It is in the hands of third party retransmission consent negotiations.

A corporate decision.....................

I hope this is not degenerating into a LIN situation. That's been a disaster for viewers in LIN territories.

Anybody picking up any new channels with the QAM tuner with Suddenlink?

i havent noticed anything new recently...

btw foxeng... if you wouldnt mind checking sometime on sunday to be sure the 5.1 audio is working here. its been stuck in stereo mode for a while and with the superbowl being the biggest event of the year 5.1 is a must. reason its even an issue is i will be at a friends house and he only has suddenlink so if its stuck in 2.0 mode i dont have my houston locals fallback.

i havent noticed anything new recently...

btw foxeng... if you wouldnt mind checking sometime on sunday to be sure the 5.1 audio is working here. its been stuck in stereo mode for a while and with the superbowl being the biggest event of the year 5.1 is a must. reason its even an issue is i will be at a friends house and he only has suddenlink so if its stuck in 2.0 mode i dont have my houston locals fallback.

We went down to Bryan yesterday to install a 6ft parabolic antenna to ensure that we maintain good HD reception through the Super Bowl.

I checked the encoder settings and they are set correctly to flag Dolby Digital.

My Digital Audio Analyzer [Just got it] shows however that the audio stream from my HD decoder is not encoded as Dolby even though it is set to "pass through mode".

I called Sencore support and they said I will need to add an AC-3 audio decoder module in order to pass Dolby Surround in this installation.

I will price the upgrade Monday and order it as soon as possible.

Sorry, I guess we learn as we go in the brave new world of Digital TV.

I get 3.1 and 12.1 and 0.0 but not 44.1. When I call Suddenlink they say I am not entitled to 44.1 (Kyle) unless I buy there cable Card. If this is true Why do I get the other 3 local HD channels through my suddenlink cable? (extended service- but not digital). I have the QAM tuner. I was hoping to watch the super bowl in HD.

Chris Bailey

I get 3.1 and 12.1 and 0.0 but not 44.1. When I call Suddenlink they say I am not entitled to 44.1 (Kyle) unless I buy there cable Card. If this is true Why do I get the other 3 local HD channels through my suddenlink cable? (extended service- but not digital). I have the QAM tuner. I was hoping to watch the super bowl in HD.

Chris Bailey

FCC rules require that cable companies carry the local stations in the basic tier. They cannot charge extra for viewers with QUAM HD cable ready TVs.

I suggest that you complain to the FCC since they are violating the rules by their own staement to you..........

FCC rules require that cable companies carry the local stations in the basic tier. They cannot charge extra for viewers with QUAM HD cable ready TVs.

I suggest that you complain to the FCC since they are violating the rules by their own staement to you..........

If the station isn't carried on the provider's digital tier at all (as is the case with the CW in Austin on TWC), they are not required to have it 'in the clear' (to be picked up by a QAM tuner). The question would be is if you subscribe to the basic digital package would you get these stations. If the answer is yes, then they need to be 'in the clear' (unencrypted) if the answer is no, then they can't be required to carry something they don't offer to digital customers.

I guess the latter is the case in this situation...maybe I should read fully then post...too happy for the '72 Dolphins :)

Has anyone commented on this? I watched it last night for the first time and was disappointed wasn't in HD, but then saw that the SD picture quality was awful. The whole show looks likes it being shot with old S-VHS equipment. Thats not being sarcastic either my high school news program I worked on in high school had better picture quality. I was watching via OTA last night and you could actually see faint scrolling static bars.

If the station isn't carried on the provider's digital tier at all (as is the case with the CW in Austin on TWC), they are not required to have it 'in the clear' (to be picked up by a QAM tuner). The question would be is if you subscribe to the basic digital package would you get these stations. If the answer is yes, then they need to be 'in the clear' (unencrypted) if the answer is no, then they can't be required to carry something they don't offer to digital customers.

I guess the latter is the case in this situation...maybe I should read fully then post...too happy for the '72 Dolphins :)

Since KYLE analog is carried on Suddenlink basic, they are requuired to carry KYLE-HD channel "in the clear" for QUAM customers.

I guess this is their way of getting back at us for forcing them to remove KWKT-HD and replace it with KYLE-HD.

[They were carrying KWKT-HD without a retrasnsmission consent agreement in place as required by FCC rule]

We monitor via HD Slingbox with an HD set-top to verify that they are carrying the correct station.

We are subscribed to both their basic and HD service and we have to pay for it like everyone else.

The FCC doesn't accept cable complaints from broadcasters.

The only way to get it corrected is for viewers with QUAM TVs to file complaints with the FCC.

they do carry it (foxhd) in my area.... so if it is an issue it only affects some areas. but im starting to think it is since more than one seems to have trouble accessing some of the qam channels.

btw foxeng... whats the status on that new equipment for the 5.1 audio? what kind of timetable are we looking at to start enjoying 5.1 from kyle?

I'm starting to think it has to do with the QAM tuners in different brands of tvs.The tv in the bedroom a Sony picks up fox hd.The Panasonic in the living room does not.

I have a panasonic 42 inch plasma with QUAM tuner and can not get KYLE-HD although I did get 44.1 when I first bought the TV in November of last year. Something happened in the meantime. I live near the C.S. High School. I did file a complaint online with the FCC but have not heard anything yet.

I was also able to pick up fox hd on 44.1.When it was moved to 82.705 I lost it on the Panasonic.:mad:

Does the 82.705 imply 705 sub-channels of 82? I called panasonic and they basically say their tuner doesn't support 705 sub-channels.

Does the 82.705 imply 705 sub-channels of 82? I called panasonic and they basically say their tuner doesn't support 705 sub-channels.



On the Sony Fox HD shows up as 82.705.


Cab did they give you any idea what channel to try if the Panasonic QAM turners don't support sub channels in the 700's?

I just realized that ABC HD comes on 91.720.So I don't think it has to do with the subs being in the 700's.

Maybe the 3rd digit is significant (ie, 0 vs 5). A friend of mine gets KYLE on his 2 yr old Sony but does not receive 82-705 on his brand new SamSung. The logical channel for KYLE is 28-1. I wonder if Suddenlink placed it on 82-705 just to keep the viewership down while still complying with the "letter of the law"?

The Panasonic folks did not say the TV did not support Channels in the 700's. I believe they emplied that it only supported 10 sub channels, not hundreds of sub channels.

My Samsung QAM tuner gets me

ABC: 91.720

CBS: 3.1

PBS: 12.1


And that's it..... I would love to get FOX or NBC. My friend has a Vizio and he gets 0.0 as NBC...... no fair!

if you guys really want all the channels get a hdhomerun.... and a 360. :)

media center gets me all the local channels just fine.

http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/lineupui?Cmd=LocationProgramsWeb&Country=US&Postcode=77840

Are you suggesting it is possible to watch these channels on the livingroom HDTV if the hdhomerun is connected through an Xbox 360 to the TV set? If so will the hdhomerun work with a sony playstation? Or does the hdhomerun only work with a mediacenter PC?

Chris

the hdhomerun will work with a number of devices....

* Windows Media Center:
o MCE 2005 32-bit
o MCE 2005 64-bit
o Vista MCE 32-bit
o Vista MCE 64-bit
* Elgato EyeTV - DVR for Mac
* MythTV - DVR for Linux
* SnapStream BeyondTV - DVR for Windows
* SageTV - DVR for Windows
* MediaPortal - DVR for Windows
* GB-PVR - DVR for Windows
* Pluto - Home automation & media system
* VLC - Multi-platform media viewer
* TSReader - MPEG-2 transport stream analysis

its theoretically possible with the ps3 if you run linux and can run vlc but that wont be a very good solution.

i personally run hdhomerun into my vista media center.... and since the 360 has media center extender built in it works with my 360 as well. it does work really well though.... its actually been more stable than my old suddenlink dvr and directv hr21. not to mention you can do cool stuff with media center like schedule/watch programs from my phone and remove commercials automatically.

I was hoping to get some info on reception of KAMU OTA. I see it is broadcasting at 3.2kW on channel 12. After the digital transition a few of the channels I watch now will be moving to 7, 11 & 13 at 3.2kW as well. I'm currently 24 miles from the tower on the Empire State Building and I was wondering if 3.2kW was going to be enough to reach me? I don't have any hills between my antenna and the tower so my question is just if someone 24 miles from the KAMU tower has good reception or not?

I beta tested media center for microsoft over ~ a two year period. Unfortunately, they always wanted their hardware back, including an early version of the extender. When I had their hardware I had it attached to my living room TV set with the extender in the back room, but now I only have MC on my "office PC" with an older happauge TV tuner and no extender. I see linksys has an extender for ~ $300. The hdhomerun box cost ~ $169. I guess at this time I am not prepared to spend that much money to be able to pick up channel 82.705. Thanks for the valuable information, I will keep it in mind. Maybe another inexpensive MC computer with a huge hard drive that I could hook directly to my 42" TV set would be a good thing to consider. The beta test was not all that fun. I'm sure MC is a lot more stable by now.

well if you made the right choice and gotten a 360 over that ps3 you would be set... ;)

yeah the hdhomerun is kinda expensive but it is a very nice device and its going to hold me over nicely until that directv tuner comes out.

btw if anybody else is considering directv in the near future see if you can get a hr20 from them instead of the hr21.... ive had all kinds of little bugs with the hr21. im relatively sure it has to do with the software being behind the hr20's but its still a pretty big pita (the thing locks up for 20 secs 4 or 5 times a day is the biggest problem). its not a huge problem but it is annoying and there are other little bugs still.

I noticed at lunch today that Suddenlink has added TBS HD and History Channel HD. Too bad TBS HD is like TNT HD and basically just stretches SD programming.

History HD stretches as well, but they at least have some HD programs. I'd gather there will be more HD on TBS once the MLB season kicks off.

In College Station, is it Suddenlink or KYLE/KWKT-HD that has a problem with close captioning?

In College Station, is it Suddenlink or KYLE/KWKT-HD that has a problem with close captioning?

I'm watching KYLE on 28-1 OTA, and CC seems to be working fine.

Thanks. I'm suspecting problems with Suddenlink's DVR, although CC seems to be okay on other channels. But there is a lot of momentary freezing on various channels. I will be happy when Directv adds Fox and ABC local channels so I can leave Suddenlink

I'm watching KYLE on 28-1 OTA, and CC seems to be working fine.

Thanks for the comment labmansid :)

My assistant went to the site this weekend and couldn't find anything wrong.

NOTE: The Suddenlink HD box we use in the Bryan office to feed our HD SlingBox CC has never worked.

We've had two boxes there - no help.

When we took the second one back they told me to call the station.

I didn't bother to tell them that I was the station.

It wouldn't have done any good :)

Does anyone out there know of a set-top with a QAM thuner I could use?

Thanks to both of you. I'm happy to know where the problem lies. It would probably be a waste of time to exchange HD boxes at Suddenlink. Any idea when Directv will add Fox and ABC?

Thanks to both of you. I'm happy to know where the problem lies. It would probably be a waste of time to exchange HD boxes at Suddenlink. Any idea when Directv will add Fox and ABC?

Sorry no, waaaay above my paygrade :)

hdhomerun works with pretty much any os.... you could even theoretically stream it over the net if you had a direct line from waco to bryan (ie enough bw) because the hdhdomerun is a network tuner (and it works awesome with media center)

i dont know if this is anything you could look at but fox is still buggy for me (via hdhomerun in media center). it always works fine but when there is a hd show on there is usually constant popping in the audio and little white flakes on the screen (looks like the old days of interference).

hdhomerun works with pretty much any os.... you could even theoretically stream it over the net if you had a direct line from waco to bryan (ie enough bw) because the hdhdomerun is a network tuner (and it works awesome with media center)

i dont know if this is anything you could look at but fox is still buggy for me (via hdhomerun in media center). it always works fine but when there is a hd show on there is usually constant popping in the audio and little white flakes on the screen (looks like the old days of interference).

Thanks, I may try out the HD HomeRun [Gives me an excuse to buy one]
We have a 10 MBit VPN from the Bryan office to the Waco studio through Suddenblink [sic] and Grande Cable.

Thanks, I may try out the HD HomeRun [Gives me an excuse to buy one]
We have a 10 MBit VPN from the Bryan office to the Waco studio through Suddenblink [sic] and Grande Cable.

YES go buy one. hdhomerun is pretty amazing I must say.

btw, has anything changed with Fox on Bryan Suddenlink? Fox HD guide data in media center is blank but the rest of the channels are fine.

Can someone explain this HDhomerun thing to me?

I live in College Station and go to A&M. I have the basic cable with Suddenlink and only get ABC and CBS in HD on channels 91-720 and 3-1

I don't have a cable box or anything.....

What will this HD Homerun thing do for me? Will it allow me to pick up additional HD Channels?



Thank you

hdhomerun is pretty nifty little hd tuner that is networked. it has (two) coax in and ethernet out. just put it on your network somewhere and your other computers can access it. I use it with windows media center. The HD channels show up in the guide and you can watch and record and rewind and all that jazz as if the tv tuner was installed in that machine.

