Kind of off topic, but here's a chance to see some HiDef material here in Colorado. I'm having an informal Open House Projector Shootout this Friday (September 19th) at my home here in Colorado Springs, then at a friend's house this Sunday (September 21st) up in Parker (just South and East of Denver). The projectors to be compared are:

SCREENPLAY 7200
SCREENPLAY 5700
NEC HT-1000
STUDIO EXPERIENCE MATINEE 1HD

Festivities begin at 7:30 both nights. Anyone who is interested in the Colorado Springs shootout, please contact me (John) at:

jsmusicsound
@
wcubed.net

or IM me here.

If you are interested in attending the Parker/Denver shootout, please contact Brad at:

brad
@
wcubed.net

I've only got the NEC HT-1000 for a few days, so I thought it would be fun to put these projectors through their paces! Now that KKTV is broadcasting in HD, I can actually show some HD clips.

See ya there...

JOHN

Just a quick update on OTA in Superior...previously I had mentioned that with the CM4228, I was able to only pick up KUSA (@ 25-30% which got me quite a few break-ups) and KDVR. Yesterday evening I added the CM7775 pre-amp, and now get KRMA, KCNC, KUSA and KDVR (of course) with solid signal. Yaayyy!

Rgds,

JohnW

Does anybody know where to get Channel Master products locally in Denver or surrounding areas?

4228 and 7775 specifically?

Thanks.

John W,

Congratulations! Living behind that ridge for 128 probably made things very difficult. Hope you enjoy it all .

Jeff

Dustin, I don't think there are any local sources. You can get them via UPS from www.starkelectronic.com. They have all antennas and know what they are talking about. I have a 4248 (3023 in two pieces) CM large Yagi which works for me, including KMGH. I tried a pre-amp 7775 but it made things worse because other UHF signals overloaded it. Can't hurt to try though, because Stark will take anything back with no questions.

Good luck, but being in Broomfield, you will not get KMGH because the downtown buildings block the signal to the north. Feel free to complain to them... nothing will happen, however, but it feels good to vent sometimes.

Originally posted by Dustin_Moore
Does anybody know where to get Channel Master products locally in Denver or surrounding areas?

4228 and 7775 specifically?

Thanks.

I've got a 4228 still in the box (somehow I ordered two from different places) I'd be willing to sell for cost (wholesale, no shipping charges). I think it's like $45.00 or something. You'll need a mast (radio shack 10.00).

I got the 7775 from Solidsignal in two days...


PM me if interested.

Rgds,

JohnW

I recently got comcast cable and their hd package includes KUSA. It looks like its in hd but it is in the 4:3 format. Is this how it is being broadcast? I was concerned that my STB may be set wrong, but the other hd channels look great and are in wide-screen.
Thanks for your help

KUSA-DT will broadcast all their normal SD programming in the 4:3 format. The shows that are made in true 16:9 HD are prime time prerecorded series, check out the Programming forum for a schedule of all NBC HD programs.

Aren't Leno and ER supposed to be in 6:9?

Originally posted by nu2this
Aren't Leno and ER supposed to be in 6:9?

Yes, they should be in 16:9. However, Colorado's HDTV Leader isn't always diligent about flipping the proverbial switch.

I can't speak to what was on Comcast HD, but the OTA signal for the Tonight Show on KUSA-DT (16-1) was 16:9 high-definition on Friday night (9/19/2003).

I'm not sure if I had my stb misconfigured, but JAG and CSI on KCNC didn't seem to be in hi-def on Friday. Anyone have a different experience?

Eric

More data on the city of Golden's (potential?) lawsuit against the LCG tower.

Sentinal and Transcript (http://www.jeffconews.com/1editorialbody.lasso?-token.folder=2003-09-18&-token.story=54338.111215&-nothing)

-Wabisabi

Is Lookout Mtn. in Golden city limits? If not, they should have no jurisdiction over it.

Somehow, the suit is not at all surprising seeing as how Golden is against completing 470. I think any light rail lines or future rail lines to the mountains should not have stops in Golden until they allow 470 to go through Golden. Maybe they shouldn't have RTD service either. :mad: :mad: :mad:

wabisabi,

The article says that the suit must be filed by Sept 18. Do you know if that took place?

A county spokeswoman said it is policy not to comment on lawsuits until they have been filed, but she relayed County Attorney Bill Tuthill’s comment that, “Any lawsuit would be politically significant, but legally inconsequential.”

Let's see now, can we come up with the top ten ways Golden can raise money to pay for this frivolous lawsuit?

I vote for putting in a toll booth on Lookout Mountain Road up from Golden.

Don

Has anyone else had trouble watching the NFL on fox-widescreen on 31-1? I tuned in for a while yesterday and had many breakups. I don't have breakups normally - just when football is on.

Just received confirmation from Pete that the lawsuit was in fact filed. He can't give us any further comment at this time.

From the Sentinel Article, "They didn't give due consideration to alternative sites.........And finally, they ignored substantial, overwhelming evidence of the harmful effects and danger emitted from this tower" Windholz said.

Consideration would have been 'due' only if they had chosen another sight. As for the 'substantial overwhelming evidence of harmful effect', I guess we all (including the FCC) must have missed that evidence. When did they present that?????

Originally posted by donyoop
Let's see now, can we come up with the top ten ways Golden can raise money to pay for this frivolous lawsuit?.........
I suggest they raise the property taxes on all of the houses in Golden and on Lookout Mountain by 50% to pay for the suit. Since they would stand to benefit in property values if they stop the tower (or at least so they assume) I also suggest that all of the same properties should be reassessed to the higher assumed value.

Just my $0.02.

PS
Oh, yes, my prediction of July 22, 2005, maybe I should have said 2006, is it too late to change?

I'm getting good signal strength on 7-1, but my receiver says "No Signal" and there is no picture. Anybody else getting MNF on digital tonight?

Did anyone else that watched Las Vegas on KUSA-DT notice the strange motion effects on certain shots? I couldn't tell if it was a signal problem or somekind of camera effect that just doesn't work well in 1080i. The opening shot going down the Strip was awesome though!

They need to stop making all of these HD shows in Las Vegas, just makes me want to go back again and blow a ton of money! :)

Steve

I'm getting married there next weekend! Talk about blowing a ton of money! Good thing I got the Marantz S2 before... haha!

From todays Denver Post:

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~1649893,00.html

I can't believe the sad state of politics in Golden.

BTW, MNF looked great last night until the first Bronco touchdown. The 3 watt KMGH signal droped out at my house just as Shannon Sharp was heading for the end zone. My wife got up in discust and watched the rest of the game on the analog TV. She is not a happy camper that I have spent a lot of money and she can't even watch MNF in HD. :(

My excitement for the game was watered down with my contempt for KMGH. :(

This marks one of those rare occasions for me when I don't feel the need to bash KMGH for an HD transmitter that can only be seen from a block away. For a change I don't need to make any comments about the contemptuous attitude toward the public at KMGH since the lack of their HD signal last night didn't hamper the fact that I had the best HD picture in the world last night. I was at the game sitting in my usual seats, and the 'images' were truly lifelike.

Watching the Raiders get destroyed on national TV on Monday Night Football!
Priceless!
:D

Don't give KMGH credit for anything that is not true. Their transmitter is only 1.9 KW! Oh wait, you said 3 watts! Maybe that is the true number. I, like John, had a perfect HD picture, albeit from only one camera angle... my seat in the South Stands. What a great game, especially after watching last year's Raiders disaster.

We were "trying" to watch Lethal Weapon on KMGH on Sunday and towards the end, the sound and picture started cutting out with some pops in the sound. Their signal strength was still the same as always, so I can only guess that on top of a crummy transmitter, they also can't even put out a consistent product to be transmitted. Maybe it is because they appear to be trying to do 5.1 again. When they went back to 2.0 recently, their picture and sound were better... at least not breaking up as much.

As we all know, complaining to anybody down there in the hopes of helping them do a better job does absolutely NO good.

Originally posted by Phil T
BTW, MNF looked great last night until the first Bronco touchdown. The 3 watt KMGH signal droped out at my house just as Shannon Sharp was heading for the end zone. My wife got up in discust and watched the rest of the game on the analog TV. She is not a happy camper that I have spent a lot of money and she can't even watch MNF in HD. :( My wife too is rapidly losing patience with the lousy quality of HDTV broadcasts we have here. After a couple of years broadcasting digitally you'd think by now the TV stations would:

a) Remember to "flip the HDTV switch" after every commercial break,
b) Not have frequent picture and audio dropouts, and
c) (The biggest annoyance of all) Know how to keep the sound in sync with the picture!

That said, I thought MNF was pretty good last night. I had a couple of brief picture breakups, but the sound was in sync for the entire broadcast (which is not a very common occurrance lately on KMGH).

I guess I was luck y last night. The MNF was flawless throughout and I had a roomfull of guests there to pick it apart if it weren't perfect.

My fingers are getting sore from knocking on wood so much that I continue to receive.
Jeff

Any news on KWGN going live?

Eric

Nothing yet. KWGN's Don Rooney said he will call me when they get the approval. I'll post it then. Hopefully soon!!!

I guess I was fortunate too. My OTA HDTV signal held up well throughout the game. A few minor dropouts here and there but overall a very clean picture for 99% of the game.

Since I just got HD running this weekend, I have noticed a few oddities with 17-1:
* Sound volume seems to be about 10 dB lower than other channels for all content (HD and SD).
* SD 4:3 content is always in widescreen (anamorphic stretch) when using the "auto" aspect ratio of my tuner.

I'm using a myHD 120 PCI card, so perhaps it is the fault of the card. But the other HD channels seem to work fine both in terms of volume and aspect ratio. Anyone else note these problems?

In Lone Tree my 55 diamond looked great. I even tried to invite KMGH over to house for Bronco party since game was 1st regular season game in HDTV. Desk clerk was interested in story but his superiors weren't, or mabe they were in that meeting all day (negotiating with Qwest for space on the roof)....

Nothing yet. KWGN's Don Rooney said he will call me when they get the approval. I'll post it then. Hopefully soon!!!

So Ernie, you are pretty gung ho about this so you must now have the Dish waiver...

Anyway, I would like to offer my congrats to you and Sharon on your big day coming up.

Don

Originally posted by squidboy
Any news on KWGN going live? I inquired through the Denver Field Office of the FCC what could be holding it up. An engineer there is following up through the video division in Washington. I haven't heard back from him yet.

Originally posted by donyoop
you must now have the Dish waiver... I'm referring to KWGN's OTA DTV signal starting up. Not Dish.

And Thanks! A little over a week to go - aaaah!

Originally posted by santellavision
.........And Thanks! A little over a week to go - aaaah!

Ernie
Best of luck from me too, and a small piece of advice. If you have your eye on any new really expensive HT gear, go out an buy it this week.

:D

Ernie, I guess my invite got lost in the mail. You probably need a house sitter anyway -- just leave the remotes where I can find them :D

Has anyone taken advantage of the D* promotion for existing customers to upgrade to a 3 lnb dish and a new HD receiver for 399.00? Apparently you will receive a Samsung t160 OR a Hughes E86 (they will not specify which one) the new dish and installation for a 1 year programming commitment to TC and HD package.
I am wondering if they would just sell the STB to me for 399.00 and keep the new dish and installation package.

Iwanthd. I hadn't heard of that deal and I have a buddy who might be ready to upgrade to HD. Do you have a link for that??

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/imagine/HDTV.jsp

Does anybody know if CBS has announced what game on Oct. 5th will be the showcase game (broadcast in HDTV). I may be a little biased, but looking at what is on the broadcast docket I feel the game of the week is the K.C. VS. Denver game.
Here is the list of the fifth's games on CBS:

Miami @ N.Y. Giants 11 a.m. MST. kick-off
Oakland @ Chicago 11 a.m. MST. kick-off
Denver @ Kansas City 11 a.m.MST. kick-off
Cincinnati @ Buffalo 11 a.m. MST. kick-off
Tennessee @ New England 11 a.m. MST. kick-off
San Diego @ Jacksonville 2 p.m. MST. kick-off

As you can see, this is not a double header week for CBS (only one regional 2p.m. game) so the HD game won't be the San Diego @ Jacksonville game.


<Matt>

Originally posted by MattF
Does anybody know if CBS has announced what game on Oct. 5th will be the showcase game (broadcast in HDTV). I may be a little biased, but looking at what is on the broadcast docket I feel the game of the week is the K.C. VS. Denver game.
Here is the list of the fifth's games on CBS:<Matt> Sure would be nice to see it in HD - especially if they play like they did last Monday ;)
I agree that the Denver KC game looks like the game of the week - especially if both win this Sunday.

