I don't think WEPX will be taking 51 FCC says dissapproved on the application.

It would be nice if WEPX and WYDO switched facilities! Too bad that ITN and NCT were able to come up with a solution to their overloaded tower, if a new tower had been built, maybe Fox and CBS would be on the same site... sort of like a communty thing like RAL did.

Wilming... had plans for that, but 6 backed out at the last minute and left 3 hanging. All of their channels were going to be on one stick. But for some reason they could not agree on things... I found out that when 26 goes up that I will be on the line of the 41 dbu contour. So basically on the extreme fringe! But I think it will come in with my antenna being outside, and so high! I also know why I can't get 6 now, I am 10 miles outside of the 41 dbu contour! The engineering specs are much clearer than the commisions link to service contours.

I imagine that if channel 51 comes up in the Round Two elections, that WEPX will jump on it. I think the reason they didn't get it appears to have to do with the fact that they didn't get the proper agreements with other stations. I read that PAX sent letters to a bunch of stations and said that they were moving to 51 (and two other stations in the US too) and that failure to send a response indicated consent. And it apparently didn't go over very well.

It's like Homer on the Simpsons saying "God, if you want me to do it, give me absolutely no sign."

- Trip

*LOL* That's a funny one Trip! I wish they'd go on some other channel though.

Wonder why nobody wants to go up in the 60 range? Are those more difficult to pick up?

Ken do you know?

What I have noticed is each market tries to get channels close to each other. Ex. Wraz 49 WTVD 52 Wral 53 WNCN 55... Why I don't know because they revert back to the original channel anyway.

I thought the upper band was going to be done away with too?

I think 2-6 will vanish for emegency services. But 7-69 I beleive will remain in use.

I think 2-6 will vanish for emegency services. But 7-69 I beleive will remain in use.

No, channels 52-69 ARE GONE after the transition. Post transition will be 2-51. Whether 2-6 disappears too is an unknown at this time.

The reason many markets have their DTV channels close is because those were the only ones that met the criteria for new DTV stations analogs would NEVER be able to fit in that channel spacing.

And it is NOT a given that a station CAN go back to its analog channel post transition, hence WITN being rejected to go back to 7 and having to stay on 32 post transition.

I didn't know that Foxeng, thanks for the scoop! I sure hope we don't get stuck with a low band channel, I don't want those huge antennas anymore! I also think 11 was rejected from going back to their analog, but not positive on that.

I didn't know that Foxeng, thanks for the scoop! I sure hope we don't get stuck with a low band channel, I don't want those huge antennas anymore! I also think 11 was rejected from going back to their analog, but not positive on that.

The only low band channels around this parts that elected were WSKY, Manteo channel 4 (their analog is 4 and they have no digital channel) and WBRA, Roanoke, VA channel 3. They are a PBS and have no money to go back to their analog channel 15.

WTVD has requested 11 again after a mutual interference agreement.

foxeng, is there a place that lays out what everyone has elected at this point? I mean, something easy to check out...

I'm a little confused, Foxeng, are you saying that if a station wants to change from what they are currently running.... for example-- WTVD changing from 52 dt to 11 dt--- that they will need to change their equipment for new stuff? If thats the case, now I understand why 8/14 want to keep their current channels and probably will hold out until the final cutoff.... :(

Ok, now that he mentions it, I'm curious about that too...

foxeng, is there a place that lays out what everyone has elected at this point? I mean, something easy to check out...

Go to http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_sear.htm
and under the Application Type go to First Round Election and then the state you want for what the stations originally asked for and then for those stations who had to either re-elect or validate their election choice go to the same page and under Application Type go to First Round Conflict then state.

Or you can go to www.nchdtv.com and I have listed the stations first round elections and I am updating the conflicts this week.

I'm a little confused, Foxeng, are you saying that if a station wants to change from what they are currently running.... for example-- WTVD changing from 52 dt to 11 dt--- that they will need to change their equipment for new stuff? If thats the case, now I understand why 8/14 want to keep their current channels and probably will hold out until the final cutoff.... :(

Yes. Just because a station elects to go back to their analog channel and the FCC lets them, that doesn't mean that they will have no cost in conversion. Unless their transmitter is a fairly late model, last 10 years, and their antenna was specifically designed for digital, all of that will have to be changed out at a significate cost. The good thing is the power level required for DTV VHF is MUCH less than analog VHF and that is miniscule compared to what it takes and costs on UHF.

Most VHF High band DTVs only need about 1 to 2 kilowatts of transmitter (that translates to about 8 kilowatts of analog power) where VHF high band stations that run full power of 316 kilowatts ERP need analog transmitters that run between 20 and 50 kilowatts of transmitter power. A 50 kilowatt VHF transmitter runs about $600,000.

To give you an example, WNCT runs 316,000 analog on channel 9. They have about a 30 to 40 kilowatt analog transmitter. For a slightly larger DTV coverage on channel 10, they run 35,000 watts with about a 5 kilowatt DTV transmitter. (I am guessing at the numbers based on what I have seen at other similar installations.)

In my own stations case, we run at 316,000 watts on channel 8 analog (about 30 kilowatts transmitter power). For our DTV channel 35 to match our channel 8 analog coverage we need 729,000 watts of channel 35 DTV power. For post transition, we are asking for channel 8 at 15 kilowatts ERP for the same coverage as we get with 316,000 analog. I have calculated our transmitter power needs at 1780 watts. We just recently bought a new transmitter (May of this year) that will do either analog or digital and our new channel 8 antenna will do either digital or analog. so when the time comes to go digital on channel 8, all we have to do is cut the aural section loose and change out the analog exciter for a digital exciter, take the analog filter out and put in the digital filter and take the data stream we are using on channel 35 and connect it to the new digital channel 8 exciter and turn the power WAY down and turn channel 35 off.

You can get a 2 kilowatt DTV transmitter for about $150,000 to $200,000. In comparison, a 60 kilowatt DTV UHF transmitter, three tube IOT, (about 220 kilowatts analog power) is about $1.2 million to $1.5 million. The cost to operate the two is GREATLY different too. The 2 kilowatt DTV VHF transmitter is about $2500 a month for electricity. To operate the 60 kilowatt DTV UHF transmitter is about $18,000 a month for electricity.

Of course Disney owns ABC and ABC owns WTVD (like FOX owns my station) so getting the money to go back to the VHF high band analog channel is not a problem. For a station like WFXI that is hanging on by their teeth, that is a different story.

Looking over things, I'd say wtvd is caught in the middle of things.... so to speak!

Contact the station and see what kind of response you get.

Here's the email I got from WNCT:
Media General, the parent company of WNCT-TV/DT, and Time Warner are currently in negotiations for a digital carriage agreement. In the interim, the "over the air" broadcast of WNCT-DT can be received for free using a roof mounted VHF antenna.

I haven't gotten a responce from WFXI or TWC (emailed all three on 16 AUG).

So WNCT and WFXI are the only ones not on TWC? I don't think UPN is available on the digital band of cable either. It seems media gen. should have made arrangements by now, so it looks as though cable is demanding too much.

Former WNCT anchor John Spence 72 years old charged with several charges for indecent liberties with a minor. His 60 year old roommate was charged with the same thing.

I thought that Spence had passed on. Guess NOT!!!

7-2 5 day looks shi**y again...

Please forgive me, I just joined this forum. I have spent a bunch of time searching and did not find an answer. Can anyone tell me their experience with OTA HD in New Bern? I am thinking about stepping up but I don't want to do it unless I can get good local HD without a huge rooftop antenna. Before satellite, I was able to receive analog on 3 of the networks, real fuzzy on 2 others. I have been spoiled by the picture quality from DirecTV and don't want to regress. Thanks
Larry

larry, my folks live in Riverbend there in New Bern... With a indoor antenna, they were able to pick up the locals ota; abc, nbc, cbs, pbs, pax. Fox is low power out of Morehead City and I don't think there signal is making it much out of the city itself.

My folks rooftop antenna needed some adjustments, so I really can't tell you what's possible with one of those.

Picture quality ota digital is vastly superior to my Dish Network pq or regular analog. I believe the other folks on here will probably say the same about pq ota versus Directv. My opinion, but I think ota is better than cable or satellite in terms of pq.

Let us know if we can help further.

Thanks. By indoor, do you mean just unamplified rabbit ears or something? If that is the case, I have been way behind in the digital revolution, because one of the reasons I went DirecTV was to get decent reception even on locals.