I live in Bryan and I get 5 HD channels... PBS, CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC (1080i, 1080i, 720p 1080i, 720p, I think)

side note: as I said above, lately, the guide hasn't been picking up fox programming info. I'm worried I won't be able to fix it before House starts again.

hdhomerun works with other setups besides windows media center. just google "hdhomerun" and it'll be the first link. A program called Sillicondust makes it. Its really handy and has worked great for me. They've got pretty good instructions on using it too.

on the fox guide issue you have to change the call letters... its now kyleHD and not kwkthd or whatever it was before. you can make the change in the hdhomerun setup and it will bring it into media center since media center looks at the call letters for the channel.

on the fox guide issue you have to change the call letters... its now kyleHD and not kwkthd or whatever it was before. you can make the change in the hdhomerun setup and it will bring it into media center since media center looks at the call letters for the channel.

thanks! you're right. I didn't notice the change...

i dont know if this is anything you could look at but fox is still buggy for me (via hdhomerun in media center). it always works fine but when there is a hd show on there is usually constant popping in the audio and little white flakes on the screen (looks like the old days of interference).

it sounds like we have the same setup and same problem. I hear the popping in the audio on Fox, but other HD channels are fine.

Edit: and its only recently this started happening...

I just noticed the other night that D* has now added the HD feeds of 20-KTXH and 39-KHCW. Comes in handy for watching some HD Astros games, at least.

I think they've been there for a bit. Took me a little time to find the 'stros the other day. Never watched my20 before.

Fox44CE will be happy to know that something done yesterday apparently solved the close captioning problem on Suddenlink with KYLE HD.

D* buddies... can any of you tell me what satellite and transponder the Houston locals come in on?

I "literally" moved yesterday into a duplex here in town and then "figuratively - service address" moved back to Houston last night. For some reason though the Houston locals aren't showing up (I've had them reset my receivers). I'm thinking I've screwed myself because I didn't even have them install the 72.5 satellite (homey installer said that our locals move to the big bird on June 15?).

how do you even tell on the new dvr's? ill be happy to check once i get home.

D* buddies... can any of you tell me what satellite and transponder the Houston locals come in on?

I "literally" moved yesterday into a duplex here in town and then "figuratively - service address" moved back to Houston last night. For some reason though the Houston locals aren't showing up (I've had them reset my receivers). I'm thinking I've screwed myself because I didn't even have them install the 72.5 satellite (homey installer said that our locals move to the big bird on June 15?).

Houston SD comes from the 101 sat. Houston HD comes from the 103 sat. I'm not in the Houston market so I can't swear this is accurate but in the past the Houston SD spotbeam was on Transponder 28.

I would re-run the guided setup. Or, it could be a problem on DTV's end. They may not have authorized your receivers properly. Call and have them hit the receivers again for locals.

http://www.tivofan.com/directv/channels.html

http://www.dbstalk.com/hr20/html/DTV_LIL_DMA.html

List of transponders for the national channels:

http://www.dbstalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=11279&d=1197945876

So now i have to ask a few questions regarding HDHomeRun:

1. It has two coax connetors. That implies two tuners. Is it indeed two tuners or is one ATSC and the other Analog like some of the hauppauge cards on the market?

2. I read online that you need a tuner to get your media center up and running before you can connet to the HDHomeRun? Whats up with that?

3. Any other gotchas I might need to know about?

Thanks

So now i have to ask a few questions regarding HDHomeRun:

1. It has two coax connetors. That implies two tuners. Is it indeed two tuners or is one ATSC and the other Analog like some of the hauppauge cards on the market?

2. I read online that you need a tuner to get your media center up and running before you can connet to the HDHomeRun? Whats up with that?

3. Any other gotchas I might need to know about?

Thanks

1. Yep, 2 tuners. Now you can waste even more of your life on TV. :D

2. That's a limitation of XP MCE. You need to have an analog tuner installed in order to access the "My TV". There has been some fixes for that. Check out:

Here (http://mediacenter.mattgoyer.com/archives/2006/05/11/1115) or
Here (http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/2/47934/ShowThread.aspx)

If you can't get it to work, you can pick up a tuner for < $50.

I don't think there is a problem with this in Vista.

3. I have my HD Homerun working fine on XP MCE and I love it. Just remember to follow the instructions EXACTLY as they are on the website.

Good luck.

Bah, HD Homerun is digital only. Makes sense I guess seeing as all it is doing is streaming the data off the cable over the network.

Someone needs to make a silver bullet ;)

I really like the concept of having it on my network but I would like to be able to receive ALL channels with it :(

Nice handle... Something About Mary!

just do what i do... 2 SD tuners (hauppauge wintv-mce500) and 2 HD tuners (hdhomerun getting hd locals).

Actually CC had the hauppage 1600 dual tuner (one analog, one Clear QAM) for $79.99... I got two :D

For anyone interested in Sage TV Clear QAM digital Channel info for Bryan/COllege Station with Suddenlink:

The channel designtators are as follows (I didn't due the music ones)
Guide# | Designator | Actual Channel to Tune:
700 | KAMUDT | 81-0-1
705 | KYLEDT | 82-0-1
710 | KBTXDT | 81-0-2
720 | KRHDDT | 91-0-1
730 | KCENDT | 82-0-2

This info might help with other tuning softwares so your mileage may vary but in Sage I was able to set this up with a Hauppauge 1600 Dual ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuner.

For anyone interested in Sage TV Clear QAM digital Channel info for Bryan/COllege Station with Suddenlink:

The channel designtators are as follows (I didn't due the music ones)
Guide# | Designator | Actual Channel to Tune:
700 | KAMUDT | 81-0-1
705 | KYLEDT | 82-0-1
710 | KBTXDT | 81-0-2
720 | KRHDDT | 91-0-1
730 | KCENDT | 82-0-2

This info might help with other tuning softwares so your mileage may vary but in Sage I was able to set this up with a Hauppauge 1600 Dual ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuner.

TY for the info. The Fox channel recently changed to KYLEDT without telling me. That led to lots of troubles. Strange thing is that it now shows up in the MCE guide as channel 1700 something, while the rest are >= 1800.

Good to have that info in one place.

Nice handle... Something About Mary!:D:D:D

FOX44CE, and others --

I've lost all audio on 28-1 KYLEHD via Suddenlink QAM. Anybody else?

FOX44CE, and others --

I've lost all audio on 28-1 KYLEHD via Suddenlink QAM. Anybody else?

roger that, me too. What hardware do you have?

And Big Bang Theory (on CBS) skipped a lot during the end. Did anyone else have that or is it just my PC or connection?

i did as well... good thing i have houston backups. that was a damn good episode of house that i would have missed.

i did as well... good thing i have houston backups. that was a damn good episode of house that i would have missed.

Suddenlink reported the audio issue to our Master Control hot line yesterday.

I logged into the Slingbox at the transmitter site and the audio is fine.

The Slingbox HD box at our KYLE office on Broadmore had no audio. (Suddenlink cable box)

I called my stringer engineer and he went to the transmitter site.

Audio on both analog and digital transmitters was fine.

I tried to contact the Suddenlink Head End and was unable to reach them.

Can anyone out there check OTA audio for me please?

Update 5:05PM

I finally got hold of the Suddenlink engineer and he reset his multiplex at the Head End.

Audio is back now on 705 (KYLE-HD)

Indeed - amazing episode of House.

Update 7:00PM:

Still no audio on KYLE-HD on 82-2. Last night, I said 28-1. Either it changed overnight, or I was mistaken before.

Regarding the channels themselves...
Here's what I currently see on Suddenlink via QAM on my Westinghouse TV. This doesn't quite jive with what Flyer@Tamu quoted a few days ago.

3-1 KBTX HD
12-1 KAMU HD
(28-1... identifies as KYLE, but no video or audio)
82-1 KCEN HD
82-2 KYLE HD
91-1 KRHD HD

Indeed - amazing episode of House.

Update 7:00PM:

Still no audio on KYLE-HD on 82-2. Last night, I said 28-1. Either it changed overnight, or I was mistaken before.

Regarding the channels themselves...
Here's what I currently see on Suddenlink via QAM on my Westinghouse TV. This doesn't quite jive with what Flyer@Tamu quoted a few days ago.

3-1 KBTX HD
12-1 KAMU HD
(28-1... identifies as KYLE, but no video or audio)
82-1 KCEN HD
82-2 KYLE HD
91-1 KRHD HD

Update 10:54 AM - 05/14:

KYLE-DT audio at the transmitter site demodulator has never been lost over the last two days of Suddenlink's problems.

After Suddenlink reset their MUX yesterday it came back on our cable box at the office.

At 7:00PM last night it was gone again on the cable box at the office but still good OTA.

At 7:30AM this morning it was back.........I haven't been able to contact the engineer since yesterday afternoon..................

any chance this will fix the constant popping/cracking we get with the audio on suddenlink?

Update 5/14 - 7:00PM.

I now have KYLEHD working with audio, and it has moved back to 28-1.

FWIW, I still get terrible popping/cracking audio on KRHD (ABC) on 91-1.

ive never had audio issues on krhd.... but kyle is back with audio for me as well.

ive never had audio issues on krhd.... but kyle is back with audio for me as well.

Well, now that that's resolved, the power went out at the transmitter site at 9:56 this AM. Both transmitters are off the air................................

Power company is working their way up from the Industrial center.

Finally Suddenlink moved Fox HD back to a number that my qam turner can pick up.I was just flipping between espn and espn2 and low and behold 28-1 popped up.:D My Panasonic would not pick it up on 82-705.

Maybe my complaint to the FCC actually helped. I will check my Panasonic this evening.

Chris

House was not in HD tonight on KYLEHD. Media center recorded it on the correct channel, it was SD. Towards the end it looked like it was trying to go HD but it kept slipping back to HD.

Didn't watch any other Fox shows tonight so I can't guess what the problem was.

Also, on CBS, CSI: Miami was flawless but Big Bang Theory had lots of skips during last 5 minutes.

I noticed this also.

I noticed this also.

Fox or CBS problem or both?

House was not in HD tonight on KYLEHD. Media center recorded it on the correct channel, it was SD. Towards the end it looked like it was trying to go HD but it kept slipping back to HD.

Didn't watch any other Fox shows tonight so I can't guess what the problem was.

Also, on CBS, CSI: Miami was flawless but Big Bang Theory had lots of skips during last 5 minutes.

There were severe inversion issues during Prime Time (House) that caused loss of HD reception at the KYLE transmitter site.

When the signal fades in and out, the system is designed to switch back to SD automatically.

It did what it was designed to do during the reception issue.

This is going to be an issue intermittently during the Spring and Fall.

We are negotiating for a 25MBit fiber feed from Waco to the Bryan transmitter site to give us a full time HD feed for KYLE-DT that we can control from here in Waco.

If we don't get the fiber feed, we will be installing digital microwave (Waco-Lott / Lott-Hearne / Herane-Bryan) replacing the existing analog three hop microwave.

This will be necessary after Feb 17th because reception of KWKT-DT in Bryan will be impossible with four full power (1000KW) digital stations coming on in Houston (44), Dallas (43 & 45) and Austin (43).

P.S. The reason KYLE-DT is coming up correctly (28.1) now on cable is that I requested that Suddenlink pass PSIP in their MUX.

They can do this for any broadcast station on the cable, the stations just don't know it. (They told me when we were troubleshooting the audio issue)

P.S. The reason KYLE-DT is coming up correctly (28.1) now on cable is that I requested that Suddenlink pass PSIP in their MUX.

They can do this for any broadcast station on the cable, the stations just don't know it. (They told me when we were troubleshooting the audio issue)



Thanks for doing this FOX44CE.

Fox or CBS problem or both?


Just on Fox.

Fox44CE:

Have you heard any news about 44-DT being added to DirecTV? This should have been settled months ago.

D* installer told me locals were moving to one of the non-72.5 slots in mid-June. Hopefully that will mean they move to HD as well...

Fox44CE:

Have you heard any news about 44-DT being added to DirecTV? This should have been settled months ago.

Still in 3rd party negotiations for all ComCorp stations in Texas & Louisianna....Sorry.

Waco/Bryan is stalled because of both services refusal to carry KYLE in the Bryan ZIP codes.

They claim we can't get them a signal, their uplink is less than a mile from our Waco studio. Impass.

Sigh.

I just did the upgrade to the big dish so that I could get locals in HD. Well, of course the DirectTv guy tells me AFTER he installs it that we won't get Fox or ABC on HD?!?! Sigh. There goes Lost, etc.

He said they told them it will be June or August, but he said that that actually means November probably. At least he was honest about that.

The funny thing is we switched to suddenlink after 7 years with DTV to get
locals in HD without going to the new big dish, but were so disappointed with it and the quality of the signal and channels that we bit the bullet for the bigger satellite dish on the house. I guess (hope) they will have it worked out before Lost and everything comes out next spring.

I may be misunderstanding earlier posts, but are some of you with DirectTV in this Bryan market actually getting Houston stations in HD?? Because we applied for the waiver a few years ago and got denied. Of course. (trying not to sound bitter, but I overpaid for 2 years with dtv with the promise that local hd channels were... just around the corner!! Only a few more months!! And it never happened. )

Is a big antenna in the attic a way to pull in ABC and Fox from Waco for their HD signals? I would love to have something set for the Lost finale next Thursday.

Sorry for the long venting post.

Those that are getting Houston locals have figuratively "moved" to Houston by having their service address changed to a Houston address.

Antenna coverage is very spotty. Others can chime in, but my guess is that an antenna "in the attic" isn't going to do it - but that might depend on your location. The farther north you are, the better chance you have - but even then...

I hear and understand your frustrations. (Maybe that will help? :D )

Sigh.

I just did the upgrade to the big dish so that I could get locals in HD. Well, of course the DirectTv guy tells me AFTER he installs it that we won't get Fox or ABC on HD?!?! Sigh. There goes Lost, etc.

He said they told them it will be June or August, but he said that that actually means November probably. At least he was honest about that.

The funny thing is we switched to suddenlink after 7 years with DTV to get
locals in HD without going to the new big dish, but were so disappointed with it and the quality of the signal and channels that we bit the bullet for the bigger satellite dish on the house. I guess (hope) they will have it worked out before Lost and everything comes out next spring.

