Just a quick observation, and I sincerely apologize this isn't a solution for all here, but I just noted NHPTV (WENH-DT 11) still seems to be showing the national HD feed (or some kind of different HD feed from their regular SD programming on 11.2) on their HD channel 11.1. I can't remember why but for some reason I took them out of my channel lineup, maybe it was due to duplication of programming with WGBH. Well, for now at least, I've put them back in. So if you live within range of WENH, you can give them a shot (should be UHF ch 57 IIRC.)

Ditto that! PBS and WGBH have swiftly gone from HD-leader to pathetic laggard. At least get rid of the SD simulcast if all the programming is going to be the same!!

Let them know how you feel here (http://www.wgbh.org/contact/), I already have.

Are they ever going to bring back anything to replace "The Tube" ?

Also why is weather such a must have? I can see a few stations having it but it's getting to the point where OK OK I have tons of sources to tell me what's it's going to be like coming up.

So is part of WGBH's interim plan to simply take their 4:3 channel 2.1 SD programming and slightly blow it up in a 16:9 frame and put it out on 2.2?

Apparently that's what's been going on all day today (Saturday). A lot of decent (though pledge-centric) programming that was all originally done in HD, going out in letterboxed SD on 2.1, but also going out on 2.2 in a slightly wider, zoomed-up image, but still in SD. My TV reports it as 16:9 but it's not filling the screen at all, but it is a bit wider than the 4:3 that's showing on 2.1. With the pledge call-in banner on the bottom, you can see that they're zooming the original image up for 2.2 because a bit of the banner is missing along the bottom on 2.2.

Or it simply another case of someone asleep at the switch?

Edit: I think I remember reading here someone saying that they lacked the equipment locally to record and play back HD programming? If true, now I understand what's going on, and they need our support at pledge time more than ever. Help WGBH buy some HD servers!

It was HD from start to finish last night, so WBZ was on the ball this time.


Strange, not on my TivoHD, it was bad pixelated SD picture on 4.1. 803 on Fios (In RI) was WPRI and was in HD. Strange.........

I don't see that implication at all. Rather, as each one of us does, they're following the money.

That is exactly what I was trying to say. The syndication or "rental" fees that program originators charge other affiliates to air their programs are substantial, if the numbers that are occasionally quoted during the frequent "whining for dollars" fundraising campaigns are accurate.

There is no reason to believe that the local fund-raising efforts aren't being used for catering to the local viewers to a great extent in proportion to the contributions they receive.

I didn't say that. I do suspect that syndication fees play a prominent role in their income stream, and that local viewer contributions may not be all that big a factor. Then, too, they undoubtedly also realize a fair amount of coin from the frequent, interminable commercials and adverts, which they coyly label as "endorsements" or "underwriting." They lost their holier-than-thou viewer and listener (although not their legal) status as non-commercial broadcasters when they elected many years back to accept payment for and air commercials masquerading as "endorsements," which have in recent years become almost as lengthy and obtrusive as those on the commercial networks and stations. As you said, they follow the money.

And for all those reasons, and more, I would like to see an end to open-ended government subsidies. I think, if it isn't already the case, that the government should only provide funding for specific programming, with the program specifications outlined in the funding legislation. The programs should be sponsor-free (i.e., funded only by the government) and should be strictly E|I. There is already sufficient arts and entertainment and how-to programming available elsewhere. There is no need for our government to put one penny towards any such programming. Some of my favorite shows would probably be adversely affected. That's fine. It's not about what's good for me, but rather its about what's right.

My point exactly. WGBH has always been focused more on producing and syndicating program content for national distribution to other affiliates than in providing a quality viewing and listening experience to its local audience.

Oh so you would dump Nova and Frontline in favor of Red Sox Week or This Week in Patriots Nation. C'mon.

More seriously one of the most watched local programs, according to WGBH, is locally produced Greater Boston with Emily Rooney but during pledge weeks it's had a history of attracting few pledges . Seems the locals never seem to put their money where their eyes are.

Oh so you would dump Nova and Frontline in favor of Red Sox Week or This Week in Patriots Nation. C'mon.

No, I made no reference whatsoever to national vs. local programming. Programming content is a matter de gustibus, and I have no desire to make any public statements in that regard. My point was that WGBH appears to place its priorities and spend its financial resources on producing prestigious and lucrative programming for national syndication rather than allocating monies to engineering sufficient to improve the <B>technical</B> quality of their local broadcast signals. My gripe is that the audio and video quality of their digital broadcast signals is abysmally poor. WGBH-HD was the one exception to this, and now it too is being compromised by airing increasing doses of upconverted SD programming simulcast from WGBH-DT. Technical broadcast quality is easily quantifiable. I know bad picture and sound quality when I see and hear it.

More seriously one of the most watched local programs, according to WGBH, is locally produced Greater Boston with Emily Rooney but during pledge weeks it's had a history of attracting few pledges. Seems the locals never seem to put their money where their eyes are.

I would plead guilty to that as well. I do watch a good deal of their national programming, which is in general excellent, and watch little or none of their local programming. Maybe local viewers feel they can get enough local news and current events content from the four major commercial affiliates. I will confess that I watch local news on ABC and national news on NBC, not so much because of content but because they offer at least some HD fare. Maybe WGBH would attract more viewers to its local programming if they improved their technical quality and made it a more rewarding experience.

Sorry Doug for the very late reply to this. I haven't been able to check in for a while but wanted to see if there are any issues ahead of the Super Bowl broadcast on sunday.
On the issue of the logo burn in, I will pass along the complaint to the corporate folks. This is a uniform logo for all of the Fox O&O stations throughout the country based on the Fox News Channel logo.
On the CP as soon as I am allowed to post anything about it I will. But there are a number of issues to deal with prior to anything happening.

Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT-TV

Just saw this, have you tried putting your set on a a station that all "snow" I've seen this work to eliminate the problem.

Good Luck..

Just saw this, have you tried putting your set on a a station that all "snow" I've seen this work to eliminate the problem.

Yup. If you look a few pages back to my original post on this issue, it should have the name of the tool. Basically it was a freeware digital "snow" generator (can't remember the name off hand) that you run on a PC. I hooked up it up to the set using the RGB input and ran it for 24hrs - no difference. You can't "unburn" burn-in, all you can do is hope the other phosphors eventually "catch up" which can happen since phosphor aging is exponential, but it takes a very long time and may never completely go away in severe cases.

Since then I've avoided watching any news broadcasts on WFXT-TV. Its been a couple months now and there might have been a very slight decrease in severity, but nothing to write home about.

I don't know why FOX news thinks I can't see their bug unless they LITERALLY burn it into my screen with a 100 IRE level. Murdoch must own shares in some consumer electronics company and is hoping to sell a bunch of new TVs to replace the ones ruined by their logo! How's that for a "renewable" business model? ;) (Of course, I'm totally kidding about that!)

GBH 2.2 has left the building. What a dissapointment. GBH has jumped the shark, and unless they get back to the way it was, which I predict (hope) they will be forced to do, they will pay a heavy financial price IMO.

GBH 2.2 has left the building. What a dissapointment. GBH has jumped the shark, and unless they get back to the way it was, which I predict (hope) they will be forced to do, they will pay a heavy financial price IMO.That sounds like an empty threat, to me. I don't see any reason to believe that enough of the people who pay for WGBH subscriptions care about these specific issues enough to significantly impact their finances. It just isn't what the average Joe cares about.

Well, your moniker explains some things. Your signature confirms it. We are only expressing our opinions. However, in the spirit of debate, nobody, not even WGBH, knows what the outcome will be. I'm only stating what I think the end result will be. So, call me an "average Joe" if you like, doesn't change my opinion.

Well, your moniker explains some things. Your signature confirms it. We are only expressing our opinions. However, in the spirit of debate, nobody, not even WGBH, knows what the outcome will be. I'm only stating what I think the end result will be. So, call me an "average Joe" if you like, doesn't change my opinion.
I don't think that bicker1 was calling you an average Joe. The fact that you care about the HD feed takes you out of that category. I would tend to agree with bicker1 though that there aren't enough people (like those of us on this forum) who really care about the HD feed for this change to really have any sort of financial impact on GBH. Perhaps in a few more years when more people have HDTVs it will start to matter, but definitely not for the short term. What really matters for most of the people I'm aware of who send donations to GBH is that there just hasn't been much on the channel in recent years that's really attracted their attention - THAT will hurt GBH financially as these people will stop donating or reduce their donations.

So, call me an "average Joe" if you like, doesn't change my opinion.Actually, my point was that you were anything but average. Most folks interested enough in discussing this stuff are anything but average.

I don't think that bicker1 was calling you an average Joe. The fact that you care about the HD feed takes you out of that category.Yes, but it is really deeper than that: I suspect a good number of average folks care about the HD feed, at this point, but they care about different things than "we" do. For example, Average Joe cares that the picture fills his/her screen, while a lot of folks here on AVS Forum care about OAR, instead.

The scoop with the loss of PBS HD channel.

11 and 44 are must carrys. 2 is retransmission consent. I am assuming a condition of retransmitting 2.0 is the carrying of 2.2 and ch 44's multiplex channels.

So I assume the News Hour is still only in SD

Anyone know if WHDH ch7 will be doing their news in HD anytime soon. Their sister station with same owner just lauch NBC Miami in HD newcast.

Umm, If I recall WTVJ (NBC6) went HD a few days ago. However WSVN (the fox affil) is WHDH's sister station, and the rumor is end of year for WSVN.

For WHDH the rumors on the net are by July at the latest (before the olympics) apparently everything is in place except the sets need a few touch ups. If there is Field HD or not, not sure, the net rumors go both ways on that one!

What will WHDH do with their ugly-a** virtual weather set?

The scoop with the loss of PBS HD channel.
So I assume the News Hour is still only in SD


The News Hour is in HD on 2.2 and letterboxed on 2.1.

Regarding the other 2.2 issue.

From: http://www.current.org/dtv/dtv0802hd.shtml
Originally published in Current, Feb. 4, 2008

"The PBS Board endorsed the plan last week, reallocating satellite capacity for the fall and discontinuing the original HD Channel, a loop of eye-candy video used to demonstrate the great looks of high-def."

I would hope GBH eventually creates its own version of an HD channel on 2.2 and uses 2.1 for its lesser SD stuff.

I don't think that bicker1 was calling you an average Joe. The fact that you care about the HD feed takes you out of that category. I would tend to agree with bicker1 though that there aren't enough people (like those of us on this forum) who really care about the HD feed for this change to really have any sort of financial impact on GBH. Perhaps in a few more years when more people have HDTVs it will start to matter, but definitely not for the short term. What really matters for most of the people I'm aware of who send donations to GBH is that there just hasn't been much on the channel in recent years that's really attracted their attention - THAT will hurt GBH financially as these people will stop donating or reduce their donations.

I wrote "GBH 2.2 has left the building. What a dissapointment. GBH has jumped the shark, and unless they get back to the way it was, which I predict (hope) they will be forced to do, they will pay a heavy financial price IMO."

What I was saying was that my gripe is the loss of programming, not the loss of a pristine HD signal (not that there's anything wrong with pristine HD signals). I like the car shows and cooking shows. There's no chance I'm going to start watching some kiddie show instead just because it's in HD. I also get 36 and 44 OTA, but they don't offer these shows at that time of day. Everyone wants HD, but at the expense of good programming? Why can't we have both? With DirecTv's 80+ HD channels, and the OTA channels I get, I get plenty of HD content, and that's why I won't watch GBH if they don't program to suit me. By using their HD channel to broadcast one program instead of the 2 or 3or 4 they could, they are losing viewership, IMO.

I don't know if this is related or not (probably not), but, GBH radio doesn't air CARTALK, AFAIK, and they produce it. What's up with that?

I also get 36 and 44 OTA, but they don't offer these shows at that time of day.Your DVR is your friend.

Everyone wants HD, but at the expense of good programming?A lot of people believe that there is no such thing as good programming if it doesn't fill their screen. They are a never-ending source of frustration to those who have other priorities, such as those who feel that programming must always be presented OAR. The offerings we get are driven by forces that often conflict with our own personal preferences.

Why can't we have both?I believe that was already explained, above.

By using their HD channel to broadcast one program instead of the 2 or 3or 4 they could, they are losing viewership, IMO. PBS is one of the only channels where viewership doesn't matter. All that matters is cost, and what drives subscriptions.

I hate to ask: Are you a subscriber? If so, have you talked with subscriber services about this? Make sure you tell them, when you don't renew next year, that this is the reason.

I don't know if this is related or not (probably not), but, GBH radio doesn't air CARTALK, AFAIK, and they produce it. What's up with that?


Car Talk is produced (http://www.cartalk.com/content/faq/) at WBUR-FM (http://www.wbur.org) where it is heard twice per weekend and not at WGBH-FM.

What I was saying was that my gripe is the loss of programming, not the loss of a pristine HD signal (not that there's anything wrong with pristine HD signals).

Well, I would hardly characterize the late channel 2-2 signal quality as pristine. It shares bandwidth with 2-1 and is therefore somewhat compressed and of lower quality than, say, WCVB-HD, where the whole channel bandwidth is devoted to a single program stream.