Sorry, I should have said amplified indoor antenna... Yes, but they were able to get the locals with an amp indoor antenna from Wal Mart.

Larry,

Ken from WCTI said earlier too that he was using an outside amplified antenna and getting good quality on all locals both analog and digital from our area. He did say that FOX was weak, I think he meant FOX 14 analog, but maybe he meant 8, not sure. all other channels should be no problem for you.
If you have anymore ?? be sure to ask and we will do our best to make sure you get good signals. Between all of our tips I bet you will.

Eastern,
Had you heard that Raycom Media has bought all of The Liberty stations, including wway? Now I wonder if that station will become CBS, UPN WB NBC or if it will stay the same? Foxeng says they cannot own another station in the same market, but they are looking for FCC approval. Who knows, they may make a lot of channel changes down here!

I did hear that news; interesting times for Wilmington tv... I'm bummed with the digital content on Hurricane Katrina. I've been switching back and forth between the cable nets, but am VERY disappointed with NBC Weather Plus!!! I'm totally bummed about ABC News Now not being on digital also; that was the best coverage last year- affiliate simulcasts! You don't get much better than local reporters on the ground in their own territory. I was hoping WRAL or someone would do some forward thinking and pick up the feed of one of the local's down in Louisiana or Mississippi, but no dice. I did notice 7.2 24/7 weather had some current conditions and tropical update stuff, which must be Jamie's doing... He's usually got every angle covered! :) I noticed 9.2 has been doing some loops, currents with the VIPIR also. Not too bad! I just want some affiliate simulcasts and since I'm on dial up I can't get local webcasts from the stations for more than 10 seconds since everyone in the country is apparently watching it online! I'm hacked tonight! *LOL*

I have been watching the TITAN radar on a couple of the cable nets, not all that different than Vipir that I can tell... I'm like you, I wish Media giant would turn on one of their channels down in that area on 9.2 so we could see things from a close perspective. I guess they can pick it up via satellite? I'm not up to speed on those technical details! :D

I found some live affiliate coverage on the net if you have high speed internet.

Go to www.wiat.com
then see link on page for wjtv 12 Jackson Miss. and wkrg 5 Mobile, Al

while at wkrg web site noticed former ch 9 Rose Ann Haven was a anchor there!!

WRAL Newschannel is now simulcasting WWL, the New Orleans CBS affiliate, on 5.2!

I tried to post about this a few minutes ago, but I am so stoked to see the simulcast on the WRAL Newschannel! With dial up, I haven't been able to view NO' coverage via the web because of the server load. Thanks for hearing this viewer, at least, WRAL!

I would think WNCT could do that as well... I assume they could pick up the satellite feed or maybe they have to pay for satellite time? I'm not sure how that works. I think they have to pay for satellite time if WNCT were in NO and giving a live shot for WNCT. Not sure about that... I would think WWL or any other station down there would be uplinking their feed to the network, but who know's... Maybe an engineer can pop in here and give us a clue!

WRAL Newschannel just shut off the WWL feed... It went to black screen with people talking in the background and then it went to "My Heart Will Always Be In Carolina," the regularly scheduled programming... I hope WWL comes back- or another station... I hope it wasn't just a mistake broadcasting the feed.

It's back on now from Baton Rouge, not sure of the station's call letters... The anchors metioned some college students... Not sure what's going on here... Looks like a news set though. Not sure which affiliate this is... I think it might be WWL anchors at another location... WX graphics aren't the same as WWL... Maybe a Baton Rouge affiliate? I'll let you know as I watch some of the coverage...

wwlv New orleans

I was watching Rose Ann Heaven on WKRG feed off net and they switched to same feed from WWLV that was airing on WRAL 5.2

That's funny about RoseAnn... I wouldn't mind checking out that feed just to see her again.

Eastern,
Had you heard that Raycom Media has bought all of The Liberty stations, including wway?

This is a 3 way deal with Raycom being only one owner that will get stations. The FCC has rules that do not allow duopolies among big 4 stations. There is already a duopoly between NBC and FOX in that market that predates the current rules so a second duopoly is very unlikely. Even in a market the size of Greensboro (47) we are only allowed one duopoly and Sinclair has that one between WXLV (ABC) and WUPN (UPN).

I personally find it hard to believe the FCC will allow Raycom to have a triopoly between NBC, ABC and FOX (or a duopoly between NBC and ABC). They would own 75% of the TV market and the FCC doesn't allow those kinds of things. I haven't seen a list yet of which stations are being bought by whom. It will be interesting to see who winds up with what.

Raycom could dismiss FOX and just go with the two stations 3&6. Is SE media holdings a branch off of Raycom, because that is who owns WSFX. I have a feeling that the WECT signal will be changed to something else, at least on the digital tower, and WECT dt will be on WWAY's current tower... We shall see!

Raycom could dismiss FOX and just go with the two stations 3&6. Is SE media holdings a branch off of Raycom, because that is who owns WSFX. I have a feeling that the WECT signal will be changed to something else, at least on the digital tower, and WECT dt will be on WWAY's current tower... We shall see!


That would be awesome. Providing that WECT had the same Plat and EFR.

Bertie and the guys at 9 fixed the clock today sometime, earlier it was reading an hour fast.

Yeah, I sent an e-mail to him to let them know!

I wasn't sure if it was my box or what... I had disconnected my equipment and taken it to my folks over in the Fayetteville TV area over the weekend. I had an inside antenna with me and had no trouble picking up the channels. They really were shocked at how good their TV looked! Them being up on a tall hill made reception flawless. I wish they had an ourdoor antenna, no telling what they would get, but I bet 7, and 9 would work with no problem!

Despite the helpful information and encouragement, I am going to delay buying all of the stuff for HD. Although it sounds like I should be able to receive HD on New Bern locals OTA, I really watch other channel most of the time and there just are not enough of them on HD to justify the cost, yet. In addition, hardware prices keep dropping. Maybe next year....

Larry

About 2 months ago, Wal-mart in jacksonville had Digital Set tops for $80. I am not sure if your local store has them discounted, but might be worth checking out. I bought my Set top from CCity for a good discount. You can always just get a Set top and antenna to start with, and then get a HDTV later down the road, that is how I started. Good luck and check back with us!

Need Help with making decison to upgrade to Directv HD. I live in Greenville. I am a newbe so someone please help.

I have Directv with 2 receivers and 2 dishes. The 1st dish is the original dish which came with the system 5 years ago. The 2nd dish was installed in Nov/2004 after Directv advertised that Greenville/Washington/New Bern could view local channels thru the dish.

My understanding is in order to upgrade to HD, I will need:
1. Multi-Sat. Antenna
2. HD Receiver/set-top box
3. Of course TV capable of all this (Which I have)

My question what happens with my local channels. I know Directv states in order to view local channels in HD I will need an off-air antenna. OK, I can try that, however in the past I have had very little luck in picking-up any channel other than WITN-7, WNCT-9, WCTI-12. I want to pick-up the FOX station which carries the Carolina Panthers. I pick that channel up very clear in my current set-up. Can I continue to use the 2nd dish to pick up the local channels even though they are not in high-def and use the off-air antenna for the local channels when I do want to see a high-def program.

Sorry to be wordy!! Any Ideas?????

You are correct, You can use both an antenna and the 2nd dish. Jamielee might be able to explain exactly how he is hooked up since that is what he is doing to watch HD right now. I just use 1 dish and get locals with the antennas. Of cource since you live in Greenville you will be able to get everything digitally with an antenna. FOX 50 Raleigh will be your source for FOX shows, and ABC 11 WTVD will get you the Panthers on 52 dt. Assuming Directv will allow you to view out of market channels with their boxes.

Myself, I have to view FOX 26 analog in Wilmington because our FOX 8 is not full pwr and 14 is not live at all.

I have a HD DVR from Directv.

To get HD you'll need a multisat dish that recieves 101w 110 w and 119w.

I also have a 2nd dish pointed at 72.5w for locals. Youll also need a zinwell 6x8 multiswitch to get the locals and the multi dish to connect together, the 4x4 switch will not work.

I use a channel master 3020 antenna (outdoor) to get over the air channels in HD and DIGITAL.

In Greenville you should get Raliegh channels also. Cause I get them at night here east of Washington.

DIGITAL over the air channels tend to travel further than analog, you either get them or you dont, no static.

