Is anyone picking WTIC-DT yet? Even just a carrier? I'm not getting anything yet and I want to make sure it's not my setup.

Originally posted by JosephR
I am still considering getting an OTA antenna installed from American Satellite. I live in Old Saybrook, does anyone know what channels I should be able to get in HD in Old Saybrook? It's going to cost $750 to have it done so I want to make sure it will be worth it. I can't install it myself and don't know anyone that could so that would be my only route. I am getting the new HD DirecTiVo in a month so I want to be ready. I have a Samsung SIR-TS160 now. I tried one of those indoor radio shack antennas and I couldn't get anything here in Old Saybrook. I really want CBS in HD and hopefully they will be full power eventually. So basically I am just trying to justify buying this. I already get all the network locals from DirecTV so I would only be using this to get HD content.

Thanks.

-Joe

Joe,

I would wait and see how people make out receiving WVIT-DT, and WTIC-DT. Since WFSB-DT is so low power now, getting an antenna to receive it may be overkill once they go to high power. Although by the time they go to high power, pigs may be flying!

Since both WTIC-DT and WVIT-DT seem so close to coming on the air, see how easily others pick them up. I know I am waiting to do that before I commit to any antenna changes.

Originally posted by raoul5788
I got this from WVIT this morning:

It's been a rough winter with the cold and wind albeit the past few days you wouldn't know. In any event, the antenna got put up last Thursday, and the last variable piece of line is being put in today. If the line sweep goes well, and we get the authorization from the commission, we should be on later this week. It has not been a kind winter for tower work. Anytime the temps were under 35 (which they were allot) or the winds at the 900 ' level were higher than 25 mph, we could work. There were a lot of days like that, especially the cold.
Dave

Originally posted by raoul5788

Originally posted by bfogelstrom
Is anyone picking WTIC-DT yet? Even just a carrier? I'm not getting anything yet and I want to make sure it's not my setup.

nothing here in milford on any new channel on my hughes htl.

scottte

Originally posted by scottte
nothing here in milford on any new channel on my hughes htl.

scottte

Nothing in Cheshire, either. :mad:

Originally posted by jake14mw
I would like to know this too. Beaker, could you list some of the features that you thought were most advantageous for an upgrade? Things I would like to solve from my 3100HD:

The ability to make the grey side bars black instead of grey for non-widescreen shows.
The ability of the box to pass sound from the analog channels through the digital audio connection.
On the 3100HD, sometimes when you are using the channel up/down keys the picture will not show up. You have to go up and down again in order for it to come back.

The SA32500 does convert all audio to digital so you only need the one audio connection. Rather than just restate what I read on the SA3250 today here's the thread that has as the first post a really really good summary of what you are looking for.

>>> SA3250 Comprehensive Review Guide - Notes and Setup <<<

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=346428

I am posting and talking about this HDTV Hardware on this thread not to be off topic but to get a good feel about how this box is implemented in the CT area! The firmware versions that each Cable company pushs (which varies greatly by regionl) makes a huge difference and is vital to get a feel for what HD is offered in the CT area through the cable companies. Of course I'm a bit more interested in the Comcast (specifically the SA head-end) in CT. :)

EDIT: Please note that with some firmware versions and setups it might be advantagous to stay with the SA3100HD model. This is what I am attempting to discern. To get a more well rounded feel for the hardware see the HDTV Hardware forum section, there are several good threads there. Again I am looking for CT user feedback on these boxes, etc...

Thanks in advance.

Originally posted by AreBee
How are you Bob?

Still blacked-out on the Celts? You aren't missing anything. I always end up tuning out. They look horrible.

Hey Ralph:

Yea, since Jim O'Brian quit, the Celt's have really went down hill.

And they are STILL Blacked-Out on FSNE on DishNetwork. :mad:

But ESPN-HD carried the game on Friday night.

The team looked pretty good, but the HDTV looked MAGNIFICENT on ESPN-HD!

It was some of the sharpest and best-looking HDTV I have ever seen on my setup. The colors were absolutely vibrant and amazing. Can't rave enough about the PQ on ESPN-HD that night.

Other nights I've tried to watch BB on ESPN-HD, and it looked like up-converts. (go figure) But again, on Friday night, it looked friggin amazing. And my PJ just loves the 720P signal from ESPN-HD.

Other nights I've tried to watch BB on ESPN-HD, and it looked like up-converts.

I know what you mean. Then you flip on HDNet and the quality just floors you. I found myself watching a replay of a NHL game Saturday just because it was so amazing.

By the way, the UCONN Seton Hall game is on ESPN-HD tonight!


That pic of the antenna is insane! That guy looks like an ant standing next to it!

Originally posted by raoul5788
I got this from WVIT this morning:
... In any event, the antenna got put up last Thursday, and the last variable piece of line is being put in today. If the line sweep goes well, and we get the authorization from the commission, we should be on later this week.
Dave
This sounds promissing. This is the best news out of WVIT I've seen in months!

It will be interesting to see how fast problems are discovered/solved before we can get reliable HD service ;).

Frank

Big East BABY, http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tvlistings/espnhd/ Go UCONN.:D

In regards to the ESPNHD, Their contents just isnt all there yet. They put exactly whats on ESPN on the HD channel. If you have a guide and hit "info" on that program it will have the letters "HDTV" at the end if its truly HD. If not this program is stretched to fit the ratio, however sound quality is better than "straight" ESPN. I have noticed more and more of the HD programs arising but I guess they dont have sufficient cameras yet to cover every sporting event. I'm sure ways off they will be doing everything in HD. As long as "March Madness" is in HD I'm happy.

Other nights I've tried to watch BB on ESPN-HD, and it looked like up-converts.
I know what you mean. Then you flip on HDNet and the quality just floors you. I found myself watching a replay of a NHL game Saturday just because it was so amazing.


It's crazy to have to 'channel surf HD' to find the which HD channel is actually transmitting in HD :mad: ! When will they have their act together so that a person can just go to the advertised channel at the advertised time and watch the program in high quality HD????

Frank

Don't even trust your program guide the ESPN website is the bible. Look at all the NCAA BB on this schedule (http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tvlistings/espnhd/espnHDStory?id=1635015). Big East Tournament is going to be great!

It's going to be a great month.

Originally posted by AreBee
Don't even trust your program guide the ESPN website is the bible. Look at all the NCAA BB on this schedule (http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tvlistings/espnhd/espnHDStory?id=1635015). Big East Tournament is going to be great!

It's going to be a great month.

Know several guys that are going to go see the game tonight...asked me to join them and I passed. Would rather stay home and watch in HD.:D

Originally posted by mnky21


Regading the NCAA Tournament:

1) Did the D* Mega March Madness Package last year include any HD?
2) Last year for the NCAA tournament, did WFSB-DT always show the same game as analog WFSB? It would be great if they would show all of the HD games on DT, and then show the best game for the market on the SD channel.

I have a signal from WTIC-DT!:)

That's the good news.

The bad news is there is no picture or sound. :mad:

Regading the NCAA Tournament:

1) Did the D* Mega March Madness Package last year include any HD?
2) Last year for the NCAA tournament, did WFSB-DT always show the same game as analog WFSB? It would be great if they would show all of the HD games on DT, and then show the best game for the market on the SD channel. [/B]

1) The package did not include HD last year, but I would not be surprised if it does include HD this year.

2) Unfortunately, they show the same feed. So if you get the SD game, the HD channel is an upconvert of the same game.

Here in Downtown Springfield and WTIC is coming in at a rock solid 100. Just the color bars up right now, so nothing really to see.

Originally posted by ralfy1
Here in Downtown Springfield and WTIC is coming in at a rock solid 100. Just the color bars up right now, so nothing really to see.

This is really strange. With the tuner in my Mits 55511 I get the color bars
too, but no sound. If I use my Sony HD200, I get nothing at all, although
I show a strong signal on my meter.

Here in Tolland I am getting WTIC (ch 31) with at 79 to 85%. Right now they are only showing colors bars but this is good news.

Arnold for your information this is not as strong as WTXX-DT, but then I suppose that WTXX-DT is mounted at full height. It does beat WTNH which is farther away.


Pete

WTIC DT is on the air now. I tuned in channel 31 and received a colorbar pattern with no sound . It remapped to channel 61. I am in Mystic and used my largest UHF antenna with very critical peaking the signal just locks solidly. On an Integra receiver the signal strength was 38-40 which is normally just enough to get a solid picture. I get a info indicating a 1080I with AC-3 sound but no picture or sound, I guess the receiver does not like the PSIP info. I am still interested in knowing the transmitter power level now. John

I've just added digital channel 31-1 to my Dish Network receiver in the "Add Local DTV" menu. Channel 31 remaps to 61-01. I am also receiving the color bars. The signal strength meter is changing each second from 84% up to 89% and back down again.

For comparison, digital channel 20-1, which broadcasts from the same tower, is currently coming in at 73-74%.

Not sure what you mean by passthrough setting. My mits won't recieve 720P. Only 480I,480P.1080I. Set at 720P get black screen. I didn't even notice that the analog audio converted to digital. Still had it hooked up both ways. Nice feature. If Voom works as good as I hope, getting rid of digital cable and just getting lifeline basic to get internet service. No DSL here or I would get rid of cable altogether.

Down on the shoreline in Milford, I think I was lucky to get my Hughes HTL to find 61-1 when I did an a channel manually, but after spinning the rotor all around, could not get anything other than "no signal" on 61-1.....I hope they are going to be kicking up the power!!!!

scottte

I got nothing but a black screen on WTIC-DT 61-1 at around 9:00 pm. I pulled in a 77% signal without moving the antenna away from the WTNH position. I hope they are operational for 24 tomorrow night.

Getting a 95 on my 721, but no picture on WTIC. Got my antenna pointed to I can get WWLP, WFSB and WTNH all at the same time. :)

I get a solid 100 up here on WTICDT with color bars on top with a solid red bottom. I see above that ch20 (dt ch 12) is on the same tower as WTIC. I can only get a 20 on that signal. Are they (WTXX) at low power?
Jim

I hope they are operational for 24 tomorrow night.

24 will not be on tomorrow night. :(
It returns Tuesday March 30th. Hopefully WTIC-DT will be fully operational by then! I am getting the color bars on 61-1 with a 100% signal here on Long Island!

Noticed the following issues with Comcast last night. Can those who have Comcast let me know if you get the same thing?

1) InHD was blank. The show listing said NBA basketball, but there was nothing.
2) My 3100HD box consistantly has trouble not having the picture show up after changing channels in the HD channels. I have to channel up and then down to get the signal to come in.
3) Whenever there is an SD program on an HD channel, there is either a horizontal white line accross the top of the picture or some other kind of noise up there.
4) On some HD shows, there is a solid thin vertical green line down the right side of the picture.

Another thing that I don't think is a Comcast issue is on ESPN. That $@#ing bottom line crawler that they insist on keeping on the screen is maddening. The worst part is, on the SD broadcast, it is as far down on the screen as possible. On ESPN HD though, it is one "line" up. What I mean is, there is screen space under the crawler that the crawler could fit in. Why can't they move it down so it' takes up a smaller percentage of the picture. Is this just my display, or do other people see it too?

Anyone with a DTC-100 get anything from WTIC last night. I tried several times between 6pm and 10pm and got nothing but weak signal. The analog stations are coming in perfect so I imagine my antenna is pointed ok.

anybody have any new info as of 8:20 am on tuesday for WTICDT?? I am still getting nothing, no signal on 31-1 or 61-1. It's not just a black screen, but my Hughes HTL is not seeing a signal at all. I saw someone in Long Island was getting the signal, but me on the shore line of connecticut - nothing!?!?!?!

Please let me know what you are seeing right now as if I poing my antenna at Rattle Snake Mountain, I get nothing, and even if I spin it all around the dial. As I mentioned prior, I sure hope they are at low power right now!!!

scottte

Yes to all of those. I see the exact same thing. Annoying, isn't it?

Originally posted by jake14mw
Noticed the following issues with Comcast last night. Can those who have Comcast let me know if you get the same thing?

1) InHD was blank. The show listing said NBA basketball, but there was nothing.
2) My 3100HD box consistantly has trouble not having the picture show up after changing channels in the HD channels. I have to channel up and then down to get the signal to come in.
3) Whenever there is an SD program on an HD channel, there is either a horizontal white line accross the top of the picture or some other kind of noise up there.
4) On some HD shows, there is a solid thin vertical green line down the right side of the picture.

Another thing that I don't think is a Comcast issue is on ESPN. That $@#

1) NBA is black out in the area as per another thread or a previous post.

2) Have a similar problem. Mine is the result of the card in the TV. Had the same problem on another video input and it went away when I had it replaced. Sony XBR65

3) Haven't noticed but will look.

4) Haven't noticed but will look.

Originally posted by thehud2112
24 will not be on tomorrow night. :(
It returns Tuesday March 30th. Hopefully WTIC-DT will be fully operational by then! I am getting the color bars on 61-1 with a 100% signal here on Long Island!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

4 weeks off! The HORROR! :mad:

Originally posted by scottte
anybody have any new info as of 8:20 am on tuesday for WTICDT?? I am still getting nothing, no signal on 31-1 or 61-1. It's not just a black screen, but my Hughes HTL is not seeing a signal at all. I saw someone in Long Island was getting the signal, but me on the shore line of connecticut - nothing!?!?!?!

Please let me know what you are seeing right now as if I poing my antenna at Rattle Snake Mountain, I get nothing, and even if I spin it all around the dial. As I mentioned prior, I sure hope they are at low power right now!!!

scottte

It's 10:40 and WTIC-DT is on!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

100% signal here in Prospect,looks great!!! Come on WVIT!! Jim

Had trouble with my last post, I went back and added the following:

On ESPN, that $@#ing bottom line crawler that they insist on keeping on the screen is maddening. The worst part is, on the SD broadcast, it is as far down on the screen as possible. On ESPN HD though, it is one "line" up. What I mean is, there is screen space under the crawler that the crawler could fit in. Why can't they move it down so it' takes up a smaller percentage of the picture. Is this just my display, or do other people see it too?

Originally posted by Jrek
100% signal here in Prospect,looks great!!! Come on WVIT!! Jim

Not a peep up here in Chester, MA..

If WTICDT is on line now, could we please get alot of reports of reception (percentages if your stb has that feature for OTA) and locations, thanks!!!

scottte

P.S. do we know if they are at full power at this point, and if not, are they boosting it soon????

Originally posted by jake14mw
Had trouble with my last post, I went back and added the following:

On ESPN, that $@#ing bottom line crawler that they insist on keeping on the screen is maddening. The worst part is, on the SD broadcast, it is as far down on the screen as possible. On ESPN HD though, it is one "line" up. What I mean is, there is screen space under the crawler that the crawler could fit in. Why can't they move it down so it' takes up a smaller percentage of the picture. Is this just my display, or do other people see it too?

On my Mits 55511 and Sony HD-200 it is on the bottom.

Time: 11:30am
Location: Newtown, CT 06470
Distance to Tower: 41.7mi
Direction to Tower: 62.5°
Antenna: Blake JBX21WB
Pre-amp: Channelmaster 7777
Receiver: Samsung SIR-T150

No signal - not even a blip

I do receive analog ch 61 beautifully

Originally posted by scottte
If WTICDT is on line now, could we please get alot of reports of reception (percentages if your stb has that feature for OTA) and locations, thanks!!!

scottte

P.S. do we know if they are at full power at this point, and if not, are they boosting it soon????