I don't know if this is related or not (probably not), but, GBH radio doesn't air CARTALK, AFAIK, and they produce it. What's up with that?

I was under the impression that Cartalk was produced and syndicated by WBUR-FM, not WGBH-FM. At least that is where the program originated over three decades ago. If Click and Clack moved over to WGBH, I guess it escaped my attention. In any event, you can subscribe to and download Cartalk as a podcast over the Internet. I find this a good deal more convenient than catching it when it is aired.

I was a big fan and contributor of GBH until now. Their new byline should be "We are diligently working to downgrading the quality and content of our programming". What a sad ending for what used to be an important contribution to the airwaves....

I was a big fan and contributor of GBH until now. Their new byline should be "We are diligently working to downgrading the quality and content of our programming". ...

I just caught a quick look at their 5:30PM broadcast of Nature on 2.2. The bozos are mirroring the crappy letterboxed 2.1 broadcast as is on the 1080i channel. And it looks like crap. Amazing! When they had the PBS HD channel they would show HD programs in High Definition. There must be brain damaging pollutants in that new studio. :(

"PBS is one of the only channels where viewership doesn't matter. All that matters is cost, and what drives subscriptions.

I hate to ask: Are you a subscriber? If so, have you talked with subscriber services about this? Make sure you tell them, when you don't renew next year, that this is the reason."

We are going to have to agree to disagree at this point. GBH, and all publicly funded TV stations for that matter, need eyeballs, like any other channel. With the funding they get from subscribers and taxpayers, they don't need as many viewers as a commercial channel, to be sure, but it is a requirement for their survival. Your point would be valid only if they could get enough donations to support their programming no matter how few people watch, which they can't do currently, and couldn't do if hypothetical the viewership dropped to nothing. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy GBH and hope it continues. So, we're on the same side, just have different viewpoints about how to keep GBH alive.

As for the question about me being a subscriber, it's a red herring. Unless I'm "Walter Annenberg", I've got no say in how they run their station and you know it.

Go GBH! Just not in this direction.

Car Talk is produced (http://www.cartalk.com/content/faq/) at WBUR-FM (http://www.wbur.org) where it is heard twice per weekend and not at WGBH-FM.

Yeah, I got that wrong. I do listen to it on their website occasionally, but for whatever reason, I enjoy it so much more while driving, and where I live BUR barely comes in. There's something about that program that gives me a connection to New England, Massachusetts and Boston and this is especially true when I'm away from home. I've listened to it while in Arizona, California, and Hawaii over the years, and love hearing those Boston guys. I guess to me it just sounds like something GBH should carry and should broadcast around the states, being one of the premiere public radio stations in the country. I would really like to hear it on 89.7 here in MA.

Your DVR is your friend.

PBS is one of the only channels where viewership doesn't matter. All that matters is cost, and what drives subscriptions.


If viewership didn't matter to PBS then Wired Science would be back for another season Low viewership is cited (http://www.current.org/science/science0804wired.shtml) as the reason for it biting the dust. The closest that any programming comes to being viewership proof is paid programming.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy GBH and hope it continues. So, we're on the same side, just have different viewpoints about how to keep GBH alive.Well, I think you're confusing my statements about how things are with insights into what I want. Two completely different things. Personally, I think PBS should be privatized or nationalized; one or the other. I am suspicious whenever government gives money to any independent entity. If we want television networks to produce certain programming specified by the government, then have a government agency do it. Otherwise, let the private sector handle the issue. The only real national priority I see PBS serving is non-commercial educational programming. The rest of PBS' schedule could readily be served by private entities. Take This Old House. It could, say, be presented on A&E -- oh wait! It IS! And that's my point. There is no reason why government funds, or even tax breaks, should be offered so we can watch This Old House. Let Russell Morash sell the show on the open market, with commercials. That's the American way.

As for the question about me being a subscriber, it's a red herring. Unless I'm "Walter Annenberg", I've got no say in how they run their station and you know it. I don't disagree, but the logic is that if enough subscribers cancel their subscription for the same reason, then PBS will respond properly. If that is not the case, then the whole subscriber model is a farce, and what we're really seeing is foundation-sponsored television. And so what we SHOULD see presented on the network is what those foundations want presented -- what individuals want doesn't matter. PBS becomes a home for issue-oriented foundations to push their own agenda.

I guess to me it just sounds like something GBH should carry and should broadcast around the states, being one of the premiere public radio stations in the country.We have two, major public radio stations in Boston, and so there is no strong reason for a program that is broadcast on one to necessarily be broadcast on the other. That's a waste of bandwidth IMHO. Quite frankly, I find WBUR-FM to be far superior to WGBH-FM anyway. If either is "premiere" it is the former.

If viewership didn't matter to PBS then Wired Science would be back for another season Low viewership is cited (http://www.current.org/science/science0804wired.shtml) as the reason for it biting the dust. The closest that any programming comes to being viewership proof is paid programming."Wilson didn’t say specifically why the project is being canceled beyond the “momentum” issue"... That sounds to me that the show didn't foster the kind of subscription increases and sponsorship commitments necessary. As Dave alluded to, above, PBS is one place where a subscriber/sponsor providing big money (or not) outweighs tens of thousands of viewers.

"Wilson didn’t say specifically why the project is being canceled beyond the “momentum” issue"... That sounds to me that the show didn't foster the kind of subscription increases and sponsorship commitments necessary.

"Momentum" is one of those faddish words into which anything can be read. However the second half of the sentence you quoted "...though Wired Science’s audience numbers surely didn’t help its cause. The show’s on-air rating never reached PBS’s primetime average." suggests the author of the article saw it as a ratings issue.

Also "PBS made the final call about which program to choose, though its decision was informed by minute-by-minute Nielsen ratings, focus groups and e-mails from more than 7,000 viewers."

In the part of the article "Too hip or too hidden? " repeated reference is made to Wired Science's failure to attract and audience. The only allusion to funding is the CPB opportunity fund. That said that does not rule out Wired Science also failing to attract enough second season funding.

You're quoting the author of the article, not the PBS official. You're basically using someone else's unfounded speculation as foundation for your own speculation. :) I don't buy it, for the reasons I mentioned.

You're quoting the author of the article, not the PBS official. You're basically using someone else's unfounded speculation as foundation for your own speculation.

..l. and which is built on no more flimsy a foundation than your earlier speculation about the meaning of the official's use of the word "momentum.

“momentum” issue"... That sounds to me that the show didn't foster the kind of subscription increases and sponsorship commitments necessary.

IAC this is where I let this dead horse RIP.

Good. I think the whole thing was BS from the start. An author taking some statements out of context trying to make good folks like you concerned about something.

Over the weekend I lost reception of WHDH on both of my HTPCs. Still able to tune on my HDTV. (Attic mount antenna) Anyone else notice this issue? I had this happen once before , a couple of years ago, and the engineer for WHDH emailed me that it was a due to an update on their end. He was able to make an adjustment to fix it. I figured I would look here before contacting WHDH.

Over the weekend I lost reception of WHDH on both of my HTPCs. Still able to tune on my HDTV. (Attic mount antenna) Anyone else notice this issue?

My reception overall was flaky but I assumed it was just the high winds and precipitation. I use an indoor amplified directional antenna on an HDTV.

My reception overall was flaky but I assumed it was just the high winds and precipitation. I use an indoor amplified directional antenna on an HDTV.

Same problem here: frequent pixelation and breakup on 7-1 on both of my rooftop antennas (don't ask) and two different receivers. I chalked it up to a temporary reduction in signal strength.

Over the weekend I lost reception of WHDH on both of my HTPCs. Still able to tune on my HDTV. (Attic mount antenna) Anyone else notice this issue?

For whatever reason I've totally lost my signal for WHDH for about the last week. It's been coming in fine for the last 10 months and then nothing. The sad thing is that I"m under 5 miles from the tower.

I rechecked antennaweb.org and it still says it's broadcasting from the same direction (in Newton).

Over the weekend I lost reception of WHDH on both of my HTPCs. Still able to tune on my HDTV. (Attic mount antenna) Anyone else notice this issue? I had this happen once before , a couple of years ago, and the engineer for WHDH emailed me that it was a due to an update on their end. He was able to make an adjustment to fix it. I figured I would look here before contacting WHDH.

I'm experiencing the same issue on my HTPC. My TV's tuner is able to get reception perfectly. Please let us know if you're able to contact WHDH. This has happened before, and I remember that the engineer also said it was some issue on their end with PSIP data(?) if I remember correctly.

The News Hour is in HD on 2.2 and letterboxed on 2.1.

Regarding the other 2.2 issue.

From: http://www.current.org/dtv/dtv0802hd.shtml
Originally published in Current, Feb. 4, 2008

"The PBS Board endorsed the plan last week, reallocating satellite capacity for the fall and discontinuing the original HD Channel, a loop of eye-candy video used to demonstrate the great looks of high-def."

I would hope GBH eventually creates its own version of an HD channel on 2.2 and uses 2.1 for its lesser SD stuff.

<->

IMOO...

The News Hour is in HD on 2.2 and letterboxed on 2.1? No reason to do that unless...I can only postulate that the 2.1 SD channel may also be feeding their analog transmitter through the same multiplexer.

What may have been missed in the translation is the reason PBS is changing the HD service from what it was over the past few years, beginning as an HD loop that repeated several times a day for months do to the lack of HD material to eventually making the loop repeat less per day and month by offering more HD programs over the years. With many appealing HD programs that many affiliates didn't carry in SD.

In the last two years, PBS has gone from multiple analog feeds to multiple SD feeds with only one HD feed, the loop. PBS recently added another HD feed where News Hour is offered.

The problem was that the HD service loop out grew it usefulness, as it did not follow the PBS National Program Service schedule. That is changing. Read that sentence again.

PBS has been working since the announcement in December 2007, to have the six-day week National Program Service be in HD (or if a program supplier has not yet made available the HD version, upconverted SD to HD).

They estimated the process of adding one day to the schedule takes about one to two months. They already completed two days and a third day should be completed in March. By the Fall Schedule, the PBS National Program Service will be offered in "HD" and the current PBS National Program Service SD feed to the stations will be discontinued.

What many viewers do no know, PBS is not a network like the commercial networks. PBS is the Public Broadcasting Service to which there are about 150+/- licensees and 350+/- stations. And an affiliate can pick and choose what programs to air from PBS or alternate services like the APTVS the American Public Television Service and when to air them. Another reason why from state to state some national programs occur at different times in the same time zones...

It's a good thing what PBS did as it is informing the affiliates, long over due, that PBS is moving to HD as fast as they can acquire the HD programs. And the affiliates that can, will be airing more HD programs as more PBS and APTVS HD feeds become available...And affiliates that can offer local content, their studio and documentaries in HD will. Some are already.

And some affiliates may not have a means to provide an HD delay by server or tape, but by fall if their local schedule aliens with the national schedule and the same offers exists, they can air HD directly from satellite.

So it's an upset now, but in the Fall 2008, if your affiliate took notice, more HD programs will return to the broadcast schedule of your local PBS station.

IMOO

Thanks for the replies. I have emailed WHDH and hopefully will get a response.

WHDH, Boston's NBC affiliate on channel 7, was no longer being received in my Vista Media Center for the last few days (or possibly a few weeks). Evidently, the daily download contains incorrect tuning data for this channel.

The rest of this posting contains instructions on how to fix it.

The downloaded file (part of the daily EPG download) contains tuning data that should be accurate sometime in 2009 when WHDH moves to Physical channel 7 from its current channel 42.

I found that the listing in atscchannels.xml is incorrect showing (note that the physical channel is listed as 7 instead of 42!):

<channel callsign="WHDH" version="0" physical="7" major="7" />



I fixed the problem by doing the following steps:

1. Edit the file C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\EPG\prefs\atscprefs.xml by adding the following line:

<channel callsign="WHDH-DT" userAssignedName="WHDH-DT" version="0" physical="42" major="7" />

2. In order to force MC to read this file, you have to configure the file via the MC menus. I went into Tasks/Settings/TV/Guide/Add Missing Channels.

3. I created a dummy listing by clicking "Add DTV Channel" and added channel 7-3 as WHDH-DT3. Then clicked Done.

4. I then repeated the above steps and removed the dummy chanel by clicking on the X next to the listing.

My understanding is that since the change was made to the atscprefs.xml file, it will not be overwritten by the next EPG guide download. I tested this by manually requesting an EPG download and the fix held.

Thanks danhvos! That fix worked flawlessly. To remove the dummy channel I just went into the Edit Guide menu and unchecked the dummy channel from the list of viewable channels.

And to think I had be maneuvering my antenna all around my condo for the last few days trying to find the missing signal :rolleyes:

Thanks for the info. WHDH responded to say that they were aware of the problem, but it was a MS problem and suggested the fix listed above. Thanks to WHDH for responding!

As far as the fix above, it works, but if you are using MCE2005, the location of the file is under C:/documents and settings/all users/application data/microsoft/ehome/epg/prefs

The rest of the instructions are pretty close with a couple of menu name differences.

But I have WHDH again...I was missing Frances...

Thanks danvhos!

Works like a charm. Thanks!

Silly screwup during Eli Stone this week... midway through, the video was blacked out for about 5-10 minutes, and occasionally you'd hear bits of off-air conversations among the news team. The closed captions continued from the program!