I may be misunderstanding earlier posts, but are some of you with DirectTV in this Bryan market actually getting Houston stations in HD?? Because we applied for the waiver a few years ago and got denied. Of course. (trying not to sound bitter, but I overpaid for 2 years with dtv with the promise that local hd channels were... just around the corner!! Only a few more months!! And it never happened. )

Is a big antenna in the attic a way to pull in ABC and Fox from Waco for their HD signals? I would love to have something set for the Lost finale next Thursday.

Sorry for the long venting post.

Depending on where you are located, you may be able to pick up KYLE-DT (29) FOX OTA. It transmits at 5KW ERP form the East tower of the two side by side towers on FM2818 just East of the Industrial Center West of Bryan.

On Feb 17th 2009 KYLE-DT is moving from 29 to 28 and will be broadcasting from the existing KYLE-TV antenna at 50KW ERP. (Same tower but at the top)

This will provide the same signal coverage as the existing KYLE analog station.

looks like our dish network friends will be getting some hd local action soon.... fox44 do you know how they are going to work for us here in b/cs? and if they will even have fox at launch? because typically dish has treated b/cs as part of waco and didnt offer our "fake" local stations.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/23/dish-networks-summer-hd-locals-rollout-gets-revealed/

mwesson: thanks for understanding :) Guess this is what we get for being ahead of the curve, or maybe just for living in the central texas phantom zone apparently :o Do people with a "service address," in houston still get billing at their home here? Will just a simple phone call change that? I suppose they would see it like a vacation home or something where you maintain service at.

Fox44: thanks for the info. I'm over in Wheeler ridge, so I suppose I may or may not get it. Right now Fox is the strongest over the air analog signal I pick up on my 13" bunny ear tv in the bedroom. Its signal is far better then ABC, CBS or NBC. I can't even get ota analog ABC. Are we just that small of a market where they don't bother transmitting with any sort of power because everyone is on satellite or cable? I mean Fox ota analog just CRUSHES the other 3 networks. Its odd.

mwesson: thanks for understanding :) Guess this is what we get for being ahead of the curve, or maybe just for living in the central texas phantom zone apparently :o Do people with a "service address," in houston still get billing at their home here? Will just a simple phone call change that? I suppose they would see it like a vacation home or something where you maintain service at.


You have two addresses with DirecTV. A billing address and a service address. For most people they are the same but it's not a requirement. Call and tell them to change your *service* address to one in Houston but to leave your *billing* address the same as now. You can change your billing address online but not your service address. They don't care why you have two different addresses and they won't ask you any questions about it.

If you ever need to have repairs done...*move* back to Bryan and then call for service. After repairs are completed, *move* back to Houston. No, they don't care how often you change your service address.

As long as you pay your bill, DirecTV doesn't really care what other tricks you're playing with a service address. In theory they can be fined by the FCC for providing a signal to an out-of-market customer but that's only if they *knowingly* do it. That's why they don't ask any questions. Plausible deniability is their goal.

Bob: Thank you for the insight, that was very helpful!!

Anyone have a good suggestion for a DirecTV installer in B/CS? Calling the DTV home office actually got me the wonderful offer of $199 for installation at a new home - for an existing subscriber for over 2 years! We're 2 weeks short of the "once a year" deal for the free move and they won't budge on the price. Ridiculous....

I might possibly be interested in this as well. Although it seems to me when I talked to them about needing to move twice in 2 months they quoted $99 for the second move. (I've been an 8 year sub though...)

did you try to call customer retention? seems threatening to leave for dish/cable has worked in the past.

Anyone have a good suggestion for a DirecTV installer in B/CS? Calling the DTV home office actually got me the wonderful offer of $199 for installation at a new home - for an existing subscriber for over 2 years! We're 2 weeks short of the "once a year" deal for the free move and they won't budge on the price. Ridiculous....

You could suspend your account for two weeks and just watch over the air until the Movers Connection kicks in again. Save $199 plus save 50% of your monthly DirecTV bill. Private installers tend to be expensive. Or, as another poster suggested, ask to speak to Retention to see if they can help out.

I believe that when you suspend your account, your service clock stops as well... could be wrong though...

Weird question from the Washington DC area. If one of you can do a OTA broadcast digital channel scan, what call sign and channel number does it show for KWKT-DT Fox 44 (DT 57)?

We are getting here one of the weirdest PSIP errors I have ever seen for WTTG-DT Fox 5 in D.C. which digitally broadcasts on UHF 36. If we do a channel scan here, the ATSC tuner now shows KWKT-DT on 44.1. The programming shown is Fox. I enter channel 36 and the channel changes to 44.1!! (?) This is not some strange record breaking atmospheric ducting as the physical station is on UHF 36.

Somehow WTTG-DT got the call sign and channel assignment for KWKT-DT in their PSIP data. My guess is that WTTG-DT uses a service to provide their PSIP data and it is the same company that does KWKT-DT 44 in Waco. Someone messed up the call sign for the WTTG-DT data. Question is whether KWKT-DT is showing WTTG-DT 5.1 in Waco after a rescan?

Anyone have a good suggestion for a DirecTV installer in B/CS? Calling the DTV home office actually got me the wonderful offer of $199 for installation at a new home - for an existing subscriber for over 2 years! We're 2 weeks short of the "once a year" deal for the free move and they won't budge on the price. Ridiculous....

Why don't you move the dish yourself? They are very easy to install, especially if the dish itself is already oriented correctly.

I will be moving to Huntsville soon, and when I type in the zip code to look up the TV listings, I notice a few stations from the Waco/Bryan market listed.

What stations could I expect to pick up OTA? Any help would be appreciated.

The stations you pick up are likely what is transmitted either through cable or over satellite. Do you know what DMA Huntsville is in?

I know nothing for sure - but you might be able to get KBTX (CBS) OTA from there. I doubt very seriously you'll get anything else from the the Waco/Bryan market OTA.

The stations you pick up are likely what is transmitted either through cable or over satellite. Do you know what DMA Huntsville is in?

I know nothing for sure - but you might be able to get KBTX (CBS) OTA from there. I doubt very seriously you'll get anything else from the the Waco/Bryan market OTA.

FYI guys;

With the maximization freeze lifted by the FCC, KYLE-DT filed for a post-transition channel change from 28 to 29 and power increase from 50KW to 1000KW.

I will be moving to Huntsville soon, and when I type in the zip code to look up the TV listings, I notice a few stations from the Waco/Bryan market listed.

What stations could I expect to pick up OTA? Any help would be appreciated.

I'm not 100% sure either, but I think you will be able to get KBTX (CBS) OTA from BCS. Now, I wouldn't be surprised either if you were able to pick up the major networks from Houston OTA as well. It will depend where and how you mount your OTA antenna.

With the maximization freeze lifted by the FCC, KYLE-DT filed for a post-transition channel change from 28 to 29 and power increase from 50KW to 1000KW.

Great news FOX44CE! Thanks for the update!

I saw a CP filed for 50 kW on channel 28, has the channel 29 1000 kW app not shown up yet?

Better yet, do you know where I'd go to find channel change requests? I can't seem to find that on the FCC site, and KYLE would be the third station I know of which is definitely filing for a channel change but I cannot find the paperwork for it.

- Trip

I have no idea what DMA Huntsville is in. I assume it is Houston, because Hunstsville Cable, which is Suddenlink, shows the Houston channels, but my Titan TV shows that the only channels I get in my location are from your market.

Different TV Listings websites that I check out show me getting different OTA stations from both your and Houston market. Huntsville is actually closer to College Station that it is to Houston, not by much though.


Thank you for your input though.

I saw a CP filed for 50 kW on channel 28, has the channel 29 1000 kW app not shown up yet?

Better yet, do you know where I'd go to find channel change requests? I can't seem to find that on the FCC site, and KYLE would be the third station I know of which is definitely filing for a channel change but I cannot find the paperwork for it.

- Trip

For some reason, the FCC is not posting the maximization applications.

Rest assure, the application has been filed.

I have a time stamped copy of it from the FCC!

Any of you D*ers receive a call saying that your HD DNS feeds will be cut off beginning August 7th?

Yes, but that's not a big issue as I have Houston locals. Only rarely do I watch the NY channels.

I'm having the strangest problem on Fox HD (705) with Suddenlink.

Whenver the program is an actual 1080i hd broadcase I see the HD broadcast then it jumps to the SD version and then back to the HD version over and over making the what I am tuning unwatchable. This is with a media center computer and a QAM tuner.

Am I the only one having this problem?

i havent watched anything live or recorded off fox in the past few weeks but ill check tonight and let you know.... one thing though is fox is 720p not 1080i.

Any of you D*ers receive a call saying that your HD DNS feeds will be cut off beginning August 7th?

I did not, and that sucks. Did they give you a reason why? Are we supposed to have locals in HD by then?

I really enjoy having those channels during football/basketball season.

I did not, and that sucks. Did they give you a reason why? Are we supposed to have locals in HD by then?

I really enjoy having those channels during football/basketball season.

As of right now, D* is offering KCEN (NBC) and KWTX (CBS) in HD. I have the DFW locals, so that could be the reason they're cutting mine off. I am disappointed for the same reason; there were several weekends last fall that I was able to watch 6 different NFL games on a Sunday afternoon. We'll see what happens August 7th.

Hmmm... that's interesting. I wonder if I haven't gotten the call b/c I am officially in B/CS right now after just having literally moved.

I'm having the strangest problem on Fox HD (705) with Suddenlink.

Whenver the program is an actual 1080i hd broadcase I see the HD broadcast then it jumps to the SD version and then back to the HD version over and over making the what I am tuning unwatchable. This is with a media center computer and a QAM tuner.

Am I the only one having this problem?



Yes I'm also seeing this. FOX44CE addressed this in one of his previous post.I think he said it won't be fixed until the end of the summer.

Well, at least I feel better now. Its not my tuner or media center/extenders :D

No HD for the all star game?:mad:

No HD for the all star game?:mad:

What channel were you watching? I was picking up the game in HD on both the Austin Fox 7 channel and the Waco Fox 44 channel tonight via OTA.

It's KYLE on Suddenlink in B/CS.

No German grand prix?

What the heck is going on no hd and now selecting which Fox national programming to show.:mad:

Well I see that the race is on now but I wasn't expecting it to be on so late.I missed half of it because of the time change.

Suddenlink added USAHD, SciFiHD and FXHD today.

Suddenlink added USAHD, SciFiHD and FXHD today.

please be more specific. clear qam? can't check because my hd tuner is on the fritz.

I got an automated call/message from D* a couple of weeks ago, as I was expecting to, about upgrading my older MPEG-2 receiver and HD-Tivo to their MPEG-4 counterparts. So the installer came out to do the swap yesterday. Got an HR21 and H21 in the swap, no charge. Kind of disappointed, since they have no OTA tuner, but I may call back and try to get the AM-21 OTA add-on tuner for the DVR. Having two HD-DVRs is pretty sweet, though, since I had already gotten a HR20 a few weeks ago. :cool: Now it's time to move back to H-town!! :D

Ok I got one for you. Saturday night I tried to record the Cowboys preseason game on NFL network. I went in to watch it about 30 mins after the start and it showed that it was blacked out in our area. I then looked in my recorded list and it showed that it had started recording on Fox 44 even though I had not set it to record from there. I started watching the recording and it was in HD. If I switched to 44 live, however, it was in analog.

Have any of yall seen this before and does it bode well for seeing Fox games in HD. It really hacks me off that the ability to see the games in HD has been held up by a 3rd rate crappy local station. Why we cannot choose our programming from whomever we want is beyond me…..

YO! Many of us here understand your frustrations - but FOX44CE is on here and kindly offering us all the information he can. Ask your question nicely and chill on the name calling and I'm sure he'll give you the answers you seek...

Have any of yall seen this before and does it bode well for seeing Fox games in HD. It really hacks me off that the ability to see the games in HD has been held up by a 3rd rate crappy local station. Why we cannot choose our programming from whomever we want is beyond me…..

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe blackout rules are regulated by the NFL. In other words, it's not NFL Network's or the local FOX's fault. Our local FOX station has made some pretty big strides in the past few years. Were you watching on Suddenlink, E*, or D*?

I don't know if this forum is the place to get this info, but I am hoping your guys can help me out. I have an omni-directional antenna mounted on top of my house and I pick up CBS (3.1, & 3.2) and PBS (12.1, 12.2, & 12.3) with amazing reception, even during heavy wind and storms. However, Fox (28.1 and 29.1) both come in like they are streaming on a slow connection. I can get a few seconds at a time, then no picture, then it comes back in....

My question is if the reduced signal is due to my distance to the tower, or if the station is having issues.

Also, I am curious about the feeds from ABC (40) and NBC (23). Have they made the transition to digital yet? If not, when could I see a digital feed from these stations. If they have made the change to digital, what is it going to take for me to see ABC without buying a cable/Suddenlink/DirecTV package?

Thanks for any help you might be able to give.

Welcome to the forum bryden. You are in the right place to get answers for those questions, although I'm not the most knowledgeable person here. Anyway, KBTX (CBS) and KAMU (PBS) are very strong signals. KYLE (FOX) is a little more difficult to get, but they are supposed to increase their power during the digital transition coming up in February 2009. I believe the FOX tower is at the corner of Highway 21 and FM 2818 (someone else correct me if I'm wrong). KMAY (NBC) and KRHD (ABC) still broadcast in analog only. The parent stations in Waco broadcast in HD, but it's difficult to pick up those signals here in BCS. I hope this info helps!

just to add on to what johnny stated.... the signals are available here just not over the airwaves. if you have cable and i think directv/dish you can get the other networks.

