Playing hookey again eh, Ross. Can you pick up this station (47.1?). I tried another scan again last night but nada. I'll give it one more shot tonight and if it doens't come in, then chalk it up to UFO's or something.

Originally posted by rmcgirr83
Playing hookey again eh, Ross. Can you pick up this station (47.1?). I tried another scan again last night but nada. I'll give it one more shot tonight and if it doens't come in, then chalk it up to UFO's or something.

Nope, even tried entering it manually and nothing came up. Always knew you were communicating with other realms :p

Wierd, WCTX is now on 9.1 and WTIC is in stretched mode.
When did these changes happen?

Originally posted by raoul5788
Wierd, WCTX is now on 9.1 ...Off air? What type of set top box are you using? Does it stay that way if you do a rescan?

There is something wrong with WTIC-DT. Pictures goes in and out and so does the sound. It looks like they put it in 16:9 mode but it is still 480i instead of 480p.

I have been having a lot of trouble with WTIC-DT here in West Hartford, too: signal strength is very good at 90-94 on my DTC-100, but no picture and intermittent sound. WTXX-DT and WVIT-DT, from the same hill, present no such problem. Is anyone else having the same problem?

Originally posted by RPMcCormick
Off air? What type of set top box are you using? Does it stay that way if you do a rescan?

I have a Sony HD200. WCTXDT disappeared as 59.1 so I re-entered
channel 39 and it remapped to 9.1. I also have stability issues with
WTICDT like the other poster said

Originally posted by raoul5788
I have a Sony HD200. WCTXDT disappeared as 59.1 so I re-entered
channel 39 and it remapped to 9.1OK - thanks for the feedback. I'll send that info along to someone at WCTX. We've got an HD200 as well but unfortunately where we are it is impossible to receive 39 due to being line-of-site to WGGB on channel 40. I'll let you know what I hear, if anything.

Originally posted by cgorra
I have been having a lot of trouble with WTIC-DT here in West Hartford, too: signal strength is very good at 90-94 on my DTC-100, but no picture and intermittent sound. Is anyone else having the same problem?
I am. DTC100 here too. No picture or sound, although I do have PSIP program guide data (on WTIC-TV analog also). My "info" banner shows "16:9 Ltrbx" flashing on and off on the DT.

RPM can you take a peek at their stream?

Edit: Forgot to mention that I did a full channel scan with terminations on the inputs and unpluged the unit to wipe out previous channels, then did a new scan with the antenna connected - no dice.
----
Paul

Originally posted by raoul5788
I have a Sony HD200. WCTXDT disappeared as 59.1 so I re-entered
channel 39 and it remapped to 9.1. I also have stability issues with
WTICDT like the other poster said

I did a re-scan last night, didn't get WCTX at all. So I entered in 39 manually (takes a while to lock <15 secs). It remapped to 59.1 on a 6000u. I never was able to re-receive that other channel (47.1 - 47.5) I think it was a signal from outer space.;)

Anyone know the time table for an increase in power from WTNH? JOhn

Hi John,

I tried to get an answer from Deanna Banas concerning when this was likely to occur. Got a very nice response telling me to tune my receiver to channel 10 for WTNH and channel 39 for WCTX.:) Not exactly what I asked for and forwarded the request again all for naught. She didn't bother to reply to the second email.

Originally posted by mfino
We used to have INHD2, which covered all the NESN programming, but for some reason, when WFSB was turned on, INHD2 disappeared. So now, you will see the games on INHD1, regardless of the supposed feed. ....

When I called Comcast the other day to inquire about this very situation, I was told by the CSR that INHD was a pay-per-view channel which NESN was now sharing. I asked to talk to a supervisor, who also insisted that INHD was pay-per-view, and could provide no information whatsoever about INHD2.

Does anyone have any real info about why INHD2 never came back, although other HD channels (Cinemax and Starz) have been added?

Originally posted by CKNA
There is something wrong with WTIC-DT. Pictures goes in and out and so does the sound. It looks like they put it in 16:9 mode but it is still 480i instead of 480p. Looking at WTIC-DT with a HiPix ATSC computer card I see the following: 704x480i with a 16:9 aspect ratio, 15.000 mbps, 29.97 fps and 4:2:0 chroma. So indeed it appears to be in a widescreen format. I'm not having any problems with it loosing signal ... one of the TIC guys was reading the CT forums - hopefully he'll pick up on this!

Originally posted by cgorra
I have been having a lot of trouble with WTIC-DT here in West Hartford, too: signal strength is very good at 90-94 on my DTC-100, but no picture and intermittent sound. WTXX-DT and WVIT-DT, from the same hill, present no such problem. Is anyone else having the same problem?

Chip:

Similar problems here with WTIC-DT on a Sony HD200. Picture is pretty good, but it's out of synch with the sound (freezing up a lot), with intermittent pixellation, even though signal strength is close to 80%. WVIT-DT is coming in fine, and WCTX-DT is remapped to 9.1.

Ross

As I was paying my cable bill yesterday, I happened to take a look at the little pamphlet that Comcast included in the envelope. On page 9 it lists High Definition channels and correctly includes all the ones we get in the Hartford area plus channel 382 which its shows as INHD2/NESN, which we don't deem to get. (Yes, I am aware that NESN is shown on 381.) So even their own literature doesn't agree with reality.

I called last week about INHD as well. On the Clinton system, INHD2 was on channel 175 (if it was ever there at all) and now it's gone. INHD is getting the NESN feeds. My call to Comcast of New Haven (my area's business office) produced no results. Their CSR did not state that INHD2 was pay-per-view. They thought that it simply wasn't turned on yet. The New Haven office also gets channel 175. Does anyone in New Haven get INHD2?

Also, is it worth starting a Connecticut Comcast thread?

I called last week about INHD as well. On the Clinton system, INHD2 was on channel 175 (if it was ever there at all) and now it's gone. INHD is getting the NESN feeds. My call to Comcast of New Haven (my area's business office) produced no results. Their CSR did not state that INHD2 was pay-per-view. They thought that it simply wasn't turned on yet. The New Haven office also gets channel 175. Does anyone in New Haven get INHD2?

Also, is it worth starting a Connecticut Comcast thread?

Is anyone else out there experiencing a problem with WTIC? Signal is Strong but I keep getting digital break up. Consistent breaks up every 8-10 seconds.

Yep, same thing is happening to me, even with very strong signals...A call to WTIC's engineering departments told me that they can see their own picture just fine...a fat lot of help that was!

Originally posted by Will_Morr
Does anyone in New Haven get INHD2?

Also, is it worth starting a Connecticut Comcast thread?

Will_Morr, I live in West Haven which is right next door to New Haven and I have INHD 2 on channel 175. Ive had the service for about 2 months and its always been there !

Oh yeah I think a Connecticut Comcast thread would be great !!!

I accidentally posted this in the main thread and meant to post it here in the Connecticut section. Hello all, I have a question for any Connecticut Comcast customers. I have the Scientific Atlanta 3250hd box and Im in West Haven. On any digital channel I get almost like an audio dropout, only its for like a 1/2 second. When I first got the service I thought it was only on HD channels but as I watched more I found its on almost all digital channels and HD channels. It happens on any channel 301 and up and sometimes on the 100+ channels. Its only gone for a 1/2 second but it can happen numerous times during any given program, sometimes three times in a row. Im an avid Sopranos watcher and it happens every week withouth fail. I can watch it on regular HBO or HBO HD and its bound to happen. Also if I go into the cable box menu and turn off Dolby Digital it doesnt seem to happen as often but it still does. Its really sucks when you have to watch a 5.1 program in pro logic because of this problem and it still doesnt totally solve it. So anyway I had called Comcast the day after I got the service and they sent out a tech and he replaced the box but it did the same thing, so he had no idea what the problem is. Sorry for such the long post but I wanted to get all the details in there. So does anyone else have this problem and did anyone possibly find the cause or a fix? Please let me know!

One Kool Cat, I live in Prospect and have a SA 3250HD box with Adelphia. I too am having the same audio dropout problem. I heard that it is a problem with the software on the box, and that it is up to the individual cable companies to send out the software update to our boxes to correct the problem.

Originally posted by Will_Morr

Also, is it worth starting a Connecticut Comcast thread?

Please don't start another Connecticut HD thread. I think most of us would rather have one place to go for our Connecticut HD news, whether we have Comcast or not. My 2 cents anyway.

With 64 pages of this thread already in the books all having an estimated 85% or greater OTA talk with the rest being cable based it might be difficult for someone with just a cable HD feed to find pertinant information.

Like take for instance just a few posts ago. PaulieORF reposted an answer for "One Kool Cat" that was covered a while back. But with the mass of posts and the ratio of cable to OTA this information would have been very hard for "One Kool Cat" to find, so now the info is posted twice.

I'm not saying this is a bad thing or shouldn't happen. Just as an example of how a "CT Cable HD" thread would be a stronger resource for people to find things. If or when someone starts such a CT cable HD feed thread please notify us on this thread of the new threads name. I just happen to think having the threads content being an easy resource for information is more important then having two subscribed threads to look at. Again just my opinion.

Originally posted by PaulieORF
One Kool Cat, I live in Prospect and have a SA 3250HD box with Adelphia. I too am having the same audio dropout problem. I heard that it is a problem with the software on the box, and that it is up to the individual cable companies to send out the software update to our boxes to correct the problem.

PaulieORF, the cable companies send out the software to update our boxes you mean it automatically updates through the cable line or do I have to have a tech come out and do like a firmware update? Also did your cable company say when they expected they would be sending the update out?

Originally posted by One Kool Cat
PaulieORF, the cable companies send out the software to update our boxes you mean it automatically updates through the cable line or do I have to have a tech come out and do like a firmware update? Also did your cable company say when they expected they would be sending the update out?

cable company can send out the software update right through the cable line.

You may want to try this to figure out your digital cable issues:
Scientific Atlanta eClub (http://www.scientificatlanta.com/explorerclub/default.asp)

they have a disclaimer that reads something like this:
"A Note About Technical Support
We respond to your questions and comments in the form of FAQs on the Explorer eClub site and improvements to information and products. However, the Explorer eClub cannot take the place of your relationship with your cable service provider. For technical support and other issues, please contact your operator directly."

Maybe there is info available on your issue and possible fix, then you can talk to your cable company to proceed with the fixes.

p.s. I do not have cable any more, so I can't help you any further

I like the idea Beaker1024, I'd only suggest widening the geographical area covered. Maybe a Hartford/Springfield Area cable thread? We get Hartford stations and I believe Hartford gets Springfield stations.

Originally posted by patrickgillette
I like the idea Beaker1024, I'd only suggest widening the geographical area covered. Maybe a Hartford/Springfield Area cable thread? We get Hartford stations and I believe Hartford gets Springfield stations. I monitor the two CT threads and the western Mass thread with both a personal and professional interest. (And I also am monitoring a number of other AVS Forum threads as well.) I think having yet more threads only makes it more difficult to figure out what thread a post should be made to ... and it may also split the audience. Usually a bigger audience has better results: more input from more people.

Having typed that ... and looking at the thread's name: Local HDTV Info and Reception - The Somewhat Official Hartford and all of CT Connecticut HDTV thread ... maybe issues that are cable related and not HDTV should go elsewhere? But if it is ATSC or HD related - even cable - my opinion is we should keep it in this thread.

Provin Mountain in Feeding Hills MA (WWLP 22, WWLP-DT 11 and channels 43 and 65) is a little over 3 miles from the CT border. Mount Tom (WGGB 40, WGGB-DT 55, WGBY 57, WGBY-DT 58 and WSHM 67) is about 14 miles from the CT border. As such - most communities in central CT near the Mass border can receive many of these stations off-air. And many cable systems carry some of these stations as well. Inversely in Hampden County MA most people can receive WFSB 3, WTNH 8, WTXX 20, WEDH 24, WVIT 30, WTIC 61 as well as channel 18 and maybe others from CT. Some of those CT stations' digital signals are also available in western Mass as well. And Charter and Comcast in western Mass also carry many of those CT stations on their systems.

Although the TV market stops at the border - there is indeed a lot of overlap between the two. Alas, there is a separate thread for western Mass HDTV - but I've noticed that a lot of people who are active in that thread are also active in the (now two) CT thread(s).