After the next commercial break, all was back to normal.

Hmmm.... this was reported here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=13383264&postcount=2635

I could swear I watch Eli Stone OTA, rather than via cable. Did anyone else notice it OTA?

EDITED: Okay, found confirmation that it was OTA as well.

I noticed last night cut outs in the 5.1 audio feed on 20/20, which continued on the local 11PM news. Only lasts less than a second, but I remember it did this for a while a couple of years ago, and it took them forever to fix it. ANyone else notice this?

Due to equipment failure, we will not be airing HD versions of Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, and Jeopardy Daytime for Wednesday March 19. No other dates are affected.

Sorry about that, HD game-show fans...

Well, the WHDH fix worked, but it resets itself every night. I don't know if this reset is specific to MCE2005. I don't have an ATSC tuner on my Vista system yet to verify. I found some more info at The Green Button (http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/1/250406/ShowThread.aspx). I will try the atscprefs.xml solution tomorrow.

Also, some great info on MCE and ATSC in general at The Nears (http://thenears.wordpress.com/2006/09/12/troubleshooting-atsc-issues-in-mce/). I went through the PSIP issue with WHDH in the past, and this site explained the problem very well.

Looks like this is going to be an ongoing issue as the switch gets closer. No wonder the general public can't get into the MCE thing.

Well, the WHDH fix worked, but it resets itself every night. I don't know if this reset is specific to MCE2005. I don't have an ATSC tuner on my Vista system yet to verify. I found some more info at The Green Button (http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/1/250406/ShowThread.aspx). I will try the atscprefs.xml solution tomorrow.

Also, some great info on MCE and ATSC in general at The Nears (http://thenears.wordpress.com/2006/09/12/troubleshooting-atsc-issues-in-mce/). I went through the PSIP issue with WHDH in the past, and this site explained the problem very well.

Looks like this is going to be an ongoing issue as the switch gets closer. No wonder the general public can't get into the MCE thing.
It sounds like you are editing atscchannels.xml. That file is overwritten every day when the guide is downloaded.

Follow my earlier directions to edit atscprefs.xml and it will fix the problem.

2 stations in FT.Myers ,Fla. have local news in HD. WINK-CBS and WBBH-NBC Boston still with only 1 station with local news in HD.

Boston still with only 1 station with local news in HD.

I'm sure it's a case of the other stations looking at channel 5's news ratings numbers before and after the switch to HD, and seeing if it's a significant enough increase (if an increase at all) to warrant the expense of doing HD news.

It's all about money. The most likely scenario is that Channel 5 probably hired a consultant who did some studies and showed them the potential for a ratings bump just for being the first to do so. But now that they're out there in the market, the other stations may not feel the pressure to do it first and they're probably looking at the numbers.

Channel 4 is in the process of converting so it should not be much longer I hope before they are HD. I bet channel 7 will be last as they are the cheapest one's with their purse strings. I think Fox is looking at it as well

According to rumor, WHDH is supposed to be HD by July. Apparently everything is in place except some set touchups. Also, they are running their "health fair" over the weekend at the end of June. Thats a perfect time, take two days to do the major components of the set refresh.

Though on that same note, why not do it now, for may sweeps!

i just got an OTA antenna installed on my roof today so I can get unmolested HD locals (I have directv and the quality difference is very noticeable.)

Only after the antenna was installed did I remember that all channels except for 7 (of course the one I watch most) are going to stay at their UHF channel assignments. Of course I got a UHF only antenna installed. I live about 15 miles from the tower.

Do I have any hope of getting channel 7 with this antenna come february 2009?

GutBomb...If you can receive analog channel 7 now with your antenna then most likely you will be able to receive digital 7. But keep in mind that digital signals can and often are stronger than analog signals and you may still be able to get the digital signal even if you have a problem with the analog signal. And if you have DIRECTV, you can still sign up for the local package and get any channel you can't receive with your antenna.

Gutbomb: Yes, there is a chance, because many UHF antennas are actually rated to support both UHF and VHF high-band. Which OTA antenna did you purchase?

i just got an OTA antenna installed on my roof today so I can get unmolested HD locals (I have directv and the quality difference is very noticeable.)

Only after the antenna was installed did I remember that all channels except for 7 (of course the one I watch most) are going to stay at their UHF channel assignments. Of course I got a UHF only antenna installed. I live about 15 miles from the tower.

Do I have any hope of getting channel 7 with this antenna come february 2009?

Hope? Sure. There's always hope. Some UHF channels do a decent job covering the high band of VHF, though things typically get worse as you travel down the band (bad news for channel 7). You can get some feel for whether or not you'll get any signal by plugging the antenna into a TV with an analog tuner and checking out the signal for channel 7. This won't be an "apples to apples" comparison but if you can't get channel 7's analog signal, you certainly won't get 7's digital signal after the switch. If that's the case for you, you can take some solace from the fact that you're close enough that you may be able to get channel 7 after the switch from a set of rabbit ears. Again, you'd have to test that theory to know for sure if it would help.

Question: Why won't we be airing the HD version of Jeopardy this evening? (It was caused by a legal issue and a human error.)

Sorry about that, HD game-show fans...

Shocked tonight to see a rerun of Everybody Loves Raymond on WLVI-56 in HD.

Question: Why won't we be airing the HD version of Jeopardy this evening? (It was caused by a legal issue and a human error.)

Sorry about that, HD game-show fans...

Assumed so considering the 9:30 airing was in HD... although a plus on the Comcast HD ad during the SD Jepoardy, though the content of the ad I might disagree with, its good to see HD ads!

Assumed so considering the 9:30 airing was in HD... although a plus on the Comcast HD ad during the SD Jepoardy, though the content of the ad I might disagree with, its good to see HD ads!

Since the station can air local HD ads, does that mean local HD programming (news) is not that far behind?

Well, I'd say its a step in the right direction at least... although I know during Jeporady/wheel there are what seem to be "network" hd ads, but if i recall this wasn't (though I can not say with 100% ), on the idea of the HD Herb Chambers and Bernie and Phyl's ads on WCVB, which are a bit more locally targeted!

Now that WGBH-DT carries the local feed, no more Antiques Roadshow in HD? Just 16:9 in a 4:3 window? If true, that's pretty sad considering WGBH co-produces the show.

Now that WGBH-DT carries the local feed, no more Antiques Roadshow in HD? Just 16:9 in a 4:3 window? If true, that's pretty sad considering WGBH co-produces the show.

According to a spokesman at GBH who I spoke to, the program is in HD but only the initial showing. For some technical reason any repeats of HD programs can only be in SD at the present time.

According to a spokesman at GBH who I spoke to, the program is in HD but only the initial showing. For some technical reason any repeats of HD programs can only be in SD at the present time.

I think someone posted here or in another thread that GBH lacks the ability to record HD off the feed, so you will probably only see it in HD during prime time, not during late night or weekend repeats. Now that pledge month is over, I have been seeing more prime-time HD on GBH.

Shocked tonight to see a rerun of Everybody Loves Raymond on WLVI-56 in HD.

Two and Half Men re-runs are also in HD the few times I've surfed by WLVI-DT and seen them.

Hey all,

New to the forums, can't believe I got my OTA-HD setup without coming here first, great information!

Has anyone noticed that WGBH-HD seems to be broadcasting in something between 4:3 and 16:9? It's pillar-boxed for 4:3 content, but the pillars are narrower than normal. Almost as if it isn't being overscanned on the sides.

Just wondering if anyone knows what's up.

I think this thread might shed some light on your question, churchie:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13628953#post13628953

Just wondering if anyone knows what's up.

In a nutshell, WGBH HD used to relay the nationwide PBS HD 'demo' feed on channel 2.2. They stopped doing that recently.

Apparently WGBH still lacks the ability to record and replay HD programming locally on their own (as do a lot of Boston stations). So when they're running their own playback on 2.1, they're taking that programming and simply stretching it slightly and putting it out on 2.2 whenever they're not simulcasting national PBS programming that is coming by satellite to them in HD. You're right, it's not 4:3 and it's not 16:9, but somewhere in the middle.

The stuff in the evenings, that's being fed by PBS in both SD and HD. WGBH routes the SD to 2.1 and the HD to 2.2 so for that stuff you do see real HD on 2.2. That's the gist of what's going on.

Does anybody know why Fox Baseball looks so bad?
Are they upconverting 480p. the Sox Yankees look awfull. looked ED rather than HD

I watched the game and it looked ok to me. The on-screen graphics certainly looked like they had been built at the wrong resolution, but the game itself looked fine. Then again, maybe I've just been watching too much HD Sports on NBC...awful...

Does anybody know why Fox Baseball looks so bad?
Are they upconverting 480p. the Sox Yankees look awfull. looked ED rather than HD

Agreed, some shots were definitely unconverted 480I wide screen, others looked clearer than that, but fox does do a great job upscaling at times... does anyone know how it was shot?

Regular season so-called "HD" baseball on FOX is so bad its pathetic. I've always thought it was nothing more than 480i anamorphic widescreen. The bleed from the red pinstripes on the Red Sox jersey's was so bad I thought for sure I needed to touch up the convergence on my Elite RPTV! Yuck.

OTOH, I've noticed that the post-season baseball games on FOX are *much* higher quality (e.g. "real HD") no doubt due to them bringing actual HD cameras to do the games.

I don't have NESN-HD so I couldn't say how the PQ compares to normal games. Although I can tell you the commentary is WAY better even on NESN-SD! ;)

On February 17, when things go digital, will all shows that are shot in HD be shown in that format? Like games on ESPN, Red Sox on NESN, or are we only going to have wbz/whdh/wcvb/fox, ect. still?

Digital broadcasting does not imply that it will always be in high definitition. That's just a possible formats to send a signal out digitally, but it will take a long time for the stations (especially local ones) to upgrade all of their equipment to be able to send out HD on a fulltime basis.

If you're seeing digital channels now, what you see now (the mix of SD and HD) is pretty much the way it will be immediately following Feb. 2009. Nothing is going to change that dramatically for people who are already viewing digital broadcasts over the air.

And most of the channels you mention are strictly cable channels. In general, nothing there will change at all come February 2009. That date is when over-the-air analog broadcasts by the local stations will cease, leaving only their digital (but not necessarily always high definition) signals over the air. What the cable channels do about the loss of these signals on their channel line up, and how they make their digital counterparts available for basic cable viewers, is still up in the air for a lot of cable systems. But ESPN, NESN, etc. won't change at all.

What will change is anyone with an old analog TV will then see everything letterboxed with sidebars.

Perhaps this has been mentioned before, but I'm a little mad at WGBH, so I'll say it anyway...

Does anyone know why are shows like Masterpiece still being shown in SD on 2-1? Yes, they're letterboxed, but they look all the worse when you expand them full screen. I thought this was a mistake at first, but they're doing it with every episode. On the New Hampshire PBS channel 11-1 they're in HD and look really good.

I've no longer any reason to watch 2-1 any more.

So watch Masterpiece Theatre on 2-2.

What will change is anyone with an old analog TV will then see everything letterboxed with sidebars.

Not necessarily. The change to digital broadcasting does not mean that all programming will be immediately widescreen, or letterboxed, or pillarboxed, or in HD. It's just a different way to get the signal from the transmitter to a new TV, or an old TV using the converter boxes you'll need to buy in order to see digital broadcasts on them.

What the broadcasters do with their programming or how quickly they convert to HD or widescreen is a matter of speculation and not a requirement of the conversion.

The first 10 minutes of SMALLVILLE last night were silent - no audio anywhere to be found.
THey switched back to SD after 10 minutes, and it came back, but then was out of sync.
On OTA and Comcast.

The first 10 minutes of SMALLVILLE last night were silent - no audio anywhere to be found.
THey switched back to SD after 10 minutes, and it came back, but then was out of sync.
On OTA and Comcast.

I had exactly the same thing happen with OTA and Directv. It screwed up one of the most important Smallville scenes/episodes in the entire series :mad:

I"ll say!! WOnder if it was a network or local affiliate problem.
They don't have anything about a replay anywhere that I could find.
GRRRRR!

I think it was local since I don't see too many people complaining. The local CW is always shaky compared to the other locals. I hope the episode is aired again soon...

Yeah I noticed the Smallville problem too, on Comcast (Comcast merely feeds the local CW, so it was definitely a local CW issue) - thought my receiver might have broken until I confirmed it was just the first 10 mins.

CW doesn't do reruns, so I went and found the episode on a file sharing service (heh, it gets censored if I name it) barely an hour after the episode had finished screening. It had correct, synced sound, which indicates this was not a nationwide issue. Still haven't had a chance to watch the episode though.

CW doesn't do reruns, so I went and found the episode on a file sharing service (heh, it gets censored if I name it) barely an hour after the episode had finished screening. It had correct, synced sound, which indicates this was not a nationwide issue. Still haven't had a chance to watch the episode though.

CW doesn't do reruns before next week's show, but typically it will be repeated sometime in the next few months. The SD version, as usual, had no problems at all, and the version you downloaded may have been recorded from that. Problems with the HD broadcasts of Smallville have been so common that I've been recording the SD version as a backup, but the problems last Thursday were the worst I've seen in a long time. Only parts of the show were broadcast in HD, and those parts either had no sound, or the sound was quite noticeably out of sync.