Originally posted by MattF
Does anybody know if CBS has announced what game on Oct. 5th will be the showcase game (broadcast in HDTV). I may be a little biased, but looking at what is on the broadcast docket I feel the game of the week is the K.C. VS. Denver game.
Here is the list of the fifth's games on CBS:

Miami @ N.Y. Giants 11 a.m. MST. kick-off
Oakland @ Chicago 11 a.m. MST. kick-off
Denver @ Kansas City 11 a.m.MST. kick-off
Cincinnati @ Buffalo 11 a.m. MST. kick-off
Tennessee @ New England 11 a.m. MST. kick-off
San Diego @ Jacksonville 2 p.m. MST. kick-off

As you can see, this is not a double header week for CBS (only one regional 2p.m. game) so the HD game won't be the San Diego @ Jacksonville game.


<Matt>




I Usually judge by If DirecTV is carrying the game as HDTV or ED. The Kansas City game is not listed as HDTV. Check out http://www.directvsports.com/Packages/NFLSundayTicket/Schedule/. If their schedule matches KCNC's it's in HD on KCNC.

Originally posted by MattF
Does anybody know if CBS has announced what game on Oct. 5th will be the showcase game (broadcast in HDTV). I may be a little biased, but looking at what is on the broadcast docket I feel the game of the week is the K.C. VS. Denver game.
<Matt>

According to TitanTV (http://www.titantv.com), the game will be on KCNC, but it says its not in HD (although things can always change).

Eric

I read on another forum the week 5 HD game was going to be Dolphins VS. Giants....figures :(

My first post, I've been following this thread for a while and want to thank everyone here for the great information unavailable anywhere else. I wanted to let folks know that there is a relatively cheap way to get HD over Comcast cable. I phoned them and was told by several CSRs that the only way to get HD was with a $43 digital package, So I went down to their local office here in Boulder and asked for the lifeline package ($13.44) and a DTC5100 to get the HD channels ($5 per month). The CSR said no problem, signed me up and the package was installed yesterday. It works fine, PQ on the HD channels is good. I also have Directv 3LNB setup for their HD channels. I only get 3 HD channels from Comcast at the moment, hopefully more soon. No OTA available at my spot in Boulder at all. Oh, and the lifeline TV subscription to Comcast lowers my Internet cable modem bill $10.

happ14 - Welcome! Which HD channels (stations) specifically do you get with the Lifeline/DTC5100 setup (I'm assuming only PBS and NBC)? Also, is the "Lifeline" package the same as "Basic"? I could not find "Lifeline" listed on their site. Thanks in advance.

Originally posted by Dustin_Moore
I read on another forum the week 5 HD game was going to be Dolphins VS. Giants....figures :(

Yeah but the week 6 HD game is Pittsburgh @ Denver according to the CBS Sportsline site:

http://www.sportsline.com/u/cbs/schedule/nfl.htm

Originally posted by Jetlag
happ14 - Welcome! Which HD channels (stations) specifically do you get with the Lifeline/DTC5100 setup (I'm assuming only PBS and NBC)? Also, is the "Lifeline" package the same as "Basic"? I could not find "Lifeline" listed on their site. Thanks in advance.

When I called Comcast a week or so ago, they said the locals were NBC, PBS, and FOX. The cable feeds were ESPN, HBO, and Showtime. My guess is without the Digital package you get the locals, and third would be FOX (such as it is).

When is fox actually going 720p anyway?

Originally posted by HDJello
When is fox actually going 720p anyway?

When are they going to fix the lip sync issues?
:rolleyes:

When is fox actually going 720p anyway?

Fox has announced fall of 2004 720p support for some prime time series. Fox Sports has not announced 720p but I'm hopeful for Super Bowl 38 in Jacksonville 16 months from now.

Don

I think you mean SB XXXIX (39)

HDJello--
The locals I receive are Fox 480p, NBC, and PBS, and the package I'm getting is called Basic service.

Originally posted by happ14
HDJello--
The locals I receive are Fox 480p, NBC, and PBS, and the package I'm getting is called Basic service. So let me see if I understand this.....you are getting basic service (which is analog cable I presume) along with the HDTV package for something like $18/mo and this was sufficient to qualify you to get the Cable modem fee reduced by $10/mo??? In essensce, you're saying the Comcast bill went up $8 (or so) and for that you're getting basic cable + KRMA DT, KCNC-DT, and KDVR-DT.

Sounds like a deal.

Don't you have to pay a monthly fee for the DTC5100?

Oddly when I went to Comcast.com and checked into this I found the basic cable service by just entering my zip code. When I entered my street address I can no longer find the basic cable service as an option (they do not list that as being an option). I can see where one would get different stories from CSR's...and maybe even in person at their local office (depending upon who is manning the counter).

Here are a couple of interesting and relevant posts in the Official Denver Comcast HDTV Thread! (for those who do not frequent that thread too often)(like me):Originally posted by brhow
I saw this posted over on one of the other forums, and thought I would share it here. I'm not sure how much truth there is to this, but if it is true, it sounds interesting. I know I would jump at the chance to ditch my digital cable package if I could still recieve all my hi-def channels. Take a look....

------

Hmm, from some of the other boards it looked like they can't force you to get digital in order to get HD (so guys back east were getting HD with just the basic local package). Here is the quote:

From the March/April 2003 issue of The Perfect Vision, page 33:

"The FCC requires these local [HDTV] digital channels to be part of 'basic service,' the lowest-price tier of service offered by the cable company (and the only one that's regulated by law), though it doesn't mandate that signals be sent out unencrypted. So if all you want is to see is every local [HDTV] digital broadcast channel offered by your cable company today, you can receive them at the cost of 'basic service' and an HD-box rental..."

"What the cable companies' sales people don't always tell you is that you don't need to order the expensive 'digital packages' to get premium HD channels. A law called the 1992 Cable Act has a provision in it that took effect last October. Called the 'buy through' provision, it basically says that if you have "basic service" you cannot be required to get a higher tier of service...to receive a premium HD channel such as HBO-HD."

"If the customer service person says you must get a digital tier of service to get HDTV, insist on speaking to a supervisor."

Originally posted by Tom Roper
I just got off the phone with Amber 303-537-1064 to inquire about the Comcast HD package. She was very sweet, but only said about CBS and ABC that new local channels were being added all the time.

Currently, it works like this for the minimalist:

$13.44/mo for basic subscription
$ 9.95/mo for high definition package (includes equipment)
$ 5.00/mo added to bill in 2004, when free HD TV service expires.

How they call that "free" until 2004," I don't understand. Maybe someone else can figure it out.

http://comcastcolorado.com/ComcastColorado/high_def_tv.html

Doesn't seem like a great deal to me without CBS and ABC in HD.

Regarding KWGN's permit hold-up, I received this response from the FCC ...there are informal objections against KWGN-DT's and other station's applications on Lookout mtn. They all have been filed by the local citizens and this is what is slowing down their grants. The issues are close to being resolved so they will soon be granted.Looks like sCARE's legacy for mucking up the works is not over.
Perhaps by 'resolved', he means 'investigated and summarily dismissed as baseless'.
What a waste of time, effort and money for no reason!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Geof
[B]So let me see if I understand this.....you are getting basic service (which is analog cable I presume) along with the HDTV package for something like $18/mo and this was sufficient to qualify you to get the Cable modem fee reduced by $10/mo??? In essensce, you're saying the Comcast bill went up $8 (or so) and for that you're getting basic cable + KRMA DT, KCNC-DT, and KDVR-DT.

Sounds like a deal.

Don't you have to pay a monthly fee for the DTC5100?


Yes. $5/month for the DTC5100, $13.44/ month for the basic service package (30 or so analog channels) and KUSA KDVR and KRMA in HD. This qualifies for a $10 discount on my cable modem internet service (1.5 Mbit/sec.) a pretty good deal.
Hopefully ABC and CBS soon. There is no HD package charge.

Originally posted by happ14
Sorry about the double post, I'm just getting the hang of this.

Happ FYI - If you select the edit button on the top right portion of your post you can delete (or edit) the post.....

I think you mean SB XXXIX (39)

Yes that is correct. 38 is in Houston in 4 months on CBS-HD which will be Denver vs. Tampa Bay I prematurely presume; should be a good battle.

Don

Originally posted by Geof
Here are a couple of interesting and relevant posts in the Official Denver Comcast HDTV Thread! (for those who do not frequent that thread too often)(like me):


the local mits rep just emailed me with his integrated mits he can get digital/hd channels fox, nbc, pbs, abc. no box at all just the integrated tuner in the tv and all he has is basic cable nothing extra.

no cbs though whats up with that?

Originally posted by vikesbroncs
the local mits rep just emailed me with his integrated mits he can get digital/hd channels fox, nbc, pbs, abc. no box at all just the integrated tuner in the tv and all he has is basic cable nothing extra.

no cbs though whats up with that?

So with an ATSC tuner already, one, with Basic cable @ 13.44/mo can get the HD locals minus CBS at the moment...AND ABC?!...without forking over the 5.00/mo fee for equipment, plus in 2004 there is no price increase. And presumably in short order CBS will be added, thus making the basic line-up:

ABC
CBS
FOX
NBC
PBS

Wow...compelling.

Rgds,
JohnW

Originally posted by jwehman
So with an ATSC tuner already, one, with Basic cable @ 13.44/mo can get the HD locals minus CBS at the moment...AND ABC?!...without forking over the 5.00/mo fee for equipment, plus in 2004 there is no price increase. And presumably in short order CBS will be added, thus making the basic line-up:

ABC
CBS
FOX
NBC
PBS

Wow...compelling.

Rgds,
JohnW That is interesting but note that the new Mits integrated sets also have QAM HD decoding ability. I do not know what modulation Comcast is using but QAM is typically used in all cable systems. I suspect Comcast is using QAM modulation for their HD signals and IF that is the case then the basic ATSC tuner (which demodulates 8VSB, and NOT QAM) will NOT be able to decode the HD signals (I don't think the DirecTv or Dish receivers can deal with QAM).

What I am saying is that it seems likely one would have to rent or buy a QAM capable HD receiver (unless you already have a STB or integrated TV with that capability) in order to watch HD programming on Comcast.

I may be wrong - to end this speculation we need to know if Comcast sends HD as QAM or ATSC.....

Originally posted by Geof
That is interesting but note that the new Mits integrated sets also have QAM HD decoding ability. I do not know what modulation Comcast is using but QAM is typically used in all cable systems. I suspect Comcast is using QAM modulation for their HD signals and IF that is the case then the basic ATSC tuner (which demodulates 8VSB, and NOT QAM) will NOT be able to decode the HD signals (I don't think the DirecTv or Dish receivers can deal with QAM).

What I am saying is that it seems likely one would have to rent or buy a QAM capable HD receiver (unless you already have a STB or integrated TV with that capability) in order to watch HD programming on Comcast.

I may be wrong - to end this speculation we need to know if Comcast sends HD as QAM or ATSC.....

The Motorola DCT5100 that Comcast is using only supports QAM and not 8VSB.

Originally posted by HDJello
The Motorola DCT5100 that Comcast is using only supports QAM and not 8VSB. Thanks for the info. I was going to look into that but hadn't had the chance yet. That means that most ordinary 8VSB receivers will NOT decode HD signals from Comcast.

Holly Cow! the technical support team at DirecTV are (said nicely) hard to deal with.
I called to technical support to have the Denver APG information corrected for KMGH and KUSA. Since they don't seem to show up correctly on anyone's guide. I was escalated to three different Terre's of technical support, and two supervisors. No results. I called again tonight, they said that the guide data and channel mapping doesn't come from DirecTV. I asked if they had a HDTV department, she said, "you're talking to them!". I give up. She said she went to 2 other service reps and a supervisor, they all said no to them holding the databse. Anyone have any idea how to get this corrected? if anyone else wants to try, call Terre 3 @ 800-695-9251.

KMGH HD is showing up as 17.1 on my Zenith SAT520, the APG maps to 7.1. 7.1 has guide data, 17.1 does not.

KUSA HD shows up as 9.1, but has no guide information.

OK, found something else out, a group called zap2it, maintains the database for DirecTV. I've sent an email to listings@zap2it.com announcing the maping problems in Denver.

AAAAAACHOOOOOO!

Sorry, it took so long to find this thread the dust off the pages made me sneeze.
:D

There must be something that KMGH or KUSA has done wrong in three days that would prompt a post or two. Of course I wouldn't know about KMGH, I still can't find their signal.

