Hi all,
I will be moving to Marlborough (175 Maple St.) in Aug. Can anyone tell me what the reception is like for ABC, FOX, NBC, and CBS? I have a Jensen TV931 antenna. Thanks.

Hi all,
I will be moving to Marlborough (175 Maple St.) in Aug. Can anyone tell me what the reception is like for ABC, FOX, NBC, and CBS? I have a Jensen TV931 antenna. Thanks.
Try tvfool.com

Channel 5 is WAYYYYYY over sharpened, IMO.

Yup. I commented on this same EE problem with their 1080i feed in this thread back during the NBA playoffs. It was so bad I actually watched all the games on WMUR out of Manchester since they were passing the 720p network feed raw. There was also an audio problem where they weren't accounting for the processing delay when converting the 720p to 1080i so audio was leading video by a very noticeable amount. You could tell if a shot hit or missed while it was still only halfway to the hoop!

I was also reminded of this again while watching a few minutes of the late news at 11PM on my RS1x and 104" screen last night. Yech, completely unnatural. Ch 7, OTOH, actually didn't look too bad in this regard, although it did seem overly soft in general to the point where I wondered if they were actually shooting/producing 480p widescreen and upconverting to 1080i (the live studio shots anyway, the graphics actually did look like 1080i native.)

Someone needs to start EEA (Edge Enhancers Anonymous) for video professionals. Its the primary scourge of modern digital video, IMO, and needs to be stopped!

Yup. I commented on this same EE problem with their 1080i feed in this thread back during the NBA playoffs. It was so bad I actually watched all the games on WMUR out of Manchester since they were passing the 720p network feed raw. There was also an audio problem where they weren't accounting for the processing delay when converting the 720p to 1080i so audio was leading video by a very noticeable amount. You could tell if a shot hit or missed while it was still only halfway to the hoop!

I was also reminded of this again while watching a few minutes of the late news at 11PM on my RS1x and 104" screen last night. Yech, completely unnatural. Ch 7, OTOH, actually didn't look too bad in this regard, although it did seem overly soft in general to the point where I wondered if they were actually shooting/producing 480p widescreen and upconverting to 1080i (the live studio shots anyway, the graphics actually did look like 1080i native.)

Someone needs to start EEA (Edge Enhancers Anonymous) for video professionals. Its the primary scourge of modern digital video, IMO, and needs to be stopped!
Agreed, graphics looked great. On air talent live studio shots looked washed out. New weather graphics are an improvement, but they need to get rid of that green screen 7 before we all trip on the remote control to get rid of it and go back to CVB.

Does anyone what the current output power of WFXT-DT is?

Anyone feel like joining me in voicing their displeasure to WHDH (via the "contact us" link on the website) over the lousy PQ during the Olympics resulting from their absolutely useless multicast? There's so much macroblocking during the swimming and diving events I have to force myself not to change the channel! Truly a disgrace for such a well-produced marquis event when its needlessly ruined over the "last mile".

Sorry, I'm feeling kinda feisty today. ;)

Anyone feel like joining me in voicing their displeasure to WHDH over the crappy PQ during the Olympics resulting from their absolutely useless multicast? I'm feeling kinda feisty today! ;)

I haven't watched more than 5 minutes of the games but I am not surprised their station sucks all the way around.

Does anyone what the current output power of WFXT-DT is?

IIRC, Bill Holbrook indicated a while back that it wouldn't change "anytime soon" which I took to mean until the DTV transition date. If so, they should still be running around 78kW ERP.

I was curious myself so I went to the FCC site and looked up the current applications for WFXT which can be found here (http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/eng_tv.pl?Facility_id=6463).

I think I remember seeing that WFXT-DT will stay on ch 31 after the transition and that data would seem to back it up. On the DT side they're currently licensed for 78kW and have two CP's (construction permits) for post DTV transition of 780kW and 950kW on ch 31 but using a different antenna. Looks like the antenna in use now will change to a DX facility (DTV backup) and remain at the current power level. So looks like any meaningful increase won't happen until next Feb. (By then I should hopefully have FIOS since they just laid the conduit a couple weeks ago!)

I haven't watched more than 5 minutes of the games but I am not surprised their station sucks all the way around.Almost all the NBC stations, especially those in the larger markets broadcast the weather subchannel. That is not the only reason for the extremely poor PQ of the Olympics. They have been consistently poor broadcasting the Olympics even before they had the weather subchannels. I suggest you check out the Olympic topic in the main HDTV Programming forum for reasons why the Olympics broadcast is so poor. Everyone has it bad, not just us.

I haven't watched more than 5 minutes of the games but I am not surprised their station sucks all the way around.

Olympic PQ = FSU team quality

Almost all the NBC stations, especially those in the larger markets broadcast the weather subchannel. That is not the only reason for the extremely poor PQ of the Olympics. They have been consistently poor broadcasting the Olympics even before they had the weather subchannels. I suggest you check out the Olympic topic in the main HDTV Programming forum for reasons why the Olympics broadcast is so poor. Everyone has it bad, not just us.

The sub-channel, 7.2 doesn't take up that much bandwidth and therefore shouldn't really effect 7.1 that much. A lot of bandwidth is required when you have a lot of movement especially fast movement. That doesn't occur on 7.2 and thus shouldn't pose a problem. I suspect that any issues there are will be with the network, or links that are in or from China.

Just my 2¢ worth!

Olympic PQ = FSU team quality

Look who showed up the peanut gallery from Hokie land

Well most of the Olympics programming thread was lost with the recent database problems, but I did see at least one or two comments over there alluding to the fact that it was primarily a network distribution issue, although the sub-channel doesn't exactly help either - its using some bandwidth. There are also a few pics posted demonstrating the problem. I'm not sure I'm seeing anything that egregious, but its also not so subtle that my wife doesn't notice either. And I'm displaying using component video on an analog HD RPTV (Pio Elite 510) which does tend to take the edge off most digital artifacts like this. Maybe those folks posting the pics are using newer fixed pixel displays which are much less forgiving in this respect.

So I sent feedback to WHDH mgmt thru the web site and promptly got a response from their engineering director. He was sympathetic to the PQ issues and said it was due to the current NBC distribution network limitations. He also said NBC is working on an upgrade to address these issues but that it won't be rolled out until fall. This is good news for Pats games on Sunday nights! Too bad they couldn't get it done before the Olympics.

Hello:
Perhaps as this is an OTA thread - might get some resonance here. I am in Southern RI and with both a Samsung Set Top Box as well as HDD DG500 Sony High Def video recorder/tuner, have enjoyed DTV/High Definition and even come close to saying hello and goodbye to my trusty roof mounted amplified antenna - as would come home and leave in the morning. If I thought antenna could use a snack - would even leave a little milk for it / and pat its boney (amped) head. Not having to pay for cable -at least til now, will do this to the terminally cheap.

However, seems to me the switch over to all DTV - may result in a boon for cable/satellite companies. Many is the time -if the leaves are full / or the weather is bad, my 20/25 digital stations get whittled down to 10/15 - and particularly troublesome, will experience drop outs / 'no signal' notices. In these instances it was good to know there was the option of going with the analog tuner and putting up with a little analog snow or softness as opposed to .... nothing if the digital falls below a critical point.

Seems like those of us who take pleasure in OTA will be suffering a diminution
of choice if we try to stay chaste (cable -ly). Is it possible signal transmission strength can be increased - enhanced on the sending end>?

Barry

To get better reception, I would replace the coax cable from the antenna to the TV(s) to RG6 Quad Cable, replace the antenna with the Channel Master 4221/4228 or Antennas Direct DB4/DB8, and try adding an signal amplifier. As far as the TV stations's transmitting signal, that's up to FCC and the station, and nothing can really be done on your end for that.

Barry

I live in southern RI also and get very good reception but mostly due to the fact I live 126 feet above sea level and have a straight shot to the north.

Anyway...I was having problems with channel 12 dropping in and out. I went to WALMART and bought a amp for 24.00. It helped a lot. If it don't work, bring it back.

I should also mention that I already have an amp on the coax that comes directly from the antenna. From there it splits two different ways. Then from one of those lines, it splits off to a DVR and my digital TV. Try it...it may work for you.

Thanks for the responses, guys.
Rampart - your set up quite similar to me. Except - I got splitters for my splitters. Tracked one of the leads down - and found I had a whole other family I had forgotten about. Least I remembered how many antennas I got.
Seriously - I might try that additional amp. Thanks again.

Barry

WEDH DT-45 Hartford, WEDN DT-9 Norwich & CPTV HD

Quote:
Originally Posted by jzareski
Wednesday August 27, 2008:

1) WEDH DT-45 Hartford has been operating today on one power amplifier at approximately 58% power. Additional work is needed to bring the second amplifier on line, which would provide 100% power (465 Kw ERP).
PSIP WEDH-1 pgm 3 only. 4, 5, 6 blank.
WEDH 24-1

2) WEDN DT-9 Norwich is operating at 100% power (1.25 Kw ERP). On February 18, 2008, power will be increased to 4.2 Kw ERP.
PSIP WEDN-1 pgm 3 only. 4, 5, 6 blank.
WEDN 53-1

3) A failure this weekend in the CPTV HD MC has caused a temporary suspension of all HD transmissions. The current transmissions are originating from the CPTV SD MC which are being upconverted to HD. Equipment is on order and hopefully CPTV HD MC operations will be resumed in a couple of days...

4) You'll know it when you see it...!!!.

Saturday August 30, 2008:

FYI Update:

1) At 2:58 PM Friday, August 29, 2008, WEDH DT-45 Hartford has been operating at 100% power (465 Kw ERP).

2) WEDN DT-9 Norwich has been operating at 100% power (1.25 Kw ERP) since 8:17 PM Wednesday August 27, 2008.

3) CPTV hopes to restore CPTV HD MC operations by the end of next week.

4) You'll definately know it when you see it...!!!

Saturday August 30, 2008:

FYI Update:

1) At 2:58 PM Friday, August 29, 2008, WEDH DT-45 Hartford has been operating at 100% power (465 Kw ERP).

2) WEDN DT-9 Norwich has been operating at 100% power (1.25 Kw ERP) since 8:17 PM Wednesday August 27, 2008.

3) CPTV hopes to restore CPTV HD MC operations by the end of next week.

4) You'll definately know it when you see it...!!!

CPTV HD operations was restored at 7:30 AM today, Wednesday September 3, 2008. Enjoy tonights broadcasts...

BC- Geogia Tech game is in HD on CW28 in Providence but not in HD on TV38 TV 38 needs more upgrades. I am south of Boston and get CW28-HD via Comcast.

BC- Geogia Tech game is in HD on CW28 in Providence but not in HD on TV38 TV 38 needs more upgrades. I am south of Boston and get CW28-HD via Comcast.
This was not a case of insufficient equipment at TV38. Unfortunately, we had a problem with our satellite feed which prevented us from receiving the game in HD this afternoon.

Apologies for the disappointment.

Bob,

Not a good start to the new season of Jeopardy on 38. 3 of 4 nights this week in SD. What gives?

SMK

Just a quick update. Because of tower issues WFXT can not commence construction of our new antenna and transmission line for our final licensed power of 780KW EIRP until after our analog channel is shut down in February. We are planning on beginning construction almost immediately there after and must be completed by August. We will operate on our current DTV antenna and power during that time except for an occasional construction issue that requires us to go to our low power Aux transmitter.

We appreciate your patience and hope to complete construction asap.

Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT-TV

Just a quick update. Because of tower issues WFXT can not commence construction of our new antenna and transmission line for our final licensed power of 780KW EIRP until after our analog channel is shut down in February. We are planning on beginning construction almost immediately there after and must be completed by August. We will operate on our current DTV antenna and power during that time except for an occasional construction issue that requires us to go to our low power Aux transmitter.

We appreciate your patience and hope to complete construction asap.

Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT-TV

Hi Bill. I have an unrelated WFXT question. Does your station have an ETA for converting your local news to HD? Apologies if this has already been asked and answered.