Not necessarily. The change to digital broadcasting does not mean that all programming will be immediately widescreen, or letterboxed, or pillarboxed, or in HD. It's just a different way to get the signal from the transmitter to a new TV, or an old TV using the converter boxes you'll need to buy in order to see digital broadcasts on them.

What the broadcasters do with their programming or how quickly they convert to HD or widescreen is a matter of speculation and not a requirement of the conversion.

If you receive a digital OTA telecast now on an analog TV (via converter box), the picture is 16:9 within the 4:3 screen. What do you think will change next February?

:)Over at the Providence, RI board, several members in the state of RI including myself are reporting problems in receiving Boston's TV stations in HDTV. I myself am in Pawtucket a mile over the state border, and since April 1st am receiving pixellating, fading, and many times no reception at all mostly on ch. 25, 38, 56, 68, 62, and 7 and frequently on chs 2, 4, 5, and 44, and sometimes on chs 27 and 66. Note that I've had HDTV converters since late 2005 and have had near perfect reception of Boston's HDTV signals since then, until April 1st - April Fool's Day. :)I'm using a Channel Master 4228 antenna and Tital amplifier, and I have tried moving the antenna, changing the amplifier, adjusting the cables, swapping the HDTV tuner, and rotating the antenna many times with no luck in reception. :confused:Are there any members here getting OTA HDTV signals from the Providence area channels (6, 10, 12, 28, 36, 64, 69) having the same problems since the beginning of April? Maybe a weather condition that resolves itself soon? And how good is the OTA HDTV reception of the Providence channels in the Boston and Worcester areas?

[QUOTE=alg2468;13709886]:)Over at the Providence, RI board, several members in the state of RI including myself are reporting problems in receiving Boston's TV stations in HDTV. I myself am in Pawtucket a mile over the state border, and since April 1st am receiving pixellating, fading, and many times no reception at all mostly on ch. 25, 38, 56, 68, 62, and 7 and frequently on chs 2, 4, 5, and 44, and sometimes on chs 27 and 66. Note that I've had HDTV converters since late 2005 and have had near perfect reception of Boston's HDTV signals since then, until April 1st - April Fool's Day. :)I'm using a Channel Master 4228 antenna and Tital amplifier, and I have tried moving the antenna, changing the amplifier, adjusting the cables, swapping the HDTV tuner, and rotating the antenna many times with no luck in reception. :confused:Are there any members here getting OTA HDTV signals from the Providence area channels (6, 10, 12, 28, 36, 64, 69) having the same problems since the beginning of April? Maybe a weather condition that resolves itself soon? And how good is the OTA HDTV reception of the Providence channels in the Boston and Worcester areas?


Well, I think you have a couple of things happening here. Obviously with the foliage starting to come out and the sap is flowing in the trees, there will be some deterioration in the signal strength unless you are line of sight with the transmitters. At the last station I worked at setting up the UHF/DT transmitter, we had a similar experience every spring through fall with complaints from viewers.

Late fall through early spring, reception was always best. The only thing I could say since you are using a CM 4228 which is a good antenna and an amp is try to get more elevation to your antenna.

No problems receiving HD from Boston or Providence here (except for WPRI 12, but I always had that problem with that channel since my chimney fell down and I placed my antenna on a pole leaning against my garage). All signals are nice and strong. If I were you, I would take out that amplifier, they cause all types of problems, especially with strong signals, and they should be very strong where you live, unless you are pointing at a mountain.

... Note that I've had HDTV converters since late 2005 and have had near perfect reception of Boston's HDTV signals since then, until April 1st - April Fool's Day. ...

I recently changed my channel selection on my 2 digital TVs to only show digital stations in preparation for the change. I previously ran with analog and digital (going to analog and snow when there was digital pixellation). I went all digital in order to begin to work out any transmission issues.

Recently I've seen weather effects on the broadcasts (expected) and some low signals (unexpected) that could be attributed to increasing tree and foliage activities.

My 16' antenna is in the attic of my ranch (single story). My next step will probably be moving the antenna to a mast off of my chimney. Has anyone moved outside and seen a great improvement in signal or will I see similar reception? (I figure this is a cheap move for a couple of hours of Saturday time).

I will also have to change my amplifier configuration. Now I split at the antenna (to quickly pick up the kitchen) and boost only one half of the feed to the other TVs connected to the split leg (booster is not weather resistant and stays in the basement).

Any recommendations on a mast mount amplifier to use?

... Note that I've had HDTV converters since late 2005 and have had near perfect reception of Boston's HDTV signals since then, until April 1st - April Fool's Day. ...

I recently changed my channel selection on my 2 digital TVs to only show digital stations in preparation for the change. I previously ran with analog and digital (going to analog and snow when there was digital pixellation). I went all digital in order to begin to work out any transmission issues.

Recently I've seen weather effects on the broadcasts (expected) and some low signals (unexpected) that could be attributed to increasing tree and foliage activities.

My 16' antenna is in the attic of my ranch (single story). My next step will probably be moving the antenna to a mast off of my chimney. Has anyone moved outside and seen a great improvement in signal or will I see similar reception? (I figure this is a cheap move for a couple of hours of Saturday time).

I will also have to change my amplifier configuration. Now I split at the antenna (to quickly pick up the kitchen) and boost only one half of the feed to the other TVs connected to the split leg (booster is not weather resistant and stays in the basement).

Any recommendations on a mast mount amplifier to use?


I am using and have used many times the Channel Master 0064 preamp. It takes the 300Ω twin-lead on the antenna and feeds the signal inside via 75Ω coax. You WILL see an improvement with the antenna outside as opposed to the attic antenna. With all the current DT signals being on UHF, the loss is substantial with the signal going through the building.

Good luck!

With all the current DT signals being on UHF, the loss is substantial with the signal going through the building.

Key word there is "current". Boston's digital channel 7, "currently" on UHF, is moving back to VHF channel 7 after the transition. Going to be interesting seeing how many people get caught short on that one and try to pull some VHF through their shiny new all-UHF antennas they just installed. Some will be OK depending on the antenna, and some will be SOL.

FWIW, I'm out on the far side of Worcester 32 miles from the towers at 9/128, below the horizon, have a so-so all-band Radio Shack antenna in my attic with no preamp, facing through the neighbor's side of my duplex, and used the existing RG-59 that came with the house instead of installing new RG-6; in short, the worst possible factors. But everything digital from Boston comes in just fine, and stable. If I had room to swing it around I could pick up Providence too, but have no room in the attic to do that.

Do you get anything from Springfield at all?

Do you get anything from Springfield at all?Me? No, the antenna points in the opposite direction in my attic and I've never really tried to pull in anything from that direction; probably lack of interest.

It's about 39 miles from me to Mt. Tom, for example, and there are many more significant hills between here and there than there are between me and the Boston towers.

Due to unforseen circumstances, the following Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy shows will not be seen in high definition on WBZ-TV:

Tuesday, 4/29 (tonight) - Jeopardy, 7:30pm
Wednesday, 4/30 - Wheel of Fortune, 7:00pm
Wednesday, 4/30 - Jeopardy, 7:30pm
Wednesday, 4/30 - Jeopardy, 9:30pm
Saturday, 5/3 - Jeopardy, 9:30pm

We regret any inconvenience this may cause.

OK. I figured you'd have more interest from Boston anyways. I live in southern Hartford County and never get a hint of anything digital from Springfield/Holyoke. Analog? Virtually nonexistant. :(

So watch Masterpiece Theatre on 2-2.
Because 2-2 doesn't show up in my schedule. Your "helpful" suggestion makes no sense. Why in the world would it be broadcast letterboxed on 2-1 while it is also broadcast in HD on 2-2 at the same time - or even a different time? Are we supposed to guess at the format?

Masterpiece is shown in HD on the NH PBS station, so there is no need to guess about its format.

The way things are now, watch 2-1 on SD televisions, and watch 2-2 on HD televisions. If 2-2 doesn't show up, figure out why and fix that.

WSBK38 is staticky/compressed again.

Anyone know why WHDH-TV is televising The Today Show in SD the past couple of weeks? Everything else that is supposed to be HD is.

Anyone know why WHDH-TV is televising The Today Show in SD the past couple of weeks? Everything else that is supposed to be HD is.

Or why Live from Lincoln Center last night on 2.2 was shown in zoomed letterboxed SD instead of its native HD? Guess they forgot to switch over from simulcasting SD from 2.1 at 8 PM. Channel 2 strikes again! {sigh}

[QUOTE=alg2468;13709886]:)Over at the Providence, RI board, several members in the state of RI including myself are reporting problems in receiving Boston's TV stations in HDTV. I myself am in Pawtucket a mile over the state border, and since April 1st am receiving pixellating, fading, and many times no reception at all mostly on ch. 25, 38, 56, 68, 62, and 7 and frequently on chs 2, 4, 5, and 44, and sometimes on chs 27 and 66. Note that I've had HDTV converters since late 2005 and have had near perfect reception of Boston's HDTV signals since then, until April 1st - April Fool's Day. :)I'm using a Channel Master 4228 antenna and Tital amplifier, and I have tried moving the antenna, changing the amplifier, adjusting the cables, swapping the HDTV tuner, and rotating the antenna many times with no luck in reception. :confused:Are there any members here getting OTA HDTV signals from the Providence area channels (6, 10, 12, 28, 36, 64, 69) having the same problems since the beginning of April? Maybe a weather condition that resolves itself soon? And how good is the OTA HDTV reception of the Providence channels in the Boston and Worcester areas?


Well, I think you have a couple of things happening here. Obviously with the foliage starting to come out and the sap is flowing in the trees, there will be some deterioration in the signal strength unless you are line of sight with the transmitters. At the last station I worked at setting up the UHF/DT transmitter, we had a similar experience every spring through fall with complaints from viewers.

Late fall through early spring, reception was always best. The only thing I could say since you are using a CM 4228 which is a good antenna and an amp is try to get more elevation to your antenna.
I have solved the reception problem I was having that I described in my post dated 04-23-08. I purchased the Antennas Direct 8 bay HDTV antenna and installed it in my attic, and after connecting it to my TV's with new RG6 Quad Shield Cable, with a Radio Shack 10db Amplifier and a rotor, the reception is sharper (probably due to the Quad Shield Cable), and I'm getting additional stations. The antenna is actually two 4 bay antennas (which can be used seperately), that you can connect with the supplied bar. Some observations: 1- The installation manual says attic insulations reduce reception by about 50% - not in my case; put the antenna near a window and it is still pretty powerful; 2- The antenna is quite directional so a rotor and amplifier is best. With this new setup, I can now easily pickup the following stations:

Providence area stations: 6-1, 6-2 (ABC), 10-1, 10-2 (NBC), 12-1 (CBS), 28-1 (CW), 36-1, 36-2 (PBS), 64-1, 64-2 (FOX), 69-1, 69-2, 69-3, 69-4 (ION).

Worcester area stations: 27-1 (UNI), 66-1 (FUT).

Boston area stations: 2-1, 2-2 (PBS), 4-1 (CBS), 5-1 (ABC), 7-1, 7-2 (NBC), 25-1 (FOX), 38-1 (IND), 44-1, 44-2, 44-3, 44-4 (PBS), 46-1 (ShopNBC), 56-1 (CW), 68-1, 68-2, 68-3, 68-4 (ION).

The antenna works the best of any antenna I've had, and is small enough for an attic.

I have just upgraded my tv antenna system and tv tuners a bit. Results are improved. I am west of Boston, about 11 miles from the Needham towers.

Here are the channels I should get (down to -110 dbm) from tvfool listing and what I have received:

Needham tower stations I won't bother listing as I get all with an indoor double bow tie, provided I locate it near a window. Strongest of these is listed as -41 dbm.

For the rest I use a tower in my yard, 25 ft antenna height. Cut yagi for channel 10-13. Dual Blake horizontal tiltable stack for the UHF. Channel Master VHF preamp. Kitztech and Research Communications preamps in series for the UHF. LG old tuner for most down to channel 47 and including 57, 59. The rest of the weak ones only come in with a Zenith converter box for the tuner!

For ref I get nothing below channel 29 here with just the antennas and no preamps! Cables are RG-11.

WUTF-DT channel 23 OK distance 15 miles
WUNI-DT channel 29 OK distance 27 miles
WMFP-DT channel 18 OK distance 11 miles
WTMU-LP channel 3 used to receive the analog. No sign of signal on digital ?
WBPX channel 32 OK distance 11 miles
WYDN channel 47 OK distance 11 miles
WPXG-DT channel 33 OK distance 50 miles
WHDN-LD channel 26 no sign of any signal?
WWDP channel 52 OK distance 33 miles
WMUR-DT channel 59 OK distance 40 miles
WENH-DT channel 57 OK distance 49 miles
WZMY-DT channel 35 OK distance 20 miles
W40BO channel 40 no sign of signal?
WNEU-DT channel 34 OK distance 40 miles
WPRI-DT channel 13 OK distance 41 miles
WNAC-DT channel 54 OK but weak distance 42 miles
WJAR-DT channel 51 OK but weak distance 42 miles
WLWC-DT channel 22 signal meter about 1/3 not decoding distance 50 miles
WLNE-DT channel 49 OK but weak distance 42 miles listed as -110.6 dbm my weakest

Total digital stations watchable = 23

WSBK38 is staticky/compressed again.

