Boston, MA - OTA [Text View]

Jim_S

05-18-01, 09:02 AM

Originally posted by mkingman:
No amount of antenna adjustment can give me a solid signal on 30 anymore. My DTC100 still reports a quality of about 88 when it's locked-on, but I get frequent fluctuations and dropouts.
/Matt

Matt

You are being affected by multipath interference. Your DTC 100 locks on the main signal, and within a few seconds tries to lock onto an echo (the multipath) which is not as strong and is out of sync with the main signal. This confuses the heck out of the receiver.

New England is unique because of the many small hills, and the multipath interference it generates. The problem seems to compound in May, when all the leaves on the trees arrive. Look at the increased reports of dropouts over the past couple of weeks. The leaves contain moisture that scatters the digital signal. Short of importing Rodmanbra to New England to lobby to cut down all the trees, it's something we have to live with.

Making the signal stronger is not necessary. What is needed is a more directional antenna, capable of rejecting the secondary signals. Antenna positioning is key. Not only pointing, but also elevation is just as important. A few feet up or down can make all the difference in the world.

If all else fails, there is Tim's Voodoo. A $10 Radio Shack Attenuator that cuts down on the signal, rather than boosting it up. The theory is to reduce the signal to the point where the DTC 100 can not lock onto the multipath signal. I have had one on the back of my DTC 100 for over a year and it works wonders.

------------------
Nothing difficult ever turns out to be easy

[This message has been edited by Jim_S (edited 05-18-2001).]

JoeMA

05-18-01, 09:38 AM

Thanks rudolpht:
That was what I needed to know- I wanted to go to the HD sat/ota setup even before I get a HDTV and wanted to ensure everything was installed correctly, so that when I do get an HDTV this fall I will be ready.

metamatt

05-18-01, 04:13 PM

For more on attenuators
http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/Forum11/HTML/013905.html

brandish

05-18-01, 08:33 PM

FYI

WCVB-DT operates at half the power of WBZ-DT, pending FCC Authorization to increase power.

PSIP is coming in the not too distant future.

Ross

------------------
Ross Kauffman

shelly

05-19-01, 11:09 AM

Is there any curent information as to when Boston PBS (WGBH) or NBC (WHDH) might begin to transmit the HD programming?

[This message has been edited by shelly (edited 05-22-2001).]

metamatt

05-20-01, 11:07 AM

Yesterday I re-started the Panasonic TU-HDS20 and now channel 5 (ABC) is at 20-1 and channel 25 (Fox)is at 31-2, the others are as usual: channel 7 (NBC) is at 7-1, and channel 4 (CBS) is at 30-1.

Does anyone know why the changes?

rudolpht

05-20-01, 04:07 PM

Only Channel 42 & 30 are providing PSIP info to do mapping to the Analog equivalent (7 & 4, respectively) channels. ABC 20 & FOX 32 never have. If the Panasonic does mapping of non-PSIP channels (like the newer Hughes/Tosh/Mits does) then it sounds like something giot reset in the advanced programming guide.

Tim

Doug G

05-21-01, 10:20 AM

My TU-HDS20 is fine following a power on/off cycle. In my experience this resets the channel lineup from 'favorite' to 'all' so you need to reselect after powering back up, although I'm unsure this would have affected the actual channel setting. Sounds like your setup got messed up somehow, I would re-check it. Incidentally, my unit seems to have developed a clicking sound in the last day or so. It seems to come in three's every so often. Its been benign as far as I can tell so far. Anyone else have this or know what it may be?

On another note, I recently calibrated my Elite 510HD using Avia and MAN what a difference! So DVD now looks better than ever, but how to calibrate the settings for my TU-HDS20? Tried the DVD/VCR RF setup, but no picture. Tried to eyeball it, but as it turns out I wasn't even close. Oddly enough, I just happened to be up at 5AM today courtesy of my 9 month old son, and figured since I couldn't get back to sleep I'd head downstairs and check the tube for the morning financial forecasts. Well, the tuner just happened to be set on WFXT-DT (the last show we watched last night was the season finale of the X-files) and to my amazement what did I see? You got it, COLOR BARS!!! Imagine that, I knew what they were and what they're used for! I promptly broke out my Avia blue filter and went to work. In 2 minutes I had both the tint and color perfectly set. Thanks FOX! If anyone with this STB/monitor combo is interested, let me know and I can mail/post my settings, which BTW are dramatically different than for my interlaced DVD (Pioneer DV-525.) I guess those nighttime wake-up calls do have a silver lining after all....

JOtteman

05-21-01, 05:53 PM

Originally posted by Doug G:
If anyone with this STB/monitor combo is interested, let me know and I can mail/post my settings, which BTW are dramatically different than for my interlaced DVD (Pioneer DV-525.) I guess those nighttime wake-up calls do have a silver lining after all....[/B]

Please post or e-mail at JOtteman@aol.com the settings. I have the same monitor and STB andw would appreciate the settings. Thanks-- Jay

[This message has been edited by JOtteman (edited 05-21-2001).]

Doug G

05-22-01, 08:25 AM

Jay,

Here are the settings I arrived at using the color bars on WFXT-DT and Avia blue filter. I've noticed that while they work failrly well for most programming, that occassionally certain channels/shows seem to show more red push, particularly in flesh tones (Ally McBeal last night seemed to have very high inherent red levels while the show prior to it, Boston Public, looked pretty normal.) This could probably be equialized by reducing the color setting even further (its already reduced somewhat in these setting to combat red push.) Also, note that these settings were performed in "hybrid" mode, so 480p/1080i. I've done A/B comps between 480i and 480p and it seems like the 480i mode probably requires different settings since it exhibited significantly more reds than 480p mode.

Contrast -22
Black Lvl 2
Color 3
Tint 3
Sharpness -30

Temp Film, Flesh tone Off, SVM off.

metamatt

05-22-01, 07:51 PM

Doug,

Thanks for the settings, as well as your comments on the changes in settings for the OTA channels in the Boston area. The difference seems to have been caused by using the antenna setup within the TU-HDS20 menu, instead of the usual unplugging. When I do the latter it comes up as usual.

rudolpht

05-23-01, 09:27 PM

It appears WFXT-DT PSIP Channel mapping is working. Dish 6000 updated. DST-3000 correctly identifies (and still allows Advanced Programming Guide to provide schedule info - like WHDH-DT but unlike WBZ-DT).

Tim

PKurmas

05-25-01, 02:14 PM

I was wondering if there's anybody reading this thread in the same area as me. Before taking the plunge on an antenna, I'd like to find out if there's any hope!

I live in Townsend, which is about 35 miles from the antenna farm at bearing 315. Unfortunately, I've got a 100 foot rocky hill directly between my house and the antenna. Interestingly, antennaweb.org says that a medium power directional would be enough for the DTV stations, and adding a preamp would be enough for NTSC stations. I checked the detailed map, and it's not a glitch in their lookup... my property is in a little burst of light green.

The WAF isn't very high for putting up an antenna without knowing for sure it will work. If there's anybody else nearby whose had good or bad luck, it would sure help.

Thanks!

Bob Hess

05-25-01, 06:37 PM

Originally posted by PKurmas:
[B]I was wondering if there's anybody reading this thread in the same area as me. Before taking the plunge on an antenna, I'd like to find out if there's any hope!
B]

If you have a neighbor with an outside antenna, see how well they can see channel 44, WGBX, an analog channel. If it is relatively ghost free, you have a good chance of seeing the Boston digital channels.

Bob Hess
Director, Broadcast Operations/Engineering
WBZ-TV/WSBK-TV/WLWC-TV/WBZ-AM/WODS-FM

metamatt

05-26-01, 08:32 PM

From my experience with it, I strongly recommend the MegaWave MTV-1 indoor antenna. I can pick up all the HD channels with this indoor. It can be purchased at
http://www.megawave.com/mtv1.htm

By the way, what digital range does channel 7-1 broadcast? Is it an upcoverted 480p?

Matt

HDTV_fan

05-26-01, 10:21 PM

Originally posted by shelly:
Is there any current information as to when Boston PBS (WGBH) or NBC (WHDH) might begin to transmit the HD programming?

[This message has been edited by shelly (edited 05-22-2001).]

Last week I attended a presentation at WGBH where they discussed their latest technology advancements. Unfortunately their CTO seems to be very down on HDTV and DTV and rather than informing their members of its availability (as readers of this forum can attest to), he kept trying to tell the audience that it doesn't exist. I spoke with him briefly afterward and he complained about the cost of running their DTV transmitter (he indicated that it is ready to go and that they are simply unmotivated to turn it on). I suggested that they could at least turn it on when PBS was showing HD specials and he said that was something they had not considered but would look into. I spoke to some of their other staff members who seemed more interested in HDTV and I suggested that they set up a fund for donors to contribute to expressly in support of HDTV so that they can judge the potential audience. To help them get started, I made a healthy pledge contingent on their first airing of HDTV. If others are interested in seeing WGBH return to a position of leadership in television broadcasting (or at least the equal of Springfield's PBS station which has been on the air since last year), I encourage you to contact the station and let your voices be heard. Thanks,

--Marc

lenkawell

05-27-01, 09:47 AM

I sent them a note this morning from their Contact Us Web page. http://www.wgbh.org/contact/

rudolpht

05-27-01, 11:22 AM

I am a previous WGBH Member. I have stopped & will continue to stop until WGBH goes digital AND provides a High Definition feed for those programs provided in the format.

It was downright disgraceful to have a John Singer Sargent show in HD and the pruported "flagship" of the PBS network not able to carry it last year. The foot dragging shows WGBH to be antithesis of an innovator and rather a broadcasting anachronism out of step with the quality given to your programming.

Please take steps to bring your Boston area viewers into the 2000s. Just going digital is insufficient, HD is necessary. Quality content should be available in quality form.

Very Respectfully,
Tim Rudolph

rudolpht

05-27-01, 11:55 AM

Canned response:

Dear WGBH viewer, listener or Web site visitor,

Thank you for contacting WGBH. We appreciate hearing from you. Your comments will be carefully read and recorded for future reference.
Because of the great volume of correspondence we receive, we cannot always respond to questions immediately. We will, however, do our best to respond in a timely manner.

If you have questions about the recently upgraded WGBH Web site, the bulk of the redesign is complete, but the site is still in development. We ask your patience while we work to bring you state-of-the-art functionality, and we appreciate your interest and support in the interim.

PBS member stations rely on your support. For information on how you can support your local PBS station, please visit http://www.pbs.org/aboutsite/faq.html. We encourage New England viewers and listeners to visit http://www.wgbh.org/pledge.

WGBH Audience and Member Services

Looking forward to the real response.

Tim

r0mar

05-27-01, 08:17 PM

Re: PBS
I am fortunate enough to live in southeast NH and I can pick up the Boston stations and NH PBS station NHPTV DTV 57 (maps at 80-03 on my dish 6000) from Durham. They have been broadcasting nightly for at least 2 hours plus the weekend afternoons (mostly a hour demo) but show all the national PBS showings plus Smart Travels with Rudy Maxa on Sat evenings. They have recently started showing other digital PBS stations productions and reruns of national shows which has varied the content enough so that I check it every night. I support it as a member and hopefully others will also. You can see their schedule at http://www.nhptv.org/programs/prime.shtml

Question: Does anyone know what power level NHPTV DTV 57 is broadcasting at and when will they be at full power. Have e-mailed them but never received a reply.

Ron

rudolpht

05-27-01, 09:30 PM

Originally posted by rudolpht:
It appears WFXT-DT PSIP Channel mapping is working. Dish 6000 updated. DST-3000 correctly identifies (and still allows Advanced Programming Guide to provide schedule info - like WHDH-DT but unlike WBZ-DT).

Looks like 25 PSIP went out and came back again last night. Showing guide info on DST-3000.

Tim

jimg

05-29-01, 09:54 AM

Originally posted by r0mar:

Question: Does anyone know what power level NHPTV DTV 57 is broadcasting at and when will they be at full power. Have e-mailed them but never received a reply.

Ron

Surprising channel 11 didn't respond....(probably still recovering from "auction frenzy").

From NHPTV's Chief Engineer, Bob Ross:
"We were at 280KW erp, which is our current max..."
Currently they're under a construction permit, and it'll still be a while before they go full power.

I get Channel 57 very well in Framingham, MA using
a big UHF antenna and preamp. (I'm ~70 miles away.)

For program updates, email Bob Ross <BRoss@NHPTV.UNH.EDU> and ask to be put on his quarterly HDTV programming list. (It gives the program's initial airing time; Channel 57 often stays on later for these broadcasts.) Sometimes Bob has been able to give us some "heads-up" warning about the Channel 11's live broadcasts (e.g. UNH hockey), other times (like tests from the Channel 11 auction, as well as after-hours testing, you're going to have to tune-in at the right time.)

Location and signal strength reports welcome, including the seasonal changes (i.e. did the leaves help/hurt with reception.)

Also email rlore@nhptv.unh.edu and ask to be put on the NHPTV e-news newsletter (and lobby him to also have it include Channel 57 programs.)

It also doesn't hurt to mention how much you like Channel 57 when you send back your membership renewal card. (WGBH reads your comments, but NHPTV really listens.)

----

Note for those who've tried to get Channel 57 earlier, try again. The transmitter is in Deerfield, NH on Saddleback Mountain, right next to the Channel 11 transmitter.
In early Spring, some [unknown] tweaks done by Channel 57 gave me a more-steady signal, and now with leaves on the trees, I get almost perfect reception [reduced multipath?].

rudolpht

05-29-01, 03:39 PM

I guess I'll have to erect a tower to get 57. I'm closer than Framinham but no dice. I even bought the Jointenna components to Mux in 57, but I can't get it only pointed there.

Here is the disappointing pseudo-response from WGBH:

Reply-To: feedback <feedback@wgbh.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Dear Mr. Rudolph,

Thank you for your interest in digital television at WGBH. We always enjoy hearing from our viewers.

Because we’ve had to carefully consider several important factors concerning digital transmission in the current broadcast environment, we have opted not to speed our timetable for launching a digital broadcast signal. For example, many people within the television broadcast community speculate that digital cable delivery will play out before over-the-air digital broadcasting. Therefore, negotiations continue with cable companies to carry our digital channels (19 and 43).

In addition, we must also consider when it is cost efficient to begin broadcasting a digital transmission, especially in light of the high cost of providing power for such technology when so few people currently own digital television sets in the Greater Boston area.

So, while the transmitter, antenna, and link from our studios is set and working, we have not yet developed a program schedule to feed it. The FCC's mandate for PBS stations to to be on the air with a digital signal by May, 2003 remains in place.

I hope you continue to enjoy the wide variety of programs on 'GBH 2, Select44 and 89.7fm, as well the ancillary content and information available at our Web site, www.wgbh.org. (http://www.wgbh.org.)

And to keep up-to-date on our many offerings, we encourage you to visit our Web site today to sign up for our free bi-weekly program highlight e-newsletter, @gbh. You’ll find information on your favorite public broadcasting Web sites, reminders of upcoming shows on ’GBH 2, Select44 and 89.7fm, and answers to your questions and the latest ’GBH news.