Hey Bob, WSBK-DT jacked up the volume level on commercials again. Their in-house produced commercials/promos are unbelievably loud, louder than they've ever been (ear shattering in some cases).

Anyone else experience this?

Hey Bob, WSBK-DT jacked up the volume level on commercials again. Their in-house produced commercials/promos are unbelievably loud, louder than they've ever been (ear shattering in some cases).

Anyone else experience this?

Yup- they're quite loud for me too- sometimes watch Wheel of Fortune. Quite annoying!

Bob,

Not a good start to the new season of Jeopardy on 38. 3 of 4 nights this week in SD. What gives?

SMK

Bob,

We're now up to 4/5 with Friday's also in SD. Are we going to see Jeopardy in HD this season?

SMK

Just a quick update. Because of tower issues WFXT can not commence construction of our new antenna and transmission line for our final licensed power of 780KW EIRP until after our analog channel is shut down in February. We are planning on beginning construction almost immediately there after and must be completed by August. We will operate on our current DTV antenna and power during that time except for an occasional construction issue that requires us to go to our low power Aux transmitter.

We appreciate your patience and hope to complete construction asap.

Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT-TV

Hope you can get your construction going as soon as possible- with the economy/employment going downhill, OTA is going to be important to many more as folks drop cable/sat/fios... If I get axed Comcast is the first thing to go for me. I'm sure the elderly who are living on fixed income (social security only) are having a tough time with inflation...

I hope we will see HD news from Fox when this is done.

Just a quick update. Because of tower issues WFXT can not commence construction of our new antenna and transmission line for our final licensed power of 780KW EIRP until after our analog channel is shut down in February. We are planning on beginning construction almost immediately there after and must be completed by August. We will operate on our current DTV antenna and power during that time except for an occasional construction issue that requires us to go to our low power Aux transmitter.

We appreciate your patience and hope to complete construction asap.

Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT-TV

It's a shame it will take so long. I still can't get WFXT in digital up here with a cm4228. I get all the others from that area, but FOX isn't strong enough.

I hope we will see HD news from Fox when this is done.
Still hung up on Maria?

still hung up on maria?

yesssssss

yesssssss

She has kankles.

She has kankles.

Whatever they are I want them

It's a shame it will take so long. I still can't get WFXT in digital up here with a cm4228. I get all the others from that area, but FOX isn't strong enough.

I'm in Salem and i can't WFXT-DT at all during the day,It comes in at night though i have dropouts:(
All other Boston stations are rock solid!

Retarded newbie question, living in Cambridge, MA: flame away.

I'd like an OTA HD setup. Do I need to be facing any specific direction? Does it need a line of sight? I'm thinking of buying this: http://www.antennasdirect.com/DB2_Indoor_antenna.html If my place faces SE, will I still be able to get a signal (unlike DirecTV, which requires a SW signal).

Thanks in advance!!

Point your directional antenna towards Needham (southwest).

I hope we will see HD news from Fox when this is done.

I don't know if you feel the same way but in my opinion FOX 25 News has SUPERB PQ and they look like they are already HD just missing the sides.

I don't know if you feel the same way but in my opinion FOX 25 News has SUPERB PQ and they look like they are already HD just missing the sides.

Fox has good SD but that is all it is. Saying it looks HD is just an optical illusion.

Agreed. Pretty good for SD upconvert, but not HD by any stretch.

Now the studio shots of WHDH HD news (at 10PM on CW56 anyway, I'm never up at 11 to see them on the home channel) are absolutely outstanding! No EE, very crisp and completely lifelike. On my RS1x at 104" you can actually see the makeup on the anchors if you look closely enough! And the news graphics are some of the best I've ever seen.

WBZ-TV has pretty good SD as well. I'm looking forward to their HD news whenever that occurs. I think CBS does a pretty good job of HD. Its sports broadcasts are outstanding and the Evening News looks pretty good now. I hope this translates to outstanding HD for CBS-owned channel 4.

According to this page http://hinghamweather.com/bostontvnews/

WBZ is undergoing set renovations to help them prepare to HD newsroom broadcasts. I believe I read somewhere that they're planning to go HD early next year. Seems strange that since they're owned by CBS, that CBS wouldn't want to flex their muscles and go HD sooner rather than later. But 'BZ has always been down in the ratings department...

Just a quick update. Because of tower issues WFXT can not commence construction of our new antenna and transmission line for our final licensed power of 780KW EIRP until after our analog channel is shut down in February. We are planning on beginning construction almost immediately there after and must be completed by August. We will operate on our current DTV antenna and power during that time except for an occasional construction issue that requires us to go to our low power Aux transmitter.

We appreciate your patience and hope to complete construction asap.

Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT-TV

No Full power from Feb-August 09? I hope this is being disclosed in a conspicuous manner by the sales department.

I wonder if transmission power output ever comes up in sales discussions for local affiliates.

After reading the reception reports on the Boston and Providence threads on this website, as well as those on radio-info.com, radiopub.com, and highdefforum.com, it seems that members who live in the Providence area can for the most part receive the digital signals of practically all of the Boston/Worcester stations, but many in the Boston area (especially those north of the city of Boston) have either cannot or have spotty reception of Providence's stations, even though most have their transmitters in Rehoboth, MA. I can only suspect that that the Boston stations operate at higher power, and are non-directional so they can be received in the Providence area, and the Proividence stations are at low power and have directional antennas aimed at the southwest. I would hope this will change after the transition with higher power and better transmitters. Anyone else notice this?

Not sure if this is the right forum/thread to post in, but I'll take a chance.

I've got two Philips 3576 HardDrive/DVDrecorder machines. Analog cable and OTA tuner, digital OTA tuner and digital QAM.

In one room one's hooked up to an indoor amplified antenna. In another room the other identical machine is hooked up to cable (no box).

Reception using the antenna is very good. The worst one is WLVI 56, which on digital comes in with signal strength of about 75. Most other channels are in the 90s. Still, 56 is steady, and I'm more than satisifed....

Except...

For the last few weeks I've gotten "do not dub" flags on recordings from both channel 7 (WHDH) and channel 56. (The machine records to the hard drive, but won't allow the recording to be transferred to a DVD.) It's not consistent, tho'. Two late summer rerun episodes of SMALLVILLE came out with such "no dub" flags, but others didn't. The season opener and second episode of the season didn't either.

Monday night "Heroes" on WHDH came with a "no dub" flag on the "Season Three Countdown" special, but the two episodes that then aired from 9 to 11 had no such flag.

Tonight (Saturday) I tried recording them again (set the timer wrong on Monday and missed part of the second hour), and of all things the second hour ended up with a "no dub" flag. Dividing the recording into separate pieces on the hard drive, I found only about a 20 minute section actually had the flag. The rest of the second hour, before and after, was recordable to DVD.

Now, since I've seen this only on 7 and 56, and they share a broadcast facility, I'm suspecting it's something they're doing wrong that's causing this.

Thing is, in the next room my other identical recorder was getting the show off the QAM cable version of the channel...

No anti-dub flag.

How in the world could that flag be there in the OTA signal, but not on digital cable?

Aside from cable vs. antenna, the only difference was that I goofed and left the cable recorder set on pan'n'scan where the antenna machine was set on letterbox.

I doubt that'd cause or prevent the "no dub" flag.

Again, I'm suspicious because it's the two sister stations, but then it not happening on the cable recording sort of throws me a curve on that.

Has anyone else using an antenna and digital recorder had any problems with the OTA digital broadcasts from WHDH or WLVI?

Could me using an amplified indoor antenna be the problem, creating a fake "flag" at times?

If anyone has any idea what might be the problem, please throw me a bone here.

Thanks.

Fwiw, I occasionally get channel 10.1 in Merrimack NH via attic antenna & preamp...

gastrof, cool setup you have there. I want one like that except without the anti-dub flag issues, and with HD, and from anyone but Philips. I have had very poor record with Philips DVD recorders - I have the philips model with no hard drive and with only NTSC tuner, but with component outputs - it had more warranty/service visits and swap-outs than I can count.

I recently hooked up my Zenith OTA HD-recorder so maybe I can verify some dub-flag thang for ya, dude. So far, no issues other than unwatchable 7.1 sometimes & zero 25.1, same issues as I recall from previous years with my OTA setup. TV tuner has same difficult with 7.1 & 25.1 in many weather conditions.
I did record SNL last night. I've never seen any sign of 'anti-dub' flag with my zenith HDR-230. Lots of breakup on the WHDH signal last night, probably due to excess rain/storms.

Despite the fine functionalities in SA-8300HD and many comcast HD channels, I'm looking at changing to limited-basic cable to save about $60 per month. I'd have Zenith OTA-HD-recorder, OTA tv-tuner, as well as a standalone clear-QAM tuner for reliable 7.1 & 25.1, and TVs with built-in QAM tuner.
Biggest problem will be no NESN with such a setup, but that's not until next spring.
So I'm looking for a clear-QAM HD-recorder. Maybe I'll have to build a mythtv.
I've already switched to economy internet for $24 instead of the supposedly-6M at $42. I benchmark my link at barely 1Mbps with the 6M service, and at 700K with their economy/768K service. The 768K service has better bang/buck for me - packet latency seems the same with either service level, and is more important to me than raw throughput.
As for your theory that preamp doing something bad in your setup - seems possible.
Maybe rather than somehow creating a false-anti-dub flag, it is corrupting the anti-dub-flag part of the signal, and then the recording hardware might default to 'no record' mode when it doesn't find an anti-dub-flag.

Can you adjust the gain on your preamp?
If you remove preamp entirely, is reception good enough to test for any anti-dub-flag issues?

I wonder if transmission power output ever comes up in sales discussions for local affiliates.


When selling to me they always brought a service signal grade contour map as well as the demographic reach within it.

When selling to me they always brought a service signal grade contour map as well as the demographic reach within it.

did it show NH? It doesn't reach here anymore

With respect to our friend from WFXT, this might be a point of leverage for folks unhappy about the delay. If there is anything that can be done (i.e., spend more money than planned to make things happen faster) to speed up the construction, then making it clear to the sponsors that they're getting cheated would be a pretty powerful tool to make those things happen. However, you'd need to have context: "I was watching WFXT, and I think I saw one of your commercials, but it was all pixelated and I couldn't tell what your sale was about." Kinda weak, but weak is better than nothing. And short of that, it wouldn't make sense to expect anything other that what will be provided.

...As for your theory that preamp doing something bad in your setup - seems possible.
Maybe rather than somehow creating a false-anti-dub flag, it is corrupting the anti-dub-flag part of the signal, and then the recording hardware might default to 'no record' mode when it doesn't find an anti-dub-flag.

Can you adjust the gain on your preamp?
If you remove preamp entirely, is reception good enough to test for any anti-dub-flag issues?

The indoor antenna has its own power source and the amp is inside the base. I've also got a regular set of rabbit ears that does nearly as well, and I'm thinking of putting it in place of the amped one for a day or two and seeing what happens (tho' I know it could make for bad reception on 56).

The only thing is it's only 7 and 56, and they do have the same building and staff. I keep thinking they're doing something wrong, but there's the fact the cable QAM of 7 didn't have the flag...

I'm thinking of using a digital-to-analog converter as the source for the recorder instead of its own digital tuner, and seeing if that makes a difference. (If it does, just great. I buy a digital tuner recorder, and it has to use an external tuner. :rolleyes: )

Thanks for your input.

By the way...

I feel the same way about NESN, but you know, it seems to not quite be the station it was a few years ago. I dunno. Just wish my cable company would let us pick and choose what channels we want, instead of taking them in bulk. I'd get OTAs, SciFi, NESN, and only maybe one or two more.

That's the downside to thinking of going to OTA digital only, with an antenna. No SciFi and no NESN. :D

Is anyone seeing WHDN-LD 26? I'm hearing that the station is on the air now (don't know whether it was or not before, I'd never heard a report before today).