I almost never watch KDVR. But on the game yesterday, was the 4:3 image shifted to the right? Seems like I rember that being the case. But, I thought they would have fixed that by now.

I saw the game on KDVR-DT channel 32 and it appeared to be wide screen on my 16:9 set. However, if I recall there were two narrow bands each side. The score ribbon on top was totally visible.

Mike, Widescreen... really? It wasn't nearly 16:9, maybe 14:9 and it didn't look 480p either. I'm sure it wasn't my Dish 6000 as all the other OTA HD comes in full.

I don't believe the Broncos game was broadcast in the Fox WS 480p mode yesterday on KDVR-DT.

On another note, KDVR-DT still has lip-synch problems. One might think that after almost 2 years of broadcasting a DT signal that the station would make some effort to correct the problem. Does anybody know why there has been no improvement in this problem? Maybe if someone knows a relevant contact at KDVR we could send a few emails that remind them of this issue and demonstrate that people are indeed watching their digital station.

Originally posted by Iwanthd

On another note, KDVR-DT still has lip-synch problems. One might think that after almost 2 years of broadcasting a DT signal that the station would make some effort to correct the problem. Does anybody know why there has been no improvement in this problem? Because the Engineering morons at KDVR are as equally inept as those that work for KMGH.

Anybody catch my postcard on CBS 4's 6:00 news this morning? I included a plug for CBS' evening HDTV programming just in case anybody watching didn't know that CBS HDTV is available in Denver.

Does anybody know why there has been no improvement in this problem? They always give the same answer. "Our XYZ decoder is not working correct. It's out at the manufacturer, being fixed, not sure when we'll get it back." Yeah, right!

Originally posted by Iwanthd Maybe if someone knows a relevant contact at KDVR we could send a few emails that remind them of this issue and demonstrate that people are indeed watching their digital station. [/B] Pete Bangas (pbang353@fox.com <pbang353@fox.com>), KDVR Engineering (303) 566-7692
Bob Simone, KDVR GM (303) 595-3131

KMGH won't spend the $ towards expanding HD coverage due to their station motto: Keep the Money to Get High - sort of explains their inability to grasp reality.

Originally posted by Iwanthd
I don't believe the Broncos game was broadcast in the Fox WS 480p mode yesterday on KDVR-DT.I was disappointed to see this as well. This was the first NFL game I have watched on FOX this year, but I was under the impression that all NFL broadcasts on FOX this year would be widescreen 480p. I hope KDVR is not having trouble with their equipment again (with MLB playoffs and the new season of 24 coming soon).

Only two games per weekend are broadcast in fox widescreen. Yesterday it was SF/Minn for the early game and NYJets/dallas for the late game.

Did anyone else have audio problems with the Washington vs New England game yesterday? Here it sucked. First, I got a Dolby Digital signal...but it was stereo only. Second, when they went to a commercial or to the studio the sound increased in volume on the order of 6 db. During the game it also varied up and down. Video was excellent though. I finally turned it off and listened to the Broncos pre-game on KOA. I was wondering if this was the network feed, KCNC screwing up, or something with my setup. I later watched the ESPN HD Sunday Night game and at least the levels were right...still no 5.1 though.

There is some interesting news over in the Northern Colorado/SE Wyoming thread. It amounts to KKTU Cheyenne switching affiliations from NBC to ABC. There engineer reports that "high power is still in process, still 60-90 days." Maybe I will be able to pick them up here in Longmont. I know it is wishful thinking but, with a little luck, I might get MNF before the end of the year.

sunshinedawg,

Not to throw water on your glimmer of hope, but that also assumes that KKTU will carry ABC HDTV. They only did SD previously when they were NBC.

Mark

sunshinedawg,

I also live in Longmont, and would love to get ahold of MNF in HDTV somehow. I have DirecTV, NFL ticket, HD, etc, and have high hopes for this "super tower" that's going to solve all our problems, but was intrigued by your mentioning of the Cheyanne station. Do you have any links to information on this?

Jeff,

I also get most HD football available, except MNF. Try here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=199726&perpage=20&pagenumber=6/) it is the Northern CO/SE Wyoming thread from which I got the info. Read thru the last page and it will fill you in.

mbuchana,

KKTU's engineer reports they are going "high power" in 60-90 days. Do you think they would go high power and still be SD?


Sunshinedawg

If they do go high power (KKTU), at least some folks in Denver Metro should be able to receive the signal. Living in Castle Rock, I would just receive the signal some days, most days do not, but with higher power expect I would get it (unless the days I have recd the signal were test high power days, then I am exactly on the fringe). Do have my ant on my roof FYI. Would love to get an ABC HDTV Signal!!! Course I am assuming it was KKTU I received, as I did get NBC programming.

If they do go high power (KKTU), at least some folks in Denver Metro should be able to receive the signal. Living in Castle Rock, I would just receive the signal some days, most days do not, but with higher power expect I would get it (unless the days I have recd the signal were test high power days, then I am exactly on the fringe). Do have my ant on my roof FYI. Would love to get an ABC HDTV Signal!!! Course I am assuming it was KKTU I received, as I did get NBC programming.

Wow, then it seems like I should be able to receive it here in Longmont. Hopefully it will be HD and not SD.

I heard on the radio this morning that Cindy Velasquez has been "fired" as KMGH GM.

Mark

Cindy Velasquez-FIRED, gone.

Now, maybe they will get someone in there who gives a damn about digital TV !

Thanks for the response. Sounds like they're thinking multi-channel instead of HDTV, which is too bad (for me). I want my ABC. sigh. Patience is a virtue I struggle with :)

I thought it was funny that in one RMN story they talk about her getting the boot because of the failing ratings.
Then, in another story, they say KMGH went up 2 points (and 4/9 went down) in the ratings.

Ding dong the witch is dead....

on a serious note, has anybody had trouble receiving channel 6-1 KRMA over the last few nights?

Originally posted by Dustin_Moore
Ding dong the witch is dead....

on a serious note, has anybody had trouble receiving channel 6-1 KRMA over the last few nights? I was going to mention the same thing -- KRMA-DT seems to be off the air the last two nights. Have signal, but no content. Tried 6-1, 18 and 80-1 with the Same result-- nadda.

Also, notice the clock change on your receiver when tuning to KUSA-DT. The STT info they send is about 5 minutes slow; ATSC spec says it should be within 4 seconds. KCNC-DT doesn't send any, so whatever your clock is set at, will stay (5 minutes slow if the last channel was KUSA-DT) KRMA-DT sends STT info that seems to be accurate. So jumping between KRMA-DT and KUSA-DT makes your clock jump back and forth!

Ernie, Do you have a link for the RMN story on Cindy?

Edward Quinn (http://www.thedenverchannel.com/denvers7/2522324/detail.html) named as interim GM of KMGH.

I haven't had trouble with 6-1, but I did figure out why I didn't get MNF last week. I tuned to 7-1 which showed high signal strength on my STB but no picture. So this week I tuned to 17-1 and got a great picture.

She's Up... KMGH's Ratings Up (http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/entertainment_columnists/article/0,1299,DRMN_84_2308483,00.html)

She's down and out... Cindy's Fired Story (http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/business/article/0,1299,DRMN_4_2312083,00.html)

I hate to see anyone get fired but in the case of KMGH management it was a necessary evil. It remains to be seen if the replacement will be more rational and honest and I'd like to think there is nowhere to go but up but the new person could just follow the same company line and do nothing. Along those lines I am also of the opinion that the KMGH Engineering staff (at least the head honcho) needs to be swept out and replaced as well (400K my ass). Hopefully things may improve at that station - they can start by being honest with us and getting their DT signal on Comcast, although I suspect their priorities lie elsewhere at the moment.

Whatever!

Just means the new guy (gal?) won't do anything for HD until they can "study" the problem. My guess is the Cindy's firing was in no way connected with HD, but a failure to show a high enough profit for McGraw Hill. If that is true, don't expect the new guy to jump in and spend an extra $400K (:rolleyes: ) on HD. Perhaps a mass mailing from the HD viewers, and viewer wannabe's to the new person who takes over would be in order to at least get their attention to the problem.

Sounds like the "new guy" is Cindy's former boss, so if anyone can get approval to spend the money, he can.

I'm not optimistic, but I know this: as long as KMGH-DT isn't reaching my house, I'm not watching anything at all on KMGH-TV. If they want to get my household's viewership back (like one family makes a difference :rolleyes: ), they'll need to get their digital signal to me.

Originally posted by dr_mal

I'm not optimistic, but I know this: as long as KMGH-DT isn't reaching my house, I'm not watching anything at all on KMGH-TV. If they want to get my household's viewership back (like one family makes a difference :rolleyes: ), they'll need to get their digital signal to me. Ditto.
Now that's 2 households.

Ditto. Make it 3 households. I haven't watched for sometime now.

Joe

Couldn't agree more, make it 4 now!

I signed up for the $399 D* existing customer HD upgrade last Saturday and received the 3 LNB and Samsung TS-160 via Fed ex today. I do not need the dish as I already had added the Sat C kit a few months ago. If someone has a need for an unopened 3 LNB dish, PM me.

Iwanthd - If you have Sat C kit and it works you are all set. Try it out and see. You may have to tweak your alignment some - if you have not checked out if it picks up the signals from the sat.

Reggie

I feel like a traitor here that I actually do watch some ABC programming...:)

Bummer for Cindy...maybe Marv will hire her. In my neverending quest to receive a KMGH signal, today I ordered a CM 3023 antenna from stark to see if I can eek out 5 or 10 more points of SS from KMGH. I can get it pretty solidly on my 2 hipix cards, but it's sketchy at best these days on my 6000. Hopefully the additional 3 feet of antenna size will up my signal a bit.

It's really laughable that I have to buy an antenna rated to receive signals from 45+ miles away to pick up a station thats less than 3 miles away...

Oh, and congrats Ernie! :) Welcome to the land of the married. :D

I am grandfathered in for the east cost net channels, so I can watch ABC from C-Band cutting the channel 7 out completely!

Originally posted by Iwanthd
I signed up for the $399 D* existing customer HD upgrade last Saturday and received the 3 LNB and Samsung TS-160 via Fed ex today. I do not need the dish as I already had added the Sat C kit a few months ago. If someone has a need for an unopened 3 LNB dish, PM me. You may wish to mount the new dish on your existing mast. The old dish/lnb and sat C kit has lower gain and you may be more susceptible to weather fade of your signal strength. I had a tough time getting my old dish just right to get the 110 Sat (and not cripple the SS on Sats A and B) when they moved D* 6 into that slot on July 14th. I had to shim the Sat C LNB to be a little higher than the other two to get TP 8, 10, 12 in the 80's. Oddly enough, the new Phase III dish looks like it has the Sat C LNB a tad lower than the other two.

Those of you on the east side (whose antennas point inherently west) might want to see what you get on 38-1 these days. I notice their signal is active again although I cant quite lock on it since my antenna is pointed NNE rather than towards the foothills.

Wasnt it about a year ago where they were doing some testing and had an HD demo loop up. I'm not gonna bother trying to get it again this time until someone reports just what is being shown.

Originally posted by DP1
Those of you on the east side (whose antennas point inherently west) might want to see what you get on 38-1 these days. I notice their signal is active again although I cant quite lock on it since my antenna is pointed NNE rather than towards the foothills.

Wasnt it about a year ago where they were doing some testing and had an HD demo loop up. I'm not gonna bother trying to get it again this time until someone reports just what is being shown.

Right now, they are showing the same thing as channel 12. It's stretched to be wide screen. No problem getting the signal (Highlands Ranch, antenna pointed at Lookout)

Steve

No sniff of any channel 38 here in Thornton as of 7:30 pm. I also can't get channel 18 in the evenings with my DTC-100; I get the SD feed in the mornings just fine. The encoder down there at KRMA must have been reset; this is the same problem I had a few months ago.

Good luck Cindy; VOOM might be hiring. Count me in as ditto number 5.

Don

Wow, something different!

I am getting 38-01 (same as channel 12) 38-02 (childrens programming) and 38-03 (says coming soon PBS You).

I am only getting a 50's signal since I am pointing east.

I have absolutely no hint of a signal on 38 using my antenna facing Lookout. I am sure glad there is no such thing as shadowing :rolleyes:

Just a few lines about KMGH. We are one of the fortunate ones that can receive KMGH OTH consistently in (located at Alameda and Garrison in Lakewood using an Indoor non amplified antenna) Denver. That said we wish everyone could get this signal. The reason is ABC is the only network that seems to be broadcasting true Dolby Digital 5.1 on their regular prime-time shows, and many of the commercials.