Yeah, I have been dealing with it, but it is to a point, I just cant anymore! Usually watch Wheel / Jeopardy , as well as the 9:30 rerun of Jeopardy, but with the audio, I cant, and SD is well SD!

Yeah, I have been dealing with it, but it is to a point, I just cant anymore! Usually watch Wheel / Jeopardy , as well as the 9:30 rerun of Jeopardy, but with the audio, I cant, and SD is well SD!

ditto

Yeah, I have been dealing with it, but it is to a point, I just cant anymore! Usually watch Wheel / Jeopardy , as well as the 9:30 rerun of Jeopardy, but with the audio, I cant, and SD is well SD!

Ditto for me as well. My wife wants me to start recording it from Channel 12 in SD just so the sound is better. Please fix this!!!!!

SMK

Robert, whatever you did, it sounds much better now, no more staticy/compressed sound!

Thanks a Ton!

Boston area stations: 2-1, 2-2 (PBS), 4-1 (CBS), 5-1 (ABC), 7-1, 7-2 (NBC)...

Digital 7 is going back to real VHF channel 7 after the transition next year when analog 7 shuts down; they're only on UHF right now temporarily. I know that antenna you bought has some highband VHF capability, but I'm not sure you're going to pull in very much of 7 with it that far down in the VHF channel range.

In Massachusetts, 7 will go back to 7, 46 (Norwell) will go to 10, 22 (Springfield) will go to 11, and 51 (Pittsfield) will go to 13. In NH, 9 will go back to 9, 11 will go to 11. In RI, 64 goes to 12, and 12 goes to 13.

Don't toss those VHF antennas yet, unless you know that your shiny new UHF is well-rated for these highband VHF channels also. As a matter of fact, there will be at least one digital station on every single VHF channel starting with 2 somewhere in the US after February 2009. The full list is here in Excel format:

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-138A2.xls

My wife wants me to start recording it from Channel 12 in SD just so the sound is better.

Robert, whatever you did, it sounds much better now, no more staticy/compressed sound!

Thanks a Ton!
When the geeks talk, I listen. When the geek's wife talks, I jump into action!

This has been a difficult, intermittent problem for us. The trouble is in our Master Control switcher, and the fix is an easy, quick kick in the pants. The problem is the symptom is way more subtle in-house than you have been reporting at home. We're looking into changing our monitoring system so we can catch it right away and take care of it without it lasting as long as it has been.

Thanks for the reports.

Robert, whatever you did, it sounds much better now, no more staticy/compressed sound!

Thanks a Ton!

Yes, Robert. Thanks. It is a pleasure to see and hear Jeopardy in HD!

SMK

I asked this question in Radio Shack STB topic but would like to repeat here. Yesterday Channel 7 NBC WHDH programming was coming in with half size picture. Has my Radio Shack STB gone kaput? Other channels were displayed as normal full size pictures. Is there anybody else who is still using Radio Shack STB in the Boston market?

- Vikas

What do you mean by half size picture? Here WHDH-DT is fine, its a 16:9 signal coming in, but with a 4:3 program area (so black bars on the left and right). If that is what your seeing - its normal. Perhaps you had the image stretched, and its gone back to normal?

[QUOTE=BillBibeau;13735445]
I have solved the reception problem I was having that I described in my post dated 04-23-08. I purchased the Antennas Direct 8 bay HDTV antenna and installed it in my attic, and after connecting it to my TV's with new RG6 Quad Shield Cable, with a Radio Shack 10db Amplifier and a rotor, the reception is sharper (probably due to the Quad Shield Cable), and I'm getting additional stations. The antenna is actually two 4 bay antennas (which can be used seperately), that you can connect with the supplied bar. Some observations: 1- The installation manual says attic insulations reduce reception by about 50% - not in my case; put the antenna near a window and it is still pretty powerful; 2- The antenna is quite directional so a rotor and amplifier is best. With this new setup, I can now easily pickup the following stations:

Providence area stations: 6-1, 6-2 (ABC), 10-1, 10-2 (NBC), 12-1 (CBS), 28-1 (CW), 36-1, 36-2 (PBS), 64-1, 64-2 (FOX), 69-1, 69-2, 69-3, 69-4 (ION).

Worcester area stations: 27-1 (UNI), 66-1 (FUT).

Boston area stations: 2-1, 2-2 (PBS), 4-1 (CBS), 5-1 (ABC), 7-1, 7-2 (NBC), 25-1 (FOX), 38-1 (IND), 44-1, 44-2, 44-3, 44-4 (PBS), 46-1 (ShopNBC), 56-1 (CW), 68-1, 68-2, 68-3, 68-4 (ION).

The antenna works the best of any antenna I've had, and is small enough for an attic.
I just started receiving WYDN-DT 48 today with a good signal strength of around 75. I think their digital transmitter is in Needham, MA on the WBZ-TV tower. When did their digital signal go on the air? But I also now checked and WSBE-DT 36 is off the air tonight.

Monday night on CBS (WBZ) via FIOS the bitrate seemed a bit retarded. Seems to be roughly 10-15% less than normal. Did anyone else notice that?

OK - I know channel 7 is going back to VHF post transition, but can we be assured they are the only ones? Do the stations have to declare their intentions now or forever hold their peace? My plan is to move to an optimized UHF antenna after the transition plus a dedicated single channel antenna from Wade/Delphi (if I can find someone who still sells them). Of course this approach only makes sense if channel 7 is the only one who will ever move back.

OK - I know channel 7 is going back to VHF post transition, but can we be assured they are the only ones? Do the stations have to declare their intentions now or forever hold their peace? My plan is to move to an optimized UHF antenna after the transition plus a dedicated single channel antenna from Wade/Delphi (if I can find someone who still sells them). Of course this approach only makes sense if channel 7 is the only one who will ever move back.

I could be wrong but I believe they are the only ones doing this and thus I will not watch them unless I have to for sports programing screw them their station sucks anyways

OK - I know channel 7 is going back to VHF post transition, but can we be assured they are the only ones? Do the stations have to declare their intentions now or forever hold their peace? My plan is to move to an optimized UHF antenna after the transition plus a dedicated single channel antenna from Wade/Delphi (if I can find someone who still sells them). Of course this approach only makes sense if channel 7 is the only one who will ever move back.

The channels are all pretty firm now. tvfool lists a bunch of vhf:
WHDH-DT 7 Needham
WTMU-LP 3 Boston?
WMUR-DT 9 NH
WENH-DT 11 NH
WWDP 10 RI
WPRI-DT 13 RI
WNAC 12 RI
WMTW 8 ME

ME and NH may be a problem for those south of Boston. RI for those North of Boston.
West of Boston I expect to get all except channel 8.

After the analog turn off on 2/19/2008, could there be new digital TV stations on air Channels 2,4,5,23,25,38,42,44,47? These are the channels that would be turned off on 2/19/2008. Imgaine there would space on the towers for the antennas for new ones in place of turned analogs. I doubt that any new operator would want low VHF ,but there would be sveral uhf openings.

All of those frequencies except for the low-VHFs are, unfortunately, short-spaced to other frequencies and really can't be used. Not from the WHDH tower, anyway, that's where I made my measurements.

http://www.rabbitears.info/search.php?request=channel&zipcode=&latitude=42.311&longitude=-71.217

- Trip

All of those frequencies except for the low-VHFs are, unfortunately, short-spaced to other frequencies and really can't be used. Not from the WHDH tower, anyway, that's where I made my measurements.

http://www.rabbitears.info/search.php?request=channel&zipcode=&latitude=42.311&longitude=-71.217

- Trip

I think once analog is out of the picture the channels can be adjacent. That's one of the benefits to digital.

That site is mine, and is simply an automated check of all frequencies in a given area using the FCC rules as a guide. What's there is what's available. In this case, it's nothing but 2, 3, 4, and 5. (15 is out because it's adjacent to the land mobile reservations on 14 and 16)

- Trip

That site is mine, and is simply an automated check of all frequencies in a given area using the FCC rules as a guide. What's there is what's available. In this case, it's nothing but 2, 3, 4, and 5. (15 is out because it's adjacent to the land mobile reservations on 14 and 16)

- Trip

Hi Trip,

Most stations in the country will be avoiding the low-band VHF frequencies because of the Sporatic-E that often takes place. Another signal on the same channel would raise cain with the DT signal. Adjacent channels won't be a problem. One of the few stations I know of that will be on Low Band VHF after February of 2009 will be WSKY, channel 4 in Manteo, NC. I'm very familiar with the stations in SE Virginia and N.E. NC as the last 5 1/2 years in my career before retiring, I spent at WVEC, channel 13 in Norfolk. Incidentally, WVEC will revert back to channel 13 from UHF for it's DT signal next February.

Hi Trip,

Most stations in the country will be avoiding the low-band VHF frequencies because of the Sporatic-E that often takes place. Another signal on the same channel would raise cain with the DT signal.

I'm fully aware of the problems with low-VHF; I'm living with a low-VHF digital. Well, "living with" is putting it nicely, since it doesn't decode 90% of the time even though the UHF digital all max out the signal meter. WBRA-DT in Roanoke will remain on channel 3 after the transition, making it one of only two stations on that channel east of the Mississippi River after the transition (the other being WSBS-DT in Key West, which is repeated in Miami on a UHF LP station).

Adjacent channels won't be a problem.

Adjacent channels do matter. Check 47CFR73.623, it's right there, the FCC will not allow a station to be on an adjacent channel if it's greater than 14 or less than 68 miles from the adjacent channel.

EDIT: Correction, it was 623, not 622. Here's a link to the rule in question: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2007/octqtr/47cfr73.623.htm

One of the few stations I know of that will be on Low Band VHF after February of 2009 will be WSKY, channel 4 in Manteo, NC.

WSKY-DT will be on channel 9. See here: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1130123&Service=TV&Form_id=386&Facility_id=76324

- Trip

Adjacent channels do matter. Check 47CFR73.623, it's right there, the FCC will not allow a station to be on an adjacent channel if it's greater than 14 or less than 68 miles from the adjacent channel.

EDIT: Correction, it was 623, not 622. Here's a link to the rule in question: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2007/octqtr/47cfr73.623.htm



Interesting distance restrictions. Thanks for the info. I've never lived in an area like this where there are so many broadcasters in close locations.

I still don't completely understand the logic behind there being an analog broadcast on 38 now, but after the transition, 38 wouldn't be available. Bizarre rules.

The FCC is temporarily allowing the interference since the analog signals will be going away anyway. In some cases, they're permanently allowing interference just because all the existing stations will not fit otherwise.

It looks to me like 38 would probably be available except that WGME in Portland is 5 miles too close. Probably moving the transmitter of a proposed channel 38 in Boston 5 miles to the south would resolve it and a channel 38 could be located there instead.

- Trip

WBZ Channel 4 seems is the only local station preempting the 8:00 primetime programming in order to cover the major train wreck on the MBTA's Green Line.
I was hoping The Price Is Right Million Dollar Spectacular would be shown in its entirety but that clearly isn't happening. WCVB, WHDH, and WFXT are all airing regular primetime programming as of 8 PM.

*EDIT* The Price Is Right was scheduled to be a rerun anyhow, so I guess it's not that big of a deal.

*EDIT* The Price Is Right was scheduled to be a rerun anyhow, so I guess it's not that big of a deal.
Not that round the clock TV coverage is REALLY needed for a train wreck, but I suspect the people involved are a lot more concerned about being alive than whether The Price Is Right was a rerun or not :rolleyes:.

I like how WBZ moved its coverage to TV38, I just wish they did it 1 hour earlier, so I could have watched the coverage, while i DVR'd TPIR!

Any word on when the news will switch to HD?

I know I've seen it posted here, but I can't find it. Are there any recommendations for OTA antenna installers in the Boston area. I'm in the Wellesley/Natick area.

I currently have a ChannelMaster 8-bay antenna hanging in my attic but I want to put it on the roof with a rotor.

Any word on when the news will switch to HD?

I noticed that the quick "Curious" commercial before the 6pm news tonight was in HD.

Any day now?!?!

Im watching this right now. I like pbs/wgbh because they have great musical choices and bring variety into my OTA life.

I noticed the music was being pushed in dolby 2.0 on channel 2.2 WGBH HD. Somewhat of a disappointment.

I surfed the web for more info on SMB and got this great summary on the pbs site: "STEVE MILLER BAND: IN FROM CHICAGO, airing as part of the June 2008 pledge drive (check local listings) on PBS, features a band that is synonymous with classic rock. The Steve Miller Band makes music that is timeless and inspirational and just plain rocks. This concert -- shot in high definition over two nights in July 2007 at Chicago's Ravinia Theatre -- proves it."

Too bad we can't enjoy any high fidelity sound quality associated with this high definition recording.

Has there been a change in the digital signal of WYDN-DT 48 over the past few days? I no longer receive the station since last Sunday.

Watching Mad TV.

Noticed the logo in the bottom right of the screen shows "Fox 25" on top and "WFXT DT31 Boston" below.