Sincerely,

WGBH Audience and Member Services

CdnSteveR

05-29-01, 04:05 PM

Re: Boston NBC HD (WHDH)

I sent a query to WHDH yesterday, asking why they weren't passing through existant NBC HD programming in HD -- especially considering they are already broadcasting ATSC in 480i.

I received a message back today from Jim Shultis, Director of Engineering.

Jim said that the reason that they "choose" not to pass through in HD is that the only programming available so far is "The Jay Leno Show" (hmmmmm), and "the rest of the day" they "would have to upconvert to 1080i" (oh no!), and "this is something that HD sets do well" anyway (sure).

Wow. How could someone in such a position be so out of touch.

I encourage anyone who cares to write Jim at jshultis@whdh.com. Better yet, use their website and send via the "Contact Station Management" form. Or both.

Steve R

JackB

05-29-01, 08:11 PM

Tim,

The letter back from PBS sates that there are so few DTV viewers in the Boston area that they can't justify the cost. My sales experience tells me that these guys don't have a clue as to how many DTV viewers in the Boston area they need in order to justify turning on digital and HD!

I recommend replying to their reply by asking how many viewers they need. If they give you an answer that's a start.

Jack

jeff43

05-29-01, 09:58 PM

Maybe I'm reading too much between the lines, but, I've always had the feeling Jim Shultis wants to transmit 1080i material but is simply communicating the stations decision.

I am really curious as to what the actual costs are. Is it the price of electricity plus an extra engineer? Is it $100 a day, $500 or what?

I know Jim had made the comment that 480i looks about the same as up-converted material but we now know that to be absolutely incorrect. I realize Leno is the only real HD programming at NBC but up-converted material looks so much better than 480i, it's still well worth doing.

The real problem I have is with WGBH. I know there's been a couple comments about no more pledging money to them but lets not forget they are federally subsidized so, in essence, we have ALL given them money.

Let's not forget they are literally a switch away from going 19-DT and where do you think the money came from for that?

The PBS flagship station refusing to utilize what they already have. What a waste of money. I say maybe writing letters to our state senators informing them of the situation may help.

Granted, federal funding for PBS isn't what it used to be, however, I still think it's arrogant of them to throw digital transmissions to the wayside, particularly under these circumstances.

rudolpht

05-30-01, 12:22 AM

Originally posted by JackB:
I recommend replying to their reply by asking how many viewers they need. If they give you an answer that's a start.
Jack,

Good comment. Will do.

Jeff,

Agree.

Tim

JackB

05-30-01, 09:24 AM

Tim, Jeff,

I have been emailing with a technology VP at our local PBS station who is on the air with HD. His latest answer to me on this issue was that it cost them $10,000 per month to power the digital service. I guess that is significant and would justify a need for a large enough audience. I think what's needed next is to know how many viewers will offset that expense.

Jack

jhe

05-30-01, 09:47 AM

Let's see. 1000 viewers contributing 100 dollars per year = 100,000 dollars. This would power the transmitter for well over a year if they went on for Prime time like WENH-DT does, assuming WGBH has costs like those mentioned .....

But I spent all my contribution money on a very expensive tower and antenna to get channel 57, at least some of the time (works great when cloudy but not raining.).....

But maybe there is good news: I wrote Jim Shultis (ch 42, re: The Tonight Show) and got a slightly improved response. He said he hoped to do 1080i within a year. So maybe we are starting to get a critical mass???

[This message has been edited by jhe (edited 05-30-2001).]

HDTV_fan

05-30-01, 09:59 AM

Originally posted by JackB:
Tim, Jeff,

I have been emailing with a technology VP at our local PBS station who is on the air with HD. His latest answer to me on this issue was that it cost them $10,000 per month to power the digital service. I guess that is significant and would justify a need for a large enough audience. I think what's needed next is to know how many viewers will offset that expense.

Jack

This is in line with what I heard at the WGBH Technical Presentation when speaking with their CTO, David Liroff. While I agree that's a fair piece of change, I don't really care if they broadcast Sesame Street digitally. If they just turned it on for the PBS HD specials (say 10 hours per week), that cost would drop to about $600 per month, and I'd find it very hard to believe that there aren't enough viewers in the Boston area to directly support that cost through ear-marked contributions.

--Marc

Prjoy

05-30-01, 10:34 AM

This is a new story, I thought it was that CH 19 was not free and that they were waiting for the low power station to vacate the channel. I guess GBH is not encouraging the current Ch 19 user to vacate. I do agree that having invested all that money (federal funds) they are unwilling to use the equipment. I would be willing to donate on a monthly basis if they would do just 2 or 3 hours per night or when HDTV programing is available from PBS. I guess GBH does not want to be an innovator as they have claimed in the past. Guess I will be watching CH 57 when I get my antenna back up on the roof of my new house.

------------------
HDjunky

patjoy

05-30-01, 07:47 PM

jimg,

Thanks for the update on Ch57. Almost ready to install the outside antenna on the new house.

Thanks again,

Pat

rudolpht

05-30-01, 10:02 PM

This was my response to the response last night. No feedback yet.

Dear "WGBH Audience and Member Services,"

Appreciate response, but do you know how "few people currently own digital television sets in the Greater Boston area?" I would venture to guess many more than NH Public TV & Springfield, MA PBS already serve.

Given that cable standards for HD carriage are not established and over the air is, I would guess that the lack of digital sets not being sold is a self fulfilling prophecy. Also, isn't free over the air carriage consistent with the public part of PBS?

Not trying to be a devil's advocate but am interesting in receiving quality High Definition content like so many PBS stations across the nation.

Respectfully,
Tim Rudolph

I also sent Mr Shultis my communication to the FCC regarding WHDH.

pauln

05-30-01, 10:03 PM

I cannot receive ch 42 tonight to watch the NBA playoff game-- my dtc100 reports a signal strength of 88, yet also reports 'weak signal'. I live in Lynnfield. Anybody else similarly affected?

------------------
Paul

rudolpht

05-30-01, 10:08 PM

Paul,

I'm getting 89% reception of a blank screen.

Tim

pauln

05-30-01, 10:14 PM

Tim,

Well that makes two of us--what the heck is going on with WHDH? My guess is they have not switched theier DTV content stream to their modulator, hence a lot of empty bits are flowing into the air.

--Paul

------------------
Paul

jimg

05-31-01, 12:00 AM

Originally posted by Prjoy:
Guess I will be watching CH 57 when I get my antenna back up on the roof of my new house.

CH 57 is doing some tower work this week; expect it to be back on air Fri. eve.

I get CH 57 "loud and clear" from Framingham with the CM Parascope and 28db preamp. It'll be a lot easier for you since you're closer to CH 57 as well as being farther from both the Needham towers (and CH 56), and Springfield's WGBY-57.

Happy rotoring!

metamatt

05-31-01, 11:47 AM

A Panasonic TU-HDS20 has the digital signal at 7-1. The game was on it last night. It puts the digital there and not at a channel 42.

Matt

chs4

05-31-01, 01:00 PM

On my E*6000 WHDH also maps to 7-1, but I too received no picture last night. Signal strength of 75-85, but no picture.

Chip

SPel699187@aol.com

05-31-01, 10:05 PM

Scheduled outage from ch57:

Channel 57 will not be on the air May 30,31 and June 1 as we have tower
work in progress and we cannot expose the workers to excessive RF exposure.
We will turn it back on earlier if the work is completed sooner than
expected..

------------------
Steve P

jimg

06-01-01, 08:25 AM

Originally posted by chs4:
On my E*6000 WHDH also maps to 7-1, but I too received no picture last night. Signal strength of 75-85, but no picture.

Chip

Known problem with the E* 6000 (and scheduled to be fixed in the long-awaited update).

It should also show up with channel 23-1. (Apparently it's not ignoring a bogus ident.)

Go to 42-2 and its there. (And actually last night, I just had to "channel up" from 007-1 to get to 42-2.)

SANdood

06-01-01, 06:04 PM

<FONT face="Georgia">Sometime over the past day or two, the channel 4.1 (WBZ) signal loss drop-outs on my Sony HD100 stopped. Perhaps a patch was downloaded (my system says it has #256,1543 and 2049, but not #953), or perhaps something changed at WBZ.

Bob Hess - have you tried your HD100 lately? Did you do anything, or has Sony finally resolved this for us all.

Or maybe, it's just me?</FONT f>

[This message has been edited by SANdood (edited 06-01-2001).]

Bob Hess

06-01-01, 07:26 PM

SANdood,

We have busy working on this problem and just got some suggested changes in the settings for our HDTV encoder that may fix the problem. We plan on making these changes on Monday. To date, however, we have not done anything that should affect your HD-100.

All HD-100 users: check out your reception Monday night.

Bob

rudolpht

06-02-01, 12:27 AM

On the E6000 7-1 worked fine.

It did not work the prior night even trying to direct input to 42-1 or 42-2 (the first thing I try). Direct mapping is easy. Start with a "00" for a onedigit station, like 007 or you can type 0071. One "0" for a two digit, e.g. 0421, 0422.

Tim

jeff43

06-03-01, 10:19 PM

Anyone else notice WFXT-DT has dropped to 480p instead of their usual 720p?

At first, I thought my Panasonic STB switch was in the wrong position.

Wow, what a difference. Looks worse than NBC's 480i.

Does anybody know if this is a tempoary situation or did Boston digital TV just take a giant step backwards?

Bob Hess

06-04-01, 10:48 AM

Sony HD-100 users:

We have made some changes on our end and our HD-100 is now stable. In another thread, I see that Sony has also downloaded changes via Direct TV. Please let me know if you see anything weird going on with WBZ-DT.

Bob Hess
Director, Broadcast Operations/Engineering
WBZ

[This message has been edited by Bob Hess (edited 06-04-2001).]

c.k

06-04-01, 01:45 PM

Anybody have lip sync problems with FOX 25-1 last night? I had to go to my DTV feed since Malcolm In The Middle was really annoying. I have a Panasonic HDS-20 STB.

jeff43

06-05-01, 09:36 PM

WFXT-DT still transmitting only a 480p signal. Anybody getting 720p? Does anyone know what's up with that?

wkhz

06-06-01, 02:48 PM

I also lost 4-1 and 7-1 from RCA DCT-100 last night (6/5/01). However, 30-1 and 42-1 (or 2?) had both video and audio. I guess their channel mapping wasn't working last night.

Bob Hess

06-06-01, 05:10 PM

Originally posted by sbuckler:
Anyone else getting strong signal on WBZ-DT but no audio or video? Same thing as WHDH lately. Using DTC100 signal strenght is 88 but "weak signal" appears.

I'm guessing that you need to do a new channel search. This because we made changes to our PSIP settings to take care of a problem with Sony HD-100 receivers.

Remember our DTV Hotline: 617-787-7043

Feel free to call this number to report a problem.

Bob Hess
Director, Broadcast Operations/Engineering
WBZ-TV/WSBK-TV/WLWC-TV/WBZ-AM/WODS-FM

sbuckler

06-07-01, 12:20 AM

Anyone else getting strong signal on WBZ-DT but no audio or video? Same thing as WHDH lately. Using DTC100 signal strenght is 88 but "weak signal" appears.

RScogland

06-07-01, 12:38 AM

I tried fiddling with things last night (6/5/2001) and afterwards could only get 20-1 (and sometimes 31-2 came in for a while, but that is no different from before, and this was what I was trying to improve by fiddling). My "post fiddle" experience was that dispite strong signal readings from 4-1 and 7-1, I got zero sound or picture. This was later in the evening ... maybe around 10:00PM. Was this problem on my end or was anything down?

I forgot to mention that I use a ProScan PSHD-105 (same as DTC-100) with the RCA VHDC-300, a Silver Sensor antenna with RadioShack attenuator, and a Sony KV-32XBR400. (I once again tried my RadioShack double-bowtie and my MegaWave MTV-1, but neither improved the situation).

------------------
Rick W. Scogland
My Email: rickscogland@mediaone.net

My Home Theater: http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/Forum15/HTML/000169.html

[This message has been edited by RScogland (edited 06-06-2001).]

InfoTechCorp

06-08-01, 09:07 AM

I have a Sony KW34HD1. Original digital receiver. For the past couple of weeks, I too have not been able to tune either 4.1 or 7.l (no sound, no picture, excellent signal strength). The picture and sound come in fine when tuning 30.1 and 42.1. I've gone through the re-acquisition cycle (several times). Yesterday I started receiving WHDH-DT on 7.1 just fine. However, I still am unable to tune WBZ at 4.1. Sooo.... It seams that there is still some PSIP magic (or witchcraft) to be resolved??? Thanks and regards....

Bob Hess

06-08-01, 09:58 AM

Originally posted by InfoTechCorp:
I have a Sony KW34HD1. Original digital receiver. For the past couple of weeks, I too have not been able to tune either 4.1 or 7.l (no sound, no picture, excellent signal strength). The picture and sound come in fine when tuning 30.1 and 42.1. I've gone through the re-acquisition cycle (several times). Yesterday I started receiving WHDH-DT on 7.1 just fine. However, I still am unable to tune WBZ at 4.1. Sooo.... It seams that there is still some PSIP magic (or witchcraft) to be resolved??? Thanks and regards....
The bad news is that you're right. We do seem to have a problem and it is associated with our changes made to fix the HD-100 problem. We will look into the problem. I have the same problem with my DTC-100,

The good news is that WBZ-DT has been granted a power increase to maximize our coverage. As of today, we are increasing power from 600,000 watts to 725,000 watts.

Bob Hess
WBZ

Richard_P_Harvey

06-08-01, 10:55 AM

Hi Bob,

WOW 725,000 watts http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif I may need get that voodoo, black box, attenuator, do dad, thing a ma bob, that Tim uses.

------------------
Hopelessly addicted to HDTV and lost deep in the woods of Charlton, MA - Rich
rharvey@at-com.com

Doug G

06-08-01, 01:33 PM

Originally posted by Bob Hess:
The bad news is that you're right. We do seem to have a problem and it is associated with our changes made to fix the HD-100 problem. We will look into the problem. I have the same problem with my DTC-100,

Bob, so where does this leave us TU-HDS20 users? I haven't seen any changes at all (good or bad) and still need to tune WBZ-DT in at 30-1. Any hope of getting the right mapping soon? All other stations are mapping to this unit fine.

rudolpht

06-08-01, 02:41 PM

Originally posted by Richard_P_Harvey:
I may need get that voodoo, black box, attenuator, do dad, thing a ma bob, that Tim uses.

Richard,
No thing a ma bob since BZ went higher power last time. I actually don't even need the Channel Master anymore since then.

Now I don't even need to turn on my TV to get 30-1.....

The PSIP fix my have fixed the HD-100 but it messed up the D6000 too & it still does not allow the DST3000 do it's substitute programming guide (unlike the other PSIP mapping stations).

Tim

c.k

06-08-01, 03:10 PM

I'm with Doug. I have a TU-HDS20 and all of the other station map fine. The only problem is with WBZ, I have a 4-1 (with nothing on it) and a 30-1.