I am in Cheshire. My Sony HD-200 doesn't have a % meter,
but it shows about 75-80%, as my best guess.

Windsor checking in...

As of last night I was getting WTIC colorbars at approx 79-82% on my Dish 6000.
I'll check when I get home tonight. I'm 15.7 mi. from tower (according to antennaweb).

Andy

Originally posted by JVanderwalker
I get a solid 100 up here on WTICDT with color bars on top with a solid red bottom. I see above that ch20 (dt ch 12) is on the same tower as WTIC. I can only get a 20 on that signal. Are they (WTXX) at low power?
Jim

That's odd. I don't get that big a difference. I get WTXX-DT at around 90% and WTIC-DT colorbars at 79-82% (as of 3/1 PM). I wonder why you have sucha difference between them?

Oh wait. Could it be a UHF/VHF issue? WTIC is UHF (31), WTXX is VHF (12).

scottte, I am the guy getting the signal from Long Island. You have to also remember that you should also ask what kind of antennas people are using. Reception signal strength is also based on antenna setup. I am able to get a 100% signal because I have a powerful (and large) VHF/UHF antenna that is perched on top of my chimney of my 2 story house. I am about 1 mile from the Long Island Sound. On top of that, I have a ChannelMaster preamp hooked up to my antenna. I am at work now, so I will check my signal strength again when I get home.

When I type my zip code in antennweb.org, WTIC-DT doesn't even show up in my list!!! I am even getting WFSB-DT at about 60% even with their low power.

thehud2112,

excellent point....

I have a channel master 4228 with cm 7777 amp on top of my single story garage. You must be at a great elevation along the water as I have never even seen a blip of WFSB!!! This hobby is enough to drive ya nuts, isn't it!!!!! Could call cablevision and get th IO hookup with all networks except ABC which I get via WTNH, but now what fun would that be!!!!!!

scottte

thehud2112,

After looking on the map, I am probably only 2 miles west of you taking into account pointing towards Rattle Snake mountain. Obviously the water helps the signal travel, but it is a good sign to see that it is making to the shoreline so I gotta figure out what is going on here. Maybe if I get the antenna raised to the top of my 2 story house that may help. I really wonder if one floor would make that much of a difference though??????

What direction do you have your antenna pointed??? I assume it is somewhere around 30 degrees or so??? Let me know, thanks.

scotte

The numbers displayed by ATSC set top boxes and software with tuner cards indicate some arbitrary signal reading - but are not normally percentages. I would not consider it useful to compare the readings from two different boxes (or PC software with computer tuner cards). Comparing the numbers from the same boxes would be useful.

The ATSC broadcasts represent a continuous bit stream of about 19.39 mbps (mega bits per second). In that transmission stream there are a lot of PID's. You can consider a PID to be information or data ... there's some standard ones every transmission needs to have ... and then some that would depend on what is being encoded and sent (unique to each station).

Your set top box / ATSC receiver may detect an ATSC transmission ... the PID with the basic info on what's being transmitted is usually quite small - representing something like 18 kilobits per second of data - and can be easily decoded as it is pretty minimal info. (As you can see, it’s a very small percentage of the entire transmission.)

You may notice your tuner stopping on channels that have ATSC transmissions ... but those channels may later not show up in your list of available channels. That would likely be due to too not being able to lock onto the ATSC signal and/or having too high of an error rate. Your box may have detected the basic info but was otherwise unable to really decode reliably the whole stream.

The meters (numbers) that the STB displays may be related to the RF levels ... or they may be related to the bit error rates, the latter IMO would be more desirable. For example: you could have a whopping RF signal, but if you have a bad multi-path problem it could cause enough data errors that your viewing experience would be unsatisfactory.

(Multi-path means the signal from the station's transmitter may actually take more than one path in getting to you ... bouncing off terrain, objects, etc. At 300,000 meters per second - the speed of light - the signals you receive may arrive at slightly different times. In analogue TV these fractions of a second differences often cause ghosting, etc. but in the digital domain you get data errors, e.g., drop outs, etc.)

In decoding ATSC, when you tune to a sub-channel with your STB (like our 22.3) ... your STB is looking at a PID - in our case it would be 0x0040 (that means hex 40). PID 40 tells more about what's in the 22.3 sub-channel, including what PID has the video information (0x0041) and what PID's have the audio information. In our case - we have just a primary AC3 Dolby Digital audio feed and that's on PID 0x0044. (If there was a secondary audio channel, like SAP, it would be on 0x0045, etc.)

Your STB then receives the continuous stream of bits from the station's transmitter. Those bits are organized into packets of 188 bytes (characters) each. Each packet has a PID identifier; your STB would discard the packets it is not interested in (like those for other sub-channels).

A typical HD 16:9 format program encoded around 15.0 mbps will consume over 75% of the bandwidth of the entire channel for the HD video content. (In our case - that would be packets with PID 0x0041.) In relation, the audio PID for that channel would only be 192 kbps - that's 0.192 mbps - just a few percent of the total transmission bandwidth.

It would be normal for now and then to get a packet or a few packets in a row that are not properly received. In many cases - you may not even see or hear those errors. But if the error rate increases ... you may see pixilated video, artifacts, large square areas not being updated, audio dropouts, etc.

If you're having reception problems and the signal meter on your STB stays pretty constant ... the meter may be showing you RF signal levels. OTOH, if you're seeing the meter bounce around ... it could be either RF or error rates. Pretty hard to tell.

Also note: many STB do not necessarily update that signal meter as fast as you may like ... some are only once a second or once every other second.

In the end, the best and really only way to see what kind of signal you are receiving ... is not with your STB, but with a device called a spectrum analyzer. This device looks like an oscilloscope - and graphically displays the energy coming down from your antenna (or cable system coax). Here we can easily see what the actual signal level is (typically measured in a decibel or dB level) ... as well as see if there's anything interfering with it (as in nearby transmissions, etc.)

BTW - up in the Springfield area ... using different boxes and antennas ... with the new WTIC-DT I can get anything from a detection of the channel but inability to tune it ... to the PSIP information that provides info on the channel (61.1) to a pretty decent (error free) signal.

Sorry for being so verbose - hope this helps!

one other thing to mention....I must have a good setup as I can usually receive CBS and FOX from NYC. So now, you are saying "whats the problem if you get FOX already?!?!?!"

FOX from NYC is not as reliable as CBS seems to be for me from NYC. I'd love to get it from CT and know I can pull in signals from Rattle Snake so when WVITDT goes online, I will get that as I have never pulled that in from the GE building in NYC.

scottte

It's funny you mention water as being helpful. With the same setup that I mentioned, if I point my antenna at NYC, I barely get CBS and I don't get a blip for FOX!! You are lucky that you get those channels from NY. In fact, I do have io from Cablevision because WFSB from CT isn't 100% reliable and I couldn't get FOX anywhere. Now with DirecTV getting CBS and with WTIC-DT and WVIT-DT coming on air soon, I can finally drop Cablevision altogether (of course I already get ABC, UPN, and WB from CT).

I am pointing my antenna about 25 degrees. I got so lucky. When I looked at the map of all the major stations broadcasting in CT, they are all lined up in a straight line from ABC in New Haven all the way to CBS in Hartford. The only reason I mentioned that I had my antenna on a 2 story house is because antennaweb.org asks if you have a single story house or multiple story house. So maybe it does make a diiference! Your setup totally sounds like you should be getting WTIC-DT. Keep playing with it, I'm sure you can get it. You are right, this hobby can drive you crazy, but that's what makes it so fun! :)

Good luck to you.

On my Zenith 230, WTIC shows up as 61-1, but on my Zenith 520s, it shows up on Chan 5 w/"WTICHD." Any idea on how to get the 520s to remap to 61-1? (Also, the pic on the 230 was all black w/out PSIP, but on the 520s it was all snow w/PSIP.)

Robert,

I would ignore the channel 5 altogether. Both my Samsung TS160 and Hughes E-86 had 5 listed as WTIC-DT with no mention of 61-1 and 31-1. Channel 5 makes no sense because it doesn't list a hyphenated sub-channel like a digital channel should. I reloaded my zip code on the Sammy then did a rescan last night and that brought 61-1 into my channels list. maybe that would work for you. For the Hughes, I just punched in 31-1 and it remapped to 61-1. It was that simple for that box.

Ralph

On ESPN, that $@#ing bottom line crawler that they insist on keeping on the screen is maddening. The worst part is, on the SD broadcast, it is as far down on the screen as possible. On ESPN HD though, it is one "line" up. What I mean is, there is screen space under the crawler that the crawler could fit in. Why can't they move it down so it' takes up a smaller percentage of the picture. Is this just my display, or do other people see it too?

That is your display screen geometry most likely. I worked in my service menu (not for the novice) to get mine to 5% overscan all the way around. A good calibrator could do this for you easily. With 5% overscan those lines are right at the bottom of the screen so you can read them and no space under them.

There is a problem that has developed with the feedline showing excessive reflected power, thus WTIC-DT is not able to get up to full power at the moment.:confused:

Originally posted by achase
There is a problem that has developed with the feedline showing excessive reflected power, thus WTIC-DT is not able to get up to full power at the moment.:confused:

Glad to hear that as I still cant see anything as of 5:30 pm on the shoreline in Milford!! Hopefully this will improve soon!!

scottte

Arnold,
At 5:35 channel 31 signal strength looks much like it did last night here in Mystic. Both receivers are getting a picture and sound tonight. Glad to see moving video. How long has the reflected power been high? What is the present power level? John

Anyone receiving Cable through a QUAM box from Telemedia? Just wondering if I would receive any digital channel if I bought one of the LG STB's. Does anyone know which STB Telemedia uses?

Thanks

Originally posted by JVanderwalker
I see above that ch20 (dt ch 12) is on the same tower as WTIC. I can only get a 20 on that signal. Are they (WTXX) at low power?
Jim

It is my understanding that both WTXX-DT and Tribune sister station WTIC-DT will not be at ultimate power until 2005. Both stations currently have their antennas temporarily mounted on the side of Mr. Chase's Rattlesnake Mountain broadcast tower in Farmington. WTXX-DT has their antenna pointed southwest toward Waterbury, their city of license.

In 2005 WTXX-DT and WTIC-DT will move their antennas off the side of the tower and join third tenant WEDH-DT (Connecticut Public Television) at the top in a "candelabra" that holds three antennas. Channel 12 (20) and Channel 31 (61) will then increase their power to the ultimate levels that they requested in their FCC applications.

The candelabra cannot be built until it's known what type of antenna CPTV will be using, and that can't be determined until the FCC selects the new channel number/frequency.

The FCC website shows that WTXX-DT "has been granted Special Temporary Authority to broadcast Digital Television with less than authorized or requested facilities..."

(MadPoet and fellow New London residents please take note)

I have spoken to three people today through the local (Groton) Comcast and finally talked with someone who said they are now giving out SA3250HD STB units to all HD digital box users but it is readilly appearant that they are _not_ calling those with the SA3100HD boxes (those who started before the SA3250HD was around) to ask if they want to upgrade.

But they did quickly offer to make an appointment to have the older box I have swapped out with the SA3250HD. The kicker is that you can not do the trad-in yourself at the local station, you need a tech to bring it to you. They didn't mention a charge and I forgot to ask. I will ask when I finalize the time/appointment.

The lady who gave me the most information did not know when they even started giving out the SA3250HD and wasn't too helpful with info on when the did the switch in STBs. I did ask if they have had any complaints or issues with the new version and she (of course) said "no". *Shrug* I'm going to give it a shot.

I just got home from work and put on 61-1 (WTIC-DT). I'm still getting 100% signal and I'm watching Everybody Loves Raymond (better than the color bars!). It's too bad there is nothing in Fox Widescreen tonight (damn reality shows).

I re-learned all the channels but I am not getting 31 in very well. It is very broken up...the reading goes from 75 down to 26 and is all over the place. I cant lock on the pick for more than a second or two. Is anyone else noticing this?

fitsman, dont feel bad...I still get nothing here in Milford....although, at least now my Hughes HTL thinks about 31 digital when I am trying to add it manually!!! Otherwise, if it saw nothing, it would just click right through immediately, now it thinks about it for about 3 seconds to see if it can lock on. I hope this is just some growing pains and will be worked out over a short period of time!!

scottte

Odd, I cannot change the aspect ratio of the OTA digital
stations except for WTIC-DT. Anyone have any idea why?

WTIC DT report:
I watched American Idol and only had one dropout for about a second during the hour. My TV thinks the channel is 43 formatted and the comericals look right displayed as 43. The show however is compressed horizontally with vertical letter boxing, expanding horizontally made the show look right, but the the comericals were streched horizontally. John52

Last night we were having trouble with our Tandberg ASI to SMPTE-310 converter. Our only choice was to put up bars to be FCC compliant with our March 1st deadline. We had Tandberg overnight us a loaner Tandberg box, while we ship back the box we purchased a couple months back for repair. This is the explanation of last nights bars. As far as the aspect ratio, I tried calling my engineer who built the up-conversion system all night but was unavailable. I think he tapped into the wrong spigot on the Fox receiver and that is why the aspect ratio was wrong. Tomorrow I'll get him to investigate what is going on with this and get it correct, I hope!
DJM
WTIC/WTXX TV

Originally posted by achase
There is a problem that has developed with the feedline showing excessive reflected power, thus WTIC-DT is not able to get up to full power at the moment.:confused:

Yes, SWR is high on WTIC-DT, I checked the heliax that we are feeding the antenna with and it was warm inside the building this evening. Also SWR is fluctuating. My RF expert from Harris who swept feedline and antenna this weekend before we put power to it found it quite satisfactory on Sunday. We suspect there may be some moisture cooking off inside from the high power. I am watching it closely to ensure it doesn't increase. In the meantime I'm ordering a section of waveguide from Dielectric so that we can look again at RF system farther back where we can adjust fine matchers to reduce reflected power on the transmitter.

I now have the distinct pleasure of stepping aside and deferring all WTIC and WTXX station related questions to Dean Malusky, the new Assistant Chief Engineer from those stations!

Dean can update you "first hand" as to what's going on with the station's technical situation. I'll revert back to just answering questions about the overall tower project itself.

WELCOME to AVS DEAN!!!

Originally posted by fitsman
That is your display screen geometry most likely. I worked in my service menu (not for the novice) to get mine to 5% overscan all the way around. A good calibrator could do this for you easily. With 5% overscan those lines are right at the bottom of the screen so you can read them and no space under them.

Thanks fitsman, I thought it was probably something in my setup. It makes that crawler that much more annoying! I have an X1 projector, there is an overscan setting for the 4:3 ratio but not 16:9. I'll have to do some investigating on how to get it adjusted.

Welcome Dean,

We appreciate you coming here and sharing info with us.

Dean/Arnold,

I am trying to use the signal from WTIC-DT on my antenna as a guage for eventual signals from WFSB-DT (when at full power) and WVIT-DT when they come on line. I know you both don't have inside info on those other two stations, but can you compare the height and power of the current transmitter from WTIC-DT with what you know about the height and power of what the other two will be at? Thanks.

