.

BHolbrook....

Does FOX25 plan local origination HD?

Originally posted by BHolbrook
At this point the plan is to simply got back to our 76 Kw (EIRP) signal on 31 after construction is completed. That is all we are licensed for but we still have an open application before the commission to increase that but its status is undecided.

Bill - Given that the FCC is now trying to speed the transition to DTV (circa 2009) and that FOX's parent company is historically penny-wise to the extreme, I'm surprised that what's likely a considerable amount of money is being spent for what is probably only a 5-10 year committment. That old transmitter must be in a pretty bad way for them to completely replace it as a short term solution.

Also, the low power situation continues to be extremely frustrating. As someone who is already in a "reception-challenged" area, I can barely pick up the 76kW signal using a CM4228 and amp as it is. With so much new programming coming, particularly the NFL coverage which is a MAJOR market for (H)DTV, its frustrating to see the FCC or whoever dragging their feet on this. I mean, if proximity is the issue I bet the impact would not be that great to just switch frequencies to one that allows for more power. Of course, someone may just not want to pay the bill for 6-10x the power output on a second transmitter. Either way, when most or all the other big guys are putting out the better part of a megawatt on their DTV carriers, its really too bad to see FOX still putting out such a weak signal.

Please keep the updates coming, it always intersting to hear from those in the know! See you in September....hopefully ;)

First of all our new NTSC transmitter will be able to be converted to DTV quite easily when the final full conversion to digital happens in 2009. So the investment is not for just the short term. It is also a lot more efficient with significantly reduced energy consumption and cost.

As far as the lower signal level, that was mandated by the FCC and happened long before I got to Fox25. I don't know all the history but only know that we will continue to operate at the maximum we are allowed to transmit at, once our upgrade plans are completed.

There are no plans at this time to do any local HD programming but our new facility has been built as a fully digital plant with a great deal of potential in the future.

Admittedly Fox has lagged behind the other networks in HD content but that is changing shortly and we are upgrading our facilities to be able to provide the best signal we are allowed to by the FCC.

Bill Holbrook

Originally posted by BHolbrook
...our new NTSC transmitter will be able to be converted to DTV quite easily when the final full conversion to digital happens in 2009.

Thanks, Bill. Out of curiousity, what happens to the current DTV transmitter if/when the new one is converted from NTSC in 2009? Also, should I (and others) contact the FCC about the lack of attention on the pending application to increase ERP? (Yeah, I know what you're gonna say on this, but I had to ask anyway.)

First the DTV rig will become a backup transmitter for whichever channel ends up being our permanent assignment in 2009. There are other possibilities we have discussed that I can't get into here but it will definitely be part of our long range planning.

Bill Holbrook

Looks like we may begin broadcasting on the backup DTV transmitter as early as the afternoon of 6/16. That may be delayed but I will post when it happens and would like some feedback on reception.

Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT

Should the reception be stronger then what it is now?

Earlier in the thread he indicated we should see a reduction in power. In my case that will not be good - the signal is already too unstable to consider it watchable. I also am wondering if there is an email link that could be posted so we can "yell" at the fcc for not allowing an increase in power for this station. It seems unfair that they are the only major network not at full power in the boston dma

How much lower can it go I have trouble now. I hope this corrected by football season but then again we should have the Fox HD chaneel on D* by then

Steve...Why the concern? You have NFL ST, don't you. All the HD games I believe will be available on ST.

Benji,

It is yet to be determined if they blackout games that are shown in the home market like they did last year if so then I will need either the D* feed which I am sure I will get or OTA which I probably won't get. I know the HD game didn't matter last year but this year with so many games being offered in HD it could be a potential problem. I guess we will find out soon as the season is coming fast but not fast enough.

Maybe it's because I'm considered to be in the Providence demographic, but the HD Patriot games last year I received both OTA on 4-1 and on ST. Their games were never blacked-out on ST.

Originally posted by Benji
Maybe it's because I'm considered to be in the Providence demographic, but the HD Patriot games last year I received both OTA on 4-1 and on ST. Their games were never blacked-out on ST.

I received the same thing however this year with Fox doing so many games I wonder if the blackout will apply this year.

Using similar logic, if the games are blacked out on ST, wouldn't they also be blacked out on CBS and Fox DIRECTV stations?

Originally posted by Benji
Using similar logic, if the games are blacked out on ST, wouldn't they also be blacked out on CBS and Fox DIRECTV stations?

Not if it is the game that you are supposed to receive in our area. Do you remember the non HD games being blacked out last year but they did allow the HD games for whatever reason I guess because we are so small and don't count much in the ratings

I just saw this on the NESN home page regarding sattelite coverage of their HD productions. I guess we need to slam the providers if we want it.

1. NESN continues to be a leader in regional sports telecasts. In addition to producing over 100 games in High Definition, we’ve already expanded our pre- and post-game shows to an hour, added cameras inside the left field wall, and taken hand-held cameras onto the field at the end of games. This summer, we will debut further in-game telecast enhancements, similar in application to ESPN’s K-Zone. Look for these additions soon, and let us know what you think.