Originally Posted by Jonnyb99
Any of you D*ers receive a call saying that your HD DNS feeds will be cut off beginning August 7th?
I did not, and that sucks. Did they give you a reason why? Are we supposed to have locals in HD by then?

I really enjoy having those channels during football/basketball season.I did not, and that sucks. Did they give you a reason why? Are we supposed to have locals in HD by then?

I really enjoy having those channels during football/basketball season.

Hi guys. Well Aug 7 came and went, and I still (fortunately) have my HD distant feeds on 82 and 86. I have an H21 and HR21 now, but I still use my HR10-250 in my MBR, and I will be upset if/when I can no longer get NBC on it in HD. DirectTV also couldn't tell me when I called if I will still be able to get my ABC HD distant feed. I have waviers for NBC and ABC from WAY back. I will be REALLY upset if I loose ABC HD altogether because of this!

They said that the reason for the blocking of the distant feeds is that "the law requires it" because they now deliver HD locals. That, of course, is only fine if you are willing to throw out the two or three older HD receivers that you have :mad: They are willing to give me a little bit of a deal on another HR21 to replace the HD Tivo, but I really love my Tivo compared to the HR21.

Has anyone heard anything new about them removing the NBC HD distant feed and/or status on retaining the ABC HD distant feed? I also asked them if they could selectively remove the distant HD feeds from the newer MPEG4 capable receivers and leave the distant HD feeds on the older receivers, but of course they said no.

If they take ABC HD away from me also, I guess that only leaves me the option to "move", although I really don't want to play that game if I don't have to.

Mike

just to add on to what johnny stated.... the signals are available here just not over the airwaves. if you have cable and i think directv/dish you can get the other networks.

Yes for ABC, NBC and CBS HD .... no HD for FOX unless you "move" or unless I am doing something wrong with DirecTV.

Hi guys. Well Aug 7 came and went, and I still (fortunately) have my HD distant feeds on 82 and 86.

I'm still getting all four HD networks from NY both in the 80's (MPEG2) and the 390's (MPEG4). I'm not going to call D* at all unless I lose them. By the way, I have the DFW locals in HD as well.

I'm still getting all four HD networks from NY both in the 80's (MPEG2) and the 390's (MPEG4). I'm not going to call D* at all unless I lose them. By the way, I have the DFW locals in HD as well.


Well, I didn't want to call either...that's why I asked here:). How do you get FOX HD on D* 398? Have you "moved" out of the B/CS area? I'm sure if I go back through some of the 5600+ posts on this thread, then I could find that out. However, you can just make it easy on me and tell me again:o.

I can get FOX OTA because I have a pretty good antenna setup, but I don't have the OTA signal routed to all of my TV's, and my MAIN TV is just a monitor w/o a tuner. Since I had to replace my HD TIVO with the HR21, I no longer have an OTA tuner for my main viewing area.

Oh, and how do you get the DFW locals in HD unless you "moved"? Or are you just bragging about some obscure scheme that you pulled.

Mike

Well, I didn't want to call either...that's why I asked here:). How do you get FOX HD on D* 398? Have you "moved" out of the B/CS area? I'm sure if I go back through some of the 5600+ posts on this thread, then I could find that out. However, you can just make it easy on me and tell me again:o.

I can get FOX OTA because I have a pretty good antenna setup, but I don't have the OTA signal routed to all of my TV's, and my MAIN TV is just a monitor w/o a tuner. Since I had to replace my HD TIVO with the HR21, I no longer have an OTA tuner for my main viewing area.

Oh, and how do you get the DFW locals in HD unless you "moved"? Or are you just bragging about some obscure scheme that you pulled.

Mike
I am getting FOX and ABC DNS feeds since I had "moved" to Houston before, and those two stations are owned by the networks, which allowed that. I am sure his situation is similar with the DFW locals.
Mike, my post from the other day got lost when AVS servers recently "malfunctioned", but basically I was able to get the DirecTV AM21, which is an add-on OTA tuner for the HR21 box. Just tell them since they don't offer all the HD locals yet, OTA is your only option for now and they should ship it to you for free. That's what I did, got it in two days.
If you have more questions, you can PM me and we can talk over the phone.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe blackout rules are regulated by the NFL. In other words, it's not NFL Network's or the local FOX's fault. Our local FOX station has made some pretty big strides in the past few years. Were you watching on Suddenlink, E*, or D*?

I was watching on D*. And yes the Fox station has made strides, however they are the holdup on us getting Fox in HD through D*.
D* is willing and ready to pipe the HD feed to us and has been for quite a while yet we sit and wait. It’s as if I wanted to buy a shovel from one store and they didn’t want to sell it to me because their area marketing deal was not set yet AND they also told me it was against the law to walk across the street and buy a shovel from their competitor. Fox, and every other broadcaster, has a monopoly. They don’t care at all about their customer. I guarantee that if I had the option to choose another provider that Fox would have been offering an HD feed from day one when D* was ready to pipe it out. This is just really frustrating and Un-American to me.

Now this rant (yes I am being whiney) is NOT directed at our resident Fox engineer. He has been nothing but helpful and very informative and I am SURE it’s not his idea to deny us HD. So all apologies to him if I am offending him in any way! And he might be able to provide another side to the story. I guess it is always possible that D* is trying to screw over the local Fox in their contract negotiations so I will keep an open mind. 

The FCC has stated in two different Orders it has issued that certain subscribers who are "eligible" for HD DNS (that being that they live beyond a grade B signal as predicted by the Longley-Rice model or as determined after a signal test is completed at the subscriber’s location) may continue to receive HD DNS even after local-into-local is offered by the satellite provider. Specifically, the FCC states:

"Section 339(a)(2)(D)(iii)(III) of the Act also requires that to be eligible for distant digital signals, subscribers must subscribe to the analog local-into-local package, where offered, and receive the analog signal of the network station affiliated with the same network, where available. For new local-into-local markets [after Dec. 8, 2004], subscribers receiving a distant digital signal of a network station can continue to receive that signal after a satellite carrier begins offering local-into-local digital signals in the market only if the subscriber also subscribes to the digital signal of the local station affiliated with the same network."
See In re Waiver of Digital Testing Pursuant to the [SHVERA] of 2004, MB Docket No. 05-317, at p. 3, para. 5 (January 16, 2008) (an order extending prior Order containing same language dated July 13, 2007).

Furthermore, SHVERA specifically allows "grandfathered" HD DNS subscribers (those receiving HD DNS prior to SHVERA’s passage date of Dec. 8, 2004) to continue to receive HD DNS "whether or not such subscriber elects to subscribe to local digital signals." This means such subscribers may receive both HD DNS and local HD signals. See 47 U.S.C. § 339 (a)(2)(D)(ii) (provision labeled "Pre-enactment distant digital signal subscribers").
SHVERA also allows (as recognized by the FCC in the above quoted language from the two FCC orders) subscribers who did not have HD locals available from Directv nor a grade b digital signal over-the-air after Dec. 8, 2004, but before HD local-into-local was offered by Directv, to continue to receive HD DNS even after HD local-into-locals are later offered by Direct. Specifically, the statute states as follows:

"(v) Non-local-to-local markets
After December 8, 2004, if the satellite carrier does not make available the digital signal of a local network station in a local market, the satellite carrier may offer a new subscriber [to DNS service] after such date who is eligible under this subparagraph a distant digital signal from a station affiliated with the same network and, in the case of any local market in the 48 contiguous States of the United States, whose prime time network programming is generally broadcast simultaneously with, or later than, the prime time network programming of the affiliate of the same network in the local market, except that--
(I) such carrier may continue to provide such distant digital signal to such a subscriber after the date on which the carrier makes available the digital signal of a local network station affiliated with such network only if such subscriber subscribes to the digital signal from such local network station; and
(II) the limitation contained in subclause (I) of this clause shall not apply to a subscriber that cannot be reached by the satellite transmission of the local digital signal."
See 47 U.S.C.A. § 339(a)(2)(D)(v) (allowing certain subscribers to continue to receive HD DNS even after local-into-local digital signals are later offered by Directv).

However, once removed, HD DNS of a particular network cannot be added if Directv now offers the rebroadcast digital signal of that particular local netowrk. See 47 U.S.C. § 339 (a)(2)(D)(iv) ("After the date on which a satellite carrier makes available the digital signal of a local network station, the carrier may not offer the distant digital signal of a network station affiliated with the same television network to any new subscriber to such distant digital signal after such date, except that such distant digital signal may be provided to a new subscriber who cannot be reached by the satellite transmission of the local digital signal."). So, once Directv cuts them off, if HD locals are offered, then the statute says the subscriber cannot be "eligible" for Directv to "offer" such DNS signals of any network that Directv rebroadcasts the digital signal of the local affiliate of that network.

All of the above are statutorily designated "eligibility" factors for Directv to be able to provide HD DNS. SHVERA still provides subscribers who do not automatically qualify under the above provisions the right to request waivers. See 47 U.S.C. § 339 (a)(2)(E) ("Authority to grant station-specific waivers--This paragraph shall not prohibit a retransmission of a distant analog signal or distant digital signal (within the meaning of subparagraph (A), (B), or (D)) of any distant network station to any subscriber to whom the signal of a local network station affiliated with the same network is available, if and to the extent that such local network station has affirmatively granted a waiver from the requirements of this paragraph to such satellite carrier with respect to retransmission of such distant network station to such subscriber."). This provides subscribers the right to request individual waivers.

Thus, there are (1) "grandfathered" HD DNS subscribers, (2) post Dec. 8, 2004, but prior to local-into-local digitals being offered HD DNS subscribers who live beyond a grade b signal, and (3) specifically granted waivers subscribers who can all continue to receive HD DNS even after digital locals are offered by Directv. It may be that blanket and owner/operator waivers are being pulled by the networks. However, for those subscribers who are statutorily eligible to receive the HD DNS, there is no waiver to be pulled (that is "grandfather HD DNS and post Dec. 8, 2004, but prior to HD locals being offered subscribers to HD DNS). Also, specifically granted waivers are not the same as blanket waivers. The specifically granted waivers should be valid until the station pulls the waiver.

Ok I got one for you. Saturday night I tried to record the Cowboys preseason game on NFL network. I went in to watch it about 30 mins after the start and it showed that it was blacked out in our area. I then looked in my recorded list and it showed that it had started recording on Fox 44 even though I had not set it to record from there. I started watching the recording and it was in HD. If I switched to 44 live, however, it was in analog.

Have any of yall seen this before and does it bode well for seeing Fox games in HD. It really hacks me off that the ability to see the games in HD has been held up by a 3rd rate crappy local station. Why we cannot choose our programming from whomever we want is beyond me…..

KWKT carried the entire Cowboys game and pregame in HD. I know because I was at the station. The game was not carried in HD on KYLE because the cowboys retransmission agreement didn't allow it. We are working on that and hope to have that settled next week.

We set up to air the game in HD with only three days notice and were still installing the HD equipment for it Saturday morning.

If you were watching the Direct TV or Dish Network channel for FOX 44, you would only get the standard definition signal.

We have not reached an HD retransmission agreement with either Direct TV or Dish Network over differences in bandwidth restrictions and the refusal of both systems to carry KYLE-DT in the Bryan area.

In the past we have gone to great effort and expense to deliver FOX HD on KYLE-DT within the limitations placed on us by the FCC digital table of allottments and only expect service providers to carry that staion and it's local commercials to allow us a return on investment.

These negotiations are being done by and outside arbiter and involve several broadcast groups and FOX.

FOX is very picky about signal quality to the point that they require the affiliates to pass the signal through the station without any form of decoding.

They have invested a lot of money to accomplish this and all cable companies have complied with their guidelines.

Neither Dish Network or Direct TV have complied except in the larger markets.

If the "other" guys want to be compessed down to 8 MBits, that's their choice. FOX and their affiliates don't agree.

So we were getting the KWKT HD feed?

So we were getting the KWKT HD feed?

If you were watching the Direct TV or Dish Network channel for FOX 44, you would only get the standard definition signal.


That's really weird if you were watching D* and seeing HD on FOX 44. I just checked D*'s website and the only HD locals for our area are KCEN (NBC 6) and KWTX (CBS 10).

EXACT same thing happened to me with Dtv. i was recording 212 which is the NFL network in HD. the Redskins game was still on so i switched to 44. after a few minutes i switched over to NFL Network and saw that the Cowboys game was blacked out. i went to guide and switched it to 44 and hit record. then i hit exit. at that time it was still on NFL Network showed a black screen. I switched it to 44 which was showing the game in standard definition. i hit Info on the remote and it showed as ch 44 but not recording. so i hit record again. i went to list and it showed 2 channel 44's being recorded one on each tuner. i stopped one... selected the other and the one that was being recorded was channel 44 in HD. complete with Waco commercials. i was very confused but i rolled with it!!

Oh what a tease FOX44.:DThe first ten minutes of the Cowboys pregame on KYLE was in HD.Then it went away.:(

Oh what a tease FOX44.:DThe first ten minutes of the Cowboys pregame on KYLE was in HD.Then it went away.:(

The input for the Cowboy feed doesn't switch KYLE-DT to re-broadcast KWKT-HD so I don't know how that could have happened.

I will be able to enable KYLE HD for next weeks game. The OK came in from the Cowboys organization Friday but I was out of town until today. Sorry.