Dean,

I receive your analog signal well for WTIC, but I am not receiving the digital signal at all yet in Milford on the shoreline. Do you think this will be corrected in the days to come?? I have a channel master 4228 with a channel master 7777 amp. Let me know if you feel your signal should be spread out to the shoreline efficiently, thanks!!!

scottte

As the night went on, the picture seemed to lock better, but every once and a while it would break up for a few seconds and lock back in. I could see the signal strength go down to the 20's and then right back up to 70. My antenna is in the attic so its not the wind. Hopfully it was just tweeking on the part of WTIC.

With all of the new stations coming online, is an antenna with a rotor still a requirement for the Hartford area? I'll I'm looking for is the 4 major stations (Fox, NBC, ABC, and CBS). Anything else is bonus. I ask because I'm leaning strongly towards Voom, and the antenna they put up isn't going to cut it if I need a rotor :). If I've got to go bck up and put a better antenna in, that's fine. I just want to be prepared for it.

-MP

A while back I mapped out the locations of the various stations' towers. Maybe this will help you figure out if you need a rotator.

Andy

Excellent map, thank you. Looks like I will need a rotor :)

Madpoet,
The answer to your question is not completly in yet. If you contact VOOM let us know what they think your receiption will be like. It will depend a lot on your exact location in Mystic. The three UHF stations are in the same direction. WTNH is quite a few degrees south of Hartford. One solution is to use seperate UHF and VHF antennas. We are about 50 miles from all the transmitter towers so don't expect a strong signal in any case. My house is 200 feet above sea level, there is absolutly no sign of WFSB DT at its present power level. WTIC DT comes in pretty solidly so far but I am sure some days propagation will be unkind and it will fade. I think most Mystic locations will receive Providence better than Hartford when all stations are on the air. John

Sorry, it's actually for the house I am moving into in Manchester. So I've got a pretty wide swing to get all 4 major networks. I'm going to let Voom install whatever they install (I've been told it is either a Stealth or something similar) and then probably replace it if I have to. After all, theirs is free :).

Hey Guys,

Newbie here. I got the fusion 3 hdtv card and wanted to shot for some ota channels. I was able to get ABC in with a radio shack hdtv indoor antenna. And a few other channels in low signal, below 20%. I live in Danbury area. So I think if I went with a larger outdoor antenna I will be able to pick a few of the channels.

What I like to know is who lives close to me and has had good luck getting different channels and what antenna do you use. Right now the radio shack antenna is going back, at this point i know i need a larger one, most likely outdoor roof mounted.

Any help would be appreciated. I'll go back and read through some of the posts later for more info.

Thanks,
MI

Originally posted by madpoet
Sorry, it's actually for the house I am moving into in Manchester.

madpoet:

I live in manchester and get all four majors plus wgbh and whatever UPN is without using a rotor. rooftop stealth antenna.

Really? That's very encouraging. The antenna Voom gives out for free is the Stealth 3010. Do you use any kind of amp? What direction do you point it?

Like Scotte, I am in Milford near the town center with a CM 4228 and CM preamp getting very good analog reception on WTIC analog, but nothing from WTIC-DT. I tried several times Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evening as well as around 7AM this morning.

Had Voom installed today. Can't get anything ota. The installer said it is a mapping issue with reciever. Live in Bethlehem, He said I should at least get channel 8 the way he pointed antenna. His job was only to install dish and get signal, didnt want to spend the time to get ota fixed. Cost him his tip.

Ouch... that's not a good thing :(.

Dean - Relative to WTXX-DT picture, can you switch to 480P for SD? This is what WTNH did and it results in a much better looking picture than 480I strecthed to fill the wider aspect ratio. All of us receiving digital signals also have our local stations through some other method, SAT or Cable. A 480P signal offers us a much better picture than we can get through SAT or Cable.

Pete

I don't know if this could cause a PSIP issue with some STBs, so I'll throw it out here just in case.

Last night I had to do a channel scan on my DTC100 to get WTIC-DT to show up in the channel list. Previously I had an analog (WPXN, NY) mapped into channel 31, so punching in 31-1 only resulted in a "weak signal" message from the STB. The channel scan solved that, and I get WTIC-DT fine now (in fact it's great - thanks Dean and WTIC), but...

WTIC analog now shows up in my channel list with a text ID like the digitals normally do. I would think some "feature" in WTIC-DT's PSIP stream is doing this. I have been using this STB for over three years and have never seen this "feature" before on any other station.

Dean, you may want to check on this.

----
Paul - N2PL

Originally posted by WMullen
Like Scotte, I am in Milford near the town center with a CM 4228 and CM preamp getting very good analog reception on WTIC analog, but nothing from WTIC-DT. I tried several times Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evening as well as around 7AM this morning.

For what ever its worth, glad to hear it!!! Now I know I wont fool around with my antenna at all. Do you get FOX from NYC?? PM me if you wish, good luck!!!

scottte

Wmullen,

What type of stb do you have?? Is it a Hughes HTL by any chance as that is what I have and wondering if it has anything to do with tha for some strange reason.

scottte

Originally posted by MI_CT

What I like to know is who lives close to me and has had good luck getting different channels and what antenna do you use. Right now the radio shack antenna is going back, at this point i know i need a larger one, most likely outdoor roof mounted.

Any help would be appreciated. I'll go back and read through some of the posts later for more info.

Thanks,
MI

MI-

I live in nearby Newtown and have struggled for the past year in receiving OTA digital channels. I've gone as far as a roof mounted antenna with a 15ft mast. The only reliable channels, even with that, were WTNH, WEDW and WCTX. No chance of getting WFSB (cough - sucks - cough) or the NYC stations. (In Danbury, you may have a better shot at the NYC stations.)

I've taken down my roof mount and now have the antennae in the attic and still get all 3 stations above very reliably. I have a Blake JBX21WB for the UHF channels and a small Radio Shack VHF antenna (for WTNH). I also have a Channel Master 7777 pre-amp. My receiver is a Samsung SIR-T150.

Sorry I don't have better news but hopefully WTIC and WVIT will be on line soon.

Thanks bfogelstrom,

Atleast i know not to go too crazy with roof mounted antennas. I'll have to look at the model you listed and where did you buy the equipment. As for my hdtv receiver im using a htpc with fusion III gold hdtv card. The channels i was able to get were 10, 39 and 52. With the last two only getting 2-6 db. 10 with the radio shack antenna i was able to get 18db for 10.

Thnks,
MI

I reran chan scans on my two Zenith 520s. They now both show Chan.5 "WTICHD" w/PSIP, but no pic, and Chan. 35 "WVITHD" w/PSIP, but no pic. All other stations mapped correctly, and they mapped correctly on my Zenith 230. I did a hard reset (unplug) on both. Any ideas what's happening, or how to get the stations to map correctly? Soungs like a return to LG to me.

Originally posted by Robert Whitehead
I reran chan scans on my two Zenith 520s. They now both show Chan.5 "WTICHD" w/PSIP, but no pic, and Chan. 35 "WVITHD" w/PSIP, but no pic. All other stations mapped correctly, and they mapped correctly on my Zenith 230. I did a hard reset (unplug) on both. Any ideas what's happening, or how to get the stations to map correctly? Soungs like a return to LG to me.

Same thing on my Sony HD-200. Just hide channel 5. Looks like WVIT-DT
will be on the air soon so leave channel 35. WTIC-DT is live on channel 31,
which remaps to 61.1

Originally posted by raoul5788
Same thing on my Sony HD-200. .... WTIC-DT is live on channel 31,
which remaps to 61.1

Ditto...
My Sony HD-200 finally picked up 61.1 this evening. Now we wait until 9pm
for "The OC" which is suppose to be in Fox Widescreen.

Originally posted by madpoet
Really? That's very encouraging. The antenna Voom gives out for free is the Stealth 3010. Do you use any kind of amp? What direction do you point it?

That is the antenna I have. It is mounted on a mast on the 2nd story of a cape. No amp. Weakest signal is from WGBH. Direction...hmm...gonna need to track down a compass but from the looks of antennaweb.org it's between 300 and 320 degrees.

I finally got WTICDT here in Milford, but it is weak. I cant give any measurement as my Hughes HTL does not have an ota meter. But the weird thing is, my antenna should be facing about 30 degrees, however, it is coming in while pointed at 150 degrees!!! Some serious reflection from somewhere!! Maybe this is what was referred to yesterday as a problem.
Hopefully it keeps improving over the days and weeks as it not really watchable for me with a good deal of pixelation, but just a FYI to those having trouble getting it, try pointing your antenna in crazy directions to get it in!!!

scottte

Enterprise is in HD! The video looks good, but it is jerky once in a while.

WTIC on Long Island

Watching American Idol right now. The signal is 75-85, very strong. Still getting the aspect ratio problem as stated earlier. A couple of dropouts during the show. Happy to see ya :)

I've been following this thread for a few days now. Condo + basement ht + Cox cable = screwed.

I heard from a somewhat reliable source that Cox should have WFSB-DT and WVIT-DT within the next 2 to 3 weeks. Not throwing my antenna away yet, but getting closer.

Originally posted by scottte
I finally got WTICDT here in Milford, but it is weak. I cant give any measurement as my Hughes HTL does not have an ota meter. But the weird thing is, my antenna should be facing about 30 degrees, however, it is coming in while pointed at 150 degrees!!! Some serious reflection from somewhere!! Maybe this is what was referred to yesterday as a problem.
Hopefully it keeps improving over the days and weeks as it not really watchable for me with a good deal of pixelation, but just a FYI to those having trouble getting it, try pointing your antenna in crazy directions to get it in!!!

scottte

This is exactly how I feel about WTNH, it is such a might not station. Might come in, might not. Just too far away I guess.

I am only about 35 mile from Rattle Snake by way the crow flies. I am also on a high elevation here on the shoreline with a cm4228 cm 7777 amp, I am still convinced it is something on their end. Will just have to wait it out and see how WVIT DT comes in (hopefully soon!!!0

scottte

Aspect ratio is still all screwed up. OC was stretched vertically.

schmitter, Thanks.

What about Fox and ABC? These are critical for football. Also, my wife would love to see American Idol on Fox.

Originally posted by schmitter
This is exactly how I feel about WTNH, it is such a might not station. Might come in, might not. Just too far away I guess. This is good news, I hope you're right!!

Originally posted by Crescent
schmitter, Thanks.

What about Fox and ABC? These are critical for football. Also, my wife would love to see American Idol on Fox.

My source says that the WTNH is a little more difficult to deal with, and didn't have any update at all on WTIC.

If I read between the lines, it looks like the most co-operation, on both sides, comes when there are impending major events, like lets just say for example March Madness.

Schmitter

After a lot of help from a different forum I am making progress. I have most of the channels listed in the guide now. Having trouble getting the PBS channel from Bridgeport listed in the guide. If you can't get it to list there is no way to manually add it or scan for it. I am picking up WTNH AND WCTX with no problem here in Bethlehem. I hooked up stealth antenna to analog input on TV to make sure it was working and got really nervous I wasn't going to get anything as everything was extremely snowy. WCTX analog wasn't watchable with stealth. Amazing difference in digital picture. As I never saw OTA digital before was blown away. Even sd picture is great. Watched a little bit of Enterprise last night- WOW. Am going to put up bigger antenna to see if I can get Hartford stations. According to antennaweb I am only 20 miles from tower. I would of thought farther but i Guess that is because I can't drive straight there. :)

Originally posted by shizno
That is the antenna I have. It is mounted on a mast on the 2nd story of a cape. No amp. Weakest signal is from WGBH. Direction...hmm...gonna need to track down a compass but from the looks of antennaweb.org it's between 300 and 320 degrees.

Thanks Shizno. I'm letting them put it up and see what I get. I don't have much hope, and am ready to go to a bigger antenna/rotor if I have to.

-MP

Originally posted by PaulL
I don't know if this could cause a PSIP issue with some STBs, so I'll throw it out here just in case.

Last night I had to do a channel scan on my DTC100 to get WTIC-DT to show up in the channel list. Previously I had an analog (WPXN, NY) mapped into channel 31, so punching in 31-1 only resulted in a "weak signal" message from the STB. The channel scan solved that, and I get WTIC-DT fine now (in fact it's great - thanks Dean and WTIC), but...

WTIC analog now shows up in my channel list with a text ID like the digitals normally do. I would think some "feature" in WTIC-DT's PSIP stream is doing this. I have been using this STB for over three years and have never seen this "feature" before on any other station.

Dean, you may want to check on this.

----
Paul - N2PL

You know I have the same thing happenning on my receiver. I'm also using a DTC-100.
I will check around to see what this is all about.

Dean-n1ety

I can't get WTIC-DT on my Samsung. Works fine on my Mits/Hughs STB and my HiPix. I did a rescan and punched in the numbers manually to no avail. Any other Samsung 160 owners getting Fox61-DT?

I can't get WVIT on my Samsung 160 either. I tried to rescan, etc. The only WTIC it like is the fake one on Ch 5.

Originally posted by n1ety
You know I have the same thing happenning on my receiver. I'm also using a DTC-100. I will check around to see what this is all about. Hi Dean - thanks for joining the forum - and glad to see you guys on!

Using a HiPix card and PC at WWLP in Chicopee (and a VHF antenna) you're coming in with a whopping signal between 75 and 77 (never seen anything over 84). Looks great - absolutely no continuity errors.

I'm seeing PID 0x0020 WTIC-DT, with PID 21 having MPEG-2 video 720 x 480i, 14.990 Mbps, 4:3 ratio and 4:2:0 chroma format. Also seeing two audio streams at PID 24 and 25 - both look the same as 192 kbps AC3 streams, 48 KHz sample rate stereo. Both audio PID's indicate English - though I didn't try to tune in the second audio channel to see if there was anything on it. (If PID 25 is a SAP type program for Spanish you may want to change the encoder's language?!)

In the TVCT PID (0x1FFB) I see two channels defined:

2 WTIC-DT
Channel 2
Service name: WTIC-DT
Transport Stream ID: 513 (0x0201)
Channel Number: 61.1
Carrier Frequency: 0
Modulation Mode: ATSC (8 VSB)
Extended Channel Name: WTIC-DT connecticut's Fox Digital


65535 WTIC-DT
Channel 65535
Service name: WTIC-TV
Transport Stream ID: 512 (0x0200)
Channel Number: 61.0
Carrier Frequency: 0
Modulation Mode: Analog
Extended Channel Name: WTIV-TV61

I've never seen a channel number encoded like 65535 - that's all bits on. Maybe that's what is causing some problems for some boxes?

R P McCormick W1QA

Anyone using the SquareShooter Model SS-1000 antenna in CT? If so with what results?

Thnks,
mi

I can't get WTIC-DT on my Samsung. Works fine on my Mits/Hughs STB and my HiPix. I did a rescan and punched in the numbers manually to no avail. Any other Samsung 160 owners getting Fox61-DT?

Such,

I reloaded my primary air zipcode and did a rescan with my Sammy TS160 and I'm picking up 61-1 with no problems. My Hughes E-86 will not remap to 61-1 though. I'm bringing it in on 31-1 after the rescan. Maybe I'll try a soft reboot on the Hughes tonight.