For cable, other than the town of Holland MA which is served by COX out of CT, I don't believe there's any overlap in systems, even if they are the same company (e.g., Comcast in western Mass is different than the Comcast systems in CT). For reference - here is a link to COX and the towns they operate in (from one central head end in Manchester CT):

http://www.cox.com/newengland/cable/channel_lineups.asp

I think that we can retire this thread, and just kinda split it into a CT Cable thread, and a CT OTA thread. I see nothing wrong with that, and for me, it would make things a lot easier and organized. Just my opinion.

I completely agree with RPMcCormick. I get some of my programming from WWLP and the only PBS I can get is WGBY, so I feel it unfair to exclude the MA stations from this group. Same thing for New York stations that those of you in the south can get.

I don’t remember ever seeing an off topic post on this group. The group is The Somewhat Official Hartford and all of CT Connecticut HDTV thread. I understand this to be open discussion about ANY HDTV topic, specifically related to CT, and or any area that can receive our channels and any channels that we can receive.

I also see it being important to include all ways of getting the HD experience, be it OTA, cable or satellite. This allows one to make decisions based on real life experience rather than some salesman’s theory.

Splitting the group, because a topic comes up periodically that you don’t particularly have an interest in is selfish. If a question comes up once in a while that has already been discussed, either proved the newbe an answer, or point them, in a nice way, to where they can get it, or ignore the question and let someone else get it.


Thank you,
Schmitter

I don't know where people are getting this idea that MA and NY folks will be excluded from the CT OTA and/or Cable discussions. If you have a comment, question, etc on a station braodcasting from CT, then post it in the CT OTA thread. If you are one of the few MA residents that is serviced by CT cable companies, then by all means, post your comments in the CT Cable thread. I think you're looking at it the wrong way. The title of this thread is already Connecticut-exclusive, yet you guys seem to be happy with it the way it is. And as far as what schmitter says, about it being selfish... I think that most people who have gone out of their way to get an HDTV, and go to this forum, are probably interested in any form of HDTV they can get. Just like me. I receive HDTV via cable and OTA. And if we split this forum up, I'd still check both threads daily. It just makes addressing issues easier, whether it be OTA discussion, or cable.

Here is one example on how splitting up the thread could help:

Let's say there isn't a whole heck of a lot going on with the cable HDTV scene in CT. But at the same time, the OTA scene is buzzing, with posts coming in like crazy. If someone is looking for information on cable, they have to sort through all the posts in this one giant thread, reading them all, just to find the cable discussion that they are trying to follow.

And here is another idea that I'll just throw out there. Instead of calling the new OTA thread "CT OTA", why not call it "Southern New England OTA", or "CT and MA OTA" ? Just an idea for you MA folks.

See what I mean? It just makes things easier, and I think will make for a better experience.

Originally posted by RPMcCormick
For cable, other than the town of Holland MA which is served by COX out of CT, I don't believe there's any overlap in systems, even if they are the same company (e.g., Comcast in western Mass is different than the Comcast systems in CT).

Originally posted by patrickgillette
Maybe a Hartford/Springfield Area cable thread? We get Hartford stations and I believe Hartford gets Springfield stations.

Whoa, what about all of us in southwestern CT? We are serviced by Cablevision, and I frequently check in to see if there is any info about new stations being added (and and changes with OTA around here as well).

I really don't have any answers on what we should do, but I thnk we SHOULD do something. I don't visit this thread daily, just every so often to see what's new or what's coming up for HD in my area, particularily if it's related to Comcast. But that's only what I'm after. Usually when I see the word "OTA" I skip to the next post since it doesn't really pertain to my setup.

A "Comcast Western MA" thread I fear wouldn't have enough info coming in. Maybe a choice of "HD Only Western MA/Hartford CT Area","Cable Only Western MA/Hartford CT Area" and a "OTA Only Western MA/Hartford CT Area"

Splitting the subjects into 3 prime groups would seem to keep the posts on topic and make it easier to see what's going on. My $.02

Well, I decided to stop talking about it, and just try it. I created two new threads. They are "The Official Connecticut Cable Thread" and "The Official Connecticut Area OTA Thread". We will just have to see if it works or not. It's really quite simple. If you live in CT and are serviced by cable, the cable thread is for you. If you are looking for info on OTA for not only Connecticut, but MA, NY, and RI, the Connecticut "Area" OTA Thread is the place.

This is funny - lately there's more talk about the thread then there is about the subject!

...and WFSB still sucks!

the new threads links are

OTA thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=398478)

Cable thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=398475)

Someone else created a new CT thread last month and it didn't make it. We don't need 4 different threads for Connecticut. I'm not going to go to all of them. I am just going to be staying in this one and I think most the others will be doing the same thing and with the other thread people just post the same thing in both threads so it's kind of useless. Unless your just bored and want to feel important starting your own thread. :confused:

-Joe

If it was my first time here and I did a search for HD in CT more than likely pull up a few threads....you going to go to the one with 4 posts in it of the one with 400? The "search in this thread button" is a very useful tool.

I personally believe that two additional threads about HD in CT will get less hits and ultimately go the way of the others.

Just my .02

I just figured I'd give the two threads a try, since there was so much bickering about it. Might as well call this thread the "Somewhat Official Connecticut HDTV Thread for discussing the Thread." I really don't care if it doesn't work or not. Just giving it a shot. I take no extra pride in creating threads like this.

American Satellite came today and attempted to install an antenna for me in Old Saybrook. They had no idea what I wanted or what to install and just came down with small antenna's that you mount above your dish. They ended up having 2 more installers come down in there van's with other antenna's and pre amps and all they could get in was ABC, PAX, and UPN with only about a 60 signal. They couldn't get any signal for FOX, NBC, or CBS. So they left and I have no OTA for my new HD TiVo :(

They said they would do some research and get back to me about a larger antenna they could order but would cost more and would have to install a tripod on the roof.

-Joe

For Pete's sake, Joseph! Haven't you been around here long enough???
Here's what you tell the people from American Satellite: You want a Channel Master 3671 or a Winegard HD8200P antenna, or a Wade Delhi VU937s with the VU8-PZ power zoom, a Channel Master 9521 rotator, A Channel Master 7777 Preamplifier, and NO diplexing of the signal from the Satellite: have them run a new wire. YES! I don't care what you think; you need a rotator where you are if you want to pick up both Hartford and New Haven. If oyu are in the right location, you may also see WCBS-DT from NYC and possibly WNYW-DT. Quit screwing around! Bite the bullet, and just get it done. If you want to, you can program your Tivo to rotate your antenna for you with that setup You will NOT see WTIC-DT, WVIT-DT or WTXX-DT with anything less where you live!

I agree with cgorra about the rotor simply because of trying to get the stations from NYC (especially WCBS since there is no way in hell you're going to pick up WFSB from down there). If the HDTivo will truely take care of the rotor change, then that is the way to go. It's only money!

How can the TiVo control the rotor?

-Joe

A Tivo has an IR transmitter built in it, from what I remember, and it can be programmed to operate any infared controlled device...look at your manual...a remote controlled rotor can be operated just like any other remote-controlled device

This is a DirecTV TiVo so it has all the tuners build inside it and doesn't control a cable box or external tuner so the IR controler port may not be enabled. There are 2 ports next to each other (IR and Serial) but the manual only says "For future use" and gives no other instructions about being able to use them now. Maybe I'll go ask in the TiVo forum about it.

-Joe

Joseph,

By taking a quick look over at TivoCommunity, it's clear that the HD Tivo can't control a rotor. This thread looked interesting:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=151564&highlight=control+rotor

Let us know what you come up with.

The HD DirecTiVos don't have the ability to control a rotator. That is why it is important to get all of your channels simultaneously if possible. Otherwise you won't be able to reliably have the TiVo auto record.

I'm hoping to receive my HD DirecTiVo from Circuity City on Monday. When I get a tracking number for the package I will schedule an installation of 2 x (Winegard HD8200P, Channel Master 9521A rotator, & Channel Master Titan 7777 preamp). Both antennas will be mounted 12' above the roofline of my house, because that is the maximum height where no permits can be required of me.

One will normally point toward Gaylord Mountain in New Haven to receive ABC, PBS, & UPN. The other will normally point toward Rattlesnake/Avon Mountains in Hartford to receive CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS, & WB.

These antennas are BIG (14.79' long, 9.17' wide), but they seem to be the best hope I have for getting the Hartford stations in HD.

The rotators will be used primarily for tuning, not significant changes in orientation. I'll add a third antenna if exploration shows that I can receive interesting stations on other compass orientations.

The HD DirecTiVos don't have the ability to control a rotator. That is why it is important to get all of your channels simultaneously if possible. Otherwise you won't be able to reliably have the TiVo auto record.

This is what I have set up in my attic. 1 for ABC (WTNH) and the other for the rest in Hartford. I do not get PBS or UPN with this setup right now. But the big 4 do come in without a rotor.

Todd, be careful how you combine the two antennas. They can create ghosting and that kills the picture. I ran into that and that is why only channel 10 comes in from one antenna (bought channel master joiner for that).

Originally posted by ToddHealy
...When I get a tracking number for the package I will schedule an installation of 2 x (Winegard HD8200P, Channel Master 9521A rotator, & Channel Master Titan 7777 preamp)...

Do you know of any 'reputable' / knowledgeable installers in the Farmington area? Can you simply call them with a handfull of equipment model numbers for them to locate, purschase and install?

I live over in Burlington, can see the antennas on RS Mt. I only care about the big 4. I plan on an omni for those on RS Mt. and a directional for New Haven. It would be a dream to have someone who knows what the h*ll they are doing to come and do the install...

Frank

Originally posted by garberfc
Do you know of any 'reputable' / knowledgeable installers in the Farmington area? Can you simply call them with a handfull of equipment model numbers for them to locate, purschase and install?

I went to Signal Electronics (http://www.signalelectronics.com/) and they gave me a couple phone numbers for installers local to me. Signal is their distributer, but they don't do installs themselves.

The installer suggested lesser Winegard antennas, but otherwise the same setup I described. I countered that I wanted the HD8200P. They were going to check their supplier (Signal) and make sure they could get them. As I understand it the box they come in is too big to use UPS/Fedex.

Originally posted by fitsman
Todd, be careful how you combine the two antennas. They can create ghosting and that kills the picture. I ran into that and that is why only channel 10 comes in from one antenna (bought channel master joiner for that).

The guy I spoke indicated that some sort of filters would be needed. I'll leave it to them to figure out the specifics.

For anyone who's interested, when I called to cancel my Comcast service the other day, the CSR that I spoke to said they would be getting the combination HD Receivers/DVRs in June. I think that's consistant with what we have heard in the past. Wouldn't count on CSRs for reliable info though.

Originally posted by jake14mw
For anyone who's interested, when I called to cancel my Comcast service the other day, the CSR that I spoke to said they would be getting the combination HD Receivers/DVRs in June....

Did they happen to mention which brand of DVR? Or, is it common knowledge?

F

It should be the Scientific Atlanta SA8000HD. From what I've read, it has a pretty good feature set. Comcast also recently announced that they are going to be using some Moxi boxes maybe by the end of the year. Those are supposed to have some amazing features, but until I hear people reporting on actual units, I'll be skeptical.

My antennas are scheduled to be installed Thursday afternoon. I will post the results that evening. Hopefully the Hartford stations will come in.

Originally posted by ToddHealy
My antennas are scheduled to be installed Thursday afternoon. I will post the results that evening. Hopefully the Hartford stations will come in.

Cool, what company did you hire to install them? Do you mind saying what they quoted you for the setup?

-Joe

Originally posted by JosephR
Cool, what company did you hire to install them? Do you mind saying what they quoted you for the setup?

-Joe

The place is called Sound Effects. I don't know their location as all interaction has been by phone. It's one of the two places that Signal Electronics pointed me to. Their number is 860-267-6256. The other place is CNM Satellite (203-484-7228).

It'll come to about $830 for 2 of the following w/ installation & hardware:
Winegard Platinum HD8200P antenna
Channel Master Titan 7777 preamp
IR Rotator (brand not specified)

The distributor didn't have the 8200's in stock so my install has been postponed. I'll post again when I get a new date and a more accurate estimate.

I have not heard anything lately about a couple of issues. Is there any new news on WFSB getting the 5.1 audio to work? What about WTIC actually transmitting 480p. As far as I can tell they are only broadcasting 480i (squished) which can be stretched to the correct aspect ratio.

Originally posted by ToddHealy
My antennas are scheduled to be installed Thursday afternoon. I will post the results that evening. Hopefully the Hartford stations will come in.