2. You are correct; at this point DirecTV is not carrying NESN HD. Certainly, the addition of High-Definition is the most exciting technical advancement we’ve made to date. We’ve had many discussions regarding the service with DirecTV, but thus far have not reached an agreement.

We will continue to follow-up with both DirecTV and Dish Network, and remain hopeful that satellite carriage of NESN high-definition will become a reality. You can help by contacting your satellite provider and tell them you want NESN HD.

My request has been submitted - let's go AVS members - be heard !!

www.directv.com

Originally posted by jalferes
My request has been submitted - let's go AVS members - be heard !!

www.directv.com

The last Email I sent to Stephanie Campbell about whether NESN would ever be added came back with a response of "stranger things have happened" so I guess the good news is that they are talking the bad is that it is taking so long. I really don't get what is so hard about coming to an agreement but then again I am not in that business but it would seem pretty simple to me.

Originally posted by jalferes
My request has been submitted - let's go AVS members - be heard !!

www.directv.com

Mine is submitted as well. Let's keep 'em coming.

On an entirely different topic, are there any Tivo subscribers who can confirm whether or not the guide information you receive for 'GBH DT19 and DT43 is accurate? Thanks.

Where on DirecTV.com are you submitting your requests?

Originally posted by greenelucky
Where on DirecTV.com are you submitting your requests?

I don't know about others, but I used the feedback link at the very bottom of their home page.

Wednesday, we installed the backup (lower power) DTV transmitter. It was tested briefly and we went back to our standard transmitter. Current plans are to begin transmitting full time on the backup transmitter on monday. We are planning some testing with the cable companies that carry us to make sure they can receive the backup signal. If all goes well we will begin the transistion process to our backup NTSC transmitter and will shutdown our original channel 25 transmitter in early July. Again we hope to be backup to full power on DTV sometime in early August in plenty of time for football, baseball playoffs and the fall season 720P programming.

Again when we are on the backup rig I will post it and would like some signal reports if you can post them here or through our website.

Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT

Originally posted by BHolbrook
. Again we hope to be backup to full power on DTV sometime in early August in plenty of time for football, baseball playoffs and the fall season 720P programming.

Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT


Mr Holbrook , has the new splicer system been installed at WFXT ?

Yes it was installed last week.

Bill

Originally posted by BHolbrook
Yes it was installed last week.

Bill

Thanx. Does this mean that Boston Fox 25 is ready to transmit in true HD?

Basically yes. when Fox starts sending 720P content we will carry it.

Now the question becomes- can WFXT handle DD 5.1?

I used to work in Norwood and drive by the studios all the time.

The new studio is a marvel of engineering!

Originally posted by tcable
Now the question becomes- can WFXT handle DD 5.1?

I used to work in Norwood and drive by the studios all the time.

The new studio is a marvel of engineering! It's my understanding the splice system being used by FOX automatically sends DD5.1 through the affiliates. It's not the same system that the other networks are using.

Bill - Can you tell what tell us what the HD NFL lineup is for WFXT...assuming it is figured out by now.

First of all you are correct the splicer will pass everything the network sends us so if they send 5.1 you will get 5.1.

Secondly, I have not seen the schedule for HD games but I will check and see if I can give out that info yet.

By the way please call me Bill, only my kids friends call me Mr. Holbrook and I tell them not to do that either.

Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT

Bill,

Since you've switched to 720p I'm seeing the white flashing (Line 21 I think it's called) CC stuff at the top of the image. It was not present when you guys were sending out 480p. Is there any way you can get rid of it? It's pretty annoying on a 4:3 display, where you get effectively no veritcal overscan.

I will check the CC encoder to see if it is setup ok and on the proper line. There may be an issure with the upconversion.

By the way if all goes well tomorrow morning with a replacment blower fan installation, we will be operating on the backup DTV transmitter by mid morning for the next number of weeks.

Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT

WFXT is now broadcasting on our lower power backup DTV rig. This should last until early to mid August. Any signal reports would be appreciated.

Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT

In Stoneham,

No problems receiving on the Zenith HDS-520, MyHD 120, and Fusion III card. The strength is down from the 80's to the low 50's but there are no breakups.

I have a 12' roof antenna and get all stations. The weakest one is 56-1 which does not always work on the Fusion card.

Look good.

-- Rich

Hi Bill,

I live in Norwood....

Sig Strength

Old Sig Current Sig

93% 77%

Bill, still receiving 25-1 OK in Kingston, NH . Can't give signal strength as I have a Samsung 360, whose signal meter is quite worthless.

Here in RI on a Samsung TS160, getting 36% (down from 64-74%), no breakups though.

Jim

Down on the Cape where the signal was weak in the first place - I have no signal at all now

I have dropped about 10 points I am now in the mid 70's but as always with this station I can go to 0 real quick as well

Still coming in fine in Cambridge on my Zenith HDV420. Didn't bother checking the signal meter, but didn't see any dropouts last night.