Checked my listing and this will be the AD channel ("After Digital").

Watching Mad TV.

Noticed the logo in the bottom right of the screen shows "Fox 25" on top and "WFXT DT31 Boston" below.

Checked my listing and this will be the AD channel ("After Digital").
Actually, the digital form of WFXT, which I presume you are watching in order to be seeing this, is already broadcasting on UHF channel 31.

I'm watching 44-4 tonight.

How can a signal that seems to average at 75 to 80% drop to 0?

I'm seeing a lot of drop outs on this channel. Checking the signal meter shows drops to 0.

Has ABC changed or is it just WCVB? We should get whatever ABC sends not a converted signal.

For a while I noticed that WCVB-DT was switching between 1080i for the local HD/news programs and then back to 720p for network feeds, but now it seems like they're upconverting everything to 1080i. I just checked ABC's web site and it does state they and ESPN are still using the 720p standard so this must be WCVB converting to 1080i.

As both my displays don't natively display anything 720p (Pioneer Elite 510 RPTV and JVC RS1x PJ) I don't really mind since I'm sure a professional piece of scaling equipment does a way better job than my PJ or Samsung HD STB could ever do. Now, if I had a display that only did 720p and I had to convert back to this from the converted 1080i, then I might feel differently. I can also see how just leaving the scaler enabled all the time would eliminate the manual user intervention that was surely required to throw the switch every time a change was required (not that its really the same as the SD/HD switch which drives all nuts sometimes when its not flipped! :D )

How can a signal that seems to average at 75 to 80% drop to 0?

Sounds like it could be multipath interference. That's the typical symptom, I believe. This happens to me sometimes when its really windy and/or raining since I have lots of trees and no LOS to the towers from my location (LOS is blocked by a large hill in the next town over.) Its also worse when the leaves come out. Some tuners handle this better than others. My Samsung DTB-H260F is pretty much rock solid while all my previous STBs (Pannys mostly) and to some degree the tuner in my Pioneer plasma are inferior and will freeze/dropout much more readily under these conditions.

Usually the best thing you can do is get a more directional antenna (i.e. a yagi design instead of a bowtie) and ensure you have appropriate signal strength (not too much, not too little.) That said, I have a CM4228 8-bay bowtie with a mid-gain pre-amp on a rotator in my attic. I find that usually if I tweak the vector I can greatly reduce or eliminate the problem, but not always. And I just don't have room to swing around an 8' yagi up there! I hate to say it but there are lots of things that affect reception you have control over and sometimes its just a trial and error process to figure out how to solve your problem.

Has anyone else noticed the huge audio/video sync issue that seems to be present on the Celtics games? It seems the audio is leading the video by over 100ms or so. My receiver has up to 74ms of delay and even set at max there's still a noticeable lag of the video being behind the audio. Its so bad I can tell when a shot is in the air if its going in or not! ;) I see this same behavior thru two different signal paths, one direct HDMI from from my HD STB (Sammy H260F) to my RS1x PJ, and the other using striaght component from the same HD tuner to my Elite RPTV which has negligible processing delay. Nor do I see anything this egregious on any other HD broadcast so I'm confident the problem isn't with my system.

If I had to guess I'd say this is likely due to them not delaying the audio to account for the processing delay in the video scaler they're presumably using to up-convert everything to 1080i. I haven't noticed this is a problem on any of the local HD newscasts, so maybe that's it. If so, it should be able to be fixed.

I experience sync issues on WCVB's HD newscasts occasionally, tho not always and not bad enough to be extremely obvious, but they are there. Occasionally on WBZHD and WFXT DT. But again, not like they used to be a year or so ago.

Anyone else notice this on WHDH (7-1)? It was fine and looked great yesterday.

Are you seeing digital subchannels that are blank?

Using a TiVoHD tuner this afternoon I saw four "dead"/blank subchannels that have:


Main (subchannel -1) channels with a clearly received image
TiVo guide info
blank, black, image on the subchannel (looks "dead" to me)


Here are the channel details


5-2 WCVB (title says Weather)
12-2 WPRI (title says SIGN OFF)
12-3 WPRI (title says SIGN OFF)
56-2 WLVI (title says SIGN OFF)

5-2 WCVB (title says Weather) - It has been dead for ages, ever since WCVB pulled their weather radar from it, i want to say since last march (when they went HD) but I am not too sure!

56-2 WLVI (title says SIGN OFF) - Been dead since The TUBE went off air, for a while it was a SD simulcast of the programming, now its just off as well

As for the others, I can't get them here to know!

pdicamillo - Ch 7 had an equipment failure, so they were only sending up-converted SD. Pathetic that we're less than 9 months away from the transition to digital and local stations don't seem to really be prepared yet. At this point an equipment failure such as this during a premiere sporting event is really inexcusable.

I also used last night's Celtics game to confirm my suspicions above about WCVB's scaler creating the audio/video sync issues. I tuned in to WMUR in NH and found they were broadcasting the national feed untouched at 720p and lo and behold no sync issues. I also found the PQ to be more natural on WMUR, while maybe not as "crisp" it certainly lacked the annoying amount of EE that WCVB seems to be using on their 1080i feed. I'll take a slightly softer picture over one with EE any day. I don't really care enough to call at this point but if they don't get this fixed by next season (fall) I might be motivated enough to call them. For now I can just tune into WMUR in NH for national programming.

pdicamillo - Ch 7 had an equipment failure, so they were only sending up-converted SD. Pathetic that we're less than 9 months away from the transition to digital and local stations don't seem to really be prepared yet. At this point an equipment failure such as this during a premiere sporting event is really inexcusable.

I also used last night's Celtics game to confirm my suspicions above about WCVB's scaler creating the audio/video sync issues. I tuned in to WMUR in NH and found they were broadcasting the national feed untouched at 720p and lo and behold no sync issues. I also found the PQ to be more natural on WMUR, while maybe not as "crisp" it certainly lacked the annoying amount of EE that WCVB seems to be using on their 1080i feed. I'll take a slightly softer picture over one with EE any day. I don't really care enough to call at this point but if they don't get this fixed by next season (fall) I might be motivated enough to call them. For now I can just tune into WMUR in NH for national programming.


I agree on all points. Why is channel 5 doing this?

Hi CJPC,

What receiver are you using? Folks in another thread thought this problem could be a receiver-specific problem.

5-2 WCVB (title says Weather) - It has been dead for ages, ever since WCVB pulled their weather radar from it, i want to say since last march (when they went HD) but I am not too sure!

56-2 WLVI (title says SIGN OFF) - Been dead since The TUBE went off air, for a while it was a SD simulcast of the programming, now its just off as well

As for the others, I can't get them here to know!

Hi CJPC,

What receiver are you using? Folks in another thread thought this problem could be a receiver-specific problem.

I have h20-100tuner and vizio tv tuner. Neither get these channels as they are dead. It is not a receiver-specific problem.

I have the HR 20 700 haven't seen these channels in a long time

Anyone out there having problems with fox 25 audio?

Anyone out there having problems with fox 25 audio?
I was watching Fox 25 until about 6:50 this morning w/no audio trouble

I agree on all points. Why is channel 5 doing this?

I second the question, and really wish they'd stop. It seems so unnecessary.

Fortunately, WMUR is a nice strong signal for me, so I'll watch the Celtics (actually all sports) on WMUR instead. I have WMUR blanked out on my DVR, but it is easy enough to add it back in and remove WVCB.

I installed a CECB (Converter Box) to an HP computer with a TV card my parents have at their Lynnfield home. I am using an Antennas Direct DB 4 antenna with a Radio Shack 10db amplifier with the box, all connected with RG-6 Quad Shield Cable. However, I am a bit surprized that the reception is so weak - only the local Boston stations - chs. 2, 4, 5, 7, 25, 38, 44, 56, 62, and 68 are coming in, and they pixellate and fade often. I also programmed in chs. 27, 66 (came in only once for a minute or so), and chs. 6, 10, 12, 28, 36, and 64 from Providence - where I'm from, and FCC contour maps show the signal can be received in Lynnfield with good equpment - but signal strength was 0. The house (and most of the town ) has many large, tall, trees making this a challenge. I also installed a converter bos, using the same antenna and amplifier in Melrose and ran into similar problems, but the area in Melrose has fewer trees. Any ideas on how to get better reception, in particular receiving some Providence stations - or is this a casualty of new DTV technology?

I installed a CECB (Converter Box) ...
I am a bit surprized that the reception is so weak - only the local Boston stations - chs. 2, 4, 5, 7, 25, 38, 44, 56, 62, and 68 are coming in, and they pixellate and fade often.
...
Any ideas on how to get better reception, in particular receiving some Providence stations - or is this a casualty of new DTV technology?

Lynnfield is a little far north and a little too far inland to count on getting Providence. My best advice to you is to call in an antenna pro. They're hard to find these days, but worth the effort.

What do you mean by fade? Digital stations do not fade, they dropout completely. Pixilation is just a brief dropout from which the converter box can recover - it indicates a partial loss of data. If you mean the channels dropout, then trees are probably part of the problem... get your antenna higher.

I know nothing about your antenna (it looks much like mine, though), but it may also be part of your problem. I had to use a larger gain amp, but Lynnfield is twice as close to the towers than I am. And I still do not get 25-1 all that well when the trees have leaves.

I know that when the switch occurs at least one of the local stations (7) is going to go back to the VHF band, and that type of antenna will not work real well for them.

....
I also used last night's Celtics game to confirm my suspicions above about WCVB's scaler creating the audio/video sync issues. I tuned in to WMUR in NH and found they were broadcasting the national feed untouched at 720p and lo and behold no sync issues. I also found the PQ to be more natural on WMUR, while maybe not as "crisp" it certainly lacked the annoying amount of EE that WCVB seems to be using on their 1080i feed. I'll take a slightly softer picture over one with EE any day. I don't really care enough to call at this point but if they don't get this fixed by next season (fall) I might be motivated enough to call them. For now I can just tune into WMUR in NH for national programming.

I get WVCB DT via FIOS, but I payed careful attention to the audio tonight and it was in perfect sync. I'm very annoyed also by audio sync issues so I understand the annoyance that it can cause. But every shot and such had the audio in sync. I do think I recall noticing sync issues a few games back though. I had just attributed that to my setup though, with the overtaxed mythtv system I have setup.

I just moved here a few months back, so I didn't realize this, but why in the world doesn't an ABC affiliate broadcast in 720p? I guess there is no need to really discuss this, it is what it is.

I just moved here a few months back, so I didn't realize this, but why in the world doesn't an ABC affiliate broadcast in 720p? I guess there is no need to really discuss this, it is what it is.

The answer I've heard from other stations is that to do HD news, 1080i equipment is easier to come by than 720p equipment. I know the Belo ABC stations (WVEC, KVUE, WFAA) all upconvert to 1080i, and this is the reason I was given.

- Trip

The answer I've heard from other stations is that to do HD news, 1080i equipment is easier to come by than 720p equipment. I know the Belo ABC stations (WVEC, KVUE, WFAA) all upconvert to 1080i, and this is the reason I was given.

- Trip
From an earlier post on another forum: coyoteaz12-13-07, 11:22 PM
WCVB is owned by Hearst, and according to station personnel, they switched because all of Hearst's internal distribution is 1080i, and everything internal to the station (I assume this means all the equipment used for the news, etc) is 1080i.

Hi CJPC,

What receiver are you using? Folks in another thread thought this problem could be a receiver-specific problem.

Well, 5-2 has been gone, as in have not been able to scan it in for ages, but 56-2 is still around, on both of my Dish 622's.

has anyone had issues picking up 4.1 and 25.1 over the last week or so?

The answer I've heard from other stations is that to do HD news, 1080i equipment is easier to come by than 720p equipment. I know the Belo ABC stations (WVEC, KVUE, WFAA) all upconvert to 1080i, and this is the reason I was given.

- Trip

I don't know where you got your information, but up till 2 1/2 years ago, WVEC was passing the 720P through. I spent the last 5 years of my 40 year broadcasting career as an engineer at WVEC. Yes, 1080i equipment is easier to get a hold of, but for ease of operation, we always just fed the signal through just as we got it from ABC.

From the station's own transport stream.

http://www.rabbitears.info/screencaps/va-hro/74167-0_0.htm

- Trip

Due to technical issues, tonight's Wheel of Fortune on WSBK will not air in HD, but will air upconverted. Apologies all around, Vanna fans...

Well, I contacted WCVB yesterday using the web feedback form since I was on the page anyway checking the local radar. I had a fellow AVSer and RS1 owner over last night to demo a bunch of stuff and we spent 15-20 minutes watching Grey's Anatomy on 5-1 and I didn't note the lipsync issue. I wonder, could they really have addressed it that quickly? Interestingly I also thought the 1080i PQ was much improved as compared to the recent Celtics games, it lacked the excessive EE and noise that plagued those broadcasts.

Robert,

Two questions. Will this year's 4th festivities be in HD again? And is the station any closer to broadcasting HD news?

Thanks.

This may have been answered elsewhere here, but...
Why does WGBH HD only show the HD versions of its programs on the first feed?
For example, MASTERPIECE is now being broadcast on WGBH 2-2 in HD (the 9PM feed), but if I were to TiVO it later in the night or overnight, it would be the SD broadcast.
It never used to be this way....