Did they get your antenna's installed yesterday Todd?

-Joe

Originally posted by JosephR
Did they get your antenna's installed yesterday Todd?

-Joe

Nope, their distributor (Signal Electronics) didn't have the antennas I want in stock. I'm will reschedule when they get an ETA on delivery.

Todd, ask them if they have the Wade-Delhi VU935s in stock...the VU935s with the VU8pz power zoom UHF attachment is more than the equal in UHF reception to the Winegard HD8200p, and should be slightly less expensive. Last time I checked, Signal had the VU-935s in stock...years ago, Consumer Reports rated that antenna the best antenna that they had ever tested...I have used them for years, and have always been amazed at the quality of the UHF reception available from those antennas.

The Wade-Delhi was #2 on my short list, along with Winegard HD8200P, Channel Master 3671 and Antennacraft D9000. I picked the Winegard primarily because because it's dB gain in the mid UHF range (around 32 where most of the Hartford channels are) was a little higher the Wade-Delhi. I've been using Stark Electronics (http://www.starkelectronic.com) to research available models and prices.

Do you know if the consumer reports review included the 8200? Even better, do you know if that review is available on-line. I'd love to read it.

FWIW, Stark lists the Winegard at $169.69 and the Wade-Delhi combination at $235.35, but the price difference is not enough that it would play a role in my decision. The Wade is also over 6' longer than the Winegard, but the aesthetics aren't a big concern for me either. I just want to maximize my ability to receive the Hartford and New Haven locals.

Originally posted by ToddHealy
Do you know if the consumer reports review included the 8200? Even better, do you know if that review is available on-line. I'd love to read it.

I'd love to know which paper issue of CR the report was in..

TIA,

Frank

I spoke with my contact at Sound Effects and have an update.

The Wade-Delhi VU935s are in stock and I got a quote of 1045.99. That price includes two of everything except a pair of VU-8PZ's (prob ~20 each). They're going to place an order for the hardware and call back to schedule installation. The install will probably happen Thursday or Friday.

I'll post again when there is more news.

Todd, from what I can tell, the Wade antenna that you are talking about is the much larger VU937s, which is truly a monster! The VU935s is two models down in the line from the VU937s. The Consumer Reports article I cited is over 10 years old, and I can't find it to save my life. Thay VU937s is unquestionably the most powerful all-channel antenna on the markeet today, and if you add the powerzoom attachment, you'll have an antenna longer than a Ford Excursion! I'd love to hear how you make out!

There's "static in stereo" on over-the-air digital Channel 3 today. The constant crackling noise is accompanied by "sparklies," those thin horizontal bands of video snow, on both the analog and the digital WFSB. I've come to expect sparklies on the analog VHF channels (3 & 8), especially whenever tenants above or below me in this apartment complex run their ceiling fans or when the oil burner kicks on in the basement. But I thought that digital broadcasts were supposed to be immune to sparklies, which are currently not on any other local digital except WFSB. Channel 3's signal strength is fluctuating between 71-78%, down from the usual constant 80%. During the just concluded Eyewitness News, the picture froze every few seconds with no audio during the brief duration of each freeze.

My reception of WCTX-DT has been improving lately. This New Haven channel normally comes in as highly pixelated still frames with a signal strength of 60%. Recently it's been registering at 65%, which is equal to its sister station WTNH-DT, and those 5 percentage points make a big difference in the picture quality. Both channels broadcast from Mad Mare Mountain in Hamden.

Originally posted by WHNB
There's "static in stereo" on over-the-air digital Channel 3 today. The constant crackling noise is accompanied by "sparklies," those thin horizontal bands of video snow, on both the analog and the digital WFSB. I've come to expect sparklies on the analog VHF channels (3 & 8), especially whenever tenants above or below me in this apartment complex run their ceiling fans or when the oil burner kicks on in the basement. But I thought that digital broadcasts were supposed to be immune to sparklies, which are currently not on any other local digital except WFSB. Channel 3's signal strength is fluctuating between 71-78%, down from the usual constant 80%. During the just concluded Eyewitness News, the picture froze every few seconds with no audio during the brief duration of each freeze.Suspect that recent weather conditions - especially at the start and end of the day - have been causing some problems with microwave links.

This is pure speculation: but if they're microwaving one signal from their studios to the transmitter and then doing the (up)conversion to ATSC there that may explain why you were seeing similar problems on both the NTSC and ATSC transmissions.

Yes - digital broadcasts won't have typical analogue picture noise. But that's also not to say that noise from the brushes in motors, bad auto ignition systems, etc. can't necessarily get into your TV/monitor via some other means. (Digital TV will typically just become pixelated, freeze, etc.)

Originally posted by cgorra
Todd, from what I can tell, the Wade antenna that you are talking about is the much larger VU937s, which is truly a monster! The VU935s is two models down in the line from the VU937s. The Consumer Reports article I cited is over 10 years old, and I can't find it to save my life. Thay VU937s is unquestionably the most powerful all-channel antenna on the markeet today, and if you add the powerzoom attachment, you'll have an antenna longer than a Ford Excursion! I'd love to hear how you make out!

I just checked my notes and saw I was mistaken earlier when I said I was getting two 937's. They will be 935's. This is a good thing as long as I pull in all the stations since the 937 is HUGE.

Sorry about the confusion. I'll keep everyone posted on my progress and success (or lack thereof).

I owned a 935 about 25 years ago when they were Jerrold antennas. The antenna performed great in VHF but just average in UHF even with the extension. Keep this in mind since most digital transmitters are UHF. The other gripe I had is the antenna is no where near as tough mechanically as the Channel Master or Winegard antennas.
Jim

Just some feedback on audio "sparklies". We had some problems with some fiber optics equipment starting on Friday. A bad receiver was causing the digital audio breakup as well as video freezing.

As for an update on our full power conversion. The transmitter has mostly been installed. An incorrect heat exchanger (the transmitter's radiator) was shipped so a new one was ordered. Riggers are on the tower and adding reinforcement so we can change out our analog and digital antennas which are also one site.

hello33-3, is there any update on 5.1 audio?

Hi Everyone,

Newbie questions here (be nice :) ). I just picked up a new Hitachi Ultravision 51s700 (with built in HDTV Tuner ) and so far I love it.

I had an old arerial antenna on my roof that I had previously used to pull in analog locals for DTV. I plugged it into my TV and I am able to get WTNH, WVIT, and occasionaly WCTX.

The TV hasn't been able to tune into WTIC or WFSB at all over the past 3 days. Do you guys think I should be able to get them in Middlebury, CT.

I do have a rotor on the antenna, but I have no idea if it works. Should I investigate that to try and get the other stations. With this TV, It seems as though I can't manually add a Digital station, so I don't even know If I am getting any signal on WTIC or WFSB.

Thanks for any suggestions.

HuskySox

I would think that you should be able to manually tune WTIC and WFSB within the Hitachi. You may also want to consider a preamp (like the CM7777) to see if it helps. FWIW, WTIC, WCTX, WFSB, WVIT are all located within the same general vicinity so if your old antenna is not too directional you should be able to pull them in from the same general direction.

Hi Everyone,

Newbie questions here (be nice ). I just picked up a new Hitachi Ultravision 51s700 (with built in HDTV Tuner ) and so far I love it.

I had an old arerial antenna on my roof that I had previously used to pull in analog locals for DTV. I plugged it into my TV and I am able to get WTNH, WVIT, and occasionaly WCTX.

The TV hasn't been able to tune into WTIC or WFSB at all over the past 3 days. Do you guys think I should be able to get them in Middlebury, CT.

I do have a rotor on the antenna, but I have no idea if it works. Should I investigate that to try and get the other stations. With this TV, It seems as though I can't manually add a Digital station, so I don't even know If I am getting any signal on WTIC or WFSB.

Thanks for any suggestions.

HuskySox

In Bethlehem I was getting all CT stations. Lost WFSB when leaves grew in. They should be full power this summer which should help. If you aren't in to much of a valley you should get WTIC, don't think you will get WFSB until they up power. I helped a guy in Waterbury yesterday set his receiver up and with rabbit ears with no amp he got WTNH,WCTX,WVIT and PBS from Bridgeport. He also got some religous channel from Poughkepsie NY. I would definately check to see if rotor works. That will help you with WTIC. Hope this helps you. It is a lot of trial and error with this but well worth the effort.

My antenna install - 2 x (Delhi VU935SR w/ VU-8PZ, Channel Master 7777 preamp, rotator) - has been rescheduled for Monday at noon. I'll post an update that afternoon.

According to Antennaweb the New Haven stations should come in if I use a 'Large Directional w/ pre-amp' but none of the Hartford digital stations are even listed for me. I hope things work out. If this set up doesn't get Hartford I may end up trying something more extreme & expensive live the 19' long VU937SR and/or a tower. Neither of those choice is likely to endear me to my neighbors. :)

I live in Newtown, CT and I recently had a Winegard HD7210P mounted on my roof (with rotor, no pre-amp) hoping to pull in WTNH, WVIT and WTIC. I don't really care about the other locals as I get CBS-HD from D* and never watch UPN or WB. I have a Samsung SIR-TS360 receiver hooked up and so far all I get is WTNH. The signal meter on my Samsung is apparently defective according to Samsung tech support so I never get a lock on the signal strength. On WTNH (8-2) the signal bounces around all over the place but the picture is perfect. WVIT (30-1) and WTIC (61-1) do not come in at all. I get decent reception on their analog stations (lots of snow) but I get nothing at all on the digital channels. D* is sending me a new Hughes receiver but I read that it doesn't have a signal meter at all. Am I SOL or is there something else I'm missing? Should WVIT come in on 35-1 or 30-1? Do I need a bigger antenna (ChannelMaster 3671)?

Gee, that antenna is really too small to expect to get Hartford from where you are, and you really need a preamplifier as well... you are roughly 33 miles from the Farmington towers, and about 2 miles further from the Avon Mountain towers. Given the hilly terrain between you and Hartford, I can believe that you are getting a snowy picture on WVIT and WTIC. That Winegard 7210 is not meant to be a fringe antenna; at best, you could expect 20 miles or so of reliable reception from it in our terrain. You should look at a Channel Master Crossfire 3678, a Winegard HD7084p or a Wade-Delhi (Jerrold) VU935s with the optional VU8PZ UHF attachment, and get a good preapmlifier like a Channel Master Titan 7777 ot a Winegard AP 8275. Get as much altitude as you can and aim the antenna carefully. You will probably have to rescan your digital tuner once you get an new antenna installed. Good luck.

Further complicating my situation is the wife despises the look of the antenna on the roof. Bascially I'm going to have to move it into the attic (if I keep it at all). Does it even pay to try a 3671 in the attic? Or will I get nothing more than WTNH (like I'm getting now)? I'm assuming a pre-amp is even more essential if I have to stick the thing in the attic?

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I did try the small radio shack amp last night with no luck. while it did seem to increase the signal strength of the 3 stations I got, it didn't add any others either.

It looks like saturday, I am up on the roof yelling to the wife to see if the TV comes in any better while I move the antenna around. Thank god I am in a raised ranch with a somewhat lower roof.

Huskysox

Originally posted by cg1200
I live in Newtown, CT... Am I SOL or is there something else I'm missing? Should WVIT come in on 35-1 or 30-1? Do I need a bigger antenna (ChannelMaster 3671)?
I'm in Newtown as well (on the Bethel border) and have a Blake JBX21 in the attic (same spousal issues), CM pre-amp and an Samsung 150 HD receiver. WTNH comes in great with rabbit ears and the only thing I can get off the Blake is WVIT, WEDW and WCTX and I have to rotate the antenna for each one.

Sad but true...

Fellows, there's just no freaking way that you are going to get a Channel Master 3671 into an attic, unless you live in San Simeon, or some other huge house, and, to make matters worse, puting an antenna in the attic will drastically cut down the amount of signal available to whatever antenna you choose. If you have to live with the Winegard HD7210 outdoors, get yourself a good preamplifier, and try that first. Wives are easily swayed by candy, flowers, and other special attention, by the way! Tell her that the SUV in the driveway is more of an eyesore than a good TV antenna! Remember, you can't be too rich, too thin or have too big a TV antenna!