No program data on either channel on either box. :mad:

Dean,

The way I understand is that you will not be at "full" power untill 2005, but are you at what would be considered maximum power for now???

scottte

Yes we are.

Welcome Dean!

I am receiving WTIC-DT as well and it looks great. I am only a few miles from Rattlesnake so I'm not a very good case study for signal strength. (I can see the tower lights through the trees in my back yard.)

Is there any word on getting the programming information to DirecTV for channels 31-1 and 61-1? Both channels read "Regular Schedule". Channel 5 on the other hand, has station information for WTIC-DT and all the correct programming information.

Arbee, I never checked 61-1 on the Samsung, maybe just entering that in manually will get the channel. Hopefully they will get the program info stuff straightened out, I did finally get someone's attention at WWLP re:22-3 programming info, hopefully that will be corrected soon. I'll chase the guys at Fox as well.

61-1 @ 100% :)

Anyone know what the status of WTIC-DT is? Should I still be trying to receive it?

Got a question for some of the engineers out there.....

I am still receiving 61-1 with a crazy compass reading on my rotor, but after looking at my antenna and my house I am wondering if there is an explaination here. My antenna is on my attached single story garage roof. When I point towards NYC, I get some channels very well that way with no obstructions. Now, when I point up towards Rattle Snake I am pointing directly on the top edge of the roof line of my neighbors house (only 20 feet away, small lot!!!) Now I get WTNH GREAT since it is closer as well as WCTX, but when I point my antenna anywhere from 150-160 I am pointing at the 2nd level of my 2 story house (vinyl siding) Now I am not 180 degrees out of phase as that would be about 210 on my rotor as 30 should be about right for me to get Rattle Snake Mountain. My question is, is the siding on my house acting as a great reflector back at my antenna??? If so, do you guys thing raising the antenna 8 feet or so would take care of my issue??? Thanks for the help and any advice!!!

scottte

WVIT-DT, channel 35-1, is on the air. I'm getting a 100 signal strength here in Prospect.

WOW!!! Cant wait to get home and try getting WVIT!! Great to hear!!!!

Originally posted by Such
Arbee, I never checked 61-1 on the Samsung, maybe just entering that in manually will get the channel. Hopefully they will get the program info stuff straightened out, I did finally get someone's attention at WWLP re:22-3 programming info, hopefully that will be corrected soon. I'll chase the guys at Fox as well.

Such,

I think I tried punching in both 31-1 and 61-1 on the Sammy with no results. It was only after a reload of the zipcode and rescan did it come on. Punching in 31-1 on the Hughes worked, but 61-1 did not, and I can't get it to remap to 61-1. Did a soft reboot last night and nothing changed.

Do you have any WTIC-DT programming info on either of your boxes?

I saw the post from Robert McCormick about 22-3. Hopefullly that will get straightened out soon.

scottte,

Is 35-1 remapping to anything?

No programming info for WTIC. It might be on 5-1 on the Sammy, but I don't remember. I'll try the zip-code re-enter & see what happens. Thanks for the tip.

WVIT mapped to 30-1 for me.

There was a question on the last page about pointing an antenna in one direction w/out a rotor. I have a roof mounted CM UHF/VHF antenna w/rotor, and no amp. In West Hartford w/an elevation of about 0 feet and the antenna pointed to 250 degrees, I get the following digital stations w/strong signals: 3, 8, 20, 22, 30, 57 and 61. The direction is perfect for 24 whenever it starts. The only station I couldn't get was 40, which isn't HD anyway.

Excellent, 35.1 is coming in strong here.

Go figure. I get WTXX and WTIC fine - signal in the 80's but WVIT signal bounces from 0 to 53 and isn't locking on. Aren't they all on the same mountain? I wonder what gives.

I am in Fall River MA,about 90 miles from WVIT and WTIC.I am getting a good signal from WVIT-DT,a bout 70% on my HD-300.Iam unable to receive WTIC-DT at all.On the other hand I get absolutely no signal from WVIT channel 30 but I get a good analog signal from WTIC 61.Go figure.!

Is WCTX at full power? I get WTNH at about 90-95% and WTCX at about 55-60% only some days. Other days, not at all. They are co-located. Called the station and can't get the engineer to call me back. bfogelstrom how is your signal strength if you get it at all.

Originally posted by Bfadams
Is WCTX at full power? I get WTNH at about 90-95% and WTCX at about 55-60% only some days. Other days, not at all.

Enterprise HD (or, what they are calling HD) crapped-out on me on Wednesday night. I could not get their signal at all about 45 minutes into it. Had to watch the balance on their analog channel. :mad:

WVIT is coming in at 100 percent in Downtown Springfield. It does stutter every now and then.

I am getting WVIT DT very well. I am basing that on the fact that I can rotate my antenna almost 180 degrees and only have pixelation, not total loss of signal. I have no OTA meter, but when I point it towards rattle snake mountain, it is rock solid!! Proof now that WTIC is either a weaker signal, and/or simply lower on the mast. Anybody know the height differential of the two??

scottte

Originally posted by Bfadams
Is WCTX at full power? I get WTNH at about 90-95% and WTCX at about 55-60% only some days. Other days, not at all. They are co-located. Called the station and can't get the engineer to call me back. bfogelstrom how is your signal strength if you get it at all.

bfadams-

I'm getting WCTX-DT fine here in Newtown. I don't have a signal strength meter so I can't give you a relative level but on the Samsung SIR-T150 it's about the same strength as WTNH-DT. The real good news is that as of today I'm now getting WVIT-DT nice and clear, the same as the other 2 channels. I just re-positioned my Blake JBX-21WB to 45 degrees from 60 degrees and that also helped the reception of WCTX. The antenna is in my attic.

WVIT-DT has a great picture, no dropouts and no audio sync problems. It took long enough, but they got it right.

No signal from WTIC-DT yet.

And.... WFSB still sucks! :D (had to add that!)

I am pulling in 3.1 (WFSBDT) 8.1 (WTNHDT) 20.1 (WTXXDT) 59.1 (WCTXDT) 61.1 (WTICDT). I still cannot pull in WVITDT on my Zenith 520, even when rescanning - has their signal been constantly available??

Current over-the-air digital reception with a small, arc-shaped Terk antenna clipped onto satellite dish that is fed into a Dish Network 811 receiver in East Windsor, CT (just south of where Interstate 91 crosses the Connecticut River):

Channel 35-01, WVIT, 88-91% (on signal strength meter)

Channel 31-01, WTIC, 87-89%

Channel 46-01, WUVN, 83-85%

Channel 22-03, WWLP, 79-81%

Channels 33-01 & -02, WFSB, 78-80%

Channel 20-01, WTXX, 74-75%

Channel 8-02, WTNH, 61-63% - mostly unwatchable (constant pixelation)

Channel 39-01, WCTX, 60% - mostly unwatchable (constant pixelation)

Channel 58-01, or Channels 57-01,-02,-03, & -04, WGBY, 49% - too low to lock onto signal. The station's chief engineer e-mailed me today that this Springfield, Mass PBS affiliate has lately been operating its digital transmitter at half power. A power supply part had to be sent out for repairs. He hopes to have WGBY-DT back to full power next week.

Hartford receiption in Mystic.
I can get both WTIC and WVIT's digital signal. I need to aim a few degrees off from Hartford to slightly attenuate WHPX on channel 34. On my old spectrum analyze WVIT is about 15 dB stronger here than WTIC, but at this antenna heading, WHPX is 40 dB stronger than WVIT. Still no sign of WFSB on channel 33. John

Anyone getting 5.1 on WVIT-DT?

I got a 100 on WVIT up here. It's like Christmas with 2 rollouts this week!
Jim

Only 2.0 no 5.1 for me on WVIT

I have WVIT-DT at 100% here on Long Island. Third Watch looks great in HD. It is in 2.0, I don't think NBC does 5.1, please correct me if I'm wrong. Now if only WTIC-DT can resolve the display issues, I will finally be able to get all major channels OTA.

Originally posted by scottte
I am getting WVIT DT very well. I am basing that on the fact that I can rotate my antenna almost 180 degrees and only have pixelation, not total loss of signal. I have no OTA meter, but when I point it towards rattle snake mountain, it is rock solid!! Proof now that WTIC is either a weaker signal, and/or simply lower on the mast. Anybody know the height differential of the two??

scottte

Mind if I ask what box you are using? I have a Samsung 160 here in Milford, and I can see WVITDT listed in my guide, but it comes in as channel 35 (no hyphenated version, so Im guessing analog), and all I get is snow. Did several re-scans, but still dont seem to get it.

Any ideas?

-Chris

Enterprise HD (or, what they are calling HD) crapped-out on me on Wednesday night. I could not get their signal at all about 45 minutes into it. Had to watch the balance on their analog channel.

Hey Bob,

WCTX-DT was good for me on Wenesday. Only one dropout during Enterprise. It had been pretty crappy over the previous few weeks.

WVIT-DT is coming in very well, but no program info. Everything reads regular schedule. WTIC-DT is also coming in great. Can't believe I have to wait almost four weeks for 24! :mad:

WVIT HDTV

Just watched the Tonight Show on WVIT in HDTV. Picture was great, just a couple of dropouts. They must have been testing. You could see the name on Jay Keno's pen (Sharpie) in his left hand.

Dorran

Originally posted by chrisexv6
Mind if I ask what box you are using? I have a Samsung 160 here in Milford, and I can see WVITDT listed in my guide, but it comes in as channel 35 (no hyphenated version, so Im guessing analog), and all I get is snow. Did several re-scans, but still dont seem to get it.

Any ideas?

-Chris


Try adding 35-1 manually. I had my hughes do a search of all signals on 35 and it found 35-1 and remapped it to 30-1!! Good Luck!!

scottte

With my 160 I'm getting WVIT at 90%, WTIC at 100%, WTNH at 90%, and WFSB at 70%. My antenna is in my attic just leaned up against the trusses. I guess I've got all the majors with one antenna location. Unfortunately I no longer get WTXX which used to come in at 100% with my set top antenna. No WCTX either; not even a blip.

WVIT came in last night at 92% here on the North Fork of Long Island. Third Watch was excellent, although I thought that they dropped the HD signal about 50 minutes into the show. The Tonight show was unbelievable. Well worth the wait.

I also got a chance to watch CPTV. Innovations was the name of the show, I believe. Outstanding PQ.

OK, here is the deal. A free trade agreement. Since we are getting your HD signals very well here on Long Island, we won't get mad at all the Connecticut boaters that take all the good anchor spots anymore. ;)

Thanks again to our northern neighbors.

Originally posted by dorran
WVIT HDTV

Just watched the Tonight Show on WVIT in HDTV. Picture was great, just a couple of dropouts. They must have been testing. You could see the name on Jay Keno's pen (Sharpie) in his left hand.

Dorran

I hate to tell you but there were no dropouts. It must be your equipment or antenna.

For all those complainig about not receiving this ot that station I have advise.
If you want all stations you need antenna rotor as almost all stations come from different locations here in CT.

I have a rotor and no problem receiving any station as long aa they transmit with decent power. The only station I do not get is WFSB but that is because their power is so low that light bulb would be stronger.

Originally posted by scottte
Try adding 35-1 manually. I had my hughes do a search of all signals on 35 and it found 35-1 and remapped it to 30-1!! Good Luck!!

scottte

Unless something changed that I dont know about, the Samsung was never able to really add a channel manually. You can reboot it after setting to "no dish" and then tune the channel you are looking for, but Ive tried that and all I get on 35-1 is a couple seconds of black screen, then the info turns from Digital to Analog, and then I get analog snow.

Id really hate to be SOL because of the way Samsung designed the box. Originally I didnt think it would be an issue for me, but now it just might be.

-Chris

Originally posted by CKNA
For all those complainig about not receiving this ot that station I have advise.
If you want all stations you need antenna rotor as almost all stations come from different locations here in CT.

Hmmmm, would it still be needed if, say, I had a difference of 45 degrees from one tower (Rattlesnake) to the other (Avon Mountain)?

Both are within 40 miles, as the crow flies, of my location (Lots of tall trees, the antenna would not clear them from the roof with ~5' of mast). Any suggestions as to antenna, rotator and preamp (if needed) and mounting options? I do have a dish, a chimney and a roof that is accessible.

I am becoming more intrigued about OTA, already have the 6000u from Dish with the OTA module. I have just been biding my time waiting for more content.

With WVIT-DT and WTIC-DT now online and strong (yea!), albeit in different channel positions, is there an easy way to streamline the program guide? The WTIC-DT info is on channel 5, WVIT-DT on channel 35 .. . while I'm at it, also get WWLP-DT on 22-3 but the channel guide info is on 22-1.

Is there a simple way to get the guide info attached to the appropriate channel? ( I have an HTL-HD )

Is anyhting broadcast on 8-1? I just started getting WTNH and I only get broadcasting on 8-2; but a signal on both. Is there sontinuous broadcast on both?

Originally posted by intarch
while I'm at it, also get WWLP-DT on 22-3 but the channel guide info is on 22-1. Is there a simple way to get the guide info attached to the appropriate channel? ( I have an HTL-HD ) Depends on where the guide information comes from! Not sure what an HTL-HD is ... but if the guide info comes from DirecTV ... we're working on getting that specific issue resolved (no program information for 22.3).

R P McCormick
WWLP TV22
WWLP-DT
Springfield MA

I'm new to this but I could really use some help. I have been unable to receive any of the DT signals other than WTNH. I am using an attic mounted Channel Master 3020 with rotor and Model 3041DSB amp, I also have a Sony HD300 Sat receiver. From day one of the install I have received WTNH with a strong signal. I live on the Southington side of Bristol with Redstone Hill directly behind my house (right down the street from ESPN), could the hill be causing that much interference. I don't even see a blip on the signal meter for WVIT, WTIC, or WFSB and they are closer to me than WTNH. I tried unplugging the amp and still nothing. Please help.

-Tom

Have you done a re-scan for digital channels?? I have a Zenith HD520 which I got last year. I live on the Cheshire side of Southington, we have Meriden mountain off in the distance. With amplified rabbit ears I have been able to get WFSB, WTNH, WCTX, WTXX, WTIC. Maybe use the rotor to re-direct the antenna and do a digital channel scan. I was unable to pull WVIT until I fiddled with the position of the antenna and re-scanned a couple times and it finally locked on. If that doesn't work maybe its the hill. I never had a problem getting WTNH either. I am not sure where their antenna is, perhaps it is south from here and is not being impeded by any hills etc.

I have been blessed with another major!

After nothing with my channel master 8 bow (only WTNH (ABC) and WB (bleck)), I move it 10 feet in the attic and I get WVIT (NBC) @ 100%! Same direction maybe slightly different angle.

Looks like I'm getting WFSB-DT (FOX) too weak to view but no WTIC-DT (CBS)...

That would be great to get the 4 majors.

Oh, btw, I'm in on Great Hill in Seymour.

Unless something changed that I dont know about, the Samsung was never able to really add a channel manually. You can reboot it after setting to "no dish" and then tune the channel you are looking for, but Ive tried that and all I get on 35-1 is a couple seconds of black screen, then the info turns from Digital to Analog, and then I get analog snow.