Bob Hess

06-08-01, 03:42 PM

Originally posted by Doug G:
Bob, so where does this leave us TU-HDS20 users? I haven't seen any changes at all (good or bad) and still need to tune WBZ-DT in at 30-1. Any hope of getting the right mapping soon? All other stations are mapping to this unit fine.

Not to worry, Doug. We'll fix it.

- Bob

nlrich

06-09-01, 12:27 AM

Does anyone know why I can get WCVB 20-1 pretty well but I can't seem to receive 4-1 WBZ or 7-1 at all. I used to receive 4-1 sporadically. I'm using the dct-100.

Thanks

[This message has been edited by nlrich (edited 06-09-2001).]

patjoy

06-09-01, 11:10 AM

Originally posted by nlrich:

Does anyone know why I can get WCVB 20-1 pretty well but I can't seem to receive 4-1 WBZ or 7-1 at all. I used to receive 4-1 sporadically. I'm using the dct-100.

Thanks

[This message has been edited by nlrich (edited 06-09-2001).]

I had to remap (rescan) the channels in order to fix the problem. Give that a try.

Pat

SANdood

06-11-01, 02:51 PM

Originally posted by Bob Hess:
I'm guessing that you need to do a new channel search. This because we made changes to our PSIP settings to take care of a problem with Sony HD-100 receivers.

Remember our DTV Hotline: 617-787-7043

Feel free to call this number to report a problem.

Bob Hess
Director, Broadcast Operations/Engineering
WBZ-TV/WSBK-TV/WLWC-TV/WBZ-AM/WODS-FM

Seems we've taken a step backwards for Sony HD-100 users - the 'BZ drop-out is gone, but so is the PSIP!

I did a rescan on my HD-100 this weekend, and now I lost the 4-1 PSIP mapping - WBZ-DT is only on 30-1, while I was getting it on 4-1 just fine!

As of last nite, My Sony has 7-1 (WHDH-DT), 20-1 (WCVB-DT), 25-1 (WFXT-DT), and 30-1 (WBZ). I forgot to check which my Hughes Platinum has...I know it has 5-1 (which my Sony doesn't), but I'll have to check back to see where 'BZ shows up.

------------------
2.0.1 user, upgraded Sony (~130 hour)

RScogland

06-11-01, 05:24 PM

Too many new channel searches for me. Every time I want to watch something, I need to do a new channel search. I could care less where the channels show up, as long as they are consistant. 31-2 wont come in anymore (and I have NEVER got it as 25-1), 4-1 used to be the only one to come in perfect, and now I cant find it at all, NBC keeps switching from 7-1 to 42-1 and even 42-2, while 20-1 (which has never been 5-1 for me) is now the only one that is consistant but I dont really watch anything of their programming, and I have yet to see 57-1 show up as any number. I know most of this is my fault because I can only use an indoor antenna, but it used to work better when it was in my basement than it does upstairs in my new house (in the same town). Lately, I have been spending more time fixing things and getting frustrated than watching actual programming ... and my family makes fun of my for it! Hopefully things will be more settled in September when the new shows are out.

------------------
Rick W. Scogland
My Email: rickscogland@mediaone.net

My Home Theater:
http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/Forum15/HTML/000169.html

rudolpht

06-11-01, 09:48 PM

I actually would suggest PSIP mapping NOT be used if
1) it keeps changing (really messes up D6000 favorites)
2) it prevents the Advance Programming Guide to work (as is the case of 'BZ and Tosh/Mits/Hughes receivers.

There is really limited value in mapping if there are side effects. Given the number of stations it is really pretty easy to remember the DT equivalents.

Tim

TomM

06-12-01, 12:45 AM

Although I couldn't get it working last night, I've noticed that when watching 05-0 (analog) on my 6000 for the past week or so they had the program info working! It accurately displayed info about what was on and other pertinent info which, as far as I've seen, is a first for any Boston OTA stations to date. However it wasn't working for the 20-1 digital counterpart. Anyone else notice this? Probably not since why would anyone watch the analog version, but I stumbled upon it.

So, when will this feature be implemented on other OTA channels anyway? thanks

SANdood

06-12-01, 06:58 AM

OK - did a rescan on both my HD receivers, and here's what I have today:

Sony SAT-HD100:
7-1, 9-1, 20-1, 23-1, 23-2, 25-1, 30-1

Hughes Platinum
5-1, 7-1, 9-1, 23-1, 23-2, 25-1, 30-1, 66-1

Both use (separate) RatShack in-house bowties, and the Hughes is a floor higher - signal strength is similar (although upstairs can "see" backwards into NH, apparently).

I used to get 4-1 on both until recently, and I've never had 5-1 on my Sony.

Bob - perhaps you should go back to the OLD PSIP settings, since the Sony patches alone seemed to have fixed the drop-outs prior to your switch-over last Monday. Please?

nlrich

06-12-01, 08:45 AM

Anyone else using a DCT100 and having problems seeing WBZ? I've done a channel rescan many times and can't seem to get Digital WBZ anymore. I get 20-1 23-1 23-2 without any problems.

fastphil

06-12-01, 09:06 AM

nlrich,

I am using a DTC-100 and WBZ disappeared from 4-1 for me as well, but now it's on 30-1. Give that a try. I have no audio coming from the DTC-100 at all now. I only use it for OTA HD. The drop out in audio coincided with the switch from 4-1 to 30-1.

Phil

Bob Hess

06-12-01, 09:56 AM

Hi guys,

Sorry about the problems. We hope to have this problem fixed in the next couple of days. Interestingly, the HD-100 in our shop shows us on 4-1. My DTC-100 shows us on 30-1. Not going to restore the old settings since the HD-100 users can now see us but we will have this problem fixed.

As I have said in previous posts, WBZ is committed to the virtual channel. Our viewers know us now as "4" and we want to keep it that way. Fortunately or unfortunately, you guys are the pioneers who are helping the broadcasters and receiver and equipment manufacturers resolve the problems of a technology in its infancy.

Bob Hess
Director, Broadcast Operations/Engineering
WBZ-TV/WSBK-TV/WLWC-TV/WBZ-AM/WODS-FM

SANdood

06-12-01, 11:40 AM

Originally posted by Bob Hess:
Hi guys,

Sorry about the problems. We hope to have this problem fixed in the next couple of days. Interestingly, the HD-100 in our shop shows us on 4-1. My DTC-100 shows us on 30-1. Not going to restore the old settings since the HD-100 users can now see us but we will have this problem fixed.

Bob Hess
Director, Broadcast Operations/Engineering
WBZ-TV/WSBK-TV/WLWC-TV/WBZ-AM/WODS-FM

You HD100 in the shop isn't on DirecTV, is it - so you don't have the patches that seemed to fix the problem BEFORE you switched...looks like we have Competing Solutions.

But thanks for your continued efforts - you ARE appreciated here in New England, to be sure!!!

jimg

06-12-01, 06:09 PM

Originally posted by Bob Hess:
My DTC-100 shows us on 30-1.

Bob,
With the increase in power, are you able to get 30-1 at home using your outdoor antenna?

I have a problem with 30-1...now it is very, very difficult for me NOT to get. [ Somehow, I miss the good ol' days of voodoo attenuators, adding shielding to reduce analog channel 30 Hartford, and pointing antennas into hills to avoid the multipath. ;-) ]

Bob Hess

06-13-01, 08:40 AM

Yep,

I see it just fine on the indoor antenna and now I can even see it on the outdoor antenna. The outdoor antenna has been severely modified my mother nature and is pointed slightly off target. Have not been aboe to see WBZ on it until now http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif.

Bob

Doug G

06-15-01, 05:41 PM

As of about 2 days ago, WHDH-DT has vanished from 7-1 on my TU-HDS20 and reappeared on 42-1.

Hope this update addresses some of these PSIP/virtual mapping issues. I'll post any differences noted after I've had time to play with it for a day or so.

Bob Hess

06-15-01, 06:54 PM

Rish,

I live in Hopkinton and watch WBZ, WCVB and WHDH on a set-top indoor antenna. From Southboro, a roof top antenna should yield acceptable reception of the Boston stations.

Bob Hess
Director, Broadcast Operations/Engineering
WBZ

Bob Hess

06-15-01, 06:56 PM

WBZ-DT has been operating at half power since Thursday night due to the failure of one of our two high power amplifiers. Parts are on the way but we do not expect to be back at full power until Monday.

Bob Hess
Director, Broadcast Operations/Engineering
WBZ

[This message has been edited by Bob Hess (edited 06-15-2001).]

brandish

06-15-01, 10:07 PM

I am duplicating this post which I posted on the HDTV Programming Topic so those of you who only read this topic get the info.

1. WCVB-DT is in production of a New HD Chronicle produced in native 720P. Air Date TBA but I'll try to give notice when it is scheduled.

2. WCVB-DT is awaiting FCC permission to increase power.

3. WCVB will implement PSIP in about a month or so.

Ross

------------------
Ross Kauffman

nlrich

06-18-01, 03:31 PM

Are WCVB 20-1 and WBZ 30-1 broadcast from the same tower? If they are and I receive 20-1 without any problems, shouldn't I be able to receive WBZ at the same time?

Thanks.

[This message has been edited by nlrich (edited 06-18-2001).]

Bob Hess

06-19-01, 09:27 AM

Originally posted by nlrich:
Are WCVB 20-1 and WBZ 30-1 broadcast from the same tower? If they are and I receive 20-1 without any problems, shouldn't I be able to receive WBZ at the same time?

Both stations broadcast from the same antenna on the same tower. WBZ-DT is currently operating at half power due to the failure of an amplifier. We hope to have it back at full power today or tomorrow.

Bob Hess
Director, Broadcast Operations/Engineering
WBZ-TV/WSBK-TV/WLWC-TV/WBZ-AM/WODS-FM

RoyGBiv

06-19-01, 04:53 PM

Can anyone give an update of the status of WGBH and its plans to start broadcasting digitally on channel 19? I have been following this thread very carefully for such information. I've been a member of WGBH for about 15 years and just received a notice to renew my membership. I am planning not to renew, and I have written out a lengthy letter detailing my reasons related to their lack of commitment to HDTV. The letter states that I will not renew until they are broadcasting digitally, and I'd rather not send it if they are about to start broadcasting on 19 and passing along PBS HD feeds.

Thanks.

SMK

Bob Hess

06-19-01, 07:36 PM

WBZ-DT is back at full power (725,000 watts)

- Bob

jeff43

06-19-01, 08:11 PM

SMK:

In this thread, as well as in a couple others, it's been noted that WGBH has pretty much decided that it's too expensive to broadcast digitally.

Sad.

rudolpht

06-20-01, 07:33 AM

Originally posted by RoyGBiv:
Can anyone give an update of the status of WGBH and its plans to start broadcasting digitally on channel 19? I have been following this thread very carefully for such information

SMK,

Just go back one page in this thread and you can see what WGBH says for themselves, which is discouraging at best. My non-renewal pretty much ellicited a yawn.

Tim

Bob Hess

06-22-01, 10:27 AM

Hi All,

I think we have our PSIP act together again. After a new channel search, we should be found on 4-1.

BE SURE TO DO THE CHANNEL SEARCH IF YOU CAN'T FIND WBZ.

*** WBZ DTV HOTLINE - 617-787-7043 ***

Bob Hess
Director, Broadcast Operations/Engineering
WBZ

metamatt

06-22-01, 10:33 AM

Thanks Bob for all that you do to keep us informed. I only wish the other channels would be as communicative.

spearse

06-23-01, 07:44 PM

Boy, am I depressed.

I live in Concord, MA and can get the Needham digital signals great with a cheap Radio Shack twin bowtie. But I need to see the PBS HD stuff that everyone else in the country says is so great, and we're missing in Boston (home of the supposed flagship WGBH PBS station???).

So I bought a big honking Radio Shack outside antenna to pick up WENH-DT PBS out of New Hampshire. Antennaweb said I needed a medium directional antenna.

After a full day of pulling wires through walls and installation headaches in blistering Attic heat, NADA. Not even a blip on my Hauppauge card signal meter. The Needham tower strength is virtually the same as the $17 RS bowtie.

Curse you, WGBH!

Can anyone else in the Boston area pick up NH PBS on HD???

Starman Jones

Carbo

06-23-01, 07:50 PM

They are not broadcasting in HD or digital.

HDTV_fan

06-23-01, 08:50 PM

Originally posted by Bob Hess:
Hi All,

I think we have our PSIP act together again. After a new channel search, we should be found on 4-1.

BE SURE TO DO THE CHANNEL SEARCH IF YOU CAN'T FIND WBZ.

*** WBZ DTV HOTLINE - 617-787-7043 ***

Bob Hess
Director, Broadcast Operations/Engineering
WBZ

Hi Bob,

Indeed after doing a new channel search, WBZ is again showing up as 4-1 on my DTC-100 after an absence of several weeks. Thanks for keeping us in the loop.

A general note: PSIP now appears to be working for 4 and 25, but 20 and 42 still show up in their native locations.
It seems to me I've heard that some folks have been getting 7-1. Is any one doing so with a DTC-100? If WHDH is sending out PSIP in a format that is unintelligible to the DTC-100, Bob is their any chance you could pass along your latest tweaks to your brethren? Thanks,

--Marc

HDTV_fan

06-23-01, 09:01 PM

Originally posted by spearse:
Boy, am I depressed.

I live in Concord, MA and can get the Needham digital signals great with a cheap Radio Shack twin bowtie. But I need to see the PBS HD stuff that everyone else in the country says is so great, and we're missing in Boston (home of the supposed flagship WGBH PBS station???).

Curse you, WGBH!

Starman Jones

According to David Liroff, WGBH Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, neither we viewers with the ability to receive DTV nor, for that matter, DTV in general exist. Until we make enough noise that WGBH can hear us, or their leadership gains a greater awareness of the evolution of Television, I'm afraid we are stuck with a backwater PBS station. It's especially galling having moved to Boston from the Bay Area where KQED has been on the air with HDTV for several years now. I guess that when it comes to PBS, Boston just isn't a high-tech mecca,

--Marc

[This message has been edited by HDTV_fan (edited 06-23-2001).]

Carbo

06-23-01, 11:27 PM

I don't know how much it matters but I am not a PBS supporter as far as giving them money. But the content they have is probably the best HD material you watch these days. Its a shame they don't air it or try to see if they can get new supporters from it. I for one would pay/donate/contribute money if they did.

Doug G

06-24-01, 10:16 AM

Originally posted by Bob Hess:
I think we have our PSIP act together again. After a new channel search, we should be found on 4-1.

Bob - Just a heads up, my Panasonic TU-HDS20 now running V7.4 software still has 'BZ-DT on 30-1. Don't feel bad though, WHDH-DT wronged their right (as I feared) and has been back at 42-1 for a couple weeks now, also.

rudolpht

06-24-01, 10:42 AM

Originally posted by Bob Hess:
I think we have our PSIP act together again. After a new channel search, we should be found on 4-1.