Thanks for looking into the CC stuff at the top of the picture.

WFXT-DT went from a solid 100 to between 93 and 100 in Winchester on my Mits.

The signal strength meter on the the Zenith HDR230 is divided into 3 sections, bad, normal, and good. Up until now WFXT-DT was on the border between bad and normal, and the picture was likely to break up at times. Now the signal reads in the bottom half of bad, and the HDR230 reports "No Signal".

See you in August!

I was flipping through the channels tonight and caught something that I HATED to see... WSBK (UPN 38-1) stuck gray bars on the side of a 4x3 show. Ugh. Not as horrid as the stupid "HD" bars that ESPN-HD puts on the side of 4x3, but still... does anyone want this?

-Steve

PS: I checked WFXT and I'm getting 36% in Shrewsbury with an attic mounted channelmaster 4228. I didn't watch very long, but I didn't see any breakups (though I tend to with low-signal strength channels when a car drives by). I think I was near 100% signal before the change.

Thanks for all of the signal reports. We have been getting slightly better results than we had predicted. All major cable systems seem to be ok. It will be interesting to see how much of a fade margin we now have when some bad weather hits.

The main project is moving ahead but there will be a time when we have to shut off DT31 for about 36 hours when the last 100 foot section of old transmission line is replaced. We will need to use the DTV antenna for NTSC.

Again thanks for the patience and the signal reports.

Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT

Originally posted by Steve O
I was flipping through the channels tonight and caught something that I HATED to see... WBSK (UPN 38-1) stuck gray bars on the side of a 4x3 show. Ugh. Not as horrid as the stupid "HD" bars that ESPN-HD puts on the side of 4x3, but still... does anyone want this?

I have no objections to grey bars. I often set my TV to add gray bars to 4x3 signals.... I think it beats a stretched or cropped picture. The only better choice might be to send 480 content as a 480 signal, but that requires switching back and forth when the real HD stuff is available. I'd rather have gray bars than have the studio forget to "flip the switch" when an HD signal is available....

This is one of those things that folks just never agree on... (well except maybe on the funky bars ESPN uses... :-) those will no doubt cause burn in issues)

-- Doug

Originally posted by Steve O
I was flipping through the channels tonight and caught something that I HATED to see... WBSK (UPN 38-1) stuck gray bars on the side of a 4x3 show. Ugh. Not as horrid as the stupid "HD" bars that ESPN-HD puts on the side of 4x3, but still... does anyone want this?




Yes -- I, too, am happy to have grey bars added. Much better than stretch or black bars.

I am getting a sig strength of 88 but no video or audio on WSBK (38-1). Anyone else having this problem?

Originally posted by bcushman
I am getting a sig strength of 88 but no video or audio on WSBK (38-1). Anyone else having this problem?
No problems I can find. Normal picture/sound are being transmitted (and received at my house).

Originally posted by bcushman
I am getting a sig strength of 88 but no video or audio on WSBK (38-1). Anyone else having this problem?

If you are using the RCA DTC-100 as your tuner, it may have hiccuped on the PSIP info being sent by UPN38. Just go into the menus, unacquire the channel guides and then reacquire them. This usually works!

Originally posted by etcarey
If you are using the RCA DTC-100 as your tuner, it may have hiccuped on the PSIP info being sent by UPN38. Just go into the menus, unacquire the channel guides and then reacquire them. This usually works!


That fixed the problem!! Many thanks for your help.

Bruce

Originally posted by Steve O
I was flipping through the channels tonight and caught something that I HATED to see... WBSK (UPN 38-1) stuck gray bars on the side of a 4x3 show. Ugh. Not as horrid as the stupid "HD" bars that ESPN-HD puts on the side of 4x3, but still... does anyone want this?

Very much. It's called Original Aspect ratio. With all the content, you can use your STB or whatever to apply crazy stretchovision (like ESPN-HD) or chop off the top and bottom of picture and zoom, etc.

If you go back through the pages of this thread (many) or the prior thread you'll find a compelling majority wanting OAR.

If you are complaining about grey vs black bars, I would prefer black also.

Originally posted by bcushman
That fixed the problem!! Many thanks for your help.

Bruce

Glad to be of service.

If you are complaining about grey vs black bars, I would prefer black also.
That's exactly what I'm complaining about. I want black. I find grey to be very distracting. I agree that OAR is the ONLY way to go. I guess I'm a purist in that sense... if it ain't in the original broadcast, DON'T ADD IT. The ESPN-HD bars are an extreme example of badness, but I find the grey bars to be bad as well. I noticed that the CBS-HD feed from NY does this too. Ugh. I agree that stretching or cropping is bad.

-Steve

Having had burn in problems with my last Plasma 503CMX, I prefer the gray bars. I think they could be a shade dimmer though.

Maybe the stations are just trying to be Plasma friendly :)

-- Rich