Chris,

I've been able to add these two new channels on my Sammy TS160 by first reloading my zip code (the dish will aquire new gide data) and then following up with a digital channel rescan. Then all you have to do is add the channels to your profile's channel list. Worked for me on both occasions. Give it a try. GOOD LUCK!

For all those complainig about not receiving this ot that station I have advise. If you want all stations you need antenna rotor as almost all stations come from different locations here in CT.

I agree. For me WFSB-DT, WTIC-DT, WTXX-DT and WVIT-DT are at one end of the antenna rotation, the Springfield stations are near the middle of the rotation, and the WTNH-DT and WCTX-DT are at the opposite end of the rotation. Without the rotor. I'd get four channels max. With it I get nearly everything from Springfield to New Haven. The only channels in CT I can't get are WHPX-DT in New London and the two PBS stations WEDN-DT and WEDW-DT from southern most CT.

Originally posted by AreBee
The only channels in CT I can't get are WHPX-DT in New London and the two PBS stations WEDN-DT and WEDW-DT from southern most CT. WEDN - where the N is for Norwich ... is really in Bozrah. Its just a bit east of the intersections of routes 2 & 11 in Colchester if that helps you any. (I'd guess by five or six miles.) Its also up on a pretty good hill as well ...

I think someone earlier in this thread put up a pretty good map of the CT station transmitter locations ... and antennaweb also can give you a pretty good idea on distance and directions. If you can indicate sometihng about your general location - I can see if I can also help you with looking at what's between you can the CPTV outlets.

Still wondering if anyone knows the transmission difference of WVITDT And WTICDT???? I get WVITDT very well here on the shore about 35 miles from rattle snake mnt. But WTIC is not as good, sometimes not really coming in at all. Is WVITDT on top of the antenna mast where as WTICDT maybe lower????? Just wondering since they are coming from same structure, thanks!!

scottte

For all those complainig about not receiving this ot that station I have advise. If you want all stations you need antenna rotor as almost all stations come from different locations here in CT.

Where I live 3 stations are southwest, and 3 are west of me. I have been able to get channel 10 (abc) from new haven using a VHF antenna and a combiner that filers out all other stations from that antenna except 10 and combines it with a larger VHF/UHF yaggi (both in my attic) that is pointed west to the rest. This way I am able to get ABC, FOX, CBS, and NBC without a rotor (no room in the attic to spin the antenna). If I get another combiner for channel 6 I should have PBS, but I am not that interested in that...I can wait for channel 24 to go digital.

All I need to do is figure out how to combine another UHF that can get UPN from new haven and combine it with my other two without huring the signal for the 2 UHF stations coming from the west. My new HD Tivo is coming soon and I cannot have a rotor and expect that to work.

Originally posted by scottte
Still wondering if anyone knows the transmission difference of WVITDT And WTICDT???? I get WVITDT very well here on the shore about 35 miles from rattle snake mnt. But WTIC is not as good, sometimes not really coming in at all. Is WVITDT on top of the antenna mast where as WTICDT maybe lower????? Just wondering since they are coming from same structure, thanks!!

scottte

WVIT and WTIC are on different towers on Rattlesnake Mountain. WVIT has their DT antenna side mounted at the top of their 1,129' tower. WTIC-DT is temporarily operating from a lower gain antenna at about the 800' level of a 1,339' tower.

Originally posted by achase
WVIT and WTIC are on different towers on Rattlesnake Mountain. WVIT has their DT antenna side mounted at the top of their 1,129' tower. WTIC-DT is temporarily operating from a lower gain antenna at about the 800' level of a 1,339' tower.

Well, that explains it!! About 329' difference and lower power, makes sense now!!! I guess thought that the situation for WTICDT wont change for a year so, right???

scottte

Originally posted by scottte
Well, that explains it!! About 329' difference and lower power, makes sense now!!! I guess thought that the situation for WTICDT wont change for a year so, right???

scottte

Actually the difference is about 539' (or to put it into perspective, greater than the ENTIRE height of the WFSB tower!). Unfortunately your estimate of the timing is correct.

Originally posted by fitsman


All I need to do is figure out how to combine another UHF that can get UPN from new haven and combine it with my other two without huring the signal for the 2 UHF stations coming from the west. My new HD Tivo is coming soon and I cannot have a rotor and expect that to work.

Fitsman, can you get UPN if you play with the antennas? What kind of trap did you use, and where did you get it? In Manchester I can just barely get WTNH, and I was only able to see one frame on CTX, then it was gone forever. Like you, I would prefer not to have to rotate the antenna, and am not opposed to stacking antennas on the same mount, if I can filter them properly.

If I point my main antenna to Springfield, I get WVIT, WTXX, WFSB, WTIC, WWLP, WGBY and WGGB, all without having to rotate my antenna.

The FCC's web site has info on TV stations here
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WTIC-TV
The call letters can be changed to check another station.
WTIC is probably operating on the DS which puts the antenna at 368 meters above sea level and the power at 470 watts eirp. WVIT has a CP for the antenna at 532 meters withe the power at 250 watts. If either is incorrect we would need to hear from the ststion operators. John

Fitsman, can you get UPN if you play with the antennas? What kind of trap did you use, and where did you get it? In Manchester I can just barely get WTNH, and I was only able to see one frame on CTX, then it was gone forever. Like you, I would prefer not to have to rotate the antenna, and am not opposed to stacking antennas on the same mount, if I can filter them properly.

If I point my main antenna to Springfield, I get WVIT, WTXX, WFSB, WTIC, WWLP, WGBY and WGGB, all without having to rotate my antenna.

I have not tried to get UPN. Only my VHF antenna is pointed that way. I get WTNH pretty strong now with the yaggi style VHF antenna from Radio shack. The trap I use is from Channel Master. It has 2 inputs. Once for just channel 10 and the other from another antenna. It drops 10 from the other antenna and blocks all other channels from the antenna that is in the channel 10 input. That way you do not get any ghosting from two antennas trying to bring in the same station. I wanted to get another that does channel 6 and I can get PBS from New Haven. But I cannot find a filter that will let me get just 39 and not block out other stations close to it like channel 35.

I have a left over UHF antenna that I want to point to new haven and join it with the other UHF. I think they are pointed in different enough directions that it just might work.

Originally posted by fitsman
I wanted to get another that does channel 6 and I can get PBS from New Haven.You may want to check with CPTV. Indeed they have a channel 6 allocation for their New Haven station. But I am under the impression that they have not done anything with it. With the FM protection issues, etc. they may choose not to come up on 6. Anyone have any details?But I cannot find a filter that will let me get just 39 and not block out other stations close to it like channel 35.Depends on how much attenuation you want/need. There's over 20 MHz between 35 and 39 (each channel is 6 MHz wide) so it shouldn't be too difficult to come up with bandpass and/or bandstop filters. I can see if I can find a vendor for such stuff - but someone who's involved with the cable industry may be better suited to help out here.

Originally posted by ctdish
The FCC's web site has info on TV stations here
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WTIC-TV
WTIC ... power at 470 watts eirp. WVIT ... power at 250 watts.
Well - those are kilo-watts, not watts :D ... and the effective radiated power type of watts at that! ERP is basically computed by taking the output of the transmitter, subtracting the loss of the feedline and transmission system and adding in the effective gain of the antenna.

Many (most?!) stations transmit with some kind of a directional antenna as well - which is something you may want to take into consideration when looking at this information. On the URL you listed there's a link for Relative Field Polar Plot - and that can give you an idea where that ERP energy is directed.

Here's a half-size version of the WTIC-DT antenna pattern from the FCC's web site. (You can see a better version of the original on the FCC's site - the AVS forums limit the size of the image so I just quickly reduced it in paint which is not a good image editing tool.) The antenna would be in the center of the diagram. North is up. The red line represents signal directivity.

Note: because you may see a notch or null in a certain direction doesn't mean that you can't receive a station if you're in that direction. Its usually done to minimize interface in other areas further away and/or to ensure a good signal is spread over the broadcast area required by the license. Remember: the scheme behind giving each analogue station a second channel for ATSC (digital television) is that the ATSC coverage should be the same as the analogue coverage!

I happen to have access to a signal level meter. On channel 6 I get as much signal as the stronger signals that I get, but my HD420 does not recognize it as a signal, and when I look at it as an analog channel it doesn't really look like the other digital channels. My guess is that they are pumping something out on CH 6, but just to cause problems on other things, so that they can get another frequency assignment.

Originally posted by schmitter
I happen to have access to a signal level meter. On channel 6 I get as much signal as the stronger signals that I get, but my HD420 does not recognize it as a signal, and when I look at it as an analog channel it doesn't really look like the other digital channels. My guess is that they are pumping something out on CH 6, but just to cause problems on other things, so that they can get another frequency assignment. What kind of meter? Spectrum analyzer? Channel 6 frequency assignment is 82 to 88 Mhz

There is a (real) low power channel 6 in Hartford CT though I'm not sure if its on. You can find out more info at this link:

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WRNT-LP

I don't see anything on 87.9 MHz in CT (that's FM channel 200) ... but there are a number of stations on 88.1 MHz, including WESU in Middletown CT. Any possibility that you're seeing an FM station?

I am using a Wavetek CM1200. It is a 50-890Mhz meter. I am setting it up to look at a single carrier, with a 6Mhz bandwith for digital channels. If I look at a single frequency I can step in 0.025 MHz increments. When I take CH 6 right off the antenna, I get about -15dbmv. On CH 35, I get about -2dbmv. I looked at CH6 and the signal is even across the whole 6Mhz, so I am confident that I don't have a radio station there.

Interestingly, my meter shows no signal at all on CH 31, until I put the amps in line, then it reads 5 or so, and then my HD420 box indicates a signal to the strong side of good, what I would estimate to be 95% if that was what the guage would read. I have similar results with the Springfield stations.

On WTNH, I have plenty of signal level, but the quality is just not there. I have to fine tune the antenna with a surgeons precision to get the guage on my box to go halfway into the "normal" range. Same deal with WCTX, but I cannot get that channel to come in at all.

Can people in the Fairfield or Bridgeport area receive the major networks? If so, can you post what kind of antenna/amplifier setup you are using/which ones haven't worked? I'm trying to avoid going cable for HD and would like to use VOOM + OTA, but I'm worried that I won't get good OTA reception.

Also, how good is the picture? One person I know said the OTA HD picture wasn't that good but I thought since it is HD and digital it should just as good as cable/satellite HD.

Thanks in advance!

Oh yea, I forgot. The FCC calls the following "Grade B" signals
5. The Grade B contours (which represent the required field strength in dB above one micro-volt per meter, or dB/v/m) are defined in Section 73.683 of the Commission’s rules for each television channel, as follows:
Channels 2-6 ................ 47 dB/µv/m
Channels 7-13 .............. 56 dB/µv/m
Channels 14-69 ............ 64 dB/µv/m
Section 73.684 sets forth the Commission's methodology for predicting a TV station’s Grade B service area coverage. Section 73.686 describes a procedure for making field strength measurements.

To get Dbmv, you subtract 60 from the above numbers. Acording to my meter, I get a grade B signal. When I watch Ch 8 analog, the picture quality is horrible. There picture is full of sparkles, and is very grainy. Levels good, quality bad.

Originally posted by schmitter
There picture is full of sparkles, and is very grainy. Levels good, quality bad.


Maybe you have alot of powerline interference giving you sparkles on VHF. This is where Digital broadcasters in VHF are at a disadvantage. With analog putting up with sparklies or impulse noise may be annoying with digital the picture will lock and/or pixillate which is far more objectionable.
Jim

Originally posted by JVanderwalker
Maybe you have alot of powerline interference giving you sparkles on VHF. This is where Digital broadcasters in VHF are at a disadvantage. With analog putting up with sparklies or impulse noise may be annoying with digital the picture will lock and/or pixillate which is far more objectionable.
Jim

Power line interference can be traced to a bad power pole buy tuning your car radio to an unused frequency low in the AM band, below 600 KHz. Drive down the street listening for a loud buzz. The loudest buzz will be the bad pole. Call the power company to have them fix it.

Originally posted by fitsman

All I need to do is figure out how to combine another UHF that can get UPN from new haven and combine it with my other two without huring the signal for the 2 UHF stations coming from the west. My new HD Tivo is coming soon and I cannot have a rotor and expect that to work.

Take a look at the following:

http://www.channelmaster.com/pages/TVS/Passives.htm

Hello, I live in Wallingford and just got Direct TV with HD, I also got the local channels.

I get :
3 WFSB
8 WTNH
18 WUVN
20 WTXX
24 WEDH
30 WVIT
59 WCTX
61 WTIC

I haven't noticed any HD programming on these channels. Are these the same quality channels that are available through OTA as I am not impressed with picture quality I am getting from Direct TV on these channels and was wondering if I should get an Off Air antenna

thanks for any info

Originally posted by js1010
Hello, I live in Wallingford and just got Direct TV with HD, I also got the local channels.

I get :
3 WFSB
8 WTNH
18 WUVN
20 WTXX
24 WEDH
30 WVIT
59 WCTX
61 WTIC

I haven't noticed any HD programming on these channels. Are these the same quality channels that are available through OTA as I am not impressed with picture quality I am getting from Direct TV on these channels and was wondering if I should get an Off Air antenna

thanks for any info

Hi, JS...

The local channels offered through DirecTV are NOT HD. They are the standard analog programming received locally and then digitized, compressed heavily, and sent to the satellite. The picture quality difference between the DirecTV-supplied local channels and their digital HD OTA counterparts is like night and day literally. If you are interested in getting the local channels with HD your only option at this time is to receive them off-air. In Wallingford you should not have a problem receiving all the major networks OTA in HD, depending on where in town you live. ABC / WTNH has been on for a while. FOX WTIC and NBC WVIT just went online last week. CBS WFSB might be the biggest challenge for you just for the next couple months until they go to full power. The only missing element right now is PBS CPTV, the Hartford station is not on the air yet in HD. Hopefully your DirecTV receiver or TV has the ability to tune the digital signals built-in.

After getting tired of waiting for Charter to add Hd channels had Voom installed last week. Reciever comes with ota module. They put up a Stealth antenna even though he said it wouldn't work. Said he hasn't had any luck with it so far. I live in Bethlehem which is about 20 miles from towers in New Haven and Farmington although in different directions. I recieved WTNH at 60% and WCTX at 40%. WTNH was good, no drop outs. WCTX was good the day they installed it. Thursday when it started raining I couldn't lock on WCTX. Rain must distort signal. Well i was hooked. I went to Signal Electronics and bought a CM 3671 VHF/UHF antenna, rotor, and CM7777 amp. Installed antenna about 20' high. I was hoping to get WTXX and also lock in on WCTX. I knew there was no chance at WFSB after reading all the horror stories. New rotors have come a long way. You just type in compass heading and antenna points to tower. I can't get WTXX. Are they broadcasting at low power? Achase, how high are they on your tower? Unbelievably I get WFSB no problem. Locks in at 55%. Watched it a lot this weekend as that is probably the broadcast channel we watch the most. I didn't realize that the HD feed is on 3.2. Was watching the district on 3.1 and wondering why I spent all this money. Why does 3.1 broadcast something for Mass? Anyway Voom reciever has no way to scan or add channels so I dont know if I get WTIC or WVIT yet. Something about mapping. I will be after them every day to update it. I am nervous being that I can't get WTXX as I think they all broadcast from the same location. Sorry for the length.