I get the following channels over the air from antenna.
5.1 WRAL DT
5.2 WRAL News channel
7.1 WITN DT
7.2 WITN 24/7 WEATHER CHANNEL
9.1 WNCT DT
9.2 LIVE VIPIR 9 RADAR
11.1 WTVD DT
11.2 WTVD RADAR/NEWS
11.3 WTVD DT
12.1 WCTI DT
12.3 WCTI UPN48
17.1 WNCN DT
17.2 WNCN DT
17.3 NBC WEATHER PLUS
19.1 UNC TV
19.2 UNC HD
19.3 UNC KIDS
19.4 UNC EDUCATION
19.5 UNC NEWS CHANNEL
22.1 WLFL DT
25.1-25.5 UNC SAME AS 19
30.1 WRAY DT SHOP AT HOME
47.1 PAX/i
47.2 PAX/i WEST
47.3 FAITH
47.4 WORHSHIP
50.1 WRAZ DT
50.2 WRAZ DT
50.3 WRAL WEATHER CHANNEL

In Greenville you should recieve a few more.
On good nights youll pull in Virginia channels, SC channels and Greensboro channels in clear digital.

One thing to remember, you don't need those HUGE antennas anymore, What I would recommend is you get a HIGH BAND VHF antenna that is for channels 7-13. This will get you WNCT-HD 10 or 9.1/9.2 Right now that is the only VHF channel on air with digital. Next get a UHF antenna for the other channels, whether it a Bow tie type or Yagi. This needs to be pointed at Clayton, NC in eastern Wake county if you are going to view FOX. Since you are so close to our local NBC you probably wont have to have it directly aimed at Grifton.
Keep the two antennas seperated 5 feet on the pole from each other with the UHF on top, and use a common high quality splitter in reverse to connect the two antenna with the same lenght of coax (RG-6) from the ant. to the splitter, or if you need more pwr which I doubt, then move to an amp.
But be sure to use (RG-6) grade cable and not RG-59

Just checking to see if everyone is still around, no post in a few days!

Glad to see David Letterman in HDTV. Can't wait till SNL goes HD and Good morning america.

Can you believe the price drop in Directv HD recievers.
The regular HD Directv boxes are now $199 and HD DVRs are now $599 with a $100 rebate.
not bad.
Also directv is adding a new HD channel Sept 9th, ESPN 2 HD

Still here, just nothing much to say about HD, LOL other than the race is on!

On WNCT I see the new weather guy is in the house! Welcome to ENC, if your reading yet! :D

I'm here... I saw the new guy on Fox News at 10 tonight. I'll have to cap him for my website. It's been a few days since I've done an update... *LOL*

Ken and the folks at 12,

Just wanted to say thanks for giving our market Ellen's show, any other new daytime shows coming in the next week?
I did see on With that they will take Millionaire this fall. I hope none of the good shows end up on 8/14 or I'm screwed!

I was glad to see Ellen an hour earlier than what I'm used to as well! I never watch our local Fox except for the ocassional look at the 10 o'clock news or if my sat/dtv Fox's go down at the same time. I have no idea what syndicated programming is on Fox 8/14.

I wish WYDO would come on the dtv airwaves. I'm at the point that I could care less if it's HD or not.

It's funny... I was thinking the other day what Fox 8/14 should do since they are going to be SD anyway is to have 8.1/14.1 show Fox programming, partner with MG & WNCT for a News/Weather channel on 8.2/14.2, pick up the WB for 8.3/14.3, pick up that new FOX Business channel for 8.4/14.4, and figure out something for 8.5-6/14.5-6. Maybe with all that programming the station could generate some revenue so they could eventually go HD. By then, WB could buy up Pax/I's stuff since I still don't think that they will make it in the long run...

Just my ramblings... *LOL*

Has anyone heard anymore about work being done on WYDO antenna? I still am thinking I will see WSFX come on long before I see 8/14 either one at full pwr. Raycom is not rushing though by any means.

I haven't heard anything about WYDO since the last time I e-mailed them... Maybe jamielee or Ken12 are in the know...

Radio shack has a HDTV Tuner for $89 model #16-3499 only available at Radio shack in New Bern and Kinston

RadioShack in Jacksonville Mall has it too, wow thats a good price! And it tunes cable! But not all the channels are on cable, only WWAY WECT WCTI and WITN right now.

That's an awesome price for hdtv tuner! Is it any good?

Thats what I was wondering too, must be a brand new item?

The cable (digital/HD) only if the cable system passed 8vsb, most HD boxes will pass 8vsb, but I know COX does not pass 8vsb. To get digital cable you need a quam capable box.

Have any of you guys seen any of the coverage from WWL on WRAL's Newschannel? It looks like more stations across the country are picking up the WWL feed and putting it on their digital bandwith; WVEC in Va. Beach just picked it up today. It's been interesting to watch.

Is anybody in the Greenville area getting a weak signal on dt channel 21? I'm getting about 40%; not enough to decode... Could this be Fox 14 or somebody else? Anybody got any ideas?

I have not even picked up any RDU channels since Sunday, is the tropho low or something wrong with my set up???

Since the weather has turned cooler and windy I have a very strong signal coming from WUNM with no break-up. I think the wind did something to my antenna. Maybe a slight turn by the wind helped? Other than my normal stations, I have had nothing either. Not even WECT.

Eastern, I think you would have to be getting WYDO with 21. Maybe they are testing? But 40% is terribly weak.

I looked at nchdtv.com and couldn't find any other 21 within range of eastern nc; the signal woud have to be coming from somewhere far away. Like you guys, I haven't been getting any out of market stuff for a good week or so. Something has capped it because I'm not getting WLFL at all and WRAZ Fox 50 I'm having difficulty with. I think something has squelched tropo.

I'm getting nothing on 21 today, but maybe it'll come back tonight... I guess we'll eventually find out what it was. I'll let you guys know.

Eastern, Your not far from the WYDO tower, maybe you could drive by it and see if there is a new antenna on it? That would be the fastest way to know if anything was being passed! Of course with high gas prices I know that riding to look at towers is not high priority! LOL!

*LOL* True that, jspENC! I actually sent an e-mail to Mr. Fisher over at Fox 8/14 to see what kind of progress they are making. The last time I talked to him was July and they were in the initial stages of getting started with WYDO. He said at that time it would be a few months before completion. Hopefully, they are testing the signal... Crossing my fingers here...

I really hope that they take a look at multicast offerings since they are doing SD at least initially. I think that could offer them a way to make revenue so they can do HD. I'd really like to see The Tube and I don't think WCTI, WITN, and WNCT will do it, partly because of bandwith constraints. If WYDO is going to do SD, they have a big opportunity to offer dtv enthusiast a wide array of content.

Fact is, I talked with WNCT about 9.2 and they have no plans for anything on that channel beyond what is there. They don't feel there are any, enough, viewers in ENC to warrant building out a channel there. I think this same reason is probably why WNCT HD isn't on cable. They are not being aggressive and pushing HD enough. I have to say that that is where WITN and WCTI both have an advantage over them. I mean WCTI was first plus having UPN 48, now WITN is on with 24/7... I don't think WNCT cares about HD or multicasting really all that much.

Thought I would let everyone know I will be going off the air tonight to replace my microwave equipment on my STL path. Probably around 1am shouldn't be down much more than a hour. This will effect both analog and digital.

Ken

Actually UPN 48 is available down here on cable only on analog tier, Ken correct me if I'm wrong. LOL
I have never understood why either. It hasn't been all that long that WCTI went on the HD tier. WWAY was the very first on cable, it and WECT are recieved in Wilmington and brought up here through Fiber Optic lines along NC 53.

Ken12, what's the benefits of doing that, if you don't mind my asking? Will it help reception of the digital signal?

Ken,
You don't have to climb any towers or anything I hope! :D

What differences should we see when you replace the equipment?

Ken12, one other thing... I noticed during the 12 News rebroadcast at 10 on UPN 48 that there was a new cut in; something about community involvement or spotlight. Is that a new feature for the re-broadcast? I remember you mentioning that there were some new things in store for WCTI... Is this one of them or were you talking the graphics side due to the new switcher?

One final thing about the rebroadcast on UPN 48, I thought last week pq had improved a lot. It seemed that Skip's cut in and the prerecorded stuff meshed a lot better. However, last night it seemed like the prerecorded stuff was a lot murkier than Skip's cut in and the community thing... Why is that?