Bob,

Did a rescan and 4-1 maps correctly but there is still a problem with seein guide data only on WBZ on the Tosh/Mits/Hughes boxes. This data actually comes from satellite and if very convenient. Given that other channels in the market do the PSIP map and do not block out the Advanced Programming Guide information, it appears there remains a settings problem unique to BZ. Is there any progress on this front. To reiterate this is not a expectation for OTA guide data, just that the PSIP not mess up the receivers ability to get the guide data.

Tim

spearse

06-24-01, 03:08 PM

Carbo,
I'm not sure you read my post carefully, unless I am badly mistaken. NH PBS definitely IS broadcasting digital, according to all current documentation (see antennaweb.org, for example). It is WGBH that is not broadcasting digital, as we all know.

My question stands-- unless I have been given wrong info-- can anyone pick up New Hampshire PBS digital in the boston area? What does it take to do it?
Starman

patjoy

06-24-01, 07:05 PM

I receive WENH-DT in Tewksbury with no problems what so ever. I use a DTC-100 and APS U92 antenna (no pre-amp) on the roof about 25 feet up. Signal quality is about 70. Only problem with ENH is that their schedule is so variable. But the quality of the PBS programming is the best. To bad WGBH is so stupid about this.

steve5097

06-24-01, 07:34 PM

Hellooooooo WGBH.
If an HD broadcast is anywhere near as good as a competing regular broadcast, I will watch the HD one. I used to watch some GBH, but since I got HD hardware a few months ago, I could count the number of GBH programs I've watched on one hand. As other posts point out, you're losing customers. Not only that, but people with HD hardware can better afford to make contributions.
Wake up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

------------------
Steve

Carbo

06-24-01, 08:21 PM

spearse,

Sorry I misread the post, not enough sleep.

chs4

06-25-01, 08:25 AM

Originally posted by spearse:

Can anyone else in the Boston area pick up NH PBS on HD???

Starman Jones

I pick up WENH-DT with a signal strength between 75-80% from my location. (26 miles north of the Needham towers) Over the weekend I installed a ChannelMaster 4248 w/9521 rotor in my attic(118° BTW), but previously had similar results with both the RS double-bowtie and Silver Sensor located inside pointing out a window.

I was able to realize a boost of maybe 10% signal strength on the Needham stations with the CM, but my dropouts were considerably reduced. From Concord you should be pulling in a pretty strong signal, so the larger antenna may not boost this number.

WENH-DT may be just out of your reach as far as reception is concerned. (see http://www.metronet.com/~chipk/tv/MHT.html and click on the "tower" for a coverage map)

I don't want to rub it in, but what you've heard about PBS HD is true. It beats HBO-HD, SHO-HD and other OTA HD hands down.

I've never contributed to public television before, but WENH-DT will be getting a check from me this year.

Chip

jimg

06-25-01, 08:43 AM

Originally posted by spearse:

Can anyone else in the Boston area pick up NH PBS on HD???

Starman Jones

Yes, I'm in Framingham, and I do get WENH-DT very well using the 7 ft Channel Master Parascope with 28db preamp. And indeed with some of their recent tweaks the it has gotten better, probably due to reduced multipath.

Check that you can get analog channel 50 reasonably well.
Channel 57's tower is on Saddleback Mtn. in Deerfield, NH, East of WMUR-DT Channel 59.

They are still operating under a construction permit so they're still at half-power.
Also note their normal schedule is 7pm-9pm on weekdays, and 2pm - 9pm on weekends.
Lately, they've been doing some tower work, so they've been off the air for a couple of days. Also this past Saturday (6/23 ~7:15pm), it appears they are having problems as I lost video and audio during a broadcast, but still had a strong carrier. I'll post when I see them back or I get more news.

Bob Hess

06-25-01, 10:21 AM

Doug and Tim,

Read your comments. Looking into the problem.

Bob

rmertens

06-25-01, 01:49 PM

I am based in Amherst NH, and am using a Sony HD100, roof mounted radio-shack antenna plus RS amplifier. I receive Channels 20 (ABC), 23 (IND),30 (CBS) and 42 (NBC) (30 has the strongest signal that does not require the amplifier). 31 (Fox) is sporadic - always has a signal in the 60-70 range, but mainly unlocked. 59 (WMUR) was the strongest, but has disappeared this past week (no signal). 57 (PBS) has never shown any form of signal.

Does anybody have any information on WMUR (anybody else notice its disappearance ?).

Any thoughts on why Fox might be difficult to receive, given that I can receive the other Boston channels quite clearly.

I am thinking of trying out the CM 7775, and then maybe the 4221, and maybe even replacing the cabling. I am surrounded by tall pines - not sure whether this causes the dreaded multipathing, and hence issues with Fox.

Bob

spearse

06-26-01, 12:40 AM

Hi Jimg,
Thanks for the info-- do I understand you correctly that WENH, PBS in New Hampshire, only activates their digital tower part-time? You indicated weekdays 7-9pm-- and that they may have been down Sat/Sun (so maybe I should try my $40 radio shack VHF/UHF antenna again?)

That's interesting, why wouldn't they broadcast DTV all the time like the networks?

Also, you said they are at half-power-- do you know when they might boost to full-power? That also might fix my reception problems.

Again thanks for the help.
Starman

spearse

06-26-01, 12:46 AM

Oh and one more thing, Leno was not high-def Monday night in Boston NBC. Does NBC NOT show Leno high-def here? Or was it a mistake?

Still trying to shake out the bugs in my new high-def system and figuring out what Boston has to offer!
Thanks
Starman

rudolpht

06-26-01, 12:59 AM

WHDH-DT Boston (42) does NOT show HD. Go bavk in the thread a little & you'll get a good run down.

Tim

jimg

06-26-01, 09:35 AM

Originally posted by spearse:
Hi Jimg,
Thanks for the info-- do I understand you correctly that WENH, PBS in New Hampshire, only activates their digital tower part-time? You indicated weekdays 7-9pm-- and that they may have been down Sat/Sun (so maybe I should try my $40 radio shack VHF/UHF antenna again?)

That's interesting, why wouldn't they broadcast DTV all the time like the networks?

Also, you said they are at half-power-- do you know when they might boost to full-power? That also might fix my reception problems.

Again thanks for the help.
Starman

They were back on last night (the usual 7-9pm weekday schedule).

--

Give your current set-up a try -- you should be able to get digital Channel 59 in Manchester, then a little to the east is analog channel 50, then still farther east is channel 57. (Channel 57's tower is right next to Channel 11's tower, and don't worry, channel 11 comes in a bit snowy for me.)

If the RS combo-antenna doesn't work, you'll most likely need a good [dedicated] UHF antenna as well as a 28db preamp, as well as some luck as to a good clear shot to the NNE, with minimal multipath.

(Check previous postings for antenna selection sites and recommendations.) Good Luck. And yes, it is worth the effort! We're also lucky to have a great antenna store in Stark Electronics, locally in Worcester.
I've gotten my antennas/preamps/etc. from them.)

--

What is on channel 57 is the PBS-HD satellite feed. Which
consists of repeating a few demo loops, as well as broadcasts and re-broadcasts of recent HD- and WideScreen- shows. Note that Channel 57 does occasionally stay on the air past 9pm for the "scheduled" airings of some of the HD- and WS- shows. (see their website: www.nhptv.org (http://www.nhptv.org) under NHPTV Schedule for the HD- shows.) Also note that NHPTV has been supportive of us "early-adopters", and I hope the tradition continues. Bob Ross [of NHPTV, not CBS], the chief engineer is retiring this month. I hope his legacy continues. (I have been sending "additonal contributions" to NHPTV "in support of Channel 57", .)

Also check the other PBS websites for schedule info, see other posts in this forum (for PBS: National, Detroit, Miami, etc.)

--

The full power isn't expected to be until the full conversion (i.e. channel 11). The current effort is to get
the Littleton, NH transmitter up for spring 2002.

RoyGBiv

06-26-01, 05:30 PM

I received my notice from WGBH today that it was time to renew my membership. Having read through this thread again completely and seeing that there is no likelihood that WGBH will broadcast HD or even digitally in the near future, I sent them a two-page letter giving them the reasons I was not going to renew my membership. I don't want to be presumptuous or annoy any readers, so I will not post the text here, but if anyone would like to see it, please e-mail me.

SMK

RScogland

06-27-01, 10:02 AM

On my ProScan PSHD-105 (same as the RCA DTC-100) I currently get 4-1, 20-1, 42-1, and sometimes 31-2. Is 42-1 still not re-mapping to 7-1 as they had been? Also, I read that some people get Fox as 25-1 ... is that currently, or has that ever worked on a DTC-100 for anyone? I keep meaning to try for 57-1 again after having added a 15-1113 RadioShack antenna amp, but it's always after 9:00PM when I remember to try. 4-1 is now working perfect for me, but 20-1 shows up far to the left of my 4:3 screen, with the WCVB letters completely in the black bar to the right ... are they doing that intentionally because they thing we like it that way?

So far, I have yet to get 23, 57, or 59 (dash whatever).

P.S. - A couple things I'd like to change on DTC-100 type systems ... I wish I could delete the black bars on the top/bottom of the screen with the HD output when 4:3 material is being broadcast on network OTA. Also, I wish there was an easy way to delete channels after doing a channel search so I could just have the digital stations without any analog stations that dont come in anyway (for now I just do a channel search with the antenna unplugged to clear all the stations ... then I plug it back in and manually key in 20-1, 30-1, 31-2, 42-1).

------------------
Rick W. Scogland
My Email: rickscogland@mediaone.net

My Home Theater:
http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/Forum15/HTML/000169.html

HDTV_fan

06-28-01, 07:53 AM

Originally posted by RScogland:
On my ProScan PSHD-105 (same as the RCA DTC-100) I currently get 4-1, 20-1, 42-1, and sometimes 31-2. Is 42-1 still not re-mapping to 7-1 as they had been? Also, I read that some people get Fox as 25-1 ... is that currently, or has that ever worked on a DTC-100 for anyone

I've been receiving 25-1 on my DTC-100 for some time now. Prior to that, WFXT was showing up as 31-1 or 31-2 (can't remember which). I've never seen WHDH come in as channel 7-1. It fluctuates between 42-1 and 42-2,

--Marc

RScogland

06-28-01, 08:44 AM

Wow ... I wonder why my FOX doesnt remap to 25-1 ... normally it wouldnt matter to me where it shows up, but for some reason on my system it usually gets stuck trying on 31-1 when I use the up/down buttons on the remote even though I have only entered it as 31-2 in the system. Maybe the ProScan unit does have some differences from the RCA unit? Or maybe I have a different software version? (I have the A04.37, or whatever it is).

------------------
Rick W. Scogland
My Email: rickscogland@mediaone.net

My Home Theater:
http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/Forum15/HTML/000169.html

brandish

07-01-01, 11:02 PM

Originally posted by rmertens:
Does anybody have any information on WMUR (anybody else notice its disappearance ?).
[/B]

Bob:
It is my understanding that WMUR-DT has some on-going transmitter problems and was off the air for a period of time. I will try to get info on the status of WMUR-DT tomorrow, if so I'll post it.

------------------
Ross Kauffman

spearse

07-10-01, 01:05 PM

Hi-
I want to clarify something-- so is it true that New Hampshire PBS DOES broadcast DTV, but NOT HDTV? That is, from 7-9pm, it is digital but not high-definition?

Thanks
Starman

jhe

07-10-01, 04:30 PM

Originally posted by spearse:
Hi-
I want to clarify something-- so is it true that New Hampshire PBS DOES broadcast DTV, but NOT HDTV? That is, from 7-9pm, it is digital but not high-definition?

Thanks
Starman

That is only true sometimes. I have seen lots of true HDTV on channel 57 evenings between 7 and 9. But sometimes they do send out upconverted shows from PBS, when that is what PBS is sending out, and other times they go to low def mode and experiment with multiple feeds.

If pbs sends out an HDTV special, they generally seem to have it in true HDTV, and the PBS demo loop is hi-def as well, which they show regularly.

SPel699187@aol.com

07-11-01, 02:13 PM

This is where NHPTV is posting their programming.
http://www.nhptv.org/

------------------
Steve P

spearse

07-12-01, 02:34 PM

FYI, below is a response from NHPTV about future digital broadcasting:

-------------------------

We're very pleased that you are looking to New Hampshire Public Television for HD programming. However, we do not have immediate plans to expand our HDTV schedule beyond the hours we presently provide.

As a service to the emerging HDTV users, we do list our HD monthly program schedule in our member magazine, NHPTV This Month. If you would like to receive a complimentary issue, please email me your address and we will be glad to put it in the mail for you.

Mercedes Sabio

Director of Content, Communication & Broadcasting

Ted Haines

07-16-01, 06:58 PM

I just got a reply from WGBH - thought you all might be interested. I believe it is similar to what others have received in the past.

I urge everyone to write to WGBH to let them know we are out there and want to receive HDTV.

Ted Haines

(I hope the formatting is not a problem.)
Letter:

Subject: Re: HDTV
Date: 16 Jul 2001 11:50:38 -0500
From: feedback <feedback@wgbh.org>
To: <ehaines@mediaone.net>

Dear Mr. Haines,

Thank you for your interest in WGBH’s current plans for
digital television broadcasting. We always appreciate
hearing from our viewers.

WGBH has been assigned two digital television channels to
serve the Boston market. The current FCC timetable
requires that we and other public broadcasters begin
digital broadcasting no later than May 1, 2003.

WGBH-DT19 (the "digital twin" of WGBH-TV2) is ready to go
on the air, and we will be conducting intermittent tests of
the transmitter over the next several months, most likely
including broadcasts of occasional high definition program
feeds from PBS, as well as datacasting trials. We do
not expect to activate WGBX-TV43 (the "digital twin" of
WGBX-TV44) until May of 2003.

We project the cost of electric power to operate WGBH-DT19
to be in the neighborhood of $100,000/year. Despite the
fact that there are five commercial DTV transmitters
already on the air in Boston, we estimate that at this time
there are fewer than 1,000 TV sets in the market capable of
receiving a broadcast DTV signal. As the number of
viewers capable of receiving the DTV19 signal increases
significantly, we will ramp up to normal broadcast
operations. In the interim, we are producing a small but
growing number of our programs in high definition formats,
anticipating the eventual success of HDTV in the
marketplace.

One factor which would accelerate our DTV timetable would
be an agreement by Boston-area cable operators to carry
the DTV19 signal, thus making it available to hundreds of
thousands of viewers who have analog receivers and
subscribe to cable’s "digital tier". Time Warner Cable –
which operates cable systems in other markets – has agreed
to carry public TV’s DTV signals as they come on line. At
present, we are in discussions with AT&T Broadband, the
dominant cable operator in Massachusetts, to carry DTV19.

Another factor which would accelerate our DTV timetable
would be an FCC requirement that all new TV sets have the
capability to receive and display both analog and digital
signals. It was a similar "all channel receiver"
requirement which was critical to the launch of UHF
television stations in an era when UHF stations were
struggling because few sets could receive channels above
13.