It has just a primary 720p feed, airing a mix of DW (German), Jewelry-HD, and some assorted other odds and ends. Barely functional website: http://www.whdt.net/index3.html

Coverage map: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD737854.html

- Trip

Anyone else having poor reception (e.g. dropouts, breakup) with WHDH (Channel 7) over the last week or so?

Has been solid for 2 years prior.

Anyone else having poor reception (e.g. dropouts, breakup) with WHDH (Channel 7) over the last week or so?


WHDH has never been my best channel for reception. I tend to switch between it an WJAR(10.1) in Providence. During the last week we had some very windy days and reception was definitely affected. I use an indoor amplified antenna.

Channel 7 was breaking up kinda bad last Saturday night, my GF tells me. I'm in Reading and have a DB-4 antenna 35 feet AGL.
I'll try watching it myself time to time to see if this is a continuing problem.

I checked tvfool.com to refresh my memory on where WHDH-DT stands and yes, it's my strongest station here with a predicted power of -28.5 dBm.
So that makes the dropout situation seem odd. Maybe it's a multipath kinda thing, no immediate idea.

tvfool.com just updated their database 3 days ago and the format of their channel listing is a bit different now. They don't bother us with the effective radiated power of the stations anymore, just the signal strength at the receiving location.

Is anyone seeing WHDN-LD 26? I'm hearing that the station is on the air now (don't know whether it was or not before, I'd never heard a report before today).

It has just a primary 720p feed, airing a mix of DW (German), Jewelry-HD, and some assorted other odds and ends. Barely functional website: http://www.whdt.net/index3.html

Coverage map: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD737854.html

- Trip

that's pretty interesting...I didn't expect new ota channels.

It was on before a few months ago, with some radio talk at night, and a HD Jewelry show, but then went dark again for quite a bit!

I'm way out in the in Brimfield now, originally from the Worcester area. I've had it with Charter, the line up suxs and the quality is lacking for the cost of the service. I decided to try OTA out here. I'm about 55 miles from most of the towers in Boston.
I got my old Terk HDTVa antenna out of storage and placed it on my deck facing towards Boston and ran the cable to my panny plasma. To my surprise I can receive WCVB clearly. WHDH was weak and signal was up and down and not really watchable. I'm hoping it will improve with a better antenna(see below).

My question is.. I cannot receive WBZ-DT, but I can on the old analog channel 4(it is snowy). If I remember, WBZ-DT is on UHF 30. I have WVIT channel 30 from Hartford on analog.. so no WBZ-DT until the Hartford analog goes off air.. correct?

off topic questions.. any opinions on the Antennas Direct DB8 or ClearStream 4???

The plan: Use either the DB8 or CS4 on my roof with an amplifier. Use RG-11 for the run from the antenna to an output distribution amplifier. Then over the current cable lines to my tv's and my SageTV box (Sage ROCKS!)
With this setup I'm hoping to get most of the Boston stations and the closer Springfield.

Thanks!
Rob M

WZMY (MyTV "Boston" affiliate) to shut off analog on Dec 1:

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6605936.html

How well do you OTA watchers receive this NH station? It's currently not available to Comcast viewers.

WZMY is the old WNDS ch. 50 out of Derry, NH. I receive them fine for the most part in Andover, even with my CM4228 pointed due south! I'm sure if I turned it around to the correct vector (~310 deg) I could eliminate the few issues I experience from time to time (mainly weather related dropouts.) They only show upconverted 4:3 content as far as I've seen, and not really anything I watch regularly on this channel.

How well do you OTA watchers receive this NH station? It's currently not available to Comcast viewers.

With 7.3 kW, it's a wonder anyone can see it. You'd think they would file to maximize or something...

- Trip

WZMY (MyTV "Boston" affiliate) to shut off analog on Dec 1:

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6605936.html

How well do you OTA watchers receive this NH station? It's currently not available to Comcast viewers.

We have it on Comcast here in Hudson, MA, ch. 18.

With 7.3 kW, it's a wonder anyone can see it. You'd think they would file to maximize or something...

- Trip

That's what I have been wondering. This station ending analog early may turn viewers away from DTV. They don't broadcast from the Needham farm and are at very low power. Many LD stations are stronger. WZMY needs to increase their ERP and/or co-locate.

I had no luck getting this station on my trip to Boston in July.

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...

That's what I have been wondering. This station ending analog early may turn viewers away from DTV. They don't broadcast from the Needham farm and are at very low power. Many LD stations are stronger. WZMY needs to increase their ERP and/or co-locate.

I had no luck getting this station on my trip to Boston in July.


Do you guys realize that this station is way up in Derry, NH ? Transmitter is in Hudson, NH

-Ken

Do you guys realize that this station is way up in Derry, NH ? Transmitter is in Hudson, NH

-Ken

Yes, and it's irrelevant. Location has nothing to do with power level being constrained that much. The station is probably next to impossible to see with an indoor antenna at that power level unless you're within 10 miles of Nashua or Hudson, and even with a roof antenna you'll probably have to be aimed directly at it to receive it outside that range.

It's only 31 miles from Boston. It's not unreasonable to expect a signal to be strong 31 miles from its transmitter.

- Trip

FYI-
Someone mentioned that COmcast/Boston does not carry WZMY. They do carry the analog at Channel 18.

i'm in salem nh and i can pick up wzmy with my attic antenna and i am 10 miles from the transmitter.However using rabbit ears rated for vhf/uhf ICannot pick this station up,But i can pick up a few boston locals with rabbit ears.

FYI-
Someone mentioned that COmcast/Boston does not carry WZMY. They do carry the analog at Channel 18.

Right, I was referring to the digital signal only, and also forgot that there are some areas in Mass. where Comcast is providing that signal.

On a related note, it is being asserted in the Comcast thread that WZMY has no HD whatsoever. I'm curious as to whether that includes programs sent in HD by the network (like Smackdown, which recently moved from the CW).

All evidence I have seen points to 480i on their OTA digital.

- Trip

Has anyone with a Tivo noticed that WSBK and WFXT's HD channels were moved in the lineup, which I was expecting, but the listing are incorrect for them? 806 is WFXT but listed as WSBK and 814 is WSBK but listed in the Tivo guide as WFTX

Oddly enough, they've been correct for the past week WITHOUT the listings....last night, it updated the listings, but reversed the channels.
I have put in a complaint at the TiVO Lineup page...you should do the same, tho I expect they'll be getting calls...

All evidence I have seen points to 480i on their OTA digital.

- Trip

and they intend to keep it that way

I got my grandmother a digital converter box that one from best by..nsdx41 or something like that

anyway she's in the dedham area and apparently the RI stations aren't getting to her...inside antenna

As far as from what I can tell unless I hook up a outside antenna there's no way of getting these other stations (most of which are the same material...I don't know what is really "extra"...)

I figure 30 or so miles is a decent distance for a full powered station

I got my grandmother a digital converter box that one from best by..nsdx41 or something like that

anyway she's in the dedham area and apparently the RI stations aren't getting to her...inside antenna

I figure 30 or so miles is a decent distance for a full powered station

The Channel Master CM-7000 has a reputation for best reception of fringe stations, followed by the Zenith DTT-901 (available at Radio Shack, so easy to try). The one you got is probably the NS-DXA1, which I think is almost a clone of the DTT-901.

http://antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx and tvfool.com can tell you what stations you are likely to get. tvfool.com is perhaps a bit more accurate and has a category of what you are likely to get with a set-top antenna.

That said, with literally a bow-tie antenna, I can get WMUR out of New Hampshire in Newton from time to time. I'm on a hill, facing north. Neither of the websites think I should be able to get it so easily.

anyway she's in the dedham area and apparently the RI stations aren't getting to her...inside antenna ... I figure 30 or so miles is a decent distance for a full powered stationI don't think there is necessarily a single answer to this; Aren't some channels directional? Keep in mind that Dedham is right next to Needham, and that's where all the Boston channels are broadcast from, so I wouldn't suspect that there would be much focus on providing great reception for Rhode Island channels in that area.

OK, I've been doing my homework checking out Antennaweb.org, tvfool.com, this forum, Channel Master, Winegard, AntennaCraft, etc. I want to go with OTA digital but I'm still not sure what antenna to buy...

My location, Zip Code 01583 is about 28 miles from the towers and I should point my antenna at 116 degrees from mag North. I get all that. I also want to mount in the attic and understand the performance penalty of attic mount. I can add that an AntennaCraft FM6 mounted in the same attic with a ChannelMaster remote controlled rotator allows me to easily grab FM stations from Manchester, Haverhill, Lawrence, Boston, and Providence.

What is not easy to figure out is which antenna will receive channel 7 along with the other channels on UHF? for post transition I see that NBC via WHDH will be on VHF Hi channel 7. All the other Boston stations will be on UHF channels. I have been considering the CM4228 but I don't think it will do channel 7 Right? What about the not yet available 4228HD?

Anyway, please chime in with any help you have to offer.

Thanks

I went to digital last November and have always been OTA only. My 160" attic antenna from Radioshack ( http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103087&cp=2032057.2032187.2032189.2032205&parentPage=family ) performed well with analog and initially well with digital. This is a fixed antenna aimed with the antenna web site directions.

As the leaves came out in the spring, I noticed decreased reception with my digital stations and some times I needed to revert to the analog offerings. I am now in the process of mounting the antenna as high off the peak of my roof as possible to get the loss from the attic removed.

There is a bit of a problem using a the rotator on the antenna because you will need to manually enter stations that are not picked up from your initial scan (done in the optimum direction of antenna placement) but you will probably be able to do this with careful attention to antenna direction as you rotate to the fringe directions.

I see WFXT is running at a considerably reduced power on the analog side over the last couple days. What used to be a clear, noise free picture for me here in Andover using my attic mounted CM4228 with preamp has become largely snow with only a faint picture visible and barely any audio. All other UHF analogs are still strong and clear so its definitely something at the source. I wonder if they're trying to ween people off the analog side in preparation for the transition?

I went to digital last November and have always been OTA only. My 160" attic antenna from Radioshack ( http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103087&cp=2032057.2032187.2032189.2032205&parentPage=family ) performed well with analog and initially well with digital. This is a fixed antenna aimed with the antenna web site directions.

As the leaves came out in the spring, I noticed decreased reception with my digital stations and some times I needed to revert to the analog offerings. I am now in the process of mounting the antenna as high off the peak of my roof as possible to get the loss from the attic removed.

There is a bit of a problem using a the rotator on the antenna because you will need to manually enter stations that are not picked up from your initial scan (done in the optimum direction of antenna placement) but you will probably be able to do this with careful attention to antenna direction as you rotate to the fringe directions.


I went to tvfool and searched "Holliston" to find that you are only about 13 miles from the Boston trans towers!

At 28 miles to my specific street address am I crazy to think that I can pull in the same stations? I do live on high ground but trees are blocking LOS. Seems hopeless :(

Anyone seeing a drop off in signal strength for 56-1, has been marginal the last couple of days, up here in SE NH.

What happened to the WFXT Channel 25 signal?... antenna reception is very weak.

Both 56.1 and 25.1 work fine for me in Boston.

| from Steve.Harrington foxtv.com
| WFXT sustained damage to our transmission line that carries the
| CH25 signal from the transmitter to the antenna.
|
| This is an 8" copper line that runs about 1200' up a broadcast tower
| in Needham.
|
| We have found the problem, and naturally the damaged area is right
| at the top.
|
|
| We had hoped to make repairs today and restore our signal to
| full power, but the predicted winds are too high to safely climb and
| install line of this size.
|
| Our target date for repairs is now 9AM Thursday.
|
|
| We are sorry for the inconvenience, and thanks for hanging with
| us as repairs are made.
| Steve Harrington
| WFXT - VP Engineering
| 25 Fox Drive
| Dedham MA 02027
| Office 781 467-1380
| Mobile 508 308-3964
| Fax 781 467-7214

As Steve Harrington, our VP of Engineering has stated in his email reply posted above, WFXT has sustained serious damage to our Ch. 25 antenna at the top of our tower. Some repairs have been made and our situation has improved somewhat but we are still operating at reduced power in order to evaluate these repairs. As we plan our next course of action, some cable operators have begun to move our downconverted DTV signal onto their analog tiers as they were planning to do in anticipation of the Feb. 17 DTV conversion.