I have a truly massive attic. The Winegard would easily fit in the unused part of it. The 3671 might be tougher. I have to admit I can't stand looking at the antenna on my house either. It just doesn't look right. No one else on my street has one so it just sticks out like a sore sthumb. My only option is the attic. Is there anything I can do? Remember my goals are very modest. I only want WTNH (which I'm getting now with the Winegard) and WVIT. WTIC would be nice but I can live without it. D* should offer it later in the year. Don't care about WFSB (I get CBS-HD from D*) or UPN, PBS or WB.

Originally posted by cg1200
I have to admit I can't stand looking at the antenna on my house either. It just doesn't look right. No one else on my street has one so it just sticks out like a sore sthumb....

Think the 70's :D; When most every house had the old antenna and rotor. Tell your wife it's the retro look :p.

Originally posted by huskysox
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I did try the small radio shack amp last night with no luck. while it did seem to increase the signal strength of the 3 stations I got, it didn't add any others either.

It looks like saturday, I am up on the roof yelling to the wife to see if the TV comes in any better while I move the antenna around. Thank god I am in a raised ranch with a somewhat lower roof.

Huskysox

Why not take your cell phone up there and call her. It'll save your vocal chords. :)

Originally posted by cg1200
Further complicating my situation is the wife despises the look of the antenna on the roof.

Yep, I didn't even get approval....just did it (like Mike).;) But once it was up she referred to our house as "Sanford and Son". Now, however, I really don't think she minds....I mean how many times do you look at the roof??

Wives are easily swayed by candy, flowers, and other special attention, by the way! Tell her that the SUV in the driveway is more of an eyesore than a good TV antenna!

It did cost me an XC-90 and no it is not uglier than the antenna.

Remember, you can't be too rich, too thin or have too big a TV antenna!

Or have too big of a TV.

Preamp, IMHO, will help immensely.

Anyone notice any really annoying constant popping noises tonight on WFSB during Joan of Arcadia?

-Joe

D* sent me another receiver to verify if my Samsung TS360 was defective. They sent me a refurbished TS160. Luckily the signal meter works on this model so I can verify signal strength. I'm getting 93% on WTNH with the Winegard on the roof and 70% on WEDW and that's about it. WVIT blips up to 30% occasionally but no picture. My antenna guys are coming back on Monday to try the Channelmaster 3671 with pre-amp in my attic. At least with a working signal meter I can see how much the attic is killing my signal. Wish me luck. I'll post my findings next week.

Hi folks,

I am in Middletown, CT (near the Middlefield line) and wondering what anyone else in this are is getting for local reception.

Currently, I have Voom (which I love) except that my installer did not even bother putting the Stealth antenna ("green-yellow" areas) because he says I would have gotten no reception whatsoever (somewhat hard to believe, I know). Instead, I am in the process of being upgraded by Voom to a larger antenna (Channel Master 3020?) plus a pre-amp.

Ideally, I'd like to get ABC, CBS and NBC, at a minimum. Otherwise I might as well keep Comcast for HD locals.

I'd like to avoid having any OTA antenna installed if the results are less than certain. Any feedback will be appreciated. What are the chances for reception of three main network channels?

Martin-

Originally posted by jmartinacevedo
Hi folks,

I am in Middletown, CT (near the Middlefield line) and wondering what anyone else in this are is getting for local reception. (snip) What are the chances for reception of three main network channels?http://www.antennaweb.org/

By my estimate, you're in the back yard of WTNH/WCTX ... all of 10 miles away. So you should be able to get ABC (VHF) and UPN (UHF) no problems.

Both WEDN and WHPX are about 42 km (26 miles) from you ... not sure what they're transmitting.

And I'd guess the Farmington complex is around 15 miles - which is nothing as well ... unless you're shooting into a hill or have severe multipath problems. Give that antenna web site a try - it should tell you a more accurate picture ... but the best thing is to try and see what you get.

Few other thoughts: some stations are not up to full power or their antennas are not in their final resting place. As such - don't be disappointed initially as it should get better as time goes on.

And I have no idea how your cable provider is handling the signals ... but there is always the possibility that the off-air signal from any of your local stations may be better quality than the same channel on the cable. Sometimes cable operators compress a channel more than what its being transmitted at off air. For example, our NBC HD is currently running 16.5 mbps bandwidth - but I have no idea if a cable operator would be providing the same amount of bandwidth or compressing it - which may affect quality.

Hope this helps!

I think your installer had his head up his a$$! The Channel Master 3020 is not the best antenna out there, and is probably much larger than you need for your situation. A decent fringe antenna should suffice, and a preamplifier might do more harm than good. Consider a Channel Master Crossfire 3678, a Winegard HD7084p or a Wade-Delhi (Jerrold) VU-935S, and use a remote-controlled rotator like a Channel Master 9521a. If you intend to feed more than one TV from this antenna, consider a distribution amplifier like a Winegard DA-1009, which will comfortably feed 4 televisions when used with a good quality 1 Ghz splitter. If this antenna rig is installed properly, you should see all the Connecticut DTV stations, with the possible exception of WFSB-DT, which should be up to high-power within the month, from all accounts. I warn people away from the Channel Master Advantage series antennas, such as the 3020 and 3018 because of their lousy low-band VHF performance and mediocre UHF performance. The other antennas I mentioned are all top-of-the-line antennas from the three best manufacturers in the business, and any of them should do well for you. All three are available through Signal Electronics Supply on New Park Avenue in West Hartford, who also have the masting, rotators and cabling necessary to do the job. Good luck

I am getting no picture on WTIC at all. When I check my signal it is at 100%. All my other channels are fine. I was wondering if this has been happening to anyone else?I have a Toshiba dst-3000. My Samsung 360 in the bedroom has a picture and is having no problems. Could there be something wrong at the station with them not recognizing the receiver? I thought they had a problem like this in the past.Also, does anyone have an e-mail address or a contact at WTIC to contact to see if anything was changed with them that would have caused this?

MSTMORSE,

You're in Meriden and you're getting WFSB-DT? WHat else are you getting and what antenna do you have.
Thanks
Martin-

I am now using the silver sensor that I have velcroed upside down to the eaves in my attic pointing a little upward. The way I have it pointing, I get WFSB at 100% now, WTNH, WTIC, WVIT also at 100%. I get WB 20-1 at 72% PBS 57-1 at 44 to 58%. and UPN 59-1 anywhere from 21 to 93% depending on the weather. I used to use the radio shack doublebowtie and got WFSB at 65%. I have also used a radio shack multi-directional antenna in the attic that after playing with it got WFSB at 100%.

Originally posted by mstmorse
I am now using the silver sensor that I have velcroed upside down to the eaves in my attic pointing a little upward. The way I have it pointing, I get WFSB at 100% now, WTNH, WTIC, WVIT also at 100%. I get WB 20-1 at 72% PBS 57-1 at 44 to 58%. and UPN 59-1 anywhere from 21 to 93% depending on the weather. I used to use the radio shack doublebowtie and got WFSB at 65%. I have also used a radio shack multi-directional antenna in the attic that after playing with it got WFSB at 100%.

Shows how ridiculously inconsistant and maddening this antenna game is. WFSB-DT at 100% with a Silver Sensor in the attic? Are you on top of a hill?

jmartinacevedo, you're closer than mstmorse to the UHF towers, you should be able to get WFSB with a paper clip taped to the top of your TV!:D

No hill even near me. I have gone over friends houses that are even closer to the towers and they could get everything at 100% but not even a blip on WFSB. I forgot, I used a 10 FT radio shack antenna in the attic before the silver sensor, and the SS definitely outperforms it, and gives me more storage space:D

I have my antenna and amp installed in my walk up attic and it works fine. The only problem that I have is that the ends of the house are clad in aluminum siding and I had to move the antenna towards the center of the interior in order to point it at WTNH without pointing it through the siding. It is amazing the difference moving an antenna a couple of feet will do.

WTIC was out yesterday?? I noticed the same thing as mstmorse...strong signal, no pic or audio....maybe they are updating the equipment for 720p HD due out in Sept?

What set-top box do you have rmcgirr83? I have a Toshiba dst-3000 in the living room and that is the box that is having trouble (no picture but strong signal). I have a Samsung 360 in the bedroom and have no problem with that one.

6000u from E*, never had a problem before this weekend. Do you get audio with the Toshiba and just no pic? I may have to reset my receiver.

I get nothing at all. Just a blank screen. I tried to reset mine with no luck.

Wow, I'm still shocked. SS in Meriden and you get CBS-DT at 100%! And they're still at low power, correct?
M-

jmartin... It shouldn't be that surprising. I'm in Prospect, south of Waterbury, and I generally pick up WFSB-DT at 100%, 86% on bad weather days.

When I went to the SS I was more surprised that i could pick up WFSB and WTNH both at 100% using a directional UHF antenna when they are both in opposite directions.

Originally posted by mstmorse
When I went to the SS I was more surprised that i could pick up WFSB and WTNH both at 100% using a directional UHF antenna when they are both in opposite directions.

Not too surprsing as VHF is easier to receive than UHF. FWIW, I have a RS VU-190 pointed at 318 degrees for the "hartford" towers. WTNH consistently comes in at 90%, although last night with the weather had a lot of drop outs and freezes for "Alias". The signal would jump all over the place, from 92% to low 70's. Ended up watching it on E* local SD garbage (wife couldn't handle it).

Originally posted by rmcgirr83
Not too surprsing as VHF is easier to receive than UHF. FWIW, I have a RS VU-190 pointed at 318 degrees for the "hartford" towers. WTNH consistently comes in at 90%, although last night with the weather had a lot of drop outs and freezes for "Alias". The signal would jump all over the place, from 92% to low 70's. Ended up watching it on E* local SD garbage (wife couldn't handle it).

Are you saying that, aside from the drops outs and freezes, you were receiving Alias in HD last night OTA from WTNH? I received it only in SD both OTA and via Comcast cable.

Originally posted by ad301
Are you saying that, aside from the drops outs and freezes, you were receiving Alias in HD last night OTA from WTNH? I received it only in SD both OTA and via Comcast cable.

No that's not what I am saying. Someone forgot to "flip the switch", so to speak. It was SD either way, however, the OTA SD looks alot better than the sat SD.

Originally posted by rmcgirr83
No that's not what I am saying. Someone forgot to "flip the switch", so to speak. It was SD either way, however, the OTA SD looks alot better than the sat SD.

OK, thanks for the clarification.

Just to close the loop on my woes trying to pull in anything in Newtown. The installers came back out and put a Channel Master 3671 on my roof. I still got nothing but WTNH (93%) and WEDW (70%). It didn't even pay at that point to try it in the attic. I tried re-scanning my Sammy 160 to pull in anything from Hartford but all I got was a big old goose egg. The installers were surprised. They thought at the very least I should have been able to get WVIT and WCTX. There must be some serious hills between me and Harford. I eventually settled on sticking the Winegard in the attic (since leaving it outside didn't help one bit) so I can at least pick up WTNH. In the attic it comes in between 69%-77%. The picture looks great. I was really disappointed that I couldn't pull in anything else but we certainly tried. The only thing we didn't try was a pre-amp but after the 3671 went on my roof and we still saw nothing it seemed like things were hopeless. Thanks for the suggestions and the help.

Just to close the loop on my woes trying to pull in anything in Newtown. The installers came back out and put a Channel Master 3671 on my roof. I still got nothing but WTNH (93%) and WEDW (70%). It didn't even pay at that point to try it in the attic. I tried re-scanning my Sammy 160 to pull in anything from Hartford but all I got was a big old goose egg. The installers were surprised. They thought at the very least I should have been able to get WVIT and WCTX. There must be some serious hills between me and Harford. I eventually settled on sticking the Winegard in the attic (since leaving it outside didn't help one bit) so I can at least pick up WTNH. In the attic it comes in between 69%-77%. The picture looks great. I was really disappointed that I couldn't pull in anything else but we certainly tried. The only thing we didn't try was a pre-amp but after the 3671 went on my roof and we still saw nothing it seemed like things were hopeless. Thanks for the suggestions and the help. I hope D* picks up FOX by the time football season rolls around.

You should try a pre-amp. After I had installed my OTA setup I couldn't receive anything other than PAX (that's because the tower is ~3 miles from me)...after the pre-amp all is good. Get everything except for WFSB.

just checked WVIT again. 100% signal strength, but no audio or video. anyone else having this?

oops, I mean WTIC, sorry.