Originally posted by schmitter
I am using a Wavetek CM1200. It is a 50-890Mhz meter. I am setting it up to look at a single carrier, with a 6Mhz bandwith for digital channels. If I look at a single frequency I can step in 0.025 MHz increments. When I take CH 6 right off the antenna, I get about -15dbmv. On CH 35, I get about -2dbmv. I looked at CH6 and the signal is even across the whole 6Mhz, so I am confident that I don't have a radio station there.I'm not familiar with the CM1200 - but indeed what you describe sound wider than any FM station would be! :D

Do you have the ability to direction find the signal on channel 6? Anything on an analogue TV on that channel? See the aforementioned URL to the FCC's web site - see if you can figure out who it may be. By my estimate (using geo coords) WRNT-LP would be in downtown Hartford CT. I've plotted it east of Bushnell Park and West St, south of Bushnell Plaza and north of the traffic circle. That would be approximately 10 km west of Manchester. (They have a CP to move to channel 48.)Interestingly, my meter shows no signal at all on CH 31, until I put the amps in line, then it reads 5 or so, and then my HD420 box indicates a signal to the strong side of good, what I would estimate to be 95% if that was what the gage would read.Minus 5 or plus 5? That sounds kinda strange. WTIC-DT's (31) major lobe is to the northeast ... and WVIT-DT (35) is more like an omni (slightly east-west). They'd both be about the same direction from you - less than 30 km.

Up here (northeast of Springfield MA) I get WTIC-DT rock-solid; never wavers or drops out. OTOH, to receive WVIT-DT I've really got to tweak things - and I can't maintain an error free reception (lots of pixelation and dropouts).

In comparison - what do you see for signal strengths for the analogue stations from Rattlesnake (30 and 61)?On WTNH, I have plenty of signal level, but the quality is just not there. I have to fine tune the antenna with a surgeons precision to get the gage on my box to go halfway into the "normal" range. Same deal with WCTX, but I cannot get that channel to come in at all. I wonder if you are having some multi-path issues ... what kinds of signal levels are you getting from WTHN-DT (10) and WCTX-DT (39)?

I fear that the signal meters in many of these set top boxes is showing not RF signal levels but something akin to bit error rates. I've seen plenty of instances where on a scope we see plenty of RF signal but have not been able to get a lock or decode on the ATSC information. Also be careful with preamps: they may help with weak stations but in some cases may cause problems with strong signals (really depends on your box).

Originally posted by pmalve
Watched it a lot this weekend as that is probably the broadcast channel we watch the most. I didn't realize that the HD feed is on 3.2. Was watching the district on 3.1 and wondering why I spent all this money. Why does 3.1 broadcast something for Mass? WFSB's parent company bought a low power station (channel 67 on Mt. Tom in Holyoke MA) from Trinity Broadcasting. They changed the callsign to WSHM-LP and now program it as the CBS affiliate for the Springfield MA market, calling it CBS3. Looks like they may be feeding WSHM-LP's transmitter signal with what is being uplinked on one of the WFSB-DT subchannels.

In the Springfield MA (western Mass) markets WFSB was yanked off the cable systems and replaced with WSHM-LP. As you may have noticed, the programming is mostly the same excepting the fact that there is no local news.

Originally posted by RPMcCormick
I'm not familiar with the CM1200 - but indeed what you describe sound wider than any FM station would be! :D

Do you have the ability to direction find the signal on channel 6? Anything on an analogue TV on that channel? See the aforementioned URL to the FCC's web site - see if you can figure out who it may be. By my estimate (using geo coords) WRNT-LP would be in downtown Hartford CT. I've plotted it east of Bushnell Park and West St, south of Bushnell Plaza and north of the traffic circle. That would be approximately 10 km west of Manchester. (They have a CP to move to channel 48.)Minus 5 or plus 5? That sounds kinda strange. WTIC-DT's (31) major lobe is to the northeast ... and WVIT-DT (35) is more like an omni (slightly east-west). They'd both be about the same direction from you - less than 30 km.

Up here (northeast of Springfield MA) I get WTIC-DT rock-solid; never wavers or drops out. OTOH, to receive WVIT-DT I've really got to tweak things - and I can't maintain an error free reception (lots of pixelation and dropouts).

In comparison - what do you see for signal strengths for the analogue stations from Rattlesnake (30 and 61)? I wonder if you are having some multi-path issues ... what kinds of signal levels are you getting from WTHN-DT (10) and WCTX-DT (39)?

I fear that the signal meters in many of these set top boxes is showing not RF signal levels but something akin to bit error rates. I've seen plenty of instances where on a scope we see plenty of RF signal but have not been able to get a lock or decode on the ATSC information. Also be careful with preamps: they may help with weak stations but in some cases may cause problems with strong signals (really depends on your box).

Is it possible that he is picking up channel 6, WLNE, from Providence?

I definitly have multipath issues with WTNH. I put a TV in the attic, just to tune the antenna. If I adjust the antenna to elminate the ghosting on the analog CH8, I am getting close to getting a quality signal on CH10. I am sure that there is some electrical interference that I cannot find. I just plain live to far away from the tower, and I happen to know of at least two power substations that lie between here and there.

Perhaps this evening I will take the time and get levels on everything. Yesterday I moved my antenna in my attic over about 6 feet, and Have a much easier time getting in WTNH. Yea!!!! I still cannot get WCTX, but will continue trying.

As for CH6, the levels I posted were for my antenna pointed in a South Eastern direction, where the signal was strongest. When I look at that picture on an analog TV, the one in my attic, I get no picture, but it is similar to what CH 33 looks like on the same set. My question is, does anyone in the group get anything on CH6?

I fully concur on the stb meeters. I suspect that the box reads signal to noise ratio, rather than signal level, then either calls it "fair, normal or good" or gives some percentage reading.

Ah, signal to noise, my favorite topic. You are correct to warn of too much amplification. Assuming that we are correct about the stb meters, when I have one 15db amp hooked up, my WFSB, WVIT, and WTIC read way over to the right on the edge of perfect. But then I cannot get my Springfield stations. When I hook up a second 15db amp, I get my Springfield stations with WWLP in the middle of normal, WGBY almost to the edge of normal and good, and the interesting part, WFSB, WVIT and WTIC drop to just into the good reading.

Boss coming gotta go.

Tower guy. I saw those before when I ordered my channel 10 filter. I was not sure if the 0585-2 was what I needed. It says it blocks all stations more than 5 channels away. 35 is not 5 channels away and it would not be blocked.

I guess I could try one if its not too expensive. I think first I need to see if I can tune 39 in with that antenna by itself. If I can then I will try that.

Thanks Brian

Oh yea, I forgot. The FCC calls the following "Grade B" signals
5. The Grade B contours (which represent the required field strength in dB above one micro-volt per meter, or dB/v/m) are defined in Section 73.683 of the Commission’s rules for each television channel, as follows:
Channels 2-6 ................ 47 dB/µv/m
Channels 7-13 .............. 56 dB/µv/m
Channels 14-69 ............ 64 dB/µv/m
Section 73.684 sets forth the Commission's methodology for predicting a TV station’s Grade B service area coverage. Section 73.686 describes a procedure for making field strength measurements.



schmitter

The FCC’s levels for grade B signals speak only to the field strength in the air. I believe this was at 10 feet above the roof. With antennas available many years ago a picture “acceptable” to most people was received. These days antennas, preamps and feedlines are better, however there is probably more man made noise, and what is acceptable to spoiled user of digital HD TV has also probably changed. The field strength in most attics will be considerable lower than that 10 feet above the roof. The required field strengths for digital stations is lower than for analog.

What you read on your meter will depend on the field strength where your antenna is, your antenna gain, and frequency of the station. The equation for received level of a TV antenna is about:
E(dBµV) = E(dBµV/meter) + Gr(dBi) - 20log f(MHz) + 37
For channel 8 frequency is 183 Mhz and the gain for most antennas is from 3 to 12 dB. On channel 8 if you just had a grade B signal of 56 dB/µv/m with a 10 dB gain antenna and no preamp or line loss your meter should read about 54 dBµV. On channel 30 with a field strength of 64 and the 10 dB gain antenna your meter should read 72 dBµV. John

Originally posted by schmitter
I am sure that there is some electrical interference that I cannot find. I just plain live to far away from the tower, and I happen to know of at least two power substations that lie between here and there. It is more likely that if you have power line or other electrical impulse noise its not from the substations but from a bad insulator on a pole, commercial light fixtures, etc. At my home - I have noise on the WWLP-DT channel 11 signal from down the street ... its so bad on the AM radio it covers the band. Its either coming from something at the Dunkin Donuts or the gas station next door to it. I have a number of friends that have had problems with powerline noise interfering with the amateur (ham) radio communications. If you are able to somewhat able to pinpoint the pole ... and find the right people to talk to in your power company ... they should be able to fix it for you. WMECO, CLP, etc. have crews that specialize in this.

WRNT-LP was listed with FCC as a channel 6. However, the FCC site gets confusing (lto me). Later on in the WRNT-LP page it says that in 2003 permission was given to Harvard Broadcasting for a WMLD-LP channel 48, 50 kw ERP at at 41* 47' 48" N and 72* 47' 52" W. Is this replacing the old WRNT-LP channel 6? Can someone familiar with reading these cryptic notices figure it out? (This takes a while to load) http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/Auth_Files/670900.pdf

Originally posted by afis
WRNT-LP was listed with FCC as a channel 6. However, the FCC site gets confusing (lto me). Later on in the WRNT-LP page it says that in 2003 permission was given to Harvard Broadcasting for a WMLD-LP channel 48, 50 kw ERP at at 41* 47' 48" N and 72* 47' 52" W. Is this replacing the old WRNT-LP channel 6? Can someone familiar with reading these cryptic notices figure it out? (snip) Let's see if I can help here.

WRNT-LP has a facility ID of: 26336
That helps tie things together.

Their current license can be found in this record:
BLTVL-19950228IK

You can see the year, month and date (28 Feb 95)
in that record. If we look at the callsign history:

WRNT-LP 02/24/2004
WMLD-LP 11/02/1998
W05CF 06/12/1997
W06BL 06/12/1997

Low power stations used to have callsigns like WnnXX where the 'nn' is the channel number and the 'XX' was just consecutive letters assigned by the FCC. Now low power TV stations can also have requested calls like other stations: four letters and a -LP or -CA suffix. As you can see from the history, the station was previously known as WMLD-LP; that callsign was granted 2 Nov 1998. But the station recently changed its call to WRNT-LP effective 24 Feb 2004.

You may have also seen:
BMPTVL-19980601KA

Looks like back in 1998 the station applied to move their station to channel 16. This was most likely done for protection from the ATSC channel 6 allocation. Not surprised nothing was done with channel 16; that channel in many areas has been removed from television service for land mobile allocation. The FCC dismissed this application at the request of the licensee.

And lastly we have:
WRNT-LP 48 - TX CP
HARTFORD CT
BPTTL-20030714AEF

That the one your URL points to. The FCC accepted an application on 15 Jul 2003 to move to channel 48. The FCC granted this request on 29 Dec 2003. Your URL shows the FCC's CP (construction permit): they have three years to get a station on the air and request a full license. You'll note that in the CP it lists the WMLD-LP callsign - that is the call that was allocated at the time the CP was issued.

The 48- means channel 48 with a minus offset. TX is the type of service: low power TV translator. CP is construction permit.

The coordinates in the CP (N41 47 48 W72 47 52) is for a location on Avon Mountain.

Does anyone else have trouble with the sudio sync on WTNH? It isn't off much but enough to notice it. WFSB and WCTX seem OK. Also is WTXX broadcasting low power? I just put up antenna this weekend and can't get it. Find it hard to believe I can get WFSB and not WTXX. I know they arent at the same location but they are only 11 degrees different. I can pick up WHPX from New London which is 55 miles from me.

WTNH has had on again off again audio sync problems for the better part of 3 years.

Originally posted by scottte
Dean,

The way I understand is that you will not be at "full" power untill 2005, but are you at what would be considered maximum power for now???

scottte

Dean - I have watch Ch 61 WTIC for several days now. You signal has increased dramatically since you first signed on. Here in Tolland, I am now getting you at a solid 100%. Great job on the power, but you have other problems that you need to straighten out. First you have some hardware problems with what I assume is Fox's widescreen signal. The Nascar coverage yesterday (Sunday the 7th) was shown with black sidebars and a vertically stretched picture. Awful.

Then there is the issue of progressive vs interlaced signals. I have said before, it you are going to transmit a digital signal, then make it look better than what we are getting from cable or satellite. That means progressive. Look at what WTNH has done. Their standard definition signal (480p) looks better than you can get from Cable or Satellite. You need to do this with WTXX as well.

As a retired engineer, I can tell you that I would be ashamed at what was transmitted by WTIC this past weekend. If you are going to do this, then do it right. Otherwise you should take the WFSB route and transmit as very lower power just to satisify the FCC. Come on Dean, I know you just signed on, but fix the problems with WTIC and WTXX.

Thanks


Pete

WVIT's signal is not watchable here in Tolland. If you watch the signal strength meter, you can see the signal go to zero several times per minute and the receiver lose lock. The signal is progressive, but WVIT needs to fix their signal. This is not a problem with multipath, as I am getting solid signals from WTIC and WTXX on the same mountain as WVIT. Hopefully, this week someone from WVIT will figure this out. This is another example of signing on without having all the bugs worked out.


Pete

Originally posted by RPMcCormick
I'm seeing PID 0x0020 WTIC-DT, with PID 21 having MPEG-2 video 720 x 480i, 14.990 Mbps, 4:3 ratio and 4:2:0 chroma format.

Would the 480i, 4:3 encoder setting explain why their network pass-through fed material is stretched vertically?

Isn't FOX sending all their affiliates a 480p 16:9 feed?

All the cars in the NASCAR race Sunday looked like Toyota Echos.
----
Paul

Originally posted by RPMcCormick
You may want to check with CPTV. Indeed they have a channel 6 allocation for their New Haven station. But I am under the impression that they have not done anything with it. With the FM protection issues, etc. they may choose not to come up on 6. Anyone have any details?

You got it. One of the reasons we swapped channels (39>6) was the FM protection issue. We operate FM stations in Stamford, Meridan and Norwich (among others) that we wanted to make sure were protected and knew that the many other FM stations in S. CT and LI would also benefit. Could be quite a while before we address the issue of purchasing a NH transmitter as the Hartford market has the priority.

I noticed the vertically stretched (horizontally squished?) video from WTIC too. It's like watching a 16x9 anamorphic movie in 4x3 mode.

Please get it fixed.

Andy

Originally posted by Andy238
I noticed the vertically stretched (horizontally squished?) video from WTIC too. It's like watching a 16x9 anamorphic movie in 4x3 mode.

Please get it fixed.

Andy

I noticed it too, but you can use the wide mode to fix it.
For some reason, WTIC-DT can be stretched. The other
digital ota signals cannot. Anyone know why this is?