During this entire episode DTV has not been affected except to shut down or reduce power while crews worked on the tower in the area of the DTV antenna or for testing purposes. We also recommend that those who have not gotten their DTV converter box yet, do so asap.

We apologize for any inconvience that may have caused. I will try to keep you posted as we go forward.

Bill Holbrook

Chief Engineer WFXT-TV

a YAGI antenna has a 'reverse-lobe' in its radiation/gain pattern - point it at the distant
stations and it will neatly receive signals from directly-behind also.
At my river-valley location this proves useful for receiving NH stations from ~20 miles away, as well as often all the boston/dedham/needham xmitters at ~50 miles.
(in warm or other "wrong" weather, no channel 7 reception, no channel 25 reception)

My question is.. I cannot receive WBZ-DT, but I can on the old analog channel 4(it is snowy). If I remember, WBZ-DT is on UHF 30. I have WVIT channel 30 from Hartford on analog.. so no WBZ-DT until the Hartford analog goes off air.. correct?

Seeing as Brimfield is a part of Hampden County, MA, how is your reception of the Springfield stations?

As for WVIT-TV (NBC) channel 30 of New Britain, CT, their analog and digital signals (digital channel 35) transmit from Rattlesnake Mountain in Farmington, CT, which is a few miles west-southwest of Hartford. That site is also home to WTXX-DT channel 12 (CW), which will move to digital channel 20 with the switchover in February. I wonder how that will affect your reception of WCVB-DT (ABC) channel 20?

Seeing as Brimfield is a part of Hampden County, MA, how is your reception of the Springfield stations?

As for WVIT-TV (NBC) channel 30 of New Britain, CT, their analog and digital signals (digital channel 35) transmit from Rattlesnake Mountain in Farmington, CT, which is a few miles west-southwest of Hartford. That site is also home to WTXX-DT channel 12 (CW), which will move to digital channel 20 with the switchover in February. I wonder how that will affect your reception of WCVB-DT (ABC) channel 20?


Springfield stations are fine, I have my antenna pointed in the Boston direction. I have NO desire for the Hartford stations. They don't offer me local news or weather and that's why I'm leaving cable. I know I'm in the Springfield market.. I'm only 4 miles from the Boston market area. I'm so use to the better production quality of the Boston market I can barely watch the Springfield stations for news. (at least Ed Carrol from WBZ is on WGGB for weather) Brimfield is almost equal distance to Boston and Hartford according to google maps, 60-65 miles with Hartford being 2-3 closer.

I don't receive WTXX at all.. digital or analog. The analog signal doesn't effect WCVB at all. WCVB comes in with 60-75% strength on my Panny plasma signal meter. From what I can tell.. WCVB will still have a stronger signal after the switch, 470 KW to 650 KW.

I'm using an Antenna's Direct ClearStream 4 pointed towards Boston with a Channel Master 7777 amplifier.

My concern after the switch is Boston's WHDH channel 7 switching back to VHF 7 for digital, the temporary WHDH-DT is on UHF Channel 42 which comes in great. I could add a VHF Antenna for it if needed.

I'm hoping WBZ-DT comes in fine after the switch also, my guess is the WVIT analog 30 is killing the WBZ-DT signal.

channel 7 is moving to VHF from 42.1 !?
Ouch.
Are 4 & 5 switching back to VHF too?
( My antenna is UHF-only. )

I don't believe either station is switching. Besides, analog channels 20 (CW) and 30 (NBC) from Connecticut wouldn't be any concern anymore anyways.

looks like myself and others might consider to put together some sort of diplexor/multiplexor solution and add a VHF antenna to our UHF-only OTA setups.
Maybe I could avoid amplifying the VHF portion.
I'd have to combine/diplex the signals in the attic... Alrighty then...
Now I wonder about WMUR and WENH in NH. will they xmit on VHF or will they stay with UHF?

We're relying on the fact that our antenna should support both high-band VHF and UHF.

None of the channels here, AFAIK, are going to be broadcast on low-band VHF.

Now I wonder about WMUR and WENH in NH. will they xmit on VHF or will they stay with UHF?


WHDH/7 and WWDP/10 will be on VHF for Boston

WMUR/9 and WENH/11 will be on VHF for Manchester

thanks falcon77. nice spreadsheet ! Maybe I'll be lucky and my CM4248 "uhf only" antenna will be able to grab the VHF-hi WMUR + WENH + WHDH .
If not, maybe I'll give up on re-optimizing my OTA setup and can better optimize my limited-basic-cable/tuner setup - maybe by building a MythTV or something like that.

Anyone having "massive" issues with WHDH tonight, not so much the signal, but the fact that the picture keeps jumping and going black, or green, or whatever else?

Getting this the same via OTA, cable and satellite - needless to say, its become unwatchable!

Edit: Seems the analog feed is ok, but the digital feed(s) are hosed - what timing!

Anyone having "massive" issues with WHDH tonight, not so much the signal, but the fact that the picture keeps jumping and going black, or green, or whatever else?

Getting this the same via OTA, cable and satellite - needless to say, its become unwatchable!

It's just black now for me (FiOS)

I'd guess that we saw the failure of some piece of equipment. It degraded and is now gone.

Yep it's out on DirecTV and comcast as well. In fact comcast just completely dropped 7-1 on my QAM tuner and dropped me to 5-1. When trying to go back to 7-1 the channel no longer even exists!

7-1 is back on comcast qam but no picture, same with OTA.

I should be receiving WHDH HD on 7-1 OTA. I was seeing the interference and now it appears to be off line. Singnal check during interference showed 100% receiption. What's with there signal?

It must be a decent failure, as WLVI is on air, although Yes, I know there are different equipment paths to transmit, at least if it were an issue on the "creation" end of the signal (as in, in master control), it wouldnt be as bad - hopefully the transmitter is OK!

When I called WHDH a little earlier they didn't even know that the digital side was off the air (they said I was the first to call)! I called back just now and they said before I could even talk that they "are working on the HD as frantically as they can". Interestingly, they have carrier and the info/guide feed, but no video/audio on the stream. Sounds like an issue in the control room versus the actual transmitter. Of all nights to have such a problem . . .

- FD

WHDH HD appears to be back on the air!

--EDIT: I'll take that back. It's broadcasting in SD currently. 10:50pm

Yeah, they are finally HD for the Noon news, morning news as well as the Today show was all SD, including all break-in's etc - wonder what went wrong!

Although, on that note, I'm still wondering what's taking so long with tape-delaying the Today show in HD, hell for the moment I'd settle for 16:9 SD! (Well, I wouldn't, but it would be a decent temporary middle)

Any word on when WBZ is going HD? It seems to be taking a looooooong time. Is CBS that cheap?

Yeah, they are finally HD for the Noon news, morning news as well as the Today show was all SD, including all break-in's etc - wonder what went wrong!

Although, on that note, I'm still wondering what's taking so long with tape-delaying the Today show in HD, hell for the moment I'd settle for 16:9 SD! (Well, I wouldn't, but it would be a decent temporary middle)

I say move Regis and co to 11am.

Any word on when WBZ is going HD? It seems to be taking a looooooong time. Is CBS that cheap?

This month, it would seem (Read the comments!):

http://cbslocalblogs.prospero.com/n/blogs/blog.aspx?nav=main&webtag=wbz_declare&entry=188

A little over 2 weeks ago I changed my Sony DVR to receive TVGOS guide data from an analog station (ch 2) to a digital station, WBZDT. It worked fine for a few days, but has not worked for the last 1 1/2 weeks. Does anyone else use this data and know if WBZDT is still sending the data ?

A little over 2 weeks ago I changed my Sony DVR to receive TVGOS guide data from an analog station (ch 2) to a digital station, WBZDT. It worked fine for a few days, but has not worked for the last 1 1/2 weeks. Does anyone else use this data and know if WBZDT is still sending the data ?

I get TVGOS data from WBZ using my Sony DHG-HDD250. I have Comcast and a cablecard, so my host channel is 804.

I am preparing to enter the world of DTV (TV ordered this weekend) and I am planning on pulling digital content OTA. However, I am downtown on the 9th floor of an 18 story building with one window facing south. Anyone here in a similar situation and care to share their experiences?

Welcome, Scott_atm.
Let's guess you are in boston, which is nice because dedham/needham
is semi-south of your south-facing boston window.
I recommend that you consider to first try the little $5 UHF loop antenna, same type as have been
in use since UHF TV was authorized back in 1970s.

I am in the South End on the 7th floor with windows facing west. I successfully receive HDTV from all stations as they are west of Boston. When I was in a neighboring unit facing north, I was unable to receive much of anything. I use an antenna similar to the Silver Sensor.

You will need an an antenna that receives UHF and VHF. The VHF is currently not necessary but channel 7's HD signal will be moving back to VHF next year.

Another option is cable. With the lowest-priced $10/month service, Comcast gives you the local TV stations in HD. OTA is better because Comcast appears to compress the signal meaning that quality is reduced a bit.

If you want to see exactly the direction to the towers, from your location, enter your address at http://www.antennaweb.org.

I am preparing to enter the world of DTV (TV ordered this weekend) and I am planning on pulling digital content OTA. However, I am downtown on the 9th floor of an 18 story building with one window facing south. Anyone here in a similar situation and care to share their experiences?

Another option is cable. With the lowest-priced $10/month service, Comcast gives you the local TV stations in HD. OTA is better because Comcast appears to compress the signal meaning that quality is reduced a bit.



Yes comcast does compress the national networks but not the locals.

Thanks for the help - i will check it out when the TV arrives and keep monitoring this thread to see what is going on in the Boston OTA market.

chitchatjf, which national HD networks/signals do you say comcast compresses?!

chitchatjf, which national HD networks/signals do you say comcast compresses?!

All of them except for CSN and Verses

chitchatjf, please be specific and identify the precise HD networks which you say comcast compresses? I may know some facts that may contradict your supposed facts.

For example, are you saying that comcast compresses HBO HD channel(s)?
If so, then you are most definitely incorrect on that.

Another specific example, if you are saying that comcast compresses animal-planet-HD or history-HD, I would give some consideration to believing that, but would be skeptical initially. best regards...

chitchatjf, please be specific and identify the precise HD networks which you say comcast compresses? I may know some facts that may contradict your supposed facts.

For example, are you saying that comcast compresses HBO HD channel(s)?
If so, then you are most definitely incorrect on that.

Another specific example, if you are saying that comcast compresses animal-planet-HD or history-HD, I would give some consideration to believing that, but would be skeptical initially. best regards...

Here is a link to information on Comcast compressing channels...aka 3 per qam:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1008271

-Ken

I just noticed today that WGBH has swapped digital channels 2.1 and 2.2 making 2.1 its 1080i HD channel. It's also nice to see they have shrunk their logo to a less intrusive size. It would be nice if some of the commercial channels would follow their lead.

great info, Ken, thanks.
It seems consistent with my fairly-recent/very-authoritative info that the Comcastians do not (yet) compress HBO-HD (or the other premium HDs, presumably).
Maybe that will change too.
Mostly it's academic to me since I live in an OTA utopia with 6 PBS subchannels at once educating me and my kids about global warming, peace, love, and understanding.

chitchatjf, please be specific and identify the precise HD networks which you say comcast compresses? I may know some facts that may contradict your supposed facts.

For example, are you saying that comcast compresses HBO HD channel(s)?
If so, then you are most definitely incorrect on that.

Another specific example, if you are saying that comcast compresses animal-planet-HD or history-HD, I would give some consideration to believing that, but would be skeptical initially. best regards...