Originally posted by cg1200
Just to close the loop on my woes trying to pull in anything in Newtown. The installers came back out and put a Channel Master 3671 on my roof. I still got nothing but WTNH (93%) and WEDW (70%). ... They thought at the very least I should have been able to get WVIT and WCTX. Something just doesn't seem right. WCTX 59 & WCTX-DT 39 and transmits from the same tower as WTNH 8 & WTNH-DT 10.

Originally posted by mstmorse
oops, I mean WTIC, sorry.

It's coming in fine here in Cheshire.

I have CM 3671 in Bethlehem and without preamp I only got WTNH and WCTX. With CM 7777 preamp I was getting all CT stations. I lost WFSB now that leaves have grown in. I think you should try that antenna with preamp. You should definately get WVIT. WTXX was the toughest for me to get before leaves grew in. I still get it though. Also was getting WCBS from NY, that might be an option for you as you are closer to NY than I am although I think I am higher altitude.

Originally posted by mstmorse
just checked WVIT again. 100% signal strength, but no audio or video. anyone else having this? No problems receiving it here on a HiPix based system ... but: it appears that the encoding (when reviewed with TSReader after recording the stream on the computer) is missing a bunch of things ... I don't see any PAT or PMT packets.

I guess the reason why my HiPix card can decode it is because it can look at the PID's directly for the video (0x0021) and audio (24 or 25) and work with that. But without the other (required) PID's I'm going to guess most set top boxes will see the data stream but not be able to decode it. And that's why you're probably seeing a signal but nothing is decoding. I gave them a call and let them know.

Well, I just gave them a call and they don't know about anything that they did different in the last several days. I have had no problems until several days ago. They said they will look into it but we'll see.

Well I don't know what they did but my video and audio on 61-1 WTIC came back on within the last 20 minutes.

Hang on I'll check my receiver.

IT'S BAAAACK!!:):):)

Does anyone know if you can pick up WTNHDT with a Channel master 4228 UHF antenna. I am trying to help somone at work get his Digital ota set up. With an non amplified rabbit ears I got WTNH,WCTX and WVIT. His wife doesn't want a big antenna on roof. I was thinking of using the 4228 with the CM 7777 amp. I have the CM 3671 with the 7777 amp and it works great for me but it is a big antenna. He is on the highenst spot in Waterbury so he has good lign of sight to towers, especially New Haven. Only about 15 miles from tower. Thanks for your help.

I have a cm4228 and I receive wtnhhd in Westhampton LI.

hello drogot,

Going good here in Center moriches, went over the dark side and got cablevision so I could get some more HD channels but they never bothered to add them yet. Glad my HiPix is still going strong, just wish I could get wb before Angel went off the air :( now I have no reason to care.

By the time we finished up, a pre-amp just seemed like trying to draw blood from a stone. If I was getting a faint signal from WVIT on the signal meter it may have been worth a try but I was at 0% rotating the 3671 all over the place. It never even budged. We were all kind of shocked but it just wasn't worth it to me for WCTX. I don't think I've ever even watched a single show on it. I was really interested in WVIT because I haven't heard of any plans for D* to ever carry at least the NY feed of NBC. At this point I think I've gone as far as I can go. The antenna in my attic is bolted down (no rotor) so a pre-amp would likely only get me a stronger signal on WTNH which is coming in fine at 77%. I agree something doesn't add up but unfortunately my patience has been exhausted. Thanks again for the feedback.

My new OTA antennas were installed yesterday. Things worked out pretty well considering my sea level location.

The set up consists of two Delhi VU-935SR antennas with Channel Master Titan 7777 pre-amps. Each antenna has filters on it to block frequencies the other antenna is intended to pick up. One antenna also has a Channel Master 9521A rotor.

The fixed antenna is aimed at Gaylord Mountain in New Haven. The antenna with the rotor is aimed and Rattlesnake (and eventually Avon) Mountain in Hartford.

I got two antennas because my HD TiVo needs to receive all stations simultaneously to work properly.

Here are the signal strengths I get with my HR10-250 (HD TiVo)
WTNH-DT (ABC) - 95
WTIC-DT (Fox) - 70
WVIT-DT (NBC) - 71
WCTX-DT (UPN) - 90
WHPX-DT (PAX) - 60 (91 if I aim away from Hartford)

These additional stations come in if I aim away from Hartford
WEDN-DT (PBS) - 85
WFTY-DT (TFA) - 93

WEDW-DT (PBS) & WLNY-DT (???) come in too, but I don't want to quote signal strengths until I find the best aiming position.

I don't get CBS. No surprise there, but hopefully it will come in when they start broadcasting at full power. I also can't get WB. That's really the only disappointment.

Last night I was getting pixelation about every minute or two, sometimes accompanied by audio breakups. This happened even on the stations with 90+ signal strengths. It's not happening today. Is that normal with storms? Does this mean I need bigger antennas?

Hey Lomax

I can't believe the guy with the highest private antenna array on the south shore of Long Island went out and got cablevision. You should be able to get WTIC,WVIT,WTNH,WCTX,WEDW, WFSB(sooner or later) at the very least!

CBS-DT - So, in the end, when can one expect CBS to start transmitting at full power? I've heard conflicting reports.
Thanks.
M-

Got word they are erecting the new antenna as we speak. Believe the last date I heard was June, got some photographic evidence from the engineer at WFSB that work was progressing, posted in the Official Ct thread below:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=3837064#post3837064

I do not know if anybody noticed, but WTIC-DT is upconverting and showing everything in 720p. Does anybody know if they installed their splicer to pass Fox network HD?.

From their Chief Engineer:
They are pushing 480P from the network when it's available, upconverting everything else. They will be installing/passing 720P late summer (August).

Anyone else out there in SE CT having a problem receiving WCTX-DT? I haven't been receiving it since late last week. I suspect it's because a big oak tree between my antenna and the transmitter went into full bloom. Thanks.

Originally posted by RTracey
Anyone else out there in SE CT having a problem receiving WCTX-DT?

I didn't notice any picture or sound problems in tonight's Enterprise.

Thanks Todd.

Ross

Ross,

You know how many trees I have. I have not experienced any problem receiving WCTX (or any other OTA station that I could receive before). How far away is the OAK tree? FWIW, the closest tree I have to the antenna is ~30 feet and the antenna is not pointing at Gaylord Mtn but at the hartford towers (318 degrees). Receive CTX in the mid 70's on the 6000u.

There was a problem with WTIC in people not being able to receive it, I was one, and someone called the station (they were missing info in the transmission). If the tree doesn't seem too close, I would call the station.

Thanks Rich. I was wondering how you were able to pick up as many stations as you do with the trees around your place (and still am). The tree in question for me is 10-15 feet away the antennas and my CM 4228 is pointing towards Rattlesnake/Avon Mtns as well. No one else seems to be having the problem so it must be my set-up. The antenna is working 'cause I'm still picking up NBC and Fox. I'll probably try moving the antenna out of line of the trees on the weekend and see what happens....

Is there anyone in the Shelton, CT area picking up digital OTA stations? What stations are you receiving and what antenna are you using? I am in area code 06484 (Shelton) and I was wondering what real world experience is (beyond antennaweb) in this area?

Chucka

Chucka,

I was able to pick up PBS, WCTX, WTNH, and WVIT in Shelton. I am in a condo so I was not able to use a big outdoor antenna. I set up a RCA powered indoor (highest gain I could find) antenna and set it next to the window. The wife got sick of me always playing with the antenna so I now get my HD through Tele-Media. Let me know if you have any other questions.

OK, any of you troubleshooters out there that feel like it, I'm looking for some advice. I've recently been going through episodes of losing signal primarily on WCTX-DT, sometimes on WVIT-DT (interestingly, never a problem with WTIC-DT ). My best guess about the reason is that I have an oak tree about 15' from the antennas that has come in to full bloom; that tree is directly between me and New Haven, with just a branch or two between the antenna and Hartford (no difficulty picking up WTNH-DT, but that is VHF). Other than the tree (which isn't going anywhere) I'm thinking another issue may be the directionality of my CM 4228; in other words, to get both the Hartford stations and WCTX-DT, the antenna is pointing in between the two transmitters, so I'm not getting an optimal signal on either. I was thinking I might try a Winegard SquareShooter, because it has a wider beamwidth than the 4228, but the gain seems a lot worse (4.5 dB vs 12 dB) - I know Rich, I told you otherwise - , so I'm wondering if what I might get in beamwidth I'll lose in gain.

So, given the following assumptions:

1) the tree isn't going anywhere (although I can prune the branches between the antenna and Harford)
2) I'm not interested in installing a rotor
3) other roof locations for the antennas aren't an option

my questions are:

1) any thoughts on trying the Winegard SS (awfully expensive antenna if it doesn't work)?
2) any ideas on increasing gain on the current setup beyond the CM 7777 preamp I'm currently using?

Thanks!
Ross

I have the Winegard SS, and in general, it is good.

I tried an antenna in the attic, and had lots of drop outs. I find I can get most channels well, with steady signal, except WTIC. I am not sure why, and will be trying to change direction to fix.

The antenna DOES pick up the vhf signal in ct (WTNH, and freq 12, -forgot channel).
I do have lots of trouble getting UPN/WCTX as well. I think that the tower may be too low- I do get WTNH, broadcasting from the same tower, but higher up (it is even at lower power !!). I am now getting NBC and PBS from Springfield that I could not with the attic antenna.

I do not have a preamp, and might install/try. I read that preamps can worsen signal sometimes, if gain is too strong.

Overall, the SS is easy to install, easy to manipulate, and most signals lock well. I just hope to settle down my WTIC (signal goes UP and DOWN every few minutes, with dropouts)

StuH

Thanks Stu. Where are you located in CT?

Ross

Thanks BillN96. It is good to know that I should be able to get at least NBC and ABC in HD in my location. I am planning to put a Antennasdirect DB8 into my attic (perhaps on a rotor though it may not really be necessary). I am just off of Long Hill Road. I hope to get CBS but I guess it may always be a problem though it is the channel I would like to have to most! I will give it a try though which is why I am choosing an 8-Bay antenna (though my wife refuses to let me put it on the roof so I expect the equivalent performance of a 4-bay as if it were on the roof).

How does the picture quality of your Cable compare to what you were getting OTA?

Thanks,

ChuckA

Sorry, I thought it was in my "profile". I am in Glastonbury. I should have a pretty good signal for WTIC, but it just fades in and out.

I did email them, and they are planning a bigger tower, with more power, "over the next few months". We'll see.

Obviously, nothing compares to OTA. OTA picture quality is fantastic. Tele-Media HDTV PQ seems to be getting better for the locals (WVIT and WTNH). In fact, I made the comment last night of how great the NHL Finals looks yesterday. ESPN-HD looks fantastic and the other channels (InHD, InHD2, HDNet, and HDNet movies) look pretty good. I have noticed that they have been making adjustments to those channels almost daily since they went live a couple weeks ago.

There is the Official CT HD Cable Thread
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=398475
and a Tele-Media Going HD Thread
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=314315
Check them out for more specific questions about cable HD. Overall I am happy with my cable HD experience from Tele-Media. (Now if they would only get the rest of the locals.....)

Anybody else have a problem with last night's hockey game on ABC? The audio and video were not synced. The audio was about a half second faster than the video. Luckily you don't watch people talking much during a hockey game. It was only between periods that you could really see it. The commercials were all normal. Weird? Is this common with OTA with WTNH?

Yes I had the audio sync problem on WTNH last night. It's been an ongoing problem with them since they went on the air (over 3 years ago). It only seems to happen with their HD broadcasts (not SD upconverts), more prominent in movies than sporting events in the past, but not infrequent in my years of watching them. Really annoying.

I've never noticed it with the various sitcoms they show, granted I don't watch more than a few minutes of them at a time. I was hoping it was a problem with TNH and not my equipment. Other HD channels were coming in fine. Has anyone from WTNH addressed the problem? If it's been going on for 3 years it doesn't sound like they are any closer to solving the problem.

Thanks.

It's been discussed here over the years, don't remember the story from TNH. As you said, HD sitcoms seem to be fine, but movies/sports seem to be the trouble spot, not sure why. I'm sure you can find some old threads in this forum if you are interested.

Originally posted by StuH
Sorry, I thought it was in my "profile". I am in Glastonbury. I should have a pretty good signal for WTIC, but it just fades in and out.

I did email them, and they are planning a bigger tower, with more power, "over the next few months". We'll see.