This has been discussed several times, some of which were in this thread I believe.

Here's a summary from one of the threads about this:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1001857

This has been discussed several times, some of which were in this thread I believe.

Here's a summary from one of the threads about this:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1001857

This link doesn't answer Hybucket's question. The answer as to why repeats of 2-2 programs are broadcast only in SD is that WGBH, despite having spent a small fortune on its palatial new studios in Brighton, still doesn't have the equipment to record and playback the PBS HD feeds. So only the original live feed can be aired in HD; any locally-originated repeats of these programs can only be recorded and rebroadcast in SD.

Thanks. dhg, that is indeed the answer I was looking for.
Amazing how WGBH always manages to p**s off its viewers and listeners.

If this p**s' you off, then please send them a check. Then they might afford the equipment that is needed!

They are a public station and are supported by the viewers.

We happen to be lucky enough to have, arguably, one of the best PBS stations in the country. Some of the best PBS shows have been developed and produced in their studios. But they are always desperate for support from people like us!

Thanks. dhg, that is indeed the answer I was looking for.
Amazing how WGBH always manages to p**s off its viewers and listeners.

The point is, they had a fine HD channel with 2-2 - why dump it for a simulcast of SD? Why not just keep what they have until they can "afford" equipment to record and playback HD content from PBS?

This link doesn't answer Hybucket's question. The answer as to why repeats of 2-2 programs are broadcast only in SD is that WGBHI believe if you read the link again, you'll see that it does answer the essential question, quoted here.

Robert,

Two questions. Will this year's 4th festivities be in HD again? And is the station any closer to broadcasting HD news?

Thanks.

I'm afraid this year's July 4th broadcast will not be broadcast in HD.

As for local HD news, we are moving closer, and spending some serious money, but I cannot give you an ETA just yet.

If this p**s' you off, then please send them a check. Then they might afford the equipment that is needed!

If you send them a check, it seems to me you're just rewarding them for pissing you off. The proper response is to stop sending them checks and tell them why.

I have done that, Hyrax, in the past.
I always sent them $, and stopped years ago when GBH Radio dropped Ron Della Chiesa's afternoon music program Music America after many years. The audience was large and incensed at its dropping, but GBH could care less, and pretty much said so in a form email they sent. So I said, F** them, and dropped my membership.

It seems, though, that public television works the opposite of commercial television, for the most part. Giving them less devalues your opinion in their mind. It seems strange, from a capitalist perspective. I'm not sure to what extent their approach results in an ever-worsening viewer experience for the typical viewer. :shrug:

If this p**s' you off, then please send them a check. Then they might afford the equipment that is needed!

They are a public station and are supported by the viewers.

We happen to be lucky enough to have, arguably, one of the best PBS stations in the country. Some of the best PBS shows have been developed and produced in their studios. But they are always desperate for support from people like us!

Or so they claim and would have local viewers/listeners believe. The fact of the matter is that WGBH is not only one of the largest and most prestigious PBS outlets in the entire country, but also one of the most heavily endowed and subsidized, their constant fundraising and whining for dollars notwithstanding. The point at issue here is not whether they have the money to purchase HD recording equipment, which they most certainly do, but rather how they choose to allocate the monies they do have. For what it cost them to put that enormous external video display on the outside walls of their new studio facility, they could have purchased dozens of HD video recorders. I am a big fan of environmental art, but I think that money could have been much better spent improving the technical quality of their local broadcast fare. New Hampshire PBS TV has had such HD recording/playback equipment for some time, and their annual budget is an infinitesimally small fraction of WGBH's. Clearly our local PBS outlet is more interested in producing high quality programming for national syndication (from which they also derive considerable income) than it is in providing a high quality technical experience for its local viewers.

Display says 1080i but the camera must have not been HD.

Typical artifacts of a non HD broadcast: not full screen (4.3), fuzzy, and the bright flashes cause pixelation.

What's up?

I would love to be able to TiVo the local July 4 concert on 'BZ next week. But it still isn't in the guide. What's up?!?!

Or so they claim and would have local viewers/listeners believe. The fact of the matter is that WGBH is not only one of the largest and most prestigious PBS outlets in the entire country, but also one of the most heavily endowed and subsidized, their constant fundraising and whining for dollars notwithstanding. The point at issue here is not whether they have the money to purchase HD recording equipment, which they most certainly do, but rather how they choose to allocate the monies they do have. For what it cost them to put that enormous external video display on the outside walls of their new studio facility, they could have purchased dozens of HD video recorders. I am a big fan of environmental art, but I think that money could have been much better spent improving the technical quality of their local broadcast fare. New Hampshire PBS TV has had such HD recording/playback equipment for some time, and their annual budget is an infinitesimally small fraction of WGBH's. Clearly our local PBS outlet is more interested in producing high quality programming for national syndication (from which they also derive considerable income) than it is in providing a high quality technical experience for its local viewers.

I could not agree with you more. I have been a subscriber to WGBH for over 20 years. The programming has only gotten worse over that period of time, in my opinion. The amount of fund-raising programming, which in my opinion is pure d*** has about doubled. It seems that only 6 months of the year you can count on regular programming. Although WGBH promotes and produces a lot of programming, none of what they produce is in HD, and the programming they co-produce in England that comes over (Masterpiece Theater and Mystery) looks awful. It's gotten to the point where I don't bother watching some of my favorite programming. I wait until it comes out on DVD where it looks far superior to what I see from WGBH. The fact that more than 5 years after PBS national started its HD stream they still do not have the capability to record an HD program for later re-broadcast is a travesty. How can anyone call them a "flagship PBS station?"

I have decided to vote with my pocket book. I will no longer send them any money. The truth is I watch less and less on WGBH anyway. If anyone from WGBH is perusing this thread, they can stop wondering why they will no longer get any money from me.

SMK

Perhaps if more viewers did this, then maybe they'd get a clue.
The fact that they cannot pass on an HD rebroadcast is, at this point in time, ridiculous.

Display says 1080i but the camera must have not been HD.

Typical artifacts of a non HD broadcast: not full screen (4.3), fuzzy, and the bright flashes cause pixelation.

What's up?

Its upconverted 480i originally shot at SD 4x3. (e.g. "windowboxed") Your display reports 1080i since this is what the DTV signal format is that's being broadcast. WHDH also multicasts WeatherNBC on 7-2 so this eats into available bandwidth for content on 7-1, therefore resulting in the macro-blocking you note during quick scene changes.

I'm afraid this year's July 4th broadcast will not be broadcast in HD.

As for local HD news, we are moving closer, and spending some serious money, but I cannot give you an ETA just yet.

Was the HD setup last year done by WBZ, CBS or a combo of both?

It seems we're all pointing to the same thing. WGBH management is making all the wrong decisions, and alienating their viewers. It's time for regime change. Shouldn't a "public" channel give the public what they want?

Bob, The Celtics Underground commercial on WSBK-DT 38 is so loud I'm surprised it hasn't blown my speakers! I can't leave channel 38 on unattended for fear of a loud burst of noise (especially late at night for fear of waking the neighbors). The sound level on this commercial needs to be fixed or it needs to be removed from the lineup ASAP!!! I know you've mentioned it's not volume levels in the past, but more highs/lows, but here there is clearly a huge problem.

Was the HD setup last year done by WBZ, CBS or a combo of both?
An independent production company produces the show, under contract to CBS (and WBZ for the local part of the program -- the part up until 10pm).

Bob, The Celtics Underground commercial on WSBK-DT 38 is so loud I'm surprised it hasn't blown my speakers! I can't leave channel 38 on unattended for fear of a loud burst of noise (especially late at night for fear of waking the neighbors). The sound level on this commercial needs to be fixed or it needs to be removed from the lineup ASAP!!! I know you've mentioned it's not volume levels in the past, but more highs/lows, but here there is clearly a huge problem.
In this case I do not dispute it is a volume discrepancy. The CBS-owned stations are actively studying the problem. Only recently have a few manufacturers begun producing 5.1 channel audio processors suitable for live HDTV use, and we hope and expect to have something online soon.

I'll look into the Celtics spot.

An independent production company produces the show, under contract to CBS (and WBZ for the local part of the program -- the part up until 10pm).

Who decided to produce this in SD? I thought the original idea was to showcase the Boston July 4 celebration at the national level. Doing it in SD makes Boston look behind the times.

It may be in SD but the overall production is much better then NBC's was.

My only guess to why it was SD is the cost and how much CBS and WBZ would share?

I'm utterly disgusted that the Boston Pops event was not in HD. 7.1 had the New York fireworks in HD, and yet no HD to be found for what is hailed as the best fireworks event in the USA. I'm just beside myself. Pathetic.
Tom

Shouldn't a "public" channel give the public what they want?It should give the public willing to sponsor the channel what they want. After all, the "public" has interests that are many and varied; no channel could possibly afford to satisfy all. So how to pick which ones to address? By picking the ones that the public provides the most funding for.

Interesting. 804 at 6:09 PM is showing color bars with text reading "NEW YORK TX HD" and a little gray box bouncing up and down. I don't suppose this means anything more than "technical difficulties" - right?

Interesting. 804 at 6:09 PM is showing...
Channel 804 is a cable channel, not one tuned in over-the-air (the 'OTA' in this thread's title). If it's a Comcast channel, you might post your question in the Boston-Comcast thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=793008).

Channel 804 is a cable channel, not one tuned in over-the-air (the 'OTA' in this thread's title). If it's a Comcast channel, you might post your question in the Boston-Comcast thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=793008).

But it is a broadcast DT channel (WBZ-DT), and I assumed the feed we see was the same you OTA folks would see. Engineers from broadcast channels (who might know something about these kind of things) post here, not there, so this seemed like the logical place to note this.

Interesting. 804 at 6:09 PM is showing color bars with text reading "NEW YORK TX HD" and a little gray box bouncing up and down. I don't suppose this means anything more than "technical difficulties" - right?
The cause was simple (and unfortunate): operator error.

I was visiting Boston yesterday and was able to test OTA reception from downtown. The On-Air GT handled the building reflections very well in most cases for DTV, but the analog signals were un-watchable in almost all cases (with a Silver Sensor).

I have a few questions/comments:

WFXT - I had difficulty receiving FOX, but noticed it has a much lower ERP than other locals. It appears this will be increased to 780kW in time.

WZMY - (MyN) was around 3dB, which is far below a lock. At 7.3kW and at 31 miles, this isn't a surprise, but I don't see any plans for a future increase. With analog at almost 5000kW, this seems to be a gross disparity. To replicate, I would expect to see at least 250kW. Is there a reason this station is at such low power? Granted, MyN isn't the greatest...

WYDN - I couldn't get this one to come in no matter what I tried. It is another weak station, however.

It appears that only WHDH 7 will be going back to VHF in the direct vicinity. Granted, I had a Silver Sensor, but I will be curious to see how this works out. The local high powered UHF stations were all in the 27-30 dB SNR range.

I saw quite a few large antenna arrays downtown. I wonder how many are in use? I suppose they were necessary to cut down reflections for NTSC, but for ATSC, much less would seem to be needed.

So according to the FCC's table of final allotments (http://www.fcc.gov/dtv/) for the February switch over, WHDH will be switching from UHF to VHF (understood), but they are also dropping off their transmitter power substantially from 948 kW to a mere 30 kW. Is this a typo? If not, why such a severe drop off in tx power? Hopefully somebody who works for the station can fill us in on this. I live in Norwood (9 miles from the towers) and on bad days I can't pull in FOX, since they are only transmitting at 56 kW currently. I can't even imagine the setup I will need to pull in WHDH with a pathetic 30 kW transmit.

VHF signals (2-13) carry much further on much less power. 30 kW is actually the FCC limit for power on upper-VHF (7-13) signals. You'll find that that's the amount of power that both WNAC-DT 12 and WPRI-DT 13 in Providence want.

- Trip

VHF signals (2-13) carry much further on much less power. 30 kW is actually the FCC limit for power on upper-VHF (7-13) signals. You'll find that that's the amount of power that both WNAC-DT 12 and WPRI-DT 13 in Providence want.

- TripSo less than 1/10th of the current UHF transmit power is equivalent in VHF? Interesting. If this is true, then I now understand why stations are hot to get back on the upper half of VHF (7-13 don't require ridiculously wide antennas to pull in, and it's a huge savings for the station in transmit power). Thanks for the reply.

WGBH's boondoggle ... um ... mural goes dark till September. http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/07/landmark_wgbh_s.html. It seems the LED's can't handle the summer heat. Meanwhile viewers, the real consumers of GBH fare, must endure fuzzy letter boxed programming and Suze Orman. Money well spent ... not!

I'm afraid this year's July 4th broadcast will not be broadcast in HD.

As for local HD news, we are moving closer, and spending some serious money, but I cannot give you an ETA just yet.

Please be sure to keep the AVS community updated. I eagerly await 'BZ's HD news.

Because of a problem with the HD feed of Jeopardy, the first two segments of tonight's 7:30pm episode on WSBK-DT will be upconverted standard definition. The last two segments will be shown in high definition.

Apologies all around...