Monday Night we watched Green Bay at Chicago, last night we watched NYPD Blue and tonight we are watching Karen Sisco, all in HD and Dolby Digital 5.1. The HD PQ has been excellent and the audio is nothing short of amazing. Only wish KCNC and KUSA would broadcast all their shows in Dolby Digital 5.1, because it makes since a huge difference in ones viewing experience when everything (HD and DD 5.1) comes together.

Maybe someday (before the new HD antenna on Lookout Mountain becomes live) KMGH will improve thier pathetic on going digital broadcasting issues, so everyone in Denver can experience what we are here in Lakewood. We all know we have spent enough money in HD and audio equipment, so it's about time we reap the benefits for what we invested in.

If anyone needs more info on the indoor antenna we are using feel free to drop us a line. This antenna is amazing as it pulls in signals our attic antenna could not even receive. I just installed the antenna for a friend in Lone Tree and he is now able to pick up the OTH FOX, PBS, CBS, and NBC HD broadcasts. Unfortunately he cannot pick up ABC.

You've piqued my curiosity rmaestas...what antenna are you using? :)

Getting a great strong signal for KBDI-DT 38 (-1 -2 -3) here in Fort Collins at 10:15 PM. 38-1 is showing the same as channel 12, 4:3 with black sidebars. 38-2 is "Camp KBDI" but right now it is showing the Blues megaseries (also 4:3, black sidebars). 38-3 has a fixed "Coming Soon PBS-You" slide. Audio seems good and synchronized.

Anyone know if they have any HD plans, at least part time?

Mark

I see 38-3, 38-4, 38-5 with a signal strength of 78. It must be 480i because I can stretch, zoom, etc.

I'll bet you this is more testing at the behest of sCARE for their lawsuit, in order to bolster their claim that Squaw is suitable. That's what it was last November.

Still can't receive KRMA on my RCA receiver, although it is fine on my Sony. I even did a scan on the RCA and both 80-1 and 6-1 show up, with SS of 42, but no content. I'll try calling tomorrow to see what changed.

In case anyone missed the article (http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E33%257E1665358,00.html?search=filter) in the Denver Post a couple of days ago, Mark Cuban of HDNet bought the Landmark Theater chain to show HD movies in.

Originally posted by donyoop
No sniff of any channel 38 here in Thornton as of 7:30 pm. I also can't get channel 18 in the evenings with my DTC-100; I get the SD feed in the mornings just fine. The encoder down there at KRMA must have been reset; this is the same problem I had a few months ago.

Good luck Cindy; VOOM might be hiring. Count me in as ditto number 5.

Don

I am also not receiving KRMA in the evenings. Samsung t151. I do get 38 -1-2-3. at 136th and lowell.

I was unable to get KRMA last night, but have been receiving it on other evenings. I can't get 38. My receiver does look like it is seeing a "little" signal, but not nearly enough to lock on to. I'm in Lafayette. Dustin is pretty close to me, but further east.

Greg

In the FWIW department, I am still working with the folks at HDNet on our tour, and we hope to square up some dates next week. It hasn't fallen through, they are just incredibly busy putting in a bunch of new equipment and getting ready for hockey season. As I understand (I could be wrong on this one), they are producing their own shows this year and will not be tied in to the FOX feeds. If that is true, there will be a lot more involved in getting a production out this year since they will have to do their own graphics, stats, interviews etc. Obviously, I will report in here as soon as we can settle on some dates. We would like to this on a date to make sure there will be a production truck in town for us to see if possible.

Do any of you guys think, as I do, that 9-1 is "softer" than 35-1 and way behind HBO and HDnet Movies for film based stuff? West Wing last night looked less sharp than CSI last week. Great show, though. Is is me? The source material? Maybe I just need to clean my guns.

I'm able to get KBDI-DT easily in Brighton. Their subchannels are showing up on my HiDTV card as 38-3 (http://www.dr-mal.com:81/dtv/38-3.jpg), 38-4 (http://www.dr-mal.com:81/dtv/38-4.jpg), and 38-5 (http://www.dr-mal.com:81/dtv/38-5.jpg). Right now, 38-3 and 38-4 are both showing DragonTales. Can't tell remotely if it's the same episode.

Originally posted by MRinDenver
Do any of you guys think, as I do, that 9-1 is "softer" than 35-1 and way behind HBO and HDnet Movies for film based stuff? West Wing last night looked less sharp than CSI last week. Great show, though. Is is me? The source material? Maybe I just need to clean my guns.

There are lots of factors here, but I suspect it all boils down to corporate NBC's lower priority to HDTV than corporate CBS's.

HDTV on CBS generally looks better than HDTV on NBC (except Leno which looks great - except for the fact that it's Leno).

There are other threads in the HDTV Programming forum that talk about NBC's film-based prime time not looking as good as CBS.

I talked to Eddie Hernandez at KBDI today. They are on the air permanently now, this is no test. They are at 33kW ERP using a 2.5kW xmitter and probably won't go to their licensed full megawatt until the transition is over. They hope to have schedule information up at their KBDI website (http://www.kbdi.org) by the end of the month. And sometime in November (hopefully) begin airing some HD content. That will probably begin with some PBS national stuff on a delayed schedule from KRMA-DT. They are also looking for other non-PBS produced content.

He also mentioned (news to me) that the 4-hour PBS demo loop in HD gets a fresh hour inserted on some schedule, sometimes as often as once a week. KBDI will probably air that new hour when it comes out but not the rest of the loop.

When i asked hm about the shadowing issue, he said it was a highly recognized problem with both 12 and 38 and they are looking to get boosters to fill in the foothills, but probably not for another year.

He was surprised to hear that both of my receivers (1st and 3rd gen.) were showing sub-channels of 3, 4, 5. He said the PID (part of the PSIP (http://www.psip.org) info) was set to 1, 2, 3.

Congratulations KBDI; here's looking at you!

Damn! missed first post on the page again!

I am getting KRMA-DT again on 6-1. I talked to Jim Schoedler and we can't figure out why some of us were getting a black screen for the past two days. I tried yesterday daya and evening and got nothing but black (but with a decent signal level). Jim said the tower plans are nearly complete and they are in the process of picking an antenna vendor. Full steam ahead!

does anyone have that website that shows which direction to point antennas for the area? i havent used my antenna since the Fox superbowl, when I got it on 32.1. Now with the baseball, i am trying to get the signal again, and as i figured, there is nothing coming through. 1.5 years is a long time.

any help is appreciated. thanks. also, some of the comments make it sound like I can get other HD channels from Lookout. Is this true?

I've got a 60%(which is good for me) lock on 6-1 with my DTC-100 and have nothing but a black screen also.

RJS try antennaweb (http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.asp) btw the baseball games are SD. I believe the WS will be Fox widescreen.

thx sunshine, that was the site I was looking for.

the results make me think I should take a shot at pointing up toward Ft. Collins and Cheyenne, as I might be able to get Fox from Ft Collins (KFCT) and CBS from Cheyenne (KGWN). any comments by anyone?

Channel 6-1 comes through when the SD mirror feed happens. A clue is that in the evenings I do not get any PSIP info. The last time this happened, Jim had to pull his dusty DTC-100 off the shelf and come up with some settings that support the DTC-100. No channel 6-1 HD feed this evening.

I still cannot pick up channel 38 at all. I have my antenna pointed south to downtown instead of west south west. When 38 was up the first time for the Hislop shadow testing, I got it with 56 signal strength. Is 38 lower in power now? It is curious that Mike gets 38 up in the Fort. I do not feel like it is worth re-pointing the antenna right now in that I'm already splitting the signals for my two DTC-100s and I don't particularly want to make KCNC, KUSA, & KRMA marginal.

Heck if I were cynical, I would think that this channel 38 coming on board is probably just Hislop during some more shadow testing for his testimony for the City of Golden lawsuit.

<kmgh rant mode on>
BTW, I get no detection for 17-1. Believe it or not, I used to get 20-28 signal strength on 17-1. Could it have been a cost cutting move to reduce power on the infamous coat hanger?

I credit Cindy's former boss (the new GM) for his great leadership in the digital arena (NOT).
<kmgh rant mode off>

Don

RJS...KDVR (FOX) from Lookout is a very strong station, and any antenna pointed generally south from Boulder will pick it up. KCNC is harder (my hardest OTA and I'm in Superior)...it takes a very good antenna and a pre-amp with a strong receiver to get a picture. That being done, I get PBS, NBC, CBS and of course FOX. No sniff of ABC.

Rgds,

JohnW

SUN., OCT. 12 PITTSBURGH @ DENVER

Finally, at long last I will get to see the Broncos in HD. Or will I? My only access to HD is via DirecTV with the sunday ticket. I'm a bit confused abut the blackout rules so before I get to excited will this game be blocked here in Denver? I sure hope not because the HD games were the only reason I picked up sunday ticket this year.

Steve

I think you'll be ok, Steve. To my knowledge the CBS HD games on Sunday Ticket arent really subject to blackout, but the Fox WS games are if the game also happens to be offered on KDVR.

Just a policy difference between CBS/Fox when it comes to those special feeds.

Originally posted by RJS
thx sunshine, that was the site I was looking for.

the results make me think I should take a shot at pointing up toward Ft. Collins and Cheyenne, as I might be able to get Fox from Ft Collins (KFCT) and CBS from Cheyenne (KGWN). any comments by anyone?

RJS,

I haven't heard of anyone who has actually been able to lock onto KFCT. I live in Fort Collins, and I can't even get it no matter where I point my antenna. It is very low power. You may get KGWN Cheyenne, but so far all they have done is stretched standard definition with ongoing audio problems. I hope that changes soon.

Mark

Originally posted by donyoop
Is 38 lower in power now? No. Higher power and higher up on Squaw mountian too.
Read my post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=2746858#post2746858) above yours.Originally posted by donyoop
Heck if I were cynical, I would think that this channel 38 coming on board is probably just Hislop during some more shadow testing for his testimony for the City of Golden lawsuit. It's not. They are on the air permenantly.
Read my post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=2746858#post2746858) above yours.

I'm also back to a black screen on KRMA-DT, but it returned while I was on the phone with them (isn't that always the case!)

Originally posted by taylor23
SUN., OCT. 12 PITTSBURGH @ DENVER

Finally, at long last I will get to see the Broncos in HD. Or will I? My only access to HD is via DirecTV with the sunday ticket. I'm a bit confused abut the blackout rules so before I get to excited will this game be blocked here in Denver? I sure hope not because the HD games were the only reason I picked up sunday ticket this year.

Steve Game blackouts (in the home team market) only occur because of non-sellouts as I remember. Given that the game is in Denver that will not happen.

Right, Geof. But this year it's a little diff with Sunday Ticket in general. For example, on the regluar Sunday Ticket channel that would carry the SD version of the Broncos game, I bet that one is blacked out on ST, forcing you to watch it via KCNC either through D* if you have their Local package, or via OTA/cable etc. Same with whatever game is being shown on KDVR. And in the case of Fox, even the special WS feed is blacked out if it's the same game. So like somebody in Denver that doesnt get OTA Fox digital for whatever reason wouldnt be able to see the Broncos via D* in WS (if it happened to be one of the 2 Fox WS games that week) on those special feeds. Course the Broncos only host 2 NFC teams all year and we just got through with one of them.

But the CBS HD game doesnt really go buy those rules. The only possible glitch to that CBS HD game might indeed be if it was your home team and that it wasnt a sellout. I'm not exactly sure about that.... yet that particular circumstance doesnt pertain of course in this case anyway.

So I have a couple more pieces of data for the KRMA strangeness.

I'm using a Samsung T-150. With this unit, when I push "channel up" or "channel down", I go to the "next" channel that was previously locked. "Next" is determined by the PSIP.

In other words, when I'm at 35-1, when I press channel up, I go to 6-1, because I've never locked onto 38 or 46. To try to get 38 or 46, I have to actually "type" the number (38). I see no option for typing in the sub-channels. I don't know how the T150 handles multi-casting, because I've never locked on a station doing that.

Anyway:
During the day, I get 6-1 just fine.
When doing "channel up" or channel down" at night, the last PSIP info is cached in the receiver or something and I get 6-1 (but only the FIRST time). If I then go off of 6-1, it drops out of my list altogether. (when at 35-1, I hit "channel up" and I go to 9-1).

If I type in "6", I get nothing. I can never successfully type in "80" because it's not valid for OTA. If I type in "18", I get good signal strength, the LED on front goes "green", but the screen is black and says "no signal". Additionally, the receiver shows 18-0 (it always shows sub-channel of 0 when it is not getting lock).