Originally posted by raoul5788
I noticed it too, but you can use the wide mode to fix it.
Chip, I (and others) don't have this capability in the STB.
We shouldn't need to "fix" things that they're messing up!

Originally posted by raoul5788
For some reason, WTIC-DT can be stretched. The other
digital ota signals cannot. Anyone know why this is?
Probably because it is a 480i source (and you have a 16:9 display). Your "wide mode" is converting it to 480i widescreen to fill the display (as if it was an NTSC source). This corrects the image distortion on your set.
----
Paul

PaulL:

It's nice to see another person from Miller Place. What area are you in? I can't wait for WTIC-DT (FOX) to fix the problem. I get CBS from DirecTV and all other broadcast channels from CT. I want the problem fixed (or for DirecTV to pick up FOX) so I can drop Cablevision. I'm paying $25 a month to Cablevision for broadcast basic. So essentially I'm paying $25 a month for FOX widescreen (not even HD!).
I can't resize WTIC-DT either, it's unwatchable.

Thehud2112,
I PMed you.
----
Paul

Originally posted by PaulL
Chip, I (and others) don't have this capability in the STB.
We shouldn't need to "fix" things that they're messing up!


Probably because it is a 480i source (and you have a 16:9 display). Your "wide mode" is converting it to 480i widescreen to fill the display (as if it was an NTSC source). This corrects the image distortion on your set.
----
Paul

Sorry, I thought all stb's had that fuction. I assume you
cannot do it with your television either. Why can I
stretch their signal and not the other digital ota's?

WVIT's signal is not watchable here in Tolland. If you watch the signal strength meter, you can see the signal go to zero several times per minute and the receiver lose lock. The signal is progressive, but WVIT needs to fix their signal. This is not a problem with multipath, as I am getting solid signals from WTIC and WTXX on the same mountain as WVIT. Hopefully, this week someone from WVIT will figure this out. This is another example of signing on without having all the bugs worked out.

I had the same issue here in Glastonbury...I got a better antenna (the old one was a crappy Terk stick antenna...they stink) and it jumpped to a solid 88 on my DTC-100. It was jumping from high 50's to low 20's. Rock solid now.

As far as Fox goes, they do not transmit HD right, I think they do anamorphic 480p. My DTC-100 stretched it and it looked good. (I did this for Oliver Bean) Alot better than 480i, but not quite as good as DVD....not even close to true HD.

Yeah, I'm sure if I fiddled around with my projector setting I could stretch the image. But like Paul said, we shouldn't have to fix anything. If only they did real HD... sigh.

Andy

Originally posted by raoul5788
I noticed it too, but you can use the wide mode to fix it.
For some reason, WTIC-DT can be stretched. The other
digital ota signals cannot. Anyone know why this is?

It depends on your TV. My mits won't allow the stretch of WTIC.


Pete

Chip, actually I'm sorry. I forgot that my STB can do it, but it would be a kluge (explained below). I think the reason that you can do it on WTIC and not on any other stations is that they are sending a 4:3 image. All the other stations (even WTXX) are transmitting in a 16:9 format, so you would not be able to stretch it horizontally. If you find another in 4:3 (WLNY-DT 57 down here on LI for instance), you may be able to stretch it.

fitsman, Thanks for reminding me that the DTC100 has a stretch mode. You must have a 16:9 display. Mine is 4:3. Stretch is only available when the output mode is set to 16:9. I could set the output mode to 16:9 and try it, but WTIC would be the only station I would need to do this for. A kluge.

Also keep in mind that the DTC100 converts 480i and 480p sources to 540p for output. This is why it looks better than a 480i signal on the display. It's the internal line doubler circuit in the DTC100 improving the image.

4:3 is fine for a multi-cast sub-channel or an indy station with no source of 16:9 programming, but it's not the proper format for a network affiliate's main DTV channel, not even a FOX affiliate. They should at least be line doubling their local programming and passing the 480p FOX network feed unaltered in a 480p DTV stream. They have to recognize this and fix it.

Then, what's going to happen later this year when FOX goes to 720p? I don't think they're an O&O, so are they going to get one of the new "inserters" (or what ever the name of the box that FOX is planning to distribute)?
----
Paul

Originally posted by fitsman
I had the same issue here in Glastonbury...I got a better antenna (the old one was a crappy Terk stick antenna...they stink) and it jumpped to a solid 88 on my DTC-100. It was jumping from high 50's to low 20's. Rock solid now.

As far as Fox goes, they do not transmit HD right, I think they do anamorphic 480p. My DTC-100 stretched it and it looked good. (I did this for Oliver Bean) Alot better than 480i, but not quite as good as DVD....not even close to true HD.

It is not 480p. I can tell from my Mits which displays 480p in a slightly wider format than 480i. It is crappy 480i stretched with black side bars.


Pete

Dean - the other thing that you need to fix on WTIC-DT is the fact that you are not transmitting program guide info. Consequently, WTIC-DT shows up in the guide as "regular schedule". This needs to be fixed as well. If WTNH can do it right, WTIC should be able to do as well. The same comment goes for WVIT. They are also not transmitting guide info.


Pete

Originally posted by eorcman
Dean - the other thing that you need to fix on WTIC-DT is the fact that you are not transmitting program guide info. Consequently, WTIC-DT shows up in the guide as "regular schedule". This needs to be fixed as well. If WTNH can do it right, WTIC should be able to do as well. The same comment goes for WVIT. They are also not transmitting guide info.From one who also works on the non-viewer side of this equation, it would help greatly if you could elaborate where you are getting your guide info from!

For example, it is possible in ATSC to actually transmit program information in the stream itself. But I don't think many stations across the country are doing it. At my home - a Samsung ATSC (only) tuner that I'm using has a guide - but has no info for any ATSC (off-air) station.

For those of you who are using set top boxes that handle off-air ATSC signals as well as satellite services (like DirecTV) ... or boxes from cable companies that are now carrying the local ATSC stations ... it would be worthy of noting that. In most cases - this guide info is being handled by third party companies ... and in some cases it is not an easy task to get interface with them or keep the info up-to-date.

Originally posted by RPMcCormick
From one who also works on the non-viewer side of this equation, it would help greatly if you could elaborate where you are getting your guide info from!

For example, it is possible in ATSC to actually transmit program information in the stream itself. But I don't think many stations across the country are doing it. At my home - a Samsung ATSC (only) tuner that I'm using has a guide - but has no info for any ATSC (off-air) station.

For those of you who are using set top boxes that handle off-air ATSC signals as well as satellite services (like DirecTV) ... or boxes from cable companies that are now carrying the local ATSC stations ... it would be worthy of noting that. In most cases - this guide info is being handled by third party companies ... and in some cases it is not an easy task to get interface with them or keep the info up-to-date.

I believe WTNH guide information is coming from the signal. Yes I have a Hughes DirecTV E-86 receiver, but DirecTV doesn't know anything about WTNH-DT ch 10-1. I believe it is coming down the data stream as it should.
In fact, WTNH and WTXX both have guide information.

Pete

Pete - You must have an EPG capable STB. I don't show any guide data for WTNH, so I know it is not coming from the PSIP in the DTV signal. You're probably getting that from DirecTV in the local channel guide. I see one of my DirecTV local stations in my guide that says "Regular Schedule", probably simalar to what you are seeing. You're right though, they should get the guide data to DirecTV.
----
Dean - Other important things (besides the 480i transmission issue) to correct at WTIC-DT:

1. The clock - it is an hour ahead. Switching between WTIC-DT and the DirecTV guide causes me to show the wrong guide data until the clock is corrected by the DirecTV signal. If it's coming in on the network feed, there must be a time-zone setting that you've missed in the encoder.

2. The blasted WTIC-TV channel 61.0 analog station mapping in the PSIP data. I don't want the analog in my channels list. This forces it to be in there (even when I've never tuned it in). PLEASE STOP DOING THIS! None of the NYC stations has ever done this, and I don't see any of the CT stations doing it either.

This is no longer an early adopter rant -- this is supposed to be mainstream ready stuff.
----
Paul

Originally posted by eorcman
I believe WTNH guide information is coming from the signal. Yes I have a Hughes DirecTV E-86 receiver, but DirecTV doesn't know anything about WTNH-DT ch 10-1. I believe it is coming down the data stream as it should.
In fact, WTNH and WTXX both have guide information.

Pete

The only station in CT to transmit guide data is PBS. No other station transmits it. It is not required by FCC. Your guide info is coming from D*.

Originally posted by PaulL The clock - it is an hour ahead. Switching between WTIC-DT and the DirecTV guide causes me to show the wrong guide data until the clock is corrected by the DirecTV signal. If it's coming in on the network feed, there must be a time-zone setting that you've missed in the encoder.[/B]Funny that you point this out ... I just discovered this myself a little after midnight this morning, at home. Of all the stations that I could receive this morning (without a lot of fooling around with the antenna) only WVIT had the correct time. These were taken +/- 00:09 on Tuesday 9 Mar 2004:
WWLP-DT 12:07 AM Sun Mar 07
WVIT-DT 12:09 AM Tue Mar 09
WGBY-DT 12:10 AM Sun Mar 10
WTIC-DT 11:43 AM Wed Mar 10
(Normally I can also get WGGB-DT but not last night for some reason.)

These readings were taken by a Samsung ATSC tuner - only off-air, no satellite capabilities.

After thinking about this for a while - I'm wondering if there may be some inherit problem with taking time from an ATSC stream. For example, in the setup of the box I am using I can tell it which US timezone I'm in and whether I honour daylight savings or not. I wonder what happens though with the date & time for those people who are in border regions (like in parts of Indiana and Illinois where some stations cover multiple time zones that are sometimes the same time and other times not).

I have no idea where the time source is in our system, but will find out today and attempt to get it fixed. Hopefully what's actually happening is that all stations are sending out time as something standard, like UTC (fka GMT). That would allow each user to select the time zone information appropriate for their location - assuming that your STB allows it!

PaulL asked me to come by here and look at the WTIC situation. WTIC isn't a FOX O & O so I can only guess what is happening here, but here goes.

It would appear that they are routing the DTV receiver (known as Receiver C) which has an anamorphic 4:3 image to an encoder that is setup for 4:3 so what you are seeing is the picture, as it is sent from FOX to the affiliates. The station would need to do something (in this case just sent the encoder to 16:9 would be my guess since they are not converting it to progressive scan) to format the picture before transmission so you would not need to "letterbox" the picture to display correctly on your set. If they did that, you would have widescreen 480i. At least the ASR would be correct.

I guess this is what I was to comment on. I will bow back out again. Thanks for letting me poke my nose in.

Another question for WTIC-DT:

My Samsung (ATSC only) STB indicates that programming is CC capable. In fact, in cycling through the CC choices instead of the normal CC1, CC2, CC3 and CC4 that most stations have - WVIT-DT was indicating English, Spanish and French. But in channel surfing last night I didn't see any captioning on any of the programming. Just FYI.

It is not 480p. I can tell from my Mits which displays 480p in a slightly wider format than 480i. It is crappy 480i stretched with black side bars.

Because of my DTC-100, I cannot tell what the scan rate is, but it was definatly anamorphic. It looked just like a DVD playing on a player set to 16x9 showing on a 4x3 TV. Tall and skinny. When I set my DTC-100 to fill, it looked right...not HD, but right. Basicaly the equivilent of a non progressive scan dvd player on my 16x9 HD set.

Boy, I cant wait until FOX goes true HD.

Originally posted by RPMcCormick
Another question for WTIC-DT:

My Samsung (ATSC only) STB indicates that programming is CC capable. In fact, in cycling through the CC choices instead of the normal CC1, CC2, CC3 and CC4 that most stations have - WVIT-DT was indicating English, Spanish and French. But in channel surfing last night I didn't see any captioning on any of the programming. Just FYI.

Just a quick comment on CC. Analog uses the EIA-608 standard where you have the CC1, CC2, T1, T2, etc. HD uses EIA-708 which is a much improved system that will allow naming of things and the backgrounds and fonts can be changed, unlike the 608 captioning. So if you have English as the primary, a station can say ENGLISH or SPANISH or what have you. It isn't a CC field anymore, just a "language packet" of data or a "SERVICE."

Thanks Foxeng,

What I don't understand is that they must have a widescreen feed of the network. The orange "waving flags" pillar bars were clearly visible during the NASCAR broadcast on Sunday while 4:3 material was being inserted at the network. Black pillar bars were also visible while the in-car cams were being used. I could see by switching to my 4:3 DirecTV local (WNYW) that the WTIC-DT video was clearly widescreen, but stretched vertically.

What happens when you send a widescreen image, but identify it as 4:3 - 480i in the stream. Would an STB display something as we describe?
----
Paul

Edit: removed widescreen scan-rate reference.

March Madness time!

From what I have been able to find in various forums, it looks like CBS will have one HD truck to cover the Mens NCAA tournament, giving us one HD game at a time. The HD games will come from Kansas City for games there on March 19 and March 21, and then from St. Louis for the Midwest regionals on March 26 and March 28. For the normal analog Channel 3, I know WFSB will simply air the best game for this area. I hope that for WFSB-DT they will show whatever HD game is on at the time, regardless of what is on Channel 3. Does anyone know whether they have done this in the past?

Some people have reported that in past years, their CBS HD channel has used sub-channels to simulcast multiple games at once. That would be great, but I doubt it would happen here. Does WFSB-DT use subchannels now for anything?

I might go in with some friends to get the March Mega Madness Package from DirecTV, but if WFSB could provide more than one game at a time, I'd make do with that.

Originally posted by jake14mw
Does WFSB-DT use subchannels now for anything?Appears two subchannels are currently in use: one for CBS HD or regular programming and the other carries the programming for their WSHM-LP channel 67 Springfield MA CBS affiliate.I might go in with some friends to get the March Mega Madness Package from DirecTV, but if WFSB could provide more than one game at a time, I'd make do with that. If quality is an issue - you may want to consider DirecTV. Consider that if WFSB airs an HD version of a game - that will consume the vast majority of the 19.39 mbps bandwidth on their ATSC channel. If they have the encoders they may be able to put additional subchannels up - but the more subchannels you add the worse the quality will get (as you have to spread the bandwidth across all the channels). Whereas DirecTV may provide you multiple games simultaneously with each channel getting a reasonable amount of bandwidth. (Sorry - not into that sport so don't know how many games are being played simultaneously - which becomes the issue at hand.)

I believe WTNH guide information is coming from the signal. Yes I have a Hughes DirecTV E-86 receiver, but DirecTV doesn't know anything about WTNH-DT ch 10-1. I believe it is coming down the data stream as it should.
In fact, WTNH and WTXX both have guide information.


I can't get my two boxes on the same page. :mad:

My Hughes E-86 pulls in WTNH-DT on 8-1 with all program information. It will NOT remap WTIC-DT 31-1 to 61-1 though.

My Samsung T160 recognizes 8-1 but there's only a black screen. It recognizes 8-2 which is the same signal but has no guide information. It remaps 31-1 to 61-1 without issue.