Comcast squeezes everything into 3 HD channels per QAM.

The exceptions are

a)Local broadcasts which are 2 per QAM

b)Verses which is on its own QAM (the second one most likely reserved for Golf)

c)CSN

Thanks for the tip. Checked and noticed I was on the 480 feed. Updated the TV channels to switch to the 1080.

I just noticed today that WGBH has swapped digital channels 2.1 and 2.2 making 2.1 its 1080i HD channel. It's also nice to see they have shrunk their logo to a less intrusive size. It would be nice if some of the commercial channels would follow their lead.

Now if they would just purchase a HD capturing system to capture the HD content from the PBS feed so that they can rebroadcast stuff in HD and not letterboxed SD. It seems like a vast majority of the stuff on the HD channel is in letterboxed SD. Meanwhile, they spent a fortune on the stupid video screen over the mass pike...


Dear Viewer,

Thank you for your interest in WGBH. We always appreciate hearing from our viewers, listeners, and Web site visitors.

At this time, programs produced in HD that do not originate from WGBH are broadcast in HD in their initial broadcasts only (i.e., those fed directly from PBS). This is because we do not currently have HD server storage capacity. THIS OLD HOUSE is fed from PBS and does not air on channel 2 at it's initial broadcast feed so we are unable to broadcast it in HD. Over the next year, as WGBH and PBS continue to expand HD production and distribution, you will be able to enjoy more and more of your favorite shows in a widescreen, high-definition format.

We hope you continue to enjoy the programs on WGBH - produced in Boston, shared with the world.

Sincerely,
WGBH Member Development and Services

Yet another reason not to give them a dime. Spend millions on a "billboard" that doesn't work, but no HD on re-broadcasts. Ridiculous.

Yet another reason not to give them a dime. Spend millions on a "billboard" that doesn't work, but no HD on re-broadcasts. Ridiculous.

I agree somewhat...seemed like a waste of money better spent somewhere else.
I just saw that billboard for the first time this week as I drove into Boston. Looks impressive! Probably more so if it worked!!!:p
I'm surprised that there aren't a bunch of car accidents when that things running. What broke on it anyway?

-t

I recorded Thursday night's CSI from WBZ on a DirecTV DVR and watched it last night. Early in the show there were two times that the video and audio became garbled for just a few seconds, and at minute 36 there was 90 seconds of black screen and no audio. After that the recording was perfect.

Did anyone else have this or is it a sign I'm having a problem with my DirecTV DVR?

SMK

I agree somewhat...seemed like a waste of money better spent somewhere else.
I just saw that billboard for the first time this week as I drove into Boston. Looks impressive! Probably more so if it worked!!!:p
I'm surprised that there aren't a bunch of car accidents when that things running. What broke on it anyway?

-t

There was a story in the Boston Globe a day or two ago that provided all the gory details. The liability will apparently be in litigation for some time to come. Meanwhile, they still have no HD recording and rebroadcast capability. Positively pathetic.

I've given up on WGBH. They're basically a non-entity AFAIC now. They've so totally messed up just about everything they've done over the last two years that they're nothing more than a waste of bandwidth. I'm normally pretty sanguine about what companies, organizations and institutions do, objecting to when folks cast reckless aspersions because those entities aren't doing what they personally want them to do. However, that's simply not applicable after all of what WGBH has done and not done. I wish there was something good I can say about them, but there simply isn't.

I wish I could pick up the signal from WENH or WSBE. I would think that Comcast would be required to carry the WENH DT signal. I wonder if they have the ability to re-broadcast PBS stuff in HD....

WENH is in the Boston DMA, so there are must-carry considerations, but until February 2009, the requirement is to carry the Channel 2 NTSC signal.

Interesting -- perhaps that's why Comcast is holding off filling the three available HD slots (freed-up after the Olympics): There may be some requirements to carry HD OTA signals after February 2009 that they're not carrying now.

Under the DMA thingy, isn't Comcast also required to carry WMUR? DirecTV has it, but not Comcast in the Boston/Brookline market. Or does WCVB put up a stink that it would cut into their ratings...which would be odd, since they own 'em both.

I've given up on WGBH. They're basically a non-entity AFAIC now. They've so totally messed up just about everything they've done over the last two years that they're nothing more than a waste of bandwidth. I'm normally pretty sanguine about what companies, organizations and institutions do, objecting to when folks cast reckless aspersions because those entities aren't doing what they personally want them to do. However, that's simply not applicable after all of what WGBH has done and not done. I wish there was something good I can say about them, but there simply isn't.

Nice to see you have come around to my point of view after your previously expressed laissez-faire opinion of WGBH. However, their current problems go back a great deal further than just the past two years. FWIIW, I have been a not wholly disinterested observer of the station for some five decades. AAMOF, I played a live performance in their original TV studios on Mass. Ave. in Cambridge at MIT c. 1960. The engineering and production were a good deal more amateurish (and the studio lighting a great deal hotter) back then, TV broadcast technology having been in its infancy, but the station had a gritty low-budget populist mission and attitude that was at least admirable. Shortly thereafter, the station burned to the ground (no connection to my performance, I would hope) and they moved to their new and until only recently home campus on Western Avenue in Allston.

At some point in the intervening decades, the station's original populist orientation was replaced by the present manifestly elitist arrogance that they will decide what their viewers and listeners want and need. Perhaps their original poverty begat humility and their current relative opulence and financial success has begotten insufferability.

The huge (and now badly malfunctioning) exterior video wall on their new palatial digs in Newton is aptly symbolic of what has gone horribly wrong with the station over recent decades. It is both literally and figuratively the height of arrogance. The very real traffic accident-causing potential can indeed make one wonder what, if anything, they were thinking, other than self-aggrandisement. It is a lamentable monument to "non-profit" corporate stupidity.

Regrettably, the engineering at WGBH has always remained behind the technology curve and been amateurish and retro, undoubtedly caused at least in part by benign neglect on the part of management. Much as one may deplore the unabashed and rampant commercialism of the local, well, commercial network affiliates, I find it refreshingly honest in comparision to the interminable commercials masquerading as "endorsements" and the smugly paternalistic attitude of WGBH management toward its constituency. And the commercial outlets at least choose to invest some of their capitalistically-earned money back into state-of-the-art equipment and technology which benefits both their advertisers and their viewers.

Nice to see you have come around to my point of view after your previously expressed laissez-faire opinion of WGBH.To be fair (to them), I've not come around so much as their accumulated actions have failed to live up to any reasonable person's threshold of acceptability.

The huge (and now badly malfunctioning) exterior video wall on their new palatial digs in Newton is aptly symbolic of what has gone horribly wrong with the station over recent decades.I disagree. The fact that they've spend money on buildings instead of necessarily technical equipment is significant. The fact that they have an exterior video wall is not, AFAIC.

To be fair (again, to them), some of the commercial stations don't have HD record-and-rebroadcast capability yet (though the big four Boston channels do).

The very real traffic accident-causing potential ...Is a reflection of the responsibility of city officials, and says relatively little, in this regard, about the station managers. Again, AFAIC.

If I recall, many years ago, a company (I can't remember which one it was...) put up a billboard on the expressway, just as you were leaving what was then the South Station tunnel. Of course, it was way before LCDs and all that stuff, but it was a billboard that was constantly changing text. The city made them remove it, as it was determined by the city to be a traffic hazard. And yet, the WGBH billboard, which supposedly can be seen from a mile and a half away, was not. Now maybe it's because this particular billboard is in Cambridge, and not Boston, but still...duh!

To be fair (to them), I've not come around so much as their accumulated actions have failed to live up to any reasonable person's threshold of acceptability.

I disagree. The fact that they've spend money on buildings instead of necessarily technical equipment is significant. The fact that they have an exterior video wall is not, AFAIC.

To be fair (again, to them), some of the commercial stations don't have HD record-and-rebroadcast capability yet (though the big four Boston channels do).

Is a reflection of the responsibility of city officials, and says relatively little, in this regard, about the station managers. Again, AFAIC.

They may have grown too big for their britches by the fact that they are one of the top producers of programs for Public TV. You can't take that away from them. It may be that arrogance, that has led them to think that everything they touch is potential "gold" and they know what's best.
I used to volunteer to do the telethons and also the yearly auctions but a few years ago I got turned off by what seemed a "gated community" attitude of unless you worked there, you were just a service person. But that trickles down from a Corporate management attitude. It's a long time ago from their Allston locale attitude of "thank you for helping us make things better".
It'll change once they see how much less Corporate Sponsors give with the dwindling economy. May take a couple of years though.

-t

I recorded Thursday night's CSI from WBZ on a DirecTV DVR and watched it last night. Early in the show there were two times that the video and audio became garbled for just a few seconds, and at minute 36 there was 90 seconds of black screen and no audio. After that the recording was perfect.

Did anyone else have this or is it a sign I'm having a problem with my DirecTV DVR?

SMK

It must have been either a network problem or a problem at WBZ. I saw exactly the same thing on Comcast (recorded on my TIVO HD).

Thanks, JDBNH, for the info. I have been problems with the DVR and wondered if this was a further sign it was going.

SMK

Anyone having issues with WHDH channel 7's HD signal? It was working fine and now the last few days I'm not getting it. I use to be about 50-60% signal on my panny plasma and now it's 2-3%

Granted I'm on the 'fringe' for reception, it's just strange how it was fine and now it's nothing.

Thanks,

RobM

68 reception has become horrible. Had to turn on the analog feed.

Any thoughts or comments?

68 reception has become horrible. Had to turn on the analog feed.

Any thoughts or comments?

You're the one that watches channel 68.

They may have grown too big for their britches by the fact that they are one of the top producers of programs for Public TV. You can't take that away from them. It may be that arrogance, that has led them to think that everything they touch is potential "gold" and they know what's best.

Yes, I made and expounded upon that very point last March in post #7998 in this thread.

I used to volunteer to do the telethons and also the yearly auctions but a few years ago I got turned off by what seemed a "gated community" attitude of unless you worked there, you were just a service person. But that trickles down from a Corporate management attitude. It's a long time ago from their Allston locale attitude of "thank you for helping us make things better".
It'll change once they see how much less Corporate Sponsors give with the dwindling economy. May take a couple of years though.

You raise a very interesting point. I suspect that corporate sponsorship has in recent years probably been providing a much larger portion of their current total budget than viewer contributions, whereas in the past individual viewer contributions were more critical to their financial well-being. This may well account, at least in part, for their present disdain for viewer concerns and needs, as well as their incessant and lengthy endorsements from/of corporate sponsors.

You're the one that watches channel 68.

I cant pick up 68 or their sister station 21 in concord NH :eek:


BUT on another Topic here WFXT audio shuttering bad during AM newscast?
Signal strength good,Anyone else?

Anyone notice flashing horizontal lines on the left side during the last 2 nights of ABC programming? Seems to only be from ABC shows as I didn't see the lines during WCVB news.

wonder what happened at Fox25 last night - All of HOUSE and most of FRINGE were in SD...about 3/4 of the way thru FRINGE, the HD shot in.

Yes, It is bothering me this morning on Good Morning America. It is apparently only on the national feed as it does not occur during local news and local commercials.
Anyone notice flashing horizontal lines on the left side during the last 2 nights of ABC programming? Seems to only be from ABC shows as I didn't see the lines during WCVB news.

How long are the lines? Are they thin and white? And just go about 5% of the way across the screen from the left side? And only two or three of them? If so, I've been seeing them for a couple of weeks, off and on.

wonder what happened at Fox25 last night - All of HOUSE and most of FRINGE were in SD...about 3/4 of the way thru FRINGE, the HD shot in.

Happened on Charter Cable too.
I think someone fell asleep at the switch, literally! :(

Thanks danhvos and bicker1 for confirming what I see on my screen. It's exactly as you described.

wonder what happened at Fox25 last night - All of HOUSE and most of FRINGE were in SD...about 3/4 of the way thru FRINGE, the HD shot in.