Based on this, it seems clear that I'm not getting any PSIP info. And I get 6-1 the first time I go through the existing channel list because the T150 seems to be caching the PSIP data from the last time it was locked in. Which means if I want to watch it tonight, I have to tune it in this afternoon, and then not move off of the channel this evening.

I'll try to send this to KRMA. I'll PM someone if I can't find the email address in a previous post.

Greg

Thanks Dan.....didn't know that about ST.

When they broadcast a ST game what is shown during local commercial spots? Take the Bronco's/Chiefs...If we watch that on KCNC we'll get some local commercials. KC fans watching in KC will get their local commercials from their local station....but what is shown on ST during those local spots???

I didn't see it mentioned here, but last night I noticed KBDI 38 is now mapping to 12-1, 12-2 & 12-3 on my Dish 6000.

You know, I hardly even know because thats usually when I take the time to switch to other games. :)

But I have seen this one commercial for example for like a steak house called Damon's.. on various ST channels, that must be a chain somewhere else in the country that sponsors NFL-ST package in some way. And I suppose D* just inserts some of their own promotional stuff. And/or maybe they just plug in "extra" national type commercials like for Radio Shack or something. But no matter where the games might be sourced from, it's not like I've ever seen see any truly "local" out of market commericials.

But anyway, getting back to the original question here, thats why the guy had some concern. Cause again if we were talking a Fox WS game involving the Broncos, he wouldnt be able to get it via ST. That really torques some guys off, especially in other areas of the country who do indeed have an OTA antenna set up and receive their local Fox digital affiliate, but get juked out of the WS version (that would otherwise be available on D* if it involved out of market teams) simply because their local Fox digital affiliate doesnt pass through the WS stuff from Fox for whatever reasons.

They figure, quite naturally, after paying good money for ST they should be able to get the enhanced version so to speak (of the local team game if it happened to be one of the 2 Fox WS games that week) regardless of what their local channel might be doing with it's own digital channel.

I suppose in some ways it's not unlike the OTA situation where KCNC, aside from during Bronco telecasts, isnt really allowed to show the CBS HD game on their digital channel if that game doesnt mirror the game they're slated to show on their analog channel at the time. Course in that case though we're talking free OTA television and not a pay service.

The reason I asked about the commercials is I suspect that is why the game is not shown on ST......to force folks to watch it OTA and hence see the local commercials...

Yeah, exactly. Which is new this year. In previous years it didnt work like that. They started testing that notion in a couple cities last year (at the behest of the local affiliates) and are doing it across the board this year.

Of course it's had all sorts of ramifications with games that run long and stuff. Cause like if you were interested in an early game from CBS that happened to be on KCNC, not involving the Broncos, you cant get that game aside from watching KCNC. But once the Bronco game starts and KCNC switches over to it, it's not like the game that you were watching on KCNC, but was blacked out on ST at the time, suddenly lights up on the ST channel that had been blacked out. So you get screwed out of the end of that game.

Not too cool when you drop a couple hundred so as to supposedly "not miss a minute of the NFL action on Sunday afternoons".

APG updates, KUSA 9.1's programming information is now showing up on my SAT 520 and E86. Interesting, I just got a E86 too, KMGH maps correctly to 7.1 on that unit, but still shows up only on 17.1 on the Zenith. So, must be a Zenith problem.

Tonight I was watching 6-1 high def feed for the first time in about a week (it was back). At 7:44 pm sharp, out it went. I lost PSIP and it went black screen again. So, whatever KRMA did at 7:44 pm, Jim that's it.

Also, I thought I would play with my antenna to see if 12-1, 12-2, & 12-3 are really out there. I climbed up in the attic and rotated my antenna out to the west south west. I then was able to barely get KBDI-DT with a 46 signal strength. 32-1 was a lot stronger. I looked at signal strength of the downtown channels and 35-1 was down to 38 signal strength.

I said nope and rotated the antenna back to the south southwest and 35-1 was back to a comfortable 78. So I say goodbye to KBDI-DT; I'll see you in November 2005 when Lookout is transmitting or sooner if you crank up the juice.

Don

I'm picking up 12-1, -2 and -3 fine at my house. Those channels bring me up from 6 to 9 digital channels (if you count those sub-channels seperately). Still no KMGH, of course.

Eric

Looks like only two Avalanche games on HDNet in 2003, and the first one is this Friday:

Friday, October 10th 7:00 PM MDT Chicago Blackhawks @ Colorado Avalanche Tuesday, November 4th 7:00 PM MST Minnesota Wild @ Colorado Avalanche

Hi guys, Just back from Vegas baby!

No KBDI DT-38 at all, not even a whiff. Shadowing? There's no such thing as Shadowing.

Off to Costa Rica today. Had to check in!

Can get all three KBDI channels here in Castle Rock, but why are they sending out three channels (albeit 1 with a coming soon)?

Originally posted by donyoop
Tonight I was watching 6-1 high def feed for the first time in about a week (it was back). At 7:44 pm sharp, out it went. I lost PSIP and it went black screen again. So, whatever KRMA did at 7:44 pm, Jim that's it.

Don

Don,

Today we believe we may have found the problem some receivers have been having tuning to CH 6-1. We made one parameter change in our PSIP tables that seems to have worked, and it sounds like your experience confirms that.

I'm not sure what happened at 7:44PM - we finished testing sometime before then - but we have logs that I can check in the morning and I'll let everyone know what I find.

If anyone else can give us a report on whether the current KRMA PSIP is working, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Jim Schoedler
Director of Engineering
Rocky Mountain PBS

Just wanted to chime in. Currently receiving channels:
4.1 CBS Good
6.1 PBS Good
9.1 NBC Good
12.1 PBS Good
12.2 PBS Good
12.3 PBS Good
17.1 ABC (breaking up)
17.2 ABC (non-HD but widescreen)
31.1 Fox

Just did a new scan tonight and started receiving channel 12's new signals and was able to pickup MNF for a while, but now it's breaking up badly. Anyway this is the first time I've gotten anything from ABC.
I'm at Highlands Ranch Parkway and Wildcat Reserve, west of Lucent.

CM 4221 w/amp (wonder if 4228 would be better)
Sony HD200

Jim,

I still get a black screen on KRMA-DT. It does map to 6-1, and I have enough signal, but there is not a blip of audio or video. Most of the w/e was black but once it tuned in (don't remember the time). Yesterday the same thing -- 7:30AM it was there, but several other times during the day and yesterday evening and this morning it was black. It doesn't seem to be a local/national feed related. It definitely only affects my older 1st generation RCA receiver (built-in to my F38310 RCA directview HDTV). It does not affect my later generation Sony SAT- HD200. Do you think it is related to PSIP?

One additional odd symptom that I noticed when it occurs: When I channel surf up I do not find 6-1 between 6 and 7. When I channel surf down I do find 6-1 between 7 and 6 (but it's a black screen).

Sure hope we get this resolved -- I'd like to watch Soundstage and Reptiles again!

Ron:

I have a F38310 also and I do not use the feature Access Off Air Guides (which gives you PSIP). I have never had black screens and all channels do not remap. So, KRMA is always 18-1. But I do see the programming. Hope this helps.

The text of CARE & Golden's lawsuit is available here (http://www.c-a-r-e.org/pdfs/complaint_filed_091703.pdf) in .pdf format

-Wabisabi

Thanks for the link, wabisabi.

I guess the judge will have to ferret out outright lies like in section 28:All these towers have only been used for analog broadcast and are not allowed to switch to digital broadcast when analog television use is phased out by the Federal Communications Commission.

At least they (finally) admitted that property values are at the crux of their opposition to the tower.

I sobbed unmercifully for 24 days after reading this. My keyboard no longer functions and I am an emotional wreck. How could those evil broadcasting ba$tards do this to our community? Why can't they behave like all the responsible broadcasters all across the country where these issue do not exist? I am ashamed to live in this state - where we intentionally put our citizens health at risk and jeopardize city communications with "evil RF". Surely the FCC must recognize that RF behaves differently in the mile high air (as compared to sea level air). Those sea level RF limits just don't apply to us (where some are suffering from oxygen deprivation). How dare they....

Anyone know where the presiding judge lives?

I do not mean to veer away from the tower topic, but I am wondering if there is anyone here up in the foothills, say, from Rollinsville to Blackhawk, that is able to receive anything over the air?? I have not got a receiver yet, but am wondering if my options are going to be strictly limited to sat? I do live on an east facing slope and have a great view of Thorodin, so ???? Any insight would be great. Thanks.

Steve

My head hurts and I have eye fatigue after reading the lawsuit link. Who can I sue???

Originally posted by RonAuger
Jim,

I still get a black screen on KRMA-DT. It does map to 6-1, and I have enough signal, but there is not a blip of audio or video.

Sure hope we get this resolved -- I'd like to watch Soundstage and Reptiles again!

Thanks, Ron. At KRMA we now have both an older RCA tuner and a Samsung SIR-T151 for checking out these kinds of issues. Both went to black when we switched over to the national feed at 3PM. Several hours later, after detailed examination of the MPEG data, we think we found the right two changes to our PSIP tables. Both receivers are now putting out beautiful pictures, while we trust our Comcast feed remains intact.

Jim Schoedler
KRMA-DT

I have a F38310 also and I do not use the feature Access Off Air Guides (which gives you PSIP). I have never had black screens and all channels do not remap. So, KRMA is always 18-1. But I do see the programming. Hope this helps.

Thanks Dennis for the super secret DTC-100 tip.

Jim, thanks for pursuing the DTC-100 PSIP issue. I am now enjoying 6-1 again.

Don

I received my CM 3023 antenna yesterday, so I thought I'd post my experiences thus far with this monster.

Yes, the 3023 is a monster. This is the same antenna that Ernie has hanging in his garage (for those of you that went to Ernie's place after the Lookout tour). This thing is HUGE. At least 7' long from end to end.

After getting it assembled (it comes in 2 pieces in a 4' long box), I hauled it up to my roof, pulled down my Radio Shack 15-2160 yagi antenna (which is about 3' long) and attached the 3023 to my mast. Unfortunately, this is where the fun ended.

I spent about 2 hours adjusting the antenna height on the mast and aiming the antenna downtown. In the end, I gave up because I never got any more signal strength than I was getting with the RS yagi. Plus, the 3023 has a much better back to front signal rejection than the RS, as I completely lost the Fox signal with the 3023. Lookout is about 170 degrees away from downtown where I live.

I was really hoping that I'd get 5 or 10 points of signal from an antenna twice the size of the RS yagi, but it just didn't happen.

If anyone in the area is looking for a good, long range, very large yagi antenna, I have one for sale. I paid about $65 for this thing with shipping, and I'd be willing to give it up for $55, just to save having to ship it back. PM or email me at markdl@dbstalk.com.

Dammit! *$&$#(#&#^ CARE...

I'm a bit surprised you didn't get a bit more signal level...I would have thought the bigger antenna would have had more gain. It sure sounds like it's more directional though and this could be a good thing for anyone with multipath problems.

Humm.....I wonder if the Denver masses will [collectively] spend $400K trying to get reliable signal from KMGH's toy transmitter........:(

The specs for the 2 antennas:

Radio Shack 15-2160:
UHF Band Chan. Average Gain:.........................................9.5 dB
Median Av. F/B Ratio:.............................................UHF 14 dB

Channel Master 3023:
UHF Band Chan. Average Gain:.........................................11.5 dB
Median Av. F/B Ratio:.............................................UHF 17 dB

Based on these specs, I would have also thought I'd see more signal, but I guess not in my case. Oh well...maybe I'll try the CM 7775 amp next, just for the fun of it...of course pretty soon I'll be getting close to that $400k number as well. My wife isn't going to like that much...she's been very supportive thus far, but there are limits... :)

I went directly from the RS double bow tie which gave me 18 and 32 and 35 from inside my house to the CM 3023 on the roof with a LOT of effort to find the sweet spot. When all was done, I did get KMGH though. I tried the CM 7775 next and it made the signal much worse due to overloading from strong UHF signals on lookout. Never really tried a smaller YAGI, but a neighbor did bring over his CM 4028 (an 8-way double bow tie) to test and on the top of my mast, it was also able to get KMGH but at a slightly lower signal. As I have reported before, he got nothing from KMGH at his house just a couple blocks away and higher up.

Mark, sorry you didn't get any better performance than your RS. Did you try moving the antenna around at all to find a better sweet spot??

If we value our time at all, I figure that I would have spent about $400 goofing around with all of this JUST to get KMGH. That is only 1,000 people. Maybe KMGH is in a consiracy with COMCAST in not putting out a better signal so they can just wait for people to get cable HD. Oh wait... KMGH is not on Comcast. The only clear excuse is they are incompetent, arrogant and cheap.