Thanks again Stu. Weird that you would be having trouble with WTIC vs. my location; I'm a lot further away than you are, and I consistently pull it in at 60-70% signal strength. I suppose potential obstructions and elevation could be explanations.....

Could the leaves growing in on trees cut my signal on WFSB-DT from 90-100% to nothing? I went without OTA for a few months, and just went back, and I can pick up most of the same channels, including WTNH-DT, WVIT-DT, WTIC-DT, and WTXX-DT. But WFSB-DT is gone, no signal. Also, any word on when they are going full power? Thanks.

I would humbly suggest that you delete two of them.

Can't say about WFSB as I couldn't receive it anyway...FWIW, last I heard for full power was June 04. Anyone want to guess what month we are in now?

Originally posted by PaulieORF
Could the leaves growing in on trees cut my signal on WFSB-DT from 90-100% to nothing? I went without OTA for a few months, and just went back, and I can pick up most of the same channels, including WTNH-DT, WVIT-DT, WTIC-DT, and WTXX-DT. But WFSB-DT is gone, no signal. Also, any word on when they are going full power? Thanks.

I would say definately yes. In my case I installed an attic antenna in the winter, and was receiving most of the CT OTA stations (except for WFSB), with pretty good signal strength. Come late spring, I lost all of the stations, except wvit. Had to reposition antenna to get everything back.
Max

Okay, here's another question. My house is two stories high, and my antenna is 14 feet above the peak of my house. Would using an even longer poll, say boosting it up to 20 feet even help me get WFSB back? Or should I just wait until we know they are full power, and I could possible get it in my current configuration?

Originally posted by PaulieORF
Okay, here's another question. My house is two stories high, and my antenna is 14 feet above the peak of my house. Would using an even longer poll, say boosting it up to 20 feet even help me get WFSB back? Or should I just wait until we know they are full power, and I could possible get it in my current configuration?

hypothetically speaking, you have a better chance at a reception if you mount your antenna higher. However the reality of it is, it all depends on your location and obstacles. For example, if you have a big tree that will still overshadow the antenna after you raise it extra 6 feet, you may not gain anything.
Personally I am waiting for wfsb to go full power, and not wasting my time with outside antenna mount or tinkering with the antenna to no end. Although I have to admit that for me, tinkering with this stuff is 90% of the fun.

Thanks for the advice. I've also not seen any advertisements on WFSB (analog of course) for quite some time now, advertising WFSB-DT. They probably realize that right now, since it's almost summer, and all the leaves are on the trees, that very few can actually pull in their signal. But it's not too much of a problem for me, because the most important time of the year, football season, all the leaves are coming off the trees anyway, so I should have my Pats games in HD even if they don't go full power by then. I'm just praying it's soon though.

Originally posted by mkosover
...Personally I am waiting for wfsb to go full power...
Is there a best guess as to the ETA for going full power?

Thanks,

Frank

Originally posted by garberfc
Is there a best guess as to the ETA for going full power?

Thanks,

Frank

unfortunatelly I do not have any "inside" information on that. Another forum member recently posted some info on the wfsb recent developments. He posted screen shots of the new equipment getting installed. The time frame mentioned was june. I guess I have a passive stance on this issue, it will get installed when it gets installed, and no sooner :(
WFSB already bought the equipment, it will make no sence if they do not use it.

No matter how you receive your HD, you gotta admit (if you saw it) Sportscenter on ESPN kicked off their show in HD last night. Awesome. Amazing how different it is. Too bad they had Linda Cohn and Rece Davis as the anchors.

Hi All,

I'm in the process of jumping into (both feet ;) ) the HD world and am in a predicament.

One of the corner pieces of my setup is a HD TiVo box. The TiVo serves as the STB/Tuner. The TiVo box is backordered for no one knows how long :confused:. Since I'm going TiVo, I'm tied into DirecTV (both HD and SD). The DirecTV guys are going to be on the roof installing the dish in a week or two. I'm having them install the OTA antennas at the same time to save the $$$ for a separate service call.

Here's my problem. I don't have a tuner to use to check signal strength / picture while the roof guys are tinkering...

Would anyone living close by have a spare STB that they'd care to loan me for a week or two? I live in Burlington.

Any other advice would be appreciated.

TIA,

Frank

Anyone pulling this in?? It appeared on my Zenith HD-Sat520 as 53.1 - 53.5 about a week ago. Doesn't seem to be that strong a signal yet.

You are getting WEDN-DT from Norwich on channel 53.* It's certainally possible if you are on the right side of the mountain in Southington

Yep, eight miles from me always get that station in the 90's.:)

Originally posted by garberfc
Would anyone living close by have a spare STB that they'd care to loan me for a week or two? I live in Burlington.
Please disregard. I'm afraid the HD TiVo may not be a reality. DirecTV sold its interest in TiVo and Hughes (the hardware manufacturer). Read it here (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=179082).

I cancelled my order for the DirecTV service. I still have my order placed for the HD TiVo box. Once (read 'If') I get the box, I'll subscribe for the DirecTV service...

F

Originally posted by CKNA
I do not know if anybody noticed, but WTIC-DT is upconverting and showing everything in 720p. Does anybody know if they installed their splicer to pass Fox network HD?.

They've completed the upgrade and now just waiting for FOX to send HD in Sept.

FOXHD - Upgraded Cities (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=409554)

Originally posted by garberfc
Please disregard. I'm afraid the HD TiVo may not be a reality. DirecTV sold its interest in TiVo and Hughes (the hardware manufacturer). Read it here (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=179082).

I cancelled my order for the DirecTV service. I still have my order placed for the HD TiVo box. Once (read 'If') I get the box, I'll subscribe for the DirecTV service...

F

You mean a reality for you, right? Tivo will be around with DirecTV for a long time. IF it will ever not be supported it won't be for years. I understand your hesitancy though, $1000 is a lot of money. If you can get all of the locals OTA though, that machine would be TV heaven.

Are there problems with WTIC-DT this morning? I have always been able to get the channel with no problem. I always was able to receive WVIT-DT, WTXX-DT, and WTIC-DT while pointing at the same area, but now I get absolutely nothing on WTIC-DT, not a blip, while still getting the others. Anyone else having this problem this morning?

Originally posted by PaulieORF
Are there problems with WTIC-DT this morning? I have always been able to get the channel with no problem. I always was able to receive WVIT-DT, WTXX-DT, and WTIC-DT while pointing at the same area, but now I get absolutely nothing on WTIC-DT, not a blip, while still getting the others. Anyone else having this problem this morning?

I am receiving WTIC-DT without any problems today. Signal strength is in the 80s on two different tuners.

I am in the process of renovating the basement and will switch to HDTV in the Fall. I am in GUILFORD. I have been looking for other posts in my area as to reception of HD signals.

I have been to antenna-web to look at my situation but I find that actual experience is a better sometiimes.

1. I should be able to get all of the majors right?
1a Can you pick up a NY DTV signal from this far up the CT shoreline?

2. What model/make OTA antenna do you recommend (also and in the attic or external version)?

3. Should I use an amplifier?

4. Should I use a rotor on my antenna.

5. Should I just pay the cable company ???


Confused :confused: :confused:

If you are interested only in digital, forget about getting a NYC DTV signals in Guilford: Too far, and not worth the trouble. WTNH-DT, WCTX-DT and WEDW-DT should be an easy pull for you in Guilford: WVIT-DT, WTXX-DT. WTIC-DT are available, but will require a larger antenna, mounted outdoors, and a rotor. You may need a high-input preamplifier, as well. Since WTNH-DT and WCTX-DT are on VHF, you will need an all-channel antenna to do the job: UHF alone won't cut it for you. If you only want to install one antenna, you will need a rotator to turn the antenna from New Haven to Hartford. AS an alternative, you could mount 2 all-channel antennas on one mast, a smaller one for the New Haven and Bridgeport stations, and another, larger one, aimed at Hartford, and run 2 coax leads to your tuner, then use an A/B switch to switch between antennas. If you plan to install this yourself, I would suggest the single large antenna with a rotator. Good antennas for your situation would include the Channel Master Crossfire 3671 or 3678, the Winegard HD8200P or the HD7084p, or the Wade-Delhi (Jerrold) VU-935s or the larger VU936s, either one with the optional UHF powerzoom attachment. As for a rotator, I would use the Channel Master9521 remote control rotator, and for a preamplifier, use the high-input Winegard AP 8700 preamplifier. All of this equipment is available through Signal Electronic Supply in West Hartford, or Stark Electronics in Worcester

Don't forget a thrust bearing for the rotor especially with the larger antennae to prevent wind damage. Stark sells these as well.
Jim

I got this message from WSFB about the digital channel WSFB-DT. Full power sometime in July. Bout time.

"We are currently in the process of the high power conversion. We are looking at sometime in July because of backordered items and installation vendor time tables"

Thanks

Victor

Brewer,

Thanks for the info, but if you go back in this thread you'll see that WFSB has been giving new dates for this for a long time. I must admit they did sound very sincere when they said they back in April that they would at full power in June. It's a sad running joke at this point.

Boy, did this forum get quiet in the last few days: did everyone head to the beach?

No, we just lost our ota signals now that the trees are grown in. Never thought I would be looking forward to winter. WFSB is pushed back another month, so not much going on.

Originally posted by cgorra
Boy, did this forum get quiet in the last few days: did everyone head to the beach? Speaking of the beach and it being quiet ... I'd like to ask a somewhat OT question:

I'm interested in anyone that may be on the CT coast ... specifically in the area say from Madison to New London ... whether you can receive WWLP analogue on channel 22. Figured I'd ask here - as I'd expect most of the HD savvy folks to have antennas that may be capable of this. (The heading of course would be the same as that for WWLP-DT ... or close to that for the stations on Rattlesnake.)

Feel free to post here or PM, your choice. TIA.

We used to see a snowy Channel 22 in Waterford, CT, where I grew up: you knew it was there, but wouldn't watch it very often because, in those days, everyone watched WJAR in Providence for NBC. This was before cable TV, and before WVIT (WHNB) was powerful enough to reach the shore. Now, because TV reception is so lousy on the CT shore, almost everyone has either cable TV or a satellite dish, and if your signal isn't on one of those, you don't get seen! WWLP isn't even on Comcast cable here in West Hartford, even though it comes in just fine with nothing more than a UHF loop on the back of the set.
On another subject: rumor around the net (Fybush.com) says that WWLP-DT has raised it's power to 10KW. Is that true? I still can't get it in WH with my DTC-100 and a pair of rabbit ears.

Originally posted by cgorra
On another subject: rumor around the net (Fybush.com) says that WWLP-DT has raised it's power to 10KW. Is that true? I still can't get it in WH with my DTC-100 and a pair of rabbit ears. Yes, I saw that on Scott's 7 June 2004 North East Radio Watch page. On 28 May 2004 the FCC approved WWLP-DT's 2001 application for that power level. WWLP-DT is currently operating under an DT STA and at a low power level. Some minor work has to be done and is currently being scheduled. Bit premature to speculate on when it will happen - but rest assured we'll post info here (and in the western MA thread) when we have something to share!

Channel 22 just is receivable in Mystic,CT. It has lots of snow and loses sync often. The sound is good however. The ground is 200 feet above sea level here and the antenna is four stacked Channel Master 4248 Yagis at about 45 feet. Channel 11 digital has blips on signal meter but usually no picture. John

My turn. I'll rescan and see if I can get it.

Edit:

Well I tried to pick it up (scanned and entered manually) it (~56 miles from my locale) and got nada, zip, nothing, nil.:eek: Although 22.3 sounds great per WWLP website I really don't want to turn my antennae and risk screwing everything else up.

Maybe if it was at 20Kw??

Anyone else not receiving WTNH (ABC) or WCTX (UPN) OTA today? I was getting WCTX earlier today but not WTNH, now I am getting neither. Aren't they broadcast from the same area? I wonder if they are doing something?

I am also unable to receive either. I know for a fact they are currently not broadcasting, because I just get a black screen on my cable HDTV box as well.

Same here in Old Saybrook. I'm not getting WTHNDT or WCTXDT. I do get both analog channels via DirecTV however.

Yeah, me too. No signal at all. 0% on both WTNHDT and WCTXDT

Tonight my receiver is picking up a local channel that it has not been able to receive at all in over a year: Springfield, MA ABC affiliate WGGB-DT. At a signal strength that is peaking at 62%, there is constant pixelation, audio drop-outs, and freeze frames.