I don't think you will see any difference. One of the specs fall outside of the ATSC spec. That is what DirecTV says is my problem with UPN 48 on sat. They wouldn't look at it any further until I was in spec. I started this back in March and just got the equipment in yesterday. Lately UPN has been doing good on DirecTV so I could be a little while before we know if it helped or not.

The reason UPN is on the analog tier is that UPN went on in 2000 and there were very few digital subscribers at that time. We wanted to make UPN available to as many subscribers as we could so we wanted the analog tier for it.

Ken

That is something new but not what I'm talking about. The changes will come in mid October. When you see them you will definatley know there is something different you will not have to ask.

I will look in to UPN tonight and do a little tweaking on a few things. Eastern don't you go grabbing screen captures tonight while I'm working on it. :)

Ken

That makes sense on the cable thing, one day I'm sure that TW will go ALL digital around here, they already have in Lumberton-Fayetteville and Raleigh service area, at least for those who have an HD or digital control box.

LMAO! :D

*LOL* Sure thing, Ken! Thanks for the reply and I think we've said it before, but in case we haven't, thanks for taking the time to explain this stuff to us when we have questions!

Regarding Fox 14: Here's Mr. Fisher's reply back to me about the blip on dt 21 last night...

George- Thank you for your note. We have not begun testing the signal as yet. We have to strengthen our tower site before we can hang our antennae there and we are waiting for crews to show up literally any day. After they have the tower modified, we should be able to install the transmitter and antennae within two to three weeks and hit the air. When we were working on our FOX8 digital project, the tower crew put us off for 6 weeks before they finally showed. Hopefully, they will be more timely on this project. Best case scenario is toward the end of October for completion. Worst case would be the end of the year. We're still discussing what we'll do with the unused broadband. I would appreciate any thoughts or suggestions. Again, contact me any time with questions or suggestions.

I think it's awesome that Fox 8/14 is willing to listen to suggestions for what to do with their bandwith. I mean, I know in reality that we all want HD, but since they can't do that right away, I think we should make the best of a bad situation. Plus, like I said... maybe they can offer us some stuff that others cant.

My choices for subs on Fox 8/14:

1. The WB
2. The Tube
3. Some sort of enc news/weather station... WITN won't do it since they have 24/7. WCTI probably wouldn't do it since WNCT does news with Fox 8/14. So that leaves WNCT, which for all intents and purposes has told me they're not interested...

Is The TUBE on the air? WECT does not have it up, in fact even Weather plus is not on anymore on 6.2 the last time I picked them up. Just a blank screen and not even any sound going.

The TUBE is on air in some markets with Raycom stations. I'm not sure if other non Raycom stations have picked it up, but there were some screencaps of it on the HDTV Programming thread. It sounds to me like WECT has no clue what's going on with their digital channels. I thought Wilmington had dtv enthusiasts who would notify WECT of problems. Then again, I've read that WECT is difficult to pick up even in Wilminton. I've gotten WWAY many, many times, but WECT only once and for not very long...

Wect signal is terrible. I think they cut the power down at times to be honest. They should have gone on there tall tower in Bladen County, then you could get them all the time I bet, and so could I for that matter, but they say that the tower is too old and not worth the money to fix it to hold the dt antenna. I have driven by it many times, and it is way way up there! I think the building at the site is probably not adaquate either. Who knows what will happen now that WWAY has been sold.

Tropo should be strong the next few days over enc.

Where is our friend Griff? We haven't heard from him in months now it seems. Are you still with us Griff?

Yeah, and whatever happened to agregjones? And banshee? What happened to some of those people?

Still know out of market stations tonight, anyone else not getting them?

I've started getting WB22 again tonight... Tropo forecast is for strong conditions tomorrow and Friday. I briefly got a blip on dt 21 but I have no idea where it's coming from since it's not WYDO.

Do you get WRAL 24 hrs a day or at night like me?

I get WRAL, WTVD, WNCN, and WRAZ 24 hours a day... WB22 comes and goes, WRAY comes and goes, never receive WRDC 28 except once in a blue moon. I get WUNC, WFMY, and WWAY more than I ever have WRDC.

I know it's a stretch, but how's reception from the north? WBOC-DT in Salisbury, MD is on channel 21...

- Trip

ESPN 2 HD is now on Directv ch 72

I know it's a stretch, but how's reception from the north? WBOC-DT in Salisbury, MD is on channel 21...

- Trip

I went to your site last night trying to figure out where that signal was coming from! It never locked in so for now, I guess I'll never know... Then again, tropo is supposed to be really good today and tomorrow night.

The new anchors on 9 seem migty GREEN, they are getting words twisted and seem to be new to TV.

After last night, it's best that I say nothing on that subject... I don't want my words misinterpreted.

I do like the new weather guy, he does a lot of neat stuff with the radar that we have never seen with the other guys. At least on a regular basis. But it takes me a while to get used to new people, so I am just waiting a while to see how things progress.

Yea, Gannon is really come around he was kinda green at 1st but now he is pretty good.


Anyone notice any change to the 12 signal since Ken worked last night.
Ill try to monitor UPN on Directv tonight to see if its still breaking up.

Ken,

I can tell quite a difference in the picture quality. Whatever you did made a difference, on both signals but more so on analog 12.

I've watched it the last 20 minutes and have not seen any freezing up yet.


Ken,
Do you know who is taking over COX COMMUNICATIONS yet.
They announced in the Washington paper this past spring that they were go to sell out here in the east.
Im guessing Time warner will get it being they already have the surrounding areas.

Did you guys see Gannon about a week ago up on that ladder at the top of WNCT's roof? Maybe that day he climbed up to the DTV antennas and adjusted them! LOL!

I saw Gannon on the ladder that day; I had to watch analog cause I had a problem with digital reception that evening. That was weird seeing him on a ladder! *LOL*

are you guys serious? Was he on the roof?

He was climbing up the side of the building on a ladder; I didn't see the whole thing. I'm not sure what he was doing. Maybe jsp knows...

He was adjusting antennas during eyewitness news at 6.

No seriously, he was reporting on storm surge if I remember correctly, and demonstrating how high it was with Katrina.

If someone here has a lot of free time, has a good amount of knowledge about local television (digital and otherwise) and would like to assist with my website, please PM or comment here. I'm going to perform an experiment and need a victi--I mean, volunteer to help me out.

Since people on this thread are extremely active, I imagine at least one of you has free time. :P

Thanks.

- Trip

Yup, he was talking about storm surge now that I think back on it...

Trip, I'd volunteer to be a victim, but I was victimized last night on my website for something I said. I don't think I could take it again... ROTFLMAO! :)

Right now my work is on-line, so I can pop in and out of here a lot, but with another website I am currently working and my other weekend stuff I just don't think I would be a good victim either. LOL! Good luck Though, still a few others here that might be able to help.

Hey jsp, thanx for what you said in my shoutbox today about my website making a difference! I appreciate that and needed it after last night!

The site has already made a difference and this one too. I doubt we would have a 9.2 or a WITh 24/7 without all our carrying on. Many channels would have all kind of technical issues probably if they didn't know we were watching them so closely!

Well except for 12 :D

Hey eastern, over on your site the posting about WITNs graphics about Katrina with a shot of the Lowe's employee Tom Lester, Thought it was cool because Im a manager at that Lowe's and work with Tom.
Ill have to show him the site and his screenshot.
Talked to Tom today and he said he's already had some folks call him wanting him to take items with him that they will bring him, he says he'll do what he can.

He's having to take several classes in Greenville from the Red cross so he can go down there and volunteer.
He's got to take a physical also.

Cool jamielee! Small world, totally random shot of him that I grabbed for that story.

This morning I pulled in the NBC 12 up in Roanoke digitally, and picked up ABC 8 on analog from the north, and Fox 24 from Myrtle from the South.

How was the ducting for you?

Still nothing besides Greenville New Bern Washington digitals.
Im going up on the roof this afternoon to check alignment ans connections.

This morning I pulled in the NBC 12 up in Roanoke digitally, and picked up ABC 8 on analog from the north, and Fox 24 from Myrtle from the South.

How was the ducting for you?NBC12 (WWBT) is from Richmond as is WRIC 8/ABC...

I knew I should be checking when NC radio stations were coming in strong. I'm in Virginia Beach. I have good luck picking up WITN when conditions are right...

I only got my normal out of area stuff; WFMY, WUNC, etc... I hope I get some new channels tonight or tomorrow morning!

How did you make out Jamielee?