Happened on Charter Cable too.
I think someone fell asleep at the switch, literally! :(

Had I not been sick and decided I might need to hit the sack early I would have turned on my PJ for these shows and been completely irate at wasting my expensive bulb hours on window-boxed, downconverted SD.

So, we're appx 90 days away from the DTV transition, and this kind of stuff is still happening. Intolerable I say. At this stage of the game, whether it be due to required manual intervention or equipment failure, problems such as these are simply unacceptable. :mad: As an early adopter I expected and was even willing to put up with this kind of stuff in HDs infancy, but in the last few years with HD having gone mainstream and actually now being touted by the networks, this is just ridiculous to have to continually endure such lapses. I realize there's no requirement for "HD" as part of DTV but if you're going to build an entire programming schedule, marketing and business case around it, the least we should expect is to make sure the same types of fail safes and redundancies are in place for HD as exist for SD now.

Some times it really miffs me what qualifies for "professional broadcasting". And I'm not just picking on one station here, there are plenty of others that have the same kinds of issues.

Fox stations have some of their equipment owned by the Fox network. Fox has only provided stations with 1 HD receiver, while a station might have 2-3 SD receivers that they own themselves, which fail over if something goes wrong. Since there's only 1 HD receiver, if something goes wrong, it has to fail over to SD.

Fox plans to equip all of its stations with 2 new HD receivers by the start of the Fall 2009 TV season, at which time such problems should be a thing of the past (for Fox, anyway).

- Trip

Regrettably, the engineering at WGBH has always remained behind the technology curve and been amateurish and retro, undoubtedly caused at least in part by benign neglect on the part of management. Much as one may deplore the unabashed and rampant commercialism of the local, well, commercial network affiliates, I find it refreshingly honest in comparision to the interminable commercials masquerading as "endorsements" and the smugly paternalistic attitude of WGBH management toward its constituency.

Not all of the WGBH constituency objects to the the underwriting messages before and after programming; I for one. The messages consume little time and help pay for some of my favorites such as Nova and Nature. Typically these programs start about two minutes after the hour and finish about 5 minutes before. That's more than 50 minutes. A typical commercial program is jammed with 18 minutes of short (except big pharma) ads which really feels interminable.

It is sad to see increasing amounts of PBS broadcast time, especially overnight, consumed be pacing gurus hawking their "expertise" in hope of selling you books and dvds. However anyone who occasionally reads current.org knows that funds raised by traditional nagfests has been a losing battle and an government funding has declined. Also hurting PBS is that once a subscriber pays his cable bill he feels, not unjustifiably, that he's paid for his programming.

That said we agree that an investment in HD recording equipment would have been far wiser than money squandered on rubberneckertainment.

Do we have firm numbers on how much each (HD recording and rebroadcast system, and the video wall) cost? Or are we just guessing about how much each costs?

I wish I could pick up the signal from WENH or WSBE. I would think that Comcast would be required to carry the WENH DT signal. I wonder if they have the ability to re-broadcast PBS stuff in HD....

In the case of WSBE, no. WSBE's digital channel is split into two 480i subchannels. Thus, it can't even pass through the original HD broadcast. The signal is pretty weak and I can barely get it using an amplified indoor directional antenna. I have no problem getting 6 in New Bedford and 10 in Providence.

Anyone having problems?

Seems like channel 13 is on and off on alternate days almost.

And channel 30 has been unusable at my house 15 miles from the towers for the past month about, but yesterday it seemed back to normal.

The good news is that WGBH is involved in an HD upgrade in Master Control and by mid January will have a full HD rebroadcast schedule.

You have a right to your opinion, but I challenge you on your comment. The WGBH Engineering staff is some of the best technical minds in the market or anywhere for that matter and part of what you call "behind the technology curve" is not a case of not knowing how to implement technology but a lack of funding.

The good news is that WGBH is involved in an HD upgrade in Master Control and by mid January will have a full HD rebroadcast schedule.

That's good to hear. I hope that the Saturday This Old House* showing will finally be in HD- especially since it originates in the Boston area.

We'll see which happens first- the new "Master Control" or a fixed Mass Pike billboard. I'm hoping for Master Control since TV should be the priority.

* I find it funny that when ever PBS goes into one of their "begging seasons" as I call them, 'GBH stops playing shows that appeal to guys- like TOH, Nova, Frontline etc. and play Yanni, 3 Tenors, Suze Orman etc.- all shows that appeal to women obviously. 'GBH certainly knows who donates... But it ticks me off that they stop playing the shows I like- and so I don't donate. Call it a self fufilling prophecy on the part of 'GBH.

The thought that always crosses my mind- if Yanni, 3 Tenors, Suze etc. are the shows that bring in the money, why aren't they playing those all year long???

You have a right to your opinion, but I challenge you on your comment. The WGBH Engineering staff is some of the best technical minds in the market or anywhere for that matter and part of what you call "behind the technology curve" is not a case of not knowing how to implement technology but a lack of funding.


This is only being said jokingly, but if they're so good, why do they keep misidentifying channel 44's digital stations as "WGBH", when its actual call letters are "WGBX"?

And why in the world do they have two IDENTICAL digital versions of channel 2, identical except that one's high def in widescreen, and the other is standard def and broadcast in 4x3? (Should I mention that until recently the high def widescreen version wasn't even being sent out on 2.1 until recently, it having been run on 2.2 up to now, with 2.1 having been used for the standard def version?)

And why in the world do they have two IDENTICAL digital versions of channel 2, identical except that one's high def in widescreen, and the other is standard def and broadcast in 4x3? (Should I mention that until recently the high def widescreen version wasn't even being sent out on 2.1 until recently, it having been run on 2.2 up to now, with 2.1 having been used for the standard def version?)

I wonder if the HD on 2.2 is just a carry over from the time when WGBH was carried on 2.1 and the PBS HD Channel was carried on 2.2. Obviously PBS HD channel was not GBH's primary channel so it would not have made sense to run it on 2.1 which carries the same programming on 2.0, the analog channel.

Also GBH is not unique in simulcasting on two different digital channels. Channel 6 in New Bedford shows the same programming in 1080i and 480i formats on 6.1 and 6.2.

I think you're right.. 2.2 was not WGBH in HD... it was PBS HD. Now that they're no longer carrying PBS HD, and they are carrying WGBH in HD (cough cough), they've moved the virtual channels around.

None of that gets around the fact that they made the switch from PBS HD to WGBH in HD without the proper equipment in-house. As I said earlier, not even I can see the excuse for that grievous error.

Can anyone confirm if WZMY turned off their analog signal today? According to their website they have.

http://www.mytvstation.tv/digital.html

On December 1, 2008 MyTV became Boston’s first television station to go all digital!

I wonder how long it will take them to file a maximized application (currently at 7.3kW on UHF).

They have not as of a couple minutes ago

The WZMY switchover took place at noon.

I recorded it off of Fios till 1215 and as of that time they were still using the old analog signal.
I just got home 20 minutes ago and it is OK now.

cannot get the offair digital signal for beans and I am 15 miles from Derry using a house antenna.

Something tells me going from 5MW to 7.3kW ERP isn't exactly going to provide the meaningful litmus test on DTV transition that everyone was anticipating. Who the heck is running this program anyway?! Oh yeah, silly me, the federal gov't.....my bad. But really, what did they hope to accomplish given the HUGE disparity of signal strength?

On the plus side, there's now 5 megawatts of "surplus" electricity available to folks in southern NH. ;)

Something tells me going from 5MW to 7.3kW ERP isn't exactly going to provide the meaningful litmus test on DTV transition that everyone was anticipating. Who the heck is running this program anyway?! Oh yeah, silly me, the federal gov't.....my bad. But really, what did they hope to accomplish given the HUGE disparity of signal strength?

On the plus side, there's now 5 megawatts of "surplus" electricity available to folks in southern NH. ;)

Their off air digital signal seems to be so weak they would be better off running as a subchannel off of Fox.

Their off air digital signal seems to be so weak they would be better off running as a subchannel off of Fox.

Weak isnt the word .I am in Salem NH and i cant pick up the signal either,
as far as running off a sub on fox .They could but they cant be full power until after the switch over

If they wanted to replicate coverage, they should be at least around 250kW. They are also not co-located with any other full-power station which puts them at an even bigger disadvantage (at least as respects Boston and Manchester). They probably would be better off running on a sub of Fox. WFXT is also weak right now, but is 10x stronger than WZMY.

This is not a good "test" of DTV for viewers converting from analog now. Hopefully, they will realize that WZMY is an aberration and not the rule.

7.3 KW for WZMY-DT?

The ONLY time I could get the signal off the air was when I was also able to gtrab WLCW-DT,the CW affilate for Providence.

Weak isnt the word. I am in Salem NH and i cant pick up the signal either

The Boston Globe is running a story today about plans for Boston's stations to run a test next Tuesday:

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2008/12/03/digital_tv_confusing_you_wgbh_can_help/

and ironically, it features a quote from the president of MyTV about their recent changeover:

Impatient viewers can already test their TVs for digital compatibility by tuning into MyTV, a Derry, N.H., station that broadcasts in Boston on Channel 18. On Monday, MyTV went all-digital, more than two months ahead of schedule.

Diane Sutter, president of MyTV's owner, Shooting Star Broadcasting LLC, said the changeover has been nearly flawless. "We have had about a half-dozen calls of people with questions," Sutter said. "Our chief engineer's been helping them through."


So I guess their chief engineer has been too busy answering the phone to go out and measure their signal strength in Salem yet. :( How 'bout those "impatient viewers" use any of the other Boston stations that are already broadcasting at or near full-power and have been for a couple of years to test their TVs? Looks like the story also mistakenly reported MyTV's Comcast cable channel 18 as its off air channel. "Digital TV Confusing You?" asks the headline. Don't look to the Globe for the right information.

I'll bet my mortgage (not really) that WBZ goes HD with its local news either Monday or Tuesday of next week, in conjunction with the digital tests being run on Tuesday. Just a gut feeling.

I just saw on another message board - radio-info.com - that WLWC channel 28, Providence's CW station, is permanently shutting down their analog transmitter sometime on Tuesday, December 9, 2008. Can anyone confirm this? This is short notice.

Also, sometime next week - I think the 17th - all of the Providence stations will shut off analog transmission for 24 hours.

WLWC might want to tell the FCC about this. Stations terminating their analog are supposed to file with the FCC a month in advance, and there's been no filing from WLWC.

- Trip

I called WLWC TV 28 and the operator confirmed that they shut off their analog ch 28 transmitter at midnight and are now digital only on ch 22. It will be interesting to find out how far the digital signal extends.

I've done a lot of work on my 160" 59 element antenna set up over the past few weeks: moved it outside from the attic, rewired my house with RG6, installed a "zero loss" splitter panel, run all (most) home-runs, and changed a cheap splitter to a better one.

I can get about 20 core channels good-to-very good:2.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1*, 6.2*, 7.1, 7.2, 12.1, 25.1, 28.1*, 38.1, 44.1, 44.2, 44.3, 44.4, 48.1*, 56.1, 68.1*, 68.2*, 68.3*, 68.4. (The ones marked with an "*" are marginal).

I am having problems with the channel 68 feeds this week after my latest upgrade efforts.

68 has always been marginal. I have 2 relatively new TVs and one seems to be able to pick up channel 68 better than the other.

Has anyone seen problems with 68's feeds lately?