We are compiling an email list of Boston-area viewers who
have digital TV receivers and would like to receive advance
notices about HDTV broadcasts on DTV19. If you would
like to be added to the list, please email us at
feedback@WGBH.org

I hope you continue to enjoy the wide variety of programs
on 'GBH 2, Select44 and 89.7fm, as well the supplementary
content and information available at our Web site, www.wgbh.org. (http://www.wgbh.org.)

And to keep up-to-date on our many offerings, we encourage
you to visit our Web site today to sign up for our free
bi-weekly program highlight e-newsletter, @gbh. You’ll
find information on your favorite public broadcasting Web
sites, reminders of upcoming shows on ’GBH 2, ‘GBH Select44
and 89.7fm, and answers to your questions and the latest
’GBH news.

Sincerely,

WGBH Audience and Member Services

On Friday, July 6, 2001, ehaines@mediaone.net wrote:
>QQsender_name: Edward Haines
>
> QQemail_subject: other
>
> QQemail_sender: ehaines@mediaone.net
>
> QQemail_body: I have been a member of WGBH for decades. In
>general, we really value many of the programs available on PBS.
>
> Last November I bought a HDTV with the expectation that WGBH
> would be broadcasting High Definition on Channel 19 within a
>couple of months.
>
> I am EXTREMELY disappointed that you have chosen not to
>activate HD yet. There are many High Def programs on PBS that
>I would love to see. Unfortuneately, I cannot receive channel
>57 here in Waltham.
>
> When it comes time to renew my membership, I may have to
>rethink my position.
>
> Ted Haines
>
> QQMemberCard_number: yes
>
> QQsender_address:
>
> QQphone:
>
>

JackB

07-16-01, 08:22 PM

I would like to ask Bob Hess how WGBH, from the previous post, got their number of fewer than 1,000 DTV viewers in the Boston area? Bob, is this true? How can we show them that the number is much greater?

Jack

jeff43

07-16-01, 09:02 PM

Anyone in the Boston area with a digital receiver should e-mail them at the feedback address asking for notification when they transmit digitally.

It was a nice tid-bit that they are discussing going cable. There seems to be a lot more stuff going on behind the scenes than we think and not just with PBS.

[This message has been edited by jeff43 (edited 07-16-2001).]

Prelude2k

07-16-01, 10:11 PM

I think WGBH is being rediculous... if WENH and WGBY can broadcast, I see no reason why WGBH should be whining about insufficient viewers... and I can't believe it's only 1000 viewers... I think I'm going to write an email to their feedback address also. Like others when I bought my HDTV, I was excited to see PBS in hidef.

Now I'm looking into putting up a 2nd antenna to try to get WGBY. I pointed the antenna around to get WGBY-DT, and it's great, the picture seems so much sharper than any other stations that transmit HDTV from Boston. Mostly demo loops, however I've caught the tail end of Nova, and it was superb. I'm lucky enough to live in an area west enough to get Springfield, too far for WENH-DT (though analog comes in ota) I feel sorry for anyone who can't recieve either WENH/WGBY that are in WGBH's market, it's a major shame.

-Mike

rudolpht

07-16-01, 11:11 PM

Originally posted by Ted Haines:
I just got a reply from WGBH - thought you all might be interested.

Ted,

Pretty similar to the reply I got two pages back, although a little more complete on cost of power and estimate of sets (where did that come from). I guess now we are ruining the ecology with all that energy....

Tim

InfoTechCorp

07-17-01, 01:37 PM

This from Cahners. Looks like its more than a local problem.
===============================================
PBS Stations Hope for $40M to Digitize

By Paige Albiniak
Broadcasting & Cable
7/16/01 6:50:00 PM

Public broadcasters are keeping their fingers crossed that Congress this week will grant them $40 million for their transition to digital television.
Four Senators -- Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), Fritz Hollings (D-S.C.) and Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) -- included an amendment in a larger spending bill that would authorize Congress to give public broadcasters $20 million for the transition in 2001 and possibly another $20 million in 2002, in accordance with the White House’s budget request.

The amendment will probably run into difficulty in the House, however, because House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Billy Tauzin (R-La.) is likely to oppose the amendment. Tauzin’s committee has jurisdiction over public broadcasting’s funding. The Senate passed the spending bill last week, and the House plans to vote on the bill Tuesday.

The bill should go to a conference meeting between the two later this week.

jonlgauthier

07-17-01, 02:08 PM

Here's what I sent to WGBH. I'll put my money on the line if I can get it earmarked to HDTV, or HDTV awareness.

To: feedback@WGBH.org
Subject: I'm an HDTV viewer!

And one of the reasons I haven't made a contribution to WGBH is the lack of committment to HDTV by a PBS flagship station.

I'd make a pledge as long as it's earmarked towards HDTV expenses - not just SDTV.

You (TV Broadcasters in general) keep waiting for DVT tuner penetration in your viewing area to reach certain numbers before you make the move. Consumers are asking about it, but local electronics retailers are woefully uncapable of showing off HDTV, which in turn turns off potential buyers. They say there's no HDTV programming - which is almost true for the Boston area. WBZ carries CBS' entire primetime HDTV lineup, and WCVB carries ABC's NYPD Blue and some movies. WFXT at least broadcasts in 16x9 480p, and of course WHDH is a laggard with no HDTV - only 480i digital. And WGBH is a no-show...

How about WGBH possibly working with area retailers on setting up demos in their stores properly. It seems 90% of HDTV-capable units are "showcased" using DVD, and half the time it's using a composite or S-Video connection - not component video! I'd gladly earmark my pledge to help educate retailers!

And, by the way - I'm one of the "less than 1000" HDTV viewers in the Boston area. I think if you scan the website AVS Forum (www.avsforum.com), you'll see that a significant amount of posters there are here! I'd bet that your numbers are both low and out of date. There's been a significant influx of new HDTV receivers since January 2001, and they were flying off the shelves of local retailers - despite the lack of knowledge of how to sell them!

Boston is one of the two largest concentrations in the country of high-tech, leading edge consumers - the ones who adopt new technologies ahead of the curve. I wonder how a local poll would turn out? Check out Cambridge, Waltham, Bedford, Burlington, etc...

Regards,

Jon Gauthier
jon.gauthier@ieee.org
A local HDTV viewer...

------------------
.....|
|\
/| \
/ |__\
/__|____
\_ ___ _ \ Jon Gauthier

rudolpht

07-17-01, 04:38 PM

Jon,

I agree completely but it doesn't appear logic, reason, or even shame of a supposed flagship station works. But please check the wgbh website for updates on your favorite shows.....

Tim

jhe

07-18-01, 09:55 AM

Hey Bob Hess,

What's the latest news on new stations.
We know about the laggard WGBH.

What's the progress on ch 38? Will it beat WGBH-DT or WLVI-DT?

They seem to be getting some new shows that would be super in HDTV, for the fall.

Also, when is the spring Open House tour?

brandish

07-18-01, 05:36 PM

Originally posted by Prelude2k:
I'm lucky enough to live in an area west enough to get Springfield, too far for WENH-DT (though analog comes in ota) I feel sorry for anyone who can't recieve either WENH/WGBY that are in WGBH's market, it's a major shame.

-Mike[/B]

It is interesting to note that WGBH owns WGBY in Springfield.

jeff43

07-19-01, 12:10 AM

Bob Hess:

I've noticed, for quite some time, there is "ghosting" on analog upconverts. Very noticeable for written words and numbers.

It's really obvious at the end of car commercials when they post the cost, APR rate, etc. Is there a remedy?

Thanks.

Bill Gaw2

07-19-01, 08:45 AM

I live 50 miles directly north of Boston in Exeter, NH. Will I be able to get digital out of Boston if I get very good reception on VHF, but some snow on 25, and 56 and moderate snow on 38? Thanks. Bill

brandish

07-19-01, 09:12 AM

Originally posted by Bill Gaw2:
I live 50 miles directly north of Boston in Exeter, NH. Will I be able to get digital out of Boston if I get very good reception on VHF, but some snow on 25, and 56 and moderate snow on 38? Thanks. Bill

Bill if you can receive WGBX NTSC channel 44 you will most likley be able to receive WBZ & WCVB DTV as the are all on the same antenna in Needham.

------------------
Ross Kauffman

Bob Hess

07-19-01, 09:26 AM

jhe,

We expect WSBK-DT to be on the air first quarter next year.

For various reasons, I have delayed the open house. Primarily due to ongoing construction at the site. Anyone else still interested in the WBZ tower site open house?

Jeff,

I'll look into the ghosting problem but have not noticed it myself on our monitors.

Anyone else noticing this?

Bob Hess
Director, Broadcast Operations/Engineering
WBZ-TV/WSBK-TV/WLWC-TV/WBZ-AM/WODS-FM

[This message has been edited by Bob Hess (edited 07-19-2001).]

][ronMan

07-19-01, 09:54 AM

Bob Hess,
I think I speak for all of us when I say that we're still interested in the open house... http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Derek

------------------
Derek J. Nolan -- Derek@ImBetterThanYou.com -- My DVDs (http://www.dvdprofiler.com/mycollection.asp?alias=dsmooth)

David Fisk

07-19-01, 10:25 AM

Jeff,

I've always attributed it to poor production. Having the clarity of the digital signal really shows the quality of the source material.

Plus, do they REALLY want to you read that fine print anyway? http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif

Dave

HDTV_fan

07-19-01, 10:31 AM

Originally posted by ][ronMan:
Bob Hess,
I think I speak for all of us when I say that we're still interested in the open house... http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Derek

Exactly right!

--Marc

BGOOD

07-19-01, 11:44 AM

Bob,

Certainly still interested in a station tour of the DTV site, if only to say thanks for all the proactive and communicative work you do!

Also, by "ghosting", might a previous writer actually be seeing the extravagant edge enhancement embedded in the SD upconverts? If so, there's not much to be done but change the channel.

Looking forward.

Bill

mkingman

07-19-01, 02:00 PM

Originally posted by Bob Hess:
Anyone else still interested in the WBZ tower site open house?

Count me in.

/Matt

Steve Richards

07-19-01, 04:24 PM

still interested also.

------------------
Regards,
<FONT COLOR="yellow">Steve</FONT c>

jjm75

07-19-01, 06:59 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bob Hess:
Anyone else still interested in the WBZ tower site open house?

I am.

------------------
Jim

rudolpht

07-19-01, 11:15 PM

Bob,

I think Derek did speak for all of us!

Also, any luck on stopping the guide blocking on the Tosh/Mits/Hughes units?

Thanks,
Tim

Prjoy

07-20-01, 10:11 AM

Hi Bob Hess,
yes, I am still interested in attending the open house.

As for the Ghosting I only see it when:

1. Locally originated

2. When one particular source device is used.

All other occasions it is very sharp and detailed picture with excellent color quality. The problems looks like ringing on the edge of the detail. Maybe an impedance problem in the VTR I/O, or cables.

Hope this helps.

Pat

------------------
HDjunky

jimg

07-20-01, 09:18 PM

Originally posted by Bob Hess

For various reasons, I have delayed the open house. Primarily due to ongoing construction at the site. Anyone else still interested in the WBZ tower site open house?

Anyway to combine the open house with a work party? A lot of us will do just about anything to help get WGBH-DT on the air! [Yes I've sent contributions earmarked to WBGH-DT, but I figured some press coverage of volunteers might be a better way to raise awareness of "viewer supported television."]

--Jim

P.S.
Afterwards, we can sit around the transmitter tubes, toasting marshmallows and reminiscing about the good ol' days of channel 30 with its 4kw of power and the techniques we used to get it.

Bill Gaw2

07-21-01, 07:56 AM

Originally posted by brandish:
Bill if you can receive WGBX NTSC channel 44 you will most likley be able to receive WBZ & WCVB DTV as the are all on the same antenna in Needham.

Have trouble with quite a bit of snow with 44. Sounds like this is going to be a problem. Antybody else in Southern NH receiving Boston Digital? Thanks.

Sal

07-21-01, 07:59 AM

I am also very interested in the tour.

For anyone in Framingham who receiving PBS either out of New Hampshire, or Springfield.... could you please tell me your antenna configuration? I live at the junction of I90 and Rte.9 but in an apartment complex facing south. So I have to point through a North facing apartment if I want to point to New Hampshire's PBS. I have a CM 3021 without any amplifiers and I dont get any signal from that PBS station.

Thanks,
Sal

Equipment: Mits 65857 / DISH 6000 / Pioneer DV-434

jimg

07-22-01, 01:52 PM

Originally posted by Sal:
For anyone in Framingham who receiving PBS either out of New Hampshire, or Springfield.... could you please tell me your antenna configuration?

I'm in Framingham... and we're at the fringe!!!. (Fortunately the Model 6000 is very good at handling multipath!).

I have the CM Parascope...with a 28db preamp, and that's about the minimum configuration. (They won't go to full power for quite some time [i.e. when they switch channel 11 to digital]).

Also PBS only is normally on weekday evenings (7-9pm); and
weekends 2-9pm.

Good news: It's well worth the effort to get!

P.S.
The other alternative is to put up a 3 ft satellite dish (will face SSW!) and use the UnityMotion/Integra HDTV satellite receiver to get PBS-HD directly off the satellite.

Dave Dugal

07-22-01, 07:53 PM

Have trouble with quite a bit of snow with 44. Sounds like this is going to be a problem. Antybody else in Southern NH receiving Boston Digital? Thanks.

Hi Bill.

I live in Merrimack, NH, and pick up all the Boston DTV stations just fine. You just need the right rooftop antenna and amplifier. I have a Channel Master 3020 antenna and Winegard 8700 pre-amp and can pick up ATSC versions of 4, 5, 7, 11 and 25.

- Dave

spearse

07-30-01, 11:17 PM

Time to kick some life into Boston digital TV!

Anyone noticed quality issues lately? ABC's signal is in and out, radical strength swings-- while CBS, from the same antenna, is rock steady and strong.

Also notice NBC's digital conversion equipment is set very poorly-- the frames are always lagging, or ghosting, like the digital converters can't keep up with the analog frames. Wonder if they watch their own transmission--

Any word if nationwide PBS got the $40m in funding? Targeted for digital conversion--

Starman

Prelude2k

07-31-01, 07:58 AM

Originally posted by spearse:
Time to kick some life into Boston digital TV!

Anyone noticed quality issues lately? ABC's signal is in and out, radical strength swings-- while CBS, from the same antenna, is rock steady and strong.

Also notice NBC's digital conversion equipment is set very poorly-- the frames are always lagging, or ghosting, like the digital converters can't keep up with the analog frames. Wonder if they watch their own transmission--

Starman

I have also noticed that about ABC... I'm about 50miles west of Boston, but with a roof top antenna I can get all the stations. ABC is weird because one day I'll be getting 98-100% of the signal (which is pretty impressive considering how far away I am), then the next I get 70%, while none of the other stations seems to affected.

NBC can look pretty bad, I often won't bother watching it just for that reason.

I wish WFXT-DT would up their power a bit. That's the only Boston station that I have problems with it going in and out, and only getting 65% of the signal. WFXT 25 analog comes in crystal clear here however.

-Mike

rudolpht

07-31-01, 09:47 AM

Mike,

I have found that a marginal southward pointing movemet of the antenna makes a significant difference in getting in WFXT. I am sure you did a lot of trial and error in optimizing all stations.