Looking at storm models tonight, it is looking bad for SE. NC. with Ophelia. Looking more like I am going to get that indoor ant. and take down the outside one if she starts heading into here. :(

Got RDU's back and WWAY but my WNCT is freezing up now.

Frustrating as Hell.

Im going to try tommorow taking my preamp off and see how that works.

Last night I managed WECT for about a half hour, I had many analogs working though, that I don't see on a regular basis. 2,4,24,43,28,50. The storm is doing some wild things with the signals.

Went up and reworked antenna, now lost RDUs and get great signal locally, 5.1 signal jumps up then down in teens.

jamielee, I was having some difficulty yesterday and the day before with WRAL and other RDU stations; maybe cause of the hurricane?

Ken12, I know you are probably off work, but PSIP is down on WCTI 12/48. No program information.

Just saw WTVD out on Western Blvd. here in Jacksonville about an hour and a half ago.

Cool! WRAL was down in Wrightsville Beach last night... I think the current forecast track is looking at making landfall near Cape Lookout. At one point, it was over Jacksonville...

Right now I don't think anybody has a clue exactly where this Hurricane wants to go.

I wish it would hurry up so I can tell when to take down the antenna.

*lol*

The wind has really messed up my analog Fox 26. I tried to watch the Panthers, and for
a while it would be nice and clear, then it would get so that it was almost unwatchable.
I guess it was the wind, maybe the motion of the storm was causing the poor signal, but at
least Fox 26 kept me up on the storm.

WITN has been rocking with their Ophelia coverage!

WITN is the only channel that I get other than WWAY that has kept the warning area up
to date on the storm status all day.

I wish I could get WWAY tonight! I'm getting some hits on WFMY, but I haven't locked it yet... I'd love to get some Wilmington DTV, Myrtle Beach DTV, and Charleston DTV tonight...

I do wish WITN would change 7.2 to WITN 24/7 instead of RADAR! They should be proud of that channel; it's been awesome during Ophelia so far! Also, I think they need to tweak the 5 day, but I know I'm preaching to the choir there... *LOL*

I'm all ready for the storm, antenna at half mast, and still getting all channels, but both
UNC stations are coming and going, FOX 26 is perfectly clear at this low level, about 15 ft. I wish I could leave the antenna like it is,

WRAL Ken Smith reports on 9 news at 11, from coast.

I saw that too... I thought I was on WRAL for a minute! *LOL*

Bobby Deskin on WCTI gives viewers a complete update on 12 and
manages to rap it up in time to see Ellen dance! Outstanding! :D

Anyone see WNCT news this morning with the live shot from the beach where the reporter, not sure what her name was but she was kinda young looking, she was checking with speed and it probally was only blowing about 15-25mph and see said , "the wind is blowing at 79 mph", the studio anchor interupted her and went to Gannon and asked her to repeat to Gannon the speed, she then again said 79 mph, Gannon kinda chuckeld and said I dont think you would beable to stand if it was 79.

Come on how dumb can you be, standing there and your hat not blowing off and not even about to fall and you think its 79 mph.
Get her outta there.

*LOL* I missed that one! Wish I had been able to cap that! *LOL*

The best coverage has been from Wilmington to this point, NON stop coverage all day,

Not to bad here, yet, just rain and wind maybe at 45 MPH at times.

WRAL and WTVD have been wall to wall also today. WRAL cause they feed WILM on Wilmington cable I imagine. Not sure about WTVD; don't think they are on Wilmington cable...

Funny, everybody is wall to wall except Greenville, Washington, New Bern; I imagine that will come later this afternoon or evening. Skip was up all night at 12 last night; I saw him at 2 in the morning doing an update.

My digital is breaking up a lot today with all this wind; especially on 12 and 7. 9 and the RDU channels are coming in rock steady.

7 and 12 break up a bit here, I guess cause I lowered my antenna, but 3,9 and 35 are rock steady, and 26 is clear, D* is working good too.

No UNC TV digital at all however.

7,9,12,19,25 solid no break ups,
5,11,17 coming in now somehow, antenna is off aim for RDU channels.
DIRECTV good also.

Whats your conditions now.

Here in Washington heavy rain started around 1:15p and gusty winds around 20-30mph.
Pamlico river in Washington park is starting to come over the banks. Low lying yards in Washington park around creeks and streams around river starting to flood.
Evacauations ordered for Whichards beach rd on south side of river and voluntary evacuations for East 5th street to John small Ave toward havens gardens in Washington.

Some of the worst I have seen so far this hour. Lots of wind up to 55 MPH I would say,
and Heavy squalls coming in, I bet I have seen 5 inches of rain so far. Supposed to get
worse in the next hour. My area usually doesn't flood, I'm right on the New River, so most
water runs right off.

WYDO is off the air on Directv and Cox cable, Directv is airing a slide saying " This station is not broadcasting"

WYDO is off the air on Directv and Cox cable, Directv is airing a slide saying " This station is not broadcasting"

Yeah, I discovered WYDO is off the air too... That's a bummer, I wanted another clip of Allan and Gary anchoring together. Darn it! Is WFXI still on, I wonder?

We made it through another one. Equipment took a beating but nothing that wont be fixed by the end of the day. I think we did a darn good job with this one too

Ken

We made it through another one. Equipment took a beating but nothing that wont be fixed by the end of the day. I think we did a darn good job with this one too

Ken

Hey Ken, glad to hear you guys made it through with hardly a scratch! Strange how you were fighting a hurricane and just 250 miles to the west, we stood up a tower. Life can be stranger than fiction!

Ken12, I think you guys did a fantastic job! I think WCTI excelled with it's coverage of Ophelia; you guys all deserve a pat on the back! Awesome work...

Just got power,

Ken you guys were awesome! Analog signal was great on battery TV.

All stations did a bang up job I think,

8 is off air right now, and has been since last night.

Glad you got your power back, jspENC! WYDO was off air for a while too. They are back on now.

WFXI is still off, might be that there is no power that far east still.

No signal at 8:09. they must have some real problems

After all the problems with trying to get teh RDU market and keep the GWN market I finally took down my UHF aimed at New Bern/JAX and turned my main VHF/UHF antenna away from RDU and got it aimed so I can pull all of GNW locals in. The other way I would get lock ups on WITN and alot of other little issues. Plus it was kinda aggrivating flipping thru my Directv HD reciever in the day and getting searching for antenna signal on alot of the channels from RDU.
I did go and buy a combiner, but it would work except WITN would freeze up. So I finally gave up on RDUs. Plus my wife was getting pissed, see said all I do is stay on the roof and she's tired f it, and I must say I am too.
Getting 88-92 on all channels except WCTI getting low to mid 80's. Maybe with it aimed more south west I can pull in some new stations.

Jamielee,
did you try just the UHF aimed at Raleigh with the combo aimed like you have it now?
Raleigh stations are all UHF.
Anyway, you might be better off without splitting the signal, let us know if you get new stuff,

I still have not worked on my antenna height since the storm, I am going to try a little
adjustment to the west with my Wilmington antenna and see what happens, in the past
it has helped, maybe the wind blows the antenna back east or something, because I
always seem to lose stations from the south.

channel 8 is still off! Is that legal to be off this long??

A radio station that is down in Atlantic is back on, so power is on down east.

I tried the UHF towards Raliegh, it got a signal but WITN still lost signal.

Maybe WITN is having problems,

WITN has been breaking up with me too, I figured it was due to my antenna being at 15 ft,
rather than my usual 30 ft. When I get it back up I will let you know if the break-up continues. That is the only station breaking up for me by the way.

8 is back on! Finally, and it is stronger than it has been in a long time here. Still working
to get antenna up, it is so hot out there.
8 just went off and then back on, so someone is working on it.

I went back up on the roof (while my wife is at work) and put my UHF antenna that was aimed at New Bern back up aimed at 285 degrees towards Raliegh and I hooked the coax to the coax hook up of the other UHF / VHF antenna instead of having the 2 antennas hooked together into preamp, in other words UHF feeds to connector on UHF/VHF then one wire goes down to preamp.

So far no signal loss, but Ill have to wait till dark to see if RDU channels come in.
Plus the UHF at RDU is lower on the pole than the VHF/UHF that was aimed at RDU. And I dont think the radio shack UHF is as strong as the channel master 3020.
We will see later on. Ill post back my results.

Good luck with all that antenna work guys; it is pretty hot out there today. I'll say for my part that I've had some difficulty over the last week or so with RDU channels. I get them 24/7, but I've lost WTVD and WRAZ on numerous ocassions. Likewise, I don't get WLFL usually until late in the evening. My signals for GNW have been ok; when Ophelia was right in our area, I had some problems with WITN, but they seemed to have cleared up now.