You may have realized 2dB more gain but I have no idea how the signal level meters are calibrated. If you had kept the big antenna you might have seen less dropouts....maybe...

Oh, and Ron missed his chance to be first on the page again....;)

Jim,

At first, I tried Dennis' suggestion of shutting off the "Acquire Off-Air Guide" option on the receiver. This worked immediately and I got the picture back. Just as Dennis said, the channel mapping didn't occur and KRMA-DT stayed at 18-1.

After reading your post, I turned the option back on and everything seems to be working fine! Great catch on your part. Channel mapping is working and call letters appear on both my old and new receivers. Will keep you posted if the issue (or another) comes back. Gee, wouldn't it be great if the results from all the pains all the stations in the country go thru were in a knowledge base some where, like the PSIP website (http://www.psip.org). :)

Thanks!

Originally posted by Geof
Oh, and Ron missed his chance to be first on the page again....;) Jeesh, I guess I'm not typing fast enough!:D

All, just put up my HDTV gear yesterday. Radioshack 1560 antenna, *very old* Archer 10db amplifier, Samsung SIR-T151 receiver. Did a great deal of experimentation to get these results:

6.1 PBS Good
9.1 NBC Good
12.1 PBS No Signal
17.1 ABC (Weak)
17.2 ABC (Weak)
31.1 Fox Good
35.1 CBS Good

I am experiencing intermittent audio "glitches" or "skips" if you would. Any thoughts as to why?

Am not able to recieve the programming guide data for all channels - only getting 9.1 right now.

Currently have the antenna mounted in the attic, 2nd floor, with a 25 ft cable run to the amp, facing roughly 360 degrees north.

Considering switching to an inline amp closer to the antenna to perhaps improve KMGH. Any recommendations here?

thanks,
Randy

I am experiencing intermittent audio "glitches" or "skips" if you would. Any thoughts as to why?On all DTV stations or just the weak one (KMGH-DT)? If your signal is just borderline on the threshold of your receiver, you will get breakups of video and audio. I am well familiar with living on the edge here in Elizabeth. :D
Am not able to recieve the programming guide data for all channels - only getting 9.1 right now. KUSA is the only one sending programming data right now. That's dynamic PSIP -- the other stations are oly sending the static PSIP tables i.e. channel number remap (although KCNC doesn't seem to be doing this) and call letters.
Considering switching to an inline amp closer to the antenna to perhaps improve KMGH. Any recommendations here?Try every combination of everything! I have a very low db signal amp (at the antenna) and a very low db distribution amp with an FM trap before diplexing/distributing. Sometimes the FM trap can be key. It's the only combination that works for me.

Oh the joys of trying to watch television. I remember the one of the first posts I made to this thread almost 2 years ago now when I first connected my 6000 up with just the Dish network uhf sub antenna connected to a piece of coax in my basement and pulled in KMGH about as good as I'm getting now with the big antennas on the roof. Of course, I'm splitting my signal 3 ways now, so I know good and well that it's my own damn fault. :)

And for the record, I am still getting KMGH, just not as comfortably as I'd like.

Dennis - I pretty much stayed in my current antenna location. Didn't walk all over the roof with the 3023. I did that last year with the RS yagi, and put it in the best/most convenient spot available.

Mark,

What are your thoughts on the Golden (CARE) lawsuit. Anything we can (or should) be doing?

Have any dates been set for hearings?

I have a question regarding the picture that KMGH-DT is broadcasting. Let me start by saying that I recognize that I am one of the few that can actually receive the 17-1 CBS signal, and I do appreciate that, but...

I am amazed at the degradation in picture quality that KMGH-DT suffers presumably from splitting their bandwidth to cover 17-1, 17-2, 17-3. This is most noticeable on Monday Night Football, probably due to the fast motion action.

I assume that the three channel scheme is the reason for the compression artifacts and such present on 17-1. Can anyone comment if this is in fact the reason? If so, does KMGH plan to use this scheme permanently, or will that change after the station is up and broadcasting full power on Lookout?

I am viewing on a 73" Mitsubishi, and certainly the large picture makes the degradation more obvious, but you just can't compare the Monday Night Football picture quality on KMGH-DT to the weekly CBS high-def game broadcast on Sundays.

I am quite excited that the Broncos-Steelers game this weekend is the CBS high-def game, and I have been advertising to my non-HD friends that this game is the one to come and watch.

An aside: I wrote an email to Don Rooney, the Director of Operations & Engineering at the WB2 (KWGN-TV) inquiring as to their DTV status, and was impressed to receive the following VERY expeditious reply (roughly 90 minutes after I sent the email):

Brian:

WB2 currently has approval from Jefferson County to place a 1/2 power
(450kW) antenna on our tower. The hold-up has been at the FCC. Due to
residents complaints & some other governmental agencies, the grant has been
delayed. We have our transmitter installed & the antenna in storage - just
waiting on the FCC.

We too are excited about the 11-1/2 hours of 1080i programming The WB is
offering each week and look forward to sharing these shows with Denver.

Thanks for your interest in WB2 - we love to hear from our fans!

Sincerely,
Don
*****************************
Don Rooney
Director of Operations & Engineering
WB2 * KWGN-TV

I am surprised that in this case the FCC, and not the County, is the hold up?

---------------
Brian

You shouldn't be receiving 17-1, 17-2, and 17-3 during MNF (or so I hear:) ) You should only get one (sub)channel during HiDef broadcasts, unless ABC is also sending an SD version on a second subchannel. I don't know since I don't get it.:mad: The pQ could also be due to your set being 1080i and ABC is in 720p.

The situation with KWGN that Rooney replied to you on has been the case for most of this year, if not longer. See my earlier post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=2718833#post2718833)

Originally posted by RonAuger
Looks like only two Avalanche games on HDNet in 2003, and the first one is this Friday:

Friday, October 10th 7:00 PM MDT Chicago Blackhawks @ Colorado Avalanche Tuesday, November 4th 7:00 PM MST Minnesota Wild @ Colorado Avalanche
For anyone expecting to watch the Avs in HDTV, you might be interested in this e-mail I got from HDNet's Colette Carey:

Yes, indeed, you will be subject to blackout for Colorado vs. Chicago, just as you would if you had the NHL CENTER ICE package.

As long as there is a local carrier of any game (Fox Sports Rocky Mountain), a national provider (like HDNet) can never supersede the local broadcast.

However, Colorado is the only team that you will experience the blackout for, so, any other game on our schedule will be available to you.

Please feel free to contact us with any other questions.

Originally posted by Dasher
I am amazed at the degradation in picture quality that KMGH-DT suffers presumably from splitting their bandwidth to cover 17-1, 17-2, 17-3. This is most noticeable on Monday Night Football, probably due to the fast motion action.---------------
Brian This too probably requires $400,000 to fix....but as we all know they don't have that sort of cash laying around.......after all there's a reason they are number 3.....

Sorry, had to beat jm to the comment......

Dasher - Don has always been very responsive to us. In fact, when he has time, he participates in this thread as KWGN-DT. I had a long conversation with him (he called me a couple of weeks ago) that was more than a half hour talking about their situation. It all boils down to the FCC holding the process up because of a couple of outstanding legal complaints against them. He was hopeful that they'd have approval by the end of September, but that obviously didn't happen. No telling when it'll come. He said he'd contact us if there was anything that we could do to help out the cause, but right now it's in the hands of the lawyers.He did tell me though that from the date of FCC approval, it would take them about 3 weeks to get the antenna installed on the tower and be on the air.

dr_mal: AAARRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!

Phil - my thoughts are that the lawsuit will be the tower hearings all over again, be drawn out, and eventually be thrown out. Pete isn't talking about it to us yet. I really hope that the suit isn't causing a delay in the design process and that they are forging ahead with it. The way I understand it, as long as the judge doesn't halt the process for the hearings proceedings, LCG still has their approval and should operate based on that approval. I certainly could be wrong about that, though. I'm a registered professional engineer who does charge for engineering reports and work (unlike someone we know...), not a lawyer.

Dasher - I haven't seen 17-3 show up on my receivers...just 17.1 and 17.2 with about 12.2 Mbps allocated to 17.1 and 4.5 Mbps alocated to 17.2. I agree about the pixellation on MNF though - the grass looks pretty bad, and fast camera pans almost always cause my picture to break up in spots.

Ron, Mark - thanks for the information and the link to Ron's previous post.

Regarding the PQ, I don't believe it to be related to 720p->1080i conversion. The anomalies look very much like the blocky sort of artifacts one gets when over-compressing MPEG, much like when compressing for web video content. I have considered that possibly the MNF HD broadcast equipment is maybe not up to par, considering that many of the network primetime shows on CBS look very nice.

Ron - I am almost certain that all three sub-channels are still present on my set during HD broadcasts, but will double-check tonight. I assume that your remark indicates that KMGH's intention is to utilize all of the bandwidth when HD content is actually being delivered?

____________
Brian

Originally posted by Dasher
Ron - I assume that your remark indicates that KMGH's intention is to utilize all of the bandwidth when HD content is actually being delivered? That's my assumption. Of course, I don't get KMGH-DT, so I don't know how they are operating the switch-over between multicasting and sending HD.Originally posted by dr_mal
For anyone expecting to watch the Avs in HDTV, you might be interested in this e-mail I got from HDNet's Colette Carey:Yes indeed, you will be subject to blackout for Colorado vs. Chicago, just as you would if you had the NHL CENTER ICE package.

As long as there is a local carrier of any game (Fox Sports Rocky Mountain), a national provider (like HDNet) can never supersede the local broadcast.

However, Colorado is the only team that you will experience the blackout for, so, any other game on our schedule will be available to you.

Please feel free to contact us with any other questions.As Dan was saying earlier about NFL games, that is different from last year. They used the graphics and color commentary from FSRM, maybe that's why they didn't blackout last year. Maybe since I'm in Elizabeth, I won't be blacked-out! I'll let you know. Any idea how D* effectively controls whos blacked-out and who isn't (zip code, area code,etc.)?

I've never really understood how blackouts work. It's kind of an American thing (not that there's anything wrong with that).

Colette confirmed to me in a separate e-mail that the reason they weren't blacked out in the past was because they did co-productions with FSRM. Since this year they're 100% HDNet, blackouts will apply.

I'd assume anyone that can get Fox Sports Rocky Mountain will not be able to watch the game on HDNet. And I had people coming over to see the NHL in HDTV (not to mention HDTV) for the first time...

dr_mal,

Didn't you mean to say:

It's kind of an American thing - eh!

:) :)

dr_mal
So we are hosed this year for seeing the Avs on HDNet this season?

Bummmer....................

My first post so bear with me...

I've lurked around in here for a while and finally registered. I have a 6000U with the 8VSB. My antenna is a RS VU90 mounted inside. I am able to get FOX and the three KBDI channels with no problem. Here's the interesting part...I get the KUSA signal at about 50-60% (numerous drop outs, however) using the above pointed slightly southeast, and a cheap $15 10db amplifier from WalMart. Every time I try a "better" amp I get no signal at all from 9-1. I'm actually amazed I get anything but was wondering if there was anything else I could do to pull 9-1 in better from where I'm located. I'm about three miles east of Longmont with a clear shot to the south. Any thoughts? BTW, I get KCNC very rarely which I thought strange since the have the same power transmitter as KUSA. Thanks in advance for any replies...

My RCA DTC-100 receiver is not set up to do remapping (on purpose). On KMGH, I ALWAYS get 17-2 which is their HD channel (stretched when no HD is showing!) and 17-3 is their identical SD feed. I have never seen a third channel.

FWIW, I think their HD picture is pretty good, even on MNF. Biggest problem is big breakups when their signal strength drops a bit as I am marginal with them. They also have had ongoing sound issues but it has improved lately, especially if they don't try to do 5.1.

whtevr77,

It is interesting that your reception problems are very similar to mine, here on the NE side of Longmont. My 9-1 reception is similar, and have had audio dropouts (with sometimes video dropouts) on a seemingly regular basis - about every 2-3 minutes. I am wondering if we are near a powerful radar installation. KCNC was sometimes receivable for hours, but then suddenly hits the dust. Now I receive them fine for 5-10 seconds, then nothing for 30 - 90 secs, then it repeats. Seems to be interference related for me. Since this has been the case for about a week now, I've yanked my south-pointing antenna as it is essentially useless (couldn't get KRMA either). I can get KDBI with my other antenna if I turn it right, but I'm now optimizing my other antenna north (KGWN) that claims to be HD 'soon'. Sometimes I think that living on the border of receiving HD signals is worse than farther out - I'm happier now that I don't even try for Denver. KGWN puts out a good signal here - hope their move to HD goes smooth!