Amazingly I have been having some breakups on WBZ. (Hope I don't have to get the voodoo out again). I am desperately trying to get WENH-DT 57 by Jointenna'ing my ChannelMaster about 130 degrees to the left of Needham to no avail. Next stop is a pre-amp. Stop after that would be to run the ChannelMaster back in parallel to Needham which ups the Boston stations enough to fry eggs.

Tim

Benji

07-31-01, 06:13 PM

FYI, according to an email x-change I had with Ross Kaufman of WCVB, Ross said that WCVB-DT's power will be increased this week from 48% of full to 64%. I know this will help me as I get a very fringe signal now with frequent multipath interruptions. This should put WCVB pretty much on par with WBZ.

------------------

spearse

07-31-01, 06:24 PM

I have tried to get WENH-DT NH PBS for weeks. I have a 100" antenna, large YAGI which nails Needham. But every time I swing it north to ch. 57 PBS, strange! I get ZERO on my Hipix, nada, not even a 5% which I get from any direction on the Needham stations. I try it between 7-9pm weekday nights. Are they only sporadically transmitting from day-day? Antennaweb.org says I should easily get it with my directional antenna. Nor do I get ch. 59 NH. I figure an amp won't help if I don't even get a blip, right?
Starman

jimg

08-01-01, 08:12 AM

Originally posted by spearse:
I have tried to get WENH-DT NH PBS for weeks. ... I try it between 7-9pm weekday nights. Are they only sporadically transmitting from day-day?

They have been on regularly 7-9ish weekdays as well as weekend afternoons and evenings. They are still at "construction permit levels", and will not be at full power for some time. [Will probably go to full power when they switch over to channel 11].

You will need a good UHF section and a good preamp.
Check a map to see if you have a reasonably clear shot to Saddleback Mtn. in New Hampshire -- and warning that nearby hills can cause multipath issues. Good Luck.
[I'm in Framingham and have a 7 ft. CM Parascope "dedicated" to Ch. 57, and I still need a good 28db pre-amp.]

Prjoy

08-01-01, 09:12 AM

WENH-DT has been on every night from 7 to 9PM +- a few minutes. I live in Tewksbury and receive them very well. The WENH tower is 39 miles from me and I receive them with a signal of 70-76 with no mulitpath issues. I use a RCA DTC-100 and a APS U-92 UHF antenna up about 25 feet and no pre-amp. With the antenna up at 100 feet and x distance from the tower, you may want to check line loss and correct with the preamp. Ch 59 has been off the air for a long time. I don't know the reason.

Pat

------------------
HDjunky

rudolpht

08-01-01, 11:06 AM

Jim,

What kind of Pre-Amp are you using. I usually go out to Stark Electronics in Worcester to grab dedicated things, but I went into Radio Shack last night to pick up a returnable Pre-Amp just for trial & error. They never heard of a pre-amp, just in-line signal amplifiers.

Using a ChannelMaster 4248 by itself to try to hit 57 so I know I'm in good shape there. Bupkis.

Tim

robergec

08-01-01, 11:15 AM

Is there a web site listing what digital stations are available in the Boston area, what their channel numbers are, and what their schedules are?

wkhz

08-01-01, 11:25 AM

Originally posted by robergec:
Is there a web site listing what digital stations are available in the Boston area, what their channel numbers are, and what their schedules are?

Try www.titantv.com (http://www.titantv.com)

[This message has been edited by wkhz (edited 08-01-2001).]

rudolpht

08-01-01, 03:23 PM

Originally posted by jimg:
CM 7777, which I got from Stark [I also have on a channel 11 cut yagi, hence the VHF/UHF pre-amp]. It is listed on Stark's Pre-Amplifier page.

Jim,

Thanks.

Tim

andyg

08-01-01, 11:10 PM

Well you can add me to the list of Eastern Mass HDTV receivers. I just installed a Sony HD-100 into my HT using a FPTV. I am using a Rat Shack antenna in the attic with a channel master amp of 12dB. All channels working including FOX which surprised me since I live about 40 miles SE of Needham and my antenna is in the attic. I guessed on pointing the antenna in the attic. First try BZ came in with a signal of 92. The others are in the low 80's to high 90's. So far so good....

---Andy Garabedian

Uxbridge, MA

rudolpht

08-02-01, 12:07 AM

Andy,

Welcome. Tell us how the HD-100 does with local guides & PSIP channel mapping.

Tim

andyg

08-02-01, 12:14 AM

The channel mapping worked without a hitch. 4.1 & 25.1 occurred. The guide is empty; Just shows Digital broadcast in the time slots. One question. I expected to see Jay Leno in a 16x9 format. Should I have? He only appears in 4x3. The only channel I had breakups with is FOX 25. Happened three times during the 1.5 hours I watch that channel. I am assuming glitches with DTV broadcast. CBS, ABC, & NBC had no breakups.

[This message has been edited by andyg (edited 08-02-2001).]

jimg

08-02-01, 12:46 AM

Originally posted by rudolpht:
Jim,

What kind of Pre-Amp are you using.
Tim

CM 7777, which I got from Stark [I also have on a channel 11 cut yagi, hence the VHF/UHF pre-amp]. It is listed on Stark's Pre-Amplifier page.

Benji

08-02-01, 01:46 AM

Jay Leno is in 4:3 format in Boston because the GM's of WHDH-DT Boston and KPHO-Phoenix were seperated at birth! WHDH does not feel there are sufficient HD displays in the Boston area, and insufficient NBC HD programs to pass on 1080i signals.

------------------

andyg

08-03-01, 12:59 AM

I send them my .02 on reformatting the picture and the injustice of it all. I saw CSI on CBS. Now that looked awesome....

---Andy

rudolpht

08-04-01, 04:08 PM

PBS in it's HD glory, Channel 57 in Manchester.

Well I did the preamp and Jointenna route to get about a 56-57% reading on both my DST-3000 and Dish 6000. Below should be mandatory reading for 6000 users.

Originally posted by Hot:
I reentered the HDTV setup and checked cable instead of OTA. I then went to reenter channel 18. I saved it and PBS 80 showed up with NOVA in HDTV.

Hot,

You da' man.

This should be a mandatory course for all 6000 owners. Great workaround.

Watching auburn & Alabama on the PBS National Feed now (80-3, mapped locally).

Of course I'm watching on WENH-DT because our Boston "Flagship" PBS WGBH station believes there are not enough DTV sets in the Boston area, though their Sprinfield affiliate is broadcasting to a fraction of that fraction.

Thanks,
Tim

RoyGBiv

08-06-01, 10:19 AM

About a month ago in response to their request that I renew, I sent WGBH a letter detailing why I would not renew my membership until they started broadcasting an HD signal on channel 19. I never got any reply. Yesterday afternoon, one of their pledge people called to ask if they could count on my renewing my membership at the same level as last year since my membership was expiring. I explained that I wasn't going to renew until WGBH was broadcasting an HD signal, and that I had sent them a letter detailing this previously. Without saying another word, she hung up on me. Usually, I'm the one hanging up on telemarketers.

SMK

spearse

08-07-01, 07:23 PM

FYI, a recent exchange with WGBH's supervisor of audience/member services--he refers to the letter posted earlier in this forum:

Thanks for the email Bill. The sad fact is that WGBH is in Boston, second only to silicon valley in high-tech industry—and WGBH lags the rest of the country in digital broadcasting. Even New Hampshire broadcasts high-def. I am joining WENH because I watch their broadcasts now, not WGBH.

WGBH is out of touch with its Boston viewers—especially affluent, early adopters who would donate much more than typical members if WGBH showed its support of viewers’ needs. How does every other station in the USA justify broadcasting digital PBS?

It’s a shame that PBS produces such high-quality programming, much of it in high-definition, but WGBH won’t pass it on to its viewers in a high-quality medium (digital TV). The letter below is contrived to justify a lack of progressive thought.

I challenge the $100k/year cost of electricity figure. Why not broadcast 2-3 hours a day, like WENH in New Hampshire?
Steve Pearse
Member ID#1284094

PS I will join as a $300/yr member as soon as WGBH regularly broadcasts digital (unless WENH has me hooked). Broadcast 2 hours/day, electrical costs go to $8k/yr—how many members like me would it take to cover your costs then?

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Pimentel [mailto:bill_pimentel@wgbh.org]
Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2001 7:17 PM
To: spearse99@yahoo.com
Subject: WGBH'S DTV BROADCAST PLANS

Dear Mr. Pearse,

Thank you for contacting Audience and Member Services at WGBH this afternoon. I have included the letter I promised you, below. But first I've included a recent email response from David Liroff, WGBH's vice president and chief technology officer, to another (avsforum.com) respondent who questioned statistics cited in that same letter.

If you are interested, as I'm sure you are, I'll be happy to share those statistics with you, as well as any related updates, once these two gentlemen compare notes.

Regards,

Bill Pimentel

rudolpht

08-07-01, 09:48 PM

All I can say is WENH is a progressive station. It's a great HD night with Baseball on DirecTV & Dish (WGN), but first I watched WENH.

Have Pre-Amp will travel,
Tim

jonlgauthier

08-15-01, 01:32 PM

Anyone notice problems with WCVB-DT/ABC last night during the rerun of NYPD Blue? Everytime they cut to a commercial break, audio went dead. Back from break, audio started again on cue. I did notice that the audio stream was DD 5.1 througout - I'm assuming that's that normal and they don't switch horses midstream to Pro Logic...

On another topic:
I'm retiring my Terk TV-42 and getting a real outdoor UHF antenna. My Silver Sensor does a better job indoors than the Terk does on the roof. I'm going to put the SS on the roof (weatherproof it first) to get WENH, and couple it with a UHF antenna from Radio Shack - that way I'll get the Boston DT stations and WENH without a rotator.

Anyone want a virtually new TV-42?

------------------
*****|>
*****|\
****/|*\
***/*|__\
**/__|____
**\_ ___ _ \

Jon Gauthier
"If I'm not sailing I'd rather be watching sailing in HD!" - Me

jimg

08-16-01, 12:57 AM

While waiting for WGBH-DT channel 19 (Boston PBS) to get on the air, try "going west".

From the western suburbs, I was able to get WGBY-DT channel 58 in Springfield last night.
(I used a CM 4248 UHF Yagi with a 19db preamp.)
My Dish Network 6000 locked on with a good signal quality reading of ~58%, did have some occasional dropouts.

It apparently is still low-power, so you might have to use some of the techniques from the days when WBZ-DT was also low-power. (In this case, tune analog channel 57 as best you can [it'll be somewhat snowy], then switch to channel 58 and try fine-tuning with your rotor.)

Good luck!

tdemelle

08-16-01, 10:31 PM

I would love to receive WENH from my home in Brighton, MA, very close to downtown Boston, but the WENH tower doesn't even show up when I run my address through antennaweb.

Can anyone in my vicinity give me a sense of whether or not I might be able to make this happen and if so, what it might take?

Any replies at all are appreciated!

------------------

Todd

The HT-2-B (http://members.aol.com/ejwize/HT/TheaterDeMelle.html)

rudolpht

08-17-01, 12:45 AM

Todd,

I'm just getting it in Boxborough (more West, more North towards NH) with a dedicated 4248 antenna and a 28db pre-amp. Of course I am commiting heresy doing this in my attic vs. outside, but I think you'll have a tough haul. Trial and error is only way to tell, but may be a hassle. For me it's about a 120 degree swing left from the Needham towers. Mileafe, as they say, will vary.

Tim

rudolpht

08-17-01, 01:07 AM

Bob Hess,

1) With the latest update of Advanced Programming Guide data from DirecTV a couple of days ago, WBZ-DT guide info now shows up correctly like the other are DT stations on the DST-3000 and I assume Mitsubishi & Hughes boxes.

2) FYI, Though I watch 4-1, I had then lost CBS HD on Dish. Though Boston is a CBS O&O station, it appears WPRI (who) nixed it. Silly.

3) Now that is more public that WBZ owns channel 38, will the Digital feed happen any sooner?

Thanks, as always,
Tim

jimg

08-17-01, 08:33 AM

Originally posted by tdemelle:
I would love to receive WENH from my home in Brighton, MA, very close to downtown Boston, but the WENH tower doesn't even show up when I run my address through antennaweb.

Can anyone in my vicinity give me a sense of whether or not I might be able to make this happen and if so, what it might take?

Any replies at all are appreciated!

WENH is better known as NHPTV...
do a search on that... you'll find all the info you need

jhe

08-17-01, 08:42 AM

Bob Hess,

Got any comments on the TV Technology article, warning of problems for Low VHF stations if they try to keep their VHF frequency?

Are any Boston stations worried about this, or are all planning to stay on VHF ultimately?

Prjoy

08-17-01, 09:56 AM

You can find some good info at this site:
http://www.bsexton.com/tvdb.html

Enter your zip code

Distance to search to...60 80 150 miles etc.

Service Class Filter = DT

Status Filter = none

Grade Search Filter = none

These entries will give you the exact distance, bearing and field strength of the station based on FCC calculations for each station.

Bearings are geographic not magnetic.

unfortunately the site used to provide maps, but that was cut off.

WENH-DT is still running low power so your distance may be problematic and require an extensive antenna, pre-amp and some good height above ground.

Good luck

Pat

------------------
HDjunky

Bob Hess

08-17-01, 10:27 AM

Originally posted by rudolpht:
Bob Hess,

1) With the latest update of Advanced Programming Guide data from DirecTV a couple of days ago, WBZ-DT guide info now shows up correctly like the other are DT stations on the DST-3000 and I assume Mitsubishi & Hughes boxes.

2) FYI, Though I watch 4-1, I had then lost CBS HD on Dish. Though Boston is a CBS O&O station, it appears WPRI (who) nixed it. Silly.

3) Now that is more public that WBZ owns channel 38, will the Digital feed happen any sooner?

Thanks, as always,
Tim

Hi Tim,

Very interesting stuff.

I'm not sure that WPRI has the ability to nix you at your location. We can discuss via private email if you wish. As you probably, know, as a CBS O&O, we support the Network's desire to get HDTV to the viewers via Dish, even though it is not the WBZ feed.

We are presently working on the engineering for Channel 38 and Channel 28 (Providence). I expect WSBK-DT to be on the air around first quarter 2002. Work never stops here, however. We are presently installing a new 50 KW transmitter for WBZ Radio!

- Bob

Bob Hess

08-17-01, 10:44 AM

Originally posted by jhe:
Bob Hess,

Got any comments on the TV Technology article, warning of problems for Low VHF stations if they try to keep their VHF frequency?

Are any Boston stations worried about this, or are all planning to stay on VHF ultimately?

Wow. AVS members do their homework. For the others out there, TV Technology is a broadcast engineering trade magazine. The channel 2-6 stations are very concerned about the future. Although most have the option of keeping their VHF channel or their UHF channel - but not both - when analog TV goes away, there are some real problems with doing DTV on those low channels. As the article states, impulse (electrical noise appearing as white dots on analog sets) destroys the DTV signal. With today's technology, we would probably elect to stay with our UHF channel but I don't expect us to make the choice until the last minute. We will be looking very closely at the performance of the few low band DTV's out there including our Chicago station.