WYDO analog is better than I have seen it in a very long time. Now, if they'll just get digital going...

I am actually getting a little color on 14 now! FOX 26 is perfect and WECT dt is blinking a bit too, maybe tonight it will work.
I turned the Wilmington antenna toward the west a bit more, seemed to help a lot,
All of our stations are fine too. I still have about 6 more feet to lift the pole, so maybe once I get that high new stuff will work tonight.

I am satisfied with my results!

I am getting 8 and 26 perfectly now. Also I am getting WECT 6 dt, along with all Wilmington and GNW stations! This is the best result I have ever had.
Fox 24 from Charleston is working and UPN 36 from somewhere. RDU stations no, except for
analog 5

Fox 24 from Charleston is working and UPN 36 from somewhere

WTAT and WMMP from Charleston.

- Trip

8 keeps going off,

comes back on weak like it used to be, then real strong. I guess it was all fouled up for sometime, and they are just now fixing it...

Well getting WRAL, WTVD, WRPX, WRAZ FROM RAL/DURHAM.
I Do not know why WNCN is not coming in, I thought the towers were at the same site?

Still getting strong signals on all GNW locals. No drop offs.

Think I finally got it fixed.

I've got WTVD dt now, but thats all from that direction so far. The sound is low compared to
3 and 12

Alissa C,
says TD 18 is the one to watch! For Florida anyway, and Rita is near!

Ya hear that 9, I am still able to see her forecast! LOL

how, a stream off the net

Since I adjusted my antenna, I have been getting FOX 30 every night, on analog only though.

Cool, Only bad thing about my Directv HD DVR is that it will not pick up analog.

Ducting for Thursday and Friday are supposed to be strong.

Ducting for Thursday and Friday are supposed to be strong.Getting some RDU DTV's this morning. WTVD, WNCN, WRAL and I think WRAY/Wilson. It was a quick opening then closed. Then I was able to get WITN and not the RDU DTVs...

http://www.vartv.com/media/screengrab_wral_thumb.jpg
WRAL-DT (enlarge) (http://www.vartv.com/media/screengrab_wral.jpg)

http://www.vartv.com/media/screengrab_wtvd_thumb.jpg
WTVD-DT (enlarge) (http://www.vartv.com/media/screengrab_wtvd.jpg)

http://www.vartv.com/media/screengrab_witn_thumb.jpg
WITN-DT (enlarge) (http://www.vartv.com/media/screengrab_witn.jpg)

Getting some RDU DTV's this morning. WTVD, WNCN, WRAL and I think WRAY/Wilson. It was a quick opening then closed. Then I was able to get WITN and not the RDU DTVs...

http://www.vartv.com/media/screengrab_wral_thumb.jpg
WRAL-DT (enlarge) (http://www.vartv.com/media/screengrab_wral.jpg)

http://www.vartv.com/media/screengrab_wtvd_thumb.jpg
WTVD-DT (enlarge) (http://www.vartv.com/media/screengrab_wtvd.jpg)

http://www.vartv.com/media/screengrab_witn_thumb.jpg
WITN-DT (enlarge) (http://www.vartv.com/media/screengrab_witn.jpg)

Cool! I think we should all post quick pics like this when we dx a signal. I didn't know you could post pics like this in the body of your post.

Cool! I think we should all post quick pics like this when we dx a signal. I didn't know you could post pics like this in the body of your post. :D I compressed the thumbs and kept the larger files stored off of AVS Forum...

One minute I had a strong signal for NBC17. By the time I scanned for new channels (maybe 3 minutes), I was getting just faint signals from them and the rest of the RDU DTV's... :mad:

Sounds like me last night; I was getting WFMY from Greensboro, then switched over to WUNC from Chapel Hill, when I went back to WFMY, it was gone. Ducting hasn't been that great for me lately. But I'm doing the indoor antenna thing anyway, so I'm lucky when I dx anything! *LOL*

Sounds like me last night; I was getting WFMY from Greensboro, then switched over to WUNC from Chapel Hill, when I went back to WFMY, it was gone. Ducting hasn't been that great for me lately. But I'm doing the indoor antenna thing anyway, so I'm lucky when I dx anything! *LOL*Geo... I probably would have gotten more if I had checked earlier. I have a portable radio always-on in the garage. WRDU/106.1 was coming in clear and completely over the more closer to me WZNR/106.1 Poquoson. I knew something was up so I went up into the attic and turned my CM4228 to the WSW...

If I knew how to post pics I would, LOL

But not only that I would have a hard time getting my PC close enough to the TV.

Good captures VAR!

Yeah, it's probably dorky of me, but I have my laptop and desktop both in the living room within spitting distance of the tv and my hd stb. I'm using network cables for the computers and rca cables from the stb to my desktop so I can capture on the fly. The main reason I don't have this whole setup in my home office is because I don't get as good a signal for my hd stb there than in the living room. Since I'm doing the webpage, I've kinda forced myself into the situation. *LOL*

I really would like one of those stb from Radio Shack since they're only 89 bucks and from what I've read they're 4th or 5th generation. Everything I've read says they get phenomenal reception. I'd probably pick up a lot more if I had one, but oh well, money is not there to do it right now. From what I saw last night, Kinston Radio Shack still have them in stock too! I'm bummed majorly... *LOL*

Dont feel too bad, my budget for entertainment is stretched all the way out as far as it can
be for this year. And with gas to pay for that doesn't help! LOL

I'm able to get WITN-DT again tonight all the way up here in Virginia Beach...

Wow! That's pretty good for this early in the evening... I'll have to try and dx some Norfolk stations tonight... Been a long time since I've seen WAVY, WVEC, WTKR newscasts... Crossing my fingers here!

IM getting RDUs with out being aimed towards Raliegh.

Woohoo! Stellar night! I'm getting Norfolk LOUD AND CLEAR! I hope the window stays open for the news tonight!

Anybody watch channel 9 news Tuesday morning, Nikki P was doing a story on mold and lost it. She started laughing and tried to catch her self. She paused for about 5 seconds then started talking again and started to crack up again, she said "sorry" then started getting a grin on her face like she was getting ready to bust out again and she finally said we will be right back.

It was very funny! I didnt know a story on mold could be so funny.
Her and Scott are very green.

Over at ENCDTV The article about Billys Brick, Im not sure if you know this or not Eastern, but Billys been doing the brick segment for a while now. I kinda like it.
If you didnt here about the fines against the drivers, well as suspected Nascar just slapped there hands.
Just the usual money fine and 25 points.
They need to start parking these guys before someone gets hurt.
My question is why didnt Nascar fine Dale Jarrett at Bristol for doing the same thing to Ryan Newman.

I didn't know about Billy's Brick, jamielee... Last night was the first time I caught it. My overwhelming problem with it is the anchor's personal opinion. Rule #1 of journalism is reporting the facts, don't mix your opinion. To coin a phrase, he should report, you or me or any other viewers should decide!
*LOL*

I missed the Channel 9 thing... Wasn't awake yet. Rarely am for the morning news except on weekends!

Personally I don't care for Billy's Brick. It is too corney. Rarely do I watch a sports segment
anymore, after weather I tend to turn off the news.

It was very funny! I didnt know a story on mold could be so funny.
Her and Scott are very green.

What you don't see on camera is more funny that what is on camera. It is an old joke. You catch the news reader in a very serious story and then you get them to crack up. I am not saying that is what happened here, but it sounds like it.

Getting some southern stations tonight

WWAY
WCSC
WECT
WPDE
ETV 33.1
SC CHNL
ETV HD
WFPX
All digital.

Yeah, I've had some hits myself tonight; haven't been able to lock WECT though. That has to be one of my hardest distants to tune. Got PBS from Wilmington. I'm also getting a hit on dt 43; don't know what it is just yet. Still trying to lock it in.