Does anyone in the Metrowest area get other stations that I should search out for and attempt to tune in to increase my "stable" of available channels?

how does this 'DTV test' work ?
i didn't run upstairs in time to check on my no-ATSC TV,
but4 minutes ago on my ATSC TV I had two side by side windows, one ATSC-25.1 , the other NTSC/cable 25. both windows showed "this set is ready for DTV".
the test is over now, probably to recur later today.

how does this 'DTV test' work ?
i didn't run upstairs in time to check on my no-ATSC TV,
but4 minutes ago on my ATSC TV I had two side by side windows, one ATSC-25.1 , the other NTSC/cable 25. both windows showed "this set is ready for DTV".
the test is over now, probably to recur later today.
You will only see a "Not Ready" if you are viewing an analog channel via an antenna. Since you have cable, you should be all set already as the cable company is downgrading the DTV signal for you.

cool. The 'test' is recurring now. In one window, OTA/NTSC, my TV is not ready for the DTV transition. In the other window, cable/NTSC, the same TV is ready for the transition.
Glad to get that cleared up. ;)
It's almost like Schrodinger's Cat.

cool. The 'test' is recurring now. In one window, OTA/NTSC, my TV is not ready for the DTV transition. In the other window, cable/NTSC, the same TV is ready for the transition. Glad to get that cleared up. ;) It's almost like Schrodinger's Cat.

A bit less funny is that if I tune to WGBH 2.0 I get the message that my TV is not DTV ready but if I tune to 2.1 the message is "This TV is DTV ready". I know of at least one person who replaced an old tube TV with a new LCD, plugged it in with an antenna but continued watching analog channels. Apparently she was not aware of the need to switch to the digital channels.

You will only see a "Not Ready" if you are viewing an analog channel via an antenna. Since you have cable, you should be all set already as the cable company is downgrading the DTV signal for you.

Not necessaily.

I did the 515 test with Fios. SD feeds of channels they have HD feeds of ARE ready.
The spanish channels were NOT.

Not necessaily.

I did the 515 test with Fios. SD feeds of channels they have HD feeds of ARE ready.
The spanish channels were NOT.
But that's a problem in the Fios system - no need to get a new TV or anything else at the house.

[QUOTE=RAV in Metrowest;15253953]

I can get about 20 core channels good-to-very good:2.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1*, 6.2*, 7.1, 7.2, 12.1, 25.1, 28.1*, 38.1, 44.1, 44.2, 44.3, 44.4, 48.1*, 56.1, 68.1*, 68.2*, 68.3*, 68.4. (The ones marked with an "*" are marginal).

[QUOTE]

I reviewed antennaweb.org again and confirmed my preferred direction of aim with a protractor and went out to check my orientation with my compass.

During the last wind storm the other night (and after some work by me on the roof) the antenna was pointed at 120 degrees instead of the preferred 70 degrees.

This has corrected the channel 68 issue.

Still interested in getting feedback about some of the other channels that are listed on the site: 18, 26, 28, and 52. Are you seeing these?

Prepare for my rant!

I am disappointed in the TV guides that are provided in the Metrowest Daily News and the Boston Globe.

It appears that the cable companies pay for these listings.

I have written to both publications without a reply stating that OTA viewers need the best guide coverage as opposed to cable subscribers that have guide channels.

None of the publications list content for the expanded channels such as the 4 channel 44 stations.

I am a laptop computer TV surfer - without the use of my laptop using tvguide.com's listings, I would not be able to see the total available content of shows available OTA.

What are others doing?

How can we convince the media to support us?

I talk to people at work about this and they are amazed at the number of stations available in this area - many that are not listed in any medium that is easy to access unless you "go looking for the info".

Still interested in getting feedback about some of the other channels that are listed on the site: 18, 26, 28, and 52. Are you seeing these?

52 is off the air til February.

- Trip

Prepare for my rant!

I am disappointed in the TV guides that are provided in the Metrowest Daily News and the Boston Globe.

It appears that the cable companies pay for these listings.

What are others doing?



The paper publications don't have enough room to deal with listings. They barely touch the surface on the cable listings. There are hundreds of channels. Why do you think TV Guide changed to a gossip magazine?

I use the TV listings on Zap2it.com. You can customize and filter it for the digital or analog channels you want and it includes area DTV channels and subchannels. Also you don't have to login or register to get the listings.

The only downside is the big stupid flash ad at the top. I mostly disable flash.

Prepare for my rant!

I am disappointed in the TV guides that are provided in the Metrowest Daily News and the Boston Globe.

What are others doing?

If you have an iPhone or an iPod touch, you can download from iTunes Store the free i.TV applet, which provides an excellent customizable TV guide with detailed content information.

Zap2it seems only to show information for channel 5 and less content than TVguide.com.

Comments?

Prepare for my rant!

I am disappointed in the TV guides that are provided in the Metrowest Daily News and the Boston Globe.

I am a laptop computer TV surfer - without the use of my laptop using tvguide.com's listings, I would not be able to see the total available content of shows available OTA.

What are others doing?


Have you tried titantv.com? You can select digital or analog OTA, cable, FIOS and both dish listings for your ZIP.

Is WFXT 25 analog off air for good or is it just a test?

Is WFXT 25 analog off air for good or is it just a test?

I can't seem to get the analog signal. WFXT_DT comes in

Zap2it seems only to show information for channel 5 and less content than TVguide.com.

Comments?

Your comment is a bit vague. Do you mean fewer listings than TVguide.com or less program descriptive information? I entered the Holliston zip code 01746, clicked Preferences got DTV listings for 2,4,5,6,7,9,10,12,25,26,27,28,36, 38,44,46, 48,50,56,62,64,66,68,69. Obviously this is an optimistic list if you check with antennaweb.org The descriptive information on listed programs is the same as that which comes OTA.

I can't seem to get the analog signal. WFXT_DT comes in

i had the same issue last night

Your comment is a bit vague. Do you mean fewer listings than TVguide.com or less program descriptive information? I entered the Holliston zip code 01746, clicked Preferences got DTV listings for 2,4,5,6,7,9,10,12,25,26,27,28,36, 38,44,46, 48,50,56,62,64,66,68,69. Obviously this is an optimistic list if you check with antennaweb.org The descriptive information on listed programs is the same as that which comes OTA.

I tried another browser and the results are the same. I even had someone review the screen with me to see if I was missing something.

For some unknown reason, I only get information for channel 5 and appear to be forwarded to some "the boston channel" web site.

Really wierd - only ABC information is provided and displayed.

I tried another browser and the results are the same. I even had someone review the screen with me to see if I was missing something.

For some unknown reason, I only get information for channel 5 and appear to be forwarded to some "the boston channel" web site.

Really wierd - only ABC information is provided and displayed.
I am seeing the same thing...must be a bug on their site. But I did find an alternative link...

http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tvlistings/ZCGrid.do

Then click on "Change My Location" to set your zip code.

I'll bet my mortgage (not really) that WBZ goes HD with its local news either Monday or Tuesday of next week, in conjunction with the digital tests being run on Tuesday. Just a gut feeling.

You lose.

You lose.

No fair. You have insider information. I hereby cancel my bet. P.S. Lisa looks fantastic in HD.

No fair. You have insider information. I hereby cancel my bet. P.S. Lisa looks fantastic in HD.
Since he posted at 5pm, it was already public knowledge that tonight was the HD debut. Just saying. :p

Anyone have any screen caps/videos of WBZ in HD? I'm out of the area but I'm curious to see what the debut looked like.

I hope this means that all locally produced WBZ programming will follow in HD, such as Pops Goes The 4th, Boston Pops XMAS and 5th Quarter.

The new set looks great in HD. I, too, am interested in knowing what the plan is for other local programming in high-definition.

Also, will CBS' Early Show go HD soon?

Thanks!

WLWC might want to tell the FCC about this. Stations terminating their analog are supposed to file with the FCC a month in advance, and there's been no filing from WLWC.

- Trip
Late reply, but I looked into this and there is a 90 day period preceding the 2/17/09 analog cutoff where broadcasters may turn off their analog signal.

They're still supposed to notify the FCC 30 days prior to doing so.

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-228A1.pdf

From Page 6:

"To provide additional flexibility within 90 days of the February 17, 2009 transition date (i.e., beginning on or after November 19, 2008), we will allow stations to permanently reduce or terminate their analog or pre-transition digital service without prior approval upon notification to the Commission 30 days prior to the planned permanent service reduction or termination. The station must still comply with a viewer notification requirement."

- Trip

They're still supposed to notify the FCC 30 days prior to doing so.

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-228A1.pdf

From Page 6:

"To provide additional flexibility within 90 days of the February 17, 2009 transition date (i.e., beginning on or after November 19, 2008), we will allow stations to permanently reduce or terminate their analog or pre-transition digital service without prior approval upon notification to the Commission 30 days prior to the planned permanent service reduction or termination. The station must still comply with a viewer notification requirement."

- Trip
Ah okay, didn't catch that in the things I read. Thanks for the clear up.

The new set looks great in HD. I, too, am interested in knowing what the plan is for other local programming in high-definition.

Also, will CBS' Early Show go HD soon?

Thanks!
I believe The Early Show as well as other CBS News programs are moving to HD in "early 2009".

The new set looks great in HD. I, too, am interested in knowing what the plan is for other local programming in high-definition.

Also, will CBS' Early Show go HD soon?

Thanks!

So when is Fox 25 going to take their local news HD? They're the final ones... Hardly ever noticed their news before, but now that Comcast moved them from 825 to 806, I "pass by" their news often now...

edit: oh, and when is NECN going HD???

So when is Fox 25 going to take their local news HD? They're the final ones... Hardly ever noticed their news before, but now that Comcast moved them from 825 to 806, I "pass by" their news often now...

edit: oh, and when is NECN going HD???

Let's not get greedy now.

So when is Fox 25 going to take their local news HD? They're the final ones... Hardly ever noticed their news before, but now that Comcast moved them from 825 to 806, I "pass by" their news often now...

edit: oh, and when is NECN going HD???

Fox 25 (25.1) has been in 720p - with Dolby Digital 2.0 sound - for several months (OTA).

Are you expecting this to change to 1080?

720 is HD.

Robert,

Is there any way to continue the school closing ticker through commercials on the digital feed as it does on the analog???

Fox 25 (25.1) has been in 720p - with Dolby Digital 2.0 sound - for several months (OTA).

Are you expecting this to change to 1080?

720 is HD.

Their local news is broadcast in SD then upconverted to 720p. So it is definately not HD.

Robert,

Is there any way to continue the school closing ticker through commercials on the digital feed as it does on the analog???
I'm afraid that won't happen right away. We do not yet have an HD graphics device in our Master Control to insert the closings ticker during commercials. I do not have an ETA yet on when we'll obtain one.

I'm afraid that won't happen right away. We do not yet have an HD graphics device in our Master Control to insert the closings ticker during commercials. I do not have an ETA yet on when we'll obtain one.

Thanks for the info. I hope it is seriously considered soon. I noticed (which makes sense) that the closings don't run when HD programming (like "Price Is Right") also. This is somewhat vital information (especially when weather alerts come out, too) that needs to be made available.

I just saw a message on another website, radio-info.com, that WFXT-TV 25's analog signal failed yesterday and is now off for good. Some may lose coverage now because the digital signal is weak.

Thanks for the info. I hope it is seriously considered soon. I noticed (which makes sense) that the closings don't run when HD programming (like "Price Is Right") also. This is somewhat vital information (especially when weather alerts come out, too) that needs to be made available.

I don't rely on tv crawls for school closings anymore, much more efficient to get a text message on your cell phone ! I've been doing this for a few years now.

-Ken

I don't rely on tv crawls for school closings anymore, much more efficient to get a text message on your cell phone ! I've been doing this for a few years now.

-Ken

I would do that, except for the fact that 'BZ is the most reliable when it comes to the info. (Forget WHDH which used to always list my district as "30 minute delay" for a closure when I was a kid). And of course, 'BZ does not offer that, either!:mad:

I'm afraid that won't happen right away. We do not yet have an HD graphics device in our Master Control to insert the closings ticker during commercials. I do not have an ETA yet on when we'll obtain one.

I can understand with the financial pressures everyone is under today that you'll be rolling out HD features as you can afford them. One question- when will weather graphics/radar/satellite be in HD? Housing the SD weather images in a chalk-board graphic is kind of a bummer.