Bob

tdemelle

08-17-01, 11:13 AM

Thanks very much for all the feedback!

Prjoy, unfortunately your linked site didn't show WENH to be within 150 miles of my location and I was unable to expand the search radius beyond that distance.

In the "there's still hope" department, last night I came across this site linked from the AVSForum:
http://www.metronet.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/~chipk/tvtl?calls=WENH-TV&lat=43-10-33&lon=71-12-29&rad=63

which shows the broadcast radius from the WENH tower in NH with Boston falling within its scope. If transmission from the tower currently weak, hoping to tune it in may be a bit optimistic.

I will continue to investigate. Thanks again!

------------------

Todd

The HT-2-B (http://members.aol.com/ejwize/HT/TheaterDeMelle.html)

Prjoy

08-17-01, 11:56 AM

Hi Todd,
I just entered the site and put in your zip and the filter settings I gave in the post and got the information on the WENH-DT.

57 WENH-DT DURHAM NH DT APP 56.94 356.2 47.3

What it means is Ch 57 WENH-DT in Durham NH DT class station 56.94 miles from your location on a bearing of 356.2 degrees and would present a 47.3 dbu signal at your location as referenced to dipole UHF antenna.

Your would have to have a very high gain antenna and preamp at a good height above ground to get ENH from your location, but I think it would be possible if you wanted to spend the cash to do so.

Pat

------------------
HDjunky

tdemelle

08-17-01, 01:01 PM

Pat, you're right! In my haste, I didn't enter the filter information. Great information. Thanks again!

Is there any such thing as a site which might show appropriate equipment based on the figures above?

------------------

Todd

The HT-2-B (http://members.aol.com/ejwize/HT/TheaterDeMelle.html)

[This message has been edited by tdemelle (edited 08-17-2001).]

rudolpht

08-17-01, 09:58 PM

Todd,

Recommend a ChannelMaster 4248 Antenna (~$50), Wineguard AP-4800 UHF pre-amp (~$60), and a Jointenna for Channel 57 (~40?) if combining with other antenna feed.

Stark Electronic, Worcester, is a good place, though you are closer to U-Do-It in Needham.

Tim

[This message has been edited by rudolpht (edited 08-17-2001).]

rudolpht

08-17-01, 10:19 PM

Originally posted by Bob Hess:
We can discuss via private email if you wish
- Bob

Bob,

Thanks for the reply and info, as always.

Private message in your box. (You must check more often than I).

Thanks,
Tim

tdemelle

08-18-01, 12:42 AM

Tim, you are the man with the plan! Thanks!

------------------

Todd

The HT-2-B (http://members.aol.com/ejwize/HT/TheaterDeMelle.html)

jimg

08-19-01, 04:41 PM

It appears that WMUR, Manchester, NH is back on the air.
Broadcasting on channel 59 (but instead of virtual channel 9-1, I got them at channel 70-1). Appears they're testing new equipment. From the signal strength, it appears they're close to full power. Much, much stronger than WENH to the east (in Deerfield, NH). Also WENH is still at Construction Permit power, and has to "contend" with analog channel 57 from Springfield, MA).

Point your rotors towards Manchester, NH, and have a look-see.

Also I'm still able to get WGBY-DT channel 58 from Springfield, MA. Its very weak (they're only 30kw), and although it is on 10am to 11pm, I find it is best to try from 9pm - 11pm, when digital WENH channel 57 is off the air.

Note: I guess we have to be considered a FCC DTV beta test area: low power adjacent channels, analog/digital co-channels, lots of hills for multipath, "overlapping allocation" [channel 19], etc. [On the otherhand, maybe we can get Bob Hess to write: "DTV for Pioneers".]

rudolpht

08-19-01, 09:10 PM

Jim,

Tried 59 (9-1 on the DST-3000) and get about 30 strength.

Flipped to 57-1 and there (after 9PM typical curfew) if the Washinton Met Le Cid.

Pretty spectacular, even for a non-opera lover like me. It's good to have a PBS affilite that cares, even if WGBH doesn't.

Tim

rmertens

08-20-01, 10:38 AM

I am receiving WMUR 70.1 very clearly, but alas my Sony HD-100 doesn't pick up any sound. Anybody else experiencing the same ?

Has this been a problem with other stations in the past ? I assume that this is a broadcast problem.

Why have they chosen to stretch the image ?

Bob

tdemelle

08-20-01, 10:45 AM

Just called Stark Electronics and ordered:

Channelmaster 3023 (according to sales guy it's the same as 4028, just easier to ship)

Channelmaster 7775 pre-amp (according to sales guy, it has less noise than the AP-4800)

and a Jointenna.

They should arrive tomorrow. Weather permitting, I'll have these up by the end of the week. Of course, you'll be hearing the unfolding drama here. http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif

------------------

Todd

The HT-2-B (http://members.aol.com/ejwize/HT/TheaterDeMelle.html)

Sal

08-21-01, 03:02 PM

Hi,

Since about 9 or so this morning I am unable to pick up WFXT. Is anyone getting a signal? I normally get 83-85 signal strength on a DISH 6000, and i was getting it at around 7 but havent been able to pick up since.

Also with a CM 3021, I can now get intermittent signal on ch 59 (WMUR-DT). I so want to get ch 57 (WENH) but I am in a south facing apt right on the junction of I-90 and Rte 9 in Framingham and so I think i need a pre-amp and a bigger antenna.

Sal

jimg

08-22-01, 09:18 AM

Originally posted by tdemelle:
Just called Stark Electronics and ordered:

Channelmaster 3023 (according to sales guy it's the same as 4028, just easier to ship)

Channelmaster 7775 pre-amp (according to sales guy, it has less noise than the AP-4800)

and a Jointenna.

Just in case you feel you'll need to go higher...
You-Do-It in Needham has tripods and 10 ft poles.
Sometimes they have the "thicker" poles (ask for the "satellite poles").
Besides rotating the antenna for best signal, also try adjusting the height. Sometimes a few inches up or down can make a difference!

Try also getting Manchester's WMUR-DT digital 59 (fairly strong) now that they're back, as well as analog channel 50 in Derry.

Good Luck!

jonlgauthier

08-22-01, 09:36 AM

For the second week in a row, I've heard no sound during commercial breaks while watching NYPD Blue on WCVB-DT (maybe I shouldn't be complaining!). Everytime it cut back to the network 720p feed, sound came back. Anyone have the same problem?

I've got a Mitsu SR-HD400 coupled to a Denon AVR-1800 A/V receiver. Audio encoding on the Denon is set to automatic. My receiver sees and decodes the DD 5.1 signal properly, as far as I can tell. I have no problems on other channels, even when HBO-HD broadcasts a movie with DD 5.1.

I'm assuming that WCVB leaves their commercial breaks in Pro Logic - no sense in investing money in a 5.1 transcoder(?) if it's not needed just yet. My Denon has no trouble switching decoding formats on the fly when I'm watching DD 5.1 or DTS encoded DVDs (most all DVD menues I've seen have Pro Logic sound - or at least that's what my receiver says it sees). So is it a problem with the broadcast signal, my SR-HD400 DTV tuner, or my A/V receiver?

Any ideas?

------------------
*****|>
*****|\
****/|*\
***/*|__\
**/__|____
**\_ ___ _ \

Jon Gauthier
"If I'm not sailing I'd rather be watching sailing in HD!" - Me

tdemelle

08-22-01, 04:03 PM

I've secured my new antenna to the mast my old antenna has been on. Now I've got these two antennas and a couple dishes on the same mast.

The old antenna runs into the jointenna. The new antenna runs into the pre amp which runs into the jointenna. The jointenna runs inside to the interior component of the pre-amp and then to my receiver.

Since I don't have a compass immediately handy, I aimed the new antenna more or less by eye. My townhouse faces dead north and the tower is just a couple degrees west of north, which is where I aimed the antenna. Unfortunately, the mighty oak that grows in front of my building lies directly in the path of the signal. There is no reasonable way around that.

My dish signals are working fine, and I am able to pull in OTA signals from FXT and the Needham tower *until* I plug in the pre-amp at which time, the signals drop off to nothing. I am unable to pick up 57 Digital at all. No signal whatsoever.

Any ideas?

------------------

Todd

The HT-2-B (http://members.aol.com/ejwize/HT/TheaterDeMelle.html)

tdemelle

08-22-01, 06:28 PM

a little more info:

with the pre amp plugged in, I can pick up

WBZ 4

WMUR 9 (looks like 4:3 stretched to 16:9)

The channels I normally get from the Needham tower seem to pulse from around 50% to 0% (where without the preamp plugged in, they come in very strongly -- over 90%)

With the pre-amp plugged in I do get analog 50 and a very faint signal on analog 57.

Any guidance is appreciated.

------------------

Todd

The HT-2-B (http://members.aol.com/ejwize/HT/TheaterDeMelle.html)

tdemelle

08-22-01, 07:20 PM

one more bit of information... with the pre-amp plugged in, now I am getting pulsing signals from 57 digital... much like what I get from the channels I normally get without the preamp... rhythmically up to 50% down to 0% up to 50% down to 0%. It's not enough to get a lock. (I presume I am seeing this now as it is after 7pm?)

------------------

Todd

The HT-2-B (http://members.aol.com/ejwize/HT/TheaterDeMelle.html)

rudolpht

08-23-01, 12:42 AM

Todd,

Posted to the other thread, but positioning also made a big difference for me to eliminate pulsing as well.

Tim

jimg

08-23-01, 09:38 AM

Todd,

NHPTV (WENH-DT) Channel 57 is normally only on 7pm-9pm weekdays, 1pm-9pm on weekends.

It is still low-power so you do have to be very precise in aiming your antenna. Try removing the Jointenna and just concentrate on getting Channel 57. There is some signal loss with the Jointenna. [I have a Jointenna but am using it to join the amplified UHF (i.e. pre-amp out to the "DC pass " leg) along with a VHF antenna to the other leg.

Also what settop box do you have?
The DTC-100 is very multipath sensitive, the Panasonic DST-50/51 are better, and the Dish 6000's 8VSB is much better, and it looks like the next generations well be even better still. And for digital we've learned it isn't just a matter of signal strength, it is also a matter of getting a stable signal with low multipath.

Because the distance and low-power of both PBSs (channel 57 in New Hampshire, and channel 58 in Springfield), we need the big antennas, and 28db preamps, but they are easily overloaded if they are pointed near Needham. [either front or back!]

Go back through some of the earlier posts in this thread...there are a lot of different situations we've had to overcome (especially when Channel 30 was low power.)

--Jim

Bob Hess

08-23-01, 09:53 AM

Originally posted by tdemelle:

My dish signals are working fine, and I am able to pull in OTA signals from FXT and the Needham tower *until* I plug in the pre-amp at which time, the signals drop off to nothing. I am unable to pick up 57 Digital at all. No signal whatsoever.

Any ideas?

Nothing is easy for the Early Adopters. A preamp on your antenna will do more harm than good when the antenna is pointed at the Needham tower. WBZ's high power signal on channel 30 is probably wiping out WFXT's channel 31 when you have the preamp on. You should not need a preamp from your location to receive the signals from Needham.

New Hampshire signals may require the preamp.

A simple (meaning relatively small) UHF only antenna pointed at Needham should do the trick, when mounted on the roof, for anyone within about 10 miles of Needham unless you have a serious hill between you and Needham.

- Bob

Bob Hess

08-23-01, 10:00 AM

Due to a flaw in a system we use which automatically handles satellite waiver requests from Dish, you may be notified by E* that your waiver request was denied by WBZ. We will not deny any waiver request for CBS-HD. If you are informed that you were denied by WBZ, send me an email and I will generate a waiver.

Bob Hess
Director, Broadcast Operations/Engineering
WBZ
bhess@cbs.com

chs4

08-23-01, 11:42 AM

Originally posted by Bob Hess:
Due to a flaw in a system we use which automatically handles satellite waiver requests from Dish, you may be notified by E* that your waiver request was denied by WBZ. We will not deny any waiver request for CBS-HD. If you are informed that you were denied by WBZ, send me an email and I will generate a waiver.

Bob Hess
Director, Broadcast Operations/Engineering
WBZ
bhess@cbs.com

Now if you could only put some pressure on our friends at WPRI... http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/frown.gif

tdemelle

08-23-01, 03:13 PM

Thanks for all the feedback here. In order to keep this thread more on topic, here's a thread I've started for the WENH tuning issue above.

http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/Forum11/HTML/015811.html

Any further feedback is much appreciated.

------------------

Todd

The HT-2-B (http://members.aol.com/ejwize/HT/TheaterDeMelle.html)

jasona

08-23-01, 09:42 PM

After watching channel 57.1 (58DTV) and DirecTV (199/509)for a few months I decided it was time to replace the PO's combined VHF/UHF antenna with a ChannelMaster #3023. A few weeks prior I had added an antenna mounted preamp which helped but not enough. Originally I wanted to put up the CM Parascope but the size of it and the >$100 shipping charge from NY changed my mind. Anyway, local channels (22/40/57/etc.) came in a lot better but the Boston DTV stations were at best intermittent (30-80 signal strength at night on a Sony HD100 but only rarely locking in. On the few nights when it would lock in, nobody was broadcasting 1080i. go figure) Today, I moved the antenna to another part of the roof that is about 15' higher for a total of about 35' above ground. The house is at 1125' above sea level. Now channel 20.1(WCVB) comes in at 90-100 signal strength ALWAYS locked, 30(4.1 WBZ) 95-100 ALWAYS locked, 31.1(WFXT) comes in at 20-30 strength no locking (obviously), 42.1(WHDH) comes in at 80-90 ALWAYS locked, 57/59 (can't remember which and only tried around 8pm) from New Hampshire has a max strength of about 18 and finally 33(WFSB) (3.1 from CT) maxes out at about 30. These signal strengths were taken early this afternoon and the Boston stations are 83 miles away. http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif Of course nobody but the extremely local WGBY 57.1 (18 miles away) is broadcasting 720P/1080i tonight. I tried the NY DTV stations but had no luck (132 miles seems to be pushing it.) When I stick a VHF antenna on the pole I'll try for 10.1 (WTNH/CT)
Goshen is about a 15 minute drive west of NorthHampton on the Franklin County/Hampshire County line.

[This message has been edited by JasonAndreas (edited 08-23-2001).]

RoyGBiv

08-24-01, 02:46 PM

There is a thread in the programming section suggesting that there will be a significant amount of HDTV content broadcast during the olympics. I believe an earlier post in this thread indicated that WHDH might start HD broadcasts late fall or by new year. Does anyone know the status of their HD broadcasting plans and if they would be able to broadcast any of the olympics in HD?

SMK

rudolpht

08-25-01, 12:21 AM

Jim,

Getting WMUR-DT with a 44 signal now. Wonder if power is up even more (because my antenna pointing that way is Jointenna'd for 57 only).

Everything is S T R E T C H E D to improper geometry. Blech. Taking it off the guide.