EXACT same thing happened to me with Dtv. i was recording 212 which is the NFL network in HD. the Redskins game was still on so i switched to 44. after a few minutes i switched over to NFL Network and saw that the Cowboys game was blacked out. i went to guide and switched it to 44 and hit record. then i hit exit. at that time it was still on NFL Network showed a black screen. I switched it to 44 which was showing the game in standard definition. i hit Info on the remote and it showed as ch 44 but not recording. so i hit record again. i went to list and it showed 2 channel 44's being recorded one on each tuner. i stopped one... selected the other and the one that was being recorded was channel 44 in HD. complete with Waco commercials. i was very confused but i rolled with it!!

It sounds like D* put up the game from KWKT in HD without our permission.

This broadcast is not a FOX feed but a Dallas Cowboys production.

Since the Cowboys own the rights, D* would be in violation of their copyright as well as ours.

I've really noticed some blockyness on KCEN-DT from watching all the fast action of the Olympics this year. For example, runner's legs and swimmers look very blocky.

Is the stream badly compressed or do I just have bad anti-aliasing settings?

I'm watching the channel over Clear QAM on my HDHomeRun to my HTPC with PowerDVD MPEG2 decoder though an ATI (Sapphire) HD3450 video card.

ive noticed similar things from kcen in media center (using the hdhomerun). by comparison the houston nbc is quite a bit better with motion but its overall sharpness isnt as good as kcen. (we also dont know for sure but id suspect the houston nbc might be mpeg4 on directv which could do some stuff to blur it more to help)

their issue is more than likely them not giving it enough bw (since we know they have 2 or 3 subchannels) and kcen's problems are more than likely horrible/cheap encoders. because we know their bitrate is ~15 mbit average which should be more than enough for hd video.

I've really noticed some blockyness on KCEN-DT from watching all the fast action of the Olympics this year. For example, runner's legs and swimmers look very blocky.

Is the stream badly compressed or do I just have bad anti-aliasing settings?
I suspect it might be a network-wide problem. Many viewers in many different markets are reporting horrible picture quality for the Olympics -- whether OTA, cable or satellite, and whether the channel has any subchannels or not.

In the Austin market, our picture on KXAM and KXAN has been pretty bad, and neither has subchannels. The picture has been just about as bad OTA as through D*. And other than Olympic coverage, the picture hasn't been bad.

I suspect it might be a network-wide problem. Many viewers in many different markets are reporting horrible picture quality for the Olympics -- whether OTA, cable or satellite, and whether the channel has any subchannels or not.

In the Austin market, our picture on KXAM and KXAN has been pretty bad, and neither has subchannels. The picture has been just about as bad OTA as through D*. And other than Olympic coverage, the picture hasn't been bad.

I noticed this too. In fact, the jumping around of the picture was so bad last night, that I started to get nauseous watching this. Seemed to be worst on the hand-held cameras, which are surely wireless.

On a different note, D* finally yanked my DNS NBC feed from channel 82 :mad:. So now I have a mostly useless HR10-250 and H10 receiver. Looking at the post from Coloradobend above (third paragraph), it seems that I should have been grandfathered and not have had these removed. I expect an uphill and fruitless battle with D* over this. My main bitch is that I love my HR10-250 plus I don't want to have to shell out even more money for more new receivers. Of course, I will push for free receivers, but I am not optimistic.

On a different note, D* finally yanked my DNS NBC feed from channel 82 .

Yeah, I had all four of my HD DNS channels pulled this weekend. I don't think I'm even going to try and get them back, it's just too much of a hassle for me. It was great having them for the last 3 years though :)

i would feel bad for you guys but i dont... mpeg4 is very necessary these days and will be even moreso in the future.

although i am pretty F&%^cking pissed that the directv media center tuners might be delayed to windows 7. ms seems really intent on pissing away any advantage they will have with those directv tuners. although we still have ces to see what they say but with the rumors swirling its not looking good.

Man sorry yall lost those HD Feeds. Welcome to the wasteland that the rest of us have been in the past year and a half. It is really frustrating to have to wait for so long to get all of the local channels in HD, especially the Cowboys on Fox. Hopefully more than the preseason games will get a pass on being able to give us the HD feed. It makes it even that much more frustrating knowing it is only a flick of the switch that keeps us from HD.

I suspect it might be a network-wide problem. Many viewers in many different markets are reporting horrible picture quality for the Olympics -- whether OTA, cable or satellite, and whether the channel has any subchannels or not.

In the Austin market, our picture on KXAM and KXAN has been pretty bad, and neither has subchannels. The picture has been just about as bad OTA as through D*. And other than Olympic coverage, the picture hasn't been bad.

We watched several hours of Oly coverage at my moms house yesterday. She has Suddenlink and the picture quality for all of the events was fantastic!!

i would feel bad for you guys but i dont... mpeg4 is very necessary these days and will be even moreso in the future.


The HD DNS channels have been broadcast in MPEG4 for several months now. I don't think it was a question of bandwidth, I think it was due to FCC regulations.

i would feel bad for you guys but i dont... mpeg4 is very necessary these days and will be even moreso in the future.

although i am pretty F&%^cking pissed that the directv media center tuners might be delayed to windows 7. ms seems really intent on pissing away any advantage they will have with those directv tuners. although we still have ces to see what they say but with the rumors swirling its not looking good.

I'm all for having the additional HD channels via MPEG4...I just don't like the idea of removing my DNS feeds that effectively obsolete my non-mpeg4 receivers. As long as D* is still carrying those DNS feeds on the older system, I would like to postpone scrapping my old receivers.

I currently use my HR10-250 in my MBR, and I only use it to watch CBS and NBC late night. Now I must spend MORE money if I want to watch The Tonight Show in HD. Plus the Tivo is much better at jumping back and forth between the two tuners and have both buffered for easy "rewinding". Maybe there is a trick to the HR21 that I haven't figured out yet...

i was more talking about those with older equipment.... and im not a fan of the hr21 at all. its been less reliable than my media center server.

and im not a fan of the hr21 at all.

Yeah, what's with that thing not having a built in OTA tuner? I'll stick with my HR20's :)

The HD DNS channels have been broadcast in MPEG4 for several months now. I don't think it was a question of bandwidth, I think it was due to FCC regulations.

FCC regulations require only cable companies to pass through broadcast channels. Satellite services have the option. It's not really a bandwidth or a rules question, it is what can the satellite service make the most money with.

its not that for me.... i mean really who needs ota when we have all the locals (by cheating and saying we are part of houston). i do still have qam for kbtx but outside news i dont find much use for it.

my problems are in the stability of the device. i have to physically reboot the thing once a week or so (which sucks because it takes 15 mins to do the reboot process), and when i do multiple skips sometimes (about 2 times a day) when watching something as its recording it will get confused and skip to the end so i have to restart the whole thing over and get back to where i was, its series management is not very good (esp if you want to cancel a show). i also think the series management should not be in the menu section but with the recorded list section (even if it only links to the menu section). having to go multiple places to see/manage the same stuff is bad ui design.

it also annoyed me that i had to pay a 199 "lease" fee for the thing as well.... although i dont find it horrible its just another one of those little things that i cant wait till the mce tuners come out so i can ditch all of that crap (and maybe even save a few bucks since guide data is free for life with media center all we might have to pay is a mirror fee)

.


Ok some what confused here. Does this mean we will be able to get Fox HD in this area?

Well, as I expected I got nowhere with D* to restore my NBC DNS feed. They said that my waivers were for analog only even though I was receiving the HD DNS feeds prior to 12/8/2004, per the statement in 47 U.S.C. section 339 (a)(2)(D)(ii). They don't care. (BTW, I spoke directly with their DNS department on this.) Therefore I struck a deal to get a HR21 for (almost) no cost. They sold it to me for half price ($99++) and will spread out the refund over the next 12 statements at $10 credit per statement. Not the best deal that I wanted, but nevertheless it will be basically "free" in the end.

At some point, it's not worth the time to negotiate any further when I should really be working :(. What a pain in the ass!!! Anybody need a worthless $1000 HR10-250 thanks to DirecTV???

Ok some what confused here. Does this mean we will be able to get Fox HD in this area?

FOX44 should be up on Direct TV by the end of the week. Thanks for your info guys.........

I thought that sentence was pretty clear!

FOX44 should be up on Direct TV by the end of the week. Thanks for your info guys.........

I thought that sentence was pretty clear!

That sentence is clear but the one after it was what confused me (this is probably not to hard to do. :) )

"Both Direct TV and Dish Network are still refusing to carry KYLE on the basis that they cannot receive the signal at their uplink site in Waco"

FOX44 should be up on Direct TV by the end of the week. Thanks for your info guys.........

I thought that sentence was pretty clear!

I guess that I missed this post. I looked back but could not find your quote FOX44CE about DirecTV carrying FOX HD by end of week. Maybe I am blind or stupid. Anyway, that is GREAT news. The post is probably right in front of me and I can't see it. (Not trying to be sarcastic, really.) Will this come in on a D* channel 44HD version or some other channel number?

I guess that I missed this post. I looked back but could not find your quote FOX44CE about DirecTV carrying FOX HD by end of week. Maybe I am blind or stupid. Anyway, that is GREAT news. The post is probably right in front of me and I can't see it. (Not trying to be sarcastic, really.) Will this come in on a D* channel 44HD version or some other channel number?

Apparently my earlier post got lost in the neverlands.
Here it is as clear as I can make it:

I was informed today that ComCorp has reached a retransmission consent agreement with both Direct TV and Dish Network for local-into-local HD service in the following ComCorp FOX station markets:

Waco (KWKT)
Longview (KFXK)
Odessa (KPEJ)
Baton Rouge (WGMB)
Lafayette (KADN)
Shreveport (KMSS)

I am assuming that since I have not been contacted by either service to supply a direct feed for KYLE-DT that they will be delivering KWKT-DT in Bryan.

I have no more information as to channel assignment than you do......sorry.

Is that clear?

Apparently my earlier post got lost in the neverlands.
Here it is as clear as I can make it:

I was informed today that ComCorp has reached a retransmission consent agreement with both Direct TV and Dish Network for local-into-local HD service in the following ComCorp FOX station markets:

Waco (KWKT)
Longview (KFXK)
Odessa (KPEJ)
Baton Rouge (WGMB)
Lafayette (KADN)
Shreveport (KMSS)

I am assuming that since I have not been contacted by either service to supply a direct feed for KYLE-DT that they will be delivering KWKT-DT in Bryan.

I have no more information as to channel assignment than you do......sorry.

Is that clear?

That is wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!

The only thing that would make me even happier would be for you to tell me the agreement covers KETK NBC 56 in Tyler.

There is a similar situation in the Tyler DMA where KLTV ABC 7 Tyler and KTRE ABC 9 Lufkin are in the DMA and both Direct and Dish carry only KLTV.

Thanks for info.

That is wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!

The only thing that would make me even happier would be for you to tell me the agreement covers KETK NBC 56 in Tyler.

There is a similar situation in the Tyler DMA where KLTV ABC 7 Tyler and KTRE ABC 9 Lufkin are in the DMA and both Direct and Dish carry only KLTV.

Thanks for info.

Since KETK is also a ComCorp station I might venture a guess that it is included but I can't be sure. I have only heard aout our FOX stations agreements.

That is wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!

The only thing that would make me even happier would be for you to tell me the agreement covers KETK NBC 56 in Tyler.

There is a similar situation in the Tyler DMA where KLTV ABC 7 Tyler and KTRE ABC 9 Lufkin are in the DMA and both Direct and Dish carry only KLTV.

Thanks for info.

Update on Post-transition KYLE-DT (HD)

I just received notification from the FCC that the KYLE-DT application for Table of Allotments modification to allow KYLE-DT to operate on channel 29 at 1000KW ERP has been approved "In the public Interest".

This is weird... I just got back to college station and I'm auto programming my TV and as it scans... it freezes at 75% and says removing scrambled channel 28-1... I did it again and it got stuck at 75% but this time 3-1 then I did it again and it was frozen at 28-1


I left it there for 10 minutes or so and nothing happens.. so I just cancel. Anyone know what's up with this?

I have a Samsung hdtv if that matters... i live near Cheddars and all those restaraunts on University


Hmmmm

FOX44 should be up on Direct TV by the end of the week. Thanks for your info guys.........

I thought that sentence was pretty clear!

It's Saturday and still no HD on DirecTV. Any updates?

It's Saturday and still no HD on DirecTV. Any updates?

Heck, I thought that it was still Friday. I guess that I better quit workin' and start playin'.....and mowin'

Maybe he's on Olympic time :)

No way it will happen today. The Cowboys are playing! :)

No way it will happen today. The Cowboys are playing! :)

The Cowboy pre-season game tonight is not on FOX, it's on CBS.

KBTX has nothing to do with ComCorp. You'll have to take that up with KBTX.

Actually, I thought they were already on Direct and Dish in HD.

I don't have either though, so I wouldn't know for sure. (KWTX is on both in Waco)

Dish has carried our down-converted HD signal on their SD channel for two years so I know they can receive it.

Perhaps you guys should take it up with Direct and Dish.

OK, now it's REALLY Saturday. :-) Still no HD joy on Fox44 with DirecTV.

Who is ready for Saturday? I'm ready to break these babies in:

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa168/elspankdog/Threesome005.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa168/elspankdog/Threesome007.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa168/elspankdog/Threesome012.jpg

very nice but i couldnt stand watching tv on something so small.... there is no comparison to watching football on a 92 inch screen other than being there in real life.

Well, when you lug three of these out to the tailgate, you have to compromise on size. This was the biggest we could do on our budget. We were going to initially do two 32", but the price was right on these.

Fox44CE: still no HD on DirectTV. Should we complain to Fox44 or DirectTV?

Awesome tailgate setup!

Nice setup Spank. So are you taking a full mpeg4 directv setup out there? I just got one of those new 5lnb dishes for tailgating. It should be a treat to setup.