WTNH-DT is now coming back in for me, on both cable and OTA.

Originally posted by rmcgirr83
Well I tried to pick it up (scanned and entered manually) it (~56 miles from my locale) and got nada, zip, nothing, nil.:eek: Although 22.3 sounds great per WWLP website I really don't want to turn my antennae and risk screwing everything else up. Maybe if it was at 20Kw?? Thanks for your report!

Actually - the web site is wrong - it needs to be updated. Currently there's 22.1 which is full-time 16:9 format and of course provides HD programming when available. 22.2 is the StormTeam Doppler weather radar. 22.3 was moved to 22.1 - there's no 22.3 any more.

But was really looking to see if anyone could successfully receive WWLP analogue on channel 22 on the CT coast, in your area. I've got a friend in Madison who lives a bit inland and he can receive it - but he's also got a decent size tower and is essentially line-of-site back to Farmington.

If you've got an antenna pointed towards Farmington that should be close enough for attempting to receive the WWLP analogue signal. Thanks!

Thanks for the loss of signal reports on WTNH-DT and WCTX-DT. Indeed both come from the same transmission facility. I've forwarded the observations along to appropriate folks ... they may have been working on something. If I hear anything back I'll be sure to post an update.

Originally posted by RPMcCormick
But was really looking to see if anyone could successfully receive WWLP analogue on channel 22 on the CT coast, in your area. I've got a friend in Madison who lives a bit inland and he can receive it - but he's also got a decent size tower and is essentially line-of-site back to Farmington.

If you've got an antenna pointed towards Farmington that should be close enough for attempting to receive the WWLP analogue signal. Thanks!


Sorry, can't receive that either even with the RS VU-190 pointed at Farmington (318? mag declination 303?) and the SqS pointed at MA (10 degrees mag declination 375). Nada, zip, nothing, nil....again.

Not the greatest setup, for sure, so others may be able to give their findings or lack there of.

Glad to help. :)

Rich: thanks for the additional feedback.

RE: WTNH-DT and WCTX-DT
They were off-air for some antenna work. Riggers need a few more hours to finish up, maybe this afternoon I'm told.

Originally posted by RPMcCormick
[
But was really looking to see if anyone could successfully receive WWLP analogue on channel 22 on the CT coast [/B]

Not sure if it qualifies as "coast" but on North Haven/wallingford line I get a snowy but solid video and perfect audio with a basic Wingard YA-6713 (high band only) antenna about 12 feet above the roof. I suspect better reception would be possible if WTNH weren't causing multipath and requiring me to aim about 20 degree off a straight line of direction.

I got my new Wade-Delhi VU934SR installed yesterday on a Channel Master 9521 Rotator, and both WWLP analog and WWLP-DT look terrific here in West Hartford. My DTC-100 registers a solid 76 on the signal quality meter, and the picture looks terrific! WTNH-DT now registers a solid 94 ( as high as the meter ever seems to read ) and WCTX-DT now registers a very good 70. Now that I have a chance to see good quality OTA compared to Comcast QAM signals on the same set, there is NO comparison: the OTA signals are FAR superior in quality and color fidelity to the Comcast signals.
WFSB-DT 88-90
WTNH-DT 94
WTXX-DT 94
WWLP-DT 76
WVIT-DT 94
WUVN-DT 88-90
WCTX-DT 70
WTIC-DT 94

plus a bunch of other analog stations...

Here's a new question, I believe, about Charter's HD equipment:

Is there a reason or option to choose between the Motorola DCT5100 and the SA Explorer 3100HD? Charter says you get what they have when I asked about picking one up at the Newtown office.

Kal

Originally posted by cgorra
I got my new Wade-Delhi VU934SR installed yesterday on a Channel Master 9521 Rotator, and both WWLP analog and WWLP-DT look terrific here in West Hartford. My DTC-100 registers a solid 76 on the signal quality meter, and the picture looks terrific! WTNH-DT now registers a solid 94 ( as high as the meter ever seems to read ) and WCTX-DT now registers a very good 70. Now that I have a chance to see good quality OTA compared to Comcast QAM signals on the same set, there is NO comparison: the OTA signals are FAR superior in quality and color fidelity to the Comcast signals.
WFSB-DT 88-90
WTNH-DT 94
WTXX-DT 94
WWLP-DT 76
WVIT-DT 94
WUVN-DT 88-90
WCTX-DT 70
WTIC-DT 94

plus a bunch of other analog stations...

Wow, can't get much better than that. Must be great being so close to the towers! Congrats.

Originally posted by Kal Rubinson
Here's a new question, I believe, about Charter's HD equipment:

Is there a reason or option to choose between the Motorola DCT5100 and the SA Explorer 3100HD? Charter says you get what they have when I asked about picking one up at the Newtown office.

Kal

I had the 3100HD for a little while with Comcast. It's an old dog of a box, especially for my set up. For me a big problem was that for non-HD shows, there is no way of getting rid of the gray bars on the side of the picture. It was sent as part of the stream! Also, no sound on analog channels via the digital audio out. Never had the DCT5100.

I currently have an RCA DTC100 that I mostly use for over the air HD. It is not even hooked up right now. Once the new TV season, and football starts, I was planning on antenna experimenting again.

Anyway, I saw in Newington Circuit City today a Zenith HD-SAT520 open box for $149. It came with nothing but the power cord and an access card. The lowest I could talk them down to was $139. I wound up getting it.

My plan is to perhaps use this and sell the DTC100 on ebay. I just looked on ebay and was surprised to see how much the prices have dropped. Looks like I can't expect to get more than $100 for it. I am very budget concious and thought selling my DTC100 would have paid for the new unit.

Finally, my questions:

1) Was $139 a good price? I think some people have picked up units for that price with a remote.
2) Is the feature set on this newer receiver that much better than the RCA?
3) I am hoping to get a much impoved OTA tuning performance, is that reasonable to expect?
4) Are there any negatives about the new unit that I should be aware of? Do any of you folks have it or it's Sony twin, the HD200?

Anything else I should think of? This will be feeding an X1 projector so at least for now, the DVI output doesn't help me. Thanks.

That's a great price when compared with original approximately 1 1/2 yrs ago at most. OK, gritting my teeth, but remembering I was cutting edge for a day, I'll admit the original price when bought from Tweeter was $800.

Having read all the threads about the Sony 200 and many about the Zenith, I'll sum them up. Yes, excellent features, improvements over prior units. Everyone said the improvements in receptivity, locking on signals and combatting multipath were substantial.

Seems a very good buy to me.

On 24 Feb 2004 the FCC granted WTNH-DT's request for an increase in power to 20.5 kW ERP. As of today (30 Jun 2004) WTNH-DT is operating at the newly authorised power level.

I'd be glad to forward along any signal reports and observations. If you used to have pixelation, drop-outs or marginal reception of WTNH-DT give a look and see if this increase has provided any benefit.

RPMcCormick,

Thanks for passing on the info. Do you know what the power used to be?

Originally posted by jake14mw
Thanks for passing on the info. Do you know what the power used to be? Not off hand but a quick review of the FCC TV query for WTNH notes it was 7.9 kW ERP. Looks like there's a slight modification of the antenna pattern as well. If you're interested, all that information can be found here (WTNH's facility ID is 74109):

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=74109

I think the power for WTNH was 7.9Kw.
In mystic channel 10 Providence has gotten somewhat snowier with the antennas aimed at Providence. I have two antennas one at 40 feet and one at 55 feet. When aimed at ch 10 Providence the top one used to be better than the lower one. The results have swapped with the top one worse than the lower one used to be.
When aimed at New Haven, The top one used to get New Haven with very few dropouts using my Mits. TV tuner and too many dropouts when using my Dish TV receiver. Tonight the top antenna with receivers are getting WTNH DT with no dropouts.Also a Pannasonic DST-50 still can not receive it on either antenna. If anyone is interested I can provide spectrum analyzer shots of channel 10. John

Originally posted by ctdish
When aimed at New Haven, The top one used to get New Haven with very few dropouts using my Mits. TV tuner and too many dropouts when using my Dish TV receiver. Tonight the top antenna with receivers are getting WTNH DT with no dropouts.Good news. I'd estimate that is about a 50 mile path. Also a Pannasonic DST-50 still can not receive it on either antenna.Not familiar with that tuner. What can it receive?If anyone is interested I can provide spectrum analyzer shots of channel 10. John Sure. If you'd like to post it here ... or if not public, feel free to PM. (I can also adjust the size - either pixels and/or bytes - using Photoshop if the image isn't within the attachment limitations.)

Originally posted by RPMcCormick
On 24 Feb 2004 the FCC granted WTNH-DT's request for an increase in power to 20.5 kW ERP. As of today (30 Jun 2004) WTNH-DT is operating at the newly authorised power level.

I'd be glad to forward along any signal reports and observations. If you used to have pixelation, drop-outs or marginal reception of WTNH-DT give a look and see if this increase has provided any benefit.

WTNH-DT (Channel 8-02) has usually registered at 65-66% signal strength since February 2002 (on the East Windsor banks of the Connecticut River, just south of the bridge that carries Interstate-91 across the river). Frequent pixelation occurs with any signal strength below 70% on my receiver.

Tonight the signal strength of WTNH-DT is changing every second from a low of 67% to a high of 74% and back down again. Although pixelation still occurs, it is reduced to just once in a while when the meter registers 72-74%.

Here is the shot of the spectrum analyzer. (Top antenna) The scale seems to be about 8 dB per grad. You can see the large analog channel 10 carrier about 20% above the channel edge. On one day WTNH was running about 1.5 Kw and Providence went off the air and WTNH came in perfectly.
All the interesting stations are about 50 miles from here -New Haven, Hartford, Providence and slightly farther 23 and 57 Long Island. Lot of interference cochannels 10 12 sometimes 49. On a few nights I can get 2 digital 39's New Haven and Boston. Adjacent channels 35,33 with super strong 34.
Pany DST 50 is a very old digital receiver with video and 1384 output for recording. It shares the feature lack of the analog notch filter with some other receivers including the RCA DT 100. John

CTDISH: Thanks for the additional info and the screen shot. Cool. Up here in the Springfield MA area have similar problems albeit less stations. Would like to receive WCTX-DT but that's on 39 and we have the local ABC station on 40 - and the lower sideband wipes out any ability to successfully pull in WCTX-DT. (A friend has a small UHF dish on his tower and he is far enough away from Mt. Tom were 40 is that he can receive it.) Will be interesting to see in a couple of years where everybody settles down for final assignments when NTSC goes away!

I have a 72 up here on WTNH DT where I only had about a 15 previously. It is however a good night for propagation. I will keep watching and keep my fingers crossed since now I finally have a ABC HD OTA signal.
Jim

Was 90% now pegs the 6000u. No pixelation and no drop outs.

C'mon WFSB, where the hell are you???:rolleyes:

I saw the notes on WTNH. This morning it was still registering between 52 and 72 on my Hughes receiver. The picture is unwatchable. The signal strength doesn't seem any higher than before. Here in North East Ct, I am probably not on one of their radiation lobes. I am 43 miles from their antenna.


Pete

Originally posted by eorcman
This morning it was still registering between 52 and 72 on my Hughes receiver. The picture is unwatchable. The signal strength doesn't seem any higher than before. Here in North East Ct, I am probably not on one of their radiation lobes. I am 43 miles from their antenna. Thanks for the feedback. If the signal is bouncing around ... you may be having a multipath problem. (I really don't like these readouts in set top boxes because who knows what it is displaying!) If you look for the FCC link I posted previously in this thread you can find an antenna pattern diagram (click on the appropriate link and you'll get a graphical plot). I think its pretty omni directional with a slight null to the south - take a look!

I was playing around with the antenna last night, and WGBY-DT finally popped in with a signal strength of 34-45. The picture was pretty stable, even at that low signal strength, with almost no pixelization, and very good color fidelity. I considered trying a a preamplifier to improve the signal, but I am concerned that I will overload a preamp in the face of such strong local signals as WVIT-DT and WTIC-DT. I will wait and see how WGBY-DT appears in the daytime and over the next few days before making a decision about a preamp. Your thought are appreciated.

Got this update from WFSB today after an e-mail to the Chief Engineer:
-------------
We are still going full steam ahead. We are having problems with some pieces of steel to reinforce our tower. They were fabricated incorrectly. Until those pieces are corrected and meet structural guidelines, we cannot mount our new antennas.