Todd,

WHAT'S the good word????

Tim

Soycrema

08-28-01, 01:23 PM

can you please provide the reply-to e-mail address for the Maggie girl at WGBH? I am interested in this voluntary experiment....This station should be on the air in 3 weeks on channel 19.

wkhz

08-28-01, 02:21 PM

Originally posted by Soycrema:
can you please provide the reply-to e-mail address for the Maggie girl at WGBH? I am interested in this voluntary experiment....This station should be on the air in 3 weeks on channel 19.

Her email address is:
maggie_cahill_morasco@wgbh.org

Delicious2

08-28-01, 03:58 PM

Thanks wkhz. I just emailed her to volunteer. Anything involving WGBH and digital interests me - HD or not. I wonder where they got that question on the antenna though. Seems odd that a 30 foot antenna would be calculated as a 10 foot antenna on a 20 foot rooftop http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif How ;bout a 6 inch one on a 29.5 foot roof http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Mark H

wkhz

08-28-01, 04:30 PM

Originally posted by Delicious2:
Thanks wkhz. I just emailed her to volunteer. Anything involving WGBH and digital interests me - HD or not. I wonder where they got that question on the antenna though. Seems odd that a 30 foot antenna would be calculated as a 10 foot antenna on a 20 foot rooftop http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif How ;bout a 6 inch one on a 29.5 foot roof http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Mark H

I guess I am out of luck since I don't have outdoor antenna.

mkingman

08-28-01, 07:15 PM

I wonder if a the "outdoor antenna" is really a requirement. If your current antenna can receive 20 & 30 then you should be able to get 19 unless they're operating at very low power.

/Matt

wkhz

08-29-01, 12:59 AM

Just receive this email from WGBH. Does anyone have more information about it?

***Email quoted below***
WGBH, in partnership with Triveni Digital, is conducting a voluntary Interactive Digital Television trial of the program "Life 360." If you would like to be considered for participation in this trial, please answer the following questions and reply to this e-mail with them. If selected, you will be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement with Triveni.

Questions:

1) Does your dwelling have a functioning thirty foot outdoor antenna (e.g., a ten foot antenna on top of a 20 foot house)?

2) Do you have a Standard Definition or High Definition Digital TV at home?

3) Are you willing to watch "Life 360" and interact with broadcast enhancements using the remote control unit?

4) What level of education have you completed?

5) Are you at least 35 years of age?

6) Have you watched PBS in the last seven days?

7) Do you have children over the age of 10?

Thank you for your time,

Maggie

--
Maggie Cahill-Morasco
WGBH InteractiveText

jimg

08-29-01, 10:04 AM

Bob Hess:

Since "there are so few of us HDTVers", could you ask WGBH for permission to let us know about (and provide feedback for Channel 19's testing activities). Let them know you could solicit the help of the "early adopters" in volunteering to providing signal reports as well as any problems with sound/picture quality.

Please stress:
*) we're here to help
*) we have a well-established communication network [this forum]
*) we have expertise at all levels
*) we have DTV STBs old and new from all the manufacturers
*) we provide advice and suggestions to the newbies
*) we've helped those suffering from pixelization
*) we've contributed to channel 19
and
!!) we want our HDTV

Most of us are veterans of Channel 30's low-power testing, and have amassed the specialized receiving equipment such as voodoo attenuators, rotors, notch filters, Silver Sensor antennas, Parascope antennas, jointennas, etc. We have been face-to-face with multipath, and conquered it. We've
muddled-through audio dropouts and kept on watching.
Watching test patterns and demo loops are our specialty.

I admit that the ranks of Channel 19 watchers may be a bit thin during CBS prime time or the upcoming CBS HDTV sporting events, but I'm sure we can provide coverage (going into side-by-side mode if we have to).

Bob Hess

08-29-01, 05:16 PM

Jim,

If I hear any information regarding testing or on-air date, I will post or have someone from GBH post.

Bob

andyg

08-29-01, 10:51 PM

Anyone else having problems tonight with HDTV OTA. FOX and NBC are not working for me tonight. FOX has no signal while NBC has signal(high 80's for me) but no picture or sound. Just wondering...

---Andy

Soycrema

08-29-01, 11:23 PM

I am also having trouble with FOX, there is no signal. I am getting NBC at 70% strenght.

Benji

08-30-01, 01:22 AM

I too am getting no signal on FOX. I don't usually get a very strong signal on NBC but tonight it actually is a little stronger than usual. Generally I only get about 25% but tonight it's around 45-50%.

------------------

jimg

08-30-01, 10:18 AM

Originally posted by Bob Hess:
If I hear any information regarding testing or on-air date, I will post or have someone from GBH post.

Bob

By all means, please invite them to join the forum -- We want them to know they are not just broadcasting into thin air.

If they aren't already aware of us, please share some of the posts from this thread. Also, if they'd like any special feedback, (or what information they would like contained in the feedback).

Likewise, I think we'd like from them what you reported earlier with channel 30's growing pains (the need for the bridge, the precision splicing of the transmitter cable, the
encoder issues, the planned testing "heads-up", etc).

andyg

08-30-01, 11:41 PM

My problem was NBC moved from 42.1 to 7.1 and my Sony STB went waco. Eventhough I rescanned when I was having problems yesterday, it did not move NBC to the new location. Today I realized my system was whacked when several DTV stations showed up when I rescanned again. The channels that appeared are nothing located from the Boston area. I unplugged the STB for about 2 minutes, then rescanned. All stations now working.

chs4

08-31-01, 07:15 AM

Originally posted by andyg:
My problem was NBC moved from 42.1 to 7.1 and my Sony STB went waco. Eventhough I rescanned when I was having problems yesterday, it did not move NBC to the new location. Today I realized my system was whacked when several DTV stations showed up when I rescanned again. The channels that appeared are nothing located from the Boston area. I unplugged the STB for about 2 minutes, then rescanned. All stations now working.

I had a very similar problem with my E*6000 receiver. I manually added WHDH-DT (NBC) 7.1, but when I tried to tune to it it re-mapped back to 42.2. No problem, that hapopens all the time while WHDH-DT is testing their PSIP.

Now I run a scan for DTV stations. (I do this occasionally just to see if there's anything new I may have missed) Lo and behold I now show channels 16.1 thru 16.8! Don't know how this happened as there isn't even a digital channel 16 scheduled for our area. Obviously when I tune to these channels I receive nothing, but it's strange that they made it to the guide.

Weird...

Chip

spearse

09-01-01, 04:49 PM

Well guys, looks like CBS isn't passing on the US Open in HDTV??!!
How can we let them know?
Steve Pearse

[This message has been edited by spearse (edited 09-01-2001).]

DaMutha

09-01-01, 06:18 PM

I don't think it's down....

"CBS Sports will produce 20 hours of the U.S. OPEN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS for High Definition broadcasts on Friday, Sept. 7 (11:00 AM- 6:00 PM, ET), Saturday, Sept. 8 (12:00 AM-6:00 PM, 8:00 PM-10PM, ET) and Sunday, Sept. 9 (4:00-7:00 PM, ET). The HDTV telecasts, which will be broadcast live by CBS Sports' Tim Brando and Tony Trabert from the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., will be produced and transmitted independent of the Network's analog broadcast coverage. All HDTV programming on CBS will be broadcast in highest form of HD----1080i."
From the CBS website.

spearse

09-01-01, 06:55 PM

Agh, didn't see the date-- next weekend!
Steve

[This message has been edited by spearse (edited 09-01-2001).]

JOtteman

09-07-01, 01:56 PM

In light of todays announcement by ABC of going HD for all primetime dramas, sitcoms, and movies, does anyone know when channel 5 (DT20.1) will be going full power? I still experience too many drop outs here in Framingham. TIA.

Jay

wkhz

09-12-01, 05:25 PM

Originally posted by mkingman:
I wonder if a the "outdoor antenna" is really a requirement. If your current antenna can receive 20 & 30 then you should be able to get 19 unless they're operating at very low power.

/Matt

I received a rejection notice (see below) from WGBH, probably because I don't have the outdoor antenna. Those that were selected please update us here on what "life 360" is and what progress that WGBH is making in providing digital (HD programming.

***The letter***
Thank you for your response to our call for volunteers to test "Life 360". Unfortunately we are unable to accept your offer of help for this trial. There was an impressive number of qualified applicants and only a handful were needed. We will keep your information on hand should we be running any similar trials in the future.

Thanks again for you interest,
Maggie

SmokeBringer

09-12-01, 05:31 PM

Originally posted by wkhz:
I received a rejection notice (see below) from WGBH, probably because I don't have the outdoor antenna. Those that were selected please update us here on what "life 360" is and what progress that WGBH is making in providing digital (HD programming.

***The letter***
Thank you for your response to our call for volunteers to test "Life 360". Unfortunately we are unable to accept your offer of help for this trial. There was an impressive number of qualified applicants and only a handful were needed. We will keep your information on hand should we be running any similar trials in the future.

Thanks again for you interest,
MaggieI got the same notice that you did. I was asked to sign an NDA 2 days ago ad never got around to it. I guess they have filled up their list and have enough people to do the Beta Test.

Does anyone have any CLUE as to what "Life 360" is, anyway?

------------------
endlessly (and mindlessly) in pursuit of clarity and precision

spearse

09-12-01, 06:04 PM

I was accepted, not sure why. I did respond very quickly to their emails. I'll keep everyone informed.
Starman

chs4

09-12-01, 07:05 PM

Originally posted by SmokeBringer:

Does anyone have any CLUE as to what "Life 360" is, anyway?

From www.pbs.org (http://www.pbs.org:) :

Life 360 (http://www.pbs.org/insidepbs/news/life360.html)

[This message has been edited by chs4 (edited 09-12-2001).]

metamatt

09-12-01, 09:43 PM

I cannot get 7-1 anymore and 42-1 does not come up. Anyone else having this problem?

I get 25-1, 5-1, and 30-1 for NBC.

rudolpht

09-12-01, 11:12 PM

Try 042-2

Tim

chs4

09-13-01, 07:21 AM

Originally posted by metamatt:
I cannot get 7-1 anymore and 42-1 does not come up. Anyone else having this problem?

I get 25-1, 5-1, and 30-1 for NBC.

You receive WCVB mapped to 5-1? Which receiver are you using? I currently receive the following with my E*6000:

4-1 - WBZ-DT
9-1 - WMUR-DT
20-1 - WCVB-DT
23-1 - WHUB-DT
23-2 - WHUB-DT
25-1 - WFXT-DT
42-2 - WHDH-DT
57-3 - WENH-DT

Curious if WCVB is mapping to 5-1 and my 6000 just doesn't pick it up. Quite often WHDH-DT (42-2) briefly maps to 7-1, then quickly reverts. I was always under the assumption that they were just testing but now I'm wondering if it is my receiver.

Anyone with any insight?

Chip

RScogland

09-13-01, 10:12 AM

I soon plan to have an outdoor antenna installed, and I want to do it right the first time. I live in Marblehead, MA (01945). There are no "huge" hills or buildings nearby, but my house is reletively "low" compared to most other houses in town. There are many tall trees surrounding my house (maybe extending 23-30 feet higher than my roof. My house is two stories, and I do not have a metal type roof. I have used this website's "search function" so I do have some information. I have tried the antenna selector websites, but I do not find them to be even remotely accurate (they would practically have me think that a paperclip stuck in my receiver would get NH stations ... I think MegaWave must be funding their site). I have tried the following antennas, all with a RadioShack 26 db signal aplifier: MegaWave (sometimes works for some of the stations), RadioShack double-bowtie (sometimes works for some of the stations, SilverSensor (usually works on most stations). Currently, I do pretty well with WBZ and WCVB. WFXT and NBC come and go. I cant get any PBS stations.

I only need to use the antenna for one TV, located on the first floor. My TV is a Sony Wega KV-32XBR400 and my set top box is a ProScan PSHD-105 (same as the RCA DTC-100) with the RCA VHDC-300 RGB-to-component converter.

I am looking to have one outdoor antenna mounted on my roof or chimney. Visually, the antenna has to be somewhat acceptable to my wife, who isnt a fan of outdoor antennas. It cant be the most expensive thing in the world, but I do want to do it right. I want it to be durable enough that weather (snow, ice, and typical wind) wont wreck it. I DONT want to need to use a rotor if possible.

I'd like to get a very strong reliable signal for 30-1, 20-1, 31-2, and 42-1 (and any PBS would be nice). Anything else is a bonus.

Based on people's real world experience (not a website), what antenna is suggested for my situation? I assume all RG6 cable is recommended? Should I start out with a signal amplifier or not? Thanks for the help.

------------------
Rick W. Scogland

My Email Address:
rickscogland@mediaone.net

My Home Theater:
The Scogland Home Theater (http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/Forum15/HTML/000169.html)

[This message has been edited by RScogland (edited 09-13-2001).]

chs4

09-13-01, 11:35 AM

Rick,

You are approximately 23 miles from the Needham towers so you shouldn't have any trouble picking up the stations with a relatively small antenna.

All of the stations you have mentioned broadcast from the same area, so you could get away without a rotor, but if you really want to future-proof you should spend the money and include a rotor in your setup. At least for the near future WGBH (PBS) will not be broadcasting, so if you want PBS you would need to get it from WENH-DT in NH. For this you will need a rotor. Trust me when I tell you that right now PBS has the best HDTV available OTA.

I'm about the same distance from the towers as you, and I am able to get at least an 80% signal on each of the major networks using a Channel Master 3023 antenna mounted in my attic. (installation photos) (http://www.c5design.com/theater/antenna/)

If you have any specific questions please feel free to contact me directly.

Chip

baby herman

09-13-01, 04:16 PM

I found a web page that plots tower locations right down to street level. It's at http://sites.netscape.net/bostondtv

jonlgauthier

09-13-01, 05:20 PM

Originally posted by RScogland:
I soon plan to have an outdoor antenna installed, and I want to do it right the first time. I live in Marblehead, MA (01945)

Rick,

I live fairly low also - on Salem Harbor, but I have no obstructions as I'm on the waterfront. Currently I have a Radio Shack UXR-75 UHF-only on a short mast on my roof pointed at Needham. I get all the local digitals on my Mitsubishi SR-HD5. If I manually point towards Manchester I can get WMUR-DT (not watchable - they broadcast an upconverted 480i image stretched to 16:9) and WEND-DT marginally. If I add my R/S UHF preamp, they're rock solid. Even with a Silver Sensor in the house, I can still get all the locals from Needham.

I tried a Channel Master combiner to combine both antennas on the roof, but it caused too much multipath on WHDH (channel 42), and WENH & WMUR dropped completely off the map. So right now I'm waiting on a Channel Master Jointenna that I ordered. Hopefully I'll be able to point the UXR-75 at New Hampshire (with the pre-amp) and the SS towards Needham so I can get everything without resorting to a rotor. And no, WHUB-DT - the shopping channel - doesn't count, although I get it from time to time.

I'll let you know how it works out!

------------------
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Jon Gauthier
"If I'm not sailing I'd rather be watching sailing in HD!" - Me