Funny, last night was all North; the Hampton Roads stations. Tonight, it's all South. Funny how that stuff works. Also, I'm getting nothing from WTVD 52. They have been off the air for hours now as far as I can tell. I can get all the other RDU stations. Wonder if they took a lightning hit or they are working to bring that new ABC Weather online and reconfiguring their stuff. Guess I'll see tomorrow morning if they're back on the air.

yeah i live in raleigh now and we had some really bad lightnings tonight.

all of the RDU stations got shot down but then in and out.

wuth my indoor antenna i can get all RDU stations easily but i'm having some trouble with picking up UNCTV-Chapel Hill

nevermind i think i've found a spot (telemundo and UNCTV but still no luck with WRDC) ... i'll try it again tomorrow morning

So that's why we never see you pop in here anymore... *LOL*

Getting some southern stations tonight

WWAY
WCSC
WECT
WPDE
ETV 33.1
SC CHNL
ETV HD
WFPX
All digital.

I should have stayed up later last night! Did you get these with the Channel master?

I have gotten all those SC stations often, except for WPDE, only 1 or 2 times.

I've been reading and not posting much. I'm just about ready to go with the new deal from DirecTV to get the HD Tivo for $299 - $100 MIR since my fine Samsung HD receiver is getting worse.

I know a few of you were registered on the aroundGreenville site and wanted to let you know that I have changed the backend on it. It now has a better interface that will allow a good number of things beyond just the forum. Sorry to interrupt the thread, but I will be moving the HDTV content from the old site onto there ASAP. If any of it was of use, I didn't want you to be surprised at the change.

WITN 24/7 weather channel now streamed live on witntv.com

If you have WITN FIRST ALERT WEATHER for your Desk top the link in on the alert window at the bottom of the screen.
Or go to witntv.com
Its about 25 seconds behind the live tv feed.

WTVD 11.3 is now simulcasting KTRK-TV Houston's Hurricane Rita coverage. WTVD is branding 11.3 as the Eyewitness News Now channel.

WTVD 11.3 is now simulcasting KTRK-TV Houston's Hurricane Rita coverage. WTVD is branding 11.3 as the Eyewitness News Now channel.I'm wondering if ALL ABC O&O's are doing this. WTVD and KTRK ABC O&O's...

I wonder also, VARTV... I have WABC and KABC on satellite, but don't have access obviously to their digital subs... No idea at this point. I was wondering if WVEC was doing it, but I saw last night that they only have 1 sub and do the Skymax doppler on that one.

If anyone in ENC is interested in seeing WNCT's Owen Conflenti, he's at KPRC in Houston, TX. MSNBC is simulcasting them with about 3 other stations. I caught Owen just a few minutes ago at the desk.

Thought I'd let everyone know I will be taking our analog down tonight for some maintainance around midnight shouldn't be for more than a couple hours.

Ken

Just got a email from Owen Conflenti, I emailed him about his appearance on MSNBC. Also linked him the encdtv site with his cap on it.
heres the response.

"Thanks for the note. Im having a great time here. Love the city so far. Ritas making life difficult as you know, but we're making it thru it. Have a great weekend!!!"

-Owen

Thanks for giving Owen the link to my site, jamielee! It was great to see Owen on the tube again; I'd forgotten he went to Houston! *LOL* Small world...

Glad he's enjoying his new town; he can't get away from the hurricanes though...

5-2 is streaming KHOU righ now

Went up and thought Id give the antenna another try, well I went up and turned the main antenna toward RDU and got signals in the 70-80s and still had 90s for Greenville market except WCTI and WUNM, put the UHF towards New Bern and got the same high 80s that I had with the VHF.UHF towards GRV/NB. Cant believe how easily I got all this done. Great to have RDU back.

according to debra morgan, the jetblue pilot is from north raleigh...

I am having some trouble with my VHF/UHF antenna. I think the wind storms it has been through have taken their toll... LOL It is 6 years old now and I only paid $25 for it. Once in a while I start getting pixelation on about half my digital channels, and on analog I get sharp static through about a quarter of the picture almost every 30 seconds it seems once the trouble starts.

Can anyone recommend the best model for our viewing area? I do not want a huge antenna if I can help it. Is antenna craft a good model? Also should I get a V or a strait element antenna?

ITs been a few days, so I guess I will just take a chance and order something...lol

Sorry I can't recommend anything, jspENC! I've little to no experience with outdoor antennas. I think jamilee says he's got a channel master at the very beginning of the thread. Not sure about anyone else. My folks have an old antenna they got from Lowes twenty years ago; not sure what brand.

I've got one of those Accurian stb on the way via Fed Ex. Found a new one by phone at the Morehead City Radio Shack. I can't wait to try it out and see how it works! I'm hoping it comes today, but I'm going to be realistic and not expect it till tomorrow since I have to work Thursday! *LOL* That's the way it goes...

Btw, with the Accurian stb's, there are still plenty around. Online it shows that Jacksonville still has them in stock and every store in Hampton Roads has them; Norfolk, Virginia Beach, etc. All you have to do is call, pay by cc, and they'll ship it out to you via Fed Ex.

Just an FYI if anyone is interested or can juggle a bill here or there... The thread on the hardware section about the stb is loaded with praise. One problem though has to do with a Fox station in Florida. No other reports of problems with Fox. I'll let everyone know how it goes with WRAZ.

The thread on the hardware section about the stb is loaded with praise. One problem though has to do with a Fox station in Florida. No other reports of problems with Fox. I'll let everyone know how it goes with WRAZ.

I receive WRAZ in my Accurian with no problem here in Greensboro. I have no problem with my station either. At this time I have no problems with any station as a matter of fact.

The Accurian might be my Christmas gift this year to me-from me! LOL

Right now I have to get this antenna stuff resolved. Lately I have had no more problems, at least since it rained a few days ago, but I still ordered a mid sized straight element antenna.

I receive WRAZ in my Accurian with no problem here in Greensboro. I have no problem with my station either. At this time I have no problems with any station as a matter of fact.

Thanks foxeng! That was the only concern I really had with purchasing the Accurian; Fox reception. Well, that and scrounging the money together to actually purchase the thing! I can't wait to get it... From everything I've read, it sounds like a nifty little stb for the price!

I went over to deerfield housing here in J-ville to take a look at antennas used by cable TV to get locals, I saw 2 long yagi UHF antennas side by side on the tower just over the supply building. Those might be the ones Ken12 put up for 48. I could not tell if there were others, those also might do UNC and WITN, not sure. The other antennas were way up and I think they were all for VHF only, not sure. Anyway that visit was not a lot of help... lol
I did see the FOX 8 antenna. It is special cut for channel 8 I think and is not as high up as most of the antennas were. It was the only one pointing to the east. I couldn't really hang around too long either. Said Trespassers would be prosecuted. I wish someone had come along from cable while I was out there. Maybe they could have been of some help,, who knows.

I have had good luck with the db-4 and db-8 uhf antennas from antennasdirect.com even though the are uhf they have pretty good gain on the high vhf channels also.

Ken

Thanks Ken, I will consider those. It's a lot of help for me to know that I'm not ordering junk. LOL!

Ken,
Off topic a bit, but several viewers over on a message board I frequent are wondering why the
reporters at 12 call the marines "soldiers". They hate that and want to be called "Marines":D
Army has soldiers-- and Marines are just Marines I guess.

Maybe you could bring that up in one of the meetings or something... I'm sure it was unintentional and just overlooked. LOL

A good reminder for all area stations by the way... It was only 12 that was mentioned, but I'm sure others have made the same mistake.

Anyone here with Directv, starting Nov 15th, Directv will carry 72 (((XM))) satellite music channels, including MLB Home Plate, and High Voltage.

Cool!
Thanks for letting us know. I haven't heard Xm yet. Do you think they are better than music choice?

Well, I got my Accurian set top box this morning... It's now re-packaged for return to Radio Shack.

I was MAJORLY bummed! Everytime, I buy something from the Shack, I have to return it. You'd think I'd learn my lesson after a while...

I'll start with the good: Black horizontal bars that make it great for watching wide screen. Signal strength meter that gives numbers instead of bars. Quick channel change. Quick autoscan. Good Zoom function for 4:3 programming.

Now for the bad: Terrible reception; can't lock normal GWNB and RDU channels without constant dropouts. Horrible EPG that doesn't update unless you pull it up. For example, tune to channel, no information about programming unless full epg is pulled up. EPG dreadfully slow also. Change channel to 53 for WRAL, it doesn't remap to 5; stays on 53. Very muted picture; my Samsung 351 has terrific vibrant colors, Accurian looks washed out. Remote is difficult to use; stb doesn't pick it up very well.

Ugh... Wish I hadn't gone here... I'm going to learn one day. I guess for someone new to HD this might be a good starter box, but you definitely get what you pay for. As for me, never again!

Cool!
Thanks for letting us know. I haven't heard Xm yet. Do you think they are better than music choice?