Where do you tailgate? We are always in the reed lot on the SW side. I'll have a 46" high bright LCD for my TV!

Fox44CE: still no HD on DirectTV. Should we complain to Fox44 or DirectTV?

Direct and Dish both have the equipment and retransmission agreement in place. I'm beginning to think they were just using us as an excuse to keep from using up their bandwidth.

Calling Direct or Dish won't do any good. With the turnover they both have on their call lines, nobody there knows whats going on. Even their Technical Operations Center doesn't have a clue.

They called my Master Control the other night when KWBU was off the air!

Too many K's and W's I guess.

No use to complain to FOX 44. You'll just get sent to me and I've already explained the situation here.

Direct and Dish both have the equipment and retransmission agreement in place. I'm beginning to think they were just using us as an excuse to keep from using up their bandwidth.

Calling Direct or Dish won't do any good. With the turnover they both have on their call lines, nobody there knows whats going on. Even their Technical Operations Center doesn't have a clue.

They called my Master Control the other night when KWBU was off the air!

Too many K's and W's I guess.

No use to complain to FOX 44. You'll just get sent to me and I've already explained the situation here.

The following is from an insider at DirectTV. "Tomorrow" would be Friday the 29th. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Tyler-Longview, TX- KFXK Ch 51 (FOX)
Tyler-Longview, TX- KETK Ch 56 (NBC)
Waco-Temple-Bryan, TX- KWKT Ch 44 (FOX/MNT)
All going HD tomorrow

Fox44 is in HD on DirectTV! 1080i according to my receiver. Just in time for football.

Nice setup Spank. So are you taking a full mpeg4 directv setup out there? I just got one of those new 5lnb dishes for tailgating. It should be a treat to setup.

Where do you tailgate? We are always in the reed lot on the SW side. I'll have a 46" high bright LCD for my TV!

We're over by Kleberg, and yes, I'm taking the big dish. Does anybody happen to have the dish settings for this. I need the tilt the most. I can get the elevation and azimuth from D*. Does the receiver give all three?

Maybe you could come set mine up. Just look for this:

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa168/elspankdog/Short%20Bus/Bus103.jpg

Fox44 is in HD on DirectTV! 1080i according to my receiver. Just in time for football.

Good! Now we need ABC in HD. Any idea how long that will be?

We're over by Kleberg, and yes, I'm taking the big dish. Does anybody happen to have the dish settings for this. I need the tilt the most. I can get the elevation and azimuth from D*. Does the receiver give all three?

Maybe you could come set mine up. Just look for this:

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa168/elspankdog/Short%20Bus/Bus103.jpg

Hmmmm..... It seems like I remember a joke or two about someone riding the short bus?? How many does that thing hold? ;) I would come out to see your new setup, but it looks like we got an invite to go to Lake LBJ for the weekend instead. Good luck setting all that gear up!! WHOOP!!

We're over by Kleberg, and yes, I'm taking the big dish. Does anybody happen to have the dish settings for this. I need the tilt the most. I can get the elevation and azimuth from D*. Does the receiver give all three?

Maybe you could come set mine up. Just look for this:

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa168/elspankdog/Short%20Bus/Bus103.jpg

wow i usually don't go to games but i might have to check this out! I'll just yell out "elspankdog!"

Good! Now we need ABC in HD. Any idea how long that will be?

No idea, but write and complain to KXXV. That's what I did. Their engineering department address is: randyl@kxxv.com

Fox44 is in HD on DirectTV! 1080i according to my receiver. Just in time for football.

Interesting since we broadcast in 720p and they pick us up OTA at the KWTX studios!

No idea, but write and complain to KXXV. That's what I did. Their engineering department address is: randyl@kxxv.com

Drury Broadcasting has a "Letter of Intent" from London Broadcasting group to purchase all of their stations including KXXV.

They cannot finalize any new contracts until transfer of control to London Broadcasting Group is finalized by the FCC.

In other words, it may be a while.

Interesting since we broadcast in 720p and they pick us up OTA at the KWTX studios!

I just double-checked. My HR20-700 HD DVR shows 720p when I go to 44.1 OTA but then shows 1080i when I go to 44 from DirecTV. I can only guess that they are upconverting for some reason.

I just double-checked. My HR20-700 HD DVR shows 720p when I go to 44.1 OTA but then shows 1080i when I go to 44 from DirecTV. I can only guess that they are upconverting for some reason.

All they will accomplish with that is to degrade a very clean signal passed on unmodified directly from FOX.

I will verify this, and pass the info on to FOX engineering.

Since NewsCorp owns DirectTV maybe they will have some influence.

No idea, but write and complain to KXXV. That's what I did. Their engineering department address is: randyl@kxxv.com

I complained as you suggested and received this reply:

Frank, we have offered our ABC HD feed to Direct TV and they are not interested. When our HD feed is carried by Time Warner Cable, Grande Cable and some of the smaller systems out in the area, it baffles me why they would not want to be on a level playing field with their competitor. As their customer, you need to call and complain.

Depending on your location, you can probably get our digital broadcast signal free, over the air with an antenna and a digital TV or digital tuner. Since satellite highly compresses their signals to cram all those channels in, we look much better directly off the air, anyway.

Mike Lee
Vice President/General Manager
KXXV News Channel 25 TV/DT

directv tivo homers....

http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/03/hell-freezes-over-new-directv-hd-tivo-on-the-way/

pricing will be interesting.... seeing as their history but if this comes out before the media center tuners and isnt horribly expensive i will probably get one (getting rid of that hr21 will be totally worth it)

Sounds good. Although it looks like it's still over a year away from release.

I complained as you suggested and received this reply:

Frank, we have offered our ABC HD feed to Direct TV and they are not interested. When our HD feed is carried by Time Warner Cable, Grande Cable and some of the smaller systems out in the area, it baffles me why they would not want to be on a level playing field with their competitor. As their customer, you need to call and complain.

Depending on your location, you can probably get our digital broadcast signal free, over the air with an antenna and a digital TV or digital tuner. Since satellite highly compresses their signals to cram all those channels in, we look much better directly off the air, anyway.

Mike Lee
Vice President/General Manager
KXXV News Channel 25 TV/DT

Isn't KXXV known for all of its subchannels like Telemundo stealing bw from the main HD channel? I wouldn't talk trash about anybody compressing signals if I was him.

Seems like I heard something about them requiring D* to pick up those subchannels as well at some point. I have no direct info, but that would be very disingenuous of them to say it's D*'s fault under those circumstances...

Wait, ... did I just come to the defense of DirecTV? Sorry about that...

directv tivo homers....

http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/03/h...vo-on-the-way/

pricing will be interesting.... seeing as their history but if this comes out before the media center tuners and isnt horribly expensive i will probably get one (getting rid of that hr21 will be totally worth it)


I'm probably in the minority on this one, but I personally prefer my HR20s to the HD Tivo. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my HR10-250s (I still have them boxed up somewhere), but I've found the HR20 to be faster and more reliable.

All they will accomplish with that is to degrade a very clean signal passed on unmodified directly from FOX.

I will verify this, and pass the info on to FOX engineering.

Since NewsCorp owns DirectTV maybe they will have some influence.

NewsCorp sold DirecTV to Liberty Media almost two years ago. Still, I would assume Fox would want to know about it. I just checked my HR20-700 receiver and it continues to show 720p for 44.1 (OTA) and 1080i for 44 (DirecTV). This receiver has always been accurate with resolutions on all other channels (ESPN shows 720p, for example), so I don't doubt the results.

Isn't KXXV known for all of its subchannels like Telemundo stilling bw from the main HD channel? I wouldn't talk trash about anybody compressing signals if I was him.

Not to mention that they broadcast in MPEG2 over the air, which is a compression format. Most DirecTV HD locals now are in MPEG4, which many claim has better resolution than MPEG2.

I'm probably in the minority on this one, but I personally prefer my HR20s to the HD Tivo. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my HR10-250s (I still have them boxed up somewhere), but I've found the HR20 to be faster and more reliable.

No, you're not in the minority. It's just that the Tivo fanboys are very vocal. I say that even though I still use a DTivo as one of my receivers. For HD, there's no comparison for me. The HR2x series is much better than the HR10-250 ever was.

If anyone wants to read a lengthy and informed thread about the new Tivo-DirecTV news: http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=138443

Speculation is that this would be a software download, not a new box. In other words, the Tivo software would be downloaded to the HR2x boxes. That's the method Tivo is using with Comcast and Cox cable boxes. It's been an absolutely total disaster with Comcast (and 2 years late), so if I were a Tivo fanatic I wouldn't hold my breath that this will work - assuming it is software and not a new box.

that is interesting.... guess it just enforces those media center tuners for me.

and i HATE the hr21.... its been by far the most unstable receiver i have ever used.

and i HATE the hr21.... its been by far the most unstable receiver i have ever used.


Yeah, the big reason I never wanted to 'upgrade' to the HR21 is the fact that it doesn't come with a built in OTA tuner. Have you seen the new HR21 (http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/09/07/directvs-hr21-pro-gets-official)? 1080p output, and a major cooling system. Looks cool, if nothing else :)

NewsCorp sold DirecTV to Liberty Media almost two years ago. Still, I would assume Fox would want to know about it. I just checked my HR20-700 receiver and it continues to show 720p for 44.1 (OTA) and 1080i for 44 (DirecTV). This receiver has always been accurate with resolutions on all other channels (ESPN shows 720p, for example), so I don't doubt the results.

I looked up the stock deal and found that you are correct. I was unaware that NewsCorp divested their stock in Direct TV.

Thanks for the info.

I checked with our stations in Longview (KFXK) and Baton Rouge (WGMB) and they report the same sutuation. Baton Rouge is supplying Direct TV and Dish Network with DVB-ASI 720p direct to the uplink in their studio building.

They are 1080i 0n Direct TV and 720p on Dish Network.

Apparently Direct TV is converting it to 1080i in the MPEG4 encoding process.

Apparently Direct TV is converting it to 1080i in the MPEG4 encoding process.

I'm just curious. I'm not an engineer, but could you explain how they take 720p and make it 1080i? Thanks in advance FOX44CE!

I like the HR20 too, but I wish it could buffer and switch tuners like the old HD-TiVo.

I like the HR20 too, but I wish it could buffer and switch tuners like the old HD-TiVo.

True, that is one feature I wish it had as well. What I've learned to do is just press record real quick before I change channels and that provides me with the 'buffer' I'm looking for.

I'm just curious. I'm not an engineer, but could you explain how they take 720p and make it 1080i? Thanks in advance FOX44CE!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upconverting

Drury Broadcasting has a "Letter of Intent" from London Broadcasting group to purchase all of their stations including KXXV.

They cannot finalize any new contracts until transfer of control to London Broadcasting Group is finalized by the FCC.

In other words, it may be a while.

Those of us who live in College Station/Bryan don't have an OTA option for ABC, so we're stuck like chuck. I just had DirecTV send another waiver request for me, but when I called KXXV 6 months ago, they said that they don't grant waivers, even for us folks that can't get the OTA signal.

Does anyone have any tricks for getting a waiver accepted or any other ways to get ABC HD in College Station/Bryan?

Fox44 why isn't the game in HD on KYLE?

The pregame show was in HD.I hope you have it fixed by the time the Cowboy game starts.

Fox44 why isn't the game in HD on KYLE?

The pregame show was in HD.I hope you have it fixed by the time the Cowboy game starts.

I'm not sure how you are watching but the game is in HD on KYLE-DT.

I've noticed lately that KYLE-DT has white static-like dots flashing over the picture with my OTA signal here in College Station. I know that there shouldn't be any picture "noise" for a digital station. I was wondering if any one else is noticing the random flashing specks while watching the digital signal via antenna. KWTX-DT and KAMU-DT both don't have the static issue.

I'm not sure how you are watching but the game is in HD on KYLE-DT.



Ten minutes after I posted it switched to HD.I'm watching KYLE on Suddenlink.

I've noticed lately that KYLE-DT has white static-like dots flashing over the picture with my OTA signal here in College Station. I know that there shouldn't be any picture "noise" for a digital station. I was wondering if any one else is noticing the random flashing specks while watching the digital signal via antenna. KWTX-DT and KAMU-DT both don't have the static issue.

This is an issue with N+1 digital stations.

Because KYLE-DT is on channel 29 at 5KW and KYLE-TV is on channel 28 at 2 MWatts (visual) and 200KW (aural).

The aural signal from the analog channel 28 encrouches on the digital carrier on channel 29.

We have lowered the aural power on the analog to 100KW (The FCC minimum allowed) to try to overcome this as much as possible.

The problem will go away when KYLE analog is shut down.

We will initially be broadcasting 50KW on channel 28 until our full power channel 29 (1 MegaWatt) buildout is completed.

This depends on delivery time for the new antenna. (We have the transmitter already)

i hope it happens asap.... i was just watching fringe i recorded last night and it has specs in the picture (which isnt a huge issue) but it constantly dropped from SD to HD (every second at spots) and didnt even record the full 2 hrs. stopped at 1hr 36 mins for some reason (media center does this if the signal goes dark which is what im assuming happened as it was having pretty massive signal problems throughout the show). i would have cross recorded off directv but my hr21 was recording 2 other shows at the time.

guess its good we have things like the internet to watch shows that we miss. also looking forward to getting 5.1 audio back on fox hd.... i barely watch kyle these days because of the 2.0 issue and not being able to count on it working reliably until the upgrades.

i was just watching fringe...[it] stopped at 1hr 36 mins for some reason (media center does this if the signal goes dark which is what im assuming happened as it was having pretty massive signal problems throughout the show).