I just saw a message on another website, radio-info.com, that WFXT-TV 25's analog signal failed yesterday and is now off for good. Some may lose coverage now because the digital signal is weak.

The TVGOS information transmitted by analog WFXT-TV has been unavailable since Monday. I don't know if that occurred before their analog transmitter died completely or as a direct result of same. In any event, does anyone know if another Boston station has assumed the broadcast of TVGOS info during the interregnum between now and the analog shutdown in February? In most markets, the local PBS affiliate will broadcast TVGOS info after the shutdown, but given WGBH's poor technology track record, one can't assume that will happen in the Boston market.

I would do that, except for the fact that 'BZ is the most reliable when it comes to the info. (Forget WHDH which used to always list my district as "30 minute delay" for a closure when I was a kid). And of course, 'BZ does not offer that, either!:mad:

I use the service from thebostonchannel.com (WCVB) and it's been very good, but I do live in a larger district (Chelmsford).

-Ken

I am seeing the same thing...must be a bug on their site. But I did find an alternative link...

http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tvlistings/ZCGrid.do

Then click on "Change My Location" to set your zip code.

I had the same problem with Zap2It...for some reason, if you ever go to the Boston Channel and then go back to Zap, you will be re-directed to the Boston Channel listing for WCVB. The only way to fix that is to delete the cookie for the Boston Channel and Zap, then go back to Zap listings, and you'll get the correct listings (in Firefox, you don't have to delete ALL the cookies...just the ones you want)>

Mornin. I'm having trouble with CBS (charnnel 4-1) this morning. Anyone else seeing this? I have a TiVo Series 3 HD with a large Array. I did re-adjust my antenna after this last windstorm and CBS's signal strength is very low - not even getting a picture.

The TVGOS information transmitted by analog WFXT-TV has been unavailable since Monday. I don't know if that occurred before their analog transmitter died completely or as a direct result of same. In any event, does anyone know if another Boston station has assumed the broadcast of TVGOS info during the interregnum between now and the analog shutdown in February? In most markets, the local PBS affiliate will broadcast TVGOS info after the shutdown, but given WGBH's poor technology track record, one can't assume that will happen in the Boston market.

WGBH 2 analog still transmits TVGOS as does WBZ-DT 4.1.

I am new to this thread. I live 10 miles from Boston. What would be the best antenna for me to purchase. My hdtv is only hd capable not hdready so if you could recommend a tuner also. Thanks for the replies.

http://www.antennaweb.org will help you select an antenna for your location. it also gives you great information on the signals available to you and their direction.

I am new to this thread. I live 10 miles from Boston. What would be the best antenna for me to purchase. My hdtv is only hd capable not hdready so if you could recommend a tuner also. Thanks for the replies.

You also need a HD tuner, if I understand you correctly. That is if you want to view the shows in HD.
Someone else is going to have to answer that.. it's been years since I bought my old Samsung HD receiver(in storage now) and don't know about any of the newer options.

If you don't want to view the HD, you can use the converter boxes. Don't forget the $40 coupon from the feds also.. www.dtv2009.gov
Look in the "Coupon Eligible Converter Box sub-forum on this site for converter box info and reviews.

I know you mention 10 miles from Boston.. but it's the distance from the towers. If I remember 'most' of the towers are off 128 near Needham


http://www.antennaweb.org will help you select an antenna for your location. It also gives you great information on the signals available to you and their direction.

Personally.. that site sux for me.

I suggest using www.tvfool.com to see what signals and the direction. Use the "TV Signal Locater" enter your address info and it will give you a list of stations and the direction they are transmitting from. At the bottom will give you a color guide to the antenna type.

RobM

The converter boxes being sold at Radio Shack will deliver HD signals to an HD-ready TV.

I am new to this thread. I live 10 miles from Boston. What would be the best antenna for me to purchase. My hdtv is only hd capable not hdready so if you could recommend a tuner also. Thanks for the replies.

As far as I know, the Samsung DTB-H260F is generally considered to be the best HD tuner.

The converter boxes being sold at Radio Shack will deliver HD signals to an HD-ready TV.

Which box is that? None of the coupon boxes, for sure.

- Trip

Which box is that? None of the coupon boxes, for sure.

- Trip

So, you're saying that the converter boxes deliver an SD digital signal only? If you connect a converter box to an HD-ready set, you'll only get an SD digital signal? Doesn't make sense. I understand that an analog set won't get an HD image but an HD-ready set should (I thought anyway).

The converter boxes that the government is providing a discount for are deigned to covert a digital signal to analog. The whole point is to help people with old analog-only sets to tune the new channels. These typically have coax (channel 3 or 4) and Composite video outputs.

What the original poster needs is an HDTV tuner. He will want a true HDTV signal to go to his TV. He will desire one of: HDMI, DVI, YPbPr (aka Component video), VGA or similar outputs from an external tuner box. I am not aware that these exist on the cheap government subsidized box.

What he needs is a subscription to digital cable or satellite tv, or a new TV set.

Or an external HDTV tuner. I googled and easily found ones for under $200
What he needs is a subscription to digital cable or satellite tv, or a new TV set.

So, you're saying that the converter boxes deliver an SD digital signal only? If you connect a converter box to an HD-ready set, you'll only get an SD digital signal? Doesn't make sense. I understand that an analog set won't get an HD image but an HD-ready set should (I thought anyway).

The boxes only output SD.

What the original poster needs is an HDTV tuner. He will want a true HDTV signal to go to his TV. He will desire one of: HDMI, DVI, YPbPr (aka Component video), VGA or similar outputs from an external tuner box. I am not aware that these exist on the cheap government subsidized box.

Bingo. The government coupon program specifically excludes receivers with ANY kind of HD output. The converter boxes exist only for the purpose of converting analog to digital, and not for bringing reception to HDTVs without tuners. (Unless they don't mind watching SD on their HDTVs)

What he needs is a subscription to digital cable or satellite tv, or a new TV set.

No, he doesn't. He needs a tuner like the Samsung DTB-H260F, which does have the correct outputs for HD.

- Trip

No, he doesn't. He needs a tuner like the Samsung DTB-H260F, which does have the correct outputs for HD.

- Trip

Or a subscription to digital cable, satellite tv or a new TV set.

Or a subscription to digital cable, satellite tv or a new TV set.
If the guy's got a perfectly good HDTV that just doesn't have an ATSC tuner built in, it's more than a bit silly to buy an entire new TV when ATSC tuners are available for a lot less unless the new TV would be an upgrade in other areas and the budget supports this option. Why toss out a perfectly good TV (obviously it can be sold or given to someone else, but they'll end up in the same boat)? If he is happy with the OTA program choices, there's absolutely no need for digital cable or satellite TV though I would certainly agree that most people will find the additional programming choices and available DVR's a pretty significant plus. If OTA programming is all one wants, there are plenty of DVR solutions, so the real advantage to cable and satellite is the additional programming choices.

Hey I'm just trying to do my part in helping getting the economy out of the dumper.

Hey I'm just trying to do my part in helping getting the economy out of the dumper.
Well, I've done my part over the last month - in addition to other purchases, I bought up a whole bunch of stuff at the Tweeter liquidation sale including a new Mitsubishi WD-65835 DLP :D.

It's fine to present people with options, but I thought that your reply might be somewhat misleading to someone who isn't entirely up to speed on the technology giving them the impression that they HAD to get rid of their current TV to reach their end goal.

Anyone else have a thick flashing black line on top of the WBZ HD newscast?

I was checking it out since I missed the launch last week. Only FOX as usual being the last one.

My ranking for HD local newcasts?
1. WCVB HD (looks the best, in and out of studio)
2. WHDH HD (looks good can used some work)
3. WWBZ HD (can use alot of work, but since it just lauched we'll give them sometime)

[QUOTE=gsr;15304458 If OTA programming is all one wants, there are plenty of DVR solutions, so the real advantage to cable and satellite is the additional programming choices.[/QUOTE]


I've got a friend who wants an HD OTA DVR solution. What options are out there? Do any of them have a Tivo-like guide?

Thanks in advance.

Boy - lots of poor image quality examples tonight.

Seinfeld - 7:30 on Fox 25-1. What the hell was wrong with that image? Signal strength (though reported that they had problems) was 100%.

Boston Legal - 8 pm, 68-1, has some sort of imae skew (distortion) and very low resolution - 480 - image. Signal is at 87% and above.

I've got a friend who wants an HD OTA DVR solution. What options are out there? Do any of them have a Tivo-like guide?

Thanks in advance.

This one comes to mind, the Dish DTVPal DVR (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=972197) for OTA broadcasts.
Aside from Tivo or a used Sony DHG, it may be the only option.

I've got a friend who wants an HD OTA DVR solution. What options are out there? Do any of them have a Tivo-like guide?
If your friend is willing to use a PC there are a bunch of options:

Windows Media Center
BeyondTV
SageTV
MythTV (Linux)

All of these have excellent program guides and very Tivo like capabilities (and more). There aren't too many set top box options for OTA only DVR's. The DirecTV DVR's can also record OTA, but only if you have DirecTV service and the newer ones require an extra OTA tuner box.

Moxi just came out with a new HD DVR. It runs $799, no monthly fee.

Bingo. The government coupon program specifically excludes receivers with ANY kind of HD output. The converter boxes exist only for the purpose of converting analog to digital, and not for bringing reception to HDTVs without tuners.Typo: I'm sure you mean that the converter boxes exist only for the purpose of converting digital to analog.

Typo: I'm sure you mean that the converter boxes exist only for the purpose of converting digital to analog.

Of course. :D That's what I get for coming to AVS while stressing over final exams.

- Trip

Moxi just came out with a new HD DVR. It runs $799, no monthly fee.

Unfortunately, it doesn't support OTA, only cable.

http://moxi.com/moxi/discover_moxi_hd.jsp

Note


This product is compatible with Multi-stream CableCARD™. Your cable company may require a CableCARD decoder to receive digital cable channels. (Video on Demand and Pay Per View are not available)
This product is not compatible with satellite television
Analog tuner dongle can be obtained separately
Antenna and satellite services are not supported

Ah, thanks for pointing that out. I've gotten the various new entrants to the market confused in my head.

This Sunday will mark the first Patriots game not subject to blackout that is NOT available in the Boston market on over the air analog TV.

The following Sunday will mark the very last regular season game that IS.

This Sunday will mark the first Patriots game not subject to blackout that is NOT available in the Boston market on over the air analog TV.

The following Sunday will mark the very last regular season game that IS.
Why is this game not available on over the air analog TV?

the pats web site says it will be on WFXT, so presumably we can watch it via limited-basic (or better) cable, or OTA on channel 31.1 [25.1] .
Are you saying that WFXT will not be broadcasting the game on "25.0" in NTSC but will be broadcasting it via ATSC on 31.1? That would be odd; surely I am misunderstanding you, ccjf!

oh, I just found this in Boston OTA forum:


Nitwit TV Engineer

Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 9,788

This from Scott Fybush's NortEast Radio Watch website:

But WFXT has bigger concerns at the moment: after many months fighting problems with its aging analog transmission system, we're hearing that WFXT's analog signal finally gave up the ghost for good last week, leaving only WFXT-DT (RF 31), which is not yet at full power. Interestingly, WFXT had just last month submitted an STA application to the FCC asking for reduced analog power (293 kW visual) through the end of the transition period, due to "recent, partial damage to the licensed antenna."

This may be the first "Big 4" in a major market to go all digital, voluntary or not.

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

I'm sure many Boston area UHF antennas can get ch. 64 from Providence to get the game Sunday.

I want Maria in HD

I'm sure many Boston area UHF antennas can get ch. 64 from Providence to get the game Sunday.

South maybe but not north.

Besides if you have the equipment,who cares? :)

I want Maria in (be)D

Corrected.

Is anyone else having problems receiving WFXT-DT? I can't get any signal reliably, whereas before it came in well unless there was strong wind....are they having transmitter issues?

Working fine right now