Yes, I have XM and its better than Music Choice, plus youre getting nearly double the channels you get now with MC.

Go to xmradio.com and you can listen to XM channels free for 3 days. Online

I don't have XM, but Dish offers SIRIUS and I love it! Satellite radio is awesome! I'd love to get the opportunity to hear XM sometime. Thanx for the head's up, jamielee!

Change channel to 53 for WRAL, it doesn't remap to 5; stays on 53.

If after a scan you manually go the actual channel and you don't do an add channel it will not. If you an add channel, it will remap to the Major/Minor channel numbers.

Yeah, it is not a high end box, but IMO, you should be getting better reception than what you are. Friend of mine got one and he is getting some stuff I am not getting and then I am getting stuff he isn't so it may not be all the box.

Eastern,
I think I will stay with my current set-up myself now. Thanks for checking the box out and the warning.

If after a scan you manually go the actual channel and you don't do an add channel it will not. If you an add channel, it will remap to the Major/Minor channel numbers.

Even after adding the channel, it never remapped. Maybe I had a lame box... I dunno.

WITN weather chan now branded as 24/7 WX.

On another note, I hate FOX 8/14!
I cannot see anything but snow on either channel. Those are the only 2 channels that the Virginia/Maryland game are on and I cannot pick it up for nothing. I think they have cut power on 8 again.

Thanx for the 24/7 Wx thing, jsp... I have some snowy reception on 14 myself. The e-mail from the GM of Fox said about this time, they might be re-structuring? the antenna for 14 for digital. Maybe that is why...

14 is always awful down here, the signal barely reaches into northern Onslow County. 8 is supposed to be the one that covers Jacksonville and Richlands, but it is worse than 14! Even if I turn my antenna due east it looks awful, with noise lines running from top to bottom of the screen, and I lose all other channels but 12 digital. Tonight is a bad night for signals, cause Fox 26 is strong one minute and weak the next... If they would just go DIgital ............... Maybe I could see somthing. LOL! WRAL analog looks like gold compared to FOX.

Ken12,
I noticed you guys are on a different background last night at 11pm.. Are you working on the new stuff you were telling us about? If so I can't wait to see it!

I updated my website about this first thing this morning! I happened to be up before work and was late so I saw the temp set... I can't wait to see the new/refreshed set!!! I'm on pins and needles to see what 12 does! :)

WNCT HD is all fouled up. No HD, or PSIP- and the clock is way off. I am going to send an e-mail, but I doubt it will help today.

WOW! Talk about fast service... Someone flipped a switch and HD is now on. :D

Ken12,
I noticed you guys are on a different background last night at 11pm.. Are you working on the new stuff you were telling us about? If so I can't wait to see it!
We sure are. Started Saturday. Everything is temporary right now. Estimated completion is 10/17 if everything goes right.

Ken

Hmm... So that suggests an extensive makeover; set, graphics, the whole kit and kaboodle! Wow, I'm excited to see the final product!

I'm sure we will be blown away! I am also excited, being I have become as much of a news junkie as eastern... LOL, Well maybe not quite that much. ;)

Nice going Ken12... :eek: I thought enginneers were accurate with information.... :rolleyes:

Just because we had a small fire on the set and have to set up a temp set in the newsroom over the next two to three weeks while we clean up..... ;) is no reason to lead people astray..... :p

... I finished the spackling tonight.... fyi :)

Next thing ya know he'll be making up stuff about a new web site... hahah :confused:

Directv finally added guide data for 9.2 weather and they added WITN 24/7 WX to the data. But they added it as 7.3 and the channel is blank with searching for signal message.

I was told that zap2it furnishes data to Directv, I emailed them the listing info a week ago, I just re emailed them about the mistake, maybe it will get fixed.

Ken12,

Who do you contact about your program info?
How does directv get your program guide info?

____________________________________________________________ ____________

Also I have not watched the directv UPN feed lately, Ive watched the OTA feed, has the freezing problem been fixed?

I am looking to mount an antenna in my attic to receive HD/Digital locals. Currently I have a philips indoor antenna in my bonus room sitting atop a box on a TV tray in front of a window which is about 5 ft away from my Dish Network HD STB. This is the only location I can receive any HD/Digital locals. Currently I can get WITN (75-80 % signal), WCTI (65-68 % signal), WUNM (65-70 % signal
), and WPXU (don't recall the strength as I don't watch this station often). However, this setup is not very aesthetic as you might imagine and my wife wants it gone. I have been researching antennas and am considering the Channel Master 4228 with pre-amp or the Radio Shack #15-2151 (Model VU-75 XR) with pre-amp based on the following info from antennaweb (zip code 28570)
red - WUNM, 335 deg., 33.4 miles
red - WPXU, 253 deg., 28 miles
blue - WCTI, 335 deg., 33.4 miles
violet - WFXI, 75 deg., 31.1 miles
violet - WITN, 344 deg., 50.7 miles
violet - WNCT, 344 deg., 50.7 miles
I mainly want to get WCTI, WITN, WNCT, and WFXI (once its available). With WCTI, WITN, and WNCT at about the same orientation this should be no problem with the 4228, but WFXI will pose a problem once it is up. I will have to get a rotator or second antenna. Any suggestions?

Also, are any of the HD/Digital locals for ENC going back to broadcasting in VHF or will they remain in UHF as this may sway my decision.

By the way this is a great thread, I have read all 67 pages.

Welcome BL!
WNCT HD is on VHF right now, so you will need a VHF I think at your distance, I would say get the CM 4221 or 4228, they will both work for you on UHF, then if it doesn't pull in WNCT, you can always use that for WFXI in one direction, and the combo toward the other towers. I ordered a 4221 from warren, and I just have not had a chance to install it. The antenna direct were a bit more money than I had to spend. WFXI is on the air right now, and you should be able to get it at your location with an outside antenna.

Here is a link to a site that I checked over before I made my antenna purchase,
graphs are very helpful, and you can see that the CM antennas are the best according to them.

http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/comparing.html

jspENC,
Thanks for the quick response. I came across the hdtvprimer website earlier, that's what turned me on to the 4228. Is that Warren Electronics you are referring to? They seem to have pretty good prices.

Yep, Warren Electronics. Good luck!

Nice going Ken12... :eek: I thought enginneers were accurate with information.... :rolleyes:

Just because we had a small fire on the set and have to set up a temp set in the newsroom over the next two to three weeks while we clean up..... ;) is no reason to lead people astray..... :p

... I finished the spackling tonight.... fyi :)

Next thing ya know he'll be making up stuff about a new web site... hahah :confused:

Is this a joke? Or is someone trying to throw us off the scent? I saw this tonight and I'm completely non-plussed by it... :rolleyes:

I don't know either eastern,
I wish someone would tell us the real deal once and for all! I can hardly stand the suspence. :D

I am so glad to see Hockey back on! All the games are on too on the NHL channels. I guess for at least this week. For those with directv anyway.

Ken,
Any chance we could get Carolina Hurricanes Hockey on UPN?

I'd be surprised if Ken12 was lying to us... He's always been straight up with us from the beginning. I'm thinking someone is yanking our chain!

I was in New Bern the past few days 'cause my Dad had some heart trouble that put him in the hospital. I thought about going down to WCTI to ask Ken12 for a tour on my off time, but never did. I didn't want to ruin my own surprise! *LOL*

I think viking is just trying to keep the plans low key... LOL! But we already know the real deal.
lol!
Eastern, hope your dad has a speedy recovery.

Thanks, jsp... He got released today and seems to be doing o.k.

I'm hoping Erikdaviking was trying to keep it low key too. I hope to see something that blows me away from TV12!

An interesting note in the trades......

NBC shows one way HDTV is better

HD Beat reports that HD viewers of My Name is Earl got another treat in the last episode.. During the episode Earl's brother Randy holds up the sign in the picture left reading "High Def Rocks!!!" which couldn't be viewed by people watching on non-high def TV's.

While it was tongue in cheek, it was a great example of the extra details you can notice when you've got a bigger wide screen picture and enhanced clarity. If you're not watching in HD, you're not seeing the whole show.

If you didn't have HDTV, this is all you saw:

Cool! I have wanted to watch that show but haven't had the chance just yet. Neat little slight of hand on the show's part!

;)
Now where did I leave that key... oh here it is down low..... :rolleyes:

:D :p

I heard that Nicky P on 9 has announced she has cancer.
Any info on this?