Well that is about how long the show was, so you didn't miss anything :)

Yes Jag - Fringe was only a 1hr 35 min show. That is how long it was scheduled for to begin with.

Somewhat strange show with some relatively preposterous happenings but it does hold promise for the future. Very X-Files-ish...

odd... i just assumed it was a 2 hr block (the guide identified it as a 2 hr show) but we all know guide data isnt always right.

So we heard that since the Texans game will be on Monday due to the hurricane. No problem. Then we heard that only one game can be broadcast in one area and since we are in the Houston market we will not get the Cowboys game. This is ATROCIOUS!!!!!
Then we looked further and the Waco market will get the Cowboys game. Since we get a feed from Waco on D will we still get the Cowboys or will they black it out?

According to information in the Houston Chronicle, the Bryan-College Station market will get the CBS telecast of the Texans Monday night at 7:30.

This is going to be sparse of information but...

I had DirectTV installed about a month ago in Bryan. At the time it was the general consensus that local channels were moving to the main satellite in September, so I opted for only a single dish to be installed at my house. Since that time, Fox was added on channel 44.

Last week I was browsing professional football games and received the message "This game has been blacked out on this channel, do you want to search other channels." After searching the game was found on another channel, I believe it was channel 25. I switched to and it and watched the game in HD even though it did not show up in my channel list.

At the time, I switched to another channel and hit previous channel and got the message "Channel unavailable." Manually entering channel 25 did the same. I went back to the blacked out football game, let it do the search and again it tuned to channel 25 again.

I don't remember what affiliate it was, but I cannot get that channel again. It does not show up in the channel lists and will not let me manually tune to it.

If no one has any input as to what is going on, I guess my simple questions would be:

What local channels are Direct TV broadcasting on their main satellite at this time? What local channels are in the works to be moved over in the future?

Thanks.

The current DirecTV locals lineup is:

CBS 3 SD
NBC 6 HD
CBS 10 HD
ABC 25 SD
Fox 44 HD
PBS 34 SD
PBS 46 SD

DirecTV doesn't do subchannels, so what you see now is what you will get in the future.

Channel 25 is currently SD only. There are conflicting theories on why it's not available in HD. You couldn't have been watching an NFL game on 25, since ABC doesn't have pro football anymore. Monday Night Football is now ESPN.

You didn't mention whether you have Sunday Ticket but if you're a new customer you probably do. Sunday Ticket NFL games are in the channel 700s range. Is your guide set to "All Channels", "Channels I Get" or "Custom"? If you have it set to Custom you probably don't have the 700s selected as available. You can check by going to "Parental, Favs & Setup" then "Favorite Channels".

SD games are on the even numbered 700 channels, HD games are "-1". In other words, channel 705 is SD, 705-1 is HD. You can set your guide to hide the SD channels if you wish. Then tuning to 705 will give you the HD. To hide SD channels:

Parental, Favs & Setup
System Setup
Display
change the display options as you like

Your best source for DirecTV info is www.dbstalk.com I guarantee any question you have can be answered there.

If you opted for only 1 dish then you don't have the dish that can receive signals from 72.5. I have both so I'm not sure which local channels you lose these days by not having access to 72.5. Presumably, you wouldn't get the SD only channels (3, 25, 34, 46) but that's just a guess.

According to HDsportsguide (http://www.hdsportsguide.com/cfb/), our Ags will be in HD this weekend. Man, do I love seeing the Ags get their butts kicked in High Def. This is going to be great :)

i hope it happens asap.... i was just watching fringe i recorded last night and it has specs in the picture (which isnt a huge issue) but it constantly dropped from SD to HD (every second at spots) and didnt even record the full 2 hrs. stopped at 1hr 36 mins for some reason (media center does this if the signal goes dark which is what im assuming happened as it was having pretty massive signal problems throughout the show). i would have cross recorded off directv but my hr21 was recording 2 other shows at the time.

guess its good we have things like the internet to watch shows that we miss. also looking forward to getting 5.1 audio back on fox hd.... i barely watch kyle these days because of the 2.0 issue and not being able to count on it working reliably until the upgrades.

Jag;

I looked over our MediaView On Air logger (via slingbox) for FOX Prime.

We had an HD switching problem that we traced down to an intermittent issue with the tone decoder at the Bryan transmitter site (HD switch control).

We brought it back up to Waco and put it on the bench to rebuild it.

It was re-installed and tested at the transmitter yesterday afternoon.

I have reviewed the entire night of prime (Both FOX and MyNetwork) and saw no dropouts (False switches).

NOTE: The HD switch timing will be off for a while because we have lost our microwave feed at the Hearne (Hwy 79 to Franklin) site.

The electric company says that most of Robertson County, (including our microwave site) will be without power for two to three weeks.

Since we are feeding the KYLE transmitters with our Hidden 44.0 feed (KWKT-DT) there is about a 1 second delay of the SD upconverted signal that is not normally there. This will cause the switch to appear to be about 1 second early.

By the way: We started broadcasting Mike & Juliet in HD this morning and I watched the entire hour on KYLE-DT Live.

No erroneous HD/SD switching occured. We are pricing Fiber HD delivery from Waco to the Suddenlink head end.

P.S. Our Costruction Permit from the FCC allows power increase to 50KW coincident with KYLE amalog shutdown. (Feb 17th, 2009)

Sorry, you'll have to wait along with us and everyone else.

I see that here in College Station with DirecTV we no longer get CBS from KHOU out of Houston, but now it's KWTX from Waco.

How long has this been the case? I'd much rather have the station out of Houston, guaranteeing me that I'll get to watch the Houston Texans no matter what.

Edit: Nevermind, I bet this is just temporary, due to the power outage in Houston...

Jag;
No erroneous HD/SD switching occured. We are pricing Fiber HD delivery from Waco to the Suddenlink head end.


that would actually be awesome if we could get a fiber feed.... no offense but the current setup hasnt exactly been the rock of stability. ;)

and its no issue.... just annoying when you cant depend on fox to be hd in media center. just a question here but why not just give us the waco feed until all these issues are straightened out? that one always seemed to be more reliable than kyle has been. (i know its not a logo issue anymore.... its it a commercials issue?)

I see that here in College Station with DirecTV we no longer get CBS from KHOU out of Houston, but now it's KWTX from Waco.

How long has this been the case? I'd much rather have the station out of Houston, guaranteeing me that I'll get to watch the Houston Texans no matter what.

Edit: Nevermind, I bet this is just temporary, due to the power outage in Houston...

I've been here in B/CS for over 10 years now and with D* for over 4 years. As far as I know, we have never received KHOU through D* with a B/CS service address. You have to 'move' to Houston to receive it or any of the other network stations from Houston. But if you'll just put up an OTA antenna, you should be able to receive KBTX fairly easily, and they always broadcast the Texans games (as long as they're playing on CBS).

I see that here in College Station with DirecTV we no longer get CBS from KHOU out of Houston, but now it's KWTX from Waco.

How long has this been the case? I'd much rather have the station out of Houston, guaranteeing me that I'll get to watch the Houston Texans no matter what.

Edit: Nevermind, I bet this is just temporary, due to the power outage in Houston...
Isn't College Station in the Waco DMA? It seems to me that D* should be providing whatever locals are in the DMA associated with your zip code.

KWTX isn't always showing the Texans? Are they like KEYE in Austin and force-feeding the Titans on you? And you don't get KBTX on D*?

that would actually be awesome if we could get a fiber feed.... no offense but the current setup hasnt exactly been the rock of stability. ;)

and its no issue.... just annoying when you cant depend on fox to be hd in media center. just a question here but why not just give us the waco feed until all these issues are straightened out? that one always seemed to be more reliable than kyle has been. (i know its not a logo issue anymore.... its it a commercials issue?)

We guaranty commercial delivery to our clients on both the analog and digital channel. Therefore we must delivery KYLE to Suddenlink.

We switch to the KWKT HD feed during HD programming at the KYLE transmitter site.

(We do not have a FOX splicer for KYLE - FOX considers it a satellite station)

If we didn't supply HD on KYLE-DT, the Suddenlink would be unable to carry FOX or MyNetwork HD at all.

FCC rules forbid cable companies to bring in out-of-market network affiliates.

I've been here in B/CS for over 10 years now and with D* for over 4 years. As far as I know, we have never received KHOU through D* with a B/CS service address. You have to 'move' to Houston to receive it or any of the other network stations from Houston. But if you'll just put up an OTA antenna, you should be able to receive KBTX fairly easily, and they always broadcast the Texans games (as long as they're playing on CBS).

I'm pretty confident that we were getting KHOU out of Houston when we got our service hooked up in January, I recall letting my inlaws watch the local news when they were visiting from the Houston area. When I saw the KWTX call letters earlier this week, I couldn't ever recall seeing those before and immediately knew that the channel source had changed. In fact, now that I think about it, the installer even mentioned that we would get CBS out of Houston when he installed it.

I suppose it's not really a big deal as long as the KWTX will always show the Texans. We do get KBTX from Bryan, but not in HD. If worse came to worse and KWTX chose to show a different game, I could always get an antenna and grab the OTA signal without problem. I would have already done this in order to get ABC HD, but our local ABC affiliate doesn't broadcast the HD signal OTA. Sucks for us.

I noticed the Cards/Skins game was not in HD on FOX 28-1. I was able to watch via D* on KDFW FOX 4 out of DFW.

I am a total new guy to this forum but I found it while searching for some contact info for KYLEHD. I was angry because the Cards/Skins game wasn't being broadcast in HD. I called Suddenlink and they blamed the local station. Why am I paying full price for a quarters worth of HD programming. Was anyone in the B/CS area able to see this game in HD? (Dish, etc.)

Was anyone in the B/CS area able to see this game in HD? (Dish, etc.)

Check out my post above. I receive DFW locals through D* and I was able to watch it in HD.

On another note, is anyone else having trouble with the Jags/Colts game on KBTX? Lots of macroblocking. The Texans/Titans game was perfect. I'm watching via OTA.

Thanks for the response. I understand how to add/remove channels to favorites and see all available. You were correct, without the dish to pick up 72.5, I only see 6, 10, and 44 in the channel list.

You were also correct about not watching an NFL game, but it was ABC. I was able to tune into 25 again during the A&M game this weekend. I followed the same procedure, searched for Miami @ Texas A&M, tried tuning to it on some ABC channel and it was blacked out. Again the tuner searched for the game on other channels and tuned to channel ABC 25 KXXV -Waco. The channel is broadcast in HD even though the game itself wasn't in HD. Its odd because on my SuddenLink I receive ABC 91 KRHD -Bryan?

Anyway, I recorded the broadcast, so I know it is being broadcast from the HD satellite (don't know the number) also even though it is not showing up on our receivers at this time. I again tried resetting my receive today.

I might head over to the other forum, but I just wanted to reply. Tried to quote, but not enough posts to use html tags.

The last 15 minutes of Fringe was unwatchable tonight - watching in HD on KYLE-DT over clear QAM

It did the thing with the pixelation and constant HD/SD switching.

FOX44CE: Is this from the problem you discussed a few posts ago or was this something on my end?

The last 15 minutes of Fringe was unwatchable tonight - watching in HD on KYLE-DT over clear QAM

It did the thing with the pixelation and constant HD/SD switching.

FOX44CE: Is this from the problem you discussed a few posts ago or was this something on my end?

Due to Fall atmospheric conditions we are experiencing signal fades on our HD receiver at the KYLE transmitter site. (Causing the macro blocking and switching). When the signal fades enough to loss the switching tone, the system switches back to KYLE-SD.

Due to the complaints I received about our master Control operator switching off the HD Sunday during the football game, I instructed them not to disable KYLE HD switching during these fade conditions.

Once they disable he HD switching, they have no way to tell when it clears up.

I am going to continue operating in this manner because the viewers in Bryan have the ability to switch to the analog channel when it is happening and check back every once in a while until the HD reception clears up.

We have a six foot parabolic antenna and single channel 20DB amplifier on the tower to receive the HD signal.

The receiver has over 40DB fade margin, but atmospherics in Spring and Fall cause the Austin and Dallas 1 MW stations on 56 and 57 to interfere.

I am continuing to try to arrange for a fiber feed to Bryan but am having little luck with the cable companies involved because they are competitors and don't play well together.

Due to Fall atmospheric conditions we are experiencing signal fades on our HD receiver at the KYLE transmitter site. (Causing the macro blocking and switching). When the signal fades enough to loss the switching tone, the system switches back to KYLE-SD.

Due to the complaints I received about our master Control operator switching off the HD Sunday during the football game, I instructed them not to disable KYLE HD switching during these fade conditions.

Once they disable he HD switching, they have no way to tell when it clears up.

I am going to continue operating in this manner because the viewers in Bryan have the ability to switch to the analog channel when it is happening and check back every once in a while until the HD reception clears up.

We have a six foot parabolic antenna and single channel 20DB amplifier on the tower to receive the HD signal.

The receiver has over 40DB fade margin, but atmospherics in Spring and Fall cause the Austin and Dallas 1 MW stations on 56 and 57 to interfere.

I am continuing to try to arrange for a fiber feed to Bryan but am having little luck with the cable companies involved because they are competitors and don't play well together.

For me then, I suppose I will have to RECORD both the HD and SD signal ahead of time because I am not around to watch it live.

I am interested in these "Fall atmospheric conditions". Could you please explain? Thanks!

I am interested in these "Fall atmospheric conditions". Could you please explain? Thanks!

I'm also curious if these conditions will continue to affect OTA reception once you bump up the wattage in Feb?

I was able to watch via D* on KDFW FOX 4 out of DFW.

Johnny,
How were you able to get Dallas Locals? Sounds like you have them on a regular basis. Is your home address with D* in the Dallas area and you just installed the dish yourself here in BCS without updating your address?