Originally posted by keithsimp
dr_mal
So we are hosed this year for seeing the Avs on HDNet this season?

Bummmer....................

Well not exactly you can wait for the Special Encore Presentation's. Yes I realize they are after the fact, but at least you will be able to see what it looks like. The first one is at 10:30 same night.

Originally posted by keithsimp
dr_mal
So we are hosed this year for seeing the Avs on HDNet this season?

Bummmer....................

I suspect so, since all but a handful of Avs games are on tv locally already. Man, that sucks. Half the reason I got the HD receiver was for Avs games in HD. I doubt ESPN will do any hockey in HD. Anyone know if ABC is doing any?

Did anybody happen to notice during last week's ER, somewhere 1/2 to 3/4 of the way into the program, there was a right shift when you could briefly see a grey/white bar on the left of the screen, then it shifted back to the left. I haven't gone HD yet, and didn't even watch it live, but when I played back on my Hi-Fi VHS in Zoom mode on my widescreen Sony tube and noticed it, I replayed it a few times and also viewed in Normal mode to verify it. Just wondering if this showed up in HD also.

I noticed that KBDI-DT is not showing up on my Dish 6000 even though I show a signal. I dont know if the station is having problems or if it is related to the new 6000 software. Anyone else with a 6000 getting them?

KBDI-DT must be having a teensy problem. I have a about a 75% signal strength and a black picture on all three sub-channels, and I don't have a 6000. Gee, it almost sounds like the exact same problem KRMA-DT had related to PSIP -- except this is on both of my receivers.

Originally posted by GoIrish1
I suspect so, since all but a handful of Avs games are on tv locally already. Man, that sucks. Half the reason I got the HD receiver was for Avs games in HD. I doubt ESPN will do any hockey in HD. Anyone know if ABC is doing any?

The WHOLE reason I got my HD receiver was the NHL on HDNet.

I've been in contact with a couple of people at HDNet on this matter. Both agree that Avalanche home games will be blacked out in Denver. One guy says that Avalanche away games (of which there have been 0 scheduled so far...) will be fair game for viewing in Denver. I've asked for confirmation on that.

ABC doesn't even know that the hockey season has started until January. But then, it's ABC and most people here couldn't get their signal even if they did do the NHL in HD. Last year, they carried the Stanley Cup Finals in HD, but I think that's it.

ESPN has no hockey on their HD schedule through the end of November. I'd assume they aren't aware of the NHL until January as well.

For those of you with ExpressVu HD, you'll be able to catch the Heritage Game November 22 as the first Hockey Night In Canada HD presentation. The heritage game will be the first outdoor regular season NHL game in many many years featuring the Montreal Canadiens vs the Edmonton Oilers in the Edmonton football stadium. It will also likely be the highest-attended regular season NHL game ever.

Fox Sports Net will be doing some HDTV stuff in the 13 cities where Time Warner Cable operates, so maybe eventually all the FSN will have HD NHL. Not in Denver this year, though.

Mark,

Thanks for the comparison info. I have tried to point north to get KGWN but had no luck. What antenna are you using? Last evening after I posted I was getting 9-1 at about 55% with drop outs (A+V) about every 10 minutes. Definitely the best reception I've had since having my setup (about a month). I'm hoping it hold until Saturday night so I can see the Nascar race. Even though it won't be HD it'll be better than the compressed, artifactized (new word there) picture.

I'm bummed to hear about the HDnet blackout tomorrow. I was really looking forward to seeing that.

Nothing on KBDI here either using a CM4228 and E*6000 8PSK + 8VSB just SE of downtown.

The HDNet blackout doesn't make much sense when the Denver HD audience is considered too small to count vs. SD viewership, so what would the advertisers loose anyway. It's not like we try to download the game from the internet... opps, that was music. Another kick in the pants for Denver HD - sheesh.

My antenna for KGWN is just a RS omni (which seems quite directional on the UHF side) about 20 feet high with a clear horizon to the north. KGWN is around 50% - 93% most of the time.

The radar-like interference seems to affect KUSA only, even though it had a much stronger signal for me than KCNC. The interference on KCNC is more like an on-off switch - like a mike being keyed repeatedly and a stong carrier being left on (sometimes for days). You may be able to minimize it by different antenna location or outside mount. In general, the more height the better, but there may be some reception 'holes' as the antenna height is increased. There will be 'sweet spots', but they differ for different channels even tho they originate from the same point. Antenna tinkering may be worth the try if KGWN is not viable for you - and we still don't know if/how much/when/what quality of service we will get from KGWN at this time anyhow. And, of course, we don't know if the LCG tower is still moving forward or the upcoming delays, either. Then there's cable on another thread where CBS and ABC are hung up - opps, time for my cheer pill.

*** Edit: Sorry folks, I re-read the first paragraph and saw it was vague in meaning. I was referring to the number of HD vieweres in Denver in relation to the number of SD viewers (alot of SD viewers). Fixed it. Hope I didn't offend anyone, and my apolgies if I did. Thanks for the leeway.

whtevr77,

I'm using a RS 15-2160 uhf antenna with a RS 15-1108 amplifier. When I first set up the antenna in some aspen trees in my back yard, I could barely get KUSA and KCNC. I now get them between 60-70, this was of course after adding the amplifier. The cool thing about this amp is that it has an adjustable gain. I live around 17th and Hover and use a DTC-100.

sunshinedawg

I'll likely be showing my guests CBS-HD tonight instead of the Avs. A big party for Joan Of Arcadia isn't quite as cool as an Avs game party, but at least it'll be HD.

For those of you struggling to get the weak Denver DTV signals, I have both a slightly used Channel Master 7775 amp and also a new Winegard AP-4700 amp that I no longer need. Super-cheap, just PM me.

I agree sunshinedawg, a variable preamp is a must-have for Longmont. It's encouraging that the repetitive dropouts on KUSA are not in your area, maybe just an east Longmont thing, or perhaps more local than that. Couldn't get rid of the dropouts regardless of what I did, even switching to the other antenna/amp on a completely different path to my receiver. I'm just on the other side of 17th, a block north of Skyline H.S. (where there's a ton a antennas on the water tank on the top of the hill - hmmmm).

sunshinedawg and Mark...thanks for the info. I did try both of the "higher end" RS variable gain amps but still had the best luck with the cheap one. I know it sounds strange. I might give it another try. I'm just north of 119 about three mi from 25. Haven't been able to get a KCNC signal in about a week. How has it been for you?

Yep, KCNC disappeared for me just over a week ago. From your location description, it is very likely that we are in exact same direction from Denver downtown, so our antennas are both pointing to the same source of (nearby) interference. I've tried UHF-band filters in series, but the interference seems to be actually on channel 35 (probably a spurious harmonic, but it doesn't appear to be able to be eliminated). Since I pulled that antenna out of service, I won't know if/when it goes away, but it seemed like a new permanent problem and with KUSA dropouts, the wait begins for the LCG tower for me (and KGWN in the meantime). BTW, I still was getting a good signal (40's) for KCNC, just no image/audio, so it seems like something else is preventing the signal from being intelligible. Hope you have better luck at getting around the problem - I don't suppose there's much that can be done if the source was known to get it fixed thru them, if that indeed is the problem.

This HDNet blackout for the Avs game is complete CRAP! This has nothing to do with advertisers, etc. etc. this is about a restriction of formats. I paid for the HD package, I want to watch the Avs in HDTV not SDTV on FSRM!! We need to complain to DirecTV about this. I will be calling them tonight.

The only reason I pay the $10 a month for the Directv HD package is to see the Av's games. Guess I'll be going online to cancel that. I just can't believe that it's such a battle to see HD in this city!!

I just sent an email of displeasure to Mark Cuban at HDnet. Like it will matter!!!

Got a reply from Mark Cuban, but his company doesn't have anything to do with it. Must be a league issue. Good move for the NHL in my opinion..alienate the few fans they have when the league is already in the toilet after they lost $300 million last year. I have just sent a nice complaint email to the NHL via their web site.

Yeah, here was my reply:

we face the same blackout rules as every national network. If it were on ESPN in standard def, it would be blacked out. Its not an HD thing or HDNet thing at all.

Fox Sports is the local broadcast, not a national broadcast, which is why you get theirs and not ours

thanks !

m

Guys, I have not noticed any problems with KUSA or KCNC here in Longmont for me. I rarely watch NBC and only sports on CBS. I watched JAG (CBS) and L&O (NBC) tonight to see if they were any dropouts. I can report that I saw none of the problems you are having. I haven't checked my signal strength in a while, so I went ahead and did that as well. KUSA/KCNC 70-76, KRMA 54, KDVR 82. Got a 28 signal on KBDI, figured it wasn't worth it to mess with that one yet.

sunshinedawg....Like Mark said, there must be something between us and downtown Denver on the east side of town that is not there for you over by Hover. I looked up the antenna you are using and it's not too different from mine as far as UHF range. The amp you hae is one of the ones I tried with no luck. Where do you have the gain set? If I remember right that one went up to about 20db. I'm going to try another pre amp today hopefully and keep trying. Too bad we have to deal with this market and its low power transmissions.

I saw the end of AVS game on HDNet on last night in widescreen HDTV. I tuned in after Law and Order.

I do not think it was a replay.

I watched the entire game live on HDNet.

I watched the replay of the game from 10:30 to 1:30. For a first full production, I thought it was pretty good. The announcers need some help, but other than that the only complaint I had about the game was the cameras seemed to be too softly focused. The PQ wasn't nearly as crisp and sharp as it was last year.

Yes, it is the 20db amp. If I can remember correctly, I started from 0 and just kept turning it most of the way up. It's hard to tell exactly because it has one of those adjusters like an old tv set, where you have to stick your little screwdriver in and turn for the horiz hold. Before I had the amp, I set up the antenna in such a way as to get all the channels available, except of course anything from KMGH's coat hanger trans. The signals were all hovering around 40, but good enough to watch. Then one day the antenna moved and I couldn't get any of them after readjusting. I thought I was screwed. I went and got the amp and was really surprised when I turned the gain up and got everything with out having to perfectly aim the antenna. Sorry you are having so much trouble, I know how frustrating it is. It still amazes me that I get such great pictures from KRMA who doesn't have the geatest of budgets and 0 from KMGH.

I thought the AVS looked pretty good last night. Some of the closeups of the scrums in the corner were amazing. I have to agree the main shot of center ice looked a little soft/washed out, but for my first Avs HD game, I can accept that. A 5-0 shutout doesn't hurt either :)

Is anybody getting anything other then a signal reading from KBDI-DT38? I have not been able to tune in any programming for several days.

I suppose, like KMGH, if you are putting out some sort of signal the FCC feels you are serving your community, even if nobody can watch it. :(

Same thing here--it seems odd since their initial bring-up seemed so trouble-free.

Signal-strength wise, I generally get a higher reading for KBDI than even KDVR.

Mark

Watched the replay at 10:30. It really wasn't that hard to not see the score ahead of time. Really, complaining to HDNet and DirecTV is not the answer. They certainly didn't decide to have less viewers.

With respect, I can't believe I'm reading that people are considering cancelling their HD package because they have to watch two games 3 1/2 hours late. Who are you punishing? Yourself?

There is nothing new about rules that black out a national broadcast in favor of a local channel. It's been going on almost since the beginning of cable TV. For instance, ESPN2's showing of the Avs Sunday night was blacked out because of Fox Sports. The only reason we care now is that the national broadcast is in HD. An argument can be made that HD showings are a different product. But only CBS seems to agree.

The reason I'm considering cancelling is because the only reason I was keeping the package was for HD NHL. That's it. The rest of the content isn't worth the extra 10.99/month (until I get a HD/DirecTiVo so I can watch what I want when I want).

And the HD blackout is new this year. The last two years, because the productions were co-productions with FSN, they weren't subject to blackout. It was a good two years.

I'm not cancelling! I'm a HiDeph-o-maniac!

Anyone notice the HUGE lip-sync issue whenever CBS had a commentator on an HD camera during the game yesterday?! Video was several full seconds behind audio and they quickly switched back to a field camera. I think they tried it two or three times and it was very funny.

sunshinedawg and Mark, I installed my antenna outside and now have a Winegard 19dB preamp (thanks Jetlag). Significantly more consistent signal from 9-1 but still drop outs. Can get KCNC at 60% for about 2 seconds then drops to 0. Also getting a slight whiff of KRMA. This is the last attempt I'm going to make with the current options in transmission from Denver. I guess I'll wait for the tower.

Originally posted by ottodog
Yeah, here was my reply:

we face the same blackout rules as every national network. If it were on ESPN in standard def, it would be blacked out. Its not an HD thing or HDNet thing at all.

Fox Sports is the local broadcast, not a national broadcast, which is why you get theirs and not ours

thanks !

m HDNet is blaming the NHL for this, however, the real reason for the blackouts is because HDNet decided to produce the broadcasts themselves this year, and not to partner with the regional sports networks.

This is true. When I asked what had changed this year, from the previous he said this:

last yr we got the games from fox, this year we went straight to the nhl

thanks !

m

I guess at the time I didn't realize that the were going to replay them immediately following the game. So it's not a major deal. I had just activated the HD package, so I could watch the games. I have to agree with dr_mal, that the remainder of the programming in the package really isn't worth $10.99 a month.

I just noticed over in this thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=312831) that UPN is going high definition this week.

My understanding is that KTVD is waiting until the tower is finished to begin their digital broadcasts. Any information to the contrary?

whtevr77, sorry to hear that you haven't had any luck with it either. The Wyoming CBS station that was reportedly going to be HD "soon" - still isn't. My definition of "soon" encompases a much shorter timespan I guess... Cable that has CBS may be a shorter wait than KCNC or KGWN for us waiting in agony. I'll post when KGWN does get HD working (their on-air ads claim they are already in HD, so it seems likely that it will be HD sometime).

Originally posted by Jeff Keene

There is nothing new about rules that black out a national broadcast in favor of a local channel. It's been going on almost since the beginning of cable TV. For instance, ESPN2's showing of the Avs Sunday night was blacked out because of Fox Sports. The only reason we care now is that the national broadcast is in HD. An argument can be made that HD showings are a different product. But only CBS seems to agree.

I understand why they have blackouts. It is because of the advertising money. The thing that I have a problem with is the point that you made about the HD showing being a different product. I want to be able to watch the HD product which is much more superior to the SD broadcast. I've paid for the HD package and for the cost of the equipment. If FSN had an HD offering for Avs games, then I would have no problem watching it. Hopefully someone will realize that this is a different offering and it should not be subject to blackout, but I am dissapointed that the decision was made to restrict the format that we can watch.

smithdzd --

I support ya.

Originally posted by dr_mal
The reason I'm considering cancelling is because the only reason I was keeping the package was for HD NHL. That's it. The rest of the content isn't worth the extra 10.99/month (until I get a HD/DirecTiVo so I can watch what I want when I want).
There are some lame movies on HDNet Movie channel but I guess they have to start somewhere.....

KTVD has no plans to pass HD until the tower is operational, no.

Originally posted by markdl
KTVD has no plans to pass HD until the tower is operational, no. Not exactly true. I talked to the Dir. of Eng. at KTVD yesterday. With UPNs national announcement to begin HDTV broadcasts of a few shows starting tomorrow, our local affiliate is now scrambling to see what they can do temporarily before the new LCG tower is built and ready. However, they are at square one -- with no equiptment yet, no means to get their DTV signal to Morrison, etc. The only good news is that they could probably do something on their existing tower with a 1kw transmitter with very little JeffCo involvement besides permitting. (but we all know how that can even be delayed by you-know-who!)

I still don't hold any hope for a UPN signal before Lookout is live, but they are having serious discussions about a temporary setup, starting today.

Hi Guys!

Just got back from my Honeymoon in Costa Rica!
After reading all the posts... It's just like I never left!

I was hoping KWGN would be on-the-air by now, oh well.

Hey Ernie, welcome back and a hardy 'congratulations' and 'best wishes for life' to you both.

No you haven't missed a thing, KMGH still is not on the air (AFAIK) and KUSA still says they are leading the way in HD in spite of the fact they can't even get the NBC HD program switch to work properly. On the plus side, hockey season is underway and some of us got to see the Avs opener in HD too.

PS
:(
Sorry to hear you will no longer be allowed to buy any new gear for your set up.

:D

Originally posted by RonAuger
Not exactly true. I talked to the Dir. of Eng. at KTVD yesterday. With UPNs national announcement to begin HDTV broadcasts of a few shows starting tomorrow, our local affiliate is now scrambling to see what they can do temporarily before the new LCG tower is built and ready. However, they are at square one -- with no equiptment yet, no means to get their DTV signal to Morrison, etc. The only good news is that they could probably do something on their existing tower with a 1kw transmitter with very little JeffCo involvement besides permitting. (but we all know how that can even be delayed by you-know-who!)

I still don't hold any hope for a UPN signal before Lookout is live, but they are having serious discussions about a temporary setup, starting today.

Thanks Ron. That's good news, and a 180 degree turnaround from what Greg (station GM) told me at the tower hearings. Of course, it'll take them time to get all of the equipment together, but from what Greg said, and what Leo Bradley said, KTVD should be able to install the transmitter and antenna on their Mt. Morrison tower with no interference from Jeffco. Of course, we all know how well that usually goes... :)

For those of you who haven't heard, ESPN has updated their HD schedule, and it includes 3 Avs games later in the season against Dallas (1/15) and Detroit (2/5, 3/25):

http://espn.go.com/espnhd/schedule.html

Thanks John,

Just thought I'd share a High-Def pic of my view last week...

http://www.frii.com/~santella/ht/pool%201.jpg

Deck Chair, Pacific Ocean, Beautiful Wife, Margaritas... ahhhh!

Oh goody. Now they can black out those games as well to make us watch FSN.

Originally posted by markdl
Thanks Ron. That's good news, and a 180 degree turnaround from what Greg (station GM) told me at the tower hearings.
Well, part of what Greg was saying was "since there's no HD UPN content, we have no plans..." Now that there is HD UPN content, I'm glad he's made the appropriate mindset adjustment :)

And congrats Ernie!

Originally posted by dr_mal
Oh goody. Now they can black out those games as well to make us watch FSN. ESPN games (the main channel, not ESPN2) are never blacked out. They are "exclusive" broadcasts, so there will be no competing local coverage. ESPN2 broadcasts are not exclusive and therefore subject to blackout (although in my experience DirecTV usually does not black them out).

I have had problems about how KUSA resonded to our needs in the past. I have agreed with GEOF for the most part....
Lately they have really been pushing HD. They have had spots that defined the difference between DTV and HDTV. Today...they had a 5 minute spot on the 10 PM news that talked about HDTV... it was really GOOD... they encouraged people to make sure that they knew what they were getting...they pointed out that by 2006 all analog is scheduled to stop... with a nice graphic....

What they have done in the past is quite dispicable....
what they are doing now... obviously for what they consider to be their own well being....

Has to be supportive of what we all seem to want.... MORE
HDTV...

Well, after lurking for what seems to be forever... I'm finally posting.

A little info up front.

I've just purchased a Pio 530, and have had D* for years, but no HD receiver yet. Been holding off on one - waiting for the right mix of features - and available in black. That's a different story, though. Anyhoo, REALLY want to get the Avs in HD, and am quite bummed that HDNet bailed on us. Oh well... we still wait.

I looked through ESPN's HD info website and did find reference to the Avs games scheduled, however, did not find anything to indicate HD. Do we have any idea how much ESPN programming is broadcast in HD? The website seems to dwell on ESPN's 'Originally Produced Events'. What do we think the chances are of these broadcasts being HD?

As for current reception issues, I'm in Bear Valley (not quite at the bottom of the hill, though). I do not have a line of sight to downtown - but do have a large rooftop antenna mounted well above roofline. Anybody in the same geographic predicament, getting decent reception of the (currently) notoriously weak local signals?

Here I sit, wanting to pull the trigger on an HD receiver, but fearful that I'll not get a local signal until next year... Yeah, yeah, joining the club...

Thanks gang. Guess I needed to vent a little... :rolleyes:

ESPN-HD's website briefly listed their schedule through March and there were 3 Avs games in that schedule. They're all ESPN, not espn2 games, so they shouldn't be blacked-out here. They yanked the schedule pretty quickly, so let's call it tentative at best.

The Avs games on HDNet the last 2 years have been nice...

ByH20,

Here's a link to the Denver Reception Thread. I'm sure you can find someone in your area. PM them and ask their results/equipment etc.

Denver Reception Thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=168587&highlight=denver+data)

There was an article in the RMN today on HDTV. Nothing about local, same old, same old.

P.S. GO YANKEES!!!! What a game last night!!!!

ByH2O,

I am about 3 blocks from the creek west of Sheridan close to the bottom of the valley. I have a RS VU 190 on a rotor about 45 feet off of the ground with an RG-11 run of about 30 feet. I get 16, 18, 32, 35 at between 70 and 85 on the DTC-100 in my F38310. I don't get even a sniff of 17, nor have I been able to get any signal from KBDI (38).

If you want to chat more PM me and I can give you my phone number or meet you at Bear Valley Inn...or something.

Phil P.

The world series is in Faux WS, but of course KDVR is not passing it thru. I just can't catch a break. :(

Originally posted by sunshinedawg
The world series is in Faux WS, but of course KDVR is not passing it thru. I just can't catch a break. :(

As was posted in the Programming forum, KenH apparently called someone at KDVR and in the 4th inning, the series was switch-flipped/shown in Fox WS. Looked pretty good. Kept me watching the whole game whereas with the Yanks and Marlins playing, I probably wouldn't be that interested. Good game, too.

Rgds,
JohnW

Anybody else having problems with KRMA-DT this weekend?
My 6000 won't hold a lock on them, even with with a low 90's signal. Also still no KBDI-DT even thought I show a good signal. KCNC-DT and KUSA-DT are fine. Also Friday night I had a lot of breakup on HD NET, but it is fine now.

Last night, I couldn't get a lock on KRMA either. DTC-100. When the channel is selected, you would get a brief picture then nothing and I would get a message saying Weak Signal even though the signal strength was the normal 64.

They certainly are having their problems lately, although this is the first I have seen myself. I plan to email them on Monday if it is not fixed.

Looking forward to the Broncos today in HD. Haven't seen it yet myself since I go to the games. Go Broncos!!

Any word on the tower hearing?

Originally posted by Jeff Keene
Any word on the tower hearing?
:confused: The tower hearings are all done and approved.

The Morrison tower I believe is on schedule.

The Lookout tower was recently challenged by the City of Golden (it's 1848 here, and we like it!) and sCARE. It's expected by all involved (except those pesky sCARE hooligans) to be thrown out of court. Although it's never a good thing to be cocky. It could delay the tower construction for quite some time until it's resolved.

I think Jeff meant the court hearing(s).....

Originally posted by DennisMileHi
Last night, I couldn't get a lock on KRMA either. DTC-100. When the channel is selected, you would get a brief picture then nothing and I would get a message saying Weak Signal even though the signal strength was the normal 64.


I have had exactly the same problem with KRMA for a few days now. My display rotates between "SD" and "HD" indefinitely, occasionally flashing a couple of seconds of picture. This occurs even when HD content is being delivered, as one time I got about 1 second of "Smart Travels" while this was going on.

My wife left the channel on for about a minute hoping that it would lock in and eventually my Mits freaked out and I got an out of sync picture that I could not correct on any channel. I ended up having to press the indented reset button on the set which fixed the problem.

-----------------------
Dasher

Originally posted by DennisMileHi
Last night, I couldn't get a lock on KRMA either. DTC-100. When the channel is selected, you would get a brief picture then nothing and I would get a message saying Weak Signal even though the signal strength was the normal 64.



We started receiving comment about this problem just this morning. We added a new piece of equipment last week to add a small amount of data to our signal, and it seems to have been the cause of the problem. I believe it will be ok now.

Curiously I couldn't see the problem on either our DTC-100 or our Samsung receiver here at the station. Thanks for the reports - they really help!

Jim Schoedler
Director of Engineering, KRMA

KRMA- DT back to normal here. Thanks Jim!

KBDI-DT is back to mapping to Channel 38-1-2-3 and is viewable.

KDVR may have actually worked on the lip-sync problem. Watching the World Series tonight, the ball sounds like it's hitting the mitt at about the right time. The crack of the bat is at the right time.

This is the first time that I haven't noticed a problem with them.

I watched the first bit of "Skin" on Monday night, and the lip sync was way off.

KMGH is sticky! I'm using an E* 6000, and when channel surfing through my "HDTV Favorites", CH 17 now takes up to 15 seconds to display a picture. Not only that, I can not 'click' past 17 until the picture displays. Any ideas? None of the other channels do this and KMGH only started doing this recently. (JM, dr_mal, etc. need not reply ;) )