As for 5.1, Motorola has been out to look at our Encoders and we have an appointment to upgrade some of that equipment to accept 5.1



Victor

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

At least things are still moving.

Originally posted by Such
Got this update from WFSB today after an e-mail to the Chief Engineer:
-------------
We are still going full steam ahead. We are having problems with some pieces of steel to reinforce our tower. They were fabricated incorrectly. Until those pieces are corrected and meet structural guidelines, we cannot mount our new antennas.



As for 5.1, Motorola has been out to look at our Encoders and we have an appointment to upgrade some of that equipment to accept 5.1



Victor

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

At least things are still moving.

As they have been for the past years...at a snail's pace and still using the "it's not our fault" line.

Anyone want to bet on July for WFSB to finally be at full power....I'll give you two to one against.

Wouldn't take that bet at 10:1.

Boy I remember hoping that they would be at full power for the Superbowl. It looks like we'll be lucky if they are at full for the start of this season. First game is September 12th.

Originally posted by jake14mw
Boy I remember hoping that they would be at full power for the Superbowl. It looks like we'll be lucky if they are at full for the start of this season. First game is September 12th.

I'll be watching TIC for football this season.

Originally posted by jake14mw
Boy I remember hoping that they would be at full power for the Superbowl. It looks like we'll be lucky if they are at full for the start of this season. First game is September 12th.

They never said what year!

Originally posted by Such
Got this update from WFSB today after an e-mail to the Chief Engineer:
-------------
We are still going full steam ahead.

(But).... we cannot mount our new antennas....
(and) Motorola out to look at .....
(and)...we have an appointment
Victor

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



Interesting view of "full steam ahead."

hmmm ... has anyone else noticed that COX in CT has added another HD channel on 703? CPTV PBS HD. :)

Originally posted by Kal Rubinson
Here's a new question, I believe, about Charter's HD equipment:

Is there a reason or option to choose between the Motorola DCT5100 and the SA Explorer 3100HD? Charter says you get what they have when I asked about picking one up at the Newtown office.

Kal

Can't tell you about the SA Explorer, but I just switched from Directv to Comcast cable and they gave me the DCT5100. I'm pretty impressed with the unit.

Things I liked:

Composite and S-Video remain active, even when watching an HD channel. This gives you a 480i signal that can be distributed throughout the house or recorded to a VCR. It even letter-boxes the HD picture.

In the set-up menu you can decide what happens at the YUV output when the station selected is standard def 4:3. I set it to 480P which gave me a much better picture than the default 480i but still allowed me to select aspect ratios on my plasma (on my plasma 720p and 1080i lock the aspect at 16:9).

You get both an optical and coax digital audio output.

Things I didn't like:

No discrete power on and off IR commands. However there is a workaround that can simulate these commands (at the cost of having to execute a 5 second macro).

Runs Hot.

-----------------------------------
Gary Warzin - Audiophile Systems, Ltd.

Originally posted by psklenar
hmmm ... has anyone else noticed that COX in CT has added another HD channel on 703? CPTV PBS HD. :)

I don't have a cable box, but I do have a Zenith HDTV which has a built in QAMM tumer, I did a scan to see if I could find PBS (I can get WVIT and WFSB fromo COX) but it didn't find PBS, however it DID find two channels of INHD. :D

I am in Newington

Thanks, Gary. It turns out the Charter here is now only offering the SA3250HD, so the issue is moot.

Originally posted by psklenar
hmmm ... has anyone else noticed that COX in CT has added another HD channel on 703? CPTV PBS HD. :)

Yes, I noticed this morning.

Originally posted by Scott Greczkowski
I don't have a cable box, but I do have a Zenith HDTV which has a built in QAMM tumer, I did a scan to see if I could find PBS (I can get WVIT and WFSB fromo COX) but it didn't find PBS, however it DID find two channels of INHD. :D

I am in Newington

They are doing some changes. PBS is scrambled right now, probably by mistake. They were putting 3 HD channels on one channel. WVIT and WFSB look like crap. I am hoping that they will go back to 2 HD channels per channel.

Gary Warzin lives in Indianapolis! What is he doing on the Connecticut forum??? :)

Yes CBS and NBC do look like compressed crap. I am having a hard time especially with WVIT.

OTA looks fabulous on WVIT, WTNH and, dare I say it, on WFSB-DT....

OTA they all look fine to me too, just on COX Cable they look like crap. Looks like they took the HD out of HDTV.

A friend of mine has Charter in Brooklyn, CT and says the same thing. The channels are compressed crap. So far they the pay channels are good with TeleMedia and compare with DISH. I am not happy with ABC or NBC, but I get neither via antenna, so I cannot compare them to the OTA feeds.

I do have OTA as well as Tele-Media, and ABC and NBC on Tele-Media cannot even touch the quality of OTA. It's like comparing a Ugo to a BMW. Adelphia CSRs continue to tell me they are not having any difficulties at their facilities that are causing the problems with ABC and NBC, so I guess that the quality that we have right now is considered acceptible by Tele-Media, and we should not expect to see an improvement in the quality, ever.

I'll mention this to the gentleman I am talking to at TeleMedia about my Firewire situation. He is high up in the company.

My Tivo just told me that Comcast was removing ALL PACIFIC FEEDS ON EVERY MOVIE CHANNEL. They are also addind a couple analog channels. Could this "Mass Exodus" of admittedly duplicate programming be the precursor of some HD being added?? I am in New Haven and an awaiting AT LEAST FOX-HD as well as anything else!! Tivo also tells me the Fox HD will WYNW(?) --BASICALL fOX FROM THE BIG APPLE!!!btw- i WAS VERY DEPRESSED TO HEAR THAT dANBURY already HAS fOX HI DEF.

I have two HD TV's. Rooftop OTA & CATV box on one, and just CATV box on the other. Most times that I've checked, the HD picture/sound quality on WFSB & WVIT (only two which I've had access to via both sources) had been pretty darn identical via both sources. However, there certainly have been times when that's not the case. Last thursday, WSFB's HD howing of CSI was badly hosed over the COX CATV box, but fine OTA. Earlier in the week, WVIT-HD had no sound at all over the CATV box ... hmmm, can't recall going downstairs to check the OTA signal tho. hmm ...

And of course, there are the channels I can't get OTA - INHD/INHD2, Discovery HD Theater, ESPN-HD and now WEDN-HD (although I can get WGBY (MA's PBS station) OTA.

Anybody heard anything from Comcast about when their HD PVR will be available? Last I heard it was supposed to be June. We could get a pool going betting on whether Comcast will get that first or WFSB will be at full power!

I live in Avon(Comcast) and have had the Motorola 6208 PVR for about 2 weeks. Guess WFSB loses again...

Well selborne, give us the first CT review of a cable HD PVR. How do you like it? Did you have any other PVR before it?

I previously had the the Moto 6200.. the 6208 looks just the same, but acts
very differently. All the signals are buffered thru the hard drive ala Tivo/Replay. On HD signals, the picture is close to perfect. On analog channels, because of the MPG encoding used by the box, the picture is close to unwatchable. I switch back to direct feed for those. On digital channels the picture is degraded slightly, but they sucked before. TV is A Sony Grang Wega II 60" LCD RPT. Recording HD shows is easy, but since the HD is so small (8 hours of HD, I think) you watch the show and delete it.
The channel tuning is slower because of the buffering going on. When you tune to an HD channel there is a 15 sec. breakup/freeze/scramble untill the picture stabilizes. I gave the box a direct exclusive feed from the cable line and the problem went away, but the rest of humans in our house did not appreciate the snow on the other TVS. This channel changing problem did not exist with the previous box. Judging by the other forums, this is a firmware issue.

As an HD recorder it has 2 major flaws.. Hard drive size and only one tuner.
When the 2 tuner, larger capacity units come out his Fall, I'll be in line. Until then, most of my TV recording will be with my trusty Replay.

Thanks for the review. Doesn't sound like a unit to rush out and pay more for. I suppose being able to record HD at all would be nice though.

Do any other calbe customers here have an HD PVR? Anyone heard any plans for any other models?

Has anyone else noticed that WCTX-DT has no picture or audio? I am getting plenty of signal strength, on both analog and digital, but a black screen from my DTC-100...is anyone else having this problem? No one answers the phone at the station...

Originally posted by cgorra
Has anyone else noticed that WCTX-DT has no picture or audio? I am getting plenty of signal strength, on both analog and digital, but a black screen from my DTC-100...is anyone else having this problem? No one answers the phone at the station...

I'm getting both picture and sound.

I'm trying to update a master list of OTA HD stations. Hartford has not yet been updated. Can somebody that knows what networks are broadcasting in HD or HD/DD5.1 go to the following link and post the info?

National List of Stations Broadcasting HD / DD5.1 (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=422073)

Just need the Network, Re-mapped Channel#, and if they're DD 5.1. For any of the networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, UPN & WB) that are currently broadcasting in HD.

Thanks....

I have been gone a while from this forum but here is the latest about the upgrade to high power for WFSB.

All the "mistakes" in ordering that our vendors have done have been corrected. Everything that we need (minus some structural steel) is on site or will be on site in the next week.

Motorola Engineers have finally figured out why we have so much lip sync with out Dolby 5.1. It turns out it was a software glitch in our encoder that they are now in the process of correcting. I expect to have that up very soon (I can just hear the cynics now!)

Transmission line and structural steel is about half way done.

High Voltage Power upgrades are also taking place. Of course it is the summer season so things have to be worked around vacations of staff and vendors.

Hope this helps!

First snow, now staff vacation...what they have three employees. Starting to sound like the State of CT is becomming the State of WFSB.

Still holding out hope though that I will be able to get it....when is another question entirely.

Just my .02.

Well hello33-3, I've got to give you some credit for coming back here at all, especially with just more excuses and no solid timetable still!

ok...I just backspaced out the rest of my message, I hate to kill the messenger...trying to bite my tongue...this would all be very comical if it wasn't so frustrating...

the only thing else that I'll say is that I hope that full power is here by...never mind... I'm not going to beg for TV...I'll watch the FOX football games in Hi-def on WTIC and be happy about it.

Thanks for the update hello33-3!

I guess one thing that I am wondering at this point is, Does CBS/Viacom not care about this? A few months ago when I checked, WFSB and one other affiliate were the only major markets not broadcasting HD at a reasonable power. CBS is the HD leader, is it not a concern of theirs if one of it's affiliates is behind every other one of equal size in broadcasting a digital signal at decent power? Is it not something that people up the chain care about? I wonder if there is anyone at CBS or Viacom that we could ask about this?

And consider that eventhough they are last in their market to go full power, they still refuse to grant waivers to those trying to get WCBS from DirecTV. Shamefull to say the least.

Pete

Proposal....

Would it be worth the effort for us to create a poll to identify the BEST and the WORST HD stations in CT? I am not sure what the awards would look like but they might garner some attention and will give credit where credit is due. Perhaps, the awards would also be announced to their parent companies and the networks they carry.

All this B.S. from WFSB, enough already. Just stop with the excuses and grant us D* subs the waiver to get CBS from them already.....so unfair!!!!

scottte

By the way, I have been on the WFSB forum on their website, razzing them about their HDTV service, and one woman there is mounting a campaign to defend WFSB...it is sort of patheric, really. Why not go to the website, log onto the forum, and let's really give them a good raspberry. Maybe someone there will wake up! http://www.wfsb.com

sorry for speaking up, but i'm puzzled. what's the problem with channel 3's ots-hd? is it limited range or something? i'm in the manchester / glastonbury / east hardford corner and it comes in just fine. i have the ota on one hdtv and catv on the other ... usually they look pretty much the same, but when there's a difference, the ota always looks better. so ... what's wrong with them?

sorry,

Originally posted by psklenar
sorry for speaking up, but i'm puzzled. what's the problem with channel 3's ots-hd? is it limited range or something? i'm in the manchester / glastonbury / east hardford corner and it comes in just fine. i have the ota on one hdtv and catv on the other ... usually they look pretty much the same, but when there's a difference, the ota always looks better. so ... what's wrong with them?

sorry,

What's wrong with them with me:
1) Can't get their signal either via cable (Eastern CT) or via OTA due to low power
2) They have been stating now for the past several years that it is always someone else's fault for not being at full power today

It still amazes me that WVIT and WTIC beat WFSB to HD...and CBS is supposedly the leader in HD content and very well maybe, just not with me.