Originally posted by foxeng
It would appear that they are routing the DTV receiver (known as Receiver C) which has an anamorphic 4:3 image to an encoder that is setup for 4:3 so what you are seeing is the picture, as it is sent from FOX to the affiliates. The station would need to do something (in this case just sent the encoder to 16:9 would be my guess since they are not converting it to progressive scan) to format the picture before transmission so you would not need to "letterbox" the picture to display correctly on your set. If they did that, you would have widescreen 480i. At least the ASR would be correct.
After reading Foxeng's excellent explanation of how the FOX network distributes the signal to it's affiliates in the When Fox Widescreen on Directv? (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=375978) thread, I would agree that all they need to do is change the encoder's aspect ratio to 16:9. Then we will see network programming in widescreen, and their local programming with black side-bars, just like all the other 16:9 stations.

It'll still be 480i, but at least the aspect ratio problem will be corrected. And that's certainly a step in the right direction!
----
Paul

Originally posted by PaulL
After reading Foxeng's excellent explanation of how the FOX network distributes the signal to it's affiliates in the When Fox Widescreen on Directv? (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=375978) thread, I would agree that all they need to do is change the encoder's aspect ratio to 16:9. Then we will see network programming in widescreen, and their local programming with black side-bars, just like all the other 16:9 stations.

It'll still be 480i, but at least the aspect ratio problem will be corrected. And that's certainly a step in the right direction!
----
Paul

This is true, but when WTIC didn't have network, the local 4:3 would be "stretched" since the encoder would continue to do to the local what it does to the network, the only difference being that the network compensated for the 4:3, where, unless WTIC has a"aspect ratio converter" (for lack of better term), then the local stuff will be stretched. Can you live with that?

My guess is (I don't know who owns WTIC so this is just WAG) they wanted to be able to pass along widescreen, didn't have all the gear to do it, so decided to pass the anamorphic and let the viewer fix it. Just a thought. You might want to contact WTIC and see what the deal is.

Yes, but I think you missed one of my posts above. The network feed on the DTV station is definitely widescreen.

Can't the encoder just center the 4:3 local inserted material without stretching it? Or maybe that's where the format converter comes in, sorry.

Thanks again for your help (I tried talking with them yesterday),
Paul

Originally posted by foxeng
... the only difference being that the network compensated for the 4:3, where, unless WTIC has a"aspect ratio converter" (for lack of better term), then the local stuff will be stretched. Can you live with that? My guess is ... they wanted to be able to pass along widescreen, didn't have all the gear to do it, so decided to pass the anamorphic and let the viewer fix it. ... You might want to contact WTIC and see what the deal is. We do have someone from WTIC who's participating in this thread, so he'd be able to let us know on this one.

At WWLP-DT (NBC station) we have a Teranex box that takes the local SD 480i programming and upconverts it to 1080i. The 22.3 WWLP-DT HD channel encoder stays in the 16:9 mode full-time ... and we switch between the direct NBC HD feed for one input and the Teranex upconverted 4:3 to 16:9 stream for the other input. We were previously stretching the 4:3 material to fit 16:9 - but most viewers indicated their preference would be the 4:3 programming with black bars on the left and right to fill the 16:9 format screen.

Originally posted by RPMcCormick
...but most viewers indicated their preference would be the 4:3 programming with black bars on the left and right to fill the 16:9 format screen.
Thanks RPM,
I'm with them.

Paul:

I sent you a PM yesterday. You said you actually contacted someone at WTIC-DT about this stuff? Have you talked to them recently?

Originally posted by thehud2112
... You said you actually contacted someone at WTIC-DT about this stuff? Have you talked to them recently?
I don't want to be a pest - although I'm probably doing a good job of it here. I think they were pretty busy when I called. I didn't get the impression that they thought this was much of an issue. In fact, I got the impression that they thought I was doing something wrong at my end.

I felt like I was a member of the Marketing Department talking to someone in Engineering :D
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Paul

Originally posted by RPMcCormick
Appears two subchannels are currently in use: one for CBS HD or regular programming and the other carries the programming for their WSHM-LP channel 67 Springfield MA CBS affiliate. If quality is an issue - you may want to consider DirecTV. Consider that if WFSB airs an HD version of a game - that will consume the vast majority of the 19.39 mbps bandwidth on their ATSC channel. If they have the encoders they may be able to put additional subchannels up - but the more subchannels you add the worse the quality will get (as you have to spread the bandwidth across all the channels). Whereas DirecTV may provide you multiple games simultaneously with each channel getting a reasonable amount of bandwidth. (Sorry - not into that sport so don't know how many games are being played simultaneously - which becomes the issue at hand.)

Thanks for the info. In the first two days, most of the time there are four games going on at once. The max is 4. I would be happy if whenever an HD game was available, that they just showed the HD game on WFSB-DT. For the analog channel, they basically try to pick the game that would have the most interest to CT viewers. Using this method, most of the time we would have two games to choose from. That would be fine with me. JUST SHOW ME THE HD GAMES ON THE HD CHANNEL!

How much additional work is it for them to do this vs. just showing the same game on the two channels?

Originally posted by jake14mw
How much additional work is it for them to do this vs. just showing the same game on the two channels? Not knowing anything about their technical infrastructure it wouldn't be fair for me to guess or speculate what the effort would be. Technically speaking you'd need to have an encoder to add another SD channel to the ATSC stream ... and then everything needed behind it to receive the signal (assume satellite feed) - as well as do local insertions, etc. Alas, although not infeasible, certainly no small effort either.

Although I work mostly in technical areas myself, I think you'd find that an affiliate that wanted to do this (provide multiple simultaneous network feeds) would have greater issues with getting the rights and permissions for what they want to broadcast than solving any technical issues.

A good mix may then be viewing local CBS HD coverage, if available (I'd expect that any off-air HD broadcast would exceed DirecTV's quality) augmented by the DirecTV package ... where DirecTV has already gotten all the rights to broadcast signed off on and the technical infrastructure queued up.

FYI - I had asked WFSB to grant me a waiver so that I could watch the HD version of their programming in HD on DirectTV. I was willing to pay the extra $2 a month for that privilege (I am a huge sports fan). They turned me down. I have yet to find out why. If and when I do, I will share their answer.

I have the Zenith SAT520 STB and using a small attic antenna I see WTIC-DT mapped to Channel 5 and WVIT-DT mapped to channel 35. When I select either one of them I see nothing but snow.

WTNH maps to 8-1 and comes in great, WFBS maps to 3-1 and I get no signal on that. Does the snow on the other 2 mean I get some signal but not strong enough?

Thanks
George

I am new to this ota stuff so I could use some help. I put up a Channel Master 3671 antenna and 7777 preamp Saturday. I get Channel 8,3,59,and 26 no problem. I don't know about 30 or 61 yet as I have to wait for Voom to update map in receiver. I can't get channel 20. I see that they are broadcasting on Channel 12. Being that VHF is easier to get then UHF I think I should get it. I have a theory. I had 2 wing nuts left over from antenna when I put it together. That's it, no other extra parts. How does the VHF side of the antenna connect to the UHF side. Channel 8 is so strong I hooked my RS FM antenna and it came in so I am thinking that the VHF side of antenna might not be hooked up. Channel 8 could be coming from the UHF side. Does this sound feasible? The directions that came with antenna were terrible. I would think if I can get channel 3 at 30% with no dropouts I should easily pick up 20. I live in Bethlehem about 20 miles from towers.

OK - I give in. If the guide information is coming from DirecTV does that mean that because there no guide information for WTIC and WVIT, it is DirecTV's problem? I noticed that both 30-1 and 35-1 are shown as analog when I do a rescan. Is it possible that these stations are also broadcasting an analog signal on these channels that is screwing up the guide?

I am disappointed in WVIT. It is mostly unwatchable. Every minute or so the signal loses it lock. At the most I get 50 -58%. Hard to understand because WTIC is banging in at 100%. Also WTNH is happing audio sync problems. When are these stations going to get their act together.


Pete

For the first few days of broadcast, I was also getting MAJOR dropouts. I moved my antenna in my attic and now get 100% with no dropouts on WVIT and WTIC simultaneously. I think it's an antenna issue.

Originally posted by bmulberry
For the first few days of broadcast, I was also getting MAJOR dropouts. I moved my antenna in my attic and now get 100% with no dropouts on WVIT and WTIC simultaneously. I think it's an antenna issue.

I don't know. Both WVIT and WTIC are broadcasting from the same mountain. Virtually the same angle at my distance. I don't see how this could be an antenna problem. WTIC had drop outs the first few days when they were doing the color bars and their signal strength was in the 50's and 60's. Then they must have done something because the signal is rock solid at 100% with no dropouts. I am still hoping it is WVIT's problem although I don't know how that would explain your good reception.


Pete

Dont know if this will help, but maybe it has something to do with how the signal is radiating??? From what I see and understand, it is not a perfect circle from the tower, it has its peaks and valleys so to speak. My point here, is that I am in Milford and WTICDT comes and goes, cannot get a real solid signal for it, however, WVITDT is coming VERY STRONG!! In fact, it comes in solid for me from about 45 degrees until about 175 degrees on my rotor!! Go figure, I think its just part of the game!!!

scottte

Originally posted by eorcman
I don't know. Both WVIT and WTIC are broadcasting from the same mountain. Virtually the same angle at my distance. I don't see how this could be an antenna problem. WTIC had drop outs the first few days when they were doing the color bars and their signal strength was in the 50's and 60's. Then they must have done something because the signal is rock solid at 100% with no dropouts. I am still hoping it is WVIT's problem although I don't know how that would explain your good reception.


Pete

There are no droputs on WVIT. I get perfect picture. It is either your tuner or antenna.

As for the guide issue:

If you have DirecTV you get guide info from them via the zip code you enter for off-air broadcasts. They download the guide data down to your box based on what you enter for your local area zip code (each box works a little different but all I have seen have this feature).

DirecTV gets their guide data from Tribune Media Services (TMS). TMS issues guide data to major cable companies, newspapers, electronic/web directories and the sat providers.

In order to get guide data for local channels if your are a DirecTV subscriber, the following things must happen:

1. The local station must be on the air (obviously).
2. The local station must contact TMS to let them know they are broadcasting, the local OTA SPID/sub-channels they broadcast on, and their programming information (transmitted daily by some to TMS).
3. The local station must contact the carriers to let them know they are on the air (DirecTV in this case).
4. The local carrier/newspaper/web site/sat provider (again DirecTV in this case) must then enable the station information they get from TMS for the associated sub-channels.
5. You finally get data down to your set to box.

An unbelivable process that gets screwed up just about every time a station goes on the air.

Originally posted by CKNA
There are no droputs on WVIT. I get perfect picture. It is either your tuner or antenna.

Yea but look how close you are to rattlesnake mountain. If it is tuner/antenna I would expect the other stations to show similar problems.


Pete

Originally posted by JasonBourne
FYI - I had asked WFSB to grant me a waiver so that I could watch the HD version of their programming in HD on DirectTV. I was willing to pay the extra $2 a month for that privilege (I am a huge sports fan). They turned me down. I have yet to find out why. If and when I do, I will share their answer.

FYI, WFSB isn't granting waivers to anyone in CT that I know of. There's a whole thread on this problem (just do a search on "WFSB Sucks").

Originally posted by eorcman
Yea but look how close you are to rattlesnake mountain. If it is tuner/antenna I would expect the other stations to show similar problems.


Pete

I have an antenna on a rotor. That is only way to get good signal in CT. Optimal signal between WTIC and WVIT is about 20 degrees apart on my rotor.
I also get WTNH, WCTX perfectly and I am not not that close.
By having antenna in the attic you lose a lot of signal.

I get WVIT, WTIC, WFSB, and WTNH without a rotor with a single antenna in my attic. Hopefully my luck is not short lived.

Originally posted by bmulberry
I get WVIT, WTIC, WFSB, and WTNH without a rotor with a single antenna in my attic. Hopefully my luck is not short lived.

All of those including WFSB with a single antenna in the attic and no rotor? You must be at a good elevation without obstructions around you. Most of us dream of that!

I'm very pleased I can get those 4. It's funny, I've always gotten WFSB with my set top antenna and nothing else I'm guessing they're all solid signals since I get no dropouts. It id cause my wife a lot of aggravation on walkie talkies while I moved the antenna an inch at a time!

Is anyone out here in the Tolland Vernon Manchester area also getting dropouts on WVIT. Just to put this to bed, I am going to rotate the antenna and see what happens. I don't have a rotor because most of the stations are within a few degrees of each other. Right now the antenna is optimized for WTNH. The antenna is on the roof.


Pete

Originally posted by pmalve
... I put up a Channel Master 3671 antenna and 7777 preamp Saturday.
That's a nice antenna. I can't help with assembly details, but here are a couple of things to check;

1. That preamp has a switch on it to accept UHF and VHF on a single input, or U/V on two separate inputs. If it's set wrong, that may be your problem. Also check that you're using the right input connector.

2. If you have any splitters in the signal distribution chain, check that you have not inadvertently used a UHF/VHF splitter/combiner in place of a splitter.

Hope this helps.
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Paul

Originally posted by eorcman
Is anyone out here in the Tolland Vernon Manchester area also getting dropouts on WVIT.

Pete,

I'm in Manchester and was getting constant dropouts last evening. That why I just watch WWLP :)

I wasn't watching last night, but typically I don't get dropouts on WVIT. Also the only time I need to rotate my antenna (manually, I am to cheap to buy a rotator), is when I want to watch WTNH.

Schmitter

I posted this suggestion at the end of page 50 of the thread...

That's a nice antenna. I can't help with assembly details, but here are a couple of things to check;

1. That preamp has a switch on it to accept UHF and VHF on a single input, or U/V on two separate inputs. If it's set wrong, that may be your problem. Also check that you're using the right input connector.

2. If you have any splitters in the signal distribution chain, check that you have not inadvertently used a UHF/VHF splitter/combiner in place of a splitter.

Hope this helps.
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Paul

Where is the switch located? On the pole? I saw the 2 inputs, one for VHF and one for UHf/VHF, that is the one I used. I didn't see a switch. I dont see any switch on the power supply box.

Voom has added WVIT and WTIC to our recievers today. WVIT is coming in at 85%. Can't get a lock on WTIC. I can get all 3 networks without moving antenna. I set it to lock on WFSB at 79degrees and because WVIT and WTNH are sending strong signal they come in without moving antenna. Only have to move it to get WCTX and WHPX. Surprised WTIC not coming in. Thought they were broadcasting at a decent power. A lot of people seem to get it that can't get WFSB. Is the superbowl on Fox next year? If so I hope they put the candlebra up before then.

Originally posted by pmalve
Where is the switch located? On the pole? I saw the 2 inputs, one for VHF and one for UHf/VHF, that is the one I used. I didn't see a switch. I dont see any switch on the power supply box.
It is on the preamp box, up at the antenna. It's on the under-side - the side with the F-connectors. If you have a good pair of binoculars or telescope, you can check the switch position from the ground. You will need the installation manual to determine the proper orientation though.

Oh, forgot to mention - it also has an FM-trap switch. I saw this on a website that sells it...

Switchable FM Trap

Internal Switch selects either separate or combined VHF & UHF inputs

I think you should check the manual first.
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Paul

I have a seperate antenna for my FM so should I turn the FM trap on?

Makes sense to me. Maybe it will help prevent overload if you are close to any FM transmitters.

Now I'm not sure if the separate/combined switch is accessible from the outside or which is the default position. Do you have the manual?