Just curious, if I had a friend in the Dallas market and he has 3 receivers, could I move one of those receivers to my house and have it work, giving me Dallas locals?

I'm also curious if these conditions will continue to affect OTA reception once you bump up the wattage in Feb?

The atmospherics I'm talking about are sometimes called "skip" by CBers. They aren't really the same, but both are caused by a "ducting" effect in the upper atmosphere.

This "ducting" effect causes distant UHF signals to infringe on local reception if the "distant" station is on the same or adjacent channel. There are 1 megawatt stations in Austin and Dallas on channel 56 and 58 that overpower our receive antenna during these periods.

Actually, when we move our KWKT-DT to channel 44 the situation will actually get worse. Our license requires us to reduce power at that time from 200KW to 100KW and three stations in Austin, Dallas, and Houston on 43 & 44 are increasing power to 1 Megawatt.

That is why I am pressing to get a fiber HD delivery system in place before February.

The alternative is to replace our existing analog (SD) 3 hop microwave system with HD digital. (6 microwave radios Total cost=$250,000)

We have a backup feed on a hidden sub-channel of KWKT now that we will also no longer be able to receive.

Johnny,
How were you able to get Dallas Locals? Sounds like you have them on a regular basis. Is your home address with D* in the Dallas area and you just installed the dish yourself here in BCS without updating your address?

Just curious, if I had a friend in the Dallas market and he has 3 receivers, could I move one of those receivers to my house and have it work, giving me Dallas locals?

Yes, my 'service address' is in DFW. My 'billing address' is here in Bryan. I did install the dish myself. To answer your other question, yes, if your friend gave you one of his receivers and you kept it tied to his account, you would see the DFW locals if you brought it to BCS.

There really is no point in getting someone else's receivers though. Just call D* and tell them you would like to change your service address. Pick an address in the Dallas area (obviously not your friend's since he already has service). D* won't ask any questions -they'd prefer not to know.

There really is no point in getting someone else's receivers though. Just call D* and tell them you would like to change your service address. Pick an address in the Dallas area (obviously not your friend's since he already has service). D* won't ask any questions -they'd prefer not to know.

Couldn't have said it better.

The atmospherics I'm talking about are sometimes called "skip" by CBers. They aren't really the same, but both are caused by a "ducting" effect in the upper atmosphere.

This "ducting" effect causes distant UHF signals to infringe on local reception if the "distant" station is on the same or adjacent channel. There are 1 megawatt stations in Austin and Dallas on channel 56 and 58 that overpower our receive antenna during these periods.

Actually, when we move our KWKT-DT to channel 44 the situation will actually get worse. Our license requires us to reduce power at that time from 200KW to 100KW and three stations in Austin, Dallas, and Houston on 43 & 44 are increasing power to 1 Megawatt.

That is why I am pressing to get a fiber HD delivery system in place before February.

The alternative is to replace our existing analog (SD) 3 hop microwave system with HD digital. (6 microwave radios Total cost=$250,000)

We have a backup feed on a hidden sub-channel of KWKT now that we will also no longer be able to receive.

Wow, what a pain! I suppose the root of the problem is just that we don't live in a major market. Well keep pressing. We're all counting on you.

You're right:

Since Dallas & Houston are top 50 markets, Austin is 65th and Waco-Bryan is 96th, They all got higher priority for maximization on 43,44, & 45.

There is a Houston 1 MW religious station going on in Feb that was a low power!

We tried other channels but the only one available is 25 and we'd have to co-locate with KXXV. (KXXV-DT is staying on 26)

Guess what the chances of that are! Slim to none.

The FCC lowered our KWKT-DT 44 license to 32 KW but we were able to apply for an interference waiver and increase it to 100KW.

If the other markets experience interference in Feb, we'll have to lower it back to 32 KW.

We were able to maximize KYLT-DT to 1 Megawatt on Channel 29 but we still have to get the HD feed to Bryan from Waco.

FOX refuses to deliver an HD signal to Bryan because the consider KYLE a satellite station of KWKT.

Se La Vi :)

FOX44CE, I've looked at FCC pre and post-transition digital assignments. The Dallas and Austin DT 43s are already pre-transition 1MW;Dallas DT 45 is pre-transition 1MW. They will remain unchanged post-transition. Houston DT 44 is CP post-transition maximization. From its 41 and 48 dBu contours, it looks like you could put KWKT post-transition with a slight null to Houston and use much more power. I understand this is a co-channel issue.

The FCC is strange. There are already adjacent market co-channel coverage overlaps on both pre and post-transition DT 9 in Dallas and Waco. There are already pre and post-transition adjacent market adjacent channel relatively high powered outlets that were okayed(Dallas DT 19 and Waco DT 20). I must be missing something. Were you just singled out?

I didn't have any problems with the Redskins/Cowboys game yesterday, other than the outcome. I was watching on KYLE 28 via OTA antenna.

Due to this, N-1 interference limits are 13 DB lower than N+1 interference limits. 13DB is equal to a power reduction of 95%.

In other words, if an N+1 (45 @ 1MW) in Dallas would allow us to operate at just under 1MW, An N-1 (43 @ 1MW) in Dallas limits us to just under 50KW.

Hello FOX44CE:

I'm not from any of your areas, but I enjoy reading your technical insights in the various places where you post. Thank you for informing us all here on AVS. =)

With regard to the above quoted text, why not apply for DT-38? There's nothing on 37 to worry about, and if you can go to just under 1000 kW with a station on channel 39, then 39 isn't a major issue. That just leaves 38 and you're already directional to keep from overlapping KYLE-DT in the direction of Houston, that'd just leave you with San Antonio to worry about, and it didn't seem to matter too much to KNCT who is closer...

I know it's too late now, but if it would have worked, maybe moving KCEB to 49 (if that would have allowed you to still reuse the KFXK antenna) and then putting KYLE-DT on 51 would have allowed you to use 29 in Waco. I'm not a professional engineer (yet :) ) but it seems like it might have worked, again, depending on that KFXK antenna.

- Trip

I didn't have any problems with the Redskins/Cowboys game yesterday, other than the outcome. I was watching on KYLE 28 via OTA antenna.

Wow! Positive feedback.

Kidding aside, thank Johnnb99. Good news is always good to hear:)

KBTX is on 50 in Bryan. Same situation as 25 in Waco.

Adjacent channels have to be on the same antenna at the same power level.

Not sure what your consultants told you, but evidence points to that not being true. Similar power level, yes, same antenna? No. I could give you five examples off the top of my head where that is not the case.

EDIT: Unless the FCC has suddenly instituted this police out of the blue. Which would be nothing new from them.

Isn't KYLE-DT going to be co-locating on KBTX's tower anyway?

There is no allocation for 38 either analog or digital in the Waco/Bryan market.

The FCC is not allocating new digital channels to existing markets until after Feb 17th.

But they're allowing substitution of new channels in place of existing ones right now. WYDO in Greenville NC was recently granted a move from 14 to 47 despite the fact that no allocation exists in that market for 47 on analog or digital. There are plenty of stations shuffling around right now and a number of them aren't moving to frequencies that currently exist in the market; I maintain a full list of them here: http://www.rabbitears.info/chchg.php

There was talk about looking into 38 and a couple of others at that time in the third round.

We will have first prioroity then like we did for the 29 maximization in Bryan.

The old original KAKW digital (23) before it was changed to 13 was taken and protected by KCEN for their Bryan digital. (Now an analog class A low power)

No go either way.

Believe me, our consultants have searched every possibility.

23's out due to KUVN-DT in Dallas I'd guess, not even considering the Class A.

Why would you have first priority for a move elsewhere? I'm not terribly familiar with the actual procedure used by the FCC to prioritize those sorts of things. Is it because you'd gain so much coverage?

- Trip

FOX44CE,

Thanks for taking the time to keep us updated. I have been having the HD/SD switching issues in Bryan often via OTA. I read where you said you had reset some things, but I didn't see whether that was supposed to fix it permanently or not. I noticed it again on Tuesday 9/30 at 8 pm. Also, I noticed a couple of similar complaints on the TexAgs forums. Could you check your slingbox and hd switcher again? Thanks!

Fox HD acting up again on Suddenlink.It keeps switching from HD to SD every few seconds.

It is acting up on OTA right now during the football game. Every 2 seconds it flashes the SD version and switches back to HD.

It is doing it now during "House".

Still doing it tonight.

its been doing it for the past few days atleast for me.... i have been cross recording my shows which has been a lifesaver.

Due to Fall atmospheric conditions we are experiencing signal fades on our HD receiver at the KYLE transmitter site. (Causing the macro blocking and switching). When the signal fades enough to loss the switching tone, the system switches back to KYLE-SD.

Due to the complaints I received about our master Control operator switching off the HD Sunday during the football game, I instructed them not to disable KYLE HD switching during these fade conditions.

Once they disable he HD switching, they have no way to tell when it clears up.

I am going to continue operating in this manner because the viewers in Bryan have the ability to switch to the analog channel when it is happening and check back every once in a while until the HD reception clears up.

We have a six foot parabolic antenna and single channel 20DB amplifier on the tower to receive the HD signal.

The receiver has over 40DB fade margin, but atmospherics in Spring and Fall cause the Austin and Dallas 1 MW stations on 56 and 57 to interfere.

I am continuing to try to arrange for a fiber feed to Bryan but am having little luck with the cable companies involved because they are competitors and don't play well together.


Hello. I live in Bryan, just past HWY 21 going toward Waco, and have Dish Network. I noticed the HD/SD switching during Fringe as well, but again this Sunday during theNFL Game and then again tonight during the MLB NLCS game. Yes, SD on KWKT 44 still works, but, no offense, sucks compared to Fox in HD on 28-1. Then while watching your channel, I saw a pop-up AD for calling Dish Network because of costs? So, I am guessing this will only affect your channel 44 SD and wenever it goes to HD with Dish? Will this affect the TA signal I get? Also, is there anything we can due a consumers to help you out with getting what you need for signal boost here in Bryan/College Station? I know some Aggies that would love to be able to get the OTA HD signal in College Station, but can't right now because the signal strength is too low. So, if there is someone I can call and plead too or write emails or letters to, I would be happy to. Just pass along that info to me. If you can see my email address, you can email me personally if you like. Thanks for your continued help in providing us your HD signals... Latiron - Matt

The atmospheric conditions must have been favorable yesterday. I watched the Cowboys/Cardinals game without incident. Aside from the outcome, it was great!

FYI: The Aggies/Red Raiders game will be in HD on FSN (676 on D*) this Saturday at 11 AM. If you can call it a game.

If you were watching it on Suddenlink 705 you were watching KWKT.
Suddenlink switched the HD channel to KWKT Friday without our consent.


I will never watch Cox/Suddenlink or whatever else they call it as long as I live. I was watching the good, old fashioned way, OTA. The one thing I did find odd was during halftime, it switched to 4:3 SD. As soon as the second half kicked off, it switched back to HD.

I ordered new switching equipment this morning and it will be installed and operational the day it arrives.

Awesome! Keep us updated.

I will never watch Cox/Suddenlink or whatever else they call it as long as I live. I was watching the good, old fashioned way, OTA. The one thing I did find odd was during halftime, it switched to 4:3 SD. As soon as the second half kicked off, it switched back to HD.



Awesome! Keep us updated.

We had to switch back to SD during half time because of the sun outage that occured during that period. FOX feeds us a backup SD feed on another satellite during the sun outage but we have only one FOX HD receiver.

KYLE-DT High Definition Switching Update.

Our supplier says that our new HD switching equipment should arrive tomorrow morning.
We have completed pre-wiring and automation set-up in Waco and will install the encoders tomorrow morning.
We will travel to Bryan and install the new tone detectors at the KYLE site tomorrow afternoon.

The system should be operational by tomorrow night.

DTV transition update

The KWKT/KYLE DTV transition plan has been submitted to the FCC.
The schedule is as follows:

Jan 12th: Shut down KWKT-DT (57) to replace high power mask filter and retune the transmitter to 44.
Jan 19th: Shut down KWKT-TV (44) and bring KWKT-DT on air on channel 44.

NOTE: There will be no FOX HD service for either KWKT or KYLE from Jan 12th to Jan 19th.

Feb 17th: Shut down KYLE-TV (28) and bring KYLE-DT up at 50KW on 28.

Wow, so House and Fringe might be watchable tonight?

I can't wait to get home from work and check the DVR! Now I may leave early...

Great info FOX44CE! Thanks so much for keeping us updated. We all really appreciate it.

We had to switch back to SD during half time because of the sun outage that occured during that period. FOX feeds us a backup SD feed on another satellite during the sun outage but we have only one FOX HD receiver.

KYLE-DT High Definition Switching Update.

Our supplier says that our new HD switching equipment should arrive tomorrow morning.
We have completed pre-wiring and automation set-up in Waco and will install the encoders tomorrow morning.
We will travel to Bryan and install the new tone detectors at the KYLE site tomorrow afternoon.

The system should be operational by tomorrow night.

DTV transition update

The KWKT/KYLE DTV transition plan has been submitted to the FCC.
The schedule is as follows:

Jan 12th: Shut down KWKT-DT (57) to replace high power mask filter and retune the transmitter to 44.
Jan 19th: Shut down KWKT-TV (44) and bring KWKT-DT on air on channel 44.

NOTE: There will be no FOX HD service for either KWKT or KYLE from Jan 12th to Jan 19th.

Feb 17th: Shut down KYLE-TV (28) and bring KYLE-DT up at 50KW on 28.


Is there any chance that this process could be shortened?

Is it a process that just takes a lot of time?