WHDH-TV local news in HD beginning next Monday or Tuesday at 4PM. Probably to coincide with its local coverage of the Olympics. Can't wait to see Ann Allred in HD. But Victoria Block, please start wearing long-sleeved blouses!

WHDH-TV local news in HD beginning next Monday or Tuesday at 4PM. Probably to coincide with its local coverage of the Olympics. Can't wait to see Ann Allred in HD. But Victoria Block, please start wearing long-sleeved blouses!

Thanks for the heads up you dirty old man

Thanks for the heads up you dirty old man
Just trying to keep my reputation in tact.

Just trying to keep my reputation in tact.

Well you are doing a good job of it

More apologies.

Our program source did it to us again. Tomorrow night's (Friday) episodes of Jeopardy (both) and Wheel of Fortune will be aired in upconverted standard definition.

Noticed that, for whatever reason, Channel 4's severe weather coverage was carried only on the analog while regular daytime was carried on digital.

More apologies.

Our program source did it to us again. Tomorrow night's (Friday) episodes of Jeopardy (both) and Wheel of Fortune will be aired in upconverted standard definition.

A bit of squeaky-wheeling did the trick. We arranged re-feeds from our supplier and will now have the shows in glorious HD tonight.

A bit of squeaky-wheeling did the trick. We arranged re-feeds from our supplier and will now have the shows in glorious HD tonight.Robert, have you been following the thread where wbz may be sending the wrong time. This causes problems with the DTVPal dtv to analog converter. Thanks.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14365278#post14365278

Robert, have you been following the thread where wbz may be sending the wrong time. This causes problems with the DTVPal dtv to analog converter. Thanks.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14365278#post14365278

I was not aware of that thread, however, we have been working today to ensure the clock time is correct. We should have some results before day's end.

I was not aware of that thread, however, we have been working today to ensure the clock time is correct. We should have some results before day's end.Thanks, I'm looking forward to hear what you have found. :)

Thanks, I'm looking forward to hear what you have found. :)
The time should be good now. We recently added a new MPEG encoder (for both redundancy and additional functionality) and the time slaving function was not operating as we expected.

Let me know if you see any continuing problems.

The time should be good now. We recently added a new MPEG encoder (for both redundancy and additional functionality) and the time slaving function was not operating as we expected.

Let me know if you see any continuing problems.Thanks, don't worry, I will let you know if I continue to have problems. ;)

The time should be good now. We recently added a new MPEG encoder (for both redundancy and additional functionality) and the time slaving function was not operating as we expected.

Let me know if you see any continuing problems.

THANK YOU to RYankowitz for correcting the PSIP time problem at WBZ channel 4.1! I am now getting the correct time on my Dish Network DTVPal converter box down here in Fall River. I just compared your PSIP data time to my radio-controlled "atomic" clock and you are currently running 13 seconds slow but I can certainly live with that small discrepancy. Thanks again for your efforts!

The time should be good now. We recently added a new MPEG encoder (for both redundancy and additional functionality) and the time slaving function was not operating as we expected.

Let me know if you see any continuing problems.RYankowitz, WBZ's time of day has been working great! This prevents issues with my DTV converter box when it receives the wrong time.

However, WBZ's program information such as program titles, schedule, and description is now missing. This is on both my Sony HDTV and my EchoStar DTV converter box. (DTVPAL). The other networks program information are ok.

The time should be good now. We recently added a new MPEG encoder (for both redundancy and additional functionality) and the time slaving function was not operating as we expected.

Let me know if you see any continuing problems.

Bob,

While you are at it, how about putting the hyphen back in WBZ-DT? For the past several months, the station ID display has an underscore instead of a hyphen (i.e. WBZ_DT), and it doesn't display correctly on one of my receivers. Thanks!

WHDH-TV local news in HD beginning next Monday or Tuesday at 4PM. Probably to coincide with its local coverage of the Olympics. Can't wait to see Ann Allred in HD. But Victoria Block, please start wearing long-sleeved blouses!

Is the station making any kind of big deal over this? Is the on-air talent talking about it? I've seen nothing about this on the website. I remember when WCVB's news went HD, they had special features on the site and everything - treated it like it was something important.

And I guess this is the place to ask the same question about WBZ - Bob, will the station promote the change when it happens?

Well not yet, they are being very secretive about it. WCVB's plans were atleast "out" there (ie papers etc) a few days before hand, since nobody (at the time) could beat them to being 1st.

But in related news, I am curious about something. An amber alert was issued, so I started to flip around

It was running on every analog channel of 4/5/7/25/56, however was only running on the 5's digital channel. 4 (still) has not taken their HD feed down and thrown the crawl over the SD feed on the digital channel (yes, im not a fan, but again, im not getting possibly important info), 7 did the same, but just brought the SD feed on the digital channel (one would assume they have the equip for a HD crawl, there only days away from a launch, maybe there just not "ready"), 25 and 56 are the same, crawl over SD on the digital.

My question is, can they do that? Not show the crawl on a digital subchannel? As 7 is not showing it on 7-2, 4 isn't doing it on 4-1 neither. I'm sure someone might be able to decode my ramblings

Ill admit, it drives me insane when the local broadcaster takes down the HD feed on the digital channel since they can not throw a crawl over it, however with some information, it may be quite important! So what is the legal stance on this, If I recall the EAS it has to be all over (analog, digital, all subchannels etc), and since an Amber Alert is activated via the EAS, shouldnt it be the same?

Ill admit, it drives me insane when the local broadcaster takes down the HD feed on the digital channel since they can not throw a crawl over it, however with some information, it may be quite important! So what is the legal stance on this, If I recall the EAS it has to be all over (analog, digital, all subchannels etc), and since an Amber Alert is activated via the EAS, shouldnt it be the same?

It's noted earlier that Channel 4 did the same thing with severe weather coverage late last week.

Frankly, it's inexcusable. One of the premier news stations in the country, which I believe is a regional distribution point for EAS, can't get the information to its viewers? It shouldn't happen!

Latest rumor is that WHDH-TV will do a soft launch of its HD news at 12 Noon tomorrow. Full launch is at 4PM. From what I've been reading, the field cameras will be 16x9 SD.

Latest rumor is that WHDH-TV will do a soft launch of its HD news at 12 Noon tomorrow. Full launch is at 4PM. From what I've been reading, the field cameras will be 16x9 SD.

Thanks for the update but channel 5 was first so I switched to them and won't leave now as I have gotten to like their news. Nice to have another option though

Latest rumor is that WHDH-TV will do a soft launch of its HD news at 12 Noon tomorrow.

I hope it doesn't mean the PQ... :)

I hope it doesn't mean the PQ... :)

Its a NBC owned station so well all know about soft PQ

I think today was 1st day in HD (correct if wrong), but lots of audio issues to begin and and swicthed back to SD. At 6:45 back to HD and audio is working.

Nice pq in HD though....

Its a NBC owned station so well all know about soft PQ

Its actually not, NBC always wanted WHDH for an O+O, but Sunbeam wont (yet) sell.

WBZ is unwatchable tonight. I'm trying to watch 2 and 1/2 Men and the dialog is extremely quiet while the laugh track is blasting loud. Plus, it's only in 2.0 it seems (not 5.1).

Going to have to watch something else.

Wow. As soon as I submitted my "WBZ audio is screwed up" message, they fixed it. Sounds fine now.

RYankowitz, WBZ's time of day has been working great! This prevents issues with my DTV converter box when it receives the wrong time.

However, WBZ's program information such as program titles, schedule, and description is now missing. This is on both my Sony HDTV and my EchoStar DTV converter box. (DTVPAL). The other networks program information are ok.I see the hyphen had been fixed in WBZ-HD but not the program content. Do you have any status or estimate about when it will be fixed? Thanks.

Wow. As soon as I submitted my "WBZ audio is screwed up" message, they fixed it. Sounds fine now.
Trouble at the network end.

I see the hyphen had been fixed in WBZ-HD but not the program content. Do you have any status or estimate about when it will be fixed? Thanks.
Fixing the hyphen was easy. We are having trouble with the PSIP generator, which inserts the program guide information, and we are actively working on it (along with the manufacturer). No ETA on it, though, as we have not pinpointed the cause yet.

Fixing the hyphen was easy. We are having trouble with the PSIP generator, which inserts the program guide information, and we are actively working on it (along with the manufacturer). No ETA on it, though, as we have not pinpointed the cause yet.
OK, Thanks for the status. :)

Its actually not, NBC always wanted WHDH for an O+O, but Sunbeam wont (yet) sell.

My mistake you are 100% right.

Fixing the hyphen was easy. We are having trouble with the PSIP generator, which inserts the program guide information, and we are actively working on it (along with the manufacturer). No ETA on it, though, as we have not pinpointed the cause yet.

RYankowitz, I now have your program guide information back this morning (was missing all weekend) but your PSIP clock is currently running 10 minutes slow.

RYankowitz, I now have your program guide information back this morning (was missing all weekend) but your PSIP clock is currently running 10 minutes slow.
Please check it again. We have looked at the system and found it to be dead on. I don't have an explanation why your box would show a different time.

Please check it again. We have looked at the system and found it to be dead on. I don't have an explanation why your box would show a different time.



Hi Bob, I apparently had a problem on my end with my DTVPal needing to be re-booted for some reason. After I did a full re-boot I now have your time as being "right-on" accurate to my "atomic" clock. :) Thanks a lot for checking it!

My mistake you are 100% right.

Its a shame, namely you were 100% right about it being soft! More so on the talent vs the set, but nevertheless.

Hopefully they will do some tweaking!

Hi Bob, I apparently had a problem on my end with my DTVPal needing to be re-booted for some reason. After I did a full re-boot I now have your time as being "right-on" accurate to my "atomic" clock. :) Thanks a lot for checking it!
Turned on my TV around 8:45 pm tonight. WBZ-HD time is correct but no PSID on my Sony HDTV or my DTVPal converter box. I rebooted my DTVPal, still no WBZ-HD PSID information.

Its a shame, namely you were 100% right about it being soft! More so on the talent vs the set, but nevertheless.

Hopefully they will do some tweaking!

Agreed, what little I have watched makes me go back to channel 5. I just don't care for 7 news anymore and the way it is presented.

Agreed, what little I have watched makes me go back to channel 5. I just don't care for 7 news anymore and the way it is presented.

+1

I don't know if its my eyes, but the picture has 'seemed' to get better, a bit clearer etc, so maybe someone is listening.

That is a plus. Although 5's HD presentation looks amazing, and I do watch 5 every now and then (I tend to flip), its not my favorite. 7 takes it, only as (just as they want) I can get more information faster. WCVB's delivery is just a tad too slow for me, but it is still a great newscast, they have my #2 spot!

But thanks to the subchannel 7.2, lots more blocking during fast graphics scenes on 7.1 vs 56.1, which is sadly to be expected!

There is no doubt you get information faster because everything is breaking news. It is to fast paced for me. I also read an article one time about Francis Rivera that was less than flattering I guess she is a real diva.

To each his own though I think 5 looks amazing in HD and I enjoy their telecast a lot more.

Channel 4 and 25 are the last to go. I actually like them so I'm hoping they'll go HD soon.

The thing about WCVB's news coverage that always baffles me is how they are HD in the studio by widescreen SD "on location". How can this be so when Chronicle is HD all the way?[I presume] Having handheld HD cameras is no longer an issue because they're able to do it daily for Chronicle, yet outside the studio the news continues to be SD?

Yeah, WCVB is my #2, tend to watch them whenever WHDH has no news on (or for chronicle!)

Speaking of chronicle, they can do it because the HD isn't being done live, its taped. If I am not mistaken, it will be a few months for the new digital ENG gear to come by way of Sprint/Nextel, which (since its new equipment) can allow for HD (if the stations upgraded), which they mostlikely did. So then, we can get some nice HD field shots!

Channel 4 and 25 are the last to go. I actually like them so I'm hoping they'll go HD soon.

The thing about WCVB's news coverage that always baffles me is how they are HD in the studio by widescreen SD "on location". How can this be so when Chronicle is HD all the way?[I presume] Having handheld HD cameras is no longer an issue because they're able to do it daily for Chronicle, yet outside the studio the news continues to be SD?

Looking forward to Maria in HD

Thanks CJPC, but WCVB has been saying that for quite a while, and the change to full HD has been quite slow.

I've been watching some of WHDH's coverage and some of stuff they're doing is pretty cool. They have a 3D traffic map, a really great use of the tech. Also they are doing on-location HD, so there you go. But for some reason I just don't like they're coverage. For all the fluff in local news, they're pretty bad. I suppose as long as they have more HD content I'll keep gravitating back to them, but I don't find any of their newscasters appealing either. WFXT is just as bad, if not worse- their webpage promotes TMZ on the front, but at least we'll get to see Maria Stephanos and Ms Bolonga in HD. Sweet.:D

Turned on my TV around 8:45 pm tonight. WBZ-HD time is correct but no PSID on my Sony HDTV or my DTVPal converter box. I rebooted my DTVPal, still no WBZ-HD PSID information.
RYankowitz, WBZ time and PSID are working GREAT when I turned on my TV tonight around 8:30 pm! Keep up the good work. :)

WFXT-DT 25.1 